The Complete Poetry of John Milton

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The Complete Poetry of John Milton Page 70

by John Milton


  By mee the Promis’d Seed shall all restore.

  So spake our Mother Eve, and Adam heard

  625

  Well pleas’d, but answer’d not; for now too nigh

  Th’ Archangel stood, and from the other Hill

  To thir fixt Station, all in bright array

  The Cherubim descended; on the ground

  Gliding meteorous, as Ev’ning Mist

  630

  Ris’n from a River o’re the marish39 glides,

  And gathers ground fast at the Labourers heel

  Homeward returning. High in Front advanc’t,

  The brandisht Sword of God before them blaz’d40

  Fierce as a Comet; which with torrid heat,

  635

  And vapour as the Libyan Air adust,41

  Began to parch that temperate Clime; whereat

  In either hand the hastning Angel caught

  Our lingring Parents, and to th’ Eastern Gate

  Led them direct, and down the Cliff as fast

  640

  To the subjected42 Plain; then disappeer’d.

  They looking back, all th’ Eastern side beheld

  Of Paradise, so late thir happie seat,

  Wav’d over by that flaming Brand, the Gate

  With dreadful Faces throng’d and fierie Armes:

  645

  Som natural tears they drop’d, but wip’d them soon;

  The World was all before them, where to choose

  Thir place of rest, and Providence thir guide:

  They hand in hand with wandring steps and slow,

  Through Eden took thir solitarie way.43

  (1642?–1665?)

  * * *

  1 pauses (to eat).

  2 Nimrod (“rebel,” l. 36), the mighty hunter (l. 33) who is fabled as the founder of Babylon (Babel).

  3 Shinar; a “gurge” is a whirlpool.

  4 quarrelsome, putting at variance.

  5 that is, Babel.

  6 Ham, father of Canaan.

  7 Ham saw his father naked, and Noah said, “Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants shall he be unto his brethren” (Gen. ix. 25).

  8 Abraham.

  9 Ur was west and Haran east of the Euphrates. After travelling northwest, Abraham moves southwest into Canaan, then north to Hamath on the Orontes in Syria, to the west of which was the Great Desert. Mt. Hermon (and Senir in the same range) or more correctly (l. 145) the Jordan was considered the eastern boundary of Canaan, and the Mediterranean Sea bounded it on the west. Mt. Carmel was a promontory on the sea.

  10 Isaac, whose son was Jacob (later Israel, ll. 267–69), progenitor of the twelve tribes of Israel

  11 Joseph.

  12 See Exod. i. 8.

  13 raise with swellings.

  14 Pharaoh; see Ezek. xxix. 3.

  15 prohibits (by lying between the Egyptians and the Israelites).

  16 shatter.

  17 the council of seventy elders chosen by Moses (Exod. xxiv. 1–9).

  18 as a type.

  19 See XI, n. 1.

  20 The candelabrum is likened to the seven planets shining throughout the universe.

  21 from Josh. x. 12.

  22 depravity.

  23 The expiations are shadows (types) of Christ’s expiation.

  24 Joshua is not only a type of Jesus; both words mean “savior.”

  25 David.

  26 Solomon.

  27 of Persia; that is, Cyrus, Cambyses, Darius, Xerxes, Artaxerxes.

  28 the Asmonean priest-princes, whose domination began with Jonathan in 153 B.C.

  29 Antipater, whose son Herod was ruling when Jesus was born.

  30 to Bethlehem.

  31 both “of the head” as prophesied and “fatal.”

  32 satisfied.

  33 In contrast the arms of Christ’s warfare are Faith and Works; the arms of war are Money and Iron (Son. 17).

  34 smoothly flowing.

  35 living.

  36 the Holy Spirit (John xv. 26).

  37 contemplation, mental vision.

  38 await (their signal to move on).

  39 marsh.

  40 Gen. iii. 24: “So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the Garden of Eden Cherubim and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”

  41 dried by heat.

  42 lying under (the cliff).

  43 Ps. cvii. 4: “They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way.”

  Paradise Regain’d1

  BOOK I

  I who e’re while the happy Garden sung,

  By one mans disobedience lost, now sing

  Recover’d Paradise to all mankind,

  By one mans firm obedience fully tri’d

  5

  Through all temptation, and the Tempter foil’d

  In all his wiles, defeated and repuls’t,

  And Eden rais’d in the wast Wilderness.

  Thou Spirit who ledst this glorious Eremite

  Into the Desert, his Victorious Field

  10

  Against the Spiritual Foe, and broughtst him thence

  By proof th’ undoubted Son of God, inspire,

  As thou art wont, my prompted Song else mute,2

  And bear through highth or depth of natures bounds

  With prosperous wing full summ’d3 to tell of deeds

  15

  Above Heroic, though in secret done,

  And unrecorded left through many an Age,

  Worthy t’ have not remain’d so long unsung.

  Now had the great Proclaimer4 with a voice

  More awful then the sound of Trumpet, cri’d

  20

  Repentance, and Heav’ns Kingdom nigh at hand

  To all Baptiz’d: to his great Baptism flock’d

  With aw the Regions round, and with them came

  From Nazareth the Son of Joseph deem’d

  To the flood Jordan, came as then obscure,

  25

  Unmarkt, unknown; but him the Baptist soon

  Descri’d, divinely warn’d, and witness bore

  As to his worthier, and would have resign’d

  To him his Heav’nly Office, nor was long

  His witness unconfirm’d: on him baptiz’d

  30

  Heav’n open’d, and in likeness of a Dove

  The Spirit descended, while the Fathers voice

  From Heav’n pronounc’d him his beloved Son.

  That heard the Adversary,5 who roving still

  About the world, at that assembly fam’d

  35

  Would not be last, and with the voice divine

  Nigh Thunder-struck, th’ exalted man, to whom

  Such high attest was giv’n, a while survey’d

  With wonder, then with envy fraught and rage

  Flies to his place, nor rests, but in mid air

  40

  To Councel summons all high mighty Peers,

  Within thick Clouds and dark ten-fold involv’d,

  A gloomy Consistory; and them amidst

  With looks agast and sad he thus bespake.

  O ancient Powers of Air and this wide world,

  45

  For much more willingly I mention Air,

  This our old Conquest, then remember Hell

  Our hated habitation; well ye know

  How many Ages, as the years of men,

  This Universe we have possest, and rul’d

  50

  In manner at our will th’ affairs of Earth,

  Since Adam and his facil consort Eve

  Lost Paradise deceiv’d by me, though since

  With dread attending when that fatal wound

  Shall be inflicted by the Seed of Eve

  55

  Upon my head.6 Long the decrees of Heav’n

  Delay, for longest time to him is short;

  And now too soon for us the circling hours

  This dreaded time have compast, wherein we

 
; Must bide the stroak of that long threat’n’d wound,

  60

  At least if so we can, and by the head

  Broken be not intended all our power

  To be infring’d, our freedom and our being

  In this fair Empire won of Earth and Air;

  For this ill news I bring, the Womans seed

  65

  Destin’d to this, is late of woman born:

  His birth to our just fear gave no small cause,

  But his growth now to youths full flowr, displaying

  All vertue, grace and wisdom to atchieve

  Things highest, greatest, multiplies my fear.

  70

  Before him a great Prophet, to proclaim

  His coming, is sent Harbinger, who all

  Invites, and in the Consecrated stream

  Pretends to wash off sin, and fit them so

  Purified to receive him pure, or rather

  75

  To do him honour as their King; all come,

  And he himself among them was baptiz’d,

  Not thence to be more pure, but to receive

  The testimony of Heav’n, that who he is

  Thenceforth the Nations may not doubt; I saw

  80

  The Prophet do him reverence, on him rising

  Out of the water, Heav’n above the Clouds

  Unfold her Crystal Dores, thence on his head

  A perfect Dove descend, what e’re it meant,

  And out of Heav’n the Sov’raign voice I heard,

  85

  This is my Son belov’d, in him am pleas’d.

  His Mother then is mortal, but his Sire,

  He who obtains7 the Monarchy of Heav’n,

  And what will he not do t’ advance his Son?

  His first-begot we know, and sore have felt,

  90

  When his fierce thunder drove us to the deep;

  Who this is we must learn, for man he seems

  In all his lineaments, though in his face

  The glimpses of his Fathers glory shine.

  Ye see our danger on the utmost edge

  95

  Of hazard, which admits no long debate,

  But must with something sudden be oppos’d,

  Not force, but well couch’t fraud, well woven snares,

  E’re in the head of Nations he appear

  Their King, their Leader, and Supream on Earth.

  100

  I, when no other durst, sole undertook

  The dismal expedition to find out

  And ruin Adam, and th’ exploit perform’d

  Successfully; a calmer voyage now

  Will waft me; and the way found prosperous once

  105

  Induces best to hope of like success.

  He ended, and his words impression left

  Of much amazement to th’ infernal Crew,

  Distracted and surpriz’d with deep dismay

  At these sad tidings; but no time was then

  110

  For long indulgence to their fears or grief:

  Unanimous they all commit the care

  And management of this main enterprize

  To him their great Dictator, whose attempt

  At first against mankind so well had thriv’d

  115

  In Adam’s overthrow, and led thir march

  From Hell’s deep-vaulted Den to dwell in light,

  Regents and Potentates, and Kings, yea gods

  Of many a pleasant Realm and Province wide.

  So to the Coast of Jordan he directs

  120

  His easie steps, girded with snaky wiles,

  Where he might likeliest find this new-declar’d,

  This man of men, attested Son of God,

  Temptation and all guile on him to try;

  So to subvert whom he suspected rais’d

  125

  To end his Raign on Earth so long enjoy’d:

  But contrary unweeting8 he fulfill’d

  The purpos’d Counsel pre-ordain’d and fixt

  Of the most High, who in full frequence9 bright

  Of Angels, thus to Gabriel10 smiling spake.

  130

  Gabriel this day by proof thou shalt behold,

  Thou and all Angels conversant on Earth

  With man or mens affairs, how I begin

  To verifie that solemn message late,

  On which I sent thee to the Virgin pure

  135

  In Galilee, that she should bear a Son

  Great in Renown, and call’d the Son of God;

  Then toldst her doubting how these things could be

  To her a Virgin, that on her should come

  The Holy Ghost, and the power of the highest

  140

  O’re-shadow her: this man born and now up-grown,

  To shew him worthy of his birth divine

  And high prediction, henceforth I expose

  To Satan; let him tempt and now assay

  His utmost subtilty, because he boasts

  145

  And vaunts of his great cunning to the throng

  Of his Apostasie; he might have learnt

  Less over-weening, since he fail’d in Job,

  Whose constant perseverance overcame

  Whate’re his cruel malice could invent.

  150

  He now shall know I can produce a man

  Of female Seed, far abler to resist

  All his sollicitations, and at length

  All his vast force, and drive him back to Hell,

  Winning by Conquest what the first man lost

  155

  By fallacy surpriz’d. But first I mean

  To exercise him in the Wilderness;

  There he shall first lay down the rudiments11

  Of his great warfare, e’re I send him forth

  To conquer Sin and Death the two grand foes,

  160

  By Humiliation and strong Sufferance:

  His weakness shall o’recome Satanic strength

  And all the world, and mass of sinful flesh;

  That all the Angels and Ætherial Powers,

  They now, and men hereafter may discern,

  165

  From what consummate vertue I have chose

  This perfect Man, by merit call’d my Son,

  To earn Salvation for the Sons of men.

  So spake th’ Eternal Father, and all Heav’n

  Admiring stood a space, then into Hymns

  170

  Burst forth, and in Celestial measures mov’d,

  Circling the Throne and Singing, while the hand

  Sung with the voice, and this the argument.

  Victory and Triumph to the Son of God

  Now entring his great duel, not of arms,

  175

  But to vanquish by wisdom hellish wiles.

  The Father knows the Son; therefore secure

  Ventures his filial Vertue, though untri’d,

  Against whate’re may tempt, whate’re seduce,

  Allure, or terrifie, or undermine.

  180

  Be frustrate all ye stratagems of Hell,

  And devilish machinations come to nought.

  So they in Heav’n their Odes and Vigils tun’d:

  Mean while the Son of God, who yet some days

  Lodg’d in Bethabara where John baptiz’d,

  185

  Musing and much revolving in his brest,

  How best the mighty work he might begin

  Of Saviour to mankind, and which way first

  Publish his God-like office now mature,

  One day forth walk’d alone, the Spirit leading;

  190

  And his deep thoughts, the better to converse

  With solitude, till far from track of men,

  Thought following thought, and step by step led on,

  He enter’d now the bordering Desert wild,

  And with dark shades
and rocks environ’d round,

  195

  His holy Meditations thus persu’d.

  O what a multitude of thoughts at once

  Awak’n’d in me swarm, while I consider

  What from within I feel my self, and hear

  What from without comes often to my ears,

  200

  Ill sorting with my present state compar’d.

  When I was yet a child, no childish play

  To me was pleasing, all my mind was set

  Serious to learn and know, and thence to do

  What might be publick good; my self I thought

  205

  Born to that end, born to promote all truth,

  All righteous things: therefore above my years,

  The Law of God I read, and found it sweet,

  Made it my whole delight, and in it grew

  To such perfection, that e’re yet my age

  210

  Had measur’d twice six years, at our great Feast

  I went into the Temple, there to hear

  The Teachers of our Law, and to propose

  What might improve my knowledge or their own;

  And was admir’d12 by all, yet this not all

  215

  To which my Spirit aspir’d, victorious deeds

  Flam’d in my heart, heroic acts, one while

  To rescue Israel from the Roman yoke,

  Then to subdue and quell o’re all the earth

  Brute violence and proud Tyrannick pow’r,

  220

  Till truth were freed, and equity restor’d:

  Yet held it more humane, more heav’nly first

  By winning words to conquer willing hearts,

  And make perswasion do the work of fear;

  At least to try, and teach the erring Soul

  225

  Not wilfully mis-doing, but unware

  Misled; the stubborn only to subdue.

  These growing thoughts my Mother soon perceiving

  By words at times cast forth inly rejoyc’d,

  And said to me apart, high are thy thoughts

  230

  O Son, but nourish them and let them soar

  To what highth sacred vertue and true worth

 

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