For heav’nly minds from such distempers foul
Are ever cleer. Whereof hee soon aware,
120
Each perturbation smooth’d with outward calm,
Artificer of fraud; and was the first
That practis’d falshood under saintly shew,
Deep malice to conceal, couch’t with revenge:
Yet not anough had practis’d to deceive
125
Uriel once warnd; whose eye pursu’d him down
The way he went, and on th’ Assyrian mount
Saw him disfigur’d,6 more then could befall
Spirit of happie sort: his gestures fierce
He mark’d and mad demeanour, then alone,
130
As he suppos’d, all unobserv’d, unseen.
So on he fares, and to the border comes
Of Eden, where delicious Paradise,
Now nearer, Crowns with her enclosure green,
As with a rural mound the champain head7
135
Of a steep wilderness, whose hairie sides
With thicket overgrown, grottesque and wild,
Access deni’d; and over head up grew
Insuperable highth of loftiest shade,
Cedar, and Pine, and Firr, and branching Palm,
140
A Silvan Scene, and as the ranks ascend
Shade above shade, a woodie Theatre
Of stateliest view. Yet higher then thir tops
The verdurous wall of Paradise up sprung:
Which to our general Sire gave prospect large
145
Into his neather Empire neighbouring round.
And higher then that Wall a circling row
Of goodliest Trees loaden with fairest Fruit,
Blossoms and Fruit at once of golden hue
Appeerd, with gay enameld colours mixt:
150
On which the Sun more glad impress’d his beams
Then in fair Evening Cloud, or humid Bow,
When God hath showrd the earth; so lovely seemd
That Lantskip: And of pure now purer air
Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires
155
Vernal delight and joy, able to drive
All sadness but despair: now gentle gales
Fanning thir odoriferous wings dispense
Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole
Those balmie spoils. As when to them who sail
160
Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past
Mozambic, off at Sea North-East winds blow
Sabean8 Odours from the spicie shoar
Of Arabie the blest, with such delay
Well pleas’d they slack thir course, and many a League
165
Chear’d with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles.
So entertaind those odorous sweets the Fiend
Who came thir bane, though with them better pleas’d
Then Asmodeus9 with the fishie fume,
That drove him, though enamourd, from the Spouse
170
Of Tobits Son, and with a vengeance sent
From Media post to Ægypt, there fast bound.
Now to th’ ascent of that steep savage10 Hill
Satan had journied on, pensive and slow;
But further way found none, so thick entwin’d,
175
As one continu’d brake, the undergrowth
Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplext
All path of Man or Beast that past that way:
One Gate there only was, and that look’d East
On th’ other side: which when th’ arch-fellon saw
180
Due entrance he disdaind, and in contempt,
At one slight bound high overleap’d all bound
Of Hill or highest Wall, and sheer within
Lights on his feet. As when a prowling Wolf,
Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey,
185
Watching where Shepherds pen thir Flocks at eeve
In hurdl’d Cotes amid the field secure,
Leaps o’re the fence with ease into the Fould:
Or as a Thief bent to unhoord the cash
Of some rich Burgher, whose substantial dores,
190
Cross-barrd and bolted fast, fear no assault,
In at the window climbs, or o’re the tiles;
So clomb this first grand Thief into Gods Fould:
So since into his Church lewd Hirelings climb.11
Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of Life,
195
The middle Tree and highest there that grew,
Sat like a Cormorant;12 yet not true Life
Thereby regaind, but sat devising Death
To them who liv’d; nor on the vertue thought
Of that life-giving Plant, but only us’d
200
For prospect, what well us’d had bin the pledge
Of immortality. So little knows
Any, but God alone, to value right
The good before him, but perverts best things
To worst abuse, or to thir meanest use.
205
Beneath him with new wonder now he views
To all delight of human sense expos’d
In narrow room Natures whole wealth, yea more,
A Heav’n on Earth: for blissful Paradise
Of God the Garden was, by him in th’ East
210
Of Eden planted; Eden stretch’d her Line
From Auran13 Eastward to the Royal Towrs
Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian Kings,
Or where the Sons of Eden long before
Dwelt in Telassar:14 in this pleasant soil
215
His farr more pleasant Garden God ordaind;
Out of the fertil ground he caus’d to grow
All Trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste;
And all amid them stood the Tree of Life,
High eminent, blooming Ambrosial Fruit
220
Of vegetable Gold; and next to Life
Our Death the Tree of Knowledge grew fast by,
Knowledge of Good bought dear by knowing ill.
Southward through Eden went a River15 large,
Nor chang’d his course, but through the shaggie hill
225
Pass’d underneath ingulft, for God had thrown
That Mountain as his Garden mould high rais’d
Upon the rapid current, which through veins
Of porous Earth with kindly thirst up drawn,
Rose a fresh Fountain, and with many a rill
230
Waterd the Garden; thence united fell
Down the steep glade, and met the neather Flood,
Which from his darksom passage now appeers,
And now divided into four main Streams,16
Runs divers, wandring many a famous Realm
235
And Country whereof here needs no account,
But rather to tell how, if Art could tell,
How from that Saphire Fount the crisped Brooks,
Rowling on Orient Pearl and sands of Gold,
With mazie error17 under pendant shades
240
Ran Nectar, visiting each plant, and fed
Flowrs worthy of Paradise which not nice Art
In Beds and curious Knots,18 but Nature boon19
Powrd forth profuse on Hill and Dale and Plain,
Both where the morning Sun first warmly smote
245
The open field, and where the unpierc’t shade
Imbrownd the noontide Bowrs: Thus was this place,
A happy rural seat of various view;
Groves whose rich Trees wept odorous Gumms and Balm,
Others whose fruit burnisht with Golden Rind
250
Hung amiable, Hesperian Fables true,
If true, here only, and of delicious taste:
Betwixt them Lawns, or level Downs, and Flocks
Grasing the tender herb, were interpos’d,
Or palmie hilloc, or the flowrie lap
255
Of som irriguous Valley spred her store,
Flowrs of all hue, and without Thorn the Rose:
Another side, umbrageous Grots and Caves
Of cool recess, o’re which the mantling vine
Layes forth her purple Grape, and gently creeps
260
Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall
Down the slope hills, disperst, or in a Lake,
That to the fringed Bank with Myrtle crownd,
Her chrystal mirror holds, unite thir streams.
The Birds thir quire apply; aires, vernal aires,
265
Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune
The trembling leaves, while Universal Pan
Knit with the Graces20 and the Hours in dance
Led on th’ Eternal Spring. Not that fair field
Of Enna, where Proserpin gathring flowrs
270
Her self a fairer Flowr by gloomie Dis
Was gatherd,21 which cost Ceres all that pain
To seek her through the world; nor that sweet Grove
Of Daphne22 by Orontes, and th’ inspir’d
Castalian Spring might with this Paradise
275
Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian Ile23
Girt with the River Triton, where old Cham24
Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Lybian Jove,
Hid Amalthea and her Florid Son
Young Bacchus from his Stepdame Rhea’s eye;
280
Nor where Abassin25 Kings thir issue Guard,
Mount Amara, though this by som suppos’d
True Paradise under the Ethiop Line26
By Nilus head, enclos’d with shining Rock,
A whole dayes journey high, but wide remote
285
From this Assyrian Garden, where the Fiend
Saw undelighted all delight, all kind
Of living Creatures new to sight and strange:
Two of far nobler shape erect and tall,
Godlike erect, with native Honour clad
290
In naked Majestie seemd Lords of all,
And worthie seemd, for in thir looks Divine
The image of thir glorious Maker shon,
Truth, Wisdom, Sanctitude severe and pure,
Severe, but in true filial freedom plac’t;
295
Whence true autoritie in men; though both
Not equal, as thir sex not equal seemd;
For contemplation hee and valour formd,
For softness shee and sweet attractive Grace,
Hee for God only, shee for God in him:
300
His fair large Front and Eye sublime27 declar’d
Absolute rule; and Hyacinthin Locks
Round from his parted forelock manly hung
Clustring, but not beneath his shoulders broad:
Shee as a vail down to the slender waste
305
Her unadorned golden tresses wore
Dissheveld, but in wanton28 ringlets wav’d
As the Vine curls her tendrils, which impli’d
Subjection,29 but requir’d with gentle sway,30
And by her yeilded, by him best receiv’d,
310
Yeilded with coy submission, modest pride,
And sweet reluctant amorous delay.
Nor those mysterious parts were then conceald,
Then was not guiltie shame, dishonest31 shame
Of natures works, honor dishonorable,
315
Sin-bred, how have ye troubl’d all mankind
With shews instead, meer shews of seeming pure,
And banisht from mans life his happiest life,
Simplicitie and spotless innocence.
So pass’d they naked on, nor shund the sight
320
Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill:
So hand in hand32 they pass’d, the loveliest pair
That ever since in loves imbraces met,
Adam33 the goodliest man of men since born
His Sons, the fairest of her Daughters Eve.34
325
Under a tuft of shade that on a green
Stood whispering soft, by a fresh Fountain side
They sat them down, and after no more toil
Of thir sweet Gardning labour then suffic’d
To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease
330
More easie, wholsom thirst and appetite
More grateful, to thir Supper Fruits they fell,
Nectarine Fruits which the compliant boughs
Yeilded them, side-long as they sat recline
On the soft downie Bank damaskt with flowrs:
335
The savourie pulp they chew, and in the rind
Still as they thirsted scoop the brimming stream;
Nor gentle purpose,35 nor endearing smiles
Wanted, nor youthful dalliance as beseems
Fair couple, linkt in happie nuptial League,
340
Alone as they. About them frisking playd
All Beasts of th’ Earth, since wild, and of all chase
In Wood or Wilderness, Forrest or Den;
Sporting the Lion ramp’d, and in his paw
Dandl’d the Kid; Bears, Tygers, Ounces, Pards
345
Gambold before them, th’ unwieldy Elephant
To make them mirth us’d all his might, and wreath’d
His Lithe Proboscis; close the Serpent sly
Insinuating,36 wove with Gordian twine
His breaded train, and of his fatal guile
350
Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass
Coucht, and now fild with pasture gazing sat,
Or Bedward ruminating: for the Sun
Declin’d was hasting now with prone carreer37
To th’ Ocean Iles,38 and in th’ ascending Scale
355
Of Heav’n the Starrs that usher Evening rose:
When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood,
Scarce thus at length faild speech recoverd sad.
O Hell! what doe mine eyes with grief behold,
Into our room of bliss thus high advanc’t
360
Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps,
Not Spirits, yet to heav’nly Spirits bright
Little inferior; whom my thoughts pursue
With wonder, and could love, so lively shines
In them Divine resemblance, and such grace
365
The hand that formd them on thir shape hath pourd
Ah gentle pair, yee little think how nigh
Your change approaches, when all these delights
Will vanish and deliver ye to woe,
More woe, the more your taste is now of joy;
370
Happie, but for so happie ill secur’d
Long to continue, and this high seat your Heav’n
Ill fenc’t for Heav’n to keep out such a foe
As now is enterd; yet no purpos’d foe
To you whom I could pittie thus forlorn
375
Though I unpittied: League with you I seek,
And mutual amitie so streight, so close,
That I with you must dwell, or you with me
Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please
Like this fair Paradise, your sense, yet such
380
Accept your Makers work; he gave it me,
Which I as freely give; Hell shall unfold,
To entertain you two, her widest Gates,
And send forth all her Kings; there will be room,
Not like these narrow limits
, to receive
385
Your numerous ofspring; if no better place,
Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge
On you who wrong me not for him who wrong’d.
And should I at your harmless innocence
Melt, as I doe, yet public reason just,
390
Honour and Empire with revenge enlarg’d,
By conquering this new World, compels me now
To do what else though damnd I should abhorr.
So spake the Fiend, and with necessitie,
The Tyrants plea, excus’d his devilish deeds.
395
Then from his loftie stand on that high Tree
Down he alights among the sportful Herd
Of those fourfooted kinds, himself now one,
Now other, as thir shape serv’d best his end
Neerer to view his prey, and unespi’d
400
To mark what of thir state he more might learn
By word or action markt: about them round
A Lion now he stalks with fierie glare,
Then as a Tiger, who by chance hath spi’d
In some Purlieu two gentle Fawns at play,
405
Strait couches close, then rising changes oft
His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground
Whence rushing he might surest seise them both
Grip’t in each paw: when Adam first of men
To first of women Eve thus moving speech,
410
Turnd him all ear to hear new utterance flow.
Sole partner and sole part of all these joyes,
Dearer thy self then all; needs must the Power
That made us, and for us this ample World
Be infinitly good, and of his good
415
As liberal and free as infinite,
That rais’d us from the dust and plac’t us here
In all this happiness, who at his hand
Have nothing merited, nor can perform
Aught whereof hee hath need, hee who requires
420
From us no other service then to keep