Paradise Lost (1667)/Book X



Hus they in lowliet plight repentant tood Praying, for from the Mercie-eat above Prevenient Grace decending had remov’d The tonie from thir hearts, and made new fleh Regenerat grow intead, that ighs now breath’d Unutterable, which the Spirit of prayer Inpir’d, and wing’d for Heav’n with peedier flight Then loudet Oratorie: yet thir port Not of mean uiters, nor important les 10 Seem’d thir Petition, then when th’ ancient Pair In Fables old, les ancient yet then thee, Deucalion and chate Pyrrha to retore The Race of Mankind drownd, before the Shrine Of Themis tood devout. To Heav’n thir prayers Flew up, nor mied the way, by envious windes Blow’n vagabond or frutrate: in they pad Dimentionles through Heav’nly dores; then clad With incene, where the Golden Altar fum’d, By thir great Interceor, came in ight 20 Before the Fathers Throne: Them the glad Son Preenting, thus to intercede began. See Father, what firt fruits on Earth are prung From thy implanted Grace in Man, thee Sighs And Prayers, which in this Golden Cener, mixt With Incene, I thy Priet before thee bring, Fruits of more pleaing avour from thy eed Sow’n with contrition in his heart, then thoe Which his own hand manuring all the Trees Of Paradie could have produc’t, ere fall’n 30 From innocence. Now therefore bend thine eare To upplication, heare his ighs though mute; Unkilful with what words to pray, let mee Interpret for him, mee his Advocate And propitiation, all his works on mee Good or not good ingraft, my Merit thoe Shall perfet, and for thee my Death hall pay. Accept me, and in mee from thee receave The mell of peace toward Mankinde, let him live Before thee reconcil’d, at leat his days 40 Numberd, though ad, till Death, his doom (which I To mitigate thus plead, not to revere) To better life hall yeeld him, where with mee All my redeemd may dwell in joy and blis, Made one with me as I with thee am one. To whom the Father, without Cloud, erene. All thy requet for Man, accepted Son, Obtain, all thy requet was my Decree: But longer in that Paradie to dwell, The Law I gave to Nature him forbid: 50 Thoe pure immortal Elements that know No gros, no unharmoneous mixture foule, Eject him tainted now, and purge him off As a ditemper, gros to aire as gros, And mortal food, as may dipoe him bet For diolution wrought by Sin, that firt Ditemperd all things, and of incorrupt Corrupted. I at firt with two fair gifts Created him endowd, with Happines And Immortalitie: that fondly lot, 60 This other erv’d but to eternize woe; Till I provided Death; o Death becomes His final remedie, and after Life Tri’d in harp tribulation, and refin’d By Faith and faithful works, to econd Life, Wak’t in the renovation of the jut, Reignes him up with Heav’n and Earth renewd. But let us call to Synod all the Blet Through Heav’ns wide bounds; from them I will not hide My judgments, how with Mankind I proceed, 70 As how with peccant Angels late they aw; And in thir tate, though firm, tood more confirmd. He ended, and the Son gave ignal high To the bright Miniter that watchd, hee blew His Trumpet, heard in Oreb ince perhaps When God decended, and perhaps once more To ound at general Doom. Th’ Angelic blat Filld all the Region: from thir bliful Bowrs Of Amarantin Shade, Fountain or Spring, By the waters of Life, where ere they ate 80 In fellowhips of joy: the Sons of Light Hated, reorting to the Summons high, And took thir Seats; till from his Throne upream Th’ Almighty thus pronounced his ovran Will. O Sons, like one of us Man is become To know both Good and Evil, ince his tate Of that defended Fruit; but let him boat His knowledge of Good lot, and Evil got, Happier, had it uffic’d him to have known Good by it elf, and Evil not at all. 90 He orrows now, repents, and prayes contrite, My motions in him, longer then they move, His heart I know, how variable and vain Self-left. Leat therefore his now bolder hand Reach alo of the Tree of Life, and eat, And live for ever, dream at leat to live Forever, to remove him I decree, And end him from the Garden forth to Till The Ground whence he was taken, fitter oile. Michael, this my behet have thou in charge, 100 Take to thee from among the Cherubim Thy choice of flaming Warriours, leat the Fiend Or in behalf of Man, or to invade Vacant poeion om new trouble raie: Hat thee, and from the Paradie of God Without remore drive out the inful Pair, From hallowd ground th’ unholie, and denounce To them and to thir Progenie from thence Perpetual banihment. Yet leat they faint At the ad Sentence rigorouly urg’d, 110 For I behold them oft’nd and with tears Bewailing thir exces, all terror hide. If patiently thy bidding they obey, Dimis them not diconolate; reveale To Adam what hall come in future dayes, As I hall thee enlighten, intermix My Cov’nant in the Womans eed renewd; So end them forth, though orrowing, yet in peace: And on the Eat ide of the Garden place, Where entrance up from Eden eaiet climbes, 120 Cherubic watch, and of a Sword the flame Wide waving, all approach farr off to fright, And guard all paage to the Tree of Life: Leat Paradie a receptacle prove To Spirits foule, and all my Trees thir prey, With whoe tol’n Fruit Man once more to delude. He cea’d; and th’ Archangelic Power prepar’d For wift decent, with him the Cohort bright Of watchful Cherubim; four faces each Had, like a double Janus, all thir hape 130 Spangl’d with eyes more numerous then thoe Of Argus, and more wakeful then to drouze, Charm’d with Arcadian Pipe, the Patoral Reed Of Hermes, or his opiate Rod. Meanwhile To realute the World with acred Light Leucothea wak’d, and with freh dews imbalmd The Earth, when Adam and firt Matron Eve Had ended now thir Orions, and found, Strength added from above, new hope to pring Out of depaire, joy, but with fear yet linkt; 140 Which thus to Eve his welcome words renewd. Eve, eaily may Faith admit, that all The good which we enjoy, from Heav’n decends But that from us ought hould acend to Heav’n So prevalent as to concerne the mind Of God high blet, or to incline his will, Hard to belief may eem; yet this will Prayer, Or one hort igh of humane breath, up-borne Ev’n to the Seat of God. For ince I aught By Prayer th’ offended Deitie to appeae, 150 Kneel’d and before him humbl’d all my heart, Methought I aw him placable and mild, Bending his eare; perwaion in me grew That I was heard with favour; peace returnd Home to my bret, and to my memorie His promie, that thy Seed hall bruie our Foe; Which then not minded in dimay, yet now Aures me that the bitternes of death Is pat, and we hall live. Whence Haile to thee, Eve rightly call’d, Mother of all Mankind, 160 Mother of all things living, ince by thee Man is to live, and all things live for Man. To whom thus Eve with ad demeanour meek. Ill worthie I uch title hould belong To me trangreour, who for thee ordaind A help, became thy nare; to mee reproach Rather belongs, ditrut and all dipraie: But infinite in pardon was my Judge, That I who firt brought Death on all, am grac’t The oure of life; next favourable thou, 170 Who highly thus to entitle me voutaf’t, Farr other name deerving. But the Field To labour calls us now with weat impo’d, Though after leeples Night; for ee the Morn, All unconcern’d with our unret, begins Her roie progres miling; let us forth, I never from thy ide henceforth to tray, Wherere our days work lies, though now enjoind Laborious, till day droop; while here we dwell, What can be toilom in thee pleaant Walke? 180 Here let us live, though in fall’n tate, content. So pake, o wih’d much-humbl’d Eve, but Fate Subcrib’d not; Nature firt gave Signs, impret On Bird, Beat, Aire, Aire uddenly eclip’d After hort bluh of Morn; nigh in her ight The Bird of Jove, toopt from his aerie tour, Two Birds of gayet plume before him drove: Down from a Hill the Beat that reigns in Woods, Firt Hunter then, puru’d a gentle brace, Goodliet of all the Forret, Hart and Hinde; 190 Direct to th’ Eatern Gate was bent thir flight. Adam oberv’d, and with his Eye the chae Puruing, not unmov’d to Eve thus pake. O Eve, ome furder change awaits us nigh, Which Heav’n by thee mute igns in Nature hews Forerunners of his purpoe, or to warn Us haply too ecure of our dicharge From penaltie, becaue from death releat Some days; how long, and what till then our life, Who knows, or more then this, that we are dut, 200 And thither mut return and be no more. VVhy ele this double object in our ight Of flight puru’d in th’ Air and ore the ground One way the elf-ame hour? why in the Eat Darknes ere Dayes mid-coure, and Morning light More orient in yon VVetern Cloud that draws O’re the blew Firmament a radiant white, And low decends, with omthing heav’nly fraught. He err’d not, for by this the heav’nly Bands Down from a Skie of Japer lighted now 210 In Paradie, and on a Hill made alt, A glorious Apparition, had not doubt And carnal fear that day dimm’d Adams eye. Not that more glorious, when the Angels met Jacob in Mahanaim, where he aw The field Pavilion’d with his Guardians bright; Nor that which on the flaming Mount appeerd In Dothan, cover’d with a Camp of Fire, Againt the Syrian King, who to urprize One man, Aain-like had levied Warr, 220 Warr unproclam’d. The Princely Hierarch In thir bright tand, there left his Powers to eie Poeion of the Garden; hee alone, To finde where Adam helterd, took his way, Not unperceav’d of Adam, who to Eve, While the great Viitant approachd, thus pake. Eve, now expect great tidings, which perhaps Of us will oon determin, or impoe New Laws to be oberv’d; for I decrie From yonder blazing Cloud that veils the Hill 230 One of the heav’nly Hot, and by his Gate None of the meanet, ome great Potentate Or of the Thrones above, uch Majetie Invets him coming; yet not terrible, That I hould fear, nor ociably mild, As Raphael, that I hould much confide, But olemn and ublime, whom not to offend, With reverence I mut meet, and thou retire. He ended; and th’ Arch-Angel oon drew nigh, Not in his hape Celetial, but as Man 240 Clad to meet Man; over his lucid Armes A militarie Vet of purple flowd Livelier then Melibœan, or the graine Of Sarra, worn by Kings and Hero’s old In time of Truce; Iris had dipt the wooff; His tarrie Helme unbuckl’d hew’d him prime In Manhood where Youth ended; by his ide As in a glitering Zodiac hung the Sword, Satans dire dread, and in his hand the Spear. Adam bowd low, hee Kingly from his State 250 Inclin’d not, but his coming thus declar’d. Adam, Heav’ns high behet no Preface need: Sufficient that thy Prayers are heard, and Death, Then due by entence when thou didt trangres, Defeated of his eiure many dayes Giv’n thee of Grace, wherein thou may’t repent, And one bad act with many deeds well done Mayt cover: well may then thy Lord appea’d Redeem thee quite from Deaths rapacious claimes; But longer in this Paradie to dwell 260 Permits not; to remove thee I am come, And end thee from the Garden forth to till The ground whence thou wat tak’n, fitter Soile. He added not, for Adam at the newes Heart-trook with chilling gripe of orrow tood, That all his enes bound; Eve, who uneen Yet all had heard, with audible lament Dicover’d oon the place of her retire. O unexpected troke, wore then of Death! Mut I thus leave thee Paradie? thus leave 270 Thee Native Soile, thee happie Walks and Shades, Fit haunt of God? where I had hope to pend, Quiet though ad, the repit of that day That mut be mortal to us both. O flours, That never will in other Climate grow, My early viitation, and my lat At Eev’n, which I bred up with tender hand From the firt op’ning bud, and gave ye Names, Who now hall reare ye to the Sun, or ranke Your Tribes, and water from th’ ambroial Fount? 280 Thee latly nuptial Bowre, by mee adornd With what to ight or mell was weet; from thee How hall I part, and whither wander down Into a lower World, to this obcure And wilde, how hall we breath in other Aire Les pure, accutomd to immortal Fruit? Whom thus the Angel interrupted milde. Lament not Eve, but patiently reigne What jutly thou hat lot; nor et thy heart, Thus over fond, on that which is not thine; 290 Thy going is not lonely, with thee goes Thy Huband, him to follow thou art bound; Where he abides, think there thy native oile. Adam by this from the cold udden damp Recovering, and his catterd pirits returnd, To Michael thus his humble words addred. Celetial, whether among the Thrones, or nam’d Of them the Highet, for uch of hape may eem Prince above Princes, gently hat thou tould Thy meage, which might ele in telling wound, 300 And in performing end us; what beides Of orrow and dejection and depair Our frailtie can utain, thy tidings bring, Departure from this happy place, our weet Reces, and onely conolation left Familiar to our eyes, all places ele Inhopitable appeer and deolate, Nor knowing us nor known: and if by prayer Inceant I could hope to change the will Of him who all things can, I would not ceae 310 To wearie him with my aiduous crie: But prayer againt his abolute Decree No more availes then breath againt the winde, Blown tifling back on him that breaths it forth: Therefore to his great bidding I ubmit. This mot afflicts me, that departing hence, As from his face I hall be hid, deprivd His bleed count’nance; here I could frequent, With worhip, place by place where he voutaf’d Preence Divine, and to my Sons relate; 320 On this Mount he appeerd, under this Tree Stood viible, among thee Pines his voice I heard, here with him at this Fountain talk’d: So many grateful Altars I would reare Of graie Terfe, and pile up every Stone Of lutre from the brook, in memorie, Or monument to Ages, and thereon Offer weet melling Gumms & Fruits and Flour: In yonder nether World where hall I eek His bright appearances, or foottep trace? 330 For though I fled him angrie, yet recall’d To life prolongd and promid Race, I now Gladly behold though but his utmot kirts Of glory, and farr off his teps adore. To whom thus Michael with regard benigne. Adam, thou know’t Heav’n his, and all the Earth Not this Rock onely; his Omnipreence fills Land, Sea, and Aire, and every kinde that lives, Fomented by his virtual power and warmd: All th’ Earth he gave thee to poes and rule, 340 No depicable gift; urmie not then His preence to thee narrow bounds confin’d Of Paradie or Eden: this had been Perhaps thy Capital Seate, from whence had pred All generations, and had hither come From all the ends of th’ Earth, to celebrate And reverence thee thir great Progenitor. But this praeeminence thou hat lot, brought down To dwell on eeven ground now with thy Son: Yet doubt not but in Vallie and in Plaine 350 God is as here, and will be found alike Preent, and of his preence many a igne Still following thee, till compaing thee round With goodnes and paternal Love, his Face Expres, and of his teps the track Divine. Which that thou mayt beleeve, and be confirmd, Ere thou from hence depart, know I am ent To hew thee what hall come in future dayes To thee and to thy Ofpring; good with bad Expect to hear, upernal Grace contending 360 With infulnes of Men; thereby to learn True patience, and to temper joy with fear And pious orrow, equally enur’d By moderation either tate to beare, Properous or advere: o halt thou lead Safet thy life, and bet prepar’d endure Thy mortal paage when it comes. Acend This Hill; let Eve (for I have drencht her eye) Here leep below while thou to foreight wak’t, As once thou lept, while Shee to life was formd. 370 To whom thus Adam gratefully repli’d. Acend, I follow thee, afe Guide, the path Thou lead’t me, and to the hand of Heav’n ubmit, However chat’ning, to the evil turne My obvious breat, arming to overcom By uffering, and earne ret from labour won, If o I may attain. So both acend In the Viions of God: It was a Hill Of Paradie the highet, from whoe top The Hemiphere of Earth in cleeret Ken 380 Stretcht out to amplet reach of propect lay. Not higher that Hill nor wider looking round, Whereon for different caue the Tempter et Our econd Adam in the Wildernes, To hew him all Earths Kingdomes and thir Glory. His Eye might there command wherever tood City of old or modern Fame, the Seat Of mightiet Empire, from the detind Walls Of Cambalu, eat of Cathaian Can And Samarchand by Oxus, Temirs Throne, 390 To Paquin of Sinæan Kings, and thence To Agra and Lahor of great Mogul Down to the golden Cheronee, or where The Perian in Ecbatan ate, or ince In Hipahan, or where the Ruian Kar In Moco, or the Sultan in Bizance, Turchetan-born; nor could his eye not ken Th’ Empire of Negus to his utmot Port Ercoco and the les Maritine Kings Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind, 400 And Sofala thought Ophir, to the Realme Of Congo, and Angola fardet South; Or thence from Niger Flood to Atlas Mount The Kingdoms of Almanor, Fez, and Sus, Marocco and Algiers, and Tremien; On Europe thence, and where Rome was to way The VVorld: in Spirit perhaps he alo aw Rich Mexico the eat of Motezume, And Cuco in Peru, the richer eat Of Atabalipa, and yet unpoil’d 410 Guiana, whoe great Citie Geryons Sons Call El Dorado: but to nobler ights Michael from Adams eyes the Filme remov’d Which that fale Fruit that promi’d clearer ight Had bred; then purg’d with Euphraie and Rue The viual Nerve, for he had much to ee; And from the VVell of Life three drops intill’d. So deep the power of thee Ingredients pierc’d, Eevn to the inmot eat of mental ight, That Adam now enforc’t to cloe his eyes, 420 Sunk down and all his Spirits became intrant: But him the gentle Angel by the hand Soon rai’d, and his attention thus recall’d. Adam, now ope thine eyes, and firt behold Th’ effects which thy original crime hath wrought In ome to pring from thee, who never touch’d Th’ excepted Tree, nor with the Snake conpir’d, Nor inn’d thy in, yet from that in derive Corruption to bring forth more violent deeds. His eyes he op’nd, and beheld a field, 430 Part arable and tilth, whereon were Sheaves New reapt, the other part heep-walks and foulds; Ith’ midt an Altar as the Land-mark tood Rutic, of graie ord; thither anon A weatie Reaper from his Tillage brought Firt Fruits, the green Eare, and the yellow Sheaf, Uncull’d, as came to hand; a Shepherd next More meek came with the Firtlings of his Flock Choicet and bet; then acrificing, laid The Inwards and thir Fat, with Incene trew’d, 440 On the cleft Wood, and all due Rites perform’d. His Offring oon propitious Fire from Heav’n Conum’d with nimble glance, and grateful teame; The others not, for his was not incere; Whereat hee inlie rag’d, and as they talk’d, Smote him into the Midriff with a tone That beat out life; he fell, and deadly pale Groand out his Soul with guhing bloud effu’d. Much at that ight was Adam in his heart Dimai’d, and thus in hate to th’ Angel cri’d. 450 O Teacher, ome great michief hath befall’n To that meek man, who well had acrific’d; Is Pietie thus and pure Devotion paid? T’ whom Michael thus, hee alo mov’d, repli’d. Thee two are Brethren, Adam, and to come Out of thy loyns; th’ unjut the jut hath lain, For envie that his Brothers Offering found From Heav’n acceptance; but the bloodie Fact Will be aveng’d, and th’ others Faith approv’d Looe no reward, though here thou ee him die, 460 Rowling in dut and gore. To which our Sire. Alas, both for the deed and for the caue! But have I now een Death? Is this the way I mut return to native dut? O ight Of terrour, foul and ugly to behold, Horrid to think, how horrible to feel! To whom thus Michael. Death thou hat een In his firt hape on man; but many hapes Of Death, and many are the wayes that lead To his grim Cave, all dimal; yet to ene 470 More terrible at th’ entrance then within. Some, as thou aw’t, by violent troke hall die, By Fire, Flood, Famin, by Intemperance more In Meats and Drinks, which on the Earth hal bring Dieaes dire, of which a montrous crew Before thee hall appear; that thou mayt know What mierie th’ inabtinence of Eve Shall bring on men. Immediately a place Before his eyes appeard, ad, noyom, dark, A Lazar-houe it eemd, wherein were laid 480 Numbers of all diea’d, all maladies Of gatly Spam, or racking torture, qualmes Of heart-ick Agonie, all feavorous kinds, Convulions, Epilepies, fierce Catarrhs, Intetin Stone and Ulcer, Colic pangs, Dropies, and Athma’s, and Joint-racking Rheums. Dire was the toing, deep the groans, depair Tended the ick buiet from Couch to Couch; And over them triumphant Death his Dart Shook, but delaid to trike, though oft invok’t 490 With vows, as thir chief good, and final hope. Sight o deform what heart of Rock could long Drie-ey’d behold? Adam could not, but wept, Though not of Woman born; compaion quell’d His bet of Man, and gave him up to tears A pace, till firmer thoughts retraind exces, And carce recovering words his plaint renew’d. O mierable Mankind, to what fall Degraded, to what wretched tate reerv’d? Better end heer unborn. Why is life giv’n 500 To be thus wreted from u? rather why Obtruded on us thu? who if we knew What we receive, would either not accept Life offer’d, or oon beg to lay it down, Glad to be o dimit in peace. Can thus Th’ Image of God in man created once So goodly and erect, though faultie ince, To uch unightly ufferings be deba’t Under inhuman pain? Why hould not Man, Retaining till Divine imilitude 510 In part, from uch deformities be free, And for his Makers Image ake exempt? Thir Makers Image, anwerd Michael, then Forook them, when themelves they villifi’d To erve ungovern’d appetite, and took His Image whom they erv’d, a brutih vice, Inductive mainly to the in of Eve. Therefore o abject is thir punihment, Difiguring not Gods likenes, but thir own, Or if his likenes, by themelves defac’t 520 While they pervert pure Natures healthful rules To loathom icknes, worthily, ince they Gods Image did not reverence in themelves. I yeild it jut, aid Adam, and ubmit. But is there yet no other way, beides Thee painful paages, how we may come To Death, and mix with our connatural dut? There is, aid Michael, if thou well oberve The rule of not too much, by temperance taught In what thou eatt and drinkt, eeking from thence 530 Due nourihment, not gluttonous delight, Till many years over thy head return: So mait thou live, till like ripe Fruit thou drop Into thy Mothers lap, or be with eae Gatherd, not harhly pluckt, for death mature: This is old age; but then thou mut outlive Thy youth, thy trength, thy beauty, which will change To witherd weak & gray; thy Senes then Obtue, all tate of pleaure mut forgoe, To what thou hat, and for the Aire of youth 540 Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reigne A melancholly damp of cold and dry To waigh thy pirits down, and lat conume The Balme of Life. To whom our Ancetor. Henceforth I flie not Death, nor would prolong Life much, bent rather how I may be quit Fairet and eaiet of this combrous charge, Which I mut keep till my appointed day Of rendring up. Michael to him repli’d. Nor love thy Life, nor hate; but what thou livt 550 Live well, how long or hort permit to Heav’n: And now prepare thee for another ight. He lookd and aw a pacious Plaine, whereon Were Tents of various hue; by ome were herds Of Cattel grazing: others, whence the ound Of Intruments that made melodious chime Was heard, of Harp and Organ; and who moovd Thir tops and chords was een: his volant touch Intinct through all proportions low and high Fled and puru’d tranvere the reonant fugue. 560 In other part tood one who at the Forge Labouring, two maie clods of Iron and Bras Had melted (whether found where caual fire Had wated woods on Mountain or in Vale, Down to the veins of Earth, thence gliding hot To om Caves mouth, or whether waht by tream From underground) the liquid Ore he dreind Into fit moulds prepar’d; from which he formd Firt his own Tooles; then, what might ele be wrought Fulfil or grav’n in mettle. After thee, 570 But on the hether ide a different ort From the high neighbouring Hills, which was thir Seat, Down to the Plain decended: by thir guie Jut men they eemd, and all thir tudy bent To worhip God aright, and know his works Not hid, nor thoe things lot which might preerve Freedom and Peace to men: they on the Plain Long had not walkt, when from the Tents behold A Beavie of fair Women, richly gay In Gems and wanton dres; to the Harp they ung 580 Soft amorous Ditties, and in dance came on: The Men though grave, ey’d them, and let thir eyes Rove without rein, till in the amorous Net Fat caught, they lik’d, and each his liking choe; And now of love they treat till th’ Eevning Star Loves Harbinger appeerd; then all in heat They light the Nuptial Torch, and bid invoke Hymen, then firt to marriage Rites invok’t; With Feat and Muick all the Tents reound. Such happy interview and fair event 590 Of love & youth not lot, Songs, Garlands, Flours, And charming Symphonies attach’d the heart Of Adam, oon enclin’d to admit delight, The bent of Nature; which he thus expre’d. True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blet, Much better eems this Viion, and more hope Of peaceful dayes portends, then thoe two pat; Thoe were of hate and death, or pain much wore, Here Nature eems fulfilld in all her ends. To whom thus Michael. Judg not what is bet 600 By pleaure, though to Nature eeming meet, Created, as thou art, to nobler end Holie and pure, conformitie divine. Thoe Tents thou awt o pleaant, were the Tents Of wickednes, wherein hall dwell his Race Who lew his Brother; tudious they appere Of Arts that polih Life, Inventers rare, Unmindful of thir Maker, though his Spirit Taught them, but they his gifts acknowledg’d none. Yet they a beauteous ofpring hall beget; 610 For that fair femal Troop thou awt, that eemd Of Goddees, o blithe, o mooth, o gay, Yet empty of all good wherein conits Womans dometic honour and chief praie; Bred onely and completed to the tate Of lutful apperence, to ing, to dance, To dres, and troule the Tongue, and roule the Eye. To thee that ober Race of Men, whoe lives Religious titl’d them the Sons of God, Shall yeild up all thir vertue, all thir fame 620 Ignobly, to the trains and to the miles Of thee fair Atheits, and now wim in joy, (Erelong to wim at larg) and laugh; for which The world erelong a world of tears mut weepe. To whom thus Adam of hort joy bereft. O pittie and hame, that they who to live well Enterd o faire, hould turn aide to tread Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint! But till I ee the tenor of Mans woe Holds on the ame, from Woman to begin. 630 From Mans effeminate lacknes it begins, Said th’ Angel, who hould better hold his place By widome, and uperiour gifts receavd. But now prepare thee for another Scene. He lookd and aw wide Territorie pred Before him, Towns, and rural works between, Cities of Men with lofty Gates and Towrs, Concours in Arms, fierce Faces threatning Warr, Giants of mightie Bone, and bould emprie; Part wield thir Arms, part courb the foaming Steed, 640 Single or in Array of Battel rang’d Both Hore and Foot, nor idely mutring tood; One way a Band elect from forage drives A herd of Beeves, faire Oxen and faire Kine From a fat Meddow ground; or fleecy Flock, Ewes and thir bleating Lambs over the Plaine, Thir Bootie; carce with Life the Shepherds flye, But call in aide, which tacks a bloody Fray; With cruel Tournament the Squadrons joine; Where Cattel patur’d late, now catterd lies 650 With Carcaes and Arms th’ enanguind Field Deerted: Others to a Citie trong Lay Siege, encampt; by Batterie, Scale, and Mine, Aaulting; others from the Wall defend With Dart and Jav’lin, Stones and ulfurous Fire; On each hand laughter and gigantic deeds. In other part the cepter’d Haralds call To Council in the Citie Gate: anon Grey-headed men and grave, with Warriours mixt, Aemble, and Harangues are heard, but oon 660 In factious oppoition, till at lat Of middle Age one riing, eminent In wie deport, pake much of Right and Wrong, Of Jutice, of Religion, Truth and Peace, And Judgement from above: him old and young Exploded, and had eiz’d with violent hands, Had not a Cloud decending natch’d him thence Uneen amid the throng: o violence Proceeded, and Oppreion, and Sword-Law Through all the Plain, and refuge none was found. 670 Adam was all in tears, and to his guide Lamenting turnd full ad; O what are thee, Deaths Miniters, not Men, who thus deal Death Inhumanly to men, and multiply Ten thouand fould the in of him who lew His Brother; for of whom uch maacher Make they but of thir Brethren, men of men? But who was that Jut Man, whom had not Heav’n Recu’d, had in his Righteounes bin lot? To whom thus Michael; Thee are the product 680 Of thoe ill-mated Marriages thou aw’t; Where good with bad were matcht, who of themelves Abhor to joyn; and by imprudence mixt, Produce prodigious Births of bodie or mind. Such were thee Giants, men of high renown; For in thoe dayes Might onely hall be admir’d, And Valour and Heroic Vertu call’d; To overcome in Battel, and ubdue Nations, and bring home poils with infinite Man-laughter, hall be held the highet pitch 690 Of human Glorie, and for Glorie done Of triumph, to be tyl’d great Conquerours, Patrons of Mankind, Gods, and Sons of Gods, Detroyers rightlier call’d and Plagues of men. Thus Fame hall be achiev’d, renown on Earth, And what mot merits fame in ilence hid. But hee the eventh from thee, whom thou beheldt The onely righteous in a World pervere, And therefore hated, therefore o beet With Foes for daring ingle to be jut, 700 And utter odious Truth, that God would come To judge them with his Saint: Him the mot High Rapt in a balmie Cloud with winged Steeds Did, as thou awt, receave, to walk with God High in Salvation and the Climes of blis, Exempt from Death; to hew thee what reward Awaits the good, the ret what punihment; Which now direct thine eyes and oon behold. He look’d, & aw the face of things quite chang’d; The brazen Throat of Warr had ceat to roar, 710 All now was turn’d to jollitie and game, To luxurie and riot, feat and dance, Marrying or protituting, as befell, Rape or Adulterie, where paing faire Allurd them; thence from Cups to civil Broiles. At length a Reverend Sire among them came, And of thir doings great dilike declar’d, And tetifi’d againt thir wayes; hee oft Frequented thir Aemblies, whereo met, Triumphs or Fetivals, and to them preachd 720 Converion and Repentance, as to Souls In prion under Judgements imminent: But all in vain: which when he aw, he cea’d Contending, and remov’d his Tents farr off; Then from the Mountain hewing Timber tall, Began to build a Veel of huge bulk, Meaur’d by Cubit, length, & breadth, and highth, Smeard round with Pitch, and in the ide a dore Contriv’d, and of proviions laid in large For Man and Beat: when loe a wonder trange! 730 Of everie Beat, and Bird, and Inect mall Came eavens, and pairs, and enterd in, as taught Thir order; lat the Sire, and his three Sons With thir four Wives, and God made fat the dore. Meanwhile the Southwind roe, & with black wings Wide hovering, all the Clouds together drove From under Heav’n; the Hills to their upplie Vapour, and Exhalation duk and moit, Sent up amain; and now the thick’nd Skie Like a dark Ceeling tood; down ruh’d the Rain 740 Impetuous, and continu’d till the Earth No more was een; the floating Veel wum Uplifted; and ecure with beaked prow Rode tilting o’re the Waves, all dwellings ele Flood overwhelmd, and them with all thir pomp Deep under water rould; Sea cover’d Sea, Sea without hoar; and in thir Palaces Where luxurie late reign’d, Sea-monters whelp’d And tabl’d; of Mankind, o numerous late, All left, in one mall bottom wum imbark’t. 750 How didt thou grieve then, Adam, to behold The end of all thy Ofpring, end o ad, Depopulation; thee another Floud, Of tears and orrow a Floud thee alo drown’d, And unk thee as thy Sons; till gently reard By th’ Angel, on thy feet thou toodt at lat, Though comfortles, as when a Father mourns His Childern, all in view detroyd at once; And carce to th’ Angel utterdt thus thy plaint. O Viions ill foreeen! better had I 760 Liv’d ignorant of future, o had borne My part of evil onely, each dayes lot Anough to bear; thoe now, that were dipent The burd’n of many Ages, on me light At once, by my foreknowledge gaining Birth Abortive, to torment me ere thir being, With thought that they mut be. Let no man eek Henceforth to be foretold what hall befall Him or his Childern, evil he may be ure, Which neither his foreknowing can prevent, 770 And hee the future evil hall no les In apprehenion then in ubtance feel Grievous to bear: but that care now is pat, Man is not whom to warne: thoe few ecap’t Famin and anguih will at lat conume Wandring that watrie Deert: I had hope When violence was cea’t, and Warr on Earth, All would have then gon well, peace would have crownd With length of happy days the race of man; But I was farr deceav’d; for now I ee 780 Peace to corrupt no les then Warr to wate. How comes it thu? unfould, Celetial Guide, And whether here the Race of man will end. To whom thus Michael. Thoe whom lat thou awt In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they Firt een in acts of prowes eminent And great exploits, but of true vertu void; Who having pilt much blood, and don much wate Subduing Nations, and achievd thereby Fame in the World, high titles, and rich prey, 790 Shall change thir coure to pleaure, eae, and loth, Surfet, and lut, till wantonnes and pride Raie out of friendhip hotil deeds in Peace. The conquerd alo, and enlav’d by Warr Shall with thir freedom lot all vertu looe And feare of God, from whom thir pietie feign’d In harp contet of Battel found no aide Againt invaders; therefore coold in zeale Thenceforth hall practice how to live ecure, Worldlie or diolute, on what thir Lords 800 Shall leave them to enjoy; for th’ Earth hall bear More then anough, that temperance may be tri’d: So all hall turn degenerate, all deprav’d, Jutice and Temperance, Truth and Faith forgot; One Man except, the onely Son of light In a dark Age, againt example good, Againt allurement, cutom, and a World Offended; fearles of reproach and corn, Or violence, hee of thir wicked wayes Shall them admonih, and before them et 810 The paths of righteounes, how much more afe, And full of peace, denouncing wrauth to come On thir impenitence; and hall returne Of them derided, but of God obervd The one jut Man alive; by his command Shall build a wondrous Ark, as thou beheldt, To ave himelf and houhold from amidt A World devote to univeral rack. No ooner hee with them of Man and Beat Select for life hall in the Ark be lodg’d, 820 And helterd round, but all the Cataracts Of Heav’n et open on the Earth hall powre Raine day and night, all fountaines of the Deep Broke up, hall heave the Ocean to uurp Beyond all bounds, till inundation rie Above the highet Hill: then hall this Mount Of Paradie by might of Waves be moovd Out of his place, puhd by the horned floud, With all his verdure poil’d, and Trees adrift Down the great River to the op’ning Gulf, 830 And there take root an Iland alt and bare, The haunt of Seales and Orcs, and Sea-mews clang. To teach thee that God attributes to place No anctitie, if none be thither brought By Men who there frequent, or therein dwell. And now what further hall enue, behold. He lookd, and aw the Ark hull on the floud, Which now abated, for the Clouds were fled, Drivn by a keen North-winde, that blowing drie Wrinkl’d the face of Deluge, as decai’d; 840 And the cleer Sun on his wide watrie Glas Gaz’d hot, and of the freh Wave largely drew, As after thirt, which made thir flowing hrink From tanding lake to tripping ebbe, that tole With oft foot towards the deep, who now had topt His Sluces, as the Heav’n his windows hut. The Ark no more now flotes, but eems on ground Fat on the top of om high mountain fixt. And now the tops of Hills as Rocks appeer; With clamor thence the rapid Currents drive 850 Towards the retreating Sea thir furious tyde. Forthwith from out the Arke a Raven flies, And after him, the urer meenger, A Dove ent forth once and agen to pie Green Tree or ground whereon his foot may light; The econd time returning, in his Bill An Olive leafe he brings, pacific igne: Anon drie ground appeers, and from his Arke The ancient Sire decends with all his Train; Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout, 860 Grateful to Heav’n, over his head beholds A dewie Cloud, and in the Cloud a Bow Conpicuous with three lifted colours gay, Betok’ning peace from God, and Cov’nant new. Whereat the heart of Adam ert o ad Greatly rejoyc’d, and thus his joy broke forth. O thou that future things cant repreent As preent, Heav’nly intructer, I revive At this lat ight, aur’d that Man hall live With all the Creatures, and thir eed preerve. 870 Farr les I now lament for one whole World Of wicked Sons detroyd, then I rejoyce For one Man found o perfet and o jut, That God voutafes to raie another World From him, and all his anger to forget. But ay, what mean thoe colourd treaks in Heavn, Ditended as the Brow of God appea’d, Or erve they as a flourie verge to binde The fluid kirts of that ame watrie Cloud, Leat it again diolve and howr the Earth? 880 To whom th’ Archangel. Dextrouly thou aim’t; So willingly doth God remit his Ire, Though late repenting him of Man deprav’d, Griev’d at his heart, when looking down he aw The whole Earth fill’d with violence, and all fleh Corrupting each thir way; yet thoe remoov’d, Such grace hall one jut Man find in his ight, That he relents, not to blot out mankind, And makes a Covenant never to detroy The Earth again by flood, nor let the Sea 890 Surpas his bounds, nor Rain to drown the World With Man therein or Beat; but when he brings Over the Earth a Cloud, will therein et His triple-colour’d Bow, whereon to look And call to mind his Cov’nant: Day and Night, Seed time and Harvet, Heat and hoary Frot Shall hold thir coure, till fire purge all things new, Both Heav’n and Earth, wherein the jut hall dwell. Thus thou hat een one World begin and end; And Man as from a econd tock proceed. 900 Much thou hat yet to ee, but I perceave Thy mortal ight to faile; objects divine Mut needs impaire and wearie human ene: Henceforth what is to com I will relate, Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. This econd ours of Men, while yet but few, And while the dread of judgement pat remains Freh in thir mindes, fearing the Deitie, With ome regard to what is jut and right Shall lead thir lives, and multiplie apace, 910 Labouring the oile, and reaping plenteous crop, Corn wine and oyle; and from the herd or flock, Oft acrificing Bullock, Lamb, or Kid, With large Wine-offerings pour’d, and acred Feat Shal pend thir dayes in joy unblam’d, and dwell Long time in peace by Families and Tribes Under paternal rule; till one hall rie Of proud ambitious heart, who not content With fair equalitie, fraternal tate, Will arrogate Dominion undeerv’d 920 Over his brethren, and quite dipoes Concord and law of Nature from the Earth; Hunting (and Men not Beats hall be his game) With Warr and hotile nare uch as refue Subjection to his Empire tyrannou: A mightie Hunter thence he hall be tyl’d Before the Lord, as in depite of Heav’n, Or from Heav’n claming econd Sovrantie; And from Rebellion hall derive his name, Though of Rebellion others he accue. 930 Hee with a crew, whom like Ambition joyns With him or under him to tyrannize, Marching from Eden towards the Wet, hall finde The Plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge Boiles out from under ground, the mouth of Hell; Of Brick, and of that tuff they cat to build A Citie & Towre, whoe top may reach to Heav’n; And get themelves a name, leat far dipert In foraign Lands thir memorie be lot, Regardles whether good or evil fame. 940 But God who oft decends to viit men Uneen, and through thir habitations walks To mark thir doings, them beholding oon, Comes down to ee thir Citie, ere the Tower Obtruct Heav’n Towrs, and in deriion ets Upon thir Tongues a various Spirit to rae Quite out thir Native Language, and intead To ow a jangling noie of words unknown: Forthwith a hideous gabble ries loud Among the Builders; each to other calls 950 Not undertood, till hoare, and all in rage, As mockt they torm; great laughter was in Heav’n And looking down, to ee the hubbub trange And hear the din; thus was the building left Ridiculous, and the work Confuion nam’d. Whereto thus Adam fatherly diplea’d. O execrable Son o to apire Above his Brethren, to himelf affirming Authoritie uurpt, from God not giv’n: He gave us onely over Beat, Fih, Fowl 960 Dominion abolute; that right we hold By his donation; but Man over men He made not Lord; uch title to himelf Reerving, human left from human free. But this Uurper his encroachment proud Stayes not on Man; to God his Tower intends Siege and defiance: Wretched man! what food Will he convey up thither to utain Himelf and his rah Armie, where thin Aire Above the Clouds will pine his entrails gros, 970 And famih him of Breath, if not of Bread? To whom thus Michael. Jutly thou abhorr’t That Son, who on the quiet tate of men Such trouble brought, affecting to ubdue Rational Libertie; yet know withall, Since thy original lape, true Libertie Is lot, which alwayes with right Reaon dwells Twinn’d, and from her hath no dividual being: Reaon in man obcur’d, or not obeyd, Immediately inordinate deires 980 And uptart Paions catch the Government From Reaon, and to ervitude reduce Man till then free. Therefore ince hee permits Within himelf unworthie Powers to reign Over free Reaon, God in Judgement jut Subjects him from without to violent Lords; Who oft as undeervedly enthrall His outward freedom: Tyrannie mut be, Though to the Tyrant thereby no excue. Yet omtimes Nations will decline o low 990 From vertue, which is reaon, that no wrong, But Jutice, and ome fatal cure annext Deprives them of thir outward libertie, Thir inward lot: Witnes th’ irreverent Son Of him who built the Ark, who for the hame Don to his Father, heard this heavie cure, Servant of Servants, on his vitious Race. Thus will this latter, as the former World, Still tend from bad to wore, till God at lat Wearied with their iniquities, withdraw 1000 His preence from among them, and avert His holy Eyes; reolving from thenceforth To leave them to thir own polluted wayes; And one peculiar Nation to elect From all the ret, of whom to be invok’d, A Nation from one faithful man to pring: Him on this ide Euphrates yet reiding, Bred up in Idol-worhip; O that men (Cant thou believe?) hould be o tupid grown, While yet the Patriark liv’d, who cap’d the Flood, 1010 As to forake the living God, and fall To-worhip thir own work in Wood and Stone For God! yet him God the mot High voutafes To call by Viion from his Fathers houe, His kindred and fale Gods, into a Land Which he will hew him, and from him will raie A mightie Nation, and upon him howre His benediction o, that in his Seed All Nations hall be blet; hee traight obeys, Not knowing to what Land, yet firm believe: 1020 I ee him, but thou cant not, with what Faith He leaves his Gods, his Friends, and native Soile Ur of Chaldæa, paing now the Ford To Haran, after him a cumbrous Train Of Herds and Flocks, and numerous ervitude; Not wandring poor, but truting all his wealth With God, who call’d him, in a land unknown. Canaan he now attains, I ee his Tents Pitcht about Sechem, and the neighbouring Plaine Of Moreb; there by promie he receaves 1030 Gift to his Progenie of all that Land; From Hamath Northward to the Deert South (Things by thir names I call, though yet unnam’d) From Hermon Eat to the great Wetern Sea, Mount Hermon, yonder Sea, each place behold In propect, as I point them; on the hoare Mount Carmel; here the double-founted tream Jordan, true limit Eatward; but his Sons Shall dwell to Senir, that long ridge of Hills. This ponder, that all Nations of the Earth 1040 Shall in his Seed be bleed; by that Seed Is meant thy great deliverer, who hall bruie The Serpents head; whereof to thee anon Plainlier hall be reveald. This Patriarch blet, Whom faithful Abraham due time hall call, A Son, and of his Son a Grand-childe leaves, Like him in faith, in widom, and renown; The Grandchilde with twelve Sons increat, departs From Canaan, to a Land hereafter call’d Egypt, divided by the River Nile; 1050 See where it flows, digorging at eaven mouthes Into the Sea: to ojourn in that Land He comes invited by a yonger Son In time of dearth, a Son whoe worthy deeds Raie him to be the econd in that Realme Of Pharao: there he dies, and leaves his Race Growing into a Nation, and now grown Supected to a equent King, who eeks To top thir overgrowth, as inmate guets Too numerous; whence of guets he makes them laves 1060 Inhopitably, and kills thir infant Male: Till by two brethren (thoe two brethren call Moes and Aaron) ent from God to claime His people from enthralment, they return With glory and poile back to thir promi’d Land. But firt the lawles Tyrant, who denies To know thir God, or meage to regard, Mut be compelld by Signes and Judgements dire; To blood unhed the Rivers mut be turnd, Frogs, Lice and Flies mut all his Palace fill 1070 With loath’d intruion, and fill all the land; His Cattel mut of Rot and Murren die, Botches and blaines mut all his fleh imbos, And all his people; Thunder mixt with Haile, Haile mixt with fire mut rend th’ Egyptian Skie And wheel on th’ Earth, devouring where it rouls; What it devours not, Herb, or Fruit, or Graine, A darkom Cloud of Locuts warming down Mut eat, and on the ground leave nothing green: Darknes mut overhadow all his bounds, 1080 Palpable darknes, and blot out three dayes; Lat with one midnight troke all the firt-born Of Egypt mut lie dead. Thus with ten wounds This River-dragon tam’d at length ubmits To let his ojourners depart, and oft Humbles his tubborn heart, but till as Ice More hard’nd after thaw, till in his rage Puruing whom he late dimid, the Sea Swallows him with his Hot, but them lets pas As on drie land between two chrital walls, 1090 Aw’d by the rod of Moes o to tand Divided, till his recu’d gain thir hoar: Such wondrous power God to his Saint will lend, Though preent in his Angel, who hall goe Before them in a Cloud, and Pillar of Fire, To guide them in thir journey, and remove Behinde them, while th’ obdurat King purue: All night he will purue, but his approach Darknes defends between till morning Watch; Then through the Firey Pillar and the Cloud 1100 God looking forth will trouble all his Hot And craze thir Chariot wheel: when by command Moes once more his potent Rod extends Over the Sea; the Sea his Rod obeys; On thir imbattelld ranks the Waves return, And overwhelm thir Warr: the Race elect Safe towards Canaan from the hoar advance Through the wilde Deert, not the readiet way, Leat entring on the Canaanite allarmd Warr terrifie them inexpert, and feare 1110 Return them back to Egypt, chooing rather Inglorious life with ervitude; for life To noble and ignoble is more weet Untraind in Armes, where rahnes leads not on. This alo hall they gain by thir delay In the wide Wildernes, there they hall found Thir government, and thir great Senate chooe Through the twelve Tribes, to rule by Laws ordaind: God from the Mount of Sinai, whoe gray top Shall tremble, he decending, will himelf 1120 In Thunder Lightning and loud Trumpets ound Ordaine them Lawes; part uch as appertaine To civil Jutice, part religious Rites Of acrifice, informing them, by types And hadowes, of that detind Seed to bruie The Serpent, by what meanes he hall achieve Mankinds deliverance. But the voice of God To mortal eare is dreadful; they beeech That Moes might report to them his will, And terror ceae; he grants them thir deire, 1130 Intructed that to God is no acces Without Mediator, whoe high Office now Moes in figure beares, to introduce One greater, of whoe day he hall foretell, And all the Prophets in thir Age the times Of great Messiah hall ing. Thus Laws and Rites Etabliht, uch delight hath God in Men Obedient to his will, that he voutafes Among them to et up his Tabernacle, The holy One with mortal Men to dwell: 1140 By his precript a Sanctuary is fram’d Of Cedar, overlaid with Gold, therein An Ark, and in the Ark his Tetimony, The Records of his Cov’nant, over thee A Mercie-eat of Gold between the wings Of two bright Cherubim, before him burn Seaven Lamps as in a Zodiac repreenting The Heav’nly fires; over the Tent a Cloud Shall ret by Day, a fierie gleame by Night, Save when they journie, and at length they come, 1150 Conducted by his Angel to the Land Promid to Abraham and his Seed: the ret Were long to tell, how many Battels fought, How many Kings detroyd, and Kingdoms won, Or how the Sun hall in mid Heav’n tand till A day entire, and Nights due coure adjourne, Mans voice commanding, Sun in Gibeon tand, And thou Moon in the vale of Aialon, Till Israel overcome; o call the third From Abraham, Son of Isaac, and from him 1160 His whole decent, who thus hall Canaan win. Here Adam interpo’d. O ent from Heav’n, Enlightner of my darknes, gracious things Thou hat reveald, thoe chiefly which concerne Jut Abraham and his Seed: now firt I finde Mine eyes true op’ning, and my heart much ea’d, Erwhile perplext with thoughts what would becom Of mee and all Mankind; but now I ee His day, in whom all Nations hall be blet, Favour unmerited by me, who ought 1170 Forbidd’n knowledge by forbidd’n means. This yet I apprehend not, why to thoe Among whom God will deigne to dwell on Earth So many and o various Laws are giv’n; So many Laws argue o many ins Among them; how can God with uch reide? To whom thus Michael. Doubt not but that in Will reign among them, as of thee begot; And therefore was Law given them to evince Thir natural pravitie, by tirring up 1180 Sin againt Law to fight; that when they ee Law can dicover in, but not remove, Save by thoe hadowie expiations weak, The bloud of Bulls and Goats, they may conclude Some bloud more precious mut be paid for Man, Jut for unjut, that in uch righteounes To them by Faith imputed, they may finde Jutification towards God, and peace Of Concience, which the Law by Ceremonies Cannot appeae, nor Man the moral part 1190 Perform, and not performing cannot live. So Law appears imperfet, and but giv’n With purpoe to reign them in full time Up to a better Cov’nant, diciplin’d From hadowie Types to Truth, from Fleh to Spirit, From impoition of trict Laws, to free Acceptance of large Grace, from ervil fear To filial, works of Law to works of Faith. And therefore hall not Moes, though of God Highly belov’d, being but the Miniter 1200 Of Law, his people into Canaan lead; But Joshua whom the Gentiles Jesus call, His Name and Office bearing, who hall quell The adverarie Serpent, and bring back Through the worlds wildernes long wanderd man Safe to eternal Paradie of ret. Meanwhile they in thir earthly Canaan plac’t Long time hall dwell and proper, but when ins National interrupt thir public peace, Provoking God to raie them enemie: 1210 From whom as oft he aves them penitent By Judges firt, then under Kings; of whom The econd, both for pietie renownd And puiant deeds, a promie hall receive Irrevocable, that his Regal Throne For ever hall endure; the like hall ing All Prophecie, That of the Royal Stock Of David (o I name this King) hall rie A Son, the Womans Seed to thee foretold, Foretold to Abraham, as in whom hall trut 1220 All Nations, and to Kings foretold, of Kings The lat, for of his Reign hall be no end. But firt a long ucceion mut enue, And his next Son for Wealth and Widom fam’d, The clouded Ark of God till then in Tents Wandring, hall in a glorious Temple enhrine. Such follow him, as hall be regiterd Part good, part bad, of bad the longer crowle, Whoe foul Idolatries, and other faults Heapt to the popular umme, will o incene 1230 God, as to leave them, and expoe thir Land, Thir Citie, his Temple, and his holy Ark With all his acred things, a corn and prey To that proud Citie, whoe high Walls thou aw’t Left in confuion, Babylon thence call’d. There in captivitie he lets them dwell The pace of eventie years, then brings them back, Remembring mercie, and his Cov’nant worn To David, tabliht as the dayes of Heav’n. Returnd from Babylon by leave of Kings 1240 Thir Lords, whom God dipo’d, the houe of God They firt re-edifie, and for a while In mean etate live moderate, till grown In wealth and multitude, factious they grow; But firt among the Priets dienion prings, Men who attend the Altar, and hould mot Endeavour Peace: thir trife pollution brings Upon the Temple it elf: at lat they eie The Scepter, and regard not Davids Sons, Then looe it to a tranger, that the true 1250 Anointed King Messiah might be born Barr’d of his right; yet at his Birth a Starr Uneen before in Heav’n proclaims him com, And guides the Eatern Sages, who enquire His place, to offer Incene, Myrrh, and Gold; His place of birth a olemn Angel tells To imple Shepherds, keeping watch by night; They gladly thither hate, and by a Quire Of quadrond Angels hear his Carol ung. A Virgin is his Mother, but his Sire 1260 The Power of the mot High; he hall acend The Throne hereditarie, and bound his Reign With earths wide bounds, his glory with the Heav’ns. He cea’d, dicerning Adam with uch joy Surcharg’d, as had like grief bin dew’d in tears, Without the vent of words, which thee he breathd. O Prophet of glad tidings, finiher Of utmot hope! now clear I undertand What oft my teddiet thoughts have earcht in vain, Why our great expectation hould be call’d 1270 The eed of Woman: Virgin Mother, Haile, High in the love of Heav’n, yet from my Loynes Thou halt proceed, and from thy Womb the Son Of God mot High; So God with man unites. Needs mut the Serpent now his capital bruie Expect with mortal paine: ay where and when Thir fight, what troke hall bruie the Victors heel. To whom thus Michael. Dream not of thir fight, As of a Duel, or the local wounds Of head or heel: not therefore joynes the Son 1280 Manhood to God-head, with more trength to foil Thy enemie; nor o is overcome Satan, whoe fall from Heav’n, a deadlier bruie, Diabl’d not to give thee thy deaths wound: Which hee, who comes thy Saviour, hall recure, Not by detroying Satan, but his works In thee and in thy Seed: nor can this be, But by fulfilling that which thou didt want, Obedience to the Law of God, impo’d On penaltie of death, and uffering death, 1290 The penaltie to thy trangreion due, And due to theirs which out of thine will grow: So onely can high Jutice ret appaid. The Law of God exact he hall fulfill Both by obedience and by love, though love Alone fulfill the Law; thy punihment He hall endure by coming in the Fleh To a reproachful life and cured death, Proclaiming Life to all who hall believe In his redemption, and that his obedience 1300 Imputed becomes theirs by Faith, his merits To ave them, not thir own, though legal works. For this he hall live hated, be blaphem’d, Sei’d on by force, judg’d, and to death condemnd A hameful and accurt, naild to the Cros By his own Nation, laine for bringing Life; But to the Cros he nailes thy Enemies, The Law that is againt thee, and the ins Of all mankinde, with him there crucifi’d, Never to hurt them more who rightly trut 1310 In this his atifaction; o he dies, But oon revives, Death over him no power Shall long uurp; ere the third dawning light Returne, the Starres of Morn hall ee him rie Out of his grave, freh as the dawning light, Thy ranom paid, which Man from death redeems, His death for Man, as many as offerd Life Neglect not, and the benefit imbrace By Faith not void of work: this God-like act Annuls thy doom, the death thou houldt have dy’d, 1320 In in for ever lot from life; this act Shall bruie the head of Satan, cruh his trength Defeating Sin and Death, his two maine armes, And fix farr deeper in his head thir tings Then temporal death hall bruie the Victors heel, Or theirs whom he redeems, a death like leep, A gentle wafting to immortal Life. Nor after reurrection hall he tay Longer on Earth then certaine times to appeer To his Diciples, Men who in his Life 1330 Still follow’d him; to them hall leave in charge To teach all nations what of him they learn’d And his Salvation, them who hall beleeve Baptizing in the profluent treame, the igne Of wahing them from guilt of in to Life Pure, and in mind prepar’d, if o befall, For death, like that which the redeemer dy’d. All Nations they hall teach; for from that day Not onely to the Sons of Abrahams Loines Salvation hall be Preacht, but to the Sons 1340 Of Abrahams Faith wherever through the world; So in his eed all Nations hall be blet. Then to the Heav’n of Heav’ns he hall acend With victory, triumphing through the aire Over his foes and thine; there hall urprie The Serpent, Prince of aire, and drag in Chaines Through all his realme, & there confounded leave; Then enter into glory, and reume His Seat at Gods right hand, exalted high Above all names in Heav’n; and thence hall come, 1350 When this worlds diolution hall be ripe, With glory and power to judge both quick & dead, To judge th’ unfaithful dead, but to reward His faithful, and receave them into blis, Whether in Heav’n or Earth, for then the Earth Shall all be Paradie, far happier place Then this of Eden, and far happier daies. So pake th’ Archangel Michael, then pau’d, As at the Worlds great period; and our Sire Replete with joy and wonder thus repli’d. 1360 O goodnes infinite, goodnes immene! That all this good of evil hall produce, And evil turn to good; more wonderful Then that which by creation firt brought forth Light out of darkne! full of doubt I tand, Whether I hould repent me now of in By mee done and occaiond, or rejoyce Much more, that much more good thereof hall pring, To God more glory, more good will to Men From God, and over wrauth grace hall abound. 1370 But ay, if our deliverer up to Heav’n Mut reacend, what will betide the few His faithful, left among th’ unfaithful herd, The enemies of truth; who then hall guide His people, who defend? will they not deale Wors with his followers then with him they dealt? Be ure they will, aid th’ Angel; but from Heav’n Hee to his own a Comforter will end, The promie of the Father, who hall dwell His Spirit within them, and the Law of Faith 1380 Working through love, upon thir hearts hall write, To guide them in all truth, and alo arme With piritual Armour, able to reit SatanS aaults, and quench his fierie darts What Man can do againt them, not affraid, Though to the death, againt uch cruelties With inward conolations recompenc’t, And oft upported o as hall amaze Thir proudet perecuter: for the Spirit Powrd firt on his Apotles, whom he ends 1390 To evangelize the Nations, then on all Baptiz’d, hall them with wondrous gifts endue To peak all Tongues, and do all Miracles, As did thir Lord before them. Thus they win Great numbers of each Nation to receave With joy the tidings brought from Heav’n: at length Thir Minitry perform’d, and race well run, Thir doctrine and thir tory written left, They die; but in thir room, as they forewarne, Wolves hall ucceed for teachers, grievous Wolves, 1400 Who all the acred myteries of Heav’n To thir own vile advantages hall turne Of lucre and ambition, and the truth With upertitions and traditions taint, Left onely in thoe written Records pure, Though not but by the Spirit undertood. Then hall they eek to avail themelves of names, Places and titles, and with thee to joine Secular power, though feigning till to act By piritual, to themelves appropriating 1410 The Spirit of God, promid alike and giv’n To all Beleevers; and from that pretene, Spiritual Lawes by carnal power hall force On every concience; Laws which none hall finde Left them inrould, or what the Spirit within Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then But force the Spirit of Grace it elf, and binde His conort Libertie; what, but unbuild His living Temples, built by Faith to tand, Thir own Faith not another: for on Earth 1420 Who againt Faith and Concience can be heard Infallible? yet many will preume: Whence heavie perecution hall arie On all who in the worhip perevere Of Spirit and Truth; the ret, farr greater part, Will deem in outward Rites and pecious formes Religion atifi’d; Truth hall retire Betuck with landrous darts, and works of Faith Rarely be found: o hall the World goe on, To good malignant, to bad men benigne, 1430 Under her own waight groaning, till the day Appeer of repiration to the jut, And vengeance to the wicked, at return Of him o lately promi’d to thy aid, The Womans eed, obcurely then foretold, Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord, Lat in the Clouds from Heav’n to be reveald In glory of the Father, to diolve Satan with his perverted World, then raie From the conflagrant mas, purg’d and refin’d, 1440 New Heav’ns, new Earth, Ages of endles date Founded in righteounes and peace and love, To bring forth fruits Joy and eternal Blis. He ended; and thus Adam lat reply’d. How oon hath thy prediction, Seer blet, Meaur’d this tranient World, the Race of time, Till time tand fixt: beyond is all abys, Eternitie, whoe end no eye can reach. Greatly intructed I hall hence depart, Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fill 1450 Of knowledge, what this veel can containe; Beyond which was my folly to apire. Henceforth I learne, that to obey is bet, And love with feare the onely God, to walk As in his preence, ever to oberve His providence, and on him ole depend, Merciful over all his works, with good Still overcoming evil, and by mall Accomplihing great things, by things deemd weak Subverting worldly trong, and worldly wie 1460 By imply meek; that uffering for Truths ake Is fortitude to highet victorie, And to the faithful Death the Gate of Life; Taught this by his example whom I now Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blet. To whom thus alo th’ Angel lat repli’d: This having learnt, thou hat attaind the umme Of widom; hope no higher, though all the Starrs Thou knewt by name, and all th’ ethereal Powers, All ecrets of the deep, all Natures works, 1470 Or works of God in Heav’n, Air, Earth, or Sea, And all the riches of this World enjoydt, And all the rule, one Empire; onely add Deeds to thy knowledge anwerable, add Faith, Add Vertue, Patience, Temperance, add Love, By name to come call’d Charitie, the oul Of all the ret: then wilt thou not be loath To leave this Paradie, but halt poes A Paradie within thee, happier farr. Let us decend now therefore from this top 1480 Of Speculation; for the hour precie Exacts our parting hence; and ee the Guards, By mee encampt on yonder Hill, expect Thir motion, at whoe Front a flaming Sword, In ignal of remove, waves fiercely round; We may no longer tay: go, waken Eve; Her alo I with gentle Dreams have calm’d Portending good, and all her pirits compo’d To meek ubmiion: thou at eaon fit Let her with thee partake what thou hat heard, 1490 Chiefly what may concern her Faith to know, The great deliverance by her Seed to come (For by the Womans Seed) on all Mankind. That ye may live, which will be many dayes, Both in one Faith unanimous though ad, With caue for evils pat, yet much more cheer’d With meditation on the happie end. He ended, and they both decend the Hill; Decended, Adam to the Bowre where Eve Lay leeping ran before, but found her wak’t; 1500 And thus with words not ad he him receav’d. Whence thou returnt, & whither wentt, I know; For God is alo in leep, and Dreams advie, Which he hath ent propitious, ome great good Preaging, ince with orrow and hearts ditres VVearied I fell aleep: but now lead on; In mee is no delay; with thee to goe, Is to tay here; without thee here to tay, Is to go hence unwilling; thou to mee Art all things under Heav’n, all places thou, 1510 Who for my wilful crime art baniht hence. This further conolation yet ecure I carry hence; though all by mee is lot, Such favour I unworthie am voutaft, By mee the Promi’d Seed hall all retore. So pake our Mother Eve, and Adam heard VVell plea’d, but anwer’d not; for now too nigh Th’ Archangel tood, and from the other Hill To thir fixt Station, all in bright array The Cherubim decended; on the ground 1520 Gliding meteorous, as Ev’ning Mit Ri’n from a River o’re the marih glides, And gathers ground fat at the Labourers heel Homeward returning. High in Front advanc’t, The brandiht Sword of God before them blaz’d Fierce as a Comet; which with torrid heat, And vapour as the Libyan Air adut, Began to parch that temperate Clime; whereat In either hand the hatning Angel caught Our lingring Parents, and to th’ Eatern Gate 1530 Let them direct, and down the Cliff as fat To the ubjected Plaine; then diappeer’d. They looking back, all th’ Eatern ide beheld Of Paradie, o late thir happie eat, Wav’d over by that flaming Brand, the Gate With dreadful Faces throng’d and fierie Arme: Som natural tears they drop’d, but wip’d them oon; The World was all before them, where to chooe Thir place of ret, and Providence thir guide: They hand in hand with wandring teps and low, 1540 Through Eden took thir olitarie way.