The Argument

Satan now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the place where he must now attempt the bold enterprise which he undertook alone against God and Man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many passions, fear, envy, and despair; but at length confirms himself in evil, journeys on to Paradise, whose outward prospect and situation is described, overleaps the bounds, sits in the shape of a Cormorant on the Tree of Life, as highest in the Garden to look about him. The Garden described; Satan's first sight of Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent form and happy state, but with resolution to work their fall; overhears their discourse, thence gathers that the Tree of Knowledge was forbidden them to eat of, under penalty of death; and thereon intends to found his Temptation, by seducing them to transgress: then leaves them a while, to know further of their state by some other means. Meanwhile Uriel descending on a Sun-beam warns Gabriel, who had in charge the Gate of Paradise, that some evil spirit had escaped the Deep, and past at Noon by his Sphere in the shape of a good Angel down to Paradise, discovered after by his furious gestures in the Mount. Gabriel promises to find him ere morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve discourse of going to their rest: their Bower described; their Evening worship. Gabriel drawing forth his Bands of Night-watch to walk the round of Paradise, appoints two strong Angels to Adam's Bower, least the evil spirit should be there doing some harm to Adam or Eve sleeping; there they find him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom questioned, he scornfully answers, prepares resistance, but hindered by a Sign from Heaven, flies out of Paradise.

1.                 O for that warning voice, which he, who saw

2.                 The Apocalypse, heard cry in Heaven aloud,

3.                 Then when the Dragon, put to second rout,

4.                 Came furious down to be revenged on men,

5.                 Woe to the inhabitants on earth! that now,

6.                 While time was, our first parents had been warned

7.                 The coming of their secret foe, and 'scaped,

8.                 Haply so 'scaped his mortal snare: For now

9.                 Satan, now first inflamed with rage, came down,

10.             The tempter ere the accuser of mankind,

11.             To wreak on innocent frail Man his loss

12.             Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell:

13.             Yet, not rejoicing in his speed, though bold

14.             Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast,

15.             Begins his dire attempt; which nigh the birth

16.             Now rolling boils in his tumultuous breast,

17.             And like a devilish engine back recoils

18.             Upon himself; horrour and doubt distract

19.             His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir

20.             The Hell within him; for within him Hell

21.             He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell

22.             One step, no more than from himself, can fly

23.             By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair,

24.             That slumbered; wakes the bitter memory

25.             Of what he was, what is, and what must be

26.             Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue.

27.             Sometimes towards Eden, which now in his view

28.             Lay pleasant, his grieved look he fixes sad;

29.             Sometimes towards Heaven, and the full-blazing sun,

30.             Which now sat high in his meridian tower:

31.             Then, much revolving, thus in sighs began: --

32.              O thou, that, with surpassing glory crowned,

33.             Lookest from thy sole dominion like the God

34.             Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars

35.             Hide their diminished heads; to thee I call,

36.             But with no friendly voice, and add thy name,

37.             Of Sun! to tell thee how I hate thy beams,

38.             That bring to my remembrance from what state

39.             I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere;

40.             Till pride and worse ambition threw me down

41.             Warring in Heaven against Heaven's matchless King:

42.             Ah, wherefore! he deserved no such return

43.             From me, whom he created what I was

44.             In that bright eminence, and with his good

45.             Upbraided none; nor was his service hard.

46.             What could be less than to afford him praise,

47.             The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks,

48.             How due! Yet all his good proved ill in me,

49.             And wrought but malice; lifted up so high

50.             I 'sdained subjection, and thought one step higher

51.             Would set me highest, and in a moment quit

52.             The debt immense of endless gratitude,

53.             So burdensome still paying, still to owe,

54.             Forgetful what from him I still received,

55.             And understood not that a grateful mind

56.             By owing owes not, but still pays, at once

57.             Indebted and discharged; what burden then

58.             O, had his powerful destiny ordained

59.             Me some inferiour Angel, I had stood

60.             Then happy; no unbounded hope had raised

61.             Ambition! Yet why not some other Power

62.             As great might have aspired, and me, though mean,

63.             Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great

64.             Fell not, but stand unshaken, from within

65.             Or from without, to all temptations armed.

66.             Hadst thou the same free will and power to stand?

67.             Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse,

68.             But Heaven's free love dealt equally to all?

69.             Be then his love accursed, since love or hate,

70.             To me alike, it deals eternal woe.

71.             Nay, cursed be thou; since against his thy will

72.             Chose freely what it now so justly rues.

73.             Me miserable! which way shall I fly

74.             Infinite wrath, and infinite despair?

75.             Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell;

76.             And, in the lowest deep, a lower deep

77.             Still threatening to devour me opens wide,

78.             To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven.

79.             O, then, at last relent: Is there no place

80.             Left for repentance, none for pardon left?

81.             None left but by submission; and that word

82.             Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame

83.             Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduced

84.             With other promises and other vaunts

85.             Than to submit, boasting I could subdue

86.             The Omnipotent. Ay me, they little know

87.             How dearly I abide that boast so vain,

88.             Under what torments inwardly I groan,

89.             While they adore me on the throne of Hell.

90.             With diadem and scepter high advanced,

91.             The lower still I fall, only supreme

92.             In misery: Such joy ambition finds.

93.             But say I could repent, and could obtain,

94.             By act of grace, my former state; how soon

95.             Would highth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay

96.             What feigned submission swore? Ease would recant

97.             Vows made in pain, as violent and void.

98.             For never can true reconcilement grow,

99.             Where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep:

100.        Which would but lead me to a worse relapse

101.        And heavier fall: so should I purchase dear

102.        Short intermission bought with double smart.

103.        This knows my Punisher; therefore as far

104.        From granting he, as I from begging, peace;

105.        All hope excluded thus, behold, in stead

106.        Of us out-cast, exil'd, his new delight,

107.        Mankind created, and for him this world.

108.        So farewell, hope; and with hope farewell, fear;

109.        Farewell, remorse: all good to me is lost;

110.        Evil, be thou my good; by thee at least

111.        Divided empire with Heaven's King I hold,

112.        By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign;

113.        As Man ere long, and this new world, shall know.

114.        Thus while he spake, each passion dimmed his face

115.        Thrice changed with pale, ire, envy, and despair;

116.        Which marred his borrowed visage, and betrayed

117.        Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld.

118.        For heavenly minds from such distempers foul

119.        Are ever clear. Whereof he soon aware,

120.        Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm,

121.        Artificer of fraud; and was the first

122.        That practised falsehood under saintly show,

123.        Deep malice to conceal, couched with revenge:

124.        Yet not enough had practised to deceive

125.        Uriel once warned; whose eye pursued him down

126.        The way he went, and on the Assyrian mount

127.        Saw him disfigured, more than could befall

128.        Spirit of happy sort; his gestures fierce

129.        He marked and mad demeanour, then alone,

130.        As he supposed, all unobserved, unseen.

131.        So on he fares, and to the border comes

132.        Of Eden, where delicious Paradise,

133.        Now nearer, crowns with her enclosure green,

134.        As with a rural mound, the champaign head

135.        Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides

136.        With thicket overgrown, grotesque and wild,

137.        Access deni'd; and over head up grew

138.        Insuperable highth of loftiest shade,

139.        Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm,

140.        A Sylvan Scene, and, as the ranks ascend,

141.        Shade above shade, a woody theatre

142.        Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops

143.        The verdurous wall of Paradise upsprung;

144.        Which to our general Sire gave prospect large

145.        Into his nether empire neighbouring round.

146.        And higher than that wall a circling row

147.        Of goodliest trees, loaden with fairest fruit,

148.        Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue,

149.        Appeared, with gay enamelled colours mixed:

150.        On which the sun more glad impressed his beams

151.        Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow,

152.        When God hath showered the earth; so lovely seemed

153.        That landskip: And of pure now purer air

154.        Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires

155.        Vernal delight and joy, able to drive

156.        All sadness but despair: Now gentle gales,

157.        Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense

158.        Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole

159.        Those balmy spoils. As when to them who fail

160.        Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past

161.        Mozambick, off at sea north-east winds blow

162.        Sabean odours from the spicy shore

163.        Of Araby the blest; with such delay

164.        Well pleased they slack their course, and many a league

165.        Cheered with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles:

166.        So entertained those odorous sweets the Fiend,

167.        Who came their bane; though with them better pleased

168.        Than Asmodeus with the fishy fume

169.        That drove him, though enamoured, from the spouse

170.        Of Tobit's son, and with a vengeance sent

171.        From Media post to Egypt, there fast bound.

172.        Now to the ascent of that steep savage hill

173.        Satan had journeyed on, pensive and slow;

174.        But further way found none, so thick entwined,

175.        As one continued brake, the undergrowth

176.        Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed

177.        All path of man or beast that passed that way.

178.        One gate there only was, and that looked east

179.        On the other side: which when the arch-felon saw,

180.        Due entrance he disdained; and, in contempt,

181.        At one flight bound high over-leaped all bound

182.        Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within

183.        Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf,

184.        Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey,

185.        Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve

186.        In hurdled cotes amid the field secure,

187.        Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold:

188.        Or as a thief, bent to unhoard the cash

189.        Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors,

190.        Cross-barred and bolted fast, fear no assault,

191.        In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles:

192.        So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold;

193.        So since into his church lewd hirelings climb.

194.        Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life,

195.        The middle tree and highest there that grew,

196.        Sat like a cormorant; yet not true life

197.        Thereby regained, but sat devising death

198.        To them who lived; nor on the virtue thought

199.        Of that life-giving plant, but only used

200.        For prospect, what well used had been the pledge

201.        Of immortality. So little knows

202.        Any, but God alone, to value right

203.        The good before him, but perverts best things

204.        To worst abuse, or to their meanest use.

205.        Beneath him with new wonder now he views,

206.        To all delight of human sense exposed,

207.        In narrow room, Nature's whole wealth, yea more,

208.        A Heaven on Earth: For blissful Paradise

209.        Of God the garden was, by him in the east

210.        Of Eden planted; Eden stretched her line

211.        From Auran eastward to the royal towers

212.        Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings,

213.        Of where the sons of Eden long before

214.        Dwelt in Telassar: In this pleasant soil

215.        His far more pleasant garden God ordained;

216.        Out of the fertile ground he caused to grow

217.        All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste;

218.        And all amid them stood the Tree of Life,

219.        High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit

220.        Of vegetable gold; and next to life,

221.        Our death, the Tree of Knowledge, grew fast by,

222.        Knowledge of good bought dear by knowing ill.

223.        Southward through Eden went a river large,

224.        Nor changed his course, but through the shaggy hill

225.        Passed underneath ingulfed; for God had thrown

226.        That mountain as his garden-mould high raised

227.        Upon the rapid current, which, through veins

228.        Of porous earth with kindly thirst up-drawn,

229.        Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill

230.        Watered the garden; thence united fell

231.        Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood,

232.        Which from his darksome passage now appears,

233.        And now, divided into four main streams,

234.        Runs diverse, wandering many a famous realm

235.        And country, whereof here needs no account;

236.        But rather to tell how, if Art could tell,

237.        How from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks,

238.        Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold,

239.        With mazy errour under pendant shades

240.        Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed

241.        Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice Art

242.        In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon

243.        Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain,

244.        Both where the morning sun first warmly smote

245.        The open field, and where the unpierced shade

246.        Imbrowned the noontide bowers: Thus was this place

247.        A happy rural seat of various view;

248.        Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm,

249.        Others whose fruit, burnished with golden rind,

250.        Hung amiable, Hesperian fables true,

251.        If true, here only, and of delicious taste:

252.        Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks

253.        Grazing the tender herb, were interposed,

254.        Or palmy hillock; or the flowery lap

255.        Of some irriguous valley spread her store,

256.        Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose:

257.        Another side, umbrageous grots and caves

258.        Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine

259.        Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps

260.        Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall

261.        Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake,

262.        That to the fringed bank with myrtle crowned

263.        Her crystal mirrour holds, unite their streams.

264.        The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs,

265.        Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune

266.        The trembling leaves, while universal Pan,

267.        Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance,

268.        Led on the eternal Spring. Not that fair field

269.        Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers,

270.        Herself a fairer flower by gloomy Dis

271.        Was gathered, which cost Ceres all that pain

272.        To seek her through the world; nor that sweet grove

273.        Of Daphne by Orontes, and the inspired

274.        Castalian spring, might with this Paradise

275.        Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian isle

276.        Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham,

277.        Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove,

278.        Hid Amalthea, and her florid son

279.        Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rhea's eye;

280.        Nor where Abassin kings their issue guard,

281.        Mount Amara, though this by some supposed

282.        True Paradise under the Ethiop line

283.        By Nilus' head, enclosed with shining rock,

284.        A whole day's journey high, but wide remote

285.        From this Assyrian garden, where the Fiend

286.        Saw, undelighted, all delight, all kind

287.        Of living creatures, new to sight, and strange

288.        Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall,

289.        Godlike erect, with native honour clad

290.        In naked majesty seemed lords of all:

291.        And worthy seemed; for in their looks divine

292.        The image of their glorious Maker shone,

293.        Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure,

294.        (Severe, but in true filial freedom placed,)

295.        Whence true authority in men; though both

296.        Not equal, as their sex not equal seemed;

297.        For contemplation he and valour formed;

298.        For softness she and sweet attractive grace;

299.        He for God only, she for God in him:

300.        His fair large front and eye sublime declared

301.        Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks

302.        Round from his parted forelock manly hung

303.        Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad:

304.        She, as a veil, down to the slender waist

305.        Her unadorned golden tresses wore

306.        Dishevelled, but in wanton ringlets waved

307.        As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied

308.        Subjection, but required with gentle sway,

309.        And by her yielded, by him best received,

310.        Yielded with coy submission, modest pride,

311.        And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay.

312.        Nor those mysterious parts were then concealed;

313.        Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame

314.        Of nature's works, honour dishonourable,

315.        Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind

316.        With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure,

317.        And banished from man's life his happiest life,

318.        Simplicity and spotless innocence!

319.        So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight

320.        Of God or Angel; for they thought no ill:

321.        So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair,

322.        That ever since in love's embraces met;

323.        Adam the goodliest man of men since born

324.        His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve.

325.        Under a tuft of shade that on a green

326.        Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain side

327.        They sat them down; and, after no more toil

328.        Of their sweet gardening labour than sufficed

329.        To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease

330.        More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite

331.        More grateful, to their supper-fruits they fell,

332.        Nectarine fruits which the compliant boughs

333.        Yielded them, side-long as they sat recline

334.        On the soft downy bank damasked with flowers:

335.        The savoury pulp they chew, and in the rind,

336.        Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming stream;

337.        Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles

338.        Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems

339.        Fair couple, linked in happy nuptial league,

340.        Alone as they. About them frisking played

341.        All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase

342.        In wood or wilderness, forest or den;

343.        Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw

344.        Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards,

345.        Gambolled before them; the unwieldy elephant,

346.        To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed

347.        His lithe proboscis; close the serpent sly,

348.        Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine

349.        His braided train, and of his fatal guile

350.        Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass

351.        Couched, and now filled with pasture gazing sat,

352.        Or bedward ruminating; for the sun,

353.        Declined, was hasting now with prone career

354.        To the ocean isles, and in the ascending scale

355.        Of Heaven the stars that usher evening rose:

356.        When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood,

357.        Scarce thus at length failed speech recovered sad.

358.        O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold!

359.        Into our room of bliss thus high advanced

360.        Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps,

361.        Not Spirits, yet to heavenly Spirits bright

362.        Little inferiour; whom my thoughts pursue

363.        With wonder, and could love, so lively shines

364.        In them divine resemblance, and such grace

365.        The hand that formed them on their shape hath poured.

366.        Ah! gentle pair, ye little think how nigh

367.        Your change approaches, when all these delights

368.        Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe;

369.        More woe, the more your taste is now of joy;

370.        Happy, but for so happy ill secured

371.        Long to continue, and this high seat your Heaven

372.        Ill fenced for Heaven to keep out such a foe

373.        As now is entered; yet no purposed foe

374.        To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn,

375.        Though I unpitied: League with you I seek,

376.        And mutual amity, so strait, so close,

377.        That I with you must dwell, or you with me

378.        Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please,

379.        Like this fair Paradise, your sense; yet such

380.        Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me,

381.        Which I as freely give: Hell shall unfold,

382.        To entertain you two, her widest gates,

383.        And send forth all her kings; there will be room,

384.        Not like these narrow limits, to receive

385.        Your numerous offspring; if no better place,

386.        Thank him who puts me loath to this revenge

387.        On you who wrong me not for him who wronged.

388.        And should I at your harmless innocence

389.        Melt, as I do, yet publick reason just,

390.        Honour and empire with revenge enlarged,

391.        By conquering this new world, compels me now

392.        To do what else, though damned, I should abhor.

393.        So spake the Fiend, and with necessity,

394.        The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds.

395.        Then from his lofty stand on that high tree

396.        Down he alights among the sportful herd

397.        Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one,

398.        Now other, as their shape served best his end

399.        Nearer to view his prey, and, unespied,

400.        To mark what of their state he more might learn,

401.        By word or action marked. About them round

402.        A lion now he stalks with fiery glare;

403.        Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied

404.        In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play,

405.        Straight couches close, then, rising, changes oft

406.        His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground,

407.        Whence rushing, he might surest seize them both,

408.        Griped in each paw: when, Adam first of men

409.        To first of women Eve thus moving speech,

410.        Turned him, all ear to hear new utterance flow.

411.        Sole partner, and sole part, of all these joys,

412.        Dearer thyself than all; needs must the Power

413.        That made us, and for us this ample world,

414.        Be infinitely good, and of his good

415.        As liberal and free as infinite;

416.        That raised us from the dust, and placed us here

417.        In all this happiness, who at his hand

418.        Have nothing merited, nor can perform

419.        Aught whereof he hath need; he who requires

420.        From us no other service than to keep

421.        This one, this easy charge, of all the trees

422.        In Paradise that bear delicious fruit

423.        So various, not to taste that only tree

424.        Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life;

425.        So near grows death to life, whate'er death is,

426.        Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowest

427.        God hath pronounced it death to taste that tree,

428.        The only sign of our obedience left,

429.        Among so many signs of power and rule

430.        Conferred upon us, and dominion given

431.        Over all other creatures that possess

432.        Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard

433.        One easy prohibition, who enjoy

434.        Free leave so large to all things else, and choice

435.        Unlimited of manifold delights:

436.        But let us ever praise him, and extol

437.        His bounty, following our delightful task,

438.        To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers,

439.        Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet.

440.        To whom thus Eve replied. O thou for whom

441.        And from whom I was formed, flesh of thy flesh,

442.        And without whom am to no end, my guide

443.        And head! what thou hast said is just and right.

444.        For we to him indeed all praises owe,

445.        And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy

446.        So far the happier lot, enjoying thee

447.        Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou

448.        Like consort to thyself canst no where find.

449.        That day I oft remember, when from sleep

450.        I first awaked, and found myself reposed

451.        Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where

452.        And what I was, whence thither brought, and how.

453.        Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound

454.        Of waters issued from a cave, and spread

455.        Into a liquid plain, then stood unmoved

456.        Pure as the expanse of Heaven; I thither went

457.        With unexperienced thought, and laid me down

458.        On the green bank, to look into the clear

459.        Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky.

460.        As I bent down to look, just opposite

461.        A shape within the watery gleam appeared,

462.        Bending to look on me: I started back,

463.        It started back; but pleased I soon returned,

464.        Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks

465.        Of sympathy and love: There I had fixed

466.        Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire,

467.        Had not a voice thus warned me; 'What thou seest,

468.        What there thou seest, fair Creature, is thyself;

469.        With thee it came and goes: but follow me,

470.        And I will bring thee where no shadow stays

471.        Thy coming, and thy soft embraces -- he

472.        Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy

473.        Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear

474.        Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called

475.        Mother of human race.' What could I do,

476.        But follow straight, invisibly thus led?

477.        Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall,

478.        Under a platane; yet methought less fair,

479.        Less winning soft, less amiably mild,

480.        Than that smooth watery image: Back I turned;

481.        Thou following cryedst aloud, 'Return, fair Eve;

482.        Whom flyest thou? whom thou flyest, of him thou art,

483.        His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent

484.        Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart,

485.        Substantial life, to have thee by my side

486.        Henceforth an individual solace dear;

487.        Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim

488.        My other half:' With that thy gentle hand

489.        Seized mine: I yielded, and from that time see

490.        How beauty is excelled by manly grace,

491.        And wisdom, which alone is truly fair.

492.        So spake our general mother, and with eyes

493.        Of conjugal attraction unreproved,

494.        And meek surrender, half-embracing leaned

495.        On our first father; half her swelling breast

496.        Naked met his, under the flowing gold

497.        Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight

498.        Both of her beauty, and submissive charms,

499.        Smiled with superiour love, as Jupiter

500.        On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds

501.        That shed Mayflowers; and pressed her matron lip

502.        With kisses pure: Aside the Devil turned

503.        For envy; yet with jealous leer malign

504.        Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plained.

505.        Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two,

506.        Imparadised in one another's arms,

507.        The happier Eden, shall enjoy their fill

508.        Of bliss on bliss; while I to Hell am thrust,

509.        Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire,

510.        Among our other torments not the least,

511.        Still unfulfilled with pain of longing pines.

512.        Yet let me not forget what I have gained

513.        From their own mouths: All is not theirs, it seems;

514.        One fatal tree there stands, of knowledge called,

515.        Forbidden them to taste: Knowledge forbidden

516.        Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord

517.        Envy them that? Can it be sin to know?

518.        Can it be death? And do they only stand

519.        By ignorance? Is that their happy state,

520.        The proof of their obedience and their faith?

521.        O fair foundation laid whereon to build

522.        Their ruin! hence I will excite their minds

523.        With more desire to know, and to reject

524.        Envious commands, invented with design

525.        To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt

526.        Equal with Gods: aspiring to be such,

527.        They taste and die: What likelier can ensue

528.        But first with narrow search I must walk round

529.        This garden, and no corner leave unspied;

530.        A chance but chance may lead where I may meet

531.        Some wandering Spirit of Heaven by fountain side,

532.        Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw

533.        What further would be learned. Live while ye may,

534.        Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return,

535.        Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed!

536.        So saying, his proud step he scornful turned,

537.        But with sly circumspection, and began

538.        Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his roam

539.        Mean while in utmost longitude, where Heaven

540.        With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun

541.        Slowly descended, and with right aspect

542.        Against the eastern gate of Paradise

543.        Levelled his evening rays: It was a rock

544.        Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds,

545.        Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent

546.        Accessible from earth, one entrance high;

547.        The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung

548.        Still as it rose, impossible to climb.

549.        Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat,

550.        Chief of the angelick guards, awaiting night;

551.        About him exercised heroick games

552.        The unarmed youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand

553.        Celestial armoury, shields, helms, and spears,

554.        Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold.

555.        Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even

556.        On a sun-beam, swift as a shooting star

557.        In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fired

558.        Impress the air, and shows the mariner

559.        From what point of his compass to beware

560.        Impetuous winds: He thus began in haste.

561.        Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given

562.        Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place

563.        No evil thing approach or enter in.

564.        This day at highth of noon came to my sphere

565.        A Spirit, zealous, as he seemed, to know

566.        More of the Almighty's works, and chiefly Man,

567.        God's latest image: I described his way

568.        Bent all on speed, and marked his aery gait;

569.        But in the mount that lies from Eden north,

570.        Where he first lighted, soon discerned his looks

571.        Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured:

572.        Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade

573.        Lost sight of him: One of the banished crew,

574.        I fear, hath ventured from the deep, to raise

575.        New troubles; him thy care must be to find.

576.        To whom the winged warriour thus returned.

577.        Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight,

578.        Amid the sun's bright circle where thou sitst,

579.        See far and wide: In at this gate none pass

580.        The vigilance here placed, but such as come

581.        Well known from Heaven; and since meridian hour

582.        No creature thence: If Spirit of other sort,

583.        So minded, have o'er-leaped these earthly bounds

584.        On purpose, hard thou knowest it to exclude

585.        Spiritual substance with corporeal bar.

586.        But if within the circuit of these walks,

587.        In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom

588.        Thou tellest, by morrow dawning I shall know.

589.        So promised he; and Uriel to his charge

590.        Returned on that bright beam, whose point now raised

591.        Bore him slope downward to the sun now fallen

592.        Beneath the Azores; whether the prime orb,

593.        Incredible how swift, had thither rolled

594.        Diurnal, or this less volubil earth,

595.        By shorter flight to the east, had left him there

596.        Arraying with reflected purple and gold

597.        The clouds that on his western throne attend.

598.        Now came still Evening on, and Twilight gray

599.        Had in her sober livery all things clad;

600.        Silence accompanied; for beast and bird,

601.        They to their grassy couch, these to their nests

602.        Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale;

603.        She all night long her amorous descant sung;

604.        Silence was pleased: Now glowed the firmament

605.        With living sapphires: Hesperus, that led

606.        The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon,

607.        Rising in clouded majesty, at length

608.        Apparent queen unveiled her peerless light,

609.        And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw.

610.        When Adam thus to Eve. Fair Consort, the hour

611.        Of night, and all things now retired to rest,

612.        Mind us of like repose; since God hath set

613.        Labour and rest, as day and night, to men

614.        Successive; and the timely dew of sleep,

615.        Now falling with soft slumbrous weight, inclines

616.        Our eye-lids: Other creatures all day long

617.        Rove idle, unemployed, and less need rest;

618.        Man hath his daily work of body or mind

619.        Appointed, which declares his dignity,

620.        And the regard of Heaven on all his ways;

621.        While other animals unactive range,

622.        And of their doings God takes no account.

623.        To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east

624.        With first approach of light, we must be risen,

625.        And at our pleasant labour, to reform

626.        Yon flowery arbours, yonder alleys green,

627.        Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown,

628.        That mock our scant manuring, and require

629.        More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth:

630.        Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums,

631.        That lie bestrown, unsightly and unsmooth,

632.        Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease;

633.        Mean while, as Nature wills, night bids us rest.

634.        To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adorned

635.        My Author and Disposer, what thou bidst

636.        Unargued I obey: So God ordains;

637.        God is thy law, thou mine: To know no more

638.        Is woman's happiest knowledge, and her praise.

639.        With thee conversing I forget all time;

640.        All seasons, and their change, all please alike.

641.        Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising sweet,

642.        With charm of earliest birds: pleasant the sun,

643.        When first on this delightful land he spreads

644.        His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower,

645.        Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth

646.        After soft showers; and sweet the coming on

647.        Of grateful Evening mild; then silent Night,

648.        With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon,

649.        And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train:

650.        But neither breath of Morn, when she ascends

651.        With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun

652.        On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower,

653.        Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers;

654.        Nor grateful Evening mild; nor silent Night,

655.        With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon,

656.        Or glittering star-light, without thee is sweet.

657.        But wherefore all night long shine these? for whom

658.        This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes?

659.        To whom our general ancestor replied.

660.        Daughter of God and Man, accomplished Eve,

661.        These have their course to finish round the earth,

662.        By morrow evening, and from land to land

663.        In order, though to nations yet unborn,

664.        Ministring light prepared, they set and rise;

665.        Lest total Darkness should by night regain

666.        Her old possession, and extinguish life

667.        In Nature and all things; which these soft fires

668.        Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat

669.        Of various influence foment and warm,

670.        Temper or nourish, or in part shed down

671.        Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow

672.        On earth, made hereby apter to receive

673.        Perfection from the sun's more potent ray.

674.        These then, though unbeheld in deep of night,

675.        Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were none,

676.        That Heaven would want spectators, God want praise:

677.        Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth

678.        Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep:

679.        All these with ceaseless praise his works behold

680.        Both day and night: How often from the steep

681.        Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard

682.        Celestial voices to the midnight air,

683.        Sole, or responsive each to others note,

684.        Singing their great Creator? oft in bands

685.        While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk,

686.        With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds

687.        In full harmonick number joined, their songs

688.        Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven.

689.        Thus talking, hand in hand alone they passed

690.        On to their blissful bower: it was a place

691.        Chosen by the sovran Planter, when he framed

692.        All things to Man's delightful use; the roof

693.        Of thickest covert was inwoven shade

694.        Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew

695.        Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side

696.        Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub,

697.        Fenced up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower,

698.        Iris all hues, roses, and jessamin,

699.        Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought

700.        Mosaick; underfoot the violet,

701.        Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay

702.        Broidered the ground, more coloured than with stone

703.        Of costliest emblem: Other creature here,

704.        Bird, beast, insect, or worm, durst enter none,

705.        Such was their awe of Man. In shadier bower

706.        More sacred and sequestered, though but feigned,

707.        Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor Nymph

708.        Nor Faunus haunted. Here, in close recess,

709.        With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs,

710.        Espoused Eve decked first her nuptial bed;

711.        And heavenly quires the hymenaean sung,

712.        What day the genial Angel to our sire

713.        Brought her in naked beauty more adorned,

714.        More lovely, than Pandora, whom the Gods

715.        Endowed with all their gifts, and O! too like

716.        In sad event, when to the unwiser son

717.        Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnared

718.        Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged

719.        On him who had stole Jove's authentick fire.

720.        Thus, at their shady lodge arrived, both stood,

721.        Both turned, and under open sky adored

722.        The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heaven,

723.        Which they beheld, the moon's resplendent globe,

724.        And starry pole: Thou also madest the night,

725.        Maker Omnipotent, and thou the day,

726.        Which we, in our appointed work employed,

727.        Have finished, happy in our mutual help

728.        And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss

729.        Ordained by thee; and this delicious place

730.        For us too large, where thy abundance wants

731.        Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground.

732.        But thou hast promised from us two a race

733.        To fill the earth, who shall with us extol

734.        Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake,

735.        And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep.

736.        This said unanimous, and other rites

737.        Observing none, but adoration pure

738.        Which God likes best, into their inmost bower

739.        Handed they went; and, eased the putting off

740.        These troublesome disguises which we wear,

741.        Straight side by side were laid; nor turned, I ween,

742.        Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites

743.        Mysterious of connubial love refused:

744.        Whatever hypocrites austerely talk

745.        Of purity, and place, and innocence,

746.        Defaming as impure what God declares

747.        Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all.

748.        Our Maker bids encrease; who bids abstain

749.        But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man?

750.        Hail, wedded Love, mysterious law, true source

751.        Of human offspring, sole propriety

752.        In Paradise of all things common else!

753.        By thee adulterous Lust was driven from men

754.        Among the bestial herds to range; by thee

755.        Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure,

756.        Relations dear, and all the charities

757.        Of father, son, and brother, first were known.

758.        Far be it, that I should write thee sin or blame,

759.        Or think thee unbefitting holiest place,

760.        Perpetual fountain of domestick sweets,

761.        Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced,

762.        Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs used.

763.        Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights

764.        His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings,

765.        Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile

766.        Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared,

767.        Casual fruition; nor in court-amours,

768.        Mixed dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball,

769.        Or serenate, which the starved lover sings

770.        To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.

771.        These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept,

772.        And on their naked limbs the flowery roof

773.        Showered roses, which the morn repaired. Sleep on,

774.        Blest pair! and, O! yet happiest, if ye seek

775.        No happier state, and know to know no more!

776.        Now had night measured with her shadowy cone

777.        Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault,

778.        And from their ivory port the Cherubim,

779.        Forth issuing at the accustomed hour, stood armed

780.        To their night watches in warlike parade;

781.        When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake.

782.        Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south

783.        With strictest watch; these other wheel the north;

784.        Our circuit meets full west. As flame they part,

785.        Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear.

786.        From these, two strong and subtle Spirits he called

787.        That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge.

788.        Ithuriel and Zephon, with winged speed

789.        Search through this garden, leave unsearched no nook;

790.        But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge,

791.        Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm.

792.        This evening from the sun's decline arrived,

793.        Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen

794.        Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped

795.        The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt:

796.        Such, where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring.

797.        So saying, on he led his radiant files,

798.        Dazzling the moon; these to the bower direct

799.        In search of whom they sought: Him there they found

800.        Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve,

801.        Assaying by his devilish art to reach

802.        The organs of her fancy, and with them forge

803.        Illusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams;

804.        Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint

805.        The animal spirits, that from pure blood arise

806.        Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise

807.        At least distempered, discontented thoughts,

808.        Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires,

809.        Blown up with high conceits ingendering pride.

810.        Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear

811.        Touched lightly; for no falshood can endure

812.        Touch of celestial temper, but returns

813.        Of force to its own likeness: Up he starts

814.        Discovered and surprised. As when a spark

815.        Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid

816.        Fit for the tun some magazine to store

817.        Against a rumoured war, the smutty grain,

818.        With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air;

819.        So started up in his own shape the Fiend.

820.        Back stept those two fair Angels, half amazed

821.        So sudden to behold the grisly king;

822.        Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon.

823.        Which of those rebel Spirits adjudged to Hell

824.        Comest thou, escaped thy prison? and, transformed,

825.        Why sat'st thou like an enemy in wait,

826.        Here watching at the head of these that sleep?

827.        Know ye not then said Satan, filled with scorn,

828.        Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate

829.        For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar:

830.        Not to know me argues yourselves unknown,

831.        The lowest of your throng; or, if ye know,

832.        Why ask ye, and superfluous begin

833.        Your message, like to end as much in vain?

834.        To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn.

835.        Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same,

836.        Or undiminished brightness to be known,

837.        As when thou stoodest in Heaven upright and pure;

838.        That glory then, when thou no more wast good,

839.        Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now

840.        Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul.

841.        But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account

842.        To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep

843.        This place inviolable, and these from harm.

844.        So spake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke,

845.        Severe in youthful beauty, added grace

846.        Invincible: Abashed the Devil stood,

847.        And felt how awful goodness is, and saw

848.        Virtue in her shape how lovely; saw, and pined

849.        His loss; but chiefly to find here observed

850.        His lustre visibly impaired; yet seemed

851.        Undaunted. If I must contend, said he,

852.        Best with the best, the sender, not the sent,

853.        Or all at once; more glory will be won,

854.        Or less be lost. Thy fear, said Zephon bold,

855.        Will save us trial what the least can do

856.        Single against thee wicked, and thence weak.

857.        The Fiend replied not, overcome with rage;

858.        But, like a proud steed reined, went haughty on,

859.        Champing his iron curb: To strive or fly

860.        He held it vain; awe from above had quelled

861.        His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh

862.        The western point, where those half-rounding guards

863.        Just met, and closing stood in squadron joined,

864.        A waiting next command. To whom their Chief,

865.        Gabriel, from the front thus called aloud.

866.        O friends! I hear the tread of nimble feet

867.        Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern

868.        Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade;

869.        And with them comes a third of regal port,

870.        But faded splendour wan; who by his gait

871.        And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell,

872.        Not likely to part hence without contest;

873.        Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours.

874.        He scarce had ended, when those two approached,

875.        And brief related whom they brought, where found,

876.        How busied, in what form and posture couched.

877.        To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake.

878.        Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed

879.        To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge

880.        Of others, who approve not to transgress

881.        By thy example, but have power and right

882.        To question thy bold entrance on this place;

883.        Employed, it seems, to violate sleep, and those

884.        Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss!

885.        To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow.

886.        Gabriel? thou hadst in Heaven the esteem of wise,

887.        And such I held thee; but this question asked

888.        Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain!

889.        Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell,

890.        Though thither doomed! Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt

891.        And boldly venture to whatever place

892.        Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change

893.        Torment with ease, and soonest recompense

894.        Dole with delight, which in this place I sought;

895.        To thee no reason, who knowest only good,

896.        But evil hast not tried: and wilt object

897.        His will who bounds us! Let him surer bar

898.        His iron gates, if he intends our stay

899.        In that dark durance: Thus much what was asked.

900.        The rest is true, they found me where they say;

901.        But that implies not violence or harm.

902.        Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel moved,

903.        Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied.

904.        O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise

905.        Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew,

906.        And now returns him from his prison 'scaped,

907.        Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise

908.        Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither

909.        Unlicensed from his bounds in Hell prescribed;

910.        So wise he judges it to fly from pain

911.        However, and to 'scape his punishment!

912.        So judge thou still, presumptuous! till the wrath,

913.        Which thou incurrest by flying, meet thy flight

914.        Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell,

915.        Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain

916.        Can equal anger infinite provoked.

917.        But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee

918.        Came not all hell broke loose? is paint to them

919.        Less pain, less to be fled, or thou than they

920.        Less hardy to endure? courageous Chief,

921.        The first in flight from pain! had'st thou alleg'd

922.        To thy deserted host this cause of flight,

923.        Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive.

924.        To which the Fiend thus answer'd, frowning stern.

925.        Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain,

926.        Insulting Angel! well thou knowest I stood

927.        Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid

928.        The blasting vollied thunder made all speed,

929.        And seconded thy else not dreaded spear.

930.        But still thy words at random, as before,

931.        Argue thy inexperience what behoves

932.        From hard assays and ill successes past

933.        A faithful leader, not to hazard all

934.        Through ways of danger by himself untried:

935.        I, therefore, I alone first undertook

936.        To wing the desolate abyss, and spy

937.        This new created world, whereof in Hell

938.        Fame is not silent, here in hope to find

939.        Better abode, and my afflicted Powers

940.        To settle here on earth, or in mid air;

941.        Though for possession put to try once more

942.        What thou and thy gay legions dare against;

943.        Whose easier business were to serve their Lord

944.        High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne,

945.        And practised distances to cringe, not fight,

946.        To whom the warriour Angel soon replied.

947.        To say and straight unsay, pretending first

948.        Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy,

949.        Argues no leader but a liear traced,

950.        Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name,

951.        O sacred name of faithfulness profaned!

952.        Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew?

953.        Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head.

954.        Was this your discipline and faith engaged,

955.        Your military obedience, to dissolve

956.        Allegiance to the acknowledged Power supreme?

957.        And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem

958.        Patron of liberty, who more than thou

959.        Once fawned, and cringed, and servily adored

960.        Heaven's awful Monarch? wherefore, but in hope

961.        To dispossess him, and thyself to reign?

962.        But mark what I arreed thee now, Avant;

963.        Fly neither whence thou fledst! If from this hour

964.        Within these hallowed limits thou appear,

965.        Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained,

966.        And seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn

967.        The facile gates of Hell too slightly barred.

968.        So threatened he; but Satan to no threats

969.        Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied.

970.        Then when I am thy captive talk of chains,

971.        Proud limitary Cherub! but ere then

972.        Far heavier load thyself expect to feel

973.        From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King

974.        Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers,

975.        Us'd to the yoke, drawest his triumphant wheels

976.        In progress through the road of Heaven star-paved.

977.        While thus he spake, the angelick squadron bright

978.        Turned fiery red, sharpening in mooned horns

979.        Their phalanx, and began to hem him round

980.        With ported spears, as thick as when a field

981.        Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends

982.        Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind

983.        Sways them; the careful plowman doubting stands,

984.        Left on the threshing floor his hopeless sheaves

985.        Prove chaff. On the other side, Satan, alarmed,

986.        Collecting all his might, dilated stood,

987.        Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved:

988.        His stature reached the sky, and on his crest

989.        Sat Horrour plumed; nor wanted in his grasp

990.        What seemed both spear and shield: Now dreadful deeds

991.        Might have ensued, nor only Paradise

992.        In this commotion, but the starry cope

993.        Of Heaven perhaps, or all the elements

994.        At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn

995.        With violence of this conflict, had not soon

996.        The Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray,

997.        Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen

998.        Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion sign,

999.        Wherein all things created first he weighed,

1000.    The pendulous round earth with balanced air

1001.    In counterpoise, now ponders all events,

1002.    Battles and realms: In these he put two weights,

1003.    The sequel each of parting and of fight:

1004.    The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam,

1005.    Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend.

1006.    Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowest mine;

1007.    Neither our own, but given: What folly then

1008.    To boast what arms can do? since thine no more

1009.    Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now

1010.    To trample thee as mire: For proof look up,

1011.    And read thy lot in yon celestial sign;

1012.    Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak,

1013.    If thou resist. The Fiend looked up, and knew

1014.    His mounted scale aloft: nor more; but fled

1015.    Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night.

75 Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell: 撒旦不論走到何方，地獄的痛苦依舊跟隨著他，因為地獄是一種永遠也逃脫不了心境。  <BACK>

86-92 Ay me.../...ambition finds: they是指與撒旦一起下地獄的墮落天使們，他們並不曉得撒旦的誇耀其實充滿心虛，內心卻忍受苦楚。他們尊他為王，他卻越陷越深，這是他的野心換來的代價。   <BACK>

98-101 For never.../...heavier fall: 這裡又是撒旦的詭辯之術。前段他宣稱他內心深受煎熬，第九十三行的『但是』（But）卻說即使他現在懺悔，得到赦免，很快地他還是會起不軌之心，他還是會叛變。因為妒恨造成的傷口已難以癒合，只會讓他越向下沈淪。   <BACK>

108 So farewell, hope: 人類已取代撒旦在天堂的位置，撒旦認為他沒有希望走回頭路。  <BACK>

208-10 For blissful.../...Eden planted: 亞當與夏娃所居住的樂園（Paradise）是位於伊甸園（Eden）之東。 <BACK>

220-21 and next to life, / Our death: 密爾頓在此使用諷語（irony）。生命之樹（Tree of Life）之旁是知識之樹（Tree of Knowledge）。夏娃因為妄想得到神的知識，而違反上帝不准偷吃知識樹果實的禁令，最後得到懲罰，將死亡帶到人間，所以知識樹亦是死亡之樹。兩棵樹並排在一起，就如生命與死亡是一體兩面。  <BACK>

256 without thorn the rose: 在人類墮落之前，玫瑰沒有刺，美麗並不隱藏危機。參照聖經《舊約全書》之《創世紀》篇三•18。  <BACK>

295-6 though both /...equal seemed: 亞當和夏娃生來就非平等地位，男尊女卑。  <BACK>

299 He for God only, she for God in him: 亞當是依上帝的形象創造出來，夏娃是用亞當的肋骨塑造而成。所以亞當是上帝的複製品，而夏娃是複製品的複製品。 <BACK>

321 hand in hand: 亞當與夏娃手牽手是《失樂園》一再出現的主題（motif）。參照第四卷第四八八至九行、第六八九行、第七三九行。第九卷第三八五至六行。第十二卷第六四八行。牽手代表兩人為一體。   <BACK>

421 this easy charge: 上帝不准人類吃知識樹果實的禁令其實是一項簡簡單單就能遵守的法規。但律法的存在就是為了防止犯罪。沒有犯罪，就無需律法。律法既已存在，是否也暗示隨時會有罪行出現的可能性。  <BACK>

425 whate'er death is: 人類墮落之前，死亡並不存在。   <BACK>

440-3 O thou.../...and right: 這段夏娃在《失樂園》的第一次出聲，飽受女性主義者批評。然而密爾頓只是反應當時父系社會傳統的思想，丈夫為一家之主，妻子當臣服其下。  <BACK>

449-50 from sleep / I first awaked: 夏娃和亞當皆把自己甫被創造出來的第一瞬間比喻成自熟睡中醒來。參照亞當在第八卷第二五三行的說法（"As new waked from soundest sleep"）。  <BACK>

460 As I bent down to look: 夏娃始被創造出來，第一個反應是往下看自己在水中的倒影。對照第八卷第二五七行，亞當則是抬頭望天（"Straight toward heav'n my wond'ring eyes I turned"）。亞當看到天堂，夏娃卻看到倒置的天堂，扭曲的影像。水代表神秘深邃。夏娃首先愛上的人不是亞當，而是水中的自己。這是她潛意識的自戀，也是她為何會聽信撒旦的誘惑，妄想偷吃禁果，擁有神性的伏筆。 <BACK>

475 What could I do: 亞當對上帝的命令完全信服，夏娃卻會存疑。  <BACK>

481 Eve: 在聖經《舊約全書》之《創世紀》篇二•23提到，人類墮落之前，亞當稱他的妻子為『女人』（woman），因為她來自於『男人』（man）。在《創世紀》篇三•20，亞當直到墮落之後才將他的妻子取名夏娃（"Adam named his wife Eve, because she would become the mother of all the living."）。在《失樂園》，夏娃的名字則是在墮落前（亞當第一次見到她時）就已出現。不論前後，亞當同樣擁有命名權。而在第八卷第二九六行，亞當的名字則由上帝 賜予。  <BACK>

483-4 to give.../...my heart: 夏娃是由上帝用亞當身上左邊靠近心臟的肋骨創造出來，參照第八卷第四六五至六行。所以女人為男人血肉靈魂的一部分，夫妻為一體。  <BACK>

490-1 How beauty.../...truly fair: 比起外表，亞當的內在更吸引夏娃。  <BACK>

504  Eyed them askance: 撒旦應是史上第一個偷窺狂（voyeur）。    <BACK>

637-8 God is.../...her praise: 夏娃在此告訴亞當，上帝是人類的律法，而丈夫是妻子的律法，女人最大的幸福與讚譽就是不識不知。這代表她明白自己的不足，她其實內心想知道更多，因為知道有缺憾，所以覬覦超越界線，所以撒旦可以趁虛而入。  <BACK>

714 Pandora: 潘朵拉，希臘文原意為『所有的禮物』（all gifts）。希臘羅馬神話中的第一個女人。天神宙斯（Zeus）為懲罰普羅米修斯（Prometheus，名字意思為『先見之明』，"Forethought"）偷火給人類，遂令赫斐斯塔司（Hephaestus）用黏土（clay）塑造出潘朵拉，並打算將她贈給普羅米修斯為妻。所有的天神都送來賀禮，而宙斯則是送給潘朵拉一個美麗的盒子。普羅米修斯洞察宙斯的詭計，拒絕接受潘朵拉。他的弟弟厄庇墨透斯（Epimetheus，名字意思為『後知後覺』，"Afterthought"）則娶了她。潘朵拉打開了盒子，將所有的不幸釋放到人間，唯一剩存的只有『希望』（Hope）。中世紀（The Middle Ages）以來，女人被分為有品德操行的好女人（virtuous good women）與壞女人兩種。壞女人又分為狐狸精（femmes fatales）及悍婦（viragos, termagants, or shrews）。潘朵拉屬於前者，而密爾頓把夏娃和潘朵拉相比，也代表她是所謂的美麗壞女人，把痛苦災難帶到人間。  <BACK>

773-5 Sleep on, /...no more: 密爾頓對亞當和夏娃的警語。如果他們兩人謹守本分不逾矩，不求更多的知識，他們就不會墮落。    <BACK>

838-40 That glory.../...and foul: 墮落的撒旦已失去他天使原有的光輝，如今他像他的罪惡與地獄一樣晦暗而污穢。  <BACK>

851 If I must contend: 撒旦永遠都在備戰狀態中。  <BACK>

889-90 Who would.../...thither doomed: 相較於撒旦在第二卷自願單獨擔任偵察新世界困難任務的勇氣，他在此卻透露其實他是想找個藉口，離開地獄深淵。  <BACK>  

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