First Father, call'd by thee I come thy guide To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepar'd. So saying, by the hand he took me rais'd, And over fields and waters, as in air Smooth sliding without step, last led me up A woody mountain; whose high top was plain, A circuit wide, inclos'd, with goodliest trees Planted, with walks, and bow'rs, that what I [tree Of earth before scarce pleasant seem'd. Each Loaden with fairest fruit, that hung to th' eye Tempting, stirr'd in me sudden appetite To pluck and eat: whereat I wak'd, and found Before mine eyes all real, as the dream Had lively shadow'd: Here had new begun My wand'ring, had not he who was my guide Up hither, from among the trees appear'd, Presence divine. Rejoicing, but with awe, In adoration at his feet I fell
Submiss he rear'd me, and whom thou
Said mildly, Author of all thou seest Above, or round about thee, or beneath. This Paradise I give thee, count it thine To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat : Of every tree that in the garden grows Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth; But of the tree whose operation brings Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith, Amid the garden by the tree of life,
Remember that I warn thee, shun to taste, And shun the bitter consequence: for know, The day thou eat'st thereof, my sole command Transgress'd, inevitably thou shalt die, From that day mortal, and this happy state Shalt lose, expell'd from hence into a world Of woe and sorrow. Sternly he pronounc'd The rigid interdiction, which resounds Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice Not to incur; but soon his clear aspect Return'd, and gracious purpose thus renew'd. Not only these fair bounds, but all the earth To thee and to thy race I give; as lords Possess it, and all things that therein live, Or live in sea, or air, beast, fish, and fowl. In sign whereof each bird and beast behold After their kinds; I bring them to receive From thee their names, and pay thee feälty With low subjection; understand the same Of fish within their wat'ry residence, Not hither summon'd, since they cannot change Their element to draw the thinner air. As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold Approaching two and two, these cow'ring low With blandishment, each bird stoop'd on his wing.
I nam d them, as they pass'd, and understood Their nature, with such knowledge God indued
My sudden apprehension: but in these I found not what methought I wanted still; And to the heav'nly vision thus presum'd.
O by what name, for thou above all these, Above mankind, or ought than mankind higher,
Surpassest far my naming, how may I Adore thee, Author of this universe,
And all this good to man? for whose well being So amply, and with hands so liberal Thou hast provided all things: but with me I see not who partakes. In solitude What happiness, who can enjoy alone, Or all enjoying, what contentment find? Thus I presumptuous; and the vision bright, As with a smile more brighten'd, thus reply'd. What call'st thou solitude? Is not the earth With varions living creatures, and the air Replenish'd, and all these at thy command To come and play before thee? Know'st thou [know, Their language and their ways? They also And reason not contemptibly; with these Find pastime, and bear rule; thy realm is large.
So spake the universal Lord, and seem'd So ord'ring. I with leave of speech implor'd, And humble deprecation thus reply'd.
Let not my words offend thee, heav'nly
My Maker, be propitious while I sprak. Hast thou uot made me here thy substitute, And these inferior far beneath me set? Among unequals what society Can sort, what harmony and true delight? Which must be mutual, in proportion due Giv'n and receiv'd; but in disparity The one intense, the other still remiss Cannot snit well with either, but soon prove Tedious alike: of fellowship I speak Such as I seek, fit to participate. All rational delight, wherein the brute Cannot be human consort; they rejoice Each with their kind, lion with lioness; So fitly them in pairs thou hast combin'd; Much less can bird with beast, or fish with
So well converse, nor with the ox the ape; Worse then can man with beast, and least of all. [pleas'd. Whereto th' Almighty answer'd not dis- A nice and subtle happiness I see Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice Of thy associates, Adam, and wilt taste No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary. What think'st thou then of me, and this my
Seem I to thee sufficiently possess'd Of happiness, or not? Who am alone
From all eternity, for none I know Second to me or like, equal much less. How have I then with whom to hold converse Save with the creatures I have made, and those To me inferior, infinite descents Beneath what other creatures are to thee?
He ceas'd, I lowly answer'd. To attain The heighth and depth of thy eternal ways All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things;
Thou in thyself are perfect, and in thee Is no deficience found: not so is man, But in degree the cause of his desire By conversation with his like to help,
Or solace his defects. No need that thou Shouldst propagate, already infinite, And through all numbers absolute, though
Thus I imbolden'd spake, and freedom us'd Permissive, and acceptance found, which gain'd This answer from the gracious voice divine.
Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleas'd, And find thee kuowing not of beasts alone, Which thou had rightly nam'd, but of thyself, Expressing well the spirit within thee free, My image, not imparted to the brute, Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee Good reason was thou freely shoul'dst dislike And be so minded still; I, e'er thou spak'st, Knew it not good for man to be alone, And no such company as then thou saw'st Intended thee, for trial only brought,
To see how thou could'st judge of fit and meet: What next I bring shall please thee, be assur'd, Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self, Thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire.
He ended, or I heard no more, for now My earthly by his heav'nly overpower'd Which it had long stood under, strain'd to th' heighth
In that celestial colloquy sublime, As with an object that excels the sense Dazzled and spent, sunk down, and sought repair
Of Sleep, which instantly fell on me, call'd
By Nature as in aid, and elos'd mine eyes. Mine eyes he clos'd, but open left the cell Of fancy my internal sight, by which Abstract as in a trance methought I saw, Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape
Still glorious before whom awake I stood: Who stooping open'd my left side, and took From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm, And life blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound,
But suddenly with flesh fill'd up and heal'd : The rib he form'd and fashion'd with his hands; Under his forming hands a creature grew Manlike, but different sex, so lovely fair, That what seem'd fair in all the world, seem'd
Mean, or in her summ'd up, in her contain'd And in her looks, which from that time infus'd Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before And into all things from her air inspir'd The spirit of love and amorous delight. She disappear'd, and left me dark; I wak'd To find her, or for ever to deplore
Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure: When out of hope, behold her, not far off, Such as I saw her in my dream, adorn'd With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow To make her amiable: on she came, Led by her heav'aly Maker, though unseen, And guided by his voice, nor uninform'd Of nuptial sanctity and marriage rius: Grace was in all her steps, Heav'n to her eye, In every gesture diguity and love. I overjoy'd could not forbear aloud..
This turn bath made amends; thou hast fulfill'd
Thy words, Creator bounteous and benige, Giver of all things fair, but fairest this Of all thy gifts, nor enviest. I now see Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myscif Before me; Woman is her name, of Man Extracted; for this cause he shall forego Father and mother, and to his wife adhere; And they shall be one flesh, one keart, one soul. She heard me thus, and though divinely brought,
Yet innocence and virgin modesty,
Her virtue and the couscience of her worth, That would be woo'd, and not unsough be
Not obvious, not obtrusive, but retir'd, The more desirable, or to say all, Nature herself, though pure of siuful thought, Wrought in her so, that seeing me, she turn'd; I follow'd her, she what was honor knew, And with obsequious majesty approv'd My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower I led her blushing like the Moru: all Heav'n,
And happy constellations on that hour Shed their selectest influence; the Earth Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill; Joyous the birds; fresh gates and gentle airs Whisper'd it to the woods, and from their wings Flung rose, Aung odors from the spicy srub, Disporting till the amorous bird of night Suug spousal, and bid haste the evening star On his hill top, to light the bridal lamp. Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought My story to the sum of earthly bliss Which I enjoy, and must confess to find lo all things else delight indeed, but such As us'd or not, works in the mind no change, Nor vehement desire, these delicacies
Thy cherishing, thy honoring, and thy love, Not thy subjection: weigh with her thyself; Then value: oft-times nothing profits more Than self esteem, grounded on just and right Well manag'd; of that skill the more thou know'st,
The more she will acknowledge thee her head, And to realities yield all her shows: Made so adorn for thy delight the more, So awful, that with honour thou may'st love Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise.
But if the sense of touch whereby mankind Is propagated seem such dear delight Beyond all other, think the same vouchsaf'd
I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and To cattle and each beast; which would not be
Walks, and the melody of birds; but here Far otherwise, transported I behold, Transported touch; here passion first I felt, Commotion strange, in all enjoyment else Superior and unmov'd, here only weak Against the charm of Beauty's powerful glance. Or Nature fair'd in me, and left some part Not proof enough such object to sustain, Or from my side subducting, took perhaps More than enough; at least on her bestow'd Too much of ornament, in outward show Elaborate, of inward less exact.
For well I understand in the prime end Of Nature ber th' inferior, in the mind And inward faculties which most excel, In outward also her resembling less His image who made both, and less expressing The character of that dominion given O'er other creatures; yet when i approach Her loveliness, so absolute she seems And in herself complete, so well to know Her own, that what she wills to do or say Seems wisest, virtuonsest, discreetess, best; All higher knowledge'm her presence falls Degraded, Wisdom in discourse with her Loses disconntenanc'd, and like Folly shows; Authority and Reason on her wait, As one intended first, not after made Occasionally; and to consummate all, Greatness of mind, and Nobleness their seat Build in her loveliest, and create an awe About her, as a guard angelic plac'd.
To whom the angel with contracted brow. Accuse not Nature, she hath done her part; Do thou but thine, and be not diffident Of Wisdom, she deserts thee not, if thou Dismiss not her, when most thou need'st her nigh,
By attributing overmuch to things Less excellent, as thou thyself perceiv'st. For what admir'st thou, what transports thee so, An outside? fair no doubt, and worthy well
To them made common and divulg'd, if ought Therein enjoy'd were worthy to subdue The soul of man, or passion in him move. What higher in her society thou find'st Attractive, human, rational, love still; In loving thou dost well, in passion not, Wherein true love consists not; Love refines The thoughts, and heart in larges, hath his seat In reason, and is judicious, is the scale By which to heav'nly love thou may'st ascend, Not sunk in carnal pleasure, for which cause Among the beasts no mate for thee was found.
To whom thus half abash'd Adam reply'd: Neither her outside form'd so fair, nor ought In procreation common to all kinds (Though higher of the genial bed by far, And with mysterious reverence I deem) So much delights me, as those graceful acts, Those thousand decencies that daily flow From all her words and actions inix'd with love And sweet compliance, which declare unfeigu Union of mind, or in us both one soul; Harmony to behold in wedded pair Mo e grateful than harmonious sound to th
Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose What inward thence I feel, not therefore foil'd, What mect with various objects, from the sense Variously representing; yet still free Approve the best, and follow what I approve. To love thou blam'st me not, for love thou say'st Lead'st up to Heav'n, is both the way and [guide; Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask} Love not the heav'nly spirits, and how their
frradiance, virtual or immediate touch? Express they, by looks only, or do they mix
To whom the angel with a smile that glow'd Celestial rosy red, Love's proper hue, Answer'd. Let it suffice thee that thou know'st Us happy, and without love no happiness. Whatever pure thon in the body enjoy'st
(And pure thou wert created) we enjoy In eminence, and obstacle And none
Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars; Easier than air with air, if spirits embrace, Total they mix, union of pure with pure Desiring; nor restrain'd conveyance need As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul. But I can now no more; the parting sun Deyoud the Earth's green cape and verdant isles
Hesperian sets, my signal to depart.
The weal or woe in thee is plac'd; beware, I in thy persevering shall rejoice,
And all the Blest: stand fast; to stand or fall Free in thine on arbitrement it lies, Perfect within, no outward aid require; And all temptation to transgress repel.
So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus Follow'd with bencdictions: Since to part, Go heav'nly guest, ethereal messenger, Sent from whose sov'reign goodness I adore. Gentle to me and affable hath been
Be strong, live happy, and love, but first of all Thy condescension, and shall be honor'd ever Him whom to love is to obey, and keep
His great command; take heed lest passion
Thy judgment to do ought, which else free will Would not admit; thine and of all thy sons
With grateful memory: thou to mankind Be good and friendly still, and oft return. So parted they, the angel up to Heav'n From the thick shade, and Adain to his bower.
Satan having compassed the Earth, with meditated guile returns as a mist by night into Paradise, enters into the serpent sleeping. Adam and Eve in the morning go forth to their labours, which Eve proposes to divide in several places, each labouring apart: Adam consents not, alledging the danger, lest that enemy, of whom they were forwarned, should attempt her, found alone: Eve, loath to be thought not circumspect or firm enough, urges her going apart, the rather desirous to make trial of her strength; Adam at length yields: The Serpent finds her alone; his subtle approach, fiist gazing, then speaking, with much flattery extolling Eve above all other creatures. Eve, wondering to hear the Serpent speak, asks how he attained to human speech and understanding not till now, the Serpent answers, that by tasting of a certain tree in the garden he attained both to speech and reason, till then void of both: Eve requires him to bring her to that tree, and finds it to be the Tree of Knowledge forbidden: The Serpent now grown bolder, with many wiles and arguments induces her at length to eat; she pleased with the taste, deliberates a while whether to impart thereof to Adam or not, at last brings him of the fruit, relates what had persuaded ber to eat thereof: Adam at first amazed, but perceiving her lost, resolves through vehemence of love to perish with her; and extenuating the trespass, eats also of the fruit: The effects thereof in them both; they seek to cover their wakedness; then fall to variance and accusation of one another.
Να more of talk where God or angel guest With man, as with his friend, familiar us'd To sit indulgent, and with him partake Rural repast, permitting him the while Venial discourse unblam'd; I now must change Those notes to tragic; foul distrust, and breach
Disloyal on the part of man, revolt, And disobedience: on the part of Heav'n Now alienated, distance and distate, Anger and just rebuke, and judgment giv'n, That brought into this world a world of woe, Sin and her shadow Death, aud Misery Death's harbinger: sad task, yet argument Not less but more heroic than the wrath Of stern Achilles on his foe pursu'd Thrice fugitive about Troy wall: or rage Of Turnus for Lavinia disespous'd, Or Neptune's ire or Juno's, that so long Perplex'd the Greck and Cytherea's son ; If answerable still I can obtain
Of my celestial Patroness, who deigns Her nightly visitation unimplor'd, And dictates to me slumb'ring, or inspires Easy my unpremeditated verse: Since first this subject for heroic song Pleas'd me long chesing, and beginning late; Not sedulous by nature to indite Wars, hitherto the only argument Heroic deem'd, chicf mastry to dissect With long and tedious havoc fabled knights In battles feign'd; the better fortitude Of Patience and heroic Martyrdom Unsung; or to decide races and games, Or tilting furniture, imblazon'd shields, Impresses quaint, caparisons and steeds; Bases and tinsel trappings, gorgeous knights At joust and tournament, then marshal'd fcast
Serv'd up in hall with sewers, and senesballs; The skill of artifice or office mean, Not that which justly gives heroic name
To person or to poem. Me of these Nor skill'd nor studious, higher argument Remains, sufficient of itself to raise
That nanie, unless an age too late, or cold Climate, or years damp my intended wing Depress'd, and much they may, if all be mine, Not hers who brings it nightly to my ear.
The sun was sunk, and after him the star Of Hesperus, whose office is to bring Twilight upon the Earth, short arbiter Twixt day and night, and now from end to end Night's hemisphere had veil'd th' horizon
When Satan who late fled before the threats Of Gabriel out of Eden, now improv'd In meditated fraud and malice bent
Active within beyond the sense of brute. Thus he resolv'd, but first from inward grief His bursting passion into plaints thus pour'd.
O Earth, how like to Heav'n, if not preferr'd More justly, seat of worthier gods, as built With second thoughts, reforming what was
For what God after better worse would build? Terrestrial Heav'n, dauc'd round by other [lamp That shine, yet bear their bright officious Light above light, for thee alone, as seems In thee concentrating all their precious beams Of sacred influence! As God in Heav'n Is center, yet extends to all, so thou Centring receiv'st from all those orbs; in thee,
On man's destruction, maugre what might hap Not in themselves, all their known virtue ap. Of heavier on himself, fearless return'd. By night he fled, and at midnight return'd. From compassing the Earth, cautious of day, Since Uriel regent of the sun descry'd His entrance, and forwarn'd the cherubim That kept their watch; thence full of anguish driv❜n,
The space of sev'n continued nights he rode With Darkness, thrice the equinoctial line He circled, four times cross'd the ear of Night From pole to pole, traversing each colure; On th' eighth returu'd, and on the coast averse From entrance or cherubic watch, by stealth Found unsuspected way. There was a place, Now not, tho' Sin, not Time, first wrought the change,
Where Tigris at the foot of Paradise Into a gulf shot under ground, till part Rose up a fountain by the Tree of Life; In which the river sunk, aud with it rose Satan involv'd in rising mist, then sought Where to lie hid; sea he had search'd and land From Eden over Pontus, and the pool Mæotis, up beyond the river Ob; Downward as far as antarctic; and in length West from Orontes to the ocean barr'd
At Darien, thence to the land where flows Ganges and Indus: thus the orb he roam'd With narrow search, and with inspection deep,|| Consider'd every creature, which of all
pears Productive in herb, plant, and nobler birth Of creatures animate with gradual life Of growth, sense, reason, all summ'd up in man. With what delight could I have waik'd thee round,
If I could joy in ought, sweet interchange Of hill, and valley, rivers, woods, and plains, Now land, now sea, and shores with forest crown'd
Rocks, dens, and caves! but I in none of these Find place or refuge; and the more I see Pleasures about me, so much more I feel Torment within me, as from the hateful siege Of contrarics; all good to me becomes Bane, and in Heav'n much worse would be my
But neither here seek 1, no nor in Heav'n To dwell, unless by mastering Heav'n's Su- preme;
Nor hope to be myself less miserable By what I seek, but others to make such As I, though thereby worse to me redound: For whom all this was made, all this will soon Follow, as to him link'd in weal or woe, In woe then; that Destruction wide may range: To me shall be the glory sole among Th' infernal Pow'rs, in one day to have marr'd What he Almighty styľ'd, six nights and days Continued making, and who knows how long
Most opportune might serve his wiles, and Before had been contriving, though perhaps
The serpent subtlest beast of all the field, Hin after long debate, irresolute
Of thoughts revolv'd, his final sentence chose Fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom To enter, and his dark suggestions hide, From sharpest sight: for in the wily snake, Whatever sleights none would suspicious mark, As from his wit and native subtlety Proceeding, which in other beasts observ'd Doubt might beget of diabolic power
Not longer than since I in one night freed From servitude inglorious well nigh half Th' angelic name, and thinner left the throng Of his adorers: he to be aveng'd And to repair his numbers thus impair'd, Whether such virtue spent of old now fail'd More Angels to create if they at least Are his created, or to spite us more, Determin'd to advance into our room And creature form'd of earth, and him endow, Exalted from so base original,
« AnteriorContinuar » |