o earth； how like to heavn； if not preferrd more justly； seat worthier of gods； as built ＇ 100 ＇ with second thoughts； reforming what was old！ for what god after better worse would build？ terrestrial heavn； danct round by other heavns that shine； yet bear thir bright officious lamps； light above light； for thee alone； as seems； ＇ 105 ＇ in thee concentring all thir precious beams of sacred influence： as god in heavn is center； yet extends to all； so thou centring receavst from all those orbs； in thee； not in themselves； all thir known vertue appeers ＇ 110 ＇ productive in herb； plant； and nobler birth of creatures animate with gradual life of growth； sense； reason； all summd up in man。 with what delight could i have walkt thee round； if i could joy in aught； sweet interchange ＇ 115 ＇ of hill； and vallie； rivers； woods and plaines； now land； now sea； and shores with forrest crownd； rocks； dens； and caves； but i in none of these find place or refuge； and the more i see pleasures about me； so much more i feel ＇ 120 ＇ torment within me； as from the hateful siege of contraries； all good to me bees bane； and in heavn much worse would be my state。 but neither here seek i； no nor in heavn to dwell； unless by maistring heavns supreame； ＇ 125 ＇ nor hope to be my self less miserable by what i seek； but others to make such as i； though thereby worse to me redound： for onely in destroying i find ease to my relentless thoughts； and him destroyd； ＇ 130 ＇ or won to what may work his utter loss； for whom all this was made； all this will soon follow； as to him linkt in weal or woe； in wo then： that destruction wide may range： to mee shall be the glorie sole among ＇ 135 ＇ the infernal powers； in one day to have marrd what he almightie styld； six nights and days continud making； and who knows how long before had bin contriving； though perhaps not longer then since i in one night freed ＇ 140 ＇ from servitude inglorious welnigh half th angelic name； and thinner left the throng of his adorers： hee to be avengd； and to repaire his numbers thus impaird； whether such vertue spent of old now faild ＇ 145 ＇ more angels to create； if they at least are his created； or to spite us more； determind to advance into our room a creature formd of earth； and him endow； exalted from so base original； ＇ 150 ＇ with heavnly spoils； our spoils： what he decreed he effected； man he made； and for him built magnificent this world； and earth his seat； him lord pronouncd； and； o indignitie！ 。。 Paradise Lost Ⅸ4 ！ subjected to his service angel wings； ＇ 155 ＇ and flaming ministers to watch and tend thir earthy charge： of these the vigilance i dread； and to elude； thus wrapt in mist of midnight vapor glide obscure； and prie in every bush and brake； where hap may finde ＇ 160 ＇ the serpent sleeping； in whose mazie foulds to hide me； and the dark intent i bring。 o foul descent！ that i who erst contended with gods to sit the highest； am now constraind into a beast； and mixt with bestial slime； ＇ 165 ＇ this essence to incarnate and imbrute； that to the hight of deitie aspird； but what will not ambition and revenge descend to？ who aspires must down as low as high he soard； obnoxious first or last ＇ 170 ＇ to basest things。 revenge； at first though sweet； bitter ere long back on it self recoiles； let it； i reck not； so it light well aimd； since higher i fall short； on him who next provokes my envie； this new favorite ＇ 175 ＇ of heavn； this man of clay； son of despite； whom us the more to spite his maker raisd from dust： spite then with spite is best repaid。 so saying； through each thicket danck or drie； like a black mist low creeping； he held on ＇ 180 ＇ his midnight search； where soonest he might finde the serpent： him fast sleeping soon he found in labyrinth of many a round self…rowld； his head the midst； well stord with suttle wiles： not yet in horrid shade or dismal den； ＇ 185 ＇ nor nocent yet； but on the grassie herbe fearless unfeard he slept： in at his mouth the devil enterd； and his brutal sense； in heart or head； possessing soon inspird with act intelligential； but his sleep ＇ 190 ＇ disturbd not； waiting close th approach of morn。 now when as sacred light began to dawne in eden on the humid flours； that breathd thir morning incense； when all things that breath； from th earths great altar send up silent praise ＇ 195 ＇ to the creator； and his nostrils fill with grateful smell； forth came the human pair and joind thir vocal worship to the quire of creatures wanting voice； that done； partake the season； prime for sweetest sents and aires： ＇ 200 ＇ then mune how that day they best may ply thir growing work： for much thir work outgrew the hands dispatch of two gardning so wide。 and eve first to her husband thus began。 。。 Paradise Lost Ⅸ5 adam； well may we labour still to dress ＇ 205 ＇ this garden； still to tend plant； herb and flour； our pleasant task enjoynd； but till more hands aid us； the work under our labour grows； luxurious by restraint； what we by day lop overgrown； or prune； or prop； or bind； ＇ 210 ＇ one night or two with wanton growth derides tending to wilde。 thou therefore now advise or hear what to my minde first thoughts present； let us divide our labours； thou where choice leads thee； or where most needs； whether to wind ＇ 215 ＇ the woodbine round this arbour； or direct the clasping ivie where to climb； while i in yonder spring of roses intermixt with myrtle； find what to redress till noon： for while so near each other thus all day ＇ 220 ＇ our taske we choose； what wonder if so near looks intervene and smiles； or object new casual discourse draw on； which intermits our dayes work brought to little； though begun early； and th hour of supper es unearnd。 ＇ 225 ＇ to whom mild answer adam thus returnd。 sole eve； associate sole； to me beyond pare above all living creatures