Paradise Lost by John Milton edited by Eric Armstrong

Notes on this edition The pronunciations presented here are not necessarily definitive, but are a starting place. Many are choices based on the meter of the line, showing how a word might be pronounced in an attempt to maintain the pentameter. In some cases these pronunciations are quite extreme: witness "ceremony - disyllabic (if possible!) ["sE„.m´n�]". Also, I have attempted to give pronunciations to all "unfamiliar" words, or words whose pronunciation isn't immediately obvious from spelling. Not all proper nouns required transcription: "Taurus" seems familiar enough.

I have also chosen, before syllables beginning with r, to leave the schwa in diphthongs that might take "r-colouring" uncoloured, or plain : "Oreb" as ["O´ ®´b] rather than ["O„ ®´b] or ["O ®´b]. In cases where these diphthongs preceed other consonants, I have chosen the r-colouring version, as in "Archangel" - [A„ "keIn dZ´l]. I feel these choices work best for the stage, but are a matter of taste.

Book I

f Man's first disobedience, and the fruit Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste Brought death into the World, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, 5 Sing, Heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top Of Oreb1, or of Sinai2, didst inspire That shepherd who first taught the chosen seed In the beginning how the heavens and earth Rose out of Chaos: or, if Sion3 hill 10 Delight thee more, and Siloa's4 brook that flowed Fast by the oracle of God, I thence Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song, That with no middle flight intends to soar Above th' Aonian5 mount, while it pursues 15 Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme.

1Oreb - ["O´ Æ®Eb] 2Sinai - ["saI ÆnaI] 3Sion - ["saI ÆÅn] 4Siloa's - [Æsi "loU Æ´z] 5Aonian - trisyllabic [eI "oU nI´n]

O

2

And chiefly thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer Before all temples th' upright heart and pure, Instruct me, for thou know'st; thou from the first Wast present, and, with mighty wings outspread, 20 Dove-like sat'st brooding on the vast Abyss, And mad'st it pregnant: what in me is dark Illumine, what is low raise and support; That, to the height of this great argument, I may assert Eternal Providence, 25 And justify the ways of God to men.

Say first--for Heaven hides nothing from thy view, Nor the deep tract of Hell--say first what cause Moved our grand parents, in that happy state, Favoured of Heaven so highly, to fall off 30 From their Creator, and transgress his will For one restraint, lords of the World besides.

Who first seduced them to that foul revolt?

Th' infernal Serpent; he it was whose guile, Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived 35 The mother of mankind, what time his pride Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host Of rebel Angels, by whose aid, aspiring To set himself in glory above his peers, He trusted to have equalled the Most High, 40 If he opposed, and with ambitious aim Against the throne and monarchy of God, Raised impious6 war in Heaven and battle proud, With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power Hurled headlong flaming from th' ethereal7 sky, 45 With hideous ruin and combustion, down To bottomless perdition, there to dwell In adamantine8 chains and penal fire, Who durst defy th' Omnipotent9 to arms.

Nine times the space that measures day and night 50 To mortal men, he, with his horrid crew, Lay vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf, Confounded, though immortal. But his doom Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought Both of lost happiness and lasting pain 55 Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, That witnessed huge affliction and dismay, Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate.

At once, as far as Angels ken, he views The dismal situation waste and wild. 60

6impious - disyllabic ["Im pi´s] 7th'ethereal - trisyllabic [DI "Ti ®i´l] 8adamantine - [œ d´ "man taIn] 9th'Omnipotent - [DÅm "nI poU ÆtEnt]

3

A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames No light; but rather darkness visible Served only to discover sights of woe, Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace 65 And rest can never dwell, hope never comes That comes to all, but torture without end Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed.

Such place Eternal Justice has prepared 70 For those rebellious; here their prison ordained In utter darkness, and their portion set, As far removed from God and light of Heaven As from the centre thrice to th' utmost pole.

Oh how unlike the place from whence they fell! 75 There the companions of his fall, o'erwhelmed With floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire, He soon discerns; and, weltering by his side, One next himself in power, and next in crime, Long after known in Palestine, and named 80 Beelzebub10. To whom th' Arch-Enemy, And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words Breaking the horrid silence, thus began:--

"If thou beest he--but O how fallen! how changed From him who, in the happy realms of light 85 Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine Myriads11, though bright!--if he whom mutual league, United thoughts and counsels, equal hope And hazard in the glorious enterprise Joined with me once, now misery hath joined 90 In equal ruin; into what pit thou seest From what height fallen: so much the stronger proved He with his thunder; and till then who knew The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those, Nor what the potent Victor in his rage 95 Can else inflict, do I repent, or change, Though changed in outward lustre, that fixed mind, And high disdain from sense of injured merit, That with the Mightiest raised me to contend, And to the fierce contentions brought along 100 Innumerable force of Spirits armed, That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, His utmost power with adverse power opposed In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? 105 All is not lost--the unconquerable will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield: And what is else not to be overcome?

10Beelzebub - [bi "El zI Æbøb] 11Myriads - ["mI ®i Æ´dz]

4

That glory never shall his wrath or might 110 Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace With suppliant knee, and deify12 his power Who, from the terror of this arm, so late Doubted his empire--that were low indeed; That were an ignominy and shame beneath 115 This downfall; since, by fate, the strength of Gods, And this empyreal13 substance, cannot fail; Since, through experience of this great event, In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, We may with more successful hope resolve 120 To wage by force or guile eternal war, Irreconcilable to our grand Foe, Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven."

So spake th' apostate Angel, though in pain, 125 Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair; And him thus answered soon his bold compeer14:--

"O Prince, O Chief of many thronèd Powers That led th' embattled Seraphim15 to war Under thy conduct, and, in dreadful deeds 130 Fearless, endangered Heaven's perpetual King, And put to proof his high supremacy, Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate, Too well I see and rue the dire event That, with sad overthrow and foul defeat, 135 Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host In horrible destruction laid thus low, As far as Gods and heavenly Essences Can perish: for the mind and spirit remains Invincible, and vigour soon returns, 140 Though all our glory extinct, and happy state Here swallowed up in endless misery.

But what if he our Conqueror (whom I now Of force believe almighty, since no less Than such could have o'erpowered such force as ours) 145 Have left us this our spirit and strength entire, Strongly to suffer and support our pains, That we may so suffice his vengeful ire, Or do him mightier service as his thralls By right of war, whate'er his business be, 150 Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire, Or do his errands in the gloomy Deep?

What can it then avail though yet we feel Strength undiminished, or eternal being To undergo eternal punishment?" 155

12deify - ["de I ÆfaI] 13empyreal - trisyllabic [Em "pI ®I´l] 14compeer - [k´m "pE„] 15Seraphim - ["sE´ ®´ ÆfIm]

5

Whereto with speedy words th' Arch-Fiend replied:--"Fallen Cherub, to be weak is miserable, Doing or suffering: but of this be sure--To do aught16 good never will be our task, But ever to do ill our sole delight, 160 As being the contrary to his high will Whom we resist. If then his providence Out of our evil seek to bring forth good, Our labour must be to pervert that end, And out of good still to find means of evil; 165 Which ofttimes may succeed so as perhaps Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb His inmost counsels from their destined aim.

But see! the angry Victor hath recalled His ministers of vengeance and pursuit 170 Back to the gates of Heaven: the sulphurous hail, Shot after us in storm, o'erblown hath laid The fiery surge that from the precipice17 Of Heaven received us falling; and the thunder, Winged with red lightning and impetuous18 rage, 175 Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now To bellow through the vast and boundless Deep.

Let us not slip th' occasion, whether scorn Or satiate19 fury yield it from our Foe.

Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild, 180 The seat of desolation, void of light, Save what the glimmering of these livid flames Casts pale and dreadful? Thither20 let us tend From off the tossing of these fiery waves; There rest, if any rest can harbour there; 185 And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, Consult how we may henceforth most offend Our enemy, our own loss how repair, How overcome this dire calamity, What reinforcement we may gain from hope, 190 If not, what resolution from despair."

Thus Satan, talking to his nearest mate, With head uplift above the wave, and eyes That sparkling blazed; his other parts besides Prone on the flood, extended long and large, 195 Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge As whom the fables name of monstrous size, Titanian21 or Earth-born, that warred on Jove,

16aught - ["Ot] 17precipice - ["p®E sI ÆpIs] 18impetuous - trisyllabic [Im "pE ÆtIu´s] 19satiate - disyllabic ["seI SI´t] 20thither - ["DI D„] 21Titanian - trisyllabic [taI "teI nI´n]

6

Briareos22 or Typhon23, whom the den By ancient Tarsus held, or that sea-beast 200 Leviathan24, which God of all his works Created hugest that swim th' ocean-stream.

Him, haply slumbering on the Norway foam, The pilot of some small night-foundered skiff, Deeming some island, oft, as seamen tell, 205 With fixèd anchor in his scaly rind, Moors by his side under the lee, while night Invests the sea, and wishèd morn delays.

So stretched out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay, Chained on the burning lake; nor ever thence 210 Had risen, or heaved his head, but that the will And high permission of all-ruling Heaven Left him at large to his own dark designs, That with reiterated crimes he might Heap on himself damnation, while he sought 215 Evil to others, and enraged might see How all his malice served but to bring forth Infinite goodness, grace, and mercy, shewn25 On Man by him seduced, but on himself Treble confusion, wrath, and vengeance poured. 220

Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool His mighty stature; on each hand the flames Driven backward slope their pointing spires, and, rolled In billows, leave i' th' midst a horrid vale.

Then with expanded wings he steers his flight 225 Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air, That felt unusual weight; till on dry land He lights--if it were land that ever burned With solid, as the lake with liquid fire, And such appeared in hue as when the force 230 Of subterranean26 wind transports a hill Torn from Pelorus, or the shattered side Of thundering Etna, whose combustible And fuelled entrails, thence conceiving fire, Sublimed with mineral fury, aid the winds, 235 And leave a singèd bottom all involved With stench and smoke. Such resting found the sole Of unblest feet. Him followed his next mate; Both glorying to have scaped the Stygian27 flood As gods, and by their own recovered strength, 240 Not by the sufferance of supernal28 Power.

22Briareos - [b®aI "E´ ®i ´s] 23Typhon - ["taI f´n] 24Leviathan - [l´ "vaI ´ ÆTœn] 25shewn - archaic spelling of shown [SoUn] or [SEUn] or [Sun] 26subterranean - [Æsøb t´ "®eI nI´n] 27Stygian - ["stI dZI´n]

7

"Is this the region, this the soil, the clime," Said then the lost Archangel29, "this the seat That we must change for Heaven?--this mournful gloom For that celestial light? Be it so, since he 245 Who now is sovereign can dispose and bid What shall be right: farthest from him is best Whom reason hath equalled, force hath made supreme Above his equals. Farewell, happy fields, Where joy for ever dwells! Hail, horrors! hail, 250 Infernal world! and thou, profoundest Hell, Receive thy new possessor--one who brings A mind not to be changed by place or time.

The mind is its own place, and in itself Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. 255 What matter where, if I be still the same, And what I should be, all but less than he Whom thunder hath made greater? Here at least We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: 260 Here we may reign secure; and, in my choice, To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.

But wherefore let we then our faithful friends, Th' associates30 and co-partners of our loss, 265 Lie thus astonished on th' oblivious pool, And call them not to share with us their part In this unhappy mansion, or once more With rallied arms to try what may be yet Regained in Heaven, or what more lost in Hell?" 270

So Satan spake; and him Beelzebub Thus answered:--"Leader of those armies bright Which, but th' Omnipotent, none could have foiled!

If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge Of hope in fears and dangers--heard so oft 275 In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge Of battle, when it raged, in all assaults Their surest signal--they will soon resume New courage and revive, though now they lie Grovelling and prostrate on yon lake of fire, 280 As we erewhile, astounded and amazed; No wonder, fallen such a pernicious31 height!"

He scarce had ceased when the superior Fiend Was moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield, Ethereal32 temper, massy, large, and round, 285

28supernal - [su "p‰± n´l] 29Archangel - [A„ "keIn dZ´l] 30associates - trisyllabic [´ "soU SIts] 31pernicious - [p„ "nI S´s] 32Ethereal - [I "Ti ®I´l]

8

Behind him cast. The broad circumference Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views At evening, from the top of Fesole33, Or in Valdarno34, to descry new lands, 290 Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe.

His spear--to equal which the tallest pine Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast Of some great admiral, were but a wand--He walked with, to support uneasy steps 295 Over the burning marl, not like those steps On Heaven's azure35; and the torrid clime Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire.

Nathless he so endured, till on the beach Of that inflamèd sea he stood, and called 300 His legions--Angel Forms, who lay entranced Thick as autumnal36 leaves that strow the brooks In Vallombrosa, where th' Etrurian shades High over-arched embower; or scattered sedge Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion armed 305 Hath vexed the Red-Sea coast, whose waves o'erthrew Busiris37 and his Memphian38 chivalry, While with perfidious39 hatred they pursued The sojourners40 of Goshen41, who beheld From the safe shore their floating carcases 310 And broken chariot-wheels. So thick bestrown, Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, Under amazement of their hideous change.

He called so loud that all the hollow deep Of Hell resounded:--"Princes, Potentates, 315 Warriors, the Flower of Heaven--once yours; now lost, If such astonishment as this can seize Eternal Spirits! Or have ye chosen this place After the toil of battle to repose Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find 320 To slumber here, as in the vales of Heaven?

Or in this abject posture have ye sworn To adore the Conqueror, who now beholds Cherub42 and Seraph43 rolling in the flood

33Fesole - ["fi z´ ÆleI] 34Valdarno - [vÅl "dA„ noU] 35azure - ["œ ZIU„] 36autumnal - [Å tøm n´l] 37Busiris - [bU "saI ®Is] 38Memphian - ["mEm fI´n] 39perfidious - [p„ "fI dI´s] 40sojourners - [s´ "dZ‰± n„z] 41Goshen - ["goU S´n] 42Cherub - ["tSE´ ®øb] 43Seraph - ["sE´ ®´f]

9

With scattered arms and ensigns44, till anon 325 His swift pursuers from Heaven-gates discern Th' advantage, and, descending, tread us down Thus drooping, or with linkèd thunderbolts Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf?

Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen!" 330

They heard, and were abashed, and up they sprung Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread, Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake.

Nor did they not perceive the evil plight 335 In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; Yet to their General's voice they soon obeyed Innumerable. As when the potent rod Of Amram's45 son, in Egypt's evil day, Waved round the coast, up-called a pitchy cloud 340 Of locusts, warping on the eastern wind, That o'er the realm of impious46 Pharaoh hung Like Night, and darkened all the land of Nile; So numberless were those bad Angels seen Hovering on wing under the cope of Hell, 345 'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires; Till, as a signal given, th' uplifted spear Of their great Sultan waving to direct Their course, in even balance down they light On the firm brimstone, and fill all the plain: 350 A multitude like which the populous North Poured never from her frozen loins to pass Rhene47 or the Danaw48, when her barbarous sons Came like a deluge on the South, and spread Beneath Gibraltar49 to the Libyan sands. 355 Forthwith, from every squadron and each band, The heads and leaders thither haste where stood Their great Commander--godlike Shapes, and Forms Excelling human; princely Dignities; And Powers that erst50 in Heaven sat on thrones, 360 Though on their names in Heavenly records now Be no memorial, blotted out and razed By their rebellion from the Books of Life.

Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve Got them new names, till, wand'ring o'er the earth, 365 Through God's high sufferance for the trial of man, By falsities and lies the greatest part

44ensigns - ["En s´nz] 45Amram's - ["œm ®œmz] 46impious - disyllabic ["Im pI´s] 47Rhene - [®in] 48Danaw - [d´ "nO] 49Gibraltar - [dZI "b®Ål t„] 50erst - [‰±st]

10

Of mankind they corrupted to forsake God their Creator, and th' invisible Glory of him that made them to transform 370 Oft to the image of a brute, adorned With gay religions full of pomp and gold, And devils to adore for deities: Then were they known to men by various names, And various idols through the heathen world. 375

Say, Muse, their names then known, who first, who last, Roused from the slumber on that fiery couch, At their great Emperor's call, as next in worth Came singly where he stood on the bare strand, While the promiscuous crowd stood yet aloof? 380

The chief were those who, from the pit of Hell Roaming to seek their prey on Earth, durst fix Their seats, long after, next the seat of God, Their altars by his altar, gods adored Among the nations round, and durst abide 385 Jehovah51 thundering out of Sion, throned Between the Cherubim52; yea, often placed Within his sanctuary itself their shrines, Abominations; and with cursèd things His holy rites and solemn feasts profaned, 390 And with their darkness durst affront his light.

First, Moloch53, horrid king, besmeared with blood Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears; Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud, Their children's cries unheard that passed through fire 395 To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite54

Worshipped in Rabba55 and her watery plain, In Argob56 and in Basan57, to the stream Of utmost Arnon58. Nor content with such Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart 400 Of Solomon he led by fraud to build His temple right against the temple of God On that opprobrious59 hill, and made his grove The pleasant valley of Hinnom60, Tophet61 thence

51Jehovah - [dZ´ "hoU vø] 52Cherubim - ["tSE´ ®U ÆbIm] 53Moloch - ["mÅ l´k] 54Ammonite - ["œ m´ ÆnaIt] 55Rabba - ["®œ b´] 56Argob - ["A„ gÅb] 57Basan - ["bœ s´n] 58Arnon - [A„ nÅn] 59opprobrious - trisyllabic [´ "p®oU b®I´s] 60Hinnom - ["hI n´m] 61Tophet - ["tÅ f´t]

11

And black Gehenna62 called, the type of Hell. 405 Next Chemos63, th' obscene dread of Moab's64 sons, From Aroar65 to Nebo66 and the wild Of southmost Abarim67; in Hesebon68

And Horonaim69, Seon's70 realm, beyond The flowery dale of Sibma clad with vines, 410 And Eleale71 to th' Asphaltic72 Pool: Peor73 his other name, when he enticed Israel in Sittim74, on their march from Nile, To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe.

Yet thence his lustful orgies he enlarged 415 Even to that hill of scandal, by the grove Of 75Moloch homicide, lust hard by hate, Till good Josiah76 drove them thence to Hell.

With these came they who, from the bordering flood Of old Euphrates77 to the brook that parts 420 Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names Of Baalim78 and Ashtaroth79--those male, These feminine. For Spirits, when they please, Can either sex assume, or both; so soft And uncompounded is their essence pure, 425 Not tried or manacled with joint or limb, Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, Like cumbrous flesh; but, in what shape they choose, Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure, Can execute their airy purposes, 430 And works of love or enmity fulfil.

For those the race of Israel oft forsook Their Living Strength, and unfrequented left His righteous altar, bowing lowly down To bestial gods; for which their heads as low 435

62Gehenna - [g´ "hE n´] 63Chemos - ["ki moUs] 64Moab's - ["moU œbz] 65Aroar - ["œ ®oU ÆA„] 66Nebo - ["ni boU] 67Abarim - ["œ b´ Æ®Im] 68Hesebon - ["he z´ ÆbÅn] 69Horonaim - [ÆhÅ ®´ "naI Im] 70Seon's - ["seI Ånz] 71Eleale - [ÆE lI "œ le] 72th' Asphaltic - [Dœs "fÅl tIk] 73Peor - [pi O„] 74Sittim - ["sI tIm] 75Moloch - ["mÅ l´k] 76Josiah - [dZoU "saI ´] 77Euphrates - [ju "f®eI tiz] 78Baalim - ["bA… lim] 79Ashtaroth - [ÆœS t´ "®ÅT]

12

Bowed down in battle, sunk before the spear Of despicable foes. With these in troop Came Astoreth80, whom the Phoenicians81 called Astarte82, queen of heaven, with crescent horns; To whose bright image nigntly by the moon 440 Sidonian83 virgins paid their vows and songs; In Sion also not unsung, where stood Her temple on th' offensive mountain, built By that uxorious84 king whose heart, though large, Beguiled by fair idolatresses, fell 445 To idols foul. Thammuz85 came next behind, Whose annual wound in Lebanon allured The Syrian damsels to lament his fate In amorous ditties all a summer's day, While smooth Adonis from his native rock 450 Ran purple to the sea, supposed with blood Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the love-tale Infected Sion's daughters with like heat, Whose wanton passions in the sacred porch Ezekiel86 saw, when, by the vision led, 455 His eye surveyed the dark idolatries Of alienated Judah. Next came one Who mourned in earnest, when the captive ark Maimed his brute image, head and hands lopt off, In his own temple, on the grunsel-edge87, 460 Where he fell flat and shamed his worshippers: Dagon88 his name, sea-monster,upward man And downward fish; yet had his temple high Reared in Azotus89, dreaded through the coast Of Palestine, in Gath90 and Ascalon91, 465 And Accaron92 and Gaza's frontier bounds.

Him followed Rimmon93, whose delightful seat Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks Of Abbana94 and Pharphar95, lucid streams.

80Astoreth - [Æas tO´ "®ET] 81Phoenicians - [f´ "ni S´nz] 82Astarte - [œs "tA„ te] 83Sidonian - [sI "doU nI´n] 84uxorious - [øk "sO´ ®I´s] 85Thammuz - [Tœ "muz] 86Ezekiel - [i "zi kI´l] 87grunsel - ["g®øn z´l] 88Dagon - ["deI gÅn] 89Azotus - [´ "zoU t´s] 90Gath - [gaT] 91Ascalon - ["a skE ÆlÅn] 92Accaron - ["a k´ Æ®Ån] 93Rimmon - ["®I m´n] 94Abbana - ["œ b´ ÆnA]

13

He also against the house of God was bold: 470 A leper once he lost, and gained a king--Ahaz96, his sottish conqueror, whom he drew God's altar to disparage and displace For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn His odious offerings, and adore the gods 475 Whom he had vanquished. After these appeared A crew who, under names of old renown--Osiris97, Isis98, Orus99, and their train--With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused Fanatic Egypt and her priests to seek 480 Their wandering gods disguised in brutish forms Rather than human. Nor did Israel scape Th' infection, when their borrowed gold composed The calf in Oreb100; and the rebel king Doubled that sin in Bethel101 and in Dan, 485 Likening102 his Maker to the grazèd ox--Jehovah, who, in one night, when he passed From Egypt marching, equalled with one stroke Both her first-born and all her bleating gods.

Belial103 came last; than whom a Spirit more lewd 490 Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love Vice for itself. To him no temple stood Or altar smoked; yet who more oft than he In temples and at altars, when the priest Turns atheist, as did Eli's 104sons, who filled 495 With lust and violence the house of God?

In courts and palaces he also reigns, And in luxurious cities, where the noise Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers, And injury and outrage; and, when night 500 Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine.

Witness the streets of Sodom105, and that night In Gibeah106, when th' hospitable door Exposed a matron, to avoid worse rape. 505

These were the prime in order and in might:

95Pharphar - ["fA„ fA„] 96Ahaz - [eI "hÅz] 97Osiris - [oU "saI ®´s] 98Isis - ["aI sIs] 99Orus - ["O´ ®´s] 100Oreb - ["O´ ®´b] 101Bethel - ["bE T´l] 102Likening - disyllabic ["laI knIN] 103Belial - trochaic ["bE lI´l] 104Eli's - ["i laIz] 105Sodom - ["sÅ d´m] 106Gibeah - ["gI be Æ´]

14

The rest were long to tell; though far renowned Th' Ionian gods--of Javan's 107issue held Gods, yet confessed later than Heaven and Earth, Their boasted parents;--Titan, Heaven's first-born, 510 With his enormous brood, and birthright seized By younger Saturn: he from mightier Jove, His own and Rhea's108 son, like measure found; So Jove usurping reigned. These, first in Crete And Ida known, thence on the snowy top 515 Of cold Olympus ruled the middle air, Their highest heaven; or on the Delphian109 cliff, Or in Dodona110, and through all the bounds Of Doric111 land; or who with Saturn old Fled over Adria112 to th' Hesperian113 fields, 520 And o'er the Celtic114 roamed the utmost Isles.

All these and more came flocking; but with looks Downcast and damp; yet such wherein appeared Obscure some glimpse of joy to have found their Chief Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost 525 In loss itself; which on his countenance cast Like doubtful hue. But he, his wonted pride Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore Semblance of worth, not substance, gently raised Their fainting courage, and dispelled their fears. 530 Then straight commands that, at the warlike sound Of trumpets loud and clarions, be upreared His mighty standard. That proud honour claimed Azazel as his right, a Cherub115 tall: Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurled 535 Th' imperial ensign; which, full high advanced, Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, With gems and golden lustre rich emblazed, Seraphic116 arms and trophies; all the while Sonorous117 metal blowing martial sounds: 540 At which the universal host up-sent A shout that tore Hell's concave, and beyond Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night.

All in a moment through the gloom were seen

107Javan's - ["dZœ v´nz] 108Rhea's - ["®i ´z] 109Delphian - ["dEl fI´n] 110Dodona - [d´ "doU n´] 111Doric - ["dÅ ®Ik] 112Adria - ["eI d®I´] 113th' Hesperian - [DEs "pE´ ®I´n] 114Celtic - ["kEl tIk] 115Cherub - [tSE´ ®´b] 116Seraphic - [sE´ "®œ fIk] 117Sonorous - ["sÅ n´ Æ®´s]

15

Ten thousand banners rise into the air, 545 With orient colours waving: with them rose A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms Appeared, and serried118 shields in thick array Of depth immeasurable. Anon they move In perfect phalanx119 to the Dorian120 mood 550 Of flutes and soft recorders--such as raised To height of noblest temper heroes old Arming to battle, and instead of rage Deliberate valour breathed, firm, and unmoved With dread of death to flight or foul retreat; 555 Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage With solemn touches troubled thoughts, and chase Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they, Breathing united force with fixèd thought, 560 Moved on in silence to soft pipes that charmed Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil. And now Advanced in view they stand--a horrid front Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise Of warriors old, with ordered spear and shield, 565 Awaiting what command their mighty Chief Had to impose. He through the armèd files Darts his experienced eye, and soon traverse The whole battalion views--their order due, Their visages121 and stature as of gods; 570 Their number last he sums. And now his heart Distends with pride, and, hardening in his strength, Glories: for never, since created Man, Met such embodied force as, named with these, Could merit more than that small infantry 575 Warred on by cranes--though all the giant brood Of Phlegra122 with th' heroic race were joined That fought at Thebes123 and Ilium124, on each side Mixed with auxiliar gods; and what resounds In fable or romance of Uther's125 son, 580 Begirt126 with British and Armoric127 knights; And all who since, baptized or infidel, Jousted in Aspramont128, or Montalban129,

118serried - ["sE ®�d] 119phalanx - ["fœ lœNks] 120Dorian - ["dO´ ®I´n] 121visages - ["vI z´ ÆdZ´z] 122Phlegra - ["flE g®´] 123Thebes - [Tibz] 124Ilium - ["I lI´m] 125Uther's - ["uT„z] 126Begirt - [bi "g‰±t] 127Armoric - [A„ "mÅ ®Ik] 128Aspramont - ["œs p®´ ÆmÅnt]

16

Damasco130, or Marocco, or Trebisond131, Or whom Biserta132 sent from Afric shore 585 When Charlemain with all his peerage fell By Fontarabbia133. Thus far these beyond Compare of mortal prowess, yet observed Their dread Commander. He, above the rest In shape and gesture proudly eminent, 590 Stood like a tower. His form had yet not lost All her original brightness, nor appeared Less than Archangel ruined, and th' excess Of glory obscured: as when the sun new-risen Looks through the horizontal misty air 595 Shorn of his beams, or, from behind the moon, In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds On half the nations, and with fear of change Perplexes monarchs. Darkened so, yet shone Above them all th' Archangel: but his face 600 Deep scars of thunder had intrenched, and care Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows Of dauntless courage, and considerate pride Waiting revenge. Cruel his eye, but cast Signs of remorse and passion, to behold 605 The fellows of his crime, the followers rather (Far other once beheld in bliss), condemned For ever now to have their lot in pain--Millions of Spirits for his fault amerced Of Heaven, and from eternal splendours flung 610 For his revolt--yet faithful how they stood, Their glory withered; as, when heaven's fire Hath scathed134 the forest oaks or mountain pines, With singèd top their stately growth, though bare, Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepared 615 To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend From wing to wing, and half enclose him round With all his peers: attention held them mute.

Thrice he assayed, and thrice, in spite of scorn, Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last 620 Words interwove with sighs found out their way:--

"O myriads135 of immortal Spirits! O Powers Matchless, but with th' Almighty!--and that strife Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire, As this place testifies, and this dire change, 625 Hateful to utter. But what power of mind,

129Montalban - ["mÅn t´l ÆbAn] 130Damasco - [d´ "mœs koU] 131Trebisond - ["t®E bI ÆsÅnd] 132Biserta - [bI "s‰± t´] 133Fontarabbia - [ÆfÅn t´ "®œ bI´] 134scathed - [skeIDd] 135myriads - ["mi ®I´dz]

17

Forseeing or presaging, from the depth Of knowledge past or present, could have feared How such united force of gods, how such As stood like these, could ever know repulse? 630 For who can yet believe, though after loss, That all these puissant136 legions, whose exile Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to re-ascend, Self-raised, and repossess their native seat?

For me, be witness all the host of Heaven, 635 If counsels different137, or danger shunned By me, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns Monarch in Heaven till then as one secure Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute, Consent or custom, and his regal state 640 Put forth at full, but still his strength concealed--Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall.

Henceforth his might we know, and know our own, So as not either to provoke, or dread New war provoked: our better part remains 645 To work in close design, by fraud or guile, What force effected not; that he no less At length from us may find, who overcomes By force hath overcome but half his foe.

Space may produce new Worlds; whereof so rife 650 There went a fame in Heaven that he ere long Intended to create, and therein plant A generation whom his choice regard Should favour equal to the Sons of Heaven.

Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps 655 Our first eruption--thither, or elsewhere; For this infernal pit shall never hold Celestial Spirits in bondage, nor th' Abyss Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts Full counsel must mature. Peace is despaired; 660 For who can think submission? War, then, war Open or understood, must be resolved."

He spake; and, to confirm his words, outflew Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs Of mighty Cherubim138; the sudden blaze 665 Far round illumined Hell. Highly they raged Against the Highest, and fierce with graspèd arms Clashed on their sounding shields the din of war, Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heaven.

There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top 670 Belched fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire Shone with a glossy scurf--undoubted sign That in his womb was hid metallic ore,

136puissant - ["pwi sÅnt] 137different - trisyllabic ["dI f„ Æ®´nt] 138Cherubim - ["tSE´ ®U ÆbIm]

18

The work of sulphur. Thither, winged with speed, A numerous139 brigade hastened: as when bands 675 Of pioneers, with spade and pickaxe armed, Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field, Or cast a rampart. Mammon140 led them on--Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell From Heaven; for even in Heaven his looks and thoughts 680 Were always downward bent, admiring more The riches of heaven's pavement, trodden gold, Than aught divine or holy else enjoyed In vision beatific141. By him first Men also, and by his suggestion taught, 685 Ransacked the centre, and with impious142 hands Rifled the bowels of their mother Earth For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew Opened into the hill a spacious wound, And digged out ribs of gold. Let none admire 690 That riches grow in Hell; that soil may best Deserve the precious bane. And here let those Who boast in mortal things, and wondering tell Of Babel143, and the works of Memphian144 kings, Learn how their greatest monuments of fame 695 And strength, and art, are easily outdone By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour What in an age they, with incessant toil And hands innumerable, scarce perform.

Nigh on the plain, in many cells prepared, 700 That underneath had veins of liquid fire Sluiced from the lake, a second multitude With wondrous art founded the massy ore, Severing each kind, and scummed the bullion-dross.

A third as soon had formed within the ground 705 A various mould, and from the boiling cells By strange conveyance filled each hollow nook; As in an organ, from one blast of wind, To many a row of pipes the sound-board breathes.

Anon out of the earth a fabric huge 710 Rose like an exhalation, with the sound Of dulcet145 symphonies and voices sweet--Built like a temple, where pilasters146 round Were set, and Doric147 pillars overlaid

139numerous - disyllabic ["num ®øs] 140Mammon - ["mœ m´n] 141beatific - [Æbi ´ "tI fIk] 142impious - disyllabic ["Im pi´s] 143Babel - ["beI b´l] 144Memphian - disyllabic ["mEm fI´n] 145dulcet - ["døl s´t] 146pilasters - [pI "lœ st„z] 147Doric -[dO´ ®Ik]

19

With golden architrave148; nor did there want 715 Cornice149 or frieze150, with bossy sculptures graven; The roof was fretted gold. Not Babylon Nor great Alcairo151 such magnificence Equalled in all their glories, to enshrine Belus152 or Serapis153 their gods, or seat 720 Their kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove In wealth and luxury. Th' ascending pile Stood fixed her stately height, and straight the doors, Opening154 their brazen folds, discover, wide Within, her ample spaces o'er the smooth 725 And level pavement: from the arched roof, Pendent by subtle magic, many a row Of starry lamps and blazing cressets155, fed With naptha156 and asphaltus157, yielded light As from a sky. The hasty multitude 730 Admiring entered; and the work some praise, And some the architect. His hand was known In Heaven by many a towered structure high, Where sceptred Angels held their residence, And sat as Princes, whom the supreme King 735 Exalted to such power, and gave to rule, Each in his Hierarchy, the Orders bright.

Nor was his name unheard or unadored In ancient Greece; and in Ausonian land Men called him Mulciber; and how he fell 740 From Heaven they fabled, thrown by angry Jove Sheer o'er the crystal battlements: from morn To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, A summer's day, and with the setting sun Dropt from the zenith, like a falling star, 745 On Lemnos158, th' Aegaean159 isle. Thus they relate, Erring160; for he with this rebellious rout Fell long before; nor aught aviled him now To have built in Heaven high towers; nor did he scape By all his engines, but was headlong sent, 750 With his industrious crew, to build in Hell.

148architrave - ["A„ kI Æt®eIv] 149Cornice -["kO„ nIs] 150frieze -[f®iz] 151Alcairo - [œl "kaI ®oU] 152Belus - ["bE l´s] 153Serapis - [sE´ ®´ ÆpIs] 154Opening - disyllabic ["oU pnIN] 155cressets - ["k®E s´ts] 156naptha - ["nœp T´] 157asphaltus - [œs "fÅl t´s] 158Lemnos - ["lEm noUs] 159th' Aegaean - [Di "gi ´n] 160Erring - ["‰± ®IN]

20

Meanwhile the wingèd Heralds, by command Of sovereign161 power162, with awful ceremony163 And trumpet's sound, throughout the host proclaim A solemn council forthwith to be held 755 At Pandemonium164, the high capital Of Satan and his peers. Their summons called From every band and squarèd regiment By place or choice the worthiest165: they anon With hundreds and with thousands trooping came 760 Attended. All access was thronged; the gates And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall (Though like a covered field, where champions166 bold Wont ride in armed, and at the Soldan's167 chair Defied the best of Paynim168 chivalry 765 To mortal combat, or career with lance), Thick swarmed, both on the ground and in the air, Brushed with the hiss of rustling wings. As bees In spring-time, when the Sun with Taurus rides, Pour forth their populous youth about the hive 770 In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers Fly to and fro, or on the smoothèd plank, The suburb of their straw-built citadel, New rubbed with balm, expatiate169, and confer Their state-affairs: so thick the airy crowd 775 Swarmed and were straitened; till, the signal given170, Behold a wonder! They but now who seemed In bigness to surpass Earth's giant sons, Now less than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room Throng numberless--like that pygmean171 race 780 Beyond the Indian mount; or faery elves, Whose midnight revels, by a forest-side Or fountain, some belated peasant sees, Or dreams he sees, while overhead the Moon Sits arbitress, and nearer to the Earth 785 Wheels her pale course: they, on their mirth and dance Intent, with jocund172 music charm his ear; At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds.

Thus incorporeal173 Spirits to smallest forms

161sovereign - disyllabic ["sÅ v®In] 162power - monosyllabic [pAU„] 163ceremony - disyllabic (if possible!) ["sE ®´m´n�] 164Pandemonium - [Æpœn dE "moU ni ´m] 165worthiest - disyllabic ["w‰± DI´st] 166champions -disyllabic ["tSœm pI´nz] 167Soldan's - ["soUl d´nz] 168Paynim - ["peI nIm] 169expatiate - [Eks "peI SI´t] 170given - monosyllabic [gIvn] 171pygmean - disyllabic ["pIg} mI´n] 172jocund - ["dZÅ k´nd]

21

Reduced their shapes immense, and were at large, 790 Though without number still, amidst the hall Of that infernal court. But far within, And in their own dimensions like themselves, The great Seraphic174 Lords and Cherubim175 In close recess and secret conclave sat, 795 A thousand demi-gods on golden seats, Frequent and full. After short silence then, And summons read, the great consult began.

173incorporeal - trisyllabic [In "kO„ p®´l] 174Seraphic - [sE´ "®œ fIk] 175Cherubim - ["tSE´ ®u ÆbIm]