s: Now death to hear! for what can I encrease,


s: Who of all ages to succeed, but, feeling


s: The evil on him brought by me, will curse


s: For this we may thank Adam! but his thanks


s: Shall with a fierce reflux on me rebound;


s: On me, as on their natural center, light


s: Heavy, though in their place.  O fleeting joys


s: Of Paradise, dear bought with lasting woes!


s: From darkness to promote me, or here place


s: Concurred not to my being, it were but right


s: Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold


s: The good I sought not.  To the loss of that,


s: The sense of endless woes?  Inexplicable


s: Thy justice seems; yet to say truth, too late


s: I thus contest; then should have been refused


s: Those terms whatever, when they were proposed:


s: Thou didst accept them; wilt thou enjoy the good,


s: Then cavil the conditions?  And, though God


s: Made thee without thy leave, what if thy son


s: Prove disobedient, and reproved, retort,


s: "Wherefore didst thou beget me? I sought it not!"


s: Wouldst thou admit for his contempt of thee


s: That proud excuse? yet him not thy election,


s: God made thee of choice his own, and of his own


s: To serve him; thy reward was of his grace;


s: Thy punishment then, justly is at his will.


s: Be it so, for I submit; his doom is fair,


s: That dust I am, and shall to dust return.


s: Why am I mocked with death, and lengthened out


s: To deathless pain?  How gladly would I meet


s: As in my mother's lap!  There I should rest,


s: And sleep secure; his dreadful voice no more


s: Would thunder in my ears; no fear of worse


s: To me, and to my offspring, would torment me


s: Pursues me still, lest all I cannot die;


s: Lest that pure breath of life, the spirit of Man


s: Which God inspired, cannot together perish


s: With this corporeal clod; then, in the grave,


s: Or in some other dismal place, who knows


s: But I shall die a living death?  O thought


s: Horrid, if true!  Yet why? It was but breath


s: Of life that sinned; what dies but what had life


s: And sin?  The body properly had neither,


s: All of me then shall die: let this appease


s: The doubt, since human reach no further knows.


s: Is his wrath also?  Be it, Man is not so,


s: Wrath without end on Man, whom death must end?


s: Can he make deathless death?  That were to make


s: Strange contradiction, which to God himself


s: Of weakness, not of power.  Will he draw out,


s: His sentence beyond dust and Nature's law;


s: By which all causes else, according still


s: Not to the extent of their own sphere.  But say


s: That death be not one stroke, as I supposed,


s: From this day onward; which I feel begun


s: Comes thundering back with dreadful revolution


s: On my defenceless head; both Death and I


s: Posterity stands cursed:  Fair patrimony


s: That I must leave ye, Sons!  O, were I able


s: To waste it all myself, and leave ye none!


s: Me, now your curse!  Ah, why should all mankind,


s: For one man's fault, thus guiltless be condemned,


s: It guiltless?  But from me what can proceed,


s: But all corrupt; both mind and will depraved


s: With me?  How can they then acquitted stand


s: In sight of God?  Him, after all disputes,


s: And reasonings, though through mazes, lead me still


s: But to my own conviction: first and last


s: On me, me only, as the source and spring


s: Of all corruption, all the blame lights due;


s: So might the wrath!  Fond wish! couldst thou support


s: That burden, heavier than the earth to bear;


s: Than all the world much heavier, though divided


s: With that bad Woman?  Thus, what thou desirest,


s: And what thou fearest, alike destroys all hope


s: And horrours hast thou driven me; out of which


s: I find no way, from deep to deeper plunged!


s: Through the still night; not now, as ere Man fell,


s: Wholesome, and cool, and mild, but with black air


s: Accompanied; with damps, and dreadful gloom;


s: Which to his evil conscience represented


s: All things with double terrour:  On the ground


s: Outstretched he lay, on the cold ground; and oft


s: Cursed his creation;  Death as oft accused


s: The day of his offence.  Why comes not Death,


s: Said he, with one thrice-acceptable stroke


s: To end me?  Shall Truth fail to keep her word,


s: But Death comes not at call; Justice Divine


s: Mends not her slowest pace for prayers or cries,


s: O woods, O fountains, hillocks, dales, and bowers!


s: With other echo late I taught your shades


s: To answer, and resound far other song.--


s: Whom thus afflicted when sad Eve beheld,


s: Desolate where she sat, approaching nigh,


s: Soft words to his fierce passion she assayed:


s: But her with stern regard he thus repelled.


s: Out of my sight, thou Serpent!  That name best


s: Befits thee with him leagued, thyself as false


s: And hateful; nothing wants, but that thy shape,


s: Like his, and colour serpentine, may show


s: Thy inward fraud; to warn all creatures from thee


s: Henceforth; lest that too heavenly form, pretended


s: To hellish falshood, snare them!  But for thee


s: I had persisted happy; had not thy pride


s: And wandering vanity, when least was safe,


s: Though by the Devil himself; him overweening


s: To over-reach; but, with the serpent meeting,


s: Fooled and beguiled; by him thou, I by thee


s: To trust thee from my side; imagined wise,


s: Constant, mature, proof against all assaults;


s: Crooked by nature, bent, as now appears,


s: More to the part sinister, from me drawn;


s: To my just number found.  O! why did God,


s: Creator wise, that peopled highest Heaven


s: Of nature, and not fill the world at once


s: Mankind?  This mischief had not been befallen,


s: Disturbances on earth through female snares,


s: And strait conjunction with this sex: for either


s: He never shall find out fit mate, but such


s: As some misfortune brings him, or mistake;


s: Or whom he wishes most shall seldom gain


s: Through her perverseness, but shall see her gained


s: By a far worse; or, if she love, withheld


s: By parents; or his happiest choice too late


s: Shall meet, already linked and wedlock-bound


s: To human life, and houshold peace confound.


s: He added not, and from her turned; but Eve,


s: Not so repulsed, with tears that ceased not flowing


s: Fell humble; and, embracing them, besought


s: His peace, and thus proceeded in her plaint.


s: Forsake me not thus, Adam! witness Heaven


s: What love sincere, and reverence in my heart


s: I bear thee, and unweeting have offended,


s: I beg, and clasp thy knees; bereave me not,


s: Whereon I live, thy gentle looks, thy aid,


s: Thy counsel, in this uttermost distress,


s: My only strength and stay:  Forlorn of thee,


s: Whither shall I betake me, where subsist?


s: While yet we live, scarce one short hour perhaps,


s: Between us two let there be peace; both joining,


s: Against a foe by doom express assigned us,


s: More miserable!  Both have sinned; but thou


s: Against God only; I against God and thee;


s: And to the place of judgement will return,


s: There with my cries importune Heaven; that all


s: The sentence, from thy head removed, may light


s: On me, sole cause to thee of all this woe;


s: She ended weeping; and her lowly plight,


s: Immoveable, till peace obtained from fault


s: Acknowledged and deplored, in Adam wrought


s: Towards her, his life so late, and sole delight,


s: Creature so fair his reconcilement seeking,


s: His counsel, whom she had displeased, his aid:


s: And thus with peaceful words upraised her soon.


s: So now of what thou knowest not, who desirest


s: Bear thine own first, ill able to sustain


s: His full wrath, whose thou feelest as yet least part,


s: And my displeasure bearest so ill.  If prayers


s: Could alter high decrees, I to that place


s: Would speed before thee, and be louder heard,


s: But rise;--let us no more contend, nor blame


s: Each other, blamed enough elsewhere; but strive


s: Each other's burden, in our share of woe;


s: Since this day's death denounced, if aught I see,


s: Will prove no sudden, but a slow-paced evil;


s: A long day's dying, to augment our pain;


s: And to our seed (O hapless seed!) derived.


s: To whom thus Eve, recovering heart, replied.


s: How little weight my words with thee can find,


s: Found so erroneous; thence by just event


s: Restored by thee, vile as I am, to place


s: Thy love, the sole contentment of my heart


s: Living or dying, from thee I will not hide


s: What thoughts in my unquiet breast are risen,


s: Or end; though sharp and sad, yet tolerable,


s: Which must be born to certain woe, devoured


s: Our own begotten, and of our loins to bring


s: That after wretched life must be at last


s: Food for so foul a monster; in thy power


s: Childless thou art, childless remain: so Death


s: Shall be deceived his glut, and with us two


s: But if thou judge it hard and difficult,


s: From love's due rights, nuptial embraces sweet;


s: And with desire to languish without hope,


s: And torment less than none of what we dread;


s: Then, both ourselves and seed at once to free


s: From what we fear for both, let us make short,--


s: Let us seek Death;--or, he not found, supply


s: With our own hands his office on ourselves:


s: Why stand we longer shivering under fears,


s: That show no end but death, and have the power,


s: Of many ways to die the shortest choosing,


s: Destruction with destruction to destroy?--


s: Broke off the rest: so much of death her thoughts


s: Had entertained, as dyed her cheeks with pale.


s: But Adam, with such counsel nothing swayed,


s: Labouring had raised; and thus to Eve replied.


s: Eve, thy contempt of life and pleasure seems


s: And excellent, than what thy mind contemns;


s: But self-destruction therefore sought, refutes


s: That excellence thought in thee; and implies,


s: Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret


s: For loss of life and pleasure overloved.


s: The penalty pronounced; doubt not but God


s: Hath wiselier armed his vengeful ire, than so


s: To be forestalled; much more I fear lest death,


s: So snatched, will not exempt us from the pain


s: We are by doom to pay; rather, such acts


s: To make death in us live:  Then let us seek


s: I have in view, calling to mind with heed


s: Part of our sentence, that thy seed shall bruise


s: The Serpent's head; piteous amends! unless


s: Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand foe,


s: Satan; who, in the serpent, hath contrived


s: Against us this deceit:  To crush his head


s: Would be revenge indeed! which will be lost


s: By death brought on ourselves, or childless days


s: Shal 'scape his punishment ordained, and we


s: Instead shall double ours upon our heads.


s: Against ourselves; and wilful barrenness,


s: That cuts us off from hope; and savours only


s: Rancour and pride, impatience and despite,


s: Reluctance against God and his just yoke


s: Laid on our necks.  Remember with what mild


s: And gracious temper he both heard, and judged,


s: Was meant by death that day; when lo! to thee


s: Pains only in child-bearing were foretold,


s: And bringing forth; soon recompensed with joy,


s: Fruit of thy womb:  On me the curse aslope


s: Glanced on the ground; with labour I must earn


s: My bread; what harm? Idleness had been worse;


s: My labour will sustain me; and, lest cold


s: Or heat should injure us, his timely care


s: Hath, unbesought, provided; and his hands


s: Clothed us unworthy, pitying while he judged;


s: How much more, if we pray him, will his ear


s: And teach us further by what means to shun


s: The inclement seasons, rain, ice, hail, and snow!


s: Which now the sky, with various face, begins


s: To show us in this mountain; while the winds


s: Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks


s: Of these fair spreading trees; which bids us seek


s: Some better shroud, some better warmth to cherish


s: Our limbs benummed, ere this diurnal star


s: Leave cold the night, how we his gathered beams


s: The air attrite to fire; as late the clouds


s: Justling, or pushed with winds, rude in their shock,


s: Tine the slant lightning; whose thwart flame, driven down


s: Which might supply the sun:  Such fire to use,


s: To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought,


s: He will instruct us praying, and of grace


s: To pass commodiously this life, sustained


s: In dust, our final rest and native home.


s: What better can we do, than, to the place


s: Repairing where he judged us, prostrate fall


s: Humbly our faults, and pardon beg; with tears


s: Watering the ground, and with our sighs the air


s: Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign


s: Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek.


s: From his displeasure; in whose look serene,


s: When angry most he seemed and most severe,


s: What else but favour, grace, and mercy, shone?


s: Felt less remorse: they, forthwith to the place


s: Repairing where he judged them, prostrate fell


s: Humbly their faults, and pardon begged; with tears


s: Watering the ground, and with their sighs the air


s: Thus they, in lowliest plight, repentant stood


s: The stony from their hearts, and made new flesh


s: Regenerate grow instead; that sighs now breathed


s: Inspired, and winged for Heaven with speedier flight


s: Seemed their petition, than when the ancient pair


s: In fables old, less ancient yet than these,


s: The race of mankind drowned, before the shrine


s: Of Themis stood devout.  To Heaven their prayers


s: Flew up, nor missed the way, by envious winds


s: Blown vagabond or frustrate: in they passed


s: Dimensionless through heavenly doors; then clad


s: With incense, where the golden altar fumed,


s: By their great intercessour, came in sight


s: Before the Father's throne: them the glad Son


s: See Father, what first-fruits on earth are sprung


s: From thy implanted grace in Man; these sighs


s: And prayers, which in this golden censer mixed


s: With incense, I thy priest before thee bring;


s: Fruits of more pleasing savour, from thy seed


s: Sown with contrition in his heart, than those


s: Which, his own hand manuring, all the trees


s: Of Paradise could have produced, ere fallen


s: From innocence.  Now therefore, bend thine ear


s: To supplication; hear his sighs, though mute;


s: Unskilful with what words to pray, let me


s: Good, or not good, ingraft; my merit those


s: Shall perfect, and for these my death shall pay.


s: Accept me; and, in me, from these receive


s: The smell of peace toward mankind: let him live


s: Before thee reconciled, at least his days


s: Numbered, though sad; till death, his doom, (which I


s: To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse,)


s: To better life shall yield him: where with me


s: All my redeemed may dwell in joy and bliss;


s: Made one with me, as I with thee am one.


s: To whom the Father, without cloud, serene.


s: Those pure immortal elements, that know,


s: Eject him, tainted now; and purge him off,


s: And mortal food; as may dispose him best


s: For dissolution wrought by sin, that first


s: Distempered all things, and of incorrupt


s: Corrupted.  I, at first, with two fair gifts


s: By faith and faithful works, to second life,


s: Resigns him up with Heaven and Earth renewed.


s: Through Heaven's wide bounds: from them I will not hide


s: My judgements; how with mankind I proceed,


s: As how with peccant Angels late they saw,


s: And in their state, though firm, stood more confirmed.


s: To the bright minister that watched; he blew


s: His trumpet, heard in Oreb since perhaps


s: When God descended, and perhaps once more


s: To sound at general doom.  The angelick blast


s: Filled all the regions: from their blisful bowers


s: Of amarantine shade, fountain or spring,


s: By the waters of life, where'er they sat


s: In fellowships of joy, the sons of light


s: And took their seats; till from his throne supreme


s: The Almighty thus pronounced his sovran will.


s: To know both good and evil, since his taste


s: Of that defended fruit; but let him boast


s: His knowledge of good lost, and evil got;


s: Happier! had it sufficed him to have known


s: He sorrows now, repents, and prays contrite,


s: My motions in him; longer than they move,


s: His heart I know, how variable and vain,


s: Self-left.  Lest therefore his now bolder hand


s: Reach also of the tree of life, and eat,


s: And live for ever, dream at least to live


s: And send him from the garden forth to till


s: The ground whence he was taken, fitter soil.


s: Michael, this my behest have thou in charge;


s: Thy choice of flaming warriours, lest the Fiend,


s: Vacant possession, some new trouble raise:


s: Haste thee, and from the Paradise of God


s: Without remorse drive out the sinful pair;


s: From hallowed ground the unholy; and denounce


s: To them, and to their progeny, from thence


s: Perpetual banishment.  Yet, lest they faint


s: (For I behold them softened, and with tears


s: Bewailing their excess,) all terrour hide.


s: My covenant in the Woman's seed renewed;


s: So send them forth, though sorrowing, yet in peace:


s: And on the east side of the garden place,


s: Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbs,


s: Cherubick watch; and of a sword the flame


s: Wide-waving; all approach far off to fright,


s: And guard all passage to the tree of life:


s: To Spirits foul, and all my trees their prey;


s: With whose stolen fruit Man once more to delude.


s: He ceased; and the arch-angelick Power prepared


s: For swift descent; with him the cohort bright


s: Had, like a double Janus; all their shape


s: Spangled with eyes more numerous than those


s: Of Argus, and more wakeful than to drouse,


s: Charmed with Arcadian pipe, the pastoral reed


s: Of Hermes, or his opiate rod.  Mean while,


s: To re-salute the world with sacred light,


s: Leucothea waked; and with fresh dews imbalmed


s: The earth; when Adam and first matron Eve


s: Strength added from above; new hope to spring


s: Out of despair; joy, but with fear yet linked;


s: Which thus to Eve his welcome words renewed.


s: The good which we enjoy from Heaven descends;


s: But, that from us aught should ascend to Heaven


s: Of God high-blest, or to incline his will,


s: Hard to belief may seem; yet this will prayer


s: Or one short sigh of human breath, upborne


s: Even to the seat of God.  For since I sought


s: By prayer the offended Deity to appease;


s: Kneeled, and before him humbled all my heart;


s: That I was heard with favour; peace returned


s: His promise, that thy seed shall bruise our foe;


s: Which, then not minded in dismay, yet now


s: Is past, and we shall live.  Whence hail to thee,


s: Eve rightly called, mother of all mankind,


s: Mother of all things living, since by thee


s: Man is to live; and all things live for Man.


s: To whom thus Eve with sad demeanour meek.


s: To me transgressour; who, for thee ordained


s: A help, became thy snare; to me reproach


s: Rather belongs, distrust, and all dispraise:


s: That I, who first brought death on all, am graced


s: The source of life; next favourable thou,


s: Who highly thus to entitle me vouchsaf'st,


s: Far other name deserving.  But the field


s: To labour calls us, now with sweat imposed,


s: Though after sleepless night; for see! the morn,


s: Her rosy progress smiling: let us forth;


s: I never from thy side henceforth to stray,


s: Where'er our day's work lies, though now enjoined


s: Laborious, till day droop; while here we dwell,


s: What can be toilsome in these pleasant walks?


s: Here let us live, though in fallen state, content.


s: So spake, so wished much humbled Eve; but Fate


s: Subscribed not:  Nature first gave signs, impressed


s: On bird, beast, air; air suddenly eclipsed,


s: After short blush of morn; nigh in her sight


s: The bird of Jove, stooped from his aery tour,


s: Two birds of gayest plume before him drove;


s: Down from a hill the beast that reigns in woods,


s: First hunter then, pursued a gentle brace,


s: Goodliest of all the forest, hart and hind;


s: Direct to the eastern gate was bent their flight.


s: Adam observed, and with his eye the chase


s: Pursuing, not unmoved, to Eve thus spake.


s: O Eve, some further change awaits us nigh,


s: Which Heaven, by these mute signs in Nature, shows


s: From penalty, because from death released


s: Some days: how long, and what till then our life,


s: Who knows? or more than this, that we are dust,


s: And thither must return, and be no more?


s: Why else this double object in our sight


s: Of flight pursued in the air, and o'er the ground,


s: One way the self-same hour? why in the east


s: Darkness ere day's mid-course, and morning-light


s: More orient in yon western cloud, that draws


s: O'er the blue firmament a radiant white,


s: And slow descends with something heavenly fraught?


s: He erred not; for by this the heavenly bands


s: And carnal fear that day dimmed Adam's eye.


s: Not that more glorious, when the Angels met


s: The field pavilioned with his guardians bright;


s: Nor that, which on the flaming mount appeared


s: Against the Syrian king, who to surprise


s: War unproclaimed.  The princely Hierarch


s: In their bright stand there left his Powers, to seise


s: To find where Adam sheltered, took his way,


s: While the great visitant approached, thus spake.


s: Eve, now expect great tidings, which perhaps


s: From yonder blazing cloud that veils the hill,


s: One of the heavenly host; and, by his gait,


s: None of the meanest; some great Potentate


s: But solemn and sublime; whom not to offend,


s: With reverence I must meet, and thou retire.


s: He ended: and the Arch-Angel soon drew nigh,


s: In time of truce; Iris had dipt the woof;


s: His starry helm unbuckled showed him prime


s: In manhood where youth ended; by his side,


s: As in a glistering zodiack, hung the sword,


s: Satan's dire dread; and in his hand the spear.


s: Adam bowed low; he, kingly, from his state


s: Inclined not, but his coming thus declared.


s: Adam, Heaven's high behest no preface needs:


s: Sufficient that thy prayers are heard; and Death,


s: Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress,


s: Given thee of grace; wherein thou mayest repent,


s: And one bad act with many deeds well done


s: Mayest cover:  Well may then thy Lord, appeased,


s: Redeem thee quite from Death's rapacious claim;


s: And send thee from the garden forth to till


s: The ground whence thou wast taken, fitter soil.


s: Heart-struck with chilling gripe of sorrow stood,


s: That all his senses bound; Eve, who unseen


s: Discovered soon the place of her retire.


s: O unexpected stroke, worse than of Death!


s: Must I thus leave thee Paradise? thus leave


s: Thee, native soil! these happy walks and shades,


s: Fit haunt of Gods? where I had hope to spend,


s: Quiet though sad, the respite of that day


s: That must be mortal to us both.  O flowers,


s: At even, which I bred up with tender hand


s: From the first opening bud, and gave ye names,


s: Who now shall rear ye to the sun, or rank


s: Your tribes, and water from the ambrosial fount?


s: Thee lastly, nuptial bower! by me adorned


s: With what to sight or smell was sweet! from thee


s: How shall I part, and whither wander down


s: And wild, how shall we breathe in other air


s: Less pure, accustomed to immortal fruits?


s: What justly thou hast lost, nor set thy heart,


s: Thus over-fond, on that which is not thine:


s: Thy husband; whom to follow thou art bound;


s: Where he abides, think there thy native soil.


s: Recovering, and his scattered spirits returned,


s: To Michael thus his humble words addressed.


s: Celestial, whether among the Thrones, or named


s: Of them the highest; for such of shape may seem


s: Prince above princes! gently hast thou told


s: Thy message, which might else in telling wound,


s: Our frailty can sustain, thy tidings bring,


s: Departure from this happy place, our sweet


s: Nor knowing us, nor known:  And, if by prayer


s: Incessant I could hope to change the will


s: Of Him who all things can, I would not cease


s: No more avails than breath against the wind,


s: Blown stifling back on him that breathes it forth:


s: Therefore to his great bidding I submit.


s: This most afflicts me, that, departing hence,


s: As from his face I shall be hid, deprived


s: His blessed countenance:  Here I could frequent


s: With worship place by place where he vouchsafed


s: On this mount he appeared; under this tree


s: Stood visible; among these pines his voice


s: I heard; here with him at this fountain talked:


s: Offer sweet-smelling gums, and fruits, and flowers:


s: In yonder nether world where shall I seek


s: His bright appearances, or foot-step trace?


s: For though I fled him angry, yet recalled


s: To life prolonged and promised race, I now


s: Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts


s: To whom thus Michael with regard benign.


s: Adam, thou knowest Heaven his, and all the Earth;


s: Not this rock only; his Omnipresence fills


s: Land, sea, and air, and every kind that lives,


s: Fomented by his virtual power and warmed:


s: All the earth he gave thee to possess and rule,


s: His presence to these narrow bounds confined


s: Perhaps thy capital seat, from whence had spread


s: From all the ends of the earth, to celebrate


s: And reverence thee, their great progenitor.


s: But this pre-eminence thou hast lost, brought down


s: To dwell on even ground now with thy sons:


s: Yet doubt not but in valley, and in plain,


s: God is, as here; and will be found alike


s: Present; and of his presence many a sign


s: Still following thee, still compassing thee round


s: With goodness and paternal love, his face


s: Express, and of his steps the track divine.


s: Which that thou mayest believe, and be confirmed


s: Ere thou from hence depart; know, I am sent


s: To show thee what shall come in future days


s: To thee, and to thy offspring: good with bad


s: Expect to hear; supernal grace contending


s: With sinfulness of men; thereby to learn


s: True patience, and to temper joy with fear


s: Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead


s: Safest thy life, and best prepared endure


s: Thy mortal passage when it comes.--Ascend


s: This hill; let Eve (for I have drenched her eyes)


s: Here sleep below; while thou to foresight wakest;


s: As once thou sleptst, while she to life was formed.


s: Ascend, I follow thee, safe Guide, the path


s: Thou leadest me; and to the hand of Heaven submit,


s: By suffering, and earn rest from labour won,


s: The hemisphere of earth, in clearest ken,


s: Stretched out to the amplest reach of prospect lay.


s: Not higher that hill, nor wider looking round,


s: Whereon, for different cause, the Tempter set


s: To show him all Earth's kingdoms, and their glory.


s: His eye might there command wherever stood


s: Of mightiest empire, from the destined walls


s: Turchestan-born; nor could his eye not ken


s: Or thence from Niger flood to Atlas mount


s: On Europe thence, and where Rome was to sway


s: The world: in spirit perhaps he also saw


s: Michael from Adam's eyes the film removed,


s: Which that false fruit that promised clearer sight


s: Had bred; then purged with euphrasy and rue


s: The visual nerve, for he had much to see;


s: And from the well of life three drops instilled.


s: So deep the power of these ingredients pierced,


s: Even to the inmost seat of mental sight,


s: That Adam, now enforced to close his eyes,


s: Sunk down, and all his spirits became entranced;


s: Soon raised, and his attention thus recalled.


s: Adam, now ope thine eyes; and first behold


s: The effects, which thy original crime hath wrought


s: In some to spring from thee; who never touched


s: The excepted tree; nor with the snake conspired;


s: Nor sinned thy sin; yet from that sin derive


s: Corruption, to bring forth more violent deeds.


s: Part arable and tilth, whereon were sheaves


s: New reaped; the other part sheep-walks and folds;


s: I' the midst an altar as the land-mark stood,


s: A sweaty reaper from his tillage brought


s: First fruits, the green ear, and the yellow sheaf,


s: Unculled, as came to hand; a shepherd next,


s: More meek, came with the firstlings of his flock,


s: Choicest and best; then, sacrificing, laid


s: The inwards and their fat, with incense strowed,


s: On the cleft wood, and all due rights performed:


s: His offering soon propitious fire from Heaven


s: Consumed with nimble glance, and grateful steam;


s: The other's not, for his was not sincere;


s: Whereat he inly raged, and, as they talked,


s: That beat out life; he fell; and, deadly pale,


s: Groaned out his soul with gushing blood effused.


s: Much at that sight was Adam in his heart


s: Dismayed, and thus in haste to the Angel cried.


s: O Teacher, some great mischief hath befallen


s: To that meek man, who well had sacrificed;


s: To whom Michael thus, he also moved, replied.


s: These two are brethren, Adam, and to come


s: Out of thy loins; the unjust the just hath slain,


s: For envy that his brother's offering found


s: From Heaven acceptance; but the bloody fact


s: Will be avenged; and the other's faith, approved,


s: Lose no reward; though here thou see him die,


s: Rolling in dust and gore.  To which our sire.


s: Alas! both for the deed, and for the cause!


s: But have I now seen Death?  Is this the way


s: To whom thus Michael.  Death thou hast seen


s: In his first shape on Man; but many shapes


s: Of Death, and many are the ways that lead


s: To his grim cave, all dismal; yet to sense


s: More terrible at the entrance, than within.


s: Some, as thou sawest, by violent stroke shall die;


s: By fire, flood, famine, by intemperance more


s: In meats and drinks, which on the earth shall bring


s: Diseases dire, of which a monstrous crew


s: Before thee shall appear; that thou mayest know


s: Shall bring on Men.  Immediately a place


s: Before his eyes appeared, sad, noisome, dark;


s: A lazar-house it seemed; wherein were laid


s: Of ghastly spasm, or racking torture, qualms


s: Of heart-sick agony, all feverous kinds,


s: Convulsions, epilepsies, fierce catarrhs,


s: Intestine stone and ulcer, colick-pangs,


s: And moon-struck madness, pining atrophy,


s: Dropsies, and asthmas, and joint-racking rheums.


s: Dire was the tossing, deep the groans; Despair


s: Tended the sick busiest from couch to couch;


s: Shook, but delayed to strike, though oft invoked


s: With vows, as their chief good, and final hope.


s: Sight so deform what heart of rock could long


s: Dry-eyed behold?  Adam could not, but wept,


s: Though not of woman born; compassion quelled


s: His best of man, and gave him up to tears


s: A space, till firmer thoughts restrained excess;


s: And, scarce recovering words, his plaint renewed.


s: Degraded, to what wretched state reserved!


s: Better end here unborn.  Why is life given


s: Life offered, or soon beg to lay it down;


s: Glad to be so dismissed in peace.  Can thus


s: So goodly and erect, though faulty since,


s: Under inhuman pains?  Why should not Man,


s: And, for his Maker's image sake, exempt?


s: Their Maker's image, answered Michael, then


s: Forsook them, when themselves they vilified


s: His image whom they served, a brutish vice,


s: Therefore so abject is their punishment,


s: Disfiguring not God's likeness, but their own;


s: Or if his likeness, by themselves defaced;


s: While they pervert pure Nature's healthful rules


s: To loathsome sickness; worthily, since they


s: God's image did not reverence in themselves.


s: To death, and mix with our connatural dust?


s: There is, said Michael, if thou well observe


s: The rule of Not too much; by temperance taught,


s: In what thou eatest and drinkest; seeking from thence


s: Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight,


s: So mayest thou live; till, like ripe fruit, thou drop


s: Gathered, nor harshly plucked; for death mature:


s: This is Old Age; but then, thou must outlive


s: Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty; which will change


s: To withered, weak, and gray; thy senses then,


s: Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forego,


s: To what thou hast; and, for the air of youth,


s: Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reign


s: To weigh thy spirits down, and last consume


s: The balm of life.  To whom our ancestor.


s: Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong


s: Life much; bent rather, how I may be quit,


s: Fairest and easiest, of this cumbrous charge;


s: Nor love thy life, nor hate; but what thou livest


s: Live well; how long, or short, permit to Heaven:


s: He looked, and saw a spacious plain, whereon


s: Were tents of various hue; by some, were herds


s: Of cattle grazing; others, whence the sound


s: Of instruments, that made melodious chime,


s: Was heard, of harp and organ; and, who moved


s: Their stops and chords, was seen; his volant touch,


s: Instinct through all proportions, low and high,


s: Fled and pursued transverse the resonant fugue.


s: In other part stood one who, at the forge


s: Labouring, two massy clods of iron and brass


s: Had melted, (whether found where casual fire


s: Had wasted woods on mountain or in vale,


s: Down to the veins of earth; thence gliding hot


s: To some cave's mouth; or whether washed by stream


s: From underground;) the liquid ore he drained


s: Into fit moulds prepared; from which he formed


s: First his own tools; then, what might else be wrought


s: But on the hither side, a different sort


s: From the high neighbouring hills, which was their seat,


s: Down to the plain descended; by their guise


s: Just men they seemed, and all their study bent


s: To worship God aright, and know his works


s: Not hid; nor those things last, which might preserve


s: Freedom and peace to Men; they on the plain


s: Long had not walked, when from the tents, behold!


s: In gems and wanton dress; to the harp they sung


s: Soft amorous ditties, and in dance came on:


s: The men, though grave, eyed them; and let their eyes


s: Rove without rein; till, in the amorous net


s: Fast caught, they liked; and each his liking chose;


s: And now of love they treat, till the evening-star,


s: Love's harbinger, appeared; then, all in heat


s: They light the nuptial torch, and bid invoke


s: Hymen, then first to marriage rites invoked:


s: With feast and musick all the tents resound.


s: Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, flowers,


s: And charming symphonies, attached the heart


s: Of Adam, soon inclined to admit delight,


s: The bent of nature; which he thus expressed.


s: True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blest;


s: Much better seems this vision, and more hope


s: Of peaceful days portends, than those two past;


s: Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse;


s: Here Nature seems fulfilled in all her ends.


s: To whom thus Michael.  Judge not what is best


s: By pleasure, though to nature seeming meet;


s: Those tents thou sawest so pleasant, were the tents


s: Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his race


s: Who slew his brother; studious they appear


s: Of arts that polish life, inventers rare;


s: Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spirit


s: Taught them; but they his gifts acknowledged none.


s: Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget;


s: For that fair female troop thou sawest, that seemed


s: Of Goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay,


s: Woman's domestick honour and chief praise;


s: Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance,


s: To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye:


s: To these that sober race of men, whose lives


s: Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame


s: Ignobly, to the trains and to the smiles


s: Of these fair atheists; and now swim in joy,


s: Erelong to swim at large; and laugh, for which


s: The world erelong a world of tears must weep.


s: O pity and shame, that they, who to live well


s: Entered so fair, should turn aside to tread


s: Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint!


s: From Man's effeminate slackness it begins,


s: Said the Angel, who should better hold his place


s: By wisdom, and superiour gifts received.


s: He looked, and saw wide territory spread


s: Before him, towns, and rural works between;


s: Cities of men with lofty gates and towers,


s: Concourse in arms, fierce faces threatening war,


s: Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed,


s: Both horse and foot, nor idly mustering stood;


s: One way a band select from forage drives


s: A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine,


s: From a fat meadow ground; or fleecy flock,


s: Ewes and their bleating lambs over the plain,


s: Their booty; scarce with life the shepherds fly,


s: But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray;


s: With cruel tournament the squadrons join;


s: Where cattle pastured late, now scattered lies


s: With carcasses and arms the ensanguined field,


s: Lay siege, encamped; by battery, scale, and mine,


s: With dart and javelin, stones, and sulphurous fire;


s: On each hand slaughter, and gigantick deeds.


s: In other part the sceptered heralds call


s: Gray-headed men and grave, with warriours mixed,


s: Assemble, and harangues are heard; but soon,


s: In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong,


s: Of justice, or religion, truth, and peace,


s: And judgement from above: him old and young


s: Exploded, and had seized with violent hands,


s: Had not a cloud descending snatched him thence


s: Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law,


s: Through all the plain, and refuge none was found.


s: Lamenting turned full sad; O! what are these,


s: Death's ministers, not men? who thus deal death


s: Ten thousandfold the sin of him who slew


s: Make they, but of their brethren; men of men


s: But who was that just man, whom had not Heaven


s: Rescued, had in his righteousness been lost?


s: To whom thus Michael.  These are the product


s: Of those ill-mated marriages thou sawest;


s: Where good with bad were matched, who of themselves


s: Abhor to join; and, by imprudence mixed,


s: Produce prodigious births of body or mind.


s: Such were these giants, men of high renown;


s: For in those days might only shall be admired,


s: Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite


s: Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch


s: Of triumph, to be styled great conquerours


s: Patrons of mankind, Gods, and sons of Gods;


s: Destroyers rightlier called, and plagues of men.


s: Thus fame shall be achieved, renown on earth;


s: And what most merits fame, in silence hid.


s: But he, the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldst


s: With foes, for daring single to be just,


s: And utter odious truth, that God would come


s: To judge them with his Saints; him the Most High


s: Rapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds


s: Did, as thou sawest, receive, to walk with God


s: High in salvation and the climes of bliss,


s: Exempt from death; to show thee what reward


s: Awaits the good; the rest what punishment;


s: Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold.


s: He looked, and saw the face of things quite changed;


s: The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar;


s: Allured them; thence from cups to civil broils.


s: At length a reverend sire among them came,


s: And of their doings great dislike declared,


s: And testified against their ways; he oft


s: Frequented their assemblies, whereso met,


s: Triumphs or festivals; and to them preached


s: But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceased


s: Contending, and removed his tents far off;


s: Then, from the mountain hewing timber tall,


s: Measured by cubit, length, and breadth, and highth;


s: Smeared round with pitch; and in the side a door


s: Contrived; and of provisions laid in large,


s: For man and beast: when lo, a wonder strange!


s: Of every beast, and bird, and insect small,


s: Came sevens, and pairs; and entered in as taught


s: Their order: last the sire and his three sons,


s: With their four wives; and God made fast the door.


s: Mean while the south-wind rose, and, with black wings


s: Wide-hovering, all the clouds together drove


s: From under Heaven; the hills to their supply


s: Sent up amain; and now the thickened sky


s: Like a dark ceiling stood; down rushed the rain


s: Impetuous; and continued, till the earth


s: No more was seen: the floating vessel swum


s: Rode tilting o'er the waves; all dwellings else


s: Flood overwhelmed, and them with all their pomp


s: Deep under water rolled; sea covered sea,


s: Sea without shore; and in their palaces,


s: Where luxury late reigned, sea-monsters whelped


s: And stabled; of mankind, so numerous late,


s: All left, in one small bottom swum imbarked.


s: How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold


s: The end of all thy offspring, end so sad,


s: Of tears and sorrow a flood, thee also drowned,


s: And sunk thee as thy sons; till, gently reared


s: By the Angel, on thy feet thou stoodest at last,


s: Though comfortless; as when a father mourns


s: His children, all in view destroyed at once;


s: And scarce to the Angel utter'dst thus thy plaint.


s: Enough to bear; those now, that were dispensed


s: At once, by my foreknowledge gaining birth


s: Abortive, to torment me ere their being,


s: With thought that they must be.  Let no man seek


s: Henceforth to be foretold, what shall befall


s: Him or his children; evil he may be sure,


s: Which neither his foreknowing can prevent;


s: Grievous to bear: but that care now is past,


s: Man is not whom to warn: those few escaped


s: Famine and anguish will at last consume,


s: Wandering that watery desart:  I had hope,


s: When violence was ceased, and war on earth,


s: All would have then gone well; peace would have crowned


s: With length of happy days the race of Man;


s: Peace to corrupt no less than war to waste.


s: How comes it thus? unfold, celestial Guide,


s: And whether here the race of Man will end.


s: To whom thus Michael.  Those, whom last thou sawest


s: In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they


s: And great exploits, but of true virtue void;


s: Who, having spilt much blood, and done much wast


s: Fame in the world, high titles, and rich prey;


s: Shall change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth,


s: Surfeit, and lust; till wantonness and pride


s: Raise out of friendship hostile deeds in peace.


s: The conquered also, and enslaved by war,


s: Shall, with their freedom lost, all virtue lose


s: And fear of God; from whom their piety feigned


s: Against invaders; therefore, cooled in zeal,


s: Thenceforth shall practice how to live secure,


s: Worldly or dissolute, on what their lords


s: Shall leave them to enjoy; for the earth shall bear


s: More than enough, that temperance may be tried:


s: So all shall turn degenerate, all depraved;


s: Justice and temperance, truth and faith, forgot;


s: Offended: fearless of reproach and scorn,


s: Shall them admonish; and before them set


s: The paths of righteousness, how much more safe


s: And full of peace; denouncing wrath to come


s: Shall build a wonderous ark, as thou beheldst,


s: To save himself, and houshold, from amidst


s: No sooner he, with them of man and beast


s: Select for life, shall in the ark be lodged,


s: And sheltered round; but all the cataracts


s: Of Heaven set open on the Earth shall pour


s: Rain, day and night; all fountains of the deep,


s: Broke up, shall heave the ocean to usurp


s: Above the highest hills:  Then shall this mount


s: Out of his place, pushed by the horned flood,


s: With all his verdure spoiled, and trees adrift,


s: Down the great river to the opening gulf,


s: And there take root an island salt and bare,


s: The haunt of seals, and orcs, and sea-mews' clang:


s: To teach thee that God attributes to place


s: By men who there frequent, or therein dwell.


s: And now, what further shall ensue, behold.


s: He looked, and saw the ark hull on the flood,


s: Which now abated; for the clouds were fled,


s: Driven by a keen north-wind, that, blowing dry,


s: Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decayed;


s: And the clear sun on his wide watery glass


s: Gazed hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew,


s: As after thirst; which made their flowing shrink


s: From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole


s: With soft foot towards the deep; who now had stopt


s: His sluces, as the Heaven his windows shut.


s: The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground,


s: Fast on the top of some high mountain fixed.


s: And now the tops of hills, as rocks, appear;


s: With clamour thence the rapid currents drive,


s: Towards the retreating sea, their furious tide.


s: Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies,


s: Green tree or ground, whereon his foot may light:


s: Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark


s: The ancient sire descends, with all his train;


s: Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout,


s: Grateful to Heaven, over his head beholds


s: Conspicuous with three lifted colours gay,


s: Betokening peace from God, and covenant new.


s: Greatly rejoiced; and thus his joy broke forth.


s: O thou, who future things canst represent


s: As present, heavenly Instructer!  I revive


s: At this last sight; assured that Man shall live,


s: With all the creatures, and their seed preserve.


s: Far less I now lament for one whole world


s: Of wicked sons destroyed, than I rejoice


s: For one man found so perfect, and so just,


s: That God vouchsafes to raise another world


s: But say, what mean those coloured streaks in Heaven


s: Or serve they, as a flowery verge, to bind


s: The fluid skirts of that same watery cloud,


s: Lest it again dissolve, and shower the earth?


s: To whom the Arch-Angel.  Dextrously thou aimest;


s: Though late repenting him of Man depraved;


s: Grieved at his heart, when looking down he saw


s: The whole earth filled with violence, and all flesh


s: Corrupting each their way; yet, those removed,


s: Such grace shall one just man find in his sight,


s: That he relents, not to blot out mankind;


s: The earth again by flood; nor let the sea


s: Surpass his bounds; nor rain to drown the world,


s: With man therein or beast; but, when he brings


s: Over the earth a cloud, will therein set


s: His triple-coloured bow, whereon to look,


s: And call to mind his covenant: Day and night,


s: Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost,


s: Shall hold their course; till fire purge all things new,


s: Both Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell.


s: As one who in his journey bates at noon,


s: Though bent on speed; so here the Arch-Angel paused


s: Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored,


s: Then, with transition sweet, new speech resumes.


s: Thus thou hast seen one world begin, and end;


s: And Man, as from a second stock, proceed.


s: Much thou hast yet to see; but I perceive


s: Thy mortal sight to fail; objects divine


s: Must needs impair and weary human sense:


s: Henceforth what is to come I will relate;


s: Thou therefore give due audience, and attend.


s: This second source of Men, while yet but few,


s: And while the dread of judgement past remains


s: Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity,


s: With some regard to what is just and right


s: Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace;


s: Labouring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop,


s: Corn, wine, and oil; and, from the herd or flock,


s: With large wine-offerings poured, and sacred feast,


s: Shall spend their days in joy unblamed; and dwell


s: Long time in peace, by families and tribes,


s: Under paternal rule: till one shall rise


s: Of proud ambitious heart; who, not content


s: Concord and law of nature from the earth;


s: Hunting (and men not beasts shall be his game)


s: With war, and hostile snare, such as refuse


s: A mighty hunter thence he shall be styled


s: Before the Lord; as in despite of Heaven,


s: Or from Heaven, claiming second sovranty;


s: And from rebellion shall derive his name,


s: He with a crew, whom like ambition joins


s: Marching from Eden towards the west, shall find


s: The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge


s: Boils out from under ground, the mouth of Hell:


s: Of brick, and of that stuff, they cast to build


s: A city and tower, whose top may reach to Heaven;


s: And get themselves a name; lest, far dispersed


s: Unseen, and through their habitations walks


s: To mark their doings, them beholding soon,


s: Comes down to see their city, ere the tower


s: Obstruct Heaven-towers, and in derision sets


s: Upon their tongues a various spirit, to rase


s: Quite out their native language; and, instead,


s: To sow a jangling noise of words unknown:


s: Not understood; till hoarse, and all in rage,


s: As mocked they storm: great laughter was in Heaven,


s: And looking down, to see the hubbub strange,


s: And hear the din:  Thus was the building left


s: Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named.


s: Stays not on Man; to God his tower intends


s: Siege and defiance:  Wretched man! what food


s: Himself and his rash army; where thin air


s: Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross,


s: And famish him of breath, if not of bread?


s: To whom thus Michael.  Justly thou abhorrest


s: Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue


s: Is lost, which always with right reason dwells


s: Twinned, and from her hath no dividual being:


s: And upstart passions, catch the government


s: Man, till then free.  Therefore, since he permits


s: Over free reason, God, in judgement just,


s: Subjects him from without to violent lords;


s: Yet sometimes nations will decline so low


s: From virtue, which is reason, that no wrong,


s: But justice, and some fatal curse annexed,


s: Their inward lost:  Witness the irreverent son


s: Of him who built the ark; who, for the shame


s: Done to his father, heard this heavy curse,


s: Servant of servants, on his vicious race.


s: Thus will this latter, as the former world,


s: Still tend from bad to worse; till God at last,


s: His holy eyes; resolving from thenceforth


s: To leave them to their own polluted ways;


s: From all the rest, of whom to be invoked,


s: A nation from one faithful man to spring:


s: Him on this side Euphrates yet residing,


s: (Canst thou believe?) should be so stupid grown,


s: While yet the patriarch lived, who 'scaped the flood,


s: To worship their own work in wood and stone


s: For Gods!  Yet him God the Most High vouchsafes


s: To call by vision, from his father's house,


s: His kindred, and false Gods, into a land


s: Which he will show him; and from him will raise


s: All nations shall be blest: he straight obeys;


s: Not knowing to what land, yet firm believes:


s: I see him, but thou canst not, with what faith


s: He leaves his Gods, his friends, and native soil,


s: Of herds and flocks, and numerous servitude;


s: Not wandering poor, but trusting all his wealth


s: With God, who called him, in a land unknown.


s: Pitched about Sechem, and the neighbouring plain


s: From Hameth northward to the Desart south;


s: (Things by their names I call, though yet unnamed;)


s: From Hermon east to the great western Sea;


s: Mount Hermon, yonder sea; each place behold


s: In prospect, as I point them; on the shore


s: Mount Carmel; here, the double-founted stream,


s: Jordan, true limit eastward; but his sons


s: Shall dwell to Senir, that long ridge of hills.


s: This ponder, that all nations of the earth


s: Shall in his seed be blessed:  By that seed


s: Is meant thy great Deliverer, who shall bruise


s: The Serpent's head; whereof to thee anon


s: Plainlier shall be revealed.  This patriarch blest,


s: Whom faithful Abraham due time shall call,


s: A son, and of his son a grand-child, leaves;


s: Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown:


s: The grandchild, with twelve sons increased, departs


s: See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths


s: In time of dearth, a son whose worthy deeds


s: Raise him to be the second in that realm


s: Of Pharaoh.  There he dies, and leaves his race


s: To stop their overgrowth, as inmate guests


s: Too numerous; whence of guests he makes them slaves


s: Inhospitably, and kills their infant males:


s: Till by two brethren (these two brethren call


s: His people from enthralment, they return,


s: With glory and spoil, back to their promised land.


s: But first, the lawless tyrant, who denies


s: To know their God, or message to regard,


s: Must be compelled by signs and judgements dire;


s: To blood unshed the rivers must be turned;


s: Frogs, lice, and flies, must all his palace fill


s: With loathed intrusion, and fill all the land;


s: Botches and blains must all his flesh emboss,


s: And all his people; thunder mixed with hail,


s: And wheel on the earth, devouring where it rolls;


s: What it devours not, herb, or fruit, or grain,


s: A darksome cloud of locusts swarming down


s: Must eat, and on the ground leave nothing green;


s: Darkness must overshadow all his bounds,


s: Palpable darkness, and blot out three days;


s: Last, with one midnight stroke, all the first-born


s: The river-dragon tamed at length submits


s: Humbles his stubborn heart; but still, as ice


s: More hardened after thaw; till, in his rage


s: Pursuing whom he late dismissed, the sea


s: Swallows him with his host; but them lets pass,


s: As on dry land, between two crystal walls;


s: Divided, till his rescued gain their shore:


s: Such wondrous power God to his saint will lend,


s: Though present in his Angel; who shall go


s: Before them in a cloud, and pillar of fire;


s: By day a cloud, by night a pillar of fire;


s: To guide them in their journey, and remove


s: Behind them, while the obdurate king pursues:


s: All night he will pursue; but his approach


s: Darkness defends between till morning watch;


s: Then through the fiery pillar, and the cloud,


s: God looking forth will trouble all his host,


s: And craze their chariot-wheels: when by command


s: On their embattled ranks the waves return,


s: And overwhelm their war:  The race elect


s: Safe toward Canaan from the shore advance


s: Through the wild Desart, not the readiest way;


s: Lest, entering on the Canaanite alarmed,


s: Inglorious life with servitude; for life


s: Untrained in arms, where rashness leads not on.


s: This also shall they gain by their delay


s: In the wide wilderness; there they shall found


s: Their government, and their great senate choose


s: Through the twelve tribes, to rule by laws ordained:


s: God from the mount of Sinai, whose gray top


s: Shall tremble, he descending, will himself


s: In thunder, lightning, and loud trumpets' sound,


s: Ordain them laws; part, such as appertain


s: And shadows, of that destined Seed to bruise


s: The Serpent, by what means he shall achieve


s: Mankind's deliverance.  But the voice of God


s: To mortal ear is dreadful:  They beseech


s: That Moses might report to them his will,


s: And terrour cease; he grants what they besought,


s: One greater, of whose day he shall foretel,


s: And all the Prophets in their age the times


s: Of great Messiah shall sing.  Thus, laws and rites


s: Established, such delight hath God in Men


s: Obedient to his will, that he vouchsafes


s: Seven lamps as in a zodiack representing


s: The heavenly fires; over the tent a cloud


s: Shall rest by day, a fiery gleam by night;


s: Save when they journey, and at length they come,


s: Promised to Abraham and his seed:--The rest


s: Were long to tell; how many battles fought


s: How many kings destroyed; and kingdoms won;


s: Or how the sun shall in mid Heaven stand still


s: A day entire, and night's due course adjourn,


s: Man's voice commanding, "Sun, in Gibeon stand,


s: Till Israel overcome!" so call the third


s: From Abraham, son of Isaac; and from him


s: His whole descent, who thus shall Canaan win.


s: Here Adam interposed.  O sent from Heaven,


s: Enlightener of my darkness, gracious things


s: Thou hast revealed; those chiefly, which concern


s: Just Abraham and his seed: now first I find


s: Mine eyes true-opening, and my heart much eased;


s: Erewhile perplexed with thoughts, what would become


s: His day, in whom all nations shall be blest;


s: Among whom God will deign to dwell on earth


s: Among them; how can God with such reside?


s: To whom thus Michael.  Doubt not but that sin


s: Will reign among them, as of thee begot;


s: And therefore was law given them, to evince


s: Sin against law to fight: that when they see


s: The blood of bulls and goats, they may conclude


s: Some blood more precious must be paid for Man;


s: Just for unjust; that, in such righteousness


s: Of conscience; which the law by ceremonies


s: Perform; and, not performing, cannot live.


s: With purpose to resign them, in full time,


s: From shadowy types to truth; from flesh to spirit;


s: Acceptance of large grace; from servile fear


s: To filial; works of law to works of faith.


s: And therefore shall not Moses, though of God


s: But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call,


s: His name and office bearing, who shall quell


s: Through the world's wilderness long-wandered Man


s: Mean while they, in their earthly Canaan placed,


s: Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins


s: By Judges first, then under Kings; of whom


s: And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive


s: For ever shall endure; the like shall sing


s: Of David (so I name this king) shall rise


s: A Son, the Woman's seed to thee foretold,


s: Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust


s: All nations; and to kings foretold, of kings


s: The last; for of his reign shall be no end.


s: But first, a long succession must ensue;


s: And his next son, for wealth and wisdom famed,


s: The clouded ark of God, till then in tents


s: Wandering, shall in a glorious temple enshrine.


s: Part good, part bad; of bad the longer scroll;


s: Heaped to the popular sum, will so incense


s: God, as to leave them, and expose their land,


s: Their city, his temple, and his holy ark,


s: With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey


s: To that proud city, whose high walls thou sawest


s: Left in confusion; Babylon thence called.


s: The space of seventy years; then brings them back,


s: Remembering mercy, and his covenant sworn


s: To David, stablished as the days of Heaven.


s: Their lords, whom God disposed, the house of God


s: In mean estate live moderate; till, grown


s: In wealth and multitude, factious they grow;


s: But first among the priests dissention springs,


s: Men who attend the altar, and should most


s: Endeavour peace: their strife pollution brings


s: Upon the temple itself: at last they seise


s: The scepter, and regard not David's sons;


s: Then lose it to a stranger, that the true


s: Barred of his right; yet at his birth a star,


s: Unseen before in Heaven, proclaims him come;


s: And guides the eastern sages, who inquire


s: His place, to offer incense, myrrh, and gold:


s: To simple shepherds, keeping watch by night;


s: They gladly thither haste, and by a quire


s: Of squadroned Angels hear his carol sung.


s: The power of the Most High:  He shall ascend


s: The throne hereditary, and bound his reign


s: With Earth's wide bounds, his glory with the Heavens.


s: He ceased, discerning Adam with such joy


s: Surcharged, as had like grief been dewed in tears,


s: Without the vent of words; which these he breathed.


s: What oft my steadiest thoughts have searched in vain;


s: Why our great Expectation should be called


s: The seed of Woman:  Virgin Mother, hail,


s: High in the love of Heaven; yet from my loins


s: Thou shalt proceed, and from thy womb the Son


s: Of God Most High: so God with Man unites!


s: Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise


s: Expect with mortal pain:  Say where and when


s: Their fight, what stroke shall bruise the victor's heel.


s: To whom thus Michael.  Dream not of their fight,


s: Of head or heel:  Not therefore joins the Son


s: Manhood to Godhead, with more strength to foil


s: Satan, whose fall from Heaven, a deadlier bruise,


s: Disabled, not to give thee thy death's wound:


s: Which he, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure,


s: In thee, and in thy seed:  Nor can this be,


s: But by fulfilling that which thou didst want,


s: On penalty of death, and suffering death;


s: And due to theirs which out of thine will grow:


s: Both by obedience and by love, though love


s: To a reproachful life, and cursed death;


s: Proclaiming life to all who shall believe


s: In his redemption; and that his obedience,


s: Imputed, becomes theirs by faith; his merits


s: To save them, not their own, though legal, works.


s: For this he shall live hated, be blasphemed,


s: Seised on by force, judged, and to death condemned


s: A shameful and accursed, nailed to the cross


s: By his own nation; slain for bringing life:


s: The law that is against thee, and the sins


s: Of all mankind, with him there crucified,


s: Never to hurt them more who rightly trust


s: But soon revives; Death over him no power


s: Shall long usurp; ere the third dawning light


s: Return, the stars of morn shall see him rise


s: Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light,


s: Thy ransom paid, which Man from death redeems,


s: His death for Man, as many as offered life


s: By faith not void of works:  This God-like act


s: Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldest have died,


s: In sin for ever lost from life; this act


s: Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength,


s: Defeating Sin and Death, his two main arms;


s: And fix far deeper in his head their stings


s: Than temporal death shall bruise the victor's heel,


s: Or theirs whom he redeems; a death, like sleep,


s: Longer on earth, than certain times to appear


s: Still followed him; to them shall leave in charge


s: To teach all nations what of him they learned


s: And his salvation; them who shall believe


s: Baptizing in the profluent stream, the sign


s: Of washing them from guilt of sin to life


s: Pure, and in mind prepared, if so befall,


s: For death, like that which the Redeemer died.


s: All nations they shall teach; for, from that day,


s: Salvation shall be preached, but to the sons


s: Of Abraham's faith wherever through the world;


s: So in his seed all nations shall be blest.


s: Then to the Heaven of Heavens he shall ascend


s: With victory, triumphing through the air


s: Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise


s: The Serpent, prince of air, and drag in chains


s: Through all his realm, and there confounded leave;


s: His seat at God's right hand, exalted high


s: Above all names in Heaven; and thence shall come,


s: When this world's dissolution shall be ripe,


s: With glory and power to judge both quick and dead;


s: To judge the unfaithful dead, but to reward


s: His faithful, and receive them into bliss,


s: Whether in Heaven or Earth; for then the Earth


s: Shall all be Paradise, far happier place


s: Than this of Eden, and far happier days.


s: So spake the Arch-Angel Michael; then paused,


s: As at the world's great period; and our sire,


s: Replete with joy and wonder, thus replied.


s: That all this good of evil shall produce,


s: Than that which by creation first brought forth


s: Light out of darkness!  Full of doubt I stand,


s: Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring;


s: To God more glory, more good-will to Men


s: From God, and over wrath grace shall abound.


s: Must re-ascend, what will betide the few


s: His faithful, left among the unfaithful herd,


s: The enemies of truth?  Who then shall guide


s: His people, who defend?  Will they not deal


s: Worse with his followers than with him they dealt?


s: Be sure they will, said the Angel; but from Heaven


s: The promise of the Father, who shall dwell


s: His Spirit within them; and the law of faith,


s: Working through love, upon their hearts shall write,


s: To guide them in all truth; and also arm


s: Satan's assaults, and quench his fiery darts;


s: What man can do against them, not afraid,


s: Though to the death; against such cruelties


s: Their proudest persecutors:  For the Spirit,


s: Poured first on his Apostles, whom he sends


s: Baptized, shall them with wonderous gifts endue


s: To speak all tongues, and do all miracles,


s: As did their Lord before them.  Thus they win


s: With joy the tidings brought from Heaven:  At length


s: Their ministry performed, and race well run,


s: Their doctrine and their story written left,


s: They die; but in their room, as they forewarn,


s: Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous wolves,


s: With superstitions and traditions taint,


s: Left only in those written records pure,


s: Though not but by the Spirit understood.


s: Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names,


s: Places, and titles, and with these to join


s: Secular power; though feigning still to act


s: By spiritual, to themselves appropriating


s: The Spirit of God, promised alike and given


s: To all believers; and, from that pretence,


s: Spiritual laws by carnal power shall force


s: On every conscience; laws which none shall find


s: Left them inrolled, or what the Spirit within


s: Shall on the heart engrave.  What will they then


s: But force the Spirit of Grace itself, and bind


s: His living temples, built by faith to stand,


s: Their own faith, not another's? for, on earth,


s: Who against faith and conscience can be heard


s: Of spirit and truth; the rest, far greater part,


s: Will deem in outward rites and specious forms


s: Bestuck with slanderous darts, and works of faith


s: Rarely be found:  So shall the world go on,


s: Under her own weight groaning; till the day


s: The Woman's Seed; obscurely then foretold,


s: Now ampler known thy Saviour and thy Lord;


s: Last, in the clouds, from Heaven to be revealed


s: Satan with his perverted world; then raise


s: From the conflagrant mass, purged and refined,


s: New Heavens, new Earth, ages of endless date,


s: Founded in righteousness, and peace, and love;


s: To bring forth fruits, joy and eternal bliss.


s: How soon hath thy prediction, Seer blest,


s: Measured this transient world, the race of time,


s: Till time stand fixed!  Beyond is all abyss,


s: Greatly-instructed I shall hence depart;


s: Greatly in peace of thought; and have my fill


s: Of knowledge, what this vessel can contain;


s: Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best,


s: And love with fear the only God; to walk


s: Accomplishing great things, by things deemed weak


s: Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise


s: By simply meek: that suffering for truth's sake


s: And, to the faithful, death the gate of life;


s: To whom thus also the Angel last replied.


s: This having learned, thou hast attained the sum


s: Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars


s: Thou knewest by name, and all the ethereal powers,


s: All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works,


s: Or works of God in Heaven, air, earth, or sea,


s: And all the riches of this world enjoyedst,


s: Deeds to thy knowledge answerable; add faith,


s: Add virtue, patience, temperance; add love,


s: By name to come called charity, the soul


s: Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loth


s: To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess


s: Let us descend now therefore from this top


s: Exacts our parting hence; and see the guards,


s: Their motion; at whose front a flaming sword,


s: In signal of remove, waves fiercely round:


s: Her also I with gentle dreams have calmed


s: Portending good, and all her spirits composed


s: To meek submission: thou, at season fit,


s: Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard;


s: Chiefly what may concern her faith to know,


s: The great deliverance by her seed to come


s: (For by the Woman's seed) on all mankind:


s: That ye may live, which will be many days,


s: Both in one faith unanimous, though sad,


s: With cause, for evils past; yet much more cheered


s: He ended, and they both descend the hill;


s: Lay sleeping, ran before; but found her waked;


s: And thus with words not sad she him received.


s: Whence thou returnest, and whither wentest, I know;


s: For God is also in sleep; and dreams advise,


s: Which he hath sent propitious, some great good


s: Presaging, since with sorrow and heart's distress


s: Wearied I fell asleep:  But now lead on;


s: Is to stay here; without thee here to stay,


s: Art all things under Heaven, all places thou,


s: Who for my wilful crime art banished hence.


s: I carry hence; though all by me is lost,


s: By me the Promised Seed shall all restore.


s: Well pleased, but answered not:  For now, too nigh


s: The Arch-Angel stood; and, from the other hill


s: To their fixed station, all in bright array


s: Risen from a river o'er the marish glides,


s: And gathers ground fast at the labourer's heel


s: Homeward returning.  High in front advanced,


s: The brandished sword of God before them blazed,


s: Fierce as a comet; which with torrid heat,


s: Began to parch that temperate clime; whereat


s: In either hand the hastening Angel caught


s: Our lingering parents, and to the eastern gate


s: Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast


s: To the subjected plain; then disappeared.


s: They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld


s: Waved over by that flaming brand; the gate


s: With dreadful faces thronged, and fiery arms:


s: Some natural tears they dropt, but wiped them soon;


s: The world was all before them, where to choose


s: Their place of rest, and Providence their guide:


s: They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow,


s: By one man's disobedience lost, now sing


s: Through all temptation, and the Tempter foiled


s: In all his wiles, defeated and repulsed,


s: And Eden raised in the waste Wilderness.


s: Thou Spirit, who led'st this glorious Eremite


s: Against the spiritual foe, and brought'st him thence


s: By proof the undoubted Son of God, inspire,


s: As thou art wont, my prompted song, else mute,


s: And bear through highth or depth of Nature's bounds,


s: With prosperous wing full summed, to tell of deeds


s: And unrecorded left through many an age:


s: Worthy to have not remained so long unsung.


s: Now had the great Proclaimer, with a voice


s: More awful than the sound of trumpet, cried


s: Repentance, and Heaven's kingdom nigh at hand


s: To all baptized.  To his great baptism flocked


s: With awe the regions round, and with them came


s: To the flood Jordan--came as then obscure,


s: Unmarked, unknown.  But him the Baptist soon


s: Descried, divinely warned, and witness bore


s: As to his worthier, and would have resigned


s: To him his heavenly office.  Nor was long


s: His witness unconfirmed: on him baptized


s: Heaven opened, and in likeness of a Dove


s: The Spirit descended, while the Father's voice


s: From Heaven pronounced him his beloved Son.


s: That heard the Adversary, who, roving still


s: Would not be last, and, with the voice divine


s: Nigh thunder-struck, the exalted man to whom


s: Such high attest was given a while surveyed


s: With wonder; then, with envy fraught and rage,


s: Flies to his place, nor rests, but in mid air


s: To council summons all his mighty Peers,


s: Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved,


s: With looks aghast and sad, he thus bespake:--


s: "O ancient Powers of Air and this wide World


s: This our old conquest, than remember Hell,


s: This Universe we have possessed, and ruled


s: In manner at our will the affairs of Earth,


s: Lost Paradise, deceived by me, though since


s: With dread attending when that fatal wound


s: Upon my head.  Long the decrees of Heaven


s: Delay, for longest time to Him is short;


s: And now, too soon for us, the circling hours


s: This dreaded time have compassed, wherein we


s: Must bide the stroke of that long-threatened wound


s: (At least, if so we can, and by the head


s: To be infringed, our freedom and our being


s: In this fair empire won of Earth and Air)--


s: For this ill news I bring: The Woman's Seed,


s: Destined to this, is late of woman born.


s: His birth to our just fear gave no small cause;


s: But his growth now to youth's full flower, displaying


s: Things highest, greatest, multiplies my fear.


s: Pretends to wash off sin, and fit them so


s: To do him honour as their King.  All come,


s: And he himself among them was baptized--


s: Not thence to be more pure, but to receive


s: Thenceforth the nations may not doubt.  I saw


s: The Prophet do him reverence; on him, rising


s: Out of the water, Heaven above the clouds


s: Unfold her crystal doors; thence on his head


s: A perfet Dove descend (whate'er it meant);


s: And out of Heaven the sovraign voice I heard,


s: 'This is my Son beloved,--in him am pleased.'


s: His mother, than, is mortal, but his Sire


s: And what will He not do to advance his Son?


s: His first-begot we know, and sore have felt,


s: When his fierce thunder drove us to the Deep;


s: Who this is we must learn, for Man he seems


s: In all his lineaments, though in his face


s: The glimpses of his Father's glory shine.


s: But must with something sudden be opposed


s: (Not force, but well-couched fraud, well-woven snares),


s: Their king, their leader, and supreme on Earth.


s: And ruin Adam, and the exploit performed


s: Will waft me; and the way found prosperous once


s: Distracted and surprised with deep dismay


s: At these sad tidings.  But no time was then


s: For long indulgence to their fears or grief:


s: To him, their great Dictator, whose attempt


s: At first against mankind so well had thrived


s: In Adam's overthrow, and led their march


s: From Hell's deep-vaulted den to dwell in light,


s: Regents, and potentates, and kings, yea gods,


s: Of many a pleasant realm and province wide.


s: His easy steps, girded with snaky wiles,


s: Where he might likeliest find this new-declared,


s: Temptation and all guile on him to try--


s: To end his reign on Earth so long enjoyed:


s: The purposed counsel, pre-ordained and fixed,


s: Of the Most High, who, in full frequence bright


s: Of Angels, thus to Gabriel smiling spake:--


s: "Gabriel, this day, by proof, thou shalt behold,


s: Great in renown, and called the Son of God.


s: Then told'st her, doubting how these things could be


s: To her a virgin, that on her should come


s: The Holy Ghost, and the power of the Highest


s: O'ershadow her.  This Man, born and now upgrown,


s: And high prediction, henceforth I expose


s: And vaunts of his great cunning to the throng


s: Less overweening, since he failed in Job,


s: All his vast force, and drive him back to Hell--


s: Winning by conquest what the first man lost


s: There he shall first lay down the rudiments


s: Of his great warfare, ere I send him forth


s: To conquer Sin and Death, the two grand foes.


s: His weakness shall o'ercome Satanic strength,


s: And all the world, and mass of sinful flesh;


s: That all the Angels and aethereal Powers--


s: They now, and men hereafter--may discern


s: From what consummate virtue I have chose


s: This perfet man, by merit called my Son,


s: So spake the Eternal Father, and all Heaven


s: Burst forth, and in celestial measures moved,


s: Circling the throne and singing, while the hand


s: Sung with the voice, and this the argument:--


s: Now entering his great duel, not of arms,


s: But to vanquish by wisdom hellish wiles!


s: The Father knows the Son; therefore secure


s: Ventures his filial virtue, though untried,


s: Against whate'er may tempt, whate'er seduce,


s: Be frustrate, all ye stratagems of Hell,


s: And, devilish machinations, come to nought!"


s: So they in Heaven their odes and vigils tuned.


s: Meanwhile the Son of God, who yet some days


s: Lodged in Bethabara, where John baptized,


s: Of Saviour to mankind, and which way first


s: One day forth walked alone, the Spirit leading


s: And his deep thoughts, the better to converse


s: With solitude, till, far from track of men,


s: Thought following thought, and step by step led on,


s: He entered now the bordering Desert wild,


s: And, with dark shades and rocks environed round,


s: What from within I feel myself, and hear


s: What from without comes often to my ears,


s: Ill sorting with my present state compared!


s: When I was yet a child, no childish play


s: Serious to learn and know, and thence to do,


s: What might be public good; myself I thought


s: Born to that end, born to promote all truth,


s: All righteous things.  Therefore, above my years,


s: The Law of God I read, and found it sweet;


s: Made it my whole delight, and in it grew


s: Had measured twice six years, at our great Feast


s: What might improve my knowledge or their own,


s: And was admired by all.  Yet this not all


s: To which my spirit aspired.  Victorious deeds


s: Flamed in my heart, heroic acts--one while


s: Then to subdue and quell, o'er all the earth,


s: Brute violence and proud tyrannic power,


s: Till truth were freed, and equity restored:


s: Yet held it more humane, more heavenly, first


s: By winning words to conquer willing hearts,


s: And make persuasion do the work of fear;


s: At least to try, and teach the erring soul,


s: These growing thoughts my mother soon perceiving,


s: By words at times cast forth, inly rejoiced,


s: And said to me apart, 'High are thy thoughts,


s: O Son! but nourish them, and let them soar


s: To what highth sacred virtue and true worth


s: Can raise them, though above example high;


s: By matchless deeds express thy matchless Sire.


s: For know, thou art no son of mortal man;


s: Though men esteem thee low of parentage,


s: Thy Father is the Eternal King who rules


s: All Heaven and Earth, Angels and sons of men.


s: Thou shouldst be great, and sit on David's throne,


s: And of thy kingdom there should be no end.


s: Of Angels, in the fields of Bethlehem, sung


s: To shepherds, watching at their folds by night,


s: Where they might see him; and to thee they came,


s: Directed to the manger where thou lay'st;


s: A Star, not seen before, in heaven appearing,


s: Guided the Wise Men thither from the East,


s: To honour thee with incense, myrrh, and gold;


s: By whose bright course led on they found the place,


s: Affirming it thy star, new-graven in heaven,


s: By which they knew thee King of Israel born.


s: By vision, found thee in the Temple, and spake,


s: Like things of thee to all that present stood.'


s: This having heart, straight I again revolved


s: The Law and Prophets, searching what was writ


s: Known partly, and soon found of whom they spake


s: I am--this chiefly, that my way must lie


s: Through many a hard assay, even to the death,


s: Or work redemption for mankind, whose sins'


s: Full weight must be transferred upon my head.


s: Yet, neither thus disheartened or dismayed,


s: The Baptist (of whose birth I oft had heard,


s: Not knew by sight) now come, who was to come


s: Straight knew me, and with loudest voice proclaimed


s: Me him (for it was shewn him so from Heaven)--


s: Me him whose harbinger he was; and first


s: As much his greater, and was hardly won.


s: But, as I rose out of the laving stream,


s: Heaven opened her eternal doors, from whence


s: And last, the sum of all, my Father's voice,


s: Audibly heard from Heaven, pronounced me his,


s: He was well pleased: by which I knew the time


s: Now full, that I no more should live obscure,


s: The authority which I derived from Heaven.


s: I learn not yet.  Perhaps I need not know;


s: For what concerns my knowledge God reveals."


s: So spake our Morning Star, then in his rise,


s: And, looking round, on every side beheld


s: A pathless desert, dusk with horrid shades.


s: The way he came, not having marked return,


s: And he still on was led, but with such thoughts


s: Lodged in his breast as well might recommend


s: Full forty days he passed--whether on hill


s: Sometimes, anon in shady vale, each night


s: Or harboured in one cave, is not revealed;


s: Till those days ended; hungered then at last


s: Among wild beasts.  They at his sight grew mild,


s: Nor sleeping him nor waking harmed; his walk


s: The fiery serpent fled and noxious worm;


s: Following, as seemed, the quest of some stray eye,


s: Or withered sticks to gather, which might serve


s: Against a winter's day, when winds blow keen,


s: To warm him wet returned from field at eve,


s: He saw approach; who first with curious eye


s: Perused him, then with words thus uttered spake:--


s: "Sir, what ill chance hath brought thee to this place,


s: So far from path or road of men, who pass


s: Durst ever, who returned, and dropt not here


s: His carcass, pined with hunger and with droughth.


s: For that to me thou seem'st the man whom late


s: Of Jordan honoured so, and called thee Son


s: Of God.  I saw and heard, for we sometimes


s: Who dwell this wild, constrained by want, come forth


s: To town or village nigh (nighest is far),


s: Where aught we hear, and curious are to hear,


s: What happens new; fame also finds us out."


s: To whom the Son of God:--"Who brought me hither


s: Will bring me hence; no other guide I seek."


s: Live on tough roots and stubs, to thirst inured


s: More than the camel, and to drink go far--


s: That out of these hard stones be made thee bread;


s: So shalt thou save thyself, and us relieve


s: With food, whereof we wretched seldom taste."


s: "Think'st thou such force in bread?  Is it not written


s: (For I discern thee other than thou seem'st),


s: Man lives not by bread only, but each word


s: Proceeding from the mouth of God, who fed


s: Our fathers here with manna?  In the Mount


s: Moses was forty days, nor eat nor drank;


s: Wandered this barren waste; the same I now.


s: Why dost thou, then, suggest to me distrust


s: Knowing who I am, as I know who thou art?"


s: Whom thus answered the Arch-Fiend, now undisguised:--


s: "'Tis true, I am that Spirit unfortunate


s: Who, leagued with millions more in rash revolt,


s: Kept not my happy station, but was driven


s: With them from bliss to the bottomless Deep--


s: Yet to that hideous place not so confined


s: Large liberty to round this globe of Earth,


s: Or range in the Air; nor from the Heaven of Heavens


s: To prove him, and illustrate his high worth;


s: That he might fall in Ramoth, they demurring,


s: I undertook that office, and the tongues


s: Of all his flattering prophets glibbed with lies


s: For what he bids I do.  Though I have lost


s: Much lustre of my native brightness, lost


s: To love, at least contemplate and admire,


s: Or virtuous; I should so have lost all sense.


s: To see thee and approach thee, whom I know


s: Thy wisdom, and behold thy godlike deeds?


s: To all mankind.  Why should I? they to me


s: I gained what I have gained, and with them dwell


s: Copartner in these regions of the World,


s: And answers, oracles, portents, and dreams,


s: Whereby they may direct their future life.


s: Envy, they say, excites me, thus to gain


s: At first it may be; but, long since with woe


s: That fellowship in pain divides not smart,


s: Nor lightens aught each man's peculiar load;


s: Small consolation, then, were Man adjoined.


s: This wounds me most (what can it less?) that Man,


s: Man fallen, shall be restored, I never more."


s: To whom our Saviour sternly thus replied:--


s: "Deservedly thou griev'st, composed of lies


s: From the beginning, and in lies wilt end,


s: Who boast'st release from Hell, and leave to come


s: Into the Heaven of Heavens.  Thou com'st, indeed,


s: Comes to the place where he before had sat


s: Among the prime in splendour, now deposed,


s: Ejected, emptied, gazed, unpitied, shunned,


s: To all the host of Heaven.  The happy place


s: Rather inflames thy torment, representing


s: Lost bliss, to thee no more communicable;


s: So never more in Hell than when in Heaven.


s: But thou art serviceable to Heaven's King!


s: Wilt thou impute to obedience what thy fear


s: What but thy malice moved thee to misdeem


s: Of righteous Job, then cruelly to afflict him


s: With all inflictions? but his patience won.


s: Yet thou pretend'st to truth! all oracles


s: By thee are given, and what confessed more true


s: Among the nations?  That hath been thy craft,


s: By mixing somewhat true to vent more lies.


s: But what have been thy answers? what but dark,


s: Ambiguous, and with double sense deluding,


s: Which they who asked have seldom understood,


s: And, not well understood, as good not known?


s: Returned the wiser, or the more instruct


s: To fly or follow what concerned him most,


s: For God hath justly given the nations up


s: To thy delusions; justly, since they fell


s: To thee not known, whence hast thou then thy truth,


s: In every province, who, themselves disdaining


s: To approach thy temples, give thee in command


s: To thy adorers?  Thou, with trembling fear,


s: Then to thyself ascrib'st the truth foretold.


s: But this thy glory shall be soon retrenched;


s: The Gentiles; henceforth oracles are ceased,


s: And thou no more with pomp and sacrifice


s: Shalt be enquired at Delphos or elsewhere--


s: At least in vain, for they shall find thee mute.


s: And sends his Spirit of Truth henceforth to dwell


s: To all truth requisite for men to know."


s: So spake our Saviour; but the subtle Fiend,


s: Though inly stung with anger and disdain,


s: Dissembled, and this answer smooth returned:--


s: And urged me hard with doings which not will,


s: But misery, hath wrested from me.  Where


s: And not inforced oft-times to part from truth,


s: If it may stand him more in stead to lie,


s: Say and unsay, feign, flatter, or abjure?


s: But thou art placed above me; thou art Lord;


s: From thee I can, and must, submiss, endure


s: Cheek or reproof, and glad to scape so quit.


s: Hard are the ways of truth, and rough to walk,


s: Smooth on the tongue discoursed, pleasing to the ear,


s: Her dictates from thy mouth? most men admire


s: Virtue who follow not her lore.  Permit me


s: To hear thee when I come (since no man comes),


s: And talk at least, though I despair to attain.


s: Thy Father, who is holy, wise, and pure,


s: To tread his sacred courts, and minister


s: Praying or vowing, and voutsafed his voice


s: Inspired: disdain not such access to me."


s: To whom our Saviour, with unaltered brow:--


s: "Thy coming hither, though I know thy scope,


s: I bid not, or forbid.  Do as thou find'st


s: Permission from above; thou canst not more."


s: Night with her sullen wing to double-shade


s: The desert; fowls in their clay nests were couched;


s: And now wild beasts came forth the woods to roam.


s: MEANWHILE the new-baptized, who yet remained


s: At Jordan with the Baptist, and had seen


s: Him whom they heard so late expressly called


s: And on that high authority had believed,


s: And with him talked, and with him lodged--I mean


s: With others, though in Holy Writ not named--


s: Now missing him, their joy so lately found,


s: And, as the days increased, increased their doubt.


s: Sometimes they thought he might be only shewn,


s: And for a time caught up to God, as once


s: Moses was in the Mount and missing long,


s: And the great Thisbite, who on fiery wheels


s: Rode up to Heaven, yet once again to come.


s: Therefore, as those young prophets then with care


s: Sought lost Eliah, so in each place these


s: The city of palms, AEnon, and Salem old,


s: Where winds with reeds and osiers whispering play,


s: Plain fishermen (no greater men them call),


s: Their unexpected loss and plaints outbreathed:--


s: "Alas, from what high hope to what relapse


s: Unlooked for are we fallen!  Our eyes beheld


s: His words, his wisdom full of grace and truth.


s: 'Now, now, for sure, deliverance is at hand;


s: The kingdom shall to Israel be restored:'


s: Thus we rejoiced, but soon our joy is turned


s: Hath rapt him from us? will he now retire


s: Send thy Messiah forth; the time is come.


s: Behold the kings of the earth, how they oppress


s: Thy Chosen, to what highth their power unjust


s: Thy glory; free thy people from their yoke!


s: But let us wait; thus far He hath performed--


s: Sent his Anointed, and to us revealed him


s: By his great Prophet pointed at and shown


s: In public, and with him we have conversed.


s: Let us be glad of this, and all our fears


s: Lay on his providence; He will not fail,


s: Nor will withdraw him now, nor will recall--


s: Mock us with his blest sight, then snatch him hence:


s: Soon we shall see our hope, our joy, return."


s: Thus they out of their plaints new hope resume


s: To find whom at the first they found unsought.


s: Others returned from baptism, not her Son,


s: Within her breast though calm, her breast though pure,


s: Motherly cares and fears got head, and raised


s: Some troubled thoughts, which she in sighs thus clad:--


s: "Oh, what avails me now that honour high,


s: To have conceived of God, or that salute,


s: 'Hail, highly favoured, among women blest!'


s: In such a season born, when scarce a shed


s: From the bleak air?  A stable was our warmth,


s: Were dead, who sought his life, and, missing, filled


s: With infant blood the streets of Bethlehem.


s: Hath been our dwelling many years; his life


s: Little suspicious to any king.  But now,


s: Full grown to man, acknowledged, as I hear,


s: By John the Baptist, and in public shewn,


s: Son owned from Heaven by his Father's voice,


s: I looked for some great change.  To honour? no;


s: But trouble, as old Simeon plain foretold,


s: That to the fall and rising he should be


s: Spoken against--that through my very soul


s: A sword shall pierce.  This is my favoured lot,


s: Afflicted I may be, it seems, and blest!


s: But where delays he now?  Some great intent


s: Conceals him.  When twelve years he scarce had seen,


s: He could not lose himself, but went about


s: His Father's business.  What he meant I mused--


s: Since understand; much more his absence now


s: Thus long to some great purpose he obscures.


s: My heart hath been a storehouse long of things


s: And sayings laid up, pretending strange events."


s: Thus Mary, pondering oft, and oft to mind


s: Since first her Salutation heard, with thoughts


s: The while her Son, tracing the desert wild,


s: All his great work to come before him set--


s: His end of being on Earth, and mission high.


s: Had left him vacant, and with speed was gone


s: Where all his Potentates in council sate.


s: There, without sign of boast, or sign of joy,


s: "Princes, Heaven's ancient Sons, AEthereal Thrones--


s: Each of his reign allotted, rightlier called


s: Powers of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth beneath


s: (So may we hold our place and these mild seats


s: Threatens than our expulsion down to Hell.


s: Consenting in full frequence was impowered,


s: Have found him, viewed him, tasted him; but find


s: Than when I dealt with Adam, first of men,


s: Though Adam by his wife's allurement fell,


s: With more than human gifts from Heaven adorned,


s: And amplitude of mind to greatest deeds.


s: Therefore I am returned, lest confidence


s: Thought none my equal, now be overmatched."


s: So spake the old Serpent, doubting, and from all


s: With clamour was assured their utmost aid


s: At his command; when from amidst them rose


s: Belial, the dissolutest Spirit that fell,


s: The fleshliest Incubus, and thus advised:--


s: Among daughters of men the fairest found.


s: Than mortal creatures, graceful and discreet,


s: Expert in amorous arts, enchanting tongues


s: And sweet allayed, yet terrible to approach,


s: Hearts after them tangled in amorous nets.


s: Such object hath the power to soften and tame


s: Severest temper, smooth the rugged'st brow,


s: Enerve, and with voluptuous hope dissolve,


s: Draw out with credulous desire, and lead


s: At will the manliest, resolutest breast,


s: Women, when nothing else, beguiled the heart


s: And made him bow, to the gods of his wives."


s: To whom quick answer Satan thus returned:--


s: "Belial, in much uneven scale thou weigh'st


s: Thou thyself doat'st on womankind, admiring


s: Their shape, their colour, and attractive grace,


s: None are, thou think'st, but taken with such toys.


s: Before the Flood, thou, with thy lusty crew,


s: False titled Sons of God, roaming the Earth,


s: Cast wanton eyes on the daughters of men,


s: And coupled with them, and begot a race.


s: In courts and regal chambers how thou lurk'st,


s: In wood or grove, by mossy fountain-side,


s: Too long--then lay'st thy scapes on names adored,


s: Satyr, or Faun, or Silvan?  But these haunts


s: How many have with a smile made small account


s: All her assaults, on worthier things intent!


s: A youth, how all the beauties of the East


s: He slightly viewed, and slightly overpassed;


s: In his prime youth, the fair Iberian maid.


s: For Solomon, he lived at ease, and, full


s: Of honour, wealth, high fare, aimed not beyond


s: Thence to the bait of women lay exposed.


s: Made and set wholly on the accomplishment


s: Of greatest things.  What woman will you find,


s: Though of this age the wonder and the fame,


s: On whom his leisure will voutsafe an eye


s: Of fond desire?  Or should she, confident,


s: As sitting queen adored on Beauty's throne,


s: Descend with all her winning charms begirt


s: Wrought that effect on Jove (so fables tell),


s: How would one look from his majestic brow,


s: Discountenance her despised, and put to rout


s: Or turn to reverent awe!  For Beauty stands


s: Led captive; cease to admire, and all her plumes


s: Fall flat, and shrink into a trivial toy,


s: At every sudden slighting quite abashed.


s: Therefore with manlier objects we must try


s: His constancy--with such as have more shew


s: Of worth, of honour, glory, and popular praise


s: (Rocks whereon greatest men have oftest wrecked);


s: And now I know he hungers, where no food


s: No advantage, and his strength as oft assay."


s: He ceased, and heard their grant in loud acclaim;


s: Then forthwith to him takes a chosen band


s: If cause were to unfold some active scene


s: Of various persons, each to know his part;


s: Then to the desert takes with these his flight,


s: Where still, from shade to shade, the Son of God,


s: After forty days' fasting, had remained,


s: Now hungering first, and to himself thus said:--


s: "Where will this end?  Four times ten days I have passed


s: Wandering this woody maze, and human food


s: Nor tasted, nor had appetite.  That fast


s: Of what I suffer here.  If nature need not,


s: Though needing, what praise is it to endure?


s: Nature hath need of what she asks.  Yet God


s: Though hunger still remain.  So it remain


s: Without this body's wasting, I content me,


s: And from the sting of famine fear no harm;


s: Nor mind it, fed with better thoughts, that feed


s: Me hungering more to do my Father's will."


s: It was the hour of night, when thus the Son


s: Communed in silent walk, then laid him down


s: Of trees thick interwoven.  There he slept,


s: And dreamed, as appetite is wont to dream,


s: Of meats and drinks, nature's refreshment sweet.


s: Him thought he by the brook of Cherith stood,


s: And saw the ravens with their horny beaks


s: Though ravenous, taught to abstain from what they brought;


s: He found his supper on the coals prepared,


s: The strength whereof sufficed him forty days:


s: Thus wore out night; and now the harald Lark


s: Left his ground-nest, high towering to descry


s: The Morn's approach, and greet her with his song.


s: As lightly from his grassy couch up rose


s: Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream;


s: Fasting he went to sleep, and fasting waked.


s: From whose high top to ken the prospect round,


s: If cottage were in view, sheep-cote, or herd;


s: But cottage, herd, or sheep-cote, none he saw--


s: With chaunt of tuneful birds resounding loud.


s: Thither he bent his way, determined there


s: To rest at noon, and entered soon the shade


s: High-roofed, and walks beneath, and alleys brown,


s: Nature's own work it seemed (Nature taught Art),


s: Of wood-gods and wood-nymphs.  He viewed it round;


s: Not rustic as before, but seemlier clad,


s: And with fair speech these words to him addressed:--


s: But much more wonder that the Son of God


s: In this wild solitude so long should bide,


s: Of all things destitute, and, well I know,


s: Not without hunger.  Others of some note,


s: As story tells, have trod this wilderness:


s: Of Israel here had famished, had not God


s: Rained from heaven manna; and that Prophet bold,


s: Native of Thebez, wandering here, was fed


s: Of thee those forty days none hath regard,


s: To whom thus Jesus:--"What conclud'st thou hence?


s: They all had need; I, as thou seest, have none."


s: "How hast thou hunger then?" Satan replied.


s: "Tell me, if food were now before thee set,


s: Wouldst thou not eat?"  "Thereafter as I like


s: the giver," answered Jesus.  "Why should that


s: Cause thy refusal?" said the subtle Fiend.


s: "Hast thou not right to all created things?


s: Owe not all creatures, by just right, to thee


s: But tender all their power?  Nor mention I


s: Meats by the law unclean, or offered first


s: To idols--those young Daniel could refuse;


s: Would scruple that, with want oppressed?  Behold,


s: Troubled, that thou shouldst hunger, hath purveyed


s: From all the elements her choicest store,


s: To treat thee as beseems, and as her Lord


s: With honour.  Only deign to sit and eat."


s: He spake no dream; for, as his words had end,


s: Our Saviour, lifting up his eyes, beheld,


s: In ample space under the broadest shade,


s: With dishes piled and meats of noblest sort


s: And savour--beasts of chase, or fowl of game,


s: In pastry built, or from the spit, or boiled,


s: Grisamber-steamed; all fish, from sea or shore,


s: Freshet or purling brook, of shell or fin,


s: And exquisitest name, for which was drained


s: Pontus, and Lucrine bay, and Afric coast.


s: Alas! how simple, to these cates compared,


s: And at a stately sideboard, by the wine,


s: That fragrant smell diffused, in order stood


s: Tall stripling youths rich-clad, of fairer hue


s: Under the trees now tripped, now solemn stood,


s: With fruits and flowers from Amalthea's horn,


s: And ladies of the Hesperides, that seemed