first I finde Mine eyes true op'ning and my heart much eas'd Erwhile perplext with thoughts what would becom Of mee and all Mankind but now I see His day in whom all Nations shall be blest Favour unmerited by me who sought Forbidd'n knowledge by forbidd'n means This yet I apprehend not why to those Among whom God will deigne to dwell on Earth So many and so various Laws are giv'n So many Laws argue so many sins Among them how can God with such refide To whom thus Michael Doubt not but that sin Will reign among them as of thee begot And therefore was Law given them to evince Thir natural pravitie by stirring up Sin against Law to fight that when they see Law can discover sin but not remove Save by those shadowie expiations weak The bloud of Bulls and Goats they may conclude Some bloud more precious must be paid for Man Just for unjust that in such righteousness To them by Faith imputed they may finde Justification towards God and peace Of Conscience which the Law by Ceremonies Cannot appease nor Man the moral part Perform and not performing cannot live So Law appears imperfet and but giv'n With purpose to resign them in full time Up to a better Cov'nant disciplin'd From shadowie Types to Truth from Flesh to Spirit From imposition of strict Laws to free Acceptance of large Grace from servil fear To filial works of Law to works of Faith And therefore shall not Moses though of God Highly belov'd being but the Minister Of Law his people into Canaan lead But Joshua whom the Gentiles Jesus call His Name and Office bearing who shall quell The adversarie Serpent and bring back Through the worlds wilderness long wanderd man Safe to eternal Paradise of rest Meanwhile they in thir earthly Canaan plac't Long time shall dwell and prosper but when sins National interrupt thir public peace Provoking God to raise them enemies From whom as oft he saves them penitent By Judges first then under Kings of whom The second both for pietie renownd And puissant deeds a promise shall receive Irrevocable that his Regal Throne For ever shall endure the like shall sing All Prophecie That of the Royal Stock Of David so I name this King shall rise A Son the Womans Seed to thee foretold Foretold to Abraham as in whom shall trust All Nations and to Kings foretold of Kings The last for of his Reign shall be no end But first a long succession must ensue And his next Son for Wealth and Wisdom fam'd The clouded Ark of God till then in Tents Wandring shall in a glorious Temple enshrine Such follow him as shall be registerd Part good part bad of bad the longer scrowle Whose foul Idolatries and other faults Heapt to the popular summe will so incense God as to leave them and expose thir Land Thir Citie his Temple and his holy Ark With all his sacred things a scorn and prey To that proud Citie whose high Walls thou saw'st Left in confusion Babylon thence call'd There in captivitie he lets them dwell The space of seventie years then brings them back Remembring mercie and his Cov'nant sworn To David stablisht as the dayes of Heav'n Returnd from Babylon by leave of Kings Thir Lords whom God dispos'd the house of God They first re-edifie and for a while In mean estate live moderate till grown In wealth and multitude factious they grow But first among the Priests dissension springs Men who attend the Altar and should most Endeavour Peace thir strife pollution brings Upon the Temple it self at last they seise The Scepter and regard not Davids Sons Then loose it to a stranger that the true Anointed King Messiah might be born Barr'd of his right yet at his Birth a Starr Unseen before in Heav'n proclaims him com And guides the Eastern Sages who enquire His place to offer Incense Myrrh and Gold His place of birth a solemn Angel tells To simple Shepherds keeping watch by night They gladly thither haste and by a Quire Of squadrond Angels hear his Carol sung A Virgin is his Mother but his Sire The Power of the most High he shall ascend The Throne hereditarie and bound his Reign With earths wide bounds his glory with the Heav'ns He ceas'd discerning Adam with such joy Surcharg'd as had like grief bin dew'd in tears Without the vent of words which these he breathd O Prophet of glad tidings finisher Of utmost hope now clear I understand What oft my steddiest thoughts have searcht in vain Why our great expectation should be call'd The seed of Woman Virgin Mother Haile High in the love of Heav'n yet from my Loynes Thou shalt proceed and from thy Womb the Son Of God most High So God with man unites Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise Expect with mortal paine say where and when Thir fight what stroke shall bruise the Victors heel To whom thus Michael Dream not of thir fight As of a Duel or the local wounds Of head or heel not therefore joynes the Son Manhood to God-head with more strength to foil Thy enemie nor so is overcome Satan whose fall from Heav'n a deadlier bruise Disabl'd not to give thee thy deaths wound Which hee who comes thy Saviour shall recure Not by destroying Satan but his works In thee and in thy Seed nor can this be But by fulfilling that which thou didst want Obedience to the Law of God impos'd On penaltie of death and suffering death The penaltie to thy transgression due And due to theirs which out of thine will grow So onely can high Justice rest appaid The Law of God exact he shall fulfill Both by obedience and by love though love Alone fulfill the Law thy punishment He shall endure by coming in the Flesh To a reproachful life and cursed death Proclaming Life to all who shall believe In his redemption and that his obedience Imputed becomes theirs by Faith his merits To save them not thir own though legal works For this he shall live hated be blasphem'd Seis'd on by force judg'd and to death condemnd A shameful and accurst naild to the Cross By his own Nation slaine for bringing Life But to the Cross he nailes thy Enemies The Law that is against thee and the sins Of all mankinde with him there crucifi'd Never to hurt them more who rightly trust In this his satisfaction so he dies But soon revives Death over him no power Shall long usurp ere the third dawning light Returne the Starres of Morn shall see him rise Out of his grave fresh as the dawning light Thy ransom paid which Man from death redeems His death for Man as many as offerd Life Neglect not and the benefit imbrace By Faith not void of workes this God-like act Annuls thy doom the death thou shouldst have dy'd In sin for ever lost from life this act Shall bruise the head of Satan crush his strength Defeating Sin and Death his two maine armes And fix farr deeper in his
suttletie Proceeding which in other Beasts observ'd Doubt might beget of Diabolic pow'r Active within beyond the sense of brute Thus he resolv'd but first from inward griefe His bursting passion into plaints thus pour'd O Earth how like to Heav'n if not preferr'd More justly Seat worthier of Gods as built With second thoughts reforming what was old For what God after better worse would build Terrestrial Heav'n danâ—…'t round by other Heav'ns That shine yet bear thir bright officious Lamps Light above Light for thee alone as seems In thee concentring all thir precious beams Of sacred influence As God in Heav'n Is Center yet extends to all so thou Centring receav'st from all those Orbs in thee Not in themselves all thir known vertue appeers Productive in Herb Plant and nobler birth Of Creatures animate with gradual life Of Growth Sense Reason all summ'd up in Man With what delight could I have walkt thee round If I could joy in aught sweet interchange Of Hill and Vallie Rivers Woods and Plaines Now Land now Sea Shores with Forrest crownd Rocks Dens and Caves but I in none of these Find place or refuge and the more I see Pleasures about me so much more I feel Torment within me as from the hateful siege Of contraries all good to me becomes Bane and in Heav'n much worâ—…e would be my state But neither here seek I no nor in Heav'n To dwell unless by maistring Heav'ns Supreame Nor hope to be my self less miserable By what I seek but others to make such As I though thereby worse to me redound For onely in destroying I finde ease To my relentless thoughts and him destroyd Or won to what may work his utter loss For whom all this was made all this will soon Follow as to him linkt in weal or woe In wo then that destruction wide may range To mee shall be the glorie sole among The infernal Powers in one day to have marr'd What he Almightie styl'd six Nights and Days Continu'd making and who knows how long Before had bin contriving though perhaps Not longer then since I in one Night freed From servitude inglorious welnigh half Th' Angelic Name and thinner left the throng Of his adorers hee to be aveng'd And to repaire his numbers thus impair'd Whether such vertue spent of old now faild More Angels to Create if they at least Are his Created or to spite us more Determin'd to advance into our room A Creature form'd of Earth and him endow Exalted from so base original With Heav'nly spoils our spoils What he decreed He effected Man he made and for him built Magnificent this World and Earth his seat Him Lord pronounc'd and O indignitie Subjected to his service Angel wings And flaming Ministers to watch and tend Thir earthie Charge Of these the vigilance I dread and to elude thus wrapt in mist Of midnight vapor glide obscure and prie In every Bush and Brake where hap may finde The Serpent sleeping in whose mazie foulds To hide me and the dark intent I bring O foul descent that I who erst contended With Gods to sit the highest am now constraind Into a Beast and mixt with bestial slime This essence to incarnate and imbrute That to the hight of Deitie aspir'd But what will not Ambition and Revenge Descend to who aspires must down as low As high he soard obnoxious first or last To basest things Revenge at first though sweet Bitter ere long back on it self recoiles Let it I reck not so it light well aim'd Since higher I fall short on him who next Provokes my envie this new Favorite Of Heav'n this Man of Clay Son of despite Whom us the more to spite his Maker rais'd From dust spite then with spite is best repaid So saying through each Thicket Danck or Drie Like a black mist low creeping he held on His midnight search where soonest he might finde The Serpent him fast sleeping soon he found In Labyrinth of many a round self-rowld His head the midst well stor'd with suttle wiles Not yet in horrid Shade or dismal Den Not nocent yet but on the grassie Herbe Fearless unfeard he slept in at his Mouth The Devil enterd and his brutal sense In heart or head possessing soon inspir'd With act intelligential but his sleep Disturbd not waiting close th' approach of Morn Now whenas sacred Light began to dawne In Eden on the humid Flours that breathd Thir morning Incense when all things that breath From th' Earths great Altar send up silent praise To the Creator and his Nostrils fill With gratefull Smell forth came the human pair And joynd thir vocal Worship to the Quire Of Creatures wanting voice that done partake The season prime for sweetest Sents and Aires Then commune how that day they best may ply Thir growing work for much thir work outgrew The hands dispatch of two Gardning so wide And Eve first to her Husband thus began Adam well may we labour still to dress This Garden still to tend Plant Herb and Flour Our pleasant task enjoyn'd but till more hands Aid us the work under our labour grows Luxurious by restraint what we by day Lop overgrown or prune or prop or bind One night or two with wanton growth derides Tending to wilde Thou therefore now advise Or hear what to my mind first thoughts present Let us divide our labours thou where choice Leads thee or where most needs whether to wind The Woodbine round this Arbour or direct The clasping Ivie where to climb while I In yonder Spring of Roses intermixt With Myrtle find what to redress till Noon For while so near each other thus all day Our task we choose what wonder if so near Looks intervene and smiles or object new Casual discourse draw on which intermits Our dayes work brought to little though begun Early and th' hour of Supper comes unearn'd To whom mild answer Adam thus return'd Sole Eve Associate sole to me beyond Compare above all living Creatures deare Well hast thou motion'd wel thy thoughts imployd How we might best fulfill the work which here God hath assign'd us nor of me shalt pass Unprais'd for nothing lovelier can be found In woman then to studie houshold good And good workes in her Husband to promote Yet not so strictly hath our Lord impos'd Labour as to debarr us when we need Resreshment whether food or talk between Food of the mind or this sweet intercourse Of looks and smiles for smiles from Reason flow To brute deni'd and are of Love the food Love not the lowest end of human life Fâ—…r not to irksom toile but to delight He made us and delight to Reason joyn'd Thâ—…se paths and Bowers doubt not but our joynt hands Will keep from Wilderness with ease as wide As we need walk till younger hands ere long Assist us But if much converse perhaps Thee satiate to short absence I could yeild For solitude somtimes is best societie And short retirement urges sweet returne But other doubt
thy Nature joyne And be thy self Man among men on Earth Made flesh when time shall be of Virgin seed By wondrous birth Be thou in Adams room The Head of all mankind though Adams Son As in him perish all men so in thee As from a second root shall be restor'd As many as are restor'd without thee none His crime makes guiltie all his Sons thy merit Imputed shall absolve them who renounce Thir own both righteous and uâ—…righteous deeds And live in thee transplanted and fâ—…om thee Receive new life So Man as iâ—…â—…ost â—…st Shall satisfie for Man be judg'd and die And dying rise and rising with him raise His Brethren ransomd with his own dear life So Heav'nly love shal 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hellisâ—… hate Giving to death and dying to redâ—… So dearly to redeem what Hellish hate So easily destroy'd and still destroyes In those who when they may accept not grace Nor shalt thou by descending to assâ—…me Mans Nature less'n or degrade thine owne Because thou hast though Thron'd in highest bliss Equal to God and equally enjoying God-like fruition quitted all to save A World from utter loss and hast been found By Merit more then Birthright Son of God Found worthiest to be so by being Good Farr more then Great or High because in thee Love hath abounded more then Glory abounds Therefore thy Humiliation shall exalt With thee thy Manhood also to this Throne Here shalt thou sit incarnate here shalt Reigne Both God and Man Son both of God and Man Anointed universal King all Power I give thee reign for ever and assume Thy Merits under thee as Head Supream Thrones Princedoms Powers Dominions I reduce All knees to thee shall bow of them that bide In Heaven or Earth or under Earth in Hell When thou attended gloriously from Heav'n Shalt in the Skie appeer and from thee send The summoning Arch-Angels to proclaime Thy dread Tribunal forthwith from all Windes The living and forthwith the cited dead Of all past Ages to the general Doom Shall hast'n such a peal shall rouse thir sleep Then all thy Saints assembl'd thou shalt judge Bad men and Angels they arraignd shall sink Beneath thy Sentence Hell her numbers full Thenceforth shall be for ever shut Mean while The World shall burn and from her ashes spring New Heav'n and Earth wherein the just shall dwell And after all thir tribulations long See golden days fruitful of golden deeds With Joy and Love triumphing and fair Truth Then thou thy regal Scepter shalt lay by For regal Scepter then no more shall need God shall be All in All. But all ye Gods Adore him who to compass all this dies Adore the Son and honour him as mee No sooner had th' Almighty ceas't but all The multitude of Angels with a shout Loud as from numbers without number sweet As from blest voices uttering joy Heav'n rung With Jubilee and loud-Hosanna's fill'd Th' eternal Regions lowly reverent Towards either Throne they bow to the ground With solemn adoration down they cast Thir Crowns inwove with Amarant and Gold Immortal Amarant a Flour which once In Paradise fast by the Tree of Life Began to bloom but soon for mans offence To Heav'n remov'd where first it grew there grows And flours aloft shading the Fount of Life And where the river of Bliss through midst of Heavn Rowls o're Elisian Flours her Amber stream With these that never fade the Spirits Elect Bind thir resplendent locks inwreath'd with beams Now in loose Garlands thick thrown off the bright Pavement that like a Sea of Jasper shon Impurpl'd with Celestial Roses smil'd Then Crown'd again thir gold'n Harps they took Harps ever tun'd that glittering by their side Like Quivers hung and with Praeamble sweet Of charming symphonie they introduce Thir sacred Song and waken raptures high No voice exempt no voice but well could joine Melodious part such concord is in Heav'n Thee Father first they sung Omnipotent Immutable Immortal Infinite Eternal King thee Author of all being Fountain of Light thy self invisible Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sit'st Thron'd inaccessible but when thou shad'st The full blaze of thy beams and through a cloud Drawn round about thee like a radiant Shrine Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appeer Yet dazle Heav'n that brightest Seraphim Approach not but with both wings veil thir eyes Thee next they sang of all Creation first Begotten Son Divine Similitude In whose conspicuous count'nance without cloud Made visible th' Almighty Father shines Whom else no Creature can behold on thee Impresst the effulgence of his Glorie abides Transfus'd on thee his ample Spirit rests Hee Heav'n of Heavens and all the Powers therein By thee created and by thee threw down Th' aspiring Dominations thou that day Thy Fathers dreadful Thunder didst not spare Nor stop thy flâ—…ming Chariot wheels that shook Heav'ns ever lasting Frame while o're the necks Thou drov'st of warring Angels disarraid Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaime Thee only exâ—…old Son of thy Fathers might To execute fierce vengeance on his foes Not so on Man him through their malice fall'n Father of Mercie and Grace thou didst not doome So strictly but much more to pitie encline No sooner did thy dear and onely Son Perceive thee purpos'd not to doom frail Man So strictly but much more to pitie â—…clin'd He to appease thy wrauth and end the strife Of Mercy and Justice in thy face discern'd Regardless of the Bliss wherein hee fat Second to thee offerd himself to die For mans offence O unexampl'd love Love no where to be found less then Divine Hail Son of God Saviour of Men thy Name Shall be the copious matter of my Song Henceforth and never shall my Harp thy praise Forget nor from thy Fathers praise disjoine Thus they in Heav'n above the starry Spâ—…ear Thir happie hours in joy and 〈◊〉 spent Mean while upon the â—…irm opacous Globe Of this round World whose first convex divides The luminous inferior Orbs enclos'd From Chaos and th' inroad of Darkness old Satan alighted walks a Globe farâ—… 〈◊〉 It seem'd now seems a boundless Continent Dark waste and wild under the frown of Night Starless expos'd and ever-threatning storms Of Chaos blustring round inclement skie Save on that fide which from the wall of Heav'n Though distant farr som small reflection gaines Of glimmering air less vext with tempest loud Here walk'd the Fiend at large in spacious field As when a Vultur on Imaus bred Whose snowie ridge the roving Tartar bounds Dislodging from a Region scarce of prey To gorge the â—…he of Lambs or yeanling Kids On Hills where Flocks are fed flies toward the Springs Of Ganges or Hydaspes Indian streams But in his way lights on the barren plaines Of Sericana where Câ—…ineses drive With Sails and Wind thir canie Waggons light So on this windie Sea of Land the Fiend Walk'd up and down alone bent on his prey Alone for other Creature in this place Living
from Hell One step no more then from himself can fly By change of place Now conscience wakes despair That slumberd wakes the bitter memorie Of what he was what is and what must be Worse of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue Sometimes towards Eden which now in his view Lay pleasant his grievd look he fixes sad Sometimes towards Heav'n and the full blazing Sun Which now sat high in his Meridian Towre Then much revolving thus in sighs began O thou that with surpassing Glory crownd Look'st from thy sole Dominion like the God Of this new World at whose sight all the Starrs Hide thir diminisht heads to thee I call But with no friendly voice and add thy name O Sun to tell thee how I hate thy beams That bring to my remembrance from what state I fell how glorious once above thy Spheare Till Pride and worse Ambition threw me down Warring in Heav'n against Heav'ns matchless King Ah wherefore he deservd no such return From me whom he created what I was In that bright eminence and with his good Upbraided none nor was his service hard What could be less then to afford him praise The easiest recompence and pay him thanks How due yet all his good prov'd ill in me And wrought but malice lifted up so high I sdeind subjection and thought one step higher Would set me highest and in a moment quit The debt immense of endless gratitude So burthensome still paying still to ow Forgetful what from him I still receivd And understood not that a grateful mind By owing owes not but still pays at once Indebted and dischargd what burden then O had his powerful Destiny ordaind Me some inferiour Angel I had stood Then happie no unbounded hope had rais'd Ambition Yet why not som other Power As great might have aspir'd and me though mean Drawn to his part but other Powers as great Fell not but stand unshak'n from within Or from without to all temptations arm'd Hadst thou the same free Will and Power to stand Thou hadst whom hast thou then or what to accuse But Heav'ns free Love dealt equally to all Be then his Love accurst since love or hate To me alike it deals eternal woe Nay curs'd be thou since against his thy will Chose freely what it now so justly rues Me miserable which way shall I flie Infinite wrauth and infinite despaire Which way I flie is Hell my self am Hell And in the lowest deep a lower deep Still threatning to devour me opens wide To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heav'n O then at last relent is there no place Left for Repentance none for Pardon left None left but by submission and that word Disdain forbids me and my dread of shame Among the Spirits beneath whom I seduc'd With other promises and other vaunts Then to submit boasting I could subdue Th' Omnipotent Ay me they little know How dearly I abide that boast so vaine Under what torments inwardly I groane While they adore me on the Throne of Hell With Diadem and Scepter high advanc't The lower still I fall onely supream In miserie such joy Ambition findes But say I could repent and could obtaine By Act of Grace my former state how soon Would highth recal high thoughts how soon unsay What feign'd submission swore ease would recant Vows made in pain as violent and void For never can true reconcilement grow Where wounds of deadly hate have peirc'd so deep Which would but lead me to a worse relapse And heavier fall so should I purchase deare Short intermission bought with double smart This knows my punisher therefore as farr From granting hee as I from begging peace All hope excluded thus behold in stead Of us out-cast exil'd his new delight Mankind created and for him this World So farwel Hope and with Hope farwel Fear Farwel Remorse all Good to me is lost Evil be thou my Good by thee at least Divided Empire with Heav'ns King I hold By thee and more then half perhaps will reigne As Man ere long and this new World shall know Thus while he spake each passion dimm'd his face Thrice chang'd with pale ire envie and despair Which marrd his borrow'd visage and betraid Him counterfet if any eye beheld For heav'nly mindes from such distempers foule Are ever cleer Whereof hee soon aware Each perturbation smooth'd with outward calme Artificer of fraud and was the first That practisd falshood under saintly shew Deep malice to conceale couch't with revenge Yet not anough had practisd to deceive Uriel once warnd whose eye pursu'd him down The way he went and on th' Assyrian mount Saw him disfigur'd more then could befall Spirit of happie sort his gestures fierce He markd and mad demeanour then alone As he suppos'd all unobserv'd unseen So on he fares and to the border comes Of Eden where delicious Paradise Now nearer Crowns with her enclosure green As with a rural mound the champain head Of a steep wilderness whose hairie sides With thicket overgrown grottesque and wilde Access deni'd and over head up grew Insuperable highth of loftiest shade Cedar and Pine and Firr and branching Palm A Silvan Scene and as the ranks ascend Shade above shade a woodie Theatre Of stateliest view Yet higher then thir tops The verdurous wall of Paradise up sprung Which to our general Sire gave prospect large Into his neather Empire neighbouring round And higher then that Wall a circling row Of goodliest Trees loaden with fairest Fruit Blossoms and Fruits at once of golden hue Appeerd with gay enameld colours mixt On which the Sun more glad impress'd his beams Then in fair Evening Cloud or humid Bow When God hath showrd the earth so lovely seemd That Lantskip And of pure now purer aire Meets his approach and to the heart inspires Vernal delight and joy able to drive All sadness but despair now gentle gales Fanning thir odoriferous wings dispense Native perfumes and whisper whence they stole Those balmie spoiles As when to them who saile Beyond the Cape of Hope and now are past Mozambic off at Sea North-East windes blow Sabean Odours from the spicie shoare Of Arabie the blest with such delay Well pleas'd they slack thir course and many a League Cheard with the grateful smell old Ocean fmiles So entertaind those odorous sweets the Fiend Who came thir bane though with them better pleas'd Then 〈◊〉 with the fishie fume That drove him though enamourd from the Spouse Oâ—… Tobits Son and with a vengeance sent From Media post to Aegypt there fast bound Now to th' ascent of that steep savage Hill Satan had journied on pensive and slow But further way found none so thick entwin'd As one continu'd brake the undergrowth Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplext All path of Man or Beast that past that way One Gate there onely was and that look'd East Onth ' other side which when th' arch-fellon saw Due entrance he disdaind and in contempt At one slight bound high overleap'd
think the same voutsaft To Cattel and each Beast which would not be To them made common divulg'd if aught Therein enjoy'd were worthy to subdue The Soule of Man or passion in him move What higher in her societie thou findst Attractive human rational love still In loving thou dost well in passion not Wherein true Love consists not love refines The thoughts and heart enlarges hath his seat In Reason and is judicious is the scale By which to heav'nly Love thou maist asâ—…end Not sunk in carnal pleasure for which cause Among the Beasts no Mate for thee was found To whom thus half abash't Adam repli'd Neither her out-side formd so fair nor aught In procreation common to all kindes Though higher of the genial Bed by far And with mysterious reverence I deem So much delights me as those graceful acts Those thousand decencies that daily flow From all her words and actions mixt with Love And sweet compliance which declare unfeign'd Union of Mind or in us both one Soule Harmonie to behold in wedded pair More grateful then harmonious sound to the eare Yet these subject not I to thee disclose What inward thence I feel not therefore foild Who meet with various objects from the sense Variously representing yet still free Approve the best and follow what I approve To love thou blam'st me not for love thou saist Leads upto Heav'n is both the way and guide Bear with me then if lawful what I ask Love not the heav'nly Spirits and how thir Love Express they by looks onely or do they mix Irradiance virtual or immediate touch To whom the Angel with a smile that glow'd Celestial rosie red Loves proper hue Answer'd Let it suffice thee that thou know'st Us happie and without Love no happiness Whatever pure thou in the body enjoy'st And pure thou wert created we enjoy In eminence and obstacle find none Of membrane joynt or limb exclusive 〈◊〉 Easier then Air with Air if Spirits embrace Total they mix Union of Pure with Pure Desiring nor restrain'd conveyance need As Flesh to mix with Flesh or Soul with Soul But I can now no more the parting Sun Beyond the Earths green Cape and verdant Isles Hesperean sets my Signal to depart Be strong live happie and love but first of all Him whom to love is to obey and keep His great command take heed least Passion sway Thy Judgement to do aught which else free Will Would not admit thine and of all thy Sons The weal or woe in thee is plac't beware I in thy persevering shall rejoyce And all the Blest stand fast to stand or fall Free in thine own Arbitrement it lies Perfet within no outward aid require And all temptation to transgress repel So saying he arose whom Adam thus Follow'd with benediction Since to part Go heavenly Guest Ethereal Messenger Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore Gentle to me and affable hath been Thy condescension and shall be honour'd ever With grateful Memorie thou to mankind Be good and friendly still and oft return So parted they the Angel up to Heav'n From the thick shade and Adam to his Bowre PARADISE LOST BOOK VIII NO more of talk where God or Angel Guest With Man as with his Friend familiar us'd To sit indulgent and with him partake Rural repast permitting him the while Venial discourse unblam'd I now must change Those Notes to Tragic foul distrust and breach Disloyal on the part of Man râ—…volt And disoâ—…dience On the part of Heav'n Now aliâ—…ted distance and distaste Anger and just rebuke and judgement giv'n That brought into this World a world of woe Sinne and her shadow Death and Miserie Deaths â—…arbinger Sad 〈◊〉 yet argument Not less but more Heroic then the wrauth Of stern Aohilles on his Foe pursu'd Thrice Fugitive about Troy Wall or rage Of Turnus for Lavinia disespous'd Or Neptun's ire or Juno's that so long Perplex'd the Greek and Cytherea's Son If answerable style I can obtaine Of my Celestial Patroness who deignes Her nightly visitation unimplor'd And dictates to me slumbring or inspires Easie my unpremeditated Verse Since first this Subject for Heroic Song Pleas'd me long choosing and beginning late Not sedulous by Nature to indite Warrs hitherto the onely Argument Heroic deem'd chief maistrie to dissect With long and tedious havoc fabl'd Knights In Battels feign'd the better fortitude Of Patience and Heroic Martyrdom Unsung or to describe Races and Games Or tilting Furniture emblazon'd Shields Impreses quaint Caparisons and Steeds Bases and tinsel Trappings gorgious Knights At Joust and Torneament then marshal'd Feast Serv'd up in Hall with Sewers and Seneshals The skill of Artifice or Office mean Not that which justly gives Heroic name To Person or to Poem Mee of these Nor skilld nor â—…udious higher Argument Remaines sufficient of it self to raise That name unâ—…ess an age too late or cold Climat or Years damp my intended wing Deprest and much they may if all be mine Not Hers who brings it nightly to my Ear. The Sun was sunk and after him the Starr Of Hesperus whose Office is to bring Twilight upon the Earth short Arbiter Twixt Day and Night and now from end to end Nights Hemisphere had veild the Horizon round When Satan who late fled before the threats Of Gabriel out of Eden now improv'd In meditated fraud and malice bent On mans destruction maugre what might hap Of heavier on himself fearless return'd By Night he fled and at Midnight return'd From compassing the Earth cautious of day Since Uriel Regent of the Sun descri'd His entrance and forewarnd the Cherubim That kept thir watch thence full of anguish driv'n The space of seven continu'd Nights he rode With darkness thrice the Equinoctial Line He circl'd four times cross'd the Carr of Night From Pole to Pole traversing each Colure On the eighth return'd and on the Coast averse From entrance or Cherubic Watch by stealth Found unsuspected way There was a place Now not though Sin not Time first wraught the change Where Tigris at the foot of Paradise Into a Gulf shot under ground till part Rose up a Fountain by the Tree of Life In with the River sunk and with it rose Satan involv'd in rising Mist then sought Where to lie hid Sea he had searcht and Land From Eden over Pontus and the Poole Maeotis up beyond the River Ob Downward as farr Antartic and in length West from Orontes to the Ocean barr'd At Darieâ—… thence to the Land where flowes Ganges and Indus thus the Orb he roam'd With narrow search and with inspection deep Consider'd every Creature which of all Most opportune might serve his Wiles and found The Serpent suttlest Beast of all the Field Him after long debate irresolute Of thoughts revolv'd his final sentence chose Fit Vessel fittest Imp of fraud in whom To enter and his dark suggestions hide From sharpest sight for in the wilie Snake Whatever sleights none would suspicious mark As from his wit and native
thy head return So maist thou live till like ripe Fruit thou drop Into thy Mothers lap or be with ease Gatherd not harshly pluckt for death mature This is old age but then thou must outlive Thy youth thy strength thy beauty which will change To witherd weak gray thy Senses then Oâ—…se all taste of pleasure must forgoe To what thou hast and for the Aire of youth Hopeful and cheerful in thy blood will reigne A melancholly damp of cold and dry To waigh thy spirits down and last consume The Balme of Life To whom our Ancestor Henceforth I flie not Death nor would prolong Life much bent rather how I may be quit Fairest and easiest of this combrous charge Which I must keep till my appointed day Of rendring up Michael to him repli'd Nor love thy Life nor hate but what thou livst Live well how long or short permit to Heav'n And now prepare thee for another sight He lookd and saw a spacious Plaine whereon Were Tents of various hue by some were herds Of Cattel grazing others whence the sound Of Instruments that made melodious chime Was heard of Harp and Organ and who moovd Thir stops and chords was feen his volant touch Instinct through all proportions low and high Fled and pursu'd transverse the resonant fugue In other part stood one who at the Forge Labouring two massie clods of Iron and Brass Had melted whether found where casual fire Had wasted woods on Mountain or in Vale Down to the veins of Earth thence gliding hot To som Caves mouth or whether washt by stream From underground the liquid Ore he dreind Into fit moulds prepar'd from which he formd First his own Tooles then what might else be wrought Fusil or grav'n in mettle After these But on the hether side a different sort From the high neighbouring Hills which was thir Seat Down to the Plain descended by thir guise Just men they seemd and all thir study bent To worship God aright and know his works Not â—…id nor those things lost which might preserve Freedom and Peace to men they on the Plain Long had not walkt when from the Tents behold A Beavie of fair Women richly gay In Gems and wanton dress to the Harp they sung Soft amorous Ditties and in dance came on The Men though grave ey'd them and let thir eyes Rove without rein till in the amorous Net Fast caught they lik'd and each his liking chose And now of love they treat till th' Eevning Star Loves Harbinger appeerd then all in heat They light the Nuptial Torch and bid invoke Hymen then first to marriage Rites invok't With Feast and Musick all the Tenâ—…si resound Such happy interview and fair event Of love youth not lost Songs Garlands Flours And charming Symphonies attach'd the heart Of Adam soon enclin'd to admit delight The bent of Nature which he thus express'd True opener of mine eyes prime Angel blest Much better seems this Vision and more hope Of peaceful dayes portends then those two past Those were of hate and death or pain much worse Here Nature seems fulfilld in all her ends To whom thus Michael Judg not what is best By pleasure though to Nature seeming meet Created as thou art to nobler end Holie and pure conformitie divine Those Tents thou sawst so pleasant were the Tents Of wickedness wherein shall dwell his Race Who slew his Brother studious they appere Of Arts that polish Life Inventers rare Unmindful of thir Maker though his Spirit Taught them but they his gifts acknowledg'd none Yet they a beauteous ofspring shall beget For that fair femal Troop thou sawst that seemd Of Goddesses so blithe so smooth so gay Yet empty of all good wherein consists Womans domestic honour and chief praise Bred onely and completed to the taste Of lustful appetence to sing to dance To dress and troule the Tongue and roule the Eye To these that sober Race of Men whose lives Religious titl'd them the Sons of God Shall yeild up all thir vertue all thir fame Ignobly to the traines and to the smiles Of these fair Atheists and now swim in joy Erelong to swim at larg and laugh for which The world erelong a world of tears must weepe To whom thus Adam of short joy bereft O pittie and shame that they who to live well Enterd so faire should turn aside to tread Paths indirect or in the mid way faint But still I see the tenor of Mans woe Holds on the same from Woman to begin From Mans effeminate slackness it begins Said th' Angel who should better hold his place By wisdome and superiour gifts receavd But now prepare thee for another Scene He lookd and saw wide Territorie spred Before him Towns and rural works between Cities of Men with lofty Gates and Towrs Concours in Arms fierce Faces threatning Warr Giants of mightie Bone and bould emprise Part wield thir Arms part courb the foaming Steed Single or in Array of Battel rang'd Both Horse and Foot nor idely mustring stood One way a Band select from forage drives A herd of Beeves faire Oxen and faire Kine From a fat Meddow ground or fleecy Flock Ewes and thir bleating Lambs over the Plaine Thir Bootie scarce with Life the Shepherds flye But call in aide which tacks a bloody Fray With cruel Tournament the Squadrons joine Where Cattel pastur'd late now scatterd lies With Carcasses and Arms th' ensanguind Field Deserted Others to a Citie strong Lay Siege encampt by Batterie Scale and Mine Assaulting others from the Wall defend With Dart and Jav'lin Stones and sulfurous Fire On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds In other part the scepter'd Haralds call To Council in the Citie Gates anon Grey-headed men and grave with Warriours mixt Assemble and Harangues are heard but soon In factious opposition till at last Of middle Age one rising eminent In wise deport spake much of Right and Wrong Of Justice of Religion Truth and Peace And Judgement from above him old and young Exploded and had seiz'd with violent hands Had not a Cloud descending snatch'd him thence Unseen amid the throng so violence Proceeded and Oppression and Sword-Law Through all the Plain and refuge none was found Adam was all in tears and to his guide Lamenting turnd full sad O what are these Deaths Ministers not Men who thus deal Death Inhumanly to men and multiply Ten thousand fould the sin of him who slew His Brother for of whom such massacher Make they but of thir Brethren men of men But who was that Just Man whom had not Heav'n Rescu'd had in his Righteousness bin lost To whom thus Michael These are the product Of those ill-mated Marriages thou saw'st Where good with bad were matcht who of themselves Abhor to joyn and by imprudence mixt Produce prodigious Births of bodie or mind Such were these Giants men of high renown For in those dayes Might onely shall be admir'd And Valour and Heroic Vertu call'd To overcome in Battel and