PARADISE LOST BOOK IV. [JOHN MILTON, the most illustrious of England's epic poets, was the son of a scrivener in London, where he was born in 1608. He was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he took his degree in Arts. From College he retired to his father's Villa in Buckinghamshire. Here he wrote his "Comus," "L'Allegro," "11 Penseroso," and "Lycidas," poems of such merit as would have alone immortalised his name. After travelling for a few months on the Continent, he returned and settled in London. The troubles breaking out between Charles I. and his Parliament, Milton engaged as a political writer on the popular side, and for twenty years the poet disappeared in the champion of liberty and religion. In 1652 he was wholly deprived of his sight, owing to intense application to his studies. His later years were employed in the composition of "Paradise Lost," the grandest work of his sublime genius, "Paradise Regained," Agonistes," &c. He died in 1674.] O FOR that warning voice, which he who saw While time was, our first parents had been warned His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir Sometimes towards Heaven and the full-blazing Sun, 66 That bring to my remembrance from what state "Samson "I fell,-how glorious once above thy sphere, "Till pride, and, worse, ambition threw me down. "Warring in Heaven against Heaven's matchless King! 66 66 Ah, wherefore! he deserved no such return "From me, whom he created what I was "In that bright eminence, and with his good Upbraided none; nor was his service hard. "What could be less than to afford him praise, "The easiest recompense, and pay him thanks, "How due! Yet all his good proved ill in me, "And wrought but malice: lifted up so high, 66 I sdained subjection, and thought one step higher "Would set me highest, and in a moment quit "The debt immense of endless gratitude,"So burdensome; still paying, still to owe,'Forgetful what from him I still received; And understood not that a grateful mind By owing owes not, but still pays, at once "Indebted and discharged; what burden then? "O had his powerful destiny ordained "Me some inferior angel, I had stood 66 66 40 45 50 55 "Ambition. Yet why not? some other power "As great might have aspired, and me, though mean, "Drawn to his part; but other powers as great "Fell not, but stand unshaken, from within "Or from without, to all temptations armed. 65 "Hadst thou the same free will and power to stand? "Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse, "But Heaven's free love dealt equally to all? "Be then his love accursed! since, love or hate, "To me alike it deals eternal woe. 70 66 'Nay, cursed be thou! since, against this, thy will "Chose freely what it now so justly rues. "Me miserable! which way shall I fly 66 66 "In misery: such joy ambition finds. 66 But say I could repent, and could obtain, "By act of grace, my former state; how soon "Would height recall high thoughts, how soon unsay 95 "Where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep; 100 105 66 Mankind, created, and for him this world. "So farewell, hope! and with hope, farewell, fear! "Farewell, remorse! all good to me is lost: 'Evil, be thou my good! by thee at least "Divided empire with Heaven's King I hold, 66 By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign;— "As man ere long, and this new world, shall know." Thus while he spake, each passion dimmed his face For heavenly minds from such distempers foul 110 115 Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm. 120 That practised falsehood under saintly show, Deep malice to conceal, couched with revenge. Yet not enough had practised to deceive Uriel once warned; whose eye pursued him down 123 The way he went, and on the Assyrian mount Saw him disfigured, more than could befall Spirit of happy sort: his gestures fierce He marked, and mad demeanour, then alone, Now nearer, crowns with her enclosure green, Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm,— Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops 130 135 140 145 150 Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow, When God hath showered the earth; so lovely seemed Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires Vernal delight and joy, able to drive 155 All sadness but despair: now gentle gales, Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole 160 Mozambic, off at sea north-east winds blow Of Araby the Blest; with such delay Well pleased they slack their course, and, many a league, Cheered with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles: 165 So entertained those odorous sweets the fiend Who came their bane; though with them better pleased 170 That drove him, though enamoured, from the spouse 175 On the other side: which when the arch-felon saw, Due entrance he disdained; and, in contempt, 180 At one slight bound high overleaped all bound Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf, Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey, Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve 185 Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors, 190 So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold; 195 To them who lived; nor on the virtue thought Of that life-giving plant, but only used For prospect, what, well used, had been the pledge 200 Of immortality. So little knows Any, but God alone, to value right The good before him; but perverts best things To worst abuse, or to their meanest use. Beneath him, with new wonder, now he views, 205 To all delight of human sense exposed, In narrow room, Nature's whole wealth, yea, more, 210 215 All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste; 220 Our death, the Tree of Knowledge, grew fast by,- Nor changed his course, but through the shaggy hill 225 230 Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood, 235 How from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks, 240 Flowers worthy of Paradise; which not nice art 245 Imbrowned the noontide bowers. Thus was this place Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm; Others, whose fruit, burnished with golden rind, Hung amiable, (Hesperian fables true, 250 If true, here only,) and of delicious taste. Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks 255 260 |