The Project Gutenberg EBook of Paradise Lost, by John Milton
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Title: Paradise Lost
Author: John Milton
Posting Date: March 2, 2011 [EBook #20] Release Date: October, 1991
Language: English
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by John Milton
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Of Mans First Disobedience, and the Fruit
Of
that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal tast
Brought Death into the
World, and all our woe,
With loss of EDEN, till one greater Man
Restore
us, and regain the blissful Seat,
Sing Heav'nly Muse, that on the
secret top
Of OREB, or of SINAI, didst inspire
That
Shepherd, who first taught the chosen Seed,
In the Beginning how
the Heav'ns and Earth
Rose out of CHAOS: Or if SION Hill
Delight
thee more, and SILOA'S Brook that flow'd
Fast by the Oracle of God;
I thence
Invoke thy aid to my adventrous Song,
That
with no middle flight intends to soar
Above th' AONIAN Mount, while
it pursues
Things unattempted yet in Prose or Rhime.
And
chiefly Thou O Spirit, that dost prefer
Before all Temples th'
upright heart and pure,
Instruct me, for Thou know'st; Thou from
the first
Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread
Dove-like
satst brooding on the vast Abyss
And mad'st it pregnant: What in me
is dark
Illumine, what is low raise and support;
That
to the highth of this great Argument
I may assert th' Eternal
Providence,
And justifie the wayes of God to men.
Say first, for Heav'n hides nothing from thy view
Nor
the deep Tract of Hell, say first what cause
Mov'd our Grand
Parents in that happy State,
Favour'd of Heav'n so highly, to fall
off
From their Creator, and transgress his Will
For
one restraint, Lords of the World besides?
Who first seduc'd them
to that fowl revolt?
Th' infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile
Stird
up with Envy and Revenge, deceiv'd
The Mother of Mankinde, what
time his Pride
Had cast him out from Heav'n, with all his Host
Of
Rebel Angels, by whose aid aspiring
To set himself in Glory above
his Peers,
He trusted to have equal'd the most High,
If
he oppos'd; and with ambitious aim
Against the Throne and Monarchy
of God
Rais'd impious War in Heav'n and Battel proud
With
vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power
Hurld headlong flaming from
th' Ethereal Skie
With hideous ruine and combustion down
To
bottomless perdition, there to dwell
In Adamantine Chains and penal
Fire,
Who durst defie th' Omnipotent to Arms.
Nine
times the Space that measures Day and Night
To mortal men, he with
his horrid crew
Lay vanquisht, rowling in the fiery Gulfe
Confounded
though immortal: But his doom
Reserv'd him to more wrath; for now
the thought
Both of lost happiness and lasting pain
Torments
him; round he throws his baleful eyes
That witness'd huge
affliction and dismay
Mixt with obdurate pride and stedfast hate:
At
once as far as Angels kenn he views
The dismal Situation waste and
wilde,
A Dungeon horrible, on all sides round
As one
great Furnace flam'd, yet from those flames
No light, but rather
darkness visible
Serv'd only to discover sights of woe,
Regions
of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace
And rest can never dwell,
hope never comes
That comes to all; but torture without end
Still
urges, and a fiery Deluge, fed
With ever-burning Sulphur unconsum'd:
Such
place Eternal Justice had prepar'd
For those rebellious, here their
Prison ordain'd
In utter darkness, and their portion set
As
far remov'd from God and light of Heav'n
As from the Center thrice
to th' utmost Pole.
O how unlike the place from whence they fell!
There
the companions of his fall, o'rewhelm'd
With Floods and Whirlwinds
of tempestuous fire,
He soon discerns, and weltring by his side
One
next himself in power, and next in crime,
Long after known in
PALESTINE, and nam'd
BEELZEBUB. To whom th' Arch-Enemy,
And
thence in Heav'n call'd Satan, with bold words
Breaking the horrid
silence thus began.
If thou beest he; But O how fall'n! how chang'd
From
him, who in the happy Realms of Light
Cloth'd with transcendent
brightnes didst outshine
Myriads though bright: If he whom mutual
league,
United thoughts and counsels, equal hope,
And
hazard in the Glorious Enterprize,
Joynd with me once, now misery
hath joynd
In equal ruin: into what Pit thou seest
From
what highth fal'n, so much the stronger provd
He with his Thunder:
and till then who knew
The force of those dire Arms? yet not for
those
Nor what the Potent Victor in his rage
Can
else inflict do I repent or change,
Though chang'd in outward
lustre; that fixt mind
And high disdain, from sence of injur'd
merit,
That with the mightiest rais'd me to contend,
And
to the fierce contention brought along
Innumerable force of Spirits
arm'd
That durst dislike his reign, and me preferring,
His
utmost power with adverse power oppos'd
In dubious Battel on the
Plains of Heav'n,
And shook his throne. What though the field be
lost?
All is not lost; the unconquerable Will,
And
study of revenge, immortal hate,
And courage never to submit or
yield:
And what is else not to be overcome?
That
Glory never shall his wrath or might
Extort from me. To bow and sue
for grace
With suppliant knee, and deifie his power
Who
from the terrour of this Arm so late
Doubted his Empire, that were
low indeed,
That were an ignominy and shame beneath
This
downfall; since by Fate the strength of Gods
And this Empyreal
substance cannot fail,
Since through experience of this great event
In
Arms not worse, in foresight much advanc't,
We may with more
successful hope resolve
To wage by force or guile eternal Warr
Irreconcileable,
to our grand Foe,
Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy
Sole
reigning holds the Tyranny of Heav'n.
So spake th' Apostate Angel, though in pain,
Vaunting
aloud, but rackt with deep despare:
And him thus answer'd soon his
bold Compeer.
O Prince, O Chief of many Throned Powers,
That
led th' imbattelld Seraphim to Warr
Under thy conduct, and in
dreadful deeds
Fearless, endanger'd Heav'ns perpetual King;
And
put to proof his high Supremacy,
Whether upheld by strength, or
Chance, or Fate,
Too well I see and rue the dire event,
That
with sad overthrow and foul defeat
Hath lost us Heav'n, and all
this mighty Host
In horrible destruction laid thus low,
As
far as Gods and Heav'nly Essences
Can Perish: for the mind and
spirit remains
Invincible, and vigour soon returns,
Though
all our Glory extinct, and happy state
Here swallow'd up in endless
misery.
But what if he our Conquerour, (whom I now
Of
force believe Almighty, since no less
Then such could hav orepow'rd
such force as ours)
Have left us this our spirit and strength intire
Strongly
to suffer and support our pains,
That we may so suffice his
vengeful ire,
Or do him mightier service as his thralls
By
right of Warr, what e're his business be
Here in the heart of Hell
to work in Fire,
Or do his Errands in the gloomy Deep;
What
can it then avail though yet we feel
Strength undiminisht, or
eternal being
To undergo eternal punishment?
Whereto
with speedy words th' Arch-fiend reply'd.
Fall'n Cherube, to be weak is miserable
Doing
or Suffering: but of this be sure,
To do ought good never will be
our task,
But ever to do ill our sole delight,
As
being the contrary to his high will
Whom we resist. If then his
Providence
Out of our evil seek to bring forth good,
Our
labour must be to pervert that end,
And out of good still to find
means of evil;
Which oft times may succeed, so as perhaps
Shall
grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb
His inmost counsels from
their destind aim.
But see the angry Victor hath recall'd
His
Ministers of vengeance and pursuit
Back to the Gates of Heav'n: The
Sulphurous Hail
Shot after us in storm, oreblown hath laid
The
fiery Surge, that from the Precipice
Of Heav'n receiv'd us falling,
and the Thunder,
Wing'd with red Lightning and impetuous rage,
Perhaps
hath spent his shafts, and ceases now
To bellow through the vast
and boundless Deep.
Let us not slip th' occasion, whether scorn,
Or
satiate fury yield it from our Foe.
Seest thou yon dreary Plain,
forlorn and wilde,
The seat of desolation, voyd of light,
Save
what the glimmering of these livid flames
Casts pale and dreadful?
Thither let us tend
From off the tossing of these fiery waves,
There
rest, if any rest can harbour there,
And reassembling our afflicted
Powers,
Consult how we may henceforth most offend
Our
Enemy, our own loss how repair,
How overcome this dire Calamity,
What
reinforcement we may gain from Hope,
If not what resolution from
despare.
Thus Satan talking to his neerest Mate
With
Head up-lift above the wave, and Eyes
That sparkling blaz'd, his
other Parts besides
Prone on the Flood, extended long and large
Lay
floating many a rood, in bulk as huge
As whom the Fables name of
monstrous size,
TITANIAN, or EARTH-BORN, that warr'd on JOVE,
BRIARIOS
or TYPHON, whom the Den
By ancient TARSUS held, or that Sea-beast
LEVIATHAN,
which God of all his works
Created hugest that swim th' Ocean
stream:
Him haply slumbring on the NORWAY foam
The
Pilot of some small night-founder'd Skiff,
Deeming some Island,
oft, as Sea-men tell,
With fixed Anchor in his skaly rind
Moors
by his side under the Lee, while Night
Invests the Sea, and wished
Morn delayes:
So stretcht out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay
Chain'd
on the burning Lake, nor ever thence
Had ris'n or heav'd his head,
but that the will
And high permission of all-ruling Heaven
Left
him at large to his own dark designs,
That with reiterated crimes
he might
Heap on himself damnation, while he sought
Evil
to others, and enrag'd might see
How all his malice serv'd but to
bring forth
Infinite goodness, grace and mercy shewn
On
Man by him seduc't, but on himself
Treble confusion, wrath and
vengeance pour'd.
Forthwith upright he rears from off the Pool
His
mighty Stature; on each hand the flames
Drivn backward slope their
pointing spires, & rowld
In billows, leave i'th' midst a horrid
Vale.
Then with expanded wings he stears his flight
Aloft,
incumbent on the dusky Air
That felt unusual weight, till on dry
Land
He lights, if it were Land that ever burn'd
With
solid, as the Lake with liquid fire;
And such appear'd in hue, as
when the force
Of subterranean wind transports a Hill
Torn
from PELORUS, or the shatter'd side
Of thundring AETNA, whose
combustible
And fewel'd entrals thence conceiving Fire,
Sublim'd
with Mineral fury, aid the Winds,
And leave a singed bottom all
involv'd
With stench and smoak: Such resting found the sole
Of
unblest feet. Him followed his next Mate,
Both glorying to have
scap't the STYGIAN flood
As Gods, and by their own recover'd
strength,
Not by the sufferance of supernal Power.
Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime,
Said
then the lost Arch Angel, this the seat
That we must change for
Heav'n, this mournful gloom
For that celestial light? Be it so,
since hee
Who now is Sovran can dispose and bid
What
shall be right: fardest from him is best
Whom reason hath equald,
force hath made supream
Above his equals. Farewel happy Fields
Where
Joy for ever dwells: Hail horrours, hail
Infernal world, and thou
profoundest Hell
Receive thy new Possessor: One who brings
A
mind not to be chang'd by Place or Time.
The mind is its own place,
and in it self
Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n.
What
matter where, if I be still the same,
And what I should be, all but
less then hee
Whom Thunder hath made greater? Here at least
We
shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built
Here for his envy, will
not drive us hence:
Here we may reign secure, and in my choyce
To
reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell,
then serve in Heav'n.
But wherefore let we then our faithful
friends,
Th' associates and copartners of our loss
Lye
thus astonisht on th' oblivious Pool,
And call them not to share
with us their part
In this unhappy Mansion, or once more
With
rallied Arms to try what may be yet
Regaind in Heav'n, or what more
lost in Hell?
So SATAN spake, and him BEELZEBUB
Thus
answer'd. Leader of those Armies bright,
Which but th' Omnipotent
none could have foyld,
If once they hear that voyce, their
liveliest pledge
Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft
In
worst extreams, and on the perilous edge
Of battel when it rag'd,
in all assaults
Their surest signal, they will soon resume
New
courage and revive, though now they lye
Groveling and prostrate on
yon Lake of Fire,
As we erewhile, astounded and amaz'd,
No
wonder, fall'n such a pernicious highth.
He scarce had ceas't when the superiour Fiend
Was
moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield
Ethereal temper,
massy, large and round,
Behind him cast; the broad circumference
Hung
on his shoulders like the Moon, whose Orb
Through Optic Glass the
TUSCAN Artist views
At Ev'ning from the top of FESOLE,
Or
in VALDARNO, to descry new Lands,
Rivers or Mountains in her spotty
Globe.
His Spear, to equal which the tallest Pine
Hewn
on NORWEGIAN hills, to be the Mast
Of some great Ammiral, were but
a wand,
He walkt with to support uneasie steps
Over
the burning Marle, not like those steps
On Heavens Azure, and the
torrid Clime
Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with Fire;
Nathless
he so endur'd, till on the Beach
Of that inflamed Sea, he stood and
call'd
His Legions, Angel Forms, who lay intrans't
Thick
as Autumnal Leaves that strow the Brooks
In VALLOMBROSA, where th'
ETRURIAN shades
High overarch't imbowr; or scatterd sedge
Afloat,
when with fierce Winds ORION arm'd
Hath vext the Red-Sea Coast,
whose waves orethrew
BUSIRIS and his MEMPHIAN Chivalrie,
VVhile
with perfidious hatred they pursu'd
The Sojourners of GOSHEN, who
beheld
From the safe shore their floating Carkases
And
broken Chariot Wheels, so thick bestrown
Abject and lost lay these,
covering the Flood,
Under amazement of their hideous change.
He
call'd so loud, that all the hollow Deep
Of Hell resounded.
Princes, Potentates,
Warriers, the Flowr of Heav'n, once yours, now
lost,
If such astonishment as this can sieze
Eternal
spirits; or have ye chos'n this place
After the toyl of Battel to
repose
Your wearied vertue, for the ease you find
To
slumber here, as in the Vales of Heav'n?
Or in this abject posture
have ye sworn
To adore the Conquerour? who now beholds
Cherube
and Seraph rowling in the Flood
With scatter'd Arms and Ensigns,
till anon
His swift pursuers from Heav'n Gates discern
Th'
advantage, and descending tread us down
Thus drooping, or with
linked Thunderbolts
Transfix us to the bottom of this Gulfe.
Awake,
arise, or be for ever fall'n.
They heard, and were abasht, and up they sprung
Upon
the wing, as when men wont to watch
On duty, sleeping found by whom
they dread,
Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake.
Nor
did they not perceave the evil plight
In which they were, or the
fierce pains not feel;
Yet to their Generals Voyce they soon obeyd
Innumerable.
As when the potent Rod
Of AMRAMS Son in EGYPTS evill day
Wav'd
round the Coast, up call'd a pitchy cloud
Of LOCUSTS, warping on
the Eastern Wind,
That ore the Realm of impious PHAROAH hung
Like
Night, and darken'd all the Land of NILE:
So numberless were those
bad Angels seen
Hovering on wing under the Cope of Hell
'Twixt
upper, nether, and surrounding Fires;
Till, as a signal giv'n, th'
uplifted Spear
Of their great Sultan waving to direct
Thir
course, in even ballance down they light
On the firm brimstone, and
fill all the Plain;
A multitude, like which the populous North
Pour'd
never from her frozen loyns, to pass
RHENE or the DANAW, when her
barbarous Sons
Came like a Deluge on the South, and spread
Beneath
GIBRALTAR to the LYBIAN sands.
Forthwith from every Squadron and
each Band
The Heads and Leaders thither hast where stood
Their
great Commander; Godlike shapes and forms
Excelling human, Princely
Dignities,
And Powers that earst in Heaven sat on Thrones;
Though
of their Names in heav'nly Records now
Be no memorial, blotted out
and ras'd
By thir Rebellion, from the Books of Life.
Nor
had they yet among the Sons of EVE
Got them new Names, till
wandring ore the Earth,
Through Gods high sufferance for the tryal
of man,
By falsities and lyes the greatest part
Of
Mankind they corrupted to forsake
God their Creator, and th'
invisible
Glory of him, that made them, to transform
Oft
to the Image of a Brute, adorn'd
With gay Religions full of Pomp
and Gold,
And Devils to adore for Deities:
Then were
they known to men by various Names,
And various Idols through the
Heathen World.
Say, Muse, their Names then known, who first, who
last,
Rous'd from the slumber, on that fiery Couch,
At
thir great Emperors call, as next in worth
Came singly where he
stood on the bare strand,
While the promiscuous croud stood yet
aloof?
The chief were those who from the Pit of Hell
Roaming
to seek their prey on earth, durst fix
Their Seats long after next
the Seat of God,
Their Altars by his Altar, Gods ador'd
Among
the Nations round, and durst abide
JEHOVAH thundring out of SION,
thron'd
Between the Cherubim; yea, often plac'd
Within
his Sanctuary it self their Shrines,
Abominations; and with cursed
things
His holy Rites, and solemn Feasts profan'd,
And
with their darkness durst affront his light.
First MOLOCH, horrid
King besmear'd with blood
Of human sacrifice, and parents tears,
Though
for the noyse of Drums and Timbrels loud
Their childrens cries
unheard, that past through fire
To his grim Idol. Him the AMMONITE
Worshipt
in RABBA and her watry Plain,
In ARGOB and in BASAN, to the stream
Of
utmost ARNON. Nor content with such
Audacious neighbourhood, the
wisest heart
Of SOLOMON he led by fraud to build
His
Temple right against the Temple of God
On that opprobrious Hill,
and made his Grove
The pleasant Vally of HINNOM, TOPHET thence
And
black GEHENNA call'd, the Type of Hell.
Next CHEMOS, th' obscene
dread of MOABS Sons,
From AROER to NEBO, and the wild
Of
Southmost ABARIM; in HESEBON
And HERONAIM, SEONS Realm, beyond
The
flowry Dale of SIBMA clad with Vines,
And ELEALE to th' ASPHALTICK
Pool.
PEOR his other Name, when he entic'd
ISRAEL in
SITTIM on their march from NILE
To do him wanton rites, which cost
them woe.
Yet thence his lustful Orgies he enlarg'd
Even
to that Hill of scandal, by the Grove
Of MOLOCH homicide, lust hard
by hate;
Till good JOSIAH drove them thence to Hell.
With
these came they, who from the bordring flood
Of old EUPHRATES to
the Brook that parts
EGYPT from SYRIAN ground, had general Names
Of
BAALIM and ASHTAROTH, those male,
These Feminine. For Spirits when
they please
Can either Sex assume, or both; so soft
And
uncompounded is their Essence pure,
Not ti'd or manacl'd with joynt
or limb,
Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones,
Like
cumbrous flesh; but in what shape they choose
Dilated or condens't,
bright or obscure,
Can execute their aerie purposes,
And
works of love or enmity fulfill.
For those the Race of ISRAEL oft
forsook
Their living strength, and unfrequented left
His
righteous Altar, bowing lowly down
To bestial Gods; for which their
heads as low
Bow'd down in Battel, sunk before the Spear
Of
despicable foes. With these in troop
Came ASTORETH, whom the
PHOENICIANS call'd
ASTARTE, Queen of Heav'n, with crescent Horns;
To
whose bright Image nightly by the Moon
SIDONIAN Virgins paid their
Vows and Songs,
In SION also not unsung, where stood
Her
Temple on th' offensive Mountain, built
By that uxorious King,
whose heart though large,
Beguil'd by fair Idolatresses, fell
To
Idols foul. THAMMUZ came next behind,
Whose annual wound in LEBANON
allur'd
The SYRIAN Damsels to lament his fate
In
amorous dittyes all a Summers day,
While smooth ADONIS from his
native Rock
Ran purple to the Sea, suppos'd with blood
Of
THAMMUZ yearly wounded: the Love-tale
Infected SIONS daughters with
like heat,
Whose wanton passions in the sacred Porch
EZEKIEL
saw, when by the Vision led
His eye survay'd the dark Idolatries
Of
alienated JUDAH. Next came one
Who mourn'd in earnest, when the
Captive Ark
Maim'd his brute Image, head and hands lopt off
In
his own Temple, on the grunsel edge,
Where he fell flat, and sham'd
his Worshipers:
DAGON his Name, Sea Monster, upward Man
And
downward Fish: yet had his Temple high
Rear'd in AZOTUS, dreaded
through the Coast
Of PALESTINE, in GATH and ASCALON,
And
ACCARON and GAZA's frontier bounds.
Him follow'd RIMMON, whose
delightful Seat
Was fair DAMASCUS, on the fertil Banks
Of
ABBANA and PHARPHAR, lucid streams.
He also against the house of
God was bold:
A Leper once he lost and gain'd a King,
AHAZ
his sottish Conquerour, whom he drew
Gods Altar to disparage and
displace
For one of SYRIAN mode, whereon to burn
His
odious offrings, and adore the Gods
Whom he had vanquisht. After
these appear'd
A crew who under Names of old Renown,
OSIRIS,
ISIS, ORUS and their Train
With monstrous shapes and sorceries
abus'd
Fanatic EGYPT and her Priests, to seek
Thir
wandring Gods disguis'd in brutish forms
Rather then human. Nor did
ISRAEL scape
Th' infection when their borrow'd Gold compos'd
The
Calf in OREB: and the Rebel King
Doubl'd that sin in BETHEL and in
DAN,
Lik'ning his Maker to the Grazed Ox,
JEHOVAH,
who in one Night when he pass'd
From EGYPT marching, equal'd with
one stroke
Both her first born and all her bleating Gods.
BELIAL
came last, then whom a Spirit more lewd
Fell not from Heaven, or
more gross to love
Vice for it self: To him no Temple stood
Or
Altar smoak'd; yet who more oft then hee
In Temples and at Altars,
when the Priest
Turns Atheist, as did ELY'S Sons, who fill'd
With
lust and violence the house of God.
In Courts and Palaces he also
Reigns
And in luxurious Cities, where the noyse
Of
riot ascends above thir loftiest Towrs,
And injury and outrage: And
when Night
Darkens the Streets, then wander forth the Sons
Of
BELIAL, flown with insolence and wine.
Witness the Streets of
SODOM, and that night
In GIBEAH, when hospitable Dores
Yielded
thir Matrons to prevent worse rape.
These were the prime in order
and in might;
The rest were long to tell, though far renown'd,
Th'
IONIAN Gods, of JAVANS Issue held
Gods, yet confest later then
Heav'n and Earth
Thir boasted Parents; TITAN Heav'ns first born
With
his enormous brood, and birthright seis'd
By younger SATURN, he
from mightier JOVE
His own and RHEA'S Son like measure found;
So
JOVE usurping reign'd: these first in CREET
And IDA known, thence
on the Snowy top
Of cold OLYMPUS rul'd the middle Air
Thir
highest Heav'n; or on the DELPHIAN Cliff,
Or in DODONA, and through
all the bounds
Of DORIC Land; or who with SATURN old
Fled
over ADRIA to th' HESPERIAN Fields,
And ore the CELTIC roam'd the
utmost Isles.
All these and more came flocking; but with looks
Down
cast and damp, yet such wherein appear'd
Obscure som glimps of joy,
to have found thir chief
Not in despair, to have found themselves
not lost
In loss it self; which on his count'nance cast
Like
doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride
Soon recollecting, with high
words, that bore
Semblance of worth not substance, gently rais'd
Their
fainted courage, and dispel'd their fears.
Then strait commands
that at the warlike sound
Of Trumpets loud and Clarions be upreard
His
mighty Standard; that proud honour claim'd
AZAZEL as his right, a
Cherube tall:
Who forthwith from the glittering Staff unfurld
Th'
Imperial Ensign, which full high advanc't
Shon like a Meteor
streaming to the Wind
With Gemms and Golden lustre rich imblaz'd,
Seraphic
arms and Trophies: all the while
Sonorous mettal blowing Martial
sounds:
At which the universal Host upsent
A shout
that tore Hells Concave, and beyond
Frighted the Reign of CHAOS and
old Night.
All in a moment through the gloom were seen
Ten
thousand Banners rise into the Air
With Orient Colours waving: with
them rose
A Forrest huge of Spears: and thronging Helms
Appear'd,
and serried Shields in thick array
Of depth immeasurable: Anon they
move
In perfect PHALANX to the Dorian mood
Of Flutes
and soft Recorders; such as rais'd
To highth of noblest temper
Hero's old
Arming to Battel, and in stead of rage
Deliberate
valour breath'd, firm and unmov'd
With dread of death to flight or
foul retreat,
Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage
With
solemn touches, troubl'd thoughts, and chase
Anguish and doubt and
fear and sorrow and pain
From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they
Breathing
united force with fixed thought
Mov'd on in silence to soft Pipes
that charm'd
Thir painful steps o're the burnt soyle; and now
Advanc't
in view they stand, a horrid Front
Of dreadful length and dazling
Arms, in guise
Of Warriers old with order'd Spear and Shield,
Awaiting
what command thir mighty Chief
Had to impose: He through the armed
Files
Darts his experienc't eye, and soon traverse
The
whole Battalion views, thir order due,
Thir visages and stature as
of Gods,
Thir number last he summs. And now his heart
Distends
with pride, and hardning in his strength
Glories: For never since
created man,
Met such imbodied force, as nam'd with these
Could
merit more then that small infantry
Warr'd on by Cranes: though all
the Giant brood
Of PHLEGRA with th' Heroic Race were joyn'd
That
fought at THEB'S and ILIUM, on each side
Mixt with auxiliar Gods;
and what resounds
In Fable or ROMANCE of UTHERS Son
Begirt
with BRITISH and ARMORIC Knights;
And all who since, Baptiz'd or
Infidel
Jousted in ASPRAMONT or MONTALBAN,
DAMASCO,
or MAROCCO, or TREBISOND,
Or whom BISERTA sent from AFRIC shore
When
CHARLEMAIN with all his Peerage fell
By FONTARABBIA. Thus far these
beyond
Compare of mortal prowess, yet observ'd
Thir
dread Commander: he above the rest
In shape and gesture proudly
eminent
Stood like a Towr; his form had yet not lost
All
her Original brightness, nor appear'd
Less then Arch Angel ruind,
and th' excess
Of Glory obscur'd: As when the Sun new ris'n
Looks
through the Horizontal misty Air
Shorn of his Beams, or from behind
the Moon
In dim Eclips disastrous twilight sheds
On
half the Nations, and with fear of change
Perplexes Monarchs.
Dark'n'd so, yet shon
Above them all th' Arch Angel: but his face
Deep
scars of Thunder had intrencht, and care
Sat on his faded cheek,
but under Browes
Of dauntless courage, and considerate Pride
Waiting
revenge: cruel his eye, but cast
Signs of remorse and passion to
behold
The fellows of his crime, the followers rather
(Far
other once beheld in bliss) condemn'd
For ever now to have their
lot in pain,
Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc't
Of
Heav'n, and from Eternal Splendors flung
For his revolt, yet
faithfull how they stood,
Thir Glory witherd. As when Heavens Fire
Hath
scath'd the Forrest Oaks, or Mountain Pines,
With singed top their
stately growth though bare
Stands on the blasted Heath. He now
prepar'd
To speak; whereat their doubl'd Ranks they bend
From
Wing to Wing, and half enclose him round
With all his Peers:
attention held them mute.
Thrice he assayd, and thrice in spite of
scorn,
Tears such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last
Words
interwove with sighs found out their way.
O Myriads of immortal Spirits, O Powers
Matchless,
but with th' Almighty, and that strife
Was not inglorious, though
th' event was dire,
As this place testifies, and this dire change
Hateful
to utter: but what power of mind
Foreseeing or presaging, from the
Depth
Of knowledge past or present, could have fear'd,
How
such united force of Gods, how such
As stood like these, could ever
know repulse?
For who can yet beleeve, though after loss,
That
all these puissant Legions, whose exile
Hath emptied Heav'n, shall
faile to re-ascend
Self-rais'd, and repossess their native seat.
For
me, be witness all the Host of Heav'n,
If counsels different, or
danger shun'd
By me, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns
Monarch
in Heav'n, till then as one secure
Sat on his Throne, upheld by old
repute,
Consent or custome, and his Regal State
Put
forth at full, but still his strength conceal'd,
Which tempted our
attempt, and wrought our fall.
Henceforth his might we know, and
know our own
So as not either to provoke, or dread
New
warr, provok't; our better part remains
To work in close design, by
fraud or guile
What force effected not: that he no less
At
length from us may find, who overcomes
By force, hath overcome but
half his foe.
Space may produce new Worlds; whereof so rife
There
went a fame in Heav'n that he ere long
Intended to create, and
therein plant
A generation, whom his choice regard
Should
favour equal to the Sons of Heaven:
Thither, if but to prie, shall
be perhaps
Our first eruption, thither or elsewhere:
For
this Infernal Pit shall never hold
Caelestial Spirits in Bondage,
nor th' Abysse
Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts
Full
Counsel must mature: Peace is despaird,
For who can think
Submission? Warr then, Warr
Open or understood must be resolv'd.
He spake: and to confirm his words, out-flew
Millions
of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs
Of mighty Cherubim; the
sudden blaze
Far round illumin'd hell: highly they rag'd
Against
the Highest, and fierce with grasped arm's
Clash'd on their
sounding shields the din of war,
Hurling defiance toward the vault
of Heav'n.
There stood a Hill not far whose griesly top
Belch'd
fire and rowling smoak; the rest entire
Shon with a glossie scurff,
undoubted sign
That in his womb was hid metallic Ore,
The
work of Sulphur. Thither wing'd with speed
A numerous Brigad
hasten'd. As when bands
Of Pioners with Spade and Pickaxe arm'd
Forerun
the Royal Camp, to trench a Field,
Or cast a Rampart. MAMMON led
them on,
MAMMON, the least erected Spirit that fell
From
heav'n, for ev'n in heav'n his looks & thoughts
Were always
downward bent, admiring more
The riches of Heav'ns pavement, trod'n
Gold,
Then aught divine or holy else enjoy'd
In
vision beatific: by him first
Men also, and by his suggestion
taught,
Ransack'd the Center, and with impious hands
Rifl'd
the bowels of thir mother Earth
For Treasures better hid. Soon had
his crew
Op'nd into the Hill a spacious wound
And
dig'd out ribs of Gold. Let none admire
That riches grow in Hell;
that soyle may best
Deserve the pretious bane. And here let those
Who
boast in mortal things, and wondring tell
Of BABEL, and the works
of MEMPHIAN Kings,
Learn how thir greatest Monuments of Fame,
And
Strength and Art are easily outdone
By Spirits reprobate, and in an
hour
What in an age they with incessant toyle
And
hands innumerable scarce perform
Nigh on the Plain in many cells
prepar'd,
That underneath had veins of liquid fire
Sluc'd
from the Lake, a second multitude
With wondrous Art founded the
massie Ore,
Severing each kinde, and scum'd the Bullion dross:
A
third as soon had form'd within the ground
A various mould, and
from the boyling cells
By strange conveyance fill'd each hollow
nook,
As in an Organ from one blast of wind
To many
a row of Pipes the sound-board breaths.
Anon out of the earth a
Fabrick huge
Rose like an Exhalation, with the sound
Of
Dulcet Symphonies and voices sweet,
Built like a Temple, where
PILASTERS round
Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid
With
Golden Architrave; nor did there want
Cornice or Freeze, with bossy
Sculptures grav'n,
The Roof was fretted Gold. Not BABILON,
Nor
great ALCAIRO such magnificence
Equal'd in all thir glories, to
inshrine
BELUS or SERAPIS thir Gods, or seat
Thir
Kings, when AEGYPT with ASSYRIA strove
In wealth and luxurie. Th'
ascending pile
Stood fixt her stately highth, and strait the dores
Op'ning
thir brazen foulds discover wide
Within, her ample spaces, o're the
smooth
And level pavement: from the arched roof
Pendant
by suttle Magic many a row
Of Starry Lamps and blazing Cressets fed
With
Naphtha and ASPHALTUS yeilded light
As from a sky. The hasty
multitude
Admiring enter'd, and the work some praise
And
some the Architect: his hand was known
In Heav'n by many a Towred
structure high,
Where Scepter'd Angels held thir residence,
And
sat as Princes, whom the supreme King
Exalted to such power, and
gave to rule,
Each in his Herarchie, the Orders bright.
Nor
was his name unheard or unador'd
In ancient Greece; and in AUSONIAN
land
Men call'd him MULCIBER; and how he fell
From
Heav'n, they fabl'd, thrown by angry JOVE
Sheer o're the Chrystal
Battlements: from Morn
To Noon he fell, from Noon to dewy Eve,
A
Summers day; and with the setting Sun
Dropt from the Zenith like a
falling Star,
On LEMNOS th' AEGAEAN Ile: thus they relate,
Erring;
for he with this rebellious rout
Fell long before; nor aught
avail'd him now
To have built in Heav'n high Towrs; nor did he scape
By
all his Engins, but was headlong sent
With his industrious crew to
build in hell.
Mean while the winged Haralds by command
Of
Sovran power, with awful Ceremony
And Trumpets sound throughout the
Host proclaim
A solemn Councel forthwith to be held
At
PANDAEMONIUM, the high Capital
Of Satan and his Peers: thir summons
call'd
From every and Band squared Regiment
By place
or choice the worthiest; they anon
With hundreds and with thousands
trooping came
Attended: all access was throng'd, the Gates
And
Porches wide, but chief the spacious Hall
(Though like a cover'd
field, where Champions bold
Wont ride in arm'd, and at the Soldans
chair
Defi'd the best of Panim chivalry
To mortal
combat or carreer with Lance)
Thick swarm'd, both on the ground and
in the air,
Brusht with the hiss of russling wings. As Bees
In
spring time, when the Sun with Taurus rides,
Poure forth thir
populous youth about the Hive
In clusters; they among fresh dews
and flowers
Flie to and fro, or on the smoothed Plank,
The
suburb of thir Straw-built Cittadel,
New rub'd with Baume,
expatiate and confer
Thir State affairs. So thick the aerie crowd
Swarm'd
and were straitn'd; till the Signal giv'n,
Behold a wonder! they
but now who seemd
In bigness to surpass Earths Giant Sons
Now
less then smallest Dwarfs, in narrow room
Throng numberless, like
that Pigmean Race
Beyond the INDIAN Mount, or Faerie Elves,
Whose
midnight Revels, by a Forrest side
Or Fountain fome belated Peasant
sees,
Or dreams he sees, while over head the Moon
Sits
Arbitress, and neerer to the Earth
Wheels her pale course, they on
thir mirth & dance
Intent, with jocond Music charm his ear;
At
once with joy and fear his heart rebounds.
Thus incorporeal Spirits
to smallest forms
Reduc'd thir shapes immense, and were at large,
Though
without number still amidst the Hall
Of that infernal Court. But
far within
And in thir own dimensions like themselves
The
great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim
In close recess and secret
conclave sat
A thousand Demy-Gods on golden seat's,
Frequent
and full. After short silence then
And summons read, the great
consult began.
High on a Throne of Royal State, which far
Outshon the
wealth of ORMUS and of IND,
Or where the gorgeous East with richest
hand
Showrs on her Kings BARBARIC Pearl & Gold,
Satan
exalted sat, by merit rais'd
To that bad eminence; and from despair
Thus
high uplifted beyond hope, aspires
Beyond thus high, insatiate to
pursue
Vain Warr with Heav'n, and by success untaught
His
proud imaginations thus displaid.
Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heav'n,
For
since no deep within her gulf can hold
Immortal vigor, though
opprest and fall'n,
I give not Heav'n for lost. From this descent
Celestial
vertues rising, will appear
More glorious and more dread then from
no fall,
And trust themselves to fear no second fate:
Mee
though just right, and the fixt Laws of Heav'n
Did first create
your Leader, next, free choice,
With what besides, in Counsel or in
Fight,
Hath bin achievd of merit, yet this loss
Thus
farr at least recover'd, hath much more
Establisht in a safe
unenvied Throne
Yeilded with full consent. The happier state
In
Heav'n, which follows dignity, might draw
Envy from each inferior;
but who here
Will envy whom the highest place exposes
Formost
to stand against the Thunderers aime
Your bulwark, and condemns to
greatest share
Of endless pain? where there is then no good
For
which to strive, no strife can grow up there
From Faction; for none
sure will claim in hell
Precedence, none, whose portion is so small
Of
present pain, that with ambitious mind
Will covet more. With this
advantage then
To union, and firm Faith, and firm accord,
More
then can be in Heav'n, we now return
To claim our just inheritance
of old,
Surer to prosper then prosperity
Could have
assur'd us; and by what best way,
Whether of open Warr or covert
guile,
We now debate; who can advise, may speak.
He ceas'd, and next him MOLOC, Scepter'd King
Stood
up, the strongest and the fiercest Spirit
That fought in Heav'n;
now fiercer by despair:
His trust was with th' Eternal to be deem'd
Equal
in strength, and rather then be less
Car'd not to be at all; with
that care lost
Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worse
He
reckd not, and these words thereafter spake.
My sentence is for open Warr: Of Wiles,
More
unexpert, I boast not: them let those
Contrive who need, or when
they need, not now.
For while they sit contriving, shall the rest,
Millions
that stand in Arms, and longing wait
The Signal to ascend, sit
lingring here
Heav'ns fugitives, and for thir dwelling place
Accept
this dark opprobrious Den of shame,
The Prison of his Tyranny who
Reigns
By our delay? no, let us rather choose
Arm'd
with Hell flames and fury all at once
O're Heav'ns high Towrs to
force resistless way,
Turning our Tortures into horrid Arms
Against
the Torturer; when to meet the noise
Of his Almighty Engin he shall
hear
Infernal Thunder, and for Lightning see
Black
fire and horror shot with equal rage
Among his Angels; and his
Throne it self
Mixt with TARTAREAN Sulphur, and strange fire,
His
own invented Torments. But perhaps
The way seems difficult and
steep to scale
With upright wing against a higher foe.
Let
such bethink them, if the sleepy drench
Of that forgetful Lake
benumme not still,
That in our proper motion we ascend
Up
to our native seat: descent and fall
To us is adverse. Who but felt
of late
When the fierce Foe hung on our brok'n Rear
Insulting,
and pursu'd us through the Deep,
With what compulsion and laborious
flight
We sunk thus low? Th' ascent is easie then;
Th'
event is fear'd; should we again provoke
Our stronger, some worse
way his wrath may find
To our destruction: if there be in Hell
Fear
to be worse destroy'd: what can be worse
Then to dwell here, driv'n
out from bliss, condemn'd
In this abhorred deep to utter woe;
Where
pain of unextinguishable fire
Must exercise us without hope of end
The
Vassals of his anger, when the Scourge
Inexorably, and the
torturing houre
Calls us to Penance? More destroy'd then thus
We
should be quite abolisht and expire.
What fear we then? what doubt
we to incense
His utmost ire? which to the highth enrag'd,
Will
either quite consume us, and reduce
To nothing this essential,
happier farr
Then miserable to have eternal being:
Or
if our substance be indeed Divine,
And cannot cease to be, we are
at worst
On this side nothing; and by proof we feel
Our
power sufficient to disturb his Heav'n,
And with perpetual inrodes
to Allarme,
Though inaccessible, his fatal Throne:
Which
if not Victory is yet Revenge.
He ended frowning, and his look denounc'd
Desperate
revenge, and Battel dangerous
To less then Gods. On th' other side
up rose
BELIAL, in act more graceful and humane;
A
fairer person lost not Heav'n; he seemd
For dignity compos'd and
high exploit:
But all was false and hollow; though his Tongue
Dropt
Manna, and could make the worse appear
The better reason, to
perplex and dash
Maturest Counsels: for his thoughts were low;
To
vice industrious, but to Nobler deeds
Timorous and slothful: yet he
pleas'd the eare,
And with perswasive accent thus began.
I should be much for open Warr, O Peers,
As
not behind in hate; if what was urg'd
Main reason to perswade
immediate Warr,
Did not disswade me most, and seem to cast
Ominous
conjecture on the whole success:
When he who most excels in fact of
Arms,
In what he counsels and in what excels
Mistrustful,
grounds his courage on despair
And utter dissolution, as the scope
Of
all his aim, after some dire revenge.
First, what Revenge? the
Towrs of Heav'n are fill'd
With Armed watch, that render all access
Impregnable;
oft on the bordering Deep
Encamp thir Legions, or with obscure wing
Scout
farr and wide into the Realm of night,
Scorning surprize. Or could
we break our way
By force, and at our heels all Hell should rise
With
blackest Insurrection, to confound
Heav'ns purest Light, yet our
great Enemie
All incorruptible would on his Throne
Sit
unpolluted, and th' Ethereal mould
Incapable of stain would soon
expel
Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire
Victorious.
Thus repuls'd, our final hope
Is flat despair: we must exasperate
Th'
Almighty Victor to spend all his rage,
And that must end us, that
must be our cure,
To be no more; sad cure; for who would loose,
Though
full of pain, this intellectual being,
Those thoughts that wander
through Eternity,
To perish rather, swallowd up and lost
In
the wide womb of uncreated night,
Devoid of sense and motion? and
who knows,
Let this be good, whether our angry Foe
Can
give it, or will ever? how he can
Is doubtful; that he never will
is sure.
Will he, so wise, let loose at once his ire,
Belike
through impotence, or unaware,
To give his Enemies thir wish, and
end
Them in his anger, whom his anger saves
To
punish endless? wherefore cease we then?
Say they who counsel Warr,
we are decreed,
Reserv'd and destin'd to Eternal woe;
Whatever
doing, what can we suffer more,
What can we suffer worse? is this
then worst,
Thus sitting, thus consulting, thus in Arms?
What
when we fled amain, pursu'd and strook
With Heav'ns afflicting
Thunder, and besought
The Deep to shelter us? this Hell then seem'd
A
refuge from those wounds: or when we lay
Chain'd on the burning
Lake? that sure was worse.
What if the breath that kindl'd those
grim fires
Awak'd should blow them into sevenfold rage
And
plunge us in the Flames? or from above
Should intermitted vengeance
Arme again
His red right hand to plague us? what if all
Her
stores were op'n'd, and this Firmament
Of Hell should spout her
Cataracts of Fire,
Impendent horrors, threatning hideous fall
One
day upon our heads; while we perhaps
Designing or exhorting
glorious Warr,
Caught in a fierie Tempest shall be hurl'd
Each
on his rock transfixt, the sport and prey
Of racking whirlwinds, or
for ever sunk
Under yon boyling Ocean, wrapt in Chains;
There
to converse with everlasting groans,
Unrespited, unpitied,
unrepreevd,
Ages of hopeless end; this would be worse.
Warr
therefore, open or conceal'd, alike
My voice disswades; for what
can force or guile
With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye
Views
all things at one view? he from heav'ns highth
All these our
motions vain, sees and derides;
Not more Almighty to resist our
might
Then wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles.
Shall
we then live thus vile, the race of Heav'n
Thus trampl'd, thus
expell'd to suffer here
Chains & these Torments? better these then
worse
By my advice; since fate inevitable
Subdues
us, and Omnipotent Decree,
The Victors will. To suffer, as to doe,
Our
strength is equal, nor the Law unjust
That so ordains: this was at
first resolv'd,
If we were wise, against so great a foe
Contending,
and so doubtful what might fall.
I laugh, when those who at the
Spear are bold
And vent'rous, if that fail them, shrink and fear
What
yet they know must follow, to endure
Exile, or ignominy, or bonds,
or pain,
The sentence of thir Conquerour: This is now
Our
doom; which if we can sustain and bear,
Our Supream Foe in time may
much remit
His anger, and perhaps thus farr remov'd
Not
mind us not offending, satisfi'd
With what is punish't; whence
these raging fires
Will slack'n, if his breath stir not thir flames.
Our
purer essence then will overcome
Thir noxious vapour, or enur'd not
feel,
Or chang'd at length, and to the place conformd
In
temper and in nature, will receive
Familiar the fierce heat, and
void of pain;
This horror will grow milde, this darkness light,
Besides
what hope the never-ending flight
Of future days may bring, what
chance, what change
Worth waiting, since our present lot appeers
For
happy though but ill, for ill not worst,
If we procure not to our
selves more woe.
Thus BELIAL with words cloath'd in reasons garb
Counsel'd
ignoble ease, and peaceful sloath,
Not peace: and after him thus
MAMMON spake.
Either to disinthrone the King of Heav'n
We
warr, if warr be best, or to regain
Our own right lost: him to
unthrone we then
May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yeild
To
fickle Chance, and CHAOS judge the strife:
The former vain to hope
argues as vain
The latter: for what place can be for us
Within
Heav'ns bound, unless Heav'ns Lord supream
We overpower? Suppose he
should relent
And publish Grace to all, on promise made
Of
new Subjection; with what eyes could we
Stand in his presence
humble, and receive
Strict Laws impos'd, to celebrate his Throne
With
warbl'd Hymns, and to his Godhead sing
Forc't Halleluiah's; while
he Lordly sits
Our envied Sovran, and his Altar breathes
Ambrosial
Odours and Ambrosial Flowers,
Our servile offerings. This must be
our task
In Heav'n, this our delight; how wearisom
Eternity
so spent in worship paid
To whom we hate. Let us not then pursue
By
force impossible, by leave obtain'd
Unacceptable, though in Heav'n,
our state
Of splendid vassalage, but rather seek
Our
own good from our selves, and from our own
Live to our selves,
though in this vast recess,
Free, and to none accountable,
preferring
Hard liberty before the easie yoke
Of
servile Pomp. Our greatness will appear
Then most conspicuous, when
great things of small,
Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse
We
can create, and in what place so e're
Thrive under evil, and work
ease out of pain
Through labour and endurance. This deep world
Of
darkness do we dread? How oft amidst
Thick clouds and dark doth
Heav'ns all-ruling Sire
Choose to reside, his Glory unobscur'd,
And
with the Majesty of darkness round
Covers his Throne; from whence
deep thunders roar
Must'ring thir rage, and Heav'n resembles Hell?
As
he our Darkness, cannot we his Light
Imitate when we please? This
Desart soile
Wants not her hidden lustre, Gemms and Gold;
Nor
want we skill or art, from whence to raise
Magnificence; and what
can Heav'n shew more?
Our torments also may in length of time
Become
our Elements, these piercing Fires
As soft as now severe, our
temper chang'd
Into their temper; which must needs remove
The
sensible of pain. All things invite
To peaceful Counsels, and the
settl'd State
Of order, how in safety best we may
Compose
our present evils, with regard
Of what we are and where, dismissing
quite
All thoughts of Warr: ye have what I advise.
He scarce had finisht, when such murmur filld
Th'
Assembly, as when hollow Rocks retain
The sound of blustring winds,
which all night long
Had rous'd the Sea, now with hoarse cadence
lull
Sea-faring men orewatcht, whose Bark by chance
Or
Pinnace anchors in a craggy Bay
After the Tempest: Such applause
was heard
As MAMMON ended, and his Sentence pleas'd,
Advising
peace: for such another Field
They dreaded worse then Hell: so much
the fear
Of Thunder and the Sword of MICHAEL
Wrought
still within them; and no less desire
To found this nether Empire,
which might rise
By pollicy, and long process of time,
In
emulation opposite to Heav'n.
Which when BEELZEBUB perceiv'd, then
whom,
SATAN except, none higher sat, with grave
Aspect
he rose, and in his rising seem'd
A Pillar of State; deep on his
Front engraven
Deliberation sat and publick care;
And
Princely counsel in his face yet shon,
Majestick though in ruin:
sage he stood
With ATLANTEAN shoulders fit to bear
The
weight of mightiest Monarchies; his look
Drew audience and
attention still as Night
Or Summers Noon-tide air, while thus he
spake.
Thrones and imperial Powers, off-spring of heav'n,
Ethereal
Vertues; or these Titles now
Must we renounce, and changing stile
be call'd
Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote
Inclines,
here to continue, and build up here
A growing Empire; doubtless;
while we dream,
And know not that the King of Heav'n hath doom'd
This
place our dungeon, not our safe retreat
Beyond his Potent arm, to
live exempt
From Heav'ns high jurisdiction, in new League
Banded
against his Throne, but to remaine
In strictest bondage, though
thus far remov'd,
Under th' inevitable curb, reserv'd
His
captive multitude: For he, be sure,
In highth or depth, still first
and last will Reign
Sole King, and of his Kingdom loose no part
By
our revolt, but over Hell extend
His Empire, and with Iron Scepter
rule
Us here, as with his Golden those in Heav'n.
What
sit we then projecting Peace and Warr?
Warr hath determin'd us, and
foild with loss
Irreparable; tearms of peace yet none
Voutsaf't
or sought; for what peace will be giv'n
To us enslav'd, but custody
severe,
And stripes, and arbitrary punishment
Inflicted?
and what peace can we return,
But to our power hostility and hate,
Untam'd
reluctance, and revenge though slow,
Yet ever plotting how the
Conquerour least
May reap his conquest, and may least rejoyce
In
doing what we most in suffering feel?
Nor will occasion want, nor
shall we need
With dangerous expedition to invade
Heav'n,
whose high walls fear no assault or Siege,
Or ambush from the Deep.
What if we find
Some easier enterprize? There is a place
(If
ancient and prophetic fame in Heav'n
Err not) another World, the
happy seat
Of som new Race call'd MAN, about this time
To
be created like to us, though less
In power and excellence, but
favour'd more
Of him who rules above; so was his will
Pronounc'd
among the Gods, and by an Oath,
That shook Heav'ns whol
circumference, confirm'd.
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to
learn
What creatures there inhabit, of what mould,
Or
substance, how endu'd, and what thir Power,
And where thir
weakness, how attempted best,
By force or suttlety: Though Heav'n
be shut,
And Heav'ns high Arbitrator sit secure
In
his own strength, this place may lye expos'd
The utmost border of
his Kingdom, left
To their defence who hold it: here perhaps
Som
advantagious act may be achiev'd
By sudden onset, either with Hell
fire
To waste his whole Creation, or possess
All as
our own, and drive as we were driven,
The punie habitants, or if
not drive,
Seduce them to our Party, that thir God
May
prove thir foe, and with repenting hand
Abolish his own works. This
would surpass
Common revenge, and interrupt his joy
In
our Confusion, and our Joy upraise
In his disturbance; when his
darling Sons
Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse
Thir
frail Originals, and faded bliss,
Faded so soon. Advise if this be
worth
Attempting, or to sit in darkness here
Hatching
vain Empires. Thus BEELZEBUB
Pleaded his devilish Counsel, first
devis'd
By SATAN, and in part propos'd: for whence,
But
from the Author of all ill could Spring
So deep a malice, to
confound the race
Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell
To
mingle and involve, done all to spite
The great Creatour? But thir
spite still serves
His glory to augment. The bold design
Pleas'd
highly those infernal States, and joy
Sparkl'd in all thir eyes;
with full assent
They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews.
Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate,
Synod
of Gods, and like to what ye are,
Great things resolv'd; which from
the lowest deep
Will once more lift us up, in spight of Fate,
Neerer
our ancient Seat; perhaps in view
Of those bright confines, whence
with neighbouring Arms
And opportune excursion we may chance
Re-enter
Heav'n; or else in some milde Zone
Dwell not unvisited of Heav'ns
fair Light
Secure, and at the brightning Orient beam
Purge
off this gloom; the soft delicious Air,
To heal the scarr of these
corrosive Fires
Shall breath her balme. But first whom shall we send
In
search of this new world, whom shall we find
Sufficient? who shall
tempt with wandring feet
The dark unbottom'd infinite Abyss
And
through the palpable obscure find out
His uncouth way, or spread
his aerie flight
Upborn with indefatigable wings
Over
the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
The happy Ile; what strength, what
art can then
Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe
Through
the strict Senteries and Stations thick
Of Angels watching round?
Here he had need
All circumspection, and we now no less
Choice
in our suffrage; for on whom we send,
The weight of all and our
last hope relies.
This said, he sat; and expectation held
His
look suspence, awaiting who appeer'd
To second, or oppose, or
undertake
The perilous attempt: but all sat mute,
Pondering
the danger with deep thoughts; & each
In others count'nance red
his own dismay
Astonisht: none among the choice and prime
Of
those Heav'n-warring Champions could be found
So hardie as to
proffer or accept
Alone the dreadful voyage; till at last
SATAN,
whom now transcendent glory rais'd
Above his fellows, with
Monarchal pride
Conscious of highest worth, unmov'd thus spake.
O Progeny of Heav'n, Empyreal Thrones,
With
reason hath deep silence and demurr
Seis'd us, though undismaid:
long is the way
And hard, that out of Hell leads up to Light;
Our
prison strong, this huge convex of Fire,
Outrageous to devour,
immures us round
Ninefold, and gates of burning Adamant
Barr'd
over us prohibit all egress.
These past, if any pass, the void
profound
Of unessential Night receives him next
Wide
gaping, and with utter loss of being
Threatens him, plung'd in that
abortive gulf.
If thence he scape into what ever world,
Or
unknown Region, what remains him less
Then unknown dangers and as
hard escape.
But I should ill become this Throne, O Peers,
And
this Imperial Sov'ranty, adorn'd
With splendor, arm'd with power,
if aught propos'd
And judg'd of public moment, in the shape
Of
difficulty or danger could deterre
Me from attempting. Wherefore do
I assume
These Royalties, and not refuse to Reign,
Refusing
to accept as great a share
Of hazard as of honour, due alike
To
him who Reigns, and so much to him due
Of hazard more, as he above
the rest
High honourd sits? Go therfore mighty powers,
Terror
of Heav'n, though fall'n; intend at home,
While here shall be our
home, what best may ease
The present misery, and render Hell
More
tollerable; if there be cure or charm
To respite or deceive, or
slack the pain
Of this ill Mansion: intermit no watch
Against
a wakeful Foe, while I abroad
Through all the coasts of dark
destruction seek
Deliverance for us all: this enterprize
None
shall partake with me. Thus saying rose
The Monarch, and prevented
all reply,
Prudent, least from his resolution rais'd
Others
among the chief might offer now
(Certain to be refus'd) what erst
they feard;
And so refus'd might in opinion stand
His
rivals, winning cheap the high repute
Which he through hazard huge
must earn. But they
Dreaded not more th' adventure then his voice
Forbidding;
and at once with him they rose;
Thir rising all at once was as the
sound
Of Thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend
With
awful reverence prone; and as a God
Extoll him equal to the highest
in Heav'n:
Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd,
That
for the general safety he despis'd
His own: for neither do the
Spirits damn'd
Loose all thir vertue; least bad men should boast
Thir
specious deeds on earth, which glory excites,
Or close ambition
varnisht o're with zeal.
Thus they thir doubtful consultations dark
Ended
rejoycing in thir matchless Chief:
As when from mountain tops the
dusky clouds
Ascending, while the North wind sleeps, o'respread
Heav'ns
chearful face, the lowring Element
Scowls ore the dark'nd lantskip
Snow, or showre;
If chance the radiant Sun with farewell sweet
Extend
his ev'ning beam, the fields revive,
The birds thir notes renew,
and bleating herds
Attest thir joy, that hill and valley rings.
O
shame to men! Devil with Devil damn'd
Firm concord holds, men onely
disagree
Of Creatures rational, though under hope
Of
heavenly Grace: and God proclaiming peace,
Yet live in hatred,
enmitie, and strife
Among themselves, and levie cruel warres,
Wasting
the Earth, each other to destroy:
As if (which might induce us to
accord)
Man had not hellish foes anow besides,
That
day and night for his destruction waite.
The STYGIAN Councel thus dissolv'd; and forth
In
order came the grand infernal Peers,
Midst came thir mighty
Paramount, and seemd
Alone th' Antagonist of Heav'n, nor less
Then
Hells dread Emperour with pomp Supream,
And God-like imitated
State; him round
A Globe of fierie Seraphim inclos'd
With
bright imblazonrie, and horrent Arms.
Then of thir Session ended
they bid cry
With Trumpets regal sound the great result:
Toward
the four winds four speedy Cherubim
Put to thir mouths the sounding
Alchymie
By Haralds voice explain'd: the hollow Abyss
Heard
farr and wide, and all the host of Hell
With deafning shout,
return'd them loud acclaim.
Thence more at ease thir minds and
somwhat rais'd
By false presumptuous hope, the ranged powers
Disband,
and wandring, each his several way
Pursues, as inclination or sad
choice
Leads him perplext, where he may likeliest find
Truce
to his restless thoughts, and entertain
The irksome hours, till his
great Chief return.
Part on the Plain, or in the Air sublime
Upon
the wing, or in swift race contend,
As at th' Olympian Games or
PYTHIAN fields;
Part curb thir fierie Steeds, or shun the Goal
With
rapid wheels, or fronted Brigads form.
As when to warn proud Cities
warr appears
Wag'd in the troubl'd Skie, and Armies rush
To
Battel in the Clouds, before each Van
Pric forth the Aerie Knights,
and couch thir spears
Till thickest Legions close; with feats of
Arms
From either end of Heav'n the welkin burns.
Others
with vast TYPHOEAN rage more fell
Rend up both Rocks and Hills, and
ride the Air
In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wilde uproar.
As
when ALCIDES from OEALIA Crown'd
With conquest, felt th' envenom'd
robe, and tore
Through pain up by the roots THESSALIAN Pines,
And
LICHAS from the top of OETA threw
Into th' EUBOIC Sea. Others more
milde,
Retreated in a silent valley, sing
With notes
Angelical to many a Harp
Thir own Heroic deeds and hapless fall
By
doom of Battel; and complain that Fate
Free Vertue should enthrall
to Force or Chance.
Thir song was partial, but the harmony
(What
could it less when Spirits immortal sing?)
Suspended Hell, and took
with ravishment
The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet
(For
Eloquence the Soul, Song charms the Sense,)
Others apart sat on a
Hill retir'd,
In thoughts more elevate, and reason'd high
Of
Providence, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate,
Fixt Fate, free will,
foreknowledge absolute,
And found no end, in wandring mazes lost.
Of
good and evil much they argu'd then,
Of happiness and final misery,
Passion
and Apathie, and glory and shame,
Vain wisdom all, and false
Philosophie:
Yet with a pleasing sorcerie could charm
Pain
for a while or anguish, and excite
Fallacious hope, or arm th'
obdured brest
With stubborn patience as with triple steel.
Another
part in Squadrons and gross Bands,
On bold adventure to discover
wide
That dismal world, if any Clime perhaps
Might
yeild them easier habitation, bend
Four ways thir flying March,
along the Banks
Of four infernal Rivers that disgorge
Into
the burning Lake thir baleful streams;
Abhorred STYX the flood of
deadly hate,
Sad ACHERON of sorrow, black and deep;
COCYTUS,
nam'd of lamentation loud
Heard on the ruful stream; fierce
PHLEGETON
Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage.
Farr
off from these a slow and silent stream,
LETHE the River of
Oblivion roules
Her watrie Labyrinth, whereof who drinks,
Forthwith
his former state and being forgets,
Forgets both joy and grief,
pleasure and pain.
Beyond this flood a frozen Continent
Lies
dark and wilde, beat with perpetual storms
Of Whirlwind and dire
Hail, which on firm land
Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin seems
Of
ancient pile; all else deep snow and ice,
A gulf profound as that
SERBONIAN Bog
Betwixt DAMIATA and mount CASIUS old,
Where
Armies whole have sunk: the parching Air
Burns frore, and cold
performs th' effect of Fire.
Thither by harpy-footed Furies hail'd,
At
certain revolutions all the damn'd
Are brought: and feel by turns
the bitter change
Of fierce extreams, extreams by change more
fierce,
From Beds of raging Fire to starve in Ice
Thir
soft Ethereal warmth, and there to pine
Immovable, infixt, and
frozen round,
Periods of time, thence hurried back to fire.
They
ferry over this LETHEAN Sound
Both to and fro, thir sorrow to
augment,
And wish and struggle, as they pass, to reach
The
tempting stream, with one small drop to loose
In sweet
forgetfulness all pain and woe,
All in one moment, and so neer the
brink;
But fate withstands, and to oppose th' attempt
MEDUSA
with GORGONIAN terror guards
The Ford, and of it self the water
flies
All taste of living wight, as once it fled
The
lip of TANTALUS. Thus roving on
In confus'd march forlorn, th'
adventrous Bands
With shuddring horror pale, and eyes agast
View'd
first thir lamentable lot, and found
No rest: through many a dark
and drearie Vaile
They pass'd, and many a Region dolorous,
O're
many a Frozen, many a Fierie Alpe,
Rocks, Caves, Lakes, Fens, Bogs,
Dens, and shades of death,
A Universe of death, which God by curse
Created
evil, for evil only good,
Where all life dies, death lives, and
nature breeds,
Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things,
Abominable,
inutterable, and worse
Then Fables yet have feign'd, or fear
conceiv'd,
GORGONS and HYDRA'S, and CHIMERA'S dire.
Mean while the Adversary of God and Man,
SATAN
with thoughts inflam'd of highest design,
Puts on swift wings, and
toward the Gates of Hell
Explores his solitary flight; som times
He
scours the right hand coast, som times the left,
Now shaves with
level wing the Deep, then soares
Up to the fiery concave touring
high.
As when farr off at Sea a Fleet descri'd
Hangs
in the Clouds, by AEQUINOCTIAL Winds
Close sailing from BENGALA, or
the Iles
Of TERNATE and TIDORE, whence Merchants bring
Thir
spicie Drugs: they on the trading Flood
Through the wide ETHIOPIAN
to the Cape
Ply stemming nightly toward the Pole. So seem'd
Farr
off the flying Fiend: at last appeer
Hell bounds high reaching to
the horrid Roof,
And thrice threefold the Gates; three folds were
Brass
Three Iron, three of Adamantine Rock,
Impenitrable,
impal'd with circling fire,
Yet unconsum'd. Before the Gates there
sat
On either side a formidable shape;
The one
seem'd Woman to the waste, and fair,
But ended foul in many a scaly
fould
Voluminous and vast, a Serpent arm'd
With
mortal sting: about her middle round
A cry of Hell Hounds never
ceasing bark'd
With wide CERBEREAN mouths full loud, and rung
A
hideous Peal: yet, when they list, would creep,
If aught disturb'd
thir noyse, into her woomb,
And kennel there, yet there still
bark'd and howl'd
Within unseen. Farr less abhorrd then these
Vex'd
SCYLLA bathing in the Sea that parts
CALABRIA from the hoarce
TRINACRIAN shore:
Nor uglier follow the Night-Hag, when call'd
In
secret, riding through the Air she comes
Lur'd with the smell of
infant blood, to dance
With LAPLAND Witches, while the labouring
Moon
Eclipses at thir charms. The other shape,
If
shape it might be call'd that shape had none
Distinguishable in
member, joynt, or limb,
Or substance might be call'd that shadow
seem'd,
For each seem'd either; black it stood as Night,
Fierce
as ten Furies, terrible as Hell,
And shook a dreadful Dart; what
seem'd his head
The likeness of a Kingly Crown had on.
SATAN
was now at hand, and from his seat
The Monster moving onward came
as fast,
With horrid strides, Hell trembled as he strode.
Th'
undaunted Fiend what this might be admir'd,
Admir'd, not fear'd;
God and his Son except,
Created thing naught vallu'd he nor shun'd;
And
with disdainful look thus first began.
Whence and what art thou, execrable shape,
That
dar'st, though grim and terrible, advance
Thy miscreated Front
athwart my way
To yonder Gates? through them I mean to pass,
That
be assur'd, without leave askt of thee:
Retire, or taste thy folly,
and learn by proof,
Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of
Heav'n.
To whom the Goblin full of wrauth reply'd,
Art
thou that Traitor Angel, art thou hee,
Who first broke peace in
Heav'n and Faith, till then
Unbrok'n, and in proud rebellious Arms
Drew
after him the third part of Heav'ns Sons
Conjur'd against the
highest, for which both Thou
And they outcast from God, are here
condemn'd
To waste Eternal daies in woe and pain?
And
reck'n'st thou thy self with Spirits of Heav'n,
Hell-doomd, and
breath'st defiance here and scorn,
Where I reign King, and to
enrage thee more,
Thy King and Lord? Back to thy punishment,
False
fugitive, and to thy speed add wings,
Least with a whip of
Scorpions I pursue
Thy lingring, or with one stroke of this Dart
Strange
horror seise thee, and pangs unfelt before.
So spake the grieslie terrour, and in shape,
So
speaking and so threatning, grew ten fold
More dreadful and deform:
on th' other side
Incenc't with indignation SATAN stood
Unterrifi'd,
and like a Comet burn'd,
That fires the length of OPHIUCUS huge
In
th' Artick Sky, and from his horrid hair
Shakes Pestilence and
Warr. Each at the Head
Level'd his deadly aime; thir fatall hands
No
second stroke intend, and such a frown
Each cast at th' other, as
when two black Clouds
With Heav'ns Artillery fraught, come rattling
on
Over the CASPIAN, then stand front to front
Hov'ring
a space, till Winds the signal blow
To joyn thir dark Encounter in
mid air:
So frownd the mighty Combatants, that Hell
Grew
darker at thir frown, so matcht they stood;
For never but once more
was either like
To meet so great a foe: and now great deeds
Had
been achiev'd, whereof all Hell had rung,
Had not the Snakie
Sorceress that sat
Fast by Hell Gate, and kept the fatal Key,
Ris'n,
and with hideous outcry rush'd between.
O Father, what intends thy hand, she cry'd,
Against
thy only Son? What fury O Son,
Possesses thee to bend that mortal
Dart
Against thy Fathers head? and know'st for whom;
For
him who sits above and laughs the while
At thee ordain'd his
drudge, to execute
What e're his wrath, which he calls Justice,
bids,
His wrath which one day will destroy ye both.
She spake, and at her words the hellish Pest
Forbore,
then these to her SATAN return'd:
So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange
Thou
interposest, that my sudden hand
Prevented spares to tell thee yet
by deeds
What it intends; till first I know of thee,
What
thing thou art, thus double-form'd, and why
In this infernal Vaile
first met thou call'st
Me Father, and that Fantasm call'st my Son?
I
know thee not, nor ever saw till now
Sight more detestable then him
and thee.
T' whom thus the Portress of Hell Gate reply'd;
Hast
thou forgot me then, and do I seem
Now in thine eye so foul, once
deemd so fair
In Heav'n, when at th' Assembly, and in sight
Of
all the Seraphim with thee combin'd
In bold conspiracy against
Heav'ns King,
All on a sudden miserable pain
Surpris'd
thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzie swumm
In darkness, while thy head
flames thick and fast
Threw forth, till on the left side op'ning
wide,
Likest to thee in shape and count'nance bright,
Then
shining heav'nly fair, a Goddess arm'd
Out of thy head I sprung:
amazement seis'd
All th' Host of Heav'n; back they recoild affraid
At
first, and call'd me SIN, and for a Sign
Portentous held me; but
familiar grown,
I pleas'd, and with attractive graces won
The
most averse, thee chiefly, who full oft
Thy self in me thy perfect
image viewing
Becam'st enamour'd, and such joy thou took'st
With
me in secret, that my womb conceiv'd
A growing burden. Mean while
Warr arose,
And fields were fought in Heav'n; wherein remaind
(For
what could else) to our Almighty Foe
Cleer Victory, to our part
loss and rout
Through all the Empyrean: down they fell
Driv'n
headlong from the Pitch of Heaven, down
Into this Deep, and in the
general fall
I also; at which time this powerful Key
Into
my hand was giv'n, with charge to keep
These Gates for ever shut,
which none can pass
Without my op'ning. Pensive here I sat
Alone,
but long I sat not, till my womb
Pregnant by thee, and now
excessive grown
Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes.
At
last this odious offspring whom thou seest
Thine own begotten,
breaking violent way
Tore through my entrails, that with fear and
pain
Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew
Transform'd:
but he my inbred enemie
Forth issu'd, brandishing his fatal Dart
Made
to destroy: I fled, and cry'd out DEATH;
Hell trembl'd at the
hideous Name, and sigh'd
From all her Caves, and back resounded
DEATH.
I fled, but he pursu'd (though more, it seems,
Inflam'd
with lust then rage) and swifter far,
Me overtook his mother all
dismaid,
And in embraces forcible and foule
Ingendring
with me, of that rape begot
These yelling Monsters that with
ceasless cry
Surround me, as thou sawst, hourly conceiv'd
And
hourly born, with sorrow infinite
To me, for when they list into
the womb
That bred them they return, and howle and gnaw
My
Bowels, their repast; then bursting forth
Afresh with conscious
terrours vex me round,
That rest or intermission none I find.
Before
mine eyes in opposition sits
Grim DEATH my Son and foe, who sets
them on,
And me his Parent would full soon devour
For
want of other prey, but that he knows
His end with mine involvd;
and knows that I
Should prove a bitter Morsel, and his bane,
When
ever that shall be; so Fate pronounc'd.
But thou O Father, I
forewarn thee, shun
His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope
To
be invulnerable in those bright Arms,
Though temper'd heav'nly, for
that mortal dint,
Save he who reigns above, none can resist.
She finish'd, and the suttle Fiend his lore
Soon
learnd, now milder, and thus answerd smooth.
Dear Daughter, since
thou claim'st me for thy Sire,
And my fair Son here showst me, the
dear pledge
Of dalliance had with thee in Heav'n, and joys
Then
sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change
Befalln us
unforeseen, unthought of, know
I come no enemie, but to set free
From
out this dark and dismal house of pain,
Both him and thee, and all
the heav'nly Host
Of Spirits that in our just pretenses arm'd
Fell
with us from on high: from them I go
This uncouth errand sole, and
one for all
My self expose, with lonely steps to tread
Th'
unfounded deep, & through the void immense
To search with
wandring quest a place foretold
Should be, and, by concurring
signs, ere now
Created vast and round, a place of bliss
In
the Pourlieues of Heav'n, and therein plac't
A race of upstart
Creatures, to supply
Perhaps our vacant room, though more remov'd,
Least
Heav'n surcharg'd with potent multitude
Might hap to move new
broiles: Be this or aught
Then this more secret now design'd, I
haste
To know, and this once known, shall soon return,
And
bring ye to the place where Thou and Death
Shall dwell at ease, and
up and down unseen
Wing silently the buxom Air, imbalm'd
With
odours; there ye shall be fed and fill'd
Immeasurably, all things
shall be your prey.
He ceas'd, for both seemd highly pleasd, and
Death
Grinnd horrible a gastly smile, to hear
His
famine should be fill'd, and blest his mawe
Destin'd to that good
hour: no less rejoyc'd
His mother bad, and thus bespake her Sire.
The key of this infernal Pit by due,
And by
command of Heav'ns all-powerful King
I keep, by him forbidden to
unlock
These Adamantine Gates; against all force
Death
ready stands to interpose his dart,
Fearless to be o'rematcht by
living might.
But what ow I to his commands above
Who
hates me, and hath hither thrust me down
Into this gloom of
TARTARUS profound,
To sit in hateful Office here confin'd,
Inhabitant
of Heav'n, and heav'nlie-born,
Here in perpetual agonie and pain,
With
terrors and with clamors compasst round
Of mine own brood, that on
my bowels feed:
Thou art my Father, thou my Author, thou
My
being gav'st me; whom should I obey
But thee, whom follow? thou
wilt bring me soon
To that new world of light and bliss, among
The
Gods who live at ease, where I shall Reign
At thy right hand
voluptuous, as beseems
Thy daughter and thy darling, without end.
Thus saying, from her side the fatal Key,
Sad
instrument of all our woe, she took;
And towards the Gate rouling
her bestial train,
Forthwith the huge Porcullis high up drew,
Which
but her self not all the STYGIAN powers
Could once have mov'd; then
in the key-hole turns
Th' intricate wards, and every Bolt and Bar
Of
massie Iron or sollid Rock with ease
Unfast'ns: on a sudden op'n
flie
With impetuous recoile and jarring sound
Th'
infernal dores, and on thir hinges great
Harsh Thunder, that the
lowest bottom shook
Of EREBUS. She op'nd, but to shut
Excel'd
her power; the Gates wide op'n stood,
That with extended wings a
Bannerd Host
Under spread Ensigns marching might pass through
With
Horse and Chariots rankt in loose array;
So wide they stood, and
like a Furnace mouth
Cast forth redounding smoak and ruddy flame.
Before
thir eyes in sudden view appear
The secrets of the hoarie deep, a
dark
Illimitable Ocean without bound,
Without
dimension, where length, breadth, and highth,
And time and place
are lost; where eldest Night
And CHAOS, Ancestors of Nature, hold
Eternal
ANARCHIE, amidst the noise
Of endless warrs and by confusion stand.
For
hot, cold, moist, and dry, four Champions fierce
Strive here for
Maistrie, and to Battel bring
Thir embryon Atoms; they around the
flag
Of each his faction, in thir several Clanns,
Light-arm'd
or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift or slow,
Swarm populous, unnumber'd
as the Sands
Of BARCA or CYRENE'S torrid soil,
Levied
to side with warring Winds, and poise
Thir lighter wings. To whom
these most adhere,
Hee rules a moment; CHAOS Umpire sits,
And
by decision more imbroiles the fray
By which he Reigns: next him
high Arbiter
CHANCE governs all. Into this wilde Abyss,
The
Womb of nature and perhaps her Grave,
Of neither Sea, nor Shore,
nor Air, nor Fire,
But all these in thir pregnant causes mixt
Confus'dly,
and which thus must ever fight,
Unless th' Almighty Maker them
ordain
His dark materials to create more Worlds,
Into
this wilde Abyss the warie fiend
Stood on the brink of Hell and
look'd a while,
Pondering his Voyage; for no narrow frith
He
had to cross. Nor was his eare less peal'd
With noises loud and
ruinous (to compare
Great things with small) then when BELLONA
storms,
With all her battering Engines bent to rase
Som
Capital City, or less then if this frame
Of Heav'n were falling,
and these Elements
In mutinie had from her Axle torn
The
stedfast Earth. At last his Sail-broad Vannes
He spreads for
flight, and in the surging smoak
Uplifted spurns the ground, thence
many a League
As in a cloudy Chair ascending rides
Audacious,
but that seat soon failing, meets
A vast vacuitie: all unawares
Fluttring
his pennons vain plumb down he drops
Ten thousand fadom deep, and
to this hour
Down had been falling, had not by ill chance
The
strong rebuff of som tumultuous cloud
Instinct with Fire and Nitre
hurried him
As many miles aloft: that furie stay'd,
Quencht
in a Boggie SYRTIS, neither Sea,
Nor good dry Land: nigh founderd
on he fares,
Treading the crude consistence, half on foot,
Half
flying; behoves him now both Oare and Saile.
As when a Gryfon
through the Wilderness
With winged course ore Hill or moarie Dale,
Pursues
the ARIMASPIAN, who by stelth
Had from his wakeful custody purloind
The
guarded Gold: So eagerly the fiend
Ore bog or steep, through
strait, rough, dense, or rare,
With head, hands, wings, or feet
pursues his way,
And swims or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flyes:
At
length a universal hubbub wilde
Of stunning sounds and voices all
confus'd
Born through the hollow dark assaults his eare
With
loudest vehemence: thither he plyes,
Undaunted to meet there what
ever power
Or Spirit of the nethermost Abyss
Might
in that noise reside, of whom to ask
Which way the neerest coast of
darkness lyes
Bordering on light; when strait behold the Throne
Of
CHAOS, and his dark Pavilion spread
Wide on the wasteful Deep; with
him Enthron'd
Sat Sable-vested Night, eldest of things,
The
consort of his Reign; and by them stood
ORCUS and ADES, and the
dreaded name
Of DEMOGORGON; Rumor next and Chance,
And
Tumult and Confusion all imbroild,
And Discord with a thousand
various mouths.
T' whom SATAN turning boldly, thus. Ye Powers
And
Spirits of this nethermost Abyss,
CHAOS and ANCIENT NIGHT, I come
no Spie,
With purpose to explore or to disturb
The
secrets of your Realm, but by constraint
Wandring this darksome
desart, as my way
Lies through your spacious Empire up to light,
Alone,
and without guide, half lost, I seek
What readiest path leads where
your gloomie bounds
Confine with Heav'n; or if som other place
From
your Dominion won, th' Ethereal King
Possesses lately, thither to
arrive
I travel this profound, direct my course;
Directed,
no mean recompence it brings
To your behoof, if I that Region lost,
All
usurpation thence expell'd, reduce
To her original darkness and
your sway
(Which is my present journey) and once more
Erect
the Standerd there of ANCIENT NIGHT;
Yours be th' advantage all,
mine the revenge.
Thus SATAN; and him thus the Anarch old
With
faultring speech and visage incompos'd
Answer'd. I know thee,
stranger, who thou art,
That mighty leading Angel, who of late
Made
head against Heav'ns King, though overthrown.
I saw and heard, for
such a numerous host
Fled not in silence through the frighted deep
With
ruin upon ruin, rout on rout,
Confusion worse confounded; and
Heav'n Gates
Pourd out by millions her victorious Bands
Pursuing.
I upon my Frontieres here
Keep residence; if all I can will serve,
That
little which is left so to defend
Encroacht on still through our
intestine broiles
Weakning the Scepter of old Night: first Hell
Your
dungeon stretching far and wide beneath;
Now lately Heaven and
Earth, another World
Hung ore my Realm, link'd in a golden Chain
To
that side Heav'n from whence your Legions fell:
If that way be your
walk, you have not farr;
So much the neerer danger; goe and speed;
Havock
and spoil and ruin are my gain.
He ceas'd; and SATAN staid not to reply,
But
glad that now his Sea should find a shore,
With fresh alacritie and
force renew'd
Springs upward like a Pyramid of fire
Into
the wilde expanse, and through the shock
Of fighting Elements, on
all sides round
Environ'd wins his way; harder beset
And
more endanger'd, then when ARGO pass'd
Through BOSPORUS betwixt the
justling Rocks:
Or when ULYSSES on the Larbord shunnd
CHARYBDIS,
and by th' other whirlpool steard.
So he with difficulty and labour
hard
Mov'd on, with difficulty and labour hee;
But
hee once past, soon after when man fell,
Strange alteration! Sin
and Death amain
Following his track, such was the will of Heav'n,
Pav'd
after him a broad and beat'n way
Over the dark Abyss, whose boiling
Gulf
Tamely endur'd a Bridge of wondrous length
From
Hell continu'd reaching th' utmost Orbe
Of this frail World; by
which the Spirits perverse
With easie intercourse pass to and fro
To
tempt or punish mortals, except whom
God and good Angels guard by
special grace.
But now at last the sacred influence
Of
light appears, and from the walls of Heav'n
Shoots farr into the
bosom of dim Night
A glimmering dawn; here Nature first begins
Her
fardest verge, and CHAOS to retire
As from her outmost works a
brok'n foe
With tumult less and with less hostile din,
That
SATAN with less toil, and now with ease
Wafts on the calmer wave by
dubious light
And like a weather-beaten Vessel holds
Gladly
the Port, though Shrouds and Tackle torn;
Or in the emptier waste,
resembling Air,
Weighs his spread wings, at leasure to behold
Farr
off th' Empyreal Heav'n, extended wide
In circuit, undetermind
square or round,
With Opal Towrs and Battlements adorn'd
Of
living Saphire, once his native Seat;
And fast by hanging in a
golden Chain
This pendant world, in bigness as a Starr
Of
smallest Magnitude close by the Moon.
Thither full fraught with
mischievous revenge,
Accurst, and in a cursed hour he hies.
Hail holy light, ofspring of Heav'n first-born,
Or
of th' Eternal Coeternal beam
May I express thee unblam'd? since
God is light,
And never but in unapproached light
Dwelt
from Eternitie, dwelt then in thee,
Bright effluence of bright
essence increate.
Or hear'st thou rather pure Ethereal stream,
Whose
Fountain who shall tell? before the Sun,
Before the Heavens thou
wert, and at the voice
Of God, as with a Mantle didst invest
The
rising world of waters dark and deep,
Won from the void and
formless infinite.
Thee I re-visit now with bolder wing,
Escap't
the STYGIAN Pool, though long detain'd
In that obscure sojourn,
while in my flight
Through utter and through middle darkness borne
With
other notes then to th' ORPHEAN Lyre
I sung of CHAOS and ETERNAL
NIGHT,
Taught by the heav'nly Muse to venture down
The
dark descent, and up to reascend,
Though hard and rare: thee I
revisit safe,
And feel thy sovran vital Lamp; but thou
Revisit'st
not these eyes, that rowle in vain
To find thy piercing ray, and
find no dawn;
So thick a drop serene hath quencht thir Orbs,
Or
dim suffusion veild. Yet not the more
Cease I to wander where the
Muses haunt
Cleer Spring, or shadie Grove, or Sunnie Hill,
Smit
with the love of sacred song; but chief
Thee SION and the flowrie
Brooks beneath
That wash thy hallowd feet, and warbling flow,
Nightly
I visit: nor somtimes forget
Those other two equal'd with me in
Fate,
So were I equal'd with them in renown,
Blind
THAMYRIS and blind MAEONIDES,
And TIRESIAS and PHINEUS Prophets old.
Then
feed on thoughts, that voluntarie move
Harmonious numbers; as the
wakeful Bird
Sings darkling, and in shadiest Covert hid
Tunes
her nocturnal Note. Thus with the Year
Seasons return, but not to
me returns
Day, or the sweet approach of Ev'n or Morn,
Or
sight of vernal bloom, or Summers Rose,
Or flocks, or herds, or
human face divine;
But cloud in stead, and ever-during dark
Surrounds
me, from the chearful waies of men
Cut off, and for the book of
knowledg fair
Presented with a Universal blanc
Of
Natures works to mee expung'd and ras'd,
And wisdome at one
entrance quite shut out.
So much the rather thou Celestial light
Shine
inward, and the mind through all her powers
Irradiate, there plant
eyes, all mist from thence
Purge and disperse, that I may see and
tell
Of things invisible to mortal sight.
Now had the Almighty Father from above,
From
the pure Empyrean where he sits
High Thron'd above all highth, bent
down his eye,
His own works and their works at once to view:
About
him all the Sanctities of Heaven
Stood thick as Starrs, and from
his sight receiv'd
Beatitude past utterance; on his right
The
radiant image of his Glory sat,
His onely Son; On Earth he first
beheld
Our two first Parents, yet the onely two
Of
mankind, in the happie Garden plac't,
Reaping immortal fruits of
joy and love,
Uninterrupted joy, unrivald love
In
blissful solitude; he then survey'd
Hell and the Gulf between, and
SATAN there
Coasting the wall of Heav'n on this side Night
In
the dun Air sublime, and ready now
To stoop with wearied wings, and
willing feet
On the bare outside of this World, that seem'd
Firm
land imbosom'd without Firmament,
Uncertain which, in Ocean or in
Air.
Him God beholding from his prospect high,
Wherein
past, present, future he beholds,
Thus to his onely Son foreseeing
spake.
Onely begotten Son, seest thou what rage
Transports
our adversarie, whom no bounds
Prescrib'd, no barrs of Hell, nor
all the chains
Heapt on him there, nor yet the main Abyss
Wide
interrupt can hold; so bent he seems
On desperat revenge, that
shall redound
Upon his own rebellious head. And now
Through
all restraint broke loose he wings his way
Not farr off Heav'n, in
the Precincts of light,
Directly towards the new created World,
And
Man there plac't, with purpose to assay
If him by force he can
destroy, or worse,
By som false guile pervert; and shall pervert;
For
man will heark'n to his glozing lyes,
And easily transgress the
sole Command,
Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fall
Hee
and his faithless Progenie: whose fault?
Whose but his own?
ingrate, he had of mee
All he could have; I made him just and right,
Sufficient
to have stood, though free to fall.
Such I created all th' Ethereal
Powers
And Spirits, both them who stood & them who faild;
Freely
they stood who stood, and fell who fell.
Not free, what proof could
they have givn sincere
Of true allegiance, constant Faith or Love,
Where
onely what they needs must do, appeard,
Not what they would? what
praise could they receive?
What pleasure I from such obedience paid,
When
Will and Reason (Reason also is choice)
Useless and vain, of
freedom both despoild,
Made passive both, had servd necessitie,
Not
mee. They therefore as to right belongd,
So were created, nor can
justly accuse
Thir maker, or thir making, or thir Fate;
As
if Predestination over-rul'd
Thir will, dispos'd by absolute Decree
Or
high foreknowledge; they themselves decreed
Thir own revolt, not I:
if I foreknew,
Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault,
Which
had no less prov'd certain unforeknown.
So without least impulse or
shadow of Fate,
Or aught by me immutablie foreseen,
They
trespass, Authors to themselves in all
Both what they judge and
what they choose; for so
I formd them free, and free they must
remain,
Till they enthrall themselves: I else must change
Thir
nature, and revoke the high Decree
Unchangeable, Eternal, which
ordain'd
Thir freedom, they themselves ordain'd thir fall.
The
first sort by thir own suggestion fell,
Self-tempted,
self-deprav'd: Man falls deceiv'd
By the other first: Man therefore
shall find grace,
The other none: in Mercy and Justice both,
Through
Heav'n and Earth, so shall my glorie excel,
But Mercy first and
last shall brightest shine.
Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill'd
All
Heav'n, and in the blessed Spirits elect
Sense of new joy ineffable
diffus'd:
Beyond compare the Son of God was seen
Most
glorious, in him all his Father shon
Substantially express'd, and
in his face
Divine compassion visibly appeerd,
Love
without end, and without measure Grace,
Which uttering thus he to
his Father spake.
O Father, gracious was that word which clos'd
Thy
sovran sentence, that Man should find grace;
For which both Heav'n
and Earth shall high extoll
Thy praises, with th' innumerable sound
Of
Hymns and sacred Songs, wherewith thy Throne
Encompass'd shall
resound thee ever blest.
For should Man finally be lost, should Man
Thy
creature late so lov'd, thy youngest Son
Fall circumvented thus by
fraud, though joynd
With his own folly? that be from thee farr,
That
farr be from thee, Father, who art Judge
Of all things made, and
judgest onely right.
Or shall the Adversarie thus obtain
His
end, and frustrate thine, shall he fulfill
His malice, and thy
goodness bring to naught,
Or proud return though to his heavier
doom,
Yet with revenge accomplish't and to Hell
Draw
after him the whole Race of mankind,
By him corrupted? or wilt thou
thy self
Abolish thy Creation, and unmake,
For him,
what for thy glorie thou hast made?
So should thy goodness and thy
greatness both
Be questiond and blaspheam'd without defence.
To whom the great Creatour thus reply'd.
O
Son, in whom my Soul hath chief delight,
Son of my bosom, Son who
art alone
My word, my wisdom, and effectual might,
All
hast thou spok'n as my thoughts are, all
As my Eternal purpose hath
decreed:
Man shall not quite be lost, but sav'd who will,
Yet
not of will in him, but grace in me
Freely voutsaft; once more I
will renew
His lapsed powers, though forfeit and enthrall'd
By
sin to foul exorbitant desires;
Upheld by me, yet once more he
shall stand
On even ground against his mortal foe,
By
me upheld, that he may know how frail
His fall'n condition is, and
to me ow
All his deliv'rance, and to none but me.
Some
I have chosen of peculiar grace
Elect above the rest; so is my will:
The
rest shall hear me call, and oft be warnd
Thir sinful state, and to
appease betimes
Th' incensed Deitie, while offerd grace
Invites;
for I will cleer thir senses dark,
What may suffice, and soft'n
stonie hearts
To pray, repent, and bring obedience due.
To
prayer, repentance, and obedience due,
Though but endevord with
sincere intent,
Mine eare shall not be slow, mine eye not shut.
And
I will place within them as a guide
My Umpire CONSCIENCE, whom if
they will hear,
Light after light well us'd they shall attain,
And
to the end persisting, safe arrive.
This my long sufferance and my
day of grace
They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste;
But
hard be hard'nd, blind be blinded more,
That they may stumble on,
and deeper fall;
And none but such from mercy I exclude.
But
yet all is not don; Man disobeying,
Disloyal breaks his fealtie,
and sinns
Against the high Supremacie of Heav'n,
Affecting
God-head, and so loosing all,
To expiate his Treason hath naught
left,
But to destruction sacred and devote,
He with
his whole posteritie must die,
Die hee or Justice must; unless for
him
Som other able, and as willing, pay
The rigid
satisfaction, death for death.
Say Heav'nly Powers, where shall we
find such love,
Which of ye will be mortal to redeem
Mans
mortal crime, and just th' unjust to save,
Dwels in all Heaven
charitie so deare?
He ask'd, but all the Heav'nly Quire stood mute,
And
silence was in Heav'n: on mans behalf
Patron or Intercessor none
appeerd,
Much less that durst upon his own head draw
The
deadly forfeiture, and ransom set.
And now without redemption all
mankind
Must have bin lost, adjudg'd to Death and Hell
By
doom severe, had not the Son of God,
In whom the fulness dwels of
love divine,
His dearest mediation thus renewd.
Father, thy word is past, man shall find grace;
And
shall grace not find means, that finds her way,
The speediest of
thy winged messengers,
To visit all thy creatures, and to all
Comes
unprevented, unimplor'd, unsought,
Happie for man, so coming; he
her aide
Can never seek, once dead in sins and lost;
Attonement
for himself or offering meet,
Indebted and undon, hath none to
bring:
Behold mee then, mee for him, life for life
I
offer, on mee let thine anger fall;
Account mee man; I for his sake
will leave
Thy bosom, and this glorie next to thee
Freely
put off, and for him lastly die
Well pleas'd, on me let Death wreck
all his rage;
Under his gloomie power I shall not long
Lie
vanquisht; thou hast givn me to possess
Life in my self for ever,
by thee I live,
Though now to Death I yeild, and am his due
All
that of me can die, yet that debt paid,
Thou wilt not leave me in
the loathsom grave
His prey, nor suffer my unspotted Soule
For
ever with corruption there to dwell;
But I shall rise Victorious,
and subdue
My Vanquisher, spoild of his vanted spoile;
Death
his deaths wound shall then receive, & stoop
Inglorious, of his
mortall sting disarm'd.
I through the ample Air in Triumph high
Shall
lead Hell Captive maugre Hell, and show
The powers of darkness
bound. Thou at the sight
Pleas'd, out of Heaven shalt look down and
smile,
While by thee rais'd I ruin all my Foes,
Death
last, and with his Carcass glut the Grave:
Then with the multitude
of my redeemd
Shall enter Heaven long absent, and returne,
Father,
to see thy face, wherein no cloud
Of anger shall remain, but peace
assur'd,
And reconcilement; wrauth shall be no more
Thenceforth,
but in thy presence Joy entire.
His words here ended, but his meek aspect
Silent
yet spake, and breath'd immortal love
To mortal men, above which
only shon
Filial obedience: as a sacrifice
Glad to
be offer'd, he attends the will
Of his great Father. Admiration
seis'd
All Heav'n, what this might mean, & whither tend
Wondring;
but soon th' Almighty thus reply'd:
O thou in Heav'n and Earth the only peace
Found
out for mankind under wrauth, O thou
My sole complacence! well thou
know'st how dear,
To me are all my works, nor Man the least
Though
last created, that for him I spare
Thee from my bosom and right
hand, to save,
By loosing thee a while, the whole Race lost.
Thou
therefore whom thou only canst redeeme,
Thir Nature also to thy
Nature joyne;
And be thy self Man among men on Earth,
Made
flesh, when time shall be, of Virgin seed,
By wondrous birth: Be
thou in ADAMS room
The Head of all mankind, though ADAMS Son.
As
in him perish all men, so in thee
As from a second root shall be
restor'd,
As many as are restor'd, without thee none.
His
crime makes guiltie all his Sons, thy merit
Imputed shall absolve
them who renounce
Thir own both righteous and unrighteous deeds,
And
live in thee transplanted, and from thee
Receive new life. So Man,
as is most just,
Shall satisfie for Man, be judg'd and die,
And
dying rise, and rising with him raise
His Brethren, ransomd with
his own dear life.
So Heav'nly love shal outdoo Hellish hate,
Giving
to death, and dying to redeeme,
So dearly to redeem what Hellish
hate
So easily destroy'd, and still destroyes
In
those who, when they may, accept not grace.
Nor shalt thou by
descending to assume
Mans Nature, less'n or degrade thine owne.
Because
thou hast, though Thron'd in highest bliss
Equal to God, and
equally enjoying
God-like fruition, quitted all to save
A
World from utter loss, and hast been found
By Merit more then
Birthright Son of God,
Found worthiest to be so by being Good,
Farr
more then Great or High; because in thee
Love hath abounded more
then Glory abounds,
Therefore thy Humiliation shall exalt
With
thee thy Manhood also to this Throne;
Here shalt thou sit
incarnate, here shalt Reigne
Both God and Man, Son both of God and
Man,
Anointed universal King; all Power
I give thee,
reign for ever, and assume
Thy Merits; under thee as Head Supream
Thrones,
Princedoms, Powers, Dominions I reduce:
All knees to thee shall
bow, of them that bide
In Heaven, or Earth, or under Earth in Hell;
When
thou attended gloriously from Heav'n
Shalt in the Skie appeer, and
from thee send
The summoning Arch-Angels to proclaime
Thy
dread Tribunal: forthwith from all Windes
The living, and forthwith
the cited dead
Of all past Ages to the general Doom
Shall
hast'n, such a peal shall rouse thir sleep.
Then all thy Saints
assembl'd, thou shalt judge
Bad men and Angels, they arraignd shall
sink
Beneath thy Sentence; Hell, her numbers full,
Thenceforth
shall be for ever shut. Mean while
The World shall burn, and from
her ashes spring
New Heav'n and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell
And
after all thir tribulations long
See golden days, fruitful of
golden deeds,
With Joy and Love triumphing, and fair Truth.
Then
thou thy regal Scepter shalt lay by,
For regal Scepter then no more
shall need,
God shall be All in All. But all ye Gods,
Adore
him, who to compass all this dies,
Adore the Son, and honour him as
mee.
No sooner had th' Almighty ceas't, but all
The
multitude of Angels with a shout
Loud as from numbers without
number, sweet
As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heav'n rung
With
Jubilee, and loud Hosanna's fill'd
Th' eternal Regions: lowly
reverent
Towards either Throne they bow, & to the ground
With
solemn adoration down they cast
Thir Crowns inwove with Amarant and
Gold,
Immortal Amarant, a Flour which once
In
Paradise, fast by the Tree of Life
Began to bloom, but soon for
mans offence
To Heav'n remov'd where first it grew, there grows,
And
flours aloft shading the Fount of Life,
And where the river of
Bliss through midst of Heavn
Rowls o're ELISIAN Flours her Amber
stream;
With these that never fade the Spirits Elect
Bind
thir resplendent locks inwreath'd with beams,
Now in loose Garlands
thick thrown off, the bright
Pavement that like a Sea of Jasper shon
Impurpl'd
with Celestial Roses smil'd.
Then Crown'd again thir gold'n Harps
they took,
Harps ever tun'd, that glittering by their side
Like
Quivers hung, and with Praeamble sweet
Of charming symphonie they
introduce
Thir sacred Song, and waken raptures high;
No
voice exempt, no voice but well could joine
Melodious part, such
concord is in Heav'n.
Thee Father first they sung Omnipotent,
Immutable,
Immortal, Infinite,
Eternal King; thee Author of all being,
Fountain
of Light, thy self invisible
Amidst the glorious brightness where
thou sit'st
Thron'd inaccessible, but when thou shad'st
The
full blaze of thy beams, and through a cloud
Drawn round about thee
like a radiant Shrine,
Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appeer,
Yet
dazle Heav'n, that brightest Seraphim
Approach not, but with both
wings veil thir eyes.
Thee next they sang of all Creation first,
Begotten
Son, Divine Similitude,
In whose conspicuous count'nance, without
cloud
Made visible, th' Almighty Father shines,
Whom
else no Creature can behold; on thee
Impresst the effulgence of his
Glorie abides,
Transfus'd on thee his ample Spirit rests.
Hee
Heav'n of Heavens and all the Powers therein
By thee created, and
by thee threw down
Th' aspiring Dominations: thou that day
Thy
Fathers dreadful Thunder didst not spare,
Nor stop thy flaming
Chariot wheels, that shook
Heav'ns everlasting Frame, while o're
the necks
Thou drov'st of warring Angels disarraid.
Back
from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaime
Thee only extold, Son of
thy Fathers might,
To execute fierce vengeance on his foes,
Not
so on Man; him through their malice fall'n,
Father of Mercie and
Grace, thou didst not doome
So strictly, but much more to pitie
encline:
No sooner did thy dear and onely Son
Perceive
thee purpos'd not to doom frail Man
So strictly, but much more to
pitie enclin'd,
He to appease thy wrauth, and end the strife
Of
Mercy and Justice in thy face discern'd,
Regardless of the Bliss
wherein hee sat
Second to thee, offerd himself to die
For
mans offence. O unexampl'd love,
Love no where to be found less
then Divine!
Hail Son of God, Saviour of Men, thy Name
Shall
be the copious matter of my Song
Henceforth, and never shall my
Harp thy praise
Forget, nor from thy Fathers praise disjoine.
Thus they in Heav'n, above the starry Sphear,
Thir
happie hours in joy and hymning spent.
Mean while upon the firm
opacous Globe
Of this round World, whose first convex divides
The
luminous inferior Orbs, enclos'd
From CHAOS and th' inroad of
Darkness old,
SATAN alighted walks: a Globe farr off
It
seem'd, now seems a boundless Continent
Dark, waste, and wild,
under the frown of Night
Starless expos'd, and ever-threatning
storms
Of CHAOS blustring round, inclement skie;
Save
on that side which from the wall of Heav'n
Though distant farr som
small reflection gaines
Of glimmering air less vext with tempest
loud:
Here walk'd the Fiend at large in spacious field.
As
when a Vultur on IMAUS bred,
Whose snowie ridge the roving TARTAR
bounds,
Dislodging from a Region scarce of prey
To
gorge the flesh of Lambs or yeanling Kids
On Hills where Flocks are
fed, flies toward the Springs
Of GANGES or HYDASPES, INDIAN streams;
But
in his way lights on the barren plaines
Of SERICANA, where CHINESES
drive
With Sails and Wind thir canie Waggons light:
So
on this windie Sea of Land, the Fiend
Walk'd up and down alone bent
on his prey,
Alone, for other Creature in this place
Living
or liveless to be found was none,
None yet, but store hereafter
from the earth
Up hither like Aereal vapours flew
Of
all things transitorie and vain, when Sin
With vanity had filld the
works of men:
Both all things vain, and all who in vain things
Built
thir fond hopes of Glorie or lasting fame,
Or happiness in this or
th' other life;
All who have thir reward on Earth, the fruits
Of
painful Superstition and blind Zeal,
Naught seeking but the praise
of men, here find
Fit retribution, emptie as thir deeds;
All
th' unaccomplisht works of Natures hand,
Abortive, monstrous, or
unkindly mixt,
Dissolvd on earth, fleet hither, and in vain,
Till
final dissolution, wander here,
Not in the neighbouring Moon, as
some have dreamd;
Those argent Fields more likely habitants,
Translated
Saints, or middle Spirits hold
Betwixt th' Angelical and Human
kinde:
Hither of ill-joynd Sons and Daughters born
First
from the ancient World those Giants came
With many a vain exploit,
though then renownd:
The builders next of BABEL on the Plain
Of
SENNAAR, and still with vain designe
New BABELS, had they
wherewithall, would build:
Others came single; hee who to be deemd
A
God, leap'd fondly into AETNA flames,
EMPEDOCLES, and hee who to
enjoy
PLATO'S ELYSIUM, leap'd into the Sea,
CLEOMBROTUS,
and many more too long,
Embryo's and Idiots, Eremits and Friers
White,
Black and Grey, with all thir trumperie.
Here Pilgrims roam, that
stray'd so farr to seek
In GOLGOTHA him dead, who lives in Heav'n;
And
they who to be sure of Paradise
Dying put on the weeds of DOMINIC,
Or
in FRANCISCAN think to pass disguis'd;
They pass the Planets seven,
and pass the fixt,
And that Crystalline Sphear whose ballance weighs
The
Trepidation talkt, and that first mov'd;
And now Saint PETER at
Heav'ns Wicket seems
To wait them with his Keys, and now at foot
Of
Heav'ns ascent they lift thir Feet, when loe
A violent cross wind
from either Coast
Blows them transverse ten thousand Leagues awry
Into
the devious Air; then might ye see
Cowles, Hoods and Habits with
thir wearers tost
And flutterd into Raggs, then Reliques, Beads,
Indulgences,
Dispenses, Pardons, Bulls,
The sport of Winds: all these upwhirld
aloft
Fly o're the backside of the World farr off
Into
a LIMBO large and broad, since calld
The Paradise of Fools, to few
unknown
Long after, now unpeopl'd, and untrod;
All
this dark Globe the Fiend found as he pass'd,
And long he wanderd,
till at last a gleame
Of dawning light turnd thither-ward in haste
His
travell'd steps; farr distant hee descries
Ascending by degrees
magnificent
Up to the wall of Heaven a Structure high,
At
top whereof, but farr more rich appeerd
The work as of a Kingly
Palace Gate
With Frontispice of Diamond and Gold
Imbellisht,
thick with sparkling orient Gemmes
The Portal shon, inimitable on
Earth
By Model, or by shading Pencil drawn.
The
Stairs were such as whereon JACOB saw
Angels ascending and
descending, bands
Of Guardians bright, when he from ESAU fled
To
PADAN-ARAM in the field of LUZ,
Dreaming by night under the open
Skie,
And waking cri'd, This is the Gate of Heav'n.
Each
Stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood
There alwaies, but drawn up
to Heav'n somtimes
Viewless, and underneath a bright Sea flow'd
Of
Jasper, or of liquid Pearle, whereon
Who after came from Earth,
sayling arriv'd,
Wafted by Angels, or flew o're the Lake
Rapt
in a Chariot drawn by fiery Steeds.
The Stairs were then let down,
whether to dare
The Fiend by easie ascent, or aggravate
His
sad exclusion from the dores of Bliss.
Direct against which op'nd
from beneath,
Just o're the blissful seat of Paradise,
A
passage down to th' Earth, a passage wide,
Wider by farr then that
of after-times
Over Mount SION, and, though that were large,
Over
the PROMIS'D LAND to God so dear,
By which, to visit oft those
happy Tribes,
On high behests his Angels to and fro
Pass'd
frequent, and his eye with choice regard
From PANEAS the fount of
JORDANS flood
To BEERSABA, where the HOLY LAND
Borders
on AEGYPT and the ARABIAN shoare;
So wide the op'ning seemd, where
bounds were set
To darkness, such as bound the Ocean wave.
SATAN
from hence now on the lower stair
That scal'd by steps of Gold to
Heav'n Gate
Looks down with wonder at the sudden view
Of
all this World at once. As when a Scout
Through dark and desart
wayes with peril gone
All night; at last by break of chearful dawne
Obtains
the brow of some high-climbing Hill,
Which to his eye discovers
unaware
The goodly prospect of some forein land
First-seen,
or some renownd Metropolis
With glistering Spires and Pinnacles
adornd,
Which now the Rising Sun guilds with his beams.
Such
wonder seis'd, though after Heaven seen,
The Spirit maligne, but
much more envy seis'd
At sight of all this World beheld so faire.
Round
he surveys, and well might, where he stood
So high above the
circling Canopie
Of Nights extended shade; from Eastern Point
Of
LIBRA to the fleecie Starr that bears
ANDROMEDA farr off ATLANTICK
Seas
Beyond th' HORIZON; then from Pole to Pole
He
views in bredth, and without longer pause
Down right into the
Worlds first Region throws
His flight precipitant, and windes with
ease
Through the pure marble Air his oblique way
Amongst
innumerable Starrs, that shon
Stars distant, but nigh hand seemd
other Worlds,
Or other Worlds they seemd, or happy Iles,
Like
those HESPERIAN Gardens fam'd of old,
Fortunate Fields, and Groves
and flourie Vales,
Thrice happy Iles, but who dwelt happy there
He
stayd not to enquire: above them all
The golden Sun in splendor
likest Heaven
Allur'd his eye: Thither his course he bends
Through
the calm Firmament; but up or downe
By center, or eccentric, hard
to tell,
Or Longitude, where the great Luminarie
Alooff
the vulgar Constellations thick,
That from his Lordly eye keep
distance due,
Dispenses Light from farr; they as they move
Thir
Starry dance in numbers that compute
Days, months, and years,
towards his all-chearing Lamp
Turn swift their various motions, or
are turnd
By his Magnetic beam, that gently warms
The
Univers, and to each inward part
With gentle penetration, though
unseen,
Shoots invisible vertue even to the deep:
So
wondrously was set his Station bright.
There lands the Fiend, a
spot like which perhaps
Astronomer in the Sun's lucent Orbe
Through
his glaz'd Optic Tube yet never saw.
The place he found beyond
expression bright,
Compar'd with aught on Earth, Medal or Stone;
Not
all parts like, but all alike informd
With radiant light, as
glowing Iron with fire;
If mettal, part seemd Gold, part Silver
cleer;
If stone, Carbuncle most or Chrysolite,
Rubie
or Topaz, to the Twelve that shon
In AARONS Brest-plate, and a
stone besides
Imagind rather oft then elsewhere seen,
That
stone, or like to that which here below
Philosophers in vain so
long have sought,
In vain, though by thir powerful Art they binde
Volatil
HERMES, and call up unbound
In various shapes old PROTEUS from the
Sea,
Draind through a Limbec to his Native forme.
What
wonder then if fields and regions here
Breathe forth ELIXIR pure,
and Rivers run
Potable Gold, when with one vertuous touch
Th'
Arch-chimic Sun so farr from us remote
Produces with Terrestrial
Humor mixt
Here in the dark so many precious things
Of
colour glorious and effect so rare?
Here matter new to gaze the
Devil met
Undazl'd, farr and wide his eye commands,
For
sight no obstacle found here, nor shade,
But all Sun-shine, as when
his Beams at Noon
Culminate from th' AEQUATOR, as they now
Shot
upward still direct, whence no way round
Shadow from body opaque
can fall, and the Aire,
No where so cleer, sharp'nd his visual ray
To
objects distant farr, whereby he soon
Saw within kenn a glorious
Angel stand,
The same whom JOHN saw also in the Sun:
His
back was turnd, but not his brightness hid;
Of beaming sunnie
Raies, a golden tiar
Circl'd his Head, nor less his Locks behind
Illustrious
on his Shoulders fledge with wings
Lay waving round; on som great
charge imploy'd
Hee seemd, or fixt in cogitation deep.
Glad
was the Spirit impure as now in hope
To find who might direct his
wandring flight
To Paradise the happie seat of Man,
His
journies end and our beginning woe.
But first he casts to change
his proper shape,
Which else might work him danger or delay:
And
now a stripling Cherube he appeers,
Not of the prime, yet such as
in his face
Youth smil'd Celestial, and to every Limb
Sutable
grace diffus'd, so well he feignd;
Under a Coronet his flowing haire
In
curles on either cheek plaid, wings he wore
Of many a colourd plume
sprinkl'd with Gold,
His habit fit for speed succinct, and held
Before
his decent steps a Silver wand.
He drew not nigh unheard, the Angel
bright,
Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turnd,
Admonisht
by his eare, and strait was known
Th' Arch-Angel URIEL, one of the
seav'n
Who in Gods presence, neerest to his Throne
Stand
ready at command, and are his Eyes
That run through all the
Heav'ns, or down to th' Earth
Bear his swift errands over moist and
dry,
O're Sea and Land: him SATAN thus accostes;
URIEL, for thou of those seav'n Spirits that stand
In
sight of God's high Throne, gloriously bright,
The first art wont
his great authentic will
Interpreter through highest Heav'n to
bring,
Where all his Sons thy Embassie attend;
And
here art likeliest by supream decree
Like honour to obtain, and as
his Eye
To visit oft this new Creation round;
Unspeakable
desire to see, and know
All these his wondrous works, but chiefly
Man,
His chief delight and favour, him for whom
All
these his works so wondrous he ordaind,
Hath brought me from the
Quires of Cherubim
Alone thus wandring. Brightest Seraph tell
In
which of all these shining Orbes hath Man
His fixed seat, or fixed
seat hath none,
But all these shining Orbes his choice to dwell;
That
I may find him, and with secret gaze,
Or open admiration him behold
On
whom the great Creator hath bestowd
Worlds, and on whom hath all
these graces powrd;
That both in him and all things, as is meet,
The
Universal Maker we may praise;
Who justly hath drivn out his Rebell
Foes
To deepest Hell, and to repair that loss
Created
this new happie Race of Men
To serve him better: wise are all his
wayes.
So spake the false dissembler unperceivd;
For
neither Man nor Angel can discern
Hypocrisie, the only evil that
walks
Invisible, except to God alone,
By his
permissive will, through Heav'n and Earth:
And oft though wisdom
wake, suspicion sleeps
At wisdoms Gate, and to simplicitie
Resigns
her charge, while goodness thinks no ill
Where no ill seems: Which
now for once beguil'd
URIEL, though Regent of the Sun, and held
The
sharpest sighted Spirit of all in Heav'n;
Who to the fraudulent
Impostor foule
In his uprightness answer thus returnd.
Faire
Angel, thy desire which tends to know
The works of God, thereby to
glorifie
The great Work-Maister, leads to no excess
That
reaches blame, but rather merits praise
The more it seems excess,
that led thee hither
From thy Empyreal Mansion thus alone,
To
witness with thine eyes what some perhaps
Contented with report
heare onely in heav'n:
For wonderful indeed are all his works,
Pleasant
to know, and worthiest to be all
Had in remembrance alwayes with
delight;
But what created mind can comprehend
Thir
number, or the wisdom infinite
That brought them forth, but hid
thir causes deep.
I saw when at his Word the formless Mass,
This
worlds material mould, came to a heap:
Confusion heard his voice,
and wilde uproar
Stood rul'd, stood vast infinitude confin'd;
Till
at his second bidding darkness fled,
Light shon, and order from
disorder sprung:
Swift to thir several Quarters hasted then
The
cumbrous Elements, Earth, Flood, Aire, Fire,
And this Ethereal
quintessence of Heav'n
Flew upward, spirited with various forms,
That
rowld orbicular, and turnd to Starrs
Numberless, as thou seest, and
how they move;
Each had his place appointed, each his course,
The
rest in circuit walles this Universe.
Look downward on that Globe
whose hither side
With light from hence, though but reflected,
shines;
That place is Earth the seat of Man, that light
His
day, which else as th' other Hemisphere
Night would invade, but
there the neighbouring Moon
(So call that opposite fair Starr) her
aide
Timely interposes, and her monthly round
Still
ending, still renewing, through mid Heav'n;
With borrowd light her
countenance triform
Hence fills and empties to enlighten th' Earth,
And
in her pale dominion checks the night.
That spot to which I point
is PARADISE,
ADAMS abode, those loftie shades his Bowre.
Thy
way thou canst not miss, me mine requires.
Thus said, he turnd, and SATAN bowing low,
As
to superior Spirits is wont in Heaven,
Where honour due and
reverence none neglects,
Took leave, and toward the coast of Earth
beneath,
Down from th' Ecliptic, sped with hop'd success,
Throws
his steep flight with many an Aerie wheele,
Nor staid, till on
NIPHATES top he lights.
O For that warning voice, which he who saw
Th'
APOCALYPS, heard cry in Heaven aloud,
Then when the Dragon, put to
second rout,
Came furious down to be reveng'd on men,
WO
TO THE INHABITANTS ON EARTH! that now,
While time was, our first
Parents had bin warnd
The coming of thir secret foe, and scap'd
Haply
so scap'd his mortal snare; for now
SATAN, now first inflam'd with
rage, came down,
The Tempter ere th' Accuser of man-kind,
To
wreck on innocent frail man his loss
Of that first Battel, and his
flight to Hell:
Yet not rejoycing in his speed, though bold,
Far
off and fearless, nor with cause to boast,
Begins his dire attempt,
which nigh the birth
Now rowling, boiles in his tumultuous brest,
And
like a devillish Engine back recoiles
Upon himself; horror and
doubt distract
His troubl'd thoughts, and from the bottom stirr
The
Hell within him, for within him Hell
He brings, and round about
him, nor from Hell
One step no more then from himself can fly
By
change of place: Now conscience wakes despair
That slumberd, wakes
the bitter memorie
Of what he was, what is, and what must be
Worse;
of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue.
Sometimes towards EDEN
which now in his view
Lay pleasant, his grievd look he fixes sad,
Sometimes
towards Heav'n and the full-blazing Sun,
Which now sat high in his
Meridian Towre:
Then much revolving, thus in sighs began.
O thou that with surpassing Glory crownd,
Look'st
from thy sole Dominion like the God
Of this new World; at whose
sight all the Starrs
Hide thir diminisht heads; to thee I call,
But
with no friendly voice, and add thy name
O Sun, to tell thee how I
hate thy beams
That bring to my remembrance from what state
I
fell, how glorious once above thy Spheare;
Till Pride and worse
Ambition threw me down
Warring in Heav'n against Heav'ns matchless
King:
Ah wherefore! he deservd no such return
From
me, whom he created what I was
In that bright eminence, and with
his good
Upbraided none; nor was his service hard.
What
could be less then to afford him praise,
The easiest recompence,
and pay him thanks,
How due! yet all his good prov'd ill in me,
And
wrought but malice; lifted up so high
I sdeind subjection, and
thought one step higher
Would set me highest, and in a moment quit
The
debt immense of endless gratitude,
So burthensome, still paying,
still to ow;
Forgetful what from him I still receivd,
And
understood not that a grateful mind
By owing owes not, but still
pays, at once
Indebted and dischargd; what burden then?
O
had his powerful Destiny ordaind
Me some inferiour Angel, I had
stood
Then happie; no unbounded hope had rais'd
Ambition.
Yet why not? som other Power
As great might have aspir'd, and me
though mean
Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great
Fell
not, but stand unshak'n, from within
Or from without, to all
temptations arm'd.
Hadst thou the same free Will and Power to stand?
Thou
hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse,
But Heav'ns free Love
dealt equally to all?
Be then his Love accurst, since love or hate,
To
me alike, it deals eternal woe.
Nay curs'd be thou; since against
his thy will
Chose freely what it now so justly rues.
Me
miserable! which way shall I flie
Infinite wrauth, and infinite
despaire?
Which way I flie is Hell; my self am Hell;
And
in the lowest deep a lower deep
Still threatning to devour me opens
wide,
To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heav'n.
O
then at last relent: is there no place
Left for Repentance, none
for Pardon left?
None left but by submission; and that word
DISDAIN
forbids me, and my dread of shame
Among the spirits beneath, whom I
seduc'd
With other promises and other vaunts
Then to
submit, boasting I could subdue
Th' Omnipotent. Ay me, they little
know
How dearly I abide that boast so vaine,
Under
what torments inwardly I groane;
While they adore me on the Throne
of Hell,
With Diadem and Scepter high advanc'd
The
lower still I fall, onely Supream
In miserie; such joy Ambition
findes.
But say I could repent and could obtaine
By
Act of Grace my former state; how soon
Would highth recal high
thoughts, how soon unsay
What feign'd submission swore: ease would
recant
Vows made in pain, as violent and void.
For
never can true reconcilement grow
Where wounds of deadly hate have
peirc'd so deep:
Which would but lead me to a worse relapse
And
heavier fall: so should I purchase deare
Short intermission bought
with double smart.
This knows my punisher; therefore as farr
From
granting hee, as I from begging peace:
All hope excluded thus,
behold in stead
Of us out-cast, exil'd, his new delight,
Mankind
created, and for him this World.
So farwel Hope, and with Hope
farwel Fear,
Farwel Remorse: all Good to me is lost;
Evil
be thou my Good; by thee at least
Divided Empire with Heav'ns King
I hold
By thee, and more then half perhaps will reigne;
As
Man ere long, and this new World shall know.
Thus while he spake, each passion dimm'd his face
Thrice
chang'd with pale, ire, envie and despair,
Which marrd his borrow'd
visage, and betraid
Him counterfet, if any eye beheld.
For
heav'nly mindes from such distempers foule
Are ever cleer. Whereof
hee soon aware,
Each perturbation smooth'd with outward calme,
Artificer
of fraud; and was the first
That practisd falshood under saintly
shew,
Deep malice to conceale, couch't with revenge:
Yet
not anough had practisd to deceive
URIEL once warnd; whose eye
pursu'd him down
The way he went, and on th' ASSYRIAN mount
Saw
him disfigur'd, more then could befall
Spirit of happie sort: his
gestures fierce
He markd and mad demeanour, then alone,
As
he suppos'd, all unobserv'd, unseen.
So on he fares, and to the
border comes
Of EDEN, where delicious Paradise,
Now
nearer, Crowns with her enclosure green,
As with a rural mound the
champain head
Of a steep wilderness, whose hairie sides
With
thicket overgrown, grottesque and wilde,
Access deni'd; and over
head up grew
Insuperable highth of loftiest shade,
Cedar,
and Pine, and Firr, and branching Palm,
A Silvan Scene, and as the
ranks ascend
Shade above shade, a woodie Theatre
Of
stateliest view. Yet higher then thir tops
The verdurous wall of
Paradise up sprung:
Which to our general Sire gave prospect large
Into
his neather Empire neighbouring round.
And higher then that Wall a
circling row
Of goodliest Trees loaden with fairest Fruit,
Blossoms
and Fruits at once of golden hue
Appeerd, with gay enameld colours
mixt:
On which the Sun more glad impress'd his beams
Then
in fair Evening Cloud, or humid Bow,
When God hath showrd the
earth; so lovely seemd
That Lantskip: And of pure now purer aire
Meets
his approach, and to the heart inspires
Vernal delight and joy,
able to drive
All sadness but despair: now gentle gales
Fanning
thir odoriferous wings dispense
Native perfumes, and whisper whence
they stole
Those balmie spoiles. As when to them who saile
Beyond
the CAPE OF HOPE, and now are past
MOZAMBIC, off at Sea North-East
windes blow
SABEAN Odours from the spicie shoare
Of
ARABIE the blest, with such delay
Well pleas'd they slack thir
course, and many a League
Cheard with the grateful smell old Ocean
smiles.
So entertaind those odorous sweets the Fiend
Who
came thir bane, though with them better pleas'd
Then ASMODEUS with
the fishie fume,
That drove him, though enamourd, from the Spouse
Of
TOBITS Son, and with a vengeance sent
From MEDIA post to AEGYPT,
there fast bound.
Now to th' ascent of that steep savage Hill
SATAN
had journied on, pensive and slow;
But further way found none, so
thick entwin'd,
As one continu'd brake, the undergrowth
Of
shrubs and tangling bushes had perplext
All path of Man or Beast
that past that way:
One Gate there onely was, and that look'd East
On
th' other side: which when th' arch-fellon saw
Due entrance he
disdaind, and in contempt,
At one slight bound high overleap'd all
bound
Of Hill or highest Wall, and sheer within
Lights
on his feet. As when a prowling Wolfe,
Whom hunger drives to seek
new haunt for prey,
Watching where Shepherds pen thir Flocks at eeve
In
hurdl'd Cotes amid the field secure,
Leaps o're the fence with ease
into the Fould:
Or as a Thief bent to unhoord the cash
Of
some rich Burgher, whose substantial dores,
Cross-barrd and bolted
fast, fear no assault,
In at the window climbes, or o're the tiles;
So
clomb this first grand Thief into Gods Fould:
So since into his
Church lewd Hirelings climbe.
Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of
Life,
The middle Tree and highest there that grew,
Sat
like a Cormorant; yet not true Life
Thereby regaind, but sat
devising Death
To them who liv'd; nor on the vertue thought
Of
that life-giving Plant, but only us'd
For prospect, what well us'd
had bin the pledge
Of immortalitie. So little knows
Any,
but God alone, to value right
The good before him, but perverts
best things
To worst abuse, or to thir meanest use.
Beneath
him with new wonder now he views
To all delight of human sense
expos'd
In narrow room Natures whole wealth, yea more,
A
Heaven on Earth, for blissful Paradise
Of God the Garden was, by
him in the East
Of EDEN planted; EDEN stretchd her Line
From
AURAN Eastward to the Royal Towrs
Of great SELEUCIA, built by
GRECIAN Kings,
Or where the Sons of EDEN long before
Dwelt
in TELASSAR: in this pleasant soile
His farr more pleasant Garden
God ordaind;
Out of the fertil ground he caus'd to grow
All
Trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste;
And all amid them
stood the Tree of Life,
High eminent, blooming Ambrosial Fruit
Of
vegetable Gold; and next to Life
Our Death the Tree of Knowledge
grew fast by,
Knowledge of Good bought dear by knowing ill.
Southward
through EDEN went a River large,
Nor chang'd his course, but
through the shaggie hill
Pass'd underneath ingulft, for God had
thrown
That Mountain as his Garden mould high rais'd
Upon
the rapid current, which through veins
Of porous Earth with kindly
thirst up drawn,
Rose a fresh Fountain, and with many a rill
Waterd
the Garden; thence united fell
Down the steep glade, and met the
neather Flood,
Which from his darksom passage now appeers,
And
now divided into four main Streams,
Runs divers, wandring many a
famous Realme
And Country whereof here needs no account,
But
rather to tell how, if Art could tell,
How from that Saphire Fount
the crisped Brooks,
Rowling on Orient Pearl and sands of Gold,
With
mazie error under pendant shades
Ran Nectar, visiting each plant,
and fed
Flours worthy of Paradise which not nice Art
In
Beds and curious Knots, but Nature boon
Powrd forth profuse on Hill
and Dale and Plaine,
Both where the morning Sun first warmly smote
The
open field, and where the unpierc't shade
Imbround the noontide
Bowrs: Thus was this place,
A happy rural seat of various view;
Groves
whose rich Trees wept odorous Gumms and Balme,
Others whose fruit
burnisht with Golden Rinde
Hung amiable, HESPERIAN Fables true,
If
true, here onely, and of delicious taste:
Betwixt them Lawns, or
level Downs, and Flocks
Grasing the tender herb, were interpos'd,
Or
palmie hilloc, or the flourie lap
Of som irriguous Valley spread
her store,
Flours of all hue, and without Thorn the Rose:
Another
side, umbrageous Grots and Caves
Of coole recess, o're which the
mantling Vine
Layes forth her purple Grape, and gently creeps
Luxuriant;
mean while murmuring waters fall
Down the slope hills, disperst, or
in a Lake,
That to the fringed Bank with Myrtle crownd,
Her
chrystall mirror holds, unite thir streams.
The Birds thir quire
apply; aires, vernal aires,
Breathing the smell of field and grove,
attune
The trembling leaves, while Universal PAN
Knit
with the GRACES and the HOURS in dance
Led on th' Eternal Spring.
Not that faire field
Of ENNA, where PROSERPIN gathring flours
Her
self a fairer Floure by gloomie DIS
Was gatherd, which cost CERES
all that pain
To seek her through the world; nor that sweet Grove
Of
DAPHNE by ORONTES, and th' inspir'd
CASTALIAN Spring might with
this Paradise
Of EDEN strive; nor that NYSEIAN Ile
Girt
with the River TRITON, where old CHAM,
Whom Gentiles AMMON call and
LIBYAN JOVE,
Hid AMALTHEA and her Florid Son
Young
BACCHUS from his Stepdame RHEA'S eye;
Nor where ABASSIN Kings thir
issue Guard,
Mount AMARA, though this by som suppos'd
True
Paradise under the ETHIOP Line
By NILUS head, enclos'd with shining
Rock,
A whole dayes journey high, but wide remote
From
this ASSYRIAN Garden, where the Fiend
Saw undelighted all delight,
all kind
Of living Creatures new to sight and strange:
Two
of far nobler shape erect and tall,
Godlike erect, with native
Honour clad
In naked Majestie seemd Lords of all,
And
worthie seemd, for in thir looks Divine
The image of thir glorious
Maker shon,
Truth, Wisdome, Sanctitude severe and pure,
Severe,
but in true filial freedom plac't;
Whence true autoritie in men;
though both
Not equal, as thir sex not equal seemd;
For
contemplation hee and valour formd,
For softness shee and sweet
attractive Grace,
Hee for God only, shee for God in him:
His
fair large Front and Eye sublime declar'd
Absolute rule; and
Hyacinthin Locks
Round from his parted forelock manly hung
Clustring,
but not beneath his shoulders broad:
Shee as a vail down to the
slender waste
Her unadorned golden tresses wore
Dissheveld,
but in wanton ringlets wav'd
As the Vine curles her tendrils, which
impli'd
Subjection, but requir'd with gentle sway,
And
by her yeilded, by him best receivd,
Yeilded with coy submission,
modest pride,
And sweet reluctant amorous delay.
Nor
those mysterious parts were then conceald,
Then was not guiltie
shame, dishonest shame
Of natures works, honor dishonorable,
Sin-bred,
how have ye troubl'd all mankind
With shews instead, meer shews of
seeming pure,
And banisht from mans life his happiest life,
Simplicitie
and spotless innocence.
So passd they naked on, nor shund the sight
Of
God or Angel, for they thought no ill:
So hand in hand they passd,
the lovliest pair
That ever since in loves imbraces met,
ADAM
the goodliest man of men since borne
His Sons, the fairest of her
Daughters EVE.
Under a tuft of shade that on a green
Stood
whispering soft, by a fresh Fountain side
They sat them down, and
after no more toil
Of thir sweet Gardning labour then suffic'd
To
recommend coole ZEPHYR, and made ease
More easie, wholsom thirst
and appetite
More grateful, to thir Supper Fruits they fell,
Nectarine
Fruits which the compliant boughes
Yeilded them, side-long as they
sat recline
On the soft downie Bank damaskt with flours:
The
savourie pulp they chew, and in the rinde
Still as they thirsted
scoop the brimming stream;
Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles
Wanted,
nor youthful dalliance as beseems
Fair couple, linkt in happie
nuptial League,
Alone as they. About them frisking playd
All
Beasts of th' Earth, since wilde, and of all chase
In Wood or
Wilderness, Forrest or Den;
Sporting the Lion rampd, and in his paw
Dandl'd
the Kid; Bears, Tygers, Ounces, Pards
Gambold before them, th'
unwieldy Elephant
To make them mirth us'd all his might, & wreathd
His
Lithe Proboscis; close the Serpent sly
Insinuating, wove with
Gordian twine
His breaded train, and of his fatal guile
Gave
proof unheeded; others on the grass
Coucht, and now fild with
pasture gazing sat,
Or Bedward ruminating: for the Sun
Declin'd
was hasting now with prone carreer
To th' Ocean Iles, and in th'
ascending Scale
Of Heav'n the Starrs that usher Evening rose:
When
SATAN still in gaze, as first he stood,
Scarce thus at length faild
speech recoverd sad.
O Hell! what doe mine eyes with grief behold,
Into
our room of bliss thus high advanc't
Creatures of other mould,
earth-born perhaps,
Not Spirits, yet to heav'nly Spirits bright
Little
inferior; whom my thoughts pursue
With wonder, and could love, so
lively shines
In them Divine resemblance, and such grace
The
hand that formd them on thir shape hath pourd.
Ah gentle pair, yee
little think how nigh
Your change approaches, when all these
delights
Will vanish and deliver ye to woe,
More
woe, the more your taste is now of joy;
Happie, but for so happie
ill secur'd
Long to continue, and this high seat your Heav'n
Ill
fenc't for Heav'n to keep out such a foe
As now is enterd; yet no
purpos'd foe
To you whom I could pittie thus forlorne
Though
I unpittied: League with you I seek,
And mutual amitie so streight,
so close,
That I with you must dwell, or you with me
Henceforth;
my dwelling haply may not please
Like this fair Paradise, your
sense, yet such
Accept your Makers work; he gave it me,
Which
I as freely give; Hell shall unfould,
To entertain you two, her
widest Gates,
And send forth all her Kings; there will be room,
Not
like these narrow limits, to receive
Your numerous ofspring; if no
better place,
Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge
On
you who wrong me not for him who wrongd.
And should I at your
harmless innocence
Melt, as I doe, yet public reason just,
Honour
and Empire with revenge enlarg'd,
By conquering this new World,
compels me now
To do what else though damnd I should abhorre.
So spake the Fiend, and with necessitie,
The
Tyrants plea, excus'd his devilish deeds.
Then from his loftie
stand on that high Tree
Down he alights among the sportful Herd
Of
those fourfooted kindes, himself now one,
Now other, as thir shape
servd best his end
Neerer to view his prey, and unespi'd
To
mark what of thir state he more might learn
By word or action
markt: about them round
A Lion now he stalkes with fierie glare,
Then
as a Tiger, who by chance hath spi'd
In some Purlieu two gentle
Fawnes at play,
Strait couches close, then rising changes oft
His
couchant watch, as one who chose his ground
Whence rushing he might
surest seise them both
Grip't in each paw: when ADAM first of men
To
first of women EVE thus moving speech,
Turnd him all eare to heare
new utterance flow.
Sole partner and sole part of all these joyes,
Dearer
thy self then all; needs must the Power
That made us, and for us
this ample World
Be infinitly good, and of his good
As
liberal and free as infinite,
That rais'd us from the dust and
plac't us here
In all this happiness, who at his hand
Have
nothing merited, nor can performe
Aught whereof hee hath need, hee
who requires
From us no other service then to keep
This
one, this easie charge, of all the Trees
In Paradise that beare
delicious fruit
So various, not to taste that onely Tree
Of
knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life,
So neer grows Death to
Life, what ere Death is,
Som dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou
knowst
God hath pronounc't it death to taste that Tree,
The
only sign of our obedience left
Among so many signes of power and
rule
Conferrd upon us, and Dominion giv'n
Over all
other Creatures that possesse
Earth, Aire, and Sea. Then let us not
think hard
One easie prohibition, who enjoy
Free
leave so large to all things else, and choice
Unlimited of manifold
delights:
But let us ever praise him, and extoll
His
bountie, following our delightful task
To prune these growing
Plants, & tend these Flours,
Which were it toilsom, yet with
thee were sweet.
To whom thus Eve repli'd. O thou for whom
And
from whom I was formd flesh of thy flesh,
And without whom am to no
end, my Guide
And Head, what thou hast said is just and right.
For
wee to him indeed all praises owe,
And daily thanks, I chiefly who
enjoy
So farr the happier Lot, enjoying thee
Preeminent
by so much odds, while thou
Like consort to thy self canst no where
find.
That day I oft remember, when from sleep
I
first awak't, and found my self repos'd
Under a shade on flours,
much wondring where
And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.
Not
distant far from thence a murmuring sound
Of waters issu'd from a
Cave and spread
Into a liquid Plain, then stood unmov'd
Pure
as th' expanse of Heav'n; I thither went
With unexperienc't
thought, and laid me downe
On the green bank, to look into the cleer
Smooth
Lake, that to me seemd another Skie.
As I bent down to look, just
opposite,
A Shape within the watry gleam appeerd
Bending
to look on me, I started back,
It started back, but pleasd I soon
returnd,
Pleas'd it returnd as soon with answering looks
Of
sympathie and love, there I had fixt
Mine eyes till now, and pin'd
with vain desire,
Had not a voice thus warnd me, What thou seest,
What
there thou seest fair Creature is thy self,
With thee it came and
goes: but follow me,
And I will bring thee where no shadow staies
Thy
coming, and thy soft imbraces, hee
Whose image thou art, him thou
shall enjoy
Inseparablie thine, to him shalt beare
Multitudes
like thy self, and thence be call'd
Mother of human Race: what
could I doe,
But follow strait, invisibly thus led?
Till
I espi'd thee, fair indeed and tall,
Under a Platan, yet methought
less faire,
Less winning soft, less amiablie milde,
Then
that smooth watry image; back I turnd,
Thou following cryd'st
aloud, Return fair EVE,
Whom fli'st thou? whom thou fli'st, of him
thou art,
His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent
Out
of my side to thee, neerest my heart
Substantial Life, to have thee
by my side
Henceforth an individual solace dear;
Part
of my Soul I seek thee, and thee claim
My other half: with that thy
gentle hand
Seisd mine, I yeilded, and from that time see
How
beauty is excelld by manly grace
And wisdom, which alone is truly
fair.
So spake our general Mother, and with eyes
Of
conjugal attraction unreprov'd,
And meek surrender, half imbracing
leand
On our first Father, half her swelling Breast
Naked
met his under the flowing Gold
Of her loose tresses hid: he in
delight
Both of her Beauty and submissive Charms
Smil'd
with superior Love, as JUPITER
On JUNO smiles, when he impregns the
Clouds
That shed MAY Flowers; and press'd her Matron lip
With
kisses pure: aside the Devil turnd
For envie, yet with jealous leer
maligne
Ey'd them askance, and to himself thus plaind.
Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two
Imparadis't
in one anothers arms
The happier EDEN, shall enjoy thir fill
Of
bliss on bliss, while I to Hell am thrust,
Where neither joy nor
love, but fierce desire,
Among our other torments not the least,
Still
unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines;
Yet let me not forget what
I have gain'd
From thir own mouths; all is not theirs it seems:
One
fatal Tree there stands of Knowledge call'd,
Forbidden them to
taste: Knowledge forbidd'n?
Suspicious, reasonless. Why should thir
Lord
Envie them that? can it be sin to know,
Can it
be death? and do they onely stand
By Ignorance, is that thir happie
state,
The proof of thir obedience and thir faith?
O
fair foundation laid whereon to build
Thir ruine! Hence I will
excite thir minds
With more desire to know, and to reject
Envious
commands, invented with designe
To keep them low whom knowledge
might exalt
Equal with Gods; aspiring to be such,
They
taste and die: what likelier can ensue?
But first with narrow
search I must walk round
This Garden, and no corner leave unspi'd;
A
chance but chance may lead where I may meet
Some wandring Spirit of
Heav'n, by Fountain side,
Or in thick shade retir'd, from him to
draw
What further would be learnt. Live while ye may,
Yet
happie pair; enjoy, till I return,
Short pleasures, for long woes
are to succeed.
So saying, his proud step he scornful turn'd,
But
with sly circumspection, and began
Through wood, through waste,
o're hil, o're dale his roam.
Mean while in utmost Longitude, where
Heav'n
With Earth and Ocean meets, the setting Sun
Slowly
descended, and with right aspect
Against the eastern Gate of
Paradise
Leveld his eevning Rayes: it was a Rock
Of
Alablaster, pil'd up to the Clouds,
Conspicuous farr, winding with
one ascent
Accessible from Earth, one entrance high;
The
rest was craggie cliff, that overhung
Still as it rose, impossible
to climbe.
Betwixt these rockie Pillars GABRIEL sat
Chief
of th' Angelic Guards, awaiting night;
About him exercis'd Heroic
Games
Th' unarmed Youth of Heav'n, but nigh at hand
Celestial
Armourie, Shields, Helmes, and Speares
Hung high with Diamond
flaming, and with Gold.
Thither came URIEL, gliding through the
Eeven
On a Sun beam, swift as a shooting Starr
In
AUTUMN thwarts the night, when vapors fir'd
Impress the Air, and
shews the Mariner
From what point of his Compass to beware
Impetuous
winds: he thus began in haste.
GABRIEL, to thee thy cours by Lot hath giv'n
Charge
and strict watch that to this happie place
No evil thing approach
or enter in;
This day at highth of Noon came to my Spheare
A
Spirit, zealous, as he seem'd, to know
More of th' Almighties
works, and chiefly Man
Gods latest Image: I describ'd his way
Bent
all on speed, and markt his Aerie Gate;
But in the Mount that lies
from EDEN North,
Where he first lighted, soon discernd his looks
Alien
from Heav'n, with passions foul obscur'd:
Mine eye pursu'd him
still, but under shade
Lost sight of him; one of the banisht crew
I
fear, hath ventur'd from the deep, to raise
New troubles; him thy
care must be to find.
To whom the winged Warriour thus returnd:
URIEL,
no wonder if thy perfet sight,
Amid the Suns bright circle where
thou sitst,
See farr and wide: in at this Gate none pass
The
vigilance here plac't, but such as come
Well known from Heav'n; and
since Meridian hour
No Creature thence: if Spirit of other sort,
So
minded, have oreleapt these earthie bounds
On purpose, hard thou
knowst it to exclude
Spiritual substance with corporeal barr.
But
if within the circuit of these walks
In whatsoever shape he lurk,
of whom
Thou telst, by morrow dawning I shall know.
So promis'd hee, and URIEL to his charge
Returnd
on that bright beam, whose point now raisd
Bore him slope downward
to the Sun now fall'n
Beneath th' AZORES; whither the prime Orb,
Incredible
how swift, had thither rowl'd
Diurnal, or this less volubil Earth
By
shorter flight to th' East, had left him there
Arraying with
reflected Purple and Gold
The Clouds that on his Western Throne
attend:
Now came still Eevning on, and Twilight gray
Had
in her sober Liverie all things clad;
Silence accompanied, for
Beast and Bird,
They to thir grassie Couch, these to thir Nests
Were
slunk, all but the wakeful Nightingale;
She all night long her
amorous descant sung;
Silence was pleas'd: now glow'd the Firmament
With
living Saphirs: HESPERUS that led
The starrie Host, rode brightest,
till the Moon
Rising in clouded Majestie, at length
Apparent
Queen unvaild her peerless light,
And o're the dark her Silver
Mantle threw.
When ADAM thus to EVE: Fair Consort, th' hour
Of
night, and all things now retir'd to rest
Mind us of like repose,
since God hath set
Labour and rest, as day and night to men
Successive,
and the timely dew of sleep
Now falling with soft slumbrous weight
inclines
Our eye-lids; other Creatures all day long
Rove
idle unimploid, and less need rest;
Man hath his daily work of body
or mind
Appointed, which declares his Dignitie,
And
the regard of Heav'n on all his waies;
While other Animals unactive
range,
And of thir doings God takes no account.
Tomorrow
ere fresh Morning streak the East
With first approach of light, we
must be ris'n,
And at our pleasant labour, to reform
Yon
flourie Arbors, yonder Allies green,
Our walks at noon, with
branches overgrown,
That mock our scant manuring, and require
More
hands then ours to lop thir wanton growth:
Those Blossoms also, and
those dropping Gumms,
That lie bestrowne unsightly and unsmooth,
Ask
riddance, if we mean to tread with ease;
Mean while, as Nature
wills, Night bids us rest.
To whom thus EVE with perfet beauty adornd.
My
Author and Disposer, what thou bidst
Unargu'd I obey; so God
ordains,
God is thy Law, thou mine: to know no more
Is
womans happiest knowledge and her praise.
With thee conversing I
forget all time,
All seasons and thir change, all please alike.
Sweet
is the breath of morn, her rising sweet,
With charm of earliest
Birds; pleasant the Sun
When first on this delightful Land he
spreads
His orient Beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flour,
Glistring
with dew; fragrant the fertil earth
After soft showers; and sweet
the coming on
Of grateful Eevning milde, then silent Night
With
this her solemn Bird and this fair Moon,
And these the Gemms of
Heav'n, her starrie train:
But neither breath of Morn when she
ascends
With charm of earliest Birds, nor rising Sun
On
this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, floure,
Glistring with dew,
nor fragrance after showers,
Nor grateful Evening mild, nor silent
Night
With this her solemn Bird, nor walk by Moon,
Or
glittering Starr-light without thee is sweet.
But wherfore all
night long shine these, for whom
This glorious sight, when sleep
hath shut all eyes?
To whom our general Ancestor repli'd.
Daughter
of God and Man, accomplisht EVE,
Those have thir course to finish,
round the Earth,
By morrow Eevning, and from Land to Land
In
order, though to Nations yet unborn,
Ministring light prepar'd,
they set and rise;
Least total darkness should by Night regaine
Her
old possession, and extinguish life
In Nature and all things, which
these soft fires
Not only enlighten, but with kindly heate
Of
various influence foment and warme,
Temper or nourish, or in part
shed down
Thir stellar vertue on all kinds that grow
On
Earth, made hereby apter to receive
Perfection from the Suns more
potent Ray.
These then, though unbeheld in deep of night,
Shine
not in vain, nor think, though men were none,
That heav'n would
want spectators, God want praise;
Millions of spiritual Creatures
walk the Earth
Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep:
All
these with ceasless praise his works behold
Both day and night: how
often from the steep
Of echoing Hill or Thicket have we heard
Celestial
voices to the midnight air,
Sole, or responsive each to others note
Singing
thir great Creator: oft in bands
While they keep watch, or nightly
rounding walk
With Heav'nly touch of instrumental sounds
In
full harmonic number joind, thir songs
Divide the night, and lift
our thoughts to Heaven.
Thus talking hand in hand alone they pass'd
On
to thir blissful Bower; it was a place
Chos'n by the sovran
Planter, when he fram'd
All things to mans delightful use; the roofe
Of
thickest covert was inwoven shade
Laurel and Mirtle, and what
higher grew
Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side
ACANTHUS,
and each odorous bushie shrub
Fenc'd up the verdant wall; each
beauteous flour,
IRIS all hues, Roses, and Gessamin
Rear'd
high thir flourisht heads between, and wrought
Mosaic; underfoot
the Violet,
Crocus, and Hyacinth with rich inlay
Broiderd
the ground, more colour'd then with stone
Of costliest Emblem:
other Creature here
Beast, Bird, Insect, or Worm durst enter none;
Such
was thir awe of man. In shadier Bower
More sacred and sequesterd,
though but feignd,
PAN or SILVANUS never slept, nor Nymph,
Nor
FAUNUS haunted. Here in close recess
With Flowers, Garlands, and
sweet-smelling Herbs
Espoused EVE deckt first her Nuptial Bed,
And
heav'nly Quires the Hymenaean sung,
What day the genial Angel to
our Sire
Brought her in naked beauty more adorn'd,
More
lovely then PANDORA, whom the Gods
Endowd with all thir gifts, and
O too like
In sad event, when to the unwiser Son
Of
JAPHET brought by HERMES, she ensnar'd
Mankind with her faire
looks, to be aveng'd
On him who had stole JOVES authentic fire.
Thus at thir shadie Lodge arriv'd, both stood,
Both
turnd, and under op'n Skie ador'd
The God that made both Skie, Air,
Earth & Heav'n
Which they beheld, the Moons resplendent Globe
And
starrie Pole: Thou also mad'st the Night,
Maker Omnipotent, and
thou the Day,
Which we in our appointed work imployd
Have
finisht happie in our mutual help
And mutual love, the Crown of all
our bliss
Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place
For
us too large, where thy abundance wants
Partakers, and uncropt
falls to the ground.
But thou hast promis'd from us two a Race
To
fill the Earth, who shall with us extoll
Thy goodness infinite,
both when we wake,
And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep.
This said unanimous, and other Rites
Observing
none, but adoration pure
Which God likes best, into thir inmost
bower
Handed they went; and eas'd the putting off
These
troublesom disguises which wee wear,
Strait side by side were laid,
nor turnd I weene
ADAM from his fair Spouse, nor EVE the Rites
Mysterious
of connubial Love refus'd:
Whatever Hypocrites austerely talk
Of
puritie and place and innocence,
Defaming as impure what God
declares
Pure, and commands to som, leaves free to all.
Our
Maker bids increase, who bids abstain
But our Destroyer, foe to God
and Man?
Haile wedded Love, mysterious Law, true source
Of
human ofspring, sole proprietie,
In Paradise of all things common
else.
By thee adulterous lust was driv'n from men
Among
the bestial herds to raunge, by thee
Founded in Reason, Loyal,
Just, and Pure,
Relations dear, and all the Charities
Of
Father, Son, and Brother first were known.
Farr be it, that I
should write thee sin or blame,
Or think thee unbefitting holiest
place,
Perpetual Fountain of Domestic sweets,
Whose
Bed is undefil'd and chast pronounc't,
Present, or past, as Saints
and Patriarchs us'd.
Here Love his golden shafts imploies, here
lights
His constant Lamp, and waves his purple wings,
Reigns
here and revels; not in the bought smile
Of Harlots, loveless,
joyless, unindeard,
Casual fruition, nor in Court Amours
Mixt
Dance, or wanton Mask, or Midnight Bal,
Or Serenate, which the
starv'd Lover sings
To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.
These
lulld by Nightingales imbraceing slept,
And on thir naked limbs the
flourie roof
Showrd Roses, which the Morn repair'd. Sleep on,
Blest
pair; and O yet happiest if ye seek
No happier state, and know to
know no more.
Now had night measur'd with her shaddowie Cone
Half
way up Hill this vast Sublunar Vault,
And from thir Ivorie Port the
Cherubim
Forth issuing at th' accustomd hour stood armd
To
thir night watches in warlike Parade,
When GABRIEL to his next in
power thus spake.
UZZIEL, half these draw off, and coast the South
With
strictest watch; these other wheel the North,
Our circuit meets
full West. As flame they part
Half wheeling to the Shield, half to
the Spear.
From these, two strong and suttle Spirits he calld
That
neer him stood, and gave them thus in charge.
ITHURIEL and ZEPHON, with wingd speed
Search
through this Garden, leav unsearcht no nook,
But chiefly where
those two fair Creatures Lodge,
Now laid perhaps asleep secure of
harme.
This Eevning from the Sun's decline arriv'd
Who
tells of som infernal Spirit seen
Hitherward bent (who could have
thought?) escap'd
The barrs of Hell, on errand bad no doubt:
Such
where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring.
So saying, on he led his radiant Files,
Daz'ling
the Moon; these to the Bower direct
In search of whom they sought:
him there they found
Squat like a Toad, close at the eare of EVE;
Assaying
by his Devilish art to reach
The Organs of her Fancie, and with
them forge
Illusions as he list, Phantasms and Dreams,
Or
if, inspiring venom, he might taint
Th' animal Spirits that from
pure blood arise
Like gentle breaths from Rivers pure, thence raise
At
least distemperd, discontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aimes,
inordinate desires
Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride.
Him
thus intent ITHURIEL with his Spear
Touch'd lightly; for no
falshood can endure
Touch of Celestial temper, but returns
Of
force to its own likeness: up he starts
Discoverd and surpriz'd. As
when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous Powder, laid
Fit
for the Tun som Magazin to store
Against a rumord Warr, the Smuttie
graine
With sudden blaze diffus'd, inflames the Aire:
So
started up in his own shape the Fiend.
Back stept those two fair
Angels half amaz'd
So sudden to behold the grieslie King;
Yet
thus, unmovd with fear, accost him soon.
Which of those rebell Spirits adjudg'd to Hell
Com'st
thou, escap'd thy prison, and transform'd,
Why satst thou like an
enemie in waite
Here watching at the head of these that sleep?
Know ye not then said SATAN, filld with scorn,
Know
ye not me? ye knew me once no mate
For you, there sitting where ye
durst not soare;
Not to know mee argues your selves unknown,
The
lowest of your throng; or if ye know,
Why ask ye, and superfluous
begin
Your message, like to end as much in vain?
To
whom thus ZEPHON, answering scorn with scorn.
Think not, revolted
Spirit, thy shape the same,
Or undiminisht brightness, to be known
As
when thou stoodst in Heav'n upright and pure;
That Glorie then,
when thou no more wast good,
Departed from thee, and thou
resembl'st now
Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foule.
But
come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account
To him who sent us,
whose charge is to keep
This place inviolable, and these from harm.
So spake the Cherube, and his grave rebuke
Severe
in youthful beautie, added grace
Invincible: abasht the Devil stood,
And
felt how awful goodness is, and saw
Vertue in her shape how lovly,
saw, and pin'd
His loss; but chiefly to find here observd
His
lustre visibly impar'd; yet seemd
Undaunted. If I must contend,
said he,
Best with the best, the Sender not the sent,
Or
all at once; more glorie will be wonn,
Or less be lost. Thy fear,
said ZEPHON bold,
Will save us trial what the least can doe
Single
against thee wicked, and thence weak.
The Fiend repli'd not, overcome with rage;
But
like a proud Steed reind, went hautie on,
Chaumping his iron curb:
to strive or flie
He held it vain; awe from above had quelld
His
heart, not else dismai'd. Now drew they nigh
The western point,
where those half-rounding guards
Just met, & closing stood in
squadron joind
Awaiting next command. To whom thir Chief
GABRIEL
from the Front thus calld aloud.
O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet
Hasting
this way, and now by glimps discerne
ITHURIEL and ZEPHON through
the shade,
And with them comes a third of Regal port,
But
faded splendor wan; who by his gate
And fierce demeanour seems the
Prince of Hell,
Not likely to part hence without contest;
Stand
firm, for in his look defiance lours.
He scarce had ended, when those two approachd
And
brief related whom they brought, wher found,
How busied, in what
form and posture coucht.
To whom with stern regard thus GABRIEL spake.
Why
hast thou, SATAN, broke the bounds prescrib'd
To thy
transgressions, and disturbd the charge
Of others, who approve not
to transgress
By thy example, but have power and right
To
question thy bold entrance on this place;
Imploi'd it seems to
violate sleep, and those
Whose dwelling God hath planted here in
bliss?
To whom thus SATAN with contemptuous brow.
GABRIEL,
thou hadst in Heav'n th' esteem of wise,
And such I held thee; but
this question askt
Puts me in doubt. Lives ther who loves his pain?
Who
would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,
Though thither
doomd? Thou wouldst thy self, no doubt,
And boldly venture to
whatever place
Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change
Torment
with ease, & soonest recompence
Dole with delight, which in
this place I sought;
To thee no reason; who knowst only good,
But
evil hast not tri'd: and wilt object
His will who bound us? let him
surer barr
His Iron Gates, if he intends our stay
In
that dark durance: thus much what was askt.
The rest is true, they
found me where they say;
But that implies not violence or harme.
Thus hee in scorn. The warlike Angel mov'd,
Disdainfully
half smiling thus repli'd.
O loss of one in Heav'n to judge of wise,
Since
SATAN fell, whom follie overthrew,
And now returns him from his
prison scap't,
Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise
Or
not, who ask what boldness brought him hither
Unlicenc't from his
bounds in Hell prescrib'd;
So wise he judges it to fly from pain
However,
and to scape his punishment.
So judge thou still, presumptuous,
till the wrauth,
Which thou incurr'st by flying, meet thy flight
Seavenfold,
and scourge that wisdom back to Hell,
Which taught thee yet no
better, that no pain
Can equal anger infinite provok't.
But
wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee
Came not all Hell broke
loose? is pain to them
Less pain, less to be fled, or thou then they
Less
hardie to endure? courageous Chief,
The first in flight from pain,
had'st thou alleg'd
To thy deserted host this cause of flight,
Thou
surely hadst not come sole fugitive.
To which the Fiend thus answerd frowning stern.
Not
that I less endure, or shrink from pain,
Insulting Angel, well thou
knowst I stood
Thy fiercest, when in Battel to thy aide
The
blasting volied Thunder made all speed
And seconded thy else not
dreaded Spear.
But still thy words at random, as before,
Argue
thy inexperience what behooves
From hard assaies and ill successes
past
A faithful Leader, not to hazard all
Through
wayes of danger by himself untri'd.
I therefore, I alone first
undertook
To wing the desolate Abyss, and spie
This
new created World, whereof in Hell
Fame is not silent, here in hope
to find
Better abode, and my afflicted Powers
To
settle here on Earth, or in mid Aire;
Though for possession put to
try once more
What thou and thy gay Legions dare against;
Whose
easier business were to serve thir Lord
High up in Heav'n, with
songs to hymne his Throne,
And practis'd distances to cringe, not
fight.
To whom the warriour Angel soon repli'd.
To
say and strait unsay, pretending first
Wise to flie pain,
professing next the Spie,
Argues no Leader, but a lyar trac't,
SATAN,
and couldst thou faithful add? O name,
O sacred name of
faithfulness profan'd!
Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew?
Armie
of Fiends, fit body to fit head;
Was this your discipline and faith
ingag'd,
Your military obedience, to dissolve
Allegeance
to th' acknowledg'd Power supream?
And thou sly hypocrite, who now
wouldst seem
Patron of liberty, who more then thou
Once
fawn'd, and cring'd, and servilly ador'd
Heav'ns awful Monarch?
wherefore but in hope
To dispossess him, and thy self to reigne?
But
mark what I arreede thee now, avant;
Flie thither whence thou
fledst: if from this houre
Within these hallowd limits thou appeer,
Back
to th' infernal pit I drag thee chaind,
And Seale thee so, as
henceforth not to scorne
The facil gates of hell too slightly barrd.
So threatn'd hee, but SATAN to no threats
Gave
heed, but waxing more in rage repli'd.
Then when I am thy captive talk of chaines,
Proud
limitarie Cherube, but ere then
Farr heavier load thy self expect
to feel
From my prevailing arme, though Heavens King
Ride
on thy wings, and thou with thy Compeers,
Us'd to the yoak, draw'st
his triumphant wheels
In progress through the rode of Heav'n
Star-pav'd.
While thus he spake, th' Angelic Squadron bright
Turnd
fierie red, sharpning in mooned hornes
Thir Phalanx, and began to
hemm him round
With ported Spears, as thick as when a field
Of
CERES ripe for harvest waving bends
Her bearded Grove of ears,
which way the wind
Swayes them; the careful Plowman doubting stands
Least
on the threshing floore his hopeful sheaves
Prove chaff. On th'
other side SATAN allarm'd
Collecting all his might dilated stood,
Like
TENERIFF or ATLAS unremov'd:
His stature reacht the Skie, and on
his Crest
Sat horror Plum'd; nor wanted in his graspe
What
seemd both Spear and Shield: now dreadful deeds
Might have ensu'd,
nor onely Paradise
In this commotion, but the Starrie Cope
Of
Heav'n perhaps, or all the Elements
At least had gon to rack,
disturbd and torne
With violence of this conflict, had not soon
Th'
Eternal to prevent such horrid fray
Hung forth in Heav'n his golden
Scales, yet seen
Betwixt ASTREA and the SCORPION signe,
Wherein
all things created first he weighd,
The pendulous round Earth with
ballanc't Aire
In counterpoise, now ponders all events,
Battels
and Realms: in these he put two weights
The sequel each of parting
and of fight;
The latter quick up flew, and kickt the beam;
Which
GABRIEL spying, thus bespake the Fiend.
SATAN, I know thy strength, and thou knowst mine,
Neither
our own but giv'n; what follie then
To boast what Arms can doe,
since thine no more
Then Heav'n permits, nor mine, though doubld now
To
trample thee as mire: for proof look up,
And read thy Lot in yon
celestial Sign
Where thou art weigh'd, & shown how light, how weak,
If
thou resist. The Fiend lookt up and knew
His mounted scale aloft:
nor more; but fled
Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.
Now Morn her rosie steps in th' Eastern Clime
Advancing,
sow'd the Earth with Orient Pearle,
When ADAM wak't, so customd,
for his sleep
Was Aerie light, from pure digestion bred,
And
temperat vapors bland, which th' only sound
Of leaves and fuming
rills, AURORA's fan,
Lightly dispers'd, and the shrill Matin Song
Of
Birds on every bough; so much the more
His wonder was to find
unwak'nd EVE
With Tresses discompos'd, and glowing Cheek,
As
through unquiet rest: he on his side
Leaning half-rais'd, with
looks of cordial Love
Hung over her enamour'd, and beheld
Beautie,
which whether waking or asleep,
Shot forth peculiar Graces; then
with voice
Milde, as when ZEPHYRUS on FLORA breathes,
Her
hand soft touching, whisperd thus. Awake
My fairest, my espous'd,
my latest found,
Heav'ns last best gift, my ever new delight,
Awake,
the morning shines, and the fresh field
Calls us, we lose the
prime, to mark how spring
Our tended Plants, how blows the Citron
Grove,
What drops the Myrrhe, & what the balmie Reed,
How
Nature paints her colours, how the Bee
Sits on the Bloom extracting
liquid sweet.
Such whispering wak'd her, but with startl'd eye
On
ADAM, whom imbracing, thus she spake.
O Sole in whom my thoughts find all repose,
My
Glorie, my Perfection, glad I see
Thy face, and Morn return'd, for
I this Night,
Such night till this I never pass'd, have dream'd,
If
dream'd, not as I oft am wont, of thee,
Works of day pass't, or
morrows next designe,
But of offence and trouble, which my mind
Knew
never till this irksom night; methought
Close at mine ear one
call'd me forth to walk
With gentle voice, I thought it thine; it
said,
Why sleepst thou EVE? now is the pleasant time,
The
cool, the silent, save where silence yields
To the night-warbling
Bird, that now awake
Tunes sweetest his love-labor'd song; now
reignes
Full Orb'd the Moon, and with more pleasing light
Shadowie
sets off the face of things; in vain,
If none regard; Heav'n wakes
with all his eyes,
Whom to behold but thee, Natures desire,
In
whose sight all things joy, with ravishment
Attracted by thy beauty
still to gaze.
I rose as at thy call, but found thee not;
To
find thee I directed then my walk;
And on, methought, alone I
pass'd through ways
That brought me on a sudden to the Tree
Of
interdicted Knowledge: fair it seem'd,
Much fairer to my Fancie
then by day:
And as I wondring lookt, beside it stood
One
shap'd & wing'd like one of those from Heav'n
By us oft seen;
his dewie locks distill'd
Ambrosia; on that Tree he also gaz'd;
And
O fair Plant, said he, with fruit surcharg'd,
Deigns none to ease
thy load and taste thy sweet,
Nor God, nor Man; is Knowledge so
despis'd?
Or envie, or what reserve forbids to taste?
Forbid
who will, none shall from me withhold
Longer thy offerd good, why
else set here?
This said he paus'd not, but with ventrous Arme
He
pluckt, he tasted; mee damp horror chil'd
At such bold words voucht
with a deed so bold:
But he thus overjoy'd, O Fruit Divine,
Sweet
of thy self, but much more sweet thus cropt,
Forbidd'n here, it
seems, as onely fit
For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men:
And
why not Gods of Men, since good, the more
Communicated, more
abundant growes,
The Author not impair'd, but honourd more?
Here,
happie Creature, fair Angelic EVE,
Partake thou also; happie though
thou art,
Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be:
Taste
this, and be henceforth among the Gods
Thy self a Goddess, not to
Earth confind,
But somtimes in the Air, as wee, somtimes
Ascend
to Heav'n, by merit thine, and see
What life the Gods live there,
and such live thou.
So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held,
Even
to my mouth of that same fruit held part
Which he had pluckt; the
pleasant savourie smell
So quick'nd appetite, that I, methought,
Could
not but taste. Forthwith up to the Clouds
With him I flew, and
underneath beheld
The Earth outstretcht immense, a prospect wide
And
various: wondring at my flight and change
To this high exaltation;
suddenly
My Guide was gon, and I, me thought, sunk down,
And
fell asleep; but O how glad I wak'd
To find this but a dream! Thus
EVE her Night
Related, and thus ADAM answerd sad.
Best Image of my self and dearer half,
The
trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep
Affects me equally; nor
can I like
This uncouth dream, of evil sprung I fear;
Yet
evil whence? in thee can harbour none,
Created pure. But know that
in the Soule
Are many lesser Faculties that serve
Reason
as chief; among these Fansie next
Her office holds; of all external
things,
Which the five watchful Senses represent,
She
forms Imaginations, Aerie shapes,
Which Reason joyning or
disjoyning, frames
All what we affirm or what deny, and call
Our
knowledge or opinion; then retires
Into her private Cell when
Nature rests.
Oft in her absence mimic Fansie wakes
To
imitate her; but misjoyning shapes,
Wilde work produces oft, and
most in dreams,
Ill matching words and deeds long past or late.
Som
such resemblances methinks I find
Of our last Eevnings talk, in
this thy dream,
But with addition strange; yet be not sad.
Evil
into the mind of God or Man
May come and go, so unapprov'd, and
leave
No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope
That
what in sleep thou didst abhorr to dream,
Waking thou never wilt
consent to do.
Be not disheart'nd then, nor cloud those looks
That
wont to be more chearful and serene
Then when fair Morning first
smiles on the World,
And let us to our fresh imployments rise
Among
the Groves, the Fountains, and the Flours
That open now thir
choicest bosom'd smells
Reservd from night, and kept for thee in
store.
So cheard he his fair Spouse, and she was cheard,
But
silently a gentle tear let fall
From either eye, and wip'd them
with her haire;
Two other precious drops that ready stood,
Each
in thir chrystal sluce, hee ere they fell
Kiss'd as the gracious
signs of sweet remorse
And pious awe, that feard to have offended.
So all was cleard, and to the Field they haste.
But
first from under shadie arborous roof,
Soon as they forth were come
to open sight
Of day-spring, and the Sun, who scarce up risen
With
wheels yet hov'ring o're the Ocean brim,
Shot paralel to the earth
his dewie ray,
Discovering in wide Lantskip all the East
Of
Paradise and EDENS happie Plains,
Lowly they bow'd adoring, and
began
Thir Orisons, each Morning duly paid
In
various style, for neither various style
Nor holy rapture wanted
they to praise
Thir Maker, in fit strains pronounc't or sung
Unmeditated,
such prompt eloquence
Flowd from thir lips, in Prose or numerous
Verse,
More tuneable then needed Lute or Harp
To add
more sweetness, and they thus began.
These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,
Almightie,
thine this universal Frame,
Thus wondrous fair; thy self how
wondrous then!
Unspeakable, who sitst above these Heavens
To
us invisible or dimly seen
In these thy lowest works, yet these
declare
Thy goodness beyond thought, and Power Divine:
Speak
yee who best can tell, ye Sons of light,
Angels, for yee behold
him, and with songs
And choral symphonies, Day without Night,
Circle
his Throne rejoycing, yee in Heav'n,
On Earth joyn all yee
Creatures to extoll
Him first, him last, him midst, and without end.
Fairest
of Starrs, last in the train of Night,
If better thou belong not to
the dawn,
Sure pledge of day, that crownst the smiling Morn
With
thy bright Circlet, praise him in thy Spheare
While day arises,
that sweet hour of Prime.
Thou Sun, of this great World both Eye
and Soule,
Acknowledge him thy Greater, sound his praise
In
thy eternal course, both when thou climb'st,
And when high Noon
hast gaind, & when thou fallst.
Moon, that now meetst the
orient Sun, now fli'st
With the fixt Starrs, fixt in thir Orb that
flies,
And yee five other wandring Fires that move
In
mystic Dance not without Song, resound
His praise, who out of
Darkness call'd up Light.
Aire, and ye Elements the eldest birth
Of
Natures Womb, that in quaternion run
Perpetual Circle, multiform;
and mix
And nourish all things, let your ceasless change
Varie
to our great Maker still new praise.
Ye Mists and Exhalations that
now rise
From Hill or steaming Lake, duskie or grey,
Till
the Sun paint your fleecie skirts with Gold,
In honour to the
Worlds great Author rise,
Whether to deck with Clouds the uncolourd
skie,
Or wet the thirstie Earth with falling showers,
Rising
or falling still advance his praise.
His praise ye Winds, that from
four Quarters blow,
Breath soft or loud; and wave your tops, ye
Pines,
With every Plant, in sign of Worship wave.
Fountains
and yee, that warble, as ye flow,
Melodious murmurs, warbling tune
his praise.
Joyn voices all ye living Souls, ye Birds,
That
singing up to Heaven Gate ascend,
Bear on your wings and in your
notes his praise;
Yee that in Waters glide, and yee that walk
The
Earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep;
Witness if I be silent,
Morn or Eeven,
To Hill, or Valley, Fountain, or fresh shade
Made
vocal by my Song, and taught his praise.
Hail universal Lord, be
bounteous still
To give us onely good; and if the night
Have
gathered aught of evil or conceald,
Disperse it, as now light
dispels the dark.
So pray'd they innocent, and to thir thoughts
Firm
peace recoverd soon and wonted calm.
On to thir mornings rural work
they haste
Among sweet dewes and flours; where any row
Of
Fruit-trees overwoodie reachd too farr
Thir pamperd boughes, and
needed hands to check
Fruitless imbraces: or they led the Vine
To
wed her Elm; she spous'd about him twines
Her mariageable arms, and
with her brings
Her dowr th' adopted Clusters, to adorn
His
barren leaves. Them thus imploid beheld
With pittie Heav'ns high
King, and to him call'd
RAPHAEL, the sociable Spirit, that deign'd
To
travel with TOBIAS, and secur'd
His marriage with the
seaventimes-wedded Maid.
RAPHAEL, said hee, thou hear'st what stir on Earth
SATAN
from Hell scap't through the darksom Gulf
Hath raisd in Paradise,
and how disturbd
This night the human pair, how he designes
In
them at once to ruin all mankind.
Go therefore, half this day as
friend with friend
Converse with ADAM, in what Bowre or shade
Thou
find'st him from the heat of Noon retir'd,
To respit his day-labour
with repast,
Or with repose; and such discourse bring on,
As
may advise him of his happie state,
Happiness in his power left
free to will,
Left to his own free Will, his Will though free,
Yet
mutable; whence warne him to beware
He swerve not too secure: tell
him withall
His danger, and from whom, what enemie
Late
falln himself from Heav'n, is plotting now
The fall of others from
like state of bliss;
By violence, no, for that shall be withstood,
But
by deceit and lies; this let him know,
Least wilfully transgressing
he pretend
Surprisal, unadmonisht, unforewarnd.
So spake th' Eternal Father, and fulfilld
All
Justice: nor delaid the winged Saint
After his charge receivd, but
from among
Thousand Celestial Ardors, where he stood
Vaild
with his gorgeous wings, up springing light
Flew through the midst
of Heav'n; th' angelic Quires
On each hand parting, to his speed
gave way
Through all th' Empyreal road; till at the Gate
Of
Heav'n arriv'd, the gate self-opend wide
On golden Hinges turning,
as by work
Divine the sov'ran Architect had fram'd.
From
hence, no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight,
Starr interpos'd,
however small he sees,
Not unconform to other shining Globes,
Earth
and the Gard'n of God, with Cedars crownd
Above all Hills. As when
by night the Glass
Of GALILEO, less assur'd, observes
Imagind
Lands and Regions in the Moon:
Or Pilot from amidst the CYCLADES
DELOS
or SAMOS first appeering kenns
A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in
flight
He speeds, and through the vast Ethereal Skie
Sailes
between worlds & worlds, with steddie wing
Now on the polar
windes, then with quick Fann
Winnows the buxom Air; till within
soare
Of Towring Eagles, to all the Fowles he seems
A
PHOENIX, gaz'd by all, as that sole Bird
When to enshrine his
reliques in the Sun's
Bright Temple, to AEGYPTIAN THEB'S he flies.
At
once on th' Eastern cliff of Paradise
He lights, and to his proper
shape returns
A Seraph wingd; six wings he wore, to shade
His
lineaments Divine; the pair that clad
Each shoulder broad, came
mantling o're his brest
With regal Ornament; the middle pair
Girt
like a Starrie Zone his waste, and round
Skirted his loines and
thighes with downie Gold
And colours dipt in Heav'n; the third his
feet
Shaddowd from either heele with featherd maile
Skie-tinctur'd
grain. Like MAIA'S son he stood,
And shook his Plumes, that
Heav'nly fragrance filld
The circuit wide. Strait knew him all the
bands
Of Angels under watch; and to his state,
And
to his message high in honour rise;
For on som message high they
guessd him bound.
Thir glittering Tents he passd, and now is come
Into
the blissful field, through Groves of Myrrhe,
And flouring Odours,
Cassia, Nard, and Balme;
A Wilderness of sweets; for Nature here
Wantond
as in her prime, and plaid at will
Her Virgin Fancies, pouring
forth more sweet,
Wilde above rule or art; enormous bliss.
Him
through the spicie Forrest onward com
ADAM discernd, as in the dore
he sat
Of his coole Bowre, while now the mounted Sun
Shot
down direct his fervid Raies, to warme
Earths inmost womb, more
warmth then ADAM need;
And EVE within, due at her hour prepar'd
For
dinner savourie fruits, of taste to please
True appetite, and not
disrelish thirst
Of nectarous draughts between, from milkie stream,
Berrie
or Grape: to whom thus ADAM call'd.
Haste hither EVE, and worth thy sight behold
Eastward
among those Trees, what glorious shape
Comes this way moving; seems
another Morn
Ris'n on mid-noon; som great behest from Heav'n
To
us perhaps he brings, and will voutsafe
This day to be our Guest.
But goe with speed,
And what thy stores contain, bring forth and
poure
Abundance, fit to honour and receive
Our
Heav'nly stranger; well we may afford
Our givers thir own gifts,
and large bestow
From large bestowd, where Nature multiplies
Her
fertil growth, and by disburd'ning grows
More fruitful, which
instructs us not to spare.
To whom thus EVE. ADAM, earths hallowd mould,
Of
God inspir'd, small store will serve, where store,
All seasons,
ripe for use hangs on the stalk;
Save what by frugal storing
firmness gains
To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes:
But
I will haste and from each bough and break,
Each Plant & juciest
Gourd will pluck such choice
To entertain our Angel guest, as hee
Beholding
shall confess that here on Earth
God hath dispenst his bounties as
in Heav'n.
So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste
She
turns, on hospitable thoughts intent
What choice to chuse for
delicacie best,
What order, so contriv'd as not to mix
Tastes,
not well joynd, inelegant, but bring
Taste after taste upheld with
kindliest change,
Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk
Whatever
Earth all-bearing Mother yeilds
In INDIA East or West, or middle
shoare
In PONTUS or the PUNIC Coast, or where
ALCINOUS
reign'd, fruit of all kindes, in coate,
Rough, or smooth rin'd, or
bearded husk, or shell
She gathers, Tribute large, and on the board
Heaps
with unsparing hand; for drink the Grape
She crushes, inoffensive
moust, and meathes
From many a berrie, and from sweet kernels prest
She
tempers dulcet creams, nor these to hold
Wants her fit vessels
pure, then strews the ground
With Rose and Odours from the shrub
unfum'd.
Mean while our Primitive great Sire, to meet
His
god-like Guest, walks forth, without more train
Accompani'd then
with his own compleat
Perfections, in himself was all his state,
More
solemn then the tedious pomp that waits
On Princes, when thir rich
Retinue long
Of Horses led, and Grooms besmeard with Gold
Dazles
the croud, and sets them all agape.
Neerer his presence ADAM though
not awd,
Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek,
As
to a superior Nature, bowing low,
Thus said. Native of Heav'n, for other place
None
can then Heav'n such glorious shape contain;
Since by descending
from the Thrones above,
Those happie places thou hast deignd a while
To
want, and honour these, voutsafe with us
Two onely, who yet by
sov'ran gift possess
This spacious ground, in yonder shadie Bowre
To
rest, and what the Garden choicest bears
To sit and taste, till
this meridian heat
Be over, and the Sun more coole decline.
Whom thus the Angelic Vertue answerd milde.
ADAM,
I therefore came, nor art thou such
Created, or such place hast
here to dwell,
As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heav'n
To
visit thee; lead on then where thy Bowre
Oreshades; for these
mid-hours, till Eevning rise
I have at will. So to the Silvan Lodge
They
came, that like POMONA'S Arbour smil'd
With flourets deck't and
fragrant smells; but EVE
Undeckt, save with her self more lovely
fair
Then Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feign'd
Of
three that in Mount IDA naked strove,
Stood to entertain her guest
from Heav'n; no vaile
Shee needed, Vertue-proof, no thought infirme
Alterd
her cheek. On whom the Angel HAILE
Bestowd, the holy salutation us'd
Long
after to blest MARIE, second EVE.
Haile Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful Womb
Shall
fill the World more numerous with thy Sons
Then with these various
fruits the Trees of God
Have heap'd this Table. Rais'd of grassie
terf
Thir Table was, and mossie seats had round,
And
on her ample Square from side to side
All AUTUMN pil'd, though
SPRING and AUTUMN here
Danc'd hand in hand. A while discourse they
hold;
No fear lest Dinner coole; when thus began
Our
Authour. Heav'nly stranger, please to taste
These bounties which
our Nourisher, from whom
All perfet good unmeasur'd out, descends,
To
us for food and for delight hath caus'd
The Earth to yeild;
unsavourie food perhaps
To spiritual Natures; only this I know,
That
one Celestial Father gives to all.
To whom the Angel. Therefore what he gives
(Whose
praise be ever sung) to man in part
Spiritual, may of purest
Spirits be found
No ingrateful food: and food alike those pure
Intelligential
substances require
As doth your Rational; and both contain
Within
them every lower facultie
Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell,
touch, taste,
Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate,
And
corporeal to incorporeal turn.
For know, whatever was created, needs
To
be sustaind and fed; of Elements
The grosser feeds the purer, earth
the sea,
Earth and the Sea feed Air, the Air those Fires
Ethereal,
and as lowest first the Moon;
Whence in her visage round those
spots, unpurg'd
Vapours not yet into her substance turnd.
Nor
doth the Moon no nourishment exhale
From her moist Continent to
higher Orbes.
The Sun that light imparts to all, receives
From
all his alimental recompence
In humid exhalations, and at Even
Sups
with the Ocean: though in Heav'n the Trees
Of life ambrosial
frutage bear, and vines
Yeild Nectar, though from off the boughs
each Morn
We brush mellifluous Dewes, and find the ground
Cover'd
with pearly grain: yet God hath here
Varied his bounty so with new
delights,
As may compare with Heaven; and to taste
Think
not I shall be nice. So down they sat,
And to thir viands fell, nor
seemingly
The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss
Of
Theologians, but with keen dispatch
Of real hunger, and concoctive
heate
To transubstantiate; what redounds, transpires
Through
Spirits with ease; nor wonder; if by fire
Of sooty coal the Empiric
Alchimist
Can turn, or holds it possible to turn
Metals
of drossiest Ore to perfet Gold
As from the Mine. Mean while at
Table EVE
Ministerd naked, and thir flowing cups
With
pleasant liquors crown'd: O innocence
Deserving Paradise! if ever,
then,
Then had the Sons of God excuse to have bin
Enamour'd
at that sight; but in those hearts
Love unlibidinous reign'd, nor
jealousie
Was understood, the injur'd Lovers Hell.
Thus when with meats & drinks they had suffic'd,
Not
burd'nd Nature, sudden mind arose
In ADAM, not to let th' occasion
pass
Given him by this great Conference to know
Of
things above his World, and of thir being
Who dwell in Heav'n,
whose excellence he saw
Transcend his own so farr, whose radiant
forms
Divine effulgence, whose high Power so far
Exceeded
human, and his wary speech
Thus to th' Empyreal Minister he fram'd.
Inhabitant with God, now know I well
Thy
favour, in this honour done to man,
Under whose lowly roof thou
hast voutsaf't
To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste,
Food
not of Angels, yet accepted so,
As that more willingly thou couldst
not seem
At Heav'ns high feasts to have fed: yet what compare?
To whom the winged Hierarch repli'd.
O
ADAM, one Almightie is, from whom
All things proceed, and up to him
return,
If not deprav'd from good, created all
Such
to perfection, one first matter all,
Indu'd with various forms,
various degrees
Of substance, and in things that live, of life;
But
more refin'd, more spiritous, and pure,
As neerer to him plac't or
neerer tending
Each in thir several active Sphears assignd,
Till
body up to spirit work, in bounds
Proportiond to each kind. So from
the root
Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves
More
aerie, last the bright consummate floure
Spirits odorous breathes:
flours and thir fruit
Mans nourishment, by gradual scale sublim'd
To
vital Spirits aspire, to animal,
To intellectual, give both life
and sense,
Fansie and understanding, whence the soule
Reason
receives, and reason is her being,
Discursive, or Intuitive;
discourse
Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours,
Differing
but in degree, of kind the same.
Wonder not then, what God for you
saw good
If I refuse not, but convert, as you,
To
proper substance; time may come when men
With Angels may
participate, and find
No inconvenient Diet, nor too light Fare:
And
from these corporal nutriments perhaps
Your bodies may at last turn
all to Spirit
Improv'd by tract of time, and wingd ascend
Ethereal,
as wee, or may at choice
Here or in Heav'nly Paradises dwell;
If
ye be found obedient, and retain
Unalterably firm his love entire
Whose
progenie you are. Mean while enjoy
Your fill what happiness this
happie state
Can comprehend, incapable of more.
To whom the Patriarch of mankind repli'd.
O
favourable spirit, propitious guest,
Well hast thou taught the way
that might direct
Our knowledge, and the scale of Nature set
From
center to circumference, whereon
In contemplation of created things
By
steps we may ascend to God. But say,
What meant that caution joind,
IF YE BE FOUND
OBEDIENT? can wee want obedience then
To
him, or possibly his love desert
Who formd us from the dust, and
plac'd us here
Full to the utmost measure of what bliss
Human
desires can seek or apprehend?
To whom the Angel. Son of Heav'n and Earth,
Attend:
That thou art happie, owe to God;
That thou continu'st such, owe to
thy self,
That is, to thy obedience; therein stand.
This
was that caution giv'n thee; be advis'd.
God made thee perfet, not
immutable;
And good he made thee, but to persevere
He
left it in thy power, ordaind thy will
By nature free, not
over-rul'd by Fate
Inextricable, or strict necessity;
Our
voluntarie service he requires,
Not our necessitated, such with him
Findes
no acceptance, nor can find, for how
Can hearts, not free, be tri'd
whether they serve
Willing or no, who will but what they must
By
Destinie, and can no other choose?
My self and all th' Angelic Host
that stand
In sight of God enthron'd, our happie state
Hold,
as you yours, while our obedience holds;
On other surety none;
freely we serve.
Because wee freely love, as in our will
To
love or not; in this we stand or fall:
And som are fall'n, to
disobedience fall'n,
And so from Heav'n to deepest Hell; O fall
From
what high state of bliss into what woe!
To whom our great Progenitor. Thy words
Attentive,
and with more delighted eare
Divine instructer, I have heard, then
when
Cherubic Songs by night from neighbouring Hills
Aereal
Music send: nor knew I not
To be both will and deed created free;
Yet
that we never shall forget to love
Our maker, and obey him whose
command
Single, is yet so just, my constant thoughts
Assur'd
me and still assure: though what thou tellst
Hath past in Heav'n,
som doubt within me move,
But more desire to hear, if thou consent,
The
full relation, which must needs be strange,
Worthy of Sacred
silence to be heard;
And we have yet large day, for scarce the Sun
Hath
finisht half his journey, and scarce begins
His other half in the
great Zone of Heav'n.
Thus ADAM made request, and RAPHAEL
After
short pause assenting, thus began.
High matter thou injoinst me, O prime of men,
Sad
task and hard, for how shall I relate
To human sense th' invisible
exploits
Of warring Spirits; how without remorse
The
ruin of so many glorious once
And perfet while they stood; how last
unfould
The secrets of another world, perhaps
Not
lawful to reveal? yet for thy good
This is dispenc't, and what
surmounts the reach
Of human sense, I shall delineate so,
By
lik'ning spiritual to corporal forms,
As may express them best,
though what if Earth
Be but the shaddow of Heav'n, and things
therein
Each to other like, more then on earth is thought?
As yet this world was not, and CHAOS wilde
Reignd
where these Heav'ns now rowl, where Earth now rests
Upon her Center
pois'd, when on a day
(For Time, though in Eternitie, appli'd
To
motion, measures all things durable
By present, past, and future)
on such day
As Heav'ns great Year brings forth, th' Empyreal Host
Of
Angels by Imperial summons call'd,
Innumerable before th'
Almighties Throne
Forthwith from all the ends of Heav'n appeerd
Under
thir Hierarchs in orders bright
Ten thousand thousand Ensignes high
advanc'd,
Standards, and Gonfalons twixt Van and Reare
Streame
in the Aire, and for distinction serve
Of Hierarchies, of Orders,
and Degrees;
Or in thir glittering Tissues bear imblaz'd
Holy
Memorials, acts of Zeale and Love
Recorded eminent. Thus when in
Orbes
Of circuit inexpressible they stood,
Orb
within Orb, the Father infinite,
By whom in bliss imbosom'd sat the
Son,
Amidst as from a flaming Mount, whoseop
Brightness
had made invisible, thus spake.
Hear all ye Angels, Progenie of Light,
Thrones,
Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers,
Hear my Decree, which
unrevok't shall stand.
This day I have begot whom I declare
My
onely Son, and on this holy Hill
Him have anointed, whom ye now
behold
At my right hand; your Head I him appoint;
And
by my Self have sworn to him shall bow
All knees in Heav'n, and
shall confess him Lord:
Under his great Vice-gerent Reign abide
United
as one individual Soule
For ever happie: him who disobeyes
Mee
disobeyes, breaks union, and that day
Cast out from God and blessed
vision, falls
Into utter darkness, deep ingulft, his place
Ordaind
without redemption, without end.
So spake th' Omnipotent, and with his words
All
seemd well pleas'd, all seem'd, but were not all.
That day, as
other solem dayes, they spent
In song and dance about the sacred
Hill,
Mystical dance, which yonder starrie Spheare
Of
Planets and of fixt in all her Wheeles
Resembles nearest, mazes
intricate,
Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular
Then
most, when most irregular they seem:
And in thir motions harmonie
Divine
So smooths her charming tones, that Gods own ear
Listens
delighted. Eevning approachd
(For we have also our Eevning and our
Morn,
We ours for change delectable, not need)
Forthwith
from dance to sweet repast they turn
Desirous, all in Circles as
they stood,
Tables are set, and on a sudden pil'd
With
Angels Food, and rubied Nectar flows:
In Pearl, in Diamond, and
massie Gold,
Fruit of delicious Vines, the growth of Heav'n.
They
eat, they drink, and with refection sweet
Are fill'd, before th'
all bounteous King, who showrd
With copious hand, rejoycing in thir
joy.
Now when ambrosial Night with Clouds exhal'd
From
that high mount of God, whence light & shade
Spring both, the
face of brightest Heav'n had changd
To grateful Twilight (for Night
comes not there
In darker veile) and roseat Dews dispos'd
All
but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest,
Wide over all the Plain,
and wider farr
Then all this globous Earth in Plain outspred,
(Such
are the Courts of God) Th' Angelic throng
Disperst in Bands and
Files thir Camp extend
By living Streams among the Trees of Life,
Pavilions
numberless, and sudden reard,
Celestial Tabernacles, where they
slept
Fannd with coole Winds, save those who in thir course
Melodious
Hymns about the sovran Throne
Alternate all night long: but not so
wak'd
SATAN, so call him now, his former name
Is
heard no more Heav'n; he of the first,
If not the first Arch-Angel,
great in Power,
In favour and praeeminence, yet fraught
With
envie against the Son of God, that day
Honourd by his great Father,
and proclaimd
MESSIAH King anointed, could not beare
Through
pride that sight, and thought himself impaird.
Deep malice thence
conceiving & disdain,
Soon as midnight brought on the duskie
houre
Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolv'd
With
all his Legions to dislodge, and leave
Unworshipt, unobey'd the
Throne supream
Contemptuous, and his next subordinate
Awak'ning,
thus to him in secret spake.
Sleepst thou Companion dear, what sleep can close
Thy
eye-lids? and remembrest what Decree
Of yesterday, so late hath
past the lips
Of Heav'ns Almightie. Thou to me thy thoughts
Wast
wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart;
Both waking we were one;
how then can now
Thy sleep dissent? new Laws thou seest impos'd;
New
Laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise
In us who serve, new
Counsels, to debate
What doubtful may ensue, more in this place
To
utter is not safe. Assemble thou
Of all those Myriads which we lead
the chief;
Tell them that by command, ere yet dim Night
Her
shadowie Cloud withdraws, I am to haste,
And all who under me thir
Banners wave,
Homeward with flying march where we possess
The
Quarters of the North, there to prepare
Fit entertainment to
receive our King
The great MESSIAH, and his new commands,
Who
speedily through all the Hierarchies
Intends to pass triumphant,
and give Laws.
So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infus'd
Bad
influence into th' unwarie brest
Of his Associate; hee together
calls,
Or several one by one, the Regent Powers,
Under
him Regent, tells, as he was taught,
That the most High commanding,
now ere Night,
Now ere dim Night had disincumberd Heav'n,
The
great Hierarchal Standard was to move;
Tells the suggested cause,
and casts between
Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound
Or
taint integritie; but all obey'd
The wonted signal, and superior
voice
Of thir great Potentate; for great indeed
His
name, and high was his degree in Heav'n;
His count'nance, as the
Morning Starr that guides
The starrie flock, allur'd them, and with
lyes
Drew after him the third part of Heav'ns Host:
Mean
while th' Eternal eye, whose sight discernes
Abstrusest thoughts,
from forth his holy Mount
And from within the golden Lamps that
burne
Nightly before him, saw without thir light
Rebellion
rising, saw in whom, how spred
Among the sons of Morn, what
multitudes
Were banded to oppose his high Decree;
And
smiling to his onely Son thus said.
Son, thou in whom my glory I behold
In full
resplendence, Heir of all my might,
Neerly it now concernes us to
be sure
Of our Omnipotence, and with what Arms
We
mean to hold what anciently we claim
Of Deitie or Empire, such a foe
Is
rising, who intends to erect his Throne
Equal to ours, throughout
the spacious North;
Nor so content, hath in his thought to trie
In
battel, what our Power is, or our right.
Let us advise, and to this
hazard draw
With speed what force is left, and all imploy
In
our defence, lest unawares we lose
This our high place, our
Sanctuarie, our Hill.
To whom the Son with calm aspect and cleer
Light'ning
Divine, ineffable, serene,
Made answer. Mightie Father, thou thy
foes
Justly hast in derision, and secure
Laugh'st at
thir vain designes and tumults vain,
Matter to mee of Glory, whom
thir hate
Illustrates, when they see all Regal Power
Giv'n
me to quell thir pride, and in event
Know whether I be dextrous to
subdue
Thy Rebels, or be found the worst in Heav'n.
So spake the Son, but SATAN with his Powers
Farr
was advanc't on winged speed, an Host
Innumerable as the Starrs of
Night,
Or Starrs of Morning, Dew-drops, which the Sun
Impearls
on every leaf and every flouer.
Regions they pass'd, the mightie
Regencies
Of Seraphim and Potentates and Thrones
In
thir triple Degrees, Regions to which
All thy Dominion, ADAM, is no
more
Then what this Garden is to all the Earth,
And
all the Sea, from one entire globose
Stretcht into Longitude; which
having pass'd
At length into the limits of the North
They
came, and SATAN to his Royal seat
High on a Hill, far blazing, as a
Mount
Rais'd on a Mount, with Pyramids and Towrs
From
Diamond Quarries hew'n, & Rocks of Gold,
The Palace of great
LUCIFER, (so call
That Structure in the Dialect of men
Interpreted)
which not long after, hee
Affecting all equality with God,
In
imitation of that Mount whereon
MESSIAH was declar'd in sight of
Heav'n,
The Mountain of the Congregation call'd;
For
thither he assembl'd all his Train,
Pretending so commanded to
consult
About the great reception of thir King,
Thither
to come, and with calumnious Art
Of counterfeted truth thus held
thir ears.
Thrones, Dominations, Princedomes, Vertues, Powers,
If
these magnific Titles yet remain
Not meerly titular, since by Decree
Another
now hath to himself ingross't
All Power, and us eclipst under the
name
Of King anointed, for whom all this haste
Of
midnight march, and hurried meeting here,
This onely to consult how
we may best
With what may be devis'd of honours new
Receive
him coming to receive from us
Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration
vile,
Too much to one, but double how endur'd,
To
one and to his image now proclaim'd?
But what if better counsels
might erect
Our minds and teach us to cast off this Yoke?
Will
ye submit your necks, and chuse to bend
The supple knee? ye will
not, if I trust
To know ye right, or if ye know your selves
Natives
and Sons of Heav'n possest before
By none, and if not equal all,
yet free,
Equally free; for Orders and Degrees
Jarr
not with liberty, but well consist.
Who can in reason then or right
assume
Monarchie over such as live by right
His
equals, if in power and splendor less,
In freedome equal? or can
introduce
Law and Edict on us, who without law
Erre
not, much less for this to be our Lord,
And look for adoration to
th' abuse
Of those Imperial Titles which assert
Our
being ordain'd to govern, not to serve?
Thus farr his bold discourse without controule
Had
audience, when among the Seraphim
ABDIEL, then whom none with more
zeale ador'd
The Deitie, and divine commands obei'd,
Stood
up, and in a flame of zeale severe
The current of his fury thus
oppos'd.
O argument blasphemous, false and proud!
Words
which no eare ever to hear in Heav'n
Expected, least of all from
thee, ingrate
In place thy self so high above thy Peeres.
Canst
thou with impious obloquie condemne
The just Decree of God,
pronounc't and sworn,
That to his only Son by right endu'd
With
Regal Scepter, every Soule in Heav'n
Shall bend the knee, and in
that honour due
Confess him rightful King? unjust thou saist
Flatly
unjust, to binde with Laws the free,
And equal over equals to let
Reigne,
One over all with unsucceeded power.
Shalt
thou give Law to God, shalt thou dispute
With him the points of
libertie, who made
Thee what thou art, & formd the Pow'rs of Heav'n
Such
as he pleasd, and circumscrib'd thir being?
Yet by experience
taught we know how good,
And of our good, and of our dignitie
How
provident he is, how farr from thought
To make us less, bent rather
to exalt
Our happie state under one Head more neer
United.
But to grant it thee unjust,
That equal over equals Monarch Reigne:
Thy
self though great & glorious dost thou count,
Or all Angelic
Nature joind in one,
Equal to him begotten Son, by whom
As
by his Word the mighty Father made
All things, ev'n thee, and all
the Spirits of Heav'n
By him created in thir bright degrees,
Crownd
them with Glory, & to thir Glory nam'd
Thrones, Dominations,
Princedoms, Vertues, Powers
Essential Powers, nor by his Reign
obscur'd,
But more illustrious made, since he the Head
One
of our number thus reduc't becomes,
His Laws our Laws, all honour
to him done
Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage,
And
tempt not these; but hast'n to appease
Th' incensed Father, and th'
incensed Son,
While Pardon may be found in time besought.
So spake the fervent Angel, but his zeale
None
seconded, as out of season judg'd,
Or singular and rash, whereat
rejoic'd
Th' Apostat, and more haughty thus repli'd.
That
we were formd then saist thou? & the work
Of secondarie hands,
by task transferd
From Father to his Son? strange point and new!
Doctrin
which we would know whence learnt: who saw
When this creation was?
rememberst thou
Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being?
We
know no time when we were not as now;
Know none before us,
self-begot, self-rais'd
By our own quick'ning power, when fatal
course
Had circl'd his full Orbe, the birth mature
Of
this our native Heav'n, Ethereal Sons.
Our puissance is our own,
our own right hand
Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try
Who
is our equal: then thou shalt behold
Whether by supplication we
intend
Address, and to begirt th' Almighty Throne
Beseeching
or besieging. This report,
These tidings carrie to th' anointed
King;
And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.
He said, and as the sound of waters deep
Hoarce
murmur echo'd to his words applause
Through the infinite Host, nor
less for that
The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone
Encompass'd
round with foes, thus answerd bold.
O alienate from God, O spirit accurst,
Forsak'n
of all good; I see thy fall
Determind, and thy hapless crew involv'd
In
this perfidious fraud, contagion spred
Both of thy crime and
punishment: henceforth
No more be troubl'd how to quit the yoke
Of
Gods MESSIAH; those indulgent Laws
Will not be now voutsaf't, other
Decrees
Against thee are gon forth without recall;
That
Golden Scepter which thou didst reject
Is now an Iron Rod to bruise
and breake
Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise,
Yet
not for thy advise or threats I fly
These wicked Tents devoted,
least the wrauth
Impendent, raging into sudden flame
Distinguish
not: for soon expect to feel
His Thunder on thy head, devouring
fire.
Then who created thee lamenting learne,
When
who can uncreate thee thou shalt know.
So spake the Seraph ABDIEL faithful found,
Among
the faithless, faithful only hee;
Among innumerable false, unmov'd,
Unshak'n,
unseduc'd, unterrifi'd
His Loyaltie he kept, his Love, his Zeale;
Nor
number, nor example with him wrought
To swerve from truth, or
change his constant mind
Though single. From amidst them forth he
passd,
Long way through hostile scorn, which he susteind
Superior,
nor of violence fear'd aught;
And with retorted scorn his back he
turn'd
On those proud Towrs to swift destruction doom'd.
All night the dreadless Angel unpursu'd
Through Heav'ns
wide Champain held his way, till Morn,
Wak't by the circling Hours,
with rosie hand
Unbarr'd the gates of Light. There is a Cave
Within
the Mount of God, fast by his Throne,
Where light and darkness in
perpetual round
Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through
Heav'n
Grateful vicissitude, like Day and Night;
Light
issues forth, and at the other dore
Obsequious darkness enters,
till her houre
To veile the Heav'n, though darkness there might well
Seem
twilight here; and now went forth the Morn
Such as in highest
Heav'n, arrayd in Gold
Empyreal, from before her vanisht Night,
Shot
through with orient Beams: when all the Plain
Coverd with thick
embatteld Squadrons bright,
Chariots and flaming Armes, and fierie
Steeds
Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view:
Warr
he perceav'd, warr in procinct, and found
Already known what he for
news had thought
To have reported: gladly then he mixt
Among
those friendly Powers who him receav'd
With joy and acclamations
loud, that one
That of so many Myriads fall'n, yet one
Returnd
not lost: On to the sacred hill
They led him high applauded, and
present
Before the seat supream; from whence a voice
From
midst a Golden Cloud thus milde was heard.
Servant of God, well done, well hast thou fought
The
better fight, who single hast maintaind
Against revolted multitudes
the Cause
Of Truth, in word mightier then they in Armes;
And
for the testimonie of Truth hast born
Universal reproach, far worse
to beare
Then violence: for this was all thy care
To
stand approv'd in sight of God, though Worlds
Judg'd thee perverse:
the easier conquest now
Remains thee, aided by this host of friends,
Back
on thy foes more glorious to return
Then scornd thou didst depart,
and to subdue
By force, who reason for thir Law refuse,
Right
reason for thir Law, and for thir King
MESSIAH, who by right of
merit Reigns.
Goe MICHAEL of Celestial Armies Prince,
And
thou in Military prowess next
GABRIEL, lead forth to Battel these
my Sons
Invincible, lead forth my armed Saints
By
Thousands and by Millions rang'd for fight;
Equal in number to that
Godless crew
Rebellious, them with Fire and hostile Arms
Fearless
assault, and to the brow of Heav'n
Pursuing drive them out from God
and bliss,
Into thir place of punishment, the Gulf
Of
TARTARUS, which ready opens wide
His fiery CHAOS to receave thir
fall.
So spake the Sovran voice, and Clouds began
To
darken all the Hill, and smoak to rowl
In duskie wreathes,
reluctant flames, the signe
Of wrauth awak't: nor with less dread
the loud
Ethereal Trumpet from on high gan blow:
At
which command the Powers Militant,
That stood for Heav'n, in mighty
Quadrate joyn'd
Of Union irresistible, mov'd on
In
silence thir bright Legions, to the sound
Of instrumental Harmonie
that breath'd
Heroic Ardor to advent'rous deeds
Under
thir God-like Leaders, in the Cause
Of God and his MESSIAH. On they
move
Indissolubly firm; nor obvious Hill,
Nor
streit'ning Vale, nor Wood, nor Stream divides
Thir perfet ranks;
for high above the ground
Thir march was, and the passive Air upbore
Thir
nimble tread; as when the total kind
Of Birds in orderly array on
wing
Came summond over EDEN to receive
Thir names of
thee; so over many a tract
Of Heav'n they march'd, and many a
Province wide
Tenfold the length of this terrene: at last
Farr
in th' Horizon to the North appeer'd
From skirt to skirt a fierie
Region, stretcht
In battailous aspect, and neerer view
Bristl'd
with upright beams innumerable
Of rigid Spears, and Helmets
throng'd, and Shields
Various, with boastful Argument portraid,
The
banded Powers of SATAN hasting on
With furious expedition; for they
weend
That self same day by fight, or by surprize
To
win the Mount of God, and on his Throne
To set the envier of his
State, the proud
Aspirer, but thir thoughts prov'd fond and vain
In
the mid way: though strange to us it seemd
At first, that Angel
should with Angel warr,
And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet
So
oft in Festivals of joy and love
Unanimous, as sons of one great
Sire
Hymning th' Eternal Father: but the shout
Of
Battel now began, and rushing sound
Of onset ended soon each milder
thought.
High in the midst exalted as a God
Th'
Apostat in his Sun-bright Chariot sate
Idol of Majestie Divine,
enclos'd
With Flaming Cherubim, and golden Shields;
Then
lighted from his gorgeous Throne, for now
'Twixt Host and Host but
narrow space was left,
A dreadful interval, and Front to Front
Presented
stood in terrible array
Of hideous length: before the cloudie Van,
On
the rough edge of battel ere it joyn'd,
SATAN with vast and
haughtie strides advanc't,
Came towring, armd in Adamant and Gold;
ABDIEL
that sight endur'd not, where he stood
Among the mightiest, bent on
highest deeds,
And thus his own undaunted heart explores.
O Heav'n! that such resemblance of the Highest
Should
yet remain, where faith and realtie
Remain not; wherfore should not
strength & might
There fail where Vertue fails, or weakest prove
Where
boldest; though to sight unconquerable?
His puissance, trusting in
th' Almightie's aide,
I mean to try, whose Reason I have tri'd
Unsound
and false; nor is it aught but just,
That he who in debate of Truth
hath won,
Should win in Arms, in both disputes alike
Victor;
though brutish that contest and foule,
When Reason hath to deal
with force, yet so
Most reason is that Reason overcome.
So pondering, and from his armed Peers
Forth
stepping opposite, half way he met
His daring foe, at this
prevention more
Incens't, and thus securely him defi'd.
Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reacht
The
highth of thy aspiring unoppos'd,
The Throne of God unguarded, and
his side
Abandond at the terror of thy Power
Or
potent tongue; fool, not to think how vain
Against th' Omnipotent
to rise in Arms;
Who out of smallest things could without end
Have
rais'd incessant Armies to defeat
Thy folly; or with solitarie hand
Reaching
beyond all limit, at one blow
Unaided could have finisht thee, and
whelmd
Thy Legions under darkness; but thou seest
All
are not of thy Train; there be who Faith
Prefer, and Pietie to God,
though then
To thee not visible, when I alone
Seemd
in thy World erroneous to dissent
From all: my Sect thou seest, now
learn too late
How few somtimes may know, when thousands err.
Whom the grand foe with scornful eye askance
Thus
answerd. Ill for thee, but in wisht houre
Of my revenge, first
sought for thou returnst
From flight, seditious Angel, to receave
Thy
merited reward, the first assay
Of this right hand provok't, since
first that tongue
Inspir'd with contradiction durst oppose
A
third part of the Gods, in Synod met
Thir Deities to assert, who
while they feel
Vigour Divine within them, can allow
Omnipotence
to none. But well thou comst
Before thy fellows, ambitious to win
From
me som Plume, that thy success may show
Destruction to the rest:
this pause between
(Unanswerd least thou boast) to let thee know;
At
first I thought that Libertie and Heav'n
To heav'nly Soules had bin
all one; but now
I see that most through sloth had rather serve,
Ministring
Spirits, traind up in Feast and Song;
Such hast thou arm'd, the
Minstrelsie of Heav'n,
Servilitie with freedom to contend,
As
both thir deeds compar'd this day shall prove.
To whom in brief thus ABDIEL stern repli'd.
Apostat,
still thou errst, nor end wilt find
Of erring, from the path of
truth remote:
Unjustly thou deprav'st it with the name
Of
SERVITUDE to serve whom God ordains,
Or Nature; God and Nature bid
the same,
When he who rules is worthiest, and excells
Them
whom he governs. This is servitude,
To serve th' unwise, or him who
hath rebelld
Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee,
Thy
self not free, but to thy self enthrall'd;
Yet leudly dar'st our
ministring upbraid.
Reign thou in Hell thy Kingdom, let mee serve
In
Heav'n God ever blessed, and his Divine
Behests obey, worthiest to
be obey'd,
Yet Chains in Hell, not Realms expect: mean while
From
mee returnd, as erst thou saidst, from flight,
This greeting on thy
impious Crest receive.
So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high,
Which
hung not, but so swift with tempest fell
On the proud Crest of
SATAN, that no sight,
Nor motion of swift thought, less could his
Shield
Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge
He back
recoild; the tenth on bended knee
His massie Spear upstaid; as if
on Earth
Winds under ground or waters forcing way
Sidelong,
had push't a Mountain from his seat
Half sunk with all his Pines.
Amazement seis'd
The Rebel Thrones, but greater rage to see
Thus
foil'd thir mightiest, ours joy filld, and shout,
Presage of
Victorie and fierce desire
Of Battel: whereat MICHAEL bid sound
Th'
Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of Heav'n
It sounded, and the
faithful Armies rung
HOSANNA to the Highest: nor stood at gaze
The
adverse Legions, nor less hideous joyn'd
The horrid shock: now
storming furie rose,
And clamour such as heard in Heav'n till now
Was
never, Arms on Armour clashing bray'd
Horrible discord, and the
madding Wheeles
Of brazen Chariots rag'd; dire was the noise
Of
conflict; over head the dismal hiss
Of fiery Darts in flaming
volies flew,
And flying vaulted either Host with fire.
Sounder
fierie Cope together rush'd
Both Battels maine, with ruinous assault
And
inextinguishable rage; all Heav'n
Resounded, and had Earth bin
then, all Earth
Had to her Center shook. What wonder? when
Millions
of fierce encountring Angels fought
On either side, the least of
whom could weild
These Elements, and arm him with the force
Of
all thir Regions: how much more of Power
Armie against Armie
numberless to raise
Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb,
Though
not destroy, thir happie Native seat;
Had not th' Eternal King
Omnipotent
From his strong hold of Heav'n high over-rul'd
And
limited thir might; though numberd such
As each divided Legion
might have seemd
A numerous Host, in strength each armed hand
A
Legion; led in fight, yet Leader seemd
Each Warriour single as in
Chief, expert
When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway
Of
Battel, open when, and when to close
The ridges of grim Warr; no
thought of flight,
None of retreat, no unbecoming deed
That
argu'd fear; each on himself reli'd,
As onely in his arm the moment
lay
Of victorie; deeds of eternal fame
Were don, but
infinite: for wide was spred
That Warr and various; somtimes on
firm ground
A standing fight, then soaring on main wing
Tormented
all the Air; all Air seemd then
Conflicting Fire: long time in
eeven scale
The Battel hung; till SATAN, who that day
Prodigious
power had shewn, and met in Armes
No equal, raunging through the
dire attack
Of fighting Seraphim confus'd, at length
Saw
where the Sword of MICHAEL smote, and fell'd
Squadrons at once,
with huge two-handed sway
Brandisht aloft the horrid edge came down
Wide
wasting; such destruction to withstand
He hasted, and oppos'd the
rockie Orb
Of tenfold Adamant, his ample Shield
A
vast circumference: At his approach
The great Arch-Angel from his
warlike toile
Surceas'd, and glad as hoping here to end
Intestine
War in Heav'n, the arch foe subdu'd
Or Captive drag'd in Chains,
with hostile frown
And visage all enflam'd first thus began.
Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt,
Unnam'd
in Heav'n, now plenteous, as thou seest
These Acts of hateful
strife, hateful to all,
Though heaviest by just measure on thy self
And
thy adherents: how hast thou disturb'd
Heav'ns blessed peace, and
into Nature brought
Miserie, uncreated till the crime
Of
thy Rebellion? how hast thou instill'd
Thy malice into thousands,
once upright
And faithful, now prov'd false. But think not here
To
trouble Holy Rest; Heav'n casts thee out
From all her Confines.
Heav'n the seat of bliss
Brooks not the works of violence and Warr.
Hence
then, and evil go with thee along
Thy ofspring, to the place of
evil, Hell,
Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broiles,
Ere
this avenging Sword begin thy doome,
Or som more sudden vengeance
wing'd from God
Precipitate thee with augmented paine.
So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus
The
Adversarie. Nor think thou with wind
Of airie threats to aw whom
yet with deeds
Thou canst not. Hast thou turnd the least of these
To
flight, or if to fall, but that they rise
Unvanquisht, easier to
transact with mee
That thou shouldst hope, imperious, & with threats
To
chase me hence? erre not that so shall end
The strife which thou
call'st evil, but wee style
The strife of Glorie: which we mean to
win,
Or turn this Heav'n it self into the Hell
Thou
fablest, here however to dwell free,
If not to reign: mean while
thy utmost force,
And join him nam'd ALMIGHTIE to thy aid,
I
flie not, but have sought thee farr and nigh.
They ended parle, and both addrest for fight
Unspeakable;
for who, though with the tongue
Of Angels, can relate, or to what
things
Liken on Earth conspicuous, that may lift
Human
imagination to such highth
Of Godlike Power: for likest Gods they
seemd,
Stood they or mov'd, in stature, motion, arms
Fit
to decide the Empire of great Heav'n.
Now wav'd thir fierie Swords,
and in the Aire
Made horrid Circles; two broad Suns thir Shields
Blaz'd
opposite, while expectation stood
In horror; from each hand with
speed retir'd
Where erst was thickest fight, th' Angelic throng,
And
left large field, unsafe within the wind
Of such commotion, such as
to set forth
Great things by small, If Natures concord broke,
Among
the Constellations warr were sprung,
Two Planets rushing from
aspect maligne
Of fiercest opposition in mid Skie,
Should
combat, and thir jarring Sphears confound.
Together both with next
to Almightie Arme,
Uplifted imminent one stroke they aim'd
That
might determine, and not need repeate,
As not of power, at once;
nor odds appeerd
In might or swift prevention; but the sword
Of
MICHAEL from the Armorie of God
Was giv'n him temperd so, that
neither keen
Nor solid might resist that edge: it met
The
sword of SATAN with steep force to smite
Descending, and in half
cut sheere, nor staid,
But with swift wheele reverse, deep entring
shar'd
All his right side; then SATAN first knew pain,
And
writh'd him to and fro convolv'd; so sore
The griding sword with
discontinuous wound
Pass'd through him, but th' Ethereal substance
clos'd
Not long divisible, and from the gash
A
stream of Nectarous humor issuing flow'd
Sanguin, such as Celestial
Spirits may bleed,
And all his Armour staind ere while so bright.
Forthwith
on all sides to his aide was run
By Angels many and strong, who
interpos'd
Defence, while others bore him on thir Shields
Back
to his Chariot; where it stood retir'd
From off the files of warr;
there they him laid
Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame
To
find himself not matchless, and his pride
Humbl'd by such rebuke,
so farr beneath
His confidence to equal God in power.
Yet
soon he heal'd; for Spirits that live throughout
Vital in every
part, not as frail man
In Entrailes, Heart or Head, Liver or Reines,
Cannot
but by annihilating die;
Nor in thir liquid texture mortal wound
Receive,
no more then can the fluid Aire:
All Heart they live, all Head, all
Eye, all Eare,
All Intellect, all Sense, and as they please,
They
Limb themselves, and colour, shape or size
Assume, as likes them
best, condense or rare.
Mean while in other parts like deeds deservd
Memorial,
where the might of GABRIEL fought,
And with fierce Ensignes pierc'd
the deep array
Of MOLOC furious King, who him defi'd,
And
at his Chariot wheeles to drag him bound
Threatn'd, nor from the
Holie One of Heav'n
Refrein'd his tongue blasphemous; but anon
Down
clov'n to the waste, with shatterd Armes
And uncouth paine fled
bellowing. On each wing
URIEL and RAPHAEL his vaunting foe,
Though
huge, and in a Rock of Diamond Armd,
Vanquish'd ADRAMELEC, and
ASMADAI,
Two potent Thrones, that to be less then Gods
Disdain'd,
but meaner thoughts learnd in thir flight,
Mangl'd with gastly
wounds through Plate and Maile.
Nor stood unmindful ABDIEL to annoy
The
Atheist crew, but with redoubl'd blow
ARIEL and ARIOC, and the
violence
Of RAMIEL scorcht and blasted overthrew.
I
might relate of thousands, and thir names
Eternize here on Earth;
but those elect
Angels contented with thir fame in Heav'n
Seek
not the praise of men: the other sort
In might though wondrous and
in Acts of Warr,
Nor of Renown less eager, yet by doome
Canceld
from Heav'n and sacred memorie,
Nameless in dark oblivion let them
dwell.
For strength from Truth divided and from Just,
Illaudable,
naught merits but dispraise
And ignominie, yet to glorie aspires
Vain
glorious, and through infamie seeks fame:
Therfore Eternal silence
be thir doome.
And now thir mightiest quelld, the battel swerv'd,
With
many an inrode gor'd; deformed rout
Enter'd, and foul disorder; all
the ground
With shiverd armour strow'n, and on a heap
Chariot
and Charioter lay overturnd
And fierie foaming Steeds; what stood,
recoyld
Orewearied, through the faint Satanic Host
Defensive
scarse, or with pale fear surpris'd,
Then first with fear surpris'd
and sense of paine
Fled ignominious, to such evil brought
By
sinne of disobedience, till that hour
Not liable to fear or flight
or paine.
Far otherwise th' inviolable Saints
In
Cubic Phalanx firm advanc't entire,
Invulnerable, impenitrably
arm'd:
Such high advantages thir innocence
Gave them
above thir foes, not to have sinnd,
Not to have disobei'd; in fight
they stood
Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain'd
By
wound, though from thir place by violence mov'd.
Now Night her course began, and over Heav'n
Inducing
darkness, grateful truce impos'd,
And silence on the odious dinn of
Warr:
Under her Cloudie covert both retir'd,
Victor
and Vanquisht: on the foughten field
MICHAEL and his Angels
prevalent
Encamping, plac'd in Guard thir Watches round,
Cherubic
waving fires: on th' other part
SATAN with his rebellious
disappeerd,
Far in the dark dislodg'd, and void of rest,
His
Potentates to Councel call'd by night;
And in the midst thus
undismai'd began.
O now in danger tri'd, now known in Armes
Not
to be overpowerd, Companions deare,
Found worthy not of Libertie
alone,
Too mean pretense, but what we more affect,
Honour,
Dominion, Glorie, and renowne,
Who have sustaind one day in
doubtful fight,
(And if one day, why not Eternal dayes?)
What
Heavens Lord had powerfullest to send
Against us from about his
Throne, and judg'd
Sufficient to subdue us to his will,
But
proves not so: then fallible, it seems,
Of future we may deem him,
though till now
Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly arm'd,
Some
disadvantage we endur'd and paine,
Till now not known, but known as
soon contemnd,
Since now we find this our Empyreal forme
Incapable
of mortal injurie
Imperishable, and though peirc'd with wound,
Soon
closing, and by native vigour heal'd.
Of evil then so small as
easie think
The remedie; perhaps more valid Armes,
Weapons
more violent, when next we meet,
May serve to better us, and worse
our foes,
Or equal what between us made the odds,
In
Nature none: if other hidden cause
Left them Superiour, while we
can preserve
Unhurt our mindes, and understanding sound,
Due
search and consultation will disclose.
He sat; and in th' assembly next upstood
NISROC,
of Principalities the prime;
As one he stood escap't from cruel
fight,
Sore toild, his riv'n Armes to havoc hewn,
And
cloudie in aspect thus answering spake.
Deliverer from new Lords,
leader to free
Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard
For
Gods, and too unequal work we find
Against unequal armes to fight
in paine,
Against unpaind, impassive; from which evil
Ruin
must needs ensue; for what availes
Valour or strength, though
matchless, quelld with pain
Which all subdues, and makes remiss the
hands
Of Mightiest. Sense of pleasure we may well
Spare
out of life perhaps, and not repine,
But live content, which is the
calmest life:
But pain is perfet miserie, the worst
Of
evils, and excessive, overturnes
All patience. He who therefore can
invent
With what more forcible we may offend
Our yet
unwounded Enemies, or arme
Our selves with like defence, to mee
deserves
No less then for deliverance what we owe.
Whereto with look compos'd SATAN repli'd.
Not
uninvented that, which thou aright
Beleivst so main to our success,
I bring;
Which of us who beholds the bright surface
Of
this Ethereous mould whereon we stand,
This continent of spacious
Heav'n, adornd
With Plant, Fruit, Flour Ambrosial, Gemms & Gold,
Whose
Eye so superficially surveyes
These things, as not to mind from
whence they grow
Deep under ground, materials dark and crude,
Of
spiritous and fierie spume, till toucht
With Heav'ns ray, and
temperd they shoot forth
So beauteous, op'ning to the ambient light.
These
in thir dark Nativitie the Deep
Shall yeild us, pregnant with
infernal flame,
Which into hallow Engins long and round
Thick-rammd,
at th' other bore with touch of fire
Dilated and infuriate shall
send forth
From far with thundring noise among our foes
Such
implements of mischief as shall dash
To pieces, and orewhelm
whatever stands
Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmd
The
Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt.
Nor long shall be our labour,
yet ere dawne,
Effect shall end our wish. Mean while revive;
Abandon
fear; to strength and counsel joind
Think nothing hard, much less
to be despaird.
He ended, and his words thir drooping chere
Enlightn'd,
and thir languisht hope reviv'd.
Th' invention all admir'd, and
each, how hee
To be th' inventer miss'd, so easie it seemd
Once
found, which yet unfound most would have thought
Impossible: yet
haply of thy Race
In future dayes, if Malice should abound,
Some
one intent on mischief, or inspir'd
With dev'lish machination might
devise
Like instrument to plague the Sons of men
For
sin, on warr and mutual slaughter bent.
Forthwith from Councel to
the work they flew,
None arguing stood, innumerable hands
Were
ready, in a moment up they turnd
Wide the Celestial soile, and saw
beneath
Th' originals of Nature in thir crude
Conception;
Sulphurous and Nitrous Foame
They found, they mingl'd, and with
suttle Art,
Concocted and adusted they reduc'd
To
blackest grain, and into store conveyd:
Part hidd'n veins diggd up
(nor hath this Earth
Entrails unlike) of Mineral and Stone,
Whereof
to found thir Engins and thir Balls
Of missive ruin; part incentive
reed
Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire.
So
all ere day spring, under conscious Night
Secret they finish'd, and
in order set,
With silent circumspection unespi'd.
Now
when fair Morn Orient in Heav'n appeerd
Up rose the Victor Angels,
and to Arms
The matin Trumpet Sung: in Arms they stood
Of
Golden Panoplie, refulgent Host,
Soon banded; others from the
dawning Hills
Lookd round, and Scouts each Coast light-armed scoure,
Each
quarter, to descrie the distant foe,
Where lodg'd, or whither fled,
or if for fight,
In motion or in alt: him soon they met
Under
spred Ensignes moving nigh, in slow
But firm Battalion; back with
speediest Sail
ZEPHIEL, of Cherubim the swiftest wing,
Came
flying, and in mid Aire aloud thus cri'd.
Arme, Warriours, Arme for fight, the foe at hand,
Whom
fled we thought, will save us long pursuit
This day, fear not his
flight; so thick a Cloud
He comes, and settl'd in his face I see
Sad
resolution and secure: let each
His Adamantine coat gird well, and
each
Fit well his Helme, gripe fast his orbed Shield,
Born
eevn or high, for this day will pour down,
If I conjecture aught,
no drizling showr,
But ratling storm of Arrows barbd with fire.
So
warnd he them aware themselves, and soon
In order, quit of all
impediment;
Instant without disturb they took Allarm,
And
onward move Embattelld; when behold
Not distant far with heavie
pace the Foe
Approaching gross and huge; in hollow Cube
Training
his devilish Enginrie, impal'd
On every side with shaddowing
Squadrons Deep,
To hide the fraud. At interview both stood
A
while, but suddenly at head appeerd
SATAN: And thus was heard
Commanding loud.
Vangard, to Right and Left the Front unfould;
That
all may see who hate us, how we seek
Peace and composure, and with
open brest
Stand readie to receive them, if they like
Our
overture, and turn not back perverse;
But that I doubt, however
witness Heaven,
Heav'n witness thou anon, while we discharge
Freely
our part: yee who appointed stand
Do as you have in charge, and
briefly touch
What we propound, and loud that all may hear.
So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce
Had
ended; when to Right and Left the Front
Divided, and to either
Flank retir'd.
Which to our eyes discoverd new and strange,
A
triple-mounted row of Pillars laid
On Wheels (for like to Pillars
most they seem'd
Or hollow'd bodies made of Oak or Firr
With
branches lopt, in Wood or Mountain fell'd)
Brass, Iron, Stonie
mould, had not thir mouthes
With hideous orifice gap't on us wide,
Portending
hollow truce; at each behind
A Seraph stood, and in his hand a Reed
Stood
waving tipt with fire; while we suspense,
Collected stood within
our thoughts amus'd,
Not long, for sudden all at once thir Reeds
Put
forth, and to a narrow vent appli'd
With nicest touch. Immediate in
a flame,
But soon obscur'd with smoak, all Heav'n appeerd,
From
those deep-throated Engins belcht, whose roar
Emboweld with
outragious noise the Air,
And all her entrails tore, disgorging
foule
Thir devillish glut, chaind Thunderbolts and Hail
Of
Iron Globes, which on the Victor Host
Level'd, with such impetuous
furie smote,
That whom they hit, none on thir feet might stand,
Though
standing else as Rocks, but down they fell
By thousands, Angel on
Arch-Angel rowl'd;
The sooner for thir Arms, unarm'd they might
Have
easily as Spirits evaded swift
By quick contraction or remove; but
now
Foule dissipation follow'd and forc't rout;
Nor
serv'd it to relax thir serried files.
What should they do? if on
they rusht, repulse
Repeated, and indecent overthrow
Doubl'd,
would render them yet more despis'd,
And to thir foes a laughter;
for in view
Stood rankt of Seraphim another row
In
posture to displode thir second tire
Of Thunder: back defeated to
return
They worse abhorr'd. SATAN beheld thir plight,
And
to his Mates thus in derision call'd.
O Friends, why come not on these Victors proud?
Ere
while they fierce were coming, and when wee,
To entertain them fair
with open Front
And Brest, (what could we more?) propounded terms
Of
composition, strait they chang'd thir minds,
Flew off, and into
strange vagaries fell,
As they would dance, yet for a dance they
seemd
Somwhat extravagant and wilde, perhaps
For joy
of offerd peace: but I suppose
If our proposals once again were
heard
We should compel them to a quick result.
To whom thus BELIAL in like gamesom mood.
Leader,
the terms we sent were terms of weight,
Of hard contents, and full
of force urg'd home,
Such as we might perceive amus'd them all,
And
stumbl'd many, who receives them right,
Had need from head to foot
well understand;
Not understood, this gift they have besides,
They
shew us when our foes walk not upright.
So they among themselves in pleasant veine
Stood
scoffing, highthn'd in thir thoughts beyond
All doubt of Victorie,
eternal might
To match with thir inventions they presum'd
So
easie, and of his Thunder made a scorn,
And all his Host derided,
while they stood
A while in trouble; but they stood not long,
Rage
prompted them at length, & found them arms
Against such hellish
mischief fit to oppose.
Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power
Which
God hath in his mighty Angels plac'd)
Thir Arms away they threw,
and to the Hills
(For Earth hath this variety from Heav'n
Of
pleasure situate in Hill and Dale)
Light as the Lightning glimps
they ran, they flew,
From thir foundations loosning to and fro
They
pluckt the seated Hills with all thir load,
Rocks, Waters, Woods,
and by the shaggie tops
Up lifting bore them in thir hands: Amaze,
Be
sure, and terrour seis'd the rebel Host,
When coming towards them
so dread they saw
The bottom of the Mountains upward turn'd,
Till
on those cursed Engins triple-row
They saw them whelmd, and all
thir confidence
Under the weight of Mountains buried deep,
Themselves
invaded next, and on thir heads
Main Promontories flung, which in
the Air
Came shadowing, and opprest whole Legions arm'd,
Thir
armor help'd thir harm, crush't in and brus'd
Into thir substance
pent, which wrought them pain
Implacable, and many a dolorous groan,
Long
strugling underneath, ere they could wind
Out of such prison,
though Spirits of purest light,
Purest at first, now gross by
sinning grown.
The rest in imitation to like Armes
Betook
them, and the neighbouring Hills uptore;
So Hills amid the Air
encounterd Hills
Hurl'd to and fro with jaculation dire,
That
under ground they fought in dismal shade;
Infernal noise; Warr
seem'd a civil Game
To this uproar; horrid confusion heapt
Upon
confusion rose: and now all Heav'n
Had gone to wrack, with ruin
overspred,
Had not th' Almightie Father where he sits
Shrin'd
in his Sanctuarie of Heav'n secure,
Consulting on the sum of
things, foreseen
This tumult, and permitted all, advis'd:
That
his great purpose he might so fulfill,
To honour his Anointed Son
aveng'd
Upon his enemies, and to declare
All power
on him transferr'd: whence to his Son
Th' Assessor of his Throne he
thus began.
Effulgence of my Glorie, Son belov'd,
Son
in whose face invisible is beheld
Visibly, what by Deitie I am,
And
in whose hand what by Decree I doe,
Second Omnipotence, two dayes
are past,
Two dayes, as we compute the dayes of Heav'n,
Since
MICHAEL and his Powers went forth to tame
These disobedient; sore
hath been thir fight,
As likeliest was, when two such Foes met
arm'd;
For to themselves I left them, and thou knowst,
Equal
in their Creation they were form'd,
Save what sin hath impaird,
which yet hath wrought
Insensibly, for I suspend thir doom;
Whence
in perpetual fight they needs must last
Endless, and no solution
will be found:
Warr wearied hath perform'd what Warr can do,
And
to disorder'd rage let loose the reines,
With Mountains as with
Weapons arm'd, which makes
Wild work in Heav'n, and dangerous to
the maine.
Two dayes are therefore past, the third is thine;
For
thee I have ordain'd it, and thus farr
Have sufferd, that the
Glorie may be thine
Of ending this great Warr, since none but Thou
Can
end it. Into thee such Vertue and Grace
Immense I have transfus'd,
that all may know
In Heav'n and Hell thy Power above compare,
And
this perverse Commotion governd thus,
To manifest thee worthiest to
be Heir
Of all things, to be Heir and to be King
By
Sacred Unction, thy deserved right.
Go then thou Mightiest in thy
Fathers might,
Ascend my Chariot, guide the rapid Wheeles
That
shake Heav'ns basis, bring forth all my Warr,
My Bow and Thunder,
my Almightie Arms
Gird on, and Sword upon thy puissant Thigh;
Pursue
these sons of Darkness, drive them out
From all Heav'ns bounds into
the utter Deep:
There let them learn, as likes them, to despise
God
and MESSIAH his anointed King.
He said, and on his Son with Rayes direct
Shon
full, he all his Father full exprest
Ineffably into his face
receiv'd,
And thus the filial Godhead answering spake.
O Father, O Supream of heav'nly Thrones,
First,
Highest, Holiest, Best, thou alwayes seekst
To glorifie thy Son, I
alwayes thee,
As is most just; this I my Glorie account,
My
exaltation, and my whole delight,
That thou in me well pleas'd,
declarst thy will
Fulfill'd, which to fulfil is all my bliss.
Scepter
and Power, thy giving, I assume,
And gladlier shall resign, when in
the end
Thou shalt be All in All, and I in thee
For
ever, and in mee all whom thou lov'st:
But whom thou hat'st, I
hate, and can put on
Thy terrors, as I put thy mildness on,
Image
of thee in all things; and shall soon,
Armd with thy might, rid
heav'n of these rebell'd,
To thir prepar'd ill Mansion driven down
To
chains of Darkness, and th' undying Worm,
That from thy just
obedience could revolt,
Whom to obey is happiness entire.
Then
shall thy Saints unmixt, and from th' impure
Farr separate,
circling thy holy Mount
Unfained HALLELUIAHS to thee sing,
Hymns
of high praise, and I among them chief.
So said, he o're his
Scepter bowing, rose
From the right hand of Glorie where he sate,
And
the third sacred Morn began to shine
Dawning through Heav'n: forth
rush'd with whirlwind sound
The Chariot of Paternal Deitie,
Flashing
thick flames, Wheele within Wheele undrawn,
It self instinct with
Spirit, but convoyd
By four Cherubic shapes, four Faces each
Had
wondrous, as with Starrs thir bodies all
And Wings were set with
Eyes, with Eyes the Wheels
Of Beril, and careering Fires between;
Over
thir heads a chrystal Firmament,
Whereon a Saphir Throne, inlaid
with pure
Amber, and colours of the showrie Arch.
Hee
in Celestial Panoplie all armd
Of radiant URIM, work divinely
wrought,
Ascended, at his right hand Victorie
Sate
Eagle-wing'd, beside him hung his Bow
And Quiver with three-bolted
Thunder stor'd,
And from about him fierce Effusion rowld
Of
smoak and bickering flame, and sparkles dire;
Attended with ten
thousand thousand Saints,
He onward came, farr off his coming shon,
And
twentie thousand (I thir number heard)
Chariots of God, half on
each hand were seen:
Hee on the wings of Cherub rode sublime
On
the Crystallin Skie, in Saphir Thron'd.
Illustrious farr and wide,
but by his own
First seen, them unexpected joy surpriz'd,
When
the great Ensign of MESSIAH blaz'd
Aloft by Angels born, his Sign
in Heav'n:
Under whose Conduct MICHAEL soon reduc'd
His
Armie, circumfus'd on either Wing,
Under thir Head imbodied all in
one.
Before him Power Divine his way prepar'd;
At
his command the uprooted Hills retir'd
Each to his place, they
heard his voice and went
Obsequious, Heav'n his wonted face renewd,
And
with fresh Flourets Hill and Valley smil'd.
This saw his hapless
Foes, but stood obdur'd,
And to rebellious fight rallied thir Powers
Insensate,
hope conceiving from despair.
In heav'nly Spirits could such
perverseness dwell?
But to convince the proud what Signs availe,
Or
Wonders move th' obdurate to relent?
They hard'nd more by what
might most reclame,
Grieving to see his Glorie, at the sight
Took
envie, and aspiring to his highth,
Stood reimbattell'd fierce, by
force or fraud
Weening to prosper, and at length prevaile
Against
God and MESSIAH, or to fall
In universal ruin last, and now
To
final Battel drew, disdaining flight,
Or faint retreat; when the
great Son of God
To all his Host on either hand thus spake.
Stand still in bright array ye Saints, here stand
Ye
Angels arm'd, this day from Battel rest;
Faithful hath been your
Warfare, and of God
Accepted, fearless in his righteous Cause,
And
as ye have receivd, so have ye don
Invincibly; but of this cursed
crew
The punishment to other hand belongs,
Vengeance
is his, or whose he sole appoints;
Number to this dayes work is not
ordain'd
Nor multitude, stand onely and behold
Gods
indignation on these Godless pourd
By mee; not you but mee they
have despis'd,
Yet envied; against mee is all thir rage,
Because
the Father, t' whom in Heav'n supream
Kingdom and Power and Glorie
appertains,
Hath honourd me according to his will.
Therefore
to mee thir doom he hath assig'n'd;
That they may have thir wish,
to trie with mee
In Battel which the stronger proves, they all,
Or
I alone against them, since by strength
They measure all, of other
excellence
Not emulous, nor care who them excells;
Nor
other strife with them do I voutsafe.
So spake the Son, and into terrour chang'd
His
count'nance too severe to be beheld
And full of wrauth bent on his
Enemies.
At once the Four spred out thir Starrie wings
With
dreadful shade contiguous, and the Orbes
Of his fierce Chariot
rowld, as with the sound
Of torrent Floods, or of a numerous Host.
Hee
on his impious Foes right onward drove,
Gloomie as Night; under his
burning Wheeles
The stedfast Empyrean shook throughout,
All
but the Throne it self of God. Full soon
Among them he arriv'd; in
his right hand
Grasping ten thousand Thunders, which he sent
Before
him, such as in thir Soules infix'd
Plagues; they astonisht all
resistance lost,
All courage; down thir idle weapons drop'd;
O're
Shields and Helmes, and helmed heads he rode
Of Thrones and mighty
Seraphim prostrate,
That wish'd the Mountains now might be again
Thrown
on them as a shelter from his ire.
Nor less on either side
tempestuous fell
His arrows, from the fourfold-visag'd Foure,
Distinct
with eyes, and from the living Wheels,
Distinct alike with
multitude of eyes,
One Spirit in them rul'd, and every eye
Glar'd
lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire
Among th' accurst, that
witherd all thir strength,
And of thir wonted vigour left them
draind,
Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fall'n.
Yet
half his strength he put not forth, but check'd
His Thunder in mid
Volie, for he meant
Not to destroy, but root them out of Heav'n:
The
overthrown he rais'd, and as a Heard
Of Goats or timerous flock
together throngd
Drove them before him Thunder-struck, pursu'd
With
terrors and with furies to the bounds
And Chrystall wall of Heav'n,
which op'ning wide,
Rowld inward, and a spacious Gap disclos'd
Into
the wastful Deep; the monstrous sight
Strook them with horror
backward, but far worse
Urg'd them behind; headlong themselvs they
threw
Down from the verge of Heav'n, Eternal wrauth
Burnt
after them to the bottomless pit.
Hell heard th' unsufferable noise, Hell saw
Heav'n
ruining from Heav'n and would have fled
Affrighted; but strict Fate
had cast too deep
Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound.
Nine
dayes they fell; confounded CHAOS roard,
And felt tenfold confusion
in thir fall
Through his wilde Anarchie, so huge a rout
Incumberd
him with ruin: Hell at last
Yawning receavd them whole, and on them
clos'd,
Hell thir fit habitation fraught with fire
Unquenchable,
the house of woe and paine.
Disburd'nd Heav'n rejoic'd, and soon
repaird
Her mural breach, returning whence it rowld.
Sole
Victor from th' expulsion of his Foes
MESSIAH his triumphal Chariot
turnd:
To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood
Eye
witnesses of his Almightie Acts,
With Jubilie advanc'd; and as they
went,
Shaded with branching Palme, each order bright,
Sung
Triumph, and him sung Victorious King,
Son, Heire, and Lord, to him
Dominion giv'n,
Worthiest to Reign: he celebrated rode
Triumphant
through mid Heav'n, into the Courts
And Temple of his mightie
Father Thron'd
On high; who into Glorie him receav'd,
Where
now he sits at the right hand of bliss.
Thus measuring things in Heav'n by things on Earth
At
thy request, and that thou maist beware
By what is past, to thee I
have reveal'd
What might have else to human Race bin hid;
The
discord which befel, and Warr in Heav'n
Among th' Angelic Powers,
and the deep fall
Of those too high aspiring, who rebelld
With
SATAN, hee who envies now thy state,
Who now is plotting how he may
seduce
Thee also from obedience, that with him
Bereavd
of happiness thou maist partake
His punishment, Eternal miserie;
Which
would be all his solace and revenge,
As a despite don against the
most High,
Thee once to gaine Companion of his woe.
But
list'n not to his Temptations, warne
Thy weaker; let it profit thee
to have heard
By terrible Example the reward
Of
disobedience; firm they might have stood,
Yet fell; remember, and
fear to transgress.
Descend from Heav'n URANIA, by that name
If rightly
thou art call'd, whose Voice divine
Following, above th' OLYMPIAN
Hill I soare,
Above the flight of PEGASEAN wing.
The
meaning, not the Name I call: for thou
Nor of the Muses nine, nor
on the top
Of old OLYMPUS dwell'st, but Heav'nlie borne,
Before
the Hills appeerd, or Fountain flow'd,
Thou with Eternal wisdom
didst converse,
Wisdom thy Sister, and with her didst play
In
presence of th' Almightie Father, pleas'd
With thy Celestial Song.
Up led by thee
Into the Heav'n of Heav'ns I have presum'd,
An
Earthlie Guest, and drawn Empyreal Aire,
Thy tempring; with like
safetie guided down
Return me to my Native Element:
Least
from this flying Steed unrein'd, (as once
BELLEROPHON, though from
a lower Clime)
Dismounted, on th' ALEIAN Field I fall
Erroneous,
there to wander and forlorne.
Half yet remaines unsung, but
narrower bound
Within the visible Diurnal Spheare;
Standing
on Earth, not rapt above the Pole,
More safe I Sing with mortal
voice, unchang'd
To hoarce or mute, though fall'n on evil dayes,
On
evil dayes though fall'n, and evil tongues;
In darkness, and with
dangers compast rouud,
And solitude; yet not alone, while thou
Visit'st
my slumbers Nightly, or when Morn
Purples the East: still govern
thou my Song,
URANIA, and fit audience find, though few.
But
drive farr off the barbarous dissonance
Of BACCHUS and his
Revellers, the Race
Of that wilde Rout that tore the THRACIAN Bard
In
RHODOPE, where Woods and Rocks had Eares
To rapture, till the
savage clamor dround
Both Harp and Voice; nor could the Muse defend
Her
Son. So fail not thou, who thee implores:
For thou art Heav'nlie,
shee an empty dreame.
Say Goddess, what ensu'd when RAPHAEL,
The
affable Arch-angel, had forewarn'd
ADAM by dire example to beware
Apostasie,
by what befell in Heaven
To those Apostates, least the like befall
In
Paradise to ADAM or his Race,
Charg'd not to touch the interdicted
Tree,
If they transgress, and slight that sole command,
So
easily obeyd amid the choice
Of all tasts else to please thir
appetite,
Though wandring. He with his consorted EVE
The
storie heard attentive, and was fill'd
With admiration, and deep
Muse to heare
Of things so high and strange, things to thir thought
So
unimaginable as hate in Heav'n,
And Warr so neer the Peace of God
in bliss
With such confusion: but the evil soon
Driv'n
back redounded as a flood on those
From whom it sprung, impossible
to mix
With Blessedness. Whence ADAM soon repeal'd
The
doubts that in his heart arose: and now
Led on, yet sinless, with
desire to know
What neerer might concern him, how this World
Of
Heav'n and Earth conspicuous first began,
When, and whereof
created, for what cause,
What within EDEN or without was done
Before
his memorie, as one whose drouth
Yet scarce allay'd still eyes the
current streame,
Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites,
Proceeded
thus to ask his Heav'nly Guest.
Great things, and full of wonder in our eares,
Farr
differing from this World, thou hast reveal'd
Divine Interpreter,
by favour sent
Down from the Empyrean to forewarne
Us
timely of what might else have bin our loss,
Unknown, which human
knowledg could not reach:
For which to the infinitly Good we owe
Immortal
thanks, and his admonishment
Receave with solemne purpose to observe
Immutably
his sovran will, the end
Of what we are. But since thou hast
voutsaf't
Gently for our instruction to impart
Things
above Earthly thought, which yet concernd
Our knowing, as to
highest wisdom seemd,
Deign to descend now lower, and relate
What
may no less perhaps availe us known,
How first began this Heav'n
which we behold
Distant so high, with moving Fires adornd
Innumerable,
and this which yeelds or fills
All space, the ambient Aire wide
interfus'd
Imbracing round this florid Earth, what cause
Mov'd
the Creator in his holy Rest
Through all Eternitie so late to build
In
CHAOS, and the work begun, how soon
Absolv'd, if unforbid thou
maist unfould
What wee, not to explore the secrets aske
Of
his Eternal Empire, but the more
To magnifie his works, the more we
know.
And the great Light of Day yet wants to run
Much
of his Race though steep, suspens in Heav'n
Held by thy voice, thy
potent voice he heares,
And longer will delay to heare thee tell
His
Generation, and the rising Birth
Of Nature from the unapparent Deep:
Or
if the Starr of Eevning and the Moon
Haste to thy audience, Night
with her will bring
Silence, and Sleep listning to thee will watch,
Or
we can bid his absence, till thy Song
End, and dismiss thee ere the
Morning shine.
Thus ADAM his illustrous Guest besought:
And thus the Godlike Angel answerd milde.
This
also thy request with caution askt
Obtaine: though to recount
Almightie works
What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice,
Or
heart of man suffice to comprehend?
Yet what thou canst attain,
which best may serve
To glorifie the Maker, and inferr
Thee
also happier, shall not be withheld
Thy hearing, such Commission
from above
I have receav'd, to answer thy desire
Of
knowledge within bounds; beyond abstain
To ask, nor let thine own
inventions hope
Things not reveal'd, which th' invisible King,
Onely
Omniscient, hath supprest in Night,
To none communicable in Earth
or Heaven:
Anough is left besides to search and know.
But
Knowledge is as food, and needs no less
Her Temperance over
Appetite, to know
In measure what the mind may well contain,
Oppresses
else with Surfet, and soon turns
Wisdom to Folly, as Nourishment to
Winde.
Know then, that after LUCIFER from Heav'n
(So
call him, brighter once amidst the Host
Of Angels, then that Starr
the Starrs among)
Fell with his flaming Legions through the Deep
Into
his place, and the great Son returnd
Victorious with his Saints,
th' Omnipotent
Eternal Father from his Throne beheld
Thir
multitude, and to his Son thus spake.
At least our envious Foe hath fail'd, who thought
All
like himself rebellious, by whose aid
This inaccessible high
strength, the seat
Of Deitie supream, us dispossest,
He
trusted to have seis'd, and into fraud
Drew many, whom thir place
knows here no more;
Yet farr the greater part have kept, I see,
Thir
station, Heav'n yet populous retaines
Number sufficient to possess
her Realmes
Though wide, and this high Temple to frequent
With
Ministeries due and solemn Rites:
But least his heart exalt him in
the harme
Already done, to have dispeopl'd Heav'n,
My
damage fondly deem'd, I can repaire
That detriment, if such it be
to lose
Self-lost, and in a moment will create
Another
World, out of one man a Race
Of men innumerable, there to dwell,
Not
here, till by degrees of merit rais'd
They open to themselves at
length the way
Up hither, under long obedience tri'd,
And
Earth be chang'd to Heavn, & Heav'n to Earth,
One Kingdom, Joy
and Union without end.
Mean while inhabit laxe, ye Powers of Heav'n,
And
thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee
This I perform, speak thou, and
be it don:
My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee
I
send along, ride forth, and bid the Deep
Within appointed bounds be
Heav'n and Earth,
Boundless the Deep, because I am who fill
Infinitude,
nor vacuous the space.
Though I uncircumscrib'd my self retire,
And
put not forth my goodness, which is free
To act or not, Necessitie
and Chance
Approach not mee, and what I will is Fate.
So spake th' Almightie, and to what he spake
His
Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect.
Immediate are the Acts of
God, more swift
Then time or motion, but to human ears
Cannot
without process of speech be told,
So told as earthly notion can
receave.
Great triumph and rejoycing was in Heav'n
When
such was heard declar'd the Almightie's will;
Glorie they sung to
the most High, good will
To future men, and in thir dwellings peace:
Glorie
to him whose just avenging ire
Had driven out th' ungodly from his
sight
And th' habitations of the just; to him
Glorie
and praise, whose wisdom had ordain'd
Good out of evil to create,
in stead
Of Spirits maligne a better Race to bring
Into
thir vacant room, and thence diffuse
His good to Worlds and Ages
infinite.
So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the Son
On
his great Expedition now appeer'd,
Girt with Omnipotence, with
Radiance crown'd
Of Majestie Divine, Sapience and Love
Immense,
and all his Father in him shon.
About his Chariot numberless were
pour'd
Cherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones,
And
Vertues, winged Spirits, and Chariots wing'd,
From the Armoury of
God, where stand of old
Myriads between two brazen Mountains lodg'd
Against
a solemn day, harnest at hand,
Celestial Equipage; and now came
forth
Spontaneous, for within them Spirit livd,
Attendant
on thir Lord: Heav'n op'nd wide
Her ever during Gates, Harmonious
sound
On golden Hinges moving, to let forth
The King
of Glorie in his powerful Word
And Spirit coming to create new
Worlds.
On heav'nly ground they stood, and from the shore
They
view'd the vast immeasurable Abyss
Outrageous as a Sea, dark,
wasteful, wilde,
Up from the bottom turn'd by furious windes
And
surging waves, as Mountains to assault
Heav'ns highth, and with the
Center mix the Pole.
Silence, ye troubl'd waves, and thou Deep, peace,
Said
then th' Omnific Word, your discord end:
Nor staid, but on the Wings of Cherubim
Uplifted,
in Paternal Glorie rode
Farr into CHAOS, and the World unborn;
For
CHAOS heard his voice: him all his Traine
Follow'd in bright
procession to behold
Creation, and the wonders of his might.
Then
staid the fervid Wheeles, and in his hand
He took the golden
Compasses, prepar'd
In Gods Eternal store, to circumscribe
This
Universe, and all created things:
One foot he center'd, and the
other turn'd
Round through the vast profunditie obscure,
And
said, thus farr extend, thus farr thy bounds,
This be thy just
Circumference, O World.
Thus God the Heav'n created, thus the Earth,
Matter
unform'd and void: Darkness profound
Cover'd th' Abyss: but on the
watrie calme
His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspred,
And
vital vertue infus'd, and vital warmth
Throughout the fluid Mass,
but downward purg'd
The black tartareous cold infernal dregs
Adverse
to life: then founded, then conglob'd
Like things to like, the rest
to several place
Disparted, and between spun out the Air,
And
Earth self-ballanc't on her Center hung.
Let ther be Light, said God, and forthwith Light
Ethereal,
first of things, quintessence pure
Sprung from the Deep, and from
her Native East
To journie through the airie gloom began,
Sphear'd
in a radiant Cloud, for yet the Sun
Was not; shee in a cloudie
Tabernacle
Sojourn'd the while. God saw the Light was good;
And
light from darkness by the Hemisphere
Divided: Light the Day, and
Darkness Night
He nam'd. Thus was the first Day Eev'n and Morn:
Nor
past uncelebrated, nor unsung
By the Celestial Quires, when Orient
Light
Exhaling first from Darkness they beheld;
Birth-day
of Heav'n and Earth; with joy and shout
The hollow Universal Orb
they fill'd,
And touch't thir Golden Harps, & hymning prais'd
God
and his works, Creatour him they sung,
Both when first Eevning was,
and when first Morn.
Again, God said, let ther be Firmament
Amid
the Waters, and let it divide
The Waters from the Waters: and God
made
The Firmament, expanse of liquid, pure,
Transparent,
Elemental Air, diffus'd
In circuit to the uttermost convex
Of
this great Round: partition firm and sure,
The Waters underneath
from those above
Dividing: for as Earth, so hee the World
Built
on circumfluous Waters calme, in wide
Crystallin Ocean, and the
loud misrule
Of CHAOS farr remov'd, least fierce extreames
Contiguous
might distemper the whole frame:
And Heav'n he nam'd the Firmament:
So Eev'n
And Morning CHORUS sung the second Day.
The Earth was form'd, but in the Womb as yet
Of
Waters, Embryon immature involv'd,
Appeer'd not: over all the face
of Earth
Main Ocean flow'd, not idle, but with warme
Prolific
humour soft'ning all her Globe,
Fermented the great Mother to
conceave,
Satiate with genial moisture, when God said
Be
gather'd now ye Waters under Heav'n
Into one place, and let dry
Land appeer.
Immediately the Mountains huge appeer
Emergent,
and thir broad bare backs upheave
Into the Clouds, thir tops ascend
the Skie:
So high as heav'd the tumid Hills, so low
Down
sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep,
Capacious bed of Waters:
thither they
Hasted with glad precipitance, uprowld
As
drops on dust conglobing from the drie;
Part rise in crystal Wall,
or ridge direct,
For haste; such flight the great command impress'd
On
the swift flouds: as Armies at the call
Of Trumpet (for of Armies
thou hast heard)
Troop to thir Standard, so the watrie throng,
Wave
rowling after Wave, where way they found,
If steep, with torrent
rapture, if through Plaine,
Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them Rock or
Hill,
But they, or under ground, or circuit wide
With
Serpent errour wandring, found thir way,
And on the washie Oose
deep Channels wore;
Easie, e're God had bid the ground be drie,
All
but within those banks, where Rivers now
Stream, and perpetual draw
thir humid traine.
The dry Land, Earth, and the great receptacle
Of
congregated Waters he call'd Seas:
And saw that it was good, and
said, Let th' Earth
Put forth the verdant Grass, Herb yeilding Seed,
And
Fruit Tree yeilding Fruit after her kind;
Whose Seed is in her self
upon the Earth.
He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till then
Desert
and bare, unsightly, unadorn'd,
Brought forth the tender Grass,
whose verdure clad
Her Universal Face with pleasant green,
Then
Herbs of every leaf, that sudden flour'd
Op'ning thir various
colours, and made gay
Her bosom smelling sweet: and these scarce
blown,
Forth flourish't thick the clustring Vine, forth crept
The
smelling Gourd, up stood the cornie Reed
Embattell'd in her field:
add the humble Shrub,
And Bush with frizl'd hair implicit: last
Rose
as in Dance the stately Trees, and spred
Thir branches hung with
copious Fruit; or gemm'd
Thir Blossoms: with high Woods the Hills
were crownd,
With tufts the vallies & each fountain side,
With
borders long the Rivers. That Earth now
Seemd like to Heav'n, a
seat where Gods might dwell,
Or wander with delight, and love to
haunt
Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rain'd
Upon
the Earth, and man to till the ground
None was, but from the Earth
a dewie Mist
Went up and waterd all the ground, and each
Plant
of the field, which e're it was in the Earth
God made, and every
Herb, before it grew
On the green stemm; God saw that it was good:
So
Eev'n and Morn recorded the Third Day.
Again th' Almightie spake: Let there be Lights
High
in th' expanse of Heaven to divide
The Day from Night; and let them
be for Signes,
For Seasons, and for Dayes, and circling Years,
And
let them be for Lights as I ordaine
Thir Office in the Firmament of
Heav'n
To give Light on the Earth; and it was so.
And
God made two great Lights, great for thir use
To Man, the greater
to have rule by Day,
The less by Night alterne: and made the Starrs,
And
set them in the Firmament of Heav'n
To illuminate the Earth, and
rule the Day
In thir vicissitude, and rule the Night,
And
Light from Darkness to divide. God saw,
Surveying his great Work,
that it was good:
For of Celestial Bodies first the Sun
A
mightie Spheare he fram'd, unlightsom first,
Though of Ethereal
Mould: then form'd the Moon
Globose, and everie magnitude of Starrs,
And
sowd with Starrs the Heav'n thick as a field:
Of Light by farr the
greater part he took,
Transplanted from her cloudie Shrine, and
plac'd
In the Suns Orb, made porous to receive
And
drink the liquid Light, firm to retaine
Her gather'd beams, great
Palace now of Light.
Hither as to thir Fountain other Starrs
Repairing,
in thir gold'n Urns draw Light,
And hence the Morning Planet guilds
his horns;
By tincture or reflection they augment
Thir
small peculiar, though from human sight
So farr remote, with
diminution seen.
First in his East the glorious Lamp was seen,
Regent
of Day, and all th' Horizon round
Invested with bright Rayes,
jocond to run
His Longitude through Heav'ns high rode: the gray
Dawn,
and the PLEIADES before him danc'd
Shedding sweet influence: less
bright the Moon,
But opposite in leveld West was set
His
mirror, with full face borrowing her Light
From him, for other
light she needed none
In that aspect, and still that distance keepes
Till
night, then in the East her turn she shines,
Revolvd on Heav'ns
great Axle, and her Reign
With thousand lesser Lights dividual
holds,
With thousand thousand Starres, that then appeer'd
Spangling
the Hemisphere: then first adornd
With thir bright Luminaries that
Set and Rose,
Glad Eevning & glad Morn crownd the fourth day.
And God said, let the Waters generate
Reptil
with Spawn abundant, living Soule:
And let Fowle flie above the
Earth, with wings
Displayd on the op'n Firmament of Heav'n.
And
God created the great Whales, and each
Soul living, each that
crept, which plenteously
The waters generated by thir kindes,
And
every Bird of wing after his kinde;
And saw that it was good, and
bless'd them, saying,
Be fruitful, multiply, and in the Seas
And
Lakes and running Streams the waters fill;
And let the Fowle be
multiply'd on the Earth.
Forthwith the Sounds and Seas, each Creek
& Bay
With Frie innumerable swarme, and Shoales
Of
Fish that with thir Finns and shining Scales
Glide under the green
Wave, in Sculles that oft
Bank the mid Sea: part single or with mate
Graze
the Sea weed thir pasture, & through Groves
Of Coral stray, or
sporting with quick glance
Show to the Sun thir wav'd coats dropt
with Gold,
Or in thir Pearlie shells at ease, attend
Moist
nutriment, or under Rocks thir food
In jointed Armour watch: on
smooth the Seale,
And bended Dolphins play: part huge of bulk
Wallowing
unweildie, enormous in thir Gate
Tempest the Ocean: there Leviathan
Hugest
of living Creatures, on the Deep
Stretcht like a Promontorie sleeps
or swimmes,
And seems a moving Land, and at his Gilles
Draws
in, and at his Trunck spouts out a Sea.
Mean while the tepid Caves,
and Fens and shoares
Thir Brood as numerous hatch, from the Egg
that soon
Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclos'd
Thir
callow young, but featherd soon and fledge
They summ'd thir Penns,
and soaring th' air sublime
With clang despis'd the ground, under a
cloud
In prospect; there the Eagle and the Stork
On
Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build:
Part loosly wing the
Region, part more wise
In common, rang'd in figure wedge thir way,
Intelligent
of seasons, and set forth
Thir Aierie Caravan high over Sea's
Flying,
and over Lands with mutual wing
Easing thir flight; so stears the
prudent Crane
Her annual Voiage, born on Windes; the Aire
Floats,
as they pass, fann'd with unnumber'd plumes:
From Branch to Branch
the smaller Birds with song
Solac'd the Woods, and spred thir
painted wings
Till Ev'n, nor then the solemn Nightingal
Ceas'd
warbling, but all night tun'd her soft layes:
Others on Silver
Lakes and Rivers Bath'd
Thir downie Brest; the Swan with Arched neck
Between
her white wings mantling proudly, Rowes
Her state with Oarie feet:
yet oft they quit
The Dank, and rising on stiff Pennons, towre
The
mid Aereal Skie: Others on ground
Walk'd firm; the crested Cock
whose clarion sounds
The silent hours, and th' other whose gay
Traine
Adorns him, colour'd with the Florid hue
Of
Rainbows and Starrie Eyes. The Waters thus
With Fish replenisht,
and the Aire with Fowle,
Ev'ning and Morn solemniz'd the Fift day.
The Sixt, and of Creation last arose
With
Eevning Harps and Mattin, when God said,
Let th' Earth bring forth
Fowle living in her kinde,
Cattel and Creeping things, and Beast of
the Earth,
Each in their kinde. The Earth obey'd, and strait
Op'ning
her fertil Woomb teem'd at a Birth
Innumerous living Creatures,
perfet formes,
Limb'd and full grown: out of the ground up-rose
As
from his Laire the wilde Beast where he wonns
In Forrest wilde, in
Thicket, Brake, or Den;
Among the Trees in Pairs they rose, they
walk'd:
The Cattel in the Fields and Meddowes green:
Those
rare and solitarie, these in flocks
Pasturing at once, and in broad
Herds upsprung:
The grassie Clods now Calv'd, now half appeer'd
The
Tawnie Lion, pawing to get free
His hinder parts, then springs as
broke from Bonds,
And Rampant shakes his Brinded main; the Ounce,
The
Libbard, and the Tyger, as the Moale
Rising, the crumbl'd Earth
above them threw
In Hillocks; the swift Stag from under ground
Bore
up his branching head: scarse from his mould
BEHEMOTH biggest born
of Earth upheav'd
His vastness: Fleec't the Flocks and bleating
rose,
As Plants: ambiguous between Sea and Land
The
River Horse and scalie Crocodile.
At once came forth whatever
creeps the ground,
Insect or Worme; those wav'd thir limber fans
For
wings, and smallest Lineaments exact
In all the Liveries dect of
Summers pride
With spots of Gold and Purple, azure and green:
These
as a line thir long dimension drew,
Streaking the ground with
sinuous trace; not all
Minims of Nature; some of Serpent kinde
Wondrous
in length and corpulence involv'd
Thir Snakie foulds, and added
wings. First crept
The Parsimonious Emmet, provident
Of
future, in small room large heart enclos'd,
Pattern of just
equalitie perhaps
Hereafter, join'd in her popular Tribes
Of
Commonaltie: swarming next appeer'd
The Femal Bee that feeds her
Husband Drone
Deliciously, and builds her waxen Cells
With
Honey stor'd: the rest are numberless,
And thou thir Natures
know'st, and gav'st them Names,
Needlest to thee repeaed; nor
unknown
The Serpent suttl'st Beast of all the field,
Of
huge extent somtimes, with brazen Eyes
And hairie Main terrific,
though to thee
Not noxious, but obedient at thy call.
Now
Heav'n in all her Glorie shon, and rowld
Her motions, as the great
first-Movers hand
First wheeld thir course; Earth in her rich attire
Consummate
lovly smil'd; Aire, Water, Earth,
By Fowl, Fish, Beast, was flown,
was swum, was walkt
Frequent; and of the Sixt day yet remain'd;
There
wanted yet the Master work, the end
Of all yet don; a Creature who
not prone
And Brute as other Creatures, but endu'd
With
Sanctitie of Reason, might erect
His Stature, and upright with
Front serene
Govern the rest, self-knowing, and from thence
Magnanimous
to correspond with Heav'n,
But grateful to acknowledge whence his
good
Descends, thither with heart and voice and eyes
Directed
in Devotion, to adore
And worship God Supream, who made him chief
Of
all his works: therefore the Omnipotent
Eternal Father (For where
is not hee
Present) thus to his Son audibly spake.
Let us make now Man in our image, Man
In
our similitude, and let them rule
Over the Fish and Fowle of Sea
and Aire,
Beast of the Field, and over all the Earth,
And
every creeping thing that creeps the ground.
This said, he formd
thee, ADAM, thee O Man
Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils
breath'd
The breath of Life; in his own Image hee
Created
thee, in the Image of God
Express, and thou becam'st a living Soul.
Male
he created thee, but thy consort
Femal for Race; then bless'd
Mankinde, and said,
Be fruitful, multiplie, and fill the Earth,
Subdue
it, and throughout Dominion hold
Over Fish of the Sea, and Fowle of
the Aire,
And every living thing that moves on the Earth.
Wherever
thus created, for no place
Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou
know'st
He brought thee into this delicious Grove,
This
Garden, planted with the Trees of God,
Delectable both to behold
and taste;
And freely all thir pleasant fruit for food
Gave
thee, all sorts are here that all th' Earth yeelds,
Varietie
without end; but of the Tree
Which tasted works knowledge of Good
and Evil,
Thou mai'st not; in the day thou eat'st, thou di'st;
Death
is the penaltie impos'd, beware,
And govern well thy appetite,
least sin
Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death.
Here
finish'd hee, and all that he had made
View'd, and behold all was
entirely good;
So Ev'n and Morn accomplish'd the Sixt day:
Yet
not till the Creator from his work
Desisting, though unwearied, up
returnd
Up to the Heav'n of Heav'ns his high abode,
Thence
to behold this new created World
Th' addition of his Empire, how it
shew'd
In prospect from his Throne, how good, how faire,
Answering
his great Idea. Up he rode
Followd with acclamation and the sound
Symphonious
of ten thousand Harpes that tun'd
Angelic harmonies: the Earth, the
Aire
Resounded, (thou remember'st, for thou heardst)
The
Heav'ns and all the Constellations rung,
The Planets in thir
stations list'ning stood,
While the bright Pomp ascended jubilant.
Open,
ye everlasting Gates, they sung,
Open, ye Heav'ns, your living
dores; let in
The great Creator from his work returnd
Magnificent,
his Six days work, a World;
Open, and henceforth oft; for God will
deigne
To visit oft the dwellings of just Men
Delighted,
and with frequent intercourse
Thither will send his winged
Messengers
On errands of supernal Grace. So sung
The
glorious Train ascending: He through Heav'n,
That open'd wide her
blazing Portals, led
To Gods Eternal house direct the way,
A
broad and ample rode, whose dust is Gold
And pavement Starrs, as
Starrs to thee appeer,
Seen in the Galaxie, that Milkie way
Which
nightly as a circling Zone thou seest
Pouderd with Starrs. And now
on Earth the Seaventh
Eev'ning arose in EDEN, for the Sun
Was
set, and twilight from the East came on,
Forerunning Night; when at
the holy mount
Of Heav'ns high-seated top, th' Impereal Throne
Of
Godhead, fixt for ever firm and sure,
The Filial Power arriv'd, and
sate him down
With his great Father (for he also went
Invisible,
yet staid (such priviledge
Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordain'd,
Author
and end of all things, and from work
Now resting, bless'd and
hallowd the Seav'nth day,
As resting on that day from all his work,
But
not in silence holy kept; the Harp
Had work and rested not, the
solemn Pipe,
And Dulcimer, all Organs of sweet stop,
All
sounds on Fret by String or Golden Wire
Temper'd soft Tunings,
intermixt with Voice
Choral or Unison: of incense Clouds
Fuming
from Golden Censers hid the Mount.
Creation and the Six dayes acts
they sung,
Great are thy works, JEHOVAH, infinite
Thy
power; what thought can measure thee or tongue
Relate thee; greater
now in thy return
Then from the Giant Angels; thee that day
Thy
Thunders magnifi'd; but to create
Is greater then created to
destroy.
Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound
Thy
Empire? easily the proud attempt
Of Spirits apostat and thir
Counsels vaine
Thou hast repeld, while impiously they thought
Thee
to diminish, and from thee withdraw
The number of thy worshippers.
Who seekes
To lessen thee, against his purpose serves
To
manifest the more thy might: his evil
Thou usest, and from thence
creat'st more good.
Witness this new-made World, another Heav'n
From
Heaven Gate not farr, founded in view
On the cleer HYALINE, the
Glassie Sea;
Of amplitude almost immense, with Starr's
Numerous,
and every Starr perhaps a World
Of destind habitation; but thou
know'st
Thir seasons: among these the seat of men,
Earth
with her nether Ocean circumfus'd,
Thir pleasant dwelling place.
Thrice happie men,
And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanc't,
Created
in his Image, there to dwell
And worship him, and in reward to rule
Over
his Works, on Earth, in Sea, or Air,
And multiply a Race of
Worshippers
Holy and just: thrice happie if they know
Thir
happiness, and persevere upright.
So sung they, and the Empyrean rung,
With
HALLELUIAHS: Thus was Sabbath kept.
And thy request think now
fulfill'd, that ask'd
How first this World and face of things began,
And
what before thy memorie was don
From the beginning, that posteritie
Informd
by thee might know; if else thou seekst
Aught, not surpassing human
measure, say.
To whom thus ADAM gratefully repli'd.
What
thanks sufficient, or what recompence
Equal have I to render thee,
Divine
Hystorian, who thus largely hast allayd
The
thirst I had of knowledge, and voutsaf't
This friendly
condescention to relate
Things else by me unsearchable, now heard
VVith
wonder, but delight, and, as is due,
With glorie attributed to the
high
Creator; some thing yet of doubt remaines,
VVhich
onely thy solution can resolve.
VVhen I behold this goodly Frame,
this VVorld
Of Heav'n and Earth consisting, and compute,
Thir
magnitudes, this Earth a spot, a graine,
An Atom, with the
Firmament compar'd
And all her numberd Starrs, that seem to rowle
Spaces
incomprehensible (for such
Thir distance argues and thir swift
return
Diurnal) meerly to officiate light
Round this
opacous Earth, this punctual spot,
One day and night; in all thir
vast survey
Useless besides, reasoning I oft admire,
How
Nature wise and frugal could commit
Such disproportions, with
superfluous hand
So many nobler Bodies to create,
Greater
so manifold to this one use,
For aught appeers, and on thir Orbs
impose
Such restless revolution day by day
Repeated,
while the sedentarie Earth,
That better might with farr less
compass move,
Serv'd by more noble then her self, attaines
Her
end without least motion, and receaves,
As Tribute such a sumless
journey brought
Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light;
Speed,
to describe whose swiftness Number failes.
So spake our Sire, and by his count'nance seemd
Entring
on studious thoughts abstruse, which EVE
Perceaving where she sat
retir'd in sight,
With lowliness Majestic from her seat,
And
Grace that won who saw to wish her stay,
Rose, and went forth among
her Fruits and Flours,
To visit how they prosper'd, bud and bloom,
Her
Nurserie; they at her coming sprung
And toucht by her fair tendance
gladlier grew.
Yet went she not, as not with such discourse
Delighted,
or not capable her eare
Of what was high: such pleasure she
reserv'd,
ADAM relating, she sole Auditress;
Her
Husband the Relater she preferr'd
Before the Angel, and of him to
ask
Chose rather; hee, she knew would intermix
Grateful
digressions, and solve high dispute
With conjugal Caresses, from
his Lip
Not Words alone pleas'd her. O when meet now
Such
pairs, in Love and mutual Honour joyn'd?
With Goddess-like
demeanour forth she went;
Not unattended, for on her as Queen
A
pomp of winning Graces waited still,
And from about her shot Darts
of desire
Into all Eyes to wish her still in sight.
And
RAPHAEL now to ADAM's doubt propos'd
Benevolent and facil thus
repli'd.
To ask or search I blame thee not, for Heav'n
Is
as the Book of God before thee set,
Wherein to read his wondrous
Works, and learne
His Seasons, Hours, or Days, or Months, or Yeares:
This
to attain, whether Heav'n move or Earth,
Imports not, if thou
reck'n right, the rest
From Man or Angel the great Architect
Did
wisely to conceal, and not divulge
His secrets to be scann'd by
them who ought
Rather admire; or if they list to try
Conjecture,
he his Fabric of the Heav'ns
Hath left to thir disputes, perhaps to
move
His laughter at thir quaint Opinions wide
Hereafter,
when they come to model Heav'n
And calculate the Starrs, how they
will weild
The mightie frame, how build, unbuild, contrive
To
save appeerances, how gird the Sphear
With Centric and Eccentric
scribl'd o're,
Cycle and Epicycle, Orb in Orb:
Alreadie
by thy reasoning this I guess,
Who art to lead thy ofspring, and
supposest
That Bodies bright and greater should not serve
The
less not bright, nor Heav'n such journies run,
Earth sitting still,
when she alone receaves
The benefit: consider first, that Great
Or
Bright inferrs not Excellence: the Earth
Though, in comparison of
Heav'n, so small,
Nor glistering, may of solid good containe
More
plenty then the Sun that barren shines,
Whose vertue on it self
workes no effect,
But in the fruitful Earth; there first receavd
His
beams, unactive else, thir vigor find.
Yet not to Earth are those
bright Luminaries
Officious, but to thee Earths habitant.
And
for the Heav'ns wide Circuit, let it speak
The Makers high
magnificence, who built
So spacious, and his Line stretcht out so
farr;
That Man may know he dwells not in his own;
An
Edifice too large for him to fill,
Lodg'd in a small partition, and
the rest
Ordain'd for uses to his Lord best known.
The
swiftness of those Circles attribute,
Though numberless, to his
Omnipotence,
That to corporeal substances could adde
Speed
almost Spiritual; mee thou thinkst not slow,
Who since the Morning
hour set out from Heav'n
Where God resides, and ere mid-day arriv'd
In
EDEN, distance inexpressible
By Numbers that have name. But this I
urge,
Admitting Motion in the Heav'ns, to shew
Invalid
that which thee to doubt it mov'd;
Not that I so affirm, though so
it seem
To thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth.
God
to remove his wayes from human sense,
Plac'd Heav'n from Earth so
farr, that earthly sight,
If it presume, might erre in things too
high,
And no advantage gaine. What if the Sun
Be
Center to the World, and other Starrs
By his attractive vertue and
thir own
Incited, dance about him various rounds?
Thir
wandring course now high, now low, then hid,
Progressive,
retrograde, or standing still,
In six thou seest, and what if
sev'nth to these
The Planet Earth, so stedfast though she seem,
Insensibly
three different Motions move?
Which else to several Sphears thou
must ascribe,
Mov'd contrarie with thwart obliquities,
Or
save the Sun his labour, and that swift
Nocturnal and Diurnal rhomb
suppos'd,
Invisible else above all Starrs, the Wheele
Of
Day and Night; which needs not thy beleefe,
If Earth industrious of
her self fetch Day
Travelling East, and with her part averse
From
the Suns beam meet Night, her other part
Still luminous by his ray.
What if that light
Sent from her through the wide transpicuous aire,
To
the terrestrial Moon be as a Starr
Enlightning her by Day, as she
by Night
This Earth? reciprocal, if Land be there,
Feilds
and Inhabitants: Her spots thou seest
As Clouds, and Clouds may
rain, and Rain produce
Fruits in her soft'nd Soile, for some to eate
Allotted
there; and other Suns perhaps
With thir attendant Moons thou wilt
descrie
Communicating Male and Femal Light,
Which
two great Sexes animate the World,
Stor'd in each Orb perhaps with
some that live.
For such vast room in Nature unpossest
By
living Soule, desert and desolate,
Onely to shine, yet scarce to
contribute
Each Orb a glimps of Light, conveyd so farr
Down
to this habitable, which returnes
Light back to them, is obvious to
dispute.
But whether thus these things, or whether not,
Whether
the Sun predominant in Heav'n
Rise on the Earth, or Earth rise on
the Sun,
Hee from the East his flaming rode begin,
Or
Shee from West her silent course advance
With inoffensive pace that
spinning sleeps
On her soft Axle, while she paces Eev'n,
And
bears thee soft with the smooth Air along,
Sollicit not thy
thoughts with matters hid,
Leave them to God above, him serve and
feare;
Of other Creatures, as him pleases best,
Wherever
plac't, let him dispose: joy thou
In what he gives to thee, this
Paradise
And thy faire EVE; Heav'n is for thee too high
To
know what passes there; be lowlie wise:
Think onely what concernes
thee and thy being;
Dream not of other Worlds, what Creatures there
Live,
in what state, condition or degree,
Contented that thus farr hath
been reveal'd
Not of Earth onely but of highest Heav'n.
To whom thus ADAM cleerd of doubt, repli'd.
How
fully hast thou satisfi'd mee, pure
Intelligence of Heav'n, Angel
serene,
And freed from intricacies, taught to live,
The
easiest way, nor with perplexing thoughts
To interrupt the sweet of
Life, from which
God hath bid dwell farr off all anxious cares,
And
not molest us, unless we our selves
Seek them with wandring
thoughts, and notions vaine.
But apt the Mind or Fancie is to roave
Uncheckt,
and of her roaving is no end;
Till warn'd, or by experience taught,
she learne,
That not to know at large of things remote
From
use, obscure and suttle, but to know
That which before us lies in
daily life,
Is the prime Wisdom, what is more, is fume,
Or
emptiness, or fond impertinence,
And renders us in things that most
concerne
Unpractis'd, unprepar'd, and still to seek.
Therefore
from this high pitch let us descend
A lower flight, and speak of
things at hand
Useful, whence haply mention may arise
Of
somthing not unseasonable to ask
By sufferance, and thy wonted
favour deign'd.
Thee I have heard relating what was don
Ere
my remembrance: now hear mee relate
My Storie, which perhaps thou
hast not heard;
And Day is yet not spent; till then thou seest
How
suttly to detaine thee I devise,
Inviting thee to hear while I
relate,
Fond, were it not in hope of thy reply:
For
while I sit with thee, I seem in Heav'n,
And sweeter thy discourse
is to my eare
Then Fruits of Palm-tree pleasantest to thirst
And
hunger both, from labour, at the houre
Of sweet repast; they
satiate, and soon fill,
Though pleasant, but thy words with Grace
Divine
Imbu'd, bring to thir sweetness no satietie.
To whom thus RAPHAEL answer'd heav'nly meek.
Nor
are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men,
Nor tongue ineloquent; for
God on thee
Abundantly his gifts hath also pour'd,
Inward
and outward both, his image faire:
Speaking or mute all comliness
and grace
Attends thee, and each word, each motion formes.
Nor
less think wee in Heav'n of thee on Earth
Then of our fellow
servant, and inquire
Gladly into the wayes of God with Man:
For
God we see hath honour'd thee, and set
On Man his equal Love: say
therefore on;
For I that Day was absent, as befell,
Bound
on a voyage uncouth and obscure,
Farr on excursion toward the Gates
of Hell;
Squar'd in full Legion (such command we had)
To
see that none thence issu'd forth a spie,
Or enemie, while God was
in his work,
Least hee incenst at such eruption bold,
Destruction
with Creation might have mixt.
Not that they durst without his
leave attempt,
But us he sends upon his high behests
For
state, as Sovran King, and to enure
Our prompt obedience. Fast we
found, fast shut
The dismal Gates, and barricado'd strong;
But
long ere our approaching heard within
Noise, other then the sound
of Dance or Song,
Torment, and lowd lament, and furious rage.
Glad
we return'd up to the coasts of Light
Ere Sabbath Eev'ning: so we
had in charge.
But thy relation now; for I attend,
Pleas'd
with thy words no less then thou with mine.
So spake the Godlike Power, and thus our Sire.
For
Man to tell how human Life began
Is hard; for who himself beginning
knew?
Desire with thee still longer to converse
Induc'd
me. As new wak't from soundest sleep
Soft on the flourie herb I
found me laid
In Balmie Sweat, which with his Beames the Sun
Soon
dri'd, and on the reaking moisture fed.
Strait toward Heav'n my
wondring Eyes I turnd,
And gaz'd a while the ample Skie, till rais'd
By
quick instinctive motion up I sprung,
As thitherward endevoring,
and upright
Stood on my feet; about me round I saw
Hill,
Dale, and shadie Woods, and sunnie Plaines,
And liquid Lapse of
murmuring Streams; by these,
Creatures that livd, and movd, and
walk'd, or flew,
Birds on the branches warbling; all things smil'd,
With
fragrance and with joy my heart oreflow'd.
My self I then perus'd,
and Limb by Limb
Survey'd, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran
With
supple joints, as lively vigour led:
But who I was, or where, or
from what cause,
Knew not; to speak I tri'd, and forthwith spake,
My
Tongue obey'd and readily could name
What e're I saw. Thou Sun,
said I, faire Light,
And thou enlight'nd Earth, so fresh and gay,
Ye
Hills and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plaines,
And ye that live
and move, fair Creatures, tell,
Tell, if ye saw, how came I thus,
how here?
Not of my self; by some great Maker then,
In
goodness and in power praeeminent;
Tell me, how may I know him, how
adore,
From whom I have that thus I move and live,
And
feel that I am happier then I know.
While thus I call'd, and
stray'd I knew not whither,
From where I first drew Aire, and first
beheld
This happie Light, when answer none return'd,
On
a green shadie Bank profuse of Flours
Pensive I sate me down; there
gentle sleep
First found me, and with soft oppression seis'd
My
droused sense, untroubl'd, though I thought
I then was passing to
my former state
Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve:
When
suddenly stood at my Head a dream,
Whose inward apparition gently
mov'd
My Fancy to believe I yet had being,
And livd:
One came, methought, of shape Divine,
And said, thy Mansion wants
thee, ADAM, rise,
First Man, of Men innumerable ordain'd
First
Father, call'd by thee I come thy Guide
To the Garden of bliss, thy
seat prepar'd.
So saying, by the hand he took me rais'd,
And
over Fields and Waters, as in Aire
Smooth sliding without step,
last led me up
A woodie Mountain; whose high top was plaine,
A
Circuit wide, enclos'd, with goodliest Trees
Planted, with Walks,
and Bowers, that what I saw
Of Earth before scarse pleasant seemd.
Each Tree
Load'n with fairest Fruit, that hung to the Eye
Tempting,
stirr'd in me sudden appetite
To pluck and eate; whereat I wak'd,
and found
Before mine Eyes all real, as the dream
Had
lively shadowd: Here had new begun
My wandring, had not hee who was
my Guide
Up hither, from among the Trees appeer'd,
Presence
Divine. Rejoycing, but with aw
In adoration at his feet I fell
Submiss:
he rear'd me, & Whom thou soughtst I am,
Said mildely, Author
of all this thou seest
Above, or round about thee or beneath.
This
Paradise I give thee, count it thine
To Till and keep, and of the
Fruit to eate:
Of every Tree that in the Garden growes
Eate
freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth:
But of the Tree whose
operation brings
Knowledg of good and ill, which I have set
The
Pledge of thy Obedience and thy Faith,
Amid the Garden by the Tree
of Life,
Remember what I warne thee, shun to taste,
And
shun the bitter consequence: for know,
The day thou eat'st thereof,
my sole command
Transgrest, inevitably thou shalt dye;
From
that day mortal, and this happie State
Shalt loose, expell'd from
hence into a World
Of woe and sorrow. Sternly he pronounc'd
The
rigid interdiction, which resounds
Yet dreadful in mine eare,
though in my choice
Not to incur; but soon his cleer aspect
Return'd
and gratious purpose thus renew'd.
Not onely these fair bounds, but
all the Earth
To thee and to thy Race I give; as Lords
Possess
it, and all things that therein live,
Or live in Sea, or Aire,
Beast, Fish, and Fowle.
In signe whereof each Bird and Beast behold
After
thir kindes; I bring them to receave
From thee thir Names, and pay
thee fealtie
With low subjection; understand the same
Of
Fish within thir watry residence,
Not hither summond, since they
cannot change
Thir Element to draw the thinner Aire.
As
thus he spake, each Bird and Beast behold
Approaching two and two,
These cowring low
With blandishment, each Bird stoop'd on his wing.
I
nam'd them, as they pass'd, and understood
Thir Nature, with such
knowledg God endu'd
My sudden apprehension: but in these
I
found not what me thought I wanted still;
And to the Heav'nly
vision thus presum'd.
O by what Name, for thou above all these,
Above
mankinde, or aught then mankinde higher,
Surpassest farr my naming,
how may I
Adore thee, Author of this Universe,
And
all this good to man, for whose well being
So amply, and with hands
so liberal
Thou hast provided all things: but with mee
I
see not who partakes. In solitude
What happiness, who can enjoy
alone,
Or all enjoying, what contentment find?
Thus
I presumptuous; and the vision bright,
As with a smile more
bright'nd, thus repli'd.
What call'st thou solitude, is not the Earth
With
various living creatures, and the Aire
Replenisht, and all these at
thy command
To come and play before thee, know'st thou not
Thir
language and thir wayes, they also know,
And reason not
contemptibly; with these
Find pastime, and beare rule; thy Realm is
large.
So spake the Universal Lord, and seem'd
So
ordering. I with leave of speech implor'd,
And humble deprecation
thus repli'd.
Let not my words offend thee, Heav'nly Power,
My
Maker, be propitious while I speak.
Hast thou not made me here thy
substitute,
And these inferiour farr beneath me set?
Among
unequals what societie
Can sort, what harmonie or true delight?
Which
must be mutual, in proportion due
Giv'n and receiv'd; but in
disparitie
The one intense, the other still remiss
Cannot
well suite with either, but soon prove
Tedious alike: Of fellowship
I speak
Such as I seek, fit to participate
All
rational delight, wherein the brute
Cannot be human consort; they
rejoyce
Each with thir kinde, Lion with Lioness;
So
fitly them in pairs thou hast combin'd;
Much less can Bird with
Beast, or Fish with Fowle
So well converse, nor with the Ox the Ape;
Wors
then can Man with Beast, and least of all.
Whereto th' Almighty answer'd, not displeas'd.
A
nice and suttle happiness I see
Thou to thy self proposest, in the
choice
Of thy Associates, ADAM, and wilt taste
No
pleasure, though in pleasure, solitarie.
What thinkst thou then of
mee, and this my State,
Seem I to thee sufficiently possest
Of
happiness, or not? who am alone
From all Eternitie, for none I know
Second
to mee or like, equal much less.
How have I then with whom to hold
converse
Save with the Creatures which I made, and those
To
me inferiour, infinite descents
Beneath what other Creatures are to
thee?
He ceas'd, I lowly answer'd. To attaine
The
highth and depth of thy Eternal wayes
All human thoughts come
short, Supream of things;
Thou in thy self art perfet, and in thee
Is
no deficience found; not so is Man,
But in degree, the cause of his
desire
By conversation with his like to help,
Or
solace his defects. No need that thou
Shouldst propagat, already
infinite;
And through all numbers absolute, though One;
But
Man by number is to manifest
His single imperfection, and beget
Like
of his like, his Image multipli'd,
In unitie defective, which
requires
Collateral love, and deerest amitie.
Thou
in thy secresie although alone,
Best with thy self accompanied,
seek'st not
Social communication, yet so pleas'd,
Canst
raise thy Creature to what highth thou wilt
Of Union or Communion,
deifi'd;
I by conversing cannot these erect
From
prone, nor in thir wayes complacence find.
Thus I embold'nd spake,
and freedom us'd
Permissive, and acceptance found, which gain'd
This
answer from the gratious voice Divine.
Thus farr to try thee, ADAM, I was pleas'd,
And
finde thee knowing not of Beasts alone,
Which thou hast rightly
nam'd, but of thy self,
Expressing well the spirit within thee free,
My
Image, not imparted to the Brute,
Whose fellowship therefore unmeet
for thee
Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike,
And
be so minded still; I, ere thou spak'st,
Knew it not good for Man
to be alone,
And no such companie as then thou saw'st
Intended
thee, for trial onely brought,
To see how thou could'st judge of
fit and meet:
What next I bring shall please thee, be assur'd,
Thy
likeness, thy fit help, thy other self,
Thy wish, exactly to thy
hearts desire.
Hee ended, or I heard no more, for now
My
earthly by his Heav'nly overpowerd,
Which it had long stood under,
streind to the highth
In that celestial Colloquie sublime,
As
with an object that excels the sense,
Dazl'd and spent, sunk down,
and sought repair
Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, call'd
By
Nature as in aide, and clos'd mine eyes.
Mine eyes he clos'd, but
op'n left the Cell
Of Fancie my internal sight, by which
Abstract
as in a transe methought I saw,
Though sleeping, where I lay, and
saw the shape
Still glorious before whom awake I stood;
Who
stooping op'nd my left side, and took
From thence a Rib, with
cordial spirits warme,
And Life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the
wound,
But suddenly with flesh fill'd up & heal'd:
The
Rib he formd and fashond with his hands;
Under his forming hands a
Creature grew,
Manlike, but different sex, so lovly faire,
That
what seemd fair in all the World, seemd now
Mean, or in her summd
up, in her containd
And in her looks, which from that time infus'd
Sweetness
into my heart, unfelt before,
And into all things from her Aire
inspir'd
The spirit of love and amorous delight.
She
disappeerd, and left me dark, I wak'd
To find her, or for ever to
deplore
Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure:
When
out of hope, behold her, not farr off,
Such as I saw her in my
dream, adornd
With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow
To
make her amiable: On she came,
Led by her Heav'nly Maker, though
unseen,
And guided by his voice, nor uninformd
Of
nuptial Sanctitie and marriage Rites:
Grace was in all her steps,
Heav'n in her Eye,
In every gesture dignitie and love.
I
overjoyd could not forbear aloud.
This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfill'd
Thy
words, Creator bounteous and benigne,
Giver of all things faire,
but fairest this
Of all thy gifts, nor enviest. I now see
Bone
of my Bone, Flesh of my Flesh, my Self
Before me; Woman is her
Name, of Man
Extracted; for this cause he shall forgoe
Father
and Mother, and to his Wife adhere;
And they shall be one Flesh,
one Heart, one Soule.
She heard me thus, and though divinely brought,
Yet
Innocence and Virgin Modestie,
Her vertue and the conscience of her
worth,
That would be woo'd, and not unsought be won,
Not
obvious, not obtrusive, but retir'd,
The more desirable, or to say
all,
Nature her self, though pure of sinful thought,
Wrought
in her so, that seeing me, she turn'd;
I follow'd her, she what was
Honour knew,
And with obsequious Majestie approv'd
My
pleaded reason. To the Nuptial Bowre
I led her blushing like the
Morn: all Heav'n,
And happie Constellations on that houre
Shed
thir selectest influence; the Earth
Gave sign of gratulation, and
each Hill;
Joyous the Birds; fresh Gales and gentle Aires
Whisper'd
it to the Woods, and from thir wings
Flung Rose, flung Odours from
the spicie Shrub,
Disporting, till the amorous Bird of Night
Sung
Spousal, and bid haste the Eevning Starr
On his Hill top, to light
the bridal Lamp.
Thus I have told thee all my State, and brought
My
Storie to the sum of earthly bliss
Which I enjoy, and must confess
to find
In all things else delight indeed, but such
As
us'd or not, works in the mind no change,
Nor vehement desire,
these delicacies
I mean of Taste, Sight, Smell, Herbs, Fruits, &
Flours,
Walks, and the melodie of Birds; but here
Farr
otherwise, transported I behold,
Transported touch; here passion
first I felt,
Commotion strange, in all enjoyments else
Superiour
and unmov'd, here onely weake
Against the charm of Beauties
powerful glance.
Or Nature faild in mee, and left some part
Not
proof enough such Object to sustain,
Or from my side subducting,
took perhaps
More then enough; at least on her bestow'd
Too
much of Ornament, in outward shew
Elaborate, of inward less exact.
For
well I understand in the prime end
Of Nature her th' inferiour, in
the mind
And inward Faculties, which most excell,
In
outward also her resembling less
His Image who made both, and less
expressing
The character of that Dominion giv'n
O're
other Creatures; yet when I approach
Her loveliness, so absolute
she seems
And in her self compleat, so well to know
Her
own, that what she wills to do or say,
Seems wisest, vertuousest,
discreetest, best;
All higher knowledge in her presence falls
Degraded,
Wisdom in discourse with her
Looses discount'nanc't, and like folly
shewes;
Authoritie and Reason on her waite,
As one
intended first, not after made
Occasionally; and to consummate all,
Greatness
of mind and nobleness thir seat
Build in her loveliest, and create
an awe
About her, as a guard Angelic plac't.
To whom
the Angel with contracted brow.
Accuse not Nature, she hath don her part;
Do
thou but thine, and be not diffident
Of Wisdom, she deserts thee
not, if thou
Dismiss not her, when most thou needst her nigh,
By
attributing overmuch to things
Less excellent, as thou thy self
perceav'st.
For what admir'st thou, what transports thee so,
An
outside? fair no doubt, and worthy well
Thy cherishing, thy
honouring, and thy love,
Not thy subjection: weigh with her thy
self;
Then value: Oft times nothing profits more
Then
self-esteem, grounded on just and right
Well manag'd; of that skill
the more thou know'st,
The more she will acknowledge thee her Head,
And
to realities yeild all her shows;
Made so adorn for thy delight the
more,
So awful, that with honour thou maist love
Thy
mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise.
But if the sense of
touch whereby mankind
Is propagated seem such dear delight
Beyond
all other, think the same voutsaf't
To Cattel and each Beast; which
would not be
To them made common & divulg'd, if aught
Therein
enjoy'd were worthy to subdue
The Soule of Man, or passion in him
move.
What higher in her societie thou findst
Attractive,
human, rational, love still;
In loving thou dost well, in passion
not,
Wherein true Love consists not; love refines
The
thoughts, and heart enlarges, hath his seat
In Reason, and is
judicious, is the scale
By which to heav'nly Love thou maist ascend,
Not
sunk in carnal pleasure, for which cause
Among the Beasts no Mate
for thee was found.
To whom thus half abash't ADAM repli'd.
Neither
her out-side formd so fair, nor aught
In procreation common to all
kindes
(Though higher of the genial Bed by far,
And
with mysterious reverence I deem)
So much delights me, as those
graceful acts,
Those thousand decencies that daily flow
From
all her words and actions, mixt with Love
And sweet compliance,
which declare unfeign'd
Union of Mind, or in us both one Soule;
Harmonie
to behold in wedded pair
More grateful then harmonious sound to the
eare.
Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose
What
inward thence I feel, not therefore foild,
Who meet with various
objects, from the sense
Variously representing; yet still free
Approve
the best, and follow what I approve.
To love thou blam'st me not,
for love thou saist
Leads up to Heav'n, is both the way and guide;
Bear
with me then, if lawful what I ask;
Love not the heav'nly Spirits,
and how thir Love
Express they, by looks onely, or do they mix
Irradiance,
virtual or immediate touch?
To whom the Angel with a smile that glow'd
Celestial
rosie red, Loves proper hue,
Answer'd. Let it suffice thee that
thou know'st
Us happie, and without Love no happiness.
Whatever
pure thou in the body enjoy'st
(And pure thou wert created) we enjoy
In
eminence, and obstacle find none
Of membrane, joynt, or limb,
exclusive barrs:
Easier then Air with Air, if Spirits embrace,
Total
they mix, Union of Pure with Pure
Desiring; nor restrain'd
conveyance need
As Flesh to mix with Flesh, or Soul with Soul.
But
I can now no more; the parting Sun
Beyond the Earths green Cape and
verdant Isles
HESPEREAN sets, my Signal to depart.
Be
strong, live happie, and love, but first of all
Him whom to love is
to obey, and keep
His great command; take heed least Passion sway
Thy
Judgement to do aught, which else free Will
Would not admit; thine
and of all thy Sons
The weal or woe in thee is plac't; beware.
I
in thy persevering shall rejoyce,
And all the Blest: stand fast; to
stand or fall
Free in thine own Arbitrement it lies.
Perfet
within, no outward aid require;
And all temptation to transgress
repel.
So saying, he arose; whom ADAM thus
Follow'd
with benediction. Since to part,
Go heavenly Guest, Ethereal
Messenger,
Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore.
Gentle
to me and affable hath been
Thy condescension, and shall be
honour'd ever
With grateful Memorie: thou to mankind
Be
good and friendly still, and oft return.
So parted they, the Angel up to Heav'n
From
the thick shade, and ADAM to his Bowre.
No more of talk where God or Angel Guest
With Man, as
with his Friend, familiar us'd
To sit indulgent, and with him
partake
Rural repast, permitting him the while
Venial
discourse unblam'd: I now must change
Those Notes to Tragic; foul
distrust, and breach
Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt
And
disobedience: On the part of Heav'n
Now alienated, distance and
distaste,
Anger and just rebuke, and judgement giv'n,
That
brought into this World a world of woe,
Sinne and her shadow Death,
and Miserie
Deaths Harbinger: Sad task, yet argument
Not
less but more Heroic then the wrauth
Of stern ACHILLES on his Foe
pursu'd
Thrice Fugitive about TROY Wall; or rage
Of
TURNUS for LAVINIA disespous'd,
Or NEPTUN'S ire or JUNO'S, that so
long
Perplex'd the GREEK and CYTHEREA'S Son;
If
answerable style I can obtaine
Of my Celestial Patroness, who
deignes
Her nightly visitation unimplor'd,
And
dictates to me slumbring, or inspires
Easie my unpremeditated Verse:
Since
first this subject for Heroic Song
Pleas'd me long choosing, and
beginning late;
Not sedulous by Nature to indite
Warrs,
hitherto the onely Argument
Heroic deem'd, chief maistrie to dissect
With
long and tedious havoc fabl'd Knights
In Battels feign'd; the
better fortitude
Of Patience and Heroic Martyrdom
Unsung;
or to describe Races and Games,
Or tilting Furniture, emblazon'd
Shields,
Impreses quaint, Caparisons and Steeds;
Bases
and tinsel Trappings, gorgious Knights
At Joust and Torneament;
then marshal'd Feast
Serv'd up in Hall with Sewers, and Seneshals;
The
skill of Artifice or Office mean,
Not that which justly gives
Heroic name
To Person or to Poem. Mee of these
Nor
skilld nor studious, higher Argument
Remaines, sufficient of it
self to raise
That name, unless an age too late, or cold
Climat,
or Years damp my intended wing
Deprest, and much they may, if all
be mine,
Not Hers who brings it nightly to my Ear.
The Sun was sunk, and after him the Starr
Of
HESPERUS, whose Office is to bring
Twilight upon the Earth, short
Arbiter
Twixt Day and Night, and now from end to end
Nights
Hemisphere had veild the Horizon round:
When SATAN who late fled
before the threats
Of GABRIEL out of EDEN, now improv'd
In
meditated fraud and malice, bent
On mans destruction, maugre what
might hap
Of heavier on himself, fearless return'd.
By
Night he fled, and at Midnight return'd
From compassing the Earth,
cautious of day,
Since URIEL Regent of the Sun descri'd
His
entrance, and forewarnd the Cherubim
That kept thir watch; thence
full of anguish driv'n,
The space of seven continu'd Nights he rode
With
darkness, thrice the Equinoctial Line
He circl'd, four times
cross'd the Carr of Night
From Pole to Pole, traversing each Colure;
On
the eighth return'd, and on the Coast averse
From entrance or
Cherubic Watch, by stealth
Found unsuspected way. There was a place,
Now
not, though Sin, not Time, first wraught the change,
Where TIGRIS
at the foot of Paradise
Into a Gulf shot under ground, till part
Rose
up a Fountain by the Tree of Life;
In with the River sunk, and with
it rose
Satan involv'd in rising Mist, then sought
Where
to lie hid; Sea he had searcht and Land
From EDEN over PONTUS, and
the Poole
MAEOTIS, up beyond the River OB;
Downward
as farr Antartic; and in length
West from ORANTES to the Ocean
barr'd
At DARIEN, thence to the Land where flowes
GANGES
and INDUS: thus the Orb he roam'd
With narrow search; and with
inspection deep
Consider'd every Creature, which of all
Most
opportune might serve his Wiles, and found
The Serpent suttlest
Beast of all the Field.
Him after long debate, irresolute
Of
thoughts revolv'd, his final sentence chose
Fit Vessel, fittest Imp
of fraud, in whom
To enter, and his dark suggestions hide
From
sharpest sight: for in the wilie Snake,
Whatever sleights none
would suspicious mark,
As from his wit and native suttletie
Proceeding,
which in other Beasts observ'd
Doubt might beget of Diabolic pow'r
Active
within beyond the sense of brute.
Thus he resolv'd, but first from
inward griefe
His bursting passion into plaints thus pour'd:
O Earth, how like to Heav'n, if not preferrd
More
justly, Seat worthier of Gods, as built
With second thoughts,
reforming what was old!
For what God after better worse would build?
Terrestrial
Heav'n, danc't round by other Heav'ns
That shine, yet bear thir
bright officious Lamps,
Light above Light, for thee alone, as seems,
In
thee concentring all thir precious beams
Of sacred influence: As
God in Heav'n
Is Center, yet extends to all, so thou
Centring
receav'st from all those Orbs; in thee,
Not in themselves, all thir
known vertue appeers
Productive in Herb, Plant, and nobler birth
Of
Creatures animate with gradual life
Of Growth, Sense, Reason, all
summ'd up in Man.
With what delight could I have walkt thee round
If
I could joy in aught, sweet interchange
Of Hill and Vallie, Rivers,
Woods and Plaines,
Now Land, now Sea, & Shores with Forrest crownd,
Rocks,
Dens, and Caves; but I in none of these
Find place or refuge; and
the more I see
Pleasures about me, so much more I feel
Torment
within me, as from the hateful siege
Of contraries; all good to me
becomes
Bane, and in Heav'n much worse would be my state.
But
neither here seek I, no nor in Heav'n
To dwell, unless by maistring
Heav'ns Supreame;
Nor hope to be my self less miserable
By
what I seek, but others to make such
As I though thereby worse to
me redound:
For onely in destroying I finde ease
To
my relentless thoughts; and him destroyd,
Or won to what may work
his utter loss,
For whom all this was made, all this will soon
Follow,
as to him linkt in weal or woe,
In wo then; that destruction wide
may range:
To mee shall be the glorie sole among
The
infernal Powers, in one day to have marr'd
What he ALMIGHTIE
styl'd, six Nights and Days
Continu'd making, and who knows how long
Before
had bin contriving, though perhaps
Not longer then since I in one
Night freed
From servitude inglorious welnigh half
Th'
Angelic Name, and thinner left the throng
Of his adorers: hee to be
aveng'd,
And to repaire his numbers thus impair'd,
Whether
such vertue spent of old now faild
More Angels to Create, if they
at least
Are his Created or to spite us more,
Determin'd
to advance into our room
A Creature form'd of Earth, and him endow,
Exalted
from so base original,
With Heav'nly spoils, our spoils: What he
decreed
He effected; Man he made, and for him built
Magnificent
this World, and Earth his seat,
Him Lord pronounc'd, and, O
indignitie!
Subjected to his service Angel wings,
And
flaming Ministers to watch and tend
Thir earthlie Charge: Of these
the vigilance
I dread, and to elude, thus wrapt in mist
Of
midnight vapor glide obscure, and prie
In every Bush and Brake,
where hap may finde
The Serpent sleeping, in whose mazie foulds
To
hide me, and the dark intent I bring.
O foul descent! that I who
erst contended
With Gods to sit the highest, am now constraind
Into
a Beast, and mixt with bestial slime,
This essence to incarnate and
imbrute,
That to the hight of Deitie aspir'd;
But
what will not Ambition and Revenge
Descend to? who aspires must
down as low
As high he soard, obnoxious first or last
To
basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet,
Bitter ere long back
on it self recoiles;
Let it; I reck not, so it light well aim'd,
Since
higher I fall short, on him who next
Provokes my envie, this new
Favorite
Of Heav'n, this Man of Clay, Son of despite,
Whom
us the more to spite his Maker rais'd
From dust: spite then with
spite is best repaid.
So saying, through each Thicket Danck or Drie,
Like
a black mist low creeping, he held on
His midnight search, where
soonest he might finde
The Serpent: him fast sleeping soon he found
In
Labyrinth of many a round self-rowl'd,
His head the midst, well
stor'd with suttle wiles:
Not yet in horrid Shade or dismal Den,
Not
nocent yet, but on the grassie Herbe
Fearless unfeard he slept: in
at his Mouth
The Devil enterd, and his brutal sense,
In
heart or head, possessing soon inspir'd
With act intelligential;
but his sleep
Disturbd not, waiting close th' approach of Morn.
Now
whenas sacred Light began to dawne
In EDEN on the humid Flours,
that breathd
Thir morning Incense, when all things that breath,
From
th' Earths great Altar send up silent praise
To the Creator, and
his Nostrils fill
With gratefull Smell, forth came the human pair
And
joynd thir vocal Worship to the Quire
Of Creatures wanting voice,
that done, partake
The season, prime for sweetest Sents and Aires:
Then
commune how that day they best may ply
Thir growing work: for much
thir work outgrew
The hands dispatch of two Gardning so wide.
And
EVE first to her Husband thus began.
ADAM, well may we labour still to dress
This
Garden, still to tend Plant, Herb and Flour.
Our pleasant task
enjoyn'd, but till more hands
Aid us, the work under our labour
grows,
Luxurious by restraint; what we by day
Lop
overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind,
One night or two with wanton
growth derides
Tending to wilde. Thou therefore now advise
Or
hear what to my mind first thoughts present,
Let us divide our
labours, thou where choice
Leads thee, or where most needs, whether
to wind
The Woodbine round this Arbour, or direct
The
clasping Ivie where to climb, while I
In yonder Spring of Roses
intermixt
With Myrtle, find what to redress till Noon:
For
while so near each other thus all day
Our task we choose, what
wonder if no near
Looks intervene and smiles, or object new
Casual
discourse draw on, which intermits
Our dayes work brought to
little, though begun
Early, and th' hour of Supper comes unearn'd.
To whom mild answer ADAM thus return'd.
Sole
EVE, Associate sole, to me beyond
Compare above all living
Creatures deare,
Well hast thou motion'd, wel thy thoughts imployd
How
we might best fulfill the work which here
God hath assign'd us, nor
of me shalt pass
Unprais'd: for nothing lovelier can be found
In
woman, then to studie houshold good,
And good workes in her Husband
to promote.
Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos'd
Labour,
as to debarr us when we need
Refreshment, whether food, or talk
between,
Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse
Of
looks and smiles, for smiles from Reason flow,
To brute deni'd, and
are of Love the food,
Love not the lowest end of human life.
For
not to irksom toile, but to delight
He made us, and delight to
Reason joyn'd.
These paths and Bowers doubt not but our joynt
Will
keep from Wilderness with ease, as wide
As we need walk, till
younger hands ere long
Assist us: But if much converse perhaps
Thee
satiate, to short absence I could yeild.
For solitude somtimes is
best societie,
And short retirement urges sweet returne.
But
other doubt possesses me, least harm
Befall thee sever'd from me;
for thou knowst
What hath bin warn'd us, what malicious Foe
Envying
our happiness, and of his own
Despairing, seeks to work us woe and
shame
By sly assault; and somwhere nigh at hand
Watches,
no doubt, with greedy hope to find
His wish and best advantage, us
asunder,
Hopeless to circumvent us joynd, where each
To
other speedie aide might lend at need;
Whether his first design be
to withdraw
Our fealtie from God, or to disturb
Conjugal
Love, then which perhaps no bliss
Enjoy'd by us excites his envie
more;
Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side
That
gave thee being, stil shades thee and protects.
The Wife, where
danger or dishonour lurks,
Safest and seemliest by her Husband
staies,
Who guards her, or with her the worst endures.
To whom the Virgin Majestie of EVE,
As one
who loves, and some unkindness meets,
With sweet austeer composure
thus reply'd.
Ofspring of Heav'n and Earth, and all Earths Lord,
That
such an enemie we have, who seeks
Our ruin, both by thee informd I
learne,
And from the parting Angel over-heard
As in
a shadie nook I stood behind,
Just then returnd at shut of Evening
Flours.
But that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt
To
God or thee, because we have a foe
May tempt it, I expected not to
hear.
His violence thou fearst not, being such,
As
wee, not capable of death or paine,
Can either not receave, or can
repell.
His fraud is then thy fear, which plain inferrs
Thy
equal fear that my firm Faith and Love
Can by his fraud be shak'n
or seduc't;
Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy Brest,
ADAM,
misthought of her to thee so dear?
To whom with healing words ADAM reply'd.
Daughter
of God and Man, immortal EVE,
For such thou art, from sin and blame
entire:
Not diffident of thee do I dissuade
Thy
absence from my sight, but to avoid
Th' attempt it self, intended
by our Foe.
For hee who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses
The
tempted with dishonour foul, suppos'd
Not incorruptible of Faith,
not prooff
Against temptation: thou thy self with scorne
And
anger wouldst resent the offer'd wrong,
Though ineffectual found:
misdeem not then,
If such affront I labour to avert
From
thee alone, which on us both at once
The Enemie, though bold, will
hardly dare,
Or daring, first on mee th' assault shall light.
Nor
thou his malice and false guile contemn;
Suttle he needs must be,
who could seduce
Angels, nor think superfluous others aid.
I
from the influence of thy looks receave
Access in every Vertue, in
thy sight
More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were
Of
outward strength; while shame, thou looking on,
Shame to be
overcome or over-reacht
Would utmost vigor raise, and rais'd unite.
Why
shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel
When I am present,
and thy trial choose
With me, best witness of thy Vertue tri'd.
So spake domestick ADAM in his care
And
Matrimonial Love, but EVE, who thought
Less attributed to her Faith
sincere,
Thus her reply with accent sweet renewd.
If this be our condition, thus to dwell
In
narrow circuit strait'nd by a Foe,
Suttle or violent, we not endu'd
Single
with like defence, wherever met,
How are we happie, still in fear
of harm?
But harm precedes not sin: onely our Foe
Tempting
affronts us with his foul esteem
Of our integritie: his foul esteeme
Sticks
no dishonor on our Front, but turns
Foul on himself; then wherfore
shund or feard
By us? who rather double honour gaine
From
his surmise prov'd false, finde peace within,
Favour from Heav'n,
our witness from th' event.
And what is Faith, Love, Vertue unassaid
Alone,
without exterior help sustaind?
Let us not then suspect our happie
State
Left so imperfet by the Maker wise,
As not
secure to single or combin'd.
Fraile is our happiness, if this be
so,
And EDEN were no EDEN thus expos'd.
To whom thus ADAM fervently repli'd.
O
Woman, best are all things as the will
Of God ordaind them, his
creating hand
Nothing imperfet or deficient left
Of
all that he Created, much less Man,
Or ought that might his happie
State secure,
Secure from outward force; within himself
The
danger lies, yet lies within his power:
Against his will he can
receave no harme.
But God left free the Will, for what obeyes
Reason,
is free, and Reason he made right,
But bid her well beware, and
still erect,
Least by some faire appeering good surpris'd
She
dictate false, and missinforme the Will
To do what God expresly
hath forbid.
Not then mistrust, but tender love enjoynes,
That
I should mind thee oft, and mind thou me.
Firm we subsist, yet
possible to swerve,
Since Reason not impossibly may meet
Some
specious object by the Foe subornd,
And fall into deception unaware,
Not
keeping strictest watch, as she was warnd.
Seek not temptation
then, which to avoide
Were better, and most likelie if from mee
Thou
sever not; Trial will come unsought.
Wouldst thou approve thy
constancie, approve
First thy obedience; th' other who can know,
Not
seeing thee attempted, who attest?
But if thou think, trial
unsought may finde
Us both securer then thus warnd thou seemst,
Go;
for thy stay, not free, absents thee more;
Go in thy native
innocence, relie
On what thou hast of vertue, summon all,
For
God towards thee hath done his part, do thine.
So spake the Patriarch of Mankinde, but EVE
Persisted,
yet submiss, though last, repli'd.
With thy permission then, and thus forewarnd
Chiefly
by what thy own last reasoning words
Touchd onely, that our trial,
when least sought,
May finde us both perhaps farr less prepar'd,
The
willinger I goe, nor much expect
A Foe so proud will first the
weaker seek;
So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse.
Thus
saying, from her Husbands hand her hand
Soft she withdrew, and like
a Wood-Nymph light
OREAD or DRYAD, or of DELIA's Traine,
Betook
her to the Groves, but DELIA's self
In gate surpass'd and
Goddess-like deport,
Though not as shee with Bow and Quiver armd,
But
with such Gardning Tools as Are yet rude,
Guiltless of fire had
formd, or Angels brought,
To PALES, or POMONA, thus adornd,
Likest
she seemd, POMONA when she fled
VERTUMNUS, or to CERES in her Prime,
Yet
Virgin of PROSERPINA from JOVE.
Her long with ardent look his EYE
pursu'd
Delighted, but desiring more her stay.
Oft
he to her his charge of quick returne,
Repeated, shee to him as oft
engag'd
To be returnd by Noon amid the Bowre,
And
all things in best order to invite
Noontide repast, or Afternoons
repose.
O much deceav'd, much failing, hapless EVE,
Of
thy presum'd return! event perverse!
Thou never from that houre in
Paradise
Foundst either sweet repast, or found repose;
Such
ambush hid among sweet Flours and Shades
Waited with hellish rancor
imminent
To intercept thy way, or send thee back
Despoild
of Innocence, of Faith, of Bliss.
For now, and since first break of
dawne the Fiend,
Meer Serpent in appearance, forth was come,
And
on his Quest, where likeliest he might finde
The onely two of
Mankinde, but in them
The whole included Race, his purposd prey.
In
Bowre and Field he sought, where any tuft
Of Grove or Garden-Plot
more pleasant lay,
Thir tendance or Plantation for delight,
By
Fountain or by shadie Rivulet
He sought them both, but wish'd his
hap might find
EVE separate, he wish'd, but not with hope
Of
what so seldom chanc'd, when to his wish,
Beyond his hope, EVE
separate he spies,
Veild in a Cloud of Fragrance, where she stood,
Half
spi'd, so thick the Roses bushing round
About her glowd, oft
stooping to support
Each Flour of slender stalk, whose head though
gay
Carnation, Purple, Azure, or spect with Gold,
Hung
drooping unsustaind, them she upstaies
Gently with Mirtle band,
mindless the while,
Her self, though fairest unsupported Flour,
From
her best prop so farr, and storn so nigh.
Neererhe drew, and many a
walk travers'd
Of stateliest Covert, Cedar, Pine, or Palme,
Then
voluble and bold, now hid, now seen
Among thick-wov'n Arborets and
Flours
Imborderd on each Bank, the hand of EVE:
Spot
more delicious then those Gardens feign'd
Or of reviv'd ADONIS, or
renownd
ALCINOUS, host of old LAERTES Son,
Or that,
not Mystic, where the Sapient King
Held dalliance with his faire
EGYPTIAN Spouse.
Much hee the Place admir'd, the Person more.
As
one who long in populous City pent,
Where Houses thick and Sewers
annoy the Aire,
Forth issuing on a Summers Morn, to breathe
Among
the pleasant Villages and Farmes
Adjoynd, from each thing met
conceaves delight,
The smell of Grain, or tedded Grass, or Kine,
Or
Dairie, each rural sight, each rural sound;
If chance with
Nymphlike step fair Virgin pass,
What pleasing seemd, for her now
pleases more,
She most, and in her look summs all Delight.
Such
Pleasure took the Serpent to behold
This Flourie Plat, the sweet
recess of EVE
Thus earlie, thus alone; her Heav'nly forme
Angelic,
but more soft, and Feminine,
Her graceful Innocence, her every Aire
Of
gesture or lest action overawd
His Malice, and with rapine sweet
bereav'd
His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought:
That
space the Evil one abstracted stood
From his own evil, and for the
time remaind
Stupidly good, of enmitie disarm'd,
Of
guile, of hate, of envie, of revenge;
But the hot Hell that alwayes
in him burnes,
Though in mid Heav'n, soon ended his delight,
And
tortures him now more, the more he sees
Of pleasure not for him
ordain'd: then soon
Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts
Of
mischief, gratulating, thus excites.
Thoughts, whither have he led me, with what sweet
Compulsion
thus transported to forget
What hither brought us, hate, not love,
nor hope
Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste
Of
pleasure, but all pleasure to destroy,
Save what is in destroying,
other joy
To me is lost. Then let me not let pass
Occasion
which now smiles, behold alone
The Woman, opportune to all attempts,
Her
Husband, for I view far round, not nigh,
Whose higher intellectual
more I shun,
And strength, of courage hautie, and of limb
Heroic
built, though of terrestrial mould,
Foe not informidable, exempt
from wound,
I not; so much hath Hell debas'd, and paine
Infeebl'd
me, to what I was in Heav'n.
Shee fair, divinely fair, fit Love for
Gods,
Not terrible, though terrour be in Love
And
beautie, not approacht by stronger hate,
Hate stronger, under shew
of Love well feign'd,
The way which to her ruin now I tend.
So spake the Enemie of Mankind, enclos'd
In
Serpent, Inmate bad, and toward EVE
Address'd his way, not with
indented wave,
Prone on the ground, as since, but on his reare,
Circular
base of rising foulds, that tour'd
Fould above fould a surging
Maze, his Head
Crested aloft, and Carbuncle his Eyes;
With
burnisht Neck of verdant Gold, erect
Amidst his circling Spires,
that on the grass
Floted redundant: pleasing was his shape,
And
lovely, never since of Serpent kind
Lovelier, not those that in
ILLYRIA chang'd
HERMIONE and CADMUS, or the God
In
EPIDAURUS; nor to which transformd
AMMONIAN JOVE, or CAPITOLINE was
seen,
Hee with OLYMPIAS, this with her who bore
SCIPIO
the highth of ROME. With tract oblique
At first, as one who sought
access, but feard
To interrupt, side-long he works his way.
As
when a Ship by skilful Stearsman wrought
Nigh Rivers mouth or
Foreland, where the Wind
Veres oft, as oft so steers, and shifts
her Saile;
So varied hee, and of his tortuous Traine
Curld
many a wanton wreath in sight of EVE,
To lure her Eye; shee busied
heard the sound
Of rusling Leaves, but minded not, as us'd
To
such disport before her through the Field,
From every Beast, more
duteous at her call,
Then at CIRCEAN call the Herd disguis'd.
Hee
boulder now, uncall'd before her stood;
But as in gaze admiring:
Oft he bowd
His turret Crest, and sleek enamel'd Neck,
Fawning,
and lick'd the ground whereon she trod.
His gentle dumb expression
turnd at length
The Eye of EVE to mark his play; he glad
Of
her attention gaind, with Serpent Tongue
Organic, or impulse of
vocal Air,
His fraudulent temptation thus began.
Wonder not, sovran Mistress, if perhaps
Thou
canst, who art sole Wonder, much less arm
Thy looks, the Heav'n of
mildness, with disdain,
Displeas'd that I approach thee thus, and
gaze
Insatiate, I thus single; nor have feard
Thy
awful brow, more awful thus retir'd.
Fairest resemblance of thy
Maker faire,
Thee all living things gaze on, all things thine
By
gift, and thy Celestial Beautie adore
With ravishment beheld, there
best beheld
Where universally admir'd; but here
In
this enclosure wild, these Beasts among,
Beholders rude, and
shallow to discerne
Half what in thee is fair, one man except,
Who
sees thee? (and what is one?) who shouldst be seen
A Goddess among
Gods, ador'd and serv'd
By Angels numberless, thy daily Train.
So gloz'd the Tempter, and his Proem tun'd;
Into
the Heart of EVE his words made way,
Though at the voice much
marveling; at length
Not unamaz'd she thus in answer spake.
What
may this mean? Language of Man pronounc't
By Tongue of Brute, and
human sense exprest?
The first at lest of these I thought deni'd
To
Beasts, whom God on their Creation-Day
Created mute to all
articulat sound;
The latter I demurre, for in thir looks
Much
reason, and in thir actions oft appeers.
Thee, Serpent, suttlest
beast of all the field
I knew, but not with human voice endu'd;
Redouble
then this miracle, and say,
How cam'st thou speakable of mute, and
how
To me so friendly grown above the rest
Of brutal
kind, that daily are in sight?
Say, for such wonder claims
attention due.
To whom the guileful Tempter thus reply'd.
Empress
of this fair World, resplendent EVE,
Easie to mee it is to tell
thee all
What thou commandst, and right thou shouldst be obeyd:
I
was at first as other Beasts that graze
The trodden Herb, of abject
thoughts and low,
As was my food, nor aught but food discern'd
Or
Sex, and apprehended nothing high:
Till on a day roaving the field,
I chanc'd
A goodly Tree farr distant to behold
Loaden
with fruit of fairest colours mixt,
Ruddie and Gold: I nearer drew
to gaze;
When from the boughes a savorie odour blow'n,
Grateful
to appetite, more pleas'd my sense
Then smell of sweetest Fenel, or
the Teats
Of Ewe or Goat dropping with Milk at Eevn,
Unsuckt
of Lamb or Kid, that tend thir play.
To satisfie the sharp desire I
had
Of tasting those fair Apples, I resolv'd
Not to
deferr; hunger and thirst at once,
Powerful perswaders, quick'nd at
the scent
Of that alluring fruit, urg'd me so keene.
About
the Mossie Trunk I wound me soon,
For high from ground the branches
would require
Thy utmost reach or ADAMS: Round the Tree
All
other Beasts that saw, with like desire
Longing and envying stood,
but could not reach.
Amid the Tree now got, where plentie hung
Tempting
so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill
I spar'd not, for such pleasure
till that hour
At Feed or Fountain never had I found.
Sated
at length, ere long I might perceave
Strange alteration in me, to
degree
Of Reason in my inward Powers, and Speech
Wanted
not long, though to this shape retaind.
Thenceforth to Speculations
high or deep
I turnd my thoughts, and with capacious mind
Considerd
all things visible in Heav'n,
Or Earth, or Middle, all things fair
and good;
But all that fair and good in thy Divine
Semblance,
and in thy Beauties heav'nly Ray
United I beheld; no Fair to thine
Equivalent
or second, which compel'd
Mee thus, though importune perhaps, to
come
And gaze, and worship thee of right declar'd
Sovran
of Creatures, universal Dame.
So talk'd the spirited sly Snake; and EVE
Yet
more amaz'd unwarie thus reply'd.
Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt
The
vertue of that Fruit, in thee first prov'd:
But say, where grows
the Tree, from hence how far?
For many are the Trees of God that
grow
In Paradise, and various, yet unknown
To us, in
such abundance lies our choice,
As leaves a greater store of Fruit
untoucht,
Still hanging incorruptible, till men
Grow
up to thir provision, and more hands
Help to disburden Nature of
her Bearth.
To whom the wilie Adder, blithe and glad.
Empress,
the way is readie, and not long,
Beyond a row of Myrtles, on a Flat,
Fast
by a Fountain, one small Thicket past
Of blowing Myrrh and Balme;
if thou accept
My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon.
Lead then, said EVE. Hee leading swiftly rowld
In
tangles, and make intricate seem strait,
To mischief swift. Hope
elevates, and joy
Bright'ns his Crest, as when a wandring Fire
Compact
of unctuous vapor, which the Night
Condenses, and the cold invirons
round,
Kindl'd through agitation to a Flame,
Which
oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends,
Hovering and blazing with
delusive Light,
Misleads th' amaz'd Night-wanderer from his way
To
Boggs and Mires, & oft through Pond or Poole,
There swallow'd
up and lost, from succour farr.
So glister'd the dire Snake and
into fraud
Led EVE our credulous Mother, to the Tree
Of
prohibition, root of all our woe;
Which when she saw, thus to her
guide she spake.
Serpent, we might have spar'd our coming hither,
Fruitless
to me, though Fruit be here to excess,
The credit of whose vertue
rest with thee,
Wondrous indeed, if cause of such effects.
But
of this Tree we may not taste nor touch;
God so commanded, and left
that Command
Sole Daughter of his voice; the rest, we live
Law
to our selves, our Reason is our Law.
To whom the Tempter guilefully repli'd.
Indeed?
hath God then said that of the Fruit
Of all these Garden Trees ye
shall not eate,
Yet Lords declar'd of all in Earth or Aire?
To whom thus EVE yet sinless. Of the Fruit
Of
each Tree in the Garden we may eate,
But of the Fruit of this fair
Tree amidst
The Garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eate
Thereof,
nor shall ye touch it, least ye die.
She scarse had said, though brief, when now more bold
The
Tempter, but with shew of Zeale and Love
To Man, and indignation at
his wrong,
New part puts on, and as to passion mov'd,
Fluctuats
disturbd, yet comely, and in act
Rais'd, as of som great matter to
begin.
As when of old som Orator renound
In ATHENS
or free ROME, where Eloquence
Flourishd, since mute, to som great
cause addrest,
Stood in himself collected, while each part,
Motion,
each act won audience ere the tongue,
Somtimes in highth began, as
no delay
Of Preface brooking through his Zeal of Right.
So
standing, moving, or to highth upgrown
The Tempter all impassiond
thus began.
O Sacred, Wise, and Wisdom-giving Plant,
Mother
of Science, Now I feel thy Power
Within me cleere, not onely to
discerne
Things in thir Causes, but to trace the wayes
Of
highest Agents, deemd however wise.
Queen of this Universe, doe not
believe
Those rigid threats of Death; ye shall not Die:
How
should ye? by the Fruit? it gives you Life
To Knowledge? By the
Threatner, look on mee,
Mee who have touch'd and tasted, yet both
live,
And life more perfet have attaind then Fate
Meant
mee, by ventring higher then my Lot.
Shall that be shut to Man,
which to the Beast
Is open? or will God incense his ire
For
such a pretty Trespass, and not praise
Rather your dauntless
vertue, whom the pain
Of Death denounc't, whatever thing Death be,
Deterrd
not from atchieving what might leade
To happier life, knowledge of
Good and Evil;
Of good, how just? of evil, if what is evil
Be
real, why not known, since easier shunnd?
God therefore cannot hurt
ye, and be just;
Not just, not God; not feard then, nor obeid:
Your
feare it self of Death removes the feare.
Why then was this forbid?
Why but to awe,
Why but to keep ye low and ignorant,
His
worshippers; he knows that in the day
Ye Eate thereof, your Eyes
that seem so cleere,
Yet are but dim, shall perfetly be then
Op'nd
and cleerd, and ye shall be as Gods,
Knowing both Good and Evil as
they know.
That ye should be as Gods, since I as Man,
Internal
Man, is but proportion meet,
I of brute human, yee of human Gods.
So
ye shalt die perhaps, by putting off
Human, to put on Gods, death
to be wisht,
Though threat'nd, which no worse then this can bring
And
what are Gods that Man may not become
As they, participating
God-like food?
The Gods are first, and that advantage use
On
our belief, that all from them proceeds,
I question it, for this
fair Earth I see,
Warm'd by the Sun, producing every kind,
Them
nothing: If they all things, who enclos'd
Knowledge of Good and
Evil in this Tree,
That whoso eats thereof, forthwith attains
Wisdom
without their leave? and wherein lies
Th' offence, that Man should
thus attain to know?
What can your knowledge hurt him, or this Tree
Impart
against his will if all be his?
Or is it envie, and can envie dwell
In
heav'nly brests? these, these and many more
Causes import your need
of this fair Fruit.
Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste.
He ended, and his words replete with guile
Into
her heart too easie entrance won:
Fixt on the Fruit she gaz'd,
which to behold
Might tempt alone, and in her ears the sound
Yet
rung of his perswasive words, impregn'd
With Reason, to her
seeming, and with Truth;
Meanwhile the hour of Noon drew on, and
wak'd
An eager appetite, rais'd by the smell
So
savorie of that Fruit, which with desire,
Inclinable now grown to
touch or taste,
Sollicited her longing eye; yet first
Pausing
a while, thus to her self she mus'd.
Great are thy Vertues, doubtless, best of Fruits,
Though
kept from Man, & worthy to be admir'd,
Whose taste, too long
forborn, at first assay
Gave elocution to the mute, and taught
The
Tongue not made for Speech to speak thy praise:
Thy praise hee also
who forbids thy use,
Conceales not from us, naming thee the Tree
Of
Knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil;
Forbids us then to
taste, but his forbidding
Commends thee more, while it inferrs the
good
By thee communicated, and our want:
For good
unknown, sure is not had, or had
And yet unknown, is as not had at
all.
In plain then, what forbids he but to know,
Forbids
us good, forbids us to be wise?
Such prohibitions binde not. But if
Death
Bind us with after-bands, what profits then
Our
inward freedom? In the day we eate
Of this fair Fruit, our doom is,
we shall die.
How dies the Serpent? hee hath eat'n and lives,
And
knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discernes,
Irrational till
then. For us alone
Was death invented? or to us deni'd
This
intellectual food, for beasts reserv'd?
For Beasts it seems: yet
that one Beast which first
Hath tasted, envies not, but brings with
joy
The good befall'n him, Author unsuspect,
Friendly
to man, farr from deceit or guile.
What fear I then, rather what
know to feare
Under this ignorance of Good and Evil,
Of
God or Death, of Law or Penaltie?
Here grows the Cure of all, this
Fruit Divine,
Fair to the Eye, inviting to the Taste,
Of
vertue to make wise: what hinders then
To reach, and feed at once
both Bodie and Mind?
So saying, her rash hand in evil hour
Forth
reaching to the Fruit, she pluck'd, she eat:
Earth felt the wound,
and Nature from her seat
Sighing through all her Works gave signs
of woe,
That all was lost. Back to the Thicket slunk
The
guiltie Serpent, and well might, for EVE
Intent now wholly on her
taste, naught else
Regarded, such delight till then, as seemd,
In
Fruit she never tasted, whether true
Or fansied so, through
expectation high
Of knowledg, nor was God-head from her thought.
Greedily
she ingorg'd without restraint,
And knew not eating Death: Satiate
at length,
And hight'nd as with Wine, jocond and boon,
Thus
to her self she pleasingly began.
O Sovran, vertuous, precious of all Trees
In
Paradise, of operation blest
To Sapience, hitherto obscur'd,
infam'd,
And thy fair Fruit let hang, as to no end
Created;
but henceforth my early care,
Not without Song, each Morning, and
due praise
Shall tend thee, and the fertil burden ease
Of
thy full branches offer'd free to all;
Till dieted by thee I grow
mature
In knowledge, as the Gods who all things know;
Though
others envie what they cannot give;
For had the gift bin theirs, it
had not here
Thus grown. Experience, next to thee I owe,
Best
guide; not following thee, I had remaind
In ignorance, thou op'nst
Wisdoms way,
And giv'st access, though secret she retire.
And
I perhaps am secret; Heav'n is high,
High and remote to see from
thence distinct
Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps
May
have diverted from continual watch
Our great Forbidder, safe with
all his Spies
About him. But to ADAM in what sort
Shall
I appeer? shall I to him make known
As yet my change, and give him
to partake
Full happiness with mee, or rather not,
But
keep the odds of Knowledge in my power
Without Copartner? so to add
what wants
In Femal Sex, the more to draw his Love,
And
render me more equal, and perhaps
A thing not undesireable, somtime
Superior;
for inferior who is free?
This may be well: but what if God have
seen,
And Death ensue? then I shall be no more,
And
ADAM wedded to another EVE,
Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct;
A
death to think. Confirm'd then I resolve,
ADAM shall share with me
in bliss or woe:
So dear I love him, that with him all deaths
I
could endure; without him live no life.
So saying, from the Tree her step she turnd,
But
first low Reverence don, as to the power
That dwelt within, whose
presence had infus'd
Into the plant sciential sap, deriv'd
From
Nectar, drink of Gods. ADAM the while
Waiting desirous her return,
had wove
Of choicest Flours a Garland to adorne
Her
Tresses, and her rural labours crown
As Reapers oft are wont thir
Harvest Queen.
Great joy he promis'd to his thoughts, and new
Solace
in her return, so long delay'd;
Yet oft his heart, divine of
somthing ill,
Misgave him; hee the faultring measure felt;
And
forth to meet her went, the way she took
That Morn when first they
parted; by the Tree
Of Knowledge he must pass, there he her met,
Scarse
from the Tree returning; in her hand
A bough of fairest fruit that
downie smil'd,
New gatherd, and ambrosial smell diffus'd.
To
him she hasted, in her face excuse
Came Prologue, and Apologie to
prompt,
Which with bland words at will she thus addrest.
Hast thou not wonderd, ADAM, at my stay?
Thee
I have misst, and thought it long, depriv'd
Thy presence, agonie of
love till now
Not felt, nor shall be twice, for never more
Mean
I to trie, what rash untri'd I sought,
The paine of absence from
thy sight. But strange
Hath bin the cause, and wonderful to heare:
This
Tree is not as we are told, a Tree
Of danger tasted, nor to evil
unknown
Op'ning the way, but of Divine effect
To
open Eyes, and make them Gods who taste;
And hath bin tasted such;
the Serpent wise,
Or not restraind as wee, or not obeying,
Hath
eat'n of the fruit, and is become,
Not dead, as we are threatn'd,
but thenceforth
Endu'd with human voice and human sense,
Reasoning
to admiration, and with mee
Perswasively hath so prevaild, that I
Have
also tasted, and have also found
Th' effects to correspond, opener
mine Eyes,
Dimm erst, dilated Spirits, ampler Heart,
And
growing up to Godhead; which for thee
Chiefly I sought, without
thee can despise.
For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss,
Tedious,
unshar'd with thee, and odious soon.
Thou therefore also taste,
that equal Lot
May joyne us, equal Joy, as equal Love;
Least
thou not tasting, different degree
Disjoyne us, and I then too late
renounce
Deitie for thee, when Fate will not permit.
Thus EVE with Countnance blithe her storie told;
But
in her Cheek distemper flushing glowd.
On th' other side, ADAM,
soon as he heard
The fatal Trespass don by EVE, amaz'd,
Astonied
stood and Blank, while horror chill
Ran through his veins, and all
his joynts relax'd;
From his slack hand the Garland wreath'd for EVE
Down
drop'd, and all the faded Roses shed:
Speechless he stood and pale,
till thus at length
First to himself he inward silence broke.
O fairest of Creation, last and best
Of all
Gods Works, Creature in whom excell'd
Whatever can to fight or
thought be found,
Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet!
How
art thou lost, how on a sudden lost,
Defac't, deflourd, and now to
Death devote?
Rather how hast thou yeelded to transgress
The
strict forbiddance, how to violate
The sacred Fruit forbidd'n! som
cursed fraud
Of Enemie hath beguil'd thee, yet unknown,
And
mee with thee hath ruind, for with thee
Certain my resolution is to
Die;
How can I live without thee, how forgoe
Thy
sweet Converse and Love so dearly joyn'd,
To live again in these
wilde Woods forlorn?
Should God create another EVE, and I
Another
Rib afford, yet loss of thee
Would never from my heart; no no, I
feel
The Link of Nature draw me: Flesh of Flesh,
Bone
of my Bone thou art, and from thy State
Mine never shall be parted,
bliss or woe.
So having said, as one from sad dismay
Recomforted,
and after thoughts disturbd
Submitting to what seemd remediless,
Thus
in calme mood his Words to EVE he turnd.
Bold deed thou hast presum'd, adventrous EVE,
And
peril great provok't, who thus hast dar'd
Had it bin onely coveting
to Eye
That sacred Fruit, sacred to abstinence,
Much
more to taste it under banne to touch.
But past who can recall, or
don undoe?
Not God omnipotent, for Fate, yet so
Perhaps
thou shalt not Die, perhaps the Fact
Is not so hainous now,
foretasted Fruit,
Profan'd first by the Serpent, by him first
Made
common and unhallowd: ere one tastes;
Nor yet on him found deadly;
he yet lives,
Lives, as thou saidst, and gaines to live as Man
Higher
degree of Life, inducement strong
To us, as likely tasting to
attaine
Proportional ascent, which cannot be
But to
be Gods, or Angels Demi-gods.
Nor can I think that God, Creator
wise,
Though threatning, will in earnest so destroy
Us
his prime Creatures, dignifi'd so high,
Set over all his Works,
which in our Fall,
For us created, needs with us must faile,
Dependent
made; so God shall uncreate,
Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour
loose,
Not well conceav'd of God, who though his Power
Creation
could repeate, yet would be loath
Us to abolish, least the Adversary
Triumph
and say; Fickle their State whom God
Most Favors, who can please
him long? Mee first
He ruind, now Mankind; whom will he next?
Matter
of scorne, not to be given the Foe.
However I with thee have fixt
my Lot,
Certain to undergoe like doom, if Death
Consort
with thee, Death is to mee as Life;
So forcible within my heart I
feel
The Bond of Nature draw me to my owne,
My own
in thee, for what thou art is mine;
Our State cannot be severd, we
are one,
One Flesh; to loose thee were to loose my self.
So ADAM, and thus EVE to him repli'd.
O
glorious trial of exceeding Love,
Illustrious evidence, example
high!
Ingaging me to emulate, but short
Of thy
perfection, how shall I attaine,
ADAM, from whose deare side I
boast me sprung,
And gladly of our Union heare thee speak,
One
Heart, one Soul in both; whereof good prooff
This day affords,
declaring thee resolvd,
Rather then Death or aught then Death more
dread
Shall separate us, linkt in Love so deare,
To
undergoe with mee one Guilt, one Crime,
If any be, of tasting this
fair Fruit,
Whose vertue, for of good still good proceeds,
Direct,
or by occasion hath presented
This happie trial of thy Love, which
else
So eminently never had bin known.
Were it I
thought Death menac't would ensue
This my attempt, I would sustain
alone
The worst, and not perswade thee, rather die
Deserted,
then oblige thee with a fact
Pernicious to thy Peace, chiefly
assur'd
Remarkably so late of thy so true,
So
faithful Love unequald; but I feel
Farr otherwise th' event, not
Death, but Life
Augmented, op'nd Eyes, new Hopes, new Joyes,
Taste
so Divine, that what of sweet before
Hath toucht my sense, flat
seems to this, and harsh.
On my experience, ADAM, freely taste,
And
fear of Death deliver to the Windes.
So saying, she embrac'd him, and for joy
Tenderly
wept, much won that he his Love
Had so enobl'd, as of choice to
incurr
Divine displeasure for her sake, or Death.
In
recompence (for such compliance bad
Such recompence best merits)
from the bough
She gave him of that fair enticing Fruit
With
liberal hand: he scrupl'd not to eat
Against his better knowledge,
not deceav'd,
But fondly overcome with Femal charm.
Earth
trembl'd from her entrails, as again
In pangs, and Nature gave a
second groan,
Skie lowr'd, and muttering Thunder, som sad drops
Wept
at compleating of the mortal Sin
Original; while ADAM took no
thought,
Eating his fill, nor EVE to iterate
Her
former trespass fear'd, the more to soothe
Him with her lov'd
societie, that now
As with new Wine intoxicated both
They
swim in mirth, and fansie that they feel
Divinitie within them
breeding wings
Wherewith to scorn the Earth: but that false Fruit
Farr
other operation first displaid,
Carnal desire enflaming, hee on EVE
Began
to cast lascivious Eyes, she him
As wantonly repaid; in Lust they
burne:
Till ADAM thus 'gan EVE to dalliance move.
EVE, now I see thou art exact of taste,
And
elegant, of Sapience no small part,
Since to each meaning savour we
apply,
And Palate call judicious; I the praise
Yeild
thee, so well this day thou hast purvey'd.
Much pleasure we have
lost, while we abstain'd
From this delightful Fruit, nor known till
now
True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be
In
things to us forbidden, it might be wish'd,
For this one Tree had
bin forbidden ten.
But come, so well refresh't, now let us play,
As
meet is, after such delicious Fare;
For never did thy Beautie since
the day
I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorn'd
With
all perfections, so enflame my sense
With ardor to enjoy thee,
fairer now
Then ever, bountie of this vertuous Tree.
So said he, and forbore not glance or toy
Of
amorous intent, well understood
Of EVE, whose Eye darted contagious
Fire.
Her hand he seis'd, and to a shadie bank,
Thick
overhead with verdant roof imbowr'd
He led her nothing loath;
Flours were the Couch,
Pansies, and Violets, and Asphodel,
And
Hyacinth, Earths freshest softest lap.
There they thir fill of Love
and Loves disport
Took largely, of thir mutual guilt the Seale,
The
solace of thir sin, till dewie sleep
Oppress'd them, wearied with
thir amorous play.
Soon as the force of that fallacious Fruit,
That
with exhilerating vapour bland
About thir spirits had plaid, and
inmost powers
Made erre, was now exhal'd, and grosser sleep
Bred
of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams
Encumberd, now had left
them, up they rose
As from unrest, and each the other viewing,
Soon
found thir Eyes how op'nd, and thir minds
How dark'nd; innocence,
that as a veile
Had shadow'd them from knowing ill, was gon,
Just
confidence, and native righteousness,
And honour from about them,
naked left
To guiltie shame hee cover'd, but his Robe
Uncover'd
more. So rose the DANITE strong
HERCULEAN SAMSON from the Harlot-lap
Of
PHILISTEAN DALILAH, and wak'd
Shorn of his strength, They destitute
and bare
Of all thir vertue: silent, and in face
Confounded
long they sate, as struck'n mute,
Till ADAM, though not less then
EVE abasht,
At length gave utterance to these words constraind.
O EVE, in evil hour thou didst give care
To
that false Worm, of whomsoever taught
To counterfet Mans voice,
true in our Fall,
False in our promis'd Rising; since our Eyes
Op'nd
we find indeed, and find we know
Both Good and Evil, Good lost and
Evil got,
Bad Fruit of Knowledge, if this be to know,
Which
leaves us naked thus, of Honour void,
Of Innocence, of Faith, of
Puritie,
Our wonted Ornaments now soild and staind,
And
in our Faces evident the signes
Of foul concupiscence; whence evil
store;
Even shame, the last of evils; of the first
Be
sure then. How shall I behold the face
Henceforth of God or Angel,
earst with joy
And rapture so oft beheld? those heav'nly shapes
Will
dazle now this earthly, with thir blaze
Insufferably bright. O
might I here
In solitude live savage, in some glad
Obscur'd,
where highest Woods impenetrable
To Starr or Sun-light, spread thir
umbrage broad,
And brown as Evening: Cover me ye Pines,
Ye
Cedars, with innumerable boughs
Hide me, where I may never see them
more.
But let us now, as in bad plight, devise
What
best may for the present serve to hide
The Parts of each from
other, that seem most
To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen,
Some
Tree whose broad smooth Leaves together sowd,
And girded on our
loyns, may cover round
Those middle parts, that this new commer,
Shame,
There sit not, and reproach us as unclean.
So counsel'd hee, and both together went
Into
the thickest Wood, there soon they chose
The Figtree, not that kind
for Fruit renown'd,
But such as at this day to INDIANS known
In
MALABAR or DECAN spreds her Armes
Braunching so broad and long,
that in the ground
The bended Twigs take root, and Daughters grow
About
the Mother Tree, a Pillard shade
High overarch't, and echoing Walks
between;
There oft the INDIAN Herdsman shunning heate
Shelters
in coole, and tends his pasturing Herds
At Loopholes cut through
thickest shade: Those Leaves
They gatherd, broad as AMAZONIAN Targe,
And
with what skill they had, together sowd,
To gird thir waste, vain
Covering if to hide
Thir guilt and dreaded shame; O how unlike
To
that first naked Glorie. Such of late
COLUMBUS found th' AMERICAN
to girt
With featherd Cincture, naked else and wilde
Among
the Trees on Iles and woodie Shores.
Thus fenc't, and as they
thought, thir shame in part
Coverd, but not at rest or ease of Mind,
They
sate them down to weep, nor onely Teares
Raind at thir Eyes, but
high Winds worse within
Began to rise, high Passions, Anger, Hate,
Mistrust,
Suspicion, Discord, and shook sore
Thir inward State of Mind, calme
Region once
And full of Peace, now tost and turbulent:
For
Understanding rul'd not, and the Will
Heard not her lore, both in
subjection now
To sensual Appetite, who from beneathe
Usurping
over sovran Reason claimd
Superior sway: From thus distemperd brest,
ADAM,
estrang'd in look and alterd stile,
Speech intermitted thus to EVE
renewd.
Would thou hadst heark'nd to my words, & stai'd
With
me, as I besought thee, when that strange
Desire of wandring this
unhappie Morn,
I know not whence possessd thee; we had then
Remaind
still happie, not as now, despoild
Of all our good, sham'd, naked,
miserable.
Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve
The
Faith they owe; when earnestly they seek
Such proof, conclude, they
then begin to faile.
To whom soon mov'd with touch of blame thus EVE.
What
words have past thy Lips, ADAM severe,
Imput'st thou that to my
default, or will
Of wandering, as thou call'st it, which who knows
But
might as ill have happ'nd thou being by,
Or to thy self perhaps:
hadst thou bin there,
Or bere th' attempt, thou couldst not have
discernd
Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake;
No
ground of enmitie between us known,
Why hee should mean me ill, or
seek to harme.
Was I to have never parted from thy side?
As
good have grown there still a liveless Rib.
Being as I am, why
didst not thou the Head
Command me absolutely not to go,
Going
into such danger as thou saidst?
Too facil then thou didst not much
gainsay,
Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss.
Hadst
thou bin firm and fixt in thy dissent,
Neither had I transgress'd,
nor thou with mee.
To whom then first incenst ADAM repli'd.
Is
this the Love, is the recompence
Of mine to thee, ingrateful EVE,
exprest
Immutable when thou wert lost, not I,
Who
might have liv'd and joyd immortal bliss,
Yet willingly chose
rather Death with thee:
And am I now upbraided, as the cause
Of
thy transgressing? not enough severe,
It seems, in thy restraint:
what could I more?
I warn'd thee, I admonish'd thee, foretold
The
danger, and the lurking Enemie
That lay in wait; beyond this had
bin force,
And force upon free Will hath here no place.
But
confidence then bore thee on, secure
Either to meet no danger, or
to finde
Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps
I
also err'd in overmuch admiring
What seemd in thee so perfet, that
I thought
No evil durst attempt thee, but I rue
That
errour now, which is become my crime,
And thou th' accuser. Thus it
shall befall
Him who to worth in Women overtrusting
Lets
her Will rule; restraint she will not brook,
And left to her self,
if evil thence ensue,
Shee first his weak indulgence will accuse.
Thus they in mutual accusation spent
The
fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning
And of thir vain
contest appeer'd no end.
Meanwhile the hainous and despightfull act
Of
SATAN done in Paradise, and how
Hee in the Serpent had perverted
EVE,
Her Husband shee, to taste the fatall fruit,
Was
known in Heav'n; for what can scape the Eye
Of God All-seeing, or
deceave his Heart
Omniscient, who in all things wise and just,
Hinder'd
not SATAN to attempt the minde
Of Man, with strength entire, and
free Will arm'd,
Complete to have discover'd and repulst
Whatever
wiles of Foe or seeming Friend.
For still they knew, and ought to
have still remember'd
The high Injunction not to taste that Fruit,
Whoever
tempted; which they not obeying,
Incurr'd, what could they less,
the penaltie,
And manifold in sin, deserv'd to fall.
Up
into Heav'n from Paradise in hast
Th' Angelic Guards ascended, mute
and sad
For Man, for of his state by this they knew,
Much
wondring how the suttle Fiend had stoln
Entrance unseen. Soon as
th' unwelcome news
From Earth arriv'd at Heaven Gate, displeas'd
All
were who heard, dim sadness did not spare
That time Celestial
visages, yet mixt
With pitie, violated not thir bliss.
About
the new-arriv'd, in multitudes
Th' ethereal People ran, to hear and
know
How all befell: they towards the Throne Supream
Accountable
made haste to make appear
With righteous plea, thir utmost
vigilance,
And easily approv'd; when the most High
Eternal
Father from his secret Cloud,
Amidst in Thunder utter'd thus his
voice.
Assembl'd Angels, and ye Powers return'd
From
unsuccessful charge, be not dismaid,
Nor troubl'd at these tidings
from the Earth,
Which your sincerest care could not prevent,
Foretold
so lately what would come to pass,
When first this Tempter cross'd
the Gulf from Hell.
I told ye then he should prevail and speed
On
his bad Errand, Man should be seduc't
And flatter'd out of all,
believing lies
Against his Maker; no Decree of mine
Concurring
to necessitate his Fall,
Or touch with lightest moment of impulse
His
free Will, to her own inclining left
In eevn scale. But fall'n he
is, and now
What rests, but that the mortal Sentence pass
On
his transgression, Death denounc't that day,
Which he presumes
already vain and void,
Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd,
By
some immediate stroak; but soon shall find
Forbearance no
acquittance ere day end.
Justice shall not return as bountie
scorn'd.
But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee
Vicegerent
Son, to thee I have transferr'd
All Judgement, whether in Heav'n,
or Earth; or Hell.
Easie it may be seen that I intend
Mercie
collegue with Justice, sending thee
Mans Friend, his Mediator, his
design'd
Both Ransom and Redeemer voluntarie,
And
destin'd Man himself to judge Man fall'n.
So spake the Father, and unfoulding bright
Toward
the right hand his Glorie, on the Son
Blaz'd forth unclouded
Deitie; he full
Resplendent all his Father manifest
Express'd,
and thus divinely answer'd milde.
Father Eternal, thine is to decree,
Mine
both in Heav'n and Earth to do thy will
Supream, that thou in mee
thy Son belov'd
Mayst ever rest well pleas'd. I go to judge
On
Earth these thy transgressors, but thou knowst,
Whoever judg'd, the
worst on mee must light,
When time shall be, for so I undertook
Before
thee; and not repenting, this obtaine
Of right, that I may mitigate
thir doom
On me deriv'd, yet I shall temper so
Justice
with Mercie, as may illustrate most
Them fully satisfied, and thee
appease.
Attendance none shall need, nor Train, where none
Are
to behold the Judgement, but the judg'd,
Those two; the third best
absent is condemn'd,
Convict by flight, and Rebel to all Law
Conviction
to the Serpent none belongs.
Thus saying, from his radiant Seat he rose
Of
high collateral glorie: him Thrones and Powers,
Princedoms, and
Dominations ministrant
Accompanied to Heaven Gate, from whence
EDEN
and all the Coast in prospect lay.
Down he descended strait; the
speed of Gods
Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes wing'd.
Now
was the Sun in Western cadence low
From Noon, and gentle Aires due
at thir hour
To fan the Earth now wak'd, and usher in
The
Eevning coole when he from wrauth more coole
Came the mild Judge
and Intercessor both
To sentence Man: the voice of God they heard
Now
walking in the Garden, by soft windes
Brought to thir Ears, while
day declin'd, they heard
And from his presence hid themselves among
The
thickest Trees, both Man and Wife, till God
Approaching, thus to
ADAM call'd aloud.
Where art thou ADAM, wont with joy to meet
My
coming seen far off? I miss thee here,
Not pleas'd, thus entertaind
with solitude,
Where obvious dutie erewhile appear'd unsaught:
Or
come I less conspicuous, or what change
Absents thee, or what
chance detains? Come forth.
He came, and with him EVE, more loth,
though first
To offend, discount'nanc't both, and discompos'd;
Love
was not in thir looks, either to God
Or to each other, but apparent
guilt,
And shame, and perturbation, and despaire,
Anger,
and obstinacie, and hate, and guile.
Whence ADAM faultring long,
thus answer'd brief.
I heard thee in the Garden, and of thy voice
Affraid,
being naked, hid my self. To whom
The gracious Judge without revile
repli'd.
My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not fear'd,
But
still rejoyc't, how is it now become
So dreadful to thee? that thou
art naked, who
Hath told thee? hast thou eaten of the Tree
Whereof
I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat?
To whom thus ADAM sore beset repli'd.
O
Heav'n! in evil strait this day I stand
Before my Judge, either to
undergoe
My self the total Crime, or to accuse
My
other self, the partner of my life;
Whose failing, while her Faith
to me remaines,
I should conceal, and not expose to blame
By
my complaint; but strict necessitie
Subdues me, and calamitous
constraint,
Least on my head both sin and punishment,
However
insupportable, be all
Devolv'd; though should I hold my peace, yet
thou
Wouldst easily detect what I conceale.
This
Woman whom thou mad'st to be my help,
And gav'st me as thy perfet
gift, so good,
So fit, so acceptable, so Divine,
That
from her hand I could suspect no ill,
And what she did, whatever in
it self,
Her doing seem'd to justifie the deed;
Shee
gave me of the Tree, and I did eate.
To whom the sovran Presence thus repli'd.
Was
shee thy God, that her thou didst obey
Before his voice, or was
shee made thy guide,
Superior, or but equal, that to her
Thou
did'st resigne thy Manhood, and the Place
Wherein God set thee
above her made of thee,
And for thee, whose perfection farr excell'd
Hers
in all real dignitie: Adornd
She was indeed, and lovely to attract
Thy
Love, not thy Subjection, and her Gifts
Were such as under
Government well seem'd,
Unseemly to beare rule, which was thy part
And
person, had'st thou known thy self aright.
So having said, he thus to EVE in few:
Say
Woman, what is this which thou hast done?
To whom sad EVE with shame nigh overwhelm'd,
Confessing
soon, yet not before her Judge
Bold or loquacious, thus abasht
repli'd.
The Serpent me beguil'd and I did eate.
Which when the Lord God heard, without delay
To
Judgement he proceeded on th' accus'd
Serpent though brute, unable
to transferre
The Guilt on him who made him instrument
Of
mischief, and polluted from the end
Of his Creation; justly then
accurst,
As vitiated in Nature: more to know
Concern'd
not Man (since he no further knew)
Nor alter'd his offence; yet God
at last
To Satan first in sin his doom apply'd,
Though
in mysterious terms, judg'd as then best:
And on the Serpent thus
his curse let fall.
Because thou hast done this, thou art accurst
Above
all Cattel, each Beast of the Field;
Upon thy Belly groveling thou
shalt goe,
And dust shalt eat all the days of thy Life.
Between
Thee and the Woman I will put
Enmitie, and between thine and her
Seed;
Her Seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel.
So spake this Oracle, then verifi'd
When
JESUS son of MARY second EVE,
Saw Satan fall like Lightning down
from Heav'n,
Prince of the Aire; then rising from his Grave
Spoild
Principalities and Powers, triumpht
In open shew, and with
ascention bright
Captivity led captive through the Aire,
The
Realme it self of Satan long usurpt,
Whom he shall tread at last
under our feet;
Eevn hee who now foretold his fatal bruise,
And
to the Woman thus his Sentence turn'd.
Thy sorrow I will greatly multiplie
By thy
Conception; Children thou shalt bring
In sorrow forth, and to thy
Husbands will
Thine shall submit, hee over thee shall rule.
On ADAM last thus judgement he pronounc'd.
Because
thou hast heark'nd to the voice of thy Wife,
And eaten of the Tree
concerning which
I charg'd thee, saying: Thou shalt not eate
thereof,
Curs'd is the ground for thy sake, thou in sorrow
Shalt
eate thereof all the days of thy Life;
Thornes also and Thistles it
shall bring thee forth
Unbid, and thou shalt eate th' Herb of th'
Field,
In the sweat of thy Face shalt thou eate Bread,
Till
thou return unto the ground, for thou
Out of the ground wast taken,
know thy Birth,
For dust thou art, and shalt to dust returne.
So judg'd he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent,
And
th' instant stroke of Death denounc't that day
Remov'd farr off;
then pittying how they stood
Before him naked to the aire, that now
Must
suffer change, disdain'd not to begin
Thenceforth the forme of
servant to assume,
As when he wash'd his servants feet, so now
As
Father of his Familie he clad
Thir nakedness with Skins of Beasts,
or slain,
Or as the Snake with youthful Coate repaid;
And
thought not much to cloath his Enemies:
Nor hee thir outward onely
with the Skins
Of Beasts, but inward nakedness, much more
Opprobrious,
with his Robe of righteousness,
Araying cover'd from his Fathers
sight.
To him with swift ascent he up returnd,
Into
his blissful bosom reassum'd
In glory as of old, to him appeas'd
All,
though all-knowing, what had past with Man
Recounted, mixing
intercession sweet.
Meanwhile ere thus was sin'd and judg'd on
Earth,
Within the Gates of Hell sate Sin and Death,
In
counterview within the Gates, that now
Stood open wide, belching
outrageous flame
Farr into CHAOS, since the Fiend pass'd through,
Sin
opening, who thus now to Death began.
O Son, why sit we here each other viewing
Idlely,
while Satan our great Author thrives
In other Worlds, and happier
Seat provides
For us his ofspring deare? It cannot be
But
that success attends him; if mishap,
Ere this he had return'd, with
fury driv'n
By his Avenger, since no place like this
Can
fit his punishment, or their revenge.
Methinks I feel new strength
within me rise,
Wings growing, and Dominion giv'n me large
Beyond
this Deep; whatever drawes me on,
Or sympathie, or som connatural
force
Powerful at greatest distance to unite
With
secret amity things of like kinde
By secretest conveyance. Thou my
Shade
Inseparable must with mee along:
For Death
from Sin no power can separate.
But least the difficultie of
passing back
Stay his returne perhaps over this Gulfe
Impassable,
impervious, let us try
Adventrous work, yet to thy power and mine
Not
unagreeable, to found a path
Over this Maine from Hell to that new
World
Where Satan now prevailes, a Monument
Of merit
high to all th' infernal Host,
Easing thir passage hence, for
intercourse,
Or transmigration, as thir lot shall lead.
Nor
can I miss the way, so strongly drawn
By this new felt attraction
and instinct.
Whom thus the meager Shadow answerd soon.
Goe
whither Fate and inclination strong
Leads thee, I shall not lag
behinde, nor erre
The way, thou leading, such a sent I draw
Of
carnage, prey innumerable, and taste
The savour of Death from all
things there that live:
Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest
Be
wanting, but afford thee equal aid.
So saying, with delight he snuff'd the smell
Of
mortal change on Earth. As when a flock
Of ravenous Fowl, though
many a League remote,
Against the day of Battel, to a Field,
Where
Armies lie encampt, come flying, lur'd
With sent of living
Carcasses design'd
For death, the following day, in bloodie fight.
So
sented the grim Feature, and upturn'd
His Nostril wide into the
murkie Air,
Sagacious of his Quarrey from so farr.
Then
Both from out Hell Gates into the waste
Wide Anarchie of CHAOS damp
and dark
Flew divers, & with Power (thir Power was great)
Hovering
upon the Waters; what they met
Solid or slimie, as in raging Sea
Tost
up and down, together crowded drove
From each side shoaling towards
the mouth of Hell.
As when two Polar Winds blowing adverse
Upon
the CRONIAN Sea, together drive
Mountains of Ice, that stop th'
imagin'd way
Beyond PETSORA Eastward, to the rich
CATHAIAN
Coast. The aggregated Soyle
Death with his Mace petrific, cold and
dry,
As with a Trident smote, and fix't as firm
As
DELOS floating once; the rest his look
Bound with GORGONIAN rigor
not to move,
And with ASPHALTIC slime; broad as the Gate,
Deep
to the Roots of Hell the gather'd beach
They fasten'd, and the Mole
immense wraught on
Over the foaming deep high Archt, a Bridge
Of
length prodigious joyning to the Wall
Immoveable of this now
fenceless world
Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad,
Smooth,
easie, inoffensive down to Hell.
So, if great things to small may
be compar'd,
XERXES, the Libertie of GREECE to yoke,
From
SUSA his MEMNONIAN Palace high
Came to the Sea, and over HELLESPONT
Bridging
his way, EUROPE with ASIA joyn'd,
And scourg'd with many a stroak
th' indignant waves.
Now had they brought the work by wondrous Art
Pontifical,
a ridge of pendent Rock
Over the vext Abyss, following the track
Of
SATAN, to the selfsame place where hee
First lighted from his Wing,
and landed safe
From out of CHAOS to the outside bare
Of
this round World: with Pinns of Adamant
And Chains they made all
fast, too fast they made
And durable; and now in little space
The
Confines met of Empyrean Heav'n
And of this World, and on the left
hand Hell
With long reach interpos'd; three sev'ral wayes
In
sight, to each of these three places led.
And now thir way to Earth
they had descri'd,
To Paradise first tending, when behold
SATAN
in likeness of an Angel bright
Betwixt the CENTAURE and the
SCORPION stearing
His ZENITH, while the Sun in ARIES rose:
Disguis'd
he came, but those his Children dear
Thir Parent soon discern'd,
though in disguise.
Hee, after EVE seduc't, unminded slunk
Into
the Wood fast by, and changing shape
To observe the sequel, saw his
guileful act
By EVE, though all unweeting, seconded
Upon
her Husband, saw thir shame that sought
Vain covertures; but when
he saw descend
The Son of God to judge them, terrifi'd
Hee
fled, not hoping to escape, but shun
The present, fearing guiltie
what his wrauth
Might suddenly inflict; that past, return'd
By
Night, and listning where the hapless Paire
Sate in thir sad
discourse, and various plaint,
Thence gatherd his own doom, which
understood
Not instant, but of future time. With joy
And
tidings fraught, to Hell he now return'd,
And at the brink of
CHAOS, neer the foot
Of this new wondrous Pontifice, unhop't
Met
who to meet him came, his Ofspring dear.
Great joy was at thir
meeting, and at sight
Of that stupendious Bridge his joy encreas'd.
Long
hee admiring stood, till Sin, his faire
Inchanting Daughter, thus
the silence broke.
O Parent, these are thy magnific deeds,
Thy
Trophies, which thou view'st as not thine own,
Thou art thir Author
and prime Architect:
For I no sooner in my Heart divin'd,
My
Heart, which by a secret harmonie
Still moves with thine, joyn'd in
connexion sweet,
That thou on Earth hadst prosper'd, which thy looks
Now
also evidence, but straight I felt
Though distant from thee Worlds
between, yet felt
That I must after thee with this thy Son;
Such
fatal consequence unites us three:
Hell could no longer hold us in
her bounds,
Nor this unvoyageable Gulf obscure
Detain
from following thy illustrious track.
Thou hast atchiev'd our
libertie, confin'd
Within Hell Gates till now, thou us impow'rd
To
fortifie thus farr, and overlay
With this portentous Bridge the
dark Abyss.
Thine now is all this World, thy vertue hath won
What
thy hands builded not, thy Wisdom gain'd
With odds what Warr hath
lost, and fully aveng'd
Our foile in Heav'n; here thou shalt
Monarch reign,
There didst not; there let him still Victor sway,
As
Battel hath adjudg'd, from this new World
Retiring, by his own doom
alienated,
And henceforth Monarchie with thee divide
Of
all things, parted by th' Empyreal bounds,
His Quadrature, from thy
Orbicular World,
Or trie thee now more dang'rous to his Throne.
Whom thus the Prince of Darkness answerd glad.
Fair
Daughter, and thou Son and Grandchild both,
High proof ye now have
giv'n to be the Race
Of SATAN (for I glorie in the name,
Antagonist
of Heav'ns Almightie King)
Amply have merited of me, of all
Th'
Infernal Empire, that so neer Heav'ns dore
Triumphal with triumphal
act have met,
Mine with this glorious Work, & made one Realm
Hell
and this World, one Realm, one Continent
Of easie thorough-fare.
Therefore while I
Descend through Darkness, on your Rode with ease
To
my associate Powers, them to acquaint
With these successes, and
with them rejoyce,
You two this way, among those numerous Orbs
All
yours, right down to Paradise descend;
There dwell & Reign in
bliss, thence on the Earth
Dominion exercise and in the Aire,
Chiefly
on Man, sole Lord of all declar'd,
Him first make sure your thrall,
and lastly kill.
My Substitutes I send ye, and Create
Plenipotent
on Earth, of matchless might
Issuing from mee: on your joynt vigor
now
My hold of this new Kingdom all depends,
Through
Sin to Death expos'd by my exploit.
If your joynt power prevaile,
th' affaires of Hell
No detriment need feare, goe and be strong.
So saying he dismiss'd them, they with speed
Thir
course through thickest Constellations held
Spreading thir bane;
the blasted Starrs lookt wan,
And Planets, Planet-strook, real
Eclips
Then sufferd. Th' other way SATAN went down
The
Causey to Hell Gate; on either side
Disparted CHAOS over built
exclaimd,
And with rebounding surge the barrs assaild,
That
scorn'd his indignation: through the Gate,
Wide open and unguarded,
SATAN pass'd,
And all about found desolate; for those
Appointed
to sit there, had left thir charge,
Flown to the upper World; the
rest were all
Farr to the inland retir'd, about the walls
Of
PANDEMONIUM, Citie and proud seate
Of LUCIFER, so by allusion calld,
Of
that bright Starr to SATAN paragond.
There kept thir Watch the
Legions, while the Grand
In Council sate, sollicitous what chance
Might
intercept thir Emperour sent, so hee
Departing gave command, and
they observ'd.
As when the TARTAR from his RUSSIAN Foe
By
ASTRACAN over the Snowie Plaines
Retires, or BACTRIAN Sophi from
the hornes
Of TURKISH Crescent, leaves all waste beyond
The
Realme of ALADULE, in his retreate
To TAURIS or CASBEEN. So these
the late
Heav'n-banisht Host, left desert utmost Hell
Many
a dark League, reduc't in careful Watch
Round thir Metropolis, and
now expecting
Each hour their great adventurer from the search
Of
Forrein Worlds: he through the midst unmarkt,
In shew plebeian
Angel militant
Of lowest order, past; and from the dore
Of
that PLUTONIAN Hall, invisible
Ascended his high Throne, which
under state
Of richest texture spred, at th' upper end
Was
plac't in regal lustre. Down a while
He sate, and round about him
saw unseen:
At last as from a Cloud his fulgent head
And
shape Starr bright appeer'd, or brighter, clad
With what permissive
glory since his fall
Was left him, or false glitter: All amaz'd
At
that so sudden blaze the STYGIAN throng
Bent thir aspect, and whom
they wish'd beheld,
Thir mighty Chief returnd: loud was th'
acclaime:
Forth rush'd in haste the great consulting Peers,
Rais'd
from thir dark DIVAN, and with like joy
Congratulant approach'd
him, who with hand
Silence, and with these words attention won.
Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers,
For
in possession such, not onely of right,
I call ye and declare ye
now, returnd
Successful beyond hope, to lead ye forth
Triumphant
out of this infernal Pit
Abominable, accurst, the house of woe,
And
Dungeon of our Tyrant: Now possess,
As Lords, a spacious World, to
our native Heaven
Little inferiour, by my adventure hard
With
peril great atchiev'd. Long were to tell
What I have don, what
sufferd, with what paine
Voyag'd the unreal, vast, unbounded deep
Of
horrible confusion, over which
By Sin and Death a broad way now is
pav'd
To expedite your glorious march; but I
Toild
out my uncouth passage, forc't to ride
Th' untractable Abysse,
plung'd in the womb
Of unoriginal NIGHT and CHAOS wilde,
That
jealous of thir secrets fiercely oppos'd
My journey strange, with
clamorous uproare
Protesting Fate supreame; thence how I found
The
new created World, which fame in Heav'n
Long had foretold, a
Fabrick wonderful
Of absolute perfection, therein Man
Plac't
in a Paradise, by our exile
Made happie: Him by fraud I have seduc'd
From
his Creator, and the more to increase
Your wonder, with an Apple;
he thereat
Offended, worth your laughter, hath giv'n up
Both
his beloved Man and all his World,
To Sin and Death a prey, and so
to us,
Without our hazard, labour or allarme,
To
range in, and to dwell, and over Man
To rule, as over all he should
have rul'd.
True is, mee also he hath judg'd, or rather
Mee
not, but the brute Serpent in whose shape
Man I deceav'd: that
which to mee belongs,
Is enmity, which he will put between
Mee
and Mankinde; I am to bruise his heel;
His Seed, when is not set,
shall bruise my head:
A World who would not purchase with a bruise,
Or
much more grievous pain? Ye have th' account
Of my performance:
What remaines, ye Gods,
But up and enter now into full bliss.
So having said, a while he stood, expecting
Thir
universal shout and high applause
To fill his eare, when contrary
he hears
On all sides, from innumerable tongues
A
dismal universal hiss, the sound
Of public scorn; he wonderd, but
not long
Had leasure, wondring at himself now more;
His
Visage drawn he felt to sharp and spare,
His Armes clung to his
Ribs, his Leggs entwining
Each other, till supplanted down he fell
A
monstrous Serpent on his Belly prone,
Reluctant, but in vaine, a
greater power
Now rul'd him, punisht in the shape he sin'd,
According
to his doom: he would have spoke,
But hiss for hiss returnd with
forked tongue
To forked tongue, for now were all transform'd
Alike,
to Serpents all as accessories
To his bold Riot: dreadful was the
din
Of hissing through the Hall, thick swarming now
With
complicated monsters, head and taile,
Scorpion and Asp, and
AMPHISBAENA dire,
CERASTES hornd, HYDRUS, and ELLOPS drear,
And
DIPSAS (Not so thick swarm'd once the Soil
Bedropt with blood of
Gorgon, or the Isle
OPHIUSA) but still greatest hee the midst,
Now
Dragon grown, larger then whom the Sun
Ingenderd in the PYTHIAN
Vale on slime,
Huge PYTHON, and his Power no less he seem'd
Above
the rest still to retain; they all
Him follow'd issuing forth to
th' open Field,
Where all yet left of that revolted Rout
Heav'n-fall'n,
in station stood or just array,
Sublime with expectation when to see
In
Triumph issuing forth thir glorious Chief;
They saw, but other
sight instead, a crowd
Of ugly Serpents; horror on them fell,
And
horrid sympathie; for what they saw,
They felt themselvs now
changing; down thir arms,
Down fell both Spear and Shield, down
they as fast,
And the dire hiss renew'd, and the dire form
Catcht
by Contagion, like in punishment,
As in thir crime. Thus was th'
applause they meant,
Turnd to exploding hiss, triumph to shame
Cast
on themselves from thir own mouths. There stood
A Grove hard by,
sprung up with this thir change,
His will who reigns above, to
aggravate
Thir penance, laden with fair Fruit, like that
VVhich
grew in Paradise, the bait of EVE
Us'd by the Tempter: on that
prospect strange
Thir earnest eyes they fix'd, imagining
For
one forbidden Tree a multitude
Now ris'n, to work them furder woe
or shame;
Yet parcht with scalding thurst and hunger fierce,
Though
to delude them sent, could not abstain,
But on they rould in heaps,
and up the Trees
Climbing, sat thicker then the snakie locks
That
curld MEGAERA: greedily they pluck'd
The Frutage fair to sight,
like that which grew
Neer that bituminous Lake where SODOM flam'd;
This
more delusive, not the touch, but taste
Deceav'd; they fondly
thinking to allay
Thir appetite with gust, instead of Fruit
Chewd
bitter Ashes, which th' offended taste
VVith spattering noise
rejected: oft they assayd,
Hunger and thirst constraining, drugd as
oft,
VVith hatefullest disrelish writh'd thir jaws
VVith
foot and cinders fill'd; so oft they fell
Into the same illusion,
not as Man
Whom they triumph'd once lapst. Thus were they plagu'd
And
worn with Famin, long and ceasless hiss,
Till thir lost shape,
permitted, they resum'd,
Yearly enjoynd, some say, to undergo
This
annual humbling certain number'd days,
To dash thir pride, and joy
for Man seduc't.
However some tradition they dispers'd
Among
the Heathen of thir purchase got,
And Fabl'd how the Serpent, whom
they calld
OPHION with EURYNOME, the wide-
Encroaching
EVE perhaps, had first the rule
Of high OLYMPUS, thence by SATURN
driv'n
And OPS, ere yet DICTAEAN JOVE was born.
Mean
while in Paradise the hellish pair
Too soon arriv'd, SIN there in
power before,
Once actual, now in body, and to dwell
Habitual
habitant; behind her DEATH
Close following pace for pace, not
mounted yet
On his pale Horse: to whom SIN thus began.
Second of SATAN sprung, all conquering Death,
What
thinkst thou of our Empire now, though earnd
With travail
difficult, not better farr
Then stil at Hels dark threshold to have
sate watch,
Unnam'd, undreaded, and thy self half starv'd?
Whom thus the Sin-born Monster answerd soon.
To
mee, who with eternal Famin pine,
Alike is Hell, or Paradise, or
Heaven,
There best, where most with ravin I may meet;
Which
here, though plenteous, all too little seems
To stuff this Maw,
this vast unhide-bound Corps.
To whom th' incestuous Mother thus repli'd.
Thou
therefore on these Herbs, and Fruits, & Flours
Feed first, on
each Beast next, and Fish, and Fowle,
No homely morsels, and
whatever thing
The Sithe of Time mowes down, devour unspar'd,
Till
I in Man residing through the Race,
His thoughts, his looks, words,
actions all infect,
And season him thy last and sweetest prey.
This said, they both betook them several wayes,
Both
to destroy, or unimmortal make
All kinds, and for destruction to
mature
Sooner or later; which th' Almightie seeing,
From
his transcendent Seat the Saints among,
To those bright Orders
utterd thus his voice.
See with what heat these Dogs of Hell advance
To
waste and havoc yonder VVorld, which I
So fair and good created,
and had still
Kept in that state, had not the folly of Man
Let
in these wastful Furies, who impute
Folly to mee, so doth the
Prince of Hell
And his Adherents, that with so much ease
I
suffer them to enter and possess
A place so heav'nly, and conniving
seem
To gratifie my scornful Enemies,
That laugh, as
if transported with some fit
Of Passion, I to them had quitted all,
At
random yeilded up to their misrule;
And know not that I call'd and
drew them thither
My Hell-hounds, to lick up the draff and filth
Which
mans polluting Sin with taint hath shed
On what was pure, till
cramm'd and gorg'd, nigh burst
With suckt and glutted offal, at one
fling
Of thy victorious Arm, well-pleasing Son,
Both
SIN, and DEATH, and yawning GRAVE at last
Through CHAOS hurld,
obstruct the mouth of Hell
For ever, and seal up his ravenous Jawes.
Then
Heav'n and Earth renewd shall be made pure
To sanctitie that shall
receive no staine:
Till then the Curse pronounc't on both precedes.
Hee ended, and the heav'nly Audience loud
Sung
HALLELUIA, as the sound of Seas,
Through multitude that sung: Just
are thy ways,
Righteous are thy Decrees on all thy Works;
Who
can extenuate thee? Next, to the Son,
Destin'd restorer of Mankind,
by whom
New Heav'n and Earth shall to the Ages rise,
Or
down from Heav'n descend. Such was thir song,
While the Creator
calling forth by name
His mightie Angels gave them several charge,
As
sorted best with present things. The Sun
Had first his precept so
to move, so shine,
As might affect the Earth with cold and heat
Scarce
tollerable, and from the North to call
Decrepit Winter, from the
South to bring
Solstitial summers heat. To the blanc Moone
Her
office they prescrib'd, to th' other five
Thir planetarie motions
and aspects
In SEXTILE, SQUARE, and TRINE, and OPPOSITE,
Of
noxious efficacie, and when to joyne
In Synod unbenigne, and taught
the fixt
Thir influence malignant when to showre,
Which
of them rising with the Sun, or falling,
Should prove tempestuous:
To the Winds they set
Thir corners, when with bluster to confound
Sea,
Aire, and Shoar, the Thunder when to rowle
With terror through the
dark Aereal Hall.
Some say he bid his Angels turne ascanse
The
Poles of Earth twice ten degrees and more
From the Suns Axle; they
with labour push'd
Oblique the Centric Globe: Som say the Sun
Was
bid turn Reines from th' Equinoctial Rode
Like distant breadth to
TAURUS with the Seav'n
ATLANTICK Sisters, and the SPARTAN Twins
Up
to the TROPIC Crab; thence down amaine
By LEO and the VIRGIN and
the SCALES,
As deep as CAPRICORNE, to bring in change
Of
Seasons to each Clime; else had the Spring
Perpetual smil'd on
Earth with vernant Flours,
Equal in Days and Nights, except to those
Beyond
the Polar Circles; to them Day
Had unbenighted shon, while the low
Sun
To recompence his distance, in thir sight
Had
rounded still th' HORIZON, and not known
Or East or West, which had
forbid the Snow
From cold ESTOTILAND, and South as farr
Beneath
MAGELLAN. At that tasted Fruit
The Sun, as from THYESTEAN Banquet,
turn'd
His course intended; else how had the World
Inhabited,
though sinless, more then now,
Avoided pinching cold and scorching
heate?
These changes in the Heav'ns, though slow, produc'd
Like
change on Sea and Land, sideral blast,
Vapour, and Mist, and
Exhalation hot,
Corrupt and Pestilent: Now from the North
Of
NORUMBEGA, and the SAMOED shoar
Bursting thir brazen Dungeon, armd
with ice
And snow and haile and stormie gust and flaw,
BOREAS
and CAECIAS and ARGESTES loud
And THRASCIAS rend the Woods and Seas
upturn;
With adverse blast up-turns them from the South
NOTUS
and AFER black with thundrous Clouds
From SERRALIONA; thwart of
these as fierce
Forth rush the LEVANT and the PONENT VVindes
EURUS
and ZEPHIR with thir lateral noise,
SIROCCO, and LIBECCHIO. Thus
began
Outrage from liveless things; but Discord first
Daughter
of Sin, among th' irrational,
Death introduc'd through fierce
antipathie:
Beast now with Beast gan war, & Fowle with Fowle,
And
Fish with Fish; to graze the Herb all leaving,
Devourd each other;
nor stood much in awe
Of Man, but fled him, or with count'nance grim
Glar'd
on him passing: these were from without
The growing miseries, which
ADAM saw
Alreadie in part, though hid in gloomiest shade,
To
sorrow abandond, but worse felt within,
And in a troubl'd Sea of
passion tost,
Thus to disburd'n sought with sad complaint.
O miserable of happie! is this the end
Of
this new glorious World, and mee so late
The Glory of that Glory,
who now becom
Accurst of blessed, hide me from the face
Of
God, whom to behold was then my highth
Of happiness: yet well, if
here would end
The miserie, I deserv'd it, and would beare
My
own deservings; but this will not serve;
All that I eate or drink,
or shall beget,
Is propagated curse. O voice once heard
Delightfully,
ENCREASE AND MULTIPLY,
Now death to heare! for what can I encrease
Or
multiplie, but curses on my head?
Who of all Ages to succeed, but
feeling
The evil on him brought by me, will curse
My
Head, Ill fare our Ancestor impure,
For this we may thank ADAM; but
his thanks
Shall be the execration; so besides
Mine
own that bide upon me, all from mee
Shall with a fierce reflux on
mee redound,
On mee as on thir natural center light
Heavie,
though in thir place. O fleeting joyes
Of Paradise, deare bought
with lasting woes!
Did I request thee, Maker, from my Clay
To
mould me Man, did I sollicite thee
From darkness to promote me, or
here place
In this delicious Garden? as my Will
Concurd
not to my being, it were but right
And equal to reduce me to my
dust,
Desirous to resigne, and render back
All I
receav'd, unable to performe
Thy terms too hard, by which I was to
hold
The good I sought not. To the loss of that,
Sufficient
penaltie, why hast thou added
The sense of endless woes?
inexplicable
Thy Justice seems; yet to say truth, too late,
I
thus contest; then should have been refusd
Those terms whatever,
when they were propos'd:
Thou didst accept them; wilt thou enjoy
the good,
Then cavil the conditions? and though God
Made
thee without thy leave, what if thy Son
Prove disobedient, and
reprov'd, retort,
Wherefore didst thou beget me? I sought it not:
Wouldst
thou admit for his contempt of thee
That proud excuse? yet him not
thy election,
But Natural necessity begot.
God made
thee of choice his own, and of his own
To serve him, thy reward was
of his grace,
Thy punishment then justly is at his Will.
Be
it so, for I submit, his doom is fair,
That dust I am, and shall to
dust returne:
O welcom hour whenever! why delayes
His
hand to execute what his Decree
Fixd on this day? why do I overlive,
Why
am I mockt with death, and length'nd out
To deathless pain? how
gladly would I meet
Mortalitie my sentence, and be Earth
Insensible,
how glad would lay me down
As in my Mothers lap? there I should rest
And
sleep secure; his dreadful voice no more
Would Thunder in my ears,
no fear of worse
To mee and to my ofspring would torment me
With
cruel expectation. Yet one doubt
Pursues me still, least all I
cannot die,
Least that pure breath of Life, the Spirit of Man
Which
God inspir'd, cannot together perish
With this corporeal Clod; then
in the Grave,
Or in some other dismal place, who knows
But
I shall die a living Death? O thought
Horrid, if true! yet why? it
was but breath
Of Life that sinn'd; what dies but what had life
And
sin? the Bodie properly hath neither.
All of me then shall die: let
this appease
The doubt, since humane reach no further knows.
For
though the Lord of all be infinite,
Is his wrauth also? be it, man
is not so,
But mortal doom'd. How can he exercise
Wrath
without end on Man whom Death must end?
Can he make deathless
Death? that were to make
Strange contradiction, which to God himself
Impossible
is held, as Argument
Of weakness, not of Power. Will he, draw out,
For
angers sake, finite to infinite
In punisht man, to satisfie his
rigour
Satisfi'd never; that were to extend
His
Sentence beyond dust and Natures Law,
By which all Causes else
according still
To the reception of thir matter act,
Not
to th' extent of thir own Spheare. But say
That Death be not one
stroak, as I suppos'd,
Bereaving sense, but endless miserie
From
this day onward, which I feel begun
Both in me, and without me, and
so last
To perpetuitie; Ay me, that fear
Comes
thundring back with dreadful revolution
On my defensless head; both
Death and I
Am found Eternal, and incorporate both,
Nor
I on my part single, in mee all
Posteritie stands curst: Fair
Patrimonie
That I must leave ye, Sons; O were I able
To
waste it all my self, and leave ye none!
So disinherited how would
ye bless
Me now your Curse! Ah, why should all mankind
For
one mans fault thus guiltless be condemn'd,
If guiltless? But from
mee what can proceed,
But all corrupt, both Mind and Will deprav'd,
Not
to do onely, but to will the same
With me? how can they acquitted
stand
In sight of God? Him after all Disputes
Forc't
I absolve: all my evasions vain
And reasonings, though through
Mazes, lead me still
But to my own conviction: first and last
On
mee, mee onely, as the sourse and spring
Of all corruption, all the
blame lights due;
So might the wrauth, Fond wish! couldst thou
support
That burden heavier then the Earth to bear,
Then
all the world much heavier, though divided
With that bad Woman?
Thus what thou desir'st,
And what thou fearst, alike destroyes all
hope
Of refuge, and concludes thee miserable
Beyond
all past example and future,
To SATAN onely like both crime and
doom.
O Conscience, into what Abyss of fears
And
horrors hast thou driv'n me; out of which
I find no way, from deep
to deeper plung'd!
Thus ADAM to himself lamented loud
Through
the still Night, now now, as ere man fell,
Wholsom and cool, and
mild, but with black Air
Accompanied, with damps and dreadful gloom,
Which
to his evil Conscience represented
All things with double terror:
On the ground
Outstretcht he lay, on the cold ground, and oft
Curs'd
his Creation, Death as oft accus'd
Of tardie execution, since
denounc't
The day of his offence. Why comes not Death,
Said
hee, with one thrice acceptable stroke
To end me? Shall Truth fail
to keep her word,
Justice Divine not hast'n to be just?
But
Death comes not at call, Justice Divine
Mends not her slowest pace
for prayers or cries.
O Woods, O Fountains, Hillocks, Dales and
Bowrs,
VVith other echo farr I taught your Shades
To
answer, and resound farr other Song.
VVhom thus afflicted when sad
EVE beheld,
Desolate where she sate, approaching nigh,
Soft
words to his fierce passion she assay'd:
But her with stern regard
he thus repell'd.
Out of my sight, thou Serpent, that name best
Befits
thee with him leagu'd, thy self as false
And hateful; nothing
wants, but that thy shape,
Like his, and colour Serpentine may shew
Thy
inward fraud, to warn all Creatures from thee
Henceforth; least
that too heav'nly form, pretended
To hellish falshood, snare them.
But for thee
I had persisted happie, had not thy pride
And
wandring vanitie, when lest was safe,
Rejected my forewarning, and
disdain'd
Not to be trusted, longing to be seen
Though
by the Devil himself, him overweening
To over-reach, but with the
Serpent meeting
Fool'd and beguil'd, by him thou, I by thee,
To
trust thee from my side, imagin'd wise,
Constant, mature, proof
against all assaults,
And understood not all was but a shew
Rather
then solid vertu, all but a Rib
Crooked by nature, bent, as now
appears,
More to the part sinister from me drawn,
Well
if thrown out, as supernumerarie
To my just number found. O why did
God,
Creator wise, that peopl'd highest Heav'n
With
Spirits Masculine, create at last
This noveltie on Earth, this fair
defect
Of Nature, and not fill the World at once
With
Men as Angels without Feminine,
Or find some other way to generate
Mankind?
this mischief had not then befall'n,
And more that shall befall,
innumerable
Disturbances on Earth through Femal snares,
And
straight conjunction with this Sex: for either
He never shall find
out fit Mate, but such
As some misfortune brings him, or mistake,
Or
whom he wishes most shall seldom gain
Through her perverseness, but
shall see her gaind
By a farr worse, or if she love, withheld
By
Parents, or his happiest choice too late
Shall meet, alreadie linkt
and Wedlock-bound
To a fell Adversarie, his hate or shame:
Which
infinite calamitie shall cause
To humane life, and houshold peace
confound.
He added not, and from her turn'd, but EVE
Not
so repulst, with Tears that ceas'd not flowing,
And tresses all
disorderd, at his feet
Fell humble, and imbracing them, besaught
His
peace, and thus proceeded in her plaint.
Forsake me not thus, ADAM, witness Heav'n
What
love sincere, and reverence in my heart
I beare thee, and unweeting
have offended,
Unhappilie deceav'd; thy suppliant
I
beg, and clasp thy knees; bereave me not,
Whereon I live, thy
gentle looks, thy aid,
Thy counsel in this uttermost distress,
My
onely strength and stay: forlorn of thee,
Whither shall I betake
me, where subsist?
While yet we live, scarse one short hour perhaps,
Between
us two let there be peace, both joyning,
As joyn'd in injuries, one
enmitie
Against a Foe by doom express assign'd us,
That
cruel Serpent: On me exercise not
Thy hatred for this miserie
befall'n,
On me already lost, mee then thy self
More
miserable; both have sin'd, but thou
Against God onely, I against
God and thee,
And to the place of judgement will return,
There
with my cries importune Heaven, that all
The sentence from thy head
remov'd may light
On me, sole cause to thee of all this woe,
Mee
mee onely just object of his ire.
She ended weeping, and her lowlie plight,
Immoveable
till peace obtain'd from fault
Acknowledg'd and deplor'd, in ADAM
wraught
Commiseration; soon his heart relented
Towards
her, his life so late and sole delight,
Now at his feet submissive
in distress,
Creature so faire his reconcilement seeking,
His
counsel whom she had displeas'd, his aide;
As one disarm'd, his
anger all he lost,
And thus with peaceful words uprais'd her soon.
Unwarie, and too desirous, as before,
So
now of what thou knowst not, who desir'st
The punishment all on thy
self; alas,
Beare thine own first, ill able to sustaine
His
full wrauth whose thou feelst as yet lest part,
And my displeasure
bearst so ill. If Prayers
Could alter high Decrees, I to that place
Would
speed before thee, and be louder heard,
That on my head all might
be visited,
Thy frailtie and infirmer Sex forgiv'n,
To
me committed and by me expos'd.
But rise, let us no more contend,
nor blame
Each other, blam'd enough elsewhere, but strive
In
offices of Love, how we may light'n
Each others burden in our share
of woe;
Since this days Death denounc't, if ought I see,
Will
prove no sudden, but a slow-pac't evill,
A long days dying to
augment our paine,
And to our Seed (O hapless Seed!) deriv'd.
To whom thus EVE, recovering heart, repli'd.
ADAM,
by sad experiment I know
How little weight my words with thee can
finde,
Found so erroneous, thence by just event
Found
so unfortunate; nevertheless,
Restor'd by thee, vile as I am, to
place
Of new acceptance, hopeful to regaine
Thy
Love, the sole contentment of my heart,
Living or dying from thee I
will not hide
What thoughts in my unquiet brest are ris'n,
Tending
to som relief of our extremes,
Or end, though sharp and sad, yet
tolerable,
As in our evils, and of easier choice.
If
care of our descent perplex us most,
Which must be born to certain
woe, devourd
By Death at last, and miserable it is
To
be to others cause of misery,
Our own begotten, and of our Loines
to bring
Into this cursed World a woful Race,
That
after wretched Life must be at last
Food for so foule a Monster, in
thy power
It lies, yet ere Conception to prevent
The
Race unblest, to being yet unbegot.
Childless thou art, Childless
remaine:
So Death shall be deceav'd his glut, and with us two
Be
forc'd to satisfie his Rav'nous Maw.
But if thou judge it hard and
difficult,
Conversing, looking, loving, to abstain
From
Loves due Rites, Nuptial embraces sweet,
And with desire to
languish without hope,
Before the present object languishing
With
like desire, which would be miserie
And torment less then none of
what we dread,
Then both our selves and Seed at once to free
From
what we fear for both, let us make short,
Let us seek Death, or hee
not found, supply
With our own hands his Office on our selves;
Why
stand we longer shivering under feares,
That shew no end but Death,
and have the power,
Of many wayes to die the shortest choosing,
Destruction
with destruction to destroy.
She ended heer, or vehement despaire
Broke
off the rest; so much of Death her thoughts
Had entertaind, as di'd
her Cheeks with pale.
But ADAM with such counsel nothing sway'd,
To
better hopes his more attentive minde
Labouring had rais'd, and
thus to EVE repli'd.
EVE, thy contempt of life and pleasure seems
To
argue in thee somthing more sublime
And excellent then what thy
minde contemnes;
But self-destruction therefore saught, refutes
That
excellence thought in thee, and implies,
Not thy contempt, but
anguish and regret
For loss of life and pleasure overlov'd.
Or
if thou covet death, as utmost end
Of miserie, so thinking to evade
The
penaltie pronounc't, doubt not but God
Hath wiselier arm'd his
vengeful ire then so
To be forestall'd; much more I fear least Death
So
snatcht will not exempt us from the paine
We are by doom to pay;
rather such acts
Of contumacie will provoke the highest
To
make death in us live: Then let us seek
Som safer resolution, which
methinks
I have in view, calling to minde with heed
Part
of our Sentence, that thy Seed shall bruise
The Serpents head;
piteous amends, unless
Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand Foe
SATAN,
who in the Serpent hath contriv'd
Against us this deceit: to crush
his head
Would be revenge indeed; which will be lost
By
death brought on our selves, or childless days
Resolv'd, as thou
proposest; so our Foe
Shall scape his punishment ordain'd, and wee
Instead
shall double ours upon our heads.
No more be mention'd then of
violence
Against our selves, and wilful barrenness,
That
cuts us off from hope, and savours onely
Rancor and pride,
impatience and despite,
Reluctance against God and his just yoke
Laid
on our Necks. Remember with what mild
And gracious temper he both
heard and judg'd
Without wrauth or reviling; wee expected
Immediate
dissolution, which we thought
Was meant by Death that day, when lo,
to thee
Pains onely in Child-bearing were foretold,
And
bringing forth, soon recompenc't with joy,
Fruit of thy Womb: On
mee the Curse aslope
Glanc'd on the ground, with labour I must earne
My
bread; what harm? Idleness had bin worse;
My labour will sustain
me; and least Cold
Or Heat should injure us, his timely care
Hath
unbesaught provided, and his hands
Cloath'd us unworthie, pitying
while he judg'd;
How much more, if we pray him, will his ear
Be
open, and his heart to pitie incline,
And teach us further by what
means to shun
Th' inclement Seasons, Rain, Ice, Hail and Snow,
Which
now the Skie with various Face begins
To shew us in this Mountain,
while the Winds
Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks
Of
these fair spreading Trees; which bids us seek
Som better shroud,
som better warmth to cherish
Our Limbs benumm'd, ere this diurnal
Starr
Leave cold the Night, how we his gather'd beams
Reflected,
may with matter sere foment,
Or by collision of two bodies grinde
The
Air attrite to Fire, as late the Clouds
Justling or pusht with
Winds rude in thir shock
Tine the slant Lightning, whose thwart
flame driv'n down
Kindles the gummie bark of Firr or Pine,
And
sends a comfortable heat from farr,
Which might supplie the Sun:
such Fire to use,
And what may else be remedie or cure
To
evils which our own misdeeds have wrought,
Hee will instruct us
praying, and of Grace
Beseeching him, so as we need not fear
To
pass commodiously this life, sustain'd
By him with many comforts,
till we end
In dust, our final rest and native home.
What
better can we do, then to the place
Repairing where he judg'd us,
prostrate fall
Before him reverent, and there confess
Humbly
our faults, and pardon beg, with tears
VVatering the ground, and
with our sighs the Air
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in
sign
Of sorrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.
Undoubtedly
he will relent and turn
From his displeasure; in whose look serene,
VVhen
angry most he seem'd and most severe,
VVhat else but favor, grace,
and mercie shon?
So spake our Father penitent, nor EVE
Felt
less remorse: they forthwith to the place
Repairing where he judg'd
them prostrate fell
Before him reverent, and both confess'd
Humbly
thir faults, and pardon beg'd, with tears
VVatering the ground, and
with thir sighs the Air
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in
sign
Of sorrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.
Thus they in lowliest plight repentant stood
Praying,
for from the Mercie-seat above
Prevenient Grace descending had
remov'd
The stonie from thir hearts, and made new flesh
Regenerat
grow instead, that sighs now breath'd
Unutterable, which the Spirit
of prayer
Inspir'd, and wing'd for Heav'n with speedier flight
Then
loudest Oratorie: yet thir port
Not of mean suiters, nor important
less
Seem'd thir Petition, then when th' ancient Pair
In
Fables old, less ancient yet then these,
DEUCALION and chaste
PYRRHA to restore
The Race of Mankind drownd, before the Shrine
Of
THEMIS stood devout. To Heav'n thir prayers
Flew up, nor missed the
way, by envious windes
Blow'n vagabond or frustrate: in they passd
Dimentionless
through Heav'nly dores; then clad
With incense, where the Golden
Altar fum'd,
By thir great Intercessor, came in sight
Before
the Fathers Throne: Them the glad Son
Presenting, thus to intercede
began.
See Father, what first fruits on Earth are sprung
From
thy implanted Grace in Man, these Sighs
And Prayers, which in this
Golden Censer, mixt
With Incense, I thy Priest before thee bring,
Fruits
of more pleasing savour from thy seed
Sow'n with contrition in his
heart, then those
Which his own hand manuring all the Trees
Of
Paradise could have produc't, ere fall'n
From innocence. Now
therefore bend thine eare
To supplication, heare his sighs though
mute;
Unskilful with what words to pray, let mee
Interpret
for him, mee his Advocate
And propitiation, all his works on mee
Good
or not good ingraft, my Merit those
Shall perfet, and for these my
Death shall pay.
Accept me, and in mee from these receave
The
smell of peace toward Mankinde, let him live
Before thee
reconcil'd, at least his days
Numberd, though sad, till Death, his
doom (which I
To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse)
To
better life shall yeeld him, where with mee
All my redeemd may
dwell in joy and bliss,
Made one with me as I with thee am one.
To whom the Father, without Cloud, serene.
All
thy request for Man, accepted Son,
Obtain, all thy request was my
Decree:
But longer in that Paradise to dwell,
The
Law I gave to Nature him forbids:
Those pure immortal Elements that
know
No gross, no unharmoneous mixture foule,
Eject
him tainted now, and purge him off
As a distemper, gross to aire as
gross,
And mortal food, as may dispose him best
For
dissolution wrought by Sin, that first
Distemperd all things, and
of incorrupt
Corrupted. I at first with two fair gifts
Created
him endowd, with Happiness
And Immortalitie: that fondly lost,
This
other serv'd but to eternize woe;
Till I provided Death; so Death
becomes
His final remedie, and after Life
Tri'd in
sharp tribulation, and refin'd
By Faith and faithful works, to
second Life,
Wak't in the renovation of the just,
Resignes
him up with Heav'n and Earth renewd.
But let us call to Synod all
the Blest
Through Heav'ns wide bounds; from them I will not hide
My
judgments, how with Mankind I proceed,
As how with peccant Angels
late they saw;
And in thir state, though firm, stood more confirmd.
He ended, and the Son gave signal high
To
the bright Minister that watchd, hee blew
His Trumpet, heard in
OREB since perhaps
When God descended, and perhaps once more
To
sound at general Doom. Th' Angelic blast
Filld all the Regions:
from thir blissful Bowrs
Of AMARANTIN Shade, Fountain or Spring,
By
the waters of Life, where ere they sate
In fellowships of joy: the
Sons of Light
Hasted, resorting to the Summons high,
And
took thir Seats; till from his Throne supream
Th' Almighty thus
pronounced his sovran Will.
O Sons, like one of us Man is become
To
know both Good and Evil, since his taste
Of that defended Fruit;
but let him boast
His knowledge of Good lost, and Evil got,
Happier,
had it suffic'd him to have known
Good by it self, and Evil not at
all.
He sorrows now, repents, and prayes contrite,
My
motions in him, longer then they move,
His heart I know, how
variable and vain
Self-left. Least therefore his now bolder hand
Reach
also of the Tree of Life, and eat,
And live for ever, dream at
least to live
Forever, to remove him I decree,
And
send him from the Garden forth to Till
The Ground whence he was
taken, fitter soile.
MICHAEL, this my behest have thou in charge,
Take
to thee from among the Cherubim
Thy choice of flaming Warriours,
least the Fiend
Or in behalf of Man, or to invade
Vacant
possession som new trouble raise:
Hast thee, and from the Paradise
of God
Without remorse drive out the sinful Pair,
From
hallowd ground th' unholie, and denounce
To them and to thir
Progenie from thence
Perpetual banishment. Yet least they faint
At
the sad Sentence rigorously urg'd,
For I behold them soft'nd and
with tears
Bewailing thir excess, all terror hide.
If
patiently thy bidding they obey,
Dismiss them not disconsolate;
reveale
To ADAM what shall come in future dayes,
As
I shall thee enlighten, intermix
My Cov'nant in the Womans seed
renewd;
So send them forth, though sorrowing, yet in peace:
And
on the East side of the Garden place,
Where entrance up from EDEN
easiest climbes,
Cherubic watch, and of a Sword the flame
Wide
waving, all approach farr off to fright,
And guard all passage to
the Tree of Life:
Least Paradise a receptacle prove
To
Spirits foule, and all my Trees thir prey,
With whose stol'n Fruit
Man once more to delude.
He ceas'd; and th' Archangelic Power prepar'd
For
swift descent, with him the Cohort bright
Of watchful Cherubim;
four faces each
Had, like a double JANUS, all thir shape
Spangl'd
with eyes more numerous then those
Of ARGUS, and more wakeful then
to drouze,
Charm'd with ARCADIAN Pipe, the Pastoral Reed
Of
HERMES, or his opiate Rod. Meanwhile
To resalute the World with
sacred Light
LEUCOTHEA wak'd, and with fresh dews imbalmd
The
Earth, when ADAM and first Matron EVE
Had ended now thir Orisons,
and found,
Strength added from above, new hope to spring
Out
of despaire, joy, but with fear yet linkt;
Which thus to EVE his
welcome words renewd.
EVE, easily may Faith admit, that all
The
good which we enjoy, from Heav'n descends
But that from us ought
should ascend to Heav'n
So prevalent as to concerne the mind
Of
God high blest, or to incline his will,
Hard to belief may seem;
yet this will Prayer,
Or one short sigh of humane breath, up-borne
Ev'n
to the Seat of God. For since I saught
By Prayer th' offended
Deitie to appease,
Kneel'd and before him humbl'd all my heart,
Methought
I saw him placable and mild,
Bending his eare; perswasion in me grew
That
I was heard with favour; peace returnd
Home to my brest, and to my
memorie
His promise, that thy Seed shall bruise our Foe;
Which
then not minded in dismay, yet now
Assures me that the bitterness
of death
Is past, and we shall live. Whence Haile to thee,
EVE
rightly call'd, Mother of all Mankind,
Mother of all things living,
since by thee
Man is to live, and all things live for Man.
To whom thus EVE with sad demeanour meek.
Ill
worthie I such title should belong
To me transgressour, who for
thee ordaind
A help, became thy snare; to mee reproach
Rather
belongs, distrust and all dispraise:
But infinite in pardon was my
Judge,
That I who first brought Death on all, am grac't
The
sourse of life; next favourable thou,
Who highly thus to entitle me
voutsaf't,
Farr other name deserving. But the Field
To
labour calls us now with sweat impos'd,
Though after sleepless
Night; for see the Morn,
All unconcern'd with our unrest, begins
Her
rosie progress smiling; let us forth,
I never from thy side
henceforth to stray,
Wherere our days work lies, though now enjoind
Laborious,
till day droop; while here we dwell,
What can be toilsom in these
pleasant Walkes?
Here let us live, though in fall'n state, content.
So spake, so wish'd much-humbl'd EVE, but Fate
Subscrib'd
not; Nature first gave Signs, imprest
On Bird, Beast, Aire, Aire
suddenly eclips'd
After short blush of Morn; nigh in her sight
The
Bird of JOVE, stoopt from his aerie tour,
Two Birds of gayest plume
before him drove:
Down from a Hill the Beast that reigns in Woods,
First
Hunter then, pursu'd a gentle brace,
Goodliest of all the Forrest,
Hart and Hinde;
Direct to th' Eastern Gate was bent thir flight.
ADAM
observ'd, and with his Eye the chase
Pursuing, not unmov'd to EVE
thus spake.
O EVE, some furder change awaits us nigh,
Which
Heav'n by these mute signs in Nature shews
Forerunners of his
purpose, or to warn
Us haply too secure of our discharge
From
penaltie, because from death releast
Some days; how long, and what
till then our life,
Who knows, or more then this, that we are dust,
And
thither must return and be no more.
VVhy else this double object in
our sight
Of flight pursu'd in th' Air and ore the ground
One
way the self-same hour? why in the East
Darkness ere Dayes
mid-course, and Morning light
More orient in yon VVestern Cloud
that draws
O're the blew Firmament a radiant white,
And
slow descends, with somthing heav'nly fraught.
He err'd not, for by this the heav'nly Bands
Down
from a Skie of Jasper lighted now
In Paradise, and on a Hill made
alt,
A glorious Apparition, had not doubt
And carnal
fear that day dimm'd ADAMS eye.
Not that more glorious, when the
Angels met
JACOB in MAHANAIM, where he saw
The field
Pavilion'd with his Guardians bright;
Nor that which on the flaming
Mount appeerd
In DOTHAN, cover'd with a Camp of Fire,
Against
the SYRIAN King, who to surprize
One man, Assassin-like had levied
Warr,
Warr unproclam'd. The Princely Hierarch
In
thir bright stand, there left his Powers to seise
Possession of the
Garden; hee alone,
To finde where ADAM shelterd, took his way,
Not
unperceav'd of ADAM, who to EVE,
While the great Visitant
approachd, thus spake.
EVE, now expect great tidings, which perhaps
Of
us will soon determin, or impose
New Laws to be observ'd; for I
descrie
From yonder blazing Cloud that veils the Hill
One
of the heav'nly Host, and by his Gate
None of the meanest, some
great Potentate
Or of the Thrones above, such Majestie
Invests
him coming; yet not terrible,
That I should fear, nor sociably mild,
As
RAPHAEL, that I should much confide,
But solemn and sublime, whom
not to offend,
With reverence I must meet, and thou retire.
He
ended; and th' Arch-Angel soon drew nigh,
Not in his shape
Celestial, but as Man
Clad to meet Man; over his lucid Armes
A
militarie Vest of purple flowd
Livelier then MELIBOEAN, or the
graine
Of SARRA, worn by Kings and Hero's old
In
time of Truce; IRIS had dipt the wooff;
His starrie Helme unbuckl'd
shew'd him prime
In Manhood where Youth ended; by his side
As
in a glistering ZODIAC hung the Sword,
Satans dire dread, and in
his hand the Spear.
ADAM bowd low, hee Kingly from his State
Inclin'd
not, but his coming thus declar'd.
ADAM, Heav'ns high behest no Preface needs:
Sufficient
that thy Prayers are heard, and Death,
Then due by sentence when
thou didst transgress,
Defeated of his seisure many dayes
Giv'n
thee of Grace, wherein thou may'st repent,
And one bad act with
many deeds well done
Mayst cover: well may then thy Lord appeas'd
Redeem
thee quite from Deaths rapacious claimes;
But longer in this
Paradise to dwell
Permits not; to remove thee I am come,
And
send thee from the Garden forth to till
The ground whence thou wast
tak'n, fitter Soile.
He added not, for ADAM at the newes
Heart-strook
with chilling gripe of sorrow stood,
That all his senses bound;
EVE, who unseen
Yet all had heard, with audible lament
Discover'd
soon the place of her retire.
O unexpected stroke, worse then of Death!
Must
I thus leave thee Paradise? thus leave
Thee Native Soile, these
happie Walks and Shades,
Fit haunt of Gods? where I had hope to
spend,
Quiet though sad, the respit of that day
That
must be mortal to us both. O flours,
That never will in other
Climate grow,
My early visitation, and my last
At
Eev'n, which I bred up with tender hand
From the first op'ning bud,
and gave ye Names,
Who now shall reare ye to the Sun, or ranke
Your
Tribes, and water from th' ambrosial Fount?
Thee lastly nuptial
Bowre, by mee adornd
With what to sight or smell was sweet; from
thee
How shall I part, and whither wander down
Into
a lower World, to this obscure
And wilde, how shall we breath in
other Aire
Less pure, accustomd to immortal Fruits?
Whom thus the Angel interrupted milde.
Lament
not EVE, but patiently resigne
What justly thou hast lost; nor set
thy heart,
Thus over fond, on that which is not thine;
Thy
going is not lonely, with thee goes
Thy Husband, him to follow thou
art bound;
Where he abides, think there thy native soile.
ADAM by this from the cold sudden damp
Recovering,
and his scatterd spirits returnd,
To MICHAEL thus his humble words
addressd.
Celestial, whether among the Thrones, or nam'd
Of
them the Highest, for such of shape may seem
Prince above Princes,
gently hast thou tould
Thy message, which might else in telling
wound,
And in performing end us; what besides
Of
sorrow and dejection and despair
Our frailtie can sustain, thy
tidings bring,
Departure from this happy place, our sweet
Recess,
and onely consolation left
Familiar to our eyes, all places else
Inhospitable
appeer and desolate,
Nor knowing us nor known: and if by prayer
Incessant
I could hope to change the will
Of him who all things can, I would
not cease
To wearie him with my assiduous cries:
But
prayer against his absolute Decree
No more availes then breath
against the winde,
Blown stifling back on him that breaths it forth:
Therefore
to his great bidding I submit.
This most afflicts me, that
departing hence,
As from his face I shall be hid, deprivd
His
blessed count'nance; here I could frequent,
With worship, place by
place where he voutsaf'd
Presence Divine, and to my Sons relate;
On
this Mount he appeerd, under this Tree
Stood visible, among these
Pines his voice
I heard, here with him at this Fountain talk'd:
So
many grateful Altars I would reare
Of grassie Terfe, and pile up
every Stone
Of lustre from the brook, in memorie,
Or
monument to Ages, and thereon
Offer sweet smelling Gumms & Fruits
and Flours:
In yonder nether World where shall I seek
His
bright appearances, or footstep trace?
For though I fled him
angrie, yet recall'd
To life prolongd and promisd Race, I now
Gladly
behold though but his utmost skirts
Of glory, and farr off his
steps adore.
To whom thus MICHAEL with regard benigne.
ADAM,
thou know'st Heav'n his, and all the Earth
Not this Rock onely; his
Omnipresence fills
Land, Sea, and Aire, and every kinde that lives,
Fomented
by his virtual power and warmd:
All th' Earth he gave thee to
possess and rule,
No despicable gift; surmise not then
His
presence to these narrow bounds confin'd
Of Paradise or EDEN: this
had been
Perhaps thy Capital Seate, from whence had spred
All
generations, and had hither come
From all the ends of th' Earth, to
celebrate
And reverence thee thir great Progenitor.
But
this praeeminence thou hast lost, brought down
To dwell on eeven
ground now with thy Sons:
Yet doubt not but in Vallie and in Plaine
God
is as here, and will be found alike
Present, and of his presence
many a signe
Still following thee, still compassing thee round
With
goodness and paternal Love, his Face
Express, and of his steps the
track Divine.
Which that thou mayst beleeve, and be confirmd,
Ere
thou from hence depart, know I am sent
To shew thee what shall come
in future dayes
To thee and to thy Ofspring; good with bad
Expect
to hear, supernal Grace contending
With sinfulness of Men; thereby
to learn
True patience, and to temper joy with fear
And
pious sorrow, equally enur'd
By moderation either state to beare,
Prosperous
or adverse: so shalt thou lead
Safest thy life, and best prepar'd
endure
Thy mortal passage when it comes. Ascend
This
Hill; let EVE (for I have drencht her eyes)
Here sleep below while
thou to foresight wak'st,
As once thou slepst, while Shee to life
was formd.
To whom thus ADAM gratefully repli'd.
Ascend,
I follow thee, safe Guide, the path
Thou lead'st me, and to the
hand of Heav'n submit,
However chast'ning, to the evil turne
My
obvious breast, arming to overcom
By suffering, and earne rest from
labour won,
If so I may attain. So both ascend
In
the Visions of God: It was a Hill
Of Paradise the highest, from
whose top
The Hemisphere of Earth in cleerest Ken
Stretcht
out to amplest reach of prospect lay.
Not higher that Hill nor
wider looking round,
Whereon for different cause the Tempter set
Our
second ADAM in the Wilderness,
To shew him all Earths Kingdomes and
thir Glory.
His Eye might there command wherever stood
City
of old or modern Fame, the Seat
Of mightiest Empire, from the
destind Walls
Of CAMBALU, seat of CATHAIAN CAN
And
SAMARCHAND by OXUS, TEMIRS Throne,
To PAQUIN of SINAEAN Kings, and
thence
To AGRA and LAHOR of great MOGUL
Down to the
golden CHERSONESE, or where
The PERSIAN in ECBATAN sate, or since
In
HISPAHAN, or where the RUSSIAN KSAR
In MOSCO, or the Sultan in
BIZANCE,
TURCHESTAN-born; nor could his eye not ken
Th'
Empire of NEGUS to his utmost Port
ERCOCO and the less Maritine
Kings
MOMBAZA, and QUILOA, and MELIND,
And SOFALA
thought OPHIR, to the Realme
Of CONGO, and ANGOLA fardest South;
Or
thence from NIGER Flood to ATLAS Mount
The Kingdoms of ALMANSOR,
FEZ, and SUS,
MAROCCO and ALGIERS, and TREMISEN;
On
EUROPE thence, and where ROME was to sway
The VVorld: in Spirit
perhaps he also saw
Rich MEXICO the seat of MOTEZUME,
And
CUSCO in PERU, the richer seat
Of ATABALIPA, and yet unspoil'd
GUIANA,
whose great Citie GERYONS Sons
Call EL DORADO: but to nobler sights
MICHAEL
from ADAMS eyes the Filme remov'd
VVhich that false Fruit that
promis'd clearer sight
Had bred; then purg'd with Euphrasie and Rue
The
visual Nerve, for he had much to see;
And from the VVell of Life
three drops instill'd.
So deep the power of these Ingredients
pierc'd,
Eevn to the inmost seat of mental sight,
That
ADAM now enforc't to close his eyes,
Sunk down and all his Spirits
became intranst:
But him the gentle Angel by the hand
Soon
rais'd, and his attention thus recall'd.
ADAM, now ope thine eyes, and first behold
Th'
effects which thy original crime hath wrought
In some to spring
from thee, who never touch'd
Th' excepted Tree, nor with the Snake
conspir'd,
Nor sinn'd thy sin, yet from that sin derive
Corruption
to bring forth more violent deeds.
His eyes he op'nd, and beheld a field,
Part
arable and tilth, whereon were Sheaves
New reapt, the other part
sheep-walks and foulds;
Ith' midst an Altar as the Land-mark stood
Rustic,
of grassie sord; thither anon
A sweatie Reaper from his Tillage
brought
First Fruits, the green Eare, and the yellow Sheaf,
Uncull'd,
as came to hand; a Shepherd next
More meek came with the Firstlings
of his Flock
Choicest and best; then sacrificing, laid
The
Inwards and thir Fat, with Incense strew'd,
On the cleft Wood, and
all due Rites perform'd.
His Offring soon propitious Fire from
Heav'n
Consum'd with nimble glance, and grateful steame;
The
others not, for his was not sincere;
Whereat hee inlie rag'd, and
as they talk'd,
Smote him into the Midriff with a stone
That
beat out life; he fell, and deadly pale
Groand out his Soul with
gushing bloud effus'd.
Much at that sight was ADAM in his heart
Dismai'd,
and thus in haste to th' Angel cri'd.
O Teacher, some great mischief hath befall'n
To
that meek man, who well had sacrific'd;
Is Pietie thus and pure
Devotion paid?
T' whom MICHAEL thus, hee also mov'd, repli'd.
These
two are Brethren, ADAM, and to come
Out of thy loyns; th' unjust
the just hath slain,
For envie that his Brothers Offering found
From
Heav'n acceptance; but the bloodie Fact
Will be aveng'd, and th'
others Faith approv'd
Loose no reward, though here thou see him die,
Rowling
in dust and gore. To which our Sire.
Alas, both for the deed and for the cause!
But
have I now seen Death? Is this the way
I must return to native
dust? O sight
Of terrour, foul and ugly to behold,
Horrid
to think, how horrible to feel!
To whom thus MICHAEL. Death thou hast seen
In
his first shape on man; but many shapes
Of Death, and many are the
wayes that lead
To his grim Cave, all dismal; yet to sense
More
terrible at th' entrance then within.
Some, as thou saw'st, by
violent stroke shall die,
By Fire, Flood, Famin, by Intemperance
more
In Meats and Drinks, which on the Earth shal bring
Diseases
dire, of which a monstrous crew
Before thee shall appear; that thou
mayst know
What miserie th' inabstinence of EVE
Shall
bring on men. Immediately a place
Before his eyes appeard, sad,
noysom, dark,
A Lazar-house it seemd, wherein were laid
Numbers
of all diseas'd, all maladies
Of gastly Spasm, or racking torture,
qualmes
Of heart-sick Agonie, all feavorous kinds,
Convulsions,
Epilepsies, fierce Catarrhs,
Intestin Stone and Ulcer, Colic pangs,
Dropsies,
and Asthma's, and Joint-racking Rheums.
Dire was the tossing, deep
the groans, despair
Tended the sick busiest from Couch to Couch;
And
over them triumphant Death his Dart
Shook, but delaid to strike,
though oft invok't
With vows, as thir chief good, and final hope.
Sight
so deform what heart of Rock could long
Drie-ey'd behold? ADAM
could not, but wept,
Though not of Woman born; compassion quell'd
His
best of Man, and gave him up to tears
A space, till firmer thoughts
restraind excess,
And scarce recovering words his plaint renew'd.
O miserable Mankind, to what fall
Degraded,
to what wretched state reserv'd?
Better end heer unborn. Why is
life giv'n
To be thus wrested from us? rather why
Obtruded
on us thus? who if we knew
What we receive, would either not accept
Life
offer'd, or soon beg to lay it down,
Glad to be so dismist in
peace. Can thus
Th' Image of God in man created once
So
goodly and erect, though faultie since,
To such unsightly
sufferings be debas't
Under inhuman pains? Why should not Man,
Retaining
still Divine similitude
In part, from such deformities be free,
And
for his Makers Image sake exempt?
Thir Makers Image, answerd MICHAEL, then
Forsook
them, when themselves they villifi'd
To serve ungovern'd appetite,
and took
His Image whom they serv'd, a brutish vice,
Inductive
mainly to the sin of EVE.
Therefore so abject is thir punishment,
Disfiguring
not Gods likeness, but thir own,
Or if his likeness, by themselves
defac't
While they pervert pure Natures healthful rules
To
loathsom sickness, worthily, since they
Gods Image did not
reverence in themselves.
I yeild it just, said ADAM, and submit.
But
is there yet no other way, besides
These painful passages, how we
may come
To Death, and mix with our connatural dust?
There is, said MICHAEL, if thou well observe
The
rule of not too much, by temperance taught
In what thou eatst and
drinkst, seeking from thence
Due nourishment, not gluttonous
delight,
Till many years over thy head return:
So
maist thou live, till like ripe Fruit thou drop
Into thy Mothers
lap, or be with ease
Gatherd, not harshly pluckt, for death mature:
This
is old age; but then thou must outlive
Thy youth, thy strength, thy
beauty, which will change
To witherd weak & gray; thy Senses then
Obtuse,
all taste of pleasure must forgoe,
To what thou hast, and for the
Aire of youth
Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reigne
A
melancholly damp of cold and dry
To waigh thy spirits down, and
last consume
The Balme of Life. To whom our Ancestor.
Henceforth I flie not Death, nor would prolong
Life
much, bent rather how I may be quit
Fairest and easiest of this
combrous charge,
Which I must keep till my appointed day
Of
rendring up. MICHAEL to him repli'd.
Nor love thy Life, nor hate; but what thou livst
Live
well, how long or short permit to Heav'n:
And now prepare thee for
another sight.
He lookd and saw a spacious Plaine, whereon
Were
Tents of various hue; by some were herds
Of Cattel grazing: others,
whence the sound
Of Instruments that made melodious chime
Was
heard, of Harp and Organ; and who moovd
Thir stops and chords was
seen: his volant touch
Instinct through all proportions low and high
Fled
and pursu'd transverse the resonant fugue.
In other part stood one
who at the Forge
Labouring, two massie clods of Iron and Brass
Had
melted (whether found where casual fire
Had wasted woods on
Mountain or in Vale,
Down to the veins of Earth, thence gliding hot
To
som Caves mouth, or whether washt by stream
From underground) the
liquid Ore he dreind
Into fit moulds prepar'd; from which he formd
First
his own Tooles; then, what might else be wrought
Fulfil or grav'n
in mettle. After these,
But on the hether side a different sort
From
the high neighbouring Hills, which was thir Seat,
Down to the Plain
descended: by thir guise
Just men they seemd, and all thir study
bent
To worship God aright, and know his works
Not
hid, nor those things lost which might preserve
Freedom and Peace
to men: they on the Plain
Long had not walkt, when from the Tents
behold
A Beavie of fair Women, richly gay
In Gems
and wanton dress; to the Harp they sung
Soft amorous Ditties, and
in dance came on:
The Men though grave, ey'd them, and let thir eyes
Rove
without rein, till in the amorous Net
Fast caught, they lik'd, and
each his liking chose;
And now of love they treat till th' Eevning
Star
Loves Harbinger appeerd; then all in heat
They
light the Nuptial Torch, and bid invoke
Hymen, then first to
marriage Rites invok't;
With Feast and Musick all the Tents resound.
Such
happy interview and fair event
Of love & youth not lost, Songs,
Garlands, Flours,
And charming Symphonies attach'd the heart
Of
ADAM, soon enclin'd to admit delight,
The bent of Nature; which he
thus express'd.
True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blest,
Much
better seems this Vision, and more hope
Of peaceful dayes portends,
then those two past;
Those were of hate and death, or pain much
worse,
Here Nature seems fulfilld in all her ends.
To whom thus MICHAEL. Judg not what is best
By
pleasure, though to Nature seeming meet,
Created, as thou art, to
nobler end
Holie and pure, conformitie divine.
Those
Tents thou sawst so pleasant, were the Tents
Of wickedness, wherein
shall dwell his Race
Who slew his Brother; studious they appere
Of
Arts that polish Life, Inventers rare,
Unmindful of thir Maker,
though his Spirit
Taught them, but they his gifts acknowledg'd none.
Yet
they a beauteous ofspring shall beget;
For that fair femal Troop
thou sawst, that seemd
Of Goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay,
Yet
empty of all good wherein consists
Womans domestic honour and chief
praise;
Bred onely and completed to the taste
Of
lustful apperence, to sing, to dance,
To dress, and troule the
Tongue, and roule the Eye.
To these that sober Race of Men, whose
lives
Religious titl'd them the Sons of God,
Shall
yeild up all thir vertue, all thir fame
Ignobly, to the trains and
to the smiles
Of these fair Atheists, and now swim in joy,
(Erelong
to swim at larg) and laugh; for which
The world erelong a world of
tears must weepe.
To whom thus ADAM of short joy bereft.
O
pittie and shame, that they who to live well
Enterd so faire,
should turn aside to tread
Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint!
But
still I see the tenor of Mans woe
Holds on the same, from Woman to
begin.
From Mans effeminate slackness it begins,
Said
th' Angel, who should better hold his place
By wisdome, and
superiour gifts receavd.
But now prepare thee for another Scene.
He lookd and saw wide Territorie spred
Before
him, Towns, and rural works between,
Cities of Men with lofty Gates
and Towrs,
Concours in Arms, fierce Faces threatning Warr,
Giants
of mightie Bone, and bould emprise;
Part wield thir Arms, part
courb the foaming Steed,
Single or in Array of Battel rang'd
Both
Horse and Foot, nor idely mustring stood;
One way a Band select
from forage drives
A herd of Beeves, faire Oxen and faire Kine
From
a fat Meddow ground; or fleecy Flock,
Ewes and thir bleating Lambs
over the Plaine,
Thir Bootie; scarce with Life the Shepherds flye,
But
call in aide, which tacks a bloody Fray;
With cruel Tournament the
Squadrons joine;
Where Cattel pastur'd late, now scatterd lies
With
Carcasses and Arms th' ensanguind Field
Deserted: Others to a Citie
strong
Lay Siege, encampt; by Batterie, Scale, and Mine,
Assaulting;
others from the Wall defend
With Dart and Jav'lin, Stones and
sulfurous Fire;
On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds.
In
other part the scepter'd Haralds call
To Council in the Citie
Gates: anon
Grey-headed men and grave, with Warriours mixt,
Assemble,
and Harangues are heard, but soon
In factious opposition, till at
last
Of middle Age one rising, eminent
In wise
deport, spake much of Right and Wrong,
Of Justice, of Religion,
Truth and Peace,
And Judgement from above: him old and young
Exploded,
and had seiz'd with violent hands,
Had not a Cloud descending
snatch'd him thence
Unseen amid the throng: so violence
Proceeded,
and Oppression, and Sword-Law
Through all the Plain, and refuge
none was found.
ADAM was all in tears, and to his guide
Lamenting
turnd full sad; O what are these,
Deaths Ministers, not Men, who
thus deal Death
Inhumanly to men, and multiply
Ten
thousand fould the sin of him who slew
His Brother; for of whom
such massacher
Make they but of thir Brethren, men of men?
But
who was that Just Man, whom had not Heav'n
Rescu'd, had in his
Righteousness bin lost?
To whom thus MICHAEL; These are the product
Of
those ill-mated Marriages thou saw'st;
Where good with bad were
matcht, who of themselves
Abhor to joyn; and by imprudence mixt,
Produce
prodigious Births of bodie or mind.
Such were these Giants, men of
high renown;
For in those dayes Might onely shall be admir'd,
And
Valour and Heroic Vertu call'd;
To overcome in Battel, and subdue
Nations,
and bring home spoils with infinite
Man-slaughter, shall be held
the highest pitch
Of human Glorie, and for Glorie done
Of
triumph, to be styl'd great Conquerours,
Patrons of Mankind, Gods,
and Sons of Gods,
Destroyers rightlier call'd and Plagues of men.
Thus
Fame shall be achiev'd, renown on Earth,
And what most merits fame
in silence hid.
But hee the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldst
The
onely righteous in a World perverse,
And therefore hated, therefore
so beset
With Foes for daring single to be just,
And
utter odious Truth, that God would come
To judge them with his
Saints: Him the most High
Rapt in a balmie Cloud with winged Steeds
Did,
as thou sawst, receave, to walk with God
High in Salvation and the
Climes of bliss,
Exempt from Death; to shew thee what reward
Awaits
the good, the rest what punishment;
Which now direct thine eyes and
soon behold.
He look'd, & saw the face of things quite chang'd;
The
brazen Throat of Warr had ceast to roar,
All now was turn'd to
jollitie and game,
To luxurie and riot, feast and dance,
Marrying
or prostituting, as befell,
Rape or Adulterie, where passing faire
Allurd
them; thence from Cups to civil Broiles.
At length a Reverend Sire
among them came,
And of thir doings great dislike declar'd,
And
testifi'd against thir wayes; hee oft
Frequented thir Assemblies,
whereso met,
Triumphs or Festivals, and to them preachd
Conversion
and Repentance, as to Souls
In prison under Judgements imminent:
But
all in vain: which when he saw, he ceas'd
Contending, and remov'd
his Tents farr off;
Then from the Mountain hewing Timber tall,
Began
to build a Vessel of huge bulk,
Measur'd by Cubit, length, &
breadth, and highth,
Smeard round with Pitch, and in the side a dore
Contriv'd,
and of provisions laid in large
For Man and Beast: when loe a
wonder strange!
Of everie Beast, and Bird, and Insect small
Came
seavens, and pairs, and enterd in, as taught
Thir order; last the
Sire, and his three Sons
With thir four Wives, and God made fast
the dore.
Meanwhile the Southwind rose, & with black wings
Wide
hovering, all the Clouds together drove
From under Heav'n; the
Hills to their supplie
Vapour, and Exhalation dusk and moist,
Sent
up amain; and now the thick'nd Skie
Like a dark Ceeling stood; down
rush'd the Rain
Impetuous, and continu'd till the Earth
No
more was seen; the floating Vessel swum
Uplifted; and secure with
beaked prow
Rode tilting o're the Waves, all dwellings else
Flood
overwhelmd, and them with all thir pomp
Deep under water rould; Sea
cover'd Sea,
Sea without shoar; and in thir Palaces
Where
luxurie late reign'd, Sea-monsters whelp'd
And stabl'd; of Mankind,
so numerous late,
All left, in one small bottom swum imbark't.
How
didst thou grieve then, ADAM, to behold
The end of all thy
Ofspring, end so sad,
Depopulation; thee another Floud,
Of
tears and sorrow a Floud thee also drown'd,
And sunk thee as thy
Sons; till gently reard
By th' Angel, on thy feet thou stoodst at
last,
Though comfortless, as when a Father mourns
His
Childern, all in view destroyd at once;
And scarce to th' Angel
utterdst thus thy plaint.
O Visions ill foreseen! better had I
Liv'd
ignorant of future, so had borne
My part of evil onely, each dayes
lot
Anough to bear; those now, that were dispenst
The
burd'n of many Ages, on me light
At once, by my foreknowledge
gaining Birth
Abortive, to torment me ere thir being,
With
thought that they must be. Let no man seek
Henceforth to be
foretold what shall befall
Him or his Childern, evil he may be sure,
Which
neither his foreknowing can prevent,
And hee the future evil shall
no less
In apprehension then in substance feel
Grievous
to bear: but that care now is past,
Man is not whom to warne: those
few escap't
Famin and anguish will at last consume
Wandring
that watrie Desert: I had hope
When violence was ceas't, and Warr
on Earth,
All would have then gon well, peace would have crownd
With
length of happy days the race of man;
But I was farr deceav'd; for
now I see
Peace to corrupt no less then Warr to waste.
How
comes it thus? unfould, Celestial Guide,
And whether here the Race
of man will end.
To whom thus MICHAEL. Those whom last thou sawst
In
triumph and luxurious wealth, are they
First seen in acts of
prowess eminent
And great exploits, but of true vertu void;
Who
having spilt much blood, and don much waste
Subduing Nations, and
achievd thereby
Fame in the World, high titles, and rich prey,
Shall
change thir course to pleasure, ease, and sloth,
Surfet, and lust,
till wantonness and pride
Raise out of friendship hostil deeds in
Peace.
The conquerd also, and enslav'd by Warr
Shall
with thir freedom lost all vertu loose
And feare of God, from whom
thir pietie feign'd
In sharp contest of Battel found no aide
Against
invaders; therefore coold in zeale
Thenceforth shall practice how
to live secure,
Worldlie or dissolute, on what thir Lords
Shall
leave them to enjoy; for th' Earth shall bear
More then anough,
that temperance may be tri'd:
So all shall turn degenerate, all
deprav'd,
Justice and Temperance, Truth and Faith forgot;
One
Man except, the onely Son of light
In a dark Age, against example
good,
Against allurement, custom, and a World
Offended;
fearless of reproach and scorn,
Or violence, hee of thir wicked
wayes
Shall them admonish, and before them set
The
paths of righteousness, how much more safe,
And full of peace,
denouncing wrauth to come
On thir impenitence; and shall returne
Of
them derided, but of God observd
The one just Man alive; by his
command
Shall build a wondrous Ark, as thou beheldst,
To
save himself and houshold from amidst
A World devote to universal
rack.
No sooner hee with them of Man and Beast
Select
for life shall in the Ark be lodg'd,
And shelterd round, but all
the Cataracts
Of Heav'n set open on the Earth shall powre
Raine
day and night, all fountaines of the Deep
Broke up, shall heave the
Ocean to usurp
Beyond all bounds, till inundation rise
Above
the highest Hills: then shall this Mount
Of Paradise by might of
Waves be moovd
Out of his place, pushd by the horned floud,
With
all his verdure spoil'd, and Trees adrift
Down the great River to
the op'ning Gulf,
And there take root an Iland salt and bare,
The
haunt of Seales and Orcs, and Sea-mews clang.
To teach thee that
God attributes to place
No sanctitie, if none be thither brought
By
Men who there frequent, or therein dwell.
And now what further
shall ensue, behold.
He lookd, and saw the Ark hull on the floud,
Which
now abated, for the Clouds were fled,
Drivn by a keen North-winde,
that blowing drie
Wrinkl'd the face of Deluge, as decai'd;
And
the cleer Sun on his wide watrie Glass
Gaz'd hot, and of the fresh
Wave largely drew,
As after thirst, which made thir flowing shrink
From
standing lake to tripping ebbe, that stole
With soft foot towards
the deep, who now had stopt
His Sluces, as the Heav'n his windows
shut.
The Ark no more now flotes, but seems on ground
Fast
on the top of som high mountain fixt.
And now the tops of Hills as
Rocks appeer;
With clamor thence the rapid Currents drive
Towards
the retreating Sea thir furious tyde.
Forthwith from out the Arke a
Raven flies,
And after him, the surer messenger,
A
Dove sent forth once and agen to spie
Green Tree or ground whereon
his foot may light;
The second time returning, in his Bill
An
Olive leafe he brings, pacific signe:
Anon drie ground appeers, and
from his Arke
The ancient Sire descends with all his Train;
Then
with uplifted hands, and eyes devout,
Grateful to Heav'n, over his
head beholds
A dewie Cloud, and in the Cloud a Bow
Conspicuous
with three lifted colours gay,
Betok'ning peace from God, and
Cov'nant new.
Whereat the heart of ADAM erst so sad
Greatly
rejoyc'd, and thus his joy broke forth.
O thou that future things canst represent
As
present, Heav'nly instructer, I revive
At this last sight, assur'd
that Man shall live
With all the Creatures, and thir seed preserve.
Farr
less I now lament for one whole World
Of wicked Sons destroyd, then
I rejoyce
For one Man found so perfet and so just,
That
God voutsafes to raise another World
From him, and all his anger to
forget.
But say, what mean those colourd streaks in Heavn,
Distended
as the Brow of God appeas'd,
Or serve they as a flourie verge to
binde
The fluid skirts of that same watrie Cloud,
Least
it again dissolve and showr the Earth?
To whom th' Archangel. Dextrously thou aim'st;
So
willingly doth God remit his Ire,
Though late repenting him of Man
deprav'd,
Griev'd at his heart, when looking down he saw
The
whole Earth fill'd with violence, and all flesh
Corrupting each
thir way; yet those remoov'd,
Such grace shall one just Man find in
his sight,
That he relents, not to blot out mankind,
And
makes a Covenant never to destroy
The Earth again by flood, nor let
the Sea
Surpass his bounds, nor Rain to drown the World
With
Man therein or Beast; but when he brings
Over the Earth a Cloud,
will therein set
His triple-colour'd Bow, whereon to look
And
call to mind his Cov'nant: Day and Night,
Seed time and Harvest,
Heat and hoary Frost
Shall hold thir course, till fire purge all
things new,
Both Heav'n and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell.
Thus
thou hast seen one World begin and end;
And Man as from a second
stock proceed.
Much thou hast yet to see, but I perceave
Thy
mortal sight to faile; objects divine
Must needs impaire and wearie
human sense:
Henceforth what is to com I will relate,
Thou
therefore give due audience, and attend.
This second sours of Men,
while yet but few,
And while the dread of judgement past remains
Fresh
in thir mindes, fearing the Deitie,
With some regard to what is
just and right
Shall lead thir lives, and multiplie apace,
Labouring
the soile, and reaping plenteous crop,
Corn wine and oyle; and from
the herd or flock,
Oft sacrificing Bullock, Lamb, or Kid,
With
large Wine-offerings pour'd, and sacred Feast
Shal spend thir dayes
in joy unblam'd, and dwell
Long time in peace by Families and Tribes
Under
paternal rule; till one shall rise
Of proud ambitious heart, who
not content
With fair equalitie, fraternal state,
Will
arrogate Dominion undeserv'd
Over his brethren, and quite dispossess
Concord
and law of Nature from the Earth;
Hunting (and Men not Beasts shall
be his game)
With Warr and hostile snare such as refuse
Subjection
to his Empire tyrannous:
A mightie Hunter thence he shall be styl'd
Before
the Lord, as in despite of Heav'n,
Or from Heav'n claming second
Sovrantie;
And from Rebellion shall derive his name,
Though
of Rebellion others he accuse.
Hee with a crew, whom like Ambition
joyns
With him or under him to tyrannize,
Marching
from EDEN towards the West, shall finde
The Plain, wherein a black
bituminous gurge
Boiles out from under ground, the mouth of Hell;
Of
Brick, and of that stuff they cast to build
A Citie & Towre, whose
top may reach to Heav'n;
And get themselves a name, least far
disperst
In foraign Lands thir memorie be lost,
Regardless
whether good or evil fame.
But God who oft descends to visit men
Unseen,
and through thir habitations walks
To mark thir doings, them
beholding soon,
Comes down to see thir Citie, ere the Tower
Obstruct
Heav'n Towrs, and in derision sets
Upon thir Tongues a various
Spirit to rase
Quite out thir Native Language, and instead
To
sow a jangling noise of words unknown:
Forthwith a hideous gabble
rises loud
Among the Builders; each to other calls
Not
understood, till hoarse, and all in rage,
As mockt they storm;
great laughter was in Heav'n
And looking down, to see the hubbub
strange
And hear the din; thus was the building left
Ridiculous,
and the work Confusion nam'd.
Whereto thus ADAM fatherly displeas'd.
O
execrable Son so to aspire
Above his Brethren, to himself affirming
Authoritie
usurpt, from God not giv'n:
He gave us onely over Beast, Fish, Fowl
Dominion
absolute; that right we hold
By his donation; but Man over men
He
made not Lord; such title to himself
Reserving, human left from
human free.
But this Usurper his encroachment proud
Stayes
not on Man; to God his Tower intends
Siege and defiance: Wretched
man! what food
Will he convey up thither to sustain
Himself
and his rash Armie, where thin Aire
Above the Clouds will pine his
entrails gross,
And famish him of Breath, if not of Bread?
To whom thus MICHAEL. Justly thou abhorr'st
That
Son, who on the quiet state of men
Such trouble brought, affecting
to subdue
Rational Libertie; yet know withall,
Since
thy original lapse, true Libertie
Is lost, which alwayes with right
Reason dwells
Twinn'd, and from her hath no dividual being:
Reason
in man obscur'd, or not obeyd,
Immediately inordinate desires
And
upstart Passions catch the Government
From Reason, and to servitude
reduce
Man till then free. Therefore since hee permits
Within
himself unworthie Powers to reign
Over free Reason, God in
Judgement just
Subjects him from without to violent Lords;
Who
oft as undeservedly enthrall
His outward freedom: Tyrannie must be,
Though
to the Tyrant thereby no excuse.
Yet somtimes Nations will decline
so low
From vertue, which is reason, that no wrong,
But
Justice, and some fatal curse annext
Deprives them of thir outward
libertie,
Thir inward lost: Witness th' irreverent Son
Of
him who built the Ark, who for the shame
Don to his Father, heard
this heavie curse,
SERVANT OF SERVANTS, on his vitious Race.
Thus
will this latter, as the former World,
Still tend from bad to
worse, till God at last
Wearied with their iniquities, withdraw
His
presence from among them, and avert
His holy Eyes; resolving from
thenceforth
To leave them to thir own polluted wayes;
And
one peculiar Nation to select
From all the rest, of whom to be
invok'd,
A Nation from one faithful man to spring:
Him
on this side EUPHRATES yet residing,
Bred up in Idol-worship; O
that men
(Canst thou believe?) should be so stupid grown,
While
yet the Patriark liv'd, who scap'd the Flood,
As to forsake the
living God, and fall
To-worship thir own work in Wood and Stone
For
Gods! yet him God the most High voutsafes
To call by Vision from
his Fathers house,
His kindred and false Gods, into a Land
Which
he will shew him, and from him will raise
A mightie Nation, and
upon him showre
His benediction so, that in his Seed
All
Nations shall be blest; hee straight obeys,
Not knowing to what
Land, yet firm believes:
I see him, but thou canst not, with what
Faith
He leaves his Gods, his Friends, and native Soile
UR
of CHALDAEA, passing now the Ford
To HARAN, after him a cumbrous
Train
Of Herds and Flocks, and numerous servitude;
Not
wandring poor, but trusting all his wealth
With God, who call'd
him, in a land unknown.
CANAAN he now attains, I see his Tents
Pitcht
about SECHEM, and the neighbouring Plaine
Of MOREB; there by
promise he receaves
Gift to his Progenie of all that Land;
From
HAMATH Northward to the Desert South
(Things by thir names I call,
though yet unnam'd)
From HERMON East to the great Western Sea,
Mount
HERMON, yonder Sea, each place behold
In prospect, as I point them;
on the shoare
Mount CARMEL; here the double-founted stream
JORDAN,
true limit Eastward; but his Sons
Shall dwell to SENIR, that long
ridge of Hills.
This ponder, that all Nations of the Earth
Shall
in his Seed be blessed; by that Seed
Is meant thy great deliverer,
who shall bruise
The Serpents head; whereof to thee anon
Plainlier
shall be reveald. This Patriarch blest,
Whom FAITHFUL ABRAHAM due
time shall call,
A Son, and of his Son a Grand-childe leaves,
Like
him in faith, in wisdom, and renown;
The Grandchilde with twelve
Sons increast, departs
From CANAAN, to a Land hereafter call'd
EGYPT,
divided by the River NILE;
See where it flows, disgorging at seaven
mouthes
Into the Sea: to sojourn in that Land
He
comes invited by a yonger Son
In time of dearth, a Son whose worthy
deeds
Raise him to be the second in that Realme
Of
PHARAO: there he dies, and leaves his Race
Growing into a Nation,
and now grown
Suspected to a sequent King, who seeks
To
stop thir overgrowth, as inmate guests
Too numerous; whence of
guests he makes them slaves
Inhospitably, and kills thir infant
Males:
Till by two brethren (those two brethren call
MOSES
and AARON) sent from God to claime
His people from enthralment,
they return
With glory and spoile back to thir promis'd Land.
But
first the lawless Tyrant, who denies
To know thir God, or message
to regard,
Must be compelld by Signes and Judgements dire;
To
blood unshed the Rivers must be turnd,
Frogs, Lice and Flies must
all his Palace fill
With loath'd intrusion, and fill all the land;
His
Cattel must of Rot and Murren die,
Botches and blaines must all his
flesh imboss,
And all his people; Thunder mixt with Haile,
Haile
mixt with fire must rend th' EGYPTIAN Skie
And wheel on th' Earth,
devouring where it rouls;
What it devours not, Herb, or Fruit, or
Graine,
A darksom Cloud of Locusts swarming down
Must
eat, and on the ground leave nothing green:
Darkness must
overshadow all his bounds,
Palpable darkness, and blot out three
dayes;
Last with one midnight stroke all the first-born
Of
EGYPT must lie dead. Thus with ten wounds
This River-dragon tam'd
at length submits
To let his sojourners depart, and oft
Humbles
his stubborn heart, but still as Ice
More hard'nd after thaw, till
in his rage
Pursuing whom he late dismissd, the Sea
Swallows
him with his Host, but them lets pass
As on drie land between two
christal walls,
Aw'd by the rod of MOSES so to stand
Divided,
till his rescu'd gain thir shoar:
Such wondrous power God to his
Saint will lend,
Though present in his Angel, who shall goe
Before
them in a Cloud, and Pillar of Fire,
To guide them in thir journey,
and remove
Behinde them, while th' obdurat King pursues:
All
night he will pursue, but his approach
Darkness defends between
till morning Watch;
Then through the Firey Pillar and the Cloud
God
looking forth will trouble all his Host
And craze thir Chariot
wheels: when by command
MOSES once more his potent Rod extends
Over
the Sea; the Sea his Rod obeys;
On thir imbattelld ranks the Waves
return,
And overwhelm thir Warr: the Race elect
Safe
towards CANAAN from the shoar advance
Through the wilde Desert, not
the readiest way,
Least entring on the CANAANITE allarmd
Warr
terrifie them inexpert, and feare
Return them back to EGYPT,
choosing rather
Inglorious life with servitude; for life
To
noble and ignoble is more sweet
Untraind in Armes, where rashness
leads not on.
This also shall they gain by thir delay
In
the wide Wilderness, there they shall found
Thir government, and
thir great Senate choose
Through the twelve Tribes, to rule by Laws
ordaind:
God from the Mount of SINAI, whose gray top
Shall
tremble, he descending, will himself
In Thunder Lightning and loud
Trumpets sound
Ordaine them Lawes; part such as appertaine
To
civil Justice, part religious Rites
Of sacrifice, informing them,
by types
And shadowes, of that destind Seed to bruise
The
Serpent, by what meanes he shall achieve
Mankinds deliverance. But
the voice of God
To mortal eare is dreadful; they beseech
That
MOSES might report to them his will,
And terror cease; he grants
them thir desire,
Instructed that to God is no access
Without
Mediator, whose high Office now
MOSES in figure beares, to introduce
One
greater, of whose day he shall foretell,
And all the Prophets in
thir Age the times
Of great MESSIAH shall sing. Thus Laws and Rites
Establisht,
such delight hath God in Men
Obedient to his will, that he voutsafes
Among
them to set up his Tabernacle,
The holy One with mortal Men to
dwell:
By his prescript a Sanctuary is fram'd
Of
Cedar, overlaid with Gold, therein
An Ark, and in the Ark his
Testimony,
The Records of his Cov'nant, over these
A
Mercie-seat of Gold between the wings
Of two bright Cherubim,
before him burn
Seaven Lamps as in a Zodiac representing
The
Heav'nly fires; over the Tent a Cloud
Shall rest by Day, a fierie
gleame by Night,
Save when they journie, and at length they come,
Conducted
by his Angel to the Land
Promisd to ABRAHAM and his Seed: the rest
Were
long to tell, how many Battels fought,
How many Kings destroyd, and
Kingdoms won,
Or how the Sun shall in mid Heav'n stand still
A
day entire, and Nights due course adjourne,
Mans voice commanding,
Sun in GIBEON stand,
And thou Moon in the vale of AIALON,
Till
ISRAEL overcome; so call the third
From ABRAHAM, Son of ISAAC, and
from him
His whole descent, who thus shall CANAAN win.
Here ADAM interpos'd. O sent from Heav'n,
Enlightner
of my darkness, gracious things
Thou hast reveald, those chiefly
which concerne
Just ABRAHAM and his Seed: now first I finde
Mine
eyes true op'ning, and my heart much eas'd,
Erwhile perplext with
thoughts what would becom
Of mee and all Mankind; but now I see
His
day, in whom all Nations shall be blest,
Favour unmerited by me,
who sought
Forbidd'n knowledge by forbidd'n means.
This
yet I apprehend not, why to those
Among whom God will deigne to
dwell on Earth
So many and so various Laws are giv'n;
So
many Laws argue so many sins
Among them; how can God with such
reside?
To whom thus MICHAEL. Doubt not but that sin
Will
reign among them, as of thee begot;
And therefore was Law given
them to evince
Thir natural pravitie, by stirring up
Sin
against Law to fight; that when they see
Law can discover sin, but
not remove,
Save by those shadowie expiations weak,
The
bloud of Bulls and Goats, they may conclude
Some bloud more
precious must be paid for Man,
Just for unjust, that in such
righteousness
To them by Faith imputed, they may finde
Justification
towards God, and peace
Of Conscience, which the Law by Ceremonies
Cannot
appease, nor Man the moral part
Perform, and not performing cannot
live.
So Law appears imperfet, and but giv'n
With
purpose to resign them in full time
Up to a better Cov'nant,
disciplin'd
From shadowie Types to Truth, from Flesh to Spirit,
From
imposition of strict Laws, to free
Acceptance of large Grace, from
servil fear
To filial, works of Law to works of Faith.
And
therefore shall not MOSES, though of God
Highly belov'd, being but
the Minister
Of Law, his people into CANAAN lead;
But
JOSHUA whom the Gentiles JESUS call,
His Name and Office bearing,
who shall quell
The adversarie Serpent, and bring back
Through
the worlds wilderness long wanderd man
Safe to eternal Paradise of
rest.
Meanwhile they in thir earthly CANAAN plac't
Long
time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins
National interrupt thir
public peace,
Provoking God to raise them enemies:
From
whom as oft he saves them penitent
By Judges first, then under
Kings; of whom
The second, both for pietie renownd
And
puissant deeds, a promise shall receive
Irrevocable, that his Regal
Throne
For ever shall endure; the like shall sing
All
Prophecie, That of the Royal Stock
Of DAVID (so I name this King)
shall rise
A Son, the Womans Seed to thee foretold,
Foretold
to ABRAHAM, as in whom shall trust
All Nations, and to Kings
foretold, of Kings
The last, for of his Reign shall be no end.
But
first a long succession must ensue,
And his next Son for Wealth and
Wisdom fam'd,
The clouded Ark of God till then in Tents
Wandring,
shall in a glorious Temple enshrine.
Such follow him, as shall be
registerd
Part good, part bad, of bad the longer scrowle,
Whose
foul Idolatries, and other faults
Heapt to the popular summe, will
so incense
God, as to leave them, and expose thir Land,
Thir
Citie, his Temple, and his holy Ark
With all his sacred things, a
scorn and prey
To that proud Citie, whose high Walls thou saw'st
Left
in confusion, BABYLON thence call'd.
There in captivitie he lets
them dwell
The space of seventie years, then brings them back,
Remembring
mercie, and his Cov'nant sworn
To DAVID, stablisht as the dayes of
Heav'n.
Returnd from BABYLON by leave of Kings
Thir
Lords, whom God dispos'd, the house of God
They first re-edifie,
and for a while
In mean estate live moderate, till grown
In
wealth and multitude, factious they grow;
But first among the
Priests dissension springs,
Men who attend the Altar, and should
most
Endeavour Peace: thir strife pollution brings
Upon
the Temple it self: at last they seise
The Scepter, and regard not
DAVIDS Sons,
Then loose it to a stranger, that the true
Anointed
King MESSIAH might be born
Barr'd of his right; yet at his Birth a
Starr
Unseen before in Heav'n proclaims him com,
And
guides the Eastern Sages, who enquire
His place, to offer Incense,
Myrrh, and Gold;
His place of birth a solemn Angel tells
To
simple Shepherds, keeping watch by night;
They gladly thither
haste, and by a Quire
Of squadrond Angels hear his Carol sung.
A
Virgin is his Mother, but his Sire
The Power of the most High; he
shall ascend
The Throne hereditarie, and bound his Reign
With
earths wide bounds, his glory with the Heav'ns.
He ceas'd, discerning ADAM with such joy
Surcharg'd,
as had like grief bin dew'd in tears,
Without the vent of words,
which these he breathd.
O Prophet of glad tidings, finisher
Of
utmost hope! now clear I understand
What oft my steddiest thoughts
have searcht in vain,
Why our great expectation should be call'd
The
seed of Woman: Virgin Mother, Haile,
High in the love of Heav'n,
yet from my Loynes
Thou shalt proceed, and from thy Womb the Son
Of
God most High; So God with man unites.
Needs must the Serpent now
his capital bruise
Expect with mortal paine: say where and when
Thir
fight, what stroke shall bruise the Victors heel.
To whom thus MICHAEL. Dream not of thir fight,
As
of a Duel, or the local wounds
Of head or heel: not therefore
joynes the Son
Manhood to God-head, with more strength to foil
Thy
enemie; nor so is overcome
SATAN, whose fall from Heav'n, a
deadlier bruise,
Disabl'd not to give thee thy deaths wound:
Which
hee, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure,
Not by destroying SATAN,
but his works
In thee and in thy Seed: nor can this be,
But
by fulfilling that which thou didst want,
Obedience to the Law of
God, impos'd
On penaltie of death, and suffering death,
The
penaltie to thy transgression due,
And due to theirs which out of
thine will grow:
So onely can high Justice rest appaid.
The
Law of God exact he shall fulfill
Both by obedience and by love,
though love
Alone fulfill the Law; thy punishment
He
shall endure by coming in the Flesh
To a reproachful life and
cursed death,
Proclaiming Life to all who shall believe
In
his redemption, and that his obedience
Imputed becomes theirs by
Faith, his merits
To save them, not thir own, though legal works.
For
this he shall live hated, be blasphem'd,
Seis'd on by force,
judg'd, and to death condemnd
A shameful and accurst, naild to the
Cross
By his own Nation, slaine for bringing Life;
But
to the Cross he nailes thy Enemies,
The Law that is against thee,
and the sins
Of all mankinde, with him there crucifi'd,
Never
to hurt them more who rightly trust
In this his satisfaction; so he
dies,
But soon revives, Death over him no power
Shall
long usurp; ere the third dawning light
Returne, the Starres of
Morn shall see him rise
Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning
light,
Thy ransom paid, which Man from death redeems,
His
death for Man, as many as offerd Life
Neglect not, and the benefit
imbrace
By Faith not void of works: this God-like act
Annuls
thy doom, the death thou shouldst have dy'd,
In sin for ever lost
from life; this act
Shall bruise the head of SATAN, crush his
strength
Defeating Sin and Death, his two maine armes,
And
fix farr deeper in his head thir stings
Then temporal death shall
bruise the Victors heel,
Or theirs whom he redeems, a death like
sleep,
A gentle wafting to immortal Life.
Nor after
resurrection shall he stay
Longer on Earth then certaine times to
appeer
To his Disciples, Men who in his Life
Still
follow'd him; to them shall leave in charge
To teach all nations
what of him they learn'd
And his Salvation, them who shall beleeve
Baptizing
in the profluent streame, the signe
Of washing them from guilt of
sin to Life
Pure, and in mind prepar'd, if so befall,
For
death, like that which the redeemer dy'd.
All Nations they shall
teach; for from that day
Not onely to the Sons of ABRAHAMS Loines
Salvation
shall be Preacht, but to the Sons
Of ABRAHAMS Faith wherever
through the world;
So in his seed all Nations shall be blest.
Then
to the Heav'n of Heav'ns he shall ascend
With victory, triumphing
through the aire
Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise
The
Serpent, Prince of aire, and drag in Chaines
Through all his
realme, & there confounded leave;
Then enter into glory, and
resume
His Seat at Gods right hand, exalted high
Above
all names in Heav'n; and thence shall come,
When this worlds
dissolution shall be ripe,
With glory and power to judge both quick
& dead,
To judge th' unfaithful dead, but to reward
His
faithful, and receave them into bliss,
Whether in Heav'n or Earth,
for then the Earth
Shall all be Paradise, far happier place
Then
this of EDEN, and far happier daies.
So spake th' Archangel MICHAEL, then paus'd,
As
at the Worlds great period; and our Sire
Replete with joy and
wonder thus repli'd.
O goodness infinite, goodness immense!
That
all this good of evil shall produce,
And evil turn to good; more
wonderful
Then that which by creation first brought forth
Light
out of darkness! full of doubt I stand,
Whether I should repent me
now of sin
By mee done and occasiond, or rejoyce
Much
more, that much more good thereof shall spring,
To God more glory,
more good will to Men
From God, and over wrauth grace shall abound.
But
say, if our deliverer up to Heav'n
Must reascend, what will betide
the few
His faithful, left among th' unfaithful herd,
The
enemies of truth; who then shall guide
His people, who defend? will
they not deale
Wors with his followers then with him they dealt?
Be sure they will, said th' Angel; but from Heav'n
Hee
to his own a Comforter will send,
The promise of the Father, who
shall dwell
His Spirit within them, and the Law of Faith
Working
through love, upon thir hearts shall write,
To guide them in all
truth, and also arme
With spiritual Armour, able to resist
SATANS
assaults, and quench his fierie darts
What Man can do against them,
not affraid,
Though to the death, against such cruelties
With
inward consolations recompenc't,
And oft supported so as shall amaze
Thir
proudest persecuters: for the Spirit
Powrd first on his Apostles,
whom he sends
To evangelize the Nations, then on all
Baptiz'd,
shall them with wondrous gifts endue
To speak all Tongues, and do
all Miracles,
As did thir Lord before them. Thus they win
Great
numbers of each Nation to receave
With joy the tidings brought from
Heav'n: at length
Thir Ministry perform'd, and race well run,
Thir
doctrine and thir story written left,
They die; but in thir room,
as they forewarne,
Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous
Wolves,
Who all the sacred mysteries of Heav'n
To
thir own vile advantages shall turne
Of lucre and ambition, and the
truth
With superstitions and traditions taint,
Left
onely in those written Records pure,
Though not but by the Spirit
understood.
Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names,
Places
and titles, and with these to joine
Secular power, though feigning
still to act
By spiritual, to themselves appropriating
The
Spirit of God, promisd alike and giv'n
To all Beleevers; and from
that pretense,
Spiritual Lawes by carnal power shall force
On
every conscience; Laws which none shall finde
Left them inrould, or
what the Spirit within
Shall on the heart engrave. What will they
then
But force the Spirit of Grace it self, and binde
His
consort Libertie; what, but unbuild
His living Temples, built by
Faith to stand,
Thir own Faith not anothers: for on Earth
Who
against Faith and Conscience can be heard
Infallible? yet many will
presume:
Whence heavie persecution shall arise
On
all who in the worship persevere
Of Spirit and Truth; the rest,
farr greater part,
Will deem in outward Rites and specious formes
Religion
satisfi'd; Truth shall retire
Bestuck with slandrous darts, and
works of Faith
Rarely be found: so shall the World goe on,
To
good malignant, to bad men benigne,
Under her own waight groaning,
till the day
Appeer of respiration to the just,
And
vengeance to the wicked, at return
Of him so lately promis'd to thy
aid,
The Womans seed, obscurely then foretold,
Now
amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord,
Last in the Clouds from
Heav'n to be reveald
In glory of the Father, to dissolve
SATAN
with his perverted World, then raise
From the conflagrant mass,
purg'd and refin'd,
New Heav'ns, new Earth, Ages of endless date
Founded
in righteousness and peace and love,
To bring forth fruits Joy and
eternal Bliss.
He ended; and thus ADAM last reply'd.
How
soon hath thy prediction, Seer blest,
Measur'd this transient
World, the Race of time,
Till time stand fixt: beyond is all abyss,
Eternitie,
whose end no eye can reach.
Greatly instructed I shall hence depart,
Greatly
in peace of thought, and have my fill
Of knowledge, what this
vessel can containe;
Beyond which was my folly to aspire.
Henceforth
I learne, that to obey is best,
And love with feare the onely God,
to walk
As in his presence, ever to observe
His
providence, and on him sole depend,
Merciful over all his works,
with good
Still overcoming evil, and by small
Accomplishing
great things, by things deemd weak
Subverting worldly strong, and
worldly wise
By simply meek; that suffering for Truths sake
Is
fortitude to highest victorie,
And to the faithful Death the Gate
of Life;
Taught this by his example whom I now
Acknowledge
my Redeemer ever blest.
To whom thus also th' Angel last repli'd:
This
having learnt, thou hast attaind the summe
Of wisdom; hope no
higher, though all the Starrs
Thou knewst by name, and all th'
ethereal Powers,
All secrets of the deep, all Natures works,
Or
works of God in Heav'n, Air, Earth, or Sea,
And all the riches of
this World enjoydst,
And all the rule, one Empire; onely add
Deeds
to thy knowledge answerable, add Faith,
Add Vertue, Patience,
Temperance, add Love,
By name to come call'd Charitie, the soul
Of
all the rest: then wilt thou not be loath
To leave this Paradise,
but shalt possess
A Paradise within thee, happier farr.
Let
us descend now therefore from this top
Of Speculation; for the hour
precise
Exacts our parting hence; and see the Guards,
By
mee encampt on yonder Hill, expect
Thir motion, at whose Front a
flaming Sword,
In signal of remove, waves fiercely round;
We
may no longer stay: go, waken Eve;
Her also I with gentle Dreams
have calm'd
Portending good, and all her spirits compos'd
To
meek submission: thou at season fit
Let her with thee partake what
thou hast heard,
Chiefly what may concern her Faith to know,
The
great deliverance by her Seed to come
(For by the Womans Seed) on
all Mankind.
That ye may live, which will be many dayes,
Both
in one Faith unanimous though sad,
With cause for evils past, yet
much more cheer'd
With meditation on the happie end.
He ended, and they both descend the Hill;
Descended,
ADAM to the Bowre where EVE
Lay sleeping ran before, but found her
wak't;
And thus with words not sad she him receav'd.
Whence thou returnst, & whither wentst, I know;
For
God is also in sleep, and Dreams advise,
Which he hath sent
propitious, some great good
Presaging, since with sorrow and hearts
distress
VVearied I fell asleep: but now lead on;
In
mee is no delay; with thee to goe,
Is to stay here; without thee
here to stay,
Is to go hence unwilling; thou to mee
Art
all things under Heav'n, all places thou,
VVho for my wilful crime
art banisht hence.
This further consolation yet secure
I
carry hence; though all by mee is lost,
Such favour I unworthie am
voutsaft,
By mee the Promis'd Seed shall all restore.
So spake our Mother EVE, and ADAM heard
VVell
pleas'd, but answer'd not; for now too nigh
Th' Archangel stood,
and from the other Hill
To thir fixt Station, all in bright array
The
Cherubim descended; on the ground
Gliding meteorous, as Ev'ning Mist
Ris'n
from a River o're the marish glides,
And gathers ground fast at the
Labourers heel
Homeward returning. High in Front advanc't,
The
brandisht Sword of God before them blaz'd
Fierce as a Comet; which
with torrid heat,
And vapour as the LIBYAN Air adust,
Began
to parch that temperate Clime; whereat
In either hand the hastning
Angel caught
Our lingring Parents, and to th' Eastern Gate
Let
them direct, and down the Cliff as fast
To the subjected Plaine;
then disappeer'd.
They looking back, all th' Eastern side beheld
Of
Paradise, so late thir happie seat,
Wav'd over by that flaming
Brand, the Gate
With dreadful Faces throng'd and fierie Armes:
Som
natural tears they drop'd, but wip'd them soon;
The World was all
before them, where to choose
Thir place of rest, and Providence
thir guide:
They hand in hand with wandring steps and slow,
Through
EDEN took thir solitarie way.
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