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Paradise Lost in Plain English
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Paradise Lost

~ BOOK VII ~

  1. Descend from Heav'n Urania, by that name
  2. If rightly thou art call'd, whose Voice divine
  3. Following, above th' Olympian Hill I soare,
  4. Above the flight of Pegasean wing.
  5. The meaning, not the Name I call: for thou
  6. Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top
  7. Of old Olympus dwell'st, but Heav'nlie borne,
  8. Before the Hills appeerd, or Fountain flow'd,
  9. Thou with Eternal Wisdom didst converse,
  10. Wisdom thy Sister, and with her didst play
  11. In presence of th' Almightie Father, pleas'd
  12. With thy Celestial Song. Up led by thee
  13. Into the Heav'n of Heav'ns I have presum'd,
  14. An Earthlie Guest, and drawn Empyreal Aire,
  15. Thy tempring; with like safetie guided down
  16. Return me to my Native Element:
  17. Least from this flying Steed unrein'd, (as once
  18. Bellerophon, though from a lower Clime)
  19. Dismounted, on th' Aleian Field I fall
  20. Erroneous there to wander and forlorne.
  21. Half yet remaines unsung, but narrower bound
  22. Within the visible Diurnal Spheare;
  23. Standing on Earth, not rapt above the Pole,
  24. More safe I Sing with mortal voice, unchang'd
  25. To hoarce or mute, though fall'n on evil dayes,
  26. On evil dayes though fall'n, and evil tongues;
  27. In darkness, and with dangers compast round,
  28. And solitude; yet not alone, while thou
  29. Visit'st my slumbers Nightly, or when Morn
  30. Purples the East: still govern thou my Song,
  31. Urania, and fit audience find, though few.
  32. But drive farr off the barbarous dissonance
  33. Of Bacchus and his Revellers, the Race
  34. Of that wilde Rout that tore the Thracian Bard
  35. In Rhodope, where Woods and Rocks had Eares
  36. To rapture, till the savage clamor dround
  37. Both Harp and Voice; nor could the Muse defend
  38. Her Son. So fail not thou, who thee implores:
  39. For thou art Heav'nlie, shee an empty dreame.
..............

IN PLAIN ENGLISH

. CHAPTER 7

  1. Come down from Heaven, Urania. (That's the best name I can think of for you.) Listening to you I get higher than Mount Olympus, even higher than Pegasus, the winged horse, can fly.
  2. I'll call you that even though you're not one of the nine Muses or one of the Olympian gods. You were born in Heaven.
  3. Before the world was created, you were already there. You made God happy as you talked and played and made poetry with your sister, Wisdom.
  4. With your guidance I dared to go up into Heaven.
  5. Now you better guide me safely back down to Earth where I belong, before I fall, like Bellerophon, who fell off Pegasus and ended up lost and wandering aimlessly.
  6. I've told only half of my story now. The rest of it takes place here on Earth.
  7. As a poet, I feel more confident writing about earthly rather than heavenly things. Although here is where I have many personal problems and dangers.
  8. I'm blind, surrounded by darkness and solitude, but I am not alone.
  9. You come to me in my dreams and inspire me to tell this story.
  10. Not many people will read it though, only the really smart ones.
  11. Keep the stupid, noisy ones away from us.
  12. The Muse, Calliope, couldn't save her son, Orpheus. His music charmed even the trees and rocks till the drunken mob killed him.
  13. But that won't happen to us because you really are from Heaven, not just a Greek myth, right?
  1. Say Goddess, what ensu'd when Raphael,
  2. The affable Arch-Angel, had forewarn'd
  3. Adam by dire example to beware
  4. Apostasie, by what befell in Heaven
  5. To those Apostates, least the like befall
  6. In Paradise to Adam or his Race,
  7. Charg'd not to touch the interdicted Tree,
  8. If they transgress, and slight that sole command,
  9. So easily obeyd amid the choice
  10. Of all tastes else to please thir appetite,
  11. Though wandring. He with his consorted Eve
  12. The storie heard attentive, and was fill'd
  13. With admiration, and deep Muse to heare
  14. Of things so high and strange, things to thir thought
  15. So unimaginable as hate in Heav'n,
  16. And Warr so neer the Peace of God in bliss
  17. With such confusion: but the evil soon
  18. Driv'n back redounded as a flood on those
  19. From whom it sprung, impossible to mix
  20. With Blessedness. Whence Adam soon repeal'd
  21. The doubts that in his heart arose: and now
  22. Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know
  23. What neerer might concern him, how this World
  24. Of Heav'n and Earth conspicious first began,
  25. When, and whereof created, for what cause,
  26. What within Eden or without was done
  27. Before his memorie, as one whose drouth
  28. Yet scarce allay'd still eyes the current streame,
  29. Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites,
  30. Proceeded thus to ask his Heav'nly Guest.
  31. Great things, and full of wonder in our eares,
  32. Farr differing from this World, thou hast reveal'd
  33. Divine interpreter, by favour sent
  34. Down from the Empyrean to forewarne
  35. Us timely of what might else have bin our loss,
  36. Unknown, which human knowledg could not reach:
  37. For which to the infinitly Good we owe
  38. Immortal thanks, and his admonishment
  39. Receave with solemne purpose to observe
  40. Immutably his sovran will, the end
  41. Of what we are. But since thou hast voutsaf't
  42. Gently for our instruction to impart
  43. Things above Earthly thought, which yet concernd
  44. Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seemd,
  45. Deign to descend now lower, and relate
  46. What may no less perhaps availe us known,
  1. So, what happened after Raphael warned Adam that the same thing that happened to the bad angels could happen to him if he touched the forbidden tree?





  2. He and his wife had listened carefully and were fascinated, hearing about things they could never have imagined, like the war in Heaven.




  3. Adam was so impressed with Raphael's story that he became thirsty to hear more--like how and why the world was created, and what all happened before he was born.

  4. So Adam said to Raphael:

  5. That was quite a story, sir!
  6. We thank God for sending you to us. You warned us about things we wouldn't have known anything about otherwise, which could have been disastrous for us.
  7. Now we're more determined than ever to obey his will forever.

  8. And since you have been kind enough to teach us these wonderful high things, I was just wondering if maybe you might also be willing to tell us some more about some other things that it might be good for us to know about?
  1. How first began this Heav'n which we behold
  2. Distant so high, with moving Fires adornd
  3. Innumerable, and this which yeelds or fills
  4. All space, the ambient Aire, wide interfus'd
  5. Imbracing round this florid Earth, what cause
  6. Mov'd the Creator in his holy Rest
  7. Through all Eternitie so late to build
  8. In Chaos, and the work begun, how soon
  9. Absolv'd, if unforbid thou maist unfould
  10. What wee, not to explore the secrets aske
  11. Of his Eternal Empire, but the more
  12. To magnifie his works, the more we know.
  13. And the great Light of Day yet wants to run
  14. Much of his Race though steep, suspens in Heav'n
  15. Held by thy voice, thy potent voice he heares,
  16. And longer will delay to heare thee tell
  17. His Generation, and the rising Birth
  18. Of Nature from the unapparent Deep:
  19. Or if the Starr of Eevning and the Moon
  20. Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring
  21. Silence, and Sleep listning to thee will watch,
  22. Or we can bid his absence, till thy Song
  23. End, and dismiss thee ere the Morning shine.
  24. Thus Adam his illustrious Guest besought:
  25. And thus the Godlike Angel answerd milde.
  26. This also thy request with caution askt
  27. Obtaine: though to recount Almightie works
  28. What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice,
  29. Or heart of man suffice to comprehend?
  30. Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve
  31. To glorifie the Maker, and inferr
  32. Thee also happier, shall not be withheld
  33. Thy hearing, such Commission from above
  34. I have receav'd, to answer thy desire
  35. Of knowledge within bounds; beyond abstain
  36. To ask, nor let thine own inventions hope
  37. Things not reveal'd, which th' invisible King,
  38. Onely Omniscient hath supprest in Night,
  39. To none communicable in Earth or Heaven:
  40. Anough is left besides to search and know.
  41. But Knowledge is as food, and needs no less
  42. Her Temperance over Appetite, to know
  43. In measure what the mind may well contain,
  44. Oppresses else with Surfet, and soon turns
  45. Wisdom to Folly, as Nourishment to Winde.
  46. Know then, that after Lucifer from Heav'n
  47. (So call him, brighter once amidst the Host Of
  48. Of Angels, then that Starr the Starrs among)
  49. Fell with his flaming Legions through the Deep
  50. Into his place, and the great Son returnd
  51. Victorious with his Saints, th' Omnipotent
  52. Eternal Father from his Throne beheld
  53. Thir multitude, and to his Son thus spake.
  1. Like, for example, how did the sky with all the stars come to be? And the air that flows over all the plants and trees?
  2. And what prompted the Creator in the first place, at this point in all eternity, to decide to create this world out of nothing? And how long did it take him to do it?
  3. If it's not forbidden for you to reveal these things to us, we want to know them, not to be nosey about God's secrets, but because the more we know about his creation, the more we will admire him.
  4. I'll bet Daylight will slow down just to hear you tell about how it was created, and how Nature was born.
  5. And if the Evening Star and the Moon come out to hear your story, Night will make everything quiet so they can hear.
  6. And Sleep will wait and listen too, or we'll tell him to go away until you finish your story.

  7. The angel answered, I'll grant your request, though it's hard to put into words that you can understand what great things God can do.
  8. But God told me to answer whatever questions you may have in ways you can understand, to make you happy and better able to glorify him.
  9. But some things are none of your business, and those things you shouldn't ask about or even try to imagine.
  10. Knowledge is like food, and when you seek too much, it turns into nonsense, the way too much food turns into gas.

  11. Okay, so after Lucifer and his legions fell into Hell, (He was called Lucifer at that time because he was brighter than the brightest star.) and the Son returned victorious, with all the angels, God looked at them from his throne and said. . .
  1. At least our envious Foe hath fail'd, who thought
  2. All like himself rebellious, by whose aid
  3. This inaccessible high strength, the seat
  4. Of Deitie supream, us dispossest,
  5. He trusted to have seis'd, and into fraud
  6. Drew many, whom thir place knows here no more;
  7. Yet farr the greater part have kept, I see,
  8. Thir station, Heav'n yet populous retaines
  9. Number sufficient to possess her Realmes
  10. Though wide, and this high Temple to frequent
  11. With Ministeries due and solemn Rites:
  12. But least his heart exalt him in the harme
  13. Already done, to have dispeopl'd Heav'n
  14. My damage fondly deem'd, I can repaire
  15. That detriment, if such it be to lose
  16. Self-lost, and in a moment will create
  17. Another World, out of one man a Race
  18. Of men innumerable, there to dwell,
  19. Not here, till by degrees of merit rais'd
  20. They open to themselves at length the way
  21. Up hither, under long obedience tri'd,
  22. And Earth be chang'd to Heav'n, & Heav'n to Earth,
  23. One Kingdom, Joy and Union without end.
  24. Mean while inhabit laxe, ye Powers of Heav'n,
  25. And by my Word, begotten Son, by thee
  26. This I perform, speak thou, and be it don:
  27. My overshadowing Spirit and might with thee
  28. I send along, ride forth, and bid the Deep
  29. Within appointed bounds be Heav'n and Earth,
  30. Boundless the Deep, because I am who fill
  31. Infinitude, nor vacuous the space.
  32. Though I uncircumscrib'd my self retire,
  33. And put not forth my goodness, which is free
  34. To act or not, Necessitie and Chance
  35. Approach not mee, and what I will is Fate.
  36. So spake th' Almightie, and to what he spake
  37. His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect.
  38. Immediate are the Acts of God, more swift
  39. Then time or motion, but to human ears
  40. Cannot without process of speech be told,
  41. So told as earthly notion can receave.
  42. Great triumph and rejoycing was in Heav'n
  43. When such was heard declar'd the Almightie's will;
  44. Glorie they sung to the most High, good will
  45. To future men, and in thir dwellings peace:
  46. Glorie to him whose just avenging ire
  47. Had driven out th' ungodly from his sight
  48. And th' habitations of the just; to him
  49. Glorie and praise, whose wisdom had ordain'd
  50. Good out of evil to create, in stead
  51. Of Spirits maligne a better Race to bring
  52. Into thir vacant room, and thence diffuse
  53. His good to Worlds and Ages infinite.
  54. So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the Son
  55. On his great Expedition now appeer'd,
  56. Girt with Omnipotence, with Radiance crown'd
  57. Of Majestie Divine, Sapience and Love
  58. Immense, and all his Father in him shon.
  59. About his Chariot numberless were pour'd
  60. Cherub and Seraph, Potentates and Thrones,
  61. And Vertues, winged Spirits, and Chariots wing'd,
  62. From the Armoury of God, where stand of old
  63. Myriads between two brazen Mountains lodg'd
  64. Against a solemn day, harnest at hand,
  65. Celestial Equipage; and now came forth
  66. Spontaneous, for within them Spirit livd,
  67. Attendant on thir Lord: Heav'n op'nd wide
  68. Her ever during Gates, Harmonious sound
  69. On golden Hinges moving, to let forth
  70. The King of Glorie in his powerful Word
  71. And Spirit coming to create new Worlds.
  72. On heav'nly ground they stood, and from the shore
  73. They view'd the vast immeasurable Abyss
  74. Outrageous as a Sea, dark, wasteful, wilde,
  75. Up from the bottom turn'd by furious windes
  76. And surging waves, as Mountains to assault
  77. Heav'ns highth, and with the Center mix the Pole.
  78. Silence, ye troubl'd waves, and thou Deep, peace,
  79. Said then th' Omnific Word, your discord end:
  80. Nor staid, but on the Wings of Cherubim
  81. Uplifted, in Paternal Glorie rode
  82. Farr into Chaos, and the World unborn;
  83. For Chaos heard his voice: him all his Traine
  84. Follow'd in bright procession to behold
  85. Creation, and the wonders of his might.
  86. Then staid the fervid Wheeles, and in his hand
  87. He took the golden Compasses, prepar'd
  88. In Gods Eternal store, to circumscribe
  89. This Universe, and all created things:
  90. One foot he center'd, and the other turn'd
  91. Round through the vast profunditie obscure,
  92. And said, thus farr extend, thus farr thy bounds,
  93. This be thy just Circumference, O World.
  94. Thus God the Heav'n created, thus the Earth,
  95. Matter unform'd and void: Darkness profound
  96. Cover'd th' Abyss: but on the watrie calme
  97. His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspred,
  98. And vital vertue infus'd, and vital warmth
  99. Throughout the fluid Mass, but downward purg'd
  100. The black tartareous cold Infernal dregs
  101. Adverse to life: then founded, then conglob'd
  102. Like things to like, the rest to several place
  103. Disparted, and between spun out the Air,
  104. And Earth self ballanc't on her Center hung.
  105. Let ther be Light, said God, and forthwith Light
  106. Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure
  107. Sprung from the Deep, and from her Native East
  108. To journie through the airie gloom began,
  109. Sphear'd in a radiant Cloud, for yet the Sun
  110. Was not; shee in a cloudie Tabernacle
  111. Sojourn'd the while. God saw the Light was good;
  112. And light from darkness by the Hemisphere
  113. Divided: Light the Day, and Darkness Night
  114. He nam'd. Thus was the first Day Eev'n and Morn:
  115. Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsung
  116. By the Celestial Quires, when Orient Light
  117. Exhaling first from Darkness they beheld;
  118. Birth-day of Heav'n and Earth; with joy and shout
  119. The hollow Universal Orb they fill'd,
  120. And touch'd thir Golden Harps, and hymning prais'd
  121. God and his works, Creatour him they sung,
  122. Both when first Eevning was, and when first Morn.
  123. Again, God said, let ther be Firmament
  124. Amid the Waters, and let it divide
  125. The Waters from the Waters: and God made
  126. The Firmament, expanse of liquid, pure,
  127. Transparent, Elemental Air, diffus'd
  128. In circuit to the uttermost convex
  129. Of this great Round: partition firm and sure,
  130. The Waters underneath from those above
  131. Dividing: for as Earth, so he the World
  132. Built on circumfluous Waters calme, in wide
  133. Crystallin Ocean, and the loud misrule
  134. Of Chaos farr remov'd, least fierce extreames
  135. Contiguous might distemper the whole frame:
  136. And Heav'n he nam'd the Firmament: So Eev'n
  137. And Morning Chorus sung the second Day.
  138. The Earth was form'd, but in the Womb as yet
  139. Of Waters, Embryon immature involv'd,
  140. Appeer'd not: over all the face of Earth
  141. Main Ocean flow'd, not idle, but with warme
  142. Prolific humour soft'ning all her Globe,
  143. Fermented the great Mother to conceave,
  144. Satiate with genial moisture, when God said
  145. Be gather'd now ye Waters under Heav'n
  146. Into one place, and let dry Land appeer.
  147. Immediately the Mountains huge appeer
  148. Emergent, and thir broad bare backs upheave
  149. Into the Clouds, thir tops ascend the Skie:
  150. So high as heav'd the tumid Hills, so low
  151. Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep,
  152. Capacious bed of Waters: thither they
  153. Hasted with glad precipitance, uprowld
  154. As drops on dust conglobing from the drie;
  155. Part rise in crystal Wall, or ridge direct,
  156. For haste; such flight the great command impress'd
  157. On the swift flouds: as Armies at the call
  158. Of Trumpet (for of Armies thou hast heard)
  159. Troop to thir Standard, so the watrie throng,
  160. Wave rowling after Wave, where way they found,
  161. If steep, with torrent rapture, if through Plaine,
  162. Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them Rock or Hill,
  163. But they, or under ground, or circuit wide
  164. With Serpent errour wandring, found thir way,
  165. And on the washie Oose deep Channels wore;
  166. Easie, e're God had bid the ground be drie,
  167. All but within those banks, where Rivers now
  168. Stream, and perpetual draw thir humid traine.
  169. The dry Land, Earth, and the great receptacle
  170. Of congregated Waters he call'd Seas:
  171. And saw that it was good, and said, Let th' Earth
  172. Put forth the verdant Grass, Herb yielding Seed,
  173. And Fruit Tree yielding Fruit after her kind;
  174. Whose Seed is in her self upon the Earth.
  175. He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till then
  176. Desert and bare, unsightly, unadorn'd,
  177. Brought forth the tender Grass, whose verdure clad
  178. Her Universal Face with pleasant green,
  179. Then Herbs of every leaf, that sudden flour'd
  180. Op'ning thir various colours, and made gay
  181. Her bosom smelling sweet: and these scarce blown,
  182. Forth flourish't thick the clustring Vine, forth crept
  183. The smelling Gourd, up stood the cornie Reed
  184. Embattell'd in her field: and the humble Shrub,
  185. And Bush with frizl'd hair implicit: last
  186. Rose as in Dance the stately Trees, and spred
  187. Thir branches hung with copious Fruit; or gemm'd
  188. Thir blossoms: with high woods the hills were crownd,
  189. With tufts the vallies and each fountain side,
  190. With borders long the Rivers. That Earth now
  191. Seemd like to Heav'n, a seat where Gods might dwell,
  192. Or wander with delight, and love to haunt
  193. Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rain'd
  194. Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground
  195. None was, but from the Earth a dewie Mist
  196. Went up and waterd all the ground, and each
  197. Plant of the field, which e're it was in the Earth
  198. God made, and every Herb, before it grew
  199. On the green stemm; God saw that it was good.
  200. So Eev'n and Morn recorded the Third Day.
  201. Again th' Almightie spake: Let there be Lights
  202. High in th' expanse of Heaven to divide
  203. The Day from Night; and let them be for Signes,
  204. For Seasons, and for Dayes, and circling Years,
  205. And let them be for Lights as I ordaine
  206. Thir Office in the Firmament of Heav'n
  207. To give Light on the Earth; and it was so.
  208. And God made two great Lights, great for thir use
  209. To Man, the greater to have rule by Day,
  210. The less by Night alterne: and made the Starrs,
  211. And set them in the Firmament of Heav'n
  212. To illuminate the Earth, and rule the Day
  213. In thir vicissitude, and rule the Night,
  214. And Light from Darkness to divide. God saw,
  215. Surveying his great Work, that it was good:
  216. For of Celestial Bodies first the Sun
  217. A mightie Spheare he fram'd, unlightsom first,
  218. Though of Ethereal Mould: then form'd the Moon
  219. Globose, and every magnitude of Starrs,
  220. And sowd with Starrs the Heav'n thick as a field:
  221. Of Light by farr the greater part he took,
  222. Transplanted from her cloudie Shrine, and plac'd
  223. In the Suns Orb, made porous to receive
  224. And drink the liquid Light, firm to retaine
  225. Her gather'd beams, great Palace now of Light.
  226. Hither as to thir Fountain other Starrs
  227. Repairing, in thir gold'n Urns draw Light,
  228. And hence the Morning Planet guilds her horns;
  229. By tincture or reflection they augment
  230. Thir small peculiar, though from human sight
  231. So farr remote, with diminution seen.
  232. First in his East the glorious Lamp was seen,
  233. Regent of Day, and all th' Horizon round
  234. Invested with bright Rayes, jocond to run
  235. His Longitude through Heav'n's high rode: the gray
  236. Dawn, and the Pleiades before him danc'd
  237. Shedding sweet influence: less bright the Moon,
  238. But opposite in leveld West was set
  239. His mirror, with full face borrowing her Light
  240. From him, for other light she needed none
  241. In that aspect, and still that distance keepes
  242. Till night, then in the East her turn she shines,
  243. Revolvd on Heav'ns great Axle, and her Reign
  244. With thousand lesser Lights dividual holds,
  245. With thousand thousand Starres, that then appeer'd
  246. Spangling the Hemisphere: then first adornd
  247. With thir bright Luminaries that Set and Rose,
  248. Glad Eevning and glad Morn crownd the fourth day.
  249. And God said, let the Waters generate
  250. Reptil with Spawn abundant, living Soule:
  251. And let Fowle flie above the Earth, with wings
  252. Displayd on the op'n Firmament of Heav'n.
  253. And God created the great Whales, and each
  254. Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously
  255. The waters generated by thir kindes,
  256. And every Bird of wing after his kinde;
  257. And saw that it was good, and bless'd them, saying,
  258. Be fruitful, multiply, and in the Seas
  259. And Lakes and running Streams the waters fill;
  260. And let the Fowle be multiply'd on the Earth.
  261. Forthwith the Sounds and Seas, each Creek and Bay
  262. With Frie innumerable swarme, and Shoales
  263. Of Fish that with thir Finns and shining Scales
  264. Glide under the green Wave, in Sculles that oft
  265. Bank the mid Sea: part single or with mate
  266. Graze the Sea weed thir pasture, and through Groves
  267. Of Coral stray, or sporting with quick glance
  268. Show to the Sun thir wav'd coats dropt with Gold,
  269. Or in thir Pearlie shells at ease, attend
  270. Moist nutriment, or under Rocks thir food
  271. In jointed Armour watch: on smooth the Seale,
  272. And bended Dolphins play: part huge of bulk
  273. Wallowing unweildie, enormous in thir Gate
  274. Tempest the Ocean: there Leviathan
  275. Hugest of living Creatures, on the Deep
  276. Stretcht like a Promontorie sleeps or swimmes,
  277. And seems a moving Land, and at his Gilles
  278. Draws in, and at his Trunck spouts out a Sea.
  279. Mean while the tepid Caves, and Fens and shoares
  280. Thir Brood as numerous hatch, from the Egg that soon
  281. Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclos'd
  282. Thir callow young, but featherd soon and fledge
  283. They summ'd thir Penns, and soaring th' air sublime
  284. With clang despis'd the ground, under a cloud
  285. In prospect; there the Eagle and the Stork
  286. On Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build:
  287. Part loosly wing the Region, part more wise
  288. In common, rang'd in figure wedge thir way,
  289. Intelligent of seasons, and set forth
  290. Thir Aierie Caravan high over Sea's
  291. Flying, and over Lands with mutual wing
  292. Easing thir flight; so stears the prudent Crane
  293. Her annual Voiage, born on Windes; the Aire,
  294. Floats, as they pass, fann'd with unnumber'd plumes:
  295. From Branch to Branch the smaller Birds with song
  296. Solac'd the Woods, and spred thir painted wings
  297. Till Ev'n, nor then the solemn Nightingal
  298. Ceas'd warbling, but all night tun'd her soft layes:
  299. Others on Silver Lakes and Rivers Bath'd
  300. Thir downie Brest; the Swan with Arched neck
  301. Between her white wings mantling proudly, Rowes
  302. Her state with Oarie feet: yet oft they quit
  303. The Dank, and rising on stiff Pennons, towre
  304. The mid Aereal Skie: Others on ground
  305. Walk'd firm; the crested Cock whose clarion sounds
  306. The silent hours, and th' other whose gay Traine
  307. Adorns him, colour'd with the Florid hue
  308. Of Rainbows and Starrie Eyes. The Waters thus
  309. With Fish replenisht, and the Aire, with Fowle,
  310. Ev'ning and Morn solemniz'd the Fift day.
  311. The Sixt, and of Creation last arose
  312. With Eevning Harps and Mattin, when God said,
  313. Let th' Earth bring forth Soul living in her kinde,
  314. Cattel and Creeping things, and Beast of the Earth,
  315. Each in their kinde. The Earth obey'd, and strait
  316. op'ning her fertile Woomb teem'd at a Birth
  317. Innumerous living Creatures, perfet formes,
  318. Limb'd and full grown: out of the ground up rose
  319. As from his Laire the wilde Beast where he wonns
  320. In Forrest wilde, in Thicket, Brake, or Den;
  321. Among the Trees in Pairs they rose, they walk'd:
  322. The Cattel in the Fields and Meddowes green:
  323. Those rare and solitarie, these in flocks
  324. Pasturing at once, and in broad Herds upsprung.
  325. The grassie Clods now Calv'd, now half appeer'd
  326. The Tawnie Lion, pawing to get free
  327. His hinder parts, then springs as broke from Bonds,
  328. And Rampant shakes his Brinded main; the Ounce,
  329. The Libbard, and the Tyger, as the Moale
  330. Rising, the crumbl'd Earth above them threw
  331. In Hillocks; the swift Stag from under ground
  332. Bore up his branching head: scarse from his mould
  333. Behemoth biggest born of Earth upheav'd
  334. His vastness: Fleec't the Flocks and bleating rose,
  335. As Plants: ambiguous between Sea and Land
  336. The River Horse and scalie Crocodile.
  337. At once came forth whatever creeps the ground,
  338. Insect or Worme; those wav'd thir limber fans
  339. For wings, and smallest Lineaments exact
  340. In all the Liveries dect of Summers pride
  341. With spots of Gold and Purple, azure and green:
  342. These as a line thir long dimension drew,
  343. Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not all
  344. Minims of Nature; some of Serpent kinde
  345. Wondrous in length and corpulence involv'd
  346. Thir Snakie foulds, and added wings. First crept
  347. The Parsimonious Emmet, provident
  348. Of future, in small room large heart enclos'd,
  349. Pattern of just equalitie perhaps
  350. Hereafter, join'd in her popular Tribes
  351. Of Commonaltie: swarming next appeer'd
  352. The Female Bee that feeds her Husband Drone
  353. Deliciously, and builds her waxen Cells
  354. With Honey stor'd: the rest are numberless,
  355. And thou thir Natures know'st, & gav'st them Names,
  356. Needless to thee repeated; nor unknown
  357. The Serpent suttl'st Beast of all the field,
  358. Of huge extent somtimes, with brazen Eyes
  359. And hairie Main terrific, though to thee
  360. Not noxious, but obedient at thy call.
  361. Now Heav'n in all her Glorie shon, and rowld
  362. Her motions, as the great first-Movers hand
  363. First wheeld thir course; Earth in her rich attire
  364. Consummate lovly smil'd; Aire,, Water, Earth,
  365. By Fowl, Fish, Beast, was flown, was swum, was walkt
  366. Frequent; and of the Sixt day yet remain'd;
  367. There wanted yet the Master work, the end
  368. Of all yet don; a Creature who not prone
  369. And Brute as other Creatures, but endu'd
  370. With Sanctitie of Reason, might erect
  371. His Stature, and upright with Front serene
  372. Govern the rest, self-knowing, and from thence
  373. Magnanimous to correspond with Heav'n,
  374. But grateful to acknowledge whence his good
  375. Descends, thither with heart and voice and eyes
  376. Directed in Devotion, to adore
  377. And worship God Supream, who made him chief
  378. Of all his works: therefore the Omnipotent
  379. Eternal Father (For where is not hee
  380. Present) thus to his Son audibly spake.
  381. Let us make now Man in our image, Man
  382. In our similitude, and let them rule
  383. Over the Fish and Fowle of Sea and Aire,,
  384. Beast of the Field, and over all the Earth,
  385. And every creeping thing that creeps the ground.
  386. This said, he formd thee, Adam, thee O Man
  387. Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breath'd
  388. The breath of Life; in his own Image hee
  389. Created thee, in the Image of God
  390. Express, and thou becam'st a living Soul.
  391. Male he created thee, but thy consort
  392. Female for Race; then bless'd Mankinde, and said,
  393. Be fruitful, multiplie, and fill the Earth,
  394. Subdue it, and throughout Dominion hold
  395. Over Fish of the Sea, and Fowle of the Aire,,
  396. And every living thing that moves on the Earth.
  397. Wherever thus created, for no place
  398. Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou know'st
  399. He brought thee into this delicious Grove,
  400. This Garden, planted with the Trees of God,
  401. Delectable both to behold and taste;
  402. And freely all thir pleasant fruit for food
  403. Gave thee, all sorts are here that all th' Earth yields,
  404. Varietie without end; but of the Tree
  405. Which tasted works knowledge of Good and Evil,
  406. Thou mai'st not; in the day thou eat'st, thou di'st;
  407. Death is the penaltie impos'd, beware,
  408. And govern well thy appetite, least sin
  409. Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death.
  410. Here finish'd hee, and all that he had made
  411. View'd, and behold all was entirely good;
  412. So Ev'n and Morn accomplish't the Sixt day:
  413. Yet not till the Creator from his work
  414. Desisting, though unwearied, up returnd
  415. Up to the Heav'n of Heav'ns his high abode,
  416. Thence to behold this new created World
  417. Th' addition of his Empire, how it shew'd
  418. In prospect from his Throne, how good, how faire,
  419. Answering his great Idea. Up he rode
  420. Followd with acclamation and the sound
  421. Symphonious of ten thousand Harpes that tun'd
  422. Angelic harmonies: the Earth, the Aire,
  423. Resounded, (thou remember'st for thou heardst)
  424. The Heav'ns and all the Constellations rung,
  425. The Planets in thir stations list'ning stood,
  426. While the bright Pomp ascended jubilant.
  427. Open, ye everlasting Gates, they sung,
  428. Open, ye Heav'ns, your living dores; let in
  429. The great Creator from his work returnd
  430. Magnificent, his Six days work, a World;
  431. Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deigne
  432. To visit oft the dwellings of just Men
  433. Delighted, and with frequent intercourse
  434. Thither will send his winged Messengers
  435. On errands of supernal Grace. So sung
  436. The glorious Train ascending: He through Heav'n,
  437. That open'd wide her blazing Portals, led
  438. To Gods Eternal house direct the way,
  439. A broad and ample rode, whose dust is Gold
  440. And pavement Starrs, as Starrs to thee appeer,
  441. Seen in the Galaxie, that Milkie way
  442. Which nightly as a circling Zone thou seest
  443. Pouderd with Starrs. And now on Earth the Seventh
  444. Eev'ning arose in Eden, for the Sun
  445. Was set, and twilight from the East came on,
  446. Forerunning Night; when at the holy mount
  447. Of Heav'ns high-seated top, th' Impereal Throne
  448. Of Godhead, fixt for ever firm and sure,
  449. The Filial Power arriv'd, and sate him down
  450. With his great Father (for he also went
  451. Invisible, yet staid, such priviledge
  452. Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordain'd,
  453. Author and end of all things, and from work
  454. Now resting, bless'd and hallowd the Seav'nth day,
  455. As resting on that day from all his work,
  456. But not in silence holy kept; the Harp
  457. Had work and rested not, the solemn Pipe,
  458. And Dulcimer, all Organs of sweet stop,
  459. All sounds on Fret by String or Golden Wire
  460. Temper'd soft Tunings, intermixt with Voice
  461. Choral or Unison; of incense Clouds
  462. Fuming from Golden Censers hid the Mount.
  463. Creation and the Six dayes acts they sung,
  464. Great are thy works, Jehovah, infinite
  465. Thy power; what thought can measure thee or tongue
  466. Relate thee; greater now in thy return
  467. Then from the Giant Angels; thee that day
  468. Thy Thunders magnifi'd; but to create
  469. Is greater then created to destroy.
  470. Who can impair thee, mighty King, or bound
  471. Thy Empire? easily the proud attempt
  472. Of Spirits apostat and thir Counsels vaine
  473. Thou hast repeld, while impiously they thought
  474. Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw
  475. The number of thy worshippers. Who seekes
  476. To lessen thee, against his purpose serves
  477. To manifest the more thy might: his evil
  478. Thou usest, and from thence creat'st more good.
  479. Witness this new-made World, another Heav'n
  480. From Heaven Gate not farr, founded in view
  481. On the cleer Hyaline, the Glassie Sea;
  482. Of amplitude almost immense, with Starr's
  483. Numerous, and every Starr perhaps a World
  484. Of destind habitation; but thou know'st
  485. Thir seasons: among these the seat of men,
  486. Earth with her nether Ocean circumfus'd,
  487. Thir pleasant dwelling place. Thrice happie men,
  488. And sons of men, whom God hath thus advanc't,
  489. Created in his Image, there to dwell
  490. And worship him, and in reward to rule
  491. Over his Works, on Earth, in Sea, or Air,
  492. And multiply a Race of Worshippers
  493. Holy and just: thrice happie if they know
  494. Thir happiness, and persevere upright.
  495. So sung they, and the Empyrean rung,
  496. With Halleluiahs: Thus was Sabbath kept.
  497. And thy request think now fulfill'd, that ask'd
  498. How first this World and face of things began,
  499. And what before thy memorie was don
  500. From the beginning, that posteritie
  501. Informd by thee might know; if else thou seek'st
  502. Aught, not surpassing human measure, say.


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