After fhort blush of morn; nigh in her fight
The bird of Jove, floop'd from his aery tour, 185
Two birds of gayeft plume before him drove;
Down from a hill the beaft that reigns in woods,
First hunter then, purfu'd a gentle brace,
Goodlieft of all the foreft, hart and hind;
Direct to th' castern gate was bent their flight.
Adam obferv'd, and with his eye the chale. 191
Purtning, not unmov'd to Eve thus fpake.

Eve, fome further change awaits us nigh, Which Heav'n by thefe nute figns in nature fhows,

195

200

Forerunners of his purpose, or to warn
Us haply too fecure of our difcharge
From penalty, becaufe from death releas'd
Some days; how lorg, and what till then our life,
Who knows, or more than this, that we are duft,
And thither must return and be no more?
Why elfe this double object in our fight
Of flight purfu'd in th' air, and o'er the ground,
One way the felf-fame hour? why in the caft
Darkness ere day's mid-courfe, and morning light
More orient in yon western cloud, that draws 205
O'er the blue firmament a radiant white,
And flow defcends, with fomething heav'nly
fraught?

He err'd not, for by this the heav'nly bands
Down from a fky of jafper lighted now
In Paradife, and on a bill made halt,
A glorious apparition, had not doubt

And carnal fear that day dimm'd Adam's cy”.
Not that more glorious, when the Angels niet
Jacob in Mahanaim, where he saw

210

214

The field pavilion'd with his guardians bright;
Nor that which on the flaming mount appear'd
In Dothan, cover'd with a camp of fire,
Against the Syrian king, who to furprife
One man, aflaflin like, had levied war,
War unproclaim'd. The princely Hierarch
In their bright and there left his Pow'is to feile
Poffeflion of the garden; he alone,

220

224

230

To find where Adam fhelter'd, took his way,
Not unperceiv'd of Adam, who to Eve,
While the great vifitant approach'd, thus fpake.
Eve, now expect great tidings, which perhaps
Of us will foon determin, or impose
New laws to be obferv'd; for I defery
From yonder blazing cloud that veils the hill
One of the heav'nly hoft, and by his gait
None of the meaneft, fome great Potentate
Or of the Thrones above, fuch majefty
Invefts him coming; yet not terrible
That I fhould fear, nor fociably mild,
As Raphael, that I fhould much confide,
But folemn and fublime, whom not to' offend,
With reverence I must meet, and thor retire.
He ended; and th' Arch-Angelfoon drew nigh,
Not in his fhape celeftial, but a. man
Clad to meet man; over his lucid arms
A military veft of purple flow'd,
Livelier than Meliban, or the grain
Of Sarra, worn by kings and heroes old
In time of truce; Iris had dipt the woof;

235

240

His ftarry helm unbuckled fhow'd him prime 245 In manhood where youth ended; by his fide

260

Giv'n thee of grace, wherein thou may'ft repent,
And one bad act with many deeds well done 256
Mayft cover: well may then thy Lord appeas'd
Redeem thec quite from Death's rapacious clame;
But longer in this Paradife to dwell
Permits not; to remove thee I am come,
And fend thee from the garden forth to till
The ground whence theu waft taken, fitter foil.
He added not, for Adam at the news
Heart-ftruck with chilling gripe of forrow stood,
That all his fenfes bound: Eve, who unfeen 265
Yet all had heard, with audible lament
Difcover'd foon the place of her retire.

O unexpected ftroke, worfe than of Death!
Muft I thus leave thee, Paradife? thus leave
Thee, native foil, the fe happy walks and fhades,
Fit haunt of Gous? where I had hope to spend,
Quiet though iad, the refpite of that day
That must be mortal to us both. O flowers,
That never will in other climate grow,
My early visitation, and my last

275

At even, which I bred up with tender hand
From the firft opening hud, and gave you names,
Who now fhall rear you to the fun, or rank
Your tribes, and water from the ambrofial fount?
Thee laftly, nuptial bow'r, by me adorn'd 280
With what to fight or fmell was fweet, from thee
How fhall I part, and whither wander down
Into a lower world, to this obfcure

And wild? how fhall we breathe in other air
Lefs pure, accuftom'd to immortal fruits?
Whom thus the Angel interrupted mild.
Lament not, Eve, but patiently refign
What jully thou haft loft; nor set thy heart,
Thus over-fond, on that which is not thine.
Thy going is not lonely; with thee goes
Thy husband; him to follow thou art bound;
Where he abides, think there thy native foil.

285

290

320

But pray'r against his abfolute decree
No more avails than breath against the wind,
Blown ftifling back on him that breathes it forth:
Therefore to his great bidding I submit.
This most afflicts me, that departing hence, 315
As from his face I fhall be hid, depriv d
His bleffed count'nance; here I could frequent
With worship place by place where he vouchfaf'd
Pref.nce divine, and to my fons relate,
On this mount he appear'd, under this tree
Stood vifible, among thefe pines his voice
I heard, here with him at this fountain talk'd:
So many grateful altars I would rear
Of grafly turf, and pile up every stone
Of luftre from the brook, in memory,
Or monument to ages, and thereon
Offer fweet-fmelling gums and fruits and flowers:
In yonder nether world where fhall I feek
His bright appearances, or foot-step trace?
For though I fled him angry, yet, recall'd
To life prolong'd and promis'd race, I now
Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts
Of glory, and far off his fteps adore.

325

To fhew him all earth's ingdoms and their glory. His eye might there command wherever stood City of old or modern fame, the feat

386

330

To whom thus Michael with regard benign. Adam, thou know't Heav'n his, and all the Earth,

Not this rock only'; his omniprefence fills
Land, fea, and air, and every kind that lives,
Fomented by his virtual power and warm'd:
All th' earth he gave thee to poffefs and rule,
No defpicable gift; furmife not then
His prefence to thefe narrow bounds confin'd
Of Paradife or Eden: this had been

335

240

350

To dwell on even ground now with thy sons:
Yet doubt not but in valley and in plain
God is as here, and will be found alike
Prefent, and of his prefence many a fign
Still following thee, ftill compaffing thee round
With goodness and paternal love, his face
Exprefs, and of his fteps the track divine.
Which that thou may'ft believe, and be con-
firm'd
355

Ere thou from hence depart, know I am fent
To fhow thee what fhall come in future days
To thee and to thy offspring; good with bad
Expect to hear, fupernal grace contending
With finfulness of men; thereby learn
True patience, and to temper joy with fear
And pious forrow, equally inur'd

360

365

By moderation either flate to bear,
Profperous or adverfe: fo fhalt thou lead
Safeft thy life, and beft prepar'd indure
Thy mortal paffage when it comes. Afcend
This hill; let Eve (for I have drench'd her eyes)
Here fleep below, while thou to forefight wak'll;
As once thou lept'ft, while fhe to life was form'd.
To whom thus Adam gratefully reply'd. 370
Afcend, I follow thee, fafe Guide, the path
Thou lead'ft me', and to the hard of Heav'n fub-

Of mightiest empire, from the deftin'd walls
Of Cambalu, feat of Cathaian Can,
And Samarchand by Oxus, Temir's throne,
To Paquin of Sinaan kings, and thence
To Agra and Laher of Great Mogul
Down to the golden Cherfonefe, or where
The Perfian in Ecbatan fat, or ince
In Hifpahan, or where the Ruffian Kfar
In Mofco, or the Sultan in Bizance,
Turcheftan-born; nor could his eye not ken
Th' empire of Negus to his utmoit port
Ercoco, and the lefs maritim kings
Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind,
And Sofala thought Ophir, to the realm
Of Congo, and Angola fartheft fouth;

370

395

400

410

415

Of Atabalipa, and yet unfpoil'd
Guiana, whofe gr at city Geryon's fons
Call El Dorado; but to nobler fights
Michael from Adana's eyes the film removid,
Which that faife fruit that promis'd clearer fight
Had bred; then pu.g'd with euphraty and rue
The vifual nerve, for he had much to itc;
And from the well of life three drops inftill'd.
So deep the power of the fe ingredients picrc'd,
E'en to the inmoft feat of mental fight,
That Adam how enforc'd to close his eyes,
Sunk down, and all his fpirits became intranc'd;
But him the gentle Angel by the hand
Soon rais'd, and his attention thus recall'd.
Adam, now ope thine eyes, and firft behold
Th' effects which thy original crime hath wrought
In fome to spring from thee, who never touch'd
Th' excepted tre, nor with the fake confpir'd,
Nor finn'd thy fin, yet from that fin derive
Corruption to bring forth more violent deeds.

More meek came with the firftlings of his flock
Choiceft and beft; then facrificing, laid

The inwards and their fat, with incenfe ftrow'd,
On the cleft wood, and all due rites perform'd.
His offering foon propitious fire from Heaven 441
Confum'd with nimble glance, and grateful fteam;
The other's not, for his was not fincere;
Whereat he inly rag'd, and as they talk'd,
Smote him into the midriff with a stone
That beat out life; he fell, and deadly pale
Groan'd out his foul with gufhing blood effus'd.
Much at that fight was Adam in his heart
Difmay'd, and thus in hafte to th' Angel cry'd.

445

O Teacher, fome great mischief hath befall'n To that meek man, who well had facrific'd; 451 Is piety thus and pure devotion paid?

T'whom Michael thus, he also mov'd, reply'd. Thefe two are brethren, Adam, and to come Out of thy loins; th' unjust the juft hath flain, 455 For envy that his brother's offering found From Heav'n acceptance; but the bloody fact Will be aveng'd, and th' other's faith approv'd Lofe no reward, though here thou fee him die, Rolling in dust and gore. To which our fire. 460 Alas, both for the deed and for the caufe! But have I now feen Death? Is this the way

1 muft return to native duft? O fight

Of terror, foul and ugly to behold,
Horrid to think, how horrible to feel!

465

470

To whom thus Michaël. Death thou haft feen In his firft fhape on man; but many fhapes Of Death, and many are the ways that lead To his grim cave, all difmal; yet to fenfe More terrible at th' entrance than within. Some, as thou faw'ft, by violent ftroke fhall die, By fire, flood, fatuin, by intempʼrance more In meats and drinks, which on the earth fhall bring Difcafes dire, of which a monftrous crew Before thee fhall appear; that thou mayst know What mifery th' inabftinence of Eve Shall bring on men. Immediately a place Before his eyes appear'd, fad, nuifome, dark, A lazar-honfe it fecm'd, wherein were laid Numbers of all difeas'd, all maladies Of ghaftly ipaim, or racking torture, qualms

Of heart-fick agony, all feverous kinds,

Convulfions, epilepfics, fierce catarrhs,

476

480

485

Inteftin ftore and ulcer, colic pangs,
Demoniac phrenzy, moaping melancholy,
And moon-ftruck madnefs, pining atrophy,
Marafmus, and wide-wafting peftilence,
Dropfies, and afchinas, and jeint-racking rheums.
Dire was the toffing, deep the groans; Defpair
Tended the fick bufiett from couch to couch; 490
And over them triumphant Death his dart
Shook, but delay'd to strike, though oft invok'd
With vows, as their chief good, and final hope.
Sight fo deform what heart of rock could long
Dry-ey'd behold? Adam could not, but wept, 495
Though not of woman born; compallion quell'd
His beft of man, and gave him up to tears
A space, till firmer thoughts restrain'd excess;
And scarce recovering words his plaint renew'd.
O miferable mankind, to what fall
500
Degraded, to what wretched ftate referv'd !

Better end here unborn, Why is life given
To be thus wrefted from us? rather why
Obtruded on us thus? who if we knew
What we receive, would either not accept
Life offer'd, or foon beg to lay it down,
Glad to be fo difmifs'd in peace. Can thus
Th' image of God in man created once
So goodly and erect, though faulty fince,
To fuch unfightly fufferings be debas'd
Under inhuman pains? Why should not man,
Retaining ftill divine fimilitude

In part, from fuch deformities be free,
And for his Maker's image fake exempt?

505

510

520

Their Maker's image, anfwer'd Michael, then Forfook them, when themselves they vilify'd 515 To ferve ungovern'd appetite, and took His image whom they serv'd, a brutish vice, Inducive mainly to the fin of Eve. Therefore fo abject is their punishment, Disfiguring not God's likeness, but their own, Or if his likeness, by themselves defac'd, While they pervert pure nature's healthful rules To loathfome fickness, worthily, fince they God's image did not reverence in themselves. 525 I yield it juft, faid Adam, and submit. But is there yet no other way, besides These painful paffages, how we may come To death, and mix with our connatural duft?

There is, faid Michael, if thou well obferve 530 The rule of not too much, by temp'rance taught, In what thou cat'st and drink'st, seeking from thence

Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight,
Till many years over thy head return:
So may'it thou live, till like ripe fruit thou drop
Into thy mother's lap, or be with cafe 536
Gather'd, not harshly pluck'd, for death mature:
This is old age; but then thou must outlive
Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty, which will

change

To wither'd, weak, and gray; thy senses then 540
Obtufe, all tafte of pleafure muft forgo,

To what thou haft; and for the air of youth,
Hopeful and chearful, in thy blood will reign
A melancholy damp of cold and dry

To weigh thy fpirits down, and last confume 545
The balm of life. To whom our ancestor.
Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong
Life much, bent rather how I may be quit
Fairest and eafieft of this cumbrous charge,
Which I muft keep till my appointed day
Of rendring up, and patiently attend
My diffolution. Michaël reply'd.

550

Nor love thy life, nor hate; but what thou liv'ft Live well, how long or fhort permit to Heaven: And now prepare thee for another fight.

555

He look'd, and faw a fpacious plan, whereon Were tents of various hue; by fome were herds Of cattel grazing; others, whence the found Of inftruments that made melodious chime 559 Was heard, of harp and organ; and who mov'd Their ftops and chords was feen; his volant touch Instinct through all proportions low and high Fled and purfu'd tranfverfe the refonant fugue. In other part stood one who at the forge

Lab'ring, two maffy clods of ir'on and brafs 565
Had melted, whether found where cafual fire
Had wafted woods on mountain or in vale,
Down to the veins of earth, thence gliding hot
To fome cave's mouth, or whether wash'd by
ftream

From underground) the liquid ore he drain'd 570
Into fit molds prepar'd; from which he form'd
Firft his own tools; then, what might elfe be
wrought

Fufil or grav'n in metal. After thefe,
But on the hither fide, a different fort

From the high neighb'ring hills, which was their feat, 575

Down to the plain defcended: by their guife
Juft men they feem'd, and all their study bent
To worship God aright, and know his works
Not hid, nor those things last which might preferve
Freedom and peace to men: they on the plain 580
Long had not walk'd, when from the tents behold
A bevy of fair women, richly gay

In gems and wanton drefs; to th' harp they fung
Soft amorous ditties, and in dance came on:
The men, though grave, ey'd them, and let their
585

eyes

Rove without rein, till in the amorous net
Faft caught, they lik'd, and each his liking chofe;
And now of love they treat, till th' evening ftar,
Love's harbinger, appear'd; then all in heat
They light the nuptial torch, and bid invoke 590
Hymen, then first to marriage rites invok'd:
With feaft and music all the tents refound.
Such happy interview and fair event
Of love and youth not loft, fongs, garlands, flowers,
And charming fymphonies, attach'd the heart 595
Of Adam foon inclin'd t' admit delight,
The bent of nature; which he thus exprefs'd.

True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel bleft,
Much better feems this vifion, and more hope
Of peaceful days portends, than those two paft; 600
Thofe were of hate and death, or pain much worfe,
Here naturc feems fulfill'd in all her ends.

To whom thus Michael. Judge not what is best By pleasure, though to nature seeming meet, Created, as thou art, to nobler end Holy and pure, conformity divine.

605

Thofe tents thou faw'ft so pleasant, were the tents
Of wickedness, wherein fhall dwell his race
Who flew his brother; ftudious they appear
Of arts that polifh life, inventors rare,
Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spirit
Taught them, but they his gifts acknowledg'd

none.

610

Of these fair atheifts, and now swim in joy, 625
Erelong to fwim at large; and laugh, for which
The world erelong a world of tears must weep.
To whom thus Adam of fhort joy bereft.
O pity' and fhame, that they who to live well
Enter'd fo fair, fhould turn afide to tread 630
Paths indirect, or in the mid-way faint!
But ftill I fee the tenor of Man's woe
Holds on the fame, from Woman to begin.
From Man's effeminate flackness it begins,
Said th' Angel, who should better hold his place
By wisdom and fuperior gifts receiv'd
But now prepare thee for another scene.

636

640

He look'd, and faw wide territory spread
Before him, towns, and rural works between,
Cities of men with lofty gates and towers,
Concourfe in arms, fierce faces threatning war,
Giants of mighty bone, and bold emprise;
Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming ftecd,
Single or in array of battel rang'd

Both horfe and foot, nor idly muft'ring stood; 645
One way a band felect from forage drives
A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine
From a fat meadow ground; or fleecy flock,
Ewes and their bleating lambs over the plain,
Their booty; fcarce with life the fhepherds fly,
But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray; 651
With cruel torneament the fquadrons join;
Where cattel paftur'd late, now fcatter'd lies
With carcaffes and arms th' infanguin'd field
Deferted others to a city strong

655

660

665

Lay fiege, incanıp'd; by battery, fcale, and mine,
Affaulting; others from the wall defend
With dart and javelin, ftones and fulphurous fire;
On each hand flaughter and gigantic deeds.
In other part the feepter'd heralds call
To council in the city gates: anon
Grey-headed men and grave, with warriors mix'd,
Affemble, and harangues are heard, but foon
In factious oppofition, till at laft
Of middle age one rifing, eminent
In wife deport, fpake much of right and wrong,
Of juftice, of religion, truth and peace,
And judgment from above: him old and young
Exploded, and had feiz'd with violent hands,
Had not a cloud defcending fnatch'd him thence
Unfeen amid the throng: fo violence
Proceeded, and oppreifion, and fword-law
Through all the plain, and refuge none was found.
Adam was all in tears, and to kis guide
Lamenting turn'd full fad; O what are thefe, 675
Death's minifters, nos men, who thus deal death
Inhumanly to men, and multiply

671

Ten thousand fold the fin of him who flew
His brother: for of whom fuch maffacre
Make they but of their brethren, men of men?
But who was that juft man, whom had not Heaven
Refcued, had in his righteoufness been loft?

679

To whom thus Michael. Thefe are the product
Of thofe ill-mated marriages thou faw'ft;
Where good with bad were match'd, who of
themselves

Abhor to join; and by imprudence mix'd,
Produce prodigious births of body' or mind.
Such were thefe giants, men of high renown;

685

701

But he the fev'nth from thee, whom thou beheldft
The only righteous in a world perverfe,
And therefore hated, therefore fo befet
With foes for daring fingle to be just,
And arter odious truth, that God would come
To judge them with his Saints: him the moft High
Ropt in a balmy cloud with winged iteeds
Did, as thou faw'it, receive, to walk with God
High in faivation and the climes of blifs,
Exempt
t from death; to fhow thee what reward
Awaits the good, the reft what punishment; 710
Which now direct thine eyes and foon behold.

Sea without fhore; and in their palaces 750
Where luxury late reign'd, fea-monsters whelp'd
And ftabled; of mankind, fo numerous late,
All left, in one fmall bottom fwum imbark'd.
How didit thou grieve then, Adam, to behold
The end of all thy offspring, end so fad, 755
Depopulation! thee another flood,

Of tears and forrow' a flood thee alfo drown'd,
And funk thee as thy fons; till gently rear'd
By th' Angel, on thy feet thou ftood'it at laft,
Though comfort efs, as when a father mourns 760
His children, al! in view deftroy'd at once;
And scarce to th' Angel utter'dit thus thy plaint.
O vifions ill forefeen! better had I
Liv'd ignorant of future, fo had borne
My part of evil only, each day's lot
Enough to bear; thofe now, that were dispens'd
The burd'n of many ages, on me light

765

706

At once by my forcknowledge gaining birth Abortive, to torment mc ere their being,

But all in vain: which when he faw, he ceas'd Contending, and remov'd his tents far off; Then from the mountain hewing timber tall, Began to build a veffel of huge bulk,

Meafur'd by cubit, length, and breadth, and Eighth,

730 Smear'd round with pitch, and in the fide a door Contriv'd, and of provifions laid in large For man and beaft; when lo a wonder strange! Of every beeft. and bird, and infect finall Came fev'ns, and pairs, and enter'd in, as taught Their order: laft the fire, and his three fous 736 With their four wives; and God made fait the door.

Meanwhile the fouth-wind rofe, and with black wings

Wide hovering, all the clouds together drove
From under Heav'n; the hills to their supply 740
Vapor, and exhalation dusk and moist,
Sent up amain; and now the thicken'd sky
Like a dark cieling ftood; down rufh'd the rain
Impetuous, and continued till the earth

No more was feen; the floting veffel fwum 745
Uplifted, and fecure with beaked pr w
Rode tilting o'er the waves; all dwellings elfe
Flood overwhelm'd, and them with all their pomp
Deep under water roll'd; fea cover'd fea,