A Complete Edition of the Poets of Great Britain..: Milton. Cowley. Waller ...

Shall fatisfy for Man, be judg'd and die,
And dying rife, and rising, with him raise,
His brethren, ranfom'd with his own dear life.
So heav'nly love shall outdo hellish hate,
Giving to death, and dying to redeem,
So dearly to redeem what hellish hate
So easily destroy'd, and still destroys

In thofe who, when they may, accept not grace.
Nor fhalt thou, by defcending to affume
Man's nature, leffen or degrade thine own.
Because thou haft, though thron'd in higheft blifs
Equal to God, and equally enjoying
God-like fruition, quitted all to fave

A world from utter lofs, and haft been found
By merit more than birthright, Son of God,
Found worthieft to be fo by being good,
Far more than great or high; because in thee
Love hath abounded more than glory abounds,
'Therefore thy humiliation fhall exalt
With thee thy manhood alfo to this throne;
Here fhalt thou fit incarnate, here fhalt reign
Both God and Man, Son both of God and Man,
Anointed univerfal king; all power
I give thee; reign for ever, and affume
Thy merits; under thee as head fupreme
Thrones, Princedoms, Pow'rs, Dominions I reduce;
All knees to thee fhall bow, of them that bide
In Heav'n, or Earth, or under Earth in Hell.
When thou attended gloriously from Heaven
Shalt in the sky appear, and from thee fend
The fummoning Arch-Angels to proclaim
Thy dread tribunal; forthwith from all winds
The living, and forthwith the cited dead
Of all paft ages, to the general doom
Shall haften, fuch a peal fhall roufe their fleep.
Then all thy faints affembled, thou shalt judge
Bad men and angels; they arraign'd fhall fink
Beneath thy fentence; Hell, her numbers full,
Thenceforth fhall be for ever fhut. Mean while
The world fhall burn, and from her ashes spring
New Heav'n and Earth, wherein the juft fhall dwell,
And after all their tribulations long
See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds,
With joy and love triumphing and fair truth.
Then thou thy regal fceptre fhall lay by,
For regal fceptre then no more shall need;
God fhall be all in all. But all ye Gods,
Adore him, who to compafs all this dies;
Adore the Son, and honour him as me.

No fooner had the Almighty ceas'd, but all
The multitude of Angels, with a fhout
Loud as from numbers without number, fweet
As from bleft voices, uttering joy, Heav'n rung
With jubilee, and loud Hofannas fill'd
'Th' eternal regions: lowly reverend

Rolls o'er Elyfian flow'rs her amber stream:
With these that never fade the Spirits elect
Bind their refplendent locks inwreath'd with
beams,

Now in loose garlands thick thrown off, the bright
Pavement, that like a sea of jasper shone,
Empurpled with celeftial rofes fmil'd.

Then crown'd again, their golden harps they took,
Harps ever tun'd, that glittering by their side
Like quivers hung, and with preamble sweet
Of charming fymphony, they introduce
Their facred fong, and waken raptures high;
No voice exempt, no voice but well could join
Melodious part, fuch concord is in Heaven.

Thee, Father, firft they fung Omnipotent,
Immutable, Immortal, Infinite,

Eternal King; the Author of all being,
Fountain of light, thyfelf invifible
Amidft the glorious brightnefs where thou fit'ft
Thron'd inacceffible, but when thou shad'st
The full blaze of thy beams, and through a cloud
Drawn round about thee like a radiant fhrine,
Dark with exceffive bright thy fkirts appear,
Yet dazzle Heav'n, that brightest Seraphim
Approach not, but with both wings veil their eyes.
Thee next they fang of all creation first,
Begotten Son, Divine Similitude,

In whose confpicuous count'nance, without cloud
Made visible, th' Almighty Father fhines,
Whom elfe no creature can behold; on thee
Imprefs'd th' effulgence of his glory' abides,
Transfus'd on thee his ample Spirit refts.
He Heav'n of Heav'ns, and all the Pow'rs therein
By thee created, and by thee drew down
Th' afpiring Dominations: thou that day
Thy Father's dreadful thunder didft not spare,
Nor ftop thy flaming chariot wheels that shook
Heav'n's everlafting frame, while o'er the necks
Thou drov'ft of warring Angels difarray'd.
Back from purfuit thy Pow'rs with loud acclaim
Thee only extoll d, Son of thy Father's might,
To execute fierce vengeance on his foes,
Notifo on Man: Him through their malice fall'n,
Father of mercy' and grace, thou didst not doom
So ftrictly, but much more to pity incline:
No fooner did thy dear and only Son
Perceive thee purpos'd not to doom frail Man
So ftrictly, but much more to pity' inclin'd,
He to appeafe thy wrath, and end the ftrife
Of mercy and juftice in thy face difcern'd,
Regardless of the blefs wherein he fal
Second to thee, offer d himself to die
For Man's offence. O unexampled love,
Love no where to be found lefs than Divine
Hail Son of God, Saviour of Men, thy name

Towards either throne they bow, and to the ground Shall be the copious matter of my fong

With folemn adoration down they caft
Their crowns inwove with amarant and gold;
Immortal amarant, a flow'r which once
In Paradife, faft by the tree of life,
Began to bloom; but foon for man's offence
To Heav'n remov'd,where first it grew, there grows,
And flow'rs aloft, fhading the fount of life,
And where the river of blifs through midft of
Heaven

Henceforth; and never fhall my harp thy praife
Forget, nor from thy Father's praise disjoin.

Thus they in Heav'n, above the starry sphere,
Their happy hours in joy and hymning spent.
Mean while, upon the firm opacious globe
Of this round world, whofe firft convex divides
The luminous inferior orbs inclos'd
From Chaos and th' inroad of darkness old,
Satan alighted walks: a globe far off

It leem'd, now feems a boundless continent
Dark, wafte, and wild, under the frown of Night
Searless expos'd, and ever-threat ning storms
Of Chaos bluft'ring round, inclement sky;
Save on that fide which from the wall of Heaven,
The' diftant far, fome small reflection gains
Of glimmering air, lefs vex'd with tempeft loud:
Here walk'd the Fiend at large in spacious field.
As when a vulture, on Imaus bred,
Whofe fnowy ridge the roving Tartar bounds,
Dilodging from a region scarce of prey,
To gorge the flesh of lambs or yeaning kids
On hills where flocks are fed, flies tow'rds the
fprings

Of Ganges or Hydafpes, Indian streams;
But in his way lights on the barren plains
Of Sericana, where Chineses drive

With fails and wind their cany waggons light:
So on this windy fea of land, the Fiend
Walk d up and down alone, bent on his prey;
Alone, for other creature in this place
Living or lifeless to be found was none;
None yet, but store hercafter from the earth
Up hither like aereal vapours flew

Of all things tranfitory' and vain, when fin
With vanity had fill'd the works of men;
Both all things vain, and all who in vain things
Built their fond hopes of glory, or lafting fame,
Or happiness in this or th' other life;
Ail who have their reward on earth, the fruits
Of painful fuperstition and blind zeal,
Nought feeking but the praise of men, here find
Fit retribution, empty as their deeds;
All th' unaccomplish d works of Nature's hand, -
Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mix'd,
Diffolv'd on earth, fleet hither, and in vain,
Till final diffolution, wander here,

Not in the neighbouring moon, as fome have dream'd;
Thofe argent fields more likely habitants,
Tranflated Saints, or middle Spirits hold
Betwixt th' angelical and human kind.
Hither of ill-join'd fons and daughters born
Firit from the ancient world those giants came
With many a vain exploit, tho' then renown'd:
The builders next of Babel on the plain
Of Sennaar, and still with vain defign

New Babels, had they wherewithal, would build :
Others came fingle; he who, to be decm'd
A god, leapt fondly into Ætna flames,
Empedocles; and he who to enjoy
Plato's Elyfium, leapt into the fea,
Cleombrotus; and many more too long,
Embryos and idiots, eremites and friers
White, black, and grey, with all their trumpery.
Here pilgrims roam, that stray'd so far to seek
In Golgotha him dead, who lives in Heaven;
And they who, to be fure of Paradife,
Dying put on the weeds of Dominic,
Or in Franciscan think to pass difguis'd;
They país the planets sev'n, and pass the fix'd,
And that crystalline sphere whofe balance weighs
The trepidation talk'd, and that first mov'd;
And now Saint Peter at Heav'n's wicket seems
To wait them with his keys, and now at foot
Of Heav'n's afcent they lift their feet, when lo

A violent cross wind from either coaft
Blows them transverse ten thousand leagues awry
Into the devious air; then might ye fee
Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers toft,
And flutter'd into rags, then reliques, beads,
Indulgences, difpenfes, pardons, bulls,
The sport of winds: all these upwhirl'd aloft
Fly o'er the backside of the world far off
Into a Limbo large and broad, fince call'd
The Paradife of Fools, to few unknown
Long after, now unpeopled and untrod.
All this dark globe the Fiend found as he pafs'd,
And long he wander'd, till at last a gleam
Of dawning light turn'd thither-ward in hafte
His travel'd fteps: far diftant he defcries
Afcending by degrees magnificent
Up to the wall of Heav'n a structure high ;
At top whereof, but far more rich, appear'd
The work as of a kingly palace gate,
With frontispiece of diamond and gold
Embellish'd; thick with fparkling orient gems
The portal fhone, inimitable on earth
By model, or by fhading pencil drawn.
The stairs were fuch as whereon Jacob faw
Angels afcending and defcending, bands
Of guardians bright when he from Efau fled
To Padan-Aram, in the field of Luz
Dreaming by night under the open sky,
And waking cry'd, This is the gate of Heaven.
Each stair myfteriously was meant, nor stood
There always, but drawn up to heav'n fometimes
Viewless, and underneath a bright fea flow'd
Of jafper, or of liquid pearl, whereon
Who after came from earth, failing arriv'd,
Wafted by angels, or flew o'er the lake
Rapt in a chariot drawn by fiery steeds.
The stairs were then let down, whether to dare
The Fiend by eafy' afcent, or aggravate
His fad exclufion from the doors of blifs :
Direct against which open'd from beneath,
Juft o'er the blissful feat of Paradise,

[fet

A paffage down to th' Earth, a paffage wide,
Wider by far than that of after times
Over mount Sion, and, tho' that were large,
Over the Promis'd Land, to God fo dear,
By which, to visit oft those happy tribes,
On high behefts his angels to and fro
Pafs'd frequent, and his eye with choice regard
From Paneos, the fount of Jordan's flood
To Beerfaba, where the Holy Land
Borders on Egypt and th' Arabian fhore;
So wide the opening feem'd, where bounds were
To darkness fuch as bound the ocean wave.
Satan frem hence, now on the lower stair
That scal'd by steps of gold to Heaven gate
Looks down with wonder at the fudden view
Of all this world at once. As when a scout
Through dark and defert ways with peril gone
All night, at last by break of cheerful dawn
Obtains the brow of fome high-climbing hill,
Which to his eye discovers unaware
The goodly profpect of some foreign land
First feen, or fome renown'd metropolis
With glift'ring spires and pinnacles adorn'd,
Which now the rising sun gilds with his beams

Such wonder feiz'd, tho' after Heaven feen,
The Sp'rit malign, but much more envy feiz'd,
At fight of all this world beheld fo fair.
Round he furveys (and well might, where he stood
So high above the circling canopy

Of Night's extended shade) from eastern point
Of Libra to the fleecy ftar that bears
Andromeda far off Atlantic feas

Beyond th horizon; then from pole to pole
He views in breadth, and without longer paufe
Downright into the world's first region throws
His flight precipitant, and winds with ease
Through the pure marble air his oblique way
Amongst innumerable stars, that fhone
Stars diftant, but nigh hand seem'd other worlds:
Or other worlds they feem'd, or happy ifles,
Like those Hefperian gardens fam'd of old,
Fortunate fields, and groves, and flow'ry vales,
Thrice happy ifles, but who dwelt happy there
He ftay'd not to inquire: above them all
The golden fun in fplendor likeft Heaven
Allur'd his eye: thither his course he bends
Through the calm firmament, (but up or down,
By centre, or eccentric, hard to tell,
Or longitude,) where the great luminary
Aloof the vulgar conftellations thick,
That from his lordly eye keep distance due,
Difpenfes light from far; they, as they move
Their ftarry dance in numbers that compute
Days, months, and years, tow`rds his all-cheering,
lamp

Turn fwift their various motions, or are turn'd
By his magnetic beam, that gently warms
The univerfe, and to each inward part
With gentle penetration, though unfeen,
Shoots invifible virtue ev'n to the deep;
So wondrously was fet his ftation bright.
There lands the Fiend, a fpot like which perhaps
Aftronomer in the fun's lucent orb

Through his glaz'd optic tube yet never faw.
The place he found beyond expreffion bright,
Compar'd with ought on earth, metal or tone,
Not all parts like, but all alike inform'd
With radiant light, as glowing ir'n with fire;
If metal, part feem'd gold, part filver clear;
If tone, carbuncle moft or cryfolite,
Ruby or topaz, to the twelve that shone
In Aaron's breaft-plate, and a stone befides
Imagin'd rather oft than elsewhere feen,
That ftone, or like to that, which here below
Philofophers in vain fo long have fought,
In vain, though by their powerful art they bind
Volatile Hermes, and call up unbound,
In various fhapes old Proteus from the sea,
Drain'd through a limbec to his naked form.
What wonder then if fields, and regions, here
Breathe forth elixir pure, and rivers run
Potable gold, when with one virtuous touch
Th' arch-chimic fun, fo far from us remote,
Produces, with terreftrial humour mix'd,
Here in the dark fo many precious things
Of colour glorious, and effect fo rare ?
Here matter new to gaze the devil met
Undazzled far and wide his eye commands,
For fight no obftacle found here, or shade,

But all fun-fhine; as when his beams at noon
Culminate from th' Æquator; as they now
Shot upward ftill direct, whence no way round
Shadow from body opaque can fall, and th' air
(No where fo clear) sharpen'd his visual ray
To objects diftant far, whereby he foon
Saw within ken a glorious angel ftand,
The fame whom John faw alfo in the fun :
His back was turn'd, but not his brightnefs hid:
Of beaming funny rays a golden tiar
Circl'd his head, nor lefs his locks behind
Illuftrious on his fhoulders, fledge with wings,
Lay waving round: on fome great charge em-
ploy'd

He feen'd, or fixt in cogitation deep.

Glad was the fpirit impure, as now in hope
To find who might direct his wand'ring flight
To paradife, the happy feat of man,
His journey's end, and our beginning woe.
But first he cafts to change his proper fhape,
Which elfe might work him danger, or delay:
And now a ftrippling Cherub he appears,
Not of the prime, yet fuch as in his face
Youth fmil'd celeftial, and to every limb
Suitable grace diffuf'd, fo well he feign'd.
Under a coronet his flowing hair

In curls on either cheek play'd; wings he wore
Of many a colour'd plume, fprinkl'd with gold:
His habit fit for speed fuccinct, and held
Before his decent steps a filver wand.
He drew not nigh unheard, the angel bright,
E'er he drew nigh, his radiant vifage turn'd,
Admonifh'd by his car; and ftrait was known
Th' arch-angel Uriel, one of the fev'n
Who in God's prefence nearest to his throne,
Stand ready at command, and are his eyes
That run through all the heav'ns, or down to the

earth

Bear his swift errands, over moist and dry,
O'er fea and land: him Satan thus accofts,

Uriel! for thou of thofe fev'n fpirits that stand
In fight of God's high throne, gloriously bright,
The firft art wont His great authentic will
Interpreter through highest heav'n to bring,
Where all his fons thy embaffy attend:

And here art likelieft by fupreme decree
Like honour to obtain; and as his eye,
To vifit oft this new creation round,
Unfpeakable defire to fee, and know

All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man,
His chief delight and favour; him, for whom
All these his works fo wondrous he ordain'd,
Hath brought me from the choirs of Cherubin
Alone this wand'ring: brightest Seraph! tell,
In which of all thefe fhining orbs hath man
His fixed feat, or fixed feat hath none,
But all thefe fhining orbs his choice to dwell;
That I may find him, and with fecret gaze,
Or open admiration, him behold

On whom the great Creator hath bestow'd
World, and on whom hath all thefe graces pour'd;
That both in him, and all things, as is meet,
The univerfal maker we may praife;
Who justly hath driven out his rebel foes
To deepeft Hell; and, to repair that lofs,

Created this new happy race of men,
To ferve him better: wife are all his ways!
So ipake the falfe diffembler unperceiv'd;
For Deither Man nor Angel can difcern
Hypocrify, the only evil that walks
Invisible, except to God alone,

By his permiffive will, through heaven and earth:
And oft though wisdom wake, fufpicion fleeps
At wifdom's gate, and to fimplicity

Reigns her charge, while goodness thinks no l
Where no ill feems) which now for once beguil'd
Uriel, though regent of the fun, and held
The harpelt fighted spirit of all in heav'n :
Who to the fraudulent impoftor foul,
In his uprightness answer thus return'd.
Fair Angel! thy defire which tends to know
The works of God, thereby to glorify
The great work-mafter, leads to no excess
That reaches blame, but rather merits praise
The more it feems excefs, that led thee hither
From thy impyreal mansion thus alone,
To witnefs with thine eyes what fome perhaps,
Contented with report, hear only in Heav'n:
For wonderful indeed are all His works!
Plafant to know, and worthieft to be all
Had in remembrance always with delight.
But, what created mind can comprehend
Their number, or the wisdom infinite
That brought them forth, but hid their caufes deep?
I faw when at His word the formless mass,
This world's material mould, came to a heap ;
Confufion heard His voice, and wild uproar
Stood rul'd, stood vast infinitude confin'd:

Till at His fecond bidding darkness fled,
Light fhone, and order from diforder fprung.
Swift to their feveral quarters hafted then
The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire,
And this ethereal quinteffence of Heav'n
Flew upward, fpirited with various forms,
That roll'd orbicular, and turn'd to stars,
Numberless, as thou feeft, and how they move;
Each had his place appointed, each his course;
The reft in circuit walls this univerfe.
Look downward on that globe whofe hither fide
With light from hence, tho' but reflected, fhines:
That place is earth, the feat of Man; that light
His day, which elfe, as th' other hemifphere,
Night would invade; but there the neighbouring

moon

(So call that opposite fair star) her aid
Timely interpofes, and her monthly round
Still ending, ftill renewing through mid heav'n,
With borrow'd light her countenance triform
Hence fills, and empties, to enlighten th' earth,
And in her pale dominion checks the night.
That spot to which I point is Paradise,
Adam's abode, those lofty fhades his bow'r;
Thy way thou can'st not mifs, me mine requires.
Thus faid, he turn'd; and Satan bowing low
(As to fuperior fpirits is wont in heav'n,
Where honour due, and reverence none neglects)
Took leave, and tow'rd the coaft of earth beneath
Down from th' ecliptic, fped with hop'd fuccefs,
Throws his fteep flight in many an airy wheel;
Nor ftaid, till on Niphates' top he lights.

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK IV.

The Argument.

Satan, now in profpect of Eden, and nigh the place where he must now attempt the bold enterprife which he undertook alone against God and Man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many paffions, fear, envy, and despair: but at length confirms himself in evil, journeys on to Paradife, whofe outward profpect and fituation is described, overleaps the bounds, fits in the fhape of a cormorant on the tree of Life, as highest in the garden, to look about him. The garden defcribed; Satan's first fight of Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent form and happy state, but with refolution to work their fall; overhears their difcourfe; 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 feducing them to tranfgrefs: then leaves them a while to know farther of their state by some other means. Meanwhile Uriel defcending on a fun beam warns Gabriel (who had in charge the gate of Paradise) that fome evil spirit had escaped the Deep, and past at noon by his sphere in the shape of a good Angel down to Paradise, discovered afterwards by his furious geftures in the mount: Gabriel promifes to find him e'er morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve difcourfe of going to their reft: their bower defcribed; their evening worship. Gabriel drawing forth his hands of night watch to walk the round of Paradise, appoints two strong Angels to Adam's bower, left the evil spirit should be there doing fome harm to Adam or Eve fleeping; there they find him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, to Gabriel; by whomiquestion'd, he fcornfully answers, prepares resistance, but, hinder'd by a fign from heav'n, flies out of Paradise.

FOR that warning voice, which he who saw
Th' Apocalyps heard cry in Heav'n aloud,
Then when the Dragon, put to fecond rout,
Came furious down to be reveng'd on men,
Wo to th' inhabitants on earth! that now,
While time was, our first parents had been warn'd
The coming of their fecret foe, and 'fcap'd,
Happily, fo 'fcap'd his mortal snare: for now
Satan, now first inflam'd with rage, came down,
The tempter e'er th accufer of mankind,
To wreck on innocent frail man his lofs
Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell:
Yet not rejoicing in his speed, tho' bold,
Far off and fearlefs, 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

That flumber'd, wakes the bittter memory
Of what he was, what is, and what must be,
Worfe; of worse deeds, worse suffering must enfue.
Sometimes tow'rds Eden, which now in his view
Lay pleasant, his griev'd look he fixes fad;
Sometime tow'rds Heaven and the full-blazing
Which now fat high in his meridian tower: [fun,
Then much revolving, thus in fighs began:

O thou that with furpaffing glory crown'd,
Look'it from thy fole dominion like the God
Of this new world; at whofe fight all the stars
Hide their diminish'd 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 ftate
I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere ;

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