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John Milton, Paradise Lost: Book Four

Argument: Satan, now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the place where he must now attempt the bold enterprise which he undertook alone against God and Man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many passions, fear, envy, and despair; but at length confirms himself in evil; journeys on to Paradise, whose outward prospect and situation is described; overleaps the bounds; sits, in the shape of a cormorant, on the Tree of Life, as the highest in the Garden, to look about him. The Garden described; Satan's first sight of Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent form and happy state, but with resolution to work their fall; overhears their discourse; thence gathers that the Tree of Knowledge was forbidden them to eat of under penalty of death, and thereon intends to found his temptation by seducing them to transgress; then leaves them a while, to know further of their state by some other means. Meanwhile Uriel, descending on a sunbeam, warns Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Paradise, that some evil Spirit had escaped the Deep, and passed at noon by his Sphere, in the shape of a good Angel, down to Paradise, discovered after by his furious gestures in the mount. Gabriel promises to find him out ere morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve discourse of going to their rest: their bower described; their evening worship. Gabriel, drawing forth his bands of night-watch to walk the round of Paradise, appoints two strong Angels to Adam's bower, lest the evil Spirit should be there doing some harm to Adam or Eve sleeping: there they find him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, to Gabriel: by whom questioned, he scornfully answers; prepares resistance; but, hindered by a sign from Heaven, flies out of Paradise.

O for that warning voice, which he who saw 
Th' Apocalypse heard cry in Heaven aloud, 
Then when the Dragon, put to second rout, 
Came furious down to be revenged on men, 
Woe to the inhabitants on Earth! that now, 
While time was, our first parents had been warned 
The coming of their secret foe, and scaped, 
Haply so scaped his mortal snare! For now 
Satan, now first inflamed with rage, came down, 
The tempter ere th' accuser of mankind, 
To wreak on innocent frail Man his loss 
Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell: 
Yet, not rejoicing in his speed, though bold 
Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast, 
Begins his dire attempt; which, nigh the birth 
Now rolling, boils in his tumultuous breast 
And like a devilish engine back recoils 
Upon himself; horror and doubt distract 
His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir 
The Hell within him; for within him Hell 
He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell 
One step, no more than from himself, can fly 
By change of place. Now conscience wakes despair 
That slumbered; wakes the bitter memory 
Of what he was, what is, and what must be 
Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue. 
Sometimes towards Eden, which now in his view 
Lay pleasant, his grieved look he fixes sad; 
Sometimes towards Heaven, and the full-blazing Sun, 
Which now sat high in his meridian tower; 
Then, much revolving, thus in sighs began: -- 

"O thou that, with surpassing glory crowned,

Look'st from thy sole dominion like the god

Of this new World -- at whose sight all the stars

Hide their diminished heads -- to thee I call,

But with no friendly voice, and add thy name,

O Sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams,

That bring to my remembrance from what state

I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere;

Till pride and worse ambition threw me down

Warring in Heaven against Heaven's matchless King:

Ah wherefore? He deserved no such return

From me, whom he created what I was

In that bright eminence, and with his good

Upbraided none; nor was his service hard.

What could be less than to afford him praise,

The easiest recompense, and pay him thanks,

How due! Yet all his good proved ill in me,

And wrought but malice; lifted up so high,

I 'sdained subjection, and thought one step higher

Would set me highest, and in a moment quit

The debt immense of endless gratitude,

So burdensome still paying, still to owe;

Forgetful what from him I still received;

And understood not that a grateful mind

By owing owes not, but still pays, at once

Indebted and discharged; what burden then?

Oh, had his powerful destiny ordained

Me some inferior Angel, I had stood

Then happy; no unbounded hope had raised

Ambition. Yet why not? some other Power

As great might have aspired, and me, though mean,

Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great

Fell not, but stand unshaken, from within

Or from without, to all temptations armed!

Hadst thou the same free will and power to stand?

Thou hadst. Whom hast thou then or what, to accuse,

But Heaven's free love dealt equally to all?

Be then his love accursed, since love or hate,

To me alike, it deals eternal woe.

Nay, curs'd be thou; since against his thy will

Chose freely what it now so justly rues.

Me miserable! which way shall I fly

Infinite wrath and infinite despair?

Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell;

And, in the lowest deep, a lower deep

Still threat'ning to devour me opens wide,

To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven.

O, then, at last relent! is there no place

Left for repentance, none for pardon left?

None left but by submission; and that word

Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame

Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduced

With other promises and other vaunts

Than to submit, boasting I could subdue

Th' Omnipotent. Ay me! they little know

How dearly I abide that boast so vain,

Under what torments inwardly I groan:

While they adore me on the throne of Hell,

With diadem and sceptre high advanced,

The lower still I fall, only supreme

In misery: such joy ambition finds!

But say I could repent, and could obtain,

By act of grace, my former state; how soon

Would height recall high thoughts, how soon unsay

What feigned submission swore! Ease would recant

Vows made in pain, as violent and void;

For never can true reconcilement grow

Where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep:

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Which would but lead me to a worse relapse

And heavier fall: so should I purchase dear

Short intermission bought with double smart.

This knows my Punisher; therefore as far

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From granting he, as I from begging, peace.

All hope excluded thus, behold, instead

Of us, outcast, exiled, his new delight,

Mankind created, and for him this World!

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So farewell hope, and with hope, farewell fear,

Farewell remorse! all good to me is lost;

Evil, be thou my Good; by thee at least

Divided empire with Heaven's King I hold,

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By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign;

As Man ere long, and this new World, shall know."

Thus while he spake, each passion dimmed his face,

Thrice changed with pale, ire, envy, and despair;

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Which marred his borrowed visage, and betrayed

Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld:

For Heavenly minds from such distempers foul

Are ever clear. Whereof he soon aware

120

Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm,

Artificer of fraud; and was the first

That practised falsehood under saintly show,

Deep malice to conceal, couched with revenge:

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Yet not enough had practised to deceive

Uriel, once warned; whose eye pursued him down

The way he went, and on th' Assyrian mount

Saw him disfigured, more than could befall

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Spirit of happy sort; his gestures fierce

He marked and mad demeanour, then alone,

As he supposed, all unobserved, unseen.

So on he fares, and to the border comes

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Of Eden, where delicious Paradise,

Now nearer, crowns with her enclosure green,

As with a rural mound, the champaign head

Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides

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With thicket overgrown, grotesque and wild,

Access denied; and overhead up-grew

Insuperable height of loftiest shade,

Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm,

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A sylvan scene, and, as the ranks ascend

Shade above shade, a woody theatre

Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops

The verdurous wall of Paradise up-sprung;

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Which to our general sire gave prospect large

Into his nether empire neighbouring round.

And higher than that wall a circling row

Of goodliest trees, loaden with fairest fruit,

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Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue,

Appeared, with gay enamelled colours mixed:

On which the Sun more glad impressed his beams

Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow,

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When God hath showered the Earth; so lovely seemed

That landscape; and of pure, now purer air

Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires

Vernal delight and joy, able to drive

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All sadness but despair. Now gentle gales,

Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense

Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole

Those balmy spoils. As when to them who sail

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Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past

Mozambic, off at sea north-east winds blow

Sabean odours from the spicy shore

Of Araby the Blest, with such delay

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Well pleased they slack their course, and many a league

Cheered with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles;

So entertained those odorous sweets the Fiend

Who came their bane, though with them better pleased

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Than Asmodëus with the fishy fume

That drove him, though enamoured, from the spouse

Of Tobit's son, and with a vengeance sent

From Media post to Egypt, there fast bound.

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Now to th' ascent of that steep savage hill

Satan had journeyed on, pensive and slow;

But further way found none; so thick entwined,

As one continued brake, the undergrowth

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Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed

All path of man or beast that passed that way.

One gate there only was, and that looked east

On th' other side: which when th' Arch-felon saw,

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Due entrance he disdained, and, in contempt,

At one slight bound high overleaped all bound

Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within

Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf,

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Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey,

Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve,

In hurdled cotes amid the field secure,

Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold;

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Or as a thief, bent to unhoard the cash

Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors,

Cross-barred and bolted fast, fear no assault,

In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles;

192

So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold;

So since into his church lewd hirelings climb.

Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of Life,

The middle tree and highest there that grew,

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Sat like a cormorant; yet not true life

Thereby regained, but sat devising death

To them who lived; nor on the virtue thought

Of that life-giving plant, but only used

200

For prospect, what, well used, had been the pledge

Of immortality. So little knows

Any, but God alone, to value right

The good before him, but perverts best things

204

To worst abuse, or to their meanest use.

Beneath him, with new wonder, now he views,

To all delight of human sense exposed,

In narrow room, Nature's whole wealth; yea, more! --

208

A Heaven on Earth: for blissful Paradise

Of God the garden was, by him in the east

Of Eden planted; Eden stretched her line

From Auran eastward to the royal towers

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Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings,

Of where the Sons of Eden long before

Dwelt in Telassar. In this pleasant soil

His far more pleasant garden God ordained.

216

Out of the fertile ground he caused to grow

All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste;

And all amid them stood the Tree of Life,

High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit

220

Of vegetable gold; and next to life,

Our death, the Tree of Knowledge, grew fast by,

Knowledge of good, bought dear by knowing ill.

Southward through Eden went a river large,

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Nor changed his course, but through the shaggy hill

Passed underneath ingulfed; for God had thrown

That mountain, as his garden-mould, high raised

Upon the rapid current, which through veins

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Of porous earth with kindly thirst updrawn,

Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill

Watered the garden; thence united fell

Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood,

232

Which from his darksome passage now appears,

And now, divided into four main streams,

Runs diverse, wandering many a famous realm

And country, whereof here needs no account;

236

But rather to tell how, if Art could tell

How, from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks,

Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold,

With mazy error under pendant shades

240

Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed

Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice Art

In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon

Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain,

244

Both where the morning sun first warmly smote

The open field, and where the unpierced shade

Embrowned the noontide bowers. Thus was this place

A happy rural seat of various view:

248

Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm;

Others whose fruit, burnished with golden rind,

Hung amiable -- Hesperian fables true,

If true, here only, and of delicious taste.

252

Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks

Grazing the tender herb, were interposed,

Or palmy hillock; or the flowery lap

Of some irriguous valley spread her store,

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Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose.

Another side, umbrageous grots and caves

Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine

Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps

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Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall

Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake,

That to the fringed bank with myrtle crowned

Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams.

264

The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs,

Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune

The trembling leaves, while universal Pan,

Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance,

268

Led on th' eternal Spring. Not that fair field

Of Enna, where Proserpin gathering flowers,

Herself a fairer flower, by gloomy Dis

Was gathered -- which cost Ceres all that pain

272

To seek her through the world -- nor that sweet grove

Of Daphne, by Orontes, and th' inspired

Castalian spring, might with this Paradise

Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian isle,

276

Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham,

Whom Gentiles Ammon call, and Libyan Jove,

Hid Amalthea, and her florid son,

Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rhea's eye;

280

Nor, where Abassin kings their issue guard,

Mount Amara (though this by some supposed

True Paradise) under the Ethiop line

By Nilus' head, enclosed with shining rock,

284

A whole day's journey high, but wide remote

From this Assyrian garden, where the Fiend

Saw undelighted all delight, all kind

Of living creatures, new to sight and strange

288

Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall,

God-like erect, with native honour clad

In naked majesty, seemed lords of all,

And worthy seemed; for in their looks divine

292

The image of their glorious Maker shone,

Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure --

Severe, but in true filial freedom placed;

Whence true authority in men: though both

296

Not equal, as their sex not equal seemed;

For contemplation he and valour formed,

For softness she and sweet attractive grace;

He for God only, she for God in him.

300

His fair large front and eye sublime declared

Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks

Round from his parted forelock manly hung

Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad:

304

She, as a veil down to the slender waist

Her unadorned golden tresses wore

Dishevelled, but in wanton ringlets waved

As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied

308

Subjection, but required with gentle sway,

And by her yielded, by him best received,

Yielded with coy submission, modest pride,

And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay.

312

Nor those mysterious parts were then concealed;

Then was not guilty shame: dishonest Shame

Of Nature's works, Honour dishonourable,

Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind

316

With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure,

And banished from man's life his happiest life,

Simplicity and spotless innocence!

So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight

320

Of God or Angel; for they thought no ill;

So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair,

That ever since in love's embraces met --

Adam, the goodliest man of men since born

324

His sons; the fairest of her daughters Eve.

Under a tuft of shade that on a green

Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain-side

They sat them down; and, after no more toil

328

Of their sweet gard'ning labour than sufficed

To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease

More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite

More grateful, to their supper-fruits they fell --

332

Nectarine fruits, which the compliant boughs

Yielded them, sidelong as they sat recline

On the soft downy bank damasked with flowers.

The savoury pulp they chew, and in the rind,

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Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming stream;

Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles

Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems

Fair couple linked in happy nuptial league,

340

Alone as they. About them frisking played

All beasts of th' Earth, since wild, and of all chase

In wood or wilderness, forest or den;

Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw

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Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards,

Gambolled before them; th' unwieldy elephant,

To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed

His lithe proboscis; close the serpent sly,

348

Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine

His braided train, and of his fatal guile

Gave proof unheeded. Others on the grass

Couched, and, now filled with pasture, gazing sat,

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Or bedward ruminating; for the sun,

Declined, was hasting now with prone career

To th' Ocean isles, and in th' ascending scale

Of Heaven the stars that usher evening rose:

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When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood,

Scarce thus at length failed speech recovered sad: --

"O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold?

Into our room of bliss thus high advanced

360

Creatures of other mould -- Earth-born perhaps,

Not Spirits, yet to Heavenly Spirits bright

Little inferior -- whom my thoughts pursue

With wonder, and could love; so lively shines

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In them divine resemblance, and such grace

The hand that formed them on their shape hath poured.

Ah! gentle pair, ye little think how nigh

Your change approaches, when all these delights

368

Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe --

More woe, the more your taste is now of joy:

Happy, but for so happy ill secured

Long to continue, and this high seat, your Heaven,

372

Ill fenced for Heaven to keep out such a foe

As now is entered; yet no purposed foe

To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn,

Though I unpitied. League with you I seek,

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And mutual amity, so strait, so close,

That I with you must dwell, or you with me,

Henceforth. My dwelling haply may not please,

Like this fair Paradise, your sense; yet such

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Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me,

Which I as freely give. Hell shall unfold,

To entertain you two, her widest gates,

And send forth all her kings; there will be room,

384

Not like these narrow limits, to receive

Your numerous offspring; if no better place,

Thank him who puts me, loath, to this revenge

On you, who wrong me not, for him who wronged.

388

And should I at your harmless innocence

Melt, as I do, yet public reason just,

Honour and empire with revenge enlarged,

By conquering this new World, compels me now

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To do what else, though damned, I should abhor."

So spake the Fiend, and with necessity, 
The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds. 
Then from his lofty stand on that high tree 
Down he alights among the sportful herd 
Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one, 
Now other, as their shape served best his end 
Nearer to view his prey, and, unespied, 
To mark what of their state he more might learn, 
By word or action marked. About them round 
A lion now he stalks with fiery glare; 
Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied 
In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play, 
Straight couches close, then, rising, changes oft 
His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground, 
Whence rushing, he might surest seize them both, 
Griped in each paw: when, Adam first of men 
To first of women Eve thus moving speech, 
Turned him, all ear to hear new utterance flow: -- 

"Sole partner and sole part of all these joys,

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Dearer thyself than all, needs must the Power

That made us, and for us this ample World,

Be Infinitely good, and of his good

As liberal and free as infinite;

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That raised us from the dust, and placed us here

In all this happiness, who at his hand

Have nothing merited, nor can perform

Aught whereof he hath need; he who requires

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From us no other service than to keep

This one, this easy charge, of all the trees

In Paradise that bear delicious fruit

So various, not to taste that only Tree

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Of Knowledge, planted by the Tree of Life;

So near grows Death to Life, whate'er Death is,

Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowest

God hath pronounced it Death to taste that Tree:

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The only sign of our obedience left

Among so many signs of power and rule

Conferred upon us, and dominion given

Over all other creatures that possess

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Earth, Air, and Sea. Then let us not think hard

One easy prohibition, who enjoy

Free leave so large to all things else, and choice

Unlimited of manifold delights:

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But let us ever praise him, and extol

His bounty, following our delightful task,

To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers,

Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet."

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To whom thus Eve replied. "O thou for whom

And from whom I was formed, flesh of thy flesh,

And without whom am to no end, my guide

And head! what thou hast said is just and right.

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For we to him, indeed, all praises owe,

And daily thanks -- I chiefly, who enjoy

So far the happier lot, enjoying thee

Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou

448

Like consort to thyself canst nowhere find.

That day I oft remember, when from sleep

I first awaked, and found myself reposed,

Under a shade, on flowers, much wondering where

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And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.

Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound

Of waters issued from a cave, and spread

Into a liquid plain; then stood unmoved,

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Pure as th' expanse of Heaven. I thither went

With unexperienced thought, and laid me down

On the green bank, to look into the clear

Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky.

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As I bent down to look, just opposite,

A shape within the wat'ry gleam appeared,

Bending to look on me. I started back,

It started back; but pleased I soon returned,

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Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks

Of sympathy and love. There I had fixed

Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire,

Had not a voice thus warned me: "What thou seest,

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What there thou seest, fair Creature, is thyself;

With thee it came and goes: but follow me,

And I will bring thee where no shadow stays

Thy coming, and thy soft embraces -- he

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Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy

Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear

Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called

Mother of human race." What could I do,

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But follow straight, invisibly thus led?

Till I espied thee, fair, indeed, and tall,

Under a platan; yet methought less fair,

Less winning soft, less amiably mild,

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Than that smooth wat'ry image. Back I turned;

Thou following cried'st aloud, "Return, fair Eve;

Whom fliest thou? whom thou fliest, of him thou art,

His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent

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Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart,

Substantial life, to have thee by my side

Henceforth an individual solace dear;

Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim

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My other half:" With that thy gentle hand

Seized mine: I yielded; and from that time see

How beauty is excelled by manly grace,

And wisdom, which alone is truly fair."

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So spake our general mother, and with eyes

Of conjugal attraction unreproved,

And meek surrender, half-embracing leaned

On our first father; half her swelling breast

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Naked met his, under the flowing gold

Of her loose tresses hid. He, in delight

Both of her beauty and submissive charms,

Smiled with superior love, as Jupiter

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On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds

That shed May flowers; and pressed her matron lip

With kisses pure. Aside the Devil turned

For envy; yet with jealous leer malign

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Eyed them askance, and to himself thus 'plained: --

"Sight hateful, sight tormenting! Thus these two, 
Imparadised in one another's arms, 
The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill 
Of bliss on bliss; while I to Hell am thrust, 
Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire, 
Among our other torments not the least, 
Still unfulfilled with pain of longing pines! 
Yet let me not forget what I have gained 
From their own mouths. All is not theirs, it seems; 
One fatal tree there stands, of Knowledge called, 
Forbidden them to taste: Knowledge forbidden 
Suspicious, reasonless! Why should their Lord 
Envy them that? Can it be sin to know? 
Can it be death? And do they only stand 
By ignorance? Is that their happy state, 
The proof of their obedience and their faith? 
O fair foundation laid whereon to build 
Their ruin! Hence I will excite their minds 
With more desire to know, and to reject 
Envious commands, invented with design 
To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt 
Equal with gods. Aspiring to be such, 
They taste and die: what likelier can ensue? 
But first with narrow search I must walk round 
This garden, and no corner leave unspied; 
A chance but chance may lead where I may meet 
Some wandering Spirit of Heaven by fountain-side, 
Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw 
What further would be learned. Live while ye may, 
Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return, 
Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed!" 

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So saying, his proud step he scornful turned,

But with sly circumspection, and began

Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his roam.

Meanwhile in utmost longitude, where Heaven

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With Earth and Ocean meets, the setting Sun

Slowly descended, and with right aspect

Against the eastern gate of Paradise

Levelled his evening rays. It was a rock

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Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds,

Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent

Accessible from Earth, one entrance high;

The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung

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Still as it rose, impossible to climb.

Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat,

Chief of th' Angelic guards, awaiting night;

About him exercised heroic games

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Th' unarmed youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand

Celestial armoury, shields, helms, and spears,

Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold.

Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even

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On a sunbeam, swift as a shooting star

In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fired

Impress the air, and shows the mariner

From what point of his compass to beware

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Impetuous winds: He thus began in haste: --

"Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given 
Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place 
No evil thing approach or enter in. 
This day at height of noon came to my sphere 
A Spirit, zealous, as he seemed, to know 
More of the Almighty's works, and chiefly Man, 
God's latest image. I described his way 
Bent all on speed, and marked his aery gait; 
But in the mount that lies from Eden north, 
Where he first lighted, soon discerned his looks 
Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured. 
Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade 
Lost sight of him. One of the banished crew, 
I fear, hath ventured from the Deep, to raise 
New troubles; him thy care must be to find." 

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To whom the winged Warrior thus returned.

"Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight,

Amid the Sun's bright circle where thou sitt'st,

See far and wide. In at this gate none pass

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The vigilance here placed, but such as come

Well known from Heaven; and since meridian hour

No creature thence. If Spirit of other sort,

So minded, have o'er-leaped these earthly bounds

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On purpose, hard thou know'st it to exclude

Spiritual substance with corporeal bar.

But if within the circuit of these walks,

In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom

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Thou tell'st, by morrow dawning I shall know."

So promised he; and Uriel to his charge

Returned on that bright beam, whose point now raised

Bore him slope downward to the Sun, now fall'n

592

Beneath th' Azores; whether the prime orb,

Incredible how swift, had thither rolled

Diurnal, or this less voluble Earth,

By shorter flight to th' east, had left him there

596

Arraying with reflected purple and gold

The clouds that on his western throne attend.

Now came still Evening on, and Twilight grey

Had in her sober livery all things clad;

600

Silence accompanied; for beast and bird,

They to their grassy couch, these to their nests

Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale;

She all night long her amorous descant sung;

604

Silence was pleased: now glowed the firmament

With living sapphires; Hesperus, that led

The starry host, rode brightest, till the Moon,

Rising in clouded majesty, at length

608

Apparent queen, unveiled her peerless light,

And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw.

When Adam thus to Eve. "Fair Consort, th' hour

Of night, and all things now retired to rest,

612

Mind us of like repose; since God hath set

Labour and rest, as day and night, to men

Successive, and the timely dew of sleep,

Now falling with soft slumbrous weight, inclines

616

Our eyelids. Other creatures all day long

Rove idle, unemployed, and less need rest;

Man hath his daily work of body or mind

Appointed, which declares his dignity,

620

And the regard of Heaven on all his ways;

While other animals unactive range,

And of their doings God takes no account.

To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east

624

With first approach of light, we must be risen,

And at our pleasant labour, to reform

Yon flowery arbours, yonder alleys green,

Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown,

628

That mock our scant manuring and require

More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth.

Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums,

That lie bestrewn, unsightly and unsmooth,

632

Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease.

Meanwhile, as Nature wills, night bids us rest."

To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adorned: --

"My Author and disposer, what thou bidd'st

636

Unargued I obey; So God ordains:

God is thy law, thou mine: to know no more

Is woman's happiest knowledge, and her praise.

With thee conversing I forget all time;

640

All seasons, and their change, all please alike.

Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising sweet,

With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the Sun,

When first on this delightful land he spreads

644

His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower,

Glist'ring with dew; fragrant the fertile Earth

After soft showers; and sweet the coming on

Of grateful Evening mild; then silent Night,

648

With this her solemn bird, and this fair Moon,

And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train:

But neither breath of Morn, when she ascends

With charm of earliest birds; nor rising Sun

652

On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower,

Glist'ring with dew; nor fragrance after showers;

Nor grateful Evening mild; nor silent Night,

With this her solemn bird; nor walk by moon,

656

Or glittering starlight, without thee is sweet.

But wherefore all night long shine these? for whom

This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes?"

To whom our general ancestor replied: --

660

"Daughter of God and Man, accomplished Eve,

These have their course to finish round the Earth

By morrow evening, and from land to land

In order, though to nations yet unborn,

664

Minist'ring light prepared, they set and rise;

Lest total darkness should by night regain

Her old possession, and extinguish life

In nature and all things; which these soft fires

668

Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat

Of various influence foment and warm,

Temper or nourish, or in part shed down

Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow

672

On Earth, made hereby apter to receive

Perfection from the Sun's more potent ray.

These, then, though unbeheld in deep of night,

Shine not in vain. Nor think, though men were none,

676

That Heaven would want spectators, God want praise.

Millions of spiritual creatures walk the Earth

Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep:

All these with ceaseless praise his works behold

680

Both day and night. How often, from the steep

Of echoing hill or thicket, have we heard

Celestial voices to the midnight air,

Sole, or responsive each to other's note,

684

Singing their great Creator? Oft in bands

While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk,

With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds

In full harmonic number joined, their songs

688

Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven."

Thus talking, hand in hand alone they passed 
On to their blissful bower. It was a place 
Chosen by the sovran Planter, when he framed 
All things to Man's delightful use; the roof 
Of thickest covert was inwoven shade, 
Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew 
Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side 
Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub, 
Fenced up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower, 
Iris all hues, roses, and jessamin, 
Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought 
Mosaic; underfoot the violet, 
Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay 
Broidered the ground, more coloured than with stone 
Of costliest emblem: other creature here, 
Bird, beast, insect, or worm, durst enter none, 
Such was their awe of Man. In shadier bower 
More sacred and sequestered, though but feigned, 
Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor Nymph 
Nor Faunus haunted. Here, in close recess, 
With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs, 
Espoused Eve decked first her nuptial bed; 
And Heavenly quires the hymenaean sung, 
What day the genial Angel to our sire 
Brought her, in naked beauty more adorned, 
More lovely, than Pandora, whom the gods 
Endowed with all their gifts; and, O! too like 
In sad event, when to the unwiser son 
Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnared 
Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged 
On him who had stole Jove's authentic fire. 

720

Thus, at their shady lodge arrived, both stood,

Both turned, and under open sky adored

The God that made both Sky, Air, Earth, and Heaven,

Which they beheld, the Moon's resplendent globe,

724

And starry Pole: -- "Thou also mad'st the night,

Maker Omnipotent; and thou the Day,

Which we, in our appointed work employed,

Have finished, happy in our mutual help

728

And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss

Ordained by thee; and this delicious place,

For us too large, where thy abundance wants

Partakers, and uncropped falls to the ground.

732

But thou hast promised from us two a race

To fill the Earth, who shall with us extol

Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,

And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep."

736

This said unanimous, and other rites

Observing none, but adoration pure,

Which God likes best, into their inmost bower

Handed they went; and, eased the putting-off

740

These troublesome disguises which we wear,

Straight side by side were laid; nor turned, I ween,

Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites

Mysterious of connubial love refused:

744

Whatever hypocrites austerely talk

Of purity, and place, and innocence,

Defaming as impure what God declares

Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all.

748

Our Maker bids increase; who bids abstain

But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man?

Hail, wedded Love, mysterious law, true source

Of human offspring, sole propriety

752

In Paradise of all things common else!

By thee adulterous lust was driven from men

Among the bestial herds to range; by thee

Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,

756

Relations dear, and all the charities

Of father, son, and brother, first were known.

Far be it, that I should write thee sin or blame,

Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,

760

Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets,

Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced,

Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs used.

Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights

764

His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings,

Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile

Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared,

Casual fruition; nor in court-amours,

768

Mixed dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,

Or serenade, which the starved lover sings

To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.

These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept,

772

And on their naked limbs the flowery roof

Showered roses, which the morn repaired. Sleep on,

Blest pair; and O! yet happiest, if ye seek

No happier state, and know to know no more.

776

Now had night measured with her shadowy cone

Halfway up hill this vast sublunar vault,

And from their ivory port the Cherubim

Forth issuing, at th' accustomed hour, stood armed

780

To their night watches in warlike parade;

When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake: --

"Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south 
With strictest watch; these other wheel the north; 
Our circuit meets full west." As flame they part, 
Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. 
From these, two strong and subtle Spirits he called 
That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge: -- 

788

"Ithuriel and Zephon, with winged speed

Search through this Garden, leave unsearched no nook;

But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge,

Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm.

792

This evening from the Sun's decline arrived

Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen

Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped

The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt:

796

Such, where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring."

So saying, on he led his radiant files, 
Dazzling the Moon; these to the bower direct 
In search of whom they sought: Him there they found 
Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, 
Assaying by his devilish art to reach 
The organs of her fancy, and with them forge 
Illusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams; 
Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint 
Th' animal Spirits, that from pure blood arise 
Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise, 
At least distempered, discontented thoughts, 
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires, 
Blown up with high conceits engendering pride. 
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear 
Touched lightly; for no falsehood can endure 
Touch of celestial temper, but returns 
Of force to its own likeness. Up he starts 
Discovered and surprised. As when a spark 
Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid 
Fit for the tun, some magazine to store 
Against a rumoured war, the smutty grain, 
With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air; 
So started up in his own shape the Fiend. 
Back stepped those two fair Angels, half amazed 
So sudden to behold the grisly King; 
Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon: -- 

"Which of those rebel Spirits adjudged to Hell

824

Com'st thou, escaped thy prison? and, transformed,

Why satt'st thou like an enemy in wait,

Here watching at the head of these that sleep?

"Know ye not then,"said Satan, filled with scorn,

828

"Know ye not me? Ye knew me once no mate

For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar!

Not to know me argues yourselves unknown,

The lowest of your throng; or, if ye know,

832

Why ask ye, and superfluous begin

Your message, like to end as much in vain?"

To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn: --

"Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same,

836

Or undiminished brightness, to be known

As when thou stood'st in Heaven upright and pure.

That glory then, when thou no more wast good,

Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now

840

Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul.

But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account

To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep

This place inviolable, and these from harm."

844

So spake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke,

Severe in youthful beauty, added grace

Invincible. Abashed the Devil stood,

And felt how awful goodness is, and saw

848

Virtue in her shape how lovely -- saw, and pined

His loss; but chiefly to find here observed

His lustre visibly impaired; yet seemed

Undaunted. "If I must contend," said he,

852

"Best with the best -- the sender, not the sent;

Or all at once: more glory will be won,

Or less be lost." "Thy fear," said Zephon bold,

"Will save us trial what the least can do

856

Single against thee wicked, and thence weak."

The Fiend replied not, overcome with rage; 
But, like a proud steed reined, went haughty on, 
Champing his iron curb. To strive or fly 
He held it vain; awe from above had quelled 
His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh 
The western point, where those half-rounding guards 
Just met, and, closing, stood in squadron joined, 
Awaiting next command. To whom their Chief, 
Gabriel, from the front thus called aloud. 

"O friends! I hear the tread of nimble feet

Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern

868

Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade;

And with them comes a third, of regal port,

But faded splendour wan; who by his gait

And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell --

872

Not likely to part hence without contest;

Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours."

He scarce had ended, when those two approached,

And brief related whom they brought, where found,

876

How busied, in what form and posture couched.

To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake: --

"Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed

To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge

880

Of others, who approve not to transgress

By thy example, but have power and right

To question thy bold entrance on this place;

Employed, it seems, to violate sleep, and those

884

Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss!

To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow: --

"Gabriel? thou hadst in Heaven the esteem of wise;

And such I held thee; but this question asked

888

Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain?

Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,

Though thither doomed? Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt

And boldly venture to whatever place

892

Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change

Torment with ease, and soonest recompense

Dole with delight; which in this place I sought:

To thee no reason, who know'st only good,

896

But evil hast not tried. And wilt object

His will who bounds us? Let him surer bar

His iron gates, if he intends our stay

In that dark durance. Thus much what was asked.

900

The rest is true, they found me where they say;

But that implies not violence or harm.

Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel moved, 
Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied: -- 
"O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise 
Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew, 
And now returns him from his prison scaped, 
Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise 
Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither 
Unlicensed from his bounds in Hell prescribed! 
So wise he judges it to fly from pain 
However, and to 'scape his punishment! 
So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrath, 
Which thou incurr'st by flying, meet thy flight 
Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell, 
Which taught thee yet no better that no pain 
Can equal anger infinite provoked. 
But wherefore thou alone? Wherefore with thee 
Came not all hell broke loose? Is pain to them 
Less pain, less to be fled? or thou than they 
Less hardy to endure? Courageous chief, 
The first in flight from pain, hadst thou alleged 
To thy deserted host this cause of flight, 
Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive." 

924

To which the Fiend thus answered, frowning stern: --

"Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain,

Insulting Angel! well thou know'st I stood

Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid

928

The blasting volleyed thunder made all speed,

And seconded thy else not dreaded spear.

But still thy words at random, as before,

Argue thy inexperience what behoves

932

From hard assays and ill successes past,

A faithful leader -- not to hazard all

Through ways of danger by himself untried.

I, therefore, I alone first undertook

936

To wing the desolate abyss, and spy

This new-created World, whereof in Hell

Fame is not silent, here in hope to find

Better abode, and my afflicted Powers

940

To settle here on Earth, or in mid Air;

Though for possession put to try once more

What thou and thy gay legions dare against;

Whose easier business were to serve their Lord

944

High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne,

And practised distances to cringe, not fight."

To whom the Warrior-Angel soon replied: -- 
"To say and straight unsay, pretending first 
Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy, 
Argues no leader but a liar traced, 
Satan, and couldst thou ' faithful ' add? O name, 
O sacred name of faithfulness profaned! 
Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew? 
Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head. 
Was this your discipline and faith engaged, 
Your military obedience, to dissolve 
Allegiance to th' acknowledged Power Supreme? 
And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem 
Patron of liberty, who more than thou 
Once fawned, and cringed, and servilely adored 
Heaven's awful Monarch? wherefore, but in hope 
To dispossess him, and thyself to reign? 
But mark what I areed thee now, Avant! 
Fly neither whence thou fledd'st. If from this hour 
Within these hallowed limits thou appear, 
Back to th' Infernal Pit I drag thee chained, 
And seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn 
The facile gates of Hell too slightly barred." 

968

So threatened he; but Satan to no threats

Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied: --

"Then, when I am thy captive, talk of chains,

Proud limitary Cherub! but ere then

972

Far heavier load thyself expect to feel

From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King

Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers,

Used to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels

976

In progress through the road of Heaven star-paved."

While thus he spake, th' Angelic squadron bright

Turned fiery red, sharpening in mooned horns

Their phalanx, and began to hem him round

980

With ported spears, as thick as when a field

Of Ceres, ripe for harvest waving, bends

Her bearded grove of ears which way the wind

Sways them; the careful plowman doubting stands,

984

Left on the threshing floor his hopeless sheaves

Prove chaff. On th' other side, Satan, alarmed,

Collecting all his might, dilated stood,

Like Tenerife or Atlas, unremoved:

988

His stature reached the sky, and on his crest

Sat Horror plumed; nor wanted in his grasp

What seemed both spear and shield. Now dreadful deeds

Might have ensued; nor only Paradise,

992

In this commotion, but the starry cope

Of Heaven perhaps, or all the elements

At least, had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn

With violence of this conflict, had not soon

996

Th' Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray,

Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen

Betwixt Astraea and the Scorpion sign,

Wherein all things created first he weighed,

1000

The pendulous round Earth with balanced air

In counterpoise, now ponders all events,

Battles and realms. In these he put two weights,

The sequel each of parting and of fight:

1004

The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam;

Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend: --

"Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know'st mine; 
Neither our own, but given; what folly then 
To boast what arms can do! since thine no more 
Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now 
To trample thee as mire. For proof look up, 
And read thy lot in yon celestial sign; 
Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak, 
If thou resist." The Fiend looked up, and knew 
His mounted scale aloft; nor more; but fled 
Murmuring; and with him fled the shades of night. 