HAil holy light, of spring of Heav'n first-born, 

Or of th' Eternal Coeternal beam 

May I express thee unblam'd? since God is light, 

And never but in unapproached light 

Dwelt from Eternitie, dwelt then in thee, 

Bright effluence of bright essence increate. 

Or hear'st thou rather pure Ethereal stream, 

Whose Fountain who shall tell? before the Sun, 

Before the Heavens thou wert, and at the voice 

Of God, as with a Mantle didst invest 

The rising world of waters dark and deep, 

Won from the void and formless infinite. 

Thee I re-visit now with bolder wing, 

Escap't the STYGIAN Pool, though long detain'd 

In that obscure sojourn, while in my flight 

Through utter and through middle darkness borne 

With other notes then to th' ORPHEAN Lyre 

I sung of CHAOS and ETERNAL NIGHT, 

Taught by the heav'nly Muse to venture down 

The dark descent, and up to reascend, 

Though hard and rare: thee I revisit safe, 

And feel thy sovran vital Lamp; but thou 

Revisit'st not these eyes, that rowle in vain 

To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn; 

So thick a drop serene hath quencht thir Orbs, 

Or dim suffusion veild.  Yet not the more 

Cease I to wander where the Muses haunt 

Cleer Spring, or shadie Grove, or Sunnie Hill, 

Smit with the love of sacred song; but chief 

Thee SION and the flowrie Brooks beneath 

That wash thy hallowd feet, and warbling flow, 

Nightly I visit: nor somtimes forget 

Those other two equal'd with me in Fate, 

So were I equal'd with them in renown, 

Blind THAMYRIS and blind MAEONIDES, 

And TIRESIAS and PHINEUS Prophets old. 

Then feed on thoughts, that voluntarie move 

Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful Bird 

Sings darkling, and in shadiest Covert hid 

Tunes her nocturnal Note.  Thus with the Year 

Seasons return, but not to me returns 

Day, or the sweet approach of Ev'n or Morn, 

Or sight of vernal bloom, or Summers Rose, 

Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine; 

But cloud in stead, and ever-during dark 

Surrounds me, from the chearful waies of men 

Cut off, and for the book of knowledg fair 

Presented with a Universal blanc 

Of Natures works to mee expung'd and ras'd, 

And wisdome at one entrance quite shut out. 

So much the rather thou Celestial light 

Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers 

Irradiate, there plant eyes, all mist from thence 

Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell 

Of things invisible to mortal sight. 



  Now had the Almighty Father from above, 

From the pure Empyrean where he sits 

High Thron'd above all highth, bent down his eye, 

His own works and their works at once to view: 

About him all the Sanctities of Heaven 

Stood thick as Starrs, and from his sight receiv'd 

Beatitude past utterance; on his right 

The radiant image of his Glory sat, 

His onely Son; On Earth he first beheld 

Our two first Parents, yet the onely two 

Of mankind, in the happie Garden plac't, 

Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love, 

Uninterrupted joy, unrivald love 

In blissful solitude; he then survey'd 

Hell and the Gulf between, and SATAN there 

Coasting the wall of Heav'n on this side Night 

In the dun Air sublime, and ready now 

To stoop with wearied wings, and willing feet 

On the bare outside of this World, that seem'd 

Firm land imbosom'd without Firmament, 

Uncertain which, in Ocean or in Air. 

Him God beholding from his prospect high, 

Wherein past, present, future he beholds, 

Thus to his onely Son foreseeing spake. 



  Onely begotten Son, seest thou what rage 

Transports our adversarie, whom no bounds 

Prescrib'd, no barrs of Hell, nor all the chains 

Heapt on him there, nor yet the main Abyss 

Wide interrupt can hold; so bent he seems 

On desperat revenge, that shall redound 

Upon his own rebellious head.  And now 

Through all restraint broke loose he wings his way 

Not farr off Heav'n, in the Precincts of light, 

Directly towards the new created World, 

And Man there plac't, with purpose to assay 

If him by force he can destroy, or worse, 

By som false guile pervert; and shall pervert; 

For man will heark'n to his glozing lyes, 

And easily transgress the sole Command, 

Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fall 

Hee and his faithless Progenie: whose fault? 

Whose but his own? ingrate, he had of mee 

All he could have; I made him just and right, 

Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. 

Such I created all th' Ethereal Powers 

And Spirits, both them who stood & them who faild; 

Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. 

Not free, what proof could they have givn sincere 

Of true allegiance, constant Faith or Love, 

Where onely what they needs must do, appeard, 

Not what they would? what praise could they receive? 

What pleasure I from such obedience paid, 

When Will and Reason (Reason also is choice) 

Useless and vain, of freedom both despoild, 

Made passive both, had servd necessitie, 

Not mee.  They therefore as to right belongd, 

So were created, nor can justly accuse 

Thir maker, or thir making, or thir Fate; 

As if Predestination over-rul'd 

Thir will, dispos'd by absolute Decree 

Or high foreknowledge; they themselves decreed 

Thir own revolt, not I: if I foreknew, 

Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault, 

Which had no less prov'd certain unforeknown. 

So without least impulse or shadow of Fate, 

Or aught by me immutablie foreseen, 

They trespass, Authors to themselves in all 

Both what they judge and what they choose; for so 

I formd them free, and free they must remain, 

Till they enthrall themselves: I else must change 

Thir nature, and revoke the high Decree 

Unchangeable, Eternal, which ordain'd 

Thir freedom, they themselves ordain'd thir fall. 

The first sort by thir own suggestion fell, 

Self-tempted, self-deprav'd: Man falls deceiv'd 

By the other first: Man therefore shall find grace, 

The other none: in Mercy and Justice both, 

Through Heav'n and Earth, so shall my glorie excel, 

But Mercy first and last shall brightest shine. 



  Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill'd 

All Heav'n, and in the blessed Spirits elect 

Sense of new joy ineffable diffus'd: 

Beyond compare the Son of God was seen 

Most glorious, in him all his Father shon 

Substantially express'd, and in his face 

Divine compassion visibly appeerd, 

Love without end, and without measure Grace, 

Which uttering thus he to his Father spake. 



  O Father, gracious was that word which clos'd 

Thy sovran sentence, that Man should find grace; 

For which both Heav'n and Earth shall high extoll 

Thy praises, with th' innumerable sound 

Of Hymns and sacred Songs, wherewith thy Throne 

Encompass'd shall resound thee ever blest. 

For should Man finally be lost, should Man 

Thy creature late so lov'd, thy youngest Son 

Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though joynd 

With his own folly? that be from thee farr, 

That farr be from thee, Father, who art Judge 

Of all things made, and judgest onely right. 

Or shall the Adversarie thus obtain 

His end, and frustrate thine, shall he fulfill 

His malice, and thy goodness bring to naught, 

Or proud return though to his heavier doom, 

Yet with revenge accomplish't and to Hell 

Draw after him the whole Race of mankind, 

By him corrupted? or wilt thou thy self 

Abolish thy Creation, and unmake, 

For him, what for thy glorie thou hast made? 

So should thy goodness and thy greatness both 

Be questiond and blaspheam'd without defence. 



  To whom the great Creatour thus reply'd. 

O Son, in whom my Soul hath chief delight, 

Son of my bosom, Son who art alone 

My word, my wisdom, and effectual might, 

All hast thou spok'n as my thoughts are, all 

As my Eternal purpose hath decreed: 

Man shall not quite be lost, but sav'd who will, 

Yet not of will in him, but grace in me 

Freely voutsaft; once more I will renew 

His lapsed powers, though forfeit and enthrall'd 

By sin to foul exorbitant desires; 

Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand 

On even ground against his mortal foe, 

By me upheld, that he may know how frail 

His fall'n condition is, and to me ow 

All his deliv'rance, and to none but me. 

Some I have chosen of peculiar grace 

Elect above the rest; so is my will: 

The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warnd 

Thir sinful state, and to appease betimes 

Th' incensed Deitie, while offerd grace 

Invites; for I will cleer thir senses dark, 

What may suffice, and soft'n stonie hearts 

To pray, repent, and bring obedience due. 

To prayer, repentance, and obedience due, 

Though but endevord with sincere intent, 

Mine eare shall not be slow, mine eye not shut. 

And I will place within them as a guide 

My Umpire CONSCIENCE, whom if they will hear, 

Light after light well us'd they shall attain, 

And to the end persisting, safe arrive. 

This my long sufferance and my day of grace 

They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste; 

But hard be hard'nd, blind be blinded more, 

That they may stumble on, and deeper fall; 

And none but such from mercy I exclude. 

But yet all is not don; Man disobeying, 

Disloyal breaks his fealtie, and sinns 

Against the high Supremacie of Heav'n, 

Affecting God-head, and so loosing all, 

To expiate his Treason hath naught left, 

But to destruction sacred and devote, 

He with his whole posteritie must die, 

Die hee or Justice must; unless for him 

Som other able, and as willing, pay 

The rigid satisfaction, death for death. 

Say Heav'nly Powers, where shall we find such love, 

Which of ye will be mortal to redeem 

Mans mortal crime, and just th' unjust to save, 

Dwels in all Heaven charitie so deare? 



  He ask'd, but all the Heav'nly Quire stood mute, 

And silence was in Heav'n: on mans behalf 

Patron or Intercessor none appeerd, 

Much less that durst upon his own head draw 

The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set. 

And now without redemption all mankind 

Must have bin lost, adjudg'd to Death and Hell 

By doom severe, had not the Son of God, 

In whom the fulness dwels of love divine, 

His dearest mediation thus renewd. 



  Father, thy word is past, man shall find grace; 

And shall grace not find means, that finds her way, 

The speediest of thy winged messengers, 

To visit all thy creatures, and to all 

Comes unprevented, unimplor'd, unsought, 

Happie for man, so coming; he her aide 

Can never seek, once dead in sins and lost; 

Attonement for himself or offering meet, 

Indebted and undon, hath none to bring: 

Behold mee then, mee for him, life for life 

I offer, on mee let thine anger fall; 

Account mee man; I for his sake will leave 

Thy bosom, and this glorie next to thee 

Freely put off, and for him lastly die 

Well pleas'd, on me let Death wreck all his rage; 

Under his gloomie power I shall not long 

Lie vanquisht; thou hast givn me to possess 

Life in my self for ever, by thee I live, 

Though now to Death I yeild, and am his due 

All that of me can die, yet that debt paid, 

Thou wilt not leave me in the loathsom grave 

His prey, nor suffer my unspotted Soule 

For ever with corruption there to dwell; 

But I shall rise Victorious, and subdue 

My Vanquisher, spoild of his vanted spoile; 

Death his deaths wound shall then receive, & stoop 

Inglorious, of his mortall sting disarm'd. 

I through the ample Air in Triumph high 

Shall lead Hell Captive maugre Hell, and show 

The powers of darkness bound.  Thou at the sight 

Pleas'd, out of Heaven shalt look down and smile, 

While by thee rais'd I ruin all my Foes, 

Death last, and with his Carcass glut the Grave: 

Then with the multitude of my redeemd 

Shall enter Heaven long absent, and returne, 

Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloud 

Of anger shall remain, but peace assur'd, 

And reconcilement; wrauth shall be no more 

Thenceforth, but in thy presence Joy entire. 



  His words here ended, but his meek aspect 

Silent yet spake, and breath'd immortal love 

To mortal men, above which only shon 

Filial obedience: as a sacrifice 

Glad to be offer'd, he attends the will 

Of his great Father.  Admiration seis'd 

All Heav'n, what this might mean, & whither tend 

Wondring; but soon th' Almighty thus reply'd: 



  O thou in Heav'n and Earth the only peace 

Found out for mankind under wrauth, O thou 

My sole complacence! well thou know'st how dear, 

To me are all my works, nor Man the least 

Though last created, that for him I spare 

Thee from my bosom and right hand, to save, 

By loosing thee a while, the whole Race lost. 

Thou therefore whom thou only canst redeeme, 

Thir Nature also to thy Nature joyne; 

And be thy self Man among men on Earth, 

Made flesh, when time shall be, of Virgin seed, 

By wondrous birth: Be thou in ADAMS room 

The Head of all mankind, though ADAMS Son. 

As in him perish all men, so in thee 

As from a second root shall be restor'd, 

As many as are restor'd, without thee none. 

His crime makes guiltie all his Sons, thy merit 

Imputed shall absolve them who renounce 

Thir own both righteous and unrighteous deeds, 

And live in thee transplanted, and from thee 

Receive new life.  So Man, as is most just, 

Shall satisfie for Man, be judg'd and die, 

And dying rise, and rising with him raise 

His Brethren, ransomd with his own dear life. 

So Heav'nly love shal outdoo Hellish hate, 

Giving to death, and dying to redeeme, 

So dearly to redeem what Hellish hate 

So easily destroy'd, and still destroyes 

In those who, when they may, accept not grace. 

Nor shalt thou by descending to assume 

Mans Nature, less'n or degrade thine owne. 

Because thou hast, though Thron'd in highest bliss 

Equal to God, and equally enjoying 

God-like fruition, quitted all to save 

A World from utter loss, and hast been found 

By Merit more then Birthright Son of God, 

Found worthiest to be so by being Good, 

Farr more then Great or High; because in thee 

Love hath abounded more then Glory abounds, 

Therefore thy Humiliation shall exalt 

With thee thy Manhood also to this Throne; 

Here shalt thou sit incarnate, here shalt Reigne 

Both God and Man, Son both of God and Man, 

Anointed universal King; all Power 

I give thee, reign for ever, and assume 

Thy Merits; under thee as Head Supream 

Thrones, Princedoms, Powers, Dominions I reduce: 

All knees to thee shall bow, of them that bide 

In Heaven, or Earth, or under Earth in Hell; 

When thou attended gloriously from Heav'n 

Shalt in the Skie appeer, and from thee send 

The summoning Arch-Angels to proclaime 

Thy dread Tribunal: forthwith from all Windes 

The living, and forthwith the cited dead 

Of all past Ages to the general Doom 

Shall hast'n, such a peal shall rouse thir sleep. 

Then all thy Saints assembl'd, thou shalt judge 

Bad men and Angels, they arraignd shall sink 

Beneath thy Sentence; Hell, her numbers full, 

Thenceforth shall be for ever shut.  Mean while 

The World shall burn, and from her ashes spring 

New Heav'n and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell 

And after all thir tribulations long 

See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds, 

With Joy and Love triumphing, and fair Truth. 

Then thou thy regal Scepter shalt lay by, 

For regal Scepter then no more shall need, 

God shall be All in All.  But all ye Gods, 

Adore him, who to compass all this dies, 

Adore the Son, and honour him as mee. 



  No sooner had th' Almighty ceas't, but all 

The multitude of Angels with a shout 

Loud as from numbers without number, sweet 

As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heav'n rung 

With Jubilee, and loud Hosanna's fill'd 

Th' eternal Regions: lowly reverent 

Towards either Throne they bow, & to the ground 

With solemn adoration down they cast 

Thir Crowns inwove with Amarant and Gold, 

Immortal Amarant, a Flour which once 

In Paradise, fast by the Tree of Life 

Began to bloom, but soon for mans offence 

To Heav'n remov'd where first it grew, there grows, 

And flours aloft shading the Fount of Life, 

And where the river of Bliss through midst of Heavn 

Rowls o're ELISIAN Flours her Amber stream; 

With these that never fade the Spirits Elect 

Bind thir resplendent locks inwreath'd with beams, 

Now in loose Garlands thick thrown off, the bright 

Pavement that like a Sea of Jasper shon 

Impurpl'd with Celestial Roses smil'd. 

Then Crown'd again thir gold'n Harps they took, 

Harps ever tun'd, that glittering by their side 

Like Quivers hung, and with Praeamble sweet 

Of charming symphonie they introduce 

Thir sacred Song, and waken raptures high; 

No voice exempt, no voice but well could joine 

Melodious part, such concord is in Heav'n. 



  Thee Father first they sung Omnipotent, 

Immutable, Immortal, Infinite, 

Eternal King; thee Author of all being, 

Fountain of Light, thy self invisible 

Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sit'st 

Thron'd inaccessible, but when thou shad'st 

The full blaze of thy beams, and through a cloud 

Drawn round about thee like a radiant Shrine, 

Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appeer, 

Yet dazle Heav'n, that brightest Seraphim 

Approach not, but with both wings veil thir eyes. 

Thee next they sang of all Creation first, 

Begotten Son, Divine Similitude, 

In whose conspicuous count'nance, without cloud 

Made visible, th' Almighty Father shines, 

Whom else no Creature can behold; on thee 

Impresst the effulgence of his Glorie abides, 

Transfus'd on thee his ample Spirit rests. 

Hee Heav'n of Heavens and all the Powers therein 

By thee created, and by thee threw down 

Th' aspiring Dominations: thou that day 

Thy Fathers dreadful Thunder didst not spare, 

Nor stop thy flaming Chariot wheels, that shook 

Heav'ns everlasting Frame, while o're the necks 

Thou drov'st of warring Angels disarraid. 

Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaime 

Thee only extold, Son of thy Fathers might, 

To execute fierce vengeance on his foes, 

Not so on Man; him through their malice fall'n, 

Father of Mercie and Grace, thou didst not doome 

So strictly, but much more to pitie encline: 

No sooner did thy dear and onely Son 

Perceive thee purpos'd not to doom frail Man 

So strictly, but much more to pitie enclin'd, 

He to appease thy wrauth, and end the strife 

Of Mercy and Justice in thy face discern'd, 

Regardless of the Bliss wherein hee sat 

Second to thee, offerd himself to die 

For mans offence.  O unexampl'd love, 

Love no where to be found less then Divine! 

Hail Son of God, Saviour of Men, thy Name 

Shall be the copious matter of my Song 

Henceforth, and never shall my Harp thy praise 

Forget, nor from thy Fathers praise disjoine. 



  Thus they in Heav'n, above the starry Sphear, 

Thir happie hours in joy and hymning spent. 

Mean while upon the firm opacous Globe 

Of this round World, whose first convex divides 

The luminous inferior Orbs, enclos'd 

From CHAOS and th' inroad of Darkness old, 

SATAN alighted walks: a Globe farr off 

It seem'd, now seems a boundless Continent 

Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Night 

Starless expos'd, and ever-threatning storms 

Of CHAOS blustring round, inclement skie; 

Save on that side which from the wall of Heav'n 

Though distant farr som small reflection gaines 

Of glimmering air less vext with tempest loud: 

Here walk'd the Fiend at large in spacious field. 

As when a Vultur on IMAUS bred, 

Whose snowie ridge the roving TARTAR bounds, 

Dislodging from a Region scarce of prey 

To gorge the flesh of Lambs or yeanling Kids 

On Hills where Flocks are fed, flies toward the Springs 

Of GANGES or HYDASPES, INDIAN streams; 

But in his way lights on the barren plaines 

Of SERICANA, where CHINESES drive 

With Sails and Wind thir canie Waggons light: 

So on this windie Sea of Land, the Fiend 

Walk'd up and down alone bent on his prey, 

Alone, for other Creature in this place 

Living or liveless to be found was none, 

None yet, but store hereafter from the earth 

Up hither like Aereal vapours flew 

Of all things transitorie and vain, when Sin 

With vanity had filld the works of men: 

Both all things vain, and all who in vain things 

Built thir fond hopes of Glorie or lasting fame, 

Or happiness in this or th' other life; 

All who have thir reward on Earth, the fruits 

Of painful Superstition and blind Zeal, 

Naught seeking but the praise of men, here find 

Fit retribution, emptie as thir deeds; 

All th' unaccomplisht works of Natures hand, 

Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixt, 

Dissolvd on earth, fleet hither, and in vain, 

Till final dissolution, wander here, 

Not in the neighbouring Moon, as some have dreamd; 

Those argent Fields more likely habitants, 

Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold 

Betwixt th' Angelical and Human kinde: 

Hither of ill-joynd Sons and Daughters born 

First from the ancient World those Giants came 

With many a vain exploit, though then renownd: 

The builders next of BABEL on the Plain 

Of SENNAAR, and still with vain designe 

New BABELS, had they wherewithall, would build: 

Others came single; hee who to be deemd 

A God, leap'd fondly into AETNA flames, 

EMPEDOCLES, and hee who to enjoy 

PLATO'S ELYSIUM, leap'd into the Sea, 

CLEOMBROTUS, and many more too long, 

Embryo's and Idiots, Eremits and Friers 

White, Black and Grey, with all thir trumperie. 

Here Pilgrims roam, that stray'd so farr to seek 

In GOLGOTHA him dead, who lives in Heav'n; 

And they who to be sure of Paradise 

Dying put on the weeds of DOMINIC, 

Or in FRANCISCAN think to pass disguis'd; 

They pass the Planets seven, and pass the fixt, 

And that Crystalline Sphear whose ballance weighs 

The Trepidation talkt, and that first mov'd; 

And now Saint PETER at Heav'ns Wicket seems 

To wait them with his Keys, and now at foot 

Of Heav'ns ascent they lift thir Feet, when loe 

A violent cross wind from either Coast 

Blows them transverse ten thousand Leagues awry 

Into the devious Air; then might ye see 

Cowles, Hoods and Habits with thir wearers tost 

And flutterd into Raggs, then Reliques, Beads, 

Indulgences, Dispenses, Pardons, Bulls, 

The sport of Winds: all these upwhirld aloft 

Fly o're the backside of the World farr off 

Into a LIMBO large and broad, since calld 

The Paradise of Fools, to few unknown 

Long after, now unpeopl'd, and untrod; 

All this dark Globe the Fiend found as he pass'd, 

And long he wanderd, till at last a gleame 

Of dawning light turnd thither-ward in haste 

His travell'd steps; farr distant hee descries 

Ascending by degrees magnificent 

Up to the wall of Heaven a Structure high, 

At top whereof, but farr more rich appeerd 

The work as of a Kingly Palace Gate 

With Frontispice of Diamond and Gold 

Imbellisht, thick with sparkling orient Gemmes 

The Portal shon, inimitable on Earth 

By Model, or by shading Pencil drawn. 

The Stairs were such as whereon JACOB saw 

Angels ascending and descending, bands 

Of Guardians bright, when he from ESAU fled 

To PADAN-ARAM in the field of LUZ, 

Dreaming by night under the open Skie, 

And waking cri'd, This is the Gate of Heav'n. 

Each Stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood 

There alwaies, but drawn up to Heav'n somtimes 

Viewless, and underneath a bright Sea flow'd 

Of Jasper, or of liquid Pearle, whereon 

Who after came from Earth, sayling arriv'd, 

Wafted by Angels, or flew o're the Lake 

Rapt in a Chariot drawn by fiery Steeds. 

The Stairs were then let down, whether to dare 

The Fiend by easie ascent, or aggravate 

His sad exclusion from the dores of Bliss. 

Direct against which op'nd from beneath, 

Just o're the blissful seat of Paradise, 

A passage down to th' Earth, a passage wide, 

Wider by farr then that of after-times 

Over Mount SION, and, though that were large, 

Over the PROMIS'D LAND to God so dear, 

By which, to visit oft those happy Tribes, 

On high behests his Angels to and fro 

Pass'd frequent, and his eye with choice regard 

From PANEAS the fount of JORDANS flood 

To BEERSABA, where the HOLY LAND 

Borders on AEGYPT and the ARABIAN shoare; 

So wide the op'ning seemd, where bounds were set 

To darkness, such as bound the Ocean wave. 

SATAN from hence now on the lower stair 

That scal'd by steps of Gold to Heav'n Gate 

Looks down with wonder at the sudden view 

Of all this World at once.  As when a Scout 

Through dark and desart wayes with peril gone 

All night; at last by break of chearful dawne 

Obtains the brow of some high-climbing Hill, 

Which to his eye discovers unaware 

The goodly prospect of some forein land 

First-seen, or some renownd Metropolis 

With glistering Spires and Pinnacles adornd, 

Which now the Rising Sun guilds with his beams. 

Such wonder seis'd, though after Heaven seen, 

The Spirit maligne, but much more envy seis'd 

At sight of all this World beheld so faire. 

Round he surveys, and well might, where he stood 

So high above the circling Canopie 

Of Nights extended shade; from Eastern Point 

Of LIBRA to the fleecie Starr that bears 

ANDROMEDA farr off ATLANTICK Seas 

Beyond th' HORIZON; then from Pole to Pole 

He views in bredth, and without longer pause 

Down right into the Worlds first Region throws 

His flight precipitant, and windes with ease 

Through the pure marble Air his oblique way 

Amongst innumerable Starrs, that shon 

Stars distant, but nigh hand seemd other Worlds, 

Or other Worlds they seemd, or happy Iles, 

Like those HESPERIAN Gardens fam'd of old, 

Fortunate Fields, and Groves and flourie Vales, 

Thrice happy Iles, but who dwelt happy there 

He stayd not to enquire: above them all 

The golden Sun in splendor likest Heaven 

Allur'd his eye: Thither his course he bends 

Through the calm Firmament; but up or downe 

By center, or eccentric, hard to tell, 

Or Longitude, where the great Luminarie 

Alooff the vulgar Constellations thick, 

That from his Lordly eye keep distance due, 

Dispenses Light from farr; they as they move 

Thir Sarry dance in numbers that compute 

Days, months, and years, towards his all-chearing Lamp 

Turn swift their various motions, or are turnd 

By his Magnetic beam, that gently warms 

The Univers, and to each inward part 

With gentle penetration, though unseen, 

Shoots invisible vertue even to the deep: 

So wondrously was set his Station bright. 

There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps 

Astronomer in the Sun's lucent Orbe 

Through his glaz'd Optic Tube yet never saw. 

The place he found beyond expression bright, 

Compar'd with aught on Earth, Medal or Stone; 

Not all parts like, but all alike informd 

Which radiant light, as glowing Iron with fire; 

If mettal, part seemd Gold, part Silver cleer; 

If stone, Carbuncle most or Chrysolite, 

Rubie or Topaz, to the Twelve that shon 

In AARONS Brest-plate, and a stone besides 

Imagind rather oft then elsewhere seen, 

That stone, or like to that which here below 

Philosophers in vain so long have sought, 

In vain, though by thir powerful Art they binde 

Volatil HERMES, and call up unbound 

In various shapes old PROTEUS from the Sea, 

Draind through a Limbec to his Native forme. 

What wonder then if fields and regions here 

Breathe forth ELIXIR pure, and Rivers run 

Potable Gold, when with one vertuous touch 

Th' Arch-chimic Sun so farr from us remote 

Produces with Terrestrial Humor mixt 

Here in the dark so many precious things 

Of colour glorious and effect so rare? 

Here matter new to gaze the Devil met 

Undazl'd, farr and wide his eye commands, 

For sight no obstacle found here, nor shade, 

But all Sun-shine, as when his Beams at Noon 

Culminate from th' AEQUATOR, as they now 

Shot upward still direct, whence no way round 

Shadow from body opaque can fall, and the Aire, 

No where so cleer, sharp'nd his visual ray 

To objects distant farr, whereby he soon 

Saw within kenn a glorious Angel stand, 

The same whom JOHN saw also in the Sun: 

His back was turnd, but not his brightness hid; 

Of beaming sunnie Raies, a golden tiar 

Circl'd his Head, nor less his Locks behind 

Illustrious on his Shoulders fledge with wings 

Lay waving round; on som great charge imploy'd 

Hee seemd, or fixt in cogitation deep. 

Glad was the Spirit impure as now in hope 

To find who might direct his wandring flight 

To Paradise the happie seat of Man, 

His journies end and our beginning woe. 

But first he casts to change his proper shape, 

Which else might work him danger or delay: 

And now a stripling Cherube he appeers, 

Not of the prime, yet such as in his face 

Youth smil'd Celestial, and to every Limb 

Sutable grace diffus'd, so well he feignd; 

Under a Coronet his flowing haire 

In curles on either cheek plaid, wings he wore 

Of many a colourd plume sprinkl'd with Gold, 

His habit fit for speed succinct, and held 

Before his decent steps a Silver wand. 

He drew not nigh unheard, the Angel bright, 

Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turnd, 

Admonisht by his eare, and strait was known 

Th' Arch-Angel URIEL, one of the seav'n 

Who in Gods presence, neerest to his Throne 

Stand ready at command, and are his Eyes 

That run through all the Heav'ns, or down to th' Earth 

Bear his swift errands over moist and dry, 

O're Sea and Land: him SATAN thus accostes; 



  URIEL, for thou of those seav'n Spirits that stand 

In sight of God's high Throne, gloriously bright, 

The first art wont his great authentic will 

Interpreter through highest Heav'n to bring, 

Where all his Sons thy Embassie attend; 

And here art likeliest by supream decree 

Like honour to obtain, and as his Eye 

To visit oft this new Creation round; 

Unspeakable desire to see, and know 

All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man, 

His chief delight and favour, him for whom 

All these his works so wondrous he ordaind, 

Hath brought me from the Quires of Cherubim 

Alone thus wandring.  Brightest Seraph tell 

In which of all these shining Orbes hath Man 

His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none, 

But all these shining Orbes his choice to dwell; 

That I may find him, and with secret gaze, 

Or open admiration him behold 

On whom the great Creator hath bestowd 

Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces powrd; 

That both in him and all things, as is meet, 

The Universal Maker we may praise; 

Who justly hath drivn out his Rebell Foes 

To deepest Hell, and to repair that loss 

Created this new happie Race of Men 

To serve him better: wise are all his wayes. 



  So spake the false dissembler unperceivd; 

For neither Man nor Angel can discern 

Hypocrisie, the only evil that walks 

Invisible, except to God alone, 

By his permissive will, through Heav'n and Earth: 

And oft though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps 

At wisdoms Gate, and to simplicitie 

Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill 

Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguil'd 

URIEL, though Regent of the Sun, and held 

The sharpest sighted Spirit of all in Heav'n; 

Who to the fraudulent Impostor foule 

In his uprightness answer thus returnd. 

Faire Angel, thy desire which tends to know 

The works of God, thereby to glorifie 

The great Work-Maister, leads to no excess 

That reaches blame, but rather merits praise 

The more it seems excess, that led thee hither 

From thy Empyreal Mansion thus alone, 

To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps 

Contented with report heare onely in heav'n: 

For wonderful indeed are all his works, 

Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all 

Had in remembrance alwayes with delight; 

But what created mind can comprehend 

Thir number, or the wisdom infinite 

That brought them forth, but hid thir causes deep. 

I saw when at his Word the formless Mass, 

This worlds material mould, came to a heap: 

Confusion heard his voice, and wilde uproar 

Stood rul'd, stood vast infinitude confin'd; 

Till at his second bidding darkness fled, 

Light shon, and order from disorder sprung: 

Swift to thir several Quarters hasted then 

The cumbrous Elements, Earth, Flood, Aire, Fire, 

And this Ethereal quintessence of Heav'n 

Flew upward, spirited with various forms, 

That rowld orbicular, and turnd to Starrs 

Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move; 

Each had his place appointed, each his course, 

The rest in circuit walles this Universe. 

Look downward on that Globe whose hither side 

With light from hence, though but reflected, shines; 

That place is Earth the seat of Man, that light 

His day, which else as th' other Hemisphere 

Night would invade, but there the neighbouring Moon 

(So call that opposite fair Starr) her aide 

Timely interposes, and her monthly round 

Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heav'n; 

With borrowd light her countenance triform 

Hence fills and empties to enlighten th' Earth, 

And in her pale dominion checks the night. 

That spot to which I point is PARADISE, 

ADAMS abode, those loftie shades his Bowre. 

Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires. 



  Thus said, he turnd, and SATAN bowing low, 

As to superior Spirits is wont in Heaven, 

Where honour due and reverence none neglects, 

Took leave, and toward the coast of Earth beneath, 

Down from th' Ecliptic, sped with hop'd success, 

Throws his steep flight with many an Aerie wheele, 

Nor staid, till on NIPHATES top he lights. 



     THE END OF THE THIRD BOOK.