s: Among them he arriv'd; in his right hand


s: Grasping ten thousand Thunders, which he sent


s: Before him, such as in thir Soules infix'd


s: Plagues; they astonisht all resistance lost,


s: All courage; down thir idle weapons drop'd;


s: O're Shields and Helmes, and helmed heads he rode


s: Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate,


s: That wish'd 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-visag'd Foure,


s: Distinct with eyes, and from the living Wheels,


s: Glar'd lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire


s: Among th' accurst, that witherd all thir strength,


s: And of thir wonted vigour left them draind,


s: Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fall'n.


s: Yet half his strength he put not forth, but check'd


s: Not to destroy, but root them out of Heav'n:


s: The overthrown he rais'd, and as a Heard


s: Of Goats or timerous flock together throngd


s: Drove them before him Thunder-struck, pursu'd


s: With terrors and with furies to the bounds


s: And Chrystall wall of Heav'n, which op'ning wide,


s: Rowld inward, and a spacious Gap disclos'd


s: Into the wastful Deep; the monstrous sight


s: Strook them with horror backward, but far worse


s: Urg'd them behind; headlong themselvs they threw


s: Down from the verge of Heav'n, Eternal wrauth


s: Hell heard th' unsufferable noise, Hell saw


s: Heav'n ruining from Heav'n and would have fled


s: Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep


s: Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound.


s: Nine dayes they fell; confounded CHAOS roard,


s: Through his wilde Anarchie, so huge a rout


s: Yawning receavd them whole, and on them clos'd,


s: Hell thir fit habitation fraught with fire


s: Unquenchable, the house of woe and paine.


s: Disburd'nd Heav'n rejoic'd, and soon repaird


s: Her mural breach, returning whence it rowld.


s: Sole Victor from th' expulsion of his Foes


s: To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood


s: With Jubilie advanc'd; and as they went,


s: Shaded with branching Palme, each order bright,


s: Sung Triumph, and him sung Victorious King,


s: Son, Heire, and Lord, to him Dominion giv'n,


s: Triumphant through mid Heav'n, into the Courts


s: And Temple of his mightie Father Thron'd


s: Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss.


s: Thus measuring things in Heav'n by things on Earth


s: At thy request, and that thou maist beware


s: By what is past, to thee I have reveal'd


s: What might have else to human Race bin hid;


s: The discord which befel, and Warr in Heav'n


s: Among th' Angelic Powers, and the deep fall


s: With SATAN, hee who envies now thy state,


s: Which would be all his solace and revenge,


s: Thee once to gaine Companion of his woe.


s: But list'n not to his Temptations, warne


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 Heav'n URANIA, by that name


s: If rightly thou art call'd, whose Voice divine


s: Following, above th' OLYMPIAN Hill I soare,


s: The meaning, not the Name I call: for thou


s: Of old OLYMPUS dwell'st, but Heav'nlie borne,


s: Before the Hills appeerd, or Fountain flow'd,


s: Thou with Eternal wisdom didst converse,


s: Wisdom thy Sister, and with her didst play


s: In presence of th' Almightie Father, pleas'd


s: With thy Celestial Song.  Up led by thee


s: Into the Heav'n of Heav'ns I have presum'd,


s: An Earthlie Guest, and drawn Empyreal Aire,


s: Thy tempring; with like safetie guided down


s: Least from this flying Steed unrein'd, (as once


s: Erroneous, there to wander and forlorne.


s: Half yet remaines unsung, but narrower bound


s: Standing on Earth, not rapt above the Pole,


s: More safe I Sing with mortal voice, unchang'd


s: To hoarce or mute, though fall'n on evil dayes,


s: On evil dayes though fall'n, and evil tongues;


s: In darkness, and with dangers compast rouud,


s: Visit'st 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 farr off the barbarous dissonance


s: Of that wilde Rout that tore the THRACIAN Bard


s: In RHODOPE, where Woods and Rocks had Eares


s: To rapture, till the savage clamor dround


s: Both Harp and Voice; nor could the Muse defend


s: Her Son.  So fail not thou, who thee implores:


s: For thou art Heav'nlie, shee an empty dreame.


s: To those Apostates, least the like befall


s: Charg'd not to touch the interdicted Tree,


s: If they transgress, and slight that sole command,


s: Of all tasts else to please thir appetite,


s: Though wandring.  He with his consorted EVE


s: The storie heard attentive, and was fill'd


s: Of things so high and strange, things to thir thought


s: And Warr so neer the Peace of God in bliss


s: Driv'n back redounded as a flood on those


s: With Blessedness.  Whence ADAM soon repeal'd


s: The doubts that in his heart arose: and now


s: Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know


s: What neerer might concern him, how this World


s: Of Heav'n and Earth conspicuous first began,


s: When, and whereof created, for what cause,


s: Yet scarce allay'd still eyes the current streame,


s: Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites,


s: Proceeded thus to ask his Heav'nly Guest.


s: Great things, and full of wonder in our eares,


s: Farr differing from this World, thou hast reveal'd


s: Us timely of what might else have bin our loss,


s: Unknown, which human knowledg could not reach:


s: Of what we are.  But since thou hast voutsaf't


s: Things above Earthly thought, which yet concernd


s: Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seemd,


s: What may no less perhaps availe us known,


s: How first began this Heav'n which we behold


s: Distant so high, with moving Fires adornd


s: Innumerable, and this which yeelds or fills


s: All space, the ambient Aire wide interfus'd


s: Imbracing round this florid Earth, what cause


s: Absolv'd, if unforbid thou maist unfould


s: What wee, not to explore the secrets aske


s: To magnifie his works, the more we know.


s: And the great Light of Day yet wants to run


s: Much of his Race though steep, suspens in Heav'n


s: Held by thy voice, thy potent voice he heares,


s: And longer will delay to heare thee tell


s: Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring


s: Silence, and Sleep listning 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 illustrous Guest besought:


s: And thus the Godlike Angel answerd milde.


s: Obtaine: though to recount Almightie 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 reveal'd, which th' invisible King,


s: Onely Omniscient, hath supprest in Night,


s: To none communicable in Earth or Heaven:


s: Anough 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 Surfet, and soon turns


s: Know then, that after LUCIFER from Heav'n


s: (So call him, brighter once amidst the Host


s: Of Angels, then that Starr the Starrs among)


s: Fell with his flaming Legions through the Deep


s: Into his place, and the great Son returnd


s: Victorious with his Saints, th' Omnipotent


s: Thir multitude, and to his Son thus spake.


s: At least our envious Foe hath fail'd, who thought


s: All like himself rebellious, by whose aid


s: This inaccessible high strength, the seat


s: He trusted to have seis'd, and into fraud


s: Drew many, whom thir place knows here no more;


s: Yet farr the greater part have kept, I see,


s: Thir station, Heav'n yet populous retaines


s: Number sufficient to possess her Realmes


s: Though wide, and this high Temple to frequent


s: But least his heart exalt him in the harme


s: Already done, to have dispeopl'd Heav'n,


s: Not here, till by degrees of merit rais'd


s: They open to themselves at length the way


s: And Earth be chang'd to Heavn, & Heav'n to Earth,


s: Mean while inhabit laxe, ye Powers of Heav'n,


s: This I perform, speak thou, and be it don:


s: My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee


s: I send along, ride forth, and bid the Deep


s: Within appointed bounds be Heav'n and Earth,


s: Boundless the Deep, because I am who fill


s: Though I uncircumscrib'd my self retire,


s: And put not forth my goodness, which is free


s: Approach not mee, and what I will is Fate.


s: So spake th' Almightie, 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 rejoycing was in Heav'n


s: When such was heard declar'd the Almightie's will;


s: Glorie they sung to the most High, good will


s: To future men, and in thir dwellings peace:


s: Had driven out th' ungodly from his sight


s: Glorie and praise, whose wisdom had ordain'd


s: Of Spirits maligne a better Race to bring


s: Into thir vacant room, and thence diffuse


s: So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the Son


s: Girt with Omnipotence, with Radiance crown'd


s: Immense, and all his Father in him shon.


s: About his Chariot numberless were pour'd


s: And Vertues, winged Spirits, and Chariots wing'd,


s: From the Armoury of God, where stand of old


s: Myriads between two brazen Mountains lodg'd


s: Spontaneous, for within them Spirit livd,


s: Attendant on thir Lord: Heav'n op'nd wide


s: On heav'nly ground they stood, and from the shore


s: Outrageous as a Sea, dark, wasteful, wilde,


s: Up from the bottom turn'd by furious windes


s: And surging waves, as Mountains to assault


s: Heav'ns highth, and with the Center mix the Pole.


s: Silence, ye troubl'd waves, and thou Deep, peace,


s: Said then th' Omnific Word, your discord end:


s: For CHAOS heard his voice: him all his Traine


s: Then staid the fervid Wheeles, and in his hand


s: One foot he center'd, and the other turn'd


s: Round through the vast profunditie obscure,


s: And said, thus farr extend, thus farr thy bounds,


s: This be thy just Circumference, O World.


s: Thus God the Heav'n created, thus the Earth,


s: Matter unform'd and void: Darkness profound


s: Cover'd th' Abyss: but on the watrie calme


s: His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspred,


s: And vital vertue infus'd, and vital warmth


s: Throughout the fluid Mass, but downward purg'd


s: The black tartareous cold infernal dregs


s: Adverse to life: then founded, then conglob'd


s: Like things to like, the rest to several place


s: Disparted, and between spun out the Air,


s: And Earth self-ballanc't on her Center hung.


s: Let ther 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 journie through the airie gloom began,


s: Sphear'd in a radiant Cloud, for yet the Sun


s: Sojourn'd the while.  God saw the Light was good;


s: And light from darkness by the Hemisphere


s: He nam'd.  Thus was the first Day Eev'n and Morn:


s: By the Celestial Quires, when Orient Light


s: Exhaling first from Darkness they beheld;


s: Birth-day of Heav'n and Earth; with joy and shout


s: And touch't thir Golden Harps, & hymning prais'd


s: God and his works, Creatour him they sung,


s: Both when first Eevning was, and when first Morn.


s: The Waters from the Waters: and God made


s: Of this great Round: partition firm and sure,


s: Built on circumfluous Waters calme, in wide


s: Of CHAOS farr remov'd, least fierce extreames


s: Contiguous might distemper the whole frame:


s: And Heav'n he nam'd the Firmament: So Eev'n


s: The Earth was form'd, but in the Womb as yet


s: Appeer'd not: over all the face of Earth


s: Main Ocean flow'd, not idle, but with warme


s: Prolific humour soft'ning all her Globe,


s: Satiate with genial moisture, when God said


s: Into one place, and let dry Land appeer.


s: Emergent, and thir broad bare backs upheave


s: Into the Clouds, thir tops ascend the Skie:


s: So high as heav'd the tumid Hills, so low


s: Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep,


s: As drops on dust conglobing from the drie;


s: Part rise in crystal Wall, or ridge direct,


s: For haste; such flight the great command impress'd


s: On the swift flouds: as Armies at the call


s: Of Trumpet (for of Armies thou hast heard)


s: Troop to thir Standard, so the watrie throng,


s: Wave rowling after Wave, where way they found,


s: If steep, with torrent rapture, if through Plaine,


s: Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them Rock or Hill,


s: But they, or under ground, or circuit wide


s: With Serpent errour wandring, found thir way,


s: And on the washie Oose deep Channels wore;


s: Easie, e're God had bid the ground be drie,


s: All but within those banks, where Rivers now


s: Stream, and perpetual draw thir humid traine.


s: The dry Land, Earth, and the great receptacle


s: And saw that it was good, and said, Let th' Earth


s: Put forth the verdant Grass, Herb yeilding Seed,


s: And Fruit Tree yeilding Fruit after her kind;


s: Whose Seed is in her self 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 flour'd


s: Op'ning thir various colours, and made gay


s: Her bosom smelling sweet: and these scarce blown,


s: Forth flourish't thick the clustring Vine, forth crept


s: The smelling Gourd, up stood the cornie Reed


s: Embattell'd in her field: add the humble Shrub,


s: And Bush with frizl'd hair implicit: last


s: Rose as in Dance the stately Trees, and spred


s: Thir branches hung with copious Fruit; or gemm'd


s: Thir Blossoms: with high Woods the Hills were crownd,


s: With tufts the vallies & each fountain side,


s: With borders long the Rivers.  That Earth now


s: Seemd like to Heav'n, a seat where Gods might dwell,


s: Or wander with delight, and love to haunt


s: Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rain'd


s: Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground


s: None was, but from the Earth a dewie Mist


s: Went up and waterd all the ground, and each


s: Plant of the field, which e're it was in the Earth


s: God made, and every Herb, before it grew


s: On the green stemm; God saw that it was good:


s: So Eev'n and Morn recorded the Third Day.


s: Again th' Almightie spake: Let there be Lights


s: The Day from Night; and let them be for Signes,


s: For Seasons, and for Dayes, and circling Years,


s: To give Light on the Earth; and it was so.


s: And God made two great Lights, great for thir use


s: To Man, the greater to have rule by Day,


s: The less by Night alterne: and made the Starrs,


s: To illuminate the Earth, and rule the Day


s: In thir 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 mightie Spheare he fram'd, unlightsom first,


s: Though of Ethereal Mould: then form'd the Moon


s: Globose, and everie magnitude of Starrs,


s: And sowd with Starrs the Heav'n thick as a field:


s: Of Light by farr the greater part he took,


s: Transplanted from her cloudie Shrine, and plac'd


s: And drink the liquid Light, firm to retaine


s: Her gather'd beams, great Palace now of Light.


s: Repairing, in thir gold'n Urns draw Light,


s: And hence the Morning Planet guilds his horns;


s: Thir small peculiar, though from human sight


s: First in his East the glorious Lamp was seen,


s: Regent of Day, and all th' Horizon round


s: Invested with bright Rayes, jocond to run


s: His Longitude through Heav'ns high rode: the gray


s: Dawn, and the PLEIADES before him danc'd


s: Shedding sweet influence: less bright the Moon,


s: His mirror, with full face borrowing her Light


s: From him, for other light she needed none


s: In that aspect, and still that distance keepes


s: Till night, then in the East her turn she shines,


s: Revolvd on Heav'ns great Axle, and her Reign


s: With thousand lesser Lights dividual holds,


s: With thousand thousand Starres, that then appeer'd


s: Spangling the Hemisphere: then first adornd


s: With thir bright Luminaries that Set and Rose,


s: Glad Eevning & glad Morn crownd the fourth day.


s: Reptil with Spawn abundant, living Soule:


s: And let Fowle flie above the Earth, with wings


s: Displayd on the op'n Firmament of Heav'n.


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 bless'd them, saying,


s: And Lakes and running Streams the waters fill;


s: And let the Fowle be multiply'd on the Earth.


s: Forthwith the Sounds and Seas, each Creek & Bay


s: With Frie innumerable swarme, and Shoales


s: Of Fish that with thir Finns and shining Scales


s: Glide under the green Wave, in Sculles that oft


s: Bank the mid Sea: part single or with mate


s: Graze the Sea weed thir pasture, & through Groves


s: Of Coral stray, or sporting with quick glance


s: Show to the Sun thir wav'd coats dropt with Gold,


s: Or in thir Pearlie shells at ease, attend


s: Moist nutriment, or under Rocks thir food


s: In jointed Armour watch: on smooth the Seale,


s: And bended Dolphins play: part huge of bulk


s: Wallowing unweildie, enormous in thir Gate


s: Stretcht like a Promontorie sleeps or swimmes,


s: And seems a moving Land, and at his Gilles


s: Draws in, and at his Trunck spouts out a Sea.


s: Mean while the tepid Caves, and Fens and shoares


s: Thir Brood as numerous hatch, from the Egg that soon


s: Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclos'd


s: Thir callow young, but featherd soon and fledge


s: They summ'd thir Penns, and soaring th' air sublime


s: With clang despis'd the ground, under a cloud


s: In prospect; there the Eagle and the Stork


s: On Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build:


s: Part loosly wing the Region, part more wise


s: In common, rang'd in figure wedge thir way,


s: Easing thir flight; so stears the prudent Crane


s: Her annual Voiage, born on Windes; the Aire


s: Floats, as they pass, fann'd with unnumber'd plumes:


s: From Branch to Branch the smaller Birds with song


s: Solac'd the Woods, and spred thir painted wings


s: Till Ev'n, nor then the solemn Nightingal


s: Ceas'd warbling, but all night tun'd her soft layes:


s: Others on Silver Lakes and Rivers Bath'd


s: Thir downie Brest; the Swan with Arched neck


s: Between her white wings mantling proudly, Rowes


s: Her state with Oarie feet: yet oft they quit


s: The Dank, and rising on stiff Pennons, towre


s: Walk'd firm; the crested Cock whose clarion sounds


s: The silent hours, and th' other whose gay Traine


s: Adorns him, colour'd with the Florid hue


s: Of Rainbows and Starrie Eyes.  The Waters thus


s: With Fish replenisht, and the Aire with Fowle,


s: Ev'ning and Morn solemniz'd the Fift day.


s: With Eevning Harps and Mattin, when God said,


s: Let th' Earth bring forth Fowle living in her kinde,


s: Cattel and Creeping things, and Beast of the Earth,


s: Each in their kinde.  The Earth obey'd, and strait


s: Op'ning her fertil Woomb teem'd at a Birth


s: Innumerous living Creatures, perfet formes,


s: Limb'd and full grown: out of the ground up-rose


s: As from his Laire the wilde Beast where he wonns


s: In Forrest wilde, in Thicket, Brake, or Den;


s: Among the Trees in Pairs they rose, they walk'd:


s: The Cattel in the Fields and Meddowes green:


s: Those rare and solitarie, these in flocks


s: Pasturing at once, and in broad Herds upsprung:


s: The grassie Clods now Calv'd, now half appeer'd


s: His hinder parts, then springs as broke from Bonds,


s: And Rampant shakes his Brinded main; the Ounce,


s: Rising, the crumbl'd Earth above them threw


s: In Hillocks; the swift Stag from under ground


s: Bore up his branching head: scarse from his mould


s: His vastness: Fleec't the Flocks and bleating rose,


s: As Plants: ambiguous between Sea and Land


s: At once came forth whatever creeps the ground,


s: Insect or Worme; those wav'd thir limber fans


s: For wings, and smallest Lineaments exact


s: In all the Liveries dect of Summers pride


s: With spots of Gold and Purple, azure and green:


s: These as a line thir long dimension drew,


s: Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not all


s: Wondrous in length and corpulence involv'd


s: Thir Snakie foulds, and added wings.  First crept


s: Of future, in small room large heart enclos'd,


s: The Femal Bee that feeds her Husband Drone


s: With Honey stor'd: the rest are numberless,


s: And thou thir Natures know'st, and gav'st them Names,


s: The Serpent suttl'st Beast of all the field,


s: Of huge extent somtimes, with brazen Eyes


s: And hairie Main terrific, though to thee


s: Now Heav'n in all her Glorie shon, and rowld


s: Her motions, as the great first-Movers hand


s: First wheeld thir course; Earth in her rich attire


s: Consummate lovly smil'd; Aire, Water, Earth,


s: By Fowl, Fish, Beast, was flown, was swum, was walkt


s: Frequent; and of the Sixt day yet remain'd;


s: There wanted yet the Master work, the end


s: Of all yet don; a Creature who not prone


s: And Brute as other Creatures, but endu'd


s: His Stature, and upright with Front serene


s: Govern the rest, self-knowing, and from thence


s: But grateful to acknowledge whence his good


s: Descends, thither with heart and voice and eyes


s: And worship God Supream, who made him chief


s: Of all his works: therefore the Omnipotent


s: Beast of the Field, and over all the Earth,


s: And every creeping thing that creeps the ground.


s: This said, he formd thee, ADAM, thee O Man


s: Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breath'd


s: The breath of Life; in his own Image hee


s: Express, and thou becam'st a living Soul.


s: Femal for Race; then bless'd Mankinde, and said,


s: Be fruitful, multiplie, and fill the Earth,


s: And every living thing that moves on the Earth.


s: Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou know'st


s: He brought thee into this delicious Grove,


s: This Garden, planted with the Trees of God,


s: And freely all thir pleasant fruit for food


s: Gave thee, all sorts are here that all th' Earth yeelds,


s: Which tasted works knowledge of Good and Evil,


s: Thou mai'st not; in the day thou eat'st, thou di'st;


s: Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death.


s: Here finish'd hee, and all that he had made


s: View'd, and behold all was entirely good;


s: So Ev'n and Morn accomplish'd the Sixt day:


s: Up to the Heav'n of Heav'ns his high abode,


s: Th' addition of his Empire, how it shew'd


s: In prospect from his Throne, how good, how faire,


s: Symphonious of ten thousand Harpes that tun'd


s: Resounded, (thou remember'st, for thou heardst)


s: The Heav'ns and all the Constellations rung,


s: The Planets in thir stations list'ning stood,


s: While the bright Pomp ascended jubilant.


s: Open, ye Heav'ns, your living dores; let in


s: Magnificent, his Six days work, a World;


s: Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deigne


s: Delighted, and with frequent intercourse


s: The glorious Train ascending: He through Heav'n,


s: That open'd wide her blazing Portals, led


s: A broad and ample rode, whose dust is Gold


s: And pavement Starrs, as Starrs to thee appeer,


s: Which nightly as a circling Zone thou seest


s: Pouderd with Starrs.  And now on Earth the Seaventh


s: Was set, and twilight from the East came on,


s: Forerunning Night; when at the holy mount


s: Of Heav'ns high-seated top, th' Impereal Throne


s: Of Godhead, fixt for ever firm and sure,


s: The Filial Power arriv'd, and sate him down


s: Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordain'd,


s: Author and end of all things, and from work


s: Now resting, bless'd and hallowd the Seav'nth day,


s: As resting on that day from all his work,


s: Had work and rested not, the solemn Pipe,


s: All sounds on Fret by String or Golden Wire


s: Temper'd soft Tunings, intermixt with Voice


s: Fuming from Golden Censers hid the Mount.


s: Creation and the Six dayes acts they sung,


s: Thy power; what thought can measure thee or tongue


s: Then from the Giant Angels; thee that day


s: Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound


s: Of Spirits apostat and thir Counsels vaine


s: Thou hast repeld, while impiously they thought


s: Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw


s: The number of thy worshippers.  Who seekes


s: To lessen thee, against his purpose serves


s: To manifest the more thy might: his evil


s: Thou usest, and from thence creat'st more good.


s: Witness this new-made World, another Heav'n


s: From Heaven Gate not farr, founded in view


s: Of amplitude almost immense, with Starr's


s: Numerous, and every Starr perhaps a World


s: Thir seasons: among these the seat of men,


s: Earth with her nether Ocean circumfus'd,


s: Thir pleasant dwelling place.  Thrice happie men,


s: And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanc't,


s: Holy and just: thrice happie if they know


s: With HALLELUIAHS: Thus was Sabbath kept.


s: And thy request think now fulfill'd, that ask'd


s: How first this World and face of things began,


s: Informd by thee might know; if else thou seekst


s: Aught, not surpassing human measure, say.


s: What thanks sufficient, or what recompence


s: The thirst I had of knowledge, and voutsaf't


s: Things else by me unsearchable, now heard


s: VVith wonder, but delight, and, as is due,


s: Creator; some thing yet of doubt remaines,


s: VVhen I behold this goodly Frame, this VVorld


s: Of Heav'n and Earth consisting, and compute,


s: Thir magnitudes, this Earth a spot, a graine,


s: And all her numberd Starrs, that seem to rowle


s: Thir distance argues and thir swift return


s: Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot,


s: One day and night; in all thir vast survey


s: Useless besides, reasoning I oft admire,


s: Such disproportions, with superfluous hand


s: For aught appeers, and on thir Orbs impose


s: That better might with farr less compass move,


s: Serv'd by more noble then her self, attaines


s: Her end without least motion, and receaves,


s: As Tribute such a sumless journey brought


s: Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light;


s: Speed, to describe whose swiftness Number failes.


s: So spake our Sire, and by his count'nance seemd


s: Entring on studious thoughts abstruse, which EVE


s: Perceaving where she sat retir'd in sight,


s: And Grace that won who saw to wish her stay,


s: Rose, and went forth among her Fruits and Flours,


s: To visit how they prosper'd, bud and bloom,


s: And toucht by her fair tendance gladlier grew.


s: Yet went she not, as not with such discourse


s: Of what was high: such pleasure she reserv'd,


s: Chose rather; hee, she knew would intermix


s: Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute


s: Not Words alone pleas'd her.  O when meet now


s: Such pairs, in Love and mutual Honour joyn'd?


s: With Goddess-like demeanour forth she went;


s: Into all Eyes to wish her still in sight.


s: And RAPHAEL now to ADAM's doubt propos'd


s: To ask or search I blame thee not, for Heav'n


s: Wherein to read his wondrous Works, and learne


s: This to attain, whether Heav'n move or Earth,


s: Imports not, if thou reck'n right, the rest


s: His secrets to be scann'd by them who ought


s: Conjecture, he his Fabric of the Heav'ns


s: Hath left to thir disputes, perhaps to move


s: His laughter at thir quaint Opinions wide


s: Hereafter, when they come to model Heav'n


s: And calculate the Starrs, how they will weild


s: The mightie frame, how build, unbuild, contrive


s: To save appeerances, how gird the Sphear


s: With Centric and Eccentric scribl'd o're,


s: Who art to lead thy ofspring, and supposest


s: That Bodies bright and greater should not serve


s: The less not bright, nor Heav'n such journies run,


s: Earth sitting still, when she alone receaves


s: Or Bright inferrs not Excellence: the Earth


s: Though, in comparison of Heav'n, so small,


s: Nor glistering, may of solid good containe


s: More plenty then the Sun that barren shines,


s: Whose vertue on it self workes no effect,


s: But in the fruitful Earth; there first receavd


s: His beams, unactive else, thir vigor find.


s: Yet not to Earth are those bright Luminaries


s: And for the Heav'ns wide Circuit, let it speak


s: So spacious, and his Line stretcht out so farr;


s: That Man may know he dwells not in his own;


s: Lodg'd in a small partition, and the rest


s: Ordain'd for uses to his Lord best known.


s: The swiftness of those Circles attribute,


s: Speed almost Spiritual; mee thou thinkst not slow,


s: Who since the Morning hour set out from Heav'n


s: Where God resides, and ere mid-day arriv'd


s: By Numbers that have name.  But this I urge,


s: Admitting Motion in the Heav'ns, to shew


s: Invalid that which thee to doubt it mov'd;


s: To thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth.


s: God to remove his wayes from human sense,


s: Plac'd Heav'n from Earth so farr, that earthly sight,


s: If it presume, might erre in things too high,


s: And no advantage gaine.  What if the Sun


s: Be Center to the World, and other Starrs


s: Incited, dance about him various rounds?


s: Thir wandring course now high, now low, then hid,


s: Progressive, retrograde, or standing still,


s: In six thou seest, and what if sev'nth to these


s: The Planet Earth, so stedfast though she seem,


s: Insensibly three different Motions move?


s: Which else to several Sphears thou must ascribe,


s: Mov'd contrarie with thwart obliquities,


s: Or save the Sun his labour, and that swift


s: Invisible else above all Starrs, the Wheele


s: Of Day and Night; which needs not thy beleefe,


s: If Earth industrious of her self fetch Day


s: Travelling East, and with her part averse


s: From the Suns beam meet Night, her other part


s: Still luminous by his ray.  What if that light


s: Sent from her through the wide transpicuous aire,


s: This Earth? reciprocal, if Land be there,


s: Feilds and Inhabitants: Her spots thou seest


s: As Clouds, and Clouds may rain, and Rain produce


s: Fruits in her soft'nd Soile, for some to eate


s: With thir attendant Moons thou wilt descrie


s: Which two great Sexes animate the World,


s: Stor'd in each Orb perhaps with some that live.


s: Onely to shine, yet scarce to contribute


s: Each Orb a glimps of Light, conveyd so farr


s: Light back to them, is obvious to dispute.


s: But whether thus these things, or whether not,


s: Rise on the Earth, or Earth rise on the Sun,


s: Hee from the East his flaming rode begin,


s: Or Shee from West her silent course advance


s: With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps


s: On her soft Axle, while she paces Eev'n,


s: And bears thee soft with the smooth Air along,


s: Sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid,


s: Leave them to God above, him serve and feare;


s: Of other Creatures, as him pleases best,


s: Wherever plac't, let him dispose: joy thou


s: And thy faire EVE; Heav'n is for thee too high


s: To know what passes there; be lowlie wise:


s: Think onely what concernes thee and thy being;


s: Dream not of other Worlds, what Creatures there


s: Live, in what state, condition or degree,


s: Contented that thus farr hath been reveal'd


s: Not of Earth onely but of highest Heav'n.


s: To whom thus ADAM cleerd of doubt, repli'd.


s: And freed from intricacies, taught to live,


s: The easiest way, nor with perplexing thoughts


s: To interrupt the sweet of Life, from which


s: God hath bid dwell farr off all anxious cares,


s: Seek them with wandring thoughts, and notions vaine.


s: Till warn'd, or by experience taught, she learne,


s: That not to know at large of things remote


s: From use, obscure and suttle, but to know


s: That which before us lies in daily life,


s: Is the prime Wisdom, what is more, is fume,


s: And renders us in things that most concerne


s: Unpractis'd, unprepar'd, and still to seek.


s: Therefore from this high pitch let us descend


s: A lower flight, and speak of things at hand


s: By sufferance, and thy wonted favour deign'd.


s: My Storie, which perhaps thou hast not heard;


s: And Day is yet not spent; till then thou seest


s: For while I sit with thee, I seem in Heav'n,


s: Then Fruits of Palm-tree pleasantest to thirst


s: And hunger both, from labour, at the houre


s: Of sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill,


s: Though pleasant, but thy words with Grace Divine


s: Imbu'd, bring to thir sweetness no satietie.


s: To whom thus RAPHAEL answer'd heav'nly meek.


s: Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men,


s: Inward and outward both, his image faire:


s: Speaking or mute all comliness and grace


s: Attends thee, and each word, each motion formes.


s: Nor less think wee in Heav'n of thee on Earth


s: For God we see hath honour'd thee, and set


s: On Man his equal Love: say therefore on;


s: Farr on excursion toward the Gates of Hell;


s: Squar'd in full Legion (such command we had)


s: To see that none thence issu'd forth a spie,


s: Least hee incenst at such eruption bold,


s: Destruction with Creation might have mixt.


s: Not that they durst without his leave attempt,


s: Our prompt obedience.  Fast we found, fast shut


s: The dismal Gates, and barricado'd strong;


s: But long ere our approaching heard within


s: Noise, other then the sound of Dance or Song,


s: Torment, and lowd lament, and furious rage.


s: Glad we return'd up to the coasts of Light


s: Ere Sabbath Eev'ning: so we had in charge.


s: Pleas'd with thy words no less then thou with mine.


s: So spake the Godlike Power, and thus our Sire.


s: Is hard; for who himself beginning knew?


s: Desire with thee still longer to converse


s: Induc'd me.  As new wak't from soundest sleep


s: Soft on the flourie herb I found me laid


s: In Balmie Sweat, which with his Beames the Sun


s: Soon dri'd, and on the reaking moisture fed.


s: Strait toward Heav'n my wondring Eyes I turnd,


s: And gaz'd a while the ample Skie, till rais'd


s: By quick instinctive motion up I sprung,


s: Hill, Dale, and shadie Woods, and sunnie Plaines,


s: And liquid Lapse of murmuring Streams; by these,


s: Creatures that livd, and movd, and walk'd, or flew,


s: Birds on the branches warbling; all things smil'd,


s: With fragrance and with joy my heart oreflow'd.


s: My self I then perus'd, and Limb by Limb


s: Survey'd, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran


s: With supple joints, as lively vigour led:


s: But who I was, or where, or from what cause,


s: Knew not; to speak I tri'd, and forthwith spake,


s: What e're I saw.  Thou Sun, said I, faire Light,


s: And thou enlight'nd Earth, so fresh and gay,


s: And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell,


s: Tell, if ye saw, how came I thus, how here?


s: Not of my self; by some great Maker then,


s: From whom I have that thus I move and live,


s: While thus I call'd, and stray'd I knew not whither,


s: From where I first drew Aire, and first beheld


s: This happie Light, when answer none return'd,


s: On a green shadie Bank profuse of Flours


s: Pensive I sate me down; there gentle sleep


s: First found me, and with soft oppression seis'd


s: My droused sense, untroubl'd, though I thought


s: And livd: One came, methought, of shape Divine,


s: And said, thy Mansion wants thee, ADAM, rise,


s: First Father, call'd by thee I come thy Guide


s: To the Garden of bliss, thy seat prepar'd.


s: So saying, by the hand he took me rais'd,


s: Smooth sliding without step, last led me up


s: A woodie Mountain; whose high top was plaine,


s: A Circuit wide, enclos'd, with goodliest Trees


s: Planted, with Walks, and Bowers, that what I saw


s: Of Earth before scarse pleasant seemd.  Each Tree


s: Load'n with fairest Fruit, that hung to the Eye


s: To pluck and eate; whereat I wak'd, and found


s: My wandring, had not hee who was my Guide


s: Up hither, from among the Trees appeer'd,


s: Presence Divine.  Rejoycing, but with aw


s: Submiss: he rear'd me, & Whom thou soughtst I am,


s: Said mildely, Author of all this thou seest


s: This Paradise I give thee, count it thine


s: To Till and keep, and of the Fruit to eate:


s: Eate freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth:


s: Knowledg of good and ill, which I have set


s: Remember what I warne thee, shun to taste,


s: And shun the bitter consequence: for know,


s: The day thou eat'st thereof, my sole command


s: From that day mortal, and this happie State


s: Shalt loose, expell'd from hence into a World


s: Of woe and sorrow.  Sternly he pronounc'd


s: Yet dreadful in mine eare, though in my choice


s: Return'd and gratious purpose thus renew'd.


s: Not onely these fair bounds, but all the Earth


s: To thee and to thy Race I give; as Lords


s: Possess it, and all things that therein live,


s: Or live in Sea, or Aire, Beast, Fish, and Fowle.


s: In signe whereof each Bird and Beast behold


s: After thir kindes; I bring them to receave


s: From thee thir Names, and pay thee fealtie


s: With low subjection; understand the same


s: Not hither summond, since they cannot change


s: As thus he spake, each Bird and Beast behold


s: Approaching two and two, These cowring low


s: With blandishment, each Bird stoop'd on his wing.


s: I nam'd them, as they pass'd, and understood


s: Thir Nature, with such knowledg God endu'd


s: I found not what me thought I wanted still;


s: And to the Heav'nly vision thus presum'd.


s: O by what Name, for thou above all these,


s: Above mankinde, or aught then mankinde higher,


s: And all this good to man, for whose well being


s: Thou hast provided all things: but with mee


s: Thus I presumptuous; and the vision bright,


s: As with a smile more bright'nd, thus repli'd.


s: What call'st thou solitude, is not the Earth


s: With various living creatures, and the Aire


s: Replenisht, and all these at thy command


s: To come and play before thee, know'st thou not


s: Thir language and thir wayes, they also know,


s: Find pastime, and beare rule; thy Realm is large.


s: So ordering.  I with leave of speech implor'd,


s: Let not my words offend thee, Heav'nly Power,


s: Hast thou not made me here thy substitute,


s: And these inferiour farr beneath me set?


s: Can sort, what harmonie or true delight?


s: Cannot well suite with either, but soon prove


s: Each with thir kinde, Lion with Lioness;


s: So fitly them in pairs thou hast combin'd;


s: Much less can Bird with Beast, or Fish with Fowle


s: So well converse, nor with the Ox the Ape;


s: Wors then can Man with Beast, and least of all.


s: Whereto th' Almighty answer'd, not displeas'd.


s: Thou to thy self proposest, in the choice


s: No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitarie.


s: What thinkst thou then of mee, and this my State,


s: How have I then with whom to hold converse


s: Save with the Creatures which I made, and those


s: Beneath what other Creatures are to thee?


s: He ceas'd, I lowly answer'd.  To attaine


s: The highth and depth of thy Eternal wayes


s: All human thoughts come short, Supream of things;


s: Thou in thy self art perfet, and in thee


s: Or solace his defects.  No need that thou


s: And through all numbers absolute, though One;


s: Best with thy self accompanied, seek'st not


s: Canst raise thy Creature to what highth thou wilt


s: From prone, nor in thir wayes complacence find.


s: Thus I embold'nd spake, and freedom us'd


s: Permissive, and acceptance found, which gain'd


s: This answer from the gratious voice Divine.


s: Thus farr to try thee, ADAM, I was pleas'd,


s: And finde thee knowing not of Beasts alone,


s: Which thou hast rightly nam'd, but of thy self,


s: Expressing well the spirit within thee free,


s: Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee


s: Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike,


s: And be so minded still; I, ere thou spak'st,


s: And no such companie as then thou saw'st


s: To see how thou could'st judge of fit and meet:


s: What next I bring shall please thee, be assur'd,


s: Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,


s: Which it had long stood under, streind to the highth


s: As with an object that excels the sense,


s: Dazl'd and spent, sunk down, and sought repair


s: Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, call'd


s: By Nature as in aide, and clos'd mine eyes.


s: Mine eyes he clos'd, but op'n left the Cell


s: Abstract as in a transe methought I saw,


s: Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape


s: Still glorious before whom awake I stood;


s: Who stooping op'nd my left side, and took


s: From thence a Rib, with cordial spirits warme,


s: And Life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound,


s: But suddenly with flesh fill'd up & heal'd:


s: The Rib he formd and fashond with his hands;


s: Under his forming hands a Creature grew,


s: Manlike, but different sex, so lovly faire,


s: That what seemd fair in all the World, seemd now


s: Mean, or in her summd up, in her containd


s: And in her looks, which from that time infus'd


s: And into all things from her Aire inspir'd


s: She disappeerd, and left me dark, I wak'd


s: Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure:


s: When out of hope, behold her, not farr off,


s: With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow


s: Led by her Heav'nly Maker, though unseen,


s: Of nuptial Sanctitie and marriage Rites:


s: Grace was in all her steps, Heav'n in her Eye,


s: This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfill'd


s: Thy words, Creator bounteous and benigne,


s: Giver of all things faire, but fairest this


s: Of all thy gifts, nor enviest.  I now see


s: Extracted; for this cause he shall forgoe


s: Father and Mother, and to his Wife adhere;


s: And they shall be one Flesh, one Heart, one Soule.


s: She heard me thus, and though divinely brought,


s: Her vertue and the conscience of her worth,


s: That would be woo'd, and not unsought be won,


s: Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retir'd,


s: Nature her self, though pure of sinful thought,


s: Wrought in her so, that seeing me, she turn'd;


s: I follow'd her, she what was Honour knew,


s: My pleaded reason.  To the Nuptial Bowre


s: I led her blushing like the Morn: all Heav'n,


s: Shed thir selectest influence; the Earth


s: Gave sign of gratulation, and each Hill;


s: Joyous the Birds; fresh Gales and gentle Aires


s: Whisper'd it to the Woods, and from thir wings


s: Flung Rose, flung Odours from the spicie Shrub,


s: Disporting, till the amorous Bird of Night


s: Sung Spousal, and bid haste the Eevning Starr


s: On his Hill top, to light the bridal Lamp.


s: Thus I have told thee all my State, and brought


s: In all things else delight indeed, but such


s: As us'd or not, works in the mind no change,


s: I mean of Taste, Sight, Smell, Herbs, Fruits, & Flours,


s: Walks, and the melodie of Birds; but here


s: Transported touch; here passion first I felt,


s: Commotion strange, in all enjoyments else


s: Against the charm of Beauties powerful glance.


s: Or Nature faild in mee, and left some part


s: Not proof enough such Object to sustain,


s: Or from my side subducting, took perhaps


s: More then enough; at least on her bestow'd


s: Of Nature her th' inferiour, in the mind


s: And inward Faculties, which most excell,


s: His Image who made both, and less expressing


s: O're other Creatures; yet when I approach


s: And in her self compleat, so well to know


s: Her own, that what she wills to do or say,


s: Seems wisest, vertuousest, discreetest, best;


s: All higher knowledge in her presence falls


s: Looses discount'nanc't, and like folly shewes;


s: Greatness of mind and nobleness thir seat


s: Build in her loveliest, and create an awe


s: Accuse not Nature, she hath don her part;


s: Of Wisdom, she deserts thee not, if thou


s: Dismiss not her, when most thou needst her nigh,


s: Less excellent, as thou thy self perceav'st.


s: For what admir'st thou, what transports thee so,


s: An outside? fair no doubt, and worthy well


s: Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love,


s: Not thy subjection: weigh with her thy self;


s: Then value: Oft times nothing profits more


s: Then self-esteem, grounded on just and right


s: Well manag'd; of that skill the more thou know'st,


s: The more she will acknowledge thee her Head,


s: So awful, that with honour thou maist love


s: Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise.


s: But if the sense of touch whereby mankind


s: Beyond all other, think the same voutsaf't


s: To Cattel and each Beast; which would not be


s: To them made common & divulg'd, if aught


s: The Soule of Man, or passion in him move.


s: Attractive, human, rational, love still;


s: In loving thou dost well, in passion not,


s: Wherein true Love consists not; love refines


s: The thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his seat


s: In Reason, and is judicious, is the scale


s: By which to heav'nly Love thou maist ascend,


s: Not sunk in carnal pleasure, for which cause


s: Among the Beasts no Mate for thee was found.


s: Neither her out-side formd so fair, nor aught


s: (Though higher of the genial Bed by far,


s: So much delights me, as those graceful acts,


s: Those thousand decencies that daily flow


s: From all her words and actions, mixt with Love


s: And sweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd


s: More grateful then harmonious sound to the eare.


s: Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose


s: What inward thence I feel, not therefore foild,


s: Who meet with various objects, from the sense


s: Approve the best, and follow what I approve.


s: To love thou blam'st me not, for love thou saist


s: Leads up to Heav'n, is both the way and guide;


s: Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask;


s: Love not the heav'nly Spirits, and how thir Love


s: Express they, by looks onely, or do they mix


s: To whom the Angel with a smile that glow'd


s: Answer'd.  Let it suffice thee that thou know'st


s: Us happie, and without Love no happiness.


s: Of membrane, joynt, or limb, exclusive barrs:


s: Easier then Air with Air, if Spirits embrace,


s: Desiring; nor restrain'd conveyance need


s: As Flesh to mix with Flesh, or Soul with Soul.


s: Beyond the Earths green Cape and verdant Isles


s: Be strong, live happie, and love, but first of all


s: His great command; take heed least Passion sway


s: Thy Judgement to do aught, which else free Will


s: Would not admit; thine and of all thy Sons


s: The weal or woe in thee is plac't; beware.


s: And all the Blest: stand fast; to stand or fall


s: Follow'd with benediction.  Since to part,


s: Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore.


s: Thy condescension, and shall be honour'd ever


s: Be good and friendly still, and oft return.


s: From the thick shade, and ADAM to his Bowre.


s: No more of talk where God or Angel Guest


s: With Man, as with his Friend, familiar us'd


s: Venial discourse unblam'd: I now must change


s: Those Notes to Tragic; foul distrust, and breach


s: Anger and just rebuke, and judgement giv'n,


s: That brought into this World a world of woe,


s: Deaths Harbinger: Sad task, yet argument


s: Not less but more Heroic then the wrauth


s: Thrice Fugitive about TROY Wall; or rage


s: And dictates to me slumbring, or inspires


s: Since first this subject for Heroic Song


s: Pleas'd me long choosing, and beginning late;


s: Heroic deem'd, chief maistrie to dissect


s: With long and tedious havoc fabl'd Knights


s: In Battels feign'd; the better fortitude


s: Or tilting Furniture, emblazon'd Shields,


s: Bases and tinsel Trappings, gorgious Knights


s: At Joust and Torneament; then marshal'd Feast


s: Serv'd up in Hall with Sewers, and Seneshals;


s: Nor skilld nor studious, higher Argument


s: Remaines, sufficient of it self to raise


s: That name, unless an age too late, or cold


s: Deprest, and much they may, if all be mine,


s: Not Hers who brings it nightly to my Ear.


s: The Sun was sunk, and after him the Starr


s: Twixt Day and Night, and now from end to end


s: Nights Hemisphere had veild the Horizon round:


s: When SATAN who late fled before the threats


s: On mans destruction, maugre what might hap


s: Of heavier on himself, fearless return'd.


s: By Night he fled, and at Midnight return'd


s: From compassing the Earth, cautious of day,


s: His entrance, and forewarnd the Cherubim


s: That kept thir watch; thence full of anguish driv'n,


s: The space of seven continu'd Nights he rode


s: With darkness, thrice the Equinoctial Line


s: He circl'd, four times cross'd the Carr of Night


s: From Pole to Pole, traversing each Colure;


s: On the eighth return'd, and on the Coast averse


s: From entrance or Cherubic Watch, by stealth


s: Found unsuspected way.  There was a place,


s: Now not, though Sin, not Time, first wraught the change,


s: Into a Gulf shot under ground, till part


s: In with the River sunk, and with it rose


s: Satan involv'd in rising Mist, then sought


s: Where to lie hid; Sea he had searcht and Land


s: Downward as farr Antartic; and in length


s: At DARIEN, thence to the Land where flowes


s: GANGES and INDUS: thus the Orb he roam'd


s: With narrow search; and with inspection deep


s: Most opportune might serve his Wiles, and found


s: The Serpent suttlest Beast of all the Field.


s: Of thoughts revolv'd, his final sentence chose


s: Fit Vessel, fittest Imp of fraud, in whom


s: From sharpest sight: for in the wilie Snake,


s: Whatever sleights none would suspicious mark,


s: Proceeding, which in other Beasts observ'd


s: Active within beyond the sense of brute.


s: Thus he resolv'd, but first from inward griefe


s: His bursting passion into plaints thus pour'd:


s: O Earth, how like to Heav'n, if not preferrd


s: More justly, Seat worthier of Gods, as built


s: With second thoughts, reforming what was old!


s: For what God after better worse would build?


s: Terrestrial Heav'n, danc't round by other Heav'ns


s: That shine, yet bear thir bright officious Lamps,


s: Light above Light, for thee alone, as seems,


s: In thee concentring all thir precious beams


s: Centring receav'st from all those Orbs; in thee,


s: Not in themselves, all thir known vertue appeers


s: Productive in Herb, Plant, and nobler birth


s: Of Growth, Sense, Reason, all summ'd up in Man.


s: With what delight could I have walkt thee round


s: If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange


s: Now Land, now Sea, & Shores with Forrest crownd,


s: Rocks, Dens, and Caves; but I in none of these


s: Find place or refuge; and the more I see


s: Torment within me, as from the hateful siege


s: Bane, and in Heav'n much worse would be my state.


s: But neither here seek I, no nor in Heav'n


s: To dwell, unless by maistring Heav'ns Supreame;


s: As I though thereby worse to me redound:


s: To my relentless thoughts; and him destroyd,


s: For whom all this was made, all this will soon


s: In wo then; that destruction wide may range:


s: The infernal Powers, in one day to have marr'd


s: What he ALMIGHTIE styl'd, six Nights and Days


s: Continu'd making, and who knows how long


s: Before had bin contriving, though perhaps


s: Not longer then since I in one Night freed


s: Th' Angelic Name, and thinner left the throng


s: And to repaire his numbers thus impair'd,


s: Whether such vertue spent of old now faild


s: A Creature form'd of Earth, and him endow,


s: With Heav'nly spoils, our spoils: What he decreed


s: He effected; Man he made, and for him built


s: Magnificent this World, and Earth his seat,


s: Thir earthlie Charge: Of these the vigilance


s: I dread, and to elude, thus wrapt in mist


s: Of midnight vapor glide obscure, and prie


s: In every Bush and Brake, where hap may finde


s: The Serpent sleeping, in whose mazie foulds


s: To hide me, and the dark intent I bring.


s: O foul descent! that I who erst contended


s: With Gods to sit the highest, am now constraind


s: Into a Beast, and mixt with bestial slime,


s: Descend to? who aspires must down as low


s: As high he soard, obnoxious first or last


s: To basest things.  Revenge, at first though sweet,


s: Bitter ere long back on it self recoiles;


s: Let it; I reck not, so it light well aim'd,


s: Since higher I fall short, on him who next


s: Of Heav'n, this Man of Clay, Son of despite,


s: Whom us the more to spite his Maker rais'd


s: From dust: spite then with spite is best repaid.


s: So saying, through each Thicket Danck or Drie,


s: Like a black mist low creeping, he held on


s: His midnight search, where soonest he might finde


s: The Serpent: him fast sleeping soon he found


s: In Labyrinth of many a round self-rowl'd,


s: His head the midst, well stor'd with suttle wiles:


s: Not nocent yet, but on the grassie Herbe


s: Fearless unfeard he slept: in at his Mouth


s: In heart or head, possessing soon inspir'd


s: Disturbd not, waiting close th' approach of Morn.


s: In EDEN on the humid Flours, that breathd


s: Thir morning Incense, when all things that breath,


s: From th' Earths great Altar send up silent praise


s: With gratefull Smell, forth came the human pair


s: And joynd thir vocal Worship to the Quire


s: Of Creatures wanting voice, that done, partake


s: The season, prime for sweetest Sents and Aires:


s: Then commune how that day they best may ply


s: Thir growing work: for much thir work outgrew


s: The hands dispatch of two Gardning so wide.


s: And EVE first to her Husband thus began.


s: This Garden, still to tend Plant, Herb and Flour.


s: Our pleasant task enjoyn'd, but till more hands


s: Aid us, the work under our labour grows,


s: Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind,


s: One night or two with wanton growth derides


s: Tending to wilde.  Thou therefore now advise


s: Or hear what to my mind first thoughts present,


s: Let us divide our labours, thou where choice


s: Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind


s: The Woodbine round this Arbour, or direct


s: The clasping Ivie where to climb, while I


s: With Myrtle, find what to redress till Noon:


s: For while so near each other thus all day


s: Our task we choose, what wonder if no near


s: Looks intervene and smiles, or object new


s: Casual discourse draw on, which intermits


s: Our dayes work brought to little, though begun


s: Early, and th' hour of Supper comes unearn'd.


s: Compare above all living Creatures deare,


s: Well hast thou motion'd, wel thy thoughts imployd


s: How we might best fulfill the work which here


s: God hath assign'd us, nor of me shalt pass


s: Unprais'd: for nothing lovelier can be found


s: And good workes in her Husband to promote.


s: Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos'd


s: Refreshment, whether food, or talk between,


s: Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse


s: Of looks and smiles, for smiles from Reason flow,


s: To brute deni'd, and are of Love the food,


s: He made us, and delight to Reason joyn'd.


s: These paths and Bowers doubt not but our joynt


s: Will keep from Wilderness with ease, as wide


s: As we need walk, till younger hands ere long


s: Thee satiate, to short absence I could yeild.


s: And short retirement urges sweet returne.


s: But other doubt possesses me, least harm


s: Befall thee sever'd from me; for thou knowst


s: What hath bin warn'd us, what malicious Foe


s: Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame


s: By sly assault; and somwhere nigh at hand


s: Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find


s: His wish and best advantage, us asunder,


s: Hopeless to circumvent us joynd, where each


s: To other speedie aide might lend at need;


s: Conjugal Love, then which perhaps no bliss


s: Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side


s: That gave thee being, stil shades thee and protects.


s: The Wife, where danger or dishonour lurks,


s: Safest and seemliest by her Husband staies,


s: Who guards her, or with her the worst endures.


s: As one who loves, and some unkindness meets,


s: With sweet austeer composure thus reply'd.


s: Ofspring of Heav'n and Earth, and all Earths Lord,


s: Our ruin, both by thee informd I learne,


s: Just then returnd at shut of Evening Flours.


s: But that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt


s: His violence thou fearst not, being such,


s: His fraud is then thy fear, which plain inferrs


s: Thy equal fear that my firm Faith and Love


s: Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy Brest,


s: ADAM, misthought of her to thee so dear?


s: To whom with healing words ADAM reply'd.


s: For such thou art, from sin and blame entire:


s: Th' attempt it self, intended by our Foe.


s: For hee who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses


s: The tempted with dishonour foul, suppos'd


s: Against temptation: thou thy self with scorne


s: And anger wouldst resent the offer'd wrong,


s: Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then,


s: From thee alone, which on us both at once


s: The Enemie, though bold, will hardly dare,


s: Or daring, first on mee th' assault shall light.


s: Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn;


s: Suttle he needs must be, who could seduce


s: Angels, nor think superfluous others aid.


s: I from the influence of thy looks receave


s: More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were


s: Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on,


s: Would utmost vigor raise, and rais'd unite.


s: Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel


s: With me, best witness of thy Vertue tri'd.


s: And Matrimonial Love, but EVE, who thought


s: Thus her reply with accent sweet renewd.


s: How are we happie, still in fear of harm?


s: But harm precedes not sin: onely our Foe


s: Tempting affronts us with his foul esteem


s: Sticks no dishonor on our Front, but turns


s: Foul on himself; then wherfore shund or feard


s: From his surmise prov'd false, finde peace within,


s: Favour from Heav'n, our witness from th' event.


s: And what is Faith, Love, Vertue unassaid


s: Let us not then suspect our happie State


s: O Woman, best are all things as the will


s: Or ought that might his happie State secure,


s: Secure from outward force; within himself


s: The danger lies, yet lies within his power:


s: Against his will he can receave no harme.


s: But God left free the Will, for what obeyes


s: Reason, is free, and Reason he made right,


s: But bid her well beware, and still erect,


s: Least by some faire appeering good surpris'd


s: She dictate false, and missinforme the Will


s: Not then mistrust, but tender love enjoynes,


s: That I should mind thee oft, and mind thou me.


s: Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve,


s: Some specious object by the Foe subornd,


s: Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warnd.


s: Seek not temptation then, which to avoide


s: Were better, and most likelie if from mee


s: Thou sever not; Trial will come unsought.


s: Wouldst thou approve thy constancie, approve


s: First thy obedience; th' other who can know,


s: But if thou think, trial unsought may finde


s: Us both securer then thus warnd thou seemst,


s: Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more;


s: On what thou hast of vertue, summon all,


s: For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine.


s: So spake the Patriarch of Mankinde, but EVE


s: Persisted, yet submiss, though last, repli'd.


s: With thy permission then, and thus forewarnd


s: Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words


s: Touchd onely, that our trial, when least sought,


s: May finde us both perhaps farr less prepar'd,


s: A Foe so proud will first the weaker seek;


s: So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse.


s: Thus saying, from her Husbands hand her hand


s: Soft she withdrew, and like a Wood-Nymph light


s: Betook her to the Groves, but DELIA's self


s: In gate surpass'd and Goddess-like deport,


s: Though not as shee with Bow and Quiver armd,


s: But with such Gardning Tools as Are yet rude,


s: Guiltless of fire had formd, or Angels brought,


s: Her long with ardent look his EYE pursu'd


s: Oft he to her his charge of quick returne,


s: O much deceav'd, much failing, hapless EVE,


s: Foundst either sweet repast, or found repose;


s: Such ambush hid among sweet Flours and Shades


s: For now, and since first break of dawne the Fiend,


s: Meer Serpent in appearance, forth was come,


s: And on his Quest, where likeliest he might finde


s: The whole included Race, his purposd prey.


s: In Bowre and Field he sought, where any tuft


s: Of Grove or Garden-Plot more pleasant lay,


s: Thir tendance or Plantation for delight,


s: He sought them both, but wish'd his hap might find


s: EVE separate, he wish'd, but not with hope


s: Of what so seldom chanc'd, when to his wish,


s: Veild in a Cloud of Fragrance, where she stood,


s: Half spi'd, so thick the Roses bushing round


s: About her glowd, oft stooping to support


s: Each Flour of slender stalk, whose head though gay


s: Carnation, Purple, Azure, or spect with Gold,


s: Hung drooping unsustaind, them she upstaies


s: Gently with Mirtle band, mindless the while,


s: Her self, though fairest unsupported Flour,


s: From her best prop so farr, and storn so nigh.


s: Neererhe drew, and many a walk travers'd


s: Of stateliest Covert, Cedar, Pine, or Palme,


s: Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen


s: Imborderd on each Bank, the hand of EVE:


s: Spot more delicious then those Gardens feign'd


s: Or that, not Mystic, where the Sapient King


s: Much hee the Place admir'd, the Person more.


s: Where Houses thick and Sewers annoy the Aire,


s: Forth issuing on a Summers Morn, to breathe


s: Adjoynd, from each thing met conceaves delight,


s: The smell of Grain, or tedded Grass, or Kine,


s: Or Dairie, each rural sight, each rural sound;


s: If chance with Nymphlike step fair Virgin pass,


s: What pleasing seemd, for her now pleases more,


s: She most, and in her look summs all Delight.


s: Such Pleasure took the Serpent to behold


s: This Flourie Plat, the sweet recess of EVE


s: Thus earlie, thus alone; her Heav'nly forme


s: His Malice, and with rapine sweet bereav'd


s: His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought:


s: That space the Evil one abstracted stood


s: From his own evil, and for the time remaind


s: Of guile, of hate, of envie, of revenge;


s: But the hot Hell that alwayes in him burnes,


s: Though in mid Heav'n, soon ended his delight,


s: And tortures him now more, the more he sees


s: Of pleasure not for him ordain'd: then soon


s: Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts


s: Thoughts, whither have he led me, with what sweet


s: What hither brought us, hate, not love, nor hope


s: Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste


s: Of pleasure, but all pleasure to destroy,


s: To me is lost.  Then let me not let pass


s: Her Husband, for I view far round, not nigh,


s: And strength, of courage hautie, and of limb


s: Heroic built, though of terrestrial mould,


s: Foe not informidable, exempt from wound,


s: I not; so much hath Hell debas'd, and paine


s: Shee fair, divinely fair, fit Love for Gods,


s: And beautie, not approacht by stronger hate,


s: Hate stronger, under shew of Love well feign'd,


s: So spake the Enemie of Mankind, enclos'd


s: Address'd his way, not with indented wave,


s: Prone on the ground, as since, but on his reare,


s: Circular base of rising foulds, that tour'd


s: Fould above fould a surging Maze, his Head


s: With burnisht Neck of verdant Gold, erect


s: Amidst his circling Spires, that on the grass


s: Floted redundant: pleasing was his shape,


s: Lovelier, not those that in ILLYRIA chang'd


s: Hee with OLYMPIAS, this with her who bore


s: SCIPIO the highth of ROME.  With tract oblique


s: At first, as one who sought access, but feard


s: To interrupt, side-long he works his way.


s: As when a Ship by skilful Stearsman wrought


s: Nigh Rivers mouth or Foreland, where the Wind


s: Veres oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her Saile;


s: So varied hee, and of his tortuous Traine


s: Curld many a wanton wreath in sight of EVE,


s: To lure her Eye; shee busied heard the sound


s: Of rusling Leaves, but minded not, as us'd


s: To such disport before her through the Field,


s: From every Beast, more duteous at her call,


s: Then at CIRCEAN call the Herd disguis'd.


s: Hee boulder now, uncall'd before her stood;


s: His turret Crest, and sleek enamel'd Neck,


s: Fawning, and lick'd the ground whereon she trod.


s: The Eye of EVE to mark his play; he glad


s: Of her attention gaind, with Serpent Tongue


s: Thou canst, who art sole Wonder, much less arm


s: Thy looks, the Heav'n of mildness, with disdain,


s: Displeas'd that I approach thee thus, and gaze


s: Insatiate, I thus single; nor have feard


s: Thy awful brow, more awful thus retir'd.


s: Thee all living things gaze on, all things thine


s: By gift, and thy Celestial Beautie adore


s: With ravishment beheld, there best beheld


s: In this enclosure wild, these Beasts among,


s: Half what in thee is fair, one man except,


s: Who sees thee? (and what is one?) who shouldst be seen


s: So gloz'd the Tempter, and his Proem tun'd;


s: Into the Heart of EVE his words made way,


s: Though at the voice much marveling; at length


s: What may this mean?  Language of Man pronounc't


s: By Tongue of Brute, and human sense exprest?


s: The first at lest of these I thought deni'd


s: To Beasts, whom God on their Creation-Day


s: Much reason, and in thir actions oft appeers.


s: Thee, Serpent, suttlest beast of all the field


s: I knew, but not with human voice endu'd;


s: How cam'st thou speakable of mute, and how


s: Of brutal kind, that daily are in sight?


s: Say, for such wonder claims attention due.


s: To whom the guileful Tempter thus reply'd.


s: Empress of this fair World, resplendent EVE,


s: What thou commandst, and right thou shouldst be obeyd:


s: I was at first as other Beasts that graze


s: The trodden Herb, of abject thoughts and low,


s: As was my food, nor aught but food discern'd


s: Till on a day roaving the field, I chanc'd


s: Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mixt,


s: When from the boughes a savorie odour blow'n,


s: Grateful to appetite, more pleas'd my sense


s: Then smell of sweetest Fenel, or the Teats


s: Of Ewe or Goat dropping with Milk at Eevn,


s: Unsuckt of Lamb or Kid, that tend thir play.


s: Of tasting those fair Apples, I resolv'd


s: Not to deferr; hunger and thirst at once,


s: Powerful perswaders, quick'nd at the scent


s: Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me so keene.


s: For high from ground the branches would require


s: Thy utmost reach or ADAMS: Round the Tree


s: All other Beasts that saw, with like desire


s: Longing and envying stood, but could not reach.


s: Amid the Tree now got, where plentie hung


s: Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill


s: I spar'd not, for such pleasure till that hour


s: Sated at length, ere long I might perceave


s: Of Reason in my inward Powers, and Speech


s: Wanted not long, though to this shape retaind.


s: Thenceforth to Speculations high or deep


s: I turnd my thoughts, and with capacious mind


s: Or Earth, or Middle, all things fair and good;


s: But all that fair and good in thy Divine


s: Semblance, and in thy Beauties heav'nly Ray


s: Mee thus, though importune perhaps, to come


s: And gaze, and worship thee of right declar'd


s: So talk'd the spirited sly Snake; and EVE


s: Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt


s: The vertue of that Fruit, in thee first prov'd:


s: But say, where grows the Tree, from hence how far?


s: To us, in such abundance lies our choice,


s: As leaves a greater store of Fruit untoucht,


s: Grow up to thir provision, and more hands


s: To whom the wilie Adder, blithe and glad.


s: Empress, the way is readie, and not long,


s: Fast by a Fountain, one small Thicket past


s: Of blowing Myrrh and Balme; if thou accept


s: My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon.


s: Lead then, said EVE.  Hee leading swiftly rowld


s: In tangles, and make intricate seem strait,


s: To mischief swift.  Hope elevates, and joy


s: Bright'ns his Crest, as when a wandring Fire


s: Compact of unctuous vapor, which the Night


s: Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends,


s: Hovering and blazing with delusive Light,


s: Misleads th' amaz'd Night-wanderer from his way


s: To Boggs and Mires, & oft through Pond or Poole,


s: There swallow'd up and lost, from succour farr.


s: So glister'd the dire Snake and into fraud


s: Led EVE our credulous Mother, to the Tree


s: Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake.


s: Serpent, we might have spar'd our coming hither,


s: Fruitless to me, though Fruit be here to excess,


s: The credit of whose vertue rest with thee,


s: Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects.


s: But of this Tree we may not taste nor touch;


s: Sole Daughter of his voice; the rest, we live


s: Law to our selves, our Reason is our Law.


s: Indeed? hath God then said that of the Fruit


s: Of all these Garden Trees ye shall not eate,


s: Yet Lords declar'd of all in Earth or Aire?


s: To whom thus EVE yet sinless.  Of the Fruit


s: But of the Fruit of this fair Tree amidst


s: The Garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eate


s: Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, least ye die.


s: She scarse had said, though brief, when now more bold


s: The Tempter, but with shew of Zeale and Love


s: New part puts on, and as to passion mov'd,


s: Fluctuats disturbd, yet comely, and in act


s: Rais'd, as of som great matter to begin.


s: Flourishd, since mute, to som great cause addrest,


s: Stood in himself collected, while each part,


s: Motion, each act won audience ere the tongue,


s: Of Preface brooking through his Zeal of Right.


s: So standing, moving, or to highth upgrown


s: O Sacred, Wise, and Wisdom-giving Plant,


s: Things in thir Causes, but to trace the wayes


s: Those rigid threats of Death; ye shall not Die:


s: How should ye? by the Fruit? it gives you Life


s: To Knowledge?  By the Threatner, look on mee,


s: Mee who have touch'd and tasted, yet both live,


s: And life more perfet have attaind then Fate


s: Meant mee, by ventring higher then my Lot.


s: Shall that be shut to Man, which to the Beast


s: For such a pretty Trespass, and not praise


s: Rather your dauntless vertue, whom the pain


s: Of Death denounc't, whatever thing Death be,


s: Deterrd not from atchieving what might leade


s: To happier life, knowledge of Good and Evil;


s: Of good, how just? of evil, if what is evil


s: Be real, why not known, since easier shunnd?


s: God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just;


s: Not just, not God; not feard then, nor obeid:


s: Your feare it self of Death removes the feare.


s: Why then was this forbid?  Why but to awe,


s: His worshippers; he knows that in the day


s: Ye Eate thereof, your Eyes that seem so cleere,


s: Op'nd and cleerd, and ye shall be as Gods,


s: Knowing both Good and Evil as they know.


s: That ye should be as Gods, since I as Man,


s: Human, to put on Gods, death to be wisht,


s: Though threat'nd, which no worse then this can bring


s: And what are Gods that Man may not become


s: The Gods are first, and that advantage use


s: On our belief, that all from them proceeds,


s: I question it, for this fair Earth I see,


s: Warm'd by the Sun, producing every kind,


s: Them nothing: If they all things, who enclos'd


s: Knowledge of Good and Evil in this Tree,


s: That whoso eats thereof, forthwith attains


s: Wisdom without their leave? and wherein lies


s: Th' offence, that Man should thus attain to know?


s: What can your knowledge hurt him, or this Tree


s: In heav'nly brests? these, these and many more


s: Causes import your need of this fair Fruit.


s: Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste.


s: He ended, and his words replete with guile


s: Fixt on the Fruit she gaz'd, which to behold


s: Might tempt alone, and in her ears the sound


s: Yet rung of his perswasive words, impregn'd


s: With Reason, to her seeming, and with Truth;


s: Meanwhile the hour of Noon drew on, and wak'd


s: So savorie of that Fruit, which with desire,


s: Pausing a while, thus to her self she mus'd.


s: Great are thy Vertues, doubtless, best of Fruits,


s: Though kept from Man, & worthy to be admir'd,


s: Whose taste, too long forborn, at first assay


s: The Tongue not made for Speech to speak thy praise:


s: Thy praise hee also who forbids thy use,


s: Conceales not from us, naming thee the Tree


s: Of Knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil;


s: Forbids us then to taste, but his forbidding


s: Commends thee more, while it inferrs the good


s: For good unknown, sure is not had, or had


s: In plain then, what forbids he but to know,


s: Such prohibitions binde not.  But if Death


s: Bind us with after-bands, what profits then


s: Of this fair Fruit, our doom is, we shall die.


s: How dies the Serpent? hee hath eat'n and lives,


s: And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discernes,


s: This intellectual food, for beasts reserv'd?


s: For Beasts it seems: yet that one Beast which first


s: Hath tasted, envies not, but brings with joy


s: The good befall'n him, Author unsuspect,


s: Friendly to man, farr from deceit or guile.


s: What fear I then, rather what know to feare


s: Here grows the Cure of all, this Fruit Divine,


s: Of vertue to make wise: what hinders then


s: To reach, and feed at once both Bodie and Mind?


s: Forth reaching to the Fruit, she pluck'd, she eat:


s: Earth felt the wound, and Nature from her seat


s: Sighing through all her Works gave signs of woe,


s: That all was lost.  Back to the Thicket slunk


s: The guiltie Serpent, and well might, for EVE


s: Intent now wholly on her taste, naught else


s: Regarded, such delight till then, as seemd,


s: Of knowledg, nor was God-head from her thought.


s: Greedily she ingorg'd without restraint,


s: And knew not eating Death: Satiate at length,


s: And hight'nd as with Wine, jocond and boon,


s: O Sovran, vertuous, precious of all Trees


s: To Sapience, hitherto obscur'd, infam'd,


s: And thy fair Fruit let hang, as to no end


s: Not without Song, each Morning, and due praise


s: Shall tend thee, and the fertil burden ease


s: Of thy full branches offer'd free to all;


s: In knowledge, as the Gods who all things know;


s: Though others envie what they cannot give;


s: For had the gift bin theirs, it had not here


s: Thus grown.  Experience, next to thee I owe,


s: Best guide; not following thee, I had remaind


s: And giv'st access, though secret she retire.


s: And I perhaps am secret; Heav'n is high,


s: High and remote to see from thence distinct


s: Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps


s: Our great Forbidder, safe with all his Spies


s: Shall I appeer? shall I to him make known


s: As yet my change, and give him to partake


s: But keep the odds of Knowledge in my power


s: In Femal Sex, the more to draw his Love,


s: This may be well: but what if God have seen,


s: And Death ensue? then I shall be no more,


s: Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct;


s: A death to think.  Confirm'd then I resolve,


s: ADAM shall share with me in bliss or woe:


s: So dear I love him, that with him all deaths


s: I could endure; without him live no life.


s: So saying, from the Tree her step she turnd,


s: But first low Reverence don, as to the power


s: That dwelt within, whose presence had infus'd


s: From Nectar, drink of Gods.  ADAM the while


s: Her Tresses, and her rural labours crown


s: As Reapers oft are wont thir Harvest Queen.


s: Great joy he promis'd to his thoughts, and new


s: Yet oft his heart, divine of somthing ill,


s: Misgave him; hee the faultring measure felt;


s: And forth to meet her went, the way she took


s: That Morn when first they parted; by the Tree


s: Of Knowledge he must pass, there he her met,


s: Scarse from the Tree returning; in her hand


s: A bough of fairest fruit that downie smil'd,


s: New gatherd, and ambrosial smell diffus'd.


s: Which with bland words at will she thus addrest.


s: Hast thou not wonderd, ADAM, at my stay?


s: Thee I have misst, and thought it long, depriv'd


s: Not felt, nor shall be twice, for never more


s: Mean I to trie, what rash untri'd I sought,


s: The paine of absence from thy sight.  But strange


s: Hath bin the cause, and wonderful to heare:


s: To open Eyes, and make them Gods who taste;


s: And hath bin tasted such; the Serpent wise,


s: Or not restraind as wee, or not obeying,


s: Not dead, as we are threatn'd, but thenceforth


s: Endu'd with human voice and human sense,


s: Th' effects to correspond, opener mine Eyes,


s: Dimm erst, dilated Spirits, ampler Heart,


s: And growing up to Godhead; which for thee


s: Chiefly I sought, without thee can despise.


s: For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss,


s: Tedious, unshar'd with thee, and odious soon.


s: Thou therefore also taste, that equal Lot


s: Least thou not tasting, different degree


s: Disjoyne us, and I then too late renounce


s: Deitie for thee, when Fate will not permit.


s: Thus EVE with Countnance blithe her storie told;


s: But in her Cheek distemper flushing glowd.


s: On th' other side, ADAM, soon as he heard


s: Astonied stood and Blank, while horror chill


s: Ran through his veins, and all his joynts relax'd;


s: From his slack hand the Garland wreath'd for EVE


s: Down drop'd, and all the faded Roses shed:


s: Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length


s: First to himself he inward silence broke.


s: Of all Gods Works, Creature in whom excell'd


s: Whatever can to fight or thought be found,


s: How art thou lost, how on a sudden lost,


s: Defac't, deflourd, and now to Death devote?


s: Rather how hast thou yeelded to transgress


s: The sacred Fruit forbidd'n! som cursed fraud


s: Of Enemie hath beguil'd thee, yet unknown,


s: And mee with thee hath ruind, for with thee


s: Thy sweet Converse and Love so dearly joyn'd,


s: To live again in these wilde Woods forlorn?


s: Would never from my heart; no no, I feel


s: The Link of Nature draw me: Flesh of Flesh,


s: Bone of my Bone thou art, and from thy State


s: Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe.


s: Recomforted, and after thoughts disturbd


s: Thus in calme mood his Words to EVE he turnd.


s: Bold deed thou hast presum'd, adventrous EVE,


s: And peril great provok't, who thus hast dar'd


s: That sacred Fruit, sacred to abstinence,


s: Much more to taste it under banne to touch.


s: Perhaps thou shalt not Die, perhaps the Fact


s: Is not so hainous now, foretasted Fruit,


s: Profan'd first by the Serpent, by him first


s: Made common and unhallowd: ere one tastes;


s: Nor yet on him found deadly; he yet lives,


s: Lives, as thou saidst, and gaines to live as Man


s: Higher degree of Life, inducement strong


s: Though threatning, will in earnest so destroy


s: Us his prime Creatures, dignifi'd so high,


s: Set over all his Works, which in our Fall,


s: For us created, needs with us must faile,


s: Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour loose,


s: Not well conceav'd of God, who though his Power


s: Creation could repeate, yet would be loath


s: Triumph and say; Fickle their State whom God


s: Most Favors, who can please him long?  Mee first


s: He ruind, now Mankind; whom will he next?


s: Matter of scorne, not to be given the Foe.


s: Consort with thee, Death is to mee as Life;


s: My own in thee, for what thou art is mine;


s: One Flesh; to loose thee were to loose my self.


s: ADAM, from whose deare side I boast me sprung,


s: And gladly of our Union heare thee speak,


s: One Heart, one Soul in both; whereof good prooff


s: This day affords, declaring thee resolvd,


s: Rather then Death or aught then Death more dread


s: Shall separate us, linkt in Love so deare,


s: To undergoe with mee one Guilt, one Crime,


s: Whose vertue, for of good still good proceeds,


s: This happie trial of thy Love, which else


s: Were it I thought Death menac't would ensue


s: The worst, and not perswade thee, rather die


s: Pernicious to thy Peace, chiefly assur'd


s: Farr otherwise th' event, not Death, but Life


s: Augmented, op'nd Eyes, new Hopes, new Joyes,


s: Taste so Divine, that what of sweet before


s: Hath toucht my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh.


s: And fear of Death deliver to the Windes.


s: So saying, she embrac'd him, and for joy


s: Tenderly wept, much won that he his Love


s: Divine displeasure for her sake, or Death.


s: Such recompence best merits) from the bough


s: She gave him of that fair enticing Fruit


s: With liberal hand: he scrupl'd not to eat


s: Against his better knowledge, not deceav'd,


s: Earth trembl'd from her entrails, as again


s: In pangs, and Nature gave a second groan,


s: Skie lowr'd, and muttering Thunder, som sad drops


s: Her former trespass fear'd, the more to soothe


s: They swim in mirth, and fansie that they feel


s: Wherewith to scorn the Earth: but that false Fruit


s: Till ADAM thus 'gan EVE to dalliance move.


s: Yeild thee, so well this day thou hast purvey'd.


s: Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstain'd


s: From this delightful Fruit, nor known till now


s: True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be


s: In things to us forbidden, it might be wish'd,


s: For this one Tree had bin forbidden ten.


s: But come, so well refresh't, now let us play,


s: I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorn'd


s: With all perfections, so enflame my sense


s: Then ever, bountie of this vertuous Tree.


s: So said he, and forbore not glance or toy


s: Of EVE, whose Eye darted contagious Fire.


s: Her hand he seis'd, and to a shadie bank,


s: Thick overhead with verdant roof imbowr'd


s: He led her nothing loath; Flours were the Couch,


s: And Hyacinth, Earths freshest softest lap.


s: There they thir fill of Love and Loves disport


s: Took largely, of thir mutual guilt the Seale,


s: The solace of thir sin, till dewie sleep


s: Oppress'd them, wearied with thir amorous play.


s: Soon as the force of that fallacious Fruit,


s: About thir spirits had plaid, and inmost powers


s: Made erre, was now exhal'd, and grosser sleep


s: Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams


s: Encumberd, now had left them, up they rose


s: As from unrest, and each the other viewing,


s: Soon found thir Eyes how op'nd, and thir minds


s: Had shadow'd them from knowing ill, was gon,


s: Just confidence, and native righteousness,


s: To guiltie shame hee cover'd, but his Robe


s: Uncover'd more.  So rose the DANITE strong


s: Shorn of his strength, They destitute and bare


s: Confounded long they sate, as struck'n mute,


s: Till ADAM, though not less then EVE abasht,


s: At length gave utterance to these words constraind.


s: O EVE, in evil hour thou didst give care


s: To that false Worm, of whomsoever taught


s: To counterfet Mans voice, true in our Fall,


s: False in our promis'd Rising; since our Eyes


s: Both Good and Evil, Good lost and Evil got,


s: Bad Fruit of Knowledge, if this be to know,


s: Which leaves us naked thus, of Honour void,


s: Our wonted Ornaments now soild and staind,


s: Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store;


s: Even shame, the last of evils; of the first


s: Be sure then.  How shall I behold the face


s: Henceforth of God or Angel, earst with joy


s: And rapture so oft beheld? those heav'nly shapes


s: Will dazle now this earthly, with thir blaze


s: Obscur'd, where highest Woods impenetrable


s: To Starr or Sun-light, spread thir umbrage broad,


s: And brown as Evening: Cover me ye Pines,


s: Hide me, where I may never see them more.


s: But let us now, as in bad plight, devise


s: What best may for the present serve to hide


s: The Parts of each from other, that seem most


s: To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen,


s: Some Tree whose broad smooth Leaves together sowd,


s: And girded on our loyns, may cover round


s: Those middle parts, that this new commer, Shame,


s: There sit not, and reproach us as unclean.


s: So counsel'd hee, and both together went


s: Into the thickest Wood, there soon they chose


s: The Figtree, not that kind for Fruit renown'd,


s: But such as at this day to INDIANS known


s: Braunching so broad and long, that in the ground


s: The bended Twigs take root, and Daughters grow


s: High overarch't, and echoing Walks between;


s: There oft the INDIAN Herdsman shunning heate


s: Shelters in coole, and tends his pasturing Herds


s: At Loopholes cut through thickest shade: Those Leaves


s: And with what skill they had, together sowd,


s: To gird thir waste, vain Covering if to hide


s: Thir guilt and dreaded shame; O how unlike


s: To that first naked Glorie.  Such of late


s: With featherd Cincture, naked else and wilde


s: Among the Trees on Iles and woodie Shores.


s: Thus fenc't, and as they thought, thir shame in part


s: Coverd, but not at rest or ease of Mind,


s: They sate them down to weep, nor onely Teares


s: Raind at thir Eyes, but high Winds worse within


s: Began to rise, high Passions, Anger, Hate,


s: Mistrust, Suspicion, Discord, and shook sore


s: Thir inward State of Mind, calme Region once


s: And full of Peace, now tost and turbulent:


s: For Understanding rul'd not, and the Will


s: Heard not her lore, both in subjection now


s: Superior sway: From thus distemperd brest,


s: ADAM, estrang'd in look and alterd stile,


s: Would thou hadst heark'nd to my words, & stai'd


s: With me, as I besought thee, when that strange


s: I know not whence possessd thee; we had then


s: Remaind still happie, not as now, despoild


s: Of all our good, sham'd, naked, miserable.


s: Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve


s: The Faith they owe; when earnestly they seek


s: Such proof, conclude, they then begin to faile.


s: To whom soon mov'd with touch of blame thus EVE.


s: What words have past thy Lips, ADAM severe,


s: Imput'st thou that to my default, or will


s: Of wandering, as thou call'st it, which who knows


s: But might as ill have happ'nd thou being by,


s: Or to thy self perhaps: hadst thou bin there,


s: Or bere th' attempt, thou couldst not have discernd


s: Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake;


s: Why hee should mean me ill, or seek to harme.


s: Was I to have never parted from thy side?


s: As good have grown there still a liveless Rib.


s: Being as I am, why didst not thou the Head


s: Too facil then thou didst not much gainsay,


s: Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss.


s: Hadst thou bin firm and fixt in thy dissent,


s: Neither had I transgress'd, nor thou with mee.


s: To whom then first incenst ADAM repli'd.


s: Of mine to thee, ingrateful EVE, exprest


s: Who might have liv'd and joyd immortal bliss,


s: Yet willingly chose rather Death with thee:


s: Of thy transgressing? not enough severe,


s: It seems, in thy restraint: what could I more?


s: I warn'd thee, I admonish'd thee, foretold


s: That lay in wait; beyond this had bin force,


s: And force upon free Will hath here no place.


s: But confidence then bore thee on, secure


s: What seemd in thee so perfet, that I thought


s: That errour now, which is become my crime,


s: And thou th' accuser.  Thus it shall befall


s: Lets her Will rule; restraint she will not brook,


s: And left to her self, if evil thence ensue,


s: Shee first his weak indulgence will accuse.


s: The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning


s: And of thir vain contest appeer'd no end.


s: Meanwhile the hainous and despightfull act


s: Her Husband shee, to taste the fatall fruit,


s: Was known in Heav'n; for what can scape the Eye


s: Omniscient, who in all things wise and just,


s: Of Man, with strength entire, and free Will arm'd,


s: Whatever wiles of Foe or seeming Friend.


s: For still they knew, and ought to have still remember'd


s: The high Injunction not to taste that Fruit,


s: Whoever tempted; which they not obeying,


s: Incurr'd, what could they less, the penaltie,


s: Th' Angelic Guards ascended, mute and sad


s: For Man, for of his state by this they knew,


s: Much wondring how the suttle Fiend had stoln


s: Entrance unseen.  Soon as th' unwelcome news


s: From Earth arriv'd at Heaven Gate, displeas'd


s: All were who heard, dim sadness did not spare


s: Th' ethereal People ran, to hear and know


s: How all befell: they towards the Throne Supream


s: With righteous plea, thir utmost vigilance,


s: Amidst in Thunder utter'd thus his voice.


s: Assembl'd Angels, and ye Powers return'd


s: From unsuccessful charge, be not dismaid,


s: Nor troubl'd at these tidings from the Earth,


s: Which your sincerest care could not prevent,


s: Foretold so lately what would come to pass,


s: When first this Tempter cross'd the Gulf from Hell.


s: I told ye then he should prevail and speed


s: On his bad Errand, Man should be seduc't


s: And flatter'd out of all, believing lies


s: Or touch with lightest moment of impulse


s: His free Will, to her own inclining left


s: In eevn scale.  But fall'n he is, and now


s: What rests, but that the mortal Sentence pass


s: On his transgression, Death denounc't that day,


s: Which he presumes already vain and void,


s: Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd,


s: By some immediate stroak; but soon shall find


s: Justice shall not return as bountie scorn'd.


s: But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee


s: Vicegerent Son, to thee I have transferr'd


s: All Judgement, whether in Heav'n, or Earth; or Hell.


s: Mercie collegue with Justice, sending thee


s: And destin'd Man himself to judge Man fall'n.


s: So spake the Father, and unfoulding bright


s: Toward the right hand his Glorie, on the Son


s: Express'd, and thus divinely answer'd milde.


s: Mine both in Heav'n and Earth to do thy will


s: Supream, that thou in mee thy Son belov'd


s: Mayst ever rest well pleas'd.  I go to judge


s: On Earth these thy transgressors, but thou knowst,


s: Whoever judg'd, the worst on mee must light,


s: Before thee; and not repenting, this obtaine


s: Justice with Mercie, as may illustrate most


s: Attendance none shall need, nor Train, where none


s: Are to behold the Judgement, but the judg'd,


s: Those two; the third best absent is condemn'd,


s: Thus saying, from his radiant Seat he rose


s: Of high collateral glorie: him Thrones and Powers,


s: Down he descended strait; the speed of Gods


s: Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes wing'd.


s: From Noon, and gentle Aires due at thir hour


s: To fan the Earth now wak'd, and usher in


s: The Eevning coole when he from wrauth more coole


s: Came the mild Judge and Intercessor both


s: To sentence Man: the voice of God they heard


s: Now walking in the Garden, by soft windes


s: Brought to thir Ears, while day declin'd, they heard


s: And from his presence hid themselves among


s: The thickest Trees, both Man and Wife, till God


s: Where art thou ADAM, wont with joy to meet


s: My coming seen far off?  I miss thee here,


s: Not pleas'd, thus entertaind with solitude,


s: Where obvious dutie erewhile appear'd unsaught:


s: Or come I less conspicuous, or what change


s: Absents thee, or what chance detains?  Come forth.


s: He came, and with him EVE, more loth, though first


s: To offend, discount'nanc't both, and discompos'd;


s: Love was not in thir looks, either to God


s: And shame, and perturbation, and despaire,


s: Anger, and obstinacie, and hate, and guile.


s: Whence ADAM faultring long, thus answer'd brief.


s: I heard thee in the Garden, and of thy voice


s: Affraid, being naked, hid my self.  To whom


s: The gracious Judge without revile repli'd.


s: My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not fear'd,


s: But still rejoyc't, how is it now become


s: So dreadful to thee? that thou art naked, who


s: Hath told thee? hast thou eaten of the Tree


s: Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat?


s: O Heav'n! in evil strait this day I stand


s: Whose failing, while her Faith to me remaines,


s: I should conceal, and not expose to blame


s: Least on my head both sin and punishment,


s: Devolv'd; though should I hold my peace, yet thou


s: This Woman whom thou mad'st to be my help,


s: And gav'st me as thy perfet gift, so good,


s: That from her hand I could suspect no ill,


s: Shee gave me of the Tree, and I did eate.


s: To whom the sovran Presence thus repli'd.


s: Was shee thy God, that her thou didst obey


s: Before his voice, or was shee made thy guide,


s: Thou did'st resigne thy Manhood, and the Place


s: Wherein God set thee above her made of thee,


s: And for thee, whose perfection farr excell'd


s: Were such as under Government well seem'd,


s: Unseemly to beare rule, which was thy part


s: And person, had'st thou known thy self aright.


s: Say Woman, what is this which thou hast done?


s: To whom sad EVE with shame nigh overwhelm'd,


s: Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge


s: Bold or loquacious, thus abasht repli'd.


s: Which when the Lord God heard, without delay


s: To Judgement he proceeded on th' accus'd


s: Serpent though brute, unable to transferre


s: The Guilt on him who made him instrument


s: Concern'd not Man (since he no further knew)


s: Nor alter'd his offence; yet God at last


s: Though in mysterious terms, judg'd as then best:


s: And on the Serpent thus his curse let fall.


s: Because thou hast done this, thou art accurst


s: Above all Cattel, each Beast of the Field;


s: Upon thy Belly groveling thou shalt goe,


s: And dust shalt eat all the days of thy Life.


s: Enmitie, and between thine and her Seed;


s: Her Seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel.


s: Saw Satan fall like Lightning down from Heav'n,


s: Prince of the Aire; then rising from his Grave


s: Spoild Principalities and Powers, triumpht


s: The Realme it self of Satan long usurpt,


s: Whom he shall tread at last under our feet;


s: Eevn hee who now foretold his fatal bruise,


s: And to the Woman thus his Sentence turn'd.


s: By thy Conception; Children thou shalt bring


s: In sorrow forth, and to thy Husbands will


s: Thine shall submit, hee over thee shall rule.


s: On ADAM last thus judgement he pronounc'd.


s: Because thou hast heark'nd to the voice of thy Wife,


s: I charg'd thee, saying: Thou shalt not eate thereof,


s: Curs'd is the ground for thy sake, thou in sorrow


s: Shalt eate thereof all the days of thy Life;


s: Thornes also and Thistles it shall bring thee forth


s: Unbid, and thou shalt eate th' Herb of th' Field,


s: In the sweat of thy Face shalt thou eate Bread,


s: Till thou return unto the ground, for thou


s: Out of the ground wast taken, know thy Birth,


s: For dust thou art, and shalt to dust returne.


s: So judg'd he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent,


s: And th' instant stroke of Death denounc't that day


s: Remov'd farr off; then pittying how they stood


s: Must suffer change, disdain'd not to begin


s: Thenceforth the forme of servant to assume,


s: As when he wash'd his servants feet, so now


s: Thir nakedness with Skins of Beasts, or slain,


s: Or as the Snake with youthful Coate repaid;


s: And thought not much to cloath his Enemies:


s: Nor hee thir outward onely with the Skins


s: Of Beasts, but inward nakedness, much more


s: Opprobrious, with his Robe of righteousness,


s: All, though all-knowing, what had past with Man


s: Meanwhile ere thus was sin'd and judg'd on Earth,


s: Within the Gates of Hell sate Sin and Death,


s: In counterview within the Gates, that now


s: Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame


s: Farr into CHAOS, since the Fiend pass'd through,


s: Sin opening, who thus now to Death began.


s: O Son, why sit we here each other viewing


s: Idlely, while Satan our great Author thrives


s: In other Worlds, and happier Seat provides


s: For us his ofspring deare?  It cannot be


s: But that success attends him; if mishap,


s: Ere this he had return'd, with fury driv'n


s: By his Avenger, since no place like this


s: Can fit his punishment, or their revenge.


s: Methinks I feel new strength within me rise,


s: Wings growing, and Dominion giv'n me large


s: Beyond this Deep; whatever drawes me on,


s: For Death from Sin no power can separate.


s: But least the difficultie of passing back


s: Stay his returne perhaps over this Gulfe


s: Adventrous work, yet to thy power and mine


s: Over this Maine from Hell to that new World


s: Easing thir passage hence, for intercourse,


s: Or transmigration, as thir lot shall lead.


s: Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn


s: By this new felt attraction and instinct.


s: Whom thus the meager Shadow answerd soon.


s: Leads thee, I shall not lag behinde, nor erre


s: The way, thou leading, such a sent I draw


s: The savour of Death from all things there that live:


s: Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest


s: So saying, with delight he snuff'd the smell


s: Of mortal change on Earth.  As when a flock


s: Of ravenous Fowl, though many a League remote,


s: Where Armies lie encampt, come flying, lur'd


s: For death, the following day, in bloodie fight.


s: So sented the grim Feature, and upturn'd


s: Then Both from out Hell Gates into the waste


s: Flew divers, & with Power (thir Power was great)


s: Tost up and down, together crowded drove


s: From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell.


s: Mountains of Ice, that stop th' imagin'd way


s: Death with his Mace petrific, cold and dry,


s: As with a Trident smote, and fix't as firm


s: As DELOS floating once; the rest his look


s: And with ASPHALTIC slime; broad as the Gate,


s: Deep to the Roots of Hell the gather'd beach


s: They fasten'd, and the Mole immense wraught on


s: Over the foaming deep high Archt, a Bridge


s: Of length prodigious joyning to the Wall


s: Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad,


s: Smooth, easie, inoffensive down to Hell.


s: So, if great things to small may be compar'd,


s: Bridging his way, EUROPE with ASIA joyn'd,


s: And scourg'd with many a stroak th' indignant waves.


s: Now had they brought the work by wondrous Art


s: Over the vext Abyss, following the track


s: Of SATAN, to the selfsame place where hee


s: First lighted from his Wing, and landed safe


s: Of this round World: with Pinns of Adamant


s: And Chains they made all fast, too fast they made


s: And of this World, and on the left hand Hell


s: With long reach interpos'd; three sev'ral wayes


s: In sight, to each of these three places led.


s: And now thir way to Earth they had descri'd,