کتاب 4

BOOK IV

THE ARGUMENT

Satan now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the place where he must now attempt the bold enterprise which he undertook alone against God and man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many passions: fear, envy, and despair; but at length confirms himself in evil; journeys on to Paradise, whose outward prospect and situation is described; overleaps the bounds, sits in the shape of a cormorant on the Tree of Life, as highest in the Garden, to look about him. The Garden described; Satan’s first sight of Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent form and happy state, but with resolution to work their fall; overhears their discourse, thence gathers that the Tree of Knowledge was forbidden them to eat of, under penalty of death; and thereon intends to found his temptation, by seducing them to transgress: then leaves them a while, to know further of their state by some other means. Meanwhile Uriel descending on a sunbeam warns Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Paradise, that some evil spirit had escaped the deep, and passed at noon by his sphere in the shape of a good angel down to Paradise, discovered after by his furious gestures in the mount. Gabriel promises to find him ere morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve discourse of going to their rest: their bower described; their evening worship. Gabriel drawing forth his bands of night-watch to walk the round of Paradise, appoints two strong angels to Adam’s bower, lest the evil spirit should be there doing some harm to Adam or Eve sleeping; there they find him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom questioned, he scornfully answers, prepares resistance, but hindered by a sign from Heaven, flies out of Paradise.

O for that warning voice, which he who saw

Th’ Apocalypse, heard cry in Heav’n aloud,

Then when the Dragon, put to second rout,

Came furious down to be revenged on men,

“Woe to the inhabitants on Earth!” That now,

While time was, our first parents had been warned The coming of their secret foe, and scaped

Haply so scaped his mortal snare; for now

Satan, now first inflamed with rage, came down, The Tempter ere th’ Accuser of mankind,

To wreck on innocent frail man his loss

Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell: Yet not rejoicing in his speed, though bold,

Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast, Begins his dire attempt, which nigh the birth Now rolling, boils in his tumultuous breast,

And like a devilish engine back recoils

Upon himself; horror and doubt distract

His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir The Hell within him, for within him Hell

He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell One step no more than from himself can fly

By change of place: now conscience wakes despair That slumbered, wakes the bitter memory

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 grieved look he fixes sad,

Sometimes towards heav’n and the full-blazing sun, Which now sat high in his meridian tow’r:

Then much revolving, thus in sighs began.

“O thou that with surpassing glory crowned,

Look’st from thy sole dominion like the God

Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars Hide their diminished 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 sphere;

Till pride and worse ambition threw me down

Warring in Heav’n against Heav’n’s matchless King: Ah wherefore! He deserved 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 than to afford him praise, The easiest recompense, and pay him thanks,

How due! Yet all his good proved ill in me,

And wrought but malice; lifted up so high

I ‘sdained subjection, and thought one step higher Would set me highest, and in a moment quit

The debt immense of endless gratitude,

So burdensome still paying, still to owe;

Forgetful what from him I still received,

And understood not that a grateful mind

By owing owes not, but still pays, at once

Indebted and discharged; what burden then?

O had his powerful destiny ordained

Me some inferior angel, I had stood

Then happy; no unbounded hope had raised

Ambition. Yet why not? Some other power

As great might have aspired, and me though mean Drawn to his part; but other powers as great

Fell not, but stand unshaken, from within

Or from without, to all temptations armed.

Hadst thou the same free will and power to stand?

Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse, But Heav’n’s free love dealt equally to all?

Be then his love accursed, since love or hate, To me alike, it deals eternal woe.

Nay cursed be thou; since against his thy will Chose freely what it now so justly rues.

Me miserable! Which way shall I fly

Infinite wrath, and infinite despair?

Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell;

And in the lowest deep a lower deep

Still threat’ning 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 seduced

With other promises and other vaunts

Than to submit, boasting I could subdue

Th’ Omnipotent. 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 scepter high advanced

The lower still I fall, only supreme

In misery; such joy ambition finds.

But say I could repent and could obtain

By act of grace my former state; how soon

Would highth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay What feigned 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 pierced so deep: Which would but lead me to a worse relapse

And heavier fall: so should I purchase dear

Short intermission bought with double smart.

This knows my punisher; therefore as far

From granting he, as I from begging peace:

All hope excluded thus, behold instead

Of us outcast, exiled, his new delight,

Mankind created, and for him this world.

So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear, Farewell remorse: all good to me is lost;

Evil be thou my good; by thee at least

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 shall know.” Thus while he spake, each passion dimmed his face Thrice changed with pale, ire, envy and despair, Which marred his borrowed visage, and betrayed Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld.

For Heav’nly minds from such distempers foul

Are ever clear. Whereof he soon aware,

Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm, Artificer of fraud; and was the first

That practiced falsehood under saintly show,

Deep malice to conceal, couched with revenge: Yet not enough had practiced to deceive

Uriel once warned; whose eye pursued him down The way he went, and on th’ Assyrian mount

Saw him disfigured, more than could befall

Spirit of happy sort: his gestures fierce

He marked and mad demeanor, then alone,

As he supposed, all unobserved, 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 champaign head

Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides

With thicket overgrown, grotesque and wild,

Access denied; and overhead up grew

Insuperable highth of loftiest shade,

Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm, A sylvan scene, and as the ranks ascend

Shade above shade, a woody theater

Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops The verdurous wall of Paradise up sprung:

Which to our general sire gave prospect large Into his nether empire neighboring round.

And higher than that wall a circling row

Of goodliest trees loaden with fairest fruit, Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue

Appeared, with gay enameled colors mixed:

On which the sun more glad impressed his beams Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow,

When God hath show’red the earth; so lovely seemed That lantskip: and of pure now purer air

Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires Vernal delight and joy, able to drive

All sadness but despair: now gentle gales

Fanning their odoriferous wings dispense

Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole Those balmy spoils. As when to them who sail

Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past

Mozambique, off at sea northeast winds blow

Sabean odors from the spicy shore

Of Araby the Blest, with such delay

Well pleased they slack their course, and many a league Cheered with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles.

So entertained those odorous sweets the fiend Who came their bane, though with them better pleased Than Asmodeus with the fishy fume,

That drove him, though enamored, from the spouse Of Tobit’s son, and with a vengeance sent

From Media post to Egypt, there fast bound.

Now to th’ ascent of that steep savage hill

Satan had journeyed on, pensive and slow;

But further way found none, so thick entwined, As one continued brake, the undergrowth

Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed

All path of man or beast that passed that way: One gate there only was, and that looked east On th’ other side: which when th’ arch-felon saw Due entrance he disdained, and in contempt,

At one slight bound high over leaped all bound Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within

Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf,

Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey, Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve In hurdled cotes amid the field secure,

Leaps o’er the fence with ease into the fold: Or as a thief bent to unhoard the cash

Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors, Cross-barred and bolted fast, fear no assault, In at the window climbs, or o’er the tiles;

So clomb this first grand thief into God’s fold: So since into his Church lewd hirelings climb.

Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of Life,

The middle tree and highest there that grew,

Sat like a cormorant; yet not true life

Thereby regained, but sat devising death

To them who lived; nor on the virtue thought

Of that life-giving plant, but only used

For prospect, what well used had been the pledge Of immortality. So little knows

Any, but God alone, to value right

The good before him, but perverts best things To worst abuse, or to their meanest use.

Beneath him with new wonder now he views

To all delight of human sense exposed

In narrow room Nature’s whole wealth, yea more, A Heav’n on Earth, for blissful Paradise

Of God the Garden was, by him in the east

Of Eden planted; Eden stretched her line

From Auran Eastward to the royal tow’rs

Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings,

Or where the sons of Eden long before

Dwelt in Telassar: in this pleasant soil

His far more pleasant Garden God ordained;

Out of the fertile ground he caused to grow

All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste; And all amid them stood the Tree of Life,

High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit

Of vegetable gold; and next to life

Our death the Tree of Knowledge grew fast by, Knowledge of good bought dear by knowing ill.

Southward through Eden went a river large,

Nor changed his course, but through the shaggy hill Passed underneath engulfed, for God had thrown That mountain as his Garden mold high raised

Upon the rapid current, which through veins

Of porous earth with kindly thirst up drawn,

Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill

Watered the Garden; thence united fell

Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood, Which from his darksome passage now appears,

And now divided into four main streams,

Runs diverse, wand’ring many a famous realm

And country whereof here needs no account,

But rather to tell how, if art could tell,

How from that sapphire fount the crispèd brooks, Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold,

With mazy error under pendant shades

Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed

Flow’rs worthy of Paradise which not nice art In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon

Poured forth profuse on hill and dale and plain, Both where the morning sun first warmly smote The open field, and where the unpierced shade Embrowned the noontide bow’rs: thus was this place, A happy rural seat of various view;

Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm, Others whose fruit burnished with golden rind Hung amiable, Hesperian fables true,

If true, here only, and of delicious taste:

Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks Grazing the tender herb, were interposed,

Or palmy hillock, or the flow’ry lap

Of some irriguous valley spread her store,

Flow’rs of all hue, and without thorn the rose: Another side, umbrageous grots and caves

Of cool recess, o’er which the mantling vine

Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps Luxuriant; meanwhile murmuring waters fall

Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake, That to the fringèd bank with myrtle crowned, Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams.

The birds their choir apply; airs, vernal airs, Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune The trembling leaves, while universal Pan

Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance

Led on th’ eternal spring. Not that fair field Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flow’rs

Herself a fairer flow’r by gloomy Dis

Was gathered, which cost Ceres all that pain

To seek her through the world; nor that sweet grove Of Daphne by Orontes, and th’ inspired

Castalian spring, might with this Paradise

Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian isle

Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham,

Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Lybian Jove,

Hid Amalthea and her florid son

Young Bacchus from his stepdame Rhea’s eye;

Nor where Abassin kings their issue guard,

Mount Amara, though this by some supposed

True Paradise under the Ethiop line

By Nilus’ head, enclosed with shining rock,

A whole day’s journey high, but wide remote

From this Assyrian garden, where the fiend

Saw undelighted all delight, all kind

Of living creatures new to sight and strange: Two of far nobler shape erect and tall,

Godlike erect, with native honor clad

In naked majesty seemed lords of all,

And worthy seemed, for in their looks divine

The image of their glorious Maker shone,

Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure,

Severe but in true filial freedom placed;

Whence true authority in men; though both

Not equal, as their sex not equal seemed;

For contemplation he and valor formed,

For softness she and sweet attractive grace,

He for God only, she for God in him:

His fair large front and eye sublime declared Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks

Round from his parted forelock manly hung

Clust’ring, but not beneath his shoulders broad: She as a veil down to the slender waist

Her unadornèd golden tresses wore

Disheveled, but in wanton ringlets waved

As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied Subjection, but required with gentle sway,

And by her yielded, by him best received,

Yielded with coy submission, modest pride,

And sweet reluctant amorous delay.

Nor those mysterious parts were then concealed, Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame

Of nature’s works, honor dishonorable,

Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind

With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure, And banished from man’s life his happiest life, Simplicity and spotless innocence.

So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight Of God or angel, for they thought no ill:

So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair That ever since in love’s embraces met,

Adam the goodliest man of men since born

His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve.

Under a tuft of shade that on a green

Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain side They sat them down, and after no more toil

Of their sweet gard’ning labor than sufficed

To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease

More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite

More grateful, to their supper fruits they fell, Nectarine fruits which the compliant boughs

Yielded them, sidelong as they sat recline

On the soft downy bank damasked with flow’rs: The savory pulp they chew, and in the rind

Still as they thirsted scoop the brimming stream; Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles

Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as beseems

Fair couple, linked in happy nuptial league,

Alone as they. About them frisking played

All beasts of th’ earth, since wild, and of all chase In wood or wilderness, forest or den;

Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw

Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, Gamboled before them, th’ unwieldy elephant

To make them mirth used all his might, and wreathed His lithe proboscis; close the serpent sly

Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine

His braided train, and of his fatal guile

Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass

Couched, and now filled with pasture gazing sat, Or bedward ruminating: for the sun

Declined was hasting now with prone career

To th’ ocean isles, and in th’ ascending scale Of heav’n the stars that usher evening rose:

When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood,

Scarce thus at length failed speech recovered sad.

“O Hell! What do mine eyes with grief behold, Into our room of bliss thus high advanced

Creatures of other mold, earth-born perhaps,

Not spirits, yet to Heav’nly spirits bright

Little inferior; whom my thoughts pursue

With wonder, and could love, so lively shines In them divine resemblance, and such grace

The hand that formed them on their shape hath poured.

Ah gentle pair, ye little think how nigh

Your change approaches, when all these delights Will vanish and deliver ye to woe,

More woe, the more your taste is now of joy;

Happy, but for so happy ill secured

Long to continue, and this high seat your Heav’n Ill fenced for Heav’n to keep out such a foe

As now is entered; yet no purposed foe

To you whom I could pity thus forlorn

Though I unpitied: league with you I seek,

And mutual amity so strait, so close,

That I with you must dwell, or you with me

Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please

Like this fair Paradise, your sense, yet such Accept your Maker’s work; he gave it me,

Which I as freely give; Hell shall unfold,

To entertain you two, her widest gates,

And send forth all her kings; there will be room, Not like these narrow limits, to receive

Your numerous offspring; if no better place,

Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge

On you who wrong me not for him who wronged.

And should I at your harmless innocence

Melt, as I do, yet public reason just,

Honor and empire with revenge enlarged,

By conquering this new world, compels me now

To do what else though damned I should abhor.” So spake the fiend, and with necessity,

The tyrant’s plea, excused his devilish deeds.

Then from his lofty stand on that high tree

Down he alights among the sportful herd

Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one,

Now other, as their shape served best his end Nearer to view his prey, and unespied

To mark what of their state he more might learn By word or action marked: about them round

A lion now he stalks with fiery glare,

Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied

In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play,

Straight couches close, then rising changes oft His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground Whence rushing he might surest seize them both Gripped in each paw: when Adam first of men

To first of women Eve thus moving speech,

Turned him all ear to hear new utterance flow.

“Sole partner and sole part of all these joys, Dearer thyself than all; needs must the power That made us, and for us this ample world

Be infinitely good, and of his good

As liberal and free as infinite,

That raised us from the dust and placed us here In all this happiness, who at his hand

Have nothing merited, nor can perform

Aught whereof he hath need, he who requires

From us no other service than to keep

This one, this easy charge, of all the trees

In Paradise that bear delicious fruit

So various, not to taste that only Tree

Of Knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life,

So near grows death to life, whate’er death is, Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou know’st God hath pronounced it death to taste that Tree, The only sign of our obedience left

Among so many signs of power and rule

Conferred upon us, and dominion giv’n

Over all other creatures that possess

Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard One easy prohibition, who enjoy

Free leave so large to all things else, and choice Unlimited of manifold delights:

But let us ever praise him, and extol

His bounty, following our delightful task

To prune these growing plants, and tend these flow’rs, Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet.” To whom thus Eve replied. “O thou for whom

And from whom I was formed flesh of thy flesh, And without whom am to no end, my guide

And head, what thou hast said is just and right.

For we to him indeed all praises owe,

And daily thanks, I chiefly who enjoy

So far the happier lot, enjoying thee

Preeminent by so much odds, while thou

Like consort to thyself canst nowhere find.

That day I oft remember, when from sleep

I first awaked, and found myself reposed

Under a shade on flow’rs, much wond’ring where And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.

Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound Of waters issued from a cave and spread

Into a liquid plain, then stood unmoved

Pure as th’ expanse of heav’n; I thither went With unexperienced thought, and laid me down

On the green bank, to look into the clear

Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky.

As I bent down to look, just opposite,

A shape within the wat’ry gleam appeared

Bending to look on me, I started back,

It started back, but pleased I soon returned, Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks Of sympathy and love; there I had fixed

Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire, Had not a voice thus warned me, ‘What thou seest, What there thou seest fair creature is thyself, With thee it came and goes: but follow me,

And I will bring thee where no shadow stays

Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he

Whose image thou art, him thou shall enjoy

Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear

Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called Mother of human race.’ What could I do,

But follow straight, invisibly thus led?

Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall,

Under a platan, yet methought less fair,

Less winning soft, less amiably mild,

Than that smooth wat’ry image; back I turned, Thou following cried’st aloud, ‘Return fair Eve, Whom fli’st thou? Whom thou fli’st, of him thou art, His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart

Substantial life, to have thee by my side

Henceforth an individual solace dear;

Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim

My other half.’ With that thy gentle hand

Seized mine, I yielded, and from that time see How beauty is excelled by manly grace

And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.”

So spake our general mother, and with eyes

Of conjugal attraction unreproved,

And meek surrender, half embracing leaned

On our first father, half her swelling breast Naked met his under the flowing gold

Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight

Both of her beauty and submissive charms

Smiled with superior love, as Jupiter

On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds

That shed May flowers; and pressed her matron lip With kisses pure: aside the Devil turned

For envy, yet with jealous leer malign

Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plained.

“Sight hateful, sight tormenting! Thus these two Imparadised in one another’s arms

The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill

Of bliss on bliss, while I to Hell am thrust, Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire, Among our other torments not the least,

Still unfulfilled with pain of longing pines; Yet let me not forget what I have gained

From their own mouths; all is not theirs it seems: One fatal Tree there stands of Knowledge called, Forbidden them to taste: knowledge forbidden?

Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord Envy them that? Can it be sin to know,

Can it be death? And do they only stand

By ignorance, is that their happy state,

The proof of their obedience and their faith?

O fair foundation laid whereon to build

Their ruin! Hence I will excite their minds

With more desire to know, and to reject

Envious commands, invented with design

To keep them low whom knowledge might exalt

Equal with gods; aspiring to be such,

They taste and die: what likelier can ensue?

But first with narrow search I must walk round This garden, and no corner leave unspied;

A chance but chance may lead where I may meet Some wand’ring spirit of Heav’n, by fountain side, Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw

What further would be learned. Live while ye may, Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return,

Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed.” So saying, his proud step he scornful turned, But with sly circumspection, and began

Through wood, through waste, o’er hill, o’er dale his roam.

Meanwhile in utmost longitude, where heav’n

With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun

Slowly descended, and with right aspect

Against the eastern gate of Paradise

Leveled his evening rays: it was a rock

Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds,

Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent

Accessible from earth, one entrance high;

The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung

Still as it rose, impossible to climb.

Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat

Chief of th’ angelic guards, awaiting night;

About him exercised heroic games

Th’ unarmèd youth of Heav’n, but nigh at hand Celestial armory, shields, helms, and spears, Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold.

Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even

On a sunbeam, swift as a shooting star

In autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fired Impress the air, and shows the mariner

From what point of his compass to beware

Impetuous winds: he thus began in haste.

“Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath giv’n Charge and strict 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 seemed, to know

More of th’ Almighty’s works, and chiefly man God’s latest Image: I described his way

Bent all on speed, and marked his airy gait;

But in the mount that lies from Eden north,

Where he first lighted, soon discerned his looks Alien from Heav’n, with passions foul obscured: Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade

Lost sight of him; one of the banished crew

I fear, hath ventured from the deep, to raise New troubles; him thy care must be to find.”

To whom the wingèd warrior thus returned:

“Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight,

Amid the sun’s bright circle where thou sitst, See far and wide: in at this gate none pass

The vigilance here placed, but such as come

Well known from Heav’n; and since meridian hour No creature thence: if spirit of other sort,

So minded, have o’erleaped these earthy bounds On purpose, hard thou knowst it to exclude

Spiritual substance with corporeal bar.

But if within the circuit of these walks,

In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom

Thou tell’st, by morrow dawning I shall know.” So promised he, and Uriel to his charge

Returned on that bright beam, whose point now raised Bore him slope downward to the sun now fall’n Beneath th’ Azores; whether the prime orb,

Incredible how swift, had thither rolled

Diurnal, or this less voluble Earth

By shorter flight to th’ east, had left him there Arraying with reflected purple and gold

The clouds that on his western throne attend: Now came still evening on, and twilight gray

Had in her sober livery all things clad;

Silence accompanied, for beast and bird,

They to their grassy couch, these to their nests Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale;

She all night long her amorous descant sung;

Silence was pleased: now glowed the firmament With living sapphires: Hesperus that led

The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon Rising in clouded majesty, at length

Apparent Queen unveiled her peerless light,

And o’er the dark her silver mantle threw.

When Adam thus to Eve: “Fair consort, th’ hour Of night, and all things now retired to rest

Mind us of like repose, since God hath set

Labor and rest, as day and night to men

Successive, and the timely dew of sleep

Now falling with soft slumbrous weight inclines Our eyelids; other creatures all day long

Rove idle unemployed, and less need rest;

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 streak the east

With first approach of light, we must be ris’n, And at our pleasant labor, to reform

Yon flow’ry arbors, yonder allies green,

Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown,

That mock our scant manuring, and require

More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth: Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums, That lie bestrown unsightly and unsmooth,

Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease;

Meanwhile, as nature wills, night bids us rest.” To whom thus Eve with perfect beauty adorned.

“My author and disposer, what thou bidd’st

Unargued I obey; so God ordains,

God is thy Law, thou mine: to know no more

Is woman’s happiest knowledge and her praise.

With thee conversing I forget all time,

All seasons and their change, all please alike.

Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the sun When first on this delightful land he spreads His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flow’r, Glist’ring with dew; fragrant the fertile earth After soft showers; and sweet the coming on

Of grateful evening mild, then silent night

With this her solemn bird and this fair moon, And these the gems of heav’n, her starry train: But neither breath of morn when she ascends

With charm of earliest birds, nor rising sun

On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, flow’r, Glist’ring with dew, nor fragrance after showers, Nor grateful evening mild, nor silent night

With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon,

Or glittering starlight without thee is sweet.

But wherefore all night long shine these, for whom This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes?” To whom our general ancestor replied.

“Daughter of God and man, accomplished Eve,

These have their course to finish, round the Earth, By morrow evening, and from land to land

In order, though to nations yet unborn,

Minist’ring light prepared, they set and rise; Lest total darkness should by night regain

Her old possession, and extinguish life

In nature and all things, which these soft fires Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat

Of various influence foment and warm,

Temper or nourish, or in part shed down

Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow

On earth, made hereby apter to receive

Perfection from the sun’s more potent ray.

These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, Shine not in vain, nor think, though men were none, That heav’n would want spectators, God want praise; Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep: All these with ceaseless praise his works behold Both day and night: how often from the steep

Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard

Celestial voices to the midnight air,

Sole, or responsive each to other’s note

Singing their great Creator: oft in bands

While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk With Heav’nly touch of instrumental sounds

In full harmonic number joined, their songs

Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven.” Thus talking hand in hand alone they passed

On to their blissful bower; it was a place

Chos’n by the sov’reign planter, when he framed All things to man’s delightful use; the roof

Of thickest covert was inwoven shade

Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew

Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side

Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub

Fenced up the verdant wall; each beauteous flow’r, Iris all hues, roses, and jessamine

Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought Mosaic; underfoot the violet,

Crocus, and hyacinth with rich inlay

Broidered the ground, more colored than with stone Of costliest emblem: other creature here

Beast, bird, insect, or worm durst enter none; Such was their awe of man. In shady bower

More sacred and sequestered, though but feigned, Pan or Silvanus never slept, nor nymph,

Nor Faunus haunted. Here in close recess

With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs Espousèd Eve decked first her nuptial bed,

And Heav’nly choirs the hymenaean sung,

What day the genial angel to our sire

Brought her in naked beauty more adorned,

More lovely than Pandora, whom the Gods

Endowed with all their gifts, and O too like

In sad event, when to the unwiser son

Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnared

Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged

On him who had stole Jove’s authentic fire.

Thus at their shady lodge arrived, both stood Both turned, and under open sky adored

The God that made both sky, air, Earth and heav’n Which they beheld, the moon’s resplendent globe And starry pole: “Thou also mad’st the night, Maker omnipotent, and thou the day,

Which we in our appointed work employed

Have finished happy in our mutual help

And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss

Ordained by thee, and this delicious place

For us too large, where thy abundance wants

Partakers, and uncropped falls to the ground.

But thou hast promised from us two a race

To fill the Earth, who shall with us extol

Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,

And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep.” This said unanimous, and other rites

Observing none, but adoration pure

Which God likes best, into their inmost bow’r Handed they went; and eased the putting off

These troublesome disguises which we wear,

Straight side by side were laid, nor turned I ween Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites

Mysterious of connubial love refused:

Whatever hypocrites austerely talk

Of purity and place and innocence,

Defaming as impure what God declares

Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all.

Our Maker bids increase, who bids abstain

But our destroyer, foe to God and man?

Hail wedded love, mysterious law, true source Of human offspring, sole propriety,

In Paradise of all things common else.

By thee adulterous lust was driv’n from men

Among the bestial herds to range, by thee

Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,

Relations dear, and all the charities

Of father, son, and brother first were known.

Far be it, that I should write thee sin or blame, Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,

Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets,

Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced, Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs used.

Here love his golden shafts employs, here lights His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings, Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared,

Casual fruition, nor in court amours

Mixed dance, or wanton masque, or midnight ball, Or serenade, which the starved lover sings

To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.

These lulled by nightingales embracing slept, And on their naked limbs the flow’ry roof

Show’red roses, which the morn repaired. Sleep on Blest pair; and O yet happiest if ye seek

No happier state, and know to know no more.

Now had night measured with her shadowy cone

Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault,

And from their ivory port the Cherubim

Forth issuing at th’ accustomed hour stood armed To their night watches in warlike parade,

When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake.

“Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south With strictest watch; these other wheel the north, Our circuit meets full west.” As flame they part Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear.

From these, two strong and subtle spirits he called That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge.

“Ithuriel and Zephon, with winged speed

Search through this garden, leave unsearched no nook, But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, Now laid perhaps asleep secure of harm.

This evening from the sun’s decline arrived

Who tells of some infernal spirit seen

Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt:

Such where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring.” So saying, on he led his radiant files,

Dazzling the Moon; these to the bower direct

In search of whom they sought: him there they found Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve;

Assaying by his devilish art to reach

The organs of her fancy, and with them forge

Illusions as he list, phantasms and dreams,

Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint

Th’ animal spirits that from pure blood arise Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise At least distempered, discontented thoughts,

Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires

Blown up with high conceits engend’ring pride.

Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear

Touched lightly; for no falsehood can endure

Touch of celestial temper, but returns

Of force to its own likeness: up he starts

Discovered and surprised. As when a spark

Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid

Fit for the tun some magazine to store

Against a rumored war, the smutty grain

With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air: So started up in his own shape the fiend.

Back stepped those two fair angels half amazed So sudden to behold the grisly king;

Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon.

“Which of those rebel spirits adjudged to Hell Com’st thou, escaped thy prison, and transformed, Why sat’st thou like an enemy in wait

Here watching at the head of these that sleep?” “Know ye not then,” said Satan, filled with scorn, “Know ye not me? Ye knew me once no mate

For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar; Not to know me argues yourselves unknown,

The lowest of your throng; or if ye know,

Why ask ye, and superfluous begin

Your message, like to end as much in vain?”

To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn.

“Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same, Or undiminished brightness, to be known

As when thou stood’st in Heav’n upright and pure; That glory then, when thou no more wast good, Departed from thee, and thou resemblest now

Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul.

But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep

This place inviolable, and these from harm.”

So spake the Cherub, and his grave rebuke

Severe in youthful beauty, added grace

Invincible: abashed the Devil stood,

And felt how awful goodness is, and saw

Virtue in her shape how lovely, saw, and pined His loss; but chiefly to find here observed

His luster visibly impaired; yet seemed

Undaunted. “If I must contend,” said he,

“Best with the best, the sender not the sent, Or all at once; more glory will be won,

Or less be lost.” “Thy fear,” said Zephon bold, “Will save us trial what the least can do

Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.” The fiend replied not, overcome with rage;

But like a proud steed reined, went haughty on, Champing his iron curb: to strive or fly

He held it vain; awe from above had quelled

His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh The western point, where those half-rounding guards Just met, and closing stood in squadron joined Awaiting next command. To whom their chief

Gabriel from the front thus called aloud.

“O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet

Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern

Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade,

And with them comes a third of regal port,

But faded splendor wan; who by his gait

And fierce demeanor seems the Prince of Hell, Not likely to part hence without contest;

Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.”

He scarce had ended, when those two approached And brief related whom they brought, where found, How busied, in what form and posture couched.

To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake.

“Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge Of others, who approve not to transgress

By thy example, but have power and right

To question thy bold entrance on this place;

Employed it seems to violate sleep, and those Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss?

To whom thus Satan, with contemptuous brow.

“Gabriel, thou hadst in Heav’n th’ esteem of wise, And such I held thee; but this question asked Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain?

Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell, Though thither doomed? Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt, And boldly venture to whatever place

Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change Torment with ease, and soonest recompense

Dole with delight, which in this place I sought; To thee no reason; who know’st only good,

But evil hast not tried: and wilt object

His will who bound us? Let him surer bar

His iron gates, if he intends our stay

In that dark durance: thus much what was asked.

The rest is true, they found me where they say; But that implies not violence or harm.”

Thus he in scorn. The warlike angel moved,

Disdainfully half smiling thus replied.

“O loss of one in Heav’n to judge of wise,

Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew,

And now returns him from his prison scaped,

Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise

Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither Unlicensed from his bounds in Hell prescribed; So wise he judges it to fly from pain

However, and to scape his punishment.

So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrath, Which thou incurr’st by flying, meet thy flight Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell, Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain Can equal anger infinite provoked.

But wherefore thou alone? Wherefore with thee Came not all Hell broke loose? Is pain to them Less pain, less to be fled, or thou than they Less hardy to endure? Courageous chief,

The first in flight from pain, hadst thou alleged To thy deserted host this cause of flight,

Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.”

To which the fiend thus answered frowning stern.

“Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, Insulting angel, well thou know’st I stood

Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid

The blasting volleyed thunder made all speed

And seconded thy else not dreaded spear.

But still thy words at random, as before,

Argue thy inexperience what behooves

From hard assays and ill successes past

A faithful Leader, not to hazard all

Through ways of danger by himself untried.

I therefore, I alone first undertook

To wing the desolate abyss, and spy

This new created world, whereof in Hell

Fame is not silent, here in hope to find

Better abode, and my afflicted powers

To settle here on Earth, or in mid-air;

Though for possession put to try once more

What thou and thy gay legions dare against;

Whose easier business were to serve their Lord High up in Heav’n, with songs to hymn his throne, And practiced distances to cringe, not fight.” To whom the warrior angel, soon replied.

“To say and straight unsay, pretending first

Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy,

Argues no leader but a liar traced,

Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name, O sacred name of faithfulness profaned!

Faithful to whom? To thy rebellious crew?

Army of fiends, fit body to fit head;

Was this your discipline and faith engaged,

Your military obedience, to dissolve

Allegiance to th’ acknowledged power supreme?

And thou sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem

Patron of liberty, who more than thou

Once fawned, and cringed, and servilely adored Heav’n’s awful Monarch? Wherefore but in hope To dispossess him, and thyself to reign?

But mark what I aread thee now, avaunt;

Fly thither whence thou fledd’st: if from this hour Within these hallowed limits thou appear,

Back to th’ infernal pit I drag thee chained, And seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn

The facile gates of Hell too slightly barred.” So threat’ned he, but Satan to no threats

Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied.

“Then when I am thy captive talk of chains,

Proud limitary Cherub, but ere then

Far heavier load thy self expect to feel

From my prevailing arm, though Heaven’s King

Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers, Used to the yoke, draw’st his triumphant wheels In progress through the road of Heav’n star-paved.” While thus he spake, th’ angelic squadron bright Turned fiery red, sharp’ning in moonèd horns

Their phalanx, and began to hem him round

With ported spears, as thick as when a field

Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends

Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind Sways them; the careful plowman doubting stands Lest on the threshing floor his hopeful sheaves Prove chaff. On th’ other side Satan alarmed

Collecting all his might dilated stood,

Like Teneriffe or Atlas unremoved:

His stature reached the sky, and on his crest Sat Horror plumed; nor wanted in his grasp

What seemed both spear and shield: now dreadful deeds Might have ensued, nor only Paradise

In this commotion, but the starry cope

Of Heav’n perhaps, or all the elements

At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn With violence of this conflict, had not soon

Th’ Eternal to prevent such horrid fray

Hung forth in Heav’n his golden scales, yet seen

Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion sign,

Wherein all things created first he weighed,

The pendulous round Earth with balanced air

In counterpoise, now ponders all events,

Battles and realms: in these he put two weights The sequel each of parting and of fight;

The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam; Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the fiend.

“Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know’st mine, Neither our own but giv’n; what folly then

To boast what arms can do, since thine no more Than Heav’n permits, nor mine, though doubled now To trample thee as mire: for proof look up,

And read thy lot in yon celestial sign

Where thou art weigh’d, and shown how light, how weak, If thou resist. The fiend looked up and knew

His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled

Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.