And from whom, I was form'd; flesh of thy flesh;
And without whom am to no end; my guide
And head! what thou hast said is jus
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
Like consort to thyself canst no where find.

445

450

455

Meanwhile in utmost longitude, where heaven
With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun 540
Slowly descended; and with right aspect
Against the eastern gate of Paradise
Levell'd his evening rays: it was a rock
Of alabaster, pil'd up to the clouds,
Conspicuous far; winding with one ascent
Accessible from earth, one entrance high:
The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung

That day I oft remember, when from sleep
I first awak'd, and found myself repos'd
Under a shade on flowers; much wond'ring where
And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.
Not distant far from thence a murm'ring sound
Of waters.issued from a cave, and spread
Into a liquid plain, then stood unmov'd,
Pure as th' expanse of heaven: I thither went,
With unexperienc'd thought, and laid me down
On the green bank, to look into the clear
Smooth lake, that to me seem'd another sky.
As I bent down to look, just opposite
A shape within the wat'ry gleam appear'd,
Bending to look on me: I started back);
It started back: but pleas'd I soon return'd;
Pleas'd it return'd as soon; with answering looks
Of sympathy' and love there I had fix'd
Mine eyes till now, and pin'd with vain desire,
Had not a voice thus warn'd me: 'What thou seest,
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 470
Thy coming, and thy soft embraces; he
Whose image thou art: him thou shalt enjoy,
Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear
Multitudes like thyself, and thence be call'd
Mother of h of human race. What could I do
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,

465

475

Than that smooth wat'ry image: back I turn'd; 480 Thou following cried'st aloud, Return, fair Eve, Whom fliest thou? Whom thou fliest, of him thou His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent [art, Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart,

545

550

Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat,
Chief of th' angelic guards, awaiting night:
About him exercis'd heroic games
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 555
On a sun-beam, swift as a shooting star

In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fir'd
Impress the air, and shows the mariner
From what point of his compass to beware
Impetuous winds: he thus began in haste:

560

565

"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 seem'd, to know More of th' Almighty's work; and chiefly man, God's latest image: I describ'd his way, Bent all on, speed, and mark'd his airy gait: But, in the mount that lies from Eden north, Where he first lighted, soon discern'd his looks 570 Alien from heaven, with passions foul obscur'd: Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade Lost sight of him. One of the banish'd crew, I fear, hath ventur'd from the deep, to raise. New troubles; him thy care must be to fina." 575

To whom the winged warrior thus return'd: "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 The vigilance here plac'd, but such as come Well known from heaven; and since meridian hour

580

Substantial life, to have thee by my side Henceforth an individual solace dear:

485

Part of my soul, I seek thee; and thee claim, My other half. With that, thy gentle hand Seiz'd mine; I yielded; and from that time see How beauty is excell'd by manly grace,

490

And wisdom, which alone is truly fair."

So spake our general mother; and with eyes

Of conjugal attraction unreprov'd,
And meek surrender, half embracing lean'd
On our first father: half her swelling breast
Naked met his, under the flowing gold
Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight
Beth of her beauty and submissive charms,
Smil'd with superior love; as Jupiter
On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds, 500
That shed May flowers; and press'd her matron lip
With kisses pure: aside the Devil turn'd
For envy, yet with jealous leer malign

So minded, have o'erleap'd these earthy bounds
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
Thou tell'st, by morrow dawning I shall know."

585

Eyed them askance; and to himself thus plain'd:

"Sight hateful, sight tormenting! Thus these two, Imparadis'd in one another's arms,

506

(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, Amongst our other torments not the least, Still unfulfill'd with pain of longing, pines. Yet let me not forget what I have gain'd

east,

So promis'd he; and Uriel to his charge [rais'd, Return'd, on that bright beam, whose point now Bore him slope downward to the sun, now fallen Beneath th' Azores: whither the prime orb, Incredible how swift, had thither roll'd Diurnal; or this less volúble earth, By shorter flight to th' east, had left him there, 595 Arraying with reflected purple' and gold

592

From their own mouths: all is not theirs it seems: One fatal tree there stands, of knowledge call'd,

Forbidden them to taste. Knowledge forbidden?
Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord 516
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,

Our eyelids: Other creatures all day long
Rove idle, unemploy'd, and less need rest:
Man hath his daily work of body, or mind,
Appointed, which declares his dignity,
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
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:
That mock our scant manuring, and require
More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth:
Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums, 630
That lie bestrown, unsightly and unsmooth,
Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease:
Meanwhile, as nature wills, night bids us rest."

710

640

To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty' adorn'd: "My author, and disposer! What thou bid'st 635 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; 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 His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, Glist'ring with dew: fragrant the fertile earth 645 After soft showers: and sweet the coming on Of grateful evening mild: then, silent night, 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 650 With charm of earliest birds: nor rising sun 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, 655 Or glitt'ring 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:
"Daughter of God and man, accomplish'd Eve, 660
These have their course to finish round the earth
By morrow evening, and from land to land
In order, though to nations yet unborn,
Minist'ring light prepar'd, 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

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
On earth, made hereby apter to receive

Both turr

725

Thus, at their shady lodge arriv'd, both stood, turn'd, an and under open sky ador'd 721 The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heaven, Which they beheld; the moon's resplendent globe, And starry pole: "Thou also mad'st the night, Maker Omnipotent! and thou the day, Which we in our appointed work employ'd Have finish'd, happy in our mutual help, And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss Ordain'd by thee; and this delicious place, For us too large; where thy abundance wants 730 Partakers, and uncropp'd falls to the ground. But thou hast promis'd 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." 735

740

This said unanimous, and other rites Observing none, but adoration pure, Which God likes best, into their inmost bower Handed they went; and eas'd the putting off These troublesome disguises which we wear, Straight side by side were laid: nor turn'd, I ween, Adam from his fair spouse; nor Eve the rites Mysterious of connubial love refus'd: 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. Our Maker bids increase; who bids abstain But our destroyer, foe to God and man? Hail, wedded love! mysterious law, true source 750 Of human offspring, sole propriety

In Paradise! of all things common else.

745

755

Among the bestial herds to range; by thee,
Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,
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!

670

Or think thee unbefitting holiest place; Perpetual fountain dome

760

Perfection from the sun's more potent ray.
These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, 674
Shine not in vain; nor think, tho' men were none,
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

Whose bed is undefil'd, and chaste, pronounc'd,
Present, or past; as saints and patriarchs us'd.
Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights
His constant lamp; and waves his purple wings;
Reigns here, and revels: not in the bought smile
Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendear'd;
Casual fruition! nor in court-amours,
Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,
To his proud fair; best quitted with disdain. 770
These, lull'd by nightingales, embracing slept;
And on their naked naked limbs the flowery roof
Shower'd roses, which the morn repair'd. Sleep on,
Bless'd pair; and O yet happiest, if ye seek
No happier state, and know to know no more. 775

766

Of echoing hill, or thicket, have we heard

Celestial voices, to the midnight air,

684

Sole, or responsive each to other's note,
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 join'd, their songs
Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to heaven."

Rear'd high their flourish'd heads between, and

[wrought

Mosaic: underfoot the violet,

700

charge:

Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay

Broider'd the ground; more colour'd than with

"Ithuriel, and Zephon! with wing'd speed

Of costliest emblem: other creature here, [stone

Search thro' this garden, leave unsearch'd no nook

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 Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve; [found, Assaying, by his devilish art, to reach

801

810

The organs of her fancy', and with them forge
Illusions, as he list, phantoms, and dreams:
Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint
Th' animal spirits, that from pure blood arise, 805
Like gentle breaths from rivers pure; thence raise
At least distemper'd, discontented thoughts;
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires,
Blown up with high conceits engend'ring pride.
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear
Touch'd lightly; for no falsehood can endure
Touch of celestial temper, but returns
Of force to its own likeness: up he starts,
Discover'd and surpris'd. As when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid
Fit for the tun, some magazine to store
Against a rumour'd war, the smutty grain
With sudden blaze diffus'd, inflames the air:
So started up in his own shape the fiend.
Back stepp'd p'd those two fair angels, half amaz'd, 820
So sudden to behold the grisly king;

Yet thus, unmov'd with fear, accost him soon:

815

scorn:

To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with "Think not, revolted spirit, thy shape the same, 835 Or undiminish'd 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
Thy sin, and place of doom, obscure and foul. 840
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."

So spake the cherub; and his grave rebuke, Severe in youthful beauty, added grace Invincible: abash'd the Devil stood, And felt how awful goodness is, and saw Virtue' in her shape how lovely; saw, and pin'd His loss: but chiefly to find here observ'd His lustre visibly impair'd: yet seem'd Undaunted. "If I must contend," said he, "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

845

850

855

Single against thee wicked, and thence weak."

Not likely to part hence without contest; Stand firm, for in his look defiance lowers."

He scarce had ended, when those two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found, How busied, in what form and posture couch'd. 876

To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake: "Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd

880

To thy transgressions, and disturb'd the charge
Of others, who approve not to transgress
By thy example, but have power and right
To question thy bold entrance on this place;
Employ'd it seems to violate sleep, and those
Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss?"

To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow
"Gabriel, thou hadst in heaven th' esteem of wise,
And such I held thee; but this question ask'd 887
Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain ?
Who would not, finding way, break loose from hell,
Though thither doom'd? Thou wouldst thyself, no

doubt,

change

890

895

And boldly venture to whatever place
Farthest from pain, where thou might'st hope to
Torment with ease, and soonest recompense
Dole with delight, which in this place I sought;
To thee no reason, who know'st only good,
But evil hast not tried; and wilt object
His will who bound us? let him surer bar
His iron gates, if he intends our stay
In that dark durance: thus much what was ask'd.
The rest is true, they found me where they say;
But that implies not violence or harm."

901

905

Thus he in scorn. The warlike angel mov'd, 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 scap'd, Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither, Unlicens'd, from his bounds in hell prescrib'd; 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 915 Can equal anger infinite provok'd.

910

920

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 alleg'd
To thy deserted host this cause of flight,
Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive."

930

To which the fiend thus answer'd, frowning stern: "Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, 925 Insulting angel: well wel thou know'st I stood Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid The blasting vollied thunder made all speed, And seconded thy else not dreaded spear. But still thy words at random, as before, Argue thy inexperience what behoves, 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 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 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 High up in heaven, with songs to hymn his throne, And practis'd distances to cringe, not fight." 945

935

940

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 trac'd, Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name, 950 O sacred name of faithfulness profan'd! Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew ? Army of fiends, fit fit body to fit head. Was this your discipline and faith engag'd,

Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion sign,

So threaten'd he; but Satan to no threats Gave heed, but, waxing more in rage, replied:

971

"Then when I am thy captive talk of chains, Proud limitary cherub, but ere then Far heavier load thyself expect to feel From my prevailing arm; though heaven's king Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers, Us'd to the yoke, draw'st his triumphant wheels 975 In progress through the road of heaven star-pav'd."

While thus he spake, th' angelic squadron bright Turn'd fiery red, sharp'ning in mooned horns Their phalanx, and began to hem him round With ported spears, as thick as when a field 980 Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends

Her bearded groves of ears, which way the wind Sways them; the careful ploughman doubting stands, Lest on the threshing-floor his hopeful sheaves Prove chaff. On the other side, Satan alarm'd, 985

Wherein all things created first he weigh'd,
The pendulous round earth with balanc'd air 1000
In counterpoise, now ponders all events,
Battles and realms: in these he put two weights,
The sequel each of parting and of fight;
The latter quick up flew, and kick'd the beam;
Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the fiend: 1005

"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, tho' doubled now
To trample thee as mire: for proof look up, 1010
And read thy lot in yon celestial sign,
Where thou art weigh'd, and shown how light, how
weak,

If thou resist." The fiend look'd up, and knew
His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled 1014
Murm'ring, and with him fled the shades of night.