Paradise Lost - Book V

Now Morn her rosie steps in th Eastern Clime     Advancing, sowd the Earth with Orient Pearle,     When Adam wakt, so customd, for his sleep     Was Aerie light, from pure digestion bred,     And temperat vapors bland, which th only sound     Of leaves and fuming rills, Auroras fan,     Lightly dispersd, and the shrill Matin Song     Of Birds on every bough; so much the more     His wonder was to find unwaknd Eve     With Tresses discomposd, and glowing Cheek,     As through unquiet rest: he on his side     Leaning half-raisd, with looks of cordial Love     Hung over her enamourd, and beheld     Beautie, which whether waking or asleep,     Shot forth peculiar Graces; then with voice     Milde, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes,     Her hand soft touching, whisperd thus. Awake     My fairest, my espousd, my latest found,     Heavns last best gift, my ever new delight,     Awake, the morning shines, and the fresh field     Calls us, we lose the prime, to mark how spring     Our tended Plants, how blows the Citron Grove,     What drops the Myrrhe, and what the balmie Reed,     How Nature paints her colours, how the Bee     Sits on the Bloom extracting liquid sweet.     Such whispering wakd her, but with startld eye     On Adam, whom imbracing, thus she spake.     O Sole in whom my thoughts find all repose,     My Glorie, my Perfection, glad I see     Thy face, and Morn returnd, for I this Night,     Such night till this I never passd, have dreamd,     If dreamd, not as I oft am wont, of thee,     Works of day passt, or morrows next designe,     But of offence and trouble, which my mind     Knew never till this irksom night; methought     Close at mine ear one calld me forth to walk     With gentle voice, I thought it thine; it said,     Why sleepst thou Eve? now is the pleasant time,     The cool, the silent, save where silence yields     To the night-warbling Bird, that now awake     Tunes sweetest his love-labord song; now reignes     Full Orbd the Moon, and with more pleasing light     Shadowie sets off the face of things; in vain,     If none regard; Heavn wakes with all his eyes,     Whom to behold but thee, Natures desire,     In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment     Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze.     I rose as at thy call, but found thee not;     To find thee I directed then my walk;     And on, methought, alone I passd through ways     That brought me on a sudden to the Tree     Of interdicted Knowledge: fair it seemd,     Much fairer to my Fancie then by day:     And as I wondring lookt, beside it stood     One shapd and wingd like one of those from Heavn     By us oft seen; his dewie locks distilld     Ambrosia; on that Tree he also gazd;     And O fair Plant, said he, with fruit surchargd,     Deigns none to ease thy load and taste thy sweet,     Nor God, nor Man; is Knowledge so despisd?     Or envie, or what reserve forbids to taste?     Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold     Longer thy offerd good, why else set here?     This said he pausd not, but with ventrous Arme     He pluckt, he tasted; mee damp horror child     At such bold words voucht with a deed so bold:     But he thus overjoyd, O Fruit Divine,     Sweet of thy self, but much more sweet thus cropt,     Forbiddn here, it seems, as onely fit     For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men:     And why not Gods of Men, since good, the more     Communicated, more abundant growes,     The Author not impaird, but honourd more?     Here, happie Creature, fair Angelic Eve,     Partake thou also; happie though thou art,     Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be:     Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods     Thy self a Goddess, not to Earth confind,     But somtimes in the Air, as wee, somtimes     Ascend to Heavn, by merit thine, and see     What life the Gods live there, and such live thou.     So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held,     Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part     Which he had pluckt; the pleasant savourie smell     So quicknd appetite, that I, methought,     Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the Clouds     With him I flew, and underneath beheld     The Earth outstretcht immense, a prospect wide     And various: wondring at my flight and change     To this high exaltation; suddenly     My Guide was gon, and I, me thought, sunk down,     And fell asleep; but O how glad I wakd     To find this but a dream! Thus Eve her Night     Related, and thus Adam answerd sad.     Best Image of my self and dearer half,     The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep     Affects me equally; nor can I like     This uncouth dream, of evil sprung I fear;     Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none,     Created pure. But know that in the Soule     Are many lesser Faculties that serve     Reason as chief; among these Fansie next     Her office holds; of all external things,     Which the five watchful Senses represent,     She forms Imaginations, Aerie shapes,     Which Reason joyning or disjoyning, frames     All what we affirm or what deny, and call     Our knowledge or opinion; then retires     Into her private Cell when Nature rests.     Oft in her absence mimic Fansie wakes     To imitate her; but misjoyning shapes,     Wilde work produces oft, and most in dreams,     Ill matching words and deeds long past or late.     Som such resemblances methinks I find     Of our last Eevnings talk, in this thy dream,     But with addition strange; yet be not sad.     Evil into the mind of God or Man     May come and go, so unapprovd, and leave     No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope     That what in sleep thou didst abhorr to dream,     Waking thou never wilt consent to do.     Be not disheartnd then, nor cloud those looks     That wont to be more chearful and serene     Then when fair Morning first smiles on the World,     And let us to our fresh imployments rise     Among the Groves, the Fountains, and the Flours     That open now thir choicest bosomd smells     Reservd from night, and kept for thee in store.     So cheard he his fair Spouse, and she was cheard,     But silently a gentle tear let fall     From either eye, and wipd them with her haire;     Two other precious drops that ready stood,     Each in thir chrystal sluce, hee ere they fell     Kissd as the gracious signs of sweet remorse     And pious awe, that feard to have offended.     So all was cleard, and to the Field they haste.     But first from under shadie arborous roof,     Soon as they forth were come to open sight     Of day-spring, and the Sun, who scarce up risen     With wheels yet hovring ore the Ocean brim,     Shot paralel to the earth his dewie ray,     Discovering in wide Lantskip all the East     Of Paradise and Edens happie Plains,     Lowly they bowd adoring, and began     Thir Orisons, each Morning duly paid     In various style, for neither various style     Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise     Thir Maker, in fit strains pronounct or sung     Unmeditated, such prompt eloquence     Flowd from thir lips, in Prose or numerous Verse,     More tuneable then needed Lute or Harp     To add more sweetness, and they thus began.     These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,     Almightie, thine this universal Frame,     Thus wondrous fair; thy self how wondrous then!     Unspeakable, who sitst above these Heavens     To us invisible or dimly seen     In these thy lowest works, yet these declare     Thy goodness beyond thought, and Power Divine:     Speak yee who best can tell, ye Sons of light,     Angels, for yee behold him, and with songs     And choral symphonies, Day without Night,     Circle his Throne rejoycing, yee in Heavn,     On Earth joyn all ye Creatures to extoll     Him first, him last, him midst, and without end.     Fairest of Starrs, last in the train of Night,     If better thou belong not to the dawn,     Sure pledge of day, that crownst the smiling Morn     With thy bright Circlet, praise him in thy Spheare     While day arises, that sweet hour of Prime.     Thou Sun, of this great World both Eye and Soule,     Acknowledge him thy Greater, sound his praise     In thy eternal course, both when thou climbst,     And when high Noon hast gaind, and when thou fallst.     Moon, that now meetst the orient Sun, now flist     With the fixt Starrs, fixt in thir Orb that flies,     And yee five other wandring Fires that move     In mystic Dance not without Song, resound     His praise, who out of Darkness calld up Light.     Aire, and ye Elements the eldest birth     Of Natures Womb, that in quaternion run     Perpetual Circle, multiform; and mix     And nourish all things, let your ceasless change     Varie to our great Maker still new praise.     Ye Mists and Exhalations that now rise     From Hill or steaming Lake, duskie or grey,     Till the Sun paint your fleecie skirts with Gold,     In honour to the Worlds great Author rise,     Whether to deck with Clouds the uncolourd skie,     Or wet the thirstie Earth with falling showers,     Rising or falling still advance his praise.     His praise ye Winds, that from four Quarters blow,     Breath soft or loud; and wave your tops, ye Pines,     With every Plant, in sign of Worship wave.     Fountains and yee, that warble, as ye flow,     Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.     Joyn voices all ye living Souls, ye Birds,     That singing up to Heaven Gate ascend,     Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise;     Yee that in Waters glide, and yee that walk     The Earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep;     Witness if I be silent, Morn or Eeven,     To Hill, or Valley, Fountain, or fresh shade     Made vocal by my Song, and taught his praise.     Hail universal Lord, be bounteous still     To give us onely good; and if the night     Have gathered aught of evil or conceald,     Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark.     So prayd they innocent, and to thir thoughts     Firm peace recoverd soon and wonted calm.     On to thir mornings rural work they haste     Among sweet dewes and flours; where any row     Of Fruit-trees overwoodie reachd too farr     Thir pamperd boughes, and needed hands to check     Fruitless imbraces: or they led the Vine     To wed her Elm; she spousd about him twines     Her mariageable arms, and with her brings     Her dowr th adopted Clusters, to adorn     His barren leaves. Them thus imploid beheld     With pittie Heavns high King, and to him calld     Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deignd     To travel with Tobias, and securd     His marriage with the seaventimes-wedded Maid.     Raphael, said hee, thou hearst what stir on Earth     Satan from Hell scapt through the darksom Gulf     Hath raisd in Paradise, and how disturbd     This night the human pair, how he designes     In them at once to ruin all mankind.     Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend     Converse with Adam, in what Bowre or shade     Thou findst him from the heat of Noon retird,     To respit his day-labour with repast,     Or with repose; and such discourse bring on,     As may advise him of his happie state,     Happiness in his power left free to will,     Left to his own free Will, his Will though free,     Yet mutable; whence warne him to beware     He swerve not too secure: tell him withall     His danger, and from whom, what enemie     Late falln himself from Heavn, is plotting now     The fall of others from like state of bliss;     By violence, no, for that shall be withstood,     But by deceit and lies; this let him know,     Least wilfully transgressing he pretend     Surprisal, unadmonisht, unforewarnd.     So spake th Eternal Father, and fulfilld     All Justice: nor delaid the winged Saint     After his charge receivd, but from among     Thousand Celestial Ardors, where he stood     Vaild with his gorgeous wings, up springing light     Flew through the midst of Heavn; th angelic Quires     On each hand parting, to his speed gave way     Through all th Empyreal road; till at the Gate     Of Heavn arrivd, the gate self-opend wide     On golden Hinges turning, as by work     Divine the sovran Architect had framd.     From hence, no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight,     Starr interposd, however small he sees,     Not unconform to other shining Globes,     Earth and the Gardn of God, with Cedars crownd     Above all Hills. As when by night the Glass     Of Galileo, less assurd, observes     Imagind Lands and Regions in the Moon:     Or Pilot from amidst the Cyclades     Delos or Samos first appeering kenns     A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight     He speeds, and through the vast Ethereal Skie     Sailes between worlds and worlds, with steddie wing     Now on the polar windes, then with quick Fann     Winnows the buxom Air; till within soare     Of Towring Eagles, to all the Fowles he seems     A Phoenix, gazd by all, as that sole Bird     When to enshrine his reliques in the Suns     Bright Temple, to gyptian Thebs he flies.     At once on th Eastern cliff of Paradise     He lights, and to his proper shape returns     A Seraph wingd; six wings he wore, to shade     His lineaments Divine; the pair that clad     Each shoulder broad, came mantling ore his brest     With regal Ornament; the middle pair     Girt like a Starrie Zone his waste, and round     Skirted his loines and thighes with downie Gold     And colours dipt in Heavn; the third his feet     Shaddowd from either heele with featherd maile     Skie-tincturd grain. Like Maias son he stood,     And shook his Plumes, that Heavnly fragrance filld     The circuit wide. Strait knew him all the bands     Of Angels under watch; and to his state,     And to his message high in honour rise;     For on som message high they guessd him bound.     Thir glittering Tents he passd, and now is come     Into the blissful field, through Groves of Myrrhe,     And flouring Odours, Cassia, Nard, and Balme;     A Wilderness of sweets; for Nature here     Wantond as in her prime, and plaid at will     Her Virgin Fancies, pouring forth more sweet,     Wilde above rule or art; enormous bliss.     Him through the spicie Forrest onward com     Adam discernd, as in the dore he sat     Of his coole Bowre, while now the mounted Sun     Shot down direct his fervid Raies, to warme     Earths inmost womb, more warmth then Adam needs;     And Eve within, due at her hour prepard     For dinner savourie fruits, of taste to please     True appetite, and not disrelish thirst     Of nectarous draughts between, from milkie stream,     Berrie or Grape: to whom thus Adam calld.     Haste hither Eve, and worth thy sight behold     Eastward among those Trees, what glorious shape     Comes this way moving; seems another Morn     Risn on mid-noon; som great behest from Heavn     To us perhaps he brings, and will voutsafe     This day to be our Guest. But goe with speed,     And what thy stores contain, bring forth and poure     Abundance, fit to honour and receive     Our Heavnly stranger; well we may afford     Our givers thir own gifts, and large bestow     From large bestowd, where Nature multiplies     Her fertil growth, and by disburdning grows     More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare.     To whom thus Eve. Adam, earths hallowd mould,     Of God inspird, small store will serve, where store,     All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk;     Save what by frugal storing firmness gains     To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes:     But I will haste and from each bough and break,     Each Plant and juciest Gourd will pluck such choice     To entertain our Angel guest, as hee     Beholding shall confess that here on Earth     God hath dispenst his bounties as in Heavn.     So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste     She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent     What choice to chuse for delicacie best,     What order, so contrivd as not to mix     Tastes, not well joynd, inelegant, but bring     Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change,     Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk     Whatever Earth all-bearing Mother yeilds     In India East or West, or middle shoare     In Pontus or the Punic Coast, or where     Alcinous reignd, fruit of all kindes, in coate,     Rough, or smooth rind, or bearded husk, or shell     She gathers, Tribute large, and on the board     Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the Grape     She crushes, inoffensive moust, and meathes     From many a berrie, and from sweet kernels prest     She tempers dulcet creams, nor these to hold     Wants her fit vessels pure, then strews the ground     With Rose and Odours from the shrub unfumd.     Mean while our Primitive great Sire, to meet     His god-like Guest, walks forth, without more train     Accompanid then with his own compleat     Perfections, in himself was all his state,     More solemn then the tedious pomp that waits     On Princes, when thir rich Retinue long     Of Horses led, and Grooms besmeard with Gold     Dazles the croud, and sets them all agape.     Neerer his presence Adam though not awd,     Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek,     As to a superior Nature, bowing low,     Thus said. Native of Heavn, for other place     None can then Heavn such glorious shape contain;     Since by descending from the Thrones above,     Those happie places thou hast deignd a while     To want, and honour these, voutsafe with us     Two onely, who yet by sovran gift possess     This spacious ground, in yonder shadie Bowre     To rest, and what the Garden choicest bears     To sit and taste, till this meridian heat     Be over, and the Sun more coole decline.     Whom thus the Angelic Vertue answerd milde.     Adam, I therefore came, nor art thou such     Created, or such place hast here to dwell,     As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heavn     To visit thee; lead on then where thy Bowre     Oreshades; for these mid-hours, till Eevning rise     I have at will. So to the Silvan Lodge     They came, that like Pomonas Arbour smild     With flourets deckt and fragrant smells; but Eve     Undeckt, save with her self more lovely fair     Then Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feignd     Of three that in Mount Ida naked strove,     Stood to entertain her guest from Heavn; no vaile     Shee needed, Vertue-proof, no thought infirme     Alterd her cheek. On whom the Angel Haile     Bestowd, the holy salutation usd     Long after to blest Marie, second Eve.     Haile Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful Womb     Shall fill the World more numerous with thy Sons     Then with these various fruits the Trees of God     Have heapd this Table. Raisd of grassie terf     Thir Table was, and mossie seats had round,     And on her ample Square from side to side     All Autumn pild, though Spring and Autumn here     Dancd hand in hand. A while discourse they hold;     No fear lest Dinner coole; when thus began     Our Authour. Heavnly stranger, please to taste     These bounties which our Nourisher, from whom     All perfet good unmeasurd out, descends,     To us for food and for delight hath causd     The Earth to yeild; unsavourie food perhaps     To spiritual Natures; only this I know,     That one Celestial Father gives to all.     To whom the Angel. Therefore what he gives     (Whose praise be ever sung) to man in part     Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found     No ingrateful food: and food alike those pure     Intelligential substances require     As doth your Rational; and both contain     Within them every lower facultie     Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste,     Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate,     And corporeal to incorporeal turn.     For know, whatever was created, needs     To be sustaind and fed; of Elements     The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea,     Earth and the Sea feed Air, the Air those Fires     Ethereal, and as lowest first the Moon;     Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurgd     Vapours not yet into her substance turnd.     Nor doth the Moon no nourishment exhale     From her moist Continent to higher Orbes.     The Sun that light imparts to all, receives     From all his alimental recompence     In humid exhalations, and at Even     Sups with the Ocean: though in Heavn the Trees     Of life ambrosial frutage bear, and vines     Yeild Nectar, though from off the boughs each Morn     We brush mellifluous Dewes, and find the ground     Coverd with pearly grain: yet God hath here     Varied his bounty so with new delights,     As may compare with Heaven; and to taste     Think not I shall be nice. So down they sat,     And to thir viands fell, nor seemingly     The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss     Of Theologians, but with keen dispatch     Of real hunger, and concoctive heate     To transubstantiate; what redounds, transpires     Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder; if by fire     Of sooty coal the Empiric Alchimist     Can turn, or holds it possible to turn     Metals of drossiest Ore to perfet Gold     As from the Mine. Mean while at Table Eve     Ministerd naked, and thir flowing cups     With pleasant liquors crownd: O innocence     Deserving Paradise! if ever, then,     Then had the Sons of God excuse to have bin     Enamourd at that sight; but in those hearts     Love unlibidinous reignd, nor jealousie     Was understood, the injurd Lovers Hell.     Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficd,     Not burdnd Nature, sudden mind arose     In Adam, not to let th occasion pass     Given him by this great Conference to know     Of things above his World, and of thir being     Who dwell in Heavn, whose excellence he saw     Transcend his own so farr, whose radiant forms     Divine effulgence, whose high Power so far     Exceeded human, and his wary speech     Thus to th Empyreal Minister he framd.     Inhabitant with God, now know I well     Thy favour, in this honour done to man,     Under whose lowly roof thou hast voutsaft     To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste,     Food not of Angels, yet accepted so,     As that more willingly thou couldst not seem     At Heavns high feasts to have fed: yet what compare?     To whom the winged Hierarch replid.     O Adam, one Almightie is, from whom     All things proceed, and up to him return,     If not depravd from good, created all     Such to perfection, one first matter all,     Indud with various forms, various degrees     Of substance, and in things that live, of life;     But more refind, more spiritous, and pure,     As neerer to him plact or neerer tending     Each in thir several active Sphears assignd,     Till body up to spirit work, in bounds     Proportiond to each kind. So from the root     Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves     More aerie, last the bright consummate floure     Spirits odorous breathes: flours and thir fruit     Mans nourishment, by gradual scale sublimd     To vital Spirits aspire, to animal,     To intellectual, give both life and sense,     Fansie and understanding, whence the soule     Reason receives, and reason is her being,     Discursive, or Intuitive; discourse     Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours,     Differing but in degree, of kind the same.     Wonder not then, what God for you saw good     If I refuse not, but convert, as you,     To proper substance; time may come when men     With Angels may participate, and find     No inconvenient Diet, nor too light Fare:     And from these corporal nutriments perhaps     Your bodies may at last turn all to Spirit     Improvd by tract of time, and wingd ascend     Ethereal, as wee, or may at choice     Here or in Heavnly Paradises dwell;     If ye be found obedient, and retain     Unalterably firm his love entire     Whose progenie you are. Mean while enjoy     Your fill what happiness this happie state     Can comprehend, incapable of more.     To whom the Patriarch of mankind replid.     O favourable spirit, propitious guest,     Well hast thou taught the way that might direct     Our knowledge, and the scale of Nature set     From center to circumference, whereon     In contemplation of created things     By steps we may ascend to God. But say,     What meant that caution joind, if ye be found     Obedient? can we want obedience then     To him, or possibly his love desert     Who formd us from the dust, and placd us here     Full to the utmost measure of what bliss     Human desires can seek or apprehend?     To whom the Angel. Son of Heavn and Earth,     Attend: That thou art happie, owe to God;     That thou continust such, owe to thy self,     That is, to thy obedience; therein stand.     This was that caution givn thee; be advisd.     God made thee perfet, not immutable;     And good he made thee, but to persevere     He left it in thy power, ordaind thy will     By nature free, not over-ruld by Fate     Inextricable, or strict necessity;     Our voluntarie service he requires,     Not our necessitated, such with him     Findes no acceptance, nor can find, for how     Can hearts, not free, be trid whether they serve     Willing or no, who will but what they must     By Destinie, and can no other choose?     My self and all th Angelic Host that stand     In sight of God enthrond, our happie state     Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;     On other surety none; freely we serve.     Because wee freely love, as in our will     To love or not; in this we stand or fall:     And som are falln, to disobedience falln,     And so from Heavn to deepest Hell; O fall     From what high state of bliss into what woe!     To whom our great Progenitor. Thy words     Attentive, and with more delighted eare     Divine instructer, I have heard, then when     Cherubic Songs by night from neighbouring Hills     Aereal Music send: nor knew I not     To be both will and deed created free;     Yet that we never shall forget to love     Our maker, and obey him whose command     Single, is yet so just, my constant thoughts     Assurd me and still assure: though what thou tellst     Hath past in Heavn, som doubt within me move,     But more desire to hear, if thou consent,     The full relation, which must needs be strange,     Worthy of Sacred silence to be heard;     And we have yet large day, for scarce the Sun     Hath finisht half his journey, and scarce begins     His other half in the great Zone of Heavn.     Thus Adam made request, and Raphael     After short pause assenting, thus began.     High matter thou injoinst me, O prime of men,     Sad task and hard, for how shall I relate     To human sense th invisible exploits     Of warring Spirits; how without remorse     The ruin of so many glorious once     And perfet while they stood; how last unfould     The secrets of another world, perhaps     Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good     This is dispenct, and what surmounts the reach     Of human sense, I shall delineate so,     By likning spiritual to corporal forms,     As may express them best, though what if Earth     Be but the shaddow of Heavn, and things therein     Each to other like, more then on earth is thought?     As yet this world was not, and Chaos wilde     Reignd where these Heavns now rowl, where Earth now rests     Upon her Center poisd, when on a day     (For Time, though in Eternitie, applid     To motion, measures all things durable     By present, past, and future) on such day     As Heavns great Year brings forth, th Empyreal Host     Of Angels by Imperial summons calld,     Innumerable before th Almighties Throne     Forthwith from all the ends of Heavn appeerd     Under thir Hierarchs in orders bright     Ten thousand thousand Ensignes high advancd,     Standards, and Gonfalons twixt Van and Reare     Streame in the Aire, and for distinction serve     Of Hierarchies, of Orders, and Degrees;     Or in thir glittering Tissues bear imblazd     Holy Memorials, acts of Zeale and Love     Recorded eminent. Thus when in Orbes     Of circuit inexpressible they stood,     Orb within Orb, the Father infinite,     By whom in bliss imbosomd sat the Son,     Amidst as from a flaming Mount, whoseop     Brightness had made invisible, thus spake.     Hear all ye Angels, Progenie of Light,     Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers,     Hear my Decree, which unrevokt shall stand.     This day I have begot whom I declare     My onely Son, and on this holy Hill     Him have anointed, whom ye now behold     At my right hand; your Head I him appoint;     And by my Self have sworn to him shall bow     All knees in Heavn, and shall confess him Lord:     Under his great Vice-gerent Reign abide     United as one individual Soule     For ever happie: him who disobeyes     Mee disobeyes, breaks union, and that day     Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls     Into utter darkness, deep ingulft, his place     Ordaind without redemption, without end.     So spake th Omnipotent, and with his words     All seemd well pleasd, all seemd, but were not all.     That day, as other solem dayes, they spent     In song and dance about the sacred Hill,     Mystical dance, which yonder starrie Spheare     Of Planets and of fixt in all her Wheeles     Resembles nearest, mazes intricate,     Eccentric, intervolvd, yet regular     Then most, when most irregular they seem:     And in thir motions harmonie Divine     So smooths her charming tones, that Gods own ear     Listens delighted. Eevning approachd     (For we have also our Eevning and our Morn,     We ours for change delectable, not need)     Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn     Desirous, all in Circles as they stood,     Tables are set, and on a sudden pild     With Angels Food, and rubied Nectar flows:     In Pearl, in Diamond, and massie Gold,     Fruit of delicious Vines, the growth of Heavn.     They eate, they drink, and with refection sweet     Are filld, before th all bounteous King, who showrd     With copious hand, rejoycing in thir joy.     Now when ambrosial Night with Clouds exhald     From that high mount of God, whence light and shade     Spring both, the face of brightest Heavn had changd     To grateful Twilight (for Night comes not there     In darker veile) and roseat Dews disposd     All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest,     Wide over all the Plain, and wider farr     Then all this globous Earth in Plain outspred,     (Such are the Courts of God) Th Angelic throng     Disperst in Bands and Files thir Camp extend     By living Streams among the Trees of Life,     Pavilions numberless, and sudden reard,     Celestial Tabernacles, where they slept     Fannd with coole Winds, save those who in thir course     Melodious Hymns about the sovran Throne     Alternate all night long: but not so wakd     Satan, so call him now, his former name     Is heard no more Heavn; he of the first,     If not the first Arch-Angel, great in Power,     In favour and preminence, yet fraught     With envie against the Son of God, that day     Honourd by his great Father, and proclaimd     Messiah King anointed, could not beare     Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaird.     Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain,     Soon as midnight brought on the duskie houre     Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolvd     With all his Legions to dislodge, and leave     Unworshipt, unobeyd the Throne supream     Contemptuous, and his next subordinate     Awakning, thus to him in secret spake.     Sleepst thou Companion dear, what sleep can close     Thy eye-lids? and remembrest what Decree     Of yesterday, so late hath past the lips     Of Heavns Almightie. Thou to me thy thoughts     Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart;     Both waking we were one; how then can now     Thy sleep dissent? new Laws thou seest imposd;     New Laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise     In us who serve, new Counsels, to debate     What doubtful may ensue, more in this place     To utter is not safe. Assemble thou     Of all those Myriads which we lead the chief;     Tell them that by command, ere yet dim Night     Her shadowie Cloud withdraws, I am to haste,     And all who under me thir Banners wave,     Homeward with flying march where we possess     The Quarters of the North, there to prepare     Fit entertainment to receive our King     The great Messiah, and his new commands,     Who speedily through all the Hierarchies     Intends to pass triumphant, and give Laws.     So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infusd     Bad influence into th unwarie brest     Of his Associate; hee together calls,     Or several one by one, the Regent Powers,     Under him Regent, tells, as he was taught,     That the most High commanding, now ere Night,     Now ere dim Night had disincumberd Heavn,     The great Hierarchal Standard was to move;     Tells the suggested cause, and casts between     Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound     Or taint integritie; but all obeyd     The wonted signal, and superior voice     Of thir great Potentate; for great indeed     His name, and high was his degree in Heavn;     His countnance, as the Morning Starr that guides     The starrie flock, allurd them, and with lyes     Drew after him the third part of Heavns Host:     Mean while th Eternal eye, whose sight discernes     Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy Mount     And from within the golden Lamps that burne     Nightly before him, saw without thir light     Rebellion rising, saw in whom, how spred     Among the sons of Morn, what multitudes     Were banded to oppose his high Decree;     And smiling to his onely Son thus said.     Son, thou in whom my glory I behold     In full resplendence, Heir of all my might,     Neerly it now concernes us to be sure     Of our Omnipotence, and with what Arms     We mean to hold what anciently we claim     Of Deitie or Empire, such a foe     Is rising, who intends to erect his Throne     Equal to ours, throughout the spacious North;     Nor so content, hath in his thought to try     In battel, what our Power is, or our right.     Let us advise, and to this hazard draw     With speed what force is left, and all imploy     In our defence, lest unawares we lose     This our high place, our Sanctuarie, our Hill.     To whom the Son with calm aspect and cleer     Lightning Divine, ineffable, serene,     Made answer. Mightie Father, thou thy foes     Justly hast in derision, and secure     Laughst at thir vain designes and tumults vain,     Matter to mee of Glory, whom thir hate     Illustrates, when they see all Regal Power     Givn me to quell thir pride, and in event     Know whether I be dextrous to subdue     Thy Rebels, or be found the worst in Heavn.     So spake the Son, but Satan with his Powers     Farr was advanct on winged speed, an Host     Innumerable as the Starrs of Night,     Or Starrs of Morning, Dew-drops, which the Sun     Impearls on every leaf and every flouer.     Regions they passd, the mightie Regencies     Of Seraphim and Potentates and Thrones     In thir triple Degrees, Regions to which     All thy Dominion, Adam, is no more     Then what this Garden is to all the Earth,     And all the Sea, from one entire globose     Stretcht into Longitude; which having passd     At length into the limits of the North     They came, and Satan to his Royal seat     High on a Hill, far blazing, as a Mount     Raisd on a Mount, with Pyramids and Towrs     From Diamond Quarries hewn, and Rocks of Gold,     The Palace of great Lucifer, (so call     That Structure in the Dialect of men     Interpreted) which not long after, he     Affecting all equality with God,     In imitation of that Mount whereon     Messiah was declard in sight of Heavn,     The Mountain of the Congregation calld;     For thither he assembld all his Train,     Pretending so commanded to consult     About the great reception of thir King,     Thither to come, and with calumnious Art     Of counterfeted truth thus held thir ears.     Thrones, Dominations, Princedomes, Vertues, Powers,     If these magnific Titles yet remain     Not meerly titular, since by Decree     Another now hath to himself ingrosst     All Power, and us eclipst under the name     Of King anointed, for whom all this haste     Of midnight march, and hurried meeting here,     This onely to consult how we may best     With what may be devisd of honours new     Receive him coming to receive from us     Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile,     Too much to one, but double how endurd,     To one and to his image now proclaimd?     But what if better counsels might erect     Our minds and teach us to cast off this Yoke?     Will ye submit your necks, and chuse to bend     The supple knee? ye will not, if I trust     To know ye right, or if ye know your selves     Natives and Sons of Heavn possest before     By none, and if not equal all, yet free,     Equally free; for Orders and Degrees     Jarr not with liberty, but well consist.     Who can in reason then or right assume     Monarchie over such as live by right     His equals, if in power and splendor less,     In freedome equal? or can introduce     Law and Edict on us, who without law     Erre not, much less for this to be our Lord,     And look for adoration to th abuse     Of those Imperial Titles which assert     Our being ordaind to govern, not to serve?     Thus farr his bold discourse without controule     Had audience, when among the Seraphim     Abdiel, then whom none with more zeale adord     The Deitie, and divine commands obeid,     Stood up, and in a flame of zeale severe     The current of his fury thus opposd.     O argument blasphemous, false and proud!     Words which no eare ever to hear in Heavn     Expected, least of all from thee, ingrate     In place thy self so high above thy Peeres.     Canst thou with impious obloquie condemne     The just Decree of God, pronounct and sworn,     That to his only Son by right endud     With Regal Scepter, every Soule in Heavn     Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due     Confess him rightful King? unjust thou saist     Flatly unjust, to binde with Laws the free,     And equal over equals to let Reigne,     One over all with unsucceeded power.     Shalt thou give Law to God, shalt thou dispute     With him the points of libertie, who made     Thee what thou art, and formd the Powrs of Heavn     Such as he pleasd, and circumscribd thir being?     Yet by experience taught we know how good,     And of our good, and of our dignitie     How provident he is, how farr from thought     To make us less, bent rather to exalt     Our happie state under one Head more neer     United. But to grant it thee unjust,     That equal over equals Monarch Reigne:     Thy self though great and glorious dost thou count,     Or all Angelic Nature joind in one,     Equal to him begotten Son, by whom     As by his Word the mighty Father made     All things, evn thee, and all the Spirits of Heavn     By him created in thir bright degrees,     Crownd them with Glory, and to thir Glory namd     Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers     Essential Powers, nor by his Reign obscurd,     But more illustrious made, since he the Head     One of our number thus reduct becomes,     His Laws our Laws, all honour to him done     Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage,     And tempt not these; but hastn to appease     Th incensed Father, and th incensed Son,     While Pardon may be found in time besought.     So spake the fervent Angel, but his zeale     None seconded, as out of season judgd,     Or singular and rash, whereat rejoicd     Th Apostat, and more haughty thus replid.     That we were formd then saist thou? and the work     Of secondarie hands, by task transferd     From Father to his Son? strange point and new!     Doctrin which we would know whence learnt: who saw     When this creation was? rememberst thou     Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being?     We know no time when we were not as now;     Know none before us, self-begot, self-raisd     By our own quickning power, when fatal course     Had circld his full Orbe, the birth mature     Of this our native Heavn, Ethereal Sons.     Our puissance is our own, our own right hand     Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try     Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold     Whether by supplication we intend     Address, and to begirt th Almighty Throne     Beseeching or besieging. This report,     These tidings carrie to th anointed King;     And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.     He said, and as the sound of waters deep     Hoarce murmur echod to his words applause     Through the infinite Host, nor less for that     The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone     Encompassd round with foes, thus answerd bold.     O alienate from God, O spirit accurst,     Forsakn of all good; I see thy fall     Determind, and thy hapless crew involvd     In this perfidious fraud, contagion spred     Both of thy crime and punishment: henceforth     No more be troubld how to quit the yoke     Of Gods Messiah; those indulgent Laws     Will not be now voutsaft, other Decrees     Against thee are gon forth without recall;     That Golden Scepter which thou didst reject     Is now an Iron Rod to bruise and breake     Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise,     Yet not for thy advise or threats I fly     These wicked Tents devoted, least the wrauth     Impendent, raging into sudden flame     Distinguish not: for soon expect to feel     His Thunder on thy head, devouring fire.     Then who created thee lamenting learne,     When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.     So spake the Seraph Abdiel faithful found,     Among the faithless, faithful only hee;     Among innumerable false, unmovd,     Unshakn, unseducd, unterrifid     His Loyaltie he kept, his Love, his Zeale;     Nor number, nor example with him wrought     To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind     Though single. From amidst them forth he passd,     Long way through hostile scorn, which he susteind     Superior, nor of violence feard aught;     And with retorted scorn his back he turnd     On those proud Towrs to swift destruction doomd.