s: They summed their pens; and, soaring the air sublime,


s: With clang despised the ground, under a cloud


s: In prospect; there the eagle and the stork


s: On cliffs and cedar tops their eyries build:


s: Part loosely wing the region, part more wise


s: In common, ranged in figure, wedge their way,


s: Flying, and over lands, with mutual wing


s: Easing their flight; so steers the prudent crane


s: Her annual voyage, borne on winds; the air


s: Floats as they pass, fanned with unnumbered plumes:


s: From branch to branch the smaller birds with song


s: Solaced the woods, and spread their painted wings


s: Till even; nor then the solemn nightingale


s: Ceased warbling, but all night tun'd her soft lays:


s: Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathed


s: Their downy breast; the swan with arched neck,


s: Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows


s: Her state with oary feet; yet oft they quit


s: The dank, and, rising on stiff pennons, tower


s: Walked firm; the crested cock whose clarion sounds


s: The silent hours, and the other whose gay train


s: Adorns him, coloured with the florid hue


s: Of rainbows and starry eyes.  The waters thus


s: With fish replenished, and the air with fowl,


s: Evening and morn solemnized the fifth day.


s: With evening harps and matin; when God said,


s: Let the Earth bring forth soul living in her kind,


s: Cattle, and creeping things, and beast of the Earth,


s: Each in their kind.  The Earth obeyed, and straight


s: Opening her fertile womb teemed at a birth


s: Innumerous living creatures, perfect forms,


s: Limbed and full grown:  Out of the ground up rose,


s: As from his lair, the wild beast where he wons


s: In forest wild, in thicket, brake, or den;


s: Among the trees in pairs they rose, they walked:


s: The cattle in the fields and meadows green:


s: Those rare and solitary, these in flocks


s: Pasturing at once, and in broad herds upsprung.


s: The grassy clods now calved; now half appeared


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


s: And rampant shakes his brinded mane; the ounce,


s: Rising, the crumbled earth above them threw


s: In hillocks:  The swift stag from under ground


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


s: His vastness:  Fleeced 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 worm: those waved their limber fans


s: For wings, and smallest lineaments exact


s: In all the liveries decked of summer's pride


s: With spots of gold and purple, azure and green:


s: These, as a line, their long dimension drew,


s: Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not all


s: Wonderous in length and corpulence, involved


s: Their snaky folds, and added wings.  First crept


s: Of future; in small room large heart enclosed;


s: The female bee, that feeds her husband drone


s: With honey stored:  The rest are numberless,


s: And thou their natures knowest, and gavest them names,


s: The serpent, subtlest beast of all the field,


s: Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes


s: And hairy mane terrifick, though to thee


s: Now Heaven in all her glory shone, and rolled


s: Her motions, as the great first Mover's hand


s: First wheeled their course:  Earth in her rich attire


s: Consummate lovely smiled; air, water, earth,


s: By fowl, fish, beast, was flown, was swum, was walked,


s: Frequent; and of the sixth day yet remained:


s: There wanted yet the master-work, the end


s: Of all yet done; a creature, who, not prone


s: And brute as other creatures, but endued


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 Supreme, who made him chief


s: Of all his works:  therefore the Omnipotent


s: Present?) thus to his Son audibly spake.


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


s: And every creeping thing that creeps the ground.


s: This said, he formed thee, Adam, thee, O Man,


s: Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breathed


s: Express; and thou becamest a living soul.


s: Female, for race; then blessed mankind, and said,


s: Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the Earth;


s: Over fish of the sea, and fowl of the air,


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


s: Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou knowest,


s: He brought thee into this delicious grove,


s: This garden, planted with the trees of God,


s: And freely all their pleasant fruit for food


s: Gave thee; all sorts are here that all the Earth yields,


s: Which, tasted, works knowledge of good and evil,


s: Thou mayest not; in the day thou eatest, thou diest;


s: Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death.


s: Here finished he, and all that he had made


s: Viewed, and behold all was entirely good;


s: So even and morn accomplished the sixth day:


s: Desisting, though unwearied, up returned,


s: Up to the Heaven of Heavens, his high abode;


s: Thence to behold this new created world,


s: The addition of his empire, how it showed


s: In prospect from his throne, how good, how fair,


s: Followed with acclamation, and the sound


s: Symphonious of ten thousand harps, that tuned


s: Resounded, (thou rememberest, for thou heardst,)


s: The heavens and all the constellations rung,


s: The planets in their station listening stood,


s: While the bright pomp ascended jubilant.


s: Open, ye Heavens! your living doors; let in


s: The great Creator from his work returned


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


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


s: Delighted; and with frequent intercourse


s: The glorious train ascending:  He through Heaven,


s: That opened wide her blazing portals, led


s: A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold


s: And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear,


s: Which nightly, as a circling zone, thou seest


s: Powdered with stars.  And now on Earth the seventh


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


s: Forerunning night; when at the holy mount


s: Of Heaven's high-seated top, the imperial throne


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


s: The Filial Power arrived, and sat him down


s: Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordained,


s: Author and End of all things; and, from work


s: Now resting, blessed and hallowed the seventh 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: Tempered soft tunings, intermixed with voice


s: Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount.


s: Creation and the six days acts they sung:


s: Thy power! what thought can measure thee, or tongue


s: Than from the giant Angels:  Thee that day


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


s: Of Spirits apostate, and their counsels vain,


s: Thou hast repelled; while impiously they thought


s: Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw


s: The number of thy worshippers.  Who seeks


s: To lessen thee, against his purpose serves


s: To manifest the more thy might: his evil


s: Thou usest, and from thence createst more good.


s: Witness this new-made world, another Heaven


s: From Heaven-gate not far, founded in view


s: Numerous, and every star perhaps a world


s: Of destined habitation; but thou knowest


s: Their seasons: among these the seat of Men,


s: Earth, with her nether ocean circumfused,


s: Their pleasant dwelling-place.  Thrice happy Men,


s: And sons of Men, whom God hath thus advanced!


s: Over his works, on earth, in sea, or air,


s: Holy and just:  Thrice happy, if they know


s: With halleluiahs:  Thus was sabbath kept.


s: And thy request think now fulfilled, that asked


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


s: Informed by thee, might know:  If else thou seekest


s: Aught, not surpassing human measure, say.


s: So charming left his voice, that he a while


s: Thought him still speaking, still stood fixed to hear;


s: Then, as new waked, thus gratefully replied.


s: What thanks sufficient, or what recompence


s: Historian, who thus largely hast allayed


s: The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsafed


s: Things, else by me unsearchable; now heard


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


s: Creator!  Something yet of doubt remains,


s: When I behold this goodly frame, this world,


s: Of Heaven and Earth consisting; and compute


s: Their magnitudes; this Earth, a spot, a grain,


s: And all her numbered stars, that seem to roll


s: Their distance argues, and their swift return


s: Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot,


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


s: Useless besides; reasoning I oft admire,


s: Such disproportions, with superfluous hand


s: For aught appears, and on their orbs impose


s: That better might with far less compass move,


s: Served by more noble than herself, attains


s: Her end without least motion, and receives,


s: As tribute, such a sumless journey brought


s: Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light;


s: Speed, to describe whose swiftness number fails.


s: So spake our sire, and by his countenance seemed


s: Entering on studious thoughts abstruse; which Eve


s: Perceiving, where she sat retired in sight,


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


s: Rose, and went forth among her fruits and flowers,


s: To visit how they prospered, bud and bloom,


s: And, touched by her fair tendance, gladlier grew.


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


s: Of what was high: such pleasure she reserved,


s: Chose rather; he, she knew, would intermix


s: Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute


s: Not words alone pleased her.  O! when meet now


s: Such pairs, in love and mutual honour joined?


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 proposed,


s: To ask or search, I blame thee not; for Heaven


s: Wherein to read his wonderous works, and learn


s: His seasons, hours, or days, or months, or years:


s: This to attain, whether Heaven move or Earth,


s: Imports not, if thou reckon right; the rest


s: His secrets to be scanned by them who ought


s: Conjecture, he his fabrick of the Heavens


s: Hath left to their disputes, perhaps to move


s: His laughter at their quaint opinions wide


s: Hereafter; when they come to model Heaven


s: And calculate the stars, how they will wield


s: The mighty frame; how build, unbuild, contrive


s: To save appearances; how gird the sphere


s: With centrick and eccentrick scribbled o'er,


s: Who art to lead thy offspring, and supposest


s: That bodies bright and greater should not serve


s: The less not bright, nor Heaven such journeys run,


s: Earth sitting still, when she alone receives


s: The benefit:  Consider first, that great


s: Or bright infers not excellence: the Earth


s: Though, in comparison of Heaven, so small,


s: Nor glistering, may of solid good contain


s: More plenty than the sun that barren shines;


s: But in the fruitful Earth; there first received,


s: His beams, unactive else, their vigour find.


s: Yet not to Earth are those bright luminaries


s: Officious; but to thee, Earth's habitant.


s: And for the Heaven's wide circuit, let it speak


s: The Maker's high magnificence, who built


s: So spacious, and his line stretched out so far;


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


s: Lodged in a small partition; and the rest


s: Ordained for uses to his Lord best known.


s: The swiftness of those circles attribute,


s: Speed almost spiritual:  Me thou thinkest not slow,


s: Who since the morning-hour set out from Heaven


s: Where God resides, and ere mid-day arrived


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


s: Admitting motion in the Heavens, to show


s: Invalid that which thee to doubt it moved;


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


s: God, to remove his ways from human sense,


s: Placed Heaven from Earth so far, that earthly sight,


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


s: Be center to the world; and other stars,


s: Incited, dance about him various rounds?


s: Their wandering course now high, now low, then hid,


s: Progressive, retrograde, or standing still,


s: In six thou seest; and what if seventh to these


s: The planet earth, so stedfast though she seem,


s: Insensibly three different motions move?


s: Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe,


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


s: Invisible else above all stars, the wheel


s: Of day and night; which needs not thy belief,


s: If earth, industrious of herself, fetch day


s: Travelling east, and with her part averse


s: From the sun's beam meet night, her other part


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


s: Sent from her through the wide transpicuous air,


s: Enlightening her by day, as she by night


s: This earth? reciprocal, if land be there,


s: Fields and inhabitants:  Her spots thou seest


s: As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce


s: Fruits in her softened soil for some to eat


s: With their attendant moons, thou wilt descry,


s: Which two great sexes animate the world,


s: Stored in each orb perhaps with some that live.


s: For such vast room in Nature unpossessed


s: Each orb a glimpse of light, conveyed so far


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


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


s: But whether the sun, predominant in Heaven,


s: Rise on the earth; or earth rise on the sun;


s: He from the east his flaming road begin;


s: Or she from west her silent course advance,


s: With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps


s: And bears thee soft with the smooth hair along;


s: Sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid;


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


s: Of other creatures, as him pleases best,


s: Wherever placed, let him dispose; joy thou


s: And thy fair Eve; Heaven is for thee too high


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


s: Think only what concerns 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 far hath been revealed


s: Not of Earth only, but of highest Heaven.


s: To whom thus Adam, cleared of doubt, replied.


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 far off all anxious cares,


s: Seek them with wandering thoughts, and notions vain.


s: Till warned, or by experience taught, she learn,


s: That, not to know at large of things remote


s: From use, obscure and subtle; 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 concern,


s: Unpractised, unprepared, and still to seek.


s: Therefore from this high pitch let us descend


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


s: Useful; whence, haply, mention may arise


s: By sufferance, and thy wonted favour, deigned.


s: Thee I have heard relating what was done


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


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


s: For, while I sit with thee, I seem in Heaven;


s: Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst


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


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


s: Though pleasant; but thy words, with grace divine


s: Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety.


s: To whom thus Raphael answered heavenly meek.


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


s: Inward and outward both, his image fair:


s: Speaking, or mute, all comeliness and grace


s: Attends thee; and each word, each motion, forms;


s: Nor less think we in Heaven of thee on Earth


s: For God, we see, hath honoured thee, and set


s: On Man his equal love:  Say therefore on;


s: Far on excursion toward the gates of Hell;


s: Squared in full legion (such command we had)


s: To see that none thence issued forth a spy,


s: Lest he, incensed at such eruption bold,


s: Destruction with creation might have mixed.


s: Not that they durst without his leave attempt;


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


s: The dismal gates, and barricadoed strong;


s: But long ere our approaching heard within


s: Noise, other than the sound of dance or song,


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


s: Glad we returned up to the coasts of light


s: Ere sabbath-evening: so we had in charge.


s: Pleased with thy words no less than thou with mine.


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


s: Desire with thee still longer to converse


s: Induced me.  As new waked from soundest sleep,


s: Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid,


s: In balmy sweat; which with his beams the sun


s: Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed.


s: Straight toward Heaven my wondering eyes I turned,


s: And gazed a while the ample sky; till, raised


s: By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung,


s: As thitherward endeavouring, and upright


s: Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains,


s: And liquid lapse of murmuring streams; by these,


s: Creatures that lived and moved, and walked, or flew;


s: Birds on the branches warbling; all things smiled;


s: With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflowed.


s: Surveyed, 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 tried, and forthwith spake;


s: My tongue obeyed, and readily could name


s: Whate'er I saw.  Thou Sun, said I, fair light,


s: And thou enlightened Earth, so fresh and gay,


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


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


s: Not of myself;--by some great Maker then,


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


s: And feel that I am happier than I know.--


s: While thus I called, and strayed I knew not whither,


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


s: This happy light; when, answer none returned,


s: On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers,


s: Pensive I sat me down:  There gentle sleep


s: First found me, and with soft oppression seised


s: My droused sense, untroubled, though I thought


s: And lived:  One came, methought, of shape divine,


s: And said, "Thy mansion wants thee, Adam; rise,


s: First Father! called by thee, I come thy guide


s: To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepared."


s: So saying, by the hand he took me raised,


s: Smooth-sliding without step, last led me up


s: A woody mountain; whose high top was plain,


s: A circuit wide, enclosed, with goodliest trees


s: Planted, with walks, and bowers; that what I saw


s: Of Earth before scarce pleasant seemed.  Each tree,


s: Loaden with fairest fruit that hung to the eye


s: To pluck and eat; whereat I waked, and found


s: Had lively shadowed:  Here had new begun


s: My wandering, had not he, who was my guide


s: Up hither, from among the trees appeared,


s: Presence Divine.  Rejoicing, but with awe,


s: Submiss:  He reared me, and "Whom thou soughtest I am,"


s: Said mildly, "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 eat:


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


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


s: The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith,


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


s: And shun the bitter consequence: for know,


s: The day thou eatest thereof, my sole command


s: Transgressed, inevitably thou shalt die,


s: From that day mortal; and this happy state


s: Shalt lose, expelled from hence into a world


s: Of woe and sorrow."  Sternly he pronounced


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


s: Returned, and gracious purpose thus renewed.


s: "Not only 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 air; beast, fish, and fowl.


s: In sign whereof, each bird and beast behold


s: After their kinds; I bring them to receive


s: From thee their names, and pay thee fealty


s: With low subjection; understand the same


s: Not hither summoned, since they cannot change


s: Their element, to draw the thinner air."


s: As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold


s: Approaching two and two; these cowering low


s: With blandishment; each bird stooped on his wing.


s: I named them, as they passed, and understood


s: Their nature, with such knowledge God endued


s: I found not what methought I wanted still;


s: And to the heavenly Vision thus presumed.


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


s: Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher,


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


s: Thou hast provided all things:  But with me


s: Or, all enjoying, what contentment find?


s: Thus I presumptuous; and the Vision bright,


s: As with a smile more brightened, thus replied.


s: What callest thou solitude?  Is not the Earth


s: With various living creatures, and the air


s: Replenished, and all these at thy command


s: To come and play before thee?  Knowest thou not


s: Their language and their ways?  They also know,


s: And reason not contemptibly:  With these


s: Find pastime, and bear rule; thy realm is large.


s: So ordering:  I, with leave of speech implored,


s: Let not my words offend thee, Heavenly Power;


s: Hast thou not made me here thy substitute,


s: Can sort, what harmony, or true delight?


s: The one intense, the other still remiss,


s: Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove


s: Each with their kind, lion with lioness;


s: So fitly them in pairs thou hast combined:


s: Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl


s: So well converse, nor with the ox the ape;


s: Worse then can man with beast, and least of all.


s: Whereto the Almighty answered, not displeased.


s: Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice


s: No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary.


s: What thinkest thou then of me, 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: The highth and depth of thy eternal ways


s: All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things!


s: Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee


s: Or solace his defects.  No need that thou


s: And through all numbers absolute, though One:


s: Best with thyself accompanied, seekest not


s: Canst raise thy creature to what highth thou wilt


s: From prone; nor in their ways complacence find.


s: Thus I emboldened spake, and freedom used


s: Permissive, and acceptance found; which gained


s: This answer from the gracious Voice Divine.


s: Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased;


s: And find thee knowing, not of beasts alone,


s: Which thou hast rightly named, but of thyself;


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 spakest,


s: To see how thou couldest judge of fit and meet:


s: What next I bring shall please thee, be assured,


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


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


s: Dazzled and spent, sunk down; and sought repair


s: Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, called


s: By Nature as in aid, and closed mine eyes.


s: Mine eyes he closed, but open left the cell


s: Abstract as in a trance, methought I saw,


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


s: Still glorious before whom awake I stood:


s: Who stooping opened my left side, and took


s: From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm,


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


s: But suddenly with flesh filled up and healed:


s: The rib he formed and fashioned with his hands;


s: Under his forming hands a creature grew,


s: Man-like, but different sex; so lovely fair,


s: That what seemed fair in all the world, seemed now


s: Mean, or in her summed up, in her contained


s: And in her looks; which from that time infused


s: And into all things from her air inspired


s: She disappeared, and left me dark; I waked


s: Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure:


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


s: With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow


s: Led by her heavenly Maker, though unseen,


s: Of nuptial sanctity, and marriage rites:


s: Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye,


s: This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfilled


s: Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign,


s: Giver of all things fair! but fairest this


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


s: Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself


s: Extracted: for this cause he shall forego


s: Father and mother, and to his wife adhere;


s: And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul.


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


s: Her virtue, and the conscience of her worth,


s: That would be wooed, and not unsought be won,


s: Not obvious, not obtrusive, but, retired,


s: Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought,


s: Wrought in her so, that, seeing me, she turned:


s: I followed her; she what was honour knew,


s: My pleaded reason.  To the nuptial bower


s: I led her blushing like the morn: All Heaven,


s: Shed their selectest influence; the Earth


s: Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill;


s: Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs


s: Whispered it to the woods, and from their wings


s: Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub,


s: Disporting, till the amorous bird of night


s: Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening-star


s: On his hill top, to light the bridal lamp.


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


s: In all things else delight indeed, but such


s: As, used or not, works in the mind no change,


s: I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers,


s: Walks, and the melody of birds: but here


s: Transported touch; here passion first I felt,


s: Commotion strange! in all enjoyments else


s: Against the charm of Beauty's powerful glance.


s: Or Nature failed in me, and left some part


s: Not proof enough such object to sustain;


s: Or, from my side subducting, took perhaps


s: More than enough; at least on her bestowed


s: Of Nature her the inferiour, in the mind


s: His image who made both, and less expressing


s: O'er other creatures:  Yet when I approach


s: And in herself complete, so well to know


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


s: Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best:


s: All higher knowledge in her presence falls


s: Loses discountenanced, and like Folly shows;


s: Greatness of mind and Nobleness their seat


s: Build in her loveliest, and create an awe


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


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


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


s: Less excellent, as thou thyself perceivest.


s: For, what admirest 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 thyself;


s: Then value:  Oft-times nothing profits more


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


s: Well managed; of that skill the more thou knowest,


s: The more she will acknowledge thee her head,


s: So awful, that with honour thou mayest 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 vouchsafed


s: To cattle and each beast; which would not be


s: To them made common and divulged, if aught


s: The soul 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 heavenly love thou mayest ascend,


s: Not sunk in carnal pleasure; for which cause,


s: Among the beasts no mate for thee was found.


s: To whom thus, half abashed, Adam replied.


s: Neither her outside formed 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 mixed with love


s: And sweet compliance, which declare unfeigned


s: More grateful than harmonious sound to the ear.


s: Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose


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


s: Who meet with various objects, from the sense


s: Variously representing; yet, still free,


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


s: To love, thou blamest me not; for Love, thou sayest,


s: Leads up to Heaven, is both the way and guide;


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


s: Love not the heavenly Spirits, and how their love


s: Express they? by looks only? or do they mix


s: To whom the Angel, with a smile that glowed


s: Answered.  Let it suffice thee that thou knowest


s: Us happy, and without love no happiness.


s: Whatever pure thou in the body enjoyest,


s: Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars;


s: Easier than air with air, if Spirits embrace,


s: Desiring, nor restrained conveyance need,


s: As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul.


s: Beyond the Earth's green Cape and verdant Isles


s: Be strong, live happy, and love!  But, first of all,


s: His great command; take heed lest 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 placed; beware!


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


s: Followed with benediction.  Since to part,


s: Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore!


s: Thy condescension, and shall be honoured ever


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


s: From the thick shade, and Adam to his bower.


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 tragick; foul distrust, and breach


s: Anger and just rebuke, and judgement given,


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


s: Death's harbinger: Sad task! yet argument


s: Not less but more heroick than the wrath


s: Thrice fugitive about Troy wall; or rage


s: Or Neptune's ire, or Juno's, that so long


s: Perplexed the Greek, and Cytherea's son:


s: And dictates to me slumbering; or inspires


s: Since first this subject for heroick song


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


s: With long and tedious havock fabled knights


s: In battles feign'd; the better fortitude


s: Or tilting furniture, imblazon'd shields,


s: Impresses quaint, caparisons and steeds,


s: Bases and tinsel trappings, gorgeous knights


s: At joust and tournament; then marshall'd feast


s: Serv'd up in hall with sewers and seneshals;


s: Not that which justly gives heroick name


s: Nor skill'd nor studious, higher argument


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


s: Climate, or years, damp my intended wing


s: Depress'd; 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 star


s: 'Twixt day and night, and now from end to end


s: Night's hemisphere had veil'd the horizon round:


s: When satan, who late fled before the threats


s: On Man's destruction, maugre what might hap


s: Of heavier on himself, fearless returned


s: By night he fled, and at midnight returned


s: From compassing the earth; cautious of day,


s: Since Uriel, regent of the sun, descried


s: His entrance, and foreworned the Cherubim


s: That kept their watch; thence full of anguish driven,


s: The space of seven continued nights he rode


s: With darkness; thrice the equinoctial line


s: He circled; four times crossed the car of night


s: From pole to pole, traversing each colure;


s: On the eighth returned; and, on the coast averse


s: From entrance or Cherubick watch, by stealth


s: Found unsuspected way.  There was a place,


s: Now not, though sin, not time, first wrought the change,


s: Into a gulf shot under ground, till part


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


s: Satan, involved in rising mist; then sought


s: Where to lie hid; sea he had searched, and land,


s: Downward as far antarctick; and in length,


s: At Darien; thence to the land where flows


s: Ganges and Indus: Thus the orb he roamed


s: With narrow search; and with inspection deep


s: Most opportune might serve his wiles; and found


s: The Serpent subtlest beast of all the field.


s: Of thoughts revolved, his final sentence chose


s: Fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom


s: From sharpest sight: for, in the wily snake


s: Whatever sleights, none would suspicious mark,


s: Proceeding; which, in other beasts observed,


s: Active within, beyond the sense of brute.


s: Thus he resolved, but first from inward grief


s: His bursting passion into plaints thus poured.


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


s: With second thoughts, reforming what was old!


s: O Earth, how like to Heaven, if not preferred


s: For what God, after better, worse would build?


s: Terrestrial Heaven, danced round by other Heavens


s: That shine, yet bear their bright officious lamps,


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


s: In thee concentring all their precious beams


s: Centring, receivest from all those orbs: in thee,


s: Not in themselves, all their known virtue appears


s: Productive in herb, plant, and nobler birth


s: Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in Man.


s: With what delight could I have walked thee round,


s: If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange


s: Of hill, and valley, rivers, woods, and plains,


s: Now land, now sea and shores with forest crowned,


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 Heaven much worse would be my state.


s: But neither here seek I, no nor in Heaven


s: To dwell, unless by mastering Heaven's Supreme;


s: As I, though thereby worse to me redound:


s: To my relentless thoughts; and, him destroyed,


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


s: Follow, as to him linked in weal or woe;


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


s: The infernal Powers, in one day to have marred


s: What he, Almighty styled, six nights and days


s: Continued making; and who knows how long


s: Before had been contriving? though perhaps


s: Not longer than since I, in one night, freed


s: From servitude inglorious well nigh half


s: The angelick name, and thinner left the throng


s: And to repair his numbers thus impaired,


s: Whether such virtue spent of old now failed


s: A creature formed of earth, and him endow,


s: With heavenly 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: Their earthly charge: Of these the vigilance


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


s: Of midnight vapour glide obscure, and pry


s: In every bush and brake, where hap may find


s: The serpent sleeping; in whose mazy folds


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 constrained


s: Into a beast; and, mixed with bestial slime,


s: Descend to?  Who aspires, must down as low


s: As high he soared; obnoxious, first or last,


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


s: Bitter ere long, back on itself recoils:


s: Let it; I reck not, so it light well aimed,


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


s: Of Heaven, this man of clay, son of despite,


s: Whom, us the more to spite, his Maker raised


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


s: So saying, through each thicket dank or dry,


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


s: His midnight-search, where soonest he might find


s: The serpent; him fast-sleeping soon he found


s: In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled,


s: His head the midst, well stored with subtile wiles:


s: Nor nocent yet; but, on the grassy herb,


s: Fearless unfeared he slept: in at his mouth


s: The Devil entered; and his brutal sense,


s: In heart or head, possessing, soon inspired


s: Disturbed not, waiting close the approach of morn.


s: In Eden on the humid flowers, that breathed


s: Their morning incense, when all things, that breathe,


s: From the Earth's great altar send up silent praise


s: With grateful smell, forth came the human pair,


s: And joined their vocal worship to the quire


s: Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake


s: The season prime for sweetest scents and airs:


s: Then commune, how that day they best may ply


s: Their growing work: for much their work out-grew


s: The hands' dispatch of two gardening so wide,


s: And Eve first to her husband thus began.


s: This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flower,


s: Our pleasant task enjoined; 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 wild.  Thou therefore now advise,


s: Or bear 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 ivy 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 so near


s: Looks intervene and smiles, or object new


s: Casual discourse draw on; which intermits


s: Our day's work, brought to little, though begun


s: Early, and the hour of supper comes unearned?


s: Compare above all living creatures dear!


s: Well hast thou motioned, well thy thoughts employed,


s: How we might best fulfil the work which here


s: God hath assigned us; nor of me shalt pass


s: Unpraised: for nothing lovelier can be found


s: And good works in her husband to promote.


s: Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed


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 denied, and are of love the food;


s: For not to irksome toil, but to delight,


s: He made us, and delight to reason joined.


s: These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands


s: Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide


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


s: Assist us; But, if much converse perhaps


s: Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield:


s: And short retirement urges sweet return.


s: Befall thee severed from me; for thou knowest


s: What hath been warned us, what malicious foe


s: Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame


s: By sly assault; and somewhere 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 joined, where each


s: Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss


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


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


s: The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks,


s: Safest and seemliest by her husband stays,


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


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


s: With sweet austere composure thus replied.


s: Offspring of Heaven and Earth, and all Earth's Lord!


s: Our ruin, both by thee informed I learn,


s: Just then returned at shut of evening flowers.


s: But, that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt


s: His violence thou fearest not, being such


s: His fraud is then thy fear; which plain infers


s: Thy equal fear, that my firm faith and love


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


s: Adam, mis-thought of her to thee so dear?


s: To whom with healing words Adam replied.


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


s: The attempt itself, intended by our foe.


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


s: The tempted with dishonour foul; supposed


s: Against temptation: Thou thyself with scorn


s: And anger wouldst resent the offered wrong,


s: Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then,


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


s: The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare;


s: Or daring, first on me the assault shall light.


s: Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn;


s: Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce


s: Angels; nor think superfluous other's aid.


s: I, from the influence of thy looks, receive


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


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


s: Would utmost vigour raise, and raised unite.


s: Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel


s: With me, best witness of thy virtue tried?


s: And matrimonial love; but Eve, who thought


s: Thus her reply with accent sweet renewed.


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


s: But harm precedes not sin: only our foe,


s: Tempting, affronts us with his foul esteem


s: Sticks no dishonour on our front, but turns


s: Foul on himself; then wherefore shunned or feared


s: From his surmise proved false; find peace within,


s: Favour from Heaven, our witness, from the event.


s: And what is faith, love, virtue, unassayed


s: Alone, without exteriour help sustained?


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


s: Or aught that might his happy state secure,


s: Secure from outward force; within himself


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


s: Against his will he can receive no harm.


s: But God left free the will; for what obeys


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


s: But bid her well be ware, and still erect;


s: Lest, by some fair-appearing good surprised,


s: She dictate false; and mis-inform the will


s: Not then mistrust, but tender love, enjoins,


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 suborned,


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


s: Seek not temptation then, which to avoid


s: Thou sever not: Trial will come unsought.


s: Wouldst thou approve thy constancy, approve


s: First thy obedience; the other who can know,


s: But, if thou think, trial unsought may find


s: Us both securer than thus warned thou seemest,


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


s: On what thou hast of virtue; summon all!


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


s: So spake the patriarch of mankind; but Eve


s: Persisted; yet submiss, though last, replied.


s: With thy permission then, and thus forewarned


s: Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words


s: Touched only; that our trial, when least sought,


s: May find us both perhaps far less prepared,


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 husband's 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 gait surpassed, and Goddess-like deport,


s: Though not as she with bow and quiver armed,


s: But with such gardening tools as Art yet rude,


s: Guiltless of fire, had formed, or Angels brought.


s: Her long with ardent look his eye pursued


s: Oft he to her his charge of quick return


s: O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve,


s: Foundst either sweet repast, or sound repose;


s: Such ambush, hid among sweet flowers and shades,


s: Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss!


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


s: Mere serpent in appearance, forth was come;


s: And on his quest, where likeliest he might find


s: The whole included race, his purposed prey.


s: In bower and field he sought, where any tuft


s: Of grove or garden-plot more pleasant lay,


s: Their tendance, or plantation for delight;


s: He sought them both, but wished his hap might find


s: Eve separate; he wished, but not with hope


s: Of what so seldom chanced; when to his wish,


s: Veiled in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood,


s: Half spied, so thick the roses blushing round


s: About her glowed, oft stooping to support


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


s: Carnation, purple, azure, or specked with gold,


s: Hung drooping unsustained; them she upstays


s: Gently with myrtle band, mindless the while


s: Herself, though fairest unsupported flower,


s: From her best prop so far, and storm so nigh.


s: Nearer he drew, and many a walk traversed


s: Of stateliest covert, cedar, pine, or palm;


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


s: Imbordered on each bank, the hand of Eve:


s: Spot more delicious than those gardens feigned


s: Or that, not mystick, where the sapient king


s: Much he the place admired, the person more.


s: Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air,


s: Forth issuing on a summer's morn, to breathe


s: Adjoined, from each thing met conceives delight;


s: The smell of grain, or tedded grass, or kine,


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


s: If chance, with nymph-like step, fair virgin pass,


s: What pleasing seemed, for her now pleases more;


s: She most, and in her look sums all delight:


s: Such pleasure took the Serpent to behold


s: This flowery plat, the sweet recess of Eve


s: Thus early, thus alone: Her heavenly form


s: His malice, and with rapine sweet bereaved


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 remained


s: But the hot Hell that always in him burns,


s: Though in mid Heaven, soon ended his delight,


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


s: Of pleasure, not for him ordained: then soon


s: Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts


s: Thoughts, whither have ye 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 haughty, and of limb


s: Heroick built, though of terrestrial mould;


s: Foe not informidable! exempt from wound,


s: I not; so much hath Hell debased, and pain


s: She fair, divinely fair, fit love for Gods!


s: And beauty, not approached by stronger hate,


s: Hate stronger, under show of love well feigned;


s: Addressed his way: not with indented wave,


s: Prone on the ground, as since; but on his rear,


s: Circular base of rising folds, that towered


s: Fold above fold, a surging maze! his head


s: With burnished neck of verdant gold, erect


s: Amidst his circling spires, that on the grass


s: Floated redundant: pleasing was his shape


s: Lovelier, not those that in Illyria changed,


s: He 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 feared


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


s: As when a ship, by skilful steersmen wrought


s: Nigh river's mouth or foreland, where the wind


s: Veers oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her sail:


s: Curled many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve,


s: To lure her eye; she, busied, heard the sound


s: Of rusling leaves, but minded not, as used


s: To such disport before her through the field,


s: From every beast; more duteous at her call,


s: Than at Circean call the herd disguised.


s: He, bolder now, uncalled before her stood,


s: His turret crest, and sleek enamelled neck,


s: Fawning; and licked the ground whereon she trod.


s: The eye of Eve to mark his play; he, glad


s: Of her attention gained, with serpent-tongue


s: Thou canst, who art sole wonder! much less arm


s: Thy looks, the Heaven of mildness, with disdain,


s: Displeased that I approach thee thus, and gaze


s: Insatiate; I thus single; nor have feared


s: Thy awful brow, more awful thus retired.


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


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 should be seen


s: So glozed the Tempter, and his proem tuned:


s: Into the heart of Eve his words made way,


s: Though at the voice much marvelling; at length,


s: What may this mean? language of man pronounced


s: By tongue of brute, and human sense expressed?


s: The first, at least, of these I thought denied


s: To beasts; whom God, on their creation-day,


s: Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears.


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


s: I knew, but not with human voice endued;


s: How camest 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 replied.


s: Empress of this fair world, resplendent Eve!


s: What thou commandest; and right thou shouldst be obeyed:


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 discerned


s: Till, on a day roving the field, I chanced


s: Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mixed,


s: When from the boughs a savoury odour blown,


s: Grateful to appetite, more pleased my sense


s: Than smell of sweetest fennel, or the teats


s: Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even,


s: Unsucked of lamb or kid, that tend their play.


s: Of tasting those fair apples, I resolved


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


s: Powerful persuaders, quickened at the scent


s: Of that alluring fruit, urged me so keen.


s: For, high from ground, the branches would require


s: Thy utmost reach or Adam's: 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 plenty hung


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


s: I spared not; for, such pleasure till that hour,


s: Sated at length, ere long I might perceive


s: Of reason in my inward powers; and speech


s: Wanted not long; though to this shape retained.


s: Thenceforth to speculations high or deep


s: I turned my thoughts, and with capacious mind


s: Considered all things visible in Heaven,


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 beauty's heavenly ray,


s: Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come


s: And gaze, and worship thee of right declared


s: So talked the spirited sly Snake; and Eve,


s: Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt


s: The virtue of that fruit, in thee first proved:


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 untouched,


s: Grow up to their provision, and more hands


s: To whom the wily Adder, blithe and glad.


s: Empress, the way is ready, and not long;


s: Fast by a fountain, one small thicket past


s: Of blowing myrrh and balm: if thou accept


s: My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon


s: Lead then, said Eve.  He, leading, swiftly rolled


s: In tangles, and made intricate seem straight,


s: To mischief swift.  Hope elevates, and joy


s: Brightens his crest; as when a wandering fire,


s: Compact of unctuous vapour, which the night


s: Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends,


s: Hovering and blazing with delusive light,


s: Misleads the amazed night-wanderer from his way


s: To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool;


s: There swallowed up and lost, from succour far.


s: So glistered 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 spared our coming hither,


s: Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to excess,


s: The credit of whose virtue rest with thee;


s: Wonderous 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 ourselves; our reason is our law.


s: Indeed! hath God then said that of the fruit


s: Of all these garden-trees ye shall not eat,


s: Yet Lords declared of all in earth or air?


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 eat


s: Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die.


s: She scarce had said, though brief, when now more bold


s: The Tempter, but with show of zeal and love


s: New part puts on; and, as to passion moved,


s: Fluctuates disturbed, yet comely and in act


s: Raised, as of some great matter to begin.


s: Flourished, since mute! to some great cause addressed,


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 up grown,


s: The Tempter, all impassioned, thus began.


s: O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving Plant,


s: Things in their causes, but to trace the ways


s: Those rigid threats of death: ye shall not die:


s: How should you? by the fruit? it gives you life


s: To knowledge; by the threatener? look on me,


s: Me, who have touched and tasted; yet both live,


s: And life more perfect have attained than Fate


s: Meant me, by venturing higher than my lot.


s: Shall that be shut to Man, which to the Beast


s: For such a petty trespass? and not praise


s: Rather your dauntless virtue, whom the pain


s: Of death denounced, whatever thing death be,


s: Deterred not from achieving what might lead


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 shunned?


s: God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just;


s: Not just, not God; not feared then, nor obeyed:


s: Your fear itself of death removes the fear.


s: Why then was this forbid?  Why, but to awe;


s: His worshippers?  He knows that in the day


s: Ye eat thereof, your eyes that seem so clear,


s: Yet are but dim, shall perfectly be then


s: Opened and cleared, and ye shall be as Gods,


s: Knowing both good and evil, as they know.


s: That ye shall be as Gods, since I as Man,


s: Human, to put on Gods; death to be wished,


s: Though threatened, which no worse than 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: Warmed by the sun, producing every kind;


s: Them, nothing: if they all things, who enclosed


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: The offence, that Man should thus attain to know?


s: What can your knowledge hurt him, or this tree


s: In heavenly breasts?  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: Fixed on the fruit she gazed, which to behold


s: Might tempt alone; and in her ears the sound


s: Yet rung of his persuasive words, impregned


s: With reason, to her seeming, and with truth:


s: Mean while the hour of noon drew on, and waked


s: So savoury of that fruit, which with desire,


s: Pausing a while, thus to herself she mused.


s: Great are thy virtues, doubtless, best of fruits,


s: Though kept from man, and worthy to be admired;


s: Whose taste, too long forborn, at first assay


s: The tongue not made for speech to speak thy praise:


s: Thy praise he also, who forbids thy use,


s: Conceals 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 infers 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 bind 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? he hath eaten and lives,


s: And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discerns,


s: This intellectual food, for beasts reserved?


s: For beasts it seems: yet that one beast which first


s: Hath tasted envies not, but brings with joy


s: The good befallen him, author unsuspect,


s: Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile.


s: What fear I then? rather, what know to fear


s: Here grows the cure of all, this fruit divine,


s: Of virtue to make wise:  What hinders then


s: To reach, and feed at once both body and mind?


s: Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, 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 guilty Serpent; and well might; for Eve,


s: Intent now wholly on her taste, nought else


s: Regarded; such delight till then, as seemed,


s: Of knowledge; not was Godhead from her thought.


s: Greedily she ingorged without restraint,


s: And knew not eating death:  Satiate at length,


s: And hightened as with wine, jocund and boon,


s: O sovran, virtuous, precious of all trees


s: To sapience, hitherto obscured, infamed.


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 fertile burden ease


s: Of thy full branches offered free to all;


s: In knowledge, as the Gods, who all things know;


s: Though others envy what they cannot give:


s: For, had the gift been theirs, it had not here


s: Thus grown.  Experience, next, to thee I owe,


s: Best guide; not following thee, I had remained


s: In ignorance; thou openest wisdom's way,


s: And givest access, though secret she retire.


s: And I perhaps am secret: Heaven 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 appear? shall I to him make known


s: As yet my change, and give him to partake


s: But keeps the odds of knowledge in my power


s: In female 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!  Confirmed 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 turned;


s: But first low reverence done, as to the Power


s: That dwelt within, whose presence had infused


s: From nectar, drink of Gods.  Adam the while,


s: Her tresses, and her rural labours crown;


s: As reapers oft are wont their harvest-queen.


s: Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and new


s: Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill,


s: Misgave him; he the faltering 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: Scarce from the tree returning; in her hand


s: A bough of fairest fruit, that downy smiled,


s: New gathered, and ambrosial smell diffused.


s: Which, with bland words at will, she thus addressed.


s: Hast thou not wondered, Adam, at my stay?


s: Thee I have missed, and thought it long, deprived


s: Not felt, nor shall be twice; for never more


s: Mean I to try, what rash untried I sought,


s: The pain of absence from thy sight.  But strange


s: Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear:


s: This tree is not, as we are told, a tree


s: To open eyes, and make them Gods who taste;


s: And hath been tasted such:  The serpent wise,


s: Or not restrained as we, or not obeying,


s: Not dead, as we are threatened, but thenceforth


s: Endued with human voice and human sense,


s: The effects to correspond; opener mine eyes,


s: Dim 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, unshared with thee, and odious soon.


s: Thou therefore also taste, that equal lot


s: Lest, thou not tasting, different degree


s: Disjoin us, and I then too late renounce


s: Deity for thee, when Fate will not permit.


s: Thus Eve with countenance blithe her story told;


s: But in her cheek distemper flushing glowed.


s: On the other side Adam, soon as he heard


s: Astonied stood and blank, while horrour chill


s: Ran through his veins, and all his joints relaxed;


s: From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve


s: Down dropt, 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 God's works, Creature in whom excelled


s: Whatever can to sight or thought be formed,


s: How art thou lost! how on a sudden lost,


s: Defaced, deflowered, and now to death devote!


s: Rather, how hast thou yielded to transgress


s: The sacred fruit forbidden!  Some cursed fraud


s: Of enemy hath beguiled thee, yet unknown,


s: And me with thee hath ruined; for with thee


s: Thy sweet converse, and love so dearly joined,


s: To live again in these wild 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 disturbed


s: Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turned.


s: Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve,


s: And peril great provoked, who thus hast dared,


s: That sacred fruit, sacred to abstinence,


s: Much more to taste it under ban to touch.


s: Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact


s: Is not so heinous now, foretasted fruit,


s: Profaned first by the serpent, by him first


s: Made common, and unhallowed, ere our taste;


s: Nor yet on him found deadly; yet he lives;


s: Lives, as thou saidst, and gains to live, as Man,


s: Higher degree of life; inducement strong


s: Though threatening, will in earnest so destroy


s: Us his prime creatures, dignified so high,


s: Set over all his works; which in our fall,


s: For us created, needs with us must fail,


s: Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour lose;


s: Not well conceived of God, who, though his power


s: Creation could repeat, yet would be loth


s: Triumph, and say; "Fickle their state whom God


s: Most favours; who can please him long? Me first


s: He ruined, now Mankind; whom will he next?"


s: Matter of scorn, not to be given the Foe.


s: Consort with thee, death is to me as life;


s: My own in thee, for what thou art is mine;


s: Our state cannot be severed; we are one,


s: One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself.


s: Adam, from whose dear side I boast me sprung,


s: And gladly of our union hear thee speak,


s: One heart, one soul in both; whereof good proof


s: This day affords, declaring thee resolved,


s: Rather than death, or aught than death more dread,


s: Shall separate us, linked in love so dear,


s: To undergo with me one guilt, one crime,


s: Whose virtue for of good still good proceeds,


s: This happy trial of thy love, which else


s: Were it I thought death menaced would ensue


s: The worst, and not persuade thee, rather die


s: Pernicious to thy peace; chiefly assured


s: So faithful, love unequalled: but I feel


s: Far otherwise the event; not death, but life


s: Augmented, opened eyes, new hopes, new joys,


s: Taste so divine, that what of sweet before


s: Hath touched my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh.


s: So saying, she embraced 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 scrupled not to eat,


s: Against his better knowledge; not deceived,


s: Earth trembled from her entrails, as again


s: In pangs; and Nature gave a second groan;


s: Sky loured; and, muttering thunder, some sad drops


s: Her former trespass feared, the more to sooth


s: They swim in mirth, and fancy that they feel


s: Wherewith to scorn the earth:  But that false fruit


s: Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance move.


s: Yield thee, so well this day thou hast purveyed.


s: Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstained


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 wished,


s: For this one tree had been forbidden ten.


s: But come, so well refreshed, now let us play,


s: I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorned


s: With all perfections, so inflame my sense


s: Than ever; bounty of this virtuous tree!


s: So said he, and forbore not glance or toy


s: Of Eve, whose eye darted contagious fire.


s: Her hand he seised; and to a shady bank,


s: Thick over-head with verdant roof imbowered,


s: He led her nothing loth; flowers were the couch,


s: And hyacinth;  Earth's freshest softest lap.


s: There they their fill of love and love's disport


s: Took largely, of their mutual guilt the seal,


s: The solace of their sin; till dewy sleep


s: Oppressed them, wearied with their amorous play,


s: Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit,


s: About their spirits had played, and inmost powers


s: Made err, was now exhaled; and grosser sleep,


s: Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams


s: Incumbered, now had left them; up they rose


s: As from unrest; and, each the other viewing,


s: Soon found their eyes how opened, and their minds


s: Had shadowed them from knowing ill, was gone;


s: Just confidence, and native righteousness,


s: To guilty Shame; he covered, but his robe


s: Uncovered more.  So rose the Danite strong,


s: Shorn of his strength.  They destitute and bare


s: Of all their virtue:  Silent, and in face


s: Confounded, long they sat, as strucken mute:


s: Till Adam, though not less than Eve abashed,


s: At length gave utterance to these words constrained.


s: To that false worm, of whomsoever taught


s: To counterfeit Man's voice; true in our fall,


s: False in our promised 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 soiled and stained,


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, erst with joy


s: And rapture so oft beheld?  Those heavenly shapes


s: Will dazzle now this earthly with their blaze


s: Obscured, where highest woods, impenetrable


s: To star or sun-light, spread their 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 sewed,


s: And girded on our loins, may cover round


s: Those middle parts; that this new comer, Shame,


s: There sit not, and reproach us as unclean.


s: So counselled he, and both together went


s: Into the thickest wood; there soon they chose


s: The fig-tree; not that kind for fruit renowned,


s: But such as at this day, to Indians known,


s: Branching so broad and long, that in the ground


s: The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow


s: High over-arched, and echoing walks between:


s: There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat,


s: Shelters in cool, and tends his pasturing herds


s: At loop-holes cut through thickest shade:  Those leaves


s: They gathered, broad as Amazonian targe;


s: And, with what skill they had, together sewed,


s: To gird their waist; vain covering, if to hide


s: Their guilt and dreaded shame!  O, how unlike


s: To that first naked glory!  Such of late


s: With feathered cincture; naked else, and wild


s: Among the trees on isles and woody shores.


s: Thus fenced, and, as they thought, their shame in part


s: Covered, but not at rest or ease of mind,


s: They sat them down to weep; nor only tears


s: Rained at their eyes, but high winds worse within


s: Began to rise, high passions, anger, hate,


s: Mistrust, suspicion, discord; and shook sore


s: Their inward state of mind, calm region once


s: And full of peace, now tost and turbulent:


s: For Understanding ruled not, and the Will


s: Heard not her lore; both in subjection now


s: Superiour sway: From thus distempered breast,


s: Adam, estranged in look and altered style,


s: Would thou hadst hearkened to my words, and staid


s: With me, as I besought thee, when that strange


s: I know not whence possessed thee; we had then


s: Remained still happy; not, as now, despoiled


s: Of all our good; shamed, 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 fail.


s: To whom, soon moved with touch of blame, thus Eve.


s: What words have passed thy lips, Adam severe!


s: Imputest thou that to my default, or will


s: Of wandering, as thou callest it, which who knows


s: But might as ill have happened thou being by,


s: Or to thyself perhaps?  Hadst thou been there,


s: Or here the attempt, thou couldst not have discerned


s: Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake;


s: Why he should mean me ill, or seek to harm.


s: Was I to have never parted from thy side?


s: As good have grown there still a lifeless rib.


s: Being as I am, why didst not thou, the head,


s: Too facile then, thou didst not much gainsay;


s: Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss.


s: Hadst thou been firm and fixed in thy dissent,


s: Neither had I transgressed, nor thou with me.


s: To whom, then first incensed, Adam replied.


s: Is this the love, is this the recompence


s: Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve! expressed


s: Who might have lived, and joyed 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 warned thee, I admonished thee, foretold


s: That lay in wait; beyond this, had been force;


s: And force upon free will hath here no place.


s: But confidence then bore thee on; secure


s: What seemed in thee so perfect, that I thought


s: The errour now, which is become my crime,


s: And thou the accuser.  Thus it shall befall


s: Him, who, to worth in women overtrusting,


s: Lets her will rule: restraint she will not brook;


s: And, left to herself, if evil thence ensue,


s: She first his weak indulgence will accuse.


s: The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning;


s: And of their vain contest appeared no end.


s: Mean while the heinous and despiteful act


s: Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit,


s: Was known in Heaven; for what can 'scape the eye


s: Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just,


s: Of Man, with strength entire and free will armed,


s: Complete to have discovered and repulsed


s: Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend.


s: For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered,


s: The high injunction, not to taste that fruit,


s: Whoever tempted; which they not obeying,


s: (Incurred what could they less?) the penalty;


s: The angelick guards ascended, mute, and sad,


s: For Man; for of his state by this they knew,


s: Much wondering how the subtle Fiend had stolen


s: Entrance unseen.  Soon as the unwelcome news


s: From Earth arrived at Heaven-gate, displeased


s: All were who heard; dim sadness did not spare


s: The ethereal people ran, to hear and know


s: How all befel:  They towards the throne supreme,


s: Accountable, made haste, to make appear,


s: With righteous plea, their utmost vigilance


s: Amidst in thunder uttered thus his voice.


s: Assembled Angels, and ye Powers returned


s: From unsuccessful charge; be not dismayed,


s: Nor troubled 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 crossed the gulf from Hell.


s: I told ye then he should prevail, and speed


s: On his bad errand; Man should be seduced,


s: And flattered out of all, believing lies


s: Or touch with lightest moment of impulse


s: His free will, to her own inclining left


s: In even scale.  But fallen he is; and now


s: What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass


s: On his transgression,--death denounced that day?


s: Which he presumes already vain and void,


s: Because not yet inflicted, as he feared,


s: By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find


s: Forbearance no acquittance, ere day end.


s: Justice shall not return as bounty scorned.


s: But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee,


s: Vicegerent Son?  To thee I have transferred


s: All judgement, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell.


s: Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee


s: Man's friend, his Mediator, his designed


s: And destined Man himself to judge Man fallen.


s: So spake the Father; and, unfolding bright


s: Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son


s: Expressed, and thus divinely answered mild.


s: Mine, both in Heaven and Earth, to do thy will


s: Supreme; that thou in me, thy Son beloved,


s: Mayest ever rest well pleased.  I go to judge


s: On earth these thy transgressours; but thou knowest,


s: Whoever judged, the worst on me must light,


s: Before thee; and, not repenting, this obtain


s: Of right, that I may mitigate their doom


s: Justice with mercy, as may illustrate most


s: Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none


s: Are to behold the judgement, but the judged,


s: Those two; the third best absent is condemned,


s: Convict by flight, and rebel to all law:


s: Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose


s: Of high collateral glory: Him Thrones, and Powers,


s: Eden, and all the coast, in prospect lay.


s: Down he descended straight; the speed of Gods


s: Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes winged.


s: From noon, and gentle airs, due at their hour,


s: To fan the earth now waked, and usher in


s: The evening cool; when he, from wrath more cool,


s: Came the mild Judge, and Intercessour both,


s: To sentence Man:  The voice of God they heard


s: Now walking in the garden, by soft winds


s: Brought to their ears, while day declined; 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 pleased, thus entertained with solitude,


s: Where obvious duty ere while appeared unsought:


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; discountenanced both, and discomposed;


s: Love was not in their looks, either to God,


s: And shame, and perturbation, and despair,


s: Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile.


s: Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief.


s: I heard thee in the garden, and of thy voice


s: Afraid, being naked, hid myself.  To whom


s: The gracious Judge without revile replied.


s: My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not feared,


s: But still rejoiced; 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 Heaven! in evil strait this day I stand


s: Whose failing, while her faith to me remains,


s: I should conceal, and not expose to blame


s: Lest on my head both sin and punishment,


s: Devolved; though should I hold my peace, yet thou


s: This Woman, whom thou madest to be my help,


s: And gavest me as thy perfect gift, so good,


s: That from her hand I could suspect no ill,


s: To whom the Sovran Presence thus replied.


s: Was she thy God, that her thou didst obey


s: Before his voice? or was she made thy guide,


s: Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place


s: Wherein God set thee above her made of thee,


s: And for thee, whose perfection far excelled


s: Thy love, not thy subjection; and her gifts


s: Were such, as under government well seemed;


s: Unseemly to bear rule; which was thy part


s: And person, hadst thou known thyself aright.


s: Say, Woman, what is this which thou hast done?


s: To whom sad Eve, with shame nigh overwhelmed,


s: Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge


s: Bold or loquacious, thus abashed replied.


s: Which when the Lord God heard, without delay


s: To judgement he proceeded on the accused


s: Serpent, though brute; unable to transfer


s: The guilt on him, who made him instrument


s: Concerned not Man, (since he no further knew)


s: Nor altered his offence; yet God at last


s: Though in mysterious terms, judged as then best:


s: And on the Serpent thus his curse let fall.


s: Because thou hast done this, thou art accursed


s: Above all cattle, each beast of the field;


s: And dust shalt eat all the days of thy life.


s: Her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel.


s: Saw Satan fall, like lightning, down from Heaven,


s: Prince of the air; then, rising from his grave


s: Spoiled Principalities and Powers, triumphed


s: In open show; and, with ascension bright,


s: The realm itself of Satan, long usurped;


s: Whom he shall tread at last under our feet;


s: Even he, who now foretold his fatal bruise;


s: And to the Woman thus his sentence turned.


s: By thy conception; children thou shalt bring


s: In sorrow forth; and to thy husband's will


s: Thine shall submit; he over thee shall rule.


s: On Adam last thus judgement he pronounced.


s: Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife,


s: I charged thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat thereof:


s: Cursed is the ground for thy sake; thou in sorrow


s: Shalt eat thereof, all the days of thy life;


s: Thorns also and thistles it shall bring thee forth


s: Unbid; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;


s: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat 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 return.


s: So judged he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent;


s: And the instant stroke of death, denounced that day,


s: Removed far off; then, pitying how they stood


s: Must suffer change, disdained not to begin


s: Thenceforth the form of servant to assume;


s: As when he washed his servants feet; so now,


s: Their nakedness with skins of beasts, or slain,


s: Or as the snake with youthful coat repaid;


s: And thought not much to clothe his enemies;


s: Nor he their outward only with the skins


s: Of beasts, but inward nakedness, much more.


s: Opprobrious, with his robe of righteousness,


s: Arraying, covered from his Father's sight.


s: To him with swift ascent he up returned,


s: All, though all-knowing, what had passed with Man


s: Mean while, ere thus was sinned and judged on Earth,


s: Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death,


s: In counterview within the gates, that now


s: Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame


s: Far into Chaos, since the Fiend passed through,


s: Sin opening; who thus now to Death began.


s: O Son, why sit we here each other viewing


s: Idly, while Satan, our great author, thrives


s: In other worlds, and happier seat provides


s: For us, his offspring dear?  It cannot be


s: But that success attends him; if mishap,


s: Ere this he had returned, with fury driven


s: By his avengers; 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 given me large


s: By secretest conveyance.  Thou, my shade


s: For Death from Sin no power can separate.


s: But, lest the difficulty of passing back


s: Adventurous work, yet to thy power and mine


s: Over this main from Hell to that new world,


s: Easing their passage hence, for intercourse,


s: Or transmigration, as their 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 answered soon.


s: Go, whither Fate, and inclination strong,


s: Leads thee; I shall not lag behind, nor err


s: The way, thou leading; such a scent 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 snuffed 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 encamped, come flying, lured


s: For death, the following day, in bloody fight:


s: So scented the grim Feature, and upturned


s: Then both from out Hell-gates, into the waste


s: Flew diverse; and with power (their power was great)


s: Tost up and down, together crouded drove,


s: From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell;


s: As when two polar winds, blowing adverse


s: Mountains of ice, that stop the imagined way


s: Death with his mace petrifick, cold and dry,


s: As with a trident, smote; and fixed as firm


s: As Delos, floating once; the rest his look


s: Bound with Gorgonian rigour not to move;


s: And with Asphaltick slime, broad as the gate,


s: Deep to the roots of Hell the gathered beach


s: They fastened, and the mole immense wrought on


s: Over the foaming deep high-arched, a bridge


s: Of length prodigious, joining to the wall


s: Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad,


s: Smooth, easy, inoffensive, down to Hell.


s: So, if great things to small may be compared,


s: Bridging his way, Europe with Asia joined,


s: And scourged with many a stroke the indignant waves.


s: Now had they brought the work by wonderous art


s: Over the vexed abyss, following the track


s: Of Satan to the self-same place where he


s: First lighted from his wing, and landed safe


s: Of this round world:  With pins 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 interposed; three several ways


s: In sight, to each of these three places led.


s: And now their way to Earth they had descried,


s: To Paradise first tending; when, behold!


s: Betwixt the Centaur and the Scorpion steering


s: His zenith, while the sun in Aries rose:


s: Disguised he came; but those his children dear


s: Their parent soon discerned, though in disguise.


s: Into the wood fast by; and, changing shape,


s: To observe the sequel, saw his guileful act


s: Upon her husband; saw their shame that sought


s: Vain covertures; but when he saw descend


s: The present; fearing, guilty, what his wrath


s: Might suddenly inflict; that past, returned


s: By night, and listening where the hapless pair


s: Sat in their sad discourse, and various plaint,


s: Thence gathered his own doom; which understood


s: Not instant, but of future time, with joy


s: And tidings fraught, to Hell he now returned;


s: And at the brink of Chaos, near the foot


s: Of this new wonderous pontifice, unhoped


s: Met, who to meet him came, his offspring dear.


s: Great joy was at their meeting, and at sight


s: Of that stupendous bridge his joy encreased.


s: Long he admiring stood, till Sin, his fair


s: Enchanting daughter, thus the silence broke.


s: O Parent, these are thy magnifick deeds,


s: Thy trophies! which thou viewest as not thine own;


s: Thou art their author, and prime architect:


s: Still moves with thine, joined in connexion sweet,


s: That thou on earth hadst prospered, which thy looks


s: Though distant from thee worlds between, yet felt,


s: That I must after thee, with this thy son;


s: Hell could no longer hold us in our bounds,


s: Detain from following thy illustrious track.


s: Thou hast achieved our liberty, confined


s: Within Hell-gates till now; thou us impowered


s: With this portentous bridge, the dark abyss.


s: Thine now is all this world; thy virtue hath won


s: What thy hands builded not; thy wisdom gained


s: With odds what war hath lost, and fully avenged


s: Our foil in Heaven; here thou shalt monarch reign,


s: There didst not; there let him still victor sway,


s: As battle hath adjudged; from this new world


s: And henceforth monarchy with thee divide


s: Of all things, parted by the empyreal bounds,


s: His quadrature, from thy orbicular world;


s: Or try thee now more dangerous to his throne.


s: Whom thus the Prince of darkness answered glad.


s: Fair Daughter, and thou Son and Grandchild both;


s: High proof ye now have given to be the race


s: The infernal empire, that so near Heaven's door


s: Mine, with this glorious work; and made one realm,


s: Hell and this world, one realm, one continent


s: Of easy thorough-fare.  Therefore, while I


s: Descend through darkness, on your road with ease,


s: To my associate Powers, them to acquaint


s: With these successes, and with them rejoice;


s: You two this way, among these numerous orbs,


s: All yours, right down to Paradise descend;


s: There dwell, and reign in bliss; thence on the earth


s: Chiefly on Man, sole lord of all declared;


s: Him first make sure your thrall, and lastly kill.


s: Plenipotent on earth, of matchless might


s: Issuing from me: on your joint vigour now


s: My hold of this new kingdom all depends,


s: Through Sin to Death exposed by my exploit.


s: If your joint power prevail, the affairs of Hell


s: No detriment need fear; go, and be strong!


s: So saying he dismissed them; they with speed


s: Their course through thickest constellations held,


s: Spreading their bane; the blasted stars looked wan,


s: And planets, planet-struck, real eclipse


s: Then suffered.  The other way Satan went down


s: The causey to Hell-gate:  On either side


s: And with rebounding surge the bars assailed,


s: That scorned his indignation:  Through the gate,


s: And all about found desolate; for those,


s: Appointed to sit there, had left their charge,


s: Flown to the upper world; the rest were all


s: Far to the inland retired, about the walls


s: There kept their watch the legions, while the Grand


s: Might intercept their emperour sent; so he


s: Departing gave command, and they observed.


s: As when the Tartar from his Russian foe,


s: Retires; or Bactrin Sophi, from the horns


s: Of Turkish crescent, leaves all waste beyond


s: To Tauris or Casbeen:  So these, the late


s: Heaven-banished host, left desart utmost Hell


s: Many a dark league, reduced in careful watch


s: Round their metropolis; and now expecting


s: Each hour their great adventurer, from the search


s: Of foreign worlds:  He through the midst unmarked,


s: Of lowest order, passed; and from the door


s: Ascended his high throne; which, under state


s: Of richest texture spread, at the upper end


s: Was placed in regal lustre.  Down a while


s: At last, as from a cloud, his fulgent head


s: And shape star-bright appeared, or brighter; clad


s: With what permissive glory since his fall


s: Was left him, or false glitter:  All amazed


s: At that so sudden blaze the Stygian throng


s: Bent their aspect, and whom they wished beheld,


s: Their mighty Chief returned: loud was the acclaim:


s: Forth rushed in haste the great consulting peers,


s: Raised from their dark Divan, and with like joy


s: Congratulant approached him; who with hand


s: Silence, and with these words attention, won.


s: For in possession such, not only of right,


s: Successful beyond hope, to lead ye forth


s: And dungeon of our tyrant:  Now possess,


s: As Lords, a spacious world, to our native Heaven


s: With peril great achieved.  Long were to tell


s: What I have done; what suffered; with what pain


s: Voyaged th' unreal, vast, unbounded deep


s: By Sin and Death a broad way now is paved,


s: Toiled out my uncouth passage, forced to ride


s: The untractable abyss, plunged in the womb


s: That, jealous of their secrets, fiercely opposed


s: My journey strange, with clamorous uproar


s: Protesting Fate supreme; thence how I found


s: The new created world, which fame in Heaven


s: Made happy:  Him by fraud I have seduced


s: From his Creator; and, the more to encrease


s: Offended, worth your laughter! hath given up


s: Both his beloved Man, and all his world,


s: To rule, as over all he should have ruled.


s: True is, me also he hath judged, or rather


s: Me not, but the brute serpent in whose shape


s: Man I deceived: that which to me belongs,


s: Me and mankind; I am to bruise his heel;


s: His seed, when is not set, shall bruise my head:


s: A world who would not purchase with a bruise,


s: Or much more grievous pain?--Ye have the account


s: Of my performance:  What remains, ye Gods,


s: So having said, a while he stood, expecting


s: Their universal shout, and high applause,


s: To fill his ear; when, contrary, he hears


s: Of publick scorn; he wondered, but not long


s: Had leisure, wondering at himself now more,


s: His visage drawn he felt to sharp and spare;


s: His arms clung to his ribs; his legs entwining


s: Each other, till supplanted down he fell


s: Now ruled him, punished in the shape he sinned,


s: According to his doom: he would have spoke,


s: But hiss for hiss returned with forked tongue


s: To forked tongue; for now were all transformed


s: Of hissing through the hall, thick swarming now


s: With complicated monsters head and tail,


s: Scorpion, and Asp, and Amphisbaena dire,


s: Cerastes horned, Hydrus, and Elops drear,


s: And Dipsas; (not so thick swarmed once the soil


s: Bedropt with blood of Gorgon, or the isle


s: Ophiusa,) but still greatest he the midst,


s: Now Dragon grown, larger than whom the sun


s: Ingendered in the Pythian vale or slime,


s: Huge Python, and his power no less he seemed


s: Above the rest still to retain; they all


s: Him followed, issuing forth to the open field,


s: Where all yet left of that revolted rout,


s: Heaven-fallen, in station stood or just array;


s: In triumph issuing forth their glorious Chief;


s: They saw, but other sight instead! a croud


s: And horrid sympathy; for, what they saw,


s: They felt themselves, now changing; down their arms,


s: Down fell both spear and shield; down they as fast;


s: And the dire hiss renewed, and the dire form


s: Catched, by contagion; like in punishment,


s: As in their crime.  Thus was the applause they meant,


s: Turned to exploding hiss, triumph to shame


s: Cast on themselves from their own mouths.  There stood


s: A grove hard by, sprung up with this their change,


s: Their penance, laden with fair fruit, like that


s: Used by the Tempter: on that prospect strange


s: Their earnest eyes they fixed, imagining


s: Now risen, to work them further woe or shame;


s: Yet, parched with scalding thirst and hunger fierce,


s: Though to delude them sent, could not abstain;


s: But on they rolled in heaps, and, up the trees


s: Climbing, sat thicker than the snaky locks


s: That curled Megaera: greedily they plucked


s: The fruitage fair to sight, like that which grew


s: Near that bituminous lake where Sodom flamed;


s: This more delusive, not the touch, but taste


s: Deceived; they, fondly thinking to allay


s: Their appetite with gust, instead of fruit


s: Chewed bitter ashes, which the offended taste


s: With spattering noise rejected: oft they assayed,


s: Hunger and thirst constraining; drugged as oft,


s: With hatefullest disrelish writhed their jaws,


s: With soot and cinders filled; so oft they fell


s: Whom they triumphed once lapsed.  Thus were they plagued


s: And worn with famine, long and ceaseless hiss,


s: Till their lost shape, permitted, they resumed;


s: This annual humbling certain numbered days,


s: To dash their pride, and joy, for Man seduced.


s: Among the Heathen, of their purchase got,


s: And fabled how the Serpent, whom they called


s: Encroaching Eve perhaps, had first the rule


s: Of high Olympus; thence by Saturn driven


s: And Ops, ere yet Dictaean Jove was born.


s: Too soon arrived; Sin, there in power before,


s: Close following pace for pace, not mounted yet


s: On his pale horse: to whom Sin thus began.


s: Second of Satan sprung, all-conquering Death!


s: What thinkest thou of our empire now, though earned


s: Than still at Hell's dark threshold to have sat watch,


s: Unnamed, undreaded, and thyself half starved?


s: Whom thus the Sin-born monster answered soon.


s: There best, where most with ravine I may meet;


s: Which here, though plenteous, all too little seems


s: To stuff this maw, this vast unhide-bound corps.


s: To whom the incestuous mother thus replied.


s: Thou therefore on these herbs, and fruits, and flowers,


s: Feed first; on each beast next, and fish, and fowl;


s: The sithe of Time mows down, devour unspared;


s: Till I, in Man residing, through the race,


s: His thoughts, his looks, words, actions, all infect;


s: And season him thy last and sweetest prey.


s: This said, they both betook them several ways,


s: All kinds, and for destruction to mature


s: Sooner or later; which the Almighty seeing,


s: From his transcendent seat the Saints among,


s: To those bright Orders uttered thus his voice.


s: See, with what heat these dogs of Hell advance


s: To waste and havock yonder world, which I


s: Kept in that state, had not the folly of Man


s: Let in these wasteful furies, who impute


s: And his adherents, that with so much ease


s: A place so heavenly; and, conniving, seem


s: That laugh, as if, transported with some fit


s: And know not that I called, and drew them thither,


s: My Hell-hounds, to lick up the draff and filth


s: Which Man's polluting sin with taint hath shed


s: On what was pure; til, crammed and gorged, nigh burst


s: With sucked and glutted offal, at one sling


s: Of thy victorious arm, well-pleasing Son,


s: Both Sin, and Death, and yawning Grave, at last,


s: Through Chaos hurled, obstruct the mouth of Hell


s: For ever, and seal up his ravenous jaws.


s: Then Heaven and Earth renewed shall be made pure


s: To sanctity, that shall receive no stain:


s: Till then, the curse pronounced on both precedes.


s: He ended, and the heavenly audience loud


s: Through multitude that sung:  Just are thy ways,


s: Righteous are thy decrees on all thy works;


s: Who can extenuate thee?  Next, to the Son,


s: New Heaven and Earth shall to the ages rise,


s: Or down from Heaven descend.--Such was their song;


s: While the Creator, calling forth by name


s: His mighty Angels, gave them several charge,


s: As sorted best with present things.  The sun


s: Had first his precept so to move, so shine,


s: As might affect the earth with cold and heat


s: Scarce tolerable; and from the north to call


s: Decrepit winter; from the south to bring


s: Solstitial summer's heat.  To the blanc moon


s: Her office they prescribed; to the other five


s: In sextile, square, and trine, and opposite,


s: Their influence malignant when to shower,


s: Which of them rising with the sun, or falling,


s: Should prove tempestuous:  To the winds they set


s: Their corners, when with bluster to confound


s: Sea, air, and shore; the thunder when to roll


s: With terrour through the dark aereal hall.


s: Some say, he bid his Angels turn ascanse


s: The poles of earth, twice ten degrees and more,


s: From the sun's axle; they with labour pushed


s: Oblique the centrick globe:  Some say, the sun


s: Was bid turn reins from the equinoctial road


s: Like distant breadth to Taurus with the seven


s: Up to the Tropick Crab: thence down amain


s: As deep as Capricorn; to bring in change


s: Of seasons to each clime; else had the spring


s: Perpetual smiled on earth with vernant flowers,


s: Equal in days and nights, except to those


s: Had unbenighted shone, while the low sun,


s: To recompense his distance, in their sight


s: Had rounded still the horizon, and not known


s: Or east or west; which had forbid the snow


s: The sun, as from Thyestean banquet, turned


s: His course intended; else, how had the world


s: Inhabited, though sinless, more than now,


s: Avoided pinching cold and scorching heat?


s: These changes in the Heavens, though slow, produced


s: Like change on sea and land; sideral blast,


s: Corrupt and pestilent:  Now from the north


s: Bursting their brazen dungeon, armed with ice,


s: And snow, and hail, and stormy gust and flaw,


s: And Thrascias, rend the woods, and seas upturn;


s: With adverse blast upturns them from the south


s: Notus, and Afer black with thunderous clouds


s: From Serraliona; thwart of these, as fierce,


s: Forth rush the Levant and the Ponent winds,


s: Eurus and Zephyr, with their lateral noise,


s: Outrage from lifeless things; but Discord first,


s: Death introduced, through fierce antipathy:


s: Beast now with beast 'gan war, and fowl with fowl,


s: And fish with fish; to graze the herb all leaving,


s: Devoured each other; nor stood much in awe


s: Of Man, but fled him; or, with countenance grim,


s: Glared on him passing.  These were from without


s: Already in part, though hid in gloomiest shade,


s: To sorrow abandoned, but worse felt within;


s: Thus to disburden sought with sad complaint.


s: Of this new glorious world, and me so late


s: Accursed, of blessed? hide me from the face


s: Of God, whom to behold was then my highth


s: Of happiness!--Yet well, if here would end


s: The misery; I deserved it, and would bear


s: My own deservings; but this will not serve:


s: All that I eat or drink, or shall beget,


s: Is propagated curse.  O voice, once heard