The Annotated Read Online

693

Of thickest covert 3096 was inwoven shade,

694

Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew

695

Of firm and fragrant leaf, on either side

696

Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub,

697

Fenced up the verdant wall. Each beauteous flow’r,

698

Iris all hues, roses, and jessamin,

699

Reared high their flourished 3097 heads between, and wrought 3098

700

Mosaic. Underfoot the violet,

701

Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay

702

Broidered3099 the ground, more colored than with stone

703

Of costliest emblem.3100 Other creature here,

704

Bird, beast, insect, or worm, durst enter none,

705

Such was their awe of man. In shadier bower

706

More sacred and sequestered, though but feigned,3101

707

Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor nymph

708

Nor Faunus3102 haunted. Here, in close3103 recess,3104

709

With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs,

710

Espousèd 3105 Eve decked first her nuptial bed,

711

And Heav’nly choirs the hymenaean3106 sung,

712

What day 3107 the genial 3108 Angel to our sire

713

Brought her in naked beauty more adorned,

714

More lovely, than Pandora,3109 whom the gods

715

Endowed with all their gifts, and O! too like

716

In sad event, when to the unwiser son3110

717

Of Japhet 3111 brought by Hermes,3112 she ensnared

718

Mankind with her fair looks, to be3113 avenged

719

On him3114 who had stole Jove’s authentic3115 fire.

720

   Thus at their shady lodge 3116 arrived, both stood,

721

Both turned, and under open sky adored3117

722

The God that made both sky, air, earth, and Heav’n,

723

Which they beheld, the moon’s resplendent globe

724

And starry pole: “Thou also mad’st the night,

725

Maker Omnipotent, and Thou the day,

726

Which we, in our appointed work employed,

727

Have finished, happy in our mutual help

728

And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss

729

Ordained by Thee. And this delicious3118 place

730

For us too large, where thy abundance wants3119

731

Partakers, and uncropped 3120 falls to the ground.

732

But thou hast promised from us two a race

733

To fill the earth, who shall with us extol

734

Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,

735

And when we seek, as now, Thy gift of sleep.

736

   This said unanimous, and other rites

737

Observing none, but adoration pure

738

(Which God likes best), into their inmost bow’r

739

Handed 3121 they went and, eased 3122 the putting off

740

These troublesome disguises which we wear,

741

Straight side by side were laid, nor turned, I ween,3123

742

Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites

743

Mysterious of connubial love refused,

744

Whatever hypocrites austerely talk

745

Of purity, and place, and innocence,

746

Defaming as impure what God declares

747

Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all.

748

Our Maker bids increase: who bids abstain

749

But our destroyer, foe to God and man?

750

Hail, wedded love, mysterious law, true source

751

Of human offspring, sole propriety3124

752

In Paradise of all things common3125 else!

753

By thee adulterous lust was driv’n from men

754

Among the bestial herds to range. 3126 By thee

755

Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,

756

Relations3127 dear, and all the charities3128

757

Of father, son, and brother, first were known.

758

Far be it, that I should write3129 thee sin or blame,

759

Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,

760

Perpetual fountain of domestic sweets,

761

Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced,

762

Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs used.

763

Here love his golden shafts3130 employs, here lights

764

His constant 3131 lamp, and waves his purple wings,

765

Reigns here and revels, not in the bought smile

766

Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared,

767

Casual fruition,3132 nor in court-amours,

768

Mixed dance, or wanton3133 masque, or midnight ball,

769

Or serenade, which the starved lover sings

770

To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.

771

   These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept,

772

And on their naked limbs the flow’ry roof

773

Show’red roses, which the morn repaired.3134 Sleep on,

774

Blest pair! and O! yet happiest, if ye seek

775

No happier state, and know to know no more!

776

   Now had night measured with her shadowy cone3135

777

Halfway up hill this vast sublunar vault,3136

778

And from their ivory port3137 the Cherubim,

779

Forth issuing at the accustomed hour, stood armed

780

To their night watches in warlike parade,

781

When Gabriel to his next in power thus spoke:

782

   “Uzziel,3138 half these draw off, and coast the south

783

With strictest watch. These other wheel 3139 the north;

784

Our circuit meets full west.” As3140 flame they part,

785

Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. 3141

786

From these, two strong and subtle Spirits he called

787

That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge:

788

   “Ithuriel 3142 and Zephon,3143 with wingèd speed

789

Search through this garden, leave unsearched no nook,

790

But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge,

791

Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of 3144 harm.

792

This ev’ning from3145 the sun’s decline arrived

793

Who tells3146 of some infernal Spirit seen

794

Hitherward bent3147 (who could have thought?), escaped

795

The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt.

796

Such, where ye find, seize fast, and hither bring.

797

   So saying, on he led his radiant files,3148

798

Dazzling the moon. These to the bower direct

799

In search of whom they sought, him3149 there they found

800

Squat 3150 like a toad, close at3151 the ear of Eve,

801

Assaying3152 by his devilish art to reach

802

The organs of her fancy, and with them forge

803

Illusions, as he list,3153 phantasms and dreams,

804

Or if, 3154 inspiring 3155 venom, he might taint3156

805

The animal spirits that from pure blood arise

806

Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise

807

At least distempered,3157 discontented thoughts,

808

Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires,

809

Blown up with high conceits engend’ring pride.

810

Him thus intent, Ithuriel with his spear

811

Touched lightly, for no falsehood can endure

812

Touch of celestial temper, 3158 but returns

813

Of force3159 to its own likeness. Up he starts,3160

814

Discovered and surprised.3161 As when a spark

815

Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, 3162 laid 3163

816

Fit for the tun3164 some magazine3165 to store

817

Against a rumored war, the smutty3166 grain,3167

818

With sudden blaze diffused,3168 inflames the air,

819

So started up in his own shape the fiend.

820

Back stepped those two fair Angels, half amazed 3169

821

So sudden to behold the grisly 3170 king,

822

Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost3171 him soon:3172

823

   “Which of those rebel Spirits adjudged 3173 to Hell

824

Com’st thou, escaped thy prison? And, transformed,

825

Why sat’st thou like an enemy in wait,

826

Here watching at the head of these that sleep?

827

   “Know ye not then,” said Satan, filled with scorn,

828

“Know ye not me? Ye knew me once no mate3174

829

For you, there3175 sitting where ye durst not soar.

830

Not to know me argues3176 yourselves unknown,

831

The lowest of your throng. Or if ye know,

832

Why ask ye, and superfluous begin

833

Your message, like to end as much in vain?

834

To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn:

835

   “Think not, revolted 3177 Spirit, thy shape the same,

836

Or undiminished brightness, to be known

837

As when thou stood’st in Heav’n upright and pure.

838

That glory then, when thou no more wast good,

839

Departed from thee, and thou resembl’st now

840

Thy sin and place of doom,3178 obscure and foul.

841

But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account

842

To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep

843

This place inviolable, and these from harm.

844

   So spoke the Cherub, and his grave rebuke,

845

Severe in youthful beauty, added grace

846

Invincible. Abashed the Devil stood,

847

And felt how awful 3179 goodness is, and saw

848

Virtue in her shape how lovely, saw and pined 3180

849

His loss, but chiefly to find here observed

850

His luster visibly impaired, yet seemed

851

Undaunted. “If I must contend,”3181 said he,

852

“Best with the best, the sender, not the sent,

853

Or all at once. More glory will be won,

854

Or less be lost.” “Thy fear,” said Zephon bold,

855

“Will save us trial what the least can do

856

Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.

857

   The fiend replied not, overcome with rage,

858

But like a proud steed reined, went haughty on,

859

Champing3182 his iron curb. 3183 To strive or fly3184

860

He held it vain; awe3185 from above had quelled3186

861

His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh

862

The western point, where those half-rounding guards

863

Just met, and closing stood in squadron joined,

864

Awaiting next command. To whom their chief,

865

Gabriel, from the front3187 thus called aloud:

866

   “O friends! I hear the tread of nimble3188 feet

867

Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern

868

Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade,

869

And with them comes a third of regal 3189 port,3190

870

But faded splendor wan,3191 who by his gait

871

And fierce demeanor seems the Prince of Hell,

872

Not likely to part 3192 hence without contest.

873

Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.”3193

874

   He scarce had ended, when those two approached

875

And brief related whom they brought, where found,

876

How busied, in what form and posture couched.3194

877

   To whom with stern regard3195 thus Gabriel spoke:

878

“Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed

879

To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge3196

880

Of others, who approve 3197 not to transgress

881

By thy example, but have power and right

882

To question thy bold entrance on this place,

883

Employed, it seems, to violate sleep, and those

884

Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss!

885

   To whom thus Satan, with contemptuous brow:

886

“Gabriel, thou had’st in Heav’n th’ esteem3198 of wise,

887

And such I held thee. But this question asked

888

Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain?

889

Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,

890

Though thither doomed?3199 Thou would’st thyself, no doubt,

891

And boldly venture to whatever place

892

Farthest from pain, where thou might’st hope to change3200

893

Torment with ease, and soonest recompense3201

894

Dole3202 with delight, which in this place I sought.

895

To thee no reason, who know’st only good,

896

But evil hast not tried. And wilt object

897

His will who bound us? Let him surer3203 bar

898

His iron gates, if he intends our stay

899

In that dark durance. 3204 Thus much what was asked.

900

The rest is true, they found me where they say,

901

But that implies not violence or harm.

902

   Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel, moved,3205

903

Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied:

904

   “O loss of one in Heav’n to judge of wise,3206

905

Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew,

906

And now returns him from his prison ’scaped,

907

Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise

908

Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither

909

Unlicensed 3207 from his bounds3208 in Hell prescribed.

910

So wise he judges it to fly3209 from pain,

911

However, 3210 and to ’scape his punishment!

912

So judge thou still, presumptuous! till the wrath,

913

Which thou incurr’st by flying, meet 3211 thy flight

914

Sevenfold, and scourge 3212 that wisdom back to Hell,

915

Which taught thee yet no better, than no pain

916

Can equal anger infinite provoked.

917

But wherefore thou alone? Wherefore with thee

918

Came not all Hell broke loose? Is pain to them

919

Less pain, less to be fled, or thou than they

920

Less hardy 3213 to endure? Courageous chief,

921

The first in flight from pain! Had’st thou alleged 3214

922

To thy deserted host this cause of flight,

923

Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.

924

   To which the fiend thus answered, frowning stern:

925

“Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain,

926

Insulting Angel! Well thou know’st I stood

927

Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid

928

The blasting vollied thunder made all speed 3215

929

And seconded 3216 thy else3217 not dreaded spear.

930

But still thy words at random,3218 as before,

931

Argue thy inexperience what 3219 behooves3220

932

From hard assays3221 and ill successes3222 past

933

A faithful leader, not to hazard all

934

Through ways3223 of danger by himself untried.

935

I, therefore, I alone first undertook

936

To wing3224 the desolate abyss, and spy

937

This new created world, whereof in Hell

938

Fame3225 is not silent, here in hope to find

939

Better abode, and my afflicted Powers

940

To settle here on earth, or in mid air,

941

Though3226 for possession put 3227 to try once more

942

What thou and thy gay legions dare against,

943

Whose easier business were to serve their Lord

944

High up in Heav’n, with songs to hymn His throne,

945

And practised distances to cringe, not fight.

946

To whom the warrior Angel soon3228 replied:

947

   “To say and straight unsay, pretending first

948

Wise to fly 3229 pain, professing3230 next the spy,

949

Argues3231 no leader but a liar traced,3232

950

Satan—and couldst thou faithful add? O name,

951

O sacred name of faithfulness profaned!

952

Faithful to whom? To thy rebellious crew?

953

Army of fiends, fit body to fit head!

954

Was this your discipline and faith engaged,

955

Your military obedience, to dissolve

956

Allegiance to th’ acknowledged Power supreme?

957

And thou, sly hypocrite, who now would’st seem

958

Patron of liberty, who more than thou

959

Once fawned, and cringed, and servilely 3233 adored

960

Heav’n’s awful 3234 Monarch? Wherefore, 3235 but in hope

961

To dispossess Him, and thyself to reign?

962

But mark what I agreed3236 thee now. Avaunt!3237

963

Fly thither whence thou fled’st! If from this hour

964

Within these hallowed limits3238 thou appear,

965

Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained,

966

And seal 3239 thee so as henceforth not to scorn

967

The facile3240 gates of Hell too slightly barred.

968

   So threatened he, but Satan to no threats

969

Gave heed, but waxing3241 more in rage3242 replied:

970

   “Then when I am thy captive, talk of chains,

971

Proud limitary3243 Cherub! But ere then

972

Far heavier load 3244 thyself expect to feel

973

From my prevailing3245 arm, though Heaven’s King

974

Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers,3246

975

Used to the yoke, draw’st His triumphant wheels

976

In progress through the road of Heav’n star-

pav

977

   While thus he spoke, the angelic squadron bright

978

Turned fiery red, sharp’ning in moonèd horns3247

979

Their phalanx,3248 and began to hem him round

980

With ported 3249 spears, as thick as when a field

981

Of Ceres,3250 ripe for harvest, waving3251 bends

982

Her bearded grove of ears which way the wind

983

Sways3252 them. The careful ploughman doubting stands,

984

Lest on the threshing floor his hopeful sheaves3253

985

Prove chaff. On th’ other side, Satan, alarmed,3254

986

Collecting all his might, dilated 3255 stood,

987

Like Teneriffe 3256 or Atlas,3257 unremoved.3258

988

His stature reached the sky, and on his crest

989

Sat horror plumed,3259 nor wanted3260 in his grasp

990

What seemed both spear and shield. Now dreadful deeds

991

Might have ensued, nor only Paradise

992

In3261 this commotion, but the starry cope 3262

993

Of Heav’n, perhaps, or all the elements

994

At least had gone to wrack,3263 disturbed and torn

995

With violence of this conflict, had not soon3264

996

Th’ Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray,

997

Hung forth in Heav’n His golden scales,3265 yet 3266 seen

998

Betwixt Astrea3267 and the Scorpion sign,

999

Wherein all things created first He weighed,

1000

The pendulous round earth with balanced air

1001

In counterpoise, now ponders 3268 all events,

1002

Battles and realms. In these 3269 he put two weights,

1003

The sequel3270 each of parting 3271 and of fight.

1004

The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam,3272

1005

Which Gabriel spying, thus bespoke3273 the fiend:

1006

   “Satan, I know thy strength, and thou know’st mine

1007

Neither our own, but giv’n. What folly then

1008

To boast what arms can do? since thine no more

1009

Than Heav’n permits, nor mine, though doubled now

1010

To trample thee as mire. 3274 For proof look up,

1011

And read thy lot 3275 in yon celestial sign,

1012

Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak,

1013

If thou resist.” The fiend looked up, and knew3276

1014

His mounted scale aloft: nor more, but fled

1015

Murmuring, 3277 and with him fled the shades of