Paradise Lost (1667)/Book IV



For that warning voice, which he who aw Th' Apocalyps, heard cry in Heav’n aloud, Then when the Dragon, put to econd rout, Came furious down to be reveng'd on men, Wo to the inhabitants on Earth! that now, While time was, our firt Parents had bin warnd The coming of thir ecret foe, and cap'd, Haply o cap'd his mortal nare; for now Satan, now firt inflam'd with rage, came down, 10 The Tempter ere th' Accuer of man-kind, To wreck on innocent frail man his los Of that firt Battel, and his flight to Hell: Yet not rejoycing in his peed, though bold, Far off and fearles, nor with caue to boat, Begins his dire attempt, which nigh the birth Now rowling, boiles in his tumultuous bret, And like a devillih Engine back recoiles Upon himelf; horror and doubt ditract His troubl'd thoughts, and from the bottom tirr 20 The Hell within him, for within him Hell He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell One tep no more then from himelf can fly By change of place: Now concience wakes depair That lumberd, wakes the bitter memorie Of what he was, what is, and what mut be Wore; of wore deeds wore ufferings must enue. Sometimes towards Eden which now in his view Lay pleaant, his griev'd look he fixes ad, Sometimes towards Heav’n and the full-blazing Sun, 30 Which now at high in his Meridian Towre: Then much revolving, thus in ighs began. O thou that with urpaing Glory crownd, Look't from thy ole Dominion like the God Of this new World; at whoe ight all the Starrs Hide their diminiht 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 tate I fell, how glorious once above thy Spheare; 40 Till Pride and wore Ambition threw me down Warring in Heav’n againt Heav’ns matchles King: Ah wherefore! he deervd no uch return From me, whom he created what I was In that bright eminence, and with his good Upbraided none; nor was his ervice hard. What could be les then to afford him praie, The eaiet recompence, and pay him thanks, How due! yet all his good prov'd ill in me, And wrought but malice; lifted up o high 50 I deind ubjection, and thought one tep higher Would et me highet, and in a moment quit The debt immene of endles gratitude, So burdenome, till paying, till to ow; Forgetful what from him I till receivd, And undertood not that a grateful mind By owing owes not, but till pays, at once Indebted and dichargd; what burden then? O had his powerful Detiny ordaind Me ome inferiour Angel, I had tood 60 Then happie; no unbounded hope had rais'd Ambition. Yet why not? om other Power As great might have apir'd, and me though mean Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great Fell not, but tand unhak'n, from within Or from without, to all temptations arm'd. Hadt thou the ame free Will and Power to tand? Thou hadt: whom hat thou then or what to accue, But Heav’ns free Love dealt equally to all? Be then his Love accurt, ince love or hate, 70 To me alike, it deals eternal woe. Nay curs'd be thou; ince againt his thy will Choe freely what it now o jutly rues. Me mierable! which way hall I flie Infinite wrauth, and infinite depaire? Which way I flie is Hell; my elf am Hell; And in the lowet deep a lower deep Still threatning to devour me opens wide, To which the Hell I uffer eems a Heav’n. O then at lat relent: is there no place 80 Left for Repentance, none for Pardon left? None left but by ubmiion; and that word Didain forbids me, and my dread of hame Among the pirits beneath, whom I educ'd With other promies and other vaunts Than to ubmit, boating I could ubdue Th' Omnipotent. Ay me, they little know How dearly I abide that boat o vaine, Under what torments inwardly I groane; While they adore me on the Throne of Hell, 90 With Diadem and Scepter high advanc'd The lower till I fall, onely Supream In mierie; uch joy Ambition findes. But ay I could repent and could obtaine By Act of Grace my former tate; how oon Would highth recall high thoughts, how oon unay What feign'd ubmiion woree: eae would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and void. For never can true reconcilement grow Where wounds of deadly hate have peirc'd o deep: 100 Which would but lead me to a wore relape, And heavier fall: o hould I purchae deare Short intermiion bought with double mart. This knows my puniher; therefore as farr From granting hee, as I from begging peace: All hope excluded thus, behold in tead Of us out-cat, exil'd, his new delight, Mankind created, and for him this World. So farewel Hope, and with Hope farewel Fear, Farewel Remore: all Good to me is lot; 110 Evil be thou my Good; by thee at leat Divided Empire with Heav’ns King I hold By thee, and more then half perhaps will reigne; As Man ere long, and this new World hall know. Thus while he pake, each paion dimm'd his face Thrice chang'd with pale, ire, envie and depair, Which marrd his borrow'd viage, and betraid Him counterfet, if any eye beheld. For heav’nly mindes from uch ditempers foule Are ever cleer. Whereof hee oon aware, 120 Each perturbation mooth'd with outward calme, Artificer of fraud; and was the firt That practisd falhood under aintly hew, Deep malice to conceale, couch't with revenge: Yet not anough had practisd to deceive Uriel once warnd; whoe eye puru'd him down The way he went, and on th' Ayrian mount Saw him disfigur'd, more than could befall Spirit of happie ort: his getures fierce He markd and mad demeanour, then alone, 130 As he uppos'd, all unoberv'd, uneen. So on he fares, and to the border comes Of Eden, where delicious Paradie, Now nearer, Crowns with her encloure green, As with a rural mound the champain head Of a teep wildernes, whoe hairie ides With thicket overgrown, grotteque and wilde, Acces deni'd; and over head up grew Inuperable highth of loftiet hade, Cedar, and Pine, and Firr, and branching Palm, 140 A Silvan Scene, and as the ranks acend Shade above hade, a woodie Theatre Of tateliet view. Yet higher then thir tops The verdurous wall of Paradie up prung: Which to our general Sire gave propect large Into his neather Empire neighbouring round. And higher then that Wall a circling row Of goodliet Trees loaden with fairet Fruit, Blooms and Fruits at once of golden hue Appeerd, with gay enameld colours mixt: 150 On which the Sun more glad impres'd his beams Then in fair Evening Cloud, or humid Bow, When God hath howrd the earth; o lovely eemd That Lantskip: And of pure now purer aire Meets his approach, and to the heart inpires Vernal delight and joy, able to drive All adnes but depair: now gentle gales Fanning thir odoriferous wings dipene Native perfumes, and whiper whence they tole Thoe balmie poiles. As when to them who faile 160 Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are pat Mozambic, off at Sea North-Eat windes blow Sabean Odours from the picie hoare Of Arabie the blet, with uch delay Well pleas'd they lack thir coure, and many a League Cheard with the grateful mell old Ocean miles. So entertaind thoe odorous weets the Fiend Who came thir bane, though with them better pleas'd Then Asmodeus with the fihie fume, That drove him, though enamourd, from the Spoue 170 Of Tobits Son, and with a vengeance ent From Media pot to Ægypt, there fat bound. Now to th' acent of that teep avage Hill Satan had journied on, penive and low; But further way found none, o thick entwin'd, As one continu'd brake, the undergrowth Of hrubs and tangling buhes had perplext All path of Man or Beat that pat that way: One Gate there onely was, and that look'd Eat On th' other ide: which when th' arch-fellon aw 180 Due entrance he didaind, and in contempt, At one flight bound high overleap'd all bound Of Hill or highet Wall, and heer within Lights on his feet. As when a prowling Wolfe, Whom hunger drives to eek new haunt for prey, Watching where Shepherds pen thir Flocks at eeve In hurdl'd Cotes amid the field ecure, Leaps o’re the fence with eae into the Fould: Or as a Thief bent to unhoord the cah Of ome rich Burgher, whoe ubtantial dores, 190 Cros-barrd and bolted fat, fear no aault, In at the window climbes, or o’re the tiles: So clomb this firt grand Thief into Gods Fould: So ince into his Church lewd Hirelings climbe. Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of Life, The middle Tree and highet there that grew, Sat like a Cormorant; yet not true Life Thereby regaind, but at deviing Death To them who liv'd; nor on the vertue thought Of that life-giving Plant, but only us'd 200 For propect, what well us'd had bin the pledge Of immortalitie. So little knows Any, but God alone, to value right The good before him, but perverts bet things To wort abue, or to thir meanet ue. Beneath him with new wonder now he views, To all delight of human ene expos'd In narrow room Natures whole wealth, yea more, A Heaven on Earth: for blisful Paradie Of God the Garden was, by him in the Eat 210 Of Eden planted; Eden tretchd her Line From Auran Eatward to the Royal Towrs Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian Kings, Of where the Sons of Eden long before Dwelt in Telaar: in this pleaant oile His farr more pleaant Garden God ordaind; Out of the fertil ground he caus'd to grow All Trees of noblet kind for ight, mell, tate; And all amid them tood the Tree of Life, High eminent, blooming Ambroial Fruit 220 Of vegetable Gold; and next to Life Our Death the Tree of Knowledge grew fat by, Knowledge of Good bought dear by knowing ill. Southward through Eden went a River large, Nor chang'd his coure, but through the haggie hill Pas'd underneath ingult, for God had thrown That Mountain as his Garden mould high rais'd Upon the rapid current, which through veins Of porous Earth with kindly thirt up drawn, Roe a freh Fountain, and with many a rill 230 Waterd the Garden; thence united fell Down the teep glade, and met the neather Flood, Which from his darkom paage now appeers, And now divided into four main Streams, Runs divers, wandring many a famous Realme And Country whereof here needs no account, But rather to tell how, if Art could tell, How from that Saphire Fount the criped Brooks, Rowling on Orient Pearl and ands of Gold, With mazie error under pendant hades 240 Ran Nectar, viiting each plant, and fed Flours worthy of Paradie, which not nice Art In Beds and curious Knots, but Nature boon Powrd forth profue on Hill and Dale and Plaine, Both where the morning Sun firt warmly mote The open field, and where the unpierc't hade Imbround the noontide Bowrs: Thus was this place, A happy rural eat of various view; Groves whoe rich Trees wept odorous Gumms and Balme, Others whoe fruit, burnished with golden rind, 250 Hung amiable, Heperian Fables true, If true, here onely, and of delicious tate: Betwixt them Lawns, or level Downs, and Flocks Graing the tender herb, were interpos'd, Or palmie hilloc, or the flourie lap Of om irriguous Valley pread her tore, Flours of all hue, and without Thorn the Roe: Another ide, umbrageous Grots and Caves Of coole reces, o’re which the mantling Vine Layes forth her purple Grape, and gently creeps 260 Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall Down the lope hills, dipert, or in a Lake, That to the fringed Bank with Myrtle crownd, Her chrytall mirror holds, unite thir treams. The Birds thir quire apply; aires, vernal aires, Breathing the mell of field and grove, attune The trembling leaves, while Univeral Pan Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance Led on th' Eternal Spring. Not that faire field Of Enna, where Proerpin gathring flours 270 Her elf a fairer Floure by gloomie Dis Was gatherd, which cot Ceres all that pain To eek her through the world; nor that weet Grove Of Daphne by Orontes, and th' inpir'd Catalian Spring might with this Paradie Of Eden trive; nor that Nyeian Ile Girt with the River Triton, where old Cham, Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove, Hid Amalthea and her Florid Son Young Bacchus from his Stepdame Rhea’s eye; 280 Nor where Abain Kings thir iue Guard, Mount Amara, though this by om uppos'd True Paradise under the Ethiop Line By Nilus head, enclos'd with hining Rock, A whole dayes journey high, but wide remote From this Ayrian Garden, where the Fiend Saw undelighted all delight, all kind Of living Creatures new to ight and trange: Two of far nobler hape erect and tall, Godlike erect, with native Honour clad 290 In naked Majetie eemd Lords of all, And worthie eemd, for in thir looks Divine The image of thir glorious Maker hon, Truth, Widome, Sanctitude evere and pure, Severe, but in true filial freedom plac't; Whence true autoritie in men; though both Not equal, as thir ex not equal eemd; For contemplation hee and valour formd, For oftnes hee and weet attractive Grace, Hee for God only, hee for God in him: 300 His fair large Front and Eye ublime declar'd Abolute rule; and Hyacinthin Locks Round from his parted forelock manly hung Clutring, but not beneath his houlders broad: Shee as a vail down to the lender wate Her unadorned golden trees wore Diheveld, but in wanton ringlets wav'd As the Vine curles her tendrils, which impli'd Subjection, but requir'd with gentle way, And by her yeilded, by him bet receivd, 310 Yeilded with coy ubmiion, modet pride, And weet reluctant amorous delay. Nor thoe myterious parts were then conceald, Then was not guiltie hame, dihonet hame Of natures works, honor dihonorable, Sin-bred, how have ye troubl'd all mankind With hews intead, meer hews of eeming pure, And baniht from mans life his happiet life, Simplicitie and potles innocence. So pasd they naked on, nor hund the ight 320 Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill: So hand in hand they pasd, the lovliet pair That ever ince in loves imbraces met, Adam the goodliet man of men ince borne His Sons, the fairet of her Daughters Eve. Under a tuft of hade that on a green Stood whipering oft, by a freh Fountain ide They at them down, and after no more toil Of thir weet Gardning labour than uffic'd To recommend coole Zephyr, and made eae 330 More eaie, wholom thirt and appetite More grateful, to thir Supper Fruits they fell, Nectarine Fruits which the compliant boughes Yeilded them, ide-long as they at recline On the oft downie Bank damaskt with flours: The avourie pulp they chew, and in the rinde Still as they thirted coop the brimming tream; Nor gentle purpoe, nor endearing miles Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as beeems Fair couple, linkt in happie nuptial League, 340 Alone as they. About them frisking playd All Beats of th' Earth, ince wilde, and of all chae In Wood or Wildernes, Forret or Den; Sporting the Lion rampd, and in his paw Dandl'd the Kid; Bears, Tygers, Ounces, Pards Gambold before them, th' unwieldy Elephant To make them mirth us'd all his might, & wreathd His Lithe Probocis; cloe the Serpent ly Ininuating, wove with Gordian twine His breaded train, and of his fatal guile 350 Gave proof unheeded; others on the gras Coucht, and now fild with pature gazing at, Or Bedward ruminating; for the Sun Declin'd was hating now with prone carreer To th' Ocean Iles, and in th' acending Scale Of Heav’n the Starrs that uher Evening roe: When Satan till in gaze, as firt he tood, Scarce thus at length faild peech recoverd ad. O Hell! what doe mine eyes with grief behold, Into our room of blis thus high advanc't 360 Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps, Not Spirits, yet to heav’nly Spirits bright Little inferior; whom my thoughts purue With wonder, and could love, o lively hines In them Divine reemblance, and uch grace The hand that formd them on thir hape hath pourd. Ah gentle pair, yee little think how nigh Your change approaches, when all thee delights Will vanih and deliver ye to woe, More woe, the more your tate is now of joy; 370 Happie, but for o happie ill ecur'd Long to continue, and this high eat your Heav’n Ill fenc't for Heav’n to keep out uch a foe As now is enterd; yet no purpos'd foe To you whom I could pittie thus forlorne Though I unpittied: League with you I eek, And mutual amitie o treight, o cloe, That I with you mut dwell, or you with me Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not pleae Like this fair Paradie, your sene, yet uch 380 Accept your Makers work; he gave it me, Which I as freely give; Hell hall unfould, To entertain you two, her widet Gates, And end forth all her Kings; there will be room, Not like thee narrow limits, to receive Your numerous ofspring; if no better place, Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge On you who wrong me not for him who wrongd. And hould I at your harmles innocence Melt, as I doe, yet public reaon jut, 390 Honour and Empire with revenge enlarg'd, By conquering this new World, compels me now To do what ele though damnd I hould abhorre. So pake the Fiend, and with neceitie, The Tyrants plea, excus'd his devilih deeds. Then from his loftie tand on that high Tree Down he alights among the portful Herd Of thoe fourfooted kindes, himelf now one, Now other, as thir hape ervd bet his end Neerer to view his prey, and, unepi'd 400 To mark what of thir tate he more might learn By word or action markt: about them round A Lion now he talkes with fierie glare, Then as a Tiger, who by chance hath pi'd In ome Purlieu two gentle Fawnes at play, Strait couches cloe, then riing changes oft His couchant watch, as one who choe his ground, Whence ruhing he might uret eie them both Grip't in each paw: when Adam firt of men To firt of women Eve thus moving peech, 410 Turned him all eare to heare new utterance flow. Sole partner and ole part of all thee joyes, Dearer thy elf then all; needs mut the Power That made us, and for us this ample World Be infinitly good, and of his good As liberal and free as infinite, That rais'd us from the dut and plac't us here In all this happines, who at his hand Have nothing merited, nor can performe Aught whereof hee hath need, hee who requires 420 From us no other ervice then to keep This one, this eaie charge, of all the Trees In Paradie that beare delicious fruit So various, not to tate that onely Tree Of knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life, So neer grows Death to Life, what ere Death is, Som dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowt God hath pronounc't it death to tate that Tree, The only ign of our obedience left Among o many ignes of power and rule 430 Conferrd upon us, and Dominion giv'n Over all other Creatures that poee Earth, Aire, and Sea. Then let us not think hard One eaie prohibition, who enjoy Free leave o large to all things ele, and choice Unlimited of manifold delights: But let us ever praie him, and extoll His bountie, following our delightful task To prune thee growing Plants, & tend thee Flours, Which were it toilom, yet with thee were weet. 440 To whom thus Eve repli'd.  O thou for whom And from whom I was formd fleh of thy fleh, And without whom am to no end, my Guide And Head, what thou hat aid is jut and right. For wee to him indeed all praies owe, And daily thanks, I chiefly who enjoy So farr the happier Lot, enjoying thee Preëminent by o much odds, while thou Like conort to thy elf cant no where find. That day I oft remember, when from leep 450 I firt awak't, and found my elf repos'd Under a hade on flours, much wondring where And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. Not ditant far from thence a murmuring ound Of waters iu'd from a Cave and pread Into a liquid Plain, then tood unmov'd Pure as th' expane of Heav’n; I thither went With unexperienc't thought, and laid me downe On the green bank, to look into the cleer Smooth Lake, that to me eemd another Skie. 460 As I bent down to look, jut oppoite A Shape within the watry gleam appeerd Bending to look on me, I tarted back, It tarted back, but pleasd I oon returnd, Pleas'd it returnd as oon with anwering looks Of ympathie and love, there I had fixt Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain deire, Had not a voice thus warnd me, What thou eet, What there thou eet fair Creature is thy elf, With thee it came and goes: but follow me, 470 And I will bring thee where no adow taies Thy coming, and thy oft imbraces, hee Whoe image thou art, him thou hall enjoy Ineparablie thine, to him halt beare Multitudes like thy elf, and thence be call'd Mother of human Race: what could I do, But follow trait, inviibly thus led? Till I epi'd thee, fair indeed and tall, Under a Platan, yet methought les faire, Les winning oft, les amiablie milde, 480 Then that mooth watry image; back I turnd, Thou following cryd't aloud, Return fair Eve, Whom fli't thou? whom thou fli't, of him thou art, His fleh, his bone; to give thee being I lent Out of my ide to thee, neeret my heart Subtantial Life, to have thee by my ide Henceforth an individual olace dear; Part of my Soul I eek thee, and thee claim My other half: with that thy gentle hand Seid mine, I yeilded, and from that time ee How beauty is excelld by manly grace 490 And widom, which alone is truly fair. So pake our general Mother, and with eyes Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd, And meek urrender, half imbracing leand On our firt Father, half her welling Breat Naked met his under the flowing Gold Of her looe trees hid: he in delight Both of her Beauty and ubmiive Charms Smil'd with uperior Love, as Jupiter 500 On Juno miles, when he impregns the Clouds That hed May Flowers; and pres'd her Matron lip With kies pure: aide the Devil turnd For envie, yet with jealous leer maligne Ey'd them askance, and to himelf thus plaind. Sight hateful, ight tormenting! thus thee two Imparadis't in one anothers arms The happier Eden, hall enjoy thir fill Of blis on blis, while I to Hell am thrut, Where neither joy nor love, but fierce deire, 510 Among our other torments not the leat, Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines; Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd From thir own mouths; all is not theirs it eems: One fatal Tree there tands, of Knowledge call'd, Forbidden them to tate: Knowledge forbidd'n? Supicious, reaonles. Why hould thir Lord Envie them that? can it be in to know, Can it be death? and do they onely tand By Ignorance, is that thir happie tate, 520 The proof of thir obedience and thir faith? O fair foundation laid whereon to build Thir ruine! Hence I will excite thir minds With more deire to know, and to reject Envious commands, invented with deigne To keep them low whom knowledge might exalt Equal with Gods: apiring to be uch, They tate and die: what likelier can enue? But firt with narrow earch I mut walk round This Garden, and no corner leave unpi'd; 530 A chance but chance may lead where I may meet Some wandring Spirit of Heav’n, by Fountain ide, Or in thick hade retir'd, from him to draw What further would be learnt. Live while ye may, Yet happie pair; enjoy, till I return, Short pleaures, for long woes are to ucceed. So aying, his proud tep he cornful turn'd, But with ly circumpection, and began Through wood, through wate, o’re hil, o’re dale his roam. Mean while in utmot Longitude, where Heav’n 540 With Earth and Ocean meets, the etting Sun Slowly decended, and with right apect Againt the eatern Gate of Paradie Leveld his eevning Rayes: it was a Rock Of Alabater, pil'd up to the Clouds, Conpicuous farr, winding with one acent Acceible from Earth, one entrance high; The ret was craggie cliff, that overhung Still as it roe, impoible to climbe. Betwixt thee rockie Pillars Gabriel at 550 Chief of th' Angelic Guards, awaiting night; About him exercis'd Heroic Games Th' unarmed Youth of Heav’n, but nigh at hand Celestial rmourie, Shields, Helmes, and Speares Hung high with Diamond flaming, and with Gold. Thither came Uriel, gliding through the Eeven On a Sun beam, wift as a hooting Starr In Autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fir'd Impres the Air, and hews the Mariner From what point of his Compas to beware 560 Impetuous winds: he thus began in hate. Gabriel, to thee thy cour by Lot hath giv'n Charge and trict watch that to this happie place No evil thing approach or enter in; This day at highth of Noon came to my Spheare A Spirit, zealous, as he eem'd, to know More of th' Almighties works, and chiefly Man, Gods latet Image: I decrib'd his way Bent all on peed, and markt his Aerie Gate; But in the Mount that lies from Eden North, 570 Where he firt lighted, oon dicerned his looks Alien from Heav’n, with paions foul obcur'd: Mine eye puru'd him till, but under hade Lot ight of him; one of the baniht crew I fear, hath ventur'd from the deep, to raie New troubles; him thy care mut be to find. To whom the winged Warriour thus returned: Uriel, no wonder if thy perfet ight, Amid the Suns bright circle where thou itt, See farr and wide: in at this Gate none pas 580 The vigilance here plac't, but uch as come Well known from Heav’n; and ince Meridian hour No Creature thence: if Spirit of other ort, So minded, have o’releapt thee earthie bounds On purpoe, hard thou knowt it to exclude Spiritual ubtance with corporeal barr. But if within the circuit of thee walks In whatoever hape he lurk, of whom Thou telt, by morrow dawning I hall know. So promis'd hee, and Uriel to his charge 590 Returnd on that bright beam, whoe point now raisd Bore him lope downward to the Sun now fall'n Beneath th' Azores; whether the prime Orb, Incredible how wift, had thither rowl'd Diurnal, or this les volubil Earth By horter flight to th' East, had left him there Arraying with reflected Purple and Gold The Clouds that on his Wetern Throne attend: Now came till Eevning on, and Twilight gray Had in her ober Liverie all things clad; 600 Silence accompanied, for Beat and Bird, They to thir graie Couch, thee to thir Nests Were lunk, all but the wakeful Nightingale; She all night long her amorous decant ung; Silence was pleas'd: now glow'd the Firmament With living Saphirs: Heperus that led The tarrie Hot, rode brightet, till the Moon Riing in clouded Majetie, at length Apparent Queen unvaild her peerles light, And o’re the dark her Silver Mantle threw. 610 When Adam thus to Eve: Fair Conort, th' hour Of night, and all things now retir'd to ret Mind us of like repoe, ince God hath et Labour and ret, as day and night to men Succeive, and the timely dew of leep Now falling with oft lumbrous weight inclines Our eye-lids; other Creatures all day long Rove idle unimploid, and les need ret; Man hath his daily work of body or mind Appointed, which declares his Dignitie, 620 And the regard of Heav’n on all his waies; While other Animals unactive range, And of thir doings God takes no account. To morrow ere freh Morning treak the Eat With firt approach of light, we mut be ris'n, And at our pleaant labour, to reform Yon flourie Arbors, yonder Allies green, Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown, That mock our cant manuring, and require More hands then ours to lop thir wanton growth: 630 Thoe Blooms alo, and thoe dropping Gumms, That lie betrowne unightly and unmooth, Ak riddance, if we mean to tread with eae; Mean while, as Nature wills, Night bids us ret. To whom thus Eve with perfet beauty adornd. My Author and Dipoer, what thou bidt Unargu'd I obey; o God ordains; God is thy Law, thou mine: to know no more Is womans happiet knowledge and her praie. With thee convering I forget all time, 640 All eaons and thir change, all pleae alike. Sweet is the breath of morn, her riing weet, With charm of earliet Birds; pleaant the Sun, When firt on this delightful Land he preads His orient Beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flour, Glitring with dew; fragrant the fertil earth After oft howers; and weet the coming on Of grateful Eevning milde, then ilent Night With this her olemn Bird, and this fair Moon, And thee the Gemms of Heav’n, her tarrie train: 650 But neither breath of Morn when he acends With charm of earliet Birds, nor riing Sun On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, floure, Glitring with dew, nor fragrance after howers, Nor grateful Evening mild, nor ilent Night With this her olemn Bird, nor walk by Moon, Or glittering Starr-light, without thee is weet. But wherefore all night long hine thee, for whom This glorious ight, when leep hath hut all eyes? To whom our general Ancetor repli'd. 660 Daughter of God and Man, accompliht Eve, Thoe have thir coure to finih, round the Earth, By morrow Eevning, and from Land to Land In order, though to Nations yet unborn, Minitring light prepar'd, they et and rie; Leat total darknes hould by Night regaine Her old poeion, and extinguih life In Nature and all things, which thee oft fires Not only enlighten, but with kindly heate Of various influence foment and warme, 670 Temper or nourih, or in part hed down Thir tellar vertue on all kinds that grow On Earth, made hereby apter to receive Perfection from the Suns more potent Ray. Thee then, though unbeheld in deep of night, Shine not in vain, nor think, though men were none, That heav’n would want pectators, God want praie; Millions of piritual Creatures walk the Earth Uneen, both when we wake, and when we leep: All thee with ceales praie his works behold 680 Both day and night: how often from the teep Of echoing Hill or Thicket have we heard Celetial voices to the midnight air, Sole, or reponive each to others note Singing thir great Creator: oft in bands While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk With Heav’nly touch of intrumental ounds In full harmonic number joind, thir ongs Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven. Thus talking hand in hand alone they pas'd 690 On to thir blisful Bower; it was a place Chos'n by the ovran Planter, when he fram'd All things to mans delightful ue; the roofe Of thicket covert was inwoven hade Laurel and Mirtle, and what higher grew Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either ide Acanthus, and each odorous buhie hrub Fenc'd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flour, Iris all hues, Roes, and Geamin, Rear'd high thir flouriht heads between, and wrought 700 Moaic; underfoot the Violet, Crocus, and Hyacinth with rich inlay Broiderd the ground, more colour'd then with tone Of cotliet Emblem: other Creature here Beat, Bird, Insect, or Worm durt enter none; Such was thir awe of man. In hadier Bower More acred and equeterd, though but feignd, Pan or Silvanus never lept, nor Nymph, Nor Faunus haunted. Here in cloe reces With Flowers, Garlands, and weet-melling Herbs 710 Epoued Eve deckt firt her Nuptial Bed, And heav’nly Quires the Hymenæan ung, What day the genial Angel to our Sire Brought her in naked beauty more adorn'd, More lovely then Pandora, whom the Gods Endowd with all thir gifts, and O too like In ad event, when to the unwier Son Of Japhet brought by Hermes, he ennar'd Mankind with her faire looks, to be aveng'd On him who had tole Joves authentic fire. 720 Thus at thir hadie Lodge arriv'd, both tood, Both turnd, and under op'n Skie ador'd The God that made both Skie, Air, Earth & Heav’n Which they beheld, the Moons replendent Globe And tarrie Pole: Thou alo mad't the Night, Maker Omnipotent, and thou the Day, Which we in our appointed work imployd Have finiht happie in our mutual help And mutual love, the Crown of all our blis Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place 730 For us too large, where thy abundance wants Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. But thou hat promis'd from us two a Race To fill the Earth, who hall with us extoll Thy goodnes infinite, both when we wake, And when we eek, as now, thy gift of leep. This aid unanimous, and other Rites Oberving none, but adoration pure Which God likes bet, into thir inmot bower Handed they went; and eas'd the putting off 740 Thee troubleom diguies which wee wear, Strait ide by ide were laid, nor turnd I weene Adam from his fair Spoue, nor Eve the Rites Myterious of connubial Love refus'd: Whatever Hypocrites auterely talk Of puritie and place and innocence, Defaming as impure what God declares Pure, and commands to om, leaves free to all. Our Maker bids increae, who bids abtain But our Detroyer, foe to God and Man? 750 Haile wedded Love, myterious Law, true oure Of human ofspring, ole proprietie, In Paradie of all things common ele. By thee adulterous lut was driv'n from men Among the betial herds to raunge, by thee Founded in Reaon, Loyal, Jut, and Pure, Relations dear, and all the Charities Of Father, Son, and Brother firt were known. Farr be it, that I hould write thee in or blame, Or think thee unbefitting holiet place, 760 Perpetual Fountain of Dometic weets, Whoe Bed is undefil'd and chat pronounc't, Preent, or pat, as Saints and Patriarchs us'd. Here Love his golden hafts imploies, here lights His contant Lamp, and waves his purple wings, Reigns here and revels; not in the bought mile Of Harlots, loveles, joyles, unindeard, Caual fruition, nor in Court Amours Mixt Dance, or wanton Mask, or Midnight Bal, Or Serenate, which the tarv'd Lover ings 770 To his proud fair, bet quitted with didain. Thee lulld by Nightingales, imbraceing lept, And on thir naked limbs the flourie roof Showerd Roes, which the Morn repair'd. Sleep on, Blet pair; and O yet happiet if ye eek No happier tate, and know to know no more. Now had night meaur'd with her haddowie Cone Half way up Hill this vat Sublunar Vault, And from thir Ivorie Port the Cherubim Forth iuing at th' accutomd hour tood armd 780 To thir night watches in warlike Parade, When Gabriel to his next in power thus pake. Uzziel, half thee draw off, and coat the South With trictet watch; thee other wheel the North, Our circuit meets full Wet. As flame they part Half wheeling to the Shield, half to the Spear. From thee, two trong and uttle Spirits he calld That neer him tood, and gave them thus in charge. Ithuriel and Zephon, with wingd peed Search through this Garden, leav unearcht no nook, 790 But chiefly where thoe two fair Creatures Lodge, Now laid perhaps aleep ecure of harme. This Eevning from the Sun’s decline arriv'd Who tells of om infernal Spirit een Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) ecap'd The barrs of Hell, on errand bad no doubt: Such where ye find, eie fat, and hither bring. So aying, on he led his radiant Files, Daz'ling the Moon; thee to the Bower direct In earch of whom they ought: him there they found 800 Squat like a Toad, cloe at the eare of Eve; Aaying by his Devilih art to reach The Organs of her Fancie, and with them forge Illuions as he lit, Phantams and Dreams, Or if, inpiring venom, he might taint Th' animal Spirits that from pure blood arie Like gentle breaths from Rivers pure, thence raie At leat ditempered, dicontented thoughts, Vain hopes, vain aimes, inordinate deires, Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride. 810 Him thus intent Ithuriel with his Spear Touch'd lightly; for no falhood can endure Touch of Celetial temper, but returns Of force to its own likenes: up he tarts Dicoverd and urpriz'd. As when a park Lights on a heap of nitrous Powder, laid Fit for the Tun ome Magazin to tore Againt a rumord Warr, the Smuttie graine With udden blaze diffus'd, inflames the Aire: So tarted up in his own hape the Fiend. 820 Back tept thoe two fair Angels half amaz'd So udden to behold the grielie King; Yet thus, unmovd with fear, accot him oon. Which of thoe rebell Spirits adjudg'd to Hell Com't thou, ecap'd thy prion, and transform'd, Why att thou like an enemie in waite Here watching at the head of thee that leep? Know ye not then aid Satan, filld with corn, Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate For you, there itting where ye durt not oare; 830 Not to know mee argues your elves unknown, The lowet of your throng; or if ye know, Why ask ye, and uperfluous begin Your meage, like to end as much in vain? To whom thus Zephon, anwering corn with corn. Think not, revolted Spirit, thy hape the ame, Or undiminiht brightnes, to be known As when thou toodt in Heav’n upright and pure; That Glorie then, when thou no more wat good, Departed from thee, and thou reembl't now 840 Thy in and place of doom obcure and foule. But come, for thou, beure, halt give account To him who ent us, whoe charge is to keep This place inviolable, and thee from harm. So pake the Cherube, and his grave rebuke Severe in youthful beautie, added grace Invincible: abaht the Devil tood, And felt how awful goodnes is, and aw Vertue in her hape how lovly, aw, and pin'd His los; but chiefly to find here obervd 850 His lutre viibly impar'd; yet eemd Undaunted. If I mut contend, aid he, Bet with the bet, the Sender not the ent, Or all at once; more glorie will be wonn, Or les be lot. Thy fear, aid Zephon bold, Will ave us trial what the leat can doe Single againt thee wicked, and thence weak. The Fiend repli'd not, overcome with rage; But like a proud Steed reind, went hautie on, Chaumping his iron curb: to trive or flie 860 He held it vain; awe from above had quelld His heart, not ele dimai'd. Now drew they nigh The wetern point, where thoe half-rounding guards Jut met, & cloing tood in quadron joind A waiting next command. To whom thir Chief Gabriel from the Front thus calld aloud. O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet Hating this way, and now by glimps di{{ls}scerne Ithuriel and Zephon through the hade, And with them comes a third of Regal port, 870 But faded plendour wan; who by his gate And fierce demeanour eems the Prince of Hell, Not likely to part hence without contet; Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours. He carce had ended, when thoe two approachd And brief related whom they brought, where found, How buied, in what form and poture coucht. To whom with tern regard thus Gabriel pake. Why hat thou, Satan, broke the bounds precrib'd To thy trangreions, and diturbed the charge 880 Of others, who approve not to transgres By thy example, but have power and right To quetion thy bold entrance on this place; Imploi'd it eems to violate leep, and thoe Whoe dwelling God hath planted here in blis? To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. Gabriel, thou hadt in Heav’n th' eteem of wie, And uch I held thee; but this quetion ast Puts me in doubt. Lives ther who loves his pain? Who would not, finding way, break looe from Hell, 890 Though thither doomd? Thou wouldt thy elf, no doubt, And boldly venture to whatever place Farthet from pain, where thou mightt hope to change Torment with eae, & oonet recompence Dole with delight, which in this place I ought; To thee no reaon; who knowt only good, But evil hat not tri'd: and wilt object His will who bounds us? let him urer barr His Iron Gates, if he intends our tay In that dark durance: thus much what was askt. 900 The ret is true, they found me where they ay; But that implies not violence or harme. Thus hee in corn. The warlike Angel mov'd, Didainfully half miling thus repli'd. O los of one in Heav’n to judge of wise Since Satan fell, whom follie overthrew, And now returns him from his prion cap't, Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wie Or not, who ask what boldnes brought him hither Unlicenc't from his bounds in Hell precrib'd; 910 So wie he judges it to fly from pain However, and to cape his punihment. So judge thou till, preumptuous, till the wrauth, Which thou incurr't by flying, meet thy flight Seavenfold, and courge that widom back to Hell, Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain Can equal anger infinite provok't. But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee Came not all Hell broke looe? is pain to them Les pain, les to be fled, or thou than they 920 Les hardie to endure? courageous Chief, The firt in flight from pain, had't thou alleg'd To thy deerted hot this caue of flight, Thou urely hadt not come ole fugitive. To which the Fiend thus anwerd frowning tern. Not that I les endure, or hrink from pain, Inulting Angel, well thou knowt I tood Thy fiercet, when in Battel to thy aide The blating volied Thunder made all peed And econded thy ele not dreaded Spear. 930 But till thy words at random, as before, Argue thy inexperience what behooves From hard aaies and ill uccees pat A faithful Leader, not to hazard all Through wayes of danger by himelf untri'd. I therefore, I alone firt undertook To wing the deolate Abys, and pie This new created World, whereof in Hell Fame is not ilent, here in hope to find Better abode, and my afflicted Powers 940 To ettle here on Earth, or in mid Aire; Though for poeion put to try once more What thou and thy gay Legions dare againt; Whoe eaier buines were to erve thir Lord High up in Heav’n, with ongs to hymne his throne, And practis'd ditances to cringe, not fight. To whom the warriour Angel oon replied. To ay and trait unay, pretending firt Wie to flie pain, profeing next the Spie, Argues no Leader, but a lyar trac't, 950 Satan, and couldt thou faithful add? O name, O acred name of faithfulnes profan'd! Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew? Armie of Fiends, fit body to fit head; Was this your dicipline and faith ingag'd, Your military obedience, to diolve Allegeance to th' acknowledg'd Power upream? And thou ly hypocrite, who now wouldt eem Patron of liberty, who more then thou Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and ervilly ador'd 960 Heav’ns awful Monarch? wherefore but in hope To dipoes him, and thy elf to reigne? But mark what I arreede thee now, avant; Flie thither whence thou fledt: if from this houre Within thee hallowed limits thou appeer, Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chaind, And Seale thee o, as henceforth not to corne The facil gates of hell too lightly barrd. So threaten'd hee, but Satan to no threats Gave heed, but waxing more in rage repli'd. 970  Then when I am thy captive talk of chaines, Proud limitarie Cherube, but ere then Farr heavier load thy elf expect to feel From my prevailing arme, though Heavens King Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy Compeers, Us’d to the yoak, draw't his triumphant wheels In progres through the rode of Heav’n Star-pav'd.  While thus he pake, th' Angelic Squadron bright Turnd fierie red, harpning in mooned hornes Thir Phalanx, and began to hemm him round 980 With ported Spears, as thick as when a field Of Ceres ripe for harvet waving bends Her bearded Grove of ears, which way the wind Swayes them; the careful Plowman doubting tands Leat on the threhing floor his hopeful heaves Prove chaff. On th' other ide Satan allarm'd Collecting all his might dilated tood, Like Teneriff or Atlas unremov'd: His tature reacht the Skie, and on his Cret Sat horror Plum'd; nor wanted in his grape 990 What eemd both Spear and Shield: now dreadful deeds Might have enu'd, nor onely Paradie In this commotion, but the Starrie Cope Of Heav’n perhaps, or all the Elements At leat had gon to rack, diturbd and torne With violence of this conflict, had not oon Th' Eternal to prevent uch horrid fray, Hung forth in Heav’n his golden Scales, yet een Betwixt Atrea and the Scorpion igne, Wherein all things created firt he weighd, 1000 The pendulous round Earth with ballanc't Aire In counterpoie, now ponders all events, Battels and Realms: in thee he put two weights The equel each of parting and of fight; The latter quick up flew, and kickt the beam; Which Gabriel pying, thus bepake the Fiend. Satan, I know thy trength, and thou knowt mine, Neither our own but giv'n; What follie then To boat what Arms can doe, ince thine no more Then Heav’n permits, nor mine, though doubld now 1010 To trample thee as mire: for proof look up, And read thy Lot in yon celetial Sign Where thou art weigh'd, & hown how light, how weak, If thou reit. The Fiend lookt up and knew His mounted cale aloft: nor more; but fled Murmuring, and with him fled the hades of night. The End of the Fourth Book.