Paradise Lost: Book X (1674)

Milton, John (1608 - 1674)

Original Text

John Milton, Paradise Lost, 2nd edn. (London: Samuel Simmons, 1674). A transcription by Roy Flannagan of the second (1674) edition in John Milton's Complete Poetical Works Reproduced in Photographic Facsimile. A Critical Text Edition, ed. Harris Francis Fletcher, III (Urbana: University of Illinois Press, 1948). PR 3551 F52 Robarts Library. As published in Ian Lancashire, in collaboration with John Bradley, Willard McCarty, Michael Stairs, and T. R. Wooldridge, Using TACT and Electronic Texts: Text-Analysis Computing Tools Vers. 2.1 for MS-DOS and PC DOS (New York: Modern Language Association of America, 1996). CD-ROM.

THE ARGUMENT.

Mans transgression known, the Guardian Angels forsake Paradise, and return up to Heaven to approve thir vigilance, and are approv'd, God declaring that The entrance of Satan could not be by them prevented. He sends his Son to judge the Transgressors, who descends and gives Sentence accordingly; then in pity cloaths them both, and reascends. Sin and Death sitting till then at the Gates of Hell, by wondrous sympathie feeling the success of Satan in this new World, and the sin by Man there committed, resolve to sit no longer confin'd in Hell, but to follow Satan thir Sire up to the place of Man: To make the way easier from Hell to this World to and fro, they pave a broad Highway or Bridge over Chaos, according to the Track that Satan first made; then preparing for Earth, they meet him proud of his success returning to Hell; thir mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemonium, in full of assembly relates with boasting his success against Man; instead of applause is entertained with a generall hiss by all his audience, transform'd with himself also suddenly into Serpents, according to his doom giv'n in Paradise; then deluded with a shew of the forbidden Tree springing up before them, they greedily reaching to take of the Fruit, chew dust and bitter ashes. The proceedings of Sin and Death; God foretels the final Victory of his Son over them, and the renewing of all things; but for the present commands his Angels to make several alterations in the Heavens and Elements. Adam more and more perceiving his fall'n condition heavily bewailes, rejects the consolement of Eve; she persists and at length appeases him: then to evade the Curse likely to fall on thir Ofspring, proposes to Adam violent wayes which he approves not, but conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late Promise made them, that her Seed should be reveng'd on the Serpent, and exhorts her with him to seek Peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and supplication.

1MEanwhile the hainous and despightfull act

2Of Satan done in Paradise, and how

3Hee in the Serpent, had perverted Eve,

4Her Husband shee, to taste the fatall fruit,

5Was known in Heav'n; for what can scape the Eye

6Of God All-seeing, or deceave his Heart

7Omniscient, who in all things wise and just,

8Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the minde

9Of Man, with strength entire, and free will arm'd,

10Complete to have discover'd and repulst

11Whatever wiles of Foe or seeming Friend.

12For still they knew, and ought to have still remember'd

13The high Injunction not to taste that Fruit,

14Whoever tempted; which they not obeying,

15Incurr'd, what could they less, the penaltie,

16And manifold in sin, deserv'd to fall.

17Up into Heav'n from Paradise in haste

18Th' Angelic Guards ascended, mute and sad

19For Man, for of his state by this they knew,

20Much wondring how the suttle Fiend had stoln

21Entrance unseen. Soon as th' unwelcome news

22From Earth arriv'd at Heaven Gate, displeas'd

23All were who heard, dim sadness did not spare

24That time Celestial visages, yet mixt

25With pitie, violated not thir bliss.

26About the new-arriv'd, in multitudes

27Th' ethereal People ran, to hear and know

28How all befell: they towards the Throne Supream

29Accountable made haste to make appear

30With righteous plea, thir utmost vigilance,

31And easily approv'd; when the most High

32Eternal Father from his secret Cloud,

33Amidst in Thunder utter'd thus his voice.

34Assembl'd Angels, and ye Powers return'd

35From unsuccessful charge, be not dismaid,

36Nor troubl'd at these tidings from the Earth,

37Which your sincerest care could not prevent,

38Foretold so lately what would come to pass,

39When first this Tempter cross'd the Gulf from Hell.

40I told ye then he should prevail and speed

41On his bad Errand, Man should be seduc't

42And flatter'd out of all, believing lies

43Against his Maker; no Decree of mine

44Concurring to necessitate his Fall,

45Or touch with lightest moment of impulse

46His free Will, to her own inclining left

47In eevn scale. But fall'n he is, and now

48What rests but that the mortal Sentence pass

49On his transgression, Death denounc't that day,

50Which he presumes already vain and void,

51Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd,

52By some immediate stroak; but soon shall find

53Forbearance no acquittance ere day end.

54Justice shall not return as bountie scorn'd.

55But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee

56Vicegerent Son, to thee I have transferr'd

57All Judgement, whether in Heav'n, or Earth, or Hell.

58Easie it might be seen that I intend

59Mercie collegue with Justice, sending thee

60Mans Friend, his Mediator, his design'd

61Both Ransom and Redeemer voluntarie,

62And destin'd Man himself to judge Man fall'n.

63So spake the Father, and unfoulding bright

64Toward the right hand his Glorie, on the Son

65Blaz'd forth unclouded Deitie; he full

66Resplendent all his Father manifest

67Express'd, and thus divinely answer'd milde.

68Father Eternal, thine is to decree,

69Mine both in Heav'n and Earth to do thy will

70Supream, that thou in mee thy Son belov'd

71Mayst ever rest well pleas'd. I go to judge

72On Earth these thy transgressors, but thou knowst,

73Whoever judg'd, the worst on mee must light,

74When time shall be, for so I undertook

75Before thee; and not repenting, this obtaine

76Of right, that I may mitigate thir doom

77On me deriv'd, yet I shall temper so

78Justice with Mercie, as may illustrate most

79Them fully satisfied, and thee appease.

80Attendance none shall need, nor Train, where none

81Are to behold the Judgment, but the judg'd,

82Those two; the third best absent is condemn'd,

83Convict by flight, and Rebel to all Law

84Conviction to the Serpent none belongs.

85Thus saying, from his radiant Seat he rose

86Of high collateral glorie: him Thrones and Powers,

87Princedoms, and Dominations ministrant

88Accompanied to Heaven Gate, from whence

89Eden and all the Coast in prospect lay.

90Down he descended strait; the speed of Gods

91Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes wing'd.

92Now was the Sun in Western cadence low

93From Noon, and gentle Aires due at thir hour

94To fan the Earth now wak'd, and usher in

95The Eevning coole when he from wrauth more coole

96Came the mild Judge and Intercessor both

97To sentence Man: the voice of God they heard

98Now walking in the Garden, by soft windes

99Brought to thir Ears, while day declin'd, they heard,

100And from his presence hid themselves among

101The thickest Trees, both Man and Wife, till God

102Approaching, thus to Adam call'd aloud.

103Where art thou Adam, wont with joy to meet

104My coming seen far off? I miss thee here,

105Not pleas'd, thus entertaind with solitude,

106Where obvious dutie erewhile appear'd unsaught:

107Or come I less conspicuous, or what change

108Absents thee, or what chance detains? Come forth.

109He came, and with him Eve, more loth, though first

110To offend, discount'nanc't both, and discompos'd;

111Love was not in thir looks, either to God

112Or to each other, but apparent guilt,

113And shame, and perturbation, and despaire,

114Anger, and obstinacie, and hate, and guile.

115Whence Adam faultring long, thus answer'd brief.

116I heard thee in the Garden, and of thy voice

117Affraid, being naked, hid my self. To whom

118The gracious judge without revile repli'd.

119My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not fear'd,

120But still rejoyc't, how is it now become

121So dreadful to thee? that thou art naked, who

122Hath told thee? hast thou eaten of the Tree

123Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat?

124To whom thus Adam sore beset repli'd.

125O Heav'n! in evil strait this day I stand

126Before my judge, either to undergoe

127My self the total Crime, or to accuse

128My other self, the partner of my life;

129Whose failing, while her Faith to me remaines,

130I should conceal, and not expose to blame

131By my complaint; but strict necessitie

132Subdues me, and calamitous constraint

133Least on my head both sin and punishment,

134However insupportable, be all

135Devolv'd; though should I hold my peace, yet thou

136Wouldst easily detect what I conceale.

137This Woman whom thou mad'st to be my help,

138And gav'st me as thy perfet gift, so good,

139So fit, so acceptable, so Divine,

140That from her hand I could suspect no ill,

141And what she did, whatever in it self,

142Her doing seem'd to justifie the deed;

143Shee gave me of the Tree, and I did eate.

144To whom the sovran Presence thus repli'd.

145Was shee thy God, that her thou didst obey

146Before his voice, or was shee made thy guide,

147Superior, or but equal, that to her

148Thou did'st resigne thy Manhood, and the Place

149Wherein God set thee above her made of thee,

150And for thee, whose perfection farr excell'd

151Hers in all real dignitie: Adornd

152Shee was indeed, and lovely to attract

153Thy Love, not thy Subjection, and her Gifts

154Were such as under Government well seem'd,

155Unseemly to beare rule, which was thy part

156And person, had'st thou known thy self aright.

157So having said, he thus to Eve in few:

158Say Woman, what is this which thou hast done?

159To whom sad Eve with shame nigh overwhelm'd,

160Confessing soon, yet not before her judge

161Bold or loquacious, thus abasht repli'd.

162The Serpent me beguil'd and I did eate.

163Which when the Lord God heard, without delay

164To Judgement he proceeded on th' accus'd

165Serpent though brute, unable to transferre

166The Guilt on him who made him instrument

167Of mischief, and polluted from the end

168Of his Creation; justly then accurst,

169As vitiated in Nature: more to know

170Concern'd not Man (since he no further knew)

171Nor alter'd his offence; yet God at last

172To Satan first in sin his doom apply'd,

173Though in mysterious terms, judg'd as then best:

174And on the Serpent thus his curse let fall.

175Because thou hast done this, thou art accurst

176Above all Cattle, each Beast of the Field;

177Upon thy Belly groveling thou shalt goe,

178And dust shalt eat all the dayes of thy Life.

179Between Thee and the Woman I will put

180Enmitie, and between thine and her Seed;

181Her Seed shall bruse thy head, thou bruise his heel.

182So spake this Oracle, then verifi'd

183When Jesus son of Mary second Eve,

184Saw Satan fall like Lightning down from Heav'n,

185Prince of the Aire; then rising from his Grave

186Spoild Principalities and Powers, triumpht

187In open shew, and with ascention bright

188Captivity led captive through the Aire,

189The Realm it self of Satan long usurpt,

190Whom he shall tread at last under our feet;

191Eeven hee who now foretold his fatal bruise,

192And to the Woman thus his Sentence turn'd.

193Thy sorrow I will greatly multiplie

194By thy Conception; Children thou shalt bring

195In sorrow forth, and to thy Husbands will

196Thine shall submit, hee over thee shall rule.

197On Adam last thus judgement he pronounc'd.

198Because thou hast heark'nd to the voice of thy Wife,

199And eaten of the Tree concerning which

200I charg'd thee, saying: Thou shalt not eate thereof,

201Curs'd is the ground for thy sake, thou in sorrow

202Shalt eate thereof all the days of thy Life;

203Thorns also and Thistles it shall bring thee forth

204Unbid, and thou shalt eate th' Herb of th' Field,

205In the sweat of thy Face shalt thou eat Bread,

206Till thou return unto the ground, for thou

207Out of the ground wast taken, know thy Birth,

208For dust thou art, and shalt to dust returne.

209So judg'd he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent,

210And th' instant stroke of Death denounc't that day

211Remov'd farr off; then pittying how they stood

212Before him naked to the aire, that now

213Must suffer change, disdain'd not to begin

214Thenceforth the form of servant to assume,

215As when he wash'd his servants feet so now

216As Father of his Familie he clad

217Thir nakedness with Skins of Beasts, or slain,

218Or as the Snake with youthful Coate repaid;

219And thought not much to cloath his Enemies:

220Nor hee thir outward onely with the Skins

221Of Beasts, but inward nakedness, much more

222Opprobrious, with his Robe of righteousness,

223Araying cover'd from his Fathers sight.

224To him with swift ascent he up returnd,

225Into his blissful bosom reassum'd

226In glory as of old, to him appeas'd

227All, though all-knowing, what had past with Man

228Recounted, mixing intercession sweet.

229Meanwhile ere thus was sin'd and judg'd on Earth,

230Within the Gates of Hell sate Sin and Death,

231In counterview within the Gates, that now

232Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame

233Farr into Chaos, since the Fiend pass'd through,

234Sin opening, who thus now to Death began.

235O Son, why sit we here each other viewing

236Idlely, while Satan our great Author thrives

237In other Worlds, and happier Seat provides

238For us his ofspring deare; It cannot be

239But that success attends him; if mishap,

240Ere this he had return'd, with fury driv'n

241By his Avenger, since no place like this

242Can fit his punishment, or their revenge.

243Methinks I feel new strength within me rise,

244Wings growing, and Dominion giv'n me large

245Beyond this Deep; whatever drawes me on,

246Or sympathie, or som connatural force

247Powerful at greatest distance to unite

248With secret amity things of like kinde

249By secretest conveyance. Thou my Shade

250Inseparable must with mee along:

251For Death from Sin no power can separate.

252But least the difficultie of passing back

253Stay his return perhaps over this Gulfe

254Impassable, Impervious, let us try

255Adventrous work, yet to thy power and mine

256Not unagreeable, to found a path

257Over this Maine from Hell to that new World

258Where Satan now prevailes, a Monument

259Of merit high to all th' infernal Host,

260Easing thir passage hence, for intercourse,

261Or transmigration, as thir lot shall lead.

262Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn

263By this new felt attraction and instinct.

264Whom thus the meager Shadow answerd soon.

265Goe whither Fate and inclination strong

266Leads thee, I shall not lag behinde, nor erre

267The way, thou leading, such a sent I draw

268Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste

269The savour of Death from all things there that live:

270Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest

271Be wanting, but afford thee equal aid.

272So saying, with delight he snuff'd the smell

273Of mortal change on Earth. As when a flock

274Of ravenous Fowl, though many a League remote,

275Against the day of Battel, to a Field,

276Where Armies lie encampt, come flying, lur'd

277With sent of living Carcasses design'd

278For death, the following day, in bloodie fight.

279So sented the grim Feature, and upturn'd

280His Nostril wide into the murkie Air,

281Sagacious of his Quarry from so farr.

282Then Both from out Hell Gates into the waste

283Wide Anarchie of Chaos damp and dark

284Flew divers, and with Power (thir Power was great)

285Hovering upon the Waters; what they met

286Solid or slimie, as in raging Sea

287Tost up and down, together crowded drove

288From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell.

289As when two Polar Winds blowing adverse

290Upon the Cronian Sea, together drive

291Mountains of Ice, that stop th' imagin'd way

292Beyond Petsora Eastward, to the rich

293Cathaian Coast. The aggregated Soyle

294Death with his Mace petrific, cold and dry,

295As with a Trident smote, and fix't as firm

296As Delos floating once; the rest his look

297Bound with Gorgonian rigor not to move,

298And with Asphaltic slime; broad as the Gate,

299Deep to the Roots of Hell the gather'd beach

300They fasten'd, and the Mole immense wraught on

301Over the foaming deep high Archt, a Bridge

302Of length prodigious joyning to the Wall

303Immovable of this now fenceless world

304Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad,

305Smooth, easie, inoffensive down to Hell.

306So, if great things to small may be compar'd,

307Xerxes, the Libertie of Greece to yoke,

308From Susa his Memnonian Palace high

309Came to the Sea, and over Hellespont

310Bridging his way, Europe with Asia joyn'd,

311And scourg'd with many a stroak th' indignant waves.

312Now had they brought the work by wondrous Art

313Pontifical, a ridge of pendent Rock

314Over the vext Abyss, following the track

315Of Satan, to the self same place where hee

316First lighted from his Wing, and landed safe

317From out of Chaos to the out side bare

318Of this round World: with Pinns of Adamant

319And Chains they made all fast, too fast they made

320And durable; and now in little space

321The confines met of Empyrean Heav'n

322And of this World, and on the left hand Hell

323With long reach interpos'd; three sev'ral wayes

324In sight, to each of these three places led.

325And now thir way to Earth they had descri'd,

326To Paradise first tending, when behold

327Satan in likeness of an Angel bright

328Betwixt the Centaure and the Scorpion stearing

329His Zenith, while the Sun in Aries rose:

330Disguis'd he came, but those his Children dear

331Thir Parent soon discern'd, though in disguise.

332Hee after Eve seduc't, unminded slunk

333Into the Wood fast by, and changing shape

334To observe the sequel, saw his guileful act

335By Eve, though all unweeting, seconded

336Upon her Husband, saw thir shame that sought

337Vain covertures; but when he saw descend

338The Son of God to judge them terrifi'd

339Hee fled, not hoping to escape, but shun

340The present, fearing guiltie what his wrauth

341Might suddenly inflict; that past, return'd

342By Night, and listening where the hapless Paire

343Sate in thir sad discourse, and various plaint,

344Thence gatherd his own doom, which understood

345Not instant, but of future time. With joy

346And tidings fraught, to Hell he now return'd,

347And at the brink of Chaos, neer the foot

348Of this new wondrous Pontifice, unhop't

349Met who to meet him came, his Ofspring dear.

350Great joy was at thir meeting, and at sight

351Of that stupendious Bridge his joy encreas'd.

352Long hee admiring stood, till Sin, his faire

353Inchanting Daughter, thus the silence broke.

354O Parent, these are thy magnific deeds,

355Thy Trophies, which thou view'st as not thine own,

356Thou art thir Author and prime Architect:

357For I no sooner in my Heart divin'd,

358My Heart, which by a secret harmonie

359Still moves with thine, join'd in connexion sweet,

360That thou on Earth hadst prosper'd, which thy looks

361Now also evidence, but straight I felt

362Though distant from thee Worlds between, yet felt

363That I must after thee with this thy Son;

364Such fatal consequence unites us three:

365Hell could no longer hold us in her bounds,

366Nor this unvoyageable Gulf obscure

367Detain from following thy illustrious track.

368Thou hast atchiev'd our libertie, confin'd

369Within Hell Gates till, now, thou us impow'rd

370To fortifie thus farr, and overlay

371With this portentous Bridge the dark Abyss.

372Thine now is all this World, thy vertue hath won

373What thy hands builded not, thy Wisdom gain'd

374With odds what Warr hath lost, and fully aveng'd

375Our foile in Heav'n; here thou shalt Monarch reign,

376There didst not; there let him still Victor sway,

377As Battel hath adjudg'd, from this new World

378Retiring, by his own doom alienated,

379And henceforth Monarchie with thee divide

380Of all things parted by th' Empyreal bounds,

381His Quadrature, from thy Orbicular World,

382Or trie thee now more dang'rous to his Throne.

383Whom thus the Prince of Darkness answerd glad.

384Fair Daughter, and thou Son and Grandchild both,

385High proof ye now have giv'n to be the Race

386Of Satan (for I glorie in the name,

387Antagonist of Heav'ns Almightie King)

388Amply have merited of me, of all

389Th' infernal Empire, that so neer Heav'ns dore

390Triumphal with triumphal act have met,

391Mine with this glorious Work, and made one Realm

392Hell and this World, one Realm, one Continent

393Of easie thorough-fare. Therefore while I

394Descend through Darkness, on your Rode with ease

395To my associate Powers, them to acquaint

396With these successes, and with them rejoyce,

397You two this way, among these numerous Orbs

398All yours, right down to Paradise descend;

399There dwell and Reign in bliss, thence on the Earth

400Dominion exercise and in the Aire,

401Chiefly on Man, sole Lord of all declar'd,

402Him first make sure your thrall, and lastly kill.

403My Substitutes I send ye, and Create

404Plenipotent on Earth, of matchless might

405Issuing from mee: on your joynt vigor now

406My hold of this new Kingdom all depends,

407Through Sin to Death expos'd by my exploit.

408If your joynt power prevailes, th' affaires of Hell

409No detriment need feare, goe and be strong.

410So saying he dismiss'd them, they with speed

411Thir course through thickest Constellations held

412Spreading thir bane; the blasted Starrs lookt wan,

413And Planets, Planet-strook, real Eclips

414Then sufferd. Th' other way Satan went down

415The Causey to Hell Gate; on either side

416Disparted Chaos over built exclaimd,

417And with rebounding surge the barrs assaild,

418That scorn'd his indignation: through the Gate,

419Wide open and unguarded, Satan pass'd,

420And all about found desolate; for those

421Appointed to sit there, had left thir charge,

422Flown to the upper World; the rest were all

423Farr to the inland retir'd, about the walls

424Of Pandaemonium, Citie and proud seate

425Of Lucifer, so by allusion calld,

426Of that bright Starr to Satan paragond.

427There kept thir Watch the Legions, while the Grand

428In Council sate, sollicitous what chance

429Might intercept thir Emperour sent, so hee

430Departing gave command, and they observ'd.

431As when the Tartar from his Russian Foe

432By Astracan over the Snowie Plaines

433Retires, or Bactrian Sophi from the hornes

434Of Turkish Crescent, leaves all waste beyond

435The Realm of Aladule, in his retreate

436To Tauris or Casbeen. So these the late

437Heav'n-banisht Host, left desert utmost Hell

438Many a dark League, reduc't in careful Watch

439Round thir Metropolis, and now expecting

440Each hour their great adventurer from the search

441Of Forrein Worlds: he through the midst unmarkt,

442In shew Plebeian Angel militant

443Of lowest order, past; and from the dore

444Of that Plutonian Hall, invisible

445Ascended his high Throne, which under state

446Of richest texture spred, at th' upper end

447Was plac't in regal lustre. Down a while

448He sate, and round about him saw unseen:

449At last as from a Cloud his fulgent head

450And shape Starr bright appeer'd, or brighter, clad

451With what permissive glory since his fall

452Was left him, or false glitter: All amaz'd

453At that so sudden blaze the Stygian throng

454Bent thir aspect, and whom they wish'd beheld,

455Thir mighty Chief returnd: loud was th' acclaime:

456Forth rush'd in haste the great consulting Peers,

457Rais'd from thir Dark Divan, and with like joy

458Congratulant approach'd him, who with hand

459Silence, and with these words attention won.

460Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Vertues, Powers,

461For in possession such, not onely of right,

462I call ye and declare ye now, returnd

463Successful beyond hope, to lead ye forth

464Triumphant out of this infernal Pit

465Abominable, accurst, the house of woe,

466And Dungeon of our Tyrant: Now possess,

467As Lords, a spacious World, to our native Heaven

468Little inferiour, by my adventure hard

469With peril great atchiev'd. Long were to tell

470What I have don, what sufferd, with what paine

471Voyag'd th' unreal, vast, unbounded deep

472Of horrible confusion, over which

473By Sin and Death a broad way now is pav'd

474To expedite your glorious march; but I

475Toild out my uncouth passage, forc't to ride

476Th' untractable Abysse, plung'd in the womb

477Of unoriginal Night and Chaos wilde,

478That jealous of thir secrets fiercely oppos'd

479My journey strange, with clamorous uproare

480Protesting Fate supreame; thence how I found

481The new created World, which fame in Heav'n

482Long had foretold, a Fabrick wonderful

483Of absolute perfection, therein Man

484Plac't in a Paradise, by our exile

485Made happie; Him by fraud I have seduc'd

486From his Creator, and the more to increase

487Your wonder, with an Apple; he thereat

488Offended, worth your laughter, hath giv'n up

489Both his beloved Man and all his World,

490To Sin and Death a prey, and so to us,

491Without our hazard, labour, or allarme,

492To range in, and to dwell, and over Man

493To rule, as over all he should have rul'd.

494True is, mee also he hath judg'd, or rather

495Mee not, but the brute Serpent in whose shape

496Man I deceav'd: that which to mee belongs,

497Is enmity, which he will put between

498Mee and Mankinde; I am to bruise his heel;

499His Seed, when is not set, shall bruise my head:

500A World who would not purchase with a bruise,

501Or much more grievous pain? Ye have th' account

502Of my performance: What remains, ye Gods,

503But up and enter now into full bliss.

504So having said, a while he stood, expecting

505Thir universal shout and high applause

506To fill his eare, when contrary he hears

507On all sides, from innumerable tongues

508A dismal universal hiss, the sound

509Of public scorn; he wonderd, but not long

510Had leasure, wondring at himself now more;

511His Visage drawn he felt to sharp and spare,

512His Armes clung to his Ribs, his Leggs entwining

513Each other, till supplanted down he fell

514A monstrous Serpent on his Belly prone,

515Reluctant, but in vaine, a greater power

516Now rul'd him, punisht in the shape he sin'd,

517According to his doom: he would have spoke,

518But hiss for hiss returnd with forked tongue

519To forked tongue, for now were all transform'd

520Alike, to Serpents all as accessories

521To his bold Riot: dreadful was the din

522Of hissing through the Hall, thick swarming now

523With complicated monsters head and taile,

524Scorpion and Asp, and Amphisbaena dire,

525Cerastes hornd, Hydrus, and Ellops drear,

526And Dipsas (not so thick swarm'd once the Soil

527Bedropt with blood of Gorgon, or the Isle

528Ophiusa) but still greatest hee the midst,

529Now Dragon grown, larger then whom the Sun

530Ingenderd in the Pythian Vale on slime,

531Huge Python, and his Power no less he seem'd

532Above the rest still to retain; they all

533Him follow'd issuing forth to th' open Field,

534Where all yet left of that revolted Rout

535Heav'n-fall'n, in station stood or just array,

536Sublime with expectation when to see

537ln Triumph issuing forth thir glorious Chief;

538They saw, but other sight instead, a crowd

539Of ugly Serpents; horror on them fell,

540And horrid sympathie; for what they saw,

541They felt themselvs now changing; down thir arms,

542Down fell both Spear and Shield, down they as fast,

543And the dire hiss renew'd, and the dire form

544Catcht by Contagion, like in punishment,

545As in thir crime. Thus was th' applause they meant,

546Turnd to exploding hiss, triumph to shame

547Cast on themselves from thir own mouths. There stood

548A Grove hard by, sprung up with this thir change,

549His will who reigns above, to aggravate

550Thir penance, laden with Fruit like that

551Which grew in Paradise, the bait of Eve

552Us'd by the Tempter: on that prospect strange

553Thir earnest eyes they fix'd, imagining

554For one forbidden Tree a multitude

555Now ris'n, to work them furder woe or shame;

556Yet parcht with scalding thurst and hunger fierce,

557Though to delude them sent, could not abstain,

558But on they rould in heaps, and up the Trees

559Climbing, sat thicker then the snakie locks

560That curld Megaera: greedily they pluck'd

561The Frutage fair to sight, like that which grew

562Neer that bituminous Lake where Sodom flam'd;

563This more delusive, not the touch, but taste

564Deceav'd; they fondly thinking to allay

565Thir appetite with gust, instead of Fruit

566Chewd bitter Ashes, which th' offended taste

567With spattering noise rejected: oft they assayd,

568Hunger and thirst constraining, drugd as oft,

569With hatefullest disrelish writh'd thir jaws

570With soot and cinders fill'd; so oft they fell

571Into the same illusion, not as Man

572Whom they triumph'd once lapst. Thus were they plagu'd

573And worn with Famin, long and ceasless hiss,

574Till thir lost shape, permitted, they resum'd,

575Yearly enjoynd, some say, to undergo

576This annual humbling certain number'd days,

577To dash thir pride, and joy for Man seduc't.

578However some tradition they dispers'd

579Among the Heathen of thir purchase got,

580And Fabl'd how the Serpent, whom they calld

581Ophion with Eurynome, the wide-

582Encroaching Eve perhaps, had first the rule

583Of high Olympus, thence by Saturn driv'n

584And Ops, ere yet Dictaean Jove was born.

585Mean while in Paradise the hellish pair

586Too soon arriv'd, Sin there in power before,

587Once actual, now in body, and to dwell

588Habitual habitant; behind her Death

589Close following pace for pace, not mounted yet

590On his pale Horse: to whom Sin thus began.

591Second of Satan sprung, all conquering Death,

592What thinkst thou of our Empire now, though earnd

593With travail difficult, not better farr

594Then stil at Hels dark threshold to have sate watch,

595Unnam'd, undreaded, and thy self half starv'd?

596Whom thus the Sin-born Monster answerd soon.

597To mee, who with eternal Famin pine,

598Alike is Hell, or Paradise, or Heaven,

599There best, where most with ravin I may meet;

600Which here, though plenteous, all too little seems

601To stuff this Maw, this vast unhide-bound Corps.

602To whom th' incestuous Mother thus repli'd.

603Thou therefore on these Herbs, and Fruits, and Flours

604Feed first, on each Beast next, and Fish, and Fowle,

605No homely morsels, and whatever thing

606The Sithe of Time mowes down, devour unspar'd,

607Till I in Man residing through the Race,

608His thoughts, his looks, words, actions all infect,

609And season him thy last and sweetest prey.

610This said, they both betook them several wayes,

611Both to destroy, or unimmortal make

612All kinds, and for destruction to mature

613Sooner or later; which th' Almightie seeing,

614From his transcendent Seat the Saints among,

615To those bright Orders utterd thus his voice.

616See with what heat these Dogs of Hell advance

617To waste and havoc yonder World, which I

618So fair and good created, and had still

619Kept in that State, had not the folly of Man

620Let in these wastful Furies, who impute

621Folly to mee, so doth the Prince of Hell

622And his Adherents, that with so much ease

623I suffer them to enter and possess

624A place so heav'nly, and conniving-seem

625To gratifie my scornful Enemies,

626That laugh, as if transported with some fit

627Of Passion, I to them had quitted all,

628At random yielded up to their misrule;

629And know not that I call'd and drew them thither

630My Hell-hounds, to lick up the draff and filth

631Which mans polluting Sin with taint hath shed

632On what was pure, till cramm'd and gorg'd, nigh burst

633With suckt and glutted offal, at one sling

634Of thy victorious Arm, well-pleasing Son,

635Both Sin, and Death, and yawning Grave at last

636Through Chaos hurld, obstruct the mouth of Hell

637For ever, and seal up his ravenous Jawes.

638Then Heav'n and Earth renewd shall be made pure

639To sanctitie that shall receive no staine:

640Till then the Curse pronounc't on both precedes.

641He ended, and the heav'nly Audience loud

642Sung Halleluia, as the sound of Seas,

643Through multitude that sung: Just are thy ways,

644Righteous are thy Decrees on all thy Works;

645Who can extenuate thee? Next, to the Son,

646Destin'd restorer of Mankind, by whom

647New Heav'n and Earth shall to the Ages rise,

648Or down from Heav'n descend. Such was thir song,

649While the Creator calling forth by name

650His mightie Angels gave them several charge,

651As sorted best with present things. The Sun

652Had first his precept so to move, so shine,

653As might affect the Earth with cold and heat

654Scarce tollerable, and from the North to call

655Decrepit Winter, from the South to bring

656Solstitial summers heat. To the blanc Moone

657Her office they prescrib'd, to th' other five

658Thir planetarie motions and aspects

659In Sextile, Square, and Trine, and Opposite,

660Of noxious efficacie, and when to joyne

661In Synod unbenigne, and taught the fixt

662Thir influence malignant when to showre,

663Which of them rising with the Sun, or falling,

664Should prove tempestuous: To the Winds they set

665Thir corners, when with bluster to confound

666Sea, Aire, and Shoar, the Thunder when to rowle

667With terror through the dark Aereal Hall.

668Some say he bid his Angels turne ascanse

669The Poles of Earth twice ten degrees and more

670From the Suns Axle; they with labour push'd

671Oblique the Centric Globe: Som say the Sun

672Was bid turn Reines from th' Equinoctial Rode

673Like distant breadth to Taurus with the Seav'n

674Atlantick Sisters, and the Spartan Twins

675Up to the Tropic Crab; thence down amaine

676By Leo and the Virgin and the Scales,

677As deep as Capricorne, to bring in change

678Of Seasons to each Clime; else had the Spring

679Perpetual smil'd on Earth with vernant Flours,

680Equal in Days and Nights, except to those

681Beyond the Polar Circles; to them Day

682Had unbenighted shon, while the low Sun

683To recompence his distance, in thir sight

684Had rounded still th' Horizon, and not known

685Or East or West, which had forbid the Snow

686From cold Estotiland, and South as farr

687Beneath Magellan. At that tasted Fruit

688The Sun, as from Thyestean Banquet, turn'd

689His course intended; else how had the World

690Inhabited, though sinless, more then now,

691Avoided pinching cold and scorching heate?

692These changes in the Heav'ns, though slow, produc'd

693Like change on Sea and Land, sideral blast,

694Vapour, and Mist, and Exhalation hot,

695Corrupt and Pestilent: Now from the North

696Of Norumbega, and the Samoed shoar

697Bursting thir brazen Dungeon, armd with ice

698And snow and haile and stormie gust and flaw,

699Boreas and Caecias and Argestes loud

700And Thrascias rend the Woods and Seas upturn;

701With adverse blast upturns them from the South

702Notus and Afer black with thundrous Clouds

703From Serraliona; thwart of these as fierce

704Forth rush the Levant and the Ponent Windes

705Eurus and Zephir with thir lateral noise,

706Sirocco, and Libecchio, Thus began

707Outrage from liveless things; but Discord first

708Daughter of Sin, among th' irrational,

709Death introduc'd through fierce antipathie:

710Beast now with Beast gan war, and Fowle with Fowle,

711And Fish with Fish; to graze the Herb all leaving,

712Devourd each other; nor stood much in awe

713Of Man, but fled him, or with count'nance grim

714Glar'd on him passing: these were from without

715The growing miseries, which Adam saw

716Alreadie in part, though hid in gloomiest shade,

717To sorrow abandond, but worse felt within,

718And in a troubl'd Sea of passion tost,

719Thus to disburd'n sought with sad complaint.

720O miserable of happie! is this the end

721Of this new glorious World, and mee so late

722The Glory of that Glory, who now becom

723Accurst of blessed, hide me from the face

724Of God, whom to behold was then my highth

725Of happiness: yet well, if here would end

726The miserie, I deserv'd it, and would beare

727My own deservings; but this will not serve;

728All that I eat or drink, or shall beget,

729Is propagated curse. O voice once heard

730Delightfully, Encrease and multiply,

731Now death to heare! for what can I encrease

732Or multiplie, but curses on my head?

733Who of all Ages to succeed, but feeling

734The evil on him brought by me, will curse

735My Head, Ill fare our Ancestor impure,

736For this we may thank Adam; but his thanks

737Shall be the execration; so besides

738Mine own that bide upon me, all from mee

739Shall with a fierce reflux on mee redound,

740On mee as on thir natural center light

741Heavie, though in thir place. O fleeting joyes

742Of Paradise, deare bought with lasting woes!

743Did I request thee, Maker, from my Clay

744To mould me Man, did I sollicite thee

745From darkness to promote me, or here place

746In this delicious Garden? as my Will

747Concurd not to my being, it were but right

748And equal to reduce me to my dust,

749Desirous to resigne, and render back

750All I receav'd, unable to performe

751Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold

752The good I sought not. To the loss of that,

753Sufficient penaltie, why hast thou added

754The sense of endless woes? inexplicable

755Thy justice seems; yet to say truth, too late,

756I thus contest; then should have been refusd

757Those terms whatever, when they were propos'd:

758Thou didst accept them; wilt thou enjoy the good,

759Then cavil the conditions? and though God

760Made thee without thy leave, what if thy Son

761Prove disobedient, and reprov'd, retort,

762Wherefore didst thou beget me? I sought it not:

763Wouldst thou admit for his contempt of thee

764That proud excuse? yet him not thy election,

765But Natural necessity begot.

766God made thee of choice his own, and of his own

767To serve him, thy reward was of his grace,

768Thy punishment then justly is at his Will.

769Be it so, for I submit, his doom is fair,

770That dust I am, and shall to dust returne:

771O welcom hour whenever! why delayes

772His hand to execute what his Decree

773Fixd on this day? why do I overlive,

774Why am I mockt with death, and length'nd out

775To deathless pain? how gladly would I meet

776Mortalitie my sentence, and be Earth

777Insensible, how glad would lay me down

778As in my Mothers lap? there I should rest

779And sleep secure; his dreadful voice no more

780Would Thunder in my ears, no fear of worse

781To mee and to my ofspring would torment me

782With cruel expectation. Yet one doubt

783Pursues me still, least all I cannot die,

784Least that pure breath of Life, the Spirit of Man

785Which God inspir'd, cannot together perish

786With this corporeal Clod; then in the Grave,

787Or in some other dismal place who knows

788But I shall die a living Death? O thought

789Horrid, if true! yet why? it was but breath

790Of Life that sinn'd; what dies but what had life

791And sin? the Bodie properly hath neither.

792All of me then shall die: let this appease

793The doubt, since humane reach no further knows.

794For though the Lord of all be infinite,

795Is his wrauth also? be it, man is not so,

796But mortal doom'd. How can he exercise

797Wrath without end on Man whom Death must end?

798Can he make deathless Death? that were to make

799Strange contradiction, which to God himself

800Impossible is held, as Argument

801Of weakness, not of Power. Will he, draw out,

802For angers sake, finite to infinite

803In punisht man, to satisfie his rigour

804Satisfi'd never; that were to extend

805His Sentence beyond dust and Natures Law,

806By which all Causes else according still

807To the reception of thir matter act,

808Not to th' extent of thir own Spheare. But say

809That Death be not one stroak, as I suppos'd,

810Bereaving sense, but endless miserie

811From this day onward, which 1 feel begun

812Both in me, and without me, and so last

813To perpetuitie; Ay me, that fear

814Comes thundring back with dreadful revolution

815On my defensless head; both Death and I

816Am found Eternal, and incorporate both,

817Nor I on my part single, in mee all

818Posteritie stands curst: Fair Patrimonie

819That I must leave ye, Sons; O were I able

820To waste it all my self, and leave ye none!

821So disinherited how would ye bless

822Me now your curse! Ah, why should all mankind

823For one mans fault thus guiltless be condemn'd,

824If guiltless? But from me what can proceed,

825But all corrupt, both Mind and Will deprav'd,

826Not to do onely, but to will the same

827With me? how can they then acquitted stand

828In sight of God? Him after all Disputes

829Forc't I absolve: all my evasions vain,

830And reasonings, though through Mazes, lead me still

831But to my own conviction: first and last

832On mee, mee onely, as the sourse and spring

833Of all corruption, all the blame lights due;

834So might the wrauth. Fond wish! couldst thou support

835That burden heavier then the Earth to bear

836Then all the World much heavier, though divided

837With that bad Woman? Thus what thou desir'st

838And what thou fearst, alike destroyes all hope

839Of refuge, and concludes thee miserable

840Beyond all past example and future,

841To Satan only like both crime and doom.

842O Conscience, into what Abyss of fears

843And horrors hast thou driv'n me; out of which

844I find no way, from deep to deeper plung'd!

845Thus Adam to himself lamented loud

846Through the still Night, not now, as ere man fell,

847Wholsom and cool, and mild, but with black Air

848Accompanied, with damps and dreadful gloom,

849Which to his evil Conscience represented

850All things with double terror: On the Ground

851Outstretcht he lay, on the cold ground, and oft

852Curs'd his Creation, Death as oft accus'd

853Of tardie execution, since denounc't

854The day of his offence. Why comes not Death,

855Said hee, with one thrice acceptable stroke

856To end me? Shall Truth fail to keep her word,

857Justice Divine not hast'n to be just?

858But Death comes not at call, Justice Divine

859Mends not her slowest pace for prayers or cries.

860O Woods, O Fountains, Hillocks, Dales and Bowrs,

861With other echo late I taught your Shades

862To answer, and resound farr other Song.

863Whom thus afflicted when sad Eve bebeld,

864Desolate where she sate, approaching nigh,

865Soft words to his fierce passion she assay'd:

866But her with stern regard he thus repell'd.

867Out of my sight, thou Serpent, that name best

868Befits thee with him leagu'd, thy self as false

869And hateful; nothing wants, but that thy shape,

870Like his, and colour Serpentine may shew

871Thy inward fraud, to warn all Creatures from thee

872Henceforth; least that too heav'nly form, pretended

873To hellish falshood, snare them. But for thee

874I had persisted happie, had not thy pride

875And wandring vanitie, when lest was safe,

876Rejected my forewarning, and disdain'd

877Not to be trusted, longing to be seen

878Though by the Devil himself, him overweening

879To over-reach, but with the Serpent meeting

880Fool'd and beguil'd, by him thou, I by thee,

881To trust thee from my side, imagin'd wise,

882Constant, mature, proof against all assaults,

883And understood not all was but a shew

884Rather then solid vertu, all but a Rib

885Crooked by nature, bent, as now appears,

886More to the part sinister from me drawn,

887Well if thrown out, as supernumerarie

888To my just number found. O why did God,

889Creator wise, that peopl'd highest Heav'n

890With Spirits Masculine, create at last

891This noveltie on Earth, this fair defect

892Of Nature, and not fill the World at once

893With Men as Angels without Feminine,

894Or find some other way to generate

895Mankind? this mischief had not then befall'n,

896And more that shall befall, innumerable

897Disturbances on Earth through Femal snares,

898And straight conjunction with this Sex: for either

899He never shall find out fit Mate, but such

900As some misfortune brings him, or mistake,

901Or whom he wishes most shall seldom gain

902Through her perversness, but shall see her gaind

903By a farr worse, or if she love, withheld

904By Parents, or his happiest choice too late

905Shall meet, alreadie linkt and Wedlock-bound

906To a fell Adversarie, his hate or shame:

907Which infinite calamitie shall cause

908To Humane life, and houshold peace confound.

909He added not, and from her turn'd, but Eve

910Not so repulst, with Tears that ceas'd not flowing,

911And tresses all disorderd, at his feet

912Fell humble, and imbracing them, besaught

913His peace, and thus proceeded in her plaint.

914Forsake me not thus, Adam, witness Heav'n

915What love sincere, and reverence in my heart

916I beare thee, and unweeting have offended,

917Unhappilie deceav'd; thy suppliant

918I beg, and clasp thy knees; bereave me not,

919Whereon I live, thy gentle looks, thy aid,

920Thy counsel in this uttermost distress,

921My onely strength and stay: forlorn of thee,

922Whither shall I betake me, where subsist?

923While yet we live, scarse one short hour perhaps,

924Between us two let there be peace, both joyning,

925As joyn'd in injuries, one enmitie

926Against a Foe by doom express assign'd us,

927That cruel Serpent: On me exercise not

928Thy hatred for this miserie befall'n,

929On me alreadie lost, mee then thy self

930More miserable; both have sin'd, but thou

931Against God onely, I against God and thee,

932And to the place of judgment will return,

933There with my cries importune Heaven, that all

934The sentence from thy head remov'd may light

935On me, sole cause to thee of all this woe,

936Mee mee onely just object of his ire.

937She ended weeping, and her lowlie plight,

938Immoveable till peace obtain'd from fault

939Acknowledg'd and deplor'd, in Adam wraught

940Commiseration; soon his heart relented

941Towards her, his life so late and sole delight,

942Now at his feet submissive in distress,

943Creature so faire his reconcilement seeking,

944His counsel whom she had displeas'd, his aide;

945As one disarm'd, his anger all he lost,

946And thus with peaceful words uprais'd her soon.

947Unwarie, and too desirous, as before,

948So now of what thou knowst not, who desir'st

949The punishment all on thy self; alas,

950Beare thine own first, ill able to sustaine

951His full wrauth whose thou feelst as yet lest part,

952And my displeasure bearst so ill. If Prayers

953Could alter high Decrees, I to that place

954Would speed before thee, and be louder heard,

955That on my head all might be visited,

956Thy frailtie and infirmer Sex forgiv'n,

957To me committed and by me expos'd.

958But rise, let us no more contend, nor blame

959Each other, blam'd enough elsewhere, but strive

960In offices of Love, how we may light'n

961Each others burden in our share of woe;

962Since this days Death denounc't, if ought I see,

963Will prove no sudden, but a slow-pac't evill,

964A long days dying to augment our paine,

965And to our Seed (O hapless Seed!) deriv'd.

966To whom thus Eve, recovering heart, repli'd.

967Adam, by sad experiment I know

968How little weight my words with thee can finde,

969Found so erroneous, thence by just event

970Found so unfortunate; nevertheless,

971Restor'd by thee, vile as I am, to place

972Of new acceptance, hopeful to regaine

973Thy Love, the sole contentment of my heart

974Living or dying, from thee I will not hide

975What thoughts in my unquiet brest are ris'n,

976Tending to some relief of our extremes,

977Or end, though sharp and sad, yet tolerable,

978As in our evils, and of easier choice.

979If care of our descent perplex us most,

980Which must be born to certain woe, devourd

981By Death at last, and miserable it is

982To be to others cause of misery,

983Our own begotten, and of our Loines to bring

984Into this cursed World a woful Race,

985That after wretched Life must be at last

986Food for so foule a Monster, in thy power

987It lies, yet ere Conception to prevent

988The Race unblest, to being yet unbegot.

989Childless thou art, Childless remaine: so Death

990Shall be deceav'd his glut, and with us two

991Be forc'd to satisfie his Rav'nous Maw.

992But if thou judge it hard and difficult,

993Conversing, looking, loving, to abstain

994From Loves due Rites, Nuptial imbraces sweet,

995And with desire to languish without hope,

996Before the present object languishing

997With like desire, which would be meserie

998And torment less then none of what we dread,

999Then both our selves and Seed at once to free

1000From what we fear for both, let us make short,

1001Let us seek Death, or he not found, supply

1002With our own hands his Office on our selves;

1003Why stand we longer shivering under feares,

1004That shew no end but Death, and have the power,

1005Of many ways to die the shortest choosing,

1006Destruction with destruction to destroy.

1007She ended heer, or vehement despaire

1008Broke off the rest; so much of Death her thoughts

1009Had entertaind, as di'd her Cheeks with pale.

1010But Adam with such counsel nothing sway'd,

1011To better hopes his more attentive minde

1012Labouring had rais'd, and thus to Eve repli'd.

1013Eve, thy contempt of life and pleasure seems

1014To argue in thee somthing more sublime

1015And excellent then what thy minde contemnes;

1016But self-destruction therefore saught, refutes

1017That excellence thought in thee, and implies,

1018Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret

1019For loss of life and pleasure overlov'd.

1020Or if thou covet death, as utmost end

1021Of miserie, so thinking to evade

1022The penaltie pronounc't, doubt not but God

1023Hath wiselier arm'd his vengeful ire then so

1024To be forestall'd; much more I fear least Death

1025So snatcht will not exempt us from the paine

1026We are by doom to pay; rather such acts

1027Of contumacie will provoke the highest

1028To make death in us live: Then let us seek

1029Some safer resolution, which methinks

1030I have in view, calling to minde with heed

1031Part of our Sentence, that thy Seed shall bruise

1032The Serpents head; piteous amends, unless

1033Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand Foe

1034Satan, who in the Serpent hath contriv'd

1035Against us this deceit: to crush his head

1036Would be revenge indeed; which will be lost

1037By death brought on our selves, or childless days

1038Resolv'd, as thou proposest; so our Foe

1039Shall scape his punishment ordain'd, and wee

1040Instead shall double ours upon our heads.

1041No more be mention'd then of violence

1042Against our selves, and wilful barrenness,

1043That cuts us off from hope, and savours onely

1044Rancor and pride, impatience and despite,

1045Reluctance against God and his just yoke

1046Laid on our Necks. Remember with what mild

1047And gracious temper he both heard and judg'd

1048Without wrauth or reviling; wee expected

1049Immediate dissolution, which we thought

1050Was meant by Death that day, when lo, to thee

1051Pains onely in Child-bearing were foretold,

1052And bringing forth, soon recompenc't with joy,

1053Fruit of thy Womb: On mee the Curse aslope

1054Glanc'd on the ground, with labour I must earne

1055My bread; what harm? Idleness had bin worse;

1056My labour will sustain me; and least Cold

1057Or Heat should injure us, his timely care

1058Hath unbesaught provided, and his hands

1059Cloath'd us unworthie, pitying while he judg'd;

1060How much more, if we pray him, will his ear

1061Be open, and his heart to pitie incline,

1062And teach us further by what means to shun

1063Th' inclement Seasons, Rain, Ice, Hail and Snow,

1064Which now the Skie with various Face begins

1065To shew us in this Mountain, while the Winds

1066Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks

1067Of these fair spreading Trees; which bids us seek

1068Som better shroud, som better warmth to cherish

1069Our Limbs benumm'd, ere this diurnal Starr

1070Leave cold the Night, how we his gather'd beams

1071Reflected, may with matter sere foment,

1072Or by collision of two bodies grinde

1073The Air attrite to Fire, as late the Clouds

1074Justling or pusht with Winds rude in thir shock

1075Tine the slant Lightning, whose thwart flame driv'n down

1076Kindles the gummie bark of Firr or Pine,

1077And sends a comfortable heat from farr,

1078Which might supplie the Sun: such Fire to use,

1079And what may else be remedie or cure

1080To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought,

1081Hee will instruct us praying, and of Grace

1082Beseeching him, so as we need not fear

1083To pass commodiously this life, sustain'd

1084By him with many comforts, till we end

1085In dust, our final rest and native home.

1086What better can we do, then to the place

1087Repairing where he judg'd us, prostrate fall

1088Before him reverent, and there confess

1089Humbly our faults, and pardon beg, with tears

1090Watering the ground, and with our sighs the Air

1091Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign

1092Of sorrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.

1093Undoubtedly he will relent and turn

1094From his displeasure; in whose look serene,

1095When angry most he seem'd and most severe,

1096What else but favor, grace, and mercie shon?

1097So spake our Father penitent, nor Eve

1098Felt less remorse: they forthwith to the place

1099Repairing where he judg'd them prostrate fell

1100Before him reverent, and both confess'd

1101Humbly thir faults, and pardon beg'd, with tears

1102Watering the ground, and with thir sighs the Air

1103Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign

1104Of sorrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.

Notes

0] in full of (1674): in full assembly (1667).
to take of (1674): to taste of (1667). Back to Line

241] Avenger (1674); Avengers (1667). Back to Line

827] then (1674); not in 1667. Back to Line

989] so Death: beginning next line, all early editions. Back to Line

Publication Start Year

1667

RPO poem Editors

Ian Lancashire

RPO Edition

2002

Rhyme

unrhyming

Special Copyright

Transcription courtesy of Roy Flannagan.