fires

Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat
Of various influence foment and warm,
Temperor nourish, or in part shed down
Their stellar virtue on all things that grow
On earth, made hereby apter to receive
Perfection from the sun's more potent ray.
These then, though unbeheld in depth of
night,

Shine not in vain; nor think, though men

were none,

What day the genial Angel to our sire
Brought her in naked beauty more adorn'd,
More lovely than Pandora, whom the Gods
Endow'd with all their gifts, and O too like
In sad event, when to th' unwiser son
Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnar'd
Mankind by her fair looks, to be aveng'd
On bim who stole Jove's authentic fire.

Thus at their shady lodge arriv'd, both stood,

praise:

Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep:

All these with ceaseless praise his works be

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
Partakers, aud uncropt 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, the gift of sleep.

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 bliss 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 hids abstain
But our Destroyer, foe to God and man ?
Hail wedded Love, mysterious law, true source
of human offspring, sole propriety
In Paradise of all things common else.
By thee adult'rous lust was driv'n from men
Among the besțial herds to range; by theç
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,

Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,
Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets,
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

Th' animal spirits that from pure blood arise Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence

His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings, Reigns here and revels; not in the bought

raise

At least distemper'd, discontented thoughts, Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires, Blown up with high conceits engend'ring pride.

smile

Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendear'd,
Causeless fruition; nor in court amours,
Mix'd dance, or wanton mask, or midnight
ball,

Or serenade, which the starv'd lover sings
To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.
These lull'd by nightingales embracing slept
And on their naked limbs the flow'ry roof
Show'r'd roses, which the morn repair'd.
Sleep on,

Blest pair; and O yet happiest, if ye seek
No happier state, and know to know no more.

Now had night measur'd with her shadowy

cone

Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault,
And from their ivory port the Cherubim
Forth issuing at the accustom'd hour stood

arm'd

To their night watches in warlike parade, When Gabriel to his next in pow'r 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

call'd

That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge.

Ithuriel and Zephon, with wing'd speed Search through this garden, leave unsearch'd no nook;

But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge,

Now laid perhaps asleep secure of harm.
This evening from the sun's decline arriv'd
Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen
Hitherward bent (who could have thought?)
escap'd

The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt : Such where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring.

So saying, on he led his radiant files, Dazzling the moon; these to the bow'r 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

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 Fieud.
Back stept those two fair angels half amaz'd
So sudden to behold the grisly king;
Yet thus unmov'd with fear, accost him soon;
Which of those rebel Spirits adjudg'd to

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. 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
Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.

The Fiend reply'd not, overcome with rage;
But like a proud steed rein'd, went haughty on,
Champing his iron curb: to strive or fly
He held it vain; awe from above had quell'd
His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they
nigh

The western point, where those half-rounding guards

Just met, and closing stood in squadron join'd, Awaiting next command. To whom their chief,

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.

Thus he in scorn. The warlike angel mov'd, Disdainfully half smiling thus reply'd; O loss of one in Heav'n 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

Gabriel, from the front thus call'd aloud :

O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade, And with them comes a third of regal port, But faded splendor wan; who by his gait

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 Aying, meet thy flight Sev'nfold, aud scourge that wisdom back to Hell,

Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain

Hell,

Not likely to part hence without contest;

Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.

But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee

He scarce had ended, when those two approach'd,

Came not all Hell broke loose? is pain to them Less pain, less to be fied? or thou than they Less hardy to endure? courageous Chief,

And brief related whom they brought, where found,

The first in flight from pain, hadst thou alledg'd

How busied, in what form and posture couch'd. To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake:

scrib'd

Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds pre-
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 is bliss?

To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow;

Gabriel, thou hadst in Heav'n th’esteem of wise, And such I held thee; but this question ask'd Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain? [Hell, Who would not, finding way break loose from Tho' thither doom'd? Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt,

And boldly venture to whatever place
Farthest from pain, where thou might'st 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,
But evil hast not try'd: and wilt object
His will who bound us? Let him surer bar
His iron gates, if he intends our stay

To thy deserted host this cause of light,
Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.

To which the Fiend thus answer'd 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
The blasting volied 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 untry'd:
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 Heav'n, with songs to hymn hit
throne,

And practis'd distances to cringe not fight.
To whom the warrior angel soon reply'd :
To say and strait unsay, pretending first
Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy,