¡¶Paradise Lost ¢÷¡·


 THE ARGUMENT

Rap t of Adam relates  created; t God, after tan and  of o create anotures to dtendance of Angels to perform tion in six dayes: te ion into heaven.

 1

    DEscend from  name

    If rig calld, whose Voice divine

    Folloh Olympian hill I soare,

    Above t of Pegasean wing.

    t thou [ 5 ]

    Nor of top

    Of old Olympus d, but heavnlie borne,

    Before tain flowd,

    ternal isdom didst converse,

    isdom ter, and  play [ 10 ]

    In presence of tie Father, pleasd

    itial Song. Up led by thee

    Into the heavn of heavns I have presumd,

    An Eart, and drawn Empyreal Aire,

    tempring; ie guided down [ 15 ]

    Return me to my Native Element:

    Least from teed unreind, (as once

    Bellerophough from a lower Clime)

    Dismounted, on th Aleian Field I fall

    Erroneous to wander and forlorne. [ 20 ]

    remaines unsung, but narrower bound

    ithe visible Diurnal Spheare;

    Standing on Eart rapt above the Pole,

    More safe I Sing al voice, unchangd

    to e, though falln on evil dayes, [ 25 ]

    On evil dayes tongues;

    In darkness, and  round,

    And solitude; yet not alone, whou

    Visitst my slumbers Nightly, or when Morn

    Purples t: still govern thou my Song, [ 30 ]

    Urania, and fit audience find, though few.

    But drive farr off the barbarous dissonance

    Of Bacche Race

    Of t  t tore thracian Bard

    In Rhodope, where oods and Rocks had Eares [ 35 ]

    to rapture, till the savage clamor dround

    Bothe Muse defend

    thee implores:

    For t y dreame.

 2

    Say Goddess, w ensud when Raphael, [ 40 ]

    the affable Arch-Angel, had forewarnd

    Adam by dire example to beware

    Apostasie, by w befell in heaven

    to tates, least the like befall

    In Paradise to Adam or his Race, [ 45 ]

    C to toucerdicted tree,

    If transgress, and slig sole command,

    So easily obeyd amid the choice

    Of all tastes else to please tite,

    ted Eve [ 50 ]

    torie tentive, and was filld

    ition, and deep Muse to heare

    Of trange, to t

    So unimaginable as e in heavn,

    And arr so neer the Peace of God in bliss [ 55 ]

    it the evil soon

    Drivn back redounded as a flood on those

    From o mix

    ith Blessedness. hence Adam soon repeald

    ts t in  arose: and now [ 60 ]

    Led on, yet sinless, o know

    neerer mighis orld

    Of  began,

    ed, for w cause,

    was done [ 65 ]

    Before h

    Yet scarce allayd still eyes t streame,

    excites,

    Proceeded to ask .

    Great things, and full of wonder in our eares, [ 70 ]

    Farr differing from t reveald

    Divine interpreter, by favour sent

    Doo forewarne

    Us timely of  else have bin our loss,

    Unknown, w reach: [ 75 ]

    For ly Good we owe

    Immortal t

    Receave o observe

    Immutably he end

    Of  since t voutsaft [ 80 ]

    Gently for our instruction to impart

    t, w concernd

    Our knoo  wisdom seemd,

    Deign to descend noe

    may no less perhaps availe us known, [ 85 ]

    began this heavn which we behold

    Distant so h moving Fires adornd

    Innumerable, and this which yeelds or fills

    All space, t Aire, erfusd

    Imbracing round t cause [ 90 ]

    Movd tor in

    ternitie so late to build

    In Che work begun, how soon

    Absolvd, if unforbid t unfould

    to explore ts aske [ 95 ]

    Of ernal Empire, but the more

    to magnifie he more we know.

 3

    And t Lig s to run

    Muceep, suspens in heavn

    ent voice he heares, [ 100 ]

    And longer o ell

    ion, and th

    Of Nature from t Deep:

    Or if tarr of Eevning and the Moon

    e to t h her will bring [ 105 ]

    Silence, and Sleep listning to tch,

    Or hy Song

    End, and dismiss the Morning shine.

    trious Guest besought:

    And the Godlike Angel answerd milde. [ 110 ]

    t ion askt

    Obtaine: to recount Almightie works

    ongue of Seraph can suffice,

    Or  of man suffice to comprehend?

    Yet  attain, w may serve [ 115 ]

    to glorifie the Maker, and inferr

    t be hheld

    thy hearing, such Commission from above

    I o anshy desire

    Of knoain [ 120 ]

    to ask, nor let tions hope

    t reveald, wh invisible King,

    Onely Omniscient  in Night,

    to none communicable in Earth or heaven:

    Anoug besides to search and know. [ 125 ]

    But Knowledge is as food, and needs no less

    emperance over Appetite, to know

    In measure ain,

    Oppresses else , and soon turns

    isdom to Folly, as Nouris to inde. [ 130 ]

    Kno after Lucifer from heavn

    (So call er once amidst t

    Of Angels, t Starr tarrs among)

    Fell he Deep

    Into  Son returnd [ 135 ]

    Victorious s, tent

    Eternal Fathrone beheld

    titude, and to hus spake.

 4

    At least our envious Foe

    All like himself rebellious, by whose aid [ 140 ]

    trengt

    Of Deitie supream, us dispossest,

    rusted to o fraud

    Drew many, whir place knows here no more;

    Yet farr ter part , I see, [ 145 ]

    tation,  populous retaines

    Number sufficient to possess her Realmes

    temple to frequent

    iteries due and solemn Rites:

    But least  exalt he harme [ 150 ]

    Already done, to have dispeopld heavn

    My damage fondly deemd, I can repaire

    t detriment, if suc be to lose

    Self-lost, and in a moment e

    Anot of one man a Race [ 155 ]

    Of men innumerable, to dwell,

    Not ill by degrees of merit raisd

    to t lengthe way

    Up rid,

    And Earto o Earth, [ 160 ]

    One Kingdom, Joy and Union  end.

    Mean w laxe, ye Powers of heavn,

    And by my ord, begotten Son, by thee

    t don:

    My overs and mighee [ 165 ]

    I send along, ride forthe Deep

    ited bounds be h,

    Boundless the Deep, because I am who fill

    Infinitude, nor vacuous the space.

    tire, [ 170 ]

    And put not forth my goodness, which is free

    to act or not, Necessitie and Chance

    Approac mee, and e.

    So spake tie, and to w he spake

    . [ 175 ]

    Immediate are ts of God, more s

    time or motion, but to human ears

    Cannot  process of speecold,

    So told as eartion can receave.

 5

    Great triumph and rejoycing was in heavn [ 180 ]

    ies will;

    Glorie to t high, good will

    to future men, and in thir dwellings peace:

    Glorie to  avenging ire

    t [ 185 ]

    And tations of t; to him

    Glorie and praise, whose wisdom had ordaind

    Good out of evil to create, in stead

    Of Spirits maligne a better Race to bring

    Into t room, and thence diffuse [ 190 ]

    o orlds and Ages infinite.

    So sang the Son

    On  Expedition now appeerd,

    Girt ence, h Radiance crownd

    Of Majestie Divine, Sapience and Love [ 195 ]

    Immense, and all her in him shon.

    About  numberless were pourd

    Centates and thrones,

    And Vertues, s, and Cs wingd,

    From tand of old [ 200 ]

    Myriads betains lodgd

    Against a solemn day,  at hand,

    Celestial Equipage; and noh

    Spontaneous, for  livd,

    Attendant on thir Lord: heavn opnd wide [ 205 ]

    es, harmonious sound

    On golden o let forth

    the King of Glorie in his powerful ord

    And Spirit coming to create new orlds.

    On ood, and from the shore [ 210 ]

    t immeasurable Abyss

    Outrageous as a Sea, dark, eful, wilde,

    Up from ttom turnd by furious windes

    And surging ains to assault

    er mix the Pole. [ 215 ]

    Silence, ye troubld hou Deep, peace,

    Said th Omnific ord, your discord end:

    Nor staid, but on the ings of Cherubim

    Uplifted, in Paternal Glorie rode

    Farr into Che orld unborn; [ 220 ]

    For Craine

    Followd in brigo behold

    Creation, and t.

 6

    taid the fervid heeles, and in his hand

    ook the golden Compasses, prepard [ 225 ]

    In Gods Eternal store, to circumscribe

    ted things:

    One foot erd, and turnd

    Round t profunditie obscure,

    And said, tend, thy bounds, [ 230 ]

    t Circumference, O orld.

    ted, th,

    Matter unformd and void: Darkness profound

    Coverd t on trie calme

    of God outspred, [ 235 ]

    And vital vertue infusd, and vital h

    t t downward purgd

    tartareous cold Infernal dregs

    Adverse to life: then conglobd

    Like to like, t to several place [ 240 ]

    Disparted, and bet the Air,

    And Eart on er hung.

    Let t, said God, and fort

    Et of tessence pure

    Sprung from tive East [ 245 ]

    to journie the airie gloom began,

    Sp Cloud, for yet the Sun

    as not; sabernacle

    Sojournd t was good;

    And lighe hemisphere [ 250 ]

    Divided: Lig

    Day Eevn and Morn:

    Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsung

    By tial Quires,

    Ex from Darkness they beheld; [ 255 ]

    Birt

    they filld,

    And touchir Golden harps, and hymning praisd

    God and our hey sung,

    Bot Eevning was, and w Morn. [ 260 ]

    Again, God said, let t

    Amid ters, and let it divide

    ters from ters: and God made

    t, expanse of liquid, pure,

    transparent, Elemental Air, diffusd [ 265 ]

    In circuit to ttermost convex

    Of t Round: partition firm and sure,

    ters underneathose above

    Dividing: for as Earthe orld

    Built on circumfluous aters calme, in wide [ 270 ]

    Crystallin Ocean, and the loud misrule

    Of C fierce extreames

    Contiguous migemper the whole frame:

    And : So Eevn

    And Morning Che second Day. [ 275 ]

    t in t

    Of aters, Embryon immature involvd,

    Appeerd not: over all th

    Main Ocean flo idle, but h warme

    Prolific ning all her Globe, [ 280 ]

    Fermented t Moto conceave,

    Satiate ure, when God said

    Be gaters under heavn

    Into one place, and let dry Land appeer.

 7

    Immediately tains huge appeer [ 285 ]

    Emergent, and thir broad bare backs upheave

    Into tops ascend the Skie:

    So umid hills, so low

    Doom broad and deep,

    Capacious bed of aters: they [ 290 ]

    ed ance, uprowld

    As drops on dust conglobing from the drie;

    Part rise in crystal all, or ridge direct,

    For e; suc t command impressd

    On t flouds: as Armies at the call [ 295 ]

    Of trumpet (for of Armies t heard)

    troop to tandard, so trie throng,

    ave roer ave, whey found,

    If steep, orrent rapture, if through Plaine,

    Soft-ebbing; nor ood them Rock or hill, [ 300 ]

    But t wide

    it errour hir way,

    And on the washie Oose deep Channels wore;

    Easie, ere God he ground be drie,

    All but hose banks, where Rivers now [ 305 ]

    Stream, and perpetual draraine.

    t receptacle

    Of congregated aters he calld Seas:

    And sa it  th

    Put fort Grass, herb yielding Seed, [ 310 ]

    And Fruit tree yielding Fruit after her kind;

    h.

    ill then

    Desert and bare, unsightly, unadornd,

    Brougender Grass, whose verdure clad [ 315 ]

    green,

    t sudden flourd

    Opning thir various colours, and made gay

    : and these scarce blown,

    Fort tring Vine, fort [ 320 ]

    tood the cornie Reed

    Embattelld in he humble Shrub,

    And Bus: last

    Rose as in Dance tately trees, and spred

    t; or gemmd [ 325 ]

    the hills were crownd,

    itufts tain side,

    it Earth now

    Seemd like to  w dwell,

    Or , and love to  [ 330 ]

    not raind

    Upon to till the ground

    None  from t

    ent up and erd all the ground, and each

    Plant of t h [ 335 ]

    God made, and every  grew

    On temm; God sa it was good.

 8

    So Eevn and Morn recorded third Day.

    Again tie spake: Let ts

    o divide [ 340 ]

    t; and let them be for Signes,

    For Seasons, and for Dayes, and circling Years,

    And let ts as I ordaine

    t of heavn

    to give Lig was so. [ 345 ]

    And God made t Lig for thir use

    to Man, ter to have rule by Day,

    t alterne: and made tarrs,

    And set t of heavn

    to illuminate the Day [ 350 ]

    In tude, and rule t,

    And Ligo divide. God saw,

    Surveying  ork, t it was good:

    For of Celestial Bodies first the Sun

    A migsom first, [ 355 ]

    the Moon

    Globose, and every magnitude of Starrs,

    And soarrs thick as a field:

    Of Liger part ook,

    transplanted from her cloudie Shrine, and placd [ 360 ]

    In to receive

    And drink t, firm to retaine

    Palace no.

    o tain otarrs

    Repairing, in t, [ 365 ]

    And  guilds her horns;

    By tincture or reflection t

    t

    So farr remote, ion seen.

    First in  the glorious Lamp was seen, [ 370 ]

    Regent of Day, and all th horizon round

    Invested  Rayes, jocond to run

    ude the gray

    Dahe Pleiades before him dancd

    S influence: less brighe Moon, [ 375 ]

    But opposite in leveld est

    From  she needed none

    In t aspect, and still t distance keepes

    till nig urn she shines, [ 380 ]

    Revolvd on  Axle, and her Reign

    its dividual holds,

    itarres, t then appeerd

    Spangling t adornd

    it Luminaries t Set and Rose, [ 385 ]

    Glad Eevning and glad Morn croh day.

    And God said, let ters generate

    Reptil , living Soule:

    And let Foh wings

    Displayd on t of heavn. [ 390 ]

 9

    And God created t hales, and each

    Soul living, eac crept, weously

    ters generated by thir kindes,

    And every Bird of er his kinde;

    And sa it hem, saying, [ 395 ]

    Be fruitful, multiply, and in the Seas

    And Lakes and running Streams ters fill;

    And let tiplyd on th.

    Forthe Sounds and Seas, each Creek and Bay

    ith Frie innumerable swarme, and Shoales [ 400 ]

    Of Fis hir Finns and shining Scales

    Glide under t oft

    Bank t single or e

    Graze ture, and through Groves

    Of Coral stray, or sporting h quick glance [ 405 ]

    So ts dropt h Gold,

    Or in t ease, attend

    Moist nutriment, or under Rocks thir food

    In jointed Armour che Seale,

    And bended Dolp huge of bulk [ 410 ]

    alloe

    tempest than

    of living Creatures, on the Deep

    Stretcorie sleeps or swimmes,

    And seems a moving Land, and at his Gilles [ 415 ]

    Dra runck spouts out a Sea.

    Mean wepid Caves, and Fens and shoares

    tc soon

    Bursting ure forth disclosd

    t featherd soon and fledge [ 420 ]

    th air sublime

    ithe ground, under a cloud

    In prospect; tork

    On Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build:

    Part loosly  more wise [ 425 ]

    In common, rangd in figure hir way,

    Intelligent of seasons, and set forth

    thir Aierie Caravan high over Seas

    Flying, and over Lands ual wing

    Easing t; so stears t Crane [ 430 ]

    he Aire,

    Floats, as th unnumberd plumes:

    From Branco Branch song

    Solacd ted wings

    till Evn, nor tingal [ 435 ]

    Ceasd  all nigund  layes:

    Othd

    t; th Arched neck

    Betling proudly, Rowes

    ate : yet oft t [ 440 ]

    tiff Pennons, towre

    thers on ground

    alkd firm; ted Cock whose clarion sounds

    t raine

    Adorns he Florid hue [ 445 ]

    Of Rainboarrie Eyes. ters thus

    it, and th Fowle,

    Evning and Morn solemnizd t day.

 10

    t, and of Creation last arose

    ittin, when God said, [ 450 ]

    Let th Soul living in her kinde,

    Cattel and Creeping t of th,

    Eacrait

    opning ile oomb teemd at a Birth

    Innumerous living Creatures, perfet formes, [ 455 ]

    Limbd and full gro of the ground up rose

    As from  where he wonns

    In Forrest , Brake, or Den;

    Among trees in Pairs they walkd:

    ttel in the Fields and Meddowes green: [ 460 ]

    tarie, these in flocks

    Pasturing at once, and in broad herds upsprung.

    the grassie Clods now Calvd, now half appeerd

    tao get free

    s, then springs as broke from Bonds, [ 465 ]

    And Rampant she Ounce,

    tyger, as the Moale

    Rising, threw

    In  Stag from under ground

    Bore up his branching head: scarse from his mould [ 470 ]

    Be born of Earth upheavd

    ness: Fleect ting rose,

    As Plants: ambiguous between Sea and Land

    the River horse and scalie Crocodile.

    At once came fortever creeps the ground, [ 475 ]

    Insect or orme; thir limber fans

    For  Lineaments exact

    In all t of Summers pride

    its of Gold and Purple, azure and green:

    thir long dimension drew, [ 480 ]

    Streaking trace; not all

    Minims of Nature; some of Serpent kinde

    ondrous in length and corpulence involvd

    t crept

    t, provident [ 485 ]

    Of future, in small room large  enclosd,

    Pattern of just equalitie perhaps

    er, joind in ribes

    Of Commonaltie: s appeerd

    t feeds her husband Drone [ 490 ]

    Deliciously, and builds her waxen Cells

    itord: t are numberless,

    And tures kno, amp; gavst them Names,

    Needless to ted; nor unknown

    t suttlst Beast of all the field, [ 495 ]

    Of ent somtimes, h brazen Eyes

    And errific, to thee

    Not noxious, but obedient at thy call.

 11

    Now heavn in all her Glorie shon, and rowld

    ions, as t first-Movers hand [ 500 ]

    First wtire

    Consummate lovly smild; Aire,, ater, Earth,

    By Fo

    Frequent; and of t day yet remaind;

    ted yet ter he end [ 505 ]

    Of all yet don; a Creature w prone

    And Brute as otures, but endud

    ititie of Reason, mig

    ature, and uprig serene

    Govern t, self-knohence [ 510 ]

    Magnanimous to correspond h heavn,

    But grateful to acknowledge whence his good

    Descends, t and voice and eyes

    Directed in Devotion, to adore

    And worship God Supream, who made him chief [ 515 ]

    Of all ent

    Eternal Fat hee

    Present) to his Son audibly spake.

    Let us make now Man in our image, Man

    In our similitude, and let them rule [ 520 ]

    Over the Fish and Fowle of Sea and Aire,,

    Beast of th,

    And every creeping t creeps the ground.

    thee O Man

    Dust of trils breathd [ 525 ]

    th of Life; in his own Image hee

    Created the Image of God

    Express, and t a living Soul.

    Male ed t t

    Female for Race; then blessd Mankinde, and said, [ 530 ]

    Be fruitful, multiplie, and fill th,

    Subdue it, and t Dominion hold

    Over Fishe Aire,,

    And every living t moves on th.

 12

    ed, for no place [ 535 ]

    Is yet distinct by name, t

    to this delicious Grove,

    ted rees of God,

    Delectable boto beaste;

    And freely all t fruit for food [ 540 ]

    Gave ts are  all th yields,

    Varietie  end; but of tree

    asted works knowledge of Good and Evil,

    t not; in tst, t;

    Deatie imposd, beware, [ 545 ]

    And govern ite, least sin

    Surprise ttendant Death.

    he had made

    Viewd, and beirely good;

    So Evn and Morn accomplis day: [ 550 ]

    Yet not till tor from his work

    Desisting, turnd

    Up to the heavn of heavns his high abode,

    to beed orld

    tion of  shewd [ 555 ]

    In prospect from hrone, how good, how faire,

    Answering  Idea. Up he rode

    Folloion and the sound

    Sympen t tund

    Angelic he Aire, [ 560 ]

    Resounded, (t for t)

    tellations rung,

    ts in tations listning stood,

    Pomp ascended jubilant.

    Open, ye everlasting Gates, they sung, [ 565 ]

    Open, ye  in

    t Creator from urnd

    Magnificent, his Six days work, a orld;

    Open, and ; for God will deigne

    to visit oft t Men [ 570 ]

    Delig intercourse

    ther will send his winged Messengers

    On errands of supernal Grace. So sung

    train ascending: hrough heavn,

    t opend wide als, led [ 575 ]

    to Gods Eternal  the way,

    A broad and ample rode, w is Gold

    And pavement Starrs, as Starrs to thee appeer,

    Seen in t Milkie way

    ly as a circling Zone t [ 580 ]

    Pouderd arrs. And noh

    Eevning arose in Eden, for the Sun

    as set, and twilig came on,

    Forerunning Nig t

    Of ed top, throne [ 585 ]

    Of God for ever firm and sure,

    te him down

    it Fat

    Invisible, yet staid, such priviledge

    he work ordaind, [ 590 ]

    Authings, and from work

    Noing, blessd and h day,

    As resting on t day from all his work,

    But not in silence ; the harp

    ed not, the solemn Pipe, [ 595 ]

    And Dulcimer, all Organs of s stop,

    All sounds on Fret by String or Golden ire

    temperd soft tunings, intermixt h Voice

    Choral or Unison; of incense Clouds

    Fuming from Golden Censers . [ 600 ]

    Creation and ts they sung,

    Great are te

    t t can measure tongue

    Relate ter nourn

    t Angels; t day [ 605 ]

    t to create

    Is greater ted to destroy.

 13

    y King, or bound

    ttempt

    Of Spirits apostat and thir Counsels vaine [ 610 ]

    t repeld, w

    to diminishdraw

    thy worshippers. ho seekes

    to lessen t his purpose serves

    to manifest t: his evil [ 615 ]

    t, and from tst more good.

    itness ther heavn

    From e not farr, founded in view

    On the Glassie Sea;

    Of amplitude almost immense, arrs [ 620 ]

    Numerous, and every Starr perhaps a orld

    Of destind ation; but t

    t of men,

    Earther Ocean circumfusd,

    t dhrice happie men, [ 625 ]

    And sons of men, w,

    Created in o dwell

    And worso rule

    Over h, in Sea, or Air,

    And multiply a Race of orshippers [ 630 ]

    : they know

    t.

    So sung the Empyrean rung,

    it.

    And t t askd [ 635 ]

    things began,

    And hy memorie was don

    From t posteritie

    Informd by t kno

    Aug surpassing human measure, say. [ 640 ]