Paradise Lost
Book 10 (annotated)
,MEanwhile the hainous and despightfull act entire. Undiminished (OED). God basically admits that he sends his
Of Satan done in Paradise, and how angels on purposeless errands, as he
Hee in the Serpent, had perverted Eve, alliteration assigned them to “guard” Eden and
complete. Fully able; sufficiently strong.
Her Husband shee, to taste the fatall fruit, then actively allowed Satan to slip past
Was known in Heav'n; for what can scape the Eye [ 5 ] them. Because he is all-powerful,
by this. By this time.
Of God All-seeing, or deceave his Heart anything God sends an angel to do
Omniscient, who in all things wise and just, rhetorical instead of doing himself is basically a
question
Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the minde Entrance unseen. Satan's entrance is narrated in test of obedience. The Son again
Of Man, with strength entire, and free will arm'd, book 9.68-76. appears as the active nature of God and
Complete to have discover'd and repulst [ 10 ] anastrophe
the friend of humanity.
Whatever wiles of Foe or seeming Friend. unwelcome news. Unwelcome news to be sure, but
For still they knew, and ought to have still remember'd hardly surprising to anyone present during the
The high Injunction not to taste that Fruit, Father's interchange with the Son in book 3.90-99.
Whoever tempted; which they not obeying, expletive 16]manifold: Milton adopted the idea that
Incurr'd, what could they less, the penaltie, [ 15 ] the disobedience of Adam and Eve
And manifold in sin, deserv'd to fall.
Celestial visages. Heavenly faces. comprehended a multitude of specific sins.
Up into Heav'n from Paradise in haste violated not thir bliss. We are meant to
Th' Angelic Guards ascended, mute and sad imagery understand that the angels remain in perfect 31]approv'd: proved. 31-33.
For Man, for of his state by this they knew, bliss even as they pity Adam and Eve and wonder "And out of the throne proceeded lightnings
Much wondring how the suttle Fiend had stoln [ 20 ] at Satan's success. "Sad" and "sadness" in lines and thunderings and voices" (Revelation 4:5).
Entrance unseen. Soon as th' unwelcome news 18 and 23 must denote solemnity rather than
From Earth arriv'd at Heaven Gate, displeas'd distress of any kind (see OED).
All were who heard, dim sadness did not spare personification
That time Celestial visages, yet mixt
With pitie, violated not thir bliss. [ 25 ] ethereal People. Angels, made of ethereal essence, but in forms not unlike human
internal
About the new-arriv'd, in multitudes people.
focalisation
Th' ethereal People ran, to hear and know approv'd. Vindicated. The angels apparently have not done wrong and so are
How all befell: they towards the Throne Supream hastily exonerated.
Accountable made haste to make appear anastrophe
With righteous plea, thir utmost vigilance, [ 30 ] in Thunder. The Bible often represents God's voice as thunder or speaking in
And easily approv'd; when the most High thunder or accompanied by thunder (Revelations 4: 5; 1 Samuel 7: 10). For God
Eternal Father from his secret Cloud, imagery hidden in a cloud, see Exodus 19: 9.
Amidst in Thunder utter'd thus his voice.
,Assembl'd Angels, and ye Powers return'd Powers. Hierarchal rank of angels, but the idea of a military Milton earlier described how swiftly
From unsuccessful charge, be not dismaid, [ 35 ] force seems implied as well.
Raphael flew to Earth, but the Son exists
Nor troubl'd at these tidings from the Earth, outside of time and so immediately arrives
Which your sincerest care could not prevent, speed. Succeed. See the Father's prediction in book 3.92.
wherever he wants to be. Milton’s
Foretold so lately what would come to pass, “justification” of God now starts coming into
lightest moment of impulse. The slightest possible amount of
When first this Tempter cross'd the Gulf from Hell. weight that could be applied to a scale or force to a body at play, as God must weigh both his own
I told ye then he should prevail and speed [ 40 ] rest (see OED). justice and mercy in punishing Adam and
On his bad Errand, Man should be seduc't Eve.
And flatter'd out of all, believing lies His free Will. Does the personal pronoun here (and "Man" in
line 41, "his" in line 43) refer to Adam alone or to both Adam 38]The reference is to P.L., III, 90 ff., where God
Against his Maker; no Decree of mine and Eve? Was Adam "seduc't" to disobedience like Eve (line foresees that man will fall, but through his own
Concurring to necessitate his Fall, 41)? Is the Fall about Adam's disobedience or Eve's? Would fault, his will being free, and not predestinated so
Or touch with lightest moment of impulse [ 45 ] "Man" have fallen if only Eve had been "seduc't"? For the to do, for God's foreknowledge (so Milton argues)
Father's earlier discourse on Man's free will, see book 3. does not predestinate.
His free Will, to her own inclining left 97-134.
In eevn scale. But fall'n he is, and now
Powers. What remains, or what's left to do. 45]moment: force (Lat. momentum suggests the
What rests but that the mortal Sentence pass
stress influencing the decision of a pair of
On his transgression Death denounc't that day, alliteration he presumes already vain. That is, Adam did not scales).
Which he presumes already vain and void, [ 50 ] die on the day he transgressed as was promised
in Genesis 2: 17. See the Geneva Bible gloss on 55]"For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all
Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd, this verse. See also Calvin's commentary on judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22). But Milton holds that
By some immediate stroak; but soon shall find Genesis 2. all manifestations of God, whether in word or deed, are by
Forbearance no acquittance ere day end. Forbearance no acquittance. That is, just because
and through the Son (cf. P.L., VI, 680-83).
Justice shall not return as bountie scorn'd. the Creator is not immediately executing the
Vicegerent. The Son can employ the full authority of
specified sentence of death, does not mean the
But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee [ 55 ] the Father, and will serve as His deputy in judgement
criminals (Adam and Eve) have been acquitted.
Vicegerent Son, to thee I have transferr'd rhetorical question over Adam. See, for example Revelation 14: 14. See
also John 5: 22.
All Judgement whether in Heav'n, or Earth, or Hell. bountie scorn'd. Flannagan glosses this as part of the financial
Easie it might be seen that I intend polysyndeton image begun with "aquittance" above: "Since justice is given
freely, it is unearned bounty and therefore should be
Mercie collegue with Justice, sending thee might. 1667 (9.58) has "may" instead of
welcomed, not scorned." But perhaps the Father is being
Mans Friend his Mediator, his design'd [ 60 ] sarcastic here; Adam may want to scorn such justice, but "might".
Both Ransom and Redeemer voluntarie, anastrophe cannot?
voluntarie. For the account of the Son's
And destin'd Man himself to judge Man fall'n. chiasmus volunteering, see 3.227-65.
, So spake the Father, and unfoulding bright
Toward the right hand his Glorie, on the Son well pleas'd. These words echo the voice of God
Blaz'd forth unclouded Deitie; he full [ 65 ] at Jesus' baptism in Matthew 3:17. See also
84]Formal proof and condemnation of Satan's guilt are
Resplendent all his Father manifest imagery Paradise Regain'd 1.282-87.
unnecessary: he stands convicted already.
Express'd, and thus divinely answer'd milde. so I undertook. See 3.227-65.
Father Eternal, thine is to decree, deriv'd. Diverted; or, once incarnated as a human 64]The Son "being the brightness of his glory, and
Mine both in Heav'n and Earth to do thy will being, Jesus will derive Adam's punishment from the express image of his person ... sat down on the
Supream, that thou in mee thy Son belov'd [ 70 ] his mother's lineage. right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1 :3 ).
Mayst ever rest well pleas'd. I go to judge
On Earth these thy transgressors, but thou knowst,
Justice with Mercy. Compare this
commonplace notion with Portia's speech in
Whoever judg'd, the worst on mee must light,
The Merchant of Venice 4.1.191. 74]When time shall be: i.e., at the Incarnation; for
When time shall be, for so I undertook
Before thee; and not repenting, this obtaine [ 75 ] so I undertook refers to the Son's offer to make
illustrate. "To throw the light of atonement for man's sin (P.L., III, 236 ff.).
Of right, that I may mitigate thir doom intelligence upon; to make clear,
On me deriv'd, yet I shall temper so flashforward
elucidate, clear up, explain" (OED)
Justice with Mercie, as may illustrate most V. 84. Conviction to the Serpent, &c. No proof is
Them fully satisfied, and thee appease. anastrophe
the third. Satan. needful against the Serpent, compel'd by Satan
Attendance none shall need, nor Train, where none [ 80 ] to be the ignorant Instrument of his Malice
Are to behold the Judgement, but the judg'd, polyptoton Convict. Accent on the second syllable, against Mankind, now mute and unable to
Those two; the third best absent is condemn'd, meaning convicted. answer for himself. Convictio, Lat. a proving
Convict by flight, and Rebel to all Law Guilty.
Conviction to the Serpent none belongs. the Serpent. The Son will judge Adam and 85]seat ... / Of high collateral glory: the Son shares
Eve; Satan has proved and demonstrated the throne of God, being by the Father's gift raised
Thus saying, from his radiant Seat he rose [ 85 ] his guilt by fleeing; the serpent, of course, to equality with Him (cf. P.L., III, 305-7 and V,
Of high collateral glorie: him Thrones and Powers, is innocent. But see Genesis 3: 14-15. 600-8).
Princedoms, and Dominations ministrant
Accompanied to Heaven Gate, from whence imagery 86]The various ranks of angels accompany the Son
Eden and all the Coast in prospect lay. to the gate of Heaven--but not beyond it as they did
Down he descended strait; the speed of Gods [ 90 ] when he went forth to the Creation (P.L., VII); cf.
anastrophe above 80-81.
Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes wing'd.
