Here, happy creature, fair angelic Eve!

Lowly they bow'd adoring, and began
Partake thou also; happy though thou art, Their orisons, each morning duly paid
Happier thon may'st be, worthier canst not be: In various style ; for neither various style
Taste this, and be benceforth among the gods Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise
Thyself a goddess, not to Earth confin'd,

Their Maker, in fit strains pronounc'd, or sung
But sometimes in the air, as we, sometimes Unmeditated ; such prompt eloquence
Ascend to Heaven, by merit thine, and see Flow'd from their lips, in prose or numerous verse,
What life the gods live there, and such live thou.' | More tunable than needed lute or harp
So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held, To add more sweetness; and they thus began.
Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part “These are thy glorious works, Parent of good,
Which he had pluck'd: the pleasant savory smell Almighty! Thine this universal frame
So quicken'd appetite, that I, methought, Thus wondrous fair! Thyself how wondrous then.
Could not but taste. Forth with up to the clouds Unspeakable, who sitst above these Heavens
With him I flew, and underneath beheld

To us invisible, or dimly seen
The Earth outstretch'd immense, a prospect wide In these thy lowest works; yet these declare
And various : wondering at my flight and change Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine.
To this high exaltation : suddenly

Speak, ye who best can tell, ye sons of light,
My guide was gone, and I, methought, sunk down, Angels; for ye behold him, and with songs
And fell asleep; but O, how glad I wak'd And choral symphonies, day without night,
To find this but a dream!” Thus Eve her night Circle his throne rejoicing ; ye in Heaven.
Related, and thus Adam answer'd sad.

On Earth join, all ye creatures, to extol
“Best image of myself, and dearer half, Him first, him last, him midst, and without end,
The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep Fairest of stars, last in the train of night,
Affects me equally ; nor can I like

If better thou belong not to the dawn,
This uncouth dream, of evil sprung, I fear ; Sure pledge of day, that crown’st the smiling morn
Yet evil whence? in thee can harbor none, With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere,
Created pure. But know, that in the soul While day arises, that sweet hour of prime.
Are many lesser faculties, that serve

Thou Sun, of this great world both eye and soul,
Reason as chief, among these Fancy next

Acknowledge him thy greater; sound his praise Her office holds ; of all external things,

In thy eternal course, both when thou climb'si,
Which the five watchful senses represent, And when high noon hast gain'd, and when thou
She forms imaginations, aery shapes,

fall'st.
Which Reason, joining or disjoining, frames Moon, that now meet'st the orient Sun, now Aly'st
All what we affirm or what deny, and call With the fix'd stars, fix'd in their orb that flies;
Our knowledge or opinion; then retires

And ye five other wandering fires, that move
Into her private cell, when nature rests.

In mystic dance not without song, resound Oft in her absence mimic Fancy wakes

His praise, who out of darkness call'd up light.
To imitate her; but, misjoining shapes,

Air, and ye elements, the eldest birth
Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams; Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run
nl matching words and deeds long past or late. Perpetual circle, multiform; and mix
Some such resemblances, methinks, I find And nourish all things; let your ceaseless change
Of our last evening's talk, in this thy dream, Vary to our great Maker still new praise.
But with addition strange: yet be not sad. Ye mists and exhalations, that now rise
Evil into the mind of God or Man

From hill or streaming lake, dusky, or grey,
May come and go, so unapprov'd, and leave Till the Sun paint your fleecy skirts with gold,
No spot or blame behind : which gives me hope In honor to the World's great Author rise ;
That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream, Whether to deck with clouds the uncolor'd sky,
Waking thou never wilt consent to do.

Or wet the thirsty Earth with falling showers,
Be not dishearten'd then, nor cloud those looks, Rising or falling still advance his praise.
That wont to be more cheerful and serene, His praise, ye winds, that from four quarters blow,
Than when fair morning first smiles on the world : Breathe soft or loud; and wave your tops, ye pines
And let us to our fresh employments rise

With every plant, in sign of worship wave.
Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers Fountains, and ye that warble, as ye flow,
That open now their choicest bosom'd smells, Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.
Reserv'd from night, and kept for thee in store." Join voices, all ye living souls: ye birds,

So cheer'd he his fair spouse, and she was cheer'd; That singing up to Heaven-gate ascend,
But silently a gentle tear let fall

Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise
From either eye, and wip'd them with her hair; Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk
Two other precious drops that ready stood, The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep;
Each in their crystal sluice, he ere they fell Witness if I be silent, morn or even,
Kiss'd, as the gracious signs of sweet remorse To hill or valley, fountain, or fresh shade,
And pious awe, that fear'd to have offended. Made vocal by my song, and taught bis praise.

So all was clear’d, and to the field they haste. Hail, universal Lord, be bounteous still
But first, from under shady arborous roof To give us only good; and if the night
Soon as they forth were come to open sight Have gather'd aught of evil or conceald,
Of day-spring, and the Sun, who, scarce up-risen, Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark !"
With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean brim, So pray'd they innocent, and to their thoughts
Shot parallel to the Earth his dewy ray, Firm peace recover'd soon, and wonted calm.
Discovering in wide landscape all ihe east On to their morning's rural work they haste,
Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains,

Among sweet dews and dowers; where any row

Of fruit-trees over-woody reach'd too far Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round Their pamper'd boughs, and needed hands to check Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold Fruitless embraces: or they led the vine

And colors dipt in Heaven, the third his see To wed her elm; she, spous'd, about him twines Shadow'd from either heel with feather'd m Her marriageable arms, and with her brings Sky-tinetur'd grain. Like Maia's son he ste Her dower, the adopted clusters, to adorn

And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance His barren leaves. Them thus employ'd beheld The circuit wide. Straight know him all the With pity Heaven's high King, and to him call’d Of angels under watch ; and to his state, Raphaël, the sociable spirit, that deign'd

And to his message high, in honor rise; To travel with Tobias, and secur'd

For on some message high they guess'd him b His marriage with the seventimes-wedded maid. Their glittering tents he pass'd, and now is c “Raphaël,” said he, “thou hear'st what stir on Into the blissful field, through groves of myr Earth

And flowering odors, cassia, nard, and balm ; Satan, from Hell 'scap'd through the darksome gulf,| A wilderness of sweets; for Nature here Hath rais'd in Paradise ; and how disturb’d Wanton'd as in her prime, and play'd at will This night the human pair; how he designs ller virgin fancies, pouring forth more sweet, In them at once to ruin all mankind.

Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss. Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend Him through the spicy forest onward come Converse with Adam, in what bower or shade Adam discern'd, as in the door he sat Thou find'st him from the heat of noon retir'd, Of his cool bower, while now the mounted S To respite his day-labor with repast,

Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm Or with repose: and such discourse bring on, Earth's inmost womb, more warmth than A As may advise him of his happy state,

needs : Happiness in his power left free to will,

And Eve within, due at her hour prepar'd Left to his own free will, his will though free, For dinner sa vory fruits, of taste to please Yet mutable; whence warn him to beware True appetite, and not disrelish thirst He swerve not, too secure: tell him withal Of nectarous draughts between, from milky str His danger, and from whom; what enemy, Berry or grape: to whom thus Adam call'd. Late fall’n himself from Heaven, is plotting now “Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight be The fall of others from like state of bliss ; Eastward among those trees, what glorious sh By violence ? no, for that shall be withstood ; Comes this way moving; seems another morn But by deceit and lies: this let him know, Ris'n on mid-noon; some great behest from Her Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe Surprisal, unadmonish’d, unforewarn'd."

This day to be our guest. But go with speed, So spake the Eternal Father, and fulfillid And, what thy stores contain, bring forth and All justice: nor delay'd the winged saint

Abundance, fit to honor and receive After his charge receiv'd; but from among Our heavenly stranger; well we may afford Thousand celestial ardors, where he stood Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow Veild with his gorgeous wings up springing light From large bestow'd, where Nature multiplies Flew through the midst of Heaven; the angelic Her fertile growth, and by disburdening grow quires,

More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare." On each hand parting, to his speed gave way To whom thus Eve. "Adam, Earth's hallo Through all the empyreal road; till, at the gate

mould, Or Heaven arriv'd, the gate self-open'd wide Of God inspir'd! small store will serve, where st On golden hinges turning, as by work

All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk; Divine the sovran Architect had fram'd.

Save what by frugal storing firmness gains From hence, no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight, To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes: Star interpos'd, however small, he sees, But I will haste, and from each bough and bra! Not unconform to other shining globes,

Each plant and juiciest gourd, will pluck 8 Earth, and the garden of God, with cedars crown'd

choice Above all hills. As when by night the glass To entertain our angel-guest, as he or Galileo, less assur'd, observes

Beholding shall confess, that here on Earth Imagin'd lands and regions in the Moon : God hath dispens'd his bounties as in Heaven.' Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades

So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste Delos or Samos first appearing, kens

She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight What choice to choose for delicacy best, He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky What order so contriv'd as not to mix Sails between worlds and worlds, with steady wing, Tastes, not well join'd, inelegant, but bring Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change Winnows the buxom air; till, within soar Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk Of towering eagles, to all the fowls he seems Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields A phenix, gaz'd by all, as that sole bird,

In India East or West, or middle shore When, to enshrine his relics in the Sun's

In Pontus or the Punic coast, or where Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies. Alcinous reign'd, fruit of all kinds, in coat At once on the eastern cliff of Paradise Rough, or smooth rind, or bearded husk, or shel Hv lights, and to his proper shape returns She gathers, tribute large, and on the board A seraph wing'd: six wings he wore, to shade Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the grape His lineaments divine; the pair that clad

She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths Each shoulder broad, came mantling o'er his breast From many a berry, and from sweet kernels press With regal ornament; the middle pair

She tempers dulcet creams; nor these to hold

MILTON

60

Wants her fit vessels pure; then strows the ground Earth and the sea feed air, the air those fires
With rose and ,odors from the shrub unfum'd. Ethereal, and as lowest first the Moon ;

Meanwhile our primitive great sire, to meet Whence in her visage round those spois, unpurg'8
His godlike guest, walks forth, without more train Vapors not yet into her substance turn'd.
Accompanied than with his own complete Nor doth the Moon no nourishment exhale
Perfections; in himself was all his state,

From her moist continent to higher orbs.
More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits The Sun, that light imparts to all, receives
On princes, when their rich retinue long From all his alimental recompense
Of horses led, and grooms besmear'd with gold, In humid exhalations, and at even
Dazzles the crowd, and sets them all agape. Sups with the Ocean. Though in Heaven the trees
Nearer his presence Adam, though not aw'd, Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines
Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek, Yield nectar; though from off the boughs each morn
As to a superior nature, bowing low,

We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground
Thus said. “Native of Heaven, for other place Cover'd with pearly grain : yet God hath here
None can than Heaven such glorious shape contain; Varied his bounty so with new delights,
Since, by descending from the thrones above, As may compare with Heaven; and to taste
Those happy places thou hast deign'd awhile Think not I shall be nice.” So down they sat,
To want, and honor, these, vouchsafe with us And to their viands fell; nor seemingly
Two only, who yet by sovran gift possess The angel, nor in mist, the common gloss
This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower of theologians; but with keen dispatch
To rest, and what the garden choicest bears of real hunger, and concoctive heat
To sit and taste, till this meridian heat

To transubstantiate : what redounds, transpires
Be over, and the Sun more cool decline."

Through spirits with ease; nor wonder; is by fire
Whom thus the angelic virtue answer'd mild. Of sooty coal the empiric alchymist
"Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou such Can turn, or holds it possible to turn,
Created, or such place hast here to dwell, Metals of drossiest ore to perfect gold,
As may not oft invite, though spirits of Heaven, As from the mine. Meanwhile at table Eve
To visit thee; lead on then where thy bower Minister'd naked, and their flowing cups
O’ershades; for these mid-hours, till evening rise, With pleasant liquors crown'd: 0 innocence
I have at will.” So to the sylvan lodge

Deserving Paradise! if ever, then,
They came, that like Pomona's arbor smil'd, Then had the sons of God excuse to have been
With flowerets deck'd, and fragrant smells; but Enamor'd at that sight; but in those hearts
Eve,

Love unlibidinous reign’d, nor jealousy
Undeck'd save with herself more lovely fair Was understood, the injur'd lover's Hell.
Than wood-nymph, or the fairest goddess feign'd Thus when with meats and drinks they had suffic'd
Of three that in mount Ida naked strove,

Not burthen'd nature, sudden mind arose
Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven; no veil In Adam, not to let the occasion pass
She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm Given him by this great conference to know
Alter'd her cheek. On whom the angel Hail Of things above his world, and of their being
Bestow'd, the holy salutation us'd

Who dwell in Heaven, whose excellence he saw
Long after to blest Mary, second Evo.

Transcend his own so far; whose radiant forms,
"Hail, Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful womb Divine effulgence, whose high power, so far
Shall fill the world more numerous with thy sons, Exceeded human: and his wary speech
Than with these various fruits the trees of God Thus to the empyreal minister he fram’d.
Have heap'd this table.”—Rais'd of grassy turf "Inhabitant with God, now know I well
Their table was, and mossy seats had round, Thy favor, in this honor done to man;
And on her ample square from side to side Under whose lowly roof thou hast vouchsaf d
All autumn, pild, though Spring and Autumn here To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste,
Danc'd hand in hand. Awhile discourse they hold; Food not of angels, yet accepted so,
No fear lest dinner cool; when thus began As that more willingly thou couldst not seem
Our author. “Ileavenly stranger, please to taste At Heaven's high feasts to have fed: yet wha*
These bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom

compare ?"
All perfect good, unmeasur'd out, descends,

To whom the winged hierarch replied.
To us for food and for delight hath caus'd "O Adam, one Almighty is, from whom
The Earth to yield; unsavory food perhaps All things proceed, and up to him return,
To spiritual natures; only this I know,

If not deprav'd from good, created all
That one celestial Father gives to all.”

Such to perfection, one first matter all,
To whom the angel. “Therefore what he gives Endued with various forms, various degree
(Whose praise be ever sung) to Man in part Of substance, and, in things that live, of life;
Spiritual, may of purest spirits be found

But more refin'd, more spirituous, and pure,
No ingrateful food; and food alike ihose pure As nearer to him plac'd, or nearer tending
Intelligential substances require,

Each in their several active spheres assign'd,
As doth your rational; and both contain

Till body up to spirit work, in bounds
Within ihem every lower faculty

Proportion'd to each kind. So from the root
Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste, Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the
Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate,

leaves
And corporeal to incorporeal turn.

last the bright consummate flower
For know, whatever was created, needs

Spirits odorous breathes : fowers and their fruit,
To be sustain'd and fed : of elements

Man's nourishment, by gradual scale sublim'd,
The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea, To vital spirits aspire, to animal,

C

More aery,

now rests

To intellectual ; give both life and sense,

Hath pass'd in Heaven, some doubts within Fancy and understanding; whence the soul

move, Reason receives, and reason is her being,

But more desire to hear, if thou consent, Discursive, or intuitive; discourse

The full relation, which must needs be strange, Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours,

Worthy of sacred silence to be heard ; Differing but in degree, of kind the same. And we have yet large day, for scarce the Sun Wonder not then, what God for you saw good Hath finish'd half his journey, and scarce begins If I refuse not, but convert, as you,

His other half in the great zone of Heaven.” To proper substance. Time may come, when men Thus Adam made request: and Raphaël, With angels may participate, and find

After short pause assenting, thus began. No inconvenient diet, nor too light fare;

“High matter thou enjoin'st me, I prime of me And from these corporal nutriments perhaps Sad task and hard : for how shall I relate Your bodies may at last turn all to spirit,

To human sense the invisible exploits Improv'd by tract of time, and, wing'd, ascend Of warring spirits? how, without remorse, Ethereal, as we: or may, at choice,

The ruin of so many glorious once Here or in heavenly Paradises dwell;

And perfect while they stood ? how last unfold If ye be found obedient, and retain

The secrets of another world, perhaps Unalterably firm his love entire,

Not lawful to reveal ? yet for thy good Whose progeny you are.

Meanwhile enjoy This is dispens'd ; and what surmounis the reach Your fill what happiness this happy state

Of human sense, I shall delineate so, Can comprehend, incapable of more.”

By likening spiritual to corporal forms, To whom the patriarch of mankind replied. As may express them best; though what if Earth ( favorable spirit, propitious guest,

Be but the shadow of Heaven, and things therein Well hast thou taught the way that might direct Each to other like, more than on Earth is thought Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set

“ As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild From centre to circumference; whereon,

Reign'd where these Heavens now roll, where Car In contemplation of created things, By steps we may ascend to God. But say, Upon her centre pois’d ; when on a day What meant that caution join'd, If ye be found (For time, though in eternity, applied Obedient? Can we want obedience then

To motion, measures all things durable To him, or possibly his love desert,

| By present, past, and future,) on such day Who form'd us from the dust, and plac'd us here As Heaven's great year brings forth, the empyre Full to the utmost measure of what bliss

host Human desires can seek or apprehend ?"

Of angels by imperial summons callid, To whom the angel. Son of Heaven and Earth, Innumerable before the Almighty's throne, Attend: that thou art happy, owe to God ; Forthwith, from all the ends of Heaven, appear'd That thou continuest such, owe to thyself, Under their hierarchs in orders bright: That is, to thy obedience; therein stand.

Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanc'd. This was that caution given thee, be advis’d. Standards and gonfalons 'twixt van and rear God made thee perfect, not immutable;

Stream in the air, and for distinction serve
And good he made thee; but to persevere

Or hierarchies, of orders, and degrees;
He left it in thy power; ordain'd thy will Or in their glittering tissues bear emblaz'd
By nature free, not over-ruld by fate

Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love
Inextricable, or strict necessity :

Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs Our voluntary service he requires,

Of circuit inexpressible they stood,
Not our necessitated ; such with him

Orb within orb, the Father Infinite,
Finds no acceptance, nor can find; for how By whom in bliss embosom'd sat the Son,
Can hearts, not free, be tried whether they serve Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top
Willing or no, who will but what they must Brightness had made invisible, thus spake.
By destiny, and can no other choose ?

• Hear, all ye angels, progeny of light,
Myself, and all the angelic host, that stand Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, powers,
In sight of God enthron’d, our happy state Hear my decree, which unrevok'd shall stand.
Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds ; This day I have begot whom I declare
On other surety none : freely we serve,

My only Son, and on this holy hill Because we freely love, as in our will

Him have anointed, whom ye now behold To love or not; in this we stand or fall:

At my right hand; your head I him appoint; And some are fall'n, to disobedience fallin, And by myself have sworn, to him shall bow And so from Heaven to deepest Hell; O fall All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord : From what high state of bliss, into what woe !" Under his great vicegerent reign abide

'To whom our great progenitor. “ Thy words United, as one individual soul, Attentive, and with more delighted ear,

For ever happy: him who disobeys,
Divine instructer, I have heard, than when Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day,
Cherubic songs by night from neighboring hills Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls
Aërial music send: nor knew I not

Into utter darkness, deep ingulf'd, his place
To be both will and deed created free ;

Ordaind without redemption, without end.' Yet that we never shall forget to love

“ So spake the Omnipotent, and with his words Our Maker, and obey him whose command All seern'd well pleas'd; all seemd, but were not all Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts That day, as other solenin days, they spent Assur'd me, and still assure: though what thou In song and dance about the sacred hill: tellist

Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere

of planets, and of fix'd, in all her wheels The quarters of the north ; there to prepare Resembles nearest, mazes intricate,

Fit entertainment to receive our King, Eccentric, intervolvid, yet regular

The great Messiah, and his new commands,
Then most, when most irregular they seem ; Who speedily through all the hierarchies
And in their motions Harmony divine

Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws.'
So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear · So spake the false archangel, and infus'd
Lisiens delighted. Evening now approach'd, Bad influence into the unwary breast
(For we have also our evening and our morn, of his associate: he together calls,
We ours for change delectable, not need ;)

Or several one by one, the regent powers,
Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn Under him regent; tells, as he was taught,
Desirous; all in circles as they stood,

That the Most High commanding, now ere night Tables are set, and on a sudden pild

Now ere dim night had disencumber'd Heaven,
With angel's food, and rubied nectar flows The great hierarchal standard was to move;
In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold,

Tells the suggested cause, and casts between
Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven. Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound
On flowers repos'd and with fresh flowerets crown'd, Or taint integrity: but all obey'd
They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet The wonted signal, and superior voice
Quaff immortality and joy, secure

of their great potentate ; for great indeed
Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds His name, and high was his decree in Heaven ;
Excess, before the all-bounteous King, who shower'd His countenance, as the morning-star that guides
With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy.

The starry flock, allur'd them, and with lies Now when ambrosial night with clouds exhald Drew after him the third part of Heaven's host. From that high mount of God, whence light and shade Meanwhile the Eternal Eye, whose sight discerns Spring both, the face of brightest Heaven had Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount, chang'd

And from within the golden lamps that burn To grateful twilight, (for night comes not there Nightly before him, saw without their light In darker veil,) and roseate dews dispos'd

Rebellion rising, saw in whom, how spread All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest;

Among the sons of morn, what multitudes
Wide over all the plain, and wider far

Were banded to oppose his high decree;
Than all this globous Earth in plain outspread, And, smiling, to his only Son thus said.
(Such ere the courts of God,) the angelic throng « « Son, thou in whom my glory I behold
Dispers'd in bands and files, their camp extend In full resplendence, heir of all my might,
By living streams among the trees of life,

Nearly it now concerns us to be sure
Pavilions numberless, and sudden rear'd,

Of our omnipotence, and with what arms
Celestial tabernacles, where they slept [course We mean to hold what anciently we claim
Fann'd with cool winds; save those, who, in their Of deity or empire : such a foe
Melodious hymns about the sovran throne

Is rising, who intends to erect his throne
Alternate all night long: but not so wak'd

Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north : Satan; so call him now, his former name

Nor so content, hath in his thought to try Is heard no more in Heaven; he of the first, In battle, what our power is, or our right. If not the first archangel, great in power,

Let us advise, and to this hazard draw In favor and pre-eminence, yet fraught

With speed what force is left, and all employ With envy against the Son of God, that day In our defence ; lest unawares we lose Honor'd by his great Father, and proclaim'd This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill.' Messiah King anointed, could not bear

" To whom the Son with calm aspéct and clear Through pride that sight, and thought himself impair’d. Lightening divine, ineffable, serene, Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, Made answer. •Mighty Father, thou thy foes Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour Justly hast in derision, and, secure, Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolv'd Laugh'st at their vain designs and tumults vain, With all his legions to dislodge, and leave Matter to me of glory, whom their hate Unworshipt, unobey'd, the throne supreme, Illustrates, when they see all regal power Contemptuous; and his next subordinate

Given me to quell their pride, and in event Awakening, thus to him in secret spake :

Know whether I be dextrous to subdue “. Sleep'st thou, companion dear? What sleep can-Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven." close

“So spake the Son; but Satan, with his powers T'hy eyelids ? and remember'st what decree Far was advanc'd on winged speed; an host Of yesterday, so late hath pass'd the lips

Innumerable as the stars of night,
of Heaven's Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the Sun
Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart ; Impearls on every leaf and every flower.
Both waking we were one: how then can now Regions they pass'd, the mighty regencies
Thy sleep dissent? New laws thou see'st impos'd; Of seraphim, and potentates, and thrones,
New laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise In their triple degrees ; regions to which
In us who serve, new counsels, to debate

All thy dominion, Adam, is no more
What doubtful may ensue: more in this place Than what this garden is to all the earth,
To utter is not safe. Assemble thou

And all the sea, from one entire globose
of all those myriads which we lead the chief; Stretch'd into longitude; which having passid,
Tell them, thai by command, ere yet dim night At length into the limits of the north
Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste,
And all who under me their banners wave,

They came ; and Satan to his royal seat

High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount Homeward, with flying march, where we possess Rais'd on a mount, with pyramids and tower