 | |
| |
| I, who erewhile the happy Garden sung |
| By one man's disobedience lost, now sing |
| Recovered Paradise to all mankind, |
| By one man's firm obedience fully tried |
| 5 | Through all temptation, and the Tempter foiled |
| In all his wiles, defeated and repulsed, |
| And Eden raised in the waste Wilderness. |
| Thou Spirit, who led'st this glorious Eremite |
| Into the desert, his victorious field |
| 10 | Against the spiritual foe, and brought'st him thence 10 |
| By proof the undoubted Son of God, inspire, |
| As thou art wont, my prompted song, else mute, |
| And bear through highth or depth of Nature's bounds, |
| With prosperous wing full summed, to tell of deeds |
| 15 | Above heroic, though in secret done, |
| And unrecorded left through many an age: |
| Worthy to have not remained so long unsung. |
| Now had the great Proclaimer, with a voice |
| More awful than the sound of trumpet, cried |
| 20 | Repentance, and Heaven's kingdom nigh at hand 20 |
| To all baptized. To his great baptism flocked |
| With awe the regions round, and with them came |
| From Nazareth the son of Joseph deemed |
| To the flood Jordan--came as then obscure, |
| 25 | Unmarked, unknown. But him the Baptist soon |
| Descried, divinely warned, and witness bore |
| As to his worthier, and would have resigned |
| To him his heavenly office. Nor was long |
| His witness unconfirmed: on him baptized |
| 30 | Heaven opened, and in likeness of a Dove 30 |
| The Spirit descended, while the Father's voice |
| From Heaven pronounced him his beloved Son. |
| That heard the Adversary, who, roving still |
| About the world, at that assembly famed |
| 35 | Would not be last, and, with the voice divine |
| Nigh thunder-struck, the exalted man to whom |
| Such high attest was given a while surveyed |
| With wonder; then, with envy fraught and rage, |
| Flies to his place, nor rests, but in mid air |
| 40 | To council summons all his mighty Peers, 40 |
| Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved, |
| A gloomy consistory; and them amidst, |
| With looks aghast 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, than remember Hell, |
| Our hated habitation), well ye know |
| How many ages, as the years of men, |
| This Universe we have possessed, and ruled |
| 50 | In manner at our will the affairs of Earth, 50 |
| Since Adam and his facile consort Eve |
| Lost Paradise, deceived by me, though since |
| With dread attending when that fatal wound |
| Shall be inflicted by the seed of Eve |
| 55 | Upon my head. Long the decrees of Heaven |
| Delay, for longest time to Him is short; |
| And now, too soon for us, the circling hours |
| This dreaded time have compassed, wherein we |
| Must bide the stroke of that long-threatened wound |
| 60 | (At least, if so we can, and by the head 60 |
| Broken be not intended all our power |
| To be infringed, our freedom and our being |
| In this fair empire won of Earth and Air)-- |
| For this ill news I bring: The Woman's Seed, |
| 65 | Destined to this, is late of woman born. |
| His birth to our just fear gave no small cause; |
| But his growth now to youth's full flower, displaying |
| All virtue, grace and wisdom to achieve |
| Things highest, greatest, multiplies my fear. |
| 70 | Before him a great Prophet, to proclaim 70 |
| 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 baptized-- |
| Not thence to be more pure, but to receive |
| The testimony of Heaven, that who he is |
| Thenceforth the nations may not doubt. I saw |
| 80 | The Prophet do him reverence; on him, rising 80 |
| Out of the water, Heaven above the clouds |
| Unfold her crystal doors; thence on his head |
| A perfet Dove descend (whate'er it meant); |
| And out of Heaven the sovraign voice I heard, |
| 85 | 'This is my Son beloved,--in him am pleased.' |
| His mother, than, is mortal, but his Sire |
| He who obtains the monarchy of Heaven; |
| And what will He not do to advance his Son? |
| His first-begot we know, and sore have felt, |
| 90 | When his fierce thunder drove us to the Deep; 90 |
| Who this is we must learn, for Man he seems |
| In all his lineaments, though in his face |
| The glimpses of his Father's glory shine. |
| Ye see our danger on the utmost edge |
| 95 | Of hazard, which admits no long debate, |
| But must with something sudden be opposed |
| (Not force, but well-couched fraud, well-woven snares), |
| Ere in the head of nations he appear, |
| Their king, their leader, and supreme on Earth. |
| 100 | I, when no other durst, sole undertook 100 |
| The dismal expedition to find out |
| And ruin Adam, and the exploit performed |
| 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 the infernal crew, |
| Distracted and surprised with deep dismay |
| At these sad tidings. But no time was then |
| 110 | For long indulgence to their fears or grief: 110 |
| Unanimous they all commit the care |
| And management of this man enterprise |
| To him, their great Dictator, whose attempt |
| At first against mankind so well had thrived |
| 115 | In Adam's overthrow, and led their 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 easy steps, girded with snaky wiles, 120 |
| Where he might likeliest find this new-declared, |
| This man of men, attested Son of God, |
| Temptation and all guile on him to try-- |
| So to subvert whom he suspected raised |
| 125 | To end his reign on Earth so long enjoyed: |
| But, contrary, unweeting he fulfilled |
| The purposed counsel, pre-ordained and fixed, |
| Of the Most High, who, in full frequence bright |
| Of Angels, thus to Gabriel smiling spake:-- |
| 130 | "Gabriel, this day, by proof, thou shalt behold, 130 |
| Thou and all Angels conversant on Earth |
| With Man or men's affairs, how I begin |
| To verify 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 called the Son of God. |
| Then told'st 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'ershadow her. This Man, born and now upgrown, 140 |
| To shew him worthy of his birth divine |
| And high prediction, henceforth I expose |
| To Satan; let him tempt, and now assay |
| His utmost subtlety, because he boasts |
| 145 | And vaunts of his great cunning to the throng |
| Of his Apostasy. He might have learnt |
| Less overweening, since he failed in Job, |
| Whose constant perseverance overcame |
| Whate'er his cruel malice could invent. |
| 150 | He now shall know I can produce a man, 150 |
| Of female seed, far abler to resist |
| All his solicitations, and at length |
| All his vast force, and drive him back to Hell-- |
| Winning by conquest what the first man lost |
| 155 | By fallacy surprised. But first I mean |
| To exercise him in the Wilderness; |
| There he shall first lay down the rudiments |
| Of his great warfare, ere I send him forth |
| To conquer Sin and Death, the two grand foes. |
| 160 | By humiliation and strong sufferance 160 |
| His weakness shall o'ercome Satanic strength, |
| And all the world, and mass of sinful flesh; |
| That all the Angels and aethereal Powers-- |
| They now, and men hereafter--may discern |
| 165 | From what consummate virtue I have chose |
| This perfet man, by merit called my Son, |
| To earn salvation for the sons of men." |
| So spake the Eternal Father, and all Heaven |
| Admiring stood a space; then into hymns |
| 170 | Burst forth, and in celestial measures moved, 170 |
| 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 entering his great duel, not of arms, |
| 175 | But to vanquish by wisdom hellish wiles! |
| The Father knows the Son; therefore secure |
| Ventures his filial virtue, though untried, |
| Against whate'er may tempt, whate'er seduce, |
| Allure, or terrify, or undermine. |
| 180 | Be frustrate, all ye stratagems of Hell, 180 |
| And, devilish machinations, come to nought!" |
| So they in Heaven their odes and vigils tuned. |
| Meanwhile the Son of God, who yet some days |
| Lodged in Bethabara, where John baptized, |
| 185 | Musing and much revolving in his breast |
| How best the mighty work he might begin |
| Of Saviour to mankind, and which way first |
| Publish his godlike office now mature, |
| One day forth walked alone, the Spirit leading |
| 190 | And his deep thoughts, the better to converse 190 |
| With solitude, till, far from track of men, |
| Thought following thought, and step by step led on, |
| He entered now the bordering Desert wild, |
| And, with dark shades and rocks environed round, |
| 195 | His holy meditations thus pursued:-- |
| "O what a multitude of thoughts at once |
| Awakened in me swarm, while I consider |
| What from within I feel myself, and hear |
| What from without comes often to my ears, |
| 200 | Ill sorting with my present state compared! 200 |
| 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 public good; myself 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, ere yet my age |
| 210 | Had measured twice six years, at our great Feast 210 |
| 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 admired by all. Yet this not all |
| 215 | To which my spirit aspired. Victorious deeds |
| Flamed in my heart, heroic acts--one while |
| To rescue Israel from the Roman yoke; |
| Then to subdue and quell, o'er all the earth, |
| Brute violence and proud tyrannic power, |
| 220 | Till truth were freed, and equity restored: 220 |
| Yet held it more humane, more heavenly, first |
| By winning words to conquer willing hearts, |
| And make persuasion do the work of fear; |
| At least to try, and teach the erring soul, |
| 225 | Not wilfully misdoing, but unware |
| Misled; the stubborn only to subdue. |
| These growing thoughts my mother soon perceiving, |
| By words at times cast forth, inly rejoiced, |
| And said to me apart, 'High are thy thoughts, |
| 230 | O Son! but nourish them, and let them soar 230 |
| To what highth sacred virtue and true worth |
| Can raise them, though above example high; |
| By matchless deeds express thy matchless Sire. |
| For know, thou art no son of mortal man; |
| 235 | Though men esteem thee low of parentage, |
| Thy Father is the Eternal King who rules |
| All Heaven and Earth, Angels and sons of men. |
| A messenger from God foretold thy birth |
| Conceived in me a virgin; he foretold |
| 240 | Thou shouldst be great, and sit on David's throne, 240 |
| And of thy kingdom there should be no end. |
| At thy nativity a glorious quire |
| Of Angels, in the fields of Bethlehem, sung |
| To shepherds, watching at their folds by night, |
| 245 | And told them the Messiah now was born, |
| Where they might see him; and to thee they came, |
| Directed to the manger where thou lay'st; |
| For in the inn was left no better room. |
| A Star, not seen before, in heaven appearing, |
| 250 | Guided the Wise Men thither from the East, 250 |
| To honour thee with incense, myrrh, and gold; |
| By whose bright course led on they found the place, |
| Affirming it thy star, new-graven in heaven, |
| By which they knew thee King of Israel born. |
| 255 | Just Simeon and prophetic Anna, warned |
| By vision, found thee in the Temple, and spake, |
| Before the altar and the vested priest, |
| Like things of thee to all that present stood.' |
| This having heart, straight I again revolved |
| 260 | The Law and Prophets, searching what was writ 260 |
| Concerning the Messiah, to our scribes |
| Known partly, and soon found of whom they spake |
| I am--this chiefly, that my way must lie |
| Through many a hard assay, even to the death, |
| 265 | Ere I the promised kingdom can attain, |
| Or work redemption for mankind, whose sins' |
| Full weight must be transferred upon my head. |
| Yet, neither thus disheartened or dismayed, |
| The time prefixed I waited; when behold |
| 270 | The Baptist (of whose birth I oft had heard, 270 |
| Not knew by sight) now come, who was to come |
| Before Messiah, and his way prepare! |
| I, as all others, to his baptism came, |
| Which I believed was from above; but he |
| 275 | Straight knew me, and with loudest voice proclaimed |
| Me him (for it was shewn him so from Heaven)-- |
| Me him whose harbinger he was; and first |
| Refused on me his baptism to confer, |
| As much his greater, and was hardly won. |
| 280 | But, as I rose out of the laving stream, 280 |
| Heaven opened her eternal doors, from whence |
| The Spirit descended on me like a Dove; |
| And last, the sum of all, my Father's voice, |
| Audibly heard from Heaven, pronounced me his, |
| 285 | Me his beloved Son, in whom alone |
| He was well pleased: by which I knew the time |
| Now full, that I no more should live obscure, |
| But openly begin, as best becomes |
| The authority which I derived from Heaven. |
| 290 | And now by some strong motion I am led 290 |
| Into this wilderness; to what intent |
| I learn not yet. Perhaps I need not know; |
| For what concerns my knowledge God reveals." |
| So spake our Morning Star, then in his rise, |
| 295 | And, looking round, on every side beheld |
| A pathless desert, dusk with horrid shades. |
| The way he came, not having marked return, |
| Was difficult, by human steps untrod; |
| And he still on was led, but with such thoughts |
| 300 | Accompanied of things past and to come 300 |
| Lodged in his breast as well might recommend |
| Such solitude before choicest society. |
| Full forty days he passed--whether on hill |
| Sometimes, anon in shady vale, each night |
| 305 | Under the covert of some ancient oak |
| Or cedar to defend him from the dew, |
| Or harboured in one cave, is not revealed; |
| Nor tasted human food, nor hunger felt, |
| Till those days ended; hungered then at last |
| 310 | Among wild beasts. They at his sight grew mild, 310 |
| Nor sleeping him nor waking harmed; his walk |
| The fiery serpent fled and noxious worm; |
| The lion and fierce tiger glared aloof. |
| But now an aged man in rural weeds, |
| 315 | Following, as seemed, the quest of some stray eye, |
| Or withered sticks to gather, which might serve |
| Against a winter's day, when winds blow keen, |
| To warm him wet returned from field at eve, |
| He saw approach; who first with curious eye |
| 320 | Perused him, then with words thus uttered spake:-- 320 |
| "Sir, what ill chance hath brought thee to this place, |
| So far from path or road of men, who pass |
| In troop or caravan? for single none |
| Durst ever, who returned, and dropt not here |
| 325 | His carcass, pined with hunger and with droughth. |
| I ask the rather, and the more admire, |
| For that to me thou seem'st the man whom late |
| Our new baptizing Prophet at the ford |
| Of Jordan honoured so, and called thee Son |
| 330 | Of God. I saw and heard, for we sometimes 330 |
| Who dwell this wild, constrained by want, come forth |
| To town or village nigh (nighest is far), |
| Where aught we hear, and curious are to hear, |
| What happens new; fame also finds us out." |
| 335 | To whom the Son of God:--"Who brought me hither |
| Will bring me hence; no other guide I seek." |
| "By miracle he may," replied the swain; |
| "What other way I see not; for we here |
| Live on tough roots and stubs, to thirst inured |
| 340 | More than the camel, and to drink go far-- 340 |
| Men to much misery and hardship born. |
| But, if thou be the Son of God, command |
| That out of these hard stones be made thee bread; |
| So shalt thou save thyself, and us relieve |
| 345 | With food, whereof we wretched seldom taste." |
| He ended, and the Son of God replied:-- |
| "Think'st thou such force in bread? Is it not written |
| (For I discern thee other than thou seem'st), |
| Man lives not by bread only, but each word |
| 350 | Proceeding from the mouth of God, who fed 350 |
| Our fathers here with manna? In the Mount |
| Moses was forty days, nor eat nor drank; |
| And forty days Eliah without food |
| Wandered this barren waste; the same I now. |
| 355 | Why dost thou, then, suggest to me distrust |
| Knowing who I am, as I know who thou art?" |
| Whom thus answered the Arch-Fiend, now undisguised:-- |
| "'Tis true, I am that Spirit unfortunate |
| Who, leagued with millions more in rash revolt, |
| 360 | Kept not my happy station, but was driven 360 |
| With them from bliss to the bottomless Deep-- |
| Yet to that hideous place not so confined |
| By rigour unconniving but that oft, |
| Leaving my dolorous prison, I enjoy |
| 365 | Large liberty to round this globe of Earth, |
| Or range in the Air; nor from the Heaven of Heavens |
| Hath he excluded my resort sometimes. |
| I came, among the Sons of God, when he |
| Gave up into my hands Uzzean Job, |
| 370 | To prove him, and illustrate his high worth; 370 |
| And, when to all his Angels he proposed |
| To draw the proud king Ahab into fraud, |
| That he might fall in Ramoth, they demurring, |
| I undertook that office, and the tongues |
| 375 | Of all his flattering prophets glibbed with lies |
| To his destruction, as I had in charge: |
| For what he bids I do. Though I have lost |
| Much lustre of my native brightness, lost |
| To be beloved of God, I have not lost |
| 380 | To love, at least contemplate and admire, 380 |
| What I see excellent in good, or fair, |
| Or virtuous; I should so have lost all sense. |
| What can be then less in me than desire |
| To see thee and approach thee, whom I know |
| 385 | Declared the Son of God, to hear attent |
| Thy wisdom, and behold thy godlike deeds? |
| Men generally think me much a foe |
| To all mankind. Why should I? they to me |
| Never did wrong or violence. By them |
| 390 | I lost not what I lost; rather by them 390 |
| I gained what I have gained, and with them dwell |
| Copartner in these regions of the World, |
| If not disposer--lend them oft my aid, |
| Oft my advice by presages and signs, |
| 395 | And answers, oracles, portents, and dreams, |
| Whereby they may direct their future life. |
| Envy, they say, excites me, thus to gain |
| Companions of my misery and woe! |
| At first it may be; but, long since with woe |
| 400 | Nearer acquainted, now I feel by proof 400 |
| That fellowship in pain divides not smart, |
| Nor lightens aught each man's peculiar load; |
| Small consolation, then, were Man adjoined. |
| This wounds me most (what can it less?) that Man, |
| 405 | Man fallen, shall be restored, I never more." |
| To whom our Saviour sternly thus replied:-- |
| "Deservedly thou griev'st, composed of lies |
| From the beginning, and in lies wilt end, |
| Who boast'st release from Hell, and leave to come |
| 410 | Into the Heaven of Heavens. Thou com'st, indeed, 410 |
| As a poor miserable captive thrall |
| Comes to the place where he before had sat |
| Among the prime in splendour, now deposed, |
| Ejected, emptied, gazed, unpitied, shunned, |
| 415 | A spectacle of ruin, or of scorn, |
| To all the host of Heaven. The happy place |
| Imparts to thee no happiness, no joy-- |
| Rather inflames thy torment, representing |
| Lost bliss, to thee no more communicable; |
| 420 | So never more in Hell than when in Heaven. 420 |
| But thou art serviceable to Heaven's King! |
| Wilt thou impute to obedience what thy fear |
| Extorts, or pleasure to do ill excites? |
| What but thy malice moved thee to misdeem |
| 425 | Of righteous Job, then cruelly to afflict him |
| With all inflictions? but his patience won. |
| The other service was thy chosen task, |
| To be a liar in four hundred mouths; |
| For lying is thy sustenance, thy food. |
| 430 | Yet thou pretend'st to truth! all oracles 430 |
| By thee are given, and what confessed more true |
| Among the nations? That hath been thy craft, |
| By mixing somewhat true to vent more lies. |
| But what have been thy answers? what but dark, |
| 435 | Ambiguous, and with double sense deluding, |
| Which they who asked have seldom understood, |
| And, not well understood, as good not known? |
| Who ever, by consulting at thy shrine, |
| Returned the wiser, or the more instruct |
| 440 | To fly or follow what concerned him most, 440 |
| And run not sooner to his fatal snare? |
| For God hath justly given the nations up |
| To thy delusions; justly, since they fell |
| Idolatrous. But, when his purpose is |
| 445 | Among them to declare his providence, |
| To thee not known, whence hast thou then thy truth, |
| But from him, or his Angels president |
| In every province, who, themselves disdaining |
| To approach thy temples, give thee in command |
| 450 | What, to the smallest tittle, thou shalt say 450 |
| To thy adorers? Thou, with trembling fear, |
| Or like a fawning parasite, obey'st; |
| Then to thyself ascrib'st the truth foretold. |
| But this thy glory shall be soon retrenched; |
| 455 | No more shalt thou by oracling abuse |
| The Gentiles; henceforth oracles are ceased, |
| And thou no more with pomp and sacrifice |
| Shalt be enquired at Delphos or elsewhere-- |
| At least in vain, for they shall find thee mute. |
| 460 | God hath now sent his living Oracle 460 |
| Into the world to teach his final will, |
| And sends his Spirit of Truth henceforth to dwell |
| In pious hearts, an inward oracle |
| To all truth requisite for men to know." |
| 465 | So spake our Saviour; but the subtle Fiend, |
| Though inly stung with anger and disdain, |
| Dissembled, and this answer smooth returned:-- |
| "Sharply thou hast insisted on rebuke, |
| And urged me hard with doings which not will, |
| 470 | But misery, hath wrested from me. Where 470 |
| Easily canst thou find one miserable, |
| And not inforced oft-times to part from truth, |
| If it may stand him more in stead to lie, |
| Say and unsay, feign, flatter, or abjure? |
| 475 | But thou art placed above me; thou art Lord; |
| From thee I can, and must, submiss, endure |
| Cheek or reproof, and glad to scape so quit. |
| Hard are the ways of truth, and rough to walk, |
| Smooth on the tongue discoursed, pleasing to the ear, |
| 480 | And tunable as sylvan pipe or song; 480 |
| What wonder, then, if I delight to hear |
| Her dictates from thy mouth? most men admire |
| Virtue who follow not her lore. Permit me |
| To hear thee when I come (since no man comes), |
| 485 | And talk at least, though I despair to attain. |
| Thy Father, who is holy, wise, and pure, |
| Suffers the hypocrite or atheous priest |
| To tread his sacred courts, and minister |
| About his altar, handling holy things, |
| 490 | Praying or vowing, and voutsafed his voice 490 |
| To Balaam reprobate, a prophet yet |
| Inspired: disdain not such access to me." |
| To whom our Saviour, with unaltered brow:-- |
| "Thy coming hither, though I know thy scope, |
| 495 | I bid not, or forbid. Do as thou find'st |
| Permission from above; thou canst not more." |
| He added not; and Satan, bowling low |
| His gray dissimulation, disappeared, |
| Into thin air diffused: for now began |
| 500 | Night with her sullen wing to double-shade 500 |
| The desert; fowls in their clay nests were couched; |
| And now wild beasts came forth the woods to roam. |
