Look'it from thy fole dominion like the God Of this new world; at whofe fight all the itars Hide their diminish'd 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 íphere; Till pride and worfe ambition threw me down 40 Warring in Heav'n against Heav'n's matchlefs king: Ah wherefore! he deferv'd no fuch return From me, whom he created what I was In that bright eminence, and with his good Upbraided none; nor was his fervice hard. What could be lefs than to afford him praife, The eafieft recompenfe, and pay him thanks, How due! yet all his good prov'd ill in me, And wrought but malice; lifted up fo high Ifdeind fubjection, and thought one step higher 50 Would fet me hig heft, and in a moment quit The debt immenfe of endless gratitude, So burdenfome till paying, ftill to owe, Forgetful what from him I still receiv'd, And understood not that a grateful mind By owing owes not, but fill pays, at once Indebted and difcharg'd; what burden then? O had his pow'rful destiny ordain'd Me fome inferior Angel, I had ft od Then happy; no unbounded hope had rais'd Ambition. Yet why not? fore other Power As great might have afpir'd, and me though mean Drawn to his part; but other Pow'rs as great Fell not, but ftand unfhaken, from within Or from without, to all temptations arm'd. Hadft thou the fame free will and pow'r to fland? Thou hadit: whom haft thou then or what t' accufe, But Heav'n's free love dealt equally to all? Be then his love accurs'd, fince love or hate, To me alike, it deals eternal woc.
Vows made in pain, as violent and void. For never can true reconcilement grow Where wounds of deadly hate have pierc'd fo deep: Which would but lead me to a worfe relapfe 100 Aid heavier fall: fo fhould I purchase dear Short intermiflion bought with double finart. This knows my punisher; therefore as far From granting he, as I from begging peace: All hope excluded thus, behold in tead Of us out-cift, exil'd, his new delight, Mankind created, and for him this world. So farewel hope, and with hope farewel fear, Farewel remorfe: all good to me is loft; Evil be thou my good; by thee at leaft Divided empire with Heav'n's king I hold, By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign; As Man ere long, and this new world fhail know. Thus while he fpako, each paflion dimm'd his
Nay curs'd be thou; fince againft his thy will Chote freely what it now fo juftly Tues. Me miferable! which way fhall I fly Infinite wrath, and infinite defpair? Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell; And in the lowest deep a lower deep Still threatening to devour me opens wide, To which the Hell I fuffer feems a Heaven. O then at laft relent: is there no place Left for repentance, none for pardon left? None left but by fubmiffion, and that word Didzin forbids me, and my dread of fhame Among the Spirits beneath, whom I feduc'd With other promifts and other vaunts Than to fubmit, boalting I could fabdne Th' Omeipotent. Ay me, they little know How dearly I abide that boast so vain, Under what torments inwardly I groan, While they adore me on the throne of Hell. With diadem and fcepter high advanc'd, The lower ftill I fall, only fupreme In mifery; fuch joy ambition finds. But fay I could repent, and could obtain By act of grace my former ftate; how foon Would highth recall high thoughts, how foon un
What feign'd fubmiflion fwore? cafe would recant
Thrice chang'd with pale, ire, envy, and defpair; Which marr'd his borrow'd vifage, and betray'd Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld.
For heav'nly minds from fuch diftempers foul Are ever clear. Whereof he foon aware, Each perturbation fmooth'd with outward calm, Artificer of fraud; and was the first Thas practis'd falfhood under faintly show, Deep malice to conceal, couch'd with revenge: Yet not enough had practis'd to deccivè Uriel once warn'd; whofe eye purlued him down The way he went, and on th' Affyrian mount 126 Saw him disfigur'd, more thin could befall Spirit of happy fort: his geftures fierce
le mark'd and mad demeanour, then alone, As he fuppos'd, all uncbferv'd, unfeen. So on he fures, and to the border comes Of Eden, where delicious Paradife, Now nearer, Cwns with her inclofure green, As with a rural mound, the champaign head Of a fleep wilderness, whofe hairy fides With thicket overgrown, grotefque and wild, Accels d-ny'd; and over head up grew Infuperable highth of loftieft fhade,
Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm, A fylvan feene, and as the ranks afcend Shade above thade, a woody theatre Of Ratelief view. Yet higher then their tops The verdrevs wall of Paradife up fprung: Which to our general fire gave profpect large Into ids nether empire neigh'bring round. And higher than that wall a circling row Of goodlicit trees loaden with faireft fruit, Blooms and fruits at once of golden hue, Appear'd, with gay enamel'd colors mix'd: On which the fun mor, glad imprefs'd his beams Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow, 151 When God hath fhow'r'd the earth; fo lovely
Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are paft 160 Mozambic, off at fea north-east winds blow Sabean odors from the fpicy fhore
Of Araby the bleit; with fuch delay'
Well pleas'd they flack their course, and many a league
Chear'd with the grateful fmell old Ocean fmiles: So entertain'd those odorous fweets the Fiend 166 Who came their bane, though with them better pleas'd
Than Afmodeus with the fifhy fume
That drove him, though enamour'd, from the spouse
Of Tobit's fon, and with a vengeance fent From Media poft to Egypt, there faft bound.
Now to th' afcent of that fleep favage hill Satan had journey'd on, penfive and flow; but further way found none, fo thick intwin'd, As one continued brake, the undergrowth Cf fhrubs and tangling bushes had perplex'd All path of man or beast that pafs'd that way: One gate there only was, and that look'd east On th' other fide: which when th' arch felon faw, Due entrance he difdain'd, and in contempt, 180 At one flight bound high over leap'd all bound Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within Lights on his feet, As when a prowling wolf, Whom hanger drives to feck new haunt for prey, Watching where thepherds pen their flocks at eve In hurdled cores amid the field fecure, Leaps o'er the fence with eafe into the fold: Or as a thief bent to unhord the cath Of fome rich burgher, whofe fubitantial doors, Crofs-barr'd and bolted faft, fear no affault, 190 In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles: So clomb this firit grand thief into God's fuld; So fince into his church lewd hirelings climb. Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life, The middle tree and highest there that grew, 195 Sat like a cormorant ; yet not true life Thereby regain'd, but fat devifing death To them who liv'd; nor on the virtue thought Of that life-giving plant, but only us'd For profpect, what well us'd had been the pledge Of immortality. So little knows Any, but God alone, to value right
The good before him, but perverts beft things To work abufe, or to their meaneft ufe. Beneath him with new wonder now he views 205 To all delight of human fense expoa'd
In narrow room Nature's whole wealth, yea more, A Heav'n on Earth: for blifsful Paradife Of God the garden was, by him in the east Of Eden planted; Eden ftretch'd her line From Auran cattward to the royal towers Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings, Or where the fons of Eden long before Dwelt in Telaffar: in this pleafant foil His far more pleasant garden God ordain'd; 215 Out of the fertile ground he caus'd to grow All trees of noblest kind for fight, fmell, tafte; And all amid them ftood the tree of life, High eminent, blooming ambrofial fruit Of vegetable gold; and next to life, Our death the tree of knowledge grew fast by,
Pafs'd underneath ingulf'd; for God had thrown That mountain as his garden mound high rais'd Upon the rapid current, which through veins Of porous earth with kindly thirst up drawn, Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill Water'd the garden; thence united fell 230 Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood, Which from his darkfome paffage now appears, And now divided into four main ftreams, Runs diverfe, wand'ring many a famous realm And country, whereof here needs no account; 235 But rather to tell how, if Art could tell, How from that faphir fount the crifped brooks, Rolling on orient pearl and fands of gold, With mazy error under pendent fhades Ran nectar, vifiting each plant, and fed Flow'rs, worthy' of Paradife, which not nice Art In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon Pour'd forth profufe on hill and dale and plain, Both where the morning fun first warmly fmote The open field, and where the unpierc'd fhade 245 Imbrown'd the noontide bow'rs: Thus was this place
A happy rural feat of various view; Groves whofe rich trees wept odorous gums and
Others whofe fruit burnish'd with golden rind Hung amiable, Hefperian fables true, If true, here only', and of delicious tafte: Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks Grazing the tender herb, were interpos'd, Or paliny hilloc; or the flow'ry lap of fome irriguous valley fpread her ftore, Flow'rs of ad hue, and without thorn the rofe: Another fide, umbrageous grots and caves Of cool recefa, o'er which the mantling vine Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps Luxuriant; mean while murm'ring waters fall Down the fope hills, difpers'd, or in a lake, 261 That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown'd Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams. The birds their quire apply airs, vernal airs, Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune 265 The trembling leaves, while univerfal Pan Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance Led on th' eternal fpring. Not that fair field Of Enna, where Proferpine gathering flowers, Herfelf a fairer flow'r, by gloomy Dis Was gather'd, which cott Ceres all that pain To feck her through the world; nor that sweet
Of Daphne by Orontes, and th' inspir'd Caftalian spring, might with this Paradise Of Eden ftrive; nor that Nyfcian ile Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove, Hid Amalthea and her florid fon
Young Bacchus from his stepdame Rhea's eye; Nor where Abailin kings their iffue guard, 280 Mount Amara, though this by fome fuppos'd True Paradife, under the Ethiop line
His fair large front and eye fublime declar'd 300 Abfolute rule; and hyacinthin locks Round from his parted forelock manly hung Cluft'ring, but not beneath his fhoulders broad: She as a veil down to the flender walle Her unadorned golden treffes wore Difhevel'd, but in wanton ringlets wav'd As the vinc curls her tendrils, which imply'd Subjection, but requir'd with gentle sway, And by her yielded, by him beft receiv'd, Yielded with coy fubmiffion, modeft pride, 310 And fweet reluctant amorous delay. Nor thofe myfterious parts were then conceal'd, Then was not guilty fhame, difhoneft fhame Of nature's works, honor difhonorable, Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind 315 With fhows inftead, mere fhows of feening pure, And banish'd from man's life his happiest life, Simplicity and fpotless innocence!
So pafs'd they naked on, nor fhunn'd the fight Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill: So hand in hand they pafs'd, the lovelieft pair That ever fince in love's embraces met; Adam the goodliest man of men since born His fons, the fairest of her daughters Eve. Under a tuft of fhade that on a green Stood whifp'ring foft, by a fresh fountain fide They fat them down; and after no more toil Of their fweet gard'ning labor than fuffic'd To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease More eafy, wholefome theft and appetite More grateful, to their fupper fruits they fell, Nectarin fruits which the compliant boughs Yielded them, fide-long as they fat recline On the foft downy bank damafk'd with flowers: The favory pulp they chew, and in the rind 335 Still as they thirted fcoop the brimming stream; Nor gentle purpofe, nor endearing fmiles Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as befeems Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league, Alone as they. About them fritking play'd 340 All beasts of th' earth, fince wild, and of all chafe In wood or wildcrnefs, foreft or den; Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, Gambol'd before them; th' unwieldy elephant 345 Tomake them mirth us'd all his might, and wreath'd His lithe probofcis; close the ferpent fly
Infinuating, wove with Gordian twine His braided train, and of his fatal guile Gave proof unheeded; others on the grafs Couch'd, and now fill'd with pafture gazing fat, Or bedward ruminating; for the fun Declin'd was hatting now with prone career To th' ocean iles, and in th' afcending scale Of Heav'n the ftars that ufher evening rofe: 355 When Satan fill in guze, as first he flood, Scarce thus at length fail'd speech recover'd fad.
O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold! Into our room of blafs thus high advanc'd Creatures of other mold, earth-born perhaps, 360 Not fpirits, yet to heav'rly fpirits bright Little inferior; whom my thoughts purfne With wonder, and could love, to lively fhines In them divine refemblance, and fuch grace The hand that form'd them on their shape hath pour'd.
Ah gentle pair, ye little think how nigh Your change approaches, when all theie delights Will vanish and deliver ye to woe,
More woe, the more your tafte is now of joy; Happy, but for fo happy ill fecur'd
Long to continue, and this high feat your Heaven Ill fenc'd for Heav'n to keep out fuch a foe As now is enter'd; yet no purpos'd foe To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, Though I unpitied: League with you I feek, 375 And mutual amity fo ftrait, fo close,
That I with you muit dwell, or you with me Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please, Like this fair Paradife, your fenfe, yet fuch Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me, 580 Which I as freely give; Hell fhall unfold, To entertain you two, her wideft gates, And fend forth all her kings; there will be room, Not like thefe narrow limits, to receive
Your numerous offspring; if no better place, 385 Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge On you who wrong me not for him who wrong'd. And should I at your harmless innocence Melt, as I do, yet public reafon just, Honor and empire with revenge inlarg'd, By conqu'ring this new world, compels me now To do what cife though damn'd I should abhor. So fpake the Ficnd, and with receffity, The tyrant's plea, excus'd his devilish deeds. Then from his lofty ftand on that high tree 395 Down he alights among the sportive herd Of thofe four-footed kinds; hinfelf now one, Now other, as their fhape ferv'd beft his end Nearer to view his prey, and unespy'd 399 To mark what of their itate he more might leara By word or a&tion inork'd: about them round A lion now he fialks with fiery glare; Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spy'd In fome purlieu two gentle fawns at play, Strait couches clofe, then rifing changes oft 405 His couchant watch, as one who chefe his ground, Whence rushing he might furcft feife them both Grip'd in each paw: when Adam firft of men To firft of women Eve thus moving fpeech, Turn'd him all ear to hear new utterance flow. 410 Sole partner, and fole part, of all these joys,
That rais'd us from the duft and plac'd us here In all this happinefs, who at his hand Have nothing merited, nor can perform Ought whereof he hath need, he who requires From us no other fervice than to keep This one, this eafy charge, of all the trees In Paradife that bear delicious fruit So various, not to tafte that only tree Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life; So near grows death to life, whate'er death is, 425 Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou know'ft
God hath pronounc'd it death to taste that tree, The only fign of our obedience left Among fo many figns of pow'r and rule Conferr'd upon us, and dominion given Over all other creatures that poffefs
Earth, fea, and air. Then let us not think hard One cafy prohibition, who enjoy
Free leave fo large to all things elfe, and choice Unlimited of manifold delights:
Bat let us ever praife him, and extol Eis beanty, following our delightful taf To prune thefe growing plants, and tend thefe flowers,
Which were it toilfome, yet with thee were fweet. To whom thus Eve reply'd. O thou for whom And from whom I was form'd flesh of thy flesh, And without whom am to no end, may guide And head, what thou haft faid is juft and right. For we to him, indeed all praises owe, And daily thanks; I chiefly who enjoy So far the happier lot, enjoying thee Præcminent by fo much odds, while thou Like confort to thyfelf canft no where find. That day I oft remember, when from fleep I first awak'd, and found myfelf repes'd Uncer a fhade on flow'rs, much wond'ring where And what I was, whence thither brought and how. 'Not diftant far from thence a murming found Of waters iffued from a cave, and fpread Into a liquid plain, then stood unmov d Pure as th' expanfe of Heav'n; 1 thither went With unexperienc'd thought, and laid me down On the green bank, to look into the clar Smooth lake, that to me feem'd another sky. As I bent down to look, juft oppofite A fhape within the watry gleam appear'd, Bending to look on me; Iftarted back, It started back; but pleas'd I foon return'd; Pleas'd it return'd as foon with arfw'ring looks Of fympathy and love: there I had fix'd Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain defire, Had not a voice thus warn'd me, What thoufeft, What there thou feeft, fair Creature, is thyiclf; With thee it came and goes: but fellow nie, And I will bring thee where no fhadow itays 470 Thy coming, and thy loft embraces, he Whole image thou art; him thou fhalt enjoy Infeparably thine, to him fhalt bear
Multitudes like thyfelf, and thence be call'd
Than that smooth watry image: back I turn'd; Thou following cry'dft aloud, Return fair Eve, Whom fiy't thou? whom thou fly'st, of him thou art,
His flesh, his bone; to give thee be'ing I lent Out of my fide to thee, nearest my heart Subftantial life, to have thee by my fide Henceforth an individual folace dear; Part of my foul I feck thee, and thee clame My other half. With that thy gentle hand Seis'd mine; I yielded, and from that time fee How beauty is excell'd by manly grace And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.
So fpuke our general mother, and with eyes Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd, And meck furrender, half embracing lean'd On our first father; half her fwelling breaft 495 Naked met his prder the flowing gold Of her loofe tres hid: he in delight Doth of her beauty and fubmiffive charms Smil'd with fuperior love, as Jupiter
On Juno fimiles, when he impregns the clouds 500 That fed May flow'rs; and prefs'd her matron lip With kiffes pure: afide the Devil turn'd For envy, yet with jealous leer malign Ey'd them afkance, and to himfelf thus plain'd. Sight hateful, fight tormenting! thus thefe two Imparadis'd in one another's arms, The happier Eden, fhall enjoy their fill Of blifs on blifs; while I to Hell am thruft, Where neither joy nor love, but fierce defire, Among our other torments not the leaft, till unfulfil'd with pain of longing pines. Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd From their own mouths: all is not theirs it feems; One fatal tree there ftands of knowledge call'd, Forbidden them to tafle: Knowledge forbidden? Sufpicious, reafonlefs. Why fhould their Lord Envy them that? can it be fin to know? Can it be death? and do they only stand By ignorance? is that their happy flate, The proof of their obedience and their faith? 529 O fair foundation laid whereon to build Their ruin! Hence I will excite their minds With more defire to know, and to reject Envicus commands, invented with defign To keep them low whom knowledge might exalt Equal with Gods: afpiring to be fuch They taste and die: what likelier can enfue? But fira with narrow fearch I mult walk round This gard in, and no corner leave unfpy'd; 529 A chince bit chance may lead where I may meet Some wand'ring spirit of Heav'n by fountain fide, Or in thick fhade retir'd, from him to draw What further would be learn'd. Live while you
Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return, Short pleafures, for long woes are to fucceed. 533 So faying, his proud ftep he fcornful turn'd, But with fy circumfpection, and began
Through wood, through wafte, o'er hill, o'er dale, | Silence accompanied; for beaft and bird,
Mean while in utmoft longitude, where Heaven With earth and ocean meets, the fetting fun 540 Slowly defcended, and with right aspéct Against the eastern gate of Paradife Levell'd his evening rays: it was a rock Of alabafter, pil'd up to the clouds, Confpicuous far, winding with one afcent Acceffible from earth, one entrance high; The refl was craggy cliff, that overhung Still as it rofe, impoffible to climb. Betwixt thefe rocky pillars Gabriel fat,
Chief of th' angelic guards, awaiting night; 550 About him exercis'd heroic games
Th' unarmed youth of Heav'n, but nigh at hand Celeftial armory, fhields, helms, and fpears, Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold. Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even 555 On a fun-beam, fwift as a fhooting star In autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fir'd Imprefs the air, and fhows the mariner From what point of his compafs to beware Impetuous winds: he thus began in hafte.
Gabriel, to thee thy courfe by lot hath given Charge and ftrict watch, that to this happy place No evil thing approach or enter in.
This day at highth of noon came to my sphere A Spirit, zealous, as he feem'd, to know, More of th' Almighty's works, and chiefly Man, God's latest image: 1 defcrib'd his way Bent all on fpeed, and mark'd his aery gait : But in the mount that lies from Eden north, Where he first lighted, foon difcern'd his looks 570 Alien from Heav'n, with paffions foul obscur'd : Mine eye purfued him ftill, but under fhade Loft fight of him: one of the banish'd crew, I fear, hath ventur'd from the deep, to raise New troubles; him thy care must be to find. 575 To whom the winged warrior thus return'd. Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect fight, Amid the fun's bright circle where thou fitft, See far and wide: in at this gate none pass The vigilance here plac'd, but fuch as come Well known from Heav'n; and fince meridian hour
Of night, and all things now retir'd to reft Mind us of like repofe, fince God hath fet Labor and reft, as day and night to men Succeffive; and the timely dew of fleep Now falling with folt flumb'rous weight inclines Our eye-lids: other creatures all day long Rove idle unemploy'd, and lefs need reft; Man hath his daily work of body, or mind Appointed, which declares his dignity, And the regard of Heav'n on all his ways; While other animals unactive range, And of their doings God takes no account. To-morrow ere fresh morning ftreak the east With first approach of light, we must be rifen, And at our pleafant labor, to reform You flow'ry arbors, yonder alleys green, Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown, That mock our feant manuring, and require More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth: Those bloffonis alfo, and thofe dropping gums, 630 That lie beftrown unfightly and unfmooth, Afk riddance, if we mean to tread with eafe; Mean while, as Nature wills, night bids us reft. To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty' adorn'd. My Author and Difpofer, what thou bidst Unargued I obey; fo God ordains; God is thy law, thou mine: to know no more Is woman's happiest knowledge and her praife. With thee converfing I forget all time;
All feafons and their change, all pleafe alike. 640 Sweet is the breath of morn, her rifing fweet, With charm of earliest birds; pleafant the fun, When firit on this delightful land he fpreads His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, Glift ring with dew; fragrant the fertil earth 645 After foft fhow'rs; and fweet the coming on Of grateful evening mild; then filent night With this her folemn bird, and this fair moon, And these the gems of Heav'n, her starry train: But neither breath of morn, when she afcends 650 With charm of earlieft birds; nor rifing fun On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower, Glift'ring with dew; nor fragrance after showers: Nor grateful evening mild; nor filent night With this her folemn bird, nor walk by moon, 655 Or glittering ftar-light without thee is fwect. But wherefore all night long fhine these? for whom This glorious fight, when fleep hath shut all eyes? To whom our general ancestor reply'd: Daughter of God and Man, accomplish'd Eve, 660 Thefe have their courfe to finish round the earth, By morrow evening, and from land to land In order, though to nations yet unborn,
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