ˇ¶Paradise Lost ˘řˇ·


 THE ARGUMENT

Adam inquires concerning celestial Motions, is doubtfully anso searcs, and still desirous to detain Rapes to  ion, alk ude and fit society,  meeting and Nuptials er admonitions repeated departs.

 1

    thE Angel ended, and in Adams Eare

    So C  he a while

    t ill speaking, still stood fixt to hear;

    t tefully replid.

    t, or w recompence [ 5 ]

    Equal o render thee, Divine

    orian, w allayd

    t I saft

    tion to relate

    things else by me unsearchable, now heard [ 10 ]

    it delight, and, as is due,

    ittributed to the high

    Creator; somet of doubt remaines,

    ion can resolve.

    his orld [ 15 ]

    Of ing, and compute,

    tudes, t, a graine,

    An Atom,  compard

    And all arrs, t seem to rowle

    Spaces incomprehensible (for such [ 20 ]

    tance argues and t return

    Diurnal) meerly to officiate light

    Round tual spot,

    One day and nig survey

    Useless besides, reasoning I oft admire, [ 25 ]

    ure

    Sucions, h superfluous hand

    So many nobler Bodies to create,

    Greater so manifold to this one use,

    For aughir Orbs impose [ 30 ]

    Sucless revolution day by day

    Repeated, h,

    t better migh farr less compass move,

    Servd by more noble ttaines

    least motion, and receaves, [ 35 ]

    As tribute suc

    Of incorporeal speed, ;

    Speed, to describe wness Number failes.

 2

    So spake our Sire, and by nance seemd

    Entring on studious ts abstruse, which Eve [ 40 ]

    Perceaving ird in sight,

    itic from ,

    And Grace t won wo wisay,

    Rose, and  forts and Flours,

    to visit hey prosperd, bud and bloom, [ 45 ]

    her coming sprung

    And toucendance gladlier grew.

    Yet  s, as not h such discourse

    Delig capable her eare

    Of w was high: such pleasure she reservd, [ 50 ]

    Adam relating, sress;

    er she preferrd

    Before to ask

    Cermix

    Grateful digressions, and solve e [ 55 ]

    ith conjugal Caresses, from his Lip

    Not ords alone pleasd  now

    Sucual honour joynd?

    it;

    Not unattended, for on her as Queen [ 60 ]

    A pomp of ed still,

    And from about  Darts of desire

    Into all Eyes to .

    And Rapo Adams doubt proposd

    Benevolent and facil thus replid. [ 65 ]

    to ask or searc, for heavn

    Is as t,

    o read his wondrous orks, and learne

    hs, or Yeares:

    to attain, wh, [ 70 ]

    Imports not, if t, t

    From Man or Angel t Arcect

    Did o conceal, and not divulge

    s to be scannd by t

    Rat to try [ 75 ]

    Conjecture, he heavns

    to tes, pero move

    er at t Opinions wide

    er, wo model heavn

    And calculate tarrs, hey will weild [ 80 ]

    tie frame, rive

    to save appeerances, he Sphear

    itric and Eccentric scribld ore,

    Cycle and Epicycle, Orb in Orb:

    Alreadie by this I guess, [ 85 ]

    to lead t

    t bodies briger s serve

    t bright, nor heavn such journies run,

    Eartting still, when she alone receaves

    t: consider first, t Great [ 90 ]

    Or Brig Excellence: th

    though, in comparison of heavn, so small,

    Nor glistering, may of solid good containe

    More plenty t barren shines,

    ue on it self , [ 95 ]

    But in tful Eart receavd

    ive else, thir vigour find.

 3

    Yet not to Eart Luminaries

    Officious, but to tant.

    And for t, let it speak [ 100 ]

    t

    So spacious, and retc so farr;

    t Man may know  in his own;

    An Edifice too large for o fill,

    Lodgd in a small partition, and t [ 105 ]

    Ordaind for uses to  known.

    tness of ttribute,

    to ence,

    t to corporeal substances could adde

    Speed almost Spiritual; mee t not slow, [ 110 ]

    out from heavn

    here God resides, and ere mid-day arrivd

    In Eden, distance inexpressible

    By Numbers t  this I urge,

    Admitting Motion in to shew [ 115 ]

    Invalid t  it movd;

    Not t I so affirm, t seem

    to t th.

    God to remove his wayes from human sense,

    Placd  eart, [ 120 ]

    If it presume, migoo high,

    And no advantage gaine.  if the Sun

    Be Centre to tarrs

    By tractive vertue and their own

    Incited, dance about him various rounds? [ 125 ]

    then hid,

    Progressive, retrograde, or standing still,

    In six t, and o these

    t Eartedfast though she seem,

    Insensibly t Motions move? [ 130 ]

    o several Sp ascribe,

    Movd contrarie  obliquities,

    Or save t s

    Nocturnal and Diurnal rhomb supposd,

    Invisible else above all Starrs, the heele [ 135 ]

    Of Day and Nig thy beleefe,

    If Eartrious of ch Day

    travelling East, and  averse

    From t Nig

    Still luminous by  if t light [ 140 ]

    Sent from ranspicuous aire,

    to terrestrial Moon be as a Starr

    Enlig

    there,

    Fields and Inants: s t [ 145 ]

    As Clouds, and Clouds may rain, and Rain produce

    Fruits in nd Soile, for some to eate

    Allotted ther Suns perhaps

    ittendant Moons t descrie

    Communicating Male and Femal Light, [ 150 ]

    Sexes animate the orld,

    Stord in eac live.

    For suc room in Nature unpossest

    By living Soule, desert and desolate,

    Onely to s scarce to contribute [ 155 ]

    Eac, conveyd so farr

    Doo table, wurnes

    Ligo to dispute.

 4

    But w,

    in heavn [ 160 ]

    Rise on the Sun,

    his flaming rode begin,

    Or S  course advance

    it spinning sleeps

    On  Axle, while she paces Eevn, [ 165 ]

    And beares t h Air along,

    Sollicit not ts ters hid,

    Leave to God above, him serve and feare;

    Of otures, as ,

    , let hou [ 170 ]

    In his Paradise

    And too high

    to knohere; be lowlie wise:

    t concernes thy being;

    Dream not of ot Creatures there [ 175 ]

    Live, in ate, condition or degree,

    Contented t th been reveald

    Not of Eart of  heavn.

    to w, replid.

    tisfid me, pure [ 180 ]

    Intelligence of heavn, Angel serene,

    And freed from intricacies, taugo live

    t s

    to interrupt t of Life, from which

    God h bid dwell farr off all anxious cares, [ 185 ]

    And not molest us, unless we our selves

    Seek ts, and notions vain.

    But apt to roave

    Unc, and of her roaving is no end;

    till aught, she learne, [ 190 ]

    t not to kno large of te

    From use, obscure and suttle, but to know

    t which before us lies in daily life,

    Is t is more, is fume,

    Or emptiness, or fond impertinence, [ 195 ]

    And renders us in t most concerne

    Unpractisd, unprepard, and still to seek.

 5

    tc us descend

    A lower flig hand

    Useful, wion may arise [ 200 ]

    Of somt unseasonable to ask

    By sufferance, and ted favour deignd.

    ting w was don

    Ere my remembrance: now e

    My Storie,  heard; [ 205 ]

    And Day is yet not spent; till t

    tly to detaine thee I devise,

    Inviting to e,

    Fond,  not in hy reply:

    For hee, I seem in heavn, [ 210 ]

    And ser to my eare

    ts of Palm-tree pleasantest to t

    And  the houre

    Of s repast; tiate, and soon fill,

    t, but th Grace Divine [ 215 ]

    Imbud, bring to tness no satietie.

    to whus Raphael answerd heavnly meek.

    Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men,

    Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee

    Abundantly s h also pourd [ 220 ]

    Inh, his image faire:

    Speaking or mute all comliness and grace

    Attends tion formes

    Nor less th

    t, and inquire [ 225 ]

    Gladly into th Man:

    For God we see

    On Man herefore on;

    For I t Day , as befell,

    Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure, [ 230 ]

    Farr on excursion toes of hell;

    Squard in full Legion (such command we had)

    to see t none th a spie,

    Or enemie, while God was in his work,

    Least  at sucion bold, [ 235 ]

    Destruction ion mig.

 6

    Not t t  tempt,

    But us s

    For state, as Sovran King, and to enure

    Our prompt obedience. Fast  s [ 240 ]

    tes, and barricadod strong;

    But long ere our approachin

    Noise, othe sound of Dance or Song,

    torment, and loud lament, and furious rage.

    Glad urnd up to ts of Light [ 245 ]

    Ere Sabbath Eevning: so we had in charge.

    But tion notend,

    Pleasd h mine.

    So spake thus our Sire.

    For Man to tell how human Life began [ 250 ]

    Is hard; for who himself beginning knew?

    Desire ill longer to converse

    Inducd me. As ne from soundest sleep

    Soft on the flourie herb I found me laid

    In Balmie S, whe Sun [ 255 ]

    Soon drid, and on ture fed.

    Strait toward urnd,

    And gazd a will raisd

    By quick instinctive motion up I sprung,

    As t [ 260 ]

    Stood on my feet; about me round I saw

    hill, Dale, and shadie oods, and sunnie Plaines,

    And liquid Lapse of murmuring Streams; by these,

    Creatures t livd, and movd, and walkd, or flew,

    Birds on things smild, [ 265 ]

    it oreflowd.

    My self I then perusd, and Limb by Limb

    Surveyd, and sometimes , and sometimes ran

    its, as lively vigour led:

    But w cause, [ 270 ]

    Kne; to speak I trid, and forth spake,

    My tongue obeyd and readily could name

    ere I sa,

    And tnd Earth, so fresh and gay,

    Ye hills and Dales, ye Rivers, oods, and Plaines, [ 275 ]

    And ye t live and move, fair Creatures, tell,

    tell, if ye saw, hus, how here?

 7

    Not of my self; by some great Maker then,

    In goodness and in po;

    tell me, how may I know him, how adore, [ 280 ]

    From hus I move and live,

    And feel t I am hen I know.

    rayd I kne wher,

    From  beheld

    t, wurnd, [ 285 ]

    On a green shadie Bank profuse of Flours

    Pensive I sate me dole sleep

    First found me, and  oppression seisd

    My droused sense, untroubld, t

    I to my former state [ 290 ]

    Insensible, and forto dissolve:

    ood at my head a dream,

    ion gently movd

    My Fancy to believe I yet had being,

    And livd: One came, met, of shape Divine, [ 295 ]

    And said, ts thee, Adam, rise,

    First Man, of Men innumerable ordaind

    First Fathy Guide

    to t prepard.

    So saying, by took me raisd, [ 300 ]

    And over Fields and aters, as in Aire

    Smoot step, last led me up

    A ain; wop was plaine,

    A Circuit  trees

    Planted,  w I saw [ 305 ]

    Of Eart seemd. Eacree

    Loadn  Fruit, t o the Eye

    tempting, stirrd in me sudden appetite

    to pluck and eate; w I wakd, and found

    Before mine Eyes all real, as the dream [ 310 ]

    had lively shadowd: here had new begun

    My wandring,  hee who was my Guide

    Up rees appeerd,

    Presence Divine. Rejoycing, but h aw,

    In adoration at  I fell [ 315 ]

    Submiss: st I am,

    Said mildely, Aut

    Above, or round about th.

 8

    t it thine

    to till and keep, and of t to eate: [ 320 ]

    Of every tree t in the Garden growes

    Eate freely ; fear h:

    But of tree wion brings

    Knowledg of good and ill, w

    th, [ 325 ]

    Amid tree of Life,

    Remember o taste,

    And ster consequence: for know,

    tst thereof, my sole command

    transgrest, inevitably t dye; [ 330 ]

    From t day mortal, and tate

    S loose, expelld from o a orld

    Of ernly he pronouncd

    terdiction, which resounds

    Yet dreadful in mine eare, though in my choice [ 335 ]

    Not to incur; but soon

    Returnd and gracious purpose thus renewd.

    Not onely t all th

    to to thy Race I give; as Lords

    Possess it, and all t therein live, [ 340 ]

    Or live in Sea, or Aire, Beast, Fish, and Fowle.

    In signe w behold

    After to receave

    From tie

    ition; understand the same [ 345 ]

    Of Fisry residence,

    Not  change

    t to drahinner Aire.

    As t behold

    Approachese cowring low [ 350 ]

    it, eacoopd on his wing.

    I namd tood

    ture, h such knowledg God endud

    My sudden appre in these

    I found not  I ed still; [ 355 ]

    And to thus presumd.

 9

    O by hese,

    Above mankinde, or aughen mankinde higher,

    Surpassest farr my naming, how may I

    Adore this Universe, [ 360 ]

    And all to man, for whose well being

    So amply, and h hands so liberal

    t provided all t h mee

    I see not ude

    happiness, who can enjoy alone, [ 365 ]

    Or all enjoying, entment find?

    tuous; and t,

    As nd, thus replid.

    callst tude, is not th

    itures, and the Aire [ 370 ]

    Replenis thy command

    to come and play before t t

    they also know,

    And reason not contemptibly; hese

    Find pastime, and beare rule; thy Realm is large. [ 375 ]

    So spake the Universal Lord, and seemd

    So ordering. I h leave of speech implord,

    And ion thus replid.

    Let not my hee, heavnly Power,

    My Maker, be propitious while I speak. [ 380 ]

    t made me itute,

    And t?

    Among unequals ie

    Can sort, ?

    be mutual, in proportion due [ 385 ]

    Givn and receivd; but in disparitie

    tense, till remiss

    Cannot e  soon prove

    tedious alike: Of fellowship I speak

    Suc to participate [ 390 ]

    All rational delige

    Cannot be ; they rejoyce

    Each Lioness;

    So fitly t combind;

    Muc, or Fish Fowle [ 395 ]

    So he Ape;

    ors t, and least of all.

 10

    o ty ans displeasd.

    A nice and suttle </dfn>

    to t, in the choice [ 400 ]

    Of tes, Adam, and  taste

    No pleasure, tarie.

    t tate,

    Seem I to tly possest

    Of ? who am alone [ 405 ]

    From all Eternitie, for none I know

    Second to mee or like, equal much less.

    o hold converse

    Save ures whose

    to me inferiour, infinite descents [ 410 ]

    Beneat otures are to thee?

    o attaine

    ternal wayes

    All s come s, Supream of things;

    t perfet, and in thee [ 415 ]

    Is no deficience found; not so is Man,

    But in degree, the cause of his desire

    By conversation o help,

    Or solace s. No need t thou

    S propagat, already infinite; [ 420 ]

    And te, though One;

    But Man by number is to manifest

    ion, and beget

    Like of iplid,

    In unitie defective, which requires [ 425 ]

    Collateral love, and deerest amitie.

    though alone,

    Best  not

    Social communication, yet so pleasd,

    Canst raise ture to w  [ 430 ]

    Of Union or Communion, deifid;

    I by conversing cannot t

    From prone, nor in thir wayes complacence find.

    thus I emboldnd spake, and freedom usd

    Permissive, and acceptance found, which gaind [ 435 ]

    tious voice Divine.

 11

    to try thee, Adam, I was pleasd,

    And finde t of Beasts alone,

    rig of thy self,

    Expressing  hee free, [ 440 ]

    My Image, not imparted to te,

    for thee

    Good reason  dislike,

    And be so minded still; I, ere t,

    Kne not good for Man to be alone, [ 445 ]

    And no suc

    Intended trial onely brought,

    to see  judge of fit and meet:

    next I bring shee, be assurd,

    t her self, [ 450 ]

    tly to ts desire.

    hee ended, or I heard no more, for now

    My earthly by his heavnly overpowerd,

    ood under, streind to th

    In t celestial Colloquie sublime, [ 455 ]

    As  t excels the sense,

    Dazld and spent, sunk do repair

    Of sleep, ly fell on me, calld

    By Nature as in aide, and closd mine eyes.

    Mine eyes  opn left the Cell [ 460 ]

    Of Fancie my internal sight, by which

    Abstract as in a transe met I saw,

    the shape

    Still glorious before wood;

    ooping opnd my left side, and took [ 465 ]

    From ts warme,

    And Life-blood streaming freshe wound,

    But suddenly h flesh filld up and heald:

    th his hands;

    Under ure grew, [ 470 ]

    Manlike, but different sex, so lovly faire,

    t he orld, seemd now

    Mean, or in aind

    And in  time infusd

    Sness into my , unfelt before, [ 475 ]

    And into all things from her Aire inspird

    t of love and amorous delight.

 12

    S me dark, I wakd

    to find o deplore

    her pleasures all abjure: [ 480 ]

    of  farr off,

    Such as I saw her in my dream, adornd

    it all Eartow

    to make her amiable: On she came,

    Led by hough unseen, [ 485 ]

    And guided by his voice, nor uninformd

    Of nuptial Sanctitie and marriage Rites:

    Grace was in all eps, heavn in her Eye,

    In every gesture dignitie and love.

    I overjoyd could not forbear aloud. [ 490 ]

    turn  fulfilld

    tor bounteous and benigne,

    Giver of all t fairest this

    Of all ts, nor enviest. I now see

    Bone of my Bone, Flesh of my Flesh, my Self [ 495 ]

    Before me; oman is her Name, of Man

    Extracted; for this cause he shall forgoe

    Fato his ife adhere;

    And t, one Soule.

    S, [ 500 ]

    Yet Innocence and Virgin Modestie,

    ue and th,

    t  unsought be won,

    Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retird,

    to say all, [ 505 ]

    Nature ,

    roug seeing me, surnd;

    I followd  was honour knew,

    And ie approvd

    My pleaded reason. to tial Bowre [ 510 ]

    I led he Morn: all heavn,

    And ellations on t houre

    Sest influence; th

    Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill;

    Joyous tle Aires [ 515 ]

    to thir wings

    Flung Rose, flung Odours from the spicie Shrub,

    Disporting, till t

    Sung Spousal, and bid e tarr

    On op, to lighe bridal Lamp. [ 520 ]

 13

    told tate, and brought

    My Storie to thly bliss

    confess to find

    In all t indeed, but such

    As usd or not, he mind no change, [ 525 ]

    Nor ve desire, these delicacies

    I mean of taste, Sigs and Flours,

    alks, and t here

    Farr otransported I behold,

    transported touc I felt, [ 530 ]

    Commotion strange, in all enjoyments else

    Superiour and unmovd, here onely weake

    Against ties powerful glance.

    Or Nature faild in mee, and left some part

    Not proof enoug to sustain, [ 535 ]

    Or from my side subducting, took perhaps

    More t least on owd

    too muc, in outward shew

    Elaborate, of in.

    For and in the prime end [ 540 ]

    Of Nature he mind

    And inies, w excell,

    In outward also her resembling less

    h, and less expressing

    ter of t Dominion givn [ 545 ]

    Ore otures; yet when I approach

    e she seems

    And in , so o know

    w so do or say,

    Seems , vertuousest, discreetest, best; [ 550 ]

    All higher knowledge in her presence falls

    Degraded, isdom in discourse h her

    Looses discountnanct, and like folly shewes;

    Auty and Reason on e,

    As one intended first, not after made [ 555 ]

    Occasionally; and to consummate all,

    Greatness of mind and nobleness t

    Build in , and create an awe

    About .

 14

    to ed brow. [ 560 ]

    Accuse not Nature, s;

    Do t t diffident

    Of isdom, ss t, if thou

    Dismiss not  t her nigh,

    By attributing overmuco things [ 565 ]

    Less excellent, as t.

    For  t transports thee so,

    An outside? fair no doubt, and hy well

    thy love,

    Not tion: weighy self; [ 570 ]

    t times nots more

    teem, grounded on just and right

    ell managd; of t skill t,

    thee her head,

    And to realities yield all her shows: [ 575 ]

    Made so adorn for t the more,

    So a  love

    te,  wise.

    But if touch whereby mankind

    Is propagated seem suc [ 580 ]

    Beyond all otsaft

    to Cattel and eac; w be

    to t

    to subdue

    the Soule of Man, or passion in him move. [ 585 ]

    ie t

    Attractive, ional, love still;

    In loving t ,

    rue Love consists not; love refines

    ts, and  enlarges,  [ 590 ]

    In Reason, and is judicious, is the scale

    By wo  ascend,

    Not sunk in carnal pleasure, for which cause

    Among ts no Mate for thee was found.

    to w Adam replid. [ 595 ]

 15

    Neit-side formd so fair, nor aught

    In procreation common to all kindes

    (the genial Bed by far,

    And erious reverence I deem)

    So mucs me as ts, [ 600 ]

    t daily flow

    From all ions mixt h Love

    And s compliance, which declare unfeignd

    Union of Mind, or in us both one Soule;

    o behold in wedded pair [ 605 ]

    More grateful to the eare.

    Yet t not; I to thee disclose

    in therefore foild,

    s, from the sense

    Variously representing; yet still free [ 610 ]

    Approve t, and follow w I approve.

    to Love t me not, for love t

    Leads up to he way and guide;

    Bear  I ask;

    Love not ts, and hir Love [ 615 ]

    Express they mix

    Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch?

    to w glowd

    Celestial rosie red, Loves proper hue,

    Ans it suffice t t [ 620 ]

    Us  Love no happiness.

    ever pure t

    (And pure t created) we enjoy

    In eminence, and obstacle find none

    Of membrane, joynt, or limb, exclusive barrs: [ 625 ]

    Easier ts embrace,

    total th Pure

    Desiring; nor restraind conveyance need

    As Fleso mix h Soul.

    But I can noing Sun [ 630 ]

    Beyond t Isles

    s, my Signal to depart.

    Be strong, live  first of all

    o love is to obey, and keep

    command; take  Passion sway [ 635 ]

    t to do aught, which else free ill

    ould not admit; thy Sons

    t; beware.

    I in thy persevering shall rejoyce,

    And all t: stand fast; to stand or fall [ 640 ]

    Free in trement it lies.

    Perfet ward aid require;

    And all temptation to transgress repel.

    So saying, hus

    Folloion. Since to part, [ 645 ]

    Go , Ethereal Messenger,

    Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore.

    Gentle to me and affable h been

    thy condescension, and shall be honourd ever

    iteful Memorie: to mankind [ 650 ]

    Be good and friendly still, and oft return.

    So parted to heavn

    From to his Bowre.