THE ARGUMENT.
The Angel Michael continues from the Flood to relate what shall succeed; then, in the mention of Abraham, comes by degrees to explain who that Seed of the Woman shall be, which was promised Adam and Eve in the Fall; his Incarnation, Death, Resurrection, and Ascention; the state of the Church till his second Coming. Adam greatly satisfied and recomforted by these Relations and Promises descends the Hill with Michael; wakens Eve, who all this while had slept, but with gentle dreams compos'd to quietness of mind and submission. Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradise, the fiery Sword waving behind them, and the Cherubim taking thir Stations to guard the Place.
[As one who in his journey bates at NooneThough bent on speed, so heer the Archangel' paus'dBetwixt the world destroy'd and world restor'd,If Adam aught perhaps might interpose;Then with transition sweet new Speech resumes]Thus thou hast seen one World begin and end;And Man as from a second stock proceed.Much thou hast yet to see, but I perceaveThy mortal sight to faile; objects divineMust needs impaire and wearie human sense: 10Henceforth what is to com I will relate,Thou therefore give due audience, and attend.This second sours of Men, while yet but few,And while the dread of judgement past remainsFresh in thir mindes, fearing the Deitie,With some regard to what is just and rightShall lead thir lives, and multiplie apace,Labouring the soile, and reaping plenteous crop,Corn wine and oyle; and from the herd or flock,Oft sacrificing Bullock, Lamb, or Kid, 20With large Wine-offerings pour'd, and sacred FeastShal spend thir dayes in joy unblam'd, and dwellLong time in peace by Families and TribesUnder paternal rule; till one shall riseOf proud ambitious heart, who not contentWith fair equalitie, fraternal state,Will arrogate Dominion undeserv'dOver his brethren, and quite dispossessConcord and law of Nature from the Earth;Hunting (and Men not Beasts shall be his game) 30With Warr and hostile snare such as refuseSubjection to his Empire tyrannous:A mightie Hunter thence he shall be styl'dBefore the Lord, as in despite of Heav'n,Or from Heav'n claming second Sovrantie;And from Rebellion shall derive his name,Though of Rebellion others he accuse.Hee with a crew, whom like Ambition joynsWith him or under him to tyrannize,Marching from Eden towards the West, shall finde 40The Plain, wherein a black bituminous gurgeBoiles out from under ground, the mouth of Hell;Of Brick, and of that stuff they cast to buildA Citie & Towre, whose top may reach to Heav'n;And get themselves a name, least far disperstIn foraign Lands thir memorie be lost,Regardless whether good or evil fame.But God who oft descends to visit menUnseen, and through thir habitations walksTo mark thir doings, them beholding soon, 50Comes down to see thir Citie, ere the TowerObstruct Heav'n Towrs, and in derision setsUpon thir Tongues a various Spirit to raseQuite out thir Native Language, and insteadTo sow a jangling noise of words unknown:Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loudAmong the Builders; each to other callsNot understood, till hoarse, and all in rage,As mockt they storm; great laughter was in Heav'nAnd looking down, to see the hubbub strange 60And hear the din; thus was the building leftRidiculous, and the work Confusion nam'd.Whereto thus Adam fatherly displeas'd.O execrable Son so to aspireAbove his Brethren, to himself affirmingAuthoritie usurpt, from God not giv'n:He gave us onely over Beast, Fish, FowlDominion absolute; that right we holdBy his donation; but Man over menHe made not Lord; such title to himself 70Reserving, human left from human free.But this Usurper his encroachment proudStayes not on Man; to God his Tower intendsSiege and defiance: Wretched man! what foodWill he convey up thither to sustainHimself and his rash Armie, where thin AireAbove the Clouds will pine his entrails gross,And famish him of Breath, if not of Bread?To whom thus Michael. Justly thou abhorr'stThat Son, who on the quiet state of men 80Such trouble brought, affecting to subdueRational Libertie; yet know withall,Since thy original lapse, true LibertieIs lost, which alwayes with right Reason dwellsTwinn'd, and from her hath no dividual being:Reason in man obscur'd, or not obeyd,Immediately inordinate desiresAnd upstart Passions catch the GovernmentFrom Reason, and to servitude reduceMan till then free. Therefore since hee permits 90Within himself unworthie Powers to reignOver free Reason, God in Judgement justSubjects him from without to violent Lords;Who oft as undeservedly enthrallHis outward freedom: Tyrannie must be,Though to the Tyrant thereby no excuse.Yet somtimes Nations will decline so lowFrom vertue, which is reason, that no wrong,But Justice, and some fatal curse annextDeprives them of thir outward libertie, 100Thir inward lost: Witness th' irreverent SonOf him who built the Ark, who for the shameDon to his Father, heard this heavie curse,Servant Of Servants, on his vitious Race.Thus will this latter, as the former World,Still tend from bad to worse, till God at lastWearied with their iniquities, withdrawHis presence from among them, and avertHis holy Eyes; resolving from thenceforthTo leave them to thir own polluted wayes; 110And one peculiar Nation to selectFrom all the rest, of whom to be invok'd,A Nation from one faithful man to spring:Him on this side Euphrates yet residing,Bred up in Idol-worship; O that men(Canst thou believe?) should be so stupid grown,While yet the Patriark liv'd, who scap'd the Flood,As to forsake the living God, and fallTo-worship thir own work in Wood and StoneFor Gods! yet him God the most High voutsafes 120To call by Vision from his Fathers house,His kindred and false Gods, into a LandWhich he will shew him, and from him will raiseA mightie Nation, and upon him showreHis benediction so, that in his SeedAll Nations shall be blest; hee straight obeys,Not knowing to what Land, yet firm believes:I see him, but thou canst not, with what FaithHe leaves his Gods, his Friends, and native SoileUr of Chaldaea, passing now the Ford 130To Haran, after him a cumbrous TrainOf Herds and Flocks, and numerous servitude;Not wandring poor, but trusting all his wealthWith God, who call'd him, in a land unknown.Canaan he now attains, I see his TentsPitcht about Sechem, and the neighbouring PlaineOf Moreb; there by promise he receavesGift to his Progenie of all that Land;From Hamath Northward to the Desert South(Things by thir names I call, though yet unnam'd) 140From Hermon East to the great Western Sea,Mount Hermon, yonder Sea, each place beholdIn prospect, as I point them; on the shoareMount Carmel; here the double-founted streamJordan, true limit Eastward; but his SonsShall dwell to Senir, that long ridge of Hills.This ponder, that all Nations of the EarthShall in his Seed be blessed; by that SeedIs meant thy great deliverer, who shall bruiseThe Serpents head; whereof to thee anon 150Plainlier shall be reveald. This Patriarch blest,Whom Faithful Abraham due time shall call,A Son, and of his Son a Grand-childe leaves,Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown;The Grandchilde with twelve Sons increast, departsFrom Canaan, to a Land hereafter call'dEgypt, divided by the River Nile;See where it flows, disgorging at seaven mouthesInto the Sea: to sojourn in that LandHe comes invited by a yonger Son 160In time of dearth, a Son whose worthy deedsRaise him to be the second in that RealmeOf Pharao: there he dies, and leaves his RaceGrowing into a Nation, and now grownSuspected to a sequent King, who seeksTo stop thir overgrowth, as inmate guestsToo numerous; whence of guests he makes them slavesInhospitably, and kills thir infant Males:Till by two brethren (those two brethren callMoses and Aaron) sent from God to claime 170His people from enthralment, they returnWith glory and spoile back to thir promis'd Land.But first the lawless Tyrant, who deniesTo know thir God, or message to regard,Must be compelld by Signes and Judgements dire;To blood unshed the Rivers must be turnd,Frogs, Lice and Flies must all his Palace fillWith loath'd intrusion, and fill all the land;His Cattel must of Rot and Murren die,Botches and blaines must all his flesh imboss, 180And all his people; Thunder mixt with Haile,Haile mixt with fire must rend th' Egyptian SkieAnd wheel on th' Earth, devouring where it rouls;What it devours not, Herb, or Fruit, or Graine,A darksom Cloud of Locusts swarming downMust eat, and on the ground leave nothing green:Darkness must overshadow all his bounds,Palpable darkness, and blot out three dayes;Last with one midnight stroke all the first-bornOf Egypt must lie dead. Thus with ten wounds 190This River-dragon tam'd at length submitsTo let his sojourners depart, and oftHumbles his stubborn heart, but still as IceMore hard'nd after thaw, till in his ragePursuing whom he late dismissd, the SeaSwallows him with his Host, but them lets passAs on drie land between two christal walls,Aw'd by the rod of Moses so to standDivided, till his rescu'd gain thir shoar:Such wondrous power God to his Saint will lend, 200Though present in his Angel, who shall goeBefore them in a Cloud, and Pillar of Fire,To guide them in thir journey, and removeBehinde them, while th' obdurat King pursues:All night he will pursue, but his approachDarkness defends between till morning Watch;Then through the Firey Pillar and the CloudGod looking forth will trouble all his HostAnd craze thir Chariot wheels: when by commandMoses once more his potent Rod extends 210Over the Sea; the Sea his Rod obeys;On thir imbattelld ranks the Waves return,And overwhelm thir Warr: the Race electSafe towards Canaan from the shoar advanceThrough the wilde Desert, not the readiest way,Least entring on the Canaanite allarmdWarr terrifie them inexpert, and feareReturn them back to Egypt, choosing ratherInglorious life with servitude; for lifeTo noble and ignoble is more sweet 220Untraind in Armes, where rashness leads not on.This also shall they gain by thir delayIn the wide Wilderness, there they shall foundThir government, and thir great Senate chooseThrough the twelve Tribes, to rule by Laws ordaind:God from the Mount of Sinai, whose gray topShall tremble, he descending, will himselfIn Thunder Lightning and loud Trumpets soundOrdaine them Lawes; part such as appertaineTo civil Justice, part religious Rites 230Of sacrifice, informing them, by typesAnd shadowes, of that destind Seed to bruiseThe Serpent, by what meanes he shall achieveMankinds deliverance. But the voice of GodTo mortal eare is dreadful; they beseechThat Moses might report to them his will,
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And terror cease; he grants them thir desire,Instructed that to God is no accessWithout Mediator, whose high Office nowMoses in figure beares, to introduce 240One greater, of whose day he shall foretell,And all the Prophets in thir Age the timesOf great Messiah shall sing. Thus Laws and RitesEstablisht, such delight hath God in MenObedient to his will, that he voutsafesAmong them to set up his Tabernacle,The holy One with mortal Men to dwell:By his prescript a Sanctuary is fram'dOf Cedar, overlaid with Gold, thereinAn Ark, and in the Ark his Testimony, 250The Records of his Cov'nant, over theseA Mercie-seat of Gold between the wingsOf two bright Cherubim, before him burnSeaven Lamps as in a Zodiac representingThe Heav'nly fires; over the Tent a CloudShall rest by Day, a fierie gleame by Night,Save when they journie, and at length they come,Conducted by his Angel to the LandPromisd to Abraham and his Seed: the restWere long to tell, how many Battels fought, 260How many Kings destroyd, and Kingdoms won,Or how the Sun shall in mid Heav'n stand stillA day entire, and Nights due course adjourne,Mans voice commanding, Sun in Gibeon stand,And thou Moon in the vale of Aialon,Till Israel overcome; so call the thirdFrom Abraham, Son of Isaac, and from himHis whole descent, who thus shall Canaan win.Here Adam interpos'd. O sent from Heav'n,Enlightner of my darkness, gracious things 270Thou hast reveald, those chiefly which concerneJust Abraham and his Seed: now first I findeMine eyes true op'ning, and my heart much eas'd,Erwhile perplext with thoughts what would becomOf mee and all Mankind; but now I seeHis day, in whom all Nations shall be blest,Favour unmerited by me, who soughtForbidd'n knowledge by forbidd'n means.This yet I apprehend not, why to thoseAmong whom God will deigne to dwell on Earth 280So many and so various Laws are giv'n;So many Laws argue so many sinsAmong them; how can God with such reside?To whom thus Michael. Doubt not but that sinWill reign among them, as of thee begot;And therefore was Law given them to evinceThir natural pravitie, by stirring upSin against Law to fight; that when they seeLaw can discover sin, but not remove,Save by those shadowie expiations weak, 290The bloud of Bulls and Goats, they may concludeSome bloud more precious must be paid for Man,Just for unjust, that in such righteousnessTo them by Faith imputed, they may findeJustification towards God, and peaceOf Conscience, which the Law by CeremoniesCannot appease, nor Man the moral partPerform, and not performing cannot live.So Law appears imperfet, and but giv'nWith purpose to resign them in full time 300Up to a better Cov'nant, disciplin'dFrom shadowie Types to Truth, from Flesh to Spirit,From imposition of strict Laws, to freeAcceptance of large Grace, from servil fearTo filial, works of Law to works of Faith.And therefore shall not Moses, though of GodHighly belov'd, being but the MinisterOf Law, his people into Canaan lead;But Joshua whom the Gentiles Jesus call,His Name and Office bearing, who shall quell 310The adversarie Serpent, and bring backThrough the worlds wilderness long wanderd manSafe to eternal Paradise of rest.Meanwhile they in thir earthly Canaan plac'tLong time shall dwell and prosper, but when sinsNational interrupt thir public peace,Provoking God to raise them enemies:From whom as oft he saves them penitentBy Judges first, then under Kings; of whomThe second, both for pietie renownd 320And puissant deeds, a promise shall receiveIrrevocable, that his Regal ThroneFor ever shall endure; the like shall singAll Prophecie, That of the Royal StockOf David (so I name this King) shall riseA Son, the Womans Seed to thee foretold,Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trustAll Nations, and to Kings foretold, of KingsThe last, for of his Reign shall be no end.But first a long succession must ensue, 330And his next Son for Wealth and Wisdom fam'd,The clouded Ark of God till then in TentsWandring, shall in a glorious Temple enshrine.Such follow him, as shall be registerdPart good, part bad, of bad the longer scrowle,Whose foul Idolatries, and other faultsHeapt to the popular summe, will so incenseGod, as to leave them, and expose thir Land,Thir Citie, his Temple, and his holy ArkWith all his sacred things, a scorn and prey 340To that proud Citie, whose high Walls thou saw'stLeft in confusion, Babylon thence call'd.There in captivitie he lets them dwellThe space of seventie years, then brings them back,Remembring mercie, and his Cov'nant swornTo David, stablisht as the dayes of Heav'n.Returnd from Babylon by leave of KingsThir Lords, whom God dispos'd, the house of GodThey first re-edifie, and for a whileIn mean estate live moderate, till grown 350In wealth and multitude, factious they grow;But first among the Priests dissension springs,Men who attend the Altar, and should mostEndeavour Peace: thir strife pollution bringsUpon the Temple it self: at last they seiseThe Scepter, and regard not Davids Sons,Then loose it to a stranger, that the trueAnointed King Messiah might be bornBarr'd of his right; yet at his Birth a StarrUnseen before in Heav'n proclaims him com, 360And guides the Eastern Sages, who enquireHis place, to offer Incense, Myrrh, and Gold;His place of birth a solemn Angel tellsTo simple Shepherds, keeping watch by night;They gladly thither haste, and by a QuireOf squadrond Angels hear his Carol sung.A Virgin is his Mother, but his SireThe Power of the most High; he shall ascendThe Throne hereditarie, and bound his ReignWith earths wide bounds, his glory with the Heav'ns. 370He ceas'd, discerning Adam with such joySurcharg'd, as had like grief bin dew'd in tears,Without the vent of words, which these he breathd.O Prophet of glad tidings, finisherOf utmost hope! now clear I understandWhat oft my steddiest thoughts have searcht in vain,Why our great expectation should be call'dThe seed of Woman: Virgin Mother, Haile,High in the love of Heav'n, yet from my LoynesThou shalt proceed, and from thy Womb the Son 380Of God most High; So God with man unites.Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruiseExpect with mortal paine: say where and whenThir fight, what stroke shall bruise the Victors heel.To whom thus Michael. Dream not of thir fight,As of a Duel, or the local woundsOf head or heel: not therefore joynes the SonManhood to God-head, with more strength to foilThy enemie; nor so is overcomeSatan, whose fall from Heav'n, a deadlier bruise, 390Disabl'd not to give thee thy deaths wound:Which hee, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure,Not by destroying Satan, but his worksIn thee and in thy Seed: nor can this be,But by fulfilling that which thou didst want,Obedience to the Law of God, impos'dOn penaltie of death, and suffering death,The penaltie to thy transgression due,And due to theirs which out of thine will grow:So onely can high Justice rest appaid. 400The Law of God exact he shall fulfillBoth by obedience and by love, though loveAlone fulfill the Law; thy punishmentHe shall endure by coming in the FleshTo a reproachful life and cursed death,Proclaiming Life to all who shall believeIn his redemption, and that his obedienceImputed becomes theirs by Faith, his meritsTo save them, not thir own, though legal works.For this he shall live hated, be blasphem'd, 410Seis'd on by force, judg'd, and to death condemndA shameful and accurst, naild to the CrossBy his own Nation, slaine for bringing Life;But to the Cross he nailes thy Enemies,The Law that is against thee, and the sinsOf all mankinde, with him there crucifi'd,Never to hurt them more who rightly trustIn this his satisfaction; so he dies,But soon revives, Death over him no powerShall long usurp; ere the third dawning light 420Returne, the Starres of Morn shall see him riseOut of his grave, fresh as the dawning light,Thy ransom paid, which Man from death redeems,His death for Man, as many as offerd LifeNeglect not, and the benefit imbraceBy Faith not void of works: this God-like actAnnuls thy doom, the death thou shouldst have dy'd,In sin for ever lost from life; this actShall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strengthDefeating Sin and Death, his two maine armes, 430And fix farr deeper in his head thir stingsThen temporal death shall bruise the Victors heel,Or theirs whom he redeems, a death like sleep,A gentle wafting to immortal Life.Nor after resurrection shall he stayLonger on Earth then certaine times to appeerTo his Disciples, Men who in his LifeStill follow'd him; to them shall leave in chargeTo teach all nations what of him they learn'dAnd his Salvation, them who shall beleeve 440Baptizing in the profluent streame, the signeOf washing them from guilt of sin to LifePure, and in mind prepar'd, if so befall,For death, like that which the redeemer dy'd.All Nations they shall teach; for from that dayNot onely to the Sons of Abrahams LoinesSalvation shall be Preacht, but to the SonsOf Abrahams Faith wherever through the world;So in his seed all Nations shall be blest.Then to the Heav'n of Heav'ns he shall ascend 450With victory, triumphing through the aireOver his foes and thine; there shall surpriseThe Serpent, Prince of aire, and drag in ChainesThrough all his realme, & there confounded leave;Then enter into glory, and resumeHis Seat at Gods right hand, exalted highAbove all names in Heav'n; and thence shall come,When this worlds dissolution shall be ripe,With glory and power to judge both quick & dead,To judge th' unfaithful dead, but to reward 460His faithful, and receave them into bliss,Whether in Heav'n or Earth, for then the EarthShall all be Paradise, far happier placeThen this of Eden, and far happier daies.So spake th' Archangel Michael, then paus'd,As at the Worlds great period; and our SireReplete with joy and wonder thus repli'd.O goodness infinite, goodness immense!That all this good of evil shall produce,And evil turn to good; more wonderful 470Then that which by creation first brought forthLight out of darkness! full of doubt I stand,Whether I should repent me now of sinBy mee done and occasiond, or rejoyceMuch more, that much more good thereof shall spring,To God more glory, more good will to MenFrom God, and over wrauth grace shall abound.But say, if our deliverer up to Heav'nMust reascend, what will betide the fewHis faithful, left among th' unfaithful herd, 480The enemies of truth; who then shall guideHis people, who defend? will they not dealeWors with his followers then with him they dealt?Be sure they will, said th' Angel; but from Heav'nHee to his own a Comforter will send,The promise of the Father, who shall dwellHis Spirit within them, and the Law of FaithWorking through love, upon thir hearts shall write,To guide them in all truth, and also armeWith spiritual Armour, able to resist 490Satans assaults, and quench his fierie dartsWhat Man can do against them, not affraid,Though to the death, against such crueltiesWith inward consolations recompenc't,And oft supported so as shall amazeThir proudest persecuters: for the SpiritPowrd first on his Apostles, whom he sendsTo evangelize the Nations, then on allBaptiz'd, shall them with wondrous gifts endueTo speak all Tongues, and do all Miracles, 500As did thir Lord before them. Thus they winGreat numbers of each Nation to receaveWith joy the tidings brought from Heav'n: at lengthThir Ministry perform'd, and race well run,Thir doctrine and thir story written left,They die; but in thir room, as they forewarne,Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous Wolves,Who all the sacred mysteries of Heav'nTo thir own vile advantages shall turneOf lucre and ambition, and the truth 510With superstitions and traditions taint,Left onely in those written Records pure,Though not but by the Spirit understood.Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names,Places and titles, and with these to joineSecular power, though feigning still to actBy spiritual, to themselves appropriatingThe Spirit of God, promisd alike and giv'nTo all Beleevers; and from that pretense,Spiritual Lawes by carnal power shall force 520On every conscience; Laws which none shall findeLeft them inrould, or what the Spirit withinShall on the heart engrave. What will they thenBut force the Spirit of Grace it self, and bindeHis consort Libertie; what, but unbuildHis living Temples, built by Faith to stand,Thir own Faith not anothers: for on EarthWho against Faith and Conscience can be heardInfallible? yet many will presume:Whence heavie persecution shall arise 530On all who in the worship persevereOf Spirit and Truth; the rest, farr greater part,Will deem in outward Rites and specious formesReligion satisfi'd; Truth shall retireBestuck with slandrous darts, and works of FaithRarely be found: so shall the World goe on,To good malignant, to bad men benigne,Under her own waight groaning, till the dayAppeer of respiration to the just,And vengeance to the wicked, at return 540Of him so lately promis'd to thy aid,The Womans seed, obscurely then foretold,Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord,Last in the Clouds from Heav'n to be revealdIn glory of the Father, to dissolveSatan with his perverted World, then raiseFrom the conflagrant mass, purg'd and refin'd,New Heav'ns, new Earth, Ages of endless dateFounded in righteousness and peace and love,To bring forth fruits Joy and eternal Bliss. 550He ended; and thus Adam last reply'd.How soon hath thy prediction, Seer blest,Measur'd this transient World, the Race of time,Till time stand fixt: beyond is all abyss,Eternitie, whose end no eye can reach.Greatly instructed I shall hence depart,Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fillOf knowledge, what this vessel can containe;Beyond which was my folly to aspire.Henceforth I learne, that to obey is best, 560And love with feare the onely God, to walkAs in his presence, ever to observeHis providence, and on him sole depend,Merciful over all his works, with goodStill overcoming evil, and by smallAccomplishing great things, by things deemd weakSubverting worldly strong, and worldly wiseBy simply meek; that suffering for Truths sakeIs fortitude to highest victorie,And to the faithful Death the Gate of Life; 570Taught this by his example whom I nowAcknowledge my Redeemer ever blest.To whom thus also th' Angel last repli'd:This having learnt, thou hast attaind the summeOf wisdom; hope no higher, though all the StarrsThou knewst by name, and all th' ethereal Powers,All secrets of the deep, all Natures works,Or works of God in Heav'n, Air, Earth, or Sea,And all the riches of this World enjoydst,And all the rule, one Empire; onely add 580Deeds to thy knowledge answerable, add Faith,Add Vertue, Patience, Temperance, add Love,By name to come call'd Charitie, the soulOf all the rest: then wilt thou not be loathTo leave this Paradise, but shalt possessA Paradise within thee, happier farr.Let us descend now therefore from this topOf Speculation; for the hour preciseExacts our parting hence; and see the Guards,By mee encampt on yonder Hill, expect 590Thir motion, at whose Front a flaming Sword,In signal of remove, waves fiercely round;We may no longer stay: go, waken Eve;Her also I with gentle Dreams have calm'dPortending good, and all her spirits compos'dTo meek submission: thou at season fitLet her with thee partake what thou hast heard,Chiefly what may concern her Faith to know,The great deliverance by her Seed to come(For by the Womans Seed) on all Mankind. 600That ye may live, which will be many dayes,Both in one Faith unanimous though sad,With cause for evils past, yet much more cheer'dWith meditation on the happie end.He ended, and they both descend the Hill;Descended, Adam to the Bowre where EveLay sleeping ran before, but found her wak't;And thus with words not sad she him receav'd.Whence thou returnst, & whither wentst, I know;For God is also in sleep, and Dreams advise, 610Which he hath sent propitious, some great goodPresaging, since with sorrow and hearts distressWearied I fell asleep: but now lead on;In mee is no delay; with thee to goe,Is to stay here; without thee here to stay,Is to go hence unwilling; thou to meeArt all things under Heav'n, all places thou,Who for my wilful crime art banisht hence.This further consolation yet secureI carry hence; though all by mee is lost, 620Such favour I unworthie am voutsaft,By mee the Promis'd Seed shall all restore.So spake our Mother Eve, and Adam heardWell pleas'd, but answer'd not; for now too nighTh' Archangel stood, and from the other HillTo thir fixt Station, all in bright arrayThe Cherubim descended; on the groundGliding meteorous, as Ev'ning MistRis'n from a River o're the marish glides,And gathers ground fast at the Labourers heel 630Homeward returning. High in Front advanc't,The brandisht Sword of God before them blaz'dFierce as a Comet; which with torrid heat,And vapour as the Libyan Air adust,Began to parch that temperate Clime; whereatIn either hand the hastning Angel caughtOur lingring Parents, and to th' Eastern GateLet them direct, and down the Cliff as fastTo the subjected Plaine; then disappeer'd.They looking back, all th' Eastern side beheld 640Of Paradise, so late thir happie seat,Wav'd over by that flaming Brand, the GateWith dreadful Faces throng'd and fierie Armes:Som natural tears they drop'd, but wip'd them soon;
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The World was all before them, where to chooseThir place of rest, and Providence thir guide:They hand in hand with wandring steps and slow,Through Eden took thir solitarie way.Notes:Argument: The Angel.... seed] Thence from the Flood relates,and by degrees explains who that seed 1667.1-5 These five lines were added in the Second Edition (1674) whenthe original tenth book was divided into an eleventh and twelfth.The End.
Transcriber's Note: Title page of first edition of Paradise Regained follows:
PARADISEREGAIND.APOEM.In IV BOOKSTo which is addedSAMSON AGONISTES——————————————————————————————The AuthorJOHN MILTON————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————LONDON.Printed by J.M. for John Starkey at theMitre in Fleetstreet, near Temple-Bar.MDCLXXI
I WHO e're while the happy Garden sung,By one mans disobedience lost, now singRecover'd Paradise to all mankind,By one mans firm obedience fully tri'dThrough all temptation, and the Tempter foil'dIn all his wiles, defeated and repuls't,And Eden rais'd in the wast Wilderness.Thou Spirit who ledst this glorious EremiteInto the Desert, his Victorious FieldAgainst the Spiritual Foe, and broughtst him thence 10By proof the undoubted Son of God, inspire,As thou art wont, my prompted Song else mute,And bear through highth or depth of natures boundsWith prosperous wing full summ'd to tell of deedsAbove Heroic, though in secret done,And unrecorded left through many an Age,Worthy t' have not remain'd so long unsung.Now had the great Proclaimer with a voiceMore awful then the sound of Trumpet, cri'dRepentance, and Heavens Kingdom nigh at hand 20To all Baptiz'd: to his great Baptism flock'dWith aw the Regions round, and with them cameFrom Nazareth the Son of Joseph deem'dTo the flood Jordan, came as then obscure,Unmarkt, unknown; but him the Baptist soonDescri'd, divinely warn'd, and witness boreAs to his worthier, and would have resign'dTo him his Heavenly Office, nor was longHis witness unconfirm'd: on him baptiz'dHeaven open'd, and in likeness of a Dove 30The Spirit descended, while the Fathers voiceFrom Heav'n pronounc'd him his beloved SonThat heard the Adversary, who roving stillAbout the world, at that assembly fam'dWould not be last, and with the voice divineNigh Thunder-struck, th' exalted man, to whomSuch high attest was giv'n, a while survey'dWith wonder, then with envy fraught and rageFlies to his place, nor rests, but in mid airTo Councel summons all his mighty Peers, 40Within thick Clouds and dark ten-fold involv'd,A gloomy Consistory; and them amidstWith looks agast and sad he thus bespake.O ancient Powers of Air and this wide world,For much more willingly I mention Air,This our old Conquest, then remember HellOur hated habitation; well ye knowHow many Ages, as the years of men,This Universe we have possest, and rul'dIn manner at our will th' affairs of Earth, 50Since Adam and his facil consort EveLost Paradise deceiv'd by me, though sinceWith dread attending when that fatal woundShall be inflicted by the Seed of EveUpon my head, long the decrees of Heav'nDelay, for longest time to him is short;And now too soon for us the circling hoursThis dreaded time have compast, wherein weMust bide the stroak of that long threatn'd wound,At least if so we can, and by the head 60Broken be not intended all our powerTo be infring'd, our freedom and our beingIn this fair Empire won of Earth and Air;For this ill news I bring, the Womans seedDestin'd to this, is late of woman born,His birth to our just fear gave no small cause,But his growth now to youths full flowr, displayingAll vertue, grace and wisdom to atchieveThings highest, greatest, multiplies my fear.Before him a great Prophet, to proclaim 70His coming is sent Harbinger, who allInvites, and in the Consecrated streamPretends to wash off sin and fit them soPurified to receive him pure, or ratherTo do him honour as their King; all come,And he himself among them was baptiz'd,Not thence to be more pure, but to receiveThe testimony of Heaven, that who he isThenceforth the Nations may not doubt; I sawThe Prophet do him reverence, on him rising 80Out of the water, Heav'n above the CloudsUnfold her Crystal Dores, thence on his headA perfect Dove descend, what e're it meantAnd out of Heav'n the Sov'raign voice I heard,This is my Son belov'd, in him am pleas'd.His Mother then is mortal, but his Sire,He who obtains the Monarchy of Heav'n,And what will he not do to advance his Son?His first-begot we know, and sore have felt,When his fierce thunder drove us to the deep; 90Who this is we must learn, for man he seemsIn all his lineaments, though in his faceThe glimpses of his Fathers glory shine.Ye see our danger on the utmost edgeOf hazard, which admits no long debate,But must with something sudden be oppos'd,Not force, but well couch't fraud, well woven snares,E're in the head of Nations he appearTheir King, their Leader, and Supream on Earth.I, when no other durst, sole undertook 100The dismal expedition to find outAnd ruine Adam, and the exploit perform'dSuccessfully; a calmer voyage nowWill waft me; and the way found prosperous onceInduces best to hope of like success.He ended, and his words impression leftOf much amazement to th' infernal Crew,Distracted and surpriz'd with deep dismayAt these sad tidings; but no time was thenFor long indulgence to their fears or grief: 110Unanimous they all commit the careAnd management of this main enterprizeTo him their great Dictator, whose attemptAt first against mankind so well had thriv'dIn Adam's overthrow, and led thir marchFrom Hell's deep-vaulted Den to dwell in light,Regents and Potentates, and Kings, yea godsOf many a pleasant Realm and Province wide.So to the Coast of Jordan he directsHis easie steps; girded with snaky wiles, 120Where he might likeliest find this new-declar'd,This man of men, attested Son of God,Temptation and all guile on him to try;So to subvert whom he suspected rais'dTo end his Raign on Earth so long enjoy'd:But contrary unweeting he fulfill'dThe purpos'd Counsel pre-ordain'd and fixtOf the most High, who in full frequence brightOf Angels, thus to Gabriel smiling spake.Gabriel this day by proof thou shalt behold, 130Thou and all Angels conversant on EarthWith man or mens affairs, how I beginTo verifie that solemn message late,On which I sent thee to the Virgin pureIn Galilee, that she should bear a SonGreat in Renown, and call'd the Son of God;Then toldst her doubting how these things could beTo her a Virgin, that on her should comeThe Holy Ghost, and the power of the highestO're-shadow her: this man born and now up-grown, 140To shew him worthy of his birth divineAnd high prediction, henceforth I exposeTo Satan; let him tempt and now assayHis utmost subtilty, because he boastsAnd vaunts of his great cunning to the throngOf his Apostasie; he might have learntLess over-weening, since he fail'd in Job,Whose constant perseverance overcameWhate're his cruel malice could invent.He now shall know I can produce a man 150Of female Seed, far abler to resistAll his sollicitations, and at lengthAll his vast force, and drive him back to Hell,Winning by Conquest what the first man lostBy fallacy surpriz'd. But first I meanTo exercise him in the Wilderness,There he shall first lay down the rudimentsOf his great warfare, e're I send him forthTo conquer Sin and Death the two grand foes,By Humiliation and strong Sufferance: 160His weakness shall o'recome Satanic strengthAnd all the world, and mass of sinful flesh;That all the Angels and Aetherial Powers,They now, and men hereafter may discern,From what consummate vertue I have choseThis perfect Man, by merit call'd my Son,To earn Salvation for the Sons of men.So spake the Eternal Father, and all HeavenAdmiring stood a space, then into HymnsBurst forth, and in Celestial measures mov'd, 170Circling the Throne and Singing, while the handSung with the voice, and this the argument.Victory and Triumph to the Son of GodNow entring his great duel, not of arms,But to vanquish by wisdom hellish wiles.The Father knows the Son; therefore secureVentures his filial Vertue, though untri'd,Against whate're may tempt, whate're seduce,Allure, or terrifie, or undermine.Be frustrate all ye stratagems of Hell, 180And devilish machinations come to nought.So they in Heav'n their Odes and Vigils tun'd:Mean while the Son of God, who yet some daysLodg'd in Bethabara where John baptiz'd,Musing and much revolving in his brest,How best the mighty work he might beginOf Saviour to mankind, and which way firstPublish his God-like office now mature,One day forth walk'd alone, the Spirit leading;And his deep thoughts, the better to converse 190With solitude, till far from track of men,Thought following thought, and step by step led on,He entred now the bordering Desert wild,And with dark shades and rocks environ'd round,His holy Meditations thus persu'd.O what a multitude of thoughts at onceAwakn'd in me swarm, while I considerWhat from within I feel my self and hearWhat from without comes often to my ears,Ill sorting with my present state compar'd. 200When I was yet a child, no childish playTo me was pleasing, all my mind was setSerious to learn and know, and thence to doWhat might be publick good; my self I thoughtBorn to that end, born to promote all truth,All righteous things: therefore above my years,The Law of God I read, and found it sweet,Made it my whole delight, and in it grewTo such perfection, that e're yet my ageHad measur'd twice six years, at our great Feast 210I went into the Temple, there to hearThe Teachers of our Law, and to proposeWhat might improve my knowledge or their own;And was admir'd by all, yet this not allTo which my Spirit aspir'd, victorious deedsFlam'd in my heart, heroic acts, one whileTo rescue Israel from the Roman yoke,Thence to subdue and quell o're all the earthBrute violence and proud Tyrannick pow'r,Till truth were freed, and equity restor'd: 220Yet held it more humane, more heavenly firstBy winning words to conquer willing hearts,And make perswasion do the work of fear;At least to try, and teach the erring SoulNot wilfully mis-doing, but unwareMisled: the stubborn only to subdue.These growing thoughts my Mother soon perceivingBy words at times cast forth inly rejoyc'd,And said to me apart, high are thy thoughtsO Son, but nourish them and let them soar 230To what highth sacred vertue and true worthCan raise them, though above example high;By matchless Deeds express thy matchless Sire.For know, thou art no Son of mortal man,Though men esteem thee low of Parentage,Thy Father is the Eternal King, who rulesAll Heaven and Earth, Angels and Sons of men,A messenger from God fore-told thy birthConceiv'd in me a Virgin, he fore-toldThou shouldst be great and sit on David's Throne. 240And of thy Kingdom there should be no end.At thy Nativity a glorious QuireOf Angels in the fields of Bethlehem sungTo Shepherds watching at their folds by night,And told them the Messiah now was born,Where they might see him, and to thee they came;Directed to the Manger where thou lais't,For in the Inn was left no better room:A Star, not seen before in Heaven appearingGuided the Wise Men thither from the East, 250To honour thee with Incense, Myrrh, and Gold,By whose bright course led on they found the place,Affirming it thy Star new grav'n in Heaven,By which they knew thee King of Israel born.Just Simeon and Prophetic Anna, warn'dBy Vision, found thee in the Temple, and spakeBefore the Altar and the vested Priest,Like things of thee to all that present stood.This having heard, strait I again revolv'dThe Law and Prophets, searching what was writ 260Concerning the Messiah, to our ScribesKnown partly, and soon found of whom they spakeI am; this chiefly, that my way must lieThrough many a hard assay even to the death,E're I the promis'd Kingdom can attain,Or work redemption for mankind, whose sinsFull weight must be transferr'd upon my head.Yet neither thus disheartn'd or dismay'd,The time prefixt I waited, when beholdThe Baptist, (of whose birth I oft had heard, 270Not knew by sight) now come, who was to comeBefore Messiah and his way prepare.I as all others to his Baptism came,Which I believ'd was from above; but heStrait knew me, and with loudest voice proclaim'dMe him (for it was shew'n him so from Heaven)Me him whose Harbinger he was; and firstRefus'd on me his Baptism to confer,As much his greater, and was hardly won;But as I rose out of the laving stream, 280Heaven open'd her eternal doors, from whenceThe Spirit descended on me like a Dove,And last the sum of all, my Father's voice,Audibly heard from Heav'n, pronounc'd me his,Me his beloved Son, in whom aloneHe was well pleas'd; by which I knew the timeNow full, that I no more should live obscure,But openly begin, as best becomesThe Authority which I deriv'd from Heaven.And now by some strong motion I am led 290Into this wilderness, to what intentI learn not yet, perhaps I need not know;For what concerns my knowledge God reveals.So spake our Morning Star then in his rise,And looking round on every side beheldA pathless Desert, dusk with horrid shades;The way he came not having mark'd, returnWas difficult, by humane steps untrod;And he still on was led, but with such thoughtsAccompanied of things past and to come 300Lodg'd in his brest, as well might recommendSuch Solitude before choicest Society.Full forty days he pass'd, whether on hillSometimes, anon in shady vale, each nightUnder the covert of some ancient Oak,Or Cedar, to defend him from the dew,Or harbour'd in one Cave, is not reveal'd;Nor tasted humane food, nor hunger feltTill those days ended, hunger'd then at lastAmong wild Beasts: they at his sight grew mild, 310Nor sleeping him nor waking harm'd, his walkThe fiery Serpent fled, and noxious Worm,The Lion and fierce Tiger glar'd aloof.But now an aged man in Rural weeds,Following, as seem'd, the quest of some stray Ewe,Or wither'd sticks to gather; which might serveAgainst a Winters day when winds blow keen,To warm him wet return'd from field at Eve,He saw approach, who first with curious eyePerus'd him, then with words thus utt'red spake. 320Sir, what ill chance hath brought thee to this placeSo far from path or road of men, who passIn Troop or Caravan, for single noneDurst ever, who return'd, and dropt not hereHis Carcass, pin'd with hunger and with droughth?I ask the rather and the more admire,For that to me thou seem'st the man, whom lateOur new baptizing Prophet at the FordOf Jordan honour'd so, and call'd thee SonOf God: I saw and heard, for we sometimes 330Who dwell this wild, constrain'd by want, come forthTo Town or Village nigh (nighest is far)Where ought we hear, and curious are to hear,What happ'ns new; Fame also finds us out.To whom the Son of God. Who brought me hitherWill bring me hence, no other Guide I seek,By Miracle he may, reply'd the Swain,What other way I see not, for we hereLive on tough roots and stubs, to thirst inur'dMore then the Camel, and to drink go far, 340Men to much misery and hardship born;But if thou be the Son of God, CommandThat out of these hard stones be made thee bread;So shalt thou save thy self and us relieveWith Food, whereof we wretched seldom taste.He ended, and the Son of God reply'd.Think'st thou such force in Bread? is it not written(For I discern thee other then thou seem'st)Man lives not by Bread only, but each WordProceeding from the mouth of God; who fed 350Our Fathers here with Manna; in the MountMoses was forty days, nor eat nor drank,And forty days Eliah without foodWandred this barren waste, the same I now:Why dost thou then suggest to me distrust,Knowing who I am, as I know who thou art?Whom thus answer'd th' Arch Fiend now undisguis'd.'Tis true, I am that Spirit unfortunate,Who leagu'd with millions more in rash revoltKept not my happy Station, but was driv'n 360With them from bliss to the bottomless deep,Vet to that hideous place not so confin'dBy rigour unconniving, but that oftLeaving my dolorous Prison I enjoyLarge liberty to round this Globe of Earth,Or range in th' Air, nor from the Heav'n of Heav'nsHath he excluded my resort sometimes.I came among the Sons of God, when heGave up into my hands Uzzean JobTo prove him, and illustrate his high worth; 370And when to all his Angels he propos'dTo draw the proud King Ahab into fraudThat he might fall in Ramoth, they demurring,I undertook that office, and the tonguesOf all his flattering Prophets glibb'd with lyesTo his destruction, as I had in charge.For what he bids I do; though I have lostMuch lustre of my native brightness, lostTo be belov'd of God, I have not lostTo love, at least contemplate and admire 380What I see excellent in good, or fair,Or vertuous, I should so have lost all sense.What can be then less in me then desireTo see thee and approach thee, whom I knowDeclar'd the Son of God, to hear attentThy wisdom, and behold thy God-like deeds?Men generally think me much a foeTo all mankind: why should I? they to meNever did wrong or violence, by themI lost not what I lost, rather by them 390I gain'd what I have gain'd, and with them dwellCopartner in these Regions of the World,If not disposer; lend them oft my aid,Oft my advice by presages and signs,And answers, oracles, portents and dreams,Whereby they may direct their future life.Envy they say excites me, thus to gainCompanions of my misery and wo.At first it may be; but long since with woNearer acquainted, now I feel by proof, 400That fellowship in pain divides not smart,Nor lightens aught each mans peculiar load.Small consolation then, were Man adjoyn'd:This wounds me most (what can it less) that Man,Man fall'n shall be restor'd, I never more.To whom our Saviour sternly thus reply'd.Deservedly thou griev'st, compos'd of lyesFrom the beginning, and in lies wilt end;Who boast'st release from Hell, and leave to comeInto the Heav'n of Heavens; thou com'st indeed, 410As a poor miserable captive thrall,Comes to the place where he before had satAmong the Prime in Splendour, now depos'd,Ejected, emptyed, gaz'd, unpityed, shun'd,A spectacle of ruin or of scornTo all the Host of Heaven; the happy placeImparts to thee no happiness, no joy,Rather inflames thy torment, representingLost bliss, to thee no more communicable,So never more in Hell then when in Heaven. 420But thou art serviceable to Heaven's King.Wilt thou impute to obedience what thy fearExtorts, or pleasure to do ill excites?What but thy malice mov'd thee to misdeemOf righteous Job, then cruelly to afflict himWith all inflictions, but his patience won?The other service was thy chosen task,To be a lyer in four hundred mouths;For lying is thy sustenance, thy food.Yet thou pretend'st to truth; all Oracles 430By thee are giv'n, and what confest more trueAmong the Nations? that hath been thy craft,By mixing somewhat true to vent more lyes.But what have been thy answers, what but darkAmbiguous and with double sense deluding,Which they who ask'd have seldom understood,And not well understood as good not known?Who ever by consulting at thy shrineReturn'd the wiser, or the more instructTo flye or follow what concern'd him most, 440And run not sooner to his fatal snare?For God hath justly giv'n the Nations upTo thy Delusions; justly, since they fellIdolatrous, but when his purpose isAmong them to declare his ProvidenceTo thee not known, whence hast thou then thy truth,But from him or his Angels PresidentIn every Province, who themselves disdainingTo approach thy Temples, give thee in commandWhat to the smallest tittle thou shalt say 450To thy Adorers; thou with trembling fear,Or like a Fawning Parasite obey'st;Then to thy self ascrib'st the truth fore-told.But this thy glory shall be soon retrench'd;No more shalt thou by oracling abuseThe Gentiles; henceforth Oracles are ceast,And thou no more with Pomp and SacrificeShalt be enquir'd at Delphos or elsewhere,At least in vain, for they shall find thee mute.God hath now sent his living Oracle 460Into the World, to teach his final will,And sends his Spirit of Truth henceforth to dwellIn pious Hearts, an inward OracleTo all truth requisite for men to know.So spake our Saviour; but the subtle Fiend,Though inly stung with anger and disdain,Dissembl'd, and this answer smooth return'd.Sharply thou hast insisted on rebuke,And urg'd me hard with doings, which not willBut misery hath rested from me; where 470Easily canst thou find one miserable,And not inforc'd oft-times to part from truth;If it may stand him more in stead to lye,Say and unsay, feign, flatter, or abjure?But thou art plac't above me, thou art Lord;From thee I can and must submiss endureCheck or reproof, and glad to scape so quit.Hard are the ways of truth, and rough to walk,Smooth on the tongue discourst, pleasing to th' ear,And tuneable as Silvan Pipe or Song; 480What wonder then if I delight to hearHer dictates from thy mouth? most men admireVertue, who follow not her lore: permit meTo hear thee when I come (since no man comes)And talk at least, though I despair to attain.Thy Father, who is holy, wise and pure,Suffers the Hypocrite or Atheous PriestTo tread his Sacred Courts, and ministerAbout his Altar, handling holy things,Praying or vowing, and vouchsaf'd his voice 490To Balaam reprobate, a Prophet yetInspir'd; disdain not such access to me.To whom our Saviour with unalter'd browThy coming hither, though I know thy scope,I bid not or forbid; do as thou find'stPermission from above; thou canst not more.He added not; and Satan bowing lowHis gray dissimulation, disappear'dInto thin Air diffus'd: for now beganNight with her sullen wing to double-shade 500The Desert Fowls in thir clay nests were couch't;And now wild Beasts came forth the woods to roam.The End of the First Book.