Paradise Lost and Its Sequel, Paradise Regained (Illustrated Edition). Джон Мильтон

Rebell Foes

      To deepest Hell, and to repair that loss

      Created this new happie Race of Men

      To serve him better: wise are all his wayes.

      So spake the false dissembler unperceivd;

      For neither Man nor Angel can discern

      Hypocrisie, the only evil that walks

      Invisible, except to God alone,

      By his permissive will, through Heav’n and Earth:

      And oft though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps

      At wisdoms Gate, and to simplicitie

      Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill

      Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguil’d

      Uriel, though Regent of the Sun, and held

      The sharpest sighted Spirit of all in Heav’n;

      Who to Che fraudulent Impostor foule

      In his uprightness answer thus returnd.

      Faire Angel, thy desire which tends to know

      The works of God, thereby to glorifie

      The great Work-Maister, leads to no excess

      That reaches blame, but rather merits praise

      The more it seems excess, that led thee hither

      From thy Empyreal Mansion thus alone,

      To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps

      Contented with report heare onely in heav’n:

      For wonderful indeed are all his works,

      Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all

      Had in remembrance alwayes with delight;

      But what created mind can comprehend

      Thir number, or the wisdom infinite

      That brought them forth, but hid thir causes deep.

      I saw when at his Word the formless Mass,

      This worlds material mould, came to a heap:

      Confusion heard his voice, and wilde uproar

      Stood rul’d, stood vast infinitude confin’d;

      Till at his second bidding darkness fled,

      Light shon, and order from disorder sprung:

      Swift to thir several Quarters hasted then

      The cumbrous Elements, Earth, Flood, Aire, Fire,

      And this Ethereal quintessence of Heav’n

      Flew upward, spirited with various forms,

      That rowld orbicular, and turnd to Starrs

      Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move;

      Each had his place appointed, each his course,

      The rest in circuit walles this Universe.

      Look downward on that Globe whose hither side

      With light from hence, though but reflected, shines;

      That place is Earth the seat of Man, that light

      His day, which else as th’ other Hemisphere

      Night would invade, but there the neighbouring Moon

      (So call that opposite fair Starr) her aide

      Timely interposes, and her monthly round

      Still ending, still renewing through mid Heav’n,

      With borrowd light her countenance triform

      Hence fills and empties to enlighten the Earth,

      And in her pale dominion checks the night.

      That spot to which I point is Paradise,

      Adams abode, those loftie shades his Bowre.

      Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires.

      Thus said, he turnd, and Satan bowing low,

      As to superior Spirits is wont in Heav’n,

      Where honour due and reverence none neglects,

      Took leave, and toward the coast of Earth beneath,

      Down from th’ Ecliptic, sped with hop’d success,

      Throws his steep flight in many an Aerie wheele,

      Nor staid, till on Niphates top he lights.

       Toward the coast of Earth beneath, Down from th’ Ecliptic, sped with hop’d success, Throws his steep flight in many an Aerie wheele