Paradise Lost

To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste, 
Food not of Angels, yet accepted so, 
As that more willingly thou couldst not seem 
At Heav'ns high feasts to have fed: yet what compare? 
   To whom the winged Hierarch repli'd. 
O ADAM, one Almightie is, from whom 
All things proceed, and up to him return, 
If not deprav'd from good, created all 
Such to perfection, one first matter all, 
Indu'd with various forms, various degrees 
Of substance, and in things that live, of life; 
But more refin'd, more spiritous, and pure, 
As neerer to him plac't or neerer tending 
Each in thir several active Sphears assignd, 
Till body up to spirit work, in bounds 
Proportiond to each kind.  So from the root 
Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves 
More aerie, last the bright consummate floure 
Spirits odorous breathes: flours and thir fruit 
Mans nourishment, by gradual scale sublim'd 
To vital Spirits aspire, to animal, 
To intellectual, give both life and sense, 
Fansie and understanding, whence the soule 
Reason receives, and reason is her being, 
Discursive, or Intuitive; discourse 
Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours, 
Differing but in degree, of kind the same. 
Wonder not then, what God for you saw good 
If I refuse not, but convert, as you, 
To proper substance; time may come when men 
With Angels may participate, and find 
No inconvenient Diet, nor too light Fare: 
And from these corporal nutriments perhaps 
Your bodies may at last turn all to Spirit 
Improv'd by tract of time, and wingd ascend 
Ethereal, as wee, or may at choice 
Here or in Heav'nly Paradises dwell; 
If ye be found obedient, and retain 
Unalterably firm his love entire 
Whose progenie you are.  Mean while enjoy 
Your fill what happiness this happie state 
Can comprehend, incapable of more. 
  To whom the Patriarch of mankind repli'd. 
O favourable spirit, propitious guest, 
Well hast thou taught the way that might direct 
Our knowledge, and the scale of Nature set 
From center to circumference, whereon 
In contemplation of created things 
By steps we may ascend to God.  But say, 
What meant that caution joind, IF YE BE FOUND 
OBEDIENT? can wee want obedience then 
To him, or possibly his love desert 
Who formd us from the dust, and plac'd us here 
Full to the utmost measure of what bliss 
Human desires can seek or apprehend? 
  To whom the Angel.  Son of Heav'n and Earth, 
Attend: That thou art happie, owe to God; 
That thou continu'st such, owe to thy self, 
That is, to thy obedience; therein stand. 
This was that caution giv'n thee; be advis'd. 
God made thee perfet, not immutable; 
And good he made thee, but to persevere 
He left it in thy power, ordaind thy will 
By nature free, not over-rul'd by Fate 
Inextricable, or strict necessity; 
Our voluntarie service he requires, 
Not our necessitated, such with him 
Findes no acceptance, nor can find, for how 
Can hearts, not free, be tri'd whether they serve 
Willing or no, who will but what they must 
By Destinie, and can no other choose? 
My self and all th' Angelic Host that stand 
In sight of God enthron'd, our happie state 
Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds; 
On other surety none; freely we serve. 
Because wee freely love, as in our will 
To love or not; in this we stand or fall: 
And som are fall'n, to disobedience fall'n, 
And so from Heav'n to deepest Hell; O fall 
From what high state of bliss into what woe! 
  To whom our great Progenitor.  Thy words 
Attentive, and with more delighted eare 
Divine instructer, I have heard, then when 
Cherubic Songs by night from neighbouring Hills 
Aereal Music send: nor knew I not 
To be both will and deed created free; 
Yet that we never shall forget to love 
Our maker, and obey him whose command 
Single, is yet so just, my constant thoughts 
Assur'd me and still assure: though what thou tellst 
Hath past in Heav'n, som doubt within me move, 
But more desire to hear, if thou consent, 
The full relation, which must needs be strange, 
Worthy of Sacred silence to be heard; 
And we have yet large day, for scarce the Sun 
Hath finisht half his journey, and scarce begins 
His other half in the great Zone of Heav'n. 
  Thus ADAM made request, and RAPHAEL 
After short pause assenting, thus began. 
  High matter thou injoinst me, O prime of men,