Paradise Regain'd: Book II (1671)

Milton, John (1608 - 1674)

Original Text

John Milton, Paradise Regain'd. A Poem (London: J. M. for John Starkey, 1671. Facsimile edition (Menston: Scolar Press, 1968). PR 3563 1968 CRRS Victoria College.

1MEan while the new-baptiz'd, who yet remain'd

2At Jordan with the Baptist, and had seen

3Him whom they heard so late expresly call'd

4Jesus Messiah Son of God declar'd,

5And on that high Authority had believ'd,

6And with him talkt, and with him lodg'd, I mean

7Andrew and Simon, famous after known

8With others though in Holy Writ not nam'd,

9Now missing him thir joy so lately found,

10So lately found, and so abruptly gone,

11Began to doubt, and doubted many days,

12And as the days increas'd, increas'd thir doubt:

13Sometimes they thought he might be only shewn,

14And for a time caught up to God, as once

15Moses was in the Mount, and missing long;

16And the great Thisbite who on fiery wheels

17Rode up to Heaven, yet once again to come.

18Therefore as those young Prophets then with care

19Sought lost Eliah, so in each place these

20Nigh to Bethabara; in Jerico

21The City of Palms, Ænon, and Salem Old,

22Machærus and each Town or City wall'd

23On this side the broad lake Genezaret,

24Or in Perea, but return'd in vain.

25Then on the bank of Jordan, by a Creek:

26Where winds with Reeds, and Osiers whisp'ring play

27Plain Fishermen, no greater men them call,

28Close in a Cottage low together got

29Thir unexpected loss and plaints out breath'd.

30Alas, from what high hope to what relapse

31Unlook'd for are we fall'n, our eyes beheld

32Messiah certainly now come, so long

33Expected of our Fathers; we have heard

34His words, his wisdom full of grace and truth,

35Now, now, for sure, deliverance is at hand,

36The Kingdom shall to Israel be restor'd:

37Thus we rejoyc'd, but soon our joy is turn'd

38Into perplexity and new amaze:

39For whither is he gone, what accident

40Hath rapt him from us? will he now retire

41After appearance, and again prolong

42Our expectation? God of Israel,

43Send thy Messiah forth, the time is come;

44Behold the Kings of the Earth how they oppress

45Thy chosen, to what highth thir pow'r unjust

46They have exalted, and behind them cast

47All fear of thee, arise and vindicate

48Thy Glory, free thy people from thir yoke,

49But let us wait; thus far he hath perform'd,

50Sent his Anointed, and to us reveal'd him,

51By his great Prophet, pointed at and shown,

52In publick, and with him we have convers'd;

53Let us be glad of this, and all our fears

54Lay on his Providence; he will not fail

55Nor will withdraw him now, nor will recall,

56Mock us with his blest sight, then snatch him hence,

57Soon we shall see our hope, our joy return.

58 Thus they out of their plaints new hope resume

59To find whom at the first they found unsought:

60But to his Mother Mary, when she saw

61Others return'd from Baptism, not her Son,

62Nor left at Jordan, tydings of him none;

63Within her brest, though calm; her brest though pure,

64Motherly cares and fears got head, and rais'd

65Some troubl'd thoughts, which she in sighs thus clad.

66 O what avails me now that honour high

67To have conceiv'd of God, or that salute

68Hale highly favour'd, among women blest;

69While I to sorrows am no less advanc't,

70And fears as eminent, above the lot

71Of other women, by the birth I bore,

72In such a season born when scarce a Shed

73Could be obtain'd to shelter him or me

74From the bleak air; a Stable was our warmth,

75A Manger his, yet soon enforc't to flye

76Thence into Egypt, till the Murd'rous King

77Were dead, who sought his life, and missing fill'd

78With Infant blood the streets of Bethlehem;

79From Egypt home return'd, in Nazareth

80Hath been our dwelling many years, his life

81Private, unactive, calm, contemplative,

82Little suspicious to any King; but now

83Full grown to Man, acknowledg'd, as I hear,

84By John the Baptist, and in publick shown,

85Son own'd from Heaven by his Father's voice;

86I look't for some great change; to Honour? no,

87But trouble, as old Simeon plain fore-told,

88That to the fall and rising he should be

89Of many in Israel, and to a sign

90Spoken against, that through my very Soul

91A sword shall pierce, this is my favour'd lot,

92My Exaltation to Afflictions high;

93Afflicted I may be, it seems, and blest;

94I will not argue that, nor will repine.

95But where delays he now? some great intent

96Conceals him: when twelve years he scarce had seen,

97I lost him, but so found, as well I saw

98He could not lose himself; but went about

99His Father's business; what he meant I mus'd,

100Since understand; much more his absence now

101Thus long to some great purpose he obscures.

102But I to wait with patience am inur'd;

103My heart hath been a store-house long of things

104And sayings laid up, portending strange events.

105 Thus Mary pondering oft, and oft to mind

106Recalling what remarkably had pass'd

107Since first her Salutation heard, with thoughts

108Meekly compos'd awaited the fulfilling:

109The while her Son tracing the Desert wild,

110Sole but with holiest Meditations fed,

111Into himself descended, and at once

112All his great work to come before him set;

113How to begin, how to accomplish best

114His end of being on Earth, and mission high:

115For Satan with slye preface to return

116Had left him vacant, and with speed was gon

117Up to the middle Region of thick Air,

118Where all his Potentates in Council sate;

119There without sign of boast, or sign of joy,

120Sollicitous and blank he thus began.

121 Princes, Heavens antient Sons, Æthereal Thrones,

122Demonian Spirits now, from the Element

123Each of his reign allotted, rightlier call'd,

124Powers of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth beneath,

125So may we hold our place and these mild seats

126Without new trouble; such an Enemy

127Is ris'n to invade us, who no less

128Threat'ns then our expulsion down to Hell;

129I, as I undertook, and with the vote

130Consenting in full frequence was impowr'd,

131Have found him, view'd him, tasted him, but find

132Far other labour to be undergon

133Then when I dealt with Adam first of Men,

134Though Adam by his Wives allurement fell,

135However to this Man inferior far,

136If he be Man by Mothers side at least,

137With more then humane gifts from Heaven adorn'd,

138Perfections absolute, Graces divine,

139And amplitude of mind to greatest Deeds.

140Therefore I am return'd, lest confidence

141Of my success with Eve in Paradise

142Deceive ye to perswasion over-sure

143Of like succeeding here; I summon all

144Rather to be in readiness, with hand

145Or counsel to assist; lest I who erst

146Thought none my equal, now be over-match'd.

147 So spake the old Serpent doubting, and from all

148With clamour was assur'd thir utmost aid

149At his command; when from amidst them rose

150Belial the dissolutest Spirit that fell,

151The sensuallest, and after Asmodai

152The fleshliest Incubus, and thus advis'd.

153 Set women in his eye and in his walk,

154Among daughters of men the fairest found;

155Many are in each Region passing fair

156As the noon Skie; more like to Goddesses

157Then Mortal Creatures, graceful and discreet,

158Expert in amorous Arts, enchanting tongues

159Perswasive, Virgin majesty with mild

160And sweet allay'd, yet terrible to approach,

161Skill'd to retire, and in retiring draw

162Hearts after them tangl'd in Amorous Nets.

163Such object hath the power to soft'n and tame

164Severest temper, smooth the rugged'st brow,

165Enerve, and with voluptuous hope dissolve,

166Draw out with credulous desire, and lead

167At will the manliest, resolutest brest,

168As the Magnetic hardest Iron draws.

169Women, when nothing else, beguil'd the heart

170Of wisest Solomon, and made him build,

171And made him bow to the Gods of his Wives.

172 To whom quick answer Satan thus return'd.

173Belial, in much uneven scale thou weigh'st

174All others by thy self; because of old

175Thou thy self doat'st on womankind, admiring

176Thir shape, thir colour, and attractive grace,

177None are, thou think'st, but taken with such toys.

178Before the Flood thou with thy lusty Crew,

179False titl'd Sons of God, roaming the Earth

180Cast wanton eyes on the daughters of men,

181And coupl'd with them, and begot a race.

182Have we not seen, or by relation heard,

183In Courts and Regal Chambers how thou lurk'st,

184In Wood or Grove by mossie Fountain side,

185In Valley or Green Meadow to way-lay

186Some beauty rare, Calisto, Clymene,

187Daphne, or Semele, Antiopa,

188Or Amymone, Syrinx, many more

189Too long, then lay'st thy scapes on names ador'd,

190Apollo, Neptune, Jupiter, or Pan,

191Satyr, or Fawn, or Silvan? But these haunts

192Delight not all; among the Sons of Men,

193How many have with a smile made small account

194Of beauty and her lures, easily scorn'd

195All her assaults, on worthier things intent?

196Remember that Pellean Conquerour,

197A youth, how all the Beauties of the East

198He slightly view'd, and slightly over-pass'd;

199How hee sirnam'd of Africa dismiss'd

200In his prime youth the fair Iberian maid.

201For Solomon he liv'd at ease, and full

202Of honour, wealth, high fare, aim'd not beyond

203Higher design then to enjoy his State;

204Thence to the bait of Women lay expos'd;

205But he whom we attempt is wiser far

206Then Solomon, of more exalted mind,

207Made and set wholly on the accomplishment

208Of greatest things; what woman will you find,

209Though of this Age the wonder and the fame,

210On whom his leisure will vouchsafe an eye

211Of fond desire? or should she confident,

212As sitting Queen ador'd on Beauties Throne,

213Descend with all her winning charms begirt

214To enamour, as the Zone of Venus once

215Wrought that effect on Jove, so Fables tell;

216How would one look from his Majestick brow

217Seated as on the top of Vertues hill,

218Discount'nance her despis'd, and put to rout

219All her array; her female pride deject,

220Or turn to reverent awe? for Beauty stands

221In the admiration only of weak minds

222Led captive; cease to admire, and all her Plumes

223Fall flat and shrink into a trivial toy,

224At every sudden slighting quite abasht:

225Therefore with manlier objects we must try

226His constancy, with such as have more shew

227Of worth, of honour, glory, and popular praise;

228Rocks whereon greatest men have oftest wreck'd;

229Or that which only seems to satisfie

230Lawful desires of Nature, not beyond;

231And now I know he hungers where no food

232Is to be found, in the wide Wilderness;

233The rest commit to me, I shall let pass

234No advantage, and his strength as oft assay.

235 He ceas'd, and heard thir grant in loud acclaim;

236Then forthwith to him takes a chosen band

237Of Spirits likest to himself in guile

238To be at hand, and at his beck appear,

239If cause were to unfold some active Scene

240Of various persons each to know his part;

241Then to the Desert takes with these his flight;

242Where still from shade to shade the Son of God

243After forty days fasting had remain'd,

244Now hungring first, and to himself thus said.

245 Where will this end? four times ten days I have pass'd

246Wandring this woody maze, and humane food

247Nor tasted, nor had appetite; that Fast

248To Vertue I impute not, or count part

249Of what I suffer here; if Nature need not,

250Or God support Nature without repast

251Though needing, what praise is it to endure?

252But now I feel I hunger, which declares,

253Nature hath need of what she asks; yet God

254Can satisfie that need some other way,

255Though hunger still remain: so it remain

256Without this bodies wasting, I content me,

257And from the sting of Famine fear no harm,

258Nor mind it, fed with better thoughts that feed

259Mee hungring more to do my Fathers will.

260 It was the hour of night, when thus the Son

261Commun'd in silent walk, then laid him down

262Under the hospitable covert nigh

263Of Trees thick interwoven; there he slept,

264And dream'd, as appetite is wont to dream,

265Of meats and drinks, Natures refreshment sweet;

266Him thought, he by the Brook of Cherith stood

267And saw the Ravens with their horny beaks

268Food to Elijah bringing Even and Morn,

269Though ravenous, taught to abstain from what they brought:

270He saw the Prophet also how he fled

271Into the Desert, and how there he slept

272Under a Juniper; then how awakt,

273He found his Supper on the coals prepar'd,

274And by the Angel was bid rise and eat,

275And eat the second time after repose,

276The strength whereof suffic'd him forty days;

277Sometimes that with Elijah he partook,

278Or as a guest with Daniel at his pulse.

279Thus wore out night, and now the Herald Lark

280Left his ground-nest, high towring to descry

281The morns approach, and greet her with his Song:

282As lightly from his grassy Couch up rose

283Our Saviour, and found all was but a dream,

284Fasting he went to sleep, and fasting wak'd.

285Up to a hill anon his steps he rear'd,

286From whose high top to ken the prospect round,

287If Cottage were in view, Sheep-cote or Herd;

288But Cottage, Herd or Sheep-cote none he saw,

289Only in a bottom saw a pleasant Grove,

290With chaunt of tuneful Birds resounding loud;

291Thither he bent his way, determin'd there

292To rest at noon, and entr'd soon the shade

293High rooft and walks beneath, and alleys brown

294That open'd in the midst a woody Scene,

295Natures own work it seem'd (Nature taught Art)

296And to a Superstitious eye the haunt

297Of Wood-Gods and Wood-Nymphs; he view'd it round,

298When suddenly a man before him stood,

299Not rustic as before, but seemlier clad,

300As one in City, or Court, or Palace bred,

301And with fair speech these words to him address'd.

302 With granted leave officious I return,

303But much more wonder that the Son of God

304In this wild solitude so long should bide

305Of all things destitute, and well I know,

306Not without hunger. Others of some note,

307As story tells, have trod this Wilderness;

308The Fugitive Bond-woman with her Son

309Out cast Nebaioth, yet found he relief

310By a providing Angel; all the race

311Of Israel here had famish'd, had not God

312Rain'd from Heaven Manna, and that Prophet bold

313Native of Thebes wandring here was fed

314Twice by a voice inviting him to eat.

315Of thee these forty days none hath regard,

316Forty and more deserted here indeed.

317 To whom thus Jesus; what conclud'st thou hence?

318They all had need, I as thou seest have none.

319 How hast thou hunger then? Satan reply'd,

320Tell me if Food were now before thee set,

321Would'st thou not eat? Thereafter as I like

322The giver, answer'd Jesus. Why should that

323Cause thy refusal, said the subtle Fiend,

324Hast thou not right to all Created things,

325Owe not all Creatures by just right to thee

326Duty and Service, nor to stay till bid,

327But tender all their power? nor mention I

328Meats by the Law unclean, or offer'd first

329To Idols, those young Daniel could refuse;

330Nor proffer'd by an Enemy, though who

331Would scruple that, with want opprest? behold

332Nature asham'd, or better to express,

333Troubl'd that thou shouldst hunger, hath purvey'd

334From all the Elements her choicest store

335To treat thee as beseems, and as her Lord

336With honour, only deign to sit and eat.

337 He spake no dream, for as his words had end,

338Our Saviour lifting up his eyes beheld

339In ample space under the broadest shade

340A Table richly spred, in regal mode,

341With dishes pill'd, and meats of noblest sort

342And savour, Beasts of chase, or Fowl of game,

343In pastry built, or from the spit, or boyl'd,

344Gris-amber-steam'd; all Fish from Sea or Shore,

345Freshet, or purling Brook, of shell or fin,

346And exquisitest name, for which was drain'd

347Pontus and Lucrine Bay, and Afric Coast.

348Alas how simple, to these Cates compar'd,

349Was that crude Apple that diverted Eve!

350And at a stately side-board by the wine

351That fragrant smell diffus'd, in order stood

352Tall stripling youths rich clad, of fairer hew

353Then Ganymed or Hylas, distant more

354Under the Trees now trip'd, now solemn stood

355Nymphs of Diana's train, and Naiades

356With fruits and flowers from Amalthea's horn,

357And Ladies of th' Hesperides, that seem'd

358Fairer then feign'd of old, or fabl'd since

359Of Fairy Damsels met in Forest wide

360By Knights of Logres, or of Lyones,

361Lancelot or Pelleas, or Pellenore,

362And all the while Harmonious Airs were heard

363Of chiming strings, or charming pipes and winds

364Of gentlest gale Arabian odors fann'd

365From their soft wings, and Flora's earliest smells.

366Such was the Splendour, and the Tempter now

367His invitation earnestly renew'd.

368 What doubts the Son of God to sit and eat?

369These are not Fruits forbidden, no interdict

370Defends the touching of these viands pure,

371Thir taste no knowledge works, at least of evil,

372But life preserves, destroys life's enemy,

373Hunger, with sweet restorative delight.

374All these are Spirits of Air, and Woods, and Springs,

375Thy gentle Ministers, who come to pay

376Thee homage, and acknowledge thee thir Lord:

377What doubt'st thou Son of God? sit down and eat.

378 To whom thus Jesus temperately reply'd:

379Said'st thou not that to all things I had right?

380And who withholds my pow'r that right to use?

381Shall I receive by gift what of my own,

382When and where likes me best, I can command?

383I can at will, doubt not, as soon as thou,

384Command a Table in this Wilderness,

385And call swift flights of Angels ministrant

386Array'd in Glory on my cup to attend:

387Why shouldst thou then obtrude this diligence,

388In vain, where no acceptance it can find,

389And with my hunger what has thou to do?

390Thy pompous Delicacies I contemn,

391And count thy specious gifts no gifts but guiles.

392 To whom thus answer'd Satan malecontent:

393That I have also power to give thou seest,

394If of that pow'r I bring thee voluntary

395What I might have bestow'd on whom I pleas'd,

396And rather opportunely in this place

397Chose to impart to thy apparent need,

398Why shouldst thou not accept it? but I see

399What I can do or offer is suspect;

400Of these things others quickly will dispose

401Whose pains have earn'd the far fet spoil. With that

402Both Table and Provision vanish'd quite

403With sound of Harpies wings, and Talons heard;

404Only the importune Tempter still remain'd,

405And with these words his temptation pursu'd.

406 By hunger, that each other Creature tames,

407Thou art not to be harm'd, therefore not mov'd;

408Thy temperance invincible besides,

409For no allurement yields to appetite,

410And all thy heart is set on high designs,

411High actions; but wherewith to be atchiev'd?

412Great acts require great means of enterprise,

413Thou art unknown, unfriended, low of birth,

414A Carpenter thy Father known, thy self

415Bred up in poverty and streights at home;

416Lost in a Desert here and hunger-bit:

417Which way or from what hope dost thou aspire

418To greatness? whence Authority deriv'st,

419What Followers, what Retinue canst thou gain,

420Or at thy heels the dizzy Multitude,

421Longer then thou canst feed them on thy cost?

422Money brings Honour, Friends, Conquest, and Realms;

423What rais'd Antipater the Edomite,

424And his Son Herod plac'd on Juda's Throne;

425(Thy throne) but gold that got him puissant friends?

426Therefore, if at great things thou wouldst arrive,

427Get Riches first, get Wealth, and Treasure heap,

428Not difficult, if thou hearken to me,

429Riches are mine, Fortune is in my hand;

430They whom I favour thrive in wealth amain,

431While Virtue, Valour, Wisdom sit in want.

432 To whom thus Jesus patiently reply'd;

433Yet Wealth without these three is impotent,

434To gain dominion or to keep it gain'd.

435Witness those antient Empires of the Earth,

436In highth of all thir flowing wealth dissolv'd:

437But men endu'd with these have oft attain'd

438In lowest poverty to highest deeds;

439Gideon and Jephtha, and the Shepherd lad,

440Whose off-spring on the Throne of Juda sat

441So many Ages, and shall yet regain

442That seat, and reign in Israel without end.

443Among the Heathen, (for throughout the World

444To me is not unknown what hath been done

445Worthy of Memorial) canst thou not remember

446Quintius, Fabricius, Curius, Regulus?

447For I esteem those names of men so poor

448Who could do mighty things, and could contemn

449Riches though offer'd from the hand of Kings.

450And what in me seems wanting, but that I

451May also in this poverty as soon

452Accomplish what they did, perhaps and more?

453Extol not Riches then, the toyl of Fools,

454The wise mans cumbrance if not snare, more apt

455To slacken Virtue, and abate her edge,

456Then prompt her to do aught may merit praise.

457What if with like aversion I reject

458Riches and Realms; yet not for that a Crown,

459Golden in shew, is but a wreath of thorns,

460Brings dangers, troubles, cares, and sleepless nights

461To him who wears the Regal Diadem,

462When on his shoulders each mans burden lies;

463For therein stands the office of a King,

464His Honour, Vertue, Merit and chief Praise,

465That for the Publick all this weight he bears.

466Yet he who reigns within himself, and rules

467Passions, Desires, and Fears, is more a King;

468Which every wise and vertuous man attains:

469And who attains not, ill aspires to rule

470Cities of men or head-strong Multitudes,

471Subject himself to Anarchy within,

472Or lawless passions in him which he serves.

473But to guide Nations in the way of truth

474By saving Doctrine, and from errour lead

475To know, and knowing worship God aright,

476Is yet more Kingly, this attracts the Soul,

477Governs the inner man, the nobler part,

478That other o're the body only reigns,

479And oft by force, which to a generous mind

480So reigning can be no sincere delight.

481Besides to give a Kingdom hath been thought

482Greater and nobler done, and to lay down

483Far more magnanimous, then to assume.

484Riches are needless then, both for themselves,

485And for thy reason why they should be sought,

486To gain a Scepter, oftest better miss't.

The End of the Second Book.

Publication Start Year

1671

RPO poem Editors

Ian Lancashire

RPO Edition

2002

Rhyme

unrhyming