ˇ¶Paradise Lost ˘öˇ·


 THE ARGUMENT

Rapinues to relate  forto battel against Satan and  Figan and ire under Nigs devilis put Mico some disorder; But, t lengtains over tumult not so ending, God on t Victory: o to stand still on eit and to t of o resist too t prepard for turns riumpo her.

 1

    ALL nighe dreadless Angel unpursud

    till Morn,

    akt by th rosie hand

    Unbarrd tes of Lighere is a Cave

    it of God, fast by hrone, [ 5 ]

    and darkness in perpetual round

    Lodge and dislodge by turns, whrough heavn

    Grateful vicissitude, like Day and Night;

    Lig ther dore

    Obsequious darkness enters, till her houre [ 10 ]

    to veile t well

    Seem the Morn

    Suc heavn, arrayd in Gold

    Empyreal, from before  Night,

    S t Beams: whe Plain [ 15 ]

    Coverd teld Squadrons bright,

    Cs and flaming Armes, and fierie Steeds

    Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view:

    arr , and found

    Already known w  [ 20 ]

    to ed: gladly t

    Among those friendly Powers who him receavd

    itions loud, t one

    t of so many Myriads falln, yet one

    Returnd not lost: On to the sacred hill [ 25 ]

    t

    Before t supream; from whence a voice

    From midst a Golden Cloud thus milde was heard.

    Servant of God,

    tter fig maintaind [ 30 ]

    Against revolted multitudes the Cause

    Of trutier they in Armes;

    And for testimonie of trut born

    Universal reproaco beare

    thy care [ 35 ]

    to stand approvd in sighough orlds

    Judgd t now

    Remains t of friends,

    Back on to return

    t depart, and to subdue [ 40 ]

    By force, whir Law refuse,

    Righir King

    Messia of merit Reigns.

 2

    Go Micial Armies Prince,

    And tary pro [ 45 ]

    Gabriel, lead forto Battel these my Sons

    Invincible, lead forts

    By t;

    Equal in number to t Godless crew

    Rebellious, tile Arms [ 50 ]

    Fearless assault, and to the brow of heavn

    Pursuing drive t from God and bliss,

    Into t, the Gulf

    Of tartarus, which ready opens wide

    o receave thir fall. [ 55 ]

    So spake the Sovran voice, and Clouds began

    to darken all to rowl

    In duskie ant flames, the signe

    Of : nor he loud

    Etrumpet from on high gan blow: [ 60 ]

    At ,

    t stood for y Quadrate joynd

    Of Union irresistible, movd on

    In silence t Legions, to the sound

    Of instrumental  breathd [ 65 ]

    o adventrous deeds

    Under the Cause

    Of God and hey move

    Indissolubly firm; nor obvious hill

    Nor streitning Vale, nor ood, nor Stream divides [ 70 ]

    t ranks; for he ground

    the passive Air upbore

    tread, as al kind

    Of Birds in orderly array on wing

    Came summond over Eden to receive [ 75 ]

    tract

    Of hey marchd, and many a Province wide

    tenfold terrene: at last

    Farr in to th appeerd

    From skirt to skirt a fierie Region, stretcht [ 80 ]

    In battailous aspect, and neerer view

    Bristld  beams innumerable

    Of rigid Spears, and s throngd, and Shields

    Various, ful Argument portraid,

    tan ing on [ 85 ]

    ition; for they weend

    t self same day by fight, or by surprize

    to  of God, and on hrone

    to set tate, the proud

    Aspirer, but ts provd fond and vain [ 90 ]

    In trange to us it seemd

    At first, t Angel sh Angel warr,

    And in fierce ing meet, o meet

    So oft in Festivals of joy and love

    Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire [ 95 ]

    ernal Fat t

    Of Battel now began, and rushing sound

    Of onset ended soon eac.

 3

    exalted as a God

    tate in  C sate [ 100 ]

    Idol of Majesty Divine, enclosd

    ith Flaming Cherubim, and golden Shields;

    ted from hrone, for now

    t  and  but narro,

    A dreadful intervall, and Front to Front [ 105 ]

    Presented stood in terrible array

    Of he cloudie Van,

    On ttel ere it joynd,

    Satan  and ie strides advanct,

    Came to and Gold; [ 110 ]

    Abdiel t sig, wood

    Among tiest, bent on  deeds,

    And ted  explores.

    O  suc

    S remain, wie [ 115 ]

    Remain not; rengt

    tue fails, or  prove

    ; to sight unconquerable?

    rusting in ties aide,

    I mean to try, wrid [ 120 ]

    Unsound and false; nor is it aug just,

    t e of truth won,

    Ses alike

    Victor; tis contest and foule,

    o deal  so [ 125 ]

    Most reason is t Reason overcome.

    So pondering, and from his armed Peers

    Fortepping opposite,

    tion more

    Incenst, and thus securely him defid. [ 130 ]

    Proud, art t? to

    thy aspiring unopposd,

    throne of God unguarded, and his side

    Abandond at terror of thy Power

    Or potent tongue; fool, not to think how vain [ 135 ]

    Against tent to rise in Arms;

    of smallest t end

    Armies to defeat

    tarie hand

    Reac at one blow [ 140 ]

    Unaided could  thee, and whelmd

    t t

    All are not of train; th

    Prefer, and Pietie to God, then

    to t visible, when I alone [ 145 ]

    Seemd in to dissent

    From all: my Sect t, nooo late

    imes may know, whousands err.

 4

    h scornful eye askance

    t in  houre [ 150 ]

    Of my revenge, first sougurnst

    From fligious Angel, to receave

    ted re assay

    Of t , since first t tongue

    Inspird radiction durst oppose [ 155 ]

    A t of t

    ties to assert, whey feel

    Vigour Divine hem, can allow

    Omnipotence to none. But

    Before tious to win [ 160 ]

    From me som Plume, t thy success may show

    Destruction to t: tween

    (Unans t) to let thee know;

    At first I t t Libertie and heavn

    to  now [ 165 ]

    I see t most ther serve,

    Ministring Spirits, traind up in Feast and Song;

    Suc trelsie of heavn,

    Servilitie o contend,

    As bothis day shall prove. [ 170 ]

    to wern replid.

    Apostat, still t, nor end  find

    Of erring, from trute:

    Unjustly t it he name

    Of Servitude to serve whom God ordains, [ 175 ]

    Or Nature; God and Nature bid the same,

    , and excells

    tude,

    to serve th rebelld

    Against hee, [ 180 ]

    t free, but to thralld;

    Yet leudly darst our ministring upbraid.

    Reign t mee serve

    In , and his Divine

    Bes obey,  to be obeyd, [ 185 ]

    Yet C Realms expect: mean while

    From mee returnd, as erst t, from flight,

    ting on t receive.

 5

    So saying, a noble stroke ed high,

    , but so s empest fell [ 190 ]

    On t of Satan, t no sight,

    Nor motion of s t, less could his Shield

    Sucercept: ten paces huge

    enth on bended knee

    aid; as if on Earth [ 195 ]

    inds under ground or ers forcing way

    Sidelong,  a Mountain from

    seisd

    t greater rage to see

    tiest, ours joy filld, and s, [ 200 ]

    Presage of Victorie and fierce desire

    Of Battel: w Michael bid sound

    trumpet; t of heaven

    It sounded, and thful Armies rung

    o t: nor stood at gaze [ 205 ]

    the adverse Legions, nor less hideous joynd

    torming furie rose,

    And clamour sucill now

    as never, Arms on Armour clashing brayd

    he madding heeles [ 210 ]

    Of brazen Cs ragd; dire he noise

    Of conflict; over he dismal hiss

    Of fiery Darts in flaming volies flew,

    And flying vaulted eit h fire.

    So under fierie Cope together rushd [ 215 ]

    Bottels maine,

    And inextinguishable rage; all heavn

    Resounded, and h

    o er s wonder? when

    Millions of fierce encountring Angels fought [ 220 ]

    On eit of whom could weild

    ts, and arm he force

    Of all thir Regions: how much more of Power

    Armie against Armie numberless to raise

    Dreadful combustion urb, [ 225 ]

    t destroy, tive seat;

    ternal King Omnipotent

    From rong hold of heavn high over-ruld

    And limited t; though numberd such

    As eac have seemd [ 230 ]

    A numerous , in strength each armed hand

    A Legion; led in fig Leader seemd

    Eac

    o advance, or stand, or turn the sway

    Of Battel, open wo close [ 235 ]

    t of flight,

    None of retreat, no unbecoming deed

    t argud fear; each on himself relid,

    As onely in  lay

    Of victorie; deeds of eternal fame [ 240 ]

    ere don, but infinite: for wide was spred

    t arr and various; somtimes on firm ground

    A standing fighen soaring on main wing

    tormented all then

    Conflicting Fire: long time in eeven scale [ 245 ]

    ttel ill Satan, w day

    Prodigious power  in Armes

    No equal, raunging ttack

    Of fig length

    Saw we, and felld [ 250 ]

    Squadrons at once, wo-handed sway

    Brandis the horrid edge came down

    ide ing; sucruction to and

    ed, and opposd the rockie Orb

    Of tenfold Adamant, his ample Shield [ 255 ]

    A vast circumference: At his approach

    t Arcoile

    Surceasd, and glad as o end

    Intestine ar in he arch foe subdud

    Or Captive dragd in Cile frown [ 260 ]

    And visage all enflamd first thus began.

 6

    Autill t,

    Unnamd in eous, as t

    ts of eful strife, eful to all,

    t by just measure on thy self [ 265 ]

    And ts:  turbd

    o Nature brought

    Miserie, uncreated till the crime

    Of t tilld

    to t [ 270 ]

    And fait t here

    to trouble ; s t

    From all  of bliss

    Brooks not the works of violence and arr.

    hee along [ 275 ]

    to the place of evil, hell,

    there mingle broiles,

    Ere thy doome,

    Or som more sudden vengeance wingd from God

    Precipitate ted paine. [ 280 ]

    So spake to whus

    th wind

    Of airie ts to ah deeds

    t not.  turnd t of these

    to fligo fall, but t they rise [ 285 ]

    Unvanquiso transact h mee

    t t s

    to c t so shall end

    trife  yle

    trife of Glorie: wo win, [ 290 ]

    Or turn t self into the hell

    t, o dwell free,

    If not to reign: mean  force,

    And join y to thy aid,

    I flie not, but  thee farr and nigh. [ 295 ]

    t for fight

    Unspeakable; for wongue

    Of Angels, can relate, or to hings

    Liken on Eart may lift

    ion to such [ 300 ]

    Of Godlike Po Gods they seemd,

    Stood tature, motion, arms

    Fit to decide t heavn.

 7

    Nohe Aire

    Made hir Shields [ 305 ]

    Blazd opposite, ion stood

    In ird

    fighrong,

    And left large field, unsafe he wind

    Of sucion, suco set forth [ 310 ]

    Great tures concord broke,

    Among tellations warr were sprung,

    ts rus maligne

    Of fiercest opposition in mid Skie,

    S, and thir jarring Sphears confound. [ 315 ]

    toget to Almightie Arme,

    Uplifted imminent one stroke they aimd

    t migermine, and not need repeate,

    As not of po once; nor odds appeerd

    In mig prevention; but the sword [ 320 ]

    Of Miche Armorie of God

    as givn emperd so, t neither keen

    Nor solid mig t edge: it met

    tan eep force to smite

    Descending, and in  said, [ 325 ]

    But  wring shard

    All  side; tan first knew pain,

    And o and fro convolvd; so sore

    tinuous wound

    Passd t tance closd [ 330 ]

    Not long divisible, and from the gash

    A stream of Nectarous humor issuing flowd

    Sanguin, sucial Spirits may bleed,

    And all aind ere w.

    Forto his aide was run [ 335 ]

    By Angels many and strong, werposd

    Defence, whir Shields

    Back to ; ood retird

    From off they him laid

    Gnase and shame [ 340 ]

    to find  matchless, and his pride

    h

    o equal God in power.

 8

    Yet soon s t live t

    Vital in every part, not as frail man [ 345 ]

    In Entrailes,  or head, Liver or Reines;

    Cannot but by anniing die;

    Nor in texture mortal wound

    Receive, no more the fluid Aire:

    All  they live, all head, all Eye, all Eare, [ 350 ]

    All Intellect, all Sense, and as they please,

    themselves, and colour, shape or size

    Assume, as likes t, condense or rare.

    Mean ws like deeds deservd

    Memorial, , [ 355 ]

    And he deep array

    Of Moloc furious King, who him defid

    And at  wo drag him bound

    tnd, nor from the holie One of heavn

    Refreind ongue blasp anon [ 360 ]

    Doo te, terd Armes

    And uncouth paine fled bellowing. On each wing

    Uriel and Raping foe,

    though huge, and in a Rock of Diamond Armd,

    Vanquishd Adramelec, and Asmadai, [ 365 ]

    tent t to be less then Gods

    Disdaind, but meaner ts learnd in t,

    Mangld ly e and Maile,

    Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy

    t cre h redoubld blow [ 370 ]

    Ariel and Arioc, and the violence

    Of Ramiel scorced overthrew.

    I mige of thir names

    Eternize  t

    Angels contented hir fame in heavn [ 375 ]

    Seek not t

    In migs of arr,

    Nor of Reno by doome

    Canceld from heavn and sacred memorie,

    Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. [ 380 ]

 9

    For strengtrut,

    Illaudable, naugs but dispraise

    And ignominie, yet to glorie aspires

    Vain glorious, and through infamie seeks fame:

    ternal silence be thir doome. [ 385 ]

    And noiest quelld, ttel swervd,

    it

    Enterd, and foul disorder; all the ground

    itrown, and on a heap

    C and Cer lay overturnd [ 390 ]

    And fierie foaming Steeds; ood, recoyld

    Ore Satanic

    Defensive scarse, or h pale fear surprisd,

    t h fear surprisd and sense of paine

    Fled ignominious, to suc [ 395 ]

    By sin of disobedience, till t hour

    Not liable to fear or flight or paine.

    Far ots

    In Cubic P entire,

    Invulnerable, impenitrably armd: [ 400 ]

    Sucages thir innocence

    Gave t to have sinnd,

    Not to  tood

    Uno be paind

    By hir place by violence movd. [ 405 ]

    No her course began, and over heavn

    Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposd,

    And silence on the odious dinn of arr:

    Under  botird,

    Victor and Vanquisen field [ 410 ]

    Mic

    Encamping, placd in Guard tches round,

    C

    Satan h his rebellious disappeerd,

    Far in t, [ 415 ]

    entates to Councel calld by night;

    And in t thus undismaid began.

 10

    O norid, now known in Armes

    Not to be overpowerd, Companions deare,

    Found  of Libertie alone, [ 420 ]

    too mean pretense, but ,

    honour, Dominion, Glorie, and renowne,

    aind one day in doubtful fight

    (And if one day, ernal dayes?)

    to send [ 425 ]

    Against us from about hrone, and judgd

    Sufficient to subdue us to his will,

    But proves not so: t seems,

    Of future we may deem ill now

    Omniscient t. true is, less firmly armd, [ 430 ]

    Some disadvantage we endurd and paine,

    till no kno knoemnd,

    Since nohis our Empyreal form

    Incapable of mortal injurie

    Imperish wound, [ 435 ]

    Soon closing, and by native vigour heald.

    Of evil think

    the remedie; perhaps more valid Armes,

    eapons more violent, ,

    May serve to better us, and worse our foes, [ 440 ]

    Or equal he odds,

    In Nature none: if other hidden cause

    Left them Superiour, while we can preserve

    Un our mindes, and understanding sound,

    Due searcation will disclose. [ 445 ]

    ; and in t upstood

    Nisroc, of Principalities the prime;

    As one ood escapt from cruel fight,

    Sore toild, o havoc hewn,

    And cloudie in aspect thus answering spake. [ 450 ]

    Deliverer from neo free

    Enjoyment of our rig hard

    For Gods, and too unequal work we find

    Against unequal arms to fight in paine,

    Against unpaind, impassive; from which evil [ 455 ]

    Ruin must needs ensue; for w availes

    Valour or strengtch pain

    he hands

    Of Mig. Sense of pleasure we may well

    Spare out of life per repine, [ 460 ]

    But live content, w life:

    But pain is perfet miserie, t

    Of evils, and excessive, overturnes

    All patience.

    it more forcible we may offend [ 465 ]

    Our yet unwounded Enemies, or arme

    Our selves o me deserves

    No less t we owe.

 11

    o an replid.

    Not uninvented t, w [ 470 ]

    Believst so main to our success, I bring;

    surface

    Of tand,

    tinent of spacious heavn, adornd

    it, Fruit, Flour Ambrosial, Gemms amp; Gold, [ 475 ]

    hose Eye so superficially surveyes

    t to mind from whey grow

    Deep under ground, materials dark and crude,

    Of spiritous and fierie spume, till toucht

    itemperd t forth [ 480 ]

    So beauteous, opning to t light.

    tivitie the Deep

    S h infernal flame,

    o hallow Engins long and round

    t touch of fire [ 485 ]

    Dilated and infuriate sh

    From far hundring noise among our foes

    Sucs of mischief as shall dash

    to pieces, and oreands

    Adverse, t they shall fear we have disarmd [ 490 ]

    t.

    Nor long s ere dawne,

    Effect shall end our wish. Mean while revive;

    Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joind

    to be despaird. [ 495 ]

    hir drooping chere

    Enlig hope revivd.

    tion all admird, and each, how hee

    to be tor missd, so easie it seemd

    Once found,  would  [ 500 ]

    Impossible: yet hy Race

    In future dayes, if Malice should abound,

    Some one intent on mischief, or inspird

    ition might devise

    Like instrument to plague the Sons of men [ 505 ]

    For sin, on ual slaug.

 12

    Forto they flew,

    None arguing stood, innumerable hands

    ere ready, in a moment up turnd

    ide tial soile, and sah [ 510 ]

    ture in thir crude

    Conception; Sulprous Foame

    ttle Art,

    Concocted and adusted they reducd

    to blackest grain, and into store conveyd: [ 515 ]

    Part h

    Entrails unlike) of Mineral and Stone,

    o found thir Balls

    Of missive ruin; part incentive reed

    Provide, pernicious ouco fire. [ 520 ]

    So all ere day-spring, under conscious Night

    Secret t,

    it circumspection unespid.

    Now w in heavn appeerd

    Up rose tor Angels, and to Arms [ 525 ]

    tin trumpet Sung: in Arms tood

    Of Golden Panoplie, refulgent ,

    Soon banded; othe dawning hills

    Lookd round, and Scouts eac light-armed scoure,

    Eacer, to descrie tant foe, [ 530 ]

    ,

    In motion or in alt:

    Under spred Ensignes moving nigh, in slow

    But firm Battalion; back  Sail

    Zopest wing, [ 535 ]

    Came flying, and in mid Aire aloud thus crid.

    Arme, arriours, Arme for fig hand,

    ,

    t ; so thick a Cloud

    tld in his face I see [ 540 ]

    Sad resolution and secure: let each

    ine coat gird well, and each

    Fit well  his orbed Shield,

    Born eevn or his day will pour down,

    If I conjecture aught, no drizling showr, [ 545 ]

    But ratling storm of Arroh fire.

 13

    So warnd hemselves, and soon

    In order, quit of all impediment;

    Instant  disturb took Allarm,

    And ontelld; when behold [ 550 ]

    Not distant far he Foe

    Approaching gross and huge; in hollow Cube

    training his devilish Enginrie, impald

    On every side h shaddowing Squadrons Deep,

    to  intervieood [ 555 ]

    A  head appeerd

    Satan: And thus was heard Commanding loud.

    Vanguard, to Rig t unfould;

    t all may see we us, how we seek

    Peace and composure, and  [ 560 ]

    Stand readie to receive they like

    Our overture, and turn not back perverse;

    But t I doubt, ness heaven,

    ness thou anon, while we discharge

    Freely our part; yee and [ 565 ]

    Do as you ouch

    all may hear.

    So scoffing in ambiguous words he scarce

    o Rig t

    Divided, and to eitird. [ 570 ]

    o our eyes discoverd nerange,

    A triple mounted row of Pillars laid

    On o Pillars most they seemd

    Or hollowd bodies made of Oak or Firr

    it, in ood or Mountain felld) [ 575 ]

    Brass, Iron, Stonie mould,  thes

    it on us wide,

    Portending ruce; at each behind

    A Serapood, and in his hand a Reed

    Stood ipt h fire; while we suspense, [ 580 ]

    Collected stood s amusd,

    Not long, for sudden all at once thir Reeds

    Put forto a narro applid

    it touce in a flame,

    But soon obscurd h smoak, all heavn appeerd, [ 585 ]

    From ted Engins belcht, whose roar

    Emboragious noise the Air,

    And all rails tore, disgorging foule

    t, cs and hail

    Of Iron Globes, wor  [ 590 ]

    Leveld, uous furie smote,

    t  migand,

    tanding else as Rocks, but dohey fell

    By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rowld;

    t [ 595 ]

    s evaded s

    By quick contraction or remove; but now

    Foule dissipation follo rout;

    Nor servd it to relax thir serried files. [ 600 ]

 14

    s, repulse

    Repeated, and indecent overthrow

    Doubld,  more despisd,

    And to ter; for in view

    Stood rankt of Serapher row

    In posture to displode tire [ 605 ]

    Of ted to return

    tan be,

    And to es thus in derision calld.

    O Friends, ors proud?

    Ere whey fierce were coming, and when wee, [ 610 ]

    to entertain t

    And Brest, (erms

    Of composition, strait thir minds,

    Fleo strange vagaries fell,

    As t for a dance they seemd [ 615 ]

    Somravagant and wilde, perhaps

    For joy of offerd peace: but I suppose

    If our proposals once again were heard

    e so a quick result.

    to whus Belial in like gamesom mood, [ 620 ]

    Leader, terms  erms of ,

    Of ents, and full of force urgd home,

    Suc perceive amusd them all,

    And stumbld many, w,

    o foot and; [ 625 ]

    Not understood, t they have besides,

    t upright.

    So t veine

    Stood scoffing, s beyond

    All doubt of victorie, eternal might [ 630 ]

    to matcions they presumd

    So easie, and of hunder made a scorn,

    And all  derided, wood

    A  tood not long,

    Rage prompted t lengthem arms [ 635 ]

    Against suc to oppose.

 15

    Forthe power

    y Angels placd)

    to the hills

    (For Earty from heavn [ 640 ]

    Of pleasure situate in hill and Dale)

    Ligning glimps they flew,

    From tions loosning to and fro

    t ted hir load,

    Rocks, aters, oods, and by tops [ 645 ]

    Up lifting bore thir hands: Amaze,

    Be sure, and terrour seisd t,

    ohey saw

    ttom of tains upurnd,

    till on triple-row [ 650 ]

    thir confidence

    Under t of Mountains buried deep,

    t, and on thir heads

    Main Promontories flung, whe Air

    Came s whole Legions armd, [ 655 ]

    t in and bruisd

    Into tance pent, hem pain

    Implacable, and many a dolorous groan,

    Long strugling underneathey could wind

    Out of sucs of purest light, [ 660 ]

    Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown.

    t in imitation to like Armes

    Betook tore;

    So erd hills

    o and fro ion dire, [ 665 ]

    t under ground, t in dismal shade;

    Infernal noise; arr seemd a civil Game

    to t

    Upon confusion rose: and now all heavn

    o h ruin overspred, [ 670 ]

    tie Fats

    Suarie of heavn secure,

    Consulting on things, foreseen

    tumult, and permitted all, advisd:

    t  purpose  so fulfill, [ 675 ]

    to ed Son avengd

    Upon o declare

    All power on ransferrd: wo his Son

    thus began.

 16

    Effulgence of my Glorie, Son belovd, [ 680 ]

    Son in whose face invisible is beheld

    Visibly, ie I am,

    And in w by Decree I doe,

    Second Omnipotence, t,

    te the dayes of heavn, [ 685 ]

    Since Mic forto tame

    t; sore ,

    As likeliest was, wwo suc armd;

    For to t t,

    Equal in tion they were formd, [ 690 ]

    Save w sin

    Insensibly, for I suspend thir doom;

    ual fig last

    Endless, and no solution will be found:

    arr wearied  arr can do, [ 695 ]

    And to disorderd rage let loose the reines,

    itains as h eapons armd, which makes

    ild he maine.

    t, thine;

    For t, and thus farr [ 700 ]

    thine

    Of ending t arr, since none but thou

    Can end it. Into tue and Grace

    Immense I ransfusd, t all may know

    In hy Power above compare, [ 705 ]

    And tion governd thus,

    to manifest t to be heir

    Of all to be o be King

    By Sacred Unction, t.

    Go tiest in t, [ 710 ]

    Ascend my C, guide the rapid heeles

    t sh all my arr,

    My Boie Arms

    Gird on, and S thigh;

    Pursue t [ 715 ]

    From all o tter Deep:

    t to despise

    God and Messiaed King.

 17

    S [ 720 ]

    Ineffably into his face receivd,

    And the filial Godhead answering spake.

    O Fathrones,

    First, , , Best, t

    to glorifie thee, [ 725 ]

    As is most just; t,

    My exaltation, and my w,

    t t thy will

    Fulfilld, wo fulfil is all my bliss.

    Scepter and Pohy giving, I assume, [ 730 ]

    And gladlier she end

    t be All in All, and I in thee

    For ever, and in mee all w:

    But , I e, and can put on

    terrors, as I put thy mildness on, [ 735 ]

    Image of things; and shall soon,

    Armd , rid hese rebelld,

    to thir prepard ill Mansion driven down

    to ch undying orm,

    t from t obedience could revolt, [ 740 ]

    o obey is ire.

    ts unmixt, and from th impure

    Farr separate, circling t

    Unfeigned o thee sing,

    hem chief. [ 745 ]

    So said, er bowing, rose

    From t e,

    And to shine

    Dah whirl-wind sound

    t of Paternal Deitie, [ 750 ]

    Flashin heele, undrawn,

    It self instinct , but convoyd

    By four Cherubic shapes, four Faces each

    arrs thir bodies all

    And ings  he wheels [ 755 ]

    Of Beril, and careering Fires between;

    Over tal Firmament,

    h pure

    Amber, and colours of the showrie Arch.

    ial Panoplie all armd [ 760 ]

    Of radiant Urim, ,

    Ascended, at  orie

    Sate Eagle-wingd, beside him hung his Bow

    And Quiver ed tord,

    And from about him fierce Effusion rowld [ 765 ]

    Of smoak and bickering flame, and sparkles dire;

    Attended en ts,

    he onward came, farr off his coming shon,

    And tie thir number heard)

    Cs of God, half on each hand were seen: [ 770 ]

    he wings of Cherub rode sublime

    On tallin Skie, in Saphrond.

 18

    Illustrious farr and  by his own

    First seen, ted joy surprizd,

    Ensign of Messiah blazd [ 775 ]

    Aloft by Angels born, his Sign in heavn:

    Under w Michael soon reducd

    her ing,

    Under thir head imbodied all in one.

    Before him Power Divine his way prepard; [ 780 ]

    At ed ird

    Eaco

    Obsequious, ed face renewd,

    And s hill and Valley smild.

    t stood obdurd, [ 785 ]

    And to rebellious fighir Powers

    Insensate, hope conceiving from despair.

    In s could such perverseness dwell?

    But to convince t Signs availe,

    Or onders move te to relent? [ 790 ]

    t mig reclame,

    Grieving to see  t

    took envie, and aspiring to h,

    Stood reimbattelld fierce, by force or fraud

    eening to prosper, and at length prevaile [ 795 ]

    Against God and Messiao fall

    In universal ruin last, and now

    to final Battel dre,

    Or faint retreat; w Son of God

    to all  on eithus spake. [ 800 ]

    Stand still in brigs, and

    Ye Angels armd, ttel rest;

    Faith been your warfare, and of God

    Accepted, fearless in eous Cause,

    And as ye have receivd, so have ye don [ 805 ]

    Invincibly; but of this cursed crew

    t to other hand belongs,

    Vengeance is s;

    Number to t ordaind

    Nor multitude, stand onely and behold [ 810 ]

    Gods indignation on these Godless pourd

    By mee, not you but mee they have despisd,

    Yet envied; against mee is all thir rage,

    Because t whom in heavn supream

    Kingdom and Poains, [ 815 ]

    o his will.

 19

    to mee th assignd;

    t to trie h mee

    In Battel hey all,

    Or I alone against trength [ 820 ]

    ther excellence

    Not emulous, nor care whem excells;

    Nor otrife safe.

    So spake to terrour changd

    nance too severe to be beheld [ 825 ]

    And full of  on his Enemies.

    At once t tarrie wings

    itiguous, and the Orbes

    Of  rohe sound

    Of torrent Floods, or of a numerous . [ 830 ]

    onward drove,

    Gloomie as Night; under his burning heeles

    tedfast Empyrean s,

    All but t self of God. Full soon

    Among t hand [ 835 ]

    Grasping ten t

    Before hir Soules infixd

    Plagues; tonisance lost,

    All courage; dohir idle weapons dropd;

    Ore Shields and helmes, and helmed heads he rode [ 840 ]

    Of ty Seraprate,

    t  be again

    ter from his ire.

    Nor less on eitempestuous fell

    he fourfold-visagd Foure, [ 845 ]

    Distinct he living heels,

    Distinct alike itude of eyes,

    One Spirit in them ruld, and every eye

    Glard lig forth pernicious fire

    Among t, t rength, [ 850 ]

    And of ted vigour left them draind,

    Exed, spiritless, afflicted, falln.

 20

    Yet rengt not fort checkd

    Not to destroy, but root t of heavn: [ 855 ]

    thrown he raisd, and as a heard

    Of Goats or timerous flock togethrongd

    Drove truck, pursud

    iterrors and o the bounds

    And Cal wall of heavn, which opning wide, [ 860 ]

    Rowld inward, and a spacious Gap disclosd

    Into tful Deep; trous sight

    Strook t far worse

    Urgd threw

    Doernal h [ 865 ]

    Burnt after to ttomless pit.

    h unsufferable noise, hell saw

    heavn ruining from heavn and would have fled

    Affrig strict Fate  too deep

    ions, and too fast had bound. [ 870 ]

    Nine dayes they fell; confounded Chaos roard,

    And felt tenfold confusion in thir fall

    t

    Incumberd  last

    Yahem closd, [ 875 ]

    ation fraugh fire

    Unquenche house of woe and paine.

    Disburdnd heavn rejoicd, and soon repaird

    urning w rowld.

    Sole Victor from th expulsion of his Foes [ 880 ]

    Messiariump turnd:

    to meet s, ood

    Eye nesses of ie Acts,

    it,

    S, [ 885 ]

    Sung triumporious King,

    Son, o him Dominion givn,

    ort to Reign: ed rode

    triump to ts

    And temple of ie Fathrond [ 890 ]

    On o Glorie him receavd,

    s at t hand of bliss.

    th

    At t, and t t beware

    By , to thee I have reveald [ 895 ]

    migo human Race bin hid;

    the discord which befel, and arr in heavn

    Among the deep fall

    Of too high aspiring, who rebelld

    itan, ate, [ 900 ]

    ting how he may seduce

    t h him

    Bereavd of  partake

    , Eternal miserie;

    hich would be all his solace and revenge, [ 905 ]

    As a despite don against t high,

    to gaine Companion of his woe.

    But listn not to emptations, warne

    t it profit to have heard

    By terrible Example the reward [ 910 ]

    Of disobedience; firm t ood,

    Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress.