In fearch of whom they fought him there they found

Squat like a toad, clofe at the ear of Eve,
Aflaying by his devilish art to reach

The organs of her fancy', and with them forge
Illufions as he lift, phantalms and dreams,
Or if, infpiring venom, he might taint
Th' animal spirits that from pure blood arife
Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise
At least diftemper'd, difcontented thoughts,
Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate defires,
Blown up with high conceits ingend'ring pride.
Him thus intent Ithuriel, with his fpear,
Touch'd lightly; for no falfehood can endure
Touch of celeftial temper, but returns
Of force to its own likencfs; up he starts,
Difcover'd and furpris'd. As when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid
Fit for the tun fome magazine to store,
Against a rumour'd war, the fmutty grain,
With fudden blaze diffus'd, inflames the air:
So ftarted up, in his own fhape, the Fiend.
Back ftept thofe two fair Angels, half amaz'd,
So fudden to behold the grifly king;
Yet thus, unmov'd with fear, accoft him foon.
Which of those rebel Sp'rits adjudg`d to Hell
Com'ft thou, efcap'd thy prifon? and transform'd,
Why fatst thou like an enemy in wait,

Here watching at the head of these that sleep?

Know ye not then, faid Satan, fill'd with fcorn,
Know ye not me? ye knew me once, no mate
For you, there fitting where ye durft not foar :
Not to know me argues yourfelves unknown,
The loweft of your throng; or if ye know,
Why afk ye, and fuperfluous begin
Your meffage, like to end as much in vain ?
To whom thus Zephon, anfw'ring fcorn with
fcorn.

Think not, revolted Sp'rit, thy fhape the fame,
Or undiminish'd brightness to be known,
As when thou ftood'it in heav'n,upright and pure;
That glory then, when thou no more waft good,
Departed from thee'; and thou refembleft now
Thy fin and place of doom, obfcure and foul.
But come; for thou, be fure, fhall give account
To him who fent us, whofe charge is to keep
This place inviolable, and thefe from harm.

So fpake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke,
Severe in youthful beauty, added grace
Invincible: abafh'd the Devil stood,
And felt how awful goodnefs is, and faw
Virtue' in her shape how lovely; faw and pin'd
His lofs; but chiefly to find here obferv'd
His luftre vifibly impair'd; yet feem'd
Undaunted. If I muft contend, faid he,
Beft with the beft, the fender, not the fent,
Or all at once, more glory will be won,
Or lefs be loft. Thy fear, faid Zephon bold,
Will fave us trial what the leaft can do
Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.

The Fiend reply'd not, overcome with rage; But like a proud fteed rein'd, went haughty on, Champing his iron curb: to strive or fly He held it vain; awe from above had quell'd His heart, not elfe difmay'd. Now drew they nigh

The western point, where thofe half-rounding

guards

Juft met, and clofing stood in fquadron join'd, Awaiting next command. To whom their chief Gabriel from the front thus call'd aloud:

O friends, I hear the tread of mmble feet Hafting this way, and now, by glimpfe, difcern Ithuriel and Zephon through the fhade, And with them comes a third of regal port, But faded fplendor wan; who, by his gate And fierce demeanour, feems the prince of Hell, Not likely to part hence without conteft; Stand firm; for in his look defiance lours.

He fcarce had ended, when thofe two approach'd, And brief related whom they brought, where found

How bufied, in what form and posture couch'd.

To whom, with ftern regard, thus Gabriel

fpake: [fcrib'd Why hait thou, Satan, broke the bounds preTo thy tranfgreffions, and disturb'd the charge Of others, who approve not to transgrefs By thy example, but have pow'r and right To question thy bold entrance on this place; Employ'd, it seems, to violate fleep, and those Whefe dwelling God hath planted here in blifs?

To whom thus Satan, with contemptuous brow: Gabriel, thou hadft in Heav'n th' efteem of wife, And fuch I held thee; but this question afk'd, Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain? Who would not, finding way, break loose from hell, Tho' thither doom'd? Thou wouldst thyfelf, no And boldly venture to whatever place [doubt, Fartheft from pain, where thou might'ft hope to

change

Torment with eafe, and fooneft recompenfe
Dole with delight, which in this place I fought;
To thee no reafon, who know'ft only good,
But evil haft not try'd and wilt object
His will who bound us? let him furer bar
His iron gates, if he intends our stay

In that dark durance: thus much what was afk'd.
The reft is true; they found me where they fay;
But that implies not violence or harm.

Thus he in fcorn. The warlike Angel mov'd,
Difdainfully, half fmiling, thus reply'd.
O lofs of one in Heav'n, to judge of wife,
Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew,
And now returns him, from his prifon 'fcap'd,
Gravely in doubt, whether to hold them wife
Or not who ask what boldness brought him
hither,

Unlicenc'd, from his bounds in Hell prefcrib'd;
So wife he judges it to fly from pain,
However, and to 'fcape his punishment.
So judge thou ftill, prefumptuous, till the wrath,
Which thou incurr'ft by flying, meet thy flight
Sev'nfold, and fcourge that wifdom back to Hell,
Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain
Can equal anger infinite provok'd.

But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee
Came not all Hell broke loofe? is pain to them
Lefs pain, lefs to be fled? or thou than they
Lefs hardy to endure? courageous Chief,

| The firft in flight num pain, hadft thou alleg'ɖ

To thy deferted host this cause of flight,
Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive. [ftern.
To which the Fiend thus anfwer'd, frowning
Not that I lefs endure, or fhrink from pain,
Infulting Angel; well thou know'ft, I stood
Thy fierceft, when in battle to thy aid
The blafting vollied thunder made all speed,
And feconded thy elfe not dreaded spear.
But ftill thy words at random, as before,
Argue thy inexperience what behoves
From hard affays and ill fucceffes past
A faithful leader, not to hazard all
Through ways of danger by himself untry'd:
I therefore, I alone first undertook
To wing the defolate abyfs, and spy
This new created world, whereof in Hell
Fame is not filent, here in hope to find
Better abode, and my afflicted Powers
To fettle here on earth, or in mid air;
Tho' for poffeffion put to try once more
What thou and thy gay legions dare against;
Whose easier bufinefs were to ferve their Lord
High up in Heav'n, with fongs to hymn

throne,

his

And practic'd distances to cringe, not fight.
To whom the warrior angel foon reply'd.
To fay, and strait unfay, pretending first
Wife to fly pain, profeffing next the ipy,
Argues no leader, but a liar trac'd,
Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name,
O facred name of faithfulness profan'd!
Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew?
Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head.
Was this your difcipline and faith engag'd,
Your military obedience, to diffolve
Allegiance to th' acknowledg'd Power Supreme?
And thou, fly hypocrite, who now wouldft feem
Patron of liberty, who more than thou
Once fawn'd, and cring'd, and fervily ador'd
Heav'ns awful monarch? wherefore but in hope
To difpoffefs him, and thyself to reign?
But mark what I arreed thee now. Avant;
Ely thither whence thou fledft: if from this hour
Within these hallow'd limits thou appear,
Back to th' infernal pit I drag thee chain'd,
And feal thee fo, as henceforth not to scorn
The facile gates of Hell too flightly barr'd.
So threaten'd he; but Satan to no threats
Gave heed, but waxing more in rage, reply'd.
Then, when I am thy captive, talk of chains,

Proud limitary Cherub; but e'er then
Far heaver load thyself expect to feel
From my prevailing arm, tho' Heaven's King
Ride on thy wings, and thou, with thy compeers,
Us'd to the yoke, draw'ft his triumphant wheels
In progrefs through the road of Heav'n ftar-
pav'd.

While thus he fpake, th' angelic fquadron bright
Turn'd fiery red, fharp'ning in moon'd horns
Their phalanx, and began to hem him round
With ported fpcars, as thick as when a field
Of Ceres ripe for har veft waving bends
Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind
Sways them; the careful ploughman doubting stands,
Left on the threshing floor his hopeful sheaves
Prove chaff. On t'other fide, Satan alarm'd,
Collecting all his might, dilated ftood,

Like Teneriff or Atlas unremov'd:
His ftature reach'd the sky, and on his creft
Sat horror plum'd; nor wanted in his grafp

What feem'd both spear and fhield: now dreadful deeds

Might have enfu'd, nor only Paradife
In this commotion, but the ftarry cope

Of Heav'n perhaps, or all the elements
At least had gone to wreck, difturb'd and torn
With violence of this conflict, had not foon
Th' Eternal, to prevent fuch horrid fray,
Hung forth in Heav'n his golden fcales, yet feen
Betwixt Aftrea and the Scorpion fign,
Wherein all things created first he weigh'd,
The pendulous round earth, with balanc'd air
In counterpoife, now ponders all events,
Battles and realms; in these he put two weights,
The fequel each of parting and of fight;
The latter quick up flew, and kick'd the beam;
Which Gabriel fpying, thus befpake the Fiend.

Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know'st

mine;

Neither our own, but giv'n; what folly then
To boast what arms can do? fince thine no more
Than Heav'n permits, nor mine, though doubled

now,

To trample thee as mire: for proof, look up, And read thy lot in yon celestial sign, [weak, Where thou art weigh'd, and fhewn how light, how If thou refift. The Fiend look'd up, and knew His mounted scale aloft; nor more; but fled Murm'ring, and with him fled the shades of night.

By us oft feen; his dewy locks diftill'd
Ambrofia; on that tree he also gaz'd;
And, O fair plant! faid he, with fruit furcharg'd,
Deigns none to ease thy load, and tafte thy fweet,
Nor God, nor Man? is knowledge fo defpis'd?
Or envy', or what referve forbids to taste?
Forbid who will, none fhall from me withhold
Longer thy offer'd good; why elfe fet here?
Thus faid, he paus'd not, but, with vent'rous arm,
He pluck'd, he tasted; me damp horror chill'd
At fuch bold words, vouch'd with a deed fo bold :
But he thus, overjoy'd; O fruit divine!
Sweet of thyself, but much more fweet thus cropt,
Forbidden here, it feems, as only fit

For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men:
And why not Gods of Men, fince good, the more
Communicated, more abundant grows,
The Author not impair'd, but honour'd more?
Here, happy creature, fair angelic Eve,
Partake thou alfo, happy tho' thou art,
Happier thou may'ft be, worthier canst not be:
Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods,
Thyfelf a Goddess, not to earth confin'd,
But fometimes in the air, as we sometimes
Afcend to Heav'n, by merit thine, and fee
What life the Gods live there, and fuch live thou.
So faying, he drew nigh, and to me held,
Ev'n to my mouth of that same fruit held part,
Which he had pluck'd; the pleasant savoury smell
So quicken'd appetite, that I, methought,
Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the clouds
With him I flew, and underneath beheld
The earth outstretch'd immenfe, a profpect wide
And various wond'ring at my flight and change
To this high exaltation; fuddenly

My guide was gone, and I, methought, funk down,
And fell asleep; but O how glad I wak'd,
To find this but a dream! Thus Eve her night
Related, and thus Adam anfwer'd fad.

Beft image of myfelf, and dearer half,
The trouble of thy thoughts this night in fleep
Affects me equally; nor can I like
This uncouth dream, of evil fprung I fear;
Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none,
Created pure. But know that in the foul
Are many leffer faculties, that serve
Reason as chief: among these fancy next
Her office holds; of all external things
Which the five watchful fenfes reprefent,
She forms imaginations, airy fhapes,
Which reafon 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.
Oft in her abfence mimic fancy wakes
To imitate her; but misjoining fhapes,
Wild works produces oft, and most in dreams,
Ill matching words and deeds long paft or late.
Some fuch refemblances, methinks, I find
Of our last evening's talk, in this thy dream,
But with addition ftrange; yet be not fad.
Evil into the mind of God or Man
May come and go, fo unapprov'd, and leave
No fpot or blame behind: Which gives me hope
"That what in fleep thou did abhor to dream,

Waking thou never wilt confent to do.
Be not difhearten'd then, nor cloud thofe looks,
That wont to be more cheerful and ferene,
Than when fair morning first fmiles on the world;
And let us to our fresh employmeuts rife
Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers
That open now their choiceft bofom'd smells,
Referv'd from night, and kept for thee in ftore.

So cheer'd he hisfair spoufe, and the was cheer'd, But filently a gentle tear let fall

From either eye, and wip'd them with her hair;
Two other precious drops that ready ftood,
Each in their cryftal fluce, he, e'er they fell,
Kifs'd, as the gracious figns of fweet remorse
And pious awe, that fear'd to have offended.
So all was clear'd, and to the field they hafte.
But first, from under fhady arb'rous roof,
Soon as they forth were come to open fight
Of day-fpring, and the fun, who scarce up rifen,
With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean brim,
Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray,
Discovering in wide landfkip all the caft
Of Paradife, and Eden's happy plains,
Lowly they bow'd, adoring, and began
Their orifons, each morning duly paid
In various stile; for neither various stile
Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise
Their Maker, in fit ftrains pronounc'd or fung
Unmeditated, fuch prompt eloquence
Flow'd from their lips, in profe or numerous verse,
More tuneable than needed lute or harp
To add more sweetness; and they thus began.

Thefe are thy glorious works, Parent of Good,
Almighty; thine this univerfal frame,
Thus wond'rous fair; thyfelf how wond'rous then!
Unfpeakable, who fitft above these heavens
To us invifible, or dimly feen

In thefe thy lowest works; yet these declare
Thy goodness beyond thought, and pow'r divine.
Speak ye who beft can tell, ye fons of light,
Angels; for ye behold him, and with fongs
And choral fymphonies, day without night,
Circle his throne, rejoicing; ye in Heaven,
On earth join all ye creatures to extol
Him first, him last, him midft, and without end.
Faireft of ftars, laft in the train of night,
If better thou belong not to the dawn,
Sure pledge of day, that crown'ft the fmiling
With thy bright circlet, praife him in thy fphere,
While day arifes, that fweet hour of prime.
Thou Sun, of this great world both eye and foul,
Acknowledge him thy greater, found his praife
In thy eternal courfe, both when thou climb'ft,
And when high noon haft gain'd, and when thou
fall'ft.

[morn

Moon, that now meet'ft the orient fun, now fly'st,
With the fix'd ftars, fix'd in their orb that flics,
And ye five other wand'ring fires that move
In myftic dance, not without fong, refound
His praife, who out of darkness call'd up light.
Air, and ye Elements, the eldest birth
Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run
Perpetual circle, multiform, and mix
And nourish all things; let your ceaselefs change
Vary to our great Maker ftill new praife.

Ye mifts and exhalations that now rife
From hill or fteaming lake, dufky or grey,
Till the fun paint your fleecy fkirts with gold,
In bonour to the world's great Author rife,
Whether to deck with clouds th' uncolour'd fky,
Or wet the thirty earth with falling showers,
Rifing or falling, still advance his praife.

His praife, ye winds, that from four quarters blow,
Breathe foft or loud; and wave your tops, ye
Pines,

With every plant, in fign of worship wave.
Fountains, and ye that warble, as ye flow,
Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.
Join voices, all ye living fouls: ye Birds,
That, finging, up to Heaven gate afcend,
Bear on your wings, and in your notes his praise.
Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk
The earth, and ftately tread, or lowly creep;
Witnefs if I be filent, morn, or even,
To hill or valley, fountain or frefh fhade,
Made vocal by my fong, and taught his praise.
Hail! univerfal Lord, be bounteous ftill
To give us only good; and if the night
Have gather'd ought of evil, or conceal'd,
Difperic it, as now light difpels the dark.

So pray'd they innocent, and to their thoughts
Firm peace recover'd foon, and wonted calm.
On to their morning's rural work they haste
Among sweet dews and flow'rs; where any row
Of fruit-trees over-woody reach'd too far
Their pamper'd boughs, and needed hands to check
Fruitless embraces: or they led the vine

To wed her elm: fhe fpous'd about him twines
Her marriageable arms, and with her brings
Her dow'r th' adopted clusters, to adorn
His barren leaves. Them thus employ'd beheld
With pity Heav'n's high King, and to him call'd
Raphael, the fociable Sp'rit, that deign'd
To travel with Tobias, and fecur'd
His marriage with the fev'n times wedded maid.

Raphael, faid he, thou hear'ft what ftir on Earth
Satan from Hell 'fcap'd through the darkfome gulf
Hath rais'd in Paradife, and how disturb'd
This night the human pair, how he designs
In them at once to ruin all mankind.

Go therefore, half this day, as friend with friend,
Converse with Adam in what bow'r or shade
Thou findst him, from the heat of noon retir'd,
To refpite his day-labour with repast,
Or with repofe; and such discourse bring on
As may advise him of his happy state,
Happiness in his pow'r left free to will,
Left to his own free will, his will tho' free,
Yet mutable; whence warn him to beware
He fwerve not too fecure: tell him withal
His danger, and from whom; what enemy,
Late fall'n himself from Heav'n, is plotting now
The fall of others from like state of blifs;
By violence? no; for that fhall be withstood;
Hat by deceit and lies; this let him know,
Left, wilfully tranfgreffing, he pretend
Surprifal, unadmonish'd, unforewarn'd.

So fpake th' eternal Father, and fulfill'd
All juftice: nor delay'd the winged Saint
After Le charge receiv'd; but from among

Thousand celeftial Ardors, where he flood [lights
Veil'd with his gorgeous wings, up fpringing
Flew through the midst of Heav'n; th' angelic
quires,

On each hand parting, to his fpeed gave way
Through all th' empyreal road; till at the gate
Of Heav'n arriv'd, the gate felf-open'd wide,
On golden hinges turning, as by work
Divine, the Sovereign architect had fram'd.
From hence no cloud, or, to obftruct his fight,
Star interpos'd, however fmall he fees,
Not unconform to other fhining globes,

Earth, and the gard'n of God, with cedars crown'd

Above all hills. As when by night the glass
Of Galileo, lefs affur'd, obferves
Imagin'd lands and regions in the moon;
Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades,
Delos or Samos, first appearing, kens

A cloudy fpot. Down thither prone in flight
He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky
Sails between worlds and worlds, with steady
wing.

Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan
Winnows the buxom air; till within foar
Of tow'ring eagles, to' all the fowls he seems
A Phoenix, gaz'd by all, as that fole bird,
When to infhrine his reliques in the fun's
Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies.
At once on th'eaftern cliff of Paradife
He lights, and to his proper fhape returns
A Seraph wing'd; fix wings he wore, to fhade
His lineaments divine; the pair that clad
Each fhoulder broad, came mantling o'er his
With regal ornament; the middle pair [breaft
Girt like a starry zone his waste, and round
Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold
And colours dipt in Heav'n; the third his feet
Shadow'd from either heel with feather'd mail,
Sky-tinctur'd grain. Like Maia's fon he stood,
And fhook his plumes, that heav'nly fragrance
fill'd

The circuit wide. Strait knew him all the bands
Of Angels under watch; and to his state,
And to his meffage high in honour rife;
For on fome meffage high they guess'd him bound.
Their glittering tents he pafs'd, and now is come
Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh,
And flow'ring odours, caffia, nard, and balm;
A wilderness of fweets; for Nature here
Wanton'd as in her prime, and play'd at will
Her virgin fancies, pouring forth more sweet,
Wild above rule or art; enormous blifs.
Him through the spicy forest onward come
Adam difcern'd, as in the door he fat

Of his cool bow'r, while now the mounted fun
Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm [needs:
Earth's inmost womb, more warmth than Adam
And Eve within, due at her hour prepar'd
For dinner favoury fruits, of taste to please
True appetite, and not difrelish thirst [ftream,
Of nect'rous draughts between, from milky
Berry or grape to whom thus Adam call'd.

Hafte hither, Eve, and worth thy fight behold Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape