Paradise Regained In Plain and Simple English (Digital Download)

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Buy Paradise Regained In Plain and Simple English Now! Do you need to understand Paradise Regained and want something more interactive? Try our free app, SwipeSpeare! Excerpt From Paradise Regained In Plain and Simple English The First Book I, WHO erewhile the happy Garden sung By one man's disobedience lost, now sing Recovered Paradise to all mankind, By one man's firm obedience fully tried Through all temptation, and the Tempter foiled In all his wiles, defeated and repulsed, And Eden raised in the waste Wilderness. I, who a while ago sang of the happy garden, Lost by one man’s disobedience, now sing To all mankind of Paradise regained, Through one man’s obedience being tested With every temptation, and the tempter beaten, With all his cunning, beaten and thrown back, And Eden created again in the empty wilderness. Thou Spirit, who led'st this glorious Eremite Into the desert, his victorious field Against the spiritual foe, and brought'st him thence 10 By proof the undoubted Son of God, inspire, As thou art wont, my prompted song, else mute, And bear through highth or depth of Nature's bounds, With prosperous wing full summed, to tell of deeds Above heroic, though in secret done, And unrecorded left through many an age: Worthy to have not remained so long unsung. You spirit, who led this glorious hermit Into the desert, the place he defeated His spiritual enemy, and brought him from there Having been proved to be undoubtedly the son of God, inspire, As you always do, the song I ask for, which would otherwise be silent, And carry me through the heights and depths of nature’s world, With your great wings spread out fully, to tell of acts More than heroic, although done in secret, That have not been recorded for many ages: They deserve to have been sung about. Now had the great Proclaimer, with a voice More awful than the sound of trumpet, cried Repentance, and Heaven's kingdom nigh at hand 20 To all baptized. To his great baptism flocked With awe the regions round, and with them came From Nazareth the son of Joseph deemed To the flood Jordan—came as then obscure, Unmarked, unknown. But him the Baptist soon Descried, divinely warned, and witness bore As to his worthier, and would have resigned To him his heavenly office. Nor was long His witness unconfirmed: on him baptized Heaven opened, and in likeness of a Dove 30 The Spirit descended, while the Father's voice From Heaven pronounced him his beloved Son. That heard the Adversary, who, roving still About the world, at that assembly famed Would not be last, and, with the voice divine Nigh thunder-struck, the exalted man to whom Such high attest was given a while surveyed With wonder; then, with envy fraught and rage, Flies to his place, nor rests, but in mid air To council summons all his mighty Peers, 40 Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved, A gloomy consistory; and them amidst, With looks aghast and sad, he thus bespake:-- Now the great announcer, with a voice More dreadful than the loudest trumpet, shouted That it was time to repent and that the kingdom of heaven was ready For all who had been baptised. From far and wide they rushed To his great baptism, and with them came The one called the son of Joseph, from Nazareth, To the River Jordan; he came in secret, Unnoticed and unknown. But the Baptist soon Recognised him, having been alerted by an angel, and said That this one was greater, and would have handed over His divine task to him. And it wasn’t long Before the truth of this was shown; when he was baptised Heaven opened, and the spirit came down In the shape of a dove, while the father’s voice From heaven announced that this was his beloved son. The enemy heard this, as he was still wanderingThe world, and had not been the last to comeTo that great gathering, and was thunderstruckTo hear the divine voice; he looked with amazementFor a while at the blessed man to whomSuch high praise was given; then, torn with envy and rage,He flies to his home, and does not rest but callsAll his mighty lords to council in mid-air,Inside thick clouds and great darkness,A dismal meeting; and in the middle,Looking horrified and serious, he spoke to them: "O ancient Powers of Air and this wide World (For much more willingly I mention Air, This our old conquest, than remember Hell, Our hated habitation), well ye know How many ages, as the years of men, This Universe we have possessed, and ruled In manner at our will the affairs of Earth, 50 Since Adam and his facile consort Eve Lost Paradise, deceived by me, though since With dread attending when that fatal wound Shall be inflicted by the seed of Eve Upon my head. Long the decrees of Heaven Delay, for longest time to Him is short; And now, too soon for us, the circling hours This dreaded time have compassed, wherein we Must bide the stroke of that long-threatened wound (At least, if so we can, and by the head 60 Broken be not intended all our power To be infringed, our freedom and our being In this fair empire won of Earth and Air)-- For this ill news I bring: The Woman's Seed, Destined to this, is late of woman born. His birth to our just fear gave no small cause; But his growth now to youth's full flower, displaying All virtue, grace and wisdom to achieve Things highest, greatest, multiplies my fear. “You ancient rulers of air and this wide world (I am much happier to mention air, Our earliest territory, than remember hell, Our hated home), you are well aware Of how many ages, counted in the years of men, We have owned this universe, and had Free rule over the affairs of Earth, Since Adam and his simple wife Eve Lost paradise, tricked by me, although ever since I have been dreading the time when The descendants of Eve will inflict that fatal wound Upon my head. The justice of heaven waits for a long time, For to him the longest time is short; And now, too soon for us, the hands of the clock Have come round to this dreaded time, when we Must suffer the blow of that long ago predicted wound (At least if we can, and if our broken head Does not mean that all our power Is broken, or our freedom and existence In this wonderful Empire we won of earth and air is taken from us)– For I bring this bad news: the woman’s seed, Which is going to do this, has recently been born from a woman. His birth certainly justifies our fears; But the fact that he has now reached the height of youth, showing The virtue, grace and wisdom to achieve The highest and greatest things; this makes my fear even worse. Before him a great Prophet, to proclaim 70 His coming, is sent harbinger, who all Invites, and in the consecrated stream Pretends to wash off sin, and fit them so Purified to receive him pure, or rather To do him honour as their King. All come, And he himself among them was baptized-- Not thence to be more pure, but to receive The testimony of Heaven, that who he is Thenceforth the nations may not doubt. I saw The Prophet do him reverence; on him, rising 80 Out of the water, Heaven above the clouds Unfold her crystal doors; thence on his head A perfet Dove descend (whate'er it meant); And out of Heaven the sovraign voice I heard, 'This is my Son beloved,—in him am pleased.' A great prophet comes ahead of him, to announce His coming, he is the forerunner, who calls Everyone, and in the holy stream Pretends to wash off sin, and purify Them to welcome the pure one, or rather To worship him as their king. They all come, And he himself was baptised with them–Not so he could be more pure, but to receive Proof from heaven so that the world Could no longer doubt who he is. I saw The prophet worship him; when he rose Out of the water, highest heaven Opened her crystal doors, and from there to his head A perfect dove came down (whatever that meant); And from heaven I heard the voice of the King saying,“This is my beloved son with whom I am well pleased.” His mother, than, is mortal, but his Sire He who obtains the monarchy of Heaven; And what will He not do to advance his Son? His first-begot we know, and sore have felt, When his fierce thunder drove us to the Deep; 90 Who this is we must learn, for Man he seems In all his lineaments, though in his face The glimpses of his Father's glory shine. Ye see our danger on the utmost edge Of hazard, which admits no long debate, But must with something sudden be opposed (Not force, but well-couched fraud, well-woven snares), Ere in the head of nations he appear, Their king, their leader, and supreme on Earth. I, when no other durst, sole undertook 100 The dismal expedition to find out And ruin Adam, and the exploit performed Successfully: a calmer voyage now Will waft me; and the way found prosperous once Induces best to hope of like success." So his mother is mortal, but his father Is the one who rules in heaven; What will he not do to help his son? We know his firstborn, and felt the pain, When he drove us into hell with his fierce thunder. We must find out who this is, for he is a man In his shape, though in his face One can see glimpses of his father’s glory. You see that we are on the edge Of a precipice, and cannot spend long arguing, And must produce our defence at once (Not force, but cunning tricks and well laid traps), Before he appears to all the nations As their king, their leader, and the greatest on earth. When no one else dared I alone took on The hard journey to discover And ruin Adam, and I completed the task Successfully: this time the journey Will be easier; and the way which worked once Is the best hope of a second success. He ended, and his words impression left Of much amazement to the infernal crew, Distracted and surprised with deep dismay At these sad tidings. But no time was then For long indulgence to their fears or grief: 110 Unanimous they all commit the care And management of this main enterprise To him, their great Dictator, whose attempt At first against mankind so well had thrived In Adam's overthrow, and led their march From Hell's deep-vaulted den to dwell in light, Regents, and potentates, and kings, yea gods, Of many a pleasant realm and province wide. So to the coast of Jordan he directs His easy steps, girded with snaky wiles, 120 Where he might likeliest find this new-declared, This man of men, attested Son of God, Temptation and all guile on him to try-- So to subvert whom he suspected raised To end his reign on Earth so long enjoyed: But, contrary, unweeting he fulfilled The purposed counsel, pre-ordained and fixed, Of the Most High, who, in full frequence bright Of Angels, thus to Gabriel smiling spake:-- He finished, and his words left His hellish crew dumbfounded, Confused and amazed with deep distress At this sad news. But there was no time then To wallow in their fears or grief: They unanimously voted to hand the planning And management of this great endeavour To him, their great dictator, whose first Attack on mankind had worked so well With Adam’s fall, and who had led them From the depths of hell to live in the light, Regents, potentates, Kings, even gods, Of many lovely countries and wide regions. So he directs his soft steps, full of snaky cunningTowards the coast of Jordan, Where he is most likely to find this newly revealed Greatest of men, sworn son of God, To test him with temptation and all deceptions–And so to undermine the one he suspected had come To end the reign on earth he had so long enjoyed: But it was otherwise, he unwittingly carried out The preordained and fixed plan Of the highest one who, surrounded by all His bright angels, smiled and said this to Gabriel: "Gabriel, this day, by proof, thou shalt behold, 130 Thou and all Angels conversant on Earth With Man or men's affairs, how I begin To verify that solemn message late, On which I sent thee to the Virgin pure In Galilee, that she should bear a son, Great in renown, and called the Son of God. Then told'st her, doubting how these things could be To her a virgin, that on her should come The Holy Ghost, and the power of the Highest O'ershadow her. This Man, born and now upgrown, 140 To shew him worthy of his birth divine And high prediction, henceforth I expose To Satan; let him tempt, and now assay His utmost subtlety, because he boasts And vaunts of his great cunning to the throng Of his Apostasy. He might have learnt Less overweening, since he failed in Job, Whose constant perseverance overcame Whate'er his cruel malice could invent. “Gabriel, today you shall see it proved, You and all the angels on earth who know About man or men’s affairs, how I beginTo make true that recent solemn message Which I sent you with to the pure virgin In Galilee, saying that she should have a son, Who would be of great fame, and called the son of God. You told her, when she doubted how this could happen To her, a virgin, that the Holy Ghost Would come to her, and the power of God Would hang over her. This man, born and now grown-up, I am now going to expose To Satan, to show him worthy of His divine birth and the great predictions made for him. Let Satan tempt him, and try His best tricks, because he boasts And brags of his great cunning to his Treacherous mob. He might have learnt To be less proud, as he failed with Job, Whose never failing patience overcame Whatever his wicked cruelty could invent. He now shall know I can produce a man, 150 Of female seed, far abler to resist All his solicitations, and at length All his vast force, and drive him back to Hell-- Winning by conquest what the first man lost By fallacy surprised. But first I mean To exercise him in the Wilderness; There he shall first lay down the rudiments Of his great warfare, ere I send him forth To conquer Sin and Death, the two grand foes. By humiliation and strong sufferance 160 His weakness shall o'ercome Satanic strength, And all the world, and mass of sinful flesh; That all the Angels and aethereal Powers-- They now, and men hereafter—may discern From what consummate virtue I have chose This perfect man, by merit called my Son, To earn salvation for the sons of men." Now he will know that I can produce a man, Born of woman, far better able to resist All his invitations, and in the end All his great armies, and drive him back to hell– Winning through war what the first man lost Through his wrong ideas. But first I intend To test him in the wilderness; There he shall begin the preparations For his great war, before I send him out To conquer sin and death, the two great enemies. Through humiliation and great suffering His weakness will overcome the strength of Satan, And all the world, and all the sins of the flesh; So that all the angels and heavenly powers– Them now, and men later–will see How wise I was to choose This perfect man, who deserves to be called my son, To win salvation for the sons of men.” So spake the Eternal Father, and all Heaven Admiring stood a space; then into hymns Burst forth, and in celestial measures moved, 170 Circling the throne and singing, while the hand Sung with the voice, and this the argument:-- This is what the eternal Father said, and all of heaven Stood for a while admiring him; then they burst Out singing and moved to the rhythm of the stars, Circling the throne and singing, while the instruments Played in accompaniment, and these were their words: "Victory and triumph to the Son of God, Now entering his great duel, not of arms, But to vanquish by wisdom hellish wiles! The Father knows the Son; therefore secure Ventures his filial virtue, though untried, Against whate'er may tempt, whate'er seduce, Allure, or terrify, or undermine. Be frustrate, all ye stratagems of Hell, 180 And, devilish machinations, come to nought!" “May the son of God have a triumphant victory, As he begins this great fight, not with weapons, But to defeat hell’s cunning with his wisdom! The father knows the son; and so he feels safe In risking his son’s virtue, though it has yet to be tested, Against whatever may tempt him, whatever may seduce him, Attract, or terrify, or undermine him. May all the plans of hell be frustrated, And may all devilish schemes come to nothing!” So they in Heaven their odes and vigils tuned. Meanwhile the Son of God, who yet some days Lodged in Bethabara, where John baptized, Musing and much revolving in his breast How best the mighty work he might begin Of Saviour to mankind, and which way first Publish his godlike office now mature, One day forth walked alone, the Spirit leading And his deep thoughts, the better to converse 190 With solitude, till, far from track of men, Thought following thought, and step by step led on, He entered now the bordering Desert wild, And, with dark shades and rocks environed round, His holy meditations thus pursued:-- This was how they sang and played in heaven. Meanwhile the son of God, who for some days Had been staying in Bethabara, where John had baptised him, Was thinking and turning over in his mind The best way to begin his great work Of saving mankind, and how he should first Announce his holy mission now he was full-grown. One day he walked out alone, following the spirit And his deep thoughts, feeling he could think better Alone, until, far from the paths of men, Following thought after thought and step after step He now entered the surrounding wild desert, And, surrounded by dark shadows and rocks He continued his holy meditations:"O what a multitude of thoughts at once Awakened in me swarm, while I consider What from within I feel myself, and hear What from without comes often to my ears, Ill sorting with my present state compared! 200 When I was yet a child, no childish play To me was pleasing; all my mind was set Serious to learn and know, and thence to do, What might be public good; myself I thought Born to that end, born to promote all truth, All righteous things. Therefore, above my years, The Law of God I read, and found it sweet; Made it my whole delight, and in it grew To such perfection that, ere yet my age Had measured twice six years, at our great Feast 210 I went into the Temple, there to hear The teachers of our Law, and to propose What might improve my knowledge or their own, And was admired by all. Yet this not all To which my spirit aspired. Victorious deeds Flamed in my heart, heroic acts—one while To rescue Israel from the Roman yoke; Then to subdue and quell, o'er all the earth, Brute violence and proud tyrannic power, Till truth were freed, and equity restored: 220 Yet held it more humane, more heavenly, first By winning words to conquer willing hearts, And make persuasion do the work of fear; At least to try, and teach the erring soul, Not wilfully misdoing, but unware Misled; the stubborn only to subdue. “Oh what a great number of thoughts suddenly Appear thronging in my head, while I think About what I can feel inside, and hear What comes to me from outside, None of which matches my present state! When I was still a child, no childish games Pleased me; my whole mind was devoted To learning and to know, and then to do, What was best for mankind; I thought that Was the purpose I was born for, to promote truth, And all things holy. And so, precociously, I read the law of God, and found it wonderful; I made it my only pleasure, and became So knowledgeable that before I was Twelve years old, at our great feast, I went into the temple to hear The teachers of law, and to put forward Ideas to improve their knowledge or my own, And I was admired by everyone. But this was not all My spirit hoped for. Great deeds Burned in my heart, heroic acts–I wanted To rescue Israel from Roman rule; Then to defeat, everywhere on earth, Senseless violence and the proud power of tyrants, Until truth and equality reigned: But I thought it was more humane, and more divine, to first Win over those who were willing with words, And to use persuasion instead of threats, At least to try and teach the mistaken soul, Who was not deliberately doing wrong but was misled Through ignorance. Only the stubborn would I fight. Show more