John Milton

“ Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch.
Of human glory, and, for glory done,
Of triumph to be styled great Conquerors,
Patrons of mankind, Gods, and sons of Gods;
Destroyers rightlier called, and plagues of men.
Thus fame shall be achieved, renown on earth,
And what most merits fame in silence hid.
But he, the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldest
The only righteous in a world perverse,⁠701
And therefore hated, therefore so beset
With foes, for daring single to be just,
And utter odious truth, that God would come
To judge them with his Saints. . . ”

“ To whom thus Michaël:—"Death thou hast seen
In his first shape on Man; but many shapes
Of Death, and many are the ways that lead
To his grim cave all-dismal; yet to sense
More terrible at the entrance than within.⁠470
Some, as thou sawest, by violent stroke shall die,
By fire, flood, famine, by intemperance more
In meats and drink, which on the earth shall bring
Disease dire, of which a monstrous crew
Before thee shall appear; that thou mayst know
What misery the inabstinence of Eve
Shall bring on men."—Immediately a place
Before his eyes appeared, sad, noisome, dark ”

“ To whom thus Michael:—"Those, whom last thow sawest
In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they
First seen in acts of prowess eminent
And great exploits, but of true virtue void;⁠790
Who having spilt much blood, and done much waste,
Subduing nations, and achieved thereby
Fame in the world, high titles, and rich prey,
Shall change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth,
Surfeit and lust, till wantonness and pride
Raise out of friendship hostile deeds in peace. ”

“ The bent of nature; which he thus expressed:
"True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blest!
Much better seems this vision, and more hope
Of peaceful days portends, than those two past.⁠600
Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse;
Here nature seems fulfilled in all her ends."
To whom thus Michael:—"Judge not what is best
By pleasure, though to nature seeming meet,
Created, as thou art, to nobler end,
Holy and pure, comformity divine.
Those tents thou sawest so pleasant were the tents
Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his race
Who slew his brother. ”

“ Of these fair atheists, and now swim in joy
—Erelong to swim at large—and laugh; for which
The world erelong a world of tears must weep."
To which thus Adam, of short joy bereft:
"O pity and shame, that they, who to live well
Entered so fair, should turn aside to tread⁠630
Paths indirect, or in the midway faint!
But still I see the tenor of Man's woe
Holds on the same, from Woman to begin."
"From Man's effeminate slackness it begins,"
Said the Angel, "who should better hold his place,
By wisdom and superior gifts received.—
But now prepare thee for another scene." ”

“ Against allurement, custom, and a world⁠810
Offended; fearless of reproach and scorn,
Or violence, he of their wicked ways
Shall them admonish, and before them set
The paths of righteousness, how much more safe,
And full of peace, denouncing wrath to come
On their impenitence; and shall return
Of them derided, but of God observed
The one just man alive: by his command
Shall build a wondrous ark, as thou beheldest,
To save himself and household, from amidst⁠820
A world devote to universal wrack. ”

“ The balm of life."—To whom our ancestor:
"Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong
Life much; bent rather, how I may be quit,
Fairest and easiest, of this cumbrous charge,
Which I must keep till my appointed day⁠550
Of rendering up, and patiently attend
My dissolution." Michaël replied:
"Nor love thy life, nor hate; but what thou livest
Live well; how long or short, permit to Heaven. ”

“ With sinfulness of men; thereby to learn⁠360
True patience, and to temper joy with fear
And pious sorrow, equally inured
By moderation either state to bear,
Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead
Safest thy life; and best prepared endure
Thy mortal passage when it comes. Ascend
This hill; let Eve—for I have drenched her eyes—
Here sleep below, while thou to foresight wakest;
As once thou sleptest, while she to life was formed. ”

“ Spangled with eyes, more numerous than those⁠130
Of Argus, and more wakeful than to drowse,
Charmed with Arcadian pipe, the pastoral reed
Of Hermes, or his opiate rod. Meanwhile,
To resolute the World with sacred light,
Leucothea waked, and with fresh dews embalmed
The earth; when Adam and first matron Eve
Had ended now their orisons, and found
Strength added from above, new hope to spring
Out of dispair, joy, but with fear yet linked;
Which thus to Eve his welcome words renewed:⁠140
"Eve, easily may faith admit that all
The good which we enjoy from Heaven descend. ”

“ The Son of God presents to his Father the prayers of our first parents now repenting, and intercedes for them. God accepts them, but declares that they must no longer abide in Paradise: sends Michael with a band of Cherubim to dispossess them; but first to reveal to Adam future things: Michael's coming down. Adam shews to Eve certain ominous signs; he discerns Michael's approach; goes out to meet him; the Angel denounces their departure. Eve's lamentation. Adam pleads, but submits: The Angel leads him up to a high hill ”

“ Worldly or dissolute, on what their lords
Shall leave them to enjoy; for the earth shall bear
More than enough, that temperance may be tried.
So all shall turn degenerate, all depraved,
Justice and temperance, truth and faith forgot ”

“ Into a lower world, to this obscure
And wild? How shall we breathe in other air
Less pure, accustomed to immortal fruits?"
Whom thus the Angel interrupted mild:
"Lament not, Eve, but patiently resign
What justly thou hast lost; nor set thy heart,
Thus over fond, on that which is not thine.
Thy going is not lonely; with thee goes⁠290
Thy husband; him to follow thou art bound;
Where he abides, think there thy native soil."
Adam, by this from the cold sudden damp
Recovering, and his scattered spirits returned,
To Michael thus his humble words addressed:
"Celestial! ”

“ Assures me that the bitterness of death
Is past, and we shall live. Whence hail to thee!
Eve rightly called, Mother of all Mankind,
Mother of all things living, since by thee⁠160
Man is to live, and all things live for Man. ”

“ hear his sighs, though mute;
Unskillful with what words to pray, let me
Interpret for him, me his advocate
And propitiation; ”

“ To death, and mix with our connatural dust?"⁠529
"There is," said Michael, "if thou well observe
The rule of Not too much, by temperance taught,
In what thou eatest and drinkest, seeking from thence
Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight,
Till many years over thy head return.
So mayest thou live, till, like ripe fruit, thou drop
Into thy mother's lap, or be with ease
Gathered, not harshly plucked, for death mature.
This is old-age. But then thou must outlive
Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty, which will change
To withered, weak, and gray ”

“ Then, with uplifted hands and eyes devout,
Grateful to Heaven, over his head beholds
A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow,
Conspicuous with three listed colors gay,
Betokening peace from God, and covenant new.
Whereat the heart of Adam erst so sad
Greatly rejoiced, and thus his joy broke forth:
"O thou, who future things canst represent⁠870
As present, heavenly Instructor! I revive
At this last sight, assured that Man shall live,
With all the creatures, and their seed preserve.
Far less I now lament for one whole world ”