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Cherubic waving fires: on th' other partSatan with his rebellious disappeerd,Far in the dark dislodg'd, and void of rest,His Potentates to Councel call'd by night;And in the midst thus undismai'd began.O now in danger tri'd, now known in ArmesNot to be overpowerd, Companions deare,Found worthy not of Libertie alone, 420Too mean pretense, but what we more affect,Honour, Dominion, Glorie, and renowne,Who have sustaind one day in doubtful fight,(And if one day, why not Eternal dayes?)What Heavens Lord had powerfullest to sendAgainst us from about his Throne, and judg'dSufficient to subdue us to his will,But proves not so: then fallible, it seems,Of future we may deem him, though till nowOmniscient thought. True is, less firmly arm'd, 430Some disadvantage we endur'd and paine,Till now not known, but known as soon contemnd,Since now we find this our Empyreal formeIncapable of mortal injurieImperishable, and though peirc'd with wound,Soon closing, and by native vigour heal'd.Of evil then so small as easie thinkThe remedie; perhaps more valid Armes,Weapons more violent, when next we meet,May serve to better us, and worse our foes, 440Or equal what between us made the odds,In Nature none: if other hidden causeLeft them Superiour, while we can preserveUnhurt our mindes, and understanding sound,Due search and consultation will disclose.He sat; and in th' assembly next upstoodNisroc, of Principalities the prime;As one he stood escap't from cruel fight,Sore toild, his riv'n Armes to havoc hewn,And cloudie in aspect thus answering spake. 450Deliverer from new Lords, leader to freeEnjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hardFor Gods, and too unequal work we findAgainst unequal armes to fight in paine,Against unpaind, impassive; from which evilRuin must needs ensue; for what availesValour or strength, though matchless, quelld with painWhich all subdues, and makes remiss the handsOf Mightiest. Sense of pleasure we may wellSpare out of life perhaps, and not repine, 460But live content, which is the calmest life:But pain is perfet miserie, the worstOf evils, and excessive, overturnesAll patience. He who therefore can inventWith what more forcible we may offendOur yet unwounded Enemies, or armeOur selves with like defence, to mee deservesNo less then for deliverance what we owe.Whereto with look compos'd Satan repli'd.Not uninvented that, which thou aright 470Beleivst so main to our success, I bring;Which of us who beholds the bright surfaceOf this Ethereous mould whereon we stand,This continent of spacious Heav'n, adorndWith Plant, Fruit, Flour Ambrosial, Gemms & Gold,Whose Eye so superficially surveyesThese things, as not to mind from whence they growDeep under ground, materials dark and crude,Of spiritous and fierie spume, till touchtWith Heav'ns ray, and temperd they shoot forth 480So beauteous, op'ning to the ambient light.These in thir dark Nativitie the DeepShall yeild us, pregnant with infernal flame,Which into hallow Engins long and roundThick-rammd, at th' other bore with touch of fireDilated and infuriate shall send forthFrom far with thundring noise among our foesSuch implements of mischief as shall dashTo pieces, and orewhelm whatever standsAdverse, that they shall fear we have disarmd 490The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt.Nor long shall be our labour, yet ere dawne,Effect shall end our wish. Mean while revive;Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joindThink nothing hard, much less to be despaird.He ended, and his words thir drooping chereEnlightn'd, and thir languisht hope reviv'd.Th' invention all admir'd, and each, how heeTo be th' inventer miss'd, so easie it seemdOnce found, which yet unfound most would have thought 500Impossible: yet haply of thy RaceIn future dayes, if Malice should abound,Some one intent on mischief, or inspir'dWith dev'lish machination might deviseLike instrument to plague the Sons of menFor sin, on warr and mutual slaughter bent.Forthwith from Councel to the work they flew,None arguing stood, innumerable handsWere ready, in a moment up they turndWide the Celestial soile, and saw beneath 510Th' originals of Nature in thir crudeConception; Sulphurous and Nitrous FoameThey found, they mingl'd, and with suttle Art,Concocted and adusted they reduc'dTo blackest grain, and into store conveyd:Part hidd'n veins diggd up (nor hath this EarthEntrails unlike) of Mineral and Stone,Whereof to found thir Engins and thir BallsOf missive ruin; part incentive reedProvide, pernicious with one touch to fire. 520So all ere day spring, under conscious NightSecret they finish'd, and in order set,With silent circumspection unespi'd.Now when fair Morn Orient in Heav'n appeerdUp rose the Victor Angels, and to ArmsThe matin Trumpet Sung: in Arms they stoodOf Golden Panoplie, refulgent Host,Soon banded; others from the dawning HillsLookd round, and Scouts each Coast light-armed scoure,Each quarter, to descrie the distant foe, 530Where lodg'd, or whither fled, or if for fight,In motion or in alt: him soon they metUnder spred Ensignes moving nigh, in slowBut firm Battalion; back with speediest SailZephiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing,Came flying, and in mid Aire aloud thus cri'd.Arme, Warriours, Arme for fight, the foe at hand,Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuitThis day, fear not his flight; so thick a CloudHe comes, and settl'd in his face I see 540Sad resolution and secure: let eachHis Adamantine coat gird well, and eachFit well his Helme, gripe fast his orbed Shield,Born eevn or high, for this day will pour down,If I conjecture aught, no drizling showr,But ratling storm of Arrows barbd with fire.So warnd he them aware themselves, and soonIn order, quit of all impediment;Instant without disturb they took Allarm,And onward move Embattelld; when behold 550Not distant far with heavie pace the FoeApproaching gross and huge; in hollow CubeTraining his devilish Enginrie, impal'dOn every side with shaddowing Squadrons Deep,To hide the fraud. At interview both stoodA while, but suddenly at head appeerdSatan: And thus was heard Commanding loud.Vangard, to Right and Left the Front unfould;That all may see who hate us, how we seekPeace and composure, and with open brest 560Stand readie to receive them, if they likeOur overture, and turn not back perverse;But that I doubt, however witness Heaven,Heav'n witness thou anon, while we dischargeFreely our part: yee who appointed standDo as you have in charge, and briefly touchWhat we propound, and loud that all may hear.So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarceHad ended; when to Right and Left the FrontDivided, and to either Flank retir'd. 570Which to our eyes discoverd new and strange,A triple-mounted row of Pillars laidOn Wheels (for like to Pillars most they seem'dOr hollow'd bodies made of Oak or FirrWith branches lopt, in Wood or Mountain fell'd)Brass, Iron, Stonie mould, had not thir mouthesWith hideous orifice gap't on us wide,Portending hollow truce; at each behindA Seraph stood, and in his hand a ReedStood waving tipt with fire; while we suspense, 580Collected stood within our thoughts amus'd,Not long, for sudden all at once thir ReedsPut forth, and to a narrow vent appli'dWith nicest touch. Immediate in a flame,But soon obscur'd with smoak, all Heav'n appeerd,From those deep-throated Engins belcht, whose roarEmboweld with outragious noise the Air,And all her entrails tore, disgorging fouleThir devillish glut, chaind Thunderbolts and HailOf Iron Globes, which on the Victor Host 590Level'd, with such impetuous furie smote,That whom they hit, none on thir feet might stand,Though standing else as Rocks, but down they fellBy thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rowl'd;The sooner for thir Arms, unarm'd they mightHave easily as Spirits evaded swiftBy quick contraction or remove; but nowFoule dissipation follow'd and forc't rout;Nor serv'd it to relax thir serried files.What should they do? if on they rusht, repulse 600Repeated, and indecent overthrowDoubl'd, would render them yet more despis'd,And to thir foes a laughter; for in viewStood rankt of Seraphim another rowIn posture to displode thir second tireOf Thunder: back defeated to returnThey worse abhorr'd. Satan beheld thir plight,And to his Mates thus in derision call'd.O Friends, why come not on these Victors proud?Ere while they fierce were coming, and when wee, 610To entertain them fair with open FrontAnd Brest, (what could we more?) propounded termsOf composition, strait they chang'd thir minds,Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell,As they would dance, yet for a dance they seemdSomwhat extravagant and wilde, perhapsFor joy of offerd peace: but I supposeIf our proposals once again were heardWe should compel them to a quick result.To whom thus Belial in like gamesom mood. 620Leader, the terms we sent were terms of weight,Of hard contents, and full of force urg'd home,Such as we might perceive amus'd them all,And stumbl'd many, who receives them right,Had need from head to foot well understand;Not understood, this gift they have besides,They shew us when our foes walk not upright.So they among themselves in pleasant veineStood scoffing, highthn'd in thir thoughts beyondAll doubt of Victorie, eternal might 630To match with thir inventions they presum'dSo easie, and of his Thunder made a scorn,And all his Host derided, while they stoodA while in trouble; but they stood not long,Rage prompted them at length, & found them armsAgainst such hellish mischief fit to oppose.Forthwith (behold the excellence, the powerWhich God hath in his mighty Angels plac'd)Thir Arms away they threw, and to the Hills(For Earth hath this variety from Heav'n 640Of pleasure situate in Hill and Dale)Light as the Lightning glimps they ran, they flew,From thir foundations loosning to and froThey pluckt the seated Hills with all thir load,Rocks, Waters, Woods, and by the shaggie topsUp lifting bore them in thir hands: Amaze,Be sure, and terrour seis'd the rebel Host,When coming towards them so dread they sawThe bottom of the Mountains upward turn'd,Till on those cursed Engins triple-row 650They saw them whelmd, and all thir confidenceUnder the weight of Mountains buried deep,Themselves invaded next, and on thir headsMain Promontories flung, which in the AirCame shadowing, and opprest whole Legions arm'd,Thir armor help'd thir harm, crush't in and brus'dInto thir substance pent, which wrought them painImplacable, and many a dolorous groan,Long strugling underneath, ere they could windOut of such prison, though Spirits of purest light, 660Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown.The rest in imitation to like ArmesBetook them, and the neighbouring Hills uptore;So Hills amid the Air encounterd HillsHurl'd to and fro with jaculation dire,That under ground they fought in dismal shade;Infernal noise; Warr seem'd a civil GameTo this uproar; horrid confusion heaptUpon confusion rose: and now all Heav'nHad gone to wrack, with ruin overspred, 670Had not th' Almightie Father where he sitsShrin'd in his Sanctuarie of Heav'n secure,Consulting on the sum of things, foreseenThis tumult, and permitted all, advis'd:That his great purpose he might so fulfill,To honour his Anointed Son aveng'dUpon his enemies, and to declareAll power on him transferr'd: whence to his SonTh' Assessor of his Throne he thus began.Effulgence of my Glorie, Son belov'd, 680Son in whose face invisible is beheldVisibly, what by Deitie I am,And in whose hand what by Decree I doe,Second Omnipotence, two dayes are past,Two dayes, as we compute the dayes of Heav'n,Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tameThese disobedient; sore hath been thir fight,As likeliest was, when two such Foes met arm'd;For to themselves I left them, and thou knowst,Equal in their Creation they were form'd, 690Save what sin hath impaird, which yet hath wroughtInsensibly, for I suspend thir doom;Whence in perpetual fight they needs must lastEndless, and no solution will be found:Warr wearied hath perform'd what Warr can do,And to disorder'd rage let loose the reines,With Mountains as with Weapons arm'd, which makesWild work in Heav'n, and dangerous to the maine.Two dayes are therefore past, the third is thine;For thee I have ordain'd it, and thus farr 700Have sufferd, that the Glorie may be thineOf ending this great Warr, since none but ThouCan end it. Into thee such Vertue and GraceImmense I have transfus'd, that all may knowIn Heav'n and Hell thy Power above compare,And this perverse Commotion governd thus,To manifest thee worthiest to be HeirOf all things, to be Heir and to be KingBy Sacred Unction, thy deserved right.Go then thou Mightiest in thy Fathers might, 710Ascend my Chariot, guide the rapid WheelesThat shake Heav'ns basis, bring forth all my Warr,My Bow and Thunder, my Almightie ArmsGird on, and Sword upon thy puissant Thigh;Pursue these sons of Darkness, drive them outFrom all Heav'ns bounds into the utter Deep:There let them learn, as likes them, to despiseGod and Messiah his anointed King.He said, and on his Son with Rayes directShon full, he all his Father full exprest 720Ineffably into his face receiv'd,And thus the filial Godhead answering spake.O Father, O Supream of heav'nly Thrones,First, Highest, Holiest, Best, thou alwayes seekstTo glorifie thy Son, I alwayes thee,As is most just; this I my Glorie account,My exaltation, and my whole delight,That thou in me well pleas'd, declarst thy willFulfill'd, which to fulfil is all my bliss.Scepter and Power, thy giving, I assume, 730And gladlier shall resign, when in the endThou shalt be All in All, and I in theeFor ever, and in mee all whom thou lov'st:But whom thou hat'st, I hate, and can put onThy terrors, as I put thy mildness on,Image of thee in all things; and shall soon,Armd with thy might, rid heav'n of these rebell'd,To thir prepar'd ill Mansion driven downTo chains of Darkness, and th' undying Worm,That from thy just obedience could revolt, 740Whom to obey is happiness entire.Then shall thy Saints unmixt, and from th' impureFarr separate, circling thy holy MountUnfained Halleluiahs to thee sing,Hymns of high praise, and I among them chief.So said, he o're his Scepter bowing, roseFrom the right hand of Glorie where he sate,And the third sacred Morn began to shineDawning through Heav'n: forth rush'd with whirlwind soundThe Chariot of Paternal Deitie, 750Flashing thick flames, Wheele within Wheele undrawn,It self instinct with Spirit, but convoydBy four Cherubic shapes, four Faces eachHad wondrous, as with Starrs thir bodies allAnd Wings were set with Eyes, with Eyes the WheelsOf Beril, and careering Fires between;Over thir heads a chrystal Firmament,Whereon a Saphir Throne, inlaid with pureAmber, and colours of the showrie Arch.Hee in Celestial Panoplie all armd 760Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought,Ascended, at his right hand VictorieSate Eagle-wing'd, beside him hung his BowAnd Quiver with three-bolted Thunder stor'd,And from about him fierce Effusion rowldOf smoak and bickering flame, and sparkles dire;Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints,He onward came, farr off his coming shon,And twentie thousand (I thir number heard)Chariots of God, half on each hand were seen: 770Hee on the wings of Cherub rode sublimeOn the Crystallin Skie, in Saphir Thron'd.Illustrious farr and wide, but by his ownFirst seen, them unexpected joy surpriz'd,When the great Ensign of Messiah blaz'dAloft by Angels born, his Sign in Heav'n:Under whose Conduct Michael soon reduc'dHis Armie, circumfus'd on either Wing,Under thir Head imbodied all in one.Before him Power Divine his way prepar'd; 780At his command the uprooted Hills retir'dEach to his place, they heard his voice and wentObsequious, Heav'n his wonted face renewd,And with fresh Flourets Hill and Valley smil'd.This saw his hapless Foes, but stood obdur'd,And to rebellious fight rallied thir PowersInsensate, hope conceiving from despair.In heav'nly Spirits could such perverseness dwell?But to convince the proud what Signs availe,Or Wonders move th' obdurate to relent? 790They hard'nd more by what might most reclame,Grieving to see his Glorie, at the sightTook envie, and aspiring to his highth,Stood reimbattell'd fierce, by force or fraudWeening to prosper, and at length prevaileAgainst God and Messiah, or to fallIn universal ruin last, and nowTo final Battel drew, disdaining flight,Or faint retreat; when the great Son of GodTo all his Host on either hand thus spake. 800Stand still in bright array ye Saints, here standYe Angels arm'd, this day from Battel rest;Faithful hath been your Warfare, and of GodAccepted, fearless in his righteous Cause,And as ye have receivd, so have ye donInvincibly; but of this cursed crewThe punishment to other hand belongs,Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints;Number to this dayes work is not ordain'dNor multitude, stand onely and behold 810Gods indignation on these Godless pourdBy mee; not you but mee they have despis'd,Yet envied; against mee is all thir rage,Because the Father, t' whom in Heav'n supreamKingdom and Power and Glorie appertains,Hath honourd me according to his will.Therefore to mee thir doom he hath assig'n'd;That they may have thir wish, to trie with meeIn Battel which the stronger proves, they all,Or I alone against them, since by strength 820They measure all, of other excellenceNot emulous, nor care who them excells;Nor other strife with them do I voutsafe.So spake the Son, and into terrour chang'dHis count'nance too severe to be beheldAnd full of wrauth bent on his Enemies.At once the Four spred out thir Starrie wingsWith dreadful shade contiguous, and the OrbesOf his fierce Chariot rowld, as with the soundOf torrent Floods, or of a numerous Host. 830Hee on his impious Foes right onward drove,Gloomie as Night; under his burning WheelesThe stedfast Empyrean shook throughout,All but the Throne it self of God. Full soonAmong them he arriv'd; in his right handGrasping ten thousand Thunders, which he sentBefore him, such as in thir Soules infix'dPlagues; they astonisht all resistance lost,All courage; down thir idle weapons drop'd;O're Shields and Helmes, and helmed heads he rode 840Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate,That wish'd the Mountains now might be againThrown on them as a shelter from his ire.Nor less on either side tempestuous fellHis arrows, from the fourfold-visag'd Foure,Distinct with eyes, and from the living Wheels,Distinct alike with multitude of eyes,One Spirit in them rul'd, and every eyeGlar'd lightning, and shot forth pernicious fireAmong th' accurst, that witherd all thir strength, 850And of thir wonted vigour left them draind,Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fall'n.Yet half his strength he put not forth, but check'dHis Thunder in mid Volie, for he meantNot to destroy, but root them out of Heav'n:The overthrown he rais'd, and as a HeardOf Goats or timerous flock together throngdDrove them before him Thunder-struck, pursu'dWith terrors and with furies to the boundsAnd Chrystall wall of Heav'n, which op'ning wide, 860Rowld inward, and a spacious Gap disclos'dInto the wastful Deep; the monstrous sightStrook them with horror backward, but far worseUrg'd them behind; headlong themselvs they threwDown from the verge of Heav'n, Eternal wrauthBurnt after them to the bottomless pit.Hell heard th' unsufferable noise, Hell sawHeav'n ruining from Heav'n and would have fledAffrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deepHer dark foundations, and too fast had bound. 870Nine dayes they fell; confounded Chaos roard,
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And felt tenfold confusion in thir fallThrough his wilde Anarchie, so huge a routIncumberd him with ruin: Hell at lastYawning receavd them whole, and on them clos'd,
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Hell thir fit habitation fraught with fireUnquenchable, the house of woe and paine.Disburd'nd Heav'n rejoic'd, and soon repairdHer mural breach, returning whence it rowld.Sole Victor from th' expulsion of his Foes 880Messiah his triumphal Chariot turnd:To meet him all his Saints, who silent stoodEye witnesses of his Almightie Acts,With Jubilie advanc'd; and as they went,Shaded with branching Palme, each order bright,Sung Triumph, and him sung Victorious King,Son, Heire, and Lord, to him Dominion giv'n,Worthiest to Reign: he celebrated rodeTriumphant through mid Heav'n, into the CourtsAnd Temple of his mightie Father Thron'd 890On high; who into Glorie him receav'd,Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss.Thus measuring things in Heav'n by things on EarthAt thy request, and that thou maist bewareBy what is past, to thee I have reveal'dWhat might have else to human Race bin hid;The discord which befel, and Warr in Heav'nAmong th' Angelic Powers, and the deep fallOf those too high aspiring, who rebelldWith Satan, hee who envies now thy state, 900Who now is plotting how he may seduceThee also from obedience, that with himBereavd of happiness thou maist partakeHis punishment, Eternal miserie;Which would be all his solace and revenge,As a despite don against the most High,Thee once to gaine Companion of his woe.But list'n not to his Temptations, warneThy weaker; let it profit thee to have heardBy terrible Example the reward 910Of disobedience; firm they might have stood,Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress.The End Of The Sixth Book.
THE ARGUMENT.
Raphael at the request of Adam relates how and wherefore this world was first created; that God, after the expelling of Satan and his Angels out of Heaven, declar'd his pleasure to create another World and other Creatures to dwell therein; sends his Son with Glory and attendance of Angels to perform the work of Creation in six dayes: the Angels celebrate with Hymns the performance thereof, and his reascention into Heaven.
Descend from Heav'n Urania, by that nameIf rightly thou art call'd, whose Voice divineFollowing, above th' Olympian Hill I soare,Above the flight of Pegasean wing.The meaning, not the Name I call: for thouNor of the Muses nine, nor on the topOf old Olympus dwell'st, but Heav'nlie borne,Before the Hills appeerd, or Fountain flow'd,Thou with Eternal wisdom didst converse,Wisdom thy Sister, and with her didst play 10In presence of th' Almightie Father, pleas'dWith thy Celestial Song. Up led by theeInto the Heav'n of Heav'ns I have presum'd,An Earthlie Guest, and drawn Empyreal Aire,Thy tempring; with like safetie guided downReturn me to my Native Element:Least from this flying Steed unrein'd, (as onceBellerophon, though from a lower Clime)Dismounted, on th' Aleian Field I fallErroneous, there to wander and forlorne. 20Half yet remaines unsung, but narrower boundWithin the visible Diurnal Spheare;Standing on Earth, not rapt above the Pole,More safe I Sing with mortal voice, unchang'dTo hoarce or mute, though fall'n on evil dayes,On evil dayes though fall'n, and evil tongues;In darkness, and with dangers compast round,And solitude; yet not alone, while thouVisit'st my slumbers Nightly, or when MornPurples the East: still govern thou my Song, 30Urania, and fit audience find, though few.But drive farr off the barbarous dissonanceOf Bacchus and his Revellers, the RaceOf that wilde Rout that tore the Thracian BardIn Rhodope, where Woods and Rocks had EaresTo rapture, till the savage clamor droundBoth Harp and Voice; nor could the Muse defendHer Son. So fail not thou, who thee implores:For thou art Heav'nlie, shee an empty dreame.Say Goddess, what ensu'd when Raphael, 40The affable Arch-angel, had forewarn'dAdam by dire example to bewareApostasie, by what befell in HeavenTo those Apostates, least the like befallIn Paradise to Adam or his Race,Charg'd not to touch the interdicted Tree,If they transgress, and slight that sole command,So easily obeyd amid the choiceOf all tasts else to please thir appetite,Though wandring. He with his consorted Eve 50The storie heard attentive, and was fill'dWith admiration, and deep Muse to heareOf things so high and strange, things to thir thoughtSo unimaginable as hate in Heav'n,And Warr so neer the Peace of God in blissWith such confusion: but the evil soonDriv'n back redounded as a flood on thoseFrom whom it sprung, impossible to mixWith Blessedness. Whence Adam soon repeal'dThe doubts that in his heart arose: and now 60Led on, yet sinless, with desire to knowWhat neerer might concern him, how this WorldOf Heav'n and Earth conspicuous first began,When, and whereof created, for what cause,What within Eden or without was doneBefore his memorie, as one whose drouthYet scarce allay'd still eyes the current streame,Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites,Proceeded thus to ask his Heav'nly Guest.Great things, and full of wonder in our eares, 70Farr differing from this World, thou hast reveal'dDivine Interpreter, by favour sentDown from the Empyrean to forewarneUs timely of what might else have bin our loss,Unknown, which human knowledg could not reach:For which to the infinitly Good we oweImmortal thanks, and his admonishmentReceave with solemne purpose to observeImmutably his sovran will, the endOf what we are. But since thou hast voutsaf't 80Gently for our instruction to impartThings above Earthly thought, which yet concerndOur knowing, as to highest wisdom seemd,Deign to descend now lower, and relateWhat may no less perhaps availe us known,How first began this Heav'n which we beholdDistant so high, with moving Fires adorndInnumerable, and this which yeelds or fillsAll space, the ambient Aire wide interfus'dImbracing round this florid Earth, what cause 90Mov'd the Creator in his holy RestThrough all Eternitie so late to buildIn Chaos, and the work begun, how soonAbsolv'd, if unforbid thou maist unfouldWhat wee, not to explore the secrets askeOf his Eternal Empire, but the moreTo magnifie his works, the more we know.And the great Light of Day yet wants to runMuch of his Race though steep, suspens in Heav'nHeld by thy voice, thy potent voice he heares, 100And longer will delay to heare thee tellHis Generation, and the rising BirthOf Nature from the unapparent Deep:Or if the Starr of Eevning and the MoonHaste to thy audience, Night with her will bringSilence, and Sleep listning to thee will watch,Or we can bid his absence, till thy SongEnd, and dismiss thee ere the Morning shine.Thus Adam his illustrous Guest besought:And thus the Godlike Angel answerd milde. 110This also thy request with caution asktObtaine: though to recount Almightie worksWhat words or tongue of Seraph can suffice,Or heart of man suffice to comprehend?Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serveTo glorifie the Maker, and inferrThee also happier, shall not be withheldThy hearing, such Commission from aboveI have receav'd, to answer thy desireOf knowledge within bounds; beyond abstain 120To ask, nor let thine own inventions hopeThings not reveal'd, which th' invisible King,Onely Omniscient, hath supprest in Night,To none communicable in Earth or Heaven:Anough is left besides to search and know.But Knowledge is as food, and needs no lessHer Temperance over Appetite, to knowIn measure what the mind may well contain,Oppresses else with Surfet, and soon turnsWisdom to Folly, as Nourishment to Winde. 130Know then, that after Lucifer from Heav'n(So call him, brighter once amidst the HostOf Angels, then that Starr the Starrs among)Fell with his flaming Legions through the DeepInto his place, and the great Son returndVictorious with his Saints, th' OmnipotentEternal Father from his Throne beheldThir multitude, and to his Son thus spake.At least our envious Foe hath fail'd, who thoughtAll like himself rebellious, by whose aid 140This inaccessible high strength, the seatOf Deitie supream, us dispossest,He trusted to have seis'd, and into fraudDrew many, whom thir place knows here no more;Yet farr the greater part have kept, I see,Thir station, Heav'n yet populous retainesNumber sufficient to possess her RealmesThough wide, and this high Temple to frequentWith Ministeries due and solemn Rites:But least his heart exalt him in the harme 150Already done, to have dispeopl'd Heav'n,My damage fondly deem'd, I can repaireThat detriment, if such it be to loseSelf-lost, and in a moment will createAnother World, out of one man a RaceOf men innumerable, there to dwell,Not here, till by degrees of merit rais'dThey open to themselves at length the wayUp hither, under long obedience tri'd,And Earth be chang'd to Heavn, & Heav'n to Earth, 160One Kingdom, Joy and Union without end.Mean while inhabit laxe, ye Powers of Heav'n,And thou my Word, begotten Son, by theeThis I perform, speak thou, and be it don:My overshadowing Spirit and might with theeI send along, ride forth, and bid the DeepWithin appointed bounds be Heav'n and Earth,Boundless the Deep, because I am who fillInfinitude, nor vacuous the space.Though I uncircumscrib'd my self retire, 170And put not forth my goodness, which is freeTo act or not, Necessitie and ChanceApproach not mee, and what I will is Fate.So spake th' Almightie, and to what he spakeHis Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect.Immediate are the Acts of God, more swiftThen time or motion, but to human earsCannot without process of speech be told,So told as earthly notion can receave.Great triumph and rejoycing was in Heav'n 180When such was heard declar'd the Almightie's will;Glorie they sung to the most High, good willTo future men, and in thir dwellings peace:Glorie to him whose just avenging ireHad driven out th' ungodly from his sightAnd th' habitations of the just; to himGlorie and praise, whose wisdom had ordain'dGood out of evil to create, in steadOf Spirits maligne a better Race to bringInto thir vacant room, and thence diffuse 190His good to Worlds and Ages infinite.So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the SonOn his great Expedition now appeer'd,Girt with Omnipotence, with Radiance crown'dOf Majestie Divine, Sapience and LoveImmense, and all his Father in him shon.About his Chariot numberless were pour'dCherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones,And Vertues, winged Spirits, and Chariots wing'd,From the Armoury of God, where stand of old 200Myriads between two brazen Mountains lodg'dAgainst a solemn day, harnest at hand,Celestial Equipage; and now came forthSpontaneous, for within them Spirit livd,Attendant on thir Lord: Heav'n op'nd wideHer ever during Gates, Harmonious soundOn golden Hinges moving, to let forthThe King of Glorie in his powerful WordAnd Spirit coming to create new Worlds.On heav'nly ground they stood, and from the shore 210They view'd the vast immeasurable AbyssOutrageous as a Sea, dark, wasteful, wilde,Up from the bottom turn'd by furious windesAnd surging waves, as Mountains to assaultHeav'ns highth, and with the Center mix the Pole.Silence, ye troubl'd waves, and thou Deep, peace,Said then th' Omnific Word, your discord end:Nor staid, but on the Wings of CherubimUplifted, in Paternal Glorie rodeFarr into Chaos, and the World unborn; 220For Chaos heard his voice: him all his TraineFollow'd in bright procession to beholdCreation, and the wonders of his might.Then staid the fervid Wheeles, and in his handHe took the golden Compasses, prepar'dIn Gods Eternal store, to circumscribeThis Universe, and all created things:One foot he center'd, and the other turn'dRound through the vast profunditie obscure,And said, thus farr extend, thus farr thy bounds, 230This be thy just Circumference, O World.Thus God the Heav'n created, thus the Earth,Matter unform'd and void: Darkness profoundCover'd th' Abyss: but on the watrie calmeHis brooding wings the Spirit of God outspred,And vital vertue infus'd, and vital warmthThroughout the fluid Mass, but downward purg'dThe black tartareous cold infernal dregsAdverse to life: then founded, then conglob'dLike things to like, the rest to several place 240Disparted, and between spun out the Air,And Earth self-ballanc't on her Center hung.Let ther be Light, said God, and forthwith LightEthereal, first of things, quintessence pureSprung from the Deep, and from her Native EastTo journie through the airie gloom began,Sphear'd in a radiant Cloud, for yet the SunWas not; shee in a cloudie TabernacleSojourn'd the while. God saw the Light was good;And light from darkness by the Hemisphere 250Divided: Light the Day, and Darkness NightHe nam'd. Thus was the first Day Eev'n and Morn:Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsungBy the Celestial Quires, when Orient LightExhaling first from Darkness they beheld;Birth-day of Heav'n and Earth; with joy and shoutThe hollow Universal Orb they fill'd,And touch't thir Golden Harps, & hymning prais'dGod and his works, Creatour him they sung,Both when first Eevning was, and when first Morn. 260Again, God said, let ther be FirmamentAmid the Waters, and let it divideThe Waters from the Waters: and God madeThe Firmament, expanse of liquid, pure,Transparent, Elemental Air, diffus'dIn circuit to the uttermost convexOf this great Round: partition firm and sure,The Waters underneath from those aboveDividing: for as Earth, so hee the WorldBuilt on circumfluous Waters calme, in wide 270Crystallin Ocean, and the loud misruleOf Chaos farr remov'd, least fierce extreamesContiguous might distemper the whole frame:And Heav'n he nam'd the Firmament: So Eev'nAnd Morning Chorus sung the second Day.The Earth was form'd, but in the Womb as yetOf Waters, Embryon immature involv'd,Appeer'd not: over all the face of EarthMain Ocean flow'd, not idle, but with warmeProlific humour soft'ning all her Globe, 280Fermented the great Mother to conceave,Satiate with genial moisture, when God saidBe gather'd now ye Waters under Heav'nInto one place, and let dry Land appeer.Immediately the Mountains huge appeerEmergent, and thir broad bare backs upheaveInto the Clouds, thir tops ascend the Skie:So high as heav'd the tumid Hills, so lowDown sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep,Capacious bed of Waters: thither they 290Hasted with glad precipitance, uprowldAs drops on dust conglobing from the drie;Part rise in crystal Wall, or ridge direct,For haste; such flight the great command impress'dOn the swift flouds: as Armies at the callOf Trumpet (for of Armies thou hast heard)Troop to thir Standard, so the watrie throng,Wave rowling after Wave, where way they found,
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If steep, with torrent rapture, if through Plaine,Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them Rock or Hill, 300But they, or under ground, or circuit wideWith Serpent errour wandring, found thir way,And on the washie Oose deep Channels wore;Easie, e're God had bid the ground be drie,All but within those banks, where Rivers nowStream, and perpetual draw thir humid traine.The dry Land, Earth, and the great receptacleOf congregated Waters he call'd Seas:And saw that it was good, and said, Let th' EarthPut forth the verdant Grass, Herb yeilding Seed, 310And Fruit Tree yeilding Fruit after her kind;Whose Seed is in her self upon the Earth.He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till thenDesert and bare, unsightly, unadorn'd,Brought forth the tender Grass, whose verdure cladHer Universal Face with pleasant green,Then Herbs of every leaf, that sudden flour'dOp'ning thir various colours, and made gayHer bosom smelling sweet: and these scarce blown,Forth flourish't thick the clustring Vine, forth crept 320The smelling Gourd, up stood the cornie ReedEmbattell'd in her field: add the humble Shrub,And Bush with frizl'd hair implicit: lastRose as in Dance the stately Trees, and spredThir branches hung with copious Fruit; or gemm'dThir Blossoms: with high Woods the Hills were crownd,With tufts the vallies & each fountain side,With borders long the Rivers. That Earth nowSeemd like to Heav'n, a seat where Gods might dwell,Or wander with delight, and love to haunt 330Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rain'dUpon the Earth, and man to till the groundNone was, but from the Earth a dewie MistWent up and waterd all the ground, and eachPlant of the field, which e're it was in the EarthGod made, and every Herb, before it grewOn the green stemm; God saw that it was good:So Eev'n and Morn recorded the Third Day.Again th' Almightie spake: Let there be LightsHigh in th' expanse of Heaven to divide 340The Day from Night; and let them be for Signes,For Seasons, and for Dayes, and circling Years,And let them be for Lights as I ordaineThir Office in the Firmament of Heav'nTo give Light on the Earth; and it was so.And God made two great Lights, great for thir useTo Man, the greater to have rule by Day,The less by Night alterne: and made the Starrs,And set them in the Firmament of Heav'nTo illuminate the Earth, and rule the Day 350In thir vicissitude, and rule the Night,And Light from Darkness to divide. God saw,Surveying his great Work, that it was good:For of Celestial Bodies first the SunA mightie Spheare he fram'd, unlightsom first,Though of Ethereal Mould: then form'd the MoonGlobose, and everie magnitude of Starrs,And sowd with Starrs the Heav'n thick as a field:Of Light by farr the greater part he took,Transplanted from her cloudie Shrine, and plac'd 360In the Suns Orb, made porous to receiveAnd drink the liquid Light, firm to retaineHer gather'd beams, great Palace now of Light.Hither as to thir Fountain other StarrsRepairing, in thir gold'n Urns draw Light,And hence the Morning Planet guilds his horns;By tincture or reflection they augmentThir small peculiar, though from human sightSo farr remote, with diminution seen.First in his East the glorious Lamp was seen, 370Regent of Day, and all th' Horizon roundInvested with bright Rayes, jocond to runHis Longitude through Heav'ns high rode: the grayDawn, and the Pleiades before him danc'dShedding sweet influence: less bright the Moon,But opposite in leveld West was setHis mirror, with full face borrowing her LightFrom him, for other light she needed noneIn that aspect, and still that distance keepesTill night, then in the East her turn she shines, 380Revolvd on Heav'ns great Axle, and her ReignWith thousand lesser Lights dividual holds,With thousand thousand Starres, that then appeer'dSpangling the Hemisphere: then first adorndWith thir bright Luminaries that Set and Rose,Glad Eevning & glad Morn crownd the fourth day.