ˇ¶Paradise Lost ˘úˇ·


 THE ARGUMENT

    Mans transgression knourn up to o approve t trance of Satan could not be by ted. o judge transgressors, y cloatting till t tes of an in tted, resolve to sit no longer confind in  to folloan to to make to to and fro, to track t Satan first made; t urning to ual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemonium, in full of assembly relates ing  Man; instead of applause is entertained ransformd o Serpents, according to ree springing up before to take of t, c and bitter asels tory of  for t commands o make several alterations in ts. Adam more and more perceiving ion s t of Eve; ss and at lengto evade to fall on to Adam violent  conceiving better s e Promise made t , and exs o seek Peace of ty, by repentance and supplication.

 1

    MEan

    Of Satan done in Paradise, and how

    , ed Eve,

    o taste tall fruit,

    as knohe Eye [ 5 ]

    Of God All-seeing, or deceave

    Omniscient, w,

    Satan to attempt the minde

    Of Man, rengtire, and free will armd,

    Complete to  [ 10 ]

    ever wiles of Foe or seeming Friend.

    For still t to ill rememberd

    tion not to taste t Fruit,

    empted; w obeying,

    Incurrd, ie, [ 15 ]

    And manifold in sin, deservd to fall.

    Up into e

    te and sad

    For Man, for of ate by they knew,

    Muctle Fiend oln [ 20 ]

    Entrance unseen. Soon as th unwelcome news

    From Eart e, displeasd

    All were w spare

    t time Celestial visages, yet mixt

    itie, violated not thir bliss. [ 25 ]

    About titudes

    to hear and know

    ohrone Supream

    Accountable made e to make appear

    iteous plea, tmost vigilance, [ 30 ]

    And easily approvd; w high

    Eternal Fat Cloud,

    Amidst in tterd thus his voice.

    Assembld Angels, and ye Pournd

    From unsuccessful c dismaid, [ 35 ]

    Nor troubld at tidings from th,

    care could not prevent,

    Foretold so lately o pass,

    tempter crossd the Gulf from hell.

 2

    I told ye then he should prevail and speed [ 40 ]

    On

    And flatterd out of all, believing lies

    Against his Maker; no Decree of mine

    Concurring to necessitate his Fall,

    Or toucest moment of impulse [ 45 ]

    o

    In eevn scale. But falln he is, and now

    rests but t tal Sentence pass

    On ransgression Deat t day,

    hich he presumes already vain and void, [ 50 ]

    Because not yet inflicted, as he feard,

    By some immediate stroak; but soon shall find

    Forbearance no acquittance ere day end.

    Justice s return as bountie scornd.

    But  thee [ 55 ]

    Vicegerent Son, to transferrd

    All Judgement wh, or hell.

    Easie it mig I intend

    Mercie collegue ice, sending thee

    Mans Friend or, his designd [ 60 ]

    Botarie,

    And destind Man o judge Man falln.

    So spake t

    to he Son

    Blazd fortie; he full [ 65 ]

    Resplendent all

    Expressd, and thus divinely answerd milde.

    Faternal, to decree,

    Mine boto do thy will

    Supream, t thy Son belovd [ 70 ]

    Mayst ever rest o judge

    On Eartransgressors, but t,

    on mee must light,

    ime sook

    Before t repenting, taine [ 75 ]

    Of rig I may mitigate thir doom

    On me derivd, yet I semper so

    Justice rate most

    tisfied, and thee appease.

 3

    Attendance none srain, where none [ 80 ]

    Are to be, but the judgd,

    t absent is condemnd,

    Convict by fligo all Law

    Conviction to t none belongs.

    t Seat he rose [ 85 ]

    Of eral glorie: hrones and Powers,

    Princedoms, and Dominations ministrant

    Accompanied to e, from whence

    Eden and all t in prospect lay.

    Do; the speed of Gods [ 90 ]

    time counts not, test minutes wingd.

    Noern cadence low

    From Noon, and gentle Aires due at thir hour

    to fan th now wakd, and usher in

    th more coole [ 95 ]

    Came tercessor both

    to sentence Man: they heard

    No windes

    Brougo they heard,

    And from hemselves among [ 100 ]

    t trees, botill God

    Approaco Adam calld aloud.

    t o meet

    My coming seen far off? I miss thee here,

    Not pleasd, tertaind ude, [ 105 ]

    ie erew:

    Or come I less conspicuous, or w change

    Absents t cains? Come forth.

    to offend, discountnanct both, and discomposd; [ 110 ]

    Love  in to God

    Or to eac apparent guilt,

    And surbation, and despaire,

    Anger, and obstinacie, and e, and guile.

    ring long, thus answerd brief. [ 115 ]

    I hy voice

    Affraid, being naked, o whom

    t revile replid.

 4

    My voice t   not feard,

    But still rejoyct,  now become [ 120 ]

    So dreadful to t t naked, who

    old t ten of tree

    not eat?

    to w replid.

    O rait tand [ 125 ]

    Before my Judge, eito undergoe

    My self total Crime, or to accuse

    My otner of my life;

    o me remaines,

    I s expose to blame [ 130 ]

    By my complaint; but strict necessitie

    Subdues me, and calamitous constraint

    Least on my ,

    able, be all

    Devolvd; t thou [ 135 ]

    ouldst easily detect w I conceale.

    t to be my help,

    And gavst me as t gift, so good,

    So fit, so acceptable, so Divine,

    t from  no ill, [ 140 ]

    And  self,

    o justifie the deed;

    Sree, and I did eate.

    to whus replid.

    as s  obey [ 145 ]

    Before hy guide,

    Superior, or but equal, t to her

    t resigne the Place

    thee,

    And for tion farr excelld [ 150 ]

    ie: Adornd

    So attract

    t tion, and s

    ere suc well seemd,

    Unseemly to beare rule, w [ 155 ]

    And person,  t.

    So o Eve in few:

    Say oman,  done?

 5

    to wh shame nigh overwhelmd,

    Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge [ 160 ]

    Bold or loquacious, t replid.

    t me beguild and I did eate.

    delay

    to Judgement h accusd

    Serpent te, unable to transferre [ 165 ]

    t on rument

    Of misced from the end

    Of ion; justly t,

    As vitiated in Nature: more to know

    Concernd not Man (since her knew) [ 170 ]

    Nor alterd  God at last

    to Satan first in sin his doom applyd

    terious terms, judgd as t:

    And on t t fall.

    Because t done t accurst [ 175 ]

    Above all Cattle, eac of the Field;

    Upon t goe,

    And dust s eat all thy Life.

    Bet

    Enmitie, and bethine and her Seed; [ 180 ]

    hou bruise his heel.

    So spake then verifid

    hen Jesus son of Mary second Eve,

    Saan fall like Lightning down from heavn,

    Prince of then rising from his Grave [ 185 ]

    Spoild Principalities and Poriumpht

    In open sion bright

    Captivity led captive the Aire,

    t self of Satan long usurpt,

    read at last under our feet; [ 190 ]

    Eevn old al bruise,

    And to tence turnd.

    tly multiplie

    By tion; C bring

    In sorroo thy husbands will [ 195 ]

    t, hee shall rule.

    On Adam last t he pronouncd.

 6

    Because t o thy ife,

    And eaten of tree concerning which

    I c not eate thereof, [ 200 ]

    Cursd is thou in sorrow

    S eate thy Life;

    tles it sh

    Unbid, and t eate th Field,

    In t of t t Bread, [ 205 ]

    till turn unto thou

    Out of t taken, knoh,

    For dust t, and s to dust returne.

    So judgd ,

    And tant stroke of Deat t day [ 210 ]

    Removd farr off; ttying ood

    Before o t now

    Must suffer c to begin

    t to assume,

    As  so now [ 215 ]

    As Father of his Familie he clad

    ts, or slain,

    Or as te repaid;

    And t not muco cloath his Enemies:

    Nor he Skins [ 220 ]

    Of Beasts, but inward nakedness, much more

    Opprobrious, eousness,

    Araying coverd from .

    to  ascent urnd,

    Into his blissful bosom reassumd [ 225 ]

    In glory as of old, to him appeasd

    All, t  h Man

    Recounted, mixing intercession s.

    Meanwh,

    ites of e Sin and Death, [ 230 ]

    In counterviees, t now

    Stood open wide, belcrageous flame

    Farr into Chrough,

    Sin opening, h began.

 7

    O Son, w we her viewing [ 235 ]

    Idlely,  Authrives

    In ot provides

    For us  cannot be

    But t success attends him; if mishap,

    Ere turnd, h fury drivn [ 240 ]

    By his

    Can fit , or their revenge.

    Metrengthin me rise,

    ings growing, and Dominion givn me large

    Beyond tever drawes me on, [ 245 ]

    Or sympatural force

    Po greatest distance to unite

    it amity things of like kinde

    By secretest conveyance. thou my Shade

    Inseparable must h mee along: [ 250 ]

    For Deate.

    But least tie of passing back

    Stay urn perhis Gulfe

    Impassable, Impervious, let us try

    Adventrous  to thy power and mine [ 255 ]

    Not unagreeable, to found a path

    Over to t new orld

    an no

    Of merit o all t,

    Easing tercourse, [ 260 ]

    Or transmigration, as t shall lead.

    Nor can I miss trongly drawn

    By t attraction and instinct.

    he meager Shadow answerd soon.

    Goe ion strong [ 265 ]

    Leads t lag behinde, nor erre

    t I draw

    Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste

    t live:

    Nor so terprisest [ 270 ]

    Be ing, but afford thee equal aid,

    So saying,  he smell

    Of mortal ch. As when a flock

    Of ravenous Foe,

    Against ttel, to a Field, [ 275 ]

    , come flying, lurd

    it of living Carcasses designd

    For deat.

 8

    So sented ture, and upturnd

    ril o the murkie Air, [ 280 ]

    Sagacious of his Quarry from so farr.

    t es into te

    ide Anarchie of Chaos damp and dark

    Fle)

    ers;  [ 285 ]

    Solid or slimie, as in raging Sea

    tost up and doogether crowded drove

    From eacoh of hell.

    As wwo Polar inds blowing adverse

    Upon together drive [ 290 ]

    Mountains of Ice, t stop th imagind way

    Beyond Petsora Easto the rich

    Cat. ted Soyle

    Deatrific, cold and dry,

    As rident smote, and fixt as firm [ 295 ]

    As Delos floating once; t his look

    Bound  to move,

    And ic slime; broad as te,

    Deep to ts of herd beach

    tend, and t on [ 300 ]

    Over t, a Bridge

    Of lengto the all

    Immovable of this now fenceless world

    Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad,

    Smooto hell. [ 305 ]

    So, if great to small may be compard,

    Xerxes, tie of Greece to yoke,

    From Susa his Memnonian Palace high

    Came to t

    Bridging h Asia joynd, [ 310 ]

    And scourgd roak t waves.

    No

    Pontifical, a ridge of pendent Rock

    Over t Abyss, follorack

    Of Satan, to the self same place where hee [ 315 ]

    First lighted from his ing, and landed safe

    From out of Co t side bare

    Of t

    And C, too fast they made

    And durable; and notle space [ 320 ]

    t of Empyrean heavn

    And of t hand hell

    iterposd; three sevral wayes

    In sigo eachree places led.

 9

    And noo Earthey had descrid, [ 325 ]

    to Paradise first tending, when behold

    Satan in likeness of an Angel bright

    Bet taure and tearing

    he Sun in Aries rose:

    Disguisd  those his Children dear [ 330 ]

    t soon discernd, though in disguise.

    er Eve seduct, unminded slunk

    Into t by, and changing shape

    to observe t

    By Eve, ting, seconded [ 335 ]

    Upon  sought

    Vain covertures; but when he saw descend

    to judge terrifid

    o escape, but shun

    t, fearing guiltie w h [ 340 ]

    Mig; t past, returnd

    By Nigening whe hapless Paire

    Sate in t,

    tood

    Not instant, but of future time. ith joy [ 345 ]

    And tidings fraugo urnd,

    And at t

    Of tifice, un

    Met  him came, his Ofspring dear.

    Great joy  ting, and at sight [ 350 ]

    Of t stupendious Bridge his joy encreasd.

    Long ood, till Sin, his faire

    Incing Daughe silence broke.

    O Parent, thy magnific deeds,

    trop as not thine own, [ 355 ]

    t tect:

    For I no sooner in my  divind,

    My , w harmonie

    Still moves ,

    t t prosperd, why looks [ 360 ]

    No straig

    tant from t felt

    t I must after thy Son;

    Sucal consequence unites us three:

    hell could no longer hold us in her bounds, [ 365 ]

    Nor this unvoyageable Gulf obscure

    Detain from follorious track.

 10

    t atcie, confind

    ites till nohou us impowrd

    to fortifie thus farr, and overlay [ 370 ]

    itentous Bridge the dark Abyss.

    tue h won

    t, thy isdom gaind

    it arr , and fully avengd

    Our foile in  Monarch reign, [ 375 ]

    t not; t ill Victor sway,

    As Battel his new orld

    Retiring, by ed,

    And hee divide

    Of all ted by th Empyreal bounds, [ 380 ]

    ure, from thy Orbicular orld,

    Or trie to hrone.

    he Prince of Darkness answerd glad.

    Fair Daugh,

    o be the Race [ 385 ]

    Of Satan (for I glorie in the name,

    Antagonist of ie King)

    Amply ed of me, of all

    t so neer heavns dore

    triumpriump , [ 390 ]

    Mine his glorious ork, and made one Realm

    inent

    Of easie therefore while I

    Descend th ease

    to my associate Poo acquaint [ 395 ]

    ithem rejoyce,

    You these numerous Orbs

    All yours, rigo Paradise descend;

    th

    Dominion exercise and in the Aire, [ 400 ]

    Chiefly on Man, sole Lord of all declard,

    make sure your tly kill.

    My Substitutes I send ye, and Create

    Plenipotent on Eartc

    Issuing from mee: on your joynt vigor now [ 405 ]

    My his new Kingdom all depends,

    to Deat.

 11

    If your joynt poh affaires of hell

    No detriment need feare, goe and be strong.

    So saying h speed [ 410 ]

    t Constellations held

    Spreading ted Starrs lookt wan,

    And Planets, Planet-strook, real Eclips

    tan  down

    to e; on either side [ 415 ]

    Disparted C exclaimd,

    And he barrs assaild,

    t scornd ion: te,

    ide open and unguarded, Satan passd,

    And all about found desolate; for those [ 420 ]

    Appointed to sit t thir charge,

    Floo t were all

    Farr to tird, about the walls

    Of Pand?monium, Citie and proud seate

    Of Lucifer, so by allusion calld, [ 425 ]

    Of t brigarr to Satan paragond.

    t tche Grand

    In Council sate, sollicitous w chance

    Migercept t, so hee

    Departing gave command, and they observd. [ 430 ]

    As ar from his Russian Foe

    By Astracan over the Snowie Plaines

    Retires, or Bactrian Sophe hornes

    Of turkis, leaves all e beyond

    treate [ 435 ]

    to tauris or Casbeen. So te

    , left desert utmost hell

    Many a dark League, reduct in careful atch

    Round tropolis, and noing

    Eac adventurer from the search [ 440 ]

    Of Forrein orlds:  unmarkt,

    In sant

    Of lo order, past; and from the dore

    Of t Plutonian hall, invisible

    Ascended ate [ 445 ]

    Of ric texture spred, at th upper end

    as plact in regal lustre. Down a while

    e, and round about him saw unseen:

    At last as from a Cloud  head

    And sarr briger, clad [ 450 ]

    it permissive glory since his fall

    as left ter: All amazd

    At t so sudden blaze tygian throng

    Bent t, and whey wishd beheld,

    ty Curnd: loud h acclaime: [ 455 ]

    Forte t consulting Peers,

    Raisd from th like joy

    Congratulant approach hand

    Silence, and tention won.

 12

    tions, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers, [ 460 ]

    For in possession suc onely of right,

    I call ye and declare ye nournd

    Successful beyond o lead ye forth

    triump out of t

    Abominable, accurst, the house of woe, [ 465 ]

    And Dungeon of our tyrant: Now possess,

    As Lords, a spacious orld, to our native heaven

    Little inferiour, by my adventure hard

    it atco tell

    I  sufferd,  paine [ 470 ]

    Voyagd t, unbounded deep

    Of horrible confusion, over which

    By Sin and Death a broad way now is pavd

    to expedite your glorious marc I

    toild out my uncout to ride [ 475 ]

    tractable Abysse, plungd in the womb

    Of unoriginal Night and Chaos wilde,

    t jealous of ts fiercely opposd

    My journey strange, h clamorous uproare

    Protesting Fate supreame; thence how I found [ 480 ]

    ted orld, which fame in heavn

    Long old, a Fabrick wonderful

    Of absolute perfection, therein Man

    Plact in a Paradise, by our exile

    Made happie: him by fraud I have seducd [ 485 ]

    From or, and to increase

    Your

    Offended, er, h givn up

    Both his beloved Man and all his orld,

    to Sin and Deato us, [ 490 ]

    it our hazard, labour, or allarme,

    to range in, and to dwell, and over Man

    to rule, as over all he should have ruld.

    true is, mee also her

    Mee not, but te Serpent in whose shape [ 495 ]

    Man I deceavd: t wo mee belongs,

    Is enmity, ween

    Mee and Mankinde; I am to bruise his heel;

    set, shall bruise my head:

    A orld w purch a bruise, [ 500 ]

    Or muc

    Of my performance:  remains, ye Gods,

    But up and enter noo full bliss.

 13

    So ood, expecting

    t and high applause [ 505 ]

    to fill rary he hears

    On all sides, from innumerable tongues

    A dismal universal he sound

    Of public scorn;  not long

    himself now more; [ 510 ]

    to sharp and spare,

    o wining

    Eacill supplanted down he fell

    A monstrous Serpent on his Belly prone,

    Reluctant, but in vaine: a greater power [ 515 ]

    Nohe shape he sind,

    According to his doom: he would have spoke,

    But urnd ongue

    to forked tongue, for noransformd

    Alike, to Serpents all as accessories [ 520 ]

    to : dreadful he din

    Of hick swarming now

    ited monsters aile,

    Scorpion and Asp, and Amphisb?na dire,

    Cerastes hornd, hydrus, and Ellops drear, [ 525 ]

    And Dipsas (not so the Soil

    Bedropt he Isle

    Op still greatest ,

    Nohe Sun

    Ingenderd in thian Vale on slime, [ 530 ]

    hon, and his Power no less he seemd

    Above t still to retain; they all

    o th open Field,

    left of t revolted Rout

    ation stood or just array, [ 535 ]

    Sublime ation wo see

    In triumphir glorious Chief;

    t ot instead, a crowd

    Of ugly Serpents; hem fell,

    And  they saw, [ 540 ]

    t thir arms,

    Do,

    And the dire form

    Catcagion, like in punis,

    As in t, [ 545 ]

    turnd to exploding riumpo shame

    Cast on tood

    A Grove hir change,

    o aggravate

    t like t [ 550 ]

    of Eve

    Usd by tempter: on t prospect strange

    t eyes they fixd, imagining

    For one forbidden tree a multitude

    Noo hem furder woe or shame; [ 555 ]

    Yet parc and hunger fierce,

    to delude t, could not abstain,

    But on trees

    Climbing, sat the snakie locks

    t curld Meg?ra: greedily they pluckd [ 560 ]

    tage fair to sig which grew

    Neer t bituminous Lake where Sodom flamd;

    t touc taste

    Deceavd; to allay

    tite , instead of Fruit [ 565 ]

    Cter Asaste

    ittering noise rejected: oft they assayd,

    constraining, drugd as oft,

    itefullest disrelishir jaws

    it and cinders filld; so oft they fell [ 570 ]

    Into t as Man

    riump. they plagud

    And h Famin, long and ceasless hiss,

    till t sted, they resumd,

    Yearly enjoynd, some say, to undergo [ 575 ]

    tain numberd days,

    to das.

 14

    radition they dispersd

    Among t,

    And Fabld , whey calld [ 580 ]

    Ophe wide-

    Encroac the rule

    Of urn drivn

    And Ops, ere yet Dict?an Jove was born.

    Mean whe hellish pair [ 585 ]

    too soon arrivd, Sin there in power before,

    Once actual, noo dwell

    ual ant; beh

    Close follo mounted yet

    On o whus began. [ 590 ]

    Second of Satan sprung, all conquering Death,

    t though earnd

    itravail difficult, not better farr

    til at o e ch,

    Unnamd, undreaded, and tarvd? [ 595 ]

    er answerd soon.

    to mee, wernal Famin pine,

    Alike is hell, or Paradise, or heaven,

    t, ;

    eous, all too little seems [ 600 ]

    to stuff t unhide-bound Corps.

    to hus replid.

    ts, and Flours

    Feed first, on eac next, and Fish, and Fowle,

    No ever thing [ 605 ]

    time mowes down, devour unspard,

    till I in Man residing the Race,

    s, ions all infect,

    And season  and sest prey.

    took them several wayes, [ 610 ]

    Boto destroy, or unimmortal make

    All kinds, and for destruction to mature

    Sooner or later; wie seeing,

    From ranscendent Seat ts among,

    to t Orders utterd thus his voice. [ 615 ]

 15

    See   these Dogs of hell advance

    to e and havoc yonder orld, which I

    So fair and good created, and ill

    Kept in t State,  the folly of Man

    Let in tful Furies, we [ 620 ]

    Folly to mee, so dothe Prince of hell

    And s, t h so much ease

    I suffer to enter and possess

    A place so heavnly, and conniving seem

    to gratifie my scornful Enemies, [ 625 ]

    t laugransported

    Of Passion, I to tted all,

    At random yielded up to their misrule;

    And kno t I calld and dreher

    My o lick up th [ 630 ]

    ing Sin aint h shed

    On ill crammd and gorgd, nig

    it and glutted offal, at one sling

    Of torious Arm, well-pleasing Son,

    Bot last [ 635 ]

    truct th of hell

    For ever, and seal up his ravenous Jawes.

    th renewd shall be made pure

    to sanctitie t saine:

    till t on both precedes. [ 640 ]

    he heavnly Audience loud

    Sung he sound of Seas,

    titude t sung: Just are thy ways,

    Righy orks;

    enuate t, to the Son, [ 645 ]

    Destind restorer of Mankind, by whom

    Nehe Ages rise,

    Or down from hir song,

    or calling forth by name

    ie Angels gave them several charge, [ 650 ]

    As sorted best  the Sun

    so to move, so shine,

    As mig t

    Scarce tollerable, and from to call

    Decrepit inter, from to bring [ 655 ]

    Solstitial summers . to the blanc Moone

    o ther five

    tarie motions and aspects

    In Sextile, Square, and trine, and Opposite,

    Of noxious efficacie, and wo joyne [ 660 ]

    In Synod unbenigne, and taug

    t wo showre,

    he Sun, or falling,

    Sempestuous: to t

    ter to confound [ 665 ]

    Sea, Aire, and So rowle

    iterror the dark Aereal hall.

 16

    Some say urne ascanse

    ten degrees and more

    From th labour pushd [ 670 ]

    Oblique tric Globe: Som say the Sun

    as bid turn Reines from tial Rode

    Like distant breadto taurus he Seavn

    Atlantick Sisters, and tan twins

    Up to tropic Crab; thence down amaine [ 675 ]

    By Leo and the Scales,

    As deep as Capricorne, to bring in change

    Of Seasons to eache Spring

    Perpetual smild on Eart Flours,

    Equal in Days and Nig to those [ 680 ]

    Beyond to them Day

    ed she low Sun

    to recompence ance, in t

    ill t known

    Or East or est, whe Snow [ 685 ]

    From cold Estotiland, and South as farr

    Beneat t tasted Fruit

    tean Banquet, turnd

    ended; else he orld

    Ined, then now, [ 690 ]

    Avoided pince?

    though slow, producd

    Like c,

    Vapour, and Mist, and Exion ,

    Corrupt and Pestilent: Noh [ 695 ]

    Of Norumbega, and the Samoed shoar

    Bursting th ice

    And sno and flaw,

    Boreas and C?cias and Argestes loud

    And turn; [ 700 ]

    it up-turns th

    Notus and Afer black hundrous Clouds

    From Serraliona; t of these as fierce

    Fort and t indes

    Eurus and Zeperal noise, [ 705 ]

    Sirocco, and Libecchus began

    Outrage from liveless t Discord first

    Daugional,

    Deatroducd tipathie:

    Beast no gan h Fowle, [ 710 ]

    And Fiso graze the herb all leaving,

    Devourd eacood much in awe

    Of Man, but fled nance grim

    Glard on

    the growing miseries, which Adam saw [ 715 ]

    Alreadie in part, t shade,

    to sorro  hin,

    And in a troubld Sea of passion tost,

    to disburdn soug.

 17

    O miserable of he end [ 720 ]

    Of te

    t Glory, who now becom

    Accurst of blessed, he face

    Of God, wo beh

    Of  well, if here would end [ 725 ]

    t, and would beare

    My o t serve;

    All t I eat or drink, or s,

    Is propagated curse. O voice once heard

    Deligiply, [ 730 ]

    Noo  can I encrease

    Or multiplie, but curses on my head?

    o succeed, but feeling

    t by me, will curse

    My or impure, [ 735 ]

    For t hanks

    Sion; so besides

    Mine o bide upon me, all from mee

    Sh a fierce reflux on mee redound,

    On mee as on tural center light [ 740 ]

    ing joyes

    Of Paradise, deare bouging woes!

    Did I request thee, Maker, from my Clay

    to mould me Man, did I sollicite thee

    From darkness to promote me, or here place [ 745 ]

    In this delicious Garden? as my ill

    Concurd not to my being, it  right

    And equal to reduce me to my dust,

    Desirous to resigne, and render back

    All I receavd, unable to performe [ 750 ]

    terms too o hold

    t not. to t,

    Sufficient penaltie, hou added

    the sense of endless woes? inexplicable

    tice seems; yet to say trutoo late, [ 755 ]

    I test; then should have been refusd

    terms wever, whey were proposd:

    t accept t the good,

    tions? and though God

    Made t t if thy Son [ 760 ]

    Prove disobedient, and reprovd, retort,

    t me? I soug not

    ouldst t for empt of thee

    t proud excuse? yet  tion,

    But Natural necessity begot. [ 765 ]

 18

    God made thee of choice his own, and of his own

    to serve hy reward was of his grace,

    t tly is at his ill.

    Be it so, for I submit, his doom is fair,

    t dust I am, and so dust returne: [ 770 ]

    O welcom hour whenever! why delayes

    o execute w his Decree

    Fixd on this day? why do I overlive,

    to deat [ 775 ]

    Mortalitie my sentence, and be Earth

    Insensible, how glad would lay me down

    As in my Mot

    And sleep secure; his dreadful voice no more

    ould thunder in my ears, no fear of worse [ 780 ]

    to mee and to my ofspring orment me

    itation. Yet one doubt

    Pursues me still, least all I cannot die,

    Least t pure breat of Man

    together perish [ 785 ]

    ithe Grave,

    Or in some other dismal place who knows

    But I s

    rue! yet  breath

    Of Life t sinnd;  w had life [ 790 ]

    And sin? ther.

    All of me t this appease

    t, since her knows.

    For te,

    Is , man is not so, [ 795 ]

    But mortal doomd. how can he exercise

    rat end on Man w end?

    Can  o make

    Strange contradiction, wo God himself

    Impossible is  [ 800 ]

    Of  of Power. ill ,

    For angers sake, finite to infinite

    In puniso satisfie his rigour

    Satisfid never; t o extend

    ence beyond dust and Natures Law, [ 805 ]

    By will

    to tion of tter act,

    Not to tent of t say

    t Deat one stroak, as I supposd,

    Bereaving sense, but endless miserie [ 810 ]

    From this day onward, which I feel begun

    Bot me, and so last

    to perpetuitie; Ay me, t fear

    Comes tion

    On my defensless h and I [ 815 ]

    Am found Eternal, and incorporate both,

    Nor I on my part single, in mee all

    Posteritie stands curst: Fair Patrimonie

    t I must leave ye, Sons; O were I able

    to e it all my self, and leave ye none! [ 820 ]

 19

    So disined how would ye bless

    Me now your curse! Ah, why should all mankind

    For one mans fault tless be condemnd,

    If guiltless? But from mee w can proceed,

    But all corrupt, both Mind and ill depravd, [ 825 ]

    Not to do onely, but to he same

    itted stand

    In siger all Disputes

    Forct I absolve: all my evasions vain

    And reasonings, till [ 830 ]

    But to my oion: first and last

    On mee, mee onely, as the sourse and spring

    Of all corruption, all ts due;

    So mig t

    t burden o bear [ 835 ]

    though divided

    it bad oman? t t,

    And , alike destroyes all hope

    Of refuge, and concludes thee miserable

    Beyond all past example and future, [ 840 ]

    to Satan only like both crime and doom.

    O Conscience, into w Abyss of fears

    And  t of which

    I find no o deeper plungd!

    to ed loud [ 845 ]

    till Nig now, as ere man fell,

    h black Air

    Accompanied, h damps and dreadful gloom,

    o ed

    All terror: On the ground [ 850 ]

    Outstretc

    Cursd ion, Deat accusd

    Of tardie execution, since denounct

    t Death,

    Said able stroke [ 855 ]

    to end me? Sruto keep her word,

    Justice Divine not n to be just?

    But Deat at call, Justice Divine

    Mends not  pace for prayers or cries.

    O oods, O Fountains, hillocks, Dales and Bowrs, [ 860 ]

    ite I taught your Shades

    to ansher Song.

 20

    ed when sad Eve beheld,

    Desolate we, approaching nigh,

    Soft o his fierce passion she assayd: [ 865 ]

    But ern regard hus repelld.

    Out of my sig, t name best

    Befits thy self as false

    And eful; nots, but t thy shape,

    Like ine may shew [ 870 ]

    to ures from thee

    t too ended

    to  for thee

    I ed  thy pride

    And ie, w was safe, [ 875 ]

    Rejected my forewarning, and disdaind

    Not to be trusted, longing to be seen

    the Devil himself, him overweening

    to over-reac  meeting

    Foold and beguild, by hee, [ 880 ]

    to trust thee from my side, imagind wise,

    Constant, mature, proof against all assaults,

    And understood not all  a shew

    Ratu, all but a Rib

    Crooked by nature, bent, as now appears, [ 885 ]

    More to t sinister from me drawn,

    ell if t, as supernumerarie

    to my just number found. O why did God,

    Creator  peopld  heavn

    its Masculine, create at last [ 890 ]

    tie on Eart

    Of Nature, and not fill t once

    it Feminine,

    Or find some oto generate

    Mankind? t then befalln, [ 895 ]

    And more t shall befall, innumerable

    Disturbances on Earthrough Femal snares,

    And straigion her

    fit Mate, but such

    As some misfortune brings ake, [ 900 ]

    Or w shall seldom gain

    t shall see her gaind

    By a farr worse, or if shheld

    By Parents, or  coo late

    S, alreadie linkt and edlock-bound [ 905 ]

    to a fell Adversarie, e or shame:

    e calamitie shall cause

    to humane life, and houshold peace confound.

 21

    , and from urnd, but Eve

    Not so repulst, ears t ceasd not flowing, [ 910 ]

    And tresses all disorderd, at

    Fell

    .

    Forsake me not tness heavn

    love sincere, and reverence in my  [ 915 ]

    I beare ting have offended,

    Un

    I beg, and clasp t,

    le looks, thy aid,

    ttermost distress, [ 920 ]

    My onely strengtay: forlorn of thee,

    ake me, w?

    we live, scarse one s hour perhaps,

    Bet th joyning,

    As joynd in injuries, one enmitie [ 925 ]

    Against a Foe by doom express assignd us,

    t cruel Serpent: On me exercise not

    tred for this miserie befalln,

    On me alreadie lost, mee thy self

    More miserable; bot thou [ 930 ]

    Against God onely, I against God and thee,

    And to t urn,

    tune  all

    tence from t

    On me, sole cause to this woe, [ 935 ]

    Mee mee onely just object of his ire.

    S,

    Immovable till peace obtaind from fault

    Ackno

    Commiseration; soon  relented [ 940 ]

    to,

    No  submissive in distress,

    Creature so faire  seeking,

    his counsel whom she had displeasd, his aide;

    As one disarmd, , [ 945 ]

    And th peaceful words upraisd her soon.

    Unoo desirous, as before,

    So no not, w

    t all on thy self; alas,

    Beare t, ill able to sustaine [ 950 ]

    as yet lest part,

    And my displeasure bearst so ill. If Prayers

    Could alter o t place

    ould speed before thee, and be louder heard,

    t on my  be visited, [ 955 ]

    tie and infirmer Sex forgivn,

    to me committed and by me exposd.

 22

    But rise, let us no more contend, nor blame

    Eac strive

    In offices of Love, n [ 960 ]

    Eachers burden in our share of woe;

    Since t, if ought I see,

    ill prove no sudden, but a slo evill,

    A long days dying to augment our paine,

    And to our Seed (O hapless Seed!) derivd. [ 965 ]

    to w, replid.

    Adam, by sad experiment I know

    tle weighee can finde,

    Found so erroneous, t event

    Found so unfortunate; nevertheless, [ 970 ]

    Restord by to place

    Of neance, o regaine

    tentment of my

    Living or dying, from t hide

    ts in my unquiet brest are risn, [ 975 ]

    tending to some relief of our extremes,

    Or end, t tolerable,

    As in our evils, and of easier choice.

    If care of our descent perplex us most,

    be born to certain woe, devourd [ 980 ]

    By Deat last, and miserable it is

    to be to others cause of misery,

    Our oten, and of our Loines to bring

    Into this cursed orld a woful Race,

    t after c be at last [ 985 ]

    Food for so foule a Monster, in thy power

    It lies, yet ere Conception to prevent

    t, to being yet unbegot.

    C, Childless remaine:

    So Deat, and wo [ 990 ]

    Be forcd to satisfie his Ravnous Maw.

    But if t ,

    Conversing, looking, loving, to abstain

    From Loves due Rites, Nuptial imbraces s,

    And o languis hope, [ 995 ]

    Before t object languishing

    ith like desire, which would be miserie

    And torment less t we dread,

    t once to free

    From  us make s, [ 1000 ]

    Let us seek Deat found, supply

    ith our own hands his Office on our selves;

    and we longer shivering under feares,

    t s Deathe power,

    Of many o die test choosing, [ 1005 ]

    Destruction ruction to destroy.

 23

    S despaire

    Broke off t; so mucs

    ertaind, as did h pale.

    But Adam hing swayd, [ 1010 ]

    to better tentive minde

    Labouring o Eve replid.

    Eve, tempt of life and pleasure seems

    to argue in thing more sublime

    And excellent t temnes; [ 1015 ]

    But self-destruction t, refutes

    t excellence t in thee, and implies,

    Not tempt, but anguis

    For loss of life and pleasure overlovd.

    Or if t deatmost end [ 1020 ]

    Of miserie, so to evade

    tie pronounct, doubt not but God

    hen so

    to be forestalld; muc Death

    So snatc exempt us from the paine [ 1025 ]

    e are by doom to pay; rats

    Of contumacie

    to make deat us seek

    Some safer resolution, whinks

    I o minde h heed [ 1030 ]

    Part of our Sentence, t thy Seed shall bruise

    ts eous amends, unless

    Be meant, wure, our grand Foe

    Satan, w rivd

    Against us t: to crush his head [ 1035 ]

    ould be revenge indeed; w

    By deat on our selves, or childless days

    Resolvd, as t; so our Foe

    S ordaind, and wee

    Instead shall double ours upon our heads. [ 1040 ]

 24

    No more be mentiond then of violence

    Against our selves, and wilful barrenness,

    t cuts us off from hope, and savours onely

    Rancor and pride, impatience and despite,

    Reluctance against God and  yoke [ 1045 ]

    Laid on our Necks. Remember  mild

    And gracious temper h heard and judgd

    it ed

    Immediate dissolution, w

    as meant by Deat day, hee [ 1050 ]

    Pains onely in Cold,

    And bringing fort h joy,

    Fruit of the Curse aslope

    Glancd on t earne

    My bread; w harm? Idleness had bin worse; [ 1055 ]

    My labour ain me; and least Cold

    Or  simely care

    provided, and his hands

    Cloatying while he judgd;

    how much more, if we pray him, will his ear [ 1060 ]

    Be open, and  to pitie incline,

    And teac means to shun

    t Seasons, Rain, Ice, hail and Snow,

    h various Face begins

    to sain, whe inds [ 1065 ]

    Blo and keen, stering the graceful locks

    Of trees; which bids us seek

    Som better ster o cherish

    Our Limbs benummd, ere tarr

    Leave cold t, herd beams [ 1070 ]

    Reflected, may ter sere foment,

    Or by collision of two bodies grinde

    ttrite to Fire, as late the Clouds

    Justling or pushir shock

    tine t Lig flame drivn down [ 1075 ]

    Kindles the gummie bark of Firr or Pine,

    And sends a comfortable  from farr,

    supplie to use,

    And w may else be remedie or cure

    to evils w, [ 1080 ]

    ruct us praying, and of Grace

    Beseec fear

    to pass commodiously taind

    By s, till we end

    In dust, our final rest and native home. [ 1085 ]

    better can o the place

    Repairing e fall

    Before , and there confess

    s, and pardon beg, ears

    atering the Air [ 1090 ]

    Frequenting, sent from s contrite, in sign

    Of sorrow unfeignd, and ion meek.

    Undoubtedly  and turn

    From his displeasure; in whose look serene,

    severe, [ 1095 ]

    else but favor, grace, and mercie shon?

    So spake our Fatent, nor Eve

    Felt less remorse: to the place

    Repairing e fell

    Before , and both confessd [ 1100 ]

    s, and pardon begd, ears

    atering the Air

    Frequenting, sent from s contrite, in sign

    Of sorrow unfeignd, and ion meek.