s: A leper once he lost, and gained a king--


s: Ahaz, his sottish conqueror, whom he drew


s: His odious offerings, and adore the gods


s: Whom he had vanquished.  After these appeared


s: With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused


s: Their wandering gods disguised in brutish forms


s: Rather than human.  Nor did Israel scape


s: Th' infection, when their borrowed gold composed


s: Jehovah, who, in one night, when he passed


s: Both her first-born and all her bleating gods.


s: Belial came last; than whom a Spirit more lewd


s: Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love


s: Vice for itself.  To him no temple stood


s: Or altar smoked; yet who more oft than he


s: In temples and at altars, when the priest


s: Turns atheist, as did Eli's sons, who filled


s: With lust and violence the house of God?


s: And in luxurious cities, where the noise


s: Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers,


s: Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons


s: Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.


s: Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night


s: These were the prime in order and in might:


s: The rest were long to tell; though far renowned


s: Gods, yet confessed later than Heaven and Earth,


s: Their boasted parents;--Titan, Heaven's first-born,


s: With his enormous brood, and birthright seized


s: By younger Saturn: he from mightier Jove,


s: His own and Rhea's son, like measure found;


s: So Jove usurping reigned.  These, first in Crete


s: Their highest heaven; or on the Delphian cliff,


s: Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds


s: Fled over Adria to th' Hesperian fields,


s: And o'er the Celtic roamed the utmost Isles.


s: All these and more came flocking; but with looks


s: Downcast and damp; yet such wherein appeared


s: Obscure some glimpse of joy to have found their Chief


s: Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost


s: In loss itself; which on his countenance cast


s: Like doubtful hue.  But he, his wonted pride


s: Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore


s: Semblance of worth, not substance, gently raised


s: Their fainting courage, and dispelled their fears.


s: Then straight commands that, at the warlike sound


s: Of trumpets loud and clarions, be upreared


s: His mighty standard.  That proud honour claimed


s: Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurled


s: Th' imperial ensign; which, full high advanced,


s: Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind,


s: With gems and golden lustre rich emblazed,


s: Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while


s: A shout that tore Hell's concave, and beyond


s: Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night.


s: All in a moment through the gloom were seen


s: With orient colours waving: with them rose


s: A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms


s: Appeared, and serried shields in thick array


s: Of flutes and soft recorders--such as raised


s: Deliberate valour breathed, firm, and unmoved


s: With dread of death to flight or foul retreat;


s: With solemn touches troubled thoughts, and chase


s: Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain


s: From mortal or immortal minds.  Thus they,


s: Breathing united force with fixed thought,


s: Moved on in silence to soft pipes that charmed


s: Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil.  And now


s: Advanced in view they stand--a horrid front


s: Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise


s: Of warriors old, with ordered spear and shield,


s: Awaiting what command their mighty Chief


s: Had to impose.  He through the armed files


s: Darts his experienced eye, and soon traverse


s: The whole battalion views--their order due,


s: Their number last he sums.  And now his heart


s: Distends with pride, and, hardening in his strength,


s: Met such embodied force as, named with these,


s: Could merit more than that small infantry


s: Warred on by cranes--though all the giant brood


s: Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were joined


s: That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side


s: Mixed with auxiliar gods; and what resounds


s: Begirt with British and Armoric knights;


s: When Charlemain with all his peerage fell


s: Their dread Commander.  He, above the rest


s: Stood like a tower.  His form had yet not lost


s: All her original brightness, nor appeared


s: Less than Archangel ruined, and th' excess


s: Of glory obscured: as when the sun new-risen


s: Shorn of his beams, or, from behind the moon,


s: In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds


s: On half the nations, and with fear of change


s: Perplexes monarchs.  Darkened so, yet shone


s: Above them all th' Archangel: but his face


s: Deep scars of thunder had intrenched, and care


s: Of dauntless courage, and considerate pride


s: Waiting revenge.  Cruel his eye, but cast


s: The fellows of his crime, the followers rather


s: (Far other once beheld in bliss), condemned


s: For ever now to have their lot in pain--


s: Millions of Spirits for his fault amerced


s: Of Heaven, and from eternal splendours flung


s: For his revolt--yet faithful how they stood,


s: Their glory withered; as, when heaven's fire


s: Hath scathed the forest oaks or mountain pines,


s: With singed top their stately growth, though bare,


s: Stands on the blasted heath.  He now prepared


s: To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend


s: From wing to wing, and half enclose him round


s: With all his peers: attention held them mute.


s: Thrice he assayed, and thrice, in spite of scorn,


s: Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last


s: Words interwove with sighs found out their way:--


s: "O myriads of immortal Spirits! O Powers


s: Matchless, but with th' Almighty!--and that strife


s: Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire,


s: As this place testifies, and this dire change,


s: Hateful to utter.  But what power of mind,


s: Of knowledge past or present, could have feared


s: As stood like these, could ever know repulse?


s: For who can yet believe, though after loss,


s: That all these puissant legions, whose exile


s: Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to re-ascend,


s: Self-raised, and repossess their native seat?


s: For me, be witness all the host of Heaven,


s: If counsels different, or danger shunned


s: By me, have lost our hopes.  But he who reigns


s: Monarch in Heaven till then as one secure


s: Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute,


s: Put forth at full, but still his strength concealed--


s: Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall.


s: Henceforth his might we know, and know our own,


s: New war provoked: our better part remains


s: To work in close design, by fraud or guile,


s: What force effected not; that he no less


s: At length from us may find, who overcomes


s: By force hath overcome but half his foe.


s: Space may produce new Worlds; whereof so rife


s: There went a fame in Heaven that he ere long


s: Should favour equal to the Sons of Heaven.


s: Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps


s: Our first eruption--thither, or elsewhere;


s: Celestial Spirits in bondage, nor th' Abyss


s: Long under darkness cover.  But these thoughts


s: Full counsel must mature.  Peace is despaired;


s: For who can think submission? War, then, war


s: He spake; and, to confirm his words, outflew


s: Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs


s: Far round illumined Hell.  Highly they raged


s: Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms


s: Clashed on their sounding shields the din of war,


s: Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heaven.


s: There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top


s: Belched fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire


s: Shone with a glossy scurf--undoubted sign


s: The work of sulphur.  Thither, winged with speed,


s: A numerous brigade hastened: as when bands


s: Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field,


s: Or cast a rampart.  Mammon led them on--


s: Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell


s: From Heaven; for even in Heaven his looks and thoughts


s: Were always downward bent, admiring more


s: The riches of heaven's pavement, trodden gold,


s: Ransacked the centre, and with impious hands


s: For treasures better hid.  Soon had his crew


s: And digged out ribs of gold.  Let none admire


s: That riches grow in Hell; that soil may best


s: Deserve the precious bane.  And here let those


s: Who boast in mortal things, and wondering tell


s: Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings,


s: Learn how their greatest monuments of fame


s: And strength, and art, are easily outdone


s: What in an age they, with incessant toil


s: Nigh on the plain, in many cells prepared,


s: That underneath had veins of liquid fire


s: Sluiced from the lake, a second multitude


s: With wondrous art founded the massy ore,


s: Severing each kind, and scummed the bullion-dross.


s: A third as soon had formed within the ground


s: A various mould, and from the boiling cells


s: By strange conveyance filled each hollow nook;


s: To many a row of pipes the sound-board breathes.


s: Built like a temple, where pilasters round


s: With golden architrave; nor did there want


s: Cornice or frieze, with bossy sculptures graven;


s: Equalled in all their glories, to enshrine


s: In wealth and luxury.  Th' ascending pile


s: Stood fixed her stately height, and straight the doors,


s: Opening their brazen folds, discover, wide


s: Within, her ample spaces o'er the smooth


s: And level pavement: from the arched roof,


s: Of starry lamps and blazing cressets, fed


s: With naptha and asphaltus, yielded light


s: Admiring entered; and the work some praise,


s: And some the architect.  His hand was known


s: In Heaven by many a towered structure high,


s: Where sceptred Angels held their residence,


s: And sat as Princes, whom the supreme King


s: Exalted to such power, and gave to rule,


s: Each in his Hierarchy, the Orders bright.


s: Men called him Mulciber; and how he fell


s: From Heaven they fabled, thrown by angry Jove


s: Sheer o'er the crystal battlements: from morn


s: A summer's day, and with the setting sun


s: Dropt from the zenith, like a falling star,


s: On Lemnos, th' Aegaean isle.  Thus they relate,


s: Erring; for he with this rebellious rout


s: Fell long before; nor aught availed him now


s: To have built in Heaven high towers; nor did he scape


s: By all his engines, but was headlong sent,


s: With his industrious crew, to build in Hell.


s: Meanwhile the winged Heralds, by command


s: And trumpet's sound, throughout the host proclaim


s: Of Satan and his peers.  Their summons called


s: By place or choice the worthiest: they anon


s: With hundreds and with thousands trooping came


s: Attended.  All access was thronged; the gates


s: And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall


s: (Though like a covered field, where champions bold


s: Wont ride in armed, and at the Soldan's chair


s: To mortal combat, or career with lance),


s: Thick swarmed, both on the ground and in the air,


s: Brushed with the hiss of rustling wings.  As bees


s: In spring-time, when the Sun with Taurus rides.


s: Pour forth their populous youth about the hive


s: In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers


s: Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed plank,


s: The suburb of their straw-built citadel,


s: New rubbed with balm, expatiate, and confer


s: Their state-affairs: so thick the airy crowd


s: Swarmed and were straitened; till, the signal given,


s: Behold a wonder! They but now who seemed


s: In bigness to surpass Earth's giant sons,


s: Now less than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room


s: Throng numberless--like that pygmean race


s: Beyond the Indian mount; or faery elves,


s: Or dreams he sees, while overhead the Moon


s: Wheels her pale course: they, on their mirth and dance


s: Intent, with jocund music charm his ear;


s: At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds.


s: Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms


s: Reduced their shapes immense, and were at large,


s: Though without number still, amidst the hall


s: Of that infernal court.  But far within,


s: And in their own dimensions like themselves,


s: In close recess and secret conclave sat,


s: Frequent and full.  After short silence then,


s: And summons read, the great consult began.


s: High on a throne of royal state, which far


s: Outshone the wealth or Ormus and of Ind,


s: Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand


s: Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold,


s: Vain war with Heaven; and, by success untaught,


s: His proud imaginations thus displayed:--


s: For, since no deep within her gulf can hold


s: Immortal vigour, though oppressed and fallen,


s: I give not Heaven for lost: from this descent


s: More glorious and more dread than from no fall,


s: And trust themselves to fear no second fate!--


s: Me though just right, and the fixed laws of Heaven,


s: Did first create your leader--next, free choice


s: With what besides in council or in fight


s: Hath been achieved of merit--yet this loss,


s: Thus far at least recovered, hath much more


s: Yielded with full consent.  The happier state


s: In Heaven, which follows dignity, might draw


s: Will envy whom the highest place exposes


s: Foremost to stand against the Thunderer's aim


s: Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share


s: Of endless pain? Where there is, then, no good


s: For which to strive, no strife can grow up there


s: From faction: for none sure will claim in Hell


s: Precedence; none whose portion is so small


s: Of present pain that with ambitious mind


s: Will covet more! With this advantage, then,


s: To union, and firm faith, and firm accord,


s: More than can be in Heaven, we now return


s: Could have assured us; and by what best way,


s: We now debate.  Who can advise may speak."


s: He ceased; and next him Moloch, sceptred king,


s: Stood up--the strongest and the fiercest Spirit


s: That fought in Heaven, now fiercer by despair.


s: His trust was with th' Eternal to be deemed


s: Equal in strength, and rather than be less


s: Cared not to be at all; with that care lost


s: Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worse,


s: He recked not, and these words thereafter spake:--


s: "My sentence is for open war.  Of wiles,


s: More unexpert, I boast not: them let those


s: Contrive who need, or when they need; not now.


s: For, while they sit contriving, shall the rest--


s: Millions that stand in arms, and longing wait


s: The signal to ascend--sit lingering here,


s: Heaven's fugitives, and for their dwelling-place


s: Accept this dark opprobrious den of shame,


s: Armed with Hell-flames and fury, all at once


s: O'er Heaven's high towers to force resistless way,


s: Against the Torturer; when, to meet the noise


s: Infernal thunder, and, for lightning, see


s: Black fire and horror shot with equal rage


s: Mixed with Tartarean sulphur and strange fire,


s: The way seems difficult, and steep to scale


s: Let such bethink them, if the sleepy drench


s: Of that forgetful lake benumb not still,


s: To us is adverse.  Who but felt of late,


s: When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear


s: Insulting, and pursued us through the Deep,


s: With what compulsion and laborious flight


s: We sunk thus low? Th' ascent is easy, then;


s: Th' event is feared! Should we again provoke


s: Our stronger, some worse way his wrath may find


s: Fear to be worse destroyed! What can be worse


s: Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemned


s: The vassals of his anger, when the scourge


s: Calls us to penance? More destroyed than thus,


s: We should be quite abolished, and expire.


s: What fear we then? what doubt we to incense


s: His utmost ire? which, to the height enraged,


s: Will either quite consume us, and reduce


s: On this side nothing; and by proof we feel


s: Our power sufficient to disturb his Heaven,


s: He ended frowning, and his look denounced


s: To less than gods.  On th' other side up rose


s: Belial, in act more graceful and humane.


s: A fairer person lost not Heaven; he seemed


s: But all was false and hollow; though his tongue


s: Dropped manna, and could make the worse appear


s: Maturest counsels: for his thoughts were low--


s: To vice industrious, but to nobler deeds


s: Timorous and slothful.  Yet he pleased the ear,


s: And with persuasive accent thus began:--


s: "I should be much for open war, O Peers,


s: As not behind in hate, if what was urged


s: Did not dissuade me most, and seem to cast


s: Ominous conjecture on the whole success;


s: When he who most excels in fact of arms,


s: Mistrustful, grounds his courage on despair


s: Of all his aim, after some dire revenge.


s: First, what revenge? The towers of Heaven are filled


s: With armed watch, that render all access


s: Encamp their legions, or with obscure wing


s: Scout far and wide into the realm of Night,


s: Scorning surprise.  Or, could we break our way


s: By force, and at our heels all Hell should rise


s: Heaven's purest light, yet our great Enemy,


s: Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire,


s: Victorious.  Thus repulsed, our final hope


s: Th' Almighty Victor to spend all his rage;


s: And that must end us; that must be our cure--


s: To be no more.  Sad cure! for who would lose,


s: Though full of pain, this intellectual being,


s: Those thoughts that wander through eternity,


s: Devoid of sense and motion? And who knows,


s: Is doubtful; that he never will is sure.


s: Will he, so wise, let loose at once his ire,


s: To punish endless? "Wherefore cease we, then?"


s: Say they who counsel war; "we are decreed,


s: Whatever doing, what can we suffer more,


s: What can we suffer worse?" Is this, then, worst--


s: Thus sitting, thus consulting, thus in arms?


s: What when we fled amain, pursued and struck


s: With Heaven's afflicting thunder, and besought


s: The Deep to shelter us? This Hell then seemed


s: A refuge from those wounds.  Or when we lay


s: Chained on the burning lake? That sure was worse.


s: What if the breath that kindled those grim fires,


s: Awaked, should blow them into sevenfold rage,


s: And plunge us in the flames; or from above


s: His red right hand to plague us? What if all


s: Her stores were opened, and this firmament


s: Of Hell should spout her cataracts of fire,


s: Impendent horrors, threatening hideous fall


s: One day upon our heads; while we perhaps,


s: Caught in a fiery tempest, shall be hurled,


s: Each on his rock transfixed, the sport and prey


s: Under yon boiling ocean, wrapt in chains,


s: There to converse with everlasting groans,


s: Ages of hopeless end? This would be worse.


s: War, therefore, open or concealed, alike


s: My voice dissuades; for what can force or guile


s: With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye


s: Views all things at one view? He from Heaven's height


s: All these our motions vain sees and derides,


s: Than wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles.


s: Shall we, then, live thus vile--the race of Heaven


s: Thus trampled, thus expelled, to suffer here


s: Chains and these torments? Better these than worse,


s: The Victor's will.  To suffer, as to do,


s: Our strength is equal; nor the law unjust


s: That so ordains.  This was at first resolved,


s: Contending, and so doubtful what might fall.


s: I laugh when those who at the spear are bold


s: And venturous, if that fail them, shrink, and fear


s: What yet they know must follow--to endure


s: The sentence of their Conqueror.  This is now


s: Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear,


s: His anger, and perhaps, thus far removed,


s: With what is punished; whence these raging fires


s: Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames.


s: Their noxious vapour; or, inured, not feel;


s: Or, changed at length, and to the place conformed


s: Familiar the fierce heat; and, void of pain,


s: This horror will grow mild, this darkness light;


s: Besides what hope the never-ending flight


s: Of future days may bring, what chance, what change


s: Worth waiting--since our present lot appears


s: For happy though but ill, for ill not worst,


s: If we procure not to ourselves more woe."


s: Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason's garb,


s: Counselled ignoble ease and peaceful sloth,


s: Not peace; and after him thus Mammon spake:--


s: "Either to disenthrone the King of Heaven


s: Our own right lost.  Him to unthrone we then


s: May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield


s: To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the strife.


s: The former, vain to hope, argues as vain


s: The latter; for what place can be for us


s: Within Heaven's bound, unless Heaven's Lord supreme


s: And publish grace to all, on promise made


s: Of new subjection; with what eyes could we


s: Stand in his presence humble, and receive


s: Strict laws imposed, to celebrate his throne


s: With warbled hymns, and to his Godhead sing


s: Forced hallelujahs, while he lordly sits


s: Our envied sovereign, and his altar breathes


s: Our servile offerings? This must be our task


s: In Heaven, this our delight.  How wearisome


s: To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue,


s: Unacceptable, though in Heaven, our state


s: Our own good from ourselves, and from our own


s: Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess,


s: Free and to none accountable, preferring


s: Of servile pomp.  Our greatness will appear


s: Then most conspicuous when great things of small,


s: Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse,


s: Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain


s: Through labour and endurance.  This deep world


s: Thick clouds and dark doth Heaven's all-ruling Sire


s: Covers his throne, from whence deep thunders roar.


s: Mustering their rage, and Heaven resembles Hell!


s: Imitate when we please? This desert soil


s: Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold;


s: Nor want we skill or art from whence to raise


s: Magnificence; and what can Heaven show more?


s: Our torments also may, in length of time,


s: Become our elements, these piercing fires


s: As soft as now severe, our temper changed


s: Into their temper; which must needs remove


s: The sensible of pain.  All things invite


s: To peaceful counsels, and the settled state


s: Of what we are and where, dismissing quite


s: All thoughts of war.  Ye have what I advise."


s: He scarce had finished, when such murmur filled


s: Th' assembly as when hollow rocks retain


s: The sound of blustering winds, which all night long


s: Had roused the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull


s: Seafaring men o'erwatched, whose bark by chance


s: After the tempest.  Such applause was heard


s: As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleased,


s: They dreaded worse than Hell; so much the fear


s: Wrought still within them; and no less desire


s: To found this nether empire, which might rise,


s: Which when Beelzebub perceived--than whom,


s: Satan except, none higher sat--with grave


s: Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemed


s: A pillar of state.  Deep on his front engraven


s: And princely counsel in his face yet shone,


s: Majestic, though in ruin.  Sage he stood


s: The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look


s: Drew audience and attention still as night


s: Or summer's noontide air, while thus he spake:--


s: Must we renounce, and, changing style, be called


s: Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote


s: Inclines--here to continue, and build up here


s: A growing empire; doubtless! while we dream,


s: And know not that the King of Heaven hath doomed


s: This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat


s: From Heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league


s: Banded against his throne, but to remain


s: In strictest bondage, though thus far removed,


s: His captive multitude.  For he, to be sure,


s: In height or depth, still first and last will reign


s: Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part


s: Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven.


s: What sit we then projecting peace and war?


s: War hath determined us and foiled with loss


s: Vouchsafed or sought; for what peace will be given


s: Inflicted? and what peace can we return,


s: Untamed reluctance, and revenge, though slow,


s: Yet ever plotting how the Conqueror least


s: May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice


s: In doing what we most in suffering feel?


s: Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need


s: Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege,


s: Or ambush from the Deep.  What if we find


s: Some easier enterprise? There is a place


s: (If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven


s: Of some new race, called Man, about this time


s: In power and excellence, but favoured more


s: Pronounced among the Gods, and by an oath


s: That shook Heaven's whole circumference confirmed.


s: Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn


s: What creatures there inhabit, of what mould


s: Or substance, how endued, and what their power


s: And where their weakness: how attempted best,


s: By force of subtlety.  Though Heaven be shut,


s: In his own strength, this place may lie exposed,


s: To their defence who hold it: here, perhaps,


s: All as our own, and drive, as we were driven,


s: Seduce them to our party, that their God


s: May prove their foe, and with repenting hand


s: Abolish his own works.  This would surpass


s: In his disturbance; when his darling sons,


s: Hurled headlong to partake with us, shall curse


s: Pleaded his devilish counsel--first devised


s: By Satan, and in part proposed: for whence,


s: But from the author of all ill, could spring


s: Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell


s: To mingle and involve, done all to spite


s: The great Creator? But their spite still serves


s: Pleased highly those infernal States, and joy


s: Sparkled in all their eyes: with full assent


s: They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews:--


s: "Well have ye judged, well ended long debate,


s: Synod of Gods, and, like to what ye are,


s: Great things resolved, which from the lowest deep


s: Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate,


s: Nearer our ancient seat--perhaps in view


s: Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbouring arms,


s: Re-enter Heaven; or else in some mild zone


s: Dwell, not unvisited of Heaven's fair light,


s: Secure, and at the brightening orient beam


s: Purge off this gloom: the soft delicious air,


s: To heal the scar of these corrosive fires,


s: Shall breathe her balm.  But, first, whom shall we send


s: In search of this new World? whom shall we find


s: Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering feet


s: And through the palpable obscure find out


s: His uncouth way, or spread his airy flight,


s: The happy Isle? What strength, what art, can then


s: Through the strict senteries and stations thick


s: Of Angels watching round? Here he had need


s: Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send


s: The weight of all, and our last hope, relies."


s: His look suspense, awaiting who appeared


s: The perilous attempt.  But all sat mute,


s: Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each


s: In other's countenance read his own dismay,


s: Astonished.  None among the choice and prime


s: Of those Heaven-warring champions could be found


s: Alone, the dreadful voyage; till, at last,


s: Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised


s: Conscious of highest worth, unmoved thus spake:--


s: Seized us, though undismayed.  Long is the way


s: And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light.


s: Our prison strong, this huge convex of fire,


s: These passed, if any pass, the void profound


s: Wide-gaping, and with utter loss of being


s: Threatens him, plunged in that abortive gulf.


s: If thence he scape, into whatever world,


s: Or unknown region, what remains him less


s: Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape?


s: But I should ill become this throne, O Peers,


s: With splendour, armed with power, if aught proposed


s: And judged of public moment in the shape


s: Me from attempting.  Wherefore do I assume


s: These royalties, and not refuse to reign,


s: To him who reigns, and so much to him due


s: High honoured sits? Go, therefore, mighty Powers,


s: Terror of Heaven, though fallen; intend at home,


s: While here shall be our home, what best may ease


s: More tolerable; if there be cure or charm


s: To respite, or deceive, or slack the pain


s: Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek


s: Deliverance for us all.  This enterprise


s: None shall partake with me." Thus saying, rose


s: Prudent lest, from his resolution raised,


s: Certain to be refused, what erst they feared,


s: His rivals, winning cheap the high repute


s: Which he through hazard huge must earn.  But they


s: Dreaded not more th' adventure than his voice


s: Forbidding; and at once with him they rose.


s: Their rising all at once was as the sound


s: Of thunder heard remote.  Towards him they bend


s: With awful reverence prone, and as a God


s: Extol him equal to the Highest in Heaven.


s: Nor failed they to express how much they praised


s: His own: for neither do the Spirits damned


s: Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast


s: Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites,


s: Or close ambition varnished o'er with zeal.


s: Thus they their doubtful consultations dark


s: Ended, rejoicing in their matchless Chief:


s: As, when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds


s: Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o'erspread


s: Heaven's cheerful face, the louring element


s: Scowls o'er the darkened landscape snow or shower,


s: If chance the radiant sun, with farewell sweet,


s: Extend his evening beam, the fields revive,


s: The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds


s: Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings.


s: Of creatures rational, though under hope


s: Of heavenly grace, and, God proclaiming peace,


s: Wasting the earth, each other to destroy:


s: That day and night for his destruction wait!


s: The Stygian council thus dissolved; and forth


s: Midst came their mighty Paramount, and seemed


s: Alone th' antagonist of Heaven, nor less


s: Than Hell's dread Emperor, with pomp supreme,


s: With bright emblazonry, and horrent arms.


s: Then of their session ended they bid cry


s: With trumpet's regal sound the great result:


s: Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim


s: Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy,


s: By herald's voice explained; the hollow Abyss


s: Heard far and wide, and all the host of Hell


s: With deafening shout returned them loud acclaim.


s: Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat raised


s: By false presumptuous hope, the ranged Powers


s: Disband; and, wandering, each his several way


s: Leads him perplexed, where he may likeliest find


s: Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain


s: The irksome hours, till his great Chief return.


s: Part on the plain, or in the air sublime,


s: As at th' Olympian games or Pythian fields;


s: Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal


s: With rapid wheels, or fronted brigades form:


s: As when, to warn proud cities, war appears


s: Waged in the troubled sky, and armies rush


s: To battle in the clouds; before each van


s: Prick forth the airy knights, and couch their spears,


s: Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms


s: From either end of heaven the welkin burns.


s: Others, with vast Typhoean rage, more fell,


s: Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air


s: In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wild uproar:--


s: With conquest, felt th' envenomed robe, and tore


s: Through pain up by the roots Thessalian pines,


s: Into th' Euboic sea.  Others, more mild,


s: Their own heroic deeds, and hapless fall


s: By doom of battle, and complain that Fate


s: Free Virtue should enthrall to Force or Chance.


s: (What could it less when Spirits immortal sing?)


s: Suspended Hell, and took with ravishment


s: The thronging audience.  In discourse more sweet


s: (For Eloquence the Soul, Song charms the Sense)


s: In thoughts more elevate, and reasoned high


s: Fixed fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute,


s: And found no end, in wandering mazes lost.


s: Passion and apathy, and glory and shame:


s: Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy!--


s: Yet, with a pleasing sorcery, could charm


s: Fallacious hope, or arm th' obdured breast


s: With stubborn patience as with triple steel.


s: Another part, in squadrons and gross bands,


s: Might yield them easier habitation, bend


s: Four ways their flying march, along the banks


s: Into the burning lake their baleful streams--


s: Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate;


s: Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegeton,


s: Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage.


s: Far off from these, a slow and silent stream,


s: Her watery labyrinth, whereof who drinks


s: Forthwith his former state and being forgets--


s: Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain.


s: Lies dark and wild, beat with perpetual storms


s: Of whirlwind and dire hail, which on firm land


s: Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin seems


s: Of ancient pile; all else deep snow and ice,


s: Where armies whole have sunk: the parching air


s: Burns frore, and cold performs th' effect of fire.


s: Are brought; and feel by turns the bitter change


s: Of fierce extremes, extremes by change more fierce,


s: From beds of raging fire to starve in ice


s: Their soft ethereal warmth, and there to pine


s: Periods of time,--thence hurried back to fire.


s: Both to and fro, their sorrow to augment,


s: And wish and struggle, as they pass, to reach


s: The tempting stream, with one small drop to lose


s: In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe,


s: All in one moment, and so near the brink;


s: But Fate withstands, and, to oppose th' attempt,


s: All taste of living wight, as once it fled


s: In confused march forlorn, th' adventurous bands,


s: With shuddering horror pale, and eyes aghast,


s: Viewed first their lamentable lot, and found


s: No rest.  Through many a dark and dreary vale


s: They passed, and many a region dolorous,


s: Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and shades of death--


s: Where all life dies, death lives, and Nature breeds,


s: Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things,


s: Than fables yet have feigned or fear conceived,


s: Satan, with thoughts inflamed of highest design,


s: Puts on swift wings, and toward the gates of Hell


s: He scours the right hand coast, sometimes the left;


s: Now shaves with level wing the deep, then soars


s: Hangs in the clouds, by equinoctial winds


s: Close sailing from Bengala, or the isles


s: Of Ternate and Tidore, whence merchants bring


s: Their spicy drugs; they on the trading flood,


s: Ply stemming nightly toward the pole: so seemed


s: Far off the flying Fiend.  At last appear


s: Hell-bounds, high reaching to the horrid roof,


s: And thrice threefold the gates; three folds were brass,


s: Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire,


s: Yet unconsumed.  Before the gates there sat


s: The one seemed woman to the waist, and fair,


s: With mortal sting.  About her middle round


s: A cry of Hell-hounds never-ceasing barked


s: With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung


s: A hideous peal; yet, when they list, would creep,


s: If aught disturbed their noise, into her womb,


s: And kennel there; yet there still barked and howled


s: Within unseen.  Far less abhorred than these


s: Vexed Scylla, bathing in the sea that parts


s: Calabria from the hoarse Trinacrian shore;


s: Nor uglier follow the night-hag, when, called


s: In secret, riding through the air she comes,


s: Lured with the smell of infant blood, to dance


s: With Lapland witches, while the labouring moon


s: Eclipses at their charms.  The other Shape--


s: If shape it might be called that shape had none


s: Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb;


s: Or substance might be called that shadow seemed,


s: For each seemed either--black it stood as Night,


s: And shook a dreadful dart: what seemed his head


s: Satan was now at hand, and from his seat


s: With horrid strides; Hell trembled as he strode.


s: Th' undaunted Fiend what this might be admired--


s: Admired, not feared (God and his Son except,


s: Created thing naught valued he nor shunned),


s: And with disdainful look thus first began:--


s: "Whence and what art thou, execrable Shape,


s: That dar'st, though grim and terrible, advance


s: To yonder gates? Through them I mean to pass,


s: That be assured, without leave asked of thee.


s: Retire; or taste thy folly, and learn by proof,


s: Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of Heaven."


s: To whom the Goblin, full of wrath, replied:--


s: "Art thou that traitor Angel? art thou he,


s: Who first broke peace in Heaven and faith, till then


s: Drew after him the third part of Heaven's sons,


s: Conjured against the Highest--for which both thou


s: And they, outcast from God, are here condemned


s: And reckon'st thou thyself with Spirits of Heaven


s: Hell-doomed, and breath'st defiance here and scorn,


s: Where I reign king, and, to enrage thee more,


s: Thy king and lord? Back to thy punishment,


s: False fugitive; and to thy speed add wings,


s: Thy lingering, or with one stroke of this dart


s: Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before."


s: So spake the grisly Terror, and in shape,


s: So speaking and so threatening, grew tenfold,


s: More dreadful and deform.  On th' other side,


s: In th' arctic sky, and from his horrid hair


s: Shakes pestilence and war.  Each at the head


s: Levelled his deadly aim; their fatal hands


s: No second stroke intend; and such a frown


s: Each cast at th' other as when two black clouds,


s: With heaven's artillery fraught, came rattling on


s: Over the Caspian,--then stand front to front


s: Hovering a space, till winds the signal blow


s: To join their dark encounter in mid-air.


s: So frowned the mighty combatants that Hell


s: Grew darker at their frown; so matched they stood;


s: To meet so great a foe.  And now great deeds


s: Had been achieved, whereof all Hell had rung,


s: Fast by Hell-gate and kept the fatal key,


s: Risen, and with hideous outcry rushed between.


s: "O father, what intends thy hand," she cried,


s: "Against thy only son? What fury, O son,


s: Against thy father's head? And know'st for whom?


s: For him who sits above, and laughs the while


s: Whate'er his wrath, which he calls justice, bids--


s: His wrath, which one day will destroy ye both!"


s: She spake, and at her words the hellish Pest


s: Forbore: then these to her Satan returned:--


s: "So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange


s: Prevented, spares to tell thee yet by deeds


s: What it intends, till first I know of thee


s: What thing thou art, thus double-formed, and why,


s: In this infernal vale first met, thou call'st


s: Me father, and that phantasm call'st my son.


s: Sight more detestable than him and thee."


s: T' whom thus the Portress of Hell-gate replied:--


s: "Hast thou forgot me, then; and do I seem


s: Now in thine eye so foul?--once deemed so fair


s: In Heaven, when at th' assembly, and in sight


s: In bold conspiracy against Heaven's King,


s: Surprised thee, dim thine eyes and dizzy swum


s: In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast


s: Threw forth, till on the left side opening wide,


s: Likest to thee in shape and countenance bright,


s: Then shining heavenly fair, a goddess armed,


s: Out of thy head I sprung.  Amazement seized


s: All th' host of Heaven; back they recoiled afraid


s: At first, and called me Sin, and for a sign


s: Portentous held me; but, familiar grown,


s: I pleased, and with attractive graces won


s: The most averse--thee chiefly, who, full oft


s: Thyself in me thy perfect image viewing,


s: Becam'st enamoured; and such joy thou took'st


s: With me in secret that my womb conceived


s: And fields were fought in Heaven: wherein remained


s: (For what could else?) to our Almighty Foe


s: Clear victory; to our part loss and rout


s: Through all the Empyrean.  Down they fell,


s: Driven headlong from the pitch of Heaven, down


s: Into my hands was given, with charge to keep


s: These gates for ever shut, which none can pass


s: Alone; but long I sat not, till my womb,


s: Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown,


s: Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes.


s: At last this odious offspring whom thou seest,


s: Thine own begotten, breaking violent way,


s: Tore through my entrails, that, with fear and pain


s: Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew


s: Forth issued, brandishing his fatal dart,


s: Made to destroy.  I fled, and cried out Death!


s: Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sighed


s: From all her caves, and back resounded Death!


s: I fled; but he pursued (though more, it seems,


s: Inflamed with lust than rage), and, swifter far,


s: These yelling monsters, that with ceaseless cry


s: Surround me, as thou saw'st--hourly conceived


s: To me; for, when they list, into the womb


s: That bred them they return, and howl, and gnaw


s: My bowels, their repast; then, bursting forth


s: Afresh, with conscious terrors vex me round,


s: Grim Death, my son and foe, who set them on,


s: And me, his parent, would full soon devour


s: For want of other prey, but that he knows


s: His end with mine involved, and knows that I


s: Should prove a bitter morsel, and his bane,


s: Whenever that shall be: so Fate pronounced.


s: But thou, O father, I forewarn thee, shun


s: To be invulnerable in those bright arms,


s: Through tempered heavenly; for that mortal dint,


s: Save he who reigns above, none can resist."


s: She finished; and the subtle Fiend his lore


s: Soon learned, now milder, and thus answered smooth:--


s: "Dear daughter--since thou claim'st me for thy sire,


s: And my fair son here show'st me, the dear pledge


s: Of dalliance had with thee in Heaven, and joys


s: Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change


s: Befallen us unforeseen, unthought-of--know,


s: From out this dark and dismal house of pain


s: Both him and thee, and all the heavenly host


s: Of Spirits that, in our just pretences armed,


s: Fell with us from on high.  From them I go


s: This uncouth errand sole, and one for all


s: Myself expose, with lonely steps to tread


s: Th' unfounded Deep, and through the void immense


s: To search, with wandering quest, a place foretold


s: Should be--and, by concurring signs, ere now


s: Created vast and round--a place of bliss


s: In the purlieus of Heaven; and therein placed


s: Perhaps our vacant room, though more removed,


s: Lest Heaven, surcharged with potent multitude,


s: Might hap to move new broils.  Be this, or aught


s: Than this more secret, now designed, I haste


s: To know; and, this once known, shall soon return,


s: And bring ye to the place where thou and Death


s: Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseen


s: With odours.  There ye shall be fed and filled


s: Immeasurably; all things shall be your prey."


s: He ceased; for both seemed highly pleased, and Death


s: Grinned horrible a ghastly smile, to hear


s: His famine should be filled, and blessed his maw


s: Destined to that good hour.  No less rejoiced


s: His mother bad, and thus bespake her sire:--


s: And by command of Heaven's all-powerful King,


s: These adamantine gates; against all force


s: Death ready stands to interpose his dart,


s: Fearless to be o'ermatched by living might.


s: Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down


s: Inhabitant of Heaven and heavenly born--


s: With terrors and with clamours compassed round


s: Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed?


s: Thou art my father, thou my author, thou


s: But thee? whom follow? Thou wilt bring me soon


s: To that new world of light and bliss, among


s: The gods who live at ease, where I shall reign


s: At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems


s: Thy daughter and thy darling, without end."


s: Thus saying, from her side the fatal key,


s: Sad instrument of all our woe, she took;


s: And, towards the gate rolling her bestial train,


s: Forthwith the huge portcullis high up-drew,


s: Which, but herself, not all the Stygian Powers


s: Could once have moved; then in the key-hole turns


s: Th' intricate wards, and every bolt and bar


s: With impetuous recoil and jarring sound,


s: Th' infernal doors, and on their hinges grate


s: Harsh thunder, that the lowest bottom shook


s: Excelled her power: the gates wide open stood,


s: That with extended wings a bannered host,


s: Under spread ensigns marching, might pass through


s: With horse and chariots ranked in loose array;


s: So wide they stood, and like a furnace-mouth


s: Cast forth redounding smoke and ruddy flame.


s: Without dimension; where length, breadth, and height,


s: And time, and place, are lost; where eldest Night


s: Of endless wars, and by confusion stand.


s: For Hot, Cold, Moist, and Dry, four champions fierce,


s: Strive here for mastery, and to battle bring


s: Their embryon atoms: they around the flag


s: Of each his faction, in their several clans,


s: Light-armed or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift, or slow,


s: Levied to side with warring winds, and poise


s: Their lighter wings.  To whom these most adhere


s: By which he reigns: next him, high arbiter,


s: Chance governs all.  Into this wild Abyss,


s: The womb of Nature, and perhaps her grave,


s: Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire,


s: But all these in their pregnant causes mixed


s: Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight,


s: His dark materials to create more worlds--


s: Stood on the brink of Hell and looked a while,


s: Pondering his voyage; for no narrow frith


s: He had to cross.  Nor was his ear less pealed


s: With noises loud and ruinous (to compare


s: Great things with small) than when Bellona storms


s: With all her battering engines, bent to rase


s: Some capital city; or less than if this frame


s: Of Heaven were falling, and these elements


s: The steadfast Earth.  At last his sail-broad vans


s: He spread for flight, and, in the surging smoke


s: Uplifted, spurns the ground; thence many a league,


s: Audacious; but, that seat soon failing, meets


s: Fluttering his pennons vain, plumb-down he drops


s: Ten thousand fathom deep, and to this hour


s: Down had been falling, had not, by ill chance,


s: The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud,


s: Instinct with fire and nitre, hurried him


s: As many miles aloft.  That fury stayed--


s: Quenched in a boggy Syrtis, neither sea,


s: Nor good dry land--nigh foundered, on he fares,


s: Treading the crude consistence, half on foot,


s: Half flying; behoves him now both oar and sail.


s: As when a gryphon through the wilderness


s: With winged course, o'er hill or moory dale,


s: O'er bog or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare,


s: With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his way,


s: And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies.


s: Of stunning sounds, and voices all confused,


s: Borne through the hollow dark, assaults his ear


s: With loudest vehemence.  Thither he plies


s: Might in that noise reside, of whom to ask


s: Which way the nearest coast of darkness lies


s: Bordering on light; when straight behold the throne


s: Wide on the wasteful Deep! With him enthroned


s: Sat sable-vested Night, eldest of things,


s: The consort of his reign; and by them stood


s: And Tumult, and Confusion, all embroiled,


s: And Discord with a thousand various mouths.


s: T' whom Satan, turning boldly, thus:--"Ye Powers


s: The secrets of your realm; but, by constraint


s: Wandering this darksome desert, as my way


s: Lies through your spacious empire up to light,


s: Alone and without guide, half lost, I seek,


s: What readiest path leads where your gloomy bounds


s: Confine with Heaven; or, if some other place,


s: From your dominion won, th' Ethereal King


s: I travel this profound.  Direct my course:


s: (Which is my present journey), and once more


s: Erect the standard there of ancient Night.


s: Yours be th' advantage all, mine the revenge!"


s: Thus Satan; and him thus the Anarch old,


s: With faltering speech and visage incomposed,


s: Answered:  "I know thee, stranger, who thou art--


s: Made head against Heaven's King, though overthrown.


s: I saw and heard; for such a numerous host


s: Fled not in silence through the frighted Deep,


s: Confusion worse confounded; and Heaven-gates


s: Poured out by millions her victorious bands,


s: Encroached on still through our intestine broils


s: Weakening the sceptre of old Night: first, Hell,


s: Your dungeon, stretching far and wide beneath;


s: Now lately Heaven and Earth, another world


s: Hung o'er my realm, linked in a golden chain


s: To that side Heaven from whence your legions fell!


s: If that way be your walk, you have not far;


s: So much the nearer danger.  Go, and speed;


s: Havoc, and spoil, and ruin, are my gain."


s: He ceased; and Satan stayed not to reply,


s: But, glad that now his sea should find a shore,


s: Into the wild expanse, and through the shock


s: Of fighting elements, on all sides round


s: And more endangered than when Argo passed


s: Through Bosporus betwixt the justling rocks,


s: Charybdis, and by th' other whirlpool steered.


s: Moved on, with difficulty and labour he;


s: But, he once passed, soon after, when Man fell,


s: Strange alteration! Sin and Death amain,


s: Following his track (such was the will of Heaven)


s: Tamely endured a bridge of wondrous length,


s: From Hell continued, reaching th' utmost orb


s: Of this frail World; by which the Spirits perverse


s: God and good Angels guard by special grace.


s: Of light appears, and from the walls of Heaven


s: A glimmering dawn.  Here Nature first begins


s: Her farthest verge, and Chaos to retire,


s: As from her outmost works, a broken foe,


s: With tumult less and with less hostile din;


s: That Satan with less toil, and now with ease,


s: Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light,


s: And, like a weather-beaten vessel, holds


s: Gladly the port, though shrouds and tackle torn;


s: Or in the emptier waste, resembling air,


s: Weighs his spread wings, at leisure to behold


s: Far off th' empyreal Heaven, extended wide


s: In circuit, undetermined square or round,


s: With opal towers and battlements adorned


s: Of living sapphire, once his native seat;


s: And, fast by, hanging in a golden chain,


s: This pendent World, in bigness as a star


s: Of smallest magnitude close by the moon.


s: Thither, full fraught with mischievous revenge,


s: Accursed, and in a cursed hour, he hies.


s: Hail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven firstborn,


s: May I express thee unblam'd?  since God is light,


s: Bright effluence of bright essence increate.


s: Or hear'st thou rather pure ethereal stream,


s: Whose fountain who shall tell?  before the sun,


s: Before the Heavens thou wert, and at the voice


s: The rising world of waters dark and deep,


s: Won from the void and formless infinite.


s: Escap'd the Stygian pool, though long detain'd


s: In that obscure sojourn, while in my flight


s: Through utter and through middle darkness borne,


s: With other notes than to the Orphean lyre


s: Taught by the heavenly Muse to venture down


s: Though hard and rare:  Thee I revisit safe,


s: And feel thy sovran vital lamp; but thou


s: Revisit'st not these eyes, that roll in vain


s: To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn;


s: So thick a drop serene hath quench'd their orbs,


s: Or dim suffusion veil'd.  Yet not the more


s: Cease I to wander, where the Muses haunt,


s: Clear spring, or shady grove, or sunny hill,


s: Smit with the love of sacred song; but chief


s: Thee, Sion, and the flowery brooks beneath,


s: That wash thy hallow'd feet, and warbling flow,


s: Thy sovran command, that Man should find grace;


s: And Tiresias, and Phineus, prophets old:


s: Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary move


s: Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid


s: Tunes her nocturnal note.  Thus with the year


s: Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn,


s: Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer's rose,


s: Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine;


s: Surrounds me, from the cheerful ways of men


s: Cut off, and for the book of knowledge fair


s: Of nature's works to me expung'd and ras'd,


s: And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out.


s: So much the rather thou, celestial Light,


s: Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers


s: Irradiate; there plant eyes, all mist from thence


s: Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell


s: High thron'd above all highth, bent down his eye


s: His own works and their works at once to view:


s: Stood thick as stars, and from his sight receiv'd


s: Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love,


s: Hell and the gulf between, and Satan there


s: Coasting the wall of Heaven on this side Night


s: To stoop with wearied wings, and willing feet,


s: On the bare outside of this world, that seem'd


s: Him God beholding from his prospect high,


s: Wherein past, present, future, he beholds,


s: Transports our Adversary?  whom no bounds


s: Prescrib'd no bars of Hell, nor all the chains


s: Heap'd on him there, nor yet the main abyss


s: Wide interrupt, can hold; so bent he seems


s: On desperate revenge, that shall redound


s: Through all restraint broke loose, he wings his way


s: Not far off Heaven, in the precincts of light,


s: And man there plac'd, with purpose to assay


s: If him by force he can destroy, or, worse,


s: By some false guile pervert; and shall pervert;


s: For man will hearken to his glozing lies,


s: Sole pledge of his obedience:  So will fall


s: He and his faithless progeny:  Whose fault?


s: Whose but his own?  ingrate, he had of me


s: All he could have; I made him just and right,


s: Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall.


s: And Spirits, both them who stood, and them who fail'd;


s: Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell.


s: Not free, what proof could they have given sincere


s: Of true allegiance, constant faith or love,


s: Where only what they needs must do appear'd,


s: Not what they would?  what praise could they receive?


s: What pleasure I from such obedience paid,


s: When will and reason (reason also is choice)


s: Useless and vain, of freedom both despoil'd,


s: Made passive both, had serv'd necessity,


s: Not me.  They therefore, as to right belong'd,


s: Their Maker, or their making, or their fate,


s: Or high foreknowledge they themselves decreed


s: Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault,


s: Which had no less proved certain unforeknown.


s: So without least impulse or shadow of fate,


s: They trespass, authors to themselves in all


s: Both what they judge, and what they choose; for so


s: I form'd them free: and free they must remain,


s: Till they enthrall themselves; I else must change


s: Their nature, and revoke the high decree


s: Their freedom: they themselves ordain'd their fall.


s: The first sort by their own suggestion fell,


s: Self-tempted, self-deprav'd:  Man falls, deceiv'd


s: By the other first:  Man therefore shall find grace,


s: The other none:  In mercy and justice both,


s: Through Heaven and Earth, so shall my glory excel;


s: But Mercy, first and last, shall brightest shine.


s: Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill'd


s: All Heaven, and in the blessed Spirits elect


s: Most glorious; in him all his Father shone


s: Substantially express'd; and in his face


s: Love without end, and without measure grace,


s: Which uttering, thus he to his Father spake.


s: O Father, gracious was that word which clos'd


s: Thy sovran command, that Man should find grace;


s: For which both Heaven and earth shall high extol


s: Of hymns and sacred songs, wherewith thy throne


s: Encompass'd shall resound thee ever blest.


s: For should Man finally be lost, should Man,


s: Thy creature late so lov'd, thy youngest son,


s: Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though join'd


s: With his own folly?  that be from thee far,


s: That far be from thee, Father, who art judge


s: Of all things made, and judgest only right.


s: His end, and frustrate thine?  shall he fulfill


s: His malice, and thy goodness bring to nought,


s: Or proud return, though to his heavier doom,


s: Yet with revenge accomplish'd, and to Hell


s: Draw after him the whole race of mankind,


s: For him, what for thy glory thou hast made?


s: So should thy goodness and thy greatness both


s: Be question'd and blasphem'd without defence.


s: O son, in whom my soul hath chief delight,


s: My word, my wisdom, and effectual might,


s: All hast thou spoken as my thoughts are, all


s: Man shall not quite be lost, but sav'd who will;


s: Freely vouchsaf'd; once more I will renew


s: His lapsed powers, though forfeit; and enthrall'd


s: Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand


s: By me upheld, that he may know how frail


s: All his deliverance, and to none but me.


s: The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warn'd


s: Their sinful state, and to appease betimes


s: Invites; for I will clear their senses dark,


s: What may suffice, and soften stony hearts


s: To pray, repent, and bring obedience due.


s: To prayer, repentance, and obedience due,


s: Though but endeavour'd with sincere intent,


s: Mine ear shall not be slow, mine eye not shut.


s: And I will place within them as a guide,


s: My umpire Conscience; whom if they will hear,


s: Light after light, well us'd, they shall attain,


s: And to the end, persisting, safe arrive.


s: This my long sufferance, and my day of grace,


s: They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste;


s: But hard be harden'd, blind be blinded more,


s: That they may stumble on, and deeper fall;


s: But yet all is not done; Man disobeying,


s: To expiate his treason hath nought left,


s: The rigid satisfaction, death for death.


s: Say, heavenly Powers, where shall we find such love?


s: Man's mortal crime, and just the unjust to save?


s: He ask'd, but all the heavenly quire stood mute,


s: And silence was in Heaven: on Man's behalf


s: Much less that durst upon his own head draw


s: Must have been lost, adjudg'd to Death and Hell


s: In whom the fulness dwells of love divine,


s: Father, thy word is past, Man shall find grace;


s: And shall grace not find means, that finds her way,


s: Comes unprevented, unimplor'd, unsought?


s: Can never seek, once dead in sins, and lost;


s: Atonement for himself, or offering meet,


s: Indebted and undone, hath none to bring;


s: Behold me then:  me for him, life for life


s: Account me Man; I for his sake will leave


s: Well pleased; on me let Death wreak all his rage.


s: Lie vanquished.  Thou hast given me to possess


s: Life in myself for ever; by thee I live;


s: Though now to Death I yield, and am his due,


s: All that of me can die, yet, that debt paid,


s: Thou wilt not leave me in the loathsome grave


s: For ever with corruption there to dwell;


s: My vanquisher, spoiled of his vaunted spoil.


s: Death his death's wound shall then receive, and stoop


s: Inglorious, of his mortal sting disarmed;


s: Shall lead Hell captive maugre Hell, and show


s: The powers of darkness bound.  Thou, at the sight


s: Pleased, out of Heaven shalt look down and smile,


s: While, by thee raised, I ruin all my foes;


s: Death last, and with his carcase glut the grave;


s: Then, with the multitude of my redeemed,


s: Shall enter Heaven, long absent, and return,


s: Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloud


s: Of anger shall remain, but peace assured


s: And reconcilement: wrath shall be no more


s: Thenceforth, but in thy presence joy entire.


s: His words here ended; but his meek aspect


s: Silent yet spake, and breathed immortal love


s: All Heaven, what this might mean, and whither tend,


s: Wondering; but soon th' Almighty thus replied:


s: O thou in Heaven and Earth the only peace


s: Found out for mankind under wrath, O thou


s: My sole complacence! Well thou know'st how dear


s: To me are all my works; nor Man the least,


s: Though last created, that for him I spare


s: Thee from my bosom and right hand, to save,


s: By losing thee a while, the whole race lost.


s: Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem,


s: Made flesh, when time shall be, of virgin seed,


s: By wondrous birth; be thou in Adam's room


s: The head of all mankind, though Adam's son.


s: As from a second root, shall be restored


s: As many as are restored, without thee none.


s: His crime makes guilty all his sons; thy merit,


s: Imputed, shall absolve them who renounce


s: Their own both righteous and unrighteous deeds,


s: And live in thee transplanted, and from thee


s: Receive new life.  So Man, as is most just,


s: Shall satisfy for Man, be judged and die,


s: And dying rise, and rising with him raise


s: His brethren, ransomed with his own dear life.


s: So heavenly love shall outdo hellish hate,


s: In those who, when they may, accept not grace.


s: Man's nature, lessen or degrade thine own.


s: Because thou hast, though throned in highest bliss


s: A world from utter loss, and hast been found


s: By merit more than birthright Son of God,


s: Far more than great or high; because in thee


s: Love hath abounded more than glory abounds;


s: With thee thy manhood also to this throne:


s: Here shalt thou sit incarnate, here shalt reign


s: Both God and Man, Son both of God and Man,


s: Thy merits; under thee, as head supreme,


s: Thrones, Princedoms, Powers, Dominions, I reduce:


s: All knees to thee shall bow, of them that bide


s: In Heaven, or Earth, or under Earth in Hell.


s: When thou, attended gloriously from Heaven,


s: Shalt in the sky appear, and from thee send


s: Thy dread tribunal; forthwith from all winds,


s: The living, and forthwith the cited dead


s: Shall hasten; such a peal shall rouse their sleep.


s: Then, all thy saints assembled, thou shalt judge


s: Bad Men and Angels; they, arraigned, shall sink


s: Beneath thy sentence; Hell, her numbers full,


s: Thenceforth shall be for ever shut.  Mean while


s: The world shall burn, and from her ashes spring


s: New Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell,


s: See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds,


s: With joy and peace triumphing, and fair truth.


s: Then thou thy regal scepter shalt lay by,


s: For regal scepter then no more shall need,


s: God shall be all in all.  But, all ye Gods,


s: Adore him, who to compass all this dies;


s: No sooner had the Almighty ceased, but all


s: Loud as from numbers without number, sweet


s: As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heaven rung


s: Towards either throne they bow, and to the ground


s: Their crowns inwove with amarant and gold;


s: Began to bloom; but soon for man's offence


s: To Heaven removed, where first it grew, there grows,


s: And flowers aloft shading the fount of life,


s: And where the river of bliss through midst of Heaven


s: Rolls o'er Elysian flowers her amber stream;


s: With these that never fade the Spirits elect


s: Bind their resplendent locks inwreathed with beams;


s: Now in loose garlands thick thrown off, the bright


s: Pavement, that like a sea of jasper shone,


s: Then, crowned again, their golden harps they took,


s: Harps ever tuned, that glittering by their side


s: Like quivers hung, and with preamble sweet


s: Their sacred song, and waken raptures high;


s: No voice exempt, no voice but well could join


s: Melodious part, such concord is in Heaven.


s: Thee, Father, first they sung Omnipotent,


s: Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sit'st


s: Throned inaccessible, but when thou shadest


s: The full blaze of thy beams, and, through a cloud


s: Drawn round about thee like a radiant shrine,


s: Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appear,


s: Yet dazzle Heaven, that brightest Seraphim


s: Approach not, but with both wings veil their eyes.


s: Thee next they sang of all creation first,


s: In whose conspicuous countenance, without cloud


s: Made visible, the Almighty Father shines,


s: Whom else no creature can behold; on thee


s: Impressed the effulgence of his glory abides,


s: Transfused on thee his ample Spirit rests.


s: He Heaven of Heavens and all the Powers therein


s: The aspiring Dominations:  Thou that day


s: Thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare,


s: Nor stop thy flaming chariot-wheels, that shook


s: Heaven's everlasting frame, while o'er the necks


s: Thou drovest of warring Angels disarrayed.


s: Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaim


s: Thee only extolled, Son of thy Father's might,


s: To execute fierce vengeance on his foes,


s: Not so on Man:  Him through their malice fallen,


s: Father of mercy and grace, thou didst not doom


s: So strictly, but much more to pity incline:


s: Perceive thee purposed not to doom frail Man


s: So strictly, but much more to pity inclined,


s: He to appease thy wrath, and end the strife


s: Of mercy and justice in thy face discerned,


s: Love no where to be found less than Divine!


s: Hail, Son of God, Saviour of Men!  Thy name


s: Henceforth, and never shall my heart thy praise


s: Forget, nor from thy Father's praise disjoin.


s: Thus they in Heaven, above the starry sphere,


s: Their happy hours in joy and hymning spent.


s: Of this round world, whose first convex divides


s: From Chaos, and the inroad of Darkness old,


s: It seemed, now seems a boundless continent


s: Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Night


s: Starless exposed, and ever-threatening storms


s: Of Chaos blustering round, inclement sky;


s: Save on that side which from the wall of Heaven,


s: Though distant far, some small reflection gains


s: Of glimmering air less vexed with tempest loud:


s: Here walked the Fiend at large in spacious field.


s: Whose snowy ridge the roving Tartar bounds,


s: To gorge the flesh of lambs or yeanling kids,


s: On hills where flocks are fed, flies toward the springs


s: But in his way lights on the barren plains


s: With sails and wind their cany waggons light:


s: So, on this windy sea of land, the Fiend


s: Walked up and down alone, bent on his prey;


s: Alone, for other creature in this place,


s: Living or lifeless, to be found was none;


s: None yet, but store hereafter from the earth


s: Of all things transitory and vain, when sin


s: With vanity had filled the works of men:


s: Both all things vain, and all who in vain things


s: Built their fond hopes of glory or lasting fame,


s: All who have their reward on earth, the fruits


s: Nought seeking but the praise of men, here find


s: All the unaccomplished works of Nature's hand,


s: Dissolved on earth, fleet hither, and in vain,


s: Not in the neighbouring moon as some have dreamed;


s: Those argent fields more likely habitants,


s: Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold


s: Hither of ill-joined sons and daughters born


s: First from the ancient world those giants came


s: With many a vain exploit, though then renowned:


s: New Babels, had they wherewithal, would build:


s: Others came single; he, who, to be deemed


s: White, black, and gray, with all their trumpery.


s: Here pilgrims roam, that strayed so far to seek


s: In Golgotha him dead, who lives in Heaven;


s: Or in Franciscan think to pass disguised;


s: They pass the planets seven, and pass the fixed,


s: And that crystalling sphere whose balance weighs


s: The trepidation talked, and that first moved;


s: And now Saint Peter at Heaven's wicket seems


s: To wait them with his keys, and now at foot


s: Of Heaven's ascent they lift their feet, when lo


s: Blows them transverse, ten thousand leagues awry


s: Into the devious air:  Then might ye see


s: Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, tost


s: And fluttered into rags; then reliques, beads,


s: The sport of winds:  All these, upwhirled aloft,


s: Fly o'er the backside of the world far off


s: Into a Limbo large and broad, since called


s: All this dark globe the Fiend found as he passed,


s: And long he wandered, till at last a gleam


s: Of dawning light turned thither-ward in haste


s: His travelled steps: far distant he descries


s: Up to the wall of Heaven a structure high;


s: At top whereof, but far more rich, appeared


s: Embellished; thick with sparkling orient gems


s: These stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw


s: Of guardians bright, when he from Esau fled


s: And waking cried,  This is the gate of Heaven.


s: Each stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood


s: There always, but drawn up to Heaven sometimes


s: Viewless; and underneath a bright sea flowed


s: Who after came from earth, failing arrived


s: Rapt in a chariot drawn by fiery steeds.


s: The stairs were then let down, whether to dare


s: His sad exclusion from the doors of bliss:


s: Direct against which opened from beneath,


s: Just o'er the blissful seat of Paradise,


s: A passage down to the Earth, a passage wide,


s: Over mount Sion, and, though that were large,


s: By which, to visit oft those happy tribes,


s: Passed frequent, and his eye with choice regard


s: From Paneas, the fount of Jordan's flood,


s: So wide the opening seemed, where bounds were set


s: To darkness, such as bound the ocean wave.


s: Satan from hence, now on the lower stair,


s: That scaled by steps of gold to Heaven-gate,


s: Looks down with wonder at the sudden view


s: Of all this world at once.  As when a scout,


s: Through dark and desert ways with peril gone


s: All night; at last by break of cheerful dawn


s: Obtains the brow of some high-climbing hill,


s: The goodly prospect of some foreign land


s: With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned,


s: Which now the rising sun gilds with his beams:


s: Such wonder seised, though after Heaven seen,


s: The Spirit malign, but much more envy seised,


s: At sight of all this world beheld so fair.


s: Round he surveys (and well might, where he stood


s: Of night's extended shade,) from eastern point


s: Beyond the horizon; then from pole to pole


s: He views in breadth, and without longer pause


s: Down right into the world's first region throws


s: His flight precipitant, and winds with ease


s: Through the pure marble air his oblique way


s: Stars distant, but nigh hand seemed other worlds;


s: Or other worlds they seemed, or happy isles,


s: Like those Hesperian gardens famed of old,


s: Fortunate fields, and groves, and flowery vales,


s: Thrice happy isles; but who dwelt happy there


s: He staid not to inquire:  Above them all


s: The golden sun, in splendour likest Heaven,


s: Allured his eye; thither his course he bends


s: Through the calm firmament, (but up or down,


s: That from his lordly eye keep distance due,


s: Dispenses light from far; they, as they move


s: Their starry dance in numbers that compute


s: Days, months, and years, towards his all-cheering lamp


s: Turn swift their various motions, or are turned


s: By his magnetick beam, that gently warms


s: Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep;


s: So wonderously was set his station bright.


s: There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps


s: Through his glazed optick tube yet never saw.


s: The place he found beyond expression bright,


s: Compared with aught on earth, metal or stone;


s: Not all parts like, but all alike informed


s: With radiant light, as glowing iron with fire;


s: If metal, part seemed gold, part silver clear;


s: In Aaron's breast-plate, and a stone besides


s: Imagined rather oft than elsewhere seen,


s: That stone, or like to that which here below


s: Philosophers in vain so long have sought,


s: In vain, though by their powerful art they bind


s: In various shapes old Proteus from the sea,


s: Drained through a limbeck to his native form.


s: What wonder then if fields and regions here


s: Breathe forth Elixir pure, and rivers run


s: Potable gold, when with one virtuous touch


s: The arch-chemick sun, so far from us remote,


s: Produces, with terrestrial humour mixed,


s: Here in the dark so many precious things


s: Undazzled; far and wide his eye commands;


s: For sight no obstacle found here, nor shade,


s: But all sun-shine, as when his beams at noon


s: Shot upward still direct, whence no way round


s: Shadow from body opaque can fall; and the air,


s: No where so clear, sharpened his visual ray


s: His back was turned, but not his brightness hid;


s: Circled his head, nor less his locks behind


s: Illustrious on his shoulders fledge with wings


s: Lay waving round; on some great charge employed


s: Glad was the Spirit impure, as now in hope


s: To find who might direct his wandering flight


s: His journey's end and our beginning woe.


s: But first he casts to change his proper shape,


s: Which else might work him danger or delay:


s: Not of the prime, yet such as in his face


s: Youth smiled celestial, and to every limb


s: Suitable grace diffused, so well he feigned:


s: In curls on either cheek played; wings he wore


s: Of many a coloured plume, sprinkled with gold;


s: His habit fit for speed succinct, and held


s: He drew not nigh unheard; the Angel bright,


s: Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turned,


s: Admonished by his ear, and straight was known


s: Who in God's presence, nearest to his throne,


s: Stand ready at command, and are his eyes


s: That run through all the Heavens, or down to the Earth


s: Bear his swift errands over moist and dry,


s: O'er sea and land: him Satan thus accosts.


s: Uriel, for thou of those seven Spirits that stand


s: In sight of God's high throne, gloriously bright,


s: The first art wont his great authentick will


s: Interpreter through highest Heaven to bring,


s: And here art likeliest by supreme decree


s: All these his wonderous works, but chiefly Man,


s: His chief delight and favour, him for whom


s: All these his works so wonderous he ordained,


s: Hath brought me from the quires of Cherubim


s: Alone thus wandering.  Brightest Seraph, tell


s: In which of all these shining orbs hath Man


s: His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none,


s: But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell;


s: That I may find him, and with secret gaze


s: Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces poured;


s: That both in him and all things, as is meet,


s: Who justly hath driven out his rebel foes


s: To deepest Hell, and, to repair that loss,


s: To serve him better:  Wise are all his ways.


s: So spake the false dissembler unperceived;


s: By his permissive will, through Heaven and Earth:


s: And oft, though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps


s: Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill


s: Where no ill seems:  Which now for once beguiled


s: Uriel, though regent of the sun, and held


s: The sharpest-sighted Spirit of all in Heaven;


s: In his uprightness, answer thus returned.


s: Fair Angel, thy desire, which tends to know


s: The great Work-master, leads to no excess


s: That reaches blame, but rather merits praise


s: The more it seems excess, that led thee hither


s: To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps,


s: Contented with report, hear only in Heaven:


s: Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all


s: That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep?


s: I saw when at his word the formless mass,


s: This world's material mould, came to a heap:


s: Confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar


s: Stood ruled, stood vast infinitude confined;


s: Till at his second bidding Darkness fled,


s: Light shone, and order from disorder sprung:


s: Swift to their several quarters hasted then


s: The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire;


s: And this ethereal quintessence of Heaven


s: Flew upward, spirited with various forms,


s: That rolled orbicular, and turned to stars


s: Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move;


s: Each had his place appointed, each his course;


s: The rest in circuit walls this universe.


s: Look downward on that globe, whose hither side


s: With light from hence, though but reflected, shines;


s: That place is Earth, the seat of Man; that light


s: His day, which else, as the other hemisphere,


s: Night would invade; but there the neighbouring moon


s: (So call that opposite fair star) her aid


s: Timely interposes, and her monthly round


s: Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heaven,


s: With borrowed light her countenance triform


s: Hence fills and empties to enlighten the Earth,


s: And in her pale dominion checks the night.


s: That spot, to which I point, is Paradise,


s: Adam's abode; those lofty shades, his bower.


s: Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires.


s: Thus said, he turned; and Satan, bowing low,


s: As to superiour Spirits is wont in Heaven,


s: Where honour due and reverence none neglects,


s: Took leave, and toward the coast of earth beneath,


s: Down from the ecliptick, sped with hoped success,


s: Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel;


s: Nor staid, till on Niphates' top he lights.


s: O, for that warning voice, which he, who saw


s: The Apocalypse, heard cry in Heaven aloud,


s: Then when the Dragon, put to second rout,


s: Came furious down to be revenged on men,


s: Woe to the inhabitants on earth! that now,


s: While time was, our first parents had been warned


s: The coming of their secret foe, and 'scaped,


s: Haply so 'scaped his mortal snare:  For now


s: Satan, now first inflamed with rage, came down,


s: Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell:


s: Yet, not rejoicing in his speed, though bold


s: Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast,


s: Begins his dire attempt; which nigh the birth


s: Now rolling boils in his tumultuous breast,


s: Upon himself; horrour and doubt distract


s: His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir


s: The Hell within him; for within him Hell


s: He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell


s: One step, no more than from himself, can fly


s: By change of place:  Now conscience wakes despair,


s: Of what he was, what is, and what must be


s: Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue.


s: Sometimes towards Eden, which now in his view


s: Lay pleasant, his grieved look he fixes sad;


s: Sometimes towards Heaven, and the full-blazing sun,


s: Which now sat high in his meridian tower:


s: Then, much revolving, thus in sighs began.


s: O thou, that, with surpassing glory crowned,


s: Lookest from thy sole dominion like the God


s: Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars


s: Hide their diminished heads; to thee I call,


s: But with no friendly voice, and add thy name,


s: Of Sun! to tell thee how I hate thy beams,


s: That bring to my remembrance from what state


s: I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere;


s: Till pride and worse ambition threw me down


s: Warring in Heaven against Heaven's matchless King:


s: Ah, wherefore! he deserved no such return


s: In that bright eminence, and with his good


s: Upbraided none; nor was his service hard.


s: What could be less than to afford him praise,


s: The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks,


s: How due! yet all his good proved ill in me,


s: And wrought but malice; lifted up so high


s: I 'sdeined subjection, and thought one step higher


s: Would set me highest, and in a moment quit


s: So burdensome still paying, still to owe,


s: Forgetful what from him I still received,


s: By owing owes not, but still pays, at once


s: Indebted and discharged; what burden then


s: Then happy; no unbounded hope had raised


s: As great might have aspired, and me, though mean,


s: Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great


s: Fell not, but stand unshaken, from within


s: Or from without, to all temptations armed.


s: Hadst thou the same free will and power to stand?


s: Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse,


s: But Heaven's free love dealt equally to all?


s: Be then his love accursed, since love or hate,


s: Nay, cursed be thou; since against his thy will


s: Chose freely what it now so justly rues.


s: Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell;


s: Still threatening to devour me opens wide,


s: To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven.


s: O, then, at last relent:  Is there no place


s: Left for repentance, none for pardon left?


s: None left but by submission; and that word


s: Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame


s: Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduced


s: The Omnipotent.  Ay me! they little know


s: While they adore me on the throne of Hell.


s: But say I could repent, and could obtain,


s: By act of grace, my former state; how soon


s: Would highth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay


s: What feigned submission swore?  Ease would recant


s: Where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep:


s: Which would but lead me to a worse relapse


s: And heavier fall:  so should I purchase dear


s: Short intermission bought with double smart.


s: This knows my Punisher; therefore as far


s: From granting he, as I from begging, peace;


s: Of us out-cast, exil'd, his new delight,


s: Mankind created, and for him this world.


s: So farewell, hope; and with hope farewell, fear;


s: Farewell, remorse! all good to me is lost;


s: Divided empire with Heaven's King I hold,


s: By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign;


s: As Man ere long, and this new world, shall know.


s: Thus while he spake, each passion dimmed his face


s: Thrice changed with pale, ire, envy, and despair;


s: Which marred his borrowed visage, and betrayed


s: For heavenly minds from such distempers foul


s: Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm,


s: That practised falsehood under saintly show,


s: Deep malice to conceal, couched with revenge:


s: Uriel once warned; whose eye pursued him down


s: The way he went, and on the Assyrian mount


s: Saw him disfigured, more than could befall


s: Spirit of happy sort; his gestures fierce


s: He marked and mad demeanour, then alone,


s: Now nearer, crowns with her enclosure green,


s: As with a rural mound, the champaign head


s: Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides


s: With thicket overgrown, grotesque and wild,


s: Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm,


s: A sylvan scene, and, as the ranks ascend,


s: Of stateliest view.  Yet higher than their tops


s: The verdurous wall of Paradise upsprung;


s: Which to our general sire gave prospect large


s: Into his nether empire neighbouring round.


s: And higher than that wall a circling row


s: Of goodliest trees, loaden with fairest fruit,


s: Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue,


s: Appeared, with gay enamelled colours mixed:


s: On which the sun more glad impressed his beams


s: Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow,


s: When God hath showered the earth; so lovely seemed


s: That landskip:  And of pure now purer air


s: Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires


s: All sadness but despair:  Now gentle gales,


s: Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense


s: Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole


s: Those balmy spoils.  As when to them who fail


s: Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past


s: Mozambick, off at sea north-east winds blow


s: Well pleased they slack their course, and many a league


s: Cheered with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles:


s: So entertained those odorous sweets the Fiend,


s: Who came their bane; though with them better pleased


s: That drove him, though enamoured, from the spouse


s: Of Tobit's son, and with a vengeance sent


s: Now to the ascent of that steep savage hill


s: Satan had journeyed on, pensive and slow;


s: But further way found none, so thick entwined,


s: Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed


s: All path of man or beast that passed that way.


s: One gate there only was, and that looked east


s: On the other side: which when the arch-felon saw,


s: Due entrance he disdained; and, in contempt,


s: At one flight bound high over-leaped all bound


s: Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within


s: Lights on his feet.  As when a prowling wolf,


s: Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey,


s: Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve


s: Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold:


s: Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors,


s: Cross-barred and bolted fast, fear no assault,


s: In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles:


s: So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold;


s: So since into his church lewd hirelings climb.


s: Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life,


s: The middle tree and highest there that grew,


s: Thereby regained, but sat devising death


s: To them who lived; nor on the virtue thought


s: Of that life-giving plant, but only used


s: For prospect, what well used had been the pledge


s: The good before him, but perverts best things


s: To worst abuse, or to their meanest use.


s: Beneath him with new wonder now he views,


s: In narrow room, Nature's whole wealth, yea more,


s: A Heaven on Earth:  For blissful Paradise


s: Of God the garden was, by him in the east


s: Of Eden planted; Eden stretched her line


s: Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings,


s: Dwelt in Telassar:  In this pleasant soil


s: His far more pleasant garden God ordained;


s: Out of the fertile ground he caused to grow


s: All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste;


s: And all amid them stood the tree of life,


s: Our death, the tree of knowledge, grew fast by,


s: Knowledge of good bought dear by knowing ill.


s: Southward through Eden went a river large,


s: Nor changed his course, but through the shaggy hill


s: Passed underneath ingulfed; for God had thrown


s: That mountain as his garden-mould high raised


s: Upon the rapid current, which, through veins


s: Of porous earth with kindly thirst up-drawn,


s: Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill


s: Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood,


s: Which from his darksome passage now appears,


s: And now, divided into four main streams,


s: Runs diverse, wandering many a famous realm


s: And country, whereof here needs no account;


s: But rather to tell how, if Art could tell,


s: How from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks,


s: Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold,


s: Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed


s: Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice Art


s: In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon


s: Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain,


s: Both where the morning sun first warmly smote


s: The open field, and where the unpierced shade


s: Imbrowned the noontide bowers:  Thus was this place


s: Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm,


s: Others whose fruit, burnished with golden rind,


s: If true, here only, and of delicious taste:


s: Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks


s: Grazing the tender herb, were interposed,


s: Of some irriguous valley spread her store,


s: Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose:


s: Another side, umbrageous grots and caves


s: Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine


s: Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps


s: Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall


s: Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake,


s: That to the fringed bank with myrtle crowned


s: Her crystal mirrour holds, unite their streams.


s: The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs,


s: Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune


s: The trembling leaves, while universal Pan,


s: Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance,


s: Led on the eternal Spring.  Not that fair field


s: Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers,


s: Was gathered, which cost Ceres all that pain


s: To seek her through the world; nor that sweet grove


s: Castalian spring, might with this Paradise


s: Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham,


s: Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove,


s: Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rhea's eye;


s: Nor where Abassin kings their issue guard,


s: Mount Amara, though this by some supposed


s: By Nilus' head, enclosed with shining rock,


s: A whole day's journey high, but wide remote


s: From this Assyrian garden, where the Fiend


s: Of living creatures, new to sight, and strange


s: Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall,


s: And worthy seemed; for in their looks divine


s: The image of their glorious Maker shone,


s: Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure,


s: (Severe, but in true filial freedom placed,)


s: Whence true authority in men; though both


s: Not equal, as their sex not equal seemed;


s: For softness she and sweet attractive grace;


s: His fair large front and eye sublime declared


s: Round from his parted forelock manly hung


s: Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad:


s: She, as a veil, down to the slender waist


s: Dishevelled, but in wanton ringlets waved


s: As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied


s: Subjection, but required with gentle sway,


s: And by her yielded, by him best received,


s: Yielded with coy submission, modest pride,


s: Nor those mysterious parts were then concealed;


s: Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame


s: Of nature's works, honour dishonourable,


s: Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind


s: With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure,


s: And banished from man's life his happiest life,


s: So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight


s: Of God or Angel; for they thought no ill:


s: So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair,


s: Adam the goodliest man of men since born


s: His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve.


s: Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain side


s: They sat them down; and, after no more toil


s: Of their sweet gardening labour than sufficed


s: More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite


s: More grateful, to their supper-fruits they fell,


s: Nectarine fruits which the compliant boughs


s: Yielded them, side-long as they sat recline


s: On the soft downy bank damasked with flowers:


s: The savoury pulp they chew, and in the rind,


s: Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming stream;


s: Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles


s: Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems


s: Fair couple, linked in happy nuptial league,


s: Alone as they.  About them frisking played


s: All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase


s: Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw


s: Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards,


s: Gambolled before them; the unwieldy elephant,


s: To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed


s: His lithe proboscis; close the serpent sly,


s: His braided train, and of his fatal guile


s: Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass


s: Couched, and now filled with pasture gazing sat,


s: Declined, was hasting now with prone career


s: To the ocean isles, and in the ascending scale


s: Of Heaven the stars that usher evening rose:


s: When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood,


s: Scarce thus at length failed speech recovered sad.


s: O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold!


s: Into our room of bliss thus high advanced


s: Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps,


s: Not Spirits, yet to heavenly Spirits bright


s: Little inferiour; whom my thoughts pursue


s: With wonder, and could love, so lively shines


s: In them divine resemblance, and such grace


s: The hand that formed them on their shape hath poured.


s: Ah! gentle pair, ye little think how nigh


s: Your change approaches, when all these delights


s: More woe, the more your taste is now of joy;


s: Long to continue, and this high seat your Heaven


s: Ill fenced for Heaven to keep out such a foe


s: Though I unpitied:  League with you I seek,


s: That I with you must dwell, or you with me


s: Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please,


s: Like this fair Paradise, your sense; yet such


s: Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me,


s: Which I as freely give:  Hell shall unfold,


s: And send forth all her kings; there will be room,


s: Not like these narrow limits, to receive


s: Your numerous offspring; if no better place,


s: Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge


s: On you who wrong me not for him who wronged.


s: Honour and empire with revenge enlarged,


s: By conquering this new world, compels me now


s: To do what else, though damned, I should abhor.


s: The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds.


s: Then from his lofty stand on that high tree


s: Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one,


s: Now other, as their shape served best his end


s: To mark what of their state he more might learn,


s: By word or action marked.  About them round


s: Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied


s: In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play,


s: Straight couches close, then, rising, changes oft


s: His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground,


s: Whence rushing, he might surest seize them both,


s: Griped in each paw: when, Adam first of men


s: To first of women Eve thus moving speech,


s: Turned him, all ear to hear new utterance flow.


s: Sole partner, and sole part, of all these joys,


s: Dearer thyself than all; needs must the Power


s: That made us, and for us this ample world,


s: That raised us from the dust, and placed us here


s: Aught whereof he hath need; he who requires


s: This one, this easy charge, of all the trees


s: Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life;


s: So near grows death to life, whate'er death is,


s: Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowest


s: God hath pronounced it death to taste that tree,


s: Earth, air, and sea.  Then let us not think hard


s: Free leave so large to all things else, and choice


s: His bounty, following our delightful task,


s: To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers,


s: Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet.


s: To whom thus Eve replied.  O thou for whom


s: And from whom I was formed, flesh of thy flesh,


s: And head! what thou hast said is just and right.


s: Like consort to thyself canst no where find.


s: That day I oft remember, when from sleep


s: I first awaked, and found myself reposed


s: Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where


s: And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.


s: Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound


s: Of waters issued from a cave, and spread


s: Pure as the expanse of Heaven; I thither went


s: With unexperienced thought, and laid me down


s: On the green bank, to look into the clear


s: Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky.


s: A shape within the watery gleam appeared,


s: It started back; but pleased I soon returned,


s: Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks


s: Of sympathy and love:  There I had fixed


s: Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire,


s: Had not a voice thus warned me;  "What thou seest,


s: What there thou seest, fair Creature, is thyself;


s: With thee it came and goes: but follow me,


s: And I will bring thee where no shadow stays


s: Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy


s: Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called


s: Mother of human race."  What could I do,


s: But follow straight, invisibly thus led?


s: Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall,


s: Under a platane; yet methought less fair,


s: Than that smooth watery image:  Back I turned;


s: Thou following cryedst aloud, "Return, fair Eve;


s: Whom flyest thou?  whom thou flyest, of him thou art,


s: His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent


s: Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart,


s: Substantial life, to have thee by my side


s: Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim


s: My other half:"  With that thy gentle hand


s: Seised mine: I yielded; and from that time see


s: So spake our general mother, and with eyes


s: And meek surrender, half-embracing leaned


s: On our first father; half her swelling breast


s: Both of her beauty, and submissive charms,


s: On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds


s: That shed Mayflowers; and pressed her matron lip


s: With kisses pure:  Aside the Devil turned


s: Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plained.


s: Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two,


s: The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill


s: Of bliss on bliss; while I to Hell am thrust,


s: Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire,


s: Still unfulfilled with pain of longing pines.


s: Yet let me not forget what I have gained


s: From their own mouths:  All is not theirs, it seems;


s: One fatal tree there stands, of knowledge called,


s: Forbidden them to taste:  Knowledge forbidden


s: Suspicious, reasonless.  Why should their Lord


s: Can it be death?  And do they only stand


s: By ignorance?  Is that their happy state,


s: The proof of their obedience and their faith?


s: Their ruin! hence I will excite their minds


s: To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt


s: They taste and die:  What likelier can ensue


s: But first with narrow search I must walk round


s: This garden, and no corner leave unspied;


s: A chance but chance may lead where I may meet


s: Some wandering Spirit of Heaven by fountain side,


s: Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw


s: What further would be learned.  Live while ye may,


s: Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed!


s: So saying, his proud step he scornful turned,


s: Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his roam


s: Mean while in utmost longitude, where Heaven


s: With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun


s: Levelled his evening rays:  It was a rock


s: Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent


s: Accessible from earth, one entrance high;


s: The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung


s: Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat,


s: Chief of the angelick guards, awaiting night;


s: The unarmed youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand


s: Celestial armoury, shields, helms, and spears,


s: Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold.


s: Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even


s: In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fired


s: From what point of his compass to beware


s: Impetuous winds:  He thus began in haste.


s: Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given


s: Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place


s: This day at highth of noon came to my sphere


s: A Spirit, zealous, as he seemed, to know


s: More of the Almighty's works, and chiefly Man,


s: God's latest image:  I described his way


s: Bent all on speed, and marked his aery gait;


s: But in the mount that lies from Eden north,


s: Where he first lighted, soon discerned his looks


s: Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured:


s: Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade


s: Lost sight of him:  One of the banished crew,


s: I fear, hath ventured from the deep, to raise


s: New troubles; him thy care must be to find.


s: To whom the winged warriour thus returned.


s: Amid the sun's bright circle where thou sitst,