The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (46 page)

91

If him by force he can destroy or, worse,

92

By some false guile pervert. And shall pervert,

93

For man will hearken to his glozing
²⁴⁷⁰
lies,

94

And easily transgress
²⁴⁷¹
the sole command,

95

Sole pledge
²⁴⁷²
of his obedience: So will fall

96

He and his faithless progeny. Whose fault?

97

Whose but his own? Ingrate, he had of me

98

All he could have. I made him just and right,

99

Sufficient to have stood,
²⁴⁷³
though free to fall.

100

Such I created all the ethereal Powers

101

And Spirits, both them who stood and them who failed.

102

Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell.

103

Not free, what proof could they have given sincere

104

Of true allegiance, constant faith, or love,

105

Where only what they needs must do appeared,

106

Not what they would? What praise could they receive?

107

What pleasure I, from such obedience paid,

108

When will and reason (reason also is choice)

109

Useless and vain, of freedom both despoiled,
²⁴⁷⁴

110

Made passive both, had served necessity,

111

Not me? They therefore, as to right belonged,

112

So were created, nor can justly accuse

113

Their Maker, or their making, or their fate,

114

As if predestination over-ruled

115

Their will, disposed
²⁴⁷⁵
by absolute decree

116

Or high foreknowledge. They themselves decreed

117

Their own revolt, not I: if I foreknew,

118

Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault,

119

Which had no less proved certain unforeknown.

120

So without least impulse or shadow of Fate,

121

Or aught by me immutably
²⁴⁷⁶
foreseen,

122

They trespass, authors
²⁴⁷⁷
to themselves in all

123

Both what they judge and what they choose. For so

124

I formed them free, and free they must remain,

125

Till they enthrall
²⁴⁷⁸
themselves. I else must change

126

Their nature, and revoke the high decree

127

Unchangeable, eternal, which ordained

128

Their freedom. They themselves ordained their fall.

129

The first sort
²⁴⁷⁹
by their own suggestion fell,

130

Self-tempted, self-depraved. Man falls deceived

131

By the other first. Man therefore shall find grace,

132

The other none. In mercy and justice both,

133

Through Heav’n and earth, so shall my glory excel,

134

But mercy, first and last, shall brightest shine.

135

   
Thus while God spoke,
²⁴⁸⁰
ambrosial fragrance filled

136

All Heav’n, and in the blessèd Spirits elect

137

Sense of new joy ineffable diffused.

138

Beyond compare, the Son of God was seen

139

Most glorious. In him all His Father shone,

140

Substantially
²⁴⁸¹
expressed, and in his face

141

Divine compassion visibly appeared,

142

Love without end, and without measure grace,

143

Which uttering thus he to his Father spoke:

144

   
“O Father, gracious was that word which closed

145

Thy sov’reign
²⁴⁸²
sentence,
²⁴⁸³
that man should find grace.

146

For which both Heav’n and earth shall high extol

147

Thy praises, with th’ innumerable sound

148

Of hymns and sacred songs, wherewith Thy throne

149

Encompassed
²⁴⁸⁴
shall resound
²⁴⁸⁵
Thee ever blessed.

150

For should man finally be lost? Should man,

151

Thy creature late so loved, Thy youngest son,

152

Fall circumvented
²⁴⁸⁶
thus by fraud, though joined

153

With his own folly? That be from Thee far,

154

That far be from Thee, Father, who art judge

155

Of all things made, and judgest only right.

156

Or shall the adversary
²⁴⁸⁷
thus obtain

157

His end, and frustrate Thine? Shall he fulfill

158

His malice, and Thy goodness bring to nought?

159

Or proud return, though to his heavier doom,
²⁴⁸⁸

160

Yet with revenge accomplished, and to Hell

161

Draw after him the whole race of mankind,

162

By him corrupted? Or wilt Thou Thyself

163

Abolish Thy creation, and unmake

164

For him, what for Thy glory Thou hast made?

165

So should Thy goodness and Thy greatness both

166

Be questioned and blasphemed without defence.

167

To whom the great Creator thus replied:

168

   
“O Son, in whom my soul hath chief delight,

169

Son of my bosom, Son who art alone

170

My word, my wisdom, and effectual
²⁴⁸⁹
might,

171

All hast thou spoken as my thoughts are, all

172

As my eternal purpose hath decreed.

173

Man shall not quite be lost, but saved who will,

174

Yet not of will in him, but grace in me

175

Freely vouchsafed.
²⁴⁹⁰
Once more I will renew

176

His lapsèd
²⁴⁹¹
powers, though forfeit
²⁴⁹²
and enthralled

177

By Sin to foul exorbitant desires.

178

Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand

179

On even ground against his mortal foe,

180

By me upheld, that he may know how frail

181

His fall’n condition is, and to me owe

182

All his deliverance, and to none but me.