Milton John. Paradise Lost

   To settle here on Earth, or in mid Aire;
   Though for possession put to try once more
   What thou and thy gay Legions dare against;
   Whose easier business were to serve thir Lord
   High up in Heav'n, with songs to hymne his Throne,
   And practis'd distances to cringe, not fight.
   To whom the warriour Angel soon repli'd.
   To say and strait unsay, pretending first
   Wise to flie pain, professing next the Spie,
   Argues no Leader, but a lyar trac't,
   SATAN, and couldst thou faithful add? O name,
   O sacred name of faithfulness profan'd!
   Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew?
   Armie of Fiends, fit body to fit head;
   Was this your discipline and faith ingag'd,
   Your military obedience, to dissolve
   Allegeance to th' acknowledg'd Power supream?
   And thou sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem
   Patron of liberty, who more then thou
   Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and servilly ador'd
   Heav'ns awful Monarch? wherefore but in hope
   To dispossess him, and thy self to reigne?
   But mark what I arreede thee now, avant;
   Flie thither whence thou fledst: if from this houre
   Within these hallowd limits thou appeer,
   Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chaind,
   And Seale thee so, as henceforth not to scorne
   The facil gates of hell too slightly barrd.
   So threatn'd hee, but SATAN to no threats
   Gave heed, but waxing more in rage repli'd.
   Then when I am thy captive talk of chaines,
   Proud limitarie Cherube, but ere then
   Farr heavier load thy self expect to feel
   From my prevailing arme, though Heavens King
   Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy Compeers,
   Us'd to the yoak, draw'st his triumphant wheels
   In progress through the rode of Heav'n Star-pav'd.
   While thus he spake, th' Angelic Squadron bright
   Turnd fierie red, sharpning in mooned hornes
   Thir Phalanx, and began to hemm him round
   With ported Spears, as thick as when a field
   Of CERES ripe for harvest waving bends
   Her bearded Grove of ears, which way the wind
   Swayes them; the careful Plowman doubting stands
   Least on the threshing floore his hopeful sheaves
   Prove chaff. On th' other side SATAN allarm'd
   Collecting all his might dilated stood,
   Like TENERIFF or ATLAS unremov'd:
   His stature reacht the Skie, and on his Crest
   Sat horror Plum'd; nor wanted in his graspe
   What seemd both Spear and Shield: now dreadful deeds
   Might have ensu'd, nor onely Paradise
   In this commotion, but the Starrie Cope
   Of Heav'n perhaps, or all the Elements
   At least had gon to rack, disturbd and torne
   With violence of this conflict, had not soon
   Th' Eternal to prevent such horrid fray
   Hung forth in Heav'n his golden Scales, yet seen
   Betwixt ASTREA and the SCORPION signe,
   Wherein all things created first he weighd,
   The pendulous round Earth with ballanc't Aire
   In counterpoise, now ponders all events,
   Battels and Realms: in these he put two weights
   The sequel each of parting and of fight;
   The latter quick up flew, and kickt the beam;
   Which GABRIEL spying, thus bespake the Fiend.
   SATAN, I know thy strength, and thou knowst mine,
   Neither our own but giv'n; what follie then
   To boast what Arms can doe, since thine no more
   Then Heav'n permits, nor mine, though doubld now
   To trample thee as mire: for proof look up,
   And read thy Lot in yon celestial Sign
   Where thou art weigh'd, & shown how light, how weak,
   If thou resist. The Fiend lookt up and knew
   His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled
   Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.

BOOK V.

   Now Morn her rosie steps in th' Eastern Clime
   Advancing, sow'd the Earth with Orient Pearle,
   When ADAM wak't, so customd, for his sleep
   Was Aerie light, from pure digestion bred,
   And temperat vapors bland, which th' only sound
   Of leaves and fuming rills, AURORA's fan,
   Lightly dispers'd, and the shrill Matin Song
   Of Birds on every bough; so much the more
   His wonder was to find unwak'nd EVE
   With Tresses discompos'd, and glowing Cheek,
   As through unquiet rest: he on his side
   Leaning half-rais'd, with looks of cordial Love
   Hung over her enamour'd, and beheld
   Beautie, which whether waking or asleep,
   Shot forth peculiar Graces; then with voice
   Milde, as when ZEPHYRUS on FLORA breathes,
   Her hand soft touching, whisperd thus. Awake
   My fairest, my espous'd, my latest found,
   Heav'ns last best gift, my ever new delight,
   Awake, the morning shines, and the fresh field
   Calls us, we lose the prime, to mark how spring
   Our tended Plants, how blows the Citron Grove,
   What drops the Myrrhe, & what the balmie Reed,
   How Nature paints her colours, how the Bee
   Sits on the Bloom extracting liquid sweet.
   Such whispering wak'd her, but with startl'd eye
   On ADAM, whom imbracing, thus she spake.
   O Sole in whom my thoughts find all repose,
   My Glorie, my Perfection, glad I see
   Thy face, and Morn return'd, for I this Night,
   Such night till this I never pass'd, have dream'd,
   If dream'd, not as I oft am wont, of thee,
   Works of day pass't, or morrows next designe,
   But of offence and trouble, which my mind
   Knew never till this irksom night; methought
   Close at mine ear one call'd me forth to walk
   With gentle voice, I thought it thine; it said,
   Why sleepst thou EVE? now is the pleasant time,
   The cool, the silent, save where silence yields
   To the night-warbling Bird, that now awake
   Tunes sweetest his love-labor'd song; now reignes
   Full Orb'd the Moon, and with more pleasing light
   Shadowie sets off the face of things; in vain,
   If none regard; Heav'n wakes with all his eyes,
   Whom to behold but thee, Natures desire,
   In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment
   Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze.
   I rose as at thy call, but found thee not;
   To find thee I directed then my walk;
   And on, methought, alone I pass'd through ways
   That brought me on a sudden to the Tree
   Of interdicted Knowledge: fair it seem'd,
   Much fairer to my Fancie then by day:
   And as I wondring lookt, beside it stood
   One shap'd & wing'd like one of those from Heav'n
   By us oft seen; his dewie locks distill'd
   Ambrosia; on that Tree he also gaz'd;
   And O fair Plant, said he, with fruit surcharg'd,
   Deigns none to ease thy load and taste thy sweet,
   Nor God, nor Man; is Knowledge so despis'd?
   Or envie, or what reserve forbids to taste?
   Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold
   Longer thy offerd good, why else set here?
   This said he paus'd not, but with ventrous Arme
   He pluckt, he tasted; mee damp horror chil'd
   At such bold words voucht with a deed so bold:
   But he thus overjoy'd, O Fruit Divine,
   Sweet of thy self, but much more sweet thus cropt,
   Forbidd'n here, it seems, as onely fit
   For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men:
   And why not Gods of Men, since good, the more
   Communicated, more abundant growes,
   The Author not impair'd, but honourd more?
   Here, happie Creature, fair Angelic EVE,
   Partake thou also; happie though thou art,
   Happier thou mayst be, worthier canst not be:
   Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods
   Thy self a Goddess, not to Earth confind,
   But somtimes in the Air, as wee, somtimes
   Ascend to Heav'n, by merit thine, and see
   What life the Gods live there, and such live thou.
   So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held,
   Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part
   Which he had pluckt; the pleasant savourie smell
   So quick'nd appetite, that I, methought,
   Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the Clouds
   With him I flew, and underneath beheld
   The Earth outstretcht immense, a prospect wide
   And various: wondring at my flight and change
   To this high exaltation; suddenly
   My Guide was gon, and I, me thought, sunk down,
   And fell asleep; but O how glad I wak'd
   To find this but a dream! Thus EVE her Night
   Related, and thus ADAM answerd sad.
   Best Image of my self and dearer half,
   The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep
   Affects me equally; nor can I like
   This uncouth dream, of evil sprung I fear;
   Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none,
   Created pure. But know that in the Soule
   Are many lesser Faculties that serve
   Reason as chief; among these Fansie next
   Her office holds; of all external things,
   Which the five watchful Senses represent,
   She forms Imaginations, Aerie shapes,
   Which Reason joyning or disjoyning, frames
   All what we affirm or what deny, and call
   Our knowledge or opinion; then retires
   Into her private Cell when Nature rests.
   Oft in her absence mimic Fansie wakes
   To imitate her; but misjoyning shapes,
   Wilde work produces oft, and most in dreams,
   Ill matching words and deeds long past or late.
   Som such resemblances methinks I find
   Of our last Eevnings talk, in this thy dream,
   But with addition strange; yet be not sad.
   Evil into the mind of God or Man
   May come and go, so unapprov'd, and leave
   No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope
   That what in sleep thou didst abhorr to dream,
   Waking thou never wilt consent to do.
   Be not disheart'nd then, nor cloud those looks
   That wont to be more chearful and serene
   Then when fair Morning first smiles on the World,
   And let us to our fresh imployments rise
   Among the Groves, the Fountains, and the Flours
   That open now thir choicest bosom'd smells
   Reservd from night, and kept for thee in store.
   So cheard he his fair Spouse, and she was cheard,
   But silently a gentle tear let fall
   From either eye, and wip'd them with her haire;
   Two other precious drops that ready stood,
   Each in thir chrystal sluce, hee ere they fell
   Kiss'd as the gracious signs of sweet remorse
   And pious awe, that feard to have offended.
   So all was cleard, and to the Field they haste.
   But first from under shadie arborous roof,
   Soon as they forth were come to open sight
   Of day-spring, and the Sun, who scarce up risen
   With wheels yet hov'ring o're the Ocean brim,
   Shot paralel to the earth his dewie ray,
   Discovering in wide Lantskip all the East
   Of Paradise and EDENS happie Plains,
   Lowly they bow'd adoring, and began
   Thir Orisons, each Morning duly paid
   In various style, for neither various style
   Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise
   Thir Maker, in fit strains pronounc't or sung
   Unmeditated, such prompt eloquence
   Flowd from thir lips, in Prose or numerous Verse,
   More tuneable then needed Lute or Harp
   To add more sweetness, and they thus began.
   These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,
   Almightie, thine this universal Frame,
   Thus wondrous fair; thy self how wondrous then!
   Unspeakable, who sitst above these Heavens
   To us invisible or dimly seen
   In these thy lowest works, yet these declare
   Thy goodness beyond thought, and Power Divine:
   Speak yee who best can tell, ye Sons of light,
   Angels, for yee behold him, and with songs
   And choral symphonies, Day without Night,
   Circle his Throne rejoycing, yee in Heav'n,
   On Earth joyn all yee Creatures to extoll
   Him first, him last, him midst, and without end.
   Fairest of Starrs, last in the train of Night,
   If better thou belong not to the dawn,
   Sure pledge of day, that crownst the smiling Morn
   With thy bright Circlet, praise him in thy Spheare
   While day arises, that sweet hour of Prime.
   Thou Sun, of this great World both Eye and Soule,
   Acknowledge him thy Greater, sound his praise
   In thy eternal course, both when thou climb'st,
   And when high Noon hast gaind, & when thou fallst.
   Moon, that now meetst the orient Sun, now fli'st
   With the fixt Starrs, fixt in thir Orb that flies,
   And yee five other wandring Fires that move
   In mystic Dance not without Song, resound
   His praise, who out of Darkness call'd up Light.
   Aire, and ye Elements the eldest birth
   Of Natures Womb, that in quaternion run
   Perpetual Circle, multiform; and mix
   And nourish all things, let your ceasless change
   Varie to our great Maker still new praise.
   Ye Mists and Exhalations that now rise
   From Hill or steaming Lake, duskie or grey,
   Till the Sun paint your fleecie skirts with Gold,
   In honour to the Worlds great Author rise,
   Whether to deck with Clouds the uncolourd skie,
   Or wet the thirstie Earth with falling showers,
   Rising or falling still advance his praise.
   His praise ye Winds, that from four Quarters blow,
   Breath soft or loud; and wave your tops, ye Pines,
   With every Plant, in sign of Worship wave.
   Fountains and yee, that warble, as ye flow,
   Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.
   Joyn voices all ye living Souls, ye Birds,
   That singing up to Heaven Gate ascend,
   Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise;
   Yee that in Waters glide, and yee that walk
   The Earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep;
   Witness if I be silent, Morn or Eeven,
   To Hill, or Valley, Fountain, or fresh shade
   Made vocal by my Song, and taught his praise.
   Hail universal Lord, be bounteous still
   To give us onely good; and if the night
   Have gathered aught of evil or conceald,
   Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark.
   So pray'd they innocent, and to thir thoughts
   Firm peace recoverd soon and wonted calm.
   On to thir mornings rural work they haste
   Among sweet dewes and flours; where any row
   Of Fruit-trees overwoodie reachd too farr
   Thir pamperd boughes, and needed hands to check
   Fruitless imbraces: or they led the Vine
   To wed her Elm; she spous'd about him twines
   Her mariageable arms, and with her brings
   Her dowr th' adopted Clusters, to adorn
   His barren leaves. Them thus imploid beheld
   With pittie Heav'ns high King, and to him call'd
   RAPHAEL, the sociable Spirit, that deign'd
   To travel with TOBIAS, and secur'd
   His marriage with the seaventimes-wedded Maid.
   RAPHAEL, said hee, thou hear'st what stir on Earth
   SATAN from Hell scap't through the darksom Gulf
   Hath raisd in Paradise, and how disturbd
   This night the human pair, how he designes
   In them at once to ruin all mankind.
   Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend
   Converse with ADAM, in what Bowre or shade
   Thou find'st him from the heat of Noon retir'd,
   To respit his day-labour with repast,
   Or with repose; and such discourse bring on,
   As may advise him of his happie state,
   Happiness in his power left free to will,
   Left to his own free Will, his Will though free,
   Yet mutable; whence warne him to beware
   He swerve not too secure: tell him withall
   His danger, and from whom, what enemie
   Late falln himself from Heav'n, is plotting now
   The fall of others from like state of bliss;
   By violence, no, for that shall be withstood,
   But by deceit and lies; this let him know,
   Least wilfully transgressing he pretend
   Surprisal, unadmonisht, unforewarnd.
   So spake th' Eternal Father, and fulfilld
   All Justice: nor delaid the winged Saint
   After his charge receivd, but from among
   Thousand Celestial Ardors, where he stood
   Vaild with his gorgeous wings, up springing light
   Flew through the midst of Heav'n; th' angelic Quires
   On each hand parting, to his speed gave way
   Through all th' Empyreal road; till at the Gate
   Of Heav'n arriv'd, the gate self-opend wide
   On golden Hinges turning, as by work
   Divine the sov'ran Architect had fram'd.
   From hence, no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight,
   Starr interpos'd, however small he sees,
   Not unconform to other shining Globes,
   Earth and the Gard'n of God, with Cedars crownd
   Above all Hills. As when by night the Glass
   Of GALILEO, less assur'd, observes
   Imagind Lands and Regions in the Moon:
   Or Pilot from amidst the CYCLADES
   DELOS or SAMOS first appeering kenns
   A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight
   He speeds, and through the vast Ethereal Skie
   Sailes between worlds & worlds, with steddie wing
   Now on the polar windes, then with quick Fann
   Winnows the buxom Air; till within soare
   Of Towring Eagles, to all the Fowles he seems
   A PHOENIX, gaz'd by all, as that sole Bird
   When to enshrine his reliques in the Sun's
   Bright Temple, to AEGYPTIAN THEB'S he flies.
   At once on th' Eastern cliff of Paradise
   He lights, and to his proper shape returns
   A Seraph wingd; six wings he wore, to shade
   His lineaments Divine; the pair that clad
   Each shoulder broad, came mantling o're his brest
   With regal Ornament; the middle pair
   Girt like a Starrie Zone his waste, and round
   Skirted his loines and thighes with downie Gold
   And colours dipt in Heav'n; the third his feet
   Shaddowd from either heele with featherd maile
   Skie-tinctur'd grain. Like MAIA'S son he stood,
   And shook his Plumes, that Heav'nly fragrance filld
   The circuit wide. Strait knew him all the bands
   Of Angels under watch; and to his state,
   And to his message high in honour rise;
   For on som message high they guessd him bound.
   Thir glittering Tents he passd, and now is come
   Into the blissful field, through Groves of Myrrhe,
   And flouring Odours, Cassia, Nard, and Balme;
   A Wilderness of sweets; for Nature here
   Wantond as in her prime, and plaid at will
   Her Virgin Fancies, pouring forth more sweet,
   Wilde above rule or art; enormous bliss.
   Him through the spicie Forrest onward com
   ADAM discernd, as in the dore he sat
   Of his coole Bowre, while now the mounted Sun
   Shot down direct his fervid Raies, to warme
   Earths inmost womb, more warmth then ADAM need;
   And EVE within, due at her hour prepar'd
   For dinner savourie fruits, of taste to please
   True appetite, and not disrelish thirst
   Of nectarous draughts between, from milkie stream,
   Berrie or Grape: to whom thus ADAM call'd.
   Haste hither EVE, and worth thy sight behold
   Eastward among those Trees, what glorious shape
   Comes this way moving; seems another Morn
   Ris'n on mid-noon; som great behest from Heav'n
   To us perhaps he brings, and will voutsafe
   This day to be our Guest. But goe with speed,
   And what thy stores contain, bring forth and poure
   Abundance, fit to honour and receive
   Our Heav'nly stranger; well we may afford
   Our givers thir own gifts, and large bestow
   From large bestowd, where Nature multiplies
   Her fertil growth, and by disburd'ning grows
   More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare.
   To whom thus EVE. ADAM, earths hallowd mould,
   Of God inspir'd, small store will serve, where store,
   All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk;
   Save what by frugal storing firmness gains
   To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes:
   But I will haste and from each bough and break,
   Each Plant & juciest Gourd will pluck such choice
   To entertain our Angel guest, as hee
   Beholding shall confess that here on Earth
   God hath dispenst his bounties as in Heav'n.
   So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste
   She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent
   What choice to chuse for delicacie best,
   What order, so contriv'd as not to mix
   Tastes, not well joynd, inelegant, but bring
   Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change,
   Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk
   Whatever Earth all-bearing Mother yeilds
   In INDIA East or West, or middle shoare
   In PONTUS or the PUNIC Coast, or where
   ALCINOUS reign'd, fruit of all kindes, in coate,
   Rough, or smooth rin'd, or bearded husk, or shell
   She gathers, Tribute large, and on the board
   Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the Grape
   She crushes, inoffensive moust, and meathes
   From many a berrie, and from sweet kernels prest
   She tempers dulcet creams, nor these to hold
   Wants her fit vessels pure, then strews the ground
   With Rose and Odours from the shrub unfum'd.
   Mean while our Primitive great Sire, to meet
   His god-like Guest, walks forth, without more train
   Accompani'd then with his own compleat
   Perfections, in himself was all his state,
   More solemn then the tedious pomp that waits
   On Princes, when thir rich Retinue long
   Of Horses led, and Grooms besmeard with Gold
   Dazles the croud, and sets them all agape.
   Neerer his presence ADAM though not awd,
   Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek,
   As to a superior Nature, bowing low,
   Thus said. Native of Heav'n, for other place
   None can then Heav'n such glorious shape contain;
   Since by descending from the Thrones above,
   Those happie places thou hast deignd a while
   To want, and honour these, voutsafe with us
   Two onely, who yet by sov'ran gift possess
   This spacious ground, in yonder shadie Bowre
   To rest, and what the Garden choicest bears
   To sit and taste, till this meridian heat
   Be over, and the Sun more coole decline.
   Whom thus the Angelic Vertue answerd milde.
   ADAM, I therefore came, nor art thou such
   Created, or such place hast here to dwell,
   As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heav'n
   To visit thee; lead on then where thy Bowre
   Oreshades; for these mid-hours, till Eevning rise
   I have at will. So to the Silvan Lodge
   They came, that like POMONA'S Arbour smil'd
   With flourets deck't and fragrant smells; but EVE
   Undeckt, save with her self more lovely fair
   Then Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feign'd
   Of three that in Mount IDA naked strove,
   Stood to entertain her guest from Heav'n; no vaile
   Shee needed, Vertue-proof, no thought infirme
   Alterd her cheek. On whom the Angel HAILE
   Bestowd, the holy salutation us'd
   Long after to blest MARIE, second EVE.
   Haile Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful Womb
   Shall fill the World more numerous with thy Sons
   Then with these various fruits the Trees of God
   Have heap'd this Table. Rais'd of grassie terf
   Thir Table was, and mossie seats had round,
   And on her ample Square from side to side
   All AUTUMN pil'd, though SPRING and AUTUMN here
   Danc'd hand in hand. A while discourse they hold;
   No fear lest Dinner coole; when thus began
   Our Authour. Heav'nly stranger, please to taste
   These bounties which our Nourisher, from whom
   All perfet good unmeasur'd out, descends,
   To us for food and for delight hath caus'd
   The Earth to yeild; unsavourie food perhaps
   To spiritual Natures; only this I know,
   That one Celestial Father gives to all.
   To whom the Angel. Therefore what he gives
   (Whose praise be ever sung) to man in part
   Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found
   No ingrateful food: and food alike those pure
   Intelligential substances require
   As doth your Rational; and both contain
   Within them every lower facultie
   Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste,
   Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate,
   And corporeal to incorporeal turn.
   For know, whatever was created, needs
   To be sustaind and fed; of Elements
   The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea,
   Earth and the Sea feed Air, the Air those Fires
   Ethereal, and as lowest first the Moon;
   Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurg'd
   Vapours not yet into her substance turnd.
   Nor doth the Moon no nourishment exhale
   From her moist Continent to higher Orbes.
   The Sun that light imparts to all, receives
   From all his alimental recompence
   In humid exhalations, and at Even
   Sups with the Ocean: though in Heav'n the Trees
   Of life ambrosial frutage bear, and vines
   Yeild Nectar, though from off the boughs each Morn
   We brush mellifluous Dewes, and find the ground
   Cover'd with pearly grain: yet God hath here
   Varied his bounty so with new delights,
   As may compare with Heaven; and to taste
   Think not I shall be nice. So down they sat,
   And to thir viands fell, nor seemingly
   The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss
   Of Theologians, but with keen dispatch
   Of real hunger, and concoctive heate
   To transubstantiate; what redounds, transpires
   Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder; if by fire
   Of sooty coal the Empiric Alchimist
   Can turn, or holds it possible to turn
   Metals of drossiest Ore to perfet Gold
   As from the Mine. Mean while at Table EVE
   Ministerd naked, and thir flowing cups
   With pleasant liquors crown'd: O innocence
   Deserving Paradise! if ever, then,
   Then had the Sons of God excuse to have bin
   Enamour'd at that sight; but in those hearts
   Love unlibidinous reign'd, nor jealousie
   Was understood, the injur'd Lovers Hell.
   Thus when with meats & drinks they had suffic'd,
   Not burd'nd Nature, sudden mind arose
   In ADAM, not to let th' occasion pass
   Given him by this great Conference to know
   Of things above his World, and of thir being
   Who dwell in Heav'n, whose excellence he saw
   Transcend his own so farr, whose radiant forms
   Divine effulgence, whose high Power so far
   Exceeded human, and his wary speech
   Thus to th' Empyreal Minister he fram'd.
   Inhabitant with God, now know I well
   Thy favour, in this honour done to man,
   Under whose lowly roof thou hast voutsaf't
   To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste,
   Food not of Angels, yet accepted so,
   As that more willingly thou couldst not seem
   At Heav'ns high feasts to have fed: yet what compare?
   To whom the winged Hierarch repli'd.
   O ADAM, one Almightie is, from whom
   All things proceed, and up to him return,
   If not deprav'd from good, created all
   Such to perfection, one first matter all,
   Indu'd with various forms, various degrees
   Of substance, and in things that live, of life;
   But more refin'd, more spiritous, and pure,
   As neerer to him plac't or neerer tending
   Each in thir several active Sphears assignd,
   Till body up to spirit work, in bounds
   Proportiond to each kind. So from the root
   Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves
   More aerie, last the bright consummate floure
   Spirits odorous breathes: flours and thir fruit
   Mans nourishment, by gradual scale sublim'd
   To vital Spirits aspire, to animal,
   To intellectual, give both life and sense,
   Fansie and understanding, whence the soule
   Reason receives, and reason is her being,
   Discursive, or Intuitive; discourse
   Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours,
   Differing but in degree, of kind the same.
   Wonder not then, what God for you saw good
   If I refuse not, but convert, as you,
   To proper substance; time may come when men
   With Angels may participate, and find
   No inconvenient Diet, nor too light Fare:
   And from these corporal nutriments perhaps
   Your bodies may at last turn all to Spirit
   Improv'd by tract of time, and wingd ascend
   Ethereal, as wee, or may at choice
   Here or in Heav'nly Paradises dwell;
   If ye be found obedient, and retain
   Unalterably firm his love entire
   Whose progenie you are. Mean while enjoy
   Your fill what happiness this happie state
   Can comprehend, incapable of more.
   To whom the Patriarch of mankind repli'd.
   O favourable spirit, propitious guest,
   Well hast thou taught the way that might direct
   Our knowledge, and the scale of Nature set
   From center to circumference, whereon
   In contemplation of created things
   By steps we may ascend to God. But say,
   What meant that caution joind, IF YE BE FOUND
   OBEDIENT? can wee want obedience then
   To him, or possibly his love desert
   Who formd us from the dust, and plac'd us here
   Full to the utmost measure of what bliss
   Human desires can seek or apprehend?
   To whom the Angel. Son of Heav'n and Earth,
   Attend: That thou art happie, owe to God;
   That thou continu'st such, owe to thy self,
   That is, to thy obedience; therein stand.
   This was that caution giv'n thee; be advis'd.
   God made thee perfet, not immutable;
   And good he made thee, but to persevere
   He left it in thy power, ordaind thy will
   By nature free, not over-rul'd by Fate
   Inextricable, or strict necessity;
   Our voluntarie service he requires,
   Not our necessitated, such with him
   Findes no acceptance, nor can find, for how
   Can hearts, not free, be tri'd whether they serve
   Willing or no, who will but what they must
   By Destinie, and can no other choose?
   My self and all th' Angelic Host that stand
   In sight of God enthron'd, our happie state
   Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;
   On other surety none; freely we serve.
   Because wee freely love, as in our will
   To love or not; in this we stand or fall:
   And som are fall'n, to disobedience fall'n,
   And so from Heav'n to deepest Hell; O fall
   From what high state of bliss into what woe!
   To whom our great Progenitor. Thy words
   Attentive, and with more delighted eare
   Divine instructer, I have heard, then when
   Cherubic Songs by night from neighbouring Hills
   Aereal Music send: nor knew I not
   To be both will and deed created free;
   Yet that we never shall forget to love
   Our maker, and obey him whose command
   Single, is yet so just, my constant thoughts
   Assur'd me and still assure: though what thou tellst
   Hath past in Heav'n, som doubt within me move,
   But more desire to hear, if thou consent,
   The full relation, which must needs be strange,
   Worthy of Sacred silence to be heard;
   And we have yet large day, for scarce the Sun
   Hath finisht half his journey, and scarce begins
   His other half in the great Zone of Heav'n.
   Thus ADAM made request, and RAPHAEL
   After short pause assenting, thus began.
   High matter thou injoinst me, O prime of men,
   Sad task and hard, for how shall I relate
   To human sense th' invisible exploits
   Of warring Spirits; how without remorse
   The ruin of so many glorious once
   And perfet while they stood; how last unfould
   The secrets of another world, perhaps
   Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good
   This is dispenc't, and what surmounts the reach
   Of human sense, I shall delineate so,
   By lik'ning spiritual to corporal forms,
   As may express them best, though what if Earth
   Be but the shaddow of Heav'n, and things therein
   Each to other like, more then on earth is thought?
   As yet this world was not, and CHAOS wilde
   Reignd where these Heav'ns now rowl, where Earth now rests
   Upon her Center pois'd, when on a day
   (For Time, though in Eternitie, appli'd
   To motion, measures all things durable
   By present, past, and future) on such day
   As Heav'ns great Year brings forth, th' Empyreal Host
   Of Angels by Imperial summons call'd,
   Innumerable before th' Almighties Throne
   Forthwith from all the ends of Heav'n appeerd
   Under thir Hierarchs in orders bright
   Ten thousand thousand Ensignes high advanc'd,
   Standards, and Gonfalons twixt Van and Reare
   Streame in the Aire, and for distinction serve
   Of Hierarchies, of Orders, and Degrees;
   Or in thir glittering Tissues bear imblaz'd
   Holy Memorials, acts of Zeale and Love
   Recorded eminent. Thus when in Orbes
   Of circuit inexpressible they stood,
   Orb within Orb, the Father infinite,
   By whom in bliss imbosom'd sat the Son,
   Amidst as from a flaming Mount, whoseop
   Brightness had made invisible, thus spake.
   Hear all ye Angels, Progenie of Light,
   Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers,
   Hear my Decree, which unrevok't shall stand.
   This day I have begot whom I declare
   My onely Son, and on this holy Hill
   Him have anointed, whom ye now behold
   At my right hand; your Head I him appoint;
   And by my Self have sworn to him shall bow
   All knees in Heav'n, and shall confess him Lord:
   Under his great Vice-gerent Reign abide
   United as one individual Soule
   For ever happie: him who disobeyes
   Mee disobeyes, breaks union, and that day
   Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls
   Into utter darkness, deep ingulft, his place
   Ordaind without redemption, without end.
   So spake th' Omnipotent, and with his words
   All seemd well pleas'd, all seem'd, but were not all.
   That day, as other solem dayes, they spent
   In song and dance about the sacred Hill,
   Mystical dance, which yonder starrie Spheare
   Of Planets and of fixt in all her Wheeles
   Resembles nearest, mazes intricate,
   Eccentric, intervolv'd, yet regular
   Then most, when most irregular they seem:
   And in thir motions harmonie Divine
   So smooths her charming tones, that Gods own ear
   Listens delighted. Eevning approachd
   (For we have also our Eevning and our Morn,
   We ours for change delectable, not need)
   Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn
   Desirous, all in Circles as they stood,
   Tables are set, and on a sudden pil'd
   With Angels Food, and rubied Nectar flows:
   In Pearl, in Diamond, and massie Gold,
   Fruit of delicious Vines, the growth of Heav'n.
   They eat, they drink, and with refection sweet
   Are fill'd, before th' all bounteous King, who showrd
   With copious hand, rejoycing in thir joy.
   Now when ambrosial Night with Clouds exhal'd
   From that high mount of God, whence light & shade
   Spring both, the face of brightest Heav'n had changd
   To grateful Twilight (for Night comes not there
   In darker veile) and roseat Dews dispos'd
   All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest,
   Wide over all the Plain, and wider farr
   Then all this globous Earth in Plain outspred,
   (Such are the Courts of God) Th' Angelic throng
   Disperst in Bands and Files thir Camp extend
   By living Streams among the Trees of Life,
   Pavilions numberless, and sudden reard,
   Celestial Tabernacles, where they slept
   Fannd with coole Winds, save those who in thir course
   Melodious Hymns about the sovran Throne
   Alternate all night long: but not so wak'd
   SATAN, so call him now, his former name
   Is heard no more Heav'n; he of the first,
   If not the first Arch-Angel, great in Power,
   In favour and praeeminence, yet fraught
   With envie against the Son of God, that day
   Honourd by his great Father, and proclaimd
   MESSIAH King anointed, could not beare
   Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaird.
   Deep malice thence conceiving & disdain,
   Soon as midnight brought on the duskie houre
   Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolv'd
   With all his Legions to dislodge, and leave
   Unworshipt, unobey'd the Throne supream
   Contemptuous, and his next subordinate
   Awak'ning, thus to him in secret spake.
   Sleepst thou Companion dear, what sleep can close
   Thy eye-lids? and remembrest what Decree
   Of yesterday, so late hath past the lips
   Of Heav'ns Almightie. Thou to me thy thoughts
   Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart;
   Both waking we were one; how then can now
   Thy sleep dissent? new Laws thou seest impos'd;
   New Laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise
   In us who serve, new Counsels, to debate
   What doubtful may ensue, more in this place
   To utter is not safe. Assemble thou
   Of all those Myriads which we lead the chief;
   Tell them that by command, ere yet dim Night
   Her shadowie Cloud withdraws, I am to haste,
   And all who under me thir Banners wave,
   Homeward with flying march where we possess
   The Quarters of the North, there to prepare
   Fit entertainment to receive our King
   The great MESSIAH, and his new commands,
   Who speedily through all the Hierarchies
   Intends to pass triumphant, and give Laws.
   So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infus'd
   Bad influence into th' unwarie brest
   Of his Associate; hee together calls,
   Or several one by one, the Regent Powers,
   Under him Regent, tells, as he was taught,
   That the most High commanding, now ere Night,
   Now ere dim Night had disincumberd Heav'n,
   The great Hierarchal Standard was to move;
   Tells the suggested cause, and casts between
   Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound
   Or taint integritie; but all obey'd
   The wonted signal, and superior voice
   Of thir great Potentate; for great indeed
   His name, and high was his degree in Heav'n;
   His count'nance, as the Morning Starr that guides
   The starrie flock, allur'd them, and with lyes
   Drew after him the third part of Heav'ns Host:
   Mean while th' Eternal eye, whose sight discernes
   Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy Mount
   And from within the golden Lamps that burne
   Nightly before him, saw without thir light
   Rebellion rising, saw in whom, how spred
   Among the sons of Morn, what multitudes
   Were banded to oppose his high Decree;
   And smiling to his onely Son thus said.
   Son, thou in whom my glory I behold
   In full resplendence, Heir of all my might,
   Neerly it now concernes us to be sure
   Of our Omnipotence, and with what Arms
   We mean to hold what anciently we claim
   Of Deitie or Empire, such a foe
   Is rising, who intends to erect his Throne
   Equal to ours, throughout the spacious North;
   Nor so content, hath in his thought to trie
   In battel, what our Power is, or our right.
   Let us advise, and to this hazard draw
   With speed what force is left, and all imploy
   In our defence, lest unawares we lose
   This our high place, our Sanctuarie, our Hill.
   To whom the Son with calm aspect and cleer
   Light'ning Divine, ineffable, serene,
   Made answer. Mightie Father, thou thy foes
   Justly hast in derision, and secure
   Laugh'st at thir vain designes and tumults vain,
   Matter to mee of Glory, whom thir hate
   Illustrates, when they see all Regal Power
   Giv'n me to quell thir pride, and in event
   Know whether I be dextrous to subdue
   Thy Rebels, or be found the worst in Heav'n.
   So spake the Son, but SATAN with his Powers
   Farr was advanc't on winged speed, an Host
   Innumerable as the Starrs of Night,
   Or Starrs of Morning, Dew-drops, which the Sun
   Impearls on every leaf and every flouer.
   Regions they pass'd, the mightie Regencies
   Of Seraphim and Potentates and Thrones
   In thir triple Degrees, Regions to which
   All thy Dominion, ADAM, is no more
   Then what this Garden is to all the Earth,
   And all the Sea, from one entire globose
   Stretcht into Longitude; which having pass'd
   At length into the limits of the North
   They came, and SATAN to his Royal seat
   High on a Hill, far blazing, as a Mount
   Rais'd on a Mount, with Pyramids and Towrs
   From Diamond Quarries hew'n, & Rocks of Gold,
   The Palace of great LUCIFER, (so call
   That Structure in the Dialect of men
   Interpreted) which not long after, hee
   Affecting all equality with God,
   In imitation of that Mount whereon
   MESSIAH was declar'd in sight of Heav'n,
   The Mountain of the Congregation call'd;
   For thither he assembl'd all his Train,
   Pretending so commanded to consult
   About the great reception of thir King,
   Thither to come, and with calumnious Art
   Of counterfeted truth thus held thir ears.
   Thrones, Dominations, Princedomes, Vertues, Powers,
   If these magnific Titles yet remain
   Not meerly titular, since by Decree
   Another now hath to himself ingross't
   All Power, and us eclipst under the name
   Of King anointed, for whom all this haste
   Of midnight march, and hurried meeting here,
   This onely to consult how we may best
   With what may be devis'd of honours new
   Receive him coming to receive from us
   Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile,
   Too much to one, but double how endur'd,
   To one and to his image now proclaim'd?
   But what if better counsels might erect
   Our minds and teach us to cast off this Yoke?
   Will ye submit your necks, and chuse to bend
   The supple knee? ye will not, if I trust
   To know ye right, or if ye know your selves
   Natives and Sons of Heav'n possest before
   By none, and if not equal all, yet free,
   Equally free; for Orders and Degrees
   Jarr not with liberty, but well consist.
   Who can in reason then or right assume
   Monarchie over such as live by right
   His equals, if in power and splendor less,
   In freedome equal? or can introduce
   Law and Edict on us, who without law
   Erre not, much less for this to be our Lord,
   And look for adoration to th' abuse
   Of those Imperial Titles which assert
   Our being ordain'd to govern, not to serve?
   Thus farr his bold discourse without controule
   Had audience, when among the Seraphim
   ABDIEL, then whom none with more zeale ador'd
   The Deitie, and divine commands obei'd,
   Stood up, and in a flame of zeale severe
   The current of his fury thus oppos'd.
   O argument blasphemous, false and proud!