and rejoycing was in Heav'n When such was heard declar'd the Almightie's will Glorie they sung to the most High good will To future men and in thir dwellings peace Glorie to him whose just avenging ire Had driven out th' ungodly from his sight And th' habitations of the just to him Glorie and praise whose wisdom had ordain'd Good out of evil to create in stead Of Spirits maligne a better Race to bring Into thir vacant room and thence diffuse His good to Worlds and Ages infinite So sang the Hierarchies Mean while the Son On his great Expedition now appeer'd Girt with Omnipotence with Radiance crown'd Of Majestie Divine Sapience and Love Immense and all his Father in him shon About his Chariot numberless were pour'd Cherub and Seraph Potentates and Thrones And Vertues winged Spirits and Chariots wing'd From the Armoury of God where stand of old Myriads between two brazen Mountains lodg'd Against a solemn day harnest at hand Celestial Equipage and now came forth Spontaneous for within them Spirit livd Attendant on thir Lord Heav'n op'nd wide Her ever during Gates Harmonious sound On golden Hinges moving to let forth The King of Glorie in his powerful Word And Spirit coming to create new Worlds On heav'nly ground they stood and from the shore They view'd the vast immeasurable Abyss Outrageous as a Sea dark wasteful wilde Up from the bottom turn'd by furious windes And surging waves as Mountains to assault Heav'ns highth and with the Center mix the Pole Silence ye troubl'd waves and thou Deep peace Said then th' Omnific Word your discord end Nor staid but on the Wings of Cherubim Uplifted in Paternal Glorie rode Farr into Chaos and the World unborn For Chaos heard his voice him all his Traine Follow'd in bright procession to behold Creation and the wonders of his might Then staid the fervid Wheeles and in his hand He took the golden Compasses prepar'd In Gods Eternal store to circumscribe This Universe and all created things One foot he center'd and the other turn'd Round through the vast profunditie obscure And said thus farr extend thus farr thy bounds This be thy just Circumference O World Thus God the Heav'n created thus the Earth Matter unform'd and void Darkness profound Cover'd th' Abyss but on the watrie calme His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspred And vital vertue infus'd and vital warmth Throughout the fluid Mass but downward purg'd The black tartareous cold Infernal dregs Adverse to life then founded then conglob'd Like things to like the rest to several place Disparted and between spun out the Air And Earth self ballanc't on her Center hung Let ther be Light said God and forthwith Light Ethereal first of things quintessence pure Sprung from the Deep and from her Native East To journie through the airie gloom began Sphear'd in a radiant Cloud for yet the Sun Was not shee in a cloudie Tabernacle So journ'd the while God saw the Light was good And light from darkness by the Hemisphere Divided Light the Day and Darkness Night He nam'd Thus was the first Day Eev'n and Morn Nor past uncelebrated nor unsung By the Celestial Quires when Orient Light Exhaling first from Darkness they beheld Birth-day of Heav'n and Earth with joy and shout The hollow Universal Orb they fill'd And touch't thir Golden Harps and hymning prais'd God and his works Creatour him they sung Both when first Eevning was and when first Morn Again God said let ther be Firmament Amid the Waters and let it divide The Waters from the Waters and God made The Firmament expanse of liquid pure Transparent Elemental Air diffus'd In circuit to the uttermost convex Of this great Round partition firm and sure The Waters underneath from those above Dividing for as Earth so he the World Built on circumfluous Waters calme in wide Crystallin Ocean and the loud misrule Of Chaos farr remov'd least fierce extreames Contiguous might distemper the whole frame And Heav'n he nam'd the Firmament So Eev'n And Morning Chorus sung the second Day The Earth was form'd but in the Womb as yet Of Waters Embryon immature involv'd Appeer'd not over all the face of Earth Main Ocean flow'd not idle but with warme Prolific humour soft'ning all her Globe Fermented the great Mother to conceave Satiate with genial moisture when God said Be gather'd now ye Warers under Heav'n Into one place and let dry Land appeer Immediately the Mountain huge appeer Emergent and thir broad bare backs upheave Into the Clouds thir tops ascend the Skie So high as heav'd the tumid Hills so low Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep Capacious bed of Waters thither they Hasted with glad precipitance uprowld As drops on dust conglobing from the drie Part rise in crystal Wall or ridge direct For haste such flight the great command impress'd On the swift flouds as Armies at the call Of Trumpet for of Armies thou hast heard Troop to thir Standard so the watrie throng Wave rowling after Wave where way they found If steep with torrent rapture if through Plaine Soft-ebbing nor withstood them Rock or Hill But they or under ground or circuit wide With Serpent errour wandring found thir way And on the washie Oose deep Channels wore Easie e're God had bid the ground be drie All but within whose banks where Rivers now Stream and perpetual draw thir humid traine The dry Land Earth and the great receptacle Of congregated Waters he call'd Seas And saw that it was good and said Let th' Earth Put forth the verdant Grass Herb yielding Seed And Fruit Tree yielding Fruit after her kind Whose Seed is in her self upon the Earth He scarce had said when the bate Earth till then Desert and bare unsightly unadornd Brought forth the tender Grass whose verdure clad Her Universal Face with pleasant green Then Herbs of every leaf that sudden flour'd Op'ning thir various colours and made gay Her bosom smelling sweet and these scarce blown Forth flourish't thick the clustring Vine forth crept The smelling Gourd up stood the cornie Reed Embattell'd in her field and the humble Shrub And Bush with frizl'd hair implicit last Rose as in Dance the stately Trees and spred Thir branches hung with copious Fruit or gemm'd Thir blossoms with high woods the hills were crownd With tufts the vallies and each fountain side With borders long the Rivers That Earth now Seemd like to Heav'n a seat where Gods might dwell Or wander with delight and love to haunt Her sacred shades though God had yet not rain'd Upon the Earth and man to till the ground None was but from the Earth a dewie Mist Went up and waterd all the ground and each Plant of the field which e're it was in the Earth God made and every Herb before it grew On the green stemm God saw that it was good So Eev'n and Morn recorded the Third Day Again th' Almightie spake Let there be Lights High in th' expanse of Heaven to divide The
Day from Night and let them be for Signes For Seasons and for Dayes and circling Years And let them be for Lights as I ordaine Thir Office in the Firmament of Heav'n To give Light on the Earth and it was so And God made two great Lights great for thir use To Man the greater to have rule by Day The less by Night alterne and made the Starrs And set them in the Firmament of Heav'n To illuminate the Earth and rule the Day In thir vicissitude and rule the Night And Light from Darkness to divide God saw Surveying his great Work that it was good For of Celestial Bodies first the Sun A mightie Spheare he fram'd unlightsom first Though of Ethereal Mould then form'd the Moon Globose and every magnitude of Starrs And sowd with Starrs the Heav'n thick as a field Of Light by farr the greater part he took Transplanted from her cloudie Shrine and plac'd In the Suns Orb made porous to receive And drink the liquid Light firm to retaine Her gather'd beams great Palace now of Light Hither as to thir Fountain other Starrs Repairing in thir gold'n Urns draw Light And hence the Morning Planet guilds her horns By tincture or reflection they augment Thir small peculiar though from human sight So farr remote with diminution seen First in his East the glorious Lamp was seen Regent of Day and all th' Horizon round Invested with bright Rayes jocond to run His Longitude through Heav'ns high rode the gray Dawn and the Pleiades before him danc'd Shedding sweet influence less bright the Moon But opposite in leveld West was set His mirror with full face borrowing her Light From him for other light she needed none In that aspect and still that distance keepes Till night then in the East her turn she shines Revolvd on Heav'ns great Axle and her Reign With thousand lesser Lights dividual holds With thousand thousand Starres that then appeer'd Spangling the Hemisphere then first adornd With thir bright Luminaries that Set and Rose Glad Eevning and glad Morn crownd the fourth day And God said let the Waters generate Reptil with Spawn abundant living Soule And let Fowle flie above the Earth with wings Displayd on the op'n Firmament of Heav'n And God created the great Whales and each Soul living each that crept which plenteously The waters generated by thir kindes And every Bird of wing after his kinde And saw that it was good and bless'd them saying Be fruitful multiply and in the Seas And Lakes and running Streams the waters fill And let the Fowle be multiply'd on the Earth Forthwith the Sounds and Seas each Creek and Bay With Frie innumerable swarme and Shoales Of Fish that with thir Finns and shining Scales Glide under the green Wave in Sculles that oft Bank the mid Sea part single or with mate Graze the Sea weed thir pasture and through Groves Of Coral stray or sporting with quick glance Show to the Sun thir wav'd coats dropt with Gold Or in thir Pearlie shells at ease attend Moist nutriment or under Rocks thir food In jointed Armour watch on smooth the Seale And bended Dolphins play part huge of bulk Wallowing unweildie enormous in thir Gate Tempest the Ocean there Leviathan Hugest of living Creatures on the Deep Stretcht like a Promontorie sleeps or swimmes And seems a moving Land and at his Gilles Draws in and at his Trunck spouts our a Sea Mean while the tepid Caves and Fens and shoares Thir Brood as numerous hatch from the Egg that soon Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclos'd Thir callow young but featherd soon and fledge They summ'd thir Penns and soaring th' air sublime With clang despis'd the ground under a cloud In prospect there the Eagle and the Stork On Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build Part loosly wing the Region part more wise In common rang'd in figure wedge thir way Intelligent of seasons and set forth Thir Aierie Caravan high over Sea's Flying and over Lands with mutual wing Easing thir flight so stears the prudent Craneâ— Her annual Voiage born on Windes the Aire Floats as they pass fann'd with unnumber'd plumes From Branch to Branch the smaller Birds with song Solac'd the Woods and spred thir painted wings Till Ev'n nor then the solemn Nightingal Ceas'd warbling but all night tun'd her soft layes Others on Silver Lakes and Rivers Bath'd Thir downie Brest the Swan with Arched neck Between her white wings mantling proudly Rowes Her state with Oarie feet yet oft they quit The Dank and rising on stiff Pennons towre The mid Aereal Skie Others on ground Walk'd firm the crested Cock whose clarion sounds The silent hours and th' other whose gay Traine Adorns him colour'd with the Florid hue Of Rainbows and Starrie Eyes The Waters thus With Fish replenisht and the Aire with Fowle Ev'ning and Morn solemniz'd the Fift day The Sixt and of Creation last arose With Eevning Harps and Martin when God said Let th' Earth bring forth Foul living in her kinde Cattel and Creeping things and Beast of the Earth Each in their kinde The Earth obey'd and strait Op'ning her fertil Woomb teem'd at a Birth Innumerous living Creatures perfet formes Limb'd and full grown out of the ground up rose As from his Laire the wilde Beast where he wonns In Forrest wilde in Thicket Brake or Den Among the Trees in Pairs they rose they walk'd The Cattel in the Fields and Meddowes green Those rare and solitarie these in flocks Pasturing at once and in broad Herds upsprung The grassie Clods now Calv'd now half appeer'd The Tawnie Lion pawing to get free His hinder parts then springs as broke from Bonds And Rampant shakes his Brinded main the Ounce The Libbard and the Tyger as the Moale Rising the crumbl'd Earth above them threw In Hillocks the swift Stag from under ground Bore up his branching head scarse from his mould Behemoth biggest born of Earth upheav'd His vastness Fleec't the Flocks and bleating rose As Plants ambiguous between Sea and Land The River Horse and scalie Crocodile At once came forth whatever creeps the ground Insect or Worme those wav'd thir limber fans For wings and smallest Lineaments exact In all the Liveries dect of Summers pride With spots of Gold and Purple azure and green These as a line thir long dimension drew Streaking the ground with sinuous trace not all Minims of Nature some of Serpent kinde Wondrous in length and corpulence involv'd Thir Snakie foulds and added wings First crept The Parsimonious Emmet provident Of future in small room large heart enclos'd Pattern of just equalitie perhaps Hereafter join'd in her popular Tribes Of Commonaltie swarming next appeer'd The Female Bee that feeds her Husband Drone Deliciously and builds her waxen Cells With Honey stor'd the rest are numberless And thou thir Natures know'st gav'st them Names Needlest to thee repeated nor unknown The Serpent suttl'st Beast of all the field Of huge extent somtimes with brazen Eyes And hairie Main terrific though
all unawares Fluttring his pennons vain plumb down he drops Ten thousand fadom deep and to this hour Down had been falling had not by ill chance The strong rebuff of som tumultuous cloud Instinct with Fire and Nitre hurried him As many miles aloft that furie stay'd Quencht in a Boggie Syrtis neither Sea Nor good dry Land nigh founderd on he fares Treading the crude consistence half on foot Half flying behoves him now both Oare and Saile As when a Gryfon through the Wilderness With winged course ore Hill or moarie Dale Pursues the Arimaspian who by stelth Had from his wakeful custody purloind The guarded Gold So eagerly the fiend Ore bog or steep through strait rough dense or rare With head hands wings or feet pursues his way And swims or sinks or wades or creeps or flyes At length a universal hubbub wilde Of stunning sounds and voices all confus'd Born through the hollow dark assaults his eare With loudest vehemence thither he plyes Undaunted to meet there what ever power Or Spirit of the nethermost Abyss Might in that noise reside of whom to ask Which way the nearest coast of darkness lyes Bordering on light when strait behold the Throne Of Chaos and his dark Pavilion spread Wide on the wasteful Deep with him Enthron'd Sat Sable-vested Night eldest of things The Consort of his Reign and by them stood Orcus and Ades and the dreaded name Of Demogorgon Rumor next and Chance And Tumult and Confusion all imbroild And Discord with a thousand various mouths T' whom Satan turning boldly thus Ye Powers And Spirits of this nethermost Abyss Chaos and ancient Night I come no Spy With purpose to explore or to disturb The secrets of your Realm but by constraint Wandring this darksome Desart as my way Lies through your spacious Empire up to light Alone and without guide half lost I seek What readiest path leads where your gloomie bounds Confine with Heav'n or if som other place From your Dominion won th' Ethereal King Possesses lately thither to arrive I travel this profound direct my course Directed no mean recompence it brings To your behoof if I that Region lost All usurpation thence expell'd reduce To her original darkness and your sway Which is my present journey and once more Erect the Standard there of ancient Night Yours be th' advantage all mine the revenge Thus Satan and him thus the Anarch old With faultring speech and visage incompos'd Answer'd I know thee stranger who thou art That mighty leading Angel who of late Made head against Heav'ns King though overthrown I saw and heard for such a numerous Host Fled not in silence through the frighted deep VVith ruin upon ruin rout on rout Confusion worse confounded and Heav'n Gates Pourd out by millions her victorious Bands Pursuing I upon my Frontieres here Keep residence if all I can will serve That little which is left so to defend Encroacht on still through our intestine broiles VVeakning the Scepter of old Night first Hell Your dungeon stretching far and wide beneath Now lately Heaven and Earth another VVorld Hung ore my Realm link'd in a golden Chain To that side Heav'n from whence your Legions fell If that way be your walk you have not farr So much the neerer danger go and speed Havock and spoil and ruin are my gain He ceas'd and Satan staid not to reply But glad that now his Sea should find a shore VVith fresh alacritie and force renew'd Springs upward like a Pyramid of fire Into the wilde expanse and through the shock Of fighting Elements on all sides round Environ'd wins his way harder beset And more endanger'd then when Argo pass'd Through Bosporus betwixt the justling Rocks Or when Vlysses on the Larbord shunnd Charybdis and by th' other whirlpool steard So he with difficulty and labour hard Mov'd on with difficulty and labour hee But hee once past soon after when man fell Strange alteration Sin and Death amain Following his track such was the will of Heav'n Pav'd alter him a broad and beat'n way Over the dark Abyss whose boiling Gulf Tamely endur'd a Bridge of wondrous length From Hell continu'd reaching th' utmost Orbe Of this frail VVorld by which the Spirits perverse VVith easie intercourse pass to and fro To tempt or punish mortals except whom God and good Angels guard by special grace But now at last the sacred influence Of light appears and from the walls of Heav'n Shoots farr into the bosom of dim Night A glimmering dawn here Nature first begins Her fardest verge and Chaos to retire As from her outmost works a brok'd foe VVith tumult less and with less hostile din That Satan with less toil and now with ease VVafts on the calmer wave by dubious light And like a weather-beaten Vessel holds Gladly the Port though Shrouds and Tackle torn Or in the emptier waste resembling Air VVeighs his spread wings at leasure to behold Farr off th' Empyreal Heav'n extended wide In circuit undetermind square or round VVith Opal Towrs and Battlements adorn'd Of living Saphire once his native Seat And fast by hanging in a golden Chain This pendant world in bigness as a Starr Of smallest Magnitude close by the Moon Thither full fraught with mischievous revenge Accurst and in a cursed hour he hies The End of the Second Book Paradise Lost BOOK III. THE ARGUMENT God sitting on his Throne sees Satan flying towards this world then newly created shews him to the Son who sat at his right hand foretells the success of Satan in perverting mankind clears his own Justice and Wisdom from all imputation having created Man free and able enough to have withstood his Tempter yet declares his purpose of grace towards him in regard he fell not of his own malice as did Satan but by him seduc't The Son of God renders praises to his Father for the manifestation of his gracious purpose towards Man but God again declares that Grace cannot be extended towards Man without the satisfaction of divine Justice Man hath offended the majesty of God by aspiring to God-head and therefore with all his Progeny devoted to death must dye unless some one can be found sufficient to answer for his offence and undergo his Punishment The Son of God freely offers himself a Ransome for Man the Father accepts hint ordains his incarnation pronounces his exaltation above all Names in Heaven and Earth commands all the Angels to adore him they obey and hymning to thir Harps in full Quire celebrate the Father and the Son Mean while Satan alights upon the bare Convex of this Worlds outermost Orb where wandring he first finds a place since call'd The Lymbo of Vanity what persons and things fly up thither thence comes to the Gate of Heaven describ'd ascending by staires and the waters above the Firmament that flow about it His passage thence to the Orb of the Sun he finds there Uriel the Regient of that Orb but first changes himself into the shape of a meaner
and thy being Dream not of other Worlds what Creatures there Live in what state condition or degree Contented that thus farr hath been reveal'd Not of Earth onely but of highest Heav'n To whom thus Adam cleerd of doubt repli'd How fully hast thou satisfi'd mee pure Intelligence of Heav'n Angel serene And freed from intricacies taught to live The easiest way nor with perplexing thoughts To interrupt the sweet of Life from which God hath bid dwell farr off all anxious cares And not molest us unless we our selves Seek them with wandring thoughts and notions vain But apt the Mind or Fancie is to roave Uncheckt and of her roaving is no end Till warn'd or by experience taught she learne That not to know at large of things remote From use obscure and suttle but to know That which before us lies in daily life Is the prime Wisdom what is more is fume Or emptiness or fond impertinence And renders us in things that most concerne Unpractis'd unprepar'd and still to seek Therefore from this high pitch let us descend A lower flight and speak of things at hand Useful whence haply mention may arise Of somthing not unseasonable to ask By sufferance and thy wonted favour deign'd Thee I have heard relating what was don Ere my remembrance now hear mee relate My Storie which perhaps thou hast not heard And Day is yet not spent till then thou seest How suttly to detaine thee I devise Inviting thee to hear while I relate Fond were it not in hope of thy reply For while I sit with thee I seem in Heav'n And sweeter thy discourse is to my eare Then Fruits of Palm-tree pleasantest to thirst And hunger both from labour at the houre Of sweet repast they satiate and soon fill Though pleasant but thy words with Grace Divine Imbu'd bring to thir sweetness no satietie To whom thus Raphael answer'd heav'nly meek Nor are thy lips ungraceful Sire of men Nor tongue ineloquent for God on thee Abandantly his gifts hath also pour'd Inward and outward both his image faire Speaking or mute all comliness and grace Attends thee and each word each motion formes Nor less think wee in Heav'n of thee on Earth Then of our fellow servant and inquire Gladly into the wayes of God with Man For God we see hath honour'd thee and set On Man his Equal Love say therefore on For I that Day was absent as befell bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure Farr on excursion toward the Gates of Hell Squar'd in full Legion such command we had To see that none thence issu'd forth a spie Or enemie while God was in his work Least hee incenst at such eruption bold Destruction with Creation might have mixt Not that they durst without his leave attempt But us he sends upon his high behests For state as Sovran King and to enure Our prompt obedience Fast we found fast shut The dismal Gates and barricado'd strong But long ere our approaching heard within Noise other then the sound of Dance or Song Torment and loud lament and surious rage Glad we return'd up to the coasts of Light Ere Sabbath Eev'ning so we had in charge But thy relation now for I attend Pleas'd with thy words no less then thou with mine So spake the Godlike Power and thus our Sire For Man to tell how human Life began Is hard for who himself beginning knew Desire with thee still longer to converse Induc'd me As new wak't from soundest sleep Soft on the flourie herb I found me laid In Balmie Sweat which with his Beames the Sun Soon dri'd and on the reaking moisture fed Strait toward Heav'n my wondring Eyes I turnd And gaz'd a while the ample Skie till rais'd By quick instinctive motion up I sprung As thitherward endevoring and upright Stood on my feet about me round I saw Hill Dale and shadie Woods and sunnie Plaines And liquid Lapse of murmuring Streams by these Creatures that livd and movd and walk'd or flew Birds on the branches warbling all things smil'd With fragrance and with joy my heart oreflow'd My self I then perus'd and Limb by Limb Survey'd and sometimes went and sometimes ran With supple joints and lively vigour led But who I was or where or from what cause Knew not to speak I tri'd and forthwith spake My Tongue obey'd and readily could name What e're I saw Thou Sun said I faire Light And thou enlight'nd Earth so fresh and gay Ye Hills and Dales ye Rivers Woods and Plaines And ye that live and move fair Creatures tell Tell if ye saw how came I thus how here Not of my self by some great Maker then In goodness and in power praeeminent Tell me how may I know him how adore From whom I have that thus I move and live And feel that I am happier then I know While thus I call'd and stray'd I knew not whither From where I first drew Aire and first beheld This happie Light when answer none return'd On a green shadie Bank profuse of Flours Pensive I sate me down there gentle sleep First found me and with soft oppression seis'd My droused sense untroubl'd though I thought I then was passing to my former state Insensible and forthwith to dissolve When suddenly stood at my Head a dream Whose inward apparition gently mov'd My fancy to believe I yet had being And livd One came methought of shape Divine And said thy Mansion wants thee Adam rise First Man of Men innumerable ordain'd First Father call'd by thee I come thy Guide To the Garden of bliss thy seat prepar'd So saying by the hand he took me rais'd And over Fields and Waters as in Aire Smooth sliding without step last led me up A woodie Mountain whose high top was plaine A Circuit wide enclos'd with goodliest Trees Planted with Walks and Bowers that what I saw Of Earth before scarce pleasant seemd Each Tree Load'n with fairest Fruit that hung to the Eye Tempting stirr'd in me sudden appetite To pluck and eate whereat I wak'd and found Before mine Eyes all real as the dream Had lively shadowd Here had new begun My wandring had not hee who was my Guide Up hither from among the Trees appeer'd Presence Divine Rejoycing but with aw In adoration at his feet I fell Submiss he rear'd me and Whom thou soughtst I am Said mildely Author of all this thou seest Above or round about thee or beneath This Paradise I give thee count it thine To Till and keep and of the Fruit to eate Of every Tree that in the Garden growes Eate freely with glad heart fear here no dearth But of the Tree whose operation brings Knowledg of good and ill which I have set The Pledge of thy Obedience and thy Faith Amid the Garden by the Tree of Life Remember what I warne thee shun to taste And shun the bitter consequence for know The day thou eat'st thereof my sole command Transgrest inevitably thou shalt dye From that day mortal and this happie State
like Lightning down from Heav'n Prince of the Aire then rising from his Grave Spoild Principalities and Powers triumpht In open shew and with ascention bright Captivity led captive through the Aire The Realm it self of Satan long usurpt Whom he shall tread at last under our feet Eevn hee who now foretold his fatal bruise And to the Woman thus his Sentence turn'd Thy sorrow I will greatly multiplie By thy Conception Children thou shalt bring In sorrow forth and to thy Husbands will Thine shall submit hee over thee shall rule On Adam last thus judgement he pronounc'd Because thou hast heark'nd to the voice of thy Wife And eaten of the Tree concerning which I charg'd thee saying Thou shalt not eate thereof Curs'd is the ground for thy sake thou in sorrow Shalt eate thereof all the days of thy Life Thorns also and Thistles it shall bring thee forth Unbid and thou shalt eate th' Herb of th' Field In the sweat of thy Face shalt thou eat Bread Till thou return unto the ground for thou Out of the ground wast taken know thy Birth For dust thou art and shalt to dust returne So judg'd he Man both Judge and Saviour sent And thâ— instant stroke of Death denounc't that day Remov'd farr off then pittying how they stood Before him naked to the aire that now Must suffer change disdain'd not to begin Thenceforth the form of servant to assume As when he wash'd his servants feet so now As Father of his Familie he clad Thir nakedness with Skins of Beasts or slain Or as the Snake with youthful Coate repaid And thought not much to cloath his Enemies Nor hee thir outward onely with the Skins Of Beasts but inward nakedness much more Opprobrious with his Robe of righteousness Araying cover'd from his Fathers sight To him with swift ascent he up returnd Into his blissful bosom reassum'd In glory as of old to him appeas'd All though all-knowing what had past with Man Recounted mixing intercession sweet Meanwhile ere thus was sin'd and judg'd on Earth Within the Gates of Hell sate Sin and Death In counterview within the Gates that now Stood open wide belching outrageous flame Farr into Chaos since the Fiend pass'd through Sin opening who thus now to Death began O Son why sit we here each other viewing Idlely while Satan our great Author thrives In other Worlds and happier Seat provides For us his ofspring deare It cannot be But that success attends him if mishap Ere this he had return'd with fury driv'n By his Avengers since no place like this Can fit his punishment or their revenge Methinks I feel new strength within me rise Wings growing and Dominion giv'n me large Beyond this Deep whatever drawes me on Or sympathie or som connatural force Powerful at greatest distance to unite With secret amiry things of like kinde By secretest conveyance Thou my Shade Inseparable must with mee along For Death from Sin no power can separate But least the difficultie of passing back Stay his return perhaps over this Gulfe Impassable Impervious let us try Adventrous work yet to thy power and mine Not unagreeable to found a path Over this Maine from Hell to that new World Where Satan now prevailes a Monument Of merit high to all th' infernal Host Easing thir passage hence for intercourse Or transmigration as thir lot shall lead Nor can I miss the way so strongly drawn By this new felt attraction and instinct Whom thus the meager Shadow answerd soon Goe whither Fate and inclination strong Leads thee I shall not lag behinde nor erre The way thou leading suth a sent I draw Of carnage prey innumerable and taste The savour of Death from all things there that live Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest Be wanting but afford thee equal aid So saying with delight he snuff'd the smell Of mortal change on Earth As when a flock Of ravenous Fowl though many a League remote Against the day of Battel to a Field Where Armies lie encampt come flying lur'd With sent of living Carcasses design'd For death the following day in bloodie fight So sented the grim Feature and upturn'd His Nostril wide into the murkie Air Sagacious of his Quarry from so farr Then Both from out Hell Gates into the waste Wide Anarchie of Chaos damp and dark Flew divers and with Power thir Power was great Hovering upon the Waters what they met Solid or slimie as in raging Sea Tost up and down together crowded drove From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell As when two Polar Winds blowing adverse Upon the Cronian Sea together drive Mountains of Ice that stop th' imagin'd way Beyond Petsora Eastward to the rich Cathaian Coast The aggregated Soyle Death with his Mace petrific cold and dry As with a Trident smote and fix't as firm As Delos floating once the rest his look bound with Gorgonian rigor not to move And with Asphaltic slime broad as the Gate Deep to the Roots of Hell the gather'd beach They fasten'd and the Mole immense wraught on Over the foaming deep high Archt a Bridge Of length prodigious joying to the Wall Immovable of this now fenceless world Forfeit to Death from hence a passage broad Smooth easie inoffensive down to Hell So if great thing to small may be compar'd Xerxes the Libertie of Greece to yoke From Susa his Momronian Palace high Came to the Sea and over Hellespont Bridging his way Europe with Asia joyn'd And scourg'd with many a stroak th' indignant waves Now had they brought the work by wondrous Art Pontifical a ridge of pendent Rock Over the vext Abyss following the track Of Satan to the self same place where hee First lighted from his Wing and landed safe From out of Chaos to the out side bare Of this round World with Pinns of Adamant And Chains they made all fast too fast they made And durable and now in little space The confines met of Empyrean Heav'n And of this World and on the left hand Hell With long reach interpos'd three sev'ral wayes In sight to each of these three places led And now thir way to Earth they had descri'd To Paradise first tending when behold Satan in likeness of an Angel bright Betwixt the Centaure and the Scorpion stearing His Zenith while the Sun in Aries rose Disguis'd he came but those his Children dear Thir Parent soon discern'd though in disguise Hee after Eve seduc't unminded slunk Into the Wood fast by and changing shape To observe the sequel saw his guileful act By Eve though all unweeting seconded Upon her Husband saw thir shame that sought Vain covertures but when he saw descend The Son of God to judge them terrifi'd Hee fled not hoping to escape but shun The present fearing guiltie what his wrauth Might suddenly inflict that past return'd By Night and listening where the hapless Paire Sate in thir sad discourse and various plaint Thence gatherd his own doom which understood Not instant but of future
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 Battle and subdue Nations and bring home spoils with infinite Man-slaughter shall be held the highest pitch Of human Glorie and for Glorie done Of triumph to be styl'd great Conquerours Patrons of Mankind Gods and Sons of Gods Destroyers rightlier call'd and Plagues of men Thus Fame shall be atchiev'd renown on Earth And what most merits fame in silence hid But hee the seventh from thee whom thou beheldst The onely righteous in a World perverse And therefore hared therefore so beset With Foes for daring single to be just And utter odious Truth that God would come To judge them with his Saints Him the most High Rapt in a balmie Cloud with winged Steeds Did as thou sawst receave to walk with God High in Salvation and the Climes of bliss Exempt from Death to shew thee what reward Awaits the good the rest what punishment Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold He look'd and saw the face of things quite chang'd The brazen Throat of Warr had ceast to roar All now was turn'd to jollitie and game To luxurie and riot feast and dance Marrying or prostituting as befell Rape or Adulterie where passing faire Allurd them thence from Cups to civil Broiles At length a Reverend Sire among them came And of thir doings great dislike declar'd And testifi'd against thir wayes hee oft Frequented thir Assemblies where so met Triumphs or Festivals and to them preachd Conversion and Repentance as to Souls In Prison under Judgements imminent But all in vain which when he saw he ceas'd Contending and remov'd his Tents farr off Then from the Mountain hewing Timber tall Began to build a Vessel of huge bulk Measur'd by Cubit length and breadth and highth Smeard round with Pitch and in the side a dore Contriv'd and of provisions laid in large For Man and Beast when loe a wonder strange I Of every Beast and Bird and Insect small Came seavens and pairs and enterd in as taught Thir order last the Sire and his three Sons With thir four Wives and God made fast the dore Meanwhile the Southwind rose and with black wings Wide hovering all the Clouds together drove From under Heav'n the Hills to their supplie Vapour and Exhalation dusk and moist Sent up amain and now the thick'nd Skie Like a dark Ceeling stood down rush'd the Rain Impetuous and continu'd till the Earth No more was seen the floating Vessel swum Uplifted and secure with beaked prow Rode tilting o're the Waves all dwellings else Flood overwhelmd and them with all thir pomp Deep under water rould Sea cover'd Sea Sea without shoar and in thir Palaces Where luxurie late reign'd Sea-monsters whelp'd And stabl'd of Mankind so numerous late All left in one small bottom swum imbark't How didst thou grieve then Adam to behold The end of all thy Ofspring end so sad Depopulation thee another Floud Of tears and sorrow a Floud thee also drown'd And sunk thee as thy Sons till gently reard By th' Angel on thy feet thou stoodst at last Though comfortless as when a Father mourns His Children all in view destroyd at once And scarce to th' Angel utterdst thus thy plaint O Visions ill foreseen better had I Liv'd ignorant of future so had borne My part of evil onely each dayes lot Anough to beare those now that were dispenst The burd'n of many Ages on me light At once by my foreknowledge gaining Birth Abortive to torment me ere thir being With thought that they must be Let no man seek Henceforth to be foretold what shall befall Him or his Childern evil he may be sure Which neither his foreknowing can prevent And hee the future evil shall no less In apprehension then in substance feel Grievous to bear but that care now is past Man is not whom to warne those few escap't Famin and anguish will at last consume Wandring that watrie Desert I had hope When violence was ceas't and Warr on Earth All would have then gon well peace would have crownd With length of happy dayes the race of man But I was farr deceav'd for now I see Peace to corrupt no less then Warr to waste How comes it thus unfould Celestial Guide And whether here the Race of man will end To whom thus Michael Those whom last thou sawst In Triumph and luxurious wealth are they First seen in acts of prowess eminent And great exploits but of true vertu void Who having spilt much blood and don much waste Subduing Nations and achievd thereby Fame in the World high titles and rich prey Shall change thir course to pleasure ease and sloth Surfet and lust till wantonness and pride Raise out of friendship hostil deeds in Peace The conquerd also and enslav'd by Warr Shall with thir freedom lost all vertu loose And fear of God from whom thir pietie feign'd In sharp contest of Battel found no aide Against invaders therefore coold in zeale Thenceforth shall practice how to live secure Worldlie or dissolute on what thir Lords Shall leave them to enjoy for th' Earth shall bear More then anough that temperance may be tri'd So all shall turn degenerate all deprav'd Justice and Temperance Truth and Faith forgot One Man except the onely Son of light In a dark Age against example good Against allurement custom and a World Offended fearless of reproach and scorn Or violence hee of thir wicked wayes Shall them admonish and before them set The paths of righteousness how much more safe And full of peace denouncing wrauth to come On thir impenitence and shall returne Of them derided but of God observd The one just Man alive by his command Shall build a wondrous Ark as thou beheldst To save himself and houshold from amidst A World devote to universal rack No sooner hee with them of Man and Beast Select for life shall in the Ark be lodg'd And shelterd round but all the Cataracts Of Heav'n set open on the Earth shall powre Raine day and night all fountains of the Deep Broke up shall heave the Ocean to usurp Beyond all bounds till inundation rise Above the highest