The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (111 page)

1

   
Meanwhile the heinous
⁵¹⁷⁶
and despiteful
⁵¹⁷⁷
act

2

Of Satan, done in Paradise, and how

3

He, in the serpent, had perverted
⁵¹⁷⁸
Eve,

4

Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit,

5

Was known in Heav’n, for what can ’scape the eye

6

Of God all-seeing, or deceive His heart

7

Omniscient? Who, in all things wise and just,

8

Hindered not Satan to attempt the mind

9

Of man, with strength entire
⁵¹⁷⁹
and free will armed,

10

Complete to have discovered and repulsed

11

Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend.

12

For still they
⁵¹⁸⁰
knew and ought t’ have still
⁵¹⁸¹
remembered

13

The high injunction not to taste that fruit,

14

Whoever tempted, which they not obeying,

15

Incurred (what could they less?) the penalty

16

And, manifold
⁵¹⁸²
in sin, deserved to fall.

17

   
Up into Heav’n from Paradise in haste

18

The Angelic guards ascended, mute, and sad

19

For man, for of his state by this they knew,

20

Much wond’ring how the subtle fiend had stol’n

21

Entrance unseen. Soon as th’ unwelcome news

22

From earth arrived at Heaven-gate, displeased

23

All were who heard. Dim sadness did not spare,

24

That time, celestial visages, yet mixed

25

With pity violated
⁵¹⁸³
not their bliss.

26

About the new-arrived in multitudes

27

The ethereal people ran, to hear and know

28

How all befell.
⁵¹⁸⁴
They towards the Throne Supreme

29

Accountable,
⁵¹⁸⁵
made haste to make appear
⁵¹⁸⁶

30

With righteous
⁵¹⁸⁷
plea their utmost vigilance,

31

And easily approved,
⁵¹⁸⁸
when the Most High

32

Eternal Father, from His secret cloud,

33

Amidst in thunder, uttered thus His voice:

34

   
“Assembled Angels, and ye Powers returned

35

From unsuccessful charge,
⁵¹⁸⁹
be not dismayed,

36

Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth,

37

Which your sincerest
⁵¹⁹⁰
care could not prevent,

38

Foretold
⁵¹⁹¹
so lately
⁵¹⁹²
what would come to pass,

39

When first this Tempter crossed the gulf from Hell.

40

I told ye then he should prevail, and speed
⁵¹⁹³

41

On his bad errand. Man should
⁵¹⁹⁴
be seduced

42

And flattered out of all, believing lies

43

Against his Maker, no decree of mine

44

Concurring to necessitate his fall

45

Or touch with lightest moment
⁵¹⁹⁵
of impulse
⁵¹⁹⁶

46

His free will, to her
⁵¹⁹⁷
own inclining left

47

In ev’n scale. But fall’n he is. And now

48

What rests
⁵¹⁹⁸
but
⁵¹⁹⁹
that the mortal
⁵²⁰⁰
sentence pass
⁵²⁰¹

49

On his transgression, death denounced
⁵²⁰²
that day,

50

Which he presumes already vain and void

51

Because not yet inflicted, as he feared,

52

By some immediate stroke, but soon shall find

53

Forbearance
⁵²⁰³
no acquittance,
⁵²⁰⁴
ere day end.

54

Justice shall not return as bounty scorned.
⁵²⁰⁵

55

But whom send I to judge them? Whom but thee,

56

Vice-gerent
⁵²⁰⁶
Son? To thee I have transferred

57

All judgment, whether in Heav’n, or earth, or Hell.

58

Easy it may be seen that I intend

59

Mercy colleague
⁵²⁰⁷
with justice, sending thee

60

Man’s friend, his mediator, his designed
⁵²⁰⁸

61

Both ransom and redeemer voluntary,

62

And destined, man himself, to judge man fallen.

63

   
So spoke the Father and, unfolding bright

64

Toward the right hand His glory, on the Son

65

Blazed forth unclouded Deity. He full

66

Resplendent all his Father manifest

67

Expressed, and thus divinely answered mild:

68

   
“Father Eternal, Thine is to decree,

69

Mine, both in Heav’n and earth, to do Thy will

70

Supreme, that Thou in me, Thy Son beloved,

71

May’st ever rest well pleased. I go to judge

72

On earth these Thy transgressors, but Thou know’st,

73

Whoever judged, the worst on me must light,
⁵²⁰⁹

74

When time shall be, for so I undertook

75

Before Thee, and not repenting, this obtain
⁵²¹⁰

76

Of right, that I may mitigate
⁵²¹¹
their doom
⁵²¹²

77

On me derived.
⁵²¹³
Yet I shall temper so

78

Justice with mercy, as may illustrate
⁵²¹⁴
most

79

Them fully satisfied,
⁵²¹⁵
and Thee appease.
⁵²¹⁶

80

Attendance
⁵²¹⁷
none shall need,
⁵²¹⁸
nor train, where none

81

Are to behold the judgment but the judged,

82

Those two. The third,
⁵²¹⁹
best absent,
⁵²²⁰
is condemned,

83

Convict
⁵²²¹
by flight, and rebel to all law.

84

Conviction
⁵²²²
to the serpent
⁵²²³
none belongs.

85

   
Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose

86

Of high collateral
⁵²²⁴
glory. Him Thrones, and Powers,

87

Princedoms, and Dominations ministrant
⁵²²⁵

88

Accompanied to Heaven-gate, from whence