75

This to attain, whether Heav'n move or Earth, 70
Imports not, if thou reckon right; the rest
From Man or Angel the great Architect
Did wifely to conceal, and not divulge
His fecrets to be fcann'd by them who ought
Rather admire; or, if they lift to try
Conjecture, he his fabric of the Heavens
Hath left to their difputes, perhaps to move
His laughter at their quaint opinions wide
Hereafter, when they come to model Heaven
And calculate the stars, how they will wield
The mighty frame, how build, unbuild, contrive
To fave appearances, how gird the sphere
With centric and eccentric fcribled o'er,
Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb:

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90

Already by thy reafoning this I guess,
Who art to lead thy offspring, and fuppofeft
That bodies bright and greater should not serve
The lefs not bright, nor Heav'n fuch journeys run,
Earth fitting ftill, when he alone receives
The benefit: confider first, that great
Or bright infers not excellence: the earth
Though, in comparison of Heav'n, fo fmall,
Nor glift'ring, may of folid good contain
More plenty than the fun that barren fhines,
Whofe virtue on itself works no effect,
But in the fruitful earth; there first receiv'd
His beams, unactive elfe, their vigor find.
Yet not to earth are those bright luminaries
Officious, but to thee earth's habitant.

95

805

And for the Heav'n's wide circuit, let it fpeak 100
The Maker's high magnificence, who built
So fpacious, and his line stretch'd out so far;
That Man may know he dweils not in his own;
An edifice too large for him to fill,
Lodg'd in a small partition, and the rest
Ordain'd for ufes to his Lord best known.
The fwiftnefs of thofe circles attribute,
Though numberlefs, to his omnipotence,
That to corporeal fubftances could add
Speed almoft fpiritual; me thou think'st not flow,
Who fince the morning hour fet out from Heaven
Where God refides, and ere mid-day arriv'd
In Eden, difrance inexpreffible

By numbers that have name.

But this I urge,

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115

Admitting motion in the Heav'ns, to show nvalid that which thee to doubt it mov'd; Not that I fo affirm, though so it feem To thee who haft thy dwelling here on earth. God to remove his ways from human sense, 'lac'd Heav'n from Earth fo far, that earthly fight, t prefume, might err in things too high, 1 no advantage gain. What of the fun center to the world, and other ftars his attractive virtue and their own ted, dance about him various rounds? e.r wand'ring course now high, now low, then

hid.

121

125

135

150

Nocturnal and diurnal rhomb fuppos'd,
Invifible elfe above all stars, the wheel
Of day and night; which needs not thy belief,
If earth induftrious of herself fetch day
Traveling cast, and with her part averfe
From the fun's beam meet night, her other part
Still luminous by his ray. What if that light 140
Sent from her through the wide tranfpicuous air,
To the terreftrial moon be as a star
Inlightning her by day, as fhe by night
This earth? reciprocal, if land be there,
Fields and inhabitants: Her fpots thou feeft 145
As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce
Fruits in her foften'd foil, for fome to eat
Allotted there; and other funs perhaps
With their attendant moons thou wilt defcry
Communicating male and female light,
Which two great fexes animate the world,
Stor'd in each orb perhaps with fome that live.
For fuch vaft room in nature unpoffefs'd
By living foul, defert and defolate,
Only to thine, yet fcarce to contribute
Each orb a glimpfe of light, convey'd fo far
Down to this habitable, which returns
Light back to them, is obvious to dispute.
But whether thus thefe things, or whether not,
Whether the fun predominant in Heaven
Rife on the earth, or earth rife on the fun,
He from the caft his flaming road begin,
Or fhe from weft her filent course advance
With inoffenfive pace that fpinning sleeps
On her foft axle, while fhe paces even,
And bears thee foft with the fmooth air along,
Solicit not thy thoughts with matters hid,
Leave them to God above, him ferve and fear;
Of other creatures, as him pleases best,
Wherever plac'd, let him difpofe: joy thou 170
In what he gives to thee, this Paradife
And thy fair Eve; Heav'n is for thee too high
To know what paffes there; be lowly wife:
Think only what concerns thee and thy being;
Dream not of other worlds, what creatures there
Live, in what ftate, condition, or degree,
Contented that thus far hath been reveal'd
Not of Earth only but of highest Heaven.

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165

176

180

To whom thus Adam, clear'd of doubt, reply'd. How fully halt thou fatisfy'd me, pure Intelligence of Heav'n, Angel ferene, And, freed from intricacies, taught to live The eafieft way, nor with perplexing thoughts To interrupt the fweet of life, from which God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares, 185 And not moleft us, unless we ourselves Seek them with wand'ring thoughts, and notions

vain.

But apt the mind or fancy is to rove Uncheck'd, and of her roving is no end;

191

Till warn'd, or by experience taught, the learn,
That not to know at large of things remote
From ufe, obfcure and fubtle, but to know
That which before us lics in daily life,
Is the prime wisdom; what is more, is fame,
Or comptinefs, or fond impertinence,
And renders us in things that most concern
Unpractis'd, unprepar'd, and thill to feek.

193

3

By fufferance, and thy wonted favor deign'd.
Thee I have heard relating what was done
Ere my remembrance: new hear me relate
My flory, which perhaps thou haft not heard; 205
And day is not yet fpent; till then thou feeft
How fubtly to detain thee I devife,
Inviting thee to hear while I relate,

Fond, were it not in hope of thy reply:

For while I fit with thee, I feem in Heaven, 210
And fweeter thy difcourfe is to my ear

Than fruits of palm tree pleafanteft to thirst
And hunger both, from labor, at the hour
Offwect repaft; they fatiate, and foon fill

Though pleafant, but thy words with grace di

Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men,

Nor

220

tongue incloquent; for God on thee Abundantly his gifts hath alfo pour'd faward and outward both, his image fair: Speaking or mute all comeliness and grace Attends thee, and each word, each motion forms; Nor lefs think we in Heav'n of thee on Earth Than of our fellow-fervant, and inquire Gladly into the ways of God with Man : For God we fee hath honor'd thee, and fet On Man his equal love: fay therefore on; For I that day was abfent, as befel, Bound on a voyage uncouth and obfcure,

Far

225

230

235

on excurfion toward the gates of Hell; Squar'd in full legion (fuch command we had) To fee that none thence iffued forth a spy, Or enemy, while God was in his work, Left he incens'd at fuch eruption bold, Deftruction with creation might have mix'd. Not that they durft without his leave attempt, But as he fends upon his high behefts For ftate, as Sovran King, and to inure Our prompt obedience. Faft we found, fast shut The difmal gates, and barricado'd ftrong; But long ere our approaching heard within Noife, other than the found of dance or fong, Terment, and loud lament, and furious rage. Glad we return'd up to the coafts of light Lre fabbath evening: fo we had in charge. But thy relation now; for I attend,

241

245

Picas'd with thy words no less than thou with

mine.

Induc'd me.

250

So fpake the Godlike Pow'r, and thus our fire. For Man to tell how human life began Is hard; for who hin felf beginning knew? Defire with thee ftill longer to converfe As new wak'd from foundest fleep soft on the flow'ry herb I found me laid In balmy fweat, which with his beams the fun Soon dry'd, and on the reaking moisture fed. 256 Strait toward Heav'n my wond'ring eyes I turn'd, And gaz'd a while the ample fky, till rais'd 3y quick inftinctive motion up I fprung, VOL. II.

260

As thitherward endevoring, and upright
Stood on my feet; about me round I faw
Hill, dale, and shady woods, and funny plains,
And liquid lapfe of murm'ring ftreams: by thefe,
Creatures that liv'd and mov'd, and walk'd, or
flew,
264

Birds on the branches warbling; all things fmil'd,
With fragrance and with joy my heart o'crflow'd.
Myfelf I then perus'd, and limb by limb
Survey'd, and fometimes went, and fometimes

ran

With fupple joints, as lively vigor led:

But who I was, or where, or from what caufe, 270
Knew not; to speak I try'd, and forthwith spake;
My tongue obey'd, and readily could name
What'er i faw. Thou Sun, faid I, fair light,
And thou inlighten'd Earth, fo fresh and gay,
Ye Hills, and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and
Plains;
275
And ye that live and move, fair Creatures! tell
Tell, if ye faw, how came I thus, how here?
Not of myfelf, by fome great Maker then,
In goodness and in pow'r præeminent;
Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, 280
From whom I have that thus i move and live,
And feel that I am happier than I know.
While thus I call'd, and stray'd I knew not whi-
ther,

From where I first drew air, and firft beheld
This happy light, when anfwer none return'd, 285
On a green fhady bank profufe of flowers
Penfive I fat me down; there gentle fleep
First found me, and with foft oppreffion feis'd

320

325

330

Said mildly, Author of all this thou feeft
Above, or round about thee, or beneath.
This Paradife I give thee, count it thine
To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat :
Of every tree that in the garden grows
Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth:
But of the tree whofe operation brings
Knowl d. of good and ill, which I have fet
The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith,
Amid the garden by the tree of life,
Remember what I warn thee, fhun to tafte,
And fhun the bitter confequence: for know,
The day thou eat'it thereof, my fole command
Tranfgrefs'd, inevitably thou shalt die,
From that day mortal, and this happy state
Shalt lofe, expell'd from hence into a world
Of woe and forrow Sternly he pronounc'd
The rigid interdiction, which refounds
Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice
Not to incur; but foon his clear afpéct
Return'd, and gracious purpose thus renew'd.
Not only these fair bounds, but all the earth
To thee and to thy race I give; as I rds
Poffefs it, and all things that therein live,
Or live in fea, or air, beaft, fish, and fowl,
In fign whereof each bird and beast behold
After their kinds; I bring them to receive
From thee their names, and pay thee feälty
With low fubjection; understand the fame
Of fish within their watry refidence,
Not hither fummon'd, fince they cannot change
Their element to draw the thinner air.
As thus he fpake, each bird and Beast behold
Approaching two and two, these cowring low 350
With bland fhment, each bird stoop'd on his wing
I nam'd them, as they pafs'd, and understood
The nature, with fuch knowledge God indued
My fudden apprehenfion; but in thefe

336

340

345

I found not wha me thought I wanted ftill; 355 And to the heav'n y vilion thus prefum'd.

O by what name, for thou above all thefe, Above mankind, or ought than mankind higher, Surpaff it tar my naming, how may I Adore thee, Author of this univerfe, And all this good to man? for whofe well-being So amply, and with hands fo liberal

Thou haft provided all things: but with me

360

365

370

I fee not who partakes. In folitude
What happiness, who can enjoy alone,
Or all njoying. what contentment find?
Thus I prefumptuous; and the vision bright,
As with a fmile more brighten'd, thus reply'd.
What call'ft thou folitude? is not the earth
With various living creatures, and the air
Replenith'd, and all these at thy command
To come and play before thee? know'st thou not
Their language and their ways? they alfo know,
And reafon not contemptibly; with thefe
Find paftime, and bear rule; thy realm is large
So fpake the univeríal Lord, and feem'd
So ord'ring. I with leave of fpeech implor'd,

376

And humble deprecation thus reply'd.

And these inferior far beneath me fet?
Among unequals what fociety
Can fort, what harmony or true delight?
Which must be mutual, in proportion due
Giv'n and receiv'd; but in difparity
The one intenfe, the other ftill remifs
Cannot well fuit with either, but foon prove
Tedious alike: Of fellowship Ifpeak
Such as I feek, fit to participate
All rational delight, wherein the brute
Cannot be human confort; they rejoice
Each with their kind, lion with lioness;
So fitly them in pairs thou haft combin'd;
Much lefs can bird with beaft, or fish with fowl
So well converfe, nor with the ox the ape; 39
Worfe then can man with beaft, and leaft of all.

394

Whereto th' Almighty answer'd not difpleas'd. A nice and fubtle happiness I fee Thou to thyfelf propofeft, in the choice Of thy affociates, Adam, and wilt tafte No pleasure, though in pleasure, folitary. What think it thou then of me, and this my flat Seem I to thee fufficiently poffefs'd Of happiness, or not? who am alone From all eternity, for none I know Second to me or like, equal much less. How have I then with whom to hold converfe Save with the creatures which I made, and tho To me inferior, infinite defcents Beneath what other creatures are to thee?

He ceas'd, I lowly anfwer'd. To attain
The highth and depth of thy eternal ways
All human thoughts come fhort, Supreme of thing
I hou in thyfelf art perfect, and in thee
Is no deficience found; not fo is Man,
But in degree, the caufe of his defire
By conversation with his like to help,
Or folace his defects. No need that thou
Shouldít propagate, already infinite,
And through all numbers abfolute, though one
But Man by number is to manifeft
tis fingle imperfection, and beget
Like of his like, his image multiply'd,
In unity defective, which requires
Colateral love, and dearest amity.
Thou in thy fecrefy although alone,
Beft with thyfelf accompanied, feek'st not
Social communication, yet fo pleas'd,
Canft raife thy creature to what highth thou wi
Of union or communion, deify'd;

I by converfing cannot thefe erect
From prone, nor in their ways complacence find
Thus I imboloen'd fpake, and freedom us'd
Permiffive, and acceptance found, which gain'd
This apfwer from the gracious voice divine. 43

Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleas'd,
And find thee knowing not of beafts alone,
Which thou haft rightly nam'd, but of thyself,
Expreffing well the spirit within thee free,
My image, not imparted to the brute,
Whofe fellowship therefore unmeet for thee
Good reafon was thou freely shouldst dislike,
And be fo minded ftill; 1, ere thou fpak'ft,
Knew it not good for Man to be alone,
And no fuch company as then thou faw'ft

Dazled and fpent, funk down, and fought repair

Of fleep, which inftantly fell on me, call'd

460

By nature as in aid, and clos'd mine eyes.
Mine
eyes he clos'd, but open left the cell
Of fancy my internal fight, by which
Abftract as in a trance methought I faw,
Though fleeping, where I lay, and faw the shape
Still glorious before whom awake I ftood;
Who tooping open'd my left fide, and took 465
From thence a rib, with cordial fpirits warm,
And life-blood ftreaming fresh; wide was the
wound,

But fuddenly with flesh fill'd up and heal'd:
The rib he form'd and fashion'd with his hands;

Under his forming hands a creature grew,
Manlike, but different fex, fo lovely fair,

470

That what feem'd fair in all the world, feem'd

When out of hope, behold her, not far off,
Such as I faw her in my dream, adorn'd
With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow
To make her amiable: On fhe came,

Led by her heav'nly Maker, though unfeen, 485
And guided by his voice, nor uninform'd
Of nuptial fanctity and marriage rites:

Grace was in all her steps, Heav'n in her eye,
In every gefture dignity and love.

I overjoy'd could not forbear aloud.

490

495

This turn hath made amends; thou haft fulfill'd Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign, Giver of all things fair, but fairest this Of all thy gifts, nor envieft. I now fee Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself Before me; Woman is her name, of Man Extracted; for this caufe he fhall forego Father and mother, and to' his wife adhere; And they fhall be one heart, one flesh, one foul. She heard me thus, and tho' divinely brought, Yet innocence and virgin modefty, Her virtue and the confcience of her worth, That would be woo'd, and not unfought be won, Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retir'd, The more defirable, or to say all, Nature herself, though pure of finful thought, Wrought in her fo, that feeing me, fhe turn'd; follow'd her, the what was honor knew,

501

505

And with obfequious majefty approv'd

My pleaded reafon To the nuptial bower
I led her blufhing like the morn: all Heaven,

And happy conftellations on that hour
Shed their feledteft influence; the earth
Gave fign of gratulation, and each hill;

510

Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs 515
Whifper'd into the woods, and from their wings
Flung rofe, flung odors from the spicy fhrub,
Difporting, till the amorous bird of night
Sung fpoufal, and bid hafte the evening star
On this hill top, to light the bridal lamp. 520
Thus have I told thee all my ftate, and brought
My flory to the fum of earthly blifs
Which I enjoy, and muft confefs to find
In all things elfe delight indeed, but fuch
As us'd or not, works in the mind no change, 525
Nor vehement defire, thefe delicacies

I mean of taste, fight, fmell, herbs, fruits, and flowers,

Walks, and the melody of birds; but here
Far otherwife, transported i behold,

535

540

Tranfported touch; here paffion first I felt, 530
Commotion ftrange, in all enjoyments elfe
Superior and unmov'd, here only weak
Against the charm of beauty's pow'rful glance.
Or nature fail'd in me, and left some part
Not proof enough fuch object to sustain,
Or from my side subducting, took perhaps
More than enough; at leaft on her beftow'd
Too much of ornament, in outward fhow
Elaborate, of inward lefs exact.
For well I understand in the prime end
Of nature her th' inferior, in the mind
And inward faculties, which most excel,
In outward alfo her refembling lefs
His image who made both, and lefs expreffing
The character of that dominion given
O'er other creatures; yet when I approach
Her lovelinefs, fo abfolute fhe feems
And in herself complete, fo well to know
Her own, that what fhe wills to do or fay,
Seems wifeft, virtuoufeft, difcreeteft, beft;
All higher knowledge in her prefence falls
Degraded, wifdom in difcourfe with her
Lofes difcountenanc'd, and like folly fhows;
Authority and reafon on her wait,
As one intended firft, not after made

545

565

To whom the Angel with contracted brow. 560 Accufe not nature, the hath done her part; Do thou but thine, and be not diffident Of wisdom, fhe deferts thee not, if thou Difmifs not her, when molt thou need'ft her nigh, By attributing over much to things Lefs excellent, as thou thyfelf perceiv'ft. For what admir'ft thou what transports thee fo, An outside? fair no doubt, and worthy well Thy cherishing, thy honoring and hy love, Not thy fubjection: weigh with her thyself; 570 Then value: Oft-times nothing profits more Than felf-afteem, grounded ou just and right