Paradise Lost: Book X (1674)

Paradise Lost: Book X (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
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
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.
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
Special Copyright

Transcription courtesy of Roy Flannagan.