Paradise Lost

by John Milton

With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun Slowly descended, and with right aspect Against the eastern gate of Paradise Levelled his evening rays: It was a rock Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds, 545 Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent Accessible from earth, one entrance high; The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung Still as it rose, impossible to climb. Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat, 550 Chief of the angelick guards, awaiting night; About him exercised heroick games The unarmed youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand Celestial armoury, shields, helms, and spears, Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold.

Uriel,

Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place No evil thing approach or enter in. This day at highth of noon came to my sphere 565 A Spirit, zealous, as he seemed, to know More of the Almighty’s works, and chiefly Man, God’s latest image:

When Adam thus to Eve. Fair Consort, the hour Of night, and all things now retired to rest, Mind us of like repose; since God hath set Labour and rest, as day and night, to men Successive; and the timely dew of sleep, 615 Now falling with soft slumbrous weight, inclines Our eye-lids:

Man hath his daily work of body or mind Appointed, which declares his dignity, 620 And the regard of Heaven on all his ways;

To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east With first approach of light, we must be risen, 625 And at our pleasant labour, to reform Yon flowery arbours, yonder alleys green, Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown, That mock our scant manuring, and require More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth:

as Nature wills, night bids us rest.

To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adorned 635 My Author and Disposer, what thou bidst Unargued I obey: So God ordains; God is thy law, thou mine: To know no more Is woman’s happiest knowledge, and her praise.

Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep: All these with ceaseless praise his works behold 680 Both day and night:

Maker Omnipotent,

this delicious place 730 For us too large, where thy abundance wants Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. But thou hast promised from us two a race To fill the earth, who shall with us extol Thy goodness infinite,

Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings, 765 Reigns here and revels;

These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept, And on their naked limbs the flowery roof Showered roses, which the morn repaired.

O! yet happiest, if ye seek 775 No happier state, and know to know no more.

In search of whom they sought: Him there they found 800 Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, Assaying by his devilish art to reach The organs of her fancy, and with them forge Illusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams; Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint

Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear Touched lightly; for no falshood can endure Touch of celestial temper, but returns Of force to its own likeness:

So started up in his own shape the Fiend. 820 Back stept those two fair Angels, half amazed So sudden to behold the grisly king; Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon.

Zephon, answering scorn with scorn. 835 Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same, Or undiminished brightness to be known, As when thou stoodest in Heaven upright and pure; That glory then, when thou no more wast good, Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now 840 Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul. But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep This place inviolable, and these from harm.

If I must contend, said he, Best with the best, the sender, not the sent, Or all at once; more glory will be won, Or less be lost.

Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade; And with them comes a third of regal port, 870 But faded splendour wan; who by his gait And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell,

Lives there who loves his pain! Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,

boldly venture to whatever place Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change Torment with ease,

wilt object His will who bounds us! Let him surer bar His iron gates, if he intends our stay In that dark durance:

scourge that wisdom back to Hell,

no pain Can equal anger infinite provoked.

But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee Came not all hell broke loose?

A faithful leader, not to hazard all Through ways of danger by himself untried: I, therefore, I alone first undertook 935 To wing the desolate abyss, and spy This new created world, whereof in Hell Fame is not silent, here in hope to find Better abode, and my afflicted Powers To settle here on earth, or in mid air;

But mark what I arreed thee now, Avant; Fly neither whence thou fledst! If from this hour Within these hallowed limits thou appear, Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained, 965 And seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn The facile gates of Hell too slightly barred. So threatened he; but Satan to no threats Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied. Then when I am thy captive talk of chains, 970 Proud limitary Cherub! but ere then Far heavier load thyself expect to feel From my prevailing arm,

With violence of this conflict, had not soon 995 The Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray, Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion sign, Wherein all things created first he weighed, The pendulous round earth with balanced air 1000 In counterpoise, now ponders all events, Battles and realms: In these he put two weights, The sequel each of parting and of fight:

Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend. 1005 Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowest mine; Neither our own, but given: What folly then To boast what arms can do? since thine no more Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now To trample thee as mire:

For proof look up, 1010 And read thy lot in yon celestial sign; Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak, If thou resist. The Fiend looked up, and knew His mounted scale aloft: Nor more; but fled Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.

Awake, My fairest, my espoused, my latest found, Heaven’s last best gift, my ever new delight!

I rose as at thy call, but found thee not; To find thee I directed then my walk;

And, as I wondering looked, beside it stood 55 One shaped and winged like one of those from Heaven By us oft seen;

“O fair plant,” said he, “with fruit surcharged, Deigns none to ease thy load, and taste thy sweet, 60 Nor God, nor Man? Is knowledge so despised? Or envy, or what reserve forbids to taste? Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold Longer thy offered good; why else set here?” This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm 65 He plucked, he tasted;

“O fruit divine, Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropt,

Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit 70 For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men:

And why not Gods of Men; since good, the more Communicated, more abundant grows, The author not impaired, but honoured more? Here...

Partake thou also; happy though thou art, Happier thou mayest be, worthier canst not be: Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods Thyself a Goddess, not to earth confi...

Ascend to Heaven, by merit thine, and see What life the Gods live there...

Forthwith up to the clouds With him I flew, and underneath beheld The earth outstretched immense,

sunk down, And fell asleep; but O, how glad I waked To find this but a dream!

She forms imaginations, aery shapes, Which Reason, joining or disjoining, frames All what we affirm or what deny, and call Our knowledge or opinion; then retires Into her private cell, when nature rests.

Evil into the mind of God or Man May come and go, so unreproved, and leave No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope

Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise Their Maker, in fit strains pronounced, or sung Unmeditated; such prompt eloquence 150 Flowed from their lips, in prose or numerous verse, More tuneable than needed lute or harp To add more sweetness;

These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, Almighty! Thine this universal frame, 155 Thus wonderous fair; Thyself how wonderous then! Unspeakable, who sitst above these heavens

To us invisible, or dimly seen In these thy lowest works; yet these declare Thy goodness beyon...

Fires, that move In mystick dance not without song, resound His praise, who out of darkness called up light.

In honour to the world’s great Author rise; Whether to deck with clouds the uncoloured sky, 190 Or wet the thirsty earth with falling showers, Rising or falling still advance his praise. His praise, ye Winds, that from four quarters blow,

Witness if I be silent, morn or even, To hill, or valley, fountain, or fresh shade, Made vocal by my song, and taught his praise.