s: See far and wide:  In at this gate none pass


s: The vigilance here placed, but such as come


s: Well known from Heaven; and since meridian hour


s: No creature thence:  If Spirit of other sort,


s: So minded, have o'er-leaped these earthly bounds


s: On purpose, hard thou knowest it to exclude


s: But if within the circuit of these walks,


s: Thou tellest, by morrow dawning I shall know.


s: Returned on that bright beam, whose point now raised


s: Bore him slope downward to the sun now fallen


s: Beneath the Azores; whether the prime orb,


s: Incredible how swift, had thither rolled


s: By shorter flight to the east, had left him there


s: The clouds that on his western throne attend.


s: Now came still Evening on, and Twilight gray


s: Had in her sober livery all things clad;


s: Silence accompanied; for beast and bird,


s: They to their grassy couch, these to their nests


s: Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale;


s: She all night long her amorous descant sung;


s: Silence was pleased:  Now glowed the firmament


s: With living sapphires:  Hesperus, that led


s: The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon,


s: Apparent queen unveiled her peerless light,


s: And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw.


s: When Adam thus to Eve.  Fair Consort, the hour


s: Of night, and all things now retired to rest,


s: Mind us of like repose; since God hath set


s: Labour and rest, as day and night, to men


s: Successive; and the timely dew of sleep,


s: Now falling with soft slumbrous weight, inclines


s: Our eye-lids:  Other creatures all day long


s: Rove idle, unemployed, and less need rest;


s: And the regard of Heaven on all his ways;


s: And of their doings God takes no account.


s: To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east


s: With first approach of light, we must be risen,


s: Yon flowery arbours, yonder alleys green,


s: Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown,


s: That mock our scant manuring, and require


s: More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth:


s: Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums,


s: That lie bestrown, unsightly and unsmooth,


s: Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease;


s: Mean while, as Nature wills, night bids us rest.


s: To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adorned


s: God is thy law, thou mine:  To know no more


s: Is woman's happiest knowledge, and her praise.


s: All seasons, and their change, all please alike.


s: Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising sweet,


s: With charm of earliest birds:  pleasant the sun,


s: When first on this delightful land he spreads


s: His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower,


s: Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth


s: After soft showers; and sweet the coming on


s: Of grateful Evening mild; then silent Night,


s: With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon,


s: And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train:


s: But neither breath of Morn, when she ascends


s: With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun


s: On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower,


s: Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers;


s: Nor grateful Evening mild; nor silent Night,


s: With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon,


s: Or glittering star-light, without thee is sweet.


s: But wherefore all night long shine these? for whom


s: This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes?


s: Daughter of God and Man, accomplished Eve,


s: These have their course to finish round the earth,


s: By morrow evening, and from land to land


s: Ministring light prepared, they set and rise;


s: Lest total Darkness should by night regain


s: In Nature and all things; which these soft fires


s: Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat


s: Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow


s: Perfection from the sun's more potent ray.


s: These then, though unbeheld in deep of night,


s: Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were none,


s: That Heaven would want spectators, God want praise:


s: Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth


s: Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep:


s: All these with ceaseless praise his works behold


s: Both day and night:  How often from the steep


s: Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard


s: Sole, or responsive each to others note,


s: Singing their great Creator? oft in bands


s: While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk,


s: With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds


s: In full harmonick number joined, their songs


s: Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven.


s: Thus talking, hand in hand alone they passed


s: On to their blissful bower: it was a place


s: Chosen by the sovran Planter, when he framed


s: All things to Man's delightful use; the roof


s: Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side


s: Fenced up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower,


s: Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought


s: Broidered the ground, more coloured than with stone


s: Of costliest emblem:  Other creature here,


s: Bird, beast, insect, or worm, durst enter none,


s: Such was their awe of Man.  In shadier bower


s: More sacred and sequestered, though but feigned,


s: Nor Faunus haunted.  Here, in close recess,


s: With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs,


s: Espoused Eve decked first her nuptial bed;


s: Brought her in naked beauty more adorned,


s: More lovely, than Pandora, whom the Gods


s: Endowed with all their gifts, and O! too like


s: Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged


s: On him who had stole Jove's authentick fire.


s: Thus, at their shady lodge arrived, both stood,


s: The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heaven,


s: Which they beheld, the moon's resplendent globe,


s: And starry pole:  Thou also madest the night,


s: Which we, in our appointed work employed,


s: And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss


s: Ordained by thee; and this delicious place


s: For us too large, where thy abundance wants


s: Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground.


s: But thou hast promised from us two a race


s: To fill the earth, who shall with us extol


s: Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,


s: And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep.


s: Which God likes best, into their inmost bower


s: Handed they went; and, eased the putting off


s: These troublesome disguises which we wear,


s: Straight side by side were laid; nor turned, I ween,


s: Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites


s: Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all.


s: Our Maker bids encrease; who bids abstain


s: Hail, wedded Love, mysterious law, true source


s: By thee adulterous Lust was driven from men


s: Among the bestial herds to range; by thee


s: Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,


s: Of father, son, and brother, first were known.


s: Far be it, that I should write thee sin or blame,


s: Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,


s: Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced,


s: Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs used.


s: Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights


s: His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings,


s: Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile


s: Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared,


s: Mixed dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,


s: Or serenate, which the starved lover sings


s: To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.


s: These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept,


s: And on their naked limbs the flowery roof


s: Showered roses, which the morn repaired.  Sleep on,


s: Blest pair; and O! yet happiest, if ye seek


s: No happier state, and know to know no more.


s: Now had night measured with her shadowy cone


s: Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault,


s: Forth issuing at the accustomed hour, stood armed


s: To their night watches in warlike parade;


s: When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake.


s: Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south


s: With strictest watch; these other wheel the north;


s: Our circuit meets full west.  As flame they part,


s: Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear.


s: From these, two strong and subtle Spirits he called


s: That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge.


s: Search through this garden, leave unsearched no nook;


s: But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge,


s: Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm.


s: This evening from the sun's decline arrived,


s: Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped


s: The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt:


s: Such, where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring.


s: Dazzling the moon; these to the bower direct


s: In search of whom they sought:  Him there they found


s: Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve,


s: The organs of her fancy, and with them forge


s: Illusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams;


s: The animal spirits, that from pure blood arise


s: Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise


s: At least distempered, discontented thoughts,


s: Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires,


s: Blown up with high conceits ingendering pride.


s: Touched lightly; for no falshood can endure


s: Of force to its own likeness:  Up he starts


s: Discovered and surprised.  As when a spark


s: Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid


s: Against a rumoured war, the smutty grain,


s: With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air;


s: So started up in his own shape the Fiend.


s: Back stept those two fair Angels, half amazed


s: Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon.


s: Which of those rebel Spirits adjudged to Hell


s: Comest thou, escaped thy prison? and, transformed,


s: Here watching at the head of these that sleep?


s: Know ye not then said Satan, filled with scorn,


s: For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar:


s: Not to know me argues yourselves unknown,


s: The lowest of your throng; or, if ye know,


s: Your message, like to end as much in vain?


s: To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn.


s: Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same,


s: As when thou stoodest in Heaven upright and pure;


s: That glory then, when thou no more wast good,


s: Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now


s: Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul.


s: But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account


s: To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep


s: This place inviolable, and these from harm.


s: So spake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke,


s: Virtue in her shape how lovely; saw, and pined


s: His loss; but chiefly to find here observed


s: Best with the best, the sender, not the sent,


s: Or less be lost.  Thy fear, said Zephon bold,


s: Will save us trial what the least can do


s: Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.


s: The Fiend replied not, overcome with rage;


s: But, like a proud steed reined, went haughty on,


s: Champing his iron curb:  To strive or fly


s: He held it vain; awe from above had quelled


s: His heart, not else dismayed.  Now drew they nigh


s: The western point, where those half-rounding guards


s: Just met, and closing stood in squadron joined,


s: A waiting next command.  To whom their Chief,


s: Gabriel, from the front thus called aloud.


s: O friends!  I hear the tread of nimble feet


s: Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern


s: And with them comes a third of regal port,


s: But faded splendour wan; who by his gait


s: And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell,


s: Not likely to part hence without contest;


s: Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.


s: He scarce had ended, when those two approached,


s: And brief related whom they brought, where found,


s: How busied, in what form and posture couched.


s: To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake.


s: Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed


s: To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge


s: Of others, who approve not to transgress


s: By thy example, but have power and right


s: To question thy bold entrance on this place;


s: Employed, it seems, to violate sleep, and those


s: Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss!


s: To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow.


s: Gabriel? thou hadst in Heaven the esteem of wise,


s: And such I held thee; but this question asked


s: Puts me in doubt.  Lives there who loves his pain!


s: Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,


s: Though thither doomed!  Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt


s: Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change


s: Torment with ease, and soonest recompense


s: Dole with delight, which in this place I sought;


s: To thee no reason, who knowest only good,


s: But evil hast not tried: and wilt object


s: His will who bounds us!  Let him surer bar


s: In that dark durance:  Thus much what was asked.


s: The rest is true, they found me where they say;


s: Thus he in scorn.  The warlike Angel moved,


s: Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied.


s: O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise


s: And now returns him from his prison 'scaped,


s: Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise


s: Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither


s: Unlicensed from his bounds in Hell prescribed;


s: So judge thou still, presumptuous! till the wrath,


s: Which thou incurrest by flying, meet thy flight


s: Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell,


s: Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain


s: But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee


s: Came not all hell broke loose? or thou than they


s: Less hardy to endure?  Courageous Chief!


s: The first in flight from pain! hadst thou alleged


s: To thy deserted host this cause of flight,


s: Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.


s: To which the Fiend thus answered, frowning stern.


s: Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain,


s: Insulting Angel! well thou knowest I stood


s: The blasting vollied thunder made all speed,


s: And seconded thy else not dreaded spear.


s: But still thy words at random, as before,


s: Through ways of danger by himself untried:


s: Fame is not silent, here in hope to find


s: Though for possession put to try once more


s: What thou and thy gay legions dare against;


s: Whose easier business were to serve their Lord


s: High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne,


s: And practised distances to cringe, not fight,


s: To whom the warriour Angel soon replied.


s: To say and straight unsay, pretending first


s: Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy,


s: Satan, and couldst thou faithful add?  O name,


s: Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew?


s: Was this your discipline and faith engaged,


s: Allegiance to the acknowledged Power supreme?


s: And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem


s: Once fawned, and cringed, and servilely adored


s: Heaven's awful Monarch? wherefore, but in hope


s: To dispossess him, and thyself to reign?


s: Fly neither whence thou fledst!  If from this hour


s: Within these hallowed limits thou appear,


s: Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained,


s: And seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn


s: The facile gates of Hell too slightly barred.


s: So threatened he; but Satan to no threats


s: Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied.


s: Then when I am thy captive talk of chains,


s: From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King


s: Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers,


s: Us'd to the yoke, drawest his triumphant wheels


s: In progress through the road of Heaven star-paved.


s: While thus he spake, the angelick squadron bright


s: Turned fiery red, sharpening in mooned horns


s: Their phalanx, and began to hem him round


s: With ported spears, as thick as when a field


s: Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind


s: Sways them; the careful plowman doubting stands,


s: Left on the threshing floor his hopeless sheaves


s: Prove chaff.  On the other side, Satan, alarmed,


s: Collecting all his might, dilated stood,


s: His stature reached the sky, and on his crest


s: Sat Horrour plumed; nor wanted in his grasp


s: What seemed both spear and shield:  Now dreadful deeds


s: At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn


s: With violence of this conflict, had not soon


s: The Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray,


s: Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen


s: Wherein all things created first he weighed,


s: The pendulous round earth with balanced air


s: In counterpoise, now ponders all events,


s: Battles and realms:  In these he put two weights,


s: The sequel each of parting and of fight:


s: The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam,


s: Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend.


s: Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowest mine;


s: Neither our own, but given:  What folly then


s: To boast what arms can do? since thine no more


s: Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now


s: To trample thee as mire:  For proof look up,


s: Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak,


s: If thou resist.  The Fiend looked up, and knew


s: His mounted scale aloft:  Nor more; but fled


s: Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.


s: Now Morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime


s: Advancing, sowed the earth with orient pearl,


s: When Adam waked, so customed; for his sleep


s: Was aery-light, from pure digestion bred,


s: And temperate vapours bland, which the only sound


s: Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan,


s: Lightly dispersed, and the shrill matin song


s: Of birds on every bough; so much the more


s: With tresses discomposed, and glowing cheek,


s: As through unquiet rest:  He, on his side


s: Leaning half raised, with looks of cordial love


s: Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep,


s: Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice


s: Mild, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes,


s: Her hand soft touching, whispered thus.  Awake,


s: My fairest, my espoused, my latest found,


s: Heaven's last best gift, my ever new delight!


s: Awake:  The morning shines, and the fresh field


s: Calls us; we lose the prime, to mark how spring


s: Our tender plants, how blows the citron grove,


s: What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed,


s: How nature paints her colours, how the bee


s: Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet.


s: Such whispering waked her, but with startled eye


s: On Adam, whom embracing, thus she spake.


s: O sole in whom my thoughts find all repose,


s: Thy face, and morn returned; for I this night


s: (Such night till this I never passed) have dreamed,


s: If dreamed, not, as I oft am wont, of thee,


s: Works of day past, or morrow's next design,


s: But of offence and trouble, which my mind


s: Knew never till this irksome night:  Methought,


s: Close at mine ear one called me forth to walk


s: With gentle voice;  I thought it thine: It said,


s: "Why sleepest thou, Eve? now is the pleasant time,


s: The cool, the silent, save where silence yields


s: To the night-warbling bird, that now awake


s: Tunes sweetest his love-laboured song; now reigns


s: Full-orbed the moon, and with more pleasing light


s: Shadowy sets off the face of things; in vain,


s: If none regard; Heaven wakes with all his eyes,


s: Whom to behold but thee, Nature's desire?


s: In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment


s: I rose as at thy call, but found thee not;


s: And on, methought, alone I passed through ways


s: Of interdicted knowledge: fair it seemed,


s: And, as I wondering looked, beside it stood


s: One shaped and winged like one of those from Heaven


s: By us oft seen; his dewy locks distilled


s: And "O fair plant," said he, "with fruit surcharged,


s: Deigns none to ease thy load, and taste thy sweet,


s: Nor God, nor Man?  Is knowledge so despised?


s: Or envy, or what reserve forbids to taste?


s: Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold


s: Longer thy offered good; why else set here?"


s: This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm


s: He plucked, he tasted; me damp horrour chilled


s: At such bold words vouched with a deed so bold:


s: But he thus, overjoyed; "O fruit divine,


s: Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropt,


s: And why not Gods of Men; since good, the more


s: The author not impaired, but honoured more?


s: Here, happy creature, fair angelick Eve!


s: Partake thou also; happy though thou art,


s: Happier thou mayest be, worthier canst not be:


s: Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods


s: Thyself a Goddess, not to earth confined,


s: But sometimes in the air, as we, sometimes


s: Ascend to Heaven, by merit thine, and see


s: What life the Gods live there, and such live thou!"


s: So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held,


s: Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part


s: Which he had plucked; the pleasant savoury smell


s: So quickened appetite, that I, methought,


s: Could not but taste.  Forthwith up to the clouds


s: The earth outstretched immense, a prospect wide


s: And various:  Wondering at my flight and change


s: My guide was gone, and I, methought, sunk down,


s: And fell asleep; but O, how glad I waked


s: To find this but a dream!  Thus Eve her night


s: The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep


s: This uncouth dream, of evil sprung, I fear;


s: Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none,


s: Created pure.  But know that in the soul


s: Her office holds; of all external things


s: Which the five watchful senses represent,


s: Which Reason, joining or disjoining, frames


s: All what we affirm or what deny, and call


s: Into her private cell, when nature rests.


s: Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams;


s: Ill matching words and deeds long past or late.


s: Some such resemblances, methinks, I find


s: Of our last evening's talk, in this thy dream,


s: But with addition strange; yet be not sad.


s: May come and go, so unreproved, and leave


s: No spot or blame behind:  Which gives me hope


s: That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream,


s: Be not disheartened then, nor cloud those looks,


s: That wont to be more cheerful and serene,


s: Than when fair morning first smiles on the world;


s: And let us to our fresh employments rise


s: Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers


s: That open now their choisest bosomed smells,


s: Reserved from night, and kept for thee in store.


s: So cheered he his fair spouse, and she was cheered;


s: From either eye, and wiped them with her hair;


s: Two other precious drops that ready stood,


s: Each in their crystal sluice, he ere they fell


s: Kissed, as the gracious signs of sweet remorse


s: And pious awe, that feared to have offended.


s: So all was cleared, and to the field they haste.


s: But first, from under shady arborous roof


s: Soon as they forth were come to open sight


s: Of day-spring, and the sun, who, scarce up-risen,


s: With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean-brim,


s: Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray,


s: Discovering in wide landskip all the east


s: In various style; for neither various style


s: Their Maker, in fit strains pronounced, or sung


s: Flowed from their lips, in prose or numerous verse,


s: To add more sweetness; and they thus began.


s: These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,


s: Thus wonderous fair;  Thyself how wonderous then!


s: Unspeakable, who sitst above these heavens


s: In these thy lowest works; yet these declare


s: Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine.


s: Speak, ye who best can tell, ye sons of light,


s: Angels; for ye behold him, and with songs


s: And choral symphonies, day without night,


s: Circle his throne rejoicing; ye in Heaven


s: Him first, him last, him midst, and without end.


s: Fairest of stars, last in the train of night,


s: Sure pledge of day, that crownest the smiling morn


s: With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere,


s: While day arises, that sweet hour of prime.


s: Thou Sun, of this great world both eye and soul,


s: Acknowledge him thy greater; sound his praise


s: In thy eternal course, both when thou climbest,


s: And when high noon hast gained, and when thou fallest.


s: Moon, that now meetest the orient sun, now flyest,


s: With the fixed Stars, fixed in their orb that flies;


s: And ye five other wandering Fires, that move


s: In mystick dance not without song, resound


s: His praise, who out of darkness called up light.


s: Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run


s: And nourish all things; let your ceaseless change


s: Vary to our great Maker still new praise.


s: From hill or steaming lake, dusky or gray,


s: Till the sun paint your fleecy skirts with gold,


s: In honour to the world's great Author rise;


s: Whether to deck with clouds the uncoloured sky,


s: Or wet the thirsty earth with falling showers,


s: Rising or falling still advance his praise.


s: His praise, ye Winds, that from four quarters blow,


s: Breathe soft or loud; and, wave your tops, ye Pines,


s: With every plant, in sign of worship wave.


s: Fountains, and ye that warble, as ye flow,


s: Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.


s: Join voices, all ye living Souls:  Ye Birds,


s: Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise.


s: Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk


s: The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep;


s: To hill, or valley, fountain, or fresh shade,


s: Made vocal by my song, and taught his praise.


s: Hail, universal Lord, be bounteous still


s: Have gathered aught of evil, or concealed,


s: Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark!


s: So prayed they innocent, and to their thoughts


s: Firm peace recovered soon, and wonted calm.


s: On to their morning's rural work they haste,


s: Among sweet dews and flowers; where any row


s: Of fruit-trees over-woody reached too far


s: Their pampered boughs, and needed hands to check


s: Fruitless embraces: or they led the vine


s: To wed her elm; she, spoused, about him twines


s: Her marriageable arms, and with him brings


s: Her dower, the adopted clusters, to adorn


s: His barren leaves.  Them thus employed beheld


s: With pity Heaven's high King, and to him called


s: Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deigned


s: His marriage with the seventimes-wedded maid.


s: Raphael, said he, thou hearest what stir on Earth


s: Satan, from Hell 'scaped through the darksome gulf,


s: Hath raised in Paradise; and how disturbed


s: This night the human pair; how he designs


s: Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend


s: Converse with Adam, in what bower or shade


s: Thou findest him from the heat of noon retired,


s: Or with repose; and such discourse bring on,


s: Happiness in his power left free to will,


s: Left to his own free will, his will though free,


s: He swerve not, too secure:  Tell him withal


s: Late fallen himself from Heaven, is plotting now


s: The fall of others from like state of bliss;


s: By violence? no, for that shall be withstood;


s: But by deceit and lies:  This let him know,


s: Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend


s: So spake the Eternal Father, and fulfilled


s: All justice:  Nor delayed the winged Saint


s: After his charge received; but from among


s: Thousand celestial Ardours, where he stood


s: Veiled with his gorgeous wings, up springing light,


s: Flew through the midst of Heaven; the angelick quires,


s: On each hand parting, to his speed gave way


s: Through all the empyreal road; till, at the gate


s: Of Heaven arrived, the gate self-opened wide


s: From hence no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight,


s: Not unconformed to other shining globes,


s: Earth, and the garden of God, with cedars crowned


s: Above all hills.  As when by night the glass


s: A cloudy spot.  Down thither prone in flight


s: He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky


s: Sails between worlds and worlds, with steady wing


s: Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan


s: Winnows the buxom air; till, within soar


s: Of towering eagles, to all the fowls he seems


s: A phoenix, gazed by all as that sole bird,


s: When, to enshrine his reliques in the Sun's


s: At once on the eastern cliff of Paradise


s: He lights, and to his proper shape returns


s: A Seraph winged:  Six wings he wore, to shade


s: His lineaments divine; the pair that clad


s: Each shoulder broad, came mantling o'er his breast


s: Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round


s: Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold


s: And colours dipt in Heaven; the third his feet


s: Shadowed from either heel with feathered mail,


s: Sky-tinctured grain.  Like Maia's son he stood,


s: And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance filled


s: The circuit wide.  Straight knew him all the bands


s: Of Angels under watch; and to his state,


s: And to his message high, in honour rise;


s: For on some message high they guessed him bound.


s: Their glittering tents he passed, and now is come


s: Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh,


s: And flowering odours, cassia, nard, and balm;


s: Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will


s: Her virgin fancies pouring forth more sweet,


s: Him through the spicy forest onward come


s: Of his cool bower, while now the mounted sun


s: Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm


s: Earth's inmost womb, more warmth than Adam needs:


s: And Eve within, due at her hour prepared


s: For dinner savoury fruits, of taste to please


s: Of nectarous draughts between, from milky stream,


s: Berry or grape:  To whom thus Adam called.


s: Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight behold


s: Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape


s: Comes this way moving; seems another morn


s: Risen on mid-noon; some great behest from Heaven


s: To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe


s: This day to be our guest.  But go with speed,


s: And, what thy stores contain, bring forth, and pour


s: Our heavenly stranger:  Well we may afford


s: Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow


s: From large bestowed, where Nature multiplies


s: Her fertile growth, and by disburthening grows


s: More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare.


s: To whom thus Eve.  Adam, earth's hallowed mould,


s: Of God inspired! small store will serve, where store,


s: All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk;


s: Save what by frugal storing firmness gains


s: To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes:


s: But I will haste, and from each bough and brake,


s: Each plant and juciest gourd, will pluck such choice


s: Beholding shall confess, that here on Earth


s: God hath dispensed his bounties as in Heaven.


s: So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste


s: She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent


s: What choice to choose for delicacy best,


s: Tastes, not well joined, inelegant, but bring


s: Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change;


s: Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk


s: Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields


s: Alcinous reigned, fruit of all kinds, in coat


s: Rough, or smooth rind, or bearded husk, or shell,


s: She gathers, tribute large, and on the board


s: Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the grape


s: She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths


s: From many a berry, and from sweet kernels pressed


s: She tempers dulcet creams; nor these to hold


s: Wants her fit vessels pure; then strows the ground


s: With rose and odours from the shrub unfumed.


s: Mean while our primitive great sire, to meet


s: His God-like guest, walks forth, without more train


s: Perfections; in himself was all his state,


s: More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits


s: On princes, when their rich retinue long


s: Of horses led, and grooms besmeared with gold,


s: Dazzles the croud, and sets them all agape.


s: Nearer his presence Adam, though not awed,


s: Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek,


s: Thus said.  Native of Heaven, for other place


s: None can than Heaven such glorious shape contain;


s: Since, by descending from the thrones above,


s: Those happy places thou hast deigned a while


s: To want, and honour these, vouchsafe with us


s: Two only, who yet by sovran gift possess


s: This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower


s: To rest; and what the garden choicest bears


s: To sit and taste, till this meridian heat


s: Whom thus the angelick Virtue answered mild.


s: Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou such


s: Created, or such place hast here to dwell,


s: As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heaven,


s: To visit thee; lead on then where thy bower


s: O'ershades; for these mid-hours, till evening rise,


s: They came, that like Pomona's arbour smiled,


s: With flowerets decked, and fragrant smells; but Eve,


s: Undecked save with herself, more lovely fair


s: Than Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feigned


s: Of three that in mount Ida naked strove,


s: Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven; no veil


s: She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm


s: Altered her cheek.  On whom the Angel Hail


s: Hail, Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful womb


s: Shall fill the world more numerous with thy sons,


s: Than with these various fruits the trees of God


s: Have heaped this table!--Raised of grassy turf


s: Their table was, and mossy seats had round,


s: And on her ample square from side to side


s: All autumn piled, though spring and autumn here


s: Danced hand in hand.  A while discourse they hold;


s: No fear lest dinner cool; when thus began


s: Our author.  Heavenly stranger, please to taste


s: These bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom


s: All perfect good, unmeasured out, descends,


s: To us for food and for delight hath caused


s: The earth to yield; unsavoury food perhaps


s: To whom the Angel.  Therefore what he gives


s: (Whose praise be ever sung) to Man in part


s: Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found


s: No ingrateful food:  And food alike those pure


s: Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste,


s: The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea,


s: Earth and the sea feed air, the air those fires


s: Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurged


s: Vapours not yet into her substance turned.


s: From her moist continent to higher orbs.


s: The sun that light imparts to all, receives


s: Sups with the ocean.  Though in Heaven the trees


s: Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines


s: Yield nectar; though from off the boughs each morn


s: We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground


s: Covered with pearly grain:  Yet God hath here


s: As may compare with Heaven; and to taste


s: Think not I shall be nice.  So down they sat,


s: The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss


s: To transubstantiate:  What redounds, transpires


s: Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder; if by fire


s: Metals of drossiest ore to perfect gold,


s: As from the mine.  Mean while at table Eve


s: Ministered naked, and their flowing cups


s: With pleasant liquours crowned:  O innocence


s: Then had the sons of God excuse to have been


s: Enamoured at that sight; but in those hearts


s: Was understood, the injured lover's hell.


s: Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficed,


s: Given him by this great conference to know


s: Of things above his world, and of their being


s: Who dwell in Heaven, whose excellence he saw


s: Transcend his own so far; whose radiant forms,


s: Divine effulgence, whose high power, so far


s: Thus to the empyreal minister he framed.


s: Under whose lowly roof thou hast vouchsafed


s: To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste,


s: As that more willingly thou couldst not seem


s: At Heaven's high feasts to have fed: yet what compare


s: All things proceed, and up to him return,


s: Such to perfection, one first matter all,


s: Endued with various forms, various degrees


s: Of substance, and, in things that live, of life;


s: But more refined, more spiritous, and pure,


s: As nearer to him placed, or nearer tending


s: Each in their several active spheres assigned,


s: Proportioned to each kind.  So from the root


s: Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves


s: More aery, last the bright consummate flower


s: Spirits odorous breathes: flowers and their fruit,


s: Man's nourishment, by gradual scale sublimed,


s: To intellectual; give both life and sense,


s: Fancy and understanding; whence the soul


s: Reason receives, and reason is her being,


s: Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours,


s: Differing but in degree, of kind the same.


s: Wonder not then, what God for you saw good


s: To proper substance.  Time may come, when Men


s: No inconvenient diet, nor too light fare;


s: And from these corporal nutriments perhaps


s: Your bodies may at last turn all to spirit,


s: Improved by tract of time, and, winged, ascend


s: Whose progeny you are.  Mean while enjoy


s: Your fill what happiness this happy state


s: To whom the patriarch of mankind replied.


s: Well hast thou taught the way that might direct


s: Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set


s: By steps we may ascend to God.  But say,


s: What meant that caution joined, If ye be found


s: Who formed us from the dust and placed us here


s: Full to the utmost measure of what bliss


s: To whom the Angel.  Son of Heaven and Earth,


s: Attend!  That thou art happy, owe to God;


s: That thou continuest such, owe to thyself,


s: That is, to thy obedience; therein stand.


s: This was that caution given thee; be advised.


s: He left it in thy power; ordained thy will


s: Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how


s: Can hearts, not free, be tried whether they serve


s: Willing or no, who will but what they must


s: Myself, and all the angelick host, that stand


s: In sight of God, enthroned, our happy state


s: Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;


s: To love or not; in this we stand or fall:


s: And some are fallen, to disobedience fallen,


s: And so from Heaven to deepest Hell; O fall


s: From what high state of bliss, into what woe!


s: To whom our great progenitor.  Thy words


s: Divine instructer, I have heard, than when


s: Cherubick songs by night from neighbouring hills


s: Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts


s: Assured me, and still assure:  Though what thou tellest


s: Hath passed in Heaven, some doubt within me move,


s: But more desire to hear, if thou consent,


s: The full relation, which must needs be strange,


s: And we have yet large day, for scarce the sun


s: Hath finished half his journey, and scarce begins


s: His other half in the great zone of Heaven.


s: After short pause assenting, thus began.


s: High matter thou enjoinest me, O prime of men,


s: Sad task and hard:  For how shall I relate


s: Of warring Spirits? how, without remorse,


s: And perfect while they stood? how last unfold


s: This is dispensed; and what surmounts the reach


s: By likening spiritual to corporal forms,


s: As may express them best; though what if Earth


s: Be but a shadow of Heaven, and things therein


s: Each to other like, more than on earth is thought?


s: As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild


s: Reigned where these Heavens now roll, where Earth now rests


s: By present, past, and future,) on such day


s: As Heaven's great year brings forth, the empyreal host


s: Innumerable before the Almighty's throne


s: Forthwith, from all the ends of Heaven, appeared


s: Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced,


s: Standards and gonfalons 'twixt van and rear


s: Stream in the air, and for distinction serve


s: Or in their glittering tissues bear imblazed


s: Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top


s: Brightness had made invisible, thus spake.


s: Hear my decree, which unrevoked shall stand.


s: At my right hand; your head I him appoint;


s: And by myself have sworn, to him shall bow


s: All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord:


s: Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day,


s: Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls


s: Into utter darkness, deep ingulfed, his place


s: Ordained without redemption, without end.


s: So spake the Omnipotent, and with his words


s: All seemed well pleased; all seemed, but were not all.


s: That day, as other solemn days, they spent


s: In song and dance about the sacred hill;


s: Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere


s: Of planets, and of fixed, in all her wheels


s: Then most, when most irregular they seem;


s: So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear


s: Listens delighted.  Evening now approached,


s: (For we have also our evening and our morn,


s: We ours for change delectable, not need;)


s: Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn


s: With Angels food, and rubied nectar flows


s: Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven.


s: On flowers reposed, and with fresh flowerets crowned,


s: They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet


s: Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds


s: Excess, before the all-bounteous King, who showered


s: With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy.


s: Now when ambrosial night with clouds exhaled


s: From that high mount of God, whence light and shade


s: Spring both, the face of brightest Heaven had changed


s: To grateful twilight, (for night comes not there


s: In darker veil) and roseate dews disposed


s: All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest;


s: Than all this globous earth in plain outspread,


s: (Such are the courts of God) the angelick throng,


s: Dispersed in bands and files, their camp extend


s: By living streams among the trees of life,


s: Pavilions numberless, and sudden reared,


s: Fanned with cool winds; save those, who, in their course,


s: Alternate all night long: but not so waked


s: Is heard no more in Heaven; he of the first,


s: If not the first Arch-Angel, great in power,


s: With envy against the Son of God, that day


s: Honoured by his great Father, and proclaimed


s: Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaired.


s: Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain,


s: Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour


s: Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolved


s: With all his legions to dislodge, and leave


s: Unworshipt, unobeyed, the throne supreme,


s: Sleepest thou, Companion dear?  What sleep can close


s: Thy eye-lids? and rememberest what decree


s: Of yesterday, so late hath passed the lips


s: Of Heaven's Almighty.  Thou to me thy thoughts


s: Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart;


s: Both waking we were one; how then can now


s: Thy sleep dissent?  New laws thou seest imposed;


s: New laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise


s: What doubtful may ensue:  More in this place


s: Of all those myriads which we lead the chief;


s: Tell them, that by command, ere yet dim night


s: Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste,


s: And all who under me their banners wave,


s: Homeward, with flying march, where we possess


s: The quarters of the north; there to prepare


s: The great Messiah, and his new commands,


s: Who speedily through all the hierarchies


s: Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws.


s: So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infused


s: Or several one by one, the regent Powers,


s: Under him Regent; tells, as he was taught,


s: That the Most High commanding, now ere night,


s: Now ere dim night had disincumbered Heaven,


s: The great hierarchal standard was to move;


s: Tells the suggested cause, and casts between


s: Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound


s: Of their great Potentate; for great indeed


s: His name, and high was his degree in Heaven;


s: His countenance, as the morning-star that guides


s: The starry flock, allured them, and with lies


s: Drew after him the third part of Heaven's host.


s: Mean while the Eternal eye, whose sight discerns


s: Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount,


s: And from within the golden lamps that burn


s: Nightly before him, saw without their light


s: Rebellion rising; saw in whom, how spread


s: And, smiling, to his only Son thus said.


s: In full resplendence, Heir of all my might,


s: Is rising, who intends to erect his throne


s: Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north;


s: Nor so content, hath in his thought to try


s: In battle, what our power is, or our right.


s: With speed what force is left, and all employ


s: This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill.


s: To whom the Son with calm aspect and clear,


s: Made answer.  Mighty Father, thou thy foes


s: Laughest at their vain designs and tumults vain,


s: Illustrates, when they see all regal power


s: Given me to quell their pride, and in event


s: Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven.


s: So spake the Son; but Satan, with his Powers,


s: Far was advanced on winged speed; an host


s: Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the sun


s: Impearls on every leaf and every flower.


s: Regions they passed, the mighty regencies


s: In their triple degrees; regions to which


s: Than what this garden is to all the earth,


s: And all the sea, from one entire globose


s: Stretched into longitude; which having passed,


s: Raised on a mount, with pyramids and towers


s: From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold;


s: Messiah was declared in sight of Heaven,


s: The Mountain of the Congregation called;


s: About the great reception of their King,


s: Thither to come, and with calumnious art


s: Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears.


s: All power, and us eclipsed under the name


s: Of King anointed, for whom all this haste


s: Of midnight-march, and hurried meeting here,


s: With what may be devised of honours new,


s: Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile!


s: Too much to one! but double how endured,


s: To one, and to his image now proclaimed?


s: Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yoke?


s: Will ye submit your necks, and choose to bend


s: The supple knee?  Ye will not, if I trust


s: To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves


s: Natives and sons of Heaven possessed before


s: By none; and if not equal all, yet free,


s: Who can in reason then, or right, assume


s: His equals, if in power and splendour less,


s: Err not? much less for this to be our Lord,


s: Our being ordained to govern, not to serve.


s: Thus far his bold discourse without controul


s: Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal adored


s: O argument blasphemous, false, and proud!


s: Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven


s: Expected, least of all from thee,  Ingrate,


s: In place thyself so high above thy peers.


s: The just decree of God, pronounced and sworn,


s: With regal scepter, every soul in Heaven


s: Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due


s: Confess him rightful King? unjust, thou sayest,


s: Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free,


s: Shalt thou give law to God? shalt thou dispute


s: With him the points of liberty, who made


s: Thee what thou art, and formed the Powers of Heaven


s: Such as he pleased, and circumscribed their being?


s: Yet, by experience taught, we know how good,


s: How provident he is; how far from thought


s: Our happy state, under one head more near


s: Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou count,


s: All things, even thee; and all the Spirits of Heaven


s: Crowned them with glory, and to their glory named


s: Essential Powers; nor by his reign obscured,


s: But more illustrious made; since he the head


s: His laws our laws; all honour to him done


s: Returns our own.  Cease then this impious rage,


s: And tempt not these; but hasten to appease


s: The incensed Father, and the incensed Son,


s: While pardon may be found in time besought.


s: So spake the fervent Angel; but his zeal


s: The Apostate, and, more haughty, thus replied.


s: That we were formed then sayest thou? and the work


s: From Father to his Son? strange point and new!


s: Doctrine which we would know whence learned: who saw


s: When this creation was? rememberest thou


s: Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being?


s: We know no time when we were not as now;


s: Know none before us, self-begot, self-raised


s: By our own quickening power, when fatal course


s: Had circled his full orb, the birth mature


s: Of this our native Heaven, ethereal sons.


s: Our puissance is our own; our own right hand


s: Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try


s: Who is our equal:  Then thou shalt behold


s: Address, and to begirt the almighty throne


s: These tidings carry to the anointed King;


s: He said; and, as the sound of waters deep,


s: Hoarse murmur echoed to his words applause


s: Through the infinite host; nor less for that


s: The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone


s: Encompassed round with foes, thus answered bold.


s: Determined, and thy hapless crew involved


s: In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread


s: Both of thy crime and punishment:  Henceforth


s: No more be troubled how to quit the yoke


s: Will not be now vouchsafed; other decrees


s: Against thee are gone forth without recall;


s: That golden scepter, which thou didst reject,


s: Thy disobedience.  Well thou didst advise;


s: These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath


s: Distinguish not:  For soon expect to feel


s: His thunder on thy head, devouring fire.


s: When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.


s: So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found


s: His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal;


s: Nor number, nor example, with him wrought


s: To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind,


s: Though single.  From amidst them forth he passed,


s: Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustained


s: Superiour, nor of violence feared aught;


s: And, with retorted scorn, his back he turned


s: On those proud towers to swift destruction doomed.


s: All night the dreadless Angel, unpursued,


s: Through Heaven's wide champain held his way; till Morn,


s: Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand


s: Unbarred the gates of light.  There is a cave


s: Within the mount of God, fast by his throne,


s: Where light and darkness in perpetual round


s: Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heaven


s: Grateful vicissitude, like day and night;


s: Light issues forth, and at the other door


s: Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour


s: To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might well


s: Seem twilight here:  And now went forth the Morn


s: Such as in highest Heaven arrayed in gold


s: Empyreal; from before her vanished Night,


s: Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain


s: Covered with thick embattled squadrons bright,


s: Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds,


s: Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view:


s: War he perceived, war in procinct; and found


s: Already known what he for news had thought


s: Among those friendly Powers, who him received


s: With joy and acclamations loud, that one,


s: Returned not lost.  On to the sacred hill


s: They led him high applauded, and present


s: Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice,


s: From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard.


s: Servant of God.  Well done; well hast thou fought


s: The better fight, who single hast maintained


s: Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms;


s: And for the testimony of truth hast borne


s: Than violence; for this was all thy care


s: To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds


s: Judged thee perverse:  The easier conquest now


s: Remains thee, aided by this host of friends,


s: Back on thy foes more glorious to return,


s: Than scorned thou didst depart; and to subdue


s: By force, who reason for their law refuse,


s: Right reason for their law, and for their King


s: Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince,


s: Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons


s: By thousands and by millions, ranged for fight,


s: Rebellious:  Them with fire and hostile arms


s: Fearless assault; and, to the brow of Heaven


s: Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss,


s: Into their place of punishment, the gulf


s: So spake the Sovran Voice, and clouds began


s: To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll


s: In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign


s: Of wrath awaked; nor with less dread the loud


s: Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow:


s: That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate joined


s: In silence their bright legions, to the sound


s: Under their God-like leaders, in the cause


s: Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides


s: Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground


s: Their march was, and the passive air upbore


s: Their nimble tread; as when the total kind


s: Their names of thee; so over many a tract


s: Of Heaven they marched, and many a province wide,


s: Tenfold the length of this terrene:  At last,


s: Far in the horizon to the north appeared


s: From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretched


s: Of rigid spears, and helmets thronged, and shields


s: Various, with boastful argument portrayed,


s: With furious expedition; for they weened


s: That self-same day, by fight or by surprise,


s: To win the mount of God, and on his throne


s: To set the Envier of his state, the proud


s: Aspirer; but their thoughts proved fond and vain


s: In the mid way:  Though strange to us it seemed


s: At first, that Angel should with Angel war,


s: And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet


s: Hymning the Eternal Father:  But the shout


s: Of onset ended soon each milder thought.


s: The Apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat,


s: With flaming Cherubim, and golden shields;


s: Then lighted from his gorgeous throne, for now


s: 'Twixt host and host but narrow space was left,


s: Of hideous length:  Before the cloudy van,


s: On the rough edge of battle ere it joined,


s: Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanced,


s: Came towering, armed in adamant and gold;


s: Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood


s: Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds,


s: And thus his own undaunted heart explores.


s: O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest


s: Should yet remain, where faith and realty


s: Remain not:  Wherefore should not strength and might


s: There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove


s: Where boldest, though to fight unconquerable?


s: His puissance, trusting in the Almighty's aid,


s: I mean to try, whose reason I have tried


s: Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just,


s: That he, who in debate of truth hath won,


s: Should win in arms, in both disputes alike


s: Victor; though brutish that contest and foul,


s: When reason hath to deal with force, yet so


s: Forth stepping opposite, half-way he met


s: Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reached


s: The throne of God unguarded, and his side


s: Or potent tongue:  Fool! not to think how vain


s: Who out of smallest things could, without end,


s: Unaided, could have finished thee, and whelmed


s: Thy legions under darkness:  But thou seest


s: All are not of thy train; there be, who faith


s: Seemed in thy world erroneous to dissent


s: From all:  My sect thou seest; now learn too late


s: How few sometimes may know, when thousands err.


s: Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance,


s: Thus answered.  Ill for thee, but in wished hour


s: Of my revenge, first sought for, thou returnest


s: From flight, seditious Angel! to receive


s: Of this right hand provoked, since first that tongue,


s: Inspired with contradiction, durst oppose


s: Their deities to assert; who, while they feel


s: Omnipotence to none.  But well thou comest


s: From me some plume, that thy success may show


s: Destruction to the rest:  This pause between,


s: (Unanswered lest thou boast) to let thee know,


s: At first I thought that Liberty and Heaven


s: To heavenly souls had been all one; but now


s: I see that most through sloth had rather serve,


s: Ministring Spirits, trained up in feast and song!


s: Such hast thou armed, the minstrelsy of Heaven,


s: As both their deeds compared this day shall prove.


s: To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied.


s: Apostate! still thou errest, nor end wilt find


s: Of erring, from the path of truth remote:


s: Unjustly thou depravest it with the name


s: Of servitude, to serve whom God ordains,


s: Or Nature:  God and Nature bid the same,


s: When he who rules is worthiest, and excels


s: Them whom he governs.  This is servitude,


s: To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebelled


s: Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee,


s: Thyself not free, but to thyself enthralled;


s: Yet lewdly darest our ministring upbraid.


s: Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom; let me serve


s: In Heaven God ever blest, and his divine


s: Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect:  Mean while


s: From me returned, as erst thou saidst, from flight,


s: This greeting on thy impious crest receive.


s: So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high,


s: Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell


s: On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight,


s: Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield,


s: He back recoiled; the tenth on bended knee


s: Winds under ground, or waters forcing way,


s: Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat,


s: Half sunk with all his pines.  Amazement seised


s: The rebel Thrones, but greater rage, to see


s: Thus foiled their mightiest; ours joy filled, and shout,


s: The Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of Heaven


s: It sounded, and the faithful armies rung


s: Hosanna to the Highest:  Nor stood at gaze


s: The adverse legions, nor less hideous joined


s: The horrid shock.  Now storming fury rose,


s: And clamour such as heard in Heaven till now


s: Was never; arms on armour clashing brayed


s: Horrible discord, and the madding wheels


s: Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise


s: And flying vaulted either host with fire.


s: Resounded; and had Earth been then, all Earth


s: Had to her center shook.  What wonder? when


s: Millions of fierce encountering Angels fought


s: On either side, the least of whom could wield


s: These elements, and arm him with the force


s: Of all their regions:  How much more of power


s: Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb,


s: Though not destroy, their happy native seat;


s: From his strong hold of Heaven, high over-ruled


s: And limited their might; though numbered such


s: As each divided legion might have seemed


s: A numerous host; in strength each armed hand


s: A legion; led in fight, yet leader seemed


s: Each warriour single as in chief, expert


s: When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway


s: The ridges of grim war:  No thought of flight,


s: That argued fear; each on himself relied,


s: Were done, but infinite; for wide was spread


s: That war and various; sometimes on firm ground


s: A standing fight, then, soaring on main wing,


s: Tormented all the air; all air seemed then


s: Conflicting fire.  Long time in even scale


s: The battle hung; till Satan, who that day


s: Prodigious power had shown, and met in arms


s: No equal, ranging through the dire attack


s: Of fighting Seraphim confused, at length


s: Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled


s: Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway


s: Brandished aloft, the horrid edge came down


s: Wide-wasting; such destruction to withstand


s: The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toil


s: Surceased, and glad, as hoping here to end


s: Intestine war in Heaven, the arch-foe subdued


s: Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown


s: And visage all inflamed first thus began.


s: Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt,


s: Unnamed in Heaven, now plenteous as thou seest


s: These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all,


s: Though heaviest by just measure on thyself,


s: And thy adherents:  How hast thou disturbed


s: Heaven's blessed peace, and into nature brought


s: Of thy rebellion! how hast thou instilled


s: And faithful, now proved false!  But think not here


s: To trouble holy rest; Heaven casts thee out


s: From all her confines.  Heaven, the seat of bliss,


s: Brooks not the works of violence and war.


s: Hence then, and evil go with thee along,


s: Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell;


s: Thou and thy wicked crew! there mingle broils,


s: Or some more sudden vengeance, winged from God,


s: So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus


s: The Adversary.  Nor think thou with wind


s: Of aery threats to awe whom yet with deeds


s: Thou canst not.  Hast thou turned the least of these


s: To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise


s: Unvanquished, easier to transact with me


s: That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats


s: To chase me hence? err not, that so shall end


s: The strife which thou callest evil, but we style


s: The strife of glory; which we mean to win,


s: Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell


s: Thou fablest; here however to dwell free,


s: If not to reign:  Mean while thy utmost force,


s: I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh.


s: They ended parle, and both addressed for fight


s: Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue


s: Of Angels, can relate, or to what things


s: Liken on earth conspicuous, that may lift


s: Of Godlike power? for likest Gods they seemed,


s: Stood they or moved, in stature, motion, arms,


s: Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven.


s: Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air


s: Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields


s: Blazed opposite, while Expectation stood


s: In horrour:  From each hand with speed retired,


s: Where erst was thickest fight, the angelick throng,


s: And left large field, unsafe within the wind


s: Of such commotion; such as, to set forth


s: Great things by small, if, nature's concord broke,


s: Among the constellations war were sprung,


s: Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound.


s: Up-lifted imminent, one stroke they aimed


s: That might determine, and not need repeat,


s: As not of power at once; nor odds appeared


s: In might or swift prevention:  But the sword


s: Was given him tempered so, that neither keen


s: Nor solid might resist that edge: it met


s: The sword of Satan, with steep force to smite


s: Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor staid,


s: But with swift wheel reverse, deep entering, shared


s: All his right side:  Then Satan first knew pain,


s: And writhed him to and fro convolved; so sore


s: The griding sword with discontinuous wound


s: Passed through him:  But the ethereal substance closed,


s: A stream of necturous humour issuing flowed


s: Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed,


s: And all his armour stained, ere while so bright.


s: Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run


s: By Angels many and strong, who interposed


s: Defence, while others bore him on their shields


s: Back to his chariot, where it stood retired


s: From off the files of war:  There they him laid


s: Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame,


s: To find himself not matchless, and his pride


s: Yet soon he healed; for Spirits that live throughout


s: In entrails, heart of head, liver or reins,


s: Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound


s: Receive, no more than can the fluid air:


s: All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear,


s: All intellect, all sense; and, as they please,


s: They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size


s: Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare.


s: Mean while in other parts like deeds deserved


s: Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought,


s: And with fierce ensigns pierced the deep array


s: Of Moloch, furious king; who him defied,


s: And at his chariot-wheels to drag him bound


s: Threatened, nor from the Holy One of Heaven


s: Refrained his tongue blasphemous; but anon


s: Down cloven to the waist, with shattered arms


s: And uncouth pain fled bellowing.  On each wing


s: Though huge, and in a rock of diamond armed,


s: Two potent Thrones, that to be less than Gods


s: Disdained, but meaner thoughts learned in their flight,


s: Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail.


s: The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow


s: Of Ramiel scorched and blasted, overthrew.


s: I might relate of thousands, and their names


s: Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven,


s: Seek not the praise of men:  The other sort,


s: In might though wonderous and in acts of war,


s: Cancelled from Heaven and sacred memory,


s: Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell.


s: For strength from truth divided, and from just,


s: Vain-glorious, and through infamy seeks fame:


s: Therefore eternal silence be their doom.


s: And now, their mightiest quelled, the battle swerved,


s: With many an inroad gored; deformed rout


s: Entered, and foul disorder; all the ground


s: With shivered armour strown, and on a heap


s: And fiery-foaming steeds; what stood, recoiled


s: O'er-wearied, through the faint Satanick host


s: Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surprised,


s: Then first with fear surprised, and sense of pain,


s: In cubick phalanx firm, advanced entire,


s: Gave them above their foes; not to have sinned,


s: Not to have disobeyed; in fight they stood


s: By wound, though from their place by violence moved,


s: Now Night her course began, and, over Heaven


s: Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed,


s: Victor and vanquished:  On the foughten field


s: Encamping, placed in guard their watches round,


s: Cherubick waving fires:  On the other part,


s: Far in the dark dislodged; and, void of rest,


s: His potentates to council called by night;


s: O now in danger tried, now known in arms


s: Too mean pretence! but what we more affect,


s: Who have sustained one day in doubtful fight,


s: What Heaven's Lord had powerfullest to send


s: Against us from about his throne, and judged


s: But proves not so:  Then fallible, it seems,


s: Of future we may deem him, though till now


s: Omniscient thought.  True is, less firmly armed,


s: Till now not known, but, known, as soon contemned;


s: Since now we find this our empyreal form


s: Imperishable, and, though pierced with wound,


s: Soon closing, and by native vigour healed.


s: Weapons more violent, when next we meet,


s: May serve to better us, and worse our foes,


s: Left them superiour, while we can preserve


s: Unhurt our minds, and understanding sound,


s: Due search and consultation will disclose.


s: He sat; and in the assembly next upstood


s: As one he stood escaped from cruel fight,


s: Sore toiled, his riven arms to havock hewn,


s: And cloudy in aspect thus answering spake.


s: Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free


s: Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard


s: Against unpained, impassive; from which evil


s: Valour or strength, though matchless, quelled with pain


s: Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands


s: Of mightiest?  Sense of pleasure we may well


s: Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine,


s: But live content, which is the calmest life:


s: All patience.  He, who therefore can invent


s: Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves


s: No less than for deliverance what we owe.


s: Whereto with look composed Satan replied.


s: Believest so main to our success, I bring.


s: Which of us who beholds the bright surface


s: Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand,


s: This continent of spacious Heaven, adorned


s: With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems, and gold;


s: These things, as not to mind from whence they grow


s: Deep under ground, materials dark and crude,


s: Of spiritous and fiery spume, till touched


s: With Heaven's ray, and tempered, they shoot forth


s: So beauteous, opening to the ambient light?


s: Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame;


s: Which, into hollow engines, long and round,


s: Thick rammed, at the other bore with touch of fire


s: From far, with thundering noise, among our foes


s: Such implements of mischief, as shall dash


s: To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever stands


s: Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmed


s: Nor long shall be our labour; yet ere dawn,


s: Effect shall end our wish.  Mean while revive;


s: Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joined


s: Think nothing hard, much less to be despaired.


s: He ended, and his words their drooping cheer


s: Enlightened, and their languished hope revived.


s: The invention all admired, and each, how he


s: To be the inventer missed; so easy it seemed


s: Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought


s: In future days, if malice should abound,


s: Some one intent on mischief, or inspired


s: Like instrument to plague the sons of men


s: For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent.


s: Forthwith from council to the work they flew;


s: Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath


s: They found, they mingled, and, with subtle art,


s: To blackest grain, and into store conveyed:


s: Part hidden veins digged up (nor hath this earth


s: Whereof to found their engines and their balls


s: Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire.


s: So all ere day-spring, under conscious night,


s: Now when fair morn orient in Heaven appeared,


s: The matin trumpet sung:  In arms they stood


s: Soon banded; others from the dawning hills


s: Look round, and scouts each coast light-armed scour,


s: Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for fight,


s: In motion or in halt:  Him soon they met


s: Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow


s: But firm battalion; back with speediest sail


s: Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cried.


s: Arm, Warriours, arm for fight; the foe at hand,


s: Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit


s: This day; fear not his flight; so thick a cloud


s: Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield,


s: Borne even or high; for this day will pour down,


s: If I conjecture aught, no drizzling shower,


s: But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire.


s: So warned he them, aware themselves, and soon


s: Instant without disturb they took alarm,


s: And onward moved embattled:  When behold!


s: Approaching gross and huge, in hollow cube


s: On every side with shadowing squadrons deep,


s: To hide the fraud.  At interview both stood


s: Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud.


s: Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold;


s: That all may see who hate us, how we seek


s: Peace and composure, and with open breast


s: Stand ready to receive them, if they like


s: Our overture; and turn not back perverse:


s: But that I doubt; however witness, Heaven!


s: Heaven, witness thou anon! while we discharge


s: Freely our part: ye, who appointed stand


s: Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch


s: What we propound, and loud that all may hear!


s: So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce


s: Had ended; when to right and left the front


s: Which to our eyes discovered, new and strange,


s: On wheels (for like to pillars most they seemed,


s: With branches lopt, in wood or mountain felled,)


s: Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths


s: Portending hollow truce:  At each behind


s: Stood waving tipt with fire; while we, suspense,


s: Collected stood within our thoughts amused,


s: Not long; for sudden all at once their reeds


s: With nicest touch.  Immediate in a flame,


s: But soon obscured with smoke, all Heaven appeared,


s: From those deep-throated engines belched, whose roar


s: Embowelled with outrageous noise the air,


s: And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul


s: Their devilish glut, chained thunderbolts and hail


s: Of iron globes; which, on the victor host


s: Levelled, with such impetuous fury smote,


s: That, whom they hit, none on their feet might stand,


s: Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell


s: By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rolled;


s: The sooner for their arms; unarmed, they might


s: Foul dissipation followed, and forced rout;


s: Nor served it to relax their serried files.


s: What should they do? if on they rushed, repulse


s: Doubled, would render them yet more despised,


s: And to their foes a laughter; for in view


s: In posture to displode their second tire


s: They worse abhorred.  Satan beheld their plight,


s: And to his mates thus in derision called.


s: O Friends! why come not on these victors proud


s: Ere while they fierce were coming; and when we,


s: And breast, (what could we more?) propounded terms


s: Of composition, straight they changed their minds,


s: Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell,


s: As they would dance; yet for a dance they seemed


s: For joy of offered peace:  But I suppose,


s: We should compel them to a quick result.


s: To whom thus Belial, in like gamesome mood.


s: Leader! the terms we sent were terms of weight,


s: Of hard contents, and full of force urged home;


s: Such as we might perceive amused them all,


s: And stumbled many:  Who receives them right,


s: Had need from head to foot well understand;


s: Not understood, this gift they have besides,


s: They show us when our foes walk not upright.


s: So they among themselves in pleasant vein


s: Stood scoffing, hightened in their thoughts beyond


s: To match with their inventions they presumed


s: So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn,


s: And all his host derided, while they stood


s: A while in trouble:  But they stood not long;


s: Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms


s: Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose.


s: Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power,


s: Which God hath in his mighty Angels placed!)


s: Their arms away they threw, and to the hills


s: (For Earth hath this variety from Heaven


s: Light as the lightning glimpse they ran, they flew;


s: From their foundations loosening to and fro,


s: They plucked the seated hills, with all their load,


s: Rocks, waters, woods, and by the shaggy tops


s: Up-lifting bore them in their hands:  Amaze,


s: Be sure, and terrour, seized the rebel host,


s: When coming towards them so dread they saw


s: The bottom of the mountains upward turned;


s: Till on those cursed engines' triple-row


s: They saw them whelmed, and all their confidence


s: Under the weight of mountains buried deep;


s: Themselves invaded next, and on their heads


s: Main promontories flung, which in the air


s: Came shadowing, and oppressed whole legions armed;


s: Their armour helped their harm, crushed in and bruised


s: Into their substance pent, which wrought them pain


s: Long struggling underneath, ere they could wind


s: Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light,


s: Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown.


s: Betook them, and the neighbouring hills uptore:


s: So hills amid the air encountered hills,


s: That under ground they fought in dismal shade;


s: Upon confusion rose:  And now all Heaven


s: Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspread;


s: Had not the Almighty Father, where he sits


s: Shrined in his sanctuary of Heaven secure,


s: Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen


s: This tumult, and permitted all, advised:


s: That his great purpose he might so fulfil,


s: All power on him transferred:  Whence to his Son,


s: The Assessour of his throne, he thus began.


s: Two days, as we compute the days of Heaven,


s: Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame


s: These disobedient:  Sore hath been their fight,


s: As likeliest was, when two such foes met armed;


s: For to themselves I left them; and thou knowest,


s: Equal in their creation they were formed,


s: Save what sin hath impaired; which yet hath wrought


s: Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last


s: War wearied hath performed what war can do,


s: And to disordered rage let loose the reins


s: With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makes


s: Wild work in Heaven, and dangerous to the main.


s: Two days are therefore past, the third is thine;


s: For thee I have ordained it; and thus far


s: Have suffered, that the glory may be thine


s: Of ending this great war, since none but Thou


s: Can end it.  Into thee such virtue and grace


s: Immense I have transfused, that all may know


s: In Heaven and Hell thy power above compare;


s: And, this perverse commotion governed thus,


s: Of all things; to be Heir, and to be King


s: Go then, Thou Mightiest, in thy Father's might;


s: Ascend my chariot, guide the rapid wheels


s: That shake Heaven's basis, bring forth all my war,


s: Gird on, and sword upon thy puissant thigh;


s: Pursue these sons of darkness, drive them out


s: From all Heaven's bounds into the utter deep:


s: There let them learn, as likes them, to despise


s: He said, and on his Son with rays direct


s: Shone full; he all his Father full expressed


s: And thus the Filial Godhead answering spake.


s: O Father, O Supreme of heavenly Thrones,


s: First, Highest, Holiest, Best; thou always seek'st


s: As is most just:  This I my glory account,


s: That thou, in me well pleased, declarest thy will


s: Fulfilled, which to fulfil is all my bliss.


s: Scepter and power, thy giving, I assume,


s: And gladlier shall resign, when in the end


s: For ever; and in me all whom thou lovest:


s: But whom thou hatest, I hate, and can put on


s: Image of thee in all things; and shall soon,


s: Armed with thy might, rid Heaven of these rebelled;


s: To their prepared ill mansion driven down,


s: To chains of darkness, and the undying worm;


s: That from thy just obedience could revolt,


s: Then shall thy Saints unmixed, and from the impure


s: Hymns of high praise, and I among them Chief.


s: So said, he, o'er his scepter bowing, rose


s: From the right hand of Glory where he sat;


s: And the third sacred morn began to shine,


s: Dawning through Heaven.  Forth rushed with whirlwind sound


s: Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn,


s: Itself instinct with Spirit, but convoyed


s: By four Cherubick shapes; four faces each


s: Had wonderous; as with stars, their bodies all


s: And wings were set with eyes; with eyes the wheels


s: Whereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure


s: Sat eagle-winged; beside him hung his bow


s: And quiver with three-bolted thunder stored;


s: And from about him fierce effusion rolled


s: Of smoke, and bickering flame, and sparkles dire:


s: Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints,


s: He onward came; far off his coming shone;


s: And twenty thousand (I their number heard)


s: Chariots of God, half on each hand, were seen;


s: On the crystalline sky, in sapphire throned,


s: Illustrious far and wide; but by his own


s: First seen:  Them unexpected joy surprised,


s: Aloft by Angels borne, his sign in Heaven;


s: Under whose conduct Michael soon reduced


s: Before him Power Divine his way prepared;


s: At his command the uprooted hills retired


s: Each to his place; they heard his voice, and went


s: Obsequious; Heaven his wonted face renewed,


s: And with fresh flowerets hill and valley smiled.


s: This saw his hapless foes, but stood obdured,


s: And to rebellious fight rallied their Powers,


s: Insensate, hope conceiving from despair.


s: In heavenly Spirits could such perverseness dwell?


s: But to convince the proud what signs avail,


s: They, hardened more by what might most reclaim,


s: Stood re-embattled fierce, by force or fraud


s: Weening to prosper, and at length prevail


s: To final battle drew, disdaining flight,


s: Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God


s: To all his host on either hand thus spake.


s: Stand still in bright array, ye Saints; here stand,


s: Ye Angels armed; this day from battle rest:


s: Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God


s: Accepted, fearless in his righteous cause;


s: And as ye have received, so have ye done,


s: Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints:


s: Number to this day's work is not ordained,


s: God's indignation on these godless poured


s: By me; not you, but me, they have despised,


s: Yet envied; against me is all their rage,


s: Because the Father, to whom in Heaven s'preme


s: Kingdom, and power, and glory appertains,


s: Hath honoured me, according to his will.


s: Therefore to me their doom he hath assigned;


s: That they may have their wish, to try with me


s: In battle which the stronger proves; they all,


s: Or I alone against them; since by strength


s: Nor other strife with them do I vouchsafe.


s: So spake the Son, and into terrour changed


s: His countenance too severe to be beheld,


s: At once the Four spread out their starry wings


s: With dreadful shade contiguous, and the orbs


s: Of his fierce chariot rolled, as with the sound


s: Of torrent floods, or of a numerous host.


s: He on his impious foes right onward drove,


s: Gloomy as night; under his burning wheels


s: All but the throne itself of God.  Full soon


s: Among them he arrived; in his right hand


s: Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent


s: Before him, such as in their souls infixed


s: Plagues:  They, astonished, all resistance lost,


s: All courage; down their idle weapons dropt:


s: O'er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode


s: Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate,


s: That wished the mountains now might be again


s: Thrown on them, as a shelter from his ire.


s: Nor less on either side tempestuous fell


s: His arrows, from the fourfold-visaged Four


s: Distinct with eyes, and from the living wheels


s: Glared lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire


s: Among the accursed, that withered all their strength,


s: And of their wonted vigour left them drained,


s: Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fallen.


s: Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checked


s: Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven:


s: Of goats or timorous flock together thronged


s: Drove them before him thunder-struck, pursued


s: With terrours, and with furies, to the bounds


s: And crystal wall of Heaven; which, opening wide,


s: Rolled inward, and a spacious gap disclosed


s: Into the wasteful deep:  The monstrous sight


s: Struck them with horrour backward, but far worse


s: Urged them behind:  Headlong themselves they threw


s: Down from the verge of Heaven; eternal wrath


s: Hell heard the unsufferable noise, Hell saw


s: Heaven ruining from Heaven, and would have fled


s: Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep


s: Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound.


s: Nine days they fell:  Confounded Chaos roared,


s: And felt tenfold confusion in their fall


s: Through his wild anarchy, so huge a rout


s: Yawning received them whole, and on them closed;


s: Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire


s: Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain.


s: Disburdened Heaven rejoiced, and soon repaired


s: Her mural breach, returning whence it rolled.


s: Sole victor, from the expulsion of his foes,


s: To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood


s: With jubilee advanced; and, as they went,


s: Shaded with branching palm, each Order bright,


s: Sung triumph, and him sung victorious King,


s: Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given,


s: Worthiest to reign:  He, celebrated, rode


s: Triumphant through mid Heaven, into the courts


s: Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss.


s: Thus, measuring things in Heaven by things on Earth,


s: At thy request, and that thou mayest beware


s: By what is past, to thee I have revealed


s: What might have else to human race been hid;


s: The discord which befel, and war in Heaven


s: Among the angelick Powers, and the deep fall


s: Of those too high aspiring, who rebelled


s: With Satan; he who envies now thy state,


s: Thee also from obedience, that, with him


s: Bereaved of happiness, thou mayest partake


s: Which would be all his solace and revenge,


s: As a despite done against the Most High,


s: Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard,


s: Of disobedience; firm they might have stood,


s: Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress.


s: Descend from Heaven, Urania, by that name


s: If rightly thou art called, whose voice divine


s: Following, above the Olympian hill I soar,


s: The meaning, not the name, I call: for thou


s: Of old Olympus dwellest; but, heavenly-born,


s: Before the hills appeared, or fountain flowed,


s: Thou with eternal Wisdom didst converse,


s: Wisdom thy sister, and with her didst play


s: In presence of the Almighty Father, pleased


s: With thy celestial song.  Up led by thee


s: Into the Heaven of Heavens I have presumed,


s: An earthly guest, and drawn empyreal air,


s: Thy tempering: with like safety guided down


s: Lest from this flying steed unreined, (as once


s: Bellerophon, though from a lower clime,)


s: Half yet remains unsung, but narrower bound


s: Standing on earth, not rapt above the pole,


s: More safe I sing with mortal voice, unchanged


s: To hoarse or mute, though fallen on evil days,


s: On evil days though fallen, and evil tongues;


s: In darkness, and with dangers compassed round,


s: Visitest my slumbers nightly, or when morn


s: Purples the east: still govern thou my song,


s: Urania, and fit audience find, though few.


s: But drive far off the barbarous dissonance


s: Of that wild rout that tore the Thracian bard


s: In Rhodope, where woods and rocks had ears


s: To rapture, till the savage clamour drowned


s: Both harp and voice; nor could the Muse defend


s: Her son.  So fail not thou, who thee implores:


s: For thou art heavenly, she an empty dream.


s: To those apostates; lest the like befall


s: Charged not to touch the interdicted tree,


s: If they transgress, and slight that sole command,


s: Of all tastes else to please their appetite,


s: Though wandering.  He, with his consorted Eve,


s: The story heard attentive, and was filled


s: Of things so high and strange; things, to their thought


s: And war so near the peace of God in bliss,


s: Driven back, redounded as a flood on those


s: With blessedness.  Whence Adam soon repealed


s: The doubts that in his heart arose: and now


s: Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know


s: What nearer might concern him, how this world


s: Of Heaven and Earth conspicuous first began;


s: When, and whereof created; for what cause;


s: Yet scarce allayed still eyes the current stream,


s: Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites,


s: Proceeded thus to ask his heavenly guest.


s: Great things, and full of wonder in our ears,


s: Far differing from this world, thou hast revealed,


s: Us timely of what might else have been our loss,


s: Unknown, which human knowledge could not reach;


s: Of what we are.  But since thou hast vouchsafed


s: Things above earthly thought, which yet concerned


s: Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seemed,


s: What may no less perhaps avail us known,


s: How first began this Heaven which we behold


s: Distant so high, with moving fires adorned


s: Innumerable; and this which yields or fills


s: All space, the ambient air wide interfused


s: Embracing round this floried Earth; what cause


s: Absolved; if unforbid thou mayest unfold


s: And the great light of day yet wants to run


s: Much of his race though steep; suspense in Heaven,


s: Held by thy voice, thy potent voice, he hears,


s: Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring,


s: Silence; and Sleep, listening to thee, will watch;


s: Or we can bid his absence, till thy song


s: End, and dismiss thee ere the morning shine.


s: Thus Adam his illustrious guest besought:


s: And thus the Godlike Angel answered mild.


s: This also thy request, with caution asked,


s: Obtain; though to recount almighty works


s: What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice,


s: Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve


s: Thee also happier, shall not be withheld


s: Of knowledge within bounds; beyond, abstain


s: To ask; nor let thine own inventions hope


s: Things not revealed, which the invisible King,


s: Only Omniscient, hath suppressed in night;


s: To none communicable in Earth or Heaven:


s: Enough is left besides to search and know.


s: But knowledge is as food, and needs no less


s: In measure what the mind may well contain;


s: Oppresses else with surfeit, and soon turns


s: Wisdom to folly, as nourishment to wind.


s: Know then, that, after Lucifer from Heaven


s: (So call him, brighter once amidst the host


s: Of Angels, than that star the stars among,)


s: Fell with his flaming legions through the deep


s: Into his place, and the great Son returned


s: Victorious with his Saints, the Omnipotent


s: Their multitude, and to his Son thus spake.


s: At least our envious Foe hath failed, who thought


s: All like himself rebellious, by whose aid


s: This inaccessible high strength, the seat


s: He trusted to have seised, and into fraud


s: Drew many, whom their place knows here no more:


s: Yet far the greater part have kept, I see,


s: Their station; Heaven, yet populous, retains


s: Though wide, and this high temple to frequent


s: But, lest his heart exalt him in the harm


s: Already done, to have dispeopled Heaven,


s: Not here; till, by degrees of merit raised,


s: They open to themselves at length the way


s: And Earth be changed to Heaven, and Heaven to Earth,


s: Mean while inhabit lax, ye Powers of Heaven;


s: This I perform; speak thou, and be it done!


s: My overshadowing Spirit and Might with thee


s: I send along; ride forth, and bid the Deep


s: Within appointed bounds be Heaven and Earth;


s: Boundless the Deep, because I Am who fill


s: Though I, uncircumscribed myself, retire,


s: And put not forth my goodness, which is free


s: Approach not me, and what I will is Fate.


s: So spake the Almighty, and to what he spake


s: His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect.


s: Immediate are the acts of God, more swift


s: Cannot without process of speech be told,


s: Great triumph and rejoicing was in Heaven,


s: When such was heard declared the Almighty's will;


s: Glory they sung to the Most High, good will


s: To future men, and in their dwellings peace;


s: Had driven out the ungodly from his sight


s: Glory and praise, whose wisdom had ordained


s: Of Spirits malign, a better race to bring


s: Into their vacant room, and thence diffuse


s: So sang the Hierarchies:  Mean while the Son


s: Girt with Omnipotence, with radiance crowned


s: Immense, and all his Father in him shone.


s: About his chariot numberless were poured


s: And Virtues, winged Spirits, and chariots winged


s: From the armoury of God; where stand of old


s: Myriads, between two brazen mountains lodged


s: Against a solemn day, harnessed at hand,


s: Spontaneous, for within them Spirit lived,


s: Attendant on their Lord:  Heaven opened wide


s: And Spirit, coming to create new worlds.


s: On heavenly ground they stood; and from the shore


s: Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild,


s: Up from the bottom turned by furious winds


s: And surging waves, as mountains, to assault


s: Heaven's highth, and with the center mix the pole.


s: Silence, ye troubled Waves, and thou Deep, peace,


s: Said then the Omnifick Word; your discord end!


s: Nor staid; but, on the wings of Cherubim


s: For Chaos heard his voice:  Him all his train


s: Followed in bright procession, to behold


s: Then staid the fervid wheels, and in his hand


s: One foot he centered, and the other turned


s: Round through the vast profundity obscure;


s: And said, Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds,


s: This be thy just circumference, O World!


s: Thus God the Heaven created, thus the Earth,


s: Matter unformed and void:  Darkness profound


s: Covered the abyss: but on the watery calm


s: His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspread,


s: And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth


s: Throughout the fluid mass; but downward purged


s: The black tartareous cold infernal dregs,


s: Adverse to life: then founded, then conglobed


s: Like things to like; the rest to several place


s: Disparted, and between spun out the air;


s: And Earth self-balanced on her center hung.


s: Let there be light, said God; and forthwith Light


s: Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure,


s: Sprung from the deep; and from her native east


s: To journey through the aery gloom began,


s: Sphered in a radiant cloud, for yet the sun


s: Sojourned the while.  God saw the light was good;


s: And light from darkness by the hemisphere


s: Divided: light the Day, and darkness Night,


s: He named.  Thus was the first day even and morn:


s: By the celestial quires, when orient light


s: Exhaling first from darkness they beheld;


s: Birth-day of Heaven and Earth; with joy and shout


s: And touched their golden harps, and hymning praised


s: God and his works; Creator him they sung,


s: Both when first evening was, and when first morn.


s: Again, God said,  Let there be firmament


s: The waters from the waters; and God made


s: Of this great round; partition firm and sure,


s: Built on circumfluous waters calm, in wide


s: Of Chaos far removed; lest fierce extremes


s: Contiguous might distemper the whole frame:


s: And Heaven he named the Firmament:  So even


s: The Earth was formed, but in the womb as yet


s: Appeared not: over all the face of Earth


s: Main ocean flowed, not idle; but, with warm


s: Prolifick humour softening all her globe,


s: Satiate with genial moisture; when God said,


s: Into one place, and let dry land appear.


s: Emergent, and their broad bare backs upheave


s: Into the clouds; their tops ascend the sky:


s: So high as heaved the tumid hills, so low


s: Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep,


s: Hasted with glad precipitance, uprolled,


s: As drops on dust conglobing from the dry:


s: Part rise in crystal wall, or ridge direct,


s: For haste; such flight the great command impressed


s: On the swift floods:  As armies at the call


s: Of trumpet (for of armies thou hast heard)


s: Troop to their standard; so the watery throng,


s: Wave rolling after wave, where way they found,


s: If steep, with torrent rapture, if through plain,


s: Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them rock or hill;


s: But they, or under ground, or circuit wide


s: With serpent errour wandering, found their way,


s: And on the washy oose deep channels wore;


s: Easy, ere God had bid the ground be dry,


s: All but within those banks, where rivers now


s: Stream, and perpetual draw their humid train.


s: The dry land, Earth; and the great receptacle


s: And saw that it was good; and said, Let the Earth


s: Put forth the verdant grass, herb yielding seed,


s: And fruit-tree yielding fruit after her kind,


s: Whose seed is in herself upon the Earth.


s: He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till then


s: Brought forth the tender grass, whose verdure clad


s: Then herbs of every leaf, that sudden flowered


s: Opening their various colours, and made gay


s: Her bosom, smelling sweet: and, these scarce blown,


s: Forth flourished thick the clustering vine, forth crept


s: The swelling gourd, up stood the corny reed


s: Embattled in her field, and the humble shrub,


s: And bush with frizzled hair implicit:  Last


s: Rose, as in dance, the stately trees, and spread


s: Their branches hung with copious fruit, or gemmed


s: Their blossoms:  With high woods the hills were crowned;


s: With tufts the valleys, and each fountain side;


s: With borders long the rivers: that Earth now


s: Seemed like to Heaven, a seat where Gods might dwell,


s: Or wander with delight, and love to haunt


s: Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rained


s: Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground


s: None was; but from the Earth a dewy mist


s: Went up, and watered all the ground, and each


s: Plant of the field; which, ere it was in the Earth,


s: God made, and every herb, before it grew


s: On the green stem:  God saw that it was good:


s: So even and morn recorded the third day.


s: Again the Almighty spake, Let there be lights


s: High in the expanse of Heaven, to divide


s: The day from night; and let them be for signs,


s: For seasons, and for days, and circling years;


s: Their office in the firmament of Heaven,


s: To give light on the Earth; and it was so.


s: And God made two great lights, great for their use


s: To Man, the greater to have rule by day,


s: The less by night, altern; and made the stars,


s: To illuminate the Earth, and rule the day


s: In their vicissitude, and rule the night,


s: And light from darkness to divide.  God saw,


s: Surveying his great work, that it was good:


s: A mighty sphere he framed, unlightsome first,


s: Though of ethereal mould: then formed the moon


s: And sowed with stars the Heaven, thick as a field:


s: Of light by far the greater part he took,


s: Transplanted from her cloudy shrine, and placed


s: In the sun's orb, made porous to receive


s: And drink the liquid light; firm to retain


s: Her gathered beams, great palace now of light.


s: Hither, as to their fountain, other stars


s: Repairing, in their golden urns draw light,


s: And hence the morning-planet gilds her horns;


s: Their small peculiar, though from human sight


s: First in his east the glorious lamp was seen,


s: Regent of day, and all the horizon round


s: Invested with bright rays, jocund to run


s: His longitude through Heaven's high road; the gray


s: Dawn, and the Pleiades, before him danced,


s: Shedding sweet influence:  Less bright the moon,


s: His mirrour, with full face borrowing her light


s: From him; for other light she needed none


s: In that aspect, and still that distance keeps


s: Till night; then in the east her turn she shines,


s: Revolved on Heaven's great axle, and her reign


s: With thousand lesser lights dividual holds,


s: With thousand thousand stars, that then appeared


s: Spangling the hemisphere:  Then first adorned


s: With their bright luminaries that set and rose,


s: Glad evening and glad morn crowned the fourth day.


s: Reptile with spawn abundant, living soul:


s: And let fowl fly above the Earth, with wings


s: Displayed on the open firmament of Heaven.


s: And God created the great whales, and each


s: Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously


s: And saw that it was good, and blessed them, saying.


s: And lakes, and running streams, the waters fill;


s: And let the fowl be multiplied, on the Earth.


s: Forthwith the sounds and seas, each creek and bay,


s: Of fish that with their fins, and shining scales,


s: Glide under the green wave, in sculls that oft


s: Bank the mid sea: part single, or with mate,


s: Graze the sea-weed their pasture, and through groves


s: Of coral stray; or, sporting with quick glance,


s: Show to the sun their waved coats dropt with gold;


s: Or, in their pearly shells at ease, attend


s: Moist nutriment; or under rocks their food


s: In jointed armour watch: on smooth the seal


s: And bended dolphins play: part huge of bulk


s: Wallowing unwieldy, enormous in their gait,


s: Stretched like a promontory sleeps or swims,


s: And seems a moving land; and at his gills


s: Draws in, and at his trunk spouts out, a sea.


s: Mean while the tepid caves, and fens, and shores,


s: Their brood as numerous hatch, from the egg that soon


s: Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclosed


s: Their callow young; but feathered soon and fledge