Paradise Lost

Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord, 
Last in the Clouds from Heav'n to be reveald 
In glory of the Father, to dissolve 
SATAN with his perverted World, then raise 
From the conflagrant mass, purg'd and refin'd, 
New Heav'ns, new Earth, Ages of endless date 
Founded in righteousness and peace and love, 
To bring forth fruits Joy and eternal Bliss. 
  He ended; and thus ADAM last reply'd. 
How soon hath thy prediction, Seer blest, 
Measur'd this transient World, the Race of time, 
Till time stand fixt: beyond is all abyss, 
Eternitie, whose end no eye can reach. 
Greatly instructed I shall hence depart, 
Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fill 
Of knowledge, what this vessel can containe; 
Beyond which was my folly to aspire. 
Henceforth I learne, that to obey is best, 
And love with feare the onely God, to walk 
As in his presence, ever to observe 
His providence, and on him sole depend, 
Merciful over all his works, with good 
Still overcoming evil, and by small 
Accomplishing great things, by things deemd weak 
Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise 
By simply meek; that suffering for Truths sake 
Is fortitude to highest victorie, 
And to the faithful Death the Gate of Life; 
Taught this by his example whom I now 
Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest. 
  To whom thus also th' Angel last repli'd: 
This having learnt, thou hast attaind the summe 
Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the Starrs 
Thou knewst by name, and all th' ethereal Powers, 
All secrets of the deep, all Natures works, 
Or works of God in Heav'n, Air, Earth, or Sea, 
And all the riches of this World enjoydst, 
And all the rule, one Empire; onely add 
Deeds to thy knowledge answerable, add Faith, 
Add Vertue, Patience, Temperance, add Love, 
By name to come call'd Charitie, the soul 
Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loath 
To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess 
A Paradise within thee, happier farr. 
Let us descend now therefore from this top 
Of Speculation; for the hour precise 
Exacts our parting hence; and see the Guards, 
By mee encampt on yonder Hill, expect 
Thir motion, at whose Front a flaming Sword, 
In signal of remove, waves fiercely round; 
We may no longer stay: go, waken Eve; 
Her also I with gentle Dreams have calm'd 
Portending good, and all her spirits compos'd 
To meek submission: thou at season fit 
Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard, 
Chiefly what may concern her Faith to know, 
The great deliverance by her Seed to come 
(For by the Womans Seed) on all Mankind. 
That ye may live, which will be many dayes, 
Both in one Faith unanimous though sad, 
With cause for evils past, yet much more cheer'd 
With meditation on the happie end. 
  He ended, and they both descend the Hill; 
Descended, ADAM to the Bowre where EVE 
Lay sleeping ran before, but found her wak't; 
And thus with words not sad she him receav'd. 
  Whence thou returnst, & whither wentst, I know; 
For God is also in sleep, and Dreams advise, 
Which he hath sent propitious, some great good 
Presaging, since with sorrow and hearts distress 
VVearied I fell asleep: but now lead on; 
In mee is no delay; with thee to goe, 
Is to stay here; without thee here to stay, 
Is to go hence unwilling; thou to mee 
Art all things under Heav'n, all places thou, 
VVho for my wilful crime art banisht hence. 
This further consolation yet secure 
I carry hence; though all by mee is lost, 
Such favour I unworthie am voutsaft, 
By mee the Promis'd Seed shall all restore. 
  So spake our Mother EVE, and ADAM heard 
VVell pleas'd, but answer'd not; for now too nigh 
Th' Archangel stood, and from the other Hill 
To thir fixt Station, all in bright array 
The Cherubim descended; on the ground 
Gliding meteorous, as Ev'ning Mist 
Ris'n from a River o're the marish glides, 
And gathers ground fast at the Labourers heel 
Homeward returning.  High in Front advanc't, 
The brandisht Sword of God before them blaz'd 
Fierce as a Comet; which with torrid heat, 
And vapour as the LIBYAN Air adust, 
Began to parch that temperate Clime; whereat 
In either hand the hastning Angel caught 
Our lingring Parents, and to th' Eastern Gate 
Let them direct, and down the Cliff as fast 
To the subjected Plaine; then disappeer'd. 
They looking back, all th' Eastern side beheld 
Of Paradise, so late thir happie seat, 
Wav'd over by that flaming Brand, the Gate