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Mean while the Adversary of God and Man,Satan with thoughts inflam'd of highest design, 630Puts on swift wings, and toward the Gates of HellExplores his solitary flight; som timesHe scours the right hand coast, som times the left,Now shaves with level wing the Deep, then soaresUp to the fiery concave touring high.As when farr off at Sea a Fleet descri'dHangs in the Clouds, by Aequinoctial WindsClose sailing from Bengala, or the IlesOf Ternate and Tidore, whence Merchants bringThir spicie Drugs: they on the trading Flood 640Through the wide Ethiopian to the CapePly stemming nightly toward the Pole. So seem'dFarr off the flying Fiend: at last appeerHell bounds high reaching to the horrid Roof,And thrice threefold the Gates; three folds were BrassThree Iron, three of Adamantine Rock,Impenitrable, impal'd with circling fire,Yet unconsum'd. Before the Gates there sat
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On either side a formidable shape;The one seem'd Woman to the waste, and fair, 650But ended foul in many a scaly fouldVoluminous and vast, a Serpent arm'dWith mortal sting: about her middle roundA cry of Hell Hounds never ceasing bark'dWith wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rungA hideous Peal: yet, when they list, would creep,If aught disturb'd thir noyse, into her woomb,And kennel there, yet there still bark'd and howl'dWithin unseen. Farr less abhorrd then theseVex'd Scylla bathing in the Sea that parts 660Calabria from the hoarce Trinacrian shore:Nor uglier follow the Night-Hag, when call'dIn secret, riding through the Air she comesLur'd with the smell of infant blood, to danceWith Lapland Witches, while the labouring MoonEclipses at thir charms. The other shape,If shape it might be call'd that shape had noneDistinguishable in member, joynt, or limb,Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd,For each seem'd either; black it stood as Night, 670Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell,And shook a dreadful Dart; what seem'd his headThe likeness of a Kingly Crown had on.Satan was now at hand, and from his seatThe Monster moving onward came as fast,With horrid strides, Hell trembled as he strode.Th' undaunted Fiend what this might be admir'd,Admir'd, not fear'd; God and his Son except,Created thing naught vallu'd he nor shun'd;And with disdainful look thus first began. 680Whence and what art thou, execrable shape,That dar'st, though grim and terrible, advanceThy miscreated Front athwart my wayTo yonder Gates? through them I mean to pass,That be assur'd, without leave askt of thee:Retire, or taste thy folly, and learn by proof,Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of Heav'n.To whom the Goblin full of wrauth reply'd,Art thou that Traitor Angel, art thou hee,Who first broke peace in Heav'n and Faith, till then 690Unbrok'n, and in proud rebellious ArmsDrew after him the third part of Heav'ns SonsConjur'd against the highest, for which both ThouAnd they outcast from God, are here condemn'dTo waste Eternal daies in woe and pain?And reck'n'st thou thy self with Spirits of Heav'n,Hell-doomd, and breath'st defiance here and scorn,Where I reign King, and to enrage thee more,Thy King and Lord? Back to thy punishment,False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings, 700Least with a whip of Scorpions I pursueThy lingring, or with one stroke of this DartStrange horror seise thee, and pangs unfelt before.So spake the grieslie terrour, and in shape,So speaking and so threatning, grew ten foldMore dreadful and deform: on th' other sideIncenc't with indignation Satan stoodUnterrifi'd, and like a Comet burn'd,That fires the length of Ophiucus hugeIn th' Artick Sky, and from his horrid hair 710Shakes Pestilence and Warr. Each at the HeadLevel'd his deadly aime; thir fatall handsNo second stroke intend, and such a frownEach cast at th' other, as when two black CloudsWith Heav'ns Artillery fraught, come rattling onOver the Caspian, then stand front to frontHov'ring a space, till Winds the signal blowTo joyn thir dark Encounter in mid air:So frownd the mighty Combatants, that HellGrew darker at thir frown, so matcht they stood; 720For never but once more was either likeTo meet so great a foe: and now great deedsHad been achiev'd, whereof all Hell had rung,Had not the Snakie Sorceress that satFast by Hell Gate, and kept the fatal Key,Ris'n, and with hideous outcry rush'd between.O Father, what intends thy hand, she cry'd,Against thy only Son? What fury O Son,Possesses thee to bend that mortal DartAgainst thy Fathers head? and know'st for whom; 730For him who sits above and laughs the whileAt thee ordain'd his drudge, to executeWhat e're his wrath, which he calls Justice, bids,His wrath which one day will destroy ye both.She spake, and at her words the hellish PestForbore, then these to her Satan return'd:So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strangeThou interposest, that my sudden handPrevented spares to tell thee yet by deedsWhat it intends; till first I know of thee, 740What thing thou art, thus double-form'd, and whyIn this infernal Vaile first met thou call'stMe Father, and that Fantasm call'st my Son?I know thee not, nor ever saw till nowSight more detestable then him and thee.T' whom thus the Portress of Hell Gate reply'd;Hast thou forgot me then, and do I seemNow in thine eye so foul, once deemd so fairIn Heav'n, when at th' Assembly, and in sightOf all the Seraphim with thee combin'd 750In bold conspiracy against Heav'ns King,All on a sudden miserable painSurpris'd thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzie swummIn darkness, while thy head flames thick and fastThrew forth, till on the left side op'ning wide,Likest to thee in shape and count'nance bright,Then shining heav'nly fair, a Goddess arm'dOut of thy head I sprung: amazement seis'dAll th' Host of Heav'n; back they recoild affraidAt first, and call'd me Sin, and for a Sign 760Portentous held me; but familiar grown,I pleas'd, and with attractive graces wonThe most averse, thee chiefly, who full oftThy self in me thy perfect image viewingBecam'st enamour'd, and such joy thou took'stWith me in secret, that my womb conceiv'dA growing burden. Mean while Warr arose,And fields were fought in Heav'n; wherein remaind(For what could else) to our Almighty FoeCleer Victory, to our part loss and rout 770Through all the Empyrean: down they fellDriv'n headlong from the Pitch of Heaven, downInto this Deep, and in the general fallI also; at which time this powerful KeyInto my hand was giv'n, with charge to keepThese Gates for ever shut, which none can passWithout my op'ning. Pensive here I satAlone, but long I sat not, till my wombPregnant by thee, and now excessive grownProdigious motion felt and rueful throes. 780At last this odious offspring whom thou seestThine own begotten, breaking violent wayTore through my entrails, that with fear and painDistorted, all my nether shape thus grewTransform'd: but he my inbred enemieForth issu'd, brandishing his fatal DartMade to destroy: I fled, and cry'd out Death;Hell trembl'd at the hideous Name, and sigh'dFrom all her Caves, and back resounded Death.I fled, but he pursu'd (though more, it seems, 790Inflam'd with lust then rage) and swifter far,Me overtook his mother all dismaid,And in embraces forcible and fouleIngendring with me, of that rape begotThese yelling Monsters that with ceasless crySurround me, as thou sawst, hourly conceiv'dAnd hourly born, with sorrow infiniteTo me, for when they list into the wombThat bred them they return, and howle and gnawMy Bowels, their repast; then bursting forth 800Afresh with conscious terrours vex me round,That rest or intermission none I find.Before mine eyes in opposition sitsGrim Death my Son and foe, who sets them on,And me his Parent would full soon devourFor want of other prey, but that he knowsHis end with mine involvd; and knows that IShould prove a bitter Morsel, and his bane,When ever that shall be; so Fate pronounc'd.But thou O Father, I forewarn thee, shun 810His deadly arrow; neither vainly hopeTo be invulnerable in those bright Arms,Though temper'd heav'nly, for that mortal dint,Save he who reigns above, none can resist.She finish'd, and the suttle Fiend his loreSoon learnd, now milder, and thus answerd smooth.Dear Daughter, since thou claim'st me for thy Sire,And my fair Son here showst me, the dear pledgeOf dalliance had with thee in Heav'n, and joysThen sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change 820Befalln us unforeseen, unthought of, knowI come no enemie, but to set freeFrom out this dark and dismal house of pain,Both him and thee, and all the heav'nly HostOf Spirits that in our just pretenses arm'dFell with us from on high: from them I goThis uncouth errand sole, and one for allMy self expose, with lonely steps to treadTh' unfounded deep, & through the void immenseTo search with wandring quest a place foretold 830Should be, and, by concurring signs, ere nowCreated vast and round, a place of blissIn the Pourlieues of Heav'n, and therein plac'tA race of upstart Creatures, to supplyPerhaps our vacant room, though more remov'd,Least Heav'n surcharg'd with potent multitudeMight hap to move new broiles: Be this or aughtThen this more secret now design'd, I hasteTo know, and this once known, shall soon return,And bring ye to the place where Thou and Death 840Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseenWing silently the buxom Air, imbalm'dWith odours; there ye shall be fed and fill'dImmeasurably, all things shall be your prey.He ceas'd, for both seemd highly pleasd, and DeathGrinnd horrible a gastly smile, to hearHis famine should be fill'd, and blest his maweDestin'd to that good hour: no less rejoyc'dHis mother bad, and thus bespake her Sire.The key of this infernal Pit by due, 850And by command of Heav'ns all-powerful KingI keep, by him forbidden to unlockThese Adamantine Gates; against all forceDeath ready stands to interpose his dart,Fearless to be o'rematcht by living might.But what ow I to his commands aboveWho hates me, and hath hither thrust me downInto this gloom of Tartarus profound,To sit in hateful Office here confin'd,Inhabitant of Heav'n, and heav'nlie-born, 860Here in perpetual agonie and pain,With terrors and with clamors compasst roundOf mine own brood, that on my bowels feed:Thou art my Father, thou my Author, thouMy being gav'st me; whom should I obeyBut thee, whom follow? thou wilt bring me soonTo that new world of light and bliss, amongThe Gods who live at ease, where I shall ReignAt thy right hand voluptuous, as beseemsThy daughter and thy darling, without end. 870Thus saying, from her side the fatal Key,Sad instrument of all our woe, she took;And towards the Gate rouling her bestial train,Forthwith the huge Portcullis high up drew,Which but her self not all the Stygian powersCould once have mov'd; then in the key-hole turnsTh' intricate wards, and every Bolt and BarOf massie Iron or sollid Rock with easeUnfast'ns: on a sudden op'n flieWith impetuous recoile and jarring sound 880Th' infernal dores, and on thir hinges greatHarsh Thunder, that the lowest bottom shookOf Erebus. She op'nd, but to shutExcel'd her power; the Gates wide op'n stood,That with extended wings a Bannerd HostUnder spread Ensigns marching might pass throughWith Horse and Chariots rankt in loose array;So wide they stood, and like a Furnace mouthCast forth redounding smoak and ruddy flame.Before thir eyes in sudden view appear 890The secrets of the hoarie deep, a darkIllimitable Ocean without bound,Without dimension, where length, breadth, and highth,And time and place are lost; where eldest NightAnd Chaos, Ancestors of Nature, holdEternal Anarchie, amidst the noiseOf endless warrs and by confusion stand.For hot, cold, moist, and dry, four Champions fierceStrive here for Maistrie, and to Battel bringThir embryon Atoms; they around the flag 900Of each his faction, in thir several Clanns,Light-arm'd or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift or slow,Swarm populous, unnumber'd as the SandsOf Barca or Cyrene's torrid soil,Levied to side with warring Winds, and poiseThir lighter wings. To whom these most adhere,Hee rules a moment; Chaos Umpire sits,And by decision more imbroiles the frayBy which he Reigns: next him high ArbiterChance governs all. Into this wilde Abyss, 910The Womb of nature and perhaps her Grave,Of neither Sea, nor Shore, nor Air, nor Fire,But all these in thir pregnant causes mixtConfus'dly, and which thus must ever fight,Unless th' Almighty Maker them ordainHis dark materials to create more Worlds,Into this wilde Abyss the warie fiendStood on the brink of Hell and look'd a while,Pondering his Voyage; for no narrow frithHe had to cross. Nor was his eare less peal'd 920With noises loud and ruinous (to compareGreat things with small) then when Bellona storms,With all her battering Engines bent to raseSom Capital City, or less then if this frameOf Heav'n were falling, and these ElementsIn mutinie had from her Axle tornThe stedfast Earth. At last his Sail-broad VannesHe spreads for flight, and in the surging smoakUplifted spurns the ground, thence many a LeagueAs in a cloudy Chair ascending rides 930Audacious, but that seat soon failing, meetsA vast vacuitie: all unawaresFluttring his pennons vain plumb down he dropsTen thousand fadom deep, and to this hourDown had been falling, had not by ill chanceThe strong rebuff of som tumultuous cloudInstinct with Fire and Nitre hurried himAs many miles aloft: that furie stay'd,Quencht in a Boggie Syrtis, neither Sea,Nor good dry Land: nigh founderd on he fares, 940Treading the crude consistence, half on foot,Half flying; behoves him now both Oare and Saile.As when a Gryfon through the WildernessWith winged course ore Hill or moarie Dale,Pursues the Arimaspian, who by stelthHad from his wakeful custody purloindThe guarded Gold: So eagerly the fiendOre bog or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare,With head, hands, wings, or feet pursues his way,
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And swims or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flyes: 950At length a universal hubbub wildeOf stunning sounds and voices all confus'dBorn through the hollow dark assaults his eareWith loudest vehemence: thither he plyes,Undaunted to meet there what ever powerOr Spirit of the nethermost AbyssMight in that noise reside, of whom to askWhich way the neerest coast of darkness lyesBordering on light; when strait behold the ThroneOf Chaos, and his dark Pavilion spread 960Wide on the wasteful Deep; with him Enthron'dSat Sable-vested Night, eldest of things,The consort of his Reign; and by them stoodOrcus and Ades, and the dreaded nameOf Demogorgon; Rumor next and Chance,And Tumult and Confusion all imbroild,And Discord with a thousand various mouths.T' whom Satan turning boldly, thus. Ye PowersAnd Spirits of this nethermost Abyss,Chaos and Ancient Night, I come no Spie, 970With purpose to explore or to disturbThe secrets of your Realm, but by constraintWandring this darksome desart, as my wayLies through your spacious Empire up to light,Alone, and without guide, half lost, I seekWhat readiest path leads where your gloomie boundsConfine with Heav'n; or if som other placeFrom your Dominion won, th' Ethereal KingPossesses lately, thither to arriveI travel this profound, direct my course; 980Directed, no mean recompence it bringsTo your behoof, if I that Region lost,All usurpation thence expell'd, reduceTo her original darkness and your sway(Which is my present journey) and once moreErect the Standerd there of Ancient Night;Yours be th' advantage all, mine the revenge.Thus Satan; and him thus the Anarch oldWith faultring speech and visage incompos'dAnswer'd. I know thee, stranger, who thou art, 990That mighty leading Angel, who of lateMade head against Heav'ns King, though overthrown.I saw and heard, for such a numerous hostFled not in silence through the frighted deepWith ruin upon ruin, rout on rout,Confusion worse confounded; and Heav'n GatesPourd out by millions her victorious BandsPursuing. I upon my Frontieres hereKeep residence; if all I can will serve,That little which is left so to defend 1000Encroacht on still through our intestine broilesWeakning the Scepter of old Night: first HellYour dungeon stretching far and wide beneath;Now lately Heaven and Earth, another WorldHung ore my Realm, link'd in a golden ChainTo that side Heav'n from whence your Legions fell:If that way be your walk, you have not farr;So much the neerer danger; goe and speed;Havock and spoil and ruin are my gain.He ceas'd; and Satan staid not to reply, 1010But glad that now his Sea should find a shore,With fresh alacritie and force renew'dSprings upward like a Pyramid of fireInto the wilde expanse, and through the shockOf fighting Elements, on all sides roundEnviron'd wins his way; harder besetAnd more endanger'd, then when Argo pass'dThrough Bosporus betwixt the justling Rocks:Or when Ulysses on the Larbord shunndCharybdis, and by th' other whirlpool steard. 1020So he with difficulty and labour hardMov'd on, with difficulty and labour hee;But hee once past, soon after when man fell,Strange alteration! Sin and Death amainFollowing his track, such was the will of Heav'n,Pav'd after him a broad and beat'n wayOver the dark Abyss, whose boiling GulfTamely endur'd a Bridge of wondrous lengthFrom Hell continu'd reaching th' utmost OrbeOf this frail World; by which the Spirits perverse 1030With easie intercourse pass to and froTo tempt or punish mortals, except whomGod and good Angels guard by special grace.But now at last the sacred influenceOf light appears, and from the walls of Heav'nShoots farr into the bosom of dim NightA glimmering dawn; here Nature first beginsHer fardest verge, and Chaos to retireAs from her outmost works a brok'n foeWith tumult less and with less hostile din, 1040That Satan with less toil, and now with easeWafts on the calmer wave by dubious lightAnd like a weather-beaten Vessel holdsGladly the Port, though Shrouds and Tackle torn;Or in the emptier waste, resembling Air,Weighs his spread wings, at leasure to beholdFarr off th' Empyreal Heav'n, extended wideIn circuit, undetermind square or round,With Opal Towrs and Battlements adorn'dOf living Saphire, once his native Seat; 1050And fast by hanging in a golden ChainThis pendant world, in bigness as a StarrOf smallest Magnitude close by the Moon.Thither full fraught with mischievous revenge,Accurst, and in a cursed hour he hies.Notes:282 where] were 1674.402 breath] misprint for breathe.483 thir] her 1674.527 his] this 1674.542 Oealia] Oechalia 1674.631 toward] towards 1674.The End Of The Second Book.
THE ARGUMENT.
God sitting on his Throne sees Satan flying towards this world, then newly created; shews him to the Son who sat at his right hand; foretells the success of Satan in perverting mankind; clears his own Justice and Wisdom from all imputation, having created Man free and able enough to have withstood his Tempter; yet declares his purpose of grace towards him, in regard he fell not of his own malice, as did Satan, but by him seduc't. The Son of God renders praises to his father for the manifestation of his gracious purpose towards Man; God again declares, that Grace cannot be extended towards Man without the satisfaction of divine Justice; Man hath offended the majesty of God by aspiring to Godhead, and therefore with all his progeny devoted to death must dye, unless some one can be found sufficient to answer for his offence, and undergoe his Punishment. The Son of God freely offers himself a Ransome for Man: the Father accepts him, ordains his incarnation, pronounces his exaltation above all in Heaven and Earth, commands all the Angels to adore him; they obey, amid hymning to their Harps in full Quire, celebrate the Father and the Son.. Mean while Satan alights upon the bare convex of this Worlds outermost Orb; where wandring he first finds a place since call'd The Lymbo of Vanity, what persons and things fly up thither; thence comes to the Gate of Heaven, describ'd ascending by stairs and the waters above the Firmament that flow about it: His passage thence to the Orb of the Sun; he finds there Uriel the Regent of that Orb, but first changes himself into the shape of a meaner Angel; and pretending a zealous desire to behold the new Creation and Man whom God had plac't here, inquires of him the place of his habitation, and is directed; alights first on Mount Niphates.
Hail holy light, ofspring of Heav'n first-born,Or of th' Eternal Coeternal beamMay I express thee unblam'd? since God is light,And never but in unapproached lightDwelt from Eternitie, dwelt then in thee,Bright effluence of bright essence increate.Or hear'st thou rather pure Ethereal stream,Whose Fountain who shall tell? before the Sun,Before the Heavens thou wert, and at the voiceOf God, as with a Mantle didst invest 10The rising world of waters dark and deep,Won from the void and formless infinite.Thee I re-visit now with bolder wing,Escap't the Stygian Pool, though long detain'dIn that obscure sojourn, while in my flightThrough utter and through middle darkness borneWith other notes then to th' Orphean LyreI sung of Chaos and Eternal Night,Taught by the heav'nly Muse to venture downThe dark descent, and up to reascend, 20Though hard and rare: thee I revisit safe,And feel thy sovran vital Lamp; but thouRevisit'st not these eyes, that rowle in vainTo find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn;So thick a drop serene hath quencht thir Orbs,Or dim suffusion veild. Yet not the moreCease I to wander where the Muses hauntCleer Spring, or shadie Grove, or Sunnie Hill,Smit with the love of sacred song; but chiefThee Sion and the flowrie Brooks beneath 30That wash thy hallowd feet, and warbling flow,Nightly I visit: nor somtimes forgetThose other two equal'd with me in Fate,So were I equal'd with them in renown,Blind Thamyris and blind Maeonides,And Tiresias and Phineus Prophets old.Then feed on thoughts, that voluntarie moveHarmonious numbers; as the wakeful BirdSings darkling, and in shadiest Covert hidTunes her nocturnal Note. Thus with the Year 40Seasons return, but not to me returnsDay, or the sweet approach of Ev'n or Morn,Or sight of vernal bloom, or Summers Rose,Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine;But cloud in stead, and ever-during darkSurrounds me, from the chearful waies of menCut off, and for the book of knowledg fairPresented with a Universal blancOf Natures works to mee expung'd and ras'd,And wisdome at one entrance quite shut out. 50So much the rather thou Celestial lightShine inward, and the mind through all her powersIrradiate, there plant eyes, all mist from thencePurge and disperse, that I may see and tellOf things invisible to mortal sight.Now had the Almighty Father from above,From the pure Empyrean where he sitsHigh Thron'd above all highth, bent down his eye,His own works and their works at once to view:About him all the Sanctities of Heaven 60Stood thick as Starrs, and from his sight receiv'dBeatitude past utterance; on his rightThe radiant image of his Glory sat,His onely Son; On Earth he first beheldOur two first Parents, yet the onely twoOf mankind, in the happie Garden plac't,Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love,Uninterrupted joy, unrivald loveIn blissful solitude; he then survey'dHell and the Gulf between, and Satan there 70Coasting the wall of Heav'n on this side NightIn the dun Air sublime, and ready nowTo stoop with wearied wings, and willing feetOn the bare outside of this World, that seem'dFirm land imbosom'd without Firmament,Uncertain which, in Ocean or in Air.Him God beholding from his prospect high,Wherein past, present, future he beholds,Thus to his onely Son foreseeing spake.Onely begotten Son, seest thou what rage 80Transports our adversarie, whom no boundsPrescrib'd, no barrs of Hell, nor all the chainsHeapt on him there, nor yet the main AbyssWide interrupt can hold; so bent he seemsOn desperat revenge, that shall redoundUpon his own rebellious head. And nowThrough all restraint broke loose he wings his wayNot farr off Heav'n, in the Precincts of light,Directly towards the new created World,And Man there plac't, with purpose to assay 90If him by force he can destroy, or worse,By som false guile pervert; and shall pervert;For man will heark'n to his glozing lyes,And easily transgress the sole Command,Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fallHee and his faithless Progenie: whose fault?Whose but his own? ingrate, he had of meeAll he could have; I made him just and right,Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall.Such I created all th' Ethereal Powers 100And Spirits, both them who stood & them who faild;Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell.Not free, what proof could they have givn sincereOf true allegiance, constant Faith or Love,Where onely what they needs must do, appeard,Not what they would? what praise could they receive?What pleasure I from such obedience paid,When Will and Reason (Reason also is choice)Useless and vain, of freedom both despoild,Made passive both, had servd necessitie, 110Not mee. They therefore as to right belongd,So were created, nor can justly accuseThir maker, or thir making, or thir Fate;As if Predestination over-rul'dThir will, dispos'd by absolute DecreeOr high foreknowledge; they themselves decreedThir own revolt, not I: if I foreknew,Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault,Which had no less prov'd certain unforeknown.So without least impulse or shadow of Fate, 120Or aught by me immutablie foreseen,They trespass, Authors to themselves in allBoth what they judge and what they choose; for soI formd them free, and free they must remain,Till they enthrall themselves: I else must changeThir nature, and revoke the high DecreeUnchangeable, Eternal, which ordain'dThir freedom, they themselves ordain'd thir fall.The first sort by thir own suggestion fell,Self-tempted, self-deprav'd: Man falls deceiv'd 130By the other first: Man therefore shall find grace,The other none: in Mercy and Justice both,Through Heav'n and Earth, so shall my glorie excel,But Mercy first and last shall brightest shine.Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill'dAll Heav'n, and in the blessed Spirits electSense of new joy ineffable diffus'd:Beyond compare the Son of God was seenMost glorious, in him all his Father shonSubstantially express'd, and in his face 140Divine compassion visibly appeerd,Love without end, and without measure Grace,Which uttering thus he to his Father spake.O Father, gracious was that word which clos'dThy sovran sentence, that Man should find grace;For which both Heav'n and Earth shall high extollThy praises, with th' innumerable soundOf Hymns and sacred Songs, wherewith thy ThroneEncompass'd shall resound thee ever blest.For should Man finally be lost, should Man 150Thy creature late so lov'd, thy youngest SonFall circumvented thus by fraud, though joyndWith his own folly? that be from thee farr,That farr be from thee, Father, who art JudgeOf all things made, and judgest onely right.Or shall the Adversarie thus obtainHis end, and frustrate thine, shall he fulfillHis malice, and thy goodness bring to naught,Or proud return though to his heavier doom,Yet with revenge accomplish't and to Hell 160Draw after him the whole Race of mankind,By him corrupted? or wilt thou thy selfAbolish thy Creation, and unmake,For him, what for thy glorie thou hast made?So should thy goodness and thy greatness bothBe questiond and blaspheam'd without defence.To whom the great Creatour thus reply'd.O Son, in whom my Soul hath chief delight,Son of my bosom, Son who art aloneMy word, my wisdom, and effectual might, 170All hast thou spok'n as my thoughts are, allAs my Eternal purpose hath decreed:Man shall not quite be lost, but sav'd who will,Yet not of will in him, but grace in meFreely voutsaft; once more I will renewHis lapsed powers, though forfeit and enthrall'dBy sin to foul exorbitant desires;Upheld by me, yet once more he shall standOn even ground against his mortal foe,By me upheld, that he may know how frail 180His fall'n condition is, and to me owAll his deliv'rance, and to none but me.Some I have chosen of peculiar graceElect above the rest; so is my will:The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warndThir sinful state, and to appease betimesTh' incensed Deitie, while offerd graceInvites; for I will cleer thir senses dark,What may suffice, and soft'n stonie heartsTo pray, repent, and bring obedience due. 190To prayer, repentance, and obedience due,Though but endevord with sincere intent,Mine eare shall not be slow, mine eye not shut.And I will place within them as a guideMy Umpire Conscience, whom if they will hear,Light after light well us'd they shall attain,And to the end persisting, safe arrive.This my long sufferance and my day of graceThey who neglect and scorn, shall never taste;But hard be hard'nd, blind be blinded more, 200That they may stumble on, and deeper fall;And none but such from mercy I exclude.But yet all is not don; Man disobeying,Disloyal breaks his fealtie, and sinnsAgainst the high Supremacie of Heav'n,Affecting God-head, and so loosing all,To expiate his Treason hath naught left,But to destruction sacred and devote,He with his whole posteritie must die,Die hee or Justice must; unless for him 210Som other able, and as willing, payThe rigid satisfaction, death for death.Say Heav'nly Powers, where shall we find such love,Which of ye will be mortal to redeemMans mortal crime, and just th' unjust to save,Dwels in all Heaven charitie so deare?He ask'd, but all the Heav'nly Quire stood mute,And silence was in Heav'n: on mans behalfPatron or Intercessor none appeerd,Much less that durst upon his own head draw 220The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set.And now without redemption all mankindMust have bin lost, adjudg'd to Death and HellBy doom severe, had not the Son of God,In whom the fulness dwels of love divine,His dearest mediation thus renewd.Father, thy word is past, man shall find grace;And shall grace not find means, that finds her way,The speediest of thy winged messengers,To visit all thy creatures, and to all 230Comes unprevented, unimplor'd, unsought,Happie for man, so coming; be her aideCan never seek, once dead in sins and lost;Attonement for himself or offering meet,Indebted and undon, hath none to bring:Behold mee then, mee for him, life for lifeI offer, on mee let thine anger fall;Account mee man; I for his sake will leaveThy bosom, and this glorie next to theeFreely put off, and for him lastly die 240Well pleas'd, on me let Death wreck all his rage;Under his gloomie power I shall not longLie vanquisht; thou hast givn me to possessLife in my self for ever, by thee I live,Though now to Death I yeild, and am his dueAll that of me can die, yet that debt paid,Thou wilt not leave me in the loathsom graveHis prey, nor suffer my unspotted SouleFor ever with corruption there to dwell;But I shall rise Victorious, and subdue 250My Vanquisher, spoild of his vanted spoile;Death his deaths wound shall then receive, & stoopInglorious, of his mortall sting disarm'd.I through the ample Air in Triumph highShall lead Hell Captive maugre Hell, and showThe powers of darkness bound. Thou at the sightPleas'd, out of Heaven shalt look down and smile,While by thee rais'd I ruin all my Foes,Death last, and with his Carcass glut the Grave:Then with the multitude of my redeemd 260Shall enter Heaven long absent, and returne,Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloudOf anger shall remain, but peace assur'd,And reconcilement; wrauth shall be no moreThenceforth, but in thy presence Joy entire.His words here ended, but his meek aspectSilent yet spake, and breath'd immortal loveTo mortal men, above which only shonFilial obedience: as a sacrificeGlad to be offer'd, he attends the will 270Of his great Father. Admiration seis'dAll Heav'n, what this might mean, & whither tendWondring; but soon th' Almighty thus reply'd:O thou in Heav'n and Earth the only peaceFound out for mankind under wrauth, O thouMy sole complacence! well thou know'st how dear,To me are all my works, nor Man the leastThough last created, that for him I spareThee from my bosom and right hand, to save,By loosing thee a while, the whole Race lost. 280Thou therefore whom thou only canst redeeme,Thir Nature also to thy Nature joyne;And be thy self Man among men on Earth,Made flesh, when time shall be, of Virgin seed,By wondrous birth: Be thou in Adams roomThe Head of all mankind, though Adams Son.As in him perish all men, so in theeAs from a second root shall be restor'd,As many as are restor'd, without thee none.His crime makes guiltie all his Sons, thy merit 290Imputed shall absolve them who renounceThir own both righteous and unrighteous deeds,And live in thee transplanted, and from theeReceive new life. So Man, as is most just,Shall satisfie for Man, be judg'd and die,And dying rise, and rising with him raiseHis Brethren, ransomd with his own dear life.So Heav'nly love shal outdoo Hellish hate,Giving to death, and dying to redeeme,So dearly to redeem what Hellish hate 300So easily destroy'd, and still destroyesIn those who, when they may, accept not grace.Nor shalt thou by descending to assumeMans Nature, less'n or degrade thine owne.Because thou hast, though Thron'd in highest blissEqual to God, and equally enjoyingGod-like fruition, quitted all to saveA World from utter loss, and hast been foundBy Merit more then Birthright Son of God,Found worthiest to be so by being Good, 310Farr more then Great or High; because in theeLove hath abounded more then Glory abounds,Therefore thy Humiliation shall exaltWith thee thy Manhood also to this Throne;Here shalt thou sit incarnate, here shalt ReigneBoth God and Man, Son both of God and Man,Anointed universal King; all PowerI give thee, reign for ever, and assumeThy Merits; under thee as Head SupreamThrones, Princedoms, Powers, Dominions I reduce: 320All knees to thee shall bow, of them that bideIn Heaven, or Earth, or under Earth in Hell;When thou attended gloriously from Heav'nShalt in the Skie appeer, and from thee sendThe summoning Arch-Angels to proclaimeThy dread Tribunal: forthwith from all WindesThe living, and forthwith the cited deadOf all past Ages to the general DoomShall hast'n, such a peal shall rouse thir sleep.Then all thy Saints assembl'd, thou shalt judge 330Bad men and Angels, they arraignd shall sinkBeneath thy Sentence; Hell, her numbers full,Thenceforth shall be for ever shut. Mean whileThe World shall burn, and from her ashes springNew Heav'n and Earth, wherein the just shall dwellAnd after all thir tribulations longSee golden days, fruitful of golden deeds,With Joy and Love triumphing, and fair Truth.Then thou thy regal Scepter shalt lay by,For regal Scepter then no more shall need, 340God shall be All in All. But all ye Gods,Adore him, who to compass all this dies,Adore the Son, and honour him as mee.No sooner had th' Almighty ceas't, but allThe multitude of Angels with a shoutLoud as from numbers without number, sweetAs from blest voices, uttering joy, Heav'n rung
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With Jubilee, and loud Hosanna's fill'dTh' eternal Regions: lowly reverentTowards either Throne they bow, & to the ground 350With solemn adoration down they castThir Crowns inwove with Amarant and Gold,Immortal Amarant, a Flour which onceIn Paradise, fast by the Tree of LifeBegan to bloom, but soon for mans offenceTo Heav'n remov'd where first it grew, there grows,And flours aloft shading the Fount of Life,And where the river of Bliss through midst of HeavnRowls o're Elisian Flours her Amber stream;With these that never fade the Spirits Elect 360Bind thir resplendent locks inwreath'd with beams,Now in loose Garlands thick thrown off, the brightPavement that like a Sea of Jasper shonImpurpl'd with Celestial Roses smil'd.Then Crown'd again thir gold'n Harps they took,Harps ever tun'd, that glittering by their sideLike Quivers hung, and with Praeamble sweetOf charming symphonie they introduceThir sacred Song, and waken raptures high;No voice exempt, no voice but well could joine 370Melodious part, such concord is in Heav'n.Thee Father first they sung Omnipotent,Immutable, Immortal, Infinite,Eternal King; thee Author of all being,Fountain of Light, thy self invisibleAmidst the glorious brightness where thou sit'stThron'd inaccessible, but when thou shad'stThe full blaze of thy beams, and through a cloudDrawn round about thee like a radiant Shrine,Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appeer, 380Yet dazle Heav'n, that brightest SeraphimApproach not, but with both wings veil thir eyes.Thee next they sang of all Creation first,Begotten Son, Divine Similitude,In whose conspicuous count'nance, without cloudMade visible, th' Almighty Father shines,Whom else no Creature can behold; on theeImpresst the effulgence of his Glorie abides,Transfus'd on thee his ample Spirit rests.Hee Heav'n of Heavens and all the Powers therein 390By thee created, and by thee threw downTh' aspiring Dominations: thou that dayThy Fathers dreadful Thunder didst not spare,Nor stop thy flaming Chariot wheels, that shookHeav'ns everlasting Frame, while o're the necksThou drov'st of warring Angels disarraid.Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaimeThee only extold, Son of thy Fathers might,To execute fierce vengeance on his foes,Not so on Man; him through their malice fall'n, 400Father of Mercie and Grace, thou didst not doomeSo strictly, but much more to pitie encline:No sooner did thy dear and onely SonPerceive thee purpos'd not to doom frail ManSo strictly, but much more to pitie enclin'd,He to appease thy wrauth, and end the strifeOf Mercy and Justice in thy face discern'd,Regardless of the Bliss wherein hee satSecond to thee, offerd himself to dieFor mans offence. O unexampl'd love, 410Love no where to be found less then Divine!Hail Son of God, Saviour of Men, thy NameShall be the copious matter of my SongHenceforth, and never shall my Harp thy praiseForget, nor from thy Fathers praise disjoine.Thus they in Heav'n, above the starry Sphear,Thir happie hours in joy and hymning spent.Mean while upon the firm opacous GlobeOf this round World, whose first convex dividesThe luminous inferior Orbs, enclos'd 420From Chaos and th' inroad of Darkness old,Satan alighted walks: a Globe farr offIt seem'd, now seems a boundless ContinentDark, waste, and wild, under the frown of NightStarless expos'd, and ever-threatning stormsOf Chaos blustring round, inclement skie;Save on that side which from the wall of Heav'nThough distant farr som small reflection gainesOf glimmering air less vext with tempest loud:Here walk'd the Fiend at large in spacious field. 430As when a Vultur on Imaus bred,Whose snowie ridge the roving Tartar bounds,Dislodging from a Region scarce of preyTo gorge the flesh of Lambs or yeanling KidsOn Hills where Flocks are fed, flies toward the SpringsOf Ganges or Hydaspes, Indian streams;But in his way lights on the barren plainesOf Sericana, where Chineses driveWith Sails and Wind thir canie Waggons light:So on this windie Sea of Land, the Fiend 440Walk'd up and down alone bent on his prey,Alone, for other Creature in this placeLiving or liveless to be found was none,None yet, but store hereafter from the earthUp hither like Aereal vapours flewOf all things transitorie and vain, when SinWith vanity had filld the works of men:Both all things vain, and all who in vain thingsBuilt thir fond hopes of Glorie or lasting fame,Or happiness in this or th' other life; 450All who have thir reward on Earth, the fruitsOf painful Superstition and blind Zeal,Naught seeking but the praise of men, here findFit retribution, emptie as thir deeds;All th' unaccomplisht works of Natures hand,Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixt,Dissolvd on earth, fleet hither, and in vain,Till final dissolution, wander here,Not in the neighbouring Moon, as some have dreamd;Those argent Fields more likely habitants, 460Translated Saints, or middle Spirits holdBetwixt th' Angelical and Human kinde:Hither of ill-joynd Sons and Daughters bornFirst from the ancient World those Giants cameWith many a vain exploit, though then renownd:The builders next of Babel on the PlainOf Sennaar, and still with vain designeNew Babels, had they wherewithall, would build:Others came single; hee who to be deemdA God, leap'd fondly into Aetna flames, 470Empedocles, and hee who to enjoyPlato's Elysium, leap'd into the Sea,Cleombrotus, and many more too long,Embryo's and Idiots, Eremits and Friers