WORKS
Book I of Paradise Lost
Book II of Paradise Lost
Book III of Paradise Lost
Book IV of Paradise Lost
Book V of Paradise Lost
Book VII of Paradise Lost
Book IX of Paradise Lost
Book X of Paradise Lost
Book XI of Paradise Lost
BOOK I OF PARADISE LOST
“This first Book proposes, first in brief, the whole Subject, Man’s disobedience, and the loss thereupon of Paradise wherein he was plac’t: Then touches the prime cause of his fall, the Serpent, or rather Satan in the Serpent; who revolting from God, and drawing to his side many Legions of Angels, was by the command of God driven out of Heaven with all his Crew into the great Deep. Which action past over, the Poem hastes into the midst of things, presenting Satan with his Angels now fallen into Hell, describ’d here, not in the Centre (for Heaven and Earth may be suppos’d as yet not made, certainly not yet accurst) but in a place of utter darkness, fitliest call’d Chaos: Here Satan with his Angels lying on the burning Lake, thunder-struck and astonisht, after a certain space recovers, as from confusion, calls up him who next in Order and Dignity lay by him; they confer of thir miserable fall. Satan awakens all his Legions, who lay till then in the same manner confounded; They rise, thir Numbers, array of Battle, thir chief Leaders nam’d, according to the Idols known afterwards in Canaan and the Countries adjoining. To these Satan directs his Speech, comforts them with hope yet of regaining Heaven, but tells them lastly of a new World and new kind of Creature to be created, according to an ancient Prophecy or report in Heaven; for that Angels were long before this visible Creation, was the opinion of many ancient Fathers. To find out the truth of this Prophecy, and what to determine thereon he refers to a full Council. What his Associates thence attempt. Pandemonium the Palace of Satan rises, suddenly built out of the Deep: The infernal Peers there sit in Council.”
— John Milton, “The Argument,” Book I of Paradise Lost (1674 edition)
Satan expelled from Heaven
Date
1825
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 19.3 cm
Width: 15.1 cm
Locations
Royal Academy of Arts, London
The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute (The Clark), Williamstown, MA
PL Lines
“Him the Almighty Power
Hurl’d headlong flaming from th’ Ethereal Sky
With hideous ruin and combustion down
To bottomless perdition, there to dwell
In Adamantine Chains and penal Fire,
Who durst defy th’ Omnipotent to Arms.”
(Paradise Lost, Book I, 44–49)
Satan on the burning lake
Date
1825
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Locations
Royal Academy of Arts, London
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
PL Lines
“Thus Satan talking to his nearest Mate
With Head up-lift above the wave, and Eyes
That sparkling blaz’d, his other Parts besides
Prone on the Flood…”
(Paradise Lost, Book I, 192–95)
Satan on the Burning Lake
Date
1827
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 25.4 cm
Width: 35.6 cm
Location
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
PL Lines
“Thus Satan talking to his nearest Mate
With Head up-lift above the wave, and Eyes
That sparkling blaz’d, his other Parts besides
Prone on the Flood…”
(Paradise Lost, Book I, 192–95)
Satan addressing his legions
Date
1825
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 19 cm
Width: 15.5 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
PL Lines
“He call’d so loud, that all the hollow Deep
Of Hell resounded.…
Awake, arise, or be for ever fall’n.
They heard, and were abasht, and up they sprung…”
(Paradise Lost, Book I, 314–15, 330–31)
Satan arousing the Fallen Angels
Date
1827
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 25.4 cm
Width: 35.6 cm
Locations
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
PL Lines
“He call’d so loud, that all the hollow Deep
Of Hell resounded.…
Awake, arise, or be for ever fall’n.
They heard, and were abasht, and up they sprung…”
(Paradise Lost, Book I, 314–15, 330–31)
Pandemonium
Date
1841
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Height: 123 cm
Width: 185 cm
Location
The Louvre, Paris
PL Lines
“Anon out of the earth a Fabric huge
Rose like an Exhalation, with the sound
Of Dulcet Symphonies and voices sweet,
Built like a Temple, where Pilasters round
Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid
With Golden Architrave; nor did there want
Cornice or Frieze, with bossy Sculptures grav’n;
The Roof was fretted Gold. Not Babylon,
Nor great Alcairo such magnificence
Equall’d in all thir glories, to inshrine
Belus or Serapis thir Gods, or seat
Thir Kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove
In wealth and luxury. Th’ ascending pile
Stood fixt her stately highth, and straight the doors
Op’ning thir brazen folds discover wide
Within, her ample spaces, o’er the smooth
And level pavement: from the arched roof
Pendant by subtle Magic many a row
Of Starry Lamps and blazing Cressets fed
With Naphtha and Asphaltus yielded light
As from a sky. The hasty multitude
Admiring enter’d, and the work some praise
And some the Architect…”
(Paradise Lost, Book I, 710–32)
Pandemonium
Date
1824
Medium
Mezzotint with etching
Dimensions
Height: 20.3 cm (image)
Width: 29 cm (image)
Height: 24.2 cm (sheet)
Width: 33.5 cm (sheet) (irreg.)
Location
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
PL Lines
“Anon out of the earth a Fabric huge
Rose like an Exhalation, with the sound
Of Dulcet Symphonies and voices sweet,
Built like a Temple, where Pilasters round
Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid
With Golden Architrave; nor did there want
Cornice or Frieze, with bossy Sculptures grav’n;
The Roof was fretted Gold. Not Babylon,
Nor great Alcairo such magnificence
Equall’d in all thir glories, to inshrine
Belus or Serapis thir Gods, or seat
Thir Kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove
In wealth and luxury. Th’ ascending pile
Stood fixt her stately highth, and straight the doors
Op’ning thir brazen folds discover wide
Within, her ample spaces, o’er the smooth
And level pavement: from the arched roof
Pendant by subtle Magic many a row
Of Starry Lamps and blazing Cressets fed
With Naphtha and Asphaltus yielded light
As from a sky. The hasty multitude
Admiring enter’d, and the work some praise
And some the Architect…”
(Paradise Lost, Book I, 710–32)
Pandemonium
Date
1825
Medium
Mezzotint on laid paper
Dimensions
Height: 20.4 cm (image)
Width: 29.3 cm (image)
Height: 26.7 cm (sheet)
Width: 36.7 cm (sheet)
Location
The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute (The Clark), Williamstown, MA
PL Lines
“Anon out of the earth a Fabric huge
Rose like an Exhalation, with the sound
Of Dulcet Symphonies and voices sweet,
Built like a Temple, where Pilasters round
Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid
With Golden Architrave; nor did there want
Cornice or Frieze, with bossy Sculptures grav’n;
The Roof was fretted Gold. Not Babylon,
Nor great Alcairo such magnificence
Equall’d in all thir glories, to inshrine
Belus or Serapis thir Gods, or seat
Thir Kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove
In wealth and luxury. Th’ ascending pile
Stood fixt her stately highth, and straight the doors
Op’ning thir brazen folds discover wide
Within, her ample spaces, o’er the smooth
And level pavement: from the arched roof
Pendant by subtle Magic many a row
Of Starry Lamps and blazing Cressets fed
With Naphtha and Asphaltus yielded light
As from a sky. The hasty multitude
Admiring enter’d, and the work some praise
And some the Architect…”
(Paradise Lost, Book I, 710–32)
Pandemonium
Date
1831
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 48 cm (image)
Width: 70.3 cm (image)
Location
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
PL Lines
“Anon out of the earth a Fabric huge
Rose like an Exhalation, with the sound
Of Dulcet Symphonies and voices sweet,
Built like a Temple, where Pilasters round
Were set, and Doric pillars overlaid
With Golden Architrave; nor did there want
Cornice or Frieze, with bossy Sculptures grav’n;
The Roof was fretted Gold. Not Babylon,
Nor great Alcairo such magnificence
Equall’d in all thir glories, to inshrine
Belus or Serapis thir Gods, or seat
Thir Kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove
In wealth and luxury. Th’ ascending pile
Stood fixt her stately highth, and straight the doors
Op’ning thir brazen folds discover wide
Within, her ample spaces, o’er the smooth
And level pavement: from the arched roof
Pendant by subtle Magic many a row
Of Starry Lamps and blazing Cressets fed
With Naphtha and Asphaltus yielded light
As from a sky. The hasty multitude
Admiring enter’d, and the work some praise
And some the Architect…”
(Paradise Lost, Book I, 710–32)
The Fallen Angels Entering Pandemonium
Date
1840
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Height: 62.2 cm (support)
Width: 76.5 cm (support)
Height (framed): 84.7 cm
Width (framed): 96.2 cm
Depth (framed): 8.1 cm
Location
Tate Britain, London
PL Lines
“Meanwhile the winged Heralds by command
Of Sovran power, with awful Ceremony
And Trumpets’ sound throughout the Host proclaim
A solemn Council forthwith to be held
At Pandæmonium, the high Capitol
Of Satan and his Peers: thir summons call’d
From every Band and squared Regiment
By place or choice the worthiest; they anon
With hundreds and with thousands trooping came
Attended: all access was throng’d…”
(Paradise Lost, Book I, 752–61)
BOOK II OF PARADISE LOST
“The Consultation begun, Satan debates whether another Battle be to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven: some advise it, others dissuade: A third proposal is preferr’d, mention’d before by Satan, to search the truth of that Prophecy or Tradition in Heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature equal or not much inferior to themselves, about this time to be created: Thir doubt who shall be sent on this difficult search: Satan thir chief undertakes alone the voyage, is honor’d and applauded. The Council thus ended, the rest betake them several ways and to several employments, as thir inclinations lead them, to entertain the time till Satan return. He passes on his Journey to Hell Gates, finds them shut, and who sat there to guard them, by whom at length they are op’n’d, and discover to him the great Gulf between Hell and Heaven; with what difficulty he passes through, directed by Chaos, the Power of that place, to the sight of this new World which he sought.”
— John Milton, “The Argument,” Book II of Paradise Lost (1674 edition)
Satan presiding at the Infernal Council
[Satan Enthroned]
Date
1824
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 19.8 cm
Width: 26.8 cm
Locations
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Victoria and Albert Museum (2)
The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute (The Clark), Williamstown, MA
PL Lines
“High on a Throne of Royal State, which far
Outshone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind,
Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand
Show’rs on her Kings Barbaric Pearl and Gold,
Satan exalted sat, by merit rais’d
To that bad eminence; and from despair
Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires
Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue
Vain War with Heav’n, and by success untaught
His proud imaginations thus display’d.”
(Paradise Lost, Book II, 1–10)
The Conflict Between Satan and Death
Date
1832
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Height: 120 cm
Width: 168 cm
Location
Private collection
[See Sotheby’s]
PL Lines
“So spake the grisly terror, and in shape,
So speaking and so threat’ning, grew tenfold
More dreadful and deform: on th’ other side
Incens’t with indignation Satan stood
Unterrifi’d, and like a Comet burn’d.…
So frown’d the mighty Combatants, that Hell
Grew darker at thir frown, so matcht they stood;
For never but once more was either like
To meet so great a foe: and now great deeds
Had been achiev’d, whereof all Hell had rung,
Had not the Snaky Sorceress that sat
Fast by Hell Gate, and kept the fatal Key,
Ris’n, and with hideous outcry rush’d between.
O Father, what intends thy hand, she cri’d,
Against thy only Son? What fury O Son,
Possesses thee to bend that mortal Dart
Against thy Father’s head?”
(Paradise Lost, Book II, 704–08, 719–30)
Satan, Sin and Death
Date
1825
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
PL Lines
“O Father, what intends thy hand, she cri’d,
Against thy only Son? What fury O Son,
Possesses thee to bend that mortal Dart
Against thy Father’s head?”
(Paradise Lost, Book II, 727–30)
The Conflict Between Satan and Death
Date
1827
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 25.4 cm
Width: 35.6 cm
Location
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
PL Lines
“O Father, what intends thy hand, she cri’d,
Against thy only Son? What fury O Son,
Possesses thee to bend that mortal Dart
Against thy Father’s head?”
(Paradise Lost, Book II, 727–30)
BOOK III OF PARADISE LOST
“God sitting on his Throne sees Satan flying towards this world, then newly created; shows him to the Son who sat at his right hand; foretells the success of Satan in perverting mankind; clears his own Justice and Wisdom from all imputation, having created Man free and able enough to have withstood his Tempter; yet declares his purpose of grace towards him, in regard he fell not of his own malice, as did Satan, but by him seduc’t. The Son of God renders praises to his Father for the manifestation of his gracious purpose towards Man; but God again declares, that Grace cannot be extended towards Man without the satisfaction of divine Justice; Man hath offended the majesty of God by aspiring to Godhead, and therefore with all his Progeny devoted to death must die, unless some one can be found sufficient to answer for his offense, and undergo his Punishment. The Son of God freely offers himself a Ransom for Man: the Father accepts him, ordains his incarnation, pronounces his exaltation above all Names in Heaven and Earth; commands all the Angels to adore him; they obey, and hymning to thir Harps in full Choir, celebrate the Father and the Son. Meanwhile Satan alights upon the bare convex of this World’s outermost Orb; where wand’ring he first finds a place since call’d The Limbo of Vanity; what persons and things fly up thither; thence comes to the Gate of Heaven, describ’d ascending by stairs, and the waters above the Firmament that flow about it: His passage thence to the Orb of the Sun; he finds there Uriel the Regent of that Orb, but first changes himself into the shape of a meaner Angel; and pretending a zealous desire to behold the new Creation and Man whom God had plac’t there, inquires of him the place of his habitation, and is directed; alights first on Mount Niphates.”
— John Milton, “The Argument,” Book III of Paradise Lost (1674 edition)
Angels singing in heaven
Date
1825
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL Lines
“Then Crown’d again thir gold’n Harps they took,
Harps ever tun’d, that glittering by thir side
Like Quivers hung, and with Preamble sweet
Of charming symphony they introduce
Thir sacred Song, and waken raptures high;
No voice exempt, no voice but well could join
Melodious part, such concord is in Heav’n.”
(Paradise Lost, Book III, 365–71)
Satan viewing the Ascent of Heaven
Date
1824
Medium
Mezzotint on steel
Dimensions
Height: 19.6 cm
Width: 15.3 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL Lines
“All this dark Globe the Fiend found as he pass’d,
And long he wander’d, till at last a gleam
Of dawning light turn’d thither-ward in haste
His travell’d steps; far distant he descries
Ascending by degrees magnificent
Up to the wall of Heaven a Structure high,
At top whereof, but far more rich appear’d
The work as of a Kingly Palace Gate
With Frontispiece of Diamond and Gold
Imbellisht; thick with sparkling orient Gems
The Portal shone, inimitable on Earth
By Model, or by shading Pencil drawn.
The Stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw
Angels ascending and descending, bands
Of Guardians bright.…
The Stairs were then let down, whether to dare
The Fiend by easy ascent, or aggravate
His sad exclusion from the doors of Bliss.”
(Paradise Lost, Book III, 498–512, 523–25)
Satan viewing the ascent of Heaven
Date
1824
Medium
Height: 19.8 cm
Width: 26.8 cm
Dimensions
Mezzotint
Location
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
PL Lines
“…His travell’d steps; far distant he descries
Ascending by degrees magnificent
Up to the wall of Heaven a Structure high,
At top whereof, but far more rich appear’d
The work as of a Kingly Palace Gate
With Frontispiece of Diamond and Gold
Imbellisht; thick with sparkling orient Gems
The Portal shone, inimitable on Earth
By Model, or by shading Pencil drawn.
The Stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw
Angels ascending and descending, bands
Of Guardians bright.…
The Stairs were then let down, whether to dare
The Fiend by easy ascent, or aggravate
His sad exclusion from the doors of Bliss.”
(Paradise Lost, Book III, 501–12, 523–25)
Satan viewing the ascent to Heaven
Date
1825
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 19 cm
Width: 15.5 cm
Locations
Royal Academy of Arts, London
The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute (The Clark), Williamstown, MA
PL Lines
“…His travell’d steps; far distant he descries
Ascending by degrees magnificent
Up to the wall of Heaven a Structure high,
At top whereof, but far more rich appear’d
The work as of a Kingly Palace Gate
With Frontispiece of Diamond and Gold
Imbellisht; thick with sparkling orient Gems
The Portal shone, inimitable on Earth
By Model, or by shading Pencil drawn.
The Stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw
Angels ascending and descending, bands
Of Guardians bright.…
The Stairs were then let down, whether to dare
The Fiend by easy ascent, or aggravate
His sad exclusion from the doors of Bliss.”
(Paradise Lost, Book III, 501–12, 523–25)
Satan viewing the ascent of Heaven
Date
1827
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 25.4 cm
Width: 35.6 cm
Location
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
PL Lines
“…His travell’d steps; far distant he descries
Ascending by degrees magnificent
Up to the wall of Heaven a Structure high,
At top whereof, but far more rich appear’d
The work as of a Kingly Palace Gate
With Frontispiece of Diamond and Gold
Imbellisht; thick with sparkling orient Gems
The Portal shone, inimitable on Earth
By Model, or by shading Pencil drawn.
The Stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw
Angels ascending and descending, bands
Of Guardians bright.…
The Stairs were then let down, whether to dare
The Fiend by easy ascent, or aggravate
His sad exclusion from the doors of Bliss.”
(Paradise Lost, Book III, 501–12, 523–25)
BOOK IV OF PARADISE LOST
“Satan now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the place where he must now attempt the bold enterprise which he undertook alone against God and Man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many passions, fear, envy, and despair; but at length confirms himself in evil, journeys on to Paradise, whose outward prospect and situation is described, overleaps the bounds, sits in the shape of a Cormorant on the Tree of Life, as highest in the Garden to look about him. The Garden describ’d; Satan’s first sight of Adam and Eve; his wonder at thir excellent form and happy state, but with resolution to work thir fall; overhears thir discourse, thence gathers that the Tree of Knowledge was forbidden them to eat of, under penalty of death; and thereon intends to found his Temptation, by seducing them to transgress: then leaves them a while, to know further of thir state by some other means. Meanwhile Uriel descending on a Sun-beam warns Gabriel, who had in charge the Gate of Paradise, that some evil spirit had escap’d the Deep, and past at Noon by his Sphere in the shape of a good Angel down to Paradise, discovered after by his furious gestures in the Mount. Gabriel promises to find him ere morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve discourse of going to thir rest: thir Bower describ’d; thir Evening worship. Gabriel drawing forth his Bands of Night-watch to walk the round of Paradise, appoints two strong Angels to Adam’s Bower, lest the evil spirit should be there doing some harm to Adam or Eve sleeping; there they find him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom question’d, he scornfully answers, prepares resistance, but hinder’d by a Sign from Heaven, flies out of Paradise.”
— John Milton, “The Argument,” Book IV of Paradise Lost (1674 edition)
Eve in the garden of Eden
Date
1825
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL Lines
“Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound
Of waters issu’d from a Cave and spread
Into a liquid Plain, then stood unmov’d
Pure as th’ expanse of Heav’n; I thither went
With unexperienc’t thought, and laid me down
On the green bank, to look into the clear
Smooth Lake, that to me seem’d another Sky.
As I bent down to look, just opposite,
A Shape within the wat’ry gleam appear’d
Bending to look on me, I started back,
It started back, but pleas’d I soon return’d,
Pleas’d it return’d as soon with answering looks
Of sympathy and love…”
(Paradise Lost, Book IV, 453–65)
Satan observes Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden
Date
1825
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Locations
Royal Academy of Arts, London
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Victoria and Albert Museum (2), London
PL Lines
“…aside the Devil turn’d
For envy, yet with jealous leer malign
Ey’d them askance, and to himself thus plain’d.
Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two
Imparadis’t in one another’s arms
The happier Eden, shall enjoy thir fill
Of bliss on bliss, while I to Hell am thrust,
Where neither joy nor love, but fierce desire,
Among our other torments not the least,
Still unfulfill’d with pain of longing pines…”
(Paradise Lost, Book IV, 502–11)
Satan contemplating Adam and Eve in Paradise
Date
1827
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 25.4 cm
Width: 35.6 cm
Location
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
PL Lines
“When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood,
Scarce thus at length fail’d speech recover’d sad.
O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold,
Into our room of bliss thus high advanc’t
Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps,
Not Spirits, yet to heav’nly Spirits bright
Little inferior; whom my thoughts pursue
With wonder, and could love, so lively shines
In them Divine resemblance, and such grace
The hand that form’d them on thir shape hath pour’d.”
(Paradise Lost, Book IV, 356–65)
Satan confronts Ithuriel and Zephon
Date
1826
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Locations
Royal Academy of Arts, London
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
PL Lines
“…up he starts
Discover’d and surpris’d. As when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous Powder, laid
Fit for the Tun some Magazin to store
Against a rumor’d War, the Smutty grain
With sudden blaze diffus’d, inflames the Air:
So started up in his own shape the Fiend.
Back stepp’d those two fair Angels half amaz’d
So sudden to behold the grisly King;
Yet thus, unmov’d with fear, accost him soon.”
(Paradise Lost, Book IV, 813–22)
Eve’s Dream – Satan aroused
Date
1827
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 25.4 cm
Width: 35.6 cm
Location
Victoria and Albert Museum, London
PL Lines
“Him thus intent Ithuriel with his Spear
Touch’d lightly; for no falsehood can endure
Touch of Celestial temper, but returns
Of fore to its own likeness: up he starts
Discover’d and surpris’d. As when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous Powder, laid
Fit for the Tun some Magazin to store
Against a rumor’d War, the Smutty grain
With sudden blaze diffus’d, inflames the Air:
So started up in his own shape the Fiend.
Back stepp’d those two fair Angels half amaz’d
So sudden to behold the grisly King…”
(Paradise Lost, Book IV, 810–21)
Gabriel awaits the arrival of Satan
Date
1825
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL Lines
“O friends, I hear the tread of nimble feet
Hasting this way, and now by glimpse discern
Ithuriel and Zephon through the shade,
And with them comes a third of Regal port,
But faded splendor wan; who by his gait
And fierce demeanor seems the Prince of Hell,
Not likely to part hence without contést;
Stand firm, for in his look defiance low’rs.”
(Paradise Lost, Book IV, 866–73)
BOOK V OF PARADISE LOST
“Morning approacht, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream; he likes it not, yet comforts her: They come forth to thir day labors: Thir Morning Hymn at the Door of thir Bower. God to render Man inexcusable sends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience, of his free estate, of his enemy near at hand; who he is, and why his enemy, and whatever else may avail Adam to know. Raphael comes down to Paradise, his appearance describ’d, his coming discern’d by Adam afar off sitting at the door of his Bower; he goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the choicest fruits of Paradise got together by Eve; thir discourse at Table: Raphael performs his message, minds Adam of his state and of his enemy; relates at Adam’s request who that enemy is, and how he came to be so, beginning from his first revolt in Heaven, and the occasion thereof; how he drew his Legions after him to the parts of the North, and there incited them to rebel with him, persuading all but only Abdiel a Seraph, who in Argument dissuades and opposes him, then forsakes him.”
— John Milton, “The Argument,” Book V of Paradise Lost (1674 edition)
Adam and Eve praying
Date
ca. 1825
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL Lines
“So all was clear’d, and to the Field they haste.…
Lowly they bow’d adoring, and began
Thir Orisons, each Morning duly paid
In various style, for neither various style
Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise
Thir Maker, in fit strains pronounct or sung
Unmeditated, such prompt eloquence
Flow’d from thir lips, in Prose or numerous Verse,
More tuneable than needed Lute or Harp
To add more sweetness, and they thus began.”
(Paradise Lost, Book V, 136, or 136, 144–52)
Adam and Eve behold the angel Raphael
Date
ca. 1825
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL Lines
“Haste hither Eve, and worth thy sight behold
Eastward among those Trees, what glorious shape
Comes this way moving; seems another Morn
Ris’n on mid-noon; some great behest from Heav’n
To us perhaps he brings, and will voutsafe
This day to be our Guest.”
(Paradise Lost, Book V, 308–13)
Raphael delivers his message to Adam and Eve
Date
1826
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL Lines
“To whom the Angel. Son of Heav’n and Earth,
Attend: That thou art happy, owe to God;
That thou continu’st such, owe to thyself,
That is, to thy obedience; therein stand.
This was that caution giv’n thee; be advis’d.
God made thee perfect, not immutable;
And good he made thee, but to persevere
He left it in thy power, ordain’d thy will
By nature free, not over-rul’d by Fate
Inextricable, or strict necessity;
Our voluntary service he requires,
Not our necessitated, such with him
Finds no acceptance, nor can find, for how
Can hearts, not free, be tri’d whether they serve
Willing or no, who will but what they must
By Destiny, and can no other choose?
Myself and all th’ Angelic Host that stand
In sight of God enthron’d, our happy state
Hold, as you yours, while our obedience holds;
On other surety none; freely we serve,
Because we freely love, as in our will
To love or not; in this we stand or fall:
And some are fall’n, to disobedience fall’n,
And so from Heav’n to deepest Hell; O fall
From what high state of bliss into what woe!”
(Paradise Lost, Book V, 519–43)
BOOK VII OF PARADISE LOST
“Raphael at the request of Adam relates how and wherefore this world was first created; that God, after the expelling of Satan and his Angels out of Heaven, declar’d his pleasure to create another World and other Creatures to dwell therein; sends his Son with Glory and attendance of Angels to perform the work of Creation in six days: the Angels celebrate with Hymns the performance thereof, and his reascension into Heaven.”
— John Milton, “The Argument,” Book VII of Paradise Lost (1674 edition)
The creation of light
Date
1825
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL Lines
“Again th’ Almighty spake: Let there be Lights
High in th’ expanse of Heaven to divide
The Day from Night…”
(Paradise Lost, Book VII, 339–41)
BOOK IX OF PARADISE LOST
“Satan having compast the Earth, with meditated guile returns as a mist by Night into Paradise, enters into the Serpent sleeping. Adam and Eve in the Morning go forth to thir labors, which Eve proposes to divide in several places, each laboring apart: Adam consents not, alleging the danger, lest that Enemy, of whom they were forewarn’d, should attempt her found alone: Eve loath to be thought not circumspect or firm enough, urges her going apart, the rather desirous to make trial of her strength; Adam at last yields: The Serpent finds her alone; his subtle approach, first gazing, then speaking, with much flattery extolling Eve above all other Creatures. Eve wond’ring to hear the Serpent speak, asks how he attain’d to human speech and such understanding not till now; the Serpent answers, that by tasting of a certain Tree in the Garden he attain’d both to Speech and Reason, till then void of both: Eve requires him to bring her to that Tree, and finds it to be the Tree of Knowledge forbidden: The Serpent now grown bolder, with many wiles and arguments induces her at length to eat; she pleas’d with the taste deliberates awhile whether to impart thereof to Adam or not, at last brings him of the Fruit, relates what persuaded her to eat thereof: Adam at first amaz’d, but perceiving her lost, resolves through vehemence of love to perish with her; and extenuating the trespass, eats also of the Fruit: The effects thereof in them both; they seek to cover thir nakedness; then fall to variance and accusation of one another.”
— John Milton, “The Argument,” Book IX of Paradise Lost (1674 edition)
Eve eats the forbidden fruit
Date
1826
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL Lines
“So saying, her rash hand in evil hour
Forth reaching to the Fruit, she pluck’d, she eat…”
(Paradise Lost, Book IX, 780–81)
Eve presenting the forbidden fruit to Adam
Date
1827
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL Lines
“…from the bough
She gave him of that fair enticing Fruit
With liberal hand: he scrupl’d not to eat
Against his better knowledge, not deceiv’d,
But fondly overcome with Female charm.”
(Paradise Lost, Book IX, 995–99)
BOOK X OF PARADISE LOST
“Man’s transgression known, the Guardian Angels forsake Paradise, and return up to Heaven to approve thir vigilance, and are approv’d, God declaring that the entrance of Satan could not be by them prevented. He sends his Son to judge the Transgressors, who descends and gives Sentence accordingly; then in pity clothes them both, and reascends. Sin and Death sitting till then at the Gates of Hell, by wondrous sympathy feeling the success of Satan in this new World, and the sin by Man there committed, resolve to sit no longer confin’d in Hell, but to follow Satan thir Sire up to the place of Man: To make the way easier from Hell to this World to and fro, they pave a broad Highway or Bridge over Chaos, according to the Track that Satan first made; then preparing for Earth, they meet him proud of his success returning to Hell; thir mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemonium, in full assembly relates with boasting his success against Man; instead of applause is entertained with a general hiss by all his audience, transform’d with himself also suddenly into Serpents, according to his doom giv’n in Paradise; then deluded with a show of the forbidden Tree springing up before them, they greedily reaching to take of the Fruit, chew dust and bitter ashes. The proceedings of Sin and Death; God foretells the final Victory of his Son over them, and the renewing of all things; but for the present commands his Angels to make several alterations in the Heavens and Elements. Adam more and more perceiving his fall’n condition heavily bewails, rejects the condolement of Eve; she persists and at length appeases him: then to evade the Curse likely to fall on thir Offspring, proposes to Adam violent ways, which he approves not, but conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late Promise made them, that her Seed should be reveng’d on the Serpent, and exhorts her with him to seek Peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and supplication.”
— John Milton, “The Argument,” Book X of Paradise Lost (1674 edition)
Adam and Eve emerge from the trees
Date
1826
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL Lines
“Come forth.
He came, and with him Eve, more loath, though first
To offend, discount’nanc’t both, and discompos’d;
Love was not in thir looks, either to God
Or to each other, but apparent guilt,
And shame, and perturbation, and despair,
Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile.”
(Paradise Lost, Book X, 108–14)
Bridge over Chaos
Date
1826
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Locations
Royal Academy of Arts, London
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney
PL Lines
“Now had they brought the work by wondrous Art
Pontifical, a ridge of pendent Rock
Over the vext Abyss, following the track
Of Satan, to the selfsame place where hee
First lighted from his Wing, and landed safe
From out of Chaos to the outside bare
Of this round World: with Pins of Adamant
And Chains they made all fast, too fast they made
And durable; and now in little space
The confines met of Empyrean Heav’n
And of this World, and on the left hand Hell
With long reach interpos’d; three sev’ral ways
In sight, to each of these three places led.
And now thir way to Earth they had descri’d,
To Paradise first tending, when behold
Satan in likeness of an Angel bright
Betwixt the Centaur and the Scorpion steering
His Zenith, while the Sun in Aries rose:
Disguis’d he came, but those his Children dear
Thir Parent soon discern’d, though in disguise.
Hee, after Eve seduc’t, unminded slunk
Into the Wood fast by, and changing shape
To observe the sequel, saw his guileful act
By Eve, though all unweeting, seconded
Upon her Husband, saw thir shame that sought
Vain covertures; but when he saw descend
The Son of God to judge them, terrifi’d
Hee fled, not hoping to escape, but shun
The present, fearing guilty what his wrath
Might suddenly inflict; that past, return’d
By Night, and list’ning where the hapless Pair
Sat in thir sad discourse and various plaint,
Thence gather’d his own doom; which understood
Not instant, but of future time, with joy
And tidings fraught, to Hell he now return’d,
And at the brink of Chaos…”
(Paradise Lost, Book X, 312–47)
Adam berates Eve
Date
1826
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL Lines
“Whom thus afflicted when sad Eve beheld,
Desolate where she sat, approaching nigh,
Soft words to his fierce passion she assay’d:
But her with stern regard he thus repell’d.
Out of my sight, thou Serpent, that name best
Befits thee with him leagu’d, thyself as false
And hateful; nothing wants, but that thy shape,
Like his, and color Serpentine may show
Thy inward fraud, to warn all Creatures from thee
Henceforth; lest that too heav’nly form, pretended
To hellish falsehood, snare them.”
(Paradise Lost, Book X, 863–73)
BOOK XI OF PARADISE LOST
“The Son of God presents to his Father the Prayers of our first Parents now repenting, and intercedes for them: God accepts them, but declares that they must no longer abide in Paradise; sends Michael with a Band of Cherubim to dispossess them; but first to reveal to Adam future things: Michael’s coming down. Adam shows to Eve certain ominous signs; he discerns Michael’s approach, goes out to meet him: the Angel denounces thir departure. Eve’s Lamentation. Adam pleads, but submits: The Angel leads him up to a high Hill, sets before him in vision what shall happ’n till the Flood.”
— John Milton, “The Argument,” Book XI of Paradise Lost (1674 edition)
Angels herald the word of God
Date
1825
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL Lines
“…from thir blissful Bow’rs
Of Amarantin Shade, Fountain or Spring,
By the waters of Life, where’er they sat
In fellowships of joy, the Sons of Light
Hasted, resorting to the Summons high,
And took thir Seats; till from his Throne supreme
Th’ Almighty thus pronounc’d his sovran Will.”
(Paradise Lost, Book XI, 77–83)
Adam and Eve await the angel Michael
Date
1826
Medium
Mezzotint
Dimensions
Height: 15.1 cm
Width: 19.3 cm
Location
Royal Academy of Arts, London
PL Lines
“Eve, now expect great tidings, which perhaps
Of us will soon determine, or impose
New Laws to be observ’d; for I descry
From yonder blazing Cloud that veils the Hill
One of the heav’nly Host, and by his Gait
None of the meanest, some great Potentate
Or of the Thrones above, such Majesty
Invests him coming; yet not terrible,
That I should fear, nor sociably mild,
As Raphaël, that I should much confide,
But solemn and sublime, whom not to offend,
With reverence I must meet, and thou retire.”
(Paradise Lost, Book XI, 226–37)