Paradise Regained - The Fourth Book Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: ABCDEEFGHIJKLMNKKOPK QKARKKKSTUKVKKKWXYKL ZA2B2C2D2KKKLE2BF2G2 H2I2KKJ2J2KJ2K2J2KA2 J2KKL2J2KJ2J2J2K2KKS LM2K2A2J2A2KKKLJ2KKN 2O2P2KJ2J2KJ2K2Q2B2A 2J2KKN2LKR2J2BLJ2K2K K2KJ2KKKS2J2T2KLLU2K J2J2KLB2LK2J2J2J2LJ2 J2J2J2J2J2D2V2J2J2J2 LJ2J2J2J2J2BC2J2J2W2 J2J2K2J2J2X2K2J2A2K2 J2K2Y2X2J2J2EPK2J2J2 J2J2K2J2Z2J2J2J2J2J2 J2J2K2J2J2ED2J2A3J2J 2M2C2J2J2MJ2J2MJ2J2J 2J2J2O2K2K2J2J2J2LJ2 B3J2J2J2C3J2J2J2J2J2 J2J2LJ2J2J2J2C2J2N2J 2J2J2PJ2J2J2A2J2J2J2 D3J2K2J2J2J2J2E3Q2O2 J2J2J2K2S2J2J2J2SJ2J 2J2F3G3J2J2J2J2H3J2J 2J2PJ2I3J2PJ2J2J2E3J 2J2K2Q2A2LE3K2J2J2J2 MLQ2MJ2K2J2J2J2K2J2J 2J2J2MJ3J2K3J2P2MJ2K 2J2J2J2K2MJ2Q2K2Q2Z2 J2J2J2MQ2K2J2J2J2J2J 2J2C2A3Q2J2LG3J2J2J2 Q2K2J2J2J2J2W2Z2J2MM J2J2J2J2J2K2J2K2J2J2 LJ2J2L3M3J2J2J2J2MJ2 MJ2J2N3J2J2MJ2J2J2J2 J2J2K2J2J2MJ2J2LJ2J2 J2K2J2MJ2J2K2J2MJ2MJ 2J2MJ2J2J2K2J2J2K2K2 K2C2Z2J2J2P2J2J2J2O3 J2J2Q2K3C3K2A3LJ2K2J 2J2K2J2LJ2J2J2J2Q2J2 K2J2J2Q2K2J2J2J2J2J2 J2J2K2K2J2P3K2J2J2K2 J2Q2Q2J2J2K3J2J2J2K2 J2J2Q3K2J2K2BR3J2LJ2 K2J2K2K2J2J2J2J2J2J2 MJ2J2J2Q2K2J2Q2K2J2J 2Q2I3J2J2K2K2K2K2Q2N K2M3J2J2J2J2J2K2J2J2 J2J2J2J2J2NK2K2J2LMK 3J2Q3J2LJ2J2LJ2J2J2S 3J2J2J2J2J2T3BJ2MMK2 J2K2K3Q2J2J2J2MJ2J2J 2J2U3J2Q2J2K2J2J2J2Q 2J2J2J2Q2J2K2K2LMMQ2 MK2J2J2LJ2V3J2J2LBK2 S3NJ2Q2J2Q2J2J2J2

Perplex'd and troubl'd at his bad success	A
The Tempter stood nor had what to reply	B
Discover'd in his fraud thrown from his hope	C
So oft and the perswasive Rhetoric	D
That sleek't his tongue and won so much on Eve	E
So little here nay lost but Eve was Eve	E
This far his over match who self deceiv'd	F
And rash before hand had no better weigh'd	G
The strength he was to cope with or his own	H
But as a man who had been matchless held	I
In cunning over reach't where least he thought	J
To salve his credit and for very spight	K
Still will be tempting him who foyls him still	L
And never cease though to his shame the more	M
Or as a swarm of flies in vintage time	N
About the wine press where sweet moust is powr'd	K
Beat off returns as oft with humming sound	K
Or surging waves against a solid rock	O
Though all to shivers dash't the assault renew	P
Vain battry and in froth or bubbles end	K
So Satan whom repulse upon repulse	Q
Met ever and to shameful silence brought	K
Yet gives not o're though desperate of success	A
And his vain importunity pursues	R
He brought our Saviour to the western side	K
Of that high mountain whence he might behold	K
Another plain long but in bredth not wide	K
Wash'd by the Southern Sea and on the North	S
To equal length back'd with a ridge of hills	T
That screen'd the fruits of the earth and seats of men	U
From cold Septentrion blasts thence in the midst	K
Divided by a river of whose banks	V
On each side an Imperial City stood	K
With Towers and Temples proudly elevate	K
On seven small Hills with Palaces adorn'd	K
Porches and Theatres Baths Aqueducts	W
Statues and Trophees and Triumphal Arcs	X
Gardens and Groves presented to his eyes	Y
Above the highth of Mountains interpos'd	K
By what strange Parallax or Optic skill	L
Of vision multiplyed through air or glass	Z
Of Telescope were curious to enquire	A2
And now the Tempter thus his silence broke	B2
The City which thou seest no other deem	C2
Then great and glorious Rome Queen of the Earth	D2
So far renown'd and with the spoils enricht	K
Of Nations there the Capitol thou seest	K
Above the rest lifting his stately head	K
On the Tarpeian rock her Cittadel	L
Impregnable and there Mount Palatine	E2
The Imperial Palace compass huge and high	B
The Structure skill of noblest Architects	F2
With gilded battlements conspicuous far	G2
Turrets and Terrases and glittering Spires	H2
Many a fair Edifice besides more like	I2
Houses of Gods so well I have dispos'd	K
My Aerie Microscope thou may'st behold	K
Outside and inside both pillars and roofs	J2
Carv'd work the hand of fam'd Artificers	J2
In Cedar Marble Ivory or Gold	K
Thence to the gates cast round thine eye and see	J2
What conflux issuing forth or entring in	K2
Pretors Proconsuls to thir Provinces	J2
Hasting or on return in robes of State	K
Lictors and rods the ensigns of thir power	A2
Legions and Cohorts turmes of horse and wings	J2
Or Embassies from Regions far remote	K
In various habits on the Appian road	K
Or on the milian some from farthest South	L2
Syene and where the shadow both way falls	J2
Meroe Nilotic Isle and more to West	K
The Realm of Bocchus to the Black moor Sea	J2
From the Asian Kings and Parthian among these	J2
From India and the golden Chersoness	J2
And utmost Indian Isle Taprobane	K2
Dusk faces with white silken Turbants wreath'd	K
From Gallia Gades and the Brittish West	K
Germans and Scythians and Sarmatians North	S
Beyond Danubius to the Tauric Pool	L
All Nations now to Rome obedience pay	M2
To Rome's great Emperour whose wide domain	K2
In ample Territory wealth and power	A2
Civility of Manners Arts and Arms	J2
And long Renown thou justly may'st prefer	A2
Before the Parthian these two Thrones except	K
The rest are barbarous and scarce worth the sight	K
Shar'd among petty Kings too far remov'd	K
These having shewn thee I have shewn thee all	L
The Kingdoms of the world and all thir glory	J2
This Emperour hath no Son and now is old	K
Old and lascivious and from Rome retir'd	K
To Capre an Island small but strong	N2
On the Campanian shore with purpose there	O2
His horrid lusts in private to enjoy	P2
Committing to a wicked Favourite	K
All publick cares and yet of him suspicious	J2
Hated of all and hating with what ease	J2
Indu'd with Regal Vertues as thou art	K
Appearing and beginning noble deeds	J2
Might'st thou expel this monster from his Throne	K2
Now made a stye and in his place ascending	Q2
A victor people free from servile yoke	B2
And with my help thou may'st to me the power	A2
Is given and by that right I give it thee	J2
Aim therefore at no less then all the world	K
Aim at the highest without the highest attain'd	K
Will be for thee no sitting or not long	N2
On David's Throne be propheci'd what will	L
To whom the Son of God unmov'd reply'd	K
Nor doth this grandeur and majestic show	R2
Of luxury though call'd magnificence	J2
More then of arms before allure mine eye	B
Much less my mind though thou should'st add to tell	L
Thir sumptuous gluttonies and gorgeous feasts	J2
On Cittron tables or Atlantic stone	K2
For I have also heard perhaps have read	K
Their wines of Setia Cales and Falerne	K2
Chios and Creet and how they quaff in Gold	K
Crystal and Myrrhine cups imboss'd with Gems	J2
And studs of Pearl to me should'st tell who thirst	K
And hunger still then Embassies thou shew'st	K
From Nations far and nigh what honour that	K
But tedious wast of time to sit and hear	S2
So many hollow complements and lies	J2
Outlandish flatteries then proceed'st to talk	T2
Of the Emperour how easily subdu'd	K
How gloriously I shall thou say'st expel	L
A brutish monster what if I withal	L
Expel a Devil who first made him such	U2
Let his tormenter Conscience find him out	K
For him I was not sent nor yet to free	J2
That people victor once now vile and base	J2
Deservedly made vassal who once just	K
Frugal and mild and temperate conquer'd well	L
But govern ill the Nations under yoke	B2
Peeling thir Provinces exhausted all	L
By lust and rapine first ambitious grown	K2
Of triumph that insulting vanity	J2
Then cruel by thir sports to blood enur'd	J2
Of fighting beasts and men to beasts expos'd	J2
Luxurious by thir wealth and greedier still	L
And from the daily Scene effeminate	J2
What wise and valiant man would seek to free	J2
These thus degenerate by themselves enslav'd	J2
Or could of inward slaves make outward free	J2
Know therefore when my season comes to sit	J2
On David's Throne it shall be like a tree	J2
Spreading and over shadowing all the Earth	D2
Or as a stone that shall to pieces dash	V2
All Monarchies besides throughout the world	J2
And of my Kingdom there shall be no end	J2
Means there shall be to this but what the means	J2
Is not for thee to know nor me to tell	L
To whom the Tempter impudent repli'd	J2
I see all offers made by me how slight	J2
Thou valu'st because offer'd and reject'st	J2
Nothing will please the difficult and nice	J2
Or nothing more then still to contradict	J2
On the other side know also thou that I	B
On what I offer set as high esteem	C2
Nor what I part with mean to give for naught	J2
All these which in a moment thou behold'st	J2
The Kingdoms of the world to thee I give	W2
For giv'n to me I give to whom I please	J2
No trifle yet with this reserve not else	J2
On this condition if thou wilt fall down	K2
And worship me as thy superior Lord	J2
Easily done and hold them all of me	J2
For what can less so great a gift deserve	X2
Whom thus our Saviour answer'd with disdain	K2
I never lik'd thy talk thy offers less	J2
Now both abhor since thou hast dar'd to utter	A2
The abominable terms impious condition	K2
But I endure the time till which expir'd	J2
Thou hast permission on me It is written	K2
The first of all Commandments Thou shalt worship	Y2
The Lord thy God and only him shalt serve	X2
And dar'st thou to the Son of God propound	J2
To worship thee accurst now more accurst	J2
For this attempt bolder then that on Eve	E
And more blasphemous which expect to rue	P
The Kingdoms of the world to thee were giv'n	K2
Permitted rather and by thee usurp't	J2
Other donation none thou canst produce	J2
If given by whom but by the King of Kings	J2
God over all supreme if giv'n to thee	J2
By thee how fairly is the Giver now	K2
Repaid But gratitude in thee is lost	J2
Long since Wert thou so void of fear or shame	Z2
As offer them to me the Son of God	J2
To me my own on such abhorred pact	J2
That I fall down and worship thee as God	J2
Get thee behind me plain thou now appear'st	J2
That Evil one Satan for ever damn'd	J2
To whom the Fiend with fear abasht reply'd	J2
Be not so sore offended Son of God	J2
Though Sons of God both Angels are and Men	K2
If I to try whether in higher sort	J2
Then these thou bear'st that title have propos'd	J2
What both from Men and Angels I receive	E
Tetrarchs of fire air flood and on the earth	D2
Nations besides from all the quarter'd winds	J2
God of this world invok't and world beneath	A3
Who then thou art whose coming is foretold	J2
To me so fatal me it most concerns	J2
The tryal hath indamag'd thee no way	M2
Rather more honour left and more esteem	C2
Me naught advantag'd missing what I aim'd	J2
Therefore let pass as they are transitory	J2
The Kingdoms of this world I shall no more	M
Advise thee gain them as thou canst or not	J2
And thou thy self seem'st otherwise inclin'd	J2
Then to a worldly Crown addicted more	M
To contemplation and profound dispute	J2
As by that early action may be judg'd	J2
When slipping from thy Mothers eye thou went'st	J2
Alone into the Temple there was found	J2
Among the gravest Rabbies disputant	J2
On points and questions fitting Moses Chair	O2
Teaching not taught the childhood shews the man	K2
As morning shews the day Be famous then	K2
By wisdom as thy Empire must extend	J2
So let extend thy mind o're all the world	J2
In knowledge all things in it comprehend	J2
All knowledge is not couch't in Moses Law	L
The Pentateuch or what the Prophets wrote	J2
The Gentiles also know and write and teach	B3
To admiration led by Natures light	J2
And with the Gentiles much thou must converse	J2
Ruling them by perswasion as thou mean'st	J2
Without thir learning how wilt thou with them	C3
Or they with thee hold conversation meet	J2
How wilt thou reason with them how refute	J2
Thir Idolisms Traditions Paradoxes	J2
Error by his own arms is best evinc't	J2
Look once more e're we leave this specular Mount	J2
Westward much nearer by Southwest behold	J2
Where on the gean shore a City stands	J2
Built nobly pure the air and light the soil	L
Athens the eye of Greece Mother of Arts	J2
And Eloquence native to famous wits	J2
Or hospitable in her sweet recess	J2
City or Suburban studious walks and shades	J2
See there the Olive Grove of Academe	C2
Plato's retirement where the Attic Bird	J2
Trills her thick warbl'd notes the summer long	N2
There flowrie hill Hymettus with the sound	J2
Of Bees industrious murmur oft invites	J2
To studious musing there Ilissus rouls	J2
His whispering stream within the walls then view	P
The schools of antient Sages his who bred	J2
Great Alexander to subdue the world	J2
Lyceum there and painted Stoa next	J2
There thou shalt hear and learn the secret power	A2
Of harmony in tones and numbers hit	J2
By voice or hand and various measur'd verse	J2
olian charms and Dorian Lyric Odes	J2
And his who gave them breath but higher sung	D3
Blind Melesigenes thence Homer call'd	J2
Whose Poem Phoebus challeng'd for his own	K2
Thence what the lofty grave Tragoedians taught	J2
In Chorus or Iambic teachers best	J2
Of moral prudence with delight receiv'd	J2
In brief sententious precepts while they treat	J2
Of fate and chance and change in human life	E3
High actions and high passions best describing	Q2
Thence to the famous Orators repair	O2
Those antient whose resistless eloquence	J2
Wielded at will that fierce Democratie	J2
Shook the Arsenal and fulmin'd over Greece	J2
To Macedon and Artaxerxes Throne	K2
To sage Philosophy next lend thine ear	S2
From Heaven descended to the low rooft house	J2
Of Socrates see there his Tenement	J2
Whom well inspir'd the Oracle pronounc'd	J2
Wisest of men from whose mouth issu'd forth	S
Mellifluous streams that water'd all the schools	J2
Of Academics old and new with those	J2
Sirnam'd Peripatetics and the Sect	J2
Epicurean and the Stoic severe	F3
These here revolve or as thou lik'st at home	G3
Till time mature thee to a Kingdom's waight	J2
These rules will render thee a King compleat	J2
Within thy self much more with Empire joyn'd	J2
To whom our Saviour sagely thus repli'd	J2
Think not but that I know these things or think	H3
I know them not not therefore am I short	J2
Of knowing what I aught he who receives	J2
Light from above from the fountain of light	J2
No other doctrine needs though granted true	P
But these are false or little else but dreams	J2
Conjectures fancies built on nothing firm	I3
The first and wisest of them all profess'd	J2
To know this only that he nothing knew	P
The next to fabling fell and smooth conceits	J2
A third sort doubted all things though plain sence	J2
Others in vertue plac'd felicity	J2
But vertue joyn'd with riches and long life	E3
In corporal pleasure he and careless ease	J2
The Stoic last in Philosophic pride	J2
By him call'd vertue and his vertuous man	K2
Wise perfect in himself and all possessing	Q2
Equal to God oft shames not to prefer	A2
As fearing God nor man contemning all	L
Wealth pleasure pain or torment death and life	E3
Which when he lists he leaves or boasts he can	K2
For all his tedious talk is but vain boast	J2
Or subtle shifts conviction to evade	J2
Alas what can they teach and not mislead	J2
Ignorant of themselves of God much more	M
And how the world began and how man fell	L
Degraded by himself on grace depending	Q2
Much of the Soul they talk but all awrie	M
And in themselves seek vertue and to themselves	J2
All glory arrogate to God give none	K2
Rather accuse him under usual names	J2
Fortune and Fate as one regardless quite	J2
Of mortal things Who therefore seeks in these	J2
True wisdom finds her not or by delusion	K2
Far worse her false resemblance only meets	J2
An empty cloud However many books	J2
Wise men have said are wearisom who reads	J2
Incessantly and to his reading brings not	J2
A spirit and judgment equal or superior	M
And what he brings what needs he elsewhere seek	J3
Uncertain and unsettl'd still remains	J2
Deep verst in books and shallow in himself	K3
Crude or intoxicate collecting toys	J2
And trifles for choice matters worth a spunge	P2
As Children gathering pibles on the shore	M
Or if I would delight my private hours	J2
With Music or with Poem where so soon	K2
As in our native Language can I find	J2
That solace All our Law and Story strew'd	J2
With Hymns our Psalms with artful terms inscrib'd	J2
Our Hebrew Songs and Harps in Babylon	K2
That pleas'd so well our Victors ear declare	M
That rather Greece from us these Arts deriv'd	J2
Ill imitated while they loudest sing	Q2
The vices of thir Deities and thir own	K2
In Fable Hymn or Song so personating	Q2
Thir Gods ridiculous and themselves past shame	Z2
Remove their swelling Epithetes thick laid	J2
As varnish on a Harlots cheek the rest	J2
Thin sown with aught of profit or delight	J2
Will far be found unworthy to compare	M
With Sion's songs to all true tasts excelling	Q2
Where God is prais'd aright and Godlike men	K2
The Holiest of Holies and his Saints	J2
Such are from God inspir'd not such from thee	J2
Unless where moral vertue is express't	J2
By light of Nature not in all quite lost	J2
Thir Orators thou then extoll'st as those	J2
The top of Eloquence Statists indeed	J2
And lovers of thir Country as may seem	C2
But herein to our Prophets far beneath	A3
As men divinely taught and better teaching	Q2
The solid rules of Civil Government	J2
In thir majestic unaffected stile	L
Then all the Oratory of Greece and Rome	G3
In them is plainest taught and easiest learnt	J2
What makes a Nation happy and keeps it so	J2
What ruins Kingdoms and lays Cities flat	J2
These only with our Law best form a King	Q2
So spake the Son of God but Satan now	K2
Quite at a loss for all his darts were spent	J2
Thus to our Saviour with stern brow reply'd	J2
Since neither wealth nor honour arms nor arts	J2
Kingdom nor Empire pleases thee nor aught	J2
By me propos'd in life contemplative	W2
Or active tended on by glory or fame	Z2
What dost thou in this World the Wilderness	J2
For thee is fittest place I found thee there	M
And thither will return thee yet remember	M
What I foretell thee soon thou shalt have cause	J2
To wish thou never hadst rejected thus	J2
Nicely or cautiously my offer'd aid	J2
Which would have set thee in short time with ease	J2
On David's Throne or Throne of all the world	J2
Now at full age fulness of time thy season	K2
When Prophesies of thee are best fullfill'd	J2
Now contrary if I read aught in Heaven	K2
Or Heav'n write aught of Fate by what the Stars	J2
Voluminous or single characters	J2
In their conjunction met give me to spell	L
Sorrows and labours opposition hate	J2
Attends thee scorns reproaches injuries	J2
Violence and stripes and lastly cruel death	L3
A Kingdom they portend thee but what Kingdom	M3
Real or Allegoric I discern not	J2
Nor when eternal sure as without end	J2
Without beginning for no date prefixt	J2
Directs me in the Starry Rubric set	J2
So saying he took for still he knew his power	M
Not yet expir'd and to the Wilderness	J2
Brought back the Son of God and left him there	M
Feigning to disappear Darkness now rose	J2
As day light sunk and brought in lowring night	J2
Her shadowy off spring unsubstantial both	N3
Privation meer of light and absent day	J2
Our Saviour meek and with untroubl'd mind	J2
After his aerie jaunt though hurried sore	M
Hungry and cold betook him to his rest	J2
Wherever under some concourse of shades	J2
Whose branching arms thick intertwind might shield	J2
From dews and damps of night his shelter'd head	J2
But shelter'd slept in vain for at his head	J2
The Tempter watch'd and soon with ugly dreams	J2
Disturb'd his sleep and either Tropic now	K2
Gan thunder and both ends of Heav'n the Clouds	J2
From many a horrid rift abortive pour'd	J2
Fierce rain with lightning mixt water with fire	M
In ruine reconcil'd nor slept the winds	J2
Within thir stony caves but rush'd abroad	J2
From the four hinges of the world and fell	L
On the vext Wilderness whose tallest Pines	J2
Though rooted deep as high and sturdiest Oaks	J2
Bow'd their Stiff necks loaden with stormy blasts	J2
Or torn up sheer ill wast thou shrouded then	K2
O patient Son of God yet only stoodst	J2
Unshaken nor yet staid the terror there	M
Infernal Ghosts and Hellish Furies round	J2
Environ'd thee some howl'd some yell'd some shriek'd	J2
Some bent at thee thir fiery darts while thou	K2
Sat'st unappall'd in calm and sinless peace	J2
Thus pass'd the night so foul till morning fair	M
Came forth with Pilgrim steps in amice gray	J2
Who with her radiant finger still'd the roar	M
Of thunder chas'd the clouds and laid the winds	J2
And grisly Spectres which the Fiend had rais'd	J2
To tempt the Son of God with terrors dire	M
And now the Sun with more effectual beams	J2
Had chear'd the face of Earth and dry'd the wet	J2
From drooping plant or dropping tree the birds	J2
Who all things now behold more fresh and green	K2
After a night of storm so ruinous	J2
Clear'd up their choicest notes in bush and spray	J2
To gratulate the sweet return of morn	K2
Nor yet amidst this joy and brightest morn	K2
Was absent after all his mischief done	K2
The Prince of darkness glad would also seem	C2
Of this fair change and to our Saviour came	Z2
Yet with no new device they all were spent	J2
Rather by this his last affront resolv'd	J2
Desperate of better course to vent his rage	P2
And mad despight to be so oft repell'd	J2
Him walking on a Sunny hill he found	J2
Back'd on the North and West by a thick wood	J2
Out of the wood he starts in wonted shape	O3
And in a careless mood thus to him said	J2
Fair morning yet betides thee Son of God	J2
After a dismal night I heard the rack	Q2
As Earth and Skie would mingle but my self	K3
Was distant and these flaws though mortals fear them	C3
As dangerous to the pillard frame of Heaven	K2
Or to the Earths dark basis underneath	A3
Are to the main as inconsiderable	L
And harmless if not wholsom as a sneeze	J2
To mans less universe and soon are gone	K2
Yet as being oft times noxious where they light	J2
On man beast plant wastful and turbulent	J2
Like turbulencies in the affairs of men	K2
Over whose heads they rore and seem to point	J2
They oft fore signifie and threaten ill	L
This Tempest at this Desert most was bent	J2
Of men at thee for only thou here dwell'st	J2
Did I not tell thee if thou didst reject	J2
The perfet season offer'd with my aid	J2
To win thy destin'd seat but wilt prolong	Q2
All to the push of Fate persue thy way	J2
Of gaining David's Throne no man knows when	K2
For both the when and how is no where told	J2
Thou shalt be what thou art ordain'd no doubt	J2
For Angels have proclaim'd it but concealing	Q2
The time and means each act is rightliest done	K2
Not when it must but when it may be best	J2
If thou observe not this be sure to find	J2
What I foretold thee many a hard assay	J2
Of dangers and adversities and pains	J2
E're thou of Israel's Scepter get fast hold	J2
Whereof this ominous night that clos'd thee round	J2
So many terrors voices prodigies	J2
May warn thee as a sure fore going sign	K2
So talk'd he while the Son of God went on	K2
And staid not but in brief him answer'd thus	J2
Mee worse then wet thou find'st not other harm	P3
Those terrors which thou speak'st of did me none	K2
I never fear'd they could though noising loud	J2
And threatning nigh what they can do as signs	J2
Betok'ning or ill boding I contemn	K2
As false portents not sent from God but thee	J2
Who knowing I shall raign past thy preventing	Q2
Obtrud'st thy offer'd aid that I accepting	Q2
At least might seem to hold all power of thee	J2
Ambitious spirit and wouldst be thought my God	J2
And storm'st refus'd thinking to terrifie	K3
Mee to thy will desist thou art discern'd	J2
And toil'st in vain nor me in vain molest	J2
To whom the Fiend now swoln with rage reply'd	J2
Then hear O Son of David Virgin born	K2
For Son of God to me is yet in doubt	J2
Of the Messiah I have heard foretold	J2
By all the Prophets of thy birth at length	Q3
Announc't by Gabriel with the first I knew	K2
And of the Angelic Song in Bethlehem field	J2
On thy birth night that sung thee Saviour born	K2
From that time seldom have I ceas'd to eye	B
Thy infancy thy childhood and thy youth	R3
Thy manhood last though yet in private bred	J2
Till at the Ford of Jordan whither all	L
Flock'd to the Baptist I among the rest	J2
Though not to be Baptiz'd by voice from Heav'n	K2
Heard thee pronounc'd the Son of God belov'd	J2
Thenceforth I thought thee worth my nearer view	K2
And narrower Scrutiny that I might learn	K2
In what degree or meaning thou art call'd	J2
The Son of God which bears no single sence	J2
The Son of God I also am or was	J2
And if I was I am relation stands	J2
All men are Sons of God yet thee I thought	J2
In some respect far higher so declar'd	J2
Therefore I watch'd thy footsteps from that hour	M
And follow'd thee still on to this wast wild	J2
Where by all best conjectures I collect	J2
Thou art to be my fatal enemy	J2
Good reason then if I before hand seek	Q2
To understand my Adversary who	K2
And what he is his wisdom power intent	J2
By parl or composition truce or league	Q2
To win him or win from him what I can	K2
And opportunity I here have had	J2
To try thee sift thee and confess have found thee	J2
Proof against all temptation as a rock	Q2
Of Adamant and as a Center firm	I3
To the utmost of meer man both wise and good	J2
Not more for Honours Riches Kingdoms Glory	J2
Have been before contemn'd and may agen	K2
Therefore to know what more thou art then man	K2
Worth naming Son of God by voice from Heav'n	K2
Another method I must now begin	K2
So saying he caught him up and without wing	Q2
Of Hippogrif bore through the Air sublime	N
Over the Wilderness and o're the Plain	K2
Till underneath them fair Jerusalem	M3
The holy City lifted high her Towers	J2
And higher yet the glorious Temple rear'd	J2
Her pile far off appearing like a Mount	J2
Of Alabaster top't with Golden Spires	J2
There on the highest Pinacle he set	J2
The Son of God and added thus in scorn	K2
There stand if thou wilt stand to stand upright	J2
Will ask thee skill I to thy Fathers house	J2
Have brought thee and highest plac't highest is best	J2
Now shew thy Progeny if not to stand	J2
Cast thy self down safely if Son of God	J2
For it is written He will give command	J2
Concerning thee to his Angels in thir hands	J2
They shall up lift thee lest at any time	N
Thou chance to dash thy foot against a stone	K2
To whom thus Jesus also it is written	K2
Tempt not the Lord thy God he said and stood	J2
But Satan smitten with amazement fell	L
As when Earths Son Ant us to compare	M
Small things with greatest in Irassa strove	K3
With Joves Alcides and oft foil'd still rose	J2
Receiving from his mother Earth new strength	Q3
Fresh from his fall and fiercer grapple joyn'd	J2
Throttl'd at length in the Air expir'd and fell	L
So after many a foil the Tempter proud	J2
Renewing fresh assaults amidst his pride	J2
Fell whence he stood to see his Victor fall	L
And as that Theban Monster that propos'd	J2
Her riddle and him who solv'd it not devour'd	J2
That once found out and solv'd for grief and spight	J2
Cast her self headlong from th' Ismenian steep	S3
So strook with dread and anguish fell the Fiend	J2
And to his crew that sat consulting brought	J2
Joyless triumphals of his hop't success	J2
Ruin and desperation and dismay	J2
Who durst so proudly tempt the Son of God	J2
So Satan fell and strait a fiery Globe	T3
Of Angels on full sail of wing flew nigh	B
Who on their plumy Vans receiv'd him soft	J2
From his uneasie station and upbore	M
As on a floating couch through the blithe Air	M
Then in a flowry valley set him down	K2
On a green bank and set before him spred	J2
A table of Celestial Food Divine	K2
Ambrosial Fruits fetcht from the tree of life	K3
And from the fount of life Ambrosial drink	Q2
That soon refresh'd him wearied and repair'd	J2
What hunger if aught hunger had impair'd	J2
Or thirst and as he fed Angelic Quires	J2
Sung Heavenly Anthems of his victory	M
Over temptation and the Tempter proud	J2
True Image of the Father whether thron'd	J2
In the bosom of bliss and light of light	J2
Conceiving or remote from Heaven enshrin'd	J2
In fleshly Tabernacle and human form	U3
Wandring the Wilderness whatever place	J2
Habit or state or motion still expressing	Q2
The Son of God with Godlike force indu'd	J2
Against th' Attempter of thy Fathers Throne	K2
And Thief of Paradise him long of old	J2
Thou didst debel and down from Heav'n cast	J2
With all his Army now thou hast aveng'd	J2
Supplanted Adam and by vanquishing	Q2
Temptation hast regain'd lost Paradise	J2
And frustrated the conquest fraudulent	J2
He never more henceforth will dare set foot	J2
In Paradise to tempt his snares are broke	Q2
For though that seat of earthly bliss be fail'd	J2
A fairer Paradise is founded now	K2
For Adam and his chosen Sons whom thou	K2
A Saviour art come down to re install	L
Where they shall dwell secure when time shall be	M
Of Tempter and Temptation without fear	M
But thou Infernal Serpent shalt not long	Q2
Rule in the Clouds like an Autumnal Star	M
Or Lightning thou shalt fall from Heav'n trod down	K2
Under his feet for proof e're this thou feel'st	J2
Thy wound yet not thy last and deadliest wound	J2
By this repulse receiv'd and hold'st in Hell	L
No triumph in all her gates Abaddon rues	J2
Thy bold attempt hereafter learn with awe	V3
To dread the Son of God he all unarm'd	J2
Shall chase thee with the terror of his voice	J2
From thy Demoniac holds possession foul	L
Thee and thy Legions yelling they shall flye	B
And beg to hide them in a herd of Swine	K2
Lest he command them down into the deep	S3
Bound and to torment sent before thir time	N
Hail Son of the most High heir of both worlds	J2
Queller of Satan on thy glorious work	Q2
Now enter and begin to save mankind	J2
Thus they the Son of God our Saviour meek	Q2
Sung Victor and from Heavenly Feast refresht	J2
Brought on his way with joy hee unobserv'd	J2
Home to his Mothers house private return'd	J2

John Milton

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