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As one who in his journey bates at noon, Though bent on speed, so here the Archangel paused Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored, If Adam aught perhaps might interpose; Then with transition sweet new speech resumes. Thus thou hast seen one world begin and end; And Man as from a second stock proceed. Much thou hast yet to see, but I perceive Thy mortal sight to fail; objects divine Must needs impair and weary human sense: Henceforth what is to come I shall relate, Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. So Michael changed from visions shown direct To narrative told, that Adam's wearied eyes Might rest while yet his understanding grew From history's long unfolding, age to age.

This second source of men, while yet but few, Shall dwell long time in peace by families And nations under patriarchal rule, Till one shall rise of proud ambitious heart, Who not content with fair equality, Fraternal state, will arrogate dominion Undeserved over his brethren, and quite Dispossess concord and the law of nature From the Earth. Hunting — and men not beasts Shall be his game — with war and hostile snare Such as refuse subjection to his empire. A mighty hunter he shall be called before The Lord, as in despite of Heaven itself. He with a crew shall raise upon the plain A city and a tower whose top may reach To Heaven, to get themselves a name, lest far Dispersed in foreign lands they be forgot. But God descending shall confound their tongues That none may understand his fellow's speech; So scattered, babbling, each his separate way.

From among the scattered nations God shall choose One faithful man — Abraham, called from Ur Of the Chaldees, whom idolatry surrounds. Him God vouchsafes to call by vision forth From his father's house, his kindred and false gods, Into a land which he shall show him, where From him shall spring a mighty nation, blessed Above all nations, and upon his seed All peoples of the Earth shall find their blessing. From Abraham came Isaac, Israel's joy, And Jacob after him, whose twelve sons founded The tribes of Israel; who to Egypt journeyed And there in bondage dwelt four hundred years Till God remembered them, and raised a prophet, Moses, meekest of men, to lead them forth With signs and wonders terrible through the sea Divided, Pharaoh's chariots overwhelmed.

The Law of God exact he shall fulfil Both by obedience and by love, though love Alone fulfil the Law. Upon the mount Of Sinai, God to Moses gave the Law Not therefore given to bind alone, but meant To show the frailty of man's fallen will, That sin might be made manifest, and so The need for a Redeemer made more clear. So Law appears imperfect, and but given With purpose to resign them in full time Up to a better covenant, disciplined From shadowy types to truth, from flesh to spirit, From imposition of strict laws to free Acceptance of large grace, from servile fear To filial, works of law to works of faith. And therefore shall not Moses, though of God Highly beloved, bring them to the land Promised, but Joshua whom the Gentiles Jesus call.

Then kings and judges over Israel reign, Till David's throne be set on Sion's hill, Whose royal son shall build the Temple grand, A house of prayer and sacrifice to God. But first a long succession must ensue Of kings both righteous and corrupt, till last The nation, grown rebellious, falls to exile, Borne captive into Babylon to mourn. Yet shall they return and repossess the land. Until the fullness of the time be come: A virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, The great Messiah, long desired of nations, Son of the Most High God, who by his life Shall teach, by death redeem, and rising crush The serpent's head — that ancient promise kept First spoken in the garden at the Fall.

He shall ascend the throne hereditary, And bound his reign with Earth's wide bounds, his glory With Heaven. But first must he endure the spite Of faithless men, by falsehood and unjust force Nailed to a cross by his own nation slain, Slain for the sins of all. Yet he shall rise Ere the third dawning light, victorious O'er Death and Sin and all the powers of darkness, And thence ascend to sit at God's right hand Exalted high above all names in Heaven. Thence shall he come in glory and in judgment When this world shall burn, and from her ashes spring New Heaven, new Earth, ages of endless date Founded in righteousness and peace and love, To bring forth fruits of joy and eternal bliss For all who trust in his atoning sacrifice.

O goodness infinite, goodness immense! That all this good of evil shall produce, And evil turn to good; more wonderful Than that which by creation first brought forth Light out of darkness! Full of doubt I stand, Whether I should repent me now of sin By me done and occasioned, or rejoice Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring, To God more glory, more good-will to men From God, and over wrath grace shall abound. Greatly instructed I shall hence depart, Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fill Of knowledge, what this vessel can contain; Beyond which was my folly to aspire. Henceforth I learn that to obey is best, And love with fear the only God, to walk As in his presence, ever to observe His providence, and on him sole depend.

This having learned, thou hast attained the sum Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars Thou knewest by name, and all the ethereal powers, All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works, Or works of God in Heaven, air, Earth, or sea, And all the riches of this world enjoyedst, And all the rule, one empire; only add Deeds to thy knowledge answerable, add faith, Add virtue, patience, temperance, add love, By name to come called charity, the soul Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loath To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess A paradise within thee, happier far. Let us descend now therefore from this top Of speculation; for the hour precise Exacts our parting hence, and calls us down.

He ended, and they both descend the hill; Descended, Adam to the bower where Eve Lay sleeping ran before, but found her waked; And thus with words not sad she him received: Whence thou returnest, and whither wentst, I know; For God is also in sleep, and dreams advise, Which he hath sent propitious, some great good Presaging, since with sorrow and heart's distress Wearied I fell asleep. But now lead on; In me is no delay; with thee to go Is to stay here; without thee here to stay Is to go hence unwilling; thou to me Art all things under Heaven, all places thou, Who for my wilful crime art banished hence. So spake our mother Eve; and Adam, consoled, Embraced her words with grateful heart, and turned To face the world that waited beyond the gate.

The Archangel stood, and from the other hill To their fixed station, all in bright array The Cherubim descended; on the ground Gliding meteorous, as evening mist Risen from a river o'er the marish glides, And gathers ground fast at the labourer's heel Homeward returning. High in front advanced, The brandished sword of God before them blazed Fierce as a comet; which with torrid heat, And vapour as the Libyan air adust, Began to parch that temperate clime. Whereat In either hand the hastening Angel caught Our lingering parents, and to the eastern gate Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast To the subjected plain; then disappeared. They looking back, all the eastern side beheld Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, Waved over by that flaming brand, the gate With dreadful faces thronged and fiery arms: Some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them soon; The world was all before them, where to choose Their place of rest, and Providence their guide: They hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, Through Eden took their solitary way.