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Discover John Milton's genius in his transformative retelling of Adam and Eve's saga. Having carved his mark in literary history, Milton returned with the lesser-known but equally riveting "Paradise Regained." Dive deep into this continuation, a testament to Milton's brilliance.
Feeling daunted by the archaic language? Worry not! BookCaps breathes new life into this timeless piece, offering a rendition crafted for the sensibilities of the contemporary reader. Navigate the tale's complexities with ease, thanks to this modern adaptation.
For those keen on exploring Milton's authentic voice, the book thoughtfully includes the original English text. Side by side with its modern counterpart, readers can revel in the old-world charm while enjoying the convenience of today's language. Experience a tale of redemption, masterfully reimagined for our era.
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Excerpt From Paradise Regained In Plain and Simple English
The First Book
I, WHO erewhile the happy Garden sung
By one man's disobedience lost, now sing
Recovered Paradise to all mankind,
By one man's firm obedience fully tried
Through all temptation, and the Tempter foiled
In all his wiles, defeated and repulsed,
And Eden raised in the waste Wilderness.
I, who a while ago sang of the happy garden,
Lost by one man’s disobedience, now sing
To all mankind of Paradise regained,
Through one man’s obedience being tested
With every temptation, and the tempter beaten,
With all his cunning, beaten and thrown back,
And Eden created again in the empty wilderness.
Thou Spirit, who led'st this glorious Eremite
Into the desert, his victorious field
Against the spiritual foe, and brought'st him thence 10
By proof the undoubted Son of God, inspire,
As thou art wont, my prompted song, else mute,
And bear through highth or depth of Nature's bounds,
With prosperous wing full summed, to tell of deeds
Above heroic, though in secret done,
And unrecorded left through many an age:
Worthy to have not remained so long unsung.
You spirit, who led this glorious hermit
Into the desert, the place he defeated
His spiritual enemy, and brought him from there
Having been proved to be undoubtedly the son of God, inspire,
As you always do, the song I ask for, which would otherwise be silent,
And carry me through the heights and depths of nature’s world,
With your great wings spread out fully, to tell of acts
More than heroic, although done in secret,
That have not been recorded for many ages:
They deserve to have been sung about.
Now had the great Proclaimer, with a voice
More awful than the sound of trumpet, cried
Repentance, and Heaven's kingdom nigh at hand 20
To all baptized. To his great baptism flocked
With awe the regions round, and with them came
From Nazareth the son of Joseph deemed
To the flood Jordan—came as then obscure,
Unmarked, unknown. But him the Baptist soon
Descried, divinely warned, and witness bore
As to his worthier, and would have resigned
To him his heavenly office. Nor was long
His witness unconfirmed: on him baptized
Heaven opened, and in likeness of a Dove 30
The Spirit descended, while the Father's voice
From Heaven pronounced him his beloved Son.
That heard the Adversary, who, roving still
About the world, at that assembly famed
Would not be last, and, with the voice divine
Nigh thunder-struck, the exalted man to whom
Such high attest was given a while surveyed
With wonder; then, with envy fraught and rage,
Flies to his place, nor rests, but in mid air
To council summons all his mighty Peers, 40
Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved,
A gloomy consistory; and them amidst,
With looks aghast and sad, he thus bespake:--
Now the great announcer, with a voice
More dreadful than the loudest trumpet, shouted
That it was time to repent and that the kingdom of heaven was ready
For all who had been baptised. From far and wide they rushed
To his great baptism, and with them came
The one called the son of Joseph, from Nazareth,
To the River Jordan; he came in secret,
Unnoticed and unknown. But the Baptist soon
Recognised him, having been alerted by an angel, and said
That this one was greater, and would have handed over
His divine task to him. And it wasn’t long
Before the truth of this was shown; when he was baptised
Heaven opened, and the spirit came down
In the shape of a dove, while the father’s voice
From heaven announced that this was his beloved son.
The enemy heard this, as he was still wandering
The world, and had not been the last to come
To that great gathering, and was thunderstruck
To hear the divine voice; he looked with amazement
For a while at the blessed man to whom
Such high praise was given; then, torn with envy and rage,
He flies to his home, and does not rest but calls
All his mighty lords to council in mid-air,
Inside thick clouds and great darkness,
A dismal meeting; and in the middle,
Looking horrified and serious, he spoke to them:
"O ancient Powers of Air and this wide World
(For much more willingly I mention Air,
This our old conquest, than remember Hell,
Our hated habitation), well ye know
How many ages, as the years of men,
This Universe we have possessed, and ruled
In manner at our will the affairs of Earth, 50
Since Adam and his facile consort Eve
Lost Paradise, deceived by me, though since
With dread attending when that fatal wound
Shall be inflicted by the seed of Eve
Upon my head. Long the decrees of Heaven
Delay, for longest time to Him is short;
And now, too soon for us, the circling hours
This dreaded time have compassed, wherein we
Must bide the stroke of that long-threatened wound
(At least, if so we can, and by the head 60
Broken be not intended all our power
To be infringed, our freedom and our being
In this fair empire won of Earth and Air)--
For this ill news I bring: The Woman's Seed,
Destined to this, is late of woman born.
His birth to our just fear gave no small cause;
But his growth now to youth's full flower, displaying
All virtue, grace and wisdom to achieve
Things highest, greatest, multiplies my fear.
“You ancient rulers of air and this wide world
(I am much happier to mention air,
Our earliest territory, than remember hell,
Our hated home), you are well aware
Of how many ages, counted in the years of men,
We have owned this universe, and had
Free rule over the affairs of Earth,
Since Adam and his simple wife Eve
Lost paradise, tricked by me, although ever since
I have been dreading the time when
The descendants of Eve will inflict that fatal wound
Upon my head. The justice of heaven waits for a long time,
For to him the longest time is short;
And now, too soon for us, the hands of the clock
Have come round to this dreaded time, when we
Must suffer the blow of that long ago predicted wound
(At least if we can, and if our broken head
Does not mean that all our power
Is broken, or our freedom and existence
In this wonderful Empire we won of earth and air is taken from us)–
For I bring this bad news: the woman’s seed,
Which is going to do this, has recently been born from a woman.
His birth certainly justifies our fears;
But the fact that he has now reached the height of youth, showing
The virtue, grace and wisdom to achieve
The highest and greatest things; this makes my fear even worse.
Before him a great Prophet, to proclaim 70
His coming, is sent harbinger, who all
Invites, and in the consecrated stream
Pretends to wash off sin, and fit them so
Purified to receive him pure, or rather
To do him honour as their King. All come,
And he himself among them was baptized--
Not thence to be more pure, but to receive
The testimony of Heaven, that who he is
Thenceforth the nations may not doubt. I saw
The Prophet do him reverence; on him, rising 80
Out of the water, Heaven above the clouds
Unfold her crystal doors; thence on his head
A perfet Dove descend (whate'er it meant);
And out of Heaven the sovraign voice I heard,
'This is my Son beloved,—in him am pleased.'
A great prophet comes ahead of him, to announce
His coming, he is the forerunner, who calls
Everyone, and in the holy stream
Pretends to wash off sin, and purify
Them to welcome the pure one, or rather
To worship him as their king. They all come,
And he himself was baptised with them–
Not so he could be more pure, but to receive
Proof from heaven so that the world
Could no longer doubt who he is. I saw
The prophet worship him; when he rose
Out of the water, highest heaven
Opened her crystal doors, and from there to his head
A perfect dove came down (whatever that meant);
And from heaven I heard the voice of the King saying,
“This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.”
His mother, than, is mortal, but his Sire
He who obtains the monarchy of Heaven;
And what will He not do to advance his Son?
His first-begot we know, and sore have felt,
When his fierce thunder drove us to the Deep; 90
Who this is we must learn, for Man he seems
In all his lineaments, though in his face
The glimpses of his Father's glory shine.
Ye see our danger on the utmost edge
Of hazard, which admits no long debate,
But must with something sudden be opposed
(Not force, but well-couched fraud, well-woven snares),
Ere in the head of nations he appear,
Their king, their leader, and supreme on Earth.
I, when no other durst, sole undertook 100
The dismal expedition to find out
And ruin Adam, and the exploit performed
Successfully: a calmer voyage now
Will waft me; and the way found prosperous once
Induces best to hope of like success."
So his mother is mortal, but his father
Is the one who rules in heaven;
What will he not do to help his son?
We know his firstborn, and felt the pain,
When he drove us into hell with his fierce thunder.
We must find out who this is, for he is a man
In his shape, though in his face
One can see glimpses of his father’s glory.
You see that we are on the edge
Of a precipice, and cannot spend long arguing,
And must produce our defence at once
(Not force, but cunning tricks and well laid traps),
Before he appears to all the nations
As their king, their leader, and the greatest on earth.
When no one else dared I alone took on
The hard journey to discover
And ruin Adam, and I completed the task
Successfully: this time the journey
Will be easier; and the way which worked once
Is the best hope of a second success.
He ended, and his words impression left
Of much amazement to the infernal crew,
Distracted and surprised with deep dismay
At these sad tidings. But no time was then
For long indulgence to their fears or grief: 110
Unanimous they all commit the care
And management of this main enterprise
To him, their great Dictator, whose attempt
At first against mankind so well had thrived
In Adam's overthrow, and led their march
From Hell's deep-vaulted den to dwell in light,
Regents, and potentates, and kings, yea gods,
Of many a pleasant realm and province wide.
So to the coast of Jordan he directs
His easy steps, girded with snaky wiles, 120
Where he might likeliest find this new-declared,
This man of men, attested Son of God,
Temptation and all guile on him to try--
So to subvert whom he suspected raised
To end his reign on Earth so long enjoyed:
But, contrary, unweeting he fulfilled
The purposed counsel, pre-ordained and fixed,
Of the Most High, who, in full frequence bright
Of Angels, thus to Gabriel smiling spake:--
He finished, and his words left
His hellish crew dumbfounded,
Confused and amazed with deep distress
At this sad news. But there was no time then
To wallow in their fears or grief:
They unanimously voted to hand the planning
And management of this great endeavour
To him, their great dictator, whose first
Attack on mankind had worked so well
With Adam’s fall, and who had led them
From the depths of hell to live in the light,
Regents, potentates, Kings, even gods,
Of many lovely countries and wide regions.
So he directs his soft steps, full of snaky cunning
Towards the coast of Jordan,
Where he is most likely to find this newly revealed
Greatest of men, sworn son of God,
To test him with temptation and all deceptions–
And so to undermine the one he suspected had come
To end the reign on earth he had so long enjoyed:
But it was otherwise, he unwittingly carried out
The preordained and fixed plan
Of the highest one who, surrounded by all
His bright angels, smiled and said this to Gabriel:
"Gabriel, this day, by proof, thou shalt behold, 130
Thou and all Angels conversant on Earth
With Man or men's affairs, how I begin
To verify that solemn message late,
On which I sent thee to the Virgin pure
In Galilee, that she should bear a son,
Great in renown, and called the Son of God.
Then told'st her, doubting how these things could be
To her a virgin, that on her should come
The Holy Ghost, and the power of the Highest
O'ershadow her. This Man, born and now upgrown, 140
To shew him worthy of his birth divine
And high prediction, henceforth I expose
To Satan; let him tempt, and now assay
His utmost subtlety, because he boasts
And vaunts of his great cunning to the throng
Of his Apostasy. He might have learnt
Less overweening, since he failed in Job,
Whose constant perseverance overcame
Whate'er his cruel malice could invent.
“Gabriel, today you shall see it proved,
You and all the angels on earth who know
About man or men’s affairs, how I begin
To make true that recent solemn message
Which I sent you with to the pure virgin
In Galilee, saying that she should have a son,
Who would be of great fame, and called the son of God.
You told her, when she doubted how this could happen
To her, a virgin, that the Holy Ghost
Would come to her, and the power of God
Would hang over her. This man, born and now grown-up,
I am now going to expose
To Satan, to show him worthy of
His divine birth and the great predictions made for him.
Let Satan tempt him, and try
His best tricks, because he boasts
And brags of his great cunning to his
Treacherous mob. He might have learnt
To be less proud, as he failed with Job,
Whose never failing patience overcame
Whatever his wicked cruelty could invent.
He now shall know I can produce a man, 150
Of female seed, far abler to resist
All his solicitations, and at length
All his vast force, and drive him back to Hell--
Winning by conquest what the first man lost
By fallacy surprised. But first I mean
To exercise him in the Wilderness;
There he shall first lay down the rudiments
Of his great warfare, ere I send him forth
To conquer Sin and Death, the two grand foes.
By humiliation and strong sufferance 160
His weakness shall o'ercome Satanic strength,
And all the world, and mass of sinful flesh;
That all the Angels and aethereal Powers--
They now, and men hereafter—may discern
From what consummate virtue I have chose
This perfect man, by merit called my Son,
To earn salvation for the sons of men."
Now he will know that I can produce a man,
Born of woman, far better able to resist
All his invitations, and in the end
All his great armies, and drive him back to hell–
Winning through war what the first man lost
Through his wrong ideas. But first I intend
To test him in the wilderness;
There he shall begin the preparations
For his great war, before I send him out
To conquer sin and death, the two great enemies.
Through humiliation and great suffering
His weakness will overcome the strength of Satan,
And all the world, and all the sins of the flesh;
So that all the angels and heavenly powers–
Them now, and men later–will see
How wise I was to choose
This perfect man, who deserves to be called my son,
To win salvation for the sons of men.”
So spake the Eternal Father, and all Heaven
Admiring stood a space; then into hymns
Burst forth, and in celestial measures moved, 170
Circling the throne and singing, while the hand
Sung with the voice, and this the argument:--
This is what the eternal Father said, and all of heaven
Stood for a while admiring him; then they burst
Out singing and moved to the rhythm of the stars,
Circling the throne and singing, while the instruments
Played in accompaniment, and these were their words:
"Victory and triumph to the Son of God,
Now entering his great duel, not of arms,
But to vanquish by wisdom hellish wiles!
The Father knows the Son; therefore secure
Ventures his filial virtue, though untried,
Against whate'er may tempt, whate'er seduce,
Allure, or terrify, or undermine.
Be frustrate, all ye stratagems of Hell, 180
And, devilish machinations, come to nought!"
“May the son of God have a triumphant victory,
As he begins this great fight, not with weapons,
But to defeat hell’s cunning with his wisdom!
The father knows the son; and so he feels safe
In risking his son’s virtue, though it has yet to be tested,
Against whatever may tempt him, whatever may seduce him,
Attract, or terrify, or undermine him.
May all the plans of hell be frustrated,
And may all devilish schemes come to nothing!”
So they in Heaven their odes and vigils tuned.
Meanwhile the Son of God, who yet some days
Lodged in Bethabara, where John baptized,
Musing and much revolving in his breast
How best the mighty work he might begin
Of Saviour to mankind, and which way first
Publish his godlike office now mature,
One day forth walked alone, the Spirit leading
And his deep thoughts, the better to converse 190
With solitude, till, far from track of men,
Thought following thought, and step by step led on,
He entered now the bordering Desert wild,
And, with dark shades and rocks environed round,
His holy meditations thus pursued:--
This was how they sang and played in heaven.
Meanwhile the son of God, who for some days
Had been staying in Bethabara, where John had baptised him,
Was thinking and turning over in his mind
The best way to begin his great work
Of saving mankind, and how he should first
Announce his holy mission now he was full-grown.
One day he walked out alone, following the spirit
And his deep thoughts, feeling he could think better
Alone, until, far from the paths of men,
Following thought after thought and step after step
He now entered the surrounding wild desert,
And, surrounded by dark shadows and rocks
He continued his holy meditations:
"O what a multitude of thoughts at once
Awakened in me swarm, while I consider
What from within I feel myself, and hear
What from without comes often to my ears,
Ill sorting with my present state compared! 200
When I was yet a child, no childish play
To me was pleasing; all my mind was set
Serious to learn and know, and thence to do,
What might be public good; myself I thought
Born to that end, born to promote all truth,
All righteous things. Therefore, above my years,
The Law of God I read, and found it sweet;
Made it my whole delight, and in it grew
To such perfection that, ere yet my age
Had measured twice six years, at our great Feast 210
I went into the Temple, there to hear
The teachers of our Law, and to propose
What might improve my knowledge or their own,
And was admired by all. Yet this not all
To which my spirit aspired. Victorious deeds
Flamed in my heart, heroic acts—one while
To rescue Israel from the Roman yoke;
Then to subdue and quell, o'er all the earth,
Brute violence and proud tyrannic power,
Till truth were freed, and equity restored: 220
Yet held it more humane, more heavenly, first
By winning words to conquer willing hearts,
And make persuasion do the work of fear;
At least to try, and teach the erring soul,
Not wilfully misdoing, but unware
Misled; the stubborn only to subdue.
“Oh what a great number of thoughts suddenly
Appear thronging in my head, while I think
About what I can feel inside, and hear
What comes to me from outside,
None of which matches my present state!
When I was still a child, no childish games
Pleased me; my whole mind was devoted
To learning and to know, and then to do,
What was best for mankind; I thought that
Was the purpose I was born for, to promote truth,
And all things holy. And so, precociously,
I read the law of God, and found it wonderful;
I made it my only pleasure, and became
So knowledgeable that before I was
Twelve years old, at our great feast,
I went into the temple to hear
The teachers of law, and to put forward
Ideas to improve their knowledge or my own,
And I was admired by everyone. But this was not all
My spirit hoped for. Great deeds
Burned in my heart, heroic acts–I wanted
To rescue Israel from Roman rule;
Then to defeat, everywhere on earth,
Senseless violence and the proud power of tyrants,
Until truth and equality reigned:
But I thought it was more humane, and more divine, to first
Win over those who were willing with words,
And to use persuasion instead of threats,
At least to try and teach the mistaken soul,
Who was not deliberately doing wrong but was misled
Through ignorance. Only the stubborn would I fight.
I, WHO erewhile the happy Garden sung
By one man's disobedience lost, now sing
Recovered Paradise to all mankind,
By one man's firm obedience fully tried
Through all temptation, and the Tempter foiled
In all his wiles, defeated and repulsed,
And Eden raised in the waste Wilderness.
I, who a while ago sang of the happy garden,
Lost by one man’s disobedience, now sing
To all mankind of Paradise regained,
Through one man’s obedience being tested
With every temptation, and the tempter beaten,
With all his cunning, beaten and thrown back,
And Eden created again in the empty wilderness.
Thou Spirit, who led'st this glorious Eremite
Into the desert, his victorious field
Against the spiritual foe, and brought'st him thence 10
By proof the undoubted Son of God, inspire,
As thou art wont, my prompted song, else mute,
And bear through highth or depth of Nature's bounds,
With prosperous wing full summed, to tell of deeds
Above heroic, though in secret done,
And unrecorded left through many an age:
Worthy to have not remained so long unsung.
You spirit, who led this glorious hermit
Into the desert, the place he defeated
His spiritual enemy, and brought him from there
Having been proved to be undoubtedly the son of God, inspire,
As you always do, the song I ask for, which would otherwise be silent,
And carry me through the heights and depths of nature’s world,
With your great wings spread out fully, to tell of acts
More than heroic, although done in secret,
That have not been recorded for many ages:
They deserve to have been sung about.
Now had the great Proclaimer, with a voice
More awful than the sound of trumpet, cried
Repentance, and Heaven's kingdom nigh at hand 20
To all baptized. To his great baptism flocked
With awe the regions round, and with them came
From Nazareth the son of Joseph deemed
To the flood Jordan—came as then obscure,
Unmarked, unknown. But him the Baptist soon
Descried, divinely warned, and witness bore
As to his worthier, and would have resigned
To him his heavenly office. Nor was long
His witness unconfirmed: on him baptized
Heaven opened, and in likeness of a Dove 30
The Spirit descended, while the Father's voice
From Heaven pronounced him his beloved Son.
That heard the Adversary, who, roving still
About the world, at that assembly famed
Would not be last, and, with the voice divine
Nigh thunder-struck, the exalted man to whom
Such high attest was given a while surveyed
With wonder; then, with envy fraught and rage,
Flies to his place, nor rests, but in mid air
To council summons all his mighty Peers, 40
Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved,
A gloomy consistory; and them amidst,
With looks aghast and sad, he thus bespake:--
Now the great announcer, with a voice
More dreadful than the loudest trumpet, shouted
That it was time to repent and that the kingdom of heaven was ready
For all who had been baptised. From far and wide they rushed
To his great baptism, and with them came
The one called the son of Joseph, from Nazareth,
To the River Jordan; he came in secret,
Unnoticed and unknown. But the Baptist soon
Recognised him, having been alerted by an angel, and said
That this one was greater, and would have handed over
His divine task to him. And it wasn’t long
Before the truth of this was shown; when he was baptised
Heaven opened, and the spirit came down
In the shape of a dove, while the father’s voice
From heaven announced that this was his beloved son.
The enemy heard this, as he was still wandering
The world, and had not been the last to come
To that great gathering, and was thunderstruck
To hear the divine voice; he looked with amazement
For a while at the blessed man to whom
Such high praise was given; then, torn with envy and rage,
He flies to his home, and does not rest but calls
All his mighty lords to council in mid-air,
Inside thick clouds and great darkness,
A dismal meeting; and in the middle,
Looking horrified and serious, he spoke to them:
"O ancient Powers of Air and this wide World
(For much more willingly I mention Air,
This our old conquest, than remember Hell,
Our hated habitation), well ye know
How many ages, as the years of men,
This Universe we have possessed, and ruled
In manner at our will the affairs of Earth, 50
Since Adam and his facile consort Eve
Lost Paradise, deceived by me, though since
With dread attending when that fatal wound
Shall be inflicted by the seed of Eve
Upon my head. Long the decrees of Heaven
Delay, for longest time to Him is short;
And now, too soon for us, the circling hours
This dreaded time have compassed, wherein we
Must bide the stroke of that long-threatened wound
(At least, if so we can, and by the head 60
Broken be not intended all our power
To be infringed, our freedom and our being
In this fair empire won of Earth and Air)--
For this ill news I bring: The Woman's Seed,
Destined to this, is late of woman born.
His birth to our just fear gave no small cause;
But his growth now to youth's full flower, displaying
All virtue, grace and wisdom to achieve
Things highest, greatest, multiplies my fear.
“You ancient rulers of air and this wide world
(I am much happier to mention air,
Our earliest territory, than remember hell,
Our hated home), you are well aware
Of how many ages, counted in the years of men,
We have owned this universe, and had
Free rule over the affairs of Earth,
Since Adam and his simple wife Eve
Lost paradise, tricked by me, although ever since
I have been dreading the time when
The descendants of Eve will inflict that fatal wound
Upon my head. The justice of heaven waits for a long time,
For to him the longest time is short;
And now, too soon for us, the hands of the clock
Have come round to this dreaded time, when we
Must suffer the blow of that long ago predicted wound
(At least if we can, and if our broken head
Does not mean that all our power
Is broken, or our freedom and existence
In this wonderful Empire we won of earth and air is taken from us)–
For I bring this bad news: the woman’s seed,
Which is going to do this, has recently been born from a woman.
His birth certainly justifies our fears;
But the fact that he has now reached the height of youth, showing
The virtue, grace and wisdom to achieve
The highest and greatest things; this makes my fear even worse.
Before him a great Prophet, to proclaim 70
His coming, is sent harbinger, who all
Invites, and in the consecrated stream
Pretends to wash off sin, and fit them so
Purified to receive him pure, or rather
To do him honour as their King. All come,
And he himself among them was baptized--
Not thence to be more pure, but to receive
The testimony of Heaven, that who he is
Thenceforth the nations may not doubt. I saw
The Prophet do him reverence; on him, rising 80
Out of the water, Heaven above the clouds
Unfold her crystal doors; thence on his head
A perfet Dove descend (whate'er it meant);
And out of Heaven the sovraign voice I heard,
'This is my Son beloved,—in him am pleased.'
A great prophet comes ahead of him, to announce
His coming, he is the forerunner, who calls
Everyone, and in the holy stream
Pretends to wash off sin, and purify
Them to welcome the pure one, or rather
To worship him as their king. They all come,
And he himself was baptised with them–
Not so he could be more pure, but to receive
Proof from heaven so that the world
Could no longer doubt who he is. I saw
The prophet worship him; when he rose
Out of the water, highest heaven
Opened her crystal doors, and from there to his head
A perfect dove came down (whatever that meant);
And from heaven I heard the voice of the King saying,
“This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.”
His mother, than, is mortal, but his Sire
He who obtains the monarchy of Heaven;
And what will He not do to advance his Son?
His first-begot we know, and sore have felt,
When his fierce thunder drove us to the Deep; 90
Who this is we must learn, for Man he seems
In all his lineaments, though in his face
The glimpses of his Father's glory shine.
Ye see our danger on the utmost edge
Of hazard, which admits no long debate,
But must with something sudden be opposed
(Not force, but well-couched fraud, well-woven snares),
Ere in the head of nations he appear,
Their king, their leader, and supreme on Earth.
I, when no other durst, sole undertook 100
The dismal expedition to find out
And ruin Adam, and the exploit performed
Successfully: a calmer voyage now
Will waft me; and the way found prosperous once
Induces best to hope of like success."
So his mother is mortal, but his father
Is the one who rules in heaven;
What will he not do to help his son?
We know his firstborn, and felt the pain,
When he drove us into hell with his fierce thunder.
We must find out who this is, for he is a man
In his shape, though in his face
One can see glimpses of his father’s glory.
You see that we are on the edge
Of a precipice, and cannot spend long arguing,
And must produce our defence at once
(Not force, but cunning tricks and well laid traps),
Before he appears to all the nations
As their king, their leader, and the greatest on earth.
When no one else dared I alone took on
The hard journey to discover
And ruin Adam, and I completed the task
Successfully: this time the journey
Will be easier; and the way which worked once
Is the best hope of a second success.
He ended, and his words impression left
Of much amazement to the infernal crew,
Distracted and surprised with deep dismay
At these sad tidings. But no time was then
For long indulgence to their fears or grief: 110
Unanimous they all commit the care
And management of this main enterprise
To him, their great Dictator, whose attempt
At first against mankind so well had thrived
In Adam's overthrow, and led their march
From Hell's deep-vaulted den to dwell in light,
Regents, and potentates, and kings, yea gods,
Of many a pleasant realm and province wide.
So to the coast of Jordan he directs
His easy steps, girded with snaky wiles, 120
Where he might likeliest find this new-declared,
This man of men, attested Son of God,
Temptation and all guile on him to try--
So to subvert whom he suspected raised
To end his reign on Earth so long enjoyed:
But, contrary, unweeting he fulfilled
The purposed counsel, pre-ordained and fixed,
Of the Most High, who, in full frequence bright
Of Angels, thus to Gabriel smiling spake:--
He finished, and his words left
His hellish crew dumbfounded,
Confused and amazed with deep distress
At this sad news. But there was no time then
To wallow in their fears or grief:
They unanimously voted to hand the planning
And management of this great endeavour
To him, their great dictator, whose first
Attack on mankind had worked so well
With Adam’s fall, and who had led them
From the depths of hell to live in the light,
Regents, potentates, Kings, even gods,
Of many lovely countries and wide regions.
So he directs his soft steps, full of snaky cunning
Towards the coast of Jordan,
Where he is most likely to find this newly revealed
Greatest of men, sworn son of God,
To test him with temptation and all deceptions–
And so to undermine the one he suspected had come
To end the reign on earth he had so long enjoyed:
But it was otherwise, he unwittingly carried out
The preordained and fixed plan
Of the highest one who, surrounded by all
His bright angels, smiled and said this to Gabriel:
"Gabriel, this day, by proof, thou shalt behold, 130
Thou and all Angels conversant on Earth
With Man or men's affairs, how I begin
To verify that solemn message late,
On which I sent thee to the Virgin pure
In Galilee, that she should bear a son,
Great in renown, and called the Son of God.
Then told'st her, doubting how these things could be
To her a virgin, that on her should come
The Holy Ghost, and the power of the Highest
O'ershadow her. This Man, born and now upgrown, 140
To shew him worthy of his birth divine
And high prediction, henceforth I expose
To Satan; let him tempt, and now assay
His utmost subtlety, because he boasts
And vaunts of his great cunning to the throng
Of his Apostasy. He might have learnt
Less overweening, since he failed in Job,
Whose constant perseverance overcame
Whate'er his cruel malice could invent.
“Gabriel, today you shall see it proved,
You and all the angels on earth who know
About man or men’s affairs, how I begin
To make true that recent solemn message
Which I sent you with to the pure virgin
In Galilee, saying that she should have a son,
Who would be of great fame, and called the son of God.
You told her, when she doubted how this could happen
To her, a virgin, that the Holy Ghost
Would come to her, and the power of God
Would hang over her. This man, born and now grown-up,
I am now going to expose
To Satan, to show him worthy of
His divine birth and the great predictions made for him.
Let Satan tempt him, and try
His best tricks, because he boasts
And brags of his great cunning to his
Treacherous mob. He might have learnt
To be less proud, as he failed with Job,
Whose never failing patience overcame
Whatever his wicked cruelty could invent.
He now shall know I can produce a man, 150
Of female seed, far abler to resist
All his solicitations, and at length
All his vast force, and drive him back to Hell--
Winning by conquest what the first man lost
By fallacy surprised. But first I mean
To exercise him in the Wilderness;
There he shall first lay down the rudiments
Of his great warfare, ere I send him forth
To conquer Sin and Death, the two grand foes.
By humiliation and strong sufferance 160
His weakness shall o'ercome Satanic strength,
And all the world, and mass of sinful flesh;
That all the Angels and aethereal Powers--
They now, and men hereafter—may discern
From what consummate virtue I have chose
This perfect man, by merit called my Son,
To earn salvation for the sons of men."
Now he will know that I can produce a man,
Born of woman, far better able to resist
All his invitations, and in the end
All his great armies, and drive him back to hell–
Winning through war what the first man lost
Through his wrong ideas. But first I intend
To test him in the wilderness;
There he shall begin the preparations
For his great war, before I send him out
To conquer sin and death, the two great enemies.
Through humiliation and great suffering
His weakness will overcome the strength of Satan,
And all the world, and all the sins of the flesh;
So that all the angels and heavenly powers–
Them now, and men later–will see
How wise I was to choose
This perfect man, who deserves to be called my son,
To win salvation for the sons of men.”
So spake the Eternal Father, and all Heaven
Admiring stood a space; then into hymns
Burst forth, and in celestial measures moved, 170
Circling the throne and singing, while the hand
Sung with the voice, and this the argument:--
This is what the eternal Father said, and all of heaven
Stood for a while admiring him; then they burst
Out singing and moved to the rhythm of the stars,
Circling the throne and singing, while the instruments
Played in accompaniment, and these were their words:
"Victory and triumph to the Son of God,
Now entering his great duel, not of arms,
But to vanquish by wisdom hellish wiles!
The Father knows the Son; therefore secure
Ventures his filial virtue, though untried,
Against whate'er may tempt, whate'er seduce,
Allure, or terrify, or undermine.
Be frustrate, all ye stratagems of Hell, 180
And, devilish machinations, come to nought!"
“May the son of God have a triumphant victory,
As he begins this great fight, not with weapons,
But to defeat hell’s cunning with his wisdom!
The father knows the son; and so he feels safe
In risking his son’s virtue, though it has yet to be tested,
Against whatever may tempt him, whatever may seduce him,
Attract, or terrify, or undermine him.
May all the plans of hell be frustrated,
And may all devilish schemes come to nothing!”
So they in Heaven their odes and vigils tuned.
Meanwhile the Son of God, who yet some days
Lodged in Bethabara, where John baptized,
Musing and much revolving in his breast
How best the mighty work he might begin
Of Saviour to mankind, and which way first
Publish his godlike office now mature,
One day forth walked alone, the Spirit leading
And his deep thoughts, the better to converse 190
With solitude, till, far from track of men,
Thought following thought, and step by step led on,
He entered now the bordering Desert wild,
And, with dark shades and rocks environed round,
His holy meditations thus pursued:--
This was how they sang and played in heaven.
Meanwhile the son of God, who for some days
Had been staying in Bethabara, where John had baptised him,
Was thinking and turning over in his mind
The best way to begin his great work
Of saving mankind, and how he should first
Announce his holy mission now he was full-grown.
One day he walked out alone, following the spirit
And his deep thoughts, feeling he could think better
Alone, until, far from the paths of men,
Following thought after thought and step after step
He now entered the surrounding wild desert,
And, surrounded by dark shadows and rocks
He continued his holy meditations:
"O what a multitude of thoughts at once
Awakened in me swarm, while I consider
What from within I feel myself, and hear
What from without comes often to my ears,
Ill sorting with my present state compared! 200
When I was yet a child, no childish play
To me was pleasing; all my mind was set
Serious to learn and know, and thence to do,
What might be public good; myself I thought
Born to that end, born to promote all truth,
All righteous things. Therefore, above my years,
The Law of God I read, and found it sweet;
Made it my whole delight, and in it grew
To such perfection that, ere yet my age
Had measured twice six years, at our great Feast 210
I went into the Temple, there to hear
The teachers of our Law, and to propose
What might improve my knowledge or their own,
And was admired by all. Yet this not all
To which my spirit aspired. Victorious deeds
Flamed in my heart, heroic acts—one while
To rescue Israel from the Roman yoke;
Then to subdue and quell, o'er all the earth,
Brute violence and proud tyrannic power,
Till truth were freed, and equity restored: 220
Yet held it more humane, more heavenly, first
By winning words to conquer willing hearts,
And make persuasion do the work of fear;
At least to try, and teach the erring soul,
Not wilfully misdoing, but unware
Misled; the stubborn only to subdue.
“Oh what a great number of thoughts suddenly
Appear thronging in my head, while I think
About what I can feel inside, and hear
What comes to me from outside,
None of which matches my present state!
When I was still a child, no childish games
Pleased me; my whole mind was devoted
To learning and to know, and then to do,
What was best for mankind; I thought that
Was the purpose I was born for, to promote truth,
And all things holy. And so, precociously,
I read the law of God, and found it wonderful;
I made it my only pleasure, and became
So knowledgeable that before I was
Twelve years old, at our great feast,
I went into the temple to hear
The teachers of law, and to put forward
Ideas to improve their knowledge or my own,
And I was admired by everyone. But this was not all
My spirit hoped for. Great deeds
Burned in my heart, heroic acts–I wanted
To rescue Israel from Roman rule;
Then to defeat, everywhere on earth,
Senseless violence and the proud power of tyrants,
Until truth and equality reigned:
But I thought it was more humane, and more divine, to first
Win over those who were willing with words,
And to use persuasion instead of threats,
At least to try and teach the mistaken soul,
Who was not deliberately doing wrong but was misled
Through ignorance. Only the stubborn would I fight.
Translation missing: en.general.search.loading