The Annotated Read Online

129

He marked, and mad demeanor, 2810 then alone,

130

As he supposed, all unobserved, unseen.

131

   So on he fares,2811 and to the border comes

132

Of Eden, where delicious Paradise,

133

Now nearer, crowns with her enclosure green,

134

As with a rural mound, the champaign2812 head 2813

135

Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides

136

With thicket overgrown, grotesque and wild,

137

Access denied.2814 And overhead up grew

138

Insuperable2815 height of loftiest shade,

139

Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm,

140

A sylvan2816 scene, and as the ranks 2817 ascend,

141

Shade above shade, a woody theater 2818

142

Of stateliest 2819 view. Yet higher than their tops

143

The verdurous wall of Paradise upsprung,

144

Which to our general2820 sire gave prospect large 2821

145

Into his 2822 nether 2823 empire neighboring round.

146

And higher than that wall a circling row

147

Of goodliest2824 trees, loaden with fairest fruit,

148

Blossoms and fruits at once2825 of golden hue

149

Appeared, with gay enamelled 2826 colors mixed,

150

On which the sun more glad impressed 2827 his beams

151

Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow, 2828

152

When God hath show’red the earth. So lovely seemed

153

That landscape. And of pure now purer 2829 air

154

Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires

155

Vernal2830 delight and joy, able to drive2831

156

All sadness but despair. Now gentle gales,2832

157

Fanning their odoriferous2833 wings, dispense2834

158

Native2835 perfumes, and whisper whence they stole

159

Those balmy spoils.2836 As when to them who sail

160

Beyond the Cape of Hope, 2837 and now are past

161

Mozambique, 2838 off at sea north-east winds blow

162

Sabean2839 odors from the spicy shore

163

Of Araby the blest,2840 with such delay

164

Well pleased they slack2841 their course, 2842 and many a league2843

165

Cheered with the grateful 2844 smell old ocean smiles.

166

So entertained 2845 those odorous sweets the fiend,

167

Who came their bane, 2846 though with them better pleased

168

Than Asmodeus2847 with the fishy fume2848

169

That drove him, though enamored, from the spouse

170

Of Tobit’s son, and with a vengeance sent 2849

171

From Media post2850 to Egypt, there fast bound.2851

172

   Now to the ascent of that steep savage2852 hill

173

Satan had journeyed on, pensive and slow,

174

But further way found none, so thick entwined,

175

As one continued brake, 2853 the undergrowth

176

Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed 2854

177

All path of man or beast that passed that way.

178

One gate there only was, and that looked east

179

On th’ other side. Which when the arch-felon saw,

180

Due entrance he disdained and, in contempt,

181

At one slight2855 bound high over-leaped all bound

182

Of hill or highest wall, and sheer2856 within

183

Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf,

184

Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey,

185

Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve

186

In hurdled 2857 cotes2858 amid the field secure,

187

Leaps o’er the fence with ease into the fold—

188

Or as a thief, bent to unhoard 2859 the cash

189

Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors,

190

Cross-barred and bolted fast, fear no assault,

191

In at the window climbs, or o’er the tiles,2860

192

So clomb2861 this first grand thief into God’s fold.

193

So since into His church lewd hirelings climb.

194

Thence up he flew, and on the Tree of Life,

195

The middle tree and highest there that grew,

196

Sat like a cormorant, yet not true life

197

Thereby regained, but sat devising death

198

To them who lived, nor on the virtue thought

199

Of that life-giving plant, but only used

200

For prospect,2862 what well-used had been2863 the pledge2864

201

Of immortality. So little knows

202

Any, but God alone, to value right

203

The good before him, but perverts best things

204

To worst abuse, or to their meanest 2865 use.

205

   Beneath him with new wonder now he views,

206

To all delight of human sense exposed

207

In narrow room,2866 Nature’s whole wealth, yea more,

208

A Heav’n on earth. For blissful Paradise

209

Of God the garden was, by Him in th’ east

210

Of Eden planted. Eden stretched her line2867

211

From Auran2868 eastward to the royal tow’rs

212

Of great Seleucia,2869 built by Grecian kings,

213

Or where the sons of Eden long before

214

Dwelt in Telassar. 2870 In this pleasant soil

215

His far more pleasant garden God ordained.

216

Out of the fertile ground He caused to grow

217

All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste,

218

And all amid them stood the Tree of Life,

219

High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit

220

Of vegetable2871 gold. And next to life

221

Our death, the Tree of Knowledge, grew fast by,

222

Knowledge of good bought dear by knowing ill.

223

Southward through Eden went a river large,

224

Nor changed his course, but through the shaggy2872 hill

225

Passed underneath engulfed,2873 for God had thrown2874

226

That mountain as His garden-mold 2875 high raised

227

Upon the rapid current, which through veins

228

Of porous earth with kindly 2876 thirst up-drawn,

229

Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill2877

230

Watered the garden, thence united fell

231

Down the steep glade, and met the nether2878 flood,2879

232

Which from his darksome passage now appears,

233

And now, divided into four main streams,

234

Runs diverse, 2880 wand’ring many a famous realm

235

And country, whereof here needs no account,

236

But rather to tell how, if art 2881 could tell,

237

How from that sapphire fount the crispèd2882 brooks,

238

Rolling on orient2883 pearl and sands of gold,

239

With mazy2884 error 2885 under pendant shades

240

Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed

241

Flow’rs worthy of Paradise, which not nice2886 art

242

In beds and curious2887 knots, but Nature boon2888

243

Poured forth profuse on hill and dale and plain,

244

Both where the morning sun first warmly smote

245

The open field, and where the unpierced shade

246

Imbrowned 2889 the noontide bow’rs. Thus was this place

247

A happy rural seat of various view,

248

Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm,

249

Others whose fruit, burnished with golden rind,

250

Hung amiable, 2890 Hesperian2891 fables true,

251

If true, here onl, and of delicious taste.

252

Betwixt them lawns, or level downs,2892 and flocks

253

Grazing the tender herb,2893 were interposed,

254

Or palmy2894 hillock, or the flowery lap2895

255

Of some irriguous2896 valley spread her store,

256

Flow’rs of all hue, and without thorn the rose.

257

Another side, umbrageous2897 grots and caves

258

Of cool recess, o’er which the mantling2898 vine

259

Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps

260

Luxuriant. Meanwhile murmuring waters fall

261

Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake,

262

That to the fringèd bank with myrtle crowned

263

Her crystal mirror holds, unite their streams.

264

The birds their choir2899 apply, 2900 airs, vernal airs,

265

Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune2901

266

The trembling leaves, while universal Pan,

267

Knit2902 with the Graces2903 and the Hours2904 in dance,

268

Led on th’ eternal Spring. Not that fair field

269

Of Enna,2905 where Proserpine, gath’ring flow’rs,

270

Herself a fairer flow’r by gloomy Dis2906

271

Was gathered, which cost Ceres2907 all that pain

272

To seek her through the world. Nor that sweet grove

273

Of Daphne2908 by Orontes,2909 and the inspired 2910

274

Castalian spring, 2911 might with this Paradise

275

Of Eden strive, 2912 nor that Nyseian2913 isle

276

Girt2914 with the river Triton, where old Cham,2915

277

Whom gentiles Ammon call, and Libyan Jove,

278

Hid Amalthea2916 and her florid2917 son

279

Young Bacchus from his stepdame Rhea’s eye,

280

Nor where Abassin2918 kings their issue2919 guard,

281

Mount Amara,2920 though this by some supposed

282

True Paradise under the Ethiop line2921

283

By Nilus2922 head,2923 enclosed with shining rock,

284

A whole day’s journey high, but wide remote

285

From this Assyrian garden, where the fiend

286

Saw, undelighted, all delight, all kind

287

Of living creatures, new to sight, and strange.

288

   Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall,

289

Godlike erect, with native honor clad

290

In naked majesty, seemed lords of all.

291

And worthy seemed, for in their looks divine

292

The image of their glorious Maker shone,

293

Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure

294

(Severe, but in true filial freedom placed)

295

Whence true authority in men. Though both

296

Not equal, as their sex not equal seemed:

297

For contemplation he, and valor, formed;

298

For softness she and sweet attractive grace;

299

He for God only, she for God in him.

300

His fair large front2924 and eye sublime2925 declared2926

301

Absolute rule, and hyacinthine2927 locks

302

Round from his parted forelock 2928 manly hung

303

Clust’ring, but not beneath his shoulders broad.

304

She as a veil down to the slender waist

305

Her unadornèd golden tresses wore

306

Dishevelled,2929 but in wanton2930 ringlets waved

307

As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied

308

Subjection, but required 2931 with gentle sway, 2932

309

And by her yielded, by him best received,

310

Yielded with coy 2933 submission, modest pride,

311

And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay.

312

Nor those mysterious parts2934 were then concealed.

313

Then was not guilty shame, dishonest2935 shame

314

Of Nature’s works. Honor dishonorable,

315

Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind

316

With shows2936 instead, mere shows of seeming pure,

317

And banished from man’s life his happiest life,

318

Simplicity and spotless innocence!

319

   So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight

320

Of God or Angel, for they thought no ill:

321

So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair

322

That ever since in love’s embraces met,

323

Adam the goodliest man of men, since born

324

His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve.

325

Under a tuft 2937 of shade that on a green2938

326

Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain side

327

They sat them down and, after no more toil

328

Of their sweet gardening labor than sufficed

329

To recommend 2939 cool Zephyr, 2940 and made ease

330

More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite

331

More grateful, to their supper-fruits they fell,

332

Nectarine 2941 fruits which the compliant 2942 boughs

333

Yielded them, side-long as they sat recline

334

On the soft downy bank, damasked 2943 with flow’rs.

335

The savory pulp they chew, and in the rind,

336

Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming stream,

337

Nor gentle purpose, 2944 nor endearing smiles

338

Wanted,2945 nor youthful dalliance, as beseems

339

Fair couple, linked in happy nuptial league,

340

Alone as they. About them frisking played

341

All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase2946

342

In wood or wilderness, forest or den.

343

Sporting, 2947 the lion ramped,2948 and in his paw

344

Dandled 2949 the kid; bears, tigers, ounces,2950 pards,2951

345

Gambolled2952 before them; the unwieldy elephant,

346

To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed 2953

347

His lithe2954 proboscis;2955 close, 2956 the serpent sly

348

Insinuating 2957 wove with Gordian 2958 twine 2959

349

His braided 2960 train,2961 and of his fatal 2962 guile

350

Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass

351

Couched,2963 and now filled with pasture 2964 gazing sat,

352

Or bedward ruminating, 2965 for the sun,

353

Declined,2966 was hasting now with prone 2967 career 2968

354

To th’ ocean isles,2969 and in the ascending scale2970

355

Of Heav’n the stars that usher evening rose.

356

When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood,

357

Scarce thus at length failed speech recovered, sad:

358

   “O Hell! What do mine eyes with grief behold!

359

Into our room2971 of bliss thus high advanced

360

Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps,

361

Not Spirits, yet to Heav’nly Spirits bright

362

Little inferior, whom my thoughts pursue

363

With wonder, and could love, so lively shines

364

In them divine resemblance, and such grace

365

The hand that formed them on their shape hath poured.2972

366

Ah! gentle 2973 pair, ye little think how nigh 2974

367

Your change approaches, when all these delights

368

Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe,

369

More woe, the more your taste is now of joy,

370

Happy, but for so happy ill secured 2975

371

Long to continue, and this high seat your Heav’n

372

Ill fenced for Heav’n to keep out such a foe

373

As now is entered. Yet no purposed 2976 foe

374

To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn,2977

375

Though I 2978 unpitied. League2979 with you I seek,

376

And mutual amity, so straight,2980 so close,

377

That I with you must dwell, or you with me

378

Henceforth. My dwelling haply 2981 may not please

379

(Like this fair Paradise) your sense, yet such

380

Accept your Maker’s work. He gave it me,

381

Which I as freely give: Hell shall unfold,

382

To entertain2982 you two, her widest-gates,

383

And send forth all her kings. There will be room,

384

Not like these narrow limits, to receive

385

Your numerous offspring. If no better place,

386

Thank Him who puts me, loath, to this revenge

387

On you (who wrong me not), for Him who wronged.2983

388

And should I at your harmless innocence

389

Melt,2984 as I do, yet public2985 reason just,

390

Honor and empire with revenge enlarged,

391

By conquering this new world, compels me now

392

To do what else, though damned, I should abhor.

393

   So spoke the fiend, and with necessity

394

(The tyrant’s plea) excused his devilish deeds.

395

Then from his lofty stand on that high tree

396

Down he alights among the sportful 2986 herd

397

Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one,

398

Now other, as their shape served best his end

399

Nearer to view his prey, and unespied

400

To mark what of their state2987 he more might learn,

401

By word or action marked.2988 About them round

402

A lion 2989 now he stalks with fiery glare,

403

Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied

404

In some purlieu2990 two gentle fawns at play,

405

Straight couches2991 close, then rising, changes oft

406

His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground,

407

Whence rushing, he might surest seize them both,

408

Gripped in each paw: When Adam, first of men,

409

To first of women Eve, thus moving 2992 speech,

410

Turned him2993 all ear 2994 to hear new utterance flow:

411

   “Sole partner, and sole part,2995 of all these joys,

412

Dearer thyself than all! Needs must the Power

413

That made us, and for us this ample world,

414

Be infinitely good, and of His good

415

As liberal and free as infinite,

416

That raised us from the dust, and placed us here

417

In all this happiness, who at His hand

418

Have nothing merited,2996 nor can perform

419

Aught whereof He hath need, He who requires

420

From us no other service than to keep

421

This one, this easy charge:2997 of all the trees

422

In Paradise that bear delicious fruit

423

So various, not to taste that only Tree

424

Of Knowledge, planted by 2998 the Tree of Life.

425

So near grows death to life, whate’er death is,

426

Some dreadful thing no doubt, for well thou know’st

427

God hath pronounced it death to taste that tree,

428

The only sign of our obedience left

429

Among so many signs of power and rule

430

Conferred upon us, and dominion2999 giv’n

431

Over all other creatures that possess

432

Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard

433

One easy prohibition, who enjoy

434

Free leave so large to all things else, and choice

435

Unlimited of manifold delights,

436

But let us ever praise Him, and extol

437

His bounty, following our delightful task,

438

To prune these growing plants, and tend these flow’rs,

439

Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet.

440

   To whom thus Eve replied: “O thou for whom

441

And from whom I was formed, flesh of thy flesh,

442

And without whom am to no end,3000 my guide

443

And head! What thou hast said is just and right.

444

For we to Him indeed all praises owe,

445

And daily thanks—I chiefly, who enjoy

446

So far the happier lot, enjoying thee

447

Pre-eminent by so much odds,3001 while thou

448

Like3002 consort 3003 to thyself canst nowhere find.

449

That day I oft remember, when from sleep

450

I first awaked, and found myself reposed

451

Under a shade 3004 on flow’rs, much wond’ring where

452

And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.

453

Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound

454

Of waters issued from a cave, and spread

455

Into a liquid plain, then stood unmoved,3005

456

Pure as th’ expanse of Heav’n. I thither 3006 went

457

With unexperienced 3007 thought, and laid me down

458

On the green bank, to look into the clear

459

Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky.

460

As I bent down to look, just opposite

461

A shape within the wat’ry gleam appeared,

462

Bending to look on me. I started back—

463

It started back—but pleased I soon returned,

464

Pleased it returned as soon, with answering looks

465

Of sympathy and love. There I had fixed

466

Mine eyes till now, and pined 3008 with vain desire,

467

Had not a voice thus warned me: ‘What thou see’st,

468

What there thou see’st, fair creature, is thyself.

469

With thee it came and goes. But follow me

470

And I will bring thee where no shadow stays3009

471

Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he

472

Whose image thou art, him thou shalt enjoy

473

Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear

474

Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called

475

Mother of human race.