s: The Song of Hiawatha is based on the legends and stories of


s: many North American Indian tribes, but especially those of the


s: Ojibway Indians of northern Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.


s: They were collected by Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, the reknowned


s: Schoolcraft married Jane, O-bah-bahm-wawa-ge-zhe-go-qua (The


s: fur trader, and O-shau-gus-coday-way-qua (The Woman of the Green


s: Prairie), who was a daughter of Waub-o-jeeg (The White Fisher),


s: who was Chief of the Ojibway tribe at La Pointe, Wisconsin.


s: Jane and her mother are credited with having researched,


s: authenticated, and compiled much of the material Schoolcraft


s: included in his Algic Researches (1839) and a revision published


s: in 1856 as The Myth of Hiawatha.  It was this latter revision


s: that Longfellow used as the basis for The Song of Hiawatha.


s: Longfellow began Hiawatha on June 25, 1854, he completed it


s: soon as the poem was  published its popularity was assured.


s: However, it also was severely criticized as a plagiary of the


s: Finnish epic poem Kalevala.  Longfellow made no secret of the


s: fact that he had used the meter of the Kalevala; but as for the


s: legends, he openly gave credit to Schoolcraft in his notes to the


s: I would add a personal note here.  My father's roots include


s: Ojibway Indians: his mother, Margaret Caroline Davenport, was a


s: daughter of Susan des Carreaux, O-gee-em-a-qua (The Chief Woman),


s: Finally, my mother used to rock me to sleep reading portions of


s: Should you ask me, whence these stories?


s: From the mountains, moors, and fen-lands


s: You could trace them through the valley,


s: There are longings, yearnings, strivings


s: Written with little skill of song-craft,


s: Who shall guide you and shall teach you,


s: Wash the blood-stains from your fingers,


s: Threw their cloaks and shirts of deer-skin,


s: Soiled and stained with streaks of crimson,


s: Clean and washed from all their war-paint;


s: Smoothed and formed it into Peace-Pipes,


s: Decked them with their brightest feathers,


s: But rushed headlong through the door-way,


s: Touched the rugged hills with smoothness,


s: Changed and covered o'er with whiteness,


s: Till the air seemed full of snow-flakes,


s: Warriors with their plumes and war-clubs,


s: "'T is the heaven of flowers you see there;


s: Learned their names and all their secrets,


s: Tipped with flint, and winged with feathers,


s: Coughed and chattered from the oak-tree,


s: For his thoughts were with the red deer;


s: Shoot them with such strength and swiftness,


s: Dressed in deer-skin shirt and leggings,


s: Tipped with jasper, winged with feathers;


s: Stretched his hand to pluck the bulrush,


s: Cleanse the earth from all that harms it,


s: From his brain the thought of vengeance,


s: Gleaming, glancing through the branches,


s: "Must our lives depend on these things?"


s: You shall gain what you have prayed for.


s: Fearing lest his strength should fail him,


s: Showed them where the maize was growing,


s: Changed the long, green leaves to yellow,


s: Stripped the withered husks from off them,


s: That the wood-birds ceased from singing,


s: Through the whirlpools chased the beaver,


s: Shaped them straightway to a frame-work,


s: Like two bows he formed and shaped them,


s: Sobbed through all its robes of darkness,


s: Smeared therewith each seam and fissure,


s: With his hands he scooped the sand-bars,


s: Sailed through all its bends and windings,


s: Sailed through all its deeps and shallows,


s: While his friend, the strong man, Kwasind,


s: Dragged the dead trees from its channel,


s: Through his gills he breathed the water,


s: Till their craws are full with feasting,


s: Till the waves washed through the rib-bones,


s: Screamed and hurtled through the heavens.


s: Smeared them well with oil, that swiftly


s: Leaped through tangled flags and rushes,


s: Stretched the faithful bow-string tighter,


s: "Come forth from your lodge, Pearl-Feather!


s: Streaked with crimson, blue, and yellow,


s: Winged with feathers, tipped with jasper,


s: Homeward through the weltering serpents,


s: Be your starlight, moonlight, firelight,


s: Of the past the old man's thoughts were,


s: Through their thoughts they heard a footstep,


s: Made of deer-skins dressed and whitened,


s: Though his pace he checked and slackened


s: All the travelling winds went with them,


s: Watched with sleepless eyes their slumber;


s: Brought the moonlight, starlight, firelight,


s: Though the warriors called him Faint-Heart,


s: White and soft, and fringed with ermine,


s: Fringed with hedgehog quills and ermine,


s: Thick with quills and beads embroidered.


s: Like great snowdrifts o'er the landscape,


s: Danced his Beggar's Dance to please them,


s: "Smiles the earth, and smile the waters,


s: Tall and straight and strong and handsome.


s: Soothed her with soft words of kindness,


s: Till they reached the lodge of feasting,


s: "'Taste the food that stands before you:


s: They shall shine like shells of scarlet,


s: And they hopped, and sang, and twittered,


s: Perked and fluttered all their feathers,


s: Swayed and rushed through airy currents,


s: Changed your sisters and their husbands;


s: Changed them thus because they mocked you


s: "Round and round they wheeled and darted,


s: Took their shape, but not their stature;


s: "Still their glittering lodge is seen there,


s: "There are great men, I have known such,


s: Stood the maize-fields, green and shining,


s: "You shall bless to-night the cornfields,


s: "Thus the fields shall be more fruitful,


s: "Hear him!" said they; "hear the Wise Man,


s: When they mocked him from the tree-tops.


s: Breathed his sighs o'er all the landscape,


s: Gleamed from bursting sheaths of verdure.


s: "'T is the Moon when, leaves are falling;


s: From their seats beneath the pine-trees.


s: From their seats beneath the pine-trees!


s: Filled with little stars for night-time;


s: Still the voice of love would reach you!"


s: When the snow-flakes, whirling downward,


s: Armed with arrows, shod with snow-shoes,


s: And the wolves howled from the prairies,


s: Naught he questioned, naught he answered,


s: Beat their drums, and shook their rattles;


s: Come, ye white crows, come and hear him!


s: Where he passed, the branches moved not,


s: Danced the Beggar's Dance to please them.


s: Cracked the sky, but could not break it;


s: These were brass, on one side burnished,


s: Played till midnight, played till morning,


s: With his plumes and tufts of swan's down,


s: Hard his breath came through his nostrils,


s: Through his teeth he buzzed and muttered


s: Where knee-deep the trees were standing,


s: Streamed the sunshine through the crevice,


s: With their clubs they beat and bruised him,


s: And it fluttered, strove, and struggled,


s: Struggle with their thongs of deer-skin,


s: Now their broad black beaks they lifted,


s: Straightway to a brant they changed him,


s: Lest some strange mischance should happen,


s: That his hand was stretched to seize him,


s: Dance the dust and leaves in whirlwinds;


s: "There," they cry, "comes Pau-Puk-Keewis,


s: That could wound him, that could slay him,


s: There they stood, all armed and waiting,


s: "Kwasind!" cried they; "that is Kwasind!


s: Till the plains were strewn with whiteness,


s: Pounded maize, or dressed the deer-skin;


s: Climbed and crowded through the smoke-flue.


s: These are ghosts that come to haunt you,


s: Sought for bird or beast and found none,


s: And the streamlets laughed and glistened,


s: With those gloomy guests that watched her,


s: "`T is the night-wind in the pine-trees!"


s: "`T is the smoke, that waves and beckons!"


s: Seven long days and nights he sat there,


s: Red with blood of youth his cheeks were,


s: Then the old man's tongue was speechless


s: Where the fire had smoked and smouldered,


s: Mahng the loon, with clangorous pinions,


s: "Kaw!" they said, "we don't believe it!"


s: "Kaw!" they said, "what tales you tell us!"


s: "Kaw!" they said, "what lies you tell us!


s: Springs the White-man's Foot in blossom.


s: And the heart's right hand of friendship


s: Restless, struggling, toiling, striving,


s: Till the Black-Robe chief, the Pale-face,


s: Never the broad leaves of our cornfields


s: Mocked him, scourged him, crucified him;


s: From the cornfields shrill and ceaseless


s: Did not wake the guests, that slumbered.


s: Moved through all their depths of darkness,


s: Chibia'bos, a musician; friend of Hiawatha;


s: Ia'goo, a great boaster and story-teller


s: Inin'ewug, men, or pawns in the Game of the Bowl


s: Keeway'din, the Northwest wind, the Home-wind


s: Kwo-ne'-she, or Dush-kwo-ne'-she, the dragon-fly


s: Minneha'ha, Laughing Water; wife of Hiawatha;


s: a water-fall in a stream running into the


s: Mississippi between Fort Snelling and the


s: Minne-wa'wa, a pleasant sound, as of the wind


s: Mudjekee'wis, the West-Wind; father of Hiawatha


s: Mudway-aush'ka, sound of waves on a shore


s: Na'gow Wudj'oo, the Sand Dunes of Lake Superior


s: Noko'mis, a grandmother, mother of Wenonah


s: Ozawa'beek, a round piece of brass or copper


s: Pau-Puk-Kee'wis, the handsome Yenadizze,


s: Weno'nah, the eldest daughter; Hiawatha's mother,


s: Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal tast


s: Brought Death into the World, and all our woe,


s: Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat,


s: Sing Heav'nly Muse, that on the secret top


s: That Shepherd, who first taught the chosen Seed,


s: In the Beginning how the Heav'ns and Earth


s: Delight thee more, and SILOA'S Brook that flow'd


s: That with no middle flight intends to soar


s: Above th' AONIAN Mount, while it pursues


s: Things unattempted yet in Prose or Rhime.


s: And chiefly Thou O Spirit, that dost prefer


s: Before all Temples th' upright heart and pure,


s: Instruct me, for Thou know'st; Thou from the first


s: Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread


s: Dove-like satst brooding on the vast Abyss


s: And mad'st it pregnant: What in me is dark


s: Illumine, what is low raise and support;


s: That to the highth of this great Argument


s: Say first, for Heav'n hides nothing from thy view


s: Nor the deep Tract of Hell, say first what cause


s: Mov'd our Grand Parents in that happy State,


s: Favour'd of Heav'n so highly, to fall off


s: From their Creator, and transgress his Will


s: For one restraint, Lords of the World besides?


s: Who first seduc'd them to that fowl revolt?


s: Th' infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile


s: Stird up with Envy and Revenge, deceiv'd


s: The Mother of Mankinde, what time his Pride


s: Had cast him out from Heav'n, with all his Host


s: To set himself in Glory above his Peers,


s: He trusted to have equal'd the most High,


s: Rais'd impious War in Heav'n and Battel proud


s: With vain attempt.  Him the Almighty Power


s: Hurld headlong flaming from th' Ethereal Skie


s: Nine times the Space that measures Day and Night


s: Lay vanquisht, rowling in the fiery Gulfe


s: Confounded though immortal: But his doom


s: Reserv'd him to more wrath; for now the thought


s: Torments him; round he throws his baleful eyes


s: That witness'd huge affliction and dismay


s: Mixt with obdurate pride and stedfast hate:


s: As one great Furnace flam'd, yet from those flames


s: Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace


s: And rest can never dwell, hope never comes


s: That comes to all; but torture without end


s: For those rebellious, here their Prison ordain'd


s: In utter darkness, and their portion set


s: As far remov'd from God and light of Heav'n


s: As from the Center thrice to th' utmost Pole.


s: O how unlike the place from whence they fell!


s: There the companions of his fall, o'rewhelm'd


s: With Floods and Whirlwinds of tempestuous fire,


s: He soon discerns, and weltring by his side


s: One next himself in power, and next in crime,


s: Long after known in PALESTINE, and nam'd


s: And thence in Heav'n call'd Satan, with bold words


s: If thou beest he; But O how fall'n! how chang'd


s: From him, who in the happy Realms of Light


s: Cloth'd with transcendent brightnes didst outshine


s: Myriads though bright: If he whom mutual league,


s: United thoughts and counsels, equal hope,


s: Joynd with me once, now misery hath joynd


s: From what highth fal'n, so much the stronger provd


s: He with his Thunder: and till then who knew


s: The force of those dire Arms? yet not for those


s: Though chang'd in outward lustre; that fixt mind


s: And high disdain, from sence of injur'd merit,


s: That with the mightiest rais'd me to contend,


s: And to the fierce contention brought along


s: That durst dislike his reign, and me preferring,


s: His utmost power with adverse power oppos'd


s: In dubious Battel on the Plains of Heav'n,


s: And shook his throne.  What though the field be lost?


s: All is not lost; the unconquerable Will,


s: That Glory never shall his wrath or might


s: Extort from me.  To bow and sue for grace


s: With suppliant knee, and deifie his power


s: Who from the terrour of this Arm so late


s: Doubted his Empire, that were low indeed,


s: This downfall; since by Fate the strength of Gods


s: And this Empyreal substance cannot fail,


s: Since through experience of this great event


s: In Arms not worse, in foresight much advanc't,


s: We may with more successful hope resolve


s: Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy


s: Sole reigning holds the Tyranny of Heav'n.


s: So spake th' Apostate Angel, though in pain,


s: Vaunting aloud, but rackt with deep despare:


s: And him thus answer'd soon his bold Compeer.


s: O Prince, O Chief of many Throned Powers,


s: That led th' imbattelld Seraphim to Warr


s: Under thy conduct, and in dreadful deeds


s: Fearless, endanger'd Heav'ns perpetual King;


s: Whether upheld by strength, or Chance, or Fate,


s: Hath lost us Heav'n, and all this mighty Host


s: Can Perish: for the mind and spirit remains


s: Though all our Glory extinct, and happy state


s: But what if he our Conquerour, (whom I now


s: Of force believe Almighty, since no less


s: Then such could hav orepow'rd such force as ours)


s: Have left us this our spirit and strength intire


s: Strongly to suffer and support our pains,


s: That we may so suffice his vengeful ire,


s: Or do him mightier service as his thralls


s: By right of Warr, what e're his business be


s: Here in the heart of Hell to work in Fire,


s: What can it then avail though yet we feel


s: Whereto with speedy words th' Arch-fiend reply'd.


s: Doing or Suffering: but of this be sure,


s: To do ought good never will be our task,


s: Out of our evil seek to bring forth good,


s: And out of good still to find means of evil;


s: Which oft times may succeed, so as perhaps


s: Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb


s: His inmost counsels from their destind aim.


s: Back to the Gates of Heav'n: The Sulphurous Hail


s: Shot after us in storm, oreblown hath laid


s: The fiery Surge, that from the Precipice


s: Of Heav'n receiv'd us falling, and the Thunder,


s: Wing'd with red Lightning and impetuous rage,


s: Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now


s: To bellow through the vast and boundless Deep.


s: Let us not slip th' occasion, whether scorn,


s: Seest thou yon dreary Plain, forlorn and wilde,


s: Save what the glimmering of these livid flames


s: Casts pale and dreadful?  Thither let us tend


s: From off the tossing of these fiery waves,


s: There rest, if any rest can harbour there,


s: Consult how we may henceforth most offend


s: What reinforcement we may gain from Hope,


s: With Head up-lift above the wave, and Eyes


s: That sparkling blaz'd, his other Parts besides


s: Prone on the Flood, extended long and large


s: Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge


s: As whom the Fables name of monstrous size,


s: TITANIAN, or EARTH-BORN, that warr'd on JOVE,


s: By ancient TARSUS held, or that Sea-beast


s: Created hugest that swim th' Ocean stream:


s: The Pilot of some small night-founder'd Skiff,


s: Deeming some Island, oft, as Sea-men tell,


s: Moors by his side under the Lee, while Night


s: Invests the Sea, and wished Morn delayes:


s: So stretcht out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay


s: Chain'd on the burning Lake, nor ever thence


s: Had ris'n or heav'd his head, but that the will


s: And high permission of all-ruling Heaven


s: Left him at large to his own dark designs,


s: Heap on himself damnation, while he sought


s: How all his malice serv'd but to bring forth


s: Infinite goodness, grace and mercy shewn


s: Treble confusion, wrath and vengeance pour'd.


s: Forthwith upright he rears from off the Pool


s: His mighty Stature; on each hand the flames


s: Drivn backward slope their pointing spires, & rowld


s: In billows, leave i'th' midst a horrid Vale.


s: Then with expanded wings he stears his flight


s: That felt unusual weight, till on dry Land


s: He lights, if it were Land that ever burn'd


s: With solid, as the Lake with liquid fire;


s: And such appear'd in hue, as when the force


s: Torn from PELORUS, or the shatter'd side


s: And fewel'd entrals thence conceiving Fire,


s: Sublim'd with Mineral fury, aid the Winds,


s: With stench and smoak: Such resting found the sole


s: Of unblest feet.  Him followed his next Mate,


s: Both glorying to have scap't the STYGIAN flood


s: As Gods, and by their own recover'd strength,


s: Not by the sufferance of supernal Power.


s: Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime,


s: Said then the lost Arch Angel, this the seat


s: That we must change for Heav'n, this mournful gloom


s: For that celestial light?  Be it so, since hee


s: What shall be right: fardest from him is best


s: Whom reason hath equald, force hath made supream


s: Where Joy for ever dwells: Hail horrours, hail


s: Infernal world, and thou profoundest Hell


s: Receive thy new Possessor: One who brings


s: A mind not to be chang'd by Place or Time.


s: The mind is its own place, and in it self


s: Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n.


s: What matter where, if I be still the same,


s: And what I should be, all but less then hee


s: Whom Thunder hath made greater?  Here at least


s: We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built


s: Here for his envy, will not drive us hence:


s: Here we may reign secure, and in my choyce


s: To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:


s: Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav'n.


s: But wherefore let we then our faithful friends,


s: Th' associates and copartners of our loss


s: Lye thus astonisht on th' oblivious Pool,


s: And call them not to share with us their part


s: With rallied Arms to try what may be yet


s: Regaind in Heav'n, or what more lost in Hell?


s: Thus answer'd.  Leader of those Armies bright,


s: Which but th' Omnipotent none could have foyld,


s: If once they hear that voyce, their liveliest pledge


s: Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft


s: In worst extreams, and on the perilous edge


s: Of battel when it rag'd, in all assaults


s: Their surest signal, they will soon resume


s: New courage and revive, though now they lye


s: Groveling and prostrate on yon Lake of Fire,


s: No wonder, fall'n such a pernicious highth.


s: He scarce had ceas't when the superiour Fiend


s: Was moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield


s: Ethereal temper, massy, large and round,


s: Behind him cast; the broad circumference


s: Hung on his shoulders like the Moon, whose Orb


s: Through Optic Glass the TUSCAN Artist views


s: Rivers or Mountains in her spotty Globe.


s: His Spear, to equal which the tallest Pine


s: Over the burning Marle, not like those steps


s: Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with Fire;


s: Nathless he so endur'd, till on the Beach


s: Of that inflamed Sea, he stood and call'd


s: His Legions, Angel Forms, who lay intrans't


s: Thick as Autumnal Leaves that strow the Brooks


s: In VALLOMBROSA, where th' ETRURIAN shades


s: High overarch't imbowr; or scatterd sedge


s: Afloat, when with fierce Winds ORION arm'd


s: Hath vext the Red-Sea Coast, whose waves orethrew


s: VVhile with perfidious hatred they pursu'd


s: From the safe shore their floating Carkases


s: And broken Chariot Wheels, so thick bestrown


s: Abject and lost lay these, covering the Flood,


s: Under amazement of their hideous change.


s: He call'd so loud, that all the hollow Deep


s: Of Hell resounded.  Princes, Potentates,


s: Warriers, the Flowr of Heav'n, once yours, now lost,


s: Eternal spirits; or have ye chos'n this place


s: Your wearied vertue, for the ease you find


s: To slumber here, as in the Vales of Heav'n?


s: To adore the Conquerour? who now beholds


s: With scatter'd Arms and Ensigns, till anon


s: His swift pursuers from Heav'n Gates discern


s: Th' advantage, and descending tread us down


s: Thus drooping, or with linked Thunderbolts


s: Transfix us to the bottom of this Gulfe.


s: They heard, and were abasht, and up they sprung


s: Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch


s: On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread,


s: Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake.


s: Nor did they not perceave the evil plight


s: In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel;


s: Yet to their Generals Voyce they soon obeyd


s: Wav'd round the Coast, up call'd a pitchy cloud


s: Of LOCUSTS, warping on the Eastern Wind,


s: That ore the Realm of impious PHAROAH hung


s: Like Night, and darken'd all the Land of NILE:


s: So numberless were those bad Angels seen


s: 'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding Fires;


s: Till, as a signal giv'n, th' uplifted Spear


s: Thir course, in even ballance down they light


s: On the firm brimstone, and fill all the Plain;


s: A multitude, like which the populous North


s: Pour'd never from her frozen loyns, to pass


s: RHENE or the DANAW, when her barbarous Sons


s: Came like a Deluge on the South, and spread


s: Forthwith from every Squadron and each Band


s: The Heads and Leaders thither hast where stood


s: Their great Commander; Godlike shapes and forms


s: And Powers that earst in Heaven sat on Thrones;


s: Though of their Names in heav'nly Records now


s: By thir Rebellion, from the Books of Life.


s: Got them new Names, till wandring ore the Earth,


s: Through Gods high sufferance for the tryal of man,


s: Glory of him, that made them, to transform


s: With gay Religions full of Pomp and Gold,


s: Then were they known to men by various Names,


s: And various Idols through the Heathen World.


s: Say, Muse, their Names then known, who first, who last,


s: Rous'd from the slumber, on that fiery Couch,


s: At thir great Emperors call, as next in worth


s: Came singly where he stood on the bare strand,


s: While the promiscuous croud stood yet aloof?


s: The chief were those who from the Pit of Hell


s: Roaming to seek their prey on earth, durst fix


s: Their Seats long after next the Seat of God,


s: Among the Nations round, and durst abide


s: Within his Sanctuary it self their Shrines,


s: His holy Rites, and solemn Feasts profan'd,


s: And with their darkness durst affront his light.


s: First MOLOCH, horrid King besmear'd with blood


s: Though for the noyse of Drums and Timbrels loud


s: Their childrens cries unheard, that past through fire


s: Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart


s: His Temple right against the Temple of God


s: On that opprobrious Hill, and made his Grove


s: The pleasant Vally of HINNOM, TOPHET thence


s: And black GEHENNA call'd, the Type of Hell.


s: Next CHEMOS, th' obscene dread of MOABS Sons,


s: The flowry Dale of SIBMA clad with Vines,


s: ISRAEL in SITTIM on their march from NILE


s: To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe.


s: Yet thence his lustful Orgies he enlarg'd


s: Even to that Hill of scandal, by the Grove


s: Till good JOSIAH drove them thence to Hell.


s: With these came they, who from the bordring flood


s: Of old EUPHRATES to the Brook that parts


s: These Feminine.  For Spirits when they please


s: Not ti'd or manacl'd with joynt or limb,


s: Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones,


s: Like cumbrous flesh; but in what shape they choose


s: Dilated or condens't, bright or obscure,


s: For those the Race of ISRAEL oft forsook


s: Their living strength, and unfrequented left


s: To bestial Gods; for which their heads as low


s: Bow'd down in Battel, sunk before the Spear


s: Of despicable foes.  With these in troop


s: Came ASTORETH, whom the PHOENICIANS call'd


s: ASTARTE, Queen of Heav'n, with crescent Horns;


s: To whose bright Image nightly by the Moon


s: SIDONIAN Virgins paid their Vows and Songs,


s: Her Temple on th' offensive Mountain, built


s: By that uxorious King, whose heart though large,


s: To Idols foul.  THAMMUZ came next behind,


s: While smooth ADONIS from his native Rock


s: Ran purple to the Sea, suppos'd with blood


s: Of THAMMUZ yearly wounded: the Love-tale


s: Infected SIONS daughters with like heat,


s: Whose wanton passions in the sacred Porch


s: Who mourn'd in earnest, when the Captive Ark


s: Maim'd his brute Image, head and hands lopt off


s: Where he fell flat, and sham'd his Worshipers:


s: And downward Fish: yet had his Temple high


s: Rear'd in AZOTUS, dreaded through the Coast


s: Him follow'd RIMMON, whose delightful Seat


s: He also against the house of God was bold:


s: AHAZ his sottish Conquerour, whom he drew


s: Whom he had vanquisht.  After these appear'd


s: With monstrous shapes and sorceries abus'd


s: Thir wandring Gods disguis'd in brutish forms


s: Rather then human.  Nor did ISRAEL scape


s: Th' infection when their borrow'd Gold compos'd


s: JEHOVAH, who in one Night when he pass'd


s: Both her first born and all her bleating Gods.


s: BELIAL came last, then whom a Spirit more lewd


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


s: Vice for it self: To him no Temple stood


s: Or Altar smoak'd; yet who more oft then hee


s: In Temples and at Altars, when the Priest


s: Turns Atheist, as did ELY'S Sons, who fill'd


s: With lust and violence the house of God.


s: And in luxurious Cities, where the noyse


s: Of riot ascends above thir loftiest Towrs,


s: Darkens the Streets, then wander forth the Sons


s: Of BELIAL, flown with insolence and wine.


s: Witness the Streets of SODOM, and that night


s: Yielded thir Matrons to prevent worse rape.


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


s: The rest were long to tell, though far renown'd,


s: Gods, yet confest later then Heav'n and Earth


s: Thir boasted Parents; TITAN Heav'ns first born


s: With his enormous brood, and birthright seis'd


s: By younger SATURN, he from mightier JOVE


s: His own and RHEA'S Son like measure found;


s: So JOVE usurping reign'd: these first in CREET


s: Thir highest Heav'n; or on the DELPHIAN Cliff,


s: Or in DODONA, and through all the bounds


s: Fled over ADRIA to th' HESPERIAN Fields,


s: And ore the CELTIC roam'd the utmost Isles.


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


s: Down cast and damp, yet such wherein appear'd


s: Obscure som glimps of joy, to have found thir chief


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


s: In loss it self; which on his count'nance cast


s: Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride


s: Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore


s: Semblance of worth not substance, gently rais'd


s: Their fainted courage, and dispel'd their fears.


s: Then strait commands that at the warlike sound


s: Of Trumpets loud and Clarions be upreard


s: His mighty Standard; that proud honour claim'd


s: Who forthwith from the glittering Staff unfurld


s: Th' Imperial Ensign, which full high advanc't


s: Shon like a Meteor streaming to the Wind


s: With Gemms and Golden lustre rich imblaz'd,


s: Seraphic arms and Trophies: all the while


s: A shout that tore Hells Concave, and beyond


s: Frighted the Reign of CHAOS and old Night.


s: All in a moment through the gloom were seen


s: With Orient Colours waving: with them rose


s: A Forrest huge of Spears: and thronging Helms


s: Appear'd, and serried Shields in thick array


s: Of Flutes and soft Recorders; such as rais'd


s: Deliberate valour breath'd, firm and unmov'd


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


s: With solemn touches, troubl'd thoughts, and chase


s: Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain


s: From mortal or immortal minds.  Thus they


s: Breathing united force with fixed thought


s: Mov'd on in silence to soft Pipes that charm'd


s: Thir painful steps o're the burnt soyle; and now


s: Advanc't in view they stand, a horrid Front


s: Of dreadful length and dazling Arms, in guise


s: Of Warriers old with order'd Spear and Shield,


s: Had to impose: He through the armed Files


s: Darts his experienc't eye, and soon traverse


s: The whole Battalion views, thir order due,


s: Thir number last he summs.  And now his heart


s: Distends with pride, and hardning in his strength


s: Met such imbodied force, as nam'd with these


s: Could merit more then that small infantry


s: Warr'd on by Cranes: though all the Giant brood


s: Of PHLEGRA with th' Heroic Race were joyn'd


s: That fought at THEB'S and ILIUM, on each side


s: Mixt with auxiliar Gods; and what resounds


s: Begirt with BRITISH and ARMORIC Knights;


s: When CHARLEMAIN with all his Peerage fell


s: Stood like a Towr; his form had yet not lost


s: All her Original brightness, nor appear'd


s: Less then Arch Angel ruind, and th' excess


s: Of Glory obscur'd: As when the Sun new ris'n


s: Shorn of his Beams, or from behind the Moon


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


s: Perplexes Monarchs.  Dark'n'd so, yet shon


s: Above them all th' Arch Angel: but his face


s: Deep scars of Thunder had intrencht, and care


s: Sat on his faded cheek, but under Browes


s: Of dauntless courage, and considerate Pride


s: Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast


s: The fellows of his crime, the followers rather


s: (Far other once beheld in bliss) condemn'd


s: Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc't


s: Of Heav'n, and from Eternal Splendors flung


s: For his revolt, yet faithfull how they stood,


s: Thir Glory witherd.  As when Heavens Fire


s: Hath scath'd the Forrest Oaks, or Mountain Pines,


s: With singed top their stately growth though bare


s: Stands on the blasted Heath.  He now prepar'd


s: To speak; whereat their doubl'd Ranks they bend


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


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


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


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


s: Words interwove with sighs found out their way.


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


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


s: As this place testifies, and this dire change


s: Hateful to utter: but what power of mind


s: Of knowledge past or present, could have fear'd,


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


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


s: That all these puissant Legions, whose exile


s: Hath emptied Heav'n, shall faile to re-ascend


s: Self-rais'd, and repossess their native seat.


s: For me, be witness all the Host of Heav'n,


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


s: Monarch in Heav'n, till then as one secure


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


s: Put forth at full, but still his strength conceal'd,


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


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


s: New warr, provok't; our better part remains


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


s: What force effected not: that he no less


s: At length from us may find, who overcomes


s: By force, hath overcome but half his foe.


s: Space may produce new Worlds; whereof so rife


s: There went a fame in Heav'n that he ere long


s: Should favour equal to the Sons of Heaven:


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


s: Our first eruption, thither or elsewhere:


s: Long under darkness cover.  But these thoughts


s: Full Counsel must mature: Peace is despaird,


s: For who can think Submission?  Warr then, Warr


s: He spake: and to confirm his words, out-flew


s: Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs


s: Far round illumin'd hell: highly they rag'd


s: Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arm's


s: Clash'd on their sounding shields the din of war,


s: Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heav'n.


s: There stood a Hill not far whose griesly top


s: Belch'd fire and rowling smoak; the rest entire


s: Shon with a glossie scurff, undoubted sign


s: The work of Sulphur.  Thither wing'd with speed


s: A numerous Brigad hasten'd.  As when bands


s: Forerun the Royal Camp, to trench a Field,


s: MAMMON, the least erected Spirit that fell


s: From heav'n, for ev'n in heav'n his looks & thoughts


s: Were always downward bent, admiring more


s: The riches of Heav'ns pavement, trod'n Gold,


s: Ransack'd the Center, and with impious hands


s: For Treasures better hid.  Soon had his crew


s: And dig'd out ribs of Gold.  Let none admire


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


s: Deserve the pretious bane.  And here let those


s: Who boast in mortal things, and wondring tell


s: Of BABEL, and the works of MEMPHIAN Kings,


s: Learn how thir greatest Monuments of Fame,


s: What in an age they with incessant toyle


s: Nigh on the Plain in many cells prepar'd,


s: That underneath had veins of liquid fire


s: Sluc'd from the Lake, a second multitude


s: With wondrous Art founded the massie Ore,


s: Severing each kinde, and scum'd the Bullion dross:


s: A third as soon had form'd within the ground


s: A various mould, and from the boyling cells


s: By strange conveyance fill'd each hollow nook,


s: To many a row of Pipes the sound-board breaths.


s: Built like a Temple, where PILASTERS round


s: With Golden Architrave; nor did there want


s: Cornice or Freeze, with bossy Sculptures grav'n,


s: The Roof was fretted Gold.  Not BABILON,


s: Equal'd in all thir glories, to inshrine


s: In wealth and luxurie.  Th' ascending pile


s: Stood fixt her stately highth, and strait the dores


s: Op'ning thir brazen foulds discover wide


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


s: And level pavement: from the arched roof


s: Of Starry Lamps and blazing Cressets fed


s: With Naphtha and ASPHALTUS yeilded light


s: Admiring enter'd, and the work some praise


s: And some the Architect: his hand was known


s: In Heav'n by many a Towred structure high,


s: Where Scepter'd Angels held thir residence,


s: And sat as Princes, whom the supreme King


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


s: Each in his Herarchie, the Orders bright.


s: Men call'd him MULCIBER; and how he fell


s: From Heav'n, they fabl'd, thrown by angry JOVE


s: Sheer o're the Chrystal Battlements: from Morn


s: Dropt from the Zenith like a falling Star,


s: On LEMNOS th' AEGAEAN Ile: thus they relate,


s: Erring; for he with this rebellious rout


s: Fell long before; nor aught avail'd him now


s: To have built in Heav'n high Towrs; nor did he scape


s: By all his Engins, but was headlong sent


s: With his industrious crew to build in hell.


s: Mean while the winged Haralds by command


s: And Trumpets sound throughout the Host proclaim


s: Of Satan and his Peers: thir summons call'd


s: By place or choice the worthiest; they anon


s: With hundreds and with thousands trooping came


s: Attended: all access was throng'd, the Gates


s: And Porches wide, but chief the spacious Hall


s: (Though like a cover'd field, where Champions bold


s: Wont ride in arm'd, and at the Soldans chair


s: Thick swarm'd, both on the ground and in the air,


s: Brusht with the hiss of russling wings.  As Bees


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


s: Poure forth thir populous youth about the Hive


s: In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers


s: Flie to and fro, or on the smoothed Plank,


s: The suburb of thir Straw-built Cittadel,


s: New rub'd with Baume, expatiate and confer


s: Thir State affairs.  So thick the aerie crowd


s: Swarm'd and were straitn'd; till the Signal giv'n,


s: Now less then smallest Dwarfs, in narrow room


s: Throng numberless, like that Pigmean Race


s: Beyond the INDIAN Mount, or Faerie Elves,


s: Whose midnight Revels, by a Forrest side


s: Or dreams he sees, while over head the Moon


s: Wheels her pale course, they on thir mirth & dance


s: Intent, with jocond Music charm his ear;


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


s: Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms


s: Reduc'd thir shapes immense, and were at large,


s: Though without number still amidst the Hall


s: And in thir own dimensions like themselves


s: Frequent and full.  After short silence then


s: And summons read, the great consult began.


s: High on a Throne of Royal State, which far


s: Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand


s: Showrs on her Kings BARBARIC Pearl & Gold,


s: Vain Warr with Heav'n, and by success untaught


s: Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heav'n,


s: For since no deep within her gulf can hold


s: Immortal vigor, though opprest and fall'n,


s: I give not Heav'n for lost.  From this descent


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


s: And trust themselves to fear no second fate:


s: Mee though just right, and the fixt Laws of Heav'n


s: Did first create your Leader, next, free choice,


s: With what besides, in Counsel or in Fight,


s: Hath bin achievd of merit, yet this loss


s: Thus farr at least recover'd, hath much more


s: Yeilded with full consent.  The happier state


s: In Heav'n, which follows dignity, might draw


s: Will envy whom the highest place exposes


s: Formost to stand against the Thunderers aime


s: Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share


s: Of endless pain? where there is then no good


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


s: From Faction; for none sure will claim in hell


s: Precedence, none, whose portion is so small


s: Of present pain, that with ambitious mind


s: Will covet more.  With this advantage then


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


s: More then can be in Heav'n, we now return


s: Could have assur'd us; and by what best way,


s: We now debate; who can advise, may speak.


s: He ceas'd, and next him MOLOC, Scepter'd King


s: Stood up, the strongest and the fiercest Spirit


s: That fought in Heav'n; now fiercer by despair:


s: His trust was with th' Eternal to be deem'd


s: Equal in strength, and rather then be less


s: Car'd not to be at all; with that care lost


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


s: He reckd not, and these words thereafter spake.


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


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


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


s: Millions that stand in Arms, and longing wait


s: Heav'ns fugitives, and for thir dwelling place


s: Accept this dark opprobrious Den of shame,


s: Arm'd with Hell flames and fury all at once


s: O're Heav'ns high Towrs to force resistless way,


s: Against the Torturer; when to meet the noise


s: Black fire and horror shot with equal rage


s: Among his Angels; and his Throne it self


s: Mixt with TARTAREAN Sulphur, and strange fire,


s: The way seems difficult and steep to scale


s: Let such bethink them, if the sleepy drench


s: Of that forgetful Lake benumme not still,


s: When the fierce Foe hung on our brok'n Rear


s: Insulting, and pursu'd us through the Deep,


s: With what compulsion and laborious flight


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


s: Th' event is fear'd; should we again provoke


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


s: Fear to be worse destroy'd: what can be worse


s: Then to dwell here, driv'n out from bliss, condemn'd


s: The Vassals of his anger, when the Scourge


s: Calls us to Penance?  More destroy'd then thus


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


s: His utmost ire? which to the highth enrag'd,


s: Will either quite consume us, and reduce


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


s: Our power sufficient to disturb his Heav'n,


s: He ended frowning, and his look denounc'd


s: To less then Gods.  On th' other side up rose


s: BELIAL, in act more graceful and humane;


s: A fairer person lost not Heav'n; he seemd


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


s: Dropt Manna, and could make the worse appear


s: Maturest Counsels: for his thoughts were low;


s: To vice industrious, but to Nobler deeds


s: Timorous and slothful: yet he pleas'd the eare,


s: I should be much for open Warr, O Peers,


s: As not behind in hate; if what was urg'd


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


s: Ominous conjecture on the whole success:


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


s: Mistrustful, grounds his courage on despair


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


s: First, what Revenge? the Towrs of Heav'n are fill'd


s: With Armed watch, that render all access


s: Encamp thir Legions, or with obscure wing


s: Scout farr and wide into the Realm of night,


s: Scorning surprize.  Or could we break our way


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


s: Heav'ns purest Light, yet our great Enemie


s: Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire


s: Victorious.  Thus repuls'd, our final hope


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


s: And that must end us, that must be our cure,


s: To be no more; sad cure; for who would loose,


s: Though full of pain, this intellectual being,


s: Those thoughts that wander through Eternity,


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


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


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


s: To punish endless? wherefore cease we then?


s: Say they who counsel Warr, we are decreed,


s: Whatever doing, what can we suffer more,


s: What can we suffer worse? is this then worst,


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


s: What when we fled amain, pursu'd and strook


s: With Heav'ns afflicting Thunder, and besought


s: The Deep to shelter us? this Hell then seem'd


s: A refuge from those wounds: or when we lay


s: Chain'd on the burning Lake? that sure was worse.


s: What if the breath that kindl'd those grim fires


s: Awak'd should blow them into sevenfold rage


s: And plunge us in the Flames? or from above


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


s: Her stores were op'n'd, and this Firmament


s: Of Hell should spout her Cataracts of Fire,


s: Impendent horrors, threatning hideous fall


s: One day upon our heads; while we perhaps


s: Caught in a fierie Tempest shall be hurl'd


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


s: Under yon boyling Ocean, wrapt in Chains;


s: There to converse with everlasting groans,


s: Ages of hopeless end; this would be worse.


s: Warr therefore, open or conceal'd, alike


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


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


s: Views all things at one view? he from heav'ns highth


s: All these our motions vain, sees and derides;


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


s: Shall we then live thus vile, the race of Heav'n


s: Thus trampl'd, thus expell'd to suffer here


s: Chains & these Torments? better these then worse


s: The Victors will.  To suffer, as to doe,


s: Our strength is equal, nor the Law unjust


s: That so ordains: this was at first resolv'd,


s: Contending, and so doubtful what might fall.


s: I laugh, when those who at the Spear are bold


s: And vent'rous, if that fail them, shrink and fear


s: What yet they know must follow, to endure


s: The sentence of thir Conquerour: This is now


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


s: His anger, and perhaps thus farr remov'd


s: With what is punish't; whence these raging fires


s: Will slack'n, if his breath stir not thir flames.


s: Thir noxious vapour, or enur'd not feel,


s: Or chang'd at length, and to the place conformd


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


s: This horror will grow milde, this darkness light,


s: Besides what hope the never-ending flight


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


s: Worth waiting, since our present lot appeers


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


s: If we procure not to our selves more woe.


s: Thus BELIAL with words cloath'd in reasons garb


s: Counsel'd ignoble ease, and peaceful sloath,


s: Not peace: and after him thus MAMMON spake.


s: Either to disinthrone the King of Heav'n


s: Our own right lost: him to unthrone we then


s: May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yeild


s: To fickle Chance, and CHAOS judge the strife:


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


s: Within Heav'ns bound, unless Heav'ns Lord supream


s: And publish Grace to all, on promise made


s: Of new Subjection; with what eyes could we


s: Stand in his presence humble, and receive


s: Strict Laws impos'd, to celebrate his Throne


s: With warbl'd Hymns, and to his Godhead sing


s: Forc't Halleluiah's; while he Lordly sits


s: Our envied Sovran, and his Altar breathes


s: Our servile offerings.  This must be our task


s: In Heav'n, this our delight; how wearisom


s: To whom we hate.  Let us not then pursue


s: Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, our state


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


s: Live to our selves, though in this vast recess,


s: Free, and to none accountable, preferring


s: Of servile Pomp.  Our greatness will appear


s: Then most conspicuous, when great things of small,


s: Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse


s: We can create, and in what place so e're


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


s: Through labour and endurance.  This deep world


s: Of darkness do we dread?  How oft amidst


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


s: Covers his Throne; from whence deep thunders roar


s: Must'ring thir rage, and Heav'n resembles Hell?


s: Imitate when we please?  This Desart soile


s: Wants not her hidden lustre, Gemms and Gold;


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


s: Magnificence; and what can Heav'n shew more?


s: Become our Elements, these piercing Fires


s: As soft as now severe, our temper chang'd


s: Into their temper; which must needs remove


s: The sensible of pain.  All things invite


s: To peaceful Counsels, and the settl'd State


s: Of what we are and where, dismissing quite


s: All thoughts of Warr: ye have what I advise.


s: He scarce had finisht, when such murmur filld


s: Th' Assembly, as when hollow Rocks retain


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


s: Had rous'd the Sea, now with hoarse cadence lull


s: Sea-faring men orewatcht, whose Bark by chance


s: After the Tempest: Such applause was heard


s: As MAMMON ended, and his Sentence pleas'd,


s: They dreaded worse then Hell: so much the fear


s: Wrought still within them; and no less desire


s: To found this nether Empire, which might rise


s: Which when BEELZEBUB perceiv'd, then whom,


s: SATAN except, none higher sat, with grave


s: Aspect he rose, and in his rising seem'd


s: A Pillar of State; deep on his Front engraven


s: And Princely counsel in his face yet shon,


s: The weight of mightiest Monarchies; his look


s: Drew audience and attention still as Night


s: Or Summers Noon-tide air, while thus he spake.


s: Thrones and imperial Powers, off-spring of heav'n,


s: Must we renounce, and changing stile be call'd


s: Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote


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


s: A growing Empire; doubtless; while we dream,


s: And know not that the King of Heav'n hath doom'd


s: This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat


s: From Heav'ns high jurisdiction, in new League


s: Banded against his Throne, but to remaine


s: In strictest bondage, though thus far remov'd,


s: In highth or depth, still first and last will Reign


s: Sole King, and of his Kingdom loose no part


s: Us here, as with his Golden those in Heav'n.


s: What sit we then projecting Peace and Warr?


s: Warr hath determin'd us, and foild with loss


s: Voutsaf't or sought; for what peace will be giv'n


s: Inflicted? and what peace can we return,


s: Untam'd reluctance, and revenge though slow,


s: Yet ever plotting how the Conquerour least


s: May reap his conquest, and may least rejoyce


s: In doing what we most in suffering feel?


s: Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need


s: Heav'n, whose high walls fear no assault or Siege,


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


s: Some easier enterprize?  There is a place


s: (If ancient and prophetic fame in Heav'n


s: Of som new Race call'd MAN, about this time


s: In power and excellence, but favour'd more


s: Pronounc'd among the Gods, and by an Oath,


s: That shook Heav'ns whol circumference, confirm'd.


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


s: What creatures there inhabit, of what mould,


s: Or substance, how endu'd, and what thir Power,


s: And where thir weakness, how attempted best,


s: By force or suttlety: Though Heav'n be shut,


s: In his own strength, this place may lye expos'd


s: To their defence who hold it: here perhaps


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


s: May prove thir foe, and with repenting hand


s: Abolish his own works.  This would surpass


s: In his disturbance; when his darling Sons


s: Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse


s: Pleaded his devilish Counsel, first devis'd


s: By SATAN, and in part propos'd: for whence,


s: But from the Author of all ill could Spring


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


s: To mingle and involve, done all to spite


s: The great Creatour?  But thir spite still serves


s: Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy


s: Sparkl'd in all thir eyes; with full assent


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


s: Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate,


s: Great things resolv'd; which from the lowest deep


s: Will once more lift us up, in spight of Fate,


s: Neerer our ancient Seat; perhaps in view


s: Of those bright confines, whence with neighbouring Arms


s: Re-enter Heav'n; or else in some milde Zone


s: Dwell not unvisited of Heav'ns fair Light


s: Secure, and at the brightning Orient beam


s: Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious Air,


s: To heal the scarr of these corrosive Fires


s: Shall breath her balme.  But first whom shall we send


s: In search of this new world, whom shall we find


s: Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandring feet


s: And through the palpable obscure find out


s: His uncouth way, or spread his aerie flight


s: The happy Ile; what strength, what art can then


s: Through the strict Senteries and Stations thick


s: Of Angels watching round?  Here he had need


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


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


s: His look suspence, awaiting who appeer'd


s: Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; & each


s: In others count'nance red his own dismay


s: Astonisht: none among the choice and prime


s: Of those Heav'n-warring Champions could be found


s: SATAN, whom now transcendent glory rais'd


s: Conscious of highest worth, unmov'd thus spake.


s: With reason hath deep silence and demurr


s: Seis'd us, though undismaid: long is the way


s: And hard, that out of Hell leads up to Light;


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


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


s: Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being


s: Threatens him, plung'd in that abortive gulf.


s: If thence he scape into what ever world,


s: Or unknown Region, what remains him less


s: Then unknown dangers and as hard escape.


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


s: With splendor, arm'd with power, if aught propos'd


s: And judg'd of public moment, in the shape


s: Me from attempting.  Wherefore do I assume


s: These Royalties, and not refuse to Reign,


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


s: High honourd sits?  Go therfore mighty powers,


s: Terror of Heav'n, though fall'n; intend at home,


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


s: More tollerable; if there be cure or charm


s: To respite or deceive, or slack the pain


s: Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek


s: None shall partake with me.  Thus saying rose


s: Prudent, least from his resolution rais'd


s: (Certain to be refus'd) what erst they feard;


s: His rivals, winning cheap the high repute


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


s: Dreaded not more th' adventure then his voice


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


s: Thir rising all at once was as the sound


s: Of Thunder heard remote.  Towards him they bend


s: With awful reverence prone; and as a God


s: Extoll him equal to the highest in Heav'n:


s: Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd,


s: His own: for neither do the Spirits damn'd


s: Loose all thir vertue; least bad men should boast


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


s: Or close ambition varnisht o're with zeal.


s: Thus they thir doubtful consultations dark


s: Ended rejoycing in thir matchless Chief:


s: As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds


s: Ascending, while the North wind sleeps, o'respread


s: Heav'ns chearful face, the lowring Element


s: Scowls ore the dark'nd lantskip Snow, or showre;


s: If chance the radiant Sun with farewell sweet


s: Extend his ev'ning beam, the fields revive,


s: The birds thir notes renew, and bleating herds


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


s: O shame to men!  Devil with Devil damn'd


s: Of Creatures rational, though under hope


s: Of heavenly Grace: and God proclaiming peace,


s: Among themselves, and levie cruel warres,


s: Wasting the Earth, each other to destroy:


s: That day and night for his destruction waite.


s: The STYGIAN Councel thus dissolv'd; and forth


s: Midst came thir mighty Paramount, and seemd


s: Alone th' Antagonist of Heav'n, nor less


s: Then Hells dread Emperour with pomp Supream,


s: With bright imblazonrie, and horrent Arms.


s: With Trumpets regal sound the great result:


s: Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim


s: Put to thir mouths the sounding Alchymie


s: By Haralds voice explain'd: the hollow Abyss


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


s: With deafning shout, return'd them loud acclaim.


s: Thence more at ease thir minds and somwhat rais'd


s: By false presumptuous hope, the ranged powers


s: Disband, and wandring, each his several way


s: Leads him perplext, where he may likeliest find


s: Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain


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


s: Part on the Plain, or in the Air sublime


s: Upon the wing, or in swift race contend,


s: As at th' Olympian Games or PYTHIAN fields;


s: Part curb thir fierie Steeds, or shun the Goal


s: With rapid wheels, or fronted Brigads form.


s: As when to warn proud Cities warr appears


s: Wag'd in the troubl'd Skie, and Armies rush


s: To Battel in the Clouds, before each Van


s: Pric forth the Aerie Knights, and couch thir spears


s: Till thickest Legions close; with feats of Arms


s: From either end of Heav'n the welkin burns.


s: Others with vast TYPHOEAN rage more fell


s: Rend up both Rocks and Hills, and ride the Air


s: In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wilde uproar.


s: With conquest, felt th' envenom'd robe, and tore


s: Through pain up by the roots THESSALIAN Pines,


s: Into th' EUBOIC Sea.  Others more milde,


s: By doom of Battel; and complain that Fate


s: Free Vertue should enthrall to Force or Chance.


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


s: Suspended Hell, and took with ravishment


s: The thronging audience.  In discourse more sweet


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


s: In thoughts more elevate, and reason'd high


s: Fixt Fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute,


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


s: Passion and Apathie, and glory and shame,


s: Yet with a pleasing sorcerie could charm


s: Fallacious hope, or arm th' obdured brest


s: With stubborn patience as with triple steel.


s: Another part in Squadrons and gross Bands,


s: Might yeild them easier habitation, bend


s: Four ways thir flying March, along the Banks


s: Into the burning Lake thir baleful streams;


s: Heard on the ruful stream; fierce PHLEGETON


s: Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage.


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


s: Her watrie Labyrinth, whereof who drinks,


s: Forthwith his former state and being forgets,


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


s: Lies dark and wilde, beat with perpetual storms


s: Of Whirlwind and dire Hail, which on firm land


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


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


s: Where Armies whole have sunk: the parching Air


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


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


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


s: From Beds of raging Fire to starve in Ice


s: Thir soft Ethereal warmth, and there to pine


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


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


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


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


s: In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe,


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


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


s: The Ford, and of it self the water flies


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


s: In confus'd march forlorn, th' adventrous Bands


s: With shuddring horror pale, and eyes agast


s: View'd first thir lamentable lot, and found


s: No rest: through many a dark and drearie Vaile


s: They pass'd, and many a Region dolorous,


s: Rocks, Caves, Lakes, Fens, Bogs, Dens, and shades of death,


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


s: Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things,


s: Then Fables yet have feign'd, or fear conceiv'd,


s: Mean while the Adversary of God and Man,


s: SATAN with thoughts inflam'd of highest design,


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


s: He scours the right hand coast, som times the left,


s: Now shaves with level wing the Deep, then soares


s: As when farr off at Sea a Fleet descri'd


s: Hangs in the Clouds, by AEQUINOCTIAL Winds


s: Of TERNATE and TIDORE, whence Merchants bring


s: Thir spicie Drugs: they on the trading Flood


s: Ply stemming nightly toward the Pole.  So seem'd


s: Farr off the flying Fiend: at last appeer


s: Hell bounds high reaching to the horrid Roof,


s: And thrice threefold the Gates; three folds were Brass


s: Impenitrable, impal'd with circling fire,


s: Yet unconsum'd.  Before the Gates there sat


s: The one seem'd Woman to the waste, and fair,


s: With mortal sting: about her middle round


s: A cry of Hell Hounds never ceasing bark'd


s: With wide CERBEREAN mouths full loud, and rung


s: A hideous Peal: yet, when they list, would creep,


s: If aught disturb'd thir noyse, into her woomb,


s: And kennel there, yet there still bark'd and howl'd


s: Within unseen.  Farr less abhorrd then these


s: Vex'd SCYLLA bathing in the Sea that parts


s: CALABRIA from the hoarce TRINACRIAN shore:


s: Nor uglier follow the Night-Hag, when call'd


s: In secret, riding through the Air she comes


s: Lur'd with the smell of infant blood, to dance


s: With LAPLAND Witches, while the labouring Moon


s: Eclipses at thir charms.  The other shape,


s: If shape it might be call'd that shape had none


s: Distinguishable in member, joynt, or limb,


s: Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd,


s: For each seem'd either; black it stood as Night,


s: And shook a dreadful Dart; what seem'd his head


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


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


s: Th' undaunted Fiend what this might be admir'd,


s: Admir'd, not fear'd; God and his Son except,


s: Created thing naught vallu'd he nor shun'd;


s: And with disdainful look thus first began.


s: Whence and what art thou, execrable shape,


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


s: To yonder Gates? through them I mean to pass,


s: That be assur'd, without leave askt of thee:


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


s: Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of Heav'n.


s: To whom the Goblin full of wrauth reply'd,


s: Art thou that Traitor Angel, art thou hee,


s: Who first broke peace in Heav'n and Faith, till then


s: Drew after him the third part of Heav'ns Sons


s: Conjur'd against the highest, for which both Thou


s: And they outcast from God, are here condemn'd


s: And reck'n'st thou thy self with Spirits of Heav'n,


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


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


s: Thy King and Lord?  Back to thy punishment,


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


s: Thy lingring, or with one stroke of this Dart


s: Strange horror seise thee, and pangs unfelt before.


s: So spake the grieslie terrour, and in shape,


s: So speaking and so threatning, grew ten fold


s: More dreadful and deform: on th' other side


s: In th' Artick Sky, and from his horrid hair


s: Level'd his deadly aime; thir fatall hands


s: No second stroke intend, and such a frown


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


s: With Heav'ns Artillery fraught, come rattling on


s: Over the CASPIAN, then stand front to front


s: Hov'ring a space, till Winds the signal blow


s: So frownd the mighty Combatants, that Hell


s: Grew darker at thir frown, so matcht they stood;


s: To meet so great a foe: and now great deeds


s: Had been achiev'd, whereof all Hell had rung,


s: Fast by Hell Gate, and kept the fatal Key,


s: Ris'n, and with hideous outcry rush'd between.


s: O Father, what intends thy hand, she cry'd,


s: Against thy Fathers head? and know'st for whom;


s: For him who sits above and laughs the while


s: What e're his wrath, which he calls Justice, bids,


s: His wrath which one day will destroy ye both.


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


s: Forbore, then these to her SATAN return'd:


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


s: Prevented spares to tell thee yet by deeds


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


s: What thing thou art, thus double-form'd, and why


s: In this infernal Vaile first met thou call'st


s: Me Father, and that Fantasm call'st my Son?


s: Sight more detestable then him and thee.


s: T' whom thus the Portress of Hell Gate reply'd;


s: Now in thine eye so foul, once deemd so fair


s: In Heav'n, when at th' Assembly, and in sight


s: In bold conspiracy against Heav'ns King,


s: Surpris'd thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzie swumm


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


s: Threw forth, till on the left side op'ning wide,


s: Likest to thee in shape and count'nance bright,


s: Then shining heav'nly fair, a Goddess arm'd


s: Out of thy head I sprung: amazement seis'd


s: All th' Host of Heav'n; back they recoild affraid


s: At first, and call'd me SIN, and for a Sign


s: I pleas'd, and with attractive graces won


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


s: Thy self in me thy perfect image viewing


s: Becam'st enamour'd, and such joy thou took'st


s: With me in secret, that my womb conceiv'd


s: A growing burden.  Mean while Warr arose,


s: And fields were fought in Heav'n; wherein remaind


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


s: Cleer Victory, to our part loss and rout


s: Through all the Empyrean: down they fell


s: Driv'n headlong from the Pitch of Heaven, down


s: Into my hand was giv'n, with charge to keep


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


s: Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown


s: Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes.


s: At last this odious offspring whom thou seest


s: Thine own begotten, breaking violent way


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


s: Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew


s: Forth issu'd, brandishing his fatal Dart


s: Made to destroy: I fled, and cry'd out DEATH;


s: Hell trembl'd at the hideous Name, and sigh'd


s: From all her Caves, and back resounded DEATH.


s: I fled, but he pursu'd (though more, it seems,


s: Inflam'd with lust then rage) and swifter far,


s: These yelling Monsters that with ceasless cry


s: Surround me, as thou sawst, hourly conceiv'd


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


s: My Bowels, their repast; then bursting forth


s: Afresh with conscious terrours vex me round,


s: Grim DEATH my Son and foe, who sets them on,


s: And me his Parent would full soon devour


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


s: His end with mine involvd; and knows that I


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


s: When ever that shall be; so Fate pronounc'd.


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


s: To be invulnerable in those bright Arms,


s: Though temper'd heav'nly, for that mortal dint,


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


s: She finish'd, and the suttle Fiend his lore


s: Soon learnd, now milder, and thus answerd smooth.


s: Dear Daughter, since thou claim'st me for thy Sire,


s: And my fair Son here showst me, the dear pledge


s: Of dalliance had with thee in Heav'n, and joys


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


s: Befalln us unforeseen, unthought of, know


s: From out this dark and dismal house of pain,


s: Both him and thee, and all the heav'nly Host


s: Of Spirits that in our just pretenses arm'd


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


s: This uncouth errand sole, and one for all


s: My self expose, with lonely steps to tread


s: Th' unfounded deep, & through the void immense


s: To search with wandring quest a place foretold


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


s: Created vast and round, a place of bliss


s: In the Pourlieues of Heav'n, and therein plac't


s: Perhaps our vacant room, though more remov'd,


s: Least Heav'n surcharg'd with potent multitude


s: Might hap to move new broiles: Be this or aught


s: Then this more secret now design'd, I haste


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


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


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


s: With odours; there ye shall be fed and fill'd


s: Immeasurably, all things shall be your prey.


s: He ceas'd, for both seemd highly pleasd, and Death


s: His famine should be fill'd, and blest his mawe


s: Destin'd to that good hour: no less rejoyc'd


s: His mother bad, and thus bespake her Sire.


s: And by command of Heav'ns all-powerful King


s: These Adamantine Gates; against all force


s: Death ready stands to interpose his dart,


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


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


s: Inhabitant of Heav'n, and heav'nlie-born,


s: With terrors and with clamors compasst round


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


s: Thou art my Father, thou my Author, thou


s: But thee, whom follow? thou wilt bring me soon


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


s: The Gods who live at ease, where I shall Reign


s: At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems


s: Thy daughter and thy darling, without end.


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


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


s: And towards the Gate rouling her bestial train,


s: Forthwith the huge Porcullis high up drew,


s: Which but her self not all the STYGIAN powers


s: Could once have mov'd; then in the key-hole turns


s: Th' intricate wards, and every Bolt and Bar


s: With impetuous recoile and jarring sound


s: Th' infernal dores, and on thir hinges great


s: Harsh Thunder, that the lowest bottom shook


s: Excel'd her power; the Gates wide op'n stood,


s: Under spread Ensigns marching might pass through


s: With Horse and Chariots rankt in loose array;


s: So wide they stood, and like a Furnace mouth


s: Cast forth redounding smoak and ruddy flame.


s: Without dimension, where length, breadth, and highth,


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


s: Of endless warrs and by confusion stand.


s: For hot, cold, moist, and dry, four Champions fierce


s: Strive here for Maistrie, and to Battel bring


s: Thir embryon Atoms; they around the flag


s: Of each his faction, in thir several Clanns,


s: Light-arm'd or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift or slow,


s: Levied to side with warring Winds, and poise


s: Thir lighter wings.  To whom these most adhere,


s: By which he Reigns: next him high Arbiter


s: CHANCE governs all.  Into this wilde Abyss,


s: The Womb of nature and perhaps her Grave,


s: Of neither Sea, nor Shore, nor Air, nor Fire,


s: But all these in thir pregnant causes mixt


s: Confus'dly, and which thus must ever fight,


s: His dark materials to create more Worlds,


s: Stood on the brink of Hell and look'd a while,


s: Pondering his Voyage; for no narrow frith


s: He had to cross.  Nor was his eare less peal'd


s: With noises loud and ruinous (to compare


s: Great things with small) then when BELLONA storms,


s: With all her battering Engines bent to rase


s: Som Capital City, or less then if this frame


s: Of Heav'n were falling, and these Elements


s: The stedfast Earth.  At last his Sail-broad Vannes


s: He spreads for flight, and in the surging smoak


s: Uplifted spurns the ground, thence many a League


s: Audacious, but that seat soon failing, meets


s: Fluttring his pennons vain plumb down he drops


s: Ten thousand fadom deep, and to this hour


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


s: The strong rebuff of som tumultuous cloud


s: Instinct with Fire and Nitre hurried him


s: Quencht in a Boggie SYRTIS, neither Sea,


s: Nor good dry Land: nigh founderd on he fares,


s: Treading the crude consistence, half on foot,


s: Half flying; behoves him now both Oare and Saile.


s: With winged course ore Hill or moarie Dale,


s: Ore bog or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare,


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


s: And swims or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flyes:


s: Of stunning sounds and voices all confus'd


s: Born through the hollow dark assaults his eare


s: With loudest vehemence: thither he plyes,


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


s: Which way the neerest coast of darkness lyes


s: Bordering on light; when strait behold the Throne


s: Wide on the wasteful Deep; with him Enthron'd


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


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


s: And Discord with a thousand various mouths.


s: T' whom SATAN turning boldly, thus.  Ye Powers


s: CHAOS and ANCIENT NIGHT, I come no Spie,


s: The secrets of your Realm, but by constraint


s: Wandring this darksome desart, as my way


s: Lies through your spacious Empire up to light,


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


s: What readiest path leads where your gloomie bounds


s: Confine with Heav'n; or if som other place


s: From your Dominion won, th' Ethereal King


s: I travel this profound, direct my course;


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


s: Erect the Standerd there of ANCIENT NIGHT;


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


s: With faultring speech and visage incompos'd


s: Answer'd.  I know thee, stranger, who thou art,


s: Made head against Heav'ns King, though overthrown.


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


s: Fled not in silence through the frighted deep


s: Confusion worse confounded; and Heav'n Gates


s: Pourd out by millions her victorious Bands


s: Keep residence; if all I can will serve,


s: Encroacht on still through our intestine broiles


s: Weakning the Scepter of old Night: first Hell


s: Your dungeon stretching far and wide beneath;


s: Now lately Heaven and Earth, another World


s: Hung ore my Realm, link'd in a golden Chain


s: To that side Heav'n from whence your Legions fell:


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


s: So much the neerer danger; goe and speed;


s: He ceas'd; and SATAN staid not to reply,


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


s: Into the wilde expanse, and through the shock


s: Of fighting Elements, on all sides round


s: And more endanger'd, then when ARGO pass'd


s: Through BOSPORUS betwixt the justling Rocks:


s: CHARYBDIS, and by th' other whirlpool steard.


s: Mov'd on, with difficulty and labour hee;


s: But hee once past, soon after when man fell,


s: Strange alteration!  Sin and Death amain


s: Following his track, such was the will of Heav'n,


s: Tamely endur'd a Bridge of wondrous length


s: From Hell continu'd reaching th' utmost Orbe


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


s: God and good Angels guard by special grace.


s: Of light appears, and from the walls of Heav'n


s: A glimmering dawn; here Nature first begins


s: With tumult less and with less hostile din,


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


s: Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light


s: Gladly the Port, though Shrouds and Tackle torn;


s: Or in the emptier waste, resembling Air,


s: Weighs his spread wings, at leasure to behold


s: Farr off th' Empyreal Heav'n, extended wide


s: In circuit, undetermind square or round,


s: Of living Saphire, once his native Seat;


s: This pendant world, in bigness as a Starr


s: Of smallest Magnitude close by the Moon.


s: Thither full fraught with mischievous revenge,


s: HAil holy light, ofspring of Heav'n first-born,


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


s: Dwelt from Eternitie, dwelt then in thee,


s: Bright effluence of bright essence increate.


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


s: Whose Fountain who shall tell? before the Sun,


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


s: The rising world of waters dark and deep,


s: Won from the void and formless infinite.


s: Escap't the STYGIAN Pool, though long detain'd


s: In that obscure sojourn, while in my flight


s: Through utter and through middle darkness borne


s: With other notes then to th' ORPHEAN Lyre


s: Taught by the heav'nly Muse to venture down


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


s: And feel thy sovran vital Lamp; but thou


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


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


s: So thick a drop serene hath quencht thir Orbs,


s: Or dim suffusion veild.  Yet not the more


s: Cleer Spring, or shadie Grove, or Sunnie Hill,


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


s: Thee SION and the flowrie Brooks beneath


s: That wash thy hallowd feet, and warbling flow,


s: Those other two equal'd with me in Fate,


s: Then feed on thoughts, that voluntarie move


s: Sings darkling, and in shadiest Covert hid


s: Tunes her nocturnal Note.  Thus with the Year


s: Day, or the sweet approach of Ev'n or Morn,


s: Or sight of vernal bloom, or Summers Rose,


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


s: But cloud in stead, and ever-during dark


s: Surrounds me, from the chearful waies of men


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


s: Of Natures works to mee expung'd and ras'd,


s: And wisdome at one entrance quite shut out.


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


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


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


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


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


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


s: Our two first Parents, yet the onely two


s: Of mankind, in the happie Garden plac't,


s: Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love,


s: Hell and the Gulf between, and SATAN there


s: Coasting the wall of Heav'n on this side Night


s: To stoop with wearied wings, and willing feet


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


s: Him God beholding from his prospect high,


s: Wherein past, present, future he beholds,


s: Onely begotten Son, seest thou what rage


s: Transports our adversarie, whom no bounds


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


s: Heapt on him there, nor yet the main Abyss


s: Wide interrupt can hold; so bent he seems


s: Through all restraint broke loose he wings his way


s: Not farr off Heav'n, in the Precincts of light,


s: And Man there plac't, with purpose to assay


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


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


s: For man will heark'n to his glozing lyes,


s: Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fall


s: Hee and his faithless Progenie: whose fault?


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


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


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


s: And Spirits, both them who stood & them who faild;


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


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


s: Of true allegiance, constant Faith or Love,


s: Where onely what they needs must do, appeard,


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


s: What pleasure I from such obedience paid,


s: When Will and Reason (Reason also is choice)


s: Useless and vain, of freedom both despoild,


s: Made passive both, had servd necessitie,


s: Not mee.  They therefore as to right belongd,


s: Thir maker, or thir making, or thir Fate;


s: Or high foreknowledge; they themselves decreed


s: Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault,


s: Which had no less prov'd certain unforeknown.


s: So without least impulse or shadow of Fate,


s: They trespass, Authors to themselves in all


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


s: I formd them free, and free they must remain,


s: Till they enthrall themselves: I else must change


s: Thir freedom, they themselves ordain'd thir fall.


s: The first sort by thir own suggestion fell,


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


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


s: The other none: in Mercy and Justice both,


s: Through Heav'n and Earth, so shall my glorie excel,


s: But Mercy first and last shall brightest shine.


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


s: All Heav'n, and in the blessed Spirits elect


s: Most glorious, in him all his Father shon


s: Substantially express'd, and in his face


s: Love without end, and without measure Grace,


s: Which uttering thus he to his Father spake.


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


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


s: For which both Heav'n and Earth shall high extoll


s: Of Hymns and sacred Songs, wherewith thy Throne


s: Encompass'd shall resound thee ever blest.


s: For should Man finally be lost, should Man


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


s: Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though joynd


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


s: That farr be from thee, Father, who art Judge


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


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


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


s: Or proud return though to his heavier doom,


s: Yet with revenge accomplish't and to Hell


s: Draw after him the whole Race of mankind,


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


s: So should thy goodness and thy greatness both


s: Be questiond and blaspheam'd without defence.


s: To whom the great Creatour thus reply'd.


s: O Son, in whom my Soul hath chief delight,


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


s: All hast thou spok'n as my thoughts are, all


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


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


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


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


s: All his deliv'rance, and to none but me.


s: The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warnd


s: Thir sinful state, and to appease betimes


s: Invites; for I will cleer thir senses dark,


s: What may suffice, and soft'n stonie hearts


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


s: To prayer, repentance, and obedience due,


s: Though but endevord with sincere intent,


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


s: My Umpire CONSCIENCE, whom if they will hear,


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


s: This my long sufferance and my day of grace


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


s: But hard be hard'nd, blind be blinded more,


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


s: To expiate his Treason hath naught left,


s: The rigid satisfaction, death for death.


s: Say Heav'nly Powers, where shall we find such love,


s: Mans mortal crime, and just th' unjust to save,


s: He ask'd, but all the Heav'nly Quire stood mute,


s: And silence was in Heav'n: on mans behalf


s: Much less that durst upon his own head draw


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


s: In whom the fulness dwels of love divine,


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


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


s: Comes unprevented, unimplor'd, unsought,


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


s: Attonement for himself or offering meet,


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


s: Account mee man; I for his sake will leave


s: Well pleas'd, on me let Death wreck all his rage;


s: Under his gloomie power I shall not long


s: Lie vanquisht; thou hast givn me to possess


s: Life in my self for ever, by thee I live,


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


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


s: Thou wilt not leave me in the loathsom grave


s: For ever with corruption there to dwell;


s: My Vanquisher, spoild of his vanted spoile;


s: Death his deaths wound shall then receive, & stoop


s: Inglorious, of his mortall sting disarm'd.


s: Shall lead Hell Captive maugre Hell, and show


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


s: Pleas'd, out of Heaven shalt look down and smile,


s: While by thee rais'd I ruin all my Foes,


s: Death last, and with his Carcass glut the Grave:


s: Shall enter Heaven long absent, and returne,


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


s: Of anger shall remain, but peace assur'd,


s: And reconcilement; wrauth shall be no more


s: Thenceforth, but in thy presence Joy entire.


s: His words here ended, but his meek aspect


s: Silent yet spake, and breath'd immortal love


s: All Heav'n, what this might mean, & whither tend


s: Wondring; but soon th' Almighty thus reply'd:


s: O thou in Heav'n and Earth the only peace


s: Found out for mankind under wrauth, O thou


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


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


s: Though last created, that for him I spare


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


s: By loosing thee a while, the whole Race lost.


s: Thou therefore whom thou only canst redeeme,


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


s: By wondrous birth: Be thou in ADAMS room


s: The Head of all mankind, though ADAMS Son.


s: As from a second root shall be restor'd,


s: As many as are restor'd, without thee none.


s: His crime makes guiltie all his Sons, thy merit


s: Thir own both righteous and unrighteous deeds,


s: And live in thee transplanted, and from thee


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


s: Shall satisfie for Man, be judg'd and die,


s: And dying rise, and rising with him raise


s: His Brethren, ransomd with his own dear life.


s: So Heav'nly love shal outdoo Hellish hate,


s: So easily destroy'd, and still destroyes


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


s: Mans Nature, less'n or degrade thine owne.


s: Because thou hast, though Thron'd in highest bliss


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


s: By Merit more then Birthright Son of God,


s: Farr more then Great or High; because in thee


s: Love hath abounded more then Glory abounds,


s: With thee thy Manhood also to this Throne;


s: Here shalt thou sit incarnate, here shalt Reigne


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


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


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


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


s: When thou attended gloriously from Heav'n


s: Shalt in the Skie appeer, and from thee send


s: Thy dread Tribunal: forthwith from all Windes


s: The living, and forthwith the cited dead


s: Shall hast'n, such a peal shall rouse thir sleep.


s: Then all thy Saints assembl'd, thou shalt judge


s: Bad men and Angels, they arraignd shall sink


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


s: Thenceforth shall be for ever shut.  Mean while


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


s: New Heav'n and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell


s: See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds,


s: With Joy and Love triumphing, and fair Truth.


s: Then thou thy regal Scepter shalt lay by,


s: For regal Scepter then no more shall need,


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


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


s: No sooner had th' Almighty ceas't, but all


s: Loud as from numbers without number, sweet


s: As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heav'n rung


s: Towards either Throne they bow, & to the ground


s: Thir Crowns inwove with Amarant and Gold,


s: Began to bloom, but soon for mans offence


s: To Heav'n remov'd where first it grew, there grows,


s: And flours aloft shading the Fount of Life,


s: And where the river of Bliss through midst of Heavn


s: Rowls o're ELISIAN Flours her Amber stream;


s: With these that never fade the Spirits Elect


s: Bind thir resplendent locks inwreath'd with beams,


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


s: Then Crown'd again thir gold'n Harps they took,


s: Harps ever tun'd, that glittering by their side


s: Like Quivers hung, and with Praeamble sweet


s: Thir sacred Song, and waken raptures high;


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


s: Melodious part, such concord is in Heav'n.


s: Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sit'st


s: Thron'd inaccessible, but when thou shad'st


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


s: Drawn round about thee like a radiant Shrine,


s: Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appeer,


s: Yet dazle Heav'n, that brightest Seraphim


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


s: Thee next they sang of all Creation first,


s: In whose conspicuous count'nance, without cloud


s: Made visible, th' Almighty Father shines,


s: Whom else no Creature can behold; on thee


s: Impresst the effulgence of his Glorie abides,


s: Transfus'd on thee his ample Spirit rests.


s: Hee Heav'n of Heavens and all the Powers therein


s: Thy Fathers dreadful Thunder didst not spare,


s: Nor stop thy flaming Chariot wheels, that shook


s: Heav'ns everlasting Frame, while o're the necks


s: Thou drov'st of warring Angels disarraid.


s: Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaime


s: Thee only extold, Son of thy Fathers might,


s: To execute fierce vengeance on his foes,


s: Not so on Man; him through their malice fall'n,


s: Father of Mercie and Grace, thou didst not doome


s: So strictly, but much more to pitie encline:


s: Perceive thee purpos'd not to doom frail Man


s: So strictly, but much more to pitie enclin'd,


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


s: Of Mercy and Justice in thy face discern'd,


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


s: Henceforth, and never shall my Harp thy praise


s: Forget, nor from thy Fathers praise disjoine.


s: Thus they in Heav'n, above the starry Sphear,


s: Thir happie hours in joy and hymning spent.


s: Of this round World, whose first convex divides


s: From CHAOS and th' inroad of Darkness old,


s: It seem'd, now seems a boundless Continent


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


s: Starless expos'd, and ever-threatning storms


s: Of CHAOS blustring round, inclement skie;


s: Save on that side which from the wall of Heav'n


s: Though distant farr som small reflection gaines


s: Of glimmering air less vext with tempest loud:


s: Here walk'd the Fiend at large in spacious field.


s: Whose snowie ridge the roving TARTAR bounds,


s: To gorge the flesh of Lambs or yeanling Kids


s: On Hills where Flocks are fed, flies toward the Springs


s: But in his way lights on the barren plaines


s: With Sails and Wind thir canie Waggons light:


s: So on this windie Sea of Land, the Fiend


s: Walk'd up and down alone bent on his prey,


s: Living or liveless to be found was none,


s: None yet, but store hereafter from the earth


s: Of all things transitorie and vain, when Sin


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


s: Built thir fond hopes of Glorie or lasting fame,


s: All who have thir reward on Earth, the fruits


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


s: All th' unaccomplisht works of Natures hand,


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


s: Not in the neighbouring Moon, as some have dreamd;


s: Those argent Fields more likely habitants,


s: Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold


s: Hither of ill-joynd Sons and Daughters born


s: First from the ancient World those Giants came


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


s: New BABELS, had they wherewithall, would build:


s: White, Black and Grey, with all thir trumperie.


s: Here Pilgrims roam, that stray'd so farr to seek


s: In GOLGOTHA him dead, who lives in Heav'n;


s: Or in FRANCISCAN think to pass disguis'd;


s: They pass the Planets seven, and pass the fixt,


s: And that Crystalline Sphear whose ballance weighs


s: The Trepidation talkt, and that first mov'd;


s: And now Saint PETER at Heav'ns Wicket seems


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


s: Of Heav'ns ascent they lift thir Feet, when loe


s: Blows them transverse ten thousand Leagues awry


s: Cowles, Hoods and Habits with thir wearers tost


s: And flutterd into Raggs, then Reliques, Beads,


s: The sport of Winds: all these upwhirld aloft


s: Fly o're the backside of the World farr off


s: Into a LIMBO large and broad, since calld


s: All this dark Globe the Fiend found as he pass'd,


s: And long he wanderd, till at last a gleame


s: Of dawning light turnd thither-ward in haste


s: His travell'd steps; farr distant hee descries


s: Up to the wall of Heaven a Structure high,


s: At top whereof, but farr more rich appeerd


s: Imbellisht, thick with sparkling orient Gemmes


s: The Stairs were such as whereon JACOB saw


s: Of Guardians bright, when he from ESAU fled


s: And waking cri'd, This is the Gate of Heav'n.


s: Each Stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood


s: There alwaies, but drawn up to Heav'n somtimes


s: Viewless, and underneath a bright Sea flow'd


s: Who after came from Earth, sayling arriv'd,


s: Rapt in a Chariot drawn by fiery Steeds.


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


s: His sad exclusion from the dores of Bliss.


s: Direct against which op'nd from beneath,


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


s: A passage down to th' Earth, a passage wide,


s: Over Mount SION, and, though that were large,


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


s: Pass'd frequent, and his eye with choice regard


s: So wide the op'ning seemd, where bounds were set


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


s: That scal'd by steps of Gold to Heav'n Gate


s: Looks down with wonder at the sudden view


s: Of all this World at once.  As when a Scout


s: Through dark and desart wayes with peril gone


s: All night; at last by break of chearful dawne


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


s: With glistering Spires and Pinnacles adornd,


s: Which now the Rising Sun guilds with his beams.


s: Such wonder seis'd, though after Heaven seen,


s: The Spirit maligne, but much more envy seis'd


s: At sight of all this World beheld so faire.


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


s: Of Nights extended shade; from Eastern Point


s: Of LIBRA to the fleecie Starr that bears


s: Beyond th' HORIZON; then from Pole to Pole


s: He views in bredth, and without longer pause


s: Down right into the Worlds first Region throws


s: His flight precipitant, and windes with ease


s: Through the pure marble Air his oblique way


s: Stars distant, but nigh hand seemd other Worlds,


s: Or other Worlds they seemd, or happy Iles,


s: Like those HESPERIAN Gardens fam'd of old,


s: Fortunate Fields, and Groves and flourie Vales,


s: Thrice happy Iles, but who dwelt happy there


s: The golden Sun in splendor likest Heaven


s: Allur'd his eye: Thither his course he bends


s: Through the calm Firmament; but up or downe


s: That from his Lordly eye keep distance due,


s: Dispenses Light from farr; they as they move


s: Thir Starry dance in numbers that compute


s: Days, months, and years, towards his all-chearing Lamp


s: Turn swift their various motions, or are turnd


s: Shoots invisible vertue even to the deep:


s: So wondrously was set his Station bright.


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


s: Through his glaz'd Optic Tube yet never saw.


s: The place he found beyond expression bright,


s: Compar'd with aught on Earth, Medal or Stone;


s: Not all parts like, but all alike informd


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


s: If mettal, part seemd Gold, part Silver cleer;


s: In AARONS Brest-plate, and a stone besides


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


s: Philosophers in vain so long have sought,


s: In vain, though by thir powerful Art they binde


s: In various shapes old PROTEUS from the Sea,


s: Draind through a Limbec to his Native forme.


s: What wonder then if fields and regions here


s: Breathe forth ELIXIR pure, and Rivers run


s: Potable Gold, when with one vertuous touch


s: Th' Arch-chimic Sun so farr from us remote


s: Here in the dark so many precious things


s: Undazl'd, farr and wide his eye commands,


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


s: But all Sun-shine, as when his Beams at Noon


s: Culminate from th' AEQUATOR, as they now


s: Shot upward still direct, whence no way round


s: Shadow from body opaque can fall, and the Aire,


s: No where so cleer, sharp'nd his visual ray


s: To objects distant farr, whereby he soon


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


s: Circl'd his Head, nor less his Locks behind


s: Illustrious on his Shoulders fledge with wings


s: Lay waving round; on som great charge imploy'd


s: Glad was the Spirit impure as now in hope


s: To find who might direct his wandring flight


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


s: Which else might work him danger or delay:


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


s: Youth smil'd Celestial, and to every Limb


s: Sutable grace diffus'd, so well he feignd;


s: In curles on either cheek plaid, wings he wore


s: Of many a colourd plume sprinkl'd with Gold,


s: His habit fit for speed succinct, and held


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


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


s: Admonisht by his eare, and strait was known


s: Who in Gods presence, neerest to his Throne


s: Stand ready at command, and are his Eyes


s: That run through all the Heav'ns, or down to th' Earth


s: Bear his swift errands over moist and dry,


s: O're Sea and Land: him SATAN thus accostes;


s: URIEL, for thou of those seav'n Spirits that stand


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


s: The first art wont his great authentic will


s: Interpreter through highest Heav'n to bring,


s: And here art likeliest by supream decree


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


s: His chief delight and favour, him for whom


s: All these his works so wondrous he ordaind,


s: Hath brought me from the Quires of Cherubim


s: Alone thus wandring.  Brightest Seraph tell


s: In which of all these shining Orbes hath Man


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


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


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


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


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


s: Who justly hath drivn out his Rebell Foes


s: To deepest Hell, and to repair that loss


s: To serve him better: wise are all his wayes.


s: So spake the false dissembler unperceivd;


s: By his permissive will, through Heav'n and Earth:


s: And oft though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps


s: Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill


s: Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguil'd


s: URIEL, though Regent of the Sun, and held


s: The sharpest sighted Spirit of all in Heav'n;


s: Faire Angel, thy desire which tends to know


s: The great Work-Maister, leads to no excess


s: That reaches blame, but rather merits praise


s: The more it seems excess, that led thee hither


s: To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps


s: Contented with report heare onely in heav'n:


s: Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all


s: Had in remembrance alwayes with delight;


s: That brought them forth, but hid thir causes deep.


s: I saw when at his Word the formless Mass,


s: This worlds material mould, came to a heap:


s: Confusion heard his voice, and wilde uproar


s: Stood rul'd, stood vast infinitude confin'd;


s: Till at his second bidding darkness fled,


s: Light shon, and order from disorder sprung:


s: Swift to thir several Quarters hasted then


s: The cumbrous Elements, Earth, Flood, Aire, Fire,


s: And this Ethereal quintessence of Heav'n


s: Flew upward, spirited with various forms,


s: That rowld orbicular, and turnd to Starrs


s: Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move;


s: Each had his place appointed, each his course,


s: The rest in circuit walles this Universe.


s: Look downward on that Globe whose hither side


s: With light from hence, though but reflected, shines;


s: That place is Earth the seat of Man, that light


s: His day, which else as th' other Hemisphere


s: Night would invade, but there the neighbouring Moon


s: (So call that opposite fair Starr) her aide


s: Timely interposes, and her monthly round


s: Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heav'n;


s: With borrowd light her countenance triform


s: Hence fills and empties to enlighten th' Earth,


s: And in her pale dominion checks the night.