IV.635 - IV.923

Many thanks to The Milton Reading Room edited by Thomas H. Luxon and copyrighted by the Trustees of Dartmouth College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.dartmouth.edu.

Luxon, Thomas H., ed. The Milton Reading Room, http://www.dartmouth.edu/~milton, March, 2015.

To whom thus Eve with perfet beauty adornd.

My Author and Disposer, what thou bidst [ 635 ]

Unargu'd I obey; so God ordains,

God is thy Law, thou mine: to know no more

Is womans happiest knowledge and her praise.

With thee conversing I forget all time,

All seasons and thir change, all please alike. [ 640 ]

Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet,

With charm of earliest Birds; pleasant the Sun

When first on this delightful Land he spreads

His orient Beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flour,

Glistring with dew; fragrant the fertil earth [ 645 ]

After soft showers; and sweet the coming on

Of grateful Eevning milde, then silent Night

With this her solemn Bird and this fair Moon,

And these the Gemms of Heav'n, her starrie train:

But neither breath of Morn when she ascends [ 650 ]

With charm of earliest Birds, nor rising Sun

On this delightful land, nor herb, fruit, floure,

Glistring with dew, nor fragrance after showers,

Nor grateful Eevning mild, nor silent Night

With this her solemn Bird, nor walk by Moon, [ 655 ]

Or glittering Starr-light without thee is sweet.

But wherfore all night long shine these, for whom
This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes?

To whom our general Ancestor repli'd.

Daughter of God and Man, accomplisht Eve, [ 660 ]

Those have thir course to finish, round the Earth,

By morrow Eevning, and from Land to Land

In order, though to Nations yet unborn,

Ministring light prepar'd, they set and rise;

Least total darkness should by Night regaine [ 665 ]

Her old possession, and extinguish life

In Nature and all things, which these soft fires

Not only enlighten, but with kindly heate

Of various influence foment and warme,

Temper or nourish, or in part shed down [ 670 ]

Thir stellar vertue on all kinds that grow

On Earth, made hereby apter to receive

Perfection from the Suns more potent Ray.

These then, though unbeheld in deep of night,

Shine not in vain, nor think, though men were none, [ 675 ]

That heav'n would want spectators, God want praise;

Millions of spiritual Creatures walk the Earth

Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep:

All these with ceasless praise his works behold

Both day and night: how often from the steep [ 680 ]
Of echoing Hill or Thicket have we heard

Celestial voices to the midnight air,

Sole, or responsive each to others note

Singing thir great Creator: oft in bands
While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, [ 685 ]

With Heav'nly touch of instrumental sounds

In full harmonic number joind, thir songs

Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven.

Thus talking hand in hand alone they pass'd

On to thir blissful Bower; it was a place [ 690 ]

Chos'n by the sovran Planter, when he fram'd

All things to mans delightful use; the roofe

Of thickest covert was inwoven shade

Laurel and Mirtle, and what higher grew

Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side [ 695 ]

Acanthus, and each odorous bushie shrub

Fenc'd up the verdant wall; each beauteous flour,

Iris all hues, Roses, and Gessamin

Rear'd high thir flourisht heads between, and wrought
Mosaic; underfoot the Violet, [ 700 ]

Crocus, and Hyacinth with rich inlay

Broiderd the ground, more colour'd then with stone
Of costliest Emblem: other Creature here

Beast, Bird, Insect, or Worm durst enter none;

Such was thir awe of Man. In shadie Bower [ 705 ]

More sacred and sequesterd, though but feignd,

Pan or Silvanus never slept, nor Nymph,

Nor Faunus haunted. Here in close recess

With Flowers, Garlands, and sweet-smelling Herbs

Espoused Eve deckt first her Nuptial Bed, [ 710 ]

And heav'nlyly Quires the Hymenæan sung,

What day the genial Angel to our Sire

Brought her in naked beauty more adorn'd

More lovely then Pandora, whom the Gods
Endowd with all thir gifts, and O too like [ 715 ]

In sad event, when to the unwiser Son

Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnar'd

Mankind with her faire looks, to be aveng'd

On him who had stole Joves authentic fire.

Thus at thir shadie Lodge arriv'd, both stood [ 720 ]

Both turnd, and under op'n Skie ador'd

The God that made both Skie, Air, Earth and Heav'n

Which they beheld, the Moons resplendent Globe

And starrie Pole: Thou also mad'st the Night,

Maker Omnipotent, and thou the Day, [ 725 ]

Which we in our appointed work imployd

Have finisht happie in our mutual help
And mutual love, the Crown of all our bliss
Ordaind by thee, and this delicious place

For us too large, where thy abundance wants [ 730 ]

Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground.

But thou hast promis'd from us two a Race
To fill the Earth, who shall with us extoll
Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,

And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep. [ 735 ]

This said unanimous, and other Rites

Observing none, but adoration pure

Which God likes best, into thir inmost bowre

Handed they went; and eas'd the putting off

These troublesom disguises which wee wear, [ 740 ]

Strait side by side were laid, nor turnd I weene
Adam from his fair Spouse, nor Eve the Rites

Mysterious of connubial Love refus'd:

Whatever Hypocrites austerely talk

Of puritie and place and innocence, [ 745 ]

Defaming as impure what God declares

Pure, and commands to som, leaves free to all.

Our Maker bids increase, who bids abstain

But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man?

Haile wedded Love, mysterious Law, true source [ 750 ]

Of human ofspring, sole propriety,

In Paradise of all things common else.

By thee adulterous lust was driv'n from men

Among the bestial herds to raunge, by thee

Founded in Reason, Loyal, Just, and Pure, [ 755 ]

Relations dear, and all the Charities

Of Father, Son, and Brother first were known.

Farr be it, that I should write thee sin or blame,

Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,

Perpetual Fountain of Domestic sweets, [ 760 ]

Whose bed is undefil'd and chaste pronounc't,

Present, or past, as Saints and Patriarchs us'd.

Here Love his golden shafts imploies, here lights

His constant Lamp, and waves his purple wings,

Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile [ 765 ]

Of Harlots, loveless, joyless, unindeard,

Casual fruition, nor in Court Amours

Mixt Dance, or wanton Mask, or Midnight Bal,

Or Serenate, which the starv'd Lover sings

To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. [ 770 ]

These lulld by Nightingales imbraceing slept,

And on thir naked limbs the flourie roof

Showrd Roses, which the Morn repair'd. Sleep on

Blest pair; and O yet happiest if ye seek

No happier state, and know to know no more. [ 775 ]

Now had night measur'd with her shaddowie Cone

Half way up Hill this vast Sublunar Vault,

And from thir Ivorie Port the Cherubim

Forth issuing at th' accustomd hour stood armd

To thir night watches in warlike Parade, [ 780 ]

When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake.

Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the South

With strictest watch; these other wheel the North,

Our circuit meets full West. As flame they part

Half wheeling to the Shield, half to the Spear. [ 785 ]

From these, two strong and suttle Spirits he calld

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

Ithuriel and Zephon, with wingd speed

Search through this Garden, leave unsearcht no nook,

But chiefly where those two fair Creatures Lodge, [ 790 ]

Now laid perhaps asleep secure of harme.

This Eevning from the Sun's decline arriv'd

Who tells of som infernal Spirit seen

Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escap'd

The barrs of Hell, on errand bad no doubt: [ 795 ]

Such where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring.

So saying, on he led his radiant Files,

Daz'ling the Moon; these to the Bower direct

In search of whom they sought: him there they found

Squat like a Toad, close at the eare of Eve; [ 800 ]

Assaying by his Devilish art to reach

The Organs of her Fancie, and with them forge
Illusions as he list, Phantasms and Dreams,

Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint

Th' animal spirits that from pure blood arise [ 805 ]

Like gentle breaths from Rivers pure, thence raise

At least distemperd, discontented thoughts,

Vaine hopes, vaine aimes, inordinate desires

Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride.

Him thus intent Ithuriel with his Spear [ 810 ]

Touch'd lightly; for no falshood can endure

Touch of Celestial temper, but returns

Of force to its own likeness: up he starts

Discoverd and surpriz'd. As when a spark

Lights on a heap of nitrous Powder, laid [ 815 ]

Fit for the Tun som Magazin to store

Against a rumord Warr, the Smuttie graine

With sudden blaze diffus'd, inflames the Aire:

So started up in his own shape the Fiend.

Back stept those two fair Angels half amaz'd [ 820 ]

So sudden to behold the grieslie King;

Yet thus, unmovd with fear, accost him soon.

Which of those rebell Spirits adjudg'd to Hell

Com'st thou, escap'd thy prison, and transform'd,

Why satst thou like an enemie in waite [ 825 ]

Here watching at the head of these that sleep?

Know ye not then said Satan, fill'd with scorn
Know ye not mee? ye knew me once no mate
For you, there sitting where ye durst not soare;

Not to know mee argues your selves unknown, [ 830 ]

The lowest of your throng; or if ye know,

Why ask ye, and superfluous begin

Your message, like to end as much in vain?

To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn.

Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same, [ 835 ]

Or undiminisht brightness, to be known

As when thou stoodst in Heav'n upright and pure;

That Glorie then, when thou no more wast good,

Departed from thee, and thou resembl'st now

Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foule. [ 840 ]

But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account

To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep

This place inviolable, and these from harm.

So spake the Cherube, and his grave rebuke

Severe in youthful beautie, added grace [ 845 ]

Invincible: abasht the Devil stood,

And felt how awful goodness is, and saw

Vertue in her shape how lovly, saw, and pin'd

His loss; but chiefly to find here observd
His lustre visibly impair'd; yet seemd [ 850 ]
Undaunted. If I must contend, said he,

Best with the best, the Sender not the sent,

Or all at once; more glorie will be wonn,

Or less be lost. Thy fear, said Zephon bold,

Will save us trial what the least can doe [ 855 ]

Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.

The Fiend repli'd not, overcome with rage;

But like a proud Steed reind, went hautie on,

Chaumping his iron curb: to strive or flie

He held it vain; awe from above had quelld [ 860 ]
His heart, not else dismai'd. Now drew they nigh

The western Point, where those half-rounding guards

Just met, and closing stood in squadron joind

Awaiting next command. To whom thir Chief

Gabriel from the Front thus calld aloud. [ 865 ]

O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet

Hasting this way, and now by glimps discerne

Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade,

And with them comes a third of Regal port,

But faded splendor wan; who by his gate [ 870 ]

And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell,

Not likely to part hence without contest;

Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.

He scarce had ended, when those two approachd
And brief related whom they brought, where found, [ 875 ]
How busied, in what form and posture coucht.

To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake.

Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescrib'd

To thy transgressions, and disturbd the charge

Of others, who approve not to transgress [ 880 ]

By thy example, but have power and right

To question thy bold entrance on this place;

Imploi'd it seems to violate sleep, and those

Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss?

To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. [ 885 ]

Gabriel, thou hadst in Heav'n th' esteem of wise,

And such I held thee; but this question askt
Puts me in doubt. Lives ther who loves his pain?
Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,
Though thither doomd? Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt, [ 890 ]

And boldly venture to whatever place

Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change

Torment with ease, and; soonest recompence

Dole with delight, which in this place I sought;

To thee no reason; who knowst only good, [ 895 ]

But evil hast not tri'd: and wilt object

His will who bound us? let him surer barr

His Iron Gates, if he intends our stay

In that dark durance: thus much what was askt.

The rest is true, they found me where they say; [ 900 ]

But that implies not violence or harme.

Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel mov'd,

Disdainfully half smiling thus repli'd.

O loss of one in Heav'n to judge of wise,

Since Satan fell, whom follie overthrew, [ 905 ]

And now returns him from his prison scap't,

Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise

Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither

Unlicenc't from his bounds in Hell prescrib'd;

So wise he judges it to fly from pain [ 910 ]

However, and to scape his punishment.

So judge thou still, presumptuous, till the wrauth,

Which thou incurr'st by flying, meet thy flight

Seavenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell,

Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain [ 915 ]

Can equal anger infinite provok't.

But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee

Came not all Hell broke loose? is pain to them

Less pain, less to be fled, or thou then they

Less hardie to endure? courageous Chief, [ 920 ]

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

To thy deserted host this cause of flight,

Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.

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