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Paradise Lost

Paradise Lost. Albrecht Durer, Adam and Eve (1504). Paradise Lost, Book XI. Synopsis of Book XI: Adam and Eve’s prayers go up to Heaven; the Son intercedes for them with the Father (lines 1-45)

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Paradise Lost

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  1. Paradise Lost Albrecht Durer, Adam and Eve (1504)

  2. Paradise Lost, Book XI • Synopsis of Book XI: • Adam and Eve’s prayers go up to Heaven; the Son intercedes for them with the Father (lines 1-45) • God agrees to hear their prayers and allow the Son to mediate, but insists the Adam and Eve must leave the Garden • God sends Michael to escort Adam and Eve from the Garden and to reveal the future to Adam

  3. Paradise Lost, Book XI •   Thus they, in lowliest plight, repentant stood •   Praying; for from the mercy-seat above •    Prevenient grace descending had removed •   The stony from their hearts, and made new flesh • 5 Regenerate grow instead; that sighs now breathed •   Unutterable; which the Spirit of prayer •   Inspired, and winged for Heaven with speedier flight •   Than loudest oratory: Yet their port fumed, •   Not of mean suitors; nor important less •   10 Seemed their petition, than when the ancient pair •    In fables old, less ancient yet than these, •    Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha, to restore •    The race of mankind drowned, before the shrine •    Of Themis stood devout. To Heaven their prayers •   15 Flew up, nor missed the way, by envious winds •    Blown vagabond or frustrate: in they passed •    Dimensionless through heavenly doors; then clad •    With incense, where the golden altar fumed, •    By their great intercessour, came in sight •   20 Before the Father's throne: them the glad Son

  4. Paradise Lost, Book XI • Presenting, thus to intercede began. • [Son speaks] •    See Father, what first-fruits on earth are sprung •    From thy implanted grace in Man; these sighs •    And prayers, which in this golden censer mixed •    25 With incense, I thy priest before thee bring; •    Fruits of more pleasing savour, from thy seed •    Sown with contrition in his heart, than those •    Which, his own hand manuring, all the trees •    Of Paradise could have produced, ere fallen •   30 From innocence. Now therefore, bend thine ear •    To supplication; hear his sighs, though mute; •   Unskilful with what words to pray, let me •    Interpret for him; me, his advocate •    And propitiation; all his works on me, • 35    Good, or not good, ingraft; my merit those •    Shall perfect, and for these my death shall pay.

  5. Paradise Lost, Book XI •    Accept me; and, in me, from these receive •    The smell of peace toward mankind: let him live •    Before thee reconciled, at least his days •    40 Numbered, though sad; till death, his doom, (which I •    To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse,) •    To better life shall yield him: where with me •    All my redeemed may dwell in joy and bliss; •    Made one with me, as I with thee am one. • [God speaks] • To whom the Father, without cloud, serene.   • All thy request for Man, accepted Son, • Obtain; all thy request was my decree:   • But, longer in that Paradise to dwell, • The law I gave to Nature him forbids: •  50   Those pure immortal elements, that know, •    No gross, no unharmonious mixture foul, •    Eject him, tainted now; and purge him off, •    As a distemper, gross, to air as gross,

  6. Paradise Lost, Book XI • And mortal food; as may dispose him best •   55 For dissolution wrought by sin, that first •    Distempered all things, and of incorrupt •    Corrupted. I, at first, with two fair gifts •    Created him endowed; with happiness, •    And immortality: that fondly lost, •   60 This other served but to eternize woe; •    Till I provided death: so death becomes •    His final remedy; and, after life, •    Tried in sharp tribulation, and refined •    By faith and faithful works, to second life, •    65 Waked in the renovation of the just, •   Resigns him up with Heaven and Earth renewed. •    But let us call to synod all the Blest, •    Through Heaven's wide bounds: from them I will not hide •    My judgements; how with mankind I proceed, •  70   As how with peccant Angels late they saw, •    And in their state, though firm, stood more confirmed.

  7. Paradise Lost, Book XI • He ended, and the Son gave signal high •    To the bright minister that watched; he blew    • His trumpet, heard in Oreb since perhaps   • 75 When God descended, and perhaps once more • To sound at general doom. The angelick blast    • Filled all the regions: from their blisful bowers   • Of amarantine shade, fountain or spring, •   By the waters of life, where'er they sat • 80 In fellowships of joy, the sons of light    • Hasted, resorting to the summons high;    • And took their seats; till from his throne supreme   • The Almighty thus pronounced his sovran will.   • O Sons, like one of us Man is become    • 85 To know both good and evil, since his taste    • Of that defended fruit; but let him boast    • His knowledge of good lost, and evil got;  

  8. Paradise Lost, Book XI • Happier! had it sufficed him to have known    • Good by itself, and evil not at all.   • 90 He sorrows now, repents, and prays contrite,     • My motions in him; longer than they move,   • His heart I know, how variable and vain, • Self-left. Lest therefore his now bolder hand •    Reach also of the tree of life, and eat,   • 95 And live for ever, dream at least to live    • For ever, to remove him I decree,    • And send him from the garden forth to till    • The ground whence he was taken, fitter soil.    • Michael, this my behest have thou in charge;   • 100 Take to thee from among the Cherubim    • Thy choice of flaming warriours, lest the Fiend,    • Or in behalf of Man, or to invade    • Vacant possession, some new trouble raise

  9. Paradise Lost, Book XI •       Haste thee, and from the Paradise of God    • 105 Without remorse drive out the sinful pair;    • From hallowed ground the unholy; and denounce    • To them, and to their progeny, from thence    • Perpetual banishment. Yet, lest they faint •    At the sad sentence rigorously urged,   • 110 (For I behold them softened, and with tears • Bewailing their excess,) all terrour hide.    • If patiently thy bidding they obey, • Dismiss them not disconsolate; reveal   • To Adam what shall come in future days, • 115 As I shall thee enlighten; intermix 1 • My covenant in the Woman's seed renewed;

  10. Paradise Lost, Book XI • So send them forth, though sorrowing, yet in peace:    • 115 And on the east side of the garden place, • Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbs,    • Cherubick watch; and of a sword the flame    • Wide-waving; all approach far off to fright,    • And guard all passage to the tree of life:    • 120 Lest Paradise a receptacle prove •  To Spirits foul, and all my trees their prey; • With whose stolen fruit Man once more to delude. • [Adam speaks] • Eve, easily my faith admit, that all    • The good which we enjoy from Heaven descends;    • But, that from us aught should ascend to Heaven    • So prevalent as to concern the mind    • 145 Of God high-blest, or to incline his will,    • Hard to belief may seem; yet this will prayer    • Or one short sigh of human breath, upborne

  11. Paradise Lost, Book XI • Even to the seat of God. For since I sought    • By prayer the offended Deity to appease;    • 150 Kneeled, and before him humbled all my heart;   • Methought I saw him placable and mild,    • Bending his ear; persuasion in me grew • That I was heard with favour; peace returned • Home to my breast, and to my memory    • 155 His promise, that thy seed shall bruise our foe;     • Which, then not minded in dismay, yet now   • Assures me that the bitterness of death    • Is past, and we shall live. Whence hail to thee,    • Eve rightly called, mother of all mankind, • 160 Mother of all things living, since by thee • Man is to live; and all things live for Man.

  12. Paradise Lost, Book XI • [Eve speaks] • To whom thus Eve with sad demeanour meek.   • Ill-worthy I such title should belong    • To me transgressour; who, for thee ordained    • 165 A help, became thy snare; to me reproach    • Rather belongs, distrust, and all dispraise:    • But infinite in pardon was my Judge,    • That I, who first brought death on all, am graced •    The source of life; next favourable thou,    • 170 Who highly thus to entitle me vouchsaf'st,   • Far other name deserving. But the field   • To labour calls us, now with sweat imposed, • Though after sleepless night; for see!the morn, • All unconcerned with our unrest, begins    • 175 Her rosy progress smiling: let us forth;    • I never from thy side henceforth to stray,   • Where'er our day's work lies, though now enjoined •    Laborious, till day droop; while here we dwell,   • What can be toilsome in these pleasant walks?   • 180 Here let us live, though in fallen state, content.

  13. Paradise Lost, Book XI • So spake, so wished much humbled Eve; but Fate • Subscribed not: Nature first gave signs, impressed   • On bird, beast, air; air suddenly eclipsed, • After short blush of morn; nigh in her sight    • 185 The bird of Jove, stooped from his aery tour,   • Two birds of gayest plume before him drove;    • Down from a hill the beast that reigns in woods,    • First hunter then, pursued a gentle brace,    • Goodliest of all the forest, hart and hind;   • 190 Direct to the eastern gate was bent their flight.   • Adam observed, and with his eye the chase    • Pursuing, not unmoved, to Eve thus spake. • [Adam speaks]   • O Eve, some further change awaits us nigh,   • Which Heaven, by these mute signs in Nature, shows • 195   Forerunners of his purpose; or to warn   • Us, haply too secure, of our discharge    • From penalty, because from death released   • Some days: how long, and what till then our life,

  14. Paradise Lost, Book XI • Who knows? or more than this, that we are dust,   • 200 And thither must return, and be no more?   • Why else this double object in our sight • Of flight pursued in the air, and o'er the ground,   • One way the self-same hour? why in the east • Darkness ere day's mid-course, and morning-light   • 205 More orient in yon western cloud, that draws • O'er the blue firmament a radiant white, • And slow descends with something heavenly fraught?   • He erred not; for by this the heavenly bands • Down from a sky of jasper lighted now    • 210 In Paradise, and on a hill made halt;    • A glorious apparition, had not doubt   • And carnal fear that day dimmed Adam's eye. • Not that more glorious, when the Angels met

  15. Paradise Lost, Book XI •    Jacob in Mahanaim, where he saw • The field pavilioned with his guardians bright;    • Nor that, which on the flaming mount appeared    • In Dothan, covered with a camp of fire,    • Against the Syrian king, who to surprise    • One man, assassin-like, had levied war,    • War unproclaimed. The princely Hierarch    • In their bright stand there left his Powers, to seise    • Possession of the garden; he alone,    • To find where Adam sheltered, took his way,    • Not unperceived of Adam; who to Eve,   • While the great visitant approached, thus spake.   225 • [Adam speaks]  • Eve now expect great tidings, which perhaps   • Of us will soon determine, or impose   • New laws to be observed; for I descry,

  16. Paradise Lost, Book XI • Jacob in Mahanaim, where he saw • 215 The field pavilioned with his guardians bright;    • Nor that, which on the flaming mount appeared    • In Dothan, covered with a camp of fire,    • Against the Syrian king, who to surprise    • One man, assassin-like, had levied war,    • 220 War unproclaimed. The princely Hierarch   • In their bright stand there left his Powers, to seise    • Possession of the garden; he alone,    • To find where Adam sheltered, took his way,    • Not unperceived of Adam; who to Eve,   • 225 While the great visitant approached, thus spake.   • [Adam speaks]  • Eve now expect great tidings, which perhaps   • Of us will soon determine, or impose   • New laws to be observed; for I descry,

  17. Paradise Lost, Book XI •      From yonder blazing cloud that veils the hill, • 230 One of the heavenly host; and, by his gait,    • None of the meanest; some great Potentate    • Or of the Thrones above; such majesty    • Invests him coming! yet not terrible,    • That I should fear; nor sociably mild,    • 235 As Raphael, that I should much confide;    • But solemn and sublime; whom not to offend,    • With reverence I must meet, and thou retire.   • He ended: and the Arch-Angel soon drew nigh,    • Not in his shape celestial, but as man    • 240 Clad to meet man; over his lucid arms • A military vest of purple flowed,    • Livelier than Meliboean, or the grain   • Of Sarra, worn by kings and heroes old

  18. Paradise Lost, Book XI •        In time of truce; Iris had dipt the woof;   • 245 His starry helm unbuckled showed him prime • In manhood where youth ended; by his side, • As in a glistering zodiack, hung the sword,   • Satan's dire dread; and in his hand the spear.   • Adam bowed low; he, kingly, from his state   • 250 Inclined not, but his coming thus declared.   • Adam, Heaven's high behest no preface needs:   • Sufficient that thy prayers are heard; and Death,   • Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress,    • Defeated of his seisure many days    • 255 Given thee of grace; wherein thou mayest repent,    • And one bad act with many deeds well done • Mayest cover: Well may then thy Lord, appeased,   • Redeem thee quite from Death's rapacious claim;

  19. Paradise Lost, Book XI • His starrieHelmeunbuckl'dshew'd him prime In Manhood where Youth ended; by his sideAs in a glistering Zodiac hung the Sword,Satans dire dread, and in his hand the Spear.Adam bowd low, hee Kingly from his State • 250 Inclin'd not, but his coming thus declar'd. • Adam, Heav'ns high behest no Preface needs: • Sufficient that thy Prayers are heard, and Death,Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress,Defeated of his seisure many dayes • 255 Giv'n thee of Grace, wherein thou may'st repent, • And one bad act with many deeds well doneMayst cover: well may then thy Lord appeas'dRedeem thee quite from Deaths rapacious claime;But longer in this Paradise to dwell • 260 Permits not; to remove thee I am come,

  20. Paradise Lost, Book XI • And send thee from the Garden forth to tillThe ground whence thou wast tak'n, fitter Soile. • He added not, for Adam at the newesHeart-strook with chilling gripe of sorrow stood, • 265 That all his senses bound; Eve, who unseen • Yet all had heard, with audible lamentDiscover'd soon the place of her retire. • O unexpected stroke, worse then of Death!Must I thus leave thee Paradise? thus leave • 270 Thee Native Soile, these happie Walks and Shades, • Fit haunt of Gods? where I had hope to spend,Quiet though sad, the respit of that dayThat must be mortal to us both. O flours,That never will in other Climate grow, • 275 My early visitation, and my last

  21. Paradise Lost, Book XI • At Eev'n, which I bred up with tender handFrom the first op'ning bud, and gave ye Names,Who now shall reare ye to the Sun, or ranke • Your Tribes, and water from th' ambrosial Fount? • 280 Thee lastly nuptial Bowre, by mee adornd • With what to sight or smell was sweet; from thee How shall I part, and whither wander down Into a lower World, to this obscure And wilde, how shall we breath in other Aire • 285 Less pure, accustomd to immortal Fruits? • Whom thus the Angel interrupted milde. Lament not Eve, but patiently resigne What justly thou hast lost; nor set thy heart, Thus over-fond, on that which is not thine;290 Thy going is not lonely, with thee goes Thy Husband, him to follow thou art bound; • Where he abides, think there thy native soile.

  22. Paradise Lost, Book XI • [Adam speaks] • Adam by this from the cold sudden damp Recovering, and his scatterd spirits returnd, • 295 To Michael thus his humble words addressd. • Celestial, whether among the Thrones, or nam'd Of them the Highest, for such of shape may seem Prince above Princes, gently hast thou tould Thy message, which might else in telling wound,300 And in performing end us; what besides Of sorrow and dejection and despair Our frailtie can sustain, thy tidings bring, Departure from this happy place, our sweet Recess, and onely consolation left305 Familiar to our eyes, all places else Inhospitable appeer and desolate, Nor knowing us nor known: and if by prayer Incessant I could hope to change the will

  23. Paradise Lost, Book XI • Of him who all things can, I would not cease310 To wearie him with my assiduous cries: But prayer against his absolute Decree No more availes then breath against the winde, Blown stifling back on him that breaths it forth: Therefore to his great bidding I submit.315 This most afflicts me, that departing hence, As from his face I shall be hid, deprivd His blessed count'nance; here I could frequent, With worship, place by place where he voutsaf'd Presence Divine, and to my Sons relate;320 On this Mount he appeerd, under this Tree Stood visible, among these Pines his voice I heard, here with him at this Fountain talk'd: So many grateful Altars I would reare Of grassie Terfe, and pile up every Stone325 Of lustre from the brook, in memorie,

  24. Paradise Lost, Book XI Or monument to Ages, and thereon Offer sweet smelling Gumms and Fruits and Flours: In yonder nether World where shall I seek His bright appearances, or foot step-trace?330 For though I fled him angrie, yet recall'd To life prolongd and promisd Race, I now Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts Of glory, and farr off his steps adore. To whom thus Michael with regard benigne. [Michael speaks] 335 Adam, thou know'st Heav'n his, and all the Earth. Not this Rock onely; his Omnipresence fills Land, Sea, and Aire, and every kinde that lives, Fomented by his virtual power and warmd: All th' Earth he gave thee to possess and rule,340 No despicable gift; surmise not then

  25. Paradise Lost, Book XI His presence to these narrow bounds confin'd Of Paradise or Eden: this had been Perhaps thy Capital Seate, from whence had spred All generations, and had hither come345 From all the ends of th' Earth, to celebrate And reverence thee thir great Progenitor. But this præeminence thou hast lost, brought down To dwell on eeven ground now with thy Sons: Yet doubt not but in Vallie and in Plaine350 God is as here, and will be found alike Present, and of his presence many a signe Still following thee, still compassing thee round With goodness and paternal Love, his Face Express, and of his steps the track Divine.355 Which that thou mayst beleeve, and be confirmd Ere thou from hence depart, know I am sent To shew thee what shall come in future dayes To thee and to thy Ofspring; good with bad Expect to hear, supernal Grace contending

  26. Paradise Lost, Book XI 360 With sinfulness of Men; thereby to learn True patience, and to temper joy with fear And pious sorrow, equally enur'd By moderation either state to beare, Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead365 Safest thy life, and best prepar'd endure Thy mortal passage when it comes. Ascend This Hill; let Eve (for I have drencht her eyes) Here sleep below while thou to foresight wak'st, As once thou slepst, while Shee to life was formd. 370 To whom thus Adam gratefully repli'd. Ascend, I follow thee, safe Guide, the path Thou lead'st me, and to the hand of Heav'n submit, However chast'ning, to the evil turne My obvious breast, arming to overcom375 By suffering, and earne rest from labour won, If so I may attain. So both ascend

  27. Paradise Lost, Book XI In the Visions of God: It was a Hill Of Paradise the highest, from whose top The Hemisphere of Earth in cleerest Ken380 Stretcht out to amplest reach of prospect lay. . . . Michael from Adams eyes the Filme remov'd Which that false Fruit that promis'd clearer sight Had bred; then purg'd with Euphrasie and Rue415 The visual Nerve, for he had much to see; And from the Well of Life three drops instill'd. So deep the power of these Ingredients pierc'd, Eevn to the inmost seat of mental sight, That Adam now enforc't to close his eyes,420 Sunk down and all his Spirits became intranst: But him the gentle Angel by the hand Soon rais'd, and his attention thus recall'd. Adam, now ope thine eyes, and first behold Th' effects which thy original crime hath wrought

  28. Paradise Lost, Book XI 425 In some to spring from thee, who never touch'd Th' excepted Tree, nor with the Snake conspir'd, Nor sinn'd thy sin, yet from that sin derive Corruption to bring forth more violent deeds. His eyes he op'nd, and beheld a field,430 Part arable and tilth, whereon were Sheaves New reapt, the other part sheep-walks and foulds; I th' midst an Altar as the Land-mark stood Rustic, of grassie sord; thither anon A sweatie Reaper from his Tillage brought435 First Fruits, the green Eare, and the yellow Sheaf, Uncull'd, as came to hand; a Shepherd next More meek came with the Firstlings of his Flock Choicest and best; then sacrificing, laid The Inwards and thir Fat, with Incense strew'd,440 On the cleft Wood, and all due Rites perform'd.

  29. Paradise Lost, Book XI His Offring soon propitious Fire from Heav'n Consum'd with nimble glance, and grateful steame; The others not, for his was not sincere; Whereat hee inlie rag'd, and as they talk'd,445 Smote him into the Midriff with a stone [ 445 ] That beat out life; he fell, and deadly pale Groand out his Soul with gushing bloud effus'd. Much at that sight was Adam in his heart Dismai'd, and thus in haste to th' Angel cri'd. [Adam speaks] 450 O Teacher, some great mischief hath befall'n To that meek man, who well had sacrific'd; Is Pietie thus and pure Devotion paid? [Michael speaks] T' whom Michael thus, hee also mov'd, repli'd. These two are Brethren, Adam, and to come455 Out of thy loyns; th' unjust the just hath slain,

  30. Paradise Lost, Book XI For envie that his Brothers Offering found From Heav'n acceptance; but the bloodie Fact Will be aveng'd, and th' others Faith approv'd Loose no reward, though here thou see him die,460 Rowling in dust and gore. To which our Sire. [Adam speaks] Alas, both for the deed and for the cause! But have I now seen Death? Is this the way I must return to native dust? O sight Of terrour, foul and ugly to behold,465 Horrid to think, how horrible to feel! [Michael speaks] To whom thus Michael. Death thou hast seen In his first shape on man; but many shapes Of Death, and many are the wayes that lead To his grim Cave, all dismal; yet to sense470 More terrible at th' entrance then within.

  31. Paradise Lost, Book XI . . . And over them triumphant Death his Dart Shook, but delaid to strike, though oft invokt With vows, as thir chief good, and final hope. Sight so deform what heart of Rock could long495 Drie-ey'd behold? Adam could not, but wept, Though not of Woman born; compassion quell'd His best of Man, and gave him up to tears A space, till firmer thoughts restraind excess, And scarce recovering words his plaint renew'd. 500 O miserable Mankind, to what fall Degraded, to what wretched state reserv'd! Better end heer unborn. Why is life giv'n To be thus wrested from us? rather why Obtruded on us thus? who if we knew505 What we receive, would either not accept Life offer'd, or soon beg to lay it down,

  32. Paradise Lost, Book XI Glad to be so dismist in peace. Can thus Th' Image of God in man created once So goodly and erect, though faultie since,510 To such unsightly sufferings be debas't Under inhuman pains? Why should not Man, Retaining still Divine similitude In part, from such deformities be free, And for his Makers Image sake exempt? 515 Thir Makers Image, answerd Michael, then Forsook them, when themselves they villifi'd To serve ungovern'd appetite, and took His Image whom they serv'd, a brutish vice, Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve.520 Therefore so abject is thir punishment, Disfiguring not Gods likeness, but thir own, Or if his likeness, by themselves defac't While they pervert pure Natures healthful rules To loathsom sickness, worthily, since they525 Gods Image did not reverence in themselves.

  33. Paradise Lost, Book XI • Glad to be so dismist in peace. Can thus I yield it just, said Adam, and submit. But is there yet no other way, besides These painful passages, how we may come To Death, and mix with our connatural dust? • 530 There is, said Michael, if thou well observe The rule of not too much, by temperance taught In what thou eatst and drinkst, seeking from thence Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight, Till many years over thy head return:535 So maist thou live, till like ripe Fruit thou drop Into thy Mothers lap, or be with ease Gatherd, not harshly pluckt, for death mature: This is old age; but then thou must outlive Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty, which will change540 To witherd weak and gray; thy Senses then Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forgoe, To what thou hast, and for the Aire of youth Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reigne • .

  34. Paradise Lost, Book XI • A melancholly damp of cold and dry • 545 To weigh thy spirits down, and last consume [ The Balme of Life. To whom our Ancestor. • [Adam speaks] • Henceforth I flie not Death, nor would prolong Life much, bent rather how I may be quit Fairest and easiest of this combrous charge, • 550 Which I must keep till my appointed day Of rendring up, and patiently attend My dissolution. Michael repli'd, • [Michael speaks] • Nor love thy Life, nor hate; but what thou livst Live well, how long or short permit to Heav'n: • 555 And now prepare thee for another sight. • He lookd and saw a spacious Plaine, whereon Were Tents of various hue; by some were herds

  35. Paradise Lost, Book XI • Thir stops and chords was seen: his volant touch • Instinct through all proportions low and high Fled and pursu'd transverse the resonant fugue. In other part stood one who at the Forge • 565 Labouring, two massie clods of Iron and Brass Had melted (whether found where casual fire Had wasted woods on Mountain or in Vale, Down to the veins of Earth, thence gliding hot To som Caves mouth, or whether washt by stream • From underground) the liquid Ore he dreind Into fit moulds prepar'd; from which he formd First his own Tooles; then, what might else be wrought Fusil or grav'n in mettle. After these

  36. Paradise Lost, Book XI • But on the hether side a different sort • 575 From the high neighbouring Hills, which was thir Seat, • Down to the Plain descended: by thir guise Just men they seemd, and all thir study bent To worship God aright, and know his works Not hid, nor those things last which might preserve • Freedom and Peace to men: they on the Plain Long had not walkt, when from the Tents behold A Beavie of fair Women, richly gay In Gems and wanton dress; to the Harp they sung Soft amorous Ditties, and in dance came on: • 585 The Men though grave, ey'd them, and let thir eyes • Rove without rein, till in the amorous Net Fast caught, they lik'd, and each his liking chose; And now of love they treat till th'Eevning Star Loves Harbinger appeerd; then all in heat • They light the Nuptial Torch, and bid invoke

  37. Paradise Lost, Book XI • Hymen, then first to marriage Rites invok't; With Feast and Musick all the Tents resound. Such happy interview and fair event Of love and youth not lost, Songs, Garlands, Flours, • 595 And charming Symphonies attach'd the heart Of Adam, soon enclin'd to admit delight, The bent of Nature; which he thus express'd. • [Adam speaks] • True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blest, Much better seems this Vision, and more hope • 600 Of peaceful dayes portends, then those two past; Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse, Here Nature seems fulfilld in all her ends. • [Michael speaks] • To whom thus Michael. Judge not what is best By pleasure, though to Nature seeming meet, • Created, as thou art, to nobler end • Holie and pure, conformitie divine.

  38. Paradise Lost, Book XI • Those Tents thou sawst so pleasant, were the Tents Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his Race Who slew his Brother; studious they appere • 610 Of Arts that polish Life, Inventers rare, Unmindful of thir Maker, though his Spirit Taught them, but they his gifts acknowledg'd none. Yet they a beauteous ofspring shall beget; For that fair femal Troop thou sawst, that seemd • 615 Of Goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay, Yet empty of all good wherein consists Womans domestic honour and chief praise; Bred onely and completed to the taste Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance, • To dress, and troule the Tongue, and roule the Eye. • To these that sober Race of Men, whose lives Religious titl'd them the Sons of God, Shall yield up all thir vertue, all thir fame Ignobly, to the traines and to the smiles • 625 Of these fair Atheists, and now swim in joy,

  39. Paradise Lost, Book XI

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