Paradise Lost

On high behests his Angels to and fro 
Pass'd frequent, and his eye with choice regard 
From PANEAS the fount of JORDANS flood 
To BEERSABA, where the HOLY LAND 
Borders on AEGYPT and the ARABIAN shoare; 
So wide the op'ning seemd, where bounds were set 
To darkness, such as bound the Ocean wave. 
SATAN from hence now on the lower stair 
That scal'd by steps of Gold to Heav'n Gate 
Looks down with wonder at the sudden view 
Of all this World at once.  As when a Scout 
Through dark and desart wayes with peril gone 
All night; at last by break of chearful dawne 
Obtains the brow of some high-climbing Hill, 
Which to his eye discovers unaware 
The goodly prospect of some forein land 
First-seen, or some renownd Metropolis 
With glistering Spires and Pinnacles adornd, 
Which now the Rising Sun guilds with his beams. 
Such wonder seis'd, though after Heaven seen, 
The Spirit maligne, but much more envy seis'd 
At sight of all this World beheld so faire. 
Round he surveys, and well might, where he stood 
So high above the circling Canopie 
Of Nights extended shade; from Eastern Point 
Of LIBRA to the fleecie Starr that bears 
ANDROMEDA farr off ATLANTICK Seas 
Beyond th' HORIZON; then from Pole to Pole 
He views in bredth, and without longer pause 
Down right into the Worlds first Region throws 
His flight precipitant, and windes with ease 
Through the pure marble Air his oblique way 
Amongst innumerable Starrs, that shon 
Stars distant, but nigh hand seemd other Worlds, 
Or other Worlds they seemd, or happy Iles, 
Like those HESPERIAN Gardens fam'd of old, 
Fortunate Fields, and Groves and flourie Vales, 
Thrice happy Iles, but who dwelt happy there 
He stayd not to enquire: above them all 
The golden Sun in splendor likest Heaven 
Allur'd his eye: Thither his course he bends 
Through the calm Firmament; but up or downe 
By center, or eccentric, hard to tell, 
Or Longitude, where the great Luminarie 
Alooff the vulgar Constellations thick, 
That from his Lordly eye keep distance due, 
Dispenses Light from farr; they as they move 
Thir Sarry dance in numbers that compute 
Days, months, and years, towards his all-chearing Lamp 
Turn swift their various motions, or are turnd 
By his Magnetic beam, that gently warms 
The Univers, and to each inward part 
With gentle penetration, though unseen, 
Shoots invisible vertue even to the deep: 
So wondrously was set his Station bright. 
There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps 
Astronomer in the Sun's lucent Orbe 
Through his glaz'd Optic Tube yet never saw. 
The place he found beyond expression bright, 
Compar'd with aught on Earth, Medal or Stone; 
Not all parts like, but all alike informd 
Which radiant light, as glowing Iron with fire; 
If mettal, part seemd Gold, part Silver cleer; 
If stone, Carbuncle most or Chrysolite, 
Rubie or Topaz, to the Twelve that shon 
In AARONS Brest-plate, and a stone besides 
Imagind rather oft then elsewhere seen, 
That stone, or like to that which here below 
Philosophers in vain so long have sought, 
In vain, though by thir powerful Art they binde 
Volatil HERMES, and call up unbound 
In various shapes old PROTEUS from the Sea, 
Draind through a Limbec to his Native forme. 
What wonder then if fields and regions here 
Breathe forth ELIXIR pure, and Rivers run 
Potable Gold, when with one vertuous touch 
Th' Arch-chimic Sun so farr from us remote 
Produces with Terrestrial Humor mixt 
Here in the dark so many precious things 
Of colour glorious and effect so rare? 
Here matter new to gaze the Devil met 
Undazl'd, farr and wide his eye commands, 
For sight no obstacle found here, nor shade, 
But all Sun-shine, as when his Beams at Noon 
Culminate from th' AEQUATOR, as they now 
Shot upward still direct, whence no way round 
Shadow from body opaque can fall, and the Aire, 
No where so cleer, sharp'nd his visual ray 
To objects distant farr, whereby he soon 
Saw within kenn a glorious Angel stand, 
The same whom JOHN saw also in the Sun: 
His back was turnd, but not his brightness hid; 
Of beaming sunnie Raies, a golden tiar 
Circl'd his Head, nor less his Locks behind 
Illustrious on his Shoulders fledge with wings 
Lay waving round; on som great charge imploy'd 
Hee seemd, or fixt in cogitation deep. 
Glad was the Spirit impure as now in hope 
To find who might direct his wandring flight 
To Paradise the happie seat of Man,