Title:   Paradise Lost

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Author:   John Milton

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PDF Version:   1.2

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Paradise Lost

John Milton

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Table of Contents

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John Milton..............................................................................................................................................1

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Paradise Lost

John Milton

Book I 

Book II 

Book III 

Book IV 

Book V 

Book VI 

Book VII 

Book VIII 

Book IX 

Book X 

Book XI 

Book XII  

Book I

Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit 

Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste 

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, Heavenly 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 heavens and earth 

Rose out of Chaos: or, if Sion hill 

Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flowed 

Fast by the oracle of God, I thence 

Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song, 

That with no middle flight intends to soar 

Above th' Aonian mount, while it pursues 

Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme. 

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, 

Dovelike sat'st 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 height of this great argument, 

I may assert Eternal Providence, 

And justify the ways of God to men. 

   Say firstfor Heaven hides nothing from thy view, 

Nor the deep tract of Hellsay first what cause 

Moved our grand parents, in that happy state, 

Favoured of Heaven so highly, to fall off 

From their Creator, and transgress his will 

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For one restraint, lords of the World besides. 

Who first seduced them to that foul revolt? 

   Th' infernal Serpent; he it was whose guile, 

Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived 

The mother of mankind, what time his pride 

Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host 

Of rebel Angels, by whose aid, aspiring 

To set himself in glory above his peers, 

He trusted to have equalled the Most High, 

If he opposed, and with ambitious aim 

Against the throne and monarchy of God, 

Raised impious war in Heaven and battle proud, 

With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power 

Hurled headlong flaming from th' ethereal sky, 

With hideous ruin and combustion, down 

To bottomless perdition, there to dwell 

In adamantine chains and penal fire, 

Who durst defy th' Omnipotent to arms. 

   Nine times the space that measures day and night 

To mortal men, he, with his horrid crew, 

Lay vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf, 

Confounded, though immortal. But his doom 

Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought 

Both of lost happiness and lasting pain 

Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, 

That witnessed huge affliction and dismay, 

Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate. 

At once, as far as Angels ken, he views 

The dismal situation waste and wild. 

A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, 

As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames 

No light; but rather darkness visible 

Served 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 everburning sulphur unconsumed. 

Such place Eternal Justice has prepared 

For those rebellious; here their prison ordained 

In utter darkness, and their portion set, 

As far removed from God and light of Heaven 

As from the centre thrice to th' utmost pole. 

Oh how unlike the place from whence they fell! 

There the companions of his fall, o'erwhelmed 

With floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire, 

He soon discerns; and, weltering by his side, 

One next himself in power, and next in crime, 

Long after known in Palestine, and named 

Beelzebub. To whom th' ArchEnemy, 

And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words 

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Breaking the horrid silence, thus began: 

   "If thou beest hebut O how fallen! how changed 

From him who, in the happy realms of light 

Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine 

Myriads, though bright!if he whom mutual league, 

United thoughts and counsels, equal hope 

And hazard in the glorious enterprise 

Joined with me once, now misery hath joined 

In equal ruin; into what pit thou seest 

From what height fallen: so much the stronger proved 

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 changed in outward lustre, that fixed mind, 

And high disdain from sense of injured merit, 

That with the Mightiest raised me to contend, 

And to the fierce contentions brought along 

Innumerable force of Spirits armed, 

That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, 

His utmost power with adverse power opposed 

In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, 

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

All is not lostthe 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 deify his power 

Who, from the terror of this arm, so late 

Doubted his empirethat were low indeed; 

That were an ignominy and shame beneath 

This downfall; since, by fate, the strength of Gods, 

And this empyreal sybstance, cannot fail; 

Since, through experience of this great event, 

In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, 

We may with more successful hope resolve 

To wage by force or guile eternal war, 

Irreconcilable to our grand Foe, 

Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy 

Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven." 

   So spake th' apostate Angel, though in pain, 

Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair; 

And him thus answered soon his bold compeer: 

   "O Prince, O Chief of many throned Powers 

That led th' embattled Seraphim to war 

Under thy conduct, and, in dreadful deeds 

Fearless, endangered Heaven's perpetual King, 

And put to proof his high supremacy, 

Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate, 

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Too well I see and rue the dire event 

That, with sad overthrow and foul defeat, 

Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host 

In horrible destruction laid thus low, 

As far as Gods and heavenly Essences 

Can perish: for the mind and spirit remains 

Invincible, and vigour soon returns, 

Though all our glory extinct, and happy state 

Here swallowed up in endless misery. 

But what if he our Conqueror (whom I now 

Of force believe almighty, since no less 

Than such could have o'erpowered such force as ours) 

Have left us this our spirit and strength entire, 

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 war, whate'er his business be, 

Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire, 

Or do his errands in the gloomy Deep? 

What can it the avail though yet we feel 

Strength undiminished, or eternal being 

To undergo eternal punishment?" 

   Whereto with speedy words th' ArchFiend replied: 

"Fallen Cherub, to be weak is miserable, 

Doing or suffering: but of this be sure 

To do aught 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 ofttimes may succeed so as perhaps 

Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb 

His inmost counsels from their destined aim. 

But see! the angry Victor hath recalled 

His ministers of vengeance and pursuit 

Back to the gates of Heaven: the sulphurous hail, 

Shot after us in storm, o'erblown hath laid 

The fiery surge that from the precipice 

Of Heaven received us falling; and the thunder, 

Winged 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 wild, 

The seat of desolation, void 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; 

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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 despair." 

   Thus Satan, talking to his nearest mate, 

With head uplift above the wave, and eyes 

That sparkling blazed; 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 Earthborn, that warred on Jove, 

Briareos or Typhon, whom the den 

By ancient Tarsus held, or that seabeast 

Leviathan, which God of all his works 

Created hugest that swim th' oceanstream. 

Him, haply slumbering on the Norway foam, 

The pilot of some small nightfoundered skiff, 

Deeming some island, oft, as seamen tell, 

With fixed anchor in his scaly rind, 

Moors by his side under the lee, while night 

Invests the sea, and wished morn delays. 

So stretched out huge in length the Archfiend lay, 

Chained on the burning lake; nor ever thence 

Had risen, or heaved his head, but that the will 

And high permission of allruling 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 enraged might see 

How all his malice served but to bring forth 

Infinite goodness, grace, and mercy, shewn 

On Man by him seduced, but on himself 

Treble confusion, wrath, and vengeance poured. 

   Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool 

His mighty stature; on each hand the flames 

Driven backward slope their pointing spires, and,rolled 

In billows, leave i' th' midst a horrid vale. 

Then with expanded wings he steers his flight 

Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air, 

That felt unusual weight; till on dry land 

He lightsif it were land that ever burned 

With solid, as the lake with liquid fire, 

And such appeared in hue as when the force 

Of subterranean wind transprots a hill 

Torn from Pelorus, or the shattered side 

Of thundering Etna, whose combustible 

And fuelled entrails, thence conceiving fire, 

Sublimed with mineral fury, aid the winds, 

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And leave a singed bottom all involved 

With stench and smoke. Such resting found the sole 

Of unblest feet. Him followed his next mate; 

Both glorying to have scaped the Stygian flood 

As gods, and by their own recovered strength, 

Not by the sufferance of supernal Power. 

   "Is this the region, this the soil, the clime," 

Said then the lost Archangel, "this the seat 

That we must change for Heaven?this mournful gloom 

For that celestial light? Be it so, since he 

Who now is sovereign can dispose and bid 

What shall be right: farthest from him is best 

Whom reason hath equalled, force hath made supreme 

Above his equals. Farewell, happy fields, 

Where joy for ever dwells! Hail, horrors! hail, 

Infernal world! and thou, profoundest Hell, 

Receive thy new possessorone who brings 

A mind not to be changed by place or time. 

The mind is its own place, and in itself 

Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. 

What matter where, if I be still the same, 

And what I should be, all but less than he 

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 reigh secure; and, in my choice, 

To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell: 

Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven. 

But wherefore let we then our faithful friends, 

Th' associates and copartners of our loss, 

Lie thus astonished 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 

Regained in Heaven, or what more lost in Hell?" 

   So Satan spake; and him Beelzebub 

Thus answered:"Leader of those armies bright 

Which, but th' Omnipotent, none could have foiled! 

If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge 

Of hope in fears and dangersheard so oft 

In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge 

Of battle, when it raged, in all assaults 

Their surest signalthey will soon resume 

New courage and revive, though now they lie 

Grovelling and prostrate on yon lake of fire, 

As we erewhile, astounded and amazed; 

No wonder, fallen such a pernicious height!" 

   He scare had ceased when the superior Fiend 

Was moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield, 

Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, 

Behind him cast. The broad circumference 

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Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb 

Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views 

At evening, from the top of Fesole, 

Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, 

Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe. 

His spearto equal which the tallest pine 

Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast 

Of some great ammiral, were but a wand 

He walked with, to support uneasy steps 

Over the burning marl, not like those steps 

On Heaven's azure; and the torrid clime 

Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire. 

Nathless he so endured, till on the beach 

Of that inflamed sea he stood, and called 

His legionsAngel Forms, who lay entranced 

Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks 

In Vallombrosa, where th' Etrurian shades 

High overarched embower; or scattered sedge 

Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion armed 

Hath vexed the RedSea coast, whose waves o'erthrew 

Busiris and his Memphian chivalry, 

While with perfidious hatred they pursued 

The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld 

From the safe shore their floating carcases 

And broken chariotwheels. So thick bestrown, 

Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, 

Under amazement of their hideous change. 

He called so loud that all the hollow deep 

Of Hell resounded:"Princes, Potentates, 

Warriors, the Flower of Heavenonce yours; now lost, 

If such astonishment as this can seize 

Eternal Spirits! Or have ye chosen this place 

After the toil of battle to repose 

Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find 

To slumber here, as in the vales of Heaven? 

Or in this abject posture have ye sworn 

To adore the Conqueror, who now beholds 

Cherub and Seraph rolling in the flood 

With scattered arms and ensigns, till anon 

His swift pursuers from Heavengates discern 

Th' advantage, and, descending, tread us down 

Thus drooping, or with linked thunderbolts 

Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf? 

Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen!" 

   They heard, and were abashed, 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 perceive the evil plight 

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

Yet to their General's voice they soon obeyed 

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Innumerable. As when the potent rod 

Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day, 

Waved round the coast, upcalled a pitchy cloud 

Of locusts, warping on the eastern wind, 

That o'er the realm of impious Pharaoh hung 

Like Night, and darkened 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 given, th' uplifted spear 

Of their great Sultan waving to direct 

Their course, in even balance down they light 

On the firm brimstone, and fill all the plain: 

A multitude like which the populous North 

Poured never from her frozen loins to pass 

Rhene or the Danaw, when her barbarous sons 

Came like a deluge on the South, and spread 

Beneath Gibraltar to the Libyan sands. 

Forthwith, form every squadron and each band, 

The heads and leaders thither haste where stood 

Their great Commandergodlike Shapes, and Forms 

Excelling human; princely Dignities; 

And Powers that erst in Heaven sat on thrones, 

Though on their names in Heavenly records now 

Be no memorial, blotted out and rased 

By their rebellion from the Books of Life. 

Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve 

Got them new names, till, wandering o'er the earth, 

Through God's high sufferance for the trial of man, 

By falsities and lies 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, adorned 

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, 

Roused from the slumber on that fiery couch, 

At their great Emperor's call, as next in worth 

Came singly where he stood on the bare strand, 

While the promiscuous crowd 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 adored 

Among the nations round, and durst abide 

Jehovah thundering out of Sion, throned 

Between the Cherubim; yea, often placed 

Within his sanctuary itself their shrines, 

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Abominations; and with cursed things 

His holy rites and solemn feasts profaned, 

And with their darkness durst affront his light. 

First, Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood 

Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears; 

Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud, 

Their children's cries unheard that passed through fire 

To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite 

Worshiped in Rabba and her watery 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 fraoud to build 

His temple right against the temple of God 

On that opprobrious hill, and made his grove 

The pleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence 

And black Gehenna called, the type of Hell. 

Next Chemos, th' obscene dread of Moab's sons, 

From Aroar to Nebo and the wild 

Of southmost Abarim; in Hesebon 

And Horonaim, Seon's real, beyond 

The flowery dale of Sibma clad with vines, 

And Eleale to th' Asphaltic Pool: 

Peor his other name, when he enticed 

Israel in Sittim, on their march from Nile, 

To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. 

Yet thence his lustful orgies he enlarged 

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 bordering flood 

Of old Euphrates to the brook that parts 

Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names 

Of Baalim and Ashtaroththose male, 

These feminine. For Spirits, when they please, 

Can either sex assume, or both; so soft 

And uncompounded is their essence pure, 

Not tried or manacled with joint or limb, 

Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, 

Like cumbrous flesh; but, in what shape they choose, 

Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure, 

Can execute their airy purposes, 

And works of love or enmity fulfil. 

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 

Bowed down in battle, sunk before the spear 

Of despicable foes. With these in troop 

Came Astoreth, whom the Phoenicians called 

Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns; 

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To whose bright image nigntly 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, 

Beguiled by fair idolatresses, fell 

To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, 

Whose annual wound in Lebanon allured 

The Syrian damsels to lament his fate 

In amorous ditties all a summer's day, 

While smooth Adonis from his native rock 

Ran purple to the sea, supposed with blood 

Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the lovetale 

Infected Sion's daughters with like heat, 

Whose wanton passions in the sacred proch 

Ezekiel saw, when, by the vision led, 

His eye surveyed the dark idolatries 

Of alienated Judah. Next came one 

Who mourned in earnest, when the captive ark 

Maimed his brute image, head and hands lopt off, 

In his own temple, on the grunseledge, 

Where he fell flat and shamed his worshippers: 

Dagon his name, seamonster,upward man 

And downward fish; yet had his temple high 

Reared in Azotus, dreaded through the coast 

Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon, 

And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds. 

Him followed Rimmon, whose delightful seat 

Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks 

Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams. 

He also against the house of God was bold: 

A leper once he lost, and gained a king 

Ahaz, his sottish conqueror, whom he drew 

God's altar to disparage and displace 

For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn 

His odious offerings, and adore the gods 

Whom he had vanquished. After these appeared 

A crew who, under names of old renown 

Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train 

With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused 

Fanatic Egypt and her priests to seek 

Their wandering gods disguised in brutish forms 

Rather than human. Nor did Israel scape 

Th' infection, when their borrowed gold composed 

The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king 

Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, 

Likening his Maker to the grazed ox 

Jehovah, who, in one night, when he passed 

From Egypt marching, equalled with one stroke 

Both her firstborn and all her bleating gods. 

Belial came last; than whom a Spirit more lewd 

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Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love 

Vice for itself. To him no temple stood 

Or altar smoked; yet who more oft than he 

In temples and at altars, when the priest 

Turns atheist, as did Eli's sons, who filled 

With lust and violence the house of God? 

In courts and palaces he also reigns, 

And in luxurious cities, where the noise 

Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers, 

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 the hospitable door 

Exposed a matron, to avoid worse rape. 

   These were the prime in order and in might: 

The rest were long to tell; though far renowned 

Th' Ionian godsof Javan's issue held 

Gods, yet confessed later than Heaven and Earth, 

Their boasted parents;Titan, Heaven's firstborn, 

With his enormous brood, and birthright seized 

By younger Saturn: he from mightier Jove, 

His own and Rhea's son, like measure found; 

So Jove usurping reigned. These, first in Crete 

And Ida known, thence on the snowy top 

Of cold Olympus ruled the middle air, 

Their highest heaven; 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 o'er the Celtic roamed the utmost Isles. 

   All these and more came flocking; but with looks 

Downcast and damp; yet such wherein appeared 

Obscure some glimpse of joy to have found their Chief 

Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost 

In loss itself; which on his countenance cast 

Like doubtful hue. But he, his wonted pride 

Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore 

Semblance of worth, not substance, gently raised 

Their fainting courage, and dispelled their fears. 

Then straight commands that, at the warlike sound 

Of trumpets loud and clarions, be upreared 

His mighty standard. That proud honour claimed 

Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall: 

Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurled 

Th' imperial ensign; which, full high advanced, 

Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, 

With gems and golden lustre rich emblazed, 

Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while 

Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds: 

At which the universal host upsent 

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A shout that tore Hell's 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 forest huge of spears; and thronging helms 

Appeared, and serried shields in thick array 

Of depth immeasurable. Anon they move 

In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood 

Of flutes and soft recorderssuch as raised 

To height of noblest temper heroes old 

Arming to battle, and instead of rage 

Deliberate valour breathed, firm, and unmoved 

With dread of death to flight or foul retreat; 

Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage 

With solemn touches troubled 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, 

Moved on in silence to soft pipes that charmed 

Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil. And now 

Advanced in view they standa horrid front 

Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise 

Of warriors old, with ordered spear and shield, 

Awaiting what command their mighty Chief 

Had to impose. He through the armed files 

Darts his experienced eye, and soon traverse 

The whole battalion viewstheir order due, 

Their visages and stature as of gods; 

Their number last he sums. And now his heart 

Distends with pride, and, hardening in his strength, 

Glories: for never, since created Man, 

Met such embodied force as, named with these, 

Could merit more than that small infantry 

Warred on by cranesthough all the giant brood 

Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were joined 

That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side 

Mixed with auxiliar gods; and what resounds 

In fable or romance of Uther's son, 

Begirt with British and Armoric knights; 

And all who since, baptized 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 observed 

Their dread Commander. He, above the rest 

In shape and gesture proudly eminent, 

Stood like a tower. His form had yet not lost 

All her original brightness, nor appeared 

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Page No 15

Less than Archangel ruined, and th' excess 

Of glory obscured: as when the sun newrisen 

Looks through the horizontal misty air 

Shorn of his beams, or, from behind the moon, 

In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds 

On half the nations, and with fear of change 

Perplexes monarchs. Darkened so, yet shone 

Above them all th' Archangel: but his face 

Deep scars of thunder had intrenched, and care 

Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows 

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), condemned 

For ever now to have their lot in pain 

Millions of Spirits for his fault amerced 

Of Heaven, and from eteranl splendours flung 

For his revoltyet faithful how they stood, 

Their glory withered; as, when heaven's fire 

Hath scathed the forest oaks or mountain pines, 

With singed top their stately growth, though bare, 

Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepared 

To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend 

From wing to wing, and half enclose him round 

With all his peers: attention held them mute. 

Thrice he assayed, 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' Almighth!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, 

Forseeing or presaging, from the depth 

Of knowledge past or present, could have feared 

How such united force of gods, how such 

As stood like these, could ever know repulse? 

For who can yet believe, though after loss, 

That all these puissant legions, whose exile 

Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to reascend, 

Selfraised, and repossess their native seat? 

For me, be witness all the host of Heaven, 

If counsels different, or danger shunned 

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

Monarch in Heaven till then as one secure 

Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute, 

Consent or custom, and his regal state 

Put forth at full, but still his strength concealed 

Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall. 

Henceforth his might we know, and know our own, 

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Page No 16

So as not either to provoke, or dread 

New war provoked: 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 Heaven 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 pry, shall be perhaps 

Our first eruptionthither, or elsewhere; 

For this infernal pit shall never hold 

Celestial Spirits in bondage, nor th' Abyss 

Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts 

Full counsel must mature. Peace is despaired; 

For who can think submission? War, then, war 

Open or understood, must be resolved." 

   He spake; and, to confirm his words, outflew 

Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs 

Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze 

Far round illumined Hell. Highly they raged 

Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms 

Clashed on their sounding shields the din of war, 

Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heaven. 

   There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top 

Belched fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire 

Shone with a glossy scurfundoubted sign 

That in his womb was hid metallic ore, 

The work of sulphur. Thither, winged with speed, 

A numerous brigade hastened: as when bands 

Of pioneers, with spade and pickaxe armed, 

Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field, 

Or cast a rampart. Mammon led them on 

Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell 

From Heaven; for even in Heaven his looks and thoughts 

Were always downward bent, admiring more 

The riches of heaven's pavement, trodden gold, 

Than aught divine or holy else enjoyed 

In vision beatific. By him first 

Men also, and by his suggestion taught, 

Ransacked the centre, and with impious hands 

Rifled the bowels of their mother Earth 

For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew 

Opened into the hill a spacious wound, 

And digged out ribs of gold. Let none admire 

That riches grow in Hell; that soil may best 

Deserve the precious bane. And here let those 

Who boast in mortal things, and wondering tell 

Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings, 

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Page No 17

Learn how their 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 toil 

And hands innumerable, scarce perform. 

Nigh on the plain, in many cells prepared, 

That underneath had veins of liquid fire 

Sluiced from the lake, a second multitude 

With wondrous art founded the massy ore, 

Severing each kind, and scummed the bulliondross. 

A third as soon had formed within the ground 

A various mould, and from the boiling cells 

By strange conveyance filled each hollow nook; 

As in an organ, from one blast of wind, 

To many a row of pipes the soundboard breathes. 

Anon out of the earth a fabric 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 frieze, with bossy sculptures graven; 

The roof was fretted gold. Not Babylon 

Nor great Alcairo such magnificence 

Equalled in all their glories, to enshrine 

Belus or Serapis their gods, or seat 

Their kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove 

In wealth and luxury. Th' ascending pile 

Stood fixed her stately height, and straight the doors, 

Opening their brazen folds, discover, wide 

Within, her ample spaces o'er the smooth 

And level pavement: from the arched roof, 

Pendent by subtle magic, many a row 

Of starry lamps and blazing cressets, fed 

With naptha and asphaltus, yielded light 

As from a sky. The hasty multitude 

Admiring entered; and the work some praise, 

And some the architect. His hand was known 

In Heaven by many a towered structure high, 

Where sceptred Angels held their residence, 

And sat as Princes, whom the supreme King 

Exalted to such power, and gave to rule, 

Each in his Hierarchy, the Orders bright. 

Nor was his name unheard or unadored 

In ancient Greece; and in Ausonian land 

Men called him Mulciber; and how he fell 

From Heaven they fabled, thrown by angry Jove 

Sheer o'er the crystal battlements: from morn 

To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, 

A summer's day, and with the setting sun 

Dropt from the zenith, like a falling star, 

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Page No 18

On Lemnos, th' Aegaean isle. Thus they relate, 

Erring; for he with this rebellious rout 

Fell long before; nor aught aviled him now 

To have built in Heaven high towers; nor did he scape 

By all his engines, but was headlong sent, 

With his industrious crew, to build in Hell. 

   Meanwhile the winged Heralds, by command 

Of sovereign power, with awful ceremony 

And trumpet's sound, throughout the host proclaim 

A solemn council forthwith to be held 

At Pandemonium, the high capital 

Of Satan and his peers. Their summons called 

From every band and squared regiment 

By place or choice the worthiest: they anon 

With hundreds and with thousands trooping came 

Attended. All access was thronged; the gates 

And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall 

(Though like a covered field, where champions bold 

Wont ride in armed, and at the Soldan's chair 

Defied the best of Paynim chivalry 

To mortal combat, or career with lance), 

Thick swarmed, both on the ground and in the air, 

Brushed with the hiss of rustling wings. As bees 

In springtime, when the Sun with Taurus rides. 

Pour forth their populous youth about the hive 

In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers 

Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed plank, 

The suburb of their strawbuilt citadel, 

New rubbed with balm, expatiate, and confer 

Their stateaffairs: so thick the airy crowd 

Swarmed and were straitened; till, the signal given, 

Behold a wonder! They but now who seemed 

In bigness to surpass Earth's giant sons, 

Now less than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room 

Throng numberlesslike that pygmean race 

Beyond the Indian mount; or faery elves, 

Whose midnight revels, by a forestside 

Or fountain, some belated peasant sees, 

Or dreams he sees, while overhead the Moon 

Sits arbitress, and nearer to the Earth 

Wheels her pale course: they, on their mirth and dance 

Intent, with jocund music charm his ear; 

At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds. 

Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms 

Reduced their shapes immense, and were at large, 

Though without number still, amidst the hall 

Of that infernal court. But far within, 

And in their own dimensions like themselves, 

The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim 

In close recess and secret conclave sat, 

A thousand demigods on golden seats, 

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Page No 19

Frequent and full. After short silence then, 

And summons read, the great consult began. 

Book II

High on a throne of royal state, which far 

Outshone the wealth or Ormus and of Ind, 

Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand 

Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold, 

Satan exalted sat, by merit raised 

To that bad eminence; and, from despair 

Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires 

Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue 

Vain war with Heaven; and, by success untaught, 

His proud imaginations thus displayed: 

   "Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heaven! 

For, since no deep within her gulf can hold 

Immortal vigour, though oppressed and fallen, 

I give not Heaven for lost: from this descent 

Celestial Virtues rising will appear 

More glorious and more dread than from no fall, 

And trust themselves to fear no second fate! 

Me though just right, and the fixed laws of Heaven, 

Did first create your leadernext, free choice 

With what besides in council or in fight 

Hath been achieved of merityet this loss, 

Thus far at least recovered, hath much more 

Established in a safe, unenvied throne, 

Yielded with full consent. The happier state 

In Heaven, which follows dignity, might draw 

Envy from each inferior; but who here 

Will envy whom the highest place exposes 

Foremost to stand against the Thunderer's aim 

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 than can be in Heaven, we now return 

To claim our just inheritance of old, 

Surer to prosper than prosperity 

Could have assured us; and by what best way, 

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Page No 20

Whether of open war or covert guile, 

We now debate. Who can advise may speak." 

   He ceased; and next him Moloch, sceptred king, 

Stood upthe strongest and the fiercest Spirit 

That fought in Heaven, now fiercer by despair. 

His trust was with th' Eternal to be deemed 

Equal in strength, and rather than be less 

Cared not to be at all; with that care lost 

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

He recked not, and these words thereafter spake: 

   "My sentence is for open war. 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 ascendsit lingering here, 

Heaven's fugitives, and for their dwellingplace 

Accept this dark opprobrious den of shame, 

The prison of his ryranny who reigns 

By our delay? No! let us rather choose, 

Armed with Hellflames and fury, all at once 

O'er Heaven's high towers to force resistless way, 

Turning our tortures into horrid arms 

Against the Torturer; when, to meet the noise 

Of his almighty engine, he shall hear 

Infernal thunder, and, for lightning, see 

Black fire and horror shot with equal rage 

Among his Angels, and his throne itself 

Mixed 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 benumb not still, 

That in our porper 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 broken rear 

Insulting, and pursued us through the Deep, 

With what compulsion and laborious flight 

We sunk thus low? Th' ascent is easy, then; 

Th' event is feared! 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 destroyed! What can be worse 

Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemned 

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 hour, 

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Page No 21

Calls us to penance? More destroyed than thus, 

We should be quite abolished, and expire. 

What fear we then? what doubt we to incense 

His utmost ire? which, to the height enraged, 

Will either quite consume us, and reduce 

To nothing this essentialhappier far 

Than 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 Heaven, 

And with perpetual inroads to alarm, 

Though inaccessible, his fatal throne: 

Which, if not victory, is yet revenge." 

   He ended frowning, and his look denounced 

Desperate revenge, and battle dangerous 

To less than gods. On th' other side up rose 

Belial, in act more graceful and humane. 

A fairer person lost not Heaven; he seemed 

For dignity composed, and high exploit. 

But all was false and hollow; though his tongue 

Dropped 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 pleased the ear, 

And with persuasive accent thus began: 

   "I should be much for open war, O Peers, 

As not behind in hate, if what was urged 

Main reason to persuade immediate war 

Did not dissuade 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 towers of Heaven are filled 

With armed watch, that render all access 

Impregnable: oft on the bodering Deep 

Encamp their legions, or with obscure wing 

Scout far and wide into the realm of Night, 

Scorning surprise. Or, could we break our way 

By force, and at our heels all Hell should rise 

With blackest insurrection to confound 

Heaven's purest light, yet our great Enemy, 

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 repulsed, our final hope 

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Page No 22

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 lose, 

Though full of pain, this intellectual being, 

Those thoughts that wander through eternity, 

To perish rather, swallowed 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 their wish, and end 

Them in his anger whom his anger saves 

To punish endless? 'Wherefore cease we, then?' 

Say they who counsel war; 'we are decreed, 

Reserved, and destined 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, pursued and struck 

With Heaven's afflicting thunder, and besought 

The Deep to shelter us? This Hell then seemed 

A refuge from those wounds. Or when we lay 

Chained on the burning lake? That sure was worse. 

What if the breath that kindled those grim fires, 

Awaked, should blow them into sevenfold rage, 

And plunge us in the flames; or from above 

Should intermitted vengeance arm again 

His red right hand to plague us? What if all 

Her stores were opened, and this firmament 

Of Hell should spout her cataracts of fire, 

Impendent horrors, threatening hideous fall 

One day upon our heads; while we perhaps, 

Designing or exhorting glorious war, 

Caught in a fiery tempest, shall be hurled, 

Each on his rock transfixed, the sport and prey 

Or racking whirlwinds, or for ever sunk 

Under yon boiling ocean, wrapt in chains, 

There to converse with everlasting groans, 

Unrespited, unpitied, unreprieved, 

Ages of hopeless end? This would be worse. 

War, therefore, open or concealed, alike 

My voice dissuades; for what can force or guile 

With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye 

Views all things at one view? He from Heaven's height 

All these our motions vain sees and derides, 

Not more almighty to resist our might 

Than wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles. 

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Page No 23

Shall we, then, live thus vilethe race of Heaven 

Thus trampled, thus expelled, to suffer here 

Chains and these torments? Better these than worse, 

By my advice; since fate inevitable 

Subdues us, and omnipotent decree, 

The Victor's will. To suffer, as to do, 

Our strength is equal; nor the law unjust 

That so ordains. This was at first resolved, 

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 venturous, if that fail them, shrink, and fear 

What yet they know must followto endure 

Exile, or igominy, or bonds, or pain, 

The sentence of their Conqueror. This is now 

Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear, 

Our Supreme Foe in time may much remit 

His anger, and perhaps, thus far removed, 

Not mind us not offending, satisfied 

With what is punished; whence these raging fires 

Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames. 

Our purer essence then will overcome 

Their noxious vapour; or, inured, not feel; 

Or, changed at length, and to the place conformed 

In temper and in nature, will receive 

Familiar the fierce heat; and, void of pain, 

This horror will grow mild, this darkness light; 

Besides what hope the neverending flight 

Of future days may bring, what chance, what change 

Worth waitingsince our present lot appears 

For happy though but ill, for ill not worst, 

If we procure not to ourselves more woe." 

   Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason's garb, 

Counselled ignoble ease and peaceful sloth, 

Not peace; and after him thus Mammon spake: 

   "Either to disenthrone the King of Heaven 

We war, if war be best, or to regain 

Our own right lost. Him to unthrone we then 

May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield 

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 Heaven's bound, unless Heaven's Lord supreme 

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 imposed, to celebrate his throne 

With warbled hyms, and to his Godhead sing 

Forced hallelujahs, while he lordly sits 

Our envied sovereign, and his altar breathes 

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Page No 24

Ambrosial odours and ambrosial flowers, 

Our servile offerings? This must be our task 

In Heaven, this our delight. How wearisome 

Eternity so spent in worship paid 

To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue, 

By force impossible, by leave obtained 

Unacceptable, though in Heaven, our state 

Of splendid vassalage; but rather seek 

Our own good from ourselves, and from our own 

Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess, 

Free and to none accountable, preferring 

Hard liberty before the easy 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 soe'er 

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 Heaven's allruling Sire 

Choose to reside, his glory unobscured, 

And with the majesty of darkness round 

Covers his throne, from whence deep thunders roar. 

Mustering their rage, and Heaven resembles Hell! 

As he our darkness, cannot we his light 

Imitate when we please? This desert soil 

Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold; 

Nor want we skill or art from whence to raise 

Magnificence; and what can Heaven show more? 

Our torments also may, in length of time, 

Become our elements, these piercing fires 

As soft as now severe, our temper changed 

Into their temper; which must needs remove 

The sensible of pain. All things invite 

To peaceful counsels, and the settled 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 war. Ye have what I advise." 

   He scarce had finished, when such murmur filled 

Th' assembly as when hollow rocks retain 

The sound of blustering winds, which all night long 

Had roused the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull 

Seafaring men o'erwatched, whose bark by chance 

Or pinnace, anchors in a craggy bay 

After the tempest. Such applause was heard 

As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleased, 

Advising peace: for such another field 

They dreaded worse than Hell; so much the fear 

Of thunder and the sword of Michael 

Wrought still within them; and no less desire 

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Page No 25

To found this nether empire, which might rise, 

By policy and long process of time, 

In emulation opposite to Heaven. 

Which when Beelzebub perceivedthan whom, 

Satan except, none higher satwith grave 

Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemed 

A pillar of state. Deep on his front engraven 

Deliberation sat, and public care; 

And princely counsel in his face yet shone, 

Majestic, 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 summer's noontide air, while thus he spake: 

   "Thrones and Imperial Powers, Offspring of Heaven, 

Ethereal Virtues! or these titles now 

Must we renounce, and, changing style, be called 

Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote 

Inclineshere to continue, and build up here 

A growing empire; doubtless! while we dream, 

And know not that the King of Heaven hath doomed 

This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat 

Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt 

From Heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league 

Banded against his throne, but to remain 

In strictest bondage, though thus far removed, 

Under th' inevitable curb, reserved 

His captive multitude. For he, to be sure, 

In height or depth, still first and last will reign 

Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part 

By our revolt, but over Hell extend 

His empire, and with iron sceptre rule 

Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven. 

What sit we then projecting peace and war? 

War hath determined us and foiled with loss 

Irreparable; terms of peace yet none 

Vouchsafed or sought; for what peace will be given 

To us enslaved, but custody severe, 

And stripes and arbitrary punishment 

Inflicted? and what peace can we return, 

But, to our power, hostility and hate, 

Untamed reluctance, and revenge, though slow, 

Yet ever plotting how the Conqueror least 

May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice 

In doing what we most in suffering feel? 

Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need 

With dangerous expedition to invade 

Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege, 

Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find 

Some easier enterprise? There is a place 

(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven 

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Page No 26

Err not)another World, the happy seat 

Of some new race, called Man, about this time 

To be created like to us, though less 

In power and excellence, but favoured more 

Of him who rules above; so was his will 

Pronounced among the Gods, and by an oath 

That shook Heaven's whole circumference confirmed. 

Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn 

What creatures there inhabit, of what mould 

Or substance, how endued, and what their power 

And where their weakness: how attempted best, 

By force of subtlety. Though Heaven be shut, 

And Heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure 

In his own strength, this place may lie exposed, 

The utmost border of his kingdom, left 

To their defence who hold it: here, perhaps, 

Some advantageous act may be achieved 

By sudden onseteither with Hellfire 

To waste his whole creation, or possess 

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

The puny habitants; or, if not drive, 

Seduce them to our party, that their God 

May prove their 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, 

Hurled headlong to partake with us, shall curse 

Their frail original, 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 counselfirst devised 

By Satan, and in part proposed: 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 Creator? But their spite still serves 

His glory to augment. The bold design 

Pleased highly those infernal States, and joy 

Sparkled in all their eyes: with full assent 

They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews: 

"Well have ye judged, well ended long debate, 

Synod of Gods, and, like to what ye are, 

Great things resolved, which from the lowest deep 

Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate, 

Nearer our ancient seatperhaps in view 

Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbouring arms, 

And opportune excursion, we may chance 

Reenter Heaven; or else in some mild zone 

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Dwell, not unvisited of Heaven's fair light, 

Secure, and at the brightening orient beam 

Purge off this gloom: the soft delicious air, 

To heal the scar of these corrosive fires, 

Shall breathe her balm. But, first, whom shall we send 

In search of this new World? whom shall we find 

Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering feet 

The dark, unbottomed, infinite Abyss, 

And through the palpable obscure find out 

His uncouth way, or spread his airy flight, 

Upborne with indefatigable wings 

Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive 

The happy Isle? 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 suspense, awaiting who appeared 

To second, or oppose, or undertake 

The perilous attempt. But all sat mute, 

Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each 

In other's countenance read his own dismay, 

Astonished. None among the choice and prime 

Of those Heavenwarring champions could be found 

So hardy as to proffer or accept, 

Alone, the dreadful voyage; till, at last, 

Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised 

Above his fellows, with monarchal pride 

Conscious of highest worth, unmoved thus spake: 

   "O Progeny of Heaven! Empyreal Thrones! 

With reason hath deep silence and demur 

Seized us, though undismayed. 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, 

Barred over us, prohibit all egress. 

These passed, if any pass, the void profound 

Of unessential Night receives him next, 

Widegaping, and with utter loss of being 

Threatens him, plunged in that abortive gulf. 

If thence he scape, into whatever world, 

Or unknown region, what remains him less 

Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape? 

But I should ill become this throne, O Peers, 

And this imperial sovereignty, adorned 

With splendour, armed with power, if aught proposed 

And judged of public moment in the shape 

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Of difficulty or danger, could deter 

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 honoured sits? Go, therefore, mighty Powers, 

Terror of Heaven, though fallen; intend at home, 

While here shall be our home, what best may ease 

The present misery, and render Hell 

More tolerable; 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 enterprise 

None shall partake with me." Thus saying, rose 

The Monarch, and prevented all reply; 

Prudent lest, from his resolution raised, 

Others among the chief might offer now, 

Certain to be refused, what erst they feared, 

And, so refused, 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 than his voice 

Forbidding; and at once with him they rose. 

Their rising all at once was as the sound 

Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend 

With awful reverence prone, and as a God 

Extol him equal to the Highest in Heaven. 

Nor failed they to express how much they praised 

That for the general safety he despised 

His own: for neither do the Spirits damned 

Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast 

Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites, 

Or close ambition varnished o'er with zeal. 

   Thus they their doubtful consultations dark 

Ended, rejoicing in their matchless Chief: 

As, when from mountaintops the dusky clouds 

Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o'erspread 

Heaven's cheerful face, the louring element 

Scowls o'er the darkened landscape snow or shower, 

If chance the radiant sun, with farewell sweet, 

Extend his evening beam, the fields revive, 

The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds 

Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings. 

O shame to men! Devil with devil damned 

Firm concord holds; men only disagree 

Of creatures rational, though under hope 

Of heavenly grace, and, God proclaiming peace, 

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Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife 

Among themselves, and levy cruel wars 

Wasting the earth, each other to destroy: 

As if (which might induce us to accord) 

Man had not hellish foes enow besides, 

That day and night for his destruction wait! 

   The Stygian council thus dissolved; and forth 

In order came the grand infernal Peers: 

Midst came their mighty Paramount, and seemed 

Alone th' antagonist of Heaven, nor less 

Than Hell's dread Emperor, with pomp supreme, 

And godlike imitated state: him round 

A globe of fiery Seraphim enclosed 

With bright emblazonry, and horrent arms. 

Then of their session ended they bid cry 

With trumpet's regal sound the great result: 

Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim 

Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy, 

By herald's voice explained; the hollow Abyss 

Heard far adn wide, and all the host of Hell 

With deafening shout returned them loud acclaim. 

Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat raised 

By false presumptuous hope, the ranged Powers 

Disband; and, wandering, each his several way 

Pursues, as inclination or sad choice 

Leads him perplexed, 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 their fiery steeds, or shun the goal 

With rapid wheels, or fronted brigades form: 

As when, to warn proud cities, war appears 

Waged in the troubled sky, and armies rush 

To battle in the clouds; before each van 

Prick forth the airy knights, and couch their spears, 

Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms 

From either end of heaven 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 wild uproar: 

As when Alcides, from Oechalia crowned 

With conquest, felt th' envenomed 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 mild, 

Retreated in a silent valley, sing 

With notes angelical to many a harp 

Their own heroic deeds, and hapless fall 

By doom of battle, and complain that Fate 

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Free Virtue should enthrall to Force or Chance. 

Their 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 retired, 

In thoughts more elevate, and reasoned high 

Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate 

Fixed fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute, 

And found no end, in wandering mazes lost. 

Of good and evil much they argued then, 

Of happiness and final misery, 

Passion and apathy, and glory and shame: 

Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy! 

Yet, with a pleasing sorcery, could charm 

Pain for a while or anguish, and excite 

Fallacious hope, or arm th' obdured breast 

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 yield them easier habitation, bend 

Four ways their flying march, along the banks 

Of four infernal rivers, that disgorge 

Into the burning lake their baleful streams 

Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate; 

Sad Acheron of sorrow, black and deep; 

Cocytus, named of lamentation loud 

Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegeton, 

Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. 

Far off from these, a slow and silent stream, 

Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls 

Her watery 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 wild, 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 harpyfooted Furies haled, 

At certain revolutions all the damned 

Are brought; and feel by turns the bitter change 

Of fierce extremes, extremes by change more fierce, 

From beds of raging fire to starve in ice 

Their soft ethereal warmth, and there to pine 

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Immovable, infixed, and frozen round 

Periods of time,thence hurried back to fire. 

They ferry over this Lethean sound 

Both to and fro, their sorrow to augment, 

And wish and struggle, as they pass, to reach 

The tempting stream, with one small drop to lose 

In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe, 

All in one moment, and so near the brink; 

But Fate withstands, and, to oppose th' attempt, 

Medusa with Gorgonian terror guards 

The ford, and of itself the water flies 

All taste of living wight, as once it fled 

The lip of Tantalus. Thus roving on 

In confused march forlorn, th' adventurous bands, 

With shuddering horror pale, and eyes aghast, 

Viewed first their lamentable lot, and found 

No rest. Through many a dark and dreary vale 

They passed, and many a region dolorous, 

O'er many a frozen, many a fiery alp, 

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, 

Obominable, inutterable, and worse 

Than fables yet have feigned or fear conceived, 

Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimeras dire. 

   Meanwhile the Adversary of God and Man, 

Satan, with thoughts inflamed of highest design, 

Puts on swift wings, and toward the gates of Hell 

Explores his solitary flight: sometimes 

He scours the right hand coast, sometimes the left; 

Now shaves with level wing the deep, then soars 

Up to the fiery concave towering high. 

As when far off at sea a fleet descried 

Hangs in the clouds, by equinoctial winds 

Close sailing from Bengala, or the isles 

Of Ternate and Tidore, whence merchants bring 

Their spicy drugs; they on the trading flood, 

Through the wide Ethiopian to the Cape, 

Ply stemming nightly toward the pole: so seemed 

Far off the flying Fiend. At last appear 

Hellbounds, high reaching to the horrid roof, 

And thrice threefold the gates; three folds were brass, 

Three iron, three of adamantine rock, 

Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire, 

Yet unconsumed. Before the gates there sat 

On either side a formidable Shape. 

The one seemed woman to the waist, and fair, 

But ended foul in many a scaly fold, 

Voluminous and vasta serpent armed 

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With mortal sting. About her middle round 

A cry of Hellhounds neverceasing barked 

With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung 

A hideous peal; yet, when they list, would creep, 

If aught disturbed their noise, into her womb, 

And kennel there; yet there still barked and howled 

Within unseen. Far less abhorred than these 

Vexed Scylla, bathing in the sea that parts 

Calabria from the hoarse Trinacrian shore; 

Nor uglier follow the nighthag, when, called 

In secret, riding through the air she comes, 

Lured with the smell of infant blood, to dance 

With Lapland witches, while the labouring moon 

Eclipses at their charms. The other Shape 

If shape it might be called that shape had none 

Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb; 

Or substance might be called that shadow seemed, 

For each seemed eitherblack it stood as Night, 

Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell, 

And shook a dreadful dart: what seemed 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 admired 

Admired, not feared (God and his Son except, 

Created thing naught valued he nor shunned), 

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 assured, without leave asked of thee. 

Retire; or taste thy folly, and learn by proof, 

Hellborn, not to contend with Spirits of Heaven." 

   To whom the Goblin, full of wrath, replied: 

"Art thou that traitor Angel? art thou he, 

Who first broke peace in Heaven and faith, till then 

Unbroken, and in proud rebellious arms 

Drew after him the third part of Heaven's sons, 

Conjured against the Highestfor which both thou 

And they, outcast from God, are here condemned 

To waste eternal days in woe and pain? 

And reckon'st thou thyself with Spirits of Heaven 

Helldoomed, 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, 

Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue 

Thy lingering, or with one stroke of this dart 

Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before." 

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So spake the grisly Terror, and in shape, 

So speaking and so threatening, grew tenfold, 

More dreadful and deform. On th' other side, 

Incensed with indignation, Satan stood 

Unterrified, and like a comet burned, 

That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge 

In th' arctic sky, and from his horrid hair 

Shakes pestilence and war. Each at the head 

Levelled his deadly aim; their fatal hands 

No second stroke intend; and such a frown 

Each cast at th' other as when two black clouds, 

With heaven's artillery fraught, came rattling on 

Over the Caspian,then stand front to front 

Hovering a space, till winds the signal blow 

To join their dark encounter in midair. 

So frowned the mighty combatants that Hell 

Grew darker at their frown; so matched they stood; 

For never but once more was wither like 

To meet so great a foe. And now great deeds 

Had been achieved, whereof all Hell had rung, 

Had not the snaky Sorceress, that sat 

Fast by Hellgate and kept the fatal key, 

Risen, and with hideous outcry rushed between. 

   "O father, what intends thy hand," she cried, 

"Against thy only son? What fury, O son, 

Possesses thee to bend that mortal dart 

Against thy father's head? And know'st for whom? 

For him who sits above, and laughs the while 

At thee, ordained his drudge to execute 

Whate'er 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 returned: 

   "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 doubleformed, and why, 

In this infernal vale first met, thou call'st 

Me father, and that phantasm call'st my son. 

I know thee not, nor ever saw till now 

Sight more detestable than him and thee." 

   T' whom thus the Portress of Hellgate replied: 

"Hast thou forgot me, then; and do I seem 

Now in thine eye so foul?once deemed so fair 

In Heaven, when at th' assembly, and in sight 

Of all the Seraphim with thee combined 

In bold conspiracy against Heaven's King, 

All on a sudden miserable pain 

Surprised thee, dim thine eyes and dizzy swum 

In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast 

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Threw forth, till on the left side opening wide, 

Likest to thee in shape and countenance bright, 

Then shining heavenly fair, a goddess armed, 

Out of thy head I sprung. Amazement seized 

All th' host of Heaven; back they recoiled afraid 

At first, and called me Sin, and for a sign 

Portentous held me; but, familiar grown, 

I pleased, and with attractive graces won 

The most aversethee chiefly, who, full oft 

Thyself in me thy perfect image viewing, 

Becam'st enamoured; and such joy thou took'st 

With me in secret that my womb conceived 

A growing burden. Meanwhile war arose, 

And fields were fought in Heaven: wherein remained 

(For what could else?) to our Almighty Foe 

Clear victory; to our part loss and rout 

Through all the Empyrean. Down they fell, 

Driven 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 hands was given, with charge to keep 

These gates for ever shut, which none can pass 

Without my opening. 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 

Transformed: but he my inbred enemy 

Forth issued, brandishing his fatal dart, 

Made to destroy. I fled, and cried out Death! 

Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sighed 

From all her caves, and back resounded Death! 

I fled; but he pursued (though more, it seems, 

Inflamed with lust than rage), and, swifter far, 

Me overtook, his mother, all dismayed, 

And, in embraces forcible and foul 

Engendering with me, of that rape begot 

These yelling monsters, that with ceaseless cry 

Surround me, as thou saw'sthourly conceived 

And hourly born, with sorrow infinite 

To me; for, when they list, into the womb 

That bred them they return, and howl, and gnaw 

My bowels, their repast; then, bursting forth 

Afresh, with conscious terrors vex me round, 

That rest or intermission none I find. 

Before mine eyes in opposition sits 

Grim Death, my son and foe, who set them on, 

And me, his parent, would full soon devour 

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For want of other prey, but that he knows 

His end with mine involved, and knows that I 

Should prove a bitter morsel, and his bane, 

Whenever that shall be: so Fate pronounced. 

But thou, O father, I forewarn thee, shun 

His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope 

To be invulnerable in those bright arms, 

Through tempered heavenly; for that mortal dint, 

Save he who reigns above, none can resist." 

   She finished; and the subtle Fiend his lore 

Soon learned, now milder, and thus answered smooth: 

   "Dear daughtersince thou claim'st me for thy sire, 

And my fair son here show'st me, the dear pledge 

Of dalliance had with thee in Heaven, and joys 

Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change 

Befallen us unforeseen, unthoughtofknow, 

I come no enemy, but to set free 

From out this dark and dismal house of pain 

Both him and thee, and all the heavenly host 

Of Spirits that, in our just pretences armed, 

Fell with us from on high. From them I go 

This uncouth errand sole, and one for all 

Myself expose, with lonely steps to tread 

Th' unfounded Deep, and through the void immense 

To search, with wandering quest, a place foretold 

Should beand, by concurring signs, ere now 

Created vast and rounda place of bliss 

In the purlieus of Heaven; and therein placed 

A race of upstart creatures, to supply 

Perhaps our vacant room, though more removed, 

Lest Heaven, surcharged with potent multitude, 

Might hap to move new broils. Be this, or aught 

Than this more secret, now designed, 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, embalmed 

With odours. There ye shall be fed and filled 

Immeasurably; all things shall be your prey." 

   He ceased; for both seemed highly pleased, and Death 

Grinned horrible a ghastly smile, to hear 

His famine should be filled, and blessed his maw 

Destined to that good hour. No less rejoiced 

His mother bad, and thus bespake her sire: 

   "The key of this infernal Pit, by due 

And by command of Heaven's allpowerful 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'ermatched by living might. 

But what owe I to his commands above, 

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Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down 

Into this gloom of Tartarus profound, 

To sit in hateful office here confined, 

Inhabitant of Heaven and heavenly born 

Here in perpetual agony and pain, 

With terrors and with clamours compassed 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 rolling her bestial train, 

Forthwith the huge portcullis high updrew, 

Which, but herself, not all the Stygian Powers 

Could once have moved; then in the keyhole turns 

Th' intricate wards, and every bolt and bar 

Of massy iron or solid rock with ease 

Unfastens. On a sudden open fly, 

With impetuous recoil and jarring sound, 

Th' infernal doors, and on their hinges grate 

Harsh thunder, that the lowest bottom shook 

Of Erebus. She opened; but to shut 

Excelled her power: the gates wide open stood, 

That with extended wings a bannered host, 

Under spread ensigns marching, mibht pass through 

With horse and chariots ranked in loose array; 

So wide they stood, and like a furnacemouth 

Cast forth redounding smoke and ruddy flame. 

Before their eyes in sudden view appear 

The secrets of the hoary Deepa dark 

Illimitable ocean, without bound, 

Without dimension; where length, breadth, and height, 

And time, and place, are lost; where eldest Night 

And Chaos, ancestors of Nature, hold 

Eternal anarchy, amidst the noise 

Of endless wars, and by confusion stand. 

For Hot, Cold, Moist, and Dry, four champions fierce, 

Strive here for mastery, and to battle bring 

Their embryon atoms: they around the flag 

Of each his faction, in their several clans, 

Lightarmed or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift, or slow, 

Swarm populous, unnumbered as the sands 

Of Barca or Cyrene's torrid soil, 

Levied to side with warring winds, and poise 

Their lighter wings. To whom these most adhere 

He rules a moment: Chaos umpire sits, 

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And by decision more embroils the fray 

By which he reigns: next him, high arbiter, 

Chance governs all. Into this wild Abyss, 

The womb of Nature, and perhaps her grave, 

Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire, 

But all these in their pregnant causes mixed 

Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight, 

Unless th' Almighty Maker them ordain 

His dark materials to create more worlds 

Into this wild Abyss the wary Fiend 

Stood on the brink of Hell and looked a while, 

Pondering his voyage; for no narrow frith 

He had to cross. Nor was his ear less pealed 

With noises loud and ruinous (to compare 

Great things with small) than when Bellona storms 

With all her battering engines, bent to rase 

Some capital city; or less than if this frame 

Of Heaven were falling, and these elements 

In mutiny had from her axle torn 

The steadfast Earth. At last his sailbroad vans 

He spread for flight, and, in the surging smoke 

Uplifted, spurns the ground; thence many a league, 

As in a cloudy chair, ascending rides 

Audacious; but, that seat soon failing, meets 

A vast vacuity. All unawares, 

Fluttering his pennons vain, plumbdown he drops 

Ten thousand fathom deep, and to this hour 

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

The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud, 

Instinct with fire and nitre, hurried him 

As many miles aloft. That fury stayed 

Quenched in a boggy Syrtis, neither sea, 

Nor good dry landnigh foundered, on he fares, 

Treading the crude consistence, half on foot, 

Half flying; behoves him now both oar and sail. 

As when a gryphon through the wilderness 

With winged course, o'er hill or moory dale, 

Pursues the Arimaspian, who by stealth 

Had from his wakeful custody purloined 

The guarded gold; so eagerly the Fiend 

O'er 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 flies. 

At length a universal hubbub wild 

Of stunning sounds, and voices all confused, 

Borne through the hollow dark, assaults his ear 

With loudest vehemence. Thither he plies 

Undaunted, to meet there whatever Power 

Or Spirit of the nethermost Abyss 

Might in that noise reside, of whom to ask 

Which way the nearest coast of darkness lies 

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Bordering on light; when straight behold the throne 

Of Chaos, and his dark pavilion spread 

Wide on the wasteful Deep! With him enthroned 

Sat sablevested Night, eldest of things, 

The consort of his reign; and by them stood 

Orcus and Ades, and the dreaded name 

Of Demogorgon; Rumour next, and Chance, 

And Tumult, and Confusion, all embroiled, 

And Discord with a thousand various mouths. 

   T' whom Satan, turning boldly, thus:"Ye Powers 

And Spirtis of this nethermost Abyss, 

Chaos and ancient Night, I come no spy 

With purpose to explore or to disturb 

The secrets of your realm; but, by constraint 

Wandering this darksome desert, 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 gloomy bounds 

Confine with Heaven; or, if some other place, 

From your dominion won, th' Ethereal King 

Possesses lately, thither to arrive 

I travel this profound. Direct my course: 

Directed, no mean recompense it brings 

To your behoof, if I that region lost, 

All usurpation thence expelled, reduce 

To her original darkness and your sway 

(Which is my present journey), and once more 

Erect the standard there of ancient Night. 

Yours be th' advantage all, mine the revenge!" 

   Thus Satan; and him thus the Anarch old, 

With faltering speech and visage incomposed, 

Answered: "I know thee, stranger, who thou art *** 

That mighty leading Angel, who of late 

Made head against Heaven's 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 Heavengates 

Poured out by millions her victorious bands, 

Pursuing. I upon my frontiers here 

Keep residence; if all I can will serve 

That little which is left so to defend, 

Encroached on still through our intestine broils 

Weakening the sceptre of old Night: first, Hell, 

Your dungeon, stretching far and wide beneath; 

Now lately Heaven and Earth, another world 

Hung o'er my realm, linked in a golden chain 

To that side Heaven from whence your legions fell! 

If that way be your walk, you have not far; 

So much the nearer danger. Go, and speed; 

Havoc, and spoil, and ruin, are my gain." 

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He ceased; and Satan stayed not to reply, 

But, glad that now his sea should find a shore, 

With fresh alacrity and force renewed 

Springs upward, like a pyramid of fire, 

Into the wild expanse, and through the shock 

Of fighting elements, on all sides round 

Environed, wins his way; harder beset 

And more endangered than when Argo passed 

Through Bosporus betwixt the justling rocks, 

Or when Ulysses on the larboard shunned 

Charybdis, and by th' other whirlpool steered. 

So he with difficulty and labour hard 

Moved on, with difficulty and labour he; 

But, he once passed, soon after, when Man fell, 

Strange alteration! Sin and Death amain, 

Following his track (such was the will of Heaven) 

Paved after him a broad and beaten way 

Over the dark Abyss, whose boiling gulf 

Tamely endured a bridge of wondrous length, 

From Hell continued, reaching th' utmost orb 

Of this frail World; by which the Spirits perverse 

With easy 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 Heaven 

Shoots far into the bosom of dim Night 

A glimmering dawn. Here Nature first begins 

Her farthest verge, and Chaos to retire, 

As from her outmost works, a broken 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 weatherbeaten vessel, holds 

Gladly the port, though shrouds and tackle torn; 

Or in the emptier waste, resembling air, 

Weighs his spread wings, at leisure to behold 

Far off th' empyreal Heaven, extended wide 

In circuit, undetermined square or round, 

With opal towers and battlements adorned 

Of living sapphire, once his native seat; 

And, fast by, hanging in a golden chain, 

This pendent World, in bigness as a star 

Of smallest magnitude close by the moon. 

Thither, full fraught with mischievous revenge, 

Accursed, and in a cursed hour, he hies. 

Book III

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Hail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven firstborn, 

Or of the Eternal coeternal beam 

May I express thee unblam'd? since God is light, 

And never but in unapproached light 

Dwelt from eternity, 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 revisit now with bolder wing, 

Escap'd 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 than to the Orphean lyre 

I sung of Chaos and eternal Night; 

Taught by the heavenly 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 roll in vain 

To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn; 

So thick a drop serene hath quench'd their orbs, 

Or dim suffusion veil'd. Yet not the more 

Cease I to wander, where the Muses haunt, 

Clear spring, or shady grove, or sunny hill, 

Smit with the love of sacred song; but chief 

Thee, Sion, and the flowery brooks beneath, 

That wash thy hallow'd feet, and warbling flow, 

Nightly I visit: nor sometimes forget 

So were I equall'd with them in renown, 

Thy sovran command, that Man should find grace; 

Blind Thamyris, and blind Maeonides, 

And Tiresias, and Phineus, prophets old: 

Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary 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 even or morn, 

Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer's rose, 

Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine; 

But cloud instead, and everduring dark 

Surrounds me, from the cheerful ways of men 

Cut off, and for the book of knowledge fair 

Presented with a universal blank 

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Of nature's works to me expung'd and ras'd, 

And wisdom 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 stars, and from his sight receiv'd 

Beatitude past utterance; on his right 

The radiant image of his glory sat, 

His only son; on earth he first beheld 

Our two first parents, yet the only two 

Of mankind in the happy garden plac'd 

Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love, 

Uninterrupted joy, unrivall'd love, 

In blissful solitude; he then survey'd 

Hell and the gulf between, and Satan there 

Coasting the wall of Heaven 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 only Son foreseeing spake. 

Only begotten Son, seest thou what rage 

Transports our Adversary? whom no bounds 

Prescrib'd no bars of Hell, nor all the chains 

Heap'd on him there, nor yet the main abyss 

Wide interrupt, can hold; so bent he seems 

On desperate revenge, that shall redound 

Upon his own rebellious head. And now, 

Through all restraint broke loose, he wings his way 

Not far off Heaven, in the precincts of light, 

Directly towards the new created world, 

And man there plac'd, with purpose to assay 

If him by force he can destroy, or, worse, 

By some false guile pervert; and shall pervert; 

For man will hearken to his glozing lies, 

And easily transgress the sole command, 

Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fall 

He and his faithless progeny: Whose fault? 

Whose but his own? ingrate, he had of me 

All he could have; I made him just and right, 

Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. 

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Such I created all the ethereal Powers 

And Spirits, both them who stood, and them who fail'd; 

Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. 

Not free, what proof could they have given sincere 

Of true allegiance, constant faith or love, 

Where only what they needs must do appear'd, 

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 despoil'd, 

Made passive both, had serv'd necessity, 

Not me? they therefore, as to right belong$ 'd, 

So were created, nor can justly accuse 

Their Maker, or their making, or their fate, 

As if predestination overrul'd 

Their will dispos'd by absolute decree 

Or high foreknowledge they themselves decreed 

Their own revolt, not I; if I foreknew, 

Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault, 

Which had no less proved certain unforeknown. 

So without least impulse or shadow of fate, 

Or aught by me immutably foreseen, 

They trespass, authors to themselves in all 

Both what they judge, and what they choose; for so 

I form'd them free: and free they must remain, 

Till they enthrall themselves; I else must change 

Their nature, and revoke the high decree 

Unchangeable, eternal, which ordain'd 

$THeir freedom: they themselves ordain'd their fall. 

The first sort by their own suggestion fell, 

Selftempted, selfdeprav'd: Man falls, deceiv'd 

By the other first: Man therefore shall find grace, 

The other none: In mercy and justice both, 

Through Heaven and Earth, so shall my glory excel; 

But Mercy, first and last, shall brightest shine. 

Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill'd 

All Heaven, 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 shone 

Substantially express'd; and in his face 

Divine compassion visibly appear'd, 

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 command, that Man should find grace; 

, that Man should find grace; 

For which both Heaven and earth shall high extol 

Thy praises, with the innumerable sound 

Of hymns and sacred songs, wherewith thy throne 

Encompass'd shall resound thee ever blest. 

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For should Man finally be lost, should Man, 

Thy creature late so lov'd, thy youngest son, 

Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though join'd 

With his own folly? that be from thee far, 

That far be from thee, Father, who art judge 

Of all things made, and judgest only right. 

Or shall the Adversary thus obtain 

His end, and frustrate thine? shall he fulfill 

His malice, and thy goodness bring to nought, 

Or proud return, though to his heavier doom, 

Yet with revenge accomplish'd, and to Hell 

Draw after him the whole race of mankind, 

By him corrupted? or wilt thou thyself 

Abolish thy creation, and unmake 

For him, what for thy glory thou hast made? 

So should thy goodness and thy greatness both 

Be question'd and blasphem'd without defence. 

To whom the great Creator thus replied. 

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 spoken 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 vouchsaf'd; 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 fallen condition is, and to me owe 

All his deliverance, 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 warn'd 

Their sinful state, and to appease betimes 

The incensed Deity, while offer'd grace 

Invites; for I will clear their senses dark, 

What may suffice, and soften stony hearts 

To pray, repent, and bring obedience due. 

To prayer, repentance, and obedience due, 

Though but endeavour'd with sincere intent, 

Mine ear 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 harden'd, blind be blinded more, 

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That they may stumble on, and deeper fall; 

And none but such from mercy I exclude. 

But yet all is not done; Man disobeying, 

Disloyal, breaks his fealty, and sins 

Against the high supremacy of Heaven, 

Affecting Godhead, and, so losing all, 

To expiate his treason hath nought left, 

But to destruction sacred and devote, 

He, with his whole posterity, must die, 

Die he or justice must; unless for him 

Some other able, and as willing, pay 

The rigid satisfaction, death for death. 

Say, heavenly Powers, where shall we find such love? 

Which of you will be mortal, to redeem 

Man's mortal crime, and just the unjust to save? 

Dwells in all Heaven charity so dear? 

And silence was in Heaven: $ on Man's behalf 

He ask'd, but all the heavenly quire stood mute, 

Patron or intercessour none appear'd, 

Much less that durst upon his own head draw 

The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set. 

And now without redemption all mankind 

Must have been lost, adjudg'd to Death and Hell 

By doom severe, had not the Son of God, 

In whom the fulness dwells of love divine, 

His dearest mediation thus renew'd. 

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? 

Happy for Man, so coming; he her aid 

Can never seek, once dead in sins, and lost; 

Atonement for himself, or offering meet, 

Indebted and undone, hath none to bring; 

Behold me then: me for him, life for life 

I offer: on me let thine anger fall; 

Account me Man; I for his sake will leave 

Thy bosom, and this glory next to thee 

Freely put off, and for him lastly die 

Well pleased; on me let Death wreak all his rage. 

Under his gloomy power I shall not long 

Lie vanquished. Thou hast given me to possess 

Life in myself for ever; by thee I live; 

Though now to Death I yield, and am his due, 

All that of me can die, yet, that debt paid, 

$ thou wilt not leave me in the loathsome grave 

His prey, nor suffer my unspotted soul 

For ever with corruption there to dwell; 

But I shall rise victorious, and subdue 

My vanquisher, spoiled of his vaunted spoil. 

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Death his death's wound shall then receive, and stoop 

Inglorious, of his mortal sting disarmed; 

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 

Pleased, out of Heaven shalt look down and smile, 

While, by thee raised, I ruin all my foes; 

Death last, and with his carcase glut the grave; 

Then, with the multitude of my redeemed, 

Shall enter Heaven, long absent, and return, 

Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloud 

Of anger shall remain, but peace assured 

And reconcilement: wrath shall be no more 

Thenceforth, but in thy presence joy entire. 

His words here ended; but his meek aspect 

Silent yet spake, and breathed immortal love 

To mortal men, above which only shone 

Filial obedience: as a sacrifice 

Glad to be offered, he attends the will 

Of his great Father. Admiration seized 

All Heaven, what this might mean, and whither tend, 

Wondering; but soon th' Almighty thus replied. 

O thou in Heaven and Earth the only peace 

Found out for mankind under wrath, 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 losing thee a while, the whole race lost. 

    00021053 

Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem, 

Their nature also to thy nature join; 

And be thyself Man among men on Earth, 

Made flesh, when time shall be, of virgin seed, 

By wondrous birth; be thou in Adam's room 

The head of all mankind, though Adam's son. 

As in him perish all men, so in thee, 

As from a second root, shall be restored 

As many as are restored, without thee none. 

His crime makes guilty all his sons; thy merit, 

Imputed, shall absolve them who renounce 

Their own both righteous and unrighteous deeds, 

And live in thee transplanted, and from thee 

Receive new life. So Man, as is most just, 

Shall satisfy for Man, be judged and die, 

And dying rise, and rising with him raise 

His brethren, ransomed with his own dear life. 

So heavenly love shall outdo hellish hate, 

Giving to death, and dying to redeem, 

So dearly to redeem what hellish hate 

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So easily destroyed, and still destroys 

In those who, when they may, accept not grace. 

Nor shalt thou, by descending to assume 

Man's nature, lessen or degrade thine own. 

Because thou hast, though throned in highest bliss 

Equal to God, and equally enjoying 

Godlike fruition, quitted all, to save 

A world from utter loss, and hast been found 

By merit more than birthright Son of God, 

Found worthiest to be so by being good, 

Far more than great or high; because in thee 

Love hath abounded more than glory abounds; 

Therefore thy humiliation shall exalt 

With thee thy manhood also to this throne: 

Here shalt thou sit incarnate, here shalt reign 

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 supreme, 

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 Heaven, 

Shalt in the sky appear, and from thee send 

The summoning ArchAngels to proclaim 

Thy dread tribunal; forthwith from all winds, 

The living, and forthwith the cited dead 

Of all past ages, to the general doom 

Shall hasten; such a peal shall rouse their sleep. 

Then, all thy saints assembled, thou shalt judge 

Bad Men and Angels; they, arraigned, 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 Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell, 

And, after all their tribulations long, 

See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds, 

With joy and peace 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 me. 

No sooner had the Almighty ceased, but all 

The multitude of Angels, with a shout 

Loud as from numbers without number, sweet 

As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heaven rung 

With jubilee, and loud Hosannas filled 

The eternal regions: Lowly reverent 

Towards either throne they bow, and to the ground 

With solemn adoration down they cast 

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Their crowns inwove with amarant and gold; 

Immortal amarant, a flower which once 

In Paradise, fast by the tree of life, 

Began to bloom; but soon for man's offence 

To Heaven removed, where first it grew, there grows, 

And flowers aloft shading the fount of life, 

And where the river of bliss through midst of Heaven 

Rolls o'er Elysian flowers her amber stream; 

With these that never fade the Spirits elect 

Bind their resplendent locks inwreathed with beams; 

Now in loose garlands thick thrown off, the bright 

Pavement, that like a sea of jasper shone, 

Impurpled with celestial roses smiled. 

Then, crowned again, their golden harps they took, 

Harps ever tuned, that glittering by their side 

Like quivers hung, and with preamble sweet 

Of charming symphony they introduce 

Their sacred song, and waken raptures high; 

No voice exempt, no voice but well could join 

Melodious part, such concord is in Heaven. 

Thee, Father, first they sung Omnipotent, 

Immutable, Immortal, Infinite, 

Eternal King; the Author of all being, 

Fonntain of light, thyself invisible 

Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sit'st 

Throned inaccessible, but when thou shadest 

The full blaze of thy beams, and, through a cloud 

Drawn round about thee like a radiant shrine, 

Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appear, 

Yet dazzle Heaven, that brightest Seraphim 

Approach not, but with both wings veil their eyes. 

Thee next they sang of all creation first, 

Begotten Son, Divine Similitude, 

In whose conspicuous countenance, without cloud 

Made visible, the Almighty Father shines, 

Whom else no creature can behold; on thee 

Impressed the effulgence of his glory abides, 

Transfused on thee his ample Spirit rests. 

He Heaven of Heavens and all the Powers therein 

By thee created; and by thee threw down 

The aspiring Dominations: Thou that day 

Thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare, 

Nor stop thy flaming chariotwheels, that shook 

Heaven's everlasting frame, while o'er the necks 

Thou drovest of warring Angels disarrayed. 

Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaim 

Thee only extolled, Son of thy Father's might, 

To execute fierce vengeance on his foes, 

Not so on Man: Him through their malice fallen, 

Father of mercy and grace, thou didst not doom 

So strictly, but much more to pity incline: 

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No sooner did thy dear and only Son 

Perceive thee purposed not to doom frail Man 

So strictly, but much more to pity inclined, 

He to appease thy wrath, and end the strife 

Of mercy and justice in thy face discerned, 

Regardless of the bliss wherein he sat 

Second to thee, offered himself to die 

For Man's offence. O unexampled love, 

Love no where to be found less than Divine! 

Hail, Son of God, Saviour of Men! Thy name 

Shall be the copious matter of my song 

Henceforth, and never shall my heart thy praise 

Forget, nor from thy Father's praise disjoin. 

Thus they in Heaven, above the starry sphere, 

Their happy hours in joy and hymning spent. 

Mean while upon the firm opacous globe 

Of this round world, whose first convex divides 

The luminous inferiour orbs, enclosed 

From Chaos, and the inroad of Darkness old, 

Satan alighted walks: A globe far off 

It seemed, now seems a boundless continent 

Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Night 

Starless exposed, and everthreatening storms 

Of Chaos blustering round, inclement sky; 

Save on that side which from the wall of Heaven, 

Though distant far, some small reflection gains 

Of glimmering air less vexed with tempest loud: 

Here walked the Fiend at large in spacious field. 

As when a vultur on Imaus bred, 

Whose snowy 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 plains 

Of Sericana, where Chineses drive 

With sails and wind their cany waggons light: 

So, on this windy sea of land, the Fiend 

Walked up and down alone, bent on his prey; 

Alone, for other creature in this place, 

Living or lifeless, to be found was none; 

None yet, but store hereafter from the earth 

Up hither like aereal vapours flew 

Of all things transitory and vain, when sin 

With vanity had filled the works of men: 

Both all things vain, and all who in vain things 

Built their fond hopes of glory or lasting fame, 

Or happiness in this or the other life; 

All who have their reward on earth, the fruits 

Of painful superstition and blind zeal, 

Nought seeking but the praise of men, here find 

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Fit retribution, empty as their deeds; 

All the unaccomplished works of Nature's hand, 

Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixed, 

Dissolved on earth, fleet hither, and in vain, 

Till final dissolution, wander here; 

Not in the neighbouring moon as some have dreamed; 

Those argent fields more likely habitants, 

Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold 

Betwixt the angelical and human kind. 

Hither of illjoined sons and daughters born 

First from the ancient world those giants came 

With many a vain exploit, though then renowned: 

The builders next of Babel on the plain 

Of Sennaar, and still with vain design, 

New Babels, had they wherewithal, would build: 

Others came single; he, who, to be deemed 

A God, leaped fondly into Aetna flames, 

Empedocles; and he, who, to enjoy 

Plato's Elysium, leaped into the sea, 

Cleombrotus; and many more too long, 

Embryos, and idiots, eremites, and friars 

White, black, and gray, with all their trumpery. 

Here pilgrims roam, that strayed so far to seek 

In Golgotha him dead, who lives in Heaven; 

And they, who to be sure of Paradise, 

Dying, put on the weeds of Dominick, 

Or in Franciscan think to pass disguised; 

They pass the planets seven, and pass the fixed, 

And that crystalling sphere whose balance weighs 

The trepidation talked, and that first moved; 

And now Saint Peter at Heaven's wicket seems 

To wait them with his keys, and now at foot 

Of Heaven's ascent they lift their feet, when lo 

A violent cross wind from either coast 

Blows them transverse, ten thousand leagues awry 

Into the devious air: Then might ye see 

Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, tost 

And fluttered into rags; then reliques, beads, 

Indulgences, dispenses, pardons, bulls, 

The sport of winds: All these, upwhirled aloft, 

Fly o'er the backside of the world far off 

Into a Limbo large and broad, since called 

The Paradise of Fools, to few unknown 

Long after; now unpeopled, and untrod. 

All this dark globe the Fiend found as he passed, 

And long he wandered, till at last a gleam 

Of dawning light turned thitherward in haste 

His travelled steps: far distant he descries 

Ascending by degrees magnificent 

Up to the wall of Heaven a structure high; 

At top whereof, but far more rich, appeared 

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The work as of a kingly palacegate, 

With frontispiece of diamond and gold 

Embellished; thick with sparkling orient gems 

The portal shone, inimitable on earth 

By model, or by shading pencil, drawn. 

These stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw 

Angels ascending and descending, bands 

Of guardians bright, when he from Esau fled 

To PadanAram, in the field of Luz 

Dreaming by night under the open sky 

And waking cried, This is the gate of Heaven. 

Each stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood 

There always, but drawn up to Heaven sometimes 

Viewless; and underneath a bright sea flowed 

Of jasper, or of liquid pearl, whereon 

Who after came from earth, failing arrived 

Wafted by Angels, or flew o'er the lake 

Rapt in a chariot drawn by fiery steeds. 

The stairs were then let down, whether to dare 

The Fiend by easy ascent, or aggravate 

His sad exclusion from the doors of bliss: 

Direct against which opened from beneath, 

Just o'er the blissful seat of Paradise, 

A passage down to the Earth, a passage wide, 

Wider by far than that of aftertimes 

Over mount Sion, and, though that were large, 

Over the Promised Land to God so dear; 

By which, to visit oft those happy tribes, 

On high behests his angels to and fro 

Passed frequent, and his eye with choice regard 

From Paneas, the fount of Jordan's flood, 

To Beersaba, where the Holy Land 

Borders on Egypt and the Arabian shore; 

So wide the opening seemed, where bounds were set 

To darkness, such as bound the ocean wave. 

Satan from hence, now on the lower stair, 

That scaled by steps of gold to Heavengate, 

Looks down with wonder at the sudden view 

Of all this world at once. As when a scout, 

Through dark?;nd desart ways with?oeril gone 

All?might,?;t?kast by break of cheerful dawn 

Obtains the brow of some highclimbing hill, 

Which to his eye discovers unaware 

The goodly prospect of some foreign land 

First seen, or some renowned metropolis 

With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned, 

Which now the rising sun gilds with his beams: 

Such wonder seised, though after Heaven seen, 

The Spirit malign, but much more envy seised, 

At sight of all this world beheld so fair. 

Round he surveys (and well might, where he stood 

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So high above the circling canopy 

Of night's extended shade,) from eastern point 

Of Libra to the fleecy star that bears 

Andromeda far off Atlantick seas 

Beyond the horizon; then from pole to pole 

He views in breadth, and without longer pause 

Down right into the world's first region throws 

His flight precipitant, and winds with ease 

Through the pure marble air his oblique way 

Amongst innumerable stars, that shone 

Stars distant, but nigh hand seemed other worlds; 

Or other worlds they seemed, or happy isles, 

Like those Hesperian gardens famed of old, 

Fortunate fields, and groves, and flowery vales, 

Thrice happy isles; but who dwelt happy there 

He staid not to inquire: Above them all 

The golden sun, in splendour likest Heaven, 

Allured his eye; thither his course he bends 

Through the calm firmament, (but up or down, 

By center, or eccentrick, hard to tell, 

Or longitude,) where the great luminary 

Aloof the vulgar constellations thick, 

That from his lordly eye keep distance due, 

Dispenses light from far; they, as they move 

Their starry dance in numbers that compute 

Days, months, and years, towards his allcheering lamp 

Turn swift their various motions, or are turned 

By his magnetick beam, that gently warms 

The universe, and to each inward part 

With gentle penetration, though unseen, 

Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep; 

So wonderously was set his station bright. 

There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps 

Astronomer in the sun's lucent orb 

Through his glazed optick tube yet never saw. 

The place he found beyond expression bright, 

Compared with aught on earth, metal or stone; 

Not all parts like, but all alike informed 

With radiant light, as glowing iron with fire; 

If metal, part seemed gold, part silver clear; 

If stone, carbuncle most or chrysolite, 

Ruby or topaz, to the twelve that shone 

In Aaron's breastplate, and a stone besides 

Imagined rather oft than elsewhere seen, 

That stone, or like to that which here below 

Philosophers in vain so long have sought, 

In vain, though by their powerful art they bind 

Volatile Hermes, and call up unbound 

In various shapes old Proteus from the sea, 

Drained through a limbeck to his native form. 

What wonder then if fields and regions here 

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Breathe forth Elixir pure, and rivers run 

Potable gold, when with one virtuous touch 

The archchemick sun, so far from us remote, 

Produces, with terrestrial humour mixed, 

Here in the dark so many precious things 

Of colour glorious, and effect so rare? 

Here matter new to gaze the Devil met 

Undazzled; far and wide his eye commands; 

For sight no obstacle found here, nor shade, 

But all sunshine, as when his beams at noon 

Culminate from the equator, as they now 

Shot upward still direct, whence no way round 

Shadow from body opaque can fall; and the air, 

No where so clear, sharpened his visual ray 

To objects distant far, whereby he soon 

Saw within ken a glorious Angel stand, 

The same whom John saw also in the sun: 

His back was turned, but not his brightness hid; 

Of beaming sunny rays a golden tiar 

Circled his head, nor less his locks behind 

Illustrious on his shoulders fledge with wings 

Lay waving round; on some great charge employed 

He seemed, or fixed in cogitation deep. 

Glad was the Spirit impure, as now in hope 

To find who might direct his wandering flight 

To Paradise, the happy seat of Man, 

His journey's 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 Cherub he appears, 

Not of the prime, yet such as in his face 

Youth smiled celestial, and to every limb 

Suitable grace diffused, so well he feigned: 

Under a coronet his flowing hair 

In curls on either cheek played; wings he wore 

Of many a coloured plume, sprinkled 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 turned, 

Admonished by his ear, and straight was known 

The ArchAngel Uriel, one of the seven 

Who in God's presence, nearest to his throne, 

Stand ready at command, and are his eyes 

That run through all the Heavens, or down to the Earth 

Bear his swift errands over moist and dry, 

O'er sea and land: him Satan thus accosts. 

Uriel, for thou of those seven Spirits that stand 

In sight of God's high throne, gloriously bright, 

The first art wont his great authentick will 

Interpreter through highest Heaven to bring, 

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Where all his sons thy embassy attend; 

And here art likeliest by supreme 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 wonderous works, but chiefly Man, 

His chief delight and favour, him for whom 

All these his works so wonderous he ordained, 

Hath brought me from the quires of Cherubim 

Alone thus wandering. Brightest Seraph, tell 

In which of all these shining orbs hath Man 

His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none, 

But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell; 

That I may find him, and with secret gaze 

Or open admiration him behold, 

On whom the great Creator hath bestowed 

Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces poured; 

That both in him and all things, as is meet, 

The universal Maker we may praise; 

Who justly hath driven out his rebel foes 

To deepest Hell, and, to repair that loss, 

Created this new happy race of Men 

To serve him better: Wise are all his ways. 

So spake the false dissembler unperceived; 

For neither Man nor Angel can discern 

Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks 

Invisible, except to God alone, 

By his permissive will, through Heaven and Earth: 

And oft, though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps 

At wisdom's gate, and to simplicity 

Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill 

Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguiled 

Uriel, though regent of the sun, and held 

The sharpestsighted Spirit of all in Heaven; 

Who to the fraudulent impostor foul, 

In his uprightness, answer thus returned. 

Fair Angel, thy desire, which tends to know 

The works of God, thereby to glorify 

The great Workmaster, 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, hear only in Heaven: 

For wonderful indeed are all his works, 

Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all 

Had in remembrance always with delight; 

But what created mind can comprehend 

Their number, or the wisdom infinite 

That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? 

I saw when at his word the formless mass, 

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This world's material mould, came to a heap: 

Confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar 

Stood ruled, stood vast infinitude confined; 

Till at his second bidding Darkness fled, 

Light shone, and order from disorder sprung: 

Swift to their several quarters hasted then 

The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire; 

And this ethereal quintessence of Heaven 

Flew upward, spirited with various forms, 

That rolled orbicular, and turned to stars 

Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move; 

Each had his place appointed, each his course; 

The rest in circuit walls 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 the other hemisphere, 

Night would invade; but there the neighbouring moon 

So call that opposite fair star) her aid 

Timely interposes, and her monthly round 

Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heaven, 

With borrowed light her countenance triform 

Hence fills and empties to enlighten the Earth, 

And in her pale dominion checks the night. 

That spot, to which I point, is Paradise, 

Adam's abode; those lofty shades, his bower. 

Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires. 

Thus said, he turned; and Satan, bowing low, 

As to superiour Spirits is wont in Heaven, 

Where honour due and reverence none neglects, 

Took leave, and toward the coast of earth beneath, 

Down from the ecliptick, sped with hoped success, 

Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel; 

Nor staid, till on Niphates' top he lights. 

Book IV

O, for that warning voice, which he, who saw 

The Apocalypse, heard cry in Heaven aloud, 

Then when the Dragon, put to second rout, 

Came furious down to be revenged on men, 

Woe to the inhabitants on earth! that now, 

While time was, our first parents had been warned 

The coming of their secret foe, and 'scaped, 

Haply so 'scaped his mortal snare: For now 

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Satan, now first inflamed with rage, came down, 

The tempter ere the accuser of mankind, 

To wreak on innocent frail Man his loss 

Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell: 

Yet, not rejoicing in his speed, though bold 

Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast, 

Begins his dire attempt; which nigh the birth 

Now rolling boils in his tumultuous breast, 

And like a devilish engine back recoils 

Upon himself; horrour and doubt distract 

His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir 

The Hell within him; for within him Hell 

He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell 

One step, no more than from himself, can fly 

By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair, 

That slumbered; wakes the bitter memory 

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 grieved look he fixes sad; 

Sometimes towards Heaven, and the fullblazing sun, 

Which now sat high in his meridian tower: 

Then, much revolving, thus in sighs began. 

O thou, that, with surpassing glory crowned, 

Lookest from thy sole dominion like the God 

Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars 

Hide their diminished heads; to thee I call, 

But with no friendly voice, and add thy name, 

Of Sun! to tell thee how I hate thy beams, 

That bring to my remembrance from what state 

I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere; 

Till pride and worse ambition threw me down 

Warring in Heaven against Heaven's matchless King: 

Ah, wherefore! he deserved 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 than to afford him praise, 

The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks, 

How due! yet all his good proved ill in me, 

And wrought but malice; lifted up so high 

I sdeined subjection, and thought one step higher 

Would set me highest, and in a moment quit 

The debt immense of endless gratitude, 

So burdensome still paying, still to owe, 

Forgetful what from him I still received, 

And understood not that a grateful mind 

By owing owes not, but still pays, at once 

Indebted and discharged; what burden then 

O, had his powerful destiny ordained 

Me some inferiour Angel, I had stood 

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Then happy; no unbounded hope had raised 

Ambition! Yet why not some other Power 

As great might have aspired, and me, though mean, 

Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great 

Fell not, but stand unshaken, from within 

Or from without, to all temptations armed. 

Hadst thou the same free will and power to stand? 

Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse, 

But Heaven's free love dealt equally to all? 

Be then his love accursed, since love or hate, 

To me alike, it deals eternal woe. 

Nay, cursed be thou; since against his thy will 

Chose freely what it now so justly rues. 

Me miserable! which way shall I fly 

Infinite wrath, and infinite despair? 

Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell; 

And, in the lowest deep, a lower deep 

Still threatening to devour me opens wide, 

To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven. 

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 seduced 

With other promises and other vaunts 

Than to submit, boasting I could subdue 

The Omnipotent. Ay me! they little know 

How dearly I abide that boast so vain, 

Under what torments inwardly I groan, 

While they adore me on the throne of Hell. 

With diadem and scepter high advanced, 

The lower still I fall, only supreme 

In misery: Such joy ambition finds. 

But say I could repent, and could obtain, 

By act of grace, my former state; how soon 

Would highth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay 

What feigned 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 pierced so deep: 

Which would but lead me to a worse relapse 

And heavier fall: so should I purchase dear 

Short intermission bought with double smart. 

This knows my Punisher; therefore as far 

From granting he, as I from begging, peace; 

All hope excluded thus, behold, in stead 

Mankind created, and for him this world. 

So farewell, hope; and with hope farewell, fear; 

Farewell, remorse! all good to me is lost; 

Evil, be thou my good; by thee at least 

Divided empire with Heaven's King I hold, 

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By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign; 

As Man ere long, and this new world, shall know. 

Thus while he spake, each passion dimmed his face 

Thrice changed with pale, ire, envy, and despair; 

Which marred his borrowed visage, and betrayed 

Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld. 

For heavenly minds from such distempers foul 

Are ever clear. Whereof he soon aware, 

Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm, 

Artificer of fraud; and was the first 

That practised falsehood under saintly show, 

Deep malice to conceal, couched with revenge: 

Yet not enough had practised to deceive 

Uriel once warned; whose eye pursued him down 

The way he went, and on the Assyrian mount 

Saw him disfigured, more than could befall 

Spirit of happy sort; his gestures fierce 

He marked and mad demeanour, then alone, 

As he supposed, all unobserved, 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 champaign head 

Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides 

Access denied; and overhead upgrew 

Insuperable height of loftiest shade, 

Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm, 

A sylvan scene, and, as the ranks ascend, 

Shade above shade, a woody theatre 

Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops 

The verdurous wall of Paradise upsprung; 

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Which to our general sire gave prospect large 

Into his nether empire neighbouring round. 

And higher than that wall a circling row 

Of goodliest trees, loaden with fairest fruit, 

Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue, 

Appeared, with gay enamelled colours mixed: 

On which the sun more glad impressed his beams 

Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow, 

When God hath showered the earth; so lovely seemed 

That landskip: And of pure now purer air 

Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires 

Vernal delight and joy, able to drive 

All sadness but despair: Now gentle gales, 

Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense 

Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole 

Those balmy spoils. As when to them who fail 

Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past 

Mozambick, off at sea northeast winds blow 

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Sabean odours from the spicy shore 

Of Araby the blest; with such delay 

Well pleased they slack their course, and many a league 

Cheered with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles: 

So entertained those odorous sweets the Fiend, 

Who came their bane; though with them better pleased 

Than Asmodeus with the fishy fume 

That drove him, though enamoured, from the spouse 

Of Tobit's son, and with a vengeance sent 

From Media post to Egypt, there fast bound. 

Now to the ascent of that steep savage hill 

Satan had journeyed on, pensive and slow; 

But further way found none, so thick entwined, 

As one continued brake, the undergrowth 

Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed 

All path of man or beast that passed that way. 

One gate there only was, and that looked east 

On the other side: which when the archfelon saw, 

Due entrance he disdained; and, in contempt, 

At one flight bound high overleaped all bound 

Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within 

Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf, 

Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey, 

Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve 

In hurdled cotes amid the field secure, 

Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold: 

Or as a thief, bent to unhoard the cash 

Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors, 

Crossbarred and bolted fast, fear no assault, 

In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles: 

So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold; 

So since into his church lewd hirelings climb. 

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 regained, but sat devising death 

To them who lived; nor on the virtue thought 

Of that lifegiving plant, but only used 

For prospect, what well used had been the pledge 

Of immortality. So little knows 

Any, but God alone, to value right 

The good before him, but perverts best things 

To worst abuse, or to their meanest use. 

Beneath him with new wonder now he views, 

To all delight of human sense exposed, 

In narrow room, Nature's 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 stretched her line 

From Auran eastward to the royal towers 

Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings, 

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Of where the sons of Eden long before 

Dwelt in Telassar: In this pleasant soil 

His far more pleasant garden God ordained; 

Out of the fertile ground he caused 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 changed his course, but through the shaggy hill 

Passed underneath ingulfed; for God had thrown 

That mountain as his gardenmould high raised 

Upon the rapid current, which, through veins 

Of porous earth with kindly thirst updrawn, 

Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill 

Watered the garden; thence united fell 

Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood, 

Which from his darksome passage now appears, 

And now, divided into four main streams, 

Runs diverse, wandering many a famous realm 

And country, whereof here needs no account; 

But rather to tell how, if Art could tell, 

How from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks, 

Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold, 

With mazy errour under pendant shades 

Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed 

Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice Art 

In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon 

Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain, 

Both where the morning sun first warmly smote 

The open field, and where the unpierced shade 

Imbrowned the noontide bowers: Thus was this place 

A happy rural seat of various view; 

Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm, 

Others whose fruit, burnished with golden rind, 

Hung amiable, Hesperian fables true, 

If true, here only, and of delicious taste: 

Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks 

Grazing the tender herb, were interposed, 

Or palmy hillock; or the flowery lap 

Of some irriguous valley spread her store, 

Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose: 

Another side, umbrageous grots and caves 

Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine 

Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps 

Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall 

Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake, 

That to the fringed bank with myrtle crowned 

Her crystal mirrour holds, unite their streams. 

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The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs, 

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 the eternal Spring. Not that fair field 

Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers, 

Herself a fairer flower by gloomy Dis 

Was gathered, which cost Ceres all that pain 

To seek her through the world; nor that sweet grove 

Of Daphne by Orontes, and the inspired 

Castalian spring, might with this Paradise 

Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian isle 

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 their issue guard, 

Mount Amara, though this by some supposed 

True Paradise under the Ethiop line 

By Nilus' head, enclosed with shining rock, 

A whole day's 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 majesty seemed lords of all: 

And worthy seemed; for in their looks divine 

The image of their glorious Maker shone, 

Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure, 

(Severe, but in true filial freedom placed,) 

Whence true authority in men; though both 

Not equal, as their sex not equal seemed; 

For contemplation he and valour formed; 

For softness she and sweet attractive grace; 

He for God only, she for God in him: 

His fair large front and eye sublime declared 

Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks 

Round from his parted forelock manly hung 

Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad: 

She, as a veil, down to the slender waist 

Her unadorned golden tresses wore 

Dishevelled, but in wanton ringlets waved 

As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied 

Subjection, but required with gentle sway, 

And by her yielded, by him best received, 

Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, 

And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay. 

Nor those mysterious parts were then concealed; 

Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame 

Of nature's works, honour dishonourable, 

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Sinbred, how have ye troubled all mankind 

With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure, 

And banished from man's life his happiest life, 

Simplicity and spotless innocence! 

So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight 

Of God or Angel; for they thought no ill: 

So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair, 

That ever since in love's embraces met; 

Adam the goodliest man of men since born 

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 their sweet gardening labour than sufficed 

To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease 

More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite 

More grateful, to their supperfruits they fell, 

Nectarine fruits which the compliant boughs 

Yielded them, sidelong as they sat recline 

On the soft downy bank damasked with flowers: 

The savoury pulp they chew, and in the rind, 

Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming stream; 

Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles 

Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems 

Fair couple, linked in happy nuptial league, 

Alone as they. About them frisking played 

All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase 

In wood or wilderness, forest or den; 

Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw 

Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, 

Gambolled before them; the unwieldy elephant, 

To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed 

His?kithetmroboscis; close the serpent sly, 

Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine 

His braided train, and of his fatal guile 

Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass 

Couched, and now filled with pasture gazing sat, 

Or bedward ruminating; for the sun, 

Declined, was hasting now with prone career 

To the ocean isles, and in the ascending scale 

Of Heaven the stars that usher evening rose: 

When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood, 

Scarce thus at length failed speech recovered sad. 

O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold! 

Into our room of bliss thus high advanced 

Creatures of other mould, earthborn perhaps, 

Not Spirits, yet to heavenly Spirits bright 

Little inferiour; whom my thoughts pursue 

With wonder, and could love, so lively shines 

In them divine resemblance, and such grace 

The hand that formed them on their shape hath poured. 

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Ah! gentle pair, ye 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; 

Happy, but for so happy ill secured 

Long to continue, and this high seat your Heaven 

Ill fenced for Heaven to keep out such a foe 

As now is entered; yet no purposed foe 

To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, 

Though I unpitied: League with you I seek, 

And mutual amity, so strait, 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 Maker's work; he gave it me, 

Which I as freely give: Hell shall unfold, 

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 offspring; if no better place, 

Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge 

On you who wrong me not for him who wronged. 

And should I at your harmless innocence 

Melt, as I do, yet publick reason just, 

Honour and empire with revenge enlarged, 

By conquering this new world, compels me now 

To do what else, though damned, I should abhor. 

So spake the Fiend, and with necessity, 

The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds. 

Then from his lofty stand on that high tree 

Down he alights among the sportful herd 

Of those fourfooted kinds, himself now one, 

Now other, as their shape served best his end 

Nearer to view his prey, and, unespied, 

To mark what of their state he more might learn, 

By word or action marked. About them round 

A lion now he stalks with fiery glare; 

Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied 

In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play, 

Straight couches close, then, rising, changes oft 

His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground, 

Whence rushing, he might surest seize them both, 

Griped in each paw: when, Adam first of men 

To first of women Eve thus moving speech, 

Turned him, all ear to hear new utterance flow. 

Sole partner, and sole part, of all these joys, 

Dearer thyself than all; needs must the Power 

That made us, and for us this ample world, 

Be infinitely good, and of his good 

As liberal and free as infinite; 

That raised us from the dust, and placed us here 

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In all this happiness, who at his hand 

Have nothing merited, nor can perform 

Aught whereof he hath need; he who requires 

From us no other service than to keep 

This one, this easy charge, of all the trees 

In Paradise that bear delicious fruit 

So various, not to taste that only tree 

Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life; 

So near grows death to life, whate'er death is, 

Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowest 

God hath pronounced it death to taste that tree, 

The only sign of our obedience left, 

Among so many signs of power and rule 

Conferred upon us, and dominion given 

Over all other creatures that possess 

Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard 

One easy prohibition, who enjoy 

Free leave so large to all things else, and choice 

Unlimited of manifold delights: 

But let us ever praise him, and extol 

His bounty, following our delightful task, 

To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers, 

Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet. 

To whom thus Eve replied. O thou for whom 

And from whom I was formed, flesh of thy flesh, 

And without whom am to no end, my guide 

And head! what thou hast said is just and right. 

For we to him indeed all praises owe, 

And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy 

So far the happier lot, enjoying thee 

Preeminent by so much odds, while thou 

Like consort to thyself canst no where find. 

That day I oft remember, when from sleep 

I first awaked, and found myself reposed 

Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where 

And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. 

Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound 

Of waters issued from a cave, and spread 

Into a liquid plain, then stood unmoved 

Pure as the expanse of Heaven; I thither went 

With unexperienced thought, and laid me down 

On the green bank, to look into the clear 

Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky. 

As I bent down to look, just opposite 

A shape within the watery gleam appeared, 

Bending to look on me: I started back, 

It started back; but pleased I soon returned, 

Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks 

Of sympathy and love: There I had fixed 

Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire, 

Had not a voice thus warned me; 'What thou seest, 

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'What there thou seest, fair Creature, is thyself; 

'With thee it came and goes: but follow me, 

'And I will bring thee where no shadow stays 

'Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he 

'Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy 

'Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear 

'Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called 

'Mother of human race.' What could I do, 

But follow straight, invisibly thus led? 

Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall, 

Under a platane; yet methought less fair, 

Less winning soft, less amiably mild, 

Than that smooth watery image: Back I turned; 

Thou following cryedst aloud, 'Return, fair Eve; 

'Whom flyest thou? whom thou flyest, of him thou art, 

'His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent 

'Out of my side to thee, nearest 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 

Seised mine: I yielded;and from that time see 

How beauty is excelled by manly grace, 

And wisdom, which alone is truly fair. 

So spake our general mother, and with eyes 

Of conjugal attraction unreproved, 

And meek surrender, halfembracing leaned 

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, 

Smiled with superiour love, as Jupiter 

On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds 

That shed Mayflowers; and pressed her matron lip 

With kisses pure: Aside the Devil turned 

For envy; yet with jealous leer malign 

Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plained. 

Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two, 

Imparadised in one another's arms, 

The happier Eden, shall enjoy their 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 unfulfilled with pain of longing pines. 

Yet let me not forget what I have gained 

From their own mouths: All is not theirs, it seems; 

One fatal tree there stands, of knowledge called, 

Forbidden them to taste: Knowledge forbidden 

Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord 

Envy them that? Can it be sin to know? 

Can it be death? And do they only stand 

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By ignorance? Is that their happy state, 

The proof of their obedience and their faith? 

O fair foundation laid whereon to build 

Their ruin! hence I will excite their minds 

With more desire to know, and to reject 

Envious commands, invented with design 

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 unspied; 

A chance but chance may lead where I may meet 

Some wandering Spirit of Heaven by fountain side, 

Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw 

What further would be learned. Live while ye may, 

Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return, 

Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed! 

So saying, his proud step he scornful turned, 

But with sly circumspection, and began 

Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his roam 

Mean while in utmost longitude, where Heaven 

With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun 

Slowly descended, and with right aspect 

Against the eastern gate of Paradise 

Levelled his evening rays: It was a rock 

Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds, 

Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent 

Accessible from earth, one entrance high; 

The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung 

Still as it rose, impossible to climb. 

Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat, 

Chief of the angelick guards, awaiting night; 

About him exercised heroick games 

The unarmed youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand 

Celestial armoury, shields, helms, and spears, 

Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold. 

Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even 

On a sunbeam, swift as a shooting star 

In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fired 

Impress the air, and shows the mariner 

From what point of his compass to beware 

Impetuous winds: He thus began in haste. 

Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given 

Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place 

No evil thing approach or enter in. 

This day at highth of noon came to my sphere 

A Spirit, zealous, as he seemed, to know 

More of the Almighty's works, and chiefly Man, 

God's latest image: I described his way 

Bent all on speed, and marked his aery gait; 

But in the mount that lies from Eden north, 

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Where he first lighted, soon discerned his looks 

Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured: 

Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade 

Lost sight of him: One of the banished crew, 

I fear, hath ventured from the deep, to raise 

New troubles; him thy care must be to find. 

To whom the winged warriour thus returned. 

Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight, 

Amid the sun's bright circle where thou sitst, 

See far and wide: In at this gate none pass 

The vigilance here placed, but such as come 

Well known from Heaven; and since meridian hour 

No creature thence: If Spirit of other sort, 

So minded, have o'erleaped these earthly bounds 

On purpose, hard thou knowest it to exclude 

Spiritual substance with corporeal bar. 

But if within the circuit of these walks, 

In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom 

Thou tellest, by morrow dawning I shall know. 

So promised he; and Uriel to his charge 

Returned on that bright beam, whose point now raised 

Bore him slope downward to the sun now fallen 

Beneath the Azores; whether the prime orb, 

Incredible how swift, had thither rolled 

Diurnal, or this less volubil earth, 

By shorter flight to the east, had left him there 

Arraying with reflected purple and gold 

The clouds that on his western throne attend. 

Now came still Evening on, and Twilight gray 

Had in her sober livery all things clad; 

Silence accompanied; for beast and bird, 

They to their grassy couch, these to their nests 

Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale; 

She all night long her amorous descant sung; 

Silence was pleased: Now glowed the firmament 

With living sapphires: Hesperus, that led 

The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon, 

Rising in clouded majesty, at length 

Apparent queen unveiled her peerless light, 

And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw. 

When Adam thus to Eve. Fair Consort, the hour 

Of night, and all things now retired 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 eyelids: Other creatures all day long 

Rove idle, unemployed, and less need rest; 

Man hath his daily work of body or mind 

Appointed, which declares his dignity, 

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And the regard of Heaven on all his ways; 

While other animals unactive range, 

And of their doings God takes no account. 

Tomorrow, ere fresh morning streak the east 

With first approach of light, we must be risen, 

And at our pleasant labour, to reform 

Yon flowery arbours, yonder alleys green, 

Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown, 

That mock our scant manuring, and require 

More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth: 

Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums, 

That lie bestrown, 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 perfect beauty adorned 

My Author and Disposer, what thou bidst 

Unargued I obey: So God ordains; 

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

Is woman's happiest knowledge, and her praise. 

With thee conversing I forget all time; 

All seasons, and their 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 flower, 

Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth 

After soft showers; and sweet the coming on 

Of grateful Evening mild; then silent Night, 

With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon, 

And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train: 

But neither breath of Morn, when she ascends 

With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun 

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

Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers; 

Nor grateful Evening mild; nor silent Night, 

With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon, 

Or glittering starlight, without thee is sweet. 

But wherefore all night long shine these? for whom 

This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes? 

To whom our general ancestor replied. 

Daughter of God and Man, accomplished Eve, 

These have their course to finish round the earth, 

By morrow evening, and from land to land 

In order, though to nations yet unborn, 

Ministring light prepared, they set and rise; 

Lest total Darkness should by night regain 

Her old possession, and extinguish life 

In Nature and all things; which these soft fires 

Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat 

Of various influence foment and warm, 

Temper or nourish, or in part shed down 

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Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow 

On earth, made hereby apter to receive 

Perfection from the sun's more potent ray. 

These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, 

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

That Heaven 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 ceaseless 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 their great Creator? oft in bands 

While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, 

With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds 

In full harmonick number joined, their songs 

Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven. 

Thus talking, hand in hand alone they passed 

On to their blissful bower: it was a place 

Chosen by the sovran Planter, when he framed 

All things to Man's delightful use; the roof 

Of thickest covert was inwoven shade 

Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew 

Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side 

Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub, 

Fenced up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower, 

Iris all hues, roses, and jessamin, 

Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought 

Mosaick; underfoot the violet, 

Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay 

Broidered the ground, more coloured than with stone 

Of costliest emblem: Other creature here, 

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

Such was their awe of Man. In shadier bower 

More sacred and sequestered, though but feigned, 

Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor Nymph 

Nor Faunus haunted. Here, in close recess, 

With flowers, garlands, and sweetsmelling herbs, 

Espoused Eve decked first her nuptial bed; 

And heavenly quires the hymenaean sung, 

What day the genial Angel to our sire 

Brought her in naked beauty more adorned, 

More lovely, than Pandora, whom the Gods 

Endowed with all their gifts, and O! too like 

In sad event, when to the unwiser son 

Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnared 

Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged 

On him who had stole Jove's authentick fire. 

Thus, at their shady lodge arrived, both stood, 

Both turned, and under open sky adored 

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

Which they beheld, the moon's resplendent globe, 

And starry pole: Thou also madest the night, 

Maker Omnipotent, and thou the day, 

Which we, in our appointed work employed, 

Have finished, happy in our mutual help 

And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss 

Ordained by thee; and this delicious place 

For us too large, where thy abundance wants 

Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. 

But thou hast promised from us two a race 

To fill the earth, who shall with us extol 

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 their inmost bower 

Handed they went; and, eased the putting off 

These troublesome disguises which we wear, 

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

Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites 

Mysterious of connubial love refused: 

Whatever hypocrites austerely talk 

Of purity, and place, and innocence, 

Defaming as impure what God declares 

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

Our Maker bids encrease; who bids abstain 

But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man? 

Hail, wedded Love, mysterious law, true source 

Of human offspring, sole propriety 

In Paradise of all things common else! 

By thee adulterous Lust was driven from men 

Among the bestial herds to range; by thee 

Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure, 

Relations dear, and all the charities 

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

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

Or think thee unbefitting holiest place, 

Perpetual fountain of domestick sweets, 

Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced, 

Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs used. 

Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights 

His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings, 

Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile 

Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared, 

Casual fruition; nor in courtamours, 

Mixed dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball, 

Or serenate, which the starved lover sings 

To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. 

These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept, 

And on their naked limbs the flowery roof 

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Showered roses, which the morn repaired. Sleep on, 

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

No happier state, and know to know no more. 

Now had night measured with her shadowy cone 

Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault, 

And from their ivory port the Cherubim, 

Forth issuing at the accustomed hour, stood armed 

To their 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 subtle Spirits he called 

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

Ithuriel and Zephon, with winged speed 

Search through this garden, leave unsearched no nook; 

But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, 

Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm. 

This evening from the sun's decline arrived, 

Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen 

Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped 

The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt: 

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

So saying, on he led his radiant files, 

Dazzling the moon; these to the bower direct 

In search of whom they sought: Him there they found 

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

Assaying by his devilish art to reach 

The organs of her fancy, and with them forge 

Illusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams; 

Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint 

The animal spirits, that from pure blood arise 

Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise 

At least distempered, discontented thoughts, 

Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires, 

Blown up with high conceits ingendering pride. 

Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear 

Touched lightly; for no falshood can endure 

Touch of celestial temper, but returns 

Of force to its own likeness: Up he starts 

Discovered and surprised. As when a spark 

Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid 

Fit for the tun some magazine to store 

Against a rumoured war, the smutty grain, 

With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air; 

So started up in his own shape the Fiend. 

Back stept those two fair Angels, half amazed 

So sudden to behold the grisly king; 

Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon. 

Which of those rebel Spirits adjudged to Hell 

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Comest thou, escaped thy prison? and, transformed, 

Why sat'st thou like an enemy in wait, 

Here watching at the head of these that sleep? 

Know ye not then said Satan, filled with scorn, 

Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate 

For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar: 

Not to know me argues yourselves 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 undiminished brightness to be known, 

As when thou stoodest in Heaven upright and pure; 

That glory then, when thou no more wast good, 

Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now 

Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul. 

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 Cherub; and his grave rebuke, 

Severe in youthful beauty, added grace 

Invincible: Abashed the Devil stood, 

And felt how awful goodness is, and saw 

Virtue in her shape how lovely; saw, and pined 

His loss; but chiefly to find here observed 

His lustre visibly impaired; yet seemed 

Undaunted. If I must contend, said he, 

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

Or all at once; more glory will be won, 

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

Will save us trial what the least can do 

Single against thee wicked, and thence weak. 

The Fiend replied not, overcome with rage; 

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

Champing his iron curb: To strive or fly 

He held it vain; awe from above had quelled 

His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh 

The western point, where those halfrounding guards 

Just met, and closing stood in squadron joined, 

A waiting next command. To whom their Chief, 

Gabriel, from the front thus called aloud. 

O friends! I hear the tread of nimble feet 

Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern 

Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade; 

And with them comes a third of regal port, 

But faded splendour wan; who by his gait 

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 approached, 

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And brief related whom they brought, where found, 

How busied, in what form and posture couched. 

To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake. 

Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed 

To thy transgressions, and disturbed 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; 

Employed, 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 Heaven the esteem of wise, 

And such I held thee; but this question asked 

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

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

Though thither doomed! Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt 

And boldly venture to whatever place 

Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change 

Torment with ease, and soonest recompense 

Dole with delight, which in this place I sought; 

To thee no reason, who knowest only good, 

But evil hast not tried: and wilt object 

His will who bounds us! Let him surer bar 

His iron gates, if he intends our stay 

In that dark durance: Thus much what was asked. 

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

But that implies not violence or harm. 

Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel moved, 

Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied. 

O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise 

Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew, 

And now returns him from his prison 'scaped, 

Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise 

Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither 

Unlicensed from his bounds in Hell prescribed; 

So wise he judges it to fly from pain 

However, and to 'scape his punishment! 

So judge thou still, presumptuous! till the wrath, 

Which thou incurrest by flying, meet thy flight 

Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell, 

Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain 

Can equal anger infinite provoked. 

But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee 

Came not all hell broke loose? or thou than they 

Less hardy to endure? Courageous Chief! 

The first in flight from pain! hadst thou alleged 

To thy deserted host this cause of flight, 

Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive. 

To which the Fiend thus answered, frowning stern. 

Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, 

Insulting Angel! well thou knowest I stood 

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Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid 

The blasting vollied thunder made all speed, 

And seconded thy else not dreaded spear. 

But still thy words at random, as before, 

Argue thy inexperience what behoves 

From hard assays and ill successes past 

A faithful leader, not to hazard all 

Through ways of danger by himself untried: 

I, therefore, I alone first undertook 

To wing the desolate abyss, and spy 

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 air; 

Though for possession put to try once more 

What thou and thy gay legions dare against; 

Whose easier business were to serve their Lord 

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

And practised distances to cringe, not fight, 

To whom the warriour Angel soon replied. 

To say and straight unsay, pretending first 

Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy, 

Argues no leader but a liear traced, 

Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name, 

O sacred name of faithfulness profaned! 

Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew? 

Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head. 

Was this your discipline and faith engaged, 

Your military obedience, to dissolve 

Allegiance to the acknowledged Power supreme? 

And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem 

Patron of liberty, who more than thou 

Once fawned, and cringed, and servily adored 

Heaven's awful Monarch? wherefore, but in hope 

To dispossess him, and thyself to reign? 

But mark what I arreed thee now, Avant; 

Fly neither whence thou fledst! If from this hour 

Within these hallowed limits thou appear, 

Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained, 

And seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn 

The facile gates of Hell too slightly barred. 

So threatened he; but Satan to no threats 

Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied. 

Then when I am thy captive talk of chains, 

Proud limitary Cherub! but ere then 

Far heavier load thyself expect to feel 

From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King 

Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers, 

Us'd to the yoke, drawest his triumphant wheels 

In progress through the road of Heaven starpaved. 

While thus he spake, the angelick squadron bright 

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Turned fiery red, sharpening in mooned horns 

Their phalanx, and began to hem 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 

Sways them; the careful plowman doubting stands, 

Left on the threshing floor his hopeless sheaves 

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

Collecting all his might, dilated stood, 

Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved: 

His stature reached the sky, and on his crest 

Sat Horrour plumed; nor wanted in his grasp 

What seemed both spear and shield: Now dreadful deeds 

Might have ensued, nor only Paradise 

In this commotion, but the starry cope 

Of Heaven perhaps, or all the elements 

At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn 

With violence of this conflict, had not soon 

The Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray, 

Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen 

Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion sign, 

Wherein all things created first he weighed, 

The pendulous round earth with balanced air 

In counterpoise, now ponders all events, 

Battles and realms: In these he put two weights, 

The sequel each of parting and of fight: 

The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam, 

Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend. 

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

Neither our own, but given: What folly then 

To boast what arms can do? since thine no more 

Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now 

To trample thee as mire: For proof look up, 

And read thy lot in yon celestial sign; 

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

If thou resist. The Fiend looked up, and knew 

His mounted scale aloft: Nor more;but fled 

Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.

Book V

Now Morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime 

Advancing, sowed the earth with orient pearl, 

When Adam waked, so customed; for his sleep 

Was aerylight, from pure digestion bred, 

And temperate vapours bland, which the only sound 

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Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan, 

Lightly dispersed, and the shrill matin song 

Of birds on every bough; so much the more 

His wonder was to find unwakened Eve 

With tresses discomposed, and glowing cheek, 

As through unquiet rest: He, on his side 

Leaning half raised, with looks of cordial love 

Hung over her enamoured, and beheld 

Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep, 

Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice 

Mild, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, 

Her hand soft touching, whispered thus. Awake, 

My fairest, my espoused, my latest found, 

Heaven's 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 tender plants, how blows the citron grove, 

What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed, 

How nature paints her colours, how the bee 

Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet. 

Such whispering waked her, but with startled eye 

On Adam, whom embracing, thus she spake. 

O sole in whom my thoughts find all repose, 

My glory, my perfection! glad I see 

Thy face, and morn returned; for I this night 

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

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

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

But of offence and trouble, which my mind 

Knew never till this irksome night: Methought, 

Close at mine ear one called me forth to walk 

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

'Why sleepest thou, Eve? now is the pleasant time, 

'The cool, the silent, save where silence yields 

'To the nightwarbling bird, that now awake 

'Tunes sweetest his lovelaboured song; now reigns 

'Fullorbed the moon, and with more pleasing light 

'Shadowy sets off the face of things; in vain, 

'If none regard; Heaven wakes with all his eyes, 

'Whom to behold but thee, Nature's 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 passed through ways 

That brought me on a sudden to the tree 

Of interdicted knowledge: fair it seemed, 

Much fairer to my fancy than by day: 

And, as I wondering looked, beside it stood 

One shaped and winged like one of those from Heaven 

By us oft seen; his dewy locks distilled 

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Ambrosia; on that tree he also gazed; 

And 'O fair plant,' said he, 'with fruit surcharged, 

'Deigns none to ease thy load, and taste thy sweet, 

'Nor God, nor Man? Is knowledge so despised? 

'Or envy, or what reserve forbids to taste? 

'Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold 

'Longer thy offered good; why else set here? 

This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm 

He plucked, he tasted; me damp horrour chilled 

At such bold words vouched with a deed so bold: 

But he thus, overjoyed; 'O fruit divine, 

'Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropt, 

'Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit 

'For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men: 

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

'Communicated, more abundant grows, 

'The author not impaired, but honoured more? 

'Here, happy creature, fair angelick Eve! 

'Partake thou also; happy though thou art, 

'Happier thou mayest be, worthier canst not be: 

'Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods 

'Thyself a Goddess, not to earth confined, 

'But sometimes in the air, as we, sometimes 

'Ascend to Heaven, 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 plucked; the pleasant savoury smell 

So quickened appetite, that I, methought, 

Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the clouds 

With him I flew, and underneath beheld 

The earth outstretched immense, a prospect wide 

And various: Wondering at my flight and change 

To this high exaltation; suddenly 

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

And fell asleep; but O, how glad I waked 

To find this but a dream! Thus Eve her night 

Related, and thus Adam answered sad. 

Best image of myself, 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 soul 

Are many lesser faculties, that serve 

Reason as chief; among these Fancy next 

Her office holds; of all external things 

Which the five watchful senses represent, 

She forms imaginations, aery shapes, 

Which Reason, joining or disjoining, frames 

All what we affirm or what deny, and call 

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Our knowledge or opinion; then retires 

Into her private cell, when nature rests. 

Oft in her absence mimick Fancy wakes 

To imitate her; but, misjoining shapes, 

Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams; 

Ill matching words and deeds long past or late. 

Some such resemblances, methinks, I find 

Of our last evening's 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 unreproved, and leave 

No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope 

That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream, 

Waking thou never will consent to do. 

Be not disheartened then, nor cloud those looks, 

That wont to be more cheerful and serene, 

Than when fair morning first smiles on the world; 

And let us to our fresh employments rise 

Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers 

That open now their choisest bosomed smells, 

Reserved from night, and kept for thee in store. 

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

But silently a gentle tear let fall 

From either eye, and wiped them with her hair; 

Two other precious drops that ready stood, 

Each in their crystal sluice, he ere they fell 

Kissed, as the gracious signs of sweet remorse 

And pious awe, that feared to have offended. 

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

But first, from under shady arborous roof 

Soon as they forth were come to open sight 

Of dayspring, and the sun, who, scarce uprisen, 

With wheels yet hovering o'er the oceanbrim, 

Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray, 

Discovering in wide landskip all the east 

Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains, 

Lowly they bowed adoring, and began 

Their orisons, each morning duly paid 

In various style; for neither various style 

Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise 

Their Maker, in fit strains pronounced, or sung 

Unmeditated; such prompt eloquence 

Flowed from their lips, in prose or numerous verse, 

More tuneable than needed lute or harp 

To add more sweetness; and they thus began. 

These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, 

Almighty! Thine this universal frame, 

Thus wonderous fair; Thyself how wonderous then! 

Unspeakable, who sitst above these heavens 

To us invisible, or dimly seen 

In these thy lowest works; yet these declare 

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Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine. 

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

Angels; for ye behold him, and with songs 

And choral symphonies, day without night, 

Circle his throne rejoicing; ye in Heaven 

On Earth join all ye Creatures to extol 

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

Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, 

If better thou belong not to the dawn, 

Sure pledge of day, that crownest the smiling morn 

With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere, 

While day arises, that sweet hour of prime. 

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

Acknowledge him thy greater; sound his praise 

In thy eternal course, both when thou climbest, 

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

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

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

And ye five other wandering Fires, that move 

In mystick dance not without song, resound 

His praise, who out of darkness called up light. 

Air, and ye Elements, the eldest birth 

Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run 

Perpetual circle, multiform; and mix 

And nourish all things; let your ceaseless change 

Vary to our great Maker still new praise. 

Ye Mists and Exhalations, that now rise 

From hill or steaming lake, dusky or gray, 

Till the sun paint your fleecy skirts with gold, 

In honour to the world's great Author rise; 

Whether to deck with clouds the uncoloured sky, 

Or wet the thirsty earth with falling showers, 

Rising or falling still advance his praise. 

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

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

With every plant, in sign of worship wave. 

Fountains, and ye that warble, as ye flow, 

Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise. 

Join voices, all ye living Souls: Ye Birds, 

That singing up to Heavengate ascend, 

Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise. 

Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk 

The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep; 

Witness if I be silent, morn or even, 

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 only good; and if the night 

Have gathered aught of evil, or concealed, 

Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark! 

So prayed they innocent, and to their thoughts 

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Firm peace recovered soon, and wonted calm. 

On to their morning's rural work they haste, 

Among sweet dews and flowers; where any row 

Of fruittrees overwoody reached too far 

Their pampered boughs, and needed hands to check 

Fruitless embraces: or they led the vine 

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

Her marriageable arms, and with him brings 

Her dower, the adopted clusters, to adorn 

His barren leaves. Them thus employed beheld 

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

Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deigned 

To travel with Tobias, and secured 

His marriage with the seventimeswedded maid. 

Raphael, said he, thou hearest what stir on Earth 

Satan, from Hell 'scaped through the darksome gulf, 

Hath raised in Paradise; and how disturbed 

This night the human pair; how he designs 

In them at once to ruin all mankind. 

Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend 

Converse with Adam, in what bower or shade 

Thou findest him from the heat of noon retired, 

To respite his daylabour with repast, 

Or with repose; and such discourse bring on, 

As may advise him of his happy state, 

Happiness in his power left free to will, 

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

Yet mutable; whence warn him to beware 

He swerve not, too secure: Tell him withal 

His danger, and from whom; what enemy, 

Late fallen himself from Heaven, 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, 

Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend 

Surprisal, unadmonished, unforewarned. 

So spake the Eternal Father, and fulfilled 

All justice: Nor delayed the winged Saint 

After his charge received; but from among 

Thousand celestial Ardours, where he stood 

Veiled with his gorgeous wings, up springing light, 

Flew through the midst of Heaven; the angelick quires, 

On each hand parting, to his speed gave way 

Through all the empyreal road; till, at the gate 

Of Heaven arrived, the gate selfopened wide 

On golden hinges turning, as by work 

Divine the sovran Architect had framed. 

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

Star interposed, however small he sees, 

Not unconformed to other shining globes, 

Earth, and the garden of God, with cedars crowned 

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Above all hills. As when by night the glass 

Of Galileo, less assured, observes 

Imagined lands and regions in the moon: 

Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades 

Delos or Samos first appearing, kens 

A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight 

He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky 

Sails between worlds and worlds, with steady wing 

Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan 

Winnows the buxom air; till, within soar 

Of towering eagles, to all the fowls he seems 

A phoenix, gazed by all as that sole bird, 

When, to enshrine his reliques in the Sun's 

Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies. 

At once on the eastern cliff of Paradise 

He lights, and to his proper shape returns 

A Seraph winged: Six wings he wore, to shade 

His lineaments divine; the pair that clad 

Each shoulder broad, came mantling o'er his breast 

With regal ornament; the middle pair 

Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round 

Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold 

And colours dipt in Heaven; the third his feet 

Shadowed from either heel with feathered mail, 

Skytinctured grain. Like Maia's son he stood, 

And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance filled 

The circuit wide. Straight knew him all the bands 

Of Angels under watch; and to his state, 

And to his message high, in honour rise; 

For on some message high they guessed him bound. 

Their glittering tents he passed, and now is come 

Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh, 

And flowering odours, cassia, nard, and balm; 

A wilderness of sweets; for Nature here 

Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will 

Her virgin fancies pouring forth more sweet, 

Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss. 

Him through the spicy forest onward come 

Adam discerned, as in the door he sat 

Of his cool bower, while now the mounted sun 

Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm 

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

And Eve within, due at her hour prepared 

For dinner savoury fruits, of taste to please 

True appetite, and not disrelish thirst 

Of nectarous draughts between, from milky stream, 

Berry or grape: To whom thus Adam called. 

Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight behold 

Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape 

Comes this way moving; seems another morn 

Risen on midnoon; some great behest from Heaven 

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To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe 

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

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

Abundance, fit to honour and receive 

Our heavenly stranger: Well we may afford 

Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow 

From large bestowed, where Nature multiplies 

Her fertile growth, and by disburthening grows 

More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare. 

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

Of God inspired! 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 brake, 

Each plant and juciest gourd, will pluck such choice 

To entertain our Angelguest, as he 

Beholding shall confess, that here on Earth 

God hath dispensed his bounties as in Heaven. 

So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste 

She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent 

What choice to choose for delicacy best, 

What order, so contrived as not to mix 

Tastes, not well joined, inelegant, but bring 

Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change; 

Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk 

Whatever Earth, allbearing mother, yields 

In India East or West, or middle shore 

In Pontus or the Punick coast, or where 

Alcinous reigned, fruit of all kinds, in coat 

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

She gathers, tribute large, and on the board 

Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the grape 

She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths 

From many a berry, and from sweet kernels pressed 

She tempers dulcet creams; nor these to hold 

Wants her fit vessels pure; then strows the ground 

With rose and odours from the shrub unfumed. 

Mean while our primitive great sire, to meet 

His Godlike guest, walks forth, without more train 

Accompanied than with his own complete 

Perfections; in himself was all his state, 

More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits 

On princes, when their rich retinue long 

Of horses led, and grooms besmeared with gold, 

Dazzles the croud, and sets them all agape. 

Nearer his presence Adam, though not awed, 

Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek, 

As to a superiour nature bowing low, 

Thus said. Native of Heaven, for other place 

None can than Heaven such glorious shape contain; 

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Since, by descending from the thrones above, 

Those happy places thou hast deigned a while 

To want, and honour these, vouchsafe with us 

Two only, who yet by sovran gift possess 

This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower 

To rest; and what the garden choicest bears 

To sit and taste, till this meridian heat 

Be over, and the sun more cool decline. 

Whom thus the angelick Virtue answered mild. 

Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou such 

Created, or such place hast here to dwell, 

As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heaven, 

To visit thee; lead on then where thy bower 

O'ershades; for these midhours, till evening rise, 

I have at will. So to the sylvan lodge 

They came, that like Pomona's arbour smiled, 

With flowerets decked, and fragrant smells; but Eve, 

Undecked save with herself, more lovely fair 

Than WoodNymph, or the fairest Goddess feigned 

Of three that in mount Ida naked strove, 

Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven; no veil 

She needed, virtueproof; no thought infirm 

Altered her cheek. On whom the Angel Hail 

Bestowed, the holy salutation used 

Long after to blest Mary, second Eve. 

Hail, Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful womb 

Shall fill the world more numerous with thy sons, 

Than with these various fruits the trees of God 

Have heaped this table!Raised of grassy turf 

Their table was, and mossy seats had round, 

And on her ample square from side to side 

All autumn piled, though spring and autumn here 

Danced hand in hand. A while discourse they hold; 

No fear lest dinner cool; when thus began 

Our author. Heavenly stranger, please to taste 

These bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom 

All perfect good, unmeasured out, descends, 

To us for food and for delight hath caused 

The earth to yield; unsavoury 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 faculty 

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

Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate, 

And corporeal to incorporeal turn. 

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For know, whatever was created, needs 

To be sustained 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, unpurged 

Vapours not yet into her substance turned. 

Nor doth the moon no nourishment exhale 

From her moist continent to higher orbs. 

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 Heaven the trees 

Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines 

Yield nectar; though from off the boughs each morn 

We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground 

Covered 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 their viands fell; nor seemingly 

The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss 

Of Theologians; but with keen dispatch 

Of real hunger, and concoctive heat 

To transubstantiate: What redounds, transpires 

Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder;if by fire 

Of sooty coal the empirick alchemist 

Can turn, or holds it possible to turn, 

Metals of drossiest ore to perfect gold, 

As from the mine. Mean while at table Eve 

Ministered naked, and their flowing cups 

With pleasant liquours crowned: O innocence 

Deserving Paradise! if ever, then, 

Then had the sons of God excuse to have been 

Enamoured at that sight; but in those hearts 

Love unlibidinous reigned, nor jealousy 

Was understood, the injured lover's hell. 

Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficed, 

Not burdened nature, sudden mind arose 

In Adam, not to let the occasion pass 

Given him by this great conference to know 

Of things above his world, and of their being 

Who dwell in Heaven, whose excellence he saw 

Transcend his own so far; whose radiant forms, 

Divine effulgence, whose high power, so far 

Exceeded human; and his wary speech 

Thus to the empyreal minister he framed. 

Inhabitant with God, now know I well 

Thy favour, in this honour done to Man; 

Under whose lowly roof thou hast vouchsafed 

To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste, 

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Food not of Angels, yet accepted so, 

As that more willingly thou couldst not seem 

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

To whom the winged Hierarch replied. 

O Adam, One Almighty is, from whom 

All things proceed, and up to him return, 

If not depraved from good, created all 

Such to perfection, one first matter all, 

Endued with various forms, various degrees 

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

But more refined, more spiritous, and pure, 

As nearer to him placed, or nearer tending 

Each in their several active spheres assigned, 

Till body up to spirit work, in bounds 

Proportioned to each kind. So from the root 

Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves 

More aery, last the bright consummate flower 

Spirits odorous breathes: flowers and their fruit, 

Man's nourishment, by gradual scale sublimed, 

To vital spirits aspire, to animal, 

To intellectual; give both life and sense, 

Fancy and understanding; whence the soul 

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, 

Improved by tract of time, and, winged, ascend 

Ethereal, as we; or may, at choice, 

Here or in heavenly Paradises dwell; 

If ye be found obedient, and retain 

Unalterably firm his love entire, 

Whose progeny you are. Mean while enjoy 

Your fill what happiness this happy state 

Can comprehend, incapable of more. 

To whom the patriarch of mankind replied. 

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 joined, If ye be found 

Obedient? Can we want obedience then 

To him, or possibly his love desert, 

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Who formed us from the dust and placed us here 

Full to the utmost measure of what bliss 

Human desires can seek or apprehend? 

To whom the Angel. Son of Heaven and Earth, 

Attend! That thou art happy, owe to God; 

That thou continuest such, owe to thyself, 

That is, to thy obedience; therein stand. 

This was that caution given thee; be advised. 

God made thee perfect, not immutable; 

And good he made thee, but to persevere 

He left it in thy power; ordained thy will 

By nature free, not overruled by fate 

Inextricable, or strict necessity: 

Our voluntary service he requires, 

Not our necessitated; such with him 

Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how 

Can hearts, not free, be tried whether they serve 

Willing or no, who will but what they must 

By destiny, and can no other choose? 

Myself, and all the angelick host, that stand 

In sight of God, enthroned, our happy state 

Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds; 

On other surety none: Freely we serve, 

Because we freely love, as in our will 

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

And some are fallen, to disobedience fallen, 

And so from Heaven 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 ear, 

Divine instructer, I have heard, than when 

Cherubick songs by night from neighbouring hills 

Aereal musick 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 

Assured me, and still assure: Though what thou tellest 

Hath passed in Heaven, some 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 finished half his journey, and scarce begins 

His other half in the great zone of Heaven. 

Thus Adam made request; and Raphael, 

After short pause assenting, thus began. 

High matter thou enjoinest me, O prime of men, 

Sad task and hard: For how shall I relate 

To human sense the invisible exploits 

Of warring Spirits? how, without remorse, 

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Page No 86

The ruin of so many glorious once 

And perfect while they stood? how last unfold 

The secrets of another world, perhaps 

Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good 

This is dispensed; and what surmounts the reach 

Of human sense, I shall delineate so, 

By likening spiritual to corporal forms, 

As may express them best; though what if Earth 

Be but a shadow of Heaven, and things therein 

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

As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild 

Reigned where these Heavens now roll, where Earth now rests 

Upon her center poised; when on a day 

(For time, though in eternity, applied 

To motion, measures all things durable 

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

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

Of Angels by imperial summons called, 

Innumerable before the Almighty's throne 

Forthwith, from all the ends of Heaven, appeared 

Under their Hierarchs in orders bright: 

Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced, 

Standards and gonfalons 'twixt van and rear 

Stream in the air, and for distinction serve 

Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees; 

Or in their glittering tissues bear imblazed 

Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love 

Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs 

Of circuit inexpressible they stood, 

Orb within orb, the Father Infinite, 

By whom in bliss imbosomed sat the Son, 

Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top 

Brightness had made invisible, thus spake. 

Hear, all ye Angels, progeny of light, 

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; 

Hear my decree, which unrevoked shall stand. 

This day I have begot whom I declare 

My only Son, and on this holy hill 

Him have anointed, whom ye now behold 

At my right hand; your head I him appoint; 

And by myself have sworn, to him shall bow 

All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord: 

Under his great vicegerent reign abide 

United, as one individual soul, 

For ever happy: Him who disobeys, 

Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day, 

Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls 

Into utter darkness, deep ingulfed, his place 

Ordained without redemption, without end. 

So spake the Omnipotent, and with his words 

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

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Page No 87

That day, as other solemn days, they spent 

In song and dance about the sacred hill; 

Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere 

Of planets, and of fixed, in all her wheels 

Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, 

Eccentrick, intervolved, yet regular 

Then most, when most irregular they seem; 

And in their motions harmony divine 

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

Listens delighted. Evening now approached, 

(For we have also our evening 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 piled 

With Angels food, and rubied nectar flows 

In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold, 

Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven. 

On flowers reposed, and with fresh flowerets crowned, 

They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet 

Quaff immortality and joy, secure 

Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds 

Excess, before the allbounteous King, who showered 

With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy. 

Now when ambrosial night with clouds exhaled 

From that high mount of God, whence light and shade 

Spring both, the face of brightest Heaven had changed 

To grateful twilight, (for night comes not there 

In darker veil,) and roseat dews disposed 

All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest; 

Wide over all the plain, and wider far 

Than all this globous earth in plain outspread, 

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

Dispersed in bands and files, their camp extend 

By living streams among the trees of life, 

Pavilions numberless, and sudden reared, 

Celestial tabernacles, where they slept 

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

Melodious hymns about the sovran throne 

Alternate all night long: but not so waked 

Satan; so call him now, his former name 

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

If not the first ArchAngel, great in power, 

In favour and preeminence, yet fraught 

With envy against the Son of God, that day 

Honoured by his great Father, and proclaimed 

Messiah King anointed, could not bear 

Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaired. 

Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, 

Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour 

Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolved 

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Page No 88

With all his legions to dislodge, and leave 

Unworshipt, unobeyed, the throne supreme, 

Contemptuous; and his next subordinate 

Awakening, thus to him in secret spake. 

Sleepest thou, Companion dear? What sleep can close 

Thy eyelids? and rememberest what decree 

Of yesterday, so late hath passed the lips 

Of Heaven's Almighty. 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 imposed; 

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 shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste, 

And all who under me their 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 ArchAngel, and infused 

Bad influence into the unwary breast 

Of his associate: He 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 disincumbered Heaven, 

The great hierarchal standard was to move; 

Tells the suggested cause, and casts between 

Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound 

Or taint integrity: But all obeyed 

The wonted signal, and superiour voice 

Of their great Potentate; for great indeed 

His name, and high was his degree in Heaven; 

His countenance, as the morningstar that guides 

The starry flock, allured them, and with lies 

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

Mean while the Eternal eye, whose sight discerns 

Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount, 

And from within the golden lamps that burn 

Nightly before him, saw without their light 

Rebellion rising; saw in whom, how spread 

Among the sons of morn, what multitudes 

Were banded to oppose his high decree; 

And, smiling, to his only Son thus said. 

Son, thou in whom my glory I behold 

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Page No 89

In full resplendence, Heir of all my might, 

Nearly it now concerns us to be sure 

Of our Omnipotence, and with what arms 

We mean to hold what anciently we claim 

Of deity 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 try 

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

Let us advise, and to this hazard draw 

With speed what force is left, and all employ 

In our defence; lest unawares we lose 

This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill. 

To whom the Son with calm aspect and clear, 

Lightning divine, ineffable, serene, 

Made answer. Mighty Father, thou thy foes 

Justly hast in derision, and, secure, 

Laughest at their vain designs and tumults vain, 

Matter to me of glory, whom their hate 

Illustrates, when they see all regal power 

Given me to quell their pride, and in event 

Know whether I be dextrous to subdue 

Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven. 

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

Far was advanced on winged speed; an host 

Innumerable as the stars of night, 

Or stars of morning, dewdrops, which the sun 

Impearls on every leaf and every flower. 

Regions they passed, the mighty regencies 

Of Seraphim, and Potentates, and Thrones, 

In their triple degrees; regions to which 

All thy dominion, Adam, is no more 

Than what this garden is to all the earth, 

And all the sea, from one entire globose 

Stretched into longitude; which having passed, 

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 

Raised on a mount, with pyramids and towers 

From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold; 

The palace of great Lucifer, (so call 

That structure in the dialect of men 

Interpreted,) which not long after, he 

Affecting all equality with God, 

In imitation of that mount whereon 

Messiah was declared in sight of Heaven, 

The Mountain of the Congregation called; 

For thither he assembled all his train, 

Pretending so commanded to consult 

About the great reception of their King, 

Thither to come, and with calumnious art 

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Page No 90

Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears. 

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; 

If these magnifick titles yet remain 

Not merely titular, since by decree 

Another now hath to himself engrossed 

All power, and us eclipsed under the name 

Of King anointed, for whom all this haste 

Of midnightmarch, and hurried meeting here, 

This only to consult how we may best, 

With what may be devised of honours new, 

Receive him coming to receive from us 

Kneetribute yet unpaid, prostration vile! 

Too much to one! but double how endured, 

To one, and to his image now proclaimed? 

But what if better counsels might erect 

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

Will ye submit your necks, and choose to bend 

The supple knee? Ye will not, if I trust 

To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves 

Natives and sons of Heaven possessed before 

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

Equally free; for orders and degrees 

Jar not with liberty, but well consist. 

Who can in reason then, or right, assume 

Monarchy over such as live by right 

His equals, if in power and splendour less, 

In freedom equal? or can introduce 

Law and edict on us, who without law 

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

And look for adoration, to the abuse 

Of those imperial titles, which assert 

Our being ordained to govern, not to serve. 

Thus far his bold discourse without controul 

Had audience; when among the Seraphim 

Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal adored 

The Deity, and divine commands obeyed, 

Stood up, and in a flame of zeal severe 

The current of his fury thus opposed. 

O argument blasphemous, false, and proud! 

Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven 

Expected, least of all from thee, Ingrate, 

In place thyself so high above thy peers. 

Canst thou with impious obloquy condemn 

The just decree of God, pronounced and sworn, 

That to his only Son, by right endued 

With regal scepter, every soul in Heaven 

Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due 

Confess him rightful King? unjust, thou sayest, 

Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free, 

And equal over equals to let reign, 

One over all with unsucceeded power. 

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Page No 91

Shalt thou give law to God? shalt thou dispute 

With him the points of liberty, who made 

Thee what thou art, and formed the Powers of Heaven 

Such as he pleased, and circumscribed their being? 

Yet, by experience taught, we know how good, 

And of our good and of our dignity 

How provident he is; how far from thought 

To make us less, bent rather to exalt 

Our happy state, under one head more near 

United. But to grant it thee unjust, 

That equal over equals monarch reign: 

Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou count, 

Or all angelick nature joined in one, 

Equal to him begotten Son? by whom, 

As by his Word, the Mighty Father made 

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

By him created in their bright degrees, 

Crowned them with glory, and to their glory named 

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers, 

Essential Powers; nor by his reign obscured, 

But more illustrious made; since he the head 

One of our number thus reduced becomes; 

His laws our laws; all honour to him done 

Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage, 

And tempt not these; but hasten to appease 

The incensed Father, and the incensed Son, 

While pardon may be found in time besought. 

So spake the fervent Angel; but his zeal 

None seconded, as out of season judged, 

Or singular and rash: Whereat rejoiced 

The Apostate, and, more haughty, thus replied. 

That we were formed then sayest thou? and the work 

Of secondary hands, by task transferred 

From Father to his Son? strange point and new! 

Doctrine which we would know whence learned: who saw 

When this creation was? rememberest thou 

Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? 

We know no time when we were not as now; 

Know none before us, selfbegot, selfraised 

By our own quickening power, when fatal course 

Had circled his full orb, the birth mature 

Of this our native Heaven, 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 the almighty throne 

Beseeching or besieging. This report, 

These tidings carry to the anointed King; 

And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. 

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

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Page No 92

Hoarse murmur echoed to his words applause 

Through the infinite host; nor less for that 

The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone 

Encompassed round with foes, thus answered bold. 

O alienate from God, O Spirit accursed, 

Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall 

Determined, and thy hapless crew involved 

In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread 

Both of thy crime and punishment: Henceforth 

No more be troubled how to quit the yoke 

Of God's Messiah; those indulgent laws 

Will not be now vouchsafed; other decrees 

Against thee are gone forth without recall; 

That golden scepter, which thou didst reject, 

Is now an iron rod to bruise and break 

Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise; 

Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly 

These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath 

Impendent, raging into sudden flame, 

Distinguish not: For soon expect to feel 

His thunder on thy head, devouring fire. 

Then who created thee lamenting learn, 

When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know. 

So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found 

Among the faithless, faithful only he; 

Among innumerable false, unmoved, 

Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified, 

His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; 

Nor number, nor example, with him wrought 

To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, 

Though single. From amidst them forth he passed, 

Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustained 

Superiour, nor of violence feared aught; 

And, with retorted scorn, his back he turned 

On those proud towers to swift destruction doomed. 

Book VI

All night the dreadless Angel, unpursued, 

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

Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand 

Unbarred 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 Heaven 

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Page No 93

Grateful vicissitude, like day and night; 

Light issues forth, and at the other door 

Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour 

To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might well 

Seem twilight here: And now went forth the Morn 

Such as in highest Heaven arrayed in gold 

Empyreal; from before her vanished Night, 

Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain 

Covered with thick embattled squadrons bright, 

Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds, 

Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view: 

War he perceived, war in procinct; and found 

Already known what he for news had thought 

To have reported: Gladly then he mixed 

Among those friendly Powers, who him received 

With joy and acclamations loud, that one, 

That of so many myriads fallen, yet one 

Returned not lost. On to the sacred hill 

They led him high applauded, and present 

Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice, 

From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard. 

Servant of God. Well done; well hast thou fought 

The better fight, who single hast maintained 

Against revolted multitudes the cause 

Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; 

And for the testimony of truth hast borne 

Universal reproach, far worse to bear 

Than violence; for this was all thy care 

To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds 

Judged thee perverse: The easier conquest now 

Remains thee, aided by this host of friends, 

Back on thy foes more glorious to return, 

Than scorned thou didst depart; and to subdue 

By force, who reason for their law refuse, 

Right reason for their law, and for their King 

Messiah, who by right of merit reigns. 

Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince, 

And thou, in military prowess next, 

Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons 

Invincible; lead forth my armed Saints, 

By thousands and by millions, ranged for fight, 

Equal in number to that Godless crew 

Rebellious: Them with fire and hostile arms 

Fearless assault; and, to the brow of Heaven 

Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss, 

Into their place of punishment, the gulf 

Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide 

His fiery Chaos to receive their fall. 

So spake the Sovran Voice, and clouds began 

To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll 

In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign 

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Page No 94

Of wrath awaked; nor with less dread the loud 

Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow: 

At which command the Powers militant, 

That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate joined 

Of union irresistible, moved on 

In silence their bright legions, to the sound 

Of instrumental harmony, that breathed 

Heroick ardour to adventurous deeds 

Under their Godlike leaders, in the cause 

Of God and his Messiah. On they move 

Indissolubly firm; nor obvious hill, 

Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides 

Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground 

Their march was, and the passive air upbore 

Their nimble tread; as when the total kind 

Of birds, in orderly array on wing, 

Came summoned over Eden to receive 

Their names of thee; so over many a tract 

Of Heaven they marched, and many a province wide, 

Tenfold the length of this terrene: At last, 

Far in the horizon to the north appeared 

From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretched 

In battailous aspect, and nearer view 

Bristled with upright beams innumerable 

Of rigid spears, and helmets thronged, and shields 

Various, with boastful argument portrayed, 

The banded Powers of Satan hasting on 

With furious expedition; for they weened 

That selfsame day, by fight or by surprise, 

To win the mount of God, and on his throne 

To set the Envier of his state, the proud 

Aspirer; but their thoughts proved fond and vain 

In the mid way: Though strange to us it seemed 

At first, that Angel should with Angel war, 

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 the Eternal Father: But the shout 

Of battle now began, and rushing sound 

Of onset ended soon each milder thought. 

High in the midst, exalted as a God, 

The Apostate in his sunbright chariot sat, 

Idol of majesty divine, enclosed 

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 cloudy van, 

On the rough edge of battle ere it joined, 

Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanced,

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Page No 95

Came towering, armed in adamant and gold; 

Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood 

Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds, 

And thus his own undaunted heart explores. 

O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest 

Should yet remain, where faith and realty 

Remain not: Wherefore should not strength and might 

There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove 

Where boldest, though to fight unconquerable? 

His puissance, trusting in the Almighty's aid, 

I mean to try, whose reason I have tried 

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 foul, 

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, halfway he met 

His daring foe, at this prevention more 

Incensed, and thus securely him defied. 

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

The highth of thy aspiring unopposed, 

The throne of God unguarded, and his side 

Abandoned, at the terrour of thy power 

Or potent tongue: Fool!not to think how vain 

Against the Omnipotent to rise in arms; 

Who out of smallest things could, without end, 

Have raised incessant armies to defeat 

Thy folly; or with solitary hand 

Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow, 

Unaided, could have finished thee, and whelmed 

Thy legions under darkness: But thou seest 

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

Prefer, and piety to God, though then 

To thee not visible, when I alone 

Seemed in thy world erroneous to dissent 

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

How few sometimes may know, when thousands err. 

Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance, 

Thus answered. Ill for thee, but in wished hour 

Of my revenge, first sought for, thou returnest 

From flight, seditious Angel! to receive 

Thy merited reward, the first assay 

Of this right hand provoked, since first that tongue, 

Inspired with contradiction, durst oppose 

A third part of the Gods, in synod met 

Their deities to assert; who, while they feel 

Vigour divine within them, can allow 

Omnipotence to none. But well thou comest 

Before thy fellows, ambitious to win 

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From me some plume, that thy success may show 

Destruction to the rest: This pause between, 

(Unanswered lest thou boast) to let thee know, 

At first I thought that Liberty and Heaven 

To heavenly souls had been all one; but now 

I see that most through sloth had rather serve, 

Ministring Spirits, trained up in feast and song! 

Such hast thou armed, the minstrelsy of Heaven, 

Servility with freedom to contend, 

As both their deeds compared this day shall prove. 

To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied. 

Apostate! still thou errest, nor end wilt find 

Of erring, from the path of truth remote: 

Unjustly thou depravest 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 excels 

Them whom he governs. This is servitude, 

To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebelled 

Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, 

Thyself not free, but to thyself enthralled; 

Yet lewdly darest our ministring upbraid. 

Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom; let me serve 

In Heaven God ever blest, and his divine 

Behests obey, worthiest to be obeyed; 

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

From me returned, 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 recoiled; the tenth on bended knee 

His massy spear upstaid; as if on earth 

Winds under ground, or waters forcing way, 

Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat, 

Half sunk with all his pines. Amazement seised 

The rebel Thrones, but greater rage, to see 

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

Presage of victory, and fierce desire 

Of battle: Whereat Michael bid sound 

The ArchAngel trumpet; through the vast of Heaven 

It sounded, and the faithful armies rung 

Hosanna to the Highest: Nor stood at gaze 

The adverse legions, nor less hideous joined 

The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose, 

And clamour such as heard in Heaven till now 

Was never; arms on armour clashing brayed 

Horrible discord, and the madding wheels 

Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise 

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Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss 

Of fiery darts in flaming vollies flew, 

And flying vaulted either host with fire. 

So under fiery cope together rushed 

Both battles main, with ruinous assault 

And inextinguishable rage. All Heaven 

Resounded; and had Earth been then, all Earth 

Had to her center shook. What wonder? when 

Millions of fierce encountering Angels fought 

On either side, the least of whom could wield 

These elements, and arm him with the force 

Of all their regions: How much more of power 

Army against army numberless to raise 

Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb, 

Though not destroy, their happy native seat; 

Had not the Eternal King Omnipotent, 

From his strong hold of Heaven, high overruled 

And limited their might; though numbered such 

As each divided legion might have seemed 

A numerous host; in strength each armed hand 

A legion; led in fight, yet leader seemed 

Each warriour single as in chief, expert 

When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway 

Of battle, open when, and when to close 

The ridges of grim war: No thought of flight, 

None of retreat, no unbecoming deed 

That argued fear; each on himself relied, 

As only in his arm the moment lay 

Of victory: Deeds of eternal fame 

Were done, but infinite; for wide was spread 

That war and various; sometimes on firm ground 

A standing fight, then, soaring on main wing, 

Tormented all the air; all air seemed then 

Conflicting fire. Long time in even scale 

The battle hung; till Satan, who that day 

Prodigious power had shown, and met in arms 

No equal, ranging through the dire attack 

Of fighting Seraphim confused, at length 

Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled 

Squadrons at once; with huge twohanded sway 

Brandished aloft, the horrid edge came down 

Widewasting; such destruction to withstand 

He hasted, and opposed the rocky orb 

Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield, 

A vast circumference. At his approach 

The great ArchAngel from his warlike toil 

Surceased, and glad, as hoping here to end 

Intestine war in Heaven, the archfoe subdued 

Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown 

And visage all inflamed first thus began. 

Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt, 

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Unnamed in Heaven, now plenteous as thou seest 

These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all, 

Though heaviest by just measure on thyself, 

And thy adherents: How hast thou disturbed 

Heaven's blessed peace, and into nature brought 

Misery, uncreated till the crime 

Of thy rebellion! how hast thou instilled 

Thy malice into thousands, once upright 

And faithful, now proved false! But think not here 

To trouble holy rest; Heaven casts thee out 

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

Brooks not the works of violence and war. 

Hence then, and evil go with thee along, 

Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell; 

Thou and thy wicked crew! there mingle broils, 

Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom, 

Or some more sudden vengeance, winged from God, 

Precipitate thee with augmented pain. 

So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus 

The Adversary. Nor think thou with wind 

Of aery threats to awe whom yet with deeds 

Thou canst not. Hast thou turned the least of these 

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

Unvanquished, easier to transact with me 

That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats 

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

The strife which thou callest evil, but we style 

The strife of glory; which we mean to win, 

Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell 

Thou fablest; here however to dwell free, 

If not to reign: Mean while thy utmost force, 

And join him named Almighty to thy aid, 

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

They ended parle, and both addressed 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 seemed, 

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

Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven. 

Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air 

Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields 

Blazed opposite, while Expectation stood 

In horrour: From each hand with speed retired, 

Where erst was thickest fight, the angelick throng, 

And left large field, unsafe within the wind 

Of such commotion; such as, to set forth 

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

Among the constellations war were sprung, 

Two planets, rushing from aspect malign 

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Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky 

Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound. 

Together both with next to almighty arm 

Uplifted imminent, one stroke they aimed 

That might determine, and not need repeat, 

As not of power at once; nor odds appeared 

In might or swift prevention: But the sword 

Of Michael from the armoury of God 

Was given him tempered 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 sheer; nor staid, 

But with swift wheel reverse, deep entering, shared 

All his right side: Then Satan first knew pain, 

And writhed him to and fro convolved; so sore 

The griding sword with discontinuous wound 

Passed through him: But the ethereal substance closed, 

Not long divisible; and from the gash 

A stream of necturous humour issuing flowed 

Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed, 

And all his armour stained, ere while so bright. 

Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run 

By Angels many and strong, who interposed 

Defence, while others bore him on their shields 

Back to his chariot, where it stood retired 

From off the files of war: There they him laid 

Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame, 

To find himself not matchless, and his pride 

Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath 

His confidence to equal God in power. 

Yet soon he healed; for Spirits that live throughout 

Vital in every part, not as frail man 

In entrails, heart of head, liver or reins, 

Cannot but by annihilating die; 

Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound 

Receive, no more than can the fluid air: 

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

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

They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size 

Assume, as?kikes them best, condense or rare. 

Mean while in other parts like deeds deserved 

Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, 

And with fierce ensigns pierced the deep array 

Of Moloch, furious king; who him defied, 

And at his chariotwheels to drag him bound 

Threatened, nor from the Holy One of Heaven 

Refrained his tongue blasphemous; but anon 

Down cloven to the waist, with shattered arms 

And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing 

Uriel, and Raphael, his vaunting foe, 

Though huge, and in a rock of diamond armed, 

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Vanquished Adramelech, and Asmadai, 

Two potent Thrones, that to be less than Gods 

Disdained, but meaner thoughts learned in their flight, 

Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail. 

Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy 

The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow 

Ariel, and Arioch, and the violence 

Of Ramiel scorched and blasted, overthrew. 

I might relate of thousands, and their names 

Eternize here on earth; but those elect 

Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven, 

Seek not the praise of men: The other sort, 

In might though wonderous and in acts of war, 

Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom 

Cancelled from Heaven and sacred memory, 

Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. 

For strength from truth divided, and from just, 

Illaudable, nought merits but dispraise 

And ignominy; yet to glory aspires 

Vainglorious, and through infamy seeks fame: 

Therefore eternal silence be their doom. 

And now, their mightiest quelled, the battle swerved, 

With many an inroad gored; deformed rout 

Entered, and foul disorder; all the ground 

With shivered armour strown, and on a heap 

Chariot and charioteer lay overturned, 

And fieryfoaming steeds; what stood, recoiled 

O'erwearied, through the faint Satanick host 

Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surprised, 

Then first with fear surprised, and sense of pain, 

Fled ignominious, to such evil brought 

By sin of disobedience; till that hour 

Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain. 

Far otherwise the inviolable Saints, 

In cubick phalanx firm, advanced entire, 

Invulnerable, impenetrably armed; 

Such high advantages their innocence 

Gave them above their foes; not to have sinned, 

Not to have disobeyed; in fight they stood 

Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pained 

By wound, though from their place by violence moved, 

Now Night her course began, and, over Heaven 

Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed, 

And silence on the odious din of war: 

Under her cloudy covert both retired, 

Victor and vanquished: On the foughten field 

Michael and his Angels prevalent 

Encamping, placed in guard their watches round, 

Cherubick waving fires: On the other part, 

Satan with his rebellious disappeared, 

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

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His potentates to council called by night; 

And in the midst thus undismayed began. 

O now in danger tried, now known in arms 

Not to be overpowered, Companions dear, 

Found worthy not of liberty alone, 

Too mean pretence! but what we more affect, 

Honour, dominion, glory, and renown; 

Who have sustained one day in doubtful fight, 

(And if one day, why not eternal days?) 

What Heaven's Lord had powerfullest to send 

Against us from about his throne, and judged 

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 armed, 

Some disadvantage we endured and pain, 

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

Since now we find this our empyreal form 

Incapable of mortal injury, 

Imperishable, and, though pierced with wound, 

Soon closing, and by native vigour healed. 

Of evil then so small as easy think 

The remedy; perhaps more valid arms, 

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 minds, and understanding sound, 

Due search and consultation will disclose. 

He sat; and in the assembly next upstood 

Nisroch, of Principalities the prime; 

As one he stood escaped from cruel fight, 

Sore toiled, his riven arms to havock hewn, 

And cloudy 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 arms to fight in pain, 

Against unpained, impassive; from which evil 

Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails 

Valour or strength, though matchless, quelled 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 perfect misery, the worst 

Of evils, and, excessive, overturns 

All patience. He, who therefore can invent 

With what more forcible we may offend 

Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm 

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