How dearly I abide that boast so vain, Under what torments inwardly I groan, While they adore me on the throne of Hell, With diadem and sceptre high advanc'd, The lower still I fall, only supreme In misery; such joy ambition finds. But say I could repent, and could obtain By act of grace my former state; how soon Would height recal high thoughts, how soon unsay What feign'd submission swore? ease would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and void. For never can true reconcilement grow, Where wounds of deadly hate have pierc'd so deep; Which would but lead me to a worse relapse And heavier fall: so should I purchase dear Short intermission bought with double smart. This knows my punisher; therefore as far From granting he, as I from begging peace: All hope excluded thus, behold instead Of us out-cast, exil'd, his new delight, Mankind created, and for him this world. So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear, Farewell remorse: all good to me is lost; Evil be thou my good; by thee at least Divided empire with Heav'n's King I hold, By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign; As man ere long, and this new world, shall know.
SATAN'S ENTRANCE INTO PARADISE. Thus while hespake, each passion dimm'd his face Thrice chang'd with pale, ire, envy, and despair; Which marr'd his borrow'd visage, and betray'd Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld:
For heav'nly minds from such distempers foul Are ever clear. Whereof he soon aware, Each perturbation smooth'd with outward calm, Artificer of fraud, and was the first That practis'd falsehood under saintly shew, Deep malice to conceal, couch'd with revenge: Yet not enough had practis'd to deceive Uriel once warn'd; whose eye pursu'd him down The way he went, and on th' Assyrian mount Saw him disfigur'd, more than could befal Spirit of happy sort: his gestures fierce He mark'd, and mad demeanour, then alone, As he suppos'd, all unobserv'd, unseen. So on he fares, and to the border comes Of Eden, where delicious Paradise, Now nearer, crowns with her inclosure green, As with a rural mound, the champain head Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides With thicket overgrown, grotesque and wild, Access deny'd; and over-head up grew Insuperable height of loftiest shade, Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm, A sylvan scene; and as the ranks ascend Shade above shade, a woody theatre Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops The verd'rous wall of Paradise up sprung: Which to our general sire gave prospect large Into his nether empire neighb'ring round.
And higher than that wall a circling row Of goodliest trees, loaden with fairest fruit, Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue, Appear'd, with gay enamel'd colours mix'd: On which the sun more glad impress'd his beams Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow, When God hath show'r'd the earth; so lovely seem'd That landskip: and of pure, now purer air Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires Vernal delight and joy, able to drive All sadness but despair: now gentle gales, Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole Those balmy spoils. As when to them who sail Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past Mozambic, off at sea north-east winds blow Sabean odours from the spicy shore Of Araby the blest; with such delay Well pleas'd they slack their course, and many a Cheer'd with the grateful smell, old Ocean smiles: So entertain'd those odorous sweets the Fiend Who came their bane, though with them better Than Asmodeus with the fishy fume [pleas'd That drove him, tho' enamour'd, from the spouse Of Tobit's son, and with a vengeance sent From Media post to Egypt, there fast bound.
Now to th' ascent of that steep savage hill Satan had journey'd on, pensive and slow; But further way found none, so thick intwin'd, As one continued brake, the undergrowth Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplex'd All path of man or beast that pass'd that way: One gate there only was, and that look'd east, On th' other side: which, when th' arch-felon saw, Due entrance he disdain'd, and in contempt, At one slight bound, high over-leap'd all bound Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf, Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey, Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve In hurdled cots amid the fields secure, Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold: Or as a thief, bent to unhoard the cash Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors, Cross-barr'd and bolted fast, fear no assault, In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles: So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold; So since into his church lewd hirelings climb. Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life, The middle tree, and highest there that grew, Sat like a cormorant: yet not true life Thereby regain'd, but sat devising death To them who liv'd; nor on the virtue thought Of that life-giving plant, but only us'd
For prospect, what, well us'd, had been the pledge Of immortality. So little knows Any, but God alone, to value right
The good before him, but perverts best things To worst abuse, or to their meanest use. Beneath him with new wonder now he views, To all delight of human sense expos'd In narrow room, Nature's whole wealth, yea more, A Heav'n on Earth: for blissful Paradise Of God the garden was, by him in th' east Of Eden planted; Eden stretch'd her line From Auran eastward to the royal towers Of Great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings, Or where the sons of Eden long before Dwelt in Telassar; in this pleasant soil His far more pleasant garden God ordain'd. Out of the fertile ground he caus'd to grow All trees of noblest kind, for sight, smell, taste; And all amid them stood the tree of life, High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit Of vegetable gold; and next to life, Our death, the tree of knowledge grew fast by, Knowledge of good, bought dear by knowing ill. Southward through Eden went a river large, Nor chang'd his course, but through the shaggy hill Pass'd underneath ingulf'd; 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 thirst up drawn, Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill Water'd the garden; thence united fell Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood, Which from his darksome passage now appears And now divided into four main streams, Runs diverse, wand'ring many a famous realm And country, whereof here needs no account; But rather to tell how, if art could tell, How from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks, Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold With mazy error under pendent shades, Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed Flow'rs worthy of Paradise, which not nice art In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon Pour'd forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain, Both where the morning sun first warmly smote The open field, and where the unpierc'd shade Inbrown'd the noon-tide bow'rs: Thus was this A happy rural seat of various view; [place Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm;
Others, whose fruit burnished with golden rind Hung amiable, Hesperian fables true, If true, here only, and of delicious taste. Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks Grazing the tender herb, were interpos'd: Or palmy hilloc, or the flow'ry lap
Of some irriguous valley spread her store: Flow'rs of all hue, and without thorn the rose. Another side, umbrageous grots, and caves Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps Luxuriant: mean while murm'ring waters fall Down the slope hills, dispers'd or in a lake, (That to the fringed bank with myrtle crown'd Her crystal mirror holds) unite their streams. The birds their choir apply: airs, vernal airs, Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune The trembling leaves, while universal Pan, Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance, Led on th' eternal spring. Not that fair field
Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flow'rs, Herself a fairer flow'r, by gloomy Dis Was gather'd; which cost Ceres all that pain To seek her through the world: nor that sweet grove Of Daphne by Orontes, and th' inspir'd Castalian spring, might with this Paradise Of Eden strive: nor that Nyseian isle Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, (Whom Gentiles Ammon call, and Libyan Jove) Hid Amalthea, and her florid son Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rliea's eye: Nor where Abassin kings their issue guard, Mount Amara (though this by some suppos'd True Paradise) under the Æthiop line By Nilus head, inclos'd with shining rock, A whole day's journey high; but wide remote From this Assyrian garden: where the Fiend Saw undelighted all delight, all kind Of living creatures, new to sight, and strange.
Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall, Godlike erect! with native honour clad In naked majesty, seem'd lords of all : And worthy seem'd; for in their looks divine The image of their glorious Maker shone, Truth, wisdom, sanctitude, severe and pure; Severe, but in true filial freedom plac'd, Whence true authority in men: though both Not equal, as their sex not equal seem'd: For contemplation he, and valour form'd; For softness she, and sweet attractive grace; He, for God only; she for God in him. His fair large front and eye sublime declar'd Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks Round from his parted forelock manly hung Clust'ring, but not beneath his shoulders broad : She as a veil, down to the slender waist Her unadorned golden tresses wore, Dishevel'd; but in wanton ringlets wav'd, As the vine curls her tendrils, which imply'd Subjection, but required with gentle sway; And by her yielded, by him best receiv'd: Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, And sweet reluctant amorous delay.
Nor those mysterious parts were then conceal'd; Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame Of Nature's works: honour dishonourable! Sin-bred! how have ye troubled all mankind With shews instead, mere shews of seeming pure, And banish'd from man's life his happiest life, Simplicity and spotless innocence? So pass'd they naked on, nor shunn'd the sight Of God or angel, for they thought no ill. So hand in hand they pass'd, the loveliest pair That ever since in love's embraces met; Adam the goodliest man of men since born His sons; the fairest of her daughters Eve. Under a tuft of shade, that on a green Stood whisp'ring soft, by a fresh fountain side They sat them down; and after no more toil Of their sweet gard'ning labour than suffic'd To recommend cool zephyr, and made ease More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite
More grateful, to their supper-fruits they fell, Nectarine fruits, which the compliant boughs Yielded them, side-long as they sat reclined On the soft downy bank damask'd with flowers: The savoury pulp they chew, and in the rind Still as they thirsted scoop the brimming stream; Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems Fair couple, link'd in happy nuptial league, Alone as they. About them frisking play'd All beasts of th' earth, since wild, and of all chase In wood or wilderness, forest or den; Sporting the lion ramp'd, and in his paw Dandled the kid: bears, tigers, ounces, pards, Gambol'd before them; th' unwieldy elephant, To make them mirth, us'd all his might, and wreath'd His lithe proboscis; close the serpent sly Insinuating wove with Gordian twine His braided train, and of his fatal guile Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass Couch'd, and now fill'd with pasture, gazing sat, Or bedward ruminating; for the sun Declin'd was hasting now with prone career To th' ocean isles, and in th' ascending scale Of Heav'n the stars that usher evening rose : When Satan, still in gaze, as first he stood, Scarce thus at length fail'd speech recover'd sad. O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold! Into our room of bliss thus high advanc'd Creatures of other mould; earth-born perhaps, Not spirits; yet to heav'nly spirits bright Little inferior; whom my thoughts pursue With wonder, and could love, so lively shines In them divine resemblance, and such grace The hand that form'd'em on their shape hath pour'd. Ah gentle pair! ye little think how nigh Your change approaches; when all these delights Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe; More woe, the more your taste is now of joy: Happy! but for so happy ill secur'd Long to continue; and this high seat your Heav'n, Ill-fenc'd for Heav'n, to keep out such a foe As now is enter'd: yet no purpos'd foe To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, Though I unpitied. League with you I seek, And mutual amity, so strait, so close, That I with you must dwell, or you with me Henceforth: my dwelling haply may not please, Like this fair Paradise, your sense; yet such Accept, your Maker's work; he gave it me, Which I as freely give: Hell shall unfold, To entertain you two, her widest gates, And send forth all her kings: there will be room, (Not like these narrow limits,) to receive Your numerous offspring; if no better place, Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge On you, who wrong me not, for him who wrong'd, And should I at your harmless innocence Melt, (as I do) yet public reason just, Honour and empire with revenge enlarg'd, By conqu'ring this new world, compels me now To do, what else (though damn'd) I should abhor.
So spake the Fiend; and with necessity, (The tyrant's plea) excus'd his devilish deeds: Then from his lofty stand on that high tree, Down he alights among the sportful herd Of those four-footed kinds; himself now one, Now other, as their shape serv'd best his end Nearer to view his prey, and unespy'd, To mark what of their state he more might learn, By word, or action mark'd: about them round, A lion now he stalks with fiery glare; Then, as a tiger, who by chance hath spied, In some purlieu, two gentle fawns at play, Strait couches close, then rising changes oft His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground, Whence rushing, he might surest seize them both, Grip'd in each paw: when Adam, first of men, To first of women, Eve, thus moving speech, Turn'd him, all ear, to hear new utterance flow.
Sole partner, and sole part of all these joys! Dearer thyself than all! needs must the Pow'r That made us, and for us this ample world, Be infinitely good, and of his good As liberal and free, as infinite,
That rais'd us from the dust, and plac'd us here In all this happiness, who at his hand Have nothing merited, nor can perform Aught whereof he hath need: He! who requires From us no other service than to keep This one, this easy charge, of all the trees In Paradise, that bear delicious fruit So various, not to taste that only tree Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life; So near grows death to life, whate'er death is, Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou know'st, God hath pronounc'd it death to taste that tree, The only sign of our obedience left
Among so many signs of pow'r and rule Conferr'd upon us, and dominion given Over all other creatures that possess
Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard One easy prohibition, who enjoy
Free leave so large to all things else, and choice Unlimited of manifold delights:
But let us ever praise him, and extol
His bounty, following our delightful task, [flowers, To prune these growing plants, and tend these Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet.
To whom thus Eve replied. O thou for whom And from whom I was form'd, flesh of thy flesh, And without whom am to no end, my guide And head, what thou hast said is just and right: For we to him indeed all praises owe, And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy So far the happier lot, enjoying thee Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou Like consort to thyself canst no where find. That day I oft remember, when from sleep I first awak'd, and found myself repos'd Under a shade on flow'rs, much wond'ring where And what I was; whence thither brought, and how: Not distant far from thence a murm'ring sound Of waters issued from a cave, and spread
Envy them that? Can it be sin to know? Can it be death? And do they only stand By ignorance? Is that their happy state, The proof of their obedience and their faith? O fair foundation laid whereon to build
Into a liquid plain, then stood unmov'd Pure as th' expanse of Heav'n; I thither went With unexperienc'd thought, and laid me down On the green bank, to look into the clear Smooth lake, that to me seem'd another sky. As I bent down to look, just opposite A shape within the wat'ry gleam appear'd, Bending to look on me: I started back, It started back; but pleas'd I soon return'd; Pleas'd it return'd as soon, with answ'ring looks Of sympathy and love; there I had fix'd Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain desire, Had not a voice thus warn'd me: What thou seest, What there thou seest, fair creature, is thyself; With thee it came and goes: but follow me, And I will bring thee where no shadow stays Thy coming and thy soft embraces, he Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear Multitudes like thyself, and thence be call'd Mother of human race. What could I do, But follow strait, invisibly thus led? Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall, Under a platane; yet methought less fair, Less winning soft, less amiably mild, Than that smooth wat'ry image: back I turn'd; Thou following criedst aloud, Return, fair Eve; Whom fly'st thou ? whom thou fly'st, of him thou art, His flesh, his bone; to give thee being, I lent Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart, Substantial life, to have thee by my side Henceforth an individual solace dear; Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim My other half; with that thy gentle hand Seiz'd mine; I yielded, and from that time see How beauty is excell'd by manly grace And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.
So spake our general mother, and with eyes Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd, And meek surrender, half embracing lean'd On our first father; half her swelling breast Naked met his under the flowing gold Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight Both of her beauty and submissive charms Smil'd with superior love, as Jupiter On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds That shed May flow'rs; and press'd her matron lip With kisses pure: aside the Devil turn'd For envy; yet with jealous leer malign Ey'd them askance, and to himself thus plain'd. Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two Imparadis'd in one another's arms, The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill Of bliss on bliss; while I to Hell am thrust, Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire, Among our other torments not the least, Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing pines. Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd From their own mouths: all is not theirs, it seems; One fatal tree there stands, of knowledge call'd, Forbidden them to taste. Knowledge forbidden? Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord
Their ruin! Hence I will excite their minds With mere desire to know, and to reject Envious commands, invented with design To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt Equal with Gods: aspiring to be such, They taste and die: what likelier can ensue? But first with narrow search I must walk round This garden, and no corner leave unspy'd; A chance, but chance may lead where I may meet Some wand'ring spirit of Heav'n by fountain side, Or in thick shade retir'd, from him to draw What further would be learn'd. Live while you Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return, [may, Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed.
THE CONVERSATION OF ADAM AND
So promis'd he; and Uriel to his charge Return'd on that bright beam, whose point now rais'd Bore him slope downward to the sun now fall'n Beneath th' Azores; whether the prime orb, Incredible how swift, had thither roll'd Diurnal, or this less voluble earth,
By shorter flight to th' east, had left him there Arraying with reflected purple and gold The clouds that on his western throne attend. Now came still evening on, and twilight grey Had in her sober livery all things clad; Silence accompanied; for beast and bird, They to their grassy couch, these to their nests Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale; She all night long her amorous descant sung; Silence was pleas'd: now glow'd the firmament With living sapphires; Hesperus, that led The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon Rising in clouded majesty, at length Apparent queen unveil'd her peerless light, And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw.
When Adam thus to Eve. Fair consort, the hour
Of night, and all things now retir'd to rest, Mind us of like repose, since God hath set Labour and rest, as day and night to men Successive; and the timely dew of sleep Now falling with soft slumbrous weight inclines Our eye-lids: other creatures all day long Rove idly unemploy'd, and less need rest; Man hath his daily work of body or mind Appointed, which declares his dignity, And the regard of Heav'n on all his ways, While other animals unactive range, And of their doings God takes no account. To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east With first approach of light, we must be risen, And at our pleasant labour to reform Yon flow'ry arbors, yonder alleys green, Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown,
That mock our scant manuring, and require More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth: Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums, That lie bestrown unsightly and unsmooth, Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease; Meanwhile, as Nature wills, night bids us rest.
To whom thus Eve with perfect beauty adorn'd. My author and disposer, what thou bid'st Unargued I obey; so God ordains; God is thy law, thou mine: to know no more Is woman's happiest knowledge and her praise. With thee conversing, I forget all time; All seasons and their change, all please alike. Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet, With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the sun, When first on this delightful land he spreads His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, Glist'ring with dew; fragrant the fertile earth After soft showers; and sweet the coming on Of grateful evening mild; then silent night With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon, And these the gems of Heav'n, her starry train: But neither breath of morn, when she ascends With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower, Glist'ring with dew; nor fragrance after showers; Nor grateful evening mild; nor silent night With this her solemn bird; nor walk by moon, Or glittering star-light, without thee is sweet. But wherefore all night long shine these? For whom This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes?
To whom our general ancestor reply'd. Daughter of God and Man, accomplish'd Eve, These have their course to finish round the earth, By morrow evening, and from land to land In order, though to nations yet unborn, Minist'ring light prepar'd, they set and rise; Lest total darkness should by night regain Her old possession, and extinguish life In nature and all things, which these soft fires Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat Of various influence foment and warm, Temper or nourish, or in part shed down Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow On earth, made hereby apter to receive Perfection from the sun's more potent ray. These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were none, That Heav'n would want spectators, God want praise: Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep: All these with ceaseless praise his works behold Both day and night: how often from the steep Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard Celestial voices to the midnight air, Sole, or responsive each to other's note, Singing their great Creator? Oft in bands
Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay Broider'd the ground, more colour'd than with stone Of costliest emblem: other creature here, Beast, bird, insect, or worm, durst enter none; Such was their awe of man. In shadier bower More sacred and sequester'd, though but feign'd, Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor Nymph, Nor Faunus haunted. Here in close recess With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs, Espoused Eve deck'd first her nuptial bed, And heav'nly choirs the hymenæan sung, What day the genial angel to our sire Brought her in naked beauty more adorn'd, More lovely than Pandora, whom the Gods Endow'd with all their gifts, and O too like In sad event, when to th' unwiser son Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnar'd Mankind with her fair looks, to be aveng'd On him who had stole Jove's authentic fire.
Thus at their shady lodge arriv'd, both stood, Both turn'd, and under open sky ador'd The God that made both sky, air, earth, and Heaven, Which they beheld, the moon's resplendent globe, And starry pole: Thou also mad'st the night, Maker omnipotent, and thou the day, Which we in our appointed work employ'd Have finish'd, happy in our mutual help And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss Ordain'd by thee, and this delicious place, For us too large, where thy abundance wants Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. But thou hast promis'd from us two a race To fill the earth, who shall with us extol Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep.
This said unanimous, and other rites Observing none, but adoration pure, Which God likes best, into their inmost bower Handed they went; and eas'd the putting off These troublesome disguises which we wear, Straight side by side were laid; nor turn'd I ween Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites Mysterious of connubial love refus'd: Whatever hypocrites austerely talk Of purity, and place, and innocence, Defaming as impure what God declares
While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all.
With heav'nly touch of instrumental sounds
In full harmonic number join'd, their songs
Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heav'n.
Thus talking, hand in hand, alone they pass'd
Our Maker bids increase; who bids abstain But our destroyer, foe to God and man? Hail wedded love, mysterious law, true source Of human offspring, sole propriety
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