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Book 3. Paradiſe Loſt.
Tranſports our adverſarie, whom no bounds
Preſcrib’d, no barrs of Hell, nor all the chains
Heapt on him there, nor yet the main Abyſs
Wide interrupt can hold; ſo bent he ſeems
On deſperat revenge, that ſhall redound
Upon his own rebellious head. And now
Through all reſtraint broke looſe he wings his way
Not farr off Heav’n, in the Precincts of light,
Directly towards the new created World,
And Man there plac’t, with purpoſe to aſſay 90
If him by force he can deſtroy, or worſe,
By ſom falſe guile pervert; and ſhall pervert;
For man will heark'n to his glozing lyes,
And eaſily tranſgreſs the ſole Command,
Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fall
Hee and his faithleſs Progenie: whoſe fault?
Whoſe but his own? ingrate, he had of mee
All he could have; I made him juſt and right,
Sufficient to have ſtood, though free to fall.
Such I created all th' Ethereal Powers 100
And Spirits, both them who ſtood & them who faild;
Freely they ſtood who ſtood, and fell who fell.
Not free, what proof could they have givn ſincere
Of true allegiance, conſtant Faith or Love,
Where onely what they needs muſt do, appeard,
Not what they would? what praiſe could they receive?
What pleasure I from such obedience paid,
When Will and Reason (Reason alſo is choice)
Uſeleſs and vain, of freedom both deſpoild,
Made paſſive both, had ſervd neceſſitie, 110
Not mee. They therefore as to right belongd,
So were created, nor can juſtly accuſe
Preſcrib’d, no barrs of Hell, nor all the chains
Heapt on him there, nor yet the main Abyſs
Wide interrupt can hold; ſo bent he ſeems
On deſperat revenge, that ſhall redound
Upon his own rebellious head. And now
Through all reſtraint broke looſe he wings his way
Not farr off Heav’n, in the Precincts of light,
Directly towards the new created World,
And Man there plac’t, with purpoſe to aſſay 90
If him by force he can deſtroy, or worſe,
By ſom falſe guile pervert; and ſhall pervert;
For man will heark'n to his glozing lyes,
And eaſily tranſgreſs the ſole Command,
Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fall
Hee and his faithleſs Progenie: whoſe fault?
Whoſe but his own? ingrate, he had of mee
All he could have; I made him juſt and right,
Sufficient to have ſtood, though free to fall.
Such I created all th' Ethereal Powers 100
And Spirits, both them who ſtood & them who faild;
Freely they ſtood who ſtood, and fell who fell.
Not free, what proof could they have givn ſincere
Of true allegiance, conſtant Faith or Love,
Where onely what they needs muſt do, appeard,
Not what they would? what praiſe could they receive?
What pleasure I from such obedience paid,
When Will and Reason (Reason alſo is choice)
Uſeleſs and vain, of freedom both deſpoild,
Made paſſive both, had ſervd neceſſitie, 110
Not mee. They therefore as to right belongd,
So were created, nor can juſtly accuſe
Thir
