John Milton

“ Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion sign,
Wherein all things created first he weighed.
The pendulous round earth with balanced air⁠1000
In counterpoise, now ponders all events,
Battles and realms. In these he put two weights
The sequel each of parting and of fight:
The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam,
Which Gabriel spying thus bespake the Fiend:
"Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowest mine,
Neither our own, but given; what folly then
To boast what arms can do! since thine no more
Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now
To trample thee as mire. ”

“ Some wandering Spirit of Heaven by fountainside,
Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw
What further would be learned. Live while ye may
Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return,
Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed."
So saying, his proud step he scornful turned,
But with sly circumspection, and began
Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale his roam. ”

“ Why satest thou like an enemy in wait,
Here watching at the head of these that sleep?"
"Know ye not then? said Satan, filled with scorn,
"Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate
For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar. ”

“ Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat,
Chief of the angelic guards, awaiting night.⁠550
About him exercised heroic games
The unarmed youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand
Celestial armory, shields, helms, and spears,
Hung high, with diamond flaming and with gold.
Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even
On a sunbeam, swift as a shooting star
In autumn thwarts the night, when vapors fired
Impress the air, and shews the mariner
From what point of his compass to beware
Impetuous winds. ”

“ Sweet is the breath of morn, her rising sweet,
With charm of earliest birds; pleasant the sun,
When first on this delightful land he spreads
His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower,
Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth
After soft showers; and sweet the coming-on
Of grateful evening mild; then silent night
With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon,
And these the gems of heaven, her starry train:
But neither breath of morn, when she ascends⁠650
With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun
On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower,
Glistering with dew; ”

“ Now conscience wakes despair,
That slumbered, wakes the bitter memory
Of what he was, what is, and what must be—
Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue. ”

“ And all amid them stood the Tree of Life,
High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit
Of vegetable gold; and, next to life⁠220
Our death, the Tree of Knowledge, grew fast by,
Knowledge of good bought dear by knowing ill. ”

“ With ported spears, as thick as when a field⁠980
Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends
Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind
Sways them; the careful ploughman doubting stands,
Lest on the threshing-floor his hopeful sheaves
Prove chaff. On the other side, Satan alarmed,
Collecting all his might, dilated stood,
Like Teneriffe or Atlas, unremoved. ”

“ When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake
"Uzziel, have these draw off, and coast the south
With strictest watch; these other wheel the north;
Our circuit meets full west."—As flame they part,
Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. ”

“ Satan now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the place where he must now attempt the bold enterprise which he undertook alone against God and Man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many passions, fear, envy, and despair; but at length confirms himself in evil, journeys on to Paradise, whose outward prospect and situation is described, overleaps the bounds, sits in the shape of a cormorant on the Tree of Life, as highest in the garden, to look about him. ”

“ All things to Man's delightful use. The roof
Of thickest covert was inwoven shade,
Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew
Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side
Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub,
Fenced up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower,
Iris all hues, roses and jessamine
Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought
Mosaic; underfoot the violet,⁠700
Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay
Broidered the ground, more colored than with stone
Of costliest emblem: other creature here,
Beast, bird, insect, or worm, durst enter none,
Such was their awe of Man. ”

“ How often, from the steep⁠680
Of echoing hill or thicket, have we heard
Celestial voices to the midnight air,
Sole, or responsive each to other's note,
Singing their great Creator! ”

“ So farewell hope, and with hope farewell fear,
Farewell remorse! ”

“ Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose. ”

“ For contemplation he and valor formed,
For softness she, and sweet attractive grace; ”

“ Gabriel drawing forth his bands of nightwatch to walk the round of Paradise, appoints two strong angels to Adam's bower, less the Evil Spirit should be there doing some harm to Adam or Eve sleeping; there they find him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, to Gabriel ”

“ Employed, it seems, to violate sleep, and those
Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss."
To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow:
"Gabriel, thou hadst in Heaven the esteem of wise,
And such I held thee; but this question asked
Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain? ”

“ Meanwhile Uriel descending on a sunbeam warns Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Paradise, that some evil spirit had escaped the Deep, and passed at noon by his sphere in the shape of a good angel down to Paradise, discovered after by his furious gestures in the mount. Gabriel promises to find him ere morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve discourse of going to their rest: their bower described; their evening worship. ”

“ Satan's first sight of Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent form and happy state, but with resolution to work their fall; overhears their discourse, thence gathers that the Tree of Knowledge was forbidden them to eat of under penalty of death ”

“ To mark what of their state he more might learn⁠400
By word or action marked. About them round
A lion now he stalks with fiery glare;
Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied
In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play,
Straight couches close, then rising changes oft
His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground
Whence rushing he might surest seize them both
Griped in each paw: when Adam first of men
To first of woman Eve thus moving speech ”