Paradise Lost

Heav'n URANIA

u art call'd, wh

ove th' OLYMPIA

flight of PE

not the Name

Muses nine, n

S dwell'st, but

lls appeerd, or

ernal wisdom d

ister, and wit

f th' Almightie

lestial Song.

'n of Heav'ns I

uest, and drawn

with like safe

to my Nati

s flying Steed u

, though from

on th' ALEIA

here to wander

ines unsung, bu

visible Diu

arth, not rapt

ing with mortal

ute, though fall

though fall'n, a

and with danger

e; yet not al

slumbers Night

ast: still gove

fit audience f

r off the barba

and his Revel

Rout that tore t

here Woods and

till the savag

Voice; nor could

ail not thou, w

Heav'nlie, shee

s, what ensu'd

Arch-angel,

dire examp

by what bef

states, least

se to ADAM

to touch the i

ess, and slight t

obeyd amid

else to pleas

ing. He with h

eard attentive

tion, and dee

h and strange, thi

nable as hat

neer the Peace

onfusion: but

redounded as a

t sprung, imp

ess. Whence ADA

at in his heart

sinless, with

ight concern hi

Earth conspicu

ereof created,

n EDEN or wi

memorie, as o

y'd still eyes th

murmur heard ne

us to ask his

, and full of wo

from this World,

erpreter, by

the Empyrean

hat might else h

human knowledg

o the infinit

anks, and his

h solemne pur

his sovran w

e. But since th

our instruc

arthly thought,

as to highest

scend now low

less perhaps a

an this Heav'n

igh, with movi

and this which

e ambient Aire

nd this florid

Creator in h

Eternitie so

nd the work b

unforbid thou

t to explore t

rnal Empire,

his works, the

Light of Day y

ce though steep,

ice, thy potent

ill delay to h

tion, and th

from the una

tarr of Eevni

udience, Night w

leep listning to

d his absence,

iss thee ere th

illustrous G

e Godlike Angel

hy request wi

ugh to recount

tongue of Sera

man suffice

canst attain, wh

ie the Make

ppier, shall n

, such Commis

av'd, to answ

within bounds

let thine own

eal'd, which th'

ient, hath sup

unicable in Ea

ft besides to

is as food, an

nce over Appe

hat the mind m

se with Surfet

lly, as Nouris

that after LUCI

brighter once

en that Starr t

flaming Legions

ce, and the gr

ith his Saints

her from his

de, and to his

envious Foe hath

self rebelliou

sible high str

supream, u

o have seis'd,

m thir place kno

greater part ha

, Heav'n yet p

cient to posse

and this high T

eries due and

s heart exalt

, to have disp

ondly deem'd,

ent, if such

and in a mome

rld, out of

umerable, th

ll by degrees

themselves at

under long ob

ang'd to Heavn, &

, Joy and uni

habit laxe, ye

Word, begott

rm, speak thou

ing Spirit and

, ride forth,

ted bounds be H

e Deep, becaus

, nor vacuou

ircumscrib'd m

orth my goodnes

not, Necessi

mee, and what

Almightie, and

e Filial Godhe

e the Acts of

r motion, but

ut process of

earthly notio

h and rejoycin

eard declar'd the

ung to the most

, and in thir d

im whose just

ut th' ungodly

itations of t

aise, whose wis

f evil to cr

aligne a bette

cant room, and

Worlds and A

ierarchies: Mea

t Expedition

ipotence, with

Divine, Sapi

all his Fathe

ariot numberle

eraph, Potenta

nged Spirits, and

ury of God, whe

en two brazen M

olemn day, ha

quipage; and

for within th

thir Lord: He

ring Gates, H

inges moving,

Glorie in hi

coming to cre

und they stood, a

the vast imm

a Sea, dark, w

ottom turn'd by

waves, as Moun

and with the Cen

roubl'd waves, an

Omnific Word,

but on the Wi

in Paterna

HAOS, and the

rd his voice: h

bright proce

nd the wonder

fervid Wheeles,

golden Compa

rnal store, t

se, and all c

center'd, and

the vast profu

farr extend, thus

just Circumfer

Heav'n created,

'd and void: Da

Abyss: but on

ings the Spirit

rtue infus'd,

fluid Mass, but

rtareous cold

fe: then founde

like, the rest

nd between spu

f-ballanc't on

ight, said God, a

st of things, q

e Deep, and from

hrough the air

radiant Cloud,

ee in a cloud

while. God saw t

om darkness by

ht the Day, an

was the first D

uncelebrate

tial Quires, w

st from Darkne

av'n and Earth; w

Universal Orb

ir Golden Harps,

works, Creatou

Eevning was, and

said, let the

aters, and l

rom the Waters

nt, expanse o

t, Elemental

to the utte

Round: partiti

underneath fr

r as Earth, so

umfluous Waters

Ocean, and th

remov'd, least

ght distemper t

nam'd the Firm

CHORUS sung

s form'd, but in

Embryon immat

: over all the

ow'd, not idle,

our soft'ning

he great Moth

genial moisture

now ye Water

ce, and let dr

the Mountain

thir broad bar

ds, thir tops a

eav'd the tumi

hollow bottom

ed of Waters:

glad precipi

dust conglobin

crystal Wall, o

flight the great

flouds: as Ar

for of Armies

Standard, so t

fter Wave, where

torrent rapture,

nor withstood t

under ground,

errour wandring

ashie Oose dee

od had bid the

n those banks,

erpetual draw t

Earth, and the

ted Waters he

was good, and sa

verdant Grass, H

e yeilding Frui

s in her self

aid, when the bar

bare, unsight

he tender Grass,

al Face with

every leaf, th

various colou

ing sweet: and th

thick the clustri

Gourd, up stood

her field: add

h frizl'd hair

nce the stately

hung with copiou

ith high Woods the

e vallies & eac

long the Rivers

av'n, a seat where

th delight, an

des: though God

th, and man to

t from the Ear

aterd all the g

eld, which e're i

d every Herb,

stemm; God saw

Morn recorded

mightie spake: L

expanse of H

ight; and let th

nd for Dayes, an

m be for Ligh

in the Firma

t on the Earth

o great Lights, g

greater to hav

ght alterne: and

m in the Firm

e the Earth, a

ssitude, and r

m Darkness to d

great Work, th

stial Bodies

are he fram'd, u

real Mould: then

everie magnit

tarrs the Heav'n

farr the great

rom her cloudie

Orb, made po

liquid Light,

eams, great Pala

o thir Founta

n thir gold'n

Morning Planet g

or reflectio

culiar, though

ote, with dim

East the glorio

y, and all th'

h bright Rayes

hrough Heav'ns hi

e PLEIADES bef

influence: less

te in leveld

th full face bor

r other light

, and still that

n in the East her

av'ns great Axl

lesser Lights

housand Starres,

Hemisphere: th

ht Luminaries th

glad Morn crown

aid, let the

Spawn abundant

flie above the E

the op'n Firma

ted the great

ach that crept,

generated b

ird of wing a

was good, and bl

, multiply, a

running Streams

owle be multipl

Sounds and Seas,

numerable swar

ith thir Finns a

e green Wave, in

Sea: part sin

eed thir pasture,

y, or sporting

thir wav'd coats

earlie shells

ent, or under

mour watch: on

lphins play: pa

weildie, enorm

e Ocean: the

iving Creatur

a Promontorie sl

moving Land, a

at his Trunck

tepid Caves, an

merous hatch, from

kindly rupture

ung, but feather

r Penns, and soar

spis'd the grou

there the Eag

Cedar tops thi

ing the Region,

ng'd in figure

of seasons,

e Caravan hi

over Lands w

ight; so stears

iage, born on W

pass, fann'd with

Branch the smalle

ods, and spred t

or then the so

but all night tun

lver Lakes and

rest; the Swan

ite wings mantli

h Oarie feet: y

rising on stif

eal Skie: Oth

e crested Cock wh

rs, and th' othe

colour'd with

nd Starrie Eyes

enisht, and the

Morn solemniz'

and of Creat

Harps and Matti

ing forth Fowle li

ping things, and

inde. The Earth o

fertil Woomb t

ving Creatures,

l grown: out of

ire the wilde Be

lde, in Thicket

s in Pairs they

the Fields and

nd solitarie,

nce, and in broa

ods now Calv'd,

Lion, pawin

s, then springs a

akes his Brinded

and the Tyger

rumbl'd Earth a

the swift Stag

nching head: scar

ggest born of

leec't the Flocks

mbiguous betwe

orse and scal

orth whatever cr

me; those wav'd

nd smallest Li

iveries dect o

Gold and Purple,

ine thir long

ground with sinu

ature; some o

length and cor

ulds, and added

monious Emm

small room large

f just equa

join'd in her

tie: swarming

e that feeds h

, and builds

or'd: the rest

tures know'st, and

thee repeaed

uttl'st Beast o

nt somtimes, w

ain terrific,

, but obedien

all her Glorie

as the great fi

ir course; Earth

vly smil'd; Air

east, was flown, w

of the Sixt da

yet the Maste

on; a Creature

other Creatur

tie of Reason

and upright w

t, self-knowing,

to correspon

to acknowledge

her with heart a

in Devoti

od Supream, who

orks: therefor

ther (For wh

us to his Son

ke now Man in

ilitude, and

h and Fowle of

Field, and over

ping thing that

e formd thee,

ound, and in thy

f Life; in his

hee, in the

thou becam'st

ated thee, bu

; then bless'd M

multiplie, and

and throughou

the Sea, and Fo

ng thing that mo

hus created,

t by name, thenc

hee into this

planted with th

both to beh

l thir pleasant

rts are here that a

thout end; bu

orks knowledge o

in the day thou e

e penaltie im

well thy appe

, and her black

hee, and all t

behold all was

orn accomplish'

l the Creator

though unwear

v'n of Heav'ns

ehold this ne

of his Empire

m his Throne, how

his great Id

h acclamation

f ten thousand

monies: the E

ou remember'st,

nd all the Cons

n thir stations

ight Pomp asce

erlasting Gat

'ns, your livin

reator from h

his Six days

ceforth oft; fo

t the dwellin

nd with freque

l send his wi

of supernal G

rain ascending:

wide her blazi

rnal house di

ample rode, wh

tarrs, as Starrs

e Galaxie, t

as a circling

arrs. And now on

rose in EDEN

twilight from t

Night; when at

h-seated top, th

fixt for ever

wer arriv'd, an

eat Father (f

yet staid (su

sence) and the

d of all things

ess'd and hallowd

n that day fro

silence holy

rested not, t

r, all Organs

Fret by String

Tunings, inter

Unison: of i

Golden Censers

the Six dayes

hy works, JEH

thought can meas

; greater now

e Giant Angels

s magnifi'd;

then create

ir thee, might

? easily the

postat and thi

ld, while impiou

nish, and from

f thy worshipp

ee, against hi

the more thy m

d from thence cr

new-made World,

Gate not farr,

r HYALINE, th

almost immens

d every Starr

habitation; b

: among these

er nether Ocea

dwelling place.

en, whom God ha

his Image,

him, and in

ks, on Earth,

ly a Race of

t: thrice happ

ess, and pers

hey, and the

IAHS: Thus was

t think now fulf

World and face

efore thy me

eginning, th

e might know; if

urpassing huma

hus ADAM grat

sufficient, or

I to render

who thus larg

had of knowledg

ly condescent

by me unsearch

, but delight,

e attributed

e thing yet of

y thy solutio

d this goodly F

Earth consisti

es, this Earth

ith the Firm

mberd Starrs, th

comprehensi

e argues and t

eerly to off

acous Earth, th

night; in all

des, reasoning

wise and frug

ortions, with

obler Bodie

manifold to

peers, and on

ess revoluti

hile the sede

ght with farr le

e noble then he

ut least motion

uch a sumless

l speed, her wa

ibe whose swiftne

Sire, and by his

dious thoughts a

here she sat r

ess Majestic

t won who saw t

forth among her F

they prosper'd,

e; they at he

her fair tendanc

not, as not wit

or not capa

igh: such pleas

ing, she sol

the Relater

Angel, and

; hee, she kne

essions, and so

gal Caresses

ne pleas'd her.

n Love and mutu

like demeanour

nded, for on

inning Graces

out her shot

s to wish her

now to ADAM's

and facil t

arch I blame the

ook of God be

d his wondrous W

urs, or Days, or

n, whether Heav

if thou reck'n

Angel the gr

to conceal, a

o be scann'd by

re; or if the

he his Fabric

thir disputes,

at thir quain

hen they come

the Starrs, ho

ame, how build,

erances, how g

and Eccentric

Epicycle,

thy reasonin

ad thy ofspring

ight and greater

ight, nor Heav'n

still, when sh

: consider fi

errs not Excell

omparison of H

ng, may of sol

hen the Sun tha

on it self wo

itful Earth; the

nactive else,

rth are those b

but to thee E

av'ns wide Circu

high magnific

nd his Line stre

know he dwells

too large for

small partitio

uses to his L

s of those Cir

erless, to hi

poreal substa

iritual; mee thou

Morning hour set

sides, and ere

distance in

at have name. B

tion in the He

which thee to

so affirm, th

ast thy dwellin

e his wayes fr

om Earth so farr,

, might erre in

ntage gaine.

the World, an

active vertue

ce about him v

ourse now high, n

retrograde, or

est, and what if

th, so stedfast

hree different

several Sphears

rie with thwar

Sun his labour

nd Diurnal rh

e above all Sta

ht; which needs

ustrious of he

ast, and with

beam meet Nigh

s by his ray. W

hrough the wide t

estrial Moon

her by Day,

reciprocal, if

habitants: Her

Clouds may rain

soft'nd Soile,

ere; and othe

endant Moons th

ing Male and

eat Sexes anim

Orb perhaps wit

st room in Na

oule, desert

ne, yet scarce

imps of Light,

s habitable,

o them, is obv

us these things,

Sun predomin

arth, or Earth

East his flam

West her silent

sive pace that

Axle, while sh

soft with the s

thy thoughts wi

God above, him

atures, as him

c't, let him d

gives to thee

EVE; Heav'n is f

passes there;

at concernes the

ther Worlds, wha

t state, condi

t thus farr hat

onely but of

s ADAM cleerd o

ast thou sati

e of Heav'n,

m intricacies,

ay, nor with pe

the sweet of

well farr off al

est us, unles

andring thoughts,

Mind or Fanc

nd of her roa

by experience ta

know at large

scure and sutt

efore us lies

Wisdom, what is

ss, or fond

s in things tha

unprepar'd, and

m this high pit

t, and speak of

nce haply men

g not unseas

, and thy wonte

heard relati

mbrance: now

ich perhaps tho

not spent; till

to detaine

ee to hear wh

it not in hop

it with thee, I

thy discours

Palm-tree pleas

oth, from labo

st; they satiat

t, but thy words

to thir sweetn

RAPHAEL answer'

lips ungracefu

ineloquent; f

his gifts hat

utward both, h

mute all comli

and each word, e

k wee in Heav'n

fellow serva

the wayes of

ee hath honour

qual Love: say

Day was absen

voyage uncout

sion toward the

ll Legion (such

one thence issu

while God was

censt at such

with Creation

durst without hi

ends upon his

as Sovran Kin

dience. Fast we

ates, and barr

our approachi

then the sound

lowd lament, an

rn'd up to the

Eev'ning: so w

lation now;

y words no less t

Godlike Power,

tell how hu

who himself b

thee still lon

s new wak't fro

flourie herb I

t, which with hi

nd on the reaki

Heav'n my wondri

hile the ample

tinctive motio

ard endevorin

feet; about

shadie Woods, an

se of murmuring

livd, and movd, a

anches warbling;

and with joy my

en perus'd, an

sometimes went,

joints, as liv

, or where, or

peak I tri'd, an

bey'd and rea

w. Thou Sun, sai

ght'nd Earth, s

les, ye Rivers, W

ve and move, fai

aw, how came I

lf; by some gr

and in power

w may I know

ave that thus I

at I am happi

l'd, and stray'd I

irst drew Aire,

ight, when answ

hadie Bank pro

te me down; th

, and with soft

se, untroubl'd,

passing to my

and forthwit

ly stood at m

rd apparitio

o believe I

came, methought,

Mansion wants

of Men innume

call'd by thee

n of bliss, th

y the hand he

elds and Wate

g without step,

tain; whose hig

, enclos'd, with

Walks, and Bower

e scarse pleasan

irest Fruit, tha

tirr'd in me

eate; whereat I

Eyes all rea

shadowd: Here

had not hee w

rom among the

vine. Rejoyci

ion at his

r'd me, & Whom th

Author of all

ound about th

e I give thee,

eep, and of the

ee that in th

h glad heart; fea

Tree whose op

good and ill,

f thy Obedienc

arden by the

t I warne thee

bitter conseq

eat'st thereof,

inevitably t

mortal, and th

expell'd from h

orrow. Sternly

nterdiction,

n mine eare, tho

r; but soon h

gratious purpos

e fair bounds, b

to thy Race I

nd all things t

, or Aire, Beast

eof each Bird a

indes; I bring

ir Names, and

jection; under

thin thir wa

mmond, since th

t to draw the

ake, each Bird

two and two, T

nt, each Bird sto

as they pass'd

with such kno

apprehension

hat me thought

eav'nly vision

ame, for thou a

, or aught then

farr my nam

, Author of

ood to man, for

and with han

vided all thing

who partakes

ness, who ca

ying, what co

ptuous; and the

le more bright'

thou solitude,

living creature

and all these

ay before thee,

and thir wayes

not contempti

nd beare rule; th

e Universal L

I with leave of

deprecation

ords offend thee

e propitious

t made me here

feriour farr b

equals wha

at harmonie or

be mutual, in

eceiv'd; but

ense, the oth

uite with eithe

ike: Of fell

seek, fit to

l delight, wh

uman consort;

ir kinde, Lion

m in pairs tho

ird with Beast, o

erse, nor with

Man with Beast,

Almighty answer'

d suttle ha

self proposest

ciates, ADAM,

though in pleas

ou then of mee, a

thee suffici

ss, or not?

ternitie, fo

ee or like, e

hen with whom

Creatures which

riour, infin

other Creatur

I lowly answe

nd depth of th

hts come short, S

self art perfe

ience found;

ee, the cause

tion with his

s defects. No

ropagat, alr

ll numbers abso

y number is

imperfectio

like, his Im

defective, w

love, and d

y secresie a

self accompani

unication, ye

Creature to what

or Communio

rsing cannot

r in thir wayes

d'nd spake, an

d acceptance fou

rom the gratiou

o try thee, ADA

e knowing not o

t rightly nam'd,

ll the spirit w

not imparted

ship therefore

as thou freely

ded still; I, e

good for Man

companie as th

ee, for trial

u could'st judge

ing shall please

thy fit help,

xactly to thy

or I heard no

by his Heav'n

g stood under, str

lestial Coll

bject that exc

nt, sunk down, a

ch instantly fe

in aide, and cl

clos'd, but op'

y internal si

in a transe me

g, where I lay,

us before whom

op'nd my left

Rib, with cordia

streaming fresh;

with flesh fill

rmd and fashond

rming hands a

different sex,

d fair in all th

her summd up,

ks, which from t

nto my heart,

things from h

of love and a

rd, and left m

r, or for ev

d other pleasu

ope, behold her

aw her in my

l Earth or Hea

er amiable:

eav'nly Maker,

by his voice,

anctitie and m

ll her steps, He

esture digni

could not f

h made amends; th

reator bounteo

things faire, b

ifts, nor envi

ne, Flesh of my

Woman is he

or this cause

other, and to

be one Flesh, one

thus, and though

nce and Virg

d the conscienc

woo'd, and not

not obtrusive

esirable, or

f, though pure o

so, that seeing

er, she what w

sequious Maje

reason. To th

shing like the

Constellation

lectest influe

gratulation,

ds; fresh Gales

o the Woods, and

ung Odours from

till the amoro

and bid haste

top, to light

ld thee all my S

o the sum of

oy, and must

else delight i

t, works in the

t desire, the

Sight, Smell, Herbs

he melodie of

ise, transpor

ouch; here pass

range, in all

nd unmov'd, h

arm of Beauties

ild in mee, an

ough such Obje

ide subducting

ough; at least

Ornament, in

, of inward

understand in

r th' inferiou

aculties, whic

also her re

made both, and

ter of that

reatures; yet

ess, so absol

elf compleat,

t what she wil

vertuousest, d

nowledge in he

isdom in disc

t'nanc't, and li

and Reason

nded first, n

ly; and to c

mind and nobl

loveliest, an

as a guard An

Angel with c

Nature, she hat

thine, and b

he deserts the

r, when most tho

uting overm

t, as thou thy

'st thou, what t

fair no doubt,

g, thy honourin

ction: weigh wi

Oft times noth

eem, grounded o

f that skill the

will acknowledg

ities yeild a

rn for thy de

at with honour

ees when thou art

ense of touch

ted seem suc

ther, think th

each Beast; wh

common & divu

oy'd were wor

Man, or passi

in her socie

human, rationa

ou dost well,

Love consists n

and heart enlarg

nd is judiciou

eav'nly Love th

arnal pleasure,

sts no Mate for

us half abash'

ut-side formd s

tion common

er of the geni

sterious reve

hts me, as thos

nd decencies t

ords and actions

pliance, which

nd, or in us

to behold i

then harmonious

bject not; I t

ence I feel, not

various object

epresenting;

est, and follow

lam'st me not, f

av'n, is both th

then, if lawf

eav'nly Spirits,

by looks onely

virtual or i

Angel with a s

osie red, Lov

it suffice thee

nd without Lov

re thou in th

hou wert crea

e, and obsta

joynt, or limb,

ir with Air, if

mix, union of

r restrain'd c

x with Flesh, or

ow no more; t

ths green Cape a

sets, my Sig

happie, and love

love is to o

and; take heed l

to do aught, whi

mit; thine and

woe in thee is

ersevering s

est: stand fast;

ne own Arbitr

in, no outwar

ptation to tr

, he arose; w

h benediction.

Guest, Ether

ose sovran goo

me and affab

sion, and shall

ul Memorie: t

riendly still,

they, the Ange

k shade, and AD

SEVENTH BOOK.