Paradise Lost - A poem in twelve books

Author:John Milton
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Published: 2010-10-09T21:37:34.097000+00:00

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Chapter 7

Descend from Heav'n URANIA, by that name

If rightly thou art call'd, whose Voice divine

Following, above th' OLYMPIAN Hill I soare,

Above the flight of PEGASEAN wing.

The meaning, not the Name I call: for thou

Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top

Of old OLYMPUS dwell'st, but Heav'nlie borne,

Before the Hills appeerd, or Fountain flow'd,

Thou with Eternal wisdom didst converse,

Wisdom thy Sister, and with her didst play

In presence of th' Almightie Father, pleas'd

With thy Celestial Song. Up led by thee

Into the Heav'n of Heav'ns I have presum'd,

An Earthlie Guest, and drawn Empyreal Aire,

Thy tempring; with like safetie guided down

Return me to my Native Element:

Least from this flying Steed unrein'd, (as once

BELLEROPHON, though from a lower Clime)

Dismounted, on th' ALEIAN Field I fall

Erroneous, there to wander and forlorne.

Half yet remaines unsung, but narrower bound

Within the visible Diurnal Spheare;

Standing on Earth, not rapt above the Pole,

More safe I Sing with mortal voice, unchang'd

To hoarce or mute, though fall'n on evil dayes,

On evil dayes though fall'n, and evil tongues;

In darkness, and with dangers compast rouud,

And solitude; yet not alone, while thou

Visit'st my slumbers Nightly, or when Morn

Purples the East: still govern thou my Song,

URANIA, and fit audience find, though few.

But drive farr off the barbarous dissonance

Of BACCHUS and his Revellers, the Race

Of that wilde Rout that tore the THRACIAN Bard

In RHODOPE, where Woods and Rocks had Eares

To rapture, till the savage clamor dround

Both Harp and Voice; nor could the Muse defend

Her Son. So fail not thou, who thee implores:

For thou art Heav'nlie, shee an empty dreame.

Say Goddess, what ensu'd when RAPHAEL,

The affable Arch-angel, had forewarn'd

ADAM by dire example to beware

Apostasie, by what befell in Heaven

To those Apostates, least the like befall

In Paradise to ADAM or his Race,

Charg'd not to touch the interdicted Tree,

If they transgress, and slight that sole command,

So easily obeyd amid the choice

Of all tasts else to please thir appetite,

Though wandring. He with his consorted EVE

The storie heard attentive, and was fill'd

With admiration, and deep Muse to heare

Of things so high and strange, things to thir thought

So unimaginable as hate in Heav'n,

And Warr so neer the Peace of God in bliss

With such confusion: but the evil soon

Driv'n back redounded as a flood on those

From whom it sprung, impossible to mix

With Blessedness. Whence ADAM soon repeal'd

The doubts that in his heart arose: and now

Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know

What neerer might concern him, how this World

Of Heav'n and Earth conspicuous first began,

When, and whereof created, for what cause,

What within EDEN or without was done

Before his memorie, as one whose drouth

Yet scarce allay'd still eyes the current streame,

Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites,

Proceeded thus to ask his Heav'nly Guest.

Great things, and full of wonder in our eares,

Farr differing from this World, thou hast reveal'd

Divine Interpreter, by favour sent

Down from the Empyrean to forewarne

Us timely of what might else have bin our loss,

Unknown, which human knowledg could not reach:

For which to the infinitly Good we owe

Immortal thanks, and his admonishment

Receave with solemne purpose to observe

Immutably his sovran will, the end

Of what we are.

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