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《Paradise Lost Ⅴ》
THE ARGUMENT
M approacht, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream; he likes it not, yet forts her: They e forth to thir day labours: Thir M Hymn at the Door of thir Bower九九藏书. God to render Man inexcusable sends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience, of his free estate, of his enemy near at hand; who he is, and why his enemy, and whatever else may avail Adam to knohael es down to Paradise, his appearance describd, his ing disd by Adam afar off sitting at the door of his Bower; he goe his Legions after him to the parts of the North, and there ihem to rebel with him, perswading all but only Abdiel a Seraph, who in Argument diswades and opposes him, then forsakes him.
1
NOw Morn her rosie steps in th Eastern Clime
Advang, sowd the earth w?h Orient Pearle,
When Adam wakt, so d, for his sleep
Was Aerie light, from pure digestion bred,
And temperat vapors bland, which th only sound [ 5 ]
Of leaves and fuming rills, Auroras fan,
Lightly dispersd, and the shrill Matin Song
Of Birds on every bough; so much the more
His wonder was to find unwaknd Eve
With Tresses disposd, and glowing Cheek, [ 10 ]
As through u rest: he on his side
Leaning half-raisd, with looks of cordial Love
Hung over her enamourd, and beheld
Beautie, which whether waking or asleep,
Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice [ 15 ]
Milde, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes,
Her hand soft toug, whisperd thus. Awake
My fairest, my espousd, my latest found,
Heavns last best gift, my ever new delight,
Awake, the m shines, and the fresh field [ 20 ]
Calls us, we lose the prime, to mark how spring
Our tended Plants, how blows the Citron Grove,
What drops the Myrrhe, and what the balmie Reed,
How Nature paints her colours, how the Bee
Sits on the Bloom extrag liquid sweet. [ 25 ]
Such whispering wakd her, but with startld eye
On Adam, whom imbrag, thus she spake.
O Sole in whom my thoughts find all repose,
My Glorie, my Perfe, glad I see
Thy face, and Morurnd, for I this Night, [ 30 ]
Suight till this I never passd, have dreamd,
If dreamd, not as I oft am wont, of thee,
Works of day passt, or morrows designe,
But of offense and trouble, which my mind
Knew ill this irksom night; methought [ 35 ]
Close at mine ear one calld me forth to walk
With gentle voice, I thought it thi said,
Why sleepst thou Eve? now is the pleasant time,
The cool, the silent, save where sile..nce yields
To the night-warbling Bird, that now awake [ 40 ]
Tunes sweetest his love-labord song; nnes
Full Orbd the Moon, and with more pleasing light
Shadowie sets off the face of things; in vain,
If nard; Heavn wakes with all his eyes,
Whom to behold but thee, Natures desire, [ 45 ]
In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment
Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze.
2
I rose as at thy call, but found thee not;
To find thee I directed then my walk;
藏书网And ohought, alone I passd through ways [ 50 ]
That brought me on a sudden to the Tree
Of interdicted Knowledge: fair it seemd,
Much fairer to my Fahen by day:
And as I w lookt, beside it stood
One shapd and wingd like one of those from Heavn [ 55 ]
By us oft seen; his dewie locks distilld
Ambrosia; on that Tree he also gazd;
And O fair Plant, said he, with fruit surchargd,
Deigns o ease thy load and taste thy sweet,
Nod, nor Man; is Knowledge so despisd? [ 60 ]
Or envie, or what reserve forbids to taste?
Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold
Lohy ood, why else set here?
This said he pausd not, but with ventrous Arme
He pluckt, he tasted; mee damp horror child [ 65 ]
At such bold words voucht with a deed so bold:
But he thus overjoyd, O Fruit Divine,
Sweet of thy self, but much more sweet thus cropt,
Forbiddn here, it seems, as onely fit
Fods, yet able to make Gods of Men: [ 70 ]
And why not Gods of Men, since good, the more
unicated, more abundant growes,
The Author not impaird, but honourd more?
Here, happie Creatu?９９ｌiｂ?re, fair Angelic Eve,
Partake thou also; happie though thou art, [ 75 ]
Happier thou mayst be, worthier st not be:
Taste this, and be heh among the Gods
Thy self a Goddess, not to Earth find,
But somtimes in the Air, as wee, somtimes
Asd to Heavn, by merit thine, and see [ 80 ]
What life the Gods live .here, and such live thou.
So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held,
Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part
Which he had pluckt; the pleasant savourie smell
So quid appetite, that I, methought, [ 85 ]
Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the Clouds
With him I flew, and underh beheld
The Earth outstretcht immense, a prospect wide
And various: w at my flight and ge
To this high exaltation; suddenly [ 90 ]
My Guide was gon, and I, me thought, sunk down,
And fell asleep; but O how glad I wakd
To find this but a dream! Thus Eve her Night
Related, and thus Adam answerd sad.
3
Best Image of my self and dearer half, [ 95 ]
The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep
Affects me equally; nor I like
This uncouth dream, of evil sprung I fear;
Yet evil whence? in thee harbour none,
Created pure. But know that in the Soule [ 100 ]
Are many lesser Faculties that serve
Reason as chief; among these Fansie
Her office holds; of all external things,
Which the five watchful Senses represent,
She forms Imaginations, Aerie shapes, [ 105 ]
Which Reason joyning or disjoyning, frames
All what we affirm or what deny, and call
Our knowledge or opinion; theires
Into her private Cell when Nature rests.
Oft in her absence mimisie wakes [ 110 ]
To imitate her; but misjoyning shapes,
Wilde work produces oft, and most in dreams,
Ill matg words and deeds long past or late.
Som such resemblances methinks I find
Of our last Eevnings talk, in this thy dream, [ 115 ]
But with addition strange; yet be not sad.
Evil into the mind of God or Man
May e and go, so unapprovd, and leave
No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope
That what ihou dids藏书网t abhorr to dream, [ 120 ]
Waking thou never wilt sent to do.
Be not disheartnd then, nor cloud those looks
That wont to be more chearful and serene
Then when fair M first smiles on the World,
A us to our fresh imployments rise [ 125 ]
Among the Groves, the Fountains, and the Flours
That open now thir choicest bosomd smells
Reservd from night, a for thee in store.
So cheard he his fair Spouse, and she was cheard,
But silently a geear let fall [ 130 ]
From either eye, and wipd them with her haire;
Two other precious drops that ready stood,
Ea thir Chrystal sluce, hee ere they fell
Kissd as the gracious signs of sweet remorse
And pious awe, that feard to have offended. [ 135 ]
So all was cleard, and to the Field they haste.
4
But first from under shadie arborous roof,
Soon as they forth were e to open sight
Of day-spring, and the Sun, who scarce up risen
With wheels yet h ore the O brim, [ 140 ]
Shot paralel to the earth his dewie ray,
Disc in wide Lantskip all the East
Of Paradise and Edens happie Plains,
Lowly they bowd ad, and began
Thir Orisons, each M duly paid [ 145 ]
In various style, for her various style
Nor holy rapture wahey to praise
Thir Maker, in fit strains pronounct or sung
Uated, such prompt eloquence
Flowd from thir lips, in Prose or numerous Verse, [ 150 ]
More tuneable then needed Lute or Harp
To add more sweetness, and they thus began.
These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,
Almightie, thihis universal Frame,
Thus wondrous fair; thy self how wondrous then!?9９lｉｂ? [ 155 ]
Unspeakable, who sitst above these Heavens
To us invisible or dimly seen
Ihy lowest works, yet these declare
Thy goodness beyond thought, and Power Divine:
Speak yee who best tell, ye Sons of Light, [ 160 ]
Angels, for yee behold him, and with songs
And choral symphonies, Day without Night,
Circle his Throne rejoyg, yee in Heavn,
Oh joyn all ye Creatures to extoll
Him first, him last, him midst, and without end. [ 165 ]
Fairest of Starrs, last irain of Night,
If better thou belong not to the dawn,
Sure pledge of day, that st the smiling Morn
With thy bright Circlet, praise him in thy Spheare
While day arises, that sweet hour of Prime. [ 170 ]
Thou Sun, of this great World both Eye and Soul藏书网e,
Aowledge him thy Greater, sound his praise
In thy eternal course, both when thou climbst,
And when high Noon hast gaind, and when thou fallst.
Moon, that now meetst the orient Sun, now flist [ 175 ]
With the ９９lｉb?fixt Starrs, fixt in thir Orb that flies,
And yee five other wandring Fires that move
In mystiot without Song, resound
His praise, who out of Darkness calld up Light.
5
Aire, and ye Elements the eldest birth [ 180 ]
Of Natures Womb, that in quaternion run
Perpetual Circle, multiform; and mix
And nourish all things, let your ceasless ge
Varie treat Maker still new praise.
Ye Mists and Exhalations that now rise [ 185 ]
From Hill or steaming Lake, duskie rey,
Till the Sun paint your fleecie skirts with Gold,
In honour to the Worlds great Author rise,
Whether to deck with Clouds th uncolourd skie,
Or wet the thirstie Earth with falling showers, [ 190 ]
Rising or falling still advance his praise.
His praise ye Winds, that from four Quarters blow,
Breathe soft or loud; and wave your tops, ye Pines,
With every Plant, in sign of Worship wave.
Fountains ahat warble, as ye flow, [ 195 ]
Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.
Joyn voices all ye living Souls; ye Birds,
That singing up to Heaven Gate asd,
Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise;
Yee that in Waters glide, ahat walk [ 200 ]
The Earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep;
Witness if I be silent, Morn or Eeven,
To Hill, or Valley, Fountain, or fresh shade
Made vocal by my Song, and taught his praise.
Hail universal Lord, be bounteous still [ 205 ]
To give us onely good; and if the night
Have gathered aught of evil or ceald,
Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark.
So prayd they i, and to thir thoughts
Firm peace recoverd soon and wonted calm. [ 210 ]
On to thir ms rural work they haste
Among sweet dewes and flours; where any row
Of Fruit-trees overwoodie reachd too farr
Thir pamperd boughes, and needed hands to check
Fruitless imbraces: or they led the Vine [ 215 ]
To wed her Elm; she spousd about him twines
Her marriageable a?９９ｌiｂ.t>rms, and with her brings
Her dowr th adopted Clusters, to adorn
His barren leaves. Them thus imploid beheld
With pittie Heavns high King, and to him calld [ 220 ]
Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deignd
To travel with Tobias, and securd
His marriage with the seaventimes-wedded Maid.
6
Raphael, said hee, thou hearst what stir oh
Satan from Hell scapt through the darksom Gulf [ 225 ]
Hath raisd in Paradise, and how disturbd
This night the human pair, how he designes
I oo ruin all mankin.d.
Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend
verse with Adam, in what Bowre or shade [ 230 ]
Thou findst him from the heat of Nooird,
To respit his day-labour with repast,
Or with repose; and such discourse bring on,
As may advise him of his happie state,
Happiness in his power left free to will, [ 235 ]
Left to his own f.., as in the dore he sat
Of his coole Bowre, while now the mounted Sun [ 300 ]
Shot down direct his fervid Raies, to warme
Earths inmost womb, more warmth then Adam needs;
And Eve within, due at her hour prepard>
For dinner savourie fruits, of taste to please
True appetite, and not disrelish thirst [ 305 ]
Of arous draughts between, from milkie stream,
Berrie rape: to whom thus Adam calld.
Haste hither Eve, and worth thy sight behold
Eastward among those Trees, what glorious shape
es this way moving; seems another Morn [ 310 ]
Risn on mid-noon; Som great behest from Heavn
To us perhaps he brings, and will voutsafe
This day to be uest. But goe with speed,
And what thy stores tain, bring forth and poure
Abundance, fit to honour and receive [ 315 ]
Our Heavnly stranger; well we may afford
ivers thir own gifts, and large bestow
From large bestowd, where Nature multiplies
Her fertil growth, and by disburdning grows
More fruitful, whistructs us not to spare. [ 320 ]
To whom thus Eve. Adam, earths hallowd mould,
Of God inspird, small store will serve, where store,
All seasons,>藏书网 ripe for use hangs oalk;
Save what b藏书网y frugal st firmness gains
To nourish, and superfluous moist es: [ 325 ]
But I will haste and from each bough and break,
Each Plant and juiciest Gourd will pluck such choice
To eain el guest, as hee
Beholding shall fess that here oh
God hath dispenst his bounties as in Heavn. [ 330 ]
8
So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste
She turns, on hospitable thoughts i
What choice to chuse for delicacie best藏书网,
What order, so trivd as not to mix
Tastes, not well joynd, i, but bring [ 335.t> ]
Taste after taste upheld with ki ge,
Besti.rs her then, and from each tealk
Whatever Earth all-bearing Mother yields
In India East or West, or middle shoare
In Pontus or the Punic Coast, or where [ 340 ]
Alnd, fruit of all kindes, in coate,
Rough, or smooth rind, or bearded husk, or shell
She gathers, Tribute large, and on the board
Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the Grape
She crushes, inoffensive moust, ahes [ 345 ]
From many a berrie, and from sweet kernels prest
She tempers dulcet creams, nor these to hold
Wants her fit vessels pure, then strews the ground
With Rose and Odours from the shrub unfumd.
Mean while our Primitive great Sire, to meet [ 350 ]
His god-like Guest, walks forth?., without more train
Apahen with his own pleat
Perfes; in himself was all his state,
More solemhe tedious pomp that waits
On Princes, when thir rich Retinue long [ 355 ]
Of Horses led, and Grooms besmeard with Gold
Dazles the croud, ahem all agape.
Neerer his presence Adam though not awd,
Yet with submiss approad reverence meek,
As to a superior Nature, bowing low, [ 360 ]
Thus said. Native of Heavn, for other place
None then Heavn such glorious shape tain;
Since by desding from the Thrones above,
Those happie places thou hast deignd a while
To want, and honour these, voutsafe with us [ 365 ]
Two onely, who yet by sift possess
This spacious ground, in yonder shadie Bowre
To rest, and what the Garden choicest bears
To sit and taste, till this meridia
Be over, and the Sun more coole dee. [ 370 ]
9
Whom thus the Angelic Vertue answerd milde.
Adam, I therefore came, nor art thou such
Created, or such place hast here to dwell,
As may not oft ihough Spirits of Heavn
To visit thee; lead on thehy Bowre [ 375 ]
Oreshades; for these mid-hours, till Eevning rise
I have at will. So to the Silvan Lodge
They came, that like Pomonas Arbour smild
With flourets deckt and fragrant smells; but Eve
U, save with her self more lovely fair [ 380 ]
Then Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feignd
Of three that in Mount Ida rove,
Stood to eain her guest from Heavn; no vaile
Shee needed, Vertue-proof, no thought infirme
Alterd her cheek. On whom the Angel Haile [ 385 ]
Bestowd, the holy salutation usd
Long after to blest Marie, sed Eve.
Haile Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful Womb
Shall fill the World more numerous with thy Sons
Then with these various fruits the Trees of God [ 390 ]
Have heapd this Table. Raisd of grassie terf
Thir Table was, and mossie seats had round,
And on her ample Square from side to side
All Autumn pild, though Spring and Autumn here
Dancd hand in hand. A while dis>藏书网course they hold; [ 395 ]
No fear lest Dinner coole; when thus began
Our Authour. Heavnly stranger,? please to taste
These bounties which our Nourisher, from whom
All perfet good unmeasurd out, desds,
To us for food and for delight hath causd [ 400 ]
The Earth to yeild; unsavourie food perhaps
To spiritual Natures; only this I know,
That oial Father gives to all.
To whom the Aherefore what he gives
(Whose praise be ever sung) to man in part [ 405 ]
Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found
No ingrateful food: and food alike those pure
Intelligential substances require
As doth your Rational; and both tain
Within them every lower facultie [ 410 ]
Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste,
Tasting coct, digest, assimilate,
And corporeal to incorporeal turn.
10
For know, whatever was created, needs
To be sustaind and fed; of Elements [ 415 ]
The grosser feeds the purer, Earth the Sea,
Earth and the Sea feed Air, the Air those Fires
Ethereal, and as lowest first the Moon;
When her visage round those spots, unpurgd
Vapours not yet into her substaurnd. [ 420 ]
Nor doth the Moon no nourishment exhale
From her moist tio higher Orbes.
The Sun that light imparts to all, receives
From all his alimental repence
I..n humid exhalations, and at Even [ 425 ]
Sups with the O: though in Heavrees
Of life ambrosial frutage bear, and vines
Yield ar, though from off the boughs each Morn
We brush mellifluous Dewes, and find the ground
Coverd wit藏书网
h pearly grai God hath here [ 430 ]
Varied his bounty so with new delights,
As may pare with Heaven; and to taste
Think not I s.99ｌｉb.hall be nice. So down they sat,
And to thir viands fell, nor seemingly
The Angel, nor in mist, the on gloss [ 435 ]
Of Theologians, but with keen dispatch
Of real hunger, and coctive heate
To transubstantiate; what redounds, transpires
Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder; if by fire
Of sooty coal the Empiric Alchimist [ 440 ]
turn, or holds it possible to turn
Metals of drossiest Ore to perfet Gold
As from the Mine. Mean 藏书网while at Table Eve
Ministerd naked, and thir flowing cups
With pleasant liquors d: O innoce [ 445 ]
Deserving Paradise! if ever, then,
Then had the Sons of God excuse to have bin
Enamourd at that sight; but in those hearts
Love unlibidinnd, nor jealousie
Was uood, the injurd Lovers Hell.
11
Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficd [ 450 ]
Not burdnd Nature, sudden mind arose
In Adam, not to let th occasion pass
Given him by this great fereo know
Of things above his World, and of thir being [ 455 ]
Who dwell in Heavn, whose excellence he saw
Transd his own so farr, whose radiant forms
Divine effulgence, whose high Power so far
Exceeded hum..t>an, and his wary speech
Thus to th Empyreal Minister he framd. [ 460 ]
Inhabitant with God, now know I well
Thy favour, in this honour doo man,
Under whose lowly roof thou hast voutsaft
To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste,
Food not of Angels, yet accepted so, [ 465 ]
As that more willingly thou couldst not seem
At Heavns high feasts to have fed: yet what pare?
To whom the winged Hierarch replid.
O Adam, one Almightie is, from whom
All things proceed, and up to him return, [ 470 ]
If not depravd from good, created all
Such to perfe, one first matter all,
Indud with various forms, various degrees
Of substance, and in things that live, of life;
But more refind, more spiritous, and pure, [ 475 ]
As o him plact or ending
Ea thir several active Sphears assignd,
Till body up to spirit work, in bounds
Proportiond to each kind. So from the root
Springs lighter the green stalk, from thehe leaves [ 480 ]
More aerie, last the bright mate floure
Spirits odorous breathes: flours and thir fruit
Mans nourishment, by gradual scale sublimd
To vital Spirits aspire, to animal,
To intellectual, give both life and sense, [ 485 ]
Fansie and uanding, whehe Soule
Reason receives, and reason is her being,
Discursive, or Intuitive; discourse
Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours,
Differing but in degree, of kind the same. [ 490 ]
Wonder not then, what God for you saw good
If I refuse not, but vert, as you,
To proper substaime may e when m藏书网en
With Angels may participate, and find
No inve Diet, nor too light Fare: [ 495 ]
And from these corporal nutriments perhaps
Your bodies may at .last turn all to Spirit,
Improvd by tract of time, and wingd asd
Ethereal, as wee, or may at choice
Here or in Heavnly Paradises dwell; [ 500 ]
If ye be found obedient, aain
Unalterably firm his love entire
Whose progenie you are. Mean while enjoy
Your fill what happihis happie state
prehend, incapable of more. [ 505 ]
To whom the Patriarankind replid,
O favourable spirit, propitious guest,
Well hast thou taught the way that might direct
Our knowledge, and the scale of Nature set
From ter to circumference, whereon [ 510 ]
In plation of created things
By steps we may asd to God. But say,
What meant that caution joind, if ye be found
Obedient? we want obediehen
To him, or possibly his love desert [ 515 ]
Who formd us from the dust, and placd us here
Full to the utmost measure of what bliss
Human desires seek or apprehend?
12
To whom the Angel. Son of Heavn ah,
Attend: That thou art happie, owe to God; [ 520 ]
That thou tinust such, owe to thy self,
That is, to thy obedieherein stand.
This was that caution givn thee; be advisd.
God made thee perfet, not immutable;
And good he made thee, but to persevere [ 525 ]
He left it in thy power, ordaind thy will
By nature free, not over-ruld by Fate
Iricable, or striecessity;
Our voluntarie service he requires,
Not our ated, such with him [ 530 ]
Finds no acceptanor find, for how
hearts, not free, be trid whether they serve
Willing or no, who will but what they must
By Destinie, and o other choose?
Myself and all th Angelic Host that stand [ 535 ]
In sight of God enthrond, our happie state
Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;
On other surety none; freely we serve
Because we freely love, as in our will
To love or not; in this we stand or fall: [ 540 ]
And Som are falln, to disobedience falln,
And so from Heavn to deepest Hell; O fall
From what high ..
state of bliss into what woe!
To whom reat Progenitor. Thy words
Attentive, and with more delighted eare [ 545 ]
Divine instructer, I have heard, then when
Cherubigs by night from neighb Hills
Aereal Musid: nor knew I not
To be both will and deed created free;
Yet that we never shall fet to love [ 550 ]
Our maker, and obey him whose and
Single, is yet so just, my stant thoughts
Assurd me and still assure: though what thou tellst
Hath past in Heavn, Som doubt within me move,
But more desire to hear, if thou sent, [ 555 ]
The full relation, which must needs be strange,
Worthy of Sacred sileo be heard;
And we have yet large day, for scarce the Sun
Hath finisht half his journey, and scarce begins
His other half in the great Zone of Heavn. [ 560 ]
Thus Adam made request, and Raphael
After short pause assenting, thus began.
High matter thou injoinst me, O prime of men,
Sad task and hard, for how shall I relate
To human seh invisible exploits [ 565 ]
Of warring Spirits; how without remorse
The ruin of so many glorious once
A while they stood; how last unfould
The secrets of another World, perhaps
Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good [ 570 ]
This is dispenct, and what surmounts the reach
Of human sense, I shall delie so,
By likning spiritual to corporal forms,
As may express them best, though what if Earth
Be but the sha..ddow of Heavn, and things therein [ 575 ]
Each to other like, more then oh is thought?
13
As yet this World was not, and Chaos Wilde
Reignd where these Heavns nohere Earth now rests
Upon her ter poisd, when on a day
(For Time, though iie, applid [ 580 ]
To motion, measures all things durable
By present, past, and future) on such day
As Heavns great Year brings forth, th Empyreal Host
Of Angels by Imperial summons calld,
Innumerable before th Almighties Throne [ 585 ]
Forthwith from all the ends of Heavn appeerd
Uhir Hierarchs in orders bright
Ten thousand thousand Ensignes high advancd,
Standards and Gonfalons twixt Van and Reare
Streame in the Aire, and for distin serve [ 590 ]
Of Hierarchies, of Orders, and Degrees;
Or in thir gl..ering Tissues bear imblazd
Holy Memorials, acts of Zeale and Love
Recorded emi. Thus when in Orbes
Of circuit inexpressible they stood, [ 5藏书网95 ]
Orb within Orb, the Father infinite,
By whom in bliss imbosomd sat the Son,
Amidst as from a flaming Mount, whose top
Brightness had made invisible, thus spake.
Hear all ye Angels, Progenie of Light, [ 600 ]
Thrones, Dominations, Prins, Vertues, Powers,
Hear my Decree, whirevokt shall stand.
This day I have begot whom I declare
My onely Son, and on this holy Hill
Him have anointed, whom ye now behold [ 605 ]
At my right hand; your Head I him appoint;
And by my Self have sworn to him shall bow
All knees in Heavn, and shall fess him Lord:
Under his great Vice-gerent Reign abide
United as one individual Soule [ 610 ]
For ever happie: him who disobeyes
Mee disobeyes, breaks union, and that day
Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls
Into utter darkness, deep ingulft, his place
Ordaind without redemption, without end. [ 615 ]
14
So spake th Omnipotent, and with his words
All seemd well pleasd, all seemd, but were not all.
That day, as other solemn dayes, they spent
In song and dance about the sacred Hill,
Mystical dance, which yoarrie Spheare [ 620 ]
Of Plas and of fixt in all her Wheeles
Resembles , mazes intricate,
Etritervolvd, yet regular
Then most, when most irregular they seem,
And in thir motions harmonie Divine [ 625 ]
So smooths her charming tohat Gods own ear
Listens deli藏书网ghted. Eevning noroachd
(For wee have also our Eevning and our Morn,
Wee ours for ge delectable, not need)
Forthwith from dao sweet repast they turn [ 630 ]
Desirous, all in Circles as they stood,
Tables are set, and on a sudden pild
With Angels Food, and rubied ar flows
In Pearl, in Diamond, and massie Gold,
Fruit of delicious Vihe growth of Heavn. [ 635 ]
On flours reposd, and with fresh flourets d,
They eate, they drink, and in unio
Quaff immortalitie and joy, secure
Of surfet where full measure onely bounds
Excess, before th all bounteous King, who showrd [ 640 ]
With copious hand, rejoyg in thir joy.
Now when ambrosial Night .wer. Mightie Father, thou thy foes [ 735 ]
Justly hast in derision, and secure
Laughst at thir vain designes and tumults vain,
Matter to mee of Glory, whom thir hate
Illustrates, when they see all Regal Power
Givo quell thir pride, and i [ 740 ]
K藏书网now whether I be dextrous to subdue
Thy Rebels, or be found the worst in Heavn.
So spake the Son, but Satan with his Powers
Far was advan winged speed, an Host
Innumerable as the Starrs of Night, [ 745 ]
Or Starrs of M, Dew-drops, which the Sun
Impearls on every leaf and every flouer.
Regions they passd, the mightie Regencies
Of Seraphim and Potentates and Thrones
In thir triple Degrees, Regions to which [ 750 ]
All thy Dominion, Adam, is no more
Then what this Garden is to all the Earth,
And all the Sea, from oire globose
Stretcht into Longitude; which having passd
At length into the limits of the North [ 755 ]
They came, and Satan to his Royal seat
High on a Hill, far blazing, as a Mount
Raisd on a Mount, with Pyramids and Towrs
From Diamond Quarries hewn, and Rocks of Gold,
The Palace of great Lucifer, (so call [ 760 ]
That Structure in the Dialeen
Interpreted) whiot long after, he
Affeg all equality with God,
In imitation of that Mount whereon
Messiah was declard in sight of Heavn, [ 765 ]
The Mountain of the gregation calld;
For thither he assembld all his Train,
Pretending so ao sult
About the great reception of thir King,
Thither to e, and with calumnious Art [ 770 ]
Of terfeted truth thus held thir ears.
17
Thrones, Dominations, Prins, Vertues, Powers,
If these magnific Titles yet remain
Not meerly titular, since by Decree
Another now hath to himself ingrosst [ 775 ]
All Power, and us eclipst uhe name
Of King anointed, for whom all this haste
Of midnight march, and hurried meeting here,
This oo sult how we may best
With what may be devisd of honours new [ 780 ]
Receive him ing to receive from us
Kribute yet unpaid, prostration vile,
Too much to one, but double how endurd,
To one and to his image now procl藏书网aimd?
But what if better sels might erect [ 785 ]
Our minds and teach us to cast off this Yoke?
Will ye submit your necks, and chuse to bend
The supple knee? ye will not, if I trust
To know ye right, or if ye know your selves
Natives and Sons of Heavn possest before [ 790 ]
By none, and if not equal all, yet free,
Equally free; for Orders and Degrees
Jarr not with liberty, but well sist.
Who in reason then ht assume
Monarchie over such as live by right [ 795 ]
His equals, if in power and splendor less,
In freedome equal? or introduce
Law a on us, who without law
Erre not, much less for this to be our Lord,
And look for adoration to th abuse [ 800 ]
Of those Imperial Titles which assert
Our being ordaind to govern, not to serve?
Thus farr his bold discourse without troule
Had audience, when among 藏书网the Seraphim
Abdiel, then whom h more zeale adord [ 805 ]
The Deitie, and divine ands obeid,
Stood up, and in a flame of zeale severe
The cu..rrent of his fury thus opposd.
18
ument blasphemous, false and proud!
Words whio eare ever to hear in Heavn [ 810 ]
Expected, least of all from thee, ingrate
In place thy self so high above thy Peeres.
st thou with impious obloquie ne
The just Decree of God, pronound sworn,
That to his only Son by right endud [ 815 ]
With Regal Scepter, every Soule in Heavn
Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due
fess him rightful King? unjust thou saist
?.Flatly unjust, to bih Laws the free,
And equal over equals to let Reigne, [ 820 ]
One over all ..h unsucceeded power.
Shalt thou give Law to God, shalt thou dispute
With him the points of libertie, who made
Thee what thou art, and formd the Powrs of Heavn
Such as he pleasd, and circumscribd thir being? [ 825 ]
Yet by experieaught we know how good,
And of ood, and of nitie
How provident he is, how farr from thought
To make us less, bent rather to exalt
Our happie state under one Head more neer [ 830 ]
United. But to grant it thee unjust,
That equal over equals Monarch Reigne:
Thy self though great and glorious dost thou t,
Or all Angeliature joind in one,
Equal to him begotten Son, by whom [99lｉｂ? 835 ]
As by his Word the mighty Father made
All things, evn thee, and all the Spirits of Heavn
By him created in thir bright degrees,
d them with Glory, and to thir