Thus here below let man amid these tribes

Of fishes, and of birds,

And of unnumber'd beasts,

Possess a mansion worthy

Both of his name, and empire!

Eve. In truth when I behold your mighty pomps,
That might so soon be counted as my own,
I will not say, that my high heart feels not
The goading of ambition; but in turning
My eyes upon the precept of my father,
I will disdain, and from your profers fly,
As from vile dirt the snowy ermin flies;
And this poor skin alone

Shall be my golden robe, adorn'd with pearl;
A cave my proud abode;

The troubled water, and rude herbs to me
Dear beverage, and food:

No! no! I will not to my first dread fault
Now add a second like it; making thus
A path more recent to the gulph of ruin :
The World.

O simple fair! come forth!

Come forth! ye fair, and gentle virgins all
From this my golden palace!

Be you devoted handmaids

Around this fair! and midst your tuneful songs

Present to her rich robes, adorn'd with gold!

SCENE THE SIXTH.

CHORUS OF NYMPHS, EVE, THE WORLD, and ADAM.

Behold in dance, O joyful World!

Little virgins!

See these maidens,

With their treasure bright, and cheerful!
Hearken now how they are singing
Eve alone invoke, and honour!

See their robes with gold inwoven !

See their vestments

Shedding lustre

From the treasure of their jewels!
Bright the crown, and rich the sceptre,
That to Eve is now presented

If in heav'n nor sun, nor planet
Shed its ardour

And its radiance,

Heav'n would be a mass of horror;
But with light so pure and radiant
Heav'n is term'd the seat of splendor.
He, who made so many wonders,
Fair and beauteous,

Is desirous

All that's fair to have before him:

Deck thyself then, O thou coy one,
If thy God delights in beauty.

Adam. What dost thou Eve not see

That if uncautious to these charms thou yieldest
We shall sink deeper in the snares of hell.

Eve. Alas! what do I hear?

Adam. Hence ye rebellious crew!

By virtue of my God depart confounded.

To the infernal realms !

Chorus. Ah thou must then avoid this light of day, Thou sightless mole of hell!

Await, O yet await

The World.

Ah flesh infected!

Fit punishment to your presumptuous rage!

And hast thou dar'd so highly,

Thou creature of corruption,

That this bright palace which for Eve I rais'd,

Speaking thou hast ingulph'd,

And from the day has banish'd

A numerous group of fair, and graceful nymphs.

Come forth! now all come forth,

Ye horrid monsters from the caves of hell!

Let us this hour display

Our utmost fortitude, and force supreme!

Now let this man be chain'd!

Fix him a prisoner in the depths of hell!
And let his victor reap the glory due!

Eve. Succour O God! O Succour !
Lord shew thy mercy to my great offence!
Adam. Ah do not fear my love!

But hope, still hope in heav'n! hope! for at last
Celestial grace was never slow to save.

SCENE THE SEVENTH.

LUCIFER, DEATH, THE WORLD, and CHORUS OF DEMONS, ARM'D WITH VARIOUS arms.

Thou fool! in vain thou toil'st

To invocate high heav'n! thy God may arm

If he is not abas'd, and with him arm

His flying warriors all,

From our infernal chains,

And these sharp talons, now to draw thee forth;

To his first loss, and first discomfiture,

A second like the first shall soon be join'd.

Of his supernal loss has he not heal'd

The painful memory,

The ruin of his Angels?

That now inflam'd with anger

He seeks in heav'n another mightier ruin?
To arms! at length to arms

Satanic warriors all!

And let his wretched residue of Angels,

All falling out of heav'n,

Be all ingulph'd in hell!

Lo meteors in the air, and storms at sea

I kindle, and I raise :

Lo Tartarus his wings
Spreads for celestial seats!

Behold the stars of God

By Lucifer's proud foot crush'd and extinguish'd!

And girt for war and glory

Let Tartarus thro' heav'n ploclaim a triumph!

SCENE THE EIGHTH.

ARCH ANGEL MICHAEL, CHORUS OF ANGELS,
CHORUS OF DEMONS.

Tremble, thou son of wrath,

At this sharp dart's inevitable glance!

At the dread stroke of the celestial leader!