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 moft 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
Prefence divine, and to my fons relate,

On this mount he appear'd, under this tree
Stood vifible, among these pines his voice

I heard, here with him at this fountain talk'd:

So many grateful altars I would rear

Of graffy turf, and pile up every stone Of luftre from the brook, in memory, Or monument to ages, and thereon

320

325

330

Offer fweet-fmelling gums and fruits and dowers:
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.

To whom thus Michael with regard benign. Adam, thou know'ft Heav'n his, and all the Earth, 335

240

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; furmise not then
His prefence to these narrow bounds confin'd
Of Paradife or Eden: this had been
Perhaps thy capital feat, from whence had spread
All generations, and had hither come
From all the ends of th' earth, to celebrate
And reverence thee their great progenitor.
But this præeminence thou' haft loft, brought

down

345

350

To dwell on even ground now with thy fons:
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't believe, and be con-

firm'd

355

360

Ere thou from hence depart, know I am fent To how thee what shall 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 By moderation either ftate to bear, Profperous or adverfe: fo fhalt thou lead Safest thy life, and best prepar'd indure Thy mortal paffage when it comes. This hill; let Eve (for I have drench'd her eyes) Here fleep below, while thou to forefight wak'ft; As once thou flept'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 hand of Heav'n fub

mit,

Afcend

365

380 Not high'er that hill nor wider looking round, Whercon for different caufe the Tempter fet

Our fecond Adam in the wilderness,

386

390

To fhew him all earth's kingdoms and their glory.
His eye might there command wherever stood
City of old or modern fame, the feat
Of mightiest empire, from the deftin'd walls
Of Cambalu, feat of Cathaian Can,
And Samarchand by Oxus, Temir's throne,
To Paquin of Sinæan kings, and thence
To Agra and Lahor of Great Mogul
Down to the golden Cherfonefe, or where
The Perfian in Ecbatan fat, or fince
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 utmost 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;
Or thence from Niger flood to Atlas mount
The kingdoms of Almanfor, Fez and Suz,
Marocco and Algiers, and Tremifen;

Guiana, whofe great city Geryon's fons
Call El Dorado; but to nobler fights
Michael from Adam's eyes the film remov'd,
Which that falfe fruit that promis'd clearer ight
Had bred; then purg'd with euphrafy and rue
The vifual nerve, for he had much to fee;
And from the well of life three drops inflill'd.
So deep the power of thefe ingredients pierc'd,
E'en to the inmoft feat of mental fight,
That Adam now enforc'd to clofe hi 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 first behold'
Th' effects which thy original crime hath wrought
In fome to fpring from thee, who never touch'd
Th' excepted tree, nor with the snake confpir'd,
Nor finn'd thy fin, yet from that fin derive
Corruption to bring forth more violent deeds.
His eyes he open'd, and beheld a field,
Part arable and tilth, whereon were fheaves 430
New reap'd, the other part fheep-walks and folds;
I' th' midft an altar as the land-mark flood,
Ruftic, ef graffy ford; thither anon
A fweaty reaper from his tillage brought
Firft fruits, the green ear, and the yellow fleaf,
Uncull'd, as came to hand; a fhepherd next

434

More meek came with the firflings of his flock
Choiceft and beft; then facrificing, laid
The inwards and their fat, with incenfe ftrow'd,
On the cleft wood, and all duc rites perform'd.
His offering foon propitious fire from Heaven 441
Confum'd with nimble glance, and grateful fteam;
The other's net, for his was not fincere;
Whereat he inly ag'd, and as they talk'd,
Smote him into the midriff with a ftone
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 mifchief hath befall'n To that meck man, who well had facrific'd; 451 Is piety thus and pure devotion paid?

T' whom Michael thus, he alfo 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 fte him dic, Rolling in duft 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 I must 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 Michael. 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, Ey fie, flood, famin, by intemp'rance more In meats and drinks, which on the earth fhail bring Difeafes dire, of which a monftrous crew Before thee shall appear; that thou mayst know What mifery th' inabftinence of Eve Shall bring on men. Immediately a place Before his eyes appear'd, fad, noifome, dark, A lazar-henfe it fccm'd, wherein were laid Numbers of all difcas'd, all maladies Of ghaftly fpafin, or racking torture, qualms

Of heart-lick ageny, all feverous kinds,

Convulfions, epilepfis, fierce catarrhis,

476

480

485

Inteftin ftone and ulcer, colic pargs,
Dem niac phrenzy, meaping melancholy,
And moon-ftruck madneis, pining atrophy,
Maraimus, and w de-wafting peftilence,
Dropfies, and afthmas, and joint-racking rheums.
Dire was the telling, deep the groans; Despair
Tended the fick bufeit from couch to couch; 490
And over them triumphant Death his dart
Shook, but delay'd to strike, though oft invok'd
With rows, as their chief good, and final hope.
Sight fo deform what heart of rock could leng
Dry-ey'd bold? Adam could not, but west, 495
Though not of wentan born; compaflion quell'd
His Left of man, and gave him up to tears
Afpace, till firmer thoughts reftrain'd excefs;
And scarce recovering words his plaint renew'd.
O miferable mankind, to what fall
Degraded, to what wretched state referv'd!

500

Better end here unborn. Why is life given
To be thus wrested from us? rather why
Obtruded on us thus? who if we knew
What we receive, would cither 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

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 ferv'd, a brutish vice,
Inductive mainly to the fin of Eve.
Therefore fo abject is their punishment, 520
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 ficknefs, worthily, fince they
God's image did not reverence in themselves. 525
I yield it juft, faid Adam, and fubmit.
But is there yet no other way, befides
Thefe painful paffages, how we may come
To death, and mix with our connatural dust?
There is, faid Michael, if thou well obferve 530
The rule of not too much, by temp'rance taught,
In what thou cat it 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
535
Gather'd, not harfhly pluck'd, for death mature:
This is old age; but then thou must outlive
Thy youth, thy ftrength, thy beauty, which will

change

To wither'd, weak, and gray; thy fenfes then 540
Obtufe, all taste of pleasure 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 laft 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 Faireft and cafleft of this cumbrous charge, Which I must keep till my appointed day 550 Of rendring up, and patiently attend My diffolution. Michael reply'd.

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 Inftinct through all proportions low and high Fled and purfu'd traniverse the resonant fugue. In other part stood one who at the forge

Lab'ring, two maffy clods of ir'on and brais 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
stream

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

Fufil or grav'n in metal. After these,
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
eyes

585

Rove without rein, till in the amorous net
Faft caught, they 'k'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 feast and mufic all the tents refound.
Such happy interview and fair event
Of love and youth nut 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 thofe two paft; 600
Thofe were of hate and death, or pain much worfe,
Here nature feems fulfill'd in all her ends.

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

605

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

none.

610

625

Of these fair atheifts, and now fwim in joy,
Erelong to fwim at large; and laugh, for which
The world erelong a world of tears muft weep.
To whom thus Adam of fhort joy hereft
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 fhould better hold his place
By wifdom and fuperior gifts receiv'd.
But now prepare thee for another scene.

Yet empty of all good wherein confifts

Woman's domeftic honor and chief praise;

Bred only and completed to the tafte

Of luftful appetite, to fing, to dance,

To drefs, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye. To thefe that fober race of men, whofe lives Religious titled them the fons of God,

621

Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame Ignobly, to the trains and to the fmiles

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 bene, and bold empr.fe ; Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming fteed, Single or in array of battel rang'd

Both horfe and foot, nor idly muft'ring ftood; 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 shepherds fly,
But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray; 651
With cruel torneament the fquadrons join;
Where cattel paftur'd late, now featter'd lies
With carcalles and arms th' infanguin'd field
Deferted: others to a city ftrong

655

660

665

Lay fiege, incamp'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 fcepter'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 inatch'd him thence
Unfeen amid the throng: fo viol nce
Proceeded, and oppreflion, and fword-law
Through all the plain, and refuge none was found.
Adam was all in tears, and to his guide
Lamenting turn'd full fad; O what are thefe, 675
Death's minift r, not men, who thus deal death
Inhumanly to men, and multiply

671

679

Ten thou and fold the fin of hum 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 righteoufnefs been loft?

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 685

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

$8

690

695

For in thofe days might only fhall be' admir'd, And valor and heroic virtue call'd; To overcome in battel, and fubdue Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite Man flaughter, fhall be held the highest pitch Of human glory, and for glory done Of triumph, to be fil'd great conquerors, Patron of mankind, Gods, and fons of Gods, Destroyers rightlier call'd and plagues of men. Thus fame fhall be achiev'd, renown on earth, And what most merits fame in filence hid. 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 utter odious truth, that God would come To judge them with his Saints: him the moft High Rapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds Did, as thou faw'it, receive, to walk with God High in falvation and the climes of blifs, Exempt from death; to show thee what reward Awaits the good, the reft what punishment; 710 Which now direct thine eyes and foon behold.

701

706

He look'd, and faw the face of things quite chang'd;

The brazen throat of war had ceas'd to roar ; All now was turn'd to jollity and game, To luxury and riot, feaft and dance, Marrying or proftituting, as befel, Rape or adultery, where pafling fair Allur'd them; thence from cups to civil broils. At length a reverend fire among them came, And of their doings great diflike declar'd And teftify'd against their ways; he oft Frequented their affemblies, wherefo met, Triumphs or feftivals, and to them preach'd Converfion and repentance, as to fouls In prifon under judgments imminent :

715

720

725

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
highth,

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 beast, and bird, and infe&t small
Came fev'ns, and pairs, and enter'd in, as taught
Their order: laft the fire, and his three fons 736
With their four wives; and God made faft 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 moift,
Sent up amain; and now the thicken'd fky
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 prow
Rode tilting o'er the waves; all dwellings elfe
Flood overwhelm'd, and them with all their
Deep under water roll'd; fea cover'd fea,

pomp

750

Sea without fhore; and in their palaces
Where luxury late reign'd, fea-monsters whelp'd
And stabled; 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,
Depopulation! thee another flood,
755

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

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

765

With thought that they must be. Let no man

feek

770

775

crown'd

waste,

floth,

795

800

bear

803

820

825

Of them derided, but of God obferv'd
The one juft man alive; by his command
Shall build a wondrous ark, as thou beheldst,
To fave himself and houfhold from amidst
A world devote to univerfal wrack.
No fooner he with them of man and beast
Select for life fhall in the ark be lodg'd,
And shelter'd round, but all the cataracts
Of Heav'n fet open on the earth shall pour
Rain day and night; all fountains of the deep
Broke up, fhall heave the ocean to ufurp
Beyond all bounds, till inundation rife
Above the highest hills: then fhall this mount
Of Paradife by might of waves be mov'd
Out of his place, pufh'd by the horned flood,
With all his verdure fpoil'd, and trees adrift,
Down the great river to the op'ning gulf,
And there take root an iland falt and bare,
The haunt of feals, and orcs, and fea-mews clang:
To teach thee that God attributes to place
No fanctity, if none be thither brought
By men who there frequent, or therein dwell.
And now what further fhall enfue, behold.

830

836

He look'd, and faw the ark hull on the flood, Which now abated; for the clouds were fled, 841 Driv'n by a keen north-wind, that blowing dry Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decay'd; And the clear fun on his wide watry glass Gaz'd hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew, As after thirft, which made their flowing shrink From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole With foft foot tow'ards the deep, who now had flopt

His fluces, as the Heav'n his windows fhut. The ark no more now flotes, but feems on ground Faft on the top of fome high mountain fix'd. 851 And now the tops of hills as rocks appear; With clamor thence the rapid currents drive Towards the retreating fea their furious tide. Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies, And after him, the surer messenger, A dove fent forth once and again to spy

160

865

Green tree or ground whereon his foot may light;
The fecond time returning, in his bill
An olive leaf he brings, pacific fign:
Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark
The ancient fire defcends with all his train;
Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout,
Grateful to Heav'n, over his head beholds
A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow
Confpicuous with three lifted colors gay,
Betokening peace from God, and covenant new.
Whereat the heart of Adam erft fo fad
Greatly rejoic'd, and thus his joy broke forth.
O thou who future things canft represent 870
As prefent, heav'nly Inftructor, I revive
At this laft fight, affur'd that man shall live
With all the creatures, and their feed preferve.
Far lefs I now lament for one whole world
Of wicked fons deftroy'd, than I rejoice
For one man found fo perfect and so just,
That God vouchfafes to raise another world
From him, and all his anger to forget.

855

875

Or ferve they as a flow'y verge to bind
The fluid fkirts of that fame watry cloud,
Left it again diffolve and show'r the earth?
To whom th' Arch-Angel. Dextrously thou
aimist;

885

So willingly doth God remit his ire,
Though late repenting him of man deprav'd,
Griev'd at his heart, when looking down he faw
The whole earth fill'd with violence, and all flesh
Corrupting each their way; yet, thofe remov'd,
Such grace fhall one juft man find in his fight, 890
That he relents, not to blot out mankind,
And makes a covenant never to destroy
The earth again by flood, nor let the fea
Surpafs his bounds, nor rain to drown the world
With man therein or beaft; but when he brings
Over the earth a cloud, will therein fet
His triple-color'd bow, whereon to look,
And call to mind his covenant: day and night,
Seed time and harvest, heat and hoary froft
Shall hold their courfe, till fire purge all things

new,

896

900

Both Heav'n and Earth wherein the juft fhall dweil.

THE END OF THE ELEVENTH BOOK,