diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..637e75b --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +# prevent git modifying EOL +*.txt binary diff --git a/snappy/framing_format.txt b/snappy/framing_format.txt index 9764e83..d00ed92 100644 --- a/snappy/framing_format.txt +++ b/snappy/framing_format.txt @@ -1,135 +1,135 @@ -Snappy framing format description -Last revised: 2013-10-25 - -This format decribes a framing format for Snappy, allowing compressing to -files or streams that can then more easily be decompressed without having -to hold the entire stream in memory. It also provides data checksums to -help verify integrity. It does not provide metadata checksums, so it does -not protect against e.g. all forms of truncations. - -Implementation of the framing format is optional for Snappy compressors and -decompressor; it is not part of the Snappy core specification. - - -1. General structure - -The file consists solely of chunks, lying back-to-back with no padding -in between. Each chunk consists first a single byte of chunk identifier, -then a three-byte little-endian length of the chunk in bytes (from 0 to -16777215, inclusive), and then the data if any. The four bytes of chunk -header is not counted in the data length. - -The different chunk types are listed below. The first chunk must always -be the stream identifier chunk (see section 4.1, below). The stream -ends when the file ends -- there is no explicit end-of-file marker. - - -2. File type identification - -The following identifiers for this format are recommended where appropriate. -However, note that none have been registered officially, so this is only to -be taken as a guideline. We use "Snappy framed" to distinguish between this -format and raw Snappy data. - - File extension: .sz - MIME type: application/x-snappy-framed - HTTP Content-Encoding: x-snappy-framed - - -3. Checksum format - -Some chunks have data protected by a checksum (the ones that do will say so -explicitly). The checksums are always masked CRC-32Cs. - -A description of CRC-32C can be found in RFC 3720, section 12.1, with -examples in section B.4. - -Checksums are not stored directly, but masked, as checksumming data and -then its own checksum can be problematic. The masking is the same as used -in Apache Hadoop: Rotate the checksum by 15 bits, then add the constant -0xa282ead8 (using wraparound as normal for unsigned integers). This is -equivalent to the following C code: - - uint32_t mask_checksum(uint32_t x) { - return ((x >> 15) | (x << 17)) + 0xa282ead8; - } - -Note that the masking is reversible. - -The checksum is always stored as a four bytes long integer, in little-endian. - - -4. Chunk types - -The currently supported chunk types are described below. The list may -be extended in the future. - - -4.1. Stream identifier (chunk type 0xff) - -The stream identifier is always the first element in the stream. -It is exactly six bytes long and contains "sNaPpY" in ASCII. This means that -a valid Snappy framed stream always starts with the bytes - - 0xff 0x06 0x00 0x00 0x73 0x4e 0x61 0x50 0x70 0x59 - -The stream identifier chunk can come multiple times in the stream besides -the first; if such a chunk shows up, it should simply be ignored, assuming -it has the right length and contents. This allows for easy concatenation of -compressed files without the need for re-framing. - - -4.2. Compressed data (chunk type 0x00) - -Compressed data chunks contain a normal Snappy compressed bitstream; -see the compressed format specification. The compressed data is preceded by -the CRC-32C (see section 3) of the _uncompressed_ data. - -Note that the data portion of the chunk, i.e., the compressed contents, -can be at most 16777211 bytes (2^24 - 1, minus the checksum). -However, we place an additional restriction that the uncompressed data -in a chunk must be no longer than 65536 bytes. This allows consumers to -easily use small fixed-size buffers. - - -4.3. Uncompressed data (chunk type 0x01) - -Uncompressed data chunks allow a compressor to send uncompressed, -raw data; this is useful if, for instance, uncompressible or -near-incompressible data is detected, and faster decompression is desired. - -As in the compressed chunks, the data is preceded by its own masked -CRC-32C (see section 3). - -An uncompressed data chunk, like compressed data chunks, should contain -no more than 65536 data bytes, so the maximum legal chunk length with the -checksum is 65540. - - -4.4. Padding (chunk type 0xfe) - -Padding chunks allow a compressor to increase the size of the data stream -so that it complies with external demands, e.g. that the total number of -bytes is a multiple of some value. - -All bytes of the padding chunk, except the chunk byte itself and the length, -should be zero, but decompressors must not try to interpret or verify the -padding data in any way. - - -4.5. Reserved unskippable chunks (chunk types 0x02-0x7f) - -These are reserved for future expansion. A decoder that sees such a chunk -should immediately return an error, as it must assume it cannot decode the -stream correctly. - -Future versions of this specification may define meanings for these chunks. - - -4.6. Reserved skippable chunks (chunk types 0x80-0xfd) - -These are also reserved for future expansion, but unlike the chunks -described in 4.5, a decoder seeing these must skip them and continue -decoding. - -Future versions of this specification may define meanings for these chunks. +Snappy framing format description +Last revised: 2013-10-25 + +This format decribes a framing format for Snappy, allowing compressing to +files or streams that can then more easily be decompressed without having +to hold the entire stream in memory. It also provides data checksums to +help verify integrity. It does not provide metadata checksums, so it does +not protect against e.g. all forms of truncations. + +Implementation of the framing format is optional for Snappy compressors and +decompressor; it is not part of the Snappy core specification. + + +1. General structure + +The file consists solely of chunks, lying back-to-back with no padding +in between. Each chunk consists first a single byte of chunk identifier, +then a three-byte little-endian length of the chunk in bytes (from 0 to +16777215, inclusive), and then the data if any. The four bytes of chunk +header is not counted in the data length. + +The different chunk types are listed below. The first chunk must always +be the stream identifier chunk (see section 4.1, below). The stream +ends when the file ends -- there is no explicit end-of-file marker. + + +2. File type identification + +The following identifiers for this format are recommended where appropriate. +However, note that none have been registered officially, so this is only to +be taken as a guideline. We use "Snappy framed" to distinguish between this +format and raw Snappy data. + + File extension: .sz + MIME type: application/x-snappy-framed + HTTP Content-Encoding: x-snappy-framed + + +3. Checksum format + +Some chunks have data protected by a checksum (the ones that do will say so +explicitly). The checksums are always masked CRC-32Cs. + +A description of CRC-32C can be found in RFC 3720, section 12.1, with +examples in section B.4. + +Checksums are not stored directly, but masked, as checksumming data and +then its own checksum can be problematic. The masking is the same as used +in Apache Hadoop: Rotate the checksum by 15 bits, then add the constant +0xa282ead8 (using wraparound as normal for unsigned integers). This is +equivalent to the following C code: + + uint32_t mask_checksum(uint32_t x) { + return ((x >> 15) | (x << 17)) + 0xa282ead8; + } + +Note that the masking is reversible. + +The checksum is always stored as a four bytes long integer, in little-endian. + + +4. Chunk types + +The currently supported chunk types are described below. The list may +be extended in the future. + + +4.1. Stream identifier (chunk type 0xff) + +The stream identifier is always the first element in the stream. +It is exactly six bytes long and contains "sNaPpY" in ASCII. This means that +a valid Snappy framed stream always starts with the bytes + + 0xff 0x06 0x00 0x00 0x73 0x4e 0x61 0x50 0x70 0x59 + +The stream identifier chunk can come multiple times in the stream besides +the first; if such a chunk shows up, it should simply be ignored, assuming +it has the right length and contents. This allows for easy concatenation of +compressed files without the need for re-framing. + + +4.2. Compressed data (chunk type 0x00) + +Compressed data chunks contain a normal Snappy compressed bitstream; +see the compressed format specification. The compressed data is preceded by +the CRC-32C (see section 3) of the _uncompressed_ data. + +Note that the data portion of the chunk, i.e., the compressed contents, +can be at most 16777211 bytes (2^24 - 1, minus the checksum). +However, we place an additional restriction that the uncompressed data +in a chunk must be no longer than 65536 bytes. This allows consumers to +easily use small fixed-size buffers. + + +4.3. Uncompressed data (chunk type 0x01) + +Uncompressed data chunks allow a compressor to send uncompressed, +raw data; this is useful if, for instance, uncompressible or +near-incompressible data is detected, and faster decompression is desired. + +As in the compressed chunks, the data is preceded by its own masked +CRC-32C (see section 3). + +An uncompressed data chunk, like compressed data chunks, should contain +no more than 65536 data bytes, so the maximum legal chunk length with the +checksum is 65540. + + +4.4. Padding (chunk type 0xfe) + +Padding chunks allow a compressor to increase the size of the data stream +so that it complies with external demands, e.g. that the total number of +bytes is a multiple of some value. + +All bytes of the padding chunk, except the chunk byte itself and the length, +should be zero, but decompressors must not try to interpret or verify the +padding data in any way. + + +4.5. Reserved unskippable chunks (chunk types 0x02-0x7f) + +These are reserved for future expansion. A decoder that sees such a chunk +should immediately return an error, as it must assume it cannot decode the +stream correctly. + +Future versions of this specification may define meanings for these chunks. + + +4.6. Reserved skippable chunks (chunk types 0x80-0xfd) + +These are also reserved for future expansion, but unlike the chunks +described in 4.5, a decoder seeing these must skip them and continue +decoding. + +Future versions of this specification may define meanings for these chunks. diff --git a/tests/data/Mark.Twain-Tom.Sawyer.txt b/tests/data/Mark.Twain-Tom.Sawyer.txt index 86a1875..8b41b39 100644 --- a/tests/data/Mark.Twain-Tom.Sawyer.txt +++ b/tests/data/Mark.Twain-Tom.Sawyer.txt @@ -1,396 +1,396 @@ -Produced by David Widger. The previous edition was updated by Jose -Menendez. - - - - - - THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER - BY - MARK TWAIN - (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) - - - - - P R E F A C E - -MOST of the adventures recorded in this book really occurred; one or -two were experiences of my own, the rest those of boys who were -schoolmates of mine. Huck Finn is drawn from life; Tom Sawyer also, but -not from an individual--he is a combination of the characteristics of -three boys whom I knew, and therefore belongs to the composite order of -architecture. - -The odd superstitions touched upon were all prevalent among children -and slaves in the West at the period of this story--that is to say, -thirty or forty years ago. - -Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and -girls, I hope it will not be shunned by men and women on that account, -for part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what -they once were themselves, and of how they felt and thought and talked, -and what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in. - - THE AUTHOR. - -HARTFORD, 1876. - - - - T O M S A W Y E R - - - -CHAPTER I - -"TOM!" - -No answer. - -"TOM!" - -No answer. - -"What's gone with that boy, I wonder? You TOM!" - -No answer. - -The old lady pulled her spectacles down and looked over them about the -room; then she put them up and looked out under them. She seldom or -never looked THROUGH them for so small a thing as a boy; they were her -state pair, the pride of her heart, and were built for "style," not -service--she could have seen through a pair of stove-lids just as well. -She looked perplexed for a moment, and then said, not fiercely, but -still loud enough for the furniture to hear: - -"Well, I lay if I get hold of you I'll--" - -She did not finish, for by this time she was bending down and punching -under the bed with the broom, and so she needed breath to punctuate the -punches with. She resurrected nothing but the cat. - -"I never did see the beat of that boy!" - -She went to the open door and stood in it and looked out among the -tomato vines and "jimpson" weeds that constituted the garden. No Tom. -So she lifted up her voice at an angle calculated for distance and -shouted: - -"Y-o-u-u TOM!" - -There was a slight noise behind her and she turned just in time to -seize a small boy by the slack of his roundabout and arrest his flight. - -"There! I might 'a' thought of that closet. What you been doing in -there?" - -"Nothing." - -"Nothing! Look at your hands. And look at your mouth. What IS that -truck?" - -"I don't know, aunt." - -"Well, I know. It's jam--that's what it is. Forty times I've said if -you didn't let that jam alone I'd skin you. Hand me that switch." - -The switch hovered in the air--the peril was desperate-- - -"My! Look behind you, aunt!" - -The old lady whirled round, and snatched her skirts out of danger. The -lad fled on the instant, scrambled up the high board-fence, and -disappeared over it. - -His aunt Polly stood surprised a moment, and then broke into a gentle -laugh. - -"Hang the boy, can't I never learn anything? Ain't he played me tricks -enough like that for me to be looking out for him by this time? But old -fools is the biggest fools there is. Can't learn an old dog new tricks, -as the saying is. But my goodness, he never plays them alike, two days, -and how is a body to know what's coming? He 'pears to know just how -long he can torment me before I get my dander up, and he knows if he -can make out to put me off for a minute or make me laugh, it's all down -again and I can't hit him a lick. I ain't doing my duty by that boy, -and that's the Lord's truth, goodness knows. Spare the rod and spile -the child, as the Good Book says. I'm a laying up sin and suffering for -us both, I know. He's full of the Old Scratch, but laws-a-me! he's my -own dead sister's boy, poor thing, and I ain't got the heart to lash -him, somehow. Every time I let him off, my conscience does hurt me so, -and every time I hit him my old heart most breaks. Well-a-well, man -that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble, as the -Scripture says, and I reckon it's so. He'll play hookey this evening, * -and [* Southwestern for "afternoon"] I'll just be obleeged to make him -work, to-morrow, to punish him. It's mighty hard to make him work -Saturdays, when all the boys is having holiday, but he hates work more -than he hates anything else, and I've GOT to do some of my duty by him, -or I'll be the ruination of the child." - -Tom did play hookey, and he had a very good time. He got back home -barely in season to help Jim, the small colored boy, saw next-day's -wood and split the kindlings before supper--at least he was there in -time to tell his adventures to Jim while Jim did three-fourths of the -work. Tom's younger brother (or rather half-brother) Sid was already -through with his part of the work (picking up chips), for he was a -quiet boy, and had no adventurous, troublesome ways. - -While Tom was eating his supper, and stealing sugar as opportunity -offered, Aunt Polly asked him questions that were full of guile, and -very deep--for she wanted to trap him into damaging revealments. Like -many other simple-hearted souls, it was her pet vanity to believe she -was endowed with a talent for dark and mysterious diplomacy, and she -loved to contemplate her most transparent devices as marvels of low -cunning. Said she: - -"Tom, it was middling warm in school, warn't it?" - -"Yes'm." - -"Powerful warm, warn't it?" - -"Yes'm." - -"Didn't you want to go in a-swimming, Tom?" - -A bit of a scare shot through Tom--a touch of uncomfortable suspicion. -He searched Aunt Polly's face, but it told him nothing. So he said: - -"No'm--well, not very much." - -The old lady reached out her hand and felt Tom's shirt, and said: - -"But you ain't too warm now, though." And it flattered her to reflect -that she had discovered that the shirt was dry without anybody knowing -that that was what she had in her mind. But in spite of her, Tom knew -where the wind lay, now. So he forestalled what might be the next move: - -"Some of us pumped on our heads--mine's damp yet. See?" - -Aunt Polly was vexed to think she had overlooked that bit of -circumstantial evidence, and missed a trick. Then she had a new -inspiration: - -"Tom, you didn't have to undo your shirt collar where I sewed it, to -pump on your head, did you? Unbutton your jacket!" - -The trouble vanished out of Tom's face. He opened his jacket. His -shirt collar was securely sewed. - -"Bother! Well, go 'long with you. I'd made sure you'd played hookey -and been a-swimming. But I forgive ye, Tom. I reckon you're a kind of a -singed cat, as the saying is--better'n you look. THIS time." - -She was half sorry her sagacity had miscarried, and half glad that Tom -had stumbled into obedient conduct for once. - -But Sidney said: - -"Well, now, if I didn't think you sewed his collar with white thread, -but it's black." - -"Why, I did sew it with white! Tom!" - -But Tom did not wait for the rest. As he went out at the door he said: - -"Siddy, I'll lick you for that." - -In a safe place Tom examined two large needles which were thrust into -the lapels of his jacket, and had thread bound about them--one needle -carried white thread and the other black. He said: - -"She'd never noticed if it hadn't been for Sid. Confound it! sometimes -she sews it with white, and sometimes she sews it with black. I wish to -geeminy she'd stick to one or t'other--I can't keep the run of 'em. But -I bet you I'll lam Sid for that. I'll learn him!" - -He was not the Model Boy of the village. He knew the model boy very -well though--and loathed him. - -Within two minutes, or even less, he had forgotten all his troubles. -Not because his troubles were one whit less heavy and bitter to him -than a man's are to a man, but because a new and powerful interest bore -them down and drove them out of his mind for the time--just as men's -misfortunes are forgotten in the excitement of new enterprises. This -new interest was a valued novelty in whistling, which he had just -acquired from a negro, and he was suffering to practise it undisturbed. -It consisted in a peculiar bird-like turn, a sort of liquid warble, -produced by touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth at short -intervals in the midst of the music--the reader probably remembers how -to do it, if he has ever been a boy. Diligence and attention soon gave -him the knack of it, and he strode down the street with his mouth full -of harmony and his soul full of gratitude. He felt much as an -astronomer feels who has discovered a new planet--no doubt, as far as -strong, deep, unalloyed pleasure is concerned, the advantage was with -the boy, not the astronomer. - -The summer evenings were long. It was not dark, yet. Presently Tom -checked his whistle. A stranger was before him--a boy a shade larger -than himself. A new-comer of any age or either sex was an impressive -curiosity in the poor little shabby village of St. Petersburg. This boy -was well dressed, too--well dressed on a week-day. This was simply -astounding. His cap was a dainty thing, his close-buttoned blue cloth -roundabout was new and natty, and so were his pantaloons. He had shoes -on--and it was only Friday. He even wore a necktie, a bright bit of -ribbon. He had a citified air about him that ate into Tom's vitals. The -more Tom stared at the splendid marvel, the higher he turned up his -nose at his finery and the shabbier and shabbier his own outfit seemed -to him to grow. Neither boy spoke. If one moved, the other moved--but -only sidewise, in a circle; they kept face to face and eye to eye all -the time. Finally Tom said: - -"I can lick you!" - -"I'd like to see you try it." - -"Well, I can do it." - -"No you can't, either." - -"Yes I can." - -"No you can't." - -"I can." - -"You can't." - -"Can!" - -"Can't!" - -An uncomfortable pause. Then Tom said: - -"What's your name?" - -"'Tisn't any of your business, maybe." - -"Well I 'low I'll MAKE it my business." - -"Well why don't you?" - -"If you say much, I will." - -"Much--much--MUCH. There now." - -"Oh, you think you're mighty smart, DON'T you? I could lick you with -one hand tied behind me, if I wanted to." - -"Well why don't you DO it? You SAY you can do it." - -"Well I WILL, if you fool with me." - -"Oh yes--I've seen whole families in the same fix." - -"Smarty! You think you're SOME, now, DON'T you? Oh, what a hat!" - -"You can lump that hat if you don't like it. I dare you to knock it -off--and anybody that'll take a dare will suck eggs." - -"You're a liar!" - -"You're another." - -"You're a fighting liar and dasn't take it up." - -"Aw--take a walk!" - -"Say--if you give me much more of your sass I'll take and bounce a -rock off'n your head." - -"Oh, of COURSE you will." - -"Well I WILL." - -"Well why don't you DO it then? What do you keep SAYING you will for? -Why don't you DO it? It's because you're afraid." - -"I AIN'T afraid." - -"You are." - -"I ain't." - -"You are." - -Another pause, and more eying and sidling around each other. Presently -they were shoulder to shoulder. Tom said: - -"Get away from here!" - -"Go away yourself!" - -"I won't." - -"I won't either." - -So they stood, each with a foot placed at an angle as a brace, and -both shoving with might and main, and glowering at each other with -hate. But neither could get an advantage. After struggling till both -were hot and flushed, each relaxed his strain with watchful caution, -and Tom said: - -"You're a coward and a pup. I'll tell my big brother on you, and he -can thrash you with his little finger, and I'll make him do it, too." - -"What do I care for your big brother? I've got a brother that's bigger -than he is--and what's more, he can throw him over that fence, too." -[Both brothers were imaginary.] - -"That's a lie." - -"YOUR saying so don't make it so." - -Tom drew a line in the dust with his big toe, and said: - -"I dare you to step over that, and I'll lick you till you can't stand -up. Anybody that'll take a dare will steal sheep." - -The new boy stepped over promptly, and said: - -"Now you said you'd do it, now let's see you do it." - -"Don't you crowd me now; you better look out." - -"Well, you SAID you'd do it--why don't you do it?" - -"By jingo! for two cents I WILL do it." - -The new boy took two broad coppers out of his pocket and held them out -with derision. Tom struck them to the ground. In an instant both boys -were rolling and tumbling in the dirt, gripped together like cats; and -for the space of a minute they tugged and tore at each other's hair and -clothes, punched and scratched each other's nose, and covered -themselves with dust and glory. Presently the confusion took form, and -through the fog of battle Tom appeared, seated astride the new boy, and -pounding him with his fists. "Holler 'nuff!" said he. - -The boy only struggled to free himself. He was crying--mainly from rage. - -"Holler 'nuff!"--and the pounding went on. - -At last the stranger got out a smothered "'Nuff!" and Tom let him up -and said: - -"Now that'll learn you. Better look out who you're fooling with next -time." - -The new boy went off brushing the dust from his clothes, sobbing, -snuffling, and occasionally looking back and shaking his head and -threatening what he would do to Tom the "next time he caught him out." -To which Tom responded with jeers, and started off in high feather, and -as soon as his back was turned the new boy snatched up a stone, threw -it and hit him between the shoulders and then turned tail and ran like -an antelope. Tom chased the traitor home, and thus found out where he -lived. He then held a position at the gate for some time, daring the -enemy to come outside, but the enemy only made faces at him through the -window and declined. At last the enemy's mother appeared, and called -Tom a bad, vicious, vulgar child, and ordered him away. So he went -away; but he said he "'lowed" to "lay" for that boy. - -He got home pretty late that night, and when he climbed cautiously in -at the window, he uncovered an ambuscade, in the person of his aunt; -and when she saw the state his clothes were in her resolution to turn -his Saturday holiday into captivity at hard labor became adamantine in -its firmness. +Produced by David Widger. The previous edition was updated by Jose +Menendez. + + + + + + THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER + BY + MARK TWAIN + (Samuel Langhorne Clemens) + + + + + P R E F A C E + +MOST of the adventures recorded in this book really occurred; one or +two were experiences of my own, the rest those of boys who were +schoolmates of mine. Huck Finn is drawn from life; Tom Sawyer also, but +not from an individual--he is a combination of the characteristics of +three boys whom I knew, and therefore belongs to the composite order of +architecture. + +The odd superstitions touched upon were all prevalent among children +and slaves in the West at the period of this story--that is to say, +thirty or forty years ago. + +Although my book is intended mainly for the entertainment of boys and +girls, I hope it will not be shunned by men and women on that account, +for part of my plan has been to try to pleasantly remind adults of what +they once were themselves, and of how they felt and thought and talked, +and what queer enterprises they sometimes engaged in. + + THE AUTHOR. + +HARTFORD, 1876. + + + + T O M S A W Y E R + + + +CHAPTER I + +"TOM!" + +No answer. + +"TOM!" + +No answer. + +"What's gone with that boy, I wonder? You TOM!" + +No answer. + +The old lady pulled her spectacles down and looked over them about the +room; then she put them up and looked out under them. She seldom or +never looked THROUGH them for so small a thing as a boy; they were her +state pair, the pride of her heart, and were built for "style," not +service--she could have seen through a pair of stove-lids just as well. +She looked perplexed for a moment, and then said, not fiercely, but +still loud enough for the furniture to hear: + +"Well, I lay if I get hold of you I'll--" + +She did not finish, for by this time she was bending down and punching +under the bed with the broom, and so she needed breath to punctuate the +punches with. She resurrected nothing but the cat. + +"I never did see the beat of that boy!" + +She went to the open door and stood in it and looked out among the +tomato vines and "jimpson" weeds that constituted the garden. No Tom. +So she lifted up her voice at an angle calculated for distance and +shouted: + +"Y-o-u-u TOM!" + +There was a slight noise behind her and she turned just in time to +seize a small boy by the slack of his roundabout and arrest his flight. + +"There! I might 'a' thought of that closet. What you been doing in +there?" + +"Nothing." + +"Nothing! Look at your hands. And look at your mouth. What IS that +truck?" + +"I don't know, aunt." + +"Well, I know. It's jam--that's what it is. Forty times I've said if +you didn't let that jam alone I'd skin you. Hand me that switch." + +The switch hovered in the air--the peril was desperate-- + +"My! Look behind you, aunt!" + +The old lady whirled round, and snatched her skirts out of danger. The +lad fled on the instant, scrambled up the high board-fence, and +disappeared over it. + +His aunt Polly stood surprised a moment, and then broke into a gentle +laugh. + +"Hang the boy, can't I never learn anything? Ain't he played me tricks +enough like that for me to be looking out for him by this time? But old +fools is the biggest fools there is. Can't learn an old dog new tricks, +as the saying is. But my goodness, he never plays them alike, two days, +and how is a body to know what's coming? He 'pears to know just how +long he can torment me before I get my dander up, and he knows if he +can make out to put me off for a minute or make me laugh, it's all down +again and I can't hit him a lick. I ain't doing my duty by that boy, +and that's the Lord's truth, goodness knows. Spare the rod and spile +the child, as the Good Book says. I'm a laying up sin and suffering for +us both, I know. He's full of the Old Scratch, but laws-a-me! he's my +own dead sister's boy, poor thing, and I ain't got the heart to lash +him, somehow. Every time I let him off, my conscience does hurt me so, +and every time I hit him my old heart most breaks. Well-a-well, man +that is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble, as the +Scripture says, and I reckon it's so. He'll play hookey this evening, * +and [* Southwestern for "afternoon"] I'll just be obleeged to make him +work, to-morrow, to punish him. It's mighty hard to make him work +Saturdays, when all the boys is having holiday, but he hates work more +than he hates anything else, and I've GOT to do some of my duty by him, +or I'll be the ruination of the child." + +Tom did play hookey, and he had a very good time. He got back home +barely in season to help Jim, the small colored boy, saw next-day's +wood and split the kindlings before supper--at least he was there in +time to tell his adventures to Jim while Jim did three-fourths of the +work. Tom's younger brother (or rather half-brother) Sid was already +through with his part of the work (picking up chips), for he was a +quiet boy, and had no adventurous, troublesome ways. + +While Tom was eating his supper, and stealing sugar as opportunity +offered, Aunt Polly asked him questions that were full of guile, and +very deep--for she wanted to trap him into damaging revealments. Like +many other simple-hearted souls, it was her pet vanity to believe she +was endowed with a talent for dark and mysterious diplomacy, and she +loved to contemplate her most transparent devices as marvels of low +cunning. Said she: + +"Tom, it was middling warm in school, warn't it?" + +"Yes'm." + +"Powerful warm, warn't it?" + +"Yes'm." + +"Didn't you want to go in a-swimming, Tom?" + +A bit of a scare shot through Tom--a touch of uncomfortable suspicion. +He searched Aunt Polly's face, but it told him nothing. So he said: + +"No'm--well, not very much." + +The old lady reached out her hand and felt Tom's shirt, and said: + +"But you ain't too warm now, though." And it flattered her to reflect +that she had discovered that the shirt was dry without anybody knowing +that that was what she had in her mind. But in spite of her, Tom knew +where the wind lay, now. So he forestalled what might be the next move: + +"Some of us pumped on our heads--mine's damp yet. See?" + +Aunt Polly was vexed to think she had overlooked that bit of +circumstantial evidence, and missed a trick. Then she had a new +inspiration: + +"Tom, you didn't have to undo your shirt collar where I sewed it, to +pump on your head, did you? Unbutton your jacket!" + +The trouble vanished out of Tom's face. He opened his jacket. His +shirt collar was securely sewed. + +"Bother! Well, go 'long with you. I'd made sure you'd played hookey +and been a-swimming. But I forgive ye, Tom. I reckon you're a kind of a +singed cat, as the saying is--better'n you look. THIS time." + +She was half sorry her sagacity had miscarried, and half glad that Tom +had stumbled into obedient conduct for once. + +But Sidney said: + +"Well, now, if I didn't think you sewed his collar with white thread, +but it's black." + +"Why, I did sew it with white! Tom!" + +But Tom did not wait for the rest. As he went out at the door he said: + +"Siddy, I'll lick you for that." + +In a safe place Tom examined two large needles which were thrust into +the lapels of his jacket, and had thread bound about them--one needle +carried white thread and the other black. He said: + +"She'd never noticed if it hadn't been for Sid. Confound it! sometimes +she sews it with white, and sometimes she sews it with black. I wish to +geeminy she'd stick to one or t'other--I can't keep the run of 'em. But +I bet you I'll lam Sid for that. I'll learn him!" + +He was not the Model Boy of the village. He knew the model boy very +well though--and loathed him. + +Within two minutes, or even less, he had forgotten all his troubles. +Not because his troubles were one whit less heavy and bitter to him +than a man's are to a man, but because a new and powerful interest bore +them down and drove them out of his mind for the time--just as men's +misfortunes are forgotten in the excitement of new enterprises. This +new interest was a valued novelty in whistling, which he had just +acquired from a negro, and he was suffering to practise it undisturbed. +It consisted in a peculiar bird-like turn, a sort of liquid warble, +produced by touching the tongue to the roof of the mouth at short +intervals in the midst of the music--the reader probably remembers how +to do it, if he has ever been a boy. Diligence and attention soon gave +him the knack of it, and he strode down the street with his mouth full +of harmony and his soul full of gratitude. He felt much as an +astronomer feels who has discovered a new planet--no doubt, as far as +strong, deep, unalloyed pleasure is concerned, the advantage was with +the boy, not the astronomer. + +The summer evenings were long. It was not dark, yet. Presently Tom +checked his whistle. A stranger was before him--a boy a shade larger +than himself. A new-comer of any age or either sex was an impressive +curiosity in the poor little shabby village of St. Petersburg. This boy +was well dressed, too--well dressed on a week-day. This was simply +astounding. His cap was a dainty thing, his close-buttoned blue cloth +roundabout was new and natty, and so were his pantaloons. He had shoes +on--and it was only Friday. He even wore a necktie, a bright bit of +ribbon. He had a citified air about him that ate into Tom's vitals. The +more Tom stared at the splendid marvel, the higher he turned up his +nose at his finery and the shabbier and shabbier his own outfit seemed +to him to grow. Neither boy spoke. If one moved, the other moved--but +only sidewise, in a circle; they kept face to face and eye to eye all +the time. Finally Tom said: + +"I can lick you!" + +"I'd like to see you try it." + +"Well, I can do it." + +"No you can't, either." + +"Yes I can." + +"No you can't." + +"I can." + +"You can't." + +"Can!" + +"Can't!" + +An uncomfortable pause. Then Tom said: + +"What's your name?" + +"'Tisn't any of your business, maybe." + +"Well I 'low I'll MAKE it my business." + +"Well why don't you?" + +"If you say much, I will." + +"Much--much--MUCH. There now." + +"Oh, you think you're mighty smart, DON'T you? I could lick you with +one hand tied behind me, if I wanted to." + +"Well why don't you DO it? You SAY you can do it." + +"Well I WILL, if you fool with me." + +"Oh yes--I've seen whole families in the same fix." + +"Smarty! You think you're SOME, now, DON'T you? Oh, what a hat!" + +"You can lump that hat if you don't like it. I dare you to knock it +off--and anybody that'll take a dare will suck eggs." + +"You're a liar!" + +"You're another." + +"You're a fighting liar and dasn't take it up." + +"Aw--take a walk!" + +"Say--if you give me much more of your sass I'll take and bounce a +rock off'n your head." + +"Oh, of COURSE you will." + +"Well I WILL." + +"Well why don't you DO it then? What do you keep SAYING you will for? +Why don't you DO it? It's because you're afraid." + +"I AIN'T afraid." + +"You are." + +"I ain't." + +"You are." + +Another pause, and more eying and sidling around each other. Presently +they were shoulder to shoulder. Tom said: + +"Get away from here!" + +"Go away yourself!" + +"I won't." + +"I won't either." + +So they stood, each with a foot placed at an angle as a brace, and +both shoving with might and main, and glowering at each other with +hate. But neither could get an advantage. After struggling till both +were hot and flushed, each relaxed his strain with watchful caution, +and Tom said: + +"You're a coward and a pup. I'll tell my big brother on you, and he +can thrash you with his little finger, and I'll make him do it, too." + +"What do I care for your big brother? I've got a brother that's bigger +than he is--and what's more, he can throw him over that fence, too." +[Both brothers were imaginary.] + +"That's a lie." + +"YOUR saying so don't make it so." + +Tom drew a line in the dust with his big toe, and said: + +"I dare you to step over that, and I'll lick you till you can't stand +up. Anybody that'll take a dare will steal sheep." + +The new boy stepped over promptly, and said: + +"Now you said you'd do it, now let's see you do it." + +"Don't you crowd me now; you better look out." + +"Well, you SAID you'd do it--why don't you do it?" + +"By jingo! for two cents I WILL do it." + +The new boy took two broad coppers out of his pocket and held them out +with derision. Tom struck them to the ground. In an instant both boys +were rolling and tumbling in the dirt, gripped together like cats; and +for the space of a minute they tugged and tore at each other's hair and +clothes, punched and scratched each other's nose, and covered +themselves with dust and glory. Presently the confusion took form, and +through the fog of battle Tom appeared, seated astride the new boy, and +pounding him with his fists. "Holler 'nuff!" said he. + +The boy only struggled to free himself. He was crying--mainly from rage. + +"Holler 'nuff!"--and the pounding went on. + +At last the stranger got out a smothered "'Nuff!" and Tom let him up +and said: + +"Now that'll learn you. Better look out who you're fooling with next +time." + +The new boy went off brushing the dust from his clothes, sobbing, +snuffling, and occasionally looking back and shaking his head and +threatening what he would do to Tom the "next time he caught him out." +To which Tom responded with jeers, and started off in high feather, and +as soon as his back was turned the new boy snatched up a stone, threw +it and hit him between the shoulders and then turned tail and ran like +an antelope. Tom chased the traitor home, and thus found out where he +lived. He then held a position at the gate for some time, daring the +enemy to come outside, but the enemy only made faces at him through the +window and declined. At last the enemy's mother appeared, and called +Tom a bad, vicious, vulgar child, and ordered him away. So he went +away; but he said he "'lowed" to "lay" for that boy. + +He got home pretty late that night, and when he climbed cautiously in +at the window, he uncovered an ambuscade, in the person of his aunt; +and when she saw the state his clothes were in her resolution to turn +his Saturday holiday into captivity at hard labor became adamantine in +its firmness. diff --git a/tests/data/alice29.txt b/tests/data/alice29.txt index f115686..7033655 100644 --- a/tests/data/alice29.txt +++ b/tests/data/alice29.txt @@ -1,3609 +1,3609 @@ - - - - - ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND - - Lewis Carroll - - THE MILLENNIUM FULCRUM EDITION 2.9 - - - - - CHAPTER I - - Down the Rabbit-Hole - - - Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister -on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had -peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no -pictures or conversations in it, `and what is the use of a book,' -thought Alice `without pictures or conversation?' - - So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, -for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid), whether -the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble -of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White -Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her. - - There was nothing so VERY remarkable in that; nor did Alice -think it so VERY much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to -itself, `Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!' (when she thought -it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought to have -wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); -but when the Rabbit actually TOOK A WATCH OUT OF ITS WAISTCOAT- -POCKET, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to -her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never -before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to -take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the -field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop -down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge. - - In another moment down went Alice after it, never once -considering how in the world she was to get out again. - - The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, -and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a -moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself -falling down a very deep well. - - Either the well was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for she -had plenty of time as she went down to look about her and to -wonder what was going to happen next. First, she tried to look -down and make out what she was coming to, but it was too dark to -see anything; then she looked at the sides of the well, and -noticed that they were filled with cupboards and book-shelves; -here and there she saw maps and pictures hung upon pegs. She -took down a jar from one of the shelves as she passed; it was -labelled `ORANGE MARMALADE', but to her great disappointment it -was empty: she did not like to drop the jar for fear of killing -somebody, so managed to put it into one of the cupboards as she -fell past it. - - `Well!' thought Alice to herself, `after such a fall as this, I -shall think nothing of tumbling down stairs! How brave they'll -all think me at home! Why, I wouldn't say anything about it, -even if I fell off the top of the house!' (Which was very likely -true.) - - Down, down, down. Would the fall NEVER come to an end! `I -wonder how many miles I've fallen by this time?' she said aloud. -`I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the earth. Let -me see: that would be four thousand miles down, I think--' (for, -you see, Alice had learnt several things of this sort in her -lessons in the schoolroom, and though this was not a VERY good -opportunity for showing off her knowledge, as there was no one to -listen to her, still it was good practice to say it over) `--yes, -that's about the right distance--but then I wonder what Latitude -or Longitude I've got to?' (Alice had no idea what Latitude was, -or Longitude either, but thought they were nice grand words to -say.) - - Presently she began again. `I wonder if I shall fall right -THROUGH the earth! How funny it'll seem to come out among the -people that walk with their heads downward! The Antipathies, I -think--' (she was rather glad there WAS no one listening, this -time, as it didn't sound at all the right word) `--but I shall -have to ask them what the name of the country is, you know. -Please, Ma'am, is this New Zealand or Australia?' (and she tried -to curtsey as she spoke--fancy CURTSEYING as you're falling -through the air! Do you think you could manage it?) `And what -an ignorant little girl she'll think me for asking! No, it'll -never do to ask: perhaps I shall see it written up somewhere.' - - Down, down, down. There was nothing else to do, so Alice soon -began talking again. `Dinah'll miss me very much to-night, I -should think!' (Dinah was the cat.) `I hope they'll remember -her saucer of milk at tea-time. Dinah my dear! I wish you were -down here with me! There are no mice in the air, I'm afraid, but -you might catch a bat, and that's very like a mouse, you know. -But do cats eat bats, I wonder?' And here Alice began to get -rather sleepy, and went on saying to herself, in a dreamy sort of -way, `Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?' and sometimes, `Do -bats eat cats?' for, you see, as she couldn't answer either -question, it didn't much matter which way she put it. She felt -that she was dozing off, and had just begun to dream that she -was walking hand in hand with Dinah, and saying to her very -earnestly, `Now, Dinah, tell me the truth: did you ever eat a -bat?' when suddenly, thump! thump! down she came upon a heap of -sticks and dry leaves, and the fall was over. - - Alice was not a bit hurt, and she jumped up on to her feet in a -moment: she looked up, but it was all dark overhead; before her -was another long passage, and the White Rabbit was still in -sight, hurrying down it. There was not a moment to be lost: -away went Alice like the wind, and was just in time to hear it -say, as it turned a corner, `Oh my ears and whiskers, how late -it's getting!' She was close behind it when she turned the -corner, but the Rabbit was no longer to be seen: she found -herself in a long, low hall, which was lit up by a row of lamps -hanging from the roof. - - There were doors all round the hall, but they were all locked; -and when Alice had been all the way down one side and up the -other, trying every door, she walked sadly down the middle, -wondering how she was ever to get out again. - - Suddenly she came upon a little three-legged table, all made of -solid glass; there was nothing on it except a tiny golden key, -and Alice's first thought was that it might belong to one of the -doors of the hall; but, alas! either the locks were too large, or -the key was too small, but at any rate it would not open any of -them. However, on the second time round, she came upon a low -curtain she had not noticed before, and behind it was a little -door about fifteen inches high: she tried the little golden key -in the lock, and to her great delight it fitted! - - Alice opened the door and found that it led into a small -passage, not much larger than a rat-hole: she knelt down and -looked along the passage into the loveliest garden you ever saw. -How she longed to get out of that dark hall, and wander about -among those beds of bright flowers and those cool fountains, but -she could not even get her head though the doorway; `and even if -my head would go through,' thought poor Alice, `it would be of -very little use without my shoulders. Oh, how I wish -I could shut up like a telescope! I think I could, if I only -know how to begin.' For, you see, so many out-of-the-way things -had happened lately, that Alice had begun to think that very few -things indeed were really impossible. - - There seemed to be no use in waiting by the little door, so she -went back to the table, half hoping she might find another key on -it, or at any rate a book of rules for shutting people up like -telescopes: this time she found a little bottle on it, (`which -certainly was not here before,' said Alice,) and round the neck -of the bottle was a paper label, with the words `DRINK ME' -beautifully printed on it in large letters. - - It was all very well to say `Drink me,' but the wise little -Alice was not going to do THAT in a hurry. `No, I'll look -first,' she said, `and see whether it's marked "poison" or not'; -for she had read several nice little histories about children who -had got burnt, and eaten up by wild beasts and other unpleasant -things, all because they WOULD not remember the simple rules -their friends had taught them: such as, that a red-hot poker -will burn you if you hold it too long; and that if you cut your -finger VERY deeply with a knife, it usually bleeds; and she had -never forgotten that, if you drink much from a bottle marked -`poison,' it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or -later. - - However, this bottle was NOT marked `poison,' so Alice ventured -to taste it, and finding it very nice, (it had, in fact, a sort -of mixed flavour of cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple, roast -turkey, toffee, and hot buttered toast,) she very soon finished -it off. - - * * * * * * * - - * * * * * * - - * * * * * * * - - `What a curious feeling!' said Alice; `I must be shutting up -like a telescope.' - - And so it was indeed: she was now only ten inches high, and -her face brightened up at the thought that she was now the right -size for going though the little door into that lovely garden. -First, however, she waited for a few minutes to see if she was -going to shrink any further: she felt a little nervous about -this; `for it might end, you know,' said Alice to herself, `in my -going out altogether, like a candle. I wonder what I should be -like then?' And she tried to fancy what the flame of a candle is -like after the candle is blown out, for she could not remember -ever having seen such a thing. - - After a while, finding that nothing more happened, she decided -on going into the garden at once; but, alas for poor Alice! when -she got to the door, she found he had forgotten the little golden -key, and when she went back to the table for it, she found she -could not possibly reach it: she could see it quite plainly -through the glass, and she tried her best to climb up one of the -legs of the table, but it was too slippery; and when she had -tired herself out with trying, the poor little thing sat down and -cried. - - `Come, there's no use in crying like that!' said Alice to -herself, rather sharply; `I advise you to leave off this minute!' -She generally gave herself very good advice, (though she very -seldom followed it), and sometimes she scolded herself so -severely as to bring tears into her eyes; and once she remembered -trying to box her own ears for having cheated herself in a game -of croquet she was playing against herself, for this curious -child was very fond of pretending to be two people. `But it's no -use now,' thought poor Alice, `to pretend to be two people! Why, -there's hardly enough of me left to make ONE respectable -person!' - - Soon her eye fell on a little glass box that was lying under -the table: she opened it, and found in it a very small cake, on -which the words `EAT ME' were beautifully marked in currants. -`Well, I'll eat it,' said Alice, `and if it makes me grow larger, -I can reach the key; and if it makes me grow smaller, I can creep -under the door; so either way I'll get into the garden, and I -don't care which happens!' - - She ate a little bit, and said anxiously to herself, `Which -way? Which way?', holding her hand on the top of her head to -feel which way it was growing, and she was quite surprised to -find that she remained the same size: to be sure, this generally -happens when one eats cake, but Alice had got so much into the -way of expecting nothing but out-of-the-way things to happen, -that it seemed quite dull and stupid for life to go on in the -common way. - - So she set to work, and very soon finished off the cake. - - * * * * * * * - - * * * * * * - - * * * * * * * - - - - - CHAPTER II - - The Pool of Tears - - - `Curiouser and curiouser!' cried Alice (she was so much -surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good -English); `now I'm opening out like the largest telescope that -ever was! Good-bye, feet!' (for when she looked down at her -feet, they seemed to be almost out of sight, they were getting so -far off). `Oh, my poor little feet, I wonder who will put on -your shoes and stockings for you now, dears? I'm sure _I_ shan't -be able! I shall be a great deal too far off to trouble myself -about you: you must manage the best way you can; --but I must be -kind to them,' thought Alice, `or perhaps they won't walk the -way I want to go! Let me see: I'll give them a new pair of -boots every Christmas.' - - And she went on planning to herself how she would manage it. -`They must go by the carrier,' she thought; `and how funny it'll -seem, sending presents to one's own feet! And how odd the -directions will look! - - ALICE'S RIGHT FOOT, ESQ. - HEARTHRUG, - NEAR THE FENDER, - (WITH ALICE'S LOVE). - -Oh dear, what nonsense I'm talking!' - - Just then her head struck against the roof of the hall: in -fact she was now more than nine feet high, and she at once took -up the little golden key and hurried off to the garden door. - - Poor Alice! It was as much as she could do, lying down on one -side, to look through into the garden with one eye; but to get -through was more hopeless than ever: she sat down and began to -cry again. - - `You ought to be ashamed of yourself,' said Alice, `a great -girl like you,' (she might well say this), `to go on crying in -this way! Stop this moment, I tell you!' But she went on all -the same, shedding gallons of tears, until there was a large pool -all round her, about four inches deep and reaching half down the -hall. - - After a time she heard a little pattering of feet in the -distance, and she hastily dried her eyes to see what was coming. -It was the White Rabbit returning, splendidly dressed, with a -pair of white kid gloves in one hand and a large fan in the -other: he came trotting along in a great hurry, muttering to -himself as he came, `Oh! the Duchess, the Duchess! Oh! won't she -be savage if I've kept her waiting!' Alice felt so desperate -that she was ready to ask help of any one; so, when the Rabbit -came near her, she began, in a low, timid voice, `If you please, -sir--' The Rabbit started violently, dropped the white kid -gloves and the fan, and skurried away into the darkness as hard -as he could go. - - Alice took up the fan and gloves, and, as the hall was very -hot, she kept fanning herself all the time she went on talking: -`Dear, dear! How queer everything is to-day! And yesterday -things went on just as usual. I wonder if I've been changed in -the night? Let me think: was I the same when I got up this -morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little -different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is, Who in -the world am I? Ah, THAT'S the great puzzle!' And she began -thinking over all the children she knew that were of the same age -as herself, to see if she could have been changed for any of -them. - - `I'm sure I'm not Ada,' she said, `for her hair goes in such -long ringlets, and mine doesn't go in ringlets at all; and I'm -sure I can't be Mabel, for I know all sorts of things, and she, -oh! she knows such a very little! Besides, SHE'S she, and I'm I, -and--oh dear, how puzzling it all is! I'll try if I know all the -things I used to know. Let me see: four times five is twelve, -and four times six is thirteen, and four times seven is--oh dear! -I shall never get to twenty at that rate! However, the -Multiplication Table doesn't signify: let's try Geography. -London is the capital of Paris, and Paris is the capital of Rome, -and Rome--no, THAT'S all wrong, I'm certain! I must have been -changed for Mabel! I'll try and say "How doth the little--"' -and she crossed her hands on her lap as if she were saying lessons, -and began to repeat it, but her voice sounded hoarse and -strange, and the words did not come the same as they used to do:-- - - `How doth the little crocodile - Improve his shining tail, - And pour the waters of the Nile - On every golden scale! - - `How cheerfully he seems to grin, - How neatly spread his claws, - And welcome little fishes in - With gently smiling jaws!' - - `I'm sure those are not the right words,' said poor Alice, and -her eyes filled with tears again as she went on, `I must be Mabel -after all, and I shall have to go and live in that poky little -house, and have next to no toys to play with, and oh! ever so -many lessons to learn! No, I've made up my mind about it; if I'm -Mabel, I'll stay down here! It'll be no use their putting their -heads down and saying "Come up again, dear!" I shall only look -up and say "Who am I then? Tell me that first, and then, if I -like being that person, I'll come up: if not, I'll stay down -here till I'm somebody else"--but, oh dear!' cried Alice, with a -sudden burst of tears, `I do wish they WOULD put their heads -down! I am so VERY tired of being all alone here!' - - As she said this she looked down at her hands, and was -surprised to see that she had put on one of the Rabbit's little -white kid gloves while she was talking. `How CAN I have done -that?' she thought. `I must be growing small again.' She got up -and went to the table to measure herself by it, and found that, -as nearly as she could guess, she was now about two feet high, -and was going on shrinking rapidly: she soon found out that the -cause of this was the fan she was holding, and she dropped it -hastily, just in time to avoid shrinking away altogether. - -`That WAS a narrow escape!' said Alice, a good deal frightened at -the sudden change, but very glad to find herself still in -existence; `and now for the garden!' and she ran with all speed -back to the little door: but, alas! the little door was shut -again, and the little golden key was lying on the glass table as -before, `and things are worse than ever,' thought the poor child, -`for I never was so small as this before, never! And I declare -it's too bad, that it is!' - - As she said these words her foot slipped, and in another -moment, splash! she was up to her chin in salt water. He first -idea was that she had somehow fallen into the sea, `and in that -case I can go back by railway,' she said to herself. (Alice had -been to the seaside once in her life, and had come to the general -conclusion, that wherever you go to on the English coast you find -a number of bathing machines in the sea, some children digging in -the sand with wooden spades, then a row of lodging houses, and -behind them a railway station.) However, she soon made out that -she was in the pool of tears which she had wept when she was nine -feet high. - - `I wish I hadn't cried so much!' said Alice, as she swam about, -trying to find her way out. `I shall be punished for it now, I -suppose, by being drowned in my own tears! That WILL be a queer -thing, to be sure! However, everything is queer to-day.' - - Just then she heard something splashing about in the pool a -little way off, and she swam nearer to make out what it was: at -first she thought it must be a walrus or hippopotamus, but then -she remembered how small she was now, and she soon made out that -it was only a mouse that had slipped in like herself. - - `Would it be of any use, now,' thought Alice, `to speak to this -mouse? Everything is so out-of-the-way down here, that I should -think very likely it can talk: at any rate, there's no harm in -trying.' So she began: `O Mouse, do you know the way out of -this pool? I am very tired of swimming about here, O Mouse!' -(Alice thought this must be the right way of speaking to a mouse: -she had never done such a thing before, but she remembered having -seen in her brother's Latin Grammar, `A mouse--of a mouse--to a -mouse--a mouse--O mouse!' The Mouse looked at her rather -inquisitively, and seemed to her to wink with one of its little -eyes, but it said nothing. - - `Perhaps it doesn't understand English,' thought Alice; `I -daresay it's a French mouse, come over with William the -Conqueror.' (For, with all her knowledge of history, Alice had -no very clear notion how long ago anything had happened.) So she -began again: `Ou est ma chatte?' which was the first sentence in -her French lesson-book. The Mouse gave a sudden leap out of the -water, and seemed to quiver all over with fright. `Oh, I beg -your pardon!' cried Alice hastily, afraid that she had hurt the -poor animal's feelings. `I quite forgot you didn't like cats.' - - `Not like cats!' cried the Mouse, in a shrill, passionate -voice. `Would YOU like cats if you were me?' - - `Well, perhaps not,' said Alice in a soothing tone: `don't be -angry about it. And yet I wish I could show you our cat Dinah: -I think you'd take a fancy to cats if you could only see her. -She is such a dear quiet thing,' Alice went on, half to herself, -as she swam lazily about in the pool, `and she sits purring so -nicely by the fire, licking her paws and washing her face--and -she is such a nice soft thing to nurse--and she's such a capital -one for catching mice--oh, I beg your pardon!' cried Alice again, -for this time the Mouse was bristling all over, and she felt -certain it must be really offended. `We won't talk about her any -more if you'd rather not.' - - `We indeed!' cried the Mouse, who was trembling down to the end -of his tail. `As if I would talk on such a subject! Our family -always HATED cats: nasty, low, vulgar things! Don't let me hear -the name again!' - - `I won't indeed!' said Alice, in a great hurry to change the -subject of conversation. `Are you--are you fond--of--of dogs?' -The Mouse did not answer, so Alice went on eagerly: `There is -such a nice little dog near our house I should like to show you! -A little bright-eyed terrier, you know, with oh, such long curly -brown hair! And it'll fetch things when you throw them, and -it'll sit up and beg for its dinner, and all sorts of things--I -can't remember half of them--and it belongs to a farmer, you -know, and he says it's so useful, it's worth a hundred pounds! -He says it kills all the rats and--oh dear!' cried Alice in a -sorrowful tone, `I'm afraid I've offended it again!' For the -Mouse was swimming away from her as hard as it could go, and -making quite a commotion in the pool as it went. - - So she called softly after it, `Mouse dear! Do come back -again, and we won't talk about cats or dogs either, if you don't -like them!' When the Mouse heard this, it turned round and swam -slowly back to her: its face was quite pale (with passion, Alice -thought), and it said in a low trembling voice, `Let us get to -the shore, and then I'll tell you my history, and you'll -understand why it is I hate cats and dogs.' - - It was high time to go, for the pool was getting quite crowded -with the birds and animals that had fallen into it: there were a -Duck and a Dodo, a Lory and an Eaglet, and several other curious -creatures. Alice led the way, and the whole party swam to the -shore. - - - - CHAPTER III - - A Caucus-Race and a Long Tale - - - They were indeed a queer-looking party that assembled on the -bank--the birds with draggled feathers, the animals with their -fur clinging close to them, and all dripping wet, cross, and -uncomfortable. - - The first question of course was, how to get dry again: they -had a consultation about this, and after a few minutes it seemed -quite natural to Alice to find herself talking familiarly with -them, as if she had known them all her life. Indeed, she had -quite a long argument with the Lory, who at last turned sulky, -and would only say, `I am older than you, and must know better'; -and this Alice would not allow without knowing how old it was, -and, as the Lory positively refused to tell its age, there was no -more to be said. - - At last the Mouse, who seemed to be a person of authority among -them, called out, `Sit down, all of you, and listen to me! I'LL -soon make you dry enough!' They all sat down at once, in a large -ring, with the Mouse in the middle. Alice kept her eyes -anxiously fixed on it, for she felt sure she would catch a bad -cold if she did not get dry very soon. - - `Ahem!' said the Mouse with an important air, `are you all ready? -This is the driest thing I know. Silence all round, if you please! -"William the Conqueror, whose cause was favoured by the pope, was -soon submitted to by the English, who wanted leaders, and had been -of late much accustomed to usurpation and conquest. Edwin and -Morcar, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria--"' - - `Ugh!' said the Lory, with a shiver. - - `I beg your pardon!' said the Mouse, frowning, but very -politely: `Did you speak?' - - `Not I!' said the Lory hastily. - - `I thought you did,' said the Mouse. `--I proceed. "Edwin and -Morcar, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria, declared for him: -and even Stigand, the patriotic archbishop of Canterbury, found -it advisable--"' - - `Found WHAT?' said the Duck. - - `Found IT,' the Mouse replied rather crossly: `of course you -know what "it" means.' - - `I know what "it" means well enough, when I find a thing,' said -the Duck: `it's generally a frog or a worm. The question is, -what did the archbishop find?' - - The Mouse did not notice this question, but hurriedly went on, -`"--found it advisable to go with Edgar Atheling to meet William -and offer him the crown. William's conduct at first was -moderate. But the insolence of his Normans--" How are you -getting on now, my dear?' it continued, turning to Alice as it -spoke. - - `As wet as ever,' said Alice in a melancholy tone: `it doesn't -seem to dry me at all.' - - `In that case,' said the Dodo solemnly, rising to its feet, `I -move that the meeting adjourn, for the immediate adoption of more -energetic remedies--' - - `Speak English!' said the Eaglet. `I don't know the meaning of -half those long words, and, what's more, I don't believe you do -either!' And the Eaglet bent down its head to hide a smile: -some of the other birds tittered audibly. - - `What I was going to say,' said the Dodo in an offended tone, -`was, that the best thing to get us dry would be a Caucus-race.' - - `What IS a Caucus-race?' said Alice; not that she wanted much -to know, but the Dodo had paused as if it thought that SOMEBODY -ought to speak, and no one else seemed inclined to say anything. - - `Why,' said the Dodo, `the best way to explain it is to do it.' -(And, as you might like to try the thing yourself, some winter -day, I will tell you how the Dodo managed it.) - - First it marked out a race-course, in a sort of circle, (`the -exact shape doesn't matter,' it said,) and then all the party -were placed along the course, here and there. There was no `One, -two, three, and away,' but they began running when they liked, -and left off when they liked, so that it was not easy to know -when the race was over. However, when they had been running half -an hour or so, and were quite dry again, the Dodo suddenly called -out `The race is over!' and they all crowded round it, panting, -and asking, `But who has won?' - - This question the Dodo could not answer without a great deal of -thought, and it sat for a long time with one finger pressed upon -its forehead (the position in which you usually see Shakespeare, -in the pictures of him), while the rest waited in silence. At -last the Dodo said, `EVERYBODY has won, and all must have -prizes.' - - `But who is to give the prizes?' quite a chorus of voices -asked. - - `Why, SHE, of course,' said the Dodo, pointing to Alice with -one finger; and the whole party at once crowded round her, -calling out in a confused way, `Prizes! Prizes!' - - Alice had no idea what to do, and in despair she put her hand -in her pocket, and pulled out a box of comfits, (luckily the salt -water had not got into it), and handed them round as prizes. -There was exactly one a-piece all round. - - `But she must have a prize herself, you know,' said the Mouse. - - `Of course,' the Dodo replied very gravely. `What else have -you got in your pocket?' he went on, turning to Alice. - - `Only a thimble,' said Alice sadly. - - `Hand it over here,' said the Dodo. - - Then they all crowded round her once more, while the Dodo -solemnly presented the thimble, saying `We beg your acceptance of -this elegant thimble'; and, when it had finished this short -speech, they all cheered. - - Alice thought the whole thing very absurd, but they all looked -so grave that she did not dare to laugh; and, as she could not -think of anything to say, she simply bowed, and took the thimble, -looking as solemn as she could. - - The next thing was to eat the comfits: this caused some noise -and confusion, as the large birds complained that they could not -taste theirs, and the small ones choked and had to be patted on -the back. However, it was over at last, and they sat down again -in a ring, and begged the Mouse to tell them something more. - - `You promised to tell me your history, you know,' said Alice, -`and why it is you hate--C and D,' she added in a whisper, half -afraid that it would be offended again. - - `Mine is a long and a sad tale!' said the Mouse, turning to -Alice, and sighing. - - `It IS a long tail, certainly,' said Alice, looking down with -wonder at the Mouse's tail; `but why do you call it sad?' And -she kept on puzzling about it while the Mouse was speaking, so -that her idea of the tale was something like this:-- - - `Fury said to a - mouse, That he - met in the - house, - "Let us - both go to - law: I will - prosecute - YOU. --Come, - I'll take no - denial; We - must have a - trial: For - really this - morning I've - nothing - to do." - Said the - mouse to the - cur, "Such - a trial, - dear Sir, - With - no jury - or judge, - would be - wasting - our - breath." - "I'll be - judge, I'll - be jury," - Said - cunning - old Fury: - "I'll - try the - whole - cause, - and - condemn - you - to - death."' - - - `You are not attending!' said the Mouse to Alice severely. -`What are you thinking of?' - - `I beg your pardon,' said Alice very humbly: `you had got to -the fifth bend, I think?' - - `I had NOT!' cried the Mouse, sharply and very angrily. - - `A knot!' said Alice, always ready to make herself useful, and -looking anxiously about her. `Oh, do let me help to undo it!' - - `I shall do nothing of the sort,' said the Mouse, getting up -and walking away. `You insult me by talking such nonsense!' - - `I didn't mean it!' pleaded poor Alice. `But you're so easily -offended, you know!' - - The Mouse only growled in reply. - - `Please come back and finish your story!' Alice called after -it; and the others all joined in chorus, `Yes, please do!' but -the Mouse only shook its head impatiently, and walked a little -quicker. - - `What a pity it wouldn't stay!' sighed the Lory, as soon as it -was quite out of sight; and an old Crab took the opportunity of -saying to her daughter `Ah, my dear! Let this be a lesson to you -never to lose YOUR temper!' `Hold your tongue, Ma!' said the -young Crab, a little snappishly. `You're enough to try the -patience of an oyster!' - - `I wish I had our Dinah here, I know I do!' said Alice aloud, -addressing nobody in particular. `She'd soon fetch it back!' - - `And who is Dinah, if I might venture to ask the question?' -said the Lory. - - Alice replied eagerly, for she was always ready to talk about -her pet: `Dinah's our cat. And she's such a capital one for -catching mice you can't think! And oh, I wish you could see her -after the birds! Why, she'll eat a little bird as soon as look -at it!' - - This speech caused a remarkable sensation among the party. -Some of the birds hurried off at once: one the old Magpie began -wrapping itself up very carefully, remarking, `I really must be -getting home; the night-air doesn't suit my throat!' and a Canary -called out in a trembling voice to its children, `Come away, my -dears! It's high time you were all in bed!' On various pretexts -they all moved off, and Alice was soon left alone. - - `I wish I hadn't mentioned Dinah!' she said to herself in a -melancholy tone. `Nobody seems to like her, down here, and I'm -sure she's the best cat in the world! Oh, my dear Dinah! I -wonder if I shall ever see you any more!' And here poor Alice -began to cry again, for she felt very lonely and low-spirited. -In a little while, however, she again heard a little pattering of -footsteps in the distance, and she looked up eagerly, half hoping -that the Mouse had changed his mind, and was coming back to -finish his story. - - - - CHAPTER IV - - The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill - - - It was the White Rabbit, trotting slowly back again, and -looking anxiously about as it went, as if it had lost something; -and she heard it muttering to itself `The Duchess! The Duchess! -Oh my dear paws! Oh my fur and whiskers! She'll get me -executed, as sure as ferrets are ferrets! Where CAN I have -dropped them, I wonder?' Alice guessed in a moment that it was -looking for the fan and the pair of white kid gloves, and she -very good-naturedly began hunting about for them, but they were -nowhere to be seen--everything seemed to have changed since her -swim in the pool, and the great hall, with the glass table and -the little door, had vanished completely. - - Very soon the Rabbit noticed Alice, as she went hunting about, -and called out to her in an angry tone, `Why, Mary Ann, what ARE -you doing out here? Run home this moment, and fetch me a pair of -gloves and a fan! Quick, now!' And Alice was so much frightened -that she ran off at once in the direction it pointed to, without -trying to explain the mistake it had made. - - `He took me for his housemaid,' she said to herself as she ran. -`How surprised he'll be when he finds out who I am! But I'd -better take him his fan and gloves--that is, if I can find them.' -As she said this, she came upon a neat little house, on the door -of which was a bright brass plate with the name `W. RABBIT' -engraved upon it. She went in without knocking, and hurried -upstairs, in great fear lest she should meet the real Mary Ann, -and be turned out of the house before she had found the fan and -gloves. - - `How queer it seems,' Alice said to herself, `to be going -messages for a rabbit! I suppose Dinah'll be sending me on -messages next!' And she began fancying the sort of thing that -would happen: `"Miss Alice! Come here directly, and get ready -for your walk!" "Coming in a minute, nurse! But I've got to see -that the mouse doesn't get out." Only I don't think,' Alice went -on, `that they'd let Dinah stop in the house if it began ordering -people about like that!' - - By this time she had found her way into a tidy little room with -a table in the window, and on it (as she had hoped) a fan and two -or three pairs of tiny white kid gloves: she took up the fan and -a pair of the gloves, and was just going to leave the room, when -her eye fell upon a little bottle that stood near the looking- -glass. There was no label this time with the words `DRINK ME,' -but nevertheless she uncorked it and put it to her lips. `I know -SOMETHING interesting is sure to happen,' she said to herself, -`whenever I eat or drink anything; so I'll just see what this -bottle does. I do hope it'll make me grow large again, for -really I'm quite tired of being such a tiny little thing!' - - It did so indeed, and much sooner than she had expected: -before she had drunk half the bottle, she found her head pressing -against the ceiling, and had to stoop to save her neck from being -broken. She hastily put down the bottle, saying to herself -`That's quite enough--I hope I shan't grow any more--As it is, I -can't get out at the door--I do wish I hadn't drunk quite so -much!' - - Alas! it was too late to wish that! She went on growing, and -growing, and very soon had to kneel down on the floor: in -another minute there was not even room for this, and she tried -the effect of lying down with one elbow against the door, and the -other arm curled round her head. Still she went on growing, and, -as a last resource, she put one arm out of the window, and one -foot up the chimney, and said to herself `Now I can do no more, -whatever happens. What WILL become of me?' - - Luckily for Alice, the little magic bottle had now had its full -effect, and she grew no larger: still it was very uncomfortable, -and, as there seemed to be no sort of chance of her ever getting -out of the room again, no wonder she felt unhappy. - - `It was much pleasanter at home,' thought poor Alice, `when one -wasn't always growing larger and smaller, and being ordered about -by mice and rabbits. I almost wish I hadn't gone down that -rabbit-hole--and yet--and yet--it's rather curious, you know, -this sort of life! I do wonder what CAN have happened to me! -When I used to read fairy-tales, I fancied that kind of thing -never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one! There -ought to be a book written about me, that there ought! And when -I grow up, I'll write one--but I'm grown up now,' she added in a -sorrowful tone; `at least there's no room to grow up any more -HERE.' - - `But then,' thought Alice, `shall I NEVER get any older than I -am now? That'll be a comfort, one way--never to be an old woman- --but then--always to have lessons to learn! Oh, I shouldn't like -THAT!' - - `Oh, you foolish Alice!' she answered herself. `How can you -learn lessons in here? Why, there's hardly room for YOU, and no -room at all for any lesson-books!' - - And so she went on, taking first one side and then the other, -and making quite a conversation of it altogether; but after a few -minutes she heard a voice outside, and stopped to listen. - - `Mary Ann! Mary Ann!' said the voice. `Fetch me my gloves -this moment!' Then came a little pattering of feet on the -stairs. Alice knew it was the Rabbit coming to look for her, and -she trembled till she shook the house, quite forgetting that she -was now about a thousand times as large as the Rabbit, and had no -reason to be afraid of it. - - Presently the Rabbit came up to the door, and tried to open it; -but, as the door opened inwards, and Alice's elbow was pressed -hard against it, that attempt proved a failure. Alice heard it -say to itself `Then I'll go round and get in at the window.' - - `THAT you won't' thought Alice, and, after waiting till she -fancied she heard the Rabbit just under the window, she suddenly -spread out her hand, and made a snatch in the air. She did not -get hold of anything, but she heard a little shriek and a fall, -and a crash of broken glass, from which she concluded that it was -just possible it had fallen into a cucumber-frame, or something -of the sort. - - Next came an angry voice--the Rabbit's--`Pat! Pat! Where are -you?' And then a voice she had never heard before, `Sure then -I'm here! Digging for apples, yer honour!' - - `Digging for apples, indeed!' said the Rabbit angrily. `Here! -Come and help me out of THIS!' (Sounds of more broken glass.) - - `Now tell me, Pat, what's that in the window?' - - `Sure, it's an arm, yer honour!' (He pronounced it `arrum.') - - `An arm, you goose! Who ever saw one that size? Why, it -fills the whole window!' - - `Sure, it does, yer honour: but it's an arm for all that.' - - `Well, it's got no business there, at any rate: go and take it -away!' - - There was a long silence after this, and Alice could only hear -whispers now and then; such as, `Sure, I don't like it, yer -honour, at all, at all!' `Do as I tell you, you coward!' and at -last she spread out her hand again, and made another snatch in -the air. This time there were TWO little shrieks, and more -sounds of broken glass. `What a number of cucumber-frames there -must be!' thought Alice. `I wonder what they'll do next! As for -pulling me out of the window, I only wish they COULD! I'm sure I -don't want to stay in here any longer!' - - She waited for some time without hearing anything more: at -last came a rumbling of little cartwheels, and the sound of a -good many voice all talking together: she made out the words: -`Where's the other ladder?--Why, I hadn't to bring but one; -Bill's got the other--Bill! fetch it here, lad!--Here, put 'em up -at this corner--No, tie 'em together first--they don't reach half -high enough yet--Oh! they'll do well enough; don't be particular- --Here, Bill! catch hold of this rope--Will the roof bear?--Mind -that loose slate--Oh, it's coming down! Heads below!' (a loud -crash)--`Now, who did that?--It was Bill, I fancy--Who's to go -down the chimney?--Nay, I shan't! YOU do it!--That I won't, -then!--Bill's to go down--Here, Bill! the master says you're to -go down the chimney!' - - `Oh! So Bill's got to come down the chimney, has he?' said -Alice to herself. `Shy, they seem to put everything upon Bill! -I wouldn't be in Bill's place for a good deal: this fireplace is -narrow, to be sure; but I THINK I can kick a little!' - - She drew her foot as far down the chimney as she could, and -waited till she heard a little animal (she couldn't guess of what -sort it was) scratching and scrambling about in the chimney close -above her: then, saying to herself `This is Bill,' she gave one -sharp kick, and waited to see what would happen next. - - The first thing she heard was a general chorus of `There goes -Bill!' then the Rabbit's voice along--`Catch him, you by the -hedge!' then silence, and then another confusion of voices--`Hold -up his head--Brandy now--Don't choke him--How was it, old fellow? -What happened to you? Tell us all about it!' - - Last came a little feeble, squeaking voice, (`That's Bill,' -thought Alice,) `Well, I hardly know--No more, thank ye; I'm -better now--but I'm a deal too flustered to tell you--all I know -is, something comes at me like a Jack-in-the-box, and up I goes -like a sky-rocket!' - - `So you did, old fellow!' said the others. - - `We must burn the house down!' said the Rabbit's voice; and -Alice called out as loud as she could, `If you do. I'll set -Dinah at you!' - - There was a dead silence instantly, and Alice thought to -herself, `I wonder what they WILL do next! If they had any -sense, they'd take the roof off.' After a minute or two, they -began moving about again, and Alice heard the Rabbit say, `A -barrowful will do, to begin with.' - - `A barrowful of WHAT?' thought Alice; but she had not long to -doubt, for the next moment a shower of little pebbles came -rattling in at the window, and some of them hit her in the face. -`I'll put a stop to this,' she said to herself, and shouted out, -`You'd better not do that again!' which produced another dead -silence. - - Alice noticed with some surprise that the pebbles were all -turning into little cakes as they lay on the floor, and a bright -idea came into her head. `If I eat one of these cakes,' she -thought, `it's sure to make SOME change in my size; and as it -can't possibly make me larger, it must make me smaller, I -suppose.' - - So she swallowed one of the cakes, and was delighted to find -that she began shrinking directly. As soon as she was small -enough to get through the door, she ran out of the house, and -found quite a crowd of little animals and birds waiting outside. -The poor little Lizard, Bill, was in the middle, being held up by -two guinea-pigs, who were giving it something out of a bottle. -They all made a rush at Alice the moment she appeared; but she -ran off as hard as she could, and soon found herself safe in a -thick wood. - - `The first thing I've got to do,' said Alice to herself, as she -wandered about in the wood, `is to grow to my right size again; -and the second thing is to find my way into that lovely garden. -I think that will be the best plan.' - - It sounded an excellent plan, no doubt, and very neatly and -simply arranged; the only difficulty was, that she had not the -smallest idea how to set about it; and while she was peering -about anxiously among the trees, a little sharp bark just over -her head made her look up in a great hurry. - - An enormous puppy was looking down at her with large round -eyes, and feebly stretching out one paw, trying to touch her. -`Poor little thing!' said Alice, in a coaxing tone, and she tried -hard to whistle to it; but she was terribly frightened all the -time at the thought that it might be hungry, in which case it -would be very likely to eat her up in spite of all her coaxing. - - Hardly knowing what she did, she picked up a little bit of -stick, and held it out to the puppy; whereupon the puppy jumped -into the air off all its feet at once, with a yelp of delight, -and rushed at the stick, and made believe to worry it; then Alice -dodged behind a great thistle, to keep herself from being run -over; and the moment she appeared on the other side, the puppy -made another rush at the stick, and tumbled head over heels in -its hurry to get hold of it; then Alice, thinking it was very -like having a game of play with a cart-horse, and expecting every -moment to be trampled under its feet, ran round the thistle -again; then the puppy began a series of short charges at the -stick, running a very little way forwards each time and a long -way back, and barking hoarsely all the while, till at last it sat -down a good way off, panting, with its tongue hanging out of its -mouth, and its great eyes half shut. - - This seemed to Alice a good opportunity for making her escape; -so she set off at once, and ran till she was quite tired and out -of breath, and till the puppy's bark sounded quite faint in the -distance. - - `And yet what a dear little puppy it was!' said Alice, as she -leant against a buttercup to rest herself, and fanned herself -with one of the leaves: `I should have liked teaching it tricks -very much, if--if I'd only been the right size to do it! Oh -dear! I'd nearly forgotten that I've got to grow up again! Let -me see--how IS it to be managed? I suppose I ought to eat or -drink something or other; but the great question is, what?' - - The great question certainly was, what? Alice looked all round -her at the flowers and the blades of grass, but she did not see -anything that looked like the right thing to eat or drink under -the circumstances. There was a large mushroom growing near her, -about the same height as herself; and when she had looked under -it, and on both sides of it, and behind it, it occurred to her -that she might as well look and see what was on the top of it. - - She stretched herself up on tiptoe, and peeped over the edge of -the mushroom, and her eyes immediately met those of a large -caterpillar, that was sitting on the top with its arms folded, -quietly smoking a long hookah, and taking not the smallest notice -of her or of anything else. - - - - CHAPTER V - - Advice from a Caterpillar - - - The Caterpillar and Alice looked at each other for some time in -silence: at last the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its -mouth, and addressed her in a languid, sleepy voice. - - `Who are YOU?' said the Caterpillar. - - This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice -replied, rather shyly, `I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- -at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think -I must have been changed several times since then.' - - `What do you mean by that?' said the Caterpillar sternly. -`Explain yourself!' - - `I can't explain MYSELF, I'm afraid, sir' said Alice, `because -I'm not myself, you see.' - - `I don't see,' said the Caterpillar. - - `I'm afraid I can't put it more clearly,' Alice replied very -politely, `for I can't understand it myself to begin with; and -being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing.' - - `It isn't,' said the Caterpillar. - - `Well, perhaps you haven't found it so yet,' said Alice; `but -when you have to turn into a chrysalis--you will some day, you -know--and then after that into a butterfly, I should think you'll -feel it a little queer, won't you?' - - `Not a bit,' said the Caterpillar. - - `Well, perhaps your feelings may be different,' said Alice; -`all I know is, it would feel very queer to ME.' - - `You!' said the Caterpillar contemptuously. `Who are YOU?' - - Which brought them back again to the beginning of the -conversation. Alice felt a little irritated at the Caterpillar's -making such VERY short remarks, and she drew herself up and said, -very gravely, `I think, you ought to tell me who YOU are, first.' - - `Why?' said the Caterpillar. - - Here was another puzzling question; and as Alice could not -think of any good reason, and as the Caterpillar seemed to be in -a VERY unpleasant state of mind, she turned away. - - `Come back!' the Caterpillar called after her. `I've something -important to say!' - - This sounded promising, certainly: Alice turned and came back -again. - - `Keep your temper,' said the Caterpillar. - - `Is that all?' said Alice, swallowing down her anger as well as -she could. - - `No,' said the Caterpillar. - - Alice thought she might as well wait, as she had nothing else -to do, and perhaps after all it might tell her something worth -hearing. For some minutes it puffed away without speaking, but -at last it unfolded its arms, took the hookah out of its mouth -again, and said, `So you think you're changed, do you?' - - `I'm afraid I am, sir,' said Alice; `I can't remember things as -I used--and I don't keep the same size for ten minutes together!' - - `Can't remember WHAT things?' said the Caterpillar. - - `Well, I've tried to say "HOW DOTH THE LITTLE BUSY BEE," but it -all came different!' Alice replied in a very melancholy voice. - - `Repeat, "YOU ARE OLD, FATHER WILLIAM,"' said the Caterpillar. - - Alice folded her hands, and began:-- - - `You are old, Father William,' the young man said, - `And your hair has become very white; - And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- - Do you think, at your age, it is right?' - - `In my youth,' Father William replied to his son, - `I feared it might injure the brain; - But, now that I'm perfectly sure I have none, - Why, I do it again and again.' - - `You are old,' said the youth, `as I mentioned before, - And have grown most uncommonly fat; - Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- - Pray, what is the reason of that?' - - `In my youth,' said the sage, as he shook his grey locks, - `I kept all my limbs very supple - By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- - Allow me to sell you a couple?' - - `You are old,' said the youth, `and your jaws are too weak - For anything tougher than suet; - Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak-- - Pray how did you manage to do it?' - - `In my youth,' said his father, `I took to the law, - And argued each case with my wife; - And the muscular strength, which it gave to my jaw, - Has lasted the rest of my life.' - - `You are old,' said the youth, `one would hardly suppose - That your eye was as steady as ever; - Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- - What made you so awfully clever?' - - `I have answered three questions, and that is enough,' - Said his father; `don't give yourself airs! - Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff? - Be off, or I'll kick you down stairs!' - - - `That is not said right,' said the Caterpillar. - - `Not QUITE right, I'm afraid,' said Alice, timidly; `some of the -words have got altered.' - - `It is wrong from beginning to end,' said the Caterpillar -decidedly, and there was silence for some minutes. - - The Caterpillar was the first to speak. - - `What size do you want to be?' it asked. - - `Oh, I'm not particular as to size,' Alice hastily replied; -`only one doesn't like changing so often, you know.' - - `I DON'T know,' said the Caterpillar. - - Alice said nothing: she had never been so much contradicted in -her life before, and she felt that she was losing her temper. - - `Are you content now?' said the Caterpillar. - - `Well, I should like to be a LITTLE larger, sir, if you -wouldn't mind,' said Alice: `three inches is such a wretched -height to be.' - - `It is a very good height indeed!' said the Caterpillar -angrily, rearing itself upright as it spoke (it was exactly three -inches high). - - `But I'm not used to it!' pleaded poor Alice in a piteous tone. -And she thought of herself, `I wish the creatures wouldn't be so -easily offended!' - - `You'll get used to it in time,' said the Caterpillar; and it -put the hookah into its mouth and began smoking again. - - This time Alice waited patiently until it chose to speak again. -In a minute or two the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its -mouth and yawned once or twice, and shook itself. Then it got -down off the mushroom, and crawled away in the grass, merely -remarking as it went, `One side will make you grow taller, and -the other side will make you grow shorter.' - - `One side of WHAT? The other side of WHAT?' thought Alice to -herself. - - `Of the mushroom,' said the Caterpillar, just as if she had -asked it aloud; and in another moment it was out of sight. - - Alice remained looking thoughtfully at the mushroom for a -minute, trying to make out which were the two sides of it; and as -it was perfectly round, she found this a very difficult question. -However, at last she stretched her arms round it as far as they -would go, and broke off a bit of the edge with each hand. - - `And now which is which?' she said to herself, and nibbled a -little of the right-hand bit to try the effect: the next moment -she felt a violent blow underneath her chin: it had struck her -foot! - - She was a good deal frightened by this very sudden change, but -she felt that there was no time to be lost, as she was shrinking -rapidly; so she set to work at once to eat some of the other bit. -Her chin was pressed so closely against her foot, that there was -hardly room to open her mouth; but she did it at last, and -managed to swallow a morsel of the lefthand bit. - - - * * * * * * * - - * * * * * * - - * * * * * * * - - `Come, my head's free at last!' said Alice in a tone of -delight, which changed into alarm in another moment, when she -found that her shoulders were nowhere to be found: all she could -see, when she looked down, was an immense length of neck, which -seemed to rise like a stalk out of a sea of green leaves that lay -far below her. - - `What CAN all that green stuff be?' said Alice. `And where -HAVE my shoulders got to? And oh, my poor hands, how is it I -can't see you?' She was moving them about as she spoke, but no -result seemed to follow, except a little shaking among the -distant green leaves. - - As there seemed to be no chance of getting her hands up to her -head, she tried to get her head down to them, and was delighted -to find that her neck would bend about easily in any direction, -like a serpent. She had just succeeded in curving it down into a -graceful zigzag, and was going to dive in among the leaves, which -she found to be nothing but the tops of the trees under which she -had been wandering, when a sharp hiss made her draw back in a -hurry: a large pigeon had flown into her face, and was beating -her violently with its wings. - - `Serpent!' screamed the Pigeon. - - `I'm NOT a serpent!' said Alice indignantly. `Let me alone!' - - `Serpent, I say again!' repeated the Pigeon, but in a more -subdued tone, and added with a kind of sob, `I've tried every -way, and nothing seems to suit them!' - - `I haven't the least idea what you're talking about,' said -Alice. - - `I've tried the roots of trees, and I've tried banks, and I've -tried hedges,' the Pigeon went on, without attending to her; `but -those serpents! There's no pleasing them!' - - Alice was more and more puzzled, but she thought there was no -use in saying anything more till the Pigeon had finished. - - `As if it wasn't trouble enough hatching the eggs,' said the -Pigeon; `but I must be on the look-out for serpents night and -day! Why, I haven't had a wink of sleep these three weeks!' - - `I'm very sorry you've been annoyed,' said Alice, who was -beginning to see its meaning. - - `And just as I'd taken the highest tree in the wood,' continued -the Pigeon, raising its voice to a shriek, `and just as I was -thinking I should be free of them at last, they must needs come -wriggling down from the sky! Ugh, Serpent!' - - `But I'm NOT a serpent, I tell you!' said Alice. `I'm a--I'm -a--' - - `Well! WHAT are you?' said the Pigeon. `I can see you're -trying to invent something!' - - `I--I'm a little girl,' said Alice, rather doubtfully, as she -remembered the number of changes she had gone through that day. - - `A likely story indeed!' said the Pigeon in a tone of the -deepest contempt. `I've seen a good many little girls in my -time, but never ONE with such a neck as that! No, no! You're a -serpent; and there's no use denying it. I suppose you'll be -telling me next that you never tasted an egg!' - - `I HAVE tasted eggs, certainly,' said Alice, who was a very -truthful child; `but little girls eat eggs quite as much as -serpents do, you know.' - - `I don't believe it,' said the Pigeon; `but if they do, why -then they're a kind of serpent, that's all I can say.' - - This was such a new idea to Alice, that she was quite silent -for a minute or two, which gave the Pigeon the opportunity of -adding, `You're looking for eggs, I know THAT well enough; and -what does it matter to me whether you're a little girl or a -serpent?' - - `It matters a good deal to ME,' said Alice hastily; `but I'm -not looking for eggs, as it happens; and if I was, I shouldn't -want YOURS: I don't like them raw.' - - `Well, be off, then!' said the Pigeon in a sulky tone, as it -settled down again into its nest. Alice crouched down among the -trees as well as she could, for her neck kept getting entangled -among the branches, and every now and then she had to stop and -untwist it. After a while she remembered that she still held the -pieces of mushroom in her hands, and she set to work very -carefully, nibbling first at one and then at the other, and -growing sometimes taller and sometimes shorter, until she had -succeeded in bringing herself down to her usual height. - - It was so long since she had been anything near the right size, -that it felt quite strange at first; but she got used to it in a -few minutes, and began talking to herself, as usual. `Come, -there's half my plan done now! How puzzling all these changes -are! I'm never sure what I'm going to be, from one minute to -another! However, I've got back to my right size: the next -thing is, to get into that beautiful garden--how IS that to be -done, I wonder?' As she said this, she came suddenly upon an -open place, with a little house in it about four feet high. -`Whoever lives there,' thought Alice, `it'll never do to come -upon them THIS size: why, I should frighten them out of their -wits!' So she began nibbling at the righthand bit again, and did -not venture to go near the house till she had brought herself -down to nine inches high. - - - - CHAPTER VI - - Pig and Pepper - - - For a minute or two she stood looking at the house, and -wondering what to do next, when suddenly a footman in livery came -running out of the wood--(she considered him to be a footman -because he was in livery: otherwise, judging by his face only, -she would have called him a fish)--and rapped loudly at the door -with his knuckles. It was opened by another footman in livery, -with a round face, and large eyes like a frog; and both footmen, -Alice noticed, had powdered hair that curled all over their -heads. She felt very curious to know what it was all about, and -crept a little way out of the wood to listen. - - The Fish-Footman began by producing from under his arm a great -letter, nearly as large as himself, and this he handed over to -the other, saying, in a solemn tone, `For the Duchess. An -invitation from the Queen to play croquet.' The Frog-Footman -repeated, in the same solemn tone, only changing the order of the -words a little, `From the Queen. An invitation for the Duchess -to play croquet.' - - Then they both bowed low, and their curls got entangled -together. - - Alice laughed so much at this, that she had to run back into -the wood for fear of their hearing her; and when she next peeped -out the Fish-Footman was gone, and the other was sitting on the -ground near the door, staring stupidly up into the sky. - - Alice went timidly up to the door, and knocked. - - `There's no sort of use in knocking,' said the Footman, `and -that for two reasons. First, because I'm on the same side of the -door as you are; secondly, because they're making such a noise -inside, no one could possibly hear you.' And certainly there was -a most extraordinary noise going on within--a constant howling -and sneezing, and every now and then a great crash, as if a dish -or kettle had been broken to pieces. - - `Please, then,' said Alice, `how am I to get in?' - - `There might be some sense in your knocking,' the Footman went -on without attending to her, `if we had the door between us. For -instance, if you were INSIDE, you might knock, and I could let -you out, you know.' He was looking up into the sky all the time -he was speaking, and this Alice thought decidedly uncivil. `But -perhaps he can't help it,' she said to herself; `his eyes are so -VERY nearly at the top of his head. But at any rate he might -answer questions.--How am I to get in?' she repeated, aloud. - - `I shall sit here,' the Footman remarked, `till tomorrow--' - - At this moment the door of the house opened, and a large plate -came skimming out, straight at the Footman's head: it just -grazed his nose, and broke to pieces against one of the trees -behind him. - - `--or next day, maybe,' the Footman continued in the same tone, -exactly as if nothing had happened. - - `How am I to get in?' asked Alice again, in a louder tone. - - `ARE you to get in at all?' said the Footman. `That's the -first question, you know.' - - It was, no doubt: only Alice did not like to be told so. -`It's really dreadful,' she muttered to herself, `the way all the -creatures argue. It's enough to drive one crazy!' - - The Footman seemed to think this a good opportunity for -repeating his remark, with variations. `I shall sit here,' he -said, `on and off, for days and days.' - - `But what am I to do?' said Alice. - - `Anything you like,' said the Footman, and began whistling. - - `Oh, there's no use in talking to him,' said Alice desperately: -`he's perfectly idiotic!' And she opened the door and went in. - - The door led right into a large kitchen, which was full of -smoke from one end to the other: the Duchess was sitting on a -three-legged stool in the middle, nursing a baby; the cook was -leaning over the fire, stirring a large cauldron which seemed to -be full of soup. - - `There's certainly too much pepper in that soup!' Alice said to -herself, as well as she could for sneezing. - - There was certainly too much of it in the air. Even the -Duchess sneezed occasionally; and as for the baby, it was -sneezing and howling alternately without a moment's pause. The -only things in the kitchen that did not sneeze, were the cook, -and a large cat which was sitting on the hearth and grinning from -ear to ear. - - `Please would you tell me,' said Alice, a little timidly, for -she was not quite sure whether it was good manners for her to -speak first, `why your cat grins like that?' - - `It's a Cheshire cat,' said the Duchess, `and that's why. -Pig!' - - She said the last word with such sudden violence that Alice -quite jumped; but she saw in another moment that it was addressed -to the baby, and not to her, so she took courage, and went on -again:-- - - `I didn't know that Cheshire cats always grinned; in fact, I -didn't know that cats COULD grin.' - - `They all can,' said the Duchess; `and most of 'em do.' - - `I don't know of any that do,' Alice said very politely, -feeling quite pleased to have got into a conversation. - - `You don't know much,' said the Duchess; `and that's a fact.' - - Alice did not at all like the tone of this remark, and thought -it would be as well to introduce some other subject of -conversation. While she was trying to fix on one, the cook took -the cauldron of soup off the fire, and at once set to work -throwing everything within her reach at the Duchess and the baby ---the fire-irons came first; then followed a shower of saucepans, -plates, and dishes. The Duchess took no notice of them even when -they hit her; and the baby was howling so much already, that it -was quite impossible to say whether the blows hurt it or not. - - `Oh, PLEASE mind what you're doing!' cried Alice, jumping up -and down in an agony of terror. `Oh, there goes his PRECIOUS -nose'; as an unusually large saucepan flew close by it, and very -nearly carried it off. - - `If everybody minded their own business,' the Duchess said in a -hoarse growl, `the world would go round a deal faster than it -does.' - - `Which would NOT be an advantage,' said Alice, who felt very -glad to get an opportunity of showing off a little of her -knowledge. `Just think of what work it would make with the day -and night! You see the earth takes twenty-four hours to turn -round on its axis--' - - `Talking of axes,' said the Duchess, `chop off her head!' - - Alice glanced rather anxiously at the cook, to see if she meant -to take the hint; but the cook was busily stirring the soup, and -seemed not to be listening, so she went on again: `Twenty-four -hours, I THINK; or is it twelve? I--' - - `Oh, don't bother ME,' said the Duchess; `I never could abide -figures!' And with that she began nursing her child again, -singing a sort of lullaby to it as she did so, and giving it a -violent shake at the end of every line: - - `Speak roughly to your little boy, - And beat him when he sneezes: - He only does it to annoy, - Because he knows it teases.' - - CHORUS. - - (In which the cook and the baby joined):-- - - `Wow! wow! wow!' - - While the Duchess sang the second verse of the song, she kept -tossing the baby violently up and down, and the poor little thing -howled so, that Alice could hardly hear the words:-- - - `I speak severely to my boy, - I beat him when he sneezes; - For he can thoroughly enjoy - The pepper when he pleases!' - - CHORUS. - - `Wow! wow! wow!' - - `Here! you may nurse it a bit, if you like!' the Duchess said -to Alice, flinging the baby at her as she spoke. `I must go and -get ready to play croquet with the Queen,' and she hurried out of -the room. The cook threw a frying-pan after her as she went out, -but it just missed her. - - Alice caught the baby with some difficulty, as it was a queer- -shaped little creature, and held out its arms and legs in all -directions, `just like a star-fish,' thought Alice. The poor -little thing was snorting like a steam-engine when she caught it, -and kept doubling itself up and straightening itself out again, -so that altogether, for the first minute or two, it was as much -as she could do to hold it. - - As soon as she had made out the proper way of nursing it, -(which was to twist it up into a sort of knot, and then keep -tight hold of its right ear and left foot, so as to prevent its -undoing itself,) she carried it out into the open air. `IF I -don't take this child away with me,' thought Alice, `they're sure -to kill it in a day or two: wouldn't it be murder to leave it -behind?' She said the last words out loud, and the little thing -grunted in reply (it had left off sneezing by this time). `Don't -grunt,' said Alice; `that's not at all a proper way of expressing -yourself.' - - The baby grunted again, and Alice looked very anxiously into -its face to see what was the matter with it. There could be no -doubt that it had a VERY turn-up nose, much more like a snout -than a real nose; also its eyes were getting extremely small for -a baby: altogether Alice did not like the look of the thing at -all. `But perhaps it was only sobbing,' she thought, and looked -into its eyes again, to see if there were any tears. - - No, there were no tears. `If you're going to turn into a pig, -my dear,' said Alice, seriously, `I'll have nothing more to do -with you. Mind now!' The poor little thing sobbed again (or -grunted, it was impossible to say which), and they went on for -some while in silence. - - Alice was just beginning to think to herself, `Now, what am I -to do with this creature when I get it home?' when it grunted -again, so violently, that she looked down into its face in some -alarm. This time there could be NO mistake about it: it was -neither more nor less than a pig, and she felt that it would be -quite absurd for her to carry it further. - - So she set the little creature down, and felt quite relieved to -see it trot away quietly into the wood. `If it had grown up,' -she said to herself, `it would have made a dreadfully ugly child: -but it makes rather a handsome pig, I think.' And she began -thinking over other children she knew, who might do very well as -pigs, and was just saying to herself, `if one only knew the right -way to change them--' when she was a little startled by seeing -the Cheshire Cat sitting on a bough of a tree a few yards off. - - The Cat only grinned when it saw Alice. It looked good- -natured, she thought: still it had VERY long claws and a great -many teeth, so she felt that it ought to be treated with respect. - - `Cheshire Puss,' she began, rather timidly, as she did not at -all know whether it would like the name: however, it only -grinned a little wider. `Come, it's pleased so far,' thought -Alice, and she went on. `Would you tell me, please, which way I -ought to go from here?' - - `That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said -the Cat. - - `I don't much care where--' said Alice. - - `Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat. - - `--so long as I get SOMEWHERE,' Alice added as an explanation. - - `Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, `if you only walk -long enough.' - - Alice felt that this could not be denied, so she tried another -question. `What sort of people live about here?' - - `In THAT direction,' the Cat said, waving its right paw round, -`lives a Hatter: and in THAT direction,' waving the other paw, -`lives a March Hare. Visit either you like: they're both mad.' - - `But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked. - - `Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: `we're all mad here. -I'm mad. You're mad.' - - `How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice. - - `You must be,' said the Cat, `or you wouldn't have come here.' - - Alice didn't think that proved it at all; however, she went on -`And how do you know that you're mad?' - - `To begin with,' said the Cat, `a dog's not mad. You grant -that?' - - `I suppose so,' said Alice. - - `Well, then,' the Cat went on, `you see, a dog growls when it's -angry, and wags its tail when it's pleased. Now I growl when I'm -pleased, and wag my tail when I'm angry. Therefore I'm mad.' - - `I call it purring, not growling,' said Alice. - - `Call it what you like,' said the Cat. `Do you play croquet -with the Queen to-day?' - - `I should like it very much,' said Alice, `but I haven't been -invited yet.' - - `You'll see me there,' said the Cat, and vanished. - - Alice was not much surprised at this, she was getting so used -to queer things happening. While she was looking at the place -where it had been, it suddenly appeared again. - - `By-the-bye, what became of the baby?' said the Cat. `I'd -nearly forgotten to ask.' - - `It turned into a pig,' Alice quietly said, just as if it had -come back in a natural way. - - `I thought it would,' said the Cat, and vanished again. - - Alice waited a little, half expecting to see it again, but it -did not appear, and after a minute or two she walked on in the -direction in which the March Hare was said to live. `I've seen -hatters before,' she said to herself; `the March Hare will be -much the most interesting, and perhaps as this is May it won't be -raving mad--at least not so mad as it was in March.' As she said -this, she looked up, and there was the Cat again, sitting on a -branch of a tree. - - `Did you say pig, or fig?' said the Cat. - - `I said pig,' replied Alice; `and I wish you wouldn't keep -appearing and vanishing so suddenly: you make one quite giddy.' - - `All right,' said the Cat; and this time it vanished quite -slowly, beginning with the end of the tail, and ending with the -grin, which remained some time after the rest of it had gone. - - `Well! I've often seen a cat without a grin,' thought Alice; -`but a grin without a cat! It's the most curious thing I ever -say in my life!' - - She had not gone much farther before she came in sight of the -house of the March Hare: she thought it must be the right house, -because the chimneys were shaped like ears and the roof was -thatched with fur. It was so large a house, that she did not -like to go nearer till she had nibbled some more of the lefthand -bit of mushroom, and raised herself to about two feet high: even -then she walked up towards it rather timidly, saying to herself -`Suppose it should be raving mad after all! I almost wish I'd -gone to see the Hatter instead!' - - - - CHAPTER VII - - A Mad Tea-Party - - - There was a table set out under a tree in front of the house, -and the March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it: a -Dormouse was sitting between them, fast asleep, and the other two -were using it as a cushion, resting their elbows on it, and the -talking over its head. `Very uncomfortable for the Dormouse,' -thought Alice; `only, as it's asleep, I suppose it doesn't mind.' - - The table was a large one, but the three were all crowded -together at one corner of it: `No room! No room!' they cried -out when they saw Alice coming. `There's PLENTY of room!' said -Alice indignantly, and she sat down in a large arm-chair at one -end of the table. - - `Have some wine,' the March Hare said in an encouraging tone. - - Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it -but tea. `I don't see any wine,' she remarked. - - `There isn't any,' said the March Hare. - - `Then it wasn't very civil of you to offer it,' said Alice -angrily. - - `It wasn't very civil of you to sit down without being -invited,' said the March Hare. - - `I didn't know it was YOUR table,' said Alice; `it's laid for a -great many more than three.' - - `Your hair wants cutting,' said the Hatter. He had been -looking at Alice for some time with great curiosity, and this was -his first speech. - - `You should learn not to make personal remarks,' Alice said -with some severity; `it's very rude.' - - The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this; but all -he SAID was, `Why is a raven like a writing-desk?' - - `Come, we shall have some fun now!' thought Alice. `I'm glad -they've begun asking riddles.--I believe I can guess that,' she -added aloud. - - `Do you mean that you think you can find out the answer to it?' -said the March Hare. - - `Exactly so,' said Alice. - - `Then you should say what you mean,' the March Hare went on. - - `I do,' Alice hastily replied; `at least--at least I mean what -I say--that's the same thing, you know.' - - `Not the same thing a bit!' said the Hatter. `You might just -as well say that "I see what I eat" is the same thing as "I eat -what I see"!' - - `You might just as well say,' added the March Hare, `that "I -like what I get" is the same thing as "I get what I like"!' - - `You might just as well say,' added the Dormouse, who seemed to -be talking in his sleep, `that "I breathe when I sleep" is the -same thing as "I sleep when I breathe"!' - - `It IS the same thing with you,' said the Hatter, and here the -conversation dropped, and the party sat silent for a minute, -while Alice thought over all she could remember about ravens and -writing-desks, which wasn't much. - - The Hatter was the first to break the silence. `What day of -the month is it?' he said, turning to Alice: he had taken his -watch out of his pocket, and was looking at it uneasily, shaking -it every now and then, and holding it to his ear. - - Alice considered a little, and then said `The fourth.' - - `Two days wrong!' sighed the Hatter. `I told you butter -wouldn't suit the works!' he added looking angrily at the March -Hare. - - `It was the BEST butter,' the March Hare meekly replied. - - `Yes, but some crumbs must have got in as well,' the Hatter -grumbled: `you shouldn't have put it in with the bread-knife.' - - The March Hare took the watch and looked at it gloomily: then -he dipped it into his cup of tea, and looked at it again: but he -could think of nothing better to say than his first remark, `It -was the BEST butter, you know.' - - Alice had been looking over his shoulder with some curiosity. -`What a funny watch!' she remarked. `It tells the day of the -month, and doesn't tell what o'clock it is!' - - `Why should it?' muttered the Hatter. `Does YOUR watch tell -you what year it is?' - - `Of course not,' Alice replied very readily: `but that's -because it stays the same year for such a long time together.' - - `Which is just the case with MINE,' said the Hatter. - - Alice felt dreadfully puzzled. The Hatter's remark seemed to -have no sort of meaning in it, and yet it was certainly English. -`I don't quite understand you,' she said, as politely as she -could. - - `The Dormouse is asleep again,' said the Hatter, and he poured -a little hot tea upon its nose. - - The Dormouse shook its head impatiently, and said, without -opening its eyes, `Of course, of course; just what I was going to -remark myself.' - - `Have you guessed the riddle yet?' the Hatter said, turning to -Alice again. - - `No, I give it up,' Alice replied: `what's the answer?' - - `I haven't the slightest idea,' said the Hatter. - - `Nor I,' said the March Hare. - - Alice sighed wearily. `I think you might do something better -with the time,' she said, `than waste it in asking riddles that -have no answers.' - - `If you knew Time as well as I do,' said the Hatter, `you -wouldn't talk about wasting IT. It's HIM.' - - `I don't know what you mean,' said Alice. - - `Of course you don't!' the Hatter said, tossing his head -contemptuously. `I dare say you never even spoke to Time!' - - `Perhaps not,' Alice cautiously replied: `but I know I have to -beat time when I learn music.' - - `Ah! that accounts for it,' said the Hatter. `He won't stand -beating. Now, if you only kept on good terms with him, he'd do -almost anything you liked with the clock. For instance, suppose -it were nine o'clock in the morning, just time to begin lessons: -you'd only have to whisper a hint to Time, and round goes the -clock in a twinkling! Half-past one, time for dinner!' - - (`I only wish it was,' the March Hare said to itself in a -whisper.) - - `That would be grand, certainly,' said Alice thoughtfully: -`but then--I shouldn't be hungry for it, you know.' - - `Not at first, perhaps,' said the Hatter: `but you could keep -it to half-past one as long as you liked.' - - `Is that the way YOU manage?' Alice asked. - - The Hatter shook his head mournfully. `Not I!' he replied. -`We quarrelled last March--just before HE went mad, you know--' -(pointing with his tea spoon at the March Hare,) `--it was at the -great concert given by the Queen of Hearts, and I had to sing - - "Twinkle, twinkle, little bat! - How I wonder what you're at!" - -You know the song, perhaps?' - - `I've heard something like it,' said Alice. - - `It goes on, you know,' the Hatter continued, `in this way:-- - - "Up above the world you fly, - Like a tea-tray in the sky. - Twinkle, twinkle--"' - -Here the Dormouse shook itself, and began singing in its sleep -`Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle--' and went on so long that -they had to pinch it to make it stop. - - `Well, I'd hardly finished the first verse,' said the Hatter, -`when the Queen jumped up and bawled out, "He's murdering the -time! Off with his head!"' - - `How dreadfully savage!' exclaimed Alice. - - `And ever since that,' the Hatter went on in a mournful tone, -`he won't do a thing I ask! It's always six o'clock now.' - - A bright idea came into Alice's head. `Is that the reason so -many tea-things are put out here?' she asked. - - `Yes, that's it,' said the Hatter with a sigh: `it's always -tea-time, and we've no time to wash the things between whiles.' - - `Then you keep moving round, I suppose?' said Alice. - - `Exactly so,' said the Hatter: `as the things get used up.' - - `But what happens when you come to the beginning again?' Alice -ventured to ask. - - `Suppose we change the subject,' the March Hare interrupted, -yawning. `I'm getting tired of this. I vote the young lady -tells us a story.' - - `I'm afraid I don't know one,' said Alice, rather alarmed at -the proposal. - - `Then the Dormouse shall!' they both cried. `Wake up, -Dormouse!' And they pinched it on both sides at once. - - The Dormouse slowly opened his eyes. `I wasn't asleep,' he -said in a hoarse, feeble voice: `I heard every word you fellows -were saying.' - - `Tell us a story!' said the March Hare. - - `Yes, please do!' pleaded Alice. - - `And be quick about it,' added the Hatter, `or you'll be asleep -again before it's done.' - - `Once upon a time there were three little sisters,' the -Dormouse began in a great hurry; `and their names were Elsie, -Lacie, and Tillie; and they lived at the bottom of a well--' - - `What did they live on?' said Alice, who always took a great -interest in questions of eating and drinking. - - `They lived on treacle,' said the Dormouse, after thinking a -minute or two. - - `They couldn't have done that, you know,' Alice gently -remarked; `they'd have been ill.' - - `So they were,' said the Dormouse; `VERY ill.' - - Alice tried to fancy to herself what such an extraordinary ways -of living would be like, but it puzzled her too much, so she went -on: `But why did they live at the bottom of a well?' - - `Take some more tea,' the March Hare said to Alice, very -earnestly. - - `I've had nothing yet,' Alice replied in an offended tone, `so -I can't take more.' - - `You mean you can't take LESS,' said the Hatter: `it's very -easy to take MORE than nothing.' - - `Nobody asked YOUR opinion,' said Alice. - - `Who's making personal remarks now?' the Hatter asked -triumphantly. - - Alice did not quite know what to say to this: so she helped -herself to some tea and bread-and-butter, and then turned to the -Dormouse, and repeated her question. `Why did they live at the -bottom of a well?' - - The Dormouse again took a minute or two to think about it, and -then said, `It was a treacle-well.' - - `There's no such thing!' Alice was beginning very angrily, but -the Hatter and the March Hare went `Sh! sh!' and the Dormouse -sulkily remarked, `If you can't be civil, you'd better finish the -story for yourself.' - - `No, please go on!' Alice said very humbly; `I won't interrupt -again. I dare say there may be ONE.' - - `One, indeed!' said the Dormouse indignantly. However, he -consented to go on. `And so these three little sisters--they -were learning to draw, you know--' - - `What did they draw?' said Alice, quite forgetting her promise. - - `Treacle,' said the Dormouse, without considering at all this -time. - - `I want a clean cup,' interrupted the Hatter: `let's all move -one place on.' - - He moved on as he spoke, and the Dormouse followed him: the -March Hare moved into the Dormouse's place, and Alice rather -unwillingly took the place of the March Hare. The Hatter was the -only one who got any advantage from the change: and Alice was a -good deal worse off than before, as the March Hare had just upset -the milk-jug into his plate. - - Alice did not wish to offend the Dormouse again, so she began -very cautiously: `But I don't understand. Where did they draw -the treacle from?' - - `You can draw water out of a water-well,' said the Hatter; `so -I should think you could draw treacle out of a treacle-well--eh, -stupid?' - - `But they were IN the well,' Alice said to the Dormouse, not -choosing to notice this last remark. - - `Of course they were', said the Dormouse; `--well in.' - - This answer so confused poor Alice, that she let the Dormouse -go on for some time without interrupting it. - - `They were learning to draw,' the Dormouse went on, yawning and -rubbing its eyes, for it was getting very sleepy; `and they drew -all manner of things--everything that begins with an M--' - - `Why with an M?' said Alice. - - `Why not?' said the March Hare. - - Alice was silent. - - The Dormouse had closed its eyes by this time, and was going -off into a doze; but, on being pinched by the Hatter, it woke up -again with a little shriek, and went on: `--that begins with an -M, such as mouse-traps, and the moon, and memory, and muchness-- -you know you say things are "much of a muchness"--did you ever -see such a thing as a drawing of a muchness?' - - `Really, now you ask me,' said Alice, very much confused, `I -don't think--' - - `Then you shouldn't talk,' said the Hatter. - - This piece of rudeness was more than Alice could bear: she got -up in great disgust, and walked off; the Dormouse fell asleep -instantly, and neither of the others took the least notice of her -going, though she looked back once or twice, half hoping that -they would call after her: the last time she saw them, they were -trying to put the Dormouse into the teapot. - - `At any rate I'll never go THERE again!' said Alice as she -picked her way through the wood. `It's the stupidest tea-party I -ever was at in all my life!' - - Just as she said this, she noticed that one of the trees had a -door leading right into it. `That's very curious!' she thought. -`But everything's curious today. I think I may as well go in at -once.' And in she went. - - Once more she found herself in the long hall, and close to the -little glass table. `Now, I'll manage better this time,' she -said to herself, and began by taking the little golden key, and -unlocking the door that led into the garden. Then she went to -work nibbling at the mushroom (she had kept a piece of it in her -pocked) till she was about a foot high: then she walked down the -little passage: and THEN--she found herself at last in the -beautiful garden, among the bright flower-beds and the cool -fountains. - - - - CHAPTER VIII - - The Queen's Croquet-Ground - - - A large rose-tree stood near the entrance of the garden: the -roses growing on it were white, but there were three gardeners at -it, busily painting them red. Alice thought this a very curious -thing, and she went nearer to watch them, and just as she came up -to them she heard one of them say, `Look out now, Five! Don't go -splashing paint over me like that!' - - `I couldn't help it,' said Five, in a sulky tone; `Seven jogged -my elbow.' - - On which Seven looked up and said, `That's right, Five! Always -lay the blame on others!' - - `YOU'D better not talk!' said Five. `I heard the Queen say only -yesterday you deserved to be beheaded!' - - `What for?' said the one who had spoken first. - - `That's none of YOUR business, Two!' said Seven. - - `Yes, it IS his business!' said Five, `and I'll tell him--it -was for bringing the cook tulip-roots instead of onions.' - - Seven flung down his brush, and had just begun `Well, of all -the unjust things--' when his eye chanced to fall upon Alice, as -she stood watching them, and he checked himself suddenly: the -others looked round also, and all of them bowed low. - - `Would you tell me,' said Alice, a little timidly, `why you are -painting those roses?' - - Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two. Two began in a -low voice, `Why the fact is, you see, Miss, this here ought to -have been a RED rose-tree, and we put a white one in by mistake; -and if the Queen was to find it out, we should all have our heads -cut off, you know. So you see, Miss, we're doing our best, afore -she comes, to--' At this moment Five, who had been anxiously -looking across the garden, called out `The Queen! The Queen!' -and the three gardeners instantly threw themselves flat upon -their faces. There was a sound of many footsteps, and Alice -looked round, eager to see the Queen. - - First came ten soldiers carrying clubs; these were all shaped -like the three gardeners, oblong and flat, with their hands and -feet at the corners: next the ten courtiers; these were -ornamented all over with diamonds, and walked two and two, as the -soldiers did. After these came the royal children; there were -ten of them, and the little dears came jumping merrily along hand -in hand, in couples: they were all ornamented with hearts. Next -came the guests, mostly Kings and Queens, and among them Alice -recognised the White Rabbit: it was talking in a hurried nervous -manner, smiling at everything that was said, and went by without -noticing her. Then followed the Knave of Hearts, carrying the -King's crown on a crimson velvet cushion; and, last of all this -grand procession, came THE KING AND QUEEN OF HEARTS. - - Alice was rather doubtful whether she ought not to lie down on -her face like the three gardeners, but she could not remember -every having heard of such a rule at processions; `and besides, -what would be the use of a procession,' thought she, `if people -had all to lie down upon their faces, so that they couldn't see -it?' So she stood still where she was, and waited. - - When the procession came opposite to Alice, they all stopped -and looked at her, and the Queen said severely `Who is this?' -She said it to the Knave of Hearts, who only bowed and smiled in -reply. - - `Idiot!' said the Queen, tossing her head impatiently; and, -turning to Alice, she went on, `What's your name, child?' - - `My name is Alice, so please your Majesty,' said Alice very -politely; but she added, to herself, `Why, they're only a pack of -cards, after all. I needn't be afraid of them!' - - `And who are THESE?' said the Queen, pointing to the three -gardeners who were lying round the rosetree; for, you see, as -they were lying on their faces, and the pattern on their backs -was the same as the rest of the pack, she could not tell whether -they were gardeners, or soldiers, or courtiers, or three of her -own children. - - `How should I know?' said Alice, surprised at her own courage. -`It's no business of MINE.' - - The Queen turned crimson with fury, and, after glaring at her -for a moment like a wild beast, screamed `Off with her head! -Off--' - - `Nonsense!' said Alice, very loudly and decidedly, and the -Queen was silent. - - The King laid his hand upon her arm, and timidly said -`Consider, my dear: she is only a child!' - - The Queen turned angrily away from him, and said to the Knave -`Turn them over!' - - The Knave did so, very carefully, with one foot. - - `Get up!' said the Queen, in a shrill, loud voice, and the -three gardeners instantly jumped up, and began bowing to the -King, the Queen, the royal children, and everybody else. - - `Leave off that!' screamed the Queen. `You make me giddy.' -And then, turning to the rose-tree, she went on, `What HAVE you -been doing here?' - - `May it please your Majesty,' said Two, in a very humble tone, -going down on one knee as he spoke, `we were trying--' - - `I see!' said the Queen, who had meanwhile been examining the -roses. `Off with their heads!' and the procession moved on, -three of the soldiers remaining behind to execute the unfortunate -gardeners, who ran to Alice for protection. - - `You shan't be beheaded!' said Alice, and she put them into a -large flower-pot that stood near. The three soldiers wandered -about for a minute or two, looking for them, and then quietly -marched off after the others. - - `Are their heads off?' shouted the Queen. - - `Their heads are gone, if it please your Majesty!' the soldiers -shouted in reply. - - `That's right!' shouted the Queen. `Can you play croquet?' - - The soldiers were silent, and looked at Alice, as the question -was evidently meant for her. - - `Yes!' shouted Alice. - - `Come on, then!' roared the Queen, and Alice joined the -procession, wondering very much what would happen next. - - `It's--it's a very fine day!' said a timid voice at her side. -She was walking by the White Rabbit, who was peeping anxiously -into her face. - - `Very,' said Alice: `--where's the Duchess?' - - `Hush! Hush!' said the Rabbit in a low, hurried tone. He -looked anxiously over his shoulder as he spoke, and then raised -himself upon tiptoe, put his mouth close to her ear, and -whispered `She's under sentence of execution.' - - `What for?' said Alice. - - `Did you say "What a pity!"?' the Rabbit asked. - - `No, I didn't,' said Alice: `I don't think it's at all a pity. -I said "What for?"' - - `She boxed the Queen's ears--' the Rabbit began. Alice gave a -little scream of laughter. `Oh, hush!' the Rabbit whispered in a -frightened tone. `The Queen will hear you! You see, she came -rather late, and the Queen said--' - - `Get to your places!' shouted the Queen in a voice of thunder, -and people began running about in all directions, tumbling up -against each other; however, they got settled down in a minute or -two, and the game began. Alice thought she had never seen such a -curious croquet-ground in her life; it was all ridges and -furrows; the balls were live hedgehogs, the mallets live -flamingoes, and the soldiers had to double themselves up and to -stand on their hands and feet, to make the arches. - - The chief difficulty Alice found at first was in managing her -flamingo: she succeeded in getting its body tucked away, -comfortably enough, under her arm, with its legs hanging down, -but generally, just as she had got its neck nicely straightened -out, and was going to give the hedgehog a blow with its head, it -WOULD twist itself round and look up in her face, with such a -puzzled expression that she could not help bursting out laughing: -and when she had got its head down, and was going to begin again, -it was very provoking to find that the hedgehog had unrolled -itself, and was in the act of crawling away: besides all this, -there was generally a ridge or furrow in the way wherever she -wanted to send the hedgehog to, and, as the doubled-up soldiers -were always getting up and walking off to other parts of the -ground, Alice soon came to the conclusion that it was a very -difficult game indeed. - - The players all played at once without waiting for turns, -quarrelling all the while, and fighting for the hedgehogs; and in -a very short time the Queen was in a furious passion, and went -stamping about, and shouting `Off with his head!' or `Off with -her head!' about once in a minute. - - Alice began to feel very uneasy: to be sure, she had not as -yet had any dispute with the Queen, but she knew that it might -happen any minute, `and then,' thought she, `what would become of -me? They're dreadfully fond of beheading people here; the great -wonder is, that there's any one left alive!' - - She was looking about for some way of escape, and wondering -whether she could get away without being seen, when she noticed a -curious appearance in the air: it puzzled her very much at -first, but, after watching it a minute or two, she made it out to -be a grin, and she said to herself `It's the Cheshire Cat: now I -shall have somebody to talk to.' - - `How are you getting on?' said the Cat, as soon as there was -mouth enough for it to speak with. - - Alice waited till the eyes appeared, and then nodded. `It's no -use speaking to it,' she thought, `till its ears have come, or at -least one of them.' In another minute the whole head appeared, -and then Alice put down her flamingo, and began an account of the -game, feeling very glad she had someone to listen to her. The -Cat seemed to think that there was enough of it now in sight, and -no more of it appeared. - - `I don't think they play at all fairly,' Alice began, in rather -a complaining tone, `and they all quarrel so dreadfully one can't -hear oneself speak--and they don't seem to have any rules in -particular; at least, if there are, nobody attends to them--and -you've no idea how confusing it is all the things being alive; -for instance, there's the arch I've got to go through next -walking about at the other end of the ground--and I should have -croqueted the Queen's hedgehog just now, only it ran away when it -saw mine coming!' - - `How do you like the Queen?' said the Cat in a low voice. - - `Not at all,' said Alice: `she's so extremely--' Just then -she noticed that the Queen was close behind her, listening: so -she went on, `--likely to win, that it's hardly worth while -finishing the game.' - - The Queen smiled and passed on. - - `Who ARE you talking to?' said the King, going up to Alice, and -looking at the Cat's head with great curiosity. - - `It's a friend of mine--a Cheshire Cat,' said Alice: `allow me -to introduce it.' - - `I don't like the look of it at all,' said the King: `however, -it may kiss my hand if it likes.' - - `I'd rather not,' the Cat remarked. - - `Don't be impertinent,' said the King, `and don't look at me -like that!' He got behind Alice as he spoke. - - `A cat may look at a king,' said Alice. `I've read that in -some book, but I don't remember where.' - - `Well, it must be removed,' said the King very decidedly, and -he called the Queen, who was passing at the moment, `My dear! I -wish you would have this cat removed!' - - The Queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great -or small. `Off with his head!' she said, without even looking -round. - - `I'll fetch the executioner myself,' said the King eagerly, and -he hurried off. - - Alice thought she might as well go back, and see how the game -was going on, as she heard the Queen's voice in the distance, -screaming with passion. She had already heard her sentence three -of the players to be executed for having missed their turns, and -she did not like the look of things at all, as the game was in -such confusion that she never knew whether it was her turn or -not. So she went in search of her hedgehog. - - The hedgehog was engaged in a fight with another hedgehog, -which seemed to Alice an excellent opportunity for croqueting one -of them with the other: the only difficulty was, that her -flamingo was gone across to the other side of the garden, where -Alice could see it trying in a helpless sort of way to fly up -into a tree. - - By the time she had caught the flamingo and brought it back, -the fight was over, and both the hedgehogs were out of sight: -`but it doesn't matter much,' thought Alice, `as all the arches -are gone from this side of the ground.' So she tucked it away -under her arm, that it might not escape again, and went back for -a little more conversation with her friend. - - When she got back to the Cheshire Cat, she was surprised to -find quite a large crowd collected round it: there was a dispute -going on between the executioner, the King, and the Queen, who -were all talking at once, while all the rest were quite silent, -and looked very uncomfortable. - - The moment Alice appeared, she was appealed to by all three to -settle the question, and they repeated their arguments to her, -though, as they all spoke at once, she found it very hard indeed -to make out exactly what they said. - - The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a -head unless there was a body to cut it off from: that he had -never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin -at HIS time of life. - - The King's argument was, that anything that had a head could be -beheaded, and that you weren't to talk nonsense. - - The Queen's argument was, that if something wasn't done about -it in less than no time she'd have everybody executed, all round. -(It was this last remark that had made the whole party look so -grave and anxious.) - - Alice could think of nothing else to say but `It belongs to the -Duchess: you'd better ask HER about it.' - - `She's in prison,' the Queen said to the executioner: `fetch -her here.' And the executioner went off like an arrow. - - The Cat's head began fading away the moment he was gone, and, -by the time he had come back with the Dutchess, it had entirely -disappeared; so the King and the executioner ran wildly up and -down looking for it, while the rest of the party went back to the game. - - - - CHAPTER IX - - The Mock Turtle's Story - - - `You can't think how glad I am to see you again, you dear old -thing!' said the Duchess, as she tucked her arm affectionately -into Alice's, and they walked off together. - - Alice was very glad to find her in such a pleasant temper, and -thought to herself that perhaps it was only the pepper that had -made her so savage when they met in the kitchen. - - `When I'M a Duchess,' she said to herself, (not in a very -hopeful tone though), `I won't have any pepper in my kitchen AT -ALL. Soup does very well without--Maybe it's always pepper that -makes people hot-tempered,' she went on, very much pleased at -having found out a new kind of rule, `and vinegar that makes them -sour--and camomile that makes them bitter--and--and barley-sugar -and such things that make children sweet-tempered. I only wish -people knew that: then they wouldn't be so stingy about it, you -know--' - - She had quite forgotten the Duchess by this time, and was a -little startled when she heard her voice close to her ear. -`You're thinking about something, my dear, and that makes you -forget to talk. I can't tell you just now what the moral of that -is, but I shall remember it in a bit.' - - `Perhaps it hasn't one,' Alice ventured to remark. - - `Tut, tut, child!' said the Duchess. `Everything's got a -moral, if only you can find it.' And she squeezed herself up -closer to Alice's side as she spoke. - - Alice did not much like keeping so close to her: first, -because the Duchess was VERY ugly; and secondly, because she was -exactly the right height to rest her chin upon Alice's shoulder, -and it was an uncomfortably sharp chin. However, she did not -like to be rude, so she bore it as well as she could. - - `The game's going on rather better now,' she said, by way of -keeping up the conversation a little. - - `'Tis so,' said the Duchess: `and the moral of that is--"Oh, -'tis love, 'tis love, that makes the world go round!"' - - `Somebody said,' Alice whispered, `that it's done by everybody -minding their own business!' - - `Ah, well! It means much the same thing,' said the Duchess, -digging her sharp little chin into Alice's shoulder as she added, -`and the moral of THAT is--"Take care of the sense, and the -sounds will take care of themselves."' - - `How fond she is of finding morals in things!' Alice thought to -herself. - - `I dare say you're wondering why I don't put my arm round your -waist,' the Duchess said after a pause: `the reason is, that I'm -doubtful about the temper of your flamingo. Shall I try the -experiment?' - - `HE might bite,' Alice cautiously replied, not feeling at all -anxious to have the experiment tried. - - `Very true,' said the Duchess: `flamingoes and mustard both -bite. And the moral of that is--"Birds of a feather flock -together."' - - `Only mustard isn't a bird,' Alice remarked. - - `Right, as usual,' said the Duchess: `what a clear way you -have of putting things!' - - `It's a mineral, I THINK,' said Alice. - - `Of course it is,' said the Duchess, who seemed ready to agree -to everything that Alice said; `there's a large mustard-mine near -here. And the moral of that is--"The more there is of mine, the -less there is of yours."' - - `Oh, I know!' exclaimed Alice, who had not attended to this -last remark, `it's a vegetable. It doesn't look like one, but it -is.' - - `I quite agree with you,' said the Duchess; `and the moral of -that is--"Be what you would seem to be"--or if you'd like it put -more simply--"Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than -what it might appear to others that what you were or might have -been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared -to them to be otherwise."' - - `I think I should understand that better,' Alice said very -politely, `if I had it written down: but I can't quite follow it -as you say it.' - - `That's nothing to what I could say if I chose,' the Duchess -replied, in a pleased tone. - - `Pray don't trouble yourself to say it any longer than that,' -said Alice. - - `Oh, don't talk about trouble!' said the Duchess. `I make you -a present of everything I've said as yet.' - - `A cheap sort of present!' thought Alice. `I'm glad they don't -give birthday presents like that!' But she did not venture to -say it out loud. - - `Thinking again?' the Duchess asked, with another dig of her -sharp little chin. - - `I've a right to think,' said Alice sharply, for she was -beginning to feel a little worried. - - `Just about as much right,' said the Duchess, `as pigs have to -fly; and the m--' - - But here, to Alice's great surprise, the Duchess's voice died -away, even in the middle of her favourite word `moral,' and the -arm that was linked into hers began to tremble. Alice looked up, -and there stood the Queen in front of them, with her arms folded, -frowning like a thunderstorm. - - `A fine day, your Majesty!' the Duchess began in a low, weak -voice. - - `Now, I give you fair warning,' shouted the Queen, stamping on -the ground as she spoke; `either you or your head must be off, -and that in about half no time! Take your choice!' - - The Duchess took her choice, and was gone in a moment. - - `Let's go on with the game,' the Queen said to Alice; and Alice -was too much frightened to say a word, but slowly followed her -back to the croquet-ground. - - The other guests had taken advantage of the Queen's absence, -and were resting in the shade: however, the moment they saw her, -they hurried back to the game, the Queen merely remarking that a -moment's delay would cost them their lives. - - All the time they were playing the Queen never left off -quarrelling with the other players, and shouting `Off with his -head!' or `Off with her head!' Those whom she sentenced were -taken into custody by the soldiers, who of course had to leave -off being arches to do this, so that by the end of half an hour -or so there were no arches left, and all the players, except the -King, the Queen, and Alice, were in custody and under sentence of -execution. - - Then the Queen left off, quite out of breath, and said to -Alice, `Have you seen the Mock Turtle yet?' - - `No,' said Alice. `I don't even know what a Mock Turtle is.' - - `It's the thing Mock Turtle Soup is made from,' said the Queen. - - `I never saw one, or heard of one,' said Alice. - - `Come on, then,' said the Queen, `and he shall tell you his -history,' - - As they walked off together, Alice heard the King say in a low -voice, to the company generally, `You are all pardoned.' `Come, -THAT'S a good thing!' she said to herself, for she had felt quite -unhappy at the number of executions the Queen had ordered. - - They very soon came upon a Gryphon, lying fast asleep in the -sun. (IF you don't know what a Gryphon is, look at the picture.) -`Up, lazy thing!' said the Queen, `and take this young lady to -see the Mock Turtle, and to hear his history. I must go back and -see after some executions I have ordered'; and she walked off, -leaving Alice alone with the Gryphon. Alice did not quite like -the look of the creature, but on the whole she thought it would -be quite as safe to stay with it as to go after that savage -Queen: so she waited. - - The Gryphon sat up and rubbed its eyes: then it watched the -Queen till she was out of sight: then it chuckled. `What fun!' -said the Gryphon, half to itself, half to Alice. - - `What IS the fun?' said Alice. - - `Why, SHE,' said the Gryphon. `It's all her fancy, that: they -never executes nobody, you know. Come on!' - - `Everybody says "come on!" here,' thought Alice, as she went -slowly after it: `I never was so ordered about in all my life, -never!' - - They had not gone far before they saw the Mock Turtle in the -distance, sitting sad and lonely on a little ledge of rock, and, -as they came nearer, Alice could hear him sighing as if his heart -would break. She pitied him deeply. `What is his sorrow?' she -asked the Gryphon, and the Gryphon answered, very nearly in the -same words as before, `It's all his fancy, that: he hasn't got -no sorrow, you know. Come on!' - - So they went up to the Mock Turtle, who looked at them with -large eyes full of tears, but said nothing. - - `This here young lady,' said the Gryphon, `she wants for to -know your history, she do.' - - `I'll tell it her,' said the Mock Turtle in a deep, hollow -tone: `sit down, both of you, and don't speak a word till I've -finished.' - - So they sat down, and nobody spoke for some minutes. Alice -thought to herself, `I don't see how he can EVEN finish, if he -doesn't begin.' But she waited patiently. - - `Once,' said the Mock Turtle at last, with a deep sigh, `I was -a real Turtle.' - - These words were followed by a very long silence, broken only -by an occasional exclamation of `Hjckrrh!' from the Gryphon, and -the constant heavy sobbing of the Mock Turtle. Alice was very -nearly getting up and saying, `Thank you, sir, for your -interesting story,' but she could not help thinking there MUST be -more to come, so she sat still and said nothing. - - `When we were little,' the Mock Turtle went on at last, more -calmly, though still sobbing a little now and then, `we went to -school in the sea. The master was an old Turtle--we used to call -him Tortoise--' - - `Why did you call him Tortoise, if he wasn't one?' Alice asked. - - `We called him Tortoise because he taught us,' said the Mock -Turtle angrily: `really you are very dull!' - - `You ought to be ashamed of yourself for asking such a simple -question,' added the Gryphon; and then they both sat silent and -looked at poor Alice, who felt ready to sink into the earth. At -last the Gryphon said to the Mock Turtle, `Drive on, old fellow! -Don't be all day about it!' and he went on in these words: - - `Yes, we went to school in the sea, though you mayn't believe -it--' - - `I never said I didn't!' interrupted Alice. - - `You did,' said the Mock Turtle. - - `Hold your tongue!' added the Gryphon, before Alice could speak -again. The Mock Turtle went on. - - `We had the best of educations--in fact, we went to school -every day--' - - `I'VE been to a day-school, too,' said Alice; `you needn't be -so proud as all that.' - - `With extras?' asked the Mock Turtle a little anxiously. - - `Yes,' said Alice, `we learned French and music.' - - `And washing?' said the Mock Turtle. - - `Certainly not!' said Alice indignantly. - - `Ah! then yours wasn't a really good school,' said the Mock -Turtle in a tone of great relief. `Now at OURS they had at the -end of the bill, "French, music, AND WASHING--extra."' - - `You couldn't have wanted it much,' said Alice; `living at the -bottom of the sea.' - - `I couldn't afford to learn it.' said the Mock Turtle with a -sigh. `I only took the regular course.' - - `What was that?' inquired Alice. - - `Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with,' the Mock -Turtle replied; `and then the different branches of Arithmetic-- -Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision.' - - `I never heard of "Uglification,"' Alice ventured to say. `What -is it?' - - The Gryphon lifted up both its paws in surprise. `What! Never -heard of uglifying!' it exclaimed. `You know what to beautify -is, I suppose?' - - `Yes,' said Alice doubtfully: `it means--to--make--anything-- -prettier.' - - `Well, then,' the Gryphon went on, `if you don't know what to -uglify is, you ARE a simpleton.' - - Alice did not feel encouraged to ask any more questions about -it, so she turned to the Mock Turtle, and said `What else had you -to learn?' - - `Well, there was Mystery,' the Mock Turtle replied, counting -off the subjects on his flappers, `--Mystery, ancient and modern, -with Seaography: then Drawling--the Drawling-master was an old -conger-eel, that used to come once a week: HE taught us -Drawling, Stretching, and Fainting in Coils.' - - `What was THAT like?' said Alice. - - `Well, I can't show it you myself,' the Mock Turtle said: `I'm -too stiff. And the Gryphon never learnt it.' - - `Hadn't time,' said the Gryphon: `I went to the Classics -master, though. He was an old crab, HE was.' - - `I never went to him,' the Mock Turtle said with a sigh: `he -taught Laughing and Grief, they used to say.' - - `So he did, so he did,' said the Gryphon, sighing in his turn; -and both creatures hid their faces in their paws. - - `And how many hours a day did you do lessons?' said Alice, in a -hurry to change the subject. - - `Ten hours the first day,' said the Mock Turtle: `nine the -next, and so on.' - - `What a curious plan!' exclaimed Alice. - - `That's the reason they're called lessons,' the Gryphon -remarked: `because they lessen from day to day.' - - This was quite a new idea to Alice, and she thought it over a -little before she made her next remark. `Then the eleventh day -must have been a holiday?' - - `Of course it was,' said the Mock Turtle. - - `And how did you manage on the twelfth?' Alice went on eagerly. - - `That's enough about lessons,' the Gryphon interrupted in a -very decided tone: `tell her something about the games now.' - - - - CHAPTER X - - The Lobster Quadrille - - - The Mock Turtle sighed deeply, and drew the back of one flapper -across his eyes. He looked at Alice, and tried to speak, but for -a minute or two sobs choked his voice. `Same as if he had a bone -in his throat,' said the Gryphon: and it set to work shaking him -and punching him in the back. At last the Mock Turtle recovered -his voice, and, with tears running down his cheeks, he went on -again:-- - - `You may not have lived much under the sea--' (`I haven't,' -said Alice)--`and perhaps you were never even introduced to a lobster--' -(Alice began to say `I once tasted--' but checked herself hastily, -and said `No, never') `--so you can have no idea what a delightful -thing a Lobster Quadrille is!' - - `No, indeed,' said Alice. `What sort of a dance is it?' - - `Why,' said the Gryphon, `you first form into a line along the -sea-shore--' - - `Two lines!' cried the Mock Turtle. `Seals, turtles, salmon, -and so on; then, when you've cleared all the jelly-fish out of -the way--' - - `THAT generally takes some time,' interrupted the Gryphon. - - `--you advance twice--' - - `Each with a lobster as a partner!' cried the Gryphon. - - `Of course,' the Mock Turtle said: `advance twice, set to -partners--' - - `--change lobsters, and retire in same order,' continued the -Gryphon. - - `Then, you know,' the Mock Turtle went on, `you throw the--' - - `The lobsters!' shouted the Gryphon, with a bound into the air. - - `--as far out to sea as you can--' - - `Swim after them!' screamed the Gryphon. - - `Turn a somersault in the sea!' cried the Mock Turtle, -capering wildly about. - - `Back to land again, and that's all the first figure,' said the -Mock Turtle, suddenly dropping his voice; and the two creatures, -who had been jumping about like mad things all this time, sat -down again very sadly and quietly, and looked at Alice. - - `It must be a very pretty dance,' said Alice timidly. - - `Would you like to see a little of it?' said the Mock Turtle. - - `Very much indeed,' said Alice. - - `Come, let's try the first figure!' said the Mock Turtle to the -Gryphon. `We can do without lobsters, you know. Which shall -sing?' - - `Oh, YOU sing,' said the Gryphon. `I've forgotten the words.' - - So they began solemnly dancing round and round Alice, every now -and then treading on her toes when they passed too close, and -waving their forepaws to mark the time, while the Mock Turtle -sang this, very slowly and sadly:-- - - -`"Will you walk a little faster?" said a whiting to a snail. -"There's a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on my - tail. -See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance! -They are waiting on the shingle--will you come and join the -dance? - -Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the -dance? -Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the -dance? - - -"You can really have no notion how delightful it will be -When they take us up and throw us, with the lobsters, out to - sea!" -But the snail replied "Too far, too far!" and gave a look - askance-- -Said he thanked the whiting kindly, but he would not join the - dance. - Would not, could not, would not, could not, would not join - the dance. - Would not, could not, would not, could not, could not join - the dance. - -`"What matters it how far we go?" his scaly friend replied. -"There is another shore, you know, upon the other side. -The further off from England the nearer is to France-- -Then turn not pale, beloved snail, but come and join the dance. - - Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the - dance? - Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the - dance?"' - - - - `Thank you, it's a very interesting dance to watch,' said -Alice, feeling very glad that it was over at last: `and I do so -like that curious song about the whiting!' - - `Oh, as to the whiting,' said the Mock Turtle, `they--you've -seen them, of course?' - - `Yes,' said Alice, `I've often seen them at dinn--' she -checked herself hastily. - - `I don't know where Dinn may be,' said the Mock Turtle, `but -if you've seen them so often, of course you know what they're -like.' - - `I believe so,' Alice replied thoughtfully. `They have their -tails in their mouths--and they're all over crumbs.' - - `You're wrong about the crumbs,' said the Mock Turtle: -`crumbs would all wash off in the sea. But they HAVE their tails -in their mouths; and the reason is--' here the Mock Turtle -yawned and shut his eyes.--`Tell her about the reason and all -that,' he said to the Gryphon. - - `The reason is,' said the Gryphon, `that they WOULD go with -the lobsters to the dance. So they got thrown out to sea. So -they had to fall a long way. So they got their tails fast in -their mouths. So they couldn't get them out again. That's all.' - - `Thank you,' said Alice, `it's very interesting. I never knew -so much about a whiting before.' - - `I can tell you more than that, if you like,' said the -Gryphon. `Do you know why it's called a whiting?' - - `I never thought about it,' said Alice. `Why?' - - `IT DOES THE BOOTS AND SHOES.' the Gryphon replied very -solemnly. - - Alice was thoroughly puzzled. `Does the boots and shoes!' she -repeated in a wondering tone. - - `Why, what are YOUR shoes done with?' said the Gryphon. `I -mean, what makes them so shiny?' - - Alice looked down at them, and considered a little before she -gave her answer. `They're done with blacking, I believe.' - - `Boots and shoes under the sea,' the Gryphon went on in a deep -voice, `are done with a whiting. Now you know.' - - `And what are they made of?' Alice asked in a tone of great -curiosity. - - `Soles and eels, of course,' the Gryphon replied rather -impatiently: `any shrimp could have told you that.' - - `If I'd been the whiting,' said Alice, whose thoughts were -still running on the song, `I'd have said to the porpoise, "Keep -back, please: we don't want YOU with us!"' - - `They were obliged to have him with them,' the Mock Turtle -said: `no wise fish would go anywhere without a porpoise.' - - `Wouldn't it really?' said Alice in a tone of great surprise. - - `Of course not,' said the Mock Turtle: `why, if a fish came -to ME, and told me he was going a journey, I should say "With -what porpoise?"' - - `Don't you mean "purpose"?' said Alice. - - `I mean what I say,' the Mock Turtle replied in an offended -tone. And the Gryphon added `Come, let's hear some of YOUR -adventures.' - - `I could tell you my adventures--beginning from this morning,' -said Alice a little timidly: `but it's no use going back to -yesterday, because I was a different person then.' - - `Explain all that,' said the Mock Turtle. - - `No, no! The adventures first,' said the Gryphon in an -impatient tone: `explanations take such a dreadful time.' - - So Alice began telling them her adventures from the time when -she first saw the White Rabbit. She was a little nervous about -it just at first, the two creatures got so close to her, one on -each side, and opened their eyes and mouths so VERY wide, but she -gained courage as she went on. Her listeners were perfectly -quiet till she got to the part about her repeating `YOU ARE OLD, -FATHER WILLIAM,' to the Caterpillar, and the words all coming -different, and then the Mock Turtle drew a long breath, and said -`That's very curious.' - - `It's all about as curious as it can be,' said the Gryphon. - - `It all came different!' the Mock Turtle repeated -thoughtfully. `I should like to hear her try and repeat -something now. Tell her to begin.' He looked at the Gryphon as -if he thought it had some kind of authority over Alice. - - `Stand up and repeat "'TIS THE VOICE OF THE SLUGGARD,"' said -the Gryphon. - - `How the creatures order one about, and make one repeat -lessons!' thought Alice; `I might as well be at school at once.' -However, she got up, and began to repeat it, but her head was so -full of the Lobster Quadrille, that she hardly knew what she was -saying, and the words came very queer indeed:-- - - `'Tis the voice of the Lobster; I heard him declare, - "You have baked me too brown, I must sugar my hair." - As a duck with its eyelids, so he with his nose - Trims his belt and his buttons, and turns out his toes.' - - [later editions continued as follows - When the sands are all dry, he is gay as a lark, - And will talk in contemptuous tones of the Shark, - But, when the tide rises and sharks are around, - His voice has a timid and tremulous sound.] - - `That's different from what I used to say when I was a child,' -said the Gryphon. - - `Well, I never heard it before,' said the Mock Turtle; `but it -sounds uncommon nonsense.' - - Alice said nothing; she had sat down with her face in her -hands, wondering if anything would EVER happen in a natural way -again. - - `I should like to have it explained,' said the Mock Turtle. - - `She can't explain it,' said the Gryphon hastily. `Go on with -the next verse.' - - `But about his toes?' the Mock Turtle persisted. `How COULD -he turn them out with his nose, you know?' - - `It's the first position in dancing.' Alice said; but was -dreadfully puzzled by the whole thing, and longed to change the -subject. - - `Go on with the next verse,' the Gryphon repeated impatiently: -`it begins "I passed by his garden."' - - Alice did not dare to disobey, though she felt sure it would -all come wrong, and she went on in a trembling voice:-- - - `I passed by his garden, and marked, with one eye, - How the Owl and the Panther were sharing a pie--' - - [later editions continued as follows - The Panther took pie-crust, and gravy, and meat, - While the Owl had the dish as its share of the treat. - When the pie was all finished, the Owl, as a boon, - Was kindly permitted to pocket the spoon: - While the Panther received knife and fork with a growl, - And concluded the banquet--] - - `What IS the use of repeating all that stuff,' the Mock Turtle -interrupted, `if you don't explain it as you go on? It's by far -the most confusing thing I ever heard!' - - `Yes, I think you'd better leave off,' said the Gryphon: and -Alice was only too glad to do so. - - `Shall we try another figure of the Lobster Quadrille?' the -Gryphon went on. `Or would you like the Mock Turtle to sing you -a song?' - - `Oh, a song, please, if the Mock Turtle would be so kind,' -Alice replied, so eagerly that the Gryphon said, in a rather -offended tone, `Hm! No accounting for tastes! Sing her "Turtle -Soup," will you, old fellow?' - - The Mock Turtle sighed deeply, and began, in a voice sometimes -choked with sobs, to sing this:-- - - - `Beautiful Soup, so rich and green, - Waiting in a hot tureen! - Who for such dainties would not stoop? - Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup! - Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup! - Beau--ootiful Soo--oop! - Beau--ootiful Soo--oop! - Soo--oop of the e--e--evening, - Beautiful, beautiful Soup! - - `Beautiful Soup! Who cares for fish, - Game, or any other dish? - Who would not give all else for two p - ennyworth only of beautiful Soup? - Pennyworth only of beautiful Soup? - Beau--ootiful Soo--oop! - Beau--ootiful Soo--oop! - Soo--oop of the e--e--evening, - Beautiful, beauti--FUL SOUP!' - - `Chorus again!' cried the Gryphon, and the Mock Turtle had -just begun to repeat it, when a cry of `The trial's beginning!' -was heard in the distance. - - `Come on!' cried the Gryphon, and, taking Alice by the hand, -it hurried off, without waiting for the end of the song. - - `What trial is it?' Alice panted as she ran; but the Gryphon -only answered `Come on!' and ran the faster, while more and more -faintly came, carried on the breeze that followed them, the -melancholy words:-- - - `Soo--oop of the e--e--evening, - Beautiful, beautiful Soup!' - - - - CHAPTER XI - - Who Stole the Tarts? - - - The King and Queen of Hearts were seated on their throne when -they arrived, with a great crowd assembled about them--all sorts -of little birds and beasts, as well as the whole pack of cards: -the Knave was standing before them, in chains, with a soldier on -each side to guard him; and near the King was the White Rabbit, -with a trumpet in one hand, and a scroll of parchment in the -other. In the very middle of the court was a table, with a large -dish of tarts upon it: they looked so good, that it made Alice -quite hungry to look at them--`I wish they'd get the trial done,' -she thought, `and hand round the refreshments!' But there seemed -to be no chance of this, so she began looking at everything about -her, to pass away the time. - - Alice had never been in a court of justice before, but she had -read about them in books, and she was quite pleased to find that -she knew the name of nearly everything there. `That's the -judge,' she said to herself, `because of his great wig.' - - The judge, by the way, was the King; and as he wore his crown -over the wig, (look at the frontispiece if you want to see how he -did it,) he did not look at all comfortable, and it was certainly -not becoming. - - `And that's the jury-box,' thought Alice, `and those twelve -creatures,' (she was obliged to say `creatures,' you see, because -some of them were animals, and some were birds,) `I suppose they -are the jurors.' She said this last word two or three times over -to herself, being rather proud of it: for she thought, and -rightly too, that very few little girls of her age knew the -meaning of it at all. However, `jury-men' would have done just -as well. - - The twelve jurors were all writing very busily on slates. -`What are they doing?' Alice whispered to the Gryphon. `They -can't have anything to put down yet, before the trial's begun.' - - `They're putting down their names,' the Gryphon whispered in -reply, `for fear they should forget them before the end of the -trial.' - - `Stupid things!' Alice began in a loud, indignant voice, but -she stopped hastily, for the White Rabbit cried out, `Silence in -the court!' and the King put on his spectacles and looked -anxiously round, to make out who was talking. - - Alice could see, as well as if she were looking over their -shoulders, that all the jurors were writing down `stupid things!' -on their slates, and she could even make out that one of them -didn't know how to spell `stupid,' and that he had to ask his -neighbour to tell him. `A nice muddle their slates'll be in -before the trial's over!' thought Alice. - - One of the jurors had a pencil that squeaked. This of course, -Alice could not stand, and she went round the court and got -behind him, and very soon found an opportunity of taking it -away. She did it so quickly that the poor little juror (it was -Bill, the Lizard) could not make out at all what had become of -it; so, after hunting all about for it, he was obliged to write -with one finger for the rest of the day; and this was of very -little use, as it left no mark on the slate. - - `Herald, read the accusation!' said the King. - - On this the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, and -then unrolled the parchment scroll, and read as follows:-- - - `The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts, - All on a summer day: - The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts, - And took them quite away!' - - `Consider your verdict,' the King said to the jury. - - `Not yet, not yet!' the Rabbit hastily interrupted. `There's -a great deal to come before that!' - - `Call the first witness,' said the King; and the White Rabbit -blew three blasts on the trumpet, and called out, `First -witness!' - - The first witness was the Hatter. He came in with a teacup in -one hand and a piece of bread-and-butter in the other. `I beg -pardon, your Majesty,' he began, `for bringing these in: but I -hadn't quite finished my tea when I was sent for.' - - `You ought to have finished,' said the King. `When did you -begin?' - - The Hatter looked at the March Hare, who had followed him into -the court, arm-in-arm with the Dormouse. `Fourteenth of March, I -think it was,' he said. - - `Fifteenth,' said the March Hare. - - `Sixteenth,' added the Dormouse. - - `Write that down,' the King said to the jury, and the jury -eagerly wrote down all three dates on their slates, and then -added them up, and reduced the answer to shillings and pence. - - `Take off your hat,' the King said to the Hatter. - - `It isn't mine,' said the Hatter. - - `Stolen!' the King exclaimed, turning to the jury, who -instantly made a memorandum of the fact. - - `I keep them to sell,' the Hatter added as an explanation; -`I've none of my own. I'm a hatter.' - - Here the Queen put on her spectacles, and began staring at the -Hatter, who turned pale and fidgeted. - - `Give your evidence,' said the King; `and don't be nervous, or -I'll have you executed on the spot.' - - This did not seem to encourage the witness at all: he kept -shifting from one foot to the other, looking uneasily at the -Queen, and in his confusion he bit a large piece out of his -teacup instead of the bread-and-butter. - - Just at this moment Alice felt a very curious sensation, which -puzzled her a good deal until she made out what it was: she was -beginning to grow larger again, and she thought at first she -would get up and leave the court; but on second thoughts she -decided to remain where she was as long as there was room for -her. - - `I wish you wouldn't squeeze so.' said the Dormouse, who was -sitting next to her. `I can hardly breathe.' - - `I can't help it,' said Alice very meekly: `I'm growing.' - - `You've no right to grow here,' said the Dormouse. - - `Don't talk nonsense,' said Alice more boldly: `you know -you're growing too.' - - `Yes, but I grow at a reasonable pace,' said the Dormouse: -`not in that ridiculous fashion.' And he got up very sulkily -and crossed over to the other side of the court. - - All this time the Queen had never left off staring at the -Hatter, and, just as the Dormouse crossed the court, she said to -one of the officers of the court, `Bring me the list of the -singers in the last concert!' on which the wretched Hatter -trembled so, that he shook both his shoes off. - - `Give your evidence,' the King repeated angrily, `or I'll have -you executed, whether you're nervous or not.' - - `I'm a poor man, your Majesty,' the Hatter began, in a -trembling voice, `--and I hadn't begun my tea--not above a week -or so--and what with the bread-and-butter getting so thin--and -the twinkling of the tea--' - - `The twinkling of the what?' said the King. - - `It began with the tea,' the Hatter replied. - - `Of course twinkling begins with a T!' said the King sharply. -`Do you take me for a dunce? Go on!' - - `I'm a poor man,' the Hatter went on, `and most things -twinkled after that--only the March Hare said--' - - `I didn't!' the March Hare interrupted in a great hurry. - - `You did!' said the Hatter. - - `I deny it!' said the March Hare. - - `He denies it,' said the King: `leave out that part.' - - `Well, at any rate, the Dormouse said--' the Hatter went on, -looking anxiously round to see if he would deny it too: but the -Dormouse denied nothing, being fast asleep. - - `After that,' continued the Hatter, `I cut some more bread- -and-butter--' - - `But what did the Dormouse say?' one of the jury asked. - - `That I can't remember,' said the Hatter. - - `You MUST remember,' remarked the King, `or I'll have you -executed.' - - The miserable Hatter dropped his teacup and bread-and-butter, -and went down on one knee. `I'm a poor man, your Majesty,' he -began. - - `You're a very poor speaker,' said the King. - - Here one of the guinea-pigs cheered, and was immediately -suppressed by the officers of the court. (As that is rather a -hard word, I will just explain to you how it was done. They had -a large canvas bag, which tied up at the mouth with strings: -into this they slipped the guinea-pig, head first, and then sat -upon it.) - - `I'm glad I've seen that done,' thought Alice. `I've so often -read in the newspapers, at the end of trials, "There was some -attempts at applause, which was immediately suppressed by the -officers of the court," and I never understood what it meant -till now.' - - `If that's all you know about it, you may stand down,' -continued the King. - - `I can't go no lower,' said the Hatter: `I'm on the floor, as -it is.' - - `Then you may SIT down,' the King replied. - - Here the other guinea-pig cheered, and was suppressed. - - `Come, that finished the guinea-pigs!' thought Alice. `Now we -shall get on better.' - - `I'd rather finish my tea,' said the Hatter, with an anxious -look at the Queen, who was reading the list of singers. - - `You may go,' said the King, and the Hatter hurriedly left the -court, without even waiting to put his shoes on. - - `--and just take his head off outside,' the Queen added to one -of the officers: but the Hatter was out of sight before the -officer could get to the door. - - `Call the next witness!' said the King. - - The next witness was the Duchess's cook. She carried the -pepper-box in her hand, and Alice guessed who it was, even before -she got into the court, by the way the people near the door began -sneezing all at once. - - `Give your evidence,' said the King. - - `Shan't,' said the cook. - - The King looked anxiously at the White Rabbit, who said in a -low voice, `Your Majesty must cross-examine THIS witness.' - - `Well, if I must, I must,' the King said, with a melancholy -air, and, after folding his arms and frowning at the cook till -his eyes were nearly out of sight, he said in a deep voice, `What -are tarts made of?' - - `Pepper, mostly,' said the cook. - - `Treacle,' said a sleepy voice behind her. - - `Collar that Dormouse,' the Queen shrieked out. `Behead that -Dormouse! Turn that Dormouse out of court! Suppress him! Pinch -him! Off with his whiskers!' - - For some minutes the whole court was in confusion, getting the -Dormouse turned out, and, by the time they had settled down -again, the cook had disappeared. - - `Never mind!' said the King, with an air of great relief. -`Call the next witness.' And he added in an undertone to the -Queen, `Really, my dear, YOU must cross-examine the next witness. -It quite makes my forehead ache!' - - Alice watched the White Rabbit as he fumbled over the list, -feeling very curious to see what the next witness would be like, -`--for they haven't got much evidence YET,' she said to herself. -Imagine her surprise, when the White Rabbit read out, at the top -of his shrill little voice, the name `Alice!' - - - - CHAPTER XII - - Alice's Evidence - - - `Here!' cried Alice, quite forgetting in the flurry of the -moment how large she had grown in the last few minutes, and she -jumped up in such a hurry that she tipped over the jury-box with -the edge of her skirt, upsetting all the jurymen on to the heads -of the crowd below, and there they lay sprawling about, reminding -her very much of a globe of goldfish she had accidentally upset -the week before. - - `Oh, I BEG your pardon!' she exclaimed in a tone of great -dismay, and began picking them up again as quickly as she could, -for the accident of the goldfish kept running in her head, and -she had a vague sort of idea that they must be collected at once -and put back into the jury-box, or they would die. - - `The trial cannot proceed,' said the King in a very grave -voice, `until all the jurymen are back in their proper places-- -ALL,' he repeated with great emphasis, looking hard at Alice as -he said do. - - Alice looked at the jury-box, and saw that, in her haste, she -had put the Lizard in head downwards, and the poor little thing -was waving its tail about in a melancholy way, being quite unable -to move. She soon got it out again, and put it right; `not that -it signifies much,' she said to herself; `I should think it -would be QUITE as much use in the trial one way up as the other.' - - As soon as the jury had a little recovered from the shock of -being upset, and their slates and pencils had been found and -handed back to them, they set to work very diligently to write -out a history of the accident, all except the Lizard, who seemed -too much overcome to do anything but sit with its mouth open, -gazing up into the roof of the court. - - `What do you know about this business?' the King said to -Alice. - - `Nothing,' said Alice. - - `Nothing WHATEVER?' persisted the King. - - `Nothing whatever,' said Alice. - - `That's very important,' the King said, turning to the jury. -They were just beginning to write this down on their slates, when -the White Rabbit interrupted: `UNimportant, your Majesty means, -of course,' he said in a very respectful tone, but frowning and -making faces at him as he spoke. - - `UNimportant, of course, I meant,' the King hastily said, and -went on to himself in an undertone, `important--unimportant-- -unimportant--important--' as if he were trying which word -sounded best. - - Some of the jury wrote it down `important,' and some -`unimportant.' Alice could see this, as she was near enough to -look over their slates; `but it doesn't matter a bit,' she -thought to herself. - - At this moment the King, who had been for some time busily -writing in his note-book, cackled out `Silence!' and read out -from his book, `Rule Forty-two. ALL PERSONS MORE THAN A MILE -HIGH TO LEAVE THE COURT.' - - Everybody looked at Alice. - - `I'M not a mile high,' said Alice. - - `You are,' said the King. - - `Nearly two miles high,' added the Queen. - - `Well, I shan't go, at any rate,' said Alice: `besides, -that's not a regular rule: you invented it just now.' - - `It's the oldest rule in the book,' said the King. - - `Then it ought to be Number One,' said Alice. - - The King turned pale, and shut his note-book hastily. -`Consider your verdict,' he said to the jury, in a low, trembling -voice. - - `There's more evidence to come yet, please your Majesty,' said -the White Rabbit, jumping up in a great hurry; `this paper has -just been picked up.' - - `What's in it?' said the Queen. - - `I haven't opened it yet,' said the White Rabbit, `but it seems -to be a letter, written by the prisoner to--to somebody.' - - `It must have been that,' said the King, `unless it was -written to nobody, which isn't usual, you know.' - - `Who is it directed to?' said one of the jurymen. - - `It isn't directed at all,' said the White Rabbit; `in fact, -there's nothing written on the OUTSIDE.' He unfolded the paper -as he spoke, and added `It isn't a letter, after all: it's a set -of verses.' - - `Are they in the prisoner's handwriting?' asked another of -they jurymen. - - `No, they're not,' said the White Rabbit, `and that's the -queerest thing about it.' (The jury all looked puzzled.) - - `He must have imitated somebody else's hand,' said the King. -(The jury all brightened up again.) - - `Please your Majesty,' said the Knave, `I didn't write it, and -they can't prove I did: there's no name signed at the end.' - - `If you didn't sign it,' said the King, `that only makes the -matter worse. You MUST have meant some mischief, or else you'd -have signed your name like an honest man.' - - There was a general clapping of hands at this: it was the -first really clever thing the King had said that day. - - `That PROVES his guilt,' said the Queen. - - `It proves nothing of the sort!' said Alice. `Why, you don't -even know what they're about!' - - `Read them,' said the King. - - The White Rabbit put on his spectacles. `Where shall I begin, -please your Majesty?' he asked. - - `Begin at the beginning,' the King said gravely, `and go on -till you come to the end: then stop.' - - These were the verses the White Rabbit read:-- - - `They told me you had been to her, - And mentioned me to him: - She gave me a good character, - But said I could not swim. - - He sent them word I had not gone - (We know it to be true): - If she should push the matter on, - What would become of you? - - I gave her one, they gave him two, - You gave us three or more; - They all returned from him to you, - Though they were mine before. - - If I or she should chance to be - Involved in this affair, - He trusts to you to set them free, - Exactly as we were. - - My notion was that you had been - (Before she had this fit) - An obstacle that came between - Him, and ourselves, and it. - - Don't let him know she liked them best, - For this must ever be - A secret, kept from all the rest, - Between yourself and me.' - - `That's the most important piece of evidence we've heard yet,' -said the King, rubbing his hands; `so now let the jury--' - - `If any one of them can explain it,' said Alice, (she had -grown so large in the last few minutes that she wasn't a bit -afraid of interrupting him,) `I'll give him sixpence. _I_ don't -believe there's an atom of meaning in it.' - - The jury all wrote down on their slates, `SHE doesn't believe -there's an atom of meaning in it,' but none of them attempted to -explain the paper. - - `If there's no meaning in it,' said the King, `that saves a -world of trouble, you know, as we needn't try to find any. And -yet I don't know,' he went on, spreading out the verses on his -knee, and looking at them with one eye; `I seem to see some -meaning in them, after all. "--SAID I COULD NOT SWIM--" you -can't swim, can you?' he added, turning to the Knave. - - The Knave shook his head sadly. `Do I look like it?' he said. -(Which he certainly did NOT, being made entirely of cardboard.) - - `All right, so far,' said the King, and he went on muttering -over the verses to himself: `"WE KNOW IT TO BE TRUE--" that's -the jury, of course-- "I GAVE HER ONE, THEY GAVE HIM TWO--" why, -that must be what he did with the tarts, you know--' - - `But, it goes on "THEY ALL RETURNED FROM HIM TO YOU,"' said -Alice. - - `Why, there they are!' said the King triumphantly, pointing to -the tarts on the table. `Nothing can be clearer than THAT. -Then again--"BEFORE SHE HAD THIS FIT--" you never had fits, my -dear, I think?' he said to the Queen. - - `Never!' said the Queen furiously, throwing an inkstand at the -Lizard as she spoke. (The unfortunate little Bill had left off -writing on his slate with one finger, as he found it made no -mark; but he now hastily began again, using the ink, that was -trickling down his face, as long as it lasted.) - - `Then the words don't FIT you,' said the King, looking round -the court with a smile. There was a dead silence. - - `It's a pun!' the King added in an offended tone, and -everybody laughed, `Let the jury consider their verdict,' the -King said, for about the twentieth time that day. - - `No, no!' said the Queen. `Sentence first--verdict afterwards.' - - `Stuff and nonsense!' said Alice loudly. `The idea of having -the sentence first!' - - `Hold your tongue!' said the Queen, turning purple. - - `I won't!' said Alice. - - `Off with her head!' the Queen shouted at the top of her voice. -Nobody moved. - - `Who cares for you?' said Alice, (she had grown to her full -size by this time.) `You're nothing but a pack of cards!' - - At this the whole pack rose up into the air, and came flying -down upon her: she gave a little scream, half of fright and half -of anger, and tried to beat them off, and found herself lying on -the bank, with her head in the lap of her sister, who was gently -brushing away some dead leaves that had fluttered down from the -trees upon her face. - - `Wake up, Alice dear!' said her sister; `Why, what a long -sleep you've had!' - - `Oh, I've had such a curious dream!' said Alice, and she told -her sister, as well as she could remember them, all these strange -Adventures of hers that you have just been reading about; and -when she had finished, her sister kissed her, and said, `It WAS a -curious dream, dear, certainly: but now run in to your tea; it's -getting late.' So Alice got up and ran off, thinking while she -ran, as well she might, what a wonderful dream it had been. - - But her sister sat still just as she left her, leaning her -head on her hand, watching the setting sun, and thinking of -little Alice and all her wonderful Adventures, till she too began -dreaming after a fashion, and this was her dream:-- - - First, she dreamed of little Alice herself, and once again the -tiny hands were clasped upon her knee, and the bright eager eyes -were looking up into hers--she could hear the very tones of her -voice, and see that queer little toss of her head to keep back -the wandering hair that WOULD always get into her eyes--and -still as she listened, or seemed to listen, the whole place -around her became alive the strange creatures of her little -sister's dream. - - The long grass rustled at her feet as the White Rabbit hurried -by--the frightened Mouse splashed his way through the -neighbouring pool--she could hear the rattle of the teacups as -the March Hare and his friends shared their never-ending meal, -and the shrill voice of the Queen ordering off her unfortunate -guests to execution--once more the pig-baby was sneezing on the -Duchess's knee, while plates and dishes crashed around it--once -more the shriek of the Gryphon, the squeaking of the Lizard's -slate-pencil, and the choking of the suppressed guinea-pigs, -filled the air, mixed up with the distant sobs of the miserable -Mock Turtle. - - So she sat on, with closed eyes, and half believed herself in -Wonderland, though she knew she had but to open them again, and -all would change to dull reality--the grass would be only -rustling in the wind, and the pool rippling to the waving of the -reeds--the rattling teacups would change to tinkling sheep- -bells, and the Queen's shrill cries to the voice of the shepherd -boy--and the sneeze of the baby, the shriek of the Gryphon, and -all thy other queer noises, would change (she knew) to the -confused clamour of the busy farm-yard--while the lowing of the -cattle in the distance would take the place of the Mock Turtle's -heavy sobs. - - Lastly, she pictured to herself how this same little sister of -hers would, in the after-time, be herself a grown woman; and how -she would keep, through all her riper years, the simple and -loving heart of her childhood: and how she would gather about -her other little children, and make THEIR eyes bright and eager -with many a strange tale, perhaps even with the dream of -Wonderland of long ago: and how she would feel with all their -simple sorrows, and find a pleasure in all their simple joys, -remembering her own child-life, and the happy summer days. - - THE END + + + + + ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND + + Lewis Carroll + + THE MILLENNIUM FULCRUM EDITION 2.9 + + + + + CHAPTER I + + Down the Rabbit-Hole + + + Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister +on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had +peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no +pictures or conversations in it, `and what is the use of a book,' +thought Alice `without pictures or conversation?' + + So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, +for the hot day made her feel very sleepy and stupid), whether +the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the trouble +of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White +Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her. + + There was nothing so VERY remarkable in that; nor did Alice +think it so VERY much out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to +itself, `Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!' (when she thought +it over afterwards, it occurred to her that she ought to have +wondered at this, but at the time it all seemed quite natural); +but when the Rabbit actually TOOK A WATCH OUT OF ITS WAISTCOAT- +POCKET, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to +her feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never +before seen a rabbit with either a waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to +take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the +field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop +down a large rabbit-hole under the hedge. + + In another moment down went Alice after it, never once +considering how in the world she was to get out again. + + The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, +and then dipped suddenly down, so suddenly that Alice had not a +moment to think about stopping herself before she found herself +falling down a very deep well. + + Either the well was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for she +had plenty of time as she went down to look about her and to +wonder what was going to happen next. First, she tried to look +down and make out what she was coming to, but it was too dark to +see anything; then she looked at the sides of the well, and +noticed that they were filled with cupboards and book-shelves; +here and there she saw maps and pictures hung upon pegs. She +took down a jar from one of the shelves as she passed; it was +labelled `ORANGE MARMALADE', but to her great disappointment it +was empty: she did not like to drop the jar for fear of killing +somebody, so managed to put it into one of the cupboards as she +fell past it. + + `Well!' thought Alice to herself, `after such a fall as this, I +shall think nothing of tumbling down stairs! How brave they'll +all think me at home! Why, I wouldn't say anything about it, +even if I fell off the top of the house!' (Which was very likely +true.) + + Down, down, down. Would the fall NEVER come to an end! `I +wonder how many miles I've fallen by this time?' she said aloud. +`I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the earth. Let +me see: that would be four thousand miles down, I think--' (for, +you see, Alice had learnt several things of this sort in her +lessons in the schoolroom, and though this was not a VERY good +opportunity for showing off her knowledge, as there was no one to +listen to her, still it was good practice to say it over) `--yes, +that's about the right distance--but then I wonder what Latitude +or Longitude I've got to?' (Alice had no idea what Latitude was, +or Longitude either, but thought they were nice grand words to +say.) + + Presently she began again. `I wonder if I shall fall right +THROUGH the earth! How funny it'll seem to come out among the +people that walk with their heads downward! The Antipathies, I +think--' (she was rather glad there WAS no one listening, this +time, as it didn't sound at all the right word) `--but I shall +have to ask them what the name of the country is, you know. +Please, Ma'am, is this New Zealand or Australia?' (and she tried +to curtsey as she spoke--fancy CURTSEYING as you're falling +through the air! Do you think you could manage it?) `And what +an ignorant little girl she'll think me for asking! No, it'll +never do to ask: perhaps I shall see it written up somewhere.' + + Down, down, down. There was nothing else to do, so Alice soon +began talking again. `Dinah'll miss me very much to-night, I +should think!' (Dinah was the cat.) `I hope they'll remember +her saucer of milk at tea-time. Dinah my dear! I wish you were +down here with me! There are no mice in the air, I'm afraid, but +you might catch a bat, and that's very like a mouse, you know. +But do cats eat bats, I wonder?' And here Alice began to get +rather sleepy, and went on saying to herself, in a dreamy sort of +way, `Do cats eat bats? Do cats eat bats?' and sometimes, `Do +bats eat cats?' for, you see, as she couldn't answer either +question, it didn't much matter which way she put it. She felt +that she was dozing off, and had just begun to dream that she +was walking hand in hand with Dinah, and saying to her very +earnestly, `Now, Dinah, tell me the truth: did you ever eat a +bat?' when suddenly, thump! thump! down she came upon a heap of +sticks and dry leaves, and the fall was over. + + Alice was not a bit hurt, and she jumped up on to her feet in a +moment: she looked up, but it was all dark overhead; before her +was another long passage, and the White Rabbit was still in +sight, hurrying down it. There was not a moment to be lost: +away went Alice like the wind, and was just in time to hear it +say, as it turned a corner, `Oh my ears and whiskers, how late +it's getting!' She was close behind it when she turned the +corner, but the Rabbit was no longer to be seen: she found +herself in a long, low hall, which was lit up by a row of lamps +hanging from the roof. + + There were doors all round the hall, but they were all locked; +and when Alice had been all the way down one side and up the +other, trying every door, she walked sadly down the middle, +wondering how she was ever to get out again. + + Suddenly she came upon a little three-legged table, all made of +solid glass; there was nothing on it except a tiny golden key, +and Alice's first thought was that it might belong to one of the +doors of the hall; but, alas! either the locks were too large, or +the key was too small, but at any rate it would not open any of +them. However, on the second time round, she came upon a low +curtain she had not noticed before, and behind it was a little +door about fifteen inches high: she tried the little golden key +in the lock, and to her great delight it fitted! + + Alice opened the door and found that it led into a small +passage, not much larger than a rat-hole: she knelt down and +looked along the passage into the loveliest garden you ever saw. +How she longed to get out of that dark hall, and wander about +among those beds of bright flowers and those cool fountains, but +she could not even get her head though the doorway; `and even if +my head would go through,' thought poor Alice, `it would be of +very little use without my shoulders. Oh, how I wish +I could shut up like a telescope! I think I could, if I only +know how to begin.' For, you see, so many out-of-the-way things +had happened lately, that Alice had begun to think that very few +things indeed were really impossible. + + There seemed to be no use in waiting by the little door, so she +went back to the table, half hoping she might find another key on +it, or at any rate a book of rules for shutting people up like +telescopes: this time she found a little bottle on it, (`which +certainly was not here before,' said Alice,) and round the neck +of the bottle was a paper label, with the words `DRINK ME' +beautifully printed on it in large letters. + + It was all very well to say `Drink me,' but the wise little +Alice was not going to do THAT in a hurry. `No, I'll look +first,' she said, `and see whether it's marked "poison" or not'; +for she had read several nice little histories about children who +had got burnt, and eaten up by wild beasts and other unpleasant +things, all because they WOULD not remember the simple rules +their friends had taught them: such as, that a red-hot poker +will burn you if you hold it too long; and that if you cut your +finger VERY deeply with a knife, it usually bleeds; and she had +never forgotten that, if you drink much from a bottle marked +`poison,' it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or +later. + + However, this bottle was NOT marked `poison,' so Alice ventured +to taste it, and finding it very nice, (it had, in fact, a sort +of mixed flavour of cherry-tart, custard, pine-apple, roast +turkey, toffee, and hot buttered toast,) she very soon finished +it off. + + * * * * * * * + + * * * * * * + + * * * * * * * + + `What a curious feeling!' said Alice; `I must be shutting up +like a telescope.' + + And so it was indeed: she was now only ten inches high, and +her face brightened up at the thought that she was now the right +size for going though the little door into that lovely garden. +First, however, she waited for a few minutes to see if she was +going to shrink any further: she felt a little nervous about +this; `for it might end, you know,' said Alice to herself, `in my +going out altogether, like a candle. I wonder what I should be +like then?' And she tried to fancy what the flame of a candle is +like after the candle is blown out, for she could not remember +ever having seen such a thing. + + After a while, finding that nothing more happened, she decided +on going into the garden at once; but, alas for poor Alice! when +she got to the door, she found he had forgotten the little golden +key, and when she went back to the table for it, she found she +could not possibly reach it: she could see it quite plainly +through the glass, and she tried her best to climb up one of the +legs of the table, but it was too slippery; and when she had +tired herself out with trying, the poor little thing sat down and +cried. + + `Come, there's no use in crying like that!' said Alice to +herself, rather sharply; `I advise you to leave off this minute!' +She generally gave herself very good advice, (though she very +seldom followed it), and sometimes she scolded herself so +severely as to bring tears into her eyes; and once she remembered +trying to box her own ears for having cheated herself in a game +of croquet she was playing against herself, for this curious +child was very fond of pretending to be two people. `But it's no +use now,' thought poor Alice, `to pretend to be two people! Why, +there's hardly enough of me left to make ONE respectable +person!' + + Soon her eye fell on a little glass box that was lying under +the table: she opened it, and found in it a very small cake, on +which the words `EAT ME' were beautifully marked in currants. +`Well, I'll eat it,' said Alice, `and if it makes me grow larger, +I can reach the key; and if it makes me grow smaller, I can creep +under the door; so either way I'll get into the garden, and I +don't care which happens!' + + She ate a little bit, and said anxiously to herself, `Which +way? Which way?', holding her hand on the top of her head to +feel which way it was growing, and she was quite surprised to +find that she remained the same size: to be sure, this generally +happens when one eats cake, but Alice had got so much into the +way of expecting nothing but out-of-the-way things to happen, +that it seemed quite dull and stupid for life to go on in the +common way. + + So she set to work, and very soon finished off the cake. + + * * * * * * * + + * * * * * * + + * * * * * * * + + + + + CHAPTER II + + The Pool of Tears + + + `Curiouser and curiouser!' cried Alice (she was so much +surprised, that for the moment she quite forgot how to speak good +English); `now I'm opening out like the largest telescope that +ever was! Good-bye, feet!' (for when she looked down at her +feet, they seemed to be almost out of sight, they were getting so +far off). `Oh, my poor little feet, I wonder who will put on +your shoes and stockings for you now, dears? I'm sure _I_ shan't +be able! I shall be a great deal too far off to trouble myself +about you: you must manage the best way you can; --but I must be +kind to them,' thought Alice, `or perhaps they won't walk the +way I want to go! Let me see: I'll give them a new pair of +boots every Christmas.' + + And she went on planning to herself how she would manage it. +`They must go by the carrier,' she thought; `and how funny it'll +seem, sending presents to one's own feet! And how odd the +directions will look! + + ALICE'S RIGHT FOOT, ESQ. + HEARTHRUG, + NEAR THE FENDER, + (WITH ALICE'S LOVE). + +Oh dear, what nonsense I'm talking!' + + Just then her head struck against the roof of the hall: in +fact she was now more than nine feet high, and she at once took +up the little golden key and hurried off to the garden door. + + Poor Alice! It was as much as she could do, lying down on one +side, to look through into the garden with one eye; but to get +through was more hopeless than ever: she sat down and began to +cry again. + + `You ought to be ashamed of yourself,' said Alice, `a great +girl like you,' (she might well say this), `to go on crying in +this way! Stop this moment, I tell you!' But she went on all +the same, shedding gallons of tears, until there was a large pool +all round her, about four inches deep and reaching half down the +hall. + + After a time she heard a little pattering of feet in the +distance, and she hastily dried her eyes to see what was coming. +It was the White Rabbit returning, splendidly dressed, with a +pair of white kid gloves in one hand and a large fan in the +other: he came trotting along in a great hurry, muttering to +himself as he came, `Oh! the Duchess, the Duchess! Oh! won't she +be savage if I've kept her waiting!' Alice felt so desperate +that she was ready to ask help of any one; so, when the Rabbit +came near her, she began, in a low, timid voice, `If you please, +sir--' The Rabbit started violently, dropped the white kid +gloves and the fan, and skurried away into the darkness as hard +as he could go. + + Alice took up the fan and gloves, and, as the hall was very +hot, she kept fanning herself all the time she went on talking: +`Dear, dear! How queer everything is to-day! And yesterday +things went on just as usual. I wonder if I've been changed in +the night? Let me think: was I the same when I got up this +morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little +different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is, Who in +the world am I? Ah, THAT'S the great puzzle!' And she began +thinking over all the children she knew that were of the same age +as herself, to see if she could have been changed for any of +them. + + `I'm sure I'm not Ada,' she said, `for her hair goes in such +long ringlets, and mine doesn't go in ringlets at all; and I'm +sure I can't be Mabel, for I know all sorts of things, and she, +oh! she knows such a very little! Besides, SHE'S she, and I'm I, +and--oh dear, how puzzling it all is! I'll try if I know all the +things I used to know. Let me see: four times five is twelve, +and four times six is thirteen, and four times seven is--oh dear! +I shall never get to twenty at that rate! However, the +Multiplication Table doesn't signify: let's try Geography. +London is the capital of Paris, and Paris is the capital of Rome, +and Rome--no, THAT'S all wrong, I'm certain! I must have been +changed for Mabel! I'll try and say "How doth the little--"' +and she crossed her hands on her lap as if she were saying lessons, +and began to repeat it, but her voice sounded hoarse and +strange, and the words did not come the same as they used to do:-- + + `How doth the little crocodile + Improve his shining tail, + And pour the waters of the Nile + On every golden scale! + + `How cheerfully he seems to grin, + How neatly spread his claws, + And welcome little fishes in + With gently smiling jaws!' + + `I'm sure those are not the right words,' said poor Alice, and +her eyes filled with tears again as she went on, `I must be Mabel +after all, and I shall have to go and live in that poky little +house, and have next to no toys to play with, and oh! ever so +many lessons to learn! No, I've made up my mind about it; if I'm +Mabel, I'll stay down here! It'll be no use their putting their +heads down and saying "Come up again, dear!" I shall only look +up and say "Who am I then? Tell me that first, and then, if I +like being that person, I'll come up: if not, I'll stay down +here till I'm somebody else"--but, oh dear!' cried Alice, with a +sudden burst of tears, `I do wish they WOULD put their heads +down! I am so VERY tired of being all alone here!' + + As she said this she looked down at her hands, and was +surprised to see that she had put on one of the Rabbit's little +white kid gloves while she was talking. `How CAN I have done +that?' she thought. `I must be growing small again.' She got up +and went to the table to measure herself by it, and found that, +as nearly as she could guess, she was now about two feet high, +and was going on shrinking rapidly: she soon found out that the +cause of this was the fan she was holding, and she dropped it +hastily, just in time to avoid shrinking away altogether. + +`That WAS a narrow escape!' said Alice, a good deal frightened at +the sudden change, but very glad to find herself still in +existence; `and now for the garden!' and she ran with all speed +back to the little door: but, alas! the little door was shut +again, and the little golden key was lying on the glass table as +before, `and things are worse than ever,' thought the poor child, +`for I never was so small as this before, never! And I declare +it's too bad, that it is!' + + As she said these words her foot slipped, and in another +moment, splash! she was up to her chin in salt water. He first +idea was that she had somehow fallen into the sea, `and in that +case I can go back by railway,' she said to herself. (Alice had +been to the seaside once in her life, and had come to the general +conclusion, that wherever you go to on the English coast you find +a number of bathing machines in the sea, some children digging in +the sand with wooden spades, then a row of lodging houses, and +behind them a railway station.) However, she soon made out that +she was in the pool of tears which she had wept when she was nine +feet high. + + `I wish I hadn't cried so much!' said Alice, as she swam about, +trying to find her way out. `I shall be punished for it now, I +suppose, by being drowned in my own tears! That WILL be a queer +thing, to be sure! However, everything is queer to-day.' + + Just then she heard something splashing about in the pool a +little way off, and she swam nearer to make out what it was: at +first she thought it must be a walrus or hippopotamus, but then +she remembered how small she was now, and she soon made out that +it was only a mouse that had slipped in like herself. + + `Would it be of any use, now,' thought Alice, `to speak to this +mouse? Everything is so out-of-the-way down here, that I should +think very likely it can talk: at any rate, there's no harm in +trying.' So she began: `O Mouse, do you know the way out of +this pool? I am very tired of swimming about here, O Mouse!' +(Alice thought this must be the right way of speaking to a mouse: +she had never done such a thing before, but she remembered having +seen in her brother's Latin Grammar, `A mouse--of a mouse--to a +mouse--a mouse--O mouse!' The Mouse looked at her rather +inquisitively, and seemed to her to wink with one of its little +eyes, but it said nothing. + + `Perhaps it doesn't understand English,' thought Alice; `I +daresay it's a French mouse, come over with William the +Conqueror.' (For, with all her knowledge of history, Alice had +no very clear notion how long ago anything had happened.) So she +began again: `Ou est ma chatte?' which was the first sentence in +her French lesson-book. The Mouse gave a sudden leap out of the +water, and seemed to quiver all over with fright. `Oh, I beg +your pardon!' cried Alice hastily, afraid that she had hurt the +poor animal's feelings. `I quite forgot you didn't like cats.' + + `Not like cats!' cried the Mouse, in a shrill, passionate +voice. `Would YOU like cats if you were me?' + + `Well, perhaps not,' said Alice in a soothing tone: `don't be +angry about it. And yet I wish I could show you our cat Dinah: +I think you'd take a fancy to cats if you could only see her. +She is such a dear quiet thing,' Alice went on, half to herself, +as she swam lazily about in the pool, `and she sits purring so +nicely by the fire, licking her paws and washing her face--and +she is such a nice soft thing to nurse--and she's such a capital +one for catching mice--oh, I beg your pardon!' cried Alice again, +for this time the Mouse was bristling all over, and she felt +certain it must be really offended. `We won't talk about her any +more if you'd rather not.' + + `We indeed!' cried the Mouse, who was trembling down to the end +of his tail. `As if I would talk on such a subject! Our family +always HATED cats: nasty, low, vulgar things! Don't let me hear +the name again!' + + `I won't indeed!' said Alice, in a great hurry to change the +subject of conversation. `Are you--are you fond--of--of dogs?' +The Mouse did not answer, so Alice went on eagerly: `There is +such a nice little dog near our house I should like to show you! +A little bright-eyed terrier, you know, with oh, such long curly +brown hair! And it'll fetch things when you throw them, and +it'll sit up and beg for its dinner, and all sorts of things--I +can't remember half of them--and it belongs to a farmer, you +know, and he says it's so useful, it's worth a hundred pounds! +He says it kills all the rats and--oh dear!' cried Alice in a +sorrowful tone, `I'm afraid I've offended it again!' For the +Mouse was swimming away from her as hard as it could go, and +making quite a commotion in the pool as it went. + + So she called softly after it, `Mouse dear! Do come back +again, and we won't talk about cats or dogs either, if you don't +like them!' When the Mouse heard this, it turned round and swam +slowly back to her: its face was quite pale (with passion, Alice +thought), and it said in a low trembling voice, `Let us get to +the shore, and then I'll tell you my history, and you'll +understand why it is I hate cats and dogs.' + + It was high time to go, for the pool was getting quite crowded +with the birds and animals that had fallen into it: there were a +Duck and a Dodo, a Lory and an Eaglet, and several other curious +creatures. Alice led the way, and the whole party swam to the +shore. + + + + CHAPTER III + + A Caucus-Race and a Long Tale + + + They were indeed a queer-looking party that assembled on the +bank--the birds with draggled feathers, the animals with their +fur clinging close to them, and all dripping wet, cross, and +uncomfortable. + + The first question of course was, how to get dry again: they +had a consultation about this, and after a few minutes it seemed +quite natural to Alice to find herself talking familiarly with +them, as if she had known them all her life. Indeed, she had +quite a long argument with the Lory, who at last turned sulky, +and would only say, `I am older than you, and must know better'; +and this Alice would not allow without knowing how old it was, +and, as the Lory positively refused to tell its age, there was no +more to be said. + + At last the Mouse, who seemed to be a person of authority among +them, called out, `Sit down, all of you, and listen to me! I'LL +soon make you dry enough!' They all sat down at once, in a large +ring, with the Mouse in the middle. Alice kept her eyes +anxiously fixed on it, for she felt sure she would catch a bad +cold if she did not get dry very soon. + + `Ahem!' said the Mouse with an important air, `are you all ready? +This is the driest thing I know. Silence all round, if you please! +"William the Conqueror, whose cause was favoured by the pope, was +soon submitted to by the English, who wanted leaders, and had been +of late much accustomed to usurpation and conquest. Edwin and +Morcar, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria--"' + + `Ugh!' said the Lory, with a shiver. + + `I beg your pardon!' said the Mouse, frowning, but very +politely: `Did you speak?' + + `Not I!' said the Lory hastily. + + `I thought you did,' said the Mouse. `--I proceed. "Edwin and +Morcar, the earls of Mercia and Northumbria, declared for him: +and even Stigand, the patriotic archbishop of Canterbury, found +it advisable--"' + + `Found WHAT?' said the Duck. + + `Found IT,' the Mouse replied rather crossly: `of course you +know what "it" means.' + + `I know what "it" means well enough, when I find a thing,' said +the Duck: `it's generally a frog or a worm. The question is, +what did the archbishop find?' + + The Mouse did not notice this question, but hurriedly went on, +`"--found it advisable to go with Edgar Atheling to meet William +and offer him the crown. William's conduct at first was +moderate. But the insolence of his Normans--" How are you +getting on now, my dear?' it continued, turning to Alice as it +spoke. + + `As wet as ever,' said Alice in a melancholy tone: `it doesn't +seem to dry me at all.' + + `In that case,' said the Dodo solemnly, rising to its feet, `I +move that the meeting adjourn, for the immediate adoption of more +energetic remedies--' + + `Speak English!' said the Eaglet. `I don't know the meaning of +half those long words, and, what's more, I don't believe you do +either!' And the Eaglet bent down its head to hide a smile: +some of the other birds tittered audibly. + + `What I was going to say,' said the Dodo in an offended tone, +`was, that the best thing to get us dry would be a Caucus-race.' + + `What IS a Caucus-race?' said Alice; not that she wanted much +to know, but the Dodo had paused as if it thought that SOMEBODY +ought to speak, and no one else seemed inclined to say anything. + + `Why,' said the Dodo, `the best way to explain it is to do it.' +(And, as you might like to try the thing yourself, some winter +day, I will tell you how the Dodo managed it.) + + First it marked out a race-course, in a sort of circle, (`the +exact shape doesn't matter,' it said,) and then all the party +were placed along the course, here and there. There was no `One, +two, three, and away,' but they began running when they liked, +and left off when they liked, so that it was not easy to know +when the race was over. However, when they had been running half +an hour or so, and were quite dry again, the Dodo suddenly called +out `The race is over!' and they all crowded round it, panting, +and asking, `But who has won?' + + This question the Dodo could not answer without a great deal of +thought, and it sat for a long time with one finger pressed upon +its forehead (the position in which you usually see Shakespeare, +in the pictures of him), while the rest waited in silence. At +last the Dodo said, `EVERYBODY has won, and all must have +prizes.' + + `But who is to give the prizes?' quite a chorus of voices +asked. + + `Why, SHE, of course,' said the Dodo, pointing to Alice with +one finger; and the whole party at once crowded round her, +calling out in a confused way, `Prizes! Prizes!' + + Alice had no idea what to do, and in despair she put her hand +in her pocket, and pulled out a box of comfits, (luckily the salt +water had not got into it), and handed them round as prizes. +There was exactly one a-piece all round. + + `But she must have a prize herself, you know,' said the Mouse. + + `Of course,' the Dodo replied very gravely. `What else have +you got in your pocket?' he went on, turning to Alice. + + `Only a thimble,' said Alice sadly. + + `Hand it over here,' said the Dodo. + + Then they all crowded round her once more, while the Dodo +solemnly presented the thimble, saying `We beg your acceptance of +this elegant thimble'; and, when it had finished this short +speech, they all cheered. + + Alice thought the whole thing very absurd, but they all looked +so grave that she did not dare to laugh; and, as she could not +think of anything to say, she simply bowed, and took the thimble, +looking as solemn as she could. + + The next thing was to eat the comfits: this caused some noise +and confusion, as the large birds complained that they could not +taste theirs, and the small ones choked and had to be patted on +the back. However, it was over at last, and they sat down again +in a ring, and begged the Mouse to tell them something more. + + `You promised to tell me your history, you know,' said Alice, +`and why it is you hate--C and D,' she added in a whisper, half +afraid that it would be offended again. + + `Mine is a long and a sad tale!' said the Mouse, turning to +Alice, and sighing. + + `It IS a long tail, certainly,' said Alice, looking down with +wonder at the Mouse's tail; `but why do you call it sad?' And +she kept on puzzling about it while the Mouse was speaking, so +that her idea of the tale was something like this:-- + + `Fury said to a + mouse, That he + met in the + house, + "Let us + both go to + law: I will + prosecute + YOU. --Come, + I'll take no + denial; We + must have a + trial: For + really this + morning I've + nothing + to do." + Said the + mouse to the + cur, "Such + a trial, + dear Sir, + With + no jury + or judge, + would be + wasting + our + breath." + "I'll be + judge, I'll + be jury," + Said + cunning + old Fury: + "I'll + try the + whole + cause, + and + condemn + you + to + death."' + + + `You are not attending!' said the Mouse to Alice severely. +`What are you thinking of?' + + `I beg your pardon,' said Alice very humbly: `you had got to +the fifth bend, I think?' + + `I had NOT!' cried the Mouse, sharply and very angrily. + + `A knot!' said Alice, always ready to make herself useful, and +looking anxiously about her. `Oh, do let me help to undo it!' + + `I shall do nothing of the sort,' said the Mouse, getting up +and walking away. `You insult me by talking such nonsense!' + + `I didn't mean it!' pleaded poor Alice. `But you're so easily +offended, you know!' + + The Mouse only growled in reply. + + `Please come back and finish your story!' Alice called after +it; and the others all joined in chorus, `Yes, please do!' but +the Mouse only shook its head impatiently, and walked a little +quicker. + + `What a pity it wouldn't stay!' sighed the Lory, as soon as it +was quite out of sight; and an old Crab took the opportunity of +saying to her daughter `Ah, my dear! Let this be a lesson to you +never to lose YOUR temper!' `Hold your tongue, Ma!' said the +young Crab, a little snappishly. `You're enough to try the +patience of an oyster!' + + `I wish I had our Dinah here, I know I do!' said Alice aloud, +addressing nobody in particular. `She'd soon fetch it back!' + + `And who is Dinah, if I might venture to ask the question?' +said the Lory. + + Alice replied eagerly, for she was always ready to talk about +her pet: `Dinah's our cat. And she's such a capital one for +catching mice you can't think! And oh, I wish you could see her +after the birds! Why, she'll eat a little bird as soon as look +at it!' + + This speech caused a remarkable sensation among the party. +Some of the birds hurried off at once: one the old Magpie began +wrapping itself up very carefully, remarking, `I really must be +getting home; the night-air doesn't suit my throat!' and a Canary +called out in a trembling voice to its children, `Come away, my +dears! It's high time you were all in bed!' On various pretexts +they all moved off, and Alice was soon left alone. + + `I wish I hadn't mentioned Dinah!' she said to herself in a +melancholy tone. `Nobody seems to like her, down here, and I'm +sure she's the best cat in the world! Oh, my dear Dinah! I +wonder if I shall ever see you any more!' And here poor Alice +began to cry again, for she felt very lonely and low-spirited. +In a little while, however, she again heard a little pattering of +footsteps in the distance, and she looked up eagerly, half hoping +that the Mouse had changed his mind, and was coming back to +finish his story. + + + + CHAPTER IV + + The Rabbit Sends in a Little Bill + + + It was the White Rabbit, trotting slowly back again, and +looking anxiously about as it went, as if it had lost something; +and she heard it muttering to itself `The Duchess! The Duchess! +Oh my dear paws! Oh my fur and whiskers! She'll get me +executed, as sure as ferrets are ferrets! Where CAN I have +dropped them, I wonder?' Alice guessed in a moment that it was +looking for the fan and the pair of white kid gloves, and she +very good-naturedly began hunting about for them, but they were +nowhere to be seen--everything seemed to have changed since her +swim in the pool, and the great hall, with the glass table and +the little door, had vanished completely. + + Very soon the Rabbit noticed Alice, as she went hunting about, +and called out to her in an angry tone, `Why, Mary Ann, what ARE +you doing out here? Run home this moment, and fetch me a pair of +gloves and a fan! Quick, now!' And Alice was so much frightened +that she ran off at once in the direction it pointed to, without +trying to explain the mistake it had made. + + `He took me for his housemaid,' she said to herself as she ran. +`How surprised he'll be when he finds out who I am! But I'd +better take him his fan and gloves--that is, if I can find them.' +As she said this, she came upon a neat little house, on the door +of which was a bright brass plate with the name `W. RABBIT' +engraved upon it. She went in without knocking, and hurried +upstairs, in great fear lest she should meet the real Mary Ann, +and be turned out of the house before she had found the fan and +gloves. + + `How queer it seems,' Alice said to herself, `to be going +messages for a rabbit! I suppose Dinah'll be sending me on +messages next!' And she began fancying the sort of thing that +would happen: `"Miss Alice! Come here directly, and get ready +for your walk!" "Coming in a minute, nurse! But I've got to see +that the mouse doesn't get out." Only I don't think,' Alice went +on, `that they'd let Dinah stop in the house if it began ordering +people about like that!' + + By this time she had found her way into a tidy little room with +a table in the window, and on it (as she had hoped) a fan and two +or three pairs of tiny white kid gloves: she took up the fan and +a pair of the gloves, and was just going to leave the room, when +her eye fell upon a little bottle that stood near the looking- +glass. There was no label this time with the words `DRINK ME,' +but nevertheless she uncorked it and put it to her lips. `I know +SOMETHING interesting is sure to happen,' she said to herself, +`whenever I eat or drink anything; so I'll just see what this +bottle does. I do hope it'll make me grow large again, for +really I'm quite tired of being such a tiny little thing!' + + It did so indeed, and much sooner than she had expected: +before she had drunk half the bottle, she found her head pressing +against the ceiling, and had to stoop to save her neck from being +broken. She hastily put down the bottle, saying to herself +`That's quite enough--I hope I shan't grow any more--As it is, I +can't get out at the door--I do wish I hadn't drunk quite so +much!' + + Alas! it was too late to wish that! She went on growing, and +growing, and very soon had to kneel down on the floor: in +another minute there was not even room for this, and she tried +the effect of lying down with one elbow against the door, and the +other arm curled round her head. Still she went on growing, and, +as a last resource, she put one arm out of the window, and one +foot up the chimney, and said to herself `Now I can do no more, +whatever happens. What WILL become of me?' + + Luckily for Alice, the little magic bottle had now had its full +effect, and she grew no larger: still it was very uncomfortable, +and, as there seemed to be no sort of chance of her ever getting +out of the room again, no wonder she felt unhappy. + + `It was much pleasanter at home,' thought poor Alice, `when one +wasn't always growing larger and smaller, and being ordered about +by mice and rabbits. I almost wish I hadn't gone down that +rabbit-hole--and yet--and yet--it's rather curious, you know, +this sort of life! I do wonder what CAN have happened to me! +When I used to read fairy-tales, I fancied that kind of thing +never happened, and now here I am in the middle of one! There +ought to be a book written about me, that there ought! And when +I grow up, I'll write one--but I'm grown up now,' she added in a +sorrowful tone; `at least there's no room to grow up any more +HERE.' + + `But then,' thought Alice, `shall I NEVER get any older than I +am now? That'll be a comfort, one way--never to be an old woman- +-but then--always to have lessons to learn! Oh, I shouldn't like +THAT!' + + `Oh, you foolish Alice!' she answered herself. `How can you +learn lessons in here? Why, there's hardly room for YOU, and no +room at all for any lesson-books!' + + And so she went on, taking first one side and then the other, +and making quite a conversation of it altogether; but after a few +minutes she heard a voice outside, and stopped to listen. + + `Mary Ann! Mary Ann!' said the voice. `Fetch me my gloves +this moment!' Then came a little pattering of feet on the +stairs. Alice knew it was the Rabbit coming to look for her, and +she trembled till she shook the house, quite forgetting that she +was now about a thousand times as large as the Rabbit, and had no +reason to be afraid of it. + + Presently the Rabbit came up to the door, and tried to open it; +but, as the door opened inwards, and Alice's elbow was pressed +hard against it, that attempt proved a failure. Alice heard it +say to itself `Then I'll go round and get in at the window.' + + `THAT you won't' thought Alice, and, after waiting till she +fancied she heard the Rabbit just under the window, she suddenly +spread out her hand, and made a snatch in the air. She did not +get hold of anything, but she heard a little shriek and a fall, +and a crash of broken glass, from which she concluded that it was +just possible it had fallen into a cucumber-frame, or something +of the sort. + + Next came an angry voice--the Rabbit's--`Pat! Pat! Where are +you?' And then a voice she had never heard before, `Sure then +I'm here! Digging for apples, yer honour!' + + `Digging for apples, indeed!' said the Rabbit angrily. `Here! +Come and help me out of THIS!' (Sounds of more broken glass.) + + `Now tell me, Pat, what's that in the window?' + + `Sure, it's an arm, yer honour!' (He pronounced it `arrum.') + + `An arm, you goose! Who ever saw one that size? Why, it +fills the whole window!' + + `Sure, it does, yer honour: but it's an arm for all that.' + + `Well, it's got no business there, at any rate: go and take it +away!' + + There was a long silence after this, and Alice could only hear +whispers now and then; such as, `Sure, I don't like it, yer +honour, at all, at all!' `Do as I tell you, you coward!' and at +last she spread out her hand again, and made another snatch in +the air. This time there were TWO little shrieks, and more +sounds of broken glass. `What a number of cucumber-frames there +must be!' thought Alice. `I wonder what they'll do next! As for +pulling me out of the window, I only wish they COULD! I'm sure I +don't want to stay in here any longer!' + + She waited for some time without hearing anything more: at +last came a rumbling of little cartwheels, and the sound of a +good many voice all talking together: she made out the words: +`Where's the other ladder?--Why, I hadn't to bring but one; +Bill's got the other--Bill! fetch it here, lad!--Here, put 'em up +at this corner--No, tie 'em together first--they don't reach half +high enough yet--Oh! they'll do well enough; don't be particular- +-Here, Bill! catch hold of this rope--Will the roof bear?--Mind +that loose slate--Oh, it's coming down! Heads below!' (a loud +crash)--`Now, who did that?--It was Bill, I fancy--Who's to go +down the chimney?--Nay, I shan't! YOU do it!--That I won't, +then!--Bill's to go down--Here, Bill! the master says you're to +go down the chimney!' + + `Oh! So Bill's got to come down the chimney, has he?' said +Alice to herself. `Shy, they seem to put everything upon Bill! +I wouldn't be in Bill's place for a good deal: this fireplace is +narrow, to be sure; but I THINK I can kick a little!' + + She drew her foot as far down the chimney as she could, and +waited till she heard a little animal (she couldn't guess of what +sort it was) scratching and scrambling about in the chimney close +above her: then, saying to herself `This is Bill,' she gave one +sharp kick, and waited to see what would happen next. + + The first thing she heard was a general chorus of `There goes +Bill!' then the Rabbit's voice along--`Catch him, you by the +hedge!' then silence, and then another confusion of voices--`Hold +up his head--Brandy now--Don't choke him--How was it, old fellow? +What happened to you? Tell us all about it!' + + Last came a little feeble, squeaking voice, (`That's Bill,' +thought Alice,) `Well, I hardly know--No more, thank ye; I'm +better now--but I'm a deal too flustered to tell you--all I know +is, something comes at me like a Jack-in-the-box, and up I goes +like a sky-rocket!' + + `So you did, old fellow!' said the others. + + `We must burn the house down!' said the Rabbit's voice; and +Alice called out as loud as she could, `If you do. I'll set +Dinah at you!' + + There was a dead silence instantly, and Alice thought to +herself, `I wonder what they WILL do next! If they had any +sense, they'd take the roof off.' After a minute or two, they +began moving about again, and Alice heard the Rabbit say, `A +barrowful will do, to begin with.' + + `A barrowful of WHAT?' thought Alice; but she had not long to +doubt, for the next moment a shower of little pebbles came +rattling in at the window, and some of them hit her in the face. +`I'll put a stop to this,' she said to herself, and shouted out, +`You'd better not do that again!' which produced another dead +silence. + + Alice noticed with some surprise that the pebbles were all +turning into little cakes as they lay on the floor, and a bright +idea came into her head. `If I eat one of these cakes,' she +thought, `it's sure to make SOME change in my size; and as it +can't possibly make me larger, it must make me smaller, I +suppose.' + + So she swallowed one of the cakes, and was delighted to find +that she began shrinking directly. As soon as she was small +enough to get through the door, she ran out of the house, and +found quite a crowd of little animals and birds waiting outside. +The poor little Lizard, Bill, was in the middle, being held up by +two guinea-pigs, who were giving it something out of a bottle. +They all made a rush at Alice the moment she appeared; but she +ran off as hard as she could, and soon found herself safe in a +thick wood. + + `The first thing I've got to do,' said Alice to herself, as she +wandered about in the wood, `is to grow to my right size again; +and the second thing is to find my way into that lovely garden. +I think that will be the best plan.' + + It sounded an excellent plan, no doubt, and very neatly and +simply arranged; the only difficulty was, that she had not the +smallest idea how to set about it; and while she was peering +about anxiously among the trees, a little sharp bark just over +her head made her look up in a great hurry. + + An enormous puppy was looking down at her with large round +eyes, and feebly stretching out one paw, trying to touch her. +`Poor little thing!' said Alice, in a coaxing tone, and she tried +hard to whistle to it; but she was terribly frightened all the +time at the thought that it might be hungry, in which case it +would be very likely to eat her up in spite of all her coaxing. + + Hardly knowing what she did, she picked up a little bit of +stick, and held it out to the puppy; whereupon the puppy jumped +into the air off all its feet at once, with a yelp of delight, +and rushed at the stick, and made believe to worry it; then Alice +dodged behind a great thistle, to keep herself from being run +over; and the moment she appeared on the other side, the puppy +made another rush at the stick, and tumbled head over heels in +its hurry to get hold of it; then Alice, thinking it was very +like having a game of play with a cart-horse, and expecting every +moment to be trampled under its feet, ran round the thistle +again; then the puppy began a series of short charges at the +stick, running a very little way forwards each time and a long +way back, and barking hoarsely all the while, till at last it sat +down a good way off, panting, with its tongue hanging out of its +mouth, and its great eyes half shut. + + This seemed to Alice a good opportunity for making her escape; +so she set off at once, and ran till she was quite tired and out +of breath, and till the puppy's bark sounded quite faint in the +distance. + + `And yet what a dear little puppy it was!' said Alice, as she +leant against a buttercup to rest herself, and fanned herself +with one of the leaves: `I should have liked teaching it tricks +very much, if--if I'd only been the right size to do it! Oh +dear! I'd nearly forgotten that I've got to grow up again! Let +me see--how IS it to be managed? I suppose I ought to eat or +drink something or other; but the great question is, what?' + + The great question certainly was, what? Alice looked all round +her at the flowers and the blades of grass, but she did not see +anything that looked like the right thing to eat or drink under +the circumstances. There was a large mushroom growing near her, +about the same height as herself; and when she had looked under +it, and on both sides of it, and behind it, it occurred to her +that she might as well look and see what was on the top of it. + + She stretched herself up on tiptoe, and peeped over the edge of +the mushroom, and her eyes immediately met those of a large +caterpillar, that was sitting on the top with its arms folded, +quietly smoking a long hookah, and taking not the smallest notice +of her or of anything else. + + + + CHAPTER V + + Advice from a Caterpillar + + + The Caterpillar and Alice looked at each other for some time in +silence: at last the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its +mouth, and addressed her in a languid, sleepy voice. + + `Who are YOU?' said the Caterpillar. + + This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice +replied, rather shyly, `I--I hardly know, sir, just at present-- +at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think +I must have been changed several times since then.' + + `What do you mean by that?' said the Caterpillar sternly. +`Explain yourself!' + + `I can't explain MYSELF, I'm afraid, sir' said Alice, `because +I'm not myself, you see.' + + `I don't see,' said the Caterpillar. + + `I'm afraid I can't put it more clearly,' Alice replied very +politely, `for I can't understand it myself to begin with; and +being so many different sizes in a day is very confusing.' + + `It isn't,' said the Caterpillar. + + `Well, perhaps you haven't found it so yet,' said Alice; `but +when you have to turn into a chrysalis--you will some day, you +know--and then after that into a butterfly, I should think you'll +feel it a little queer, won't you?' + + `Not a bit,' said the Caterpillar. + + `Well, perhaps your feelings may be different,' said Alice; +`all I know is, it would feel very queer to ME.' + + `You!' said the Caterpillar contemptuously. `Who are YOU?' + + Which brought them back again to the beginning of the +conversation. Alice felt a little irritated at the Caterpillar's +making such VERY short remarks, and she drew herself up and said, +very gravely, `I think, you ought to tell me who YOU are, first.' + + `Why?' said the Caterpillar. + + Here was another puzzling question; and as Alice could not +think of any good reason, and as the Caterpillar seemed to be in +a VERY unpleasant state of mind, she turned away. + + `Come back!' the Caterpillar called after her. `I've something +important to say!' + + This sounded promising, certainly: Alice turned and came back +again. + + `Keep your temper,' said the Caterpillar. + + `Is that all?' said Alice, swallowing down her anger as well as +she could. + + `No,' said the Caterpillar. + + Alice thought she might as well wait, as she had nothing else +to do, and perhaps after all it might tell her something worth +hearing. For some minutes it puffed away without speaking, but +at last it unfolded its arms, took the hookah out of its mouth +again, and said, `So you think you're changed, do you?' + + `I'm afraid I am, sir,' said Alice; `I can't remember things as +I used--and I don't keep the same size for ten minutes together!' + + `Can't remember WHAT things?' said the Caterpillar. + + `Well, I've tried to say "HOW DOTH THE LITTLE BUSY BEE," but it +all came different!' Alice replied in a very melancholy voice. + + `Repeat, "YOU ARE OLD, FATHER WILLIAM,"' said the Caterpillar. + + Alice folded her hands, and began:-- + + `You are old, Father William,' the young man said, + `And your hair has become very white; + And yet you incessantly stand on your head-- + Do you think, at your age, it is right?' + + `In my youth,' Father William replied to his son, + `I feared it might injure the brain; + But, now that I'm perfectly sure I have none, + Why, I do it again and again.' + + `You are old,' said the youth, `as I mentioned before, + And have grown most uncommonly fat; + Yet you turned a back-somersault in at the door-- + Pray, what is the reason of that?' + + `In my youth,' said the sage, as he shook his grey locks, + `I kept all my limbs very supple + By the use of this ointment--one shilling the box-- + Allow me to sell you a couple?' + + `You are old,' said the youth, `and your jaws are too weak + For anything tougher than suet; + Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak-- + Pray how did you manage to do it?' + + `In my youth,' said his father, `I took to the law, + And argued each case with my wife; + And the muscular strength, which it gave to my jaw, + Has lasted the rest of my life.' + + `You are old,' said the youth, `one would hardly suppose + That your eye was as steady as ever; + Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- + What made you so awfully clever?' + + `I have answered three questions, and that is enough,' + Said his father; `don't give yourself airs! + Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff? + Be off, or I'll kick you down stairs!' + + + `That is not said right,' said the Caterpillar. + + `Not QUITE right, I'm afraid,' said Alice, timidly; `some of the +words have got altered.' + + `It is wrong from beginning to end,' said the Caterpillar +decidedly, and there was silence for some minutes. + + The Caterpillar was the first to speak. + + `What size do you want to be?' it asked. + + `Oh, I'm not particular as to size,' Alice hastily replied; +`only one doesn't like changing so often, you know.' + + `I DON'T know,' said the Caterpillar. + + Alice said nothing: she had never been so much contradicted in +her life before, and she felt that she was losing her temper. + + `Are you content now?' said the Caterpillar. + + `Well, I should like to be a LITTLE larger, sir, if you +wouldn't mind,' said Alice: `three inches is such a wretched +height to be.' + + `It is a very good height indeed!' said the Caterpillar +angrily, rearing itself upright as it spoke (it was exactly three +inches high). + + `But I'm not used to it!' pleaded poor Alice in a piteous tone. +And she thought of herself, `I wish the creatures wouldn't be so +easily offended!' + + `You'll get used to it in time,' said the Caterpillar; and it +put the hookah into its mouth and began smoking again. + + This time Alice waited patiently until it chose to speak again. +In a minute or two the Caterpillar took the hookah out of its +mouth and yawned once or twice, and shook itself. Then it got +down off the mushroom, and crawled away in the grass, merely +remarking as it went, `One side will make you grow taller, and +the other side will make you grow shorter.' + + `One side of WHAT? The other side of WHAT?' thought Alice to +herself. + + `Of the mushroom,' said the Caterpillar, just as if she had +asked it aloud; and in another moment it was out of sight. + + Alice remained looking thoughtfully at the mushroom for a +minute, trying to make out which were the two sides of it; and as +it was perfectly round, she found this a very difficult question. +However, at last she stretched her arms round it as far as they +would go, and broke off a bit of the edge with each hand. + + `And now which is which?' she said to herself, and nibbled a +little of the right-hand bit to try the effect: the next moment +she felt a violent blow underneath her chin: it had struck her +foot! + + She was a good deal frightened by this very sudden change, but +she felt that there was no time to be lost, as she was shrinking +rapidly; so she set to work at once to eat some of the other bit. +Her chin was pressed so closely against her foot, that there was +hardly room to open her mouth; but she did it at last, and +managed to swallow a morsel of the lefthand bit. + + + * * * * * * * + + * * * * * * + + * * * * * * * + + `Come, my head's free at last!' said Alice in a tone of +delight, which changed into alarm in another moment, when she +found that her shoulders were nowhere to be found: all she could +see, when she looked down, was an immense length of neck, which +seemed to rise like a stalk out of a sea of green leaves that lay +far below her. + + `What CAN all that green stuff be?' said Alice. `And where +HAVE my shoulders got to? And oh, my poor hands, how is it I +can't see you?' She was moving them about as she spoke, but no +result seemed to follow, except a little shaking among the +distant green leaves. + + As there seemed to be no chance of getting her hands up to her +head, she tried to get her head down to them, and was delighted +to find that her neck would bend about easily in any direction, +like a serpent. She had just succeeded in curving it down into a +graceful zigzag, and was going to dive in among the leaves, which +she found to be nothing but the tops of the trees under which she +had been wandering, when a sharp hiss made her draw back in a +hurry: a large pigeon had flown into her face, and was beating +her violently with its wings. + + `Serpent!' screamed the Pigeon. + + `I'm NOT a serpent!' said Alice indignantly. `Let me alone!' + + `Serpent, I say again!' repeated the Pigeon, but in a more +subdued tone, and added with a kind of sob, `I've tried every +way, and nothing seems to suit them!' + + `I haven't the least idea what you're talking about,' said +Alice. + + `I've tried the roots of trees, and I've tried banks, and I've +tried hedges,' the Pigeon went on, without attending to her; `but +those serpents! There's no pleasing them!' + + Alice was more and more puzzled, but she thought there was no +use in saying anything more till the Pigeon had finished. + + `As if it wasn't trouble enough hatching the eggs,' said the +Pigeon; `but I must be on the look-out for serpents night and +day! Why, I haven't had a wink of sleep these three weeks!' + + `I'm very sorry you've been annoyed,' said Alice, who was +beginning to see its meaning. + + `And just as I'd taken the highest tree in the wood,' continued +the Pigeon, raising its voice to a shriek, `and just as I was +thinking I should be free of them at last, they must needs come +wriggling down from the sky! Ugh, Serpent!' + + `But I'm NOT a serpent, I tell you!' said Alice. `I'm a--I'm +a--' + + `Well! WHAT are you?' said the Pigeon. `I can see you're +trying to invent something!' + + `I--I'm a little girl,' said Alice, rather doubtfully, as she +remembered the number of changes she had gone through that day. + + `A likely story indeed!' said the Pigeon in a tone of the +deepest contempt. `I've seen a good many little girls in my +time, but never ONE with such a neck as that! No, no! You're a +serpent; and there's no use denying it. I suppose you'll be +telling me next that you never tasted an egg!' + + `I HAVE tasted eggs, certainly,' said Alice, who was a very +truthful child; `but little girls eat eggs quite as much as +serpents do, you know.' + + `I don't believe it,' said the Pigeon; `but if they do, why +then they're a kind of serpent, that's all I can say.' + + This was such a new idea to Alice, that she was quite silent +for a minute or two, which gave the Pigeon the opportunity of +adding, `You're looking for eggs, I know THAT well enough; and +what does it matter to me whether you're a little girl or a +serpent?' + + `It matters a good deal to ME,' said Alice hastily; `but I'm +not looking for eggs, as it happens; and if I was, I shouldn't +want YOURS: I don't like them raw.' + + `Well, be off, then!' said the Pigeon in a sulky tone, as it +settled down again into its nest. Alice crouched down among the +trees as well as she could, for her neck kept getting entangled +among the branches, and every now and then she had to stop and +untwist it. After a while she remembered that she still held the +pieces of mushroom in her hands, and she set to work very +carefully, nibbling first at one and then at the other, and +growing sometimes taller and sometimes shorter, until she had +succeeded in bringing herself down to her usual height. + + It was so long since she had been anything near the right size, +that it felt quite strange at first; but she got used to it in a +few minutes, and began talking to herself, as usual. `Come, +there's half my plan done now! How puzzling all these changes +are! I'm never sure what I'm going to be, from one minute to +another! However, I've got back to my right size: the next +thing is, to get into that beautiful garden--how IS that to be +done, I wonder?' As she said this, she came suddenly upon an +open place, with a little house in it about four feet high. +`Whoever lives there,' thought Alice, `it'll never do to come +upon them THIS size: why, I should frighten them out of their +wits!' So she began nibbling at the righthand bit again, and did +not venture to go near the house till she had brought herself +down to nine inches high. + + + + CHAPTER VI + + Pig and Pepper + + + For a minute or two she stood looking at the house, and +wondering what to do next, when suddenly a footman in livery came +running out of the wood--(she considered him to be a footman +because he was in livery: otherwise, judging by his face only, +she would have called him a fish)--and rapped loudly at the door +with his knuckles. It was opened by another footman in livery, +with a round face, and large eyes like a frog; and both footmen, +Alice noticed, had powdered hair that curled all over their +heads. She felt very curious to know what it was all about, and +crept a little way out of the wood to listen. + + The Fish-Footman began by producing from under his arm a great +letter, nearly as large as himself, and this he handed over to +the other, saying, in a solemn tone, `For the Duchess. An +invitation from the Queen to play croquet.' The Frog-Footman +repeated, in the same solemn tone, only changing the order of the +words a little, `From the Queen. An invitation for the Duchess +to play croquet.' + + Then they both bowed low, and their curls got entangled +together. + + Alice laughed so much at this, that she had to run back into +the wood for fear of their hearing her; and when she next peeped +out the Fish-Footman was gone, and the other was sitting on the +ground near the door, staring stupidly up into the sky. + + Alice went timidly up to the door, and knocked. + + `There's no sort of use in knocking,' said the Footman, `and +that for two reasons. First, because I'm on the same side of the +door as you are; secondly, because they're making such a noise +inside, no one could possibly hear you.' And certainly there was +a most extraordinary noise going on within--a constant howling +and sneezing, and every now and then a great crash, as if a dish +or kettle had been broken to pieces. + + `Please, then,' said Alice, `how am I to get in?' + + `There might be some sense in your knocking,' the Footman went +on without attending to her, `if we had the door between us. For +instance, if you were INSIDE, you might knock, and I could let +you out, you know.' He was looking up into the sky all the time +he was speaking, and this Alice thought decidedly uncivil. `But +perhaps he can't help it,' she said to herself; `his eyes are so +VERY nearly at the top of his head. But at any rate he might +answer questions.--How am I to get in?' she repeated, aloud. + + `I shall sit here,' the Footman remarked, `till tomorrow--' + + At this moment the door of the house opened, and a large plate +came skimming out, straight at the Footman's head: it just +grazed his nose, and broke to pieces against one of the trees +behind him. + + `--or next day, maybe,' the Footman continued in the same tone, +exactly as if nothing had happened. + + `How am I to get in?' asked Alice again, in a louder tone. + + `ARE you to get in at all?' said the Footman. `That's the +first question, you know.' + + It was, no doubt: only Alice did not like to be told so. +`It's really dreadful,' she muttered to herself, `the way all the +creatures argue. It's enough to drive one crazy!' + + The Footman seemed to think this a good opportunity for +repeating his remark, with variations. `I shall sit here,' he +said, `on and off, for days and days.' + + `But what am I to do?' said Alice. + + `Anything you like,' said the Footman, and began whistling. + + `Oh, there's no use in talking to him,' said Alice desperately: +`he's perfectly idiotic!' And she opened the door and went in. + + The door led right into a large kitchen, which was full of +smoke from one end to the other: the Duchess was sitting on a +three-legged stool in the middle, nursing a baby; the cook was +leaning over the fire, stirring a large cauldron which seemed to +be full of soup. + + `There's certainly too much pepper in that soup!' Alice said to +herself, as well as she could for sneezing. + + There was certainly too much of it in the air. Even the +Duchess sneezed occasionally; and as for the baby, it was +sneezing and howling alternately without a moment's pause. The +only things in the kitchen that did not sneeze, were the cook, +and a large cat which was sitting on the hearth and grinning from +ear to ear. + + `Please would you tell me,' said Alice, a little timidly, for +she was not quite sure whether it was good manners for her to +speak first, `why your cat grins like that?' + + `It's a Cheshire cat,' said the Duchess, `and that's why. +Pig!' + + She said the last word with such sudden violence that Alice +quite jumped; but she saw in another moment that it was addressed +to the baby, and not to her, so she took courage, and went on +again:-- + + `I didn't know that Cheshire cats always grinned; in fact, I +didn't know that cats COULD grin.' + + `They all can,' said the Duchess; `and most of 'em do.' + + `I don't know of any that do,' Alice said very politely, +feeling quite pleased to have got into a conversation. + + `You don't know much,' said the Duchess; `and that's a fact.' + + Alice did not at all like the tone of this remark, and thought +it would be as well to introduce some other subject of +conversation. While she was trying to fix on one, the cook took +the cauldron of soup off the fire, and at once set to work +throwing everything within her reach at the Duchess and the baby +--the fire-irons came first; then followed a shower of saucepans, +plates, and dishes. The Duchess took no notice of them even when +they hit her; and the baby was howling so much already, that it +was quite impossible to say whether the blows hurt it or not. + + `Oh, PLEASE mind what you're doing!' cried Alice, jumping up +and down in an agony of terror. `Oh, there goes his PRECIOUS +nose'; as an unusually large saucepan flew close by it, and very +nearly carried it off. + + `If everybody minded their own business,' the Duchess said in a +hoarse growl, `the world would go round a deal faster than it +does.' + + `Which would NOT be an advantage,' said Alice, who felt very +glad to get an opportunity of showing off a little of her +knowledge. `Just think of what work it would make with the day +and night! You see the earth takes twenty-four hours to turn +round on its axis--' + + `Talking of axes,' said the Duchess, `chop off her head!' + + Alice glanced rather anxiously at the cook, to see if she meant +to take the hint; but the cook was busily stirring the soup, and +seemed not to be listening, so she went on again: `Twenty-four +hours, I THINK; or is it twelve? I--' + + `Oh, don't bother ME,' said the Duchess; `I never could abide +figures!' And with that she began nursing her child again, +singing a sort of lullaby to it as she did so, and giving it a +violent shake at the end of every line: + + `Speak roughly to your little boy, + And beat him when he sneezes: + He only does it to annoy, + Because he knows it teases.' + + CHORUS. + + (In which the cook and the baby joined):-- + + `Wow! wow! wow!' + + While the Duchess sang the second verse of the song, she kept +tossing the baby violently up and down, and the poor little thing +howled so, that Alice could hardly hear the words:-- + + `I speak severely to my boy, + I beat him when he sneezes; + For he can thoroughly enjoy + The pepper when he pleases!' + + CHORUS. + + `Wow! wow! wow!' + + `Here! you may nurse it a bit, if you like!' the Duchess said +to Alice, flinging the baby at her as she spoke. `I must go and +get ready to play croquet with the Queen,' and she hurried out of +the room. The cook threw a frying-pan after her as she went out, +but it just missed her. + + Alice caught the baby with some difficulty, as it was a queer- +shaped little creature, and held out its arms and legs in all +directions, `just like a star-fish,' thought Alice. The poor +little thing was snorting like a steam-engine when she caught it, +and kept doubling itself up and straightening itself out again, +so that altogether, for the first minute or two, it was as much +as she could do to hold it. + + As soon as she had made out the proper way of nursing it, +(which was to twist it up into a sort of knot, and then keep +tight hold of its right ear and left foot, so as to prevent its +undoing itself,) she carried it out into the open air. `IF I +don't take this child away with me,' thought Alice, `they're sure +to kill it in a day or two: wouldn't it be murder to leave it +behind?' She said the last words out loud, and the little thing +grunted in reply (it had left off sneezing by this time). `Don't +grunt,' said Alice; `that's not at all a proper way of expressing +yourself.' + + The baby grunted again, and Alice looked very anxiously into +its face to see what was the matter with it. There could be no +doubt that it had a VERY turn-up nose, much more like a snout +than a real nose; also its eyes were getting extremely small for +a baby: altogether Alice did not like the look of the thing at +all. `But perhaps it was only sobbing,' she thought, and looked +into its eyes again, to see if there were any tears. + + No, there were no tears. `If you're going to turn into a pig, +my dear,' said Alice, seriously, `I'll have nothing more to do +with you. Mind now!' The poor little thing sobbed again (or +grunted, it was impossible to say which), and they went on for +some while in silence. + + Alice was just beginning to think to herself, `Now, what am I +to do with this creature when I get it home?' when it grunted +again, so violently, that she looked down into its face in some +alarm. This time there could be NO mistake about it: it was +neither more nor less than a pig, and she felt that it would be +quite absurd for her to carry it further. + + So she set the little creature down, and felt quite relieved to +see it trot away quietly into the wood. `If it had grown up,' +she said to herself, `it would have made a dreadfully ugly child: +but it makes rather a handsome pig, I think.' And she began +thinking over other children she knew, who might do very well as +pigs, and was just saying to herself, `if one only knew the right +way to change them--' when she was a little startled by seeing +the Cheshire Cat sitting on a bough of a tree a few yards off. + + The Cat only grinned when it saw Alice. It looked good- +natured, she thought: still it had VERY long claws and a great +many teeth, so she felt that it ought to be treated with respect. + + `Cheshire Puss,' she began, rather timidly, as she did not at +all know whether it would like the name: however, it only +grinned a little wider. `Come, it's pleased so far,' thought +Alice, and she went on. `Would you tell me, please, which way I +ought to go from here?' + + `That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said +the Cat. + + `I don't much care where--' said Alice. + + `Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat. + + `--so long as I get SOMEWHERE,' Alice added as an explanation. + + `Oh, you're sure to do that,' said the Cat, `if you only walk +long enough.' + + Alice felt that this could not be denied, so she tried another +question. `What sort of people live about here?' + + `In THAT direction,' the Cat said, waving its right paw round, +`lives a Hatter: and in THAT direction,' waving the other paw, +`lives a March Hare. Visit either you like: they're both mad.' + + `But I don't want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked. + + `Oh, you can't help that,' said the Cat: `we're all mad here. +I'm mad. You're mad.' + + `How do you know I'm mad?' said Alice. + + `You must be,' said the Cat, `or you wouldn't have come here.' + + Alice didn't think that proved it at all; however, she went on +`And how do you know that you're mad?' + + `To begin with,' said the Cat, `a dog's not mad. You grant +that?' + + `I suppose so,' said Alice. + + `Well, then,' the Cat went on, `you see, a dog growls when it's +angry, and wags its tail when it's pleased. Now I growl when I'm +pleased, and wag my tail when I'm angry. Therefore I'm mad.' + + `I call it purring, not growling,' said Alice. + + `Call it what you like,' said the Cat. `Do you play croquet +with the Queen to-day?' + + `I should like it very much,' said Alice, `but I haven't been +invited yet.' + + `You'll see me there,' said the Cat, and vanished. + + Alice was not much surprised at this, she was getting so used +to queer things happening. While she was looking at the place +where it had been, it suddenly appeared again. + + `By-the-bye, what became of the baby?' said the Cat. `I'd +nearly forgotten to ask.' + + `It turned into a pig,' Alice quietly said, just as if it had +come back in a natural way. + + `I thought it would,' said the Cat, and vanished again. + + Alice waited a little, half expecting to see it again, but it +did not appear, and after a minute or two she walked on in the +direction in which the March Hare was said to live. `I've seen +hatters before,' she said to herself; `the March Hare will be +much the most interesting, and perhaps as this is May it won't be +raving mad--at least not so mad as it was in March.' As she said +this, she looked up, and there was the Cat again, sitting on a +branch of a tree. + + `Did you say pig, or fig?' said the Cat. + + `I said pig,' replied Alice; `and I wish you wouldn't keep +appearing and vanishing so suddenly: you make one quite giddy.' + + `All right,' said the Cat; and this time it vanished quite +slowly, beginning with the end of the tail, and ending with the +grin, which remained some time after the rest of it had gone. + + `Well! I've often seen a cat without a grin,' thought Alice; +`but a grin without a cat! It's the most curious thing I ever +say in my life!' + + She had not gone much farther before she came in sight of the +house of the March Hare: she thought it must be the right house, +because the chimneys were shaped like ears and the roof was +thatched with fur. It was so large a house, that she did not +like to go nearer till she had nibbled some more of the lefthand +bit of mushroom, and raised herself to about two feet high: even +then she walked up towards it rather timidly, saying to herself +`Suppose it should be raving mad after all! I almost wish I'd +gone to see the Hatter instead!' + + + + CHAPTER VII + + A Mad Tea-Party + + + There was a table set out under a tree in front of the house, +and the March Hare and the Hatter were having tea at it: a +Dormouse was sitting between them, fast asleep, and the other two +were using it as a cushion, resting their elbows on it, and the +talking over its head. `Very uncomfortable for the Dormouse,' +thought Alice; `only, as it's asleep, I suppose it doesn't mind.' + + The table was a large one, but the three were all crowded +together at one corner of it: `No room! No room!' they cried +out when they saw Alice coming. `There's PLENTY of room!' said +Alice indignantly, and she sat down in a large arm-chair at one +end of the table. + + `Have some wine,' the March Hare said in an encouraging tone. + + Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it +but tea. `I don't see any wine,' she remarked. + + `There isn't any,' said the March Hare. + + `Then it wasn't very civil of you to offer it,' said Alice +angrily. + + `It wasn't very civil of you to sit down without being +invited,' said the March Hare. + + `I didn't know it was YOUR table,' said Alice; `it's laid for a +great many more than three.' + + `Your hair wants cutting,' said the Hatter. He had been +looking at Alice for some time with great curiosity, and this was +his first speech. + + `You should learn not to make personal remarks,' Alice said +with some severity; `it's very rude.' + + The Hatter opened his eyes very wide on hearing this; but all +he SAID was, `Why is a raven like a writing-desk?' + + `Come, we shall have some fun now!' thought Alice. `I'm glad +they've begun asking riddles.--I believe I can guess that,' she +added aloud. + + `Do you mean that you think you can find out the answer to it?' +said the March Hare. + + `Exactly so,' said Alice. + + `Then you should say what you mean,' the March Hare went on. + + `I do,' Alice hastily replied; `at least--at least I mean what +I say--that's the same thing, you know.' + + `Not the same thing a bit!' said the Hatter. `You might just +as well say that "I see what I eat" is the same thing as "I eat +what I see"!' + + `You might just as well say,' added the March Hare, `that "I +like what I get" is the same thing as "I get what I like"!' + + `You might just as well say,' added the Dormouse, who seemed to +be talking in his sleep, `that "I breathe when I sleep" is the +same thing as "I sleep when I breathe"!' + + `It IS the same thing with you,' said the Hatter, and here the +conversation dropped, and the party sat silent for a minute, +while Alice thought over all she could remember about ravens and +writing-desks, which wasn't much. + + The Hatter was the first to break the silence. `What day of +the month is it?' he said, turning to Alice: he had taken his +watch out of his pocket, and was looking at it uneasily, shaking +it every now and then, and holding it to his ear. + + Alice considered a little, and then said `The fourth.' + + `Two days wrong!' sighed the Hatter. `I told you butter +wouldn't suit the works!' he added looking angrily at the March +Hare. + + `It was the BEST butter,' the March Hare meekly replied. + + `Yes, but some crumbs must have got in as well,' the Hatter +grumbled: `you shouldn't have put it in with the bread-knife.' + + The March Hare took the watch and looked at it gloomily: then +he dipped it into his cup of tea, and looked at it again: but he +could think of nothing better to say than his first remark, `It +was the BEST butter, you know.' + + Alice had been looking over his shoulder with some curiosity. +`What a funny watch!' she remarked. `It tells the day of the +month, and doesn't tell what o'clock it is!' + + `Why should it?' muttered the Hatter. `Does YOUR watch tell +you what year it is?' + + `Of course not,' Alice replied very readily: `but that's +because it stays the same year for such a long time together.' + + `Which is just the case with MINE,' said the Hatter. + + Alice felt dreadfully puzzled. The Hatter's remark seemed to +have no sort of meaning in it, and yet it was certainly English. +`I don't quite understand you,' she said, as politely as she +could. + + `The Dormouse is asleep again,' said the Hatter, and he poured +a little hot tea upon its nose. + + The Dormouse shook its head impatiently, and said, without +opening its eyes, `Of course, of course; just what I was going to +remark myself.' + + `Have you guessed the riddle yet?' the Hatter said, turning to +Alice again. + + `No, I give it up,' Alice replied: `what's the answer?' + + `I haven't the slightest idea,' said the Hatter. + + `Nor I,' said the March Hare. + + Alice sighed wearily. `I think you might do something better +with the time,' she said, `than waste it in asking riddles that +have no answers.' + + `If you knew Time as well as I do,' said the Hatter, `you +wouldn't talk about wasting IT. It's HIM.' + + `I don't know what you mean,' said Alice. + + `Of course you don't!' the Hatter said, tossing his head +contemptuously. `I dare say you never even spoke to Time!' + + `Perhaps not,' Alice cautiously replied: `but I know I have to +beat time when I learn music.' + + `Ah! that accounts for it,' said the Hatter. `He won't stand +beating. Now, if you only kept on good terms with him, he'd do +almost anything you liked with the clock. For instance, suppose +it were nine o'clock in the morning, just time to begin lessons: +you'd only have to whisper a hint to Time, and round goes the +clock in a twinkling! Half-past one, time for dinner!' + + (`I only wish it was,' the March Hare said to itself in a +whisper.) + + `That would be grand, certainly,' said Alice thoughtfully: +`but then--I shouldn't be hungry for it, you know.' + + `Not at first, perhaps,' said the Hatter: `but you could keep +it to half-past one as long as you liked.' + + `Is that the way YOU manage?' Alice asked. + + The Hatter shook his head mournfully. `Not I!' he replied. +`We quarrelled last March--just before HE went mad, you know--' +(pointing with his tea spoon at the March Hare,) `--it was at the +great concert given by the Queen of Hearts, and I had to sing + + "Twinkle, twinkle, little bat! + How I wonder what you're at!" + +You know the song, perhaps?' + + `I've heard something like it,' said Alice. + + `It goes on, you know,' the Hatter continued, `in this way:-- + + "Up above the world you fly, + Like a tea-tray in the sky. + Twinkle, twinkle--"' + +Here the Dormouse shook itself, and began singing in its sleep +`Twinkle, twinkle, twinkle, twinkle--' and went on so long that +they had to pinch it to make it stop. + + `Well, I'd hardly finished the first verse,' said the Hatter, +`when the Queen jumped up and bawled out, "He's murdering the +time! Off with his head!"' + + `How dreadfully savage!' exclaimed Alice. + + `And ever since that,' the Hatter went on in a mournful tone, +`he won't do a thing I ask! It's always six o'clock now.' + + A bright idea came into Alice's head. `Is that the reason so +many tea-things are put out here?' she asked. + + `Yes, that's it,' said the Hatter with a sigh: `it's always +tea-time, and we've no time to wash the things between whiles.' + + `Then you keep moving round, I suppose?' said Alice. + + `Exactly so,' said the Hatter: `as the things get used up.' + + `But what happens when you come to the beginning again?' Alice +ventured to ask. + + `Suppose we change the subject,' the March Hare interrupted, +yawning. `I'm getting tired of this. I vote the young lady +tells us a story.' + + `I'm afraid I don't know one,' said Alice, rather alarmed at +the proposal. + + `Then the Dormouse shall!' they both cried. `Wake up, +Dormouse!' And they pinched it on both sides at once. + + The Dormouse slowly opened his eyes. `I wasn't asleep,' he +said in a hoarse, feeble voice: `I heard every word you fellows +were saying.' + + `Tell us a story!' said the March Hare. + + `Yes, please do!' pleaded Alice. + + `And be quick about it,' added the Hatter, `or you'll be asleep +again before it's done.' + + `Once upon a time there were three little sisters,' the +Dormouse began in a great hurry; `and their names were Elsie, +Lacie, and Tillie; and they lived at the bottom of a well--' + + `What did they live on?' said Alice, who always took a great +interest in questions of eating and drinking. + + `They lived on treacle,' said the Dormouse, after thinking a +minute or two. + + `They couldn't have done that, you know,' Alice gently +remarked; `they'd have been ill.' + + `So they were,' said the Dormouse; `VERY ill.' + + Alice tried to fancy to herself what such an extraordinary ways +of living would be like, but it puzzled her too much, so she went +on: `But why did they live at the bottom of a well?' + + `Take some more tea,' the March Hare said to Alice, very +earnestly. + + `I've had nothing yet,' Alice replied in an offended tone, `so +I can't take more.' + + `You mean you can't take LESS,' said the Hatter: `it's very +easy to take MORE than nothing.' + + `Nobody asked YOUR opinion,' said Alice. + + `Who's making personal remarks now?' the Hatter asked +triumphantly. + + Alice did not quite know what to say to this: so she helped +herself to some tea and bread-and-butter, and then turned to the +Dormouse, and repeated her question. `Why did they live at the +bottom of a well?' + + The Dormouse again took a minute or two to think about it, and +then said, `It was a treacle-well.' + + `There's no such thing!' Alice was beginning very angrily, but +the Hatter and the March Hare went `Sh! sh!' and the Dormouse +sulkily remarked, `If you can't be civil, you'd better finish the +story for yourself.' + + `No, please go on!' Alice said very humbly; `I won't interrupt +again. I dare say there may be ONE.' + + `One, indeed!' said the Dormouse indignantly. However, he +consented to go on. `And so these three little sisters--they +were learning to draw, you know--' + + `What did they draw?' said Alice, quite forgetting her promise. + + `Treacle,' said the Dormouse, without considering at all this +time. + + `I want a clean cup,' interrupted the Hatter: `let's all move +one place on.' + + He moved on as he spoke, and the Dormouse followed him: the +March Hare moved into the Dormouse's place, and Alice rather +unwillingly took the place of the March Hare. The Hatter was the +only one who got any advantage from the change: and Alice was a +good deal worse off than before, as the March Hare had just upset +the milk-jug into his plate. + + Alice did not wish to offend the Dormouse again, so she began +very cautiously: `But I don't understand. Where did they draw +the treacle from?' + + `You can draw water out of a water-well,' said the Hatter; `so +I should think you could draw treacle out of a treacle-well--eh, +stupid?' + + `But they were IN the well,' Alice said to the Dormouse, not +choosing to notice this last remark. + + `Of course they were', said the Dormouse; `--well in.' + + This answer so confused poor Alice, that she let the Dormouse +go on for some time without interrupting it. + + `They were learning to draw,' the Dormouse went on, yawning and +rubbing its eyes, for it was getting very sleepy; `and they drew +all manner of things--everything that begins with an M--' + + `Why with an M?' said Alice. + + `Why not?' said the March Hare. + + Alice was silent. + + The Dormouse had closed its eyes by this time, and was going +off into a doze; but, on being pinched by the Hatter, it woke up +again with a little shriek, and went on: `--that begins with an +M, such as mouse-traps, and the moon, and memory, and muchness-- +you know you say things are "much of a muchness"--did you ever +see such a thing as a drawing of a muchness?' + + `Really, now you ask me,' said Alice, very much confused, `I +don't think--' + + `Then you shouldn't talk,' said the Hatter. + + This piece of rudeness was more than Alice could bear: she got +up in great disgust, and walked off; the Dormouse fell asleep +instantly, and neither of the others took the least notice of her +going, though she looked back once or twice, half hoping that +they would call after her: the last time she saw them, they were +trying to put the Dormouse into the teapot. + + `At any rate I'll never go THERE again!' said Alice as she +picked her way through the wood. `It's the stupidest tea-party I +ever was at in all my life!' + + Just as she said this, she noticed that one of the trees had a +door leading right into it. `That's very curious!' she thought. +`But everything's curious today. I think I may as well go in at +once.' And in she went. + + Once more she found herself in the long hall, and close to the +little glass table. `Now, I'll manage better this time,' she +said to herself, and began by taking the little golden key, and +unlocking the door that led into the garden. Then she went to +work nibbling at the mushroom (she had kept a piece of it in her +pocked) till she was about a foot high: then she walked down the +little passage: and THEN--she found herself at last in the +beautiful garden, among the bright flower-beds and the cool +fountains. + + + + CHAPTER VIII + + The Queen's Croquet-Ground + + + A large rose-tree stood near the entrance of the garden: the +roses growing on it were white, but there were three gardeners at +it, busily painting them red. Alice thought this a very curious +thing, and she went nearer to watch them, and just as she came up +to them she heard one of them say, `Look out now, Five! Don't go +splashing paint over me like that!' + + `I couldn't help it,' said Five, in a sulky tone; `Seven jogged +my elbow.' + + On which Seven looked up and said, `That's right, Five! Always +lay the blame on others!' + + `YOU'D better not talk!' said Five. `I heard the Queen say only +yesterday you deserved to be beheaded!' + + `What for?' said the one who had spoken first. + + `That's none of YOUR business, Two!' said Seven. + + `Yes, it IS his business!' said Five, `and I'll tell him--it +was for bringing the cook tulip-roots instead of onions.' + + Seven flung down his brush, and had just begun `Well, of all +the unjust things--' when his eye chanced to fall upon Alice, as +she stood watching them, and he checked himself suddenly: the +others looked round also, and all of them bowed low. + + `Would you tell me,' said Alice, a little timidly, `why you are +painting those roses?' + + Five and Seven said nothing, but looked at Two. Two began in a +low voice, `Why the fact is, you see, Miss, this here ought to +have been a RED rose-tree, and we put a white one in by mistake; +and if the Queen was to find it out, we should all have our heads +cut off, you know. So you see, Miss, we're doing our best, afore +she comes, to--' At this moment Five, who had been anxiously +looking across the garden, called out `The Queen! The Queen!' +and the three gardeners instantly threw themselves flat upon +their faces. There was a sound of many footsteps, and Alice +looked round, eager to see the Queen. + + First came ten soldiers carrying clubs; these were all shaped +like the three gardeners, oblong and flat, with their hands and +feet at the corners: next the ten courtiers; these were +ornamented all over with diamonds, and walked two and two, as the +soldiers did. After these came the royal children; there were +ten of them, and the little dears came jumping merrily along hand +in hand, in couples: they were all ornamented with hearts. Next +came the guests, mostly Kings and Queens, and among them Alice +recognised the White Rabbit: it was talking in a hurried nervous +manner, smiling at everything that was said, and went by without +noticing her. Then followed the Knave of Hearts, carrying the +King's crown on a crimson velvet cushion; and, last of all this +grand procession, came THE KING AND QUEEN OF HEARTS. + + Alice was rather doubtful whether she ought not to lie down on +her face like the three gardeners, but she could not remember +every having heard of such a rule at processions; `and besides, +what would be the use of a procession,' thought she, `if people +had all to lie down upon their faces, so that they couldn't see +it?' So she stood still where she was, and waited. + + When the procession came opposite to Alice, they all stopped +and looked at her, and the Queen said severely `Who is this?' +She said it to the Knave of Hearts, who only bowed and smiled in +reply. + + `Idiot!' said the Queen, tossing her head impatiently; and, +turning to Alice, she went on, `What's your name, child?' + + `My name is Alice, so please your Majesty,' said Alice very +politely; but she added, to herself, `Why, they're only a pack of +cards, after all. I needn't be afraid of them!' + + `And who are THESE?' said the Queen, pointing to the three +gardeners who were lying round the rosetree; for, you see, as +they were lying on their faces, and the pattern on their backs +was the same as the rest of the pack, she could not tell whether +they were gardeners, or soldiers, or courtiers, or three of her +own children. + + `How should I know?' said Alice, surprised at her own courage. +`It's no business of MINE.' + + The Queen turned crimson with fury, and, after glaring at her +for a moment like a wild beast, screamed `Off with her head! +Off--' + + `Nonsense!' said Alice, very loudly and decidedly, and the +Queen was silent. + + The King laid his hand upon her arm, and timidly said +`Consider, my dear: she is only a child!' + + The Queen turned angrily away from him, and said to the Knave +`Turn them over!' + + The Knave did so, very carefully, with one foot. + + `Get up!' said the Queen, in a shrill, loud voice, and the +three gardeners instantly jumped up, and began bowing to the +King, the Queen, the royal children, and everybody else. + + `Leave off that!' screamed the Queen. `You make me giddy.' +And then, turning to the rose-tree, she went on, `What HAVE you +been doing here?' + + `May it please your Majesty,' said Two, in a very humble tone, +going down on one knee as he spoke, `we were trying--' + + `I see!' said the Queen, who had meanwhile been examining the +roses. `Off with their heads!' and the procession moved on, +three of the soldiers remaining behind to execute the unfortunate +gardeners, who ran to Alice for protection. + + `You shan't be beheaded!' said Alice, and she put them into a +large flower-pot that stood near. The three soldiers wandered +about for a minute or two, looking for them, and then quietly +marched off after the others. + + `Are their heads off?' shouted the Queen. + + `Their heads are gone, if it please your Majesty!' the soldiers +shouted in reply. + + `That's right!' shouted the Queen. `Can you play croquet?' + + The soldiers were silent, and looked at Alice, as the question +was evidently meant for her. + + `Yes!' shouted Alice. + + `Come on, then!' roared the Queen, and Alice joined the +procession, wondering very much what would happen next. + + `It's--it's a very fine day!' said a timid voice at her side. +She was walking by the White Rabbit, who was peeping anxiously +into her face. + + `Very,' said Alice: `--where's the Duchess?' + + `Hush! Hush!' said the Rabbit in a low, hurried tone. He +looked anxiously over his shoulder as he spoke, and then raised +himself upon tiptoe, put his mouth close to her ear, and +whispered `She's under sentence of execution.' + + `What for?' said Alice. + + `Did you say "What a pity!"?' the Rabbit asked. + + `No, I didn't,' said Alice: `I don't think it's at all a pity. +I said "What for?"' + + `She boxed the Queen's ears--' the Rabbit began. Alice gave a +little scream of laughter. `Oh, hush!' the Rabbit whispered in a +frightened tone. `The Queen will hear you! You see, she came +rather late, and the Queen said--' + + `Get to your places!' shouted the Queen in a voice of thunder, +and people began running about in all directions, tumbling up +against each other; however, they got settled down in a minute or +two, and the game began. Alice thought she had never seen such a +curious croquet-ground in her life; it was all ridges and +furrows; the balls were live hedgehogs, the mallets live +flamingoes, and the soldiers had to double themselves up and to +stand on their hands and feet, to make the arches. + + The chief difficulty Alice found at first was in managing her +flamingo: she succeeded in getting its body tucked away, +comfortably enough, under her arm, with its legs hanging down, +but generally, just as she had got its neck nicely straightened +out, and was going to give the hedgehog a blow with its head, it +WOULD twist itself round and look up in her face, with such a +puzzled expression that she could not help bursting out laughing: +and when she had got its head down, and was going to begin again, +it was very provoking to find that the hedgehog had unrolled +itself, and was in the act of crawling away: besides all this, +there was generally a ridge or furrow in the way wherever she +wanted to send the hedgehog to, and, as the doubled-up soldiers +were always getting up and walking off to other parts of the +ground, Alice soon came to the conclusion that it was a very +difficult game indeed. + + The players all played at once without waiting for turns, +quarrelling all the while, and fighting for the hedgehogs; and in +a very short time the Queen was in a furious passion, and went +stamping about, and shouting `Off with his head!' or `Off with +her head!' about once in a minute. + + Alice began to feel very uneasy: to be sure, she had not as +yet had any dispute with the Queen, but she knew that it might +happen any minute, `and then,' thought she, `what would become of +me? They're dreadfully fond of beheading people here; the great +wonder is, that there's any one left alive!' + + She was looking about for some way of escape, and wondering +whether she could get away without being seen, when she noticed a +curious appearance in the air: it puzzled her very much at +first, but, after watching it a minute or two, she made it out to +be a grin, and she said to herself `It's the Cheshire Cat: now I +shall have somebody to talk to.' + + `How are you getting on?' said the Cat, as soon as there was +mouth enough for it to speak with. + + Alice waited till the eyes appeared, and then nodded. `It's no +use speaking to it,' she thought, `till its ears have come, or at +least one of them.' In another minute the whole head appeared, +and then Alice put down her flamingo, and began an account of the +game, feeling very glad she had someone to listen to her. The +Cat seemed to think that there was enough of it now in sight, and +no more of it appeared. + + `I don't think they play at all fairly,' Alice began, in rather +a complaining tone, `and they all quarrel so dreadfully one can't +hear oneself speak--and they don't seem to have any rules in +particular; at least, if there are, nobody attends to them--and +you've no idea how confusing it is all the things being alive; +for instance, there's the arch I've got to go through next +walking about at the other end of the ground--and I should have +croqueted the Queen's hedgehog just now, only it ran away when it +saw mine coming!' + + `How do you like the Queen?' said the Cat in a low voice. + + `Not at all,' said Alice: `she's so extremely--' Just then +she noticed that the Queen was close behind her, listening: so +she went on, `--likely to win, that it's hardly worth while +finishing the game.' + + The Queen smiled and passed on. + + `Who ARE you talking to?' said the King, going up to Alice, and +looking at the Cat's head with great curiosity. + + `It's a friend of mine--a Cheshire Cat,' said Alice: `allow me +to introduce it.' + + `I don't like the look of it at all,' said the King: `however, +it may kiss my hand if it likes.' + + `I'd rather not,' the Cat remarked. + + `Don't be impertinent,' said the King, `and don't look at me +like that!' He got behind Alice as he spoke. + + `A cat may look at a king,' said Alice. `I've read that in +some book, but I don't remember where.' + + `Well, it must be removed,' said the King very decidedly, and +he called the Queen, who was passing at the moment, `My dear! I +wish you would have this cat removed!' + + The Queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great +or small. `Off with his head!' she said, without even looking +round. + + `I'll fetch the executioner myself,' said the King eagerly, and +he hurried off. + + Alice thought she might as well go back, and see how the game +was going on, as she heard the Queen's voice in the distance, +screaming with passion. She had already heard her sentence three +of the players to be executed for having missed their turns, and +she did not like the look of things at all, as the game was in +such confusion that she never knew whether it was her turn or +not. So she went in search of her hedgehog. + + The hedgehog was engaged in a fight with another hedgehog, +which seemed to Alice an excellent opportunity for croqueting one +of them with the other: the only difficulty was, that her +flamingo was gone across to the other side of the garden, where +Alice could see it trying in a helpless sort of way to fly up +into a tree. + + By the time she had caught the flamingo and brought it back, +the fight was over, and both the hedgehogs were out of sight: +`but it doesn't matter much,' thought Alice, `as all the arches +are gone from this side of the ground.' So she tucked it away +under her arm, that it might not escape again, and went back for +a little more conversation with her friend. + + When she got back to the Cheshire Cat, she was surprised to +find quite a large crowd collected round it: there was a dispute +going on between the executioner, the King, and the Queen, who +were all talking at once, while all the rest were quite silent, +and looked very uncomfortable. + + The moment Alice appeared, she was appealed to by all three to +settle the question, and they repeated their arguments to her, +though, as they all spoke at once, she found it very hard indeed +to make out exactly what they said. + + The executioner's argument was, that you couldn't cut off a +head unless there was a body to cut it off from: that he had +never had to do such a thing before, and he wasn't going to begin +at HIS time of life. + + The King's argument was, that anything that had a head could be +beheaded, and that you weren't to talk nonsense. + + The Queen's argument was, that if something wasn't done about +it in less than no time she'd have everybody executed, all round. +(It was this last remark that had made the whole party look so +grave and anxious.) + + Alice could think of nothing else to say but `It belongs to the +Duchess: you'd better ask HER about it.' + + `She's in prison,' the Queen said to the executioner: `fetch +her here.' And the executioner went off like an arrow. + + The Cat's head began fading away the moment he was gone, and, +by the time he had come back with the Dutchess, it had entirely +disappeared; so the King and the executioner ran wildly up and +down looking for it, while the rest of the party went back to the game. + + + + CHAPTER IX + + The Mock Turtle's Story + + + `You can't think how glad I am to see you again, you dear old +thing!' said the Duchess, as she tucked her arm affectionately +into Alice's, and they walked off together. + + Alice was very glad to find her in such a pleasant temper, and +thought to herself that perhaps it was only the pepper that had +made her so savage when they met in the kitchen. + + `When I'M a Duchess,' she said to herself, (not in a very +hopeful tone though), `I won't have any pepper in my kitchen AT +ALL. Soup does very well without--Maybe it's always pepper that +makes people hot-tempered,' she went on, very much pleased at +having found out a new kind of rule, `and vinegar that makes them +sour--and camomile that makes them bitter--and--and barley-sugar +and such things that make children sweet-tempered. I only wish +people knew that: then they wouldn't be so stingy about it, you +know--' + + She had quite forgotten the Duchess by this time, and was a +little startled when she heard her voice close to her ear. +`You're thinking about something, my dear, and that makes you +forget to talk. I can't tell you just now what the moral of that +is, but I shall remember it in a bit.' + + `Perhaps it hasn't one,' Alice ventured to remark. + + `Tut, tut, child!' said the Duchess. `Everything's got a +moral, if only you can find it.' And she squeezed herself up +closer to Alice's side as she spoke. + + Alice did not much like keeping so close to her: first, +because the Duchess was VERY ugly; and secondly, because she was +exactly the right height to rest her chin upon Alice's shoulder, +and it was an uncomfortably sharp chin. However, she did not +like to be rude, so she bore it as well as she could. + + `The game's going on rather better now,' she said, by way of +keeping up the conversation a little. + + `'Tis so,' said the Duchess: `and the moral of that is--"Oh, +'tis love, 'tis love, that makes the world go round!"' + + `Somebody said,' Alice whispered, `that it's done by everybody +minding their own business!' + + `Ah, well! It means much the same thing,' said the Duchess, +digging her sharp little chin into Alice's shoulder as she added, +`and the moral of THAT is--"Take care of the sense, and the +sounds will take care of themselves."' + + `How fond she is of finding morals in things!' Alice thought to +herself. + + `I dare say you're wondering why I don't put my arm round your +waist,' the Duchess said after a pause: `the reason is, that I'm +doubtful about the temper of your flamingo. Shall I try the +experiment?' + + `HE might bite,' Alice cautiously replied, not feeling at all +anxious to have the experiment tried. + + `Very true,' said the Duchess: `flamingoes and mustard both +bite. And the moral of that is--"Birds of a feather flock +together."' + + `Only mustard isn't a bird,' Alice remarked. + + `Right, as usual,' said the Duchess: `what a clear way you +have of putting things!' + + `It's a mineral, I THINK,' said Alice. + + `Of course it is,' said the Duchess, who seemed ready to agree +to everything that Alice said; `there's a large mustard-mine near +here. And the moral of that is--"The more there is of mine, the +less there is of yours."' + + `Oh, I know!' exclaimed Alice, who had not attended to this +last remark, `it's a vegetable. It doesn't look like one, but it +is.' + + `I quite agree with you,' said the Duchess; `and the moral of +that is--"Be what you would seem to be"--or if you'd like it put +more simply--"Never imagine yourself not to be otherwise than +what it might appear to others that what you were or might have +been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared +to them to be otherwise."' + + `I think I should understand that better,' Alice said very +politely, `if I had it written down: but I can't quite follow it +as you say it.' + + `That's nothing to what I could say if I chose,' the Duchess +replied, in a pleased tone. + + `Pray don't trouble yourself to say it any longer than that,' +said Alice. + + `Oh, don't talk about trouble!' said the Duchess. `I make you +a present of everything I've said as yet.' + + `A cheap sort of present!' thought Alice. `I'm glad they don't +give birthday presents like that!' But she did not venture to +say it out loud. + + `Thinking again?' the Duchess asked, with another dig of her +sharp little chin. + + `I've a right to think,' said Alice sharply, for she was +beginning to feel a little worried. + + `Just about as much right,' said the Duchess, `as pigs have to +fly; and the m--' + + But here, to Alice's great surprise, the Duchess's voice died +away, even in the middle of her favourite word `moral,' and the +arm that was linked into hers began to tremble. Alice looked up, +and there stood the Queen in front of them, with her arms folded, +frowning like a thunderstorm. + + `A fine day, your Majesty!' the Duchess began in a low, weak +voice. + + `Now, I give you fair warning,' shouted the Queen, stamping on +the ground as she spoke; `either you or your head must be off, +and that in about half no time! Take your choice!' + + The Duchess took her choice, and was gone in a moment. + + `Let's go on with the game,' the Queen said to Alice; and Alice +was too much frightened to say a word, but slowly followed her +back to the croquet-ground. + + The other guests had taken advantage of the Queen's absence, +and were resting in the shade: however, the moment they saw her, +they hurried back to the game, the Queen merely remarking that a +moment's delay would cost them their lives. + + All the time they were playing the Queen never left off +quarrelling with the other players, and shouting `Off with his +head!' or `Off with her head!' Those whom she sentenced were +taken into custody by the soldiers, who of course had to leave +off being arches to do this, so that by the end of half an hour +or so there were no arches left, and all the players, except the +King, the Queen, and Alice, were in custody and under sentence of +execution. + + Then the Queen left off, quite out of breath, and said to +Alice, `Have you seen the Mock Turtle yet?' + + `No,' said Alice. `I don't even know what a Mock Turtle is.' + + `It's the thing Mock Turtle Soup is made from,' said the Queen. + + `I never saw one, or heard of one,' said Alice. + + `Come on, then,' said the Queen, `and he shall tell you his +history,' + + As they walked off together, Alice heard the King say in a low +voice, to the company generally, `You are all pardoned.' `Come, +THAT'S a good thing!' she said to herself, for she had felt quite +unhappy at the number of executions the Queen had ordered. + + They very soon came upon a Gryphon, lying fast asleep in the +sun. (IF you don't know what a Gryphon is, look at the picture.) +`Up, lazy thing!' said the Queen, `and take this young lady to +see the Mock Turtle, and to hear his history. I must go back and +see after some executions I have ordered'; and she walked off, +leaving Alice alone with the Gryphon. Alice did not quite like +the look of the creature, but on the whole she thought it would +be quite as safe to stay with it as to go after that savage +Queen: so she waited. + + The Gryphon sat up and rubbed its eyes: then it watched the +Queen till she was out of sight: then it chuckled. `What fun!' +said the Gryphon, half to itself, half to Alice. + + `What IS the fun?' said Alice. + + `Why, SHE,' said the Gryphon. `It's all her fancy, that: they +never executes nobody, you know. Come on!' + + `Everybody says "come on!" here,' thought Alice, as she went +slowly after it: `I never was so ordered about in all my life, +never!' + + They had not gone far before they saw the Mock Turtle in the +distance, sitting sad and lonely on a little ledge of rock, and, +as they came nearer, Alice could hear him sighing as if his heart +would break. She pitied him deeply. `What is his sorrow?' she +asked the Gryphon, and the Gryphon answered, very nearly in the +same words as before, `It's all his fancy, that: he hasn't got +no sorrow, you know. Come on!' + + So they went up to the Mock Turtle, who looked at them with +large eyes full of tears, but said nothing. + + `This here young lady,' said the Gryphon, `she wants for to +know your history, she do.' + + `I'll tell it her,' said the Mock Turtle in a deep, hollow +tone: `sit down, both of you, and don't speak a word till I've +finished.' + + So they sat down, and nobody spoke for some minutes. Alice +thought to herself, `I don't see how he can EVEN finish, if he +doesn't begin.' But she waited patiently. + + `Once,' said the Mock Turtle at last, with a deep sigh, `I was +a real Turtle.' + + These words were followed by a very long silence, broken only +by an occasional exclamation of `Hjckrrh!' from the Gryphon, and +the constant heavy sobbing of the Mock Turtle. Alice was very +nearly getting up and saying, `Thank you, sir, for your +interesting story,' but she could not help thinking there MUST be +more to come, so she sat still and said nothing. + + `When we were little,' the Mock Turtle went on at last, more +calmly, though still sobbing a little now and then, `we went to +school in the sea. The master was an old Turtle--we used to call +him Tortoise--' + + `Why did you call him Tortoise, if he wasn't one?' Alice asked. + + `We called him Tortoise because he taught us,' said the Mock +Turtle angrily: `really you are very dull!' + + `You ought to be ashamed of yourself for asking such a simple +question,' added the Gryphon; and then they both sat silent and +looked at poor Alice, who felt ready to sink into the earth. At +last the Gryphon said to the Mock Turtle, `Drive on, old fellow! +Don't be all day about it!' and he went on in these words: + + `Yes, we went to school in the sea, though you mayn't believe +it--' + + `I never said I didn't!' interrupted Alice. + + `You did,' said the Mock Turtle. + + `Hold your tongue!' added the Gryphon, before Alice could speak +again. The Mock Turtle went on. + + `We had the best of educations--in fact, we went to school +every day--' + + `I'VE been to a day-school, too,' said Alice; `you needn't be +so proud as all that.' + + `With extras?' asked the Mock Turtle a little anxiously. + + `Yes,' said Alice, `we learned French and music.' + + `And washing?' said the Mock Turtle. + + `Certainly not!' said Alice indignantly. + + `Ah! then yours wasn't a really good school,' said the Mock +Turtle in a tone of great relief. `Now at OURS they had at the +end of the bill, "French, music, AND WASHING--extra."' + + `You couldn't have wanted it much,' said Alice; `living at the +bottom of the sea.' + + `I couldn't afford to learn it.' said the Mock Turtle with a +sigh. `I only took the regular course.' + + `What was that?' inquired Alice. + + `Reeling and Writhing, of course, to begin with,' the Mock +Turtle replied; `and then the different branches of Arithmetic-- +Ambition, Distraction, Uglification, and Derision.' + + `I never heard of "Uglification,"' Alice ventured to say. `What +is it?' + + The Gryphon lifted up both its paws in surprise. `What! Never +heard of uglifying!' it exclaimed. `You know what to beautify +is, I suppose?' + + `Yes,' said Alice doubtfully: `it means--to--make--anything-- +prettier.' + + `Well, then,' the Gryphon went on, `if you don't know what to +uglify is, you ARE a simpleton.' + + Alice did not feel encouraged to ask any more questions about +it, so she turned to the Mock Turtle, and said `What else had you +to learn?' + + `Well, there was Mystery,' the Mock Turtle replied, counting +off the subjects on his flappers, `--Mystery, ancient and modern, +with Seaography: then Drawling--the Drawling-master was an old +conger-eel, that used to come once a week: HE taught us +Drawling, Stretching, and Fainting in Coils.' + + `What was THAT like?' said Alice. + + `Well, I can't show it you myself,' the Mock Turtle said: `I'm +too stiff. And the Gryphon never learnt it.' + + `Hadn't time,' said the Gryphon: `I went to the Classics +master, though. He was an old crab, HE was.' + + `I never went to him,' the Mock Turtle said with a sigh: `he +taught Laughing and Grief, they used to say.' + + `So he did, so he did,' said the Gryphon, sighing in his turn; +and both creatures hid their faces in their paws. + + `And how many hours a day did you do lessons?' said Alice, in a +hurry to change the subject. + + `Ten hours the first day,' said the Mock Turtle: `nine the +next, and so on.' + + `What a curious plan!' exclaimed Alice. + + `That's the reason they're called lessons,' the Gryphon +remarked: `because they lessen from day to day.' + + This was quite a new idea to Alice, and she thought it over a +little before she made her next remark. `Then the eleventh day +must have been a holiday?' + + `Of course it was,' said the Mock Turtle. + + `And how did you manage on the twelfth?' Alice went on eagerly. + + `That's enough about lessons,' the Gryphon interrupted in a +very decided tone: `tell her something about the games now.' + + + + CHAPTER X + + The Lobster Quadrille + + + The Mock Turtle sighed deeply, and drew the back of one flapper +across his eyes. He looked at Alice, and tried to speak, but for +a minute or two sobs choked his voice. `Same as if he had a bone +in his throat,' said the Gryphon: and it set to work shaking him +and punching him in the back. At last the Mock Turtle recovered +his voice, and, with tears running down his cheeks, he went on +again:-- + + `You may not have lived much under the sea--' (`I haven't,' +said Alice)--`and perhaps you were never even introduced to a lobster--' +(Alice began to say `I once tasted--' but checked herself hastily, +and said `No, never') `--so you can have no idea what a delightful +thing a Lobster Quadrille is!' + + `No, indeed,' said Alice. `What sort of a dance is it?' + + `Why,' said the Gryphon, `you first form into a line along the +sea-shore--' + + `Two lines!' cried the Mock Turtle. `Seals, turtles, salmon, +and so on; then, when you've cleared all the jelly-fish out of +the way--' + + `THAT generally takes some time,' interrupted the Gryphon. + + `--you advance twice--' + + `Each with a lobster as a partner!' cried the Gryphon. + + `Of course,' the Mock Turtle said: `advance twice, set to +partners--' + + `--change lobsters, and retire in same order,' continued the +Gryphon. + + `Then, you know,' the Mock Turtle went on, `you throw the--' + + `The lobsters!' shouted the Gryphon, with a bound into the air. + + `--as far out to sea as you can--' + + `Swim after them!' screamed the Gryphon. + + `Turn a somersault in the sea!' cried the Mock Turtle, +capering wildly about. + + `Back to land again, and that's all the first figure,' said the +Mock Turtle, suddenly dropping his voice; and the two creatures, +who had been jumping about like mad things all this time, sat +down again very sadly and quietly, and looked at Alice. + + `It must be a very pretty dance,' said Alice timidly. + + `Would you like to see a little of it?' said the Mock Turtle. + + `Very much indeed,' said Alice. + + `Come, let's try the first figure!' said the Mock Turtle to the +Gryphon. `We can do without lobsters, you know. Which shall +sing?' + + `Oh, YOU sing,' said the Gryphon. `I've forgotten the words.' + + So they began solemnly dancing round and round Alice, every now +and then treading on her toes when they passed too close, and +waving their forepaws to mark the time, while the Mock Turtle +sang this, very slowly and sadly:-- + + +`"Will you walk a little faster?" said a whiting to a snail. +"There's a porpoise close behind us, and he's treading on my + tail. +See how eagerly the lobsters and the turtles all advance! +They are waiting on the shingle--will you come and join the +dance? + +Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the +dance? +Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the +dance? + + +"You can really have no notion how delightful it will be +When they take us up and throw us, with the lobsters, out to + sea!" +But the snail replied "Too far, too far!" and gave a look + askance-- +Said he thanked the whiting kindly, but he would not join the + dance. + Would not, could not, would not, could not, would not join + the dance. + Would not, could not, would not, could not, could not join + the dance. + +`"What matters it how far we go?" his scaly friend replied. +"There is another shore, you know, upon the other side. +The further off from England the nearer is to France-- +Then turn not pale, beloved snail, but come and join the dance. + + Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the + dance? + Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, won't you join the + dance?"' + + + + `Thank you, it's a very interesting dance to watch,' said +Alice, feeling very glad that it was over at last: `and I do so +like that curious song about the whiting!' + + `Oh, as to the whiting,' said the Mock Turtle, `they--you've +seen them, of course?' + + `Yes,' said Alice, `I've often seen them at dinn--' she +checked herself hastily. + + `I don't know where Dinn may be,' said the Mock Turtle, `but +if you've seen them so often, of course you know what they're +like.' + + `I believe so,' Alice replied thoughtfully. `They have their +tails in their mouths--and they're all over crumbs.' + + `You're wrong about the crumbs,' said the Mock Turtle: +`crumbs would all wash off in the sea. But they HAVE their tails +in their mouths; and the reason is--' here the Mock Turtle +yawned and shut his eyes.--`Tell her about the reason and all +that,' he said to the Gryphon. + + `The reason is,' said the Gryphon, `that they WOULD go with +the lobsters to the dance. So they got thrown out to sea. So +they had to fall a long way. So they got their tails fast in +their mouths. So they couldn't get them out again. That's all.' + + `Thank you,' said Alice, `it's very interesting. I never knew +so much about a whiting before.' + + `I can tell you more than that, if you like,' said the +Gryphon. `Do you know why it's called a whiting?' + + `I never thought about it,' said Alice. `Why?' + + `IT DOES THE BOOTS AND SHOES.' the Gryphon replied very +solemnly. + + Alice was thoroughly puzzled. `Does the boots and shoes!' she +repeated in a wondering tone. + + `Why, what are YOUR shoes done with?' said the Gryphon. `I +mean, what makes them so shiny?' + + Alice looked down at them, and considered a little before she +gave her answer. `They're done with blacking, I believe.' + + `Boots and shoes under the sea,' the Gryphon went on in a deep +voice, `are done with a whiting. Now you know.' + + `And what are they made of?' Alice asked in a tone of great +curiosity. + + `Soles and eels, of course,' the Gryphon replied rather +impatiently: `any shrimp could have told you that.' + + `If I'd been the whiting,' said Alice, whose thoughts were +still running on the song, `I'd have said to the porpoise, "Keep +back, please: we don't want YOU with us!"' + + `They were obliged to have him with them,' the Mock Turtle +said: `no wise fish would go anywhere without a porpoise.' + + `Wouldn't it really?' said Alice in a tone of great surprise. + + `Of course not,' said the Mock Turtle: `why, if a fish came +to ME, and told me he was going a journey, I should say "With +what porpoise?"' + + `Don't you mean "purpose"?' said Alice. + + `I mean what I say,' the Mock Turtle replied in an offended +tone. And the Gryphon added `Come, let's hear some of YOUR +adventures.' + + `I could tell you my adventures--beginning from this morning,' +said Alice a little timidly: `but it's no use going back to +yesterday, because I was a different person then.' + + `Explain all that,' said the Mock Turtle. + + `No, no! The adventures first,' said the Gryphon in an +impatient tone: `explanations take such a dreadful time.' + + So Alice began telling them her adventures from the time when +she first saw the White Rabbit. She was a little nervous about +it just at first, the two creatures got so close to her, one on +each side, and opened their eyes and mouths so VERY wide, but she +gained courage as she went on. Her listeners were perfectly +quiet till she got to the part about her repeating `YOU ARE OLD, +FATHER WILLIAM,' to the Caterpillar, and the words all coming +different, and then the Mock Turtle drew a long breath, and said +`That's very curious.' + + `It's all about as curious as it can be,' said the Gryphon. + + `It all came different!' the Mock Turtle repeated +thoughtfully. `I should like to hear her try and repeat +something now. Tell her to begin.' He looked at the Gryphon as +if he thought it had some kind of authority over Alice. + + `Stand up and repeat "'TIS THE VOICE OF THE SLUGGARD,"' said +the Gryphon. + + `How the creatures order one about, and make one repeat +lessons!' thought Alice; `I might as well be at school at once.' +However, she got up, and began to repeat it, but her head was so +full of the Lobster Quadrille, that she hardly knew what she was +saying, and the words came very queer indeed:-- + + `'Tis the voice of the Lobster; I heard him declare, + "You have baked me too brown, I must sugar my hair." + As a duck with its eyelids, so he with his nose + Trims his belt and his buttons, and turns out his toes.' + + [later editions continued as follows + When the sands are all dry, he is gay as a lark, + And will talk in contemptuous tones of the Shark, + But, when the tide rises and sharks are around, + His voice has a timid and tremulous sound.] + + `That's different from what I used to say when I was a child,' +said the Gryphon. + + `Well, I never heard it before,' said the Mock Turtle; `but it +sounds uncommon nonsense.' + + Alice said nothing; she had sat down with her face in her +hands, wondering if anything would EVER happen in a natural way +again. + + `I should like to have it explained,' said the Mock Turtle. + + `She can't explain it,' said the Gryphon hastily. `Go on with +the next verse.' + + `But about his toes?' the Mock Turtle persisted. `How COULD +he turn them out with his nose, you know?' + + `It's the first position in dancing.' Alice said; but was +dreadfully puzzled by the whole thing, and longed to change the +subject. + + `Go on with the next verse,' the Gryphon repeated impatiently: +`it begins "I passed by his garden."' + + Alice did not dare to disobey, though she felt sure it would +all come wrong, and she went on in a trembling voice:-- + + `I passed by his garden, and marked, with one eye, + How the Owl and the Panther were sharing a pie--' + + [later editions continued as follows + The Panther took pie-crust, and gravy, and meat, + While the Owl had the dish as its share of the treat. + When the pie was all finished, the Owl, as a boon, + Was kindly permitted to pocket the spoon: + While the Panther received knife and fork with a growl, + And concluded the banquet--] + + `What IS the use of repeating all that stuff,' the Mock Turtle +interrupted, `if you don't explain it as you go on? It's by far +the most confusing thing I ever heard!' + + `Yes, I think you'd better leave off,' said the Gryphon: and +Alice was only too glad to do so. + + `Shall we try another figure of the Lobster Quadrille?' the +Gryphon went on. `Or would you like the Mock Turtle to sing you +a song?' + + `Oh, a song, please, if the Mock Turtle would be so kind,' +Alice replied, so eagerly that the Gryphon said, in a rather +offended tone, `Hm! No accounting for tastes! Sing her "Turtle +Soup," will you, old fellow?' + + The Mock Turtle sighed deeply, and began, in a voice sometimes +choked with sobs, to sing this:-- + + + `Beautiful Soup, so rich and green, + Waiting in a hot tureen! + Who for such dainties would not stoop? + Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup! + Soup of the evening, beautiful Soup! + Beau--ootiful Soo--oop! + Beau--ootiful Soo--oop! + Soo--oop of the e--e--evening, + Beautiful, beautiful Soup! + + `Beautiful Soup! Who cares for fish, + Game, or any other dish? + Who would not give all else for two p + ennyworth only of beautiful Soup? + Pennyworth only of beautiful Soup? + Beau--ootiful Soo--oop! + Beau--ootiful Soo--oop! + Soo--oop of the e--e--evening, + Beautiful, beauti--FUL SOUP!' + + `Chorus again!' cried the Gryphon, and the Mock Turtle had +just begun to repeat it, when a cry of `The trial's beginning!' +was heard in the distance. + + `Come on!' cried the Gryphon, and, taking Alice by the hand, +it hurried off, without waiting for the end of the song. + + `What trial is it?' Alice panted as she ran; but the Gryphon +only answered `Come on!' and ran the faster, while more and more +faintly came, carried on the breeze that followed them, the +melancholy words:-- + + `Soo--oop of the e--e--evening, + Beautiful, beautiful Soup!' + + + + CHAPTER XI + + Who Stole the Tarts? + + + The King and Queen of Hearts were seated on their throne when +they arrived, with a great crowd assembled about them--all sorts +of little birds and beasts, as well as the whole pack of cards: +the Knave was standing before them, in chains, with a soldier on +each side to guard him; and near the King was the White Rabbit, +with a trumpet in one hand, and a scroll of parchment in the +other. In the very middle of the court was a table, with a large +dish of tarts upon it: they looked so good, that it made Alice +quite hungry to look at them--`I wish they'd get the trial done,' +she thought, `and hand round the refreshments!' But there seemed +to be no chance of this, so she began looking at everything about +her, to pass away the time. + + Alice had never been in a court of justice before, but she had +read about them in books, and she was quite pleased to find that +she knew the name of nearly everything there. `That's the +judge,' she said to herself, `because of his great wig.' + + The judge, by the way, was the King; and as he wore his crown +over the wig, (look at the frontispiece if you want to see how he +did it,) he did not look at all comfortable, and it was certainly +not becoming. + + `And that's the jury-box,' thought Alice, `and those twelve +creatures,' (she was obliged to say `creatures,' you see, because +some of them were animals, and some were birds,) `I suppose they +are the jurors.' She said this last word two or three times over +to herself, being rather proud of it: for she thought, and +rightly too, that very few little girls of her age knew the +meaning of it at all. However, `jury-men' would have done just +as well. + + The twelve jurors were all writing very busily on slates. +`What are they doing?' Alice whispered to the Gryphon. `They +can't have anything to put down yet, before the trial's begun.' + + `They're putting down their names,' the Gryphon whispered in +reply, `for fear they should forget them before the end of the +trial.' + + `Stupid things!' Alice began in a loud, indignant voice, but +she stopped hastily, for the White Rabbit cried out, `Silence in +the court!' and the King put on his spectacles and looked +anxiously round, to make out who was talking. + + Alice could see, as well as if she were looking over their +shoulders, that all the jurors were writing down `stupid things!' +on their slates, and she could even make out that one of them +didn't know how to spell `stupid,' and that he had to ask his +neighbour to tell him. `A nice muddle their slates'll be in +before the trial's over!' thought Alice. + + One of the jurors had a pencil that squeaked. This of course, +Alice could not stand, and she went round the court and got +behind him, and very soon found an opportunity of taking it +away. She did it so quickly that the poor little juror (it was +Bill, the Lizard) could not make out at all what had become of +it; so, after hunting all about for it, he was obliged to write +with one finger for the rest of the day; and this was of very +little use, as it left no mark on the slate. + + `Herald, read the accusation!' said the King. + + On this the White Rabbit blew three blasts on the trumpet, and +then unrolled the parchment scroll, and read as follows:-- + + `The Queen of Hearts, she made some tarts, + All on a summer day: + The Knave of Hearts, he stole those tarts, + And took them quite away!' + + `Consider your verdict,' the King said to the jury. + + `Not yet, not yet!' the Rabbit hastily interrupted. `There's +a great deal to come before that!' + + `Call the first witness,' said the King; and the White Rabbit +blew three blasts on the trumpet, and called out, `First +witness!' + + The first witness was the Hatter. He came in with a teacup in +one hand and a piece of bread-and-butter in the other. `I beg +pardon, your Majesty,' he began, `for bringing these in: but I +hadn't quite finished my tea when I was sent for.' + + `You ought to have finished,' said the King. `When did you +begin?' + + The Hatter looked at the March Hare, who had followed him into +the court, arm-in-arm with the Dormouse. `Fourteenth of March, I +think it was,' he said. + + `Fifteenth,' said the March Hare. + + `Sixteenth,' added the Dormouse. + + `Write that down,' the King said to the jury, and the jury +eagerly wrote down all three dates on their slates, and then +added them up, and reduced the answer to shillings and pence. + + `Take off your hat,' the King said to the Hatter. + + `It isn't mine,' said the Hatter. + + `Stolen!' the King exclaimed, turning to the jury, who +instantly made a memorandum of the fact. + + `I keep them to sell,' the Hatter added as an explanation; +`I've none of my own. I'm a hatter.' + + Here the Queen put on her spectacles, and began staring at the +Hatter, who turned pale and fidgeted. + + `Give your evidence,' said the King; `and don't be nervous, or +I'll have you executed on the spot.' + + This did not seem to encourage the witness at all: he kept +shifting from one foot to the other, looking uneasily at the +Queen, and in his confusion he bit a large piece out of his +teacup instead of the bread-and-butter. + + Just at this moment Alice felt a very curious sensation, which +puzzled her a good deal until she made out what it was: she was +beginning to grow larger again, and she thought at first she +would get up and leave the court; but on second thoughts she +decided to remain where she was as long as there was room for +her. + + `I wish you wouldn't squeeze so.' said the Dormouse, who was +sitting next to her. `I can hardly breathe.' + + `I can't help it,' said Alice very meekly: `I'm growing.' + + `You've no right to grow here,' said the Dormouse. + + `Don't talk nonsense,' said Alice more boldly: `you know +you're growing too.' + + `Yes, but I grow at a reasonable pace,' said the Dormouse: +`not in that ridiculous fashion.' And he got up very sulkily +and crossed over to the other side of the court. + + All this time the Queen had never left off staring at the +Hatter, and, just as the Dormouse crossed the court, she said to +one of the officers of the court, `Bring me the list of the +singers in the last concert!' on which the wretched Hatter +trembled so, that he shook both his shoes off. + + `Give your evidence,' the King repeated angrily, `or I'll have +you executed, whether you're nervous or not.' + + `I'm a poor man, your Majesty,' the Hatter began, in a +trembling voice, `--and I hadn't begun my tea--not above a week +or so--and what with the bread-and-butter getting so thin--and +the twinkling of the tea--' + + `The twinkling of the what?' said the King. + + `It began with the tea,' the Hatter replied. + + `Of course twinkling begins with a T!' said the King sharply. +`Do you take me for a dunce? Go on!' + + `I'm a poor man,' the Hatter went on, `and most things +twinkled after that--only the March Hare said--' + + `I didn't!' the March Hare interrupted in a great hurry. + + `You did!' said the Hatter. + + `I deny it!' said the March Hare. + + `He denies it,' said the King: `leave out that part.' + + `Well, at any rate, the Dormouse said--' the Hatter went on, +looking anxiously round to see if he would deny it too: but the +Dormouse denied nothing, being fast asleep. + + `After that,' continued the Hatter, `I cut some more bread- +and-butter--' + + `But what did the Dormouse say?' one of the jury asked. + + `That I can't remember,' said the Hatter. + + `You MUST remember,' remarked the King, `or I'll have you +executed.' + + The miserable Hatter dropped his teacup and bread-and-butter, +and went down on one knee. `I'm a poor man, your Majesty,' he +began. + + `You're a very poor speaker,' said the King. + + Here one of the guinea-pigs cheered, and was immediately +suppressed by the officers of the court. (As that is rather a +hard word, I will just explain to you how it was done. They had +a large canvas bag, which tied up at the mouth with strings: +into this they slipped the guinea-pig, head first, and then sat +upon it.) + + `I'm glad I've seen that done,' thought Alice. `I've so often +read in the newspapers, at the end of trials, "There was some +attempts at applause, which was immediately suppressed by the +officers of the court," and I never understood what it meant +till now.' + + `If that's all you know about it, you may stand down,' +continued the King. + + `I can't go no lower,' said the Hatter: `I'm on the floor, as +it is.' + + `Then you may SIT down,' the King replied. + + Here the other guinea-pig cheered, and was suppressed. + + `Come, that finished the guinea-pigs!' thought Alice. `Now we +shall get on better.' + + `I'd rather finish my tea,' said the Hatter, with an anxious +look at the Queen, who was reading the list of singers. + + `You may go,' said the King, and the Hatter hurriedly left the +court, without even waiting to put his shoes on. + + `--and just take his head off outside,' the Queen added to one +of the officers: but the Hatter was out of sight before the +officer could get to the door. + + `Call the next witness!' said the King. + + The next witness was the Duchess's cook. She carried the +pepper-box in her hand, and Alice guessed who it was, even before +she got into the court, by the way the people near the door began +sneezing all at once. + + `Give your evidence,' said the King. + + `Shan't,' said the cook. + + The King looked anxiously at the White Rabbit, who said in a +low voice, `Your Majesty must cross-examine THIS witness.' + + `Well, if I must, I must,' the King said, with a melancholy +air, and, after folding his arms and frowning at the cook till +his eyes were nearly out of sight, he said in a deep voice, `What +are tarts made of?' + + `Pepper, mostly,' said the cook. + + `Treacle,' said a sleepy voice behind her. + + `Collar that Dormouse,' the Queen shrieked out. `Behead that +Dormouse! Turn that Dormouse out of court! Suppress him! Pinch +him! Off with his whiskers!' + + For some minutes the whole court was in confusion, getting the +Dormouse turned out, and, by the time they had settled down +again, the cook had disappeared. + + `Never mind!' said the King, with an air of great relief. +`Call the next witness.' And he added in an undertone to the +Queen, `Really, my dear, YOU must cross-examine the next witness. +It quite makes my forehead ache!' + + Alice watched the White Rabbit as he fumbled over the list, +feeling very curious to see what the next witness would be like, +`--for they haven't got much evidence YET,' she said to herself. +Imagine her surprise, when the White Rabbit read out, at the top +of his shrill little voice, the name `Alice!' + + + + CHAPTER XII + + Alice's Evidence + + + `Here!' cried Alice, quite forgetting in the flurry of the +moment how large she had grown in the last few minutes, and she +jumped up in such a hurry that she tipped over the jury-box with +the edge of her skirt, upsetting all the jurymen on to the heads +of the crowd below, and there they lay sprawling about, reminding +her very much of a globe of goldfish she had accidentally upset +the week before. + + `Oh, I BEG your pardon!' she exclaimed in a tone of great +dismay, and began picking them up again as quickly as she could, +for the accident of the goldfish kept running in her head, and +she had a vague sort of idea that they must be collected at once +and put back into the jury-box, or they would die. + + `The trial cannot proceed,' said the King in a very grave +voice, `until all the jurymen are back in their proper places-- +ALL,' he repeated with great emphasis, looking hard at Alice as +he said do. + + Alice looked at the jury-box, and saw that, in her haste, she +had put the Lizard in head downwards, and the poor little thing +was waving its tail about in a melancholy way, being quite unable +to move. She soon got it out again, and put it right; `not that +it signifies much,' she said to herself; `I should think it +would be QUITE as much use in the trial one way up as the other.' + + As soon as the jury had a little recovered from the shock of +being upset, and their slates and pencils had been found and +handed back to them, they set to work very diligently to write +out a history of the accident, all except the Lizard, who seemed +too much overcome to do anything but sit with its mouth open, +gazing up into the roof of the court. + + `What do you know about this business?' the King said to +Alice. + + `Nothing,' said Alice. + + `Nothing WHATEVER?' persisted the King. + + `Nothing whatever,' said Alice. + + `That's very important,' the King said, turning to the jury. +They were just beginning to write this down on their slates, when +the White Rabbit interrupted: `UNimportant, your Majesty means, +of course,' he said in a very respectful tone, but frowning and +making faces at him as he spoke. + + `UNimportant, of course, I meant,' the King hastily said, and +went on to himself in an undertone, `important--unimportant-- +unimportant--important--' as if he were trying which word +sounded best. + + Some of the jury wrote it down `important,' and some +`unimportant.' Alice could see this, as she was near enough to +look over their slates; `but it doesn't matter a bit,' she +thought to herself. + + At this moment the King, who had been for some time busily +writing in his note-book, cackled out `Silence!' and read out +from his book, `Rule Forty-two. ALL PERSONS MORE THAN A MILE +HIGH TO LEAVE THE COURT.' + + Everybody looked at Alice. + + `I'M not a mile high,' said Alice. + + `You are,' said the King. + + `Nearly two miles high,' added the Queen. + + `Well, I shan't go, at any rate,' said Alice: `besides, +that's not a regular rule: you invented it just now.' + + `It's the oldest rule in the book,' said the King. + + `Then it ought to be Number One,' said Alice. + + The King turned pale, and shut his note-book hastily. +`Consider your verdict,' he said to the jury, in a low, trembling +voice. + + `There's more evidence to come yet, please your Majesty,' said +the White Rabbit, jumping up in a great hurry; `this paper has +just been picked up.' + + `What's in it?' said the Queen. + + `I haven't opened it yet,' said the White Rabbit, `but it seems +to be a letter, written by the prisoner to--to somebody.' + + `It must have been that,' said the King, `unless it was +written to nobody, which isn't usual, you know.' + + `Who is it directed to?' said one of the jurymen. + + `It isn't directed at all,' said the White Rabbit; `in fact, +there's nothing written on the OUTSIDE.' He unfolded the paper +as he spoke, and added `It isn't a letter, after all: it's a set +of verses.' + + `Are they in the prisoner's handwriting?' asked another of +they jurymen. + + `No, they're not,' said the White Rabbit, `and that's the +queerest thing about it.' (The jury all looked puzzled.) + + `He must have imitated somebody else's hand,' said the King. +(The jury all brightened up again.) + + `Please your Majesty,' said the Knave, `I didn't write it, and +they can't prove I did: there's no name signed at the end.' + + `If you didn't sign it,' said the King, `that only makes the +matter worse. You MUST have meant some mischief, or else you'd +have signed your name like an honest man.' + + There was a general clapping of hands at this: it was the +first really clever thing the King had said that day. + + `That PROVES his guilt,' said the Queen. + + `It proves nothing of the sort!' said Alice. `Why, you don't +even know what they're about!' + + `Read them,' said the King. + + The White Rabbit put on his spectacles. `Where shall I begin, +please your Majesty?' he asked. + + `Begin at the beginning,' the King said gravely, `and go on +till you come to the end: then stop.' + + These were the verses the White Rabbit read:-- + + `They told me you had been to her, + And mentioned me to him: + She gave me a good character, + But said I could not swim. + + He sent them word I had not gone + (We know it to be true): + If she should push the matter on, + What would become of you? + + I gave her one, they gave him two, + You gave us three or more; + They all returned from him to you, + Though they were mine before. + + If I or she should chance to be + Involved in this affair, + He trusts to you to set them free, + Exactly as we were. + + My notion was that you had been + (Before she had this fit) + An obstacle that came between + Him, and ourselves, and it. + + Don't let him know she liked them best, + For this must ever be + A secret, kept from all the rest, + Between yourself and me.' + + `That's the most important piece of evidence we've heard yet,' +said the King, rubbing his hands; `so now let the jury--' + + `If any one of them can explain it,' said Alice, (she had +grown so large in the last few minutes that she wasn't a bit +afraid of interrupting him,) `I'll give him sixpence. _I_ don't +believe there's an atom of meaning in it.' + + The jury all wrote down on their slates, `SHE doesn't believe +there's an atom of meaning in it,' but none of them attempted to +explain the paper. + + `If there's no meaning in it,' said the King, `that saves a +world of trouble, you know, as we needn't try to find any. And +yet I don't know,' he went on, spreading out the verses on his +knee, and looking at them with one eye; `I seem to see some +meaning in them, after all. "--SAID I COULD NOT SWIM--" you +can't swim, can you?' he added, turning to the Knave. + + The Knave shook his head sadly. `Do I look like it?' he said. +(Which he certainly did NOT, being made entirely of cardboard.) + + `All right, so far,' said the King, and he went on muttering +over the verses to himself: `"WE KNOW IT TO BE TRUE--" that's +the jury, of course-- "I GAVE HER ONE, THEY GAVE HIM TWO--" why, +that must be what he did with the tarts, you know--' + + `But, it goes on "THEY ALL RETURNED FROM HIM TO YOU,"' said +Alice. + + `Why, there they are!' said the King triumphantly, pointing to +the tarts on the table. `Nothing can be clearer than THAT. +Then again--"BEFORE SHE HAD THIS FIT--" you never had fits, my +dear, I think?' he said to the Queen. + + `Never!' said the Queen furiously, throwing an inkstand at the +Lizard as she spoke. (The unfortunate little Bill had left off +writing on his slate with one finger, as he found it made no +mark; but he now hastily began again, using the ink, that was +trickling down his face, as long as it lasted.) + + `Then the words don't FIT you,' said the King, looking round +the court with a smile. There was a dead silence. + + `It's a pun!' the King added in an offended tone, and +everybody laughed, `Let the jury consider their verdict,' the +King said, for about the twentieth time that day. + + `No, no!' said the Queen. `Sentence first--verdict afterwards.' + + `Stuff and nonsense!' said Alice loudly. `The idea of having +the sentence first!' + + `Hold your tongue!' said the Queen, turning purple. + + `I won't!' said Alice. + + `Off with her head!' the Queen shouted at the top of her voice. +Nobody moved. + + `Who cares for you?' said Alice, (she had grown to her full +size by this time.) `You're nothing but a pack of cards!' + + At this the whole pack rose up into the air, and came flying +down upon her: she gave a little scream, half of fright and half +of anger, and tried to beat them off, and found herself lying on +the bank, with her head in the lap of her sister, who was gently +brushing away some dead leaves that had fluttered down from the +trees upon her face. + + `Wake up, Alice dear!' said her sister; `Why, what a long +sleep you've had!' + + `Oh, I've had such a curious dream!' said Alice, and she told +her sister, as well as she could remember them, all these strange +Adventures of hers that you have just been reading about; and +when she had finished, her sister kissed her, and said, `It WAS a +curious dream, dear, certainly: but now run in to your tea; it's +getting late.' So Alice got up and ran off, thinking while she +ran, as well she might, what a wonderful dream it had been. + + But her sister sat still just as she left her, leaning her +head on her hand, watching the setting sun, and thinking of +little Alice and all her wonderful Adventures, till she too began +dreaming after a fashion, and this was her dream:-- + + First, she dreamed of little Alice herself, and once again the +tiny hands were clasped upon her knee, and the bright eager eyes +were looking up into hers--she could hear the very tones of her +voice, and see that queer little toss of her head to keep back +the wandering hair that WOULD always get into her eyes--and +still as she listened, or seemed to listen, the whole place +around her became alive the strange creatures of her little +sister's dream. + + The long grass rustled at her feet as the White Rabbit hurried +by--the frightened Mouse splashed his way through the +neighbouring pool--she could hear the rattle of the teacups as +the March Hare and his friends shared their never-ending meal, +and the shrill voice of the Queen ordering off her unfortunate +guests to execution--once more the pig-baby was sneezing on the +Duchess's knee, while plates and dishes crashed around it--once +more the shriek of the Gryphon, the squeaking of the Lizard's +slate-pencil, and the choking of the suppressed guinea-pigs, +filled the air, mixed up with the distant sobs of the miserable +Mock Turtle. + + So she sat on, with closed eyes, and half believed herself in +Wonderland, though she knew she had but to open them again, and +all would change to dull reality--the grass would be only +rustling in the wind, and the pool rippling to the waving of the +reeds--the rattling teacups would change to tinkling sheep- +bells, and the Queen's shrill cries to the voice of the shepherd +boy--and the sneeze of the baby, the shriek of the Gryphon, and +all thy other queer noises, would change (she knew) to the +confused clamour of the busy farm-yard--while the lowing of the +cattle in the distance would take the place of the Mock Turtle's +heavy sobs. + + Lastly, she pictured to herself how this same little sister of +hers would, in the after-time, be herself a grown woman; and how +she would keep, through all her riper years, the simple and +loving heart of her childhood: and how she would gather about +her other little children, and make THEIR eyes bright and eager +with many a strange tale, perhaps even with the dream of +Wonderland of long ago: and how she would feel with all their +simple sorrows, and find a pleasure in all their simple joys, +remembering her own child-life, and the happy summer days. + + THE END  \ No newline at end of file diff --git a/tests/data/asyoulik.txt b/tests/data/asyoulik.txt index 88dc7b6..493c810 100644 --- a/tests/data/asyoulik.txt +++ b/tests/data/asyoulik.txt @@ -1,4122 +1,4122 @@ - AS YOU LIKE IT - - - DRAMATIS PERSONAE - - -DUKE SENIOR living in banishment. - -DUKE FREDERICK his brother, an usurper of his dominions. - - -AMIENS | - | lords attending on the banished duke. -JAQUES | - - -LE BEAU a courtier attending upon Frederick. - -CHARLES wrestler to Frederick. - - -OLIVER | - | -JAQUES (JAQUES DE BOYS:) | sons of Sir Rowland de Boys. - | -ORLANDO | - - -ADAM | - | servants to Oliver. -DENNIS | - - -TOUCHSTONE a clown. - -SIR OLIVER MARTEXT a vicar. - - -CORIN | - | shepherds. -SILVIUS | - - -WILLIAM a country fellow in love with Audrey. - - A person representing HYMEN. (HYMEN:) - -ROSALIND daughter to the banished duke. - -CELIA daughter to Frederick. - -PHEBE a shepherdess. - -AUDREY a country wench. - - Lords, pages, and attendants, &c. - (Forester:) - (A Lord:) - (First Lord:) - (Second Lord:) - (First Page:) - (Second Page:) - - -SCENE Oliver's house; Duke Frederick's court; and the - Forest of Arden. - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT I - - - -SCENE I Orchard of Oliver's house. - - - [Enter ORLANDO and ADAM] - -ORLANDO As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion - bequeathed me by will but poor a thousand crowns, - and, as thou sayest, charged my brother, on his - blessing, to breed me well: and there begins my - sadness. My brother Jaques he keeps at school, and - report speaks goldenly of his profit: for my part, - he keeps me rustically at home, or, to speak more - properly, stays me here at home unkept; for call you - that keeping for a gentleman of my birth, that - differs not from the stalling of an ox? His horses - are bred better; for, besides that they are fair - with their feeding, they are taught their manage, - and to that end riders dearly hired: but I, his - brother, gain nothing under him but growth; for the - which his animals on his dunghills are as much - bound to him as I. Besides this nothing that he so - plentifully gives me, the something that nature gave - me his countenance seems to take from me: he lets - me feed with his hinds, bars me the place of a - brother, and, as much as in him lies, mines my - gentility with my education. This is it, Adam, that - grieves me; and the spirit of my father, which I - think is within me, begins to mutiny against this - servitude: I will no longer endure it, though yet I - know no wise remedy how to avoid it. - -ADAM Yonder comes my master, your brother. - -ORLANDO Go apart, Adam, and thou shalt hear how he will - shake me up. - - [Enter OLIVER] - -OLIVER Now, sir! what make you here? - -ORLANDO Nothing: I am not taught to make any thing. - -OLIVER What mar you then, sir? - -ORLANDO Marry, sir, I am helping you to mar that which God - made, a poor unworthy brother of yours, with idleness. - -OLIVER Marry, sir, be better employed, and be naught awhile. - -ORLANDO Shall I keep your hogs and eat husks with them? - What prodigal portion have I spent, that I should - come to such penury? - -OLIVER Know you where your are, sir? - -ORLANDO O, sir, very well; here in your orchard. - -OLIVER Know you before whom, sir? - -ORLANDO Ay, better than him I am before knows me. I know - you are my eldest brother; and, in the gentle - condition of blood, you should so know me. The - courtesy of nations allows you my better, in that - you are the first-born; but the same tradition - takes not away my blood, were there twenty brothers - betwixt us: I have as much of my father in me as - you; albeit, I confess, your coming before me is - nearer to his reverence. - -OLIVER What, boy! - -ORLANDO Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this. - -OLIVER Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain? - -ORLANDO I am no villain; I am the youngest son of Sir - Rowland de Boys; he was my father, and he is thrice - a villain that says such a father begot villains. - Wert thou not my brother, I would not take this hand - from thy throat till this other had pulled out thy - tongue for saying so: thou hast railed on thyself. - -ADAM Sweet masters, be patient: for your father's - remembrance, be at accord. - -OLIVER Let me go, I say. - -ORLANDO I will not, till I please: you shall hear me. My - father charged you in his will to give me good - education: you have trained me like a peasant, - obscuring and hiding from me all gentleman-like - qualities. The spirit of my father grows strong in - me, and I will no longer endure it: therefore allow - me such exercises as may become a gentleman, or - give me the poor allottery my father left me by - testament; with that I will go buy my fortunes. - -OLIVER And what wilt thou do? beg, when that is spent? - Well, sir, get you in: I will not long be troubled - with you; you shall have some part of your will: I - pray you, leave me. - -ORLANDO I will no further offend you than becomes me for my good. - -OLIVER Get you with him, you old dog. - -ADAM Is 'old dog' my reward? Most true, I have lost my - teeth in your service. God be with my old master! - he would not have spoke such a word. - - [Exeunt ORLANDO and ADAM] - -OLIVER Is it even so? begin you to grow upon me? I will - physic your rankness, and yet give no thousand - crowns neither. Holla, Dennis! - - [Enter DENNIS] - -DENNIS Calls your worship? - -OLIVER Was not Charles, the duke's wrestler, here to speak with me? - -DENNIS So please you, he is here at the door and importunes - access to you. - -OLIVER Call him in. - - [Exit DENNIS] - - 'Twill be a good way; and to-morrow the wrestling is. - - [Enter CHARLES] - -CHARLES Good morrow to your worship. - -OLIVER Good Monsieur Charles, what's the new news at the - new court? - -CHARLES There's no news at the court, sir, but the old news: - that is, the old duke is banished by his younger - brother the new duke; and three or four loving lords - have put themselves into voluntary exile with him, - whose lands and revenues enrich the new duke; - therefore he gives them good leave to wander. - -OLIVER Can you tell if Rosalind, the duke's daughter, be - banished with her father? - -CHARLES O, no; for the duke's daughter, her cousin, so loves - her, being ever from their cradles bred together, - that she would have followed her exile, or have died - to stay behind her. She is at the court, and no - less beloved of her uncle than his own daughter; and - never two ladies loved as they do. - -OLIVER Where will the old duke live? - -CHARLES They say he is already in the forest of Arden, and - a many merry men with him; and there they live like - the old Robin Hood of England: they say many young - gentlemen flock to him every day, and fleet the time - carelessly, as they did in the golden world. - -OLIVER What, you wrestle to-morrow before the new duke? - -CHARLES Marry, do I, sir; and I came to acquaint you with a - matter. I am given, sir, secretly to understand - that your younger brother Orlando hath a disposition - to come in disguised against me to try a fall. - To-morrow, sir, I wrestle for my credit; and he that - escapes me without some broken limb shall acquit him - well. Your brother is but young and tender; and, - for your love, I would be loath to foil him, as I - must, for my own honour, if he come in: therefore, - out of my love to you, I came hither to acquaint you - withal, that either you might stay him from his - intendment or brook such disgrace well as he shall - run into, in that it is a thing of his own search - and altogether against my will. - -OLIVER Charles, I thank thee for thy love to me, which - thou shalt find I will most kindly requite. I had - myself notice of my brother's purpose herein and - have by underhand means laboured to dissuade him from - it, but he is resolute. I'll tell thee, Charles: - it is the stubbornest young fellow of France, full - of ambition, an envious emulator of every man's - good parts, a secret and villanous contriver against - me his natural brother: therefore use thy - discretion; I had as lief thou didst break his neck - as his finger. And thou wert best look to't; for if - thou dost him any slight disgrace or if he do not - mightily grace himself on thee, he will practise - against thee by poison, entrap thee by some - treacherous device and never leave thee till he - hath ta'en thy life by some indirect means or other; - for, I assure thee, and almost with tears I speak - it, there is not one so young and so villanous this - day living. I speak but brotherly of him; but - should I anatomize him to thee as he is, I must - blush and weep and thou must look pale and wonder. - -CHARLES I am heartily glad I came hither to you. If he come - to-morrow, I'll give him his payment: if ever he go - alone again, I'll never wrestle for prize more: and - so God keep your worship! - -OLIVER Farewell, good Charles. - - [Exit CHARLES] - - Now will I stir this gamester: I hope I shall see - an end of him; for my soul, yet I know not why, - hates nothing more than he. Yet he's gentle, never - schooled and yet learned, full of noble device, of - all sorts enchantingly beloved, and indeed so much - in the heart of the world, and especially of my own - people, who best know him, that I am altogether - misprised: but it shall not be so long; this - wrestler shall clear all: nothing remains but that - I kindle the boy thither; which now I'll go about. - - [Exit] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT I - - - -SCENE II Lawn before the Duke's palace. - - - [Enter CELIA and ROSALIND] - -CELIA I pray thee, Rosalind, sweet my coz, be merry. - -ROSALIND Dear Celia, I show more mirth than I am mistress of; - and would you yet I were merrier? Unless you could - teach me to forget a banished father, you must not - learn me how to remember any extraordinary pleasure. - -CELIA Herein I see thou lovest me not with the full weight - that I love thee. If my uncle, thy banished father, - had banished thy uncle, the duke my father, so thou - hadst been still with me, I could have taught my - love to take thy father for mine: so wouldst thou, - if the truth of thy love to me were so righteously - tempered as mine is to thee. - -ROSALIND Well, I will forget the condition of my estate, to - rejoice in yours. - -CELIA You know my father hath no child but I, nor none is - like to have: and, truly, when he dies, thou shalt - be his heir, for what he hath taken away from thy - father perforce, I will render thee again in - affection; by mine honour, I will; and when I break - that oath, let me turn monster: therefore, my - sweet Rose, my dear Rose, be merry. - -ROSALIND From henceforth I will, coz, and devise sports. Let - me see; what think you of falling in love? - -CELIA Marry, I prithee, do, to make sport withal: but - love no man in good earnest; nor no further in sport - neither than with safety of a pure blush thou mayst - in honour come off again. - -ROSALIND What shall be our sport, then? - -CELIA Let us sit and mock the good housewife Fortune from - her wheel, that her gifts may henceforth be bestowed equally. - -ROSALIND I would we could do so, for her benefits are - mightily misplaced, and the bountiful blind woman - doth most mistake in her gifts to women. - -CELIA 'Tis true; for those that she makes fair she scarce - makes honest, and those that she makes honest she - makes very ill-favouredly. - -ROSALIND Nay, now thou goest from Fortune's office to - Nature's: Fortune reigns in gifts of the world, - not in the lineaments of Nature. - - [Enter TOUCHSTONE] - -CELIA No? when Nature hath made a fair creature, may she - not by Fortune fall into the fire? Though Nature - hath given us wit to flout at Fortune, hath not - Fortune sent in this fool to cut off the argument? - -ROSALIND Indeed, there is Fortune too hard for Nature, when - Fortune makes Nature's natural the cutter-off of - Nature's wit. - -CELIA Peradventure this is not Fortune's work neither, but - Nature's; who perceiveth our natural wits too dull - to reason of such goddesses and hath sent this - natural for our whetstone; for always the dulness of - the fool is the whetstone of the wits. How now, - wit! whither wander you? - -TOUCHSTONE Mistress, you must come away to your father. - -CELIA Were you made the messenger? - -TOUCHSTONE No, by mine honour, but I was bid to come for you. - -ROSALIND Where learned you that oath, fool? - -TOUCHSTONE Of a certain knight that swore by his honour they - were good pancakes and swore by his honour the - mustard was naught: now I'll stand to it, the - pancakes were naught and the mustard was good, and - yet was not the knight forsworn. - -CELIA How prove you that, in the great heap of your - knowledge? - -ROSALIND Ay, marry, now unmuzzle your wisdom. - -TOUCHSTONE Stand you both forth now: stroke your chins, and - swear by your beards that I am a knave. - -CELIA By our beards, if we had them, thou art. - -TOUCHSTONE By my knavery, if I had it, then I were; but if you - swear by that that is not, you are not forsworn: no - more was this knight swearing by his honour, for he - never had any; or if he had, he had sworn it away - before ever he saw those pancakes or that mustard. - -CELIA Prithee, who is't that thou meanest? - -TOUCHSTONE One that old Frederick, your father, loves. - -CELIA My father's love is enough to honour him: enough! - speak no more of him; you'll be whipped for taxation - one of these days. - -TOUCHSTONE The more pity, that fools may not speak wisely what - wise men do foolishly. - -CELIA By my troth, thou sayest true; for since the little - wit that fools have was silenced, the little foolery - that wise men have makes a great show. Here comes - Monsieur Le Beau. - -ROSALIND With his mouth full of news. - -CELIA Which he will put on us, as pigeons feed their young. - -ROSALIND Then shall we be news-crammed. - -CELIA All the better; we shall be the more marketable. - - [Enter LE BEAU] - - Bon jour, Monsieur Le Beau: what's the news? - -LE BEAU Fair princess, you have lost much good sport. - -CELIA Sport! of what colour? - -LE BEAU What colour, madam! how shall I answer you? - -ROSALIND As wit and fortune will. - -TOUCHSTONE Or as the Destinies decree. - -CELIA Well said: that was laid on with a trowel. - -TOUCHSTONE Nay, if I keep not my rank,-- - -ROSALIND Thou losest thy old smell. - -LE BEAU You amaze me, ladies: I would have told you of good - wrestling, which you have lost the sight of. - -ROSALIND You tell us the manner of the wrestling. - -LE BEAU I will tell you the beginning; and, if it please - your ladyships, you may see the end; for the best is - yet to do; and here, where you are, they are coming - to perform it. - -CELIA Well, the beginning, that is dead and buried. - -LE BEAU There comes an old man and his three sons,-- - -CELIA I could match this beginning with an old tale. - -LE BEAU Three proper young men, of excellent growth and presence. - -ROSALIND With bills on their necks, 'Be it known unto all men - by these presents.' - -LE BEAU The eldest of the three wrestled with Charles, the - duke's wrestler; which Charles in a moment threw him - and broke three of his ribs, that there is little - hope of life in him: so he served the second, and - so the third. Yonder they lie; the poor old man, - their father, making such pitiful dole over them - that all the beholders take his part with weeping. - -ROSALIND Alas! - -TOUCHSTONE But what is the sport, monsieur, that the ladies - have lost? - -LE BEAU Why, this that I speak of. - -TOUCHSTONE Thus men may grow wiser every day: it is the first - time that ever I heard breaking of ribs was sport - for ladies. - -CELIA Or I, I promise thee. - -ROSALIND But is there any else longs to see this broken music - in his sides? is there yet another dotes upon - rib-breaking? Shall we see this wrestling, cousin? - -LE BEAU You must, if you stay here; for here is the place - appointed for the wrestling, and they are ready to - perform it. - -CELIA Yonder, sure, they are coming: let us now stay and see it. - - [Flourish. Enter DUKE FREDERICK, Lords, ORLANDO, - CHARLES, and Attendants] - -DUKE FREDERICK Come on: since the youth will not be entreated, his - own peril on his forwardness. - -ROSALIND Is yonder the man? - -LE BEAU Even he, madam. - -CELIA Alas, he is too young! yet he looks successfully. - -DUKE FREDERICK How now, daughter and cousin! are you crept hither - to see the wrestling? - -ROSALIND Ay, my liege, so please you give us leave. - -DUKE FREDERICK You will take little delight in it, I can tell you; - there is such odds in the man. In pity of the - challenger's youth I would fain dissuade him, but he - will not be entreated. Speak to him, ladies; see if - you can move him. - -CELIA Call him hither, good Monsieur Le Beau. - -DUKE FREDERICK Do so: I'll not be by. - -LE BEAU Monsieur the challenger, the princesses call for you. - -ORLANDO I attend them with all respect and duty. - -ROSALIND Young man, have you challenged Charles the wrestler? - -ORLANDO No, fair princess; he is the general challenger: I - come but in, as others do, to try with him the - strength of my youth. - -CELIA Young gentleman, your spirits are too bold for your - years. You have seen cruel proof of this man's - strength: if you saw yourself with your eyes or - knew yourself with your judgment, the fear of your - adventure would counsel you to a more equal - enterprise. We pray you, for your own sake, to - embrace your own safety and give over this attempt. - -ROSALIND Do, young sir; your reputation shall not therefore - be misprised: we will make it our suit to the duke - that the wrestling might not go forward. - -ORLANDO I beseech you, punish me not with your hard - thoughts; wherein I confess me much guilty, to deny - so fair and excellent ladies any thing. But let - your fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my - trial: wherein if I be foiled, there is but one - shamed that was never gracious; if killed, but one - dead that was willing to be so: I shall do my - friends no wrong, for I have none to lament me, the - world no injury, for in it I have nothing; only in - the world I fill up a place, which may be better - supplied when I have made it empty. - -ROSALIND The little strength that I have, I would it were with you. - -CELIA And mine, to eke out hers. - -ROSALIND Fare you well: pray heaven I be deceived in you! - -CELIA Your heart's desires be with you! - -CHARLES Come, where is this young gallant that is so - desirous to lie with his mother earth? - -ORLANDO Ready, sir; but his will hath in it a more modest working. - -DUKE FREDERICK You shall try but one fall. - -CHARLES No, I warrant your grace, you shall not entreat him - to a second, that have so mightily persuaded him - from a first. - -ORLANDO An you mean to mock me after, you should not have - mocked me before: but come your ways. - -ROSALIND Now Hercules be thy speed, young man! - -CELIA I would I were invisible, to catch the strong - fellow by the leg. - - [They wrestle] - -ROSALIND O excellent young man! - -CELIA If I had a thunderbolt in mine eye, I can tell who - should down. - - [Shout. CHARLES is thrown] - -DUKE FREDERICK No more, no more. - -ORLANDO Yes, I beseech your grace: I am not yet well breathed. - -DUKE FREDERICK How dost thou, Charles? - -LE BEAU He cannot speak, my lord. - -DUKE FREDERICK Bear him away. What is thy name, young man? - -ORLANDO Orlando, my liege; the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys. - -DUKE FREDERICK I would thou hadst been son to some man else: - The world esteem'd thy father honourable, - But I did find him still mine enemy: - Thou shouldst have better pleased me with this deed, - Hadst thou descended from another house. - But fare thee well; thou art a gallant youth: - I would thou hadst told me of another father. - - [Exeunt DUKE FREDERICK, train, and LE BEAU] - -CELIA Were I my father, coz, would I do this? - -ORLANDO I am more proud to be Sir Rowland's son, - His youngest son; and would not change that calling, - To be adopted heir to Frederick. - -ROSALIND My father loved Sir Rowland as his soul, - And all the world was of my father's mind: - Had I before known this young man his son, - I should have given him tears unto entreaties, - Ere he should thus have ventured. - -CELIA Gentle cousin, - Let us go thank him and encourage him: - My father's rough and envious disposition - Sticks me at heart. Sir, you have well deserved: - If you do keep your promises in love - But justly, as you have exceeded all promise, - Your mistress shall be happy. - -ROSALIND Gentleman, - - [Giving him a chain from her neck] - - Wear this for me, one out of suits with fortune, - That could give more, but that her hand lacks means. - Shall we go, coz? - -CELIA Ay. Fare you well, fair gentleman. - -ORLANDO Can I not say, I thank you? My better parts - Are all thrown down, and that which here stands up - Is but a quintain, a mere lifeless block. - -ROSALIND He calls us back: my pride fell with my fortunes; - I'll ask him what he would. Did you call, sir? - Sir, you have wrestled well and overthrown - More than your enemies. - -CELIA Will you go, coz? - -ROSALIND Have with you. Fare you well. - - [Exeunt ROSALIND and CELIA] - -ORLANDO What passion hangs these weights upon my tongue? - I cannot speak to her, yet she urged conference. - O poor Orlando, thou art overthrown! - Or Charles or something weaker masters thee. - - [Re-enter LE BEAU] - -LE BEAU Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you - To leave this place. Albeit you have deserved - High commendation, true applause and love, - Yet such is now the duke's condition - That he misconstrues all that you have done. - The duke is humorous; what he is indeed, - More suits you to conceive than I to speak of. - -ORLANDO I thank you, sir: and, pray you, tell me this: - Which of the two was daughter of the duke - That here was at the wrestling? - -LE BEAU Neither his daughter, if we judge by manners; - But yet indeed the lesser is his daughter - The other is daughter to the banish'd duke, - And here detain'd by her usurping uncle, - To keep his daughter company; whose loves - Are dearer than the natural bond of sisters. - But I can tell you that of late this duke - Hath ta'en displeasure 'gainst his gentle niece, - Grounded upon no other argument - But that the people praise her for her virtues - And pity her for her good father's sake; - And, on my life, his malice 'gainst the lady - Will suddenly break forth. Sir, fare you well: - Hereafter, in a better world than this, - I shall desire more love and knowledge of you. - -ORLANDO I rest much bounden to you: fare you well. - - [Exit LE BEAU] - - Thus must I from the smoke into the smother; - From tyrant duke unto a tyrant brother: - But heavenly Rosalind! - - [Exit] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT I - - - -SCENE III A room in the palace. - - - [Enter CELIA and ROSALIND] - -CELIA Why, cousin! why, Rosalind! Cupid have mercy! not a word? - -ROSALIND Not one to throw at a dog. - -CELIA No, thy words are too precious to be cast away upon - curs; throw some of them at me; come, lame me with reasons. - -ROSALIND Then there were two cousins laid up; when the one - should be lamed with reasons and the other mad - without any. - -CELIA But is all this for your father? - -ROSALIND No, some of it is for my child's father. O, how - full of briers is this working-day world! - -CELIA They are but burs, cousin, thrown upon thee in - holiday foolery: if we walk not in the trodden - paths our very petticoats will catch them. - -ROSALIND I could shake them off my coat: these burs are in my heart. - -CELIA Hem them away. - -ROSALIND I would try, if I could cry 'hem' and have him. - -CELIA Come, come, wrestle with thy affections. - -ROSALIND O, they take the part of a better wrestler than myself! - -CELIA O, a good wish upon you! you will try in time, in - despite of a fall. But, turning these jests out of - service, let us talk in good earnest: is it - possible, on such a sudden, you should fall into so - strong a liking with old Sir Rowland's youngest son? - -ROSALIND The duke my father loved his father dearly. - -CELIA Doth it therefore ensue that you should love his son - dearly? By this kind of chase, I should hate him, - for my father hated his father dearly; yet I hate - not Orlando. - -ROSALIND No, faith, hate him not, for my sake. - -CELIA Why should I not? doth he not deserve well? - -ROSALIND Let me love him for that, and do you love him - because I do. Look, here comes the duke. - -CELIA With his eyes full of anger. - - [Enter DUKE FREDERICK, with Lords] - -DUKE FREDERICK Mistress, dispatch you with your safest haste - And get you from our court. - -ROSALIND Me, uncle? - -DUKE FREDERICK You, cousin - Within these ten days if that thou be'st found - So near our public court as twenty miles, - Thou diest for it. - -ROSALIND I do beseech your grace, - Let me the knowledge of my fault bear with me: - If with myself I hold intelligence - Or have acquaintance with mine own desires, - If that I do not dream or be not frantic,-- - As I do trust I am not--then, dear uncle, - Never so much as in a thought unborn - Did I offend your highness. - -DUKE FREDERICK Thus do all traitors: - If their purgation did consist in words, - They are as innocent as grace itself: - Let it suffice thee that I trust thee not. - -ROSALIND Yet your mistrust cannot make me a traitor: - Tell me whereon the likelihood depends. - -DUKE FREDERICK Thou art thy father's daughter; there's enough. - -ROSALIND So was I when your highness took his dukedom; - So was I when your highness banish'd him: - Treason is not inherited, my lord; - Or, if we did derive it from our friends, - What's that to me? my father was no traitor: - Then, good my liege, mistake me not so much - To think my poverty is treacherous. - -CELIA Dear sovereign, hear me speak. - -DUKE FREDERICK Ay, Celia; we stay'd her for your sake, - Else had she with her father ranged along. - -CELIA I did not then entreat to have her stay; - It was your pleasure and your own remorse: - I was too young that time to value her; - But now I know her: if she be a traitor, - Why so am I; we still have slept together, - Rose at an instant, learn'd, play'd, eat together, - And wheresoever we went, like Juno's swans, - Still we went coupled and inseparable. - -DUKE FREDERICK She is too subtle for thee; and her smoothness, - Her very silence and her patience - Speak to the people, and they pity her. - Thou art a fool: she robs thee of thy name; - And thou wilt show more bright and seem more virtuous - When she is gone. Then open not thy lips: - Firm and irrevocable is my doom - Which I have pass'd upon her; she is banish'd. - -CELIA Pronounce that sentence then on me, my liege: - I cannot live out of her company. - -DUKE FREDERICK You are a fool. You, niece, provide yourself: - If you outstay the time, upon mine honour, - And in the greatness of my word, you die. - - [Exeunt DUKE FREDERICK and Lords] - -CELIA O my poor Rosalind, whither wilt thou go? - Wilt thou change fathers? I will give thee mine. - I charge thee, be not thou more grieved than I am. - -ROSALIND I have more cause. - -CELIA Thou hast not, cousin; - Prithee be cheerful: know'st thou not, the duke - Hath banish'd me, his daughter? - -ROSALIND That he hath not. - -CELIA No, hath not? Rosalind lacks then the love - Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one: - Shall we be sunder'd? shall we part, sweet girl? - No: let my father seek another heir. - Therefore devise with me how we may fly, - Whither to go and what to bear with us; - And do not seek to take your change upon you, - To bear your griefs yourself and leave me out; - For, by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale, - Say what thou canst, I'll go along with thee. - -ROSALIND Why, whither shall we go? - -CELIA To seek my uncle in the forest of Arden. - -ROSALIND Alas, what danger will it be to us, - Maids as we are, to travel forth so far! - Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold. - -CELIA I'll put myself in poor and mean attire - And with a kind of umber smirch my face; - The like do you: so shall we pass along - And never stir assailants. - -ROSALIND Were it not better, - Because that I am more than common tall, - That I did suit me all points like a man? - A gallant curtle-axe upon my thigh, - A boar-spear in my hand; and--in my heart - Lie there what hidden woman's fear there will-- - We'll have a swashing and a martial outside, - As many other mannish cowards have - That do outface it with their semblances. - -CELIA What shall I call thee when thou art a man? - -ROSALIND I'll have no worse a name than Jove's own page; - And therefore look you call me Ganymede. - But what will you be call'd? - -CELIA Something that hath a reference to my state - No longer Celia, but Aliena. - -ROSALIND But, cousin, what if we assay'd to steal - The clownish fool out of your father's court? - Would he not be a comfort to our travel? - -CELIA He'll go along o'er the wide world with me; - Leave me alone to woo him. Let's away, - And get our jewels and our wealth together, - Devise the fittest time and safest way - To hide us from pursuit that will be made - After my flight. Now go we in content - To liberty and not to banishment. - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT II - - - -SCENE I The Forest of Arden. - - - [Enter DUKE SENIOR, AMIENS, and two or three Lords, - like foresters] - -DUKE SENIOR Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile, - Hath not old custom made this life more sweet - Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods - More free from peril than the envious court? - Here feel we but the penalty of Adam, - The seasons' difference, as the icy fang - And churlish chiding of the winter's wind, - Which, when it bites and blows upon my body, - Even till I shrink with cold, I smile and say - 'This is no flattery: these are counsellors - That feelingly persuade me what I am.' - Sweet are the uses of adversity, - Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, - Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; - And this our life exempt from public haunt - Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, - Sermons in stones and good in every thing. - I would not change it. - -AMIENS Happy is your grace, - That can translate the stubbornness of fortune - Into so quiet and so sweet a style. - -DUKE SENIOR Come, shall we go and kill us venison? - And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, - Being native burghers of this desert city, - Should in their own confines with forked heads - Have their round haunches gored. - -First Lord Indeed, my lord, - The melancholy Jaques grieves at that, - And, in that kind, swears you do more usurp - Than doth your brother that hath banish'd you. - To-day my Lord of Amiens and myself - Did steal behind him as he lay along - Under an oak whose antique root peeps out - Upon the brook that brawls along this wood: - To the which place a poor sequester'd stag, - That from the hunter's aim had ta'en a hurt, - Did come to languish, and indeed, my lord, - The wretched animal heaved forth such groans - That their discharge did stretch his leathern coat - Almost to bursting, and the big round tears - Coursed one another down his innocent nose - In piteous chase; and thus the hairy fool - Much marked of the melancholy Jaques, - Stood on the extremest verge of the swift brook, - Augmenting it with tears. - -DUKE SENIOR But what said Jaques? - Did he not moralize this spectacle? - -First Lord O, yes, into a thousand similes. - First, for his weeping into the needless stream; - 'Poor deer,' quoth he, 'thou makest a testament - As worldlings do, giving thy sum of more - To that which had too much:' then, being there alone, - Left and abandon'd of his velvet friends, - ''Tis right:' quoth he; 'thus misery doth part - The flux of company:' anon a careless herd, - Full of the pasture, jumps along by him - And never stays to greet him; 'Ay' quoth Jaques, - 'Sweep on, you fat and greasy citizens; - 'Tis just the fashion: wherefore do you look - Upon that poor and broken bankrupt there?' - Thus most invectively he pierceth through - The body of the country, city, court, - Yea, and of this our life, swearing that we - Are mere usurpers, tyrants and what's worse, - To fright the animals and to kill them up - In their assign'd and native dwelling-place. - -DUKE SENIOR And did you leave him in this contemplation? - -Second Lord We did, my lord, weeping and commenting - Upon the sobbing deer. - -DUKE SENIOR Show me the place: - I love to cope him in these sullen fits, - For then he's full of matter. - -First Lord I'll bring you to him straight. - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT II - - - -SCENE II A room in the palace. - - - [Enter DUKE FREDERICK, with Lords] - -DUKE FREDERICK Can it be possible that no man saw them? - It cannot be: some villains of my court - Are of consent and sufferance in this. - -First Lord I cannot hear of any that did see her. - The ladies, her attendants of her chamber, - Saw her abed, and in the morning early - They found the bed untreasured of their mistress. - -Second Lord My lord, the roynish clown, at whom so oft - Your grace was wont to laugh, is also missing. - Hisperia, the princess' gentlewoman, - Confesses that she secretly o'erheard - Your daughter and her cousin much commend - The parts and graces of the wrestler - That did but lately foil the sinewy Charles; - And she believes, wherever they are gone, - That youth is surely in their company. - -DUKE FREDERICK Send to his brother; fetch that gallant hither; - If he be absent, bring his brother to me; - I'll make him find him: do this suddenly, - And let not search and inquisition quail - To bring again these foolish runaways. - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT II - - - -SCENE III Before OLIVER'S house. - - - [Enter ORLANDO and ADAM, meeting] - -ORLANDO Who's there? - -ADAM What, my young master? O, my gentle master! - O my sweet master! O you memory - Of old Sir Rowland! why, what make you here? - Why are you virtuous? why do people love you? - And wherefore are you gentle, strong and valiant? - Why would you be so fond to overcome - The bonny priser of the humorous duke? - Your praise is come too swiftly home before you. - Know you not, master, to some kind of men - Their graces serve them but as enemies? - No more do yours: your virtues, gentle master, - Are sanctified and holy traitors to you. - O, what a world is this, when what is comely - Envenoms him that bears it! - -ORLANDO Why, what's the matter? - -ADAM O unhappy youth! - Come not within these doors; within this roof - The enemy of all your graces lives: - Your brother--no, no brother; yet the son-- - Yet not the son, I will not call him son - Of him I was about to call his father-- - Hath heard your praises, and this night he means - To burn the lodging where you use to lie - And you within it: if he fail of that, - He will have other means to cut you off. - I overheard him and his practises. - This is no place; this house is but a butchery: - Abhor it, fear it, do not enter it. - -ORLANDO Why, whither, Adam, wouldst thou have me go? - -ADAM No matter whither, so you come not here. - -ORLANDO What, wouldst thou have me go and beg my food? - Or with a base and boisterous sword enforce - A thievish living on the common road? - This I must do, or know not what to do: - Yet this I will not do, do how I can; - I rather will subject me to the malice - Of a diverted blood and bloody brother. - -ADAM But do not so. I have five hundred crowns, - The thrifty hire I saved under your father, - Which I did store to be my foster-nurse - When service should in my old limbs lie lame - And unregarded age in corners thrown: - Take that, and He that doth the ravens feed, - Yea, providently caters for the sparrow, - Be comfort to my age! Here is the gold; - And all this I give you. Let me be your servant: - Though I look old, yet I am strong and lusty; - For in my youth I never did apply - Hot and rebellious liquors in my blood, - Nor did not with unbashful forehead woo - The means of weakness and debility; - Therefore my age is as a lusty winter, - Frosty, but kindly: let me go with you; - I'll do the service of a younger man - In all your business and necessities. - -ORLANDO O good old man, how well in thee appears - The constant service of the antique world, - When service sweat for duty, not for meed! - Thou art not for the fashion of these times, - Where none will sweat but for promotion, - And having that, do choke their service up - Even with the having: it is not so with thee. - But, poor old man, thou prunest a rotten tree, - That cannot so much as a blossom yield - In lieu of all thy pains and husbandry - But come thy ways; well go along together, - And ere we have thy youthful wages spent, - We'll light upon some settled low content. - -ADAM Master, go on, and I will follow thee, - To the last gasp, with truth and loyalty. - From seventeen years till now almost fourscore - Here lived I, but now live here no more. - At seventeen years many their fortunes seek; - But at fourscore it is too late a week: - Yet fortune cannot recompense me better - Than to die well and not my master's debtor. - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT II - - - -SCENE IV The Forest of Arden. - - - [Enter ROSALIND for Ganymede, CELIA for Aliena, - and TOUCHSTONE] - -ROSALIND O Jupiter, how weary are my spirits! - -TOUCHSTONE I care not for my spirits, if my legs were not weary. - -ROSALIND I could find in my heart to disgrace my man's - apparel and to cry like a woman; but I must comfort - the weaker vessel, as doublet and hose ought to show - itself courageous to petticoat: therefore courage, - good Aliena! - -CELIA I pray you, bear with me; I cannot go no further. - -TOUCHSTONE For my part, I had rather bear with you than bear - you; yet I should bear no cross if I did bear you, - for I think you have no money in your purse. - -ROSALIND Well, this is the forest of Arden. - -TOUCHSTONE Ay, now am I in Arden; the more fool I; when I was - at home, I was in a better place: but travellers - must be content. - -ROSALIND Ay, be so, good Touchstone. - - [Enter CORIN and SILVIUS] - - Look you, who comes here; a young man and an old in - solemn talk. - -CORIN That is the way to make her scorn you still. - -SILVIUS O Corin, that thou knew'st how I do love her! - -CORIN I partly guess; for I have loved ere now. - -SILVIUS No, Corin, being old, thou canst not guess, - Though in thy youth thou wast as true a lover - As ever sigh'd upon a midnight pillow: - But if thy love were ever like to mine-- - As sure I think did never man love so-- - How many actions most ridiculous - Hast thou been drawn to by thy fantasy? - -CORIN Into a thousand that I have forgotten. - -SILVIUS O, thou didst then ne'er love so heartily! - If thou remember'st not the slightest folly - That ever love did make thee run into, - Thou hast not loved: - Or if thou hast not sat as I do now, - Wearying thy hearer in thy mistress' praise, - Thou hast not loved: - Or if thou hast not broke from company - Abruptly, as my passion now makes me, - Thou hast not loved. - O Phebe, Phebe, Phebe! - - [Exit] - -ROSALIND Alas, poor shepherd! searching of thy wound, - I have by hard adventure found mine own. - -TOUCHSTONE And I mine. I remember, when I was in love I broke - my sword upon a stone and bid him take that for - coming a-night to Jane Smile; and I remember the - kissing of her batlet and the cow's dugs that her - pretty chopt hands had milked; and I remember the - wooing of a peascod instead of her, from whom I took - two cods and, giving her them again, said with - weeping tears 'Wear these for my sake.' We that are - true lovers run into strange capers; but as all is - mortal in nature, so is all nature in love mortal in folly. - -ROSALIND Thou speakest wiser than thou art ware of. - -TOUCHSTONE Nay, I shall ne'er be ware of mine own wit till I - break my shins against it. - -ROSALIND Jove, Jove! this shepherd's passion - Is much upon my fashion. - -TOUCHSTONE And mine; but it grows something stale with me. - -CELIA I pray you, one of you question yond man - If he for gold will give us any food: - I faint almost to death. - -TOUCHSTONE Holla, you clown! - -ROSALIND Peace, fool: he's not thy kinsman. - -CORIN Who calls? - -TOUCHSTONE Your betters, sir. - -CORIN Else are they very wretched. - -ROSALIND Peace, I say. Good even to you, friend. - -CORIN And to you, gentle sir, and to you all. - -ROSALIND I prithee, shepherd, if that love or gold - Can in this desert place buy entertainment, - Bring us where we may rest ourselves and feed: - Here's a young maid with travel much oppress'd - And faints for succor. - -CORIN Fair sir, I pity her - And wish, for her sake more than for mine own, - My fortunes were more able to relieve her; - But I am shepherd to another man - And do not shear the fleeces that I graze: - My master is of churlish disposition - And little recks to find the way to heaven - By doing deeds of hospitality: - Besides, his cote, his flocks and bounds of feed - Are now on sale, and at our sheepcote now, - By reason of his absence, there is nothing - That you will feed on; but what is, come see. - And in my voice most welcome shall you be. - -ROSALIND What is he that shall buy his flock and pasture? - -CORIN That young swain that you saw here but erewhile, - That little cares for buying any thing. - -ROSALIND I pray thee, if it stand with honesty, - Buy thou the cottage, pasture and the flock, - And thou shalt have to pay for it of us. - -CELIA And we will mend thy wages. I like this place. - And willingly could waste my time in it. - -CORIN Assuredly the thing is to be sold: - Go with me: if you like upon report - The soil, the profit and this kind of life, - I will your very faithful feeder be - And buy it with your gold right suddenly. - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT II - - - -SCENE V The Forest. - - - [Enter AMIENS, JAQUES, and others] - - SONG. -AMIENS Under the greenwood tree - Who loves to lie with me, - And turn his merry note - Unto the sweet bird's throat, - Come hither, come hither, come hither: - Here shall he see No enemy - But winter and rough weather. - -JAQUES More, more, I prithee, more. - -AMIENS It will make you melancholy, Monsieur Jaques. - -JAQUES I thank it. More, I prithee, more. I can suck - melancholy out of a song, as a weasel sucks eggs. - More, I prithee, more. - -AMIENS My voice is ragged: I know I cannot please you. - -JAQUES I do not desire you to please me; I do desire you to - sing. Come, more; another stanzo: call you 'em stanzos? - -AMIENS What you will, Monsieur Jaques. - -JAQUES Nay, I care not for their names; they owe me - nothing. Will you sing? - -AMIENS More at your request than to please myself. - -JAQUES Well then, if ever I thank any man, I'll thank you; - but that they call compliment is like the encounter - of two dog-apes, and when a man thanks me heartily, - methinks I have given him a penny and he renders me - the beggarly thanks. Come, sing; and you that will - not, hold your tongues. - -AMIENS Well, I'll end the song. Sirs, cover the while; the - duke will drink under this tree. He hath been all - this day to look you. - -JAQUES And I have been all this day to avoid him. He is - too disputable for my company: I think of as many - matters as he, but I give heaven thanks and make no - boast of them. Come, warble, come. - - SONG. - Who doth ambition shun - - [All together here] - - And loves to live i' the sun, - Seeking the food he eats - And pleased with what he gets, - Come hither, come hither, come hither: - Here shall he see No enemy - But winter and rough weather. - -JAQUES I'll give you a verse to this note that I made - yesterday in despite of my invention. - -AMIENS And I'll sing it. - -JAQUES Thus it goes:-- - - If it do come to pass - That any man turn ass, - Leaving his wealth and ease, - A stubborn will to please, - Ducdame, ducdame, ducdame: - Here shall he see - Gross fools as he, - An if he will come to me. - -AMIENS What's that 'ducdame'? - -JAQUES 'Tis a Greek invocation, to call fools into a - circle. I'll go sleep, if I can; if I cannot, I'll - rail against all the first-born of Egypt. - -AMIENS And I'll go seek the duke: his banquet is prepared. - - [Exeunt severally] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT II - - - -SCENE VI The forest. - - - [Enter ORLANDO and ADAM] - -ADAM Dear master, I can go no further. O, I die for food! - Here lie I down, and measure out my grave. Farewell, - kind master. - -ORLANDO Why, how now, Adam! no greater heart in thee? Live - a little; comfort a little; cheer thyself a little. - If this uncouth forest yield any thing savage, I - will either be food for it or bring it for food to - thee. Thy conceit is nearer death than thy powers. - For my sake be comfortable; hold death awhile at - the arm's end: I will here be with thee presently; - and if I bring thee not something to eat, I will - give thee leave to die: but if thou diest before I - come, thou art a mocker of my labour. Well said! - thou lookest cheerly, and I'll be with thee quickly. - Yet thou liest in the bleak air: come, I will bear - thee to some shelter; and thou shalt not die for - lack of a dinner, if there live any thing in this - desert. Cheerly, good Adam! - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT II - - - -SCENE VII The forest. - - - [A table set out. Enter DUKE SENIOR, AMIENS, and - Lords like outlaws] - -DUKE SENIOR I think he be transform'd into a beast; - For I can no where find him like a man. - -First Lord My lord, he is but even now gone hence: - Here was he merry, hearing of a song. - -DUKE SENIOR If he, compact of jars, grow musical, - We shall have shortly discord in the spheres. - Go, seek him: tell him I would speak with him. - - [Enter JAQUES] - -First Lord He saves my labour by his own approach. - -DUKE SENIOR Why, how now, monsieur! what a life is this, - That your poor friends must woo your company? - What, you look merrily! - -JAQUES A fool, a fool! I met a fool i' the forest, - A motley fool; a miserable world! - As I do live by food, I met a fool - Who laid him down and bask'd him in the sun, - And rail'd on Lady Fortune in good terms, - In good set terms and yet a motley fool. - 'Good morrow, fool,' quoth I. 'No, sir,' quoth he, - 'Call me not fool till heaven hath sent me fortune:' - And then he drew a dial from his poke, - And, looking on it with lack-lustre eye, - Says very wisely, 'It is ten o'clock: - Thus we may see,' quoth he, 'how the world wags: - 'Tis but an hour ago since it was nine, - And after one hour more 'twill be eleven; - And so, from hour to hour, we ripe and ripe, - And then, from hour to hour, we rot and rot; - And thereby hangs a tale.' When I did hear - The motley fool thus moral on the time, - My lungs began to crow like chanticleer, - That fools should be so deep-contemplative, - And I did laugh sans intermission - An hour by his dial. O noble fool! - A worthy fool! Motley's the only wear. - -DUKE SENIOR What fool is this? - -JAQUES O worthy fool! One that hath been a courtier, - And says, if ladies be but young and fair, - They have the gift to know it: and in his brain, - Which is as dry as the remainder biscuit - After a voyage, he hath strange places cramm'd - With observation, the which he vents - In mangled forms. O that I were a fool! - I am ambitious for a motley coat. - -DUKE SENIOR Thou shalt have one. - -JAQUES It is my only suit; - Provided that you weed your better judgments - Of all opinion that grows rank in them - That I am wise. I must have liberty - Withal, as large a charter as the wind, - To blow on whom I please; for so fools have; - And they that are most galled with my folly, - They most must laugh. And why, sir, must they so? - The 'why' is plain as way to parish church: - He that a fool doth very wisely hit - Doth very foolishly, although he smart, - Not to seem senseless of the bob: if not, - The wise man's folly is anatomized - Even by the squandering glances of the fool. - Invest me in my motley; give me leave - To speak my mind, and I will through and through - Cleanse the foul body of the infected world, - If they will patiently receive my medicine. - -DUKE SENIOR Fie on thee! I can tell what thou wouldst do. - -JAQUES What, for a counter, would I do but good? - -DUKE SENIOR Most mischievous foul sin, in chiding sin: - For thou thyself hast been a libertine, - As sensual as the brutish sting itself; - And all the embossed sores and headed evils, - That thou with licence of free foot hast caught, - Wouldst thou disgorge into the general world. - -JAQUES Why, who cries out on pride, - That can therein tax any private party? - Doth it not flow as hugely as the sea, - Till that the weary very means do ebb? - What woman in the city do I name, - When that I say the city-woman bears - The cost of princes on unworthy shoulders? - Who can come in and say that I mean her, - When such a one as she such is her neighbour? - Or what is he of basest function - That says his bravery is not of my cost, - Thinking that I mean him, but therein suits - His folly to the mettle of my speech? - There then; how then? what then? Let me see wherein - My tongue hath wrong'd him: if it do him right, - Then he hath wrong'd himself; if he be free, - Why then my taxing like a wild-goose flies, - Unclaim'd of any man. But who comes here? - - [Enter ORLANDO, with his sword drawn] - -ORLANDO Forbear, and eat no more. - -JAQUES Why, I have eat none yet. - -ORLANDO Nor shalt not, till necessity be served. - -JAQUES Of what kind should this cock come of? - -DUKE SENIOR Art thou thus bolden'd, man, by thy distress, - Or else a rude despiser of good manners, - That in civility thou seem'st so empty? - -ORLANDO You touch'd my vein at first: the thorny point - Of bare distress hath ta'en from me the show - Of smooth civility: yet am I inland bred - And know some nurture. But forbear, I say: - He dies that touches any of this fruit - Till I and my affairs are answered. - -JAQUES An you will not be answered with reason, I must die. - -DUKE SENIOR What would you have? Your gentleness shall force - More than your force move us to gentleness. - -ORLANDO I almost die for food; and let me have it. - -DUKE SENIOR Sit down and feed, and welcome to our table. - -ORLANDO Speak you so gently? Pardon me, I pray you: - I thought that all things had been savage here; - And therefore put I on the countenance - Of stern commandment. But whate'er you are - That in this desert inaccessible, - Under the shade of melancholy boughs, - Lose and neglect the creeping hours of time - If ever you have look'd on better days, - If ever been where bells have knoll'd to church, - If ever sat at any good man's feast, - If ever from your eyelids wiped a tear - And know what 'tis to pity and be pitied, - Let gentleness my strong enforcement be: - In the which hope I blush, and hide my sword. - -DUKE SENIOR True is it that we have seen better days, - And have with holy bell been knoll'd to church - And sat at good men's feasts and wiped our eyes - Of drops that sacred pity hath engender'd: - And therefore sit you down in gentleness - And take upon command what help we have - That to your wanting may be minister'd. - -ORLANDO Then but forbear your food a little while, - Whiles, like a doe, I go to find my fawn - And give it food. There is an old poor man, - Who after me hath many a weary step - Limp'd in pure love: till he be first sufficed, - Oppress'd with two weak evils, age and hunger, - I will not touch a bit. - -DUKE SENIOR Go find him out, - And we will nothing waste till you return. - -ORLANDO I thank ye; and be blest for your good comfort! - - [Exit] - -DUKE SENIOR Thou seest we are not all alone unhappy: - This wide and universal theatre - Presents more woeful pageants than the scene - Wherein we play in. - -JAQUES All the world's a stage, - And all the men and women merely players: - They have their exits and their entrances; - And one man in his time plays many parts, - His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, - Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms. - And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel - And shining morning face, creeping like snail - Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, - Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad - Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier, - Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard, - Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, - Seeking the bubble reputation - Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice, - In fair round belly with good capon lined, - With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, - Full of wise saws and modern instances; - And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts - Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon, - With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, - His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide - For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, - Turning again toward childish treble, pipes - And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, - That ends this strange eventful history, - Is second childishness and mere oblivion, - Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. - - [Re-enter ORLANDO, with ADAM] - -DUKE SENIOR Welcome. Set down your venerable burthen, - And let him feed. - -ORLANDO I thank you most for him. - -ADAM So had you need: - I scarce can speak to thank you for myself. - -DUKE SENIOR Welcome; fall to: I will not trouble you - As yet, to question you about your fortunes. - Give us some music; and, good cousin, sing. - - SONG. -AMIENS Blow, blow, thou winter wind. - Thou art not so unkind - As man's ingratitude; - Thy tooth is not so keen, - Because thou art not seen, - Although thy breath be rude. - Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly: - Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly: - Then, heigh-ho, the holly! - This life is most jolly. - Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, - That dost not bite so nigh - As benefits forgot: - Though thou the waters warp, - Thy sting is not so sharp - As friend remember'd not. - Heigh-ho! sing, &c. - -DUKE SENIOR If that you were the good Sir Rowland's son, - As you have whisper'd faithfully you were, - And as mine eye doth his effigies witness - Most truly limn'd and living in your face, - Be truly welcome hither: I am the duke - That loved your father: the residue of your fortune, - Go to my cave and tell me. Good old man, - Thou art right welcome as thy master is. - Support him by the arm. Give me your hand, - And let me all your fortunes understand. - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT III - - - -SCENE I A room in the palace. - - - [Enter DUKE FREDERICK, Lords, and OLIVER] - -DUKE FREDERICK Not see him since? Sir, sir, that cannot be: - But were I not the better part made mercy, - I should not seek an absent argument - Of my revenge, thou present. But look to it: - Find out thy brother, wheresoe'er he is; - Seek him with candle; bring him dead or living - Within this twelvemonth, or turn thou no more - To seek a living in our territory. - Thy lands and all things that thou dost call thine - Worth seizure do we seize into our hands, - Till thou canst quit thee by thy brothers mouth - Of what we think against thee. - -OLIVER O that your highness knew my heart in this! - I never loved my brother in my life. - -DUKE FREDERICK More villain thou. Well, push him out of doors; - And let my officers of such a nature - Make an extent upon his house and lands: - Do this expediently and turn him going. - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT III - - - -SCENE II The forest. - - - [Enter ORLANDO, with a paper] - -ORLANDO Hang there, my verse, in witness of my love: - And thou, thrice-crowned queen of night, survey - With thy chaste eye, from thy pale sphere above, - Thy huntress' name that my full life doth sway. - O Rosalind! these trees shall be my books - And in their barks my thoughts I'll character; - That every eye which in this forest looks - Shall see thy virtue witness'd every where. - Run, run, Orlando; carve on every tree - The fair, the chaste and unexpressive she. - - [Exit] - - [Enter CORIN and TOUCHSTONE] - -CORIN And how like you this shepherd's life, Master Touchstone? - -TOUCHSTONE Truly, shepherd, in respect of itself, it is a good - life, but in respect that it is a shepherd's life, - it is naught. In respect that it is solitary, I - like it very well; but in respect that it is - private, it is a very vile life. Now, in respect it - is in the fields, it pleaseth me well; but in - respect it is not in the court, it is tedious. As - is it a spare life, look you, it fits my humour well; - but as there is no more plenty in it, it goes much - against my stomach. Hast any philosophy in thee, shepherd? - -CORIN No more but that I know the more one sickens the - worse at ease he is; and that he that wants money, - means and content is without three good friends; - that the property of rain is to wet and fire to - burn; that good pasture makes fat sheep, and that a - great cause of the night is lack of the sun; that - he that hath learned no wit by nature nor art may - complain of good breeding or comes of a very dull kindred. - -TOUCHSTONE Such a one is a natural philosopher. Wast ever in - court, shepherd? - -CORIN No, truly. - -TOUCHSTONE Then thou art damned. - -CORIN Nay, I hope. - -TOUCHSTONE Truly, thou art damned like an ill-roasted egg, all - on one side. - -CORIN For not being at court? Your reason. - -TOUCHSTONE Why, if thou never wast at court, thou never sawest - good manners; if thou never sawest good manners, - then thy manners must be wicked; and wickedness is - sin, and sin is damnation. Thou art in a parlous - state, shepherd. - -CORIN Not a whit, Touchstone: those that are good manners - at the court are as ridiculous in the country as the - behavior of the country is most mockable at the - court. You told me you salute not at the court, but - you kiss your hands: that courtesy would be - uncleanly, if courtiers were shepherds. - -TOUCHSTONE Instance, briefly; come, instance. - -CORIN Why, we are still handling our ewes, and their - fells, you know, are greasy. - -TOUCHSTONE Why, do not your courtier's hands sweat? and is not - the grease of a mutton as wholesome as the sweat of - a man? Shallow, shallow. A better instance, I say; come. - -CORIN Besides, our hands are hard. - -TOUCHSTONE Your lips will feel them the sooner. Shallow again. - A more sounder instance, come. - -CORIN And they are often tarred over with the surgery of - our sheep: and would you have us kiss tar? The - courtier's hands are perfumed with civet. - -TOUCHSTONE Most shallow man! thou worms-meat, in respect of a - good piece of flesh indeed! Learn of the wise, and - perpend: civet is of a baser birth than tar, the - very uncleanly flux of a cat. Mend the instance, shepherd. - -CORIN You have too courtly a wit for me: I'll rest. - -TOUCHSTONE Wilt thou rest damned? God help thee, shallow man! - God make incision in thee! thou art raw. - -CORIN Sir, I am a true labourer: I earn that I eat, get - that I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man's - happiness, glad of other men's good, content with my - harm, and the greatest of my pride is to see my ewes - graze and my lambs suck. - -TOUCHSTONE That is another simple sin in you, to bring the ewes - and the rams together and to offer to get your - living by the copulation of cattle; to be bawd to a - bell-wether, and to betray a she-lamb of a - twelvemonth to a crooked-pated, old, cuckoldly ram, - out of all reasonable match. If thou beest not - damned for this, the devil himself will have no - shepherds; I cannot see else how thou shouldst - 'scape. - -CORIN Here comes young Master Ganymede, my new mistress's brother. - - [Enter ROSALIND, with a paper, reading] - -ROSALIND From the east to western Ind, - No jewel is like Rosalind. - Her worth, being mounted on the wind, - Through all the world bears Rosalind. - All the pictures fairest lined - Are but black to Rosalind. - Let no fair be kept in mind - But the fair of Rosalind. - -TOUCHSTONE I'll rhyme you so eight years together, dinners and - suppers and sleeping-hours excepted: it is the - right butter-women's rank to market. - -ROSALIND Out, fool! - -TOUCHSTONE For a taste: - If a hart do lack a hind, - Let him seek out Rosalind. - If the cat will after kind, - So be sure will Rosalind. - Winter garments must be lined, - So must slender Rosalind. - They that reap must sheaf and bind; - Then to cart with Rosalind. - Sweetest nut hath sourest rind, - Such a nut is Rosalind. - He that sweetest rose will find - Must find love's prick and Rosalind. - This is the very false gallop of verses: why do you - infect yourself with them? - -ROSALIND Peace, you dull fool! I found them on a tree. - -TOUCHSTONE Truly, the tree yields bad fruit. - -ROSALIND I'll graff it with you, and then I shall graff it - with a medlar: then it will be the earliest fruit - i' the country; for you'll be rotten ere you be half - ripe, and that's the right virtue of the medlar. - -TOUCHSTONE You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the - forest judge. - - [Enter CELIA, with a writing] - -ROSALIND Peace! Here comes my sister, reading: stand aside. - -CELIA [Reads] - - Why should this a desert be? - For it is unpeopled? No: - Tongues I'll hang on every tree, - That shall civil sayings show: - Some, how brief the life of man - Runs his erring pilgrimage, - That the stretching of a span - Buckles in his sum of age; - Some, of violated vows - 'Twixt the souls of friend and friend: - But upon the fairest boughs, - Or at every sentence end, - Will I Rosalinda write, - Teaching all that read to know - The quintessence of every sprite - Heaven would in little show. - Therefore Heaven Nature charged - That one body should be fill'd - With all graces wide-enlarged: - Nature presently distill'd - Helen's cheek, but not her heart, - Cleopatra's majesty, - Atalanta's better part, - Sad Lucretia's modesty. - Thus Rosalind of many parts - By heavenly synod was devised, - Of many faces, eyes and hearts, - To have the touches dearest prized. - Heaven would that she these gifts should have, - And I to live and die her slave. - -ROSALIND O most gentle pulpiter! what tedious homily of love - have you wearied your parishioners withal, and never - cried 'Have patience, good people!' - -CELIA How now! back, friends! Shepherd, go off a little. - Go with him, sirrah. - -TOUCHSTONE Come, shepherd, let us make an honourable retreat; - though not with bag and baggage, yet with scrip and scrippage. - - [Exeunt CORIN and TOUCHSTONE] - -CELIA Didst thou hear these verses? - -ROSALIND O, yes, I heard them all, and more too; for some of - them had in them more feet than the verses would bear. - -CELIA That's no matter: the feet might bear the verses. - -ROSALIND Ay, but the feet were lame and could not bear - themselves without the verse and therefore stood - lamely in the verse. - -CELIA But didst thou hear without wondering how thy name - should be hanged and carved upon these trees? - -ROSALIND I was seven of the nine days out of the wonder - before you came; for look here what I found on a - palm-tree. I was never so be-rhymed since - Pythagoras' time, that I was an Irish rat, which I - can hardly remember. - -CELIA Trow you who hath done this? - -ROSALIND Is it a man? - -CELIA And a chain, that you once wore, about his neck. - Change you colour? - -ROSALIND I prithee, who? - -CELIA O Lord, Lord! it is a hard matter for friends to - meet; but mountains may be removed with earthquakes - and so encounter. - -ROSALIND Nay, but who is it? - -CELIA Is it possible? - -ROSALIND Nay, I prithee now with most petitionary vehemence, - tell me who it is. - -CELIA O wonderful, wonderful, and most wonderful - wonderful! and yet again wonderful, and after that, - out of all hooping! - -ROSALIND Good my complexion! dost thou think, though I am - caparisoned like a man, I have a doublet and hose in - my disposition? One inch of delay more is a - South-sea of discovery; I prithee, tell me who is it - quickly, and speak apace. I would thou couldst - stammer, that thou mightst pour this concealed man - out of thy mouth, as wine comes out of a narrow- - mouthed bottle, either too much at once, or none at - all. I prithee, take the cork out of thy mouth that - may drink thy tidings. - -CELIA So you may put a man in your belly. - -ROSALIND Is he of God's making? What manner of man? Is his - head worth a hat, or his chin worth a beard? - -CELIA Nay, he hath but a little beard. - -ROSALIND Why, God will send more, if the man will be - thankful: let me stay the growth of his beard, if - thou delay me not the knowledge of his chin. - -CELIA It is young Orlando, that tripped up the wrestler's - heels and your heart both in an instant. - -ROSALIND Nay, but the devil take mocking: speak, sad brow and - true maid. - -CELIA I' faith, coz, 'tis he. - -ROSALIND Orlando? - -CELIA Orlando. - -ROSALIND Alas the day! what shall I do with my doublet and - hose? What did he when thou sawest him? What said - he? How looked he? Wherein went he? What makes - him here? Did he ask for me? Where remains he? - How parted he with thee? and when shalt thou see - him again? Answer me in one word. - -CELIA You must borrow me Gargantua's mouth first: 'tis a - word too great for any mouth of this age's size. To - say ay and no to these particulars is more than to - answer in a catechism. - -ROSALIND But doth he know that I am in this forest and in - man's apparel? Looks he as freshly as he did the - day he wrestled? - -CELIA It is as easy to count atomies as to resolve the - propositions of a lover; but take a taste of my - finding him, and relish it with good observance. - I found him under a tree, like a dropped acorn. - -ROSALIND It may well be called Jove's tree, when it drops - forth such fruit. - -CELIA Give me audience, good madam. - -ROSALIND Proceed. - -CELIA There lay he, stretched along, like a wounded knight. - -ROSALIND Though it be pity to see such a sight, it well - becomes the ground. - -CELIA Cry 'holla' to thy tongue, I prithee; it curvets - unseasonably. He was furnished like a hunter. - -ROSALIND O, ominous! he comes to kill my heart. - -CELIA I would sing my song without a burden: thou bringest - me out of tune. - -ROSALIND Do you not know I am a woman? when I think, I must - speak. Sweet, say on. - -CELIA You bring me out. Soft! comes he not here? - - [Enter ORLANDO and JAQUES] - -ROSALIND 'Tis he: slink by, and note him. - -JAQUES I thank you for your company; but, good faith, I had - as lief have been myself alone. - -ORLANDO And so had I; but yet, for fashion sake, I thank you - too for your society. - -JAQUES God be wi' you: let's meet as little as we can. - -ORLANDO I do desire we may be better strangers. - -JAQUES I pray you, mar no more trees with writing - love-songs in their barks. - -ORLANDO I pray you, mar no more of my verses with reading - them ill-favouredly. - -JAQUES Rosalind is your love's name? - -ORLANDO Yes, just. - -JAQUES I do not like her name. - -ORLANDO There was no thought of pleasing you when she was - christened. - -JAQUES What stature is she of? - -ORLANDO Just as high as my heart. - -JAQUES You are full of pretty answers. Have you not been - acquainted with goldsmiths' wives, and conned them - out of rings? - -ORLANDO Not so; but I answer you right painted cloth, from - whence you have studied your questions. - -JAQUES You have a nimble wit: I think 'twas made of - Atalanta's heels. Will you sit down with me? and - we two will rail against our mistress the world and - all our misery. - -ORLANDO I will chide no breather in the world but myself, - against whom I know most faults. - -JAQUES The worst fault you have is to be in love. - -ORLANDO 'Tis a fault I will not change for your best virtue. - I am weary of you. - -JAQUES By my troth, I was seeking for a fool when I found - you. - -ORLANDO He is drowned in the brook: look but in, and you - shall see him. - -JAQUES There I shall see mine own figure. - -ORLANDO Which I take to be either a fool or a cipher. - -JAQUES I'll tarry no longer with you: farewell, good - Signior Love. - -ORLANDO I am glad of your departure: adieu, good Monsieur - Melancholy. - - [Exit JAQUES] - -ROSALIND [Aside to CELIA] I will speak to him, like a saucy - lackey and under that habit play the knave with him. - Do you hear, forester? - -ORLANDO Very well: what would you? - -ROSALIND I pray you, what is't o'clock? - -ORLANDO You should ask me what time o' day: there's no clock - in the forest. - -ROSALIND Then there is no true lover in the forest; else - sighing every minute and groaning every hour would - detect the lazy foot of Time as well as a clock. - -ORLANDO And why not the swift foot of Time? had not that - been as proper? - -ROSALIND By no means, sir: Time travels in divers paces with - divers persons. I'll tell you who Time ambles - withal, who Time trots withal, who Time gallops - withal and who he stands still withal. - -ORLANDO I prithee, who doth he trot withal? - -ROSALIND Marry, he trots hard with a young maid between the - contract of her marriage and the day it is - solemnized: if the interim be but a se'nnight, - Time's pace is so hard that it seems the length of - seven year. - -ORLANDO Who ambles Time withal? - -ROSALIND With a priest that lacks Latin and a rich man that - hath not the gout, for the one sleeps easily because - he cannot study, and the other lives merrily because - he feels no pain, the one lacking the burden of lean - and wasteful learning, the other knowing no burden - of heavy tedious penury; these Time ambles withal. - -ORLANDO Who doth he gallop withal? - -ROSALIND With a thief to the gallows, for though he go as - softly as foot can fall, he thinks himself too soon there. - -ORLANDO Who stays it still withal? - -ROSALIND With lawyers in the vacation, for they sleep between - term and term and then they perceive not how Time moves. - -ORLANDO Where dwell you, pretty youth? - -ROSALIND With this shepherdess, my sister; here in the - skirts of the forest, like fringe upon a petticoat. - -ORLANDO Are you native of this place? - -ROSALIND As the cony that you see dwell where she is kindled. - -ORLANDO Your accent is something finer than you could - purchase in so removed a dwelling. - -ROSALIND I have been told so of many: but indeed an old - religious uncle of mine taught me to speak, who was - in his youth an inland man; one that knew courtship - too well, for there he fell in love. I have heard - him read many lectures against it, and I thank God - I am not a woman, to be touched with so many - giddy offences as he hath generally taxed their - whole sex withal. - -ORLANDO Can you remember any of the principal evils that he - laid to the charge of women? - -ROSALIND There were none principal; they were all like one - another as half-pence are, every one fault seeming - monstrous till his fellow fault came to match it. - -ORLANDO I prithee, recount some of them. - -ROSALIND No, I will not cast away my physic but on those that - are sick. There is a man haunts the forest, that - abuses our young plants with carving 'Rosalind' on - their barks; hangs odes upon hawthorns and elegies - on brambles, all, forsooth, deifying the name of - Rosalind: if I could meet that fancy-monger I would - give him some good counsel, for he seems to have the - quotidian of love upon him. - -ORLANDO I am he that is so love-shaked: I pray you tell me - your remedy. - -ROSALIND There is none of my uncle's marks upon you: he - taught me how to know a man in love; in which cage - of rushes I am sure you are not prisoner. - -ORLANDO What were his marks? - -ROSALIND A lean cheek, which you have not, a blue eye and - sunken, which you have not, an unquestionable - spirit, which you have not, a beard neglected, - which you have not; but I pardon you for that, for - simply your having in beard is a younger brother's - revenue: then your hose should be ungartered, your - bonnet unbanded, your sleeve unbuttoned, your shoe - untied and every thing about you demonstrating a - careless desolation; but you are no such man; you - are rather point-device in your accoutrements as - loving yourself than seeming the lover of any other. - -ORLANDO Fair youth, I would I could make thee believe I love. - -ROSALIND Me believe it! you may as soon make her that you - love believe it; which, I warrant, she is apter to - do than to confess she does: that is one of the - points in the which women still give the lie to - their consciences. But, in good sooth, are you he - that hangs the verses on the trees, wherein Rosalind - is so admired? - -ORLANDO I swear to thee, youth, by the white hand of - Rosalind, I am that he, that unfortunate he. - -ROSALIND But are you so much in love as your rhymes speak? - -ORLANDO Neither rhyme nor reason can express how much. - -ROSALIND Love is merely a madness, and, I tell you, deserves - as well a dark house and a whip as madmen do: and - the reason why they are not so punished and cured - is, that the lunacy is so ordinary that the whippers - are in love too. Yet I profess curing it by counsel. - -ORLANDO Did you ever cure any so? - -ROSALIND Yes, one, and in this manner. He was to imagine me - his love, his mistress; and I set him every day to - woo me: at which time would I, being but a moonish - youth, grieve, be effeminate, changeable, longing - and liking, proud, fantastical, apish, shallow, - inconstant, full of tears, full of smiles, for every - passion something and for no passion truly any - thing, as boys and women are for the most part - cattle of this colour; would now like him, now loathe - him; then entertain him, then forswear him; now weep - for him, then spit at him; that I drave my suitor - from his mad humour of love to a living humour of - madness; which was, to forswear the full stream of - the world, and to live in a nook merely monastic. - And thus I cured him; and this way will I take upon - me to wash your liver as clean as a sound sheep's - heart, that there shall not be one spot of love in't. - -ORLANDO I would not be cured, youth. - -ROSALIND I would cure you, if you would but call me Rosalind - and come every day to my cote and woo me. - -ORLANDO Now, by the faith of my love, I will: tell me - where it is. - -ROSALIND Go with me to it and I'll show it you and by the way - you shall tell me where in the forest you live. - Will you go? - -ORLANDO With all my heart, good youth. - -ROSALIND Nay you must call me Rosalind. Come, sister, will you go? - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT III - - - -SCENE III The forest. - - - [Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY; JAQUES behind] - -TOUCHSTONE Come apace, good Audrey: I will fetch up your - goats, Audrey. And how, Audrey? am I the man yet? - doth my simple feature content you? - -AUDREY Your features! Lord warrant us! what features! - -TOUCHSTONE I am here with thee and thy goats, as the most - capricious poet, honest Ovid, was among the Goths. - -JAQUES [Aside] O knowledge ill-inhabited, worse than Jove - in a thatched house! - -TOUCHSTONE When a man's verses cannot be understood, nor a - man's good wit seconded with the forward child - Understanding, it strikes a man more dead than a - great reckoning in a little room. Truly, I would - the gods had made thee poetical. - -AUDREY I do not know what 'poetical' is: is it honest in - deed and word? is it a true thing? - -TOUCHSTONE No, truly; for the truest poetry is the most - feigning; and lovers are given to poetry, and what - they swear in poetry may be said as lovers they do feign. - -AUDREY Do you wish then that the gods had made me poetical? - -TOUCHSTONE I do, truly; for thou swearest to me thou art - honest: now, if thou wert a poet, I might have some - hope thou didst feign. - -AUDREY Would you not have me honest? - -TOUCHSTONE No, truly, unless thou wert hard-favoured; for - honesty coupled to beauty is to have honey a sauce to sugar. - -JAQUES [Aside] A material fool! - -AUDREY Well, I am not fair; and therefore I pray the gods - make me honest. - -TOUCHSTONE Truly, and to cast away honesty upon a foul slut - were to put good meat into an unclean dish. - -AUDREY I am not a slut, though I thank the gods I am foul. - -TOUCHSTONE Well, praised be the gods for thy foulness! - sluttishness may come hereafter. But be it as it may - be, I will marry thee, and to that end I have been - with Sir Oliver Martext, the vicar of the next - village, who hath promised to meet me in this place - of the forest and to couple us. - -JAQUES [Aside] I would fain see this meeting. - -AUDREY Well, the gods give us joy! - -TOUCHSTONE Amen. A man may, if he were of a fearful heart, - stagger in this attempt; for here we have no temple - but the wood, no assembly but horn-beasts. But what - though? Courage! As horns are odious, they are - necessary. It is said, 'many a man knows no end of - his goods:' right; many a man has good horns, and - knows no end of them. Well, that is the dowry of - his wife; 'tis none of his own getting. Horns? - Even so. Poor men alone? No, no; the noblest deer - hath them as huge as the rascal. Is the single man - therefore blessed? No: as a walled town is more - worthier than a village, so is the forehead of a - married man more honourable than the bare brow of a - bachelor; and by how much defence is better than no - skill, by so much is a horn more precious than to - want. Here comes Sir Oliver. - - [Enter SIR OLIVER MARTEXT] - - Sir Oliver Martext, you are well met: will you - dispatch us here under this tree, or shall we go - with you to your chapel? - -SIR OLIVER MARTEXT Is there none here to give the woman? - -TOUCHSTONE I will not take her on gift of any man. - -SIR OLIVER MARTEXT Truly, she must be given, or the marriage is not lawful. - -JAQUES [Advancing] - - Proceed, proceed I'll give her. - -TOUCHSTONE Good even, good Master What-ye-call't: how do you, - sir? You are very well met: God 'ild you for your - last company: I am very glad to see you: even a - toy in hand here, sir: nay, pray be covered. - -JAQUES Will you be married, motley? - -TOUCHSTONE As the ox hath his bow, sir, the horse his curb and - the falcon her bells, so man hath his desires; and - as pigeons bill, so wedlock would be nibbling. - -JAQUES And will you, being a man of your breeding, be - married under a bush like a beggar? Get you to - church, and have a good priest that can tell you - what marriage is: this fellow will but join you - together as they join wainscot; then one of you will - prove a shrunk panel and, like green timber, warp, warp. - -TOUCHSTONE [Aside] I am not in the mind but I were better to be - married of him than of another: for he is not like - to marry me well; and not being well married, it - will be a good excuse for me hereafter to leave my wife. - -JAQUES Go thou with me, and let me counsel thee. - -TOUCHSTONE 'Come, sweet Audrey: - We must be married, or we must live in bawdry. - Farewell, good Master Oliver: not,-- - O sweet Oliver, - O brave Oliver, - Leave me not behind thee: but,-- - Wind away, - Begone, I say, - I will not to wedding with thee. - - [Exeunt JAQUES, TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY] - -SIR OLIVER MARTEXT 'Tis no matter: ne'er a fantastical knave of them - all shall flout me out of my calling. - - [Exit] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT III - - - -SCENE IV The forest. - - - [Enter ROSALIND and CELIA] - -ROSALIND Never talk to me; I will weep. - -CELIA Do, I prithee; but yet have the grace to consider - that tears do not become a man. - -ROSALIND But have I not cause to weep? - -CELIA As good cause as one would desire; therefore weep. - -ROSALIND His very hair is of the dissembling colour. - -CELIA Something browner than Judas's marry, his kisses are - Judas's own children. - -ROSALIND I' faith, his hair is of a good colour. - -CELIA An excellent colour: your chestnut was ever the only colour. - -ROSALIND And his kissing is as full of sanctity as the touch - of holy bread. - -CELIA He hath bought a pair of cast lips of Diana: a nun - of winter's sisterhood kisses not more religiously; - the very ice of chastity is in them. - -ROSALIND But why did he swear he would come this morning, and - comes not? - -CELIA Nay, certainly, there is no truth in him. - -ROSALIND Do you think so? - -CELIA Yes; I think he is not a pick-purse nor a - horse-stealer, but for his verity in love, I do - think him as concave as a covered goblet or a - worm-eaten nut. - -ROSALIND Not true in love? - -CELIA Yes, when he is in; but I think he is not in. - -ROSALIND You have heard him swear downright he was. - -CELIA 'Was' is not 'is:' besides, the oath of a lover is - no stronger than the word of a tapster; they are - both the confirmer of false reckonings. He attends - here in the forest on the duke your father. - -ROSALIND I met the duke yesterday and had much question with - him: he asked me of what parentage I was; I told - him, of as good as he; so he laughed and let me go. - But what talk we of fathers, when there is such a - man as Orlando? - -CELIA O, that's a brave man! he writes brave verses, - speaks brave words, swears brave oaths and breaks - them bravely, quite traverse, athwart the heart of - his lover; as a puisny tilter, that spurs his horse - but on one side, breaks his staff like a noble - goose: but all's brave that youth mounts and folly - guides. Who comes here? - - [Enter CORIN] - -CORIN Mistress and master, you have oft inquired - After the shepherd that complain'd of love, - Who you saw sitting by me on the turf, - Praising the proud disdainful shepherdess - That was his mistress. - -CELIA Well, and what of him? - -CORIN If you will see a pageant truly play'd, - Between the pale complexion of true love - And the red glow of scorn and proud disdain, - Go hence a little and I shall conduct you, - If you will mark it. - -ROSALIND O, come, let us remove: - The sight of lovers feedeth those in love. - Bring us to this sight, and you shall say - I'll prove a busy actor in their play. - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT III - - - -SCENE V Another part of the forest. - - - [Enter SILVIUS and PHEBE] - -SILVIUS Sweet Phebe, do not scorn me; do not, Phebe; - Say that you love me not, but say not so - In bitterness. The common executioner, - Whose heart the accustom'd sight of death makes hard, - Falls not the axe upon the humbled neck - But first begs pardon: will you sterner be - Than he that dies and lives by bloody drops? - - [Enter ROSALIND, CELIA, and CORIN, behind] - -PHEBE I would not be thy executioner: - I fly thee, for I would not injure thee. - Thou tell'st me there is murder in mine eye: - 'Tis pretty, sure, and very probable, - That eyes, that are the frail'st and softest things, - Who shut their coward gates on atomies, - Should be call'd tyrants, butchers, murderers! - Now I do frown on thee with all my heart; - And if mine eyes can wound, now let them kill thee: - Now counterfeit to swoon; why now fall down; - Or if thou canst not, O, for shame, for shame, - Lie not, to say mine eyes are murderers! - Now show the wound mine eye hath made in thee: - Scratch thee but with a pin, and there remains - Some scar of it; lean but upon a rush, - The cicatrice and capable impressure - Thy palm some moment keeps; but now mine eyes, - Which I have darted at thee, hurt thee not, - Nor, I am sure, there is no force in eyes - That can do hurt. - -SILVIUS O dear Phebe, - If ever,--as that ever may be near,-- - You meet in some fresh cheek the power of fancy, - Then shall you know the wounds invisible - That love's keen arrows make. - -PHEBE But till that time - Come not thou near me: and when that time comes, - Afflict me with thy mocks, pity me not; - As till that time I shall not pity thee. - -ROSALIND And why, I pray you? Who might be your mother, - That you insult, exult, and all at once, - Over the wretched? What though you have no beauty,-- - As, by my faith, I see no more in you - Than without candle may go dark to bed-- - Must you be therefore proud and pitiless? - Why, what means this? Why do you look on me? - I see no more in you than in the ordinary - Of nature's sale-work. 'Od's my little life, - I think she means to tangle my eyes too! - No, faith, proud mistress, hope not after it: - 'Tis not your inky brows, your black silk hair, - Your bugle eyeballs, nor your cheek of cream, - That can entame my spirits to your worship. - You foolish shepherd, wherefore do you follow her, - Like foggy south puffing with wind and rain? - You are a thousand times a properer man - Than she a woman: 'tis such fools as you - That makes the world full of ill-favour'd children: - 'Tis not her glass, but you, that flatters her; - And out of you she sees herself more proper - Than any of her lineaments can show her. - But, mistress, know yourself: down on your knees, - And thank heaven, fasting, for a good man's love: - For I must tell you friendly in your ear, - Sell when you can: you are not for all markets: - Cry the man mercy; love him; take his offer: - Foul is most foul, being foul to be a scoffer. - So take her to thee, shepherd: fare you well. - -PHEBE Sweet youth, I pray you, chide a year together: - I had rather hear you chide than this man woo. - -ROSALIND He's fallen in love with your foulness and she'll - fall in love with my anger. If it be so, as fast as - she answers thee with frowning looks, I'll sauce her - with bitter words. Why look you so upon me? - -PHEBE For no ill will I bear you. - -ROSALIND I pray you, do not fall in love with me, - For I am falser than vows made in wine: - Besides, I like you not. If you will know my house, - 'Tis at the tuft of olives here hard by. - Will you go, sister? Shepherd, ply her hard. - Come, sister. Shepherdess, look on him better, - And be not proud: though all the world could see, - None could be so abused in sight as he. - Come, to our flock. - - [Exeunt ROSALIND, CELIA and CORIN] - -PHEBE Dead Shepherd, now I find thy saw of might, - 'Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?' - -SILVIUS Sweet Phebe,-- - -PHEBE Ha, what say'st thou, Silvius? - -SILVIUS Sweet Phebe, pity me. - -PHEBE Why, I am sorry for thee, gentle Silvius. - -SILVIUS Wherever sorrow is, relief would be: - If you do sorrow at my grief in love, - By giving love your sorrow and my grief - Were both extermined. - -PHEBE Thou hast my love: is not that neighbourly? - -SILVIUS I would have you. - -PHEBE Why, that were covetousness. - Silvius, the time was that I hated thee, - And yet it is not that I bear thee love; - But since that thou canst talk of love so well, - Thy company, which erst was irksome to me, - I will endure, and I'll employ thee too: - But do not look for further recompense - Than thine own gladness that thou art employ'd. - -SILVIUS So holy and so perfect is my love, - And I in such a poverty of grace, - That I shall think it a most plenteous crop - To glean the broken ears after the man - That the main harvest reaps: loose now and then - A scatter'd smile, and that I'll live upon. - -PHEBE Know'st now the youth that spoke to me erewhile? - -SILVIUS Not very well, but I have met him oft; - And he hath bought the cottage and the bounds - That the old carlot once was master of. - -PHEBE Think not I love him, though I ask for him: - 'Tis but a peevish boy; yet he talks well; - But what care I for words? yet words do well - When he that speaks them pleases those that hear. - It is a pretty youth: not very pretty: - But, sure, he's proud, and yet his pride becomes him: - He'll make a proper man: the best thing in him - Is his complexion; and faster than his tongue - Did make offence his eye did heal it up. - He is not very tall; yet for his years he's tall: - His leg is but so so; and yet 'tis well: - There was a pretty redness in his lip, - A little riper and more lusty red - Than that mix'd in his cheek; 'twas just the difference - Between the constant red and mingled damask. - There be some women, Silvius, had they mark'd him - In parcels as I did, would have gone near - To fall in love with him; but, for my part, - I love him not nor hate him not; and yet - I have more cause to hate him than to love him: - For what had he to do to chide at me? - He said mine eyes were black and my hair black: - And, now I am remember'd, scorn'd at me: - I marvel why I answer'd not again: - But that's all one; omittance is no quittance. - I'll write to him a very taunting letter, - And thou shalt bear it: wilt thou, Silvius? - -SILVIUS Phebe, with all my heart. - -PHEBE I'll write it straight; - The matter's in my head and in my heart: - I will be bitter with him and passing short. - Go with me, Silvius. - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT IV - - - -SCENE I The forest. - - - [Enter ROSALIND, CELIA, and JAQUES] - -JAQUES I prithee, pretty youth, let me be better acquainted - with thee. - -ROSALIND They say you are a melancholy fellow. - -JAQUES I am so; I do love it better than laughing. - -ROSALIND Those that are in extremity of either are abominable - fellows and betray themselves to every modern - censure worse than drunkards. - -JAQUES Why, 'tis good to be sad and say nothing. - -ROSALIND Why then, 'tis good to be a post. - -JAQUES I have neither the scholar's melancholy, which is - emulation, nor the musician's, which is fantastical, - nor the courtier's, which is proud, nor the - soldier's, which is ambitious, nor the lawyer's, - which is politic, nor the lady's, which is nice, nor - the lover's, which is all these: but it is a - melancholy of mine own, compounded of many simples, - extracted from many objects, and indeed the sundry's - contemplation of my travels, in which my often - rumination wraps me m a most humorous sadness. - -ROSALIND A traveller! By my faith, you have great reason to - be sad: I fear you have sold your own lands to see - other men's; then, to have seen much and to have - nothing, is to have rich eyes and poor hands. - -JAQUES Yes, I have gained my experience. - -ROSALIND And your experience makes you sad: I had rather have - a fool to make me merry than experience to make me - sad; and to travel for it too! - - [Enter ORLANDO] - -ORLANDO Good day and happiness, dear Rosalind! - -JAQUES Nay, then, God be wi' you, an you talk in blank verse. - - [Exit] - -ROSALIND Farewell, Monsieur Traveller: look you lisp and - wear strange suits, disable all the benefits of your - own country, be out of love with your nativity and - almost chide God for making you that countenance you - are, or I will scarce think you have swam in a - gondola. Why, how now, Orlando! where have you been - all this while? You a lover! An you serve me such - another trick, never come in my sight more. - -ORLANDO My fair Rosalind, I come within an hour of my promise. - -ROSALIND Break an hour's promise in love! He that will - divide a minute into a thousand parts and break but - a part of the thousandth part of a minute in the - affairs of love, it may be said of him that Cupid - hath clapped him o' the shoulder, but I'll warrant - him heart-whole. - -ORLANDO Pardon me, dear Rosalind. - -ROSALIND Nay, an you be so tardy, come no more in my sight: I - had as lief be wooed of a snail. - -ORLANDO Of a snail? - -ROSALIND Ay, of a snail; for though he comes slowly, he - carries his house on his head; a better jointure, - I think, than you make a woman: besides he brings - his destiny with him. - -ORLANDO What's that? - -ROSALIND Why, horns, which such as you are fain to be - beholding to your wives for: but he comes armed in - his fortune and prevents the slander of his wife. - -ORLANDO Virtue is no horn-maker; and my Rosalind is virtuous. - -ROSALIND And I am your Rosalind. - -CELIA It pleases him to call you so; but he hath a - Rosalind of a better leer than you. - -ROSALIND Come, woo me, woo me, for now I am in a holiday - humour and like enough to consent. What would you - say to me now, an I were your very very Rosalind? - -ORLANDO I would kiss before I spoke. - -ROSALIND Nay, you were better speak first, and when you were - gravelled for lack of matter, you might take - occasion to kiss. Very good orators, when they are - out, they will spit; and for lovers lacking--God - warn us!--matter, the cleanliest shift is to kiss. - -ORLANDO How if the kiss be denied? - -ROSALIND Then she puts you to entreaty, and there begins new matter. - -ORLANDO Who could be out, being before his beloved mistress? - -ROSALIND Marry, that should you, if I were your mistress, or - I should think my honesty ranker than my wit. - -ORLANDO What, of my suit? - -ROSALIND Not out of your apparel, and yet out of your suit. - Am not I your Rosalind? - -ORLANDO I take some joy to say you are, because I would be - talking of her. - -ROSALIND Well in her person I say I will not have you. - -ORLANDO Then in mine own person I die. - -ROSALIND No, faith, die by attorney. The poor world is - almost six thousand years old, and in all this time - there was not any man died in his own person, - videlicit, in a love-cause. Troilus had his brains - dashed out with a Grecian club; yet he did what he - could to die before, and he is one of the patterns - of love. Leander, he would have lived many a fair - year, though Hero had turned nun, if it had not been - for a hot midsummer night; for, good youth, he went - but forth to wash him in the Hellespont and being - taken with the cramp was drowned and the foolish - coroners of that age found it was 'Hero of Sestos.' - But these are all lies: men have died from time to - time and worms have eaten them, but not for love. - -ORLANDO I would not have my right Rosalind of this mind, - for, I protest, her frown might kill me. - -ROSALIND By this hand, it will not kill a fly. But come, now - I will be your Rosalind in a more coming-on - disposition, and ask me what you will. I will grant - it. - -ORLANDO Then love me, Rosalind. - -ROSALIND Yes, faith, will I, Fridays and Saturdays and all. - -ORLANDO And wilt thou have me? - -ROSALIND Ay, and twenty such. - -ORLANDO What sayest thou? - -ROSALIND Are you not good? - -ORLANDO I hope so. - -ROSALIND Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing? - Come, sister, you shall be the priest and marry us. - Give me your hand, Orlando. What do you say, sister? - -ORLANDO Pray thee, marry us. - -CELIA I cannot say the words. - -ROSALIND You must begin, 'Will you, Orlando--' - -CELIA Go to. Will you, Orlando, have to wife this Rosalind? - -ORLANDO I will. - -ROSALIND Ay, but when? - -ORLANDO Why now; as fast as she can marry us. - -ROSALIND Then you must say 'I take thee, Rosalind, for wife.' - -ORLANDO I take thee, Rosalind, for wife. - -ROSALIND I might ask you for your commission; but I do take - thee, Orlando, for my husband: there's a girl goes - before the priest; and certainly a woman's thought - runs before her actions. - -ORLANDO So do all thoughts; they are winged. - -ROSALIND Now tell me how long you would have her after you - have possessed her. - -ORLANDO For ever and a day. - -ROSALIND Say 'a day,' without the 'ever.' No, no, Orlando; - men are April when they woo, December when they wed: - maids are May when they are maids, but the sky - changes when they are wives. I will be more jealous - of thee than a Barbary cock-pigeon over his hen, - more clamorous than a parrot against rain, more - new-fangled than an ape, more giddy in my desires - than a monkey: I will weep for nothing, like Diana - in the fountain, and I will do that when you are - disposed to be merry; I will laugh like a hyen, and - that when thou art inclined to sleep. - -ORLANDO But will my Rosalind do so? - -ROSALIND By my life, she will do as I do. - -ORLANDO O, but she is wise. - -ROSALIND Or else she could not have the wit to do this: the - wiser, the waywarder: make the doors upon a woman's - wit and it will out at the casement; shut that and - 'twill out at the key-hole; stop that, 'twill fly - with the smoke out at the chimney. - -ORLANDO A man that had a wife with such a wit, he might say - 'Wit, whither wilt?' - -ROSALIND Nay, you might keep that cheque for it till you met - your wife's wit going to your neighbour's bed. - -ORLANDO And what wit could wit have to excuse that? - -ROSALIND Marry, to say she came to seek you there. You shall - never take her without her answer, unless you take - her without her tongue. O, that woman that cannot - make her fault her husband's occasion, let her - never nurse her child herself, for she will breed - it like a fool! - -ORLANDO For these two hours, Rosalind, I will leave thee. - -ROSALIND Alas! dear love, I cannot lack thee two hours. - -ORLANDO I must attend the duke at dinner: by two o'clock I - will be with thee again. - -ROSALIND Ay, go your ways, go your ways; I knew what you - would prove: my friends told me as much, and I - thought no less: that flattering tongue of yours - won me: 'tis but one cast away, and so, come, - death! Two o'clock is your hour? - -ORLANDO Ay, sweet Rosalind. - -ROSALIND By my troth, and in good earnest, and so God mend - me, and by all pretty oaths that are not dangerous, - if you break one jot of your promise or come one - minute behind your hour, I will think you the most - pathetical break-promise and the most hollow lover - and the most unworthy of her you call Rosalind that - may be chosen out of the gross band of the - unfaithful: therefore beware my censure and keep - your promise. - -ORLANDO With no less religion than if thou wert indeed my - Rosalind: so adieu. - -ROSALIND Well, Time is the old justice that examines all such - offenders, and let Time try: adieu. - - [Exit ORLANDO] - -CELIA You have simply misused our sex in your love-prate: - we must have your doublet and hose plucked over your - head, and show the world what the bird hath done to - her own nest. - -ROSALIND O coz, coz, coz, my pretty little coz, that thou - didst know how many fathom deep I am in love! But - it cannot be sounded: my affection hath an unknown - bottom, like the bay of Portugal. - -CELIA Or rather, bottomless, that as fast as you pour - affection in, it runs out. - -ROSALIND No, that same wicked bastard of Venus that was begot - of thought, conceived of spleen and born of madness, - that blind rascally boy that abuses every one's eyes - because his own are out, let him be judge how deep I - am in love. I'll tell thee, Aliena, I cannot be out - of the sight of Orlando: I'll go find a shadow and - sigh till he come. - -CELIA And I'll sleep. - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT IV - - - -SCENE II The forest. - - - [Enter JAQUES, Lords, and Foresters] - -JAQUES Which is he that killed the deer? - -A Lord Sir, it was I. - -JAQUES Let's present him to the duke, like a Roman - conqueror; and it would do well to set the deer's - horns upon his head, for a branch of victory. Have - you no song, forester, for this purpose? - -Forester Yes, sir. - -JAQUES Sing it: 'tis no matter how it be in tune, so it - make noise enough. - - SONG. -Forester What shall he have that kill'd the deer? - His leather skin and horns to wear. - Then sing him home; - - [The rest shall bear this burden] - - Take thou no scorn to wear the horn; - It was a crest ere thou wast born: - Thy father's father wore it, - And thy father bore it: - The horn, the horn, the lusty horn - Is not a thing to laugh to scorn. - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT IV - - - -SCENE III The forest. - - - [Enter ROSALIND and CELIA] - -ROSALIND How say you now? Is it not past two o'clock? and - here much Orlando! - -CELIA I warrant you, with pure love and troubled brain, he - hath ta'en his bow and arrows and is gone forth to - sleep. Look, who comes here. - - [Enter SILVIUS] - -SILVIUS My errand is to you, fair youth; - My gentle Phebe bid me give you this: - I know not the contents; but, as I guess - By the stern brow and waspish action - Which she did use as she was writing of it, - It bears an angry tenor: pardon me: - I am but as a guiltless messenger. - -ROSALIND Patience herself would startle at this letter - And play the swaggerer; bear this, bear all: - She says I am not fair, that I lack manners; - She calls me proud, and that she could not love me, - Were man as rare as phoenix. 'Od's my will! - Her love is not the hare that I do hunt: - Why writes she so to me? Well, shepherd, well, - This is a letter of your own device. - -SILVIUS No, I protest, I know not the contents: - Phebe did write it. - -ROSALIND Come, come, you are a fool - And turn'd into the extremity of love. - I saw her hand: she has a leathern hand. - A freestone-colour'd hand; I verily did think - That her old gloves were on, but 'twas her hands: - She has a huswife's hand; but that's no matter: - I say she never did invent this letter; - This is a man's invention and his hand. - -SILVIUS Sure, it is hers. - -ROSALIND Why, 'tis a boisterous and a cruel style. - A style for-challengers; why, she defies me, - Like Turk to Christian: women's gentle brain - Could not drop forth such giant-rude invention - Such Ethiope words, blacker in their effect - Than in their countenance. Will you hear the letter? - -SILVIUS So please you, for I never heard it yet; - Yet heard too much of Phebe's cruelty. - -ROSALIND She Phebes me: mark how the tyrant writes. - - [Reads] - - Art thou god to shepherd turn'd, - That a maiden's heart hath burn'd? - Can a woman rail thus? - -SILVIUS Call you this railing? - -ROSALIND [Reads] - - Why, thy godhead laid apart, - Warr'st thou with a woman's heart? - Did you ever hear such railing? - Whiles the eye of man did woo me, - That could do no vengeance to me. - Meaning me a beast. - If the scorn of your bright eyne - Have power to raise such love in mine, - Alack, in me what strange effect - Would they work in mild aspect! - Whiles you chid me, I did love; - How then might your prayers move! - He that brings this love to thee - Little knows this love in me: - And by him seal up thy mind; - Whether that thy youth and kind - Will the faithful offer take - Of me and all that I can make; - Or else by him my love deny, - And then I'll study how to die. - -SILVIUS Call you this chiding? - -CELIA Alas, poor shepherd! - -ROSALIND Do you pity him? no, he deserves no pity. Wilt - thou love such a woman? What, to make thee an - instrument and play false strains upon thee! not to - be endured! Well, go your way to her, for I see - love hath made thee a tame snake, and say this to - her: that if she love me, I charge her to love - thee; if she will not, I will never have her unless - thou entreat for her. If you be a true lover, - hence, and not a word; for here comes more company. - - [Exit SILVIUS] - - [Enter OLIVER] - -OLIVER Good morrow, fair ones: pray you, if you know, - Where in the purlieus of this forest stands - A sheep-cote fenced about with olive trees? - -CELIA West of this place, down in the neighbour bottom: - The rank of osiers by the murmuring stream - Left on your right hand brings you to the place. - But at this hour the house doth keep itself; - There's none within. - -OLIVER If that an eye may profit by a tongue, - Then should I know you by description; - Such garments and such years: 'The boy is fair, - Of female favour, and bestows himself - Like a ripe sister: the woman low - And browner than her brother.' Are not you - The owner of the house I did inquire for? - -CELIA It is no boast, being ask'd, to say we are. - -OLIVER Orlando doth commend him to you both, - And to that youth he calls his Rosalind - He sends this bloody napkin. Are you he? - -ROSALIND I am: what must we understand by this? - -OLIVER Some of my shame; if you will know of me - What man I am, and how, and why, and where - This handkercher was stain'd. - -CELIA I pray you, tell it. - -OLIVER When last the young Orlando parted from you - He left a promise to return again - Within an hour, and pacing through the forest, - Chewing the food of sweet and bitter fancy, - Lo, what befell! he threw his eye aside, - And mark what object did present itself: - Under an oak, whose boughs were moss'd with age - And high top bald with dry antiquity, - A wretched ragged man, o'ergrown with hair, - Lay sleeping on his back: about his neck - A green and gilded snake had wreathed itself, - Who with her head nimble in threats approach'd - The opening of his mouth; but suddenly, - Seeing Orlando, it unlink'd itself, - And with indented glides did slip away - Into a bush: under which bush's shade - A lioness, with udders all drawn dry, - Lay couching, head on ground, with catlike watch, - When that the sleeping man should stir; for 'tis - The royal disposition of that beast - To prey on nothing that doth seem as dead: - This seen, Orlando did approach the man - And found it was his brother, his elder brother. - -CELIA O, I have heard him speak of that same brother; - And he did render him the most unnatural - That lived amongst men. - -OLIVER And well he might so do, - For well I know he was unnatural. - -ROSALIND But, to Orlando: did he leave him there, - Food to the suck'd and hungry lioness? - -OLIVER Twice did he turn his back and purposed so; - But kindness, nobler ever than revenge, - And nature, stronger than his just occasion, - Made him give battle to the lioness, - Who quickly fell before him: in which hurtling - From miserable slumber I awaked. - -CELIA Are you his brother? - -ROSALIND Wast you he rescued? - -CELIA Was't you that did so oft contrive to kill him? - -OLIVER 'Twas I; but 'tis not I I do not shame - To tell you what I was, since my conversion - So sweetly tastes, being the thing I am. - -ROSALIND But, for the bloody napkin? - -OLIVER By and by. - When from the first to last betwixt us two - Tears our recountments had most kindly bathed, - As how I came into that desert place:-- - In brief, he led me to the gentle duke, - Who gave me fresh array and entertainment, - Committing me unto my brother's love; - Who led me instantly unto his cave, - There stripp'd himself, and here upon his arm - The lioness had torn some flesh away, - Which all this while had bled; and now he fainted - And cried, in fainting, upon Rosalind. - Brief, I recover'd him, bound up his wound; - And, after some small space, being strong at heart, - He sent me hither, stranger as I am, - To tell this story, that you might excuse - His broken promise, and to give this napkin - Dyed in his blood unto the shepherd youth - That he in sport doth call his Rosalind. - - [ROSALIND swoons] - -CELIA Why, how now, Ganymede! sweet Ganymede! - -OLIVER Many will swoon when they do look on blood. - -CELIA There is more in it. Cousin Ganymede! - -OLIVER Look, he recovers. - -ROSALIND I would I were at home. - -CELIA We'll lead you thither. - I pray you, will you take him by the arm? - -OLIVER Be of good cheer, youth: you a man! you lack a - man's heart. - -ROSALIND I do so, I confess it. Ah, sirrah, a body would - think this was well counterfeited! I pray you, tell - your brother how well I counterfeited. Heigh-ho! - -OLIVER This was not counterfeit: there is too great - testimony in your complexion that it was a passion - of earnest. - -ROSALIND Counterfeit, I assure you. - -OLIVER Well then, take a good heart and counterfeit to be a man. - -ROSALIND So I do: but, i' faith, I should have been a woman by right. - -CELIA Come, you look paler and paler: pray you, draw - homewards. Good sir, go with us. - -OLIVER That will I, for I must bear answer back - How you excuse my brother, Rosalind. - -ROSALIND I shall devise something: but, I pray you, commend - my counterfeiting to him. Will you go? - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT V - - - -SCENE I The forest. - - - [Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY] - -TOUCHSTONE We shall find a time, Audrey; patience, gentle Audrey. - -AUDREY Faith, the priest was good enough, for all the old - gentleman's saying. - -TOUCHSTONE A most wicked Sir Oliver, Audrey, a most vile - Martext. But, Audrey, there is a youth here in the - forest lays claim to you. - -AUDREY Ay, I know who 'tis; he hath no interest in me in - the world: here comes the man you mean. - -TOUCHSTONE It is meat and drink to me to see a clown: by my - troth, we that have good wits have much to answer - for; we shall be flouting; we cannot hold. - - [Enter WILLIAM] - -WILLIAM Good even, Audrey. - -AUDREY God ye good even, William. - -WILLIAM And good even to you, sir. - -TOUCHSTONE Good even, gentle friend. Cover thy head, cover thy - head; nay, prithee, be covered. How old are you, friend? - -WILLIAM Five and twenty, sir. - -TOUCHSTONE A ripe age. Is thy name William? - -WILLIAM William, sir. - -TOUCHSTONE A fair name. Wast born i' the forest here? - -WILLIAM Ay, sir, I thank God. - -TOUCHSTONE 'Thank God;' a good answer. Art rich? - -WILLIAM Faith, sir, so so. - -TOUCHSTONE 'So so' is good, very good, very excellent good; and - yet it is not; it is but so so. Art thou wise? - -WILLIAM Ay, sir, I have a pretty wit. - -TOUCHSTONE Why, thou sayest well. I do now remember a saying, - 'The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man - knows himself to be a fool.' The heathen - philosopher, when he had a desire to eat a grape, - would open his lips when he put it into his mouth; - meaning thereby that grapes were made to eat and - lips to open. You do love this maid? - -WILLIAM I do, sir. - -TOUCHSTONE Give me your hand. Art thou learned? - -WILLIAM No, sir. - -TOUCHSTONE Then learn this of me: to have, is to have; for it - is a figure in rhetoric that drink, being poured out - of a cup into a glass, by filling the one doth empty - the other; for all your writers do consent that ipse - is he: now, you are not ipse, for I am he. - -WILLIAM Which he, sir? - -TOUCHSTONE He, sir, that must marry this woman. Therefore, you - clown, abandon,--which is in the vulgar leave,--the - society,--which in the boorish is company,--of this - female,--which in the common is woman; which - together is, abandon the society of this female, or, - clown, thou perishest; or, to thy better - understanding, diest; or, to wit I kill thee, make - thee away, translate thy life into death, thy - liberty into bondage: I will deal in poison with - thee, or in bastinado, or in steel; I will bandy - with thee in faction; I will o'errun thee with - policy; I will kill thee a hundred and fifty ways: - therefore tremble and depart. - -AUDREY Do, good William. - -WILLIAM God rest you merry, sir. - - [Exit] - - [Enter CORIN] - -CORIN Our master and mistress seeks you; come, away, away! - -TOUCHSTONE Trip, Audrey! trip, Audrey! I attend, I attend. - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT V - - - -SCENE II The forest. - - - [Enter ORLANDO and OLIVER] - -ORLANDO Is't possible that on so little acquaintance you - should like her? that but seeing you should love - her? and loving woo? and, wooing, she should - grant? and will you persever to enjoy her? - -OLIVER Neither call the giddiness of it in question, the - poverty of her, the small acquaintance, my sudden - wooing, nor her sudden consenting; but say with me, - I love Aliena; say with her that she loves me; - consent with both that we may enjoy each other: it - shall be to your good; for my father's house and all - the revenue that was old Sir Rowland's will I - estate upon you, and here live and die a shepherd. - -ORLANDO You have my consent. Let your wedding be to-morrow: - thither will I invite the duke and all's contented - followers. Go you and prepare Aliena; for look - you, here comes my Rosalind. - - [Enter ROSALIND] - -ROSALIND God save you, brother. - -OLIVER And you, fair sister. - - [Exit] - -ROSALIND O, my dear Orlando, how it grieves me to see thee - wear thy heart in a scarf! - -ORLANDO It is my arm. - -ROSALIND I thought thy heart had been wounded with the claws - of a lion. - -ORLANDO Wounded it is, but with the eyes of a lady. - -ROSALIND Did your brother tell you how I counterfeited to - swoon when he showed me your handkerchief? - -ORLANDO Ay, and greater wonders than that. - -ROSALIND O, I know where you are: nay, 'tis true: there was - never any thing so sudden but the fight of two rams - and Caesar's thrasonical brag of 'I came, saw, and - overcame:' for your brother and my sister no sooner - met but they looked, no sooner looked but they - loved, no sooner loved but they sighed, no sooner - sighed but they asked one another the reason, no - sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy; - and in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs - to marriage which they will climb incontinent, or - else be incontinent before marriage: they are in - the very wrath of love and they will together; clubs - cannot part them. - -ORLANDO They shall be married to-morrow, and I will bid the - duke to the nuptial. But, O, how bitter a thing it - is to look into happiness through another man's - eyes! By so much the more shall I to-morrow be at - the height of heart-heaviness, by how much I shall - think my brother happy in having what he wishes for. - -ROSALIND Why then, to-morrow I cannot serve your turn for Rosalind? - -ORLANDO I can live no longer by thinking. - -ROSALIND I will weary you then no longer with idle talking. - Know of me then, for now I speak to some purpose, - that I know you are a gentleman of good conceit: I - speak not this that you should bear a good opinion - of my knowledge, insomuch I say I know you are; - neither do I labour for a greater esteem than may in - some little measure draw a belief from you, to do - yourself good and not to grace me. Believe then, if - you please, that I can do strange things: I have, - since I was three year old, conversed with a - magician, most profound in his art and yet not - damnable. If you do love Rosalind so near the heart - as your gesture cries it out, when your brother - marries Aliena, shall you marry her: I know into - what straits of fortune she is driven; and it is - not impossible to me, if it appear not inconvenient - to you, to set her before your eyes tomorrow human - as she is and without any danger. - -ORLANDO Speakest thou in sober meanings? - -ROSALIND By my life, I do; which I tender dearly, though I - say I am a magician. Therefore, put you in your - best array: bid your friends; for if you will be - married to-morrow, you shall, and to Rosalind, if you will. - - [Enter SILVIUS and PHEBE] - - Look, here comes a lover of mine and a lover of hers. - -PHEBE Youth, you have done me much ungentleness, - To show the letter that I writ to you. - -ROSALIND I care not if I have: it is my study - To seem despiteful and ungentle to you: - You are there followed by a faithful shepherd; - Look upon him, love him; he worships you. - -PHEBE Good shepherd, tell this youth what 'tis to love. - -SILVIUS It is to be all made of sighs and tears; - And so am I for Phebe. - -PHEBE And I for Ganymede. - -ORLANDO And I for Rosalind. - -ROSALIND And I for no woman. - -SILVIUS It is to be all made of faith and service; - And so am I for Phebe. - -PHEBE And I for Ganymede. - -ORLANDO And I for Rosalind. - -ROSALIND And I for no woman. - -SILVIUS It is to be all made of fantasy, - All made of passion and all made of wishes, - All adoration, duty, and observance, - All humbleness, all patience and impatience, - All purity, all trial, all observance; - And so am I for Phebe. - -PHEBE And so am I for Ganymede. - -ORLANDO And so am I for Rosalind. - -ROSALIND And so am I for no woman. - -PHEBE If this be so, why blame you me to love you? - -SILVIUS If this be so, why blame you me to love you? - -ORLANDO If this be so, why blame you me to love you? - -ROSALIND Who do you speak to, 'Why blame you me to love you?' - -ORLANDO To her that is not here, nor doth not hear. - -ROSALIND Pray you, no more of this; 'tis like the howling - of Irish wolves against the moon. - - [To SILVIUS] - - I will help you, if I can: - - [To PHEBE] - - I would love you, if I could. To-morrow meet me all together. - - [To PHEBE] - - I will marry you, if ever I marry woman, and I'll be - married to-morrow: - - [To ORLANDO] - - I will satisfy you, if ever I satisfied man, and you - shall be married to-morrow: - - [To SILVIUS] - - I will content you, if what pleases you contents - you, and you shall be married to-morrow. - - [To ORLANDO] - - As you love Rosalind, meet: - - [To SILVIUS] - - as you love Phebe, meet: and as I love no woman, - I'll meet. So fare you well: I have left you commands. - -SILVIUS I'll not fail, if I live. - -PHEBE Nor I. - -ORLANDO Nor I. - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT V - - - -SCENE III The forest. - - - [Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY] - -TOUCHSTONE To-morrow is the joyful day, Audrey; to-morrow will - we be married. - -AUDREY I do desire it with all my heart; and I hope it is - no dishonest desire to desire to be a woman of the - world. Here comes two of the banished duke's pages. - - [Enter two Pages] - -First Page Well met, honest gentleman. - -TOUCHSTONE By my troth, well met. Come, sit, sit, and a song. - -Second Page We are for you: sit i' the middle. - -First Page Shall we clap into't roundly, without hawking or - spitting or saying we are hoarse, which are the only - prologues to a bad voice? - -Second Page I'faith, i'faith; and both in a tune, like two - gipsies on a horse. - - SONG. - It was a lover and his lass, - With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, - That o'er the green corn-field did pass - In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, - When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding: - Sweet lovers love the spring. - - Between the acres of the rye, - With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino - These pretty country folks would lie, - In spring time, &c. - - This carol they began that hour, - With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, - How that a life was but a flower - In spring time, &c. - - And therefore take the present time, - With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino; - For love is crowned with the prime - In spring time, &c. - -TOUCHSTONE Truly, young gentlemen, though there was no great - matter in the ditty, yet the note was very - untuneable. - -First Page You are deceived, sir: we kept time, we lost not our time. - -TOUCHSTONE By my troth, yes; I count it but time lost to hear - such a foolish song. God be wi' you; and God mend - your voices! Come, Audrey. - - [Exeunt] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - -ACT V - - - -SCENE IV The forest. - - - [Enter DUKE SENIOR, AMIENS, JAQUES, ORLANDO, OLIVER, - and CELIA] - -DUKE SENIOR Dost thou believe, Orlando, that the boy - Can do all this that he hath promised? - -ORLANDO I sometimes do believe, and sometimes do not; - As those that fear they hope, and know they fear. - - [Enter ROSALIND, SILVIUS, and PHEBE] - -ROSALIND Patience once more, whiles our compact is urged: - You say, if I bring in your Rosalind, - You will bestow her on Orlando here? - -DUKE SENIOR That would I, had I kingdoms to give with her. - -ROSALIND And you say, you will have her, when I bring her? - -ORLANDO That would I, were I of all kingdoms king. - -ROSALIND You say, you'll marry me, if I be willing? - -PHEBE That will I, should I die the hour after. - -ROSALIND But if you do refuse to marry me, - You'll give yourself to this most faithful shepherd? - -PHEBE So is the bargain. - -ROSALIND You say, that you'll have Phebe, if she will? - -SILVIUS Though to have her and death were both one thing. - -ROSALIND I have promised to make all this matter even. - Keep you your word, O duke, to give your daughter; - You yours, Orlando, to receive his daughter: - Keep your word, Phebe, that you'll marry me, - Or else refusing me, to wed this shepherd: - Keep your word, Silvius, that you'll marry her. - If she refuse me: and from hence I go, - To make these doubts all even. - - [Exeunt ROSALIND and CELIA] - -DUKE SENIOR I do remember in this shepherd boy - Some lively touches of my daughter's favour. - -ORLANDO My lord, the first time that I ever saw him - Methought he was a brother to your daughter: - But, my good lord, this boy is forest-born, - And hath been tutor'd in the rudiments - Of many desperate studies by his uncle, - Whom he reports to be a great magician, - Obscured in the circle of this forest. - - [Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY] - -JAQUES There is, sure, another flood toward, and these - couples are coming to the ark. Here comes a pair of - very strange beasts, which in all tongues are called fools. - -TOUCHSTONE Salutation and greeting to you all! - -JAQUES Good my lord, bid him welcome: this is the - motley-minded gentleman that I have so often met in - the forest: he hath been a courtier, he swears. - -TOUCHSTONE If any man doubt that, let him put me to my - purgation. I have trod a measure; I have flattered - a lady; I have been politic with my friend, smooth - with mine enemy; I have undone three tailors; I have - had four quarrels, and like to have fought one. - -JAQUES And how was that ta'en up? - -TOUCHSTONE Faith, we met, and found the quarrel was upon the - seventh cause. - -JAQUES How seventh cause? Good my lord, like this fellow. - -DUKE SENIOR I like him very well. - -TOUCHSTONE God 'ild you, sir; I desire you of the like. I - press in here, sir, amongst the rest of the country - copulatives, to swear and to forswear: according as - marriage binds and blood breaks: a poor virgin, - sir, an ill-favoured thing, sir, but mine own; a poor - humour of mine, sir, to take that that no man else - will: rich honesty dwells like a miser, sir, in a - poor house; as your pearl in your foul oyster. - -DUKE SENIOR By my faith, he is very swift and sententious. - -TOUCHSTONE According to the fool's bolt, sir, and such dulcet diseases. - -JAQUES But, for the seventh cause; how did you find the - quarrel on the seventh cause? - -TOUCHSTONE Upon a lie seven times removed:--bear your body more - seeming, Audrey:--as thus, sir. I did dislike the - cut of a certain courtier's beard: he sent me word, - if I said his beard was not cut well, he was in the - mind it was: this is called the Retort Courteous. - If I sent him word again 'it was not well cut,' he - would send me word, he cut it to please himself: - this is called the Quip Modest. If again 'it was - not well cut,' he disabled my judgment: this is - called the Reply Churlish. If again 'it was not - well cut,' he would answer, I spake not true: this - is called the Reproof Valiant. If again 'it was not - well cut,' he would say I lied: this is called the - Counter-cheque Quarrelsome: and so to the Lie - Circumstantial and the Lie Direct. - -JAQUES And how oft did you say his beard was not well cut? - -TOUCHSTONE I durst go no further than the Lie Circumstantial, - nor he durst not give me the Lie Direct; and so we - measured swords and parted. - -JAQUES Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie? - -TOUCHSTONE O sir, we quarrel in print, by the book; as you have - books for good manners: I will name you the degrees. - The first, the Retort Courteous; the second, the - Quip Modest; the third, the Reply Churlish; the - fourth, the Reproof Valiant; the fifth, the - Countercheque Quarrelsome; the sixth, the Lie with - Circumstance; the seventh, the Lie Direct. All - these you may avoid but the Lie Direct; and you may - avoid that too, with an If. I knew when seven - justices could not take up a quarrel, but when the - parties were met themselves, one of them thought but - of an If, as, 'If you said so, then I said so;' and - they shook hands and swore brothers. Your If is the - only peacemaker; much virtue in If. - -JAQUES Is not this a rare fellow, my lord? he's as good at - any thing and yet a fool. - -DUKE SENIOR He uses his folly like a stalking-horse and under - the presentation of that he shoots his wit. - - [Enter HYMEN, ROSALIND, and CELIA] - - [Still Music] - -HYMEN Then is there mirth in heaven, - When earthly things made even - Atone together. - Good duke, receive thy daughter - Hymen from heaven brought her, - Yea, brought her hither, - That thou mightst join her hand with his - Whose heart within his bosom is. - -ROSALIND [To DUKE SENIOR] To you I give myself, for I am yours. - - [To ORLANDO] - - To you I give myself, for I am yours. - -DUKE SENIOR If there be truth in sight, you are my daughter. - -ORLANDO If there be truth in sight, you are my Rosalind. - -PHEBE If sight and shape be true, - Why then, my love adieu! - -ROSALIND I'll have no father, if you be not he: - I'll have no husband, if you be not he: - Nor ne'er wed woman, if you be not she. - -HYMEN Peace, ho! I bar confusion: - 'Tis I must make conclusion - Of these most strange events: - Here's eight that must take hands - To join in Hymen's bands, - If truth holds true contents. - You and you no cross shall part: - You and you are heart in heart - You to his love must accord, - Or have a woman to your lord: - You and you are sure together, - As the winter to foul weather. - Whiles a wedlock-hymn we sing, - Feed yourselves with questioning; - That reason wonder may diminish, - How thus we met, and these things finish. - - SONG. - Wedding is great Juno's crown: - O blessed bond of board and bed! - 'Tis Hymen peoples every town; - High wedlock then be honoured: - Honour, high honour and renown, - To Hymen, god of every town! - -DUKE SENIOR O my dear niece, welcome thou art to me! - Even daughter, welcome, in no less degree. - -PHEBE I will not eat my word, now thou art mine; - Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine. - - [Enter JAQUES DE BOYS] - -JAQUES DE BOYS Let me have audience for a word or two: - I am the second son of old Sir Rowland, - That bring these tidings to this fair assembly. - Duke Frederick, hearing how that every day - Men of great worth resorted to this forest, - Address'd a mighty power; which were on foot, - In his own conduct, purposely to take - His brother here and put him to the sword: - And to the skirts of this wild wood he came; - Where meeting with an old religious man, - After some question with him, was converted - Both from his enterprise and from the world, - His crown bequeathing to his banish'd brother, - And all their lands restored to them again - That were with him exiled. This to be true, - I do engage my life. - -DUKE SENIOR Welcome, young man; - Thou offer'st fairly to thy brothers' wedding: - To one his lands withheld, and to the other - A land itself at large, a potent dukedom. - First, in this forest, let us do those ends - That here were well begun and well begot: - And after, every of this happy number - That have endured shrewd days and nights with us - Shall share the good of our returned fortune, - According to the measure of their states. - Meantime, forget this new-fall'n dignity - And fall into our rustic revelry. - Play, music! And you, brides and bridegrooms all, - With measure heap'd in joy, to the measures fall. - -JAQUES Sir, by your patience. If I heard you rightly, - The duke hath put on a religious life - And thrown into neglect the pompous court? - -JAQUES DE BOYS He hath. - -JAQUES To him will I : out of these convertites - There is much matter to be heard and learn'd. - - [To DUKE SENIOR] - - You to your former honour I bequeath; - Your patience and your virtue well deserves it: - - [To ORLANDO] - - You to a love that your true faith doth merit: - - [To OLIVER] - - You to your land and love and great allies: - - [To SILVIUS] - - You to a long and well-deserved bed: - - [To TOUCHSTONE] - - And you to wrangling; for thy loving voyage - Is but for two months victuall'd. So, to your pleasures: - I am for other than for dancing measures. - -DUKE SENIOR Stay, Jaques, stay. - -JAQUES To see no pastime I what you would have - I'll stay to know at your abandon'd cave. - - [Exit] - -DUKE SENIOR Proceed, proceed: we will begin these rites, - As we do trust they'll end, in true delights. - - [A dance] - - - - - AS YOU LIKE IT - - EPILOGUE - - -ROSALIND It is not the fashion to see the lady the epilogue; - but it is no more unhandsome than to see the lord - the prologue. If it be true that good wine needs - no bush, 'tis true that a good play needs no - epilogue; yet to good wine they do use good bushes, - and good plays prove the better by the help of good - epilogues. What a case am I in then, that am - neither a good epilogue nor cannot insinuate with - you in the behalf of a good play! I am not - furnished like a beggar, therefore to beg will not - become me: my way is to conjure you; and I'll begin - with the women. I charge you, O women, for the love - you bear to men, to like as much of this play as - please you: and I charge you, O men, for the love - you bear to women--as I perceive by your simpering, - none of you hates them--that between you and the - women the play may please. If I were a woman I - would kiss as many of you as had beards that pleased - me, complexions that liked me and breaths that I - defied not: and, I am sure, as many as have good - beards or good faces or sweet breaths will, for my - kind offer, when I make curtsy, bid me farewell. - - [Exeunt] + AS YOU LIKE IT + + + DRAMATIS PERSONAE + + +DUKE SENIOR living in banishment. + +DUKE FREDERICK his brother, an usurper of his dominions. + + +AMIENS | + | lords attending on the banished duke. +JAQUES | + + +LE BEAU a courtier attending upon Frederick. + +CHARLES wrestler to Frederick. + + +OLIVER | + | +JAQUES (JAQUES DE BOYS:) | sons of Sir Rowland de Boys. + | +ORLANDO | + + +ADAM | + | servants to Oliver. +DENNIS | + + +TOUCHSTONE a clown. + +SIR OLIVER MARTEXT a vicar. + + +CORIN | + | shepherds. +SILVIUS | + + +WILLIAM a country fellow in love with Audrey. + + A person representing HYMEN. (HYMEN:) + +ROSALIND daughter to the banished duke. + +CELIA daughter to Frederick. + +PHEBE a shepherdess. + +AUDREY a country wench. + + Lords, pages, and attendants, &c. + (Forester:) + (A Lord:) + (First Lord:) + (Second Lord:) + (First Page:) + (Second Page:) + + +SCENE Oliver's house; Duke Frederick's court; and the + Forest of Arden. + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT I + + + +SCENE I Orchard of Oliver's house. + + + [Enter ORLANDO and ADAM] + +ORLANDO As I remember, Adam, it was upon this fashion + bequeathed me by will but poor a thousand crowns, + and, as thou sayest, charged my brother, on his + blessing, to breed me well: and there begins my + sadness. My brother Jaques he keeps at school, and + report speaks goldenly of his profit: for my part, + he keeps me rustically at home, or, to speak more + properly, stays me here at home unkept; for call you + that keeping for a gentleman of my birth, that + differs not from the stalling of an ox? His horses + are bred better; for, besides that they are fair + with their feeding, they are taught their manage, + and to that end riders dearly hired: but I, his + brother, gain nothing under him but growth; for the + which his animals on his dunghills are as much + bound to him as I. Besides this nothing that he so + plentifully gives me, the something that nature gave + me his countenance seems to take from me: he lets + me feed with his hinds, bars me the place of a + brother, and, as much as in him lies, mines my + gentility with my education. This is it, Adam, that + grieves me; and the spirit of my father, which I + think is within me, begins to mutiny against this + servitude: I will no longer endure it, though yet I + know no wise remedy how to avoid it. + +ADAM Yonder comes my master, your brother. + +ORLANDO Go apart, Adam, and thou shalt hear how he will + shake me up. + + [Enter OLIVER] + +OLIVER Now, sir! what make you here? + +ORLANDO Nothing: I am not taught to make any thing. + +OLIVER What mar you then, sir? + +ORLANDO Marry, sir, I am helping you to mar that which God + made, a poor unworthy brother of yours, with idleness. + +OLIVER Marry, sir, be better employed, and be naught awhile. + +ORLANDO Shall I keep your hogs and eat husks with them? + What prodigal portion have I spent, that I should + come to such penury? + +OLIVER Know you where your are, sir? + +ORLANDO O, sir, very well; here in your orchard. + +OLIVER Know you before whom, sir? + +ORLANDO Ay, better than him I am before knows me. I know + you are my eldest brother; and, in the gentle + condition of blood, you should so know me. The + courtesy of nations allows you my better, in that + you are the first-born; but the same tradition + takes not away my blood, were there twenty brothers + betwixt us: I have as much of my father in me as + you; albeit, I confess, your coming before me is + nearer to his reverence. + +OLIVER What, boy! + +ORLANDO Come, come, elder brother, you are too young in this. + +OLIVER Wilt thou lay hands on me, villain? + +ORLANDO I am no villain; I am the youngest son of Sir + Rowland de Boys; he was my father, and he is thrice + a villain that says such a father begot villains. + Wert thou not my brother, I would not take this hand + from thy throat till this other had pulled out thy + tongue for saying so: thou hast railed on thyself. + +ADAM Sweet masters, be patient: for your father's + remembrance, be at accord. + +OLIVER Let me go, I say. + +ORLANDO I will not, till I please: you shall hear me. My + father charged you in his will to give me good + education: you have trained me like a peasant, + obscuring and hiding from me all gentleman-like + qualities. The spirit of my father grows strong in + me, and I will no longer endure it: therefore allow + me such exercises as may become a gentleman, or + give me the poor allottery my father left me by + testament; with that I will go buy my fortunes. + +OLIVER And what wilt thou do? beg, when that is spent? + Well, sir, get you in: I will not long be troubled + with you; you shall have some part of your will: I + pray you, leave me. + +ORLANDO I will no further offend you than becomes me for my good. + +OLIVER Get you with him, you old dog. + +ADAM Is 'old dog' my reward? Most true, I have lost my + teeth in your service. God be with my old master! + he would not have spoke such a word. + + [Exeunt ORLANDO and ADAM] + +OLIVER Is it even so? begin you to grow upon me? I will + physic your rankness, and yet give no thousand + crowns neither. Holla, Dennis! + + [Enter DENNIS] + +DENNIS Calls your worship? + +OLIVER Was not Charles, the duke's wrestler, here to speak with me? + +DENNIS So please you, he is here at the door and importunes + access to you. + +OLIVER Call him in. + + [Exit DENNIS] + + 'Twill be a good way; and to-morrow the wrestling is. + + [Enter CHARLES] + +CHARLES Good morrow to your worship. + +OLIVER Good Monsieur Charles, what's the new news at the + new court? + +CHARLES There's no news at the court, sir, but the old news: + that is, the old duke is banished by his younger + brother the new duke; and three or four loving lords + have put themselves into voluntary exile with him, + whose lands and revenues enrich the new duke; + therefore he gives them good leave to wander. + +OLIVER Can you tell if Rosalind, the duke's daughter, be + banished with her father? + +CHARLES O, no; for the duke's daughter, her cousin, so loves + her, being ever from their cradles bred together, + that she would have followed her exile, or have died + to stay behind her. She is at the court, and no + less beloved of her uncle than his own daughter; and + never two ladies loved as they do. + +OLIVER Where will the old duke live? + +CHARLES They say he is already in the forest of Arden, and + a many merry men with him; and there they live like + the old Robin Hood of England: they say many young + gentlemen flock to him every day, and fleet the time + carelessly, as they did in the golden world. + +OLIVER What, you wrestle to-morrow before the new duke? + +CHARLES Marry, do I, sir; and I came to acquaint you with a + matter. I am given, sir, secretly to understand + that your younger brother Orlando hath a disposition + to come in disguised against me to try a fall. + To-morrow, sir, I wrestle for my credit; and he that + escapes me without some broken limb shall acquit him + well. Your brother is but young and tender; and, + for your love, I would be loath to foil him, as I + must, for my own honour, if he come in: therefore, + out of my love to you, I came hither to acquaint you + withal, that either you might stay him from his + intendment or brook such disgrace well as he shall + run into, in that it is a thing of his own search + and altogether against my will. + +OLIVER Charles, I thank thee for thy love to me, which + thou shalt find I will most kindly requite. I had + myself notice of my brother's purpose herein and + have by underhand means laboured to dissuade him from + it, but he is resolute. I'll tell thee, Charles: + it is the stubbornest young fellow of France, full + of ambition, an envious emulator of every man's + good parts, a secret and villanous contriver against + me his natural brother: therefore use thy + discretion; I had as lief thou didst break his neck + as his finger. And thou wert best look to't; for if + thou dost him any slight disgrace or if he do not + mightily grace himself on thee, he will practise + against thee by poison, entrap thee by some + treacherous device and never leave thee till he + hath ta'en thy life by some indirect means or other; + for, I assure thee, and almost with tears I speak + it, there is not one so young and so villanous this + day living. I speak but brotherly of him; but + should I anatomize him to thee as he is, I must + blush and weep and thou must look pale and wonder. + +CHARLES I am heartily glad I came hither to you. If he come + to-morrow, I'll give him his payment: if ever he go + alone again, I'll never wrestle for prize more: and + so God keep your worship! + +OLIVER Farewell, good Charles. + + [Exit CHARLES] + + Now will I stir this gamester: I hope I shall see + an end of him; for my soul, yet I know not why, + hates nothing more than he. Yet he's gentle, never + schooled and yet learned, full of noble device, of + all sorts enchantingly beloved, and indeed so much + in the heart of the world, and especially of my own + people, who best know him, that I am altogether + misprised: but it shall not be so long; this + wrestler shall clear all: nothing remains but that + I kindle the boy thither; which now I'll go about. + + [Exit] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT I + + + +SCENE II Lawn before the Duke's palace. + + + [Enter CELIA and ROSALIND] + +CELIA I pray thee, Rosalind, sweet my coz, be merry. + +ROSALIND Dear Celia, I show more mirth than I am mistress of; + and would you yet I were merrier? Unless you could + teach me to forget a banished father, you must not + learn me how to remember any extraordinary pleasure. + +CELIA Herein I see thou lovest me not with the full weight + that I love thee. If my uncle, thy banished father, + had banished thy uncle, the duke my father, so thou + hadst been still with me, I could have taught my + love to take thy father for mine: so wouldst thou, + if the truth of thy love to me were so righteously + tempered as mine is to thee. + +ROSALIND Well, I will forget the condition of my estate, to + rejoice in yours. + +CELIA You know my father hath no child but I, nor none is + like to have: and, truly, when he dies, thou shalt + be his heir, for what he hath taken away from thy + father perforce, I will render thee again in + affection; by mine honour, I will; and when I break + that oath, let me turn monster: therefore, my + sweet Rose, my dear Rose, be merry. + +ROSALIND From henceforth I will, coz, and devise sports. Let + me see; what think you of falling in love? + +CELIA Marry, I prithee, do, to make sport withal: but + love no man in good earnest; nor no further in sport + neither than with safety of a pure blush thou mayst + in honour come off again. + +ROSALIND What shall be our sport, then? + +CELIA Let us sit and mock the good housewife Fortune from + her wheel, that her gifts may henceforth be bestowed equally. + +ROSALIND I would we could do so, for her benefits are + mightily misplaced, and the bountiful blind woman + doth most mistake in her gifts to women. + +CELIA 'Tis true; for those that she makes fair she scarce + makes honest, and those that she makes honest she + makes very ill-favouredly. + +ROSALIND Nay, now thou goest from Fortune's office to + Nature's: Fortune reigns in gifts of the world, + not in the lineaments of Nature. + + [Enter TOUCHSTONE] + +CELIA No? when Nature hath made a fair creature, may she + not by Fortune fall into the fire? Though Nature + hath given us wit to flout at Fortune, hath not + Fortune sent in this fool to cut off the argument? + +ROSALIND Indeed, there is Fortune too hard for Nature, when + Fortune makes Nature's natural the cutter-off of + Nature's wit. + +CELIA Peradventure this is not Fortune's work neither, but + Nature's; who perceiveth our natural wits too dull + to reason of such goddesses and hath sent this + natural for our whetstone; for always the dulness of + the fool is the whetstone of the wits. How now, + wit! whither wander you? + +TOUCHSTONE Mistress, you must come away to your father. + +CELIA Were you made the messenger? + +TOUCHSTONE No, by mine honour, but I was bid to come for you. + +ROSALIND Where learned you that oath, fool? + +TOUCHSTONE Of a certain knight that swore by his honour they + were good pancakes and swore by his honour the + mustard was naught: now I'll stand to it, the + pancakes were naught and the mustard was good, and + yet was not the knight forsworn. + +CELIA How prove you that, in the great heap of your + knowledge? + +ROSALIND Ay, marry, now unmuzzle your wisdom. + +TOUCHSTONE Stand you both forth now: stroke your chins, and + swear by your beards that I am a knave. + +CELIA By our beards, if we had them, thou art. + +TOUCHSTONE By my knavery, if I had it, then I were; but if you + swear by that that is not, you are not forsworn: no + more was this knight swearing by his honour, for he + never had any; or if he had, he had sworn it away + before ever he saw those pancakes or that mustard. + +CELIA Prithee, who is't that thou meanest? + +TOUCHSTONE One that old Frederick, your father, loves. + +CELIA My father's love is enough to honour him: enough! + speak no more of him; you'll be whipped for taxation + one of these days. + +TOUCHSTONE The more pity, that fools may not speak wisely what + wise men do foolishly. + +CELIA By my troth, thou sayest true; for since the little + wit that fools have was silenced, the little foolery + that wise men have makes a great show. Here comes + Monsieur Le Beau. + +ROSALIND With his mouth full of news. + +CELIA Which he will put on us, as pigeons feed their young. + +ROSALIND Then shall we be news-crammed. + +CELIA All the better; we shall be the more marketable. + + [Enter LE BEAU] + + Bon jour, Monsieur Le Beau: what's the news? + +LE BEAU Fair princess, you have lost much good sport. + +CELIA Sport! of what colour? + +LE BEAU What colour, madam! how shall I answer you? + +ROSALIND As wit and fortune will. + +TOUCHSTONE Or as the Destinies decree. + +CELIA Well said: that was laid on with a trowel. + +TOUCHSTONE Nay, if I keep not my rank,-- + +ROSALIND Thou losest thy old smell. + +LE BEAU You amaze me, ladies: I would have told you of good + wrestling, which you have lost the sight of. + +ROSALIND You tell us the manner of the wrestling. + +LE BEAU I will tell you the beginning; and, if it please + your ladyships, you may see the end; for the best is + yet to do; and here, where you are, they are coming + to perform it. + +CELIA Well, the beginning, that is dead and buried. + +LE BEAU There comes an old man and his three sons,-- + +CELIA I could match this beginning with an old tale. + +LE BEAU Three proper young men, of excellent growth and presence. + +ROSALIND With bills on their necks, 'Be it known unto all men + by these presents.' + +LE BEAU The eldest of the three wrestled with Charles, the + duke's wrestler; which Charles in a moment threw him + and broke three of his ribs, that there is little + hope of life in him: so he served the second, and + so the third. Yonder they lie; the poor old man, + their father, making such pitiful dole over them + that all the beholders take his part with weeping. + +ROSALIND Alas! + +TOUCHSTONE But what is the sport, monsieur, that the ladies + have lost? + +LE BEAU Why, this that I speak of. + +TOUCHSTONE Thus men may grow wiser every day: it is the first + time that ever I heard breaking of ribs was sport + for ladies. + +CELIA Or I, I promise thee. + +ROSALIND But is there any else longs to see this broken music + in his sides? is there yet another dotes upon + rib-breaking? Shall we see this wrestling, cousin? + +LE BEAU You must, if you stay here; for here is the place + appointed for the wrestling, and they are ready to + perform it. + +CELIA Yonder, sure, they are coming: let us now stay and see it. + + [Flourish. Enter DUKE FREDERICK, Lords, ORLANDO, + CHARLES, and Attendants] + +DUKE FREDERICK Come on: since the youth will not be entreated, his + own peril on his forwardness. + +ROSALIND Is yonder the man? + +LE BEAU Even he, madam. + +CELIA Alas, he is too young! yet he looks successfully. + +DUKE FREDERICK How now, daughter and cousin! are you crept hither + to see the wrestling? + +ROSALIND Ay, my liege, so please you give us leave. + +DUKE FREDERICK You will take little delight in it, I can tell you; + there is such odds in the man. In pity of the + challenger's youth I would fain dissuade him, but he + will not be entreated. Speak to him, ladies; see if + you can move him. + +CELIA Call him hither, good Monsieur Le Beau. + +DUKE FREDERICK Do so: I'll not be by. + +LE BEAU Monsieur the challenger, the princesses call for you. + +ORLANDO I attend them with all respect and duty. + +ROSALIND Young man, have you challenged Charles the wrestler? + +ORLANDO No, fair princess; he is the general challenger: I + come but in, as others do, to try with him the + strength of my youth. + +CELIA Young gentleman, your spirits are too bold for your + years. You have seen cruel proof of this man's + strength: if you saw yourself with your eyes or + knew yourself with your judgment, the fear of your + adventure would counsel you to a more equal + enterprise. We pray you, for your own sake, to + embrace your own safety and give over this attempt. + +ROSALIND Do, young sir; your reputation shall not therefore + be misprised: we will make it our suit to the duke + that the wrestling might not go forward. + +ORLANDO I beseech you, punish me not with your hard + thoughts; wherein I confess me much guilty, to deny + so fair and excellent ladies any thing. But let + your fair eyes and gentle wishes go with me to my + trial: wherein if I be foiled, there is but one + shamed that was never gracious; if killed, but one + dead that was willing to be so: I shall do my + friends no wrong, for I have none to lament me, the + world no injury, for in it I have nothing; only in + the world I fill up a place, which may be better + supplied when I have made it empty. + +ROSALIND The little strength that I have, I would it were with you. + +CELIA And mine, to eke out hers. + +ROSALIND Fare you well: pray heaven I be deceived in you! + +CELIA Your heart's desires be with you! + +CHARLES Come, where is this young gallant that is so + desirous to lie with his mother earth? + +ORLANDO Ready, sir; but his will hath in it a more modest working. + +DUKE FREDERICK You shall try but one fall. + +CHARLES No, I warrant your grace, you shall not entreat him + to a second, that have so mightily persuaded him + from a first. + +ORLANDO An you mean to mock me after, you should not have + mocked me before: but come your ways. + +ROSALIND Now Hercules be thy speed, young man! + +CELIA I would I were invisible, to catch the strong + fellow by the leg. + + [They wrestle] + +ROSALIND O excellent young man! + +CELIA If I had a thunderbolt in mine eye, I can tell who + should down. + + [Shout. CHARLES is thrown] + +DUKE FREDERICK No more, no more. + +ORLANDO Yes, I beseech your grace: I am not yet well breathed. + +DUKE FREDERICK How dost thou, Charles? + +LE BEAU He cannot speak, my lord. + +DUKE FREDERICK Bear him away. What is thy name, young man? + +ORLANDO Orlando, my liege; the youngest son of Sir Rowland de Boys. + +DUKE FREDERICK I would thou hadst been son to some man else: + The world esteem'd thy father honourable, + But I did find him still mine enemy: + Thou shouldst have better pleased me with this deed, + Hadst thou descended from another house. + But fare thee well; thou art a gallant youth: + I would thou hadst told me of another father. + + [Exeunt DUKE FREDERICK, train, and LE BEAU] + +CELIA Were I my father, coz, would I do this? + +ORLANDO I am more proud to be Sir Rowland's son, + His youngest son; and would not change that calling, + To be adopted heir to Frederick. + +ROSALIND My father loved Sir Rowland as his soul, + And all the world was of my father's mind: + Had I before known this young man his son, + I should have given him tears unto entreaties, + Ere he should thus have ventured. + +CELIA Gentle cousin, + Let us go thank him and encourage him: + My father's rough and envious disposition + Sticks me at heart. Sir, you have well deserved: + If you do keep your promises in love + But justly, as you have exceeded all promise, + Your mistress shall be happy. + +ROSALIND Gentleman, + + [Giving him a chain from her neck] + + Wear this for me, one out of suits with fortune, + That could give more, but that her hand lacks means. + Shall we go, coz? + +CELIA Ay. Fare you well, fair gentleman. + +ORLANDO Can I not say, I thank you? My better parts + Are all thrown down, and that which here stands up + Is but a quintain, a mere lifeless block. + +ROSALIND He calls us back: my pride fell with my fortunes; + I'll ask him what he would. Did you call, sir? + Sir, you have wrestled well and overthrown + More than your enemies. + +CELIA Will you go, coz? + +ROSALIND Have with you. Fare you well. + + [Exeunt ROSALIND and CELIA] + +ORLANDO What passion hangs these weights upon my tongue? + I cannot speak to her, yet she urged conference. + O poor Orlando, thou art overthrown! + Or Charles or something weaker masters thee. + + [Re-enter LE BEAU] + +LE BEAU Good sir, I do in friendship counsel you + To leave this place. Albeit you have deserved + High commendation, true applause and love, + Yet such is now the duke's condition + That he misconstrues all that you have done. + The duke is humorous; what he is indeed, + More suits you to conceive than I to speak of. + +ORLANDO I thank you, sir: and, pray you, tell me this: + Which of the two was daughter of the duke + That here was at the wrestling? + +LE BEAU Neither his daughter, if we judge by manners; + But yet indeed the lesser is his daughter + The other is daughter to the banish'd duke, + And here detain'd by her usurping uncle, + To keep his daughter company; whose loves + Are dearer than the natural bond of sisters. + But I can tell you that of late this duke + Hath ta'en displeasure 'gainst his gentle niece, + Grounded upon no other argument + But that the people praise her for her virtues + And pity her for her good father's sake; + And, on my life, his malice 'gainst the lady + Will suddenly break forth. Sir, fare you well: + Hereafter, in a better world than this, + I shall desire more love and knowledge of you. + +ORLANDO I rest much bounden to you: fare you well. + + [Exit LE BEAU] + + Thus must I from the smoke into the smother; + From tyrant duke unto a tyrant brother: + But heavenly Rosalind! + + [Exit] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT I + + + +SCENE III A room in the palace. + + + [Enter CELIA and ROSALIND] + +CELIA Why, cousin! why, Rosalind! Cupid have mercy! not a word? + +ROSALIND Not one to throw at a dog. + +CELIA No, thy words are too precious to be cast away upon + curs; throw some of them at me; come, lame me with reasons. + +ROSALIND Then there were two cousins laid up; when the one + should be lamed with reasons and the other mad + without any. + +CELIA But is all this for your father? + +ROSALIND No, some of it is for my child's father. O, how + full of briers is this working-day world! + +CELIA They are but burs, cousin, thrown upon thee in + holiday foolery: if we walk not in the trodden + paths our very petticoats will catch them. + +ROSALIND I could shake them off my coat: these burs are in my heart. + +CELIA Hem them away. + +ROSALIND I would try, if I could cry 'hem' and have him. + +CELIA Come, come, wrestle with thy affections. + +ROSALIND O, they take the part of a better wrestler than myself! + +CELIA O, a good wish upon you! you will try in time, in + despite of a fall. But, turning these jests out of + service, let us talk in good earnest: is it + possible, on such a sudden, you should fall into so + strong a liking with old Sir Rowland's youngest son? + +ROSALIND The duke my father loved his father dearly. + +CELIA Doth it therefore ensue that you should love his son + dearly? By this kind of chase, I should hate him, + for my father hated his father dearly; yet I hate + not Orlando. + +ROSALIND No, faith, hate him not, for my sake. + +CELIA Why should I not? doth he not deserve well? + +ROSALIND Let me love him for that, and do you love him + because I do. Look, here comes the duke. + +CELIA With his eyes full of anger. + + [Enter DUKE FREDERICK, with Lords] + +DUKE FREDERICK Mistress, dispatch you with your safest haste + And get you from our court. + +ROSALIND Me, uncle? + +DUKE FREDERICK You, cousin + Within these ten days if that thou be'st found + So near our public court as twenty miles, + Thou diest for it. + +ROSALIND I do beseech your grace, + Let me the knowledge of my fault bear with me: + If with myself I hold intelligence + Or have acquaintance with mine own desires, + If that I do not dream or be not frantic,-- + As I do trust I am not--then, dear uncle, + Never so much as in a thought unborn + Did I offend your highness. + +DUKE FREDERICK Thus do all traitors: + If their purgation did consist in words, + They are as innocent as grace itself: + Let it suffice thee that I trust thee not. + +ROSALIND Yet your mistrust cannot make me a traitor: + Tell me whereon the likelihood depends. + +DUKE FREDERICK Thou art thy father's daughter; there's enough. + +ROSALIND So was I when your highness took his dukedom; + So was I when your highness banish'd him: + Treason is not inherited, my lord; + Or, if we did derive it from our friends, + What's that to me? my father was no traitor: + Then, good my liege, mistake me not so much + To think my poverty is treacherous. + +CELIA Dear sovereign, hear me speak. + +DUKE FREDERICK Ay, Celia; we stay'd her for your sake, + Else had she with her father ranged along. + +CELIA I did not then entreat to have her stay; + It was your pleasure and your own remorse: + I was too young that time to value her; + But now I know her: if she be a traitor, + Why so am I; we still have slept together, + Rose at an instant, learn'd, play'd, eat together, + And wheresoever we went, like Juno's swans, + Still we went coupled and inseparable. + +DUKE FREDERICK She is too subtle for thee; and her smoothness, + Her very silence and her patience + Speak to the people, and they pity her. + Thou art a fool: she robs thee of thy name; + And thou wilt show more bright and seem more virtuous + When she is gone. Then open not thy lips: + Firm and irrevocable is my doom + Which I have pass'd upon her; she is banish'd. + +CELIA Pronounce that sentence then on me, my liege: + I cannot live out of her company. + +DUKE FREDERICK You are a fool. You, niece, provide yourself: + If you outstay the time, upon mine honour, + And in the greatness of my word, you die. + + [Exeunt DUKE FREDERICK and Lords] + +CELIA O my poor Rosalind, whither wilt thou go? + Wilt thou change fathers? I will give thee mine. + I charge thee, be not thou more grieved than I am. + +ROSALIND I have more cause. + +CELIA Thou hast not, cousin; + Prithee be cheerful: know'st thou not, the duke + Hath banish'd me, his daughter? + +ROSALIND That he hath not. + +CELIA No, hath not? Rosalind lacks then the love + Which teacheth thee that thou and I am one: + Shall we be sunder'd? shall we part, sweet girl? + No: let my father seek another heir. + Therefore devise with me how we may fly, + Whither to go and what to bear with us; + And do not seek to take your change upon you, + To bear your griefs yourself and leave me out; + For, by this heaven, now at our sorrows pale, + Say what thou canst, I'll go along with thee. + +ROSALIND Why, whither shall we go? + +CELIA To seek my uncle in the forest of Arden. + +ROSALIND Alas, what danger will it be to us, + Maids as we are, to travel forth so far! + Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold. + +CELIA I'll put myself in poor and mean attire + And with a kind of umber smirch my face; + The like do you: so shall we pass along + And never stir assailants. + +ROSALIND Were it not better, + Because that I am more than common tall, + That I did suit me all points like a man? + A gallant curtle-axe upon my thigh, + A boar-spear in my hand; and--in my heart + Lie there what hidden woman's fear there will-- + We'll have a swashing and a martial outside, + As many other mannish cowards have + That do outface it with their semblances. + +CELIA What shall I call thee when thou art a man? + +ROSALIND I'll have no worse a name than Jove's own page; + And therefore look you call me Ganymede. + But what will you be call'd? + +CELIA Something that hath a reference to my state + No longer Celia, but Aliena. + +ROSALIND But, cousin, what if we assay'd to steal + The clownish fool out of your father's court? + Would he not be a comfort to our travel? + +CELIA He'll go along o'er the wide world with me; + Leave me alone to woo him. Let's away, + And get our jewels and our wealth together, + Devise the fittest time and safest way + To hide us from pursuit that will be made + After my flight. Now go we in content + To liberty and not to banishment. + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT II + + + +SCENE I The Forest of Arden. + + + [Enter DUKE SENIOR, AMIENS, and two or three Lords, + like foresters] + +DUKE SENIOR Now, my co-mates and brothers in exile, + Hath not old custom made this life more sweet + Than that of painted pomp? Are not these woods + More free from peril than the envious court? + Here feel we but the penalty of Adam, + The seasons' difference, as the icy fang + And churlish chiding of the winter's wind, + Which, when it bites and blows upon my body, + Even till I shrink with cold, I smile and say + 'This is no flattery: these are counsellors + That feelingly persuade me what I am.' + Sweet are the uses of adversity, + Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, + Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; + And this our life exempt from public haunt + Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, + Sermons in stones and good in every thing. + I would not change it. + +AMIENS Happy is your grace, + That can translate the stubbornness of fortune + Into so quiet and so sweet a style. + +DUKE SENIOR Come, shall we go and kill us venison? + And yet it irks me the poor dappled fools, + Being native burghers of this desert city, + Should in their own confines with forked heads + Have their round haunches gored. + +First Lord Indeed, my lord, + The melancholy Jaques grieves at that, + And, in that kind, swears you do more usurp + Than doth your brother that hath banish'd you. + To-day my Lord of Amiens and myself + Did steal behind him as he lay along + Under an oak whose antique root peeps out + Upon the brook that brawls along this wood: + To the which place a poor sequester'd stag, + That from the hunter's aim had ta'en a hurt, + Did come to languish, and indeed, my lord, + The wretched animal heaved forth such groans + That their discharge did stretch his leathern coat + Almost to bursting, and the big round tears + Coursed one another down his innocent nose + In piteous chase; and thus the hairy fool + Much marked of the melancholy Jaques, + Stood on the extremest verge of the swift brook, + Augmenting it with tears. + +DUKE SENIOR But what said Jaques? + Did he not moralize this spectacle? + +First Lord O, yes, into a thousand similes. + First, for his weeping into the needless stream; + 'Poor deer,' quoth he, 'thou makest a testament + As worldlings do, giving thy sum of more + To that which had too much:' then, being there alone, + Left and abandon'd of his velvet friends, + ''Tis right:' quoth he; 'thus misery doth part + The flux of company:' anon a careless herd, + Full of the pasture, jumps along by him + And never stays to greet him; 'Ay' quoth Jaques, + 'Sweep on, you fat and greasy citizens; + 'Tis just the fashion: wherefore do you look + Upon that poor and broken bankrupt there?' + Thus most invectively he pierceth through + The body of the country, city, court, + Yea, and of this our life, swearing that we + Are mere usurpers, tyrants and what's worse, + To fright the animals and to kill them up + In their assign'd and native dwelling-place. + +DUKE SENIOR And did you leave him in this contemplation? + +Second Lord We did, my lord, weeping and commenting + Upon the sobbing deer. + +DUKE SENIOR Show me the place: + I love to cope him in these sullen fits, + For then he's full of matter. + +First Lord I'll bring you to him straight. + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT II + + + +SCENE II A room in the palace. + + + [Enter DUKE FREDERICK, with Lords] + +DUKE FREDERICK Can it be possible that no man saw them? + It cannot be: some villains of my court + Are of consent and sufferance in this. + +First Lord I cannot hear of any that did see her. + The ladies, her attendants of her chamber, + Saw her abed, and in the morning early + They found the bed untreasured of their mistress. + +Second Lord My lord, the roynish clown, at whom so oft + Your grace was wont to laugh, is also missing. + Hisperia, the princess' gentlewoman, + Confesses that she secretly o'erheard + Your daughter and her cousin much commend + The parts and graces of the wrestler + That did but lately foil the sinewy Charles; + And she believes, wherever they are gone, + That youth is surely in their company. + +DUKE FREDERICK Send to his brother; fetch that gallant hither; + If he be absent, bring his brother to me; + I'll make him find him: do this suddenly, + And let not search and inquisition quail + To bring again these foolish runaways. + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT II + + + +SCENE III Before OLIVER'S house. + + + [Enter ORLANDO and ADAM, meeting] + +ORLANDO Who's there? + +ADAM What, my young master? O, my gentle master! + O my sweet master! O you memory + Of old Sir Rowland! why, what make you here? + Why are you virtuous? why do people love you? + And wherefore are you gentle, strong and valiant? + Why would you be so fond to overcome + The bonny priser of the humorous duke? + Your praise is come too swiftly home before you. + Know you not, master, to some kind of men + Their graces serve them but as enemies? + No more do yours: your virtues, gentle master, + Are sanctified and holy traitors to you. + O, what a world is this, when what is comely + Envenoms him that bears it! + +ORLANDO Why, what's the matter? + +ADAM O unhappy youth! + Come not within these doors; within this roof + The enemy of all your graces lives: + Your brother--no, no brother; yet the son-- + Yet not the son, I will not call him son + Of him I was about to call his father-- + Hath heard your praises, and this night he means + To burn the lodging where you use to lie + And you within it: if he fail of that, + He will have other means to cut you off. + I overheard him and his practises. + This is no place; this house is but a butchery: + Abhor it, fear it, do not enter it. + +ORLANDO Why, whither, Adam, wouldst thou have me go? + +ADAM No matter whither, so you come not here. + +ORLANDO What, wouldst thou have me go and beg my food? + Or with a base and boisterous sword enforce + A thievish living on the common road? + This I must do, or know not what to do: + Yet this I will not do, do how I can; + I rather will subject me to the malice + Of a diverted blood and bloody brother. + +ADAM But do not so. I have five hundred crowns, + The thrifty hire I saved under your father, + Which I did store to be my foster-nurse + When service should in my old limbs lie lame + And unregarded age in corners thrown: + Take that, and He that doth the ravens feed, + Yea, providently caters for the sparrow, + Be comfort to my age! Here is the gold; + And all this I give you. Let me be your servant: + Though I look old, yet I am strong and lusty; + For in my youth I never did apply + Hot and rebellious liquors in my blood, + Nor did not with unbashful forehead woo + The means of weakness and debility; + Therefore my age is as a lusty winter, + Frosty, but kindly: let me go with you; + I'll do the service of a younger man + In all your business and necessities. + +ORLANDO O good old man, how well in thee appears + The constant service of the antique world, + When service sweat for duty, not for meed! + Thou art not for the fashion of these times, + Where none will sweat but for promotion, + And having that, do choke their service up + Even with the having: it is not so with thee. + But, poor old man, thou prunest a rotten tree, + That cannot so much as a blossom yield + In lieu of all thy pains and husbandry + But come thy ways; well go along together, + And ere we have thy youthful wages spent, + We'll light upon some settled low content. + +ADAM Master, go on, and I will follow thee, + To the last gasp, with truth and loyalty. + From seventeen years till now almost fourscore + Here lived I, but now live here no more. + At seventeen years many their fortunes seek; + But at fourscore it is too late a week: + Yet fortune cannot recompense me better + Than to die well and not my master's debtor. + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT II + + + +SCENE IV The Forest of Arden. + + + [Enter ROSALIND for Ganymede, CELIA for Aliena, + and TOUCHSTONE] + +ROSALIND O Jupiter, how weary are my spirits! + +TOUCHSTONE I care not for my spirits, if my legs were not weary. + +ROSALIND I could find in my heart to disgrace my man's + apparel and to cry like a woman; but I must comfort + the weaker vessel, as doublet and hose ought to show + itself courageous to petticoat: therefore courage, + good Aliena! + +CELIA I pray you, bear with me; I cannot go no further. + +TOUCHSTONE For my part, I had rather bear with you than bear + you; yet I should bear no cross if I did bear you, + for I think you have no money in your purse. + +ROSALIND Well, this is the forest of Arden. + +TOUCHSTONE Ay, now am I in Arden; the more fool I; when I was + at home, I was in a better place: but travellers + must be content. + +ROSALIND Ay, be so, good Touchstone. + + [Enter CORIN and SILVIUS] + + Look you, who comes here; a young man and an old in + solemn talk. + +CORIN That is the way to make her scorn you still. + +SILVIUS O Corin, that thou knew'st how I do love her! + +CORIN I partly guess; for I have loved ere now. + +SILVIUS No, Corin, being old, thou canst not guess, + Though in thy youth thou wast as true a lover + As ever sigh'd upon a midnight pillow: + But if thy love were ever like to mine-- + As sure I think did never man love so-- + How many actions most ridiculous + Hast thou been drawn to by thy fantasy? + +CORIN Into a thousand that I have forgotten. + +SILVIUS O, thou didst then ne'er love so heartily! + If thou remember'st not the slightest folly + That ever love did make thee run into, + Thou hast not loved: + Or if thou hast not sat as I do now, + Wearying thy hearer in thy mistress' praise, + Thou hast not loved: + Or if thou hast not broke from company + Abruptly, as my passion now makes me, + Thou hast not loved. + O Phebe, Phebe, Phebe! + + [Exit] + +ROSALIND Alas, poor shepherd! searching of thy wound, + I have by hard adventure found mine own. + +TOUCHSTONE And I mine. I remember, when I was in love I broke + my sword upon a stone and bid him take that for + coming a-night to Jane Smile; and I remember the + kissing of her batlet and the cow's dugs that her + pretty chopt hands had milked; and I remember the + wooing of a peascod instead of her, from whom I took + two cods and, giving her them again, said with + weeping tears 'Wear these for my sake.' We that are + true lovers run into strange capers; but as all is + mortal in nature, so is all nature in love mortal in folly. + +ROSALIND Thou speakest wiser than thou art ware of. + +TOUCHSTONE Nay, I shall ne'er be ware of mine own wit till I + break my shins against it. + +ROSALIND Jove, Jove! this shepherd's passion + Is much upon my fashion. + +TOUCHSTONE And mine; but it grows something stale with me. + +CELIA I pray you, one of you question yond man + If he for gold will give us any food: + I faint almost to death. + +TOUCHSTONE Holla, you clown! + +ROSALIND Peace, fool: he's not thy kinsman. + +CORIN Who calls? + +TOUCHSTONE Your betters, sir. + +CORIN Else are they very wretched. + +ROSALIND Peace, I say. Good even to you, friend. + +CORIN And to you, gentle sir, and to you all. + +ROSALIND I prithee, shepherd, if that love or gold + Can in this desert place buy entertainment, + Bring us where we may rest ourselves and feed: + Here's a young maid with travel much oppress'd + And faints for succor. + +CORIN Fair sir, I pity her + And wish, for her sake more than for mine own, + My fortunes were more able to relieve her; + But I am shepherd to another man + And do not shear the fleeces that I graze: + My master is of churlish disposition + And little recks to find the way to heaven + By doing deeds of hospitality: + Besides, his cote, his flocks and bounds of feed + Are now on sale, and at our sheepcote now, + By reason of his absence, there is nothing + That you will feed on; but what is, come see. + And in my voice most welcome shall you be. + +ROSALIND What is he that shall buy his flock and pasture? + +CORIN That young swain that you saw here but erewhile, + That little cares for buying any thing. + +ROSALIND I pray thee, if it stand with honesty, + Buy thou the cottage, pasture and the flock, + And thou shalt have to pay for it of us. + +CELIA And we will mend thy wages. I like this place. + And willingly could waste my time in it. + +CORIN Assuredly the thing is to be sold: + Go with me: if you like upon report + The soil, the profit and this kind of life, + I will your very faithful feeder be + And buy it with your gold right suddenly. + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT II + + + +SCENE V The Forest. + + + [Enter AMIENS, JAQUES, and others] + + SONG. +AMIENS Under the greenwood tree + Who loves to lie with me, + And turn his merry note + Unto the sweet bird's throat, + Come hither, come hither, come hither: + Here shall he see No enemy + But winter and rough weather. + +JAQUES More, more, I prithee, more. + +AMIENS It will make you melancholy, Monsieur Jaques. + +JAQUES I thank it. More, I prithee, more. I can suck + melancholy out of a song, as a weasel sucks eggs. + More, I prithee, more. + +AMIENS My voice is ragged: I know I cannot please you. + +JAQUES I do not desire you to please me; I do desire you to + sing. Come, more; another stanzo: call you 'em stanzos? + +AMIENS What you will, Monsieur Jaques. + +JAQUES Nay, I care not for their names; they owe me + nothing. Will you sing? + +AMIENS More at your request than to please myself. + +JAQUES Well then, if ever I thank any man, I'll thank you; + but that they call compliment is like the encounter + of two dog-apes, and when a man thanks me heartily, + methinks I have given him a penny and he renders me + the beggarly thanks. Come, sing; and you that will + not, hold your tongues. + +AMIENS Well, I'll end the song. Sirs, cover the while; the + duke will drink under this tree. He hath been all + this day to look you. + +JAQUES And I have been all this day to avoid him. He is + too disputable for my company: I think of as many + matters as he, but I give heaven thanks and make no + boast of them. Come, warble, come. + + SONG. + Who doth ambition shun + + [All together here] + + And loves to live i' the sun, + Seeking the food he eats + And pleased with what he gets, + Come hither, come hither, come hither: + Here shall he see No enemy + But winter and rough weather. + +JAQUES I'll give you a verse to this note that I made + yesterday in despite of my invention. + +AMIENS And I'll sing it. + +JAQUES Thus it goes:-- + + If it do come to pass + That any man turn ass, + Leaving his wealth and ease, + A stubborn will to please, + Ducdame, ducdame, ducdame: + Here shall he see + Gross fools as he, + An if he will come to me. + +AMIENS What's that 'ducdame'? + +JAQUES 'Tis a Greek invocation, to call fools into a + circle. I'll go sleep, if I can; if I cannot, I'll + rail against all the first-born of Egypt. + +AMIENS And I'll go seek the duke: his banquet is prepared. + + [Exeunt severally] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT II + + + +SCENE VI The forest. + + + [Enter ORLANDO and ADAM] + +ADAM Dear master, I can go no further. O, I die for food! + Here lie I down, and measure out my grave. Farewell, + kind master. + +ORLANDO Why, how now, Adam! no greater heart in thee? Live + a little; comfort a little; cheer thyself a little. + If this uncouth forest yield any thing savage, I + will either be food for it or bring it for food to + thee. Thy conceit is nearer death than thy powers. + For my sake be comfortable; hold death awhile at + the arm's end: I will here be with thee presently; + and if I bring thee not something to eat, I will + give thee leave to die: but if thou diest before I + come, thou art a mocker of my labour. Well said! + thou lookest cheerly, and I'll be with thee quickly. + Yet thou liest in the bleak air: come, I will bear + thee to some shelter; and thou shalt not die for + lack of a dinner, if there live any thing in this + desert. Cheerly, good Adam! + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT II + + + +SCENE VII The forest. + + + [A table set out. Enter DUKE SENIOR, AMIENS, and + Lords like outlaws] + +DUKE SENIOR I think he be transform'd into a beast; + For I can no where find him like a man. + +First Lord My lord, he is but even now gone hence: + Here was he merry, hearing of a song. + +DUKE SENIOR If he, compact of jars, grow musical, + We shall have shortly discord in the spheres. + Go, seek him: tell him I would speak with him. + + [Enter JAQUES] + +First Lord He saves my labour by his own approach. + +DUKE SENIOR Why, how now, monsieur! what a life is this, + That your poor friends must woo your company? + What, you look merrily! + +JAQUES A fool, a fool! I met a fool i' the forest, + A motley fool; a miserable world! + As I do live by food, I met a fool + Who laid him down and bask'd him in the sun, + And rail'd on Lady Fortune in good terms, + In good set terms and yet a motley fool. + 'Good morrow, fool,' quoth I. 'No, sir,' quoth he, + 'Call me not fool till heaven hath sent me fortune:' + And then he drew a dial from his poke, + And, looking on it with lack-lustre eye, + Says very wisely, 'It is ten o'clock: + Thus we may see,' quoth he, 'how the world wags: + 'Tis but an hour ago since it was nine, + And after one hour more 'twill be eleven; + And so, from hour to hour, we ripe and ripe, + And then, from hour to hour, we rot and rot; + And thereby hangs a tale.' When I did hear + The motley fool thus moral on the time, + My lungs began to crow like chanticleer, + That fools should be so deep-contemplative, + And I did laugh sans intermission + An hour by his dial. O noble fool! + A worthy fool! Motley's the only wear. + +DUKE SENIOR What fool is this? + +JAQUES O worthy fool! One that hath been a courtier, + And says, if ladies be but young and fair, + They have the gift to know it: and in his brain, + Which is as dry as the remainder biscuit + After a voyage, he hath strange places cramm'd + With observation, the which he vents + In mangled forms. O that I were a fool! + I am ambitious for a motley coat. + +DUKE SENIOR Thou shalt have one. + +JAQUES It is my only suit; + Provided that you weed your better judgments + Of all opinion that grows rank in them + That I am wise. I must have liberty + Withal, as large a charter as the wind, + To blow on whom I please; for so fools have; + And they that are most galled with my folly, + They most must laugh. And why, sir, must they so? + The 'why' is plain as way to parish church: + He that a fool doth very wisely hit + Doth very foolishly, although he smart, + Not to seem senseless of the bob: if not, + The wise man's folly is anatomized + Even by the squandering glances of the fool. + Invest me in my motley; give me leave + To speak my mind, and I will through and through + Cleanse the foul body of the infected world, + If they will patiently receive my medicine. + +DUKE SENIOR Fie on thee! I can tell what thou wouldst do. + +JAQUES What, for a counter, would I do but good? + +DUKE SENIOR Most mischievous foul sin, in chiding sin: + For thou thyself hast been a libertine, + As sensual as the brutish sting itself; + And all the embossed sores and headed evils, + That thou with licence of free foot hast caught, + Wouldst thou disgorge into the general world. + +JAQUES Why, who cries out on pride, + That can therein tax any private party? + Doth it not flow as hugely as the sea, + Till that the weary very means do ebb? + What woman in the city do I name, + When that I say the city-woman bears + The cost of princes on unworthy shoulders? + Who can come in and say that I mean her, + When such a one as she such is her neighbour? + Or what is he of basest function + That says his bravery is not of my cost, + Thinking that I mean him, but therein suits + His folly to the mettle of my speech? + There then; how then? what then? Let me see wherein + My tongue hath wrong'd him: if it do him right, + Then he hath wrong'd himself; if he be free, + Why then my taxing like a wild-goose flies, + Unclaim'd of any man. But who comes here? + + [Enter ORLANDO, with his sword drawn] + +ORLANDO Forbear, and eat no more. + +JAQUES Why, I have eat none yet. + +ORLANDO Nor shalt not, till necessity be served. + +JAQUES Of what kind should this cock come of? + +DUKE SENIOR Art thou thus bolden'd, man, by thy distress, + Or else a rude despiser of good manners, + That in civility thou seem'st so empty? + +ORLANDO You touch'd my vein at first: the thorny point + Of bare distress hath ta'en from me the show + Of smooth civility: yet am I inland bred + And know some nurture. But forbear, I say: + He dies that touches any of this fruit + Till I and my affairs are answered. + +JAQUES An you will not be answered with reason, I must die. + +DUKE SENIOR What would you have? Your gentleness shall force + More than your force move us to gentleness. + +ORLANDO I almost die for food; and let me have it. + +DUKE SENIOR Sit down and feed, and welcome to our table. + +ORLANDO Speak you so gently? Pardon me, I pray you: + I thought that all things had been savage here; + And therefore put I on the countenance + Of stern commandment. But whate'er you are + That in this desert inaccessible, + Under the shade of melancholy boughs, + Lose and neglect the creeping hours of time + If ever you have look'd on better days, + If ever been where bells have knoll'd to church, + If ever sat at any good man's feast, + If ever from your eyelids wiped a tear + And know what 'tis to pity and be pitied, + Let gentleness my strong enforcement be: + In the which hope I blush, and hide my sword. + +DUKE SENIOR True is it that we have seen better days, + And have with holy bell been knoll'd to church + And sat at good men's feasts and wiped our eyes + Of drops that sacred pity hath engender'd: + And therefore sit you down in gentleness + And take upon command what help we have + That to your wanting may be minister'd. + +ORLANDO Then but forbear your food a little while, + Whiles, like a doe, I go to find my fawn + And give it food. There is an old poor man, + Who after me hath many a weary step + Limp'd in pure love: till he be first sufficed, + Oppress'd with two weak evils, age and hunger, + I will not touch a bit. + +DUKE SENIOR Go find him out, + And we will nothing waste till you return. + +ORLANDO I thank ye; and be blest for your good comfort! + + [Exit] + +DUKE SENIOR Thou seest we are not all alone unhappy: + This wide and universal theatre + Presents more woeful pageants than the scene + Wherein we play in. + +JAQUES All the world's a stage, + And all the men and women merely players: + They have their exits and their entrances; + And one man in his time plays many parts, + His acts being seven ages. At first the infant, + Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms. + And then the whining school-boy, with his satchel + And shining morning face, creeping like snail + Unwillingly to school. And then the lover, + Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad + Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then a soldier, + Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard, + Jealous in honour, sudden and quick in quarrel, + Seeking the bubble reputation + Even in the cannon's mouth. And then the justice, + In fair round belly with good capon lined, + With eyes severe and beard of formal cut, + Full of wise saws and modern instances; + And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts + Into the lean and slipper'd pantaloon, + With spectacles on nose and pouch on side, + His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide + For his shrunk shank; and his big manly voice, + Turning again toward childish treble, pipes + And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all, + That ends this strange eventful history, + Is second childishness and mere oblivion, + Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything. + + [Re-enter ORLANDO, with ADAM] + +DUKE SENIOR Welcome. Set down your venerable burthen, + And let him feed. + +ORLANDO I thank you most for him. + +ADAM So had you need: + I scarce can speak to thank you for myself. + +DUKE SENIOR Welcome; fall to: I will not trouble you + As yet, to question you about your fortunes. + Give us some music; and, good cousin, sing. + + SONG. +AMIENS Blow, blow, thou winter wind. + Thou art not so unkind + As man's ingratitude; + Thy tooth is not so keen, + Because thou art not seen, + Although thy breath be rude. + Heigh-ho! sing, heigh-ho! unto the green holly: + Most friendship is feigning, most loving mere folly: + Then, heigh-ho, the holly! + This life is most jolly. + Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, + That dost not bite so nigh + As benefits forgot: + Though thou the waters warp, + Thy sting is not so sharp + As friend remember'd not. + Heigh-ho! sing, &c. + +DUKE SENIOR If that you were the good Sir Rowland's son, + As you have whisper'd faithfully you were, + And as mine eye doth his effigies witness + Most truly limn'd and living in your face, + Be truly welcome hither: I am the duke + That loved your father: the residue of your fortune, + Go to my cave and tell me. Good old man, + Thou art right welcome as thy master is. + Support him by the arm. Give me your hand, + And let me all your fortunes understand. + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT III + + + +SCENE I A room in the palace. + + + [Enter DUKE FREDERICK, Lords, and OLIVER] + +DUKE FREDERICK Not see him since? Sir, sir, that cannot be: + But were I not the better part made mercy, + I should not seek an absent argument + Of my revenge, thou present. But look to it: + Find out thy brother, wheresoe'er he is; + Seek him with candle; bring him dead or living + Within this twelvemonth, or turn thou no more + To seek a living in our territory. + Thy lands and all things that thou dost call thine + Worth seizure do we seize into our hands, + Till thou canst quit thee by thy brothers mouth + Of what we think against thee. + +OLIVER O that your highness knew my heart in this! + I never loved my brother in my life. + +DUKE FREDERICK More villain thou. Well, push him out of doors; + And let my officers of such a nature + Make an extent upon his house and lands: + Do this expediently and turn him going. + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT III + + + +SCENE II The forest. + + + [Enter ORLANDO, with a paper] + +ORLANDO Hang there, my verse, in witness of my love: + And thou, thrice-crowned queen of night, survey + With thy chaste eye, from thy pale sphere above, + Thy huntress' name that my full life doth sway. + O Rosalind! these trees shall be my books + And in their barks my thoughts I'll character; + That every eye which in this forest looks + Shall see thy virtue witness'd every where. + Run, run, Orlando; carve on every tree + The fair, the chaste and unexpressive she. + + [Exit] + + [Enter CORIN and TOUCHSTONE] + +CORIN And how like you this shepherd's life, Master Touchstone? + +TOUCHSTONE Truly, shepherd, in respect of itself, it is a good + life, but in respect that it is a shepherd's life, + it is naught. In respect that it is solitary, I + like it very well; but in respect that it is + private, it is a very vile life. Now, in respect it + is in the fields, it pleaseth me well; but in + respect it is not in the court, it is tedious. As + is it a spare life, look you, it fits my humour well; + but as there is no more plenty in it, it goes much + against my stomach. Hast any philosophy in thee, shepherd? + +CORIN No more but that I know the more one sickens the + worse at ease he is; and that he that wants money, + means and content is without three good friends; + that the property of rain is to wet and fire to + burn; that good pasture makes fat sheep, and that a + great cause of the night is lack of the sun; that + he that hath learned no wit by nature nor art may + complain of good breeding or comes of a very dull kindred. + +TOUCHSTONE Such a one is a natural philosopher. Wast ever in + court, shepherd? + +CORIN No, truly. + +TOUCHSTONE Then thou art damned. + +CORIN Nay, I hope. + +TOUCHSTONE Truly, thou art damned like an ill-roasted egg, all + on one side. + +CORIN For not being at court? Your reason. + +TOUCHSTONE Why, if thou never wast at court, thou never sawest + good manners; if thou never sawest good manners, + then thy manners must be wicked; and wickedness is + sin, and sin is damnation. Thou art in a parlous + state, shepherd. + +CORIN Not a whit, Touchstone: those that are good manners + at the court are as ridiculous in the country as the + behavior of the country is most mockable at the + court. You told me you salute not at the court, but + you kiss your hands: that courtesy would be + uncleanly, if courtiers were shepherds. + +TOUCHSTONE Instance, briefly; come, instance. + +CORIN Why, we are still handling our ewes, and their + fells, you know, are greasy. + +TOUCHSTONE Why, do not your courtier's hands sweat? and is not + the grease of a mutton as wholesome as the sweat of + a man? Shallow, shallow. A better instance, I say; come. + +CORIN Besides, our hands are hard. + +TOUCHSTONE Your lips will feel them the sooner. Shallow again. + A more sounder instance, come. + +CORIN And they are often tarred over with the surgery of + our sheep: and would you have us kiss tar? The + courtier's hands are perfumed with civet. + +TOUCHSTONE Most shallow man! thou worms-meat, in respect of a + good piece of flesh indeed! Learn of the wise, and + perpend: civet is of a baser birth than tar, the + very uncleanly flux of a cat. Mend the instance, shepherd. + +CORIN You have too courtly a wit for me: I'll rest. + +TOUCHSTONE Wilt thou rest damned? God help thee, shallow man! + God make incision in thee! thou art raw. + +CORIN Sir, I am a true labourer: I earn that I eat, get + that I wear, owe no man hate, envy no man's + happiness, glad of other men's good, content with my + harm, and the greatest of my pride is to see my ewes + graze and my lambs suck. + +TOUCHSTONE That is another simple sin in you, to bring the ewes + and the rams together and to offer to get your + living by the copulation of cattle; to be bawd to a + bell-wether, and to betray a she-lamb of a + twelvemonth to a crooked-pated, old, cuckoldly ram, + out of all reasonable match. If thou beest not + damned for this, the devil himself will have no + shepherds; I cannot see else how thou shouldst + 'scape. + +CORIN Here comes young Master Ganymede, my new mistress's brother. + + [Enter ROSALIND, with a paper, reading] + +ROSALIND From the east to western Ind, + No jewel is like Rosalind. + Her worth, being mounted on the wind, + Through all the world bears Rosalind. + All the pictures fairest lined + Are but black to Rosalind. + Let no fair be kept in mind + But the fair of Rosalind. + +TOUCHSTONE I'll rhyme you so eight years together, dinners and + suppers and sleeping-hours excepted: it is the + right butter-women's rank to market. + +ROSALIND Out, fool! + +TOUCHSTONE For a taste: + If a hart do lack a hind, + Let him seek out Rosalind. + If the cat will after kind, + So be sure will Rosalind. + Winter garments must be lined, + So must slender Rosalind. + They that reap must sheaf and bind; + Then to cart with Rosalind. + Sweetest nut hath sourest rind, + Such a nut is Rosalind. + He that sweetest rose will find + Must find love's prick and Rosalind. + This is the very false gallop of verses: why do you + infect yourself with them? + +ROSALIND Peace, you dull fool! I found them on a tree. + +TOUCHSTONE Truly, the tree yields bad fruit. + +ROSALIND I'll graff it with you, and then I shall graff it + with a medlar: then it will be the earliest fruit + i' the country; for you'll be rotten ere you be half + ripe, and that's the right virtue of the medlar. + +TOUCHSTONE You have said; but whether wisely or no, let the + forest judge. + + [Enter CELIA, with a writing] + +ROSALIND Peace! Here comes my sister, reading: stand aside. + +CELIA [Reads] + + Why should this a desert be? + For it is unpeopled? No: + Tongues I'll hang on every tree, + That shall civil sayings show: + Some, how brief the life of man + Runs his erring pilgrimage, + That the stretching of a span + Buckles in his sum of age; + Some, of violated vows + 'Twixt the souls of friend and friend: + But upon the fairest boughs, + Or at every sentence end, + Will I Rosalinda write, + Teaching all that read to know + The quintessence of every sprite + Heaven would in little show. + Therefore Heaven Nature charged + That one body should be fill'd + With all graces wide-enlarged: + Nature presently distill'd + Helen's cheek, but not her heart, + Cleopatra's majesty, + Atalanta's better part, + Sad Lucretia's modesty. + Thus Rosalind of many parts + By heavenly synod was devised, + Of many faces, eyes and hearts, + To have the touches dearest prized. + Heaven would that she these gifts should have, + And I to live and die her slave. + +ROSALIND O most gentle pulpiter! what tedious homily of love + have you wearied your parishioners withal, and never + cried 'Have patience, good people!' + +CELIA How now! back, friends! Shepherd, go off a little. + Go with him, sirrah. + +TOUCHSTONE Come, shepherd, let us make an honourable retreat; + though not with bag and baggage, yet with scrip and scrippage. + + [Exeunt CORIN and TOUCHSTONE] + +CELIA Didst thou hear these verses? + +ROSALIND O, yes, I heard them all, and more too; for some of + them had in them more feet than the verses would bear. + +CELIA That's no matter: the feet might bear the verses. + +ROSALIND Ay, but the feet were lame and could not bear + themselves without the verse and therefore stood + lamely in the verse. + +CELIA But didst thou hear without wondering how thy name + should be hanged and carved upon these trees? + +ROSALIND I was seven of the nine days out of the wonder + before you came; for look here what I found on a + palm-tree. I was never so be-rhymed since + Pythagoras' time, that I was an Irish rat, which I + can hardly remember. + +CELIA Trow you who hath done this? + +ROSALIND Is it a man? + +CELIA And a chain, that you once wore, about his neck. + Change you colour? + +ROSALIND I prithee, who? + +CELIA O Lord, Lord! it is a hard matter for friends to + meet; but mountains may be removed with earthquakes + and so encounter. + +ROSALIND Nay, but who is it? + +CELIA Is it possible? + +ROSALIND Nay, I prithee now with most petitionary vehemence, + tell me who it is. + +CELIA O wonderful, wonderful, and most wonderful + wonderful! and yet again wonderful, and after that, + out of all hooping! + +ROSALIND Good my complexion! dost thou think, though I am + caparisoned like a man, I have a doublet and hose in + my disposition? One inch of delay more is a + South-sea of discovery; I prithee, tell me who is it + quickly, and speak apace. I would thou couldst + stammer, that thou mightst pour this concealed man + out of thy mouth, as wine comes out of a narrow- + mouthed bottle, either too much at once, or none at + all. I prithee, take the cork out of thy mouth that + may drink thy tidings. + +CELIA So you may put a man in your belly. + +ROSALIND Is he of God's making? What manner of man? Is his + head worth a hat, or his chin worth a beard? + +CELIA Nay, he hath but a little beard. + +ROSALIND Why, God will send more, if the man will be + thankful: let me stay the growth of his beard, if + thou delay me not the knowledge of his chin. + +CELIA It is young Orlando, that tripped up the wrestler's + heels and your heart both in an instant. + +ROSALIND Nay, but the devil take mocking: speak, sad brow and + true maid. + +CELIA I' faith, coz, 'tis he. + +ROSALIND Orlando? + +CELIA Orlando. + +ROSALIND Alas the day! what shall I do with my doublet and + hose? What did he when thou sawest him? What said + he? How looked he? Wherein went he? What makes + him here? Did he ask for me? Where remains he? + How parted he with thee? and when shalt thou see + him again? Answer me in one word. + +CELIA You must borrow me Gargantua's mouth first: 'tis a + word too great for any mouth of this age's size. To + say ay and no to these particulars is more than to + answer in a catechism. + +ROSALIND But doth he know that I am in this forest and in + man's apparel? Looks he as freshly as he did the + day he wrestled? + +CELIA It is as easy to count atomies as to resolve the + propositions of a lover; but take a taste of my + finding him, and relish it with good observance. + I found him under a tree, like a dropped acorn. + +ROSALIND It may well be called Jove's tree, when it drops + forth such fruit. + +CELIA Give me audience, good madam. + +ROSALIND Proceed. + +CELIA There lay he, stretched along, like a wounded knight. + +ROSALIND Though it be pity to see such a sight, it well + becomes the ground. + +CELIA Cry 'holla' to thy tongue, I prithee; it curvets + unseasonably. He was furnished like a hunter. + +ROSALIND O, ominous! he comes to kill my heart. + +CELIA I would sing my song without a burden: thou bringest + me out of tune. + +ROSALIND Do you not know I am a woman? when I think, I must + speak. Sweet, say on. + +CELIA You bring me out. Soft! comes he not here? + + [Enter ORLANDO and JAQUES] + +ROSALIND 'Tis he: slink by, and note him. + +JAQUES I thank you for your company; but, good faith, I had + as lief have been myself alone. + +ORLANDO And so had I; but yet, for fashion sake, I thank you + too for your society. + +JAQUES God be wi' you: let's meet as little as we can. + +ORLANDO I do desire we may be better strangers. + +JAQUES I pray you, mar no more trees with writing + love-songs in their barks. + +ORLANDO I pray you, mar no more of my verses with reading + them ill-favouredly. + +JAQUES Rosalind is your love's name? + +ORLANDO Yes, just. + +JAQUES I do not like her name. + +ORLANDO There was no thought of pleasing you when she was + christened. + +JAQUES What stature is she of? + +ORLANDO Just as high as my heart. + +JAQUES You are full of pretty answers. Have you not been + acquainted with goldsmiths' wives, and conned them + out of rings? + +ORLANDO Not so; but I answer you right painted cloth, from + whence you have studied your questions. + +JAQUES You have a nimble wit: I think 'twas made of + Atalanta's heels. Will you sit down with me? and + we two will rail against our mistress the world and + all our misery. + +ORLANDO I will chide no breather in the world but myself, + against whom I know most faults. + +JAQUES The worst fault you have is to be in love. + +ORLANDO 'Tis a fault I will not change for your best virtue. + I am weary of you. + +JAQUES By my troth, I was seeking for a fool when I found + you. + +ORLANDO He is drowned in the brook: look but in, and you + shall see him. + +JAQUES There I shall see mine own figure. + +ORLANDO Which I take to be either a fool or a cipher. + +JAQUES I'll tarry no longer with you: farewell, good + Signior Love. + +ORLANDO I am glad of your departure: adieu, good Monsieur + Melancholy. + + [Exit JAQUES] + +ROSALIND [Aside to CELIA] I will speak to him, like a saucy + lackey and under that habit play the knave with him. + Do you hear, forester? + +ORLANDO Very well: what would you? + +ROSALIND I pray you, what is't o'clock? + +ORLANDO You should ask me what time o' day: there's no clock + in the forest. + +ROSALIND Then there is no true lover in the forest; else + sighing every minute and groaning every hour would + detect the lazy foot of Time as well as a clock. + +ORLANDO And why not the swift foot of Time? had not that + been as proper? + +ROSALIND By no means, sir: Time travels in divers paces with + divers persons. I'll tell you who Time ambles + withal, who Time trots withal, who Time gallops + withal and who he stands still withal. + +ORLANDO I prithee, who doth he trot withal? + +ROSALIND Marry, he trots hard with a young maid between the + contract of her marriage and the day it is + solemnized: if the interim be but a se'nnight, + Time's pace is so hard that it seems the length of + seven year. + +ORLANDO Who ambles Time withal? + +ROSALIND With a priest that lacks Latin and a rich man that + hath not the gout, for the one sleeps easily because + he cannot study, and the other lives merrily because + he feels no pain, the one lacking the burden of lean + and wasteful learning, the other knowing no burden + of heavy tedious penury; these Time ambles withal. + +ORLANDO Who doth he gallop withal? + +ROSALIND With a thief to the gallows, for though he go as + softly as foot can fall, he thinks himself too soon there. + +ORLANDO Who stays it still withal? + +ROSALIND With lawyers in the vacation, for they sleep between + term and term and then they perceive not how Time moves. + +ORLANDO Where dwell you, pretty youth? + +ROSALIND With this shepherdess, my sister; here in the + skirts of the forest, like fringe upon a petticoat. + +ORLANDO Are you native of this place? + +ROSALIND As the cony that you see dwell where she is kindled. + +ORLANDO Your accent is something finer than you could + purchase in so removed a dwelling. + +ROSALIND I have been told so of many: but indeed an old + religious uncle of mine taught me to speak, who was + in his youth an inland man; one that knew courtship + too well, for there he fell in love. I have heard + him read many lectures against it, and I thank God + I am not a woman, to be touched with so many + giddy offences as he hath generally taxed their + whole sex withal. + +ORLANDO Can you remember any of the principal evils that he + laid to the charge of women? + +ROSALIND There were none principal; they were all like one + another as half-pence are, every one fault seeming + monstrous till his fellow fault came to match it. + +ORLANDO I prithee, recount some of them. + +ROSALIND No, I will not cast away my physic but on those that + are sick. There is a man haunts the forest, that + abuses our young plants with carving 'Rosalind' on + their barks; hangs odes upon hawthorns and elegies + on brambles, all, forsooth, deifying the name of + Rosalind: if I could meet that fancy-monger I would + give him some good counsel, for he seems to have the + quotidian of love upon him. + +ORLANDO I am he that is so love-shaked: I pray you tell me + your remedy. + +ROSALIND There is none of my uncle's marks upon you: he + taught me how to know a man in love; in which cage + of rushes I am sure you are not prisoner. + +ORLANDO What were his marks? + +ROSALIND A lean cheek, which you have not, a blue eye and + sunken, which you have not, an unquestionable + spirit, which you have not, a beard neglected, + which you have not; but I pardon you for that, for + simply your having in beard is a younger brother's + revenue: then your hose should be ungartered, your + bonnet unbanded, your sleeve unbuttoned, your shoe + untied and every thing about you demonstrating a + careless desolation; but you are no such man; you + are rather point-device in your accoutrements as + loving yourself than seeming the lover of any other. + +ORLANDO Fair youth, I would I could make thee believe I love. + +ROSALIND Me believe it! you may as soon make her that you + love believe it; which, I warrant, she is apter to + do than to confess she does: that is one of the + points in the which women still give the lie to + their consciences. But, in good sooth, are you he + that hangs the verses on the trees, wherein Rosalind + is so admired? + +ORLANDO I swear to thee, youth, by the white hand of + Rosalind, I am that he, that unfortunate he. + +ROSALIND But are you so much in love as your rhymes speak? + +ORLANDO Neither rhyme nor reason can express how much. + +ROSALIND Love is merely a madness, and, I tell you, deserves + as well a dark house and a whip as madmen do: and + the reason why they are not so punished and cured + is, that the lunacy is so ordinary that the whippers + are in love too. Yet I profess curing it by counsel. + +ORLANDO Did you ever cure any so? + +ROSALIND Yes, one, and in this manner. He was to imagine me + his love, his mistress; and I set him every day to + woo me: at which time would I, being but a moonish + youth, grieve, be effeminate, changeable, longing + and liking, proud, fantastical, apish, shallow, + inconstant, full of tears, full of smiles, for every + passion something and for no passion truly any + thing, as boys and women are for the most part + cattle of this colour; would now like him, now loathe + him; then entertain him, then forswear him; now weep + for him, then spit at him; that I drave my suitor + from his mad humour of love to a living humour of + madness; which was, to forswear the full stream of + the world, and to live in a nook merely monastic. + And thus I cured him; and this way will I take upon + me to wash your liver as clean as a sound sheep's + heart, that there shall not be one spot of love in't. + +ORLANDO I would not be cured, youth. + +ROSALIND I would cure you, if you would but call me Rosalind + and come every day to my cote and woo me. + +ORLANDO Now, by the faith of my love, I will: tell me + where it is. + +ROSALIND Go with me to it and I'll show it you and by the way + you shall tell me where in the forest you live. + Will you go? + +ORLANDO With all my heart, good youth. + +ROSALIND Nay you must call me Rosalind. Come, sister, will you go? + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT III + + + +SCENE III The forest. + + + [Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY; JAQUES behind] + +TOUCHSTONE Come apace, good Audrey: I will fetch up your + goats, Audrey. And how, Audrey? am I the man yet? + doth my simple feature content you? + +AUDREY Your features! Lord warrant us! what features! + +TOUCHSTONE I am here with thee and thy goats, as the most + capricious poet, honest Ovid, was among the Goths. + +JAQUES [Aside] O knowledge ill-inhabited, worse than Jove + in a thatched house! + +TOUCHSTONE When a man's verses cannot be understood, nor a + man's good wit seconded with the forward child + Understanding, it strikes a man more dead than a + great reckoning in a little room. Truly, I would + the gods had made thee poetical. + +AUDREY I do not know what 'poetical' is: is it honest in + deed and word? is it a true thing? + +TOUCHSTONE No, truly; for the truest poetry is the most + feigning; and lovers are given to poetry, and what + they swear in poetry may be said as lovers they do feign. + +AUDREY Do you wish then that the gods had made me poetical? + +TOUCHSTONE I do, truly; for thou swearest to me thou art + honest: now, if thou wert a poet, I might have some + hope thou didst feign. + +AUDREY Would you not have me honest? + +TOUCHSTONE No, truly, unless thou wert hard-favoured; for + honesty coupled to beauty is to have honey a sauce to sugar. + +JAQUES [Aside] A material fool! + +AUDREY Well, I am not fair; and therefore I pray the gods + make me honest. + +TOUCHSTONE Truly, and to cast away honesty upon a foul slut + were to put good meat into an unclean dish. + +AUDREY I am not a slut, though I thank the gods I am foul. + +TOUCHSTONE Well, praised be the gods for thy foulness! + sluttishness may come hereafter. But be it as it may + be, I will marry thee, and to that end I have been + with Sir Oliver Martext, the vicar of the next + village, who hath promised to meet me in this place + of the forest and to couple us. + +JAQUES [Aside] I would fain see this meeting. + +AUDREY Well, the gods give us joy! + +TOUCHSTONE Amen. A man may, if he were of a fearful heart, + stagger in this attempt; for here we have no temple + but the wood, no assembly but horn-beasts. But what + though? Courage! As horns are odious, they are + necessary. It is said, 'many a man knows no end of + his goods:' right; many a man has good horns, and + knows no end of them. Well, that is the dowry of + his wife; 'tis none of his own getting. Horns? + Even so. Poor men alone? No, no; the noblest deer + hath them as huge as the rascal. Is the single man + therefore blessed? No: as a walled town is more + worthier than a village, so is the forehead of a + married man more honourable than the bare brow of a + bachelor; and by how much defence is better than no + skill, by so much is a horn more precious than to + want. Here comes Sir Oliver. + + [Enter SIR OLIVER MARTEXT] + + Sir Oliver Martext, you are well met: will you + dispatch us here under this tree, or shall we go + with you to your chapel? + +SIR OLIVER MARTEXT Is there none here to give the woman? + +TOUCHSTONE I will not take her on gift of any man. + +SIR OLIVER MARTEXT Truly, she must be given, or the marriage is not lawful. + +JAQUES [Advancing] + + Proceed, proceed I'll give her. + +TOUCHSTONE Good even, good Master What-ye-call't: how do you, + sir? You are very well met: God 'ild you for your + last company: I am very glad to see you: even a + toy in hand here, sir: nay, pray be covered. + +JAQUES Will you be married, motley? + +TOUCHSTONE As the ox hath his bow, sir, the horse his curb and + the falcon her bells, so man hath his desires; and + as pigeons bill, so wedlock would be nibbling. + +JAQUES And will you, being a man of your breeding, be + married under a bush like a beggar? Get you to + church, and have a good priest that can tell you + what marriage is: this fellow will but join you + together as they join wainscot; then one of you will + prove a shrunk panel and, like green timber, warp, warp. + +TOUCHSTONE [Aside] I am not in the mind but I were better to be + married of him than of another: for he is not like + to marry me well; and not being well married, it + will be a good excuse for me hereafter to leave my wife. + +JAQUES Go thou with me, and let me counsel thee. + +TOUCHSTONE 'Come, sweet Audrey: + We must be married, or we must live in bawdry. + Farewell, good Master Oliver: not,-- + O sweet Oliver, + O brave Oliver, + Leave me not behind thee: but,-- + Wind away, + Begone, I say, + I will not to wedding with thee. + + [Exeunt JAQUES, TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY] + +SIR OLIVER MARTEXT 'Tis no matter: ne'er a fantastical knave of them + all shall flout me out of my calling. + + [Exit] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT III + + + +SCENE IV The forest. + + + [Enter ROSALIND and CELIA] + +ROSALIND Never talk to me; I will weep. + +CELIA Do, I prithee; but yet have the grace to consider + that tears do not become a man. + +ROSALIND But have I not cause to weep? + +CELIA As good cause as one would desire; therefore weep. + +ROSALIND His very hair is of the dissembling colour. + +CELIA Something browner than Judas's marry, his kisses are + Judas's own children. + +ROSALIND I' faith, his hair is of a good colour. + +CELIA An excellent colour: your chestnut was ever the only colour. + +ROSALIND And his kissing is as full of sanctity as the touch + of holy bread. + +CELIA He hath bought a pair of cast lips of Diana: a nun + of winter's sisterhood kisses not more religiously; + the very ice of chastity is in them. + +ROSALIND But why did he swear he would come this morning, and + comes not? + +CELIA Nay, certainly, there is no truth in him. + +ROSALIND Do you think so? + +CELIA Yes; I think he is not a pick-purse nor a + horse-stealer, but for his verity in love, I do + think him as concave as a covered goblet or a + worm-eaten nut. + +ROSALIND Not true in love? + +CELIA Yes, when he is in; but I think he is not in. + +ROSALIND You have heard him swear downright he was. + +CELIA 'Was' is not 'is:' besides, the oath of a lover is + no stronger than the word of a tapster; they are + both the confirmer of false reckonings. He attends + here in the forest on the duke your father. + +ROSALIND I met the duke yesterday and had much question with + him: he asked me of what parentage I was; I told + him, of as good as he; so he laughed and let me go. + But what talk we of fathers, when there is such a + man as Orlando? + +CELIA O, that's a brave man! he writes brave verses, + speaks brave words, swears brave oaths and breaks + them bravely, quite traverse, athwart the heart of + his lover; as a puisny tilter, that spurs his horse + but on one side, breaks his staff like a noble + goose: but all's brave that youth mounts and folly + guides. Who comes here? + + [Enter CORIN] + +CORIN Mistress and master, you have oft inquired + After the shepherd that complain'd of love, + Who you saw sitting by me on the turf, + Praising the proud disdainful shepherdess + That was his mistress. + +CELIA Well, and what of him? + +CORIN If you will see a pageant truly play'd, + Between the pale complexion of true love + And the red glow of scorn and proud disdain, + Go hence a little and I shall conduct you, + If you will mark it. + +ROSALIND O, come, let us remove: + The sight of lovers feedeth those in love. + Bring us to this sight, and you shall say + I'll prove a busy actor in their play. + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT III + + + +SCENE V Another part of the forest. + + + [Enter SILVIUS and PHEBE] + +SILVIUS Sweet Phebe, do not scorn me; do not, Phebe; + Say that you love me not, but say not so + In bitterness. The common executioner, + Whose heart the accustom'd sight of death makes hard, + Falls not the axe upon the humbled neck + But first begs pardon: will you sterner be + Than he that dies and lives by bloody drops? + + [Enter ROSALIND, CELIA, and CORIN, behind] + +PHEBE I would not be thy executioner: + I fly thee, for I would not injure thee. + Thou tell'st me there is murder in mine eye: + 'Tis pretty, sure, and very probable, + That eyes, that are the frail'st and softest things, + Who shut their coward gates on atomies, + Should be call'd tyrants, butchers, murderers! + Now I do frown on thee with all my heart; + And if mine eyes can wound, now let them kill thee: + Now counterfeit to swoon; why now fall down; + Or if thou canst not, O, for shame, for shame, + Lie not, to say mine eyes are murderers! + Now show the wound mine eye hath made in thee: + Scratch thee but with a pin, and there remains + Some scar of it; lean but upon a rush, + The cicatrice and capable impressure + Thy palm some moment keeps; but now mine eyes, + Which I have darted at thee, hurt thee not, + Nor, I am sure, there is no force in eyes + That can do hurt. + +SILVIUS O dear Phebe, + If ever,--as that ever may be near,-- + You meet in some fresh cheek the power of fancy, + Then shall you know the wounds invisible + That love's keen arrows make. + +PHEBE But till that time + Come not thou near me: and when that time comes, + Afflict me with thy mocks, pity me not; + As till that time I shall not pity thee. + +ROSALIND And why, I pray you? Who might be your mother, + That you insult, exult, and all at once, + Over the wretched? What though you have no beauty,-- + As, by my faith, I see no more in you + Than without candle may go dark to bed-- + Must you be therefore proud and pitiless? + Why, what means this? Why do you look on me? + I see no more in you than in the ordinary + Of nature's sale-work. 'Od's my little life, + I think she means to tangle my eyes too! + No, faith, proud mistress, hope not after it: + 'Tis not your inky brows, your black silk hair, + Your bugle eyeballs, nor your cheek of cream, + That can entame my spirits to your worship. + You foolish shepherd, wherefore do you follow her, + Like foggy south puffing with wind and rain? + You are a thousand times a properer man + Than she a woman: 'tis such fools as you + That makes the world full of ill-favour'd children: + 'Tis not her glass, but you, that flatters her; + And out of you she sees herself more proper + Than any of her lineaments can show her. + But, mistress, know yourself: down on your knees, + And thank heaven, fasting, for a good man's love: + For I must tell you friendly in your ear, + Sell when you can: you are not for all markets: + Cry the man mercy; love him; take his offer: + Foul is most foul, being foul to be a scoffer. + So take her to thee, shepherd: fare you well. + +PHEBE Sweet youth, I pray you, chide a year together: + I had rather hear you chide than this man woo. + +ROSALIND He's fallen in love with your foulness and she'll + fall in love with my anger. If it be so, as fast as + she answers thee with frowning looks, I'll sauce her + with bitter words. Why look you so upon me? + +PHEBE For no ill will I bear you. + +ROSALIND I pray you, do not fall in love with me, + For I am falser than vows made in wine: + Besides, I like you not. If you will know my house, + 'Tis at the tuft of olives here hard by. + Will you go, sister? Shepherd, ply her hard. + Come, sister. Shepherdess, look on him better, + And be not proud: though all the world could see, + None could be so abused in sight as he. + Come, to our flock. + + [Exeunt ROSALIND, CELIA and CORIN] + +PHEBE Dead Shepherd, now I find thy saw of might, + 'Who ever loved that loved not at first sight?' + +SILVIUS Sweet Phebe,-- + +PHEBE Ha, what say'st thou, Silvius? + +SILVIUS Sweet Phebe, pity me. + +PHEBE Why, I am sorry for thee, gentle Silvius. + +SILVIUS Wherever sorrow is, relief would be: + If you do sorrow at my grief in love, + By giving love your sorrow and my grief + Were both extermined. + +PHEBE Thou hast my love: is not that neighbourly? + +SILVIUS I would have you. + +PHEBE Why, that were covetousness. + Silvius, the time was that I hated thee, + And yet it is not that I bear thee love; + But since that thou canst talk of love so well, + Thy company, which erst was irksome to me, + I will endure, and I'll employ thee too: + But do not look for further recompense + Than thine own gladness that thou art employ'd. + +SILVIUS So holy and so perfect is my love, + And I in such a poverty of grace, + That I shall think it a most plenteous crop + To glean the broken ears after the man + That the main harvest reaps: loose now and then + A scatter'd smile, and that I'll live upon. + +PHEBE Know'st now the youth that spoke to me erewhile? + +SILVIUS Not very well, but I have met him oft; + And he hath bought the cottage and the bounds + That the old carlot once was master of. + +PHEBE Think not I love him, though I ask for him: + 'Tis but a peevish boy; yet he talks well; + But what care I for words? yet words do well + When he that speaks them pleases those that hear. + It is a pretty youth: not very pretty: + But, sure, he's proud, and yet his pride becomes him: + He'll make a proper man: the best thing in him + Is his complexion; and faster than his tongue + Did make offence his eye did heal it up. + He is not very tall; yet for his years he's tall: + His leg is but so so; and yet 'tis well: + There was a pretty redness in his lip, + A little riper and more lusty red + Than that mix'd in his cheek; 'twas just the difference + Between the constant red and mingled damask. + There be some women, Silvius, had they mark'd him + In parcels as I did, would have gone near + To fall in love with him; but, for my part, + I love him not nor hate him not; and yet + I have more cause to hate him than to love him: + For what had he to do to chide at me? + He said mine eyes were black and my hair black: + And, now I am remember'd, scorn'd at me: + I marvel why I answer'd not again: + But that's all one; omittance is no quittance. + I'll write to him a very taunting letter, + And thou shalt bear it: wilt thou, Silvius? + +SILVIUS Phebe, with all my heart. + +PHEBE I'll write it straight; + The matter's in my head and in my heart: + I will be bitter with him and passing short. + Go with me, Silvius. + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT IV + + + +SCENE I The forest. + + + [Enter ROSALIND, CELIA, and JAQUES] + +JAQUES I prithee, pretty youth, let me be better acquainted + with thee. + +ROSALIND They say you are a melancholy fellow. + +JAQUES I am so; I do love it better than laughing. + +ROSALIND Those that are in extremity of either are abominable + fellows and betray themselves to every modern + censure worse than drunkards. + +JAQUES Why, 'tis good to be sad and say nothing. + +ROSALIND Why then, 'tis good to be a post. + +JAQUES I have neither the scholar's melancholy, which is + emulation, nor the musician's, which is fantastical, + nor the courtier's, which is proud, nor the + soldier's, which is ambitious, nor the lawyer's, + which is politic, nor the lady's, which is nice, nor + the lover's, which is all these: but it is a + melancholy of mine own, compounded of many simples, + extracted from many objects, and indeed the sundry's + contemplation of my travels, in which my often + rumination wraps me m a most humorous sadness. + +ROSALIND A traveller! By my faith, you have great reason to + be sad: I fear you have sold your own lands to see + other men's; then, to have seen much and to have + nothing, is to have rich eyes and poor hands. + +JAQUES Yes, I have gained my experience. + +ROSALIND And your experience makes you sad: I had rather have + a fool to make me merry than experience to make me + sad; and to travel for it too! + + [Enter ORLANDO] + +ORLANDO Good day and happiness, dear Rosalind! + +JAQUES Nay, then, God be wi' you, an you talk in blank verse. + + [Exit] + +ROSALIND Farewell, Monsieur Traveller: look you lisp and + wear strange suits, disable all the benefits of your + own country, be out of love with your nativity and + almost chide God for making you that countenance you + are, or I will scarce think you have swam in a + gondola. Why, how now, Orlando! where have you been + all this while? You a lover! An you serve me such + another trick, never come in my sight more. + +ORLANDO My fair Rosalind, I come within an hour of my promise. + +ROSALIND Break an hour's promise in love! He that will + divide a minute into a thousand parts and break but + a part of the thousandth part of a minute in the + affairs of love, it may be said of him that Cupid + hath clapped him o' the shoulder, but I'll warrant + him heart-whole. + +ORLANDO Pardon me, dear Rosalind. + +ROSALIND Nay, an you be so tardy, come no more in my sight: I + had as lief be wooed of a snail. + +ORLANDO Of a snail? + +ROSALIND Ay, of a snail; for though he comes slowly, he + carries his house on his head; a better jointure, + I think, than you make a woman: besides he brings + his destiny with him. + +ORLANDO What's that? + +ROSALIND Why, horns, which such as you are fain to be + beholding to your wives for: but he comes armed in + his fortune and prevents the slander of his wife. + +ORLANDO Virtue is no horn-maker; and my Rosalind is virtuous. + +ROSALIND And I am your Rosalind. + +CELIA It pleases him to call you so; but he hath a + Rosalind of a better leer than you. + +ROSALIND Come, woo me, woo me, for now I am in a holiday + humour and like enough to consent. What would you + say to me now, an I were your very very Rosalind? + +ORLANDO I would kiss before I spoke. + +ROSALIND Nay, you were better speak first, and when you were + gravelled for lack of matter, you might take + occasion to kiss. Very good orators, when they are + out, they will spit; and for lovers lacking--God + warn us!--matter, the cleanliest shift is to kiss. + +ORLANDO How if the kiss be denied? + +ROSALIND Then she puts you to entreaty, and there begins new matter. + +ORLANDO Who could be out, being before his beloved mistress? + +ROSALIND Marry, that should you, if I were your mistress, or + I should think my honesty ranker than my wit. + +ORLANDO What, of my suit? + +ROSALIND Not out of your apparel, and yet out of your suit. + Am not I your Rosalind? + +ORLANDO I take some joy to say you are, because I would be + talking of her. + +ROSALIND Well in her person I say I will not have you. + +ORLANDO Then in mine own person I die. + +ROSALIND No, faith, die by attorney. The poor world is + almost six thousand years old, and in all this time + there was not any man died in his own person, + videlicit, in a love-cause. Troilus had his brains + dashed out with a Grecian club; yet he did what he + could to die before, and he is one of the patterns + of love. Leander, he would have lived many a fair + year, though Hero had turned nun, if it had not been + for a hot midsummer night; for, good youth, he went + but forth to wash him in the Hellespont and being + taken with the cramp was drowned and the foolish + coroners of that age found it was 'Hero of Sestos.' + But these are all lies: men have died from time to + time and worms have eaten them, but not for love. + +ORLANDO I would not have my right Rosalind of this mind, + for, I protest, her frown might kill me. + +ROSALIND By this hand, it will not kill a fly. But come, now + I will be your Rosalind in a more coming-on + disposition, and ask me what you will. I will grant + it. + +ORLANDO Then love me, Rosalind. + +ROSALIND Yes, faith, will I, Fridays and Saturdays and all. + +ORLANDO And wilt thou have me? + +ROSALIND Ay, and twenty such. + +ORLANDO What sayest thou? + +ROSALIND Are you not good? + +ORLANDO I hope so. + +ROSALIND Why then, can one desire too much of a good thing? + Come, sister, you shall be the priest and marry us. + Give me your hand, Orlando. What do you say, sister? + +ORLANDO Pray thee, marry us. + +CELIA I cannot say the words. + +ROSALIND You must begin, 'Will you, Orlando--' + +CELIA Go to. Will you, Orlando, have to wife this Rosalind? + +ORLANDO I will. + +ROSALIND Ay, but when? + +ORLANDO Why now; as fast as she can marry us. + +ROSALIND Then you must say 'I take thee, Rosalind, for wife.' + +ORLANDO I take thee, Rosalind, for wife. + +ROSALIND I might ask you for your commission; but I do take + thee, Orlando, for my husband: there's a girl goes + before the priest; and certainly a woman's thought + runs before her actions. + +ORLANDO So do all thoughts; they are winged. + +ROSALIND Now tell me how long you would have her after you + have possessed her. + +ORLANDO For ever and a day. + +ROSALIND Say 'a day,' without the 'ever.' No, no, Orlando; + men are April when they woo, December when they wed: + maids are May when they are maids, but the sky + changes when they are wives. I will be more jealous + of thee than a Barbary cock-pigeon over his hen, + more clamorous than a parrot against rain, more + new-fangled than an ape, more giddy in my desires + than a monkey: I will weep for nothing, like Diana + in the fountain, and I will do that when you are + disposed to be merry; I will laugh like a hyen, and + that when thou art inclined to sleep. + +ORLANDO But will my Rosalind do so? + +ROSALIND By my life, she will do as I do. + +ORLANDO O, but she is wise. + +ROSALIND Or else she could not have the wit to do this: the + wiser, the waywarder: make the doors upon a woman's + wit and it will out at the casement; shut that and + 'twill out at the key-hole; stop that, 'twill fly + with the smoke out at the chimney. + +ORLANDO A man that had a wife with such a wit, he might say + 'Wit, whither wilt?' + +ROSALIND Nay, you might keep that cheque for it till you met + your wife's wit going to your neighbour's bed. + +ORLANDO And what wit could wit have to excuse that? + +ROSALIND Marry, to say she came to seek you there. You shall + never take her without her answer, unless you take + her without her tongue. O, that woman that cannot + make her fault her husband's occasion, let her + never nurse her child herself, for she will breed + it like a fool! + +ORLANDO For these two hours, Rosalind, I will leave thee. + +ROSALIND Alas! dear love, I cannot lack thee two hours. + +ORLANDO I must attend the duke at dinner: by two o'clock I + will be with thee again. + +ROSALIND Ay, go your ways, go your ways; I knew what you + would prove: my friends told me as much, and I + thought no less: that flattering tongue of yours + won me: 'tis but one cast away, and so, come, + death! Two o'clock is your hour? + +ORLANDO Ay, sweet Rosalind. + +ROSALIND By my troth, and in good earnest, and so God mend + me, and by all pretty oaths that are not dangerous, + if you break one jot of your promise or come one + minute behind your hour, I will think you the most + pathetical break-promise and the most hollow lover + and the most unworthy of her you call Rosalind that + may be chosen out of the gross band of the + unfaithful: therefore beware my censure and keep + your promise. + +ORLANDO With no less religion than if thou wert indeed my + Rosalind: so adieu. + +ROSALIND Well, Time is the old justice that examines all such + offenders, and let Time try: adieu. + + [Exit ORLANDO] + +CELIA You have simply misused our sex in your love-prate: + we must have your doublet and hose plucked over your + head, and show the world what the bird hath done to + her own nest. + +ROSALIND O coz, coz, coz, my pretty little coz, that thou + didst know how many fathom deep I am in love! But + it cannot be sounded: my affection hath an unknown + bottom, like the bay of Portugal. + +CELIA Or rather, bottomless, that as fast as you pour + affection in, it runs out. + +ROSALIND No, that same wicked bastard of Venus that was begot + of thought, conceived of spleen and born of madness, + that blind rascally boy that abuses every one's eyes + because his own are out, let him be judge how deep I + am in love. I'll tell thee, Aliena, I cannot be out + of the sight of Orlando: I'll go find a shadow and + sigh till he come. + +CELIA And I'll sleep. + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT IV + + + +SCENE II The forest. + + + [Enter JAQUES, Lords, and Foresters] + +JAQUES Which is he that killed the deer? + +A Lord Sir, it was I. + +JAQUES Let's present him to the duke, like a Roman + conqueror; and it would do well to set the deer's + horns upon his head, for a branch of victory. Have + you no song, forester, for this purpose? + +Forester Yes, sir. + +JAQUES Sing it: 'tis no matter how it be in tune, so it + make noise enough. + + SONG. +Forester What shall he have that kill'd the deer? + His leather skin and horns to wear. + Then sing him home; + + [The rest shall bear this burden] + + Take thou no scorn to wear the horn; + It was a crest ere thou wast born: + Thy father's father wore it, + And thy father bore it: + The horn, the horn, the lusty horn + Is not a thing to laugh to scorn. + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT IV + + + +SCENE III The forest. + + + [Enter ROSALIND and CELIA] + +ROSALIND How say you now? Is it not past two o'clock? and + here much Orlando! + +CELIA I warrant you, with pure love and troubled brain, he + hath ta'en his bow and arrows and is gone forth to + sleep. Look, who comes here. + + [Enter SILVIUS] + +SILVIUS My errand is to you, fair youth; + My gentle Phebe bid me give you this: + I know not the contents; but, as I guess + By the stern brow and waspish action + Which she did use as she was writing of it, + It bears an angry tenor: pardon me: + I am but as a guiltless messenger. + +ROSALIND Patience herself would startle at this letter + And play the swaggerer; bear this, bear all: + She says I am not fair, that I lack manners; + She calls me proud, and that she could not love me, + Were man as rare as phoenix. 'Od's my will! + Her love is not the hare that I do hunt: + Why writes she so to me? Well, shepherd, well, + This is a letter of your own device. + +SILVIUS No, I protest, I know not the contents: + Phebe did write it. + +ROSALIND Come, come, you are a fool + And turn'd into the extremity of love. + I saw her hand: she has a leathern hand. + A freestone-colour'd hand; I verily did think + That her old gloves were on, but 'twas her hands: + She has a huswife's hand; but that's no matter: + I say she never did invent this letter; + This is a man's invention and his hand. + +SILVIUS Sure, it is hers. + +ROSALIND Why, 'tis a boisterous and a cruel style. + A style for-challengers; why, she defies me, + Like Turk to Christian: women's gentle brain + Could not drop forth such giant-rude invention + Such Ethiope words, blacker in their effect + Than in their countenance. Will you hear the letter? + +SILVIUS So please you, for I never heard it yet; + Yet heard too much of Phebe's cruelty. + +ROSALIND She Phebes me: mark how the tyrant writes. + + [Reads] + + Art thou god to shepherd turn'd, + That a maiden's heart hath burn'd? + Can a woman rail thus? + +SILVIUS Call you this railing? + +ROSALIND [Reads] + + Why, thy godhead laid apart, + Warr'st thou with a woman's heart? + Did you ever hear such railing? + Whiles the eye of man did woo me, + That could do no vengeance to me. + Meaning me a beast. + If the scorn of your bright eyne + Have power to raise such love in mine, + Alack, in me what strange effect + Would they work in mild aspect! + Whiles you chid me, I did love; + How then might your prayers move! + He that brings this love to thee + Little knows this love in me: + And by him seal up thy mind; + Whether that thy youth and kind + Will the faithful offer take + Of me and all that I can make; + Or else by him my love deny, + And then I'll study how to die. + +SILVIUS Call you this chiding? + +CELIA Alas, poor shepherd! + +ROSALIND Do you pity him? no, he deserves no pity. Wilt + thou love such a woman? What, to make thee an + instrument and play false strains upon thee! not to + be endured! Well, go your way to her, for I see + love hath made thee a tame snake, and say this to + her: that if she love me, I charge her to love + thee; if she will not, I will never have her unless + thou entreat for her. If you be a true lover, + hence, and not a word; for here comes more company. + + [Exit SILVIUS] + + [Enter OLIVER] + +OLIVER Good morrow, fair ones: pray you, if you know, + Where in the purlieus of this forest stands + A sheep-cote fenced about with olive trees? + +CELIA West of this place, down in the neighbour bottom: + The rank of osiers by the murmuring stream + Left on your right hand brings you to the place. + But at this hour the house doth keep itself; + There's none within. + +OLIVER If that an eye may profit by a tongue, + Then should I know you by description; + Such garments and such years: 'The boy is fair, + Of female favour, and bestows himself + Like a ripe sister: the woman low + And browner than her brother.' Are not you + The owner of the house I did inquire for? + +CELIA It is no boast, being ask'd, to say we are. + +OLIVER Orlando doth commend him to you both, + And to that youth he calls his Rosalind + He sends this bloody napkin. Are you he? + +ROSALIND I am: what must we understand by this? + +OLIVER Some of my shame; if you will know of me + What man I am, and how, and why, and where + This handkercher was stain'd. + +CELIA I pray you, tell it. + +OLIVER When last the young Orlando parted from you + He left a promise to return again + Within an hour, and pacing through the forest, + Chewing the food of sweet and bitter fancy, + Lo, what befell! he threw his eye aside, + And mark what object did present itself: + Under an oak, whose boughs were moss'd with age + And high top bald with dry antiquity, + A wretched ragged man, o'ergrown with hair, + Lay sleeping on his back: about his neck + A green and gilded snake had wreathed itself, + Who with her head nimble in threats approach'd + The opening of his mouth; but suddenly, + Seeing Orlando, it unlink'd itself, + And with indented glides did slip away + Into a bush: under which bush's shade + A lioness, with udders all drawn dry, + Lay couching, head on ground, with catlike watch, + When that the sleeping man should stir; for 'tis + The royal disposition of that beast + To prey on nothing that doth seem as dead: + This seen, Orlando did approach the man + And found it was his brother, his elder brother. + +CELIA O, I have heard him speak of that same brother; + And he did render him the most unnatural + That lived amongst men. + +OLIVER And well he might so do, + For well I know he was unnatural. + +ROSALIND But, to Orlando: did he leave him there, + Food to the suck'd and hungry lioness? + +OLIVER Twice did he turn his back and purposed so; + But kindness, nobler ever than revenge, + And nature, stronger than his just occasion, + Made him give battle to the lioness, + Who quickly fell before him: in which hurtling + From miserable slumber I awaked. + +CELIA Are you his brother? + +ROSALIND Wast you he rescued? + +CELIA Was't you that did so oft contrive to kill him? + +OLIVER 'Twas I; but 'tis not I I do not shame + To tell you what I was, since my conversion + So sweetly tastes, being the thing I am. + +ROSALIND But, for the bloody napkin? + +OLIVER By and by. + When from the first to last betwixt us two + Tears our recountments had most kindly bathed, + As how I came into that desert place:-- + In brief, he led me to the gentle duke, + Who gave me fresh array and entertainment, + Committing me unto my brother's love; + Who led me instantly unto his cave, + There stripp'd himself, and here upon his arm + The lioness had torn some flesh away, + Which all this while had bled; and now he fainted + And cried, in fainting, upon Rosalind. + Brief, I recover'd him, bound up his wound; + And, after some small space, being strong at heart, + He sent me hither, stranger as I am, + To tell this story, that you might excuse + His broken promise, and to give this napkin + Dyed in his blood unto the shepherd youth + That he in sport doth call his Rosalind. + + [ROSALIND swoons] + +CELIA Why, how now, Ganymede! sweet Ganymede! + +OLIVER Many will swoon when they do look on blood. + +CELIA There is more in it. Cousin Ganymede! + +OLIVER Look, he recovers. + +ROSALIND I would I were at home. + +CELIA We'll lead you thither. + I pray you, will you take him by the arm? + +OLIVER Be of good cheer, youth: you a man! you lack a + man's heart. + +ROSALIND I do so, I confess it. Ah, sirrah, a body would + think this was well counterfeited! I pray you, tell + your brother how well I counterfeited. Heigh-ho! + +OLIVER This was not counterfeit: there is too great + testimony in your complexion that it was a passion + of earnest. + +ROSALIND Counterfeit, I assure you. + +OLIVER Well then, take a good heart and counterfeit to be a man. + +ROSALIND So I do: but, i' faith, I should have been a woman by right. + +CELIA Come, you look paler and paler: pray you, draw + homewards. Good sir, go with us. + +OLIVER That will I, for I must bear answer back + How you excuse my brother, Rosalind. + +ROSALIND I shall devise something: but, I pray you, commend + my counterfeiting to him. Will you go? + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT V + + + +SCENE I The forest. + + + [Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY] + +TOUCHSTONE We shall find a time, Audrey; patience, gentle Audrey. + +AUDREY Faith, the priest was good enough, for all the old + gentleman's saying. + +TOUCHSTONE A most wicked Sir Oliver, Audrey, a most vile + Martext. But, Audrey, there is a youth here in the + forest lays claim to you. + +AUDREY Ay, I know who 'tis; he hath no interest in me in + the world: here comes the man you mean. + +TOUCHSTONE It is meat and drink to me to see a clown: by my + troth, we that have good wits have much to answer + for; we shall be flouting; we cannot hold. + + [Enter WILLIAM] + +WILLIAM Good even, Audrey. + +AUDREY God ye good even, William. + +WILLIAM And good even to you, sir. + +TOUCHSTONE Good even, gentle friend. Cover thy head, cover thy + head; nay, prithee, be covered. How old are you, friend? + +WILLIAM Five and twenty, sir. + +TOUCHSTONE A ripe age. Is thy name William? + +WILLIAM William, sir. + +TOUCHSTONE A fair name. Wast born i' the forest here? + +WILLIAM Ay, sir, I thank God. + +TOUCHSTONE 'Thank God;' a good answer. Art rich? + +WILLIAM Faith, sir, so so. + +TOUCHSTONE 'So so' is good, very good, very excellent good; and + yet it is not; it is but so so. Art thou wise? + +WILLIAM Ay, sir, I have a pretty wit. + +TOUCHSTONE Why, thou sayest well. I do now remember a saying, + 'The fool doth think he is wise, but the wise man + knows himself to be a fool.' The heathen + philosopher, when he had a desire to eat a grape, + would open his lips when he put it into his mouth; + meaning thereby that grapes were made to eat and + lips to open. You do love this maid? + +WILLIAM I do, sir. + +TOUCHSTONE Give me your hand. Art thou learned? + +WILLIAM No, sir. + +TOUCHSTONE Then learn this of me: to have, is to have; for it + is a figure in rhetoric that drink, being poured out + of a cup into a glass, by filling the one doth empty + the other; for all your writers do consent that ipse + is he: now, you are not ipse, for I am he. + +WILLIAM Which he, sir? + +TOUCHSTONE He, sir, that must marry this woman. Therefore, you + clown, abandon,--which is in the vulgar leave,--the + society,--which in the boorish is company,--of this + female,--which in the common is woman; which + together is, abandon the society of this female, or, + clown, thou perishest; or, to thy better + understanding, diest; or, to wit I kill thee, make + thee away, translate thy life into death, thy + liberty into bondage: I will deal in poison with + thee, or in bastinado, or in steel; I will bandy + with thee in faction; I will o'errun thee with + policy; I will kill thee a hundred and fifty ways: + therefore tremble and depart. + +AUDREY Do, good William. + +WILLIAM God rest you merry, sir. + + [Exit] + + [Enter CORIN] + +CORIN Our master and mistress seeks you; come, away, away! + +TOUCHSTONE Trip, Audrey! trip, Audrey! I attend, I attend. + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT V + + + +SCENE II The forest. + + + [Enter ORLANDO and OLIVER] + +ORLANDO Is't possible that on so little acquaintance you + should like her? that but seeing you should love + her? and loving woo? and, wooing, she should + grant? and will you persever to enjoy her? + +OLIVER Neither call the giddiness of it in question, the + poverty of her, the small acquaintance, my sudden + wooing, nor her sudden consenting; but say with me, + I love Aliena; say with her that she loves me; + consent with both that we may enjoy each other: it + shall be to your good; for my father's house and all + the revenue that was old Sir Rowland's will I + estate upon you, and here live and die a shepherd. + +ORLANDO You have my consent. Let your wedding be to-morrow: + thither will I invite the duke and all's contented + followers. Go you and prepare Aliena; for look + you, here comes my Rosalind. + + [Enter ROSALIND] + +ROSALIND God save you, brother. + +OLIVER And you, fair sister. + + [Exit] + +ROSALIND O, my dear Orlando, how it grieves me to see thee + wear thy heart in a scarf! + +ORLANDO It is my arm. + +ROSALIND I thought thy heart had been wounded with the claws + of a lion. + +ORLANDO Wounded it is, but with the eyes of a lady. + +ROSALIND Did your brother tell you how I counterfeited to + swoon when he showed me your handkerchief? + +ORLANDO Ay, and greater wonders than that. + +ROSALIND O, I know where you are: nay, 'tis true: there was + never any thing so sudden but the fight of two rams + and Caesar's thrasonical brag of 'I came, saw, and + overcame:' for your brother and my sister no sooner + met but they looked, no sooner looked but they + loved, no sooner loved but they sighed, no sooner + sighed but they asked one another the reason, no + sooner knew the reason but they sought the remedy; + and in these degrees have they made a pair of stairs + to marriage which they will climb incontinent, or + else be incontinent before marriage: they are in + the very wrath of love and they will together; clubs + cannot part them. + +ORLANDO They shall be married to-morrow, and I will bid the + duke to the nuptial. But, O, how bitter a thing it + is to look into happiness through another man's + eyes! By so much the more shall I to-morrow be at + the height of heart-heaviness, by how much I shall + think my brother happy in having what he wishes for. + +ROSALIND Why then, to-morrow I cannot serve your turn for Rosalind? + +ORLANDO I can live no longer by thinking. + +ROSALIND I will weary you then no longer with idle talking. + Know of me then, for now I speak to some purpose, + that I know you are a gentleman of good conceit: I + speak not this that you should bear a good opinion + of my knowledge, insomuch I say I know you are; + neither do I labour for a greater esteem than may in + some little measure draw a belief from you, to do + yourself good and not to grace me. Believe then, if + you please, that I can do strange things: I have, + since I was three year old, conversed with a + magician, most profound in his art and yet not + damnable. If you do love Rosalind so near the heart + as your gesture cries it out, when your brother + marries Aliena, shall you marry her: I know into + what straits of fortune she is driven; and it is + not impossible to me, if it appear not inconvenient + to you, to set her before your eyes tomorrow human + as she is and without any danger. + +ORLANDO Speakest thou in sober meanings? + +ROSALIND By my life, I do; which I tender dearly, though I + say I am a magician. Therefore, put you in your + best array: bid your friends; for if you will be + married to-morrow, you shall, and to Rosalind, if you will. + + [Enter SILVIUS and PHEBE] + + Look, here comes a lover of mine and a lover of hers. + +PHEBE Youth, you have done me much ungentleness, + To show the letter that I writ to you. + +ROSALIND I care not if I have: it is my study + To seem despiteful and ungentle to you: + You are there followed by a faithful shepherd; + Look upon him, love him; he worships you. + +PHEBE Good shepherd, tell this youth what 'tis to love. + +SILVIUS It is to be all made of sighs and tears; + And so am I for Phebe. + +PHEBE And I for Ganymede. + +ORLANDO And I for Rosalind. + +ROSALIND And I for no woman. + +SILVIUS It is to be all made of faith and service; + And so am I for Phebe. + +PHEBE And I for Ganymede. + +ORLANDO And I for Rosalind. + +ROSALIND And I for no woman. + +SILVIUS It is to be all made of fantasy, + All made of passion and all made of wishes, + All adoration, duty, and observance, + All humbleness, all patience and impatience, + All purity, all trial, all observance; + And so am I for Phebe. + +PHEBE And so am I for Ganymede. + +ORLANDO And so am I for Rosalind. + +ROSALIND And so am I for no woman. + +PHEBE If this be so, why blame you me to love you? + +SILVIUS If this be so, why blame you me to love you? + +ORLANDO If this be so, why blame you me to love you? + +ROSALIND Who do you speak to, 'Why blame you me to love you?' + +ORLANDO To her that is not here, nor doth not hear. + +ROSALIND Pray you, no more of this; 'tis like the howling + of Irish wolves against the moon. + + [To SILVIUS] + + I will help you, if I can: + + [To PHEBE] + + I would love you, if I could. To-morrow meet me all together. + + [To PHEBE] + + I will marry you, if ever I marry woman, and I'll be + married to-morrow: + + [To ORLANDO] + + I will satisfy you, if ever I satisfied man, and you + shall be married to-morrow: + + [To SILVIUS] + + I will content you, if what pleases you contents + you, and you shall be married to-morrow. + + [To ORLANDO] + + As you love Rosalind, meet: + + [To SILVIUS] + + as you love Phebe, meet: and as I love no woman, + I'll meet. So fare you well: I have left you commands. + +SILVIUS I'll not fail, if I live. + +PHEBE Nor I. + +ORLANDO Nor I. + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT V + + + +SCENE III The forest. + + + [Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY] + +TOUCHSTONE To-morrow is the joyful day, Audrey; to-morrow will + we be married. + +AUDREY I do desire it with all my heart; and I hope it is + no dishonest desire to desire to be a woman of the + world. Here comes two of the banished duke's pages. + + [Enter two Pages] + +First Page Well met, honest gentleman. + +TOUCHSTONE By my troth, well met. Come, sit, sit, and a song. + +Second Page We are for you: sit i' the middle. + +First Page Shall we clap into't roundly, without hawking or + spitting or saying we are hoarse, which are the only + prologues to a bad voice? + +Second Page I'faith, i'faith; and both in a tune, like two + gipsies on a horse. + + SONG. + It was a lover and his lass, + With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, + That o'er the green corn-field did pass + In the spring time, the only pretty ring time, + When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding: + Sweet lovers love the spring. + + Between the acres of the rye, + With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino + These pretty country folks would lie, + In spring time, &c. + + This carol they began that hour, + With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, + How that a life was but a flower + In spring time, &c. + + And therefore take the present time, + With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino; + For love is crowned with the prime + In spring time, &c. + +TOUCHSTONE Truly, young gentlemen, though there was no great + matter in the ditty, yet the note was very + untuneable. + +First Page You are deceived, sir: we kept time, we lost not our time. + +TOUCHSTONE By my troth, yes; I count it but time lost to hear + such a foolish song. God be wi' you; and God mend + your voices! Come, Audrey. + + [Exeunt] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + +ACT V + + + +SCENE IV The forest. + + + [Enter DUKE SENIOR, AMIENS, JAQUES, ORLANDO, OLIVER, + and CELIA] + +DUKE SENIOR Dost thou believe, Orlando, that the boy + Can do all this that he hath promised? + +ORLANDO I sometimes do believe, and sometimes do not; + As those that fear they hope, and know they fear. + + [Enter ROSALIND, SILVIUS, and PHEBE] + +ROSALIND Patience once more, whiles our compact is urged: + You say, if I bring in your Rosalind, + You will bestow her on Orlando here? + +DUKE SENIOR That would I, had I kingdoms to give with her. + +ROSALIND And you say, you will have her, when I bring her? + +ORLANDO That would I, were I of all kingdoms king. + +ROSALIND You say, you'll marry me, if I be willing? + +PHEBE That will I, should I die the hour after. + +ROSALIND But if you do refuse to marry me, + You'll give yourself to this most faithful shepherd? + +PHEBE So is the bargain. + +ROSALIND You say, that you'll have Phebe, if she will? + +SILVIUS Though to have her and death were both one thing. + +ROSALIND I have promised to make all this matter even. + Keep you your word, O duke, to give your daughter; + You yours, Orlando, to receive his daughter: + Keep your word, Phebe, that you'll marry me, + Or else refusing me, to wed this shepherd: + Keep your word, Silvius, that you'll marry her. + If she refuse me: and from hence I go, + To make these doubts all even. + + [Exeunt ROSALIND and CELIA] + +DUKE SENIOR I do remember in this shepherd boy + Some lively touches of my daughter's favour. + +ORLANDO My lord, the first time that I ever saw him + Methought he was a brother to your daughter: + But, my good lord, this boy is forest-born, + And hath been tutor'd in the rudiments + Of many desperate studies by his uncle, + Whom he reports to be a great magician, + Obscured in the circle of this forest. + + [Enter TOUCHSTONE and AUDREY] + +JAQUES There is, sure, another flood toward, and these + couples are coming to the ark. Here comes a pair of + very strange beasts, which in all tongues are called fools. + +TOUCHSTONE Salutation and greeting to you all! + +JAQUES Good my lord, bid him welcome: this is the + motley-minded gentleman that I have so often met in + the forest: he hath been a courtier, he swears. + +TOUCHSTONE If any man doubt that, let him put me to my + purgation. I have trod a measure; I have flattered + a lady; I have been politic with my friend, smooth + with mine enemy; I have undone three tailors; I have + had four quarrels, and like to have fought one. + +JAQUES And how was that ta'en up? + +TOUCHSTONE Faith, we met, and found the quarrel was upon the + seventh cause. + +JAQUES How seventh cause? Good my lord, like this fellow. + +DUKE SENIOR I like him very well. + +TOUCHSTONE God 'ild you, sir; I desire you of the like. I + press in here, sir, amongst the rest of the country + copulatives, to swear and to forswear: according as + marriage binds and blood breaks: a poor virgin, + sir, an ill-favoured thing, sir, but mine own; a poor + humour of mine, sir, to take that that no man else + will: rich honesty dwells like a miser, sir, in a + poor house; as your pearl in your foul oyster. + +DUKE SENIOR By my faith, he is very swift and sententious. + +TOUCHSTONE According to the fool's bolt, sir, and such dulcet diseases. + +JAQUES But, for the seventh cause; how did you find the + quarrel on the seventh cause? + +TOUCHSTONE Upon a lie seven times removed:--bear your body more + seeming, Audrey:--as thus, sir. I did dislike the + cut of a certain courtier's beard: he sent me word, + if I said his beard was not cut well, he was in the + mind it was: this is called the Retort Courteous. + If I sent him word again 'it was not well cut,' he + would send me word, he cut it to please himself: + this is called the Quip Modest. If again 'it was + not well cut,' he disabled my judgment: this is + called the Reply Churlish. If again 'it was not + well cut,' he would answer, I spake not true: this + is called the Reproof Valiant. If again 'it was not + well cut,' he would say I lied: this is called the + Counter-cheque Quarrelsome: and so to the Lie + Circumstantial and the Lie Direct. + +JAQUES And how oft did you say his beard was not well cut? + +TOUCHSTONE I durst go no further than the Lie Circumstantial, + nor he durst not give me the Lie Direct; and so we + measured swords and parted. + +JAQUES Can you nominate in order now the degrees of the lie? + +TOUCHSTONE O sir, we quarrel in print, by the book; as you have + books for good manners: I will name you the degrees. + The first, the Retort Courteous; the second, the + Quip Modest; the third, the Reply Churlish; the + fourth, the Reproof Valiant; the fifth, the + Countercheque Quarrelsome; the sixth, the Lie with + Circumstance; the seventh, the Lie Direct. All + these you may avoid but the Lie Direct; and you may + avoid that too, with an If. I knew when seven + justices could not take up a quarrel, but when the + parties were met themselves, one of them thought but + of an If, as, 'If you said so, then I said so;' and + they shook hands and swore brothers. Your If is the + only peacemaker; much virtue in If. + +JAQUES Is not this a rare fellow, my lord? he's as good at + any thing and yet a fool. + +DUKE SENIOR He uses his folly like a stalking-horse and under + the presentation of that he shoots his wit. + + [Enter HYMEN, ROSALIND, and CELIA] + + [Still Music] + +HYMEN Then is there mirth in heaven, + When earthly things made even + Atone together. + Good duke, receive thy daughter + Hymen from heaven brought her, + Yea, brought her hither, + That thou mightst join her hand with his + Whose heart within his bosom is. + +ROSALIND [To DUKE SENIOR] To you I give myself, for I am yours. + + [To ORLANDO] + + To you I give myself, for I am yours. + +DUKE SENIOR If there be truth in sight, you are my daughter. + +ORLANDO If there be truth in sight, you are my Rosalind. + +PHEBE If sight and shape be true, + Why then, my love adieu! + +ROSALIND I'll have no father, if you be not he: + I'll have no husband, if you be not he: + Nor ne'er wed woman, if you be not she. + +HYMEN Peace, ho! I bar confusion: + 'Tis I must make conclusion + Of these most strange events: + Here's eight that must take hands + To join in Hymen's bands, + If truth holds true contents. + You and you no cross shall part: + You and you are heart in heart + You to his love must accord, + Or have a woman to your lord: + You and you are sure together, + As the winter to foul weather. + Whiles a wedlock-hymn we sing, + Feed yourselves with questioning; + That reason wonder may diminish, + How thus we met, and these things finish. + + SONG. + Wedding is great Juno's crown: + O blessed bond of board and bed! + 'Tis Hymen peoples every town; + High wedlock then be honoured: + Honour, high honour and renown, + To Hymen, god of every town! + +DUKE SENIOR O my dear niece, welcome thou art to me! + Even daughter, welcome, in no less degree. + +PHEBE I will not eat my word, now thou art mine; + Thy faith my fancy to thee doth combine. + + [Enter JAQUES DE BOYS] + +JAQUES DE BOYS Let me have audience for a word or two: + I am the second son of old Sir Rowland, + That bring these tidings to this fair assembly. + Duke Frederick, hearing how that every day + Men of great worth resorted to this forest, + Address'd a mighty power; which were on foot, + In his own conduct, purposely to take + His brother here and put him to the sword: + And to the skirts of this wild wood he came; + Where meeting with an old religious man, + After some question with him, was converted + Both from his enterprise and from the world, + His crown bequeathing to his banish'd brother, + And all their lands restored to them again + That were with him exiled. This to be true, + I do engage my life. + +DUKE SENIOR Welcome, young man; + Thou offer'st fairly to thy brothers' wedding: + To one his lands withheld, and to the other + A land itself at large, a potent dukedom. + First, in this forest, let us do those ends + That here were well begun and well begot: + And after, every of this happy number + That have endured shrewd days and nights with us + Shall share the good of our returned fortune, + According to the measure of their states. + Meantime, forget this new-fall'n dignity + And fall into our rustic revelry. + Play, music! And you, brides and bridegrooms all, + With measure heap'd in joy, to the measures fall. + +JAQUES Sir, by your patience. If I heard you rightly, + The duke hath put on a religious life + And thrown into neglect the pompous court? + +JAQUES DE BOYS He hath. + +JAQUES To him will I : out of these convertites + There is much matter to be heard and learn'd. + + [To DUKE SENIOR] + + You to your former honour I bequeath; + Your patience and your virtue well deserves it: + + [To ORLANDO] + + You to a love that your true faith doth merit: + + [To OLIVER] + + You to your land and love and great allies: + + [To SILVIUS] + + You to a long and well-deserved bed: + + [To TOUCHSTONE] + + And you to wrangling; for thy loving voyage + Is but for two months victuall'd. So, to your pleasures: + I am for other than for dancing measures. + +DUKE SENIOR Stay, Jaques, stay. + +JAQUES To see no pastime I what you would have + I'll stay to know at your abandon'd cave. + + [Exit] + +DUKE SENIOR Proceed, proceed: we will begin these rites, + As we do trust they'll end, in true delights. + + [A dance] + + + + + AS YOU LIKE IT + + EPILOGUE + + +ROSALIND It is not the fashion to see the lady the epilogue; + but it is no more unhandsome than to see the lord + the prologue. If it be true that good wine needs + no bush, 'tis true that a good play needs no + epilogue; yet to good wine they do use good bushes, + and good plays prove the better by the help of good + epilogues. What a case am I in then, that am + neither a good epilogue nor cannot insinuate with + you in the behalf of a good play! I am not + furnished like a beggar, therefore to beg will not + become me: my way is to conjure you; and I'll begin + with the women. I charge you, O women, for the love + you bear to men, to like as much of this play as + please you: and I charge you, O men, for the love + you bear to women--as I perceive by your simpering, + none of you hates them--that between you and the + women the play may please. If I were a woman I + would kiss as many of you as had beards that pleased + me, complexions that liked me and breaths that I + defied not: and, I am sure, as many as have good + beards or good faces or sweet breaths will, for my + kind offer, when I make curtsy, bid me farewell. + + [Exeunt] diff --git a/tests/data/lcet10.txt b/tests/data/lcet10.txt index 26b187d..25dda6b 100644 --- a/tests/data/lcet10.txt +++ b/tests/data/lcet10.txt @@ -1,7519 +1,7519 @@ - - -The Project Gutenberg Etext of LOC WORKSHOP ON ELECTRONIC TEXTS - - - - - WORKSHOP ON ELECTRONIC TEXTS - - PROCEEDINGS - - - - Edited by James Daly - - - - - - - - 9-10 June 1992 - - - Library of Congress - Washington, D.C. - - - - Supported by a Grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation - - - *** *** *** ****** *** *** *** - - - TABLE OF CONTENTS - - -Acknowledgements - -Introduction - -Proceedings - Welcome - Prosser Gifford and Carl Fleischhauer - - Session I. Content in a New Form: Who Will Use It and What Will They Do? - James Daly (Moderator) - Avra Michelson, Overview - Susan H. Veccia, User Evaluation - Joanne Freeman, Beyond the Scholar - Discussion - - Session II. Show and Tell - Jacqueline Hess (Moderator) - Elli Mylonas, Perseus Project - Discussion - Eric M. Calaluca, Patrologia Latina Database - Carl Fleischhauer and Ricky Erway, American Memory - Discussion - Dorothy Twohig, The Papers of George Washington - Discussion - Maria L. Lebron, The Online Journal of Current Clinical Trials - Discussion - Lynne K. Personius, Cornell mathematics books - Discussion - - Session III. Distribution, Networks, and Networking: - Options for Dissemination - Robert G. Zich (Moderator) - Clifford A. Lynch - Discussion - Howard Besser - Discussion - Ronald L. Larsen - Edwin B. Brownrigg - Discussion - - Session IV. Image Capture, Text Capture, Overview of Text and - Image Storage Formats - William L. Hooton (Moderator) - A) Principal Methods for Image Capture of Text: - direct scanning, use of microform - Anne R. Kenney - Pamela Q.J. Andre - Judith A. Zidar - Donald J. Waters - Discussion - B) Special Problems: bound volumes, conservation, - reproducing printed halftones - George Thoma - Carl Fleischhauer - Discussion - C) Image Standards and Implications for Preservation - Jean Baronas - Patricia Battin - Discussion - D) Text Conversion: OCR vs. rekeying, standards of accuracy - and use of imperfect texts, service bureaus - Michael Lesk - Ricky Erway - Judith A. Zidar - Discussion - - Session V. Approaches to Preparing Electronic Texts - Susan Hockey (Moderator) - Stuart Weibel - Discussion - C.M. Sperberg-McQueen - Discussion - Eric M. Calaluca - Discussion - - Session VI. Copyright Issues - Marybeth Peters - - Session VII. Conclusion - Prosser Gifford (Moderator) - General discussion - -Appendix I: Program - -Appendix II: Abstracts - -Appendix III: Directory of Participants - - - *** *** *** ****** *** *** *** - - - Acknowledgements - -I would like to thank Carl Fleischhauer and Prosser Gifford for the -opportunity to learn about areas of human activity unknown to me a scant -ten months ago, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation for -supporting that opportunity. The help given by others is acknowledged on -a separate page. - - 19 October 1992 - - - *** *** *** ****** *** *** *** - - - INTRODUCTION - -The Workshop on Electronic Texts (1) drew together representatives of -various projects and interest groups to compare ideas, beliefs, -experiences, and, in particular, methods of placing and presenting -historical textual materials in computerized form. Most attendees gained -much in insight and outlook from the event. But the assembly did not -form a new nation, or, to put it another way, the diversity of projects -and interests was too great to draw the representatives into a cohesive, -action-oriented body.(2) - -Everyone attending the Workshop shared an interest in preserving and -providing access to historical texts. But within this broad field the -attendees represented a variety of formal, informal, figurative, and -literal groups, with many individuals belonging to more than one. These -groups may be defined roughly according to the following topics or -activities: - -* Imaging -* Searchable coded texts -* National and international computer networks -* CD-ROM production and dissemination -* Methods and technology for converting older paper materials into -electronic form -* Study of the use of digital materials by scholars and others - -This summary is arranged thematically and does not follow the actual -sequence of presentations. - -NOTES: - (1) In this document, the phrase electronic text is used to mean - any computerized reproduction or version of a document, book, - article, or manuscript (including images), and not merely a machine- - readable or machine-searchable text. - - (2) The Workshop was held at the Library of Congress on 9-10 June - 1992, with funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. - The document that follows represents a summary of the presentations - made at the Workshop and was compiled by James DALY. This - introduction was written by DALY and Carl FLEISCHHAUER. - - -PRESERVATION AND IMAGING - -Preservation, as that term is used by archivists,(3) was most explicitly -discussed in the context of imaging. Anne KENNEY and Lynne PERSONIUS -explained how the concept of a faithful copy and the user-friendliness of -the traditional book have guided their project at Cornell University.(4) -Although interested in computerized dissemination, participants in the -Cornell project are creating digital image sets of older books in the -public domain as a source for a fresh paper facsimile or, in a future -phase, microfilm. The books returned to the library shelves are -high-quality and useful replacements on acid-free paper that should last -a long time. To date, the Cornell project has placed little or no -emphasis on creating searchable texts; one would not be surprised to find -that the project participants view such texts as new editions, and thus -not as faithful reproductions. - -In her talk on preservation, Patricia BATTIN struck an ecumenical and -flexible note as she endorsed the creation and dissemination of a variety -of types of digital copies. Do not be too narrow in defining what counts -as a preservation element, BATTIN counseled; for the present, at least, -digital copies made with preservation in mind cannot be as narrowly -standardized as, say, microfilm copies with the same objective. Setting -standards precipitously can inhibit creativity, but delay can result in -chaos, she advised. - -In part, BATTIN's position reflected the unsettled nature of image-format -standards, and attendees could hear echoes of this unsettledness in the -comments of various speakers. For example, Jean BARONAS reviewed the -status of several formal standards moving through committees of experts; -and Clifford LYNCH encouraged the use of a new guideline for transmitting -document images on Internet. Testimony from participants in the National -Agricultural Library's (NAL) Text Digitization Program and LC's American -Memory project highlighted some of the challenges to the actual creation -or interchange of images, including difficulties in converting -preservation microfilm to digital form. Donald WATERS reported on the -progress of a master plan for a project at Yale University to convert -books on microfilm to digital image sets, Project Open Book (POB). - -The Workshop offered rather less of an imaging practicum than planned, -but "how-to" hints emerge at various points, for example, throughout -KENNEY's presentation and in the discussion of arcana such as -thresholding and dithering offered by George THOMA and FLEISCHHAUER. - -NOTES: - (3) Although there is a sense in which any reproductions of - historical materials preserve the human record, specialists in the - field have developed particular guidelines for the creation of - acceptable preservation copies. - - (4) Titles and affiliations of presenters are given at the - beginning of their respective talks and in the Directory of - Participants (Appendix III). - - -THE MACHINE-READABLE TEXT: MARKUP AND USE - -The sections of the Workshop that dealt with machine-readable text tended -to be more concerned with access and use than with preservation, at least -in the narrow technical sense. Michael SPERBERG-McQUEEN made a forceful -presentation on the Text Encoding Initiative's (TEI) implementation of -the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML). His ideas were echoed -by Susan HOCKEY, Elli MYLONAS, and Stuart WEIBEL. While the -presentations made by the TEI advocates contained no practicum, their -discussion focused on the value of the finished product, what the -European Community calls reusability, but what may also be termed -durability. They argued that marking up--that is, coding--a text in a -well-conceived way will permit it to be moved from one computer -environment to another, as well as to be used by various users. Two -kinds of markup were distinguished: 1) procedural markup, which -describes the features of a text (e.g., dots on a page), and 2) -descriptive markup, which describes the structure or elements of a -document (e.g., chapters, paragraphs, and front matter). - -The TEI proponents emphasized the importance of texts to scholarship. -They explained how heavily coded (and thus analyzed and annotated) texts -can underlie research, play a role in scholarly communication, and -facilitate classroom teaching. SPERBERG-McQUEEN reminded listeners that -a written or printed item (e.g., a particular edition of a book) is -merely a representation of the abstraction we call a text. To concern -ourselves with faithfully reproducing a printed instance of the text, -SPERBERG-McQUEEN argued, is to concern ourselves with the representation -of a representation ("images as simulacra for the text"). The TEI proponents' -interest in images tends to focus on corollary materials for use in teaching, -for example, photographs of the Acropolis to accompany a Greek text. - -By the end of the Workshop, SPERBERG-McQUEEN confessed to having been -converted to a limited extent to the view that electronic images -constitute a promising alternative to microfilming; indeed, an -alternative probably superior to microfilming. But he was not convinced -that electronic images constitute a serious attempt to represent text in -electronic form. HOCKEY and MYLONAS also conceded that their experience -at the Pierce Symposium the previous week at Georgetown University and -the present conference at the Library of Congress had compelled them to -reevaluate their perspective on the usefulness of text as images. -Attendees could see that the text and image advocates were in -constructive tension, so to say. - -Three nonTEI presentations described approaches to preparing -machine-readable text that are less rigorous and thus less expensive. In -the case of the Papers of George Washington, Dorothy TWOHIG explained -that the digital version will provide a not-quite-perfect rendering of -the transcribed text--some 135,000 documents, available for research -during the decades while the perfect or print version is completed. -Members of the American Memory team and the staff of NAL's Text -Digitization Program (see below) also outlined a middle ground concerning -searchable texts. In the case of American Memory, contractors produce -texts with about 99-percent accuracy that serve as "browse" or -"reference" versions of written or printed originals. End users who need -faithful copies or perfect renditions must refer to accompanying sets of -digital facsimile images or consult copies of the originals in a nearby -library or archive. American Memory staff argued that the high cost of -producing 100-percent accurate copies would prevent LC from offering -access to large parts of its collections. - - -THE MACHINE-READABLE TEXT: METHODS OF CONVERSION - -Although the Workshop did not include a systematic examination of the -methods for converting texts from paper (or from facsimile images) into -machine-readable form, nevertheless, various speakers touched upon this -matter. For example, WEIBEL reported that OCLC has experimented with a -merging of multiple optical character recognition systems that will -reduce errors from an unacceptable rate of 5 characters out of every -l,000 to an unacceptable rate of 2 characters out of every l,000. - -Pamela ANDRE presented an overview of NAL's Text Digitization Program and -Judith ZIDAR discussed the technical details. ZIDAR explained how NAL -purchased hardware and software capable of performing optical character -recognition (OCR) and text conversion and used its own staff to convert -texts. The process, ZIDAR said, required extensive editing and project -staff found themselves considering alternatives, including rekeying -and/or creating abstracts or summaries of texts. NAL reckoned costs at -$7 per page. By way of contrast, Ricky ERWAY explained that American -Memory had decided from the start to contract out conversion to external -service bureaus. The criteria used to select these contractors were cost -and quality of results, as opposed to methods of conversion. ERWAY noted -that historical documents or books often do not lend themselves to OCR. -Bound materials represent a special problem. In her experience, quality -control--inspecting incoming materials, counting errors in samples--posed -the most time-consuming aspect of contracting out conversion. ERWAY -reckoned American Memory's costs at $4 per page, but cautioned that fewer -cost-elements had been included than in NAL's figure. - - -OPTIONS FOR DISSEMINATION - -The topic of dissemination proper emerged at various points during the -Workshop. At the session devoted to national and international computer -networks, LYNCH, Howard BESSER, Ronald LARSEN, and Edwin BROWNRIGG -highlighted the virtues of Internet today and of the network that will -evolve from Internet. Listeners could discern in these narratives a -vision of an information democracy in which millions of citizens freely -find and use what they need. LYNCH noted that a lack of standards -inhibits disseminating multimedia on the network, a topic also discussed -by BESSER. LARSEN addressed the issues of network scalability and -modularity and commented upon the difficulty of anticipating the effects -of growth in orders of magnitude. BROWNRIGG talked about the ability of -packet radio to provide certain links in a network without the need for -wiring. However, the presenters also called attention to the -shortcomings and incongruities of present-day computer networks. For -example: 1) Network use is growing dramatically, but much network -traffic consists of personal communication (E-mail). 2) Large bodies of -information are available, but a user's ability to search across their -entirety is limited. 3) There are significant resources for science and -technology, but few network sources provide content in the humanities. -4) Machine-readable texts are commonplace, but the capability of the -system to deal with images (let alone other media formats) lags behind. -A glimpse of a multimedia future for networks, however, was provided by -Maria LEBRON in her overview of the Online Journal of Current Clinical -Trials (OJCCT), and the process of scholarly publishing on-line. - -The contrasting form of the CD-ROM disk was never systematically -analyzed, but attendees could glean an impression from several of the -show-and-tell presentations. The Perseus and American Memory examples -demonstrated recently published disks, while the descriptions of the -IBYCUS version of the Papers of George Washington and Chadwyck-Healey's -Patrologia Latina Database (PLD) told of disks to come. According to -Eric CALALUCA, PLD's principal focus has been on converting Jacques-Paul -Migne's definitive collection of Latin texts to machine-readable form. -Although everyone could share the network advocates' enthusiasm for an -on-line future, the possibility of rolling up one's sleeves for a session -with a CD-ROM containing both textual materials and a powerful retrieval -engine made the disk seem an appealing vessel indeed. The overall -discussion suggested that the transition from CD-ROM to on-line networked -access may prove far slower and more difficult than has been anticipated. - - -WHO ARE THE USERS AND WHAT DO THEY DO? - -Although concerned with the technicalities of production, the Workshop -never lost sight of the purposes and uses of electronic versions of -textual materials. As noted above, those interested in imaging discussed -the problematical matter of digital preservation, while the TEI proponents -described how machine-readable texts can be used in research. This latter -topic received thorough treatment in the paper read by Avra MICHELSON. -She placed the phenomenon of electronic texts within the context of -broader trends in information technology and scholarly communication. - -Among other things, MICHELSON described on-line conferences that -represent a vigorous and important intellectual forum for certain -disciplines. Internet now carries more than 700 conferences, with about -80 percent of these devoted to topics in the social sciences and the -humanities. Other scholars use on-line networks for "distance learning." -Meanwhile, there has been a tremendous growth in end-user computing; -professors today are less likely than their predecessors to ask the -campus computer center to process their data. Electronic texts are one -key to these sophisticated applications, MICHELSON reported, and more and -more scholars in the humanities now work in an on-line environment. -Toward the end of the Workshop, Michael LESK presented a corollary to -MICHELSON's talk, reporting the results of an experiment that compared -the work of one group of chemistry students using traditional printed -texts and two groups using electronic sources. The experiment -demonstrated that in the event one does not know what to read, one needs -the electronic systems; the electronic systems hold no advantage at the -moment if one knows what to read, but neither do they impose a penalty. - -DALY provided an anecdotal account of the revolutionizing impact of the -new technology on his previous methods of research in the field of classics. -His account, by extrapolation, served to illustrate in part the arguments -made by MICHELSON concerning the positive effects of the sudden and radical -transformation being wrought in the ways scholars work. - -Susan VECCIA and Joanne FREEMAN delineated the use of electronic -materials outside the university. The most interesting aspect of their -use, FREEMAN said, could be seen as a paradox: teachers in elementary -and secondary schools requested access to primary source materials but, -at the same time, found that "primariness" itself made these materials -difficult for their students to use. - - -OTHER TOPICS - -Marybeth PETERS reviewed copyright law in the United States and offered -advice during a lively discussion of this subject. But uncertainty -remains concerning the price of copyright in a digital medium, because a -solution remains to be worked out concerning management and synthesis of -copyrighted and out-of-copyright pieces of a database. - -As moderator of the final session of the Workshop, Prosser GIFFORD directed -discussion to future courses of action and the potential role of LC in -advancing them. Among the recommendations that emerged were the following: - - * Workshop participants should 1) begin to think about working - with image material, but structure and digitize it in such a - way that at a later stage it can be interpreted into text, and - 2) find a common way to build text and images together so that - they can be used jointly at some stage in the future, with - appropriate network support, because that is how users will want - to access these materials. The Library might encourage attempts - to bring together people who are working on texts and images. - - * A network version of American Memory should be developed or - consideration should be given to making the data in it - available to people interested in doing network multimedia. - Given the current dearth of digital data that is appealing and - unencumbered by extremely complex rights problems, developing a - network version of American Memory could do much to help make - network multimedia a reality. - - * Concerning the thorny issue of electronic deposit, LC should - initiate a catalytic process in terms of distributed - responsibility, that is, bring together the distributed - organizations and set up a study group to look at all the - issues related to electronic deposit and see where we as a - nation should move. For example, LC might attempt to persuade - one major library in each state to deal with its state - equivalent publisher, which might produce a cooperative project - that would be equitably distributed around the country, and one - in which LC would be dealing with a minimal number of publishers - and minimal copyright problems. LC must also deal with the - concept of on-line publishing, determining, among other things, - how serials such as OJCCT might be deposited for copyright. - - * Since a number of projects are planning to carry out - preservation by creating digital images that will end up in - on-line or near-line storage at some institution, LC might play - a helpful role, at least in the near term, by accelerating how - to catalog that information into the Research Library Information - Network (RLIN) and then into OCLC, so that it would be accessible. - This would reduce the possibility of multiple institutions digitizing - the same work. - - -CONCLUSION - -The Workshop was valuable because it brought together partisans from -various groups and provided an occasion to compare goals and methods. -The more committed partisans frequently communicate with others in their -groups, but less often across group boundaries. The Workshop was also -valuable to attendees--including those involved with American Memory--who -came less committed to particular approaches or concepts. These -attendees learned a great deal, and plan to select and employ elements of -imaging, text-coding, and networked distribution that suit their -respective projects and purposes. - -Still, reality rears its ugly head: no breakthrough has been achieved. -On the imaging side, one confronts a proliferation of competing -data-interchange standards and a lack of consensus on the role of digital -facsimiles in preservation. In the realm of machine-readable texts, one -encounters a reasonably mature standard but methodological difficulties -and high costs. These latter problems, of course, represent a special -impediment to the desire, as it is sometimes expressed in the popular -press, "to put the [contents of the] Library of Congress on line." In -the words of one participant, there was "no solution to the economic -problems--the projects that are out there are surviving, but it is going -to be a lot of work to transform the information industry, and so far the -investment to do that is not forthcoming" (LESK, per litteras). - - - *** *** *** ****** *** *** *** - - - PROCEEDINGS - - -WELCOME - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -GIFFORD * Origin of Workshop in current Librarian's desire to make LC's -collections more widely available * Desiderata arising from the prospect -of greater interconnectedness * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -After welcoming participants on behalf of the Library of Congress, -American Memory (AM), and the National Demonstration Lab, Prosser -GIFFORD, director for scholarly programs, Library of Congress, located -the origin of the Workshop on Electronic Texts in a conversation he had -had considerably more than a year ago with Carl FLEISCHHAUER concerning -some of the issues faced by AM. On the assumption that numerous other -people were asking the same questions, the decision was made to bring -together as many of these people as possible to ask the same questions -together. In a deeper sense, GIFFORD said, the origin of the Workshop -lay in the desire of the current Librarian of Congress, James H. -Billington, to make the collections of the Library, especially those -offering unique or unusual testimony on aspects of the American -experience, available to a much wider circle of users than those few -people who can come to Washington to use them. This meant that the -emphasis of AM, from the outset, has been on archival collections of the -basic material, and on making these collections themselves available, -rather than selected or heavily edited products. - -From AM's emphasis followed the questions with which the Workshop began: -who will use these materials, and in what form will they wish to use -them. But an even larger issue deserving mention, in GIFFORD's view, was -the phenomenal growth in Internet connectivity. He expressed the hope -that the prospect of greater interconnectedness than ever before would -lead to: 1) much more cooperative and mutually supportive endeavors; 2) -development of systems of shared and distributed responsibilities to -avoid duplication and to ensure accuracy and preservation of unique -materials; and 3) agreement on the necessary standards and development of -the appropriate directories and indices to make navigation -straightforward among the varied resources that are, and increasingly -will be, available. In this connection, GIFFORD requested that -participants reflect from the outset upon the sorts of outcomes they -thought the Workshop might have. Did those present constitute a group -with sufficient common interests to propose a next step or next steps, -and if so, what might those be? They would return to these questions the -following afternoon. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -FLEISCHHAUER * Core of Workshop concerns preparation and production of -materials * Special challenge in conversion of textual materials * -Quality versus quantity * Do the several groups represented share common -interests? * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Carl FLEISCHHAUER, coordinator, American Memory, Library of Congress, -emphasized that he would attempt to represent the people who perform some -of the work of converting or preparing materials and that the core of -the Workshop had to do with preparation and production. FLEISCHHAUER -then drew a distinction between the long term, when many things would be -available and connected in the ways that GIFFORD described, and the short -term, in which AM not only has wrestled with the issue of what is the -best course to pursue but also has faced a variety of technical -challenges. - -FLEISCHHAUER remarked AM's endeavors to deal with a wide range of library -formats, such as motion picture collections, sound-recording collections, -and pictorial collections of various sorts, especially collections of -photographs. In the course of these efforts, AM kept coming back to -textual materials--manuscripts or rare printed matter, bound materials, -etc. Text posed the greatest conversion challenge of all. Thus, the -genesis of the Workshop, which reflects the problems faced by AM. These -problems include physical problems. For example, those in the library -and archive business deal with collections made up of fragile and rare -manuscript items, bound materials, especially the notoriously brittle -bound materials of the late nineteenth century. These are precious -cultural artifacts, however, as well as interesting sources of -information, and LC desires to retain and conserve them. AM needs to -handle things without damaging them. Guillotining a book to run it -through a sheet feeder must be avoided at all costs. - -Beyond physical problems, issues pertaining to quality arose. For -example, the desire to provide users with a searchable text is affected -by the question of acceptable level of accuracy. One hundred percent -accuracy is tremendously expensive. On the other hand, the output of -optical character recognition (OCR) can be tremendously inaccurate. -Although AM has attempted to find a middle ground, uncertainty persists -as to whether or not it has discovered the right solution. - -Questions of quality arose concerning images as well. FLEISCHHAUER -contrasted the extremely high level of quality of the digital images in -the Cornell Xerox Project with AM's efforts to provide a browse-quality -or access-quality image, as opposed to an archival or preservation image. -FLEISCHHAUER therefore welcomed the opportunity to compare notes. - -FLEISCHHAUER observed in passing that conversations he had had about -networks have begun to signal that for various forms of media a -determination may be made that there is a browse-quality item, or a -distribution-and-access-quality item that may coexist in some systems -with a higher quality archival item that would be inconvenient to send -through the network because of its size. FLEISCHHAUER referred, of -course, to images more than to searchable text. - -As AM considered those questions, several conceptual issues arose: ought -AM occasionally to reproduce materials entirely through an image set, at -other times, entirely through a text set, and in some cases, a mix? -There probably would be times when the historical authenticity of an -artifact would require that its image be used. An image might be -desirable as a recourse for users if one could not provide 100-percent -accurate text. Again, AM wondered, as a practical matter, if a -distinction could be drawn between rare printed matter that might exist -in multiple collections--that is, in ten or fifteen libraries. In such -cases, the need for perfect reproduction would be less than for unique -items. Implicit in his remarks, FLEISCHHAUER conceded, was the admission -that AM has been tilting strongly towards quantity and drawing back a -little from perfect quality. That is, it seemed to AM that society would -be better served if more things were distributed by LC--even if they were -not quite perfect--than if fewer things, perfectly represented, were -distributed. This was stated as a proposition to be tested, with -responses to be gathered from users. - -In thinking about issues related to reproduction of materials and seeing -other people engaged in parallel activities, AM deemed it useful to -convene a conference. Hence, the Workshop. FLEISCHHAUER thereupon -surveyed the several groups represented: 1) the world of images (image -users and image makers); 2) the world of text and scholarship and, within -this group, those concerned with language--FLEISCHHAUER confessed to finding -delightful irony in the fact that some of the most advanced thinkers on -computerized texts are those dealing with ancient Greek and Roman materials; -3) the network world; and 4) the general world of library science, which -includes people interested in preservation and cataloging. - -FLEISCHHAUER concluded his remarks with special thanks to the David and -Lucile Packard Foundation for its support of the meeting, the American -Memory group, the Office for Scholarly Programs, the National -Demonstration Lab, and the Office of Special Events. He expressed the -hope that David Woodley Packard might be able to attend, noting that -Packard's work and the work of the foundation had sponsored a number of -projects in the text area. - - ****** - -SESSION I. CONTENT IN A NEW FORM: WHO WILL USE IT AND WHAT WILL THEY DO? - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DALY * Acknowledgements * A new Latin authors disk * Effects of the new -technology on previous methods of research * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Serving as moderator, James DALY acknowledged the generosity of all the -presenters for giving of their time, counsel, and patience in planning -the Workshop, as well as of members of the American Memory project and -other Library of Congress staff, and the David and Lucile Packard -Foundation and its executive director, Colburn S. Wilbur. - -DALY then recounted his visit in March to the Center for Electronic Texts -in the Humanities (CETH) and the Department of Classics at Rutgers -University, where an old friend, Lowell Edmunds, introduced him to the -department's IBYCUS scholarly personal computer, and, in particular, the -new Latin CD-ROM, containing, among other things, almost all classical -Latin literary texts through A.D. 200. Packard Humanities Institute -(PHI), Los Altos, California, released this disk late in 1991, with a -nominal triennial licensing fee. - -Playing with the disk for an hour or so at Rutgers brought home to DALY -at once the revolutionizing impact of the new technology on his previous -methods of research. Had this disk been available two or three years -earlier, DALY contended, when he was engaged in preparing a commentary on -Book 10 of Virgil's Aeneid for Cambridge University Press, he would not -have required a forty-eight-square-foot table on which to spread the -numerous, most frequently consulted items, including some ten or twelve -concordances to key Latin authors, an almost equal number of lexica to -authors who lacked concordances, and where either lexica or concordances -were lacking, numerous editions of authors antedating and postdating Virgil. - -Nor, when checking each of the average six to seven words contained in -the Virgilian hexameter for its usage elsewhere in Virgil's works or -other Latin authors, would DALY have had to maintain the laborious -mechanical process of flipping through these concordances, lexica, and -editions each time. Nor would he have had to frequent as often the -Milton S. Eisenhower Library at the Johns Hopkins University to consult -the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae. Instead of devoting countless hours, or -the bulk of his research time, to gathering data concerning Virgil's use -of words, DALY--now freed by PHI's Latin authors disk from the -tyrannical, yet in some ways paradoxically happy scholarly drudgery-- -would have been able to devote that same bulk of time to analyzing and -interpreting Virgilian verbal usage. - -Citing Theodore Brunner, Gregory Crane, Elli MYLONAS, and Avra MICHELSON, -DALY argued that this reversal in his style of work, made possible by the -new technology, would perhaps have resulted in better, more productive -research. Indeed, even in the course of his browsing the Latin authors -disk at Rutgers, its powerful search, retrieval, and highlighting -capabilities suggested to him several new avenues of research into -Virgil's use of sound effects. This anecdotal account, DALY maintained, -may serve to illustrate in part the sudden and radical transformation -being wrought in the ways scholars work. - - ****** - -++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -MICHELSON * Elements related to scholarship and technology * Electronic -texts within the context of broader trends within information technology -and scholarly communication * Evaluation of the prospects for the use of -electronic texts * Relationship of electronic texts to processes of -scholarly communication in humanities research * New exchange formats -created by scholars * Projects initiated to increase scholarly access to -converted text * Trend toward making electronic resources available -through research and education networks * Changes taking place in -scholarly communication among humanities scholars * Network-mediated -scholarship transforming traditional scholarly practices * Key -information technology trends affecting the conduct of scholarly -communication over the next decade * The trend toward end-user computing -* The trend toward greater connectivity * Effects of these trends * Key -transformations taking place * Summary of principal arguments * -++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Avra MICHELSON, Archival Research and Evaluation Staff, National Archives -and Records Administration (NARA), argued that establishing who will use -electronic texts and what they will use them for involves a consideration -of both information technology and scholarship trends. This -consideration includes several elements related to scholarship and -technology: 1) the key trends in information technology that are most -relevant to scholarship; 2) the key trends in the use of currently -available technology by scholars in the nonscientific community; and 3) -the relationship between these two very distinct but interrelated trends. -The investment in understanding this relationship being made by -information providers, technologists, and public policy developers, as -well as by scholars themselves, seems to be pervasive and growing, -MICHELSON contended. She drew on collaborative work with Jeff Rothenberg -on the scholarly use of technology. - -MICHELSON sought to place the phenomenon of electronic texts within the -context of broader trends within information technology and scholarly -communication. She argued that electronic texts are of most use to -researchers to the extent that the researchers' working context (i.e., -their relevant bibliographic sources, collegial feedback, analytic tools, -notes, drafts, etc.), along with their field's primary and secondary -sources, also is accessible in electronic form and can be integrated in -ways that are unique to the on-line environment. - -Evaluation of the prospects for the use of electronic texts includes two -elements: 1) an examination of the ways in which researchers currently -are using electronic texts along with other electronic resources, and 2) -an analysis of key information technology trends that are affecting the -long-term conduct of scholarly communication. MICHELSON limited her -discussion of the use of electronic texts to the practices of humanists -and noted that the scientific community was outside the panel's overview. - -MICHELSON examined the nature of the current relationship of electronic -texts in particular, and electronic resources in general, to what she -maintained were, essentially, five processes of scholarly communication -in humanities research. Researchers 1) identify sources, 2) communicate -with their colleagues, 3) interpret and analyze data, 4) disseminate -their research findings, and 5) prepare curricula to instruct the next -generation of scholars and students. This examination would produce a -clearer understanding of the synergy among these five processes that -fuels the tendency of the use of electronic resources for one process to -stimulate its use for other processes of scholarly communication. - -For the first process of scholarly communication, the identification of -sources, MICHELSON remarked the opportunity scholars now enjoy to -supplement traditional word-of-mouth searches for sources among their -colleagues with new forms of electronic searching. So, for example, -instead of having to visit the library, researchers are able to explore -descriptions of holdings in their offices. Furthermore, if their own -institutions' holdings prove insufficient, scholars can access more than -200 major American library catalogues over Internet, including the -universities of California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. -Direct access to the bibliographic databases offers intellectual -empowerment to scholars by presenting a comprehensive means of browsing -through libraries from their homes and offices at their convenience. - -The second process of communication involves communication among -scholars. Beyond the most common methods of communication, scholars are -using E-mail and a variety of new electronic communications formats -derived from it for further academic interchange. E-mail exchanges are -growing at an astonishing rate, reportedly 15 percent a month. They -currently constitute approximately half the traffic on research and -education networks. Moreover, the global spread of E-mail has been so -rapid that it is now possible for American scholars to use it to -communicate with colleagues in close to 140 other countries. - -Other new exchange formats created by scholars and operating on Internet -include more than 700 conferences, with about 80 percent of these devoted -to topics in the social sciences and humanities. The rate of growth of -these scholarly electronic conferences also is astonishing. From l990 to -l991, 200 new conferences were identified on Internet. From October 1991 -to June 1992, an additional 150 conferences in the social sciences and -humanities were added to this directory of listings. Scholars have -established conferences in virtually every field, within every different -discipline. For example, there are currently close to 600 active social -science and humanities conferences on topics such as art and -architecture, ethnomusicology, folklore, Japanese culture, medical -education, and gifted and talented education. The appeal to scholars of -communicating through these conferences is that, unlike any other medium, -electronic conferences today provide a forum for global communication -with peers at the front end of the research process. - -Interpretation and analysis of sources constitutes the third process of -scholarly communication that MICHELSON discussed in terms of texts and -textual resources. The methods used to analyze sources fall somewhere on -a continuum from quantitative analysis to qualitative analysis. -Typically, evidence is culled and evaluated using methods drawn from both -ends of this continuum. At one end, quantitative analysis involves the -use of mathematical processes such as a count of frequencies and -distributions of occurrences or, on a higher level, regression analysis. -At the other end of the continuum, qualitative analysis typically -involves nonmathematical processes oriented toward language -interpretation or the building of theory. Aspects of this work involve -the processing--either manual or computational--of large and sometimes -massive amounts of textual sources, although the use of nontextual -sources as evidence, such as photographs, sound recordings, film footage, -and artifacts, is significant as well. - -Scholars have discovered that many of the methods of interpretation and -analysis that are related to both quantitative and qualitative methods -are processes that can be performed by computers. For example, computers -can count. They can count brush strokes used in a Rembrandt painting or -perform regression analysis for understanding cause and effect. By means -of advanced technologies, computers can recognize patterns, analyze text, -and model concepts. Furthermore, computers can complete these processes -faster with more sources and with greater precision than scholars who -must rely on manual interpretation of data. But if scholars are to use -computers for these processes, source materials must be in a form -amenable to computer-assisted analysis. For this reason many scholars, -once they have identified the sources that are key to their research, are -converting them to machine-readable form. Thus, a representative example -of the numerous textual conversion projects organized by scholars around -the world in recent years to support computational text analysis is the -TLG, the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae. This project is devoted to -converting the extant ancient texts of classical Greece. (Editor's note: -according to the TLG Newsletter of May l992, TLG was in use in thirty-two -different countries. This figure updates MICHELSON's previous count by one.) - -The scholars performing these conversions have been asked to recognize -that the electronic sources they are converting for one use possess value -for other research purposes as well. As a result, during the past few -years, humanities scholars have initiated a number of projects to -increase scholarly access to converted text. So, for example, the Text -Encoding Initiative (TEI), about which more is said later in the program, -was established as an effort by scholars to determine standard elements -and methods for encoding machine-readable text for electronic exchange. -In a second effort to facilitate the sharing of converted text, scholars -have created a new institution, the Center for Electronic Texts in the -Humanities (CETH). The center estimates that there are 8,000 series of -source texts in the humanities that have been converted to -machine-readable form worldwide. CETH is undertaking an international -search for converted text in the humanities, compiling it into an -electronic library, and preparing bibliographic descriptions of the -sources for the Research Libraries Information Network's (RLIN) -machine-readable data file. The library profession has begun to initiate -large conversion projects as well, such as American Memory. - -While scholars have been making converted text available to one another, -typically on disk or on CD-ROM, the clear trend is toward making these -resources available through research and education networks. Thus, the -American and French Research on the Treasury of the French Language -(ARTFL) and the Dante Project are already available on Internet. -MICHELSON summarized this section on interpretation and analysis by -noting that: 1) increasing numbers of humanities scholars in the library -community are recognizing the importance to the advancement of -scholarship of retrospective conversion of source materials in the arts -and humanities; and 2) there is a growing realization that making the -sources available on research and education networks maximizes their -usefulness for the analysis performed by humanities scholars. - -The fourth process of scholarly communication is dissemination of -research findings, that is, publication. Scholars are using existing -research and education networks to engineer a new type of publication: -scholarly-controlled journals that are electronically produced and -disseminated. Although such journals are still emerging as a -communication format, their number has grown, from approximately twelve -to thirty-six during the past year (July 1991 to June 1992). Most of -these electronic scholarly journals are devoted to topics in the -humanities. As with network conferences, scholarly enthusiasm for these -electronic journals stems from the medium's unique ability to advance -scholarship in a way that no other medium can do by supporting global -feedback and interchange, practically in real time, early in the research -process. Beyond scholarly journals, MICHELSON remarked the delivery of -commercial full-text products, such as articles in professional journals, -newsletters, magazines, wire services, and reference sources. These are -being delivered via on-line local library catalogues, especially through -CD-ROMs. Furthermore, according to MICHELSON, there is general optimism -that the copyright and fees issues impeding the delivery of full text on -existing research and education networks soon will be resolved. - -The final process of scholarly communication is curriculum development -and instruction, and this involves the use of computer information -technologies in two areas. The first is the development of -computer-oriented instructional tools, which includes simulations, -multimedia applications, and computer tools that are used to assist in -the analysis of sources in the classroom, etc. The Perseus Project, a -database that provides a multimedia curriculum on classical Greek -civilization, is a good example of the way in which entire curricula are -being recast using information technologies. It is anticipated that the -current difficulty in exchanging electronically computer-based -instructional software, which in turn makes it difficult for one scholar -to build upon the work of others, will be resolved before too long. -Stand-alone curricular applications that involve electronic text will be -sharable through networks, reinforcing their significance as intellectual -products as well as instructional tools. - -The second aspect of electronic learning involves the use of research and -education networks for distance education programs. Such programs -interactively link teachers with students in geographically scattered -locations and rely on the availability of electronic instructional -resources. Distance education programs are gaining wide appeal among -state departments of education because of their demonstrated capacity to -bring advanced specialized course work and an array of experts to many -classrooms. A recent report found that at least 32 states operated at -least one statewide network for education in 1991, with networks under -development in many of the remaining states. - -MICHELSON summarized this section by noting two striking changes taking -place in scholarly communication among humanities scholars. First is the -extent to which electronic text in particular, and electronic resources -in general, are being infused into each of the five processes described -above. As mentioned earlier, there is a certain synergy at work here. -The use of electronic resources for one process tends to stimulate its -use for other processes, because the chief course of movement is toward a -comprehensive on-line working context for humanities scholars that -includes on-line availability of key bibliographies, scholarly feedback, -sources, analytical tools, and publications. MICHELSON noted further -that the movement toward a comprehensive on-line working context for -humanities scholars is not new. In fact, it has been underway for more -than forty years in the humanities, since Father Roberto Busa began -developing an electronic concordance of the works of Saint Thomas Aquinas -in 1949. What we are witnessing today, MICHELSON contended, is not the -beginning of this on-line transition but, for at least some humanities -scholars, the turning point in the transition from a print to an -electronic working context. Coinciding with the on-line transition, the -second striking change is the extent to which research and education -networks are becoming the new medium of scholarly communication. The -existing Internet and the pending National Education and Research Network -(NREN) represent the new meeting ground where scholars are going for -bibliographic information, scholarly dialogue and feedback, the most -current publications in their field, and high-level educational -offerings. Traditional scholarly practices are undergoing tremendous -transformations as a result of the emergence and growing prominence of -what is called network-mediated scholarship. - -MICHELSON next turned to the second element of the framework she proposed -at the outset of her talk for evaluating the prospects for electronic -text, namely the key information technology trends affecting the conduct -of scholarly communication over the next decade: 1) end-user computing -and 2) connectivity. - -End-user computing means that the person touching the keyboard, or -performing computations, is the same as the person who initiates or -consumes the computation. The emergence of personal computers, along -with a host of other forces, such as ubiquitous computing, advances in -interface design, and the on-line transition, is prompting the consumers -of computation to do their own computing, and is thus rendering obsolete -the traditional distinction between end users and ultimate users. - -The trend toward end-user computing is significant to consideration of -the prospects for electronic texts because it means that researchers are -becoming more adept at doing their own computations and, thus, more -competent in the use of electronic media. By avoiding programmer -intermediaries, computation is becoming central to the researcher's -thought process. This direct involvement in computing is changing the -researcher's perspective on the nature of research itself, that is, the -kinds of questions that can be posed, the analytical methodologies that -can be used, the types and amount of sources that are appropriate for -analyses, and the form in which findings are presented. The trend toward -end-user computing means that, increasingly, electronic media and -computation are being infused into all processes of humanities -scholarship, inspiring remarkable transformations in scholarly -communication. - -The trend toward greater connectivity suggests that researchers are using -computation increasingly in network environments. Connectivity is -important to scholarship because it erases the distance that separates -students from teachers and scholars from their colleagues, while allowing -users to access remote databases, share information in many different -media, connect to their working context wherever they are, and -collaborate in all phases of research. - -The combination of the trend toward end-user computing and the trend -toward connectivity suggests that the scholarly use of electronic -resources, already evident among some researchers, will soon become an -established feature of scholarship. The effects of these trends, along -with ongoing changes in scholarly practices, point to a future in which -humanities researchers will use computation and electronic communication -to help them formulate ideas, access sources, perform research, -collaborate with colleagues, seek peer review, publish and disseminate -results, and engage in many other professional and educational activities. - -In summary, MICHELSON emphasized four points: 1) A portion of humanities -scholars already consider electronic texts the preferred format for -analysis and dissemination. 2) Scholars are using these electronic -texts, in conjunction with other electronic resources, in all the -processes of scholarly communication. 3) The humanities scholars' -working context is in the process of changing from print technology to -electronic technology, in many ways mirroring transformations that have -occurred or are occurring within the scientific community. 4) These -changes are occurring in conjunction with the development of a new -communication medium: research and education networks that are -characterized by their capacity to advance scholarship in a wholly unique -way. - -MICHELSON also reiterated her three principal arguments: l) Electronic -texts are best understood in terms of the relationship to other -electronic resources and the growing prominence of network-mediated -scholarship. 2) The prospects for electronic texts lie in their capacity -to be integrated into the on-line network of electronic resources that -comprise the new working context for scholars. 3) Retrospective conversion -of portions of the scholarly record should be a key strategy as information -providers respond to changes in scholarly communication practices. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -VECCIA * AM's evaluation project and public users of electronic resources -* AM and its design * Site selection and evaluating the Macintosh -implementation of AM * Characteristics of the six public libraries -selected * Characteristics of AM's users in these libraries * Principal -ways AM is being used * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Susan VECCIA, team leader, and Joanne FREEMAN, associate coordinator, -American Memory, Library of Congress, gave a joint presentation. First, -by way of introduction, VECCIA explained her and FREEMAN's roles in -American Memory (AM). Serving principally as an observer, VECCIA has -assisted with the evaluation project of AM, placing AM collections in a -variety of different sites around the country and helping to organize and -implement that project. FREEMAN has been an associate coordinator of AM -and has been involved principally with the interpretative materials, -preparing some of the electronic exhibits and printed historical -information that accompanies AM and that is requested by users. VECCIA -and FREEMAN shared anecdotal observations concerning AM with public users -of electronic resources. Notwithstanding a fairly structured evaluation -in progress, both VECCIA and FREEMAN chose not to report on specifics in -terms of numbers, etc., because they felt it was too early in the -evaluation project to do so. - -AM is an electronic archive of primary source materials from the Library -of Congress, selected collections representing a variety of formats-- -photographs, graphic arts, recorded sound, motion pictures, broadsides, -and soon, pamphlets and books. In terms of the design of this system, -the interpretative exhibits have been kept separate from the primary -resources, with good reason. Accompanying this collection are printed -documentation and user guides, as well as guides that FREEMAN prepared for -teachers so that they may begin using the content of the system at once. - -VECCIA described the evaluation project before talking about the public -users of AM, limiting her remarks to public libraries, because FREEMAN -would talk more specifically about schools from kindergarten to twelfth -grade (K-12). Having started in spring 1991, the evaluation currently -involves testing of the Macintosh implementation of AM. Since the -primary goal of this evaluation is to determine the most appropriate -audience or audiences for AM, very different sites were selected. This -makes evaluation difficult because of the varying degrees of technology -literacy among the sites. AM is situated in forty-four locations, of -which six are public libraries and sixteen are schools. Represented -among the schools are elementary, junior high, and high schools. -District offices also are involved in the evaluation, which will -conclude in summer 1993. - -VECCIA focused the remainder of her talk on the six public libraries, one -of which doubles as a state library. They represent a range of -geographic areas and a range of demographic characteristics. For -example, three are located in urban settings, two in rural settings, and -one in a suburban setting. A range of technical expertise is to be found -among these facilities as well. For example, one is an "Apple library of -the future," while two others are rural one-room libraries--in one, AM -sits at the front desk next to a tractor manual. - -All public libraries have been extremely enthusiastic, supportive, and -appreciative of the work that AM has been doing. VECCIA characterized -various users: Most users in public libraries describe themselves as -general readers; of the students who use AM in the public libraries, -those in fourth grade and above seem most interested. Public libraries -in rural sites tend to attract retired people, who have been highly -receptive to AM. Users tend to fall into two additional categories: -people interested in the content and historical connotations of these -primary resources, and those fascinated by the technology. The format -receiving the most comments has been motion pictures. The adult users in -public libraries are more comfortable with IBM computers, whereas young -people seem comfortable with either IBM or Macintosh, although most of -them seem to come from a Macintosh background. This same tendency is -found in the schools. - -What kinds of things do users do with AM? In a public library there are -two main goals or ways that AM is being used: as an individual learning -tool, and as a leisure activity. Adult learning was one area that VECCIA -would highlight as a possible application for a tool such as AM. She -described a patron of a rural public library who comes in every day on -his lunch hour and literally reads AM, methodically going through the -collection image by image. At the end of his hour he makes an electronic -bookmark, puts it in his pocket, and returns to work. The next day he -comes in and resumes where he left off. Interestingly, this man had -never been in the library before he used AM. In another small, rural -library, the coordinator reports that AM is a popular activity for some -of the older, retired people in the community, who ordinarily would not -use "those things,"--computers. Another example of adult learning in -public libraries is book groups, one of which, in particular, is using AM -as part of its reading on industrialization, integration, and urbanization -in the early 1900s. - -One library reports that a family is using AM to help educate their -children. In another instance, individuals from a local museum came in -to use AM to prepare an exhibit on toys of the past. These two examples -emphasize the mission of the public library as a cultural institution, -reaching out to people who do not have the same resources available to -those who live in a metropolitan area or have access to a major library. -One rural library reports that junior high school students in large -numbers came in one afternoon to use AM for entertainment. A number of -public libraries reported great interest among postcard collectors in the -Detroit collection, which was essentially a collection of images used on -postcards around the turn of the century. Train buffs are similarly -interested because that was a time of great interest in railroading. -People, it was found, relate to things that they know of firsthand. For -example, in both rural public libraries where AM was made available, -observers reported that the older people with personal remembrances of -the turn of the century were gravitating to the Detroit collection. -These examples served to underscore MICHELSON's observation re the -integration of electronic tools and ideas--that people learn best when -the material relates to something they know. - -VECCIA made the final point that in many cases AM serves as a -public-relations tool for the public libraries that are testing it. In -one case, AM is being used as a vehicle to secure additional funding for -the library. In another case, AM has served as an inspiration to the -staff of a major local public library in the South to think about ways to -make its own collection of photographs more accessible to the public. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -FREEMAN * AM and archival electronic resources in a school environment * -Questions concerning context * Questions concerning the electronic format -itself * Computer anxiety * Access and availability of the system * -Hardware * Strengths gained through the use of archival resources in -schools * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Reiterating an observation made by VECCIA, that AM is an archival -resource made up of primary materials with very little interpretation, -FREEMAN stated that the project has attempted to bridge the gap between -these bare primary materials and a school environment, and in that cause -has created guided introductions to AM collections. Loud demand from the -educational community, chiefly from teachers working with the upper -grades of elementary school through high school, greeted the announcement -that AM would be tested around the country. - -FREEMAN reported not only on what was learned about AM in a school -environment, but also on several universal questions that were raised -concerning archival electronic resources in schools. She discussed -several strengths of this type of material in a school environment as -opposed to a highly structured resource that offers a limited number of -paths to follow. - -FREEMAN first raised several questions about using AM in a school -environment. There is often some difficulty in developing a sense of -what the system contains. Many students sit down at a computer resource -and assume that, because AM comes from the Library of Congress, all of -American history is now at their fingertips. As a result of that sort of -mistaken judgment, some students are known to conclude that AM contains -nothing of use to them when they look for one or two things and do not -find them. It is difficult to discover that middle ground where one has -a sense of what the system contains. Some students grope toward the idea -of an archive, a new idea to them, since they have not previously -experienced what it means to have access to a vast body of somewhat -random information. - -Other questions raised by FREEMAN concerned the electronic format itself. -For instance, in a school environment it is often difficult both for -teachers and students to gain a sense of what it is they are viewing. -They understand that it is a visual image, but they do not necessarily -know that it is a postcard from the turn of the century, a panoramic -photograph, or even machine-readable text of an eighteenth-century -broadside, a twentieth-century printed book, or a nineteenth-century -diary. That distinction is often difficult for people in a school -environment to grasp. Because of that, it occasionally becomes difficult -to draw conclusions from what one is viewing. - -FREEMAN also noted the obvious fear of the computer, which constitutes a -difficulty in using an electronic resource. Though students in general -did not suffer from this anxiety, several older students feared that they -were computer-illiterate, an assumption that became self-fulfilling when -they searched for something but failed to find it. FREEMAN said she -believed that some teachers also fear computer resources, because they -believe they lack complete control. FREEMAN related the example of -teachers shooing away students because it was not their time to use the -system. This was a case in which the situation had to be extremely -structured so that the teachers would not feel that they had lost their -grasp on what the system contained. - -A final question raised by FREEMAN concerned access and availability of -the system. She noted the occasional existence of a gap in communication -between school librarians and teachers. Often AM sits in a school -library and the librarian is the person responsible for monitoring the -system. Teachers do not always take into their world new library -resources about which the librarian is excited. Indeed, at the sites -where AM had been used most effectively within a library, the librarian -was required to go to specific teachers and instruct them in its use. As -a result, several AM sites will have in-service sessions over a summer, -in the hope that perhaps, with a more individualized link, teachers will -be more likely to use the resource. - -A related issue in the school context concerned the number of -workstations available at any one location. Centralization of equipment -at the district level, with teachers invited to download things and walk -away with them, proved unsuccessful because the hours these offices were -open were also school hours. - -Another issue was hardware. As VECCIA observed, a range of sites exists, -some technologically advanced and others essentially acquiring their -first computer for the primary purpose of using it in conjunction with -AM's testing. Users at technologically sophisticated sites want even -more sophisticated hardware, so that they can perform even more -sophisticated tasks with the materials in AM. But once they acquire a -newer piece of hardware, they must learn how to use that also; at an -unsophisticated site it takes an extremely long time simply to become -accustomed to the computer, not to mention the program offered with the -computer. All of these small issues raise one large question, namely, -are systems like AM truly rewarding in a school environment, or do they -simply act as innovative toys that do little more than spark interest? - -FREEMAN contended that the evaluation project has revealed several strengths -that were gained through the use of archival resources in schools, including: - - * Psychic rewards from using AM as a vast, rich database, with - teachers assigning various projects to students--oral presentations, - written reports, a documentary, a turn-of-the-century newspaper-- - projects that start with the materials in AM but are completed using - other resources; AM thus is used as a research tool in conjunction - with other electronic resources, as well as with books and items in - the library where the system is set up. - - * Students are acquiring computer literacy in a humanities context. - - * This sort of system is overcoming the isolation between disciplines - that often exists in schools. For example, many English teachers are - requiring their students to write papers on historical topics - represented in AM. Numerous teachers have reported that their - students are learning critical thinking skills using the system. - - * On a broader level, AM is introducing primary materials, not only - to students but also to teachers, in an environment where often - simply none exist--an exciting thing for the students because it - helps them learn to conduct research, to interpret, and to draw - their own conclusions. In learning to conduct research and what it - means, students are motivated to seek knowledge. That relates to - another positive outcome--a high level of personal involvement of - students with the materials in this system and greater motivation to - conduct their own research and draw their own conclusions. - - * Perhaps the most ironic strength of these kinds of archival - electronic resources is that many of the teachers AM interviewed - were desperate, it is no exaggeration to say, not only for primary - materials but for unstructured primary materials. These would, they - thought, foster personally motivated research, exploration, and - excitement in their students. Indeed, these materials have done - just that. Ironically, however, this lack of structure produces - some of the confusion to which the newness of these kinds of - resources may also contribute. The key to effective use of archival - products in a school environment is a clear, effective introduction - to the system and to what it contains. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * Nothing known, quantitatively, about the number of -humanities scholars who must see the original versus those who would -settle for an edited transcript, or about the ways in which humanities -scholars are using information technology * Firm conclusions concerning -the manner and extent of the use of supporting materials in print -provided by AM to await completion of evaluative study * A listener's -reflections on additional applications of electronic texts * Role of -electronic resources in teaching elementary research skills to students * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -During the discussion that followed the presentations by MICHELSON, -VECCIA, and FREEMAN, additional points emerged. - -LESK asked if MICHELSON could give any quantitative estimate of the -number of humanities scholars who must see or want to see the original, -or the best possible version of the material, versus those who typically -would settle for an edited transcript. While unable to provide a figure, -she offered her impressions as an archivist who has done some reference -work and has discussed this issue with other archivists who perform -reference, that those who use archives and those who use primary sources -for what would be considered very high-level scholarly research, as -opposed to, say, undergraduate papers, were few in number, especially -given the public interest in using primary sources to conduct -genealogical or avocational research and the kind of professional -research done by people in private industry or the federal government. -More important in MICHELSON's view was that, quantitatively, nothing is -known about the ways in which, for example, humanities scholars are using -information technology. No studies exist to offer guidance in creating -strategies. The most recent study was conducted in 1985 by the American -Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), and what it showed was that 50 -percent of humanities scholars at that time were using computers. That -constitutes the extent of our knowledge. - -Concerning AM's strategy for orienting people toward the scope of -electronic resources, FREEMAN could offer no hard conclusions at this -point, because she and her colleagues were still waiting to see, -particularly in the schools, what has been made of their efforts. Within -the system, however, AM has provided what are called electronic exhibits- --such as introductions to time periods and materials--and these are -intended to offer a student user a sense of what a broadside is and what -it might tell her or him. But FREEMAN conceded that the project staff -would have to talk with students next year, after teachers have had a -summer to use the materials, and attempt to discover what the students -were learning from the materials. In addition, FREEMAN described -supporting materials in print provided by AM at the request of local -teachers during a meeting held at LC. These included time lines, -bibliographies, and other materials that could be reproduced on a -photocopier in a classroom. Teachers could walk away with and use these, -and in this way gain a better understanding of the contents. But again, -reaching firm conclusions concerning the manner and extent of their use -would have to wait until next year. - -As to the changes she saw occurring at the National Archives and Records -Administration (NARA) as a result of the increasing emphasis on -technology in scholarly research, MICHELSON stated that NARA at this -point was absorbing the report by her and Jeff Rothenberg addressing -strategies for the archival profession in general, although not for the -National Archives specifically. NARA is just beginning to establish its -role and what it can do. In terms of changes and initiatives that NARA -can take, no clear response could be given at this time. - -GREENFIELD remarked two trends mentioned in the session. Reflecting on -DALY's opening comments on how he could have used a Latin collection of -text in an electronic form, he said that at first he thought most scholars -would be unwilling to do that. But as he thought of that in terms of the -original meaning of research--that is, having already mastered these texts, -researching them for critical and comparative purposes--for the first time, -the electronic format made a lot of sense. GREENFIELD could envision -growing numbers of scholars learning the new technologies for that very -aspect of their scholarship and for convenience's sake. - -Listening to VECCIA and FREEMAN, GREENFIELD thought of an additional -application of electronic texts. He realized that AM could be used as a -guide to lead someone to original sources. Students cannot be expected -to have mastered these sources, things they have never known about -before. Thus, AM is leading them, in theory, to a vast body of -information and giving them a superficial overview of it, enabling them -to select parts of it. GREENFIELD asked if any evidence exists that this -resource will indeed teach the new user, the K-12 students, how to do -research. Scholars already know how to do research and are applying -these new tools. But he wondered why students would go beyond picking -out things that were most exciting to them. - -FREEMAN conceded the correctness of GREENFIELD's observation as applied -to a school environment. The risk is that a student would sit down at a -system, play with it, find some things of interest, and then walk away. -But in the relatively controlled situation of a school library, much will -depend on the instructions a teacher or a librarian gives a student. She -viewed the situation not as one of fine-tuning research skills but of -involving students at a personal level in understanding and researching -things. Given the guidance one can receive at school, it then becomes -possible to teach elementary research skills to students, which in fact -one particular librarian said she was teaching her fifth graders. -FREEMAN concluded that introducing the idea of following one's own path -of inquiry, which is essentially what research entails, involves more -than teaching specific skills. To these comments VECCIA added the -observation that the individual teacher and the use of a creative -resource, rather than AM itself, seemed to make the key difference. -Some schools and some teachers are making excellent use of the nature -of critical thinking and teaching skills, she said. - -Concurring with these remarks, DALY closed the session with the thought that -the more that producers produced for teachers and for scholars to use with -their students, the more successful their electronic products would prove. - - ****** - -SESSION II. SHOW AND TELL - -Jacqueline HESS, director, National Demonstration Laboratory, served as -moderator of the "show-and-tell" session. She noted that a -question-and-answer period would follow each presentation. - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -MYLONAS * Overview and content of Perseus * Perseus' primary materials -exist in a system-independent, archival form * A concession * Textual -aspects of Perseus * Tools to use with the Greek text * Prepared indices -and full-text searches in Perseus * English-Greek word search leads to -close study of words and concepts * Navigating Perseus by tracing down -indices * Using the iconography to perform research * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Elli MYLONAS, managing editor, Perseus Project, Harvard University, first -gave an overview of Perseus, a large, collaborative effort based at -Harvard University but with contributors and collaborators located at -numerous universities and colleges in the United States (e.g., Bowdoin, -Maryland, Pomona, Chicago, Virginia). Funded primarily by the -Annenberg/CPB Project, with additional funding from Apple, Harvard, and -the Packard Humanities Institute, among others, Perseus is a multimedia, -hypertextual database for teaching and research on classical Greek -civilization, which was released in February 1992 in version 1.0 and -distributed by Yale University Press. - -Consisting entirely of primary materials, Perseus includes ancient Greek -texts and translations of those texts; catalog entries--that is, museum -catalog entries, not library catalog entries--on vases, sites, coins, -sculpture, and archaeological objects; maps; and a dictionary, among -other sources. The number of objects and the objects for which catalog -entries exist are accompanied by thousands of color images, which -constitute a major feature of the database. Perseus contains -approximately 30 megabytes of text, an amount that will double in -subsequent versions. In addition to these primary materials, the Perseus -Project has been building tools for using them, making access and -navigation easier, the goal being to build part of the electronic -environment discussed earlier in the morning in which students or -scholars can work with their sources. - -The demonstration of Perseus will show only a fraction of the real work -that has gone into it, because the project had to face the dilemma of -what to enter when putting something into machine-readable form: should -one aim for very high quality or make concessions in order to get the -material in? Since Perseus decided to opt for very high quality, all of -its primary materials exist in a system-independent--insofar as it is -possible to be system-independent--archival form. Deciding what that -archival form would be and attaining it required much work and thought. -For example, all the texts are marked up in SGML, which will be made -compatible with the guidelines of the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) when -they are issued. - -Drawings are postscript files, not meeting international standards, but -at least designed to go across platforms. Images, or rather the real -archival forms, consist of the best available slides, which are being -digitized. Much of the catalog material exists in database form--a form -that the average user could use, manipulate, and display on a personal -computer, but only at great cost. Thus, this is where the concession -comes in: All of this rich, well-marked-up information is stripped of -much of its content; the images are converted into bit-maps and the text -into small formatted chunks. All this information can then be imported -into HyperCard and run on a mid-range Macintosh, which is what Perseus -users have. This fact has made it possible for Perseus to attain wide -use fairly rapidly. Without those archival forms the HyperCard version -being demonstrated could not be made easily, and the project could not -have the potential to move to other forms and machines and software as -they appear, none of which information is in Perseus on the CD. - -Of the numerous multimedia aspects of Perseus, MYLONAS focused on the -textual. Part of what makes Perseus such a pleasure to use, MYLONAS -said, is this effort at seamless integration and the ability to move -around both visual and textual material. Perseus also made the decision -not to attempt to interpret its material any more than one interprets by -selecting. But, MYLONAS emphasized, Perseus is not courseware: No -syllabus exists. There is no effort to define how one teaches a topic -using Perseus, although the project may eventually collect papers by -people who have used it to teach. Rather, Perseus aims to provide -primary material in a kind of electronic library, an electronic sandbox, -so to say, in which students and scholars who are working on this -material can explore by themselves. With that, MYLONAS demonstrated -Perseus, beginning with the Perseus gateway, the first thing one sees -upon opening Perseus--an effort in part to solve the contextualizing -problem--which tells the user what the system contains. - -MYLONAS demonstrated only a very small portion, beginning with primary -texts and running off the CD-ROM. Having selected Aeschylus' Prometheus -Bound, which was viewable in Greek and English pretty much in the same -segments together, MYLONAS demonstrated tools to use with the Greek text, -something not possible with a book: looking up the dictionary entry form -of an unfamiliar word in Greek after subjecting it to Perseus' -morphological analysis for all the texts. After finding out about a -word, a user may then decide to see if it is used anywhere else in Greek. -Because vast amounts of indexing support all of the primary material, one -can find out where else all forms of a particular Greek word appear-- -often not a trivial matter because Greek is highly inflected. Further, -since the story of Prometheus has to do with the origins of sacrifice, a -user may wish to study and explore sacrifice in Greek literature; by -typing sacrifice into a small window, a user goes to the English-Greek -word list--something one cannot do without the computer (Perseus has -indexed the definitions of its dictionary)--the string sacrifice appears -in the definitions of these sixty-five words. One may then find out -where any of those words is used in the work(s) of a particular author. -The English definitions are not lemmatized. - -All of the indices driving this kind of usage were originally devised for -speed, MYLONAS observed; in other words, all that kind of information-- -all forms of all words, where they exist, the dictionary form they belong -to--were collected into databases, which will expedite searching. Then -it was discovered that one can do things searching in these databases -that could not be done searching in the full texts. Thus, although there -are full-text searches in Perseus, much of the work is done behind the -scenes, using prepared indices. Re the indexing that is done behind the -scenes, MYLONAS pointed out that without the SGML forms of the text, it -could not be done effectively. Much of this indexing is based on the -structures that are made explicit by the SGML tagging. - -It was found that one of the things many of Perseus' non-Greek-reading -users do is start from the dictionary and then move into the close study -of words and concepts via this kind of English-Greek word search, by which -means they might select a concept. This exercise has been assigned to -students in core courses at Harvard--to study a concept by looking for the -English word in the dictionary, finding the Greek words, and then finding -the words in the Greek but, of course, reading across in the English. -That tells them a great deal about what a translation means as well. - -Should one also wish to see images that have to do with sacrifice, that -person would go to the object key word search, which allows one to -perform a similar kind of index retrieval on the database of -archaeological objects. Without words, pictures are useless; Perseus has -not reached the point where it can do much with images that are not -cataloged. Thus, although it is possible in Perseus with text and images -to navigate by knowing where one wants to end up--for example, a -red-figure vase from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts--one can perform this -kind of navigation very easily by tracing down indices. MYLONAS -illustrated several generic scenes of sacrifice on vases. The features -demonstrated derived from Perseus 1.0; version 2.0 will implement even -better means of retrieval. - -MYLONAS closed by looking at one of the pictures and noting again that -one can do a great deal of research using the iconography as well as the -texts. For instance, students in a core course at Harvard this year were -highly interested in Greek concepts of foreigners and representations of -non-Greeks. So they performed a great deal of research, both with texts -(e.g., Herodotus) and with iconography on vases and coins, on how the -Greeks portrayed non-Greeks. At the same time, art historians who study -iconography were also interested, and were able to use this material. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * Indexing and searchability of all English words in Perseus * -Several features of Perseus 1.0 * Several levels of customization -possible * Perseus used for general education * Perseus' effects on -education * Contextual information in Perseus * Main challenge and -emphasis of Perseus * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Several points emerged in the discussion that followed MYLONAS's presentation. - -Although MYLONAS had not demonstrated Perseus' ability to cross-search -documents, she confirmed that all English words in Perseus are indexed -and can be searched. So, for example, sacrifice could have been searched -in all texts, the historical essay, and all the catalogue entries with -their descriptions--in short, in all of Perseus. - -Boolean logic is not in Perseus 1.0 but will be added to the next -version, although an effort is being made not to restrict Perseus to a -database in which one just performs searching, Boolean or otherwise. It -is possible to move laterally through the documents by selecting a word -one is interested in and selecting an area of information one is -interested in and trying to look that word up in that area. - -Since Perseus was developed in HyperCard, several levels of customization -are possible. Simple authoring tools exist that allow one to create -annotated paths through the information, which are useful for note-taking -and for guided tours for teaching purposes and for expository writing. -With a little more ingenuity it is possible to begin to add or substitute -material in Perseus. - -Perseus has not been used so much for classics education as for general -education, where it seemed to have an impact on the students in the core -course at Harvard (a general required course that students must take in -certain areas). Students were able to use primary material much more. - -The Perseus Project has an evaluation team at the University of Maryland -that has been documenting Perseus' effects on education. Perseus is very -popular, and anecdotal evidence indicates that it is having an effect at -places other than Harvard, for example, test sites at Ball State -University, Drury College, and numerous small places where opportunities -to use vast amounts of primary data may not exist. One documented effect -is that archaeological, anthropological, and philological research is -being done by the same person instead of by three different people. - -The contextual information in Perseus includes an overview essay, a -fairly linear historical essay on the fifth century B.C. that provides -links into the primary material (e.g., Herodotus, Thucydides, and -Plutarch), via small gray underscoring (on the screen) of linked -passages. These are handmade links into other material. - -To different extents, most of the production work was done at Harvard, -where the people and the equipment are located. Much of the -collaborative activity involved data collection and structuring, because -the main challenge and the emphasis of Perseus is the gathering of -primary material, that is, building a useful environment for studying -classical Greece, collecting data, and making it useful. -Systems-building is definitely not the main concern. Thus, much of the -work has involved writing essays, collecting information, rewriting it, -and tagging it. That can be done off site. The creative link for the -overview essay as well as for both systems and data was collaborative, -and was forged via E-mail and paper mail with professors at Pomona and -Bowdoin. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -CALALUCA * PLD's principal focus and contribution to scholarship * -Various questions preparatory to beginning the project * Basis for -project * Basic rule in converting PLD * Concerning the images in PLD * -Running PLD under a variety of retrieval softwares * Encoding the -database a hard-fought issue * Various features demonstrated * Importance -of user documentation * Limitations of the CD-ROM version * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Eric CALALUCA, vice president, Chadwyck-Healey, Inc., demonstrated a -software interpretation of the Patrologia Latina Database (PLD). PLD's -principal focus from the beginning of the project about three-and-a-half -years ago was on converting Migne's Latin series, and in the end, -CALALUCA suggested, conversion of the text will be the major contribution -to scholarship. CALALUCA stressed that, as possibly the only private -publishing organization at the Workshop, Chadwyck-Healey had sought no -federal funds or national foundation support before embarking upon the -project, but instead had relied upon a great deal of homework and -marketing to accomplish the task of conversion. - -Ever since the possibilities of computer-searching have emerged, scholars -in the field of late ancient and early medieval studies (philosophers, -theologians, classicists, and those studying the history of natural law -and the history of the legal development of Western civilization) have -been longing for a fully searchable version of Western literature, for -example, all the texts of Augustine and Bernard of Clairvaux and -Boethius, not to mention all the secondary and tertiary authors. - -Various questions arose, CALALUCA said. Should one convert Migne? -Should the database be encoded? Is it necessary to do that? How should -it be delivered? What about CD-ROM? Since this is a transitional -medium, why even bother to create software to run on a CD-ROM? Since -everybody knows people will be networking information, why go to the -trouble--which is far greater with CD-ROM than with the production of -magnetic data? Finally, how does one make the data available? Can many -of the hurdles to using electronic information that some publishers have -imposed upon databases be eliminated? - -The PLD project was based on the principle that computer-searching of -texts is most effective when it is done with a large database. Because -PLD represented a collection that serves so many disciplines across so -many periods, it was irresistible. - -The basic rule in converting PLD was to do no harm, to avoid the sins of -intrusion in such a database: no introduction of newer editions, no -on-the-spot changes, no eradicating of all possible falsehoods from an -edition. Thus, PLD is not the final act in electronic publishing for -this discipline, but simply the beginning. The conversion of PLD has -evoked numerous unanticipated questions: How will information be used? -What about networking? Can the rights of a database be protected? -Should one protect the rights of a database? How can it be made -available? - -Those converting PLD also tried to avoid the sins of omission, that is, -excluding portions of the collections or whole sections. What about the -images? PLD is full of images, some are extremely pious -nineteenth-century representations of the Fathers, while others contain -highly interesting elements. The goal was to cover all the text of Migne -(including notes, in Greek and in Hebrew, the latter of which, in -particular, causes problems in creating a search structure), all the -indices, and even the images, which are being scanned in separately -searchable files. - -Several North American institutions that have placed acquisition requests -for the PLD database have requested it in magnetic form without software, -which means they are already running it without software, without -anything demonstrated at the Workshop. - -What cannot practically be done is go back and reconvert and re-encode -data, a time-consuming and extremely costly enterprise. CALALUCA sees -PLD as a database that can, and should, be run under a variety of -retrieval softwares. This will permit the widest possible searches. -Consequently, the need to produce a CD-ROM of PLD, as well as to develop -software that could handle some 1.3 gigabyte of heavily encoded text, -developed out of conversations with collection development and reference -librarians who wanted software both compassionate enough for the -pedestrian but also capable of incorporating the most detailed -lexicographical studies that a user desires to conduct. In the end, the -encoding and conversion of the data will prove the most enduring -testament to the value of the project. - -The encoding of the database was also a hard-fought issue: Did the -database need to be encoded? Were there normative structures for encoding -humanist texts? Should it be SGML? What about the TEI--will it last, -will it prove useful? CALALUCA expressed some minor doubts as to whether -a data bank can be fully TEI-conformant. Every effort can be made, but -in the end to be TEI-conformant means to accept the need to make some -firm encoding decisions that can, indeed, be disputed. The TEI points -the publisher in a proper direction but does not presume to make all the -decisions for him or her. Essentially, the goal of encoding was to -eliminate, as much as possible, the hindrances to information-networking, -so that if an institution acquires a database, everybody associated with -the institution can have access to it. - -CALALUCA demonstrated a portion of Volume 160, because it had the most -anomalies in it. The software was created by Electronic Book -Technologies of Providence, RI, and is called Dynatext. The software -works only with SGML-coded data. - -Viewing a table of contents on the screen, the audience saw how Dynatext -treats each element as a book and attempts to simplify movement through a -volume. Familiarity with the Patrologia in print (i.e., the text, its -source, and the editions) will make the machine-readable versions highly -useful. (Software with a Windows application was sought for PLD, -CALALUCA said, because this was the main trend for scholarly use.) - -CALALUCA also demonstrated how a user can perform a variety of searches -and quickly move to any part of a volume; the look-up screen provides -some basic, simple word-searching. - -CALALUCA argued that one of the major difficulties is not the software. -Rather, in creating a product that will be used by scholars representing -a broad spectrum of computer sophistication, user documentation proves -to be the most important service one can provide. - -CALALUCA next illustrated a truncated search under mysterium within ten -words of virtus and how one would be able to find its contents throughout -the entire database. He said that the exciting thing about PLD is that -many of the applications in the retrieval software being written for it -will exceed the capabilities of the software employed now for the CD-ROM -version. The CD-ROM faces genuine limitations, in terms of speed and -comprehensiveness, in the creation of a retrieval software to run it. -CALALUCA said he hoped that individual scholars will download the data, -if they wish, to their personal computers, and have ready access to -important texts on a constant basis, which they will be able to use in -their research and from which they might even be able to publish. - -(CALALUCA explained that the blue numbers represented Migne's column numbers, -which are the standard scholarly references. Pulling up a note, he stated -that these texts were heavily edited and the image files would appear simply -as a note as well, so that one could quickly access an image.) - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -FLEISCHHAUER/ERWAY * Several problems with which AM is still wrestling * -Various search and retrieval capabilities * Illustration of automatic -stemming and a truncated search * AM's attempt to find ways to connect -cataloging to the texts * AM's gravitation towards SGML * Striking a -balance between quantity and quality * How AM furnishes users recourse to -images * Conducting a search in a full-text environment * Macintosh and -IBM prototypes of AM * Multimedia aspects of AM * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -A demonstration of American Memory by its coordinator, Carl FLEISCHHAUER, -and Ricky ERWAY, associate coordinator, Library of Congress, concluded -the morning session. Beginning with a collection of broadsides from the -Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, the only text -collection in a presentable form at the time of the Workshop, FLEISCHHAUER -highlighted several of the problems with which AM is still wrestling. -(In its final form, the disk will contain two collections, not only the -broadsides but also the full text with illustrations of a set of -approximately 300 African-American pamphlets from the period 1870 to 1910.) - -As FREEMAN had explained earlier, AM has attempted to use a small amount -of interpretation to introduce collections. In the present case, the -contractor, a company named Quick Source, in Silver Spring, MD., used -software called Toolbook and put together a modestly interactive -introduction to the collection. Like the two preceding speakers, -FLEISCHHAUER argued that the real asset was the underlying collection. - -FLEISCHHAUER proceeded to describe various search and retrieval -capabilities while ERWAY worked the computer. In this particular package -the "go to" pull-down allowed the user in effect to jump out of Toolbook, -where the interactive program was located, and enter the third-party -software used by AM for this text collection, which is called Personal -Librarian. This was the Windows version of Personal Librarian, a -software application put together by a company in Rockville, Md. - -Since the broadsides came from the Revolutionary War period, a search was -conducted using the words British or war, with the default operator reset -as or. FLEISCHHAUER demonstrated both automatic stemming (which finds -other forms of the same root) and a truncated search. One of Personal -Librarian's strongest features, the relevance ranking, was represented by -a chart that indicated how often words being sought appeared in -documents, with the one receiving the most "hits" obtaining the highest -score. The "hit list" that is supplied takes the relevance ranking into -account, making the first hit, in effect, the one the software has -selected as the most relevant example. - -While in the text of one of the broadside documents, FLEISCHHAUER -remarked AM's attempt to find ways to connect cataloging to the texts, -which it does in different ways in different manifestations. In the case -shown, the cataloging was pasted on: AM took MARC records that were -written as on-line records right into one of the Library's mainframe -retrieval programs, pulled them out, and handed them off to the contractor, -who massaged them somewhat to display them in the manner shown. One of -AM's questions is, Does the cataloguing normally performed in the mainframe -work in this context, or had AM ought to think through adjustments? - -FLEISCHHAUER made the additional point that, as far as the text goes, AM -has gravitated towards SGML (he pointed to the boldface in the upper part -of the screen). Although extremely limited in its ability to translate -or interpret SGML, Personal Librarian will furnish both bold and italics -on screen; a fairly easy thing to do, but it is one of the ways in which -SGML is useful. - -Striking a balance between quantity and quality has been a major concern -of AM, with accuracy being one of the places where project staff have -felt that less than 100-percent accuracy was not unacceptable. -FLEISCHHAUER cited the example of the standard of the rekeying industry, -namely 99.95 percent; as one service bureau informed him, to go from -99.95 to 100 percent would double the cost. - -FLEISCHHAUER next demonstrated how AM furnishes users recourse to images, -and at the same time recalled LESK's pointed question concerning the -number of people who would look at those images and the number who would -work only with the text. If the implication of LESK's question was -sound, FLEISCHHAUER said, it raised the stakes for text accuracy and -reduced the value of the strategy for images. - -Contending that preservation is always a bugaboo, FLEISCHHAUER -demonstrated several images derived from a scan of a preservation -microfilm that AM had made. He awarded a grade of C at best, perhaps a -C minus or a C plus, for how well it worked out. Indeed, the matter of -learning if other people had better ideas about scanning in general, and, -in particular, scanning from microfilm, was one of the factors that drove -AM to attempt to think through the agenda for the Workshop. Skew, for -example, was one of the issues that AM in its ignorance had not reckoned -would prove so difficult. - -Further, the handling of images of the sort shown, in a desktop computer -environment, involved a considerable amount of zooming and scrolling. -Ultimately, AM staff feel that perhaps the paper copy that is printed out -might be the most useful one, but they remain uncertain as to how much -on-screen reading users will do. - -Returning to the text, FLEISCHHAUER asked viewers to imagine a person who -might be conducting a search in a full-text environment. With this -scenario, he proceeded to illustrate other features of Personal Librarian -that he considered helpful; for example, it provides the ability to -notice words as one reads. Clicking the "include" button on the bottom -of the search window pops the words that have been highlighted into the -search. Thus, a user can refine the search as he or she reads, -re-executing the search and continuing to find things in the quest for -materials. This software not only contains relevance ranking, Boolean -operators, and truncation, it also permits one to perform word algebra, -so to say, where one puts two or three words in parentheses and links -them with one Boolean operator and then a couple of words in another set -of parentheses and asks for things within so many words of others. - -Until they became acquainted recently with some of the work being done in -classics, the AM staff had not realized that a large number of the -projects that involve electronic texts were being done by people with a -profound interest in language and linguistics. Their search strategies -and thinking are oriented to those fields, as is shown in particular by -the Perseus example. As amateur historians, the AM staff were thinking -more of searching for concepts and ideas than for particular words. -Obviously, FLEISCHHAUER conceded, searching for concepts and ideas and -searching for words may be two rather closely related things. - -While displaying several images, FLEISCHHAUER observed that the Macintosh -prototype built by AM contains a greater diversity of formats. Echoing a -previous speaker, he said that it was easier to stitch things together in -the Macintosh, though it tended to be a little more anemic in search and -retrieval. AM, therefore, increasingly has been investigating -sophisticated retrieval engines in the IBM format. - -FLEISCHHAUER demonstrated several additional examples of the prototype -interfaces: One was AM's metaphor for the network future, in which a -kind of reading-room graphic suggests how one would be able to go around -to different materials. AM contains a large number of photographs in -analog video form worked up from a videodisc, which enable users to make -copies to print or incorporate in digital documents. A frame-grabber is -built into the system, making it possible to bring an image into a window -and digitize or print it out. - -FLEISCHHAUER next demonstrated sound recording, which included texts. -Recycled from a previous project, the collection included sixty 78-rpm -phonograph records of political speeches that were made during and -immediately after World War I. These constituted approximately three -hours of audio, as AM has digitized it, which occupy 150 megabytes on a -CD. Thus, they are considerably compressed. From the catalogue card, -FLEISCHHAUER proceeded to a transcript of a speech with the audio -available and with highlighted text following it as it played. -A photograph has been added and a transcription made. - -Considerable value has been added beyond what the Library of Congress -normally would do in cataloguing a sound recording, which raises several -questions for AM concerning where to draw lines about how much value it can -afford to add and at what point, perhaps, this becomes more than AM could -reasonably do or reasonably wish to do. FLEISCHHAUER also demonstrated -a motion picture. As FREEMAN had reported earlier, the motion picture -materials have proved the most popular, not surprisingly. This says more -about the medium, he thought, than about AM's presentation of it. - -Because AM's goal was to bring together things that could be used by -historians or by people who were curious about history, -turn-of-the-century footage seemed to represent the most appropriate -collections from the Library of Congress in motion pictures. These were -the very first films made by Thomas Edison's company and some others at -that time. The particular example illustrated was a Biograph film, -brought in with a frame-grabber into a window. A single videodisc -contains about fifty titles and pieces of film from that period, all of -New York City. Taken together, AM believes, they provide an interesting -documentary resource. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * Using the frame-grabber in AM * Volume of material processed -and to be processed * Purpose of AM within LC * Cataloguing and the -nature of AM's material * SGML coding and the question of quality versus -quantity * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -During the question-and-answer period that followed FLEISCHHAUER's -presentation, several clarifications were made. - -AM is bringing in motion pictures from a videodisc. The frame-grabber -devices create a window on a computer screen, which permits users to -digitize a single frame of the movie or one of the photographs. It -produces a crude, rough-and-ready image that high school students can -incorporate into papers, and that has worked very nicely in this way. - -Commenting on FLEISCHHAUER's assertion that AM was looking more at -searching ideas than words, MYLONAS argued that without words an idea -does not exist. FLEISCHHAUER conceded that he ought to have articulated -his point more clearly. MYLONAS stated that they were in fact both -talking about the same thing. By searching for words and by forcing -people to focus on the word, the Perseus Project felt that they would get -them to the idea. The way one reviews results is tailored more to one -kind of user than another. - -Concerning the total volume of material that has been processed in this -way, AM at this point has in retrievable form seven or eight collections, -all of them photographic. In the Macintosh environment, for example, -there probably are 35,000-40,000 photographs. The sound recordings -number sixty items. The broadsides number about 300 items. There are -500 political cartoons in the form of drawings. The motion pictures, as -individual items, number sixty to seventy. - -AM also has a manuscript collection, the life history portion of one of -the federal project series, which will contain 2,900 individual -documents, all first-person narratives. AM has in process about 350 -African-American pamphlets, or about 12,000 printed pages for the period -1870-1910. Also in the works are some 4,000 panoramic photographs. AM -has recycled a fair amount of the work done by LC's Prints and -Photographs Division during the Library's optical disk pilot project in -the 1980s. For example, a special division of LC has tooled up and -thought through all the ramifications of electronic presentation of -photographs. Indeed, they are wheeling them out in great barrel loads. -The purpose of AM within the Library, it is hoped, is to catalyze several -of the other special collection divisions which have no particular -experience with, in some cases, mixed feelings about, an activity such as -AM. Moreover, in many cases the divisions may be characterized as not -only lacking experience in "electronifying" things but also in automated -cataloguing. MARC cataloguing as practiced in the United States is -heavily weighted toward the description of monograph and serial -materials, but is much thinner when one enters the world of manuscripts -and things that are held in the Library's music collection and other -units. In response to a comment by LESK, that AM's material is very -heavily photographic, and is so primarily because individual records have -been made for each photograph, FLEISCHHAUER observed that an item-level -catalog record exists, for example, for each photograph in the Detroit -Publishing collection of 25,000 pictures. In the case of the Federal -Writers Project, for which nearly 3,000 documents exist, representing -information from twenty-six different states, AM with the assistance of -Karen STUART of the Manuscript Division will attempt to find some way not -only to have a collection-level record but perhaps a MARC record for each -state, which will then serve as an umbrella for the 100-200 documents -that come under it. But that drama remains to be enacted. The AM staff -is conservative and clings to cataloguing, though of course visitors tout -artificial intelligence and neural networks in a manner that suggests that -perhaps one need not have cataloguing or that much of it could be put aside. - -The matter of SGML coding, FLEISCHHAUER conceded, returned the discussion -to the earlier treated question of quality versus quantity in the Library -of Congress. Of course, text conversion can be done with 100-percent -accuracy, but it means that when one's holdings are as vast as LC's only -a tiny amount will be exposed, whereas permitting lower levels of -accuracy can lead to exposing or sharing larger amounts, but with the -quality correspondingly impaired. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -TWOHIG * A contrary experience concerning electronic options * Volume of -material in the Washington papers and a suggestion of David Packard * -Implications of Packard's suggestion * Transcribing the documents for the -CD-ROM * Accuracy of transcriptions * The CD-ROM edition of the Founding -Fathers documents * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Finding encouragement in a comment of MICHELSON's from the morning -session--that numerous people in the humanities were choosing electronic -options to do their work--Dorothy TWOHIG, editor, The Papers of George -Washington, opened her illustrated talk by noting that her experience -with literary scholars and numerous people in editing was contrary to -MICHELSON's. TWOHIG emphasized literary scholars' complete ignorance of -the technological options available to them or their reluctance or, in -some cases, their downright hostility toward these options. - -After providing an overview of the five Founding Fathers projects -(Jefferson at Princeton, Franklin at Yale, John Adams at the -Massachusetts Historical Society, and Madison down the hall from her at -the University of Virginia), TWOHIG observed that the Washington papers, -like all of the projects, include both sides of the Washington -correspondence and deal with some 135,000 documents to be published with -extensive annotation in eighty to eighty-five volumes, a project that -will not be completed until well into the next century. Thus, it was -with considerable enthusiasm several years ago that the Washington Papers -Project (WPP) greeted David Packard's suggestion that the papers of the -Founding Fathers could be published easily and inexpensively, and to the -great benefit of American scholarship, via CD-ROM. - -In pragmatic terms, funding from the Packard Foundation would expedite -the transcription of thousands of documents waiting to be put on disk in -the WPP offices. Further, since the costs of collecting, editing, and -converting the Founding Fathers documents into letterpress editions were -running into the millions of dollars, and the considerable staffs -involved in all of these projects were devoting their careers to -producing the work, the Packard Foundation's suggestion had a -revolutionary aspect: Transcriptions of the entire corpus of the -Founding Fathers papers would be available on CD-ROM to public and -college libraries, even high schools, at a fraction of the cost-- -$100-$150 for the annual license fee--to produce a limited university -press run of 1,000 of each volume of the published papers at $45-$150 per -printed volume. Given the current budget crunch in educational systems -and the corresponding constraints on librarians in smaller institutions -who wish to add these volumes to their collections, producing the -documents on CD-ROM would likely open a greatly expanded audience for the -papers. TWOHIG stressed, however, that development of the Founding -Fathers CD-ROM is still in its infancy. Serious software problems remain -to be resolved before the material can be put into readable form. - -Funding from the Packard Foundation resulted in a major push to -transcribe the 75,000 or so documents of the Washington papers remaining -to be transcribed onto computer disks. Slides illustrated several of the -problems encountered, for example, the present inability of CD-ROM to -indicate the cross-outs (deleted material) in eighteenth century -documents. TWOHIG next described documents from various periods in the -eighteenth century that have been transcribed in chronological order and -delivered to the Packard offices in California, where they are converted -to the CD-ROM, a process that is expected to consume five years to -complete (that is, reckoning from David Packard's suggestion made several -years ago, until about July 1994). TWOHIG found an encouraging -indication of the project's benefits in the ongoing use made by scholars -of the search functions of the CD-ROM, particularly in reducing the time -spent in manually turning the pages of the Washington papers. - -TWOHIG next furnished details concerning the accuracy of transcriptions. -For instance, the insertion of thousands of documents on the CD-ROM -currently does not permit each document to be verified against the -original manuscript several times as in the case of documents that appear -in the published edition. However, the transcriptions receive a cursory -check for obvious typos, the misspellings of proper names, and other -errors from the WPP CD-ROM editor. Eventually, all documents that appear -in the electronic version will be checked by project editors. Although -this process has met with opposition from some of the editors on the -grounds that imperfect work may leave their offices, the advantages in -making this material available as a research tool outweigh fears about the -misspelling of proper names and other relatively minor editorial matters. - -Completion of all five Founding Fathers projects (i.e., retrievability -and searchability of all of the documents by proper names, alternate -spellings, or varieties of subjects) will provide one of the richest -sources of this size for the history of the United States in the latter -part of the eighteenth century. Further, publication on CD-ROM will -allow editors to include even minutiae, such as laundry lists, not -included in the printed volumes. - -It seems possible that the extensive annotation provided in the printed -volumes eventually will be added to the CD-ROM edition, pending -negotiations with the publishers of the papers. At the moment, the -Founding Fathers CD-ROM is accessible only on the IBYCUS, a computer -developed out of the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae project and designed for -the use of classical scholars. There are perhaps 400 IBYCUS computers in -the country, most of which are in university classics departments. -Ultimately, it is anticipated that the CD-ROM edition of the Founding -Fathers documents will run on any IBM-compatible or Macintosh computer -with a CD-ROM drive. Numerous changes in the software will also occur -before the project is completed. (Editor's note: an IBYCUS was -unavailable to demonstrate the CD-ROM.) - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * Several additional features of WPP clarified * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Discussion following TWOHIG's presentation served to clarify several -additional features, including (1) that the project's primary -intellectual product consists in the electronic transcription of the -material; (2) that the text transmitted to the CD-ROM people is not -marked up; (3) that cataloging and subject-indexing of the material -remain to be worked out (though at this point material can be retrieved -by name); and (4) that because all the searching is done in the hardware, -the IBYCUS is designed to read a CD-ROM which contains only sequential -text files. Technically, it then becomes very easy to read the material -off and put it on another device. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -LEBRON * Overview of the history of the joint project between AAAS and -OCLC * Several practices the on-line environment shares with traditional -publishing on hard copy * Several technical and behavioral barriers to -electronic publishing * How AAAS and OCLC arrived at the subject of -clinical trials * Advantages of the electronic format and other features -of OJCCT * An illustrated tour of the journal * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Maria LEBRON, managing editor, The Online Journal of Current Clinical -Trials (OJCCT), presented an illustrated overview of the history of the -joint project between the American Association for the Advancement of -Science (AAAS) and the Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC). The -joint venture between AAAS and OCLC owes its beginning to a -reorganization launched by the new chief executive officer at OCLC about -three years ago and combines the strengths of these two disparate -organizations. In short, OJCCT represents the process of scholarly -publishing on line. - -LEBRON next discussed several practices the on-line environment shares -with traditional publishing on hard copy--for example, peer review of -manuscripts--that are highly important in the academic world. LEBRON -noted in particular the implications of citation counts for tenure -committees and grants committees. In the traditional hard-copy -environment, citation counts are readily demonstrable, whereas the -on-line environment represents an ethereal medium to most academics. - -LEBRON remarked several technical and behavioral barriers to electronic -publishing, for instance, the problems in transmission created by special -characters or by complex graphics and halftones. In addition, she noted -economic limitations such as the storage costs of maintaining back issues -and market or audience education. - -Manuscripts cannot be uploaded to OJCCT, LEBRON explained, because it is -not a bulletin board or E-mail, forms of electronic transmission of -information that have created an ambience clouding people's understanding -of what the journal is attempting to do. OJCCT, which publishes -peer-reviewed medical articles dealing with the subject of clinical -trials, includes text, tabular material, and graphics, although at this -time it can transmit only line illustrations. - -Next, LEBRON described how AAAS and OCLC arrived at the subject of -clinical trials: It is 1) a highly statistical discipline that 2) does -not require halftones but can satisfy the needs of its audience with line -illustrations and graphic material, and 3) there is a need for the speedy -dissemination of high-quality research results. Clinical trials are -research activities that involve the administration of a test treatment -to some experimental unit in order to test its usefulness before it is -made available to the general population. LEBRON proceeded to give -additional information on OJCCT concerning its editor-in-chief, editorial -board, editorial content, and the types of articles it publishes -(including peer-reviewed research reports and reviews), as well as -features shared by other traditional hard-copy journals. - -Among the advantages of the electronic format are faster dissemination of -information, including raw data, and the absence of space constraints -because pages do not exist. (This latter fact creates an interesting -situation when it comes to citations.) Nor are there any issues. AAAS's -capacity to download materials directly from the journal to a -subscriber's printer, hard drive, or floppy disk helps ensure highly -accurate transcription. Other features of OJCCT include on-screen alerts -that allow linkage of subsequently published documents to the original -documents; on-line searching by subject, author, title, etc.; indexing of -every single word that appears in an article; viewing access to an -article by component (abstract, full text, or graphs); numbered -paragraphs to replace page counts; publication in Science every thirty -days of indexing of all articles published in the journal; -typeset-quality screens; and Hypertext links that enable subscribers to -bring up Medline abstracts directly without leaving the journal. - -After detailing the two primary ways to gain access to the journal, -through the OCLC network and Compuserv if one desires graphics or through -the Internet if just an ASCII file is desired, LEBRON illustrated the -speedy editorial process and the coding of the document using SGML tags -after it has been accepted for publication. She also gave an illustrated -tour of the journal, its search-and-retrieval capabilities in particular, -but also including problems associated with scanning in illustrations, -and the importance of on-screen alerts to the medical profession re -retractions or corrections, or more frequently, editorials, letters to -the editors, or follow-up reports. She closed by inviting the audience -to join AAAS on 1 July, when OJCCT was scheduled to go on-line. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * Additional features of OJCCT * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -In the lengthy discussion that followed LEBRON's presentation, these -points emerged: - - * The SGML text can be tailored as users wish. - - * All these articles have a fairly simple document definition. - - * Document-type definitions (DTDs) were developed and given to OJCCT - for coding. - - * No articles will be removed from the journal. (Because there are - no back issues, there are no lost issues either. Once a subscriber - logs onto the journal he or she has access not only to the currently - published materials, but retrospectively to everything that has been - published in it. Thus the table of contents grows bigger. The date - of publication serves to distinguish between currently published - materials and older materials.) - - * The pricing system for the journal resembles that for most medical - journals: for 1992, $95 for a year, plus telecommunications charges - (there are no connect time charges); for 1993, $110 for the - entire year for single users, though the journal can be put on a - local area network (LAN). However, only one person can access the - journal at a time. Site licenses may come in the future. - - * AAAS is working closely with colleagues at OCLC to display - mathematical equations on screen. - - * Without compromising any steps in the editorial process, the - technology has reduced the time lag between when a manuscript is - originally submitted and the time it is accepted; the review process - does not differ greatly from the standard six-to-eight weeks - employed by many of the hard-copy journals. The process still - depends on people. - - * As far as a preservation copy is concerned, articles will be - maintained on the computer permanently and subscribers, as part of - their subscription, will receive a microfiche-quality archival copy - of everything published during that year; in addition, reprints can - be purchased in much the same way as in a hard-copy environment. - Hard copies are prepared but are not the primary medium for the - dissemination of the information. - - * Because OJCCT is not yet on line, it is difficult to know how many - people would simply browse through the journal on the screen as - opposed to downloading the whole thing and printing it out; a mix of - both types of users likely will result. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -PERSONIUS * Developments in technology over the past decade * The CLASS -Project * Advantages for technology and for the CLASS Project * -Developing a network application an underlying assumption of the project -* Details of the scanning process * Print-on-demand copies of books * -Future plans include development of a browsing tool * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Lynne PERSONIUS, assistant director, Cornell Information Technologies for -Scholarly Information Services, Cornell University, first commented on -the tremendous impact that developments in technology over the past ten -years--networking, in particular--have had on the way information is -handled, and how, in her own case, these developments have counterbalanced -Cornell's relative geographical isolation. Other significant technologies -include scanners, which are much more sophisticated than they were ten years -ago; mass storage and the dramatic savings that result from it in terms of -both space and money relative to twenty or thirty years ago; new and -improved printing technologies, which have greatly affected the distribution -of information; and, of course, digital technologies, whose applicability to -library preservation remains at issue. - -Given that context, PERSONIUS described the College Library Access and -Storage System (CLASS) Project, a library preservation project, -primarily, and what has been accomplished. Directly funded by the -Commission on Preservation and Access and by the Xerox Corporation, which -has provided a significant amount of hardware, the CLASS Project has been -working with a development team at Xerox to develop a software -application tailored to library preservation requirements. Within -Cornell, participants in the project have been working jointly with both -library and information technologies. The focus of the project has been -on reformatting and saving books that are in brittle condition. -PERSONIUS showed Workshop participants a brittle book, and described how -such books were the result of developments in papermaking around the -beginning of the Industrial Revolution. The papermaking process was -changed so that a significant amount of acid was introduced into the -actual paper itself, which deteriorates as it sits on library shelves. - -One of the advantages for technology and for the CLASS Project is that -the information in brittle books is mostly out of copyright and thus -offers an opportunity to work with material that requires library -preservation, and to create and work on an infrastructure to save the -material. Acknowledging the familiarity of those working in preservation -with this information, PERSONIUS noted that several things are being -done: the primary preservation technology used today is photocopying of -brittle material. Saving the intellectual content of the material is the -main goal. With microfilm copy, the intellectual content is preserved on -the assumption that in the future the image can be reformatted in any -other way that then exists. - -An underlying assumption of the CLASS Project from the beginning was -that it would develop a network application. Project staff scan books -at a workstation located in the library, near the brittle material. -An image-server filing system is located at a distance from that -workstation, and a printer is located in another building. All of the -materials digitized and stored on the image-filing system are cataloged -in the on-line catalogue. In fact, a record for each of these electronic -books is stored in the RLIN database so that a record exists of what is -in the digital library throughout standard catalogue procedures. In the -future, researchers working from their own workstations in their offices, -or their networks, will have access--wherever they might be--through a -request server being built into the new digital library. A second -assumption is that the preferred means of finding the material will be by -looking through a catalogue. PERSONIUS described the scanning process, -which uses a prototype scanner being developed by Xerox and which scans a -very high resolution image at great speed. Another significant feature, -because this is a preservation application, is the placing of the pages -that fall apart one for one on the platen. Ordinarily, a scanner could -be used with some sort of a document feeder, but because of this -application that is not feasible. Further, because CLASS is a -preservation application, after the paper replacement is made there, a -very careful quality control check is performed. An original book is -compared to the printed copy and verification is made, before proceeding, -that all of the image, all of the information, has been captured. Then, -a new library book is produced: The printed images are rebound by a -commercial binder and a new book is returned to the shelf. -Significantly, the books returned to the library shelves are beautiful -and useful replacements on acid-free paper that should last a long time, -in effect, the equivalent of preservation photocopies. Thus, the project -has a library of digital books. In essence, CLASS is scanning and -storing books as 600 dot-per-inch bit-mapped images, compressed using -Group 4 CCITT (i.e., the French acronym for International Consultative -Committee for Telegraph and Telephone) compression. They are stored as -TIFF files on an optical filing system that is composed of a database -used for searching and locating the books and an optical jukebox that -stores 64 twelve-inch platters. A very-high-resolution printed copy of -these books at 600 dots per inch is created, using a Xerox DocuTech -printer to make the paper replacements on acid-free paper. - -PERSONIUS maintained that the CLASS Project presents an opportunity to -introduce people to books as digital images by using a paper medium. -Books are returned to the shelves while people are also given the ability -to print on demand--to make their own copies of books. (PERSONIUS -distributed copies of an engineering journal published by engineering -students at Cornell around 1900 as an example of what a print-on-demand -copy of material might be like. This very cheap copy would be available -to people to use for their own research purposes and would bridge the gap -between an electronic work and the paper that readers like to have.) -PERSONIUS then attempted to illustrate a very early prototype of -networked access to this digital library. Xerox Corporation has -developed a prototype of a view station that can send images across the -network to be viewed. - -The particular library brought down for demonstration contained two -mathematics books. CLASS is developing and will spend the next year -developing an application that allows people at workstations to browse -the books. Thus, CLASS is developing a browsing tool, on the assumption -that users do not want to read an entire book from a workstation, but -would prefer to be able to look through and decide if they would like to -have a printed copy of it. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * Re retrieval software * "Digital file copyright" * Scanning -rate during production * Autosegmentation * Criteria employed in -selecting books for scanning * Compression and decompression of images * -OCR not precluded * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -During the question-and-answer period that followed her presentation, -PERSONIUS made these additional points: - - * Re retrieval software, Cornell is developing a Unix-based server - as well as clients for the server that support multiple platforms - (Macintosh, IBM and Sun workstations), in the hope that people from - any of those platforms will retrieve books; a further operating - assumption is that standard interfaces will be used as much as - possible, where standards can be put in place, because CLASS - considers this retrieval software a library application and would - like to be able to look at material not only at Cornell but at other - institutions. - - * The phrase "digital file copyright by Cornell University" was - added at the advice of Cornell's legal staff with the caveat that it - probably would not hold up in court. Cornell does not want people - to copy its books and sell them but would like to keep them - available for use in a library environment for library purposes. - - * In production the scanner can scan about 300 pages per hour, - capturing 600 dots per inch. - - * The Xerox software has filters to scan halftone material and avoid - the moire patterns that occur when halftone material is scanned. - Xerox has been working on hardware and software that would enable - the scanner itself to recognize this situation and deal with it - appropriately--a kind of autosegmentation that would enable the - scanner to handle halftone material as well as text on a single page. - - * The books subjected to the elaborate process described above were - selected because CLASS is a preservation project, with the first 500 - books selected coming from Cornell's mathematics collection, because - they were still being heavily used and because, although they were - in need of preservation, the mathematics library and the mathematics - faculty were uncomfortable having them microfilmed. (They wanted a - printed copy.) Thus, these books became a logical choice for this - project. Other books were chosen by the project's selection committees - for experiments with the technology, as well as to meet a demand or need. - - * Images will be decompressed before they are sent over the line; at - this time they are compressed and sent to the image filing system - and then sent to the printer as compressed images; they are returned - to the workstation as compressed 600-dpi images and the workstation - decompresses and scales them for display--an inefficient way to - access the material though it works quite well for printing and - other purposes. - - * CLASS is also decompressing on Macintosh and IBM, a slow process - right now. Eventually, compression and decompression will take - place on an image conversion server. Trade-offs will be made, based - on future performance testing, concerning where the file is - compressed and what resolution image is sent. - - * OCR has not been precluded; images are being stored that have been - scanned at a high resolution, which presumably would suit them well - to an OCR process. Because the material being scanned is about 100 - years old and was printed with less-than-ideal technologies, very - early and preliminary tests have not produced good results. But the - project is capturing an image that is of sufficient resolution to be - subjected to OCR in the future. Moreover, the system architecture - and the system plan have a logical place to store an OCR image if it - has been captured. But that is not being done now. - - ****** - -SESSION III. DISTRIBUTION, NETWORKS, AND NETWORKING: OPTIONS FOR -DISSEMINATION - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -ZICH * Issues pertaining to CD-ROMs * Options for publishing in CD-ROM * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Robert ZICH, special assistant to the associate librarian for special -projects, Library of Congress, and moderator of this session, first noted -the blessed but somewhat awkward circumstance of having four very -distinguished people representing networks and networking or at least -leaning in that direction, while lacking anyone to speak from the -strongest possible background in CD-ROMs. ZICH expressed the hope that -members of the audience would join the discussion. He stressed the -subtitle of this particular session, "Options for Dissemination," and, -concerning CD-ROMs, the importance of determining when it would be wise -to consider dissemination in CD-ROM versus networks. A shopping list of -issues pertaining to CD-ROMs included: the grounds for selecting -commercial publishers, and in-house publication where possible versus -nonprofit or government publication. A similar list for networks -included: determining when one should consider dissemination through a -network, identifying the mechanisms or entities that exist to place items -on networks, identifying the pool of existing networks, determining how a -producer would choose between networks, and identifying the elements of -a business arrangement in a network. - -Options for publishing in CD-ROM: an outside publisher versus -self-publication. If an outside publisher is used, it can be nonprofit, -such as the Government Printing Office (GPO) or the National Technical -Information Service (NTIS), in the case of government. The pros and cons -associated with employing an outside publisher are obvious. Among the -pros, there is no trouble getting accepted. One pays the bill and, in -effect, goes one's way. Among the cons, when one pays an outside -publisher to perform the work, that publisher will perform the work it is -obliged to do, but perhaps without the production expertise and skill in -marketing and dissemination that some would seek. There is the body of -commercial publishers that do possess that kind of expertise in -distribution and marketing but that obviously are selective. In -self-publication, one exercises full control, but then one must handle -matters such as distribution and marketing. Such are some of the options -for publishing in the case of CD-ROM. - -In the case of technical and design issues, which are also important, -there are many matters which many at the Workshop already knew a good -deal about: retrieval system requirements and costs, what to do about -images, the various capabilities and platforms, the trade-offs between -cost and performance, concerns about local-area networkability, -interoperability, etc. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -LYNCH * Creating networked information is different from using networks -as an access or dissemination vehicle * Networked multimedia on a large -scale does not yet work * Typical CD-ROM publication model a two-edged -sword * Publishing information on a CD-ROM in the present world of -immature standards * Contrast between CD-ROM and network pricing * -Examples demonstrated earlier in the day as a set of insular information -gems * Paramount need to link databases * Layering to become increasingly -necessary * Project NEEDS and the issues of information reuse and active -versus passive use * X-Windows as a way of differentiating between -network access and networked information * Barriers to the distribution -of networked multimedia information * Need for good, real-time delivery -protocols * The question of presentation integrity in client-server -computing in the academic world * Recommendations for producing multimedia -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Clifford LYNCH, director, Library Automation, University of California, -opened his talk with the general observation that networked information -constituted a difficult and elusive topic because it is something just -starting to develop and not yet fully understood. LYNCH contended that -creating genuinely networked information was different from using -networks as an access or dissemination vehicle and was more sophisticated -and more subtle. He invited the members of the audience to extrapolate, -from what they heard about the preceding demonstration projects, to what -sort of a world of electronics information--scholarly, archival, -cultural, etc.--they wished to end up with ten or fifteen years from now. -LYNCH suggested that to extrapolate directly from these projects would -produce unpleasant results. - -Putting the issue of CD-ROM in perspective before getting into -generalities on networked information, LYNCH observed that those engaged -in multimedia today who wish to ship a product, so to say, probably do -not have much choice except to use CD-ROM: networked multimedia on a -large scale basically does not yet work because the technology does not -exist. For example, anybody who has tried moving images around over the -Internet knows that this is an exciting touch-and-go process, a -fascinating and fertile area for experimentation, research, and -development, but not something that one can become deeply enthusiastic -about committing to production systems at this time. - -This situation will change, LYNCH said. He differentiated CD-ROM from -the practices that have been followed up to now in distributing data on -CD-ROM. For LYNCH the problem with CD-ROM is not its portability or its -slowness but the two-edged sword of having the retrieval application and -the user interface inextricably bound up with the data, which is the -typical CD-ROM publication model. It is not a case of publishing data -but of distributing a typically stand-alone, typically closed system, -all--software, user interface, and data--on a little disk. Hence, all -the between-disk navigational issues as well as the impossibility in most -cases of integrating data on one disk with that on another. Most CD-ROM -retrieval software does not network very gracefully at present. However, -in the present world of immature standards and lack of understanding of -what network information is or what the ground rules are for creating or -using it, publishing information on a CD-ROM does add value in a very -real sense. - -LYNCH drew a contrast between CD-ROM and network pricing and in doing so -highlighted something bizarre in information pricing. A large -institution such as the University of California has vendors who will -offer to sell information on CD-ROM for a price per year in four digits, -but for the same data (e.g., an abstracting and indexing database) on -magnetic tape, regardless of how many people may use it concurrently, -will quote a price in six digits. - -What is packaged with the CD-ROM in one sense adds value--a complete -access system, not just raw, unrefined information--although it is not -generally perceived that way. This is because the access software, -although it adds value, is viewed by some people, particularly in the -university environment where there is a very heavy commitment to -networking, as being developed in the wrong direction. - -Given that context, LYNCH described the examples demonstrated as a set of -insular information gems--Perseus, for example, offers nicely linked -information, but would be very difficult to integrate with other -databases, that is, to link together seamlessly with other source files -from other sources. It resembles an island, and in this respect is -similar to numerous stand-alone projects that are based on videodiscs, -that is, on the single-workstation concept. - -As scholarship evolves in a network environment, the paramount need will -be to link databases. We must link personal databases to public -databases, to group databases, in fairly seamless ways--which is -extremely difficult in the environments under discussion with copies of -databases proliferating all over the place. - -The notion of layering also struck LYNCH as lurking in several of the -projects demonstrated. Several databases in a sense constitute -information archives without a significant amount of navigation built in. -Educators, critics, and others will want a layered structure--one that -defines or links paths through the layers to allow users to reach -specific points. In LYNCH's view, layering will become increasingly -necessary, and not just within a single resource but across resources -(e.g., tracing mythology and cultural themes across several classics -databases as well as a database of Renaissance culture). This ability to -organize resources, to build things out of multiple other things on the -network or select pieces of it, represented for LYNCH one of the key -aspects of network information. - -Contending that information reuse constituted another significant issue, -LYNCH commended to the audience's attention Project NEEDS (i.e., National -Engineering Education Delivery System). This project's objective is to -produce a database of engineering courseware as well as the components -that can be used to develop new courseware. In a number of the existing -applications, LYNCH said, the issue of reuse (how much one can take apart -and reuse in other applications) was not being well considered. He also -raised the issue of active versus passive use, one aspect of which is -how much information will be manipulated locally by users. Most people, -he argued, may do a little browsing and then will wish to print. LYNCH -was uncertain how these resources would be used by the vast majority of -users in the network environment. - -LYNCH next said a few words about X-Windows as a way of differentiating -between network access and networked information. A number of the -applications demonstrated at the Workshop could be rewritten to use X -across the network, so that one could run them from any X-capable device- --a workstation, an X terminal--and transact with a database across the -network. Although this opens up access a little, assuming one has enough -network to handle it, it does not provide an interface to develop a -program that conveniently integrates information from multiple databases. -X is a viewing technology that has limits. In a real sense, it is just a -graphical version of remote log-in across the network. X-type applications -represent only one step in the progression towards real access. - -LYNCH next discussed barriers to the distribution of networked multimedia -information. The heart of the problem is a lack of standards to provide -the ability for computers to talk to each other, retrieve information, -and shuffle it around fairly casually. At the moment, little progress is -being made on standards for networked information; for example, present -standards do not cover images, digital voice, and digital video. A -useful tool kit of exchange formats for basic texts is only now being -assembled. The synchronization of content streams (i.e., synchronizing a -voice track to a video track, establishing temporal relations between -different components in a multimedia object) constitutes another issue -for networked multimedia that is just beginning to receive attention. - -Underlying network protocols also need some work; good, real-time -delivery protocols on the Internet do not yet exist. In LYNCH's view, -highly important in this context is the notion of networked digital -object IDs, the ability of one object on the network to point to another -object (or component thereof) on the network. Serious bandwidth issues -also exist. LYNCH was uncertain if billion-bit-per-second networks would -prove sufficient if numerous people ran video in parallel. - -LYNCH concluded by offering an issue for database creators to consider, -as well as several comments about what might constitute good trial -multimedia experiments. In a networked information world the database -builder or service builder (publisher) does not exercise the same -extensive control over the integrity of the presentation; strange -programs "munge" with one's data before the user sees it. Serious -thought must be given to what guarantees integrity of presentation. Part -of that is related to where one draws the boundaries around a networked -information service. This question of presentation integrity in -client-server computing has not been stressed enough in the academic -world, LYNCH argued, though commercial service providers deal with it -regularly. - -Concerning multimedia, LYNCH observed that good multimedia at the moment -is hideously expensive to produce. He recommended producing multimedia -with either very high sale value, or multimedia with a very long life -span, or multimedia that will have a very broad usage base and whose -costs therefore can be amortized among large numbers of users. In this -connection, historical and humanistically oriented material may be a good -place to start, because it tends to have a longer life span than much of -the scientific material, as well as a wider user base. LYNCH noted, for -example, that American Memory fits many of the criteria outlined. He -remarked the extensive discussion about bringing the Internet or the -National Research and Education Network (NREN) into the K-12 environment -as a way of helping the American educational system. - -LYNCH closed by noting that the kinds of applications demonstrated struck -him as excellent justifications of broad-scale networking for K-12, but -that at this time no "killer" application exists to mobilize the K-12 -community to obtain connectivity. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * Dearth of genuinely interesting applications on the network -a slow-changing situation * The issue of the integrity of presentation in -a networked environment * Several reasons why CD-ROM software does not -network * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -During the discussion period that followed LYNCH's presentation, several -additional points were made. - -LYNCH reiterated even more strongly his contention that, historically, -once one goes outside high-end science and the group of those who need -access to supercomputers, there is a great dearth of genuinely -interesting applications on the network. He saw this situation changing -slowly, with some of the scientific databases and scholarly discussion -groups and electronic journals coming on as well as with the availability -of Wide Area Information Servers (WAIS) and some of the databases that -are being mounted there. However, many of those things do not seem to -have piqued great popular interest. For instance, most high school -students of LYNCH's acquaintance would not qualify as devotees of serious -molecular biology. - -Concerning the issue of the integrity of presentation, LYNCH believed -that a couple of information providers have laid down the law at least on -certain things. For example, his recollection was that the National -Library of Medicine feels strongly that one needs to employ the -identifier field if he or she is to mount a database commercially. The -problem with a real networked environment is that one does not know who -is reformatting and reprocessing one's data when one enters a client -server mode. It becomes anybody's guess, for example, if the network -uses a Z39.50 server, or what clients are doing with one's data. A data -provider can say that his contract will only permit clients to have -access to his data after he vets them and their presentation and makes -certain it suits him. But LYNCH held out little expectation that the -network marketplace would evolve in that way, because it required too -much prior negotiation. - -CD-ROM software does not network for a variety of reasons, LYNCH said. -He speculated that CD-ROM publishers are not eager to have their products -really hook into wide area networks, because they fear it will make their -data suppliers nervous. Moreover, until relatively recently, one had to -be rather adroit to run a full TCP/IP stack plus applications on a -PC-size machine, whereas nowadays it is becoming easier as PCs grow -bigger and faster. LYNCH also speculated that software providers had not -heard from their customers until the last year or so, or had not heard -from enough of their customers. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -BESSER * Implications of disseminating images on the network; planning -the distribution of multimedia documents poses two critical -implementation problems * Layered approach represents the way to deal -with users' capabilities * Problems in platform design; file size and its -implications for networking * Transmission of megabyte size images -impractical * Compression and decompression at the user's end * Promising -trends for compression * A disadvantage of using X-Windows * A project at -the Smithsonian that mounts images on several networks * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Howard BESSER, School of Library and Information Science, University of -Pittsburgh, spoke primarily about multimedia, focusing on images and the -broad implications of disseminating them on the network. He argued that -planning the distribution of multimedia documents posed two critical -implementation problems, which he framed in the form of two questions: -1) What platform will one use and what hardware and software will users -have for viewing of the material? and 2) How can one deliver a -sufficiently robust set of information in an accessible format in a -reasonable amount of time? Depending on whether network or CD-ROM is the -medium used, this question raises different issues of storage, -compression, and transmission. - -Concerning the design of platforms (e.g., sound, gray scale, simple -color, etc.) and the various capabilities users may have, BESSER -maintained that a layered approach was the way to deal with users' -capabilities. A result would be that users with less powerful -workstations would simply have less functionality. He urged members of -the audience to advocate standards and accompanying software that handle -layered functionality across a wide variety of platforms. - -BESSER also addressed problems in platform design, namely, deciding how -large a machine to design for situations when the largest number of users -have the lowest level of the machine, and one desires higher -functionality. BESSER then proceeded to the question of file size and -its implications for networking. He discussed still images in the main. -For example, a digital color image that fills the screen of a standard -mega-pel workstation (Sun or Next) will require one megabyte of storage -for an eight-bit image or three megabytes of storage for a true color or -twenty-four-bit image. Lossless compression algorithms (that is, -computational procedures in which no data is lost in the process of -compressing [and decompressing] an image--the exact bit-representation is -maintained) might bring storage down to a third of a megabyte per image, -but not much further than that. The question of size makes it difficult -to fit an appropriately sized set of these images on a single disk or to -transmit them quickly enough on a network. - -With these full screen mega-pel images that constitute a third of a -megabyte, one gets 1,000-3,000 full-screen images on a one-gigabyte disk; -a standard CD-ROM represents approximately 60 percent of that. Storing -images the size of a PC screen (just 8 bit color) increases storage -capacity to 4,000-12,000 images per gigabyte; 60 percent of that gives -one the size of a CD-ROM, which in turn creates a major problem. One -cannot have full-screen, full-color images with lossless compression; one -must compress them or use a lower resolution. For megabyte-size images, -anything slower than a T-1 speed is impractical. For example, on a -fifty-six-kilobaud line, it takes three minutes to transfer a -one-megabyte file, if it is not compressed; and this speed assumes ideal -circumstances (no other user contending for network bandwidth). Thus, -questions of disk access, remote display, and current telephone -connection speed make transmission of megabyte-size images impractical. - -BESSER then discussed ways to deal with these large images, for example, -compression and decompression at the user's end. In this connection, the -issues of how much one is willing to lose in the compression process and -what image quality one needs in the first place are unknown. But what is -known is that compression entails some loss of data. BESSER urged that -more studies be conducted on image quality in different situations, for -example, what kind of images are needed for what kind of disciplines, and -what kind of image quality is needed for a browsing tool, an intermediate -viewing tool, and archiving. - -BESSER remarked two promising trends for compression: from a technical -perspective, algorithms that use what is called subjective redundancy -employ principles from visual psycho-physics to identify and remove -information from the image that the human eye cannot perceive; from an -interchange and interoperability perspective, the JPEG (i.e., Joint -Photographic Experts Group, an ISO standard) compression algorithms also -offer promise. These issues of compression and decompression, BESSER -argued, resembled those raised earlier concerning the design of different -platforms. Gauging the capabilities of potential users constitutes a -primary goal. BESSER advocated layering or separating the images from -the applications that retrieve and display them, to avoid tying them to -particular software. - -BESSER detailed several lessons learned from his work at Berkeley with -Imagequery, especially the advantages and disadvantages of using -X-Windows. In the latter category, for example, retrieval is tied -directly to one's data, an intolerable situation in the long run on a -networked system. Finally, BESSER described a project of Jim Wallace at -the Smithsonian Institution, who is mounting images in a extremely -rudimentary way on the Compuserv and Genie networks and is preparing to -mount them on America On Line. Although the average user takes over -thirty minutes to download these images (assuming a fairly fast modem), -nevertheless, images have been downloaded 25,000 times. - -BESSER concluded his talk with several comments on the business -arrangement between the Smithsonian and Compuserv. He contended that not -enough is known concerning the value of images. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * Creating digitized photographic collections nearly -impossible except with large organizations like museums * Need for study -to determine quality of images users will tolerate * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -During the brief exchange between LESK and BESSER that followed, several -clarifications emerged. - -LESK argued that the photographers were far ahead of BESSER: It is -almost impossible to create such digitized photographic collections -except with large organizations like museums, because all the -photographic agencies have been going crazy about this and will not sign -licensing agreements on any sort of reasonable terms. LESK had heard -that National Geographic, for example, had tried to buy the right to use -some image in some kind of educational production for $100 per image, but -the photographers will not touch it. They want accounting and payment -for each use, which cannot be accomplished within the system. BESSER -responded that a consortium of photographers, headed by a former National -Geographic photographer, had started assembling its own collection of -electronic reproductions of images, with the money going back to the -cooperative. - -LESK contended that BESSER was unnecessarily pessimistic about multimedia -images, because people are accustomed to low-quality images, particularly -from video. BESSER urged the launching of a study to determine what -users would tolerate, what they would feel comfortable with, and what -absolutely is the highest quality they would ever need. Conceding that -he had adopted a dire tone in order to arouse people about the issue, -BESSER closed on a sanguine note by saying that he would not be in this -business if he did not think that things could be accomplished. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -LARSEN * Issues of scalability and modularity * Geometric growth of the -Internet and the role played by layering * Basic functions sustaining -this growth * A library's roles and functions in a network environment * -Effects of implementation of the Z39.50 protocol for information -retrieval on the library system * The trade-off between volumes of data -and its potential usage * A snapshot of current trends * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Ronald LARSEN, associate director for information technology, University -of Maryland at College Park, first addressed the issues of scalability -and modularity. He noted the difficulty of anticipating the effects of -orders-of-magnitude growth, reflecting on the twenty years of experience -with the Arpanet and Internet. Recalling the day's demonstrations of -CD-ROM and optical disk material, he went on to ask if the field has yet -learned how to scale new systems to enable delivery and dissemination -across large-scale networks. - -LARSEN focused on the geometric growth of the Internet from its inception -circa 1969 to the present, and the adjustments required to respond to -that rapid growth. To illustrate the issue of scalability, LARSEN -considered computer networks as including three generic components: -computers, network communication nodes, and communication media. Each -component scales (e.g., computers range from PCs to supercomputers; -network nodes scale from interface cards in a PC through sophisticated -routers and gateways; and communication media range from 2,400-baud -dial-up facilities through 4.5-Mbps backbone links, and eventually to -multigigabit-per-second communication lines), and architecturally, the -components are organized to scale hierarchically from local area networks -to international-scale networks. Such growth is made possible by -building layers of communication protocols, as BESSER pointed out. -By layering both physically and logically, a sense of scalability is -maintained from local area networks in offices, across campuses, through -bridges, routers, campus backbones, fiber-optic links, etc., up into -regional networks and ultimately into national and international -networks. - -LARSEN then illustrated the geometric growth over a two-year period-- -through September 1991--of the number of networks that comprise the -Internet. This growth has been sustained largely by the availability of -three basic functions: electronic mail, file transfer (ftp), and remote -log-on (telnet). LARSEN also reviewed the growth in the kind of traffic -that occurs on the network. Network traffic reflects the joint contributions -of a larger population of users and increasing use per user. Today one sees -serious applications involving moving images across the network--a rarity -ten years ago. LARSEN recalled and concurred with BESSER's main point -that the interesting problems occur at the application level. - -LARSEN then illustrated a model of a library's roles and functions in a -network environment. He noted, in particular, the placement of on-line -catalogues onto the network and patrons obtaining access to the library -increasingly through local networks, campus networks, and the Internet. -LARSEN supported LYNCH's earlier suggestion that we need to address -fundamental questions of networked information in order to build -environments that scale in the information sense as well as in the -physical sense. - -LARSEN supported the role of the library system as the access point into -the nation's electronic collections. Implementation of the Z39.50 -protocol for information retrieval would make such access practical and -feasible. For example, this would enable patrons in Maryland to search -California libraries, or other libraries around the world that are -conformant with Z39.50 in a manner that is familiar to University of -Maryland patrons. This client-server model also supports moving beyond -secondary content into primary content. (The notion of how one links -from secondary content to primary content, LARSEN said, represents a -fundamental problem that requires rigorous thought.) After noting -numerous network experiments in accessing full-text materials, including -projects supporting the ordering of materials across the network, LARSEN -revisited the issue of transmitting high-density, high-resolution color -images across the network and the large amounts of bandwidth they -require. He went on to address the bandwidth and synchronization -problems inherent in sending full-motion video across the network. - -LARSEN illustrated the trade-off between volumes of data in bytes or -orders of magnitude and the potential usage of that data. He discussed -transmission rates (particularly, the time it takes to move various forms -of information), and what one could do with a network supporting -multigigabit-per-second transmission. At the moment, the network -environment includes a composite of data-transmission requirements, -volumes and forms, going from steady to bursty (high-volume) and from -very slow to very fast. This aggregate must be considered in the design, -construction, and operation of multigigabyte networks. - -LARSEN's objective is to use the networks and library systems now being -constructed to increase access to resources wherever they exist, and -thus, to evolve toward an on-line electronic virtual library. - -LARSEN concluded by offering a snapshot of current trends: continuing -geometric growth in network capacity and number of users; slower -development of applications; and glacial development and adoption of -standards. The challenge is to design and develop each new application -system with network access and scalability in mind. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -BROWNRIGG * Access to the Internet cannot be taken for granted * Packet -radio and the development of MELVYL in 1980-81 in the Division of Library -Automation at the University of California * Design criteria for packet -radio * A demonstration project in San Diego and future plans * Spread -spectrum * Frequencies at which the radios will run and plans to -reimplement the WAIS server software in the public domain * Need for an -infrastructure of radios that do not move around * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Edwin BROWNRIGG, executive director, Memex Research Institute, first -polled the audience in order to seek out regular users of the Internet as -well as those planning to use it some time in the future. With nearly -everybody in the room falling into one category or the other, BROWNRIGG -made a point re access, namely that numerous individuals, especially those -who use the Internet every day, take for granted their access to it, the -speeds with which they are connected, and how well it all works. -However, as BROWNRIGG discovered between 1987 and 1989 in Australia, -if one wants access to the Internet but cannot afford it or has some -physical boundary that prevents her or him from gaining access, it can -be extremely frustrating. He suggested that because of economics and -physical barriers we were beginning to create a world of haves and have-nots -in the process of scholarly communication, even in the United States. - -BROWNRIGG detailed the development of MELVYL in academic year 1980-81 in -the Division of Library Automation at the University of California, in -order to underscore the issue of access to the system, which at the -outset was extremely limited. In short, the project needed to build a -network, which at that time entailed use of satellite technology, that is, -putting earth stations on campus and also acquiring some terrestrial links -from the State of California's microwave system. The installation of -satellite links, however, did not solve the problem (which actually -formed part of a larger problem involving politics and financial resources). -For while the project team could get a signal onto a campus, it had no means -of distributing the signal throughout the campus. The solution involved -adopting a recent development in wireless communication called packet radio, -which combined the basic notion of packet-switching with radio. The project -used this technology to get the signal from a point on campus where it -came down, an earth station for example, into the libraries, because it -found that wiring the libraries, especially the older marble buildings, -would cost $2,000-$5,000 per terminal. - -BROWNRIGG noted that, ten years ago, the project had neither the public -policy nor the technology that would have allowed it to use packet radio -in any meaningful way. Since then much had changed. He proceeded to -detail research and development of the technology, how it is being -deployed in California, and what direction he thought it would take. -The design criteria are to produce a high-speed, one-time, low-cost, -high-quality, secure, license-free device (packet radio) that one can -plug in and play today, forget about it, and have access to the Internet. -By high speed, BROWNRIGG meant 1 megabyte and 1.5 megabytes. Those units -have been built, he continued, and are in the process of being -type-certified by an independent underwriting laboratory so that they can -be type-licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. As is the -case with citizens band, one will be able to purchase a unit and not have -to worry about applying for a license. - -The basic idea, BROWNRIGG elaborated, is to take high-speed radio data -transmission and create a backbone network that at certain strategic -points in the network will "gateway" into a medium-speed packet radio -(i.e., one that runs at 38.4 kilobytes), so that perhaps by 1994-1995 -people, like those in the audience for the price of a VCR could purchase -a medium-speed radio for the office or home, have full network connectivity -to the Internet, and partake of all its services, with no need for an FCC -license and no regular bill from the local common carrier. BROWNRIGG -presented several details of a demonstration project currently taking -place in San Diego and described plans, pending funding, to install a -full-bore network in the San Francisco area. This network will have 600 -nodes running at backbone speeds, and 100 of these nodes will be libraries, -which in turn will be the gateway ports to the 38.4 kilobyte radios that -will give coverage for the neighborhoods surrounding the libraries. - -BROWNRIGG next explained Part 15.247, a new rule within Title 47 of the -Code of Federal Regulations enacted by the FCC in 1985. This rule -challenged the industry, which has only now risen to the occasion, to -build a radio that would run at no more than one watt of output power and -use a fairly exotic method of modulating the radio wave called spread -spectrum. Spread spectrum in fact permits the building of networks so -that numerous data communications can occur simultaneously, without -interfering with each other, within the same wide radio channel. - -BROWNRIGG explained that the frequencies at which the radios would run -are very short wave signals. They are well above standard microwave and -radar. With a radio wave that small, one watt becomes a tremendous punch -per bit and thus makes transmission at reasonable speed possible. In -order to minimize the potential for congestion, the project is -undertaking to reimplement software which has been available in the -networking business and is taken for granted now, for example, TCP/IP, -routing algorithms, bridges, and gateways. In addition, the project -plans to take the WAIS server software in the public domain and -reimplement it so that one can have a WAIS server on a Mac instead of a -Unix machine. The Memex Research Institute believes that libraries, in -particular, will want to use the WAIS servers with packet radio. This -project, which has a team of about twelve people, will run through 1993 -and will include the 100 libraries already mentioned as well as other -professionals such as those in the medical profession, engineering, and -law. Thus, the need is to create an infrastructure of radios that do not -move around, which, BROWNRIGG hopes, will solve a problem not only for -libraries but for individuals who, by and large today, do not have access -to the Internet from their homes and offices. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * Project operating frequencies * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -During a brief discussion period, which also concluded the day's -proceedings, BROWNRIGG stated that the project was operating in four -frequencies. The slow speed is operating at 435 megahertz, and it would -later go up to 920 megahertz. With the high-speed frequency, the -one-megabyte radios will run at 2.4 gigabits, and 1.5 will run at 5.7. -At 5.7, rain can be a factor, but it would have to be tropical rain, -unlike what falls in most parts of the United States. - - ****** - -SESSION IV. IMAGE CAPTURE, TEXT CAPTURE, OVERVIEW OF TEXT AND - IMAGE STORAGE FORMATS - -William HOOTON, vice president of operations, I-NET, moderated this session. - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -KENNEY * Factors influencing development of CXP * Advantages of using -digital technology versus photocopy and microfilm * A primary goal of -CXP; publishing challenges * Characteristics of copies printed * Quality -of samples achieved in image capture * Several factors to be considered -in choosing scanning * Emphasis of CXP on timely and cost-effective -production of black-and-white printed facsimiles * Results of producing -microfilm from digital files * Advantages of creating microfilm * Details -concerning production * Costs * Role of digital technology in library -preservation * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Anne KENNEY, associate director, Department of Preservation and -Conservation, Cornell University, opened her talk by observing that the -Cornell Xerox Project (CXP) has been guided by the assumption that the -ability to produce printed facsimiles or to replace paper with paper -would be important, at least for the present generation of users and -equipment. She described three factors that influenced development of -the project: 1) Because the project has emphasized the preservation of -deteriorating brittle books, the quality of what was produced had to be -sufficiently high to return a paper replacement to the shelf. CXP was -only interested in using: 2) a system that was cost-effective, which -meant that it had to be cost-competitive with the processes currently -available, principally photocopy and microfilm, and 3) new or currently -available product hardware and software. - -KENNEY described the advantages that using digital technology offers over -both photocopy and microfilm: 1) The potential exists to create a higher -quality reproduction of a deteriorating original than conventional -light-lens technology. 2) Because a digital image is an encoded -representation, it can be reproduced again and again with no resulting -loss of quality, as opposed to the situation with light-lens processes, -in which there is discernible difference between a second and a -subsequent generation of an image. 3) A digital image can be manipulated -in a number of ways to improve image capture; for example, Xerox has -developed a windowing application that enables one to capture a page -containing both text and illustrations in a manner that optimizes the -reproduction of both. (With light-lens technology, one must choose which -to optimize, text or the illustration; in preservation microfilming, the -current practice is to shoot an illustrated page twice, once to highlight -the text and the second time to provide the best capture for the -illustration.) 4) A digital image can also be edited, density levels -adjusted to remove underlining and stains, and to increase legibility for -faint documents. 5) On-screen inspection can take place at the time of -initial setup and adjustments made prior to scanning, factors that -substantially reduce the number of retakes required in quality control. - -A primary goal of CXP has been to evaluate the paper output printed on -the Xerox DocuTech, a high-speed printer that produces 600-dpi pages from -scanned images at a rate of 135 pages a minute. KENNEY recounted several -publishing challenges to represent faithful and legible reproductions of -the originals that the 600-dpi copy for the most part successfully -captured. For example, many of the deteriorating volumes in the project -were heavily illustrated with fine line drawings or halftones or came in -languages such as Japanese, in which the buildup of characters comprised -of varying strokes is difficult to reproduce at lower resolutions; a -surprising number of them came with annotations and mathematical -formulas, which it was critical to be able to duplicate exactly. - -KENNEY noted that 1) the copies are being printed on paper that meets the -ANSI standards for performance, 2) the DocuTech printer meets the machine -and toner requirements for proper adhesion of print to page, as described -by the National Archives, and thus 3) paper product is considered to be -the archival equivalent of preservation photocopy. - -KENNEY then discussed several samples of the quality achieved in the -project that had been distributed in a handout, for example, a copy of a -print-on-demand version of the 1911 Reed lecture on the steam turbine, -which contains halftones, line drawings, and illustrations embedded in -text; the first four loose pages in the volume compared the capture -capabilities of scanning to photocopy for a standard test target, the -IEEE standard 167A 1987 test chart. In all instances scanning proved -superior to photocopy, though only slightly more so in one. - -Conceding the simplistic nature of her review of the quality of scanning -to photocopy, KENNEY described it as one representation of the kinds of -settings that could be used with scanning capabilities on the equipment -CXP uses. KENNEY also pointed out that CXP investigated the quality -achieved with binary scanning only, and noted the great promise in gray -scale and color scanning, whose advantages and disadvantages need to be -examined. She argued further that scanning resolutions and file formats -can represent a complex trade-off between the time it takes to capture -material, file size, fidelity to the original, and on-screen display; and -printing and equipment availability. All these factors must be taken -into consideration. - -CXP placed primary emphasis on the production in a timely and -cost-effective manner of printed facsimiles that consisted largely of -black-and-white text. With binary scanning, large files may be -compressed efficiently and in a lossless manner (i.e., no data is lost in -the process of compressing [and decompressing] an image--the exact -bit-representation is maintained) using Group 4 CCITT (i.e., the French -acronym for International Consultative Committee for Telegraph and -Telephone) compression. CXP was getting compression ratios of about -forty to one. Gray-scale compression, which primarily uses JPEG, is much -less economical and can represent a lossy compression (i.e., not -lossless), so that as one compresses and decompresses, the illustration -is subtly changed. While binary files produce a high-quality printed -version, it appears 1) that other combinations of spatial resolution with -gray and/or color hold great promise as well, and 2) that gray scale can -represent a tremendous advantage for on-screen viewing. The quality -associated with binary and gray scale also depends on the equipment used. -For instance, binary scanning produces a much better copy on a binary -printer. - -Among CXP's findings concerning the production of microfilm from digital -files, KENNEY reported that the digital files for the same Reed lecture -were used to produce sample film using an electron beam recorder. The -resulting film was faithful to the image capture of the digital files, -and while CXP felt that the text and image pages represented in the Reed -lecture were superior to that of the light-lens film, the resolution -readings for the 600 dpi were not as high as standard microfilming. -KENNEY argued that the standards defined for light-lens technology are -not totally transferable to a digital environment. Moreover, they are -based on definition of quality for a preservation copy. Although making -this case will prove to be a long, uphill struggle, CXP plans to continue -to investigate the issue over the course of the next year. - -KENNEY concluded this portion of her talk with a discussion of the -advantages of creating film: it can serve as a primary backup and as a -preservation master to the digital file; it could then become the print -or production master and service copies could be paper, film, optical -disks, magnetic media, or on-screen display. - -Finally, KENNEY presented details re production: - - * Development and testing of a moderately-high resolution production - scanning workstation represented a third goal of CXP; to date, 1,000 - volumes have been scanned, or about 300,000 images. - - * The resulting digital files are stored and used to produce - hard-copy replacements for the originals and additional prints on - demand; although the initial costs are high, scanning technology - offers an affordable means for reformatting brittle material. - - * A technician in production mode can scan 300 pages per hour when - performing single-sheet scanning, which is a necessity when working - with truly brittle paper; this figure is expected to increase - significantly with subsequent iterations of the software from Xerox; - a three-month time-and-cost study of scanning found that the average - 300-page book would take about an hour and forty minutes to scan - (this figure included the time for setup, which involves keying in - primary bibliographic data, going into quality control mode to - define page size, establishing front-to-back registration, and - scanning sample pages to identify a default range of settings for - the entire book--functions not dissimilar to those performed by - filmers or those preparing a book for photocopy). - - * The final step in the scanning process involved rescans, which - happily were few and far between, representing well under 1 percent - of the total pages scanned. - -In addition to technician time, CXP costed out equipment, amortized over -four years, the cost of storing and refreshing the digital files every -four years, and the cost of printing and binding, book-cloth binding, a -paper reproduction. The total amounted to a little under $65 per single -300-page volume, with 30 percent overhead included--a figure competitive -with the prices currently charged by photocopy vendors. - -Of course, with scanning, in addition to the paper facsimile, one is left -with a digital file from which subsequent copies of the book can be -produced for a fraction of the cost of photocopy, with readers afforded -choices in the form of these copies. - -KENNEY concluded that digital technology offers an electronic means for a -library preservation effort to pay for itself. If a brittle-book program -included the means of disseminating reprints of books that are in demand -by libraries and researchers alike, the initial investment in capture -could be recovered and used to preserve additional but less popular -books. She disclosed that an economic model for a self-sustaining -program could be developed for CXP's report to the Commission on -Preservation and Access (CPA). - -KENNEY stressed that the focus of CXP has been on obtaining high quality -in a production environment. The use of digital technology is viewed as -an affordable alternative to other reformatting options. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -ANDRE * Overview and history of NATDP * Various agricultural CD-ROM -products created inhouse and by service bureaus * Pilot project on -Internet transmission * Additional products in progress * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Pamela ANDRE, associate director for automation, National Agricultural -Text Digitizing Program (NATDP), National Agricultural Library (NAL), -presented an overview of NATDP, which has been underway at NAL the last -four years, before Judith ZIDAR discussed the technical details. ANDRE -defined agricultural information as a broad range of material going from -basic and applied research in the hard sciences to the one-page pamphlets -that are distributed by the cooperative state extension services on such -things as how to grow blueberries. - -NATDP began in late 1986 with a meeting of representatives from the -land-grant library community to deal with the issue of electronic -information. NAL and forty-five of these libraries banded together to -establish this project--to evaluate the technology for converting what -were then source documents in paper form into electronic form, to provide -access to that digital information, and then to distribute it. -Distributing that material to the community--the university community as -well as the extension service community, potentially down to the county -level--constituted the group's chief concern. - -Since January 1988 (when the microcomputer-based scanning system was -installed at NAL), NATDP has done a variety of things, concerning which -ZIDAR would provide further details. For example, the first technology -considered in the project's discussion phase was digital videodisc, which -indicates how long ago it was conceived. - -Over the four years of this project, four separate CD-ROM products on -four different agricultural topics were created, two at a -scanning-and-OCR station installed at NAL, and two by service bureaus. -Thus, NATDP has gained comparative information in terms of those relative -costs. Each of these products contained the full ASCII text as well as -page images of the material, or between 4,000 and 6,000 pages of material -on these disks. Topics included aquaculture, food, agriculture and -science (i.e., international agriculture and research), acid rain, and -Agent Orange, which was the final product distributed (approximately -eighteen months before the Workshop). - -The third phase of NATDP focused on delivery mechanisms other than -CD-ROM. At the suggestion of Clifford LYNCH, who was a technical -consultant to the project at this point, NATDP became involved with the -Internet and initiated a project with the help of North Carolina State -University, in which fourteen of the land-grant university libraries are -transmitting digital images over the Internet in response to interlibrary -loan requests--a topic for another meeting. At this point, the pilot -project had been completed for about a year and the final report would be -available shortly after the Workshop. In the meantime, the project's -success had led to its extension. (ANDRE noted that one of the first -things done under the program title was to select a retrieval package to -use with subsequent products; Windows Personal Librarian was the package -of choice after a lengthy evaluation.) - -Three additional products had been planned and were in progress: - - 1) An arrangement with the American Society of Agronomy--a - professional society that has published the Agronomy Journal since - about 1908--to scan and create bit-mapped images of its journal. - ASA granted permission first to put and then to distribute this - material in electronic form, to hold it at NAL, and to use these - electronic images as a mechanism to deliver documents or print out - material for patrons, among other uses. Effectively, NAL has the - right to use this material in support of its program. - (Significantly, this arrangement offers a potential cooperative - model for working with other professional societies in agriculture - to try to do the same thing--put the journals of particular interest - to agriculture research into electronic form.) - - 2) An extension of the earlier product on aquaculture. - - 3) The George Washington Carver Papers--a joint project with - Tuskegee University to scan and convert from microfilm some 3,500 - images of Carver's papers, letters, and drawings. - -It was anticipated that all of these products would appear no more than -six months after the Workshop. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -ZIDAR * (A separate arena for scanning) * Steps in creating a database * -Image capture, with and without performing OCR * Keying in tracking data -* Scanning, with electronic and manual tracking * Adjustments during -scanning process * Scanning resolutions * Compression * De-skewing and -filtering * Image capture from microform: the papers and letters of -George Washington Carver * Equipment used for a scanning system * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Judith ZIDAR, coordinator, National Agricultural Text Digitizing Program -(NATDP), National Agricultural Library (NAL), illustrated the technical -details of NATDP, including her primary responsibility, scanning and -creating databases on a topic and putting them on CD-ROM. - -(ZIDAR remarked a separate arena from the CD-ROM projects, although the -processing of the material is nearly identical, in which NATDP is also -scanning material and loading it on a Next microcomputer, which in turn -is linked to NAL's integrated library system. Thus, searches in NAL's -bibliographic database will enable people to pull up actual page images -and text for any documents that have been entered.) - -In accordance with the session's topic, ZIDAR focused her illustrated -talk on image capture, offering a primer on the three main steps in the -process: 1) assemble the printed publications; 2) design the database -(database design occurs in the process of preparing the material for -scanning; this step entails reviewing and organizing the material, -defining the contents--what will constitute a record, what kinds of -fields will be captured in terms of author, title, etc.); 3) perform a -certain amount of markup on the paper publications. NAL performs this -task record by record, preparing work sheets or some other sort of -tracking material and designing descriptors and other enhancements to be -added to the data that will not be captured from the printed publication. -Part of this process also involves determining NATDP's file and directory -structure: NATDP attempts to avoid putting more than approximately 100 -images in a directory, because placing more than that on a CD-ROM would -reduce the access speed. - -This up-front process takes approximately two weeks for a -6,000-7,000-page database. The next step is to capture the page images. -How long this process takes is determined by the decision whether or not -to perform OCR. Not performing OCR speeds the process, whereas text -capture requires greater care because of the quality of the image: it -has to be straighter and allowance must be made for text on a page, not -just for the capture of photographs. - -NATDP keys in tracking data, that is, a standard bibliographic record -including the title of the book and the title of the chapter, which will -later either become the access information or will be attached to the -front of a full-text record so that it is searchable. - -Images are scanned from a bound or unbound publication, chiefly from -bound publications in the case of NATDP, however, because often they are -the only copies and the publications are returned to the shelves. NATDP -usually scans one record at a time, because its database tracking system -tracks the document in that way and does not require further logical -separating of the images. After performing optical character -recognition, NATDP moves the images off the hard disk and maintains a -volume sheet. Though the system tracks electronically, all the -processing steps are also tracked manually with a log sheet. - -ZIDAR next illustrated the kinds of adjustments that one can make when -scanning from paper and microfilm, for example, redoing images that need -special handling, setting for dithering or gray scale, and adjusting for -brightness or for the whole book at one time. - -NATDP is scanning at 300 dots per inch, a standard scanning resolution. -Though adequate for capturing text that is all of a standard size, 300 -dpi is unsuitable for any kind of photographic material or for very small -text. Many scanners allow for different image formats, TIFF, of course, -being a de facto standard. But if one intends to exchange images with -other people, the ability to scan other image formats, even if they are -less common, becomes highly desirable. - -CCITT Group 4 is the standard compression for normal black-and-white -images, JPEG for gray scale or color. ZIDAR recommended 1) using the -standard compressions, particularly if one attempts to make material -available and to allow users to download images and reuse them from -CD-ROMs; and 2) maintaining the ability to output an uncompressed image, -because in image exchange uncompressed images are more likely to be able -to cross platforms. - -ZIDAR emphasized the importance of de-skewing and filtering as -requirements on NATDP's upgraded system. For instance, scanning bound -books, particularly books published by the federal government whose pages -are skewed, and trying to scan them straight if OCR is to be performed, -is extremely time-consuming. The same holds for filtering of -poor-quality or older materials. - -ZIDAR described image capture from microform, using as an example three -reels from a sixty-seven-reel set of the papers and letters of George -Washington Carver that had been produced by Tuskegee University. These -resulted in approximately 3,500 images, which NATDP had had scanned by -its service contractor, Science Applications International Corporation -(SAIC). NATDP also created bibliographic records for access. (NATDP did -not have such specialized equipment as a microfilm scanner. - -Unfortunately, the process of scanning from microfilm was not an -unqualified success, ZIDAR reported: because microfilm frame sizes vary, -occasionally some frames were missed, which without spending much time -and money could not be recaptured. - -OCR could not be performed from the scanned images of the frames. The -bleeding in the text simply output text, when OCR was run, that could not -even be edited. NATDP tested for negative versus positive images, -landscape versus portrait orientation, and single- versus dual-page -microfilm, none of which seemed to affect the quality of the image; but -also on none of them could OCR be performed. - -In selecting the microfilm they would use, therefore, NATDP had other -factors in mind. ZIDAR noted two factors that influenced the quality of -the images: 1) the inherent quality of the original and 2) the amount of -size reduction on the pages. - -The Carver papers were selected because they are informative and visually -interesting, treat a single subject, and are valuable in their own right. -The images were scanned and divided into logical records by SAIC, then -delivered, and loaded onto NATDP's system, where bibliographic -information taken directly from the images was added. Scanning was -completed in summer 1991 and by the end of summer 1992 the disk was -scheduled to be published. - -Problems encountered during processing included the following: Because -the microfilm scanning had to be done in a batch, adjustment for -individual page variations was not possible. The frame size varied on -account of the nature of the material, and therefore some of the frames -were missed while others were just partial frames. The only way to go -back and capture this material was to print out the page with the -microfilm reader from the missing frame and then scan it in from the -page, which was extremely time-consuming. The quality of the images -scanned from the printout of the microfilm compared unfavorably with that -of the original images captured directly from the microfilm. The -inability to perform OCR also was a major disappointment. At the time, -computer output microfilm was unavailable to test. - -The equipment used for a scanning system was the last topic addressed by -ZIDAR. The type of equipment that one would purchase for a scanning -system included: a microcomputer, at least a 386, but preferably a 486; -a large hard disk, 380 megabyte at minimum; a multi-tasking operating -system that allows one to run some things in batch in the background -while scanning or doing text editing, for example, Unix or OS/2 and, -theoretically, Windows; a high-speed scanner and scanning software that -allows one to make the various adjustments mentioned earlier; a -high-resolution monitor (150 dpi ); OCR software and hardware to perform -text recognition; an optical disk subsystem on which to archive all the -images as the processing is done; file management and tracking software. - -ZIDAR opined that the software one purchases was more important than the -hardware and might also cost more than the hardware, but it was likely to -prove critical to the success or failure of one's system. In addition to -a stand-alone scanning workstation for image capture, then, text capture -requires one or two editing stations networked to this scanning station -to perform editing. Editing the text takes two or three times as long as -capturing the images. - -Finally, ZIDAR stressed the importance of buying an open system that allows -for more than one vendor, complies with standards, and can be upgraded. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -WATERS *Yale University Library's master plan to convert microfilm to -digital imagery (POB) * The place of electronic tools in the library of -the future * The uses of images and an image library * Primary input from -preservation microfilm * Features distinguishing POB from CXP and key -hypotheses guiding POB * Use of vendor selection process to facilitate -organizational work * Criteria for selecting vendor * Finalists and -results of process for Yale * Key factor distinguishing vendors * -Components, design principles, and some estimated costs of POB * Role of -preservation materials in developing imaging market * Factors affecting -quality and cost * Factors affecting the usability of complex documents -in image form * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Donald WATERS, head of the Systems Office, Yale University Library, -reported on the progress of a master plan for a project at Yale to -convert microfilm to digital imagery, Project Open Book (POB). Stating -that POB was in an advanced stage of planning, WATERS detailed, in -particular, the process of selecting a vendor partner and several key -issues under discussion as Yale prepares to move into the project itself. -He commented first on the vision that serves as the context of POB and -then described its purpose and scope. - -WATERS sees the library of the future not necessarily as an electronic -library but as a place that generates, preserves, and improves for its -clients ready access to both intellectual and physical recorded -knowledge. Electronic tools must find a place in the library in the -context of this vision. Several roles for electronic tools include -serving as: indirect sources of electronic knowledge or as "finding" -aids (the on-line catalogues, the article-level indices, registers for -documents and archives); direct sources of recorded knowledge; full-text -images; and various kinds of compound sources of recorded knowledge (the -so-called compound documents of Hypertext, mixed text and image, -mixed-text image format, and multimedia). - -POB is looking particularly at images and an image library, the uses to -which images will be put (e.g., storage, printing, browsing, and then use -as input for other processes), OCR as a subsequent process to image -capture, or creating an image library, and also possibly generating -microfilm. - -While input will come from a variety of sources, POB is considering -especially input from preservation microfilm. A possible outcome is that -the film and paper which provide the input for the image library -eventually may go off into remote storage, and that the image library may -be the primary access tool. - -The purpose and scope of POB focus on imaging. Though related to CXP, -POB has two features which distinguish it: 1) scale--conversion of -10,000 volumes into digital image form; and 2) source--conversion from -microfilm. Given these features, several key working hypotheses guide -POB, including: 1) Since POB is using microfilm, it is not concerned with -the image library as a preservation medium. 2) Digital imagery can improve -access to recorded knowledge through printing and network distribution at -a modest incremental cost of microfilm. 3) Capturing and storing documents -in a digital image form is necessary to further improvements in access. -(POB distinguishes between the imaging, digitizing process and OCR, -which at this stage it does not plan to perform.) - -Currently in its first or organizational phase, POB found that it could -use a vendor selection process to facilitate a good deal of the -organizational work (e.g., creating a project team and advisory board, -confirming the validity of the plan, establishing the cost of the project -and a budget, selecting the materials to convert, and then raising the -necessary funds). - -POB developed numerous selection criteria, including: a firm committed -to image-document management, the ability to serve as systems integrator -in a large-scale project over several years, interest in developing the -requisite software as a standard rather than a custom product, and a -willingness to invest substantial resources in the project itself. - -Two vendors, DEC and Xerox, were selected as finalists in October 1991, -and with the support of the Commission on Preservation and Access, each -was commissioned to generate a detailed requirements analysis for the -project and then to submit a formal proposal for the completion of the -project, which included a budget and costs. The terms were that POB would -pay the loser. The results for Yale of involving a vendor included: -broad involvement of Yale staff across the board at a relatively low -cost, which may have long-term significance in carrying out the project -(twenty-five to thirty university people are engaged in POB); better -understanding of the factors that affect corporate response to markets -for imaging products; a competitive proposal; and a more sophisticated -view of the imaging markets. - -The most important factor that distinguished the vendors under -consideration was their identification with the customer. The size and -internal complexity of the company also was an important factor. POB was -looking at large companies that had substantial resources. In the end, -the process generated for Yale two competitive proposals, with Xerox's -the clear winner. WATERS then described the components of the proposal, -the design principles, and some of the costs estimated for the process. - -Components are essentially four: a conversion subsystem, a -network-accessible storage subsystem for 10,000 books (and POB expects -200 to 600 dpi storage), browsing stations distributed on the campus -network, and network access to the image printers. - -Among the design principles, POB wanted conversion at the highest -possible resolution. Assuming TIFF files, TIFF files with Group 4 -compression, TCP/IP, and ethernet network on campus, POB wanted a -client-server approach with image documents distributed to the -workstations and made accessible through native workstation interfaces -such as Windows. POB also insisted on a phased approach to -implementation: 1) a stand-alone, single-user, low-cost entry into the -business with a workstation focused on conversion and allowing POB to -explore user access; 2) movement into a higher-volume conversion with -network-accessible storage and multiple access stations; and 3) a -high-volume conversion, full-capacity storage, and multiple browsing -stations distributed throughout the campus. - -The costs proposed for start-up assumed the existence of the Yale network -and its two DocuTech image printers. Other start-up costs are estimated -at $1 million over the three phases. At the end of the project, the annual -operating costs estimated primarily for the software and hardware proposed -come to about $60,000, but these exclude costs for labor needed in the -conversion process, network and printer usage, and facilities management. - -Finally, the selection process produced for Yale a more sophisticated -view of the imaging markets: the management of complex documents in -image form is not a preservation problem, not a library problem, but a -general problem in a broad, general industry. Preservation materials are -useful for developing that market because of the qualities of the -material. For example, much of it is out of copyright. The resolution -of key issues such as the quality of scanning and image browsing also -will affect development of that market. - -The technology is readily available but changing rapidly. In this -context of rapid change, several factors affect quality and cost, to -which POB intends to pay particular attention, for example, the various -levels of resolution that can be achieved. POB believes it can bring -resolution up to 600 dpi, but an interpolation process from 400 to 600 is -more likely. The variation quality in microfilm will prove to be a -highly important factor. POB may reexamine the standards used to film in -the first place by looking at this process as a follow-on to microfilming. - -Other important factors include: the techniques available to the -operator for handling material, the ways of integrating quality control -into the digitizing work flow, and a work flow that includes indexing and -storage. POB's requirement was to be able to deal with quality control -at the point of scanning. Thus, thanks to Xerox, POB anticipates having -a mechanism which will allow it not only to scan in batch form, but to -review the material as it goes through the scanner and control quality -from the outset. - -The standards for measuring quality and costs depend greatly on the uses -of the material, including subsequent OCR, storage, printing, and -browsing. But especially at issue for POB is the facility for browsing. -This facility, WATERS said, is perhaps the weakest aspect of imaging -technology and the most in need of development. - -A variety of factors affect the usability of complex documents in image -form, among them: 1) the ability of the system to handle the full range -of document types, not just monographs but serials, multi-part -monographs, and manuscripts; 2) the location of the database of record -for bibliographic information about the image document, which POB wants -to enter once and in the most useful place, the on-line catalog; 3) a -document identifier for referencing the bibliographic information in one -place and the images in another; 4) the technique for making the basic -internal structure of the document accessible to the reader; and finally, -5) the physical presentation on the CRT of those documents. POB is ready -to complete this phase now. One last decision involves deciding which -material to scan. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * TIFF files constitute de facto standard * NARA's experience -with image conversion software and text conversion * RFC 1314 * -Considerable flux concerning available hardware and software solutions * -NAL through-put rate during scanning * Window management questions * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -In the question-and-answer period that followed WATERS's presentation, -the following points emerged: - - * ZIDAR's statement about using TIFF files as a standard meant de - facto standard. This is what most people use and typically exchange - with other groups, across platforms, or even occasionally across - display software. - - * HOLMES commented on the unsuccessful experience of NARA in - attempting to run image-conversion software or to exchange between - applications: What are supposedly TIFF files go into other software - that is supposed to be able to accept TIFF but cannot recognize the - format and cannot deal with it, and thus renders the exchange - useless. Re text conversion, he noted the different recognition - rates obtained by substituting the make and model of scanners in - NARA's recent test of an "intelligent" character-recognition product - for a new company. In the selection of hardware and software, - HOLMES argued, software no longer constitutes the overriding factor - it did until about a year ago; rather it is perhaps important to - look at both now. - - * Danny Cohen and Alan Katz of the University of Southern California - Information Sciences Institute began circulating as an Internet RFC - (RFC 1314) about a month ago a standard for a TIFF interchange - format for Internet distribution of monochrome bit-mapped images, - which LYNCH said he believed would be used as a de facto standard. - - * FLEISCHHAUER's impression from hearing these reports and thinking - about AM's experience was that there is considerable flux concerning - available hardware and software solutions. HOOTON agreed and - commented at the same time on ZIDAR's statement that the equipment - employed affects the results produced. One cannot draw a complete - conclusion by saying it is difficult or impossible to perform OCR - from scanning microfilm, for example, with that device, that set of - parameters, and system requirements, because numerous other people - are accomplishing just that, using other components, perhaps. - HOOTON opined that both the hardware and the software were highly - important. Most of the problems discussed today have been solved in - numerous different ways by other people. Though it is good to be - cognizant of various experiences, this is not to say that it will - always be thus. - - * At NAL, the through-put rate of the scanning process for paper, - page by page, performing OCR, ranges from 300 to 600 pages per day; - not performing OCR is considerably faster, although how much faster - is not known. This is for scanning from bound books, which is much - slower. - - * WATERS commented on window management questions: DEC proposed an - X-Windows solution which was problematical for two reasons. One was - POB's requirement to be able to manipulate images on the workstation - and bring them down to the workstation itself and the other was - network usage. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -THOMA * Illustration of deficiencies in scanning and storage process * -Image quality in this process * Different costs entailed by better image -quality * Techniques for overcoming various de-ficiencies: fixed -thresholding, dynamic thresholding, dithering, image merge * Page edge -effects * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -George THOMA, chief, Communications Engineering Branch, National Library -of Medicine (NLM), illustrated several of the deficiencies discussed by -the previous speakers. He introduced the topic of special problems by -noting the advantages of electronic imaging. For example, it is regenerable -because it is a coded file, and real-time quality control is possible with -electronic capture, whereas in photographic capture it is not. - -One of the difficulties discussed in the scanning and storage process was -image quality which, without belaboring the obvious, means different -things for maps, medical X-rays, or broadcast television. In the case of -documents, THOMA said, image quality boils down to legibility of the -textual parts, and fidelity in the case of gray or color photo print-type -material. Legibility boils down to scan density, the standard in most -cases being 300 dpi. Increasing the resolution with scanners that -perform 600 or 1200 dpi, however, comes at a cost. - -Better image quality entails at least four different kinds of costs: 1) -equipment costs, because the CCD (i.e., charge-couple device) with -greater number of elements costs more; 2) time costs that translate to -the actual capture costs, because manual labor is involved (the time is -also dependent on the fact that more data has to be moved around in the -machine in the scanning or network devices that perform the scanning as -well as the storage); 3) media costs, because at high resolutions larger -files have to be stored; and 4) transmission costs, because there is just -more data to be transmitted. - -But while resolution takes care of the issue of legibility in image -quality, other deficiencies have to do with contrast and elements on the -page scanned or the image that needed to be removed or clarified. Thus, -THOMA proceeded to illustrate various deficiencies, how they are -manifested, and several techniques to overcome them. - -Fixed thresholding was the first technique described, suitable for -black-and-white text, when the contrast does not vary over the page. One -can have many different threshold levels in scanning devices. Thus, -THOMA offered an example of extremely poor contrast, which resulted from -the fact that the stock was a heavy red. This is the sort of image that -when microfilmed fails to provide any legibility whatsoever. Fixed -thresholding is the way to change the black-to-red contrast to the -desired black-to-white contrast. - -Other examples included material that had been browned or yellowed by -age. This was also a case of contrast deficiency, and correction was -done by fixed thresholding. A final example boils down to the same -thing, slight variability, but it is not significant. Fixed thresholding -solves this problem as well. The microfilm equivalent is certainly legible, -but it comes with dark areas. Though THOMA did not have a slide of the -microfilm in this case, he did show the reproduced electronic image. - -When one has variable contrast over a page or the lighting over the page -area varies, especially in the case where a bound volume has light -shining on it, the image must be processed by a dynamic thresholding -scheme. One scheme, dynamic averaging, allows the threshold level not to -be fixed but to be recomputed for every pixel from the neighboring -characteristics. The neighbors of a pixel determine where the threshold -should be set for that pixel. - -THOMA showed an example of a page that had been made deficient by a -variety of techniques, including a burn mark, coffee stains, and a yellow -marker. Application of a fixed-thresholding scheme, THOMA argued, might -take care of several deficiencies on the page but not all of them. -Performing the calculation for a dynamic threshold setting, however, -removes most of the deficiencies so that at least the text is legible. - -Another problem is representing a gray level with black-and-white pixels -by a process known as dithering or electronic screening. But dithering -does not provide good image quality for pure black-and-white textual -material. THOMA illustrated this point with examples. Although its -suitability for photoprint is the reason for electronic screening or -dithering, it cannot be used for every compound image. In the document -that was distributed by CXP, THOMA noticed that the dithered image of the -IEEE test chart evinced some deterioration in the text. He presented an -extreme example of deterioration in the text in which compounded -documents had to be set right by other techniques. The technique -illustrated by the present example was an image merge in which the page -is scanned twice and the settings go from fixed threshold to the -dithering matrix; the resulting images are merged to give the best -results with each technique. - -THOMA illustrated how dithering is also used in nonphotographic or -nonprint materials with an example of a grayish page from a medical text, -which was reproduced to show all of the gray that appeared in the -original. Dithering provided a reproduction of all the gray in the -original of another example from the same text. - -THOMA finally illustrated the problem of bordering, or page-edge, -effects. Books and bound volumes that are placed on a photocopy machine -or a scanner produce page-edge effects that are undesirable for two -reasons: 1) the aesthetics of the image; after all, if the image is to -be preserved, one does not necessarily want to keep all of its -deficiencies; 2) compression (with the bordering problem THOMA -illustrated, the compression ratio deteriorated tremendously). One way -to eliminate this more serious problem is to have the operator at the -point of scanning window the part of the image that is desirable and -automatically turn all of the pixels out of that picture to white. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -FLEISCHHAUER * AM's experience with scanning bound materials * Dithering -* -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Carl FLEISCHHAUER, coordinator, American Memory, Library of Congress, -reported AM's experience with scanning bound materials, which he likened -to the problems involved in using photocopying machines. Very few -devices in the industry offer book-edge scanning, let alone book cradles. -The problem may be unsolvable, FLEISCHHAUER said, because a large enough -market does not exist for a preservation-quality scanner. AM is using a -Kurzweil scanner, which is a book-edge scanner now sold by Xerox. - -Devoting the remainder of his brief presentation to dithering, -FLEISCHHAUER related AM's experience with a contractor who was using -unsophisticated equipment and software to reduce moire patterns from -printed halftones. AM took the same image and used the dithering -algorithm that forms part of the same Kurzweil Xerox scanner; it -disguised moire patterns much more effectively. - -FLEISCHHAUER also observed that dithering produces a binary file which is -useful for numerous purposes, for example, printing it on a laser printer -without having to "re-halftone" it. But it tends to defeat efficient -compression, because the very thing that dithers to reduce moire patterns -also tends to work against compression schemes. AM thought the -difference in image quality was worth it. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * Relative use as a criterion for POB's selection of books to -be converted into digital form * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -During the discussion period, WATERS noted that one of the criteria for -selecting books among the 10,000 to be converted into digital image form -would be how much relative use they would receive--a subject still -requiring evaluation. The challenge will be to understand whether -coherent bodies of material will increase usage or whether POB should -seek material that is being used, scan that, and make it more accessible. -POB might decide to digitize materials that are already heavily used, in -order to make them more accessible and decrease wear on them. Another -approach would be to provide a large body of intellectually coherent -material that may be used more in digital form than it is currently used -in microfilm. POB would seek material that was out of copyright. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -BARONAS * Origin and scope of AIIM * Types of documents produced in -AIIM's standards program * Domain of AIIM's standardization work * AIIM's -structure * TC 171 and MS23 * Electronic image management standards * -Categories of EIM standardization where AIIM standards are being -developed * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Jean BARONAS, senior manager, Department of Standards and Technology, -Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM), described the -not-for-profit association and the national and international programs -for standardization in which AIIM is active. - -Accredited for twenty-five years as the nation's standards development -organization for document image management, AIIM began life in a library -community developing microfilm standards. Today the association -maintains both its library and business-image management standardization -activities--and has moved into electronic image-management -standardization (EIM). - -BARONAS defined the program's scope. AIIM deals with: 1) the -terminology of standards and of the technology it uses; 2) methods of -measurement for the systems, as well as quality; 3) methodologies for -users to evaluate and measure quality; 4) the features of apparatus used -to manage and edit images; and 5) the procedures used to manage images. - -BARONAS noted that three types of documents are produced in the AIIM -standards program: the first two, accredited by the American National -Standards Institute (ANSI), are standards and standard recommended -practices. Recommended practices differ from standards in that they -contain more tutorial information. A technical report is not an ANSI -standard. Because AIIM's policies and procedures for developing -standards are approved by ANSI, its standards are labeled ANSI/AIIM, -followed by the number and title of the standard. - -BARONAS then illustrated the domain of AIIM's standardization work. For -example, AIIM is the administrator of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group -(TAG) to the International Standards Organization's (ISO) technical -committee, TC l7l Micrographics and Optical Memories for Document and -Image Recording, Storage, and Use. AIIM officially works through ANSI in -the international standardization process. - -BARONAS described AIIM's structure, including its board of directors, its -standards board of twelve individuals active in the image-management -industry, its strategic planning and legal admissibility task forces, and -its National Standards Council, which is comprised of the members of a -number of organizations who vote on every AIIM standard before it is -published. BARONAS pointed out that AIIM's liaisons deal with numerous -other standards developers, including the optical disk community, office -and publishing systems, image-codes-and-character set committees, and the -National Information Standards Organization (NISO). - -BARONAS illustrated the procedures of TC l7l, which covers all aspects of -image management. When AIIM's national program has conceptualized a new -project, it is usually submitted to the international level, so that the -member countries of TC l7l can simultaneously work on the development of -the standard or the technical report. BARONAS also illustrated a classic -microfilm standard, MS23, which deals with numerous imaging concepts that -apply to electronic imaging. Originally developed in the l970s, revised -in the l980s, and revised again in l991, this standard is scheduled for -another revision. MS23 is an active standard whereby users may propose -new density ranges and new methods of evaluating film images in the -standard's revision. - -BARONAS detailed several electronic image-management standards, for -instance, ANSI/AIIM MS44, a quality-control guideline for scanning 8.5" -by 11" black-and-white office documents. This standard is used with the -IEEE fax image--a continuous tone photographic image with gray scales, -text, and several continuous tone pictures--and AIIM test target number -2, a representative document used in office document management. - -BARONAS next outlined the four categories of EIM standardization in which -AIIM standards are being developed: transfer and retrieval, evaluation, -optical disc and document scanning applications, and design and -conversion of documents. She detailed several of the main projects of -each: 1) in the category of image transfer and retrieval, a bi-level -image transfer format, ANSI/AIIM MS53, which is a proposed standard that -describes a file header for image transfer between unlike systems when -the images are compressed using G3 and G4 compression; 2) the category of -image evaluation, which includes the AIIM-proposed TR26 tutorial on image -resolution (this technical report will treat the differences and -similarities between classical or photographic and electronic imaging); -3) design and conversion, which includes a proposed technical report -called "Forms Design Optimization for EIM" (this report considers how -general-purpose business forms can be best designed so that scanning is -optimized; reprographic characteristics such as type, rules, background, -tint, and color will likewise be treated in the technical report); 4) -disk and document scanning applications includes a project a) on planning -platters and disk management, b) on generating an application profile for -EIM when images are stored and distributed on CD-ROM, and c) on -evaluating SCSI2, and how a common command set can be generated for SCSI2 -so that document scanners are more easily integrated. (ANSI/AIIM MS53 -will also apply to compressed images.) - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -BATTIN * The implications of standards for preservation * A major -obstacle to successful cooperation * A hindrance to access in the digital -environment * Standards a double-edged sword for those concerned with the -preservation of the human record * Near-term prognosis for reliable -archival standards * Preservation concerns for electronic media * Need -for reconceptualizing our preservation principles * Standards in the real -world and the politics of reproduction * Need to redefine the concept of -archival and to begin to think in terms of life cycles * Cooperation and -the La Guardia Eight * Concerns generated by discussions on the problems -of preserving text and image * General principles to be adopted in a -world without standards * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Patricia BATTIN, president, the Commission on Preservation and Access -(CPA), addressed the implications of standards for preservation. She -listed several areas where the library profession and the analog world of -the printed book had made enormous contributions over the past hundred -years--for example, in bibliographic formats, binding standards, and, most -important, in determining what constitutes longevity or archival quality. - -Although standards have lightened the preservation burden through the -development of national and international collaborative programs, -nevertheless, a pervasive mistrust of other people's standards remains a -major obstacle to successful cooperation, BATTIN said. - -The zeal to achieve perfection, regardless of the cost, has hindered -rather than facilitated access in some instances, and in the digital -environment, where no real standards exist, has brought an ironically -just reward. - -BATTIN argued that standards are a double-edged sword for those concerned -with the preservation of the human record, that is, the provision of -access to recorded knowledge in a multitude of media as far into the -future as possible. Standards are essential to facilitate -interconnectivity and access, but, BATTIN said, as LYNCH pointed out -yesterday, if set too soon they can hinder creativity, expansion of -capability, and the broadening of access. The characteristics of -standards for digital imagery differ radically from those for analog -imagery. And the nature of digital technology implies continuing -volatility and change. To reiterate, precipitous standard-setting can -inhibit creativity, but delayed standard-setting results in chaos. - -Since in BATTIN'S opinion the near-term prognosis for reliable archival -standards, as defined by librarians in the analog world, is poor, two -alternatives remain: standing pat with the old technology, or -reconceptualizing. - -Preservation concerns for electronic media fall into two general domains. -One is the continuing assurance of access to knowledge originally -generated, stored, disseminated, and used in electronic form. This -domain contains several subdivisions, including 1) the closed, -proprietary systems discussed the previous day, bundled information such -as electronic journals and government agency records, and electronically -produced or captured raw data; and 2) the application of digital -technologies to the reformatting of materials originally published on a -deteriorating analog medium such as acid paper or videotape. - -The preservation of electronic media requires a reconceptualizing of our -preservation principles during a volatile, standardless transition which -may last far longer than any of us envision today. BATTIN urged the -necessity of shifting focus from assessing, measuring, and setting -standards for the permanence of the medium to the concept of managing -continuing access to information stored on a variety of media and -requiring a variety of ever-changing hardware and software for access--a -fundamental shift for the library profession. - -BATTIN offered a primer on how to move forward with reasonable confidence -in a world without standards. Her comments fell roughly into two sections: -1) standards in the real world and 2) the politics of reproduction. - -In regard to real-world standards, BATTIN argued the need to redefine the -concept of archive and to begin to think in terms of life cycles. In -the past, the naive assumption that paper would last forever produced a -cavalier attitude toward life cycles. The transient nature of the -electronic media has compelled people to recognize and accept upfront the -concept of life cycles in place of permanency. - -Digital standards have to be developed and set in a cooperative context -to ensure efficient exchange of information. Moreover, during this -transition period, greater flexibility concerning how concepts such as -backup copies and archival copies in the CXP are defined is necessary, -or the opportunity to move forward will be lost. - -In terms of cooperation, particularly in the university setting, BATTIN -also argued the need to avoid going off in a hundred different -directions. The CPA has catalyzed a small group of universities called -the La Guardia Eight--because La Guardia Airport is where meetings take -place--Harvard, Yale, Cornell, Princeton, Penn State, Tennessee, -Stanford, and USC, to develop a digital preservation consortium to look -at all these issues and develop de facto standards as we move along, -instead of waiting for something that is officially blessed. Continuing -to apply analog values and definitions of standards to the digital -environment, BATTIN said, will effectively lead to forfeiture of the -benefits of digital technology to research and scholarship. - -Under the second rubric, the politics of reproduction, BATTIN reiterated -an oft-made argument concerning the electronic library, namely, that it -is more difficult to transform than to create, and nowhere is that belief -expressed more dramatically than in the conversion of brittle books to -new media. Preserving information published in electronic media involves -making sure the information remains accessible and that digital -information is not lost through reproduction. In the analog world of -photocopies and microfilm, the issue of fidelity to the original becomes -paramount, as do issues of "Whose fidelity?" and "Whose original?" - -BATTIN elaborated these arguments with a few examples from a recent study -conducted by the CPA on the problems of preserving text and image. -Discussions with scholars, librarians, and curators in a variety of -disciplines dependent on text and image generated a variety of concerns, -for example: 1) Copy what is, not what the technology is capable of. -This is very important for the history of ideas. Scholars wish to know -what the author saw and worked from. And make available at the -workstation the opportunity to erase all the defects and enhance the -presentation. 2) The fidelity of reproduction--what is good enough, what -can we afford, and the difference it makes--issues of subjective versus -objective resolution. 3) The differences between primary and secondary -users. Restricting the definition of primary user to the one in whose -discipline the material has been published runs one headlong into the -reality that these printed books have had a host of other users from a -host of other disciplines, who not only were looking for very different -things, but who also shared values very different from those of the -primary user. 4) The relationship of the standard of reproduction to new -capabilities of scholarship--the browsing standard versus an archival -standard. How good must the archival standard be? Can a distinction be -drawn between potential users in setting standards for reproduction? -Archival storage, use copies, browsing copies--ought an attempt to set -standards even be made? 5) Finally, costs. How much are we prepared to -pay to capture absolute fidelity? What are the trade-offs between vastly -enhanced access, degrees of fidelity, and costs? - -These standards, BATTIN concluded, serve to complicate further the -reproduction process, and add to the long list of technical standards -that are necessary to ensure widespread access. Ways to articulate and -analyze the costs that are attached to the different levels of standards -must be found. - -Given the chaos concerning standards, which promises to linger for the -foreseeable future, BATTIN urged adoption of the following general -principles: - - * Strive to understand the changing information requirements of - scholarly disciplines as more and more technology is integrated into - the process of research and scholarly communication in order to meet - future scholarly needs, not to build for the past. Capture - deteriorating information at the highest affordable resolution, even - though the dissemination and display technologies will lag. - - * Develop cooperative mechanisms to foster agreement on protocols - for document structure and other interchange mechanisms necessary - for widespread dissemination and use before official standards are - set. - - * Accept that, in a transition period, de facto standards will have - to be developed. - - * Capture information in a way that keeps all options open and - provides for total convertibility: OCR, scanning of microfilm, - producing microfilm from scanned documents, etc. - - * Work closely with the generators of information and the builders - of networks and databases to ensure that continuing accessibility is - a primary concern from the beginning. - - * Piggyback on standards under development for the broad market, and - avoid library-specific standards; work with the vendors, in order to - take advantage of that which is being standardized for the rest of - the world. - - * Concentrate efforts on managing permanence in the digital world, - rather than perfecting the longevity of a particular medium. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * Additional comments on TIFF * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -During the brief discussion period that followed BATTIN's presentation, -BARONAS explained that TIFF was not developed in collaboration with or -under the auspices of AIIM. TIFF is a company product, not a standard, -is owned by two corporations, and is always changing. BARONAS also -observed that ANSI/AIIM MS53, a bi-level image file transfer format that -allows unlike systems to exchange images, is compatible with TIFF as well -as with DEC's architecture and IBM's MODCA/IOCA. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -HOOTON * Several questions to be considered in discussing text conversion -* -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -HOOTON introduced the final topic, text conversion, by noting that it is -becoming an increasingly important part of the imaging business. Many -people now realize that it enhances their system to be able to have more -and more character data as part of their imaging system. Re the issue of -OCR versus rekeying, HOOTON posed several questions: How does one get -text into computer-readable form? Does one use automated processes? -Does one attempt to eliminate the use of operators where possible? -Standards for accuracy, he said, are extremely important: it makes a -major difference in cost and time whether one sets as a standard 98.5 -percent acceptance or 99.5 percent. He mentioned outsourcing as a -possibility for converting text. Finally, what one does with the image -to prepare it for the recognition process is also important, he said, -because such preparation changes how recognition is viewed, as well as -facilitates recognition itself. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -LESK * Roles of participants in CORE * Data flow * The scanning process * -The image interface * Results of experiments involving the use of -electronic resources and traditional paper copies * Testing the issue of -serendipity * Conclusions * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Michael LESK, executive director, Computer Science Research, Bell -Communications Research, Inc. (Bellcore), discussed the Chemical Online -Retrieval Experiment (CORE), a cooperative project involving Cornell -University, OCLC, Bellcore, and the American Chemical Society (ACS). - -LESK spoke on 1) how the scanning was performed, including the unusual -feature of page segmentation, and 2) the use made of the text and the -image in experiments. - -Working with the chemistry journals (because ACS has been saving its -typesetting tapes since the mid-1970s and thus has a significant back-run -of the most important chemistry journals in the United States), CORE is -attempting to create an automated chemical library. Approximately a -quarter of the pages by square inch are made up of images of -quasi-pictorial material; dealing with the graphic components of the -pages is extremely important. LESK described the roles of participants -in CORE: 1) ACS provides copyright permission, journals on paper, -journals on microfilm, and some of the definitions of the files; 2) at -Bellcore, LESK chiefly performs the data preparation, while Dennis Egan -performs experiments on the users of chemical abstracts, and supplies the -indexing and numerous magnetic tapes; 3) Cornell provides the site of the -experiment; 4) OCLC develops retrieval software and other user interfaces. -Various manufacturers and publishers have furnished other help. - -Concerning data flow, Bellcore receives microfilm and paper from ACS; the -microfilm is scanned by outside vendors, while the paper is scanned -inhouse on an Improvision scanner, twenty pages per minute at 300 dpi, -which provides sufficient quality for all practical uses. LESK would -prefer to have more gray level, because one of the ACS journals prints on -some colored pages, which creates a problem. - -Bellcore performs all this scanning, creates a page-image file, and also -selects from the pages the graphics, to mix with the text file (which is -discussed later in the Workshop). The user is always searching the ASCII -file, but she or he may see a display based on the ASCII or a display -based on the images. - -LESK illustrated how the program performs page analysis, and the image -interface. (The user types several words, is presented with a list-- -usually of the titles of articles contained in an issue--that derives -from the ASCII, clicks on an icon and receives an image that mirrors an -ACS page.) LESK also illustrated an alternative interface, based on text -on the ASCII, the so-called SuperBook interface from Bellcore. - -LESK next presented the results of an experiment conducted by Dennis Egan -and involving thirty-six students at Cornell, one third of them -undergraduate chemistry majors, one third senior undergraduate chemistry -majors, and one third graduate chemistry students. A third of them -received the paper journals, the traditional paper copies and chemical -abstracts on paper. A third received image displays of the pictures of -the pages, and a third received the text display with pop-up graphics. - -The students were given several questions made up by some chemistry -professors. The questions fell into five classes, ranging from very easy -to very difficult, and included questions designed to simulate browsing -as well as a traditional information retrieval-type task. - -LESK furnished the following results. In the straightforward question -search--the question being, what is the phosphorus oxygen bond distance -and hydroxy phosphate?--the students were told that they could take -fifteen minutes and, then, if they wished, give up. The students with -paper took more than fifteen minutes on average, and yet most of them -gave up. The students with either electronic format, text or image, -received good scores in reasonable time, hardly ever had to give up, and -usually found the right answer. - -In the browsing study, the students were given a list of eight topics, -told to imagine that an issue of the Journal of the American Chemical -Society had just appeared on their desks, and were also told to flip -through it and to find topics mentioned in the issue. The average scores -were about the same. (The students were told to answer yes or no about -whether or not particular topics appeared.) The errors, however, were -quite different. The students with paper rarely said that something -appeared when it had not. But they often failed to find something -actually mentioned in the issue. The computer people found numerous -things, but they also frequently said that a topic was mentioned when it -was not. (The reason, of course, was that they were performing word -searches. They were finding that words were mentioned and they were -concluding that they had accomplished their task.) - -This question also contained a trick to test the issue of serendipity. -The students were given another list of eight topics and instructed, -without taking a second look at the journal, to recall how many of this -new list of eight topics were in this particular issue. This was an -attempt to see if they performed better at remembering what they were not -looking for. They all performed about the same, paper or electronics, -about 62 percent accurate. In short, LESK said, people were not very -good when it came to serendipity, but they were no worse at it with -computers than they were with paper. - -(LESK gave a parenthetical illustration of the learning curve of students -who used SuperBook.) - -The students using the electronic systems started off worse than the ones -using print, but by the third of the three sessions in the series had -caught up to print. As one might expect, electronics provide a much -better means of finding what one wants to read; reading speeds, once the -object of the search has been found, are about the same. - -Almost none of the students could perform the hard task--the analogous -transformation. (It would require the expertise of organic chemists to -complete.) But an interesting result was that the students using the text -search performed terribly, while those using the image system did best. -That the text search system is driven by text offers the explanation. -Everything is focused on the text; to see the pictures, one must press -on an icon. Many students found the right article containing the answer -to the question, but they did not click on the icon to bring up the right -figure and see it. They did not know that they had found the right place, -and thus got it wrong. - -The short answer demonstrated by this experiment was that in the event -one does not know what to read, one needs the electronic systems; the -electronic systems hold no advantage at the moment if one knows what to -read, but neither do they impose a penalty. - -LESK concluded by commenting that, on one hand, the image system was easy -to use. On the other hand, the text display system, which represented -twenty man-years of work in programming and polishing, was not winning, -because the text was not being read, just searched. The much easier -system is highly competitive as well as remarkably effective for the -actual chemists. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -ERWAY * Most challenging aspect of working on AM * Assumptions guiding -AM's approach * Testing different types of service bureaus * AM's -requirement for 99.95 percent accuracy * Requirements for text-coding * -Additional factors influencing AM's approach to coding * Results of AM's -experience with rekeying * Other problems in dealing with service bureaus -* Quality control the most time-consuming aspect of contracting out -conversion * Long-term outlook uncertain * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -To Ricky ERWAY, associate coordinator, American Memory, Library of -Congress, the constant variety of conversion projects taking place -simultaneously represented perhaps the most challenging aspect of working -on AM. Thus, the challenge was not to find a solution for text -conversion but a tool kit of solutions to apply to LC's varied -collections that need to be converted. ERWAY limited her remarks to the -process of converting text to machine-readable form, and the variety of -LC's text collections, for example, bound volumes, microfilm, and -handwritten manuscripts. - -Two assumptions have guided AM's approach, ERWAY said: 1) A desire not -to perform the conversion inhouse. Because of the variety of formats and -types of texts, to capitalize the equipment and have the talents and -skills to operate them at LC would be extremely expensive. Further, the -natural inclination to upgrade to newer and better equipment each year -made it reasonable for AM to focus on what it did best and seek external -conversion services. Using service bureaus also allowed AM to have -several types of operations take place at the same time. 2) AM was not a -technology project, but an effort to improve access to library -collections. Hence, whether text was converted using OCR or rekeying -mattered little to AM. What mattered were cost and accuracy of results. - -AM considered different types of service bureaus and selected three to -perform several small tests in order to acquire a sense of the field. -The sample collections with which they worked included handwritten -correspondence, typewritten manuscripts from the 1940s, and -eighteenth-century printed broadsides on microfilm. On none of these -samples was OCR performed; they were all rekeyed. AM had several special -requirements for the three service bureaus it had engaged. For instance, -any errors in the original text were to be retained. Working from bound -volumes or anything that could not be sheet-fed also constituted a factor -eliminating companies that would have performed OCR. - -AM requires 99.95 percent accuracy, which, though it sounds high, often -means one or two errors per page. The initial batch of test samples -contained several handwritten materials for which AM did not require -text-coding. The results, ERWAY reported, were in all cases fairly -comparable: for the most part, all three service bureaus achieved 99.95 -percent accuracy. AM was satisfied with the work but surprised at the cost. - -As AM began converting whole collections, it retained the requirement for -99.95 percent accuracy and added requirements for text-coding. AM needed -to begin performing work more than three years ago before LC requirements -for SGML applications had been established. Since AM's goal was simply -to retain any of the intellectual content represented by the formatting -of the document (which would be lost if one performed a straight ASCII -conversion), AM used "SGML-like" codes. These codes resembled SGML tags -but were used without the benefit of document-type definitions. AM found -that many service bureaus were not yet SGML-proficient. - -Additional factors influencing the approach AM took with respect to -coding included: 1) the inability of any known microcomputer-based -user-retrieval software to take advantage of SGML coding; and 2) the -multiple inconsistencies in format of the older documents, which -confirmed AM in its desire not to attempt to force the different formats -to conform to a single document-type definition (DTD) and thus create the -need for a separate DTD for each document. - -The five text collections that AM has converted or is in the process of -converting include a collection of eighteenth-century broadsides, a -collection of pamphlets, two typescript document collections, and a -collection of 150 books. - -ERWAY next reviewed the results of AM's experience with rekeying, noting -again that because the bulk of AM's materials are historical, the quality -of the text often does not lend itself to OCR. While non-English -speakers are less likely to guess or elaborate or correct typos in the -original text, they are also less able to infer what we would; they also -are nearly incapable of converting handwritten text. Another -disadvantage of working with overseas keyers is that they are much less -likely to telephone with questions, especially on the coding, with the -result that they develop their own rules as they encounter new -situations. - -Government contracting procedures and time frames posed a major challenge -to performing the conversion. Many service bureaus are not accustomed to -retaining the image, even if they perform OCR. Thus, questions of image -format and storage media were somewhat novel to many of them. ERWAY also -remarked other problems in dealing with service bureaus, for example, -their inability to perform text conversion from the kind of microfilm -that LC uses for preservation purposes. - -But quality control, in ERWAY's experience, was the most time-consuming -aspect of contracting out conversion. AM has been attempting to perform -a 10-percent quality review, looking at either every tenth document or -every tenth page to make certain that the service bureaus are maintaining -99.95 percent accuracy. But even if they are complying with the -requirement for accuracy, finding errors produces a desire to correct -them and, in turn, to clean up the whole collection, which defeats the -purpose to some extent. Even a double entry requires a -character-by-character comparison to the original to meet the accuracy -requirement. LC is not accustomed to publish imperfect texts, which -makes attempting to deal with the industry standard an emotionally -fraught issue for AM. As was mentioned in the previous day's discussion, -going from 99.95 to 99.99 percent accuracy usually doubles costs and -means a third keying or another complete run-through of the text. - -Although AM has learned much from its experiences with various collections -and various service bureaus, ERWAY concluded pessimistically that no -breakthrough has been achieved. Incremental improvements have occurred -in some of the OCR technology, some of the processes, and some of the -standards acceptances, which, though they may lead to somewhat lower costs, -do not offer much encouragement to many people who are anxiously awaiting -the day that the entire contents of LC are available on-line. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -ZIDAR * Several answers to why one attempts to perform full-text -conversion * Per page cost of performing OCR * Typical problems -encountered during editing * Editing poor copy OCR vs. rekeying * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Judith ZIDAR, coordinator, National Agricultural Text Digitizing Program -(NATDP), National Agricultural Library (NAL), offered several answers to -the question of why one attempts to perform full-text conversion: 1) -Text in an image can be read by a human but not by a computer, so of -course it is not searchable and there is not much one can do with it. 2) -Some material simply requires word-level access. For instance, the legal -profession insists on full-text access to its material; with taxonomic or -geographic material, which entails numerous names, one virtually requires -word-level access. 3) Full text permits rapid browsing and searching, -something that cannot be achieved in an image with today's technology. -4) Text stored as ASCII and delivered in ASCII is standardized and highly -portable. 5) People just want full-text searching, even those who do not -know how to do it. NAL, for the most part, is performing OCR at an -actual cost per average-size page of approximately $7. NAL scans the -page to create the electronic image and passes it through the OCR device. - -ZIDAR next rehearsed several typical problems encountered during editing. -Praising the celerity of her student workers, ZIDAR observed that editing -requires approximately five to ten minutes per page, assuming that there -are no large tables to audit. Confusion among the three characters I, 1, -and l, constitutes perhaps the most common problem encountered. Zeroes -and O's also are frequently confused. Double M's create a particular -problem, even on clean pages. They are so wide in most fonts that they -touch, and the system simply cannot tell where one letter ends and the -other begins. Complex page formats occasionally fail to columnate -properly, which entails rescanning as though one were working with a -single column, entering the ASCII, and decolumnating for better -searching. With proportionally spaced text, OCR can have difficulty -discerning what is a space and what are merely spaces between letters, as -opposed to spaces between words, and therefore will merge text or break -up words where it should not. - -ZIDAR said that it can often take longer to edit a poor-copy OCR than to -key it from scratch. NAL has also experimented with partial editing of -text, whereby project workers go into and clean up the format, removing -stray characters but not running a spell-check. NAL corrects typos in -the title and authors' names, which provides a foothold for searching and -browsing. Even extremely poor-quality OCR (e.g., 60-percent accuracy) -can still be searched, because numerous words are correct, while the -important words are probably repeated often enough that they are likely -to be found correct somewhere. Librarians, however, cannot tolerate this -situation, though end users seem more willing to use this text for -searching, provided that NAL indicates that it is unedited. ZIDAR -concluded that rekeying of text may be the best route to take, in spite -of numerous problems with quality control and cost. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * Modifying an image before performing OCR * NAL's costs per -page *AM's costs per page and experience with Federal Prison Industries * -Elements comprising NATDP's costs per page * OCR and structured markup * -Distinction between the structure of a document and its representation -when put on the screen or printed * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -HOOTON prefaced the lengthy discussion that followed with several -comments about modifying an image before one reaches the point of -performing OCR. For example, in regard to an application containing a -significant amount of redundant data, such as form-type data, numerous -companies today are working on various kinds of form renewal, prior to -going through a recognition process, by using dropout colors. Thus, -acquiring access to form design or using electronic means are worth -considering. HOOTON also noted that conversion usually makes or breaks -one's imaging system. It is extremely important, extremely costly in -terms of either capital investment or service, and determines the quality -of the remainder of one's system, because it determines the character of -the raw material used by the system. - -Concerning the four projects undertaken by NAL, two inside and two -performed by outside contractors, ZIDAR revealed that an in-house service -bureau executed the first at a cost between $8 and $10 per page for -everything, including building of the database. The project undertaken -by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) -cost approximately $10 per page for the conversion, plus some expenses -for the software and building of the database. The Acid Rain Project--a -two-disk set produced by the University of Vermont, consisting of -Canadian publications on acid rain--cost $6.70 per page for everything, -including keying of the text, which was double keyed, scanning of the -images, and building of the database. The in-house project offered -considerable ease of convenience and greater control of the process. On -the other hand, the service bureaus know their job and perform it -expeditiously, because they have more people. - -As a useful comparison, ERWAY revealed AM's costs as follows: $0.75 -cents to $0.85 cents per thousand characters, with an average page -containing 2,700 characters. Requirements for coding and imaging -increase the costs. Thus, conversion of the text, including the coding, -costs approximately $3 per page. (This figure does not include the -imaging and database-building included in the NAL costs.) AM also -enjoyed a happy experience with Federal Prison Industries, which -precluded the necessity of going through the request-for-proposal process -to award a contract, because it is another government agency. The -prisoners performed AM's rekeying just as well as other service bureaus -and proved handy as well. AM shipped them the books, which they would -photocopy on a book-edge scanner. They would perform the markup on -photocopies, return the books as soon as they were done with them, -perform the keying, and return the material to AM on WORM disks. - -ZIDAR detailed the elements that constitute the previously noted cost of -approximately $7 per page. Most significant is the editing, correction -of errors, and spell-checkings, which though they may sound easy to -perform require, in fact, a great deal of time. Reformatting text also -takes a while, but a significant amount of NAL's expenses are for equipment, -which was extremely expensive when purchased because it was one of the few -systems on the market. The costs of equipment are being amortized over -five years but are still quite high, nearly $2,000 per month. - -HOCKEY raised a general question concerning OCR and the amount of editing -required (substantial in her experience) to generate the kind of -structured markup necessary for manipulating the text on the computer or -loading it into any retrieval system. She wondered if the speakers could -extend the previous question about the cost-benefit of adding or exerting -structured markup. ERWAY noted that several OCR systems retain italics, -bolding, and other spatial formatting. While the material may not be in -the format desired, these systems possess the ability to remove the -original materials quickly from the hands of the people performing the -conversion, as well as to retain that information so that users can work -with it. HOCKEY rejoined that the current thinking on markup is that one -should not say that something is italic or bold so much as why it is that -way. To be sure, one needs to know that something was italicized, but -how can one get from one to the other? One can map from the structure to -the typographic representation. - -FLEISCHHAUER suggested that, given the 100 million items the Library -holds, it may not be possible for LC to do more than report that a thing -was in italics as opposed to why it was italics, although that may be -desirable in some contexts. Promising to talk a bit during the afternoon -session about several experiments OCLC performed on automatic recognition -of document elements, and which they hoped to extend, WEIBEL said that in -fact one can recognize the major elements of a document with a fairly -high degree of reliability, at least as good as OCR. STEVENS drew a -useful distinction between standard, generalized markup (i.e., defining -for a document-type definition the structure of the document), and what -he termed a style sheet, which had to do with italics, bolding, and other -forms of emphasis. Thus, two different components are at work, one being -the structure of the document itself (its logic), and the other being its -representation when it is put on the screen or printed. - - ****** - -SESSION V. APPROACHES TO PREPARING ELECTRONIC TEXTS - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -HOCKEY * Text in ASCII and the representation of electronic text versus -an image * The need to look at ways of using markup to assist retrieval * -The need for an encoding format that will be reusable and multifunctional -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Susan HOCKEY, director, Center for Electronic Texts in the Humanities -(CETH), Rutgers and Princeton Universities, announced that one talk -(WEIBEL's) was moved into this session from the morning and that David -Packard was unable to attend. The session would attempt to focus more on -what one can do with a text in ASCII and the representation of electronic -text rather than just an image, what one can do with a computer that -cannot be done with a book or an image. It would be argued that one can -do much more than just read a text, and from that starting point one can -use markup and methods of preparing the text to take full advantage of -the capability of the computer. That would lead to a discussion of what -the European Community calls REUSABILITY, what may better be termed -DURABILITY, that is, how to prepare or make a text that will last a long -time and that can be used for as many applications as possible, which -would lead to issues of improving intellectual access. - -HOCKEY urged the need to look at ways of using markup to facilitate retrieval, -not just for referencing or to help locate an item that is retrieved, but also to put markup tags in -a text to help retrieve the thing sought either with linguistic tagging or -interpretation. HOCKEY also argued that little advancement had occurred in -the software tools currently available for retrieving and searching text. -She pressed the desideratum of going beyond Boolean searches and performing -more sophisticated searching, which the insertion of more markup in the text -would facilitate. Thinking about electronic texts as opposed to images means -considering material that will never appear in print form, or print will not -be its primary form, that is, material which only appears in electronic form. -HOCKEY alluded to the history and the need for markup and tagging and -electronic text, which was developed through the use of computers in the -humanities; as MICHELSON had observed, Father Busa had started in 1949 -to prepare the first-ever text on the computer. - -HOCKEY remarked several large projects, particularly in Europe, for the -compilation of dictionaries, language studies, and language analysis, in -which people have built up archives of text and have begun to recognize -the need for an encoding format that will be reusable and multifunctional, -that can be used not just to print the text, which may be assumed to be a -byproduct of what one wants to do, but to structure it inside the computer -so that it can be searched, built into a Hypertext system, etc. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -WEIBEL * OCLC's approach to preparing electronic text: retroconversion, -keying of texts, more automated ways of developing data * Project ADAPT -and the CORE Project * Intelligent character recognition does not exist * -Advantages of SGML * Data should be free of procedural markup; -descriptive markup strongly advocated * OCLC's interface illustrated * -Storage requirements and costs for putting a lot of information on line * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Stuart WEIBEL, senior research scientist, Online Computer Library Center, -Inc. (OCLC), described OCLC's approach to preparing electronic text. He -argued that the electronic world into which we are moving must -accommodate not only the future but the past as well, and to some degree -even the present. Thus, starting out at one end with retroconversion and -keying of texts, one would like to move toward much more automated ways -of developing data. - -For example, Project ADAPT had to do with automatically converting -document images into a structured document database with OCR text as -indexing and also a little bit of automatic formatting and tagging of -that text. The CORE project hosted by Cornell University, Bellcore, -OCLC, the American Chemical Society, and Chemical Abstracts, constitutes -WEIBEL's principal concern at the moment. This project is an example of -converting text for which one already has a machine-readable version into -a format more suitable for electronic delivery and database searching. -(Since Michael LESK had previously described CORE, WEIBEL would say -little concerning it.) Borrowing a chemical phrase, de novo synthesis, -WEIBEL cited the Online Journal of Current Clinical Trials as an example -of de novo electronic publishing, that is, a form in which the primary -form of the information is electronic. - -Project ADAPT, then, which OCLC completed a couple of years ago and in -fact is about to resume, is a model in which one takes page images either -in paper or microfilm and converts them automatically to a searchable -electronic database, either on-line or local. The operating assumption -is that accepting some blemishes in the data, especially for -retroconversion of materials, will make it possible to accomplish more. -Not enough money is available to support perfect conversion. - -WEIBEL related several steps taken to perform image preprocessing -(processing on the image before performing optical character -recognition), as well as image postprocessing. He denied the existence -of intelligent character recognition and asserted that what is wanted is -page recognition, which is a long way off. OCLC has experimented with -merging of multiple optical character recognition systems that will -reduce errors from an unacceptable rate of 5 characters out of every -l,000 to an unacceptable rate of 2 characters out of every l,000, but it -is not good enough. It will never be perfect. - -Concerning the CORE Project, WEIBEL observed that Bellcore is taking the -topography files, extracting the page images, and converting those -topography files to SGML markup. LESK hands that data off to OCLC, which -builds that data into a Newton database, the same system that underlies -the on-line system in virtually all of the reference products at OCLC. -The long-term goal is to make the systems interoperable so that not just -Bellcore's system and OCLC's system can access this data, but other -systems can as well, and the key to that is the Z39.50 common command -language and the full-text extension. Z39.50 is fine for MARC records, -but is not enough to do it for full text (that is, make full texts -interoperable). - -WEIBEL next outlined the critical role of SGML for a variety of purposes, -for example, as noted by HOCKEY, in the world of extremely large -databases, using highly structured data to perform field searches. -WEIBEL argued that by building the structure of the data in (i.e., the -structure of the data originally on a printed page), it becomes easy to -look at a journal article even if one cannot read the characters and know -where the title or author is, or what the sections of that document would be. -OCLC wants to make that structure explicit in the database, because it will -be important for retrieval purposes. - -The second big advantage of SGML is that it gives one the ability to -build structure into the database that can be used for display purposes -without contaminating the data with instructions about how to format -things. The distinction lies between procedural markup, which tells one -where to put dots on the page, and descriptive markup, which describes -the elements of a document. - -WEIBEL believes that there should be no procedural markup in the data at -all, that the data should be completely unsullied by information about -italics or boldness. That should be left up to the display device, -whether that display device is a page printer or a screen display device. -By keeping one's database free of that kind of contamination, one can -make decisions down the road, for example, reorganize the data in ways -that are not cramped by built-in notions of what should be italic and -what should be bold. WEIBEL strongly advocated descriptive markup. As -an example, he illustrated the index structure in the CORE data. With -subsequent illustrated examples of markup, WEIBEL acknowledged the common -complaint that SGML is hard to read in its native form, although markup -decreases considerably once one gets into the body. Without the markup, -however, one would not have the structure in the data. One can pass -markup through a LaTeX processor and convert it relatively easily to a -printed version of the document. - -WEIBEL next illustrated an extremely cluttered screen dump of OCLC's -system, in order to show as much as possible the inherent capability on -the screen. (He noted parenthetically that he had become a supporter of -X-Windows as a result of the progress of the CORE Project.) WEIBEL also -illustrated the two major parts of the interface: l) a control box that -allows one to generate lists of items, which resembles a small table of -contents based on key words one wishes to search, and 2) a document -viewer, which is a separate process in and of itself. He demonstrated -how to follow links through the electronic database simply by selecting -the appropriate button and bringing them up. He also noted problems that -remain to be accommodated in the interface (e.g., as pointed out by LESK, -what happens when users do not click on the icon for the figure). - -Given the constraints of time, WEIBEL omitted a large number of ancillary -items in order to say a few words concerning storage requirements and -what will be required to put a lot of things on line. Since it is -extremely expensive to reconvert all of this data, especially if it is -just in paper form (and even if it is in electronic form in typesetting -tapes), he advocated building journals electronically from the start. In -that case, if one only has text graphics and indexing (which is all that -one needs with de novo electronic publishing, because there is no need to -go back and look at bit-maps of pages), one can get 10,000 journals of -full text, or almost 6 million pages per year. These pages can be put in -approximately 135 gigabytes of storage, which is not all that much, -WEIBEL said. For twenty years, something less than three terabytes would -be required. WEIBEL calculated the costs of storing this information as -follows: If a gigabyte costs approximately $1,000, then a terabyte costs -approximately $1 million to buy in terms of hardware. One also needs a -building to put it in and a staff like OCLC to handle that information. -So, to support a terabyte, multiply by five, which gives $5 million per -year for a supported terabyte of data. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * Tapes saved by ACS are the typography files originally -supporting publication of the journal * Cost of building tagged text into -the database * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -During the question-and-answer period that followed WEIBEL's -presentation, these clarifications emerged. The tapes saved by the -American Chemical Society are the typography files that originally -supported the publication of the journal. Although they are not tagged -in SGML, they are tagged in very fine detail. Every single sentence is -marked, all the registry numbers, all the publications issues, dates, and -volumes. No cost figures on tagging material on a per-megabyte basis -were available. Because ACS's typesetting system runs from tagged text, -there is no extra cost per article. It was unknown what it costs ACS to -keyboard the tagged text rather than just keyboard the text in the -cheapest process. In other words, since one intends to publish things -and will need to build tagged text into a typography system in any case, -if one does that in such a way that it can drive not only typography but -an electronic system (which is what ACS intends to do--move to SGML -publishing), the marginal cost is zero. The marginal cost represents the -cost of building tagged text into the database, which is small. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -SPERBERG-McQUEEN * Distinction between texts and computers * Implications -of recognizing that all representation is encoding * Dealing with -complicated representations of text entails the need for a grammar of -documents * Variety of forms of formal grammars * Text as a bit-mapped -image does not represent a serious attempt to represent text in -electronic form * SGML, the TEI, document-type declarations, and the -reusability and longevity of data * TEI conformance explicitly allows -extension or modification of the TEI tag set * Administrative background -of the TEI * Several design goals for the TEI tag set * An absolutely -fixed requirement of the TEI Guidelines * Challenges the TEI has -attempted to face * Good texts not beyond economic feasibility * The -issue of reproducibility or processability * The issue of mages as -simulacra for the text redux * One's model of text determines what one's -software can do with a text and has economic consequences * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Prior to speaking about SGML and markup, Michael SPERBERG-McQUEEN, editor, -Text Encoding Initiative (TEI), University of Illinois-Chicago, first drew -a distinction between texts and computers: Texts are abstract cultural -and linguistic objects while computers are complicated physical devices, -he said. Abstract objects cannot be placed inside physical devices; with -computers one can only represent text and act upon those representations. - -The recognition that all representation is encoding, SPERBERG-McQUEEN -argued, leads to the recognition of two things: 1) The topic description -for this session is slightly misleading, because there can be no discussion -of pros and cons of text-coding unless what one means is pros and cons of -working with text with computers. 2) No text can be represented in a -computer without some sort of encoding; images are one way of encoding text, -ASCII is another, SGML yet another. There is no encoding without some -information loss, that is, there is no perfect reproduction of a text that -allows one to do away with the original. Thus, the question becomes, -What is the most useful representation of text for a serious work? -This depends on what kind of serious work one is talking about. - -The projects demonstrated the previous day all involved highly complex -information and fairly complex manipulation of the textual material. -In order to use that complicated information, one has to calculate it -slowly or manually and store the result. It needs to be stored, therefore, -as part of one's representation of the text. Thus, one needs to store the -structure in the text. To deal with complicated representations of text, -one needs somehow to control the complexity of the representation of a text; -that means one needs a way of finding out whether a document and an -electronic representation of a document is legal or not; and that -means one needs a grammar of documents. - -SPERBERG-McQUEEN discussed the variety of forms of formal grammars, -implicit and explicit, as applied to text, and their capabilities. He -argued that these grammars correspond to different models of text that -different developers have. For example, one implicit model of the text -is that there is no internal structure, but just one thing after another, -a few characters and then perhaps a start-title command, and then a few -more characters and an end-title command. SPERBERG-McQUEEN also -distinguished several kinds of text that have a sort of hierarchical -structure that is not very well defined, which, typically, corresponds -to grammars that are not very well defined, as well as hierarchies that -are very well defined (e.g., the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae) and extremely -complicated things such as SGML, which handle strictly hierarchical data -very nicely. - -SPERBERG-McQUEEN conceded that one other model not illustrated on his two -displays was the model of text as a bit-mapped image, an image of a page, -and confessed to having been converted to a limited extent by the -Workshop to the view that electronic images constitute a promising, -probably superior alternative to microfilming. But he was not convinced -that electronic images represent a serious attempt to represent text in -electronic form. Many of their problems stem from the fact that they are -not direct attempts to represent the text but attempts to represent the -page, thus making them representations of representations. - -In this situation of increasingly complicated textual information and the -need to control that complexity in a useful way (which begs the question -of the need for good textual grammars), one has the introduction of SGML. -With SGML, one can develop specific document-type declarations -for specific text types or, as with the TEI, attempts to generate -general document-type declarations that can handle all sorts of text. -The TEI is an attempt to develop formats for text representation that -will ensure the kind of reusability and longevity of data discussed earlier. -It offers a way to stay alive in the state of permanent technological -revolution. - -It has been a continuing challenge in the TEI to create document grammars -that do some work in controlling the complexity of the textual object but -also allowing one to represent the real text that one will find. -Fundamental to the notion of the TEI is that TEI conformance allows one -the ability to extend or modify the TEI tag set so that it fits the text -that one is attempting to represent. - -SPERBERG-McQUEEN next outlined the administrative background of the TEI. -The TEI is an international project to develop and disseminate guidelines -for the encoding and interchange of machine-readable text. It is -sponsored by the Association for Computers in the Humanities, the -Association for Computational Linguistics, and the Association for -Literary and Linguistic Computing. Representatives of numerous other -professional societies sit on its advisory board. The TEI has a number -of affiliated projects that have provided assistance by testing drafts of -the guidelines. - -Among the design goals for the TEI tag set, the scheme first of all must -meet the needs of research, because the TEI came out of the research -community, which did not feel adequately served by existing tag sets. -The tag set must be extensive as well as compatible with existing and -emerging standards. In 1990, version 1.0 of the Guidelines was released -(SPERBERG-McQUEEN illustrated their contents). - -SPERBERG-McQUEEN noted that one problem besetting electronic text has -been the lack of adequate internal or external documentation for many -existing electronic texts. The TEI guidelines as currently formulated -contain few fixed requirements, but one of them is this: There must -always be a document header, an in-file SGML tag that provides -1) a bibliographic description of the electronic object one is talking -about (that is, who included it, when, what for, and under which title); -and 2) the copy text from which it was derived, if any. If there was -no copy text or if the copy text is unknown, then one states as much. -Version 2.0 of the Guidelines was scheduled to be completed in fall 1992 -and a revised third version is to be presented to the TEI advisory board -for its endorsement this coming winter. The TEI itself exists to provide -a markup language, not a marked-up text. - -Among the challenges the TEI has attempted to face is the need for a -markup language that will work for existing projects, that is, handle the -level of markup that people are using now to tag only chapter, section, -and paragraph divisions and not much else. At the same time, such a -language also will be able to scale up gracefully to handle the highly -detailed markup which many people foresee as the future destination of -much electronic text, and which is not the future destination but the -present home of numerous electronic texts in specialized areas. - -SPERBERG-McQUEEN dismissed the lowest-common-denominator approach as -unable to support the kind of applications that draw people who have -never been in the public library regularly before, and make them come -back. He advocated more interesting text and more intelligent text. -Asserting that it is not beyond economic feasibility to have good texts, -SPERBERG-McQUEEN noted that the TEI Guidelines listing 200-odd tags -contains tags that one is expected to enter every time the relevant -textual feature occurs. It contains all the tags that people need now, -and it is not expected that everyone will tag things in the same way. - -The question of how people will tag the text is in large part a function -of their reaction to what SPERBERG-McQUEEN termed the issue of -reproducibility. What one needs to be able to reproduce are the things -one wants to work with. Perhaps a more useful concept than that of -reproducibility or recoverability is that of processability, that is, -what can one get from an electronic text without reading it again -in the original. He illustrated this contention with a page from -Jan Comenius's bilingual Introduction to Latin. - -SPERBERG-McQUEEN returned at length to the issue of images as simulacra -for the text, in order to reiterate his belief that in the long run more -than images of pages of particular editions of the text are needed, -because just as second-generation photocopies and second-generation -microfilm degenerate, so second-generation representations tend to -degenerate, and one tends to overstress some relatively trivial aspects -of the text such as its layout on the page, which is not always -significant, despite what the text critics might say, and slight other -pieces of information such as the very important lexical ties between the -English and Latin versions of Comenius's bilingual text, for example. -Moreover, in many crucial respects it is easy to fool oneself concerning -what a scanned image of the text will accomplish. For example, in order -to study the transmission of texts, information concerning the text -carrier is necessary, which scanned images simply do not always handle. -Further, even the high-quality materials being produced at Cornell use -much of the information that one would need if studying those books as -physical objects. It is a choice that has been made. It is an arguably -justifiable choice, but one does not know what color those pen strokes in -the margin are or whether there was a stain on the page, because it has -been filtered out. One does not know whether there were rips in the page -because they do not show up, and on a couple of the marginal marks one -loses half of the mark because the pen is very light and the scanner -failed to pick it up, and so what is clearly a checkmark in the margin of -the original becomes a little scoop in the margin of the facsimile. -Standard problems for facsimile editions, not new to electronics, but -also true of light-lens photography, and are remarked here because it is -important that we not fool ourselves that even if we produce a very nice -image of this page with good contrast, we are not replacing the -manuscript any more than microfilm has replaced the manuscript. - -The TEI comes from the research community, where its first allegiance -lies, but it is not just an academic exercise. It has relevance far -beyond those who spend all of their time studying text, because one's -model of text determines what one's software can do with a text. Good -models lead to good software. Bad models lead to bad software. That has -economic consequences, and it is these economic consequences that have -led the European Community to help support the TEI, and that will lead, -SPERBERG-McQUEEN hoped, some software vendors to realize that if they -provide software with a better model of the text they can make a killing. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * Implications of different DTDs and tag sets * ODA versus SGML * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -During the discussion that followed, several additional points were made. -Neither AAP (i.e., Association of American Publishers) nor CALS (i.e., -Computer-aided Acquisition and Logistics Support) has a document-type -definition for ancient Greek drama, although the TEI will be able to -handle that. Given this state of affairs and assuming that the -technical-journal producers and the commercial vendors decide to use the -other two types, then an institution like the Library of Congress, which -might receive all of their publications, would have to be able to handle -three different types of document definitions and tag sets and be able to -distinguish among them. - -Office Document Architecture (ODA) has some advantages that flow from its -tight focus on office documents and clear directions for implementation. -Much of the ODA standard is easier to read and clearer at first reading -than the SGML standard, which is extremely general. What that means is -that if one wants to use graphics in TIFF and ODA, one is stuck, because -ODA defines graphics formats while TIFF does not, whereas SGML says the -world is not waiting for this work group to create another graphics format. -What is needed is an ability to use whatever graphics format one wants. - -The TEI provides a socket that allows one to connect the SGML document to -the graphics. The notation that the graphics are in is clearly a choice -that one needs to make based on her or his environment, and that is one -advantage. SGML is less megalomaniacal in attempting to define formats -for all kinds of information, though more megalomaniacal in attempting to -cover all sorts of documents. The other advantage is that the model of -text represented by SGML is simply an order of magnitude richer and more -flexible than the model of text offered by ODA. Both offer hierarchical -structures, but SGML recognizes that the hierarchical model of the text -that one is looking at may not have been in the minds of the designers, -whereas ODA does not. - -ODA is not really aiming for the kind of document that the TEI wants to -encompass. The TEI can handle the kind of material ODA has, as well as a -significantly broader range of material. ODA seems to be very much -focused on office documents, which is what it started out being called-- -office document architecture. - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -CALALUCA * Text-encoding from a publisher's perspective * -Responsibilities of a publisher * Reproduction of Migne's Latin series -whole and complete with SGML tags based on perceived need and expected -use * Particular decisions arising from the general decision to produce -and publish PLD * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -The final speaker in this session, Eric CALALUCA, vice president, -Chadwyck-Healey, Inc., spoke from the perspective of a publisher re -text-encoding, rather than as one qualified to discuss methods of -encoding data, and observed that the presenters sitting in the room, -whether they had chosen to or not, were acting as publishers: making -choices, gathering data, gathering information, and making assessments. -CALALUCA offered the hard-won conviction that in publishing very large -text files (such as PLD), one cannot avoid making personal judgments of -appropriateness and structure. - -In CALALUCA's view, encoding decisions stem from prior judgments. Two -notions have become axioms for him in the consideration of future sources -for electronic publication: 1) electronic text publishing is as personal -as any other kind of publishing, and questions of if and how to encode -the data are simply a consequence of that prior decision; 2) all -personal decisions are open to criticism, which is unavoidable. - -CALALUCA rehearsed his role as a publisher or, better, as an intermediary -between what is viewed as a sound idea and the people who would make use -of it. Finding the specialist to advise in this process is the core of -that function. The publisher must monitor and hug the fine line between -giving users what they want and suggesting what they might need. One -responsibility of a publisher is to represent the desires of scholars and -research librarians as opposed to bullheadedly forcing them into areas -they would not choose to enter. - -CALALUCA likened the questions being raised today about data structure -and standards to the decisions faced by the Abbe Migne himself during -production of the Patrologia series in the mid-nineteenth century. -Chadwyck-Healey's decision to reproduce Migne's Latin series whole and -complete with SGML tags was also based upon a perceived need and an -expected use. In the same way that Migne's work came to be far more than -a simple handbook for clerics, PLD is already far more than a database -for theologians. It is a bedrock source for the study of Western -civilization, CALALUCA asserted. - -In regard to the decision to produce and publish PLD, the editorial board -offered direct judgments on the question of appropriateness of these -texts for conversion, their encoding and their distribution, and -concluded that the best possible project was one that avoided overt -intrusions or exclusions in so important a resource. Thus, the general -decision to transmit the original collection as clearly as possible with -the widest possible avenues for use led to other decisions: 1) To encode -the data or not, SGML or not, TEI or not. Again, the expected user -community asserted the need for normative tagging structures of important -humanities texts, and the TEI seemed the most appropriate structure for -that purpose. Research librarians, who are trained to view the larger -impact of electronic text sources on 80 or 90 or 100 doctoral -disciplines, loudly approved the decision to include tagging. They see -what is coming better than the specialist who is completely focused on -one edition of Ambrose's De Anima, and they also understand that the -potential uses exceed present expectations. 2) What will be tagged and -what will not. Once again, the board realized that one must tag the -obvious. But in no way should one attempt to identify through encoding -schemes every single discrete area of a text that might someday be -searched. That was another decision. Searching by a column number, an -author, a word, a volume, permitting combination searches, and tagging -notations seemed logical choices as core elements. 3) How does one make -the data available? Tieing it to a CD-ROM edition creates limitations, -but a magnetic tape file that is very large, is accompanied by the -encoding specifications, and that allows one to make local modifications -also allows one to incorporate any changes one may desire within the -bounds of private research, though exporting tag files from a CD-ROM -could serve just as well. Since no one on the board could possibly -anticipate each and every way in which a scholar might choose to mine -this data bank, it was decided to satisfy the basics and make some -provisions for what might come. 4) Not to encode the database would rob -it of the interchangeability and portability these important texts should -accommodate. For CALALUCA, the extensive options presented by full-text -searching require care in text selection and strongly support encoding of -data to facilitate the widest possible search strategies. Better -software can always be created, but summoning the resources, the people, -and the energy to reconvert the text is another matter. - -PLD is being encoded, captured, and distributed, because to -Chadwyck-Healey and the board it offers the widest possible array of -future research applications that can be seen today. CALALUCA concluded -by urging the encoding of all important text sources in whatever way -seems most appropriate and durable at the time, without blanching at the -thought that one's work may require emendation in the future. (Thus, -Chadwyck-Healey produced a very large humanities text database before the -final release of the TEI Guidelines.) - - ****** - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -DISCUSSION * Creating texts with markup advocated * Trends in encoding * -The TEI and the issue of interchangeability of standards * A -misconception concerning the TEI * Implications for an institution like -LC in the event that a multiplicity of DTDs develops * Producing images -as a first step towards possible conversion to full text through -character recognition * The AAP tag sets as a common starting point and -the need for caution * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -HOCKEY prefaced the discussion that followed with several comments in -favor of creating texts with markup and on trends in encoding. In the -future, when many more texts are available for on-line searching, real -problems in finding what is wanted will develop, if one is faced with -millions of words of data. It therefore becomes important to consider -putting markup in texts to help searchers home in on the actual things -they wish to retrieve. Various approaches to refining retrieval methods -toward this end include building on a computer version of a dictionary -and letting the computer look up words in it to obtain more information -about the semantic structure or semantic field of a word, its grammatical -structure, and syntactic structure. - -HOCKEY commented on the present keen interest in the encoding world -in creating: 1) machine-readable versions of dictionaries that can be -initially tagged in SGML, which gives a structure to the dictionary entry; -these entries can then be converted into a more rigid or otherwise -different database structure inside the computer, which can be treated as -a dynamic tool for searching mechanisms; 2) large bodies of text to study -the language. In order to incorporate more sophisticated mechanisms, -more about how words behave needs to be known, which can be learned in -part from information in dictionaries. However, the last ten years have -seen much interest in studying the structure of printed dictionaries -converted into computer-readable form. The information one derives about -many words from those is only partial, one or two definitions of the -common or the usual meaning of a word, and then numerous definitions of -unusual usages. If the computer is using a dictionary to help retrieve -words in a text, it needs much more information about the common usages, -because those are the ones that occur over and over again. Hence the -current interest in developing large bodies of text in computer-readable -form in order to study the language. Several projects are engaged in -compiling, for example, 100 million words. HOCKEY described one with -which she was associated briefly at Oxford University involving -compilation of 100 million words of British English: about 10 percent of -that will contain detailed linguistic tagging encoded in SGML; it will -have word class taggings, with words identified as nouns, verbs, -adjectives, or other parts of speech. This tagging can then be used by -programs which will begin to learn a bit more about the structure of the -language, and then, can go to tag more text. - -HOCKEY said that the more that is tagged accurately, the more one can -refine the tagging process and thus the bigger body of text one can build -up with linguistic tagging incorporated into it. Hence, the more tagging -or annotation there is in the text, the more one may begin to learn about -language and the more it will help accomplish more intelligent OCR. She -recommended the development of software tools that will help one begin to -understand more about a text, which can then be applied to scanning -images of that text in that format and to using more intelligence to help -one interpret or understand the text. - -HOCKEY posited the need to think about common methods of text-encoding -for a long time to come, because building these large bodies of text is -extremely expensive and will only be done once. - -In the more general discussion on approaches to encoding that followed, -these points were made: - -BESSER identified the underlying problem with standards that all have to -struggle with in adopting a standard, namely, the tension between a very -highly defined standard that is very interchangeable but does not work -for everyone because something is lacking, and a standard that is less -defined, more open, more adaptable, but less interchangeable. Contending -that the way in which people use SGML is not sufficiently defined, BESSER -wondered 1) if people resist the TEI because they think it is too defined -in certain things they do not fit into, and 2) how progress with -interchangeability can be made without frightening people away. - -SPERBERG-McQUEEN replied that the published drafts of the TEI had met -with surprisingly little objection on the grounds that they do not allow -one to handle X or Y or Z. Particular concerns of the affiliated -projects have led, in practice, to discussions of how extensions are to -be made; the primary concern of any project has to be how it can be -represented locally, thus making interchange secondary. The TEI has -received much criticism based on the notion that everything in it is -required or even recommended, which, as it happens, is a misconception -from the beginning, because none of it is required and very little is -actually actively recommended for all cases, except that one document -one's source. - -SPERBERG-McQUEEN agreed with BESSER about this trade-off: all the -projects in a set of twenty TEI-conformant projects will not necessarily -tag the material in the same way. One result of the TEI will be that the -easiest problems will be solved--those dealing with the external form of -the information; but the problem that is hardest in interchange is that -one is not encoding what another wants, and vice versa. Thus, after -the adoption of a common notation, the differences in the underlying -conceptions of what is interesting about texts become more visible. -The success of a standard like the TEI will lie in the ability of -the recipient of interchanged texts to use some of what it contains -and to add the information that was not encoded that one wants, in a -layered way, so that texts can be gradually enriched and one does not -have to put in everything all at once. Hence, having a well-behaved -markup scheme is important. - -STEVENS followed up on the paradoxical analogy that BESSER alluded to in -the example of the MARC records, namely, the formats that are the same -except that they are different. STEVENS drew a parallel between -document-type definitions and MARC records for books and serials and maps, -where one has a tagging structure and there is a text-interchange. -STEVENS opined that the producers of the information will set the terms -for the standard (i.e., develop document-type definitions for the users -of their products), creating a situation that will be problematical for -an institution like the Library of Congress, which will have to deal with -the DTDs in the event that a multiplicity of them develops. Thus, -numerous people are seeking a standard but cannot find the tag set that -will be acceptable to them and their clients. SPERBERG-McQUEEN agreed -with this view, and said that the situation was in a way worse: attempting -to unify arbitrary DTDs resembled attempting to unify a MARC record with a -bibliographic record done according to the Prussian instructions. -According to STEVENS, this situation occurred very early in the process. - -WATERS recalled from early discussions on Project Open Book the concern -of many people that merely by producing images, POB was not really -enhancing intellectual access to the material. Nevertheless, not wishing -to overemphasize the opposition between imaging and full text, WATERS -stated that POB views getting the images as a first step toward possibly -converting to full text through character recognition, if the technology -is appropriate. WATERS also emphasized that encoding is involved even -with a set of images. - -SPERBERG-McQUEEN agreed with WATERS that one can create an SGML document -consisting wholly of images. At first sight, organizing graphic images -with an SGML document may not seem to offer great advantages, but the -advantages of the scheme WATERS described would be precisely that -ability to move into something that is more of a multimedia document: -a combination of transcribed text and page images. WEIBEL concurred in -this judgment, offering evidence from Project ADAPT, where a page is -divided into text elements and graphic elements, and in fact the text -elements are organized by columns and lines. These lines may be used as -the basis for distributing documents in a network environment. As one -develops software intelligent enough to recognize what those elements -are, it makes sense to apply SGML to an image initially, that may, in -fact, ultimately become more and more text, either through OCR or edited -OCR or even just through keying. For WATERS, the labor of composing the -document and saying this set of documents or this set of images belongs -to this document constitutes a significant investment. - -WEIBEL also made the point that the AAP tag sets, while not excessively -prescriptive, offer a common starting point; they do not define the -structure of the documents, though. They have some recommendations about -DTDs one could use as examples, but they do just suggest tag sets. For -example, the CORE project attempts to use the AAP markup as much as -possible, but there are clearly areas where structure must be added. -That in no way contradicts the use of AAP tag sets. - -SPERBERG-McQUEEN noted that the TEI prepared a long working paper early -on about the AAP tag set and what it lacked that the TEI thought it -needed, and a fairly long critique of the naming conventions, which has -led to a very different style of naming in the TEI. He stressed the -importance of the opposition between prescriptive markup, the kind that a -publisher or anybody can do when producing documents de novo, and -descriptive markup, in which one has to take what the text carrier -provides. In these particular tag sets it is easy to overemphasize this -opposition, because the AAP tag set is extremely flexible. Even if one -just used the DTDs, they allow almost anything to appear almost anywhere. - - ****** - -SESSION VI. COPYRIGHT ISSUES - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -PETERS * Several cautions concerning copyright in an electronic -environment * Review of copyright law in the United States * The notion -of the public good and the desirability of incentives to promote it * -What copyright protects * Works not protected by copyright * The rights -of copyright holders * Publishers' concerns in today's electronic -environment * Compulsory licenses * The price of copyright in a digital -medium and the need for cooperation * Additional clarifications * Rough -justice oftentimes the outcome in numerous copyright matters * Copyright -in an electronic society * Copyright law always only sets up the -boundaries; anything can be changed by contract * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -Marybeth PETERS, policy planning adviser to the Register of Copyrights, -Library of Congress, made several general comments and then opened the -floor to discussion of subjects of interest to the audience. - -Having attended several sessions in an effort to gain a sense of what -people did and where copyright would affect their lives, PETERS expressed -the following cautions: - - * If one takes and converts materials and puts them in new forms, - then, from a copyright point of view, one is creating something and - will receive some rights. - - * However, if what one is converting already exists, a question - immediately arises about the status of the materials in question. - - * Putting something in the public domain in the United States offers - some freedom from anxiety, but distributing it throughout the world - on a network is another matter, even if one has put it in the public - domain in the United States. Re foreign laws, very frequently a - work can be in the public domain in the United States but protected - in other countries. Thus, one must consider all of the places a - work may reach, lest one unwittingly become liable to being faced - with a suit for copyright infringement, or at least a letter - demanding discussion of what one is doing. - -PETERS reviewed copyright law in the United States. The U.S. -Constitution effectively states that Congress has the power to enact -copyright laws for two purposes: 1) to encourage the creation and -dissemination of intellectual works for the good of society as a whole; -and, significantly, 2) to give creators and those who package and -disseminate materials the economic rewards that are due them. - -Congress strives to strike a balance, which at times can become an -emotional issue. The United States has never accepted the notion of the -natural right of an author so much as it has accepted the notion of the -public good and the desirability of incentives to promote it. This state -of affairs, however, has created strains on the international level and -is the reason for several of the differences in the laws that we have. -Today the United States protects almost every kind of work that can be -called an expression of an author. The standard for gaining copyright -protection is simply originality. This is a low standard and means that -a work is not copied from something else, as well as shows a certain -minimal amount of authorship. One can also acquire copyright protection -for making a new version of preexisting material, provided it manifests -some spark of creativity. - -However, copyright does not protect ideas, methods, systems--only the way -that one expresses those things. Nor does copyright protect anything -that is mechanical, anything that does not involve choice, or criteria -concerning whether or not one should do a thing. For example, the -results of a process called declicking, in which one mechanically removes -impure sounds from old recordings, are not copyrightable. On the other -hand, the choice to record a song digitally and to increase the sound of -violins or to bring up the tympani constitutes the results of conversion -that are copyrightable. Moreover, if a work is protected by copyright in -the United States, one generally needs the permission of the copyright -owner to convert it. Normally, who will own the new--that is, converted- --material is a matter of contract. In the absence of a contract, the -person who creates the new material is the author and owner. But people -do not generally think about the copyright implications until after the -fact. PETERS stressed the need when dealing with copyrighted works to -think about copyright in advance. One's bargaining power is much greater -up front than it is down the road. - -PETERS next discussed works not protected by copyright, for example, any -work done by a federal employee as part of his or her official duties is -in the public domain in the United States. The issue is not wholly free -of doubt concerning whether or not the work is in the public domain -outside the United States. Other materials in the public domain include: -any works published more than seventy-five years ago, and any work -published in the United States more than twenty-eight years ago, whose -copyright was not renewed. In talking about the new technology and -putting material in a digital form to send all over the world, PETERS -cautioned, one must keep in mind that while the rights may not be an -issue in the United States, they may be in different parts of the world, -where most countries previously employed a copyright term of the life of -the author plus fifty years. - -PETERS next reviewed the economics of copyright holding. Simply, -economic rights are the rights to control the reproduction of a work in -any form. They belong to the author, or in the case of a work made for -hire, the employer. The second right, which is critical to conversion, -is the right to change a work. The right to make new versions is perhaps -one of the most significant rights of authors, particularly in an -electronic world. The third right is the right to publish the work and -the right to disseminate it, something that everyone who deals in an -electronic medium needs to know. The basic rule is if a copy is sold, -all rights of distribution are extinguished with the sale of that copy. -The key is that it must be sold. A number of companies overcome this -obstacle by leasing or renting their product. These companies argue that -if the material is rented or leased and not sold, they control the uses -of a work. The fourth right, and one very important in a digital world, -is a right of public performance, which means the right to show the work -sequentially. For example, copyright owners control the showing of a -CD-ROM product in a public place such as a public library. The reverse -side of public performance is something called the right of public -display. Moral rights also exist, which at the federal level apply only -to very limited visual works of art, but in theory may apply under -contract and other principles. Moral rights may include the right of an -author to have his or her name on a work, the right of attribution, and -the right to object to distortion or mutilation--the right of integrity. - -The way copyright law is worded gives much latitude to activities such as -preservation; to use of material for scholarly and research purposes when -the user does not make multiple copies; and to the generation of -facsimile copies of unpublished works by libraries for themselves and -other libraries. But the law does not allow anyone to become the -distributor of the product for the entire world. In today's electronic -environment, publishers are extremely concerned that the entire world is -networked and can obtain the information desired from a single copy in a -single library. Hence, if there is to be only one sale, which publishers -may choose to live with, they will obtain their money in other ways, for -example, from access and use. Hence, the development of site licenses -and other kinds of agreements to cover what publishers believe they -should be compensated for. Any solution that the United States takes -today has to consider the international arena. - -Noting that the United States is a member of the Berne Convention and -subscribes to its provisions, PETERS described the permissions process. -She also defined compulsory licenses. A compulsory license, of which the -United States has had a few, builds into the law the right to use a work -subject to certain terms and conditions. In the international arena, -however, the ability to use compulsory licenses is extremely limited. -Thus, clearinghouses and other collectives comprise one option that has -succeeded in providing for use of a work. Often overlooked when one -begins to use copyrighted material and put products together is how -expensive the permissions process and managing it is. According to -PETERS, the price of copyright in a digital medium, whatever solution is -worked out, will include managing and assembling the database. She -strongly recommended that publishers and librarians or people with -various backgrounds cooperate to work out administratively feasible -systems, in order to produce better results. - -In the lengthy question-and-answer period that followed PETERS's -presentation, the following points emerged: - - * The Copyright Office maintains that anything mechanical and - totally exhaustive probably is not protected. In the event that - what an individual did in developing potentially copyrightable - material is not understood, the Copyright Office will ask about the - creative choices the applicant chose to make or not to make. As a - practical matter, if one believes she or he has made enough of those - choices, that person has a right to assert a copyright and someone - else must assert that the work is not copyrightable. The more - mechanical, the more automatic, a thing is, the less likely it is to - be copyrightable. - - * Nearly all photographs are deemed to be copyrightable, but no one - worries about them much, because everyone is free to take the same - image. Thus, a photographic copyright represents what is called a - "thin" copyright. The photograph itself must be duplicated, in - order for copyright to be violated. - - * The Copyright Office takes the position that X-rays are not - copyrightable because they are mechanical. It can be argued - whether or not image enhancement in scanning can be protected. One - must exercise care with material created with public funds and - generally in the public domain. An article written by a federal - employee, if written as part of official duties, is not - copyrightable. However, control over a scientific article written - by a National Institutes of Health grantee (i.e., someone who - receives money from the U.S. government), depends on NIH policy. If - the government agency has no policy (and that policy can be - contained in its regulations, the contract, or the grant), the - author retains copyright. If a provision of the contract, grant, or - regulation states that there will be no copyright, then it does not - exist. When a work is created, copyright automatically comes into - existence unless something exists that says it does not. - - * An enhanced electronic copy of a print copy of an older reference - work in the public domain that does not contain copyrightable new - material is a purely mechanical rendition of the original work, and - is not copyrightable. - - * Usually, when a work enters the public domain, nothing can remove - it. For example, Congress recently passed into law the concept of - automatic renewal, which means that copyright on any work published - between l964 and l978 does not have to be renewed in order to - receive a seventy-five-year term. But any work not renewed before - 1964 is in the public domain. - - * Concerning whether or not the United States keeps track of when - authors die, nothing was ever done, nor is anything being done at - the moment by the Copyright Office. - - * Software that drives a mechanical process is itself copyrightable. - If one changes platforms, the software itself has a copyright. The - World Intellectual Property Organization will hold a symposium 28 - March through 2 April l993, at Harvard University, on digital - technology, and will study this entire issue. If one purchases a - computer software package, such as MacPaint, and creates something - new, one receives protection only for that which has been added. - -PETERS added that often in copyright matters, rough justice is the -outcome, for example, in collective licensing, ASCAP (i.e., American -Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), and BMI (i.e., Broadcast -Music, Inc.), where it may seem that the big guys receive more than their -due. Of course, people ought not to copy a creative product without -paying for it; there should be some compensation. But the truth of the -world, and it is not a great truth, is that the big guy gets played on -the radio more frequently than the little guy, who has to do much more -until he becomes a big guy. That is true of every author, every -composer, everyone, and, unfortunately, is part of life. - -Copyright always originates with the author, except in cases of works -made for hire. (Most software falls into this category.) When an author -sends his article to a journal, he has not relinquished copyright, though -he retains the right to relinquish it. The author receives absolutely -everything. The less prominent the author, the more leverage the -publisher will have in contract negotiations. In order to transfer the -rights, the author must sign an agreement giving them away. - -In an electronic society, it is important to be able to license a writer -and work out deals. With regard to use of a work, it usually is much -easier when a publisher holds the rights. In an electronic era, a real -problem arises when one is digitizing and making information available. -PETERS referred again to electronic licensing clearinghouses. Copyright -ought to remain with the author, but as one moves forward globally in the -electronic arena, a middleman who can handle the various rights becomes -increasingly necessary. - -The notion of copyright law is that it resides with the individual, but -in an on-line environment, where a work can be adapted and tinkered with -by many individuals, there is concern. If changes are authorized and -there is no agreement to the contrary, the person who changes a work owns -the changes. To put it another way, the person who acquires permission -to change a work technically will become the author and the owner, unless -some agreement to the contrary has been made. It is typical for the -original publisher to try to control all of the versions and all of the -uses. Copyright law always only sets up the boundaries. Anything can be -changed by contract. - - ****** - -SESSION VII. CONCLUSION - -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ -GENERAL DISCUSSION * Two questions for discussion * Different emphases in -the Workshop * Bringing the text and image partisans together * -Desiderata in planning the long-term development of something * Questions -surrounding the issue of electronic deposit * Discussion of electronic -deposit as an allusion to the issue of standards * Need for a directory -of preservation projects in digital form and for access to their -digitized files * CETH's catalogue of machine-readable texts in the -humanities * What constitutes a publication in the electronic world? * -Need for LC to deal with the concept of on-line publishing * LC's Network -Development Office exploring the limits of MARC as a standard in terms -of handling electronic information * Magnitude of the problem and the -need for distributed responsibility in order to maintain and store -electronic information * Workshop participants to be viewed as a starting -point * Development of a network version of AM urged * A step toward AM's -construction of some sort of apparatus for network access * A delicate -and agonizing policy question for LC * Re the issue of electronic -deposit, LC urged to initiate a catalytic process in terms of distributed -responsibility * Suggestions for cooperative ventures * Commercial -publishers' fears * Strategic questions for getting the image and text -people to think through long-term cooperation * Clarification of the -driving force behind both the Perseus and the Cornell Xerox projects * -+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ - -In his role as moderator of the concluding session, GIFFORD raised two -questions he believed would benefit from discussion: 1) Are there enough -commonalities among those of us that have been here for two days so that -we can see courses of action that should be taken in the future? And, if -so, what are they and who might take them? 2) Partly derivative from -that, but obviously very dangerous to LC as host, do you see a role for -the Library of Congress in all this? Of course, the Library of Congress -holds a rather special status in a number of these matters, because it is -not perceived as a player with an economic stake in them, but are there -roles that LC can play that can help advance us toward where we are heading? - -Describing himself as an uninformed observer of the technicalities of the -last two days, GIFFORD detected three different emphases in the Workshop: -1) people who are very deeply committed to text; 2) people who are almost -passionate about images; and 3) a few people who are very committed to -what happens to the networks. In other words, the new networking -dimension, the accessibility of the processability, the portability of -all this across the networks. How do we pull those three together? - -Adding a question that reflected HOCKEY's comment that this was the -fourth workshop she had attended in the previous thirty days, FLEISCHHAUER -wondered to what extent this meeting had reinvented the wheel, or if it -had contributed anything in the way of bringing together a different group -of people from those who normally appear on the workshop circuit. - -HOCKEY confessed to being struck at this meeting and the one the -Electronic Pierce Consortium organized the previous week that this was a -coming together of people working on texts and not images. Attempting to -bring the two together is something we ought to be thinking about for the -future: How one can think about working with image material to begin -with, but structuring it and digitizing it in such a way that at a later -stage it can be interpreted into text, and find a common way of building -text and images together so that they can be used jointly in the future, -with the network support to begin there because that is how people will -want to access it. - -In planning the long-term development of something, which is what is -being done in electronic text, HOCKEY stressed the importance not only -of discussing the technical aspects of how one does it but particularly -of thinking about what the people who use the stuff will want to do. -But conversely, there are numerous things that people start to do with -electronic text or material that nobody ever thought of in the beginning. - -LESK, in response to the question concerning the role of the Library of -Congress, remarked the often suggested desideratum of having electronic -deposit: Since everything is now computer-typeset, an entire decade of -material that was machine-readable exists, but the publishers frequently -did not save it; has LC taken any action to have its copyright deposit -operation start collecting these machine-readable versions? In the -absence of PETERS, GIFFORD replied that the question was being -actively considered but that that was only one dimension of the problem. -Another dimension is the whole question of the integrity of the original -electronic document. It becomes highly important in science to prove -authorship. How will that be done? - -ERWAY explained that, under the old policy, to make a claim for a -copyright for works that were published in electronic form, including -software, one had to submit a paper copy of the first and last twenty -pages of code--something that represented the work but did not include -the entire work itself and had little value to anyone. As a temporary -measure, LC has claimed the right to demand electronic versions of -electronic publications. This measure entails a proactive role for the -Library to say that it wants a particular electronic version. Publishers -then have perhaps a year to submit it. But the real problem for LC is -what to do with all this material in all these different formats. Will -the Library mount it? How will it give people access to it? How does LC -keep track of the appropriate computers, software, and media? The situation -is so hard to control, ERWAY said, that it makes sense for each publishing -house to maintain its own archive. But LC cannot enforce that either. - -GIFFORD acknowledged LESK's suggestion that establishing a priority -offered the solution, albeit a fairly complicated one. But who maintains -that register?, he asked. GRABER noted that LC does attempt to collect a -Macintosh version and the IBM-compatible version of software. It does -not collect other versions. But while true for software, BYRUM observed, -this reply does not speak to materials, that is, all the materials that -were published that were on somebody's microcomputer or driver tapes -at a publishing office across the country. LC does well to acquire -specific machine-readable products selectively that were intended to be -machine-readable. Materials that were in machine-readable form at one time, -BYRUM said, would be beyond LC's capability at the moment, insofar as -attempting to acquire, organize, and preserve them are concerned--and -preservation would be the most important consideration. In this -connection, GIFFORD reiterated the need to work out some sense of -distributive responsibility for a number of these issues, which -inevitably will require significant cooperation and discussion. -Nobody can do it all. - -LESK suggested that some publishers may look with favor on LC beginning -to serve as a depository of tapes in an electronic manuscript standard. -Publishers may view this as a service that they did not have to perform -and they might send in tapes. However, SPERBERG-McQUEEN countered, -although publishers have had equivalent services available to them for a -long time, the electronic text archive has never turned away or been -flooded with tapes and is forever sending feedback to the depositor. -Some publishers do send in tapes. - -ANDRE viewed this discussion as an allusion to the issue of standards. -She recommended that the AAP standard and the TEI, which has already been -somewhat harmonized internationally and which also shares several -compatibilities with the AAP, be harmonized to ensure sufficient -compatibility in the software. She drew the line at saying LC ought to -be the locus or forum for such harmonization. - -Taking the group in a slightly different direction, but one where at -least in the near term LC might play a helpful role, LYNCH remarked the -plans of a number of projects to carry out preservation by creating -digital images that will end up in on-line or near-line storage at some -institution. Presumably, LC will link this material somehow to its -on-line catalog in most cases. Thus, it is in a digital form. LYNCH had -the impression that many of these institutions would be willing to make -those files accessible to other people outside the institution, provided -that there is no copyright problem. This desideratum will require -propagating the knowledge that those digitized files exist, so that they -can end up in other on-line catalogs. Although uncertain about the -mechanism for achieving this result, LYNCH said that it warranted -scrutiny because it seemed to be connected to some of the basic issues of -cataloging and distribution of records. It would be foolish, given the -amount of work that all of us have to do and our meager resources, to -discover multiple institutions digitizing the same work. Re microforms, -LYNCH said, we are in pretty good shape. - -BATTIN called this a big problem and noted that the Cornell people (who -had already departed) were working on it. At issue from the beginning -was to learn how to catalog that information into RLIN and then into -OCLC, so that it would be accessible. That issue remains to be resolved. -LYNCH rejoined that putting it into OCLC or RLIN was helpful insofar as -somebody who is thinking of performing preservation activity on that work -could learn about it. It is not necessarily helpful for institutions to -make that available. BATTIN opined that the idea was that it not only be -for preservation purposes but for the convenience of people looking for -this material. She endorsed LYNCH's dictum that duplication of this -effort was to be avoided by every means. - -HOCKEY informed the Workshop about one major current activity of CETH, -namely a catalogue of machine-readable texts in the humanities. Held on -RLIN at present, the catalogue has been concentrated on ASCII as opposed -to digitized images of text. She is exploring ways to improve the -catalogue and make it more widely available, and welcomed suggestions -about these concerns. CETH owns the records, which are not just -restricted to RLIN, and can distribute them however it wishes. - -Taking up LESK's earlier question, BATTIN inquired whether LC, since it -is accepting electronic files and designing a mechanism for dealing with -that rather than putting books on shelves, would become responsible for -the National Copyright Depository of Electronic Materials. Of course -that could not be accomplished overnight, but it would be something LC -could plan for. GIFFORD acknowledged that much thought was being devoted -to that set of problems and returned the discussion to the issue raised -by LYNCH--whether or not putting the kind of records that both BATTIN and -HOCKEY have been talking about in RLIN is not a satisfactory solution. -It seemed to him that RLIN answered LYNCH's original point concerning -some kind of directory for these kinds of materials. In a situation -where somebody is attempting to decide whether or not to scan this or -film that or to learn whether or not someone has already done so, LYNCH -suggested, RLIN is helpful, but it is not helpful in the case of a local, -on-line catalogue. Further, one would like to have her or his system be -aware that that exists in digital form, so that one can present it to a -patron, even though one did not digitize it, if it is out of copyright. -The only way to make those linkages would be to perform a tremendous -amount of real-time look-up, which would be awkward at best, or -periodically to yank the whole file from RLIN and match it against one's -own stuff, which is a nuisance. - -But where, ERWAY inquired, does one stop including things that are -available with Internet, for instance, in one's local catalogue? -It almost seems that that is LC's means to acquire access to them. -That represents LC's new form of library loan. Perhaps LC's new on-line -catalogue is an amalgamation of all these catalogues on line. LYNCH -conceded that perhaps that was true in the very long term, but was not -applicable to scanning in the short term. In his view, the totals cited -by Yale, 10,000 books over perhaps a four-year period, and 1,000-1,500 -books from Cornell, were not big numbers, while searching all over -creation for relatively rare occurrences will prove to be less efficient. -As GIFFORD wondered if this would not be a separable file on RLIN and -could be requested from them, BATTIN interjected that it was easily -accessible to an institution. SEVERTSON pointed out that that file, cum -enhancements, was available with reference information on CD-ROM, which -makes it a little more available. - -In HOCKEY's view, the real question facing the Workshop is what to put in -this catalogue, because that raises the question of what constitutes a -publication in the electronic world. (WEIBEL interjected that Eric Joule -in OCLC's Office of Research is also wrestling with this particular -problem, while GIFFORD thought it sounded fairly generic.) HOCKEY -contended that a majority of texts in the humanities are in the hands -of either a small number of large research institutions or individuals -and are not generally available for anyone else to access at all. -She wondered if these texts ought to be catalogued. - -After argument proceeded back and forth for several minutes over why -cataloguing might be a necessary service, LEBRON suggested that this -issue involved the responsibility of a publisher. The fact that someone -has created something electronically and keeps it under his or her -control does not constitute publication. Publication implies -dissemination. While it would be important for a scholar to let other -people know that this creation exists, in many respects this is no -different from an unpublished manuscript. That is what is being accessed -in there, except that now one is not looking at it in the hard-copy but -in the electronic environment. - -LEBRON expressed puzzlement at the variety of ways electronic publishing -has been viewed. Much of what has been discussed throughout these two -days has concerned CD-ROM publishing, whereas in the on-line environment -that she confronts, the constraints and challenges are very different. -Sooner or later LC will have to deal with the concept of on-line -publishing. Taking up the comment ERWAY made earlier about storing -copies, LEBRON gave her own journal as an example. How would she deposit -OJCCT for copyright?, she asked, because the journal will exist in the -mainframe at OCLC and people will be able to access it. Here the -situation is different, ownership versus access, and is something that -arises with publication in the on-line environment, faster than is -sometimes realized. Lacking clear answers to all of these questions -herself, LEBRON did not anticipate that LC would be able to take a role -in helping to define some of them for quite a while. - -GREENFIELD observed that LC's Network Development Office is attempting, -among other things, to explore the limits of MARC as a standard in terms -of handling electronic information. GREENFIELD also noted that Rebecca -GUENTHER from that office gave a paper to the American Society for -Information Science (ASIS) summarizing several of the discussion papers -that were coming out of the Network Development Office. GREENFIELD said -he understood that that office had a list-server soliciting just the kind -of feedback received today concerning the difficulties of identifying and -cataloguing electronic information. GREENFIELD hoped that everybody -would be aware of that and somehow contribute to that conversation. - -Noting two of LC's roles, first, to act as a repository of record for -material that is copyrighted in this country, and second, to make -materials it holds available in some limited form to a clientele that -goes beyond Congress, BESSER suggested that it was incumbent on LC to -extend those responsibilities to all the things being published in -electronic form. This would mean eventually accepting electronic -formats. LC could require that at some point they be in a certain -limited set of formats, and then develop mechanisms for allowing people -to access those in the same way that other things are accessed. This -does not imply that they are on the network and available to everyone. -LC does that with most of its bibliographic records, BESSER said, which -end up migrating to the utility (e.g., OCLC) or somewhere else. But just -as most of LC's books are available in some form through interlibrary -loan or some other mechanism, so in the same way electronic formats ought -to be available to others in some format, though with some copyright -considerations. BESSER was not suggesting that these mechanisms be -established tomorrow, only that they seemed to fall within LC's purview, -and that there should be long-range plans to establish them. - -Acknowledging that those from LC in the room agreed with BESSER -concerning the need to confront difficult questions, GIFFORD underscored -the magnitude of the problem of what to keep and what to select. GIFFORD -noted that LC currently receives some 31,000 items per day, not counting -electronic materials, and argued for much more distributed responsibility -in order to maintain and store electronic information. - -BESSER responded that the assembled group could be viewed as a starting -point, whose initial operating premise could be helping to move in this -direction and defining how LC could do so, for example, in areas of -standardization or distribution of responsibility. - -FLEISCHHAUER added that AM was fully engaged, wrestling with some of the -questions that pertain to the conversion of older historical materials, -which would be one thing that the Library of Congress might do. Several -points mentioned by BESSER and several others on this question have a -much greater impact on those who are concerned with cataloguing and the -networking of bibliographic information, as well as preservation itself. - -Speaking directly to AM, which he considered was a largely uncopyrighted -database, LYNCH urged development of a network version of AM, or -consideration of making the data in it available to people interested in -doing network multimedia. On account of the current great shortage of -digital data that is both appealing and unencumbered by complex rights -problems, this course of action could have a significant effect on making -network multimedia a reality. - -In this connection, FLEISCHHAUER reported on a fragmentary prototype in -LC's Office of Information Technology Services that attempts to associate -digital images of photographs with cataloguing information in ways that -work within a local area network--a step, so to say, toward AM's -construction of some sort of apparatus for access. Further, AM has -attempted to use standard data forms in order to help make that -distinction between the access tools and the underlying data, and thus -believes that the database is networkable. - -A delicate and agonizing policy question for LC, however, which comes -back to resources and unfortunately has an impact on this, is to find -some appropriate, honorable, and legal cost-recovery possibilities. A -certain skittishness concerning cost-recovery has made people unsure -exactly what to do. AM would be highly receptive to discussing further -LYNCH's offer to test or demonstrate its database in a network -environment, FLEISCHHAUER said. - -Returning the discussion to what she viewed as the vital issue of -electronic deposit, BATTIN recommended that LC initiate a catalytic -process in terms of distributed responsibility, that is, bring together -the distributed organizations and set up a study group to look at all -these issues and see where we as a nation should move. The broader -issues of how we deal with the management of electronic information will -not disappear, but only grow worse. - -LESK took up this theme and suggested that LC attempt to persuade one -major library in each state to deal with its state equivalent publisher, -which might produce a cooperative project that would be equitably -distributed around the country, and one in which LC would be dealing with -a minimal number of publishers and minimal copyright problems. - -GRABER remarked the recent development in the scientific community of a -willingness to use SGML and either deposit or interchange on a fairly -standardized format. He wondered if a similar movement was taking place -in the humanities. Although the National Library of Medicine found only -a few publishers to cooperate in a like venture two or three years ago, a -new effort might generate a much larger number willing to cooperate. - -KIMBALL recounted his unit's (Machine-Readable Collections Reading Room) -troubles with the commercial publishers of electronic media in acquiring -materials for LC's collections, in particular the publishers' fear that -they would not be able to cover their costs and would lose control of -their products, that LC would give them away or sell them and make -profits from them. He doubted that the publishing industry was prepared -to move into this area at the moment, given its resistance to allowing LC -to use its machine-readable materials as the Library would like. - -The copyright law now addresses compact disk as a medium, and LC can -request one copy of that, or two copies if it is the only version, and -can request copies of software, but that fails to address magazines or -books or anything like that which is in machine-readable form. - -GIFFORD acknowledged the thorny nature of this issue, which he illustrated -with the example of the cumbersome process involved in putting a copy of a -scientific database on a LAN in LC's science reading room. He also -acknowledged that LC needs help and could enlist the energies and talents -of Workshop participants in thinking through a number of these problems. - -GIFFORD returned the discussion to getting the image and text people to -think through together where they want to go in the long term. MYLONAS -conceded that her experience at the Pierce Symposium the previous week at -Georgetown University and this week at LC had forced her to reevaluate -her perspective on the usefulness of text as images. MYLONAS framed the -issues in a series of questions: How do we acquire machine-readable -text? Do we take pictures of it and perform OCR on it later? Is it -important to obtain very high-quality images and text, etc.? -FLEISCHHAUER agreed with MYLONAS's framing of strategic questions, adding -that a large institution such as LC probably has to do all of those -things at different times. Thus, the trick is to exercise judgment. The -Workshop had added to his and AM's considerations in making those -judgments. Concerning future meetings or discussions, MYLONAS suggested -that screening priorities would be helpful. - -WEIBEL opined that the diversity reflected in this group was a sign both -of the health and of the immaturity of the field, and more time would -have to pass before we convince one another concerning standards. - -An exchange between MYLONAS and BATTIN clarified the point that the -driving force behind both the Perseus and the Cornell Xerox projects was -the preservation of knowledge for the future, not simply for particular -research use. In the case of Perseus, MYLONAS said, the assumption was -that the texts would not be entered again into electronically readable -form. SPERBERG-McQUEEN added that a scanned image would not serve as an -archival copy for purposes of preservation in the case of, say, the Bill -of Rights, in the sense that the scanned images are effectively the -archival copies for the Cornell mathematics books. - - - *** *** *** ****** *** *** *** - - - Appendix I: PROGRAM - - - - WORKSHOP - ON - ELECTRONIC - TEXTS - - - - 9-10 June 1992 - - Library of Congress - Washington, D.C. - - - - Supported by a Grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation - - -Tuesday, 9 June 1992 - -NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION LAB, ATRIUM, LIBRARY MADISON - -8:30 AM Coffee and Danish, registration - -9:00 AM Welcome - - Prosser Gifford, Director for Scholarly Programs, and Carl - Fleischhauer, Coordinator, American Memory, Library of - Congress - -9:l5 AM Session I. Content in a New Form: Who Will Use It and What - Will They Do? - - Broad description of the range of electronic information. - Characterization of who uses it and how it is or may be used. - In addition to a look at scholarly uses, this session will - include a presentation on use by students (K-12 and college) - and the general public. - - Moderator: James Daly - Avra Michelson, Archival Research and Evaluation Staff, - National Archives and Records Administration (Overview) - Susan H. Veccia, Team Leader, American Memory, User Evaluation, - and - Joanne Freeman, Associate Coordinator, American Memory, Library - of Congress (Beyond the scholar) - -10:30- -11:00 AM Break - -11:00 AM Session II. Show and Tell. - - Each presentation to consist of a fifteen-minute - statement/show; group discussion will follow lunch. - - Moderator: Jacqueline Hess, Director, National Demonstration - Lab - - 1. A classics project, stressing texts and text retrieval - more than multimedia: Perseus Project, Harvard - University - Elli Mylonas, Managing Editor - - 2. Other humanities projects employing the emerging norms of - the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI): Chadwyck-Healey's - The English Poetry Full Text Database and/or Patrologia - Latina Database - Eric M. Calaluca, Vice President, Chadwyck-Healey, Inc. - - 3. American Memory - Carl Fleischhauer, Coordinator, and - Ricky Erway, Associate Coordinator, Library of Congress - - 4. Founding Fathers example from Packard Humanities - Institute: The Papers of George Washington, University - of Virginia - Dorothy Twohig, Managing Editor, and/or - David Woodley Packard - - 5. An electronic medical journal offering graphics and - full-text searchability: The Online Journal of Current - Clinical Trials, American Association for the Advancement - of Science - Maria L. Lebron, Managing Editor - - 6. A project that offers facsimile images of pages but omits - searchable text: Cornell math books - Lynne K. Personius, Assistant Director, Cornell - Information Technologies for Scholarly Information - Sources, Cornell University - -12:30 PM Lunch (Dining Room A, Library Madison 620. Exhibits - available.) - -1:30 PM Session II. Show and Tell (Cont'd.). - -3:00- -3:30 PM Break - -3:30- -5:30 PM Session III. Distribution, Networks, and Networking: Options - for Dissemination. - - Published disks: University presses and public-sector - publishers, private-sector publishers - Computer networks - - Moderator: Robert G. Zich, Special Assistant to the Associate - Librarian for Special Projects, Library of Congress - Clifford A. Lynch, Director, Library Automation, University of - California - Howard Besser, School of Library and Information Science, - University of Pittsburgh - Ronald L. Larsen, Associate Director of Libraries for - Information Technology, University of Maryland at College - Park - Edwin B. Brownrigg, Executive Director, Memex Research - Institute - -6:30 PM Reception (Montpelier Room, Library Madison 619.) - - ****** - -Wednesday, 10 June 1992 - -DINING ROOM A, LIBRARY MADISON 620 - -8:30 AM Coffee and Danish - -9:00 AM Session IV. Image Capture, Text Capture, Overview of Text and - Image Storage Formats. - - Moderator: William L. Hooton, Vice President of Operations, - I-NET - - A) Principal Methods for Image Capture of Text: - Direct scanning - Use of microform - - Anne R. Kenney, Assistant Director, Department of Preservation - and Conservation, Cornell University - Pamela Q.J. Andre, Associate Director, Automation, and - Judith A. Zidar, Coordinator, National Agricultural Text - Digitizing Program (NATDP), National Agricultural Library - (NAL) - Donald J. Waters, Head, Systems Office, Yale University Library - - B) Special Problems: - Bound volumes - Conservation - Reproducing printed halftones - - Carl Fleischhauer, Coordinator, American Memory, Library of - Congress - George Thoma, Chief, Communications Engineering Branch, - National Library of Medicine (NLM) - -10:30- -11:00 AM Break - -11:00 AM Session IV. Image Capture, Text Capture, Overview of Text and - Image Storage Formats (Cont'd.). - - C) Image Standards and Implications for Preservation - - Jean Baronas, Senior Manager, Department of Standards and - Technology, Association for Information and Image Management - (AIIM) - Patricia Battin, President, The Commission on Preservation and - Access (CPA) - - D) Text Conversion: - OCR vs. rekeying - Standards of accuracy and use of imperfect texts - Service bureaus - - Stuart Weibel, Senior Research Specialist, Online Computer - Library Center, Inc. (OCLC) - Michael Lesk, Executive Director, Computer Science Research, - Bellcore - Ricky Erway, Associate Coordinator, American Memory, Library of - Congress - Pamela Q.J. Andre, Associate Director, Automation, and - Judith A. Zidar, Coordinator, National Agricultural Text - Digitizing Program (NATDP), National Agricultural Library - (NAL) - -12:30- -1:30 PM Lunch - -1:30 PM Session V. Approaches to Preparing Electronic Texts. - - Discussion of approaches to structuring text for the computer; - pros and cons of text coding, description of methods in - practice, and comparison of text-coding methods. - - Moderator: Susan Hockey, Director, Center for Electronic Texts - in the Humanities (CETH), Rutgers and Princeton Universities - David Woodley Packard - C.M. Sperberg-McQueen, Editor, Text Encoding Initiative (TEI), - University of Illinois-Chicago - Eric M. Calaluca, Vice President, Chadwyck-Healey, Inc. - -3:30- -4:00 PM Break - -4:00 PM Session VI. Copyright Issues. - - Marybeth Peters, Policy Planning Adviser to the Register of - Copyrights, Library of Congress - -5:00 PM Session VII. Conclusion. - - General discussion. - What topics were omitted or given short shrift that anyone - would like to talk about now? - Is there a "group" here? What should the group do next, if - anything? What should the Library of Congress do next, if - anything? - Moderator: Prosser Gifford, Director for Scholarly Programs, - Library of Congress - -6:00 PM Adjourn - - - *** *** *** ****** *** *** *** - - - Appendix II: ABSTRACTS - - -SESSION I - -Avra MICHELSON Forecasting the Use of Electronic Texts by - Social Sciences and Humanities Scholars - -This presentation explores the ways in which electronic texts are likely -to be used by the non-scientific scholarly community. Many of the -remarks are drawn from a report the speaker coauthored with Jeff -Rothenberg, a computer scientist at The RAND Corporation. - -The speaker assesses 1) current scholarly use of information technology -and 2) the key trends in information technology most relevant to the -research process, in order to predict how social sciences and humanities -scholars are apt to use electronic texts. In introducing the topic, -current use of electronic texts is explored broadly within the context of -scholarly communication. From the perspective of scholarly -communication, the work of humanities and social sciences scholars -involves five processes: 1) identification of sources, 2) communication -with colleagues, 3) interpretation and analysis of data, 4) dissemination -of research findings, and 5) curriculum development and instruction. The -extent to which computation currently permeates aspects of scholarly -communication represents a viable indicator of the prospects for -electronic texts. - -The discussion of current practice is balanced by an analysis of key -trends in the scholarly use of information technology. These include the -trends toward end-user computing and connectivity, which provide a -framework for forecasting the use of electronic texts through this -millennium. The presentation concludes with a summary of the ways in -which the nonscientific scholarly community can be expected to use -electronic texts, and the implications of that use for information -providers. - -Susan VECCIA and Joanne FREEMAN Electronic Archives for the Public: - Use of American Memory in Public and - School Libraries - -This joint discussion focuses on nonscholarly applications of electronic -library materials, specifically addressing use of the Library of Congress -American Memory (AM) program in a small number of public and school -libraries throughout the United States. AM consists of selected Library -of Congress primary archival materials, stored on optical media -(CD-ROM/videodisc), and presented with little or no editing. Many -collections are accompanied by electronic introductions and user's guides -offering background information and historical context. Collections -represent a variety of formats including photographs, graphic arts, -motion pictures, recorded sound, music, broadsides and manuscripts, -books, and pamphlets. - -In 1991, the Library of Congress began a nationwide evaluation of AM in -different types of institutions. Test sites include public libraries, -elementary and secondary school libraries, college and university -libraries, state libraries, and special libraries. Susan VECCIA and -Joanne FREEMAN will discuss their observations on the use of AM by the -nonscholarly community, using evidence gleaned from this ongoing -evaluation effort. - -VECCIA will comment on the overall goals of the evaluation project, and -the types of public and school libraries included in this study. Her -comments on nonscholarly use of AM will focus on the public library as a -cultural and community institution, often bridging the gap between formal -and informal education. FREEMAN will discuss the use of AM in school -libraries. Use by students and teachers has revealed some broad -questions about the use of electronic resources, as well as definite -benefits gained by the "nonscholar." Topics will include the problem of -grasping content and context in an electronic environment, the stumbling -blocks created by "new" technologies, and the unique skills and interests -awakened through use of electronic resources. - -SESSION II - -Elli MYLONAS The Perseus Project: Interactive Sources and - Studies in Classical Greece - -The Perseus Project (5) has just released Perseus 1.0, the first publicly -available version of its hypertextual database of multimedia materials on -classical Greece. Perseus is designed to be used by a wide audience, -comprised of readers at the student and scholar levels. As such, it must -be able to locate information using different strategies, and it must -contain enough detail to serve the different needs of its users. In -addition, it must be delivered so that it is affordable to its target -audience. [These problems and the solutions we chose are described in -Mylonas, "An Interface to Classical Greek Civilization," JASIS 43:2, -March 1992.] - -In order to achieve its objective, the project staff decided to make a -conscious separation between selecting and converting textual, database, -and image data on the one hand, and putting it into a delivery system on -the other. That way, it is possible to create the electronic data -without thinking about the restrictions of the delivery system. We have -made a great effort to choose system-independent formats for our data, -and to put as much thought and work as possible into structuring it so -that the translation from paper to electronic form will enhance the value -of the data. [A discussion of these solutions as of two years ago is in -Elli Mylonas, Gregory Crane, Kenneth Morrell, and D. Neel Smith, "The -Perseus Project: Data in the Electronic Age," in Accessing Antiquity: -The Computerization of Classical Databases, J. Solomon and T. Worthen -(eds.), University of Arizona Press, in press.] - -Much of the work on Perseus is focused on collecting and converting the -data on which the project is based. At the same time, it is necessary to -provide means of access to the information, in order to make it usable, -and them to investigate how it is used. As we learn more about what -students and scholars from different backgrounds do with Perseus, we can -adjust our data collection, and also modify the system to accommodate -them. In creating a delivery system for general use, we have tried to -avoid favoring any one type of use by allowing multiple forms of access -to and navigation through the system. - -The way text is handled exemplifies some of these principles. All text -in Perseus is tagged using SGML, following the guidelines of the Text -Encoding Initiative (TEI). This markup is used to index the text, and -process it so that it can be imported into HyperCard. No SGML markup -remains in the text that reaches the user, because currently it would be -too expensive to create a system that acts on SGML in real time. -However, the regularity provided by SGML is essential for verifying the -content of the texts, and greatly speeds all the processing performed on -them. The fact that the texts exist in SGML ensures that they will be -relatively easy to port to different hardware and software, and so will -outlast the current delivery platform. Finally, the SGML markup -incorporates existing canonical reference systems (chapter, verse, line, -etc.); indexing and navigation are based on these features. This ensures -that the same canonical reference will always resolve to the same point -within a text, and that all versions of our texts, regardless of delivery -platform (even paper printouts) will function the same way. - -In order to provide tools for users, the text is processed by a -morphological analyzer, and the results are stored in a database. -Together with the index, the Greek-English Lexicon, and the index of all -the English words in the definitions of the lexicon, the morphological -analyses comprise a set of linguistic tools that allow users of all -levels to work with the textual information, and to accomplish different -tasks. For example, students who read no Greek may explore a concept as -it appears in Greek texts by using the English-Greek index, and then -looking up works in the texts and translations, or scholars may do -detailed morphological studies of word use by using the morphological -analyses of the texts. Because these tools were not designed for any one -use, the same tools and the same data can be used by both students and -scholars. - -NOTES: - (5) Perseus is based at Harvard University, with collaborators at - several other universities. The project has been funded primarily - by the Annenberg/CPB Project, as well as by Harvard University, - Apple Computer, and others. It is published by Yale University - Press. Perseus runs on Macintosh computers, under the HyperCard - program. - -Eric CALALUCA - -Chadwyck-Healey embarked last year on two distinct yet related full-text -humanities database projects. - -The English Poetry Full-Text Database and the Patrologia Latina Database -represent new approaches to linguistic research resources. The size and -complexity of the projects present problems for electronic publishers, -but surmountable ones if they remain abreast of the latest possibilities -in data capture and retrieval software techniques. - -The issues which required address prior to the commencement of the -projects were legion: - - 1. Editorial selection (or exclusion) of materials in each - database - - 2. Deciding whether or not to incorporate a normative encoding - structure into the databases? - A. If one is selected, should it be SGML? - B. If SGML, then the TEI? - - 3. Deliver as CD-ROM, magnetic tape, or both? - - 4. Can one produce retrieval software advanced enough for the - postdoctoral linguist, yet accessible enough for unattended - general use? Should one try? - - 5. Re fair and liberal networking policies, what are the risks to - an electronic publisher? - - 6. How does the emergence of national and international education - networks affect the use and viability of research projects - requiring high investment? Do the new European Community - directives concerning database protection necessitate two - distinct publishing projects, one for North America and one for - overseas? - -From new notions of "scholarly fair use" to the future of optical media, -virtually every issue related to electronic publishing was aired. The -result is two projects which have been constructed to provide the quality -research resources with the fewest encumbrances to use by teachers and -private scholars. - -Dorothy TWOHIG - -In spring 1988 the editors of the papers of George Washington, John -Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin were -approached by classics scholar David Packard on behalf of the Packard -Humanities Foundation with a proposal to produce a CD-ROM edition of the -complete papers of each of the Founding Fathers. This electronic edition -will supplement the published volumes, making the documents widely -available to students and researchers at reasonable cost. We estimate -that our CD-ROM edition of Washington's Papers will be substantially -completed within the next two years and ready for publication. Within -the next ten years or so, similar CD-ROM editions of the Franklin, Adams, -Jefferson, and Madison papers also will be available. At the Library of -Congress's session on technology, I would like to discuss not only the -experience of the Washington Papers in producing the CD-ROM edition, but -the impact technology has had on these major editorial projects. -Already, we are editing our volumes with an eye to the material that will -be readily available in the CD-ROM edition. The completed electronic -edition will provide immense possibilities for the searching of documents -for information in a way never possible before. The kind of technical -innovations that are currently available and on the drawing board will -soon revolutionize historical research and the production of historical -documents. Unfortunately, much of this new technology is not being used -in the planning stages of historical projects, simply because many -historians are aware only in the vaguest way of its existence. At least -two major new historical editing projects are considering microfilm -editions, simply because they are not aware of the possibilities of -electronic alternatives and the advantages of the new technology in terms -of flexibility and research potential compared to microfilm. In fact, -too many of us in history and literature are still at the stage of -struggling with our PCs. There are many historical editorial projects in -progress presently, and an equal number of literary projects. While the -two fields have somewhat different approaches to textual editing, there -are ways in which electronic technology can be of service to both. - -Since few of the editors involved in the Founding Fathers CD-ROM editions -are technical experts in any sense, I hope to point out in my discussion -of our experience how many of these electronic innovations can be used -successfully by scholars who are novices in the world of new technology. -One of the major concerns of the sponsors of the multitude of new -scholarly editions is the limited audience reached by the published -volumes. Most of these editions are being published in small quantities -and the publishers' price for them puts them out of the reach not only of -individual scholars but of most public libraries and all but the largest -educational institutions. However, little attention is being given to -ways in which technology can bypass conventional publication to make -historical and literary documents more widely available. - -What attracted us most to the CD-ROM edition of The Papers of George -Washington was the fact that David Packard's aim was to make a complete -edition of all of the 135,000 documents we have collected available in an -inexpensive format that would be placed in public libraries, small -colleges, and even high schools. This would provide an audience far -beyond our present 1,000-copy, $45 published edition. Since the CD-ROM -edition will carry none of the explanatory annotation that appears in the -published volumes, we also feel that the use of the CD-ROM will lead many -researchers to seek out the published volumes. - -In addition to ignorance of new technical advances, I have found that too -many editors--and historians and literary scholars--are resistant and -even hostile to suggestions that electronic technology may enhance their -work. I intend to discuss some of the arguments traditionalists are -advancing to resist technology, ranging from distrust of the speed with -which it changes (we are already wondering what is out there that is -better than CD-ROM) to suspicion of the technical language used to -describe electronic developments. - -Maria LEBRON - -The Online Journal of Current Clinical Trials, a joint venture of the -American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Online -Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC), is the first peer-reviewed journal -to provide full text, tabular material, and line illustrations on line. -This presentation will discuss the genesis and start-up period of the -journal. Topics of discussion will include historical overview, -day-to-day management of the editorial peer review, and manuscript -tagging and publication. A demonstration of the journal and its features -will accompany the presentation. - -Lynne PERSONIUS - -Cornell University Library, Cornell Information Technologies, and Xerox -Corporation, with the support of the Commission on Preservation and -Access, and Sun Microsystems, Inc., have been collaborating in a project -to test a prototype system for recording brittle books as digital images -and producing, on demand, high-quality archival paper replacements. The -project goes beyond that, however, to investigate some of the issues -surrounding scanning, storing, retrieving, and providing access to -digital images in a network environment. - -The Joint Study in Digital Preservation began in January 1990. Xerox -provided the College Library Access and Storage System (CLASS) software, -a prototype 600-dots-per-inch (dpi) scanner, and the hardware necessary -to support network printing on the DocuTech printer housed in Cornell's -Computing and Communications Center (CCC). - -The Cornell staff using the hardware and software became an integral part -of the development and testing process for enhancements to the CLASS -software system. The collaborative nature of this relationship is -resulting in a system that is specifically tailored to the preservation -application. - -A digital library of 1,000 volumes (or approximately 300,000 images) has -been created and is stored on an optical jukebox that resides in CCC. -The library includes a collection of select mathematics monographs that -provides mathematics faculty with an opportunity to use the electronic -library. The remaining volumes were chosen for the library to test the -various capabilities of the scanning system. - -One project objective is to provide users of the Cornell library and the -library staff with the ability to request facsimiles of digitized images -or to retrieve the actual electronic image for browsing. A prototype -viewing workstation has been created by Xerox, with input into the design -by a committee of Cornell librarians and computer professionals. This -will allow us to experiment with patron access to the images that make up -the digital library. The viewing station provides search, retrieval, and -(ultimately) printing functions with enhancements to facilitate -navigation through multiple documents. - -Cornell currently is working to extend access to the digital library to -readers using workstations from their offices. This year is devoted to -the development of a network resident image conversion and delivery -server, and client software that will support readers who use Apple -Macintosh computers, IBM windows platforms, and Sun workstations. -Equipment for this development was provided by Sun Microsystems with -support from the Commission on Preservation and Access. - -During the show-and-tell session of the Workshop on Electronic Texts, a -prototype view station will be demonstrated. In addition, a display of -original library books that have been digitized will be available for -review with associated printed copies for comparison. The fifteen-minute -overview of the project will include a slide presentation that -constitutes a "tour" of the preservation digitizing process. - -The final network-connected version of the viewing station will provide -library users with another mechanism for accessing the digital library, -and will also provide the capability of viewing images directly. This -will not require special software, although a powerful computer with good -graphics will be needed. - -The Joint Study in Digital Preservation has generated a great deal of -interest in the library community. Unfortunately, or perhaps -fortunately, this project serves to raise a vast number of other issues -surrounding the use of digital technology for the preservation and use of -deteriorating library materials, which subsequent projects will need to -examine. Much work remains. - -SESSION III - -Howard BESSER Networking Multimedia Databases - -What do we have to consider in building and distributing databases of -visual materials in a multi-user environment? This presentation examines -a variety of concerns that need to be addressed before a multimedia -database can be set up in a networked environment. - -In the past it has not been feasible to implement databases of visual -materials in shared-user environments because of technological barriers. -Each of the two basic models for multi-user multimedia databases has -posed its own problem. The analog multimedia storage model (represented -by Project Athena's parallel analog and digital networks) has required an -incredibly complex (and expensive) infrastructure. The economies of -scale that make multi-user setups cheaper per user served do not operate -in an environment that requires a computer workstation, videodisc player, -and two display devices for each user. - -The digital multimedia storage model has required vast amounts of storage -space (as much as one gigabyte per thirty still images). In the past the -cost of such a large amount of storage space made this model a -prohibitive choice as well. But plunging storage costs are finally -making this second alternative viable. - -If storage no longer poses such an impediment, what do we need to -consider in building digitally stored multi-user databases of visual -materials? This presentation will examine the networking and -telecommunication constraints that must be overcome before such databases -can become commonplace and useful to a large number of people. - -The key problem is the vast size of multimedia documents, and how this -affects not only storage but telecommunications transmission time. -Anything slower than T-1 speed is impractical for files of 1 megabyte or -larger (which is likely to be small for a multimedia document). For -instance, even on a 56 Kb line it would take three minutes to transfer a -1-megabyte file. And these figures assume ideal circumstances, and do -not take into consideration other users contending for network bandwidth, -disk access time, or the time needed for remote display. Current common -telephone transmission rates would be completely impractical; few users -would be willing to wait the hour necessary to transmit a single image at -2400 baud. - -This necessitates compression, which itself raises a number of other -issues. In order to decrease file sizes significantly, we must employ -lossy compression algorithms. But how much quality can we afford to -lose? To date there has been only one significant study done of -image-quality needs for a particular user group, and this study did not -look at loss resulting from compression. Only after identifying -image-quality needs can we begin to address storage and network bandwidth -needs. - -Experience with X-Windows-based applications (such as Imagequery, the -University of California at Berkeley image database) demonstrates the -utility of a client-server topology, but also points to the limitation of -current software for a distributed environment. For example, -applications like Imagequery can incorporate compression, but current X -implementations do not permit decompression at the end user's -workstation. Such decompression at the host computer alleviates storage -capacity problems while doing nothing to address problems of -telecommunications bandwidth. - -We need to examine the effects on network through-put of moving -multimedia documents around on a network. We need to examine various -topologies that will help us avoid bottlenecks around servers and -gateways. Experience with applications such as these raise still broader -questions. How closely is the multimedia document tied to the software -for viewing it? Can it be accessed and viewed from other applications? -Experience with the MARC format (and more recently with the Z39.50 -protocols) shows how useful it can be to store documents in a form in -which they can be accessed by a variety of application software. - -Finally, from an intellectual-access standpoint, we need to address the -issue of providing access to these multimedia documents in -interdisciplinary environments. We need to examine terminology and -indexing strategies that will allow us to provide access to this material -in a cross-disciplinary way. - -Ronald LARSEN Directions in High-Performance Networking for - Libraries - -The pace at which computing technology has advanced over the past forty -years shows no sign of abating. Roughly speaking, each five-year period -has yielded an order-of-magnitude improvement in price and performance of -computing equipment. No fundamental hurdles are likely to prevent this -pace from continuing for at least the next decade. It is only in the -past five years, though, that computing has become ubiquitous in -libraries, affecting all staff and patrons, directly or indirectly. - -During these same five years, communications rates on the Internet, the -principal academic computing network, have grown from 56 kbps to 1.5 -Mbps, and the NSFNet backbone is now running 45 Mbps. Over the next five -years, communication rates on the backbone are expected to exceed 1 Gbps. -Growth in both the population of network users and the volume of network -traffic has continued to grow geometrically, at rates approaching 15 -percent per month. This flood of capacity and use, likened by some to -"drinking from a firehose," creates immense opportunities and challenges -for libraries. Libraries must anticipate the future implications of this -technology, participate in its development, and deploy it to ensure -access to the world's information resources. - -The infrastructure for the information age is being put in place. -Libraries face strategic decisions about their role in the development, -deployment, and use of this infrastructure. The emerging infrastructure -is much more than computers and communication lines. It is more than the -ability to compute at a remote site, send electronic mail to a peer -across the country, or move a file from one library to another. The next -five years will witness substantial development of the information -infrastructure of the network. - -In order to provide appropriate leadership, library professionals must -have a fundamental understanding of and appreciation for computer -networking, from local area networks to the National Research and -Education Network (NREN). This presentation addresses these -fundamentals, and how they relate to libraries today and in the near -future. - -Edwin BROWNRIGG Electronic Library Visions and Realities - -The electronic library has been a vision desired by many--and rejected by -some--since Vannevar Bush coined the term memex to describe an automated, -intelligent, personal information system. Variations on this vision have -included Ted Nelson's Xanadau, Alan Kay's Dynabook, and Lancaster's -"paperless library," with the most recent incarnation being the -"Knowledge Navigator" described by John Scully of Apple. But the reality -of library service has been less visionary and the leap to the electronic -library has eluded universities, publishers, and information technology -files. - -The Memex Research Institute (MemRI), an independent, nonprofit research -and development organization, has created an Electronic Library Program -of shared research and development in order to make the collective vision -more concrete. The program is working toward the creation of large, -indexed publicly available electronic image collections of published -documents in academic, special, and public libraries. This strategic -plan is the result of the first stage of the program, which has been an -investigation of the information technologies available to support such -an effort, the economic parameters of electronic service compared to -traditional library operations, and the business and political factors -affecting the shift from print distribution to electronic networked -access. - -The strategic plan envisions a combination of publicly searchable access -databases, image (and text) document collections stored on network "file -servers," local and remote network access, and an intellectual property -management-control system. This combination of technology and -information content is defined in this plan as an E-library or E-library -collection. Some participating sponsors are already developing projects -based on MemRI's recommended directions. - -The E-library strategy projected in this plan is a visionary one that can -enable major changes and improvements in academic, public, and special -library service. This vision is, though, one that can be realized with -today's technology. At the same time, it will challenge the political -and social structure within which libraries operate: in academic -libraries, the traditional emphasis on local collections, extending to -accreditation issues; in public libraries, the potential of electronic -branch and central libraries fully available to the public; and for -special libraries, new opportunities for shared collections and networks. - -The environment in which this strategic plan has been developed is, at -the moment, dominated by a sense of library limits. The continued -expansion and rapid growth of local academic library collections is now -clearly at an end. Corporate libraries, and even law libraries, are -faced with operating within a difficult economic climate, as well as with -very active competition from commercial information sources. For -example, public libraries may be seen as a desirable but not critical -municipal service in a time when the budgets of safety and health -agencies are being cut back. - -Further, libraries in general have a very high labor-to-cost ratio in -their budgets, and labor costs are still increasing, notwithstanding -automation investments. It is difficult for libraries to obtain capital, -startup, or seed funding for innovative activities, and those -technology-intensive initiatives that offer the potential of decreased -labor costs can provoke the opposition of library staff. - -However, libraries have achieved some considerable successes in the past -two decades by improving both their service and their credibility within -their organizations--and these positive changes have been accomplished -mostly with judicious use of information technologies. The advances in -computing and information technology have been well-chronicled: the -continuing precipitous drop in computing costs, the growth of the -Internet and private networks, and the explosive increase in publicly -available information databases. - -For example, OCLC has become one of the largest computer network -organizations in the world by creating a cooperative cataloging network -of more than 6,000 libraries worldwide. On-line public access catalogs -now serve millions of users on more than 50,000 dedicated terminals in -the United States alone. The University of California MELVYL on-line -catalog system has now expanded into an index database reference service -and supports more than six million searches a year. And, libraries have -become the largest group of customers of CD-ROM publishing technology; -more than 30,000 optical media publications such as those offered by -InfoTrac and Silver Platter are subscribed to by U.S. libraries. - -This march of technology continues and in the next decade will result in -further innovations that are extremely difficult to predict. What is -clear is that libraries can now go beyond automation of their order files -and catalogs to automation of their collections themselves--and it is -possible to circumvent the fiscal limitations that appear to obtain -today. - -This Electronic Library Strategic Plan recommends a paradigm shift in -library service, and demonstrates the steps necessary to provide improved -library services with limited capacities and operating investments. - -SESSION IV-A - -Anne KENNEY - -The Cornell/Xerox Joint Study in Digital Preservation resulted in the -recording of 1,000 brittle books as 600-dpi digital images and the -production, on demand, of high-quality and archivally sound paper -replacements. The project, which was supported by the Commission on -Preservation and Access, also investigated some of the issues surrounding -scanning, storing, retrieving, and providing access to digital images in -a network environment. - -Anne Kenney will focus on some of the issues surrounding direct scanning -as identified in the Cornell Xerox Project. Among those to be discussed -are: image versus text capture; indexing and access; image-capture -capabilities; a comparison to photocopy and microfilm; production and -cost analysis; storage formats, protocols, and standards; and the use of -this scanning technology for preservation purposes. - -The 600-dpi digital images produced in the Cornell Xerox Project proved -highly acceptable for creating paper replacements of deteriorating -originals. The 1,000 scanned volumes provided an array of image-capture -challenges that are common to nineteenth-century printing techniques and -embrittled material, and that defy the use of text-conversion processes. -These challenges include diminished contrast between text and background, -fragile and deteriorated pages, uneven printing, elaborate type faces, -faint and bold text adjacency, handwritten text and annotations, nonRoman -languages, and a proliferation of illustrated material embedded in text. -The latter category included high-frequency and low-frequency halftones, -continuous tone photographs, intricate mathematical drawings, maps, -etchings, reverse-polarity drawings, and engravings. - -The Xerox prototype scanning system provided a number of important -features for capturing this diverse material. Technicians used multiple -threshold settings, filters, line art and halftone definitions, -autosegmentation, windowing, and software-editing programs to optimize -image capture. At the same time, this project focused on production. -The goal was to make scanning as affordable and acceptable as -photocopying and microfilming for preservation reformatting. A -time-and-cost study conducted during the last three months of this -project confirmed the economic viability of digital scanning, and these -findings will be discussed here. - -From the outset, the Cornell Xerox Project was predicated on the use of -nonproprietary standards and the use of common protocols when standards -did not exist. Digital files were created as TIFF images which were -compressed prior to storage using Group 4 CCITT compression. The Xerox -software is MS DOS based and utilizes off-the shelf programs such as -Microsoft Windows and Wang Image Wizard. The digital library is designed -to be hardware-independent and to provide interchangeability with other -institutions through network connections. Access to the digital files -themselves is two-tiered: Bibliographic records for the computer files -are created in RLIN and Cornell's local system and access into the actual -digital images comprising a book is provided through a document control -structure and a networked image file-server, both of which will be -described. - -The presentation will conclude with a discussion of some of the issues -surrounding the use of this technology as a preservation tool (storage, -refreshing, backup). - -Pamela ANDRE and Judith ZIDAR - -The National Agricultural Library (NAL) has had extensive experience with -raster scanning of printed materials. Since 1987, the Library has -participated in the National Agricultural Text Digitizing Project (NATDP) -a cooperative effort between NAL and forty-five land grant university -libraries. An overview of the project will be presented, giving its -history and NAL's strategy for the future. - -An in-depth discussion of NATDP will follow, including a description of -the scanning process, from the gathering of the printed materials to the -archiving of the electronic pages. The type of equipment required for a -stand-alone scanning workstation and the importance of file management -software will be discussed. Issues concerning the images themselves will -be addressed briefly, such as image format; black and white versus color; -gray scale versus dithering; and resolution. - -Also described will be a study currently in progress by NAL to evaluate -the usefulness of converting microfilm to electronic images in order to -improve access. With the cooperation of Tuskegee University, NAL has -selected three reels of microfilm from a collection of sixty-seven reels -containing the papers, letters, and drawings of George Washington Carver. -The three reels were converted into 3,500 electronic images using a -specialized microfilm scanner. The selection, filming, and indexing of -this material will be discussed. - -Donald WATERS - -Project Open Book, the Yale University Library's effort to convert 10, -000 books from microfilm to digital imagery, is currently in an advanced -state of planning and organization. The Yale Library has selected a -major vendor to serve as a partner in the project and as systems -integrator. In its proposal, the successful vendor helped isolate areas -of risk and uncertainty as well as key issues to be addressed during the -life of the project. The Yale Library is now poised to decide what -material it will convert to digital image form and to seek funding, -initially for the first phase and then for the entire project. - -The proposal that Yale accepted for the implementation of Project Open -Book will provide at the end of three phases a conversion subsystem, -browsing stations distributed on the campus network within the Yale -Library, a subsystem for storing 10,000 books at 200 and 600 dots per -inch, and network access to the image printers. Pricing for the system -implementation assumes the existence of Yale's campus ethernet network -and its high-speed image printers, and includes other requisite hardware -and software, as well as system integration services. Proposed operating -costs include hardware and software maintenance, but do not include -estimates for the facilities management of the storage devices and image -servers. - -Yale selected its vendor partner in a formal process, partly funded by -the Commission for Preservation and Access. Following a request for -proposal, the Yale Library selected two vendors as finalists to work with -Yale staff to generate a detailed analysis of requirements for Project -Open Book. Each vendor used the results of the requirements analysis to -generate and submit a formal proposal for the entire project. This -competitive process not only enabled the Yale Library to select its -primary vendor partner but also revealed much about the state of the -imaging industry, about the varying, corporate commitments to the markets -for imaging technology, and about the varying organizational dynamics -through which major companies are responding to and seeking to develop -these markets. - -Project Open Book is focused specifically on the conversion of images -from microfilm to digital form. The technology for scanning microfilm is -readily available but is changing rapidly. In its project requirements, -the Yale Library emphasized features of the technology that affect the -technical quality of digital image production and the costs of creating -and storing the image library: What levels of digital resolution can be -achieved by scanning microfilm? How does variation in the quality of -microfilm, particularly in film produced to preservation standards, -affect the quality of the digital images? What technologies can an -operator effectively and economically apply when scanning film to -separate two-up images and to control for and correct image -imperfections? How can quality control best be integrated into -digitizing work flow that includes document indexing and storage? - -The actual and expected uses of digital images--storage, browsing, -printing, and OCR--help determine the standards for measuring their -quality. Browsing is especially important, but the facilities available -for readers to browse image documents is perhaps the weakest aspect of -imaging technology and most in need of development. As it defined its -requirements, the Yale Library concentrated on some fundamental aspects -of usability for image documents: Does the system have sufficient -flexibility to handle the full range of document types, including -monographs, multi-part and multivolume sets, and serials, as well as -manuscript collections? What conventions are necessary to identify a -document uniquely for storage and retrieval? Where is the database of -record for storing bibliographic information about the image document? -How are basic internal structures of documents, such as pagination, made -accessible to the reader? How are the image documents physically -presented on the screen to the reader? - -The Yale Library designed Project Open Book on the assumption that -microfilm is more than adequate as a medium for preserving the content of -deteriorated library materials. As planning in the project has advanced, -it is increasingly clear that the challenge of digital image technology -and the key to the success of efforts like Project Open Book is to -provide a means of both preserving and improving access to those -deteriorated materials. - -SESSION IV-B - -George THOMA - -In the use of electronic imaging for document preservation, there are -several issues to consider, such as: ensuring adequate image quality, -maintaining substantial conversion rates (through-put), providing unique -identification for automated access and retrieval, and accommodating -bound volumes and fragile material. - -To maintain high image quality, image processing functions are required -to correct the deficiencies in the scanned image. Some commercially -available systems include these functions, while some do not. The -scanned raw image must be processed to correct contrast deficiencies-- -both poor overall contrast resulting from light print and/or dark -background, and variable contrast resulting from stains and -bleed-through. Furthermore, the scan density must be adequate to allow -legibility of print and sufficient fidelity in the pseudo-halftoned gray -material. Borders or page-edge effects must be removed for both -compactibility and aesthetics. Page skew must be corrected for aesthetic -reasons and to enable accurate character recognition if desired. -Compound images consisting of both two-toned text and gray-scale -illustrations must be processed appropriately to retain the quality of -each. - -SESSION IV-C - -Jean BARONAS - -Standards publications being developed by scientists, engineers, and -business managers in Association for Information and Image Management -(AIIM) standards committees can be applied to electronic image management -(EIM) processes including: document (image) transfer, retrieval and -evaluation; optical disk and document scanning; and document design and -conversion. When combined with EIM system planning and operations, -standards can assist in generating image databases that are -interchangeable among a variety of systems. The applications of -different approaches for image-tagging, indexing, compression, and -transfer often cause uncertainty concerning EIM system compatibility, -calibration, performance, and upward compatibility, until standard -implementation parameters are established. The AIIM standards that are -being developed for these applications can be used to decrease the -uncertainty, successfully integrate imaging processes, and promote "open -systems." AIIM is an accredited American National Standards Institute -(ANSI) standards developer with more than twenty committees comprised of -300 volunteers representing users, vendors, and manufacturers. The -standards publications that are developed in these committees have -national acceptance and provide the basis for international harmonization -in the development of new International Organization for Standardization -(ISO) standards. - -This presentation describes the development of AIIM's EIM standards and a -new effort at AIIM, a database on standards projects in a wide framework -of imaging industries including capture, recording, processing, -duplication, distribution, display, evaluation, and preservation. The -AIIM Imagery Database will cover imaging standards being developed by -many organizations in many different countries. It will contain -standards publications' dates, origins, related national and -international projects, status, key words, and abstracts. The ANSI Image -Technology Standards Board requested that such a database be established, -as did the ISO/International Electrotechnical Commission Joint Task Force -on Imagery. AIIM will take on the leadership role for the database and -coordinate its development with several standards developers. - -Patricia BATTIN - - Characteristics of standards for digital imagery: - - * Nature of digital technology implies continuing volatility. - - * Precipitous standard-setting not possible and probably not - desirable. - - * Standards are a complex issue involving the medium, the - hardware, the software, and the technical capacity for - reproductive fidelity and clarity. - - * The prognosis for reliable archival standards (as defined by - librarians) in the foreseeable future is poor. - - Significant potential and attractiveness of digital technology as a - preservation medium and access mechanism. - - Productive use of digital imagery for preservation requires a - reconceptualizing of preservation principles in a volatile, - standardless world. - - Concept of managing continuing access in the digital environment - rather than focusing on the permanence of the medium and long-term - archival standards developed for the analog world. - - Transition period: How long and what to do? - - * Redefine "archival." - - * Remove the burden of "archival copy" from paper artifacts. - - * Use digital technology for storage, develop management - strategies for refreshing medium, hardware and software. - - * Create acid-free paper copies for transition period backup - until we develop reliable procedures for ensuring continuing - access to digital files. - -SESSION IV-D - -Stuart WEIBEL The Role of SGML Markup in the CORE Project (6) - -The emergence of high-speed telecommunications networks as a basic -feature of the scholarly workplace is driving the demand for electronic -document delivery. Three distinct categories of electronic -publishing/republishing are necessary to support access demands in this -emerging environment: - - 1.) Conversion of paper or microfilm archives to electronic format - 2.) Conversion of electronic files to formats tailored to - electronic retrieval and display - 3.) Primary electronic publishing (materials for which the - electronic version is the primary format) - -OCLC has experimental or product development activities in each of these -areas. Among the challenges that lie ahead is the integration of these -three types of information stores in coherent distributed systems. - -The CORE (Chemistry Online Retrieval Experiment) Project is a model for -the conversion of large text and graphics collections for which -electronic typesetting files are available (category 2). The American -Chemical Society has made available computer typography files dating from -1980 for its twenty journals. This collection of some 250 journal-years -is being converted to an electronic format that will be accessible -through several end-user applications. - -The use of Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) offers the means -to capture the structural richness of the original articles in a way that -will support a variety of retrieval, navigation, and display options -necessary to navigate effectively in very large text databases. - -An SGML document consists of text that is marked up with descriptive tags -that specify the function of a given element within the document. As a -formal language construct, an SGML document can be parsed against a -document-type definition (DTD) that unambiguously defines what elements -are allowed and where in the document they can (or must) occur. This -formalized map of article structure allows the user interface design to -be uncoupled from the underlying database system, an important step -toward interoperability. Demonstration of this separability is a part of -the CORE project, wherein user interface designs born of very different -philosophies will access the same database. - -NOTES: - (6) The CORE project is a collaboration among Cornell University's - Mann Library, Bell Communications Research (Bellcore), the American - Chemical Society (ACS), the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), and - OCLC. - -Michael LESK The CORE Electronic Chemistry Library - -A major on-line file of chemical journal literature complete with -graphics is being developed to test the usability of fully electronic -access to documents, as a joint project of Cornell University, the -American Chemical Society, the Chemical Abstracts Service, OCLC, and -Bellcore (with additional support from Sun Microsystems, Springer-Verlag, -DigitaI Equipment Corporation, Sony Corporation of America, and Apple -Computers). Our file contains the American Chemical Society's on-line -journals, supplemented with the graphics from the paper publication. The -indexing of the articles from Chemical Abstracts Documents is available -in both image and text format, and several different interfaces can be -used. Our goals are (1) to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of -electronic access to primary journals as compared with paper, and (2) to -identify the most desirable functions of the user interface to an -electronic system of journals, including in particular a comparison of -page-image display with ASCII display interfaces. Early experiments with -chemistry students on a variety of tasks suggest that searching tasks are -completed much faster with any electronic system than with paper, but -that for reading all versions of the articles are roughly equivalent. - -Pamela ANDRE and Judith ZIDAR - -Text conversion is far more expensive and time-consuming than image -capture alone. NAL's experience with optical character recognition (OCR) -will be related and compared with the experience of having text rekeyed. -What factors affect OCR accuracy? How accurate does full text have to be -in order to be useful? How do different users react to imperfect text? -These are questions that will be explored. For many, a service bureau -may be a better solution than performing the work inhouse; this will also -be discussed. - -SESSION VI - -Marybeth PETERS - -Copyright law protects creative works. Protection granted by the law to -authors and disseminators of works includes the right to do or authorize -the following: reproduce the work, prepare derivative works, distribute -the work to the public, and publicly perform or display the work. In -addition, copyright owners of sound recordings and computer programs have -the right to control rental of their works. These rights are not -unlimited; there are a number of exceptions and limitations. - -An electronic environment places strains on the copyright system. -Copyright owners want to control uses of their work and be paid for any -use; the public wants quick and easy access at little or no cost. The -marketplace is working in this area. Contracts, guidelines on electronic -use, and collective licensing are in use and being refined. - -Issues concerning the ability to change works without detection are more -difficult to deal with. Questions concerning the integrity of the work -and the status of the changed version under the copyright law are to be -addressed. These are public policy issues which require informed -dialogue. - - - *** *** *** ****** *** *** *** - - - Appendix III: DIRECTORY OF PARTICIPANTS - - -PRESENTERS: - - Pamela Q.J. Andre - Associate Director, Automation - National Agricultural Library - 10301 Baltimore Boulevard - Beltsville, MD 20705-2351 - Phone: (301) 504-6813 - Fax: (301) 504-7473 - E-mail: INTERNET: PANDRE@ASRR.ARSUSDA.GOV - - Jean Baronas, Senior Manager - Department of Standards and Technology - Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM) - 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1100 - Silver Spring, MD 20910 - Phone: (301) 587-8202 - Fax: (301) 587-2711 - - Patricia Battin, President - The Commission on Preservation and Access - 1400 16th Street, N.W. - Suite 740 - Washington, DC 20036-2217 - Phone: (202) 939-3400 - Fax: (202) 939-3407 - E-mail: CPA@GWUVM.BITNET - - Howard Besser - Centre Canadien d'Architecture - (Canadian Center for Architecture) - 1920, rue Baile - Montreal, Quebec H3H 2S6 - CANADA - Phone: (514) 939-7001 - Fax: (514) 939-7020 - E-mail: howard@lis.pitt.edu - - Edwin B. Brownrigg, Executive Director - Memex Research Institute - 422 Bonita Avenue - Roseville, CA 95678 - Phone: (916) 784-2298 - Fax: (916) 786-7559 - E-mail: BITNET: MEMEX@CALSTATE.2 - - Eric M. Calaluca, Vice President - Chadwyck-Healey, Inc. - 1101 King Street - Alexandria, VA 223l4 - Phone: (800) 752-05l5 - Fax: (703) 683-7589 - - James Daly - 4015 Deepwood Road - Baltimore, MD 21218-1404 - Phone: (410) 235-0763 - - Ricky Erway, Associate Coordinator - American Memory - Library of Congress - Phone: (202) 707-6233 - Fax: (202) 707-3764 - - Carl Fleischhauer, Coordinator - American Memory - Library of Congress - Phone: (202) 707-6233 - Fax: (202) 707-3764 - - Joanne Freeman - 2000 Jefferson Park Avenue, No. 7 - Charlottesville, VA 22903 - - Prosser Gifford - Director for Scholarly Programs - Library of Congress - Phone: (202) 707-1517 - Fax: (202) 707-9898 - E-mail: pgif@seq1.loc.gov - - Jacqueline Hess, Director - National Demonstration Laboratory - for Interactive Information Technologies - Library of Congress - Phone: (202) 707-4157 - Fax: (202) 707-2829 - - Susan Hockey, Director - Center for Electronic Texts in the Humanities (CETH) - Alexander Library - Rutgers University - 169 College Avenue - New Brunswick, NJ 08903 - Phone: (908) 932-1384 - Fax: (908) 932-1386 - E-mail: hockey@zodiac.rutgers.edu - - William L. Hooton, Vice President - Business & Technical Development - Imaging & Information Systems Group - I-NET - 6430 Rockledge Drive, Suite 400 - Bethesda, MD 208l7 - Phone: (301) 564-6750 - Fax: (513) 564-6867 - - Anne R. Kenney, Associate Director - Department of Preservation and Conservation - 701 Olin Library - Cornell University - Ithaca, NY 14853 - Phone: (607) 255-6875 - Fax: (607) 255-9346 - E-mail: LYDY@CORNELLA.BITNET - - Ronald L. Larsen - Associate Director for Information Technology - University of Maryland at College Park - Room B0224, McKeldin Library - College Park, MD 20742-7011 - Phone: (301) 405-9194 - Fax: (301) 314-9865 - E-mail: rlarsen@libr.umd.edu - - Maria L. Lebron, Managing Editor - The Online Journal of Current Clinical Trials - l333 H Street, N.W. - Washington, DC 20005 - Phone: (202) 326-6735 - Fax: (202) 842-2868 - E-mail: PUBSAAAS@GWUVM.BITNET - - Michael Lesk, Executive Director - Computer Science Research - Bell Communications Research, Inc. - Rm 2A-385 - 445 South Street - Morristown, NJ 07960-l9l0 - Phone: (201) 829-4070 - Fax: (201) 829-5981 - E-mail: lesk@bellcore.com (Internet) or bellcore!lesk (uucp) - - Clifford A. Lynch - Director, Library Automation - University of California, - Office of the President - 300 Lakeside Drive, 8th Floor - Oakland, CA 94612-3350 - Phone: (510) 987-0522 - Fax: (510) 839-3573 - E-mail: calur@uccmvsa - - Avra Michelson - National Archives and Records Administration - NSZ Rm. 14N - 7th & Pennsylvania, N.W. - Washington, D.C. 20408 - Phone: (202) 501-5544 - Fax: (202) 501-5533 - E-mail: tmi@cu.nih.gov - - Elli Mylonas, Managing Editor - Perseus Project - Department of the Classics - Harvard University - 319 Boylston Hall - Cambridge, MA 02138 - Phone: (617) 495-9025, (617) 495-0456 (direct) - Fax: (617) 496-8886 - E-mail: Elli@IKAROS.Harvard.EDU or elli@wjh12.harvard.edu - - David Woodley Packard - Packard Humanities Institute - 300 Second Street, Suite 201 - Los Altos, CA 94002 - Phone: (415) 948-0150 (PHI) - Fax: (415) 948-5793 - - Lynne K. Personius, Assistant Director - Cornell Information Technologies for - Scholarly Information Sources - 502 Olin Library - Cornell University - Ithaca, NY 14853 - Phone: (607) 255-3393 - Fax: (607) 255-9346 - E-mail: JRN@CORNELLC.BITNET - - Marybeth Peters - Policy Planning Adviser to the - Register of Copyrights - Library of Congress - Office LM 403 - Phone: (202) 707-8350 - Fax: (202) 707-8366 - - C. Michael Sperberg-McQueen - Editor, Text Encoding Initiative - Computer Center (M/C 135) - University of Illinois at Chicago - Box 6998 - Chicago, IL 60680 - Phone: (312) 413-0317 - Fax: (312) 996-6834 - E-mail: u35395@uicvm..cc.uic.edu or u35395@uicvm.bitnet - - George R. Thoma, Chief - Communications Engineering Branch - National Library of Medicine - 8600 Rockville Pike - Bethesda, MD 20894 - Phone: (301) 496-4496 - Fax: (301) 402-0341 - E-mail: thoma@lhc.nlm.nih.gov - - Dorothy Twohig, Editor - The Papers of George Washington - 504 Alderman Library - University of Virginia - Charlottesville, VA 22903-2498 - Phone: (804) 924-0523 - Fax: (804) 924-4337 - - Susan H. Veccia, Team leader - American Memory, User Evaluation - Library of Congress - American Memory Evaluation Project - Phone: (202) 707-9104 - Fax: (202) 707-3764 - E-mail: svec@seq1.loc.gov - - Donald J. Waters, Head - Systems Office - Yale University Library - New Haven, CT 06520 - Phone: (203) 432-4889 - Fax: (203) 432-7231 - E-mail: DWATERS@YALEVM.BITNET or DWATERS@YALEVM.YCC.YALE.EDU - - Stuart Weibel, Senior Research Scientist - OCLC - 6565 Frantz Road - Dublin, OH 43017 - Phone: (614) 764-608l - Fax: (614) 764-2344 - E-mail: INTERNET: Stu@rsch.oclc.org - - Robert G. Zich - Special Assistant to the Associate Librarian - for Special Projects - Library of Congress - Phone: (202) 707-6233 - Fax: (202) 707-3764 - E-mail: rzic@seq1.loc.gov - - Judith A. Zidar, Coordinator - National Agricultural Text Digitizing Program - Information Systems Division - National Agricultural Library - 10301 Baltimore Boulevard - Beltsville, MD 20705-2351 - Phone: (301) 504-6813 or 504-5853 - Fax: (301) 504-7473 - E-mail: INTERNET: JZIDAR@ASRR.ARSUSDA.GOV - - -OBSERVERS: - - Helen Aguera, Program Officer - Division of Research - Room 318 - National Endowment for the Humanities - 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. - Washington, D.C. 20506 - Phone: (202) 786-0358 - Fax: (202) 786-0243 - - M. Ellyn Blanton, Deputy Director - National Demonstration Laboratory - for Interactive Information Technologies - Library of Congress - Phone: (202) 707-4157 - Fax: (202) 707-2829 - - Charles M. Dollar - National Archives and Records Administration - NSZ Rm. 14N - 7th & Pennsylvania, N.W. - Washington, DC 20408 - Phone: (202) 501-5532 - Fax: (202) 501-5512 - - Jeffrey Field, Deputy to the Director - Division of Preservation and Access - Room 802 - National Endowment for the Humanities - 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. - Washington, DC 20506 - Phone: (202) 786-0570 - Fax: (202) 786-0243 - - Lorrin Garson - American Chemical Society - Research and Development Department - 1155 16th Street, N.W. - Washington, D.C. 20036 - Phone: (202) 872-4541 - Fax: E-mail: INTERNET: LRG96@ACS.ORG - - William M. Holmes, Jr. - National Archives and Records Administration - NSZ Rm. 14N - 7th & Pennsylvania, N.W. - Washington, DC 20408 - Phone: (202) 501-5540 - Fax: (202) 501-5512 - E-mail: WHOLMES@AMERICAN.EDU - - Sperling Martin - Information Resource Management - 20030 Doolittle Street - Gaithersburg, MD 20879 - Phone: (301) 924-1803 - - Michael Neuman, Director - The Center for Text and Technology - Academic Computing Center - 238 Reiss Science Building - Georgetown University - Washington, DC 20057 - Phone: (202) 687-6096 - Fax: (202) 687-6003 - E-mail: neuman@guvax.bitnet, neuman@guvax.georgetown.edu - - Barbara Paulson, Program Officer - Division of Preservation and Access - Room 802 - National Endowment for the Humanities - 1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. - Washington, DC 20506 - Phone: (202) 786-0577 - Fax: (202) 786-0243 - - Allen H. Renear - Senior Academic Planning Analyst - Brown University Computing and Information Services - 115 Waterman Street - Campus Box 1885 - Providence, R.I. 02912 - Phone: (401) 863-7312 - Fax: (401) 863-7329 - E-mail: BITNET: Allen@BROWNVM or - INTERNET: Allen@brownvm.brown.edu - - Susan M. Severtson, President - Chadwyck-Healey, Inc. - 1101 King Street - Alexandria, VA 223l4 - Phone: (800) 752-05l5 - Fax: (703) 683-7589 - - Frank Withrow - U.S. Department of Education - 555 New Jersey Avenue, N.W. - Washington, DC 20208-5644 - Phone: (202) 219-2200 - Fax: (202) 219-2106 - - -(LC STAFF) - - Linda L. Arret - Machine-Readable Collections Reading Room LJ 132 - (202) 707-1490 - - John D. Byrum, Jr. - Descriptive Cataloging Division LM 540 - (202) 707-5194 - - Mary Jane Cavallo - Science and Technology Division LA 5210 - (202) 707-1219 - - Susan Thea David - Congressional Research Service LM 226 - (202) 707-7169 - - Robert Dierker - Senior Adviser for Multimedia Activities LM 608 - (202) 707-6151 - - William W. Ellis - Associate Librarian for Science and Technology LM 611 - (202) 707-6928 - - Ronald Gephart - Manuscript Division LM 102 - (202) 707-5097 - - James Graber - Information Technology Services LM G51 - (202) 707-9628 - - Rich Greenfield - American Memory LM 603 - (202) 707-6233 - - Rebecca Guenther - Network Development LM 639 - (202) 707-5092 - - Kenneth E. Harris - Preservation LM G21 - (202) 707-5213 - - Staley Hitchcock - Manuscript Division LM 102 - (202) 707-5383 - - Bohdan Kantor - Office of Special Projects LM 612 - (202) 707-0180 - - John W. Kimball, Jr - Machine-Readable Collections Reading Room LJ 132 - (202) 707-6560 - - Basil Manns - Information Technology Services LM G51 - (202) 707-8345 - - Sally Hart McCallum - Network Development LM 639 - (202) 707-6237 - - Dana J. Pratt - Publishing Office LM 602 - (202) 707-6027 - - Jane Riefenhauser - American Memory LM 603 - (202) 707-6233 - - William Z. Schenck - Collections Development LM 650 - (202) 707-7706 - - Chandru J. Shahani - Preservation Research and Testing Office (R&T) LM G38 - (202) 707-5607 - - William J. Sittig - Collections Development LM 650 - (202) 707-7050 - - Paul Smith - Manuscript Division LM 102 - (202) 707-5097 - - James L. Stevens - Information Technology Services LM G51 - (202) 707-9688 - - Karen Stuart - Manuscript Division LM 130 - (202) 707-5389 - - Tamara Swora - Preservation Microfilming Office LM G05 - (202) 707-6293 - - Sarah Thomas - Collections Cataloging LM 642 - (202) 707-5333 - - - END - ************************************************************* - -Note: This file has been edited for use on computer networks. This -editing required the removal of diacritics, underlining, and fonts such -as italics and bold. - -kde 11/92 - -[A few of the italics (when used for emphasis) were replaced by CAPS mh] - -*End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of LOC WORKSHOP ON ELECTRONIC ETEXTS - + + +The Project Gutenberg Etext of LOC WORKSHOP ON ELECTRONIC TEXTS + + + + + WORKSHOP ON ELECTRONIC TEXTS + + PROCEEDINGS + + + + Edited by James Daly + + + + + + + + 9-10 June 1992 + + + Library of Congress + Washington, D.C. + + + + Supported by a Grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation + + + *** *** *** ****** *** *** *** + + + TABLE OF CONTENTS + + +Acknowledgements + +Introduction + +Proceedings + Welcome + Prosser Gifford and Carl Fleischhauer + + Session I. Content in a New Form: Who Will Use It and What Will They Do? + James Daly (Moderator) + Avra Michelson, Overview + Susan H. Veccia, User Evaluation + Joanne Freeman, Beyond the Scholar + Discussion + + Session II. Show and Tell + Jacqueline Hess (Moderator) + Elli Mylonas, Perseus Project + Discussion + Eric M. Calaluca, Patrologia Latina Database + Carl Fleischhauer and Ricky Erway, American Memory + Discussion + Dorothy Twohig, The Papers of George Washington + Discussion + Maria L. Lebron, The Online Journal of Current Clinical Trials + Discussion + Lynne K. Personius, Cornell mathematics books + Discussion + + Session III. Distribution, Networks, and Networking: + Options for Dissemination + Robert G. Zich (Moderator) + Clifford A. Lynch + Discussion + Howard Besser + Discussion + Ronald L. Larsen + Edwin B. Brownrigg + Discussion + + Session IV. Image Capture, Text Capture, Overview of Text and + Image Storage Formats + William L. Hooton (Moderator) + A) Principal Methods for Image Capture of Text: + direct scanning, use of microform + Anne R. Kenney + Pamela Q.J. Andre + Judith A. Zidar + Donald J. Waters + Discussion + B) Special Problems: bound volumes, conservation, + reproducing printed halftones + George Thoma + Carl Fleischhauer + Discussion + C) Image Standards and Implications for Preservation + Jean Baronas + Patricia Battin + Discussion + D) Text Conversion: OCR vs. rekeying, standards of accuracy + and use of imperfect texts, service bureaus + Michael Lesk + Ricky Erway + Judith A. Zidar + Discussion + + Session V. Approaches to Preparing Electronic Texts + Susan Hockey (Moderator) + Stuart Weibel + Discussion + C.M. Sperberg-McQueen + Discussion + Eric M. Calaluca + Discussion + + Session VI. Copyright Issues + Marybeth Peters + + Session VII. Conclusion + Prosser Gifford (Moderator) + General discussion + +Appendix I: Program + +Appendix II: Abstracts + +Appendix III: Directory of Participants + + + *** *** *** ****** *** *** *** + + + Acknowledgements + +I would like to thank Carl Fleischhauer and Prosser Gifford for the +opportunity to learn about areas of human activity unknown to me a scant +ten months ago, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation for +supporting that opportunity. The help given by others is acknowledged on +a separate page. + + 19 October 1992 + + + *** *** *** ****** *** *** *** + + + INTRODUCTION + +The Workshop on Electronic Texts (1) drew together representatives of +various projects and interest groups to compare ideas, beliefs, +experiences, and, in particular, methods of placing and presenting +historical textual materials in computerized form. Most attendees gained +much in insight and outlook from the event. But the assembly did not +form a new nation, or, to put it another way, the diversity of projects +and interests was too great to draw the representatives into a cohesive, +action-oriented body.(2) + +Everyone attending the Workshop shared an interest in preserving and +providing access to historical texts. But within this broad field the +attendees represented a variety of formal, informal, figurative, and +literal groups, with many individuals belonging to more than one. These +groups may be defined roughly according to the following topics or +activities: + +* Imaging +* Searchable coded texts +* National and international computer networks +* CD-ROM production and dissemination +* Methods and technology for converting older paper materials into +electronic form +* Study of the use of digital materials by scholars and others + +This summary is arranged thematically and does not follow the actual +sequence of presentations. + +NOTES: + (1) In this document, the phrase electronic text is used to mean + any computerized reproduction or version of a document, book, + article, or manuscript (including images), and not merely a machine- + readable or machine-searchable text. + + (2) The Workshop was held at the Library of Congress on 9-10 June + 1992, with funding from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. + The document that follows represents a summary of the presentations + made at the Workshop and was compiled by James DALY. This + introduction was written by DALY and Carl FLEISCHHAUER. + + +PRESERVATION AND IMAGING + +Preservation, as that term is used by archivists,(3) was most explicitly +discussed in the context of imaging. Anne KENNEY and Lynne PERSONIUS +explained how the concept of a faithful copy and the user-friendliness of +the traditional book have guided their project at Cornell University.(4) +Although interested in computerized dissemination, participants in the +Cornell project are creating digital image sets of older books in the +public domain as a source for a fresh paper facsimile or, in a future +phase, microfilm. The books returned to the library shelves are +high-quality and useful replacements on acid-free paper that should last +a long time. To date, the Cornell project has placed little or no +emphasis on creating searchable texts; one would not be surprised to find +that the project participants view such texts as new editions, and thus +not as faithful reproductions. + +In her talk on preservation, Patricia BATTIN struck an ecumenical and +flexible note as she endorsed the creation and dissemination of a variety +of types of digital copies. Do not be too narrow in defining what counts +as a preservation element, BATTIN counseled; for the present, at least, +digital copies made with preservation in mind cannot be as narrowly +standardized as, say, microfilm copies with the same objective. Setting +standards precipitously can inhibit creativity, but delay can result in +chaos, she advised. + +In part, BATTIN's position reflected the unsettled nature of image-format +standards, and attendees could hear echoes of this unsettledness in the +comments of various speakers. For example, Jean BARONAS reviewed the +status of several formal standards moving through committees of experts; +and Clifford LYNCH encouraged the use of a new guideline for transmitting +document images on Internet. Testimony from participants in the National +Agricultural Library's (NAL) Text Digitization Program and LC's American +Memory project highlighted some of the challenges to the actual creation +or interchange of images, including difficulties in converting +preservation microfilm to digital form. Donald WATERS reported on the +progress of a master plan for a project at Yale University to convert +books on microfilm to digital image sets, Project Open Book (POB). + +The Workshop offered rather less of an imaging practicum than planned, +but "how-to" hints emerge at various points, for example, throughout +KENNEY's presentation and in the discussion of arcana such as +thresholding and dithering offered by George THOMA and FLEISCHHAUER. + +NOTES: + (3) Although there is a sense in which any reproductions of + historical materials preserve the human record, specialists in the + field have developed particular guidelines for the creation of + acceptable preservation copies. + + (4) Titles and affiliations of presenters are given at the + beginning of their respective talks and in the Directory of + Participants (Appendix III). + + +THE MACHINE-READABLE TEXT: MARKUP AND USE + +The sections of the Workshop that dealt with machine-readable text tended +to be more concerned with access and use than with preservation, at least +in the narrow technical sense. Michael SPERBERG-McQUEEN made a forceful +presentation on the Text Encoding Initiative's (TEI) implementation of +the Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML). His ideas were echoed +by Susan HOCKEY, Elli MYLONAS, and Stuart WEIBEL. While the +presentations made by the TEI advocates contained no practicum, their +discussion focused on the value of the finished product, what the +European Community calls reusability, but what may also be termed +durability. They argued that marking up--that is, coding--a text in a +well-conceived way will permit it to be moved from one computer +environment to another, as well as to be used by various users. Two +kinds of markup were distinguished: 1) procedural markup, which +describes the features of a text (e.g., dots on a page), and 2) +descriptive markup, which describes the structure or elements of a +document (e.g., chapters, paragraphs, and front matter). + +The TEI proponents emphasized the importance of texts to scholarship. +They explained how heavily coded (and thus analyzed and annotated) texts +can underlie research, play a role in scholarly communication, and +facilitate classroom teaching. SPERBERG-McQUEEN reminded listeners that +a written or printed item (e.g., a particular edition of a book) is +merely a representation of the abstraction we call a text. To concern +ourselves with faithfully reproducing a printed instance of the text, +SPERBERG-McQUEEN argued, is to concern ourselves with the representation +of a representation ("images as simulacra for the text"). The TEI proponents' +interest in images tends to focus on corollary materials for use in teaching, +for example, photographs of the Acropolis to accompany a Greek text. + +By the end of the Workshop, SPERBERG-McQUEEN confessed to having been +converted to a limited extent to the view that electronic images +constitute a promising alternative to microfilming; indeed, an +alternative probably superior to microfilming. But he was not convinced +that electronic images constitute a serious attempt to represent text in +electronic form. HOCKEY and MYLONAS also conceded that their experience +at the Pierce Symposium the previous week at Georgetown University and +the present conference at the Library of Congress had compelled them to +reevaluate their perspective on the usefulness of text as images. +Attendees could see that the text and image advocates were in +constructive tension, so to say. + +Three nonTEI presentations described approaches to preparing +machine-readable text that are less rigorous and thus less expensive. In +the case of the Papers of George Washington, Dorothy TWOHIG explained +that the digital version will provide a not-quite-perfect rendering of +the transcribed text--some 135,000 documents, available for research +during the decades while the perfect or print version is completed. +Members of the American Memory team and the staff of NAL's Text +Digitization Program (see below) also outlined a middle ground concerning +searchable texts. In the case of American Memory, contractors produce +texts with about 99-percent accuracy that serve as "browse" or +"reference" versions of written or printed originals. End users who need +faithful copies or perfect renditions must refer to accompanying sets of +digital facsimile images or consult copies of the originals in a nearby +library or archive. American Memory staff argued that the high cost of +producing 100-percent accurate copies would prevent LC from offering +access to large parts of its collections. + + +THE MACHINE-READABLE TEXT: METHODS OF CONVERSION + +Although the Workshop did not include a systematic examination of the +methods for converting texts from paper (or from facsimile images) into +machine-readable form, nevertheless, various speakers touched upon this +matter. For example, WEIBEL reported that OCLC has experimented with a +merging of multiple optical character recognition systems that will +reduce errors from an unacceptable rate of 5 characters out of every +l,000 to an unacceptable rate of 2 characters out of every l,000. + +Pamela ANDRE presented an overview of NAL's Text Digitization Program and +Judith ZIDAR discussed the technical details. ZIDAR explained how NAL +purchased hardware and software capable of performing optical character +recognition (OCR) and text conversion and used its own staff to convert +texts. The process, ZIDAR said, required extensive editing and project +staff found themselves considering alternatives, including rekeying +and/or creating abstracts or summaries of texts. NAL reckoned costs at +$7 per page. By way of contrast, Ricky ERWAY explained that American +Memory had decided from the start to contract out conversion to external +service bureaus. The criteria used to select these contractors were cost +and quality of results, as opposed to methods of conversion. ERWAY noted +that historical documents or books often do not lend themselves to OCR. +Bound materials represent a special problem. In her experience, quality +control--inspecting incoming materials, counting errors in samples--posed +the most time-consuming aspect of contracting out conversion. ERWAY +reckoned American Memory's costs at $4 per page, but cautioned that fewer +cost-elements had been included than in NAL's figure. + + +OPTIONS FOR DISSEMINATION + +The topic of dissemination proper emerged at various points during the +Workshop. At the session devoted to national and international computer +networks, LYNCH, Howard BESSER, Ronald LARSEN, and Edwin BROWNRIGG +highlighted the virtues of Internet today and of the network that will +evolve from Internet. Listeners could discern in these narratives a +vision of an information democracy in which millions of citizens freely +find and use what they need. LYNCH noted that a lack of standards +inhibits disseminating multimedia on the network, a topic also discussed +by BESSER. LARSEN addressed the issues of network scalability and +modularity and commented upon the difficulty of anticipating the effects +of growth in orders of magnitude. BROWNRIGG talked about the ability of +packet radio to provide certain links in a network without the need for +wiring. However, the presenters also called attention to the +shortcomings and incongruities of present-day computer networks. For +example: 1) Network use is growing dramatically, but much network +traffic consists of personal communication (E-mail). 2) Large bodies of +information are available, but a user's ability to search across their +entirety is limited. 3) There are significant resources for science and +technology, but few network sources provide content in the humanities. +4) Machine-readable texts are commonplace, but the capability of the +system to deal with images (let alone other media formats) lags behind. +A glimpse of a multimedia future for networks, however, was provided by +Maria LEBRON in her overview of the Online Journal of Current Clinical +Trials (OJCCT), and the process of scholarly publishing on-line. + +The contrasting form of the CD-ROM disk was never systematically +analyzed, but attendees could glean an impression from several of the +show-and-tell presentations. The Perseus and American Memory examples +demonstrated recently published disks, while the descriptions of the +IBYCUS version of the Papers of George Washington and Chadwyck-Healey's +Patrologia Latina Database (PLD) told of disks to come. According to +Eric CALALUCA, PLD's principal focus has been on converting Jacques-Paul +Migne's definitive collection of Latin texts to machine-readable form. +Although everyone could share the network advocates' enthusiasm for an +on-line future, the possibility of rolling up one's sleeves for a session +with a CD-ROM containing both textual materials and a powerful retrieval +engine made the disk seem an appealing vessel indeed. The overall +discussion suggested that the transition from CD-ROM to on-line networked +access may prove far slower and more difficult than has been anticipated. + + +WHO ARE THE USERS AND WHAT DO THEY DO? + +Although concerned with the technicalities of production, the Workshop +never lost sight of the purposes and uses of electronic versions of +textual materials. As noted above, those interested in imaging discussed +the problematical matter of digital preservation, while the TEI proponents +described how machine-readable texts can be used in research. This latter +topic received thorough treatment in the paper read by Avra MICHELSON. +She placed the phenomenon of electronic texts within the context of +broader trends in information technology and scholarly communication. + +Among other things, MICHELSON described on-line conferences that +represent a vigorous and important intellectual forum for certain +disciplines. Internet now carries more than 700 conferences, with about +80 percent of these devoted to topics in the social sciences and the +humanities. Other scholars use on-line networks for "distance learning." +Meanwhile, there has been a tremendous growth in end-user computing; +professors today are less likely than their predecessors to ask the +campus computer center to process their data. Electronic texts are one +key to these sophisticated applications, MICHELSON reported, and more and +more scholars in the humanities now work in an on-line environment. +Toward the end of the Workshop, Michael LESK presented a corollary to +MICHELSON's talk, reporting the results of an experiment that compared +the work of one group of chemistry students using traditional printed +texts and two groups using electronic sources. The experiment +demonstrated that in the event one does not know what to read, one needs +the electronic systems; the electronic systems hold no advantage at the +moment if one knows what to read, but neither do they impose a penalty. + +DALY provided an anecdotal account of the revolutionizing impact of the +new technology on his previous methods of research in the field of classics. +His account, by extrapolation, served to illustrate in part the arguments +made by MICHELSON concerning the positive effects of the sudden and radical +transformation being wrought in the ways scholars work. + +Susan VECCIA and Joanne FREEMAN delineated the use of electronic +materials outside the university. The most interesting aspect of their +use, FREEMAN said, could be seen as a paradox: teachers in elementary +and secondary schools requested access to primary source materials but, +at the same time, found that "primariness" itself made these materials +difficult for their students to use. + + +OTHER TOPICS + +Marybeth PETERS reviewed copyright law in the United States and offered +advice during a lively discussion of this subject. But uncertainty +remains concerning the price of copyright in a digital medium, because a +solution remains to be worked out concerning management and synthesis of +copyrighted and out-of-copyright pieces of a database. + +As moderator of the final session of the Workshop, Prosser GIFFORD directed +discussion to future courses of action and the potential role of LC in +advancing them. Among the recommendations that emerged were the following: + + * Workshop participants should 1) begin to think about working + with image material, but structure and digitize it in such a + way that at a later stage it can be interpreted into text, and + 2) find a common way to build text and images together so that + they can be used jointly at some stage in the future, with + appropriate network support, because that is how users will want + to access these materials. The Library might encourage attempts + to bring together people who are working on texts and images. + + * A network version of American Memory should be developed or + consideration should be given to making the data in it + available to people interested in doing network multimedia. + Given the current dearth of digital data that is appealing and + unencumbered by extremely complex rights problems, developing a + network version of American Memory could do much to help make + network multimedia a reality. + + * Concerning the thorny issue of electronic deposit, LC should + initiate a catalytic process in terms of distributed + responsibility, that is, bring together the distributed + organizations and set up a study group to look at all the + issues related to electronic deposit and see where we as a + nation should move. For example, LC might attempt to persuade + one major library in each state to deal with its state + equivalent publisher, which might produce a cooperative project + that would be equitably distributed around the country, and one + in which LC would be dealing with a minimal number of publishers + and minimal copyright problems. LC must also deal with the + concept of on-line publishing, determining, among other things, + how serials such as OJCCT might be deposited for copyright. + + * Since a number of projects are planning to carry out + preservation by creating digital images that will end up in + on-line or near-line storage at some institution, LC might play + a helpful role, at least in the near term, by accelerating how + to catalog that information into the Research Library Information + Network (RLIN) and then into OCLC, so that it would be accessible. + This would reduce the possibility of multiple institutions digitizing + the same work. + + +CONCLUSION + +The Workshop was valuable because it brought together partisans from +various groups and provided an occasion to compare goals and methods. +The more committed partisans frequently communicate with others in their +groups, but less often across group boundaries. The Workshop was also +valuable to attendees--including those involved with American Memory--who +came less committed to particular approaches or concepts. These +attendees learned a great deal, and plan to select and employ elements of +imaging, text-coding, and networked distribution that suit their +respective projects and purposes. + +Still, reality rears its ugly head: no breakthrough has been achieved. +On the imaging side, one confronts a proliferation of competing +data-interchange standards and a lack of consensus on the role of digital +facsimiles in preservation. In the realm of machine-readable texts, one +encounters a reasonably mature standard but methodological difficulties +and high costs. These latter problems, of course, represent a special +impediment to the desire, as it is sometimes expressed in the popular +press, "to put the [contents of the] Library of Congress on line." In +the words of one participant, there was "no solution to the economic +problems--the projects that are out there are surviving, but it is going +to be a lot of work to transform the information industry, and so far the +investment to do that is not forthcoming" (LESK, per litteras). + + + *** *** *** ****** *** *** *** + + + PROCEEDINGS + + +WELCOME + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +GIFFORD * Origin of Workshop in current Librarian's desire to make LC's +collections more widely available * Desiderata arising from the prospect +of greater interconnectedness * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +After welcoming participants on behalf of the Library of Congress, +American Memory (AM), and the National Demonstration Lab, Prosser +GIFFORD, director for scholarly programs, Library of Congress, located +the origin of the Workshop on Electronic Texts in a conversation he had +had considerably more than a year ago with Carl FLEISCHHAUER concerning +some of the issues faced by AM. On the assumption that numerous other +people were asking the same questions, the decision was made to bring +together as many of these people as possible to ask the same questions +together. In a deeper sense, GIFFORD said, the origin of the Workshop +lay in the desire of the current Librarian of Congress, James H. +Billington, to make the collections of the Library, especially those +offering unique or unusual testimony on aspects of the American +experience, available to a much wider circle of users than those few +people who can come to Washington to use them. This meant that the +emphasis of AM, from the outset, has been on archival collections of the +basic material, and on making these collections themselves available, +rather than selected or heavily edited products. + +From AM's emphasis followed the questions with which the Workshop began: +who will use these materials, and in what form will they wish to use +them. But an even larger issue deserving mention, in GIFFORD's view, was +the phenomenal growth in Internet connectivity. He expressed the hope +that the prospect of greater interconnectedness than ever before would +lead to: 1) much more cooperative and mutually supportive endeavors; 2) +development of systems of shared and distributed responsibilities to +avoid duplication and to ensure accuracy and preservation of unique +materials; and 3) agreement on the necessary standards and development of +the appropriate directories and indices to make navigation +straightforward among the varied resources that are, and increasingly +will be, available. In this connection, GIFFORD requested that +participants reflect from the outset upon the sorts of outcomes they +thought the Workshop might have. Did those present constitute a group +with sufficient common interests to propose a next step or next steps, +and if so, what might those be? They would return to these questions the +following afternoon. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +FLEISCHHAUER * Core of Workshop concerns preparation and production of +materials * Special challenge in conversion of textual materials * +Quality versus quantity * Do the several groups represented share common +interests? * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Carl FLEISCHHAUER, coordinator, American Memory, Library of Congress, +emphasized that he would attempt to represent the people who perform some +of the work of converting or preparing materials and that the core of +the Workshop had to do with preparation and production. FLEISCHHAUER +then drew a distinction between the long term, when many things would be +available and connected in the ways that GIFFORD described, and the short +term, in which AM not only has wrestled with the issue of what is the +best course to pursue but also has faced a variety of technical +challenges. + +FLEISCHHAUER remarked AM's endeavors to deal with a wide range of library +formats, such as motion picture collections, sound-recording collections, +and pictorial collections of various sorts, especially collections of +photographs. In the course of these efforts, AM kept coming back to +textual materials--manuscripts or rare printed matter, bound materials, +etc. Text posed the greatest conversion challenge of all. Thus, the +genesis of the Workshop, which reflects the problems faced by AM. These +problems include physical problems. For example, those in the library +and archive business deal with collections made up of fragile and rare +manuscript items, bound materials, especially the notoriously brittle +bound materials of the late nineteenth century. These are precious +cultural artifacts, however, as well as interesting sources of +information, and LC desires to retain and conserve them. AM needs to +handle things without damaging them. Guillotining a book to run it +through a sheet feeder must be avoided at all costs. + +Beyond physical problems, issues pertaining to quality arose. For +example, the desire to provide users with a searchable text is affected +by the question of acceptable level of accuracy. One hundred percent +accuracy is tremendously expensive. On the other hand, the output of +optical character recognition (OCR) can be tremendously inaccurate. +Although AM has attempted to find a middle ground, uncertainty persists +as to whether or not it has discovered the right solution. + +Questions of quality arose concerning images as well. FLEISCHHAUER +contrasted the extremely high level of quality of the digital images in +the Cornell Xerox Project with AM's efforts to provide a browse-quality +or access-quality image, as opposed to an archival or preservation image. +FLEISCHHAUER therefore welcomed the opportunity to compare notes. + +FLEISCHHAUER observed in passing that conversations he had had about +networks have begun to signal that for various forms of media a +determination may be made that there is a browse-quality item, or a +distribution-and-access-quality item that may coexist in some systems +with a higher quality archival item that would be inconvenient to send +through the network because of its size. FLEISCHHAUER referred, of +course, to images more than to searchable text. + +As AM considered those questions, several conceptual issues arose: ought +AM occasionally to reproduce materials entirely through an image set, at +other times, entirely through a text set, and in some cases, a mix? +There probably would be times when the historical authenticity of an +artifact would require that its image be used. An image might be +desirable as a recourse for users if one could not provide 100-percent +accurate text. Again, AM wondered, as a practical matter, if a +distinction could be drawn between rare printed matter that might exist +in multiple collections--that is, in ten or fifteen libraries. In such +cases, the need for perfect reproduction would be less than for unique +items. Implicit in his remarks, FLEISCHHAUER conceded, was the admission +that AM has been tilting strongly towards quantity and drawing back a +little from perfect quality. That is, it seemed to AM that society would +be better served if more things were distributed by LC--even if they were +not quite perfect--than if fewer things, perfectly represented, were +distributed. This was stated as a proposition to be tested, with +responses to be gathered from users. + +In thinking about issues related to reproduction of materials and seeing +other people engaged in parallel activities, AM deemed it useful to +convene a conference. Hence, the Workshop. FLEISCHHAUER thereupon +surveyed the several groups represented: 1) the world of images (image +users and image makers); 2) the world of text and scholarship and, within +this group, those concerned with language--FLEISCHHAUER confessed to finding +delightful irony in the fact that some of the most advanced thinkers on +computerized texts are those dealing with ancient Greek and Roman materials; +3) the network world; and 4) the general world of library science, which +includes people interested in preservation and cataloging. + +FLEISCHHAUER concluded his remarks with special thanks to the David and +Lucile Packard Foundation for its support of the meeting, the American +Memory group, the Office for Scholarly Programs, the National +Demonstration Lab, and the Office of Special Events. He expressed the +hope that David Woodley Packard might be able to attend, noting that +Packard's work and the work of the foundation had sponsored a number of +projects in the text area. + + ****** + +SESSION I. CONTENT IN A NEW FORM: WHO WILL USE IT AND WHAT WILL THEY DO? + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DALY * Acknowledgements * A new Latin authors disk * Effects of the new +technology on previous methods of research * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Serving as moderator, James DALY acknowledged the generosity of all the +presenters for giving of their time, counsel, and patience in planning +the Workshop, as well as of members of the American Memory project and +other Library of Congress staff, and the David and Lucile Packard +Foundation and its executive director, Colburn S. Wilbur. + +DALY then recounted his visit in March to the Center for Electronic Texts +in the Humanities (CETH) and the Department of Classics at Rutgers +University, where an old friend, Lowell Edmunds, introduced him to the +department's IBYCUS scholarly personal computer, and, in particular, the +new Latin CD-ROM, containing, among other things, almost all classical +Latin literary texts through A.D. 200. Packard Humanities Institute +(PHI), Los Altos, California, released this disk late in 1991, with a +nominal triennial licensing fee. + +Playing with the disk for an hour or so at Rutgers brought home to DALY +at once the revolutionizing impact of the new technology on his previous +methods of research. Had this disk been available two or three years +earlier, DALY contended, when he was engaged in preparing a commentary on +Book 10 of Virgil's Aeneid for Cambridge University Press, he would not +have required a forty-eight-square-foot table on which to spread the +numerous, most frequently consulted items, including some ten or twelve +concordances to key Latin authors, an almost equal number of lexica to +authors who lacked concordances, and where either lexica or concordances +were lacking, numerous editions of authors antedating and postdating Virgil. + +Nor, when checking each of the average six to seven words contained in +the Virgilian hexameter for its usage elsewhere in Virgil's works or +other Latin authors, would DALY have had to maintain the laborious +mechanical process of flipping through these concordances, lexica, and +editions each time. Nor would he have had to frequent as often the +Milton S. Eisenhower Library at the Johns Hopkins University to consult +the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae. Instead of devoting countless hours, or +the bulk of his research time, to gathering data concerning Virgil's use +of words, DALY--now freed by PHI's Latin authors disk from the +tyrannical, yet in some ways paradoxically happy scholarly drudgery-- +would have been able to devote that same bulk of time to analyzing and +interpreting Virgilian verbal usage. + +Citing Theodore Brunner, Gregory Crane, Elli MYLONAS, and Avra MICHELSON, +DALY argued that this reversal in his style of work, made possible by the +new technology, would perhaps have resulted in better, more productive +research. Indeed, even in the course of his browsing the Latin authors +disk at Rutgers, its powerful search, retrieval, and highlighting +capabilities suggested to him several new avenues of research into +Virgil's use of sound effects. This anecdotal account, DALY maintained, +may serve to illustrate in part the sudden and radical transformation +being wrought in the ways scholars work. + + ****** + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +MICHELSON * Elements related to scholarship and technology * Electronic +texts within the context of broader trends within information technology +and scholarly communication * Evaluation of the prospects for the use of +electronic texts * Relationship of electronic texts to processes of +scholarly communication in humanities research * New exchange formats +created by scholars * Projects initiated to increase scholarly access to +converted text * Trend toward making electronic resources available +through research and education networks * Changes taking place in +scholarly communication among humanities scholars * Network-mediated +scholarship transforming traditional scholarly practices * Key +information technology trends affecting the conduct of scholarly +communication over the next decade * The trend toward end-user computing +* The trend toward greater connectivity * Effects of these trends * Key +transformations taking place * Summary of principal arguments * +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Avra MICHELSON, Archival Research and Evaluation Staff, National Archives +and Records Administration (NARA), argued that establishing who will use +electronic texts and what they will use them for involves a consideration +of both information technology and scholarship trends. This +consideration includes several elements related to scholarship and +technology: 1) the key trends in information technology that are most +relevant to scholarship; 2) the key trends in the use of currently +available technology by scholars in the nonscientific community; and 3) +the relationship between these two very distinct but interrelated trends. +The investment in understanding this relationship being made by +information providers, technologists, and public policy developers, as +well as by scholars themselves, seems to be pervasive and growing, +MICHELSON contended. She drew on collaborative work with Jeff Rothenberg +on the scholarly use of technology. + +MICHELSON sought to place the phenomenon of electronic texts within the +context of broader trends within information technology and scholarly +communication. She argued that electronic texts are of most use to +researchers to the extent that the researchers' working context (i.e., +their relevant bibliographic sources, collegial feedback, analytic tools, +notes, drafts, etc.), along with their field's primary and secondary +sources, also is accessible in electronic form and can be integrated in +ways that are unique to the on-line environment. + +Evaluation of the prospects for the use of electronic texts includes two +elements: 1) an examination of the ways in which researchers currently +are using electronic texts along with other electronic resources, and 2) +an analysis of key information technology trends that are affecting the +long-term conduct of scholarly communication. MICHELSON limited her +discussion of the use of electronic texts to the practices of humanists +and noted that the scientific community was outside the panel's overview. + +MICHELSON examined the nature of the current relationship of electronic +texts in particular, and electronic resources in general, to what she +maintained were, essentially, five processes of scholarly communication +in humanities research. Researchers 1) identify sources, 2) communicate +with their colleagues, 3) interpret and analyze data, 4) disseminate +their research findings, and 5) prepare curricula to instruct the next +generation of scholars and students. This examination would produce a +clearer understanding of the synergy among these five processes that +fuels the tendency of the use of electronic resources for one process to +stimulate its use for other processes of scholarly communication. + +For the first process of scholarly communication, the identification of +sources, MICHELSON remarked the opportunity scholars now enjoy to +supplement traditional word-of-mouth searches for sources among their +colleagues with new forms of electronic searching. So, for example, +instead of having to visit the library, researchers are able to explore +descriptions of holdings in their offices. Furthermore, if their own +institutions' holdings prove insufficient, scholars can access more than +200 major American library catalogues over Internet, including the +universities of California, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. +Direct access to the bibliographic databases offers intellectual +empowerment to scholars by presenting a comprehensive means of browsing +through libraries from their homes and offices at their convenience. + +The second process of communication involves communication among +scholars. Beyond the most common methods of communication, scholars are +using E-mail and a variety of new electronic communications formats +derived from it for further academic interchange. E-mail exchanges are +growing at an astonishing rate, reportedly 15 percent a month. They +currently constitute approximately half the traffic on research and +education networks. Moreover, the global spread of E-mail has been so +rapid that it is now possible for American scholars to use it to +communicate with colleagues in close to 140 other countries. + +Other new exchange formats created by scholars and operating on Internet +include more than 700 conferences, with about 80 percent of these devoted +to topics in the social sciences and humanities. The rate of growth of +these scholarly electronic conferences also is astonishing. From l990 to +l991, 200 new conferences were identified on Internet. From October 1991 +to June 1992, an additional 150 conferences in the social sciences and +humanities were added to this directory of listings. Scholars have +established conferences in virtually every field, within every different +discipline. For example, there are currently close to 600 active social +science and humanities conferences on topics such as art and +architecture, ethnomusicology, folklore, Japanese culture, medical +education, and gifted and talented education. The appeal to scholars of +communicating through these conferences is that, unlike any other medium, +electronic conferences today provide a forum for global communication +with peers at the front end of the research process. + +Interpretation and analysis of sources constitutes the third process of +scholarly communication that MICHELSON discussed in terms of texts and +textual resources. The methods used to analyze sources fall somewhere on +a continuum from quantitative analysis to qualitative analysis. +Typically, evidence is culled and evaluated using methods drawn from both +ends of this continuum. At one end, quantitative analysis involves the +use of mathematical processes such as a count of frequencies and +distributions of occurrences or, on a higher level, regression analysis. +At the other end of the continuum, qualitative analysis typically +involves nonmathematical processes oriented toward language +interpretation or the building of theory. Aspects of this work involve +the processing--either manual or computational--of large and sometimes +massive amounts of textual sources, although the use of nontextual +sources as evidence, such as photographs, sound recordings, film footage, +and artifacts, is significant as well. + +Scholars have discovered that many of the methods of interpretation and +analysis that are related to both quantitative and qualitative methods +are processes that can be performed by computers. For example, computers +can count. They can count brush strokes used in a Rembrandt painting or +perform regression analysis for understanding cause and effect. By means +of advanced technologies, computers can recognize patterns, analyze text, +and model concepts. Furthermore, computers can complete these processes +faster with more sources and with greater precision than scholars who +must rely on manual interpretation of data. But if scholars are to use +computers for these processes, source materials must be in a form +amenable to computer-assisted analysis. For this reason many scholars, +once they have identified the sources that are key to their research, are +converting them to machine-readable form. Thus, a representative example +of the numerous textual conversion projects organized by scholars around +the world in recent years to support computational text analysis is the +TLG, the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae. This project is devoted to +converting the extant ancient texts of classical Greece. (Editor's note: +according to the TLG Newsletter of May l992, TLG was in use in thirty-two +different countries. This figure updates MICHELSON's previous count by one.) + +The scholars performing these conversions have been asked to recognize +that the electronic sources they are converting for one use possess value +for other research purposes as well. As a result, during the past few +years, humanities scholars have initiated a number of projects to +increase scholarly access to converted text. So, for example, the Text +Encoding Initiative (TEI), about which more is said later in the program, +was established as an effort by scholars to determine standard elements +and methods for encoding machine-readable text for electronic exchange. +In a second effort to facilitate the sharing of converted text, scholars +have created a new institution, the Center for Electronic Texts in the +Humanities (CETH). The center estimates that there are 8,000 series of +source texts in the humanities that have been converted to +machine-readable form worldwide. CETH is undertaking an international +search for converted text in the humanities, compiling it into an +electronic library, and preparing bibliographic descriptions of the +sources for the Research Libraries Information Network's (RLIN) +machine-readable data file. The library profession has begun to initiate +large conversion projects as well, such as American Memory. + +While scholars have been making converted text available to one another, +typically on disk or on CD-ROM, the clear trend is toward making these +resources available through research and education networks. Thus, the +American and French Research on the Treasury of the French Language +(ARTFL) and the Dante Project are already available on Internet. +MICHELSON summarized this section on interpretation and analysis by +noting that: 1) increasing numbers of humanities scholars in the library +community are recognizing the importance to the advancement of +scholarship of retrospective conversion of source materials in the arts +and humanities; and 2) there is a growing realization that making the +sources available on research and education networks maximizes their +usefulness for the analysis performed by humanities scholars. + +The fourth process of scholarly communication is dissemination of +research findings, that is, publication. Scholars are using existing +research and education networks to engineer a new type of publication: +scholarly-controlled journals that are electronically produced and +disseminated. Although such journals are still emerging as a +communication format, their number has grown, from approximately twelve +to thirty-six during the past year (July 1991 to June 1992). Most of +these electronic scholarly journals are devoted to topics in the +humanities. As with network conferences, scholarly enthusiasm for these +electronic journals stems from the medium's unique ability to advance +scholarship in a way that no other medium can do by supporting global +feedback and interchange, practically in real time, early in the research +process. Beyond scholarly journals, MICHELSON remarked the delivery of +commercial full-text products, such as articles in professional journals, +newsletters, magazines, wire services, and reference sources. These are +being delivered via on-line local library catalogues, especially through +CD-ROMs. Furthermore, according to MICHELSON, there is general optimism +that the copyright and fees issues impeding the delivery of full text on +existing research and education networks soon will be resolved. + +The final process of scholarly communication is curriculum development +and instruction, and this involves the use of computer information +technologies in two areas. The first is the development of +computer-oriented instructional tools, which includes simulations, +multimedia applications, and computer tools that are used to assist in +the analysis of sources in the classroom, etc. The Perseus Project, a +database that provides a multimedia curriculum on classical Greek +civilization, is a good example of the way in which entire curricula are +being recast using information technologies. It is anticipated that the +current difficulty in exchanging electronically computer-based +instructional software, which in turn makes it difficult for one scholar +to build upon the work of others, will be resolved before too long. +Stand-alone curricular applications that involve electronic text will be +sharable through networks, reinforcing their significance as intellectual +products as well as instructional tools. + +The second aspect of electronic learning involves the use of research and +education networks for distance education programs. Such programs +interactively link teachers with students in geographically scattered +locations and rely on the availability of electronic instructional +resources. Distance education programs are gaining wide appeal among +state departments of education because of their demonstrated capacity to +bring advanced specialized course work and an array of experts to many +classrooms. A recent report found that at least 32 states operated at +least one statewide network for education in 1991, with networks under +development in many of the remaining states. + +MICHELSON summarized this section by noting two striking changes taking +place in scholarly communication among humanities scholars. First is the +extent to which electronic text in particular, and electronic resources +in general, are being infused into each of the five processes described +above. As mentioned earlier, there is a certain synergy at work here. +The use of electronic resources for one process tends to stimulate its +use for other processes, because the chief course of movement is toward a +comprehensive on-line working context for humanities scholars that +includes on-line availability of key bibliographies, scholarly feedback, +sources, analytical tools, and publications. MICHELSON noted further +that the movement toward a comprehensive on-line working context for +humanities scholars is not new. In fact, it has been underway for more +than forty years in the humanities, since Father Roberto Busa began +developing an electronic concordance of the works of Saint Thomas Aquinas +in 1949. What we are witnessing today, MICHELSON contended, is not the +beginning of this on-line transition but, for at least some humanities +scholars, the turning point in the transition from a print to an +electronic working context. Coinciding with the on-line transition, the +second striking change is the extent to which research and education +networks are becoming the new medium of scholarly communication. The +existing Internet and the pending National Education and Research Network +(NREN) represent the new meeting ground where scholars are going for +bibliographic information, scholarly dialogue and feedback, the most +current publications in their field, and high-level educational +offerings. Traditional scholarly practices are undergoing tremendous +transformations as a result of the emergence and growing prominence of +what is called network-mediated scholarship. + +MICHELSON next turned to the second element of the framework she proposed +at the outset of her talk for evaluating the prospects for electronic +text, namely the key information technology trends affecting the conduct +of scholarly communication over the next decade: 1) end-user computing +and 2) connectivity. + +End-user computing means that the person touching the keyboard, or +performing computations, is the same as the person who initiates or +consumes the computation. The emergence of personal computers, along +with a host of other forces, such as ubiquitous computing, advances in +interface design, and the on-line transition, is prompting the consumers +of computation to do their own computing, and is thus rendering obsolete +the traditional distinction between end users and ultimate users. + +The trend toward end-user computing is significant to consideration of +the prospects for electronic texts because it means that researchers are +becoming more adept at doing their own computations and, thus, more +competent in the use of electronic media. By avoiding programmer +intermediaries, computation is becoming central to the researcher's +thought process. This direct involvement in computing is changing the +researcher's perspective on the nature of research itself, that is, the +kinds of questions that can be posed, the analytical methodologies that +can be used, the types and amount of sources that are appropriate for +analyses, and the form in which findings are presented. The trend toward +end-user computing means that, increasingly, electronic media and +computation are being infused into all processes of humanities +scholarship, inspiring remarkable transformations in scholarly +communication. + +The trend toward greater connectivity suggests that researchers are using +computation increasingly in network environments. Connectivity is +important to scholarship because it erases the distance that separates +students from teachers and scholars from their colleagues, while allowing +users to access remote databases, share information in many different +media, connect to their working context wherever they are, and +collaborate in all phases of research. + +The combination of the trend toward end-user computing and the trend +toward connectivity suggests that the scholarly use of electronic +resources, already evident among some researchers, will soon become an +established feature of scholarship. The effects of these trends, along +with ongoing changes in scholarly practices, point to a future in which +humanities researchers will use computation and electronic communication +to help them formulate ideas, access sources, perform research, +collaborate with colleagues, seek peer review, publish and disseminate +results, and engage in many other professional and educational activities. + +In summary, MICHELSON emphasized four points: 1) A portion of humanities +scholars already consider electronic texts the preferred format for +analysis and dissemination. 2) Scholars are using these electronic +texts, in conjunction with other electronic resources, in all the +processes of scholarly communication. 3) The humanities scholars' +working context is in the process of changing from print technology to +electronic technology, in many ways mirroring transformations that have +occurred or are occurring within the scientific community. 4) These +changes are occurring in conjunction with the development of a new +communication medium: research and education networks that are +characterized by their capacity to advance scholarship in a wholly unique +way. + +MICHELSON also reiterated her three principal arguments: l) Electronic +texts are best understood in terms of the relationship to other +electronic resources and the growing prominence of network-mediated +scholarship. 2) The prospects for electronic texts lie in their capacity +to be integrated into the on-line network of electronic resources that +comprise the new working context for scholars. 3) Retrospective conversion +of portions of the scholarly record should be a key strategy as information +providers respond to changes in scholarly communication practices. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +VECCIA * AM's evaluation project and public users of electronic resources +* AM and its design * Site selection and evaluating the Macintosh +implementation of AM * Characteristics of the six public libraries +selected * Characteristics of AM's users in these libraries * Principal +ways AM is being used * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Susan VECCIA, team leader, and Joanne FREEMAN, associate coordinator, +American Memory, Library of Congress, gave a joint presentation. First, +by way of introduction, VECCIA explained her and FREEMAN's roles in +American Memory (AM). Serving principally as an observer, VECCIA has +assisted with the evaluation project of AM, placing AM collections in a +variety of different sites around the country and helping to organize and +implement that project. FREEMAN has been an associate coordinator of AM +and has been involved principally with the interpretative materials, +preparing some of the electronic exhibits and printed historical +information that accompanies AM and that is requested by users. VECCIA +and FREEMAN shared anecdotal observations concerning AM with public users +of electronic resources. Notwithstanding a fairly structured evaluation +in progress, both VECCIA and FREEMAN chose not to report on specifics in +terms of numbers, etc., because they felt it was too early in the +evaluation project to do so. + +AM is an electronic archive of primary source materials from the Library +of Congress, selected collections representing a variety of formats-- +photographs, graphic arts, recorded sound, motion pictures, broadsides, +and soon, pamphlets and books. In terms of the design of this system, +the interpretative exhibits have been kept separate from the primary +resources, with good reason. Accompanying this collection are printed +documentation and user guides, as well as guides that FREEMAN prepared for +teachers so that they may begin using the content of the system at once. + +VECCIA described the evaluation project before talking about the public +users of AM, limiting her remarks to public libraries, because FREEMAN +would talk more specifically about schools from kindergarten to twelfth +grade (K-12). Having started in spring 1991, the evaluation currently +involves testing of the Macintosh implementation of AM. Since the +primary goal of this evaluation is to determine the most appropriate +audience or audiences for AM, very different sites were selected. This +makes evaluation difficult because of the varying degrees of technology +literacy among the sites. AM is situated in forty-four locations, of +which six are public libraries and sixteen are schools. Represented +among the schools are elementary, junior high, and high schools. +District offices also are involved in the evaluation, which will +conclude in summer 1993. + +VECCIA focused the remainder of her talk on the six public libraries, one +of which doubles as a state library. They represent a range of +geographic areas and a range of demographic characteristics. For +example, three are located in urban settings, two in rural settings, and +one in a suburban setting. A range of technical expertise is to be found +among these facilities as well. For example, one is an "Apple library of +the future," while two others are rural one-room libraries--in one, AM +sits at the front desk next to a tractor manual. + +All public libraries have been extremely enthusiastic, supportive, and +appreciative of the work that AM has been doing. VECCIA characterized +various users: Most users in public libraries describe themselves as +general readers; of the students who use AM in the public libraries, +those in fourth grade and above seem most interested. Public libraries +in rural sites tend to attract retired people, who have been highly +receptive to AM. Users tend to fall into two additional categories: +people interested in the content and historical connotations of these +primary resources, and those fascinated by the technology. The format +receiving the most comments has been motion pictures. The adult users in +public libraries are more comfortable with IBM computers, whereas young +people seem comfortable with either IBM or Macintosh, although most of +them seem to come from a Macintosh background. This same tendency is +found in the schools. + +What kinds of things do users do with AM? In a public library there are +two main goals or ways that AM is being used: as an individual learning +tool, and as a leisure activity. Adult learning was one area that VECCIA +would highlight as a possible application for a tool such as AM. She +described a patron of a rural public library who comes in every day on +his lunch hour and literally reads AM, methodically going through the +collection image by image. At the end of his hour he makes an electronic +bookmark, puts it in his pocket, and returns to work. The next day he +comes in and resumes where he left off. Interestingly, this man had +never been in the library before he used AM. In another small, rural +library, the coordinator reports that AM is a popular activity for some +of the older, retired people in the community, who ordinarily would not +use "those things,"--computers. Another example of adult learning in +public libraries is book groups, one of which, in particular, is using AM +as part of its reading on industrialization, integration, and urbanization +in the early 1900s. + +One library reports that a family is using AM to help educate their +children. In another instance, individuals from a local museum came in +to use AM to prepare an exhibit on toys of the past. These two examples +emphasize the mission of the public library as a cultural institution, +reaching out to people who do not have the same resources available to +those who live in a metropolitan area or have access to a major library. +One rural library reports that junior high school students in large +numbers came in one afternoon to use AM for entertainment. A number of +public libraries reported great interest among postcard collectors in the +Detroit collection, which was essentially a collection of images used on +postcards around the turn of the century. Train buffs are similarly +interested because that was a time of great interest in railroading. +People, it was found, relate to things that they know of firsthand. For +example, in both rural public libraries where AM was made available, +observers reported that the older people with personal remembrances of +the turn of the century were gravitating to the Detroit collection. +These examples served to underscore MICHELSON's observation re the +integration of electronic tools and ideas--that people learn best when +the material relates to something they know. + +VECCIA made the final point that in many cases AM serves as a +public-relations tool for the public libraries that are testing it. In +one case, AM is being used as a vehicle to secure additional funding for +the library. In another case, AM has served as an inspiration to the +staff of a major local public library in the South to think about ways to +make its own collection of photographs more accessible to the public. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +FREEMAN * AM and archival electronic resources in a school environment * +Questions concerning context * Questions concerning the electronic format +itself * Computer anxiety * Access and availability of the system * +Hardware * Strengths gained through the use of archival resources in +schools * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Reiterating an observation made by VECCIA, that AM is an archival +resource made up of primary materials with very little interpretation, +FREEMAN stated that the project has attempted to bridge the gap between +these bare primary materials and a school environment, and in that cause +has created guided introductions to AM collections. Loud demand from the +educational community, chiefly from teachers working with the upper +grades of elementary school through high school, greeted the announcement +that AM would be tested around the country. + +FREEMAN reported not only on what was learned about AM in a school +environment, but also on several universal questions that were raised +concerning archival electronic resources in schools. She discussed +several strengths of this type of material in a school environment as +opposed to a highly structured resource that offers a limited number of +paths to follow. + +FREEMAN first raised several questions about using AM in a school +environment. There is often some difficulty in developing a sense of +what the system contains. Many students sit down at a computer resource +and assume that, because AM comes from the Library of Congress, all of +American history is now at their fingertips. As a result of that sort of +mistaken judgment, some students are known to conclude that AM contains +nothing of use to them when they look for one or two things and do not +find them. It is difficult to discover that middle ground where one has +a sense of what the system contains. Some students grope toward the idea +of an archive, a new idea to them, since they have not previously +experienced what it means to have access to a vast body of somewhat +random information. + +Other questions raised by FREEMAN concerned the electronic format itself. +For instance, in a school environment it is often difficult both for +teachers and students to gain a sense of what it is they are viewing. +They understand that it is a visual image, but they do not necessarily +know that it is a postcard from the turn of the century, a panoramic +photograph, or even machine-readable text of an eighteenth-century +broadside, a twentieth-century printed book, or a nineteenth-century +diary. That distinction is often difficult for people in a school +environment to grasp. Because of that, it occasionally becomes difficult +to draw conclusions from what one is viewing. + +FREEMAN also noted the obvious fear of the computer, which constitutes a +difficulty in using an electronic resource. Though students in general +did not suffer from this anxiety, several older students feared that they +were computer-illiterate, an assumption that became self-fulfilling when +they searched for something but failed to find it. FREEMAN said she +believed that some teachers also fear computer resources, because they +believe they lack complete control. FREEMAN related the example of +teachers shooing away students because it was not their time to use the +system. This was a case in which the situation had to be extremely +structured so that the teachers would not feel that they had lost their +grasp on what the system contained. + +A final question raised by FREEMAN concerned access and availability of +the system. She noted the occasional existence of a gap in communication +between school librarians and teachers. Often AM sits in a school +library and the librarian is the person responsible for monitoring the +system. Teachers do not always take into their world new library +resources about which the librarian is excited. Indeed, at the sites +where AM had been used most effectively within a library, the librarian +was required to go to specific teachers and instruct them in its use. As +a result, several AM sites will have in-service sessions over a summer, +in the hope that perhaps, with a more individualized link, teachers will +be more likely to use the resource. + +A related issue in the school context concerned the number of +workstations available at any one location. Centralization of equipment +at the district level, with teachers invited to download things and walk +away with them, proved unsuccessful because the hours these offices were +open were also school hours. + +Another issue was hardware. As VECCIA observed, a range of sites exists, +some technologically advanced and others essentially acquiring their +first computer for the primary purpose of using it in conjunction with +AM's testing. Users at technologically sophisticated sites want even +more sophisticated hardware, so that they can perform even more +sophisticated tasks with the materials in AM. But once they acquire a +newer piece of hardware, they must learn how to use that also; at an +unsophisticated site it takes an extremely long time simply to become +accustomed to the computer, not to mention the program offered with the +computer. All of these small issues raise one large question, namely, +are systems like AM truly rewarding in a school environment, or do they +simply act as innovative toys that do little more than spark interest? + +FREEMAN contended that the evaluation project has revealed several strengths +that were gained through the use of archival resources in schools, including: + + * Psychic rewards from using AM as a vast, rich database, with + teachers assigning various projects to students--oral presentations, + written reports, a documentary, a turn-of-the-century newspaper-- + projects that start with the materials in AM but are completed using + other resources; AM thus is used as a research tool in conjunction + with other electronic resources, as well as with books and items in + the library where the system is set up. + + * Students are acquiring computer literacy in a humanities context. + + * This sort of system is overcoming the isolation between disciplines + that often exists in schools. For example, many English teachers are + requiring their students to write papers on historical topics + represented in AM. Numerous teachers have reported that their + students are learning critical thinking skills using the system. + + * On a broader level, AM is introducing primary materials, not only + to students but also to teachers, in an environment where often + simply none exist--an exciting thing for the students because it + helps them learn to conduct research, to interpret, and to draw + their own conclusions. In learning to conduct research and what it + means, students are motivated to seek knowledge. That relates to + another positive outcome--a high level of personal involvement of + students with the materials in this system and greater motivation to + conduct their own research and draw their own conclusions. + + * Perhaps the most ironic strength of these kinds of archival + electronic resources is that many of the teachers AM interviewed + were desperate, it is no exaggeration to say, not only for primary + materials but for unstructured primary materials. These would, they + thought, foster personally motivated research, exploration, and + excitement in their students. Indeed, these materials have done + just that. Ironically, however, this lack of structure produces + some of the confusion to which the newness of these kinds of + resources may also contribute. The key to effective use of archival + products in a school environment is a clear, effective introduction + to the system and to what it contains. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * Nothing known, quantitatively, about the number of +humanities scholars who must see the original versus those who would +settle for an edited transcript, or about the ways in which humanities +scholars are using information technology * Firm conclusions concerning +the manner and extent of the use of supporting materials in print +provided by AM to await completion of evaluative study * A listener's +reflections on additional applications of electronic texts * Role of +electronic resources in teaching elementary research skills to students * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +During the discussion that followed the presentations by MICHELSON, +VECCIA, and FREEMAN, additional points emerged. + +LESK asked if MICHELSON could give any quantitative estimate of the +number of humanities scholars who must see or want to see the original, +or the best possible version of the material, versus those who typically +would settle for an edited transcript. While unable to provide a figure, +she offered her impressions as an archivist who has done some reference +work and has discussed this issue with other archivists who perform +reference, that those who use archives and those who use primary sources +for what would be considered very high-level scholarly research, as +opposed to, say, undergraduate papers, were few in number, especially +given the public interest in using primary sources to conduct +genealogical or avocational research and the kind of professional +research done by people in private industry or the federal government. +More important in MICHELSON's view was that, quantitatively, nothing is +known about the ways in which, for example, humanities scholars are using +information technology. No studies exist to offer guidance in creating +strategies. The most recent study was conducted in 1985 by the American +Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), and what it showed was that 50 +percent of humanities scholars at that time were using computers. That +constitutes the extent of our knowledge. + +Concerning AM's strategy for orienting people toward the scope of +electronic resources, FREEMAN could offer no hard conclusions at this +point, because she and her colleagues were still waiting to see, +particularly in the schools, what has been made of their efforts. Within +the system, however, AM has provided what are called electronic exhibits- +-such as introductions to time periods and materials--and these are +intended to offer a student user a sense of what a broadside is and what +it might tell her or him. But FREEMAN conceded that the project staff +would have to talk with students next year, after teachers have had a +summer to use the materials, and attempt to discover what the students +were learning from the materials. In addition, FREEMAN described +supporting materials in print provided by AM at the request of local +teachers during a meeting held at LC. These included time lines, +bibliographies, and other materials that could be reproduced on a +photocopier in a classroom. Teachers could walk away with and use these, +and in this way gain a better understanding of the contents. But again, +reaching firm conclusions concerning the manner and extent of their use +would have to wait until next year. + +As to the changes she saw occurring at the National Archives and Records +Administration (NARA) as a result of the increasing emphasis on +technology in scholarly research, MICHELSON stated that NARA at this +point was absorbing the report by her and Jeff Rothenberg addressing +strategies for the archival profession in general, although not for the +National Archives specifically. NARA is just beginning to establish its +role and what it can do. In terms of changes and initiatives that NARA +can take, no clear response could be given at this time. + +GREENFIELD remarked two trends mentioned in the session. Reflecting on +DALY's opening comments on how he could have used a Latin collection of +text in an electronic form, he said that at first he thought most scholars +would be unwilling to do that. But as he thought of that in terms of the +original meaning of research--that is, having already mastered these texts, +researching them for critical and comparative purposes--for the first time, +the electronic format made a lot of sense. GREENFIELD could envision +growing numbers of scholars learning the new technologies for that very +aspect of their scholarship and for convenience's sake. + +Listening to VECCIA and FREEMAN, GREENFIELD thought of an additional +application of electronic texts. He realized that AM could be used as a +guide to lead someone to original sources. Students cannot be expected +to have mastered these sources, things they have never known about +before. Thus, AM is leading them, in theory, to a vast body of +information and giving them a superficial overview of it, enabling them +to select parts of it. GREENFIELD asked if any evidence exists that this +resource will indeed teach the new user, the K-12 students, how to do +research. Scholars already know how to do research and are applying +these new tools. But he wondered why students would go beyond picking +out things that were most exciting to them. + +FREEMAN conceded the correctness of GREENFIELD's observation as applied +to a school environment. The risk is that a student would sit down at a +system, play with it, find some things of interest, and then walk away. +But in the relatively controlled situation of a school library, much will +depend on the instructions a teacher or a librarian gives a student. She +viewed the situation not as one of fine-tuning research skills but of +involving students at a personal level in understanding and researching +things. Given the guidance one can receive at school, it then becomes +possible to teach elementary research skills to students, which in fact +one particular librarian said she was teaching her fifth graders. +FREEMAN concluded that introducing the idea of following one's own path +of inquiry, which is essentially what research entails, involves more +than teaching specific skills. To these comments VECCIA added the +observation that the individual teacher and the use of a creative +resource, rather than AM itself, seemed to make the key difference. +Some schools and some teachers are making excellent use of the nature +of critical thinking and teaching skills, she said. + +Concurring with these remarks, DALY closed the session with the thought that +the more that producers produced for teachers and for scholars to use with +their students, the more successful their electronic products would prove. + + ****** + +SESSION II. SHOW AND TELL + +Jacqueline HESS, director, National Demonstration Laboratory, served as +moderator of the "show-and-tell" session. She noted that a +question-and-answer period would follow each presentation. + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +MYLONAS * Overview and content of Perseus * Perseus' primary materials +exist in a system-independent, archival form * A concession * Textual +aspects of Perseus * Tools to use with the Greek text * Prepared indices +and full-text searches in Perseus * English-Greek word search leads to +close study of words and concepts * Navigating Perseus by tracing down +indices * Using the iconography to perform research * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Elli MYLONAS, managing editor, Perseus Project, Harvard University, first +gave an overview of Perseus, a large, collaborative effort based at +Harvard University but with contributors and collaborators located at +numerous universities and colleges in the United States (e.g., Bowdoin, +Maryland, Pomona, Chicago, Virginia). Funded primarily by the +Annenberg/CPB Project, with additional funding from Apple, Harvard, and +the Packard Humanities Institute, among others, Perseus is a multimedia, +hypertextual database for teaching and research on classical Greek +civilization, which was released in February 1992 in version 1.0 and +distributed by Yale University Press. + +Consisting entirely of primary materials, Perseus includes ancient Greek +texts and translations of those texts; catalog entries--that is, museum +catalog entries, not library catalog entries--on vases, sites, coins, +sculpture, and archaeological objects; maps; and a dictionary, among +other sources. The number of objects and the objects for which catalog +entries exist are accompanied by thousands of color images, which +constitute a major feature of the database. Perseus contains +approximately 30 megabytes of text, an amount that will double in +subsequent versions. In addition to these primary materials, the Perseus +Project has been building tools for using them, making access and +navigation easier, the goal being to build part of the electronic +environment discussed earlier in the morning in which students or +scholars can work with their sources. + +The demonstration of Perseus will show only a fraction of the real work +that has gone into it, because the project had to face the dilemma of +what to enter when putting something into machine-readable form: should +one aim for very high quality or make concessions in order to get the +material in? Since Perseus decided to opt for very high quality, all of +its primary materials exist in a system-independent--insofar as it is +possible to be system-independent--archival form. Deciding what that +archival form would be and attaining it required much work and thought. +For example, all the texts are marked up in SGML, which will be made +compatible with the guidelines of the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) when +they are issued. + +Drawings are postscript files, not meeting international standards, but +at least designed to go across platforms. Images, or rather the real +archival forms, consist of the best available slides, which are being +digitized. Much of the catalog material exists in database form--a form +that the average user could use, manipulate, and display on a personal +computer, but only at great cost. Thus, this is where the concession +comes in: All of this rich, well-marked-up information is stripped of +much of its content; the images are converted into bit-maps and the text +into small formatted chunks. All this information can then be imported +into HyperCard and run on a mid-range Macintosh, which is what Perseus +users have. This fact has made it possible for Perseus to attain wide +use fairly rapidly. Without those archival forms the HyperCard version +being demonstrated could not be made easily, and the project could not +have the potential to move to other forms and machines and software as +they appear, none of which information is in Perseus on the CD. + +Of the numerous multimedia aspects of Perseus, MYLONAS focused on the +textual. Part of what makes Perseus such a pleasure to use, MYLONAS +said, is this effort at seamless integration and the ability to move +around both visual and textual material. Perseus also made the decision +not to attempt to interpret its material any more than one interprets by +selecting. But, MYLONAS emphasized, Perseus is not courseware: No +syllabus exists. There is no effort to define how one teaches a topic +using Perseus, although the project may eventually collect papers by +people who have used it to teach. Rather, Perseus aims to provide +primary material in a kind of electronic library, an electronic sandbox, +so to say, in which students and scholars who are working on this +material can explore by themselves. With that, MYLONAS demonstrated +Perseus, beginning with the Perseus gateway, the first thing one sees +upon opening Perseus--an effort in part to solve the contextualizing +problem--which tells the user what the system contains. + +MYLONAS demonstrated only a very small portion, beginning with primary +texts and running off the CD-ROM. Having selected Aeschylus' Prometheus +Bound, which was viewable in Greek and English pretty much in the same +segments together, MYLONAS demonstrated tools to use with the Greek text, +something not possible with a book: looking up the dictionary entry form +of an unfamiliar word in Greek after subjecting it to Perseus' +morphological analysis for all the texts. After finding out about a +word, a user may then decide to see if it is used anywhere else in Greek. +Because vast amounts of indexing support all of the primary material, one +can find out where else all forms of a particular Greek word appear-- +often not a trivial matter because Greek is highly inflected. Further, +since the story of Prometheus has to do with the origins of sacrifice, a +user may wish to study and explore sacrifice in Greek literature; by +typing sacrifice into a small window, a user goes to the English-Greek +word list--something one cannot do without the computer (Perseus has +indexed the definitions of its dictionary)--the string sacrifice appears +in the definitions of these sixty-five words. One may then find out +where any of those words is used in the work(s) of a particular author. +The English definitions are not lemmatized. + +All of the indices driving this kind of usage were originally devised for +speed, MYLONAS observed; in other words, all that kind of information-- +all forms of all words, where they exist, the dictionary form they belong +to--were collected into databases, which will expedite searching. Then +it was discovered that one can do things searching in these databases +that could not be done searching in the full texts. Thus, although there +are full-text searches in Perseus, much of the work is done behind the +scenes, using prepared indices. Re the indexing that is done behind the +scenes, MYLONAS pointed out that without the SGML forms of the text, it +could not be done effectively. Much of this indexing is based on the +structures that are made explicit by the SGML tagging. + +It was found that one of the things many of Perseus' non-Greek-reading +users do is start from the dictionary and then move into the close study +of words and concepts via this kind of English-Greek word search, by which +means they might select a concept. This exercise has been assigned to +students in core courses at Harvard--to study a concept by looking for the +English word in the dictionary, finding the Greek words, and then finding +the words in the Greek but, of course, reading across in the English. +That tells them a great deal about what a translation means as well. + +Should one also wish to see images that have to do with sacrifice, that +person would go to the object key word search, which allows one to +perform a similar kind of index retrieval on the database of +archaeological objects. Without words, pictures are useless; Perseus has +not reached the point where it can do much with images that are not +cataloged. Thus, although it is possible in Perseus with text and images +to navigate by knowing where one wants to end up--for example, a +red-figure vase from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts--one can perform this +kind of navigation very easily by tracing down indices. MYLONAS +illustrated several generic scenes of sacrifice on vases. The features +demonstrated derived from Perseus 1.0; version 2.0 will implement even +better means of retrieval. + +MYLONAS closed by looking at one of the pictures and noting again that +one can do a great deal of research using the iconography as well as the +texts. For instance, students in a core course at Harvard this year were +highly interested in Greek concepts of foreigners and representations of +non-Greeks. So they performed a great deal of research, both with texts +(e.g., Herodotus) and with iconography on vases and coins, on how the +Greeks portrayed non-Greeks. At the same time, art historians who study +iconography were also interested, and were able to use this material. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * Indexing and searchability of all English words in Perseus * +Several features of Perseus 1.0 * Several levels of customization +possible * Perseus used for general education * Perseus' effects on +education * Contextual information in Perseus * Main challenge and +emphasis of Perseus * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Several points emerged in the discussion that followed MYLONAS's presentation. + +Although MYLONAS had not demonstrated Perseus' ability to cross-search +documents, she confirmed that all English words in Perseus are indexed +and can be searched. So, for example, sacrifice could have been searched +in all texts, the historical essay, and all the catalogue entries with +their descriptions--in short, in all of Perseus. + +Boolean logic is not in Perseus 1.0 but will be added to the next +version, although an effort is being made not to restrict Perseus to a +database in which one just performs searching, Boolean or otherwise. It +is possible to move laterally through the documents by selecting a word +one is interested in and selecting an area of information one is +interested in and trying to look that word up in that area. + +Since Perseus was developed in HyperCard, several levels of customization +are possible. Simple authoring tools exist that allow one to create +annotated paths through the information, which are useful for note-taking +and for guided tours for teaching purposes and for expository writing. +With a little more ingenuity it is possible to begin to add or substitute +material in Perseus. + +Perseus has not been used so much for classics education as for general +education, where it seemed to have an impact on the students in the core +course at Harvard (a general required course that students must take in +certain areas). Students were able to use primary material much more. + +The Perseus Project has an evaluation team at the University of Maryland +that has been documenting Perseus' effects on education. Perseus is very +popular, and anecdotal evidence indicates that it is having an effect at +places other than Harvard, for example, test sites at Ball State +University, Drury College, and numerous small places where opportunities +to use vast amounts of primary data may not exist. One documented effect +is that archaeological, anthropological, and philological research is +being done by the same person instead of by three different people. + +The contextual information in Perseus includes an overview essay, a +fairly linear historical essay on the fifth century B.C. that provides +links into the primary material (e.g., Herodotus, Thucydides, and +Plutarch), via small gray underscoring (on the screen) of linked +passages. These are handmade links into other material. + +To different extents, most of the production work was done at Harvard, +where the people and the equipment are located. Much of the +collaborative activity involved data collection and structuring, because +the main challenge and the emphasis of Perseus is the gathering of +primary material, that is, building a useful environment for studying +classical Greece, collecting data, and making it useful. +Systems-building is definitely not the main concern. Thus, much of the +work has involved writing essays, collecting information, rewriting it, +and tagging it. That can be done off site. The creative link for the +overview essay as well as for both systems and data was collaborative, +and was forged via E-mail and paper mail with professors at Pomona and +Bowdoin. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +CALALUCA * PLD's principal focus and contribution to scholarship * +Various questions preparatory to beginning the project * Basis for +project * Basic rule in converting PLD * Concerning the images in PLD * +Running PLD under a variety of retrieval softwares * Encoding the +database a hard-fought issue * Various features demonstrated * Importance +of user documentation * Limitations of the CD-ROM version * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Eric CALALUCA, vice president, Chadwyck-Healey, Inc., demonstrated a +software interpretation of the Patrologia Latina Database (PLD). PLD's +principal focus from the beginning of the project about three-and-a-half +years ago was on converting Migne's Latin series, and in the end, +CALALUCA suggested, conversion of the text will be the major contribution +to scholarship. CALALUCA stressed that, as possibly the only private +publishing organization at the Workshop, Chadwyck-Healey had sought no +federal funds or national foundation support before embarking upon the +project, but instead had relied upon a great deal of homework and +marketing to accomplish the task of conversion. + +Ever since the possibilities of computer-searching have emerged, scholars +in the field of late ancient and early medieval studies (philosophers, +theologians, classicists, and those studying the history of natural law +and the history of the legal development of Western civilization) have +been longing for a fully searchable version of Western literature, for +example, all the texts of Augustine and Bernard of Clairvaux and +Boethius, not to mention all the secondary and tertiary authors. + +Various questions arose, CALALUCA said. Should one convert Migne? +Should the database be encoded? Is it necessary to do that? How should +it be delivered? What about CD-ROM? Since this is a transitional +medium, why even bother to create software to run on a CD-ROM? Since +everybody knows people will be networking information, why go to the +trouble--which is far greater with CD-ROM than with the production of +magnetic data? Finally, how does one make the data available? Can many +of the hurdles to using electronic information that some publishers have +imposed upon databases be eliminated? + +The PLD project was based on the principle that computer-searching of +texts is most effective when it is done with a large database. Because +PLD represented a collection that serves so many disciplines across so +many periods, it was irresistible. + +The basic rule in converting PLD was to do no harm, to avoid the sins of +intrusion in such a database: no introduction of newer editions, no +on-the-spot changes, no eradicating of all possible falsehoods from an +edition. Thus, PLD is not the final act in electronic publishing for +this discipline, but simply the beginning. The conversion of PLD has +evoked numerous unanticipated questions: How will information be used? +What about networking? Can the rights of a database be protected? +Should one protect the rights of a database? How can it be made +available? + +Those converting PLD also tried to avoid the sins of omission, that is, +excluding portions of the collections or whole sections. What about the +images? PLD is full of images, some are extremely pious +nineteenth-century representations of the Fathers, while others contain +highly interesting elements. The goal was to cover all the text of Migne +(including notes, in Greek and in Hebrew, the latter of which, in +particular, causes problems in creating a search structure), all the +indices, and even the images, which are being scanned in separately +searchable files. + +Several North American institutions that have placed acquisition requests +for the PLD database have requested it in magnetic form without software, +which means they are already running it without software, without +anything demonstrated at the Workshop. + +What cannot practically be done is go back and reconvert and re-encode +data, a time-consuming and extremely costly enterprise. CALALUCA sees +PLD as a database that can, and should, be run under a variety of +retrieval softwares. This will permit the widest possible searches. +Consequently, the need to produce a CD-ROM of PLD, as well as to develop +software that could handle some 1.3 gigabyte of heavily encoded text, +developed out of conversations with collection development and reference +librarians who wanted software both compassionate enough for the +pedestrian but also capable of incorporating the most detailed +lexicographical studies that a user desires to conduct. In the end, the +encoding and conversion of the data will prove the most enduring +testament to the value of the project. + +The encoding of the database was also a hard-fought issue: Did the +database need to be encoded? Were there normative structures for encoding +humanist texts? Should it be SGML? What about the TEI--will it last, +will it prove useful? CALALUCA expressed some minor doubts as to whether +a data bank can be fully TEI-conformant. Every effort can be made, but +in the end to be TEI-conformant means to accept the need to make some +firm encoding decisions that can, indeed, be disputed. The TEI points +the publisher in a proper direction but does not presume to make all the +decisions for him or her. Essentially, the goal of encoding was to +eliminate, as much as possible, the hindrances to information-networking, +so that if an institution acquires a database, everybody associated with +the institution can have access to it. + +CALALUCA demonstrated a portion of Volume 160, because it had the most +anomalies in it. The software was created by Electronic Book +Technologies of Providence, RI, and is called Dynatext. The software +works only with SGML-coded data. + +Viewing a table of contents on the screen, the audience saw how Dynatext +treats each element as a book and attempts to simplify movement through a +volume. Familiarity with the Patrologia in print (i.e., the text, its +source, and the editions) will make the machine-readable versions highly +useful. (Software with a Windows application was sought for PLD, +CALALUCA said, because this was the main trend for scholarly use.) + +CALALUCA also demonstrated how a user can perform a variety of searches +and quickly move to any part of a volume; the look-up screen provides +some basic, simple word-searching. + +CALALUCA argued that one of the major difficulties is not the software. +Rather, in creating a product that will be used by scholars representing +a broad spectrum of computer sophistication, user documentation proves +to be the most important service one can provide. + +CALALUCA next illustrated a truncated search under mysterium within ten +words of virtus and how one would be able to find its contents throughout +the entire database. He said that the exciting thing about PLD is that +many of the applications in the retrieval software being written for it +will exceed the capabilities of the software employed now for the CD-ROM +version. The CD-ROM faces genuine limitations, in terms of speed and +comprehensiveness, in the creation of a retrieval software to run it. +CALALUCA said he hoped that individual scholars will download the data, +if they wish, to their personal computers, and have ready access to +important texts on a constant basis, which they will be able to use in +their research and from which they might even be able to publish. + +(CALALUCA explained that the blue numbers represented Migne's column numbers, +which are the standard scholarly references. Pulling up a note, he stated +that these texts were heavily edited and the image files would appear simply +as a note as well, so that one could quickly access an image.) + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +FLEISCHHAUER/ERWAY * Several problems with which AM is still wrestling * +Various search and retrieval capabilities * Illustration of automatic +stemming and a truncated search * AM's attempt to find ways to connect +cataloging to the texts * AM's gravitation towards SGML * Striking a +balance between quantity and quality * How AM furnishes users recourse to +images * Conducting a search in a full-text environment * Macintosh and +IBM prototypes of AM * Multimedia aspects of AM * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +A demonstration of American Memory by its coordinator, Carl FLEISCHHAUER, +and Ricky ERWAY, associate coordinator, Library of Congress, concluded +the morning session. Beginning with a collection of broadsides from the +Continental Congress and the Constitutional Convention, the only text +collection in a presentable form at the time of the Workshop, FLEISCHHAUER +highlighted several of the problems with which AM is still wrestling. +(In its final form, the disk will contain two collections, not only the +broadsides but also the full text with illustrations of a set of +approximately 300 African-American pamphlets from the period 1870 to 1910.) + +As FREEMAN had explained earlier, AM has attempted to use a small amount +of interpretation to introduce collections. In the present case, the +contractor, a company named Quick Source, in Silver Spring, MD., used +software called Toolbook and put together a modestly interactive +introduction to the collection. Like the two preceding speakers, +FLEISCHHAUER argued that the real asset was the underlying collection. + +FLEISCHHAUER proceeded to describe various search and retrieval +capabilities while ERWAY worked the computer. In this particular package +the "go to" pull-down allowed the user in effect to jump out of Toolbook, +where the interactive program was located, and enter the third-party +software used by AM for this text collection, which is called Personal +Librarian. This was the Windows version of Personal Librarian, a +software application put together by a company in Rockville, Md. + +Since the broadsides came from the Revolutionary War period, a search was +conducted using the words British or war, with the default operator reset +as or. FLEISCHHAUER demonstrated both automatic stemming (which finds +other forms of the same root) and a truncated search. One of Personal +Librarian's strongest features, the relevance ranking, was represented by +a chart that indicated how often words being sought appeared in +documents, with the one receiving the most "hits" obtaining the highest +score. The "hit list" that is supplied takes the relevance ranking into +account, making the first hit, in effect, the one the software has +selected as the most relevant example. + +While in the text of one of the broadside documents, FLEISCHHAUER +remarked AM's attempt to find ways to connect cataloging to the texts, +which it does in different ways in different manifestations. In the case +shown, the cataloging was pasted on: AM took MARC records that were +written as on-line records right into one of the Library's mainframe +retrieval programs, pulled them out, and handed them off to the contractor, +who massaged them somewhat to display them in the manner shown. One of +AM's questions is, Does the cataloguing normally performed in the mainframe +work in this context, or had AM ought to think through adjustments? + +FLEISCHHAUER made the additional point that, as far as the text goes, AM +has gravitated towards SGML (he pointed to the boldface in the upper part +of the screen). Although extremely limited in its ability to translate +or interpret SGML, Personal Librarian will furnish both bold and italics +on screen; a fairly easy thing to do, but it is one of the ways in which +SGML is useful. + +Striking a balance between quantity and quality has been a major concern +of AM, with accuracy being one of the places where project staff have +felt that less than 100-percent accuracy was not unacceptable. +FLEISCHHAUER cited the example of the standard of the rekeying industry, +namely 99.95 percent; as one service bureau informed him, to go from +99.95 to 100 percent would double the cost. + +FLEISCHHAUER next demonstrated how AM furnishes users recourse to images, +and at the same time recalled LESK's pointed question concerning the +number of people who would look at those images and the number who would +work only with the text. If the implication of LESK's question was +sound, FLEISCHHAUER said, it raised the stakes for text accuracy and +reduced the value of the strategy for images. + +Contending that preservation is always a bugaboo, FLEISCHHAUER +demonstrated several images derived from a scan of a preservation +microfilm that AM had made. He awarded a grade of C at best, perhaps a +C minus or a C plus, for how well it worked out. Indeed, the matter of +learning if other people had better ideas about scanning in general, and, +in particular, scanning from microfilm, was one of the factors that drove +AM to attempt to think through the agenda for the Workshop. Skew, for +example, was one of the issues that AM in its ignorance had not reckoned +would prove so difficult. + +Further, the handling of images of the sort shown, in a desktop computer +environment, involved a considerable amount of zooming and scrolling. +Ultimately, AM staff feel that perhaps the paper copy that is printed out +might be the most useful one, but they remain uncertain as to how much +on-screen reading users will do. + +Returning to the text, FLEISCHHAUER asked viewers to imagine a person who +might be conducting a search in a full-text environment. With this +scenario, he proceeded to illustrate other features of Personal Librarian +that he considered helpful; for example, it provides the ability to +notice words as one reads. Clicking the "include" button on the bottom +of the search window pops the words that have been highlighted into the +search. Thus, a user can refine the search as he or she reads, +re-executing the search and continuing to find things in the quest for +materials. This software not only contains relevance ranking, Boolean +operators, and truncation, it also permits one to perform word algebra, +so to say, where one puts two or three words in parentheses and links +them with one Boolean operator and then a couple of words in another set +of parentheses and asks for things within so many words of others. + +Until they became acquainted recently with some of the work being done in +classics, the AM staff had not realized that a large number of the +projects that involve electronic texts were being done by people with a +profound interest in language and linguistics. Their search strategies +and thinking are oriented to those fields, as is shown in particular by +the Perseus example. As amateur historians, the AM staff were thinking +more of searching for concepts and ideas than for particular words. +Obviously, FLEISCHHAUER conceded, searching for concepts and ideas and +searching for words may be two rather closely related things. + +While displaying several images, FLEISCHHAUER observed that the Macintosh +prototype built by AM contains a greater diversity of formats. Echoing a +previous speaker, he said that it was easier to stitch things together in +the Macintosh, though it tended to be a little more anemic in search and +retrieval. AM, therefore, increasingly has been investigating +sophisticated retrieval engines in the IBM format. + +FLEISCHHAUER demonstrated several additional examples of the prototype +interfaces: One was AM's metaphor for the network future, in which a +kind of reading-room graphic suggests how one would be able to go around +to different materials. AM contains a large number of photographs in +analog video form worked up from a videodisc, which enable users to make +copies to print or incorporate in digital documents. A frame-grabber is +built into the system, making it possible to bring an image into a window +and digitize or print it out. + +FLEISCHHAUER next demonstrated sound recording, which included texts. +Recycled from a previous project, the collection included sixty 78-rpm +phonograph records of political speeches that were made during and +immediately after World War I. These constituted approximately three +hours of audio, as AM has digitized it, which occupy 150 megabytes on a +CD. Thus, they are considerably compressed. From the catalogue card, +FLEISCHHAUER proceeded to a transcript of a speech with the audio +available and with highlighted text following it as it played. +A photograph has been added and a transcription made. + +Considerable value has been added beyond what the Library of Congress +normally would do in cataloguing a sound recording, which raises several +questions for AM concerning where to draw lines about how much value it can +afford to add and at what point, perhaps, this becomes more than AM could +reasonably do or reasonably wish to do. FLEISCHHAUER also demonstrated +a motion picture. As FREEMAN had reported earlier, the motion picture +materials have proved the most popular, not surprisingly. This says more +about the medium, he thought, than about AM's presentation of it. + +Because AM's goal was to bring together things that could be used by +historians or by people who were curious about history, +turn-of-the-century footage seemed to represent the most appropriate +collections from the Library of Congress in motion pictures. These were +the very first films made by Thomas Edison's company and some others at +that time. The particular example illustrated was a Biograph film, +brought in with a frame-grabber into a window. A single videodisc +contains about fifty titles and pieces of film from that period, all of +New York City. Taken together, AM believes, they provide an interesting +documentary resource. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * Using the frame-grabber in AM * Volume of material processed +and to be processed * Purpose of AM within LC * Cataloguing and the +nature of AM's material * SGML coding and the question of quality versus +quantity * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +During the question-and-answer period that followed FLEISCHHAUER's +presentation, several clarifications were made. + +AM is bringing in motion pictures from a videodisc. The frame-grabber +devices create a window on a computer screen, which permits users to +digitize a single frame of the movie or one of the photographs. It +produces a crude, rough-and-ready image that high school students can +incorporate into papers, and that has worked very nicely in this way. + +Commenting on FLEISCHHAUER's assertion that AM was looking more at +searching ideas than words, MYLONAS argued that without words an idea +does not exist. FLEISCHHAUER conceded that he ought to have articulated +his point more clearly. MYLONAS stated that they were in fact both +talking about the same thing. By searching for words and by forcing +people to focus on the word, the Perseus Project felt that they would get +them to the idea. The way one reviews results is tailored more to one +kind of user than another. + +Concerning the total volume of material that has been processed in this +way, AM at this point has in retrievable form seven or eight collections, +all of them photographic. In the Macintosh environment, for example, +there probably are 35,000-40,000 photographs. The sound recordings +number sixty items. The broadsides number about 300 items. There are +500 political cartoons in the form of drawings. The motion pictures, as +individual items, number sixty to seventy. + +AM also has a manuscript collection, the life history portion of one of +the federal project series, which will contain 2,900 individual +documents, all first-person narratives. AM has in process about 350 +African-American pamphlets, or about 12,000 printed pages for the period +1870-1910. Also in the works are some 4,000 panoramic photographs. AM +has recycled a fair amount of the work done by LC's Prints and +Photographs Division during the Library's optical disk pilot project in +the 1980s. For example, a special division of LC has tooled up and +thought through all the ramifications of electronic presentation of +photographs. Indeed, they are wheeling them out in great barrel loads. +The purpose of AM within the Library, it is hoped, is to catalyze several +of the other special collection divisions which have no particular +experience with, in some cases, mixed feelings about, an activity such as +AM. Moreover, in many cases the divisions may be characterized as not +only lacking experience in "electronifying" things but also in automated +cataloguing. MARC cataloguing as practiced in the United States is +heavily weighted toward the description of monograph and serial +materials, but is much thinner when one enters the world of manuscripts +and things that are held in the Library's music collection and other +units. In response to a comment by LESK, that AM's material is very +heavily photographic, and is so primarily because individual records have +been made for each photograph, FLEISCHHAUER observed that an item-level +catalog record exists, for example, for each photograph in the Detroit +Publishing collection of 25,000 pictures. In the case of the Federal +Writers Project, for which nearly 3,000 documents exist, representing +information from twenty-six different states, AM with the assistance of +Karen STUART of the Manuscript Division will attempt to find some way not +only to have a collection-level record but perhaps a MARC record for each +state, which will then serve as an umbrella for the 100-200 documents +that come under it. But that drama remains to be enacted. The AM staff +is conservative and clings to cataloguing, though of course visitors tout +artificial intelligence and neural networks in a manner that suggests that +perhaps one need not have cataloguing or that much of it could be put aside. + +The matter of SGML coding, FLEISCHHAUER conceded, returned the discussion +to the earlier treated question of quality versus quantity in the Library +of Congress. Of course, text conversion can be done with 100-percent +accuracy, but it means that when one's holdings are as vast as LC's only +a tiny amount will be exposed, whereas permitting lower levels of +accuracy can lead to exposing or sharing larger amounts, but with the +quality correspondingly impaired. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +TWOHIG * A contrary experience concerning electronic options * Volume of +material in the Washington papers and a suggestion of David Packard * +Implications of Packard's suggestion * Transcribing the documents for the +CD-ROM * Accuracy of transcriptions * The CD-ROM edition of the Founding +Fathers documents * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Finding encouragement in a comment of MICHELSON's from the morning +session--that numerous people in the humanities were choosing electronic +options to do their work--Dorothy TWOHIG, editor, The Papers of George +Washington, opened her illustrated talk by noting that her experience +with literary scholars and numerous people in editing was contrary to +MICHELSON's. TWOHIG emphasized literary scholars' complete ignorance of +the technological options available to them or their reluctance or, in +some cases, their downright hostility toward these options. + +After providing an overview of the five Founding Fathers projects +(Jefferson at Princeton, Franklin at Yale, John Adams at the +Massachusetts Historical Society, and Madison down the hall from her at +the University of Virginia), TWOHIG observed that the Washington papers, +like all of the projects, include both sides of the Washington +correspondence and deal with some 135,000 documents to be published with +extensive annotation in eighty to eighty-five volumes, a project that +will not be completed until well into the next century. Thus, it was +with considerable enthusiasm several years ago that the Washington Papers +Project (WPP) greeted David Packard's suggestion that the papers of the +Founding Fathers could be published easily and inexpensively, and to the +great benefit of American scholarship, via CD-ROM. + +In pragmatic terms, funding from the Packard Foundation would expedite +the transcription of thousands of documents waiting to be put on disk in +the WPP offices. Further, since the costs of collecting, editing, and +converting the Founding Fathers documents into letterpress editions were +running into the millions of dollars, and the considerable staffs +involved in all of these projects were devoting their careers to +producing the work, the Packard Foundation's suggestion had a +revolutionary aspect: Transcriptions of the entire corpus of the +Founding Fathers papers would be available on CD-ROM to public and +college libraries, even high schools, at a fraction of the cost-- +$100-$150 for the annual license fee--to produce a limited university +press run of 1,000 of each volume of the published papers at $45-$150 per +printed volume. Given the current budget crunch in educational systems +and the corresponding constraints on librarians in smaller institutions +who wish to add these volumes to their collections, producing the +documents on CD-ROM would likely open a greatly expanded audience for the +papers. TWOHIG stressed, however, that development of the Founding +Fathers CD-ROM is still in its infancy. Serious software problems remain +to be resolved before the material can be put into readable form. + +Funding from the Packard Foundation resulted in a major push to +transcribe the 75,000 or so documents of the Washington papers remaining +to be transcribed onto computer disks. Slides illustrated several of the +problems encountered, for example, the present inability of CD-ROM to +indicate the cross-outs (deleted material) in eighteenth century +documents. TWOHIG next described documents from various periods in the +eighteenth century that have been transcribed in chronological order and +delivered to the Packard offices in California, where they are converted +to the CD-ROM, a process that is expected to consume five years to +complete (that is, reckoning from David Packard's suggestion made several +years ago, until about July 1994). TWOHIG found an encouraging +indication of the project's benefits in the ongoing use made by scholars +of the search functions of the CD-ROM, particularly in reducing the time +spent in manually turning the pages of the Washington papers. + +TWOHIG next furnished details concerning the accuracy of transcriptions. +For instance, the insertion of thousands of documents on the CD-ROM +currently does not permit each document to be verified against the +original manuscript several times as in the case of documents that appear +in the published edition. However, the transcriptions receive a cursory +check for obvious typos, the misspellings of proper names, and other +errors from the WPP CD-ROM editor. Eventually, all documents that appear +in the electronic version will be checked by project editors. Although +this process has met with opposition from some of the editors on the +grounds that imperfect work may leave their offices, the advantages in +making this material available as a research tool outweigh fears about the +misspelling of proper names and other relatively minor editorial matters. + +Completion of all five Founding Fathers projects (i.e., retrievability +and searchability of all of the documents by proper names, alternate +spellings, or varieties of subjects) will provide one of the richest +sources of this size for the history of the United States in the latter +part of the eighteenth century. Further, publication on CD-ROM will +allow editors to include even minutiae, such as laundry lists, not +included in the printed volumes. + +It seems possible that the extensive annotation provided in the printed +volumes eventually will be added to the CD-ROM edition, pending +negotiations with the publishers of the papers. At the moment, the +Founding Fathers CD-ROM is accessible only on the IBYCUS, a computer +developed out of the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae project and designed for +the use of classical scholars. There are perhaps 400 IBYCUS computers in +the country, most of which are in university classics departments. +Ultimately, it is anticipated that the CD-ROM edition of the Founding +Fathers documents will run on any IBM-compatible or Macintosh computer +with a CD-ROM drive. Numerous changes in the software will also occur +before the project is completed. (Editor's note: an IBYCUS was +unavailable to demonstrate the CD-ROM.) + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * Several additional features of WPP clarified * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Discussion following TWOHIG's presentation served to clarify several +additional features, including (1) that the project's primary +intellectual product consists in the electronic transcription of the +material; (2) that the text transmitted to the CD-ROM people is not +marked up; (3) that cataloging and subject-indexing of the material +remain to be worked out (though at this point material can be retrieved +by name); and (4) that because all the searching is done in the hardware, +the IBYCUS is designed to read a CD-ROM which contains only sequential +text files. Technically, it then becomes very easy to read the material +off and put it on another device. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +LEBRON * Overview of the history of the joint project between AAAS and +OCLC * Several practices the on-line environment shares with traditional +publishing on hard copy * Several technical and behavioral barriers to +electronic publishing * How AAAS and OCLC arrived at the subject of +clinical trials * Advantages of the electronic format and other features +of OJCCT * An illustrated tour of the journal * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Maria LEBRON, managing editor, The Online Journal of Current Clinical +Trials (OJCCT), presented an illustrated overview of the history of the +joint project between the American Association for the Advancement of +Science (AAAS) and the Online Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC). The +joint venture between AAAS and OCLC owes its beginning to a +reorganization launched by the new chief executive officer at OCLC about +three years ago and combines the strengths of these two disparate +organizations. In short, OJCCT represents the process of scholarly +publishing on line. + +LEBRON next discussed several practices the on-line environment shares +with traditional publishing on hard copy--for example, peer review of +manuscripts--that are highly important in the academic world. LEBRON +noted in particular the implications of citation counts for tenure +committees and grants committees. In the traditional hard-copy +environment, citation counts are readily demonstrable, whereas the +on-line environment represents an ethereal medium to most academics. + +LEBRON remarked several technical and behavioral barriers to electronic +publishing, for instance, the problems in transmission created by special +characters or by complex graphics and halftones. In addition, she noted +economic limitations such as the storage costs of maintaining back issues +and market or audience education. + +Manuscripts cannot be uploaded to OJCCT, LEBRON explained, because it is +not a bulletin board or E-mail, forms of electronic transmission of +information that have created an ambience clouding people's understanding +of what the journal is attempting to do. OJCCT, which publishes +peer-reviewed medical articles dealing with the subject of clinical +trials, includes text, tabular material, and graphics, although at this +time it can transmit only line illustrations. + +Next, LEBRON described how AAAS and OCLC arrived at the subject of +clinical trials: It is 1) a highly statistical discipline that 2) does +not require halftones but can satisfy the needs of its audience with line +illustrations and graphic material, and 3) there is a need for the speedy +dissemination of high-quality research results. Clinical trials are +research activities that involve the administration of a test treatment +to some experimental unit in order to test its usefulness before it is +made available to the general population. LEBRON proceeded to give +additional information on OJCCT concerning its editor-in-chief, editorial +board, editorial content, and the types of articles it publishes +(including peer-reviewed research reports and reviews), as well as +features shared by other traditional hard-copy journals. + +Among the advantages of the electronic format are faster dissemination of +information, including raw data, and the absence of space constraints +because pages do not exist. (This latter fact creates an interesting +situation when it comes to citations.) Nor are there any issues. AAAS's +capacity to download materials directly from the journal to a +subscriber's printer, hard drive, or floppy disk helps ensure highly +accurate transcription. Other features of OJCCT include on-screen alerts +that allow linkage of subsequently published documents to the original +documents; on-line searching by subject, author, title, etc.; indexing of +every single word that appears in an article; viewing access to an +article by component (abstract, full text, or graphs); numbered +paragraphs to replace page counts; publication in Science every thirty +days of indexing of all articles published in the journal; +typeset-quality screens; and Hypertext links that enable subscribers to +bring up Medline abstracts directly without leaving the journal. + +After detailing the two primary ways to gain access to the journal, +through the OCLC network and Compuserv if one desires graphics or through +the Internet if just an ASCII file is desired, LEBRON illustrated the +speedy editorial process and the coding of the document using SGML tags +after it has been accepted for publication. She also gave an illustrated +tour of the journal, its search-and-retrieval capabilities in particular, +but also including problems associated with scanning in illustrations, +and the importance of on-screen alerts to the medical profession re +retractions or corrections, or more frequently, editorials, letters to +the editors, or follow-up reports. She closed by inviting the audience +to join AAAS on 1 July, when OJCCT was scheduled to go on-line. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * Additional features of OJCCT * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +In the lengthy discussion that followed LEBRON's presentation, these +points emerged: + + * The SGML text can be tailored as users wish. + + * All these articles have a fairly simple document definition. + + * Document-type definitions (DTDs) were developed and given to OJCCT + for coding. + + * No articles will be removed from the journal. (Because there are + no back issues, there are no lost issues either. Once a subscriber + logs onto the journal he or she has access not only to the currently + published materials, but retrospectively to everything that has been + published in it. Thus the table of contents grows bigger. The date + of publication serves to distinguish between currently published + materials and older materials.) + + * The pricing system for the journal resembles that for most medical + journals: for 1992, $95 for a year, plus telecommunications charges + (there are no connect time charges); for 1993, $110 for the + entire year for single users, though the journal can be put on a + local area network (LAN). However, only one person can access the + journal at a time. Site licenses may come in the future. + + * AAAS is working closely with colleagues at OCLC to display + mathematical equations on screen. + + * Without compromising any steps in the editorial process, the + technology has reduced the time lag between when a manuscript is + originally submitted and the time it is accepted; the review process + does not differ greatly from the standard six-to-eight weeks + employed by many of the hard-copy journals. The process still + depends on people. + + * As far as a preservation copy is concerned, articles will be + maintained on the computer permanently and subscribers, as part of + their subscription, will receive a microfiche-quality archival copy + of everything published during that year; in addition, reprints can + be purchased in much the same way as in a hard-copy environment. + Hard copies are prepared but are not the primary medium for the + dissemination of the information. + + * Because OJCCT is not yet on line, it is difficult to know how many + people would simply browse through the journal on the screen as + opposed to downloading the whole thing and printing it out; a mix of + both types of users likely will result. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +PERSONIUS * Developments in technology over the past decade * The CLASS +Project * Advantages for technology and for the CLASS Project * +Developing a network application an underlying assumption of the project +* Details of the scanning process * Print-on-demand copies of books * +Future plans include development of a browsing tool * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Lynne PERSONIUS, assistant director, Cornell Information Technologies for +Scholarly Information Services, Cornell University, first commented on +the tremendous impact that developments in technology over the past ten +years--networking, in particular--have had on the way information is +handled, and how, in her own case, these developments have counterbalanced +Cornell's relative geographical isolation. Other significant technologies +include scanners, which are much more sophisticated than they were ten years +ago; mass storage and the dramatic savings that result from it in terms of +both space and money relative to twenty or thirty years ago; new and +improved printing technologies, which have greatly affected the distribution +of information; and, of course, digital technologies, whose applicability to +library preservation remains at issue. + +Given that context, PERSONIUS described the College Library Access and +Storage System (CLASS) Project, a library preservation project, +primarily, and what has been accomplished. Directly funded by the +Commission on Preservation and Access and by the Xerox Corporation, which +has provided a significant amount of hardware, the CLASS Project has been +working with a development team at Xerox to develop a software +application tailored to library preservation requirements. Within +Cornell, participants in the project have been working jointly with both +library and information technologies. The focus of the project has been +on reformatting and saving books that are in brittle condition. +PERSONIUS showed Workshop participants a brittle book, and described how +such books were the result of developments in papermaking around the +beginning of the Industrial Revolution. The papermaking process was +changed so that a significant amount of acid was introduced into the +actual paper itself, which deteriorates as it sits on library shelves. + +One of the advantages for technology and for the CLASS Project is that +the information in brittle books is mostly out of copyright and thus +offers an opportunity to work with material that requires library +preservation, and to create and work on an infrastructure to save the +material. Acknowledging the familiarity of those working in preservation +with this information, PERSONIUS noted that several things are being +done: the primary preservation technology used today is photocopying of +brittle material. Saving the intellectual content of the material is the +main goal. With microfilm copy, the intellectual content is preserved on +the assumption that in the future the image can be reformatted in any +other way that then exists. + +An underlying assumption of the CLASS Project from the beginning was +that it would develop a network application. Project staff scan books +at a workstation located in the library, near the brittle material. +An image-server filing system is located at a distance from that +workstation, and a printer is located in another building. All of the +materials digitized and stored on the image-filing system are cataloged +in the on-line catalogue. In fact, a record for each of these electronic +books is stored in the RLIN database so that a record exists of what is +in the digital library throughout standard catalogue procedures. In the +future, researchers working from their own workstations in their offices, +or their networks, will have access--wherever they might be--through a +request server being built into the new digital library. A second +assumption is that the preferred means of finding the material will be by +looking through a catalogue. PERSONIUS described the scanning process, +which uses a prototype scanner being developed by Xerox and which scans a +very high resolution image at great speed. Another significant feature, +because this is a preservation application, is the placing of the pages +that fall apart one for one on the platen. Ordinarily, a scanner could +be used with some sort of a document feeder, but because of this +application that is not feasible. Further, because CLASS is a +preservation application, after the paper replacement is made there, a +very careful quality control check is performed. An original book is +compared to the printed copy and verification is made, before proceeding, +that all of the image, all of the information, has been captured. Then, +a new library book is produced: The printed images are rebound by a +commercial binder and a new book is returned to the shelf. +Significantly, the books returned to the library shelves are beautiful +and useful replacements on acid-free paper that should last a long time, +in effect, the equivalent of preservation photocopies. Thus, the project +has a library of digital books. In essence, CLASS is scanning and +storing books as 600 dot-per-inch bit-mapped images, compressed using +Group 4 CCITT (i.e., the French acronym for International Consultative +Committee for Telegraph and Telephone) compression. They are stored as +TIFF files on an optical filing system that is composed of a database +used for searching and locating the books and an optical jukebox that +stores 64 twelve-inch platters. A very-high-resolution printed copy of +these books at 600 dots per inch is created, using a Xerox DocuTech +printer to make the paper replacements on acid-free paper. + +PERSONIUS maintained that the CLASS Project presents an opportunity to +introduce people to books as digital images by using a paper medium. +Books are returned to the shelves while people are also given the ability +to print on demand--to make their own copies of books. (PERSONIUS +distributed copies of an engineering journal published by engineering +students at Cornell around 1900 as an example of what a print-on-demand +copy of material might be like. This very cheap copy would be available +to people to use for their own research purposes and would bridge the gap +between an electronic work and the paper that readers like to have.) +PERSONIUS then attempted to illustrate a very early prototype of +networked access to this digital library. Xerox Corporation has +developed a prototype of a view station that can send images across the +network to be viewed. + +The particular library brought down for demonstration contained two +mathematics books. CLASS is developing and will spend the next year +developing an application that allows people at workstations to browse +the books. Thus, CLASS is developing a browsing tool, on the assumption +that users do not want to read an entire book from a workstation, but +would prefer to be able to look through and decide if they would like to +have a printed copy of it. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * Re retrieval software * "Digital file copyright" * Scanning +rate during production * Autosegmentation * Criteria employed in +selecting books for scanning * Compression and decompression of images * +OCR not precluded * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +During the question-and-answer period that followed her presentation, +PERSONIUS made these additional points: + + * Re retrieval software, Cornell is developing a Unix-based server + as well as clients for the server that support multiple platforms + (Macintosh, IBM and Sun workstations), in the hope that people from + any of those platforms will retrieve books; a further operating + assumption is that standard interfaces will be used as much as + possible, where standards can be put in place, because CLASS + considers this retrieval software a library application and would + like to be able to look at material not only at Cornell but at other + institutions. + + * The phrase "digital file copyright by Cornell University" was + added at the advice of Cornell's legal staff with the caveat that it + probably would not hold up in court. Cornell does not want people + to copy its books and sell them but would like to keep them + available for use in a library environment for library purposes. + + * In production the scanner can scan about 300 pages per hour, + capturing 600 dots per inch. + + * The Xerox software has filters to scan halftone material and avoid + the moire patterns that occur when halftone material is scanned. + Xerox has been working on hardware and software that would enable + the scanner itself to recognize this situation and deal with it + appropriately--a kind of autosegmentation that would enable the + scanner to handle halftone material as well as text on a single page. + + * The books subjected to the elaborate process described above were + selected because CLASS is a preservation project, with the first 500 + books selected coming from Cornell's mathematics collection, because + they were still being heavily used and because, although they were + in need of preservation, the mathematics library and the mathematics + faculty were uncomfortable having them microfilmed. (They wanted a + printed copy.) Thus, these books became a logical choice for this + project. Other books were chosen by the project's selection committees + for experiments with the technology, as well as to meet a demand or need. + + * Images will be decompressed before they are sent over the line; at + this time they are compressed and sent to the image filing system + and then sent to the printer as compressed images; they are returned + to the workstation as compressed 600-dpi images and the workstation + decompresses and scales them for display--an inefficient way to + access the material though it works quite well for printing and + other purposes. + + * CLASS is also decompressing on Macintosh and IBM, a slow process + right now. Eventually, compression and decompression will take + place on an image conversion server. Trade-offs will be made, based + on future performance testing, concerning where the file is + compressed and what resolution image is sent. + + * OCR has not been precluded; images are being stored that have been + scanned at a high resolution, which presumably would suit them well + to an OCR process. Because the material being scanned is about 100 + years old and was printed with less-than-ideal technologies, very + early and preliminary tests have not produced good results. But the + project is capturing an image that is of sufficient resolution to be + subjected to OCR in the future. Moreover, the system architecture + and the system plan have a logical place to store an OCR image if it + has been captured. But that is not being done now. + + ****** + +SESSION III. DISTRIBUTION, NETWORKS, AND NETWORKING: OPTIONS FOR +DISSEMINATION + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +ZICH * Issues pertaining to CD-ROMs * Options for publishing in CD-ROM * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Robert ZICH, special assistant to the associate librarian for special +projects, Library of Congress, and moderator of this session, first noted +the blessed but somewhat awkward circumstance of having four very +distinguished people representing networks and networking or at least +leaning in that direction, while lacking anyone to speak from the +strongest possible background in CD-ROMs. ZICH expressed the hope that +members of the audience would join the discussion. He stressed the +subtitle of this particular session, "Options for Dissemination," and, +concerning CD-ROMs, the importance of determining when it would be wise +to consider dissemination in CD-ROM versus networks. A shopping list of +issues pertaining to CD-ROMs included: the grounds for selecting +commercial publishers, and in-house publication where possible versus +nonprofit or government publication. A similar list for networks +included: determining when one should consider dissemination through a +network, identifying the mechanisms or entities that exist to place items +on networks, identifying the pool of existing networks, determining how a +producer would choose between networks, and identifying the elements of +a business arrangement in a network. + +Options for publishing in CD-ROM: an outside publisher versus +self-publication. If an outside publisher is used, it can be nonprofit, +such as the Government Printing Office (GPO) or the National Technical +Information Service (NTIS), in the case of government. The pros and cons +associated with employing an outside publisher are obvious. Among the +pros, there is no trouble getting accepted. One pays the bill and, in +effect, goes one's way. Among the cons, when one pays an outside +publisher to perform the work, that publisher will perform the work it is +obliged to do, but perhaps without the production expertise and skill in +marketing and dissemination that some would seek. There is the body of +commercial publishers that do possess that kind of expertise in +distribution and marketing but that obviously are selective. In +self-publication, one exercises full control, but then one must handle +matters such as distribution and marketing. Such are some of the options +for publishing in the case of CD-ROM. + +In the case of technical and design issues, which are also important, +there are many matters which many at the Workshop already knew a good +deal about: retrieval system requirements and costs, what to do about +images, the various capabilities and platforms, the trade-offs between +cost and performance, concerns about local-area networkability, +interoperability, etc. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +LYNCH * Creating networked information is different from using networks +as an access or dissemination vehicle * Networked multimedia on a large +scale does not yet work * Typical CD-ROM publication model a two-edged +sword * Publishing information on a CD-ROM in the present world of +immature standards * Contrast between CD-ROM and network pricing * +Examples demonstrated earlier in the day as a set of insular information +gems * Paramount need to link databases * Layering to become increasingly +necessary * Project NEEDS and the issues of information reuse and active +versus passive use * X-Windows as a way of differentiating between +network access and networked information * Barriers to the distribution +of networked multimedia information * Need for good, real-time delivery +protocols * The question of presentation integrity in client-server +computing in the academic world * Recommendations for producing multimedia ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Clifford LYNCH, director, Library Automation, University of California, +opened his talk with the general observation that networked information +constituted a difficult and elusive topic because it is something just +starting to develop and not yet fully understood. LYNCH contended that +creating genuinely networked information was different from using +networks as an access or dissemination vehicle and was more sophisticated +and more subtle. He invited the members of the audience to extrapolate, +from what they heard about the preceding demonstration projects, to what +sort of a world of electronics information--scholarly, archival, +cultural, etc.--they wished to end up with ten or fifteen years from now. +LYNCH suggested that to extrapolate directly from these projects would +produce unpleasant results. + +Putting the issue of CD-ROM in perspective before getting into +generalities on networked information, LYNCH observed that those engaged +in multimedia today who wish to ship a product, so to say, probably do +not have much choice except to use CD-ROM: networked multimedia on a +large scale basically does not yet work because the technology does not +exist. For example, anybody who has tried moving images around over the +Internet knows that this is an exciting touch-and-go process, a +fascinating and fertile area for experimentation, research, and +development, but not something that one can become deeply enthusiastic +about committing to production systems at this time. + +This situation will change, LYNCH said. He differentiated CD-ROM from +the practices that have been followed up to now in distributing data on +CD-ROM. For LYNCH the problem with CD-ROM is not its portability or its +slowness but the two-edged sword of having the retrieval application and +the user interface inextricably bound up with the data, which is the +typical CD-ROM publication model. It is not a case of publishing data +but of distributing a typically stand-alone, typically closed system, +all--software, user interface, and data--on a little disk. Hence, all +the between-disk navigational issues as well as the impossibility in most +cases of integrating data on one disk with that on another. Most CD-ROM +retrieval software does not network very gracefully at present. However, +in the present world of immature standards and lack of understanding of +what network information is or what the ground rules are for creating or +using it, publishing information on a CD-ROM does add value in a very +real sense. + +LYNCH drew a contrast between CD-ROM and network pricing and in doing so +highlighted something bizarre in information pricing. A large +institution such as the University of California has vendors who will +offer to sell information on CD-ROM for a price per year in four digits, +but for the same data (e.g., an abstracting and indexing database) on +magnetic tape, regardless of how many people may use it concurrently, +will quote a price in six digits. + +What is packaged with the CD-ROM in one sense adds value--a complete +access system, not just raw, unrefined information--although it is not +generally perceived that way. This is because the access software, +although it adds value, is viewed by some people, particularly in the +university environment where there is a very heavy commitment to +networking, as being developed in the wrong direction. + +Given that context, LYNCH described the examples demonstrated as a set of +insular information gems--Perseus, for example, offers nicely linked +information, but would be very difficult to integrate with other +databases, that is, to link together seamlessly with other source files +from other sources. It resembles an island, and in this respect is +similar to numerous stand-alone projects that are based on videodiscs, +that is, on the single-workstation concept. + +As scholarship evolves in a network environment, the paramount need will +be to link databases. We must link personal databases to public +databases, to group databases, in fairly seamless ways--which is +extremely difficult in the environments under discussion with copies of +databases proliferating all over the place. + +The notion of layering also struck LYNCH as lurking in several of the +projects demonstrated. Several databases in a sense constitute +information archives without a significant amount of navigation built in. +Educators, critics, and others will want a layered structure--one that +defines or links paths through the layers to allow users to reach +specific points. In LYNCH's view, layering will become increasingly +necessary, and not just within a single resource but across resources +(e.g., tracing mythology and cultural themes across several classics +databases as well as a database of Renaissance culture). This ability to +organize resources, to build things out of multiple other things on the +network or select pieces of it, represented for LYNCH one of the key +aspects of network information. + +Contending that information reuse constituted another significant issue, +LYNCH commended to the audience's attention Project NEEDS (i.e., National +Engineering Education Delivery System). This project's objective is to +produce a database of engineering courseware as well as the components +that can be used to develop new courseware. In a number of the existing +applications, LYNCH said, the issue of reuse (how much one can take apart +and reuse in other applications) was not being well considered. He also +raised the issue of active versus passive use, one aspect of which is +how much information will be manipulated locally by users. Most people, +he argued, may do a little browsing and then will wish to print. LYNCH +was uncertain how these resources would be used by the vast majority of +users in the network environment. + +LYNCH next said a few words about X-Windows as a way of differentiating +between network access and networked information. A number of the +applications demonstrated at the Workshop could be rewritten to use X +across the network, so that one could run them from any X-capable device- +-a workstation, an X terminal--and transact with a database across the +network. Although this opens up access a little, assuming one has enough +network to handle it, it does not provide an interface to develop a +program that conveniently integrates information from multiple databases. +X is a viewing technology that has limits. In a real sense, it is just a +graphical version of remote log-in across the network. X-type applications +represent only one step in the progression towards real access. + +LYNCH next discussed barriers to the distribution of networked multimedia +information. The heart of the problem is a lack of standards to provide +the ability for computers to talk to each other, retrieve information, +and shuffle it around fairly casually. At the moment, little progress is +being made on standards for networked information; for example, present +standards do not cover images, digital voice, and digital video. A +useful tool kit of exchange formats for basic texts is only now being +assembled. The synchronization of content streams (i.e., synchronizing a +voice track to a video track, establishing temporal relations between +different components in a multimedia object) constitutes another issue +for networked multimedia that is just beginning to receive attention. + +Underlying network protocols also need some work; good, real-time +delivery protocols on the Internet do not yet exist. In LYNCH's view, +highly important in this context is the notion of networked digital +object IDs, the ability of one object on the network to point to another +object (or component thereof) on the network. Serious bandwidth issues +also exist. LYNCH was uncertain if billion-bit-per-second networks would +prove sufficient if numerous people ran video in parallel. + +LYNCH concluded by offering an issue for database creators to consider, +as well as several comments about what might constitute good trial +multimedia experiments. In a networked information world the database +builder or service builder (publisher) does not exercise the same +extensive control over the integrity of the presentation; strange +programs "munge" with one's data before the user sees it. Serious +thought must be given to what guarantees integrity of presentation. Part +of that is related to where one draws the boundaries around a networked +information service. This question of presentation integrity in +client-server computing has not been stressed enough in the academic +world, LYNCH argued, though commercial service providers deal with it +regularly. + +Concerning multimedia, LYNCH observed that good multimedia at the moment +is hideously expensive to produce. He recommended producing multimedia +with either very high sale value, or multimedia with a very long life +span, or multimedia that will have a very broad usage base and whose +costs therefore can be amortized among large numbers of users. In this +connection, historical and humanistically oriented material may be a good +place to start, because it tends to have a longer life span than much of +the scientific material, as well as a wider user base. LYNCH noted, for +example, that American Memory fits many of the criteria outlined. He +remarked the extensive discussion about bringing the Internet or the +National Research and Education Network (NREN) into the K-12 environment +as a way of helping the American educational system. + +LYNCH closed by noting that the kinds of applications demonstrated struck +him as excellent justifications of broad-scale networking for K-12, but +that at this time no "killer" application exists to mobilize the K-12 +community to obtain connectivity. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * Dearth of genuinely interesting applications on the network +a slow-changing situation * The issue of the integrity of presentation in +a networked environment * Several reasons why CD-ROM software does not +network * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +During the discussion period that followed LYNCH's presentation, several +additional points were made. + +LYNCH reiterated even more strongly his contention that, historically, +once one goes outside high-end science and the group of those who need +access to supercomputers, there is a great dearth of genuinely +interesting applications on the network. He saw this situation changing +slowly, with some of the scientific databases and scholarly discussion +groups and electronic journals coming on as well as with the availability +of Wide Area Information Servers (WAIS) and some of the databases that +are being mounted there. However, many of those things do not seem to +have piqued great popular interest. For instance, most high school +students of LYNCH's acquaintance would not qualify as devotees of serious +molecular biology. + +Concerning the issue of the integrity of presentation, LYNCH believed +that a couple of information providers have laid down the law at least on +certain things. For example, his recollection was that the National +Library of Medicine feels strongly that one needs to employ the +identifier field if he or she is to mount a database commercially. The +problem with a real networked environment is that one does not know who +is reformatting and reprocessing one's data when one enters a client +server mode. It becomes anybody's guess, for example, if the network +uses a Z39.50 server, or what clients are doing with one's data. A data +provider can say that his contract will only permit clients to have +access to his data after he vets them and their presentation and makes +certain it suits him. But LYNCH held out little expectation that the +network marketplace would evolve in that way, because it required too +much prior negotiation. + +CD-ROM software does not network for a variety of reasons, LYNCH said. +He speculated that CD-ROM publishers are not eager to have their products +really hook into wide area networks, because they fear it will make their +data suppliers nervous. Moreover, until relatively recently, one had to +be rather adroit to run a full TCP/IP stack plus applications on a +PC-size machine, whereas nowadays it is becoming easier as PCs grow +bigger and faster. LYNCH also speculated that software providers had not +heard from their customers until the last year or so, or had not heard +from enough of their customers. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +BESSER * Implications of disseminating images on the network; planning +the distribution of multimedia documents poses two critical +implementation problems * Layered approach represents the way to deal +with users' capabilities * Problems in platform design; file size and its +implications for networking * Transmission of megabyte size images +impractical * Compression and decompression at the user's end * Promising +trends for compression * A disadvantage of using X-Windows * A project at +the Smithsonian that mounts images on several networks * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Howard BESSER, School of Library and Information Science, University of +Pittsburgh, spoke primarily about multimedia, focusing on images and the +broad implications of disseminating them on the network. He argued that +planning the distribution of multimedia documents posed two critical +implementation problems, which he framed in the form of two questions: +1) What platform will one use and what hardware and software will users +have for viewing of the material? and 2) How can one deliver a +sufficiently robust set of information in an accessible format in a +reasonable amount of time? Depending on whether network or CD-ROM is the +medium used, this question raises different issues of storage, +compression, and transmission. + +Concerning the design of platforms (e.g., sound, gray scale, simple +color, etc.) and the various capabilities users may have, BESSER +maintained that a layered approach was the way to deal with users' +capabilities. A result would be that users with less powerful +workstations would simply have less functionality. He urged members of +the audience to advocate standards and accompanying software that handle +layered functionality across a wide variety of platforms. + +BESSER also addressed problems in platform design, namely, deciding how +large a machine to design for situations when the largest number of users +have the lowest level of the machine, and one desires higher +functionality. BESSER then proceeded to the question of file size and +its implications for networking. He discussed still images in the main. +For example, a digital color image that fills the screen of a standard +mega-pel workstation (Sun or Next) will require one megabyte of storage +for an eight-bit image or three megabytes of storage for a true color or +twenty-four-bit image. Lossless compression algorithms (that is, +computational procedures in which no data is lost in the process of +compressing [and decompressing] an image--the exact bit-representation is +maintained) might bring storage down to a third of a megabyte per image, +but not much further than that. The question of size makes it difficult +to fit an appropriately sized set of these images on a single disk or to +transmit them quickly enough on a network. + +With these full screen mega-pel images that constitute a third of a +megabyte, one gets 1,000-3,000 full-screen images on a one-gigabyte disk; +a standard CD-ROM represents approximately 60 percent of that. Storing +images the size of a PC screen (just 8 bit color) increases storage +capacity to 4,000-12,000 images per gigabyte; 60 percent of that gives +one the size of a CD-ROM, which in turn creates a major problem. One +cannot have full-screen, full-color images with lossless compression; one +must compress them or use a lower resolution. For megabyte-size images, +anything slower than a T-1 speed is impractical. For example, on a +fifty-six-kilobaud line, it takes three minutes to transfer a +one-megabyte file, if it is not compressed; and this speed assumes ideal +circumstances (no other user contending for network bandwidth). Thus, +questions of disk access, remote display, and current telephone +connection speed make transmission of megabyte-size images impractical. + +BESSER then discussed ways to deal with these large images, for example, +compression and decompression at the user's end. In this connection, the +issues of how much one is willing to lose in the compression process and +what image quality one needs in the first place are unknown. But what is +known is that compression entails some loss of data. BESSER urged that +more studies be conducted on image quality in different situations, for +example, what kind of images are needed for what kind of disciplines, and +what kind of image quality is needed for a browsing tool, an intermediate +viewing tool, and archiving. + +BESSER remarked two promising trends for compression: from a technical +perspective, algorithms that use what is called subjective redundancy +employ principles from visual psycho-physics to identify and remove +information from the image that the human eye cannot perceive; from an +interchange and interoperability perspective, the JPEG (i.e., Joint +Photographic Experts Group, an ISO standard) compression algorithms also +offer promise. These issues of compression and decompression, BESSER +argued, resembled those raised earlier concerning the design of different +platforms. Gauging the capabilities of potential users constitutes a +primary goal. BESSER advocated layering or separating the images from +the applications that retrieve and display them, to avoid tying them to +particular software. + +BESSER detailed several lessons learned from his work at Berkeley with +Imagequery, especially the advantages and disadvantages of using +X-Windows. In the latter category, for example, retrieval is tied +directly to one's data, an intolerable situation in the long run on a +networked system. Finally, BESSER described a project of Jim Wallace at +the Smithsonian Institution, who is mounting images in a extremely +rudimentary way on the Compuserv and Genie networks and is preparing to +mount them on America On Line. Although the average user takes over +thirty minutes to download these images (assuming a fairly fast modem), +nevertheless, images have been downloaded 25,000 times. + +BESSER concluded his talk with several comments on the business +arrangement between the Smithsonian and Compuserv. He contended that not +enough is known concerning the value of images. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * Creating digitized photographic collections nearly +impossible except with large organizations like museums * Need for study +to determine quality of images users will tolerate * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +During the brief exchange between LESK and BESSER that followed, several +clarifications emerged. + +LESK argued that the photographers were far ahead of BESSER: It is +almost impossible to create such digitized photographic collections +except with large organizations like museums, because all the +photographic agencies have been going crazy about this and will not sign +licensing agreements on any sort of reasonable terms. LESK had heard +that National Geographic, for example, had tried to buy the right to use +some image in some kind of educational production for $100 per image, but +the photographers will not touch it. They want accounting and payment +for each use, which cannot be accomplished within the system. BESSER +responded that a consortium of photographers, headed by a former National +Geographic photographer, had started assembling its own collection of +electronic reproductions of images, with the money going back to the +cooperative. + +LESK contended that BESSER was unnecessarily pessimistic about multimedia +images, because people are accustomed to low-quality images, particularly +from video. BESSER urged the launching of a study to determine what +users would tolerate, what they would feel comfortable with, and what +absolutely is the highest quality they would ever need. Conceding that +he had adopted a dire tone in order to arouse people about the issue, +BESSER closed on a sanguine note by saying that he would not be in this +business if he did not think that things could be accomplished. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +LARSEN * Issues of scalability and modularity * Geometric growth of the +Internet and the role played by layering * Basic functions sustaining +this growth * A library's roles and functions in a network environment * +Effects of implementation of the Z39.50 protocol for information +retrieval on the library system * The trade-off between volumes of data +and its potential usage * A snapshot of current trends * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Ronald LARSEN, associate director for information technology, University +of Maryland at College Park, first addressed the issues of scalability +and modularity. He noted the difficulty of anticipating the effects of +orders-of-magnitude growth, reflecting on the twenty years of experience +with the Arpanet and Internet. Recalling the day's demonstrations of +CD-ROM and optical disk material, he went on to ask if the field has yet +learned how to scale new systems to enable delivery and dissemination +across large-scale networks. + +LARSEN focused on the geometric growth of the Internet from its inception +circa 1969 to the present, and the adjustments required to respond to +that rapid growth. To illustrate the issue of scalability, LARSEN +considered computer networks as including three generic components: +computers, network communication nodes, and communication media. Each +component scales (e.g., computers range from PCs to supercomputers; +network nodes scale from interface cards in a PC through sophisticated +routers and gateways; and communication media range from 2,400-baud +dial-up facilities through 4.5-Mbps backbone links, and eventually to +multigigabit-per-second communication lines), and architecturally, the +components are organized to scale hierarchically from local area networks +to international-scale networks. Such growth is made possible by +building layers of communication protocols, as BESSER pointed out. +By layering both physically and logically, a sense of scalability is +maintained from local area networks in offices, across campuses, through +bridges, routers, campus backbones, fiber-optic links, etc., up into +regional networks and ultimately into national and international +networks. + +LARSEN then illustrated the geometric growth over a two-year period-- +through September 1991--of the number of networks that comprise the +Internet. This growth has been sustained largely by the availability of +three basic functions: electronic mail, file transfer (ftp), and remote +log-on (telnet). LARSEN also reviewed the growth in the kind of traffic +that occurs on the network. Network traffic reflects the joint contributions +of a larger population of users and increasing use per user. Today one sees +serious applications involving moving images across the network--a rarity +ten years ago. LARSEN recalled and concurred with BESSER's main point +that the interesting problems occur at the application level. + +LARSEN then illustrated a model of a library's roles and functions in a +network environment. He noted, in particular, the placement of on-line +catalogues onto the network and patrons obtaining access to the library +increasingly through local networks, campus networks, and the Internet. +LARSEN supported LYNCH's earlier suggestion that we need to address +fundamental questions of networked information in order to build +environments that scale in the information sense as well as in the +physical sense. + +LARSEN supported the role of the library system as the access point into +the nation's electronic collections. Implementation of the Z39.50 +protocol for information retrieval would make such access practical and +feasible. For example, this would enable patrons in Maryland to search +California libraries, or other libraries around the world that are +conformant with Z39.50 in a manner that is familiar to University of +Maryland patrons. This client-server model also supports moving beyond +secondary content into primary content. (The notion of how one links +from secondary content to primary content, LARSEN said, represents a +fundamental problem that requires rigorous thought.) After noting +numerous network experiments in accessing full-text materials, including +projects supporting the ordering of materials across the network, LARSEN +revisited the issue of transmitting high-density, high-resolution color +images across the network and the large amounts of bandwidth they +require. He went on to address the bandwidth and synchronization +problems inherent in sending full-motion video across the network. + +LARSEN illustrated the trade-off between volumes of data in bytes or +orders of magnitude and the potential usage of that data. He discussed +transmission rates (particularly, the time it takes to move various forms +of information), and what one could do with a network supporting +multigigabit-per-second transmission. At the moment, the network +environment includes a composite of data-transmission requirements, +volumes and forms, going from steady to bursty (high-volume) and from +very slow to very fast. This aggregate must be considered in the design, +construction, and operation of multigigabyte networks. + +LARSEN's objective is to use the networks and library systems now being +constructed to increase access to resources wherever they exist, and +thus, to evolve toward an on-line electronic virtual library. + +LARSEN concluded by offering a snapshot of current trends: continuing +geometric growth in network capacity and number of users; slower +development of applications; and glacial development and adoption of +standards. The challenge is to design and develop each new application +system with network access and scalability in mind. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +BROWNRIGG * Access to the Internet cannot be taken for granted * Packet +radio and the development of MELVYL in 1980-81 in the Division of Library +Automation at the University of California * Design criteria for packet +radio * A demonstration project in San Diego and future plans * Spread +spectrum * Frequencies at which the radios will run and plans to +reimplement the WAIS server software in the public domain * Need for an +infrastructure of radios that do not move around * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Edwin BROWNRIGG, executive director, Memex Research Institute, first +polled the audience in order to seek out regular users of the Internet as +well as those planning to use it some time in the future. With nearly +everybody in the room falling into one category or the other, BROWNRIGG +made a point re access, namely that numerous individuals, especially those +who use the Internet every day, take for granted their access to it, the +speeds with which they are connected, and how well it all works. +However, as BROWNRIGG discovered between 1987 and 1989 in Australia, +if one wants access to the Internet but cannot afford it or has some +physical boundary that prevents her or him from gaining access, it can +be extremely frustrating. He suggested that because of economics and +physical barriers we were beginning to create a world of haves and have-nots +in the process of scholarly communication, even in the United States. + +BROWNRIGG detailed the development of MELVYL in academic year 1980-81 in +the Division of Library Automation at the University of California, in +order to underscore the issue of access to the system, which at the +outset was extremely limited. In short, the project needed to build a +network, which at that time entailed use of satellite technology, that is, +putting earth stations on campus and also acquiring some terrestrial links +from the State of California's microwave system. The installation of +satellite links, however, did not solve the problem (which actually +formed part of a larger problem involving politics and financial resources). +For while the project team could get a signal onto a campus, it had no means +of distributing the signal throughout the campus. The solution involved +adopting a recent development in wireless communication called packet radio, +which combined the basic notion of packet-switching with radio. The project +used this technology to get the signal from a point on campus where it +came down, an earth station for example, into the libraries, because it +found that wiring the libraries, especially the older marble buildings, +would cost $2,000-$5,000 per terminal. + +BROWNRIGG noted that, ten years ago, the project had neither the public +policy nor the technology that would have allowed it to use packet radio +in any meaningful way. Since then much had changed. He proceeded to +detail research and development of the technology, how it is being +deployed in California, and what direction he thought it would take. +The design criteria are to produce a high-speed, one-time, low-cost, +high-quality, secure, license-free device (packet radio) that one can +plug in and play today, forget about it, and have access to the Internet. +By high speed, BROWNRIGG meant 1 megabyte and 1.5 megabytes. Those units +have been built, he continued, and are in the process of being +type-certified by an independent underwriting laboratory so that they can +be type-licensed by the Federal Communications Commission. As is the +case with citizens band, one will be able to purchase a unit and not have +to worry about applying for a license. + +The basic idea, BROWNRIGG elaborated, is to take high-speed radio data +transmission and create a backbone network that at certain strategic +points in the network will "gateway" into a medium-speed packet radio +(i.e., one that runs at 38.4 kilobytes), so that perhaps by 1994-1995 +people, like those in the audience for the price of a VCR could purchase +a medium-speed radio for the office or home, have full network connectivity +to the Internet, and partake of all its services, with no need for an FCC +license and no regular bill from the local common carrier. BROWNRIGG +presented several details of a demonstration project currently taking +place in San Diego and described plans, pending funding, to install a +full-bore network in the San Francisco area. This network will have 600 +nodes running at backbone speeds, and 100 of these nodes will be libraries, +which in turn will be the gateway ports to the 38.4 kilobyte radios that +will give coverage for the neighborhoods surrounding the libraries. + +BROWNRIGG next explained Part 15.247, a new rule within Title 47 of the +Code of Federal Regulations enacted by the FCC in 1985. This rule +challenged the industry, which has only now risen to the occasion, to +build a radio that would run at no more than one watt of output power and +use a fairly exotic method of modulating the radio wave called spread +spectrum. Spread spectrum in fact permits the building of networks so +that numerous data communications can occur simultaneously, without +interfering with each other, within the same wide radio channel. + +BROWNRIGG explained that the frequencies at which the radios would run +are very short wave signals. They are well above standard microwave and +radar. With a radio wave that small, one watt becomes a tremendous punch +per bit and thus makes transmission at reasonable speed possible. In +order to minimize the potential for congestion, the project is +undertaking to reimplement software which has been available in the +networking business and is taken for granted now, for example, TCP/IP, +routing algorithms, bridges, and gateways. In addition, the project +plans to take the WAIS server software in the public domain and +reimplement it so that one can have a WAIS server on a Mac instead of a +Unix machine. The Memex Research Institute believes that libraries, in +particular, will want to use the WAIS servers with packet radio. This +project, which has a team of about twelve people, will run through 1993 +and will include the 100 libraries already mentioned as well as other +professionals such as those in the medical profession, engineering, and +law. Thus, the need is to create an infrastructure of radios that do not +move around, which, BROWNRIGG hopes, will solve a problem not only for +libraries but for individuals who, by and large today, do not have access +to the Internet from their homes and offices. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * Project operating frequencies * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +During a brief discussion period, which also concluded the day's +proceedings, BROWNRIGG stated that the project was operating in four +frequencies. The slow speed is operating at 435 megahertz, and it would +later go up to 920 megahertz. With the high-speed frequency, the +one-megabyte radios will run at 2.4 gigabits, and 1.5 will run at 5.7. +At 5.7, rain can be a factor, but it would have to be tropical rain, +unlike what falls in most parts of the United States. + + ****** + +SESSION IV. IMAGE CAPTURE, TEXT CAPTURE, OVERVIEW OF TEXT AND + IMAGE STORAGE FORMATS + +William HOOTON, vice president of operations, I-NET, moderated this session. + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +KENNEY * Factors influencing development of CXP * Advantages of using +digital technology versus photocopy and microfilm * A primary goal of +CXP; publishing challenges * Characteristics of copies printed * Quality +of samples achieved in image capture * Several factors to be considered +in choosing scanning * Emphasis of CXP on timely and cost-effective +production of black-and-white printed facsimiles * Results of producing +microfilm from digital files * Advantages of creating microfilm * Details +concerning production * Costs * Role of digital technology in library +preservation * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Anne KENNEY, associate director, Department of Preservation and +Conservation, Cornell University, opened her talk by observing that the +Cornell Xerox Project (CXP) has been guided by the assumption that the +ability to produce printed facsimiles or to replace paper with paper +would be important, at least for the present generation of users and +equipment. She described three factors that influenced development of +the project: 1) Because the project has emphasized the preservation of +deteriorating brittle books, the quality of what was produced had to be +sufficiently high to return a paper replacement to the shelf. CXP was +only interested in using: 2) a system that was cost-effective, which +meant that it had to be cost-competitive with the processes currently +available, principally photocopy and microfilm, and 3) new or currently +available product hardware and software. + +KENNEY described the advantages that using digital technology offers over +both photocopy and microfilm: 1) The potential exists to create a higher +quality reproduction of a deteriorating original than conventional +light-lens technology. 2) Because a digital image is an encoded +representation, it can be reproduced again and again with no resulting +loss of quality, as opposed to the situation with light-lens processes, +in which there is discernible difference between a second and a +subsequent generation of an image. 3) A digital image can be manipulated +in a number of ways to improve image capture; for example, Xerox has +developed a windowing application that enables one to capture a page +containing both text and illustrations in a manner that optimizes the +reproduction of both. (With light-lens technology, one must choose which +to optimize, text or the illustration; in preservation microfilming, the +current practice is to shoot an illustrated page twice, once to highlight +the text and the second time to provide the best capture for the +illustration.) 4) A digital image can also be edited, density levels +adjusted to remove underlining and stains, and to increase legibility for +faint documents. 5) On-screen inspection can take place at the time of +initial setup and adjustments made prior to scanning, factors that +substantially reduce the number of retakes required in quality control. + +A primary goal of CXP has been to evaluate the paper output printed on +the Xerox DocuTech, a high-speed printer that produces 600-dpi pages from +scanned images at a rate of 135 pages a minute. KENNEY recounted several +publishing challenges to represent faithful and legible reproductions of +the originals that the 600-dpi copy for the most part successfully +captured. For example, many of the deteriorating volumes in the project +were heavily illustrated with fine line drawings or halftones or came in +languages such as Japanese, in which the buildup of characters comprised +of varying strokes is difficult to reproduce at lower resolutions; a +surprising number of them came with annotations and mathematical +formulas, which it was critical to be able to duplicate exactly. + +KENNEY noted that 1) the copies are being printed on paper that meets the +ANSI standards for performance, 2) the DocuTech printer meets the machine +and toner requirements for proper adhesion of print to page, as described +by the National Archives, and thus 3) paper product is considered to be +the archival equivalent of preservation photocopy. + +KENNEY then discussed several samples of the quality achieved in the +project that had been distributed in a handout, for example, a copy of a +print-on-demand version of the 1911 Reed lecture on the steam turbine, +which contains halftones, line drawings, and illustrations embedded in +text; the first four loose pages in the volume compared the capture +capabilities of scanning to photocopy for a standard test target, the +IEEE standard 167A 1987 test chart. In all instances scanning proved +superior to photocopy, though only slightly more so in one. + +Conceding the simplistic nature of her review of the quality of scanning +to photocopy, KENNEY described it as one representation of the kinds of +settings that could be used with scanning capabilities on the equipment +CXP uses. KENNEY also pointed out that CXP investigated the quality +achieved with binary scanning only, and noted the great promise in gray +scale and color scanning, whose advantages and disadvantages need to be +examined. She argued further that scanning resolutions and file formats +can represent a complex trade-off between the time it takes to capture +material, file size, fidelity to the original, and on-screen display; and +printing and equipment availability. All these factors must be taken +into consideration. + +CXP placed primary emphasis on the production in a timely and +cost-effective manner of printed facsimiles that consisted largely of +black-and-white text. With binary scanning, large files may be +compressed efficiently and in a lossless manner (i.e., no data is lost in +the process of compressing [and decompressing] an image--the exact +bit-representation is maintained) using Group 4 CCITT (i.e., the French +acronym for International Consultative Committee for Telegraph and +Telephone) compression. CXP was getting compression ratios of about +forty to one. Gray-scale compression, which primarily uses JPEG, is much +less economical and can represent a lossy compression (i.e., not +lossless), so that as one compresses and decompresses, the illustration +is subtly changed. While binary files produce a high-quality printed +version, it appears 1) that other combinations of spatial resolution with +gray and/or color hold great promise as well, and 2) that gray scale can +represent a tremendous advantage for on-screen viewing. The quality +associated with binary and gray scale also depends on the equipment used. +For instance, binary scanning produces a much better copy on a binary +printer. + +Among CXP's findings concerning the production of microfilm from digital +files, KENNEY reported that the digital files for the same Reed lecture +were used to produce sample film using an electron beam recorder. The +resulting film was faithful to the image capture of the digital files, +and while CXP felt that the text and image pages represented in the Reed +lecture were superior to that of the light-lens film, the resolution +readings for the 600 dpi were not as high as standard microfilming. +KENNEY argued that the standards defined for light-lens technology are +not totally transferable to a digital environment. Moreover, they are +based on definition of quality for a preservation copy. Although making +this case will prove to be a long, uphill struggle, CXP plans to continue +to investigate the issue over the course of the next year. + +KENNEY concluded this portion of her talk with a discussion of the +advantages of creating film: it can serve as a primary backup and as a +preservation master to the digital file; it could then become the print +or production master and service copies could be paper, film, optical +disks, magnetic media, or on-screen display. + +Finally, KENNEY presented details re production: + + * Development and testing of a moderately-high resolution production + scanning workstation represented a third goal of CXP; to date, 1,000 + volumes have been scanned, or about 300,000 images. + + * The resulting digital files are stored and used to produce + hard-copy replacements for the originals and additional prints on + demand; although the initial costs are high, scanning technology + offers an affordable means for reformatting brittle material. + + * A technician in production mode can scan 300 pages per hour when + performing single-sheet scanning, which is a necessity when working + with truly brittle paper; this figure is expected to increase + significantly with subsequent iterations of the software from Xerox; + a three-month time-and-cost study of scanning found that the average + 300-page book would take about an hour and forty minutes to scan + (this figure included the time for setup, which involves keying in + primary bibliographic data, going into quality control mode to + define page size, establishing front-to-back registration, and + scanning sample pages to identify a default range of settings for + the entire book--functions not dissimilar to those performed by + filmers or those preparing a book for photocopy). + + * The final step in the scanning process involved rescans, which + happily were few and far between, representing well under 1 percent + of the total pages scanned. + +In addition to technician time, CXP costed out equipment, amortized over +four years, the cost of storing and refreshing the digital files every +four years, and the cost of printing and binding, book-cloth binding, a +paper reproduction. The total amounted to a little under $65 per single +300-page volume, with 30 percent overhead included--a figure competitive +with the prices currently charged by photocopy vendors. + +Of course, with scanning, in addition to the paper facsimile, one is left +with a digital file from which subsequent copies of the book can be +produced for a fraction of the cost of photocopy, with readers afforded +choices in the form of these copies. + +KENNEY concluded that digital technology offers an electronic means for a +library preservation effort to pay for itself. If a brittle-book program +included the means of disseminating reprints of books that are in demand +by libraries and researchers alike, the initial investment in capture +could be recovered and used to preserve additional but less popular +books. She disclosed that an economic model for a self-sustaining +program could be developed for CXP's report to the Commission on +Preservation and Access (CPA). + +KENNEY stressed that the focus of CXP has been on obtaining high quality +in a production environment. The use of digital technology is viewed as +an affordable alternative to other reformatting options. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +ANDRE * Overview and history of NATDP * Various agricultural CD-ROM +products created inhouse and by service bureaus * Pilot project on +Internet transmission * Additional products in progress * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Pamela ANDRE, associate director for automation, National Agricultural +Text Digitizing Program (NATDP), National Agricultural Library (NAL), +presented an overview of NATDP, which has been underway at NAL the last +four years, before Judith ZIDAR discussed the technical details. ANDRE +defined agricultural information as a broad range of material going from +basic and applied research in the hard sciences to the one-page pamphlets +that are distributed by the cooperative state extension services on such +things as how to grow blueberries. + +NATDP began in late 1986 with a meeting of representatives from the +land-grant library community to deal with the issue of electronic +information. NAL and forty-five of these libraries banded together to +establish this project--to evaluate the technology for converting what +were then source documents in paper form into electronic form, to provide +access to that digital information, and then to distribute it. +Distributing that material to the community--the university community as +well as the extension service community, potentially down to the county +level--constituted the group's chief concern. + +Since January 1988 (when the microcomputer-based scanning system was +installed at NAL), NATDP has done a variety of things, concerning which +ZIDAR would provide further details. For example, the first technology +considered in the project's discussion phase was digital videodisc, which +indicates how long ago it was conceived. + +Over the four years of this project, four separate CD-ROM products on +four different agricultural topics were created, two at a +scanning-and-OCR station installed at NAL, and two by service bureaus. +Thus, NATDP has gained comparative information in terms of those relative +costs. Each of these products contained the full ASCII text as well as +page images of the material, or between 4,000 and 6,000 pages of material +on these disks. Topics included aquaculture, food, agriculture and +science (i.e., international agriculture and research), acid rain, and +Agent Orange, which was the final product distributed (approximately +eighteen months before the Workshop). + +The third phase of NATDP focused on delivery mechanisms other than +CD-ROM. At the suggestion of Clifford LYNCH, who was a technical +consultant to the project at this point, NATDP became involved with the +Internet and initiated a project with the help of North Carolina State +University, in which fourteen of the land-grant university libraries are +transmitting digital images over the Internet in response to interlibrary +loan requests--a topic for another meeting. At this point, the pilot +project had been completed for about a year and the final report would be +available shortly after the Workshop. In the meantime, the project's +success had led to its extension. (ANDRE noted that one of the first +things done under the program title was to select a retrieval package to +use with subsequent products; Windows Personal Librarian was the package +of choice after a lengthy evaluation.) + +Three additional products had been planned and were in progress: + + 1) An arrangement with the American Society of Agronomy--a + professional society that has published the Agronomy Journal since + about 1908--to scan and create bit-mapped images of its journal. + ASA granted permission first to put and then to distribute this + material in electronic form, to hold it at NAL, and to use these + electronic images as a mechanism to deliver documents or print out + material for patrons, among other uses. Effectively, NAL has the + right to use this material in support of its program. + (Significantly, this arrangement offers a potential cooperative + model for working with other professional societies in agriculture + to try to do the same thing--put the journals of particular interest + to agriculture research into electronic form.) + + 2) An extension of the earlier product on aquaculture. + + 3) The George Washington Carver Papers--a joint project with + Tuskegee University to scan and convert from microfilm some 3,500 + images of Carver's papers, letters, and drawings. + +It was anticipated that all of these products would appear no more than +six months after the Workshop. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +ZIDAR * (A separate arena for scanning) * Steps in creating a database * +Image capture, with and without performing OCR * Keying in tracking data +* Scanning, with electronic and manual tracking * Adjustments during +scanning process * Scanning resolutions * Compression * De-skewing and +filtering * Image capture from microform: the papers and letters of +George Washington Carver * Equipment used for a scanning system * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Judith ZIDAR, coordinator, National Agricultural Text Digitizing Program +(NATDP), National Agricultural Library (NAL), illustrated the technical +details of NATDP, including her primary responsibility, scanning and +creating databases on a topic and putting them on CD-ROM. + +(ZIDAR remarked a separate arena from the CD-ROM projects, although the +processing of the material is nearly identical, in which NATDP is also +scanning material and loading it on a Next microcomputer, which in turn +is linked to NAL's integrated library system. Thus, searches in NAL's +bibliographic database will enable people to pull up actual page images +and text for any documents that have been entered.) + +In accordance with the session's topic, ZIDAR focused her illustrated +talk on image capture, offering a primer on the three main steps in the +process: 1) assemble the printed publications; 2) design the database +(database design occurs in the process of preparing the material for +scanning; this step entails reviewing and organizing the material, +defining the contents--what will constitute a record, what kinds of +fields will be captured in terms of author, title, etc.); 3) perform a +certain amount of markup on the paper publications. NAL performs this +task record by record, preparing work sheets or some other sort of +tracking material and designing descriptors and other enhancements to be +added to the data that will not be captured from the printed publication. +Part of this process also involves determining NATDP's file and directory +structure: NATDP attempts to avoid putting more than approximately 100 +images in a directory, because placing more than that on a CD-ROM would +reduce the access speed. + +This up-front process takes approximately two weeks for a +6,000-7,000-page database. The next step is to capture the page images. +How long this process takes is determined by the decision whether or not +to perform OCR. Not performing OCR speeds the process, whereas text +capture requires greater care because of the quality of the image: it +has to be straighter and allowance must be made for text on a page, not +just for the capture of photographs. + +NATDP keys in tracking data, that is, a standard bibliographic record +including the title of the book and the title of the chapter, which will +later either become the access information or will be attached to the +front of a full-text record so that it is searchable. + +Images are scanned from a bound or unbound publication, chiefly from +bound publications in the case of NATDP, however, because often they are +the only copies and the publications are returned to the shelves. NATDP +usually scans one record at a time, because its database tracking system +tracks the document in that way and does not require further logical +separating of the images. After performing optical character +recognition, NATDP moves the images off the hard disk and maintains a +volume sheet. Though the system tracks electronically, all the +processing steps are also tracked manually with a log sheet. + +ZIDAR next illustrated the kinds of adjustments that one can make when +scanning from paper and microfilm, for example, redoing images that need +special handling, setting for dithering or gray scale, and adjusting for +brightness or for the whole book at one time. + +NATDP is scanning at 300 dots per inch, a standard scanning resolution. +Though adequate for capturing text that is all of a standard size, 300 +dpi is unsuitable for any kind of photographic material or for very small +text. Many scanners allow for different image formats, TIFF, of course, +being a de facto standard. But if one intends to exchange images with +other people, the ability to scan other image formats, even if they are +less common, becomes highly desirable. + +CCITT Group 4 is the standard compression for normal black-and-white +images, JPEG for gray scale or color. ZIDAR recommended 1) using the +standard compressions, particularly if one attempts to make material +available and to allow users to download images and reuse them from +CD-ROMs; and 2) maintaining the ability to output an uncompressed image, +because in image exchange uncompressed images are more likely to be able +to cross platforms. + +ZIDAR emphasized the importance of de-skewing and filtering as +requirements on NATDP's upgraded system. For instance, scanning bound +books, particularly books published by the federal government whose pages +are skewed, and trying to scan them straight if OCR is to be performed, +is extremely time-consuming. The same holds for filtering of +poor-quality or older materials. + +ZIDAR described image capture from microform, using as an example three +reels from a sixty-seven-reel set of the papers and letters of George +Washington Carver that had been produced by Tuskegee University. These +resulted in approximately 3,500 images, which NATDP had had scanned by +its service contractor, Science Applications International Corporation +(SAIC). NATDP also created bibliographic records for access. (NATDP did +not have such specialized equipment as a microfilm scanner. + +Unfortunately, the process of scanning from microfilm was not an +unqualified success, ZIDAR reported: because microfilm frame sizes vary, +occasionally some frames were missed, which without spending much time +and money could not be recaptured. + +OCR could not be performed from the scanned images of the frames. The +bleeding in the text simply output text, when OCR was run, that could not +even be edited. NATDP tested for negative versus positive images, +landscape versus portrait orientation, and single- versus dual-page +microfilm, none of which seemed to affect the quality of the image; but +also on none of them could OCR be performed. + +In selecting the microfilm they would use, therefore, NATDP had other +factors in mind. ZIDAR noted two factors that influenced the quality of +the images: 1) the inherent quality of the original and 2) the amount of +size reduction on the pages. + +The Carver papers were selected because they are informative and visually +interesting, treat a single subject, and are valuable in their own right. +The images were scanned and divided into logical records by SAIC, then +delivered, and loaded onto NATDP's system, where bibliographic +information taken directly from the images was added. Scanning was +completed in summer 1991 and by the end of summer 1992 the disk was +scheduled to be published. + +Problems encountered during processing included the following: Because +the microfilm scanning had to be done in a batch, adjustment for +individual page variations was not possible. The frame size varied on +account of the nature of the material, and therefore some of the frames +were missed while others were just partial frames. The only way to go +back and capture this material was to print out the page with the +microfilm reader from the missing frame and then scan it in from the +page, which was extremely time-consuming. The quality of the images +scanned from the printout of the microfilm compared unfavorably with that +of the original images captured directly from the microfilm. The +inability to perform OCR also was a major disappointment. At the time, +computer output microfilm was unavailable to test. + +The equipment used for a scanning system was the last topic addressed by +ZIDAR. The type of equipment that one would purchase for a scanning +system included: a microcomputer, at least a 386, but preferably a 486; +a large hard disk, 380 megabyte at minimum; a multi-tasking operating +system that allows one to run some things in batch in the background +while scanning or doing text editing, for example, Unix or OS/2 and, +theoretically, Windows; a high-speed scanner and scanning software that +allows one to make the various adjustments mentioned earlier; a +high-resolution monitor (150 dpi ); OCR software and hardware to perform +text recognition; an optical disk subsystem on which to archive all the +images as the processing is done; file management and tracking software. + +ZIDAR opined that the software one purchases was more important than the +hardware and might also cost more than the hardware, but it was likely to +prove critical to the success or failure of one's system. In addition to +a stand-alone scanning workstation for image capture, then, text capture +requires one or two editing stations networked to this scanning station +to perform editing. Editing the text takes two or three times as long as +capturing the images. + +Finally, ZIDAR stressed the importance of buying an open system that allows +for more than one vendor, complies with standards, and can be upgraded. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +WATERS *Yale University Library's master plan to convert microfilm to +digital imagery (POB) * The place of electronic tools in the library of +the future * The uses of images and an image library * Primary input from +preservation microfilm * Features distinguishing POB from CXP and key +hypotheses guiding POB * Use of vendor selection process to facilitate +organizational work * Criteria for selecting vendor * Finalists and +results of process for Yale * Key factor distinguishing vendors * +Components, design principles, and some estimated costs of POB * Role of +preservation materials in developing imaging market * Factors affecting +quality and cost * Factors affecting the usability of complex documents +in image form * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Donald WATERS, head of the Systems Office, Yale University Library, +reported on the progress of a master plan for a project at Yale to +convert microfilm to digital imagery, Project Open Book (POB). Stating +that POB was in an advanced stage of planning, WATERS detailed, in +particular, the process of selecting a vendor partner and several key +issues under discussion as Yale prepares to move into the project itself. +He commented first on the vision that serves as the context of POB and +then described its purpose and scope. + +WATERS sees the library of the future not necessarily as an electronic +library but as a place that generates, preserves, and improves for its +clients ready access to both intellectual and physical recorded +knowledge. Electronic tools must find a place in the library in the +context of this vision. Several roles for electronic tools include +serving as: indirect sources of electronic knowledge or as "finding" +aids (the on-line catalogues, the article-level indices, registers for +documents and archives); direct sources of recorded knowledge; full-text +images; and various kinds of compound sources of recorded knowledge (the +so-called compound documents of Hypertext, mixed text and image, +mixed-text image format, and multimedia). + +POB is looking particularly at images and an image library, the uses to +which images will be put (e.g., storage, printing, browsing, and then use +as input for other processes), OCR as a subsequent process to image +capture, or creating an image library, and also possibly generating +microfilm. + +While input will come from a variety of sources, POB is considering +especially input from preservation microfilm. A possible outcome is that +the film and paper which provide the input for the image library +eventually may go off into remote storage, and that the image library may +be the primary access tool. + +The purpose and scope of POB focus on imaging. Though related to CXP, +POB has two features which distinguish it: 1) scale--conversion of +10,000 volumes into digital image form; and 2) source--conversion from +microfilm. Given these features, several key working hypotheses guide +POB, including: 1) Since POB is using microfilm, it is not concerned with +the image library as a preservation medium. 2) Digital imagery can improve +access to recorded knowledge through printing and network distribution at +a modest incremental cost of microfilm. 3) Capturing and storing documents +in a digital image form is necessary to further improvements in access. +(POB distinguishes between the imaging, digitizing process and OCR, +which at this stage it does not plan to perform.) + +Currently in its first or organizational phase, POB found that it could +use a vendor selection process to facilitate a good deal of the +organizational work (e.g., creating a project team and advisory board, +confirming the validity of the plan, establishing the cost of the project +and a budget, selecting the materials to convert, and then raising the +necessary funds). + +POB developed numerous selection criteria, including: a firm committed +to image-document management, the ability to serve as systems integrator +in a large-scale project over several years, interest in developing the +requisite software as a standard rather than a custom product, and a +willingness to invest substantial resources in the project itself. + +Two vendors, DEC and Xerox, were selected as finalists in October 1991, +and with the support of the Commission on Preservation and Access, each +was commissioned to generate a detailed requirements analysis for the +project and then to submit a formal proposal for the completion of the +project, which included a budget and costs. The terms were that POB would +pay the loser. The results for Yale of involving a vendor included: +broad involvement of Yale staff across the board at a relatively low +cost, which may have long-term significance in carrying out the project +(twenty-five to thirty university people are engaged in POB); better +understanding of the factors that affect corporate response to markets +for imaging products; a competitive proposal; and a more sophisticated +view of the imaging markets. + +The most important factor that distinguished the vendors under +consideration was their identification with the customer. The size and +internal complexity of the company also was an important factor. POB was +looking at large companies that had substantial resources. In the end, +the process generated for Yale two competitive proposals, with Xerox's +the clear winner. WATERS then described the components of the proposal, +the design principles, and some of the costs estimated for the process. + +Components are essentially four: a conversion subsystem, a +network-accessible storage subsystem for 10,000 books (and POB expects +200 to 600 dpi storage), browsing stations distributed on the campus +network, and network access to the image printers. + +Among the design principles, POB wanted conversion at the highest +possible resolution. Assuming TIFF files, TIFF files with Group 4 +compression, TCP/IP, and ethernet network on campus, POB wanted a +client-server approach with image documents distributed to the +workstations and made accessible through native workstation interfaces +such as Windows. POB also insisted on a phased approach to +implementation: 1) a stand-alone, single-user, low-cost entry into the +business with a workstation focused on conversion and allowing POB to +explore user access; 2) movement into a higher-volume conversion with +network-accessible storage and multiple access stations; and 3) a +high-volume conversion, full-capacity storage, and multiple browsing +stations distributed throughout the campus. + +The costs proposed for start-up assumed the existence of the Yale network +and its two DocuTech image printers. Other start-up costs are estimated +at $1 million over the three phases. At the end of the project, the annual +operating costs estimated primarily for the software and hardware proposed +come to about $60,000, but these exclude costs for labor needed in the +conversion process, network and printer usage, and facilities management. + +Finally, the selection process produced for Yale a more sophisticated +view of the imaging markets: the management of complex documents in +image form is not a preservation problem, not a library problem, but a +general problem in a broad, general industry. Preservation materials are +useful for developing that market because of the qualities of the +material. For example, much of it is out of copyright. The resolution +of key issues such as the quality of scanning and image browsing also +will affect development of that market. + +The technology is readily available but changing rapidly. In this +context of rapid change, several factors affect quality and cost, to +which POB intends to pay particular attention, for example, the various +levels of resolution that can be achieved. POB believes it can bring +resolution up to 600 dpi, but an interpolation process from 400 to 600 is +more likely. The variation quality in microfilm will prove to be a +highly important factor. POB may reexamine the standards used to film in +the first place by looking at this process as a follow-on to microfilming. + +Other important factors include: the techniques available to the +operator for handling material, the ways of integrating quality control +into the digitizing work flow, and a work flow that includes indexing and +storage. POB's requirement was to be able to deal with quality control +at the point of scanning. Thus, thanks to Xerox, POB anticipates having +a mechanism which will allow it not only to scan in batch form, but to +review the material as it goes through the scanner and control quality +from the outset. + +The standards for measuring quality and costs depend greatly on the uses +of the material, including subsequent OCR, storage, printing, and +browsing. But especially at issue for POB is the facility for browsing. +This facility, WATERS said, is perhaps the weakest aspect of imaging +technology and the most in need of development. + +A variety of factors affect the usability of complex documents in image +form, among them: 1) the ability of the system to handle the full range +of document types, not just monographs but serials, multi-part +monographs, and manuscripts; 2) the location of the database of record +for bibliographic information about the image document, which POB wants +to enter once and in the most useful place, the on-line catalog; 3) a +document identifier for referencing the bibliographic information in one +place and the images in another; 4) the technique for making the basic +internal structure of the document accessible to the reader; and finally, +5) the physical presentation on the CRT of those documents. POB is ready +to complete this phase now. One last decision involves deciding which +material to scan. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * TIFF files constitute de facto standard * NARA's experience +with image conversion software and text conversion * RFC 1314 * +Considerable flux concerning available hardware and software solutions * +NAL through-put rate during scanning * Window management questions * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +In the question-and-answer period that followed WATERS's presentation, +the following points emerged: + + * ZIDAR's statement about using TIFF files as a standard meant de + facto standard. This is what most people use and typically exchange + with other groups, across platforms, or even occasionally across + display software. + + * HOLMES commented on the unsuccessful experience of NARA in + attempting to run image-conversion software or to exchange between + applications: What are supposedly TIFF files go into other software + that is supposed to be able to accept TIFF but cannot recognize the + format and cannot deal with it, and thus renders the exchange + useless. Re text conversion, he noted the different recognition + rates obtained by substituting the make and model of scanners in + NARA's recent test of an "intelligent" character-recognition product + for a new company. In the selection of hardware and software, + HOLMES argued, software no longer constitutes the overriding factor + it did until about a year ago; rather it is perhaps important to + look at both now. + + * Danny Cohen and Alan Katz of the University of Southern California + Information Sciences Institute began circulating as an Internet RFC + (RFC 1314) about a month ago a standard for a TIFF interchange + format for Internet distribution of monochrome bit-mapped images, + which LYNCH said he believed would be used as a de facto standard. + + * FLEISCHHAUER's impression from hearing these reports and thinking + about AM's experience was that there is considerable flux concerning + available hardware and software solutions. HOOTON agreed and + commented at the same time on ZIDAR's statement that the equipment + employed affects the results produced. One cannot draw a complete + conclusion by saying it is difficult or impossible to perform OCR + from scanning microfilm, for example, with that device, that set of + parameters, and system requirements, because numerous other people + are accomplishing just that, using other components, perhaps. + HOOTON opined that both the hardware and the software were highly + important. Most of the problems discussed today have been solved in + numerous different ways by other people. Though it is good to be + cognizant of various experiences, this is not to say that it will + always be thus. + + * At NAL, the through-put rate of the scanning process for paper, + page by page, performing OCR, ranges from 300 to 600 pages per day; + not performing OCR is considerably faster, although how much faster + is not known. This is for scanning from bound books, which is much + slower. + + * WATERS commented on window management questions: DEC proposed an + X-Windows solution which was problematical for two reasons. One was + POB's requirement to be able to manipulate images on the workstation + and bring them down to the workstation itself and the other was + network usage. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +THOMA * Illustration of deficiencies in scanning and storage process * +Image quality in this process * Different costs entailed by better image +quality * Techniques for overcoming various de-ficiencies: fixed +thresholding, dynamic thresholding, dithering, image merge * Page edge +effects * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +George THOMA, chief, Communications Engineering Branch, National Library +of Medicine (NLM), illustrated several of the deficiencies discussed by +the previous speakers. He introduced the topic of special problems by +noting the advantages of electronic imaging. For example, it is regenerable +because it is a coded file, and real-time quality control is possible with +electronic capture, whereas in photographic capture it is not. + +One of the difficulties discussed in the scanning and storage process was +image quality which, without belaboring the obvious, means different +things for maps, medical X-rays, or broadcast television. In the case of +documents, THOMA said, image quality boils down to legibility of the +textual parts, and fidelity in the case of gray or color photo print-type +material. Legibility boils down to scan density, the standard in most +cases being 300 dpi. Increasing the resolution with scanners that +perform 600 or 1200 dpi, however, comes at a cost. + +Better image quality entails at least four different kinds of costs: 1) +equipment costs, because the CCD (i.e., charge-couple device) with +greater number of elements costs more; 2) time costs that translate to +the actual capture costs, because manual labor is involved (the time is +also dependent on the fact that more data has to be moved around in the +machine in the scanning or network devices that perform the scanning as +well as the storage); 3) media costs, because at high resolutions larger +files have to be stored; and 4) transmission costs, because there is just +more data to be transmitted. + +But while resolution takes care of the issue of legibility in image +quality, other deficiencies have to do with contrast and elements on the +page scanned or the image that needed to be removed or clarified. Thus, +THOMA proceeded to illustrate various deficiencies, how they are +manifested, and several techniques to overcome them. + +Fixed thresholding was the first technique described, suitable for +black-and-white text, when the contrast does not vary over the page. One +can have many different threshold levels in scanning devices. Thus, +THOMA offered an example of extremely poor contrast, which resulted from +the fact that the stock was a heavy red. This is the sort of image that +when microfilmed fails to provide any legibility whatsoever. Fixed +thresholding is the way to change the black-to-red contrast to the +desired black-to-white contrast. + +Other examples included material that had been browned or yellowed by +age. This was also a case of contrast deficiency, and correction was +done by fixed thresholding. A final example boils down to the same +thing, slight variability, but it is not significant. Fixed thresholding +solves this problem as well. The microfilm equivalent is certainly legible, +but it comes with dark areas. Though THOMA did not have a slide of the +microfilm in this case, he did show the reproduced electronic image. + +When one has variable contrast over a page or the lighting over the page +area varies, especially in the case where a bound volume has light +shining on it, the image must be processed by a dynamic thresholding +scheme. One scheme, dynamic averaging, allows the threshold level not to +be fixed but to be recomputed for every pixel from the neighboring +characteristics. The neighbors of a pixel determine where the threshold +should be set for that pixel. + +THOMA showed an example of a page that had been made deficient by a +variety of techniques, including a burn mark, coffee stains, and a yellow +marker. Application of a fixed-thresholding scheme, THOMA argued, might +take care of several deficiencies on the page but not all of them. +Performing the calculation for a dynamic threshold setting, however, +removes most of the deficiencies so that at least the text is legible. + +Another problem is representing a gray level with black-and-white pixels +by a process known as dithering or electronic screening. But dithering +does not provide good image quality for pure black-and-white textual +material. THOMA illustrated this point with examples. Although its +suitability for photoprint is the reason for electronic screening or +dithering, it cannot be used for every compound image. In the document +that was distributed by CXP, THOMA noticed that the dithered image of the +IEEE test chart evinced some deterioration in the text. He presented an +extreme example of deterioration in the text in which compounded +documents had to be set right by other techniques. The technique +illustrated by the present example was an image merge in which the page +is scanned twice and the settings go from fixed threshold to the +dithering matrix; the resulting images are merged to give the best +results with each technique. + +THOMA illustrated how dithering is also used in nonphotographic or +nonprint materials with an example of a grayish page from a medical text, +which was reproduced to show all of the gray that appeared in the +original. Dithering provided a reproduction of all the gray in the +original of another example from the same text. + +THOMA finally illustrated the problem of bordering, or page-edge, +effects. Books and bound volumes that are placed on a photocopy machine +or a scanner produce page-edge effects that are undesirable for two +reasons: 1) the aesthetics of the image; after all, if the image is to +be preserved, one does not necessarily want to keep all of its +deficiencies; 2) compression (with the bordering problem THOMA +illustrated, the compression ratio deteriorated tremendously). One way +to eliminate this more serious problem is to have the operator at the +point of scanning window the part of the image that is desirable and +automatically turn all of the pixels out of that picture to white. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +FLEISCHHAUER * AM's experience with scanning bound materials * Dithering +* ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Carl FLEISCHHAUER, coordinator, American Memory, Library of Congress, +reported AM's experience with scanning bound materials, which he likened +to the problems involved in using photocopying machines. Very few +devices in the industry offer book-edge scanning, let alone book cradles. +The problem may be unsolvable, FLEISCHHAUER said, because a large enough +market does not exist for a preservation-quality scanner. AM is using a +Kurzweil scanner, which is a book-edge scanner now sold by Xerox. + +Devoting the remainder of his brief presentation to dithering, +FLEISCHHAUER related AM's experience with a contractor who was using +unsophisticated equipment and software to reduce moire patterns from +printed halftones. AM took the same image and used the dithering +algorithm that forms part of the same Kurzweil Xerox scanner; it +disguised moire patterns much more effectively. + +FLEISCHHAUER also observed that dithering produces a binary file which is +useful for numerous purposes, for example, printing it on a laser printer +without having to "re-halftone" it. But it tends to defeat efficient +compression, because the very thing that dithers to reduce moire patterns +also tends to work against compression schemes. AM thought the +difference in image quality was worth it. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * Relative use as a criterion for POB's selection of books to +be converted into digital form * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +During the discussion period, WATERS noted that one of the criteria for +selecting books among the 10,000 to be converted into digital image form +would be how much relative use they would receive--a subject still +requiring evaluation. The challenge will be to understand whether +coherent bodies of material will increase usage or whether POB should +seek material that is being used, scan that, and make it more accessible. +POB might decide to digitize materials that are already heavily used, in +order to make them more accessible and decrease wear on them. Another +approach would be to provide a large body of intellectually coherent +material that may be used more in digital form than it is currently used +in microfilm. POB would seek material that was out of copyright. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +BARONAS * Origin and scope of AIIM * Types of documents produced in +AIIM's standards program * Domain of AIIM's standardization work * AIIM's +structure * TC 171 and MS23 * Electronic image management standards * +Categories of EIM standardization where AIIM standards are being +developed * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Jean BARONAS, senior manager, Department of Standards and Technology, +Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM), described the +not-for-profit association and the national and international programs +for standardization in which AIIM is active. + +Accredited for twenty-five years as the nation's standards development +organization for document image management, AIIM began life in a library +community developing microfilm standards. Today the association +maintains both its library and business-image management standardization +activities--and has moved into electronic image-management +standardization (EIM). + +BARONAS defined the program's scope. AIIM deals with: 1) the +terminology of standards and of the technology it uses; 2) methods of +measurement for the systems, as well as quality; 3) methodologies for +users to evaluate and measure quality; 4) the features of apparatus used +to manage and edit images; and 5) the procedures used to manage images. + +BARONAS noted that three types of documents are produced in the AIIM +standards program: the first two, accredited by the American National +Standards Institute (ANSI), are standards and standard recommended +practices. Recommended practices differ from standards in that they +contain more tutorial information. A technical report is not an ANSI +standard. Because AIIM's policies and procedures for developing +standards are approved by ANSI, its standards are labeled ANSI/AIIM, +followed by the number and title of the standard. + +BARONAS then illustrated the domain of AIIM's standardization work. For +example, AIIM is the administrator of the U.S. Technical Advisory Group +(TAG) to the International Standards Organization's (ISO) technical +committee, TC l7l Micrographics and Optical Memories for Document and +Image Recording, Storage, and Use. AIIM officially works through ANSI in +the international standardization process. + +BARONAS described AIIM's structure, including its board of directors, its +standards board of twelve individuals active in the image-management +industry, its strategic planning and legal admissibility task forces, and +its National Standards Council, which is comprised of the members of a +number of organizations who vote on every AIIM standard before it is +published. BARONAS pointed out that AIIM's liaisons deal with numerous +other standards developers, including the optical disk community, office +and publishing systems, image-codes-and-character set committees, and the +National Information Standards Organization (NISO). + +BARONAS illustrated the procedures of TC l7l, which covers all aspects of +image management. When AIIM's national program has conceptualized a new +project, it is usually submitted to the international level, so that the +member countries of TC l7l can simultaneously work on the development of +the standard or the technical report. BARONAS also illustrated a classic +microfilm standard, MS23, which deals with numerous imaging concepts that +apply to electronic imaging. Originally developed in the l970s, revised +in the l980s, and revised again in l991, this standard is scheduled for +another revision. MS23 is an active standard whereby users may propose +new density ranges and new methods of evaluating film images in the +standard's revision. + +BARONAS detailed several electronic image-management standards, for +instance, ANSI/AIIM MS44, a quality-control guideline for scanning 8.5" +by 11" black-and-white office documents. This standard is used with the +IEEE fax image--a continuous tone photographic image with gray scales, +text, and several continuous tone pictures--and AIIM test target number +2, a representative document used in office document management. + +BARONAS next outlined the four categories of EIM standardization in which +AIIM standards are being developed: transfer and retrieval, evaluation, +optical disc and document scanning applications, and design and +conversion of documents. She detailed several of the main projects of +each: 1) in the category of image transfer and retrieval, a bi-level +image transfer format, ANSI/AIIM MS53, which is a proposed standard that +describes a file header for image transfer between unlike systems when +the images are compressed using G3 and G4 compression; 2) the category of +image evaluation, which includes the AIIM-proposed TR26 tutorial on image +resolution (this technical report will treat the differences and +similarities between classical or photographic and electronic imaging); +3) design and conversion, which includes a proposed technical report +called "Forms Design Optimization for EIM" (this report considers how +general-purpose business forms can be best designed so that scanning is +optimized; reprographic characteristics such as type, rules, background, +tint, and color will likewise be treated in the technical report); 4) +disk and document scanning applications includes a project a) on planning +platters and disk management, b) on generating an application profile for +EIM when images are stored and distributed on CD-ROM, and c) on +evaluating SCSI2, and how a common command set can be generated for SCSI2 +so that document scanners are more easily integrated. (ANSI/AIIM MS53 +will also apply to compressed images.) + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +BATTIN * The implications of standards for preservation * A major +obstacle to successful cooperation * A hindrance to access in the digital +environment * Standards a double-edged sword for those concerned with the +preservation of the human record * Near-term prognosis for reliable +archival standards * Preservation concerns for electronic media * Need +for reconceptualizing our preservation principles * Standards in the real +world and the politics of reproduction * Need to redefine the concept of +archival and to begin to think in terms of life cycles * Cooperation and +the La Guardia Eight * Concerns generated by discussions on the problems +of preserving text and image * General principles to be adopted in a +world without standards * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Patricia BATTIN, president, the Commission on Preservation and Access +(CPA), addressed the implications of standards for preservation. She +listed several areas where the library profession and the analog world of +the printed book had made enormous contributions over the past hundred +years--for example, in bibliographic formats, binding standards, and, most +important, in determining what constitutes longevity or archival quality. + +Although standards have lightened the preservation burden through the +development of national and international collaborative programs, +nevertheless, a pervasive mistrust of other people's standards remains a +major obstacle to successful cooperation, BATTIN said. + +The zeal to achieve perfection, regardless of the cost, has hindered +rather than facilitated access in some instances, and in the digital +environment, where no real standards exist, has brought an ironically +just reward. + +BATTIN argued that standards are a double-edged sword for those concerned +with the preservation of the human record, that is, the provision of +access to recorded knowledge in a multitude of media as far into the +future as possible. Standards are essential to facilitate +interconnectivity and access, but, BATTIN said, as LYNCH pointed out +yesterday, if set too soon they can hinder creativity, expansion of +capability, and the broadening of access. The characteristics of +standards for digital imagery differ radically from those for analog +imagery. And the nature of digital technology implies continuing +volatility and change. To reiterate, precipitous standard-setting can +inhibit creativity, but delayed standard-setting results in chaos. + +Since in BATTIN'S opinion the near-term prognosis for reliable archival +standards, as defined by librarians in the analog world, is poor, two +alternatives remain: standing pat with the old technology, or +reconceptualizing. + +Preservation concerns for electronic media fall into two general domains. +One is the continuing assurance of access to knowledge originally +generated, stored, disseminated, and used in electronic form. This +domain contains several subdivisions, including 1) the closed, +proprietary systems discussed the previous day, bundled information such +as electronic journals and government agency records, and electronically +produced or captured raw data; and 2) the application of digital +technologies to the reformatting of materials originally published on a +deteriorating analog medium such as acid paper or videotape. + +The preservation of electronic media requires a reconceptualizing of our +preservation principles during a volatile, standardless transition which +may last far longer than any of us envision today. BATTIN urged the +necessity of shifting focus from assessing, measuring, and setting +standards for the permanence of the medium to the concept of managing +continuing access to information stored on a variety of media and +requiring a variety of ever-changing hardware and software for access--a +fundamental shift for the library profession. + +BATTIN offered a primer on how to move forward with reasonable confidence +in a world without standards. Her comments fell roughly into two sections: +1) standards in the real world and 2) the politics of reproduction. + +In regard to real-world standards, BATTIN argued the need to redefine the +concept of archive and to begin to think in terms of life cycles. In +the past, the naive assumption that paper would last forever produced a +cavalier attitude toward life cycles. The transient nature of the +electronic media has compelled people to recognize and accept upfront the +concept of life cycles in place of permanency. + +Digital standards have to be developed and set in a cooperative context +to ensure efficient exchange of information. Moreover, during this +transition period, greater flexibility concerning how concepts such as +backup copies and archival copies in the CXP are defined is necessary, +or the opportunity to move forward will be lost. + +In terms of cooperation, particularly in the university setting, BATTIN +also argued the need to avoid going off in a hundred different +directions. The CPA has catalyzed a small group of universities called +the La Guardia Eight--because La Guardia Airport is where meetings take +place--Harvard, Yale, Cornell, Princeton, Penn State, Tennessee, +Stanford, and USC, to develop a digital preservation consortium to look +at all these issues and develop de facto standards as we move along, +instead of waiting for something that is officially blessed. Continuing +to apply analog values and definitions of standards to the digital +environment, BATTIN said, will effectively lead to forfeiture of the +benefits of digital technology to research and scholarship. + +Under the second rubric, the politics of reproduction, BATTIN reiterated +an oft-made argument concerning the electronic library, namely, that it +is more difficult to transform than to create, and nowhere is that belief +expressed more dramatically than in the conversion of brittle books to +new media. Preserving information published in electronic media involves +making sure the information remains accessible and that digital +information is not lost through reproduction. In the analog world of +photocopies and microfilm, the issue of fidelity to the original becomes +paramount, as do issues of "Whose fidelity?" and "Whose original?" + +BATTIN elaborated these arguments with a few examples from a recent study +conducted by the CPA on the problems of preserving text and image. +Discussions with scholars, librarians, and curators in a variety of +disciplines dependent on text and image generated a variety of concerns, +for example: 1) Copy what is, not what the technology is capable of. +This is very important for the history of ideas. Scholars wish to know +what the author saw and worked from. And make available at the +workstation the opportunity to erase all the defects and enhance the +presentation. 2) The fidelity of reproduction--what is good enough, what +can we afford, and the difference it makes--issues of subjective versus +objective resolution. 3) The differences between primary and secondary +users. Restricting the definition of primary user to the one in whose +discipline the material has been published runs one headlong into the +reality that these printed books have had a host of other users from a +host of other disciplines, who not only were looking for very different +things, but who also shared values very different from those of the +primary user. 4) The relationship of the standard of reproduction to new +capabilities of scholarship--the browsing standard versus an archival +standard. How good must the archival standard be? Can a distinction be +drawn between potential users in setting standards for reproduction? +Archival storage, use copies, browsing copies--ought an attempt to set +standards even be made? 5) Finally, costs. How much are we prepared to +pay to capture absolute fidelity? What are the trade-offs between vastly +enhanced access, degrees of fidelity, and costs? + +These standards, BATTIN concluded, serve to complicate further the +reproduction process, and add to the long list of technical standards +that are necessary to ensure widespread access. Ways to articulate and +analyze the costs that are attached to the different levels of standards +must be found. + +Given the chaos concerning standards, which promises to linger for the +foreseeable future, BATTIN urged adoption of the following general +principles: + + * Strive to understand the changing information requirements of + scholarly disciplines as more and more technology is integrated into + the process of research and scholarly communication in order to meet + future scholarly needs, not to build for the past. Capture + deteriorating information at the highest affordable resolution, even + though the dissemination and display technologies will lag. + + * Develop cooperative mechanisms to foster agreement on protocols + for document structure and other interchange mechanisms necessary + for widespread dissemination and use before official standards are + set. + + * Accept that, in a transition period, de facto standards will have + to be developed. + + * Capture information in a way that keeps all options open and + provides for total convertibility: OCR, scanning of microfilm, + producing microfilm from scanned documents, etc. + + * Work closely with the generators of information and the builders + of networks and databases to ensure that continuing accessibility is + a primary concern from the beginning. + + * Piggyback on standards under development for the broad market, and + avoid library-specific standards; work with the vendors, in order to + take advantage of that which is being standardized for the rest of + the world. + + * Concentrate efforts on managing permanence in the digital world, + rather than perfecting the longevity of a particular medium. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * Additional comments on TIFF * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +During the brief discussion period that followed BATTIN's presentation, +BARONAS explained that TIFF was not developed in collaboration with or +under the auspices of AIIM. TIFF is a company product, not a standard, +is owned by two corporations, and is always changing. BARONAS also +observed that ANSI/AIIM MS53, a bi-level image file transfer format that +allows unlike systems to exchange images, is compatible with TIFF as well +as with DEC's architecture and IBM's MODCA/IOCA. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +HOOTON * Several questions to be considered in discussing text conversion +* ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +HOOTON introduced the final topic, text conversion, by noting that it is +becoming an increasingly important part of the imaging business. Many +people now realize that it enhances their system to be able to have more +and more character data as part of their imaging system. Re the issue of +OCR versus rekeying, HOOTON posed several questions: How does one get +text into computer-readable form? Does one use automated processes? +Does one attempt to eliminate the use of operators where possible? +Standards for accuracy, he said, are extremely important: it makes a +major difference in cost and time whether one sets as a standard 98.5 +percent acceptance or 99.5 percent. He mentioned outsourcing as a +possibility for converting text. Finally, what one does with the image +to prepare it for the recognition process is also important, he said, +because such preparation changes how recognition is viewed, as well as +facilitates recognition itself. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +LESK * Roles of participants in CORE * Data flow * The scanning process * +The image interface * Results of experiments involving the use of +electronic resources and traditional paper copies * Testing the issue of +serendipity * Conclusions * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Michael LESK, executive director, Computer Science Research, Bell +Communications Research, Inc. (Bellcore), discussed the Chemical Online +Retrieval Experiment (CORE), a cooperative project involving Cornell +University, OCLC, Bellcore, and the American Chemical Society (ACS). + +LESK spoke on 1) how the scanning was performed, including the unusual +feature of page segmentation, and 2) the use made of the text and the +image in experiments. + +Working with the chemistry journals (because ACS has been saving its +typesetting tapes since the mid-1970s and thus has a significant back-run +of the most important chemistry journals in the United States), CORE is +attempting to create an automated chemical library. Approximately a +quarter of the pages by square inch are made up of images of +quasi-pictorial material; dealing with the graphic components of the +pages is extremely important. LESK described the roles of participants +in CORE: 1) ACS provides copyright permission, journals on paper, +journals on microfilm, and some of the definitions of the files; 2) at +Bellcore, LESK chiefly performs the data preparation, while Dennis Egan +performs experiments on the users of chemical abstracts, and supplies the +indexing and numerous magnetic tapes; 3) Cornell provides the site of the +experiment; 4) OCLC develops retrieval software and other user interfaces. +Various manufacturers and publishers have furnished other help. + +Concerning data flow, Bellcore receives microfilm and paper from ACS; the +microfilm is scanned by outside vendors, while the paper is scanned +inhouse on an Improvision scanner, twenty pages per minute at 300 dpi, +which provides sufficient quality for all practical uses. LESK would +prefer to have more gray level, because one of the ACS journals prints on +some colored pages, which creates a problem. + +Bellcore performs all this scanning, creates a page-image file, and also +selects from the pages the graphics, to mix with the text file (which is +discussed later in the Workshop). The user is always searching the ASCII +file, but she or he may see a display based on the ASCII or a display +based on the images. + +LESK illustrated how the program performs page analysis, and the image +interface. (The user types several words, is presented with a list-- +usually of the titles of articles contained in an issue--that derives +from the ASCII, clicks on an icon and receives an image that mirrors an +ACS page.) LESK also illustrated an alternative interface, based on text +on the ASCII, the so-called SuperBook interface from Bellcore. + +LESK next presented the results of an experiment conducted by Dennis Egan +and involving thirty-six students at Cornell, one third of them +undergraduate chemistry majors, one third senior undergraduate chemistry +majors, and one third graduate chemistry students. A third of them +received the paper journals, the traditional paper copies and chemical +abstracts on paper. A third received image displays of the pictures of +the pages, and a third received the text display with pop-up graphics. + +The students were given several questions made up by some chemistry +professors. The questions fell into five classes, ranging from very easy +to very difficult, and included questions designed to simulate browsing +as well as a traditional information retrieval-type task. + +LESK furnished the following results. In the straightforward question +search--the question being, what is the phosphorus oxygen bond distance +and hydroxy phosphate?--the students were told that they could take +fifteen minutes and, then, if they wished, give up. The students with +paper took more than fifteen minutes on average, and yet most of them +gave up. The students with either electronic format, text or image, +received good scores in reasonable time, hardly ever had to give up, and +usually found the right answer. + +In the browsing study, the students were given a list of eight topics, +told to imagine that an issue of the Journal of the American Chemical +Society had just appeared on their desks, and were also told to flip +through it and to find topics mentioned in the issue. The average scores +were about the same. (The students were told to answer yes or no about +whether or not particular topics appeared.) The errors, however, were +quite different. The students with paper rarely said that something +appeared when it had not. But they often failed to find something +actually mentioned in the issue. The computer people found numerous +things, but they also frequently said that a topic was mentioned when it +was not. (The reason, of course, was that they were performing word +searches. They were finding that words were mentioned and they were +concluding that they had accomplished their task.) + +This question also contained a trick to test the issue of serendipity. +The students were given another list of eight topics and instructed, +without taking a second look at the journal, to recall how many of this +new list of eight topics were in this particular issue. This was an +attempt to see if they performed better at remembering what they were not +looking for. They all performed about the same, paper or electronics, +about 62 percent accurate. In short, LESK said, people were not very +good when it came to serendipity, but they were no worse at it with +computers than they were with paper. + +(LESK gave a parenthetical illustration of the learning curve of students +who used SuperBook.) + +The students using the electronic systems started off worse than the ones +using print, but by the third of the three sessions in the series had +caught up to print. As one might expect, electronics provide a much +better means of finding what one wants to read; reading speeds, once the +object of the search has been found, are about the same. + +Almost none of the students could perform the hard task--the analogous +transformation. (It would require the expertise of organic chemists to +complete.) But an interesting result was that the students using the text +search performed terribly, while those using the image system did best. +That the text search system is driven by text offers the explanation. +Everything is focused on the text; to see the pictures, one must press +on an icon. Many students found the right article containing the answer +to the question, but they did not click on the icon to bring up the right +figure and see it. They did not know that they had found the right place, +and thus got it wrong. + +The short answer demonstrated by this experiment was that in the event +one does not know what to read, one needs the electronic systems; the +electronic systems hold no advantage at the moment if one knows what to +read, but neither do they impose a penalty. + +LESK concluded by commenting that, on one hand, the image system was easy +to use. On the other hand, the text display system, which represented +twenty man-years of work in programming and polishing, was not winning, +because the text was not being read, just searched. The much easier +system is highly competitive as well as remarkably effective for the +actual chemists. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +ERWAY * Most challenging aspect of working on AM * Assumptions guiding +AM's approach * Testing different types of service bureaus * AM's +requirement for 99.95 percent accuracy * Requirements for text-coding * +Additional factors influencing AM's approach to coding * Results of AM's +experience with rekeying * Other problems in dealing with service bureaus +* Quality control the most time-consuming aspect of contracting out +conversion * Long-term outlook uncertain * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +To Ricky ERWAY, associate coordinator, American Memory, Library of +Congress, the constant variety of conversion projects taking place +simultaneously represented perhaps the most challenging aspect of working +on AM. Thus, the challenge was not to find a solution for text +conversion but a tool kit of solutions to apply to LC's varied +collections that need to be converted. ERWAY limited her remarks to the +process of converting text to machine-readable form, and the variety of +LC's text collections, for example, bound volumes, microfilm, and +handwritten manuscripts. + +Two assumptions have guided AM's approach, ERWAY said: 1) A desire not +to perform the conversion inhouse. Because of the variety of formats and +types of texts, to capitalize the equipment and have the talents and +skills to operate them at LC would be extremely expensive. Further, the +natural inclination to upgrade to newer and better equipment each year +made it reasonable for AM to focus on what it did best and seek external +conversion services. Using service bureaus also allowed AM to have +several types of operations take place at the same time. 2) AM was not a +technology project, but an effort to improve access to library +collections. Hence, whether text was converted using OCR or rekeying +mattered little to AM. What mattered were cost and accuracy of results. + +AM considered different types of service bureaus and selected three to +perform several small tests in order to acquire a sense of the field. +The sample collections with which they worked included handwritten +correspondence, typewritten manuscripts from the 1940s, and +eighteenth-century printed broadsides on microfilm. On none of these +samples was OCR performed; they were all rekeyed. AM had several special +requirements for the three service bureaus it had engaged. For instance, +any errors in the original text were to be retained. Working from bound +volumes or anything that could not be sheet-fed also constituted a factor +eliminating companies that would have performed OCR. + +AM requires 99.95 percent accuracy, which, though it sounds high, often +means one or two errors per page. The initial batch of test samples +contained several handwritten materials for which AM did not require +text-coding. The results, ERWAY reported, were in all cases fairly +comparable: for the most part, all three service bureaus achieved 99.95 +percent accuracy. AM was satisfied with the work but surprised at the cost. + +As AM began converting whole collections, it retained the requirement for +99.95 percent accuracy and added requirements for text-coding. AM needed +to begin performing work more than three years ago before LC requirements +for SGML applications had been established. Since AM's goal was simply +to retain any of the intellectual content represented by the formatting +of the document (which would be lost if one performed a straight ASCII +conversion), AM used "SGML-like" codes. These codes resembled SGML tags +but were used without the benefit of document-type definitions. AM found +that many service bureaus were not yet SGML-proficient. + +Additional factors influencing the approach AM took with respect to +coding included: 1) the inability of any known microcomputer-based +user-retrieval software to take advantage of SGML coding; and 2) the +multiple inconsistencies in format of the older documents, which +confirmed AM in its desire not to attempt to force the different formats +to conform to a single document-type definition (DTD) and thus create the +need for a separate DTD for each document. + +The five text collections that AM has converted or is in the process of +converting include a collection of eighteenth-century broadsides, a +collection of pamphlets, two typescript document collections, and a +collection of 150 books. + +ERWAY next reviewed the results of AM's experience with rekeying, noting +again that because the bulk of AM's materials are historical, the quality +of the text often does not lend itself to OCR. While non-English +speakers are less likely to guess or elaborate or correct typos in the +original text, they are also less able to infer what we would; they also +are nearly incapable of converting handwritten text. Another +disadvantage of working with overseas keyers is that they are much less +likely to telephone with questions, especially on the coding, with the +result that they develop their own rules as they encounter new +situations. + +Government contracting procedures and time frames posed a major challenge +to performing the conversion. Many service bureaus are not accustomed to +retaining the image, even if they perform OCR. Thus, questions of image +format and storage media were somewhat novel to many of them. ERWAY also +remarked other problems in dealing with service bureaus, for example, +their inability to perform text conversion from the kind of microfilm +that LC uses for preservation purposes. + +But quality control, in ERWAY's experience, was the most time-consuming +aspect of contracting out conversion. AM has been attempting to perform +a 10-percent quality review, looking at either every tenth document or +every tenth page to make certain that the service bureaus are maintaining +99.95 percent accuracy. But even if they are complying with the +requirement for accuracy, finding errors produces a desire to correct +them and, in turn, to clean up the whole collection, which defeats the +purpose to some extent. Even a double entry requires a +character-by-character comparison to the original to meet the accuracy +requirement. LC is not accustomed to publish imperfect texts, which +makes attempting to deal with the industry standard an emotionally +fraught issue for AM. As was mentioned in the previous day's discussion, +going from 99.95 to 99.99 percent accuracy usually doubles costs and +means a third keying or another complete run-through of the text. + +Although AM has learned much from its experiences with various collections +and various service bureaus, ERWAY concluded pessimistically that no +breakthrough has been achieved. Incremental improvements have occurred +in some of the OCR technology, some of the processes, and some of the +standards acceptances, which, though they may lead to somewhat lower costs, +do not offer much encouragement to many people who are anxiously awaiting +the day that the entire contents of LC are available on-line. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +ZIDAR * Several answers to why one attempts to perform full-text +conversion * Per page cost of performing OCR * Typical problems +encountered during editing * Editing poor copy OCR vs. rekeying * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Judith ZIDAR, coordinator, National Agricultural Text Digitizing Program +(NATDP), National Agricultural Library (NAL), offered several answers to +the question of why one attempts to perform full-text conversion: 1) +Text in an image can be read by a human but not by a computer, so of +course it is not searchable and there is not much one can do with it. 2) +Some material simply requires word-level access. For instance, the legal +profession insists on full-text access to its material; with taxonomic or +geographic material, which entails numerous names, one virtually requires +word-level access. 3) Full text permits rapid browsing and searching, +something that cannot be achieved in an image with today's technology. +4) Text stored as ASCII and delivered in ASCII is standardized and highly +portable. 5) People just want full-text searching, even those who do not +know how to do it. NAL, for the most part, is performing OCR at an +actual cost per average-size page of approximately $7. NAL scans the +page to create the electronic image and passes it through the OCR device. + +ZIDAR next rehearsed several typical problems encountered during editing. +Praising the celerity of her student workers, ZIDAR observed that editing +requires approximately five to ten minutes per page, assuming that there +are no large tables to audit. Confusion among the three characters I, 1, +and l, constitutes perhaps the most common problem encountered. Zeroes +and O's also are frequently confused. Double M's create a particular +problem, even on clean pages. They are so wide in most fonts that they +touch, and the system simply cannot tell where one letter ends and the +other begins. Complex page formats occasionally fail to columnate +properly, which entails rescanning as though one were working with a +single column, entering the ASCII, and decolumnating for better +searching. With proportionally spaced text, OCR can have difficulty +discerning what is a space and what are merely spaces between letters, as +opposed to spaces between words, and therefore will merge text or break +up words where it should not. + +ZIDAR said that it can often take longer to edit a poor-copy OCR than to +key it from scratch. NAL has also experimented with partial editing of +text, whereby project workers go into and clean up the format, removing +stray characters but not running a spell-check. NAL corrects typos in +the title and authors' names, which provides a foothold for searching and +browsing. Even extremely poor-quality OCR (e.g., 60-percent accuracy) +can still be searched, because numerous words are correct, while the +important words are probably repeated often enough that they are likely +to be found correct somewhere. Librarians, however, cannot tolerate this +situation, though end users seem more willing to use this text for +searching, provided that NAL indicates that it is unedited. ZIDAR +concluded that rekeying of text may be the best route to take, in spite +of numerous problems with quality control and cost. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * Modifying an image before performing OCR * NAL's costs per +page *AM's costs per page and experience with Federal Prison Industries * +Elements comprising NATDP's costs per page * OCR and structured markup * +Distinction between the structure of a document and its representation +when put on the screen or printed * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +HOOTON prefaced the lengthy discussion that followed with several +comments about modifying an image before one reaches the point of +performing OCR. For example, in regard to an application containing a +significant amount of redundant data, such as form-type data, numerous +companies today are working on various kinds of form renewal, prior to +going through a recognition process, by using dropout colors. Thus, +acquiring access to form design or using electronic means are worth +considering. HOOTON also noted that conversion usually makes or breaks +one's imaging system. It is extremely important, extremely costly in +terms of either capital investment or service, and determines the quality +of the remainder of one's system, because it determines the character of +the raw material used by the system. + +Concerning the four projects undertaken by NAL, two inside and two +performed by outside contractors, ZIDAR revealed that an in-house service +bureau executed the first at a cost between $8 and $10 per page for +everything, including building of the database. The project undertaken +by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) +cost approximately $10 per page for the conversion, plus some expenses +for the software and building of the database. The Acid Rain Project--a +two-disk set produced by the University of Vermont, consisting of +Canadian publications on acid rain--cost $6.70 per page for everything, +including keying of the text, which was double keyed, scanning of the +images, and building of the database. The in-house project offered +considerable ease of convenience and greater control of the process. On +the other hand, the service bureaus know their job and perform it +expeditiously, because they have more people. + +As a useful comparison, ERWAY revealed AM's costs as follows: $0.75 +cents to $0.85 cents per thousand characters, with an average page +containing 2,700 characters. Requirements for coding and imaging +increase the costs. Thus, conversion of the text, including the coding, +costs approximately $3 per page. (This figure does not include the +imaging and database-building included in the NAL costs.) AM also +enjoyed a happy experience with Federal Prison Industries, which +precluded the necessity of going through the request-for-proposal process +to award a contract, because it is another government agency. The +prisoners performed AM's rekeying just as well as other service bureaus +and proved handy as well. AM shipped them the books, which they would +photocopy on a book-edge scanner. They would perform the markup on +photocopies, return the books as soon as they were done with them, +perform the keying, and return the material to AM on WORM disks. + +ZIDAR detailed the elements that constitute the previously noted cost of +approximately $7 per page. Most significant is the editing, correction +of errors, and spell-checkings, which though they may sound easy to +perform require, in fact, a great deal of time. Reformatting text also +takes a while, but a significant amount of NAL's expenses are for equipment, +which was extremely expensive when purchased because it was one of the few +systems on the market. The costs of equipment are being amortized over +five years but are still quite high, nearly $2,000 per month. + +HOCKEY raised a general question concerning OCR and the amount of editing +required (substantial in her experience) to generate the kind of +structured markup necessary for manipulating the text on the computer or +loading it into any retrieval system. She wondered if the speakers could +extend the previous question about the cost-benefit of adding or exerting +structured markup. ERWAY noted that several OCR systems retain italics, +bolding, and other spatial formatting. While the material may not be in +the format desired, these systems possess the ability to remove the +original materials quickly from the hands of the people performing the +conversion, as well as to retain that information so that users can work +with it. HOCKEY rejoined that the current thinking on markup is that one +should not say that something is italic or bold so much as why it is that +way. To be sure, one needs to know that something was italicized, but +how can one get from one to the other? One can map from the structure to +the typographic representation. + +FLEISCHHAUER suggested that, given the 100 million items the Library +holds, it may not be possible for LC to do more than report that a thing +was in italics as opposed to why it was italics, although that may be +desirable in some contexts. Promising to talk a bit during the afternoon +session about several experiments OCLC performed on automatic recognition +of document elements, and which they hoped to extend, WEIBEL said that in +fact one can recognize the major elements of a document with a fairly +high degree of reliability, at least as good as OCR. STEVENS drew a +useful distinction between standard, generalized markup (i.e., defining +for a document-type definition the structure of the document), and what +he termed a style sheet, which had to do with italics, bolding, and other +forms of emphasis. Thus, two different components are at work, one being +the structure of the document itself (its logic), and the other being its +representation when it is put on the screen or printed. + + ****** + +SESSION V. APPROACHES TO PREPARING ELECTRONIC TEXTS + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +HOCKEY * Text in ASCII and the representation of electronic text versus +an image * The need to look at ways of using markup to assist retrieval * +The need for an encoding format that will be reusable and multifunctional ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Susan HOCKEY, director, Center for Electronic Texts in the Humanities +(CETH), Rutgers and Princeton Universities, announced that one talk +(WEIBEL's) was moved into this session from the morning and that David +Packard was unable to attend. The session would attempt to focus more on +what one can do with a text in ASCII and the representation of electronic +text rather than just an image, what one can do with a computer that +cannot be done with a book or an image. It would be argued that one can +do much more than just read a text, and from that starting point one can +use markup and methods of preparing the text to take full advantage of +the capability of the computer. That would lead to a discussion of what +the European Community calls REUSABILITY, what may better be termed +DURABILITY, that is, how to prepare or make a text that will last a long +time and that can be used for as many applications as possible, which +would lead to issues of improving intellectual access. + +HOCKEY urged the need to look at ways of using markup to facilitate retrieval, +not just for referencing or to help locate an item that is retrieved, but also to put markup tags in +a text to help retrieve the thing sought either with linguistic tagging or +interpretation. HOCKEY also argued that little advancement had occurred in +the software tools currently available for retrieving and searching text. +She pressed the desideratum of going beyond Boolean searches and performing +more sophisticated searching, which the insertion of more markup in the text +would facilitate. Thinking about electronic texts as opposed to images means +considering material that will never appear in print form, or print will not +be its primary form, that is, material which only appears in electronic form. +HOCKEY alluded to the history and the need for markup and tagging and +electronic text, which was developed through the use of computers in the +humanities; as MICHELSON had observed, Father Busa had started in 1949 +to prepare the first-ever text on the computer. + +HOCKEY remarked several large projects, particularly in Europe, for the +compilation of dictionaries, language studies, and language analysis, in +which people have built up archives of text and have begun to recognize +the need for an encoding format that will be reusable and multifunctional, +that can be used not just to print the text, which may be assumed to be a +byproduct of what one wants to do, but to structure it inside the computer +so that it can be searched, built into a Hypertext system, etc. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +WEIBEL * OCLC's approach to preparing electronic text: retroconversion, +keying of texts, more automated ways of developing data * Project ADAPT +and the CORE Project * Intelligent character recognition does not exist * +Advantages of SGML * Data should be free of procedural markup; +descriptive markup strongly advocated * OCLC's interface illustrated * +Storage requirements and costs for putting a lot of information on line * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Stuart WEIBEL, senior research scientist, Online Computer Library Center, +Inc. (OCLC), described OCLC's approach to preparing electronic text. He +argued that the electronic world into which we are moving must +accommodate not only the future but the past as well, and to some degree +even the present. Thus, starting out at one end with retroconversion and +keying of texts, one would like to move toward much more automated ways +of developing data. + +For example, Project ADAPT had to do with automatically converting +document images into a structured document database with OCR text as +indexing and also a little bit of automatic formatting and tagging of +that text. The CORE project hosted by Cornell University, Bellcore, +OCLC, the American Chemical Society, and Chemical Abstracts, constitutes +WEIBEL's principal concern at the moment. This project is an example of +converting text for which one already has a machine-readable version into +a format more suitable for electronic delivery and database searching. +(Since Michael LESK had previously described CORE, WEIBEL would say +little concerning it.) Borrowing a chemical phrase, de novo synthesis, +WEIBEL cited the Online Journal of Current Clinical Trials as an example +of de novo electronic publishing, that is, a form in which the primary +form of the information is electronic. + +Project ADAPT, then, which OCLC completed a couple of years ago and in +fact is about to resume, is a model in which one takes page images either +in paper or microfilm and converts them automatically to a searchable +electronic database, either on-line or local. The operating assumption +is that accepting some blemishes in the data, especially for +retroconversion of materials, will make it possible to accomplish more. +Not enough money is available to support perfect conversion. + +WEIBEL related several steps taken to perform image preprocessing +(processing on the image before performing optical character +recognition), as well as image postprocessing. He denied the existence +of intelligent character recognition and asserted that what is wanted is +page recognition, which is a long way off. OCLC has experimented with +merging of multiple optical character recognition systems that will +reduce errors from an unacceptable rate of 5 characters out of every +l,000 to an unacceptable rate of 2 characters out of every l,000, but it +is not good enough. It will never be perfect. + +Concerning the CORE Project, WEIBEL observed that Bellcore is taking the +topography files, extracting the page images, and converting those +topography files to SGML markup. LESK hands that data off to OCLC, which +builds that data into a Newton database, the same system that underlies +the on-line system in virtually all of the reference products at OCLC. +The long-term goal is to make the systems interoperable so that not just +Bellcore's system and OCLC's system can access this data, but other +systems can as well, and the key to that is the Z39.50 common command +language and the full-text extension. Z39.50 is fine for MARC records, +but is not enough to do it for full text (that is, make full texts +interoperable). + +WEIBEL next outlined the critical role of SGML for a variety of purposes, +for example, as noted by HOCKEY, in the world of extremely large +databases, using highly structured data to perform field searches. +WEIBEL argued that by building the structure of the data in (i.e., the +structure of the data originally on a printed page), it becomes easy to +look at a journal article even if one cannot read the characters and know +where the title or author is, or what the sections of that document would be. +OCLC wants to make that structure explicit in the database, because it will +be important for retrieval purposes. + +The second big advantage of SGML is that it gives one the ability to +build structure into the database that can be used for display purposes +without contaminating the data with instructions about how to format +things. The distinction lies between procedural markup, which tells one +where to put dots on the page, and descriptive markup, which describes +the elements of a document. + +WEIBEL believes that there should be no procedural markup in the data at +all, that the data should be completely unsullied by information about +italics or boldness. That should be left up to the display device, +whether that display device is a page printer or a screen display device. +By keeping one's database free of that kind of contamination, one can +make decisions down the road, for example, reorganize the data in ways +that are not cramped by built-in notions of what should be italic and +what should be bold. WEIBEL strongly advocated descriptive markup. As +an example, he illustrated the index structure in the CORE data. With +subsequent illustrated examples of markup, WEIBEL acknowledged the common +complaint that SGML is hard to read in its native form, although markup +decreases considerably once one gets into the body. Without the markup, +however, one would not have the structure in the data. One can pass +markup through a LaTeX processor and convert it relatively easily to a +printed version of the document. + +WEIBEL next illustrated an extremely cluttered screen dump of OCLC's +system, in order to show as much as possible the inherent capability on +the screen. (He noted parenthetically that he had become a supporter of +X-Windows as a result of the progress of the CORE Project.) WEIBEL also +illustrated the two major parts of the interface: l) a control box that +allows one to generate lists of items, which resembles a small table of +contents based on key words one wishes to search, and 2) a document +viewer, which is a separate process in and of itself. He demonstrated +how to follow links through the electronic database simply by selecting +the appropriate button and bringing them up. He also noted problems that +remain to be accommodated in the interface (e.g., as pointed out by LESK, +what happens when users do not click on the icon for the figure). + +Given the constraints of time, WEIBEL omitted a large number of ancillary +items in order to say a few words concerning storage requirements and +what will be required to put a lot of things on line. Since it is +extremely expensive to reconvert all of this data, especially if it is +just in paper form (and even if it is in electronic form in typesetting +tapes), he advocated building journals electronically from the start. In +that case, if one only has text graphics and indexing (which is all that +one needs with de novo electronic publishing, because there is no need to +go back and look at bit-maps of pages), one can get 10,000 journals of +full text, or almost 6 million pages per year. These pages can be put in +approximately 135 gigabytes of storage, which is not all that much, +WEIBEL said. For twenty years, something less than three terabytes would +be required. WEIBEL calculated the costs of storing this information as +follows: If a gigabyte costs approximately $1,000, then a terabyte costs +approximately $1 million to buy in terms of hardware. One also needs a +building to put it in and a staff like OCLC to handle that information. +So, to support a terabyte, multiply by five, which gives $5 million per +year for a supported terabyte of data. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * Tapes saved by ACS are the typography files originally +supporting publication of the journal * Cost of building tagged text into +the database * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +During the question-and-answer period that followed WEIBEL's +presentation, these clarifications emerged. The tapes saved by the +American Chemical Society are the typography files that originally +supported the publication of the journal. Although they are not tagged +in SGML, they are tagged in very fine detail. Every single sentence is +marked, all the registry numbers, all the publications issues, dates, and +volumes. No cost figures on tagging material on a per-megabyte basis +were available. Because ACS's typesetting system runs from tagged text, +there is no extra cost per article. It was unknown what it costs ACS to +keyboard the tagged text rather than just keyboard the text in the +cheapest process. In other words, since one intends to publish things +and will need to build tagged text into a typography system in any case, +if one does that in such a way that it can drive not only typography but +an electronic system (which is what ACS intends to do--move to SGML +publishing), the marginal cost is zero. The marginal cost represents the +cost of building tagged text into the database, which is small. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +SPERBERG-McQUEEN * Distinction between texts and computers * Implications +of recognizing that all representation is encoding * Dealing with +complicated representations of text entails the need for a grammar of +documents * Variety of forms of formal grammars * Text as a bit-mapped +image does not represent a serious attempt to represent text in +electronic form * SGML, the TEI, document-type declarations, and the +reusability and longevity of data * TEI conformance explicitly allows +extension or modification of the TEI tag set * Administrative background +of the TEI * Several design goals for the TEI tag set * An absolutely +fixed requirement of the TEI Guidelines * Challenges the TEI has +attempted to face * Good texts not beyond economic feasibility * The +issue of reproducibility or processability * The issue of mages as +simulacra for the text redux * One's model of text determines what one's +software can do with a text and has economic consequences * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Prior to speaking about SGML and markup, Michael SPERBERG-McQUEEN, editor, +Text Encoding Initiative (TEI), University of Illinois-Chicago, first drew +a distinction between texts and computers: Texts are abstract cultural +and linguistic objects while computers are complicated physical devices, +he said. Abstract objects cannot be placed inside physical devices; with +computers one can only represent text and act upon those representations. + +The recognition that all representation is encoding, SPERBERG-McQUEEN +argued, leads to the recognition of two things: 1) The topic description +for this session is slightly misleading, because there can be no discussion +of pros and cons of text-coding unless what one means is pros and cons of +working with text with computers. 2) No text can be represented in a +computer without some sort of encoding; images are one way of encoding text, +ASCII is another, SGML yet another. There is no encoding without some +information loss, that is, there is no perfect reproduction of a text that +allows one to do away with the original. Thus, the question becomes, +What is the most useful representation of text for a serious work? +This depends on what kind of serious work one is talking about. + +The projects demonstrated the previous day all involved highly complex +information and fairly complex manipulation of the textual material. +In order to use that complicated information, one has to calculate it +slowly or manually and store the result. It needs to be stored, therefore, +as part of one's representation of the text. Thus, one needs to store the +structure in the text. To deal with complicated representations of text, +one needs somehow to control the complexity of the representation of a text; +that means one needs a way of finding out whether a document and an +electronic representation of a document is legal or not; and that +means one needs a grammar of documents. + +SPERBERG-McQUEEN discussed the variety of forms of formal grammars, +implicit and explicit, as applied to text, and their capabilities. He +argued that these grammars correspond to different models of text that +different developers have. For example, one implicit model of the text +is that there is no internal structure, but just one thing after another, +a few characters and then perhaps a start-title command, and then a few +more characters and an end-title command. SPERBERG-McQUEEN also +distinguished several kinds of text that have a sort of hierarchical +structure that is not very well defined, which, typically, corresponds +to grammars that are not very well defined, as well as hierarchies that +are very well defined (e.g., the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae) and extremely +complicated things such as SGML, which handle strictly hierarchical data +very nicely. + +SPERBERG-McQUEEN conceded that one other model not illustrated on his two +displays was the model of text as a bit-mapped image, an image of a page, +and confessed to having been converted to a limited extent by the +Workshop to the view that electronic images constitute a promising, +probably superior alternative to microfilming. But he was not convinced +that electronic images represent a serious attempt to represent text in +electronic form. Many of their problems stem from the fact that they are +not direct attempts to represent the text but attempts to represent the +page, thus making them representations of representations. + +In this situation of increasingly complicated textual information and the +need to control that complexity in a useful way (which begs the question +of the need for good textual grammars), one has the introduction of SGML. +With SGML, one can develop specific document-type declarations +for specific text types or, as with the TEI, attempts to generate +general document-type declarations that can handle all sorts of text. +The TEI is an attempt to develop formats for text representation that +will ensure the kind of reusability and longevity of data discussed earlier. +It offers a way to stay alive in the state of permanent technological +revolution. + +It has been a continuing challenge in the TEI to create document grammars +that do some work in controlling the complexity of the textual object but +also allowing one to represent the real text that one will find. +Fundamental to the notion of the TEI is that TEI conformance allows one +the ability to extend or modify the TEI tag set so that it fits the text +that one is attempting to represent. + +SPERBERG-McQUEEN next outlined the administrative background of the TEI. +The TEI is an international project to develop and disseminate guidelines +for the encoding and interchange of machine-readable text. It is +sponsored by the Association for Computers in the Humanities, the +Association for Computational Linguistics, and the Association for +Literary and Linguistic Computing. Representatives of numerous other +professional societies sit on its advisory board. The TEI has a number +of affiliated projects that have provided assistance by testing drafts of +the guidelines. + +Among the design goals for the TEI tag set, the scheme first of all must +meet the needs of research, because the TEI came out of the research +community, which did not feel adequately served by existing tag sets. +The tag set must be extensive as well as compatible with existing and +emerging standards. In 1990, version 1.0 of the Guidelines was released +(SPERBERG-McQUEEN illustrated their contents). + +SPERBERG-McQUEEN noted that one problem besetting electronic text has +been the lack of adequate internal or external documentation for many +existing electronic texts. The TEI guidelines as currently formulated +contain few fixed requirements, but one of them is this: There must +always be a document header, an in-file SGML tag that provides +1) a bibliographic description of the electronic object one is talking +about (that is, who included it, when, what for, and under which title); +and 2) the copy text from which it was derived, if any. If there was +no copy text or if the copy text is unknown, then one states as much. +Version 2.0 of the Guidelines was scheduled to be completed in fall 1992 +and a revised third version is to be presented to the TEI advisory board +for its endorsement this coming winter. The TEI itself exists to provide +a markup language, not a marked-up text. + +Among the challenges the TEI has attempted to face is the need for a +markup language that will work for existing projects, that is, handle the +level of markup that people are using now to tag only chapter, section, +and paragraph divisions and not much else. At the same time, such a +language also will be able to scale up gracefully to handle the highly +detailed markup which many people foresee as the future destination of +much electronic text, and which is not the future destination but the +present home of numerous electronic texts in specialized areas. + +SPERBERG-McQUEEN dismissed the lowest-common-denominator approach as +unable to support the kind of applications that draw people who have +never been in the public library regularly before, and make them come +back. He advocated more interesting text and more intelligent text. +Asserting that it is not beyond economic feasibility to have good texts, +SPERBERG-McQUEEN noted that the TEI Guidelines listing 200-odd tags +contains tags that one is expected to enter every time the relevant +textual feature occurs. It contains all the tags that people need now, +and it is not expected that everyone will tag things in the same way. + +The question of how people will tag the text is in large part a function +of their reaction to what SPERBERG-McQUEEN termed the issue of +reproducibility. What one needs to be able to reproduce are the things +one wants to work with. Perhaps a more useful concept than that of +reproducibility or recoverability is that of processability, that is, +what can one get from an electronic text without reading it again +in the original. He illustrated this contention with a page from +Jan Comenius's bilingual Introduction to Latin. + +SPERBERG-McQUEEN returned at length to the issue of images as simulacra +for the text, in order to reiterate his belief that in the long run more +than images of pages of particular editions of the text are needed, +because just as second-generation photocopies and second-generation +microfilm degenerate, so second-generation representations tend to +degenerate, and one tends to overstress some relatively trivial aspects +of the text such as its layout on the page, which is not always +significant, despite what the text critics might say, and slight other +pieces of information such as the very important lexical ties between the +English and Latin versions of Comenius's bilingual text, for example. +Moreover, in many crucial respects it is easy to fool oneself concerning +what a scanned image of the text will accomplish. For example, in order +to study the transmission of texts, information concerning the text +carrier is necessary, which scanned images simply do not always handle. +Further, even the high-quality materials being produced at Cornell use +much of the information that one would need if studying those books as +physical objects. It is a choice that has been made. It is an arguably +justifiable choice, but one does not know what color those pen strokes in +the margin are or whether there was a stain on the page, because it has +been filtered out. One does not know whether there were rips in the page +because they do not show up, and on a couple of the marginal marks one +loses half of the mark because the pen is very light and the scanner +failed to pick it up, and so what is clearly a checkmark in the margin of +the original becomes a little scoop in the margin of the facsimile. +Standard problems for facsimile editions, not new to electronics, but +also true of light-lens photography, and are remarked here because it is +important that we not fool ourselves that even if we produce a very nice +image of this page with good contrast, we are not replacing the +manuscript any more than microfilm has replaced the manuscript. + +The TEI comes from the research community, where its first allegiance +lies, but it is not just an academic exercise. It has relevance far +beyond those who spend all of their time studying text, because one's +model of text determines what one's software can do with a text. Good +models lead to good software. Bad models lead to bad software. That has +economic consequences, and it is these economic consequences that have +led the European Community to help support the TEI, and that will lead, +SPERBERG-McQUEEN hoped, some software vendors to realize that if they +provide software with a better model of the text they can make a killing. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * Implications of different DTDs and tag sets * ODA versus SGML * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +During the discussion that followed, several additional points were made. +Neither AAP (i.e., Association of American Publishers) nor CALS (i.e., +Computer-aided Acquisition and Logistics Support) has a document-type +definition for ancient Greek drama, although the TEI will be able to +handle that. Given this state of affairs and assuming that the +technical-journal producers and the commercial vendors decide to use the +other two types, then an institution like the Library of Congress, which +might receive all of their publications, would have to be able to handle +three different types of document definitions and tag sets and be able to +distinguish among them. + +Office Document Architecture (ODA) has some advantages that flow from its +tight focus on office documents and clear directions for implementation. +Much of the ODA standard is easier to read and clearer at first reading +than the SGML standard, which is extremely general. What that means is +that if one wants to use graphics in TIFF and ODA, one is stuck, because +ODA defines graphics formats while TIFF does not, whereas SGML says the +world is not waiting for this work group to create another graphics format. +What is needed is an ability to use whatever graphics format one wants. + +The TEI provides a socket that allows one to connect the SGML document to +the graphics. The notation that the graphics are in is clearly a choice +that one needs to make based on her or his environment, and that is one +advantage. SGML is less megalomaniacal in attempting to define formats +for all kinds of information, though more megalomaniacal in attempting to +cover all sorts of documents. The other advantage is that the model of +text represented by SGML is simply an order of magnitude richer and more +flexible than the model of text offered by ODA. Both offer hierarchical +structures, but SGML recognizes that the hierarchical model of the text +that one is looking at may not have been in the minds of the designers, +whereas ODA does not. + +ODA is not really aiming for the kind of document that the TEI wants to +encompass. The TEI can handle the kind of material ODA has, as well as a +significantly broader range of material. ODA seems to be very much +focused on office documents, which is what it started out being called-- +office document architecture. + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +CALALUCA * Text-encoding from a publisher's perspective * +Responsibilities of a publisher * Reproduction of Migne's Latin series +whole and complete with SGML tags based on perceived need and expected +use * Particular decisions arising from the general decision to produce +and publish PLD * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +The final speaker in this session, Eric CALALUCA, vice president, +Chadwyck-Healey, Inc., spoke from the perspective of a publisher re +text-encoding, rather than as one qualified to discuss methods of +encoding data, and observed that the presenters sitting in the room, +whether they had chosen to or not, were acting as publishers: making +choices, gathering data, gathering information, and making assessments. +CALALUCA offered the hard-won conviction that in publishing very large +text files (such as PLD), one cannot avoid making personal judgments of +appropriateness and structure. + +In CALALUCA's view, encoding decisions stem from prior judgments. Two +notions have become axioms for him in the consideration of future sources +for electronic publication: 1) electronic text publishing is as personal +as any other kind of publishing, and questions of if and how to encode +the data are simply a consequence of that prior decision; 2) all +personal decisions are open to criticism, which is unavoidable. + +CALALUCA rehearsed his role as a publisher or, better, as an intermediary +between what is viewed as a sound idea and the people who would make use +of it. Finding the specialist to advise in this process is the core of +that function. The publisher must monitor and hug the fine line between +giving users what they want and suggesting what they might need. One +responsibility of a publisher is to represent the desires of scholars and +research librarians as opposed to bullheadedly forcing them into areas +they would not choose to enter. + +CALALUCA likened the questions being raised today about data structure +and standards to the decisions faced by the Abbe Migne himself during +production of the Patrologia series in the mid-nineteenth century. +Chadwyck-Healey's decision to reproduce Migne's Latin series whole and +complete with SGML tags was also based upon a perceived need and an +expected use. In the same way that Migne's work came to be far more than +a simple handbook for clerics, PLD is already far more than a database +for theologians. It is a bedrock source for the study of Western +civilization, CALALUCA asserted. + +In regard to the decision to produce and publish PLD, the editorial board +offered direct judgments on the question of appropriateness of these +texts for conversion, their encoding and their distribution, and +concluded that the best possible project was one that avoided overt +intrusions or exclusions in so important a resource. Thus, the general +decision to transmit the original collection as clearly as possible with +the widest possible avenues for use led to other decisions: 1) To encode +the data or not, SGML or not, TEI or not. Again, the expected user +community asserted the need for normative tagging structures of important +humanities texts, and the TEI seemed the most appropriate structure for +that purpose. Research librarians, who are trained to view the larger +impact of electronic text sources on 80 or 90 or 100 doctoral +disciplines, loudly approved the decision to include tagging. They see +what is coming better than the specialist who is completely focused on +one edition of Ambrose's De Anima, and they also understand that the +potential uses exceed present expectations. 2) What will be tagged and +what will not. Once again, the board realized that one must tag the +obvious. But in no way should one attempt to identify through encoding +schemes every single discrete area of a text that might someday be +searched. That was another decision. Searching by a column number, an +author, a word, a volume, permitting combination searches, and tagging +notations seemed logical choices as core elements. 3) How does one make +the data available? Tieing it to a CD-ROM edition creates limitations, +but a magnetic tape file that is very large, is accompanied by the +encoding specifications, and that allows one to make local modifications +also allows one to incorporate any changes one may desire within the +bounds of private research, though exporting tag files from a CD-ROM +could serve just as well. Since no one on the board could possibly +anticipate each and every way in which a scholar might choose to mine +this data bank, it was decided to satisfy the basics and make some +provisions for what might come. 4) Not to encode the database would rob +it of the interchangeability and portability these important texts should +accommodate. For CALALUCA, the extensive options presented by full-text +searching require care in text selection and strongly support encoding of +data to facilitate the widest possible search strategies. Better +software can always be created, but summoning the resources, the people, +and the energy to reconvert the text is another matter. + +PLD is being encoded, captured, and distributed, because to +Chadwyck-Healey and the board it offers the widest possible array of +future research applications that can be seen today. CALALUCA concluded +by urging the encoding of all important text sources in whatever way +seems most appropriate and durable at the time, without blanching at the +thought that one's work may require emendation in the future. (Thus, +Chadwyck-Healey produced a very large humanities text database before the +final release of the TEI Guidelines.) + + ****** + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +DISCUSSION * Creating texts with markup advocated * Trends in encoding * +The TEI and the issue of interchangeability of standards * A +misconception concerning the TEI * Implications for an institution like +LC in the event that a multiplicity of DTDs develops * Producing images +as a first step towards possible conversion to full text through +character recognition * The AAP tag sets as a common starting point and +the need for caution * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +HOCKEY prefaced the discussion that followed with several comments in +favor of creating texts with markup and on trends in encoding. In the +future, when many more texts are available for on-line searching, real +problems in finding what is wanted will develop, if one is faced with +millions of words of data. It therefore becomes important to consider +putting markup in texts to help searchers home in on the actual things +they wish to retrieve. Various approaches to refining retrieval methods +toward this end include building on a computer version of a dictionary +and letting the computer look up words in it to obtain more information +about the semantic structure or semantic field of a word, its grammatical +structure, and syntactic structure. + +HOCKEY commented on the present keen interest in the encoding world +in creating: 1) machine-readable versions of dictionaries that can be +initially tagged in SGML, which gives a structure to the dictionary entry; +these entries can then be converted into a more rigid or otherwise +different database structure inside the computer, which can be treated as +a dynamic tool for searching mechanisms; 2) large bodies of text to study +the language. In order to incorporate more sophisticated mechanisms, +more about how words behave needs to be known, which can be learned in +part from information in dictionaries. However, the last ten years have +seen much interest in studying the structure of printed dictionaries +converted into computer-readable form. The information one derives about +many words from those is only partial, one or two definitions of the +common or the usual meaning of a word, and then numerous definitions of +unusual usages. If the computer is using a dictionary to help retrieve +words in a text, it needs much more information about the common usages, +because those are the ones that occur over and over again. Hence the +current interest in developing large bodies of text in computer-readable +form in order to study the language. Several projects are engaged in +compiling, for example, 100 million words. HOCKEY described one with +which she was associated briefly at Oxford University involving +compilation of 100 million words of British English: about 10 percent of +that will contain detailed linguistic tagging encoded in SGML; it will +have word class taggings, with words identified as nouns, verbs, +adjectives, or other parts of speech. This tagging can then be used by +programs which will begin to learn a bit more about the structure of the +language, and then, can go to tag more text. + +HOCKEY said that the more that is tagged accurately, the more one can +refine the tagging process and thus the bigger body of text one can build +up with linguistic tagging incorporated into it. Hence, the more tagging +or annotation there is in the text, the more one may begin to learn about +language and the more it will help accomplish more intelligent OCR. She +recommended the development of software tools that will help one begin to +understand more about a text, which can then be applied to scanning +images of that text in that format and to using more intelligence to help +one interpret or understand the text. + +HOCKEY posited the need to think about common methods of text-encoding +for a long time to come, because building these large bodies of text is +extremely expensive and will only be done once. + +In the more general discussion on approaches to encoding that followed, +these points were made: + +BESSER identified the underlying problem with standards that all have to +struggle with in adopting a standard, namely, the tension between a very +highly defined standard that is very interchangeable but does not work +for everyone because something is lacking, and a standard that is less +defined, more open, more adaptable, but less interchangeable. Contending +that the way in which people use SGML is not sufficiently defined, BESSER +wondered 1) if people resist the TEI because they think it is too defined +in certain things they do not fit into, and 2) how progress with +interchangeability can be made without frightening people away. + +SPERBERG-McQUEEN replied that the published drafts of the TEI had met +with surprisingly little objection on the grounds that they do not allow +one to handle X or Y or Z. Particular concerns of the affiliated +projects have led, in practice, to discussions of how extensions are to +be made; the primary concern of any project has to be how it can be +represented locally, thus making interchange secondary. The TEI has +received much criticism based on the notion that everything in it is +required or even recommended, which, as it happens, is a misconception +from the beginning, because none of it is required and very little is +actually actively recommended for all cases, except that one document +one's source. + +SPERBERG-McQUEEN agreed with BESSER about this trade-off: all the +projects in a set of twenty TEI-conformant projects will not necessarily +tag the material in the same way. One result of the TEI will be that the +easiest problems will be solved--those dealing with the external form of +the information; but the problem that is hardest in interchange is that +one is not encoding what another wants, and vice versa. Thus, after +the adoption of a common notation, the differences in the underlying +conceptions of what is interesting about texts become more visible. +The success of a standard like the TEI will lie in the ability of +the recipient of interchanged texts to use some of what it contains +and to add the information that was not encoded that one wants, in a +layered way, so that texts can be gradually enriched and one does not +have to put in everything all at once. Hence, having a well-behaved +markup scheme is important. + +STEVENS followed up on the paradoxical analogy that BESSER alluded to in +the example of the MARC records, namely, the formats that are the same +except that they are different. STEVENS drew a parallel between +document-type definitions and MARC records for books and serials and maps, +where one has a tagging structure and there is a text-interchange. +STEVENS opined that the producers of the information will set the terms +for the standard (i.e., develop document-type definitions for the users +of their products), creating a situation that will be problematical for +an institution like the Library of Congress, which will have to deal with +the DTDs in the event that a multiplicity of them develops. Thus, +numerous people are seeking a standard but cannot find the tag set that +will be acceptable to them and their clients. SPERBERG-McQUEEN agreed +with this view, and said that the situation was in a way worse: attempting +to unify arbitrary DTDs resembled attempting to unify a MARC record with a +bibliographic record done according to the Prussian instructions. +According to STEVENS, this situation occurred very early in the process. + +WATERS recalled from early discussions on Project Open Book the concern +of many people that merely by producing images, POB was not really +enhancing intellectual access to the material. Nevertheless, not wishing +to overemphasize the opposition between imaging and full text, WATERS +stated that POB views getting the images as a first step toward possibly +converting to full text through character recognition, if the technology +is appropriate. WATERS also emphasized that encoding is involved even +with a set of images. + +SPERBERG-McQUEEN agreed with WATERS that one can create an SGML document +consisting wholly of images. At first sight, organizing graphic images +with an SGML document may not seem to offer great advantages, but the +advantages of the scheme WATERS described would be precisely that +ability to move into something that is more of a multimedia document: +a combination of transcribed text and page images. WEIBEL concurred in +this judgment, offering evidence from Project ADAPT, where a page is +divided into text elements and graphic elements, and in fact the text +elements are organized by columns and lines. These lines may be used as +the basis for distributing documents in a network environment. As one +develops software intelligent enough to recognize what those elements +are, it makes sense to apply SGML to an image initially, that may, in +fact, ultimately become more and more text, either through OCR or edited +OCR or even just through keying. For WATERS, the labor of composing the +document and saying this set of documents or this set of images belongs +to this document constitutes a significant investment. + +WEIBEL also made the point that the AAP tag sets, while not excessively +prescriptive, offer a common starting point; they do not define the +structure of the documents, though. They have some recommendations about +DTDs one could use as examples, but they do just suggest tag sets. For +example, the CORE project attempts to use the AAP markup as much as +possible, but there are clearly areas where structure must be added. +That in no way contradicts the use of AAP tag sets. + +SPERBERG-McQUEEN noted that the TEI prepared a long working paper early +on about the AAP tag set and what it lacked that the TEI thought it +needed, and a fairly long critique of the naming conventions, which has +led to a very different style of naming in the TEI. He stressed the +importance of the opposition between prescriptive markup, the kind that a +publisher or anybody can do when producing documents de novo, and +descriptive markup, in which one has to take what the text carrier +provides. In these particular tag sets it is easy to overemphasize this +opposition, because the AAP tag set is extremely flexible. Even if one +just used the DTDs, they allow almost anything to appear almost anywhere. + + ****** + +SESSION VI. COPYRIGHT ISSUES + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +PETERS * Several cautions concerning copyright in an electronic +environment * Review of copyright law in the United States * The notion +of the public good and the desirability of incentives to promote it * +What copyright protects * Works not protected by copyright * The rights +of copyright holders * Publishers' concerns in today's electronic +environment * Compulsory licenses * The price of copyright in a digital +medium and the need for cooperation * Additional clarifications * Rough +justice oftentimes the outcome in numerous copyright matters * Copyright +in an electronic society * Copyright law always only sets up the +boundaries; anything can be changed by contract * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +Marybeth PETERS, policy planning adviser to the Register of Copyrights, +Library of Congress, made several general comments and then opened the +floor to discussion of subjects of interest to the audience. + +Having attended several sessions in an effort to gain a sense of what +people did and where copyright would affect their lives, PETERS expressed +the following cautions: + + * If one takes and converts materials and puts them in new forms, + then, from a copyright point of view, one is creating something and + will receive some rights. + + * However, if what one is converting already exists, a question + immediately arises about the status of the materials in question. + + * Putting something in the public domain in the United States offers + some freedom from anxiety, but distributing it throughout the world + on a network is another matter, even if one has put it in the public + domain in the United States. Re foreign laws, very frequently a + work can be in the public domain in the United States but protected + in other countries. Thus, one must consider all of the places a + work may reach, lest one unwittingly become liable to being faced + with a suit for copyright infringement, or at least a letter + demanding discussion of what one is doing. + +PETERS reviewed copyright law in the United States. The U.S. +Constitution effectively states that Congress has the power to enact +copyright laws for two purposes: 1) to encourage the creation and +dissemination of intellectual works for the good of society as a whole; +and, significantly, 2) to give creators and those who package and +disseminate materials the economic rewards that are due them. + +Congress strives to strike a balance, which at times can become an +emotional issue. The United States has never accepted the notion of the +natural right of an author so much as it has accepted the notion of the +public good and the desirability of incentives to promote it. This state +of affairs, however, has created strains on the international level and +is the reason for several of the differences in the laws that we have. +Today the United States protects almost every kind of work that can be +called an expression of an author. The standard for gaining copyright +protection is simply originality. This is a low standard and means that +a work is not copied from something else, as well as shows a certain +minimal amount of authorship. One can also acquire copyright protection +for making a new version of preexisting material, provided it manifests +some spark of creativity. + +However, copyright does not protect ideas, methods, systems--only the way +that one expresses those things. Nor does copyright protect anything +that is mechanical, anything that does not involve choice, or criteria +concerning whether or not one should do a thing. For example, the +results of a process called declicking, in which one mechanically removes +impure sounds from old recordings, are not copyrightable. On the other +hand, the choice to record a song digitally and to increase the sound of +violins or to bring up the tympani constitutes the results of conversion +that are copyrightable. Moreover, if a work is protected by copyright in +the United States, one generally needs the permission of the copyright +owner to convert it. Normally, who will own the new--that is, converted- +-material is a matter of contract. In the absence of a contract, the +person who creates the new material is the author and owner. But people +do not generally think about the copyright implications until after the +fact. PETERS stressed the need when dealing with copyrighted works to +think about copyright in advance. One's bargaining power is much greater +up front than it is down the road. + +PETERS next discussed works not protected by copyright, for example, any +work done by a federal employee as part of his or her official duties is +in the public domain in the United States. The issue is not wholly free +of doubt concerning whether or not the work is in the public domain +outside the United States. Other materials in the public domain include: +any works published more than seventy-five years ago, and any work +published in the United States more than twenty-eight years ago, whose +copyright was not renewed. In talking about the new technology and +putting material in a digital form to send all over the world, PETERS +cautioned, one must keep in mind that while the rights may not be an +issue in the United States, they may be in different parts of the world, +where most countries previously employed a copyright term of the life of +the author plus fifty years. + +PETERS next reviewed the economics of copyright holding. Simply, +economic rights are the rights to control the reproduction of a work in +any form. They belong to the author, or in the case of a work made for +hire, the employer. The second right, which is critical to conversion, +is the right to change a work. The right to make new versions is perhaps +one of the most significant rights of authors, particularly in an +electronic world. The third right is the right to publish the work and +the right to disseminate it, something that everyone who deals in an +electronic medium needs to know. The basic rule is if a copy is sold, +all rights of distribution are extinguished with the sale of that copy. +The key is that it must be sold. A number of companies overcome this +obstacle by leasing or renting their product. These companies argue that +if the material is rented or leased and not sold, they control the uses +of a work. The fourth right, and one very important in a digital world, +is a right of public performance, which means the right to show the work +sequentially. For example, copyright owners control the showing of a +CD-ROM product in a public place such as a public library. The reverse +side of public performance is something called the right of public +display. Moral rights also exist, which at the federal level apply only +to very limited visual works of art, but in theory may apply under +contract and other principles. Moral rights may include the right of an +author to have his or her name on a work, the right of attribution, and +the right to object to distortion or mutilation--the right of integrity. + +The way copyright law is worded gives much latitude to activities such as +preservation; to use of material for scholarly and research purposes when +the user does not make multiple copies; and to the generation of +facsimile copies of unpublished works by libraries for themselves and +other libraries. But the law does not allow anyone to become the +distributor of the product for the entire world. In today's electronic +environment, publishers are extremely concerned that the entire world is +networked and can obtain the information desired from a single copy in a +single library. Hence, if there is to be only one sale, which publishers +may choose to live with, they will obtain their money in other ways, for +example, from access and use. Hence, the development of site licenses +and other kinds of agreements to cover what publishers believe they +should be compensated for. Any solution that the United States takes +today has to consider the international arena. + +Noting that the United States is a member of the Berne Convention and +subscribes to its provisions, PETERS described the permissions process. +She also defined compulsory licenses. A compulsory license, of which the +United States has had a few, builds into the law the right to use a work +subject to certain terms and conditions. In the international arena, +however, the ability to use compulsory licenses is extremely limited. +Thus, clearinghouses and other collectives comprise one option that has +succeeded in providing for use of a work. Often overlooked when one +begins to use copyrighted material and put products together is how +expensive the permissions process and managing it is. According to +PETERS, the price of copyright in a digital medium, whatever solution is +worked out, will include managing and assembling the database. She +strongly recommended that publishers and librarians or people with +various backgrounds cooperate to work out administratively feasible +systems, in order to produce better results. + +In the lengthy question-and-answer period that followed PETERS's +presentation, the following points emerged: + + * The Copyright Office maintains that anything mechanical and + totally exhaustive probably is not protected. In the event that + what an individual did in developing potentially copyrightable + material is not understood, the Copyright Office will ask about the + creative choices the applicant chose to make or not to make. As a + practical matter, if one believes she or he has made enough of those + choices, that person has a right to assert a copyright and someone + else must assert that the work is not copyrightable. The more + mechanical, the more automatic, a thing is, the less likely it is to + be copyrightable. + + * Nearly all photographs are deemed to be copyrightable, but no one + worries about them much, because everyone is free to take the same + image. Thus, a photographic copyright represents what is called a + "thin" copyright. The photograph itself must be duplicated, in + order for copyright to be violated. + + * The Copyright Office takes the position that X-rays are not + copyrightable because they are mechanical. It can be argued + whether or not image enhancement in scanning can be protected. One + must exercise care with material created with public funds and + generally in the public domain. An article written by a federal + employee, if written as part of official duties, is not + copyrightable. However, control over a scientific article written + by a National Institutes of Health grantee (i.e., someone who + receives money from the U.S. government), depends on NIH policy. If + the government agency has no policy (and that policy can be + contained in its regulations, the contract, or the grant), the + author retains copyright. If a provision of the contract, grant, or + regulation states that there will be no copyright, then it does not + exist. When a work is created, copyright automatically comes into + existence unless something exists that says it does not. + + * An enhanced electronic copy of a print copy of an older reference + work in the public domain that does not contain copyrightable new + material is a purely mechanical rendition of the original work, and + is not copyrightable. + + * Usually, when a work enters the public domain, nothing can remove + it. For example, Congress recently passed into law the concept of + automatic renewal, which means that copyright on any work published + between l964 and l978 does not have to be renewed in order to + receive a seventy-five-year term. But any work not renewed before + 1964 is in the public domain. + + * Concerning whether or not the United States keeps track of when + authors die, nothing was ever done, nor is anything being done at + the moment by the Copyright Office. + + * Software that drives a mechanical process is itself copyrightable. + If one changes platforms, the software itself has a copyright. The + World Intellectual Property Organization will hold a symposium 28 + March through 2 April l993, at Harvard University, on digital + technology, and will study this entire issue. If one purchases a + computer software package, such as MacPaint, and creates something + new, one receives protection only for that which has been added. + +PETERS added that often in copyright matters, rough justice is the +outcome, for example, in collective licensing, ASCAP (i.e., American +Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), and BMI (i.e., Broadcast +Music, Inc.), where it may seem that the big guys receive more than their +due. Of course, people ought not to copy a creative product without +paying for it; there should be some compensation. But the truth of the +world, and it is not a great truth, is that the big guy gets played on +the radio more frequently than the little guy, who has to do much more +until he becomes a big guy. That is true of every author, every +composer, everyone, and, unfortunately, is part of life. + +Copyright always originates with the author, except in cases of works +made for hire. (Most software falls into this category.) When an author +sends his article to a journal, he has not relinquished copyright, though +he retains the right to relinquish it. The author receives absolutely +everything. The less prominent the author, the more leverage the +publisher will have in contract negotiations. In order to transfer the +rights, the author must sign an agreement giving them away. + +In an electronic society, it is important to be able to license a writer +and work out deals. With regard to use of a work, it usually is much +easier when a publisher holds the rights. In an electronic era, a real +problem arises when one is digitizing and making information available. +PETERS referred again to electronic licensing clearinghouses. Copyright +ought to remain with the author, but as one moves forward globally in the +electronic arena, a middleman who can handle the various rights becomes +increasingly necessary. + +The notion of copyright law is that it resides with the individual, but +in an on-line environment, where a work can be adapted and tinkered with +by many individuals, there is concern. If changes are authorized and +there is no agreement to the contrary, the person who changes a work owns +the changes. To put it another way, the person who acquires permission +to change a work technically will become the author and the owner, unless +some agreement to the contrary has been made. It is typical for the +original publisher to try to control all of the versions and all of the +uses. Copyright law always only sets up the boundaries. Anything can be +changed by contract. + + ****** + +SESSION VII. CONCLUSION + ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +GENERAL DISCUSSION * Two questions for discussion * Different emphases in +the Workshop * Bringing the text and image partisans together * +Desiderata in planning the long-term development of something * Questions +surrounding the issue of electronic deposit * Discussion of electronic +deposit as an allusion to the issue of standards * Need for a directory +of preservation projects in digital form and for access to their +digitized files * CETH's catalogue of machine-readable texts in the +humanities * What constitutes a publication in the electronic world? * +Need for LC to deal with the concept of on-line publishing * LC's Network +Development Office exploring the limits of MARC as a standard in terms +of handling electronic information * Magnitude of the problem and the +need for distributed responsibility in order to maintain and store +electronic information * Workshop participants to be viewed as a starting +point * Development of a network version of AM urged * A step toward AM's +construction of some sort of apparatus for network access * A delicate +and agonizing policy question for LC * Re the issue of electronic +deposit, LC urged to initiate a catalytic process in terms of distributed +responsibility * Suggestions for cooperative ventures * Commercial +publishers' fears * Strategic questions for getting the image and text +people to think through long-term cooperation * Clarification of the +driving force behind both the Perseus and the Cornell Xerox projects * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ + +In his role as moderator of the concluding session, GIFFORD raised two +questions he believed would benefit from discussion: 1) Are there enough +commonalities among those of us that have been here for two days so that +we can see courses of action that should be taken in the future? And, if +so, what are they and who might take them? 2) Partly derivative from +that, but obviously very dangerous to LC as host, do you see a role for +the Library of Congress in all this? Of course, the Library of Congress +holds a rather special status in a number of these matters, because it is +not perceived as a player with an economic stake in them, but are there +roles that LC can play that can help advance us toward where we are heading? + +Describing himself as an uninformed observer of the technicalities of the +last two days, GIFFORD detected three different emphases in the Workshop: +1) people who are very deeply committed to text; 2) people who are almost +passionate about images; and 3) a few people who are very committed to +what happens to the networks. In other words, the new networking +dimension, the accessibility of the processability, the portability of +all this across the networks. How do we pull those three together? + +Adding a question that reflected HOCKEY's comment that this was the +fourth workshop she had attended in the previous thirty days, FLEISCHHAUER +wondered to what extent this meeting had reinvented the wheel, or if it +had contributed anything in the way of bringing together a different group +of people from those who normally appear on the workshop circuit. + +HOCKEY confessed to being struck at this meeting and the one the +Electronic Pierce Consortium organized the previous week that this was a +coming together of people working on texts and not images. Attempting to +bring the two together is something we ought to be thinking about for the +future: How one can think about working with image material to begin +with, but structuring it and digitizing it in such a way that at a later +stage it can be interpreted into text, and find a common way of building +text and images together so that they can be used jointly in the future, +with the network support to begin there because that is how people will +want to access it. + +In planning the long-term development of something, which is what is +being done in electronic text, HOCKEY stressed the importance not only +of discussing the technical aspects of how one does it but particularly +of thinking about what the people who use the stuff will want to do. +But conversely, there are numerous things that people start to do with +electronic text or material that nobody ever thought of in the beginning. + +LESK, in response to the question concerning the role of the Library of +Congress, remarked the often suggested desideratum of having electronic +deposit: Since everything is now computer-typeset, an entire decade of +material that was machine-readable exists, but the publishers frequently +did not save it; has LC taken any action to have its copyright deposit +operation start collecting these machine-readable versions? In the +absence of PETERS, GIFFORD replied that the question was being +actively considered but that that was only one dimension of the problem. +Another dimension is the whole question of the integrity of the original +electronic document. It becomes highly important in science to prove +authorship. How will that be done? + +ERWAY explained that, under the old policy, to make a claim for a +copyright for works that were published in electronic form, including +software, one had to submit a paper copy of the first and last twenty +pages of code--something that represented the work but did not include +the entire work itself and had little value to anyone. As a temporary +measure, LC has claimed the right to demand electronic versions of +electronic publications. This measure entails a proactive role for the +Library to say that it wants a particular electronic version. Publishers +then have perhaps a year to submit it. But the real problem for LC is +what to do with all this material in all these different formats. Will +the Library mount it? How will it give people access to it? How does LC +keep track of the appropriate computers, software, and media? The situation +is so hard to control, ERWAY said, that it makes sense for each publishing +house to maintain its own archive. But LC cannot enforce that either. + +GIFFORD acknowledged LESK's suggestion that establishing a priority +offered the solution, albeit a fairly complicated one. But who maintains +that register?, he asked. GRABER noted that LC does attempt to collect a +Macintosh version and the IBM-compatible version of software. It does +not collect other versions. But while true for software, BYRUM observed, +this reply does not speak to materials, that is, all the materials that +were published that were on somebody's microcomputer or driver tapes +at a publishing office across the country. LC does well to acquire +specific machine-readable products selectively that were intended to be +machine-readable. Materials that were in machine-readable form at one time, +BYRUM said, would be beyond LC's capability at the moment, insofar as +attempting to acquire, organize, and preserve them are concerned--and +preservation would be the most important consideration. In this +connection, GIFFORD reiterated the need to work out some sense of +distributive responsibility for a number of these issues, which +inevitably will require significant cooperation and discussion. +Nobody can do it all. + +LESK suggested that some publishers may look with favor on LC beginning +to serve as a depository of tapes in an electronic manuscript standard. +Publishers may view this as a service that they did not have to perform +and they might send in tapes. However, SPERBERG-McQUEEN countered, +although publishers have had equivalent services available to them for a +long time, the electronic text archive has never turned away or been +flooded with tapes and is forever sending feedback to the depositor. +Some publishers do send in tapes. + +ANDRE viewed this discussion as an allusion to the issue of standards. +She recommended that the AAP standard and the TEI, which has already been +somewhat harmonized internationally and which also shares several +compatibilities with the AAP, be harmonized to ensure sufficient +compatibility in the software. She drew the line at saying LC ought to +be the locus or forum for such harmonization. + +Taking the group in a slightly different direction, but one where at +least in the near term LC might play a helpful role, LYNCH remarked the +plans of a number of projects to carry out preservation by creating +digital images that will end up in on-line or near-line storage at some +institution. Presumably, LC will link this material somehow to its +on-line catalog in most cases. Thus, it is in a digital form. LYNCH had +the impression that many of these institutions would be willing to make +those files accessible to other people outside the institution, provided +that there is no copyright problem. This desideratum will require +propagating the knowledge that those digitized files exist, so that they +can end up in other on-line catalogs. Although uncertain about the +mechanism for achieving this result, LYNCH said that it warranted +scrutiny because it seemed to be connected to some of the basic issues of +cataloging and distribution of records. It would be foolish, given the +amount of work that all of us have to do and our meager resources, to +discover multiple institutions digitizing the same work. Re microforms, +LYNCH said, we are in pretty good shape. + +BATTIN called this a big problem and noted that the Cornell people (who +had already departed) were working on it. At issue from the beginning +was to learn how to catalog that information into RLIN and then into +OCLC, so that it would be accessible. That issue remains to be resolved. +LYNCH rejoined that putting it into OCLC or RLIN was helpful insofar as +somebody who is thinking of performing preservation activity on that work +could learn about it. It is not necessarily helpful for institutions to +make that available. BATTIN opined that the idea was that it not only be +for preservation purposes but for the convenience of people looking for +this material. She endorsed LYNCH's dictum that duplication of this +effort was to be avoided by every means. + +HOCKEY informed the Workshop about one major current activity of CETH, +namely a catalogue of machine-readable texts in the humanities. Held on +RLIN at present, the catalogue has been concentrated on ASCII as opposed +to digitized images of text. She is exploring ways to improve the +catalogue and make it more widely available, and welcomed suggestions +about these concerns. CETH owns the records, which are not just +restricted to RLIN, and can distribute them however it wishes. + +Taking up LESK's earlier question, BATTIN inquired whether LC, since it +is accepting electronic files and designing a mechanism for dealing with +that rather than putting books on shelves, would become responsible for +the National Copyright Depository of Electronic Materials. Of course +that could not be accomplished overnight, but it would be something LC +could plan for. GIFFORD acknowledged that much thought was being devoted +to that set of problems and returned the discussion to the issue raised +by LYNCH--whether or not putting the kind of records that both BATTIN and +HOCKEY have been talking about in RLIN is not a satisfactory solution. +It seemed to him that RLIN answered LYNCH's original point concerning +some kind of directory for these kinds of materials. In a situation +where somebody is attempting to decide whether or not to scan this or +film that or to learn whether or not someone has already done so, LYNCH +suggested, RLIN is helpful, but it is not helpful in the case of a local, +on-line catalogue. Further, one would like to have her or his system be +aware that that exists in digital form, so that one can present it to a +patron, even though one did not digitize it, if it is out of copyright. +The only way to make those linkages would be to perform a tremendous +amount of real-time look-up, which would be awkward at best, or +periodically to yank the whole file from RLIN and match it against one's +own stuff, which is a nuisance. + +But where, ERWAY inquired, does one stop including things that are +available with Internet, for instance, in one's local catalogue? +It almost seems that that is LC's means to acquire access to them. +That represents LC's new form of library loan. Perhaps LC's new on-line +catalogue is an amalgamation of all these catalogues on line. LYNCH +conceded that perhaps that was true in the very long term, but was not +applicable to scanning in the short term. In his view, the totals cited +by Yale, 10,000 books over perhaps a four-year period, and 1,000-1,500 +books from Cornell, were not big numbers, while searching all over +creation for relatively rare occurrences will prove to be less efficient. +As GIFFORD wondered if this would not be a separable file on RLIN and +could be requested from them, BATTIN interjected that it was easily +accessible to an institution. SEVERTSON pointed out that that file, cum +enhancements, was available with reference information on CD-ROM, which +makes it a little more available. + +In HOCKEY's view, the real question facing the Workshop is what to put in +this catalogue, because that raises the question of what constitutes a +publication in the electronic world. (WEIBEL interjected that Eric Joule +in OCLC's Office of Research is also wrestling with this particular +problem, while GIFFORD thought it sounded fairly generic.) HOCKEY +contended that a majority of texts in the humanities are in the hands +of either a small number of large research institutions or individuals +and are not generally available for anyone else to access at all. +She wondered if these texts ought to be catalogued. + +After argument proceeded back and forth for several minutes over why +cataloguing might be a necessary service, LEBRON suggested that this +issue involved the responsibility of a publisher. The fact that someone +has created something electronically and keeps it under his or her +control does not constitute publication. Publication implies +dissemination. While it would be important for a scholar to let other +people know that this creation exists, in many respects this is no +different from an unpublished manuscript. That is what is being accessed +in there, except that now one is not looking at it in the hard-copy but +in the electronic environment. + +LEBRON expressed puzzlement at the variety of ways electronic publishing +has been viewed. Much of what has been discussed throughout these two +days has concerned CD-ROM publishing, whereas in the on-line environment +that she confronts, the constraints and challenges are very different. +Sooner or later LC will have to deal with the concept of on-line +publishing. Taking up the comment ERWAY made earlier about storing +copies, LEBRON gave her own journal as an example. How would she deposit +OJCCT for copyright?, she asked, because the journal will exist in the +mainframe at OCLC and people will be able to access it. Here the +situation is different, ownership versus access, and is something that +arises with publication in the on-line environment, faster than is +sometimes realized. Lacking clear answers to all of these questions +herself, LEBRON did not anticipate that LC would be able to take a role +in helping to define some of them for quite a while. + +GREENFIELD observed that LC's Network Development Office is attempting, +among other things, to explore the limits of MARC as a standard in terms +of handling electronic information. GREENFIELD also noted that Rebecca +GUENTHER from that office gave a paper to the American Society for +Information Science (ASIS) summarizing several of the discussion papers +that were coming out of the Network Development Office. GREENFIELD said +he understood that that office had a list-server soliciting just the kind +of feedback received today concerning the difficulties of identifying and +cataloguing electronic information. GREENFIELD hoped that everybody +would be aware of that and somehow contribute to that conversation. + +Noting two of LC's roles, first, to act as a repository of record for +material that is copyrighted in this country, and second, to make +materials it holds available in some limited form to a clientele that +goes beyond Congress, BESSER suggested that it was incumbent on LC to +extend those responsibilities to all the things being published in +electronic form. This would mean eventually accepting electronic +formats. LC could require that at some point they be in a certain +limited set of formats, and then develop mechanisms for allowing people +to access those in the same way that other things are accessed. This +does not imply that they are on the network and available to everyone. +LC does that with most of its bibliographic records, BESSER said, which +end up migrating to the utility (e.g., OCLC) or somewhere else. But just +as most of LC's books are available in some form through interlibrary +loan or some other mechanism, so in the same way electronic formats ought +to be available to others in some format, though with some copyright +considerations. BESSER was not suggesting that these mechanisms be +established tomorrow, only that they seemed to fall within LC's purview, +and that there should be long-range plans to establish them. + +Acknowledging that those from LC in the room agreed with BESSER +concerning the need to confront difficult questions, GIFFORD underscored +the magnitude of the problem of what to keep and what to select. GIFFORD +noted that LC currently receives some 31,000 items per day, not counting +electronic materials, and argued for much more distributed responsibility +in order to maintain and store electronic information. + +BESSER responded that the assembled group could be viewed as a starting +point, whose initial operating premise could be helping to move in this +direction and defining how LC could do so, for example, in areas of +standardization or distribution of responsibility. + +FLEISCHHAUER added that AM was fully engaged, wrestling with some of the +questions that pertain to the conversion of older historical materials, +which would be one thing that the Library of Congress might do. Several +points mentioned by BESSER and several others on this question have a +much greater impact on those who are concerned with cataloguing and the +networking of bibliographic information, as well as preservation itself. + +Speaking directly to AM, which he considered was a largely uncopyrighted +database, LYNCH urged development of a network version of AM, or +consideration of making the data in it available to people interested in +doing network multimedia. On account of the current great shortage of +digital data that is both appealing and unencumbered by complex rights +problems, this course of action could have a significant effect on making +network multimedia a reality. + +In this connection, FLEISCHHAUER reported on a fragmentary prototype in +LC's Office of Information Technology Services that attempts to associate +digital images of photographs with cataloguing information in ways that +work within a local area network--a step, so to say, toward AM's +construction of some sort of apparatus for access. Further, AM has +attempted to use standard data forms in order to help make that +distinction between the access tools and the underlying data, and thus +believes that the database is networkable. + +A delicate and agonizing policy question for LC, however, which comes +back to resources and unfortunately has an impact on this, is to find +some appropriate, honorable, and legal cost-recovery possibilities. A +certain skittishness concerning cost-recovery has made people unsure +exactly what to do. AM would be highly receptive to discussing further +LYNCH's offer to test or demonstrate its database in a network +environment, FLEISCHHAUER said. + +Returning the discussion to what she viewed as the vital issue of +electronic deposit, BATTIN recommended that LC initiate a catalytic +process in terms of distributed responsibility, that is, bring together +the distributed organizations and set up a study group to look at all +these issues and see where we as a nation should move. The broader +issues of how we deal with the management of electronic information will +not disappear, but only grow worse. + +LESK took up this theme and suggested that LC attempt to persuade one +major library in each state to deal with its state equivalent publisher, +which might produce a cooperative project that would be equitably +distributed around the country, and one in which LC would be dealing with +a minimal number of publishers and minimal copyright problems. + +GRABER remarked the recent development in the scientific community of a +willingness to use SGML and either deposit or interchange on a fairly +standardized format. He wondered if a similar movement was taking place +in the humanities. Although the National Library of Medicine found only +a few publishers to cooperate in a like venture two or three years ago, a +new effort might generate a much larger number willing to cooperate. + +KIMBALL recounted his unit's (Machine-Readable Collections Reading Room) +troubles with the commercial publishers of electronic media in acquiring +materials for LC's collections, in particular the publishers' fear that +they would not be able to cover their costs and would lose control of +their products, that LC would give them away or sell them and make +profits from them. He doubted that the publishing industry was prepared +to move into this area at the moment, given its resistance to allowing LC +to use its machine-readable materials as the Library would like. + +The copyright law now addresses compact disk as a medium, and LC can +request one copy of that, or two copies if it is the only version, and +can request copies of software, but that fails to address magazines or +books or anything like that which is in machine-readable form. + +GIFFORD acknowledged the thorny nature of this issue, which he illustrated +with the example of the cumbersome process involved in putting a copy of a +scientific database on a LAN in LC's science reading room. He also +acknowledged that LC needs help and could enlist the energies and talents +of Workshop participants in thinking through a number of these problems. + +GIFFORD returned the discussion to getting the image and text people to +think through together where they want to go in the long term. MYLONAS +conceded that her experience at the Pierce Symposium the previous week at +Georgetown University and this week at LC had forced her to reevaluate +her perspective on the usefulness of text as images. MYLONAS framed the +issues in a series of questions: How do we acquire machine-readable +text? Do we take pictures of it and perform OCR on it later? Is it +important to obtain very high-quality images and text, etc.? +FLEISCHHAUER agreed with MYLONAS's framing of strategic questions, adding +that a large institution such as LC probably has to do all of those +things at different times. Thus, the trick is to exercise judgment. The +Workshop had added to his and AM's considerations in making those +judgments. Concerning future meetings or discussions, MYLONAS suggested +that screening priorities would be helpful. + +WEIBEL opined that the diversity reflected in this group was a sign both +of the health and of the immaturity of the field, and more time would +have to pass before we convince one another concerning standards. + +An exchange between MYLONAS and BATTIN clarified the point that the +driving force behind both the Perseus and the Cornell Xerox projects was +the preservation of knowledge for the future, not simply for particular +research use. In the case of Perseus, MYLONAS said, the assumption was +that the texts would not be entered again into electronically readable +form. SPERBERG-McQUEEN added that a scanned image would not serve as an +archival copy for purposes of preservation in the case of, say, the Bill +of Rights, in the sense that the scanned images are effectively the +archival copies for the Cornell mathematics books. + + + *** *** *** ****** *** *** *** + + + Appendix I: PROGRAM + + + + WORKSHOP + ON + ELECTRONIC + TEXTS + + + + 9-10 June 1992 + + Library of Congress + Washington, D.C. + + + + Supported by a Grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation + + +Tuesday, 9 June 1992 + +NATIONAL DEMONSTRATION LAB, ATRIUM, LIBRARY MADISON + +8:30 AM Coffee and Danish, registration + +9:00 AM Welcome + + Prosser Gifford, Director for Scholarly Programs, and Carl + Fleischhauer, Coordinator, American Memory, Library of + Congress + +9:l5 AM Session I. Content in a New Form: Who Will Use It and What + Will They Do? + + Broad description of the range of electronic information. + Characterization of who uses it and how it is or may be used. + In addition to a look at scholarly uses, this session will + include a presentation on use by students (K-12 and college) + and the general public. + + Moderator: James Daly + Avra Michelson, Archival Research and Evaluation Staff, + National Archives and Records Administration (Overview) + Susan H. Veccia, Team Leader, American Memory, User Evaluation, + and + Joanne Freeman, Associate Coordinator, American Memory, Library + of Congress (Beyond the scholar) + +10:30- +11:00 AM Break + +11:00 AM Session II. Show and Tell. + + Each presentation to consist of a fifteen-minute + statement/show; group discussion will follow lunch. + + Moderator: Jacqueline Hess, Director, National Demonstration + Lab + + 1. A classics project, stressing texts and text retrieval + more than multimedia: Perseus Project, Harvard + University + Elli Mylonas, Managing Editor + + 2. Other humanities projects employing the emerging norms of + the Text Encoding Initiative (TEI): Chadwyck-Healey's + The English Poetry Full Text Database and/or Patrologia + Latina Database + Eric M. Calaluca, Vice President, Chadwyck-Healey, Inc. + + 3. American Memory + Carl Fleischhauer, Coordinator, and + Ricky Erway, Associate Coordinator, Library of Congress + + 4. Founding Fathers example from Packard Humanities + Institute: The Papers of George Washington, University + of Virginia + Dorothy Twohig, Managing Editor, and/or + David Woodley Packard + + 5. An electronic medical journal offering graphics and + full-text searchability: The Online Journal of Current + Clinical Trials, American Association for the Advancement + of Science + Maria L. Lebron, Managing Editor + + 6. A project that offers facsimile images of pages but omits + searchable text: Cornell math books + Lynne K. Personius, Assistant Director, Cornell + Information Technologies for Scholarly Information + Sources, Cornell University + +12:30 PM Lunch (Dining Room A, Library Madison 620. Exhibits + available.) + +1:30 PM Session II. Show and Tell (Cont'd.). + +3:00- +3:30 PM Break + +3:30- +5:30 PM Session III. Distribution, Networks, and Networking: Options + for Dissemination. + + Published disks: University presses and public-sector + publishers, private-sector publishers + Computer networks + + Moderator: Robert G. Zich, Special Assistant to the Associate + Librarian for Special Projects, Library of Congress + Clifford A. Lynch, Director, Library Automation, University of + California + Howard Besser, School of Library and Information Science, + University of Pittsburgh + Ronald L. Larsen, Associate Director of Libraries for + Information Technology, University of Maryland at College + Park + Edwin B. Brownrigg, Executive Director, Memex Research + Institute + +6:30 PM Reception (Montpelier Room, Library Madison 619.) + + ****** + +Wednesday, 10 June 1992 + +DINING ROOM A, LIBRARY MADISON 620 + +8:30 AM Coffee and Danish + +9:00 AM Session IV. Image Capture, Text Capture, Overview of Text and + Image Storage Formats. + + Moderator: William L. Hooton, Vice President of Operations, + I-NET + + A) Principal Methods for Image Capture of Text: + Direct scanning + Use of microform + + Anne R. Kenney, Assistant Director, Department of Preservation + and Conservation, Cornell University + Pamela Q.J. Andre, Associate Director, Automation, and + Judith A. Zidar, Coordinator, National Agricultural Text + Digitizing Program (NATDP), National Agricultural Library + (NAL) + Donald J. Waters, Head, Systems Office, Yale University Library + + B) Special Problems: + Bound volumes + Conservation + Reproducing printed halftones + + Carl Fleischhauer, Coordinator, American Memory, Library of + Congress + George Thoma, Chief, Communications Engineering Branch, + National Library of Medicine (NLM) + +10:30- +11:00 AM Break + +11:00 AM Session IV. Image Capture, Text Capture, Overview of Text and + Image Storage Formats (Cont'd.). + + C) Image Standards and Implications for Preservation + + Jean Baronas, Senior Manager, Department of Standards and + Technology, Association for Information and Image Management + (AIIM) + Patricia Battin, President, The Commission on Preservation and + Access (CPA) + + D) Text Conversion: + OCR vs. rekeying + Standards of accuracy and use of imperfect texts + Service bureaus + + Stuart Weibel, Senior Research Specialist, Online Computer + Library Center, Inc. (OCLC) + Michael Lesk, Executive Director, Computer Science Research, + Bellcore + Ricky Erway, Associate Coordinator, American Memory, Library of + Congress + Pamela Q.J. Andre, Associate Director, Automation, and + Judith A. Zidar, Coordinator, National Agricultural Text + Digitizing Program (NATDP), National Agricultural Library + (NAL) + +12:30- +1:30 PM Lunch + +1:30 PM Session V. Approaches to Preparing Electronic Texts. + + Discussion of approaches to structuring text for the computer; + pros and cons of text coding, description of methods in + practice, and comparison of text-coding methods. + + Moderator: Susan Hockey, Director, Center for Electronic Texts + in the Humanities (CETH), Rutgers and Princeton Universities + David Woodley Packard + C.M. Sperberg-McQueen, Editor, Text Encoding Initiative (TEI), + University of Illinois-Chicago + Eric M. Calaluca, Vice President, Chadwyck-Healey, Inc. + +3:30- +4:00 PM Break + +4:00 PM Session VI. Copyright Issues. + + Marybeth Peters, Policy Planning Adviser to the Register of + Copyrights, Library of Congress + +5:00 PM Session VII. Conclusion. + + General discussion. + What topics were omitted or given short shrift that anyone + would like to talk about now? + Is there a "group" here? What should the group do next, if + anything? What should the Library of Congress do next, if + anything? + Moderator: Prosser Gifford, Director for Scholarly Programs, + Library of Congress + +6:00 PM Adjourn + + + *** *** *** ****** *** *** *** + + + Appendix II: ABSTRACTS + + +SESSION I + +Avra MICHELSON Forecasting the Use of Electronic Texts by + Social Sciences and Humanities Scholars + +This presentation explores the ways in which electronic texts are likely +to be used by the non-scientific scholarly community. Many of the +remarks are drawn from a report the speaker coauthored with Jeff +Rothenberg, a computer scientist at The RAND Corporation. + +The speaker assesses 1) current scholarly use of information technology +and 2) the key trends in information technology most relevant to the +research process, in order to predict how social sciences and humanities +scholars are apt to use electronic texts. In introducing the topic, +current use of electronic texts is explored broadly within the context of +scholarly communication. From the perspective of scholarly +communication, the work of humanities and social sciences scholars +involves five processes: 1) identification of sources, 2) communication +with colleagues, 3) interpretation and analysis of data, 4) dissemination +of research findings, and 5) curriculum development and instruction. The +extent to which computation currently permeates aspects of scholarly +communication represents a viable indicator of the prospects for +electronic texts. + +The discussion of current practice is balanced by an analysis of key +trends in the scholarly use of information technology. These include the +trends toward end-user computing and connectivity, which provide a +framework for forecasting the use of electronic texts through this +millennium. The presentation concludes with a summary of the ways in +which the nonscientific scholarly community can be expected to use +electronic texts, and the implications of that use for information +providers. + +Susan VECCIA and Joanne FREEMAN Electronic Archives for the Public: + Use of American Memory in Public and + School Libraries + +This joint discussion focuses on nonscholarly applications of electronic +library materials, specifically addressing use of the Library of Congress +American Memory (AM) program in a small number of public and school +libraries throughout the United States. AM consists of selected Library +of Congress primary archival materials, stored on optical media +(CD-ROM/videodisc), and presented with little or no editing. Many +collections are accompanied by electronic introductions and user's guides +offering background information and historical context. Collections +represent a variety of formats including photographs, graphic arts, +motion pictures, recorded sound, music, broadsides and manuscripts, +books, and pamphlets. + +In 1991, the Library of Congress began a nationwide evaluation of AM in +different types of institutions. Test sites include public libraries, +elementary and secondary school libraries, college and university +libraries, state libraries, and special libraries. Susan VECCIA and +Joanne FREEMAN will discuss their observations on the use of AM by the +nonscholarly community, using evidence gleaned from this ongoing +evaluation effort. + +VECCIA will comment on the overall goals of the evaluation project, and +the types of public and school libraries included in this study. Her +comments on nonscholarly use of AM will focus on the public library as a +cultural and community institution, often bridging the gap between formal +and informal education. FREEMAN will discuss the use of AM in school +libraries. Use by students and teachers has revealed some broad +questions about the use of electronic resources, as well as definite +benefits gained by the "nonscholar." Topics will include the problem of +grasping content and context in an electronic environment, the stumbling +blocks created by "new" technologies, and the unique skills and interests +awakened through use of electronic resources. + +SESSION II + +Elli MYLONAS The Perseus Project: Interactive Sources and + Studies in Classical Greece + +The Perseus Project (5) has just released Perseus 1.0, the first publicly +available version of its hypertextual database of multimedia materials on +classical Greece. Perseus is designed to be used by a wide audience, +comprised of readers at the student and scholar levels. As such, it must +be able to locate information using different strategies, and it must +contain enough detail to serve the different needs of its users. In +addition, it must be delivered so that it is affordable to its target +audience. [These problems and the solutions we chose are described in +Mylonas, "An Interface to Classical Greek Civilization," JASIS 43:2, +March 1992.] + +In order to achieve its objective, the project staff decided to make a +conscious separation between selecting and converting textual, database, +and image data on the one hand, and putting it into a delivery system on +the other. That way, it is possible to create the electronic data +without thinking about the restrictions of the delivery system. We have +made a great effort to choose system-independent formats for our data, +and to put as much thought and work as possible into structuring it so +that the translation from paper to electronic form will enhance the value +of the data. [A discussion of these solutions as of two years ago is in +Elli Mylonas, Gregory Crane, Kenneth Morrell, and D. Neel Smith, "The +Perseus Project: Data in the Electronic Age," in Accessing Antiquity: +The Computerization of Classical Databases, J. Solomon and T. Worthen +(eds.), University of Arizona Press, in press.] + +Much of the work on Perseus is focused on collecting and converting the +data on which the project is based. At the same time, it is necessary to +provide means of access to the information, in order to make it usable, +and them to investigate how it is used. As we learn more about what +students and scholars from different backgrounds do with Perseus, we can +adjust our data collection, and also modify the system to accommodate +them. In creating a delivery system for general use, we have tried to +avoid favoring any one type of use by allowing multiple forms of access +to and navigation through the system. + +The way text is handled exemplifies some of these principles. All text +in Perseus is tagged using SGML, following the guidelines of the Text +Encoding Initiative (TEI). This markup is used to index the text, and +process it so that it can be imported into HyperCard. No SGML markup +remains in the text that reaches the user, because currently it would be +too expensive to create a system that acts on SGML in real time. +However, the regularity provided by SGML is essential for verifying the +content of the texts, and greatly speeds all the processing performed on +them. The fact that the texts exist in SGML ensures that they will be +relatively easy to port to different hardware and software, and so will +outlast the current delivery platform. Finally, the SGML markup +incorporates existing canonical reference systems (chapter, verse, line, +etc.); indexing and navigation are based on these features. This ensures +that the same canonical reference will always resolve to the same point +within a text, and that all versions of our texts, regardless of delivery +platform (even paper printouts) will function the same way. + +In order to provide tools for users, the text is processed by a +morphological analyzer, and the results are stored in a database. +Together with the index, the Greek-English Lexicon, and the index of all +the English words in the definitions of the lexicon, the morphological +analyses comprise a set of linguistic tools that allow users of all +levels to work with the textual information, and to accomplish different +tasks. For example, students who read no Greek may explore a concept as +it appears in Greek texts by using the English-Greek index, and then +looking up works in the texts and translations, or scholars may do +detailed morphological studies of word use by using the morphological +analyses of the texts. Because these tools were not designed for any one +use, the same tools and the same data can be used by both students and +scholars. + +NOTES: + (5) Perseus is based at Harvard University, with collaborators at + several other universities. The project has been funded primarily + by the Annenberg/CPB Project, as well as by Harvard University, + Apple Computer, and others. It is published by Yale University + Press. Perseus runs on Macintosh computers, under the HyperCard + program. + +Eric CALALUCA + +Chadwyck-Healey embarked last year on two distinct yet related full-text +humanities database projects. + +The English Poetry Full-Text Database and the Patrologia Latina Database +represent new approaches to linguistic research resources. The size and +complexity of the projects present problems for electronic publishers, +but surmountable ones if they remain abreast of the latest possibilities +in data capture and retrieval software techniques. + +The issues which required address prior to the commencement of the +projects were legion: + + 1. Editorial selection (or exclusion) of materials in each + database + + 2. Deciding whether or not to incorporate a normative encoding + structure into the databases? + A. If one is selected, should it be SGML? + B. If SGML, then the TEI? + + 3. Deliver as CD-ROM, magnetic tape, or both? + + 4. Can one produce retrieval software advanced enough for the + postdoctoral linguist, yet accessible enough for unattended + general use? Should one try? + + 5. Re fair and liberal networking policies, what are the risks to + an electronic publisher? + + 6. How does the emergence of national and international education + networks affect the use and viability of research projects + requiring high investment? Do the new European Community + directives concerning database protection necessitate two + distinct publishing projects, one for North America and one for + overseas? + +From new notions of "scholarly fair use" to the future of optical media, +virtually every issue related to electronic publishing was aired. The +result is two projects which have been constructed to provide the quality +research resources with the fewest encumbrances to use by teachers and +private scholars. + +Dorothy TWOHIG + +In spring 1988 the editors of the papers of George Washington, John +Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and Benjamin Franklin were +approached by classics scholar David Packard on behalf of the Packard +Humanities Foundation with a proposal to produce a CD-ROM edition of the +complete papers of each of the Founding Fathers. This electronic edition +will supplement the published volumes, making the documents widely +available to students and researchers at reasonable cost. We estimate +that our CD-ROM edition of Washington's Papers will be substantially +completed within the next two years and ready for publication. Within +the next ten years or so, similar CD-ROM editions of the Franklin, Adams, +Jefferson, and Madison papers also will be available. At the Library of +Congress's session on technology, I would like to discuss not only the +experience of the Washington Papers in producing the CD-ROM edition, but +the impact technology has had on these major editorial projects. +Already, we are editing our volumes with an eye to the material that will +be readily available in the CD-ROM edition. The completed electronic +edition will provide immense possibilities for the searching of documents +for information in a way never possible before. The kind of technical +innovations that are currently available and on the drawing board will +soon revolutionize historical research and the production of historical +documents. Unfortunately, much of this new technology is not being used +in the planning stages of historical projects, simply because many +historians are aware only in the vaguest way of its existence. At least +two major new historical editing projects are considering microfilm +editions, simply because they are not aware of the possibilities of +electronic alternatives and the advantages of the new technology in terms +of flexibility and research potential compared to microfilm. In fact, +too many of us in history and literature are still at the stage of +struggling with our PCs. There are many historical editorial projects in +progress presently, and an equal number of literary projects. While the +two fields have somewhat different approaches to textual editing, there +are ways in which electronic technology can be of service to both. + +Since few of the editors involved in the Founding Fathers CD-ROM editions +are technical experts in any sense, I hope to point out in my discussion +of our experience how many of these electronic innovations can be used +successfully by scholars who are novices in the world of new technology. +One of the major concerns of the sponsors of the multitude of new +scholarly editions is the limited audience reached by the published +volumes. Most of these editions are being published in small quantities +and the publishers' price for them puts them out of the reach not only of +individual scholars but of most public libraries and all but the largest +educational institutions. However, little attention is being given to +ways in which technology can bypass conventional publication to make +historical and literary documents more widely available. + +What attracted us most to the CD-ROM edition of The Papers of George +Washington was the fact that David Packard's aim was to make a complete +edition of all of the 135,000 documents we have collected available in an +inexpensive format that would be placed in public libraries, small +colleges, and even high schools. This would provide an audience far +beyond our present 1,000-copy, $45 published edition. Since the CD-ROM +edition will carry none of the explanatory annotation that appears in the +published volumes, we also feel that the use of the CD-ROM will lead many +researchers to seek out the published volumes. + +In addition to ignorance of new technical advances, I have found that too +many editors--and historians and literary scholars--are resistant and +even hostile to suggestions that electronic technology may enhance their +work. I intend to discuss some of the arguments traditionalists are +advancing to resist technology, ranging from distrust of the speed with +which it changes (we are already wondering what is out there that is +better than CD-ROM) to suspicion of the technical language used to +describe electronic developments. + +Maria LEBRON + +The Online Journal of Current Clinical Trials, a joint venture of the +American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and the Online +Computer Library Center, Inc. (OCLC), is the first peer-reviewed journal +to provide full text, tabular material, and line illustrations on line. +This presentation will discuss the genesis and start-up period of the +journal. Topics of discussion will include historical overview, +day-to-day management of the editorial peer review, and manuscript +tagging and publication. A demonstration of the journal and its features +will accompany the presentation. + +Lynne PERSONIUS + +Cornell University Library, Cornell Information Technologies, and Xerox +Corporation, with the support of the Commission on Preservation and +Access, and Sun Microsystems, Inc., have been collaborating in a project +to test a prototype system for recording brittle books as digital images +and producing, on demand, high-quality archival paper replacements. The +project goes beyond that, however, to investigate some of the issues +surrounding scanning, storing, retrieving, and providing access to +digital images in a network environment. + +The Joint Study in Digital Preservation began in January 1990. Xerox +provided the College Library Access and Storage System (CLASS) software, +a prototype 600-dots-per-inch (dpi) scanner, and the hardware necessary +to support network printing on the DocuTech printer housed in Cornell's +Computing and Communications Center (CCC). + +The Cornell staff using the hardware and software became an integral part +of the development and testing process for enhancements to the CLASS +software system. The collaborative nature of this relationship is +resulting in a system that is specifically tailored to the preservation +application. + +A digital library of 1,000 volumes (or approximately 300,000 images) has +been created and is stored on an optical jukebox that resides in CCC. +The library includes a collection of select mathematics monographs that +provides mathematics faculty with an opportunity to use the electronic +library. The remaining volumes were chosen for the library to test the +various capabilities of the scanning system. + +One project objective is to provide users of the Cornell library and the +library staff with the ability to request facsimiles of digitized images +or to retrieve the actual electronic image for browsing. A prototype +viewing workstation has been created by Xerox, with input into the design +by a committee of Cornell librarians and computer professionals. This +will allow us to experiment with patron access to the images that make up +the digital library. The viewing station provides search, retrieval, and +(ultimately) printing functions with enhancements to facilitate +navigation through multiple documents. + +Cornell currently is working to extend access to the digital library to +readers using workstations from their offices. This year is devoted to +the development of a network resident image conversion and delivery +server, and client software that will support readers who use Apple +Macintosh computers, IBM windows platforms, and Sun workstations. +Equipment for this development was provided by Sun Microsystems with +support from the Commission on Preservation and Access. + +During the show-and-tell session of the Workshop on Electronic Texts, a +prototype view station will be demonstrated. In addition, a display of +original library books that have been digitized will be available for +review with associated printed copies for comparison. The fifteen-minute +overview of the project will include a slide presentation that +constitutes a "tour" of the preservation digitizing process. + +The final network-connected version of the viewing station will provide +library users with another mechanism for accessing the digital library, +and will also provide the capability of viewing images directly. This +will not require special software, although a powerful computer with good +graphics will be needed. + +The Joint Study in Digital Preservation has generated a great deal of +interest in the library community. Unfortunately, or perhaps +fortunately, this project serves to raise a vast number of other issues +surrounding the use of digital technology for the preservation and use of +deteriorating library materials, which subsequent projects will need to +examine. Much work remains. + +SESSION III + +Howard BESSER Networking Multimedia Databases + +What do we have to consider in building and distributing databases of +visual materials in a multi-user environment? This presentation examines +a variety of concerns that need to be addressed before a multimedia +database can be set up in a networked environment. + +In the past it has not been feasible to implement databases of visual +materials in shared-user environments because of technological barriers. +Each of the two basic models for multi-user multimedia databases has +posed its own problem. The analog multimedia storage model (represented +by Project Athena's parallel analog and digital networks) has required an +incredibly complex (and expensive) infrastructure. The economies of +scale that make multi-user setups cheaper per user served do not operate +in an environment that requires a computer workstation, videodisc player, +and two display devices for each user. + +The digital multimedia storage model has required vast amounts of storage +space (as much as one gigabyte per thirty still images). In the past the +cost of such a large amount of storage space made this model a +prohibitive choice as well. But plunging storage costs are finally +making this second alternative viable. + +If storage no longer poses such an impediment, what do we need to +consider in building digitally stored multi-user databases of visual +materials? This presentation will examine the networking and +telecommunication constraints that must be overcome before such databases +can become commonplace and useful to a large number of people. + +The key problem is the vast size of multimedia documents, and how this +affects not only storage but telecommunications transmission time. +Anything slower than T-1 speed is impractical for files of 1 megabyte or +larger (which is likely to be small for a multimedia document). For +instance, even on a 56 Kb line it would take three minutes to transfer a +1-megabyte file. And these figures assume ideal circumstances, and do +not take into consideration other users contending for network bandwidth, +disk access time, or the time needed for remote display. Current common +telephone transmission rates would be completely impractical; few users +would be willing to wait the hour necessary to transmit a single image at +2400 baud. + +This necessitates compression, which itself raises a number of other +issues. In order to decrease file sizes significantly, we must employ +lossy compression algorithms. But how much quality can we afford to +lose? To date there has been only one significant study done of +image-quality needs for a particular user group, and this study did not +look at loss resulting from compression. Only after identifying +image-quality needs can we begin to address storage and network bandwidth +needs. + +Experience with X-Windows-based applications (such as Imagequery, the +University of California at Berkeley image database) demonstrates the +utility of a client-server topology, but also points to the limitation of +current software for a distributed environment. For example, +applications like Imagequery can incorporate compression, but current X +implementations do not permit decompression at the end user's +workstation. Such decompression at the host computer alleviates storage +capacity problems while doing nothing to address problems of +telecommunications bandwidth. + +We need to examine the effects on network through-put of moving +multimedia documents around on a network. We need to examine various +topologies that will help us avoid bottlenecks around servers and +gateways. Experience with applications such as these raise still broader +questions. How closely is the multimedia document tied to the software +for viewing it? Can it be accessed and viewed from other applications? +Experience with the MARC format (and more recently with the Z39.50 +protocols) shows how useful it can be to store documents in a form in +which they can be accessed by a variety of application software. + +Finally, from an intellectual-access standpoint, we need to address the +issue of providing access to these multimedia documents in +interdisciplinary environments. We need to examine terminology and +indexing strategies that will allow us to provide access to this material +in a cross-disciplinary way. + +Ronald LARSEN Directions in High-Performance Networking for + Libraries + +The pace at which computing technology has advanced over the past forty +years shows no sign of abating. Roughly speaking, each five-year period +has yielded an order-of-magnitude improvement in price and performance of +computing equipment. No fundamental hurdles are likely to prevent this +pace from continuing for at least the next decade. It is only in the +past five years, though, that computing has become ubiquitous in +libraries, affecting all staff and patrons, directly or indirectly. + +During these same five years, communications rates on the Internet, the +principal academic computing network, have grown from 56 kbps to 1.5 +Mbps, and the NSFNet backbone is now running 45 Mbps. Over the next five +years, communication rates on the backbone are expected to exceed 1 Gbps. +Growth in both the population of network users and the volume of network +traffic has continued to grow geometrically, at rates approaching 15 +percent per month. This flood of capacity and use, likened by some to +"drinking from a firehose," creates immense opportunities and challenges +for libraries. Libraries must anticipate the future implications of this +technology, participate in its development, and deploy it to ensure +access to the world's information resources. + +The infrastructure for the information age is being put in place. +Libraries face strategic decisions about their role in the development, +deployment, and use of this infrastructure. The emerging infrastructure +is much more than computers and communication lines. It is more than the +ability to compute at a remote site, send electronic mail to a peer +across the country, or move a file from one library to another. The next +five years will witness substantial development of the information +infrastructure of the network. + +In order to provide appropriate leadership, library professionals must +have a fundamental understanding of and appreciation for computer +networking, from local area networks to the National Research and +Education Network (NREN). This presentation addresses these +fundamentals, and how they relate to libraries today and in the near +future. + +Edwin BROWNRIGG Electronic Library Visions and Realities + +The electronic library has been a vision desired by many--and rejected by +some--since Vannevar Bush coined the term memex to describe an automated, +intelligent, personal information system. Variations on this vision have +included Ted Nelson's Xanadau, Alan Kay's Dynabook, and Lancaster's +"paperless library," with the most recent incarnation being the +"Knowledge Navigator" described by John Scully of Apple. But the reality +of library service has been less visionary and the leap to the electronic +library has eluded universities, publishers, and information technology +files. + +The Memex Research Institute (MemRI), an independent, nonprofit research +and development organization, has created an Electronic Library Program +of shared research and development in order to make the collective vision +more concrete. The program is working toward the creation of large, +indexed publicly available electronic image collections of published +documents in academic, special, and public libraries. This strategic +plan is the result of the first stage of the program, which has been an +investigation of the information technologies available to support such +an effort, the economic parameters of electronic service compared to +traditional library operations, and the business and political factors +affecting the shift from print distribution to electronic networked +access. + +The strategic plan envisions a combination of publicly searchable access +databases, image (and text) document collections stored on network "file +servers," local and remote network access, and an intellectual property +management-control system. This combination of technology and +information content is defined in this plan as an E-library or E-library +collection. Some participating sponsors are already developing projects +based on MemRI's recommended directions. + +The E-library strategy projected in this plan is a visionary one that can +enable major changes and improvements in academic, public, and special +library service. This vision is, though, one that can be realized with +today's technology. At the same time, it will challenge the political +and social structure within which libraries operate: in academic +libraries, the traditional emphasis on local collections, extending to +accreditation issues; in public libraries, the potential of electronic +branch and central libraries fully available to the public; and for +special libraries, new opportunities for shared collections and networks. + +The environment in which this strategic plan has been developed is, at +the moment, dominated by a sense of library limits. The continued +expansion and rapid growth of local academic library collections is now +clearly at an end. Corporate libraries, and even law libraries, are +faced with operating within a difficult economic climate, as well as with +very active competition from commercial information sources. For +example, public libraries may be seen as a desirable but not critical +municipal service in a time when the budgets of safety and health +agencies are being cut back. + +Further, libraries in general have a very high labor-to-cost ratio in +their budgets, and labor costs are still increasing, notwithstanding +automation investments. It is difficult for libraries to obtain capital, +startup, or seed funding for innovative activities, and those +technology-intensive initiatives that offer the potential of decreased +labor costs can provoke the opposition of library staff. + +However, libraries have achieved some considerable successes in the past +two decades by improving both their service and their credibility within +their organizations--and these positive changes have been accomplished +mostly with judicious use of information technologies. The advances in +computing and information technology have been well-chronicled: the +continuing precipitous drop in computing costs, the growth of the +Internet and private networks, and the explosive increase in publicly +available information databases. + +For example, OCLC has become one of the largest computer network +organizations in the world by creating a cooperative cataloging network +of more than 6,000 libraries worldwide. On-line public access catalogs +now serve millions of users on more than 50,000 dedicated terminals in +the United States alone. The University of California MELVYL on-line +catalog system has now expanded into an index database reference service +and supports more than six million searches a year. And, libraries have +become the largest group of customers of CD-ROM publishing technology; +more than 30,000 optical media publications such as those offered by +InfoTrac and Silver Platter are subscribed to by U.S. libraries. + +This march of technology continues and in the next decade will result in +further innovations that are extremely difficult to predict. What is +clear is that libraries can now go beyond automation of their order files +and catalogs to automation of their collections themselves--and it is +possible to circumvent the fiscal limitations that appear to obtain +today. + +This Electronic Library Strategic Plan recommends a paradigm shift in +library service, and demonstrates the steps necessary to provide improved +library services with limited capacities and operating investments. + +SESSION IV-A + +Anne KENNEY + +The Cornell/Xerox Joint Study in Digital Preservation resulted in the +recording of 1,000 brittle books as 600-dpi digital images and the +production, on demand, of high-quality and archivally sound paper +replacements. The project, which was supported by the Commission on +Preservation and Access, also investigated some of the issues surrounding +scanning, storing, retrieving, and providing access to digital images in +a network environment. + +Anne Kenney will focus on some of the issues surrounding direct scanning +as identified in the Cornell Xerox Project. Among those to be discussed +are: image versus text capture; indexing and access; image-capture +capabilities; a comparison to photocopy and microfilm; production and +cost analysis; storage formats, protocols, and standards; and the use of +this scanning technology for preservation purposes. + +The 600-dpi digital images produced in the Cornell Xerox Project proved +highly acceptable for creating paper replacements of deteriorating +originals. The 1,000 scanned volumes provided an array of image-capture +challenges that are common to nineteenth-century printing techniques and +embrittled material, and that defy the use of text-conversion processes. +These challenges include diminished contrast between text and background, +fragile and deteriorated pages, uneven printing, elaborate type faces, +faint and bold text adjacency, handwritten text and annotations, nonRoman +languages, and a proliferation of illustrated material embedded in text. +The latter category included high-frequency and low-frequency halftones, +continuous tone photographs, intricate mathematical drawings, maps, +etchings, reverse-polarity drawings, and engravings. + +The Xerox prototype scanning system provided a number of important +features for capturing this diverse material. Technicians used multiple +threshold settings, filters, line art and halftone definitions, +autosegmentation, windowing, and software-editing programs to optimize +image capture. At the same time, this project focused on production. +The goal was to make scanning as affordable and acceptable as +photocopying and microfilming for preservation reformatting. A +time-and-cost study conducted during the last three months of this +project confirmed the economic viability of digital scanning, and these +findings will be discussed here. + +From the outset, the Cornell Xerox Project was predicated on the use of +nonproprietary standards and the use of common protocols when standards +did not exist. Digital files were created as TIFF images which were +compressed prior to storage using Group 4 CCITT compression. The Xerox +software is MS DOS based and utilizes off-the shelf programs such as +Microsoft Windows and Wang Image Wizard. The digital library is designed +to be hardware-independent and to provide interchangeability with other +institutions through network connections. Access to the digital files +themselves is two-tiered: Bibliographic records for the computer files +are created in RLIN and Cornell's local system and access into the actual +digital images comprising a book is provided through a document control +structure and a networked image file-server, both of which will be +described. + +The presentation will conclude with a discussion of some of the issues +surrounding the use of this technology as a preservation tool (storage, +refreshing, backup). + +Pamela ANDRE and Judith ZIDAR + +The National Agricultural Library (NAL) has had extensive experience with +raster scanning of printed materials. Since 1987, the Library has +participated in the National Agricultural Text Digitizing Project (NATDP) +a cooperative effort between NAL and forty-five land grant university +libraries. An overview of the project will be presented, giving its +history and NAL's strategy for the future. + +An in-depth discussion of NATDP will follow, including a description of +the scanning process, from the gathering of the printed materials to the +archiving of the electronic pages. The type of equipment required for a +stand-alone scanning workstation and the importance of file management +software will be discussed. Issues concerning the images themselves will +be addressed briefly, such as image format; black and white versus color; +gray scale versus dithering; and resolution. + +Also described will be a study currently in progress by NAL to evaluate +the usefulness of converting microfilm to electronic images in order to +improve access. With the cooperation of Tuskegee University, NAL has +selected three reels of microfilm from a collection of sixty-seven reels +containing the papers, letters, and drawings of George Washington Carver. +The three reels were converted into 3,500 electronic images using a +specialized microfilm scanner. The selection, filming, and indexing of +this material will be discussed. + +Donald WATERS + +Project Open Book, the Yale University Library's effort to convert 10, +000 books from microfilm to digital imagery, is currently in an advanced +state of planning and organization. The Yale Library has selected a +major vendor to serve as a partner in the project and as systems +integrator. In its proposal, the successful vendor helped isolate areas +of risk and uncertainty as well as key issues to be addressed during the +life of the project. The Yale Library is now poised to decide what +material it will convert to digital image form and to seek funding, +initially for the first phase and then for the entire project. + +The proposal that Yale accepted for the implementation of Project Open +Book will provide at the end of three phases a conversion subsystem, +browsing stations distributed on the campus network within the Yale +Library, a subsystem for storing 10,000 books at 200 and 600 dots per +inch, and network access to the image printers. Pricing for the system +implementation assumes the existence of Yale's campus ethernet network +and its high-speed image printers, and includes other requisite hardware +and software, as well as system integration services. Proposed operating +costs include hardware and software maintenance, but do not include +estimates for the facilities management of the storage devices and image +servers. + +Yale selected its vendor partner in a formal process, partly funded by +the Commission for Preservation and Access. Following a request for +proposal, the Yale Library selected two vendors as finalists to work with +Yale staff to generate a detailed analysis of requirements for Project +Open Book. Each vendor used the results of the requirements analysis to +generate and submit a formal proposal for the entire project. This +competitive process not only enabled the Yale Library to select its +primary vendor partner but also revealed much about the state of the +imaging industry, about the varying, corporate commitments to the markets +for imaging technology, and about the varying organizational dynamics +through which major companies are responding to and seeking to develop +these markets. + +Project Open Book is focused specifically on the conversion of images +from microfilm to digital form. The technology for scanning microfilm is +readily available but is changing rapidly. In its project requirements, +the Yale Library emphasized features of the technology that affect the +technical quality of digital image production and the costs of creating +and storing the image library: What levels of digital resolution can be +achieved by scanning microfilm? How does variation in the quality of +microfilm, particularly in film produced to preservation standards, +affect the quality of the digital images? What technologies can an +operator effectively and economically apply when scanning film to +separate two-up images and to control for and correct image +imperfections? How can quality control best be integrated into +digitizing work flow that includes document indexing and storage? + +The actual and expected uses of digital images--storage, browsing, +printing, and OCR--help determine the standards for measuring their +quality. Browsing is especially important, but the facilities available +for readers to browse image documents is perhaps the weakest aspect of +imaging technology and most in need of development. As it defined its +requirements, the Yale Library concentrated on some fundamental aspects +of usability for image documents: Does the system have sufficient +flexibility to handle the full range of document types, including +monographs, multi-part and multivolume sets, and serials, as well as +manuscript collections? What conventions are necessary to identify a +document uniquely for storage and retrieval? Where is the database of +record for storing bibliographic information about the image document? +How are basic internal structures of documents, such as pagination, made +accessible to the reader? How are the image documents physically +presented on the screen to the reader? + +The Yale Library designed Project Open Book on the assumption that +microfilm is more than adequate as a medium for preserving the content of +deteriorated library materials. As planning in the project has advanced, +it is increasingly clear that the challenge of digital image technology +and the key to the success of efforts like Project Open Book is to +provide a means of both preserving and improving access to those +deteriorated materials. + +SESSION IV-B + +George THOMA + +In the use of electronic imaging for document preservation, there are +several issues to consider, such as: ensuring adequate image quality, +maintaining substantial conversion rates (through-put), providing unique +identification for automated access and retrieval, and accommodating +bound volumes and fragile material. + +To maintain high image quality, image processing functions are required +to correct the deficiencies in the scanned image. Some commercially +available systems include these functions, while some do not. The +scanned raw image must be processed to correct contrast deficiencies-- +both poor overall contrast resulting from light print and/or dark +background, and variable contrast resulting from stains and +bleed-through. Furthermore, the scan density must be adequate to allow +legibility of print and sufficient fidelity in the pseudo-halftoned gray +material. Borders or page-edge effects must be removed for both +compactibility and aesthetics. Page skew must be corrected for aesthetic +reasons and to enable accurate character recognition if desired. +Compound images consisting of both two-toned text and gray-scale +illustrations must be processed appropriately to retain the quality of +each. + +SESSION IV-C + +Jean BARONAS + +Standards publications being developed by scientists, engineers, and +business managers in Association for Information and Image Management +(AIIM) standards committees can be applied to electronic image management +(EIM) processes including: document (image) transfer, retrieval and +evaluation; optical disk and document scanning; and document design and +conversion. When combined with EIM system planning and operations, +standards can assist in generating image databases that are +interchangeable among a variety of systems. The applications of +different approaches for image-tagging, indexing, compression, and +transfer often cause uncertainty concerning EIM system compatibility, +calibration, performance, and upward compatibility, until standard +implementation parameters are established. The AIIM standards that are +being developed for these applications can be used to decrease the +uncertainty, successfully integrate imaging processes, and promote "open +systems." AIIM is an accredited American National Standards Institute +(ANSI) standards developer with more than twenty committees comprised of +300 volunteers representing users, vendors, and manufacturers. The +standards publications that are developed in these committees have +national acceptance and provide the basis for international harmonization +in the development of new International Organization for Standardization +(ISO) standards. + +This presentation describes the development of AIIM's EIM standards and a +new effort at AIIM, a database on standards projects in a wide framework +of imaging industries including capture, recording, processing, +duplication, distribution, display, evaluation, and preservation. The +AIIM Imagery Database will cover imaging standards being developed by +many organizations in many different countries. It will contain +standards publications' dates, origins, related national and +international projects, status, key words, and abstracts. The ANSI Image +Technology Standards Board requested that such a database be established, +as did the ISO/International Electrotechnical Commission Joint Task Force +on Imagery. AIIM will take on the leadership role for the database and +coordinate its development with several standards developers. + +Patricia BATTIN + + Characteristics of standards for digital imagery: + + * Nature of digital technology implies continuing volatility. + + * Precipitous standard-setting not possible and probably not + desirable. + + * Standards are a complex issue involving the medium, the + hardware, the software, and the technical capacity for + reproductive fidelity and clarity. + + * The prognosis for reliable archival standards (as defined by + librarians) in the foreseeable future is poor. + + Significant potential and attractiveness of digital technology as a + preservation medium and access mechanism. + + Productive use of digital imagery for preservation requires a + reconceptualizing of preservation principles in a volatile, + standardless world. + + Concept of managing continuing access in the digital environment + rather than focusing on the permanence of the medium and long-term + archival standards developed for the analog world. + + Transition period: How long and what to do? + + * Redefine "archival." + + * Remove the burden of "archival copy" from paper artifacts. + + * Use digital technology for storage, develop management + strategies for refreshing medium, hardware and software. + + * Create acid-free paper copies for transition period backup + until we develop reliable procedures for ensuring continuing + access to digital files. + +SESSION IV-D + +Stuart WEIBEL The Role of SGML Markup in the CORE Project (6) + +The emergence of high-speed telecommunications networks as a basic +feature of the scholarly workplace is driving the demand for electronic +document delivery. Three distinct categories of electronic +publishing/republishing are necessary to support access demands in this +emerging environment: + + 1.) Conversion of paper or microfilm archives to electronic format + 2.) Conversion of electronic files to formats tailored to + electronic retrieval and display + 3.) Primary electronic publishing (materials for which the + electronic version is the primary format) + +OCLC has experimental or product development activities in each of these +areas. Among the challenges that lie ahead is the integration of these +three types of information stores in coherent distributed systems. + +The CORE (Chemistry Online Retrieval Experiment) Project is a model for +the conversion of large text and graphics collections for which +electronic typesetting files are available (category 2). The American +Chemical Society has made available computer typography files dating from +1980 for its twenty journals. This collection of some 250 journal-years +is being converted to an electronic format that will be accessible +through several end-user applications. + +The use of Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML) offers the means +to capture the structural richness of the original articles in a way that +will support a variety of retrieval, navigation, and display options +necessary to navigate effectively in very large text databases. + +An SGML document consists of text that is marked up with descriptive tags +that specify the function of a given element within the document. As a +formal language construct, an SGML document can be parsed against a +document-type definition (DTD) that unambiguously defines what elements +are allowed and where in the document they can (or must) occur. This +formalized map of article structure allows the user interface design to +be uncoupled from the underlying database system, an important step +toward interoperability. Demonstration of this separability is a part of +the CORE project, wherein user interface designs born of very different +philosophies will access the same database. + +NOTES: + (6) The CORE project is a collaboration among Cornell University's + Mann Library, Bell Communications Research (Bellcore), the American + Chemical Society (ACS), the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), and + OCLC. + +Michael LESK The CORE Electronic Chemistry Library + +A major on-line file of chemical journal literature complete with +graphics is being developed to test the usability of fully electronic +access to documents, as a joint project of Cornell University, the +American Chemical Society, the Chemical Abstracts Service, OCLC, and +Bellcore (with additional support from Sun Microsystems, Springer-Verlag, +DigitaI Equipment Corporation, Sony Corporation of America, and Apple +Computers). Our file contains the American Chemical Society's on-line +journals, supplemented with the graphics from the paper publication. The +indexing of the articles from Chemical Abstracts Documents is available +in both image and text format, and several different interfaces can be +used. Our goals are (1) to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of +electronic access to primary journals as compared with paper, and (2) to +identify the most desirable functions of the user interface to an +electronic system of journals, including in particular a comparison of +page-image display with ASCII display interfaces. Early experiments with +chemistry students on a variety of tasks suggest that searching tasks are +completed much faster with any electronic system than with paper, but +that for reading all versions of the articles are roughly equivalent. + +Pamela ANDRE and Judith ZIDAR + +Text conversion is far more expensive and time-consuming than image +capture alone. NAL's experience with optical character recognition (OCR) +will be related and compared with the experience of having text rekeyed. +What factors affect OCR accuracy? How accurate does full text have to be +in order to be useful? How do different users react to imperfect text? +These are questions that will be explored. For many, a service bureau +may be a better solution than performing the work inhouse; this will also +be discussed. + +SESSION VI + +Marybeth PETERS + +Copyright law protects creative works. Protection granted by the law to +authors and disseminators of works includes the right to do or authorize +the following: reproduce the work, prepare derivative works, distribute +the work to the public, and publicly perform or display the work. In +addition, copyright owners of sound recordings and computer programs have +the right to control rental of their works. These rights are not +unlimited; there are a number of exceptions and limitations. + +An electronic environment places strains on the copyright system. +Copyright owners want to control uses of their work and be paid for any +use; the public wants quick and easy access at little or no cost. The +marketplace is working in this area. Contracts, guidelines on electronic +use, and collective licensing are in use and being refined. + +Issues concerning the ability to change works without detection are more +difficult to deal with. Questions concerning the integrity of the work +and the status of the changed version under the copyright law are to be +addressed. These are public policy issues which require informed +dialogue. + + + *** *** *** ****** *** *** *** + + + Appendix III: DIRECTORY OF PARTICIPANTS + + +PRESENTERS: + + Pamela Q.J. Andre + Associate Director, Automation + National Agricultural Library + 10301 Baltimore Boulevard + Beltsville, MD 20705-2351 + Phone: (301) 504-6813 + Fax: (301) 504-7473 + E-mail: INTERNET: PANDRE@ASRR.ARSUSDA.GOV + + Jean Baronas, Senior Manager + Department of Standards and Technology + Association for Information and Image Management (AIIM) + 1100 Wayne Avenue, Suite 1100 + Silver Spring, MD 20910 + Phone: (301) 587-8202 + Fax: (301) 587-2711 + + Patricia Battin, President + The Commission on Preservation and Access + 1400 16th Street, N.W. + Suite 740 + Washington, DC 20036-2217 + Phone: (202) 939-3400 + Fax: (202) 939-3407 + E-mail: CPA@GWUVM.BITNET + + Howard Besser + Centre Canadien d'Architecture + (Canadian Center for Architecture) + 1920, rue Baile + Montreal, Quebec H3H 2S6 + CANADA + Phone: (514) 939-7001 + Fax: (514) 939-7020 + E-mail: howard@lis.pitt.edu + + Edwin B. Brownrigg, Executive Director + Memex Research Institute + 422 Bonita Avenue + Roseville, CA 95678 + Phone: (916) 784-2298 + Fax: (916) 786-7559 + E-mail: BITNET: MEMEX@CALSTATE.2 + + Eric M. Calaluca, Vice President + Chadwyck-Healey, Inc. + 1101 King Street + Alexandria, VA 223l4 + Phone: (800) 752-05l5 + Fax: (703) 683-7589 + + James Daly + 4015 Deepwood Road + Baltimore, MD 21218-1404 + Phone: (410) 235-0763 + + Ricky Erway, Associate Coordinator + American Memory + Library of Congress + Phone: (202) 707-6233 + Fax: (202) 707-3764 + + Carl Fleischhauer, Coordinator + American Memory + Library of Congress + Phone: (202) 707-6233 + Fax: (202) 707-3764 + + Joanne Freeman + 2000 Jefferson Park Avenue, No. 7 + Charlottesville, VA 22903 + + Prosser Gifford + Director for Scholarly Programs + Library of Congress + Phone: (202) 707-1517 + Fax: (202) 707-9898 + E-mail: pgif@seq1.loc.gov + + Jacqueline Hess, Director + National Demonstration Laboratory + for Interactive Information Technologies + Library of Congress + Phone: (202) 707-4157 + Fax: (202) 707-2829 + + Susan Hockey, Director + Center for Electronic Texts in the Humanities (CETH) + Alexander Library + Rutgers University + 169 College Avenue + New Brunswick, NJ 08903 + Phone: (908) 932-1384 + Fax: (908) 932-1386 + E-mail: hockey@zodiac.rutgers.edu + + William L. 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This +editing required the removal of diacritics, underlining, and fonts such +as italics and bold. + +kde 11/92 + +[A few of the italics (when used for emphasis) were replaced by CAPS mh] + +*End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of LOC WORKSHOP ON ELECTRONIC ETEXTS + diff --git a/tests/data/plrabn12.txt b/tests/data/plrabn12.txt index dfa72b6..34088b8 100644 --- a/tests/data/plrabn12.txt +++ b/tests/data/plrabn12.txt @@ -1,10699 +1,10699 @@ - -This is the February 1992 Project Gutenberg release of: - -Paradise Lost by John Milton - -The oldest etext known to Project Gutenberg (ca. 1964-1965) -(If you know of any older ones, please let us know.) - - -Introduction (one page) - -This etext was originally created in 1964-1965 according to Dr. -Joseph Raben of Queens College, NY, to whom it is attributed by -Project Gutenberg. We had heard of this etext for years but it -was not until 1991 that we actually managed to track it down to -a specific location, and then it took months to convince people -to let us have a copy, then more months for them actually to do -the copying and get it to us. Then another month to convert to -something we could massage with our favorite 486 in DOS. After -that is was only a matter of days to get it into this shape you -will see below. The original was, of course, in CAPS only, and -so were all the other etexts of the 60's and early 70's. Don't -let anyone fool you into thinking any etext with both upper and -lower case is an original; all those original Project Gutenberg -etexts were also in upper case and were translated or rewritten -many times to get them into their current condition. They have -been worked on by many people throughout the world. - -In the course of our searches for Professor Raben and his etext -we were never able to determine where copies were or which of a -variety of editions he may have used as a source. We did get a -little information here and there, but even after we received a -copy of the etext we were unwilling to release it without first -determining that it was in fact Public Domain and finding Raben -to verify this and get his permission. Interested enough, in a -totally unrelated action to our searches for him, the professor -subscribed to the Project Gutenberg listserver and we happened, -by accident, to notice his name. (We don't really look at every -subscription request as the computers usually handle them.) The -etext was then properly identified, copyright analyzed, and the -current edition prepared. - -To give you an estimation of the difference in the original and -what we have today: the original was probably entered on cards -commonly known at the time as "IBM cards" (Do Not Fold, Spindle -or Mutilate) and probably took in excess of 100,000 of them. A -single card could hold 80 characters (hence 80 characters is an -accepted standard for so many computer margins), and the entire -original edition we received in all caps was over 800,000 chars -in length, including line enumeration, symbols for caps and the -punctuation marks, etc., since they were not available keyboard -characters at the time (probably the keyboards operated at baud -rates of around 113, meaning the typists had to type slowly for -the keyboard to keep up). - -This is the second version of Paradise Lost released by Project -Gutenberg. The first was released as our October, 1991 etext. - - - - - -Paradise Lost - - - - -Book I - - -Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit -Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste -Brought death into the World, and all our woe, -With loss of Eden, till one greater Man -Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, -Sing, Heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top -Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire -That shepherd who first taught the chosen seed -In the beginning how the heavens and earth -Rose out of Chaos: or, if Sion hill -Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flowed -Fast by the oracle of God, I thence -Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song, -That with no middle flight intends to soar -Above th' Aonian mount, while it pursues -Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme. -And chiefly thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer -Before all temples th' upright heart and pure, -Instruct me, for thou know'st; thou from the first -Wast present, and, with mighty wings outspread, -Dove-like sat'st brooding on the vast Abyss, -And mad'st it pregnant: what in me is dark -Illumine, what is low raise and support; -That, to the height of this great argument, -I may assert Eternal Providence, -And justify the ways of God to men. - Say first--for Heaven hides nothing from thy view, -Nor the deep tract of Hell--say first what cause -Moved our grand parents, in that happy state, -Favoured of Heaven so highly, to fall off -From their Creator, and transgress his will -For one restraint, lords of the World besides. -Who first seduced them to that foul revolt? - Th' infernal Serpent; he it was whose guile, -Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived -The mother of mankind, what time his pride -Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host -Of rebel Angels, by whose aid, aspiring -To set himself in glory above his peers, -He trusted to have equalled the Most High, -If he opposed, and with ambitious aim -Against the throne and monarchy of God, -Raised impious war in Heaven and battle proud, -With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power -Hurled 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. - Nine times the space that measures day and night -To mortal men, he, with his horrid crew, -Lay vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf, -Confounded, though immortal. But his doom -Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought -Both of lost happiness and lasting pain -Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, -That witnessed huge affliction and dismay, -Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate. -At once, as far as Angels ken, he views -The dismal situation waste and wild. -A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, -As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames -No light; but rather darkness visible -Served only to discover sights of woe, -Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace -And rest can never dwell, hope never comes -That comes to all, but torture without end -Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed -With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed. -Such place Eternal Justice has prepared -For those rebellious; here their prison ordained -In utter darkness, and their portion set, -As far removed from God and light of Heaven -As from the centre thrice to th' utmost pole. -Oh how unlike the place from whence they fell! -There the companions of his fall, o'erwhelmed -With floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire, -He soon discerns; and, weltering by his side, -One next himself in power, and next in crime, -Long after known in Palestine, and named -Beelzebub. To whom th' Arch-Enemy, -And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words -Breaking the horrid silence, thus began:-- - "If thou beest he--but O how fallen! how changed -From him who, in the happy realms of light -Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine -Myriads, though bright!--if he whom mutual league, -United thoughts and counsels, equal hope -And hazard in the glorious enterprise -Joined with me once, now misery hath joined -In equal ruin; into what pit thou seest -From what height fallen: so much the stronger proved -He with his thunder; and till then who knew -The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those, -Nor what the potent Victor in his rage -Can else inflict, do I repent, or change, -Though changed in outward lustre, that fixed mind, -And high disdain from sense of injured merit, -That with the Mightiest raised me to contend, -And to the fierce contentions brought along -Innumerable force of Spirits armed, -That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, -His utmost power with adverse power opposed -In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, -And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? -All is not lost--the unconquerable will, -And study of revenge, immortal hate, -And courage never to submit or yield: -And what is else not to be overcome? -That glory never shall his wrath or might -Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace -With suppliant knee, and deify his power -Who, from the terror of this arm, so late -Doubted his empire--that were low indeed; -That were an ignominy and shame beneath -This downfall; since, by fate, the strength of Gods, -And this empyreal sybstance, cannot fail; -Since, through experience of this great event, -In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, -We may with more successful hope resolve -To wage by force or guile eternal war, -Irreconcilable to our grand Foe, -Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy -Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven." - So spake th' apostate Angel, though in pain, -Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair; -And him thus answered soon his bold compeer:-- - "O Prince, O Chief of many throned Powers -That led th' embattled Seraphim to war -Under thy conduct, and, in dreadful deeds -Fearless, endangered Heaven's perpetual King, -And put to proof his high supremacy, -Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate, -Too well I see and rue the dire event -That, with sad overthrow and foul defeat, -Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host -In horrible destruction laid thus low, -As far as Gods and heavenly Essences -Can perish: for the mind and spirit remains -Invincible, and vigour soon returns, -Though all our glory extinct, and happy state -Here swallowed up in endless misery. -But what if he our Conqueror (whom I now -Of force believe almighty, since no less -Than such could have o'erpowered such force as ours) -Have left us this our spirit and strength entire, -Strongly to suffer and support our pains, -That we may so suffice his vengeful ire, -Or do him mightier service as his thralls -By right of war, whate'er his business be, -Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire, -Or do his errands in the gloomy Deep? -What can it the avail though yet we feel -Strength undiminished, or eternal being -To undergo eternal punishment?" - Whereto with speedy words th' Arch-Fiend replied:-- -"Fallen Cherub, to be weak is miserable, -Doing or suffering: but of this be sure-- -To do aught good never will be our task, -But ever to do ill our sole delight, -As being the contrary to his high will -Whom we resist. If then his providence -Out of our evil seek to bring forth good, -Our labour must be to pervert that end, -And out of good still to find means of evil; -Which ofttimes may succeed so as perhaps -Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb -His inmost counsels from their destined aim. -But see! the angry Victor hath recalled -His ministers of vengeance and pursuit -Back to the gates of Heaven: the sulphurous hail, -Shot after us in storm, o'erblown hath laid -The fiery surge that from the precipice -Of Heaven received us falling; and the thunder, -Winged with red lightning and impetuous rage, -Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now -To bellow through the vast and boundless Deep. -Let us not slip th' occasion, whether scorn -Or satiate fury yield it from our Foe. -Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild, -The seat of desolation, void of light, -Save what the glimmering of these livid flames -Casts pale and dreadful? Thither let us tend -From off the tossing of these fiery waves; -There rest, if any rest can harbour there; -And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, -Consult how we may henceforth most offend -Our enemy, our own loss how repair, -How overcome this dire calamity, -What reinforcement we may gain from hope, -If not, what resolution from despair." - Thus Satan, talking to his nearest mate, -With head uplift above the wave, and eyes -That sparkling blazed; his other parts besides -Prone on the flood, extended long and large, -Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge -As whom the fables name of monstrous size, -Titanian or Earth-born, that warred on Jove, -Briareos or Typhon, whom the den -By ancient Tarsus held, or that sea-beast -Leviathan, which God of all his works -Created hugest that swim th' ocean-stream. -Him, haply slumbering on the Norway foam, -The pilot of some small night-foundered skiff, -Deeming some island, oft, as seamen tell, -With fixed anchor in his scaly rind, -Moors by his side under the lee, while night -Invests the sea, and wished morn delays. -So stretched out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay, -Chained on the burning lake; nor ever thence -Had risen, or heaved his head, but that the will -And high permission of all-ruling Heaven -Left him at large to his own dark designs, -That with reiterated crimes he might -Heap on himself damnation, while he sought -Evil to others, and enraged might see -How all his malice served but to bring forth -Infinite goodness, grace, and mercy, shewn -On Man by him seduced, but on himself -Treble confusion, wrath, and vengeance poured. - Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool -His mighty stature; on each hand the flames -Driven backward slope their pointing spires, and,rolled -In billows, leave i' th' midst a horrid vale. -Then with expanded wings he steers his flight -Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air, -That felt unusual weight; till on dry land -He lights--if it were land that ever burned -With solid, as the lake with liquid fire, -And such appeared in hue as when the force -Of subterranean wind transprots a hill -Torn from Pelorus, or the shattered side -Of thundering Etna, whose combustible -And fuelled entrails, thence conceiving fire, -Sublimed with mineral fury, aid the winds, -And leave a singed bottom all involved -With stench and smoke. Such resting found the sole -Of unblest feet. Him followed his next mate; -Both glorying to have scaped the Stygian flood -As gods, and by their own recovered strength, -Not by the sufferance of supernal Power. - "Is this the region, this the soil, the clime," -Said then the lost Archangel, "this the seat -That we must change for Heaven?--this mournful gloom -For that celestial light? Be it so, since he -Who now is sovereign can dispose and bid -What shall be right: farthest from him is best -Whom reason hath equalled, force hath made supreme -Above his equals. Farewell, happy fields, -Where joy for ever dwells! Hail, horrors! hail, -Infernal world! and thou, profoundest Hell, -Receive thy new possessor--one who brings -A mind not to be changed by place or time. -The mind is its own place, and in itself -Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. -What matter where, if I be still the same, -And what I should be, all but less than he -Whom thunder hath made greater? Here at least -We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built -Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: -Here we may reigh secure; and, in my choice, -To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell: -Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven. -But wherefore let we then our faithful friends, -Th' associates and co-partners of our loss, -Lie thus astonished on th' oblivious pool, -And call them not to share with us their part -In this unhappy mansion, or once more -With rallied arms to try what may be yet -Regained in Heaven, or what more lost in Hell?" - So Satan spake; and him Beelzebub -Thus answered:--"Leader of those armies bright -Which, but th' Omnipotent, none could have foiled! -If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge -Of hope in fears and dangers--heard so oft -In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge -Of battle, when it raged, in all assaults -Their surest signal--they will soon resume -New courage and revive, though now they lie -Grovelling and prostrate on yon lake of fire, -As we erewhile, astounded and amazed; -No wonder, fallen such a pernicious height!" - He scare had ceased when the superior Fiend -Was moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield, -Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, -Behind him cast. The broad circumference -Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb -Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views -At evening, from the top of Fesole, -Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, -Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe. -His spear--to equal which the tallest pine -Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast -Of some great ammiral, were but a wand-- -He walked with, to support uneasy steps -Over the burning marl, not like those steps -On Heaven's azure; and the torrid clime -Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire. -Nathless he so endured, till on the beach -Of that inflamed sea he stood, and called -His legions--Angel Forms, who lay entranced -Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks -In Vallombrosa, where th' Etrurian shades -High over-arched embower; or scattered sedge -Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion armed -Hath vexed the Red-Sea coast, whose waves o'erthrew -Busiris and his Memphian chivalry, -While with perfidious hatred they pursued -The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld -From the safe shore their floating carcases -And broken chariot-wheels. So thick bestrown, -Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, -Under amazement of their hideous change. -He called so loud that all the hollow deep -Of Hell resounded:--"Princes, Potentates, -Warriors, the Flower of Heaven--once yours; now lost, -If such astonishment as this can seize -Eternal Spirits! Or have ye chosen this place -After the toil of battle to repose -Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find -To slumber here, as in the vales of Heaven? -Or in this abject posture have ye sworn -To adore the Conqueror, who now beholds -Cherub and Seraph rolling in the flood -With scattered arms and ensigns, till anon -His swift pursuers from Heaven-gates discern -Th' advantage, and, descending, tread us down -Thus drooping, or with linked thunderbolts -Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf? -Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen!" - They heard, and were abashed, and up they sprung -Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch -On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread, -Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake. -Nor did they not perceive the evil plight -In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; -Yet to their General's voice they soon obeyed -Innumerable. As when the potent rod -Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day, -Waved round the coast, up-called a pitchy cloud -Of locusts, warping on the eastern wind, -That o'er the realm of impious Pharaoh hung -Like Night, and darkened all the land of Nile; -So numberless were those bad Angels seen -Hovering on wing under the cope of Hell, -'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires; -Till, as a signal given, th' uplifted spear -Of their great Sultan waving to direct -Their course, in even balance down they light -On the firm brimstone, and fill all the plain: -A multitude like which the populous North -Poured never from her frozen loins to pass -Rhene or the Danaw, when her barbarous sons -Came like a deluge on the South, and spread -Beneath Gibraltar to the Libyan sands. -Forthwith, form every squadron and each band, -The heads and leaders thither haste where stood -Their great Commander--godlike Shapes, and Forms -Excelling human; princely Dignities; -And Powers that erst in Heaven sat on thrones, -Though on their names in Heavenly records now -Be no memorial, blotted out and rased -By their rebellion from the Books of Life. -Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve -Got them new names, till, wandering o'er the earth, -Through God's high sufferance for the trial of man, -By falsities and lies the greatest part -Of mankind they corrupted to forsake -God their Creator, and th' invisible -Glory of him that made them to transform -Oft to the image of a brute, adorned -With gay religions full of pomp and gold, -And devils to adore for deities: -Then were they known to men by various names, -And various idols through the heathen world. - Say, Muse, their names then known, who first, who last, -Roused from the slumber on that fiery couch, -At their great Emperor's call, as next in worth -Came singly where he stood on the bare strand, -While the promiscuous crowd stood yet aloof? - The chief were those who, from the pit of Hell -Roaming to seek their prey on Earth, durst fix -Their seats, long after, next the seat of God, -Their altars by his altar, gods adored -Among the nations round, and durst abide -Jehovah thundering out of Sion, throned -Between the Cherubim; yea, often placed -Within his sanctuary itself their shrines, -Abominations; and with cursed things -His holy rites and solemn feasts profaned, -And with their darkness durst affront his light. -First, Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood -Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears; -Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud, -Their children's cries unheard that passed through fire -To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite -Worshiped in Rabba and her watery plain, -In Argob and in Basan, to the stream -Of utmost Arnon. Nor content with such -Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart -Of Solomon he led by fraoud to build -His temple right against the temple of God -On that opprobrious hill, and made his grove -The pleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence -And black Gehenna called, the type of Hell. -Next Chemos, th' obscene dread of Moab's sons, -From Aroar to Nebo and the wild -Of southmost Abarim; in Hesebon -And Horonaim, Seon's real, beyond -The flowery dale of Sibma clad with vines, -And Eleale to th' Asphaltic Pool: -Peor his other name, when he enticed -Israel in Sittim, on their march from Nile, -To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. -Yet thence his lustful orgies he enlarged -Even to that hill of scandal, by the grove -Of Moloch homicide, lust hard by hate, -Till good Josiah drove them thence to Hell. -With these came they who, from the bordering flood -Of old Euphrates to the brook that parts -Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names -Of Baalim and Ashtaroth--those male, -These feminine. For Spirits, when they please, -Can either sex assume, or both; so soft -And uncompounded is their essence pure, -Not tried or manacled with joint or limb, -Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, -Like cumbrous flesh; but, in what shape they choose, -Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure, -Can execute their airy purposes, -And works of love or enmity fulfil. -For those the race of Israel oft forsook -Their Living Strength, and unfrequented left -His righteous altar, bowing lowly down -To bestial gods; for which their heads as low -Bowed down in battle, sunk before the spear -Of despicable foes. With these in troop -Came Astoreth, whom the Phoenicians called -Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns; -To whose bright image nigntly by the moon -Sidonian virgins paid their vows and songs; -In Sion also not unsung, where stood -Her temple on th' offensive mountain, built -By that uxorious king whose heart, though large, -Beguiled by fair idolatresses, fell -To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, -Whose annual wound in Lebanon allured -The Syrian damsels to lament his fate -In amorous ditties all a summer's day, -While smooth Adonis from his native rock -Ran purple to the sea, supposed with blood -Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the love-tale -Infected Sion's daughters with like heat, -Whose wanton passions in the sacred proch -Ezekiel saw, when, by the vision led, -His eye surveyed the dark idolatries -Of alienated Judah. Next came one -Who mourned in earnest, when the captive ark -Maimed his brute image, head and hands lopt off, -In his own temple, on the grunsel-edge, -Where he fell flat and shamed his worshippers: -Dagon his name, sea-monster,upward man -And downward fish; yet had his temple high -Reared in Azotus, dreaded through the coast -Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon, -And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds. -Him followed Rimmon, whose delightful seat -Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks -Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams. -He also against the house of God was bold: -A leper once he lost, and gained a king-- -Ahaz, his sottish conqueror, whom he drew -God's altar to disparage and displace -For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn -His odious offerings, and adore the gods -Whom he had vanquished. After these appeared -A crew who, under names of old renown-- -Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train-- -With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused -Fanatic Egypt and her priests to seek -Their wandering gods disguised in brutish forms -Rather than human. Nor did Israel scape -Th' infection, when their borrowed gold composed -The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king -Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, -Likening his Maker to the grazed ox-- -Jehovah, who, in one night, when he passed -From Egypt marching, equalled with one stroke -Both her first-born and all her bleating gods. -Belial came last; than whom a Spirit more lewd -Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love -Vice for itself. To him no temple stood -Or altar smoked; yet who more oft than he -In temples and at altars, when the priest -Turns atheist, as did Eli's sons, who filled -With lust and violence the house of God? -In courts and palaces he also reigns, -And in luxurious cities, where the noise -Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers, -And injury and outrage; and, when night -Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons -Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. -Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night -In Gibeah, when the hospitable door -Exposed a matron, to avoid worse rape. - These were the prime in order and in might: -The rest were long to tell; though far renowned -Th' Ionian gods--of Javan's issue held -Gods, yet confessed later than Heaven and Earth, -Their boasted parents;--Titan, Heaven's first-born, -With his enormous brood, and birthright seized -By younger Saturn: he from mightier Jove, -His own and Rhea's son, like measure found; -So Jove usurping reigned. These, first in Crete -And Ida known, thence on the snowy top -Of cold Olympus ruled the middle air, -Their highest heaven; or on the Delphian cliff, -Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds -Of Doric land; or who with Saturn old -Fled over Adria to th' Hesperian fields, -And o'er the Celtic roamed the utmost Isles. - All these and more came flocking; but with looks -Downcast and damp; yet such wherein appeared -Obscure some glimpse of joy to have found their Chief -Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost -In loss itself; which on his countenance cast -Like doubtful hue. But he, his wonted pride -Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore -Semblance of worth, not substance, gently raised -Their fainting courage, and dispelled their fears. -Then straight commands that, at the warlike sound -Of trumpets loud and clarions, be upreared -His mighty standard. That proud honour claimed -Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall: -Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurled -Th' imperial ensign; which, full high advanced, -Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, -With gems and golden lustre rich emblazed, -Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while -Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds: -At which the universal host up-sent -A shout that tore Hell's concave, and beyond -Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night. -All in a moment through the gloom were seen -Ten thousand banners rise into the air, -With orient colours waving: with them rose -A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms -Appeared, and serried shields in thick array -Of depth immeasurable. Anon they move -In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood -Of flutes and soft recorders--such as raised -To height of noblest temper heroes old -Arming to battle, and instead of rage -Deliberate valour breathed, firm, and unmoved -With dread of death to flight or foul retreat; -Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage -With solemn touches troubled thoughts, and chase -Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain -From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they, -Breathing united force with fixed thought, -Moved on in silence to soft pipes that charmed -Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil. And now -Advanced in view they stand--a horrid front -Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise -Of warriors old, with ordered spear and shield, -Awaiting what command their mighty Chief -Had to impose. He through the armed files -Darts his experienced eye, and soon traverse -The whole battalion views--their order due, -Their visages and stature as of gods; -Their number last he sums. And now his heart -Distends with pride, and, hardening in his strength, -Glories: for never, since created Man, -Met such embodied force as, named with these, -Could merit more than that small infantry -Warred on by cranes--though all the giant brood -Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were joined -That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side -Mixed with auxiliar gods; and what resounds -In fable or romance of Uther's son, -Begirt with British and Armoric knights; -And all who since, baptized or infidel, -Jousted in Aspramont, or Montalban, -Damasco, or Marocco, or Trebisond, -Or whom Biserta sent from Afric shore -When Charlemain with all his peerage fell -By Fontarabbia. Thus far these beyond -Compare of mortal prowess, yet observed -Their dread Commander. He, above the rest -In shape and gesture proudly eminent, -Stood like a tower. His form had yet not lost -All her original brightness, nor appeared -Less than Archangel ruined, and th' excess -Of glory obscured: as when the sun new-risen -Looks through the horizontal misty air -Shorn of his beams, or, from behind the moon, -In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds -On half the nations, and with fear of change -Perplexes monarchs. Darkened so, yet shone -Above them all th' Archangel: but his face -Deep scars of thunder had intrenched, and care -Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows -Of dauntless courage, and considerate pride -Waiting revenge. Cruel his eye, but cast -Signs of remorse and passion, to behold -The fellows of his crime, the followers rather -(Far other once beheld in bliss), condemned -For ever now to have their lot in pain-- -Millions of Spirits for his fault amerced -Of Heaven, and from eteranl splendours flung -For his revolt--yet faithful how they stood, -Their glory withered; as, when heaven's fire -Hath scathed the forest oaks or mountain pines, -With singed top their stately growth, though bare, -Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepared -To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend -From wing to wing, and half enclose him round -With all his peers: attention held them mute. -Thrice he assayed, and thrice, in spite of scorn, -Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last -Words interwove with sighs found out their way:-- - "O myriads of immortal Spirits! O Powers -Matchless, but with th' Almighth!--and that strife -Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire, -As this place testifies, and this dire change, -Hateful to utter. But what power of mind, -Forseeing or presaging, from the depth -Of knowledge past or present, could have feared -How such united force of gods, how such -As stood like these, could ever know repulse? -For who can yet believe, though after loss, -That all these puissant legions, whose exile -Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to re-ascend, -Self-raised, and repossess their native seat? -For me, be witness all the host of Heaven, -If counsels different, or danger shunned -By me, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns -Monarch in Heaven till then as one secure -Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute, -Consent or custom, and his regal state -Put forth at full, but still his strength concealed-- -Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall. -Henceforth his might we know, and know our own, -So as not either to provoke, or dread -New war provoked: our better part remains -To work in close design, by fraud or guile, -What force effected not; that he no less -At length from us may find, who overcomes -By force hath overcome but half his foe. -Space may produce new Worlds; whereof so rife -There went a fame in Heaven that he ere long -Intended to create, and therein plant -A generation whom his choice regard -Should favour equal to the Sons of Heaven. -Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps -Our first eruption--thither, or elsewhere; -For this infernal pit shall never hold -Celestial Spirits in bondage, nor th' Abyss -Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts -Full counsel must mature. Peace is despaired; -For who can think submission? War, then, war -Open or understood, must be resolved." - He spake; and, to confirm his words, outflew -Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs -Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze -Far round illumined Hell. Highly they raged -Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms -Clashed on their sounding shields the din of war, -Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heaven. - There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top -Belched fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire -Shone with a glossy scurf--undoubted sign -That in his womb was hid metallic ore, -The work of sulphur. Thither, winged with speed, -A numerous brigade hastened: as when bands -Of pioneers, with spade and pickaxe armed, -Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field, -Or cast a rampart. Mammon led them on-- -Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell -From Heaven; for even in Heaven his looks and thoughts -Were always downward bent, admiring more -The riches of heaven's pavement, trodden gold, -Than aught divine or holy else enjoyed -In vision beatific. By him first -Men also, and by his suggestion taught, -Ransacked the centre, and with impious hands -Rifled the bowels of their mother Earth -For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew -Opened into the hill a spacious wound, -And digged out ribs of gold. Let none admire -That riches grow in Hell; that soil may best -Deserve the precious bane. And here let those -Who boast in mortal things, and wondering tell -Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings, -Learn how their greatest monuments of fame -And strength, and art, are easily outdone -By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour -What in an age they, with incessant toil -And hands innumerable, scarce perform. -Nigh on the plain, in many cells prepared, -That underneath had veins of liquid fire -Sluiced from the lake, a second multitude -With wondrous art founded the massy ore, -Severing each kind, and scummed the bullion-dross. -A third as soon had formed within the ground -A various mould, and from the boiling cells -By strange conveyance filled each hollow nook; -As in an organ, from one blast of wind, -To many a row of pipes the sound-board breathes. -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 graven; -The roof was fretted gold. Not Babylon -Nor great Alcairo such magnificence -Equalled in all their glories, to enshrine -Belus or Serapis their gods, or seat -Their kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove -In wealth and luxury. Th' ascending pile -Stood fixed her stately height, and straight the doors, -Opening their brazen folds, discover, wide -Within, her ample spaces o'er the smooth -And level pavement: from the arched roof, -Pendent by subtle magic, many a row -Of starry lamps and blazing cressets, fed -With naptha and asphaltus, yielded light -As from a sky. The hasty multitude -Admiring entered; and the work some praise, -And some the architect. His hand was known -In Heaven by many a towered structure high, -Where sceptred Angels held their residence, -And sat as Princes, whom the supreme King -Exalted to such power, and gave to rule, -Each in his Hierarchy, the Orders bright. -Nor was his name unheard or unadored -In ancient Greece; and in Ausonian land -Men called him Mulciber; and how he fell -From Heaven they fabled, thrown by angry Jove -Sheer o'er the crystal battlements: from morn -To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, -A summer's day, and with the setting sun -Dropt from the zenith, like a falling star, -On Lemnos, th' Aegaean isle. Thus they relate, -Erring; for he with this rebellious rout -Fell long before; nor aught aviled him now -To have built in Heaven high towers; nor did he scape -By all his engines, but was headlong sent, -With his industrious crew, to build in Hell. - Meanwhile the winged Heralds, by command -Of sovereign power, with awful ceremony -And trumpet's sound, throughout the host proclaim -A solemn council forthwith to be held -At Pandemonium, the high capital -Of Satan and his peers. Their summons called -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 thronged; the gates -And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall -(Though like a covered field, where champions bold -Wont ride in armed, and at the Soldan's chair -Defied the best of Paynim chivalry -To mortal combat, or career with lance), -Thick swarmed, both on the ground and in the air, -Brushed with the hiss of rustling wings. As bees -In spring-time, when the Sun with Taurus rides. -Pour forth their populous youth about the hive -In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers -Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed plank, -The suburb of their straw-built citadel, -New rubbed with balm, expatiate, and confer -Their state-affairs: so thick the airy crowd -Swarmed and were straitened; till, the signal given, -Behold a wonder! They but now who seemed -In bigness to surpass Earth's giant sons, -Now less than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room -Throng numberless--like that pygmean race -Beyond the Indian mount; or faery elves, -Whose midnight revels, by a forest-side -Or fountain, some belated peasant sees, -Or dreams he sees, while overhead the Moon -Sits arbitress, and nearer to the Earth -Wheels her pale course: they, on their mirth and dance -Intent, with jocund music charm his ear; -At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds. -Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms -Reduced their shapes immense, and were at large, -Though without number still, amidst the hall -Of that infernal court. But far within, -And in their own dimensions like themselves, -The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim -In close recess and secret conclave sat, -A thousand demi-gods on golden seats, -Frequent and full. After short silence then, -And summons read, the great consult began. - - - -Book II - - -High on a throne of royal state, which far -Outshone the wealth or Ormus and of Ind, -Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand -Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold, -Satan exalted sat, by merit raised -To that bad eminence; and, from despair -Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires -Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue -Vain war with Heaven; and, by success untaught, -His proud imaginations thus displayed:-- - "Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heaven!-- -For, since no deep within her gulf can hold -Immortal vigour, though oppressed and fallen, -I give not Heaven for lost: from this descent -Celestial Virtues rising will appear -More glorious and more dread than from no fall, -And trust themselves to fear no second fate!-- -Me though just right, and the fixed laws of Heaven, -Did first create your leader--next, free choice -With what besides in council or in fight -Hath been achieved of merit--yet this loss, -Thus far at least recovered, hath much more -Established in a safe, unenvied throne, -Yielded with full consent. The happier state -In Heaven, which follows dignity, might draw -Envy from each inferior; but who here -Will envy whom the highest place exposes -Foremost to stand against the Thunderer's aim -Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share -Of endless pain? Where there is, then, no good -For which to strive, no strife can grow up there -From faction: for none sure will claim in Hell -Precedence; none whose portion is so small -Of present pain that with ambitious mind -Will covet more! With this advantage, then, -To union, and firm faith, and firm accord, -More than can be in Heaven, we now return -To claim our just inheritance of old, -Surer to prosper than prosperity -Could have assured us; and by what best way, -Whether of open war or covert guile, -We now debate. Who can advise may speak." - He ceased; and next him Moloch, sceptred king, -Stood up--the strongest and the fiercest Spirit -That fought in Heaven, now fiercer by despair. -His trust was with th' Eternal to be deemed -Equal in strength, and rather than be less -Cared not to be at all; with that care lost -Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worse, -He recked not, and these words thereafter spake:-- - "My sentence is for open war. Of wiles, -More unexpert, I boast not: them let those -Contrive who need, or when they need; not now. -For, while they sit contriving, shall the rest-- -Millions that stand in arms, and longing wait -The signal to ascend--sit lingering here, -Heaven's fugitives, and for their dwelling-place -Accept this dark opprobrious den of shame, -The prison of his ryranny who reigns -By our delay? No! let us rather choose, -Armed with Hell-flames and fury, all at once -O'er Heaven's high towers to force resistless way, -Turning our tortures into horrid arms -Against the Torturer; when, to meet the noise -Of his almighty engine, he shall hear -Infernal thunder, and, for lightning, see -Black fire and horror shot with equal rage -Among his Angels, and his throne itself -Mixed with Tartarean sulphur and strange fire, -His own invented torments. But perhaps -The way seems difficult, and steep to scale -With upright wing against a higher foe! -Let such bethink them, if the sleepy drench -Of that forgetful lake benumb not still, -That in our porper motion we ascend -Up to our native seat; descent and fall -To us is adverse. Who but felt of late, -When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear -Insulting, and pursued us through the Deep, -With what compulsion and laborious flight -We sunk thus low? Th' ascent is easy, then; -Th' event is feared! Should we again provoke -Our stronger, some worse way his wrath may find -To our destruction, if there be in Hell -Fear to be worse destroyed! What can be worse -Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemned -In this abhorred deep to utter woe! -Where pain of unextinguishable fire -Must exercise us without hope of end -The vassals of his anger, when the scourge -Inexorably, and the torturing hour, -Calls us to penance? More destroyed than thus, -We should be quite abolished, and expire. -What fear we then? what doubt we to incense -His utmost ire? which, to the height enraged, -Will either quite consume us, and reduce -To nothing this essential--happier far -Than miserable to have eternal being!-- -Or, if our substance be indeed divine, -And cannot cease to be, we are at worst -On this side nothing; and by proof we feel -Our power sufficient to disturb his Heaven, -And with perpetual inroads to alarm, -Though inaccessible, his fatal throne: -Which, if not victory, is yet revenge." - He ended frowning, and his look denounced -Desperate revenge, and battle dangerous -To less than gods. On th' other side up rose -Belial, in act more graceful and humane. -A fairer person lost not Heaven; he seemed -For dignity composed, and high exploit. -But all was false and hollow; though his tongue -Dropped manna, and could make the worse appear -The better reason, to perplex and dash -Maturest counsels: for his thoughts were low-- - To vice industrious, but to nobler deeds -Timorous and slothful. Yet he pleased the ear, -And with persuasive accent thus began:-- - "I should be much for open war, O Peers, -As not behind in hate, if what was urged -Main reason to persuade immediate war -Did not dissuade me most, and seem to cast -Ominous conjecture on the whole success; -When he who most excels in fact of arms, -In what he counsels and in what excels -Mistrustful, grounds his courage on despair -And utter dissolution, as the scope -Of all his aim, after some dire revenge. -First, what revenge? The towers of Heaven are filled -With armed watch, that render all access -Impregnable: oft on the bodering Deep -Encamp their legions, or with obscure wing -Scout far and wide into the realm of Night, -Scorning surprise. Or, could we break our way -By force, and at our heels all Hell should rise -With blackest insurrection to confound -Heaven's purest light, yet our great Enemy, -All incorruptible, would on his throne -Sit unpolluted, and th' ethereal mould, -Incapable of stain, would soon expel -Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire, -Victorious. Thus repulsed, our final hope -Is flat despair: we must exasperate -Th' Almighty Victor to spend all his rage; -And that must end us; that must be our cure-- -To be no more. Sad cure! for who would lose, -Though full of pain, this intellectual being, -Those thoughts that wander through eternity, -To perish rather, swallowed up and lost -In the wide womb of uncreated Night, -Devoid of sense and motion? And who knows, -Let this be good, whether our angry Foe -Can give it, or will ever? How he can -Is doubtful; that he never will is sure. -Will he, so wise, let loose at once his ire, -Belike through impotence or unaware, -To give his enemies their wish, and end -Them in his anger whom his anger saves -To punish endless? 'Wherefore cease we, then?' -Say they who counsel war; 'we are decreed, -Reserved, and destined to eternal woe; -Whatever doing, what can we suffer more, -What can we suffer worse?' Is this, then, worst-- -Thus sitting, thus consulting, thus in arms? -What when we fled amain, pursued and struck -With Heaven's afflicting thunder, and besought -The Deep to shelter us? This Hell then seemed -A refuge from those wounds. Or when we lay -Chained on the burning lake? That sure was worse. -What if the breath that kindled those grim fires, -Awaked, should blow them into sevenfold rage, -And plunge us in the flames; or from above -Should intermitted vengeance arm again -His red right hand to plague us? What if all -Her stores were opened, and this firmament -Of Hell should spout her cataracts of fire, -Impendent horrors, threatening hideous fall -One day upon our heads; while we perhaps, -Designing or exhorting glorious war, -Caught in a fiery tempest, shall be hurled, -Each on his rock transfixed, the sport and prey -Or racking whirlwinds, or for ever sunk -Under yon boiling ocean, wrapt in chains, -There to converse with everlasting groans, -Unrespited, unpitied, unreprieved, -Ages of hopeless end? This would be worse. -War, therefore, open or concealed, alike -My voice dissuades; for what can force or guile -With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye -Views all things at one view? He from Heaven's height -All these our motions vain sees and derides, -Not more almighty to resist our might -Than wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles. -Shall we, then, live thus vile--the race of Heaven -Thus trampled, thus expelled, to suffer here -Chains and these torments? Better these than worse, -By my advice; since fate inevitable -Subdues us, and omnipotent decree, -The Victor's will. To suffer, as to do, -Our strength is equal; nor the law unjust -That so ordains. This was at first resolved, -If we were wise, against so great a foe -Contending, and so doubtful what might fall. -I laugh when those who at the spear are bold -And venturous, if that fail them, shrink, and fear -What yet they know must follow--to endure -Exile, or igominy, or bonds, or pain, -The sentence of their Conqueror. This is now -Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear, -Our Supreme Foe in time may much remit -His anger, and perhaps, thus far removed, -Not mind us not offending, satisfied -With what is punished; whence these raging fires -Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames. -Our purer essence then will overcome -Their noxious vapour; or, inured, not feel; -Or, changed at length, and to the place conformed -In temper and in nature, will receive -Familiar the fierce heat; and, void of pain, -This horror will grow mild, this darkness light; -Besides what hope the never-ending flight -Of future days may bring, what chance, what change -Worth waiting--since our present lot appears -For happy though but ill, for ill not worst, -If we procure not to ourselves more woe." - Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason's garb, -Counselled ignoble ease and peaceful sloth, -Not peace; and after him thus Mammon spake:-- - "Either to disenthrone the King of Heaven -We war, if war be best, or to regain -Our own right lost. Him to unthrone we then -May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield -To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the strife. -The former, vain to hope, argues as vain -The latter; for what place can be for us -Within Heaven's bound, unless Heaven's Lord supreme -We overpower? Suppose he should relent -And publish grace to all, on promise made -Of new subjection; with what eyes could we -Stand in his presence humble, and receive -Strict laws imposed, to celebrate his throne -With warbled hyms, and to his Godhead sing -Forced hallelujahs, while he lordly sits -Our envied sovereign, and his altar breathes -Ambrosial odours and ambrosial flowers, -Our servile offerings? This must be our task -In Heaven, this our delight. How wearisome -Eternity so spent in worship paid -To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue, -By force impossible, by leave obtained -Unacceptable, though in Heaven, our state -Of splendid vassalage; but rather seek -Our own good from ourselves, and from our own -Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess, -Free and to none accountable, preferring -Hard liberty before the easy yoke -Of servile pomp. Our greatness will appear -Then most conspicuous when great things of small, -Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse, -We can create, and in what place soe'er -Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain -Through labour and endurance. This deep world -Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst -Thick clouds and dark doth Heaven's all-ruling Sire -Choose to reside, his glory unobscured, -And with the majesty of darkness round -Covers his throne, from whence deep thunders roar. -Mustering their rage, and Heaven resembles Hell! -As he our darkness, cannot we his light -Imitate when we please? This desert soil -Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold; -Nor want we skill or art from whence to raise -Magnificence; and what can Heaven show more? -Our torments also may, in length of time, -Become our elements, these piercing fires -As soft as now severe, our temper changed -Into their temper; which must needs remove -The sensible of pain. All things invite -To peaceful counsels, and the settled state -Of order, how in safety best we may -Compose our present evils, with regard -Of what we are and where, dismissing quite -All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advise." - He scarce had finished, when such murmur filled -Th' assembly as when hollow rocks retain -The sound of blustering winds, which all night long -Had roused the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull -Seafaring men o'erwatched, whose bark by chance -Or pinnace, anchors in a craggy bay -After the tempest. Such applause was heard -As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleased, -Advising peace: for such another field -They dreaded worse than Hell; so much the fear -Of thunder and the sword of Michael -Wrought still within them; and no less desire -To found this nether empire, which might rise, -By policy and long process of time, -In emulation opposite to Heaven. -Which when Beelzebub perceived--than whom, -Satan except, none higher sat--with grave -Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemed -A pillar of state. Deep on his front engraven -Deliberation sat, and public care; -And princely counsel in his face yet shone, -Majestic, though in ruin. Sage he stood -With Atlantean shoulders, fit to bear -The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look -Drew audience and attention still as night -Or summer's noontide air, while thus he spake:-- - "Thrones and Imperial Powers, Offspring of Heaven, -Ethereal Virtues! or these titles now -Must we renounce, and, changing style, be called -Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote -Inclines--here to continue, and build up here -A growing empire; doubtless! while we dream, -And know not that the King of Heaven hath doomed -This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat -Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt -From Heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league -Banded against his throne, but to remain -In strictest bondage, though thus far removed, -Under th' inevitable curb, reserved -His captive multitude. For he, to be sure, -In height or depth, still first and last will reign -Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part -By our revolt, but over Hell extend -His empire, and with iron sceptre rule -Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven. -What sit we then projecting peace and war? -War hath determined us and foiled with loss -Irreparable; terms of peace yet none -Vouchsafed or sought; for what peace will be given -To us enslaved, but custody severe, -And stripes and arbitrary punishment -Inflicted? and what peace can we return, -But, to our power, hostility and hate, -Untamed reluctance, and revenge, though slow, -Yet ever plotting how the Conqueror least -May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice -In doing what we most in suffering feel? -Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need -With dangerous expedition to invade -Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege, -Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find -Some easier enterprise? There is a place -(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven -Err not)--another World, the happy seat -Of some new race, called Man, about this time -To be created like to us, though less -In power and excellence, but favoured more -Of him who rules above; so was his will -Pronounced among the Gods, and by an oath -That shook Heaven's whole circumference confirmed. -Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn -What creatures there inhabit, of what mould -Or substance, how endued, and what their power -And where their weakness: how attempted best, -By force of subtlety. Though Heaven be shut, -And Heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure -In his own strength, this place may lie exposed, -The utmost border of his kingdom, left -To their defence who hold it: here, perhaps, -Some advantageous act may be achieved -By sudden onset--either with Hell-fire -To waste his whole creation, or possess -All as our own, and drive, as we were driven, -The puny habitants; or, if not drive, -Seduce them to our party, that their God -May prove their foe, and with repenting hand -Abolish his own works. This would surpass -Common revenge, and interrupt his joy -In our confusion, and our joy upraise -In his disturbance; when his darling sons, -Hurled headlong to partake with us, shall curse -Their frail original, and faded bliss-- -Faded so soon! Advise if this be worth -Attempting, or to sit in darkness here -Hatching vain empires." Thus beelzebub -Pleaded his devilish counsel--first devised -By Satan, and in part proposed: for whence, -But from the author of all ill, could spring -So deep a malice, to confound the race -Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell -To mingle and involve, done all to spite -The great Creator? But their spite still serves -His glory to augment. The bold design -Pleased highly those infernal States, and joy -Sparkled in all their eyes: with full assent -They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews:-- -"Well have ye judged, well ended long debate, -Synod of Gods, and, like to what ye are, -Great things resolved, which from the lowest deep -Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate, -Nearer our ancient seat--perhaps in view -Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbouring arms, -And opportune excursion, we may chance -Re-enter Heaven; or else in some mild zone -Dwell, not unvisited of Heaven's fair light, -Secure, and at the brightening orient beam -Purge off this gloom: the soft delicious air, -To heal the scar of these corrosive fires, -Shall breathe her balm. But, first, whom shall we send -In search of this new World? whom shall we find -Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering feet -The dark, unbottomed, infinite Abyss, -And through the palpable obscure find out -His uncouth way, or spread his airy flight, -Upborne with indefatigable wings -Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive -The happy Isle? What strength, what art, can then -Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe, -Through the strict senteries and stations thick -Of Angels watching round? Here he had need -All circumspection: and we now no less -Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send -The weight of all, and our last hope, relies." - This said, he sat; and expectation held -His look suspense, awaiting who appeared -To second, or oppose, or undertake -The perilous attempt. But all sat mute, -Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each -In other's countenance read his own dismay, -Astonished. None among the choice and prime -Of those Heaven-warring champions could be found -So hardy as to proffer or accept, -Alone, the dreadful voyage; till, at last, -Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised -Above his fellows, with monarchal pride -Conscious of highest worth, unmoved thus spake:-- - "O Progeny of Heaven! Empyreal Thrones! -With reason hath deep silence and demur -Seized us, though undismayed. Long is the way -And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light. -Our prison strong, this huge convex of fire, -Outrageous to devour, immures us round -Ninefold; and gates of burning adamant, -Barred over us, prohibit all egress. -These passed, if any pass, the void profound -Of unessential Night receives him next, -Wide-gaping, and with utter loss of being -Threatens him, plunged in that abortive gulf. -If thence he scape, into whatever world, -Or unknown region, what remains him less -Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape? -But I should ill become this throne, O Peers, -And this imperial sovereignty, adorned -With splendour, armed with power, if aught proposed -And judged of public moment in the shape -Of difficulty or danger, could deter -Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume -These royalties, and not refuse to reign, -Refusing to accept as great a share -Of hazard as of honour, due alike -To him who reigns, and so much to him due -Of hazard more as he above the rest -High honoured sits? Go, therefore, mighty Powers, -Terror of Heaven, though fallen; intend at home, -While here shall be our home, what best may ease -The present misery, and render Hell -More tolerable; if there be cure or charm -To respite, or deceive, or slack the pain -Of this ill mansion: intermit no watch -Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad -Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek -Deliverance for us all. This enterprise -None shall partake with me." Thus saying, rose -The Monarch, and prevented all reply; -Prudent lest, from his resolution raised, -Others among the chief might offer now, -Certain to be refused, what erst they feared, -And, so refused, might in opinion stand -His rivals, winning cheap the high repute -Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they -Dreaded not more th' adventure than his voice -Forbidding; and at once with him they rose. -Their rising all at once was as the sound -Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend -With awful reverence prone, and as a God -Extol him equal to the Highest in Heaven. -Nor failed they to express how much they praised -That for the general safety he despised -His own: for neither do the Spirits damned -Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast -Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites, -Or close ambition varnished o'er with zeal. - Thus they their doubtful consultations dark -Ended, rejoicing in their matchless Chief: -As, when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds -Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o'erspread -Heaven's cheerful face, the louring element -Scowls o'er the darkened landscape snow or shower, -If chance the radiant sun, with farewell sweet, -Extend his evening beam, the fields revive, -The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds -Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings. -O shame to men! Devil with devil damned -Firm concord holds; men only disagree -Of creatures rational, though under hope -Of heavenly grace, and, God proclaiming peace, -Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife -Among themselves, and levy cruel wars -Wasting the earth, each other to destroy: -As if (which might induce us to accord) -Man had not hellish foes enow besides, -That day and night for his destruction wait! - The Stygian council thus dissolved; and forth -In order came the grand infernal Peers: -Midst came their mighty Paramount, and seemed -Alone th' antagonist of Heaven, nor less -Than Hell's dread Emperor, with pomp supreme, -And god-like imitated state: him round -A globe of fiery Seraphim enclosed -With bright emblazonry, and horrent arms. -Then of their session ended they bid cry -With trumpet's regal sound the great result: -Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim -Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy, -By herald's voice explained; the hollow Abyss -Heard far adn wide, and all the host of Hell -With deafening shout returned them loud acclaim. -Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat raised -By false presumptuous hope, the ranged Powers -Disband; and, wandering, each his several way -Pursues, as inclination or sad choice -Leads him perplexed, where he may likeliest find -Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain -The irksome hours, till his great Chief return. -Part on the plain, or in the air sublime, -Upon the wing or in swift race contend, -As at th' Olympian games or Pythian fields; -Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal -With rapid wheels, or fronted brigades form: -As when, to warn proud cities, war appears -Waged in the troubled sky, and armies rush -To battle in the clouds; before each van -Prick forth the airy knights, and couch their spears, -Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms -From either end of heaven the welkin burns. -Others, with vast Typhoean rage, more fell, -Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air -In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wild uproar:-- -As when Alcides, from Oechalia crowned -With conquest, felt th' envenomed robe, and tore -Through pain up by the roots Thessalian pines, -And Lichas from the top of Oeta threw -Into th' Euboic sea. Others, more mild, -Retreated in a silent valley, sing -With notes angelical to many a harp -Their own heroic deeds, and hapless fall -By doom of battle, and complain that Fate -Free Virtue should enthrall to Force or Chance. -Their song was partial; but the harmony -(What could it less when Spirits immortal sing?) -Suspended Hell, and took with ravishment -The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet -(For Eloquence the Soul, Song charms the Sense) -Others apart sat on a hill retired, -In thoughts more elevate, and reasoned high -Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate-- -Fixed fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute, -And found no end, in wandering mazes lost. -Of good and evil much they argued then, -Of happiness and final misery, -Passion and apathy, and glory and shame: -Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy!-- -Yet, with a pleasing sorcery, could charm -Pain for a while or anguish, and excite -Fallacious hope, or arm th' obdured breast -With stubborn patience as with triple steel. -Another part, in squadrons and gross bands, -On bold adventure to discover wide -That dismal world, if any clime perhaps -Might yield them easier habitation, bend -Four ways their flying march, along the banks -Of four infernal rivers, that disgorge -Into the burning lake their baleful streams-- -Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate; -Sad Acheron of sorrow, black and deep; -Cocytus, named of lamentation loud -Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegeton, -Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. -Far off from these, a slow and silent stream, -Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls -Her watery labyrinth, whereof who drinks -Forthwith his former state and being forgets-- -Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain. -Beyond this flood a frozen continent -Lies dark and wild, beat with perpetual storms -Of whirlwind and dire hail, which on firm land -Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin seems -Of ancient pile; all else deep snow and ice, -A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog -Betwixt Damiata and Mount Casius old, -Where armies whole have sunk: the parching air -Burns frore, and cold performs th' effect of fire. -Thither, by harpy-footed Furies haled, -At certain revolutions all the damned -Are brought; and feel by turns the bitter change -Of fierce extremes, extremes by change more fierce, -From beds of raging fire to starve in ice -Their soft ethereal warmth, and there to pine -Immovable, infixed, and frozen round -Periods of time,--thence hurried back to fire. -They ferry over this Lethean sound -Both to and fro, their sorrow to augment, -And wish and struggle, as they pass, to reach -The tempting stream, with one small drop to lose -In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe, -All in one moment, and so near the brink; -But Fate withstands, and, to oppose th' attempt, -Medusa with Gorgonian terror guards -The ford, and of itself the water flies -All taste of living wight, as once it fled -The lip of Tantalus. Thus roving on -In confused march forlorn, th' adventurous bands, -With shuddering horror pale, and eyes aghast, -Viewed first their lamentable lot, and found -No rest. Through many a dark and dreary vale -They passed, and many a region dolorous, -O'er many a frozen, many a fiery alp, -Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and shades of death-- -A universe of death, which God by curse -Created evil, for evil only good; -Where all life dies, death lives, and Nature breeds, -Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things, -Obominable, inutterable, and worse -Than fables yet have feigned or fear conceived, -Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimeras dire. - Meanwhile the Adversary of God and Man, -Satan, with thoughts inflamed of highest design, -Puts on swift wings, and toward the gates of Hell -Explores his solitary flight: sometimes -He scours the right hand coast, sometimes the left; -Now shaves with level wing the deep, then soars -Up to the fiery concave towering high. -As when far off at sea a fleet descried -Hangs in the clouds, by equinoctial winds -Close sailing from Bengala, or the isles -Of Ternate and Tidore, whence merchants bring -Their spicy drugs; they on the trading flood, -Through the wide Ethiopian to the Cape, -Ply stemming nightly toward the pole: so seemed -Far off the flying Fiend. At last appear -Hell-bounds, high reaching to the horrid roof, -And thrice threefold the gates; three folds were brass, -Three iron, three of adamantine rock, -Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire, -Yet unconsumed. Before the gates there sat -On either side a formidable Shape. -The one seemed woman to the waist, and fair, -But ended foul in many a scaly fold, -Voluminous and vast--a serpent armed -With mortal sting. About her middle round -A cry of Hell-hounds never-ceasing barked -With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung -A hideous peal; yet, when they list, would creep, -If aught disturbed their noise, into her womb, -And kennel there; yet there still barked and howled -Within unseen. Far less abhorred than these -Vexed Scylla, bathing in the sea that parts -Calabria from the hoarse Trinacrian shore; -Nor uglier follow the night-hag, when, called -In secret, riding through the air she comes, -Lured with the smell of infant blood, to dance -With Lapland witches, while the labouring moon -Eclipses at their charms. The other Shape-- -If shape it might be called that shape had none -Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb; -Or substance might be called that shadow seemed, -For each seemed either--black it stood as Night, -Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell, -And shook a dreadful dart: what seemed his head -The likeness of a kingly crown had on. -Satan was now at hand, and from his seat -The monster moving onward came as fast -With horrid strides; Hell trembled as he strode. -Th' undaunted Fiend what this might be admired-- -Admired, not feared (God and his Son except, -Created thing naught valued he nor shunned), -And with disdainful look thus first began:-- - "Whence and what art thou, execrable Shape, -That dar'st, though grim and terrible, advance -Thy miscreated front athwart my way -To yonder gates? Through them I mean to pass, -That be assured, without leave asked of thee. -Retire; or taste thy folly, and learn by proof, -Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of Heaven." - To whom the Goblin, full of wrath, replied:-- -"Art thou that traitor Angel? art thou he, -Who first broke peace in Heaven and faith, till then -Unbroken, and in proud rebellious arms -Drew after him the third part of Heaven's sons, -Conjured against the Highest--for which both thou -And they, outcast from God, are here condemned -To waste eternal days in woe and pain? -And reckon'st thou thyself with Spirits of Heaven -Hell-doomed, and breath'st defiance here and scorn, -Where I reign king, and, to enrage thee more, -Thy king and lord? Back to thy punishment, -False fugitive; and to thy speed add wings, -Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue -Thy lingering, or with one stroke of this dart -Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before." - So spake the grisly Terror, and in shape, -So speaking and so threatening, grew tenfold, -More dreadful and deform. On th' other side, -Incensed with indignation, Satan stood -Unterrified, and like a comet burned, -That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge -In th' arctic sky, and from his horrid hair -Shakes pestilence and war. Each at the head -Levelled his deadly aim; their fatal hands -No second stroke intend; and such a frown -Each cast at th' other as when two black clouds, -With heaven's artillery fraught, came rattling on -Over the Caspian,--then stand front to front -Hovering a space, till winds the signal blow -To join their dark encounter in mid-air. -So frowned the mighty combatants that Hell -Grew darker at their frown; so matched they stood; -For never but once more was wither like -To meet so great a foe. And now great deeds -Had been achieved, whereof all Hell had rung, -Had not the snaky Sorceress, that sat -Fast by Hell-gate and kept the fatal key, -Risen, and with hideous outcry rushed between. - "O father, what intends thy hand," she cried, -"Against thy only son? What fury, O son, -Possesses thee to bend that mortal dart -Against thy father's head? And know'st for whom? -For him who sits above, and laughs the while -At thee, ordained his drudge to execute -Whate'er his wrath, which he calls justice, bids-- -His wrath, which one day will destroy ye both!" - She spake, and at her words the hellish Pest -Forbore: then these to her Satan returned:-- - "So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange -Thou interposest, that my sudden hand, -Prevented, spares to tell thee yet by deeds -What it intends, till first I know of thee -What thing thou art, thus double-formed, and why, -In this infernal vale first met, thou call'st -Me father, and that phantasm call'st my son. -I know thee not, nor ever saw till now -Sight more detestable than him and thee." - T' whom thus the Portress of Hell-gate replied:-- -"Hast thou forgot me, then; and do I seem -Now in thine eye so foul?--once deemed so fair -In Heaven, when at th' assembly, and in sight -Of all the Seraphim with thee combined -In bold conspiracy against Heaven's King, -All on a sudden miserable pain -Surprised thee, dim thine eyes and dizzy swum -In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast -Threw forth, till on the left side opening wide, -Likest to thee in shape and countenance bright, -Then shining heavenly fair, a goddess armed, -Out of thy head I sprung. Amazement seized -All th' host of Heaven; back they recoiled afraid -At first, and called me Sin, and for a sign -Portentous held me; but, familiar grown, -I pleased, and with attractive graces won -The most averse--thee chiefly, who, full oft -Thyself in me thy perfect image viewing, -Becam'st enamoured; and such joy thou took'st -With me in secret that my womb conceived -A growing burden. Meanwhile war arose, -And fields were fought in Heaven: wherein remained -(For what could else?) to our Almighty Foe -Clear victory; to our part loss and rout -Through all the Empyrean. Down they fell, -Driven headlong from the pitch of Heaven, down -Into this Deep; and in the general fall -I also: at which time this powerful key -Into my hands was given, with charge to keep -These gates for ever shut, which none can pass -Without my opening. Pensive here I sat -Alone; but long I sat not, till my womb, -Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown, -Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes. -At last this odious offspring whom thou seest, -Thine own begotten, breaking violent way, -Tore through my entrails, that, with fear and pain -Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew -Transformed: but he my inbred enemy -Forth issued, brandishing his fatal dart, -Made to destroy. I fled, and cried out Death! -Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sighed -From all her caves, and back resounded Death! -I fled; but he pursued (though more, it seems, -Inflamed with lust than rage), and, swifter far, -Me overtook, his mother, all dismayed, -And, in embraces forcible and foul -Engendering with me, of that rape begot -These yelling monsters, that with ceaseless cry -Surround me, as thou saw'st--hourly conceived -And hourly born, with sorrow infinite -To me; for, when they list, into the womb -That bred them they return, and howl, and gnaw -My bowels, their repast; then, bursting forth -Afresh, with conscious terrors vex me round, -That rest or intermission none I find. -Before mine eyes in opposition sits -Grim Death, my son and foe, who set them on, -And me, his parent, would full soon devour -For want of other prey, but that he knows -His end with mine involved, and knows that I -Should prove a bitter morsel, and his bane, -Whenever that shall be: so Fate pronounced. -But thou, O father, I forewarn thee, shun -His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope -To be invulnerable in those bright arms, -Through tempered heavenly; for that mortal dint, -Save he who reigns above, none can resist." - She finished; and the subtle Fiend his lore -Soon learned, now milder, and thus answered smooth:-- - "Dear daughter--since thou claim'st me for thy sire, -And my fair son here show'st me, the dear pledge -Of dalliance had with thee in Heaven, and joys -Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change -Befallen us unforeseen, unthought-of--know, -I come no enemy, but to set free -From out this dark and dismal house of pain -Both him and thee, and all the heavenly host -Of Spirits that, in our just pretences armed, -Fell with us from on high. From them I go -This uncouth errand sole, and one for all -Myself expose, with lonely steps to tread -Th' unfounded Deep, and through the void immense -To search, with wandering quest, a place foretold -Should be--and, by concurring signs, ere now -Created vast and round--a place of bliss -In the purlieus of Heaven; and therein placed -A race of upstart creatures, to supply -Perhaps our vacant room, though more removed, -Lest Heaven, surcharged with potent multitude, -Might hap to move new broils. Be this, or aught -Than this more secret, now designed, I haste -To know; and, this once known, shall soon return, -And bring ye to the place where thou and Death -Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseen -Wing silently the buxom air, embalmed -With odours. There ye shall be fed and filled -Immeasurably; all things shall be your prey." - He ceased; for both seemed highly pleased, and Death -Grinned horrible a ghastly smile, to hear -His famine should be filled, and blessed his maw -Destined to that good hour. No less rejoiced -His mother bad, and thus bespake her sire:-- - "The key of this infernal Pit, by due -And by command of Heaven's all-powerful King, -I keep, by him forbidden to unlock -These adamantine gates; against all force -Death ready stands to interpose his dart, -Fearless to be o'ermatched by living might. -But what owe I to his commands above, -Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down -Into this gloom of Tartarus profound, -To sit in hateful office here confined, -Inhabitant of Heaven and heavenly born-- -Here in perpetual agony and pain, -With terrors and with clamours compassed round -Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed? -Thou art my father, thou my author, thou -My being gav'st me; whom should I obey -But thee? whom follow? Thou wilt bring me soon -To that new world of light and bliss, among -The gods who live at ease, where I shall reign -At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems -Thy daughter and thy darling, without end." - Thus saying, from her side the fatal key, -Sad instrument of all our woe, she took; -And, towards the gate rolling her bestial train, -Forthwith the huge portcullis high up-drew, -Which, but herself, not all the Stygian Powers -Could once have moved; then in the key-hole turns -Th' intricate wards, and every bolt and bar -Of massy iron or solid rock with ease -Unfastens. On a sudden open fly, -With impetuous recoil and jarring sound, -Th' infernal doors, and on their hinges grate -Harsh thunder, that the lowest bottom shook -Of Erebus. She opened; but to shut -Excelled her power: the gates wide open stood, -That with extended wings a bannered host, -Under spread ensigns marching, mibht pass through -With horse and chariots ranked in loose array; -So wide they stood, and like a furnace-mouth -Cast forth redounding smoke and ruddy flame. -Before their eyes in sudden view appear -The secrets of the hoary Deep--a dark -Illimitable ocean, without bound, -Without dimension; where length, breadth, and height, -And time, and place, are lost; where eldest Night -And Chaos, ancestors of Nature, hold -Eternal anarchy, amidst the noise -Of endless wars, and by confusion stand. -For Hot, Cold, Moist, and Dry, four champions fierce, -Strive here for mastery, and to battle bring -Their embryon atoms: they around the flag -Of each his faction, in their several clans, -Light-armed or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift, or slow, -Swarm populous, unnumbered as the sands -Of Barca or Cyrene's torrid soil, -Levied to side with warring winds, and poise -Their lighter wings. To whom these most adhere -He rules a moment: Chaos umpire sits, -And by decision more embroils the fray -By which he reigns: next him, high arbiter, -Chance governs all. Into this wild Abyss, -The womb of Nature, and perhaps her grave, -Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire, -But all these in their pregnant causes mixed -Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight, -Unless th' Almighty Maker them ordain -His dark materials to create more worlds-- -Into this wild Abyss the wary Fiend -Stood on the brink of Hell and looked a while, -Pondering his voyage; for no narrow frith -He had to cross. Nor was his ear less pealed -With noises loud and ruinous (to compare -Great things with small) than when Bellona storms -With all her battering engines, bent to rase -Some capital city; or less than if this frame -Of Heaven were falling, and these elements -In mutiny had from her axle torn -The steadfast Earth. At last his sail-broad vans -He spread for flight, and, in the surging smoke -Uplifted, spurns the ground; thence many a league, -As in a cloudy chair, ascending rides -Audacious; but, that seat soon failing, meets -A vast vacuity. All unawares, -Fluttering his pennons vain, plumb-down he drops -Ten thousand fathom deep, and to this hour -Down had been falling, had not, by ill chance, -The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud, -Instinct with fire and nitre, hurried him -As many miles aloft. That fury stayed-- -Quenched in a boggy Syrtis, neither sea, -Nor good dry land--nigh foundered, on he fares, -Treading the crude consistence, half on foot, -Half flying; behoves him now both oar and sail. -As when a gryphon through the wilderness -With winged course, o'er hill or moory dale, -Pursues the Arimaspian, who by stealth -Had from his wakeful custody purloined -The guarded gold; so eagerly the Fiend -O'er bog or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare, -With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his way, -And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies. -At length a universal hubbub wild -Of stunning sounds, and voices all confused, -Borne through the hollow dark, assaults his ear -With loudest vehemence. Thither he plies -Undaunted, to meet there whatever Power -Or Spirit of the nethermost Abyss -Might in that noise reside, of whom to ask -Which way the nearest coast of darkness lies -Bordering on light; when straight behold the throne -Of Chaos, and his dark pavilion spread -Wide on the wasteful Deep! With him enthroned -Sat sable-vested Night, eldest of things, -The consort of his reign; and by them stood -Orcus and Ades, and the dreaded name -Of Demogorgon; Rumour next, and Chance, -And Tumult, and Confusion, all embroiled, -And Discord with a thousand various mouths. - T' whom Satan, turning boldly, thus:--"Ye Powers -And Spirtis of this nethermost Abyss, -Chaos and ancient Night, I come no spy -With purpose to explore or to disturb -The secrets of your realm; but, by constraint -Wandering this darksome desert, as my way -Lies through your spacious empire up to light, -Alone and without guide, half lost, I seek, -What readiest path leads where your gloomy bounds -Confine with Heaven; or, if some other place, -From your dominion won, th' Ethereal King -Possesses lately, thither to arrive -I travel this profound. Direct my course: -Directed, no mean recompense it brings -To your behoof, if I that region lost, -All usurpation thence expelled, reduce -To her original darkness and your sway -(Which is my present journey), and once more -Erect the standard there of ancient Night. -Yours be th' advantage all, mine the revenge!" - Thus Satan; and him thus the Anarch old, -With faltering speech and visage incomposed, -Answered: "I know thee, stranger, who thou art-- *** -That mighty leading Angel, who of late -Made head against Heaven's King, though overthrown. -I saw and heard; for such a numerous host -Fled not in silence through the frighted Deep, -With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, -Confusion worse confounded; and Heaven-gates -Poured out by millions her victorious bands, -Pursuing. I upon my frontiers here -Keep residence; if all I can will serve -That little which is left so to defend, -Encroached on still through our intestine broils -Weakening the sceptre of old Night: first, Hell, -Your dungeon, stretching far and wide beneath; -Now lately Heaven and Earth, another world -Hung o'er my realm, linked in a golden chain -To that side Heaven from whence your legions fell! -If that way be your walk, you have not far; -So much the nearer danger. Go, and speed; -Havoc, and spoil, and ruin, are my gain." - He ceased; and Satan stayed not to reply, -But, glad that now his sea should find a shore, -With fresh alacrity and force renewed -Springs upward, like a pyramid of fire, -Into the wild expanse, and through the shock -Of fighting elements, on all sides round -Environed, wins his way; harder beset -And more endangered than when Argo passed -Through Bosporus betwixt the justling rocks, -Or when Ulysses on the larboard shunned -Charybdis, and by th' other whirlpool steered. -So he with difficulty and labour hard -Moved on, with difficulty and labour he; -But, he once passed, soon after, when Man fell, -Strange alteration! Sin and Death amain, -Following his track (such was the will of Heaven) -Paved after him a broad and beaten way -Over the dark Abyss, whose boiling gulf -Tamely endured a bridge of wondrous length, -From Hell continued, reaching th' utmost orb -Of this frail World; by which the Spirits perverse -With easy intercourse pass to and fro -To tempt or punish mortals, except whom -God and good Angels guard by special grace. - But now at last the sacred influence -Of light appears, and from the walls of Heaven -Shoots far into the bosom of dim Night -A glimmering dawn. Here Nature first begins -Her farthest verge, and Chaos to retire, -As from her outmost works, a broken foe, -With tumult less and with less hostile din; -That Satan with less toil, and now with ease, -Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light, -And, like a weather-beaten vessel, holds -Gladly the port, though shrouds and tackle torn; -Or in the emptier waste, resembling air, -Weighs his spread wings, at leisure to behold -Far off th' empyreal Heaven, extended wide -In circuit, undetermined square or round, -With opal towers and battlements adorned -Of living sapphire, once his native seat; -And, fast by, hanging in a golden chain, -This pendent World, in bigness as a star -Of smallest magnitude close by the moon. -Thither, full fraught with mischievous revenge, -Accursed, and in a cursed hour, he hies. - - - -Book III - - -Hail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven firstborn, -Or of the Eternal coeternal beam -May I express thee unblam'd? since God is light, -And never but in unapproached light -Dwelt from eternity, dwelt then in thee -Bright effluence of bright essence increate. -Or hear"st thou rather pure ethereal stream, -Whose fountain who shall tell? before the sun, -Before the Heavens thou wert, and at the voice -Of God, as with a mantle, didst invest *** -The rising world of waters dark and deep, -Won from the void and formless infinite. -Thee I re-visit now with bolder wing, -Escap'd the Stygian pool, though long detain'd -In that obscure sojourn, while in my flight -Through utter and through middle darkness borne, -With other notes than to the Orphean lyre -I sung of Chaos and eternal Night; -Taught by the heavenly Muse to venture down -The dark descent, and up to re-ascend, -Though hard and rare: Thee I revisit safe, -And feel thy sovran vital lamp; but thou -Revisit'st not these eyes, that roll in vain -To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn; -So thick a drop serene hath quench'd their orbs, -Or dim suffusion veil'd. Yet not the more -Cease I to wander, where the Muses haunt, -Clear spring, or shady grove, or sunny hill, -Smit with the love of sacred song; but chief -Thee, Sion, and the flowery brooks beneath, -That wash thy hallow'd feet, and warbling flow, -Nightly I visit: nor sometimes forget -So were I equall'd with them in renown, -Thy sovran command, that Man should find grace; -Blind Thamyris, and blind Maeonides, -And Tiresias, and Phineus, prophets old: -Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary move -Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful bird -Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid -Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year -Seasons return; but not to me returns -Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn, -Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer's rose, -Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine; -But cloud instead, and ever-during dark -Surrounds me, from the cheerful ways of men -Cut off, and for the book of knowledge fair -Presented with a universal blank -Of nature's works to me expung'd and ras'd, -And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out. -So much the rather thou, celestial Light, -Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers -Irradiate; there plant eyes, all mist from thence -Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell -Of things invisible to mortal sight. -Now had the Almighty Father from above, -From the pure empyrean where he sits -High thron'd above all highth, bent down his eye -His own works and their works at once to view: -About him all the Sanctities of Heaven -Stood thick as stars, and from his sight receiv'd -Beatitude past utterance; on his right -The radiant image of his glory sat, -His only son; on earth he first beheld -Our two first parents, yet the only two -Of mankind in the happy garden plac'd -Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love, -Uninterrupted joy, unrivall'd love, -In blissful solitude; he then survey'd -Hell and the gulf between, and Satan there -Coasting the wall of Heaven on this side Night -In the dun air sublime, and ready now -To stoop with wearied wings, and willing feet, -On the bare outside of this world, that seem'd -Firm land imbosom'd, without firmament, -Uncertain which, in ocean or in air. -Him God beholding from his prospect high, -Wherein past, present, future, he beholds, -Thus to his only Son foreseeing spake. -Only begotten Son, seest thou what rage -Transports our Adversary? whom no bounds -Prescrib'd no bars of Hell, nor all the chains -Heap'd on him there, nor yet the main abyss -Wide interrupt, can hold; so bent he seems -On desperate revenge, that shall redound -Upon his own rebellious head. And now, -Through all restraint broke loose, he wings his way -Not far off Heaven, in the precincts of light, -Directly towards the new created world, -And man there plac'd, with purpose to assay -If him by force he can destroy, or, worse, -By some false guile pervert; and shall pervert; -For man will hearken to his glozing lies, -And easily transgress the sole command, -Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fall -He and his faithless progeny: Whose fault? -Whose but his own? ingrate, he had of me -All he could have; I made him just and right, -Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. -Such I created all the ethereal Powers -And Spirits, both them who stood, and them who fail'd; -Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. -Not free, what proof could they have given sincere -Of true allegiance, constant faith or love, -Where only what they needs must do appear'd, -Not what they would? what praise could they receive? -What pleasure I from such obedience paid, -When will and reason (reason also is choice) -Useless and vain, of freedom both despoil'd, -Made passive both, had serv'd necessity, -Not me? they therefore, as to right belong$ 'd, -So were created, nor can justly accuse -Their Maker, or their making, or their fate, -As if predestination over-rul'd -Their will dispos'd by absolute decree -Or high foreknowledge they themselves decreed -Their own revolt, not I; if I foreknew, -Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault, -Which had no less proved certain unforeknown. -So without least impulse or shadow of fate, -Or aught by me immutably foreseen, -They trespass, authors to themselves in all -Both what they judge, and what they choose; for so -I form'd them free: and free they must remain, -Till they enthrall themselves; I else must change -Their nature, and revoke the high decree -Unchangeable, eternal, which ordain'd -$THeir freedom: they themselves ordain'd their fall. -The first sort by their own suggestion fell, -Self-tempted, self-deprav'd: Man falls, deceiv'd -By the other first: Man therefore shall find grace, -The other none: In mercy and justice both, -Through Heaven and Earth, so shall my glory excel; -But Mercy, first and last, shall brightest shine. -Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill'd -All Heaven, and in the blessed Spirits elect -Sense of new joy ineffable diffus'd. -Beyond compare the Son of God was seen -Most glorious; in him all his Father shone -Substantially express'd; and in his face -Divine compassion visibly appear'd, -Love without end, and without measure grace, -Which uttering, thus he to his Father spake. -O Father, gracious was that word which clos'd -Thy sovran command, that Man should find grace; -, that Man should find grace; -For which both Heaven and earth shall high extol -Thy praises, with the innumerable sound -Of hymns and sacred songs, wherewith thy throne -Encompass'd shall resound thee ever blest. -For should Man finally be lost, should Man, -Thy creature late so lov'd, thy youngest son, -Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though join'd -With his own folly? that be from thee far, -That far be from thee, Father, who art judge -Of all things made, and judgest only right. -Or shall the Adversary thus obtain -His end, and frustrate thine? shall he fulfill -His malice, and thy goodness bring to nought, -Or proud return, though to his heavier doom, -Yet with revenge accomplish'd, and to Hell -Draw after him the whole race of mankind, -By him corrupted? or wilt thou thyself -Abolish thy creation, and unmake -For him, what for thy glory thou hast made? -So should thy goodness and thy greatness both -Be question'd and blasphem'd without defence. -To whom the great Creator thus replied. -O son, in whom my soul hath chief delight, -Son of my bosom, Son who art alone. -My word, my wisdom, and effectual might, -All hast thou spoken as my thoughts are, all -As my eternal purpose hath decreed; -Man shall not quite be lost, but sav'd who will; -Yet not of will in him, but grace in me -Freely vouchsaf'd; once more I will renew -His lapsed powers, though forfeit; and enthrall'd -By sin to foul exorbitant desires; -Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand -On even ground against his mortal foe; -By me upheld, that he may know how frail -His fallen condition is, and to me owe -All his deliverance, and to none but me. -Some I have chosen of peculiar grace, -Elect above the rest; so is my will: -The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warn'd -Their sinful state, and to appease betimes -The incensed Deity, while offer'd grace -Invites; for I will clear their senses dark, -What may suffice, and soften stony hearts -To pray, repent, and bring obedience due. -To prayer, repentance, and obedience due, -Though but endeavour'd with sincere intent, -Mine ear shall not be slow, mine eye not shut. -And I will place within them as a guide, -My umpire Conscience; whom if they will hear, -Light after light, well us'd, they shall attain, -And to the end, persisting, safe arrive. -This my long sufferance, and my day of grace, -They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste; -But hard be harden'd, blind be blinded more, -That they may stumble on, and deeper fall; -And none but such from mercy I exclude. -But yet all is not done; Man disobeying, -Disloyal, breaks his fealty, and sins -Against the high supremacy of Heaven, -Affecting God-head, and, so losing all, -To expiate his treason hath nought left, -But to destruction sacred and devote, -He, with his whole posterity, must die, -Die he or justice must; unless for him -Some other able, and as willing, pay -The rigid satisfaction, death for death. -Say, heavenly Powers, where shall we find such love? -Which of you will be mortal, to redeem -Man's mortal crime, and just the unjust to save? -Dwells in all Heaven charity so dear? -And silence was in Heaven: $ on Man's behalf -He ask'd, but all the heavenly quire stood mute, -Patron or intercessour none appear'd, -Much less that durst upon his own head draw -The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set. -And now without redemption all mankind -Must have been lost, adjudg'd to Death and Hell -By doom severe, had not the Son of God, -In whom the fulness dwells of love divine, -His dearest mediation thus renew'd. -Father, thy word is past, Man shall find grace; -And shall grace not find means, that finds her way, -The speediest of thy winged messengers, -To visit all thy creatures, and to all -Comes unprevented, unimplor'd, unsought? -Happy for Man, so coming; he her aid -Can never seek, once dead in sins, and lost; -Atonement for himself, or offering meet, -Indebted and undone, hath none to bring; -Behold me then: me for him, life for life -I offer: on me let thine anger fall; -Account me Man; I for his sake will leave - Thy bosom, and this glory next to thee - Freely put off, and for him lastly die - Well pleased; on me let Death wreak all his rage. - Under his gloomy power I shall not long - Lie vanquished. Thou hast given me to possess - Life in myself for ever; by thee I live; - Though now to Death I yield, and am his due, - All that of me can die, yet, that debt paid, - $ thou wilt not leave me in the loathsome grave - His prey, nor suffer my unspotted soul - For ever with corruption there to dwell; - But I shall rise victorious, and subdue - My vanquisher, spoiled of his vaunted spoil. - Death his death's wound shall then receive, and stoop - Inglorious, of his mortal sting disarmed; - I through the ample air in triumph high - Shall lead Hell captive maugre Hell, and show -The powers of darkness bound. Thou, at the sight - Pleased, out of Heaven shalt look down and smile, - While, by thee raised, I ruin all my foes; - Death last, and with his carcase glut the grave; - Then, with the multitude of my redeemed, - Shall enter Heaven, long absent, and return, - Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloud - Of anger shall remain, but peace assured - And reconcilement: wrath shall be no more - Thenceforth, but in thy presence joy entire. - His words here ended; but his meek aspect - Silent yet spake, and breathed immortal love - To mortal men, above which only shone - Filial obedience: as a sacrifice - Glad to be offered, he attends the will - Of his great Father. Admiration seized - All Heaven, what this might mean, and whither tend, - Wondering; but soon th' Almighty thus replied. - O thou in Heaven and Earth the only peace - Found out for mankind under wrath, O thou - My sole complacence! Well thou know'st how dear - To me are all my works; nor Man the least, - Though last created, that for him I spare - Thee from my bosom and right hand, to save, - By losing thee a while, the whole race lost. - - 00021053 - Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem, - Their nature also to thy nature join; - And be thyself Man among men on Earth, - Made flesh, when time shall be, of virgin seed, - By wondrous birth; be thou in Adam's room -The head of all mankind, though Adam's son. -As in him perish all men, so in thee, -As from a second root, shall be restored -As many as are restored, without thee none. -His crime makes guilty all his sons; thy merit, -Imputed, shall absolve them who renounce -Their own both righteous and unrighteous deeds, -And live in thee transplanted, and from thee -Receive new life. So Man, as is most just, -Shall satisfy for Man, be judged and die, -And dying rise, and rising with him raise -His brethren, ransomed with his own dear life. -So heavenly love shall outdo hellish hate, -Giving to death, and dying to redeem, -So dearly to redeem what hellish hate -So easily destroyed, and still destroys -In those who, when they may, accept not grace. -Nor shalt thou, by descending to assume -Man's nature, lessen or degrade thine own. -Because thou hast, though throned in highest bliss -Equal to God, and equally enjoying -God-like fruition, quitted all, to save -A world from utter loss, and hast been found -By merit more than birthright Son of God, -Found worthiest to be so by being good, -Far more than great or high; because in thee -Love hath abounded more than glory abounds; -Therefore thy humiliation shall exalt -With thee thy manhood also to this throne: -Here shalt thou sit incarnate, here shalt reign -Both God and Man, Son both of God and Man, -Anointed universal King; all power -I give thee; reign for ever, and assume -Thy merits; under thee, as head supreme, -Thrones, Princedoms, Powers, Dominions, I reduce: -All knees to thee shall bow, of them that bide -In Heaven, or Earth, or under Earth in Hell. -When thou, attended gloriously from Heaven, -Shalt in the sky appear, and from thee send -The summoning Arch-Angels to proclaim -Thy dread tribunal; forthwith from all winds, -The living, and forthwith the cited dead -Of all past ages, to the general doom -Shall hasten; such a peal shall rouse their sleep. -Then, all thy saints assembled, thou shalt judge -Bad Men and Angels; they, arraigned, shall sink -Beneath thy sentence; Hell, her numbers full, -Thenceforth shall be for ever shut. Mean while -The world shall burn, and from her ashes spring -New Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell, -And, after all their tribulations long, -See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds, -With joy and peace triumphing, and fair truth. -Then thou thy regal scepter shalt lay by, -For regal scepter then no more shall need, -God shall be all in all. But, all ye Gods, -Adore him, who to compass all this dies; -Adore the Son, and honour him as me. -No sooner had the Almighty ceased, but all -The multitude of Angels, with a shout -Loud as from numbers without number, sweet -As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heaven rung -With jubilee, and loud Hosannas filled -The eternal regions: Lowly reverent -Towards either throne they bow, and to the ground -With solemn adoration down they cast -Their crowns inwove with amarant and gold; -Immortal amarant, a flower which once -In Paradise, fast by the tree of life, -Began to bloom; but soon for man's offence -To Heaven removed, where first it grew, there grows, -And flowers aloft shading the fount of life, -And where the river of bliss through midst of Heaven -Rolls o'er Elysian flowers her amber stream; -With these that never fade the Spirits elect -Bind their resplendent locks inwreathed with beams; -Now in loose garlands thick thrown off, the bright -Pavement, that like a sea of jasper shone, -Impurpled with celestial roses smiled. -Then, crowned again, their golden harps they took, -Harps ever tuned, that glittering by their side -Like quivers hung, and with preamble sweet -Of charming symphony they introduce -Their sacred song, and waken raptures high; -No voice exempt, no voice but well could join -Melodious part, such concord is in Heaven. -Thee, Father, first they sung Omnipotent, -Immutable, Immortal, Infinite, -Eternal King; the Author of all being, -Fonntain of light, thyself invisible -Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sit'st -Throned inaccessible, but when thou shadest -The full blaze of thy beams, and, through a cloud -Drawn round about thee like a radiant shrine, -Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appear, -Yet dazzle Heaven, that brightest Seraphim -Approach not, but with both wings veil their eyes. -Thee next they sang of all creation first, -Begotten Son, Divine Similitude, -In whose conspicuous countenance, without cloud -Made visible, the Almighty Father shines, -Whom else no creature can behold; on thee -Impressed the effulgence of his glory abides, -Transfused on thee his ample Spirit rests. -He Heaven of Heavens and all the Powers therein -By thee created; and by thee threw down -The aspiring Dominations: Thou that day -Thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare, -Nor stop thy flaming chariot-wheels, that shook -Heaven's everlasting frame, while o'er the necks -Thou drovest of warring Angels disarrayed. -Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaim -Thee only extolled, Son of thy Father's might, -To execute fierce vengeance on his foes, -Not so on Man: Him through their malice fallen, -Father of mercy and grace, thou didst not doom -So strictly, but much more to pity incline: -No sooner did thy dear and only Son -Perceive thee purposed not to doom frail Man -So strictly, but much more to pity inclined, -He to appease thy wrath, and end the strife -Of mercy and justice in thy face discerned, -Regardless of the bliss wherein he sat -Second to thee, offered himself to die -For Man's offence. O unexampled love, -Love no where to be found less than Divine! -Hail, Son of God, Saviour of Men! Thy name -Shall be the copious matter of my song -Henceforth, and never shall my heart thy praise -Forget, nor from thy Father's praise disjoin. -Thus they in Heaven, above the starry sphere, -Their happy hours in joy and hymning spent. -Mean while upon the firm opacous globe -Of this round world, whose first convex divides -The luminous inferiour orbs, enclosed -From Chaos, and the inroad of Darkness old, -Satan alighted walks: A globe far off -It seemed, now seems a boundless continent -Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Night -Starless exposed, and ever-threatening storms -Of Chaos blustering round, inclement sky; -Save on that side which from the wall of Heaven, -Though distant far, some small reflection gains -Of glimmering air less vexed with tempest loud: -Here walked the Fiend at large in spacious field. -As when a vultur on Imaus bred, -Whose snowy ridge the roving Tartar bounds, -Dislodging from a region scarce of prey -To gorge the flesh of lambs or yeanling kids, -On hills where flocks are fed, flies toward the springs -Of Ganges or Hydaspes, Indian streams; -But in his way lights on the barren plains -Of Sericana, where Chineses drive -With sails and wind their cany waggons light: -So, on this windy sea of land, the Fiend -Walked up and down alone, bent on his prey; -Alone, for other creature in this place, -Living or lifeless, to be found was none; -None yet, but store hereafter from the earth -Up hither like aereal vapours flew -Of all things transitory and vain, when sin -With vanity had filled the works of men: -Both all things vain, and all who in vain things -Built their fond hopes of glory or lasting fame, -Or happiness in this or the other life; -All who have their reward on earth, the fruits -Of painful superstition and blind zeal, -Nought seeking but the praise of men, here find -Fit retribution, empty as their deeds; -All the unaccomplished works of Nature's hand, -Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixed, -Dissolved on earth, fleet hither, and in vain, -Till final dissolution, wander here; -Not in the neighbouring moon as some have dreamed; -Those argent fields more likely habitants, -Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold -Betwixt the angelical and human kind. -Hither of ill-joined sons and daughters born -First from the ancient world those giants came -With many a vain exploit, though then renowned: -The builders next of Babel on the plain -Of Sennaar, and still with vain design, -New Babels, had they wherewithal, would build: -Others came single; he, who, to be deemed -A God, leaped fondly into Aetna flames, -Empedocles; and he, who, to enjoy -Plato's Elysium, leaped into the sea, -Cleombrotus; and many more too long, -Embryos, and idiots, eremites, and friars -White, black, and gray, with all their trumpery. -Here pilgrims roam, that strayed so far to seek -In Golgotha him dead, who lives in Heaven; -And they, who to be sure of Paradise, -Dying, put on the weeds of Dominick, -Or in Franciscan think to pass disguised; -They pass the planets seven, and pass the fixed, -And that crystalling sphere whose balance weighs -The trepidation talked, and that first moved; -And now Saint Peter at Heaven's wicket seems -To wait them with his keys, and now at foot -Of Heaven's ascent they lift their feet, when lo -A violent cross wind from either coast -Blows them transverse, ten thousand leagues awry -Into the devious air: Then might ye see -Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, tost -And fluttered into rags; then reliques, beads, -Indulgences, dispenses, pardons, bulls, -The sport of winds: All these, upwhirled aloft, -Fly o'er the backside of the world far off -Into a Limbo large and broad, since called -The Paradise of Fools, to few unknown -Long after; now unpeopled, and untrod. -All this dark globe the Fiend found as he passed, -And long he wandered, till at last a gleam -Of dawning light turned thither-ward in haste -His travelled 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, appeared -The work as of a kingly palace-gate, -With frontispiece of diamond and gold -Embellished; thick with sparkling orient gems -The portal shone, inimitable on earth -By model, or by shading pencil, drawn. -These stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw -Angels ascending and descending, bands -Of guardians bright, when he from Esau fled -To Padan-Aram, in the field of Luz -Dreaming by night under the open sky -And waking cried, This is the gate of Heaven. -Each stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood -There always, but drawn up to Heaven sometimes -Viewless; and underneath a bright sea flowed -Of jasper, or of liquid pearl, whereon -Who after came from earth, failing arrived -Wafted by Angels, or flew o'er the lake -Rapt in a chariot drawn by fiery steeds. -The stairs were then let down, whether to dare -The Fiend by easy ascent, or aggravate -His sad exclusion from the doors of bliss: -Direct against which opened from beneath, -Just o'er the blissful seat of Paradise, -A passage down to the Earth, a passage wide, -Wider by far than that of after-times -Over mount Sion, and, though that were large, -Over the Promised Land to God so dear; -By which, to visit oft those happy tribes, -On high behests his angels to and fro -Passed frequent, and his eye with choice regard -From Paneas, the fount of Jordan's flood, -To Beersaba, where the Holy Land -Borders on Egypt and the Arabian shore; -So wide the opening seemed, where bounds were set -To darkness, such as bound the ocean wave. -Satan from hence, now on the lower stair, -That scaled by steps of gold to Heaven-gate, -Looks down with wonder at the sudden view -Of all this world at once. As when a scout, -Through dark?;nd desart ways with?oeril gone -All?might,?;t?kast by break of cheerful dawn -Obtains the brow of some high-climbing hill, -Which to his eye discovers unaware -The goodly prospect of some foreign land -First seen, or some renowned metropolis -With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned, -Which now the rising sun gilds with his beams: -Such wonder seised, though after Heaven seen, -The Spirit malign, but much more envy seised, -At sight of all this world beheld so fair. -Round he surveys (and well might, where he stood -So high above the circling canopy -Of night's extended shade,) from eastern point -Of Libra to the fleecy star that bears -Andromeda far off Atlantick seas -Beyond the horizon; then from pole to pole -He views in breadth, and without longer pause -Down right into the world's first region throws -His flight precipitant, and winds with ease -Through the pure marble air his oblique way -Amongst innumerable stars, that shone -Stars distant, but nigh hand seemed other worlds; -Or other worlds they seemed, or happy isles, -Like those Hesperian gardens famed of old, -Fortunate fields, and groves, and flowery vales, -Thrice happy isles; but who dwelt happy there -He staid not to inquire: Above them all -The golden sun, in splendour likest Heaven, -Allured his eye; thither his course he bends -Through the calm firmament, (but up or down, -By center, or eccentrick, hard to tell, -Or longitude,) where the great luminary -Aloof the vulgar constellations thick, -That from his lordly eye keep distance due, -Dispenses light from far; they, as they move -Their starry dance in numbers that compute -Days, months, and years, towards his all-cheering lamp -Turn swift their various motions, or are turned -By his magnetick beam, that gently warms -The universe, and to each inward part -With gentle penetration, though unseen, -Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep; -So wonderously was set his station bright. -There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps -Astronomer in the sun's lucent orb -Through his glazed optick tube yet never saw. -The place he found beyond expression bright, -Compared with aught on earth, metal or stone; -Not all parts like, but all alike informed -With radiant light, as glowing iron with fire; -If metal, part seemed gold, part silver clear; -If stone, carbuncle most or chrysolite, -Ruby or topaz, to the twelve that shone -In Aaron's breast-plate, and a stone besides -Imagined rather oft than elsewhere seen, -That stone, or like to that which here below -Philosophers in vain so long have sought, -In vain, though by their powerful art they bind -Volatile Hermes, and call up unbound -In various shapes old Proteus from the sea, -Drained through a limbeck to his native form. -What wonder then if fields and regions here -Breathe forth Elixir pure, and rivers run -Potable gold, when with one virtuous touch -The arch-chemick sun, so far from us remote, -Produces, with terrestrial humour mixed, -Here in the dark so many precious things -Of colour glorious, and effect so rare? -Here matter new to gaze the Devil met -Undazzled; far and wide his eye commands; -For sight no obstacle found here, nor shade, -But all sun-shine, as when his beams at noon -Culminate from the equator, as they now -Shot upward still direct, whence no way round -Shadow from body opaque can fall; and the air, -No where so clear, sharpened his visual ray -To objects distant far, whereby he soon -Saw within ken a glorious Angel stand, -The same whom John saw also in the sun: -His back was turned, but not his brightness hid; -Of beaming sunny rays a golden tiar -Circled his head, nor less his locks behind -Illustrious on his shoulders fledge with wings -Lay waving round; on some great charge employed -He seemed, or fixed in cogitation deep. -Glad was the Spirit impure, as now in hope -To find who might direct his wandering flight -To Paradise, the happy seat of Man, -His journey's end and our beginning woe. -But first he casts to change his proper shape, -Which else might work him danger or delay: -And now a stripling Cherub he appears, -Not of the prime, yet such as in his face -Youth smiled celestial, and to every limb -Suitable grace diffused, so well he feigned: -Under a coronet his flowing hair -In curls on either cheek played; wings he wore -Of many a coloured plume, sprinkled with gold; -His habit fit for speed succinct, and held -Before his decent steps a silver wand. -He drew not nigh unheard; the Angel bright, -Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turned, -Admonished by his ear, and straight was known -The Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the seven -Who in God's presence, nearest to his throne, -Stand ready at command, and are his eyes -That run through all the Heavens, or down to the Earth -Bear his swift errands over moist and dry, -O'er sea and land: him Satan thus accosts. -Uriel, for thou of those seven Spirits that stand -In sight of God's high throne, gloriously bright, -The first art wont his great authentick will -Interpreter through highest Heaven to bring, -Where all his sons thy embassy attend; -And here art likeliest by supreme decree -Like honour to obtain, and as his eye -To visit oft this new creation round; -Unspeakable desire to see, and know -All these his wonderous works, but chiefly Man, -His chief delight and favour, him for whom -All these his works so wonderous he ordained, -Hath brought me from the quires of Cherubim -Alone thus wandering. Brightest Seraph, tell -In which of all these shining orbs hath Man -His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none, -But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell; -That I may find him, and with secret gaze -Or open admiration him behold, -On whom the great Creator hath bestowed -Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces poured; -That both in him and all things, as is meet, -The universal Maker we may praise; -Who justly hath driven out his rebel foes -To deepest Hell, and, to repair that loss, -Created this new happy race of Men -To serve him better: Wise are all his ways. -So spake the false dissembler unperceived; -For neither Man nor Angel can discern -Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks -Invisible, except to God alone, -By his permissive will, through Heaven and Earth: -And oft, though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps -At wisdom's gate, and to simplicity -Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill -Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguiled -Uriel, though regent of the sun, and held -The sharpest-sighted Spirit of all in Heaven; -Who to the fraudulent impostor foul, -In his uprightness, answer thus returned. -Fair Angel, thy desire, which tends to know -The works of God, thereby to glorify -The great Work-master, leads to no excess -That reaches blame, but rather merits praise -The more it seems excess, that led thee hither -From thy empyreal mansion thus alone, -To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps, -Contented with report, hear only in Heaven: -For wonderful indeed are all his works, -Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all -Had in remembrance always with delight; -But what created mind can comprehend -Their number, or the wisdom infinite -That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? -I saw when at his word the formless mass, -This world's material mould, came to a heap: -Confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar -Stood ruled, stood vast infinitude confined; -Till at his second bidding Darkness fled, -Light shone, and order from disorder sprung: -Swift to their several quarters hasted then -The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire; -And this ethereal quintessence of Heaven -Flew upward, spirited with various forms, -That rolled orbicular, and turned to stars -Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move; -Each had his place appointed, each his course; -The rest in circuit walls this universe. -Look downward on that globe, whose hither side -With light from hence, though but reflected, shines; -That place is Earth, the seat of Man; that light -His day, which else, as the other hemisphere, -Night would invade; but there the neighbouring moon -So call that opposite fair star) her aid -Timely interposes, and her monthly round -Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heaven, -With borrowed light her countenance triform -Hence fills and empties to enlighten the Earth, -And in her pale dominion checks the night. -That spot, to which I point, is Paradise, -Adam's abode; those lofty shades, his bower. -Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires. -Thus said, he turned; and Satan, bowing low, -As to superiour Spirits is wont in Heaven, -Where honour due and reverence none neglects, -Took leave, and toward the coast of earth beneath, -Down from the ecliptick, sped with hoped success, -Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel; -Nor staid, till on Niphates' top he lights. - - - -Book IV - - -O, for that warning voice, which he, who saw -The Apocalypse, heard cry in Heaven aloud, -Then when the Dragon, put to second rout, -Came furious down to be revenged on men, -Woe to the inhabitants on earth! that now, -While time was, our first parents had been warned -The coming of their secret foe, and 'scaped, -Haply so 'scaped his mortal snare: For now -Satan, now first inflamed with rage, came down, -The tempter ere the accuser of mankind, -To wreak on innocent frail Man his loss -Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell: -Yet, not rejoicing in his speed, though bold -Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast, -Begins his dire attempt; which nigh the birth -Now rolling boils in his tumultuous breast, -And like a devilish engine back recoils -Upon himself; horrour and doubt distract -His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir -The Hell within him; for within him Hell -He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell -One step, no more than from himself, can fly -By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair, -That slumbered; wakes the bitter memory -Of what he was, what is, and what must be -Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue. -Sometimes towards Eden, which now in his view -Lay pleasant, his grieved look he fixes sad; -Sometimes towards Heaven, and the full-blazing sun, -Which now sat high in his meridian tower: -Then, much revolving, thus in sighs began. -O thou, that, with surpassing glory crowned, -Lookest from thy sole dominion like the God -Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars -Hide their diminished heads; to thee I call, -But with no friendly voice, and add thy name, -Of Sun! to tell thee how I hate thy beams, -That bring to my remembrance from what state -I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere; -Till pride and worse ambition threw me down -Warring in Heaven against Heaven's matchless King: -Ah, wherefore! he deserved no such return -From me, whom he created what I was -In that bright eminence, and with his good -Upbraided none; nor was his service hard. -What could be less than to afford him praise, -The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks, -How due! yet all his good proved ill in me, -And wrought but malice; lifted up so high -I sdeined subjection, and thought one step higher -Would set me highest, and in a moment quit -The debt immense of endless gratitude, -So burdensome still paying, still to owe, -Forgetful what from him I still received, -And understood not that a grateful mind -By owing owes not, but still pays, at once -Indebted and discharged; what burden then -O, had his powerful destiny ordained -Me some inferiour Angel, I had stood -Then happy; no unbounded hope had raised -Ambition! Yet why not some other Power -As great might have aspired, and me, though mean, -Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great -Fell not, but stand unshaken, from within -Or from without, to all temptations armed. -Hadst thou the same free will and power to stand? -Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse, -But Heaven's free love dealt equally to all? -Be then his love accursed, since love or hate, -To me alike, it deals eternal woe. -Nay, cursed be thou; since against his thy will -Chose freely what it now so justly rues. -Me miserable! which way shall I fly -Infinite wrath, and infinite despair? -Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell; -And, in the lowest deep, a lower deep -Still threatening to devour me opens wide, -To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven. -O, then, at last relent: Is there no place -Left for repentance, none for pardon left? -None left but by submission; and that word -Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame -Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduced -With other promises and other vaunts -Than to submit, boasting I could subdue -The Omnipotent. Ay me! they little know -How dearly I abide that boast so vain, -Under what torments inwardly I groan, -While they adore me on the throne of Hell. -With diadem and scepter high advanced, -The lower still I fall, only supreme -In misery: Such joy ambition finds. -But say I could repent, and could obtain, -By act of grace, my former state; how soon -Would highth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay -What feigned submission swore? Ease would recant -Vows made in pain, as violent and void. -For never can true reconcilement grow, -Where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep: -Which would but lead me to a worse relapse -And heavier fall: so should I purchase dear -Short intermission bought with double smart. -This knows my Punisher; therefore as far -From granting he, as I from begging, peace; -All hope excluded thus, behold, in stead -Mankind created, and for him this world. -So farewell, hope; and with hope farewell, fear; -Farewell, remorse! all good to me is lost; -Evil, be thou my good; by thee at least -Divided empire with Heaven's King I hold, -By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign; -As Man ere long, and this new world, shall know. -Thus while he spake, each passion dimmed his face -Thrice changed with pale, ire, envy, and despair; -Which marred his borrowed visage, and betrayed -Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld. -For heavenly minds from such distempers foul -Are ever clear. Whereof he soon aware, -Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm, -Artificer of fraud; and was the first -That practised falsehood under saintly show, -Deep malice to conceal, couched with revenge: -Yet not enough had practised to deceive -Uriel once warned; whose eye pursued him down - The way he went, and on the Assyrian mount - Saw him disfigured, more than could befall - Spirit of happy sort; his gestures fierce - He marked and mad demeanour, then alone, - As he supposed, all unobserved, unseen. - So on he fares, and to the border comes - Of Eden, where delicious Paradise, - Now nearer, crowns with her enclosure green, - As with a rural mound, the champaign head - Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides -Access denied; and overhead upgrew - Insuperable height of loftiest shade, - Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm, - A sylvan scene, and, as the ranks ascend, - Shade above shade, a woody theatre - Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops - The verdurous wall of Paradise upsprung; - - 00081429 -Which to our general sire gave prospect large -Into his nether empire neighbouring round. -And higher than that wall a circling row -Of goodliest trees, loaden with fairest fruit, -Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue, -Appeared, with gay enamelled colours mixed: -On which the sun more glad impressed his beams -Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow, -When God hath showered the earth; so lovely seemed -That landskip: And of pure now purer air -Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires -Vernal delight and joy, able to drive -All sadness but despair: Now gentle gales, -Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense -Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole -Those balmy spoils. As when to them who fail -Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past -Mozambick, off at sea north-east winds blow -Sabean odours from the spicy shore -Of Araby the blest; with such delay -Well pleased they slack their course, and many a league -Cheered with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles: -So entertained those odorous sweets the Fiend, -Who came their bane; though with them better pleased -Than Asmodeus with the fishy fume -That drove him, though enamoured, from the spouse -Of Tobit's son, and with a vengeance sent -From Media post to Egypt, there fast bound. -Now to the ascent of that steep savage hill -Satan had journeyed on, pensive and slow; -But further way found none, so thick entwined, -As one continued brake, the undergrowth -Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed -All path of man or beast that passed that way. -One gate there only was, and that looked east -On the other side: which when the arch-felon saw, -Due entrance he disdained; and, in contempt, -At one flight bound high over-leaped all bound -Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within -Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf, -Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey, -Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve -In hurdled cotes amid the field secure, -Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold: -Or as a thief, bent to unhoard the cash -Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors, -Cross-barred and bolted fast, fear no assault, -In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles: -So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold; -So since into his church lewd hirelings climb. -Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life, -The middle tree and highest there that grew, -Sat like a cormorant; yet not true life -Thereby regained, but sat devising death -To them who lived; nor on the virtue thought -Of that life-giving plant, but only used -For prospect, what well used had been the pledge -Of immortality. So little knows -Any, but God alone, to value right -The good before him, but perverts best things -To worst abuse, or to their meanest use. -Beneath him with new wonder now he views, -To all delight of human sense exposed, -In narrow room, Nature's whole wealth, yea more, -A Heaven on Earth: For blissful Paradise -Of God the garden was, by him in the east -Of Eden planted; Eden stretched her line -From Auran eastward to the royal towers -Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings, -Of where the sons of Eden long before -Dwelt in Telassar: In this pleasant soil -His far more pleasant garden God ordained; -Out of the fertile ground he caused to grow -All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste; -And all amid them stood the tree of life, -High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit -Of vegetable gold; and next to life, -Our death, the tree of knowledge, grew fast by, -Knowledge of good bought dear by knowing ill. -Southward through Eden went a river large, -Nor changed his course, but through the shaggy hill -Passed underneath ingulfed; for God had thrown -That mountain as his garden-mould high raised -Upon the rapid current, which, through veins -Of porous earth with kindly thirst up-drawn, -Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill -Watered the garden; thence united fell -Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood, -Which from his darksome passage now appears, -And now, divided into four main streams, -Runs diverse, wandering many a famous realm -And country, whereof here needs no account; -But rather to tell how, if Art could tell, -How from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks, -Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold, -With mazy errour under pendant shades -Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed -Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice Art -In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon -Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain, -Both where the morning sun first warmly smote -The open field, and where the unpierced shade -Imbrowned the noontide bowers: Thus was this place -A happy rural seat of various view; -Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm, -Others whose fruit, burnished with golden rind, -Hung amiable, Hesperian fables true, -If true, here only, and of delicious taste: -Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks -Grazing the tender herb, were interposed, -Or palmy hillock; or the flowery lap -Of some irriguous valley spread her store, -Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose: -Another side, umbrageous grots and caves -Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine -Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps -Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall -Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake, -That to the fringed bank with myrtle crowned -Her crystal mirrour holds, unite their streams. -The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs, -Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune -The trembling leaves, while universal Pan, -Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance, -Led on the eternal Spring. Not that fair field -Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers, -Herself a fairer flower by gloomy Dis -Was gathered, which cost Ceres all that pain -To seek her through the world; nor that sweet grove -Of Daphne by Orontes, and the inspired -Castalian spring, might with this Paradise -Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian isle -Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, -Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove, -Hid Amalthea, and her florid son -Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rhea's eye; -Nor where Abassin kings their issue guard, -Mount Amara, though this by some supposed -True Paradise under the Ethiop line -By Nilus' head, enclosed with shining rock, -A whole day's journey high, but wide remote -From this Assyrian garden, where the Fiend -Saw, undelighted, all delight, all kind -Of living creatures, new to sight, and strange -Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall, -Godlike erect, with native honour clad -In naked majesty seemed lords of all: -And worthy seemed; for in their looks divine -The image of their glorious Maker shone, -Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure, -(Severe, but in true filial freedom placed,) -Whence true authority in men; though both -Not equal, as their sex not equal seemed; -For contemplation he and valour formed; -For softness she and sweet attractive grace; -He for God only, she for God in him: -His fair large front and eye sublime declared -Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks -Round from his parted forelock manly hung -Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad: -She, as a veil, down to the slender waist -Her unadorned golden tresses wore -Dishevelled, but in wanton ringlets waved -As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied -Subjection, but required with gentle sway, -And by her yielded, by him best received, -Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, -And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay. -Nor those mysterious parts were then concealed; -Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame -Of nature's works, honour dishonourable, -Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind -With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure, -And banished from man's life his happiest life, -Simplicity and spotless innocence! -So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight -Of God or Angel; for they thought no ill: -So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair, -That ever since in love's embraces met; -Adam the goodliest man of men since born -His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve. -Under a tuft of shade that on a green -Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain side -They sat them down; and, after no more toil -Of their sweet gardening labour than sufficed -To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease -More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite -More grateful, to their supper-fruits they fell, -Nectarine fruits which the compliant boughs -Yielded them, side-long as they sat recline -On the soft downy bank damasked with flowers: -The savoury pulp they chew, and in the rind, -Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming stream; -Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles -Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems -Fair couple, linked in happy nuptial league, -Alone as they. About them frisking played -All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase -In wood or wilderness, forest or den; -Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw -Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, -Gambolled before them; the unwieldy elephant, -To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed -His?kithetmroboscis; close the serpent sly, -Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine -His braided train, and of his fatal guile -Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass -Couched, and now filled with pasture gazing sat, -Or bedward ruminating; for the sun, -Declined, was hasting now with prone career -To the ocean isles, and in the ascending scale -Of Heaven the stars that usher evening rose: -When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood, -Scarce thus at length failed speech recovered sad. -O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold! -Into our room of bliss thus high advanced -Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps, -Not Spirits, yet to heavenly Spirits bright -Little inferiour; whom my thoughts pursue -With wonder, and could love, so lively shines -In them divine resemblance, and such grace -The hand that formed them on their shape hath poured. -Ah! gentle pair, ye little think how nigh -Your change approaches, when all these delights -Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe; -More woe, the more your taste is now of joy; -Happy, but for so happy ill secured -Long to continue, and this high seat your Heaven -Ill fenced for Heaven to keep out such a foe -As now is entered; yet no purposed foe -To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, -Though I unpitied: League with you I seek, -And mutual amity, so strait, so close, -That I with you must dwell, or you with me -Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please, -Like this fair Paradise, your sense; yet such -Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me, -Which I as freely give: Hell shall unfold, -To entertain you two, her widest gates, -And send forth all her kings; there will be room, -Not like these narrow limits, to receive -Your numerous offspring; if no better place, -Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge -On you who wrong me not for him who wronged. -And should I at your harmless innocence -Melt, as I do, yet publick reason just, -Honour and empire with revenge enlarged, -By conquering this new world, compels me now -To do what else, though damned, I should abhor. -So spake the Fiend, and with necessity, -The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds. -Then from his lofty stand on that high tree -Down he alights among the sportful herd -Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one, -Now other, as their shape served best his end -Nearer to view his prey, and, unespied, -To mark what of their state he more might learn, -By word or action marked. About them round -A lion now he stalks with fiery glare; -Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied -In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play, -Straight couches close, then, rising, changes oft -His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground, -Whence rushing, he might surest seize them both, -Griped in each paw: when, Adam first of men -To first of women Eve thus moving speech, -Turned him, all ear to hear new utterance flow. -Sole partner, and sole part, of all these joys, -Dearer thyself than all; needs must the Power -That made us, and for us this ample world, -Be infinitely good, and of his good -As liberal and free as infinite; -That raised us from the dust, and placed us here -In all this happiness, who at his hand -Have nothing merited, nor can perform -Aught whereof he hath need; he who requires -From us no other service than to keep -This one, this easy charge, of all the trees -In Paradise that bear delicious fruit -So various, not to taste that only tree -Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life; -So near grows death to life, whate'er death is, -Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowest -God hath pronounced it death to taste that tree, -The only sign of our obedience left, -Among so many signs of power and rule -Conferred upon us, and dominion given -Over all other creatures that possess -Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard -One easy prohibition, who enjoy -Free leave so large to all things else, and choice -Unlimited of manifold delights: -But let us ever praise him, and extol -His bounty, following our delightful task, -To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers, -Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet. -To whom thus Eve replied. O thou for whom -And from whom I was formed, flesh of thy flesh, -And without whom am to no end, my guide -And head! what thou hast said is just and right. -For we to him indeed all praises owe, -And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy -So far the happier lot, enjoying thee -Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou -Like consort to thyself canst no where find. -That day I oft remember, when from sleep -I first awaked, and found myself reposed -Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where -And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. -Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound -Of waters issued from a cave, and spread -Into a liquid plain, then stood unmoved -Pure as the expanse of Heaven; I thither went -With unexperienced thought, and laid me down -On the green bank, to look into the clear -Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky. -As I bent down to look, just opposite -A shape within the watery gleam appeared, -Bending to look on me: I started back, -It started back; but pleased I soon returned, -Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks -Of sympathy and love: There I had fixed -Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire, -Had not a voice thus warned me; 'What thou seest, -'What there thou seest, fair Creature, is thyself; -'With thee it came and goes: but follow me, -'And I will bring thee where no shadow stays -'Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he -'Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy -'Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear -'Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called -'Mother of human race.' What could I do, -But follow straight, invisibly thus led? -Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall, -Under a platane; yet methought less fair, -Less winning soft, less amiably mild, -Than that smooth watery image: Back I turned; -Thou following cryedst aloud, 'Return, fair Eve; -'Whom flyest thou? whom thou flyest, of him thou art, -'His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent -'Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart, -'Substantial life, to have thee by my side -'Henceforth an individual solace dear; -'Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim -'My other half:' With that thy gentle hand -Seised mine: I yielded;and from that time see -How beauty is excelled by manly grace, -And wisdom, which alone is truly fair. -So spake our general mother, and with eyes -Of conjugal attraction unreproved, -And meek surrender, half-embracing leaned -On our first father; half her swelling breast -Naked met his, under the flowing gold -Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight -Both of her beauty, and submissive charms, -Smiled with superiour love, as Jupiter -On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds -That shed Mayflowers; and pressed her matron lip -With kisses pure: Aside the Devil turned -For envy; yet with jealous leer malign -Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plained. -Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two, -Imparadised in one another's arms, -The happier Eden, shall enjoy their 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 unfulfilled with pain of longing pines. -Yet let me not forget what I have gained -From their own mouths: All is not theirs, it seems; -One fatal tree there stands, of knowledge called, -Forbidden them to taste: Knowledge forbidden -Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord -Envy them that? Can it be sin to know? -Can it be death? And do they only stand -By ignorance? Is that their happy state, -The proof of their obedience and their faith? -O fair foundation laid whereon to build -Their ruin! hence I will excite their minds -With more desire to know, and to reject -Envious commands, invented with design -To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt -Equal with Gods: aspiring to be such, -They taste and die: What likelier can ensue -But first with narrow search I must walk round -This garden, and no corner leave unspied; -A chance but chance may lead where I may meet -Some wandering Spirit of Heaven by fountain side, -Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw -What further would be learned. Live while ye may, -Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return, -Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed! -So saying, his proud step he scornful turned, -But with sly circumspection, and began -Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his roam -Mean while in utmost longitude, where Heaven -With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun -Slowly descended, and with right aspect -Against the eastern gate of Paradise -Levelled his evening rays: It was a rock -Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds, -Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent -Accessible from earth, one entrance high; -The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung -Still as it rose, impossible to climb. -Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat, -Chief of the angelick guards, awaiting night; -About him exercised heroick games -The unarmed youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand -Celestial armoury, shields, helms, and spears, -Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold. -Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even -On a sun-beam, swift as a shooting star -In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fired -Impress the air, and shows the mariner -From what point of his compass to beware -Impetuous winds: He thus began in haste. -Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given -Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place -No evil thing approach or enter in. -This day at highth of noon came to my sphere -A Spirit, zealous, as he seemed, to know -More of the Almighty's works, and chiefly Man, -God's latest image: I described his way -Bent all on speed, and marked his aery gait; -But in the mount that lies from Eden north, -Where he first lighted, soon discerned his looks -Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured: -Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade -Lost sight of him: One of the banished crew, -I fear, hath ventured from the deep, to raise -New troubles; him thy care must be to find. -To whom the winged warriour thus returned. -Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight, -Amid the sun's bright circle where thou sitst, -See far and wide: In at this gate none pass -The vigilance here placed, but such as come -Well known from Heaven; and since meridian hour -No creature thence: If Spirit of other sort, -So minded, have o'er-leaped these earthly bounds -On purpose, hard thou knowest it to exclude -Spiritual substance with corporeal bar. -But if within the circuit of these walks, -In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom -Thou tellest, by morrow dawning I shall know. -So promised he; and Uriel to his charge -Returned on that bright beam, whose point now raised -Bore him slope downward to the sun now fallen -Beneath the Azores; whether the prime orb, -Incredible how swift, had thither rolled -Diurnal, or this less volubil earth, -By shorter flight to the east, had left him there -Arraying with reflected purple and gold -The clouds that on his western throne attend. -Now came still Evening on, and Twilight gray -Had in her sober livery all things clad; -Silence accompanied; for beast and bird, -They to their grassy couch, these to their nests -Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale; -She all night long her amorous descant sung; -Silence was pleased: Now glowed the firmament -With living sapphires: Hesperus, that led -The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon, -Rising in clouded majesty, at length -Apparent queen unveiled her peerless light, -And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw. -When Adam thus to Eve. Fair Consort, the hour -Of night, and all things now retired to rest, -Mind us of like repose; since God hath set -Labour and rest, as day and night, to men -Successive; and the timely dew of sleep, -Now falling with soft slumbrous weight, inclines -Our eye-lids: Other creatures all day long -Rove idle, unemployed, and less need rest; -Man hath his daily work of body or mind -Appointed, which declares his dignity, -And the regard of Heaven on all his ways; -While other animals unactive range, -And of their doings God takes no account. -To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east -With first approach of light, we must be risen, -And at our pleasant labour, to reform -Yon flowery arbours, yonder alleys green, -Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown, -That mock our scant manuring, and require -More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth: -Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums, -That lie bestrown, unsightly and unsmooth, -Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease; -Mean while, as Nature wills, night bids us rest. -To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adorned -My Author and Disposer, what thou bidst -Unargued I obey: So God ordains; -God is thy law, thou mine: To know no more -Is woman's happiest knowledge, and her praise. -With thee conversing I forget all time; -All seasons, and their change, all please alike. -Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising sweet, -With charm of earliest birds: pleasant the sun, -When first on this delightful land he spreads -His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, -Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth -After soft showers; and sweet the coming on -Of grateful Evening mild; then silent Night, -With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon, -And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train: -But neither breath of Morn, when she ascends -With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun -On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower, -Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers; -Nor grateful Evening mild; nor silent Night, -With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon, -Or glittering star-light, without thee is sweet. -But wherefore all night long shine these? for whom -This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes? -To whom our general ancestor replied. -Daughter of God and Man, accomplished Eve, -These have their course to finish round the earth, -By morrow evening, and from land to land -In order, though to nations yet unborn, -Ministring light prepared, they set and rise; -Lest total Darkness should by night regain -Her old possession, and extinguish life -In Nature and all things; which these soft fires -Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat -Of various influence foment and warm, -Temper or nourish, or in part shed down -Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow -On earth, made hereby apter to receive -Perfection from the sun's more potent ray. -These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, -Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were none, -That Heaven would want spectators, God want praise: -Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth -Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep: -All these with ceaseless praise his works behold -Both day and night: How often from the steep -Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard -Celestial voices to the midnight air, -Sole, or responsive each to others note, -Singing their great Creator? oft in bands -While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, -With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds -In full harmonick number joined, their songs -Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven. -Thus talking, hand in hand alone they passed -On to their blissful bower: it was a place -Chosen by the sovran Planter, when he framed -All things to Man's delightful use; the roof -Of thickest covert was inwoven shade -Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew -Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side -Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub, -Fenced up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower, -Iris all hues, roses, and jessamin, -Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought -Mosaick; underfoot the violet, -Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay -Broidered the ground, more coloured than with stone -Of costliest emblem: Other creature here, -Bird, beast, insect, or worm, durst enter none, -Such was their awe of Man. In shadier bower -More sacred and sequestered, though but feigned, -Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor Nymph -Nor Faunus haunted. Here, in close recess, -With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs, -Espoused Eve decked first her nuptial bed; -And heavenly quires the hymenaean sung, -What day the genial Angel to our sire -Brought her in naked beauty more adorned, -More lovely, than Pandora, whom the Gods -Endowed with all their gifts, and O! too like -In sad event, when to the unwiser son -Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnared -Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged -On him who had stole Jove's authentick fire. -Thus, at their shady lodge arrived, both stood, -Both turned, and under open sky adored -The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heaven, -Which they beheld, the moon's resplendent globe, -And starry pole: Thou also madest the night, -Maker Omnipotent, and thou the day, -Which we, in our appointed work employed, -Have finished, happy in our mutual help -And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss -Ordained by thee; and this delicious place -For us too large, where thy abundance wants -Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. -But thou hast promised from us two a race -To fill the earth, who shall with us extol -Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, -And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep. -This said unanimous, and other rites -Observing none, but adoration pure -Which God likes best, into their inmost bower -Handed they went; and, eased the putting off -These troublesome disguises which we wear, -Straight side by side were laid; nor turned, I ween, -Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites -Mysterious of connubial love refused: -Whatever hypocrites austerely talk -Of purity, and place, and innocence, -Defaming as impure what God declares -Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all. -Our Maker bids encrease; who bids abstain -But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man? -Hail, wedded Love, mysterious law, true source -Of human offspring, sole propriety -In Paradise of all things common else! -By thee adulterous Lust was driven from men -Among the bestial herds to range; by thee -Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure, -Relations dear, and all the charities -Of father, son, and brother, first were known. -Far be it, that I should write thee sin or blame, -Or think thee unbefitting holiest place, -Perpetual fountain of domestick sweets, -Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced, -Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs used. -Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights -His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings, -Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile -Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared, -Casual fruition; nor in court-amours, -Mixed dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball, -Or serenate, which the starved lover sings -To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. -These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept, -And on their naked limbs the flowery roof -Showered roses, which the morn repaired. Sleep on, -Blest pair; and O!yet happiest, if ye seek -No happier state, and know to know no more. -Now had night measured with her shadowy cone -Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault, -And from their ivory port the Cherubim, -Forth issuing at the accustomed hour, stood armed -To their night watches in warlike parade; -When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake. -Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south -With strictest watch; these other wheel the north; -Our circuit meets full west. As flame they part, -Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. -From these, two strong and subtle Spirits he called -That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge. -Ithuriel and Zephon, with winged speed -Search through this garden, leave unsearched no nook; -But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, -Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm. -This evening from the sun's decline arrived, -Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen -Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped -The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt: -Such, where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring. -So saying, on he led his radiant files, -Dazzling the moon; these to the bower direct -In search of whom they sought: Him there they found -Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, -Assaying by his devilish art to reach -The organs of her fancy, and with them forge -Illusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams; -Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint -The animal spirits, that from pure blood arise -Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise -At least distempered, discontented thoughts, -Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires, -Blown up with high conceits ingendering pride. -Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear -Touched lightly; for no falshood can endure -Touch of celestial temper, but returns -Of force to its own likeness: Up he starts -Discovered and surprised. As when a spark -Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid -Fit for the tun some magazine to store -Against a rumoured war, the smutty grain, -With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air; -So started up in his own shape the Fiend. -Back stept those two fair Angels, half amazed -So sudden to behold the grisly king; -Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon. -Which of those rebel Spirits adjudged to Hell -Comest thou, escaped thy prison? and, transformed, -Why sat'st thou like an enemy in wait, -Here watching at the head of these that sleep? -Know ye not then said Satan, filled with scorn, -Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate -For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar: -Not to know me argues yourselves unknown, -The lowest of your throng; or, if ye know, -Why ask ye, and superfluous begin -Your message, like to end as much in vain? -To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn. -Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same, -Or undiminished brightness to be known, -As when thou stoodest in Heaven upright and pure; -That glory then, when thou no more wast good, -Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now -Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul. -But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account -To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep -This place inviolable, and these from harm. -So spake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke, -Severe in youthful beauty, added grace -Invincible: Abashed the Devil stood, -And felt how awful goodness is, and saw -Virtue in her shape how lovely; saw, and pined -His loss; but chiefly to find here observed -His lustre visibly impaired; yet seemed -Undaunted. If I must contend, said he, -Best with the best, the sender, not the sent, -Or all at once; more glory will be won, -Or less be lost. Thy fear, said Zephon bold, -Will save us trial what the least can do -Single against thee wicked, and thence weak. -The Fiend replied not, overcome with rage; -But, like a proud steed reined, went haughty on, -Champing his iron curb: To strive or fly -He held it vain; awe from above had quelled -His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh -The western point, where those half-rounding guards -Just met, and closing stood in squadron joined, -A waiting next command. To whom their Chief, -Gabriel, from the front thus called aloud. -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 splendour wan; who by his gait -And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell, -Not likely to part hence without contest; -Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours. -He scarce had ended, when those two approached, -And brief related whom they brought, where found, -How busied, in what form and posture couched. -To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake. -Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed -To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge -Of others, who approve not to transgress -By thy example, but have power and right -To question thy bold entrance on this place; -Employed, it seems, to violate sleep, and those -Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss! -To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. -Gabriel? thou hadst in Heaven the esteem of wise, -And such I held thee; but this question asked -Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain! -Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell, -Though thither doomed! Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt -And boldly venture to whatever place -Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change -Torment with ease, and soonest recompense -Dole with delight, which in this place I sought; -To thee no reason, who knowest only good, -But evil hast not tried: and wilt object -His will who bounds us! Let him surer bar -His iron gates, if he intends our stay -In that dark durance: Thus much what was asked. -The rest is true, they found me where they say; -But that implies not violence or harm. -Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel moved, -Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied. -O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise -Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew, -And now returns him from his prison 'scaped, -Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise -Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither -Unlicensed from his bounds in Hell prescribed; -So wise he judges it to fly from pain -However, and to 'scape his punishment! -So judge thou still, presumptuous! till the wrath, -Which thou incurrest by flying, meet thy flight -Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell, -Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain -Can equal anger infinite provoked. -But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee -Came not all hell broke loose? or thou than they -Less hardy to endure? Courageous Chief! -The first in flight from pain! hadst thou alleged -To thy deserted host this cause of flight, -Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive. -To which the Fiend thus answered, frowning stern. -Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, -Insulting Angel! well thou knowest I stood -Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid -The blasting vollied thunder made all speed, -And seconded thy else not dreaded spear. -But still thy words at random, as before, -Argue thy inexperience what behoves -From hard assays and ill successes past -A faithful leader, not to hazard all -Through ways of danger by himself untried: -I, therefore, I alone first undertook -To wing the desolate abyss, and spy -This new created world, whereof in Hell -Fame is not silent, here in hope to find -Better abode, and my afflicted Powers -To settle here on earth, or in mid air; -Though for possession put to try once more -What thou and thy gay legions dare against; -Whose easier business were to serve their Lord -High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne, -And practised distances to cringe, not fight, -To whom the warriour Angel soon replied. -To say and straight unsay, pretending first -Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy, -Argues no leader but a liear traced, -Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name, -O sacred name of faithfulness profaned! -Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew? -Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head. -Was this your discipline and faith engaged, -Your military obedience, to dissolve -Allegiance to the acknowledged Power supreme? -And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem -Patron of liberty, who more than thou -Once fawned, and cringed, and servily adored -Heaven's awful Monarch? wherefore, but in hope -To dispossess him, and thyself to reign? -But mark what I arreed thee now, Avant; -Fly neither whence thou fledst! If from this hour -Within these hallowed limits thou appear, -Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained, -And seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn -The facile gates of Hell too slightly barred. -So threatened he; but Satan to no threats -Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied. -Then when I am thy captive talk of chains, -Proud limitary Cherub! but ere then -Far heavier load thyself expect to feel -From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King -Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers, -Us'd to the yoke, drawest his triumphant wheels -In progress through the road of Heaven star-paved. -While thus he spake, the angelick squadron bright -Turned fiery red, sharpening in mooned horns -Their phalanx, and began to hem him round -With ported spears, as thick as when a field -Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends -Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind -Sways them; the careful plowman doubting stands, -Left on the threshing floor his hopeless sheaves -Prove chaff. On the other side, Satan, alarmed, -Collecting all his might, dilated stood, -Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved: -His stature reached the sky, and on his crest -Sat Horrour plumed; nor wanted in his grasp -What seemed both spear and shield: Now dreadful deeds -Might have ensued, nor only Paradise -In this commotion, but the starry cope -Of Heaven perhaps, or all the elements -At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn -With violence of this conflict, had not soon -The Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray, -Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen -Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion sign, -Wherein all things created first he weighed, -The pendulous round earth with balanced air -In counterpoise, now ponders all events, -Battles and realms: In these he put two weights, -The sequel each of parting and of fight: -The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam, -Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend. -Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowest mine; -Neither our own, but given: What folly then -To boast what arms can do? since thine no more -Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now -To trample thee as mire: For proof look up, -And read thy lot in yon celestial sign; -Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak, -If thou resist. The Fiend looked up, and knew -His mounted scale aloft: Nor more;but fled -Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night. - - - -Book V - - -Now Morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime -Advancing, sowed the earth with orient pearl, -When Adam waked, so customed; for his sleep -Was aery-light, from pure digestion bred, -And temperate vapours bland, which the only sound -Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan, -Lightly dispersed, and the shrill matin song -Of birds on every bough; so much the more -His wonder was to find unwakened Eve -With tresses discomposed, and glowing cheek, -As through unquiet rest: He, on his side -Leaning half raised, with looks of cordial love -Hung over her enamoured, and beheld -Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep, -Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice -Mild, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, -Her hand soft touching, whispered thus. Awake, -My fairest, my espoused, my latest found, -Heaven's last best gift, my ever new delight! -Awake: The morning shines, and the fresh field -Calls us; we lose the prime, to mark how spring -Our tender plants, how blows the citron grove, -What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed, -How nature paints her colours, how the bee -Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet. -Such whispering waked her, but with startled eye -On Adam, whom embracing, thus she spake. -O sole in whom my thoughts find all repose, -My glory, my perfection! glad I see -Thy face, and morn returned; for I this night -(Such night till this I never passed) have dreamed, -If dreamed, not, as I oft am wont, of thee, -Works of day past, or morrow's next design, -But of offence and trouble, which my mind -Knew never till this irksome night: Methought, -Close at mine ear one called me forth to walk -With gentle voice; I thought it thine: It said, -'Why sleepest thou, Eve? now is the pleasant time, -'The cool, the silent, save where silence yields -'To the night-warbling bird, that now awake -'Tunes sweetest his love-laboured song; now reigns -'Full-orbed the moon, and with more pleasing light -'Shadowy sets off the face of things; in vain, -'If none regard; Heaven wakes with all his eyes, -'Whom to behold but thee, Nature's desire? -'In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment -'Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze.' -I rose as at thy call, but found thee not; -To find thee I directed then my walk; -And on, methought, alone I passed through ways -That brought me on a sudden to the tree -Of interdicted knowledge: fair it seemed, -Much fairer to my fancy than by day: -And, as I wondering looked, beside it stood -One shaped and winged like one of those from Heaven -By us oft seen; his dewy locks distilled -Ambrosia; on that tree he also gazed; -And 'O fair plant,' said he, 'with fruit surcharged, -'Deigns none to ease thy load, and taste thy sweet, -'Nor God, nor Man? Is knowledge so despised? -'Or envy, or what reserve forbids to taste? -'Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold -'Longer thy offered good; why else set here? -This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm -He plucked, he tasted; me damp horrour chilled -At such bold words vouched with a deed so bold: -But he thus, overjoyed; 'O fruit divine, -'Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropt, -'Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit -'For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men: -'And why not Gods of Men; since good, the more -'Communicated, more abundant grows, -'The author not impaired, but honoured more? -'Here, happy creature, fair angelick Eve! -'Partake thou also; happy though thou art, -'Happier thou mayest be, worthier canst not be: -'Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods -'Thyself a Goddess, not to earth confined, -'But sometimes in the air, as we, sometimes -'Ascend to Heaven, by merit thine, and see -'What life the Gods live there, and such live thou!' -So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held, -Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part -Which he had plucked; the pleasant savoury smell -So quickened appetite, that I, methought, -Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the clouds -With him I flew, and underneath beheld -The earth outstretched immense, a prospect wide -And various: Wondering at my flight and change -To this high exaltation; suddenly -My guide was gone, and I, methought, sunk down, -And fell asleep; but O, how glad I waked -To find this but a dream! Thus Eve her night -Related, and thus Adam answered sad. -Best image of myself, and dearer half, -The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep -Affects me equally; nor can I like -This uncouth dream, of evil sprung, I fear; -Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none, -Created pure. But know that in the soul -Are many lesser faculties, that serve -Reason as chief; among these Fancy next -Her office holds; of all external things -Which the five watchful senses represent, -She forms imaginations, aery shapes, -Which Reason, joining or disjoining, frames -All what we affirm or what deny, and call -Our knowledge or opinion; then retires -Into her private cell, when nature rests. -Oft in her absence mimick Fancy wakes -To imitate her; but, misjoining shapes, -Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams; -Ill matching words and deeds long past or late. -Some such resemblances, methinks, I find -Of our last evening's talk, in this thy dream, -But with addition strange; yet be not sad. -Evil into the mind of God or Man -May come and go, so unreproved, and leave -No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope -That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream, -Waking thou never will consent to do. -Be not disheartened then, nor cloud those looks, -That wont to be more cheerful and serene, -Than when fair morning first smiles on the world; -And let us to our fresh employments rise -Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers -That open now their choisest bosomed smells, -Reserved from night, and kept for thee in store. -So cheered he his fair spouse, and she was cheered; -But silently a gentle tear let fall -From either eye, and wiped them with her hair; -Two other precious drops that ready stood, -Each in their crystal sluice, he ere they fell -Kissed, as the gracious signs of sweet remorse -And pious awe, that feared to have offended. -So all was cleared, and to the field they haste. -But first, from under shady arborous roof -Soon as they forth were come to open sight -Of day-spring, and the sun, who, scarce up-risen, -With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean-brim, -Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray, -Discovering in wide landskip all the east -Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains, -Lowly they bowed adoring, and began -Their orisons, each morning duly paid -In various style; for neither various style -Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise -Their Maker, in fit strains pronounced, or sung -Unmeditated; such prompt eloquence -Flowed from their lips, in prose or numerous verse, -More tuneable than needed lute or harp -To add more sweetness; and they thus began. -These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, -Almighty! Thine this universal frame, -Thus wonderous fair; Thyself how wonderous then! -Unspeakable, who sitst above these heavens -To us invisible, or dimly seen -In these thy lowest works; yet these declare -Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine. -Speak, ye who best can tell, ye sons of light, -Angels; for ye behold him, and with songs -And choral symphonies, day without night, -Circle his throne rejoicing; ye in Heaven -On Earth join all ye Creatures to extol -Him first, him last, him midst, and without end. -Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, -If better thou belong not to the dawn, -Sure pledge of day, that crownest the smiling morn -With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere, -While day arises, that sweet hour of prime. -Thou Sun, of this great world both eye and soul, -Acknowledge him thy greater; sound his praise -In thy eternal course, both when thou climbest, -And when high noon hast gained, and when thou fallest. -Moon, that now meetest the orient sun, now flyest, -With the fixed Stars, fixed in their orb that flies; -And ye five other wandering Fires, that move -In mystick dance not without song, resound -His praise, who out of darkness called up light. -Air, and ye Elements, the eldest birth -Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run -Perpetual circle, multiform; and mix -And nourish all things; let your ceaseless change -Vary to our great Maker still new praise. -Ye Mists and Exhalations, that now rise -From hill or steaming lake, dusky or gray, -Till the sun paint your fleecy skirts with gold, -In honour to the world's great Author rise; -Whether to deck with clouds the uncoloured sky, -Or wet the thirsty earth with falling showers, -Rising or falling still advance his praise. -His praise, ye Winds, that from four quarters blow, -Breathe soft or loud; and, wave your tops, ye Pines, -With every plant, in sign of worship wave. -Fountains, and ye that warble, as ye flow, -Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise. -Join voices, all ye living Souls: Ye Birds, -That singing up to Heaven-gate ascend, -Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise. -Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk -The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep; -Witness if I be silent, morn or even, -To hill, or valley, fountain, or fresh shade, -Made vocal by my song, and taught his praise. -Hail, universal Lord, be bounteous still -To give us only good; and if the night -Have gathered aught of evil, or concealed, -Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark! -So prayed they innocent, and to their thoughts -Firm peace recovered soon, and wonted calm. -On to their morning's rural work they haste, -Among sweet dews and flowers; where any row -Of fruit-trees over-woody reached too far -Their pampered boughs, and needed hands to check -Fruitless embraces: or they led the vine -To wed her elm; she, spoused, about him twines -Her marriageable arms, and with him brings -Her dower, the adopted clusters, to adorn -His barren leaves. Them thus employed beheld -With pity Heaven's high King, and to him called -Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deigned -To travel with Tobias, and secured -His marriage with the seventimes-wedded maid. -Raphael, said he, thou hearest what stir on Earth -Satan, from Hell 'scaped through the darksome gulf, -Hath raised in Paradise; and how disturbed -This night the human pair; how he designs -In them at once to ruin all mankind. -Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend -Converse with Adam, in what bower or shade -Thou findest him from the heat of noon retired, -To respite his day-labour with repast, -Or with repose; and such discourse bring on, -As may advise him of his happy state, -Happiness in his power left free to will, -Left to his own free will, his will though free, -Yet mutable; whence warn him to beware -He swerve not, too secure: Tell him withal -His danger, and from whom; what enemy, -Late fallen himself from Heaven, is plotting now -The fall of others from like state of bliss; -By violence? no, for that shall be withstood; -But by deceit and lies: This let him know, -Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend -Surprisal, unadmonished, unforewarned. -So spake the Eternal Father, and fulfilled -All justice: Nor delayed the winged Saint -After his charge received; but from among -Thousand celestial Ardours, where he stood -Veiled with his gorgeous wings, up springing light, -Flew through the midst of Heaven; the angelick quires, -On each hand parting, to his speed gave way -Through all the empyreal road; till, at the gate -Of Heaven arrived, the gate self-opened wide -On golden hinges turning, as by work -Divine the sovran Architect had framed. -From hence no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight, -Star interposed, however small he sees, -Not unconformed to other shining globes, -Earth, and the garden of God, with cedars crowned -Above all hills. As when by night the glass -Of Galileo, less assured, observes -Imagined lands and regions in the moon: -Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades -Delos or Samos first appearing, kens -A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight -He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky -Sails between worlds and worlds, with steady wing -Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan -Winnows the buxom air; till, within soar -Of towering eagles, to all the fowls he seems -A phoenix, gazed by all as that sole bird, -When, to enshrine his reliques in the Sun's -Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies. -At once on the eastern cliff of Paradise -He lights, and to his proper shape returns -A Seraph winged: Six wings he wore, to shade -His lineaments divine; the pair that clad -Each shoulder broad, came mantling o'er his breast -With regal ornament; the middle pair -Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round -Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold -And colours dipt in Heaven; the third his feet -Shadowed from either heel with feathered mail, -Sky-tinctured grain. Like Maia's son he stood, -And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance filled -The circuit wide. Straight knew him all the bands -Of Angels under watch; and to his state, -And to his message high, in honour rise; -For on some message high they guessed him bound. -Their glittering tents he passed, and now is come -Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh, -And flowering odours, cassia, nard, and balm; -A wilderness of sweets; for Nature here -Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will -Her virgin fancies pouring forth more sweet, -Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss. -Him through the spicy forest onward come -Adam discerned, as in the door he sat -Of his cool bower, while now the mounted sun -Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm -Earth's inmost womb, more warmth than Adam needs: -And Eve within, due at her hour prepared -For dinner savoury fruits, of taste to please -True appetite, and not disrelish thirst -Of nectarous draughts between, from milky stream, -Berry or grape: To whom thus Adam called. -Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight behold -Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape -Comes this way moving; seems another morn -Risen on mid-noon; some great behest from Heaven -To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe -This day to be our guest. But go with speed, -And, what thy stores contain, bring forth, and pour -Abundance, fit to honour and receive -Our heavenly stranger: Well we may afford -Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow -From large bestowed, where Nature multiplies -Her fertile growth, and by disburthening grows -More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare. -To whom thus Eve. Adam, earth's hallowed mould, -Of God inspired! small store will serve, where store, -All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk; -Save what by frugal storing firmness gains -To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes: -But I will haste, and from each bough and brake, -Each plant and juciest gourd, will pluck such choice -To entertain our Angel-guest, as he -Beholding shall confess, that here on Earth -God hath dispensed his bounties as in Heaven. -So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste -She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent -What choice to choose for delicacy best, -What order, so contrived as not to mix -Tastes, not well joined, inelegant, but bring -Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change; -Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk -Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields -In India East or West, or middle shore -In Pontus or the Punick coast, or where -Alcinous reigned, fruit of all kinds, in coat -Rough, or smooth rind, or bearded husk, or shell, -She gathers, tribute large, and on the board -Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the grape -She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths -From many a berry, and from sweet kernels pressed -She tempers dulcet creams; nor these to hold -Wants her fit vessels pure; then strows the ground -With rose and odours from the shrub unfumed. -Mean while our primitive great sire, to meet -His God-like guest, walks forth, without more train -Accompanied than with his own complete -Perfections; in himself was all his state, -More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits -On princes, when their rich retinue long -Of horses led, and grooms besmeared with gold, -Dazzles the croud, and sets them all agape. -Nearer his presence Adam, though not awed, -Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek, -As to a superiour nature bowing low, -Thus said. Native of Heaven, for other place -None can than Heaven such glorious shape contain; -Since, by descending from the thrones above, -Those happy places thou hast deigned a while -To want, and honour these, vouchsafe with us -Two only, who yet by sovran gift possess -This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower -To rest; and what the garden choicest bears -To sit and taste, till this meridian heat -Be over, and the sun more cool decline. -Whom thus the angelick Virtue answered mild. -Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou such -Created, or such place hast here to dwell, -As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heaven, -To visit thee; lead on then where thy bower -O'ershades; for these mid-hours, till evening rise, -I have at will. So to the sylvan lodge -They came, that like Pomona's arbour smiled, -With flowerets decked, and fragrant smells; but Eve, -Undecked save with herself, more lovely fair -Than Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feigned -Of three that in mount Ida naked strove, -Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven; no veil -She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm -Altered her cheek. On whom the Angel Hail -Bestowed, the holy salutation used -Long after to blest Mary, second Eve. -Hail, Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful womb -Shall fill the world more numerous with thy sons, -Than with these various fruits the trees of God -Have heaped this table!--Raised of grassy turf -Their table was, and mossy seats had round, -And on her ample square from side to side -All autumn piled, though spring and autumn here -Danced hand in hand. A while discourse they hold; -No fear lest dinner cool; when thus began -Our author. Heavenly stranger, please to taste -These bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom -All perfect good, unmeasured out, descends, -To us for food and for delight hath caused -The earth to yield; unsavoury food perhaps -To spiritual natures; only this I know, -That one celestial Father gives to all. -To whom the Angel. Therefore what he gives -(Whose praise be ever sung) to Man in part -Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found -No ingrateful food: And food alike those pure -Intelligential substances require, -As doth your rational; and both contain -Within them every lower faculty -Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste, -Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate, -And corporeal to incorporeal turn. -For know, whatever was created, needs -To be sustained and fed: Of elements -The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea, -Earth and the sea feed air, the air those fires -Ethereal, and as lowest first the moon; -Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurged -Vapours not yet into her substance turned. -Nor doth the moon no nourishment exhale -From her moist continent to higher orbs. -The sun that light imparts to all, receives -From all his alimental recompence -In humid exhalations, and at even -Sups with the ocean. Though in Heaven the trees -Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines -Yield nectar; though from off the boughs each morn -We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground -Covered with pearly grain: Yet God hath here -Varied his bounty so with new delights, -As may compare with Heaven; and to taste -Think not I shall be nice. So down they sat, -And to their viands fell; nor seemingly -The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss -Of Theologians; but with keen dispatch -Of real hunger, and concoctive heat -To transubstantiate: What redounds, transpires -Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder;if by fire -Of sooty coal the empirick alchemist -Can turn, or holds it possible to turn, -Metals of drossiest ore to perfect gold, -As from the mine. Mean while at table Eve -Ministered naked, and their flowing cups -With pleasant liquours crowned: O innocence -Deserving Paradise! if ever, then, -Then had the sons of God excuse to have been -Enamoured at that sight; but in those hearts -Love unlibidinous reigned, nor jealousy -Was understood, the injured lover's hell. -Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficed, -Not burdened nature, sudden mind arose -In Adam, not to let the occasion pass -Given him by this great conference to know -Of things above his world, and of their being -Who dwell in Heaven, whose excellence he saw -Transcend his own so far; whose radiant forms, -Divine effulgence, whose high power, so far -Exceeded human; and his wary speech -Thus to the empyreal minister he framed. -Inhabitant with God, now know I well -Thy favour, in this honour done to Man; -Under whose lowly roof thou hast vouchsafed -To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste, -Food not of Angels, yet accepted so, -As that more willingly thou couldst not seem -At Heaven's high feasts to have fed: yet what compare -To whom the winged Hierarch replied. -O Adam, One Almighty is, from whom -All things proceed, and up to him return, -If not depraved from good, created all -Such to perfection, one first matter all, -Endued with various forms, various degrees -Of substance, and, in things that live, of life; -But more refined, more spiritous, and pure, -As nearer to him placed, or nearer tending -Each in their several active spheres assigned, -Till body up to spirit work, in bounds -Proportioned to each kind. So from the root -Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves -More aery, last the bright consummate flower -Spirits odorous breathes: flowers and their fruit, -Man's nourishment, by gradual scale sublimed, -To vital spirits aspire, to animal, -To intellectual; give both life and sense, -Fancy and understanding; whence the soul -Reason receives, and reason is her being, -Discursive, or intuitive; discourse -Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours, -Differing but in degree, of kind the same. -Wonder not then, what God for you saw good -If I refuse not, but convert, as you -To proper substance. Time may come, when Men -With Angels may participate, and find -No inconvenient diet, nor too light fare; -And from these corporal nutriments perhaps -Your bodies may at last turn all to spirit, -Improved by tract of time, and, winged, ascend -Ethereal, as we; or may, at choice, -Here or in heavenly Paradises dwell; -If ye be found obedient, and retain -Unalterably firm his love entire, -Whose progeny you are. Mean while enjoy -Your fill what happiness this happy state -Can comprehend, incapable of more. -To whom the patriarch of mankind replied. -O favourable Spirit, propitious guest, -Well hast thou taught the way that might direct -Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set -From center to circumference; whereon, -In contemplation of created things, -By steps we may ascend to God. But say, -What meant that caution joined, If ye be found -Obedient? Can we want obedience then -To him, or possibly his love desert, -Who formed us from the dust and placed us here -Full to the utmost measure of what bliss -Human desires can seek or apprehend? -To whom the Angel. Son of Heaven and Earth, -Attend! That thou art happy, owe to God; -That thou continuest such, owe to thyself, -That is, to thy obedience; therein stand. -This was that caution given thee; be advised. -God made thee perfect, not immutable; -And good he made thee, but to persevere -He left it in thy power; ordained thy will -By nature free, not over-ruled 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 tried whether they serve -Willing or no, who will but what they must -By destiny, and can no other choose? -Myself, and all the angelick host, that stand -In sight of God, enthroned, 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 fallen, to disobedience fallen, -And so from Heaven to deepest Hell; O fall -From what high state of bliss, into what woe! -To whom our great progenitor. Thy words -Attentive, and with more delighted ear, -Divine instructer, I have heard, than when -Cherubick songs by night from neighbouring hills -Aereal musick send: Nor knew I not -To be both will and deed created free; -Yet that we never shall forget to love -Our Maker, and obey him whose command -Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts -Assured me, and still assure: Though what thou tellest -Hath passed in Heaven, some doubt within me move, -But more desire to hear, if thou consent, -The full relation, which must needs be strange, -Worthy of sacred silence to be heard; -And we have yet large day, for scarce the sun -Hath finished half his journey, and scarce begins -His other half in the great zone of Heaven. -Thus Adam made request; and Raphael, -After short pause assenting, thus began. -High matter thou enjoinest me, O prime of men, -Sad task and hard: For how shall I relate -To human sense the invisible exploits -Of warring Spirits? how, without remorse, -The ruin of so many glorious once -And perfect while they stood? how last unfold -The secrets of another world, perhaps -Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good -This is dispensed; and what surmounts the reach -Of human sense, I shall delineate so, -By likening spiritual to corporal forms, -As may express them best; though what if Earth -Be but a shadow of Heaven, and things therein -Each to other like, more than on earth is thought? -As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild -Reigned where these Heavens now roll, where Earth now rests -Upon her center poised; when on a day -(For time, though in eternity, applied -To motion, measures all things durable -By present, past, and future,) on such day -As Heaven's great year brings forth, the empyreal host -Of Angels by imperial summons called, -Innumerable before the Almighty's throne -Forthwith, from all the ends of Heaven, appeared -Under their Hierarchs in orders bright: -Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced, -Standards and gonfalons 'twixt van and rear -Stream in the air, and for distinction serve -Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees; -Or in their glittering tissues bear imblazed -Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love -Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs -Of circuit inexpressible they stood, -Orb within orb, the Father Infinite, -By whom in bliss imbosomed sat the Son, -Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top -Brightness had made invisible, thus spake. -Hear, all ye Angels, progeny of light, -Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; -Hear my decree, which unrevoked shall stand. -This day I have begot whom I declare -My only Son, and on this holy hill -Him have anointed, whom ye now behold -At my right hand; your head I him appoint; -And by myself have sworn, to him shall bow -All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord: -Under his great vice-gerent reign abide -United, as one individual soul, -For ever happy: Him who disobeys, -Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day, -Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls -Into utter darkness, deep ingulfed, his place -Ordained without redemption, without end. -So spake the Omnipotent, and with his words -All seemed well pleased; all seemed, but were not all. -That day, as other solemn days, they spent -In song and dance about the sacred hill; -Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere -Of planets, and of fixed, in all her wheels -Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, -Eccentrick, intervolved, yet regular -Then most, when most irregular they seem; -And in their motions harmony divine -So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear -Listens delighted. Evening now approached, -(For we have also our evening and our morn, -We ours for change delectable, not need;) -Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn -Desirous; all in circles as they stood, -Tables are set, and on a sudden piled -With Angels food, and rubied nectar flows -In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold, -Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven. -On flowers reposed, and with fresh flowerets crowned, -They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet -Quaff immortality and joy, secure -Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds -Excess, before the all-bounteous King, who showered -With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy. -Now when ambrosial night with clouds exhaled -From that high mount of God, whence light and shade -Spring both, the face of brightest Heaven had changed -To grateful twilight, (for night comes not there -In darker veil,) and roseat dews disposed -All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest; -Wide over all the plain, and wider far -Than all this globous earth in plain outspread, -(Such are the courts of God) the angelick throng, -Dispersed in bands and files, their camp extend -By living streams among the trees of life, -Pavilions numberless, and sudden reared, -Celestial tabernacles, where they slept -Fanned with cool winds; save those, who, in their course, -Melodious hymns about the sovran throne -Alternate all night long: but not so waked -Satan; so call him now, his former name -Is heard no more in Heaven; he of the first, -If not the first Arch-Angel, great in power, -In favour and pre-eminence, yet fraught -With envy against the Son of God, that day -Honoured by his great Father, and proclaimed -Messiah King anointed, could not bear -Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaired. -Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, -Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour -Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolved -With all his legions to dislodge, and leave -Unworshipt, unobeyed, the throne supreme, -Contemptuous; and his next subordinate -Awakening, thus to him in secret spake. -Sleepest thou, Companion dear? What sleep can close -Thy eye-lids? and rememberest what decree -Of yesterday, so late hath passed the lips -Of Heaven's Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts -Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart; -Both waking we were one; how then can now -Thy sleep dissent? New laws thou seest imposed; -New laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise -In us who serve, new counsels to debate -What doubtful may ensue: More in this place -To utter is not safe. Assemble thou -Of all those myriads which we lead the chief; -Tell them, that by command, ere yet dim night -Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste, -And all who under me their banners wave, -Homeward, with flying march, where we possess -The quarters of the north; there to prepare -Fit entertainment to receive our King, -The great Messiah, and his new commands, -Who speedily through all the hierarchies -Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws. -So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infused -Bad influence into the unwary breast -Of his associate: He together calls, -Or several one by one, the regent Powers, -Under him Regent; tells, as he was taught, -That the Most High commanding, now ere night, -Now ere dim night had disincumbered Heaven, -The great hierarchal standard was to move; -Tells the suggested cause, and casts between -Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound -Or taint integrity: But all obeyed -The wonted signal, and superiour voice -Of their great Potentate; for great indeed -His name, and high was his degree in Heaven; -His countenance, as the morning-star that guides -The starry flock, allured them, and with lies -Drew after him the third part of Heaven's host. -Mean while the Eternal eye, whose sight discerns -Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount, -And from within the golden lamps that burn -Nightly before him, saw without their light -Rebellion rising; saw in whom, how spread -Among the sons of morn, what multitudes -Were banded to oppose his high decree; -And, smiling, to his only Son thus said. -Son, thou in whom my glory I behold -In full resplendence, Heir of all my might, -Nearly it now concerns us to be sure -Of our Omnipotence, and with what arms -We mean to hold what anciently we claim -Of deity or empire: Such a foe -Is rising, who intends to erect his throne -Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north; -Nor so content, hath in his thought to try -In battle, what our power is, or our right. -Let us advise, and to this hazard draw -With speed what force is left, and all employ -In our defence; lest unawares we lose -This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill. -To whom the Son with calm aspect and clear, -Lightning divine, ineffable, serene, -Made answer. Mighty Father, thou thy foes -Justly hast in derision, and, secure, -Laughest at their vain designs and tumults vain, -Matter to me of glory, whom their hate -Illustrates, when they see all regal power -Given me to quell their pride, and in event -Know whether I be dextrous to subdue -Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven. -So spake the Son; but Satan, with his Powers, -Far was advanced on winged speed; an host -Innumerable as the stars of night, -Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the sun -Impearls on every leaf and every flower. -Regions they passed, the mighty regencies -Of Seraphim, and Potentates, and Thrones, -In their triple degrees; regions to which -All thy dominion, Adam, is no more -Than what this garden is to all the earth, -And all the sea, from one entire globose -Stretched into longitude; which having passed, -At length into the limits of the north -They came; and Satan to his royal seat -High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount -Raised on a mount, with pyramids and towers -From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold; -The palace of great Lucifer, (so call -That structure in the dialect of men -Interpreted,) which not long after, he -Affecting all equality with God, -In imitation of that mount whereon -Messiah was declared in sight of Heaven, -The Mountain of the Congregation called; -For thither he assembled all his train, -Pretending so commanded to consult -About the great reception of their King, -Thither to come, and with calumnious art -Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears. -Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; -If these magnifick titles yet remain -Not merely titular, since by decree -Another now hath to himself engrossed -All power, and us eclipsed under the name -Of King anointed, for whom all this haste -Of midnight-march, and hurried meeting here, -This only to consult how we may best, -With what may be devised of honours new, -Receive him coming to receive from us -Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile! -Too much to one! but double how endured, -To one, and to his image now proclaimed? -But what if better counsels might erect -Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yoke? -Will ye submit your necks, and choose to bend -The supple knee? Ye will not, if I trust -To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves -Natives and sons of Heaven possessed before -By none; and if not equal all, yet free, -Equally free; for orders and degrees -Jar not with liberty, but well consist. -Who can in reason then, or right, assume -Monarchy over such as live by right -His equals, if in power and splendour less, -In freedom equal? or can introduce -Law and edict on us, who without law -Err not? much less for this to be our Lord, -And look for adoration, to the abuse -Of those imperial titles, which assert -Our being ordained to govern, not to serve. -Thus far his bold discourse without controul -Had audience; when among the Seraphim -Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal adored -The Deity, and divine commands obeyed, -Stood up, and in a flame of zeal severe -The current of his fury thus opposed. -O argument blasphemous, false, and proud! -Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven -Expected, least of all from thee, Ingrate, -In place thyself so high above thy peers. -Canst thou with impious obloquy condemn -The just decree of God, pronounced and sworn, -That to his only Son, by right endued -With regal scepter, every soul in Heaven -Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due -Confess him rightful King? unjust, thou sayest, -Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free, -And equal over equals to let reign, -One over all with unsucceeded power. -Shalt thou give law to God? shalt thou dispute -With him the points of liberty, who made -Thee what thou art, and formed the Powers of Heaven -Such as he pleased, and circumscribed their being? -Yet, by experience taught, we know how good, -And of our good and of our dignity -How provident he is; how far from thought -To make us less, bent rather to exalt -Our happy state, under one head more near -United. But to grant it thee unjust, -That equal over equals monarch reign: -Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou count, -Or all angelick nature joined in one, -Equal to him begotten Son? by whom, -As by his Word, the Mighty Father made -All things, even thee; and all the Spirits of Heaven -By him created in their bright degrees, -Crowned them with glory, and to their glory named -Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers, -Essential Powers; nor by his reign obscured, -But more illustrious made; since he the head -One of our number thus reduced becomes; -His laws our laws; all honour to him done -Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage, -And tempt not these; but hasten to appease -The incensed Father, and the incensed Son, -While pardon may be found in time besought. -So spake the fervent Angel; but his zeal -None seconded, as out of season judged, -Or singular and rash: Whereat rejoiced -The Apostate, and, more haughty, thus replied. -That we were formed then sayest thou? and the work -Of secondary hands, by task transferred -From Father to his Son? strange point and new! -Doctrine which we would know whence learned: who saw -When this creation was? rememberest thou -Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? -We know no time when we were not as now; -Know none before us, self-begot, self-raised -By our own quickening power, when fatal course -Had circled his full orb, the birth mature -Of this our native Heaven, ethereal sons. -Our puissance is our own; our own right hand -Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try -Who is our equal: Then thou shalt behold -Whether by supplication we intend -Address, and to begirt the almighty throne -Beseeching or besieging. This report, -These tidings carry to the anointed King; -And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. -He said; and, as the sound of waters deep, -Hoarse murmur echoed to his words applause -Through the infinite host; nor less for that -The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone -Encompassed round with foes, thus answered bold. -O alienate from God, O Spirit accursed, -Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall -Determined, and thy hapless crew involved -In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread -Both of thy crime and punishment: Henceforth -No more be troubled how to quit the yoke -Of God's Messiah; those indulgent laws -Will not be now vouchsafed; other decrees -Against thee are gone forth without recall; -That golden scepter, which thou didst reject, -Is now an iron rod to bruise and break -Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise; -Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly -These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath -Impendent, raging into sudden flame, -Distinguish not: For soon expect to feel -His thunder on thy head, devouring fire. -Then who created thee lamenting learn, -When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know. -So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found -Among the faithless, faithful only he; -Among innumerable false, unmoved, -Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified, -His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; -Nor number, nor example, with him wrought -To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, -Though single. From amidst them forth he passed, -Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustained -Superiour, nor of violence feared aught; -And, with retorted scorn, his back he turned -On those proud towers to swift destruction doomed. - - - -Book VI - - -All night the dreadless Angel, unpursued, -Through Heaven's wide champain held his way; till Morn, -Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand -Unbarred the gates of light. There is a cave -Within the mount of God, fast by his throne, -Where light and darkness in perpetual round -Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heaven -Grateful vicissitude, like day and night; -Light issues forth, and at the other door -Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour -To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might well -Seem twilight here: And now went forth the Morn -Such as in highest Heaven arrayed in gold -Empyreal; from before her vanished Night, -Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain -Covered with thick embattled squadrons bright, -Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds, -Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view: -War he perceived, war in procinct; and found -Already known what he for news had thought -To have reported: Gladly then he mixed -Among those friendly Powers, who him received -With joy and acclamations loud, that one, -That of so many myriads fallen, yet one -Returned not lost. On to the sacred hill -They led him high applauded, and present -Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice, -From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard. -Servant of God. Well done; well hast thou fought -The better fight, who single hast maintained -Against revolted multitudes the cause -Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; -And for the testimony of truth hast borne -Universal reproach, far worse to bear -Than violence; for this was all thy care -To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds -Judged thee perverse: The easier conquest now -Remains thee, aided by this host of friends, -Back on thy foes more glorious to return, -Than scorned thou didst depart; and to subdue -By force, who reason for their law refuse, -Right reason for their law, and for their King -Messiah, who by right of merit reigns. -Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince, -And thou, in military prowess next, -Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons -Invincible; lead forth my armed Saints, -By thousands and by millions, ranged for fight, -Equal in number to that Godless crew -Rebellious: Them with fire and hostile arms -Fearless assault; and, to the brow of Heaven -Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss, -Into their place of punishment, the gulf -Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide -His fiery Chaos to receive their fall. -So spake the Sovran Voice, and clouds began -To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll -In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign -Of wrath awaked; nor with less dread the loud -Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow: -At which command the Powers militant, -That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate joined -Of union irresistible, moved on -In silence their bright legions, to the sound -Of instrumental harmony, that breathed -Heroick ardour to adventurous deeds -Under their God-like leaders, in the cause -Of God and his Messiah. On they move -Indissolubly firm; nor obvious hill, -Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides -Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground -Their march was, and the passive air upbore -Their nimble tread; as when the total kind -Of birds, in orderly array on wing, -Came summoned over Eden to receive -Their names of thee; so over many a tract -Of Heaven they marched, and many a province wide, -Tenfold the length of this terrene: At last, -Far in the horizon to the north appeared -From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretched -In battailous aspect, and nearer view -Bristled with upright beams innumerable -Of rigid spears, and helmets thronged, and shields -Various, with boastful argument portrayed, -The banded Powers of Satan hasting on -With furious expedition; for they weened -That self-same day, by fight or by surprise, -To win the mount of God, and on his throne -To set the Envier of his state, the proud -Aspirer; but their thoughts proved fond and vain -In the mid way: Though strange to us it seemed -At first, that Angel should with Angel war, -And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet -So oft in festivals of joy and love -Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire, -Hymning the Eternal Father: But the shout -Of battle now began, and rushing sound -Of onset ended soon each milder thought. -High in the midst, exalted as a God, -The Apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat, -Idol of majesty divine, enclosed -With flaming Cherubim, and golden shields; -Then lighted from his gorgeous throne, for now -"twixt host and host but narrow space was left, -A dreadful interval, and front to front -Presented stood in terrible array -Of hideous length: Before the cloudy van, -On the rough edge of battle ere it joined, -Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanced, -Came towering, armed in adamant and gold; -Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood -Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds, -And thus his own undaunted heart explores. -O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest -Should yet remain, where faith and realty -Remain not: Wherefore should not strength and might -There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove -Where boldest, though to fight unconquerable? -His puissance, trusting in the Almighty's aid, -I mean to try, whose reason I have tried -Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just, -That he, who in debate of truth hath won, -Should win in arms, in both disputes alike -Victor; though brutish that contest and foul, -When reason hath to deal with force, yet so -Most reason is that reason overcome. -So pondering, and from his armed peers -Forth stepping opposite, half-way he met -His daring foe, at this prevention more -Incensed, and thus securely him defied. -Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reached -The highth of thy aspiring unopposed, -The throne of God unguarded, and his side -Abandoned, at the terrour of thy power -Or potent tongue: Fool!not to think how vain -Against the Omnipotent to rise in arms; -Who out of smallest things could, without end, -Have raised incessant armies to defeat -Thy folly; or with solitary hand -Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow, -Unaided, could have finished thee, and whelmed -Thy legions under darkness: But thou seest -All are not of thy train; there be, who faith -Prefer, and piety to God, though then -To thee not visible, when I alone -Seemed in thy world erroneous to dissent -From all: My sect thou seest;now learn too late -How few sometimes may know, when thousands err. -Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance, -Thus answered. Ill for thee, but in wished hour -Of my revenge, first sought for, thou returnest -From flight, seditious Angel! to receive -Thy merited reward, the first assay -Of this right hand provoked, since first that tongue, -Inspired with contradiction, durst oppose -A third part of the Gods, in synod met -Their deities to assert; who, while they feel -Vigour divine within them, can allow -Omnipotence to none. But well thou comest -Before thy fellows, ambitious to win -From me some plume, that thy success may show -Destruction to the rest: This pause between, -(Unanswered lest thou boast) to let thee know, -At first I thought that Liberty and Heaven -To heavenly souls had been all one; but now -I see that most through sloth had rather serve, -Ministring Spirits, trained up in feast and song! -Such hast thou armed, the minstrelsy of Heaven, -Servility with freedom to contend, -As both their deeds compared this day shall prove. -To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied. -Apostate! still thou errest, nor end wilt find -Of erring, from the path of truth remote: -Unjustly thou depravest it with the name -Of servitude, to serve whom God ordains, -Or Nature: God and Nature bid the same, -When he who rules is worthiest, and excels -Them whom he governs. This is servitude, -To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebelled -Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, -Thyself not free, but to thyself enthralled; -Yet lewdly darest our ministring upbraid. -Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom; let me serve -In Heaven God ever blest, and his divine -Behests obey, worthiest to be obeyed; -Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect: Mean while -From me returned, as erst thou saidst, from flight, -This greeting on thy impious crest receive. -So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, -Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell -On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight, -Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield, -Such ruin intercept: Ten paces huge -He back recoiled; the tenth on bended knee -His massy spear upstaid; as if on earth -Winds under ground, or waters forcing way, -Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat, -Half sunk with all his pines. Amazement seised -The rebel Thrones, but greater rage, to see -Thus foiled their mightiest; ours joy filled, and shout, -Presage of victory, and fierce desire -Of battle: Whereat Michael bid sound -The Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of Heaven -It sounded, and the faithful armies rung -Hosanna to the Highest: Nor stood at gaze -The adverse legions, nor less hideous joined -The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose, -And clamour such as heard in Heaven till now -Was never; arms on armour clashing brayed -Horrible discord, and the madding wheels -Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise -Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss -Of fiery darts in flaming vollies flew, -And flying vaulted either host with fire. -So under fiery cope together rushed -Both battles main, with ruinous assault -And inextinguishable rage. All Heaven -Resounded; and had Earth been then, all Earth -Had to her center shook. What wonder? when -Millions of fierce encountering Angels fought -On either side, the least of whom could wield -These elements, and arm him with the force -Of all their regions: How much more of power -Army against army numberless to raise -Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb, -Though not destroy, their happy native seat; -Had not the Eternal King Omnipotent, -From his strong hold of Heaven, high over-ruled -And limited their might; though numbered such -As each divided legion might have seemed -A numerous host; in strength each armed hand -A legion; led in fight, yet leader seemed -Each warriour single as in chief, expert -When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway -Of battle, open when, and when to close -The ridges of grim war: No thought of flight, -None of retreat, no unbecoming deed -That argued fear; each on himself relied, -As only in his arm the moment lay -Of victory: Deeds of eternal fame -Were done, but infinite; for wide was spread -That war and various; sometimes on firm ground -A standing fight, then, soaring on main wing, -Tormented all the air; all air seemed then -Conflicting fire. Long time in even scale -The battle hung; till Satan, who that day -Prodigious power had shown, and met in arms -No equal, ranging through the dire attack -Of fighting Seraphim confused, at length -Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled -Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway -Brandished aloft, the horrid edge came down -Wide-wasting; such destruction to withstand -He hasted, and opposed the rocky orb -Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield, -A vast circumference. At his approach -The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toil -Surceased, and glad, as hoping here to end -Intestine war in Heaven, the arch-foe subdued -Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown -And visage all inflamed first thus began. -Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt, -Unnamed in Heaven, now plenteous as thou seest -These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all, -Though heaviest by just measure on thyself, -And thy adherents: How hast thou disturbed -Heaven's blessed peace, and into nature brought -Misery, uncreated till the crime -Of thy rebellion! how hast thou instilled -Thy malice into thousands, once upright -And faithful, now proved false! But think not here -To trouble holy rest; Heaven casts thee out -From all her confines. Heaven, the seat of bliss, -Brooks not the works of violence and war. -Hence then, and evil go with thee along, -Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell; -Thou and thy wicked crew! there mingle broils, -Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom, -Or some more sudden vengeance, winged from God, -Precipitate thee with augmented pain. -So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus -The Adversary. Nor think thou with wind -Of aery threats to awe whom yet with deeds -Thou canst not. Hast thou turned the least of these -To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise -Unvanquished, easier to transact with me -That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats -To chase me hence? err not, that so shall end -The strife which thou callest evil, but we style -The strife of glory; which we mean to win, -Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell -Thou fablest; here however to dwell free, -If not to reign: Mean while thy utmost force, -And join him named Almighty to thy aid, -I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh. -They ended parle, and both addressed for fight -Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue -Of Angels, can relate, or to what things -Liken on earth conspicuous, that may lift -Human imagination to such highth -Of Godlike power? for likest Gods they seemed, -Stood they or moved, in stature, motion, arms, -Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven. -Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air -Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields -Blazed opposite, while Expectation stood -In horrour: From each hand with speed retired, -Where erst was thickest fight, the angelick throng, -And left large field, unsafe within the wind -Of such commotion; such as, to set forth -Great things by small, if, nature's concord broke, -Among the constellations war were sprung, -Two planets, rushing from aspect malign -Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky -Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound. -Together both with next to almighty arm -Up-lifted imminent, one stroke they aimed -That might determine, and not need repeat, -As not of power at once; nor odds appeared -In might or swift prevention: But the sword -Of Michael from the armoury of God -Was given him tempered so, that neither keen -Nor solid might resist that edge: it met -The sword of Satan, with steep force to smite -Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor staid, -But with swift wheel reverse, deep entering, shared -All his right side: Then Satan first knew pain, -And writhed him to and fro convolved; so sore -The griding sword with discontinuous wound -Passed through him: But the ethereal substance closed, -Not long divisible; and from the gash -A stream of necturous humour issuing flowed -Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed, -And all his armour stained, ere while so bright. -Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run -By Angels many and strong, who interposed -Defence, while others bore him on their shields -Back to his chariot, where it stood retired -From off the files of war: There they him laid -Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame, -To find himself not matchless, and his pride -Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath -His confidence to equal God in power. -Yet soon he healed; for Spirits that live throughout -Vital in every part, not as frail man -In entrails, heart of head, liver or reins, -Cannot but by annihilating die; -Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound -Receive, no more than can the fluid air: -All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear, -All intellect, all sense; and, as they please, -They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size -Assume, as?kikes them best, condense or rare. -Mean while in other parts like deeds deserved -Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, -And with fierce ensigns pierced the deep array -Of Moloch, furious king; who him defied, -And at his chariot-wheels to drag him bound -Threatened, nor from the Holy One of Heaven -Refrained his tongue blasphemous; but anon -Down cloven to the waist, with shattered arms -And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing -Uriel, and Raphael, his vaunting foe, -Though huge, and in a rock of diamond armed, -Vanquished Adramelech, and Asmadai, -Two potent Thrones, that to be less than Gods -Disdained, but meaner thoughts learned in their flight, -Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail. -Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy -The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow -Ariel, and Arioch, and the violence -Of Ramiel scorched and blasted, overthrew. -I might relate of thousands, and their names -Eternize here on earth; but those elect -Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven, -Seek not the praise of men: The other sort, -In might though wonderous and in acts of war, -Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom -Cancelled from Heaven and sacred memory, -Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. -For strength from truth divided, and from just, -Illaudable, nought merits but dispraise -And ignominy; yet to glory aspires -Vain-glorious, and through infamy seeks fame: -Therefore eternal silence be their doom. -And now, their mightiest quelled, the battle swerved, -With many an inroad gored; deformed rout -Entered, and foul disorder; all the ground -With shivered armour strown, and on a heap -Chariot and charioteer lay overturned, -And fiery-foaming steeds; what stood, recoiled -O'er-wearied, through the faint Satanick host -Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surprised, -Then first with fear surprised, and sense of pain, -Fled ignominious, to such evil brought -By sin of disobedience; till that hour -Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain. -Far otherwise the inviolable Saints, -In cubick phalanx firm, advanced entire, -Invulnerable, impenetrably armed; -Such high advantages their innocence -Gave them above their foes; not to have sinned, -Not to have disobeyed; in fight they stood -Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pained -By wound, though from their place by violence moved, -Now Night her course began, and, over Heaven -Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed, -And silence on the odious din of war: -Under her cloudy covert both retired, -Victor and vanquished: On the foughten field -Michael and his Angels prevalent -Encamping, placed in guard their watches round, -Cherubick waving fires: On the other part, -Satan with his rebellious disappeared, -Far in the dark dislodged; and, void of rest, -His potentates to council called by night; -And in the midst thus undismayed began. -O now in danger tried, now known in arms -Not to be overpowered, Companions dear, -Found worthy not of liberty alone, -Too mean pretence! but what we more affect, -Honour, dominion, glory, and renown; -Who have sustained one day in doubtful fight, -(And if one day, why not eternal days?) -What Heaven's Lord had powerfullest to send -Against us from about his throne, and judged -Sufficient to subdue us to his will, -But proves not so: Then fallible, it seems, -Of future we may deem him, though till now -Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly armed, -Some disadvantage we endured and pain, -Till now not known, but, known, as soon contemned; -Since now we find this our empyreal form -Incapable of mortal injury, -Imperishable, and, though pierced with wound, -Soon closing, and by native vigour healed. -Of evil then so small as easy think -The remedy; perhaps more valid arms, -Weapons more violent, when next we meet, -May serve to better us, and worse our foes, -Or equal what between us made the odds, -In nature none: If other hidden cause -Left them superiour, while we can preserve -Unhurt our minds, and understanding sound, -Due search and consultation will disclose. -He sat; and in the assembly next upstood -Nisroch, of Principalities the prime; -As one he stood escaped from cruel fight, -Sore toiled, his riven arms to havock hewn, -And cloudy in aspect thus answering spake. -Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free -Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard -For Gods, and too unequal work we find, -Against unequal arms to fight in pain, -Against unpained, impassive; from which evil -Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails -Valour or strength, though matchless, quelled with pain -Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands -Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well -Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, -But live content, which is the calmest life: -But pain is perfect misery, the worst -Of evils, and, excessive, overturns -All patience. He, who therefore can invent -With what more forcible we may offend -Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm -Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves -No less than for deliverance what we owe. -Whereto with look composed Satan replied. -Not uninvented that, which thou aright -Believest so main to our success, I bring. -Which of us who beholds the bright surface -Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand, -This continent of spacious Heaven, adorned -With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems, and gold; -Whose eye so superficially surveys -These things, as not to mind from whence they grow -Deep under ground, materials dark and crude, -Of spiritous and fiery spume, till touched -With Heaven's ray, and tempered, they shoot forth -So beauteous, opening to the ambient light? -These in their dark nativity the deep -Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame; -Which, into hollow engines, long and round, -Thick rammed, at the other bore with touch of fire -Dilated and infuriate, shall send forth -From far, with thundering noise, among our foes -Such implements of mischief, as shall dash -To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever stands -Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmed -The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt. -Nor long shall be our labour; yet ere dawn, -Effect shall end our wish. Mean while revive; -Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joined -Think nothing hard, much less to be despaired. -He ended, and his words their drooping cheer -Enlightened, and their languished hope revived. -The invention all admired, and each, how he -To be the inventer missed; so easy it seemed -Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought -Impossible: Yet, haply, of thy race -In future days, if malice should abound, -Some one intent on mischief, or inspired -With devilish machination, might devise -Like instrument to plague the sons of men -For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent. -Forthwith from council to the work they flew; -None arguing stood; innumerable hands -Were ready; in a moment up they turned -Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath -The originals of nature in their crude -Conception; sulphurous and nitrous foam -They found, they mingled, and, with subtle art, -Concocted and adusted they reduced -To blackest grain, and into store conveyed: -Part hidden veins digged up (nor hath this earth -Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone, -Whereof to found their engines and their balls -Of missive ruin; part incentive reed -Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. -So all ere day-spring, under conscious night, -Secret they finished, and in order set, -With silent circumspection, unespied. -Now when fair morn orient in Heaven appeared, -Up rose the victor-Angels, and to arms -The matin trumpet sung: In arms they stood -Of golden panoply, refulgent host, -Soon banded; others from the dawning hills -Look round, and scouts each coast light-armed scour, -Each quarter to descry the distant foe, -Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for fight, -In motion or in halt: Him soon they met -Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow -But firm battalion; back with speediest sail -Zophiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing, -Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cried. -Arm, Warriours, arm for fight; the foe at hand, -Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit -This day; fear not his flight;so thick a cloud -He comes, and settled in his face I see -Sad resolution, and secure: Let each -His adamantine coat gird well, and each -Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield, -Borne even or high; for this day will pour down, -If I conjecture aught, no drizzling shower, -But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire. -So warned he them, aware themselves, and soon -In order, quit of all impediment; -Instant without disturb they took alarm, -And onward moved embattled: When behold! -Not distant far with heavy pace the foe -Approaching gross and huge, in hollow cube -Training his devilish enginery, impaled -On every side with shadowing squadrons deep, -To hide the fraud. At interview both stood -A while; but suddenly at head appeared -Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud. -Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold; -That all may see who hate us, how we seek -Peace and composure, and with open breast -Stand ready to receive them, if they like -Our overture; and turn not back perverse: -But that I doubt; however witness, Heaven! -Heaven, witness thou anon! while we discharge -Freely our part: ye, who appointed stand -Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch -What we propound, and loud that all may hear! -So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce -Had ended; when to right and left the front -Divided, and to either flank retired: -Which to our eyes discovered, new and strange, -A triple mounted row of pillars laid -On wheels (for like to pillars most they seemed, -Or hollowed bodies made of oak or fir, -With branches lopt, in wood or mountain felled,) -Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths -With hideous orifice gaped on us wide, -Portending hollow truce: At each behind -A Seraph stood, and in his hand a reed -Stood waving tipt with fire; while we, suspense, -Collected stood within our thoughts amused, -Not long; for sudden all at once their reeds -Put forth, and to a narrow vent applied -With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame, -But soon obscured with smoke, all Heaven appeared, -From those deep-throated engines belched, whose roar -Embowelled with outrageous noise the air, -And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul -Their devilish glut, chained thunderbolts and hail -Of iron globes; which, on the victor host -Levelled, with such impetuous fury smote, -That, whom they hit, none on their feet might stand, -Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell -By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rolled; -The sooner for their arms; unarmed, they might -Have easily, as Spirits, evaded swift -By quick contraction or remove; but now -Foul dissipation followed, and forced rout; -Nor served it to relax their serried files. -What should they do? if on they rushed, repulse -Repeated, and indecent overthrow -Doubled, would render them yet more despised, -And to their foes a laughter; for in view -Stood ranked of Seraphim another row, -In posture to displode their second tire -Of thunder: Back defeated to return -They worse abhorred. Satan beheld their plight, -And to his mates thus in derision called. -O Friends! why come not on these victors proud -Ere while they fierce were coming; and when we, -To entertain them fair with open front -And breast, (what could we more?) propounded terms -Of composition, straight they changed their minds, -Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell, -As they would dance; yet for a dance they seemed -Somewhat extravagant and wild; perhaps -For joy of offered peace: But I suppose, -If our proposals once again were heard, -We should compel them to a quick result. -To whom thus Belial, in like gamesome mood. -Leader! the terms we sent were terms of weight, -Of hard contents, and full of force urged home; -Such as we might perceive amused them all, -And stumbled many: Who receives them right, -Had need from head to foot well understand; -Not understood, this gift they have besides, -They show us when our foes walk not upright. -So they among themselves in pleasant vein -Stood scoffing, hightened in their thoughts beyond -All doubt of victory: Eternal Might -To match with their inventions they presumed -So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn, -And all his host derided, while they stood -A while in trouble: But they stood not long; -Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms -Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose. -Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power, -Which God hath in his mighty Angels placed!) -Their arms away they threw, and to the hills -(For Earth hath this variety from Heaven -Of pleasure situate in hill and dale,) -Light as the lightning glimpse they ran, they flew; -From their foundations loosening to and fro, -They plucked the seated hills, with all their load, -Rocks, waters, woods, and by the shaggy tops -Up-lifting bore them in their hands: Amaze, -Be sure, and terrour, seized the rebel host, -When coming towards them so dread they saw -The bottom of the mountains upward turned; -Till on those cursed engines' triple-row -They saw them whelmed, and all their confidence -Under the weight of mountains buried deep; -Themselves invaded next, and on their heads -Main promontories flung, which in the air -Came shadowing, and oppressed whole legions armed; -Their armour helped their harm, crushed in and bruised -Into their substance pent, which wrought them pain -Implacable, and many a dolorous groan; -Long struggling underneath, ere they could wind -Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light, -Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown. -The rest, in imitation, to like arms -Betook them, and the neighbouring hills uptore: -So hills amid the air encountered hills, -Hurled to and fro with jaculation dire; -That under ground they fought in dismal shade; -Infernal noise! war seemed a civil game -To this uproar; horrid confusion heaped -Upon confusion rose: And now all Heaven -Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspread; -Had not the Almighty Father, where he sits -Shrined in his sanctuary of Heaven secure, -Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen -This tumult, and permitted all, advised: -That his great purpose he might so fulfil, -To honour his anointed Son avenged -Upon his enemies, and to declare -All power on him transferred: Whence to his Son, -The Assessour of his throne, he thus began. -Effulgence of my glory, Son beloved, -Son, in whose face invisible is beheld -Visibly, what by Deity I am; -And in whose hand what by decree I do, -Second Omnipotence! two days are past, -Two days, as we compute the days of Heaven, -Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame -These disobedient: Sore hath been their fight, -As likeliest was, when two such foes met armed; -For to themselves I left them; and thou knowest, -Equal in their creation they were formed, -Save what sin hath impaired; which yet hath wrought -Insensibly, for I suspend their doom; -Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last -Endless, and no solution will be found: -War wearied hath performed what war can do, -And to disordered rage let loose the reins -With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makes -Wild work in Heaven, and dangerous to the main. -Two days are therefore past, the third is thine; -For thee I have ordained it; and thus far -Have suffered, that the glory may be thine -Of ending this great war, since none but Thou -Can end it. Into thee such virtue and grace -Immense I have transfused, that all may know -In Heaven and Hell thy power above compare; -And, this perverse commotion governed thus, -To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir -Of all things; to be Heir, and to be King -By sacred unction, thy deserved right. -Go then, Thou Mightiest, in thy Father's might; -Ascend my chariot, guide the rapid wheels -That shake Heaven's basis, bring forth all my war, -My bow and thunder, my almighty arms -Gird on, and sword upon thy puissant thigh; -Pursue these sons of darkness, drive them out -From all Heaven's bounds into the utter deep: -There let them learn, as likes them, to despise -God, and Messiah his anointed King. -He said, and on his Son with rays direct -Shone full; he all his Father full expressed -Ineffably into his face received; -And thus the Filial Godhead answering spake. -O Father, O Supreme of heavenly Thrones, -First, Highest, Holiest, Best; thou always seek'st -To glorify thy Son, I always thee, -As is most just: This I my glory account, -My exaltation, and my whole delight, -That thou, in me well pleased, declarest thy will -Fulfilled, which to fulfil is all my bliss. -Scepter and power, thy giving, I assume, -And gladlier shall resign, when in the end -Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee -For ever; and in me all whom thou lovest: -But whom thou hatest, I hate, and can put on -Thy terrours, as I put thy mildness on, -Image of thee in all things; and shall soon, -Armed with thy might, rid Heaven of these rebelled; -To their prepared ill mansion driven down, -To chains of darkness, and the undying worm; -That from thy just obedience could revolt, -Whom to obey is happiness entire. -Then shall thy Saints unmixed, and from the impure -Far separate, circling thy holy mount, -Unfeigned Halleluiahs to thee sing, -Hymns of high praise, and I among them Chief. -So said, he, o'er his scepter bowing, rose -From the right hand of Glory where he sat; -And the third sacred morn began to shine, -Dawning through Heaven. Forth rushed with whirlwind sound -The chariot of Paternal Deity, -Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn, -Itself instinct with Spirit, but convoyed -By four Cherubick shapes; four faces each -Had wonderous; as with stars, their bodies all -And wings were set with eyes; with eyes the wheels -Of beryl, and careering fires between; -Over their heads a crystal firmament, -Whereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure -Amber, and colours of the showery arch. -He, in celestial panoply all armed -Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought, -Ascended; at his right hand Victory -Sat eagle-winged; beside him hung his bow -And quiver with three-bolted thunder stored; -And from about him fierce effusion rolled -Of smoke, and bickering flame, and sparkles dire: -Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints, -He onward came; far off his coming shone; -And twenty thousand (I their number heard) -Chariots of God, half on each hand, were seen; -He on the wings of Cherub rode sublime -On the crystalline sky, in sapphire throned, -Illustrious far and wide; but by his own -First seen: Them unexpected joy surprised, -When the great ensign of Messiah blazed -Aloft by Angels borne, his sign in Heaven; -Under whose conduct Michael soon reduced -His army, circumfused on either wing, -Under their Head imbodied all in one. -Before him Power Divine his way prepared; -At his command the uprooted hills retired -Each to his place; they heard his voice, and went -Obsequious; Heaven his wonted face renewed, -And with fresh flowerets hill and valley smiled. -This saw his hapless foes, but stood obdured, -And to rebellious fight rallied their Powers, -Insensate, hope conceiving from despair. -In heavenly Spirits could such perverseness dwell? -But to convince the proud what signs avail, -Or wonders move the obdurate to relent? -They, hardened more by what might most reclaim, -Grieving to see his glory, at the sight -Took envy; and, aspiring to his highth, -Stood re-embattled fierce, by force or fraud -Weening to prosper, and at length prevail -Against God and Messiah, or to fall -In universal ruin last; and now -To final battle drew, disdaining flight, -Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God -To all his host on either hand thus spake. -Stand still in bright array, ye Saints; here stand, -Ye Angels armed; this day from battle rest: -Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God -Accepted, fearless in his righteous cause; -And as ye have received, so have ye done, -Invincibly: But of this cursed crew -The punishment to other hand belongs; -Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints: -Number to this day's work is not ordained, -Nor multitude; stand only, and behold -God's indignation on these godless poured -By me; not you, but me, they have despised, -Yet envied; against me is all their rage, -Because the Father, to whom in Heaven s'preme -Kingdom, and power, and glory appertains, -Hath honoured me, according to his will. -Therefore to me their doom he hath assigned; -That they may have their wish, to try with me -In battle which the stronger proves; they all, -Or I alone against them; since by strength -They measure all, of other excellence -Not emulous, nor care who them excels; -Nor other strife with them do I vouchsafe. -So spake the Son, and into terrour changed -His countenance too severe to be beheld, -And full of wrath bent on his enemies. -At once the Four spread out their starry wings -With dreadful shade contiguous, and the orbs -Of his fierce chariot rolled, as with the sound -Of torrent floods, or of a numerous host. -He on his impious foes right onward drove, -Gloomy as night; under his burning wheels -The stedfast empyrean shook throughout, -All but the throne itself of God. Full soon -Among them he arrived; in his right hand -Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent -Before him, such as in their souls infixed -Plagues: They, astonished, all resistance lost, -All courage; down their idle weapons dropt: -O'er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode -Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate, -That wished the mountains now might be again -Thrown on them, as a shelter from his ire. -Nor less on either side tempestuous fell -His arrows, from the fourfold-visaged Four -Distinct with eyes, and from the living wheels -Distinct alike with multitude of eyes; -One Spirit in them ruled; and every eye -Glared lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire -Among the accursed, that withered all their strength, -And of their wonted vigour left them drained, -Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fallen. -Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checked -His thunder in mid volley; for he meant -Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven: -The overthrown he raised, and as a herd -Of goats or timorous flock together thronged -Drove them before him thunder-struck, pursued -With terrours, and with furies, to the bounds -And crystal wall of Heaven; which, opening wide, -Rolled inward, and a spacious gap disclosed -Into the wasteful deep: The monstrous sight -Struck them with horrour backward, but far worse -Urged them behind: Headlong themselves they threw -Down from the verge of Heaven; eternal wrath -Burnt after them to the bottomless pit. -Hell heard the unsufferable noise, Hell saw -Heaven ruining from Heaven, and would have fled -Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep -Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. -Nine days they fell: Confounded Chaos roared, -And felt tenfold confusion in their fall -Through his wild anarchy, so huge a rout -Incumbered him with ruin: Hell at last -Yawning received them whole, and on them closed; -Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire -Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain. -Disburdened Heaven rejoiced, and soon repaired -Her mural breach, returning whence it rolled. -Sole victor, from the expulsion of his foes, -Messiah his triumphal chariot turned: -To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood -Eye-witnesses of his almighty acts, -With jubilee advanced; and, as they went, -Shaded with branching palm, each Order bright, -Sung triumph, and him sung victorious King, -Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given, -Worthiest to reign: He, celebrated, rode -Triumphant through mid Heaven, into the courts -And temple of his Mighty Father throned -On high; who into glory him received, -Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss. -Thus, measuring things in Heaven by things on Earth, -At thy request, and that thou mayest beware -By what is past, to thee I have revealed -What might have else to human race been hid; -The discord which befel, and war in Heaven -Among the angelick Powers, and the deep fall -Of those too high aspiring, who rebelled -With Satan; he who envies now thy state, -Who now is plotting how he may seduce -Thee also from obedience, that, with him -Bereaved of happiness, thou mayest partake -His punishment, eternal misery; -Which would be all his solace and revenge, -As a despite done against the Most High, -Thee once to gain companion of his woe. -But listen not to his temptations, warn -Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard, -By terrible example, the reward -Of disobedience; firm they might have stood, -Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress. - - - -Book VII - - -Descend from Heaven, Urania, by that name -If rightly thou art called, whose voice divine -Following, above the Olympian hill I soar, -Above the flight of Pegasean wing! -The meaning, not the name, I call: for thou -Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top -Of old Olympus dwellest; but, heavenly-born, -Before the hills appeared, or fountain flowed, -Thou with eternal Wisdom didst converse, -Wisdom thy sister, and with her didst play -In presence of the Almighty Father, pleased -With thy celestial song. Up led by thee -Into the Heaven of Heavens I have presumed, -An earthly guest, and drawn empyreal air, -Thy tempering: with like safety guided down -Return me to my native element: -Lest from this flying steed unreined, (as once -Bellerophon, though from a lower clime,) -Dismounted, on the Aleian field I fall, -Erroneous there to wander, and forlorn. -Half yet remains unsung, but narrower bound -Within the visible diurnal sphere; -Standing on earth, not rapt above the pole, -More safe I sing with mortal voice, unchanged -To hoarse or mute, though fallen on evil days, -On evil days though fallen, and evil tongues; -In darkness, and with dangers compassed round, -And solitude; yet not alone, while thou -Visitest my slumbers nightly, or when morn -Purples the east: still govern thou my song, -Urania, and fit audience find, though few. -But drive far off the barbarous dissonance -Of Bacchus and his revellers, the race -Of that wild rout that tore the Thracian bard -In Rhodope, where woods and rocks had ears -To rapture, till the savage clamour drowned -Both harp and voice; nor could the Muse defend -Her son. So fail not thou, who thee implores: -For thou art heavenly, she an empty dream. -Say, Goddess, what ensued when Raphael, -The affable Arch-Angel, had forewarned -Adam, by dire example, to beware -Apostasy, by what befel in Heaven -To those apostates; lest the like befall -In Paradise to Adam or his race, -Charged not to touch the interdicted tree, -If they transgress, and slight that sole command, -So easily obeyed amid the choice -Of all tastes else to please their appetite, -Though wandering. He, with his consorted Eve, -The story heard attentive, and was filled -With admiration and deep muse, to hear -Of things so high and strange; things, to their thought -So unimaginable, as hate in Heaven, -And war so near the peace of God in bliss, -With such confusion: but the evil, soon -Driven back, redounded as a flood on those -From whom it sprung; impossible to mix -With blessedness. Whence Adam soon repealed -The doubts that in his heart arose: and now -Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know -What nearer might concern him, how this world -Of Heaven and Earth conspicuous first began; -When, and whereof created; for what cause; -What within Eden, or without, was done -Before his memory; as one whose drouth -Yet scarce allayed still eyes the current stream, -Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites, -Proceeded thus to ask his heavenly guest. -Great things, and full of wonder in our ears, -Far differing from this world, thou hast revealed, -Divine interpreter! by favour sent -Down from the empyrean, to forewarn -Us timely of what might else have been our loss, -Unknown, which human knowledge could not reach; -For which to the infinitely Good we owe -Immortal thanks, and his admonishment -Receive, with solemn purpose to observe -Immutably his sovran will, the end -Of what we are. But since thou hast vouchsafed -Gently, for our instruction, to impart -Things above earthly thought, which yet concerned -Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seemed, -Deign to descend now lower, and relate -What may no less perhaps avail us known, -How first began this Heaven which we behold -Distant so high, with moving fires adorned -Innumerable; and this which yields or fills -All space, the ambient air wide interfused -Embracing round this floried Earth; what cause -Moved the Creator, in his holy rest -Through all eternity, so late to build -In Chaos; and the work begun, how soon -Absolved; if unforbid thou mayest unfold -What we, not to explore the secrets ask -Of his eternal empire, but the more -To magnify his works, the more we know. -And the great light of day yet wants to run -Much of his race though steep; suspense in Heaven, -Held by thy voice, thy potent voice, he hears, -And longer will delay to hear thee tell -His generation, and the rising birth -Of Nature from the unapparent Deep: -Or if the star of evening and the moon -Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring, -Silence; and Sleep, listening to thee, will watch; -Or we can bid his absence, till thy song -End, and dismiss thee ere the morning shine. -Thus Adam his illustrious guest besought: -And thus the Godlike Angel answered mild. -This also thy request, with caution asked, -Obtain; though to recount almighty works -What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice, -Or heart of man suffice to comprehend? -Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve -To glorify the Maker, and infer -Thee also happier, shall not be withheld -Thy hearing; such commission from above -I have received, to answer thy desire -Of knowledge within bounds; beyond, abstain -To ask; nor let thine own inventions hope -Things not revealed, which the invisible King, -Only Omniscient, hath suppressed in night; -To none communicable in Earth or Heaven: -Enough is left besides to search and know. -But knowledge is as food, and needs no less -Her temperance over appetite, to know -In measure what the mind may well contain; -Oppresses else with surfeit, and soon turns -Wisdom to folly, as nourishment to wind. -Know then, that, after Lucifer from Heaven -(So call him, brighter once amidst the host -Of Angels, than that star the stars among,) -Fell with his flaming legions through the deep -Into his place, and the great Son returned -Victorious with his Saints, the Omnipotent -Eternal Father from his throne beheld -Their multitude, and to his Son thus spake. -At least our envious Foe hath failed, who thought -All like himself rebellious, by whose aid -This inaccessible high strength, the seat -Of Deity supreme, us dispossessed, -He trusted to have seised, and into fraud -Drew many, whom their place knows here no more: -Yet far the greater part have kept, I see, -Their station; Heaven, yet populous, retains -Number sufficient to possess her realms -Though wide, and this high temple to frequent -With ministeries due, and solemn rites: -But, lest his heart exalt him in the harm -Already done, to have dispeopled Heaven, -My damage fondly deemed, I can repair -That detriment, if such it be to lose -Self-lost; and in a moment will create -Another world, out of one man a race -Of men innumerable, there to dwell, -Not here; till, by degrees of merit raised, -They open to themselves at length the way -Up hither, under long obedience tried; -And Earth be changed to Heaven, and Heaven to Earth, -One kingdom, joy and union without end. -Mean while inhabit lax, ye Powers of Heaven; -And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee -This I perform; speak thou, and be it done! -My overshadowing Spirit and Might with thee -I send along; ride forth, and bid the Deep -Within appointed bounds be Heaven and Earth; -Boundless the Deep, because I Am who fill -Infinitude, nor vacuous the space. -Though I, uncircumscribed myself, retire, -And put not forth my goodness, which is free -To act or not, Necessity and Chance -Approach not me, and what I will is Fate. -So spake the Almighty, and to what he spake -His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect. -Immediate are the acts of God, more swift -Than time or motion, but to human ears -Cannot without process of speech be told, -So told as earthly notion can receive. -Great triumph and rejoicing was in Heaven, -When such was heard declared the Almighty's will; -Glory they sung to the Most High, good will -To future men, and in their dwellings peace; -Glory to Him, whose just avenging ire -Had driven out the ungodly from his sight -And the habitations of the just; to Him -Glory and praise, whose wisdom had ordained -Good out of evil to create; instead -Of Spirits malign, a better race to bring -Into their vacant room, and thence diffuse -His good to worlds and ages infinite. -So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the Son -On his great expedition now appeared, -Girt with Omnipotence, with radiance crowned -Of Majesty Divine; sapience and love -Immense, and all his Father in him shone. -About his chariot numberless were poured -Cherub, and Seraph, Potentates, and Thrones, -And Virtues, winged Spirits, and chariots winged -From the armoury of God; where stand of old -Myriads, between two brazen mountains lodged -Against a solemn day, harnessed at hand, -Celestial equipage; and now came forth -Spontaneous, for within them Spirit lived, -Attendant on their Lord: Heaven opened wide -Her ever-during gates, harmonious sound -On golden hinges moving, to let forth -The King of Glory, in his powerful Word -And Spirit, coming to create new worlds. -On heavenly ground they stood; and from the shore -They viewed the vast immeasurable abyss -Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild, -Up from the bottom turned by furious winds -And surging waves, as mountains, to assault -Heaven's highth, and with the center mix the pole. -Silence, ye troubled Waves, and thou Deep, peace, -Said then the Omnifick Word; your discord end! -Nor staid; but, on the wings of Cherubim -Uplifted, in paternal glory rode -Far into Chaos, and the world unborn; -For Chaos heard his voice: Him all his train -Followed in bright procession, to behold -Creation, and the wonders of his might. -Then staid the fervid wheels, and in his hand -He took the golden compasses, prepared -In God's eternal store, to circumscribe -This universe, and all created things: -One foot he centered, and the other turned -Round through the vast profundity obscure; -And said, Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds, -This be thy just circumference, O World! -Thus God the Heaven created, thus the Earth, -Matter unformed and void: Darkness profound -Covered the abyss: but on the watery calm -His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspread, -And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth -Throughout the fluid mass; but downward purged -The black tartareous cold infernal dregs, -Adverse to life: then founded, then conglobed -Like things to like; the rest to several place -Disparted, and between spun out the air; -And Earth self-balanced on her center hung. -Let there be light, said God; and forthwith Light -Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure, -Sprung from the deep; and from her native east -To journey through the aery gloom began, -Sphered in a radiant cloud, for yet the sun -Was not; she in a cloudy tabernacle -Sojourned the while. God saw the light was good; -And light from darkness by the hemisphere -Divided: light the Day, and darkness Night, -He named. Thus was the first day even and morn: -Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsung -By the celestial quires, when orient light -Exhaling first from darkness they beheld; -Birth-day of Heaven and Earth; with joy and shout -The hollow universal orb they filled, -And touched their golden harps, and hymning praised -God and his works; Creator him they sung, -Both when first evening was, and when first morn. -Again, God said, Let there be firmament -Amid the waters, and let it divide -The waters from the waters; and God made -The firmament, expanse of liquid, pure, -Transparent, elemental air, diffused -In circuit to the uttermost convex -Of this great round; partition firm and sure, -The waters underneath from those above -Dividing: for as earth, so he the world -Built on circumfluous waters calm, in wide -Crystalline ocean, and the loud misrule -Of Chaos far removed; lest fierce extremes -Contiguous might distemper the whole frame: -And Heaven he named the Firmament: So even -And morning chorus sung the second day. -The Earth was formed, but in the womb as yet -Of waters, embryon immature involved, -Appeared not: over all the face of Earth -Main ocean flowed, not idle; but, with warm -Prolifick humour softening all her globe, -Fermented the great mother to conceive, -Satiate with genial moisture; when God said, -Be gathered now ye waters under Heaven -Into one place, and let dry land appear. -Immediately the mountains huge appear -Emergent, and their broad bare backs upheave -Into the clouds; their tops ascend the sky: -So high as heaved the tumid hills, so low -Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep, -Capacious bed of waters: Thither they -Hasted with glad precipitance, uprolled, -As drops on dust conglobing from the dry: -Part rise in crystal wall, or ridge direct, -For haste; such flight the great command impressed -On the swift floods: As armies at the call -Of trumpet (for of armies thou hast heard) -Troop to their standard; so the watery throng, -Wave rolling after wave, where way they found, -If steep, with torrent rapture, if through plain, -Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them rock or hill; -But they, or under ground, or circuit wide -With serpent errour wandering, found their way, -And on the washy oose deep channels wore; -Easy, ere God had bid the ground be dry, -All but within those banks, where rivers now -Stream, and perpetual draw their humid train. -The dry land, Earth; and the great receptacle -Of congregated waters, he called Seas: -And saw that it was good; and said, Let the Earth -Put forth the verdant grass, herb yielding seed, -And fruit-tree yielding fruit after her kind, -Whose seed is in herself upon the Earth. -He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till then -Desart and bare, unsightly, unadorned, -Brought forth the tender grass, whose verdure clad -Her universal face with pleasant green; -Then herbs of every leaf, that sudden flowered -Opening their various colours, and made gay -Her bosom, smelling sweet: and, these scarce blown, -Forth flourished thick the clustering vine, forth crept -The swelling gourd, up stood the corny reed -Embattled in her field, and the humble shrub, -And bush with frizzled hair implicit: Last -Rose, as in dance, the stately trees, and spread -Their branches hung with copious fruit, or gemmed -Their blossoms: With high woods the hills were crowned; -With tufts the valleys, and each fountain side; -With borders long the rivers: that Earth now -Seemed like to Heaven, a seat where Gods might dwell, -Or wander with delight, and love to haunt -Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rained -Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground -None was; but from the Earth a dewy mist -Went up, and watered all the ground, and each -Plant of the field; which, ere it was in the Earth, -God made, and every herb, before it grew -On the green stem: God saw that it was good: -So even and morn recorded the third day. -Again the Almighty spake, Let there be lights -High in the expanse of Heaven, to divide -The day from night; and let them be for signs, -For seasons, and for days, and circling years; -And let them be for lights, as I ordain -Their office in the firmament of Heaven, -To give light on the Earth; and it was so. -And God made two great lights, great for their use -To Man, the greater to have rule by day, -The less by night, altern; and made the stars, -And set them in the firmament of Heaven -To illuminate the Earth, and rule the day -In their vicissitude, and rule the night, -And light from darkness to divide. God saw, -Surveying his great work, that it was good: -For of celestial bodies first the sun -A mighty sphere he framed, unlightsome first, -Though of ethereal mould: then formed the moon -Globose, and every magnitude of stars, -And sowed with stars the Heaven, thick as a field: -Of light by far the greater part he took, -Transplanted from her cloudy shrine, and placed -In the sun's orb, made porous to receive -And drink the liquid light; firm to retain -Her gathered beams, great palace now of light. -Hither, as to their fountain, other stars -Repairing, in their golden urns draw light, -And hence the morning-planet gilds her horns; -By tincture or reflection they augment -Their small peculiar, though from human sight -So far remote, with diminution seen, -First in his east the glorious lamp was seen, -Regent of day, and all the horizon round -Invested with bright rays, jocund to run -His longitude through Heaven's high road; the gray -Dawn, and the Pleiades, before him danced, -Shedding sweet influence: Less bright the moon, -But opposite in levelled west was set, -His mirrour, with full face borrowing her light -From him; for other light she needed none -In that aspect, and still that distance keeps -Till night; then in the east her turn she shines, -Revolved on Heaven's great axle, and her reign -With thousand lesser lights dividual holds, -With thousand thousand stars, that then appeared -Spangling the hemisphere: Then first adorned -With their bright luminaries that set and rose, -Glad evening and glad morn crowned the fourth day. -And God said, Let the waters generate -Reptile with spawn abundant, living soul: -And let fowl fly above the Earth, with wings -Displayed on the open firmament of Heaven. -And God created the great whales, and each -Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously -The waters generated by their kinds; -And every bird of wing after his kind; -And saw that it was good, and blessed them, saying. -Be fruitful, multiply, and in the seas, -And lakes, and running streams, the waters fill; -And let the fowl be multiplied, on the Earth. -Forthwith the sounds and seas, each creek and bay, -With fry innumerable swarm, and shoals -Of fish that with their fins, and shining scales, -Glide under the green wave, in sculls that oft -Bank the mid sea: part single, or with mate, -Graze the sea-weed their pasture, and through groves -Of coral stray; or, sporting with quick glance, -Show to the sun their waved coats dropt with gold; -Or, in their pearly shells at ease, attend -Moist nutriment; or under rocks their food -In jointed armour watch: on smooth the seal -And bended dolphins play: part huge of bulk -Wallowing unwieldy, enormous in their gait, -Tempest the ocean: there leviathan, -Hugest of living creatures, on the deep -Stretched like a promontory sleeps or swims, -And seems a moving land; and at his gills -Draws in, and at his trunk spouts out, a sea. -Mean while the tepid caves, and fens, and shores, -Their brood as numerous hatch, from the egg that soon -Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclosed -Their callow young; but feathered soon and fledge -They summed their pens; and, soaring the air sublime, -With clang despised the ground, under a cloud -In prospect; there the eagle and the stork -On cliffs and cedar tops their eyries build: -Part loosely wing the region, part more wise -In common, ranged in figure, wedge their way, -Intelligent of seasons, and set forth -Their aery caravan, high over seas -Flying, and over lands, with mutual wing -Easing their flight; so steers the prudent crane -Her annual voyage, borne on winds; the air -Floats as they pass, fanned with unnumbered plumes: -From branch to branch the smaller birds with song -Solaced the woods, and spread their painted wings -Till even; nor then the solemn nightingale -Ceased warbling, but all night tun'd her soft lays: -Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathed -Their downy breast; the swan with arched neck, -Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows -Her state with oary feet; yet oft they quit -The dank, and, rising on stiff pennons, tower -The mid aereal sky: Others on ground -Walked firm; the crested cock whose clarion sounds -The silent hours, and the other whose gay train -Adorns him, coloured with the florid hue -Of rainbows and starry eyes. The waters thus -With fish replenished, and the air with fowl, -Evening and morn solemnized the fifth day. -The sixth, and of creation last, arose -With evening harps and matin; when God said, -Let the Earth bring forth soul living in her kind, -Cattle, and creeping things, and beast of the Earth, -Each in their kind. The Earth obeyed, and straight -Opening her fertile womb teemed at a birth -Innumerous living creatures, perfect forms, -Limbed and full grown: Out of the ground up rose, -As from his lair, the wild beast where he wons -In forest wild, in thicket, brake, or den; -Among the trees in pairs they rose, they walked: -The cattle in the fields and meadows green: -Those rare and solitary, these in flocks -Pasturing at once, and in broad herds upsprung. -The grassy clods now calved; now half appeared -The tawny lion, pawing to get free -His hinder parts, then springs as broke from bonds, -And rampant shakes his brinded mane; the ounce, -The libbard, and the tiger, as the mole -Rising, the crumbled earth above them threw -In hillocks: The swift stag from under ground -Bore up his branching head: Scarce from his mould -Behemoth biggest born of earth upheaved -His vastness: Fleeced the flocks and bleating rose, -As plants: Ambiguous between sea and land -The river-horse, and scaly crocodile. -At once came forth whatever creeps the ground, -Insect or worm: those waved their limber fans -For wings, and smallest lineaments exact -In all the liveries decked of summer's pride -With spots of gold and purple, azure and green: -These, as a line, their long dimension drew, -Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not all -Minims of nature; some of serpent-kind, -Wonderous in length and corpulence, involved -Their snaky folds, and added wings. First crept -The parsimonious emmet, provident -Of future; in small room large heart enclosed; -Pattern of just equality perhaps -Hereafter, joined in her popular tribes -Of commonalty: Swarming next appeared -The female bee, that feeds her husband drone -Deliciously, and builds her waxen cells -With honey stored: The rest are numberless, -And thou their natures knowest, and gavest them names, -Needless to thee repeated; nor unknown -The serpent, subtlest beast of all the field, -Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes -And hairy mane terrifick, though to thee -Not noxious, but obedient at thy call. -Now Heaven in all her glory shone, and rolled -Her motions, as the great first Mover's hand -First wheeled their course: Earth in her rich attire -Consummate lovely smiled; air, water, earth, -By fowl, fish, beast, was flown, was swum, was walked, -Frequent; and of the sixth day yet remained: -There wanted yet the master-work, the end -Of all yet done; a creature, who, not prone -And brute as other creatures, but endued -With sanctity of reason, might erect -His stature, and upright with front serene -Govern the rest, self-knowing; and from thence -Magnanimous to correspond with Heaven, -But grateful to acknowledge whence his good -Descends, thither with heart, and voice, and eyes -Directed in devotion, to adore -And worship God Supreme, who made him chief -Of all his works: therefore the Omnipotent -Eternal Father (for where is not he -Present?) thus to his Son audibly spake. -Let us make now Man in our image, Man -In our similitude, and let them rule -Over the fish and fowl of sea and air, -Beast of the field, and over all the Earth, -And every creeping thing that creeps the ground. -This said, he formed thee, Adam, thee, O Man, -Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breathed -The breath of life; in his own image he -Created thee, in the image of God -Express; and thou becamest a living soul. -Male he created thee; but thy consort -Female, for race; then blessed mankind, and said, -Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the Earth; -Subdue it, and throughout dominion hold -Over fish of the sea, and fowl of the air, -And every living thing that moves on the Earth. -Wherever thus created, for no place -Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou knowest, -He brought thee into this delicious grove, -This garden, planted with the trees of God, -Delectable both to behold and taste; -And freely all their pleasant fruit for food -Gave thee; all sorts are here that all the Earth yields, -Variety without end; but of the tree, -Which, tasted, works knowledge of good and evil, -Thou mayest not; in the day thou eatest, thou diest; -Death is the penalty imposed; beware, -And govern well thy appetite; lest Sin -Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death. -Here finished he, and all that he had made -Viewed, and behold all was entirely good; -So even and morn accomplished the sixth day: -Yet not till the Creator from his work -Desisting, though unwearied, up returned, -Up to the Heaven of Heavens, his high abode; -Thence to behold this new created world, -The addition of his empire, how it showed -In prospect from his throne, how good, how fair, -Answering his great idea. Up he rode -Followed with acclamation, and the sound -Symphonious of ten thousand harps, that tuned -Angelick harmonies: The earth, the air -Resounded, (thou rememberest, for thou heardst,) -The heavens and all the constellations rung, -The planets in their station listening stood, -While the bright pomp ascended jubilant. -Open, ye everlasting gates! they sung, -Open, ye Heavens! your living doors;let in -The great Creator from his work returned -Magnificent, his six days work, a World; -Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deign -To visit oft the dwellings of just men, -Delighted; and with frequent intercourse -Thither will send his winged messengers -On errands of supernal grace. So sung -The glorious train ascending: He through Heaven, -That opened wide her blazing portals, led -To God's eternal house direct the way; -A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold -And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear, -Seen in the galaxy, that milky way, -Which nightly, as a circling zone, thou seest -Powdered with stars. And now on Earth the seventh -Evening arose in Eden, for the sun -Was set, and twilight from the east came on, -Forerunning night; when at the holy mount -Of Heaven's high-seated top, the imperial throne -Of Godhead, fixed for ever firm and sure, -The Filial Power arrived, and sat him down -With his great Father; for he also went -Invisible, yet staid, (such privilege -Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordained, -Author and End of all things; and, from work -Now resting, blessed and hallowed the seventh day, -As resting on that day from all his work, -But not in silence holy kept: the harp -Had work and rested not; the solemn pipe, -And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop, -All sounds on fret by string or golden wire, -Tempered soft tunings, intermixed with voice -Choral or unison: of incense clouds, -Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount. -Creation and the six days acts they sung: -Great are thy works, Jehovah! infinite -Thy power! what thought can measure thee, or tongue -Relate thee! Greater now in thy return -Than from the giant Angels: Thee that day -Thy thunders magnified; but to create -Is greater than created to destroy. -Who can impair thee, Mighty King, or bound -Thy empire! Easily the proud attempt -Of Spirits apostate, and their counsels vain, -Thou hast repelled; while impiously they thought -Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw -The number of thy worshippers. Who seeks -To lessen thee, against his purpose serves -To manifest the more thy might: his evil -Thou usest, and from thence createst more good. -Witness this new-made world, another Heaven -From Heaven-gate not far, founded in view -On the clear hyaline, the glassy sea; -Of amplitude almost immense, with stars -Numerous, and every star perhaps a world -Of destined habitation; but thou knowest -Their seasons: among these the seat of Men, -Earth, with her nether ocean circumfused, -Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy Men, -And sons of Men, whom God hath thus advanced! -Created in his image, there to dwell -And worship him; and in reward to rule -Over his works, on earth, in sea, or air, -And multiply a race of worshippers -Holy and just: Thrice happy, if they know -Their happiness, and persevere upright! -So sung they, and the empyrean rung -With halleluiahs: Thus was sabbath kept. -And thy request think now fulfilled, that asked -How first this world and face of things began, -And what before thy memory was done -From the beginning; that posterity, -Informed by thee, might know: If else thou seekest -Aught, not surpassing human measure, say. - - - -Book VIII - - -The Angel ended, and in Adam's ear -So charming left his voice, that he a while -Thought him still speaking, still stood fixed to hear; -Then, as new waked, thus gratefully replied. -What thanks sufficient, or what recompence -Equal, have I to render thee, divine -Historian, who thus largely hast allayed -The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsafed -This friendly condescension to relate -Things, else by me unsearchable; now heard -With wonder, but delight, and, as is due, -With glory attributed to the high -Creator! Something yet of doubt remains, -Which only thy solution can resolve. -When I behold this goodly frame, this world, -Of Heaven and Earth consisting; and compute -Their magnitudes; this Earth, a spot, a grain, -An atom, with the firmament compared -And all her numbered stars, that seem to roll -Spaces incomprehensible, (for such -Their distance argues, and their swift return -Diurnal,) merely to officiate light -Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot, -One day and night; in all her vast survey -Useless besides; reasoning I oft admire, -How Nature wise and frugal could commit -Such disproportions, with superfluous hand -So many nobler bodies to create, -Greater so manifold, to this one use, -For aught appears, and on their orbs impose -Such restless revolution day by day -Repeated; while the sedentary Earth, -That better might with far less compass move, -Served by more noble than herself, attains -Her end without least motion, and receives, -As tribute, such a sumless journey brought -Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light; -Speed, to describe whose swiftness number fails. -So spake our sire, and by his countenance seemed -Entering on studious thoughts abstruse; which Eve -Perceiving, where she sat retired in sight, -With lowliness majestick from her seat, -And grace that won who saw to wish her stay, -Rose, and went forth among her fruits and flowers, -To visit how they prospered, bud and bloom, -Her nursery; they at her coming sprung, -And, touched by her fair tendance, gladlier grew. -Yet went she not, as not with such discourse -Delighted, or not capable her ear -Of what was high: such pleasure she reserved, -Adam relating, she sole auditress; -Her husband the relater she preferred -Before the Angel, and of him to ask -Chose rather; he, she knew, would intermix -Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute -With conjugal caresses: from his lip -Not words alone pleased her. O! when meet now -Such pairs, in love and mutual honour joined? -With Goddess-like demeanour forth she went, -Not unattended; for on her, as Queen, -A pomp of winning Graces waited still, -And from about her shot darts of desire -Into all eyes, to wish her still in sight. -And Raphael now, to Adam's doubt proposed, -Benevolent and facile thus replied. -To ask or search, I blame thee not; for Heaven -Is as the book of God before thee set, -Wherein to read his wonderous works, and learn -His seasons, hours, or days, or months, or years: -This to attain, whether Heaven move or Earth, -Imports not, if thou reckon right; the rest -From Man or Angel the great Architect -Did wisely to conceal, and not divulge -His secrets to be scanned by them who ought -Rather admire; or, if they list to try -Conjecture, he his fabrick of the Heavens -Hath left to their disputes, perhaps to move -His laughter at their quaint opinions wide -Hereafter; when they come to model Heaven -And calculate the stars, how they will wield -The mighty frame; how build, unbuild, contrive -To save appearances; how gird the sphere -With centrick and eccentrick scribbled o'er, -Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb: -Already by thy reasoning this I guess, -Who art to lead thy offspring, and supposest -That bodies bright and greater should not serve -The less not bright, nor Heaven such journeys run, -Earth sitting still, when she alone receives -The benefit: Consider first, that great -Or bright infers not excellence: the Earth -Though, in comparison of Heaven, so small, -Nor glistering, may of solid good contain -More plenty than the sun that barren shines; -Whose virtue on itself works no effect, -But in the fruitful Earth; there first received, -His beams, unactive else, their vigour find. -Yet not to Earth are those bright luminaries -Officious; but to thee, Earth's habitant. -And for the Heaven's wide circuit, let it speak -The Maker's high magnificence, who built -So spacious, and his line stretched out so far; -That Man may know he dwells not in his own; -An edifice too large for him to fill, -Lodged in a small partition; and the rest -Ordained for uses to his Lord best known. -The swiftness of those circles attribute, -Though numberless, to his Omnipotence, -That to corporeal substances could add -Speed almost spiritual: Me thou thinkest not slow, -Who since the morning-hour set out from Heaven -Where God resides, and ere mid-day arrived -In Eden; distance inexpressible -By numbers that have name. But this I urge, -Admitting motion in the Heavens, to show -Invalid that which thee to doubt it moved; -Not that I so affirm, though so it seem -To thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth. -God, to remove his ways from human sense, -Placed Heaven from Earth so far, that earthly sight, -If it presume, might err in things too high, -And no advantage gain. What if the sun -Be center to the world; and other stars, -By his attractive virtue and their own -Incited, dance about him various rounds? -Their wandering course now high, now low, then hid, -Progressive, retrograde, or standing still, -In six thou seest; and what if seventh to these -The planet earth, so stedfast though she seem, -Insensibly three different motions move? -Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe, -Moved contrary with thwart obliquities; -Or save the sun his labour, and that swift -Nocturnal and diurnal rhomb supposed, -Invisible else above all stars, the wheel -Of day and night; which needs not thy belief, -If earth, industrious of herself, fetch day -Travelling east, and with her part averse -From the sun's beam meet night, her other part -Still luminous by his ray. What if that light, -Sent from her through the wide transpicuous air, -To the terrestrial moon be as a star, -Enlightening her by day, as she by night -This earth? reciprocal, if land be there, -Fields and inhabitants: Her spots thou seest -As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce -Fruits in her softened soil for some to eat -Allotted there; and other suns perhaps, -With their attendant moons, thou wilt descry, -Communicating male and female light; -Which two great sexes animate the world, -Stored in each orb perhaps with some that live. -For such vast room in Nature unpossessed -By living soul, desart and desolate, -Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute -Each orb a glimpse of light, conveyed so far -Down to this habitable, which returns -Light back to them, is obvious to dispute. -But whether thus these things, or whether not; -But whether the sun, predominant in Heaven, -Rise on the earth; or earth rise on the sun; -He from the east his flaming road begin; -Or she from west her silent course advance, -With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps -On her soft axle, while she paces even, -And bears thee soft with the smooth hair along; -Sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid; -Leave them to God above; him serve, and fear! -Of other creatures, as him pleases best, -Wherever placed, let him dispose; joy thou -In what he gives to thee, this Paradise -And thy fair Eve; Heaven is for thee too high -To know what passes there; be lowly wise: -Think only what concerns thee, and thy being; -Dream not of other worlds, what creatures there -Live, in what state, condition, or degree; -Contented that thus far hath been revealed -Not of Earth only, but of highest Heaven. -To whom thus Adam, cleared of doubt, replied. -How fully hast thou satisfied me, pure -Intelligence of Heaven, Angel serene! -And, freed from intricacies, taught to live -The easiest way; nor with perplexing thoughts -To interrupt the sweet of life, from which -God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares, -And not molest us; unless we ourselves -Seek them with wandering thoughts, and notions vain. -But apt the mind or fancy is to rove -Unchecked, and of her roving is no end; -Till warned, or by experience taught, she learn, -That, not to know at large of things remote -From use, obscure and subtle; but, to know -That which before us lies in daily life, -Is the prime wisdom: What is more, is fume, -Or emptiness, or fond impertinence: -And renders us, in things that most concern, -Unpractised, unprepared, and still to seek. -Therefore from this high pitch let us descend -A lower flight, and speak of things at hand -Useful; whence, haply, mention may arise -Of something not unseasonable to ask, -By sufferance, and thy wonted favour, deigned. -Thee I have heard relating what was done -Ere my remembrance: now, hear me relate -My story, which perhaps thou hast not heard; -And day is not yet spent; till then thou seest -How subtly to detain thee I devise; -Inviting thee to hear while I relate; -Fond! were it not in hope of thy reply: -For, while I sit with thee, I seem in Heaven; -And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear -Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst -And hunger both, from labour, at the hour -Of sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill, -Though pleasant; but thy words, with grace divine -Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety. -To whom thus Raphael answered heavenly meek. -Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men, -Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee -Abundantly his gifts hath also poured -Inward and outward both, his image fair: -Speaking, or mute, all comeliness and grace -Attends thee; and each word, each motion, forms; -Nor less think we in Heaven of thee on Earth -Than of our fellow-servant, and inquire -Gladly into the ways of God with Man: -For God, we see, hath honoured thee, and set -On Man his equal love: Say therefore on; -For I that day was absent, as befel, -Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure, -Far on excursion toward the gates of Hell; -Squared in full legion (such command we had) -To see that none thence issued forth a spy, -Or enemy, while God was in his work; -Lest he, incensed at such eruption bold, -Destruction with creation might have mixed. -Not that they durst without his leave attempt; -But us he sends upon his high behests -For state, as Sovran King; and to inure -Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut, -The dismal gates, and barricadoed strong; -But long ere our approaching heard within -Noise, other than the sound of dance or song, -Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. -Glad we returned up to the coasts of light -Ere sabbath-evening: so we had in charge. -But thy relation now; for I attend, -Pleased with thy words no less than thou with mine. -So spake the Godlike Power, and thus our Sire. -For Man to tell how human life began -Is hard; for who himself beginning knew -Desire with thee still longer to converse -Induced me. As new waked from soundest sleep, -Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid, -In balmy sweat; which with his beams the sun -Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed. -Straight toward Heaven my wondering eyes I turned, -And gazed a while the ample sky; till, raised -By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung, -As thitherward endeavouring, and upright -Stood on my feet: about me round I saw -Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains, -And liquid lapse of murmuring streams; by these, -Creatures that lived and moved, and walked, or flew; -Birds on the branches warbling; all things smiled; -With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflowed. -Myself I then perused, and limb by limb -Surveyed, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran -With supple joints, as lively vigour led: -But who I was, or where, or from what cause, -Knew not; to speak I tried, and forthwith spake; -My tongue obeyed, and readily could name -Whate'er I saw. Thou Sun, said I, fair light, -And thou enlightened Earth, so fresh and gay, -Ye Hills, and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plains, -And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell, -Tell, if ye saw, how I came thus, how here?-- -Not of myself;--by some great Maker then, -In goodness and in power pre-eminent: -Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, -From whom I have that thus I move and live, -And feel that I am happier than I know.-- -While thus I called, and strayed I knew not whither, -From where I first drew air, and first beheld -This happy light; when, answer none returned, -On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers, -Pensive I sat me down: There gentle sleep -First found me, and with soft oppression seised -My droused sense, untroubled, though I thought -I then was passing to my former state -Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve: -When suddenly stood at my head a dream, -Whose inward apparition gently moved -My fancy to believe I yet had being, -And lived: One came, methought, of shape divine, -And said, 'Thy mansion wants thee, Adam; rise, -'First Man, of men innumerable ordained -'First Father! called by thee, I come thy guide -'To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepared.' -So saying, by the hand he took me raised, -And over fields and waters, as in air -Smooth-sliding without step, last led me up -A woody mountain; whose high top was plain, -A circuit wide, enclosed, with goodliest trees -Planted, with walks, and bowers; that what I saw -Of Earth before scarce pleasant seemed. Each tree, -Loaden with fairest fruit that hung to the eye -Tempting, stirred in me sudden appetite -To pluck and eat; whereat I waked, and found -Before mine eyes all real, as the dream -Had lively shadowed: Here had new begun -My wandering, had not he, who was my guide -Up hither, from among the trees appeared, -Presence Divine. Rejoicing, but with awe, -In adoration at his feet I fell -Submiss: He reared me, and 'Whom thou soughtest I am,' -Said mildly, 'Author of all this thou seest -'Above, or round about thee, or beneath. -'This Paradise I give thee, count it thine -'To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat: -'Of every tree that in the garden grows -'Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth: -'But of the tree whose operation brings -'Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set -'The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith, -'Amid the garden by the tree of life, -'Remember what I warn thee, shun to taste, -'And shun the bitter consequence: for know, -'The day thou eatest thereof, my sole command -'Transgressed, inevitably thou shalt die, -'From that day mortal; and this happy state -'Shalt lose, expelled from hence into a world -'Of woe and sorrow.' Sternly he pronounced -The rigid interdiction, which resounds -Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice -Not to incur; but soon his clear aspect -Returned, and gracious purpose thus renewed. -'Not only these fair bounds, but all the Earth -'To thee and to thy race I give; as lords -'Possess it, and all things that therein live, -'Or live in sea, or air; beast, fish, and fowl. -'In sign whereof, each bird and beast behold -'After their kinds; I bring them to receive -'From thee their names, and pay thee fealty -'With low subjection; understand the same -'Of fish within their watery residence, -'Not hither summoned, since they cannot change -'Their element, to draw the thinner air.' -As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold -Approaching two and two; these cowering low -With blandishment; each bird stooped on his wing. -I named them, as they passed, and understood -Their nature, with such knowledge God endued -My sudden apprehension: But in these -I found not what methought I wanted still; -And to the heavenly Vision thus presumed. -O, by what name, for thou above all these, -Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher, -Surpassest far my naming; how may I -Adore thee, Author of this universe, -And all this good to man? for whose well being -So amply, and with hands so liberal, -Thou hast provided all things: But with me -I see not who partakes. In solitude -What happiness, who can enjoy alone, -Or, all enjoying, what contentment find? -Thus I presumptuous; and the Vision bright, -As with a smile more brightened, thus replied. -What callest thou solitude? Is not the Earth -With various living creatures, and the air -Replenished, and all these at thy command -To come and play before thee? Knowest thou not -Their language and their ways? They also know, -And reason not contemptibly: With these -Find pastime, and bear rule; thy realm is large. -So spake the Universal Lord, and seemed -So ordering: I, with leave of speech implored, -And humble deprecation, thus replied. -Let not my words offend thee, Heavenly Power; -My Maker, be propitious while I speak. -Hast thou not made me here thy substitute, -And these inferiour far beneath me set? -Among unequals what society -Can sort, what harmony, or true delight? -Which must be mutual, in proportion due -Given and received; but, in disparity -The one intense, the other still remiss, -Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove -Tedious alike: Of fellowship I speak -Such as I seek, fit to participate -All rational delight: wherein the brute -Cannot be human consort: They rejoice -Each with their kind, lion with lioness; -So fitly them in pairs thou hast combined: -Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl -So well converse, nor with the ox the ape; -Worse then can man with beast, and least of all. -Whereto the Almighty answered, not displeased. -A nice and subtle happiness, I see, -Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice -Of thy associates, Adam! and wilt taste -No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary. -What thinkest thou then of me, and this my state? -Seem I to thee sufficiently possessed -Of happiness, or not? who am alone -From all eternity; for none I know -Second to me or like, equal much less. -How have I then with whom to hold converse, -Save with the creatures which I made, and those -To me inferiour, infinite descents -Beneath what other creatures are to thee? -He ceased; I lowly answered. To attain -The highth and depth of thy eternal ways -All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things! -Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee -Is no deficience found: Not so is Man, -But in degree; the cause of his desire -By conversation with his like to help -Or solace his defects. No need that thou -Shouldst propagate, already Infinite; -And through all numbers absolute, though One: -But Man by number is to manifest -His single imperfection, and beget -Like of his like, his image multiplied, -In unity defective; which requires -Collateral love, and dearest amity. -Thou in thy secresy although alone, -Best with thyself accompanied, seekest not -Social communication; yet, so pleased, -Canst raise thy creature to what highth thou wilt -Of union or communion, deified: -I, by conversing, cannot these erect -From prone; nor in their ways complacence find. -Thus I emboldened spake, and freedom used -Permissive, and acceptance found; which gained -This answer from the gracious Voice Divine. -Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased; -And find thee knowing, not of beasts alone, -Which thou hast rightly named, but of thyself; -Expressing well the spirit within thee free, -My image, not imparted to the brute; -Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee -Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike; -And be so minded still: I, ere thou spakest, -Knew it not good for Man to be alone; -And no such company as then thou sawest -Intended thee; for trial only brought, -To see how thou couldest judge of fit and meet: -What next I bring shall please thee, be assured, -Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self, -Thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire. -He ended, or I heard no more; for now -My earthly by his heavenly overpowered, -Which it had long stood under, strained to the highth -In that celestial colloquy sublime, -As with an object that excels the sense -Dazzled and spent, sunk down; and sought repair -Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, called -By Nature as in aid, and closed mine eyes. -Mine eyes he closed, but open left the cell -Of fancy, my internal sight; by which, -Abstract as in a trance, methought I saw, -Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape -Still glorious before whom awake I stood: -Who stooping opened my left side, and took -From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm, -And life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound, -But suddenly with flesh filled up and healed: -The rib he formed and fashioned with his hands; -Under his forming hands a creature grew, -Man-like, but different sex; so lovely fair, -That what seemed fair in all the world, seemed now -Mean, or in her summed up, in her contained -And in her looks; which from that time infused -Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before, -And into all things from her air inspired -The spirit of love and amorous delight. -She disappeared, and left me dark; I waked -To find her, or for ever to deplore -Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure: -When out of hope, behold her, not far off, -Such as I saw her in my dream, adorned -With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow -To make her amiable: On she came, -Led by her heavenly Maker, though unseen, -And guided by his voice; nor uninformed -Of nuptial sanctity, and marriage rites: -Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye, -In every gesture dignity and love. -I, overjoyed, could not forbear aloud. -This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfilled -Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign, -Giver of all things fair! but fairest this -Of all thy gifts! nor enviest. I now see -Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself -Before me: Woman is her name;of Man -Extracted: for this cause he shall forego -Father and mother, and to his wife adhere; -And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul. -She heard me thus; and though divinely brought, -Yet innocence, and virgin modesty, -Her virtue, and the conscience of her worth, -That would be wooed, and not unsought be won, -Not obvious, not obtrusive, but, retired, -The more desirable; or, to say all, -Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought, -Wrought in her so, that, seeing me, she turned: -I followed her; she what was honour knew, -And with obsequious majesty approved -My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower -I led her blushing like the morn: All Heaven, -And happy constellations, on that hour -Shed their selectest influence; the Earth -Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill; -Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs -Whispered it to the woods, and from their wings -Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub, -Disporting, till the amorous bird of night -Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening-star -On his hill top, to light the bridal lamp. -Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought -My story to the sum of earthly bliss, -Which I enjoy; and must confess to find -In all things else delight indeed, but such -As, used or not, works in the mind no change, -Nor vehement desire; these delicacies -I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, -Walks, and the melody of birds: but here -Far otherwise, transported I behold, -Transported touch; here passion first I felt, -Commotion strange! in all enjoyments else -Superiour and unmoved; here only weak -Against the charm of Beauty's powerful glance. -Or Nature failed in me, and left some part -Not proof enough such object to sustain; -Or, from my side subducting, took perhaps -More than enough; at least on her bestowed -Too much of ornament, in outward show -Elaborate, of inward less exact. -For well I understand in the prime end -Of Nature her the inferiour, in the mind -And inward faculties, which most excel; -In outward also her resembling less -His image who made both, and less expressing -The character of that dominion given -O'er other creatures: Yet when I approach -Her loveliness, so absolute she seems -And in herself complete, so well to know -Her own, that what she wills to do or say, -Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best: -All higher knowledge in her presence falls -Degraded; Wisdom in discourse with her -Loses discountenanced, and like Folly shows; -Authority and Reason on her wait, -As one intended first, not after made -Occasionally; and, to consummate all, -Greatness of mind and Nobleness their seat -Build in her loveliest, and create an awe -About her, as a guard angelick placed. -To whom the Angel with contracted brow. -Accuse not Nature, she hath done her part; -Do thou but thine; and be not diffident -Of Wisdom; she deserts thee not, if thou -Dismiss not her, when most thou needest her nigh, -By attributing overmuch to things -Less excellent, as thou thyself perceivest. -For, what admirest thou, what transports thee so, -An outside? fair, no doubt, and worthy well -Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love; -Not thy subjection: Weigh with her thyself; -Then value: Oft-times nothing profits more -Than self-esteem, grounded on just and right -Well managed; of that skill the more thou knowest, -The more she will acknowledge thee her head, -And to realities yield all her shows: -Made so adorn for thy delight the more, -So awful, that with honour thou mayest love -Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise. -But if the sense of touch, whereby mankind -Is propagated, seem such dear delight -Beyond all other; think the same vouchsafed -To cattle and each beast; which would not be -To them made common and divulged, if aught -Therein enjoyed were worthy to subdue -The soul of man, or passion in him move. -What higher in her society thou findest -Attractive, human, rational, love still; -In loving thou dost well, in passion not, -Wherein true love consists not: Love refines -The thoughts, and heart enlarges; hath his seat -In reason, and is judicious; is the scale -By which to heavenly love thou mayest ascend, -Not sunk in carnal pleasure; for which cause, -Among the beasts no mate for thee was found. -To whom thus, half abashed, Adam replied. -Neither her outside formed so fair, nor aught -In procreation common to all kinds, -(Though higher of the genial bed by far, -And with mysterious reverence I deem,) -So much delights me, as those graceful acts, -Those thousand decencies, that daily flow -From all her words and actions mixed with love -And sweet compliance, which declare unfeigned -Union of mind, or in us both one soul; -Harmony to behold in wedded pair -More grateful than harmonious sound to the ear. -Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose -What inward thence I feel, not therefore foiled, -Who meet with various objects, from the sense -Variously representing; yet, still free, -Approve the best, and follow what I approve. -To love, thou blamest me not; for Love, thou sayest, -Leads up to Heaven, is both the way and guide; -Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask: -Love not the heavenly Spirits, and how their love -Express they? by looks only? or do they mix -Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch? -To whom the Angel, with a smile that glowed -Celestial rosy red, Love's proper hue, -Answered. Let it suffice thee that thou knowest -Us happy, and without love no happiness. -Whatever pure thou in the body enjoyest, -(And pure thou wert created) we enjoy -In eminence; and obstacle find none -Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars; -Easier than air with air, if Spirits embrace, -Total they mix, union of pure with pure -Desiring, nor restrained conveyance need, -As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul. -But I can now no more; the parting sun -Beyond the Earth's green Cape and verdant Isles -Hesperian sets, my signal to depart. -Be strong, live happy, and love! But, first of all, -Him, whom to love is to obey, and keep -His great command; take heed lest passion sway -Thy judgement to do aught, which else free will -Would not admit: thine, and of all thy sons, -The weal or woe in thee is placed; beware! -I in thy persevering shall rejoice, -And all the Blest: Stand fast;to stand or fall -Free in thine own arbitrement it lies. -Perfect within, no outward aid require; -And all temptation to transgress repel. -So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus -Followed with benediction. Since to part, -Go, heavenly guest, ethereal Messenger, -Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore! -Gentle to me and affable hath been -Thy condescension, and shall be honoured ever -With grateful memory: Thou to mankind -Be good and friendly still, and oft return! -So parted they; the Angel up to Heaven -From the thick shade, and Adam to his bower. - - - -Book IX - - -No more of talk where God or Angel guest -With Man, as with his friend, familiar us'd, -To sit indulgent, and with him partake -Rural repast; permitting him the while -Venial discourse unblam'd. I now must change -Those notes to tragick; foul distrust, and breach -Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt, -And disobedience: on the part of Heaven -Now alienated, distance and distaste, -Anger and just rebuke, and judgement given, -That brought into this world a world of woe, -Sin and her shadow Death, and Misery -Death's harbinger: Sad talk!yet argument -Not less but more heroick than the wrath -Of stern Achilles on his foe pursued -Thrice fugitive about Troy wall; or rage -Of Turnus for Lavinia disespous'd; -Or Neptune's ire, or Juno's, that so long -Perplexed the Greek, and Cytherea's son: - - 00482129 -If answerable style I can obtain -Of my celestial patroness, who deigns -Her nightly visitation unimplor'd, -And dictates to me slumbering; or inspires -Easy my unpremeditated verse: -Since first this subject for heroick song -Pleas'd me long choosing, and beginning late; -Not sedulous by nature to indite -Wars, hitherto the only argument -Heroick deem'd chief mastery to dissect -With long and tedious havock fabled knights -In battles feign'd; the better fortitude -Of patience and heroick martyrdom -Unsung; or to describe races and games, -Or tilting furniture, imblazon'd shields, -Impresses quaint, caparisons and steeds, -Bases and tinsel trappings, gorgeous knights -At joust and tournament; then marshall'd feast -Serv'd up in hall with sewers and seneshals; -The skill of artifice or office mean, -Not that which justly gives heroick name -To person, or to poem. Me, of these -Nor skill'd nor studious, higher argument -Remains; sufficient of itself to raise -That name, unless an age too late, or cold -Climate, or years, damp my intended wing -Depress'd; and much they may, if all be mine, -Not hers, who brings it nightly to my ear. -The sun was sunk, and after him the star -Of Hesperus, whose office is to bring -Twilight upon the earth, short arbiter -"twixt day and night, and now from end to end -Night's hemisphere had veil'd the horizon round: -When satan, who late fled before the threats -Of Gabriel out of Eden, now improv'd -In meditated fraud and malice, bent -On Man's destruction, maugre what might hap -Of heavier on himself, fearless returned -From compassing the earth; cautious of day, -Since Uriel, regent of the sun, descried -His entrance, and foreworned the Cherubim -That kept their watch; thence full of anguish driven, -The space of seven continued nights he rode -With darkness; thrice the equinoctial line -He circled; four times crossed the car of night -From pole to pole, traversing each colure; -On the eighth returned; and, on the coast averse -From entrance or Cherubick watch, by stealth -Found unsuspected way. There was a place, -Now not, though sin, not time, first wrought the change, -Where Tigris, at the foot of Paradise, -Into a gulf shot under ground, till part -Rose up a fountain by the tree of life: -In with the river sunk, and with it rose -Satan, involved in rising mist; then sought -Where to lie hid; sea he had searched, and land, -From Eden over Pontus and the pool -Maeotis, up beyond the river Ob; -Downward as far antarctick; and in length, -West from Orontes to the ocean barred -At Darien ; thence to the land where flows -Ganges and Indus: Thus the orb he roamed -With narrow search; and with inspection deep -Considered every creature, which of all -Most opportune might serve his wiles; and found -The Serpent subtlest beast of all the field. -Him after long debate, irresolute -Of thoughts revolved, his final sentence chose -Fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom -To enter, and his dark suggestions hide -From sharpest sight: for, in the wily snake -Whatever sleights, none would suspicious mark, -As from his wit and native subtlety -Proceeding; which, in other beasts observed, -Doubt might beget of diabolick power -Active within, beyond the sense of brute. -Thus he resolved, but first from inward grief -His bursting passion into plaints thus poured. -More justly, seat worthier of Gods, as built -With second thoughts, reforming what was old! -O Earth, how like to Heaven, if not preferred -For what God, after better, worse would build? -Terrestrial Heaven, danced round by other Heavens -That shine, yet bear their bright officious lamps, -Light above light, for thee alone, as seems, -In thee concentring all their precious beams -Of sacred influence! As God in Heaven -Is center, yet extends to all; so thou, -Centring, receivest from all those orbs: in thee, -Not in themselves, all their known virtue appears -Productive in herb, plant, and nobler birth -Of creatures animate with gradual life -Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in Man. -With what delight could I have walked thee round, -If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange -Of hill, and valley, rivers, woods, and plains, -Now land, now sea and shores with forest crowned, -Rocks, dens, and caves! But I in none of these -Find place or refuge; and the more I see -Pleasures about me, so much more I feel -Torment within me, as from the hateful siege -Of contraries: all good to me becomes -Bane, and in Heaven much worse would be my state. -But neither here seek I, no nor in Heaven -To dwell, unless by mastering Heaven's Supreme; -Nor hope to be myself less miserable -By what I seek, but others to make such -As I, though thereby worse to me redound: -For only in destroying I find ease -To my relentless thoughts; and, him destroyed, -Or won to what may work his utter loss, -For whom all this was made, all this will soon -Follow, as to him linked in weal or woe; -In woe then; that destruction wide may range: -To me shall be the glory sole among -The infernal Powers, in one day to have marred -What he, Almighty styled, six nights and days -Continued making; and who knows how long -Before had been contriving? though perhaps -Not longer than since I, in one night, freed -From servitude inglorious well nigh half -The angelick name, and thinner left the throng -Of his adorers: He, to be avenged, -And to repair his numbers thus impaired, -Whether such virtue spent of old now failed -More Angels to create, if they at least -Are his created, or, to spite us more, -Determined to advance into our room -A creature formed of earth, and him endow, -Exalted from so base original, -With heavenly spoils, our spoils: What he decreed, -He effected; Man he made, and for him built -Magnificent this world, and earth his seat, -Him lord pronounced; and, O indignity! -Subjected to his service angel-wings, -And flaming ministers to watch and tend -Their earthly charge: Of these the vigilance -I dread; and, to elude, thus wrapt in mist -Of midnight vapour glide obscure, and pry -In every bush and brake, where hap may find -The serpent sleeping; in whose mazy folds -To hide me, and the dark intent I bring. -O foul descent! that I, who erst contended -With Gods to sit the highest, am now constrained -Into a beast; and, mixed with bestial slime, -This essence to incarnate and imbrute, -That to the highth of Deity aspired! -But what will not ambition and revenge -Descend to? Who aspires, must down as low -As high he soared; obnoxious, first or last, -To basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet, -Bitter ere long, back on itself recoils: -Let it; I reck not, so it light well aimed, -Since higher I fall short, on him who next -Provokes my envy, this new favourite -Of Heaven, this man of clay, son of despite, -Whom, us the more to spite, his Maker raised -From dust: Spite then with spite is best repaid. -So saying, through each thicket dank or dry, -Like a black mist low-creeping, he held on -His midnight-search, where soonest he might find -The serpent; him fast-sleeping soon he found -In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled, -His head the midst, well stored with subtile wiles: -Not yet in horrid shade or dismal den, -Nor nocent yet; but, on the grassy herb, -Fearless unfeared he slept: in at his mouth -The Devil entered; and his brutal sense, -In heart or head, possessing, soon inspired -With act intelligential; but his sleep -Disturbed not, waiting close the approach of morn. -Now, when as sacred light began to dawn -In Eden on the humid flowers, that breathed -Their morning incense, when all things, that breathe, -From the Earth's great altar send up silent praise -To the Creator, and his nostrils fill -With grateful smell, forth came the human pair, -And joined their vocal worship to the quire -Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake -The season prime for sweetest scents and airs: -Then commune, how that day they best may ply -Their growing work: for much their work out-grew -The hands' dispatch of two gardening so wide, -And Eve first to her husband thus began. -Adam, well may we labour still to dress -This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flower, -Our pleasant task enjoined; but, till more hands -Aid us, the work under our labour grows, -Luxurious by restraint; what we by day -Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, -One night or two with wanton growth derides -Tending to wild. Thou therefore now advise, -Or bear what to my mind first thoughts present: -Let us divide our labours; thou, where choice -Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind -The woodbine round this arbour, or direct -The clasping ivy where to climb; while I, -In yonder spring of roses intermixed -With myrtle, find what to redress till noon: -For, while so near each other thus all day -Our task we choose, what wonder if so near -Looks intervene and smiles, or object new -Casual discourse draw on; which intermits -Our day's work, brought to little, though begun -Early, and the hour of supper comes unearned? -To whom mild answer Adam thus returned. -Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond -Compare above all living creatures dear! -Well hast thou motioned, well thy thoughts employed, -How we might best fulfil the work which here -God hath assigned us; nor of me shalt pass -Unpraised: for nothing lovelier can be found -In woman, than to study houshold good, -And good works in her husband to promote. -Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed -Labour, as to debar us when we need -Refreshment, whether food, or talk between, -Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse -Of looks and smiles; for smiles from reason flow, -To brute denied, and are of love the food; -Love, not the lowest end of human life. -For not to irksome toil, but to delight, -He made us, and delight to reason joined. -These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands -Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide -As we need walk, till younger hands ere long -Assist us; But, if much converse perhaps -Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield: -For solitude sometimes is best society, -And short retirement urges sweet return. -But other doubt possesses me, lest harm -Befall thee severed from me; for thou knowest -What hath been warned us, what malicious foe -Envying our happiness, and of his own -Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame -By sly assault; and somewhere nigh at hand -Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find -His wish and best advantage, us asunder; -Hopeless to circumvent us joined, where each -To other speedy aid might lend at need: -Whether his first design be to withdraw -Our fealty from God, or to disturb -Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss -Enjoyed by us excites his envy more; -Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side -That gave thee being, still shades thee, and protects. -The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks, -Safest and seemliest by her husband stays, -Who guards her, or with her the worst endures. -To whom the virgin majesty of Eve, -As one who loves, and some unkindness meets, -With sweet austere composure thus replied. -Offspring of Heaven and Earth, and all Earth's Lord! -That such an enemy we have, who seeks -Our ruin, both by thee informed I learn, -And from the parting Angel over-heard, -As in a shady nook I stood behind, -Just then returned at shut of evening flowers. -But, that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt -To God or thee, because we have a foe -May tempt it, I expected not to hear. -His violence thou fearest not, being such -As we, not capable of death or pain, -Can either not receive, or can repel. -His fraud is then thy fear; which plain infers -Thy equal fear, that my firm faith and love -Can by his fraud be shaken or seduced; -Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy breast, -Adam, mis-thought of her to thee so dear? -To whom with healing words Adam replied. -Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve! -For such thou art; from sin and blame entire: -Not diffident of thee do I dissuade -Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid -The attempt itself, intended by our foe. -For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses -The tempted with dishonour foul; supposed -Not incorruptible of faith, not proof -Against temptation: Thou thyself with scorn -And anger wouldst resent the offered wrong, -Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then, -If such affront I labour to avert -From thee alone, which on us both at once -The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare; -Or daring, first on me the assault shall light. -Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn; -Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce -Angels; nor think superfluous other's aid. -I, from the influence of thy looks, receive -Access in every virtue; in thy sight -More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were -Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on, -Shame to be overcome or over-reached, -Would utmost vigour raise, and raised unite. -Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel -When I am present, and thy trial choose -With me, best witness of thy virtue tried? -So spake domestick Adam in his care -And matrimonial love; but Eve, who thought -Less attributed to her faith sincere, -Thus her reply with accent sweet renewed. -If this be our condition, thus to dwell -In narrow circuit straitened by a foe, -Subtle or violent, we not endued -Single with like defence, wherever met; -How are we happy, still in fear of harm? -But harm precedes not sin: only our foe, -Tempting, affronts us with his foul esteem -Of our integrity: his foul esteem -Sticks no dishonour on our front, but turns -Foul on himself; then wherefore shunned or feared -By us? who rather double honour gain -From his surmise proved false; find peace within, -Favour from Heaven, our witness, from the event. -And what is faith, love, virtue, unassayed -Alone, without exteriour help sustained? -Let us not then suspect our happy state -Left so imperfect by the Maker wise, -As not secure to single or combined. -Frail is our happiness, if this be so, -And Eden were no Eden, thus exposed. -To whom thus Adam fervently replied. -O Woman, best are all things as the will -Of God ordained them: His creating hand -Nothing imperfect or deficient left -Of all that he created, much less Man, -Or aught that might his happy state secure, -Secure from outward force; within himself -The danger lies, yet lies within his power: -Against his will he can receive no harm. -But God left free the will; for what obeys -Reason, is free; and Reason he made right, -But bid her well be ware, and still erect; -Lest, by some fair-appearing good surprised, -She dictate false; and mis-inform the will -To do what God expressly hath forbid. -Not then mistrust, but tender love, enjoins, -That I should mind thee oft; and mind thou me. -Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve; -Since Reason not impossibly may meet -Some specious object by the foe suborned, -And fall into deception unaware, -Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warned. -Seek not temptation then, which to avoid -Were better, and most likely if from me -Thou sever not: Trial will come unsought. -Wouldst thou approve thy constancy, approve -First thy obedience; the other who can know, -Not seeing thee attempted, who attest? -But, if thou think, trial unsought may find -Us both securer than thus warned thou seemest, -Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more; -Go in thy native innocence, rely -On what thou hast of virtue; summon all! -For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine. -So spake the patriarch of mankind; but Eve -Persisted; yet submiss, though last, replied. -With thy permission then, and thus forewarned -Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words -Touched only; that our trial, when least sought, -May find us both perhaps far less prepared, -The willinger I go, nor much expect -A foe so proud will first the weaker seek; -So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse. -Thus saying, from her husband's hand her hand -Soft she withdrew; and, like a Wood-Nymph light, -Oread or Dryad, or of Delia's train, -Betook her to the groves; but Delia's self -In gait surpassed, and Goddess-like deport, -Though not as she with bow and quiver armed, -But with such gardening tools as Art yet rude, -Guiltless of fire, had formed, or Angels brought. -To Pales, or Pomona, thus adorned, -Likest she seemed, Pomona when she fled -Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her prime, -Yet virgin of Proserpina from Jove. -Her long with ardent look his eye pursued -Delighted, but desiring more her stay. -Oft he to her his charge of quick return -Repeated; she to him as oft engaged -To be returned by noon amid the bower, -And all things in best order to invite -Noontide repast, or afternoon's repose. -O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve, -Of thy presumed return! event perverse! -Thou never from that hour in Paradise -Foundst either sweet repast, or sound repose; -Such ambush, hid among sweet flowers and shades, -Waited with hellish rancour imminent -To intercept thy way, or send thee back -Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss! -For now, and since first break of dawn, the Fiend, -Mere serpent in appearance, forth was come; -And on his quest, where likeliest he might find -The only two of mankind, but in them -The whole included race, his purposed prey. -In bower and field he sought, where any tuft -Of grove or garden-plot more pleasant lay, -Their tendance, or plantation for delight; -By fountain or by shady rivulet -He sought them both, but wished his hap might find -Eve separate; he wished, but not with hope -Of what so seldom chanced; when to his wish, -Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies, -Veiled in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood, -Half spied, so thick the roses blushing round -About her glowed, oft stooping to support -Each flower of slender stalk, whose head, though gay -Carnation, purple, azure, or specked with gold, -Hung drooping unsustained; them she upstays -Gently with myrtle band, mindless the while -Herself, though fairest unsupported flower, -From her best prop so far, and storm so nigh. -Nearer he drew, and many a walk traversed -Of stateliest covert, cedar, pine, or palm; -Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen, -Among thick-woven arborets, and flowers -Imbordered on each bank, the hand of Eve: -Spot more delicious than those gardens feigned -Or of revived Adonis, or renowned -Alcinous, host of old Laertes' son; -Or that, not mystick, where the sapient king -Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian spouse. -Much he the place admired, the person more. -As one who long in populous city pent, -Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air, -Forth issuing on a summer's morn, to breathe -Among the pleasant villages and farms -Adjoined, from each thing met conceives delight; -The smell of grain, or tedded grass, or kine, -Or dairy, each rural sight, each rural sound; -If chance, with nymph-like step, fair virgin pass, -What pleasing seemed, for her now pleases more; -She most, and in her look sums all delight: -Such pleasure took the Serpent to behold -This flowery plat, the sweet recess of Eve -Thus early, thus alone: Her heavenly form -Angelick, but more soft, and feminine, -Her graceful innocence, her every air -Of gesture, or least action, overawed -His malice, and with rapine sweet bereaved -His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought: -That space the Evil-one abstracted stood -From his own evil, and for the time remained -Stupidly good; of enmity disarmed, -Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge: -But the hot Hell that always in him burns, -Though in mid Heaven, soon ended his delight, -And tortures him now more, the more he sees -Of pleasure, not for him ordained: then soon -Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts -Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites. -Thoughts, whither have ye led me! with what sweet -Compulsion thus transported, to forget -What hither brought us! hate, not love;nor hope -Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste -Of pleasure; but all pleasure to destroy, -Save what is in destroying; other joy -To me is lost. Then, let me not let pass -Occasion which now smiles; behold alone -The woman, opportune to all attempts, -Her husband, for I view far round, not nigh, -Whose higher intellectual more I shun, -And strength, of courage haughty, and of limb -Heroick built, though of terrestrial mould; -Foe not informidable! exempt from wound, -I not; so much hath Hell debased, and pain -Enfeebled me, to what I was in Heaven. -She fair, divinely fair, fit love for Gods! -Not terrible, though terrour be in love -And beauty, not approached by stronger hate, -Hate stronger, under show of love well feigned; -The way which to her ruin now I tend. -So spake the enemy of mankind, enclosed -In serpent, inmate bad! and toward Eve -Addressed his way: not with indented wave, -Prone on the ground, as since; but on his rear, -Circular base of rising folds, that towered -Fold above fold, a surging maze! his head -Crested aloft, and carbuncle his eyes; -With burnished neck of verdant gold, erect -Amidst his circling spires, that on the grass -Floated redundant: pleasing was his shape -And lovely; never since of serpent-kind -Lovelier, not those that in Illyria changed, -Hermione and Cadmus, or the god -In Epidaurus; nor to which transformed -Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline, was seen; -He with Olympias; this with her who bore -Scipio, the highth of Rome. With tract oblique -At first, as one who sought access, but feared -To interrupt, side-long he works his way. -As when a ship, by skilful steersmen wrought -Nigh river's mouth or foreland, where the wind -Veers oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her sail: -So varied he, and of his tortuous train -Curled many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve, -To lure her eye; she, busied, heard the sound -Of rusling leaves, but minded not, as used -To such disport before her through the field, -From every beast; more duteous at her call, -Than at Circean call the herd disguised. -He, bolder now, uncalled before her stood, -But as in gaze admiring: oft he bowed -His turret crest, and sleek enamelled neck, -Fawning; and licked the ground whereon she trod. -His gentle dumb expression turned at length -The eye of Eve to mark his play; he, glad -Of her attention gained, with serpent-tongue -Organick, or impulse of vocal air, -His fraudulent temptation thus began. -Wonder not, sovran Mistress, if perhaps -Thou canst, who art sole wonder! much less arm -Thy looks, the Heaven of mildness, with disdain, -Displeased that I approach thee thus, and gaze -Insatiate; I thus single;nor have feared -Thy awful brow, more awful thus retired. -Fairest resemblance of thy Maker fair, -Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine -By gift, and thy celestial beauty adore -With ravishment beheld! there best beheld, -Where universally admired; but here -In this enclosure wild, these beasts among, -Beholders rude, and shallow to discern -Half what in thee is fair, one man except, -Who sees thee? and what is one? who should be seen -A Goddess among Gods, adored and served -By Angels numberless, thy daily train. -So glozed the Tempter, and his proem tuned: -Into the heart of Eve his words made way, -Though at the voice much marvelling; at length, -Not unamazed, she thus in answer spake. -What may this mean? language of man pronounced -By tongue of brute, and human sense expressed? -The first, at least, of these I thought denied -To beasts; whom God, on their creation-day, -Created mute to all articulate sound: -The latter I demur; for in their looks -Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears. -Thee, Serpent, subtlest beast of all the field -I knew, but not with human voice endued; -Redouble then this miracle, and say, -How camest thou speakable of mute, and how -To me so friendly grown above the rest -Of brutal kind, that daily are in sight? -Say, for such wonder claims attention due. -To whom the guileful Tempter thus replied. -Empress of this fair world, resplendent Eve! -Easy to me it is to tell thee all -What thou commandest; and right thou shouldst be obeyed: -I was at first as other beasts that graze -The trodden herb, of abject thoughts and low, -As was my food; nor aught but food discerned -Or sex, and apprehended nothing high: -Till, on a day roving the field, I chanced -A goodly tree far distant to behold -Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mixed, -Ruddy and gold: I nearer drew to gaze; -When from the boughs a savoury odour blown, -Grateful to appetite, more pleased my sense -Than smell of sweetest fennel, or the teats -Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even, -Unsucked of lamb or kid, that tend their play. -To satisfy the sharp desire I had -Of tasting those fair apples, I resolved -Not to defer; hunger and thirst at once, -Powerful persuaders, quickened at the scent -Of that alluring fruit, urged me so keen. -About the mossy trunk I wound me soon; -For, high from ground, the branches would require -Thy utmost reach or Adam's: Round the tree -All other beasts that saw, with like desire -Longing and envying stood, but could not reach. -Amid the tree now got, where plenty hung -Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill -I spared not; for, such pleasure till that hour, -At feed or fountain, never had I found. -Sated at length, ere long I might perceive -Strange alteration in me, to degree -Of reason in my inward powers; and speech -Wanted not long; though to this shape retained. -Thenceforth to speculations high or deep -I turned my thoughts, and with capacious mind -Considered all things visible in Heaven, -Or Earth, or Middle; all things fair and good: -But all that fair and good in thy divine -Semblance, and in thy beauty's heavenly ray, -United I beheld; no fair to thine -Equivalent or second! which compelled -Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come -And gaze, and worship thee of right declared -Sovran of creatures, universal Dame! -So talked the spirited sly Snake; and Eve, -Yet more amazed, unwary thus replied. -Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt -The virtue of that fruit, in thee first proved: -But say, where grows the tree? from hence how far? -For many are the trees of God that grow -In Paradise, and various, yet unknown -To us; in such abundance lies our choice, -As leaves a greater store of fruit untouched, -Still hanging incorruptible, till men -Grow up to their provision, and more hands -Help to disburden Nature of her birth. -To whom the wily Adder, blithe and glad. -Empress, the way is ready, and not long; -Beyond a row of myrtles, on a flat, -Fast by a fountain, one small thicket past -Of blowing myrrh and balm: if thou accept -My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon -Lead then, said Eve. He, leading, swiftly rolled -In tangles, and made intricate seem straight, -To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy -Brightens his crest; as when a wandering fire, -Compact of unctuous vapour, which the night -Condenses, and the cold environs round, -Kindled through agitation to a flame, -Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends, -Hovering and blazing with delusive light, -Misleads the amazed night-wanderer from his way -To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool; -There swallowed up and lost, from succour far. -So glistered the dire Snake, and into fraud -Led Eve, our credulous mother, to the tree -Of prohibition, root of all our woe; -Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake. -Serpent, we might have spared our coming hither, -Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to excess, -The credit of whose virtue rest with thee; -Wonderous indeed, if cause of such effects. -But of this tree we may not taste nor touch; -God so commanded, and left that command -Sole daughter of his voice; the rest, we live -Law to ourselves; our reason is our law. -To whom the Tempter guilefully replied. -Indeed! hath God then said that of the fruit -Of all these garden-trees ye shall not eat, -Yet Lords declared of all in earth or air$? -To whom thus Eve, yet sinless. Of the fruit -Of each tree in the garden we may eat; -But of the fruit of this fair tree amidst -The garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat -Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die. -She scarce had said, though brief, when now more bold -The Tempter, but with show of zeal and love -To Man, and indignation at his wrong, -New part puts on; and, as to passion moved, -Fluctuates disturbed, yet comely and in act -Raised, as of some great matter to begin. -As when of old some orator renowned, -In Athens or free Rome, where eloquence -Flourished, since mute! to some great cause addressed, -Stood in himself collected; while each part, -Motion, each act, won audience ere the tongue; -Sometimes in highth began, as no delay -Of preface brooking, through his zeal of right: -So standing, moving, or to highth up grown, -The Tempter, all impassioned, thus began. -O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving Plant, -Mother of science! now I feel thy power -Within me clear; not only to discern -Things in their causes, but to trace the ways -Of highest agents, deemed however wise. -Queen of this universe! do not believe -Those rigid threats of death: ye shall not die: -How should you? by the fruit? it gives you life -To knowledge; by the threatener? look on me, -Me, who have touched and tasted; yet both live, -And life more perfect have attained than Fate -Meant me, by venturing higher than my lot. -Shall that be shut to Man, which to the Beast -Is open? or will God incense his ire -For such a petty trespass? and not praise -Rather your dauntless virtue, whom the pain -Of death denounced, whatever thing death be, -Deterred not from achieving what might lead -To happier life, knowledge of good and evil; -Of good, how just? of evil, if what is evil -Be real, why not known, since easier shunned? -God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just; -Not just, not God; not feared then, nor obeyed: -Your fear itself of death removes the fear. -Why then was this forbid? Why, but to awe; -Why, but to keep ye low and ignorant, -His worshippers? He knows that in the day -Ye eat thereof, your eyes that seem so clear, -Yet are but dim, shall perfectly be then -Opened and cleared, and ye shall be as Gods, -Knowing both good and evil, as they know. -That ye shall be as Gods, since I as Man, -Internal Man, is but proportion meet; -I, of brute, human; ye, of human, Gods. -So ye shall die perhaps, by putting off -Human, to put on Gods; death to be wished, -Though threatened, which no worse than this can bring. -And what are Gods, that Man may not become -As they, participating God-like food? -The Gods are first, and that advantage use -On our belief, that all from them proceeds: -I question it; for this fair earth I see, -Warmed by the sun, producing every kind; -Them, nothing: if they all things, who enclosed -Knowledge of good and evil in this tree, -That whoso eats thereof, forthwith attains -Wisdom without their leave? and wherein lies -The offence, that Man should thus attain to know? -What can your knowledge hurt him, or this tree -Impart against his will, if all be his? -Or is it envy? and can envy dwell -In heavenly breasts? These, these, and many more -Causes import your need of this fair fruit. -Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste! -He ended; and his words, replete with guile, -Into her heart too easy entrance won: -Fixed on the fruit she gazed, which to behold -Might tempt alone; and in her ears the sound -Yet rung of his persuasive words, impregned -With reason, to her seeming, and with truth: -Mean while the hour of noon drew on, and waked -An eager appetite, raised by the smell -So savoury of that fruit, which with desire, -Inclinable now grown to touch or taste, -Solicited her longing eye; yet first -Pausing a while, thus to herself she mused. -Great are thy virtues, doubtless, best of fruits, -Though kept from man, and worthy to be admired; -Whose taste, too long forborn, at first assay -Gave elocution to the mute, and taught -The tongue not made for speech to speak thy praise: -Thy praise he also, who forbids thy use, -Conceals not from us, naming thee the tree -Of knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil; -Forbids us then to taste! but his forbidding -Commends thee more, while it infers the good -By thee communicated, and our want: -For good unknown sure is not had; or, had -And yet unknown, is as not had at all. -In plain then, what forbids he but to know, -Forbids us good, forbids us to be wise? -Such prohibitions bind not. But, if death -Bind us with after-bands, what profits then -Our inward freedom? In the day we eat -Of this fair fruit, our doom is, we shall die! -How dies the Serpent? he hath eaten and lives, -And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discerns, -Irrational till then. For us alone -Was death invented? or to us denied -This intellectual food, for beasts reserved? -For beasts it seems: yet that one beast which first -Hath tasted envies not, but brings with joy -The good befallen him, author unsuspect, -Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile. -What fear I then? rather, what know to fear -Under this ignorance of good and evil, -Of God or death, of law or penalty? -Here grows the cure of all, this fruit divine, -Fair to the eye, inviting to the taste, -Of virtue to make wise: What hinders then -To reach, and feed at once both body and mind? -So saying, her rash hand in evil hour -Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat! -Earth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat, -Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe, -That all was lost. Back to the thicket slunk -The guilty Serpent; and well might;for Eve, -Intent now wholly on her taste, nought else -Regarded; such delight till then, as seemed, -In fruit she never tasted, whether true -Or fancied so, through expectation high -Of knowledge; not was Godhead from her thought. -Greedily she ingorged without restraint, -And knew not eating death: Satiate at length, -And hightened as with wine, jocund and boon, -Thus to herself she pleasingly began. -O sovran, virtuous, precious of all trees -In Paradise! of operation blest -To sapience, hitherto obscured, infamed. -And thy fair fruit let hang, as to no end -Created; but henceforth my early care, -Not without song, each morning, and due praise, -Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease -Of thy full branches offered free to all; -Till, dieted by thee, I grow mature -In knowledge, as the Gods, who all things know; -Though others envy what they cannot give: -For, had the gift been theirs, it had not here -Thus grown. Experience, next, to thee I owe, -Best guide; not following thee, I had remained -In ignorance; thou openest wisdom's way, -And givest access, though secret she retire. -And I perhaps am secret: Heaven is high, -High, and remote to see from thence distinct -Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps -May have diverted from continual watch -Our great Forbidder, safe with all his spies -About him. But to Adam in what sort -Shall I appear? shall I to him make known -As yet my change, and give him to partake -Full happiness with me, or rather not, -But keeps the odds of knowledge in my power -Without copartner? so to add what wants -In female sex, the more to draw his love, -And render me more equal; and perhaps, -A thing not undesirable, sometime -Superiour; for, inferiour, who is free -This may be well: But what if God have seen, -And death ensue? then I shall be no more! -And Adam, wedded to another Eve, -Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct; -A death to think! Confirmed then I resolve, -Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe: -So dear I love him, that with him all deaths -I could endure, without him live no life. -So saying, from the tree her step she turned; -But first low reverence done, as to the Power -That dwelt within, whose presence had infused -Into the plant sciential sap, derived -From nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the while, -Waiting desirous her return, had wove -Of choicest flowers a garland, to adorn -Her tresses, and her rural labours crown; -As reapers oft are wont their harvest-queen. -Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and new -Solace in her return, so long delayed: -Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill, -Misgave him; he the faltering measure felt; -And forth to meet her went, the way she took -That morn when first they parted: by the tree -Of knowledge he must pass; there he her met, -Scarce from the tree returning; in her hand -A bough of fairest fruit, that downy smiled, -New gathered, and ambrosial smell diffused. -To him she hasted; in her face excuse -Came prologue, and apology too prompt; -Which, with bland words at will, she thus addressed. -Hast thou not wondered, Adam, at my stay? -Thee I have missed, and thought it long, deprived -Thy presence; agony of love till now -Not felt, nor shall be twice; for never more -Mean I to try, what rash untried I sought, -The pain of absence from thy sight. But strange -Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear: -This tree is not, as we are told, a tree -Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown -Opening the way, but of divine effect -To open eyes, and make them Gods who taste; -And hath been tasted such: The serpent wise, -Or not restrained as we, or not obeying, -Hath eaten of the fruit; and is become, -Not dead, as we are threatened, but thenceforth -Endued with human voice and human sense, -Reasoning to admiration; and with me -Persuasively hath so prevailed, that I -Have also tasted, and have also found -The effects to correspond; opener mine eyes, -Dim erst, dilated spirits, ampler heart, -And growing up to Godhead; which for thee -Chiefly I sought, without thee can despise. -For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss; -Tedious, unshared with thee, and odious soon. -Thou therefore also taste, that equal lot -May join us, equal joy, as equal love; -Lest, thou not tasting, different degree -Disjoin us, and I then too late renounce -Deity for thee, when Fate will not permit. -Thus Eve with countenance blithe her story told; -But in her cheek distemper flushing glowed. -On the other side Adam, soon as he heard -The fatal trespass done by Eve, amazed, -Astonied stood and blank, while horrour chill -Ran through his veins, and all his joints relaxed; -From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve -Down dropt, and all the faded roses shed: -Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length -First to himself he inward silence broke. -O fairest of Creation, last and best -Of all God's works, Creature in whom excelled -Whatever can to sight or thought be formed, -Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet! -How art thou lost! how on a sudden lost, -Defaced, deflowered, and now to death devote! -Rather, how hast thou yielded to transgress -The strict forbiddance, how to violate -The sacred fruit forbidden! Some cursed fraud -Of enemy hath beguiled thee, yet unknown, -And me with thee hath ruined; for with thee -Certain my resolution is to die: -How can I live without thee! how forego -Thy sweet converse, and love so dearly joined, -To live again in these wild woods forlorn! -Should God create another Eve, and I -Another rib afford, yet loss of thee -Would never from my heart: no, no!I feel -The link of Nature draw me: flesh of flesh, -Bone of my bone thou art, and from thy state -Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe. -So having said, as one from sad dismay -Recomforted, and after thoughts disturbed -Submitting to what seemed remediless, -Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turned. -Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve, -And peril great provoked, who thus hast dared, -Had it been only coveting to eye -That sacred fruit, sacred to abstinence, -Much more to taste it under ban to touch. -But past who can recall, or done undo? -Not God Omnipotent, nor Fate; yet so -Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact -Is not so heinous now, foretasted fruit, -Profaned first by the serpent, by him first -Made common, and unhallowed, ere our taste; -Nor yet on him found deadly; yet he lives; -Lives, as thou saidst, and gains to live, as Man, -Higher degree of life; inducement strong -To us, as likely tasting to attain -Proportional ascent; which cannot be -But to be Gods, or Angels, demi-Gods. -Nor can I think that God, Creator wise, -Though threatening, will in earnest so destroy -Us his prime creatures, dignified so high, -Set over all his works; which in our fall, -For us created, needs with us must fail, -Dependant made; so God shall uncreate, -Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour lose; -Not well conceived of God, who, though his power -Creation could repeat, yet would be loth -Us to abolish, lest the Adversary -Triumph, and say; "Fickle their state whom God -"Most favours; who can please him long? Me first -"He ruined, now Mankind; whom will he next?" -Matter of scorn, not to be given the Foe. -However I with thee have fixed my lot, -Certain to undergo like doom: If death -Consort with thee, death is to me as life; -So forcible within my heart I feel -The bond of Nature draw me to my own; -My own in thee, for what thou art is mine; -Our state cannot be severed; we are one, -One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself. -So Adam; and thus Eve to him replied. -O glorious trial of exceeding love, -Illustrious evidence, example high! -Engaging me to emulate; but, short -Of thy perfection, how shall I attain, -Adam, from whose dear side I boast me sprung, -And gladly of our union hear thee speak, -One heart, one soul in both; whereof good proof -This day affords, declaring thee resolved, -Rather than death, or aught than death more dread, -Shall separate us, linked in love so dear, -To undergo with me one guilt, one crime, -If any be, of tasting this fair fruit; -Whose virtue for of good still good proceeds, -Direct, or by occasion, hath presented -This happy trial of thy love, which else -So eminently never had been known? -Were it I thought death menaced would ensue -This my attempt, I would sustain alone -The worst, and not persuade thee, rather die -Deserted, than oblige thee with a fact -Pernicious to thy peace; chiefly assured -Remarkably so late of thy so true, -So faithful, love unequalled: but I feel -Far otherwise the event; not death, but life -Augmented, opened eyes, new hopes, new joys, -Taste so divine, that what of sweet before -Hath touched my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh. -On my experience, Adam, freely taste, -And fear of death deliver to the winds. -So saying, she embraced him, and for joy -Tenderly wept; much won, that he his love -Had so ennobled, as of choice to incur -Divine displeasure for her sake, or death. -In recompence for such compliance bad -Such recompence best merits from the bough -She gave him of that fair enticing fruit -With liberal hand: he scrupled not to eat, -Against his better knowledge; not deceived, -But fondly overcome with female charm. -Earth trembled from her entrails, as again -In pangs; and Nature gave a second groan; -Sky loured; and, muttering thunder, some sad drops -Wept at completing of the mortal sin -Original: while Adam took no thought, -Eating his fill; nor Eve to iterate -Her former trespass feared, the more to sooth -Him with her loved society; that now, -As with new wine intoxicated both, -They swim in mirth, and fancy that they feel -Divinity within them breeding wings, -Wherewith to scorn the earth: But that false fruit -Far other operation first displayed, -Carnal desire inflaming; he on Eve -Began to cast lascivious eyes; she him -As wantonly repaid; in lust they burn: -Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance move. -Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste, -And elegant, of sapience no small part; -Since to each meaning savour we apply, -And palate call judicious; I the praise -Yield thee, so well this day thou hast purveyed. -Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstained -From this delightful fruit, nor known till now -True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be -In things to us forbidden, it might be wished, -For this one tree had been forbidden ten. -But come, so well refreshed, now let us play, -As meet is, after such delicious fare; -For never did thy beauty, since the day -I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorned -With all perfections, so inflame my sense -With ardour to enjoy thee, fairer now -Than ever; bounty of this virtuous tree! -So said he, and forbore not glance or toy -Of amorous intent; well understood -Of Eve, whose eye darted contagious fire. -Her hand he seised; and to a shady bank, -Thick over-head with verdant roof imbowered, -He led her nothing loth; flowers were the couch, -Pansies, and violets, and asphodel, -And hyacinth; Earth's freshest softest lap. -There they their fill of love and love's disport -Took largely, of their mutual guilt the seal, -The solace of their sin; till dewy sleep -Oppressed them, wearied with their amorous play, -Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit, -That with exhilarating vapour bland -About their spirits had played, and inmost powers -Made err, was now exhaled; and grosser sleep, -Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams -Incumbered, now had left them; up they rose -As from unrest; and, each the other viewing, -Soon found their eyes how opened, and their minds -How darkened; innocence, that as a veil -Had shadowed them from knowing ill, was gone; -Just confidence, and native righteousness, -And honour, from about them, naked left -To guilty Shame; he covered, but his robe -Uncovered more. So rose the Danite strong, -Herculean Samson, from the harlot-lap -Of Philistean Dalilah, and waked -Shorn of his strength. They destitute and bare -Of all their virtue: Silent, and in face -Confounded, long they sat, as strucken mute: -Till Adam, though not less than Eve abashed, -At length gave utterance to these words constrained. -O Eve, in evil hour thou didst give ear -To that false worm, of whomsoever taught -To counterfeit Man's voice; true in our fall, -False in our promised rising; since our eyes -Opened we find indeed, and find we know -Both good and evil; good lost, and evil got; -Bad fruit of knowledge, if this be to know; -Which leaves us naked thus, of honour void, -Of innocence, of faith, of purity, -Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained, -And in our faces evident the signs -Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store; -Even shame, the last of evils; of the first -Be sure then.--How shall I behold the face -Henceforth of God or Angel, erst with joy -And rapture so oft beheld? Those heavenly shapes -Will dazzle now this earthly with their blaze -Insufferably bright. O! might I here -In solitude live savage; in some glade -Obscured, where highest woods, impenetrable -To star or sun-light, spread their umbrage broad -And brown as evening: Cover me, ye Pines! -Ye Cedars, with innumerable boughs -Hide me, where I may never see them more!-- -But let us now, as in bad plight, devise -What best may for the present serve to hide -The parts of each from other, that seem most -To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen; -Some tree, whose broad smooth leaves together sewed, -And girded on our loins, may cover round -Those middle parts; that this new comer, Shame, -There sit not, and reproach us as unclean. -So counselled he, and both together went -Into the thickest wood; there soon they chose -The fig-tree; not that kind for fruit renowned, -But such as at this day, to Indians known, -In Malabar or Decan spreads her arms -Branching so broad and long, that in the ground -The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow -About the mother tree, a pillared shade -High over-arched, and echoing walks between: -There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat, -Shelters in cool, and tends his pasturing herds -At loop-holes cut through thickest shade: Those leaves -They gathered, broad as Amazonian targe; -And, with what skill they had, together sewed, -To gird their waist; vain covering, if to hide -Their guilt and dreaded shame! O, how unlike -To that first naked glory! Such of late -Columbus found the American, so girt -With feathered cincture; naked else, and wild -Among the trees on isles and woody shores. -Thus fenced, and, as they thought, their shame in part -Covered, but not at rest or ease of mind, -They sat them down to weep; nor only tears -Rained at their eyes, but high winds worse within -Began to rise, high passions, anger, hate, -Mistrust, suspicion, discord; and shook sore -Their inward state of mind, calm region once -And full of peace, now tost and turbulent: -For Understanding ruled not, and the Will -Heard not her lore; both in subjection now -To sensual Appetite, who from beneath -Usurping over sovran Reason claimed -Superiour sway: From thus distempered breast, -Adam, estranged in look and altered style, -Speech intermitted thus to Eve renewed. -Would thou hadst hearkened to my words, and staid -With me, as I besought thee, when that strange -Desire of wandering, this unhappy morn, -I know not whence possessed thee; we had then -Remained still happy; not, as now, despoiled -Of all our good; shamed, naked, miserable! -Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve -The faith they owe; when earnestly they seek -Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fail. -To whom, soon moved with touch of blame, thus Eve. -What words have passed thy lips, Adam severe! -Imputest thou that to my default, or will -Of wandering, as thou callest it, which who knows -But might as ill have happened thou being by, -Or to thyself perhaps? Hadst thou been there, -Or here the attempt, thou couldst not have discerned -Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake; -No ground of enmity between us known, -Why he should mean me ill, or seek to harm. -Was I to have never parted from thy side? -As good have grown there still a lifeless rib. -Being as I am, why didst not thou, the head, -Command me absolutely not to go, -Going into such danger, as thou saidst? -Too facile then, thou didst not much gainsay; -Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss. -Hadst thou been firm and fixed in thy dissent, -Neither had I transgressed, nor thou with me. -To whom, then first incensed, Adam replied. -Is this the love, is this the recompence -Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve! expressed -Immutable, when thou wert lost, not I; -Who might have lived, and joyed immortal bliss, -Yet willingly chose rather death with thee? -And am I now upbraided as the cause -Of thy transgressing? Not enough severe, -It seems, in thy restraint: What could I more -I warned thee, I admonished thee, foretold -The danger, and the lurking enemy -That lay in wait; beyond this, had been force; -And force upon free will hath here no place. -But confidence then bore thee on; secure -Either to meet no danger, or to find -Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps -I also erred, in overmuch admiring -What seemed in thee so perfect, that I thought -No evil durst attempt thee; but I rue -The errour now, which is become my crime, -And thou the accuser. Thus it shall befall -Him, who, to worth in women overtrusting, -Lets her will rule: restraint she will not brook; -And, left to herself, if evil thence ensue, -She first his weak indulgence will accuse. -Thus they in mutual accusation spent -The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning; -And of their vain contest appeared no end. - - - -Book X - - -Mean while the heinous and despiteful act -Of Satan, done in Paradise; and how -He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve, -Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit, -Was known in Heaven; for what can 'scape the eye -Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart -Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just, -Hindered not Satan to attempt the mind -Of Man, with strength entire and free will armed, -Complete to have discovered and repulsed -Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. -For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered, -The high injunction, not to taste that fruit, -Whoever tempted; which they not obeying, -(Incurred what could they less?) the penalty; -And, manifold in sin, deserved to fall. -Up into Heaven from Paradise in haste -The angelick guards ascended, mute, and sad, -For Man; for of his state by this they knew, -Much wondering how the subtle Fiend had stolen -Entrance unseen. Soon as the unwelcome news -From Earth arrived at Heaven-gate, displeased -All were who heard; dim sadness did not spare -That time celestial visages, yet, mixed -With pity, violated not their bliss. -About the new-arrived, in multitudes -The ethereal people ran, to hear and know -How all befel: They towards the throne supreme, -Accountable, made haste, to make appear, -With righteous plea, their utmost vigilance -And easily approved; when the Most High -Eternal Father, from his secret cloud, -Amidst in thunder uttered thus his voice. -Assembled Angels, and ye Powers returned -From unsuccessful charge; be not dismayed, -Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth, -Which your sincerest care could not prevent; -Foretold so lately what would come to pass, -When first this tempter crossed the gulf from Hell. -I told ye then he should prevail, and speed -On his bad errand; Man should be seduced, -And flattered out of all, believing lies -Against his Maker; no decree of mine -Concurring to necessitate his fall, -Or touch with lightest moment of impulse -His free will, to her own inclining left -In even scale. But fallen he is; and now -What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass -On his transgression,--death denounced that day? -Which he presumes already vain and void, -Because not yet inflicted, as he feared, -By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find -Forbearance no acquittance, ere day end. -Justice shall not return as bounty scorned. -But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee, -Vicegerent Son? To thee I have transferred -All judgement, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell. -Easy it may be seen that I intend -Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee -Man's friend, his Mediator, his designed -Both ransom and Redeemer voluntary, -And destined Man himself to judge Man fallen. -So spake the Father; and, unfolding bright -Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son -Blazed forth unclouded Deity: He full -Resplendent all his Father manifest -Expressed, and thus divinely answered mild. -Father Eternal, thine is to decree; -Mine, both in Heaven and Earth, to do thy will -Supreme; that thou in me, thy Son beloved, -Mayest ever rest well pleased. I go to judge -On earth these thy transgressours; but thou knowest, -Whoever judged, the worst on me must light, -When time shall be; for so I undertook -Before thee; and, not repenting, this obtain -Of right, that I may mitigate their doom -On me derived; yet I shall temper so -Justice with mercy, as may illustrate most -Them fully satisfied, and thee appease. -Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none -Are to behold the judgement, but the judged, -Those two; the third best absent is condemned, -Convict by flight, and rebel to all law: -Conviction to the serpent none belongs. -Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose -Of high collateral glory: Him Thrones, and Powers, -Princedoms, and Dominations ministrant, -Accompanied to Heaven-gate; from whence -Eden, and all the coast, in prospect lay. -Down he descended straight; the speed of Gods -Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes winged. -Now was the sun in western cadence low -From noon, and gentle airs, due at their hour, -To fan the earth now waked, and usher in -The evening cool; when he, from wrath more cool, -Came the mild Judge, and Intercessour both, -To sentence Man: The voice of God they heard -Now walking in the garden, by soft winds -Brought to their ears, while day declined; they heard, -And from his presence hid themselves among -The thickest trees, both man and wife; till God, -Approaching, thus to Adam called aloud. -Where art thou, Adam, wont with joy to meet -My coming seen far off? I miss thee here, -Not pleased, thus entertained with solitude, -Where obvious duty ere while appeared unsought: -Or come I less conspicuous, or what change -Absents thee, or what chance detains?--Come forth! -He came; and with him Eve, more loth, though first -To offend; discountenanced both, and discomposed; -Love was not in their looks, either to God, -Or to each other; but apparent guilt, -And shame, and perturbation, and despair, -Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile. -Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief. -I heard thee in the garden, and of thy voice -Afraid, being naked, hid myself. To whom -The gracious Judge without revile replied. -My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not feared, -But still rejoiced; how is it now become -So dreadful to thee? That thou art naked, who -Hath told thee? Hast thou eaten of the tree, -Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat? -To whom thus Adam sore beset replied. -O Heaven! in evil strait this day I stand -Before my Judge; either to undergo -Myself the total crime, or to accuse -My other self, the partner of my life; -Whose failing, while her faith to me remains, -I should conceal, and not expose to blame -By my complaint: but strict necessity -Subdues me, and calamitous constraint; -Lest on my head both sin and punishment, -However insupportable, be all -Devolved; though should I hold my peace, yet thou -Wouldst easily detect what I conceal.-- -This Woman, whom thou madest to be my help, -And gavest me as thy perfect gift, so good, -So fit, so acceptable, so divine, -That from her hand I could suspect no ill, -And what she did, whatever in itself, -Her doing seemed to justify the deed; -She gave me of the tree, and I did eat. -To whom the Sovran Presence thus replied. -Was she thy God, that her thou didst obey -Before his voice? or was she made thy guide, -Superiour, or but equal, that to her -Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place -Wherein God set thee above her made of thee, -And for thee, whose perfection far excelled -Hers in all real dignity? Adorned -She was indeed, and lovely, to attract -Thy love, not thy subjection; and her gifts -Were such, as under government well seemed; -Unseemly to bear rule; which was thy part -And person, hadst thou known thyself aright. -So having said, he thus to Eve in few. -Say, Woman, what is this which thou hast done? -To whom sad Eve, with shame nigh overwhelmed, -Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge -Bold or loquacious, thus abashed replied. -The Serpent me beguiled, and I did eat. -Which when the Lord God heard, without delay -To judgement he proceeded on the accused -Serpent, though brute; unable to transfer -The guilt on him, who made him instrument -Of mischief, and polluted from the end -Of his creation; justly then accursed, -As vitiated in nature: More to know -Concerned not Man, (since he no further knew) -Nor altered his offence; yet God at last -To Satan first in sin his doom applied, -Though in mysterious terms, judged as then best: -And on the Serpent thus his curse let fall. -Because thou hast done this, thou art accursed -Above all cattle, each beast of the field; -Upon thy belly groveling thou shalt go, -And dust shalt eat all the days of thy life. -Between thee and the woman I will put -Enmity, and between thine and her seed; -Her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel. -So spake this oracle, then verified -When Jesus, Son of Mary, second Eve, -Saw Satan fall, like lightning, down from Heaven, -Prince of the air; then, rising from his grave -Spoiled Principalities and Powers, triumphed -In open show; and, with ascension bright, -Captivity led captive through the air, -The realm itself of Satan, long usurped; -Whom he shall tread at last under our feet; -Even he, who now foretold his fatal bruise; -And to the Woman thus his sentence turned. -Thy sorrow I will greatly multiply -By thy conception; children thou shalt bring -In sorrow forth; and to thy husband's will -Thine shall submit; he over thee shall rule. -On Adam last thus judgement he pronounced. -Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, -And eaten of the tree, concerning which -I charged thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat thereof: -Cursed is the ground for thy sake; thou in sorrow -Shalt eat thereof, all the days of thy life; -Thorns also and thistles it shall bring thee forth -Unbid; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; -In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, -Till thou return unto the ground; for thou -Out of the ground wast taken, know thy birth, -For dust thou art, and shalt to dust return. -So judged he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent; -And the instant stroke of death, denounced that day, -Removed far off; then, pitying how they stood -Before him naked to the air, that now -Must suffer change, disdained not to begin -Thenceforth the form of servant to assume; -As when he washed his servants feet; so now, -As father of his family, he clad -Their nakedness with skins of beasts, or slain, -Or as the snake with youthful coat repaid; -And thought not much to clothe his enemies; -Nor he their outward only with the skins -Of beasts, but inward nakedness, much more. -Opprobrious, with his robe of righteousness, -Arraying, covered from his Father's sight. -To him with swift ascent he up returned, -Into his blissful bosom reassumed -In glory, as of old; to him appeased -All, though all-knowing, what had passed with Man -Recounted, mixing intercession sweet. -Mean while, ere thus was sinned and judged on Earth, -Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death, -In counterview within the gates, that now -Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame -Far into Chaos, since the Fiend passed through, -Sin opening; who thus now to Death began. -O Son, why sit we here each other viewing -Idly, while Satan, our great author, thrives -In other worlds, and happier seat provides -For us, his offspring dear? It cannot be -But that success attends him; if mishap, -Ere this he had returned, with fury driven -By his avengers; since no place like this -Can fit his punishment, or their revenge. -Methinks I feel new strength within me rise, -Wings growing, and dominion given me large -Beyond this deep; whatever draws me on, -Or sympathy, or some connatural force, -Powerful at greatest distance to unite, -With secret amity, things of like kind, -By secretest conveyance. Thou, my shade -Inseparable, must with me along; -For Death from Sin no power can separate. -But, lest the difficulty of passing back -Stay his return perhaps over this gulf -Impassable, impervious; let us try -Adventurous work, yet to thy power and mine -Not unagreeable, to found a path -Over this main from Hell to that new world, -Where Satan now prevails; a monument -Of merit high to all the infernal host, -Easing their passage hence, for intercourse, -Or transmigration, as their lot shall lead. -Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn -By this new-felt attraction and instinct. -Whom thus the meager Shadow answered soon. -Go, whither Fate, and inclination strong, -Leads thee; I shall not lag behind, nor err -The way, thou leading; such a scent I draw -Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste -The savour of death from all things there that live: -Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest -Be wanting, but afford thee equal aid. -So saying, with delight he snuffed the smell -Of mortal change on earth. As when a flock -Of ravenous fowl, though many a league remote, -Against the day of battle, to a field, -Where armies lie encamped, come flying, lured -With scent of living carcasses designed -For death, the following day, in bloody fight: -So scented the grim Feature, and upturned -His nostril wide into the murky air; -Sagacious of his quarry from so far. -Then both from out Hell-gates, into the waste -Wide anarchy of Chaos, damp and dark, -Flew diverse; and with power (their power was great) -Hovering upon the waters, what they met -Solid or slimy, as in raging sea -Tost up and down, together crouded drove, -From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell; -As when two polar winds, blowing adverse -Upon the Cronian sea, together drive -Mountains of ice, that stop the imagined way -Beyond Petsora eastward, to the rich -Cathaian coast. The aggregated soil -Death with his mace petrifick, cold and dry, -As with a trident, smote; and fixed as firm -As Delos, floating once; the rest his look -Bound with Gorgonian rigour not to move; -And with Asphaltick slime, broad as the gate, -Deep to the roots of Hell the gathered beach -They fastened, and the mole immense wrought on -Over the foaming deep high-arched, a bridge -Of length prodigious, joining to the wall -Immoveable of this now fenceless world, -Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad, -Smooth, easy, inoffensive, down to Hell. -So, if great things to small may be compared, -Xerxes, the liberty of Greece to yoke, -From Susa, his Memnonian palace high, -Came to the sea: and, over Hellespont -Bridging his way, Europe with Asia joined, -And scourged with many a stroke the indignant waves. -Now had they brought the work by wonderous art -Pontifical, a ridge of pendant rock, -Over the vexed abyss, following the track -Of Satan to the self-same place where he -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 Heaven, -And of this World; and, on the left hand, Hell -With long reach interposed; three several ways -In sight, to each of these three places led. -And now their way to Earth they had descried, -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: -Disguised he came; but those his children dear -Their parent soon discerned, though in disguise. -He, after Eve seduced, 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 their shame that sought -Vain covertures; but when he saw descend -The Son of God to judge them, terrified -He fled; not hoping to escape, but shun -The present; fearing, guilty, what his wrath -Might suddenly inflict; that past, returned -By night, and listening where the hapless pair -Sat in their sad discourse, and various plaint, -Thence gathered his own doom; which understood -Not instant, but of future time, with joy -And tidings fraught, to Hell he now returned; -And at the brink of Chaos, near the foot -Of this new wonderous pontifice, unhoped -Met, who to meet him came, his offspring dear. -Great joy was at their meeting, and at sight -Of that stupendious bridge his joy encreased. -Long he admiring stood, till Sin, his fair -Enchanting daughter, thus the silence broke. -O Parent, these are thy magnifick deeds, -Thy trophies! which thou viewest as not thine own; -Thou art their author, and prime architect: -For I no sooner in my heart divined, -My heart, which by a secret harmony -Still moves with thine, joined in connexion sweet, -That thou on earth hadst prospered, which thy looks -Now also evidence, but straight I felt, -Though distant from thee worlds between, yet felt, -That I must after thee, with this thy son; -Such fatal consequence unites us three! -Hell could no longer hold us in our bounds, -Nor this unvoyageable gulf obscure -Detain from following thy illustrious track. -Thou hast achieved our liberty, confined -Within Hell-gates till now; thou us impowered -To fortify thus far, and overlay, -With this portentous bridge, the dark abyss. -Thine now is all this world; thy virtue hath won -What thy hands builded not; thy wisdom gained -With odds what war hath lost, and fully avenged -Our foil in Heaven; here thou shalt monarch reign, -There didst not; there let him still victor sway, -As battle hath adjudged; from this new world -Retiring, by his own doom alienated; -And henceforth monarchy with thee divide -Of all things, parted by the empyreal bounds, -His quadrature, from thy orbicular world; -Or try thee now more dangerous to his throne. -Whom thus the Prince of darkness answered glad. -Fair Daughter, and thou Son and Grandchild both; -High proof ye now have given to be the race -Of Satan (for I glory in the name, -Antagonist of Heaven's Almighty King,) -Amply have merited of me, of all -The infernal empire, that so near Heaven's door -Triumphal with triumphal act have met, -Mine, with this glorious work; and made one realm, -Hell and this world, one realm, one continent -Of easy thorough-fare. Therefore, while I -Descend through darkness, on your road with ease, -To my associate Powers, them to acquaint -With these successes, and with them rejoice; -You two this way, among these numerous orbs, -All yours, right down to Paradise descend; -There dwell, and reign in bliss; thence on the earth -Dominion exercise and in the air, -Chiefly on Man, sole lord of all declared; -Him first make sure your thrall, and lastly kill. -My substitutes I send ye, and create -Plenipotent on earth, of matchless might -Issuing from me: on your joint vigour now -My hold of this new kingdom all depends, -Through Sin to Death exposed by my exploit. -If your joint power prevail, the affairs of Hell -No detriment need fear; go, and be strong! -So saying he dismissed them; they with speed -Their course through thickest constellations held, -Spreading their bane; the blasted stars looked wan, -And planets, planet-struck, real eclipse -Then suffered. The other way Satan went down -The causey to Hell-gate: On either side -Disparted Chaos overbuilt exclaimed, -And with rebounding surge the bars assailed, -That scorned his indignation: Through the gate, -Wide open and unguarded, Satan passed, -And all about found desolate; for those, -Appointed to sit there, had left their charge, -Flown to the upper world; the rest were all -Far to the inland retired, about the walls -Of Pandemonium; city and proud seat -Of Lucifer, so by allusion called -Of that bright star to Satan paragoned; -There kept their watch the legions, while the Grand -In council sat, solicitous what chance -Might intercept their emperour sent; so he -Departing gave command, and they observed. -As when the Tartar from his Russian foe, -By Astracan, over the snowy plains, -Retires; or Bactrin Sophi, from the horns -Of Turkish crescent, leaves all waste beyond -The realm of Aladule, in his retreat -To Tauris or Casbeen: So these, the late -Heaven-banished host, left desart utmost Hell -Many a dark league, reduced in careful watch -Round their metropolis; and now expecting -Each hour their great adventurer, from the search -Of foreign worlds: He through the midst unmarked, -In show plebeian Angel militant -Of lowest order, passed; and from the door -Of that Plutonian hall, invisible -Ascended his high throne; which, under state -Of richest texture spread, at the upper end -Was placed in regal lustre. Down a while -He sat, and round about him saw unseen: -At last, as from a cloud, his fulgent head -And shape star-bright appeared, or brighter; clad -With what permissive glory since his fall -Was left him, or false glitter: All amazed -At that so sudden blaze the Stygian throng -Bent their aspect, and whom they wished beheld, -Their mighty Chief returned: loud was the acclaim: -Forth rushed in haste the great consulting peers, -Raised from their dark Divan, and with like joy -Congratulant approached him; who with hand -Silence, and with these words attention, won. -Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; -For in possession such, not only of right, -I call ye, and declare ye now; returned -Successful beyond hope, to lead ye forth -Triumphant out of this infernal pit -Abominable, accursed, the house of woe, -And dungeon of our tyrant: Now possess, -As Lords, a spacious world, to our native Heaven -Little inferiour, by my adventure hard -With peril great achieved. Long were to tell -What I have done; what suffered;with what pain -Voyaged th' unreal, vast, unbounded deep -Of horrible confusion; over which -By Sin and Death a broad way now is paved, -To expedite your glorious march; but I -Toiled out my uncouth passage, forced to ride -The untractable abyss, plunged in the womb -Of unoriginal Night and Chaos wild; -That, jealous of their secrets, fiercely opposed -My journey strange, with clamorous uproar -Protesting Fate supreme; thence how I found -The new created world, which fame in Heaven -Long had foretold, a fabrick wonderful -Of absolute perfection! therein Man -Placed in a Paradise, by our exile -Made happy: Him by fraud I have seduced -From his Creator; and, the more to encrease -Your wonder, with an apple; he, thereat -Offended, worth your laughter! hath given up -Both his beloved Man, and all his world, -To Sin and Death a prey, and so to us, -Without our hazard, labour, or alarm; -To range in, and to dwell, and over Man -To rule, as over all he should have ruled. -True is, me also he hath judged, or rather -Me not, but the brute serpent in whose shape -Man I deceived: that which to me belongs, -Is enmity which he will put between -Me and mankind; I am to bruise his heel; -His seed, when is not set, shall bruise my head: -A world who would not purchase with a bruise, -Or much more grievous pain?--Ye have the account -Of my performance: What remains, ye Gods, -But up, and enter now into full bliss? -So having said, a while he stood, expecting -Their universal shout, and high applause, -To fill his ear; when, contrary, he hears -On all sides, from innumerable tongues, -A dismal universal hiss, the sound -Of publick scorn; he wondered, but not long -Had leisure, wondering at himself now more, -His visage drawn he felt to sharp and spare; -His arms clung to his ribs; his legs entwining -Each other, till supplanted down he fell -A monstrous serpent on his belly prone, -Reluctant, but in vain; a greater power -Now ruled him, punished in the shape he sinned, -According to his doom: he would have spoke, -But hiss for hiss returned with forked tongue -To forked tongue; for now were all transformed -Alike, to serpents all, as accessories -To his bold riot: Dreadful was the din -Of hissing through the hall, thick swarming now -With complicated monsters head and tail, -Scorpion, and Asp, and Amphisbaena dire, -Cerastes horned, Hydrus, and Elops drear, -And Dipsas; (not so thick swarmed once the soil -Bedropt with blood of Gorgon, or the isle -Ophiusa,) but still greatest he the midst, -Now Dragon grown, larger than whom the sun -Ingendered in the Pythian vale or slime, -Huge Python, and his power no less he seemed -Above the rest still to retain; they all -Him followed, issuing forth to the open field, -Where all yet left of that revolted rout, -Heaven-fallen, in station stood or just array; -Sublime with expectation when to see -In triumph issuing forth their glorious Chief; -They saw, but other sight instead! a croud -Of ugly serpents; horrour on them fell, -And horrid sympathy; for, what they saw, -They felt themselves, now changing; down their arms, -Down fell both spear and shield; down they as fast; -And the dire hiss renewed, and the dire form -Catched, by contagion; like in punishment, -As in their crime. Thus was the applause they meant, -Turned to exploding hiss, triumph to shame -Cast on themselves from their own mouths. There stood -A grove hard by, sprung up with this their change, -His will who reigns above, to aggravate -Their penance, laden with fair fruit, like that -Which grew in Paradise, the bait of Eve -Used by the Tempter: on that prospect strange -Their earnest eyes they fixed, imagining -For one forbidden tree a multitude -Now risen, to work them further woe or shame; -Yet, parched with scalding thirst and hunger fierce, -Though to delude them sent, could not abstain; -But on they rolled in heaps, and, up the trees -Climbing, sat thicker than the snaky locks -That curled Megaera: greedily they plucked -The fruitage fair to sight, like that which grew -Near that bituminous lake where Sodom flamed; -This more delusive, not the touch, but taste -Deceived; they, fondly thinking to allay -Their appetite with gust, instead of fruit -Chewed bitter ashes, which the offended taste -With spattering noise rejected: oft they assayed, -Hunger and thirst constraining; drugged as oft, -With hatefullest disrelish writhed their jaws, -With soot and cinders filled; so oft they fell -Into the same illusion, not as Man -Whom they triumphed once lapsed. Thus were they plagued -And worn with famine, long and ceaseless hiss, -Till their lost shape, permitted, they resumed; -Yearly enjoined, some say, to undergo, -This annual humbling certain numbered days, -To dash their pride, and joy, for Man seduced. -However, some tradition they dispersed -Among the Heathen, of their purchase got, -And fabled how the Serpent, whom they called -Ophion, with Eurynome, the wide-- -Encroaching Eve perhaps, had first the rule -Of high Olympus; thence by Saturn driven -And Ops, ere yet Dictaean Jove was born. -Mean while in Paradise the hellish pair -Too soon arrived; Sin, there in power before, -Once actual; now in body, and to dwell -Habitual habitant; behind her Death, -Close following pace for pace, not mounted yet -On his pale horse: to whom Sin thus began. -Second of Satan sprung, all-conquering Death! -What thinkest thou of our empire now, though earned -With travel difficult, not better far -Than still at Hell's dark threshold to have sat watch, -Unnamed, undreaded, and thyself half starved? -Whom thus the Sin-born monster answered soon. -To me, who with eternal famine pine, -Alike is Hell, or Paradise, or Heaven; -There best, where most with ravine I may meet; -Which here, though plenteous, all too little seems -To stuff this maw, this vast unhide-bound corps. -To whom the incestuous mother thus replied. -Thou therefore on these herbs, and fruits, and flowers, -Feed first; on each beast next, and fish, and fowl; -No homely morsels! and, whatever thing -The sithe of Time mows down, devour unspared; -Till I, in Man residing, through the race, -His thoughts, his looks, words, actions, all infect; -And season him thy last and sweetest prey. -This said, they both betook them several ways, -Both to destroy, or unimmortal make -All kinds, and for destruction to mature -Sooner or later; which the Almighty seeing, -From his transcendent seat the Saints among, -To those bright Orders uttered thus his voice. -See, with what heat these dogs of Hell advance -To waste and havock yonder world, which I -So fair and good created; and had still -Kept in that state, had not the folly of Man -Let in these wasteful furies, who impute -Folly to me; so doth the Prince of Hell -And his adherents, that with so much ease -I suffer them to enter and possess -A place so heavenly; and, conniving, seem -To gratify my scornful enemies, -That laugh, as if, transported with some fit -Of passion, I to them had quitted all, -At random yielded up to their misrule; -And know not that I called, and drew them thither, -My Hell-hounds, to lick up the draff and filth -Which Man's polluting sin with taint hath shed -On what was pure; til, crammed and gorged, nigh burst -With sucked and glutted offal, at one sling -Of thy victorious arm, well-pleasing Son, -Both Sin, and Death, and yawning Grave, at last, -Through Chaos hurled, obstruct the mouth of Hell -For ever, and seal up his ravenous jaws. -Then Heaven and Earth renewed shall be made pure -To sanctity, that shall receive no stain: -Till then, the curse pronounced on both precedes. -He ended, and the heavenly audience loud -Sung Halleluiah, as the sound of seas, -Through multitude that sung: Just are thy ways, -Righteous are thy decrees on all thy works; -Who can extenuate thee? Next, to the Son, -Destined Restorer of mankind, by whom -New Heaven and Earth shall to the ages rise, -Or down from Heaven descend.--Such was their song; -While the Creator, calling forth by name -His mighty Angels, gave them several charge, -As sorted best with present things. The sun -Had first his precept so to move, so shine, -As might affect the earth with cold and heat -Scarce tolerable; and from the north to call -Decrepit winter; from the south to bring -Solstitial summer's heat. To the blanc moon -Her office they prescribed; to the other five -Their planetary motions, and aspects, -In sextile, square, and trine, and opposite, -Of noxious efficacy, and when to join -In synod unbenign; and taught the fixed -Their influence malignant when to shower, -Which of them rising with the sun, or falling, -Should prove tempestuous: To the winds they set -Their corners, when with bluster to confound -Sea, air, and shore; the thunder when to roll -With terrour through the dark aereal hall. -Some say, he bid his Angels turn ascanse -The poles of earth, twice ten degrees and more, -From the sun's axle; they with labour pushed -Oblique the centrick globe: Some say, the sun -Was bid turn reins from the equinoctial road -Like distant breadth to Taurus with the seven -Atlantick Sisters, and the Spartan Twins, -Up to the Tropick Crab: thence down amain -By Leo, and the Virgin, and the Scales, -As deep as Capricorn; to bring in change -Of seasons to each clime; else had the spring -Perpetual smiled on earth with vernant flowers, -Equal in days and nights, except to those -Beyond the polar circles; to them day -Had unbenighted shone, while the low sun, -To recompense his distance, in their sight -Had rounded still the horizon, and not known -Or east or west; which had forbid the snow -From cold Estotiland, and south as far -Beneath Magellan. At that tasted fruit -The sun, as from Thyestean banquet, turned -His course intended; else, how had the world -Inhabited, though sinless, more than now, -Avoided pinching cold and scorching heat? -These changes in the Heavens, though slow, produced -Like change on sea and land; sideral blast, -Vapour, and mist, and exhalation hot, -Corrupt and pestilent: Now from the north -Of Norumbega, and the Samoed shore, -Bursting their brazen dungeon, armed with ice, -And snow, and hail, and stormy gust and flaw, -Boreas, and Caecias, and Argestes loud, -And Thrascias, rend the woods, and seas upturn; -With adverse blast upturns them from the south -Notus, and Afer black with thunderous clouds -From Serraliona; thwart of these, as fierce, -Forth rush the Levant and the Ponent winds, -Eurus and Zephyr, with their lateral noise, -Sirocco and Libecchio. Thus began -Outrage from lifeless things; but Discord first, -Daughter of Sin, among the irrational -Death introduced, through fierce antipathy: -Beast now with beast 'gan war, and fowl with fowl, -And fish with fish; to graze the herb all leaving, -Devoured each other; nor stood much in awe -Of Man, but fled him; or, with countenance grim, -Glared on him passing. These were from without -The growing miseries, which Adam saw -Already in part, though hid in gloomiest shade, -To sorrow abandoned, but worse felt within; -And, in a troubled sea of passion tost, -Thus to disburden sought with sad complaint. -O miserable of happy! Is this the end -Of this new glorious world, and me so late -The glory of that glory, who now become -Accursed, of blessed? hide me from the face -Of God, whom to behold was then my highth -Of happiness!--Yet well, if here would end -The misery; I deserved it, and would bear -My own deservings; but this will not serve: -All that I eat or drink, or shall beget, -Is propagated curse. O voice, once heard -Delightfully, Encrease and multiply; -Now death to hear! for what can I encrease, -Or multiply, but curses on my head? -Who of all ages to succeed, but, feeling -The evil on him brought by me, will curse -My head? Ill fare our ancestor impure, -For this we may thank Adam! but his thanks -Shall be the execration: so, besides -Mine own that bide upon me, all from me -Shall with a fierce reflux on me rebound; -On me, as on their natural center, light -Heavy, though in their place. O fleeting joys -Of Paradise, dear bought with lasting woes! -Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay -To mould me Man? did I solicit thee -From darkness to promote me, or here place -In this delicious garden? As my will -Concurred not to my being, it were but right -And equal to reduce me to my dust; -Desirous to resign and render back -All I received; unable to perform -Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold -The good I sought not. To the loss of that, -Sufficient penalty, why hast thou added -The sense of endless woes? Inexplicable -Why am I mocked with death, and lengthened out -To deathless pain? How gladly would I meet -Mortality my sentence, and be earth -Insensible! How glad would lay me down -As in my mother's lap! There I should rest, -And sleep secure; his dreadful voice no more -Would thunder in my ears; no fear of worse -To me, and to my offspring, would torment me -With cruel expectation. Yet one doubt -Pursues me still, lest all I cannot die; -Lest that pure breath of life, the spirit of Man -Which God inspired, cannot together perish -With this corporeal clod; then, in the grave, -Or in some other dismal place, who knows -But I shall die a living death? O thought -Horrid, if true! Yet why? It was but breath -Of life that sinned; what dies but what had life -And sin? The body properly had neither, -All of me then shall die: let this appease -The doubt, since human reach no further knows. -For though the Lord of all be infinite, -Is his wrath also? Be it, Man is not so, -But mortal doomed. How can he exercise -Wrath without end on Man, whom death must end? -Can he make deathless death? That were to make -Strange contradiction, which to God himself -Impossible is held; as argument -Of weakness, not of power. Will he draw out, -For anger's sake, finite to infinite, -In punished Man, to satisfy his rigour, -Satisfied never? That were to extend -His sentence beyond dust and Nature's law; -By which all causes else, according still -To the reception of their matter, act; -Not to the extent of their own sphere. But say -That death be not one stroke, as I supposed, -Bereaving sense, but endless misery -From this day onward; which I feel begun -Both in me, and without me; and so last -To perpetuity;--Ay me!that fear -Comes thundering back with dreadful revolution -On my defenceless head; both Death and I -Am found eternal, and incorporate both; -Nor I on my part single; in me all -Posterity stands cursed: Fair patrimony -That I must leave ye, Sons! O, were I able -To waste it all myself, and leave ye none! -So disinherited, how would you bless -Me, now your curse! Ah, why should all mankind, -For one man's fault, thus guiltless be condemned, -It guiltless? But from me what can proceed, -But all corrupt; both mind and will depraved -Not to do only, but to will the same -With me? How can they then acquitted stand -In sight of God? Him, after all disputes, -Forced I absolve: all my evasions vain, -And reasonings, though through mazes, lead me still -But to my own conviction: first and last -On me, me only, as the source and spring -Of all corruption, all the blame lights due; -So might the wrath! Fond wish!couldst thou support -That burden, heavier than the earth to bear; -Than all the world much heavier, though divided -With that bad Woman? Thus, what thou desirest, -And what thou fearest, alike destroys all hope -Of refuge, and concludes thee miserable -Beyond all past example and future; -To Satan only like both crime and doom. -O Conscience! into what abyss of fears -And horrours hast thou driven me; out of which -I find no way, from deep to deeper plunged! -Thus Adam to himself lamented loud, -Through the still night; not now, as ere Man fell, -Wholesome, and cool, and mild, but with black air -Accompanied; with damps, and dreadful gloom; -Which to his evil conscience represented -All things with double terrour: On the ground -Outstretched he lay, on the cold ground; and oft -Cursed his creation; Death as oft accused -Of tardy execution, since denounced -The day of his offence. Why comes not Death, -Said he, with one thrice-acceptable stroke -To end me? Shall Truth fail to keep her word, -Justice Divine not hasten to be just? -But Death comes not at call; Justice Divine -Mends not her slowest pace for prayers or cries, -O woods, O fountains, hillocks, dales, and bowers! -With other echo late I taught your shades -To answer, and resound far other song.-- -Whom thus afflicted when sad Eve beheld, -Desolate where she sat, approaching nigh, -Soft words to his fierce passion she assayed: -But her with stern regard he thus repelled. -Out of my sight, thou Serpent! That name best -Befits thee with him leagued, thyself as false -And hateful; nothing wants, but that thy shape, -Like his, and colour serpentine, may show -Thy inward fraud; to warn all creatures from thee -Henceforth; lest that too heavenly form, pretended -To hellish falshood, snare them! But for thee -I had persisted happy; had not thy pride -And wandering vanity, when least was safe, -Rejected my forewarning, and disdained -Not to be trusted; longing to be seen, -Though by the Devil himself; him overweening -To over-reach; but, with the serpent meeting, -Fooled and beguiled; by him thou, I by thee -To trust thee from my side; imagined wise, -Constant, mature, proof against all assaults; -And understood not all was but a show, -Rather than solid virtue; all but a rib -Crooked by nature, bent, as now appears, -More to the part sinister, from me drawn; -Well if thrown out, as supernumerary -To my just number found. O! why did God, -Creator wise, that peopled highest Heaven -With Spirits masculine, create at last -This novelty on earth, this fair defect -Of nature, and not fill the world at once -With Men, as Angels, without feminine; -Or find some other way to generate -Mankind? This mischief had not been befallen, -And more that shall befall; innumerable -Disturbances on earth through female snares, -And strait conjunction with this sex: for either -He never shall find out fit mate, but such -As some misfortune brings him, or mistake; -Or whom he wishes most shall seldom gain -Through her perverseness, but shall see her gained -By a far worse; or, if she love, withheld -By parents; or his happiest choice too late -Shall meet, already linked and wedlock-bound -To a fell adversary, his hate or shame: -Which infinite calamity shall cause -To human life, and houshold peace confound. -He added not, and from her turned; but Eve, -Not so repulsed, with tears that ceased not flowing -And tresses all disordered, at his feet -Fell humble; and, embracing them, besought -His peace, and thus proceeded in her plaint. -Forsake me not thus, Adam! witness Heaven -What love sincere, and reverence in my heart -I bear thee, and unweeting have offended, -Unhappily deceived! Thy suppliant -I beg, and clasp thy knees; bereave me not, -Whereon I live, thy gentle looks, thy aid, -Thy counsel, in this uttermost distress, -My only strength and stay: Forlorn of thee, -Whither shall I betake me, where subsist? -While yet we live, scarce one short hour perhaps, -Between us two let there be peace; both joining, -As joined in injuries, one enmity -Against a foe by doom express assigned us, -That cruel Serpent: On me exercise not -Thy hatred for this misery befallen; -On me already lost, me than thyself -More miserable! Both have sinned;but thou -Against God only; I against God and thee; -And to the place of judgement will return, -There with my cries importune Heaven; that all -The sentence, from thy head removed, may light -On me, sole cause to thee of all this woe; -Me, me only, just object of his ire! -She ended weeping; and her lowly plight, -Immoveable, till peace obtained from fault -Acknowledged and deplored, in Adam wrought -Commiseration: Soon his heart relented -Towards her, his life so late, and sole delight, -Now at his feet submissive in distress; -Creature so fair his reconcilement seeking, -His counsel, whom she had displeased, his aid: -As one disarmed, his anger all he lost, -And thus with peaceful words upraised her soon. -Unwary, and too desirous, as before, -So now of what thou knowest not, who desirest -The punishment all on thyself; alas! -Bear thine own first, ill able to sustain -His full wrath, whose thou feelest as yet least part, -And my displeasure bearest so ill. If prayers -Could alter high decrees, I to that place -Would speed before thee, and be louder heard, -That on my head all might be visited; -Thy frailty and infirmer sex forgiven, -To me committed, and by me exposed. -But rise;--let us no more contend, nor blame -Each other, blamed enough elsewhere; but strive -In offices of love, how we may lighten -Each other's burden, in our share of woe; -Since this day's death denounced, if aught I see, -Will prove no sudden, but a slow-paced evil; -A long day's dying, to augment our pain; -And to our seed (O hapless seed!) derived. -To whom thus Eve, recovering heart, replied. -Adam, by sad experiment I know -How little weight my words with thee can find, -Found so erroneous; thence by just event -Found so unfortunate: Nevertheless, -Restored by thee, vile as I am, to place -Of new acceptance, hopeful to regain -Thy love, the sole contentment of my heart -Living or dying, from thee I will not hide -What thoughts in my unquiet breast are risen, -Tending to some relief of our extremes, -Or end; though sharp and sad, yet tolerable, -As in our evils, and of easier choice. -If care of our descent perplex us most, -Which must be born to certain woe, devoured -By Death at last; and miserable it is -To be to others cause of misery, -Our own begotten, and of our loins to bring -Into this cursed world a woeful race, -That after wretched life must be at last -Food for so foul a monster; in thy power -It lies, yet ere conception to prevent -The race unblest, to being yet unbegot. -Childless thou art, childless remain: so Death -Shall be deceived his glut, and with us two -Be forced to satisfy his ravenous maw. -But if thou judge it hard and difficult, -Conversing, looking, loving, to abstain -From love's due rights, nuptial embraces sweet; -And with desire to languish without hope, -Before the present object languishing -With like desire; which would be misery -And torment less than none of what we dread; -Then, both ourselves and seed at once to free -From what we fear for both, let us make short, -- -Let us seek Death; -- or, he not found, supply -With our own hands his office on ourselves: -Why stand we longer shivering under fears, -That show no end but death, and have the power, -Of many ways to die the shortest choosing, -Destruction with destruction to destroy? -- -She ended here, or vehement despair -Broke off the rest: so much of death her thoughts -Had entertained, as dyed her cheeks with pale. -But Adam, with such counsel nothing swayed, -To better hopes his more attentive mind -Labouring had raised; and thus to Eve replied. -Eve, thy contempt of life and pleasure seems -To argue in thee something more sublime -And excellent, than what thy mind contemns; -But self-destruction therefore sought, refutes -That excellence thought in thee; and implies, -Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret -For loss of life and pleasure overloved. -Or if thou covet death, as utmost end -Of misery, so thinking to evade -The penalty pronounced; doubt not but God -Hath wiselier armed his vengeful ire, than so -To be forestalled; much more I fear lest death, -So snatched, will not exempt us from the pain -We are by doom to pay; rather, such acts -Of contumacy will provoke the Highest -To make death in us live: Then let us seek -Some safer resolution, which methinks -I have in view, calling to mind with heed -Part of our sentence, that thy seed shall bruise -The Serpent's head; piteous amends! unless -Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand foe, -Satan; who, in the serpent, hath contrived -Against us this deceit: To crush his head -Would be revenge indeed! which will be lost -By death brought on ourselves, or childless days -Resolved, as thou proposest; so our foe -Shal 'scape his punishment ordained, and we -Instead shall double ours upon our heads. -No more be mentioned then of violence -Against ourselves; and wilful barrenness, -That cuts us off from hope; and savours only -Rancour and pride, impatience and despite, -Reluctance against God and his just yoke -Laid on our necks. Remember with what mild -And gracious temper he both heard, and judged, -Without wrath or reviling; we expected -Immediate dissolution, which we thought -Was meant by death that day; when lo!to thee -Pains only in child-bearing were foretold, -And bringing forth; soon recompensed with joy, -Fruit of thy womb: On me the curse aslope -Glanced on the ground; with labour I must earn -My bread; what harm? Idleness had been worse; -My labour will sustain me; and, lest cold -Or heat should injure us, his timely care -Hath, unbesought, provided; and his hands -Clothed us unworthy, pitying while he judged; -How much more, if we pray him, will his ear -Be open, and his heart to pity incline, -And teach us further by what means to shun -The inclement seasons, rain, ice, hail, and snow! -Which now the sky, with various face, begins -To show us in this mountain; while the winds -Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks -Of these fair spreading trees; which bids us seek -Some better shroud, some better warmth to cherish -Our limbs benummed, ere this diurnal star -Leave cold the night, how we his gathered beams -Reflected may with matter sere foment; -Or, by collision of two bodies, grind -The air attrite to fire; as late the clouds -Justling, or pushed with winds, rude in their shock, -Tine the slant lightning; whose thwart flame, driven down -Kindles the gummy bark of fir or pine; -And sends a comfortable heat from far, -Which might supply the sun: Such fire to use, -And what may else be remedy or cure -To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought, -He will instruct us praying, and of grace -Beseeching him; so as we need not fear -To pass commodiously this life, sustained -By him with many comforts, till we end -In dust, our final rest and native home. -What better can we do, than, to the place -Repairing where he judged us, prostrate fall -Before him reverent; and there confess -Humbly our faults, and pardon beg; with tears -Watering the ground, and with our sighs the air -Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign -Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek - - - -Book XI - - -Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn -From his displeasure; in whose look serene, -When angry most he seemed and most severe, -What else but favour, grace, and mercy, shone? -So spake our father penitent; nor Eve -Felt less remorse: they, forthwith to the place -Repairing where he judged them, prostrate fell -Before him reverent; and both confessed -Humbly their faults, and pardon begged; with tears -Watering the ground, and with their sighs the air -Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign -Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek. -Thus they, in lowliest plight, repentant stood -Praying; for from the mercy-seat above -Prevenient grace descending had removed -The stony from their hearts, and made new flesh -Regenerate grow instead; that sighs now breathed -Unutterable; which the Spirit of prayer -Inspired, and winged for Heaven with speedier flight -Than loudest oratory: Yet their port -Not of mean suitors; nor important less -Seemed their petition, than when the ancient pair -In fables old, less ancient yet than these, -Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha, to restore -The race of mankind drowned, before the shrine -Of Themis stood devout. To Heaven their prayers -Flew up, nor missed the way, by envious winds -Blown vagabond or frustrate: in they passed -Dimensionless through heavenly doors; then clad -With incense, where the golden altar fumed, -By their great intercessour, came in sight -Before the Father's throne: them the glad Son -Presenting, thus to intercede began. -See$ Father, what first-fruits on earth are sprung -From thy implanted grace in Man; these sighs -And prayers, which in this golden censer mixed -With incense, I thy priest before thee bring; -Fruits of more pleasing savour, from thy seed -Sown with contrition in his heart, than those -Which, his own hand manuring, all the trees -Of Paradise could have produced, ere fallen -From innocence. Now therefore, bend thine ear -To supplication; hear his sighs, though mute; -Unskilful with what words to pray, let me -Interpret for him; me, his advocate -And propitiation; all his works on me, -Good, or not good, ingraft; my merit those -Shall perfect, and for these my death shall pay. -Accept me; and, in me, from these receive -The smell of peace toward mankind: let him live -Before thee reconciled, at least his days -Numbered, though sad; till death, his doom, (which I -To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse,) -To better life shall yield him: where with me -All my redeemed may dwell in joy and bliss; -Made one with me, as I with thee am one. -To whom the Father, without cloud, serene. -All thy request for Man, accepted Son, -Obtain; all thy request was my decree: -But, longer in that Paradise to dwell, -The law I gave to Nature him forbids: -Those pure immortal elements, that know, -No gross, no unharmonious mixture foul, -Eject him, tainted now; and purge him off, -As a distemper, gross, to air as gross, -And mortal food; as may dispose him best -For dissolution wrought by sin, that first -Distempered all things, and of incorrupt -Corrupted. I, at first, with two fair gifts -Created him endowed; with happiness, -And immortality: that fondly lost, -This other served but to eternize woe; -Till I provided death: so death becomes -His final remedy; and, after life, -Tried in sharp tribulation, and refined -By faith and faithful works, to second life, -Waked in the renovation of the just, -Resigns him up with Heaven and Earth renewed. -But let us call to synod all the Blest, -Through Heaven's wide bounds: from them I will not hide -My judgements; how with mankind I proceed, -As how with peccant Angels late they saw, -And in their state, though firm, stood more confirmed. -He ended, and the Son gave signal high -To the bright minister that watched; he blew -His trumpet, heard in Oreb since perhaps -When God descended, and perhaps once more -To sound at general doom. The angelick blast -Filled all the regions: from their blisful bowers -Of amarantine 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 their seats; till from his throne supreme -The Almighty thus pronounced his sovran will. -O Sons, like one of us Man is become -To know both good and evil, since his taste -Of that defended fruit; but let him boast -His knowledge of good lost, and evil got; -Happier! had it sufficed him to have known -Good by itself, and evil not at all. -He sorrows now, repents, and prays contrite, -My motions in him; longer than they move, -His heart I know, how variable and vain, -Self-left. Lest therefore his now bolder hand -Reach also of the tree of life, and eat, -And live for ever, dream at least to live -For ever, to remove him I decree, -And send him from the garden forth to till -The ground whence he was taken, fitter soil. -Michael, this my behest have thou in charge; -Take to thee from among the Cherubim -Thy choice of flaming warriours, lest the Fiend, -Or in behalf of Man, or to invade -Vacant possession, some new trouble raise: -Haste thee, and from the Paradise of God -Without remorse drive out the sinful pair; -From hallowed ground the unholy; and denounce -To them, and to their progeny, from thence -Perpetual banishment. Yet, lest they faint -At the sad sentence rigorously urged, -(For I behold them softened, and with tears -Bewailing their excess,) all terrour hide. -If patiently thy bidding they obey, -Dismiss them not disconsolate; reveal -To Adam what shall come in future days, -As I shall thee enlighten; intermix -My covenant in the Woman's seed renewed; -So send them forth, though sorrowing, yet in peace: -And on the east side of the garden place, -Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbs, -Cherubick watch; and of a sword the flame -Wide-waving; all approach far off to fright, -And guard all passage to the tree of life: -Lest Paradise a receptacle prove -To Spirits foul, and all my trees their prey; -With whose stolen fruit Man once more to delude. -He ceased; and the arch-angelick Power prepared -For swift descent; with him the cohort bright -Of watchful Cherubim: four faces each -Had, like a double Janus; all their shape -Spangled with eyes more numerous than those -Of Argus, and more wakeful than to drouse, -Charmed with Arcadian pipe, the pastoral reed -Of Hermes, or his opiate rod. Mean while, -To re-salute the world with sacred light, -Leucothea waked; and with fresh dews imbalmed -The earth; when Adam and first matron Eve -Had ended now their orisons, and found -Strength added from above; new hope to spring -Out of despair; joy, but with fear yet linked; -Which thus to Eve his welcome words renewed. -Eve, easily my faith admit, that all -The good which we enjoy from Heaven descends; -But, that from us aught should ascend to Heaven -So prevalent as to concern the mind -Of God high-blest, or to incline his will, -Hard to belief may seem; yet this will prayer -Or one short sigh of human breath, upborne -Even to the seat of God. For since I sought -By prayer the offended Deity to appease; -Kneeled, and before him humbled all my heart; -Methought I saw him placable and mild, -Bending his ear; persuasion in me grew -That I was heard with favour; peace returned -Home to my breast, and to my memory -His promise, that thy seed shall bruise our foe; -Which, then not minded in dismay, yet now -Assures me that the bitterness of death -Is past, and we shall live. Whence hail to thee, -Eve rightly called, mother of all mankind, -Mother of all things living, since by thee -Man is to live; and all things live for Man. -To whom thus Eve with sad demeanour meek. -Ill-worthy I such title should belong -To me transgressour; who, for thee ordained -A help, became thy snare; to me reproach -Rather belongs, distrust, and all dispraise: -But infinite in pardon was my Judge, -That I, who first brought death on all, am graced -The source of life; next favourable thou, -Who highly thus to entitle me vouchsaf'st, -Far other name deserving. But the field -To labour calls us, now with sweat imposed, -Though after sleepless night; for see!the morn, -All unconcerned with our unrest, begins -Her rosy progress smiling: let us forth; -I never from thy side henceforth to stray, -Where'er our day's work lies, though now enjoined -Laborious, till day droop; while here we dwell, -What can be toilsome in these pleasant walks? -Here let us live, though in fallen state, content. -So spake, so wished much humbled Eve; but Fate -Subscribed not: Nature first gave signs, impressed -On bird, beast, air; air suddenly eclipsed, -After short blush of morn; nigh in her sight -The bird of Jove, stooped from his aery tour, -Two birds of gayest plume before him drove; -Down from a hill the beast that reigns in woods, -First hunter then, pursued a gentle brace, -Goodliest of all the forest, hart and hind; -Direct to the eastern gate was bent their flight. -Adam observed, and with his eye the chase -Pursuing, not unmoved, to Eve thus spake. -O Eve, some further change awaits us nigh, -Which Heaven, by these mute signs in Nature, shows -Forerunners of his purpose; or to warn -Us, haply too secure, of our discharge -From penalty, because from death released -Some days: how long, and what till then our life, -Who knows? or more than this, that we are dust, -And thither must return, and be no more? -Why else this double object in our sight -Of flight pursued in the air, and o'er the ground, -One way the self-same hour? why in the east -Darkness ere day's mid-course, and morning-light -More orient in yon western cloud, that draws -O'er the blue firmament a radiant white, -And slow descends with something heavenly fraught? -He erred not; for by this the heavenly bands -Down from a sky of jasper lighted now -In Paradise, and on a hill made halt; -A glorious apparition, had not doubt -And carnal fear that day dimmed Adam's eye. -Not that more glorious, when the Angels met -Jacob in Mahanaim, where he saw -The field pavilioned with his guardians bright; -Nor that, which on the flaming mount appeared -In Dothan, covered with a camp of fire, -Against the Syrian king, who to surprise -One man, assassin-like, had levied war, -War unproclaimed. The princely Hierarch -In their bright stand there left his Powers, to seise -Possession of the garden; he alone, -To find where Adam sheltered, took his way, -Not unperceived of Adam; who to Eve, -While the great visitant approached, thus spake. -Eve$ now expect great tidings, which perhaps -Of us will soon determine, or impose -New laws to be observed; for I descry, -From yonder blazing cloud that veils the hill, -One of the heavenly 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 Raphael, that I should much confide; -But solemn and sublime; whom not to offend, -With reverence I must meet, and thou retire. -He ended: and the Arch-Angel soon drew nigh, -Not in his shape celestial, but as man -Clad to meet man; over his lucid arms -A military vest of purple flowed, -Livelier than Meliboean, or the grain -Of Sarra, worn by kings and heroes old -In time of truce; Iris had dipt the woof; -His starry helm unbuckled showed him prime -In manhood where youth ended; by his side, -As in a glistering zodiack, hung the sword, -Satan's dire dread; and in his hand the spear. -Adam bowed low; he, kingly, from his state -Inclined not, but his coming thus declared. -Adam, Heaven's high behest no preface needs: -Sufficient that thy prayers are heard; and Death, -Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress, -Defeated of his seisure many days -Given thee of grace; wherein thou mayest repent, -And one bad act with many deeds well done -Mayest cover: Well may then thy Lord, appeased, -Redeem thee quite from Death's rapacious claim; -But longer in this Paradise to dwell -Permits not: to remove thee I am come, -And send thee from the garden forth to till -The ground whence thou wast taken, fitter soil. -He added not; for Adam at the news -Heart-struck with chilling gripe of sorrow stood, -That all his senses bound; Eve, who unseen -Yet all had heard, with audible lament -Discovered soon the place of her retire. -O unexpected stroke, worse than of Death! -Must I thus leave thee$ Paradise? thus leave -Thee, native soil! these happy walks and shades, -Fit haunt of Gods? where I had hope to spend, -Quiet though sad, the respite of that day -That must be mortal to us both. O flowers, -That never will in other climate grow, -My early visitation, and my last - ;t even, which I bred up with tender hand -From the first opening bud, and gave ye names! -Who now shall rear ye to the sun, or rank -Your tribes, and water from the ambrosial fount? -Thee lastly, nuptial bower! by me adorned -With what to sight or smell was sweet! from thee -How shall I part, and whither wander down -Into a lower world; to this obscure -And wild? how shall we breathe in other air -Less pure, accustomed to immortal fruits? -Whom thus the Angel interrupted mild. -Lament not, Eve, but patiently resign -What justly thou hast lost, nor set thy heart, -Thus over-fond, on that which is not thine: -Thy going is not lonely; with thee goes -Thy husband; whom to follow thou art bound; -Where he abides, think there thy native soil. -Adam, by this from the cold sudden damp -Recovering, and his scattered spirits returned, -To Michael thus his humble words addressed. -Celestial, whether among the Thrones, or named -Of them the highest; for such of shape may seem -Prince above princes! gently hast thou told -Thy message, which might else in telling wound, -And in performing end us; what besides -Of sorrow, and dejection, and despair, -Our frailty can sustain, thy tidings bring, -Departure from this happy place, our sweet -Recess, and only consolation left -Familiar to our eyes! all places else -Inhospitable appear, and desolate; -Nor knowing us, nor known: And, if by prayer -Incessant I could hope to change the will -Of Him who all things can, I would not cease -To weary him with my assiduous cries: -But prayer against his absolute decree -No more avails than breath against the wind, -Blown stifling back on him that breathes it forth: -Therefore to his great bidding I submit. -This most afflicts me, that, departing hence, -As from his face I shall be hid, deprived -His blessed countenance: Here I could frequent -With worship place by place where he vouchsafed -Presence Divine; and to my sons relate, -'On this mount he appeared; under this tree -'Stood visible; among these pines his voice -'I heard; here with him at this fountain talked: -So many grateful altars I would rear -Of grassy turf, and pile up every stone -Of lustre from the brook, in memory, -Or monument to ages; and theron -Offer sweet-smelling gums, and fruits, and flowers: -In yonder nether world where shall I seek -His bright appearances, or foot-step trace? -For though I fled him angry, yet recalled -To life prolonged and promised race, I now -Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts -Of glory; and far off his steps adore. -To whom thus Michael with regard benign. -Adam, thou knowest Heaven his, and all the Earth; -Not this rock only; his Omnipresence fills -Land, sea, and air, and every kind that lives, -Fomented by his virtual power and warmed: -All the earth he gave thee to possess and rule, -No despicable gift; surmise not then -His presence to these narrow bounds confined -Of Paradise, or Eden: this had been -Perhaps thy capital seat, from whence had spread -All generations; and had hither come -From all the ends of the earth, to celebrate -And reverence thee, their great progenitor. -But this pre-eminence thou hast lost, brought down -To dwell on even ground now with thy sons: -Yet doubt not but in valley, and in plain, -God is, as here; and will be found alike -Present; and of his presence many a sign -Still following thee, still compassing thee round -With goodness and paternal love, his face -Express, and of his steps the track divine. -Which that thou mayest believe, and be confirmed -Ere thou from hence depart; know, I am sent -To show thee what shall come in future days -To thee, and to thy offspring: good with bad -Expect to hear; supernal grace contending -With sinfulness of men; thereby to learn -True patience, and to temper joy with fear -And pious sorrow; equally inured -By moderation either state to bear, -Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead -Safest thy life, and best prepared endure -Thy mortal passage when it comes.--Ascend -This hill; let Eve (for I have drenched her eyes) -Here sleep below; while thou to foresight wakest; -As once thou sleptst, while she to life was formed. -To whom thus Adam gratefully replied. -Ascend, I follow thee, safe Guide, the path -Thou leadest me; and to the hand of Heaven submit, -However chastening; to the evil turn -My obvious breast; arming to overcome -By suffering, and earn rest from labour won, -If so I may attain. -- So both ascend -In the visions of God. It was a hill, -Of Paradise the highest; from whose top -The hemisphere of earth, in clearest ken, -Stretched out to the amplest reach of prospect lay. -Not higher that hill, nor wider looking round, -Whereon, for different cause, the Tempter set -Our second Adam, in the wilderness; -To show him all Earth's kingdoms, and their glory. -His eye might there command wherever stood -City of old or modern fame, the seat -Of mightiest empire, from the destined walls -Of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can, -And Samarchand by Oxus, Temir's throne, -To Paquin of Sinaean kings; and thence -To Agra and Lahor of great Mogul, -Down to the golden Chersonese; or where -The Persian in Ecbatan sat, or since -In Hispahan; or where the Russian Ksar -In Mosco; or the Sultan in Bizance, -Turchestan-born; nor could his eye not ken -The empire of Negus to his utmost port -Ercoco, and the less maritim kings -Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind, -And Sofala, thought Ophir, to the realm -Of Congo, and Angola farthest south; -Or thence from Niger flood to Atlas mount -The kingdoms of Almansor, Fez and Sus, -Morocco, and Algiers, and Tremisen; -On Europe thence, and where Rome was to sway -The world: in spirit perhaps he also saw -Rich Mexico, the seat of Montezume, -And Cusco in Peru, the richer seat -Of Atabalipa; and yet unspoiled -Guiana, whose great city Geryon's sons -Call El Dorado. But to nobler sights -Michael from Adam's eyes the film removed, -Which that false fruit that promised clearer sight -Had bred; then purged with euphrasy and rue -The visual nerve, for he had much to see; -And from the well of life three drops instilled. -So deep the power of these ingredients pierced, -Even to the inmost seat of mental sight, -That Adam, now enforced to close his eyes, -Sunk down, and all his spirits became entranced; -But him the gentle Angel by the hand -Soon raised, and his attention thus recalled. -Adam, now ope thine eyes; and first behold -The effects, which thy original crime hath wrought -In some to spring from thee; who never touched -The excepted tree; nor with the snake conspired; -Nor sinned thy sin; yet from that sin derive -Corruption, to bring forth more violent deeds. -His eyes he opened, and beheld a field, -Part arable and tilth, whereon were sheaves -New reaped; the other part sheep-walks and folds; -I' the midst an altar as the land-mark stood, -Rustick, of grassy sord; thither anon -A sweaty reaper from his tillage brought -First fruits, the green ear, and the yellow sheaf, -Unculled, as came to hand; a shepherd next, -More meek, came with the firstlings of his flock, -Choicest and best; then, sacrificing, laid -The inwards and their fat, with incense strowed, -On the cleft wood, and all due rights performed: -His offering soon propitious fire from Heaven -Consumed with nimble glance, and grateful steam; -The other's not, for his was not sincere; -Whereat he inly raged, and, as they talked, -Smote him into the midriff with a stone -That beat out life; he fell;and, deadly pale, -Groaned out his soul with gushing blood effused. -Much at that sight was Adam in his heart -Dismayed, and thus in haste to the Angel cried. -O Teacher, some great mischief hath befallen -To that meek man, who well had sacrificed; -Is piety thus and pure devotion paid? -To whom Michael thus, he also moved, replied. -These two are brethren, Adam, and to come -Out of thy loins; the unjust the just hath slain, -For envy that his brother's offering found -From Heaven acceptance; but the bloody fact -Will be avenged; and the other's faith, approved, -Lose no reward; though here thou see him die, -Rolling in dust and gore. To which our sire. -Alas! both for the deed, and for the cause! -But have I now seen Death? Is this the way -I must return to native dust? O sight -Of terrour, foul and ugly to behold, -Horrid to think, how horrible to feel! -To whom thus Michael. Death thou hast seen -In his first shape on Man; but many shapes -Of Death, and many are the ways that lead -To his grim cave, all dismal; yet to sense -More terrible at the entrance, than within. -Some, as thou sawest, by violent stroke shall die; -By fire, flood, famine, by intemperance more -In meats and drinks, which on the earth shall bring -Diseases dire, of which a monstrous crew -Before thee shall appear; that thou mayest know -What misery the inabstinence of Eve -Shall bring on Men. Immediately a place -Before his eyes appeared, sad, noisome, dark; -A lazar-house it seemed; wherein were laid -Numbers of all diseased; all maladies -Of ghastly spasm, or racking torture, qualms -Of heart-sick agony, all feverous kinds, -Convulsions, epilepsies, fierce catarrhs, -Intestine stone and ulcer, colick-pangs, -Demoniack phrenzy, moaping melancholy, -And moon-struck madness, pining atrophy, -Marasmus, and wide-wasting pestilence, -Dropsies, and asthmas, and joint-racking rheums. -Dire was the tossing, deep the groans; Despair -Tended the sick busiest from couch to couch; -And over them triumphant Death his dart -Shook, but delayed to strike, though oft invoked -With vows, as their chief good, and final hope. -Sight so deform what heart of rock could long -Dry-eyed behold? Adam could not, but wept, -Though not of woman born; compassion quelled -His best of man, and gave him up to tears -A space, till firmer thoughts restrained excess; -And, scarce recovering words, his plaint renewed. -O miserable mankind, to what fall -Degraded, to what wretched state reserved! -Better end here unborn. Why is life given -To be thus wrested from us? rather, why -Obtruded on us thus? who, if we knew -What we receive, would either no accept -Life offered, or soon beg to lay it down; -Glad to be so dismissed in peace. Can thus -The image of God in Man, created once -So goodly and erect, though faulty since, -To such unsightly sufferings be debased -Under inhuman pains? Why should not Man, -Retaining still divine similitude -In part, from such deformities be free, -And, for his Maker's image sake, exempt? -Their Maker's image, answered Michael, then -Forsook them, when themselves they vilified -To serve ungoverned Appetite; and took -His image whom they served, a brutish vice, -Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve. -Therefore so abject is their punishment, -Disfiguring not God's likeness, but their own; -Or if his likeness, by themselves defaced; -While they pervert pure Nature's healthful rules -To loathsome sickness; worthily, since they -God's image did not reverence in themselves. -I yield it just, said Adam, and submit. -But is there yet no other way, besides -These painful passages, how we may come -To death, and mix with our connatural dust? -There is, said Michael, if thou well observe -The rule of Not too much; by temperance taught, -In what thou eatest and drinkest; seeking from thence -Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight, -Till many years over thy head return: -So mayest thou live; till, like ripe fruit, thou drop -Into thy mother's lap; or be with ease -Gathered, nor harshly plucked; for death mature: -This is Old Age; but then, thou must outlive -Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty; which will change -To withered, weak, and gray; thy senses then, -Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forego, -To what thou hast; and, for the air of youth, -Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reign -A melancholy damp of cold and dry -To weigh thy spirits down, and last consume -The balm of life. To whom our ancestor. -Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong -Life much; bent rather, how I may be quit, -Fairest and easiest, of this cumbrous charge; -Which I must keep till my appointed day -Of rendering up, and patiently attend -My dissolution. Michael replied. -Nor love thy life, nor hate; but what thou livest -Live well; how long, or short, permit to Heaven: -And now prepare thee for another sight. -He looked, and saw a spacious plain, whereon -Were tents of various hue; by some, were herds -Of cattle grazing; others, whence the sound -Of instruments, that made melodious chime, -Was heard, of harp and organ; and, who moved -Their stops and chords, was seen; his volant touch, -Instinct through all proportions, low and high, -Fled and pursued transverse the resonant fugue. -In other part stood one who, at the forge -Labouring, two massy clods of iron and brass -Had melted, (whether found where casual fire -Had wasted woods on mountain or in vale, -Down to the veins of earth; thence gliding hot -To some cave's mouth; or whether washed by stream -From underground;) the liquid ore he drained -Into fit moulds prepared; from which he formed -First his own tools; then, what might else be wrought -Fusil or graven in metal. After these, -But on the hither side, a different sort -From the high neighbouring hills, which was their seat, -Down to the plain descended; by their guise -Just men they seemed, and all their study bent -To worship God aright, and know his works -Not hid; nor those things last, which might preserve -Freedom and peace to Men; they on the plain -Long had not walked, when from the tents, behold! -A bevy of fair women, richly gay -In gems and wanton dress; to the harp they sung -Soft amorous ditties, and in dance came on: -The men, though grave, eyed them; and let their eyes -Rove without rein; till, in the amorous net -Fast caught, they liked; and each his liking chose; -And now of love they treat, till the evening-star, -Love's harbinger, appeared; then, all in heat -They light the nuptial torch, and bid invoke -Hymen, then first to marriage rites invoked: -With feast and musick all the tents resound. -Such happy interview, and fair event -Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, flowers, -And charming symphonies, attached the heart -Of Adam, soon inclined to admit delight, -The bent of nature; which he thus expressed. -True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blest; -Much better seems this vision, and more hope -Of peaceful days portends, than those two past; -Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse; -Here Nature seems fulfilled in all her ends. -To whom thus Michael. Judge not what is best -By pleasure, though to nature seeming meet; -Created, as thou art, to nobler end -Holy and pure, conformity divine. -Those tents thou sawest so pleasant, were the tents -Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his race -Who slew his brother; studious they appear -Of arts that polish life, inventers rare; -Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spirit -Taught them; but they his gifts acknowledged none. -Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget; -For that fair female troop thou sawest, that seemed -Of Goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay, -Yet empty of all good wherein consists -Woman's domestick honour and chief praise; -Bred only and completed to the taste -Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance, -To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye: -To these that sober race of men, whose lives -Religious titled them the sons of God, -Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame -Ignobly, to the trains and to the smiles -Of these fair atheists; and now swim in joy, -Erelong to swim at large; and laugh, for which -The world erelong a world of tears must weep. -To whom thus Adam, of short joy bereft. -O pity and shame, that they, who to live well -Entered so fair, should turn aside to tread -Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint! -But still I see the tenour of Man's woe -Holds on the same, from Woman to begin. -From Man's effeminate slackness it begins, -Said the Angel, who should better hold his place -By wisdom, and superiour gifts received. -But now prepare thee for another scene. -He looked, and saw wide territory spread -Before him, towns, and rural works between; -Cities of men with lofty gates and towers, -Concourse in arms, fierce faces threatening war, -Giants of mighty bone and bold emprise; -Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed, -Single or in array of battle ranged -Both horse and foot, nor idly mustering stood; -One way a band select from forage drives -A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine, -From a fat meadow ground; or fleecy flock, -Ewes and their bleating lambs over the plain, -Their booty; scarce with life the shepherds fly, -But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray; -With cruel tournament the squadrons join; -Where cattle pastured late, now scattered lies -With carcasses and arms the ensanguined field, -Deserted: Others to a city strong -Lay siege, encamped; by battery, scale, and mine, -Assaulting; others from the wall defend -With dart and javelin, stones, and sulphurous fire; -On each hand slaughter, and gigantick deeds. -In other part the sceptered heralds call -To council, in the city-gates; anon -Gray-headed men and grave, with warriours mixed, -Assemble, and harangues are heard; but soon, -In factious opposition; till at last, -Of middle age one rising, eminent -In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong, -Of justice, or religion, truth, and peace, -And judgement from above: him old and young -Exploded, and had seized with violent hands, -Had not a cloud descending snatched him thence -Unseen amid the throng: so violence -Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law, -Through all the plain, and refuge none was found. -Adam was all in tears, and to his guide -Lamenting turned full sad; O!what are these, -Death's ministers, not men? who thus deal death -Inhumanly to men, and multiply -Ten thousandfold the sin of him who slew -His brother: for of whom such massacre -Make they, but of their brethren; men of men -But who was that just man, whom had not Heaven -Rescued, had in his righteousness been lost? -To whom thus Michael. These are the product -Of those ill-mated marriages thou sawest; -Where good with bad were matched, who of themselves -Abhor to join; and, by imprudence mixed, -Produce prodigious births of body or mind. -Such were these giants, men of high renown; -For in those days might only shall be admired, -And valour and heroick virtue called; -To overcome in battle, and subdue -Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite -Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch -Of human glory; and for glory done -Of triumph, to be styled great conquerours -Patrons of mankind, Gods, and sons of Gods; -Destroyers rightlier called, and plagues of men. -Thus fame shall be achieved, renown on earth; -And what most merits fame, in silence hid. -But he, the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldst -The only righteous in a world preverse, -And therefore hated, therefore so beset -With foes, for daring single to be just, -And utter odious truth, that God would come -To judge them with his Saints; him the Most High -Rapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds -Did, as thou sawest, receive, to walk with God -High in salvation and the climes of bliss, -Exempt from death; to show thee what reward -Awaits the good; the rest what punishment; -Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold. -He looked, and saw the face of things quite changed; -The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar; -All now was turned to jollity and game, -To luxury and riot, feast and dance; -Marrying or prostituting, as befel, -Rape or adultery, where passing fair -Allured them; thence from cups to civil broils. -At length a reverend sire among them came, -And of their doings great dislike declared, -And testified against their ways; he oft -Frequented their assemblies, whereso met, -Triumphs or festivals; and to them preached -Conversion and repentance, as to souls -In prison, under judgements imminent: -But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceased -Contending, and removed his tents far off; -Then, from the mountain hewing timber tall, -Began to build a vessel of huge bulk; -Measured by cubit, length, and breadth, and highth; -Smeared round with pitch; and in the side a door -Contrived; and of provisions laid in large, -For man and beast: when lo, a wonder strange! -Of every beast, and bird, and insect small, -Came sevens, and pairs; and entered in as taught -Their order: last the sire and his three sons, -With their four wives; and God made fast the door. -Mean while the south-wind rose, and, with black wings -Wide-hovering, all the clouds together drove -From under Heaven; the hills to their supply -Vapour, and exhalation dusk and moist, -Sent up amain; and now the thickened sky -Like a dark cieling stood; down rushed the rain -Impetuous; and continued, till the earth -No more was seen: the floating vessel swum -Uplifted, and secure with beaked prow -Rode tilting o'er the waves; all dwellings else -Flood overwhelmed, and them with all their pomp -Deep under water rolled; sea covered sea, -Sea without shore; and in their palaces, -Where luxury late reigned, sea-monsters whelped -And stabled; of mankind, so numerous late, -All left, in one small bottom swum imbarked. -How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold -The end of all thy offspring, end so sad, -Depopulation! Thee another flood, -Of tears and sorrow a flood, thee also drowned, -And sunk thee as thy sons; till, gently reared -By the Angel, on thy feet thou stoodest at last, -Though comfortless; as when a father mourns -His children, all in view destroyed at once; -And scarce to the Angel utter'dst thus thy plaint. -O visions ill foreseen! Better had I -Lived ignorant of future! so had borne -My part of evil only, each day's lot -Enough to bear; those now, that were dispensed -The burden of many ages, on me light -At once, by my foreknowledge gaining birth -Abortive, to torment me ere their being, -With thought that they must be. Let no man seek -Henceforth to be foretold, what shall befall -Him or his children; evil he may be sure, -Which neither his foreknowing can prevent; -And he the future evil shall no less -In apprehension than in substance feel, -Grievous to bear: but that care now is past, -Man is not whom to warn: those few escaped -Famine and anguish will at last consume, -Wandering that watery desart: I had hope, -When violence was ceased, and war on earth, -All would have then gone well; peace would have crowned -With length of happy days the race of Man; -But I was far deceived; for now I see -Peace to corrupt no less than war to waste. -How comes it thus? unfold, celestial Guide, -And whether here the race of Man will end. -To whom thus Michael. Those, whom last thou sawest -In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they -First seen in acts of prowess eminent -And great exploits, but of true virtue void; -Who, having spilt much blood, and done much wast -Subduing nations, and achieved thereby -Fame in the world, high titles, and rich prey; -Shall change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth, -Surfeit, and lust; till wantonness and pride -Raise out of friendship hostile deeds in peace. -The conquered also, and enslaved by war, -Shall, with their freedom lost, all virtue lose -And fear of God; from whom their piety feigned -In sharp contest of battle found no aid -Against invaders; therefore, cooled in zeal, -Thenceforth shall practice how to live secure, -Worldly or dissolute, on what their lords -Shall leave them to enjoy; for the earth shall bear -More than enough, that temperance may be tried: -So all shall turn degenerate, all depraved; -Justice and temperance, truth and faith, forgot; -One man except, the only son of light -In a dark age, against example good, -Against allurement, custom, and a world -Offended: fearless of reproach and scorn, -The grand-child, with twelve sons encreased, departs -From Canaan, to a land hereafter called -Egypt, divided by the river Nile; -See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths -Into the sea: To sojourn in that land -He comes, invited by a younger son -In time of dearth; a son, whose worthy deeds -Raise him to be the second in that realm -Of Pharaoh: There he dies, and leaves his race -Growing into a nation, and now grown -Suspected to a sequent king, who seeks -To stop their overgrowth, as inmate guests -Or violence, he of their wicked ways -Shall them admonish; and before them set -The paths of righteousness, how much more safe -And full of peace; denouncing wrath to come -On their impenitence; and shall return -Of them derided, but of God observed -The one just man alive; by his command -Shall build a wonderous ark, as thou beheldst, -To save himself, and houshold, from amidst -A world devote to universal wrack. -No sooner he, with them of man and beast -Select for life, shall in the ark be lodged, -And sheltered round; but all the cataracts -Of Heaven set open on the Earth shall pour -Rain, day and night; all fountains of the deep, -Broke up, shall heave the ocean to usurp -Beyond all bounds; till inundation rise -Above the highest hills: Then shall this mount -Of Paradise by might of waves be moved -Out of his place, pushed by the horned flood, -With all his verdure spoiled, and trees adrift, -Down the great river to the opening gulf, -And there take root an island salt and bare, -The haunt of seals, and orcs, and sea-mews' clang: -To teach thee that God attributes to place -No sanctity, if none be thither brought -By men who there frequent, or therein dwell. -And now, what further shall ensue, behold. -He looked, and saw the ark hull on the flood, -Which now abated; for the clouds were fled, -Driven by a keen north-wind, that, blowing dry, -Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decayed; -And the clear sun on his wide watery glass -Gazed hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew, -As after thirst; which made their flowing shrink -From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole -With soft foot towards the deep; who now had stopt -His sluces, as the Heaven his windows shut. -The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground, -Fast on the top of some high mountain fixed. -And now the tops of hills, as rocks, appear; -With clamour thence the rapid currents drive, -Towards the retreating sea, their furious tide. -Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies, -And after him, the surer messenger, -A dove sent forth once and again to spy -Green tree or ground, whereon his foot may light: -The second time returning, in his bill -An olive-leaf he brings, pacifick sign: -Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark -The ancient sire descends, with all his train; -Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout, -Grateful to Heaven, over his head beholds -A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow -Conspicuous with three lifted colours gay, -Betokening peace from God, and covenant new. -Whereat the heart of Adam, erst so sad, -Greatly rejoiced; and thus his joy broke forth. -O thou, who future things canst represent -As present, heavenly Instructer! I revive -At this last sight; assured that Man shall live, -With all the creatures, and their seed preserve. -Far less I now lament for one whole world -Of wicked sons destroyed, than I rejoice -For one man found so perfect, and so just, -That God vouchsafes to raise another world -From him, and all his anger to forget. -But say, what mean those coloured streaks in Heaven -Distended, as the brow of God appeased? -Or serve they, as a flowery verge, to bind -The fluid skirts of that same watery cloud, -Lest it again dissolve, and shower the earth? -To whom the Arch-Angel. Dextrously thou aimest; -So willingly doth God remit his ire, -Though late repenting him of Man depraved; -Grieved at his heart, when looking down he saw -The whole earth filled with violence, and all flesh -Corrupting each their way; yet, those removed, -Such grace shall one just man find in his sight, -That he relents, not to blot out mankind; -And makes a covenant never to destroy -The earth again by flood; nor let the sea -Surpass his bounds; nor rain to drown the world, -With man therein or beast; but, when he brings -Over the earth a cloud, will therein set -His triple-coloured bow, whereon to look, -And call to mind his covenant: Day and night, -Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost, -Shall hold their course; till fire purge all things new, -Both Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell. - - - -Book XII - - -As one who in his journey bates at noon, -Though bent on speed; so here the Arch-Angel paused -Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored, -If Adam aught perhaps might interpose; -Then, with transition sweet, new speech resumes. -Thus thou hast seen one world begin, and end; -And Man, as from a second stock, proceed. -Much thou hast yet to see; but I perceive -Thy mortal sight to fail; objects divine -Must needs impair and weary human sense: -Henceforth what is to come I will relate; -Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. -This second source of Men, while yet but few, -And while the dread of judgement past remains -Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity, -With some regard to what is just and right -Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace; -Labouring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop, -Corn, wine, and oil; and, from the herd or flock, -Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid, -With large wine-offerings poured, and sacred feast, -Shall spend their days in joy unblamed; and dwell -Long time in peace, by families and tribes, -Under paternal rule: till one shall rise -Of proud ambitious heart; who, not content -With fair equality, fraternal state, -Will arrogate dominion undeserved -Over his brethren, and quite dispossess -Concord and law of nature from the earth; -Hunting (and men not beasts shall be his game) -With war, and hostile snare, such as refuse -Subjection to his empire tyrannous: -A mighty hunter thence he shall be styled -Before the Lord; as in despite of Heaven, -Or from Heaven, claiming second sovranty; -And from rebellion shall derive his name, -Though of rebellion others he accuse. -He with a crew, whom like ambition joins -With him or under him to tyrannize, -Marching from Eden towards the west, shall find -The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge -Boils out from under ground, the mouth of Hell: -Of brick, and of that stuff, they cast to build -A city and tower, whose top may reach to Heaven; -And get themselves a name; lest, far dispersed -In foreign lands, their memory be lost; -Regardless whether good or evil fame. -But God, who oft descends to visit men -Unseen, and through their habitations walks -To mark their doings, them beholding soon, -Comes down to see their city, ere the tower -Obstruct Heaven-towers, and in derision sets -Upon their tongues a various spirit, to rase -Quite out their native language; and, instead, -To sow a jangling noise of words unknown: -Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud, -Among the builders; each to other calls -Not understood; till hoarse, and all in rage, -As mocked they storm: great laughter was in Heaven, -And looking down, to see the hubbub strange, -And hear the din: Thus was the building left -Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named. -Whereto thus Adam, fatherly displeased. -O execrable son! so to aspire -Above his brethren; to himself assuming -Authority usurped, from God not given: -He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl, -Dominion absolute; that right we hold -By his donation; but man over men -He made not lord; such title to himself -Reserving, human left from human free. -But this usurper his encroachment proud -Stays not on Man; to God his tower intends -Siege and defiance: Wretched man!what food -Will he convey up thither, to sustain -Himself and his rash army; where thin air -Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross, -And famish him of breath, if not of bread? -To whom thus Michael. Justly thou abhorrest -That son, who on the quiet state of men -Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue -Rational liberty; yet know withal, -Since thy original lapse, true liberty -Is lost, which always with right reason dwells -Twinned, and from her hath no dividual being: -Reason in man obscured, or not obeyed, -Immediately inordinate desires, -And upstart passions, catch the government -From reason; and to servitude reduce -Man, till then free. Therefore, since he permits -Within himself unworthy powers to reign -Over free reason, God, in judgement just, -Subjects him from without to violent lords; -Who oft as undeservedly enthrall -His outward freedom: Tyranny must be; -Though to the tyrant thereby no excuse. -Yet sometimes nations will decline so low -From virtue, which is reason, that no wrong, -But justice, and some fatal curse annexed, -Deprives them of their outward liberty; -Their inward lost: Witness the irreverent son -Of him who built the ark; who, for the shame -Done to his father, heard this heavy curse, -Servant of servants, on his vicious race. -Thus will this latter, as the former world, -Still tend from bad to worse; till God at last, -Wearied with their iniquities, withdraw -His presence from among them, and avert -His holy eyes; resolving from thenceforth -To leave them to their own polluted ways; -And one peculiar nation to select -From all the rest, of whom to be invoked, -A nation from one faithful man to spring: -Him on this side Euphrates yet residing, -Bred up in idol-worship: O, that men -(Canst thou believe?) should be so stupid grown, -While yet the patriarch lived, who 'scaped the flood, -As to forsake the living God, and fall -To worship their own work in wood and stone -For Gods! Yet him God the Most High vouchsafes -To call by vision, from his father's house, -His kindred, and false Gods, into a land -Which he will show him; and from him will raise -A mighty nation; and upon him shower -His benediction so, that in his seed -All nations shall be blest: he straight obeys; -Not knowing to what land, yet firm believes: -I see him, but thou canst not, with what faith -He leaves his Gods, his friends, and native soil, -Ur of Chaldaea, passing now the ford -To Haran; after him a cumbrous train -Of herds and flocks, and numerous servitude; -Not wandering poor, but trusting all his wealth -With God, who called him, in a land unknown. -Canaan he now attains; I see his tents -Pitched about Sechem, and the neighbouring plain -Of Moreh; there by promise he receives -Gift to his progeny of all that land, -From Hameth northward to the Desart south; -(Things by their names I call, though yet unnamed;) -From Hermon east to the great western Sea; -Mount Hermon, yonder sea; each place behold -In prospect, as I point them; on the shore -Mount Carmel; here, the double-founted stream, -Jordan, true limit eastward; but his sons -Shall dwell to Senir, that long ridge of hills. -This ponder, that all nations of the earth -Shall in his seed be blessed: By that seed -Is meant thy great Deliverer, who shall bruise -The Serpent's head; whereof to thee anon -Plainlier shall be revealed. This patriarch blest, -Whom faithful Abraham due time shall call, -A son, and of his son a grand-child, leaves; -Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown: -The grandchild, with twelve sons increased, departs -From Canaan to a land hereafter called -Egypt, divided by the river Nile -See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths -Into the sea. To sojourn in that land -He comes, invited by a younger son -In time of dearth, a son whose worthy deeds -Raise him to be the second in that realm -Of Pharaoh. There he dies, and leaves his race -Growing into a nation, and now grown -Suspected to a sequent king, who seeks -To stop their overgrowth, as inmate guests -Too numerous; whence of guests he makes them slaves -Inhospitably, and kills their infant males: -Till by two brethren (these two brethren call -Moses and Aaron) sent from God to claim -His people from enthralment, they return, -With glory and spoil, back to their promised land. -But first, the lawless tyrant, who denies -To know their God, or message to regard, -Must be compelled by signs and judgements dire; -To blood unshed the rivers must be turned; -Frogs, lice, and flies, must all his palace fill -With loathed intrusion, and fill all the land; -His cattle must of rot and murren die; -Botches and blains must all his flesh emboss, -And all his people; thunder mixed with hail, -Hail mixed with fire, must rend the Egyptians sky, -And wheel on the earth, devouring where it rolls; -What it devours not, herb, or fruit, or grain, -A darksome cloud of locusts swarming down -Must eat, and on the ground leave nothing green; -Darkness must overshadow all his bounds, -Palpable darkness, and blot out three days; -Last, with one midnight stroke, all the first-born -Of Egypt must lie dead. Thus with ten wounds -The river-dragon tamed at length submits -To let his sojourners depart, and oft -Humbles his stubborn heart; but still, as ice -More hardened after thaw; till, in his rage -Pursuing whom he late dismissed, the sea -Swallows him with his host; but them lets pass, -As on dry land, between two crystal walls; -Awed by the rod of Moses so to stand -Divided, till his rescued gain their shore: -Such wondrous power God to his saint will lend, -Though present in his Angel; who shall go -Before them in a cloud, and pillar of fire; -By day a cloud, by night a pillar of fire; -To guide them in their journey, and remove -Behind them, while the obdurate king pursues: -All night he will pursue; but his approach -Darkness defends between till morning watch; -Then through the fiery pillar, and the cloud, -God looking forth will trouble all his host, -And craze their chariot-wheels: when by command -Moses once more his potent rod extends -Over the sea; the sea his rod obeys; -On their embattled ranks the waves return, -And overwhelm their war: The race elect -Safe toward Canaan from the shore advance -Through the wild Desart, not the readiest way; -Lest, entering on the Canaanite alarmed, -War terrify them inexpert, and fear -Return them back to Egypt, choosing rather -Inglorious life with servitude; for life -To noble and ignoble is more sweet -Untrained in arms, where rashness leads not on. -This also shall they gain by their delay -In the wide wilderness; there they shall found -Their government, and their great senate choose -Through the twelve tribes, to rule by laws ordained: -God from the mount of Sinai, whose gray top -Shall tremble, he descending, will himself -In thunder, lightning, and loud trumpets' sound, -Ordain them laws; part, such as appertain -To civil justice; part, religious rites -Of sacrifice; informing them, by types -And shadows, of that destined Seed to bruise -The Serpent, by what means he shall achieve -Mankind's deliverance. But the voice of God -To mortal ear is dreadful: They beseech -That Moses might report to them his will, -And terrour cease; he grants what they besought, -Instructed that to God is no access -Without Mediator, whose high office now -Moses in figure bears; to introduce -One greater, of whose day he shall foretel, -And all the Prophets in their age the times -Of great Messiah shall sing. Thus, laws and rites -Established, such delight hath God in Men -Obedient to his will, that he vouchsafes -Among them to set up his tabernacle; -The Holy One with mortal Men to dwell: -By his prescript a sanctuary is framed -Of cedar, overlaid with gold; therein -An ark, and in the ark his testimony, -The records of his covenant; over these -A mercy-seat of gold, between the wings -Of two bright Cherubim; before him burn -Seven lamps as in a zodiack representing -The heavenly fires; over the tent a cloud -Shall rest by day, a fiery gleam by night; -Save when they journey, and at length they come, -Conducted by his Angel, to the land -Promised to Abraham and his seed:--The rest -Were long to tell; how many battles fought -How many kings destroyed; and kingdoms won; -Or how the sun shall in mid Heaven stand still -A day entire, and night's due course adjourn, -Man's voice commanding, 'Sun, in Gibeon stand, -'And thou moon in the vale of Aialon, -'Till Israel overcome! so call the third -From Abraham, son of Isaac; and from him -His whole descent, who thus shall Canaan win. -Here Adam interposed. O sent from Heaven, -Enlightener of my darkness, gracious things -Thou hast revealed; those chiefly, which concern -Just Abraham and his seed: now first I find -Mine eyes true-opening, and my heart much eased; -Erewhile perplexed with thoughts, what would become -Of me and all mankind: But now I see -His day, in whom all nations shall be blest; -Favour unmerited by me, who sought -Forbidden knowledge by forbidden means. -This yet I apprehend not, why to those -Among whom God will deign to dwell on earth -So many and so various laws are given; -So many laws argue so many sins -Among them; how can God with such reside? -To whom thus Michael. Doubt not but that sin -Will reign among them, as of thee begot; -And therefore was law given them, to evince -Their natural pravity, by stirring up -Sin against law to fight: that when they see -Law can discover sin, but not remove, -Save by those shadowy expiations weak, -The blood of bulls and goats, they may conclude -Some blood more precious must be paid for Man; -Just for unjust; that, in such righteousness -To them by faith imputed, they may find -Justification towards God, and peace -Of conscience; which the law by ceremonies -Cannot appease; nor Man the mortal part -Perform; and, not performing, cannot live. -So law appears imperfect; and but given -With purpose to resign them, in full time, -Up to a better covenant; disciplined -From shadowy types to truth; from flesh to spirit; -From imposition of strict laws to free -Acceptance of large grace; from servile fear -To filial; works of law to works of faith. -And therefore shall not Moses, though of God -Highly beloved, being but the minister -Of law, his people into Canaan lead; -But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call, -His name and office bearing, who shall quell -The adversary-Serpent, and bring back -Through the world's wilderness long-wandered Man -Safe to eternal Paradise of rest. -Mean while they, in their earthly Canaan placed, -Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins -National interrupt their publick peace, -Provoking God to raise them enemies; -From whom as oft he saves them penitent -By Judges first, then under Kings; of whom -The second, both for piety renowned -And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive -Irrevocable, that his regal throne -For ever shall endure; the like shall sing -All Prophecy, that of the royal stock -Of David (so I name this king) shall rise -A Son, the Woman's seed to thee foretold, -Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust -All nations; and to kings foretold, of kings -The last; for of his reign shall be no end. -But first, a long succession must ensue; -And his next son, for wealth and wisdom famed, -The clouded ark of God, till then in tents -Wandering, shall in a glorious temple enshrine. -Such follow him, as shall be registered -Part good, part bad; of bad the longer scroll; -Whose foul idolatries, and other faults -Heaped to the popular sum, will so incense -God, as to leave them, and expose their land, -Their city, his temple, and his holy ark, -With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey -To that proud city, whose high walls thou sawest -Left in confusion; Babylon thence called. -There in captivity he lets them dwell -The space of seventy years; then brings them back, -Remembering mercy, and his covenant sworn -To David, stablished as the days of Heaven. -Returned from Babylon by leave of kings -Their lords, whom God disposed, the house of God -They first re-edify; and for a while -In mean estate live moderate; till, grown -In wealth and multitude, factious they grow; -But first among the priests dissention springs, -Men who attend the altar, and should most -Endeavour peace: their strife pollution brings -Upon the temple itself: at last they seise -The scepter, and regard not David's sons; -Then lose it to a stranger, that the true -Anointed King Messiah might be born -Barred of his right; yet at his birth a star, -Unseen before in Heaven, proclaims him come; -And guides the eastern sages, who inquire -His place, to offer incense, myrrh, and gold: -His place of birth a solemn Angel tells -To simple shepherds, keeping watch by night; -They gladly thither haste, and by a quire -Of squadroned Angels hear his carol sung. -A virgin is his mother, but his sire -The power of the Most High: He shall ascend -The throne hereditary, and bound his reign -With Earth's wide bounds, his glory with the Heavens. -He ceased, discerning Adam with such joy -Surcharged, as had like grief been dewed in tears, -Without the vent of words; which these he breathed. -O prophet of glad tidings, finisher -Of utmost hope! now clear I understand -What oft my steadiest thoughts have searched in vain; -Why our great Expectation should be called -The seed of Woman: Virgin Mother, hail, -High in the love of Heaven; yet from my loins -Thou shalt proceed, and from thy womb the Son -Of God Most High: so God with Man unites! -Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise -Expect with mortal pain: Say where and when -Their fight, what stroke shall bruise the victor's heel. -To whom thus Michael. Dream not of their fight, -As of a duel, or the local wounds -Of head or heel: Not therefore joins the Son -Manhood to Godhead, with more strength to foil -Thy enemy; nor so is overcome -Satan, whose fall from Heaven, a deadlier bruise, -Disabled, not to give thee thy death's wound: -Which he, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure, -Not by destroying Satan, but his works -In thee, and in thy seed: Nor can this be, -But by fulfilling that which thou didst want, -Obedience to the law of God, imposed -On penalty of death, and suffering death; -The penalty to thy transgression due, -And due to theirs which out of thine will grow: -So only can high Justice rest appaid. -The law of God exact he shall fulfil -Both by obedience and by love, though love -Alone fulfil the law; thy punishment -He shall endure, by coming in the flesh -To a reproachful life, and cursed death; -Proclaiming life to all who shall believe -In his redemption; and that his obedience, -Imputed, becomes theirs by faith; his merits -To save them, not their own, though legal, works. -For this he shall live hated, be blasphemed, -Seised on by force, judged, and to death condemned -A shameful and accursed, nailed to the cross -By his own nation; slain for bringing life: -But to the cross he nails thy enemies, -The law that is against thee, and the sins -Of all mankind, with him there crucified, -Never to hurt them more who rightly trust -In this his satisfaction; so he dies, -But soon revives; Death over him no power -Shall long usurp; ere the third dawning light -Return, the stars of morn shall see him rise -Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light, -Thy ransom paid, which Man from death redeems, -His death for Man, as many as offered life -Neglect not, and the benefit embrace -By faith not void of works: This God-like act -Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldest have died, -In sin for ever lost from life; this act -Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength, -Defeating Sin and Death, his two main arms; -And fix far deeper in his head their stings -Than temporal death shall bruise the victor's heel, -Or theirs whom he redeems; a death, like sleep, -A gentle wafting to immortal life. -Nor after resurrection shall he stay -Longer on earth, than certain times to appear -To his disciples, men who in his life -Still followed him; to them shall leave in charge -To teach all nations what of him they learned -And his salvation; them who shall believe -Baptizing in the profluent stream, the sign -Of washing them from guilt of sin to life -Pure, and in mind prepared, if so befall, -For death, like that which the Redeemer died. -All nations they shall teach; for, from that day, -Not only to the sons of Abraham's loins -Salvation shall be preached, but to the sons -Of Abraham's faith wherever through the world; -So in his seed all nations shall be blest. -Then to the Heaven of Heavens he shall ascend -With victory, triumphing through the air -Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise -The Serpent, prince of air, and drag in chains -Through all his realm, and there confounded leave; -Then enter into glory, and resume -His seat at God's right hand, exalted high -Above all names in Heaven; and thence shall come, -When this world's dissolution shall be ripe, -With glory and power to judge both quick and dead; -To judge the unfaithful dead, but to reward -His faithful, and receive them into bliss, -Whether in Heaven or Earth; for then the Earth -Shall all be Paradise, far happier place -Than this of Eden, and far happier days. -So spake the Arch-Angel Michael; then paused, -As at the world's great period; and our sire, -Replete with joy and wonder, thus replied. -O Goodness infinite, Goodness immense! -That all this good of evil shall produce, -And evil turn to good; more wonderful -Than that which by creation first brought forth -Light out of darkness! Full of doubt I stand, -Whether I should repent me now of sin -By me done, and occasioned; or rejoice -Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring; -To God more glory, more good-will to Men -From God, and over wrath grace shall abound. -But say, if our Deliverer up to Heaven -Must re-ascend, what will betide the few -His faithful, left among the unfaithful herd, -The enemies of truth? Who then shall guide -His people, who defend? Will they not deal -Worse with his followers than with him they dealt? -Be sure they will, said the Angel; but from Heaven -He to his own a Comforter will send, -The promise of the Father, who shall dwell -His Spirit within them; and the law of faith, -Working through love, upon their hearts shall write, -To guide them in all truth; and also arm -With spiritual armour, able to resist -Satan's assaults, and quench his fiery darts; -What man can do against them, not afraid, -Though to the death; against such cruelties -With inward consolations recompensed, -And oft supported so as shall amaze -Their proudest persecutors: For the Spirit, -Poured first on his Apostles, whom he sends -To evangelize the nations, then on all -Baptized, shall them with wonderous gifts endue -To speak all tongues, and do all miracles, -As did their Lord before them. Thus they win -Great numbers of each nation to receive -With joy the tidings brought from Heaven: At length -Their ministry performed, and race well run, -Their doctrine and their story written left, -They die; but in their room, as they forewarn, -Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous wolves, -Who all the sacred mysteries of Heaven -To their own vile advantages shall turn -Of lucre and ambition; and the truth -With superstitions and traditions taint, -Left only in those written records pure, -Though not but by the Spirit understood. -Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names, -Places, and titles, and with these to join -Secular power; though feigning still to act -By spiritual, to themselves appropriating -The Spirit of God, promised alike and given -To all believers; and, from that pretence, -Spiritual laws by carnal power shall force -On every conscience; laws which none shall find -Left them inrolled, or what the Spirit within -Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then -But force the Spirit of Grace itself, and bind -His consort Liberty? what, but unbuild -His living temples, built by faith to stand, -Their own faith, not another's? for, on earth, -Who against faith and conscience can be heard -Infallible? yet many will presume: -Whence heavy persecution shall arise -On all, who in the worship persevere -Of spirit and truth; the rest, far greater part, -Will deem in outward rites and specious forms -Religion satisfied; Truth shall retire -Bestuck with slanderous darts, and works of faith -Rarely be found: So shall the world go on, -To good malignant, to bad men benign; -Under her own weight groaning; till the day -Appear of respiration to the just, -And vengeance to the wicked, at return -Of him so lately promised to thy aid, -The Woman's Seed; obscurely then foretold, -Now ampler known thy Saviour and thy Lord; -Last, in the clouds, from Heaven to be revealed -In glory of the Father, to dissolve -Satan with his perverted world; then raise -From the conflagrant mass, purged and refined, -New Heavens, new Earth, ages of endless date, -Founded in righteousness, and peace, and love; -To bring forth fruits, joy and eternal bliss. -He ended; and thus Adam last replied. -How soon hath thy prediction, Seer blest, -Measured this transient world, the race of time, -Till time stand fixed! Beyond is all abyss, -Eternity, whose end no eye can reach. -Greatly-instructed I shall hence depart; -Greatly in peace of thought; and have my fill -Of knowledge, what this vessel can contain; -Beyond which was my folly to aspire. -Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best, -And love with fear the only God; to walk -As in his presence; ever to observe -His providence; and on him sole depend, -Merciful over all his works, with good -Still overcoming evil, and by small -Accomplishing great things, by things deemed weak -Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise -By simply meek: that suffering for truth's sake -Is fortitude to highest victory, -And, to the faithful, death the gate of life; -Taught this by his example, whom I now -Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest. -To whom thus also the Angel last replied. -This having learned, thou hast attained the sum -Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars -Thou knewest by name, and all the ethereal powers, -All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works, -Or works of God in Heaven, air, earth, or sea, -And all the riches of this world enjoyedst, -And all the rule, one empire; only add -Deeds to thy knowledge answerable; add faith, -Add virtue, patience, temperance; add love, -By name to come called charity, the soul -Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loth -To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess -A Paradise within thee, happier far.-- -Let us descend now therefore from this top -Of speculation; for the hour precise -Exacts our parting hence; and see!the guards, -By me encamped on yonder hill, expect -Their motion; at whose front a flaming sword, -In signal of remove, waves fiercely round: -We may no longer stay: go, waken Eve; -Her also I with gentle dreams have calmed -Portending good, and all her spirits composed -To meek submission: thou, at season fit, -Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard; -Chiefly what may concern her faith to know, -The great deliverance by her seed to come -(For by the Woman's seed) on all mankind: -That ye may live, which will be many days, -Both in one faith unanimous, though sad, -With cause, for evils past; yet much more cheered -With meditation on the happy end. -He ended, and they both descend the hill; -Descended, Adam to the bower, where Eve -Lay sleeping, ran before; but found her waked; -And thus with words not sad she him received. -Whence thou returnest, and whither wentest, I know; -For God is also in sleep; and dreams advise, -Which he hath sent propitious, some great good -Presaging, since with sorrow and heart's distress -Wearied I fell asleep: But now lead on; -In me is no delay; with thee to go, -Is to stay here; without thee here to stay, -Is to go hence unwilling; thou to me -Art all things under $Heaven, all places thou, -Who for my wilful crime art banished hence. -This further consolation yet secure -I carry hence; though all by me is lost, -Such favour I unworthy am vouchsafed, -By me the Promised Seed shall all restore. -So spake our mother Eve; and Adam heard -Well pleased, but answered not: For now, too nigh -The Arch-Angel stood; and, from the other hill -To their fixed station, all in bright array -The Cherubim descended; on the ground -Gliding meteorous, as evening-mist -Risen from a river o'er the marish glides, -And gathers ground fast at the labourer's heel -Homeward returning. High in front advanced, -The brandished sword of God before them blazed, -Fierce as a comet; which with torrid heat, -And vapour as the Libyan air adust, -Began to parch that temperate clime; whereat -In either hand the hastening Angel caught -Our lingering parents, and to the eastern gate -Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast -To the subjected plain; then disappeared. -They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld -Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, -Waved over by that flaming brand; the gate -With dreadful faces thronged, and fiery arms: -Some natural tears they dropt, but wiped them soon; -The world was all before them, where to choose -Their place of rest, and Providence their guide: -They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, -Through Eden took their solitary way. - -[The End] + +This is the February 1992 Project Gutenberg release of: + +Paradise Lost by John Milton + +The oldest etext known to Project Gutenberg (ca. 1964-1965) +(If you know of any older ones, please let us know.) + + +Introduction (one page) + +This etext was originally created in 1964-1965 according to Dr. +Joseph Raben of Queens College, NY, to whom it is attributed by +Project Gutenberg. We had heard of this etext for years but it +was not until 1991 that we actually managed to track it down to +a specific location, and then it took months to convince people +to let us have a copy, then more months for them actually to do +the copying and get it to us. Then another month to convert to +something we could massage with our favorite 486 in DOS. After +that is was only a matter of days to get it into this shape you +will see below. The original was, of course, in CAPS only, and +so were all the other etexts of the 60's and early 70's. Don't +let anyone fool you into thinking any etext with both upper and +lower case is an original; all those original Project Gutenberg +etexts were also in upper case and were translated or rewritten +many times to get them into their current condition. They have +been worked on by many people throughout the world. + +In the course of our searches for Professor Raben and his etext +we were never able to determine where copies were or which of a +variety of editions he may have used as a source. We did get a +little information here and there, but even after we received a +copy of the etext we were unwilling to release it without first +determining that it was in fact Public Domain and finding Raben +to verify this and get his permission. Interested enough, in a +totally unrelated action to our searches for him, the professor +subscribed to the Project Gutenberg listserver and we happened, +by accident, to notice his name. (We don't really look at every +subscription request as the computers usually handle them.) The +etext was then properly identified, copyright analyzed, and the +current edition prepared. + +To give you an estimation of the difference in the original and +what we have today: the original was probably entered on cards +commonly known at the time as "IBM cards" (Do Not Fold, Spindle +or Mutilate) and probably took in excess of 100,000 of them. A +single card could hold 80 characters (hence 80 characters is an +accepted standard for so many computer margins), and the entire +original edition we received in all caps was over 800,000 chars +in length, including line enumeration, symbols for caps and the +punctuation marks, etc., since they were not available keyboard +characters at the time (probably the keyboards operated at baud +rates of around 113, meaning the typists had to type slowly for +the keyboard to keep up). + +This is the second version of Paradise Lost released by Project +Gutenberg. The first was released as our October, 1991 etext. + + + + + +Paradise Lost + + + + +Book I + + +Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit +Of that forbidden tree whose mortal taste +Brought death into the World, and all our woe, +With loss of Eden, till one greater Man +Restore us, and regain the blissful seat, +Sing, Heavenly Muse, that, on the secret top +Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire +That shepherd who first taught the chosen seed +In the beginning how the heavens and earth +Rose out of Chaos: or, if Sion hill +Delight thee more, and Siloa's brook that flowed +Fast by the oracle of God, I thence +Invoke thy aid to my adventurous song, +That with no middle flight intends to soar +Above th' Aonian mount, while it pursues +Things unattempted yet in prose or rhyme. +And chiefly thou, O Spirit, that dost prefer +Before all temples th' upright heart and pure, +Instruct me, for thou know'st; thou from the first +Wast present, and, with mighty wings outspread, +Dove-like sat'st brooding on the vast Abyss, +And mad'st it pregnant: what in me is dark +Illumine, what is low raise and support; +That, to the height of this great argument, +I may assert Eternal Providence, +And justify the ways of God to men. + Say first--for Heaven hides nothing from thy view, +Nor the deep tract of Hell--say first what cause +Moved our grand parents, in that happy state, +Favoured of Heaven so highly, to fall off +From their Creator, and transgress his will +For one restraint, lords of the World besides. +Who first seduced them to that foul revolt? + Th' infernal Serpent; he it was whose guile, +Stirred up with envy and revenge, deceived +The mother of mankind, what time his pride +Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host +Of rebel Angels, by whose aid, aspiring +To set himself in glory above his peers, +He trusted to have equalled the Most High, +If he opposed, and with ambitious aim +Against the throne and monarchy of God, +Raised impious war in Heaven and battle proud, +With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power +Hurled 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. + Nine times the space that measures day and night +To mortal men, he, with his horrid crew, +Lay vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf, +Confounded, though immortal. But his doom +Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought +Both of lost happiness and lasting pain +Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, +That witnessed huge affliction and dismay, +Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate. +At once, as far as Angels ken, he views +The dismal situation waste and wild. +A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, +As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames +No light; but rather darkness visible +Served only to discover sights of woe, +Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace +And rest can never dwell, hope never comes +That comes to all, but torture without end +Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed +With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed. +Such place Eternal Justice has prepared +For those rebellious; here their prison ordained +In utter darkness, and their portion set, +As far removed from God and light of Heaven +As from the centre thrice to th' utmost pole. +Oh how unlike the place from whence they fell! +There the companions of his fall, o'erwhelmed +With floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire, +He soon discerns; and, weltering by his side, +One next himself in power, and next in crime, +Long after known in Palestine, and named +Beelzebub. To whom th' Arch-Enemy, +And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words +Breaking the horrid silence, thus began:-- + "If thou beest he--but O how fallen! how changed +From him who, in the happy realms of light +Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine +Myriads, though bright!--if he whom mutual league, +United thoughts and counsels, equal hope +And hazard in the glorious enterprise +Joined with me once, now misery hath joined +In equal ruin; into what pit thou seest +From what height fallen: so much the stronger proved +He with his thunder; and till then who knew +The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those, +Nor what the potent Victor in his rage +Can else inflict, do I repent, or change, +Though changed in outward lustre, that fixed mind, +And high disdain from sense of injured merit, +That with the Mightiest raised me to contend, +And to the fierce contentions brought along +Innumerable force of Spirits armed, +That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, +His utmost power with adverse power opposed +In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, +And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? +All is not lost--the unconquerable will, +And study of revenge, immortal hate, +And courage never to submit or yield: +And what is else not to be overcome? +That glory never shall his wrath or might +Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace +With suppliant knee, and deify his power +Who, from the terror of this arm, so late +Doubted his empire--that were low indeed; +That were an ignominy and shame beneath +This downfall; since, by fate, the strength of Gods, +And this empyreal sybstance, cannot fail; +Since, through experience of this great event, +In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, +We may with more successful hope resolve +To wage by force or guile eternal war, +Irreconcilable to our grand Foe, +Who now triumphs, and in th' excess of joy +Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven." + So spake th' apostate Angel, though in pain, +Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair; +And him thus answered soon his bold compeer:-- + "O Prince, O Chief of many throned Powers +That led th' embattled Seraphim to war +Under thy conduct, and, in dreadful deeds +Fearless, endangered Heaven's perpetual King, +And put to proof his high supremacy, +Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate, +Too well I see and rue the dire event +That, with sad overthrow and foul defeat, +Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host +In horrible destruction laid thus low, +As far as Gods and heavenly Essences +Can perish: for the mind and spirit remains +Invincible, and vigour soon returns, +Though all our glory extinct, and happy state +Here swallowed up in endless misery. +But what if he our Conqueror (whom I now +Of force believe almighty, since no less +Than such could have o'erpowered such force as ours) +Have left us this our spirit and strength entire, +Strongly to suffer and support our pains, +That we may so suffice his vengeful ire, +Or do him mightier service as his thralls +By right of war, whate'er his business be, +Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire, +Or do his errands in the gloomy Deep? +What can it the avail though yet we feel +Strength undiminished, or eternal being +To undergo eternal punishment?" + Whereto with speedy words th' Arch-Fiend replied:-- +"Fallen Cherub, to be weak is miserable, +Doing or suffering: but of this be sure-- +To do aught good never will be our task, +But ever to do ill our sole delight, +As being the contrary to his high will +Whom we resist. If then his providence +Out of our evil seek to bring forth good, +Our labour must be to pervert that end, +And out of good still to find means of evil; +Which ofttimes may succeed so as perhaps +Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb +His inmost counsels from their destined aim. +But see! the angry Victor hath recalled +His ministers of vengeance and pursuit +Back to the gates of Heaven: the sulphurous hail, +Shot after us in storm, o'erblown hath laid +The fiery surge that from the precipice +Of Heaven received us falling; and the thunder, +Winged with red lightning and impetuous rage, +Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now +To bellow through the vast and boundless Deep. +Let us not slip th' occasion, whether scorn +Or satiate fury yield it from our Foe. +Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild, +The seat of desolation, void of light, +Save what the glimmering of these livid flames +Casts pale and dreadful? Thither let us tend +From off the tossing of these fiery waves; +There rest, if any rest can harbour there; +And, re-assembling our afflicted powers, +Consult how we may henceforth most offend +Our enemy, our own loss how repair, +How overcome this dire calamity, +What reinforcement we may gain from hope, +If not, what resolution from despair." + Thus Satan, talking to his nearest mate, +With head uplift above the wave, and eyes +That sparkling blazed; his other parts besides +Prone on the flood, extended long and large, +Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge +As whom the fables name of monstrous size, +Titanian or Earth-born, that warred on Jove, +Briareos or Typhon, whom the den +By ancient Tarsus held, or that sea-beast +Leviathan, which God of all his works +Created hugest that swim th' ocean-stream. +Him, haply slumbering on the Norway foam, +The pilot of some small night-foundered skiff, +Deeming some island, oft, as seamen tell, +With fixed anchor in his scaly rind, +Moors by his side under the lee, while night +Invests the sea, and wished morn delays. +So stretched out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay, +Chained on the burning lake; nor ever thence +Had risen, or heaved his head, but that the will +And high permission of all-ruling Heaven +Left him at large to his own dark designs, +That with reiterated crimes he might +Heap on himself damnation, while he sought +Evil to others, and enraged might see +How all his malice served but to bring forth +Infinite goodness, grace, and mercy, shewn +On Man by him seduced, but on himself +Treble confusion, wrath, and vengeance poured. + Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool +His mighty stature; on each hand the flames +Driven backward slope their pointing spires, and,rolled +In billows, leave i' th' midst a horrid vale. +Then with expanded wings he steers his flight +Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air, +That felt unusual weight; till on dry land +He lights--if it were land that ever burned +With solid, as the lake with liquid fire, +And such appeared in hue as when the force +Of subterranean wind transprots a hill +Torn from Pelorus, or the shattered side +Of thundering Etna, whose combustible +And fuelled entrails, thence conceiving fire, +Sublimed with mineral fury, aid the winds, +And leave a singed bottom all involved +With stench and smoke. Such resting found the sole +Of unblest feet. Him followed his next mate; +Both glorying to have scaped the Stygian flood +As gods, and by their own recovered strength, +Not by the sufferance of supernal Power. + "Is this the region, this the soil, the clime," +Said then the lost Archangel, "this the seat +That we must change for Heaven?--this mournful gloom +For that celestial light? Be it so, since he +Who now is sovereign can dispose and bid +What shall be right: farthest from him is best +Whom reason hath equalled, force hath made supreme +Above his equals. Farewell, happy fields, +Where joy for ever dwells! Hail, horrors! hail, +Infernal world! and thou, profoundest Hell, +Receive thy new possessor--one who brings +A mind not to be changed by place or time. +The mind is its own place, and in itself +Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. +What matter where, if I be still the same, +And what I should be, all but less than he +Whom thunder hath made greater? Here at least +We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built +Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: +Here we may reigh secure; and, in my choice, +To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell: +Better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven. +But wherefore let we then our faithful friends, +Th' associates and co-partners of our loss, +Lie thus astonished on th' oblivious pool, +And call them not to share with us their part +In this unhappy mansion, or once more +With rallied arms to try what may be yet +Regained in Heaven, or what more lost in Hell?" + So Satan spake; and him Beelzebub +Thus answered:--"Leader of those armies bright +Which, but th' Omnipotent, none could have foiled! +If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge +Of hope in fears and dangers--heard so oft +In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge +Of battle, when it raged, in all assaults +Their surest signal--they will soon resume +New courage and revive, though now they lie +Grovelling and prostrate on yon lake of fire, +As we erewhile, astounded and amazed; +No wonder, fallen such a pernicious height!" + He scare had ceased when the superior Fiend +Was moving toward the shore; his ponderous shield, +Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, +Behind him cast. The broad circumference +Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb +Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views +At evening, from the top of Fesole, +Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, +Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe. +His spear--to equal which the tallest pine +Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast +Of some great ammiral, were but a wand-- +He walked with, to support uneasy steps +Over the burning marl, not like those steps +On Heaven's azure; and the torrid clime +Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire. +Nathless he so endured, till on the beach +Of that inflamed sea he stood, and called +His legions--Angel Forms, who lay entranced +Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks +In Vallombrosa, where th' Etrurian shades +High over-arched embower; or scattered sedge +Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion armed +Hath vexed the Red-Sea coast, whose waves o'erthrew +Busiris and his Memphian chivalry, +While with perfidious hatred they pursued +The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld +From the safe shore their floating carcases +And broken chariot-wheels. So thick bestrown, +Abject and lost, lay these, covering the flood, +Under amazement of their hideous change. +He called so loud that all the hollow deep +Of Hell resounded:--"Princes, Potentates, +Warriors, the Flower of Heaven--once yours; now lost, +If such astonishment as this can seize +Eternal Spirits! Or have ye chosen this place +After the toil of battle to repose +Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find +To slumber here, as in the vales of Heaven? +Or in this abject posture have ye sworn +To adore the Conqueror, who now beholds +Cherub and Seraph rolling in the flood +With scattered arms and ensigns, till anon +His swift pursuers from Heaven-gates discern +Th' advantage, and, descending, tread us down +Thus drooping, or with linked thunderbolts +Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf? +Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen!" + They heard, and were abashed, and up they sprung +Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch +On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread, +Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake. +Nor did they not perceive the evil plight +In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; +Yet to their General's voice they soon obeyed +Innumerable. As when the potent rod +Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day, +Waved round the coast, up-called a pitchy cloud +Of locusts, warping on the eastern wind, +That o'er the realm of impious Pharaoh hung +Like Night, and darkened all the land of Nile; +So numberless were those bad Angels seen +Hovering on wing under the cope of Hell, +'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires; +Till, as a signal given, th' uplifted spear +Of their great Sultan waving to direct +Their course, in even balance down they light +On the firm brimstone, and fill all the plain: +A multitude like which the populous North +Poured never from her frozen loins to pass +Rhene or the Danaw, when her barbarous sons +Came like a deluge on the South, and spread +Beneath Gibraltar to the Libyan sands. +Forthwith, form every squadron and each band, +The heads and leaders thither haste where stood +Their great Commander--godlike Shapes, and Forms +Excelling human; princely Dignities; +And Powers that erst in Heaven sat on thrones, +Though on their names in Heavenly records now +Be no memorial, blotted out and rased +By their rebellion from the Books of Life. +Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve +Got them new names, till, wandering o'er the earth, +Through God's high sufferance for the trial of man, +By falsities and lies the greatest part +Of mankind they corrupted to forsake +God their Creator, and th' invisible +Glory of him that made them to transform +Oft to the image of a brute, adorned +With gay religions full of pomp and gold, +And devils to adore for deities: +Then were they known to men by various names, +And various idols through the heathen world. + Say, Muse, their names then known, who first, who last, +Roused from the slumber on that fiery couch, +At their great Emperor's call, as next in worth +Came singly where he stood on the bare strand, +While the promiscuous crowd stood yet aloof? + The chief were those who, from the pit of Hell +Roaming to seek their prey on Earth, durst fix +Their seats, long after, next the seat of God, +Their altars by his altar, gods adored +Among the nations round, and durst abide +Jehovah thundering out of Sion, throned +Between the Cherubim; yea, often placed +Within his sanctuary itself their shrines, +Abominations; and with cursed things +His holy rites and solemn feasts profaned, +And with their darkness durst affront his light. +First, Moloch, horrid king, besmeared with blood +Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears; +Though, for the noise of drums and timbrels loud, +Their children's cries unheard that passed through fire +To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite +Worshiped in Rabba and her watery plain, +In Argob and in Basan, to the stream +Of utmost Arnon. Nor content with such +Audacious neighbourhood, the wisest heart +Of Solomon he led by fraoud to build +His temple right against the temple of God +On that opprobrious hill, and made his grove +The pleasant valley of Hinnom, Tophet thence +And black Gehenna called, the type of Hell. +Next Chemos, th' obscene dread of Moab's sons, +From Aroar to Nebo and the wild +Of southmost Abarim; in Hesebon +And Horonaim, Seon's real, beyond +The flowery dale of Sibma clad with vines, +And Eleale to th' Asphaltic Pool: +Peor his other name, when he enticed +Israel in Sittim, on their march from Nile, +To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. +Yet thence his lustful orgies he enlarged +Even to that hill of scandal, by the grove +Of Moloch homicide, lust hard by hate, +Till good Josiah drove them thence to Hell. +With these came they who, from the bordering flood +Of old Euphrates to the brook that parts +Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names +Of Baalim and Ashtaroth--those male, +These feminine. For Spirits, when they please, +Can either sex assume, or both; so soft +And uncompounded is their essence pure, +Not tried or manacled with joint or limb, +Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, +Like cumbrous flesh; but, in what shape they choose, +Dilated or condensed, bright or obscure, +Can execute their airy purposes, +And works of love or enmity fulfil. +For those the race of Israel oft forsook +Their Living Strength, and unfrequented left +His righteous altar, bowing lowly down +To bestial gods; for which their heads as low +Bowed down in battle, sunk before the spear +Of despicable foes. With these in troop +Came Astoreth, whom the Phoenicians called +Astarte, queen of heaven, with crescent horns; +To whose bright image nigntly by the moon +Sidonian virgins paid their vows and songs; +In Sion also not unsung, where stood +Her temple on th' offensive mountain, built +By that uxorious king whose heart, though large, +Beguiled by fair idolatresses, fell +To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, +Whose annual wound in Lebanon allured +The Syrian damsels to lament his fate +In amorous ditties all a summer's day, +While smooth Adonis from his native rock +Ran purple to the sea, supposed with blood +Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the love-tale +Infected Sion's daughters with like heat, +Whose wanton passions in the sacred proch +Ezekiel saw, when, by the vision led, +His eye surveyed the dark idolatries +Of alienated Judah. Next came one +Who mourned in earnest, when the captive ark +Maimed his brute image, head and hands lopt off, +In his own temple, on the grunsel-edge, +Where he fell flat and shamed his worshippers: +Dagon his name, sea-monster,upward man +And downward fish; yet had his temple high +Reared in Azotus, dreaded through the coast +Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon, +And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds. +Him followed Rimmon, whose delightful seat +Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks +Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams. +He also against the house of God was bold: +A leper once he lost, and gained a king-- +Ahaz, his sottish conqueror, whom he drew +God's altar to disparage and displace +For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn +His odious offerings, and adore the gods +Whom he had vanquished. After these appeared +A crew who, under names of old renown-- +Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train-- +With monstrous shapes and sorceries abused +Fanatic Egypt and her priests to seek +Their wandering gods disguised in brutish forms +Rather than human. Nor did Israel scape +Th' infection, when their borrowed gold composed +The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king +Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, +Likening his Maker to the grazed ox-- +Jehovah, who, in one night, when he passed +From Egypt marching, equalled with one stroke +Both her first-born and all her bleating gods. +Belial came last; than whom a Spirit more lewd +Fell not from Heaven, or more gross to love +Vice for itself. To him no temple stood +Or altar smoked; yet who more oft than he +In temples and at altars, when the priest +Turns atheist, as did Eli's sons, who filled +With lust and violence the house of God? +In courts and palaces he also reigns, +And in luxurious cities, where the noise +Of riot ascends above their loftiest towers, +And injury and outrage; and, when night +Darkens the streets, then wander forth the sons +Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. +Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night +In Gibeah, when the hospitable door +Exposed a matron, to avoid worse rape. + These were the prime in order and in might: +The rest were long to tell; though far renowned +Th' Ionian gods--of Javan's issue held +Gods, yet confessed later than Heaven and Earth, +Their boasted parents;--Titan, Heaven's first-born, +With his enormous brood, and birthright seized +By younger Saturn: he from mightier Jove, +His own and Rhea's son, like measure found; +So Jove usurping reigned. These, first in Crete +And Ida known, thence on the snowy top +Of cold Olympus ruled the middle air, +Their highest heaven; or on the Delphian cliff, +Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds +Of Doric land; or who with Saturn old +Fled over Adria to th' Hesperian fields, +And o'er the Celtic roamed the utmost Isles. + All these and more came flocking; but with looks +Downcast and damp; yet such wherein appeared +Obscure some glimpse of joy to have found their Chief +Not in despair, to have found themselves not lost +In loss itself; which on his countenance cast +Like doubtful hue. But he, his wonted pride +Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore +Semblance of worth, not substance, gently raised +Their fainting courage, and dispelled their fears. +Then straight commands that, at the warlike sound +Of trumpets loud and clarions, be upreared +His mighty standard. That proud honour claimed +Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall: +Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurled +Th' imperial ensign; which, full high advanced, +Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, +With gems and golden lustre rich emblazed, +Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while +Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds: +At which the universal host up-sent +A shout that tore Hell's concave, and beyond +Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night. +All in a moment through the gloom were seen +Ten thousand banners rise into the air, +With orient colours waving: with them rose +A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms +Appeared, and serried shields in thick array +Of depth immeasurable. Anon they move +In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood +Of flutes and soft recorders--such as raised +To height of noblest temper heroes old +Arming to battle, and instead of rage +Deliberate valour breathed, firm, and unmoved +With dread of death to flight or foul retreat; +Nor wanting power to mitigate and swage +With solemn touches troubled thoughts, and chase +Anguish and doubt and fear and sorrow and pain +From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they, +Breathing united force with fixed thought, +Moved on in silence to soft pipes that charmed +Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil. And now +Advanced in view they stand--a horrid front +Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise +Of warriors old, with ordered spear and shield, +Awaiting what command their mighty Chief +Had to impose. He through the armed files +Darts his experienced eye, and soon traverse +The whole battalion views--their order due, +Their visages and stature as of gods; +Their number last he sums. And now his heart +Distends with pride, and, hardening in his strength, +Glories: for never, since created Man, +Met such embodied force as, named with these, +Could merit more than that small infantry +Warred on by cranes--though all the giant brood +Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were joined +That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side +Mixed with auxiliar gods; and what resounds +In fable or romance of Uther's son, +Begirt with British and Armoric knights; +And all who since, baptized or infidel, +Jousted in Aspramont, or Montalban, +Damasco, or Marocco, or Trebisond, +Or whom Biserta sent from Afric shore +When Charlemain with all his peerage fell +By Fontarabbia. Thus far these beyond +Compare of mortal prowess, yet observed +Their dread Commander. He, above the rest +In shape and gesture proudly eminent, +Stood like a tower. His form had yet not lost +All her original brightness, nor appeared +Less than Archangel ruined, and th' excess +Of glory obscured: as when the sun new-risen +Looks through the horizontal misty air +Shorn of his beams, or, from behind the moon, +In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds +On half the nations, and with fear of change +Perplexes monarchs. Darkened so, yet shone +Above them all th' Archangel: but his face +Deep scars of thunder had intrenched, and care +Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows +Of dauntless courage, and considerate pride +Waiting revenge. Cruel his eye, but cast +Signs of remorse and passion, to behold +The fellows of his crime, the followers rather +(Far other once beheld in bliss), condemned +For ever now to have their lot in pain-- +Millions of Spirits for his fault amerced +Of Heaven, and from eteranl splendours flung +For his revolt--yet faithful how they stood, +Their glory withered; as, when heaven's fire +Hath scathed the forest oaks or mountain pines, +With singed top their stately growth, though bare, +Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepared +To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend +From wing to wing, and half enclose him round +With all his peers: attention held them mute. +Thrice he assayed, and thrice, in spite of scorn, +Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last +Words interwove with sighs found out their way:-- + "O myriads of immortal Spirits! O Powers +Matchless, but with th' Almighth!--and that strife +Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire, +As this place testifies, and this dire change, +Hateful to utter. But what power of mind, +Forseeing or presaging, from the depth +Of knowledge past or present, could have feared +How such united force of gods, how such +As stood like these, could ever know repulse? +For who can yet believe, though after loss, +That all these puissant legions, whose exile +Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to re-ascend, +Self-raised, and repossess their native seat? +For me, be witness all the host of Heaven, +If counsels different, or danger shunned +By me, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns +Monarch in Heaven till then as one secure +Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute, +Consent or custom, and his regal state +Put forth at full, but still his strength concealed-- +Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall. +Henceforth his might we know, and know our own, +So as not either to provoke, or dread +New war provoked: our better part remains +To work in close design, by fraud or guile, +What force effected not; that he no less +At length from us may find, who overcomes +By force hath overcome but half his foe. +Space may produce new Worlds; whereof so rife +There went a fame in Heaven that he ere long +Intended to create, and therein plant +A generation whom his choice regard +Should favour equal to the Sons of Heaven. +Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps +Our first eruption--thither, or elsewhere; +For this infernal pit shall never hold +Celestial Spirits in bondage, nor th' Abyss +Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts +Full counsel must mature. Peace is despaired; +For who can think submission? War, then, war +Open or understood, must be resolved." + He spake; and, to confirm his words, outflew +Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs +Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze +Far round illumined Hell. Highly they raged +Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms +Clashed on their sounding shields the din of war, +Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heaven. + There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top +Belched fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire +Shone with a glossy scurf--undoubted sign +That in his womb was hid metallic ore, +The work of sulphur. Thither, winged with speed, +A numerous brigade hastened: as when bands +Of pioneers, with spade and pickaxe armed, +Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field, +Or cast a rampart. Mammon led them on-- +Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell +From Heaven; for even in Heaven his looks and thoughts +Were always downward bent, admiring more +The riches of heaven's pavement, trodden gold, +Than aught divine or holy else enjoyed +In vision beatific. By him first +Men also, and by his suggestion taught, +Ransacked the centre, and with impious hands +Rifled the bowels of their mother Earth +For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew +Opened into the hill a spacious wound, +And digged out ribs of gold. Let none admire +That riches grow in Hell; that soil may best +Deserve the precious bane. And here let those +Who boast in mortal things, and wondering tell +Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings, +Learn how their greatest monuments of fame +And strength, and art, are easily outdone +By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour +What in an age they, with incessant toil +And hands innumerable, scarce perform. +Nigh on the plain, in many cells prepared, +That underneath had veins of liquid fire +Sluiced from the lake, a second multitude +With wondrous art founded the massy ore, +Severing each kind, and scummed the bullion-dross. +A third as soon had formed within the ground +A various mould, and from the boiling cells +By strange conveyance filled each hollow nook; +As in an organ, from one blast of wind, +To many a row of pipes the sound-board breathes. +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 graven; +The roof was fretted gold. Not Babylon +Nor great Alcairo such magnificence +Equalled in all their glories, to enshrine +Belus or Serapis their gods, or seat +Their kings, when Egypt with Assyria strove +In wealth and luxury. Th' ascending pile +Stood fixed her stately height, and straight the doors, +Opening their brazen folds, discover, wide +Within, her ample spaces o'er the smooth +And level pavement: from the arched roof, +Pendent by subtle magic, many a row +Of starry lamps and blazing cressets, fed +With naptha and asphaltus, yielded light +As from a sky. The hasty multitude +Admiring entered; and the work some praise, +And some the architect. His hand was known +In Heaven by many a towered structure high, +Where sceptred Angels held their residence, +And sat as Princes, whom the supreme King +Exalted to such power, and gave to rule, +Each in his Hierarchy, the Orders bright. +Nor was his name unheard or unadored +In ancient Greece; and in Ausonian land +Men called him Mulciber; and how he fell +From Heaven they fabled, thrown by angry Jove +Sheer o'er the crystal battlements: from morn +To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, +A summer's day, and with the setting sun +Dropt from the zenith, like a falling star, +On Lemnos, th' Aegaean isle. Thus they relate, +Erring; for he with this rebellious rout +Fell long before; nor aught aviled him now +To have built in Heaven high towers; nor did he scape +By all his engines, but was headlong sent, +With his industrious crew, to build in Hell. + Meanwhile the winged Heralds, by command +Of sovereign power, with awful ceremony +And trumpet's sound, throughout the host proclaim +A solemn council forthwith to be held +At Pandemonium, the high capital +Of Satan and his peers. Their summons called +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 thronged; the gates +And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall +(Though like a covered field, where champions bold +Wont ride in armed, and at the Soldan's chair +Defied the best of Paynim chivalry +To mortal combat, or career with lance), +Thick swarmed, both on the ground and in the air, +Brushed with the hiss of rustling wings. As bees +In spring-time, when the Sun with Taurus rides. +Pour forth their populous youth about the hive +In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers +Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed plank, +The suburb of their straw-built citadel, +New rubbed with balm, expatiate, and confer +Their state-affairs: so thick the airy crowd +Swarmed and were straitened; till, the signal given, +Behold a wonder! They but now who seemed +In bigness to surpass Earth's giant sons, +Now less than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room +Throng numberless--like that pygmean race +Beyond the Indian mount; or faery elves, +Whose midnight revels, by a forest-side +Or fountain, some belated peasant sees, +Or dreams he sees, while overhead the Moon +Sits arbitress, and nearer to the Earth +Wheels her pale course: they, on their mirth and dance +Intent, with jocund music charm his ear; +At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds. +Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms +Reduced their shapes immense, and were at large, +Though without number still, amidst the hall +Of that infernal court. But far within, +And in their own dimensions like themselves, +The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim +In close recess and secret conclave sat, +A thousand demi-gods on golden seats, +Frequent and full. After short silence then, +And summons read, the great consult began. + + + +Book II + + +High on a throne of royal state, which far +Outshone the wealth or Ormus and of Ind, +Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand +Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold, +Satan exalted sat, by merit raised +To that bad eminence; and, from despair +Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires +Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue +Vain war with Heaven; and, by success untaught, +His proud imaginations thus displayed:-- + "Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heaven!-- +For, since no deep within her gulf can hold +Immortal vigour, though oppressed and fallen, +I give not Heaven for lost: from this descent +Celestial Virtues rising will appear +More glorious and more dread than from no fall, +And trust themselves to fear no second fate!-- +Me though just right, and the fixed laws of Heaven, +Did first create your leader--next, free choice +With what besides in council or in fight +Hath been achieved of merit--yet this loss, +Thus far at least recovered, hath much more +Established in a safe, unenvied throne, +Yielded with full consent. The happier state +In Heaven, which follows dignity, might draw +Envy from each inferior; but who here +Will envy whom the highest place exposes +Foremost to stand against the Thunderer's aim +Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share +Of endless pain? Where there is, then, no good +For which to strive, no strife can grow up there +From faction: for none sure will claim in Hell +Precedence; none whose portion is so small +Of present pain that with ambitious mind +Will covet more! With this advantage, then, +To union, and firm faith, and firm accord, +More than can be in Heaven, we now return +To claim our just inheritance of old, +Surer to prosper than prosperity +Could have assured us; and by what best way, +Whether of open war or covert guile, +We now debate. Who can advise may speak." + He ceased; and next him Moloch, sceptred king, +Stood up--the strongest and the fiercest Spirit +That fought in Heaven, now fiercer by despair. +His trust was with th' Eternal to be deemed +Equal in strength, and rather than be less +Cared not to be at all; with that care lost +Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worse, +He recked not, and these words thereafter spake:-- + "My sentence is for open war. Of wiles, +More unexpert, I boast not: them let those +Contrive who need, or when they need; not now. +For, while they sit contriving, shall the rest-- +Millions that stand in arms, and longing wait +The signal to ascend--sit lingering here, +Heaven's fugitives, and for their dwelling-place +Accept this dark opprobrious den of shame, +The prison of his ryranny who reigns +By our delay? No! let us rather choose, +Armed with Hell-flames and fury, all at once +O'er Heaven's high towers to force resistless way, +Turning our tortures into horrid arms +Against the Torturer; when, to meet the noise +Of his almighty engine, he shall hear +Infernal thunder, and, for lightning, see +Black fire and horror shot with equal rage +Among his Angels, and his throne itself +Mixed with Tartarean sulphur and strange fire, +His own invented torments. But perhaps +The way seems difficult, and steep to scale +With upright wing against a higher foe! +Let such bethink them, if the sleepy drench +Of that forgetful lake benumb not still, +That in our porper motion we ascend +Up to our native seat; descent and fall +To us is adverse. Who but felt of late, +When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear +Insulting, and pursued us through the Deep, +With what compulsion and laborious flight +We sunk thus low? Th' ascent is easy, then; +Th' event is feared! Should we again provoke +Our stronger, some worse way his wrath may find +To our destruction, if there be in Hell +Fear to be worse destroyed! What can be worse +Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemned +In this abhorred deep to utter woe! +Where pain of unextinguishable fire +Must exercise us without hope of end +The vassals of his anger, when the scourge +Inexorably, and the torturing hour, +Calls us to penance? More destroyed than thus, +We should be quite abolished, and expire. +What fear we then? what doubt we to incense +His utmost ire? which, to the height enraged, +Will either quite consume us, and reduce +To nothing this essential--happier far +Than miserable to have eternal being!-- +Or, if our substance be indeed divine, +And cannot cease to be, we are at worst +On this side nothing; and by proof we feel +Our power sufficient to disturb his Heaven, +And with perpetual inroads to alarm, +Though inaccessible, his fatal throne: +Which, if not victory, is yet revenge." + He ended frowning, and his look denounced +Desperate revenge, and battle dangerous +To less than gods. On th' other side up rose +Belial, in act more graceful and humane. +A fairer person lost not Heaven; he seemed +For dignity composed, and high exploit. +But all was false and hollow; though his tongue +Dropped manna, and could make the worse appear +The better reason, to perplex and dash +Maturest counsels: for his thoughts were low-- + To vice industrious, but to nobler deeds +Timorous and slothful. Yet he pleased the ear, +And with persuasive accent thus began:-- + "I should be much for open war, O Peers, +As not behind in hate, if what was urged +Main reason to persuade immediate war +Did not dissuade me most, and seem to cast +Ominous conjecture on the whole success; +When he who most excels in fact of arms, +In what he counsels and in what excels +Mistrustful, grounds his courage on despair +And utter dissolution, as the scope +Of all his aim, after some dire revenge. +First, what revenge? The towers of Heaven are filled +With armed watch, that render all access +Impregnable: oft on the bodering Deep +Encamp their legions, or with obscure wing +Scout far and wide into the realm of Night, +Scorning surprise. Or, could we break our way +By force, and at our heels all Hell should rise +With blackest insurrection to confound +Heaven's purest light, yet our great Enemy, +All incorruptible, would on his throne +Sit unpolluted, and th' ethereal mould, +Incapable of stain, would soon expel +Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire, +Victorious. Thus repulsed, our final hope +Is flat despair: we must exasperate +Th' Almighty Victor to spend all his rage; +And that must end us; that must be our cure-- +To be no more. Sad cure! for who would lose, +Though full of pain, this intellectual being, +Those thoughts that wander through eternity, +To perish rather, swallowed up and lost +In the wide womb of uncreated Night, +Devoid of sense and motion? And who knows, +Let this be good, whether our angry Foe +Can give it, or will ever? How he can +Is doubtful; that he never will is sure. +Will he, so wise, let loose at once his ire, +Belike through impotence or unaware, +To give his enemies their wish, and end +Them in his anger whom his anger saves +To punish endless? 'Wherefore cease we, then?' +Say they who counsel war; 'we are decreed, +Reserved, and destined to eternal woe; +Whatever doing, what can we suffer more, +What can we suffer worse?' Is this, then, worst-- +Thus sitting, thus consulting, thus in arms? +What when we fled amain, pursued and struck +With Heaven's afflicting thunder, and besought +The Deep to shelter us? This Hell then seemed +A refuge from those wounds. Or when we lay +Chained on the burning lake? That sure was worse. +What if the breath that kindled those grim fires, +Awaked, should blow them into sevenfold rage, +And plunge us in the flames; or from above +Should intermitted vengeance arm again +His red right hand to plague us? What if all +Her stores were opened, and this firmament +Of Hell should spout her cataracts of fire, +Impendent horrors, threatening hideous fall +One day upon our heads; while we perhaps, +Designing or exhorting glorious war, +Caught in a fiery tempest, shall be hurled, +Each on his rock transfixed, the sport and prey +Or racking whirlwinds, or for ever sunk +Under yon boiling ocean, wrapt in chains, +There to converse with everlasting groans, +Unrespited, unpitied, unreprieved, +Ages of hopeless end? This would be worse. +War, therefore, open or concealed, alike +My voice dissuades; for what can force or guile +With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye +Views all things at one view? He from Heaven's height +All these our motions vain sees and derides, +Not more almighty to resist our might +Than wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles. +Shall we, then, live thus vile--the race of Heaven +Thus trampled, thus expelled, to suffer here +Chains and these torments? Better these than worse, +By my advice; since fate inevitable +Subdues us, and omnipotent decree, +The Victor's will. To suffer, as to do, +Our strength is equal; nor the law unjust +That so ordains. This was at first resolved, +If we were wise, against so great a foe +Contending, and so doubtful what might fall. +I laugh when those who at the spear are bold +And venturous, if that fail them, shrink, and fear +What yet they know must follow--to endure +Exile, or igominy, or bonds, or pain, +The sentence of their Conqueror. This is now +Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear, +Our Supreme Foe in time may much remit +His anger, and perhaps, thus far removed, +Not mind us not offending, satisfied +With what is punished; whence these raging fires +Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames. +Our purer essence then will overcome +Their noxious vapour; or, inured, not feel; +Or, changed at length, and to the place conformed +In temper and in nature, will receive +Familiar the fierce heat; and, void of pain, +This horror will grow mild, this darkness light; +Besides what hope the never-ending flight +Of future days may bring, what chance, what change +Worth waiting--since our present lot appears +For happy though but ill, for ill not worst, +If we procure not to ourselves more woe." + Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason's garb, +Counselled ignoble ease and peaceful sloth, +Not peace; and after him thus Mammon spake:-- + "Either to disenthrone the King of Heaven +We war, if war be best, or to regain +Our own right lost. Him to unthrone we then +May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield +To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the strife. +The former, vain to hope, argues as vain +The latter; for what place can be for us +Within Heaven's bound, unless Heaven's Lord supreme +We overpower? Suppose he should relent +And publish grace to all, on promise made +Of new subjection; with what eyes could we +Stand in his presence humble, and receive +Strict laws imposed, to celebrate his throne +With warbled hyms, and to his Godhead sing +Forced hallelujahs, while he lordly sits +Our envied sovereign, and his altar breathes +Ambrosial odours and ambrosial flowers, +Our servile offerings? This must be our task +In Heaven, this our delight. How wearisome +Eternity so spent in worship paid +To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue, +By force impossible, by leave obtained +Unacceptable, though in Heaven, our state +Of splendid vassalage; but rather seek +Our own good from ourselves, and from our own +Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess, +Free and to none accountable, preferring +Hard liberty before the easy yoke +Of servile pomp. Our greatness will appear +Then most conspicuous when great things of small, +Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse, +We can create, and in what place soe'er +Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain +Through labour and endurance. This deep world +Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst +Thick clouds and dark doth Heaven's all-ruling Sire +Choose to reside, his glory unobscured, +And with the majesty of darkness round +Covers his throne, from whence deep thunders roar. +Mustering their rage, and Heaven resembles Hell! +As he our darkness, cannot we his light +Imitate when we please? This desert soil +Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold; +Nor want we skill or art from whence to raise +Magnificence; and what can Heaven show more? +Our torments also may, in length of time, +Become our elements, these piercing fires +As soft as now severe, our temper changed +Into their temper; which must needs remove +The sensible of pain. All things invite +To peaceful counsels, and the settled state +Of order, how in safety best we may +Compose our present evils, with regard +Of what we are and where, dismissing quite +All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advise." + He scarce had finished, when such murmur filled +Th' assembly as when hollow rocks retain +The sound of blustering winds, which all night long +Had roused the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull +Seafaring men o'erwatched, whose bark by chance +Or pinnace, anchors in a craggy bay +After the tempest. Such applause was heard +As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleased, +Advising peace: for such another field +They dreaded worse than Hell; so much the fear +Of thunder and the sword of Michael +Wrought still within them; and no less desire +To found this nether empire, which might rise, +By policy and long process of time, +In emulation opposite to Heaven. +Which when Beelzebub perceived--than whom, +Satan except, none higher sat--with grave +Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemed +A pillar of state. Deep on his front engraven +Deliberation sat, and public care; +And princely counsel in his face yet shone, +Majestic, though in ruin. Sage he stood +With Atlantean shoulders, fit to bear +The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look +Drew audience and attention still as night +Or summer's noontide air, while thus he spake:-- + "Thrones and Imperial Powers, Offspring of Heaven, +Ethereal Virtues! or these titles now +Must we renounce, and, changing style, be called +Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote +Inclines--here to continue, and build up here +A growing empire; doubtless! while we dream, +And know not that the King of Heaven hath doomed +This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat +Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt +From Heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league +Banded against his throne, but to remain +In strictest bondage, though thus far removed, +Under th' inevitable curb, reserved +His captive multitude. For he, to be sure, +In height or depth, still first and last will reign +Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part +By our revolt, but over Hell extend +His empire, and with iron sceptre rule +Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven. +What sit we then projecting peace and war? +War hath determined us and foiled with loss +Irreparable; terms of peace yet none +Vouchsafed or sought; for what peace will be given +To us enslaved, but custody severe, +And stripes and arbitrary punishment +Inflicted? and what peace can we return, +But, to our power, hostility and hate, +Untamed reluctance, and revenge, though slow, +Yet ever plotting how the Conqueror least +May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice +In doing what we most in suffering feel? +Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need +With dangerous expedition to invade +Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege, +Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find +Some easier enterprise? There is a place +(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven +Err not)--another World, the happy seat +Of some new race, called Man, about this time +To be created like to us, though less +In power and excellence, but favoured more +Of him who rules above; so was his will +Pronounced among the Gods, and by an oath +That shook Heaven's whole circumference confirmed. +Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn +What creatures there inhabit, of what mould +Or substance, how endued, and what their power +And where their weakness: how attempted best, +By force of subtlety. Though Heaven be shut, +And Heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure +In his own strength, this place may lie exposed, +The utmost border of his kingdom, left +To their defence who hold it: here, perhaps, +Some advantageous act may be achieved +By sudden onset--either with Hell-fire +To waste his whole creation, or possess +All as our own, and drive, as we were driven, +The puny habitants; or, if not drive, +Seduce them to our party, that their God +May prove their foe, and with repenting hand +Abolish his own works. This would surpass +Common revenge, and interrupt his joy +In our confusion, and our joy upraise +In his disturbance; when his darling sons, +Hurled headlong to partake with us, shall curse +Their frail original, and faded bliss-- +Faded so soon! Advise if this be worth +Attempting, or to sit in darkness here +Hatching vain empires." Thus beelzebub +Pleaded his devilish counsel--first devised +By Satan, and in part proposed: for whence, +But from the author of all ill, could spring +So deep a malice, to confound the race +Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell +To mingle and involve, done all to spite +The great Creator? But their spite still serves +His glory to augment. The bold design +Pleased highly those infernal States, and joy +Sparkled in all their eyes: with full assent +They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews:-- +"Well have ye judged, well ended long debate, +Synod of Gods, and, like to what ye are, +Great things resolved, which from the lowest deep +Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate, +Nearer our ancient seat--perhaps in view +Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbouring arms, +And opportune excursion, we may chance +Re-enter Heaven; or else in some mild zone +Dwell, not unvisited of Heaven's fair light, +Secure, and at the brightening orient beam +Purge off this gloom: the soft delicious air, +To heal the scar of these corrosive fires, +Shall breathe her balm. But, first, whom shall we send +In search of this new World? whom shall we find +Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering feet +The dark, unbottomed, infinite Abyss, +And through the palpable obscure find out +His uncouth way, or spread his airy flight, +Upborne with indefatigable wings +Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive +The happy Isle? What strength, what art, can then +Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe, +Through the strict senteries and stations thick +Of Angels watching round? Here he had need +All circumspection: and we now no less +Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send +The weight of all, and our last hope, relies." + This said, he sat; and expectation held +His look suspense, awaiting who appeared +To second, or oppose, or undertake +The perilous attempt. But all sat mute, +Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each +In other's countenance read his own dismay, +Astonished. None among the choice and prime +Of those Heaven-warring champions could be found +So hardy as to proffer or accept, +Alone, the dreadful voyage; till, at last, +Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised +Above his fellows, with monarchal pride +Conscious of highest worth, unmoved thus spake:-- + "O Progeny of Heaven! Empyreal Thrones! +With reason hath deep silence and demur +Seized us, though undismayed. Long is the way +And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light. +Our prison strong, this huge convex of fire, +Outrageous to devour, immures us round +Ninefold; and gates of burning adamant, +Barred over us, prohibit all egress. +These passed, if any pass, the void profound +Of unessential Night receives him next, +Wide-gaping, and with utter loss of being +Threatens him, plunged in that abortive gulf. +If thence he scape, into whatever world, +Or unknown region, what remains him less +Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape? +But I should ill become this throne, O Peers, +And this imperial sovereignty, adorned +With splendour, armed with power, if aught proposed +And judged of public moment in the shape +Of difficulty or danger, could deter +Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume +These royalties, and not refuse to reign, +Refusing to accept as great a share +Of hazard as of honour, due alike +To him who reigns, and so much to him due +Of hazard more as he above the rest +High honoured sits? Go, therefore, mighty Powers, +Terror of Heaven, though fallen; intend at home, +While here shall be our home, what best may ease +The present misery, and render Hell +More tolerable; if there be cure or charm +To respite, or deceive, or slack the pain +Of this ill mansion: intermit no watch +Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad +Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek +Deliverance for us all. This enterprise +None shall partake with me." Thus saying, rose +The Monarch, and prevented all reply; +Prudent lest, from his resolution raised, +Others among the chief might offer now, +Certain to be refused, what erst they feared, +And, so refused, might in opinion stand +His rivals, winning cheap the high repute +Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they +Dreaded not more th' adventure than his voice +Forbidding; and at once with him they rose. +Their rising all at once was as the sound +Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend +With awful reverence prone, and as a God +Extol him equal to the Highest in Heaven. +Nor failed they to express how much they praised +That for the general safety he despised +His own: for neither do the Spirits damned +Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast +Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites, +Or close ambition varnished o'er with zeal. + Thus they their doubtful consultations dark +Ended, rejoicing in their matchless Chief: +As, when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds +Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o'erspread +Heaven's cheerful face, the louring element +Scowls o'er the darkened landscape snow or shower, +If chance the radiant sun, with farewell sweet, +Extend his evening beam, the fields revive, +The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds +Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings. +O shame to men! Devil with devil damned +Firm concord holds; men only disagree +Of creatures rational, though under hope +Of heavenly grace, and, God proclaiming peace, +Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife +Among themselves, and levy cruel wars +Wasting the earth, each other to destroy: +As if (which might induce us to accord) +Man had not hellish foes enow besides, +That day and night for his destruction wait! + The Stygian council thus dissolved; and forth +In order came the grand infernal Peers: +Midst came their mighty Paramount, and seemed +Alone th' antagonist of Heaven, nor less +Than Hell's dread Emperor, with pomp supreme, +And god-like imitated state: him round +A globe of fiery Seraphim enclosed +With bright emblazonry, and horrent arms. +Then of their session ended they bid cry +With trumpet's regal sound the great result: +Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim +Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy, +By herald's voice explained; the hollow Abyss +Heard far adn wide, and all the host of Hell +With deafening shout returned them loud acclaim. +Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat raised +By false presumptuous hope, the ranged Powers +Disband; and, wandering, each his several way +Pursues, as inclination or sad choice +Leads him perplexed, where he may likeliest find +Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain +The irksome hours, till his great Chief return. +Part on the plain, or in the air sublime, +Upon the wing or in swift race contend, +As at th' Olympian games or Pythian fields; +Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal +With rapid wheels, or fronted brigades form: +As when, to warn proud cities, war appears +Waged in the troubled sky, and armies rush +To battle in the clouds; before each van +Prick forth the airy knights, and couch their spears, +Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms +From either end of heaven the welkin burns. +Others, with vast Typhoean rage, more fell, +Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air +In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wild uproar:-- +As when Alcides, from Oechalia crowned +With conquest, felt th' envenomed robe, and tore +Through pain up by the roots Thessalian pines, +And Lichas from the top of Oeta threw +Into th' Euboic sea. Others, more mild, +Retreated in a silent valley, sing +With notes angelical to many a harp +Their own heroic deeds, and hapless fall +By doom of battle, and complain that Fate +Free Virtue should enthrall to Force or Chance. +Their song was partial; but the harmony +(What could it less when Spirits immortal sing?) +Suspended Hell, and took with ravishment +The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet +(For Eloquence the Soul, Song charms the Sense) +Others apart sat on a hill retired, +In thoughts more elevate, and reasoned high +Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate-- +Fixed fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute, +And found no end, in wandering mazes lost. +Of good and evil much they argued then, +Of happiness and final misery, +Passion and apathy, and glory and shame: +Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy!-- +Yet, with a pleasing sorcery, could charm +Pain for a while or anguish, and excite +Fallacious hope, or arm th' obdured breast +With stubborn patience as with triple steel. +Another part, in squadrons and gross bands, +On bold adventure to discover wide +That dismal world, if any clime perhaps +Might yield them easier habitation, bend +Four ways their flying march, along the banks +Of four infernal rivers, that disgorge +Into the burning lake their baleful streams-- +Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate; +Sad Acheron of sorrow, black and deep; +Cocytus, named of lamentation loud +Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegeton, +Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. +Far off from these, a slow and silent stream, +Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls +Her watery labyrinth, whereof who drinks +Forthwith his former state and being forgets-- +Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain. +Beyond this flood a frozen continent +Lies dark and wild, beat with perpetual storms +Of whirlwind and dire hail, which on firm land +Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin seems +Of ancient pile; all else deep snow and ice, +A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog +Betwixt Damiata and Mount Casius old, +Where armies whole have sunk: the parching air +Burns frore, and cold performs th' effect of fire. +Thither, by harpy-footed Furies haled, +At certain revolutions all the damned +Are brought; and feel by turns the bitter change +Of fierce extremes, extremes by change more fierce, +From beds of raging fire to starve in ice +Their soft ethereal warmth, and there to pine +Immovable, infixed, and frozen round +Periods of time,--thence hurried back to fire. +They ferry over this Lethean sound +Both to and fro, their sorrow to augment, +And wish and struggle, as they pass, to reach +The tempting stream, with one small drop to lose +In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe, +All in one moment, and so near the brink; +But Fate withstands, and, to oppose th' attempt, +Medusa with Gorgonian terror guards +The ford, and of itself the water flies +All taste of living wight, as once it fled +The lip of Tantalus. Thus roving on +In confused march forlorn, th' adventurous bands, +With shuddering horror pale, and eyes aghast, +Viewed first their lamentable lot, and found +No rest. Through many a dark and dreary vale +They passed, and many a region dolorous, +O'er many a frozen, many a fiery alp, +Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and shades of death-- +A universe of death, which God by curse +Created evil, for evil only good; +Where all life dies, death lives, and Nature breeds, +Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things, +Obominable, inutterable, and worse +Than fables yet have feigned or fear conceived, +Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimeras dire. + Meanwhile the Adversary of God and Man, +Satan, with thoughts inflamed of highest design, +Puts on swift wings, and toward the gates of Hell +Explores his solitary flight: sometimes +He scours the right hand coast, sometimes the left; +Now shaves with level wing the deep, then soars +Up to the fiery concave towering high. +As when far off at sea a fleet descried +Hangs in the clouds, by equinoctial winds +Close sailing from Bengala, or the isles +Of Ternate and Tidore, whence merchants bring +Their spicy drugs; they on the trading flood, +Through the wide Ethiopian to the Cape, +Ply stemming nightly toward the pole: so seemed +Far off the flying Fiend. At last appear +Hell-bounds, high reaching to the horrid roof, +And thrice threefold the gates; three folds were brass, +Three iron, three of adamantine rock, +Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire, +Yet unconsumed. Before the gates there sat +On either side a formidable Shape. +The one seemed woman to the waist, and fair, +But ended foul in many a scaly fold, +Voluminous and vast--a serpent armed +With mortal sting. About her middle round +A cry of Hell-hounds never-ceasing barked +With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung +A hideous peal; yet, when they list, would creep, +If aught disturbed their noise, into her womb, +And kennel there; yet there still barked and howled +Within unseen. Far less abhorred than these +Vexed Scylla, bathing in the sea that parts +Calabria from the hoarse Trinacrian shore; +Nor uglier follow the night-hag, when, called +In secret, riding through the air she comes, +Lured with the smell of infant blood, to dance +With Lapland witches, while the labouring moon +Eclipses at their charms. The other Shape-- +If shape it might be called that shape had none +Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb; +Or substance might be called that shadow seemed, +For each seemed either--black it stood as Night, +Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell, +And shook a dreadful dart: what seemed his head +The likeness of a kingly crown had on. +Satan was now at hand, and from his seat +The monster moving onward came as fast +With horrid strides; Hell trembled as he strode. +Th' undaunted Fiend what this might be admired-- +Admired, not feared (God and his Son except, +Created thing naught valued he nor shunned), +And with disdainful look thus first began:-- + "Whence and what art thou, execrable Shape, +That dar'st, though grim and terrible, advance +Thy miscreated front athwart my way +To yonder gates? Through them I mean to pass, +That be assured, without leave asked of thee. +Retire; or taste thy folly, and learn by proof, +Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of Heaven." + To whom the Goblin, full of wrath, replied:-- +"Art thou that traitor Angel? art thou he, +Who first broke peace in Heaven and faith, till then +Unbroken, and in proud rebellious arms +Drew after him the third part of Heaven's sons, +Conjured against the Highest--for which both thou +And they, outcast from God, are here condemned +To waste eternal days in woe and pain? +And reckon'st thou thyself with Spirits of Heaven +Hell-doomed, and breath'st defiance here and scorn, +Where I reign king, and, to enrage thee more, +Thy king and lord? Back to thy punishment, +False fugitive; and to thy speed add wings, +Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue +Thy lingering, or with one stroke of this dart +Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before." + So spake the grisly Terror, and in shape, +So speaking and so threatening, grew tenfold, +More dreadful and deform. On th' other side, +Incensed with indignation, Satan stood +Unterrified, and like a comet burned, +That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge +In th' arctic sky, and from his horrid hair +Shakes pestilence and war. Each at the head +Levelled his deadly aim; their fatal hands +No second stroke intend; and such a frown +Each cast at th' other as when two black clouds, +With heaven's artillery fraught, came rattling on +Over the Caspian,--then stand front to front +Hovering a space, till winds the signal blow +To join their dark encounter in mid-air. +So frowned the mighty combatants that Hell +Grew darker at their frown; so matched they stood; +For never but once more was wither like +To meet so great a foe. And now great deeds +Had been achieved, whereof all Hell had rung, +Had not the snaky Sorceress, that sat +Fast by Hell-gate and kept the fatal key, +Risen, and with hideous outcry rushed between. + "O father, what intends thy hand," she cried, +"Against thy only son? What fury, O son, +Possesses thee to bend that mortal dart +Against thy father's head? And know'st for whom? +For him who sits above, and laughs the while +At thee, ordained his drudge to execute +Whate'er his wrath, which he calls justice, bids-- +His wrath, which one day will destroy ye both!" + She spake, and at her words the hellish Pest +Forbore: then these to her Satan returned:-- + "So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange +Thou interposest, that my sudden hand, +Prevented, spares to tell thee yet by deeds +What it intends, till first I know of thee +What thing thou art, thus double-formed, and why, +In this infernal vale first met, thou call'st +Me father, and that phantasm call'st my son. +I know thee not, nor ever saw till now +Sight more detestable than him and thee." + T' whom thus the Portress of Hell-gate replied:-- +"Hast thou forgot me, then; and do I seem +Now in thine eye so foul?--once deemed so fair +In Heaven, when at th' assembly, and in sight +Of all the Seraphim with thee combined +In bold conspiracy against Heaven's King, +All on a sudden miserable pain +Surprised thee, dim thine eyes and dizzy swum +In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast +Threw forth, till on the left side opening wide, +Likest to thee in shape and countenance bright, +Then shining heavenly fair, a goddess armed, +Out of thy head I sprung. Amazement seized +All th' host of Heaven; back they recoiled afraid +At first, and called me Sin, and for a sign +Portentous held me; but, familiar grown, +I pleased, and with attractive graces won +The most averse--thee chiefly, who, full oft +Thyself in me thy perfect image viewing, +Becam'st enamoured; and such joy thou took'st +With me in secret that my womb conceived +A growing burden. Meanwhile war arose, +And fields were fought in Heaven: wherein remained +(For what could else?) to our Almighty Foe +Clear victory; to our part loss and rout +Through all the Empyrean. Down they fell, +Driven headlong from the pitch of Heaven, down +Into this Deep; and in the general fall +I also: at which time this powerful key +Into my hands was given, with charge to keep +These gates for ever shut, which none can pass +Without my opening. Pensive here I sat +Alone; but long I sat not, till my womb, +Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown, +Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes. +At last this odious offspring whom thou seest, +Thine own begotten, breaking violent way, +Tore through my entrails, that, with fear and pain +Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew +Transformed: but he my inbred enemy +Forth issued, brandishing his fatal dart, +Made to destroy. I fled, and cried out Death! +Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sighed +From all her caves, and back resounded Death! +I fled; but he pursued (though more, it seems, +Inflamed with lust than rage), and, swifter far, +Me overtook, his mother, all dismayed, +And, in embraces forcible and foul +Engendering with me, of that rape begot +These yelling monsters, that with ceaseless cry +Surround me, as thou saw'st--hourly conceived +And hourly born, with sorrow infinite +To me; for, when they list, into the womb +That bred them they return, and howl, and gnaw +My bowels, their repast; then, bursting forth +Afresh, with conscious terrors vex me round, +That rest or intermission none I find. +Before mine eyes in opposition sits +Grim Death, my son and foe, who set them on, +And me, his parent, would full soon devour +For want of other prey, but that he knows +His end with mine involved, and knows that I +Should prove a bitter morsel, and his bane, +Whenever that shall be: so Fate pronounced. +But thou, O father, I forewarn thee, shun +His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope +To be invulnerable in those bright arms, +Through tempered heavenly; for that mortal dint, +Save he who reigns above, none can resist." + She finished; and the subtle Fiend his lore +Soon learned, now milder, and thus answered smooth:-- + "Dear daughter--since thou claim'st me for thy sire, +And my fair son here show'st me, the dear pledge +Of dalliance had with thee in Heaven, and joys +Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change +Befallen us unforeseen, unthought-of--know, +I come no enemy, but to set free +From out this dark and dismal house of pain +Both him and thee, and all the heavenly host +Of Spirits that, in our just pretences armed, +Fell with us from on high. From them I go +This uncouth errand sole, and one for all +Myself expose, with lonely steps to tread +Th' unfounded Deep, and through the void immense +To search, with wandering quest, a place foretold +Should be--and, by concurring signs, ere now +Created vast and round--a place of bliss +In the purlieus of Heaven; and therein placed +A race of upstart creatures, to supply +Perhaps our vacant room, though more removed, +Lest Heaven, surcharged with potent multitude, +Might hap to move new broils. Be this, or aught +Than this more secret, now designed, I haste +To know; and, this once known, shall soon return, +And bring ye to the place where thou and Death +Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseen +Wing silently the buxom air, embalmed +With odours. There ye shall be fed and filled +Immeasurably; all things shall be your prey." + He ceased; for both seemed highly pleased, and Death +Grinned horrible a ghastly smile, to hear +His famine should be filled, and blessed his maw +Destined to that good hour. No less rejoiced +His mother bad, and thus bespake her sire:-- + "The key of this infernal Pit, by due +And by command of Heaven's all-powerful King, +I keep, by him forbidden to unlock +These adamantine gates; against all force +Death ready stands to interpose his dart, +Fearless to be o'ermatched by living might. +But what owe I to his commands above, +Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down +Into this gloom of Tartarus profound, +To sit in hateful office here confined, +Inhabitant of Heaven and heavenly born-- +Here in perpetual agony and pain, +With terrors and with clamours compassed round +Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed? +Thou art my father, thou my author, thou +My being gav'st me; whom should I obey +But thee? whom follow? Thou wilt bring me soon +To that new world of light and bliss, among +The gods who live at ease, where I shall reign +At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems +Thy daughter and thy darling, without end." + Thus saying, from her side the fatal key, +Sad instrument of all our woe, she took; +And, towards the gate rolling her bestial train, +Forthwith the huge portcullis high up-drew, +Which, but herself, not all the Stygian Powers +Could once have moved; then in the key-hole turns +Th' intricate wards, and every bolt and bar +Of massy iron or solid rock with ease +Unfastens. On a sudden open fly, +With impetuous recoil and jarring sound, +Th' infernal doors, and on their hinges grate +Harsh thunder, that the lowest bottom shook +Of Erebus. She opened; but to shut +Excelled her power: the gates wide open stood, +That with extended wings a bannered host, +Under spread ensigns marching, mibht pass through +With horse and chariots ranked in loose array; +So wide they stood, and like a furnace-mouth +Cast forth redounding smoke and ruddy flame. +Before their eyes in sudden view appear +The secrets of the hoary Deep--a dark +Illimitable ocean, without bound, +Without dimension; where length, breadth, and height, +And time, and place, are lost; where eldest Night +And Chaos, ancestors of Nature, hold +Eternal anarchy, amidst the noise +Of endless wars, and by confusion stand. +For Hot, Cold, Moist, and Dry, four champions fierce, +Strive here for mastery, and to battle bring +Their embryon atoms: they around the flag +Of each his faction, in their several clans, +Light-armed or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift, or slow, +Swarm populous, unnumbered as the sands +Of Barca or Cyrene's torrid soil, +Levied to side with warring winds, and poise +Their lighter wings. To whom these most adhere +He rules a moment: Chaos umpire sits, +And by decision more embroils the fray +By which he reigns: next him, high arbiter, +Chance governs all. Into this wild Abyss, +The womb of Nature, and perhaps her grave, +Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire, +But all these in their pregnant causes mixed +Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight, +Unless th' Almighty Maker them ordain +His dark materials to create more worlds-- +Into this wild Abyss the wary Fiend +Stood on the brink of Hell and looked a while, +Pondering his voyage; for no narrow frith +He had to cross. Nor was his ear less pealed +With noises loud and ruinous (to compare +Great things with small) than when Bellona storms +With all her battering engines, bent to rase +Some capital city; or less than if this frame +Of Heaven were falling, and these elements +In mutiny had from her axle torn +The steadfast Earth. At last his sail-broad vans +He spread for flight, and, in the surging smoke +Uplifted, spurns the ground; thence many a league, +As in a cloudy chair, ascending rides +Audacious; but, that seat soon failing, meets +A vast vacuity. All unawares, +Fluttering his pennons vain, plumb-down he drops +Ten thousand fathom deep, and to this hour +Down had been falling, had not, by ill chance, +The strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud, +Instinct with fire and nitre, hurried him +As many miles aloft. That fury stayed-- +Quenched in a boggy Syrtis, neither sea, +Nor good dry land--nigh foundered, on he fares, +Treading the crude consistence, half on foot, +Half flying; behoves him now both oar and sail. +As when a gryphon through the wilderness +With winged course, o'er hill or moory dale, +Pursues the Arimaspian, who by stealth +Had from his wakeful custody purloined +The guarded gold; so eagerly the Fiend +O'er bog or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare, +With head, hands, wings, or feet, pursues his way, +And swims, or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flies. +At length a universal hubbub wild +Of stunning sounds, and voices all confused, +Borne through the hollow dark, assaults his ear +With loudest vehemence. Thither he plies +Undaunted, to meet there whatever Power +Or Spirit of the nethermost Abyss +Might in that noise reside, of whom to ask +Which way the nearest coast of darkness lies +Bordering on light; when straight behold the throne +Of Chaos, and his dark pavilion spread +Wide on the wasteful Deep! With him enthroned +Sat sable-vested Night, eldest of things, +The consort of his reign; and by them stood +Orcus and Ades, and the dreaded name +Of Demogorgon; Rumour next, and Chance, +And Tumult, and Confusion, all embroiled, +And Discord with a thousand various mouths. + T' whom Satan, turning boldly, thus:--"Ye Powers +And Spirtis of this nethermost Abyss, +Chaos and ancient Night, I come no spy +With purpose to explore or to disturb +The secrets of your realm; but, by constraint +Wandering this darksome desert, as my way +Lies through your spacious empire up to light, +Alone and without guide, half lost, I seek, +What readiest path leads where your gloomy bounds +Confine with Heaven; or, if some other place, +From your dominion won, th' Ethereal King +Possesses lately, thither to arrive +I travel this profound. Direct my course: +Directed, no mean recompense it brings +To your behoof, if I that region lost, +All usurpation thence expelled, reduce +To her original darkness and your sway +(Which is my present journey), and once more +Erect the standard there of ancient Night. +Yours be th' advantage all, mine the revenge!" + Thus Satan; and him thus the Anarch old, +With faltering speech and visage incomposed, +Answered: "I know thee, stranger, who thou art-- *** +That mighty leading Angel, who of late +Made head against Heaven's King, though overthrown. +I saw and heard; for such a numerous host +Fled not in silence through the frighted Deep, +With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, +Confusion worse confounded; and Heaven-gates +Poured out by millions her victorious bands, +Pursuing. I upon my frontiers here +Keep residence; if all I can will serve +That little which is left so to defend, +Encroached on still through our intestine broils +Weakening the sceptre of old Night: first, Hell, +Your dungeon, stretching far and wide beneath; +Now lately Heaven and Earth, another world +Hung o'er my realm, linked in a golden chain +To that side Heaven from whence your legions fell! +If that way be your walk, you have not far; +So much the nearer danger. Go, and speed; +Havoc, and spoil, and ruin, are my gain." + He ceased; and Satan stayed not to reply, +But, glad that now his sea should find a shore, +With fresh alacrity and force renewed +Springs upward, like a pyramid of fire, +Into the wild expanse, and through the shock +Of fighting elements, on all sides round +Environed, wins his way; harder beset +And more endangered than when Argo passed +Through Bosporus betwixt the justling rocks, +Or when Ulysses on the larboard shunned +Charybdis, and by th' other whirlpool steered. +So he with difficulty and labour hard +Moved on, with difficulty and labour he; +But, he once passed, soon after, when Man fell, +Strange alteration! Sin and Death amain, +Following his track (such was the will of Heaven) +Paved after him a broad and beaten way +Over the dark Abyss, whose boiling gulf +Tamely endured a bridge of wondrous length, +From Hell continued, reaching th' utmost orb +Of this frail World; by which the Spirits perverse +With easy intercourse pass to and fro +To tempt or punish mortals, except whom +God and good Angels guard by special grace. + But now at last the sacred influence +Of light appears, and from the walls of Heaven +Shoots far into the bosom of dim Night +A glimmering dawn. Here Nature first begins +Her farthest verge, and Chaos to retire, +As from her outmost works, a broken foe, +With tumult less and with less hostile din; +That Satan with less toil, and now with ease, +Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light, +And, like a weather-beaten vessel, holds +Gladly the port, though shrouds and tackle torn; +Or in the emptier waste, resembling air, +Weighs his spread wings, at leisure to behold +Far off th' empyreal Heaven, extended wide +In circuit, undetermined square or round, +With opal towers and battlements adorned +Of living sapphire, once his native seat; +And, fast by, hanging in a golden chain, +This pendent World, in bigness as a star +Of smallest magnitude close by the moon. +Thither, full fraught with mischievous revenge, +Accursed, and in a cursed hour, he hies. + + + +Book III + + +Hail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven firstborn, +Or of the Eternal coeternal beam +May I express thee unblam'd? since God is light, +And never but in unapproached light +Dwelt from eternity, dwelt then in thee +Bright effluence of bright essence increate. +Or hear"st thou rather pure ethereal stream, +Whose fountain who shall tell? before the sun, +Before the Heavens thou wert, and at the voice +Of God, as with a mantle, didst invest *** +The rising world of waters dark and deep, +Won from the void and formless infinite. +Thee I re-visit now with bolder wing, +Escap'd the Stygian pool, though long detain'd +In that obscure sojourn, while in my flight +Through utter and through middle darkness borne, +With other notes than to the Orphean lyre +I sung of Chaos and eternal Night; +Taught by the heavenly Muse to venture down +The dark descent, and up to re-ascend, +Though hard and rare: Thee I revisit safe, +And feel thy sovran vital lamp; but thou +Revisit'st not these eyes, that roll in vain +To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn; +So thick a drop serene hath quench'd their orbs, +Or dim suffusion veil'd. Yet not the more +Cease I to wander, where the Muses haunt, +Clear spring, or shady grove, or sunny hill, +Smit with the love of sacred song; but chief +Thee, Sion, and the flowery brooks beneath, +That wash thy hallow'd feet, and warbling flow, +Nightly I visit: nor sometimes forget +So were I equall'd with them in renown, +Thy sovran command, that Man should find grace; +Blind Thamyris, and blind Maeonides, +And Tiresias, and Phineus, prophets old: +Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary move +Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful bird +Sings darkling, and in shadiest covert hid +Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year +Seasons return; but not to me returns +Day, or the sweet approach of even or morn, +Or sight of vernal bloom, or summer's rose, +Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine; +But cloud instead, and ever-during dark +Surrounds me, from the cheerful ways of men +Cut off, and for the book of knowledge fair +Presented with a universal blank +Of nature's works to me expung'd and ras'd, +And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out. +So much the rather thou, celestial Light, +Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers +Irradiate; there plant eyes, all mist from thence +Purge and disperse, that I may see and tell +Of things invisible to mortal sight. +Now had the Almighty Father from above, +From the pure empyrean where he sits +High thron'd above all highth, bent down his eye +His own works and their works at once to view: +About him all the Sanctities of Heaven +Stood thick as stars, and from his sight receiv'd +Beatitude past utterance; on his right +The radiant image of his glory sat, +His only son; on earth he first beheld +Our two first parents, yet the only two +Of mankind in the happy garden plac'd +Reaping immortal fruits of joy and love, +Uninterrupted joy, unrivall'd love, +In blissful solitude; he then survey'd +Hell and the gulf between, and Satan there +Coasting the wall of Heaven on this side Night +In the dun air sublime, and ready now +To stoop with wearied wings, and willing feet, +On the bare outside of this world, that seem'd +Firm land imbosom'd, without firmament, +Uncertain which, in ocean or in air. +Him God beholding from his prospect high, +Wherein past, present, future, he beholds, +Thus to his only Son foreseeing spake. +Only begotten Son, seest thou what rage +Transports our Adversary? whom no bounds +Prescrib'd no bars of Hell, nor all the chains +Heap'd on him there, nor yet the main abyss +Wide interrupt, can hold; so bent he seems +On desperate revenge, that shall redound +Upon his own rebellious head. And now, +Through all restraint broke loose, he wings his way +Not far off Heaven, in the precincts of light, +Directly towards the new created world, +And man there plac'd, with purpose to assay +If him by force he can destroy, or, worse, +By some false guile pervert; and shall pervert; +For man will hearken to his glozing lies, +And easily transgress the sole command, +Sole pledge of his obedience: So will fall +He and his faithless progeny: Whose fault? +Whose but his own? ingrate, he had of me +All he could have; I made him just and right, +Sufficient to have stood, though free to fall. +Such I created all the ethereal Powers +And Spirits, both them who stood, and them who fail'd; +Freely they stood who stood, and fell who fell. +Not free, what proof could they have given sincere +Of true allegiance, constant faith or love, +Where only what they needs must do appear'd, +Not what they would? what praise could they receive? +What pleasure I from such obedience paid, +When will and reason (reason also is choice) +Useless and vain, of freedom both despoil'd, +Made passive both, had serv'd necessity, +Not me? they therefore, as to right belong$ 'd, +So were created, nor can justly accuse +Their Maker, or their making, or their fate, +As if predestination over-rul'd +Their will dispos'd by absolute decree +Or high foreknowledge they themselves decreed +Their own revolt, not I; if I foreknew, +Foreknowledge had no influence on their fault, +Which had no less proved certain unforeknown. +So without least impulse or shadow of fate, +Or aught by me immutably foreseen, +They trespass, authors to themselves in all +Both what they judge, and what they choose; for so +I form'd them free: and free they must remain, +Till they enthrall themselves; I else must change +Their nature, and revoke the high decree +Unchangeable, eternal, which ordain'd +$THeir freedom: they themselves ordain'd their fall. +The first sort by their own suggestion fell, +Self-tempted, self-deprav'd: Man falls, deceiv'd +By the other first: Man therefore shall find grace, +The other none: In mercy and justice both, +Through Heaven and Earth, so shall my glory excel; +But Mercy, first and last, shall brightest shine. +Thus while God spake, ambrosial fragrance fill'd +All Heaven, and in the blessed Spirits elect +Sense of new joy ineffable diffus'd. +Beyond compare the Son of God was seen +Most glorious; in him all his Father shone +Substantially express'd; and in his face +Divine compassion visibly appear'd, +Love without end, and without measure grace, +Which uttering, thus he to his Father spake. +O Father, gracious was that word which clos'd +Thy sovran command, that Man should find grace; +, that Man should find grace; +For which both Heaven and earth shall high extol +Thy praises, with the innumerable sound +Of hymns and sacred songs, wherewith thy throne +Encompass'd shall resound thee ever blest. +For should Man finally be lost, should Man, +Thy creature late so lov'd, thy youngest son, +Fall circumvented thus by fraud, though join'd +With his own folly? that be from thee far, +That far be from thee, Father, who art judge +Of all things made, and judgest only right. +Or shall the Adversary thus obtain +His end, and frustrate thine? shall he fulfill +His malice, and thy goodness bring to nought, +Or proud return, though to his heavier doom, +Yet with revenge accomplish'd, and to Hell +Draw after him the whole race of mankind, +By him corrupted? or wilt thou thyself +Abolish thy creation, and unmake +For him, what for thy glory thou hast made? +So should thy goodness and thy greatness both +Be question'd and blasphem'd without defence. +To whom the great Creator thus replied. +O son, in whom my soul hath chief delight, +Son of my bosom, Son who art alone. +My word, my wisdom, and effectual might, +All hast thou spoken as my thoughts are, all +As my eternal purpose hath decreed; +Man shall not quite be lost, but sav'd who will; +Yet not of will in him, but grace in me +Freely vouchsaf'd; once more I will renew +His lapsed powers, though forfeit; and enthrall'd +By sin to foul exorbitant desires; +Upheld by me, yet once more he shall stand +On even ground against his mortal foe; +By me upheld, that he may know how frail +His fallen condition is, and to me owe +All his deliverance, and to none but me. +Some I have chosen of peculiar grace, +Elect above the rest; so is my will: +The rest shall hear me call, and oft be warn'd +Their sinful state, and to appease betimes +The incensed Deity, while offer'd grace +Invites; for I will clear their senses dark, +What may suffice, and soften stony hearts +To pray, repent, and bring obedience due. +To prayer, repentance, and obedience due, +Though but endeavour'd with sincere intent, +Mine ear shall not be slow, mine eye not shut. +And I will place within them as a guide, +My umpire Conscience; whom if they will hear, +Light after light, well us'd, they shall attain, +And to the end, persisting, safe arrive. +This my long sufferance, and my day of grace, +They who neglect and scorn, shall never taste; +But hard be harden'd, blind be blinded more, +That they may stumble on, and deeper fall; +And none but such from mercy I exclude. +But yet all is not done; Man disobeying, +Disloyal, breaks his fealty, and sins +Against the high supremacy of Heaven, +Affecting God-head, and, so losing all, +To expiate his treason hath nought left, +But to destruction sacred and devote, +He, with his whole posterity, must die, +Die he or justice must; unless for him +Some other able, and as willing, pay +The rigid satisfaction, death for death. +Say, heavenly Powers, where shall we find such love? +Which of you will be mortal, to redeem +Man's mortal crime, and just the unjust to save? +Dwells in all Heaven charity so dear? +And silence was in Heaven: $ on Man's behalf +He ask'd, but all the heavenly quire stood mute, +Patron or intercessour none appear'd, +Much less that durst upon his own head draw +The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set. +And now without redemption all mankind +Must have been lost, adjudg'd to Death and Hell +By doom severe, had not the Son of God, +In whom the fulness dwells of love divine, +His dearest mediation thus renew'd. +Father, thy word is past, Man shall find grace; +And shall grace not find means, that finds her way, +The speediest of thy winged messengers, +To visit all thy creatures, and to all +Comes unprevented, unimplor'd, unsought? +Happy for Man, so coming; he her aid +Can never seek, once dead in sins, and lost; +Atonement for himself, or offering meet, +Indebted and undone, hath none to bring; +Behold me then: me for him, life for life +I offer: on me let thine anger fall; +Account me Man; I for his sake will leave + Thy bosom, and this glory next to thee + Freely put off, and for him lastly die + Well pleased; on me let Death wreak all his rage. + Under his gloomy power I shall not long + Lie vanquished. Thou hast given me to possess + Life in myself for ever; by thee I live; + Though now to Death I yield, and am his due, + All that of me can die, yet, that debt paid, + $ thou wilt not leave me in the loathsome grave + His prey, nor suffer my unspotted soul + For ever with corruption there to dwell; + But I shall rise victorious, and subdue + My vanquisher, spoiled of his vaunted spoil. + Death his death's wound shall then receive, and stoop + Inglorious, of his mortal sting disarmed; + I through the ample air in triumph high + Shall lead Hell captive maugre Hell, and show +The powers of darkness bound. Thou, at the sight + Pleased, out of Heaven shalt look down and smile, + While, by thee raised, I ruin all my foes; + Death last, and with his carcase glut the grave; + Then, with the multitude of my redeemed, + Shall enter Heaven, long absent, and return, + Father, to see thy face, wherein no cloud + Of anger shall remain, but peace assured + And reconcilement: wrath shall be no more + Thenceforth, but in thy presence joy entire. + His words here ended; but his meek aspect + Silent yet spake, and breathed immortal love + To mortal men, above which only shone + Filial obedience: as a sacrifice + Glad to be offered, he attends the will + Of his great Father. Admiration seized + All Heaven, what this might mean, and whither tend, + Wondering; but soon th' Almighty thus replied. + O thou in Heaven and Earth the only peace + Found out for mankind under wrath, O thou + My sole complacence! Well thou know'st how dear + To me are all my works; nor Man the least, + Though last created, that for him I spare + Thee from my bosom and right hand, to save, + By losing thee a while, the whole race lost. + + 00021053 + Thou, therefore, whom thou only canst redeem, + Their nature also to thy nature join; + And be thyself Man among men on Earth, + Made flesh, when time shall be, of virgin seed, + By wondrous birth; be thou in Adam's room +The head of all mankind, though Adam's son. +As in him perish all men, so in thee, +As from a second root, shall be restored +As many as are restored, without thee none. +His crime makes guilty all his sons; thy merit, +Imputed, shall absolve them who renounce +Their own both righteous and unrighteous deeds, +And live in thee transplanted, and from thee +Receive new life. So Man, as is most just, +Shall satisfy for Man, be judged and die, +And dying rise, and rising with him raise +His brethren, ransomed with his own dear life. +So heavenly love shall outdo hellish hate, +Giving to death, and dying to redeem, +So dearly to redeem what hellish hate +So easily destroyed, and still destroys +In those who, when they may, accept not grace. +Nor shalt thou, by descending to assume +Man's nature, lessen or degrade thine own. +Because thou hast, though throned in highest bliss +Equal to God, and equally enjoying +God-like fruition, quitted all, to save +A world from utter loss, and hast been found +By merit more than birthright Son of God, +Found worthiest to be so by being good, +Far more than great or high; because in thee +Love hath abounded more than glory abounds; +Therefore thy humiliation shall exalt +With thee thy manhood also to this throne: +Here shalt thou sit incarnate, here shalt reign +Both God and Man, Son both of God and Man, +Anointed universal King; all power +I give thee; reign for ever, and assume +Thy merits; under thee, as head supreme, +Thrones, Princedoms, Powers, Dominions, I reduce: +All knees to thee shall bow, of them that bide +In Heaven, or Earth, or under Earth in Hell. +When thou, attended gloriously from Heaven, +Shalt in the sky appear, and from thee send +The summoning Arch-Angels to proclaim +Thy dread tribunal; forthwith from all winds, +The living, and forthwith the cited dead +Of all past ages, to the general doom +Shall hasten; such a peal shall rouse their sleep. +Then, all thy saints assembled, thou shalt judge +Bad Men and Angels; they, arraigned, shall sink +Beneath thy sentence; Hell, her numbers full, +Thenceforth shall be for ever shut. Mean while +The world shall burn, and from her ashes spring +New Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell, +And, after all their tribulations long, +See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds, +With joy and peace triumphing, and fair truth. +Then thou thy regal scepter shalt lay by, +For regal scepter then no more shall need, +God shall be all in all. But, all ye Gods, +Adore him, who to compass all this dies; +Adore the Son, and honour him as me. +No sooner had the Almighty ceased, but all +The multitude of Angels, with a shout +Loud as from numbers without number, sweet +As from blest voices, uttering joy, Heaven rung +With jubilee, and loud Hosannas filled +The eternal regions: Lowly reverent +Towards either throne they bow, and to the ground +With solemn adoration down they cast +Their crowns inwove with amarant and gold; +Immortal amarant, a flower which once +In Paradise, fast by the tree of life, +Began to bloom; but soon for man's offence +To Heaven removed, where first it grew, there grows, +And flowers aloft shading the fount of life, +And where the river of bliss through midst of Heaven +Rolls o'er Elysian flowers her amber stream; +With these that never fade the Spirits elect +Bind their resplendent locks inwreathed with beams; +Now in loose garlands thick thrown off, the bright +Pavement, that like a sea of jasper shone, +Impurpled with celestial roses smiled. +Then, crowned again, their golden harps they took, +Harps ever tuned, that glittering by their side +Like quivers hung, and with preamble sweet +Of charming symphony they introduce +Their sacred song, and waken raptures high; +No voice exempt, no voice but well could join +Melodious part, such concord is in Heaven. +Thee, Father, first they sung Omnipotent, +Immutable, Immortal, Infinite, +Eternal King; the Author of all being, +Fonntain of light, thyself invisible +Amidst the glorious brightness where thou sit'st +Throned inaccessible, but when thou shadest +The full blaze of thy beams, and, through a cloud +Drawn round about thee like a radiant shrine, +Dark with excessive bright thy skirts appear, +Yet dazzle Heaven, that brightest Seraphim +Approach not, but with both wings veil their eyes. +Thee next they sang of all creation first, +Begotten Son, Divine Similitude, +In whose conspicuous countenance, without cloud +Made visible, the Almighty Father shines, +Whom else no creature can behold; on thee +Impressed the effulgence of his glory abides, +Transfused on thee his ample Spirit rests. +He Heaven of Heavens and all the Powers therein +By thee created; and by thee threw down +The aspiring Dominations: Thou that day +Thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare, +Nor stop thy flaming chariot-wheels, that shook +Heaven's everlasting frame, while o'er the necks +Thou drovest of warring Angels disarrayed. +Back from pursuit thy Powers with loud acclaim +Thee only extolled, Son of thy Father's might, +To execute fierce vengeance on his foes, +Not so on Man: Him through their malice fallen, +Father of mercy and grace, thou didst not doom +So strictly, but much more to pity incline: +No sooner did thy dear and only Son +Perceive thee purposed not to doom frail Man +So strictly, but much more to pity inclined, +He to appease thy wrath, and end the strife +Of mercy and justice in thy face discerned, +Regardless of the bliss wherein he sat +Second to thee, offered himself to die +For Man's offence. O unexampled love, +Love no where to be found less than Divine! +Hail, Son of God, Saviour of Men! Thy name +Shall be the copious matter of my song +Henceforth, and never shall my heart thy praise +Forget, nor from thy Father's praise disjoin. +Thus they in Heaven, above the starry sphere, +Their happy hours in joy and hymning spent. +Mean while upon the firm opacous globe +Of this round world, whose first convex divides +The luminous inferiour orbs, enclosed +From Chaos, and the inroad of Darkness old, +Satan alighted walks: A globe far off +It seemed, now seems a boundless continent +Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Night +Starless exposed, and ever-threatening storms +Of Chaos blustering round, inclement sky; +Save on that side which from the wall of Heaven, +Though distant far, some small reflection gains +Of glimmering air less vexed with tempest loud: +Here walked the Fiend at large in spacious field. +As when a vultur on Imaus bred, +Whose snowy ridge the roving Tartar bounds, +Dislodging from a region scarce of prey +To gorge the flesh of lambs or yeanling kids, +On hills where flocks are fed, flies toward the springs +Of Ganges or Hydaspes, Indian streams; +But in his way lights on the barren plains +Of Sericana, where Chineses drive +With sails and wind their cany waggons light: +So, on this windy sea of land, the Fiend +Walked up and down alone, bent on his prey; +Alone, for other creature in this place, +Living or lifeless, to be found was none; +None yet, but store hereafter from the earth +Up hither like aereal vapours flew +Of all things transitory and vain, when sin +With vanity had filled the works of men: +Both all things vain, and all who in vain things +Built their fond hopes of glory or lasting fame, +Or happiness in this or the other life; +All who have their reward on earth, the fruits +Of painful superstition and blind zeal, +Nought seeking but the praise of men, here find +Fit retribution, empty as their deeds; +All the unaccomplished works of Nature's hand, +Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixed, +Dissolved on earth, fleet hither, and in vain, +Till final dissolution, wander here; +Not in the neighbouring moon as some have dreamed; +Those argent fields more likely habitants, +Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold +Betwixt the angelical and human kind. +Hither of ill-joined sons and daughters born +First from the ancient world those giants came +With many a vain exploit, though then renowned: +The builders next of Babel on the plain +Of Sennaar, and still with vain design, +New Babels, had they wherewithal, would build: +Others came single; he, who, to be deemed +A God, leaped fondly into Aetna flames, +Empedocles; and he, who, to enjoy +Plato's Elysium, leaped into the sea, +Cleombrotus; and many more too long, +Embryos, and idiots, eremites, and friars +White, black, and gray, with all their trumpery. +Here pilgrims roam, that strayed so far to seek +In Golgotha him dead, who lives in Heaven; +And they, who to be sure of Paradise, +Dying, put on the weeds of Dominick, +Or in Franciscan think to pass disguised; +They pass the planets seven, and pass the fixed, +And that crystalling sphere whose balance weighs +The trepidation talked, and that first moved; +And now Saint Peter at Heaven's wicket seems +To wait them with his keys, and now at foot +Of Heaven's ascent they lift their feet, when lo +A violent cross wind from either coast +Blows them transverse, ten thousand leagues awry +Into the devious air: Then might ye see +Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, tost +And fluttered into rags; then reliques, beads, +Indulgences, dispenses, pardons, bulls, +The sport of winds: All these, upwhirled aloft, +Fly o'er the backside of the world far off +Into a Limbo large and broad, since called +The Paradise of Fools, to few unknown +Long after; now unpeopled, and untrod. +All this dark globe the Fiend found as he passed, +And long he wandered, till at last a gleam +Of dawning light turned thither-ward in haste +His travelled 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, appeared +The work as of a kingly palace-gate, +With frontispiece of diamond and gold +Embellished; thick with sparkling orient gems +The portal shone, inimitable on earth +By model, or by shading pencil, drawn. +These stairs were such as whereon Jacob saw +Angels ascending and descending, bands +Of guardians bright, when he from Esau fled +To Padan-Aram, in the field of Luz +Dreaming by night under the open sky +And waking cried, This is the gate of Heaven. +Each stair mysteriously was meant, nor stood +There always, but drawn up to Heaven sometimes +Viewless; and underneath a bright sea flowed +Of jasper, or of liquid pearl, whereon +Who after came from earth, failing arrived +Wafted by Angels, or flew o'er the lake +Rapt in a chariot drawn by fiery steeds. +The stairs were then let down, whether to dare +The Fiend by easy ascent, or aggravate +His sad exclusion from the doors of bliss: +Direct against which opened from beneath, +Just o'er the blissful seat of Paradise, +A passage down to the Earth, a passage wide, +Wider by far than that of after-times +Over mount Sion, and, though that were large, +Over the Promised Land to God so dear; +By which, to visit oft those happy tribes, +On high behests his angels to and fro +Passed frequent, and his eye with choice regard +From Paneas, the fount of Jordan's flood, +To Beersaba, where the Holy Land +Borders on Egypt and the Arabian shore; +So wide the opening seemed, where bounds were set +To darkness, such as bound the ocean wave. +Satan from hence, now on the lower stair, +That scaled by steps of gold to Heaven-gate, +Looks down with wonder at the sudden view +Of all this world at once. As when a scout, +Through dark?;nd desart ways with?oeril gone +All?might,?;t?kast by break of cheerful dawn +Obtains the brow of some high-climbing hill, +Which to his eye discovers unaware +The goodly prospect of some foreign land +First seen, or some renowned metropolis +With glistering spires and pinnacles adorned, +Which now the rising sun gilds with his beams: +Such wonder seised, though after Heaven seen, +The Spirit malign, but much more envy seised, +At sight of all this world beheld so fair. +Round he surveys (and well might, where he stood +So high above the circling canopy +Of night's extended shade,) from eastern point +Of Libra to the fleecy star that bears +Andromeda far off Atlantick seas +Beyond the horizon; then from pole to pole +He views in breadth, and without longer pause +Down right into the world's first region throws +His flight precipitant, and winds with ease +Through the pure marble air his oblique way +Amongst innumerable stars, that shone +Stars distant, but nigh hand seemed other worlds; +Or other worlds they seemed, or happy isles, +Like those Hesperian gardens famed of old, +Fortunate fields, and groves, and flowery vales, +Thrice happy isles; but who dwelt happy there +He staid not to inquire: Above them all +The golden sun, in splendour likest Heaven, +Allured his eye; thither his course he bends +Through the calm firmament, (but up or down, +By center, or eccentrick, hard to tell, +Or longitude,) where the great luminary +Aloof the vulgar constellations thick, +That from his lordly eye keep distance due, +Dispenses light from far; they, as they move +Their starry dance in numbers that compute +Days, months, and years, towards his all-cheering lamp +Turn swift their various motions, or are turned +By his magnetick beam, that gently warms +The universe, and to each inward part +With gentle penetration, though unseen, +Shoots invisible virtue even to the deep; +So wonderously was set his station bright. +There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps +Astronomer in the sun's lucent orb +Through his glazed optick tube yet never saw. +The place he found beyond expression bright, +Compared with aught on earth, metal or stone; +Not all parts like, but all alike informed +With radiant light, as glowing iron with fire; +If metal, part seemed gold, part silver clear; +If stone, carbuncle most or chrysolite, +Ruby or topaz, to the twelve that shone +In Aaron's breast-plate, and a stone besides +Imagined rather oft than elsewhere seen, +That stone, or like to that which here below +Philosophers in vain so long have sought, +In vain, though by their powerful art they bind +Volatile Hermes, and call up unbound +In various shapes old Proteus from the sea, +Drained through a limbeck to his native form. +What wonder then if fields and regions here +Breathe forth Elixir pure, and rivers run +Potable gold, when with one virtuous touch +The arch-chemick sun, so far from us remote, +Produces, with terrestrial humour mixed, +Here in the dark so many precious things +Of colour glorious, and effect so rare? +Here matter new to gaze the Devil met +Undazzled; far and wide his eye commands; +For sight no obstacle found here, nor shade, +But all sun-shine, as when his beams at noon +Culminate from the equator, as they now +Shot upward still direct, whence no way round +Shadow from body opaque can fall; and the air, +No where so clear, sharpened his visual ray +To objects distant far, whereby he soon +Saw within ken a glorious Angel stand, +The same whom John saw also in the sun: +His back was turned, but not his brightness hid; +Of beaming sunny rays a golden tiar +Circled his head, nor less his locks behind +Illustrious on his shoulders fledge with wings +Lay waving round; on some great charge employed +He seemed, or fixed in cogitation deep. +Glad was the Spirit impure, as now in hope +To find who might direct his wandering flight +To Paradise, the happy seat of Man, +His journey's end and our beginning woe. +But first he casts to change his proper shape, +Which else might work him danger or delay: +And now a stripling Cherub he appears, +Not of the prime, yet such as in his face +Youth smiled celestial, and to every limb +Suitable grace diffused, so well he feigned: +Under a coronet his flowing hair +In curls on either cheek played; wings he wore +Of many a coloured plume, sprinkled with gold; +His habit fit for speed succinct, and held +Before his decent steps a silver wand. +He drew not nigh unheard; the Angel bright, +Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turned, +Admonished by his ear, and straight was known +The Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the seven +Who in God's presence, nearest to his throne, +Stand ready at command, and are his eyes +That run through all the Heavens, or down to the Earth +Bear his swift errands over moist and dry, +O'er sea and land: him Satan thus accosts. +Uriel, for thou of those seven Spirits that stand +In sight of God's high throne, gloriously bright, +The first art wont his great authentick will +Interpreter through highest Heaven to bring, +Where all his sons thy embassy attend; +And here art likeliest by supreme decree +Like honour to obtain, and as his eye +To visit oft this new creation round; +Unspeakable desire to see, and know +All these his wonderous works, but chiefly Man, +His chief delight and favour, him for whom +All these his works so wonderous he ordained, +Hath brought me from the quires of Cherubim +Alone thus wandering. Brightest Seraph, tell +In which of all these shining orbs hath Man +His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none, +But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell; +That I may find him, and with secret gaze +Or open admiration him behold, +On whom the great Creator hath bestowed +Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces poured; +That both in him and all things, as is meet, +The universal Maker we may praise; +Who justly hath driven out his rebel foes +To deepest Hell, and, to repair that loss, +Created this new happy race of Men +To serve him better: Wise are all his ways. +So spake the false dissembler unperceived; +For neither Man nor Angel can discern +Hypocrisy, the only evil that walks +Invisible, except to God alone, +By his permissive will, through Heaven and Earth: +And oft, though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps +At wisdom's gate, and to simplicity +Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill +Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguiled +Uriel, though regent of the sun, and held +The sharpest-sighted Spirit of all in Heaven; +Who to the fraudulent impostor foul, +In his uprightness, answer thus returned. +Fair Angel, thy desire, which tends to know +The works of God, thereby to glorify +The great Work-master, leads to no excess +That reaches blame, but rather merits praise +The more it seems excess, that led thee hither +From thy empyreal mansion thus alone, +To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps, +Contented with report, hear only in Heaven: +For wonderful indeed are all his works, +Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all +Had in remembrance always with delight; +But what created mind can comprehend +Their number, or the wisdom infinite +That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? +I saw when at his word the formless mass, +This world's material mould, came to a heap: +Confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar +Stood ruled, stood vast infinitude confined; +Till at his second bidding Darkness fled, +Light shone, and order from disorder sprung: +Swift to their several quarters hasted then +The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire; +And this ethereal quintessence of Heaven +Flew upward, spirited with various forms, +That rolled orbicular, and turned to stars +Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move; +Each had his place appointed, each his course; +The rest in circuit walls this universe. +Look downward on that globe, whose hither side +With light from hence, though but reflected, shines; +That place is Earth, the seat of Man; that light +His day, which else, as the other hemisphere, +Night would invade; but there the neighbouring moon +So call that opposite fair star) her aid +Timely interposes, and her monthly round +Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heaven, +With borrowed light her countenance triform +Hence fills and empties to enlighten the Earth, +And in her pale dominion checks the night. +That spot, to which I point, is Paradise, +Adam's abode; those lofty shades, his bower. +Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires. +Thus said, he turned; and Satan, bowing low, +As to superiour Spirits is wont in Heaven, +Where honour due and reverence none neglects, +Took leave, and toward the coast of earth beneath, +Down from the ecliptick, sped with hoped success, +Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel; +Nor staid, till on Niphates' top he lights. + + + +Book IV + + +O, for that warning voice, which he, who saw +The Apocalypse, heard cry in Heaven aloud, +Then when the Dragon, put to second rout, +Came furious down to be revenged on men, +Woe to the inhabitants on earth! that now, +While time was, our first parents had been warned +The coming of their secret foe, and 'scaped, +Haply so 'scaped his mortal snare: For now +Satan, now first inflamed with rage, came down, +The tempter ere the accuser of mankind, +To wreak on innocent frail Man his loss +Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell: +Yet, not rejoicing in his speed, though bold +Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast, +Begins his dire attempt; which nigh the birth +Now rolling boils in his tumultuous breast, +And like a devilish engine back recoils +Upon himself; horrour and doubt distract +His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir +The Hell within him; for within him Hell +He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell +One step, no more than from himself, can fly +By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair, +That slumbered; wakes the bitter memory +Of what he was, what is, and what must be +Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue. +Sometimes towards Eden, which now in his view +Lay pleasant, his grieved look he fixes sad; +Sometimes towards Heaven, and the full-blazing sun, +Which now sat high in his meridian tower: +Then, much revolving, thus in sighs began. +O thou, that, with surpassing glory crowned, +Lookest from thy sole dominion like the God +Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars +Hide their diminished heads; to thee I call, +But with no friendly voice, and add thy name, +Of Sun! to tell thee how I hate thy beams, +That bring to my remembrance from what state +I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere; +Till pride and worse ambition threw me down +Warring in Heaven against Heaven's matchless King: +Ah, wherefore! he deserved no such return +From me, whom he created what I was +In that bright eminence, and with his good +Upbraided none; nor was his service hard. +What could be less than to afford him praise, +The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks, +How due! yet all his good proved ill in me, +And wrought but malice; lifted up so high +I sdeined subjection, and thought one step higher +Would set me highest, and in a moment quit +The debt immense of endless gratitude, +So burdensome still paying, still to owe, +Forgetful what from him I still received, +And understood not that a grateful mind +By owing owes not, but still pays, at once +Indebted and discharged; what burden then +O, had his powerful destiny ordained +Me some inferiour Angel, I had stood +Then happy; no unbounded hope had raised +Ambition! Yet why not some other Power +As great might have aspired, and me, though mean, +Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great +Fell not, but stand unshaken, from within +Or from without, to all temptations armed. +Hadst thou the same free will and power to stand? +Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse, +But Heaven's free love dealt equally to all? +Be then his love accursed, since love or hate, +To me alike, it deals eternal woe. +Nay, cursed be thou; since against his thy will +Chose freely what it now so justly rues. +Me miserable! which way shall I fly +Infinite wrath, and infinite despair? +Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell; +And, in the lowest deep, a lower deep +Still threatening to devour me opens wide, +To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heaven. +O, then, at last relent: Is there no place +Left for repentance, none for pardon left? +None left but by submission; and that word +Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame +Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduced +With other promises and other vaunts +Than to submit, boasting I could subdue +The Omnipotent. Ay me! they little know +How dearly I abide that boast so vain, +Under what torments inwardly I groan, +While they adore me on the throne of Hell. +With diadem and scepter high advanced, +The lower still I fall, only supreme +In misery: Such joy ambition finds. +But say I could repent, and could obtain, +By act of grace, my former state; how soon +Would highth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay +What feigned submission swore? Ease would recant +Vows made in pain, as violent and void. +For never can true reconcilement grow, +Where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep: +Which would but lead me to a worse relapse +And heavier fall: so should I purchase dear +Short intermission bought with double smart. +This knows my Punisher; therefore as far +From granting he, as I from begging, peace; +All hope excluded thus, behold, in stead +Mankind created, and for him this world. +So farewell, hope; and with hope farewell, fear; +Farewell, remorse! all good to me is lost; +Evil, be thou my good; by thee at least +Divided empire with Heaven's King I hold, +By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign; +As Man ere long, and this new world, shall know. +Thus while he spake, each passion dimmed his face +Thrice changed with pale, ire, envy, and despair; +Which marred his borrowed visage, and betrayed +Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld. +For heavenly minds from such distempers foul +Are ever clear. Whereof he soon aware, +Each perturbation smoothed with outward calm, +Artificer of fraud; and was the first +That practised falsehood under saintly show, +Deep malice to conceal, couched with revenge: +Yet not enough had practised to deceive +Uriel once warned; whose eye pursued him down + The way he went, and on the Assyrian mount + Saw him disfigured, more than could befall + Spirit of happy sort; his gestures fierce + He marked and mad demeanour, then alone, + As he supposed, all unobserved, unseen. + So on he fares, and to the border comes + Of Eden, where delicious Paradise, + Now nearer, crowns with her enclosure green, + As with a rural mound, the champaign head + Of a steep wilderness, whose hairy sides +Access denied; and overhead upgrew + Insuperable height of loftiest shade, + Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm, + A sylvan scene, and, as the ranks ascend, + Shade above shade, a woody theatre + Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops + The verdurous wall of Paradise upsprung; + + 00081429 +Which to our general sire gave prospect large +Into his nether empire neighbouring round. +And higher than that wall a circling row +Of goodliest trees, loaden with fairest fruit, +Blossoms and fruits at once of golden hue, +Appeared, with gay enamelled colours mixed: +On which the sun more glad impressed his beams +Than in fair evening cloud, or humid bow, +When God hath showered the earth; so lovely seemed +That landskip: And of pure now purer air +Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires +Vernal delight and joy, able to drive +All sadness but despair: Now gentle gales, +Fanning their odoriferous wings, dispense +Native perfumes, and whisper whence they stole +Those balmy spoils. As when to them who fail +Beyond the Cape of Hope, and now are past +Mozambick, off at sea north-east winds blow +Sabean odours from the spicy shore +Of Araby the blest; with such delay +Well pleased they slack their course, and many a league +Cheered with the grateful smell old Ocean smiles: +So entertained those odorous sweets the Fiend, +Who came their bane; though with them better pleased +Than Asmodeus with the fishy fume +That drove him, though enamoured, from the spouse +Of Tobit's son, and with a vengeance sent +From Media post to Egypt, there fast bound. +Now to the ascent of that steep savage hill +Satan had journeyed on, pensive and slow; +But further way found none, so thick entwined, +As one continued brake, the undergrowth +Of shrubs and tangling bushes had perplexed +All path of man or beast that passed that way. +One gate there only was, and that looked east +On the other side: which when the arch-felon saw, +Due entrance he disdained; and, in contempt, +At one flight bound high over-leaped all bound +Of hill or highest wall, and sheer within +Lights on his feet. As when a prowling wolf, +Whom hunger drives to seek new haunt for prey, +Watching where shepherds pen their flocks at eve +In hurdled cotes amid the field secure, +Leaps o'er the fence with ease into the fold: +Or as a thief, bent to unhoard the cash +Of some rich burgher, whose substantial doors, +Cross-barred and bolted fast, fear no assault, +In at the window climbs, or o'er the tiles: +So clomb this first grand thief into God's fold; +So since into his church lewd hirelings climb. +Thence up he flew, and on the tree of life, +The middle tree and highest there that grew, +Sat like a cormorant; yet not true life +Thereby regained, but sat devising death +To them who lived; nor on the virtue thought +Of that life-giving plant, but only used +For prospect, what well used had been the pledge +Of immortality. So little knows +Any, but God alone, to value right +The good before him, but perverts best things +To worst abuse, or to their meanest use. +Beneath him with new wonder now he views, +To all delight of human sense exposed, +In narrow room, Nature's whole wealth, yea more, +A Heaven on Earth: For blissful Paradise +Of God the garden was, by him in the east +Of Eden planted; Eden stretched her line +From Auran eastward to the royal towers +Of great Seleucia, built by Grecian kings, +Of where the sons of Eden long before +Dwelt in Telassar: In this pleasant soil +His far more pleasant garden God ordained; +Out of the fertile ground he caused to grow +All trees of noblest kind for sight, smell, taste; +And all amid them stood the tree of life, +High eminent, blooming ambrosial fruit +Of vegetable gold; and next to life, +Our death, the tree of knowledge, grew fast by, +Knowledge of good bought dear by knowing ill. +Southward through Eden went a river large, +Nor changed his course, but through the shaggy hill +Passed underneath ingulfed; for God had thrown +That mountain as his garden-mould high raised +Upon the rapid current, which, through veins +Of porous earth with kindly thirst up-drawn, +Rose a fresh fountain, and with many a rill +Watered the garden; thence united fell +Down the steep glade, and met the nether flood, +Which from his darksome passage now appears, +And now, divided into four main streams, +Runs diverse, wandering many a famous realm +And country, whereof here needs no account; +But rather to tell how, if Art could tell, +How from that sapphire fount the crisped brooks, +Rolling on orient pearl and sands of gold, +With mazy errour under pendant shades +Ran nectar, visiting each plant, and fed +Flowers worthy of Paradise, which not nice Art +In beds and curious knots, but Nature boon +Poured forth profuse on hill, and dale, and plain, +Both where the morning sun first warmly smote +The open field, and where the unpierced shade +Imbrowned the noontide bowers: Thus was this place +A happy rural seat of various view; +Groves whose rich trees wept odorous gums and balm, +Others whose fruit, burnished with golden rind, +Hung amiable, Hesperian fables true, +If true, here only, and of delicious taste: +Betwixt them lawns, or level downs, and flocks +Grazing the tender herb, were interposed, +Or palmy hillock; or the flowery lap +Of some irriguous valley spread her store, +Flowers of all hue, and without thorn the rose: +Another side, umbrageous grots and caves +Of cool recess, o'er which the mantling vine +Lays forth her purple grape, and gently creeps +Luxuriant; mean while murmuring waters fall +Down the slope hills, dispersed, or in a lake, +That to the fringed bank with myrtle crowned +Her crystal mirrour holds, unite their streams. +The birds their quire apply; airs, vernal airs, +Breathing the smell of field and grove, attune +The trembling leaves, while universal Pan, +Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance, +Led on the eternal Spring. Not that fair field +Of Enna, where Proserpine gathering flowers, +Herself a fairer flower by gloomy Dis +Was gathered, which cost Ceres all that pain +To seek her through the world; nor that sweet grove +Of Daphne by Orontes, and the inspired +Castalian spring, might with this Paradise +Of Eden strive; nor that Nyseian isle +Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, +Whom Gentiles Ammon call and Libyan Jove, +Hid Amalthea, and her florid son +Young Bacchus, from his stepdame Rhea's eye; +Nor where Abassin kings their issue guard, +Mount Amara, though this by some supposed +True Paradise under the Ethiop line +By Nilus' head, enclosed with shining rock, +A whole day's journey high, but wide remote +From this Assyrian garden, where the Fiend +Saw, undelighted, all delight, all kind +Of living creatures, new to sight, and strange +Two of far nobler shape, erect and tall, +Godlike erect, with native honour clad +In naked majesty seemed lords of all: +And worthy seemed; for in their looks divine +The image of their glorious Maker shone, +Truth, wisdom, sanctitude severe and pure, +(Severe, but in true filial freedom placed,) +Whence true authority in men; though both +Not equal, as their sex not equal seemed; +For contemplation he and valour formed; +For softness she and sweet attractive grace; +He for God only, she for God in him: +His fair large front and eye sublime declared +Absolute rule; and hyacinthine locks +Round from his parted forelock manly hung +Clustering, but not beneath his shoulders broad: +She, as a veil, down to the slender waist +Her unadorned golden tresses wore +Dishevelled, but in wanton ringlets waved +As the vine curls her tendrils, which implied +Subjection, but required with gentle sway, +And by her yielded, by him best received, +Yielded with coy submission, modest pride, +And sweet, reluctant, amorous delay. +Nor those mysterious parts were then concealed; +Then was not guilty shame, dishonest shame +Of nature's works, honour dishonourable, +Sin-bred, how have ye troubled all mankind +With shows instead, mere shows of seeming pure, +And banished from man's life his happiest life, +Simplicity and spotless innocence! +So passed they naked on, nor shunned the sight +Of God or Angel; for they thought no ill: +So hand in hand they passed, the loveliest pair, +That ever since in love's embraces met; +Adam the goodliest man of men since born +His sons, the fairest of her daughters Eve. +Under a tuft of shade that on a green +Stood whispering soft, by a fresh fountain side +They sat them down; and, after no more toil +Of their sweet gardening labour than sufficed +To recommend cool Zephyr, and made ease +More easy, wholesome thirst and appetite +More grateful, to their supper-fruits they fell, +Nectarine fruits which the compliant boughs +Yielded them, side-long as they sat recline +On the soft downy bank damasked with flowers: +The savoury pulp they chew, and in the rind, +Still as they thirsted, scoop the brimming stream; +Nor gentle purpose, nor endearing smiles +Wanted, nor youthful dalliance, as beseems +Fair couple, linked in happy nuptial league, +Alone as they. About them frisking played +All beasts of the earth, since wild, and of all chase +In wood or wilderness, forest or den; +Sporting the lion ramped, and in his paw +Dandled the kid; bears, tigers, ounces, pards, +Gambolled before them; the unwieldy elephant, +To make them mirth, used all his might, and wreathed +His?kithetmroboscis; close the serpent sly, +Insinuating, wove with Gordian twine +His braided train, and of his fatal guile +Gave proof unheeded; others on the grass +Couched, and now filled with pasture gazing sat, +Or bedward ruminating; for the sun, +Declined, was hasting now with prone career +To the ocean isles, and in the ascending scale +Of Heaven the stars that usher evening rose: +When Satan still in gaze, as first he stood, +Scarce thus at length failed speech recovered sad. +O Hell! what do mine eyes with grief behold! +Into our room of bliss thus high advanced +Creatures of other mould, earth-born perhaps, +Not Spirits, yet to heavenly Spirits bright +Little inferiour; whom my thoughts pursue +With wonder, and could love, so lively shines +In them divine resemblance, and such grace +The hand that formed them on their shape hath poured. +Ah! gentle pair, ye little think how nigh +Your change approaches, when all these delights +Will vanish, and deliver ye to woe; +More woe, the more your taste is now of joy; +Happy, but for so happy ill secured +Long to continue, and this high seat your Heaven +Ill fenced for Heaven to keep out such a foe +As now is entered; yet no purposed foe +To you, whom I could pity thus forlorn, +Though I unpitied: League with you I seek, +And mutual amity, so strait, so close, +That I with you must dwell, or you with me +Henceforth; my dwelling haply may not please, +Like this fair Paradise, your sense; yet such +Accept your Maker's work; he gave it me, +Which I as freely give: Hell shall unfold, +To entertain you two, her widest gates, +And send forth all her kings; there will be room, +Not like these narrow limits, to receive +Your numerous offspring; if no better place, +Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge +On you who wrong me not for him who wronged. +And should I at your harmless innocence +Melt, as I do, yet publick reason just, +Honour and empire with revenge enlarged, +By conquering this new world, compels me now +To do what else, though damned, I should abhor. +So spake the Fiend, and with necessity, +The tyrant's plea, excused his devilish deeds. +Then from his lofty stand on that high tree +Down he alights among the sportful herd +Of those four-footed kinds, himself now one, +Now other, as their shape served best his end +Nearer to view his prey, and, unespied, +To mark what of their state he more might learn, +By word or action marked. About them round +A lion now he stalks with fiery glare; +Then as a tiger, who by chance hath spied +In some purlieu two gentle fawns at play, +Straight couches close, then, rising, changes oft +His couchant watch, as one who chose his ground, +Whence rushing, he might surest seize them both, +Griped in each paw: when, Adam first of men +To first of women Eve thus moving speech, +Turned him, all ear to hear new utterance flow. +Sole partner, and sole part, of all these joys, +Dearer thyself than all; needs must the Power +That made us, and for us this ample world, +Be infinitely good, and of his good +As liberal and free as infinite; +That raised us from the dust, and placed us here +In all this happiness, who at his hand +Have nothing merited, nor can perform +Aught whereof he hath need; he who requires +From us no other service than to keep +This one, this easy charge, of all the trees +In Paradise that bear delicious fruit +So various, not to taste that only tree +Of knowledge, planted by the tree of life; +So near grows death to life, whate'er death is, +Some dreadful thing no doubt; for well thou knowest +God hath pronounced it death to taste that tree, +The only sign of our obedience left, +Among so many signs of power and rule +Conferred upon us, and dominion given +Over all other creatures that possess +Earth, air, and sea. Then let us not think hard +One easy prohibition, who enjoy +Free leave so large to all things else, and choice +Unlimited of manifold delights: +But let us ever praise him, and extol +His bounty, following our delightful task, +To prune these growing plants, and tend these flowers, +Which were it toilsome, yet with thee were sweet. +To whom thus Eve replied. O thou for whom +And from whom I was formed, flesh of thy flesh, +And without whom am to no end, my guide +And head! what thou hast said is just and right. +For we to him indeed all praises owe, +And daily thanks; I chiefly, who enjoy +So far the happier lot, enjoying thee +Pre-eminent by so much odds, while thou +Like consort to thyself canst no where find. +That day I oft remember, when from sleep +I first awaked, and found myself reposed +Under a shade on flowers, much wondering where +And what I was, whence thither brought, and how. +Not distant far from thence a murmuring sound +Of waters issued from a cave, and spread +Into a liquid plain, then stood unmoved +Pure as the expanse of Heaven; I thither went +With unexperienced thought, and laid me down +On the green bank, to look into the clear +Smooth lake, that to me seemed another sky. +As I bent down to look, just opposite +A shape within the watery gleam appeared, +Bending to look on me: I started back, +It started back; but pleased I soon returned, +Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks +Of sympathy and love: There I had fixed +Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire, +Had not a voice thus warned me; 'What thou seest, +'What there thou seest, fair Creature, is thyself; +'With thee it came and goes: but follow me, +'And I will bring thee where no shadow stays +'Thy coming, and thy soft embraces, he +'Whose image thou art; him thou shalt enjoy +'Inseparably thine, to him shalt bear +'Multitudes like thyself, and thence be called +'Mother of human race.' What could I do, +But follow straight, invisibly thus led? +Till I espied thee, fair indeed and tall, +Under a platane; yet methought less fair, +Less winning soft, less amiably mild, +Than that smooth watery image: Back I turned; +Thou following cryedst aloud, 'Return, fair Eve; +'Whom flyest thou? whom thou flyest, of him thou art, +'His flesh, his bone; to give thee being I lent +'Out of my side to thee, nearest my heart, +'Substantial life, to have thee by my side +'Henceforth an individual solace dear; +'Part of my soul I seek thee, and thee claim +'My other half:' With that thy gentle hand +Seised mine: I yielded;and from that time see +How beauty is excelled by manly grace, +And wisdom, which alone is truly fair. +So spake our general mother, and with eyes +Of conjugal attraction unreproved, +And meek surrender, half-embracing leaned +On our first father; half her swelling breast +Naked met his, under the flowing gold +Of her loose tresses hid: he in delight +Both of her beauty, and submissive charms, +Smiled with superiour love, as Jupiter +On Juno smiles, when he impregns the clouds +That shed Mayflowers; and pressed her matron lip +With kisses pure: Aside the Devil turned +For envy; yet with jealous leer malign +Eyed them askance, and to himself thus plained. +Sight hateful, sight tormenting! thus these two, +Imparadised in one another's arms, +The happier Eden, shall enjoy their 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 unfulfilled with pain of longing pines. +Yet let me not forget what I have gained +From their own mouths: All is not theirs, it seems; +One fatal tree there stands, of knowledge called, +Forbidden them to taste: Knowledge forbidden +Suspicious, reasonless. Why should their Lord +Envy them that? Can it be sin to know? +Can it be death? And do they only stand +By ignorance? Is that their happy state, +The proof of their obedience and their faith? +O fair foundation laid whereon to build +Their ruin! hence I will excite their minds +With more desire to know, and to reject +Envious commands, invented with design +To keep them low, whom knowledge might exalt +Equal with Gods: aspiring to be such, +They taste and die: What likelier can ensue +But first with narrow search I must walk round +This garden, and no corner leave unspied; +A chance but chance may lead where I may meet +Some wandering Spirit of Heaven by fountain side, +Or in thick shade retired, from him to draw +What further would be learned. Live while ye may, +Yet happy pair; enjoy, till I return, +Short pleasures, for long woes are to succeed! +So saying, his proud step he scornful turned, +But with sly circumspection, and began +Through wood, through waste, o'er hill, o'er dale, his roam +Mean while in utmost longitude, where Heaven +With earth and ocean meets, the setting sun +Slowly descended, and with right aspect +Against the eastern gate of Paradise +Levelled his evening rays: It was a rock +Of alabaster, piled up to the clouds, +Conspicuous far, winding with one ascent +Accessible from earth, one entrance high; +The rest was craggy cliff, that overhung +Still as it rose, impossible to climb. +Betwixt these rocky pillars Gabriel sat, +Chief of the angelick guards, awaiting night; +About him exercised heroick games +The unarmed youth of Heaven, but nigh at hand +Celestial armoury, shields, helms, and spears, +Hung high with diamond flaming, and with gold. +Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even +On a sun-beam, swift as a shooting star +In autumn thwarts the night, when vapours fired +Impress the air, and shows the mariner +From what point of his compass to beware +Impetuous winds: He thus began in haste. +Gabriel, to thee thy course by lot hath given +Charge and strict watch, that to this happy place +No evil thing approach or enter in. +This day at highth of noon came to my sphere +A Spirit, zealous, as he seemed, to know +More of the Almighty's works, and chiefly Man, +God's latest image: I described his way +Bent all on speed, and marked his aery gait; +But in the mount that lies from Eden north, +Where he first lighted, soon discerned his looks +Alien from Heaven, with passions foul obscured: +Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade +Lost sight of him: One of the banished crew, +I fear, hath ventured from the deep, to raise +New troubles; him thy care must be to find. +To whom the winged warriour thus returned. +Uriel, no wonder if thy perfect sight, +Amid the sun's bright circle where thou sitst, +See far and wide: In at this gate none pass +The vigilance here placed, but such as come +Well known from Heaven; and since meridian hour +No creature thence: If Spirit of other sort, +So minded, have o'er-leaped these earthly bounds +On purpose, hard thou knowest it to exclude +Spiritual substance with corporeal bar. +But if within the circuit of these walks, +In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom +Thou tellest, by morrow dawning I shall know. +So promised he; and Uriel to his charge +Returned on that bright beam, whose point now raised +Bore him slope downward to the sun now fallen +Beneath the Azores; whether the prime orb, +Incredible how swift, had thither rolled +Diurnal, or this less volubil earth, +By shorter flight to the east, had left him there +Arraying with reflected purple and gold +The clouds that on his western throne attend. +Now came still Evening on, and Twilight gray +Had in her sober livery all things clad; +Silence accompanied; for beast and bird, +They to their grassy couch, these to their nests +Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale; +She all night long her amorous descant sung; +Silence was pleased: Now glowed the firmament +With living sapphires: Hesperus, that led +The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon, +Rising in clouded majesty, at length +Apparent queen unveiled her peerless light, +And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw. +When Adam thus to Eve. Fair Consort, the hour +Of night, and all things now retired to rest, +Mind us of like repose; since God hath set +Labour and rest, as day and night, to men +Successive; and the timely dew of sleep, +Now falling with soft slumbrous weight, inclines +Our eye-lids: Other creatures all day long +Rove idle, unemployed, and less need rest; +Man hath his daily work of body or mind +Appointed, which declares his dignity, +And the regard of Heaven on all his ways; +While other animals unactive range, +And of their doings God takes no account. +To-morrow, ere fresh morning streak the east +With first approach of light, we must be risen, +And at our pleasant labour, to reform +Yon flowery arbours, yonder alleys green, +Our walk at noon, with branches overgrown, +That mock our scant manuring, and require +More hands than ours to lop their wanton growth: +Those blossoms also, and those dropping gums, +That lie bestrown, unsightly and unsmooth, +Ask riddance, if we mean to tread with ease; +Mean while, as Nature wills, night bids us rest. +To whom thus Eve, with perfect beauty adorned +My Author and Disposer, what thou bidst +Unargued I obey: So God ordains; +God is thy law, thou mine: To know no more +Is woman's happiest knowledge, and her praise. +With thee conversing I forget all time; +All seasons, and their change, all please alike. +Sweet is the breath of Morn, her rising sweet, +With charm of earliest birds: pleasant the sun, +When first on this delightful land he spreads +His orient beams, on herb, tree, fruit, and flower, +Glistering with dew; fragrant the fertile earth +After soft showers; and sweet the coming on +Of grateful Evening mild; then silent Night, +With this her solemn bird, and this fair moon, +And these the gems of Heaven, her starry train: +But neither breath of Morn, when she ascends +With charm of earliest birds; nor rising sun +On this delightful land; nor herb, fruit, flower, +Glistering with dew; nor fragrance after showers; +Nor grateful Evening mild; nor silent Night, +With this her solemn bird, nor walk by moon, +Or glittering star-light, without thee is sweet. +But wherefore all night long shine these? for whom +This glorious sight, when sleep hath shut all eyes? +To whom our general ancestor replied. +Daughter of God and Man, accomplished Eve, +These have their course to finish round the earth, +By morrow evening, and from land to land +In order, though to nations yet unborn, +Ministring light prepared, they set and rise; +Lest total Darkness should by night regain +Her old possession, and extinguish life +In Nature and all things; which these soft fires +Not only enlighten, but with kindly heat +Of various influence foment and warm, +Temper or nourish, or in part shed down +Their stellar virtue on all kinds that grow +On earth, made hereby apter to receive +Perfection from the sun's more potent ray. +These then, though unbeheld in deep of night, +Shine not in vain; nor think, though men were none, +That Heaven would want spectators, God want praise: +Millions of spiritual creatures walk the earth +Unseen, both when we wake, and when we sleep: +All these with ceaseless praise his works behold +Both day and night: How often from the steep +Of echoing hill or thicket have we heard +Celestial voices to the midnight air, +Sole, or responsive each to others note, +Singing their great Creator? oft in bands +While they keep watch, or nightly rounding walk, +With heavenly touch of instrumental sounds +In full harmonick number joined, their songs +Divide the night, and lift our thoughts to Heaven. +Thus talking, hand in hand alone they passed +On to their blissful bower: it was a place +Chosen by the sovran Planter, when he framed +All things to Man's delightful use; the roof +Of thickest covert was inwoven shade +Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew +Of firm and fragrant leaf; on either side +Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub, +Fenced up the verdant wall; each beauteous flower, +Iris all hues, roses, and jessamin, +Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought +Mosaick; underfoot the violet, +Crocus, and hyacinth, with rich inlay +Broidered the ground, more coloured than with stone +Of costliest emblem: Other creature here, +Bird, beast, insect, or worm, durst enter none, +Such was their awe of Man. In shadier bower +More sacred and sequestered, though but feigned, +Pan or Sylvanus never slept, nor Nymph +Nor Faunus haunted. Here, in close recess, +With flowers, garlands, and sweet-smelling herbs, +Espoused Eve decked first her nuptial bed; +And heavenly quires the hymenaean sung, +What day the genial Angel to our sire +Brought her in naked beauty more adorned, +More lovely, than Pandora, whom the Gods +Endowed with all their gifts, and O! too like +In sad event, when to the unwiser son +Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she ensnared +Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged +On him who had stole Jove's authentick fire. +Thus, at their shady lodge arrived, both stood, +Both turned, and under open sky adored +The God that made both sky, air, earth, and heaven, +Which they beheld, the moon's resplendent globe, +And starry pole: Thou also madest the night, +Maker Omnipotent, and thou the day, +Which we, in our appointed work employed, +Have finished, happy in our mutual help +And mutual love, the crown of all our bliss +Ordained by thee; and this delicious place +For us too large, where thy abundance wants +Partakers, and uncropt falls to the ground. +But thou hast promised from us two a race +To fill the earth, who shall with us extol +Thy goodness infinite, both when we wake, +And when we seek, as now, thy gift of sleep. +This said unanimous, and other rites +Observing none, but adoration pure +Which God likes best, into their inmost bower +Handed they went; and, eased the putting off +These troublesome disguises which we wear, +Straight side by side were laid; nor turned, I ween, +Adam from his fair spouse, nor Eve the rites +Mysterious of connubial love refused: +Whatever hypocrites austerely talk +Of purity, and place, and innocence, +Defaming as impure what God declares +Pure, and commands to some, leaves free to all. +Our Maker bids encrease; who bids abstain +But our Destroyer, foe to God and Man? +Hail, wedded Love, mysterious law, true source +Of human offspring, sole propriety +In Paradise of all things common else! +By thee adulterous Lust was driven from men +Among the bestial herds to range; by thee +Founded in reason, loyal, just, and pure, +Relations dear, and all the charities +Of father, son, and brother, first were known. +Far be it, that I should write thee sin or blame, +Or think thee unbefitting holiest place, +Perpetual fountain of domestick sweets, +Whose bed is undefiled and chaste pronounced, +Present, or past, as saints and patriarchs used. +Here Love his golden shafts employs, here lights +His constant lamp, and waves his purple wings, +Reigns here and revels; not in the bought smile +Of harlots, loveless, joyless, unendeared, +Casual fruition; nor in court-amours, +Mixed dance, or wanton mask, or midnight ball, +Or serenate, which the starved lover sings +To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain. +These, lulled by nightingales, embracing slept, +And on their naked limbs the flowery roof +Showered roses, which the morn repaired. Sleep on, +Blest pair; and O!yet happiest, if ye seek +No happier state, and know to know no more. +Now had night measured with her shadowy cone +Half way up hill this vast sublunar vault, +And from their ivory port the Cherubim, +Forth issuing at the accustomed hour, stood armed +To their night watches in warlike parade; +When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake. +Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south +With strictest watch; these other wheel the north; +Our circuit meets full west. As flame they part, +Half wheeling to the shield, half to the spear. +From these, two strong and subtle Spirits he called +That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge. +Ithuriel and Zephon, with winged speed +Search through this garden, leave unsearched no nook; +But chiefly where those two fair creatures lodge, +Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm. +This evening from the sun's decline arrived, +Who tells of some infernal Spirit seen +Hitherward bent (who could have thought?) escaped +The bars of Hell, on errand bad no doubt: +Such, where ye find, seise fast, and hither bring. +So saying, on he led his radiant files, +Dazzling the moon; these to the bower direct +In search of whom they sought: Him there they found +Squat like a toad, close at the ear of Eve, +Assaying by his devilish art to reach +The organs of her fancy, and with them forge +Illusions, as he list, phantasms and dreams; +Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint +The animal spirits, that from pure blood arise +Like gentle breaths from rivers pure, thence raise +At least distempered, discontented thoughts, +Vain hopes, vain aims, inordinate desires, +Blown up with high conceits ingendering pride. +Him thus intent Ithuriel with his spear +Touched lightly; for no falshood can endure +Touch of celestial temper, but returns +Of force to its own likeness: Up he starts +Discovered and surprised. As when a spark +Lights on a heap of nitrous powder, laid +Fit for the tun some magazine to store +Against a rumoured war, the smutty grain, +With sudden blaze diffused, inflames the air; +So started up in his own shape the Fiend. +Back stept those two fair Angels, half amazed +So sudden to behold the grisly king; +Yet thus, unmoved with fear, accost him soon. +Which of those rebel Spirits adjudged to Hell +Comest thou, escaped thy prison? and, transformed, +Why sat'st thou like an enemy in wait, +Here watching at the head of these that sleep? +Know ye not then said Satan, filled with scorn, +Know ye not me? ye knew me once no mate +For you, there sitting where ye durst not soar: +Not to know me argues yourselves unknown, +The lowest of your throng; or, if ye know, +Why ask ye, and superfluous begin +Your message, like to end as much in vain? +To whom thus Zephon, answering scorn with scorn. +Think not, revolted Spirit, thy shape the same, +Or undiminished brightness to be known, +As when thou stoodest in Heaven upright and pure; +That glory then, when thou no more wast good, +Departed from thee; and thou resemblest now +Thy sin and place of doom obscure and foul. +But come, for thou, be sure, shalt give account +To him who sent us, whose charge is to keep +This place inviolable, and these from harm. +So spake the Cherub; and his grave rebuke, +Severe in youthful beauty, added grace +Invincible: Abashed the Devil stood, +And felt how awful goodness is, and saw +Virtue in her shape how lovely; saw, and pined +His loss; but chiefly to find here observed +His lustre visibly impaired; yet seemed +Undaunted. If I must contend, said he, +Best with the best, the sender, not the sent, +Or all at once; more glory will be won, +Or less be lost. Thy fear, said Zephon bold, +Will save us trial what the least can do +Single against thee wicked, and thence weak. +The Fiend replied not, overcome with rage; +But, like a proud steed reined, went haughty on, +Champing his iron curb: To strive or fly +He held it vain; awe from above had quelled +His heart, not else dismayed. Now drew they nigh +The western point, where those half-rounding guards +Just met, and closing stood in squadron joined, +A waiting next command. To whom their Chief, +Gabriel, from the front thus called aloud. +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 splendour wan; who by his gait +And fierce demeanour seems the Prince of Hell, +Not likely to part hence without contest; +Stand firm, for in his look defiance lours. +He scarce had ended, when those two approached, +And brief related whom they brought, where found, +How busied, in what form and posture couched. +To whom with stern regard thus Gabriel spake. +Why hast thou, Satan, broke the bounds prescribed +To thy transgressions, and disturbed the charge +Of others, who approve not to transgress +By thy example, but have power and right +To question thy bold entrance on this place; +Employed, it seems, to violate sleep, and those +Whose dwelling God hath planted here in bliss! +To whom thus Satan with contemptuous brow. +Gabriel? thou hadst in Heaven the esteem of wise, +And such I held thee; but this question asked +Puts me in doubt. Lives there who loves his pain! +Who would not, finding way, break loose from Hell, +Though thither doomed! Thou wouldst thyself, no doubt +And boldly venture to whatever place +Farthest from pain, where thou mightst hope to change +Torment with ease, and soonest recompense +Dole with delight, which in this place I sought; +To thee no reason, who knowest only good, +But evil hast not tried: and wilt object +His will who bounds us! Let him surer bar +His iron gates, if he intends our stay +In that dark durance: Thus much what was asked. +The rest is true, they found me where they say; +But that implies not violence or harm. +Thus he in scorn. The warlike Angel moved, +Disdainfully half smiling, thus replied. +O loss of one in Heaven to judge of wise +Since Satan fell, whom folly overthrew, +And now returns him from his prison 'scaped, +Gravely in doubt whether to hold them wise +Or not, who ask what boldness brought him hither +Unlicensed from his bounds in Hell prescribed; +So wise he judges it to fly from pain +However, and to 'scape his punishment! +So judge thou still, presumptuous! till the wrath, +Which thou incurrest by flying, meet thy flight +Sevenfold, and scourge that wisdom back to Hell, +Which taught thee yet no better, that no pain +Can equal anger infinite provoked. +But wherefore thou alone? wherefore with thee +Came not all hell broke loose? or thou than they +Less hardy to endure? Courageous Chief! +The first in flight from pain! hadst thou alleged +To thy deserted host this cause of flight, +Thou surely hadst not come sole fugitive. +To which the Fiend thus answered, frowning stern. +Not that I less endure, or shrink from pain, +Insulting Angel! well thou knowest I stood +Thy fiercest, when in battle to thy aid +The blasting vollied thunder made all speed, +And seconded thy else not dreaded spear. +But still thy words at random, as before, +Argue thy inexperience what behoves +From hard assays and ill successes past +A faithful leader, not to hazard all +Through ways of danger by himself untried: +I, therefore, I alone first undertook +To wing the desolate abyss, and spy +This new created world, whereof in Hell +Fame is not silent, here in hope to find +Better abode, and my afflicted Powers +To settle here on earth, or in mid air; +Though for possession put to try once more +What thou and thy gay legions dare against; +Whose easier business were to serve their Lord +High up in Heaven, with songs to hymn his throne, +And practised distances to cringe, not fight, +To whom the warriour Angel soon replied. +To say and straight unsay, pretending first +Wise to fly pain, professing next the spy, +Argues no leader but a liear traced, +Satan, and couldst thou faithful add? O name, +O sacred name of faithfulness profaned! +Faithful to whom? to thy rebellious crew? +Army of Fiends, fit body to fit head. +Was this your discipline and faith engaged, +Your military obedience, to dissolve +Allegiance to the acknowledged Power supreme? +And thou, sly hypocrite, who now wouldst seem +Patron of liberty, who more than thou +Once fawned, and cringed, and servily adored +Heaven's awful Monarch? wherefore, but in hope +To dispossess him, and thyself to reign? +But mark what I arreed thee now, Avant; +Fly neither whence thou fledst! If from this hour +Within these hallowed limits thou appear, +Back to the infernal pit I drag thee chained, +And seal thee so, as henceforth not to scorn +The facile gates of Hell too slightly barred. +So threatened he; but Satan to no threats +Gave heed, but waxing more in rage replied. +Then when I am thy captive talk of chains, +Proud limitary Cherub! but ere then +Far heavier load thyself expect to feel +From my prevailing arm, though Heaven's King +Ride on thy wings, and thou with thy compeers, +Us'd to the yoke, drawest his triumphant wheels +In progress through the road of Heaven star-paved. +While thus he spake, the angelick squadron bright +Turned fiery red, sharpening in mooned horns +Their phalanx, and began to hem him round +With ported spears, as thick as when a field +Of Ceres ripe for harvest waving bends +Her bearded grove of ears, which way the wind +Sways them; the careful plowman doubting stands, +Left on the threshing floor his hopeless sheaves +Prove chaff. On the other side, Satan, alarmed, +Collecting all his might, dilated stood, +Like Teneriff or Atlas, unremoved: +His stature reached the sky, and on his crest +Sat Horrour plumed; nor wanted in his grasp +What seemed both spear and shield: Now dreadful deeds +Might have ensued, nor only Paradise +In this commotion, but the starry cope +Of Heaven perhaps, or all the elements +At least had gone to wrack, disturbed and torn +With violence of this conflict, had not soon +The Eternal, to prevent such horrid fray, +Hung forth in Heaven his golden scales, yet seen +Betwixt Astrea and the Scorpion sign, +Wherein all things created first he weighed, +The pendulous round earth with balanced air +In counterpoise, now ponders all events, +Battles and realms: In these he put two weights, +The sequel each of parting and of fight: +The latter quick up flew, and kicked the beam, +Which Gabriel spying, thus bespake the Fiend. +Satan, I know thy strength, and thou knowest mine; +Neither our own, but given: What folly then +To boast what arms can do? since thine no more +Than Heaven permits, nor mine, though doubled now +To trample thee as mire: For proof look up, +And read thy lot in yon celestial sign; +Where thou art weighed, and shown how light, how weak, +If thou resist. The Fiend looked up, and knew +His mounted scale aloft: Nor more;but fled +Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night. + + + +Book V + + +Now Morn, her rosy steps in the eastern clime +Advancing, sowed the earth with orient pearl, +When Adam waked, so customed; for his sleep +Was aery-light, from pure digestion bred, +And temperate vapours bland, which the only sound +Of leaves and fuming rills, Aurora's fan, +Lightly dispersed, and the shrill matin song +Of birds on every bough; so much the more +His wonder was to find unwakened Eve +With tresses discomposed, and glowing cheek, +As through unquiet rest: He, on his side +Leaning half raised, with looks of cordial love +Hung over her enamoured, and beheld +Beauty, which, whether waking or asleep, +Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice +Mild, as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, +Her hand soft touching, whispered thus. Awake, +My fairest, my espoused, my latest found, +Heaven's last best gift, my ever new delight! +Awake: The morning shines, and the fresh field +Calls us; we lose the prime, to mark how spring +Our tender plants, how blows the citron grove, +What drops the myrrh, and what the balmy reed, +How nature paints her colours, how the bee +Sits on the bloom extracting liquid sweet. +Such whispering waked her, but with startled eye +On Adam, whom embracing, thus she spake. +O sole in whom my thoughts find all repose, +My glory, my perfection! glad I see +Thy face, and morn returned; for I this night +(Such night till this I never passed) have dreamed, +If dreamed, not, as I oft am wont, of thee, +Works of day past, or morrow's next design, +But of offence and trouble, which my mind +Knew never till this irksome night: Methought, +Close at mine ear one called me forth to walk +With gentle voice; I thought it thine: It said, +'Why sleepest thou, Eve? now is the pleasant time, +'The cool, the silent, save where silence yields +'To the night-warbling bird, that now awake +'Tunes sweetest his love-laboured song; now reigns +'Full-orbed the moon, and with more pleasing light +'Shadowy sets off the face of things; in vain, +'If none regard; Heaven wakes with all his eyes, +'Whom to behold but thee, Nature's desire? +'In whose sight all things joy, with ravishment +'Attracted by thy beauty still to gaze.' +I rose as at thy call, but found thee not; +To find thee I directed then my walk; +And on, methought, alone I passed through ways +That brought me on a sudden to the tree +Of interdicted knowledge: fair it seemed, +Much fairer to my fancy than by day: +And, as I wondering looked, beside it stood +One shaped and winged like one of those from Heaven +By us oft seen; his dewy locks distilled +Ambrosia; on that tree he also gazed; +And 'O fair plant,' said he, 'with fruit surcharged, +'Deigns none to ease thy load, and taste thy sweet, +'Nor God, nor Man? Is knowledge so despised? +'Or envy, or what reserve forbids to taste? +'Forbid who will, none shall from me withhold +'Longer thy offered good; why else set here? +This said, he paused not, but with venturous arm +He plucked, he tasted; me damp horrour chilled +At such bold words vouched with a deed so bold: +But he thus, overjoyed; 'O fruit divine, +'Sweet of thyself, but much more sweet thus cropt, +'Forbidden here, it seems, as only fit +'For Gods, yet able to make Gods of Men: +'And why not Gods of Men; since good, the more +'Communicated, more abundant grows, +'The author not impaired, but honoured more? +'Here, happy creature, fair angelick Eve! +'Partake thou also; happy though thou art, +'Happier thou mayest be, worthier canst not be: +'Taste this, and be henceforth among the Gods +'Thyself a Goddess, not to earth confined, +'But sometimes in the air, as we, sometimes +'Ascend to Heaven, by merit thine, and see +'What life the Gods live there, and such live thou!' +So saying, he drew nigh, and to me held, +Even to my mouth of that same fruit held part +Which he had plucked; the pleasant savoury smell +So quickened appetite, that I, methought, +Could not but taste. Forthwith up to the clouds +With him I flew, and underneath beheld +The earth outstretched immense, a prospect wide +And various: Wondering at my flight and change +To this high exaltation; suddenly +My guide was gone, and I, methought, sunk down, +And fell asleep; but O, how glad I waked +To find this but a dream! Thus Eve her night +Related, and thus Adam answered sad. +Best image of myself, and dearer half, +The trouble of thy thoughts this night in sleep +Affects me equally; nor can I like +This uncouth dream, of evil sprung, I fear; +Yet evil whence? in thee can harbour none, +Created pure. But know that in the soul +Are many lesser faculties, that serve +Reason as chief; among these Fancy next +Her office holds; of all external things +Which the five watchful senses represent, +She forms imaginations, aery shapes, +Which Reason, joining or disjoining, frames +All what we affirm or what deny, and call +Our knowledge or opinion; then retires +Into her private cell, when nature rests. +Oft in her absence mimick Fancy wakes +To imitate her; but, misjoining shapes, +Wild work produces oft, and most in dreams; +Ill matching words and deeds long past or late. +Some such resemblances, methinks, I find +Of our last evening's talk, in this thy dream, +But with addition strange; yet be not sad. +Evil into the mind of God or Man +May come and go, so unreproved, and leave +No spot or blame behind: Which gives me hope +That what in sleep thou didst abhor to dream, +Waking thou never will consent to do. +Be not disheartened then, nor cloud those looks, +That wont to be more cheerful and serene, +Than when fair morning first smiles on the world; +And let us to our fresh employments rise +Among the groves, the fountains, and the flowers +That open now their choisest bosomed smells, +Reserved from night, and kept for thee in store. +So cheered he his fair spouse, and she was cheered; +But silently a gentle tear let fall +From either eye, and wiped them with her hair; +Two other precious drops that ready stood, +Each in their crystal sluice, he ere they fell +Kissed, as the gracious signs of sweet remorse +And pious awe, that feared to have offended. +So all was cleared, and to the field they haste. +But first, from under shady arborous roof +Soon as they forth were come to open sight +Of day-spring, and the sun, who, scarce up-risen, +With wheels yet hovering o'er the ocean-brim, +Shot parallel to the earth his dewy ray, +Discovering in wide landskip all the east +Of Paradise and Eden's happy plains, +Lowly they bowed adoring, and began +Their orisons, each morning duly paid +In various style; for neither various style +Nor holy rapture wanted they to praise +Their Maker, in fit strains pronounced, or sung +Unmeditated; such prompt eloquence +Flowed from their lips, in prose or numerous verse, +More tuneable than needed lute or harp +To add more sweetness; and they thus began. +These are thy glorious works, Parent of good, +Almighty! Thine this universal frame, +Thus wonderous fair; Thyself how wonderous then! +Unspeakable, who sitst above these heavens +To us invisible, or dimly seen +In these thy lowest works; yet these declare +Thy goodness beyond thought, and power divine. +Speak, ye who best can tell, ye sons of light, +Angels; for ye behold him, and with songs +And choral symphonies, day without night, +Circle his throne rejoicing; ye in Heaven +On Earth join all ye Creatures to extol +Him first, him last, him midst, and without end. +Fairest of stars, last in the train of night, +If better thou belong not to the dawn, +Sure pledge of day, that crownest the smiling morn +With thy bright circlet, praise him in thy sphere, +While day arises, that sweet hour of prime. +Thou Sun, of this great world both eye and soul, +Acknowledge him thy greater; sound his praise +In thy eternal course, both when thou climbest, +And when high noon hast gained, and when thou fallest. +Moon, that now meetest the orient sun, now flyest, +With the fixed Stars, fixed in their orb that flies; +And ye five other wandering Fires, that move +In mystick dance not without song, resound +His praise, who out of darkness called up light. +Air, and ye Elements, the eldest birth +Of Nature's womb, that in quaternion run +Perpetual circle, multiform; and mix +And nourish all things; let your ceaseless change +Vary to our great Maker still new praise. +Ye Mists and Exhalations, that now rise +From hill or steaming lake, dusky or gray, +Till the sun paint your fleecy skirts with gold, +In honour to the world's great Author rise; +Whether to deck with clouds the uncoloured sky, +Or wet the thirsty earth with falling showers, +Rising or falling still advance his praise. +His praise, ye Winds, that from four quarters blow, +Breathe soft or loud; and, wave your tops, ye Pines, +With every plant, in sign of worship wave. +Fountains, and ye that warble, as ye flow, +Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise. +Join voices, all ye living Souls: Ye Birds, +That singing up to Heaven-gate ascend, +Bear on your wings and in your notes his praise. +Ye that in waters glide, and ye that walk +The earth, and stately tread, or lowly creep; +Witness if I be silent, morn or even, +To hill, or valley, fountain, or fresh shade, +Made vocal by my song, and taught his praise. +Hail, universal Lord, be bounteous still +To give us only good; and if the night +Have gathered aught of evil, or concealed, +Disperse it, as now light dispels the dark! +So prayed they innocent, and to their thoughts +Firm peace recovered soon, and wonted calm. +On to their morning's rural work they haste, +Among sweet dews and flowers; where any row +Of fruit-trees over-woody reached too far +Their pampered boughs, and needed hands to check +Fruitless embraces: or they led the vine +To wed her elm; she, spoused, about him twines +Her marriageable arms, and with him brings +Her dower, the adopted clusters, to adorn +His barren leaves. Them thus employed beheld +With pity Heaven's high King, and to him called +Raphael, the sociable Spirit, that deigned +To travel with Tobias, and secured +His marriage with the seventimes-wedded maid. +Raphael, said he, thou hearest what stir on Earth +Satan, from Hell 'scaped through the darksome gulf, +Hath raised in Paradise; and how disturbed +This night the human pair; how he designs +In them at once to ruin all mankind. +Go therefore, half this day as friend with friend +Converse with Adam, in what bower or shade +Thou findest him from the heat of noon retired, +To respite his day-labour with repast, +Or with repose; and such discourse bring on, +As may advise him of his happy state, +Happiness in his power left free to will, +Left to his own free will, his will though free, +Yet mutable; whence warn him to beware +He swerve not, too secure: Tell him withal +His danger, and from whom; what enemy, +Late fallen himself from Heaven, is plotting now +The fall of others from like state of bliss; +By violence? no, for that shall be withstood; +But by deceit and lies: This let him know, +Lest, wilfully transgressing, he pretend +Surprisal, unadmonished, unforewarned. +So spake the Eternal Father, and fulfilled +All justice: Nor delayed the winged Saint +After his charge received; but from among +Thousand celestial Ardours, where he stood +Veiled with his gorgeous wings, up springing light, +Flew through the midst of Heaven; the angelick quires, +On each hand parting, to his speed gave way +Through all the empyreal road; till, at the gate +Of Heaven arrived, the gate self-opened wide +On golden hinges turning, as by work +Divine the sovran Architect had framed. +From hence no cloud, or, to obstruct his sight, +Star interposed, however small he sees, +Not unconformed to other shining globes, +Earth, and the garden of God, with cedars crowned +Above all hills. As when by night the glass +Of Galileo, less assured, observes +Imagined lands and regions in the moon: +Or pilot, from amidst the Cyclades +Delos or Samos first appearing, kens +A cloudy spot. Down thither prone in flight +He speeds, and through the vast ethereal sky +Sails between worlds and worlds, with steady wing +Now on the polar winds, then with quick fan +Winnows the buxom air; till, within soar +Of towering eagles, to all the fowls he seems +A phoenix, gazed by all as that sole bird, +When, to enshrine his reliques in the Sun's +Bright temple, to Egyptian Thebes he flies. +At once on the eastern cliff of Paradise +He lights, and to his proper shape returns +A Seraph winged: Six wings he wore, to shade +His lineaments divine; the pair that clad +Each shoulder broad, came mantling o'er his breast +With regal ornament; the middle pair +Girt like a starry zone his waist, and round +Skirted his loins and thighs with downy gold +And colours dipt in Heaven; the third his feet +Shadowed from either heel with feathered mail, +Sky-tinctured grain. Like Maia's son he stood, +And shook his plumes, that heavenly fragrance filled +The circuit wide. Straight knew him all the bands +Of Angels under watch; and to his state, +And to his message high, in honour rise; +For on some message high they guessed him bound. +Their glittering tents he passed, and now is come +Into the blissful field, through groves of myrrh, +And flowering odours, cassia, nard, and balm; +A wilderness of sweets; for Nature here +Wantoned as in her prime, and played at will +Her virgin fancies pouring forth more sweet, +Wild above rule or art, enormous bliss. +Him through the spicy forest onward come +Adam discerned, as in the door he sat +Of his cool bower, while now the mounted sun +Shot down direct his fervid rays to warm +Earth's inmost womb, more warmth than Adam needs: +And Eve within, due at her hour prepared +For dinner savoury fruits, of taste to please +True appetite, and not disrelish thirst +Of nectarous draughts between, from milky stream, +Berry or grape: To whom thus Adam called. +Haste hither, Eve, and worth thy sight behold +Eastward among those trees, what glorious shape +Comes this way moving; seems another morn +Risen on mid-noon; some great behest from Heaven +To us perhaps he brings, and will vouchsafe +This day to be our guest. But go with speed, +And, what thy stores contain, bring forth, and pour +Abundance, fit to honour and receive +Our heavenly stranger: Well we may afford +Our givers their own gifts, and large bestow +From large bestowed, where Nature multiplies +Her fertile growth, and by disburthening grows +More fruitful, which instructs us not to spare. +To whom thus Eve. Adam, earth's hallowed mould, +Of God inspired! small store will serve, where store, +All seasons, ripe for use hangs on the stalk; +Save what by frugal storing firmness gains +To nourish, and superfluous moist consumes: +But I will haste, and from each bough and brake, +Each plant and juciest gourd, will pluck such choice +To entertain our Angel-guest, as he +Beholding shall confess, that here on Earth +God hath dispensed his bounties as in Heaven. +So saying, with dispatchful looks in haste +She turns, on hospitable thoughts intent +What choice to choose for delicacy best, +What order, so contrived as not to mix +Tastes, not well joined, inelegant, but bring +Taste after taste upheld with kindliest change; +Bestirs her then, and from each tender stalk +Whatever Earth, all-bearing mother, yields +In India East or West, or middle shore +In Pontus or the Punick coast, or where +Alcinous reigned, fruit of all kinds, in coat +Rough, or smooth rind, or bearded husk, or shell, +She gathers, tribute large, and on the board +Heaps with unsparing hand; for drink the grape +She crushes, inoffensive must, and meaths +From many a berry, and from sweet kernels pressed +She tempers dulcet creams; nor these to hold +Wants her fit vessels pure; then strows the ground +With rose and odours from the shrub unfumed. +Mean while our primitive great sire, to meet +His God-like guest, walks forth, without more train +Accompanied than with his own complete +Perfections; in himself was all his state, +More solemn than the tedious pomp that waits +On princes, when their rich retinue long +Of horses led, and grooms besmeared with gold, +Dazzles the croud, and sets them all agape. +Nearer his presence Adam, though not awed, +Yet with submiss approach and reverence meek, +As to a superiour nature bowing low, +Thus said. Native of Heaven, for other place +None can than Heaven such glorious shape contain; +Since, by descending from the thrones above, +Those happy places thou hast deigned a while +To want, and honour these, vouchsafe with us +Two only, who yet by sovran gift possess +This spacious ground, in yonder shady bower +To rest; and what the garden choicest bears +To sit and taste, till this meridian heat +Be over, and the sun more cool decline. +Whom thus the angelick Virtue answered mild. +Adam, I therefore came; nor art thou such +Created, or such place hast here to dwell, +As may not oft invite, though Spirits of Heaven, +To visit thee; lead on then where thy bower +O'ershades; for these mid-hours, till evening rise, +I have at will. So to the sylvan lodge +They came, that like Pomona's arbour smiled, +With flowerets decked, and fragrant smells; but Eve, +Undecked save with herself, more lovely fair +Than Wood-Nymph, or the fairest Goddess feigned +Of three that in mount Ida naked strove, +Stood to entertain her guest from Heaven; no veil +She needed, virtue-proof; no thought infirm +Altered her cheek. On whom the Angel Hail +Bestowed, the holy salutation used +Long after to blest Mary, second Eve. +Hail, Mother of Mankind, whose fruitful womb +Shall fill the world more numerous with thy sons, +Than with these various fruits the trees of God +Have heaped this table!--Raised of grassy turf +Their table was, and mossy seats had round, +And on her ample square from side to side +All autumn piled, though spring and autumn here +Danced hand in hand. A while discourse they hold; +No fear lest dinner cool; when thus began +Our author. Heavenly stranger, please to taste +These bounties, which our Nourisher, from whom +All perfect good, unmeasured out, descends, +To us for food and for delight hath caused +The earth to yield; unsavoury food perhaps +To spiritual natures; only this I know, +That one celestial Father gives to all. +To whom the Angel. Therefore what he gives +(Whose praise be ever sung) to Man in part +Spiritual, may of purest Spirits be found +No ingrateful food: And food alike those pure +Intelligential substances require, +As doth your rational; and both contain +Within them every lower faculty +Of sense, whereby they hear, see, smell, touch, taste, +Tasting concoct, digest, assimilate, +And corporeal to incorporeal turn. +For know, whatever was created, needs +To be sustained and fed: Of elements +The grosser feeds the purer, earth the sea, +Earth and the sea feed air, the air those fires +Ethereal, and as lowest first the moon; +Whence in her visage round those spots, unpurged +Vapours not yet into her substance turned. +Nor doth the moon no nourishment exhale +From her moist continent to higher orbs. +The sun that light imparts to all, receives +From all his alimental recompence +In humid exhalations, and at even +Sups with the ocean. Though in Heaven the trees +Of life ambrosial fruitage bear, and vines +Yield nectar; though from off the boughs each morn +We brush mellifluous dews, and find the ground +Covered with pearly grain: Yet God hath here +Varied his bounty so with new delights, +As may compare with Heaven; and to taste +Think not I shall be nice. So down they sat, +And to their viands fell; nor seemingly +The Angel, nor in mist, the common gloss +Of Theologians; but with keen dispatch +Of real hunger, and concoctive heat +To transubstantiate: What redounds, transpires +Through Spirits with ease; nor wonder;if by fire +Of sooty coal the empirick alchemist +Can turn, or holds it possible to turn, +Metals of drossiest ore to perfect gold, +As from the mine. Mean while at table Eve +Ministered naked, and their flowing cups +With pleasant liquours crowned: O innocence +Deserving Paradise! if ever, then, +Then had the sons of God excuse to have been +Enamoured at that sight; but in those hearts +Love unlibidinous reigned, nor jealousy +Was understood, the injured lover's hell. +Thus when with meats and drinks they had sufficed, +Not burdened nature, sudden mind arose +In Adam, not to let the occasion pass +Given him by this great conference to know +Of things above his world, and of their being +Who dwell in Heaven, whose excellence he saw +Transcend his own so far; whose radiant forms, +Divine effulgence, whose high power, so far +Exceeded human; and his wary speech +Thus to the empyreal minister he framed. +Inhabitant with God, now know I well +Thy favour, in this honour done to Man; +Under whose lowly roof thou hast vouchsafed +To enter, and these earthly fruits to taste, +Food not of Angels, yet accepted so, +As that more willingly thou couldst not seem +At Heaven's high feasts to have fed: yet what compare +To whom the winged Hierarch replied. +O Adam, One Almighty is, from whom +All things proceed, and up to him return, +If not depraved from good, created all +Such to perfection, one first matter all, +Endued with various forms, various degrees +Of substance, and, in things that live, of life; +But more refined, more spiritous, and pure, +As nearer to him placed, or nearer tending +Each in their several active spheres assigned, +Till body up to spirit work, in bounds +Proportioned to each kind. So from the root +Springs lighter the green stalk, from thence the leaves +More aery, last the bright consummate flower +Spirits odorous breathes: flowers and their fruit, +Man's nourishment, by gradual scale sublimed, +To vital spirits aspire, to animal, +To intellectual; give both life and sense, +Fancy and understanding; whence the soul +Reason receives, and reason is her being, +Discursive, or intuitive; discourse +Is oftest yours, the latter most is ours, +Differing but in degree, of kind the same. +Wonder not then, what God for you saw good +If I refuse not, but convert, as you +To proper substance. Time may come, when Men +With Angels may participate, and find +No inconvenient diet, nor too light fare; +And from these corporal nutriments perhaps +Your bodies may at last turn all to spirit, +Improved by tract of time, and, winged, ascend +Ethereal, as we; or may, at choice, +Here or in heavenly Paradises dwell; +If ye be found obedient, and retain +Unalterably firm his love entire, +Whose progeny you are. Mean while enjoy +Your fill what happiness this happy state +Can comprehend, incapable of more. +To whom the patriarch of mankind replied. +O favourable Spirit, propitious guest, +Well hast thou taught the way that might direct +Our knowledge, and the scale of nature set +From center to circumference; whereon, +In contemplation of created things, +By steps we may ascend to God. But say, +What meant that caution joined, If ye be found +Obedient? Can we want obedience then +To him, or possibly his love desert, +Who formed us from the dust and placed us here +Full to the utmost measure of what bliss +Human desires can seek or apprehend? +To whom the Angel. Son of Heaven and Earth, +Attend! That thou art happy, owe to God; +That thou continuest such, owe to thyself, +That is, to thy obedience; therein stand. +This was that caution given thee; be advised. +God made thee perfect, not immutable; +And good he made thee, but to persevere +He left it in thy power; ordained thy will +By nature free, not over-ruled 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 tried whether they serve +Willing or no, who will but what they must +By destiny, and can no other choose? +Myself, and all the angelick host, that stand +In sight of God, enthroned, 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 fallen, to disobedience fallen, +And so from Heaven to deepest Hell; O fall +From what high state of bliss, into what woe! +To whom our great progenitor. Thy words +Attentive, and with more delighted ear, +Divine instructer, I have heard, than when +Cherubick songs by night from neighbouring hills +Aereal musick send: Nor knew I not +To be both will and deed created free; +Yet that we never shall forget to love +Our Maker, and obey him whose command +Single is yet so just, my constant thoughts +Assured me, and still assure: Though what thou tellest +Hath passed in Heaven, some doubt within me move, +But more desire to hear, if thou consent, +The full relation, which must needs be strange, +Worthy of sacred silence to be heard; +And we have yet large day, for scarce the sun +Hath finished half his journey, and scarce begins +His other half in the great zone of Heaven. +Thus Adam made request; and Raphael, +After short pause assenting, thus began. +High matter thou enjoinest me, O prime of men, +Sad task and hard: For how shall I relate +To human sense the invisible exploits +Of warring Spirits? how, without remorse, +The ruin of so many glorious once +And perfect while they stood? how last unfold +The secrets of another world, perhaps +Not lawful to reveal? yet for thy good +This is dispensed; and what surmounts the reach +Of human sense, I shall delineate so, +By likening spiritual to corporal forms, +As may express them best; though what if Earth +Be but a shadow of Heaven, and things therein +Each to other like, more than on earth is thought? +As yet this world was not, and Chaos wild +Reigned where these Heavens now roll, where Earth now rests +Upon her center poised; when on a day +(For time, though in eternity, applied +To motion, measures all things durable +By present, past, and future,) on such day +As Heaven's great year brings forth, the empyreal host +Of Angels by imperial summons called, +Innumerable before the Almighty's throne +Forthwith, from all the ends of Heaven, appeared +Under their Hierarchs in orders bright: +Ten thousand thousand ensigns high advanced, +Standards and gonfalons 'twixt van and rear +Stream in the air, and for distinction serve +Of hierarchies, of orders, and degrees; +Or in their glittering tissues bear imblazed +Holy memorials, acts of zeal and love +Recorded eminent. Thus when in orbs +Of circuit inexpressible they stood, +Orb within orb, the Father Infinite, +By whom in bliss imbosomed sat the Son, +Amidst as from a flaming mount, whose top +Brightness had made invisible, thus spake. +Hear, all ye Angels, progeny of light, +Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; +Hear my decree, which unrevoked shall stand. +This day I have begot whom I declare +My only Son, and on this holy hill +Him have anointed, whom ye now behold +At my right hand; your head I him appoint; +And by myself have sworn, to him shall bow +All knees in Heaven, and shall confess him Lord: +Under his great vice-gerent reign abide +United, as one individual soul, +For ever happy: Him who disobeys, +Me disobeys, breaks union, and that day, +Cast out from God and blessed vision, falls +Into utter darkness, deep ingulfed, his place +Ordained without redemption, without end. +So spake the Omnipotent, and with his words +All seemed well pleased; all seemed, but were not all. +That day, as other solemn days, they spent +In song and dance about the sacred hill; +Mystical dance, which yonder starry sphere +Of planets, and of fixed, in all her wheels +Resembles nearest, mazes intricate, +Eccentrick, intervolved, yet regular +Then most, when most irregular they seem; +And in their motions harmony divine +So smooths her charming tones, that God's own ear +Listens delighted. Evening now approached, +(For we have also our evening and our morn, +We ours for change delectable, not need;) +Forthwith from dance to sweet repast they turn +Desirous; all in circles as they stood, +Tables are set, and on a sudden piled +With Angels food, and rubied nectar flows +In pearl, in diamond, and massy gold, +Fruit of delicious vines, the growth of Heaven. +On flowers reposed, and with fresh flowerets crowned, +They eat, they drink, and in communion sweet +Quaff immortality and joy, secure +Of surfeit, where full measure only bounds +Excess, before the all-bounteous King, who showered +With copious hand, rejoicing in their joy. +Now when ambrosial night with clouds exhaled +From that high mount of God, whence light and shade +Spring both, the face of brightest Heaven had changed +To grateful twilight, (for night comes not there +In darker veil,) and roseat dews disposed +All but the unsleeping eyes of God to rest; +Wide over all the plain, and wider far +Than all this globous earth in plain outspread, +(Such are the courts of God) the angelick throng, +Dispersed in bands and files, their camp extend +By living streams among the trees of life, +Pavilions numberless, and sudden reared, +Celestial tabernacles, where they slept +Fanned with cool winds; save those, who, in their course, +Melodious hymns about the sovran throne +Alternate all night long: but not so waked +Satan; so call him now, his former name +Is heard no more in Heaven; he of the first, +If not the first Arch-Angel, great in power, +In favour and pre-eminence, yet fraught +With envy against the Son of God, that day +Honoured by his great Father, and proclaimed +Messiah King anointed, could not bear +Through pride that sight, and thought himself impaired. +Deep malice thence conceiving and disdain, +Soon as midnight brought on the dusky hour +Friendliest to sleep and silence, he resolved +With all his legions to dislodge, and leave +Unworshipt, unobeyed, the throne supreme, +Contemptuous; and his next subordinate +Awakening, thus to him in secret spake. +Sleepest thou, Companion dear? What sleep can close +Thy eye-lids? and rememberest what decree +Of yesterday, so late hath passed the lips +Of Heaven's Almighty. Thou to me thy thoughts +Wast wont, I mine to thee was wont to impart; +Both waking we were one; how then can now +Thy sleep dissent? New laws thou seest imposed; +New laws from him who reigns, new minds may raise +In us who serve, new counsels to debate +What doubtful may ensue: More in this place +To utter is not safe. Assemble thou +Of all those myriads which we lead the chief; +Tell them, that by command, ere yet dim night +Her shadowy cloud withdraws, I am to haste, +And all who under me their banners wave, +Homeward, with flying march, where we possess +The quarters of the north; there to prepare +Fit entertainment to receive our King, +The great Messiah, and his new commands, +Who speedily through all the hierarchies +Intends to pass triumphant, and give laws. +So spake the false Arch-Angel, and infused +Bad influence into the unwary breast +Of his associate: He together calls, +Or several one by one, the regent Powers, +Under him Regent; tells, as he was taught, +That the Most High commanding, now ere night, +Now ere dim night had disincumbered Heaven, +The great hierarchal standard was to move; +Tells the suggested cause, and casts between +Ambiguous words and jealousies, to sound +Or taint integrity: But all obeyed +The wonted signal, and superiour voice +Of their great Potentate; for great indeed +His name, and high was his degree in Heaven; +His countenance, as the morning-star that guides +The starry flock, allured them, and with lies +Drew after him the third part of Heaven's host. +Mean while the Eternal eye, whose sight discerns +Abstrusest thoughts, from forth his holy mount, +And from within the golden lamps that burn +Nightly before him, saw without their light +Rebellion rising; saw in whom, how spread +Among the sons of morn, what multitudes +Were banded to oppose his high decree; +And, smiling, to his only Son thus said. +Son, thou in whom my glory I behold +In full resplendence, Heir of all my might, +Nearly it now concerns us to be sure +Of our Omnipotence, and with what arms +We mean to hold what anciently we claim +Of deity or empire: Such a foe +Is rising, who intends to erect his throne +Equal to ours, throughout the spacious north; +Nor so content, hath in his thought to try +In battle, what our power is, or our right. +Let us advise, and to this hazard draw +With speed what force is left, and all employ +In our defence; lest unawares we lose +This our high place, our sanctuary, our hill. +To whom the Son with calm aspect and clear, +Lightning divine, ineffable, serene, +Made answer. Mighty Father, thou thy foes +Justly hast in derision, and, secure, +Laughest at their vain designs and tumults vain, +Matter to me of glory, whom their hate +Illustrates, when they see all regal power +Given me to quell their pride, and in event +Know whether I be dextrous to subdue +Thy rebels, or be found the worst in Heaven. +So spake the Son; but Satan, with his Powers, +Far was advanced on winged speed; an host +Innumerable as the stars of night, +Or stars of morning, dew-drops, which the sun +Impearls on every leaf and every flower. +Regions they passed, the mighty regencies +Of Seraphim, and Potentates, and Thrones, +In their triple degrees; regions to which +All thy dominion, Adam, is no more +Than what this garden is to all the earth, +And all the sea, from one entire globose +Stretched into longitude; which having passed, +At length into the limits of the north +They came; and Satan to his royal seat +High on a hill, far blazing, as a mount +Raised on a mount, with pyramids and towers +From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold; +The palace of great Lucifer, (so call +That structure in the dialect of men +Interpreted,) which not long after, he +Affecting all equality with God, +In imitation of that mount whereon +Messiah was declared in sight of Heaven, +The Mountain of the Congregation called; +For thither he assembled all his train, +Pretending so commanded to consult +About the great reception of their King, +Thither to come, and with calumnious art +Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears. +Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; +If these magnifick titles yet remain +Not merely titular, since by decree +Another now hath to himself engrossed +All power, and us eclipsed under the name +Of King anointed, for whom all this haste +Of midnight-march, and hurried meeting here, +This only to consult how we may best, +With what may be devised of honours new, +Receive him coming to receive from us +Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile! +Too much to one! but double how endured, +To one, and to his image now proclaimed? +But what if better counsels might erect +Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yoke? +Will ye submit your necks, and choose to bend +The supple knee? Ye will not, if I trust +To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves +Natives and sons of Heaven possessed before +By none; and if not equal all, yet free, +Equally free; for orders and degrees +Jar not with liberty, but well consist. +Who can in reason then, or right, assume +Monarchy over such as live by right +His equals, if in power and splendour less, +In freedom equal? or can introduce +Law and edict on us, who without law +Err not? much less for this to be our Lord, +And look for adoration, to the abuse +Of those imperial titles, which assert +Our being ordained to govern, not to serve. +Thus far his bold discourse without controul +Had audience; when among the Seraphim +Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal adored +The Deity, and divine commands obeyed, +Stood up, and in a flame of zeal severe +The current of his fury thus opposed. +O argument blasphemous, false, and proud! +Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven +Expected, least of all from thee, Ingrate, +In place thyself so high above thy peers. +Canst thou with impious obloquy condemn +The just decree of God, pronounced and sworn, +That to his only Son, by right endued +With regal scepter, every soul in Heaven +Shall bend the knee, and in that honour due +Confess him rightful King? unjust, thou sayest, +Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free, +And equal over equals to let reign, +One over all with unsucceeded power. +Shalt thou give law to God? shalt thou dispute +With him the points of liberty, who made +Thee what thou art, and formed the Powers of Heaven +Such as he pleased, and circumscribed their being? +Yet, by experience taught, we know how good, +And of our good and of our dignity +How provident he is; how far from thought +To make us less, bent rather to exalt +Our happy state, under one head more near +United. But to grant it thee unjust, +That equal over equals monarch reign: +Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou count, +Or all angelick nature joined in one, +Equal to him begotten Son? by whom, +As by his Word, the Mighty Father made +All things, even thee; and all the Spirits of Heaven +By him created in their bright degrees, +Crowned them with glory, and to their glory named +Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers, +Essential Powers; nor by his reign obscured, +But more illustrious made; since he the head +One of our number thus reduced becomes; +His laws our laws; all honour to him done +Returns our own. Cease then this impious rage, +And tempt not these; but hasten to appease +The incensed Father, and the incensed Son, +While pardon may be found in time besought. +So spake the fervent Angel; but his zeal +None seconded, as out of season judged, +Or singular and rash: Whereat rejoiced +The Apostate, and, more haughty, thus replied. +That we were formed then sayest thou? and the work +Of secondary hands, by task transferred +From Father to his Son? strange point and new! +Doctrine which we would know whence learned: who saw +When this creation was? rememberest thou +Thy making, while the Maker gave thee being? +We know no time when we were not as now; +Know none before us, self-begot, self-raised +By our own quickening power, when fatal course +Had circled his full orb, the birth mature +Of this our native Heaven, ethereal sons. +Our puissance is our own; our own right hand +Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try +Who is our equal: Then thou shalt behold +Whether by supplication we intend +Address, and to begirt the almighty throne +Beseeching or besieging. This report, +These tidings carry to the anointed King; +And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight. +He said; and, as the sound of waters deep, +Hoarse murmur echoed to his words applause +Through the infinite host; nor less for that +The flaming Seraph fearless, though alone +Encompassed round with foes, thus answered bold. +O alienate from God, O Spirit accursed, +Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall +Determined, and thy hapless crew involved +In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread +Both of thy crime and punishment: Henceforth +No more be troubled how to quit the yoke +Of God's Messiah; those indulgent laws +Will not be now vouchsafed; other decrees +Against thee are gone forth without recall; +That golden scepter, which thou didst reject, +Is now an iron rod to bruise and break +Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise; +Yet not for thy advice or threats I fly +These wicked tents devoted, lest the wrath +Impendent, raging into sudden flame, +Distinguish not: For soon expect to feel +His thunder on thy head, devouring fire. +Then who created thee lamenting learn, +When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know. +So spake the Seraph Abdiel, faithful found +Among the faithless, faithful only he; +Among innumerable false, unmoved, +Unshaken, unseduced, unterrified, +His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal; +Nor number, nor example, with him wrought +To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, +Though single. From amidst them forth he passed, +Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustained +Superiour, nor of violence feared aught; +And, with retorted scorn, his back he turned +On those proud towers to swift destruction doomed. + + + +Book VI + + +All night the dreadless Angel, unpursued, +Through Heaven's wide champain held his way; till Morn, +Waked by the circling Hours, with rosy hand +Unbarred the gates of light. There is a cave +Within the mount of God, fast by his throne, +Where light and darkness in perpetual round +Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Heaven +Grateful vicissitude, like day and night; +Light issues forth, and at the other door +Obsequious darkness enters, till her hour +To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might well +Seem twilight here: And now went forth the Morn +Such as in highest Heaven arrayed in gold +Empyreal; from before her vanished Night, +Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain +Covered with thick embattled squadrons bright, +Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds, +Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view: +War he perceived, war in procinct; and found +Already known what he for news had thought +To have reported: Gladly then he mixed +Among those friendly Powers, who him received +With joy and acclamations loud, that one, +That of so many myriads fallen, yet one +Returned not lost. On to the sacred hill +They led him high applauded, and present +Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice, +From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard. +Servant of God. Well done; well hast thou fought +The better fight, who single hast maintained +Against revolted multitudes the cause +Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; +And for the testimony of truth hast borne +Universal reproach, far worse to bear +Than violence; for this was all thy care +To stand approved in sight of God, though worlds +Judged thee perverse: The easier conquest now +Remains thee, aided by this host of friends, +Back on thy foes more glorious to return, +Than scorned thou didst depart; and to subdue +By force, who reason for their law refuse, +Right reason for their law, and for their King +Messiah, who by right of merit reigns. +Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince, +And thou, in military prowess next, +Gabriel, lead forth to battle these my sons +Invincible; lead forth my armed Saints, +By thousands and by millions, ranged for fight, +Equal in number to that Godless crew +Rebellious: Them with fire and hostile arms +Fearless assault; and, to the brow of Heaven +Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss, +Into their place of punishment, the gulf +Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide +His fiery Chaos to receive their fall. +So spake the Sovran Voice, and clouds began +To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll +In dusky wreaths, reluctant flames, the sign +Of wrath awaked; nor with less dread the loud +Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow: +At which command the Powers militant, +That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate joined +Of union irresistible, moved on +In silence their bright legions, to the sound +Of instrumental harmony, that breathed +Heroick ardour to adventurous deeds +Under their God-like leaders, in the cause +Of God and his Messiah. On they move +Indissolubly firm; nor obvious hill, +Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides +Their perfect ranks; for high above the ground +Their march was, and the passive air upbore +Their nimble tread; as when the total kind +Of birds, in orderly array on wing, +Came summoned over Eden to receive +Their names of thee; so over many a tract +Of Heaven they marched, and many a province wide, +Tenfold the length of this terrene: At last, +Far in the horizon to the north appeared +From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretched +In battailous aspect, and nearer view +Bristled with upright beams innumerable +Of rigid spears, and helmets thronged, and shields +Various, with boastful argument portrayed, +The banded Powers of Satan hasting on +With furious expedition; for they weened +That self-same day, by fight or by surprise, +To win the mount of God, and on his throne +To set the Envier of his state, the proud +Aspirer; but their thoughts proved fond and vain +In the mid way: Though strange to us it seemed +At first, that Angel should with Angel war, +And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet +So oft in festivals of joy and love +Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire, +Hymning the Eternal Father: But the shout +Of battle now began, and rushing sound +Of onset ended soon each milder thought. +High in the midst, exalted as a God, +The Apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat, +Idol of majesty divine, enclosed +With flaming Cherubim, and golden shields; +Then lighted from his gorgeous throne, for now +"twixt host and host but narrow space was left, +A dreadful interval, and front to front +Presented stood in terrible array +Of hideous length: Before the cloudy van, +On the rough edge of battle ere it joined, +Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanced, +Came towering, armed in adamant and gold; +Abdiel that sight endured not, where he stood +Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds, +And thus his own undaunted heart explores. +O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Highest +Should yet remain, where faith and realty +Remain not: Wherefore should not strength and might +There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove +Where boldest, though to fight unconquerable? +His puissance, trusting in the Almighty's aid, +I mean to try, whose reason I have tried +Unsound and false; nor is it aught but just, +That he, who in debate of truth hath won, +Should win in arms, in both disputes alike +Victor; though brutish that contest and foul, +When reason hath to deal with force, yet so +Most reason is that reason overcome. +So pondering, and from his armed peers +Forth stepping opposite, half-way he met +His daring foe, at this prevention more +Incensed, and thus securely him defied. +Proud, art thou met? thy hope was to have reached +The highth of thy aspiring unopposed, +The throne of God unguarded, and his side +Abandoned, at the terrour of thy power +Or potent tongue: Fool!not to think how vain +Against the Omnipotent to rise in arms; +Who out of smallest things could, without end, +Have raised incessant armies to defeat +Thy folly; or with solitary hand +Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow, +Unaided, could have finished thee, and whelmed +Thy legions under darkness: But thou seest +All are not of thy train; there be, who faith +Prefer, and piety to God, though then +To thee not visible, when I alone +Seemed in thy world erroneous to dissent +From all: My sect thou seest;now learn too late +How few sometimes may know, when thousands err. +Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance, +Thus answered. Ill for thee, but in wished hour +Of my revenge, first sought for, thou returnest +From flight, seditious Angel! to receive +Thy merited reward, the first assay +Of this right hand provoked, since first that tongue, +Inspired with contradiction, durst oppose +A third part of the Gods, in synod met +Their deities to assert; who, while they feel +Vigour divine within them, can allow +Omnipotence to none. But well thou comest +Before thy fellows, ambitious to win +From me some plume, that thy success may show +Destruction to the rest: This pause between, +(Unanswered lest thou boast) to let thee know, +At first I thought that Liberty and Heaven +To heavenly souls had been all one; but now +I see that most through sloth had rather serve, +Ministring Spirits, trained up in feast and song! +Such hast thou armed, the minstrelsy of Heaven, +Servility with freedom to contend, +As both their deeds compared this day shall prove. +To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern replied. +Apostate! still thou errest, nor end wilt find +Of erring, from the path of truth remote: +Unjustly thou depravest it with the name +Of servitude, to serve whom God ordains, +Or Nature: God and Nature bid the same, +When he who rules is worthiest, and excels +Them whom he governs. This is servitude, +To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebelled +Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, +Thyself not free, but to thyself enthralled; +Yet lewdly darest our ministring upbraid. +Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom; let me serve +In Heaven God ever blest, and his divine +Behests obey, worthiest to be obeyed; +Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect: Mean while +From me returned, as erst thou saidst, from flight, +This greeting on thy impious crest receive. +So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, +Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fell +On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight, +Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shield, +Such ruin intercept: Ten paces huge +He back recoiled; the tenth on bended knee +His massy spear upstaid; as if on earth +Winds under ground, or waters forcing way, +Sidelong had pushed a mountain from his seat, +Half sunk with all his pines. Amazement seised +The rebel Thrones, but greater rage, to see +Thus foiled their mightiest; ours joy filled, and shout, +Presage of victory, and fierce desire +Of battle: Whereat Michael bid sound +The Arch-Angel trumpet; through the vast of Heaven +It sounded, and the faithful armies rung +Hosanna to the Highest: Nor stood at gaze +The adverse legions, nor less hideous joined +The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose, +And clamour such as heard in Heaven till now +Was never; arms on armour clashing brayed +Horrible discord, and the madding wheels +Of brazen chariots raged; dire was the noise +Of conflict; over head the dismal hiss +Of fiery darts in flaming vollies flew, +And flying vaulted either host with fire. +So under fiery cope together rushed +Both battles main, with ruinous assault +And inextinguishable rage. All Heaven +Resounded; and had Earth been then, all Earth +Had to her center shook. What wonder? when +Millions of fierce encountering Angels fought +On either side, the least of whom could wield +These elements, and arm him with the force +Of all their regions: How much more of power +Army against army numberless to raise +Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb, +Though not destroy, their happy native seat; +Had not the Eternal King Omnipotent, +From his strong hold of Heaven, high over-ruled +And limited their might; though numbered such +As each divided legion might have seemed +A numerous host; in strength each armed hand +A legion; led in fight, yet leader seemed +Each warriour single as in chief, expert +When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway +Of battle, open when, and when to close +The ridges of grim war: No thought of flight, +None of retreat, no unbecoming deed +That argued fear; each on himself relied, +As only in his arm the moment lay +Of victory: Deeds of eternal fame +Were done, but infinite; for wide was spread +That war and various; sometimes on firm ground +A standing fight, then, soaring on main wing, +Tormented all the air; all air seemed then +Conflicting fire. Long time in even scale +The battle hung; till Satan, who that day +Prodigious power had shown, and met in arms +No equal, ranging through the dire attack +Of fighting Seraphim confused, at length +Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and felled +Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway +Brandished aloft, the horrid edge came down +Wide-wasting; such destruction to withstand +He hasted, and opposed the rocky orb +Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield, +A vast circumference. At his approach +The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toil +Surceased, and glad, as hoping here to end +Intestine war in Heaven, the arch-foe subdued +Or captive dragged in chains, with hostile frown +And visage all inflamed first thus began. +Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt, +Unnamed in Heaven, now plenteous as thou seest +These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all, +Though heaviest by just measure on thyself, +And thy adherents: How hast thou disturbed +Heaven's blessed peace, and into nature brought +Misery, uncreated till the crime +Of thy rebellion! how hast thou instilled +Thy malice into thousands, once upright +And faithful, now proved false! But think not here +To trouble holy rest; Heaven casts thee out +From all her confines. Heaven, the seat of bliss, +Brooks not the works of violence and war. +Hence then, and evil go with thee along, +Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell; +Thou and thy wicked crew! there mingle broils, +Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom, +Or some more sudden vengeance, winged from God, +Precipitate thee with augmented pain. +So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus +The Adversary. Nor think thou with wind +Of aery threats to awe whom yet with deeds +Thou canst not. Hast thou turned the least of these +To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise +Unvanquished, easier to transact with me +That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats +To chase me hence? err not, that so shall end +The strife which thou callest evil, but we style +The strife of glory; which we mean to win, +Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell +Thou fablest; here however to dwell free, +If not to reign: Mean while thy utmost force, +And join him named Almighty to thy aid, +I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh. +They ended parle, and both addressed for fight +Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue +Of Angels, can relate, or to what things +Liken on earth conspicuous, that may lift +Human imagination to such highth +Of Godlike power? for likest Gods they seemed, +Stood they or moved, in stature, motion, arms, +Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven. +Now waved their fiery swords, and in the air +Made horrid circles; two broad suns their shields +Blazed opposite, while Expectation stood +In horrour: From each hand with speed retired, +Where erst was thickest fight, the angelick throng, +And left large field, unsafe within the wind +Of such commotion; such as, to set forth +Great things by small, if, nature's concord broke, +Among the constellations war were sprung, +Two planets, rushing from aspect malign +Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky +Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound. +Together both with next to almighty arm +Up-lifted imminent, one stroke they aimed +That might determine, and not need repeat, +As not of power at once; nor odds appeared +In might or swift prevention: But the sword +Of Michael from the armoury of God +Was given him tempered so, that neither keen +Nor solid might resist that edge: it met +The sword of Satan, with steep force to smite +Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor staid, +But with swift wheel reverse, deep entering, shared +All his right side: Then Satan first knew pain, +And writhed him to and fro convolved; so sore +The griding sword with discontinuous wound +Passed through him: But the ethereal substance closed, +Not long divisible; and from the gash +A stream of necturous humour issuing flowed +Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed, +And all his armour stained, ere while so bright. +Forthwith on all sides to his aid was run +By Angels many and strong, who interposed +Defence, while others bore him on their shields +Back to his chariot, where it stood retired +From off the files of war: There they him laid +Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame, +To find himself not matchless, and his pride +Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath +His confidence to equal God in power. +Yet soon he healed; for Spirits that live throughout +Vital in every part, not as frail man +In entrails, heart of head, liver or reins, +Cannot but by annihilating die; +Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound +Receive, no more than can the fluid air: +All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear, +All intellect, all sense; and, as they please, +They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size +Assume, as?kikes them best, condense or rare. +Mean while in other parts like deeds deserved +Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, +And with fierce ensigns pierced the deep array +Of Moloch, furious king; who him defied, +And at his chariot-wheels to drag him bound +Threatened, nor from the Holy One of Heaven +Refrained his tongue blasphemous; but anon +Down cloven to the waist, with shattered arms +And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing +Uriel, and Raphael, his vaunting foe, +Though huge, and in a rock of diamond armed, +Vanquished Adramelech, and Asmadai, +Two potent Thrones, that to be less than Gods +Disdained, but meaner thoughts learned in their flight, +Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail. +Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy +The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow +Ariel, and Arioch, and the violence +Of Ramiel scorched and blasted, overthrew. +I might relate of thousands, and their names +Eternize here on earth; but those elect +Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven, +Seek not the praise of men: The other sort, +In might though wonderous and in acts of war, +Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom +Cancelled from Heaven and sacred memory, +Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. +For strength from truth divided, and from just, +Illaudable, nought merits but dispraise +And ignominy; yet to glory aspires +Vain-glorious, and through infamy seeks fame: +Therefore eternal silence be their doom. +And now, their mightiest quelled, the battle swerved, +With many an inroad gored; deformed rout +Entered, and foul disorder; all the ground +With shivered armour strown, and on a heap +Chariot and charioteer lay overturned, +And fiery-foaming steeds; what stood, recoiled +O'er-wearied, through the faint Satanick host +Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surprised, +Then first with fear surprised, and sense of pain, +Fled ignominious, to such evil brought +By sin of disobedience; till that hour +Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain. +Far otherwise the inviolable Saints, +In cubick phalanx firm, advanced entire, +Invulnerable, impenetrably armed; +Such high advantages their innocence +Gave them above their foes; not to have sinned, +Not to have disobeyed; in fight they stood +Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pained +By wound, though from their place by violence moved, +Now Night her course began, and, over Heaven +Inducing darkness, grateful truce imposed, +And silence on the odious din of war: +Under her cloudy covert both retired, +Victor and vanquished: On the foughten field +Michael and his Angels prevalent +Encamping, placed in guard their watches round, +Cherubick waving fires: On the other part, +Satan with his rebellious disappeared, +Far in the dark dislodged; and, void of rest, +His potentates to council called by night; +And in the midst thus undismayed began. +O now in danger tried, now known in arms +Not to be overpowered, Companions dear, +Found worthy not of liberty alone, +Too mean pretence! but what we more affect, +Honour, dominion, glory, and renown; +Who have sustained one day in doubtful fight, +(And if one day, why not eternal days?) +What Heaven's Lord had powerfullest to send +Against us from about his throne, and judged +Sufficient to subdue us to his will, +But proves not so: Then fallible, it seems, +Of future we may deem him, though till now +Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly armed, +Some disadvantage we endured and pain, +Till now not known, but, known, as soon contemned; +Since now we find this our empyreal form +Incapable of mortal injury, +Imperishable, and, though pierced with wound, +Soon closing, and by native vigour healed. +Of evil then so small as easy think +The remedy; perhaps more valid arms, +Weapons more violent, when next we meet, +May serve to better us, and worse our foes, +Or equal what between us made the odds, +In nature none: If other hidden cause +Left them superiour, while we can preserve +Unhurt our minds, and understanding sound, +Due search and consultation will disclose. +He sat; and in the assembly next upstood +Nisroch, of Principalities the prime; +As one he stood escaped from cruel fight, +Sore toiled, his riven arms to havock hewn, +And cloudy in aspect thus answering spake. +Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free +Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard +For Gods, and too unequal work we find, +Against unequal arms to fight in pain, +Against unpained, impassive; from which evil +Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails +Valour or strength, though matchless, quelled with pain +Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands +Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well +Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, +But live content, which is the calmest life: +But pain is perfect misery, the worst +Of evils, and, excessive, overturns +All patience. He, who therefore can invent +With what more forcible we may offend +Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm +Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves +No less than for deliverance what we owe. +Whereto with look composed Satan replied. +Not uninvented that, which thou aright +Believest so main to our success, I bring. +Which of us who beholds the bright surface +Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand, +This continent of spacious Heaven, adorned +With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems, and gold; +Whose eye so superficially surveys +These things, as not to mind from whence they grow +Deep under ground, materials dark and crude, +Of spiritous and fiery spume, till touched +With Heaven's ray, and tempered, they shoot forth +So beauteous, opening to the ambient light? +These in their dark nativity the deep +Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame; +Which, into hollow engines, long and round, +Thick rammed, at the other bore with touch of fire +Dilated and infuriate, shall send forth +From far, with thundering noise, among our foes +Such implements of mischief, as shall dash +To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever stands +Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmed +The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt. +Nor long shall be our labour; yet ere dawn, +Effect shall end our wish. Mean while revive; +Abandon fear; to strength and counsel joined +Think nothing hard, much less to be despaired. +He ended, and his words their drooping cheer +Enlightened, and their languished hope revived. +The invention all admired, and each, how he +To be the inventer missed; so easy it seemed +Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought +Impossible: Yet, haply, of thy race +In future days, if malice should abound, +Some one intent on mischief, or inspired +With devilish machination, might devise +Like instrument to plague the sons of men +For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent. +Forthwith from council to the work they flew; +None arguing stood; innumerable hands +Were ready; in a moment up they turned +Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath +The originals of nature in their crude +Conception; sulphurous and nitrous foam +They found, they mingled, and, with subtle art, +Concocted and adusted they reduced +To blackest grain, and into store conveyed: +Part hidden veins digged up (nor hath this earth +Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone, +Whereof to found their engines and their balls +Of missive ruin; part incentive reed +Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. +So all ere day-spring, under conscious night, +Secret they finished, and in order set, +With silent circumspection, unespied. +Now when fair morn orient in Heaven appeared, +Up rose the victor-Angels, and to arms +The matin trumpet sung: In arms they stood +Of golden panoply, refulgent host, +Soon banded; others from the dawning hills +Look round, and scouts each coast light-armed scour, +Each quarter to descry the distant foe, +Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for fight, +In motion or in halt: Him soon they met +Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow +But firm battalion; back with speediest sail +Zophiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing, +Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cried. +Arm, Warriours, arm for fight; the foe at hand, +Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit +This day; fear not his flight;so thick a cloud +He comes, and settled in his face I see +Sad resolution, and secure: Let each +His adamantine coat gird well, and each +Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield, +Borne even or high; for this day will pour down, +If I conjecture aught, no drizzling shower, +But rattling storm of arrows barbed with fire. +So warned he them, aware themselves, and soon +In order, quit of all impediment; +Instant without disturb they took alarm, +And onward moved embattled: When behold! +Not distant far with heavy pace the foe +Approaching gross and huge, in hollow cube +Training his devilish enginery, impaled +On every side with shadowing squadrons deep, +To hide the fraud. At interview both stood +A while; but suddenly at head appeared +Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud. +Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold; +That all may see who hate us, how we seek +Peace and composure, and with open breast +Stand ready to receive them, if they like +Our overture; and turn not back perverse: +But that I doubt; however witness, Heaven! +Heaven, witness thou anon! while we discharge +Freely our part: ye, who appointed stand +Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch +What we propound, and loud that all may hear! +So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce +Had ended; when to right and left the front +Divided, and to either flank retired: +Which to our eyes discovered, new and strange, +A triple mounted row of pillars laid +On wheels (for like to pillars most they seemed, +Or hollowed bodies made of oak or fir, +With branches lopt, in wood or mountain felled,) +Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths +With hideous orifice gaped on us wide, +Portending hollow truce: At each behind +A Seraph stood, and in his hand a reed +Stood waving tipt with fire; while we, suspense, +Collected stood within our thoughts amused, +Not long; for sudden all at once their reeds +Put forth, and to a narrow vent applied +With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame, +But soon obscured with smoke, all Heaven appeared, +From those deep-throated engines belched, whose roar +Embowelled with outrageous noise the air, +And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul +Their devilish glut, chained thunderbolts and hail +Of iron globes; which, on the victor host +Levelled, with such impetuous fury smote, +That, whom they hit, none on their feet might stand, +Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell +By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rolled; +The sooner for their arms; unarmed, they might +Have easily, as Spirits, evaded swift +By quick contraction or remove; but now +Foul dissipation followed, and forced rout; +Nor served it to relax their serried files. +What should they do? if on they rushed, repulse +Repeated, and indecent overthrow +Doubled, would render them yet more despised, +And to their foes a laughter; for in view +Stood ranked of Seraphim another row, +In posture to displode their second tire +Of thunder: Back defeated to return +They worse abhorred. Satan beheld their plight, +And to his mates thus in derision called. +O Friends! why come not on these victors proud +Ere while they fierce were coming; and when we, +To entertain them fair with open front +And breast, (what could we more?) propounded terms +Of composition, straight they changed their minds, +Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell, +As they would dance; yet for a dance they seemed +Somewhat extravagant and wild; perhaps +For joy of offered peace: But I suppose, +If our proposals once again were heard, +We should compel them to a quick result. +To whom thus Belial, in like gamesome mood. +Leader! the terms we sent were terms of weight, +Of hard contents, and full of force urged home; +Such as we might perceive amused them all, +And stumbled many: Who receives them right, +Had need from head to foot well understand; +Not understood, this gift they have besides, +They show us when our foes walk not upright. +So they among themselves in pleasant vein +Stood scoffing, hightened in their thoughts beyond +All doubt of victory: Eternal Might +To match with their inventions they presumed +So easy, and of his thunder made a scorn, +And all his host derided, while they stood +A while in trouble: But they stood not long; +Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms +Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose. +Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power, +Which God hath in his mighty Angels placed!) +Their arms away they threw, and to the hills +(For Earth hath this variety from Heaven +Of pleasure situate in hill and dale,) +Light as the lightning glimpse they ran, they flew; +From their foundations loosening to and fro, +They plucked the seated hills, with all their load, +Rocks, waters, woods, and by the shaggy tops +Up-lifting bore them in their hands: Amaze, +Be sure, and terrour, seized the rebel host, +When coming towards them so dread they saw +The bottom of the mountains upward turned; +Till on those cursed engines' triple-row +They saw them whelmed, and all their confidence +Under the weight of mountains buried deep; +Themselves invaded next, and on their heads +Main promontories flung, which in the air +Came shadowing, and oppressed whole legions armed; +Their armour helped their harm, crushed in and bruised +Into their substance pent, which wrought them pain +Implacable, and many a dolorous groan; +Long struggling underneath, ere they could wind +Out of such prison, though Spirits of purest light, +Purest at first, now gross by sinning grown. +The rest, in imitation, to like arms +Betook them, and the neighbouring hills uptore: +So hills amid the air encountered hills, +Hurled to and fro with jaculation dire; +That under ground they fought in dismal shade; +Infernal noise! war seemed a civil game +To this uproar; horrid confusion heaped +Upon confusion rose: And now all Heaven +Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspread; +Had not the Almighty Father, where he sits +Shrined in his sanctuary of Heaven secure, +Consulting on the sum of things, foreseen +This tumult, and permitted all, advised: +That his great purpose he might so fulfil, +To honour his anointed Son avenged +Upon his enemies, and to declare +All power on him transferred: Whence to his Son, +The Assessour of his throne, he thus began. +Effulgence of my glory, Son beloved, +Son, in whose face invisible is beheld +Visibly, what by Deity I am; +And in whose hand what by decree I do, +Second Omnipotence! two days are past, +Two days, as we compute the days of Heaven, +Since Michael and his Powers went forth to tame +These disobedient: Sore hath been their fight, +As likeliest was, when two such foes met armed; +For to themselves I left them; and thou knowest, +Equal in their creation they were formed, +Save what sin hath impaired; which yet hath wrought +Insensibly, for I suspend their doom; +Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last +Endless, and no solution will be found: +War wearied hath performed what war can do, +And to disordered rage let loose the reins +With mountains, as with weapons, armed; which makes +Wild work in Heaven, and dangerous to the main. +Two days are therefore past, the third is thine; +For thee I have ordained it; and thus far +Have suffered, that the glory may be thine +Of ending this great war, since none but Thou +Can end it. Into thee such virtue and grace +Immense I have transfused, that all may know +In Heaven and Hell thy power above compare; +And, this perverse commotion governed thus, +To manifest thee worthiest to be Heir +Of all things; to be Heir, and to be King +By sacred unction, thy deserved right. +Go then, Thou Mightiest, in thy Father's might; +Ascend my chariot, guide the rapid wheels +That shake Heaven's basis, bring forth all my war, +My bow and thunder, my almighty arms +Gird on, and sword upon thy puissant thigh; +Pursue these sons of darkness, drive them out +From all Heaven's bounds into the utter deep: +There let them learn, as likes them, to despise +God, and Messiah his anointed King. +He said, and on his Son with rays direct +Shone full; he all his Father full expressed +Ineffably into his face received; +And thus the Filial Godhead answering spake. +O Father, O Supreme of heavenly Thrones, +First, Highest, Holiest, Best; thou always seek'st +To glorify thy Son, I always thee, +As is most just: This I my glory account, +My exaltation, and my whole delight, +That thou, in me well pleased, declarest thy will +Fulfilled, which to fulfil is all my bliss. +Scepter and power, thy giving, I assume, +And gladlier shall resign, when in the end +Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee +For ever; and in me all whom thou lovest: +But whom thou hatest, I hate, and can put on +Thy terrours, as I put thy mildness on, +Image of thee in all things; and shall soon, +Armed with thy might, rid Heaven of these rebelled; +To their prepared ill mansion driven down, +To chains of darkness, and the undying worm; +That from thy just obedience could revolt, +Whom to obey is happiness entire. +Then shall thy Saints unmixed, and from the impure +Far separate, circling thy holy mount, +Unfeigned Halleluiahs to thee sing, +Hymns of high praise, and I among them Chief. +So said, he, o'er his scepter bowing, rose +From the right hand of Glory where he sat; +And the third sacred morn began to shine, +Dawning through Heaven. Forth rushed with whirlwind sound +The chariot of Paternal Deity, +Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn, +Itself instinct with Spirit, but convoyed +By four Cherubick shapes; four faces each +Had wonderous; as with stars, their bodies all +And wings were set with eyes; with eyes the wheels +Of beryl, and careering fires between; +Over their heads a crystal firmament, +Whereon a sapphire throne, inlaid with pure +Amber, and colours of the showery arch. +He, in celestial panoply all armed +Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought, +Ascended; at his right hand Victory +Sat eagle-winged; beside him hung his bow +And quiver with three-bolted thunder stored; +And from about him fierce effusion rolled +Of smoke, and bickering flame, and sparkles dire: +Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints, +He onward came; far off his coming shone; +And twenty thousand (I their number heard) +Chariots of God, half on each hand, were seen; +He on the wings of Cherub rode sublime +On the crystalline sky, in sapphire throned, +Illustrious far and wide; but by his own +First seen: Them unexpected joy surprised, +When the great ensign of Messiah blazed +Aloft by Angels borne, his sign in Heaven; +Under whose conduct Michael soon reduced +His army, circumfused on either wing, +Under their Head imbodied all in one. +Before him Power Divine his way prepared; +At his command the uprooted hills retired +Each to his place; they heard his voice, and went +Obsequious; Heaven his wonted face renewed, +And with fresh flowerets hill and valley smiled. +This saw his hapless foes, but stood obdured, +And to rebellious fight rallied their Powers, +Insensate, hope conceiving from despair. +In heavenly Spirits could such perverseness dwell? +But to convince the proud what signs avail, +Or wonders move the obdurate to relent? +They, hardened more by what might most reclaim, +Grieving to see his glory, at the sight +Took envy; and, aspiring to his highth, +Stood re-embattled fierce, by force or fraud +Weening to prosper, and at length prevail +Against God and Messiah, or to fall +In universal ruin last; and now +To final battle drew, disdaining flight, +Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God +To all his host on either hand thus spake. +Stand still in bright array, ye Saints; here stand, +Ye Angels armed; this day from battle rest: +Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God +Accepted, fearless in his righteous cause; +And as ye have received, so have ye done, +Invincibly: But of this cursed crew +The punishment to other hand belongs; +Vengeance is his, or whose he sole appoints: +Number to this day's work is not ordained, +Nor multitude; stand only, and behold +God's indignation on these godless poured +By me; not you, but me, they have despised, +Yet envied; against me is all their rage, +Because the Father, to whom in Heaven s'preme +Kingdom, and power, and glory appertains, +Hath honoured me, according to his will. +Therefore to me their doom he hath assigned; +That they may have their wish, to try with me +In battle which the stronger proves; they all, +Or I alone against them; since by strength +They measure all, of other excellence +Not emulous, nor care who them excels; +Nor other strife with them do I vouchsafe. +So spake the Son, and into terrour changed +His countenance too severe to be beheld, +And full of wrath bent on his enemies. +At once the Four spread out their starry wings +With dreadful shade contiguous, and the orbs +Of his fierce chariot rolled, as with the sound +Of torrent floods, or of a numerous host. +He on his impious foes right onward drove, +Gloomy as night; under his burning wheels +The stedfast empyrean shook throughout, +All but the throne itself of God. Full soon +Among them he arrived; in his right hand +Grasping ten thousand thunders, which he sent +Before him, such as in their souls infixed +Plagues: They, astonished, all resistance lost, +All courage; down their idle weapons dropt: +O'er shields, and helms, and helmed heads he rode +Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim prostrate, +That wished the mountains now might be again +Thrown on them, as a shelter from his ire. +Nor less on either side tempestuous fell +His arrows, from the fourfold-visaged Four +Distinct with eyes, and from the living wheels +Distinct alike with multitude of eyes; +One Spirit in them ruled; and every eye +Glared lightning, and shot forth pernicious fire +Among the accursed, that withered all their strength, +And of their wonted vigour left them drained, +Exhausted, spiritless, afflicted, fallen. +Yet half his strength he put not forth, but checked +His thunder in mid volley; for he meant +Not to destroy, but root them out of Heaven: +The overthrown he raised, and as a herd +Of goats or timorous flock together thronged +Drove them before him thunder-struck, pursued +With terrours, and with furies, to the bounds +And crystal wall of Heaven; which, opening wide, +Rolled inward, and a spacious gap disclosed +Into the wasteful deep: The monstrous sight +Struck them with horrour backward, but far worse +Urged them behind: Headlong themselves they threw +Down from the verge of Heaven; eternal wrath +Burnt after them to the bottomless pit. +Hell heard the unsufferable noise, Hell saw +Heaven ruining from Heaven, and would have fled +Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too deep +Her dark foundations, and too fast had bound. +Nine days they fell: Confounded Chaos roared, +And felt tenfold confusion in their fall +Through his wild anarchy, so huge a rout +Incumbered him with ruin: Hell at last +Yawning received them whole, and on them closed; +Hell, their fit habitation, fraught with fire +Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain. +Disburdened Heaven rejoiced, and soon repaired +Her mural breach, returning whence it rolled. +Sole victor, from the expulsion of his foes, +Messiah his triumphal chariot turned: +To meet him all his Saints, who silent stood +Eye-witnesses of his almighty acts, +With jubilee advanced; and, as they went, +Shaded with branching palm, each Order bright, +Sung triumph, and him sung victorious King, +Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion given, +Worthiest to reign: He, celebrated, rode +Triumphant through mid Heaven, into the courts +And temple of his Mighty Father throned +On high; who into glory him received, +Where now he sits at the right hand of bliss. +Thus, measuring things in Heaven by things on Earth, +At thy request, and that thou mayest beware +By what is past, to thee I have revealed +What might have else to human race been hid; +The discord which befel, and war in Heaven +Among the angelick Powers, and the deep fall +Of those too high aspiring, who rebelled +With Satan; he who envies now thy state, +Who now is plotting how he may seduce +Thee also from obedience, that, with him +Bereaved of happiness, thou mayest partake +His punishment, eternal misery; +Which would be all his solace and revenge, +As a despite done against the Most High, +Thee once to gain companion of his woe. +But listen not to his temptations, warn +Thy weaker; let it profit thee to have heard, +By terrible example, the reward +Of disobedience; firm they might have stood, +Yet fell; remember, and fear to transgress. + + + +Book VII + + +Descend from Heaven, Urania, by that name +If rightly thou art called, whose voice divine +Following, above the Olympian hill I soar, +Above the flight of Pegasean wing! +The meaning, not the name, I call: for thou +Nor of the Muses nine, nor on the top +Of old Olympus dwellest; but, heavenly-born, +Before the hills appeared, or fountain flowed, +Thou with eternal Wisdom didst converse, +Wisdom thy sister, and with her didst play +In presence of the Almighty Father, pleased +With thy celestial song. Up led by thee +Into the Heaven of Heavens I have presumed, +An earthly guest, and drawn empyreal air, +Thy tempering: with like safety guided down +Return me to my native element: +Lest from this flying steed unreined, (as once +Bellerophon, though from a lower clime,) +Dismounted, on the Aleian field I fall, +Erroneous there to wander, and forlorn. +Half yet remains unsung, but narrower bound +Within the visible diurnal sphere; +Standing on earth, not rapt above the pole, +More safe I sing with mortal voice, unchanged +To hoarse or mute, though fallen on evil days, +On evil days though fallen, and evil tongues; +In darkness, and with dangers compassed round, +And solitude; yet not alone, while thou +Visitest my slumbers nightly, or when morn +Purples the east: still govern thou my song, +Urania, and fit audience find, though few. +But drive far off the barbarous dissonance +Of Bacchus and his revellers, the race +Of that wild rout that tore the Thracian bard +In Rhodope, where woods and rocks had ears +To rapture, till the savage clamour drowned +Both harp and voice; nor could the Muse defend +Her son. So fail not thou, who thee implores: +For thou art heavenly, she an empty dream. +Say, Goddess, what ensued when Raphael, +The affable Arch-Angel, had forewarned +Adam, by dire example, to beware +Apostasy, by what befel in Heaven +To those apostates; lest the like befall +In Paradise to Adam or his race, +Charged not to touch the interdicted tree, +If they transgress, and slight that sole command, +So easily obeyed amid the choice +Of all tastes else to please their appetite, +Though wandering. He, with his consorted Eve, +The story heard attentive, and was filled +With admiration and deep muse, to hear +Of things so high and strange; things, to their thought +So unimaginable, as hate in Heaven, +And war so near the peace of God in bliss, +With such confusion: but the evil, soon +Driven back, redounded as a flood on those +From whom it sprung; impossible to mix +With blessedness. Whence Adam soon repealed +The doubts that in his heart arose: and now +Led on, yet sinless, with desire to know +What nearer might concern him, how this world +Of Heaven and Earth conspicuous first began; +When, and whereof created; for what cause; +What within Eden, or without, was done +Before his memory; as one whose drouth +Yet scarce allayed still eyes the current stream, +Whose liquid murmur heard new thirst excites, +Proceeded thus to ask his heavenly guest. +Great things, and full of wonder in our ears, +Far differing from this world, thou hast revealed, +Divine interpreter! by favour sent +Down from the empyrean, to forewarn +Us timely of what might else have been our loss, +Unknown, which human knowledge could not reach; +For which to the infinitely Good we owe +Immortal thanks, and his admonishment +Receive, with solemn purpose to observe +Immutably his sovran will, the end +Of what we are. But since thou hast vouchsafed +Gently, for our instruction, to impart +Things above earthly thought, which yet concerned +Our knowing, as to highest wisdom seemed, +Deign to descend now lower, and relate +What may no less perhaps avail us known, +How first began this Heaven which we behold +Distant so high, with moving fires adorned +Innumerable; and this which yields or fills +All space, the ambient air wide interfused +Embracing round this floried Earth; what cause +Moved the Creator, in his holy rest +Through all eternity, so late to build +In Chaos; and the work begun, how soon +Absolved; if unforbid thou mayest unfold +What we, not to explore the secrets ask +Of his eternal empire, but the more +To magnify his works, the more we know. +And the great light of day yet wants to run +Much of his race though steep; suspense in Heaven, +Held by thy voice, thy potent voice, he hears, +And longer will delay to hear thee tell +His generation, and the rising birth +Of Nature from the unapparent Deep: +Or if the star of evening and the moon +Haste to thy audience, Night with her will bring, +Silence; and Sleep, listening to thee, will watch; +Or we can bid his absence, till thy song +End, and dismiss thee ere the morning shine. +Thus Adam his illustrious guest besought: +And thus the Godlike Angel answered mild. +This also thy request, with caution asked, +Obtain; though to recount almighty works +What words or tongue of Seraph can suffice, +Or heart of man suffice to comprehend? +Yet what thou canst attain, which best may serve +To glorify the Maker, and infer +Thee also happier, shall not be withheld +Thy hearing; such commission from above +I have received, to answer thy desire +Of knowledge within bounds; beyond, abstain +To ask; nor let thine own inventions hope +Things not revealed, which the invisible King, +Only Omniscient, hath suppressed in night; +To none communicable in Earth or Heaven: +Enough is left besides to search and know. +But knowledge is as food, and needs no less +Her temperance over appetite, to know +In measure what the mind may well contain; +Oppresses else with surfeit, and soon turns +Wisdom to folly, as nourishment to wind. +Know then, that, after Lucifer from Heaven +(So call him, brighter once amidst the host +Of Angels, than that star the stars among,) +Fell with his flaming legions through the deep +Into his place, and the great Son returned +Victorious with his Saints, the Omnipotent +Eternal Father from his throne beheld +Their multitude, and to his Son thus spake. +At least our envious Foe hath failed, who thought +All like himself rebellious, by whose aid +This inaccessible high strength, the seat +Of Deity supreme, us dispossessed, +He trusted to have seised, and into fraud +Drew many, whom their place knows here no more: +Yet far the greater part have kept, I see, +Their station; Heaven, yet populous, retains +Number sufficient to possess her realms +Though wide, and this high temple to frequent +With ministeries due, and solemn rites: +But, lest his heart exalt him in the harm +Already done, to have dispeopled Heaven, +My damage fondly deemed, I can repair +That detriment, if such it be to lose +Self-lost; and in a moment will create +Another world, out of one man a race +Of men innumerable, there to dwell, +Not here; till, by degrees of merit raised, +They open to themselves at length the way +Up hither, under long obedience tried; +And Earth be changed to Heaven, and Heaven to Earth, +One kingdom, joy and union without end. +Mean while inhabit lax, ye Powers of Heaven; +And thou my Word, begotten Son, by thee +This I perform; speak thou, and be it done! +My overshadowing Spirit and Might with thee +I send along; ride forth, and bid the Deep +Within appointed bounds be Heaven and Earth; +Boundless the Deep, because I Am who fill +Infinitude, nor vacuous the space. +Though I, uncircumscribed myself, retire, +And put not forth my goodness, which is free +To act or not, Necessity and Chance +Approach not me, and what I will is Fate. +So spake the Almighty, and to what he spake +His Word, the Filial Godhead, gave effect. +Immediate are the acts of God, more swift +Than time or motion, but to human ears +Cannot without process of speech be told, +So told as earthly notion can receive. +Great triumph and rejoicing was in Heaven, +When such was heard declared the Almighty's will; +Glory they sung to the Most High, good will +To future men, and in their dwellings peace; +Glory to Him, whose just avenging ire +Had driven out the ungodly from his sight +And the habitations of the just; to Him +Glory and praise, whose wisdom had ordained +Good out of evil to create; instead +Of Spirits malign, a better race to bring +Into their vacant room, and thence diffuse +His good to worlds and ages infinite. +So sang the Hierarchies: Mean while the Son +On his great expedition now appeared, +Girt with Omnipotence, with radiance crowned +Of Majesty Divine; sapience and love +Immense, and all his Father in him shone. +About his chariot numberless were poured +Cherub, and Seraph, Potentates, and Thrones, +And Virtues, winged Spirits, and chariots winged +From the armoury of God; where stand of old +Myriads, between two brazen mountains lodged +Against a solemn day, harnessed at hand, +Celestial equipage; and now came forth +Spontaneous, for within them Spirit lived, +Attendant on their Lord: Heaven opened wide +Her ever-during gates, harmonious sound +On golden hinges moving, to let forth +The King of Glory, in his powerful Word +And Spirit, coming to create new worlds. +On heavenly ground they stood; and from the shore +They viewed the vast immeasurable abyss +Outrageous as a sea, dark, wasteful, wild, +Up from the bottom turned by furious winds +And surging waves, as mountains, to assault +Heaven's highth, and with the center mix the pole. +Silence, ye troubled Waves, and thou Deep, peace, +Said then the Omnifick Word; your discord end! +Nor staid; but, on the wings of Cherubim +Uplifted, in paternal glory rode +Far into Chaos, and the world unborn; +For Chaos heard his voice: Him all his train +Followed in bright procession, to behold +Creation, and the wonders of his might. +Then staid the fervid wheels, and in his hand +He took the golden compasses, prepared +In God's eternal store, to circumscribe +This universe, and all created things: +One foot he centered, and the other turned +Round through the vast profundity obscure; +And said, Thus far extend, thus far thy bounds, +This be thy just circumference, O World! +Thus God the Heaven created, thus the Earth, +Matter unformed and void: Darkness profound +Covered the abyss: but on the watery calm +His brooding wings the Spirit of God outspread, +And vital virtue infused, and vital warmth +Throughout the fluid mass; but downward purged +The black tartareous cold infernal dregs, +Adverse to life: then founded, then conglobed +Like things to like; the rest to several place +Disparted, and between spun out the air; +And Earth self-balanced on her center hung. +Let there be light, said God; and forthwith Light +Ethereal, first of things, quintessence pure, +Sprung from the deep; and from her native east +To journey through the aery gloom began, +Sphered in a radiant cloud, for yet the sun +Was not; she in a cloudy tabernacle +Sojourned the while. God saw the light was good; +And light from darkness by the hemisphere +Divided: light the Day, and darkness Night, +He named. Thus was the first day even and morn: +Nor past uncelebrated, nor unsung +By the celestial quires, when orient light +Exhaling first from darkness they beheld; +Birth-day of Heaven and Earth; with joy and shout +The hollow universal orb they filled, +And touched their golden harps, and hymning praised +God and his works; Creator him they sung, +Both when first evening was, and when first morn. +Again, God said, Let there be firmament +Amid the waters, and let it divide +The waters from the waters; and God made +The firmament, expanse of liquid, pure, +Transparent, elemental air, diffused +In circuit to the uttermost convex +Of this great round; partition firm and sure, +The waters underneath from those above +Dividing: for as earth, so he the world +Built on circumfluous waters calm, in wide +Crystalline ocean, and the loud misrule +Of Chaos far removed; lest fierce extremes +Contiguous might distemper the whole frame: +And Heaven he named the Firmament: So even +And morning chorus sung the second day. +The Earth was formed, but in the womb as yet +Of waters, embryon immature involved, +Appeared not: over all the face of Earth +Main ocean flowed, not idle; but, with warm +Prolifick humour softening all her globe, +Fermented the great mother to conceive, +Satiate with genial moisture; when God said, +Be gathered now ye waters under Heaven +Into one place, and let dry land appear. +Immediately the mountains huge appear +Emergent, and their broad bare backs upheave +Into the clouds; their tops ascend the sky: +So high as heaved the tumid hills, so low +Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep, +Capacious bed of waters: Thither they +Hasted with glad precipitance, uprolled, +As drops on dust conglobing from the dry: +Part rise in crystal wall, or ridge direct, +For haste; such flight the great command impressed +On the swift floods: As armies at the call +Of trumpet (for of armies thou hast heard) +Troop to their standard; so the watery throng, +Wave rolling after wave, where way they found, +If steep, with torrent rapture, if through plain, +Soft-ebbing; nor withstood them rock or hill; +But they, or under ground, or circuit wide +With serpent errour wandering, found their way, +And on the washy oose deep channels wore; +Easy, ere God had bid the ground be dry, +All but within those banks, where rivers now +Stream, and perpetual draw their humid train. +The dry land, Earth; and the great receptacle +Of congregated waters, he called Seas: +And saw that it was good; and said, Let the Earth +Put forth the verdant grass, herb yielding seed, +And fruit-tree yielding fruit after her kind, +Whose seed is in herself upon the Earth. +He scarce had said, when the bare Earth, till then +Desart and bare, unsightly, unadorned, +Brought forth the tender grass, whose verdure clad +Her universal face with pleasant green; +Then herbs of every leaf, that sudden flowered +Opening their various colours, and made gay +Her bosom, smelling sweet: and, these scarce blown, +Forth flourished thick the clustering vine, forth crept +The swelling gourd, up stood the corny reed +Embattled in her field, and the humble shrub, +And bush with frizzled hair implicit: Last +Rose, as in dance, the stately trees, and spread +Their branches hung with copious fruit, or gemmed +Their blossoms: With high woods the hills were crowned; +With tufts the valleys, and each fountain side; +With borders long the rivers: that Earth now +Seemed like to Heaven, a seat where Gods might dwell, +Or wander with delight, and love to haunt +Her sacred shades: though God had yet not rained +Upon the Earth, and man to till the ground +None was; but from the Earth a dewy mist +Went up, and watered all the ground, and each +Plant of the field; which, ere it was in the Earth, +God made, and every herb, before it grew +On the green stem: God saw that it was good: +So even and morn recorded the third day. +Again the Almighty spake, Let there be lights +High in the expanse of Heaven, to divide +The day from night; and let them be for signs, +For seasons, and for days, and circling years; +And let them be for lights, as I ordain +Their office in the firmament of Heaven, +To give light on the Earth; and it was so. +And God made two great lights, great for their use +To Man, the greater to have rule by day, +The less by night, altern; and made the stars, +And set them in the firmament of Heaven +To illuminate the Earth, and rule the day +In their vicissitude, and rule the night, +And light from darkness to divide. God saw, +Surveying his great work, that it was good: +For of celestial bodies first the sun +A mighty sphere he framed, unlightsome first, +Though of ethereal mould: then formed the moon +Globose, and every magnitude of stars, +And sowed with stars the Heaven, thick as a field: +Of light by far the greater part he took, +Transplanted from her cloudy shrine, and placed +In the sun's orb, made porous to receive +And drink the liquid light; firm to retain +Her gathered beams, great palace now of light. +Hither, as to their fountain, other stars +Repairing, in their golden urns draw light, +And hence the morning-planet gilds her horns; +By tincture or reflection they augment +Their small peculiar, though from human sight +So far remote, with diminution seen, +First in his east the glorious lamp was seen, +Regent of day, and all the horizon round +Invested with bright rays, jocund to run +His longitude through Heaven's high road; the gray +Dawn, and the Pleiades, before him danced, +Shedding sweet influence: Less bright the moon, +But opposite in levelled west was set, +His mirrour, with full face borrowing her light +From him; for other light she needed none +In that aspect, and still that distance keeps +Till night; then in the east her turn she shines, +Revolved on Heaven's great axle, and her reign +With thousand lesser lights dividual holds, +With thousand thousand stars, that then appeared +Spangling the hemisphere: Then first adorned +With their bright luminaries that set and rose, +Glad evening and glad morn crowned the fourth day. +And God said, Let the waters generate +Reptile with spawn abundant, living soul: +And let fowl fly above the Earth, with wings +Displayed on the open firmament of Heaven. +And God created the great whales, and each +Soul living, each that crept, which plenteously +The waters generated by their kinds; +And every bird of wing after his kind; +And saw that it was good, and blessed them, saying. +Be fruitful, multiply, and in the seas, +And lakes, and running streams, the waters fill; +And let the fowl be multiplied, on the Earth. +Forthwith the sounds and seas, each creek and bay, +With fry innumerable swarm, and shoals +Of fish that with their fins, and shining scales, +Glide under the green wave, in sculls that oft +Bank the mid sea: part single, or with mate, +Graze the sea-weed their pasture, and through groves +Of coral stray; or, sporting with quick glance, +Show to the sun their waved coats dropt with gold; +Or, in their pearly shells at ease, attend +Moist nutriment; or under rocks their food +In jointed armour watch: on smooth the seal +And bended dolphins play: part huge of bulk +Wallowing unwieldy, enormous in their gait, +Tempest the ocean: there leviathan, +Hugest of living creatures, on the deep +Stretched like a promontory sleeps or swims, +And seems a moving land; and at his gills +Draws in, and at his trunk spouts out, a sea. +Mean while the tepid caves, and fens, and shores, +Their brood as numerous hatch, from the egg that soon +Bursting with kindly rupture forth disclosed +Their callow young; but feathered soon and fledge +They summed their pens; and, soaring the air sublime, +With clang despised the ground, under a cloud +In prospect; there the eagle and the stork +On cliffs and cedar tops their eyries build: +Part loosely wing the region, part more wise +In common, ranged in figure, wedge their way, +Intelligent of seasons, and set forth +Their aery caravan, high over seas +Flying, and over lands, with mutual wing +Easing their flight; so steers the prudent crane +Her annual voyage, borne on winds; the air +Floats as they pass, fanned with unnumbered plumes: +From branch to branch the smaller birds with song +Solaced the woods, and spread their painted wings +Till even; nor then the solemn nightingale +Ceased warbling, but all night tun'd her soft lays: +Others, on silver lakes and rivers, bathed +Their downy breast; the swan with arched neck, +Between her white wings mantling proudly, rows +Her state with oary feet; yet oft they quit +The dank, and, rising on stiff pennons, tower +The mid aereal sky: Others on ground +Walked firm; the crested cock whose clarion sounds +The silent hours, and the other whose gay train +Adorns him, coloured with the florid hue +Of rainbows and starry eyes. The waters thus +With fish replenished, and the air with fowl, +Evening and morn solemnized the fifth day. +The sixth, and of creation last, arose +With evening harps and matin; when God said, +Let the Earth bring forth soul living in her kind, +Cattle, and creeping things, and beast of the Earth, +Each in their kind. The Earth obeyed, and straight +Opening her fertile womb teemed at a birth +Innumerous living creatures, perfect forms, +Limbed and full grown: Out of the ground up rose, +As from his lair, the wild beast where he wons +In forest wild, in thicket, brake, or den; +Among the trees in pairs they rose, they walked: +The cattle in the fields and meadows green: +Those rare and solitary, these in flocks +Pasturing at once, and in broad herds upsprung. +The grassy clods now calved; now half appeared +The tawny lion, pawing to get free +His hinder parts, then springs as broke from bonds, +And rampant shakes his brinded mane; the ounce, +The libbard, and the tiger, as the mole +Rising, the crumbled earth above them threw +In hillocks: The swift stag from under ground +Bore up his branching head: Scarce from his mould +Behemoth biggest born of earth upheaved +His vastness: Fleeced the flocks and bleating rose, +As plants: Ambiguous between sea and land +The river-horse, and scaly crocodile. +At once came forth whatever creeps the ground, +Insect or worm: those waved their limber fans +For wings, and smallest lineaments exact +In all the liveries decked of summer's pride +With spots of gold and purple, azure and green: +These, as a line, their long dimension drew, +Streaking the ground with sinuous trace; not all +Minims of nature; some of serpent-kind, +Wonderous in length and corpulence, involved +Their snaky folds, and added wings. First crept +The parsimonious emmet, provident +Of future; in small room large heart enclosed; +Pattern of just equality perhaps +Hereafter, joined in her popular tribes +Of commonalty: Swarming next appeared +The female bee, that feeds her husband drone +Deliciously, and builds her waxen cells +With honey stored: The rest are numberless, +And thou their natures knowest, and gavest them names, +Needless to thee repeated; nor unknown +The serpent, subtlest beast of all the field, +Of huge extent sometimes, with brazen eyes +And hairy mane terrifick, though to thee +Not noxious, but obedient at thy call. +Now Heaven in all her glory shone, and rolled +Her motions, as the great first Mover's hand +First wheeled their course: Earth in her rich attire +Consummate lovely smiled; air, water, earth, +By fowl, fish, beast, was flown, was swum, was walked, +Frequent; and of the sixth day yet remained: +There wanted yet the master-work, the end +Of all yet done; a creature, who, not prone +And brute as other creatures, but endued +With sanctity of reason, might erect +His stature, and upright with front serene +Govern the rest, self-knowing; and from thence +Magnanimous to correspond with Heaven, +But grateful to acknowledge whence his good +Descends, thither with heart, and voice, and eyes +Directed in devotion, to adore +And worship God Supreme, who made him chief +Of all his works: therefore the Omnipotent +Eternal Father (for where is not he +Present?) thus to his Son audibly spake. +Let us make now Man in our image, Man +In our similitude, and let them rule +Over the fish and fowl of sea and air, +Beast of the field, and over all the Earth, +And every creeping thing that creeps the ground. +This said, he formed thee, Adam, thee, O Man, +Dust of the ground, and in thy nostrils breathed +The breath of life; in his own image he +Created thee, in the image of God +Express; and thou becamest a living soul. +Male he created thee; but thy consort +Female, for race; then blessed mankind, and said, +Be fruitful, multiply, and fill the Earth; +Subdue it, and throughout dominion hold +Over fish of the sea, and fowl of the air, +And every living thing that moves on the Earth. +Wherever thus created, for no place +Is yet distinct by name, thence, as thou knowest, +He brought thee into this delicious grove, +This garden, planted with the trees of God, +Delectable both to behold and taste; +And freely all their pleasant fruit for food +Gave thee; all sorts are here that all the Earth yields, +Variety without end; but of the tree, +Which, tasted, works knowledge of good and evil, +Thou mayest not; in the day thou eatest, thou diest; +Death is the penalty imposed; beware, +And govern well thy appetite; lest Sin +Surprise thee, and her black attendant Death. +Here finished he, and all that he had made +Viewed, and behold all was entirely good; +So even and morn accomplished the sixth day: +Yet not till the Creator from his work +Desisting, though unwearied, up returned, +Up to the Heaven of Heavens, his high abode; +Thence to behold this new created world, +The addition of his empire, how it showed +In prospect from his throne, how good, how fair, +Answering his great idea. Up he rode +Followed with acclamation, and the sound +Symphonious of ten thousand harps, that tuned +Angelick harmonies: The earth, the air +Resounded, (thou rememberest, for thou heardst,) +The heavens and all the constellations rung, +The planets in their station listening stood, +While the bright pomp ascended jubilant. +Open, ye everlasting gates! they sung, +Open, ye Heavens! your living doors;let in +The great Creator from his work returned +Magnificent, his six days work, a World; +Open, and henceforth oft; for God will deign +To visit oft the dwellings of just men, +Delighted; and with frequent intercourse +Thither will send his winged messengers +On errands of supernal grace. So sung +The glorious train ascending: He through Heaven, +That opened wide her blazing portals, led +To God's eternal house direct the way; +A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold +And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear, +Seen in the galaxy, that milky way, +Which nightly, as a circling zone, thou seest +Powdered with stars. And now on Earth the seventh +Evening arose in Eden, for the sun +Was set, and twilight from the east came on, +Forerunning night; when at the holy mount +Of Heaven's high-seated top, the imperial throne +Of Godhead, fixed for ever firm and sure, +The Filial Power arrived, and sat him down +With his great Father; for he also went +Invisible, yet staid, (such privilege +Hath Omnipresence) and the work ordained, +Author and End of all things; and, from work +Now resting, blessed and hallowed the seventh day, +As resting on that day from all his work, +But not in silence holy kept: the harp +Had work and rested not; the solemn pipe, +And dulcimer, all organs of sweet stop, +All sounds on fret by string or golden wire, +Tempered soft tunings, intermixed with voice +Choral or unison: of incense clouds, +Fuming from golden censers, hid the mount. +Creation and the six days acts they sung: +Great are thy works, Jehovah! infinite +Thy power! what thought can measure thee, or tongue +Relate thee! Greater now in thy return +Than from the giant Angels: Thee that day +Thy thunders magnified; but to create +Is greater than created to destroy. +Who can impair thee, Mighty King, or bound +Thy empire! Easily the proud attempt +Of Spirits apostate, and their counsels vain, +Thou hast repelled; while impiously they thought +Thee to diminish, and from thee withdraw +The number of thy worshippers. Who seeks +To lessen thee, against his purpose serves +To manifest the more thy might: his evil +Thou usest, and from thence createst more good. +Witness this new-made world, another Heaven +From Heaven-gate not far, founded in view +On the clear hyaline, the glassy sea; +Of amplitude almost immense, with stars +Numerous, and every star perhaps a world +Of destined habitation; but thou knowest +Their seasons: among these the seat of Men, +Earth, with her nether ocean circumfused, +Their pleasant dwelling-place. Thrice happy Men, +And sons of Men, whom God hath thus advanced! +Created in his image, there to dwell +And worship him; and in reward to rule +Over his works, on earth, in sea, or air, +And multiply a race of worshippers +Holy and just: Thrice happy, if they know +Their happiness, and persevere upright! +So sung they, and the empyrean rung +With halleluiahs: Thus was sabbath kept. +And thy request think now fulfilled, that asked +How first this world and face of things began, +And what before thy memory was done +From the beginning; that posterity, +Informed by thee, might know: If else thou seekest +Aught, not surpassing human measure, say. + + + +Book VIII + + +The Angel ended, and in Adam's ear +So charming left his voice, that he a while +Thought him still speaking, still stood fixed to hear; +Then, as new waked, thus gratefully replied. +What thanks sufficient, or what recompence +Equal, have I to render thee, divine +Historian, who thus largely hast allayed +The thirst I had of knowledge, and vouchsafed +This friendly condescension to relate +Things, else by me unsearchable; now heard +With wonder, but delight, and, as is due, +With glory attributed to the high +Creator! Something yet of doubt remains, +Which only thy solution can resolve. +When I behold this goodly frame, this world, +Of Heaven and Earth consisting; and compute +Their magnitudes; this Earth, a spot, a grain, +An atom, with the firmament compared +And all her numbered stars, that seem to roll +Spaces incomprehensible, (for such +Their distance argues, and their swift return +Diurnal,) merely to officiate light +Round this opacous Earth, this punctual spot, +One day and night; in all her vast survey +Useless besides; reasoning I oft admire, +How Nature wise and frugal could commit +Such disproportions, with superfluous hand +So many nobler bodies to create, +Greater so manifold, to this one use, +For aught appears, and on their orbs impose +Such restless revolution day by day +Repeated; while the sedentary Earth, +That better might with far less compass move, +Served by more noble than herself, attains +Her end without least motion, and receives, +As tribute, such a sumless journey brought +Of incorporeal speed, her warmth and light; +Speed, to describe whose swiftness number fails. +So spake our sire, and by his countenance seemed +Entering on studious thoughts abstruse; which Eve +Perceiving, where she sat retired in sight, +With lowliness majestick from her seat, +And grace that won who saw to wish her stay, +Rose, and went forth among her fruits and flowers, +To visit how they prospered, bud and bloom, +Her nursery; they at her coming sprung, +And, touched by her fair tendance, gladlier grew. +Yet went she not, as not with such discourse +Delighted, or not capable her ear +Of what was high: such pleasure she reserved, +Adam relating, she sole auditress; +Her husband the relater she preferred +Before the Angel, and of him to ask +Chose rather; he, she knew, would intermix +Grateful digressions, and solve high dispute +With conjugal caresses: from his lip +Not words alone pleased her. O! when meet now +Such pairs, in love and mutual honour joined? +With Goddess-like demeanour forth she went, +Not unattended; for on her, as Queen, +A pomp of winning Graces waited still, +And from about her shot darts of desire +Into all eyes, to wish her still in sight. +And Raphael now, to Adam's doubt proposed, +Benevolent and facile thus replied. +To ask or search, I blame thee not; for Heaven +Is as the book of God before thee set, +Wherein to read his wonderous works, and learn +His seasons, hours, or days, or months, or years: +This to attain, whether Heaven move or Earth, +Imports not, if thou reckon right; the rest +From Man or Angel the great Architect +Did wisely to conceal, and not divulge +His secrets to be scanned by them who ought +Rather admire; or, if they list to try +Conjecture, he his fabrick of the Heavens +Hath left to their disputes, perhaps to move +His laughter at their quaint opinions wide +Hereafter; when they come to model Heaven +And calculate the stars, how they will wield +The mighty frame; how build, unbuild, contrive +To save appearances; how gird the sphere +With centrick and eccentrick scribbled o'er, +Cycle and epicycle, orb in orb: +Already by thy reasoning this I guess, +Who art to lead thy offspring, and supposest +That bodies bright and greater should not serve +The less not bright, nor Heaven such journeys run, +Earth sitting still, when she alone receives +The benefit: Consider first, that great +Or bright infers not excellence: the Earth +Though, in comparison of Heaven, so small, +Nor glistering, may of solid good contain +More plenty than the sun that barren shines; +Whose virtue on itself works no effect, +But in the fruitful Earth; there first received, +His beams, unactive else, their vigour find. +Yet not to Earth are those bright luminaries +Officious; but to thee, Earth's habitant. +And for the Heaven's wide circuit, let it speak +The Maker's high magnificence, who built +So spacious, and his line stretched out so far; +That Man may know he dwells not in his own; +An edifice too large for him to fill, +Lodged in a small partition; and the rest +Ordained for uses to his Lord best known. +The swiftness of those circles attribute, +Though numberless, to his Omnipotence, +That to corporeal substances could add +Speed almost spiritual: Me thou thinkest not slow, +Who since the morning-hour set out from Heaven +Where God resides, and ere mid-day arrived +In Eden; distance inexpressible +By numbers that have name. But this I urge, +Admitting motion in the Heavens, to show +Invalid that which thee to doubt it moved; +Not that I so affirm, though so it seem +To thee who hast thy dwelling here on Earth. +God, to remove his ways from human sense, +Placed Heaven from Earth so far, that earthly sight, +If it presume, might err in things too high, +And no advantage gain. What if the sun +Be center to the world; and other stars, +By his attractive virtue and their own +Incited, dance about him various rounds? +Their wandering course now high, now low, then hid, +Progressive, retrograde, or standing still, +In six thou seest; and what if seventh to these +The planet earth, so stedfast though she seem, +Insensibly three different motions move? +Which else to several spheres thou must ascribe, +Moved contrary with thwart obliquities; +Or save the sun his labour, and that swift +Nocturnal and diurnal rhomb supposed, +Invisible else above all stars, the wheel +Of day and night; which needs not thy belief, +If earth, industrious of herself, fetch day +Travelling east, and with her part averse +From the sun's beam meet night, her other part +Still luminous by his ray. What if that light, +Sent from her through the wide transpicuous air, +To the terrestrial moon be as a star, +Enlightening her by day, as she by night +This earth? reciprocal, if land be there, +Fields and inhabitants: Her spots thou seest +As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce +Fruits in her softened soil for some to eat +Allotted there; and other suns perhaps, +With their attendant moons, thou wilt descry, +Communicating male and female light; +Which two great sexes animate the world, +Stored in each orb perhaps with some that live. +For such vast room in Nature unpossessed +By living soul, desart and desolate, +Only to shine, yet scarce to contribute +Each orb a glimpse of light, conveyed so far +Down to this habitable, which returns +Light back to them, is obvious to dispute. +But whether thus these things, or whether not; +But whether the sun, predominant in Heaven, +Rise on the earth; or earth rise on the sun; +He from the east his flaming road begin; +Or she from west her silent course advance, +With inoffensive pace that spinning sleeps +On her soft axle, while she paces even, +And bears thee soft with the smooth hair along; +Sollicit not thy thoughts with matters hid; +Leave them to God above; him serve, and fear! +Of other creatures, as him pleases best, +Wherever placed, let him dispose; joy thou +In what he gives to thee, this Paradise +And thy fair Eve; Heaven is for thee too high +To know what passes there; be lowly wise: +Think only what concerns thee, and thy being; +Dream not of other worlds, what creatures there +Live, in what state, condition, or degree; +Contented that thus far hath been revealed +Not of Earth only, but of highest Heaven. +To whom thus Adam, cleared of doubt, replied. +How fully hast thou satisfied me, pure +Intelligence of Heaven, Angel serene! +And, freed from intricacies, taught to live +The easiest way; nor with perplexing thoughts +To interrupt the sweet of life, from which +God hath bid dwell far off all anxious cares, +And not molest us; unless we ourselves +Seek them with wandering thoughts, and notions vain. +But apt the mind or fancy is to rove +Unchecked, and of her roving is no end; +Till warned, or by experience taught, she learn, +That, not to know at large of things remote +From use, obscure and subtle; but, to know +That which before us lies in daily life, +Is the prime wisdom: What is more, is fume, +Or emptiness, or fond impertinence: +And renders us, in things that most concern, +Unpractised, unprepared, and still to seek. +Therefore from this high pitch let us descend +A lower flight, and speak of things at hand +Useful; whence, haply, mention may arise +Of something not unseasonable to ask, +By sufferance, and thy wonted favour, deigned. +Thee I have heard relating what was done +Ere my remembrance: now, hear me relate +My story, which perhaps thou hast not heard; +And day is not yet spent; till then thou seest +How subtly to detain thee I devise; +Inviting thee to hear while I relate; +Fond! were it not in hope of thy reply: +For, while I sit with thee, I seem in Heaven; +And sweeter thy discourse is to my ear +Than fruits of palm-tree pleasantest to thirst +And hunger both, from labour, at the hour +Of sweet repast; they satiate, and soon fill, +Though pleasant; but thy words, with grace divine +Imbued, bring to their sweetness no satiety. +To whom thus Raphael answered heavenly meek. +Nor are thy lips ungraceful, Sire of men, +Nor tongue ineloquent; for God on thee +Abundantly his gifts hath also poured +Inward and outward both, his image fair: +Speaking, or mute, all comeliness and grace +Attends thee; and each word, each motion, forms; +Nor less think we in Heaven of thee on Earth +Than of our fellow-servant, and inquire +Gladly into the ways of God with Man: +For God, we see, hath honoured thee, and set +On Man his equal love: Say therefore on; +For I that day was absent, as befel, +Bound on a voyage uncouth and obscure, +Far on excursion toward the gates of Hell; +Squared in full legion (such command we had) +To see that none thence issued forth a spy, +Or enemy, while God was in his work; +Lest he, incensed at such eruption bold, +Destruction with creation might have mixed. +Not that they durst without his leave attempt; +But us he sends upon his high behests +For state, as Sovran King; and to inure +Our prompt obedience. Fast we found, fast shut, +The dismal gates, and barricadoed strong; +But long ere our approaching heard within +Noise, other than the sound of dance or song, +Torment, and loud lament, and furious rage. +Glad we returned up to the coasts of light +Ere sabbath-evening: so we had in charge. +But thy relation now; for I attend, +Pleased with thy words no less than thou with mine. +So spake the Godlike Power, and thus our Sire. +For Man to tell how human life began +Is hard; for who himself beginning knew +Desire with thee still longer to converse +Induced me. As new waked from soundest sleep, +Soft on the flowery herb I found me laid, +In balmy sweat; which with his beams the sun +Soon dried, and on the reeking moisture fed. +Straight toward Heaven my wondering eyes I turned, +And gazed a while the ample sky; till, raised +By quick instinctive motion, up I sprung, +As thitherward endeavouring, and upright +Stood on my feet: about me round I saw +Hill, dale, and shady woods, and sunny plains, +And liquid lapse of murmuring streams; by these, +Creatures that lived and moved, and walked, or flew; +Birds on the branches warbling; all things smiled; +With fragrance and with joy my heart o'erflowed. +Myself I then perused, and limb by limb +Surveyed, and sometimes went, and sometimes ran +With supple joints, as lively vigour led: +But who I was, or where, or from what cause, +Knew not; to speak I tried, and forthwith spake; +My tongue obeyed, and readily could name +Whate'er I saw. Thou Sun, said I, fair light, +And thou enlightened Earth, so fresh and gay, +Ye Hills, and Dales, ye Rivers, Woods, and Plains, +And ye that live and move, fair Creatures, tell, +Tell, if ye saw, how I came thus, how here?-- +Not of myself;--by some great Maker then, +In goodness and in power pre-eminent: +Tell me, how may I know him, how adore, +From whom I have that thus I move and live, +And feel that I am happier than I know.-- +While thus I called, and strayed I knew not whither, +From where I first drew air, and first beheld +This happy light; when, answer none returned, +On a green shady bank, profuse of flowers, +Pensive I sat me down: There gentle sleep +First found me, and with soft oppression seised +My droused sense, untroubled, though I thought +I then was passing to my former state +Insensible, and forthwith to dissolve: +When suddenly stood at my head a dream, +Whose inward apparition gently moved +My fancy to believe I yet had being, +And lived: One came, methought, of shape divine, +And said, 'Thy mansion wants thee, Adam; rise, +'First Man, of men innumerable ordained +'First Father! called by thee, I come thy guide +'To the garden of bliss, thy seat prepared.' +So saying, by the hand he took me raised, +And over fields and waters, as in air +Smooth-sliding without step, last led me up +A woody mountain; whose high top was plain, +A circuit wide, enclosed, with goodliest trees +Planted, with walks, and bowers; that what I saw +Of Earth before scarce pleasant seemed. Each tree, +Loaden with fairest fruit that hung to the eye +Tempting, stirred in me sudden appetite +To pluck and eat; whereat I waked, and found +Before mine eyes all real, as the dream +Had lively shadowed: Here had new begun +My wandering, had not he, who was my guide +Up hither, from among the trees appeared, +Presence Divine. Rejoicing, but with awe, +In adoration at his feet I fell +Submiss: He reared me, and 'Whom thou soughtest I am,' +Said mildly, 'Author of all this thou seest +'Above, or round about thee, or beneath. +'This Paradise I give thee, count it thine +'To till and keep, and of the fruit to eat: +'Of every tree that in the garden grows +'Eat freely with glad heart; fear here no dearth: +'But of the tree whose operation brings +'Knowledge of good and ill, which I have set +'The pledge of thy obedience and thy faith, +'Amid the garden by the tree of life, +'Remember what I warn thee, shun to taste, +'And shun the bitter consequence: for know, +'The day thou eatest thereof, my sole command +'Transgressed, inevitably thou shalt die, +'From that day mortal; and this happy state +'Shalt lose, expelled from hence into a world +'Of woe and sorrow.' Sternly he pronounced +The rigid interdiction, which resounds +Yet dreadful in mine ear, though in my choice +Not to incur; but soon his clear aspect +Returned, and gracious purpose thus renewed. +'Not only these fair bounds, but all the Earth +'To thee and to thy race I give; as lords +'Possess it, and all things that therein live, +'Or live in sea, or air; beast, fish, and fowl. +'In sign whereof, each bird and beast behold +'After their kinds; I bring them to receive +'From thee their names, and pay thee fealty +'With low subjection; understand the same +'Of fish within their watery residence, +'Not hither summoned, since they cannot change +'Their element, to draw the thinner air.' +As thus he spake, each bird and beast behold +Approaching two and two; these cowering low +With blandishment; each bird stooped on his wing. +I named them, as they passed, and understood +Their nature, with such knowledge God endued +My sudden apprehension: But in these +I found not what methought I wanted still; +And to the heavenly Vision thus presumed. +O, by what name, for thou above all these, +Above mankind, or aught than mankind higher, +Surpassest far my naming; how may I +Adore thee, Author of this universe, +And all this good to man? for whose well being +So amply, and with hands so liberal, +Thou hast provided all things: But with me +I see not who partakes. In solitude +What happiness, who can enjoy alone, +Or, all enjoying, what contentment find? +Thus I presumptuous; and the Vision bright, +As with a smile more brightened, thus replied. +What callest thou solitude? Is not the Earth +With various living creatures, and the air +Replenished, and all these at thy command +To come and play before thee? Knowest thou not +Their language and their ways? They also know, +And reason not contemptibly: With these +Find pastime, and bear rule; thy realm is large. +So spake the Universal Lord, and seemed +So ordering: I, with leave of speech implored, +And humble deprecation, thus replied. +Let not my words offend thee, Heavenly Power; +My Maker, be propitious while I speak. +Hast thou not made me here thy substitute, +And these inferiour far beneath me set? +Among unequals what society +Can sort, what harmony, or true delight? +Which must be mutual, in proportion due +Given and received; but, in disparity +The one intense, the other still remiss, +Cannot well suit with either, but soon prove +Tedious alike: Of fellowship I speak +Such as I seek, fit to participate +All rational delight: wherein the brute +Cannot be human consort: They rejoice +Each with their kind, lion with lioness; +So fitly them in pairs thou hast combined: +Much less can bird with beast, or fish with fowl +So well converse, nor with the ox the ape; +Worse then can man with beast, and least of all. +Whereto the Almighty answered, not displeased. +A nice and subtle happiness, I see, +Thou to thyself proposest, in the choice +Of thy associates, Adam! and wilt taste +No pleasure, though in pleasure, solitary. +What thinkest thou then of me, and this my state? +Seem I to thee sufficiently possessed +Of happiness, or not? who am alone +From all eternity; for none I know +Second to me or like, equal much less. +How have I then with whom to hold converse, +Save with the creatures which I made, and those +To me inferiour, infinite descents +Beneath what other creatures are to thee? +He ceased; I lowly answered. To attain +The highth and depth of thy eternal ways +All human thoughts come short, Supreme of things! +Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee +Is no deficience found: Not so is Man, +But in degree; the cause of his desire +By conversation with his like to help +Or solace his defects. No need that thou +Shouldst propagate, already Infinite; +And through all numbers absolute, though One: +But Man by number is to manifest +His single imperfection, and beget +Like of his like, his image multiplied, +In unity defective; which requires +Collateral love, and dearest amity. +Thou in thy secresy although alone, +Best with thyself accompanied, seekest not +Social communication; yet, so pleased, +Canst raise thy creature to what highth thou wilt +Of union or communion, deified: +I, by conversing, cannot these erect +From prone; nor in their ways complacence find. +Thus I emboldened spake, and freedom used +Permissive, and acceptance found; which gained +This answer from the gracious Voice Divine. +Thus far to try thee, Adam, I was pleased; +And find thee knowing, not of beasts alone, +Which thou hast rightly named, but of thyself; +Expressing well the spirit within thee free, +My image, not imparted to the brute; +Whose fellowship therefore unmeet for thee +Good reason was thou freely shouldst dislike; +And be so minded still: I, ere thou spakest, +Knew it not good for Man to be alone; +And no such company as then thou sawest +Intended thee; for trial only brought, +To see how thou couldest judge of fit and meet: +What next I bring shall please thee, be assured, +Thy likeness, thy fit help, thy other self, +Thy wish exactly to thy heart's desire. +He ended, or I heard no more; for now +My earthly by his heavenly overpowered, +Which it had long stood under, strained to the highth +In that celestial colloquy sublime, +As with an object that excels the sense +Dazzled and spent, sunk down; and sought repair +Of sleep, which instantly fell on me, called +By Nature as in aid, and closed mine eyes. +Mine eyes he closed, but open left the cell +Of fancy, my internal sight; by which, +Abstract as in a trance, methought I saw, +Though sleeping, where I lay, and saw the shape +Still glorious before whom awake I stood: +Who stooping opened my left side, and took +From thence a rib, with cordial spirits warm, +And life-blood streaming fresh; wide was the wound, +But suddenly with flesh filled up and healed: +The rib he formed and fashioned with his hands; +Under his forming hands a creature grew, +Man-like, but different sex; so lovely fair, +That what seemed fair in all the world, seemed now +Mean, or in her summed up, in her contained +And in her looks; which from that time infused +Sweetness into my heart, unfelt before, +And into all things from her air inspired +The spirit of love and amorous delight. +She disappeared, and left me dark; I waked +To find her, or for ever to deplore +Her loss, and other pleasures all abjure: +When out of hope, behold her, not far off, +Such as I saw her in my dream, adorned +With what all Earth or Heaven could bestow +To make her amiable: On she came, +Led by her heavenly Maker, though unseen, +And guided by his voice; nor uninformed +Of nuptial sanctity, and marriage rites: +Grace was in all her steps, Heaven in her eye, +In every gesture dignity and love. +I, overjoyed, could not forbear aloud. +This turn hath made amends; thou hast fulfilled +Thy words, Creator bounteous and benign, +Giver of all things fair! but fairest this +Of all thy gifts! nor enviest. I now see +Bone of my bone, flesh of my flesh, myself +Before me: Woman is her name;of Man +Extracted: for this cause he shall forego +Father and mother, and to his wife adhere; +And they shall be one flesh, one heart, one soul. +She heard me thus; and though divinely brought, +Yet innocence, and virgin modesty, +Her virtue, and the conscience of her worth, +That would be wooed, and not unsought be won, +Not obvious, not obtrusive, but, retired, +The more desirable; or, to say all, +Nature herself, though pure of sinful thought, +Wrought in her so, that, seeing me, she turned: +I followed her; she what was honour knew, +And with obsequious majesty approved +My pleaded reason. To the nuptial bower +I led her blushing like the morn: All Heaven, +And happy constellations, on that hour +Shed their selectest influence; the Earth +Gave sign of gratulation, and each hill; +Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs +Whispered it to the woods, and from their wings +Flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub, +Disporting, till the amorous bird of night +Sung spousal, and bid haste the evening-star +On his hill top, to light the bridal lamp. +Thus have I told thee all my state, and brought +My story to the sum of earthly bliss, +Which I enjoy; and must confess to find +In all things else delight indeed, but such +As, used or not, works in the mind no change, +Nor vehement desire; these delicacies +I mean of taste, sight, smell, herbs, fruits, and flowers, +Walks, and the melody of birds: but here +Far otherwise, transported I behold, +Transported touch; here passion first I felt, +Commotion strange! in all enjoyments else +Superiour and unmoved; here only weak +Against the charm of Beauty's powerful glance. +Or Nature failed in me, and left some part +Not proof enough such object to sustain; +Or, from my side subducting, took perhaps +More than enough; at least on her bestowed +Too much of ornament, in outward show +Elaborate, of inward less exact. +For well I understand in the prime end +Of Nature her the inferiour, in the mind +And inward faculties, which most excel; +In outward also her resembling less +His image who made both, and less expressing +The character of that dominion given +O'er other creatures: Yet when I approach +Her loveliness, so absolute she seems +And in herself complete, so well to know +Her own, that what she wills to do or say, +Seems wisest, virtuousest, discreetest, best: +All higher knowledge in her presence falls +Degraded; Wisdom in discourse with her +Loses discountenanced, and like Folly shows; +Authority and Reason on her wait, +As one intended first, not after made +Occasionally; and, to consummate all, +Greatness of mind and Nobleness their seat +Build in her loveliest, and create an awe +About her, as a guard angelick placed. +To whom the Angel with contracted brow. +Accuse not Nature, she hath done her part; +Do thou but thine; and be not diffident +Of Wisdom; she deserts thee not, if thou +Dismiss not her, when most thou needest her nigh, +By attributing overmuch to things +Less excellent, as thou thyself perceivest. +For, what admirest thou, what transports thee so, +An outside? fair, no doubt, and worthy well +Thy cherishing, thy honouring, and thy love; +Not thy subjection: Weigh with her thyself; +Then value: Oft-times nothing profits more +Than self-esteem, grounded on just and right +Well managed; of that skill the more thou knowest, +The more she will acknowledge thee her head, +And to realities yield all her shows: +Made so adorn for thy delight the more, +So awful, that with honour thou mayest love +Thy mate, who sees when thou art seen least wise. +But if the sense of touch, whereby mankind +Is propagated, seem such dear delight +Beyond all other; think the same vouchsafed +To cattle and each beast; which would not be +To them made common and divulged, if aught +Therein enjoyed were worthy to subdue +The soul of man, or passion in him move. +What higher in her society thou findest +Attractive, human, rational, love still; +In loving thou dost well, in passion not, +Wherein true love consists not: Love refines +The thoughts, and heart enlarges; hath his seat +In reason, and is judicious; is the scale +By which to heavenly love thou mayest ascend, +Not sunk in carnal pleasure; for which cause, +Among the beasts no mate for thee was found. +To whom thus, half abashed, Adam replied. +Neither her outside formed so fair, nor aught +In procreation common to all kinds, +(Though higher of the genial bed by far, +And with mysterious reverence I deem,) +So much delights me, as those graceful acts, +Those thousand decencies, that daily flow +From all her words and actions mixed with love +And sweet compliance, which declare unfeigned +Union of mind, or in us both one soul; +Harmony to behold in wedded pair +More grateful than harmonious sound to the ear. +Yet these subject not; I to thee disclose +What inward thence I feel, not therefore foiled, +Who meet with various objects, from the sense +Variously representing; yet, still free, +Approve the best, and follow what I approve. +To love, thou blamest me not; for Love, thou sayest, +Leads up to Heaven, is both the way and guide; +Bear with me then, if lawful what I ask: +Love not the heavenly Spirits, and how their love +Express they? by looks only? or do they mix +Irradiance, virtual or immediate touch? +To whom the Angel, with a smile that glowed +Celestial rosy red, Love's proper hue, +Answered. Let it suffice thee that thou knowest +Us happy, and without love no happiness. +Whatever pure thou in the body enjoyest, +(And pure thou wert created) we enjoy +In eminence; and obstacle find none +Of membrane, joint, or limb, exclusive bars; +Easier than air with air, if Spirits embrace, +Total they mix, union of pure with pure +Desiring, nor restrained conveyance need, +As flesh to mix with flesh, or soul with soul. +But I can now no more; the parting sun +Beyond the Earth's green Cape and verdant Isles +Hesperian sets, my signal to depart. +Be strong, live happy, and love! But, first of all, +Him, whom to love is to obey, and keep +His great command; take heed lest passion sway +Thy judgement to do aught, which else free will +Would not admit: thine, and of all thy sons, +The weal or woe in thee is placed; beware! +I in thy persevering shall rejoice, +And all the Blest: Stand fast;to stand or fall +Free in thine own arbitrement it lies. +Perfect within, no outward aid require; +And all temptation to transgress repel. +So saying, he arose; whom Adam thus +Followed with benediction. Since to part, +Go, heavenly guest, ethereal Messenger, +Sent from whose sovran goodness I adore! +Gentle to me and affable hath been +Thy condescension, and shall be honoured ever +With grateful memory: Thou to mankind +Be good and friendly still, and oft return! +So parted they; the Angel up to Heaven +From the thick shade, and Adam to his bower. + + + +Book IX + + +No more of talk where God or Angel guest +With Man, as with his friend, familiar us'd, +To sit indulgent, and with him partake +Rural repast; permitting him the while +Venial discourse unblam'd. I now must change +Those notes to tragick; foul distrust, and breach +Disloyal on the part of Man, revolt, +And disobedience: on the part of Heaven +Now alienated, distance and distaste, +Anger and just rebuke, and judgement given, +That brought into this world a world of woe, +Sin and her shadow Death, and Misery +Death's harbinger: Sad talk!yet argument +Not less but more heroick than the wrath +Of stern Achilles on his foe pursued +Thrice fugitive about Troy wall; or rage +Of Turnus for Lavinia disespous'd; +Or Neptune's ire, or Juno's, that so long +Perplexed the Greek, and Cytherea's son: + + 00482129 +If answerable style I can obtain +Of my celestial patroness, who deigns +Her nightly visitation unimplor'd, +And dictates to me slumbering; or inspires +Easy my unpremeditated verse: +Since first this subject for heroick song +Pleas'd me long choosing, and beginning late; +Not sedulous by nature to indite +Wars, hitherto the only argument +Heroick deem'd chief mastery to dissect +With long and tedious havock fabled knights +In battles feign'd; the better fortitude +Of patience and heroick martyrdom +Unsung; or to describe races and games, +Or tilting furniture, imblazon'd shields, +Impresses quaint, caparisons and steeds, +Bases and tinsel trappings, gorgeous knights +At joust and tournament; then marshall'd feast +Serv'd up in hall with sewers and seneshals; +The skill of artifice or office mean, +Not that which justly gives heroick name +To person, or to poem. Me, of these +Nor skill'd nor studious, higher argument +Remains; sufficient of itself to raise +That name, unless an age too late, or cold +Climate, or years, damp my intended wing +Depress'd; and much they may, if all be mine, +Not hers, who brings it nightly to my ear. +The sun was sunk, and after him the star +Of Hesperus, whose office is to bring +Twilight upon the earth, short arbiter +"twixt day and night, and now from end to end +Night's hemisphere had veil'd the horizon round: +When satan, who late fled before the threats +Of Gabriel out of Eden, now improv'd +In meditated fraud and malice, bent +On Man's destruction, maugre what might hap +Of heavier on himself, fearless returned +From compassing the earth; cautious of day, +Since Uriel, regent of the sun, descried +His entrance, and foreworned the Cherubim +That kept their watch; thence full of anguish driven, +The space of seven continued nights he rode +With darkness; thrice the equinoctial line +He circled; four times crossed the car of night +From pole to pole, traversing each colure; +On the eighth returned; and, on the coast averse +From entrance or Cherubick watch, by stealth +Found unsuspected way. There was a place, +Now not, though sin, not time, first wrought the change, +Where Tigris, at the foot of Paradise, +Into a gulf shot under ground, till part +Rose up a fountain by the tree of life: +In with the river sunk, and with it rose +Satan, involved in rising mist; then sought +Where to lie hid; sea he had searched, and land, +From Eden over Pontus and the pool +Maeotis, up beyond the river Ob; +Downward as far antarctick; and in length, +West from Orontes to the ocean barred +At Darien ; thence to the land where flows +Ganges and Indus: Thus the orb he roamed +With narrow search; and with inspection deep +Considered every creature, which of all +Most opportune might serve his wiles; and found +The Serpent subtlest beast of all the field. +Him after long debate, irresolute +Of thoughts revolved, his final sentence chose +Fit vessel, fittest imp of fraud, in whom +To enter, and his dark suggestions hide +From sharpest sight: for, in the wily snake +Whatever sleights, none would suspicious mark, +As from his wit and native subtlety +Proceeding; which, in other beasts observed, +Doubt might beget of diabolick power +Active within, beyond the sense of brute. +Thus he resolved, but first from inward grief +His bursting passion into plaints thus poured. +More justly, seat worthier of Gods, as built +With second thoughts, reforming what was old! +O Earth, how like to Heaven, if not preferred +For what God, after better, worse would build? +Terrestrial Heaven, danced round by other Heavens +That shine, yet bear their bright officious lamps, +Light above light, for thee alone, as seems, +In thee concentring all their precious beams +Of sacred influence! As God in Heaven +Is center, yet extends to all; so thou, +Centring, receivest from all those orbs: in thee, +Not in themselves, all their known virtue appears +Productive in herb, plant, and nobler birth +Of creatures animate with gradual life +Of growth, sense, reason, all summed up in Man. +With what delight could I have walked thee round, +If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange +Of hill, and valley, rivers, woods, and plains, +Now land, now sea and shores with forest crowned, +Rocks, dens, and caves! But I in none of these +Find place or refuge; and the more I see +Pleasures about me, so much more I feel +Torment within me, as from the hateful siege +Of contraries: all good to me becomes +Bane, and in Heaven much worse would be my state. +But neither here seek I, no nor in Heaven +To dwell, unless by mastering Heaven's Supreme; +Nor hope to be myself less miserable +By what I seek, but others to make such +As I, though thereby worse to me redound: +For only in destroying I find ease +To my relentless thoughts; and, him destroyed, +Or won to what may work his utter loss, +For whom all this was made, all this will soon +Follow, as to him linked in weal or woe; +In woe then; that destruction wide may range: +To me shall be the glory sole among +The infernal Powers, in one day to have marred +What he, Almighty styled, six nights and days +Continued making; and who knows how long +Before had been contriving? though perhaps +Not longer than since I, in one night, freed +From servitude inglorious well nigh half +The angelick name, and thinner left the throng +Of his adorers: He, to be avenged, +And to repair his numbers thus impaired, +Whether such virtue spent of old now failed +More Angels to create, if they at least +Are his created, or, to spite us more, +Determined to advance into our room +A creature formed of earth, and him endow, +Exalted from so base original, +With heavenly spoils, our spoils: What he decreed, +He effected; Man he made, and for him built +Magnificent this world, and earth his seat, +Him lord pronounced; and, O indignity! +Subjected to his service angel-wings, +And flaming ministers to watch and tend +Their earthly charge: Of these the vigilance +I dread; and, to elude, thus wrapt in mist +Of midnight vapour glide obscure, and pry +In every bush and brake, where hap may find +The serpent sleeping; in whose mazy folds +To hide me, and the dark intent I bring. +O foul descent! that I, who erst contended +With Gods to sit the highest, am now constrained +Into a beast; and, mixed with bestial slime, +This essence to incarnate and imbrute, +That to the highth of Deity aspired! +But what will not ambition and revenge +Descend to? Who aspires, must down as low +As high he soared; obnoxious, first or last, +To basest things. Revenge, at first though sweet, +Bitter ere long, back on itself recoils: +Let it; I reck not, so it light well aimed, +Since higher I fall short, on him who next +Provokes my envy, this new favourite +Of Heaven, this man of clay, son of despite, +Whom, us the more to spite, his Maker raised +From dust: Spite then with spite is best repaid. +So saying, through each thicket dank or dry, +Like a black mist low-creeping, he held on +His midnight-search, where soonest he might find +The serpent; him fast-sleeping soon he found +In labyrinth of many a round self-rolled, +His head the midst, well stored with subtile wiles: +Not yet in horrid shade or dismal den, +Nor nocent yet; but, on the grassy herb, +Fearless unfeared he slept: in at his mouth +The Devil entered; and his brutal sense, +In heart or head, possessing, soon inspired +With act intelligential; but his sleep +Disturbed not, waiting close the approach of morn. +Now, when as sacred light began to dawn +In Eden on the humid flowers, that breathed +Their morning incense, when all things, that breathe, +From the Earth's great altar send up silent praise +To the Creator, and his nostrils fill +With grateful smell, forth came the human pair, +And joined their vocal worship to the quire +Of creatures wanting voice; that done, partake +The season prime for sweetest scents and airs: +Then commune, how that day they best may ply +Their growing work: for much their work out-grew +The hands' dispatch of two gardening so wide, +And Eve first to her husband thus began. +Adam, well may we labour still to dress +This garden, still to tend plant, herb, and flower, +Our pleasant task enjoined; but, till more hands +Aid us, the work under our labour grows, +Luxurious by restraint; what we by day +Lop overgrown, or prune, or prop, or bind, +One night or two with wanton growth derides +Tending to wild. Thou therefore now advise, +Or bear what to my mind first thoughts present: +Let us divide our labours; thou, where choice +Leads thee, or where most needs, whether to wind +The woodbine round this arbour, or direct +The clasping ivy where to climb; while I, +In yonder spring of roses intermixed +With myrtle, find what to redress till noon: +For, while so near each other thus all day +Our task we choose, what wonder if so near +Looks intervene and smiles, or object new +Casual discourse draw on; which intermits +Our day's work, brought to little, though begun +Early, and the hour of supper comes unearned? +To whom mild answer Adam thus returned. +Sole Eve, associate sole, to me beyond +Compare above all living creatures dear! +Well hast thou motioned, well thy thoughts employed, +How we might best fulfil the work which here +God hath assigned us; nor of me shalt pass +Unpraised: for nothing lovelier can be found +In woman, than to study houshold good, +And good works in her husband to promote. +Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed +Labour, as to debar us when we need +Refreshment, whether food, or talk between, +Food of the mind, or this sweet intercourse +Of looks and smiles; for smiles from reason flow, +To brute denied, and are of love the food; +Love, not the lowest end of human life. +For not to irksome toil, but to delight, +He made us, and delight to reason joined. +These paths and bowers doubt not but our joint hands +Will keep from wilderness with ease, as wide +As we need walk, till younger hands ere long +Assist us; But, if much converse perhaps +Thee satiate, to short absence I could yield: +For solitude sometimes is best society, +And short retirement urges sweet return. +But other doubt possesses me, lest harm +Befall thee severed from me; for thou knowest +What hath been warned us, what malicious foe +Envying our happiness, and of his own +Despairing, seeks to work us woe and shame +By sly assault; and somewhere nigh at hand +Watches, no doubt, with greedy hope to find +His wish and best advantage, us asunder; +Hopeless to circumvent us joined, where each +To other speedy aid might lend at need: +Whether his first design be to withdraw +Our fealty from God, or to disturb +Conjugal love, than which perhaps no bliss +Enjoyed by us excites his envy more; +Or this, or worse, leave not the faithful side +That gave thee being, still shades thee, and protects. +The wife, where danger or dishonour lurks, +Safest and seemliest by her husband stays, +Who guards her, or with her the worst endures. +To whom the virgin majesty of Eve, +As one who loves, and some unkindness meets, +With sweet austere composure thus replied. +Offspring of Heaven and Earth, and all Earth's Lord! +That such an enemy we have, who seeks +Our ruin, both by thee informed I learn, +And from the parting Angel over-heard, +As in a shady nook I stood behind, +Just then returned at shut of evening flowers. +But, that thou shouldst my firmness therefore doubt +To God or thee, because we have a foe +May tempt it, I expected not to hear. +His violence thou fearest not, being such +As we, not capable of death or pain, +Can either not receive, or can repel. +His fraud is then thy fear; which plain infers +Thy equal fear, that my firm faith and love +Can by his fraud be shaken or seduced; +Thoughts, which how found they harbour in thy breast, +Adam, mis-thought of her to thee so dear? +To whom with healing words Adam replied. +Daughter of God and Man, immortal Eve! +For such thou art; from sin and blame entire: +Not diffident of thee do I dissuade +Thy absence from my sight, but to avoid +The attempt itself, intended by our foe. +For he who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses +The tempted with dishonour foul; supposed +Not incorruptible of faith, not proof +Against temptation: Thou thyself with scorn +And anger wouldst resent the offered wrong, +Though ineffectual found: misdeem not then, +If such affront I labour to avert +From thee alone, which on us both at once +The enemy, though bold, will hardly dare; +Or daring, first on me the assault shall light. +Nor thou his malice and false guile contemn; +Subtle he needs must be, who could seduce +Angels; nor think superfluous other's aid. +I, from the influence of thy looks, receive +Access in every virtue; in thy sight +More wise, more watchful, stronger, if need were +Of outward strength; while shame, thou looking on, +Shame to be overcome or over-reached, +Would utmost vigour raise, and raised unite. +Why shouldst not thou like sense within thee feel +When I am present, and thy trial choose +With me, best witness of thy virtue tried? +So spake domestick Adam in his care +And matrimonial love; but Eve, who thought +Less attributed to her faith sincere, +Thus her reply with accent sweet renewed. +If this be our condition, thus to dwell +In narrow circuit straitened by a foe, +Subtle or violent, we not endued +Single with like defence, wherever met; +How are we happy, still in fear of harm? +But harm precedes not sin: only our foe, +Tempting, affronts us with his foul esteem +Of our integrity: his foul esteem +Sticks no dishonour on our front, but turns +Foul on himself; then wherefore shunned or feared +By us? who rather double honour gain +From his surmise proved false; find peace within, +Favour from Heaven, our witness, from the event. +And what is faith, love, virtue, unassayed +Alone, without exteriour help sustained? +Let us not then suspect our happy state +Left so imperfect by the Maker wise, +As not secure to single or combined. +Frail is our happiness, if this be so, +And Eden were no Eden, thus exposed. +To whom thus Adam fervently replied. +O Woman, best are all things as the will +Of God ordained them: His creating hand +Nothing imperfect or deficient left +Of all that he created, much less Man, +Or aught that might his happy state secure, +Secure from outward force; within himself +The danger lies, yet lies within his power: +Against his will he can receive no harm. +But God left free the will; for what obeys +Reason, is free; and Reason he made right, +But bid her well be ware, and still erect; +Lest, by some fair-appearing good surprised, +She dictate false; and mis-inform the will +To do what God expressly hath forbid. +Not then mistrust, but tender love, enjoins, +That I should mind thee oft; and mind thou me. +Firm we subsist, yet possible to swerve; +Since Reason not impossibly may meet +Some specious object by the foe suborned, +And fall into deception unaware, +Not keeping strictest watch, as she was warned. +Seek not temptation then, which to avoid +Were better, and most likely if from me +Thou sever not: Trial will come unsought. +Wouldst thou approve thy constancy, approve +First thy obedience; the other who can know, +Not seeing thee attempted, who attest? +But, if thou think, trial unsought may find +Us both securer than thus warned thou seemest, +Go; for thy stay, not free, absents thee more; +Go in thy native innocence, rely +On what thou hast of virtue; summon all! +For God towards thee hath done his part, do thine. +So spake the patriarch of mankind; but Eve +Persisted; yet submiss, though last, replied. +With thy permission then, and thus forewarned +Chiefly by what thy own last reasoning words +Touched only; that our trial, when least sought, +May find us both perhaps far less prepared, +The willinger I go, nor much expect +A foe so proud will first the weaker seek; +So bent, the more shall shame him his repulse. +Thus saying, from her husband's hand her hand +Soft she withdrew; and, like a Wood-Nymph light, +Oread or Dryad, or of Delia's train, +Betook her to the groves; but Delia's self +In gait surpassed, and Goddess-like deport, +Though not as she with bow and quiver armed, +But with such gardening tools as Art yet rude, +Guiltless of fire, had formed, or Angels brought. +To Pales, or Pomona, thus adorned, +Likest she seemed, Pomona when she fled +Vertumnus, or to Ceres in her prime, +Yet virgin of Proserpina from Jove. +Her long with ardent look his eye pursued +Delighted, but desiring more her stay. +Oft he to her his charge of quick return +Repeated; she to him as oft engaged +To be returned by noon amid the bower, +And all things in best order to invite +Noontide repast, or afternoon's repose. +O much deceived, much failing, hapless Eve, +Of thy presumed return! event perverse! +Thou never from that hour in Paradise +Foundst either sweet repast, or sound repose; +Such ambush, hid among sweet flowers and shades, +Waited with hellish rancour imminent +To intercept thy way, or send thee back +Despoiled of innocence, of faith, of bliss! +For now, and since first break of dawn, the Fiend, +Mere serpent in appearance, forth was come; +And on his quest, where likeliest he might find +The only two of mankind, but in them +The whole included race, his purposed prey. +In bower and field he sought, where any tuft +Of grove or garden-plot more pleasant lay, +Their tendance, or plantation for delight; +By fountain or by shady rivulet +He sought them both, but wished his hap might find +Eve separate; he wished, but not with hope +Of what so seldom chanced; when to his wish, +Beyond his hope, Eve separate he spies, +Veiled in a cloud of fragrance, where she stood, +Half spied, so thick the roses blushing round +About her glowed, oft stooping to support +Each flower of slender stalk, whose head, though gay +Carnation, purple, azure, or specked with gold, +Hung drooping unsustained; them she upstays +Gently with myrtle band, mindless the while +Herself, though fairest unsupported flower, +From her best prop so far, and storm so nigh. +Nearer he drew, and many a walk traversed +Of stateliest covert, cedar, pine, or palm; +Then voluble and bold, now hid, now seen, +Among thick-woven arborets, and flowers +Imbordered on each bank, the hand of Eve: +Spot more delicious than those gardens feigned +Or of revived Adonis, or renowned +Alcinous, host of old Laertes' son; +Or that, not mystick, where the sapient king +Held dalliance with his fair Egyptian spouse. +Much he the place admired, the person more. +As one who long in populous city pent, +Where houses thick and sewers annoy the air, +Forth issuing on a summer's morn, to breathe +Among the pleasant villages and farms +Adjoined, from each thing met conceives delight; +The smell of grain, or tedded grass, or kine, +Or dairy, each rural sight, each rural sound; +If chance, with nymph-like step, fair virgin pass, +What pleasing seemed, for her now pleases more; +She most, and in her look sums all delight: +Such pleasure took the Serpent to behold +This flowery plat, the sweet recess of Eve +Thus early, thus alone: Her heavenly form +Angelick, but more soft, and feminine, +Her graceful innocence, her every air +Of gesture, or least action, overawed +His malice, and with rapine sweet bereaved +His fierceness of the fierce intent it brought: +That space the Evil-one abstracted stood +From his own evil, and for the time remained +Stupidly good; of enmity disarmed, +Of guile, of hate, of envy, of revenge: +But the hot Hell that always in him burns, +Though in mid Heaven, soon ended his delight, +And tortures him now more, the more he sees +Of pleasure, not for him ordained: then soon +Fierce hate he recollects, and all his thoughts +Of mischief, gratulating, thus excites. +Thoughts, whither have ye led me! with what sweet +Compulsion thus transported, to forget +What hither brought us! hate, not love;nor hope +Of Paradise for Hell, hope here to taste +Of pleasure; but all pleasure to destroy, +Save what is in destroying; other joy +To me is lost. Then, let me not let pass +Occasion which now smiles; behold alone +The woman, opportune to all attempts, +Her husband, for I view far round, not nigh, +Whose higher intellectual more I shun, +And strength, of courage haughty, and of limb +Heroick built, though of terrestrial mould; +Foe not informidable! exempt from wound, +I not; so much hath Hell debased, and pain +Enfeebled me, to what I was in Heaven. +She fair, divinely fair, fit love for Gods! +Not terrible, though terrour be in love +And beauty, not approached by stronger hate, +Hate stronger, under show of love well feigned; +The way which to her ruin now I tend. +So spake the enemy of mankind, enclosed +In serpent, inmate bad! and toward Eve +Addressed his way: not with indented wave, +Prone on the ground, as since; but on his rear, +Circular base of rising folds, that towered +Fold above fold, a surging maze! his head +Crested aloft, and carbuncle his eyes; +With burnished neck of verdant gold, erect +Amidst his circling spires, that on the grass +Floated redundant: pleasing was his shape +And lovely; never since of serpent-kind +Lovelier, not those that in Illyria changed, +Hermione and Cadmus, or the god +In Epidaurus; nor to which transformed +Ammonian Jove, or Capitoline, was seen; +He with Olympias; this with her who bore +Scipio, the highth of Rome. With tract oblique +At first, as one who sought access, but feared +To interrupt, side-long he works his way. +As when a ship, by skilful steersmen wrought +Nigh river's mouth or foreland, where the wind +Veers oft, as oft so steers, and shifts her sail: +So varied he, and of his tortuous train +Curled many a wanton wreath in sight of Eve, +To lure her eye; she, busied, heard the sound +Of rusling leaves, but minded not, as used +To such disport before her through the field, +From every beast; more duteous at her call, +Than at Circean call the herd disguised. +He, bolder now, uncalled before her stood, +But as in gaze admiring: oft he bowed +His turret crest, and sleek enamelled neck, +Fawning; and licked the ground whereon she trod. +His gentle dumb expression turned at length +The eye of Eve to mark his play; he, glad +Of her attention gained, with serpent-tongue +Organick, or impulse of vocal air, +His fraudulent temptation thus began. +Wonder not, sovran Mistress, if perhaps +Thou canst, who art sole wonder! much less arm +Thy looks, the Heaven of mildness, with disdain, +Displeased that I approach thee thus, and gaze +Insatiate; I thus single;nor have feared +Thy awful brow, more awful thus retired. +Fairest resemblance of thy Maker fair, +Thee all things living gaze on, all things thine +By gift, and thy celestial beauty adore +With ravishment beheld! there best beheld, +Where universally admired; but here +In this enclosure wild, these beasts among, +Beholders rude, and shallow to discern +Half what in thee is fair, one man except, +Who sees thee? and what is one? who should be seen +A Goddess among Gods, adored and served +By Angels numberless, thy daily train. +So glozed the Tempter, and his proem tuned: +Into the heart of Eve his words made way, +Though at the voice much marvelling; at length, +Not unamazed, she thus in answer spake. +What may this mean? language of man pronounced +By tongue of brute, and human sense expressed? +The first, at least, of these I thought denied +To beasts; whom God, on their creation-day, +Created mute to all articulate sound: +The latter I demur; for in their looks +Much reason, and in their actions, oft appears. +Thee, Serpent, subtlest beast of all the field +I knew, but not with human voice endued; +Redouble then this miracle, and say, +How camest thou speakable of mute, and how +To me so friendly grown above the rest +Of brutal kind, that daily are in sight? +Say, for such wonder claims attention due. +To whom the guileful Tempter thus replied. +Empress of this fair world, resplendent Eve! +Easy to me it is to tell thee all +What thou commandest; and right thou shouldst be obeyed: +I was at first as other beasts that graze +The trodden herb, of abject thoughts and low, +As was my food; nor aught but food discerned +Or sex, and apprehended nothing high: +Till, on a day roving the field, I chanced +A goodly tree far distant to behold +Loaden with fruit of fairest colours mixed, +Ruddy and gold: I nearer drew to gaze; +When from the boughs a savoury odour blown, +Grateful to appetite, more pleased my sense +Than smell of sweetest fennel, or the teats +Of ewe or goat dropping with milk at even, +Unsucked of lamb or kid, that tend their play. +To satisfy the sharp desire I had +Of tasting those fair apples, I resolved +Not to defer; hunger and thirst at once, +Powerful persuaders, quickened at the scent +Of that alluring fruit, urged me so keen. +About the mossy trunk I wound me soon; +For, high from ground, the branches would require +Thy utmost reach or Adam's: Round the tree +All other beasts that saw, with like desire +Longing and envying stood, but could not reach. +Amid the tree now got, where plenty hung +Tempting so nigh, to pluck and eat my fill +I spared not; for, such pleasure till that hour, +At feed or fountain, never had I found. +Sated at length, ere long I might perceive +Strange alteration in me, to degree +Of reason in my inward powers; and speech +Wanted not long; though to this shape retained. +Thenceforth to speculations high or deep +I turned my thoughts, and with capacious mind +Considered all things visible in Heaven, +Or Earth, or Middle; all things fair and good: +But all that fair and good in thy divine +Semblance, and in thy beauty's heavenly ray, +United I beheld; no fair to thine +Equivalent or second! which compelled +Me thus, though importune perhaps, to come +And gaze, and worship thee of right declared +Sovran of creatures, universal Dame! +So talked the spirited sly Snake; and Eve, +Yet more amazed, unwary thus replied. +Serpent, thy overpraising leaves in doubt +The virtue of that fruit, in thee first proved: +But say, where grows the tree? from hence how far? +For many are the trees of God that grow +In Paradise, and various, yet unknown +To us; in such abundance lies our choice, +As leaves a greater store of fruit untouched, +Still hanging incorruptible, till men +Grow up to their provision, and more hands +Help to disburden Nature of her birth. +To whom the wily Adder, blithe and glad. +Empress, the way is ready, and not long; +Beyond a row of myrtles, on a flat, +Fast by a fountain, one small thicket past +Of blowing myrrh and balm: if thou accept +My conduct, I can bring thee thither soon +Lead then, said Eve. He, leading, swiftly rolled +In tangles, and made intricate seem straight, +To mischief swift. Hope elevates, and joy +Brightens his crest; as when a wandering fire, +Compact of unctuous vapour, which the night +Condenses, and the cold environs round, +Kindled through agitation to a flame, +Which oft, they say, some evil Spirit attends, +Hovering and blazing with delusive light, +Misleads the amazed night-wanderer from his way +To bogs and mires, and oft through pond or pool; +There swallowed up and lost, from succour far. +So glistered the dire Snake, and into fraud +Led Eve, our credulous mother, to the tree +Of prohibition, root of all our woe; +Which when she saw, thus to her guide she spake. +Serpent, we might have spared our coming hither, +Fruitless to me, though fruit be here to excess, +The credit of whose virtue rest with thee; +Wonderous indeed, if cause of such effects. +But of this tree we may not taste nor touch; +God so commanded, and left that command +Sole daughter of his voice; the rest, we live +Law to ourselves; our reason is our law. +To whom the Tempter guilefully replied. +Indeed! hath God then said that of the fruit +Of all these garden-trees ye shall not eat, +Yet Lords declared of all in earth or air$? +To whom thus Eve, yet sinless. Of the fruit +Of each tree in the garden we may eat; +But of the fruit of this fair tree amidst +The garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat +Thereof, nor shall ye touch it, lest ye die. +She scarce had said, though brief, when now more bold +The Tempter, but with show of zeal and love +To Man, and indignation at his wrong, +New part puts on; and, as to passion moved, +Fluctuates disturbed, yet comely and in act +Raised, as of some great matter to begin. +As when of old some orator renowned, +In Athens or free Rome, where eloquence +Flourished, since mute! to some great cause addressed, +Stood in himself collected; while each part, +Motion, each act, won audience ere the tongue; +Sometimes in highth began, as no delay +Of preface brooking, through his zeal of right: +So standing, moving, or to highth up grown, +The Tempter, all impassioned, thus began. +O sacred, wise, and wisdom-giving Plant, +Mother of science! now I feel thy power +Within me clear; not only to discern +Things in their causes, but to trace the ways +Of highest agents, deemed however wise. +Queen of this universe! do not believe +Those rigid threats of death: ye shall not die: +How should you? by the fruit? it gives you life +To knowledge; by the threatener? look on me, +Me, who have touched and tasted; yet both live, +And life more perfect have attained than Fate +Meant me, by venturing higher than my lot. +Shall that be shut to Man, which to the Beast +Is open? or will God incense his ire +For such a petty trespass? and not praise +Rather your dauntless virtue, whom the pain +Of death denounced, whatever thing death be, +Deterred not from achieving what might lead +To happier life, knowledge of good and evil; +Of good, how just? of evil, if what is evil +Be real, why not known, since easier shunned? +God therefore cannot hurt ye, and be just; +Not just, not God; not feared then, nor obeyed: +Your fear itself of death removes the fear. +Why then was this forbid? Why, but to awe; +Why, but to keep ye low and ignorant, +His worshippers? He knows that in the day +Ye eat thereof, your eyes that seem so clear, +Yet are but dim, shall perfectly be then +Opened and cleared, and ye shall be as Gods, +Knowing both good and evil, as they know. +That ye shall be as Gods, since I as Man, +Internal Man, is but proportion meet; +I, of brute, human; ye, of human, Gods. +So ye shall die perhaps, by putting off +Human, to put on Gods; death to be wished, +Though threatened, which no worse than this can bring. +And what are Gods, that Man may not become +As they, participating God-like food? +The Gods are first, and that advantage use +On our belief, that all from them proceeds: +I question it; for this fair earth I see, +Warmed by the sun, producing every kind; +Them, nothing: if they all things, who enclosed +Knowledge of good and evil in this tree, +That whoso eats thereof, forthwith attains +Wisdom without their leave? and wherein lies +The offence, that Man should thus attain to know? +What can your knowledge hurt him, or this tree +Impart against his will, if all be his? +Or is it envy? and can envy dwell +In heavenly breasts? These, these, and many more +Causes import your need of this fair fruit. +Goddess humane, reach then, and freely taste! +He ended; and his words, replete with guile, +Into her heart too easy entrance won: +Fixed on the fruit she gazed, which to behold +Might tempt alone; and in her ears the sound +Yet rung of his persuasive words, impregned +With reason, to her seeming, and with truth: +Mean while the hour of noon drew on, and waked +An eager appetite, raised by the smell +So savoury of that fruit, which with desire, +Inclinable now grown to touch or taste, +Solicited her longing eye; yet first +Pausing a while, thus to herself she mused. +Great are thy virtues, doubtless, best of fruits, +Though kept from man, and worthy to be admired; +Whose taste, too long forborn, at first assay +Gave elocution to the mute, and taught +The tongue not made for speech to speak thy praise: +Thy praise he also, who forbids thy use, +Conceals not from us, naming thee the tree +Of knowledge, knowledge both of good and evil; +Forbids us then to taste! but his forbidding +Commends thee more, while it infers the good +By thee communicated, and our want: +For good unknown sure is not had; or, had +And yet unknown, is as not had at all. +In plain then, what forbids he but to know, +Forbids us good, forbids us to be wise? +Such prohibitions bind not. But, if death +Bind us with after-bands, what profits then +Our inward freedom? In the day we eat +Of this fair fruit, our doom is, we shall die! +How dies the Serpent? he hath eaten and lives, +And knows, and speaks, and reasons, and discerns, +Irrational till then. For us alone +Was death invented? or to us denied +This intellectual food, for beasts reserved? +For beasts it seems: yet that one beast which first +Hath tasted envies not, but brings with joy +The good befallen him, author unsuspect, +Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile. +What fear I then? rather, what know to fear +Under this ignorance of good and evil, +Of God or death, of law or penalty? +Here grows the cure of all, this fruit divine, +Fair to the eye, inviting to the taste, +Of virtue to make wise: What hinders then +To reach, and feed at once both body and mind? +So saying, her rash hand in evil hour +Forth reaching to the fruit, she plucked, she eat! +Earth felt the wound; and Nature from her seat, +Sighing through all her works, gave signs of woe, +That all was lost. Back to the thicket slunk +The guilty Serpent; and well might;for Eve, +Intent now wholly on her taste, nought else +Regarded; such delight till then, as seemed, +In fruit she never tasted, whether true +Or fancied so, through expectation high +Of knowledge; not was Godhead from her thought. +Greedily she ingorged without restraint, +And knew not eating death: Satiate at length, +And hightened as with wine, jocund and boon, +Thus to herself she pleasingly began. +O sovran, virtuous, precious of all trees +In Paradise! of operation blest +To sapience, hitherto obscured, infamed. +And thy fair fruit let hang, as to no end +Created; but henceforth my early care, +Not without song, each morning, and due praise, +Shall tend thee, and the fertile burden ease +Of thy full branches offered free to all; +Till, dieted by thee, I grow mature +In knowledge, as the Gods, who all things know; +Though others envy what they cannot give: +For, had the gift been theirs, it had not here +Thus grown. Experience, next, to thee I owe, +Best guide; not following thee, I had remained +In ignorance; thou openest wisdom's way, +And givest access, though secret she retire. +And I perhaps am secret: Heaven is high, +High, and remote to see from thence distinct +Each thing on Earth; and other care perhaps +May have diverted from continual watch +Our great Forbidder, safe with all his spies +About him. But to Adam in what sort +Shall I appear? shall I to him make known +As yet my change, and give him to partake +Full happiness with me, or rather not, +But keeps the odds of knowledge in my power +Without copartner? so to add what wants +In female sex, the more to draw his love, +And render me more equal; and perhaps, +A thing not undesirable, sometime +Superiour; for, inferiour, who is free +This may be well: But what if God have seen, +And death ensue? then I shall be no more! +And Adam, wedded to another Eve, +Shall live with her enjoying, I extinct; +A death to think! Confirmed then I resolve, +Adam shall share with me in bliss or woe: +So dear I love him, that with him all deaths +I could endure, without him live no life. +So saying, from the tree her step she turned; +But first low reverence done, as to the Power +That dwelt within, whose presence had infused +Into the plant sciential sap, derived +From nectar, drink of Gods. Adam the while, +Waiting desirous her return, had wove +Of choicest flowers a garland, to adorn +Her tresses, and her rural labours crown; +As reapers oft are wont their harvest-queen. +Great joy he promised to his thoughts, and new +Solace in her return, so long delayed: +Yet oft his heart, divine of something ill, +Misgave him; he the faltering measure felt; +And forth to meet her went, the way she took +That morn when first they parted: by the tree +Of knowledge he must pass; there he her met, +Scarce from the tree returning; in her hand +A bough of fairest fruit, that downy smiled, +New gathered, and ambrosial smell diffused. +To him she hasted; in her face excuse +Came prologue, and apology too prompt; +Which, with bland words at will, she thus addressed. +Hast thou not wondered, Adam, at my stay? +Thee I have missed, and thought it long, deprived +Thy presence; agony of love till now +Not felt, nor shall be twice; for never more +Mean I to try, what rash untried I sought, +The pain of absence from thy sight. But strange +Hath been the cause, and wonderful to hear: +This tree is not, as we are told, a tree +Of danger tasted, nor to evil unknown +Opening the way, but of divine effect +To open eyes, and make them Gods who taste; +And hath been tasted such: The serpent wise, +Or not restrained as we, or not obeying, +Hath eaten of the fruit; and is become, +Not dead, as we are threatened, but thenceforth +Endued with human voice and human sense, +Reasoning to admiration; and with me +Persuasively hath so prevailed, that I +Have also tasted, and have also found +The effects to correspond; opener mine eyes, +Dim erst, dilated spirits, ampler heart, +And growing up to Godhead; which for thee +Chiefly I sought, without thee can despise. +For bliss, as thou hast part, to me is bliss; +Tedious, unshared with thee, and odious soon. +Thou therefore also taste, that equal lot +May join us, equal joy, as equal love; +Lest, thou not tasting, different degree +Disjoin us, and I then too late renounce +Deity for thee, when Fate will not permit. +Thus Eve with countenance blithe her story told; +But in her cheek distemper flushing glowed. +On the other side Adam, soon as he heard +The fatal trespass done by Eve, amazed, +Astonied stood and blank, while horrour chill +Ran through his veins, and all his joints relaxed; +From his slack hand the garland wreathed for Eve +Down dropt, and all the faded roses shed: +Speechless he stood and pale, till thus at length +First to himself he inward silence broke. +O fairest of Creation, last and best +Of all God's works, Creature in whom excelled +Whatever can to sight or thought be formed, +Holy, divine, good, amiable, or sweet! +How art thou lost! how on a sudden lost, +Defaced, deflowered, and now to death devote! +Rather, how hast thou yielded to transgress +The strict forbiddance, how to violate +The sacred fruit forbidden! Some cursed fraud +Of enemy hath beguiled thee, yet unknown, +And me with thee hath ruined; for with thee +Certain my resolution is to die: +How can I live without thee! how forego +Thy sweet converse, and love so dearly joined, +To live again in these wild woods forlorn! +Should God create another Eve, and I +Another rib afford, yet loss of thee +Would never from my heart: no, no!I feel +The link of Nature draw me: flesh of flesh, +Bone of my bone thou art, and from thy state +Mine never shall be parted, bliss or woe. +So having said, as one from sad dismay +Recomforted, and after thoughts disturbed +Submitting to what seemed remediless, +Thus in calm mood his words to Eve he turned. +Bold deed thou hast presumed, adventurous Eve, +And peril great provoked, who thus hast dared, +Had it been only coveting to eye +That sacred fruit, sacred to abstinence, +Much more to taste it under ban to touch. +But past who can recall, or done undo? +Not God Omnipotent, nor Fate; yet so +Perhaps thou shalt not die, perhaps the fact +Is not so heinous now, foretasted fruit, +Profaned first by the serpent, by him first +Made common, and unhallowed, ere our taste; +Nor yet on him found deadly; yet he lives; +Lives, as thou saidst, and gains to live, as Man, +Higher degree of life; inducement strong +To us, as likely tasting to attain +Proportional ascent; which cannot be +But to be Gods, or Angels, demi-Gods. +Nor can I think that God, Creator wise, +Though threatening, will in earnest so destroy +Us his prime creatures, dignified so high, +Set over all his works; which in our fall, +For us created, needs with us must fail, +Dependant made; so God shall uncreate, +Be frustrate, do, undo, and labour lose; +Not well conceived of God, who, though his power +Creation could repeat, yet would be loth +Us to abolish, lest the Adversary +Triumph, and say; "Fickle their state whom God +"Most favours; who can please him long? Me first +"He ruined, now Mankind; whom will he next?" +Matter of scorn, not to be given the Foe. +However I with thee have fixed my lot, +Certain to undergo like doom: If death +Consort with thee, death is to me as life; +So forcible within my heart I feel +The bond of Nature draw me to my own; +My own in thee, for what thou art is mine; +Our state cannot be severed; we are one, +One flesh; to lose thee were to lose myself. +So Adam; and thus Eve to him replied. +O glorious trial of exceeding love, +Illustrious evidence, example high! +Engaging me to emulate; but, short +Of thy perfection, how shall I attain, +Adam, from whose dear side I boast me sprung, +And gladly of our union hear thee speak, +One heart, one soul in both; whereof good proof +This day affords, declaring thee resolved, +Rather than death, or aught than death more dread, +Shall separate us, linked in love so dear, +To undergo with me one guilt, one crime, +If any be, of tasting this fair fruit; +Whose virtue for of good still good proceeds, +Direct, or by occasion, hath presented +This happy trial of thy love, which else +So eminently never had been known? +Were it I thought death menaced would ensue +This my attempt, I would sustain alone +The worst, and not persuade thee, rather die +Deserted, than oblige thee with a fact +Pernicious to thy peace; chiefly assured +Remarkably so late of thy so true, +So faithful, love unequalled: but I feel +Far otherwise the event; not death, but life +Augmented, opened eyes, new hopes, new joys, +Taste so divine, that what of sweet before +Hath touched my sense, flat seems to this, and harsh. +On my experience, Adam, freely taste, +And fear of death deliver to the winds. +So saying, she embraced him, and for joy +Tenderly wept; much won, that he his love +Had so ennobled, as of choice to incur +Divine displeasure for her sake, or death. +In recompence for such compliance bad +Such recompence best merits from the bough +She gave him of that fair enticing fruit +With liberal hand: he scrupled not to eat, +Against his better knowledge; not deceived, +But fondly overcome with female charm. +Earth trembled from her entrails, as again +In pangs; and Nature gave a second groan; +Sky loured; and, muttering thunder, some sad drops +Wept at completing of the mortal sin +Original: while Adam took no thought, +Eating his fill; nor Eve to iterate +Her former trespass feared, the more to sooth +Him with her loved society; that now, +As with new wine intoxicated both, +They swim in mirth, and fancy that they feel +Divinity within them breeding wings, +Wherewith to scorn the earth: But that false fruit +Far other operation first displayed, +Carnal desire inflaming; he on Eve +Began to cast lascivious eyes; she him +As wantonly repaid; in lust they burn: +Till Adam thus 'gan Eve to dalliance move. +Eve, now I see thou art exact of taste, +And elegant, of sapience no small part; +Since to each meaning savour we apply, +And palate call judicious; I the praise +Yield thee, so well this day thou hast purveyed. +Much pleasure we have lost, while we abstained +From this delightful fruit, nor known till now +True relish, tasting; if such pleasure be +In things to us forbidden, it might be wished, +For this one tree had been forbidden ten. +But come, so well refreshed, now let us play, +As meet is, after such delicious fare; +For never did thy beauty, since the day +I saw thee first and wedded thee, adorned +With all perfections, so inflame my sense +With ardour to enjoy thee, fairer now +Than ever; bounty of this virtuous tree! +So said he, and forbore not glance or toy +Of amorous intent; well understood +Of Eve, whose eye darted contagious fire. +Her hand he seised; and to a shady bank, +Thick over-head with verdant roof imbowered, +He led her nothing loth; flowers were the couch, +Pansies, and violets, and asphodel, +And hyacinth; Earth's freshest softest lap. +There they their fill of love and love's disport +Took largely, of their mutual guilt the seal, +The solace of their sin; till dewy sleep +Oppressed them, wearied with their amorous play, +Soon as the force of that fallacious fruit, +That with exhilarating vapour bland +About their spirits had played, and inmost powers +Made err, was now exhaled; and grosser sleep, +Bred of unkindly fumes, with conscious dreams +Incumbered, now had left them; up they rose +As from unrest; and, each the other viewing, +Soon found their eyes how opened, and their minds +How darkened; innocence, that as a veil +Had shadowed them from knowing ill, was gone; +Just confidence, and native righteousness, +And honour, from about them, naked left +To guilty Shame; he covered, but his robe +Uncovered more. So rose the Danite strong, +Herculean Samson, from the harlot-lap +Of Philistean Dalilah, and waked +Shorn of his strength. They destitute and bare +Of all their virtue: Silent, and in face +Confounded, long they sat, as strucken mute: +Till Adam, though not less than Eve abashed, +At length gave utterance to these words constrained. +O Eve, in evil hour thou didst give ear +To that false worm, of whomsoever taught +To counterfeit Man's voice; true in our fall, +False in our promised rising; since our eyes +Opened we find indeed, and find we know +Both good and evil; good lost, and evil got; +Bad fruit of knowledge, if this be to know; +Which leaves us naked thus, of honour void, +Of innocence, of faith, of purity, +Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained, +And in our faces evident the signs +Of foul concupiscence; whence evil store; +Even shame, the last of evils; of the first +Be sure then.--How shall I behold the face +Henceforth of God or Angel, erst with joy +And rapture so oft beheld? Those heavenly shapes +Will dazzle now this earthly with their blaze +Insufferably bright. O! might I here +In solitude live savage; in some glade +Obscured, where highest woods, impenetrable +To star or sun-light, spread their umbrage broad +And brown as evening: Cover me, ye Pines! +Ye Cedars, with innumerable boughs +Hide me, where I may never see them more!-- +But let us now, as in bad plight, devise +What best may for the present serve to hide +The parts of each from other, that seem most +To shame obnoxious, and unseemliest seen; +Some tree, whose broad smooth leaves together sewed, +And girded on our loins, may cover round +Those middle parts; that this new comer, Shame, +There sit not, and reproach us as unclean. +So counselled he, and both together went +Into the thickest wood; there soon they chose +The fig-tree; not that kind for fruit renowned, +But such as at this day, to Indians known, +In Malabar or Decan spreads her arms +Branching so broad and long, that in the ground +The bended twigs take root, and daughters grow +About the mother tree, a pillared shade +High over-arched, and echoing walks between: +There oft the Indian herdsman, shunning heat, +Shelters in cool, and tends his pasturing herds +At loop-holes cut through thickest shade: Those leaves +They gathered, broad as Amazonian targe; +And, with what skill they had, together sewed, +To gird their waist; vain covering, if to hide +Their guilt and dreaded shame! O, how unlike +To that first naked glory! Such of late +Columbus found the American, so girt +With feathered cincture; naked else, and wild +Among the trees on isles and woody shores. +Thus fenced, and, as they thought, their shame in part +Covered, but not at rest or ease of mind, +They sat them down to weep; nor only tears +Rained at their eyes, but high winds worse within +Began to rise, high passions, anger, hate, +Mistrust, suspicion, discord; and shook sore +Their inward state of mind, calm region once +And full of peace, now tost and turbulent: +For Understanding ruled not, and the Will +Heard not her lore; both in subjection now +To sensual Appetite, who from beneath +Usurping over sovran Reason claimed +Superiour sway: From thus distempered breast, +Adam, estranged in look and altered style, +Speech intermitted thus to Eve renewed. +Would thou hadst hearkened to my words, and staid +With me, as I besought thee, when that strange +Desire of wandering, this unhappy morn, +I know not whence possessed thee; we had then +Remained still happy; not, as now, despoiled +Of all our good; shamed, naked, miserable! +Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve +The faith they owe; when earnestly they seek +Such proof, conclude, they then begin to fail. +To whom, soon moved with touch of blame, thus Eve. +What words have passed thy lips, Adam severe! +Imputest thou that to my default, or will +Of wandering, as thou callest it, which who knows +But might as ill have happened thou being by, +Or to thyself perhaps? Hadst thou been there, +Or here the attempt, thou couldst not have discerned +Fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake; +No ground of enmity between us known, +Why he should mean me ill, or seek to harm. +Was I to have never parted from thy side? +As good have grown there still a lifeless rib. +Being as I am, why didst not thou, the head, +Command me absolutely not to go, +Going into such danger, as thou saidst? +Too facile then, thou didst not much gainsay; +Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss. +Hadst thou been firm and fixed in thy dissent, +Neither had I transgressed, nor thou with me. +To whom, then first incensed, Adam replied. +Is this the love, is this the recompence +Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve! expressed +Immutable, when thou wert lost, not I; +Who might have lived, and joyed immortal bliss, +Yet willingly chose rather death with thee? +And am I now upbraided as the cause +Of thy transgressing? Not enough severe, +It seems, in thy restraint: What could I more +I warned thee, I admonished thee, foretold +The danger, and the lurking enemy +That lay in wait; beyond this, had been force; +And force upon free will hath here no place. +But confidence then bore thee on; secure +Either to meet no danger, or to find +Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps +I also erred, in overmuch admiring +What seemed in thee so perfect, that I thought +No evil durst attempt thee; but I rue +The errour now, which is become my crime, +And thou the accuser. Thus it shall befall +Him, who, to worth in women overtrusting, +Lets her will rule: restraint she will not brook; +And, left to herself, if evil thence ensue, +She first his weak indulgence will accuse. +Thus they in mutual accusation spent +The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning; +And of their vain contest appeared no end. + + + +Book X + + +Mean while the heinous and despiteful act +Of Satan, done in Paradise; and how +He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve, +Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit, +Was known in Heaven; for what can 'scape the eye +Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart +Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just, +Hindered not Satan to attempt the mind +Of Man, with strength entire and free will armed, +Complete to have discovered and repulsed +Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. +For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered, +The high injunction, not to taste that fruit, +Whoever tempted; which they not obeying, +(Incurred what could they less?) the penalty; +And, manifold in sin, deserved to fall. +Up into Heaven from Paradise in haste +The angelick guards ascended, mute, and sad, +For Man; for of his state by this they knew, +Much wondering how the subtle Fiend had stolen +Entrance unseen. Soon as the unwelcome news +From Earth arrived at Heaven-gate, displeased +All were who heard; dim sadness did not spare +That time celestial visages, yet, mixed +With pity, violated not their bliss. +About the new-arrived, in multitudes +The ethereal people ran, to hear and know +How all befel: They towards the throne supreme, +Accountable, made haste, to make appear, +With righteous plea, their utmost vigilance +And easily approved; when the Most High +Eternal Father, from his secret cloud, +Amidst in thunder uttered thus his voice. +Assembled Angels, and ye Powers returned +From unsuccessful charge; be not dismayed, +Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth, +Which your sincerest care could not prevent; +Foretold so lately what would come to pass, +When first this tempter crossed the gulf from Hell. +I told ye then he should prevail, and speed +On his bad errand; Man should be seduced, +And flattered out of all, believing lies +Against his Maker; no decree of mine +Concurring to necessitate his fall, +Or touch with lightest moment of impulse +His free will, to her own inclining left +In even scale. But fallen he is; and now +What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass +On his transgression,--death denounced that day? +Which he presumes already vain and void, +Because not yet inflicted, as he feared, +By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find +Forbearance no acquittance, ere day end. +Justice shall not return as bounty scorned. +But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee, +Vicegerent Son? To thee I have transferred +All judgement, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell. +Easy it may be seen that I intend +Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee +Man's friend, his Mediator, his designed +Both ransom and Redeemer voluntary, +And destined Man himself to judge Man fallen. +So spake the Father; and, unfolding bright +Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son +Blazed forth unclouded Deity: He full +Resplendent all his Father manifest +Expressed, and thus divinely answered mild. +Father Eternal, thine is to decree; +Mine, both in Heaven and Earth, to do thy will +Supreme; that thou in me, thy Son beloved, +Mayest ever rest well pleased. I go to judge +On earth these thy transgressours; but thou knowest, +Whoever judged, the worst on me must light, +When time shall be; for so I undertook +Before thee; and, not repenting, this obtain +Of right, that I may mitigate their doom +On me derived; yet I shall temper so +Justice with mercy, as may illustrate most +Them fully satisfied, and thee appease. +Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none +Are to behold the judgement, but the judged, +Those two; the third best absent is condemned, +Convict by flight, and rebel to all law: +Conviction to the serpent none belongs. +Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose +Of high collateral glory: Him Thrones, and Powers, +Princedoms, and Dominations ministrant, +Accompanied to Heaven-gate; from whence +Eden, and all the coast, in prospect lay. +Down he descended straight; the speed of Gods +Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes winged. +Now was the sun in western cadence low +From noon, and gentle airs, due at their hour, +To fan the earth now waked, and usher in +The evening cool; when he, from wrath more cool, +Came the mild Judge, and Intercessour both, +To sentence Man: The voice of God they heard +Now walking in the garden, by soft winds +Brought to their ears, while day declined; they heard, +And from his presence hid themselves among +The thickest trees, both man and wife; till God, +Approaching, thus to Adam called aloud. +Where art thou, Adam, wont with joy to meet +My coming seen far off? I miss thee here, +Not pleased, thus entertained with solitude, +Where obvious duty ere while appeared unsought: +Or come I less conspicuous, or what change +Absents thee, or what chance detains?--Come forth! +He came; and with him Eve, more loth, though first +To offend; discountenanced both, and discomposed; +Love was not in their looks, either to God, +Or to each other; but apparent guilt, +And shame, and perturbation, and despair, +Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile. +Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief. +I heard thee in the garden, and of thy voice +Afraid, being naked, hid myself. To whom +The gracious Judge without revile replied. +My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not feared, +But still rejoiced; how is it now become +So dreadful to thee? That thou art naked, who +Hath told thee? Hast thou eaten of the tree, +Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat? +To whom thus Adam sore beset replied. +O Heaven! in evil strait this day I stand +Before my Judge; either to undergo +Myself the total crime, or to accuse +My other self, the partner of my life; +Whose failing, while her faith to me remains, +I should conceal, and not expose to blame +By my complaint: but strict necessity +Subdues me, and calamitous constraint; +Lest on my head both sin and punishment, +However insupportable, be all +Devolved; though should I hold my peace, yet thou +Wouldst easily detect what I conceal.-- +This Woman, whom thou madest to be my help, +And gavest me as thy perfect gift, so good, +So fit, so acceptable, so divine, +That from her hand I could suspect no ill, +And what she did, whatever in itself, +Her doing seemed to justify the deed; +She gave me of the tree, and I did eat. +To whom the Sovran Presence thus replied. +Was she thy God, that her thou didst obey +Before his voice? or was she made thy guide, +Superiour, or but equal, that to her +Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place +Wherein God set thee above her made of thee, +And for thee, whose perfection far excelled +Hers in all real dignity? Adorned +She was indeed, and lovely, to attract +Thy love, not thy subjection; and her gifts +Were such, as under government well seemed; +Unseemly to bear rule; which was thy part +And person, hadst thou known thyself aright. +So having said, he thus to Eve in few. +Say, Woman, what is this which thou hast done? +To whom sad Eve, with shame nigh overwhelmed, +Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge +Bold or loquacious, thus abashed replied. +The Serpent me beguiled, and I did eat. +Which when the Lord God heard, without delay +To judgement he proceeded on the accused +Serpent, though brute; unable to transfer +The guilt on him, who made him instrument +Of mischief, and polluted from the end +Of his creation; justly then accursed, +As vitiated in nature: More to know +Concerned not Man, (since he no further knew) +Nor altered his offence; yet God at last +To Satan first in sin his doom applied, +Though in mysterious terms, judged as then best: +And on the Serpent thus his curse let fall. +Because thou hast done this, thou art accursed +Above all cattle, each beast of the field; +Upon thy belly groveling thou shalt go, +And dust shalt eat all the days of thy life. +Between thee and the woman I will put +Enmity, and between thine and her seed; +Her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel. +So spake this oracle, then verified +When Jesus, Son of Mary, second Eve, +Saw Satan fall, like lightning, down from Heaven, +Prince of the air; then, rising from his grave +Spoiled Principalities and Powers, triumphed +In open show; and, with ascension bright, +Captivity led captive through the air, +The realm itself of Satan, long usurped; +Whom he shall tread at last under our feet; +Even he, who now foretold his fatal bruise; +And to the Woman thus his sentence turned. +Thy sorrow I will greatly multiply +By thy conception; children thou shalt bring +In sorrow forth; and to thy husband's will +Thine shall submit; he over thee shall rule. +On Adam last thus judgement he pronounced. +Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, +And eaten of the tree, concerning which +I charged thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat thereof: +Cursed is the ground for thy sake; thou in sorrow +Shalt eat thereof, all the days of thy life; +Thorns also and thistles it shall bring thee forth +Unbid; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; +In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, +Till thou return unto the ground; for thou +Out of the ground wast taken, know thy birth, +For dust thou art, and shalt to dust return. +So judged he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent; +And the instant stroke of death, denounced that day, +Removed far off; then, pitying how they stood +Before him naked to the air, that now +Must suffer change, disdained not to begin +Thenceforth the form of servant to assume; +As when he washed his servants feet; so now, +As father of his family, he clad +Their nakedness with skins of beasts, or slain, +Or as the snake with youthful coat repaid; +And thought not much to clothe his enemies; +Nor he their outward only with the skins +Of beasts, but inward nakedness, much more. +Opprobrious, with his robe of righteousness, +Arraying, covered from his Father's sight. +To him with swift ascent he up returned, +Into his blissful bosom reassumed +In glory, as of old; to him appeased +All, though all-knowing, what had passed with Man +Recounted, mixing intercession sweet. +Mean while, ere thus was sinned and judged on Earth, +Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death, +In counterview within the gates, that now +Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame +Far into Chaos, since the Fiend passed through, +Sin opening; who thus now to Death began. +O Son, why sit we here each other viewing +Idly, while Satan, our great author, thrives +In other worlds, and happier seat provides +For us, his offspring dear? It cannot be +But that success attends him; if mishap, +Ere this he had returned, with fury driven +By his avengers; since no place like this +Can fit his punishment, or their revenge. +Methinks I feel new strength within me rise, +Wings growing, and dominion given me large +Beyond this deep; whatever draws me on, +Or sympathy, or some connatural force, +Powerful at greatest distance to unite, +With secret amity, things of like kind, +By secretest conveyance. Thou, my shade +Inseparable, must with me along; +For Death from Sin no power can separate. +But, lest the difficulty of passing back +Stay his return perhaps over this gulf +Impassable, impervious; let us try +Adventurous work, yet to thy power and mine +Not unagreeable, to found a path +Over this main from Hell to that new world, +Where Satan now prevails; a monument +Of merit high to all the infernal host, +Easing their passage hence, for intercourse, +Or transmigration, as their lot shall lead. +Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn +By this new-felt attraction and instinct. +Whom thus the meager Shadow answered soon. +Go, whither Fate, and inclination strong, +Leads thee; I shall not lag behind, nor err +The way, thou leading; such a scent I draw +Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste +The savour of death from all things there that live: +Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest +Be wanting, but afford thee equal aid. +So saying, with delight he snuffed the smell +Of mortal change on earth. As when a flock +Of ravenous fowl, though many a league remote, +Against the day of battle, to a field, +Where armies lie encamped, come flying, lured +With scent of living carcasses designed +For death, the following day, in bloody fight: +So scented the grim Feature, and upturned +His nostril wide into the murky air; +Sagacious of his quarry from so far. +Then both from out Hell-gates, into the waste +Wide anarchy of Chaos, damp and dark, +Flew diverse; and with power (their power was great) +Hovering upon the waters, what they met +Solid or slimy, as in raging sea +Tost up and down, together crouded drove, +From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell; +As when two polar winds, blowing adverse +Upon the Cronian sea, together drive +Mountains of ice, that stop the imagined way +Beyond Petsora eastward, to the rich +Cathaian coast. The aggregated soil +Death with his mace petrifick, cold and dry, +As with a trident, smote; and fixed as firm +As Delos, floating once; the rest his look +Bound with Gorgonian rigour not to move; +And with Asphaltick slime, broad as the gate, +Deep to the roots of Hell the gathered beach +They fastened, and the mole immense wrought on +Over the foaming deep high-arched, a bridge +Of length prodigious, joining to the wall +Immoveable of this now fenceless world, +Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad, +Smooth, easy, inoffensive, down to Hell. +So, if great things to small may be compared, +Xerxes, the liberty of Greece to yoke, +From Susa, his Memnonian palace high, +Came to the sea: and, over Hellespont +Bridging his way, Europe with Asia joined, +And scourged with many a stroke the indignant waves. +Now had they brought the work by wonderous art +Pontifical, a ridge of pendant rock, +Over the vexed abyss, following the track +Of Satan to the self-same place where he +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 Heaven, +And of this World; and, on the left hand, Hell +With long reach interposed; three several ways +In sight, to each of these three places led. +And now their way to Earth they had descried, +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: +Disguised he came; but those his children dear +Their parent soon discerned, though in disguise. +He, after Eve seduced, 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 their shame that sought +Vain covertures; but when he saw descend +The Son of God to judge them, terrified +He fled; not hoping to escape, but shun +The present; fearing, guilty, what his wrath +Might suddenly inflict; that past, returned +By night, and listening where the hapless pair +Sat in their sad discourse, and various plaint, +Thence gathered his own doom; which understood +Not instant, but of future time, with joy +And tidings fraught, to Hell he now returned; +And at the brink of Chaos, near the foot +Of this new wonderous pontifice, unhoped +Met, who to meet him came, his offspring dear. +Great joy was at their meeting, and at sight +Of that stupendious bridge his joy encreased. +Long he admiring stood, till Sin, his fair +Enchanting daughter, thus the silence broke. +O Parent, these are thy magnifick deeds, +Thy trophies! which thou viewest as not thine own; +Thou art their author, and prime architect: +For I no sooner in my heart divined, +My heart, which by a secret harmony +Still moves with thine, joined in connexion sweet, +That thou on earth hadst prospered, which thy looks +Now also evidence, but straight I felt, +Though distant from thee worlds between, yet felt, +That I must after thee, with this thy son; +Such fatal consequence unites us three! +Hell could no longer hold us in our bounds, +Nor this unvoyageable gulf obscure +Detain from following thy illustrious track. +Thou hast achieved our liberty, confined +Within Hell-gates till now; thou us impowered +To fortify thus far, and overlay, +With this portentous bridge, the dark abyss. +Thine now is all this world; thy virtue hath won +What thy hands builded not; thy wisdom gained +With odds what war hath lost, and fully avenged +Our foil in Heaven; here thou shalt monarch reign, +There didst not; there let him still victor sway, +As battle hath adjudged; from this new world +Retiring, by his own doom alienated; +And henceforth monarchy with thee divide +Of all things, parted by the empyreal bounds, +His quadrature, from thy orbicular world; +Or try thee now more dangerous to his throne. +Whom thus the Prince of darkness answered glad. +Fair Daughter, and thou Son and Grandchild both; +High proof ye now have given to be the race +Of Satan (for I glory in the name, +Antagonist of Heaven's Almighty King,) +Amply have merited of me, of all +The infernal empire, that so near Heaven's door +Triumphal with triumphal act have met, +Mine, with this glorious work; and made one realm, +Hell and this world, one realm, one continent +Of easy thorough-fare. Therefore, while I +Descend through darkness, on your road with ease, +To my associate Powers, them to acquaint +With these successes, and with them rejoice; +You two this way, among these numerous orbs, +All yours, right down to Paradise descend; +There dwell, and reign in bliss; thence on the earth +Dominion exercise and in the air, +Chiefly on Man, sole lord of all declared; +Him first make sure your thrall, and lastly kill. +My substitutes I send ye, and create +Plenipotent on earth, of matchless might +Issuing from me: on your joint vigour now +My hold of this new kingdom all depends, +Through Sin to Death exposed by my exploit. +If your joint power prevail, the affairs of Hell +No detriment need fear; go, and be strong! +So saying he dismissed them; they with speed +Their course through thickest constellations held, +Spreading their bane; the blasted stars looked wan, +And planets, planet-struck, real eclipse +Then suffered. The other way Satan went down +The causey to Hell-gate: On either side +Disparted Chaos overbuilt exclaimed, +And with rebounding surge the bars assailed, +That scorned his indignation: Through the gate, +Wide open and unguarded, Satan passed, +And all about found desolate; for those, +Appointed to sit there, had left their charge, +Flown to the upper world; the rest were all +Far to the inland retired, about the walls +Of Pandemonium; city and proud seat +Of Lucifer, so by allusion called +Of that bright star to Satan paragoned; +There kept their watch the legions, while the Grand +In council sat, solicitous what chance +Might intercept their emperour sent; so he +Departing gave command, and they observed. +As when the Tartar from his Russian foe, +By Astracan, over the snowy plains, +Retires; or Bactrin Sophi, from the horns +Of Turkish crescent, leaves all waste beyond +The realm of Aladule, in his retreat +To Tauris or Casbeen: So these, the late +Heaven-banished host, left desart utmost Hell +Many a dark league, reduced in careful watch +Round their metropolis; and now expecting +Each hour their great adventurer, from the search +Of foreign worlds: He through the midst unmarked, +In show plebeian Angel militant +Of lowest order, passed; and from the door +Of that Plutonian hall, invisible +Ascended his high throne; which, under state +Of richest texture spread, at the upper end +Was placed in regal lustre. Down a while +He sat, and round about him saw unseen: +At last, as from a cloud, his fulgent head +And shape star-bright appeared, or brighter; clad +With what permissive glory since his fall +Was left him, or false glitter: All amazed +At that so sudden blaze the Stygian throng +Bent their aspect, and whom they wished beheld, +Their mighty Chief returned: loud was the acclaim: +Forth rushed in haste the great consulting peers, +Raised from their dark Divan, and with like joy +Congratulant approached him; who with hand +Silence, and with these words attention, won. +Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Powers; +For in possession such, not only of right, +I call ye, and declare ye now; returned +Successful beyond hope, to lead ye forth +Triumphant out of this infernal pit +Abominable, accursed, the house of woe, +And dungeon of our tyrant: Now possess, +As Lords, a spacious world, to our native Heaven +Little inferiour, by my adventure hard +With peril great achieved. Long were to tell +What I have done; what suffered;with what pain +Voyaged th' unreal, vast, unbounded deep +Of horrible confusion; over which +By Sin and Death a broad way now is paved, +To expedite your glorious march; but I +Toiled out my uncouth passage, forced to ride +The untractable abyss, plunged in the womb +Of unoriginal Night and Chaos wild; +That, jealous of their secrets, fiercely opposed +My journey strange, with clamorous uproar +Protesting Fate supreme; thence how I found +The new created world, which fame in Heaven +Long had foretold, a fabrick wonderful +Of absolute perfection! therein Man +Placed in a Paradise, by our exile +Made happy: Him by fraud I have seduced +From his Creator; and, the more to encrease +Your wonder, with an apple; he, thereat +Offended, worth your laughter! hath given up +Both his beloved Man, and all his world, +To Sin and Death a prey, and so to us, +Without our hazard, labour, or alarm; +To range in, and to dwell, and over Man +To rule, as over all he should have ruled. +True is, me also he hath judged, or rather +Me not, but the brute serpent in whose shape +Man I deceived: that which to me belongs, +Is enmity which he will put between +Me and mankind; I am to bruise his heel; +His seed, when is not set, shall bruise my head: +A world who would not purchase with a bruise, +Or much more grievous pain?--Ye have the account +Of my performance: What remains, ye Gods, +But up, and enter now into full bliss? +So having said, a while he stood, expecting +Their universal shout, and high applause, +To fill his ear; when, contrary, he hears +On all sides, from innumerable tongues, +A dismal universal hiss, the sound +Of publick scorn; he wondered, but not long +Had leisure, wondering at himself now more, +His visage drawn he felt to sharp and spare; +His arms clung to his ribs; his legs entwining +Each other, till supplanted down he fell +A monstrous serpent on his belly prone, +Reluctant, but in vain; a greater power +Now ruled him, punished in the shape he sinned, +According to his doom: he would have spoke, +But hiss for hiss returned with forked tongue +To forked tongue; for now were all transformed +Alike, to serpents all, as accessories +To his bold riot: Dreadful was the din +Of hissing through the hall, thick swarming now +With complicated monsters head and tail, +Scorpion, and Asp, and Amphisbaena dire, +Cerastes horned, Hydrus, and Elops drear, +And Dipsas; (not so thick swarmed once the soil +Bedropt with blood of Gorgon, or the isle +Ophiusa,) but still greatest he the midst, +Now Dragon grown, larger than whom the sun +Ingendered in the Pythian vale or slime, +Huge Python, and his power no less he seemed +Above the rest still to retain; they all +Him followed, issuing forth to the open field, +Where all yet left of that revolted rout, +Heaven-fallen, in station stood or just array; +Sublime with expectation when to see +In triumph issuing forth their glorious Chief; +They saw, but other sight instead! a croud +Of ugly serpents; horrour on them fell, +And horrid sympathy; for, what they saw, +They felt themselves, now changing; down their arms, +Down fell both spear and shield; down they as fast; +And the dire hiss renewed, and the dire form +Catched, by contagion; like in punishment, +As in their crime. Thus was the applause they meant, +Turned to exploding hiss, triumph to shame +Cast on themselves from their own mouths. There stood +A grove hard by, sprung up with this their change, +His will who reigns above, to aggravate +Their penance, laden with fair fruit, like that +Which grew in Paradise, the bait of Eve +Used by the Tempter: on that prospect strange +Their earnest eyes they fixed, imagining +For one forbidden tree a multitude +Now risen, to work them further woe or shame; +Yet, parched with scalding thirst and hunger fierce, +Though to delude them sent, could not abstain; +But on they rolled in heaps, and, up the trees +Climbing, sat thicker than the snaky locks +That curled Megaera: greedily they plucked +The fruitage fair to sight, like that which grew +Near that bituminous lake where Sodom flamed; +This more delusive, not the touch, but taste +Deceived; they, fondly thinking to allay +Their appetite with gust, instead of fruit +Chewed bitter ashes, which the offended taste +With spattering noise rejected: oft they assayed, +Hunger and thirst constraining; drugged as oft, +With hatefullest disrelish writhed their jaws, +With soot and cinders filled; so oft they fell +Into the same illusion, not as Man +Whom they triumphed once lapsed. Thus were they plagued +And worn with famine, long and ceaseless hiss, +Till their lost shape, permitted, they resumed; +Yearly enjoined, some say, to undergo, +This annual humbling certain numbered days, +To dash their pride, and joy, for Man seduced. +However, some tradition they dispersed +Among the Heathen, of their purchase got, +And fabled how the Serpent, whom they called +Ophion, with Eurynome, the wide-- +Encroaching Eve perhaps, had first the rule +Of high Olympus; thence by Saturn driven +And Ops, ere yet Dictaean Jove was born. +Mean while in Paradise the hellish pair +Too soon arrived; Sin, there in power before, +Once actual; now in body, and to dwell +Habitual habitant; behind her Death, +Close following pace for pace, not mounted yet +On his pale horse: to whom Sin thus began. +Second of Satan sprung, all-conquering Death! +What thinkest thou of our empire now, though earned +With travel difficult, not better far +Than still at Hell's dark threshold to have sat watch, +Unnamed, undreaded, and thyself half starved? +Whom thus the Sin-born monster answered soon. +To me, who with eternal famine pine, +Alike is Hell, or Paradise, or Heaven; +There best, where most with ravine I may meet; +Which here, though plenteous, all too little seems +To stuff this maw, this vast unhide-bound corps. +To whom the incestuous mother thus replied. +Thou therefore on these herbs, and fruits, and flowers, +Feed first; on each beast next, and fish, and fowl; +No homely morsels! and, whatever thing +The sithe of Time mows down, devour unspared; +Till I, in Man residing, through the race, +His thoughts, his looks, words, actions, all infect; +And season him thy last and sweetest prey. +This said, they both betook them several ways, +Both to destroy, or unimmortal make +All kinds, and for destruction to mature +Sooner or later; which the Almighty seeing, +From his transcendent seat the Saints among, +To those bright Orders uttered thus his voice. +See, with what heat these dogs of Hell advance +To waste and havock yonder world, which I +So fair and good created; and had still +Kept in that state, had not the folly of Man +Let in these wasteful furies, who impute +Folly to me; so doth the Prince of Hell +And his adherents, that with so much ease +I suffer them to enter and possess +A place so heavenly; and, conniving, seem +To gratify my scornful enemies, +That laugh, as if, transported with some fit +Of passion, I to them had quitted all, +At random yielded up to their misrule; +And know not that I called, and drew them thither, +My Hell-hounds, to lick up the draff and filth +Which Man's polluting sin with taint hath shed +On what was pure; til, crammed and gorged, nigh burst +With sucked and glutted offal, at one sling +Of thy victorious arm, well-pleasing Son, +Both Sin, and Death, and yawning Grave, at last, +Through Chaos hurled, obstruct the mouth of Hell +For ever, and seal up his ravenous jaws. +Then Heaven and Earth renewed shall be made pure +To sanctity, that shall receive no stain: +Till then, the curse pronounced on both precedes. +He ended, and the heavenly audience loud +Sung Halleluiah, as the sound of seas, +Through multitude that sung: Just are thy ways, +Righteous are thy decrees on all thy works; +Who can extenuate thee? Next, to the Son, +Destined Restorer of mankind, by whom +New Heaven and Earth shall to the ages rise, +Or down from Heaven descend.--Such was their song; +While the Creator, calling forth by name +His mighty Angels, gave them several charge, +As sorted best with present things. The sun +Had first his precept so to move, so shine, +As might affect the earth with cold and heat +Scarce tolerable; and from the north to call +Decrepit winter; from the south to bring +Solstitial summer's heat. To the blanc moon +Her office they prescribed; to the other five +Their planetary motions, and aspects, +In sextile, square, and trine, and opposite, +Of noxious efficacy, and when to join +In synod unbenign; and taught the fixed +Their influence malignant when to shower, +Which of them rising with the sun, or falling, +Should prove tempestuous: To the winds they set +Their corners, when with bluster to confound +Sea, air, and shore; the thunder when to roll +With terrour through the dark aereal hall. +Some say, he bid his Angels turn ascanse +The poles of earth, twice ten degrees and more, +From the sun's axle; they with labour pushed +Oblique the centrick globe: Some say, the sun +Was bid turn reins from the equinoctial road +Like distant breadth to Taurus with the seven +Atlantick Sisters, and the Spartan Twins, +Up to the Tropick Crab: thence down amain +By Leo, and the Virgin, and the Scales, +As deep as Capricorn; to bring in change +Of seasons to each clime; else had the spring +Perpetual smiled on earth with vernant flowers, +Equal in days and nights, except to those +Beyond the polar circles; to them day +Had unbenighted shone, while the low sun, +To recompense his distance, in their sight +Had rounded still the horizon, and not known +Or east or west; which had forbid the snow +From cold Estotiland, and south as far +Beneath Magellan. At that tasted fruit +The sun, as from Thyestean banquet, turned +His course intended; else, how had the world +Inhabited, though sinless, more than now, +Avoided pinching cold and scorching heat? +These changes in the Heavens, though slow, produced +Like change on sea and land; sideral blast, +Vapour, and mist, and exhalation hot, +Corrupt and pestilent: Now from the north +Of Norumbega, and the Samoed shore, +Bursting their brazen dungeon, armed with ice, +And snow, and hail, and stormy gust and flaw, +Boreas, and Caecias, and Argestes loud, +And Thrascias, rend the woods, and seas upturn; +With adverse blast upturns them from the south +Notus, and Afer black with thunderous clouds +From Serraliona; thwart of these, as fierce, +Forth rush the Levant and the Ponent winds, +Eurus and Zephyr, with their lateral noise, +Sirocco and Libecchio. Thus began +Outrage from lifeless things; but Discord first, +Daughter of Sin, among the irrational +Death introduced, through fierce antipathy: +Beast now with beast 'gan war, and fowl with fowl, +And fish with fish; to graze the herb all leaving, +Devoured each other; nor stood much in awe +Of Man, but fled him; or, with countenance grim, +Glared on him passing. These were from without +The growing miseries, which Adam saw +Already in part, though hid in gloomiest shade, +To sorrow abandoned, but worse felt within; +And, in a troubled sea of passion tost, +Thus to disburden sought with sad complaint. +O miserable of happy! Is this the end +Of this new glorious world, and me so late +The glory of that glory, who now become +Accursed, of blessed? hide me from the face +Of God, whom to behold was then my highth +Of happiness!--Yet well, if here would end +The misery; I deserved it, and would bear +My own deservings; but this will not serve: +All that I eat or drink, or shall beget, +Is propagated curse. O voice, once heard +Delightfully, Encrease and multiply; +Now death to hear! for what can I encrease, +Or multiply, but curses on my head? +Who of all ages to succeed, but, feeling +The evil on him brought by me, will curse +My head? Ill fare our ancestor impure, +For this we may thank Adam! but his thanks +Shall be the execration: so, besides +Mine own that bide upon me, all from me +Shall with a fierce reflux on me rebound; +On me, as on their natural center, light +Heavy, though in their place. O fleeting joys +Of Paradise, dear bought with lasting woes! +Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay +To mould me Man? did I solicit thee +From darkness to promote me, or here place +In this delicious garden? As my will +Concurred not to my being, it were but right +And equal to reduce me to my dust; +Desirous to resign and render back +All I received; unable to perform +Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold +The good I sought not. To the loss of that, +Sufficient penalty, why hast thou added +The sense of endless woes? Inexplicable +Why am I mocked with death, and lengthened out +To deathless pain? How gladly would I meet +Mortality my sentence, and be earth +Insensible! How glad would lay me down +As in my mother's lap! There I should rest, +And sleep secure; his dreadful voice no more +Would thunder in my ears; no fear of worse +To me, and to my offspring, would torment me +With cruel expectation. Yet one doubt +Pursues me still, lest all I cannot die; +Lest that pure breath of life, the spirit of Man +Which God inspired, cannot together perish +With this corporeal clod; then, in the grave, +Or in some other dismal place, who knows +But I shall die a living death? O thought +Horrid, if true! Yet why? It was but breath +Of life that sinned; what dies but what had life +And sin? The body properly had neither, +All of me then shall die: let this appease +The doubt, since human reach no further knows. +For though the Lord of all be infinite, +Is his wrath also? Be it, Man is not so, +But mortal doomed. How can he exercise +Wrath without end on Man, whom death must end? +Can he make deathless death? That were to make +Strange contradiction, which to God himself +Impossible is held; as argument +Of weakness, not of power. Will he draw out, +For anger's sake, finite to infinite, +In punished Man, to satisfy his rigour, +Satisfied never? That were to extend +His sentence beyond dust and Nature's law; +By which all causes else, according still +To the reception of their matter, act; +Not to the extent of their own sphere. But say +That death be not one stroke, as I supposed, +Bereaving sense, but endless misery +From this day onward; which I feel begun +Both in me, and without me; and so last +To perpetuity;--Ay me!that fear +Comes thundering back with dreadful revolution +On my defenceless head; both Death and I +Am found eternal, and incorporate both; +Nor I on my part single; in me all +Posterity stands cursed: Fair patrimony +That I must leave ye, Sons! O, were I able +To waste it all myself, and leave ye none! +So disinherited, how would you bless +Me, now your curse! Ah, why should all mankind, +For one man's fault, thus guiltless be condemned, +It guiltless? But from me what can proceed, +But all corrupt; both mind and will depraved +Not to do only, but to will the same +With me? How can they then acquitted stand +In sight of God? Him, after all disputes, +Forced I absolve: all my evasions vain, +And reasonings, though through mazes, lead me still +But to my own conviction: first and last +On me, me only, as the source and spring +Of all corruption, all the blame lights due; +So might the wrath! Fond wish!couldst thou support +That burden, heavier than the earth to bear; +Than all the world much heavier, though divided +With that bad Woman? Thus, what thou desirest, +And what thou fearest, alike destroys all hope +Of refuge, and concludes thee miserable +Beyond all past example and future; +To Satan only like both crime and doom. +O Conscience! into what abyss of fears +And horrours hast thou driven me; out of which +I find no way, from deep to deeper plunged! +Thus Adam to himself lamented loud, +Through the still night; not now, as ere Man fell, +Wholesome, and cool, and mild, but with black air +Accompanied; with damps, and dreadful gloom; +Which to his evil conscience represented +All things with double terrour: On the ground +Outstretched he lay, on the cold ground; and oft +Cursed his creation; Death as oft accused +Of tardy execution, since denounced +The day of his offence. Why comes not Death, +Said he, with one thrice-acceptable stroke +To end me? Shall Truth fail to keep her word, +Justice Divine not hasten to be just? +But Death comes not at call; Justice Divine +Mends not her slowest pace for prayers or cries, +O woods, O fountains, hillocks, dales, and bowers! +With other echo late I taught your shades +To answer, and resound far other song.-- +Whom thus afflicted when sad Eve beheld, +Desolate where she sat, approaching nigh, +Soft words to his fierce passion she assayed: +But her with stern regard he thus repelled. +Out of my sight, thou Serpent! That name best +Befits thee with him leagued, thyself as false +And hateful; nothing wants, but that thy shape, +Like his, and colour serpentine, may show +Thy inward fraud; to warn all creatures from thee +Henceforth; lest that too heavenly form, pretended +To hellish falshood, snare them! But for thee +I had persisted happy; had not thy pride +And wandering vanity, when least was safe, +Rejected my forewarning, and disdained +Not to be trusted; longing to be seen, +Though by the Devil himself; him overweening +To over-reach; but, with the serpent meeting, +Fooled and beguiled; by him thou, I by thee +To trust thee from my side; imagined wise, +Constant, mature, proof against all assaults; +And understood not all was but a show, +Rather than solid virtue; all but a rib +Crooked by nature, bent, as now appears, +More to the part sinister, from me drawn; +Well if thrown out, as supernumerary +To my just number found. O! why did God, +Creator wise, that peopled highest Heaven +With Spirits masculine, create at last +This novelty on earth, this fair defect +Of nature, and not fill the world at once +With Men, as Angels, without feminine; +Or find some other way to generate +Mankind? This mischief had not been befallen, +And more that shall befall; innumerable +Disturbances on earth through female snares, +And strait conjunction with this sex: for either +He never shall find out fit mate, but such +As some misfortune brings him, or mistake; +Or whom he wishes most shall seldom gain +Through her perverseness, but shall see her gained +By a far worse; or, if she love, withheld +By parents; or his happiest choice too late +Shall meet, already linked and wedlock-bound +To a fell adversary, his hate or shame: +Which infinite calamity shall cause +To human life, and houshold peace confound. +He added not, and from her turned; but Eve, +Not so repulsed, with tears that ceased not flowing +And tresses all disordered, at his feet +Fell humble; and, embracing them, besought +His peace, and thus proceeded in her plaint. +Forsake me not thus, Adam! witness Heaven +What love sincere, and reverence in my heart +I bear thee, and unweeting have offended, +Unhappily deceived! Thy suppliant +I beg, and clasp thy knees; bereave me not, +Whereon I live, thy gentle looks, thy aid, +Thy counsel, in this uttermost distress, +My only strength and stay: Forlorn of thee, +Whither shall I betake me, where subsist? +While yet we live, scarce one short hour perhaps, +Between us two let there be peace; both joining, +As joined in injuries, one enmity +Against a foe by doom express assigned us, +That cruel Serpent: On me exercise not +Thy hatred for this misery befallen; +On me already lost, me than thyself +More miserable! Both have sinned;but thou +Against God only; I against God and thee; +And to the place of judgement will return, +There with my cries importune Heaven; that all +The sentence, from thy head removed, may light +On me, sole cause to thee of all this woe; +Me, me only, just object of his ire! +She ended weeping; and her lowly plight, +Immoveable, till peace obtained from fault +Acknowledged and deplored, in Adam wrought +Commiseration: Soon his heart relented +Towards her, his life so late, and sole delight, +Now at his feet submissive in distress; +Creature so fair his reconcilement seeking, +His counsel, whom she had displeased, his aid: +As one disarmed, his anger all he lost, +And thus with peaceful words upraised her soon. +Unwary, and too desirous, as before, +So now of what thou knowest not, who desirest +The punishment all on thyself; alas! +Bear thine own first, ill able to sustain +His full wrath, whose thou feelest as yet least part, +And my displeasure bearest so ill. If prayers +Could alter high decrees, I to that place +Would speed before thee, and be louder heard, +That on my head all might be visited; +Thy frailty and infirmer sex forgiven, +To me committed, and by me exposed. +But rise;--let us no more contend, nor blame +Each other, blamed enough elsewhere; but strive +In offices of love, how we may lighten +Each other's burden, in our share of woe; +Since this day's death denounced, if aught I see, +Will prove no sudden, but a slow-paced evil; +A long day's dying, to augment our pain; +And to our seed (O hapless seed!) derived. +To whom thus Eve, recovering heart, replied. +Adam, by sad experiment I know +How little weight my words with thee can find, +Found so erroneous; thence by just event +Found so unfortunate: Nevertheless, +Restored by thee, vile as I am, to place +Of new acceptance, hopeful to regain +Thy love, the sole contentment of my heart +Living or dying, from thee I will not hide +What thoughts in my unquiet breast are risen, +Tending to some relief of our extremes, +Or end; though sharp and sad, yet tolerable, +As in our evils, and of easier choice. +If care of our descent perplex us most, +Which must be born to certain woe, devoured +By Death at last; and miserable it is +To be to others cause of misery, +Our own begotten, and of our loins to bring +Into this cursed world a woeful race, +That after wretched life must be at last +Food for so foul a monster; in thy power +It lies, yet ere conception to prevent +The race unblest, to being yet unbegot. +Childless thou art, childless remain: so Death +Shall be deceived his glut, and with us two +Be forced to satisfy his ravenous maw. +But if thou judge it hard and difficult, +Conversing, looking, loving, to abstain +From love's due rights, nuptial embraces sweet; +And with desire to languish without hope, +Before the present object languishing +With like desire; which would be misery +And torment less than none of what we dread; +Then, both ourselves and seed at once to free +From what we fear for both, let us make short, -- +Let us seek Death; -- or, he not found, supply +With our own hands his office on ourselves: +Why stand we longer shivering under fears, +That show no end but death, and have the power, +Of many ways to die the shortest choosing, +Destruction with destruction to destroy? -- +She ended here, or vehement despair +Broke off the rest: so much of death her thoughts +Had entertained, as dyed her cheeks with pale. +But Adam, with such counsel nothing swayed, +To better hopes his more attentive mind +Labouring had raised; and thus to Eve replied. +Eve, thy contempt of life and pleasure seems +To argue in thee something more sublime +And excellent, than what thy mind contemns; +But self-destruction therefore sought, refutes +That excellence thought in thee; and implies, +Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret +For loss of life and pleasure overloved. +Or if thou covet death, as utmost end +Of misery, so thinking to evade +The penalty pronounced; doubt not but God +Hath wiselier armed his vengeful ire, than so +To be forestalled; much more I fear lest death, +So snatched, will not exempt us from the pain +We are by doom to pay; rather, such acts +Of contumacy will provoke the Highest +To make death in us live: Then let us seek +Some safer resolution, which methinks +I have in view, calling to mind with heed +Part of our sentence, that thy seed shall bruise +The Serpent's head; piteous amends! unless +Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand foe, +Satan; who, in the serpent, hath contrived +Against us this deceit: To crush his head +Would be revenge indeed! which will be lost +By death brought on ourselves, or childless days +Resolved, as thou proposest; so our foe +Shal 'scape his punishment ordained, and we +Instead shall double ours upon our heads. +No more be mentioned then of violence +Against ourselves; and wilful barrenness, +That cuts us off from hope; and savours only +Rancour and pride, impatience and despite, +Reluctance against God and his just yoke +Laid on our necks. Remember with what mild +And gracious temper he both heard, and judged, +Without wrath or reviling; we expected +Immediate dissolution, which we thought +Was meant by death that day; when lo!to thee +Pains only in child-bearing were foretold, +And bringing forth; soon recompensed with joy, +Fruit of thy womb: On me the curse aslope +Glanced on the ground; with labour I must earn +My bread; what harm? Idleness had been worse; +My labour will sustain me; and, lest cold +Or heat should injure us, his timely care +Hath, unbesought, provided; and his hands +Clothed us unworthy, pitying while he judged; +How much more, if we pray him, will his ear +Be open, and his heart to pity incline, +And teach us further by what means to shun +The inclement seasons, rain, ice, hail, and snow! +Which now the sky, with various face, begins +To show us in this mountain; while the winds +Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks +Of these fair spreading trees; which bids us seek +Some better shroud, some better warmth to cherish +Our limbs benummed, ere this diurnal star +Leave cold the night, how we his gathered beams +Reflected may with matter sere foment; +Or, by collision of two bodies, grind +The air attrite to fire; as late the clouds +Justling, or pushed with winds, rude in their shock, +Tine the slant lightning; whose thwart flame, driven down +Kindles the gummy bark of fir or pine; +And sends a comfortable heat from far, +Which might supply the sun: Such fire to use, +And what may else be remedy or cure +To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought, +He will instruct us praying, and of grace +Beseeching him; so as we need not fear +To pass commodiously this life, sustained +By him with many comforts, till we end +In dust, our final rest and native home. +What better can we do, than, to the place +Repairing where he judged us, prostrate fall +Before him reverent; and there confess +Humbly our faults, and pardon beg; with tears +Watering the ground, and with our sighs the air +Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign +Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek + + + +Book XI + + +Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn +From his displeasure; in whose look serene, +When angry most he seemed and most severe, +What else but favour, grace, and mercy, shone? +So spake our father penitent; nor Eve +Felt less remorse: they, forthwith to the place +Repairing where he judged them, prostrate fell +Before him reverent; and both confessed +Humbly their faults, and pardon begged; with tears +Watering the ground, and with their sighs the air +Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign +Of sorrow unfeigned, and humiliation meek. +Thus they, in lowliest plight, repentant stood +Praying; for from the mercy-seat above +Prevenient grace descending had removed +The stony from their hearts, and made new flesh +Regenerate grow instead; that sighs now breathed +Unutterable; which the Spirit of prayer +Inspired, and winged for Heaven with speedier flight +Than loudest oratory: Yet their port +Not of mean suitors; nor important less +Seemed their petition, than when the ancient pair +In fables old, less ancient yet than these, +Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha, to restore +The race of mankind drowned, before the shrine +Of Themis stood devout. To Heaven their prayers +Flew up, nor missed the way, by envious winds +Blown vagabond or frustrate: in they passed +Dimensionless through heavenly doors; then clad +With incense, where the golden altar fumed, +By their great intercessour, came in sight +Before the Father's throne: them the glad Son +Presenting, thus to intercede began. +See$ Father, what first-fruits on earth are sprung +From thy implanted grace in Man; these sighs +And prayers, which in this golden censer mixed +With incense, I thy priest before thee bring; +Fruits of more pleasing savour, from thy seed +Sown with contrition in his heart, than those +Which, his own hand manuring, all the trees +Of Paradise could have produced, ere fallen +From innocence. Now therefore, bend thine ear +To supplication; hear his sighs, though mute; +Unskilful with what words to pray, let me +Interpret for him; me, his advocate +And propitiation; all his works on me, +Good, or not good, ingraft; my merit those +Shall perfect, and for these my death shall pay. +Accept me; and, in me, from these receive +The smell of peace toward mankind: let him live +Before thee reconciled, at least his days +Numbered, though sad; till death, his doom, (which I +To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse,) +To better life shall yield him: where with me +All my redeemed may dwell in joy and bliss; +Made one with me, as I with thee am one. +To whom the Father, without cloud, serene. +All thy request for Man, accepted Son, +Obtain; all thy request was my decree: +But, longer in that Paradise to dwell, +The law I gave to Nature him forbids: +Those pure immortal elements, that know, +No gross, no unharmonious mixture foul, +Eject him, tainted now; and purge him off, +As a distemper, gross, to air as gross, +And mortal food; as may dispose him best +For dissolution wrought by sin, that first +Distempered all things, and of incorrupt +Corrupted. I, at first, with two fair gifts +Created him endowed; with happiness, +And immortality: that fondly lost, +This other served but to eternize woe; +Till I provided death: so death becomes +His final remedy; and, after life, +Tried in sharp tribulation, and refined +By faith and faithful works, to second life, +Waked in the renovation of the just, +Resigns him up with Heaven and Earth renewed. +But let us call to synod all the Blest, +Through Heaven's wide bounds: from them I will not hide +My judgements; how with mankind I proceed, +As how with peccant Angels late they saw, +And in their state, though firm, stood more confirmed. +He ended, and the Son gave signal high +To the bright minister that watched; he blew +His trumpet, heard in Oreb since perhaps +When God descended, and perhaps once more +To sound at general doom. The angelick blast +Filled all the regions: from their blisful bowers +Of amarantine 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 their seats; till from his throne supreme +The Almighty thus pronounced his sovran will. +O Sons, like one of us Man is become +To know both good and evil, since his taste +Of that defended fruit; but let him boast +His knowledge of good lost, and evil got; +Happier! had it sufficed him to have known +Good by itself, and evil not at all. +He sorrows now, repents, and prays contrite, +My motions in him; longer than they move, +His heart I know, how variable and vain, +Self-left. Lest therefore his now bolder hand +Reach also of the tree of life, and eat, +And live for ever, dream at least to live +For ever, to remove him I decree, +And send him from the garden forth to till +The ground whence he was taken, fitter soil. +Michael, this my behest have thou in charge; +Take to thee from among the Cherubim +Thy choice of flaming warriours, lest the Fiend, +Or in behalf of Man, or to invade +Vacant possession, some new trouble raise: +Haste thee, and from the Paradise of God +Without remorse drive out the sinful pair; +From hallowed ground the unholy; and denounce +To them, and to their progeny, from thence +Perpetual banishment. Yet, lest they faint +At the sad sentence rigorously urged, +(For I behold them softened, and with tears +Bewailing their excess,) all terrour hide. +If patiently thy bidding they obey, +Dismiss them not disconsolate; reveal +To Adam what shall come in future days, +As I shall thee enlighten; intermix +My covenant in the Woman's seed renewed; +So send them forth, though sorrowing, yet in peace: +And on the east side of the garden place, +Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbs, +Cherubick watch; and of a sword the flame +Wide-waving; all approach far off to fright, +And guard all passage to the tree of life: +Lest Paradise a receptacle prove +To Spirits foul, and all my trees their prey; +With whose stolen fruit Man once more to delude. +He ceased; and the arch-angelick Power prepared +For swift descent; with him the cohort bright +Of watchful Cherubim: four faces each +Had, like a double Janus; all their shape +Spangled with eyes more numerous than those +Of Argus, and more wakeful than to drouse, +Charmed with Arcadian pipe, the pastoral reed +Of Hermes, or his opiate rod. Mean while, +To re-salute the world with sacred light, +Leucothea waked; and with fresh dews imbalmed +The earth; when Adam and first matron Eve +Had ended now their orisons, and found +Strength added from above; new hope to spring +Out of despair; joy, but with fear yet linked; +Which thus to Eve his welcome words renewed. +Eve, easily my faith admit, that all +The good which we enjoy from Heaven descends; +But, that from us aught should ascend to Heaven +So prevalent as to concern the mind +Of God high-blest, or to incline his will, +Hard to belief may seem; yet this will prayer +Or one short sigh of human breath, upborne +Even to the seat of God. For since I sought +By prayer the offended Deity to appease; +Kneeled, and before him humbled all my heart; +Methought I saw him placable and mild, +Bending his ear; persuasion in me grew +That I was heard with favour; peace returned +Home to my breast, and to my memory +His promise, that thy seed shall bruise our foe; +Which, then not minded in dismay, yet now +Assures me that the bitterness of death +Is past, and we shall live. Whence hail to thee, +Eve rightly called, mother of all mankind, +Mother of all things living, since by thee +Man is to live; and all things live for Man. +To whom thus Eve with sad demeanour meek. +Ill-worthy I such title should belong +To me transgressour; who, for thee ordained +A help, became thy snare; to me reproach +Rather belongs, distrust, and all dispraise: +But infinite in pardon was my Judge, +That I, who first brought death on all, am graced +The source of life; next favourable thou, +Who highly thus to entitle me vouchsaf'st, +Far other name deserving. But the field +To labour calls us, now with sweat imposed, +Though after sleepless night; for see!the morn, +All unconcerned with our unrest, begins +Her rosy progress smiling: let us forth; +I never from thy side henceforth to stray, +Where'er our day's work lies, though now enjoined +Laborious, till day droop; while here we dwell, +What can be toilsome in these pleasant walks? +Here let us live, though in fallen state, content. +So spake, so wished much humbled Eve; but Fate +Subscribed not: Nature first gave signs, impressed +On bird, beast, air; air suddenly eclipsed, +After short blush of morn; nigh in her sight +The bird of Jove, stooped from his aery tour, +Two birds of gayest plume before him drove; +Down from a hill the beast that reigns in woods, +First hunter then, pursued a gentle brace, +Goodliest of all the forest, hart and hind; +Direct to the eastern gate was bent their flight. +Adam observed, and with his eye the chase +Pursuing, not unmoved, to Eve thus spake. +O Eve, some further change awaits us nigh, +Which Heaven, by these mute signs in Nature, shows +Forerunners of his purpose; or to warn +Us, haply too secure, of our discharge +From penalty, because from death released +Some days: how long, and what till then our life, +Who knows? or more than this, that we are dust, +And thither must return, and be no more? +Why else this double object in our sight +Of flight pursued in the air, and o'er the ground, +One way the self-same hour? why in the east +Darkness ere day's mid-course, and morning-light +More orient in yon western cloud, that draws +O'er the blue firmament a radiant white, +And slow descends with something heavenly fraught? +He erred not; for by this the heavenly bands +Down from a sky of jasper lighted now +In Paradise, and on a hill made halt; +A glorious apparition, had not doubt +And carnal fear that day dimmed Adam's eye. +Not that more glorious, when the Angels met +Jacob in Mahanaim, where he saw +The field pavilioned with his guardians bright; +Nor that, which on the flaming mount appeared +In Dothan, covered with a camp of fire, +Against the Syrian king, who to surprise +One man, assassin-like, had levied war, +War unproclaimed. The princely Hierarch +In their bright stand there left his Powers, to seise +Possession of the garden; he alone, +To find where Adam sheltered, took his way, +Not unperceived of Adam; who to Eve, +While the great visitant approached, thus spake. +Eve$ now expect great tidings, which perhaps +Of us will soon determine, or impose +New laws to be observed; for I descry, +From yonder blazing cloud that veils the hill, +One of the heavenly 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 Raphael, that I should much confide; +But solemn and sublime; whom not to offend, +With reverence I must meet, and thou retire. +He ended: and the Arch-Angel soon drew nigh, +Not in his shape celestial, but as man +Clad to meet man; over his lucid arms +A military vest of purple flowed, +Livelier than Meliboean, or the grain +Of Sarra, worn by kings and heroes old +In time of truce; Iris had dipt the woof; +His starry helm unbuckled showed him prime +In manhood where youth ended; by his side, +As in a glistering zodiack, hung the sword, +Satan's dire dread; and in his hand the spear. +Adam bowed low; he, kingly, from his state +Inclined not, but his coming thus declared. +Adam, Heaven's high behest no preface needs: +Sufficient that thy prayers are heard; and Death, +Then due by sentence when thou didst transgress, +Defeated of his seisure many days +Given thee of grace; wherein thou mayest repent, +And one bad act with many deeds well done +Mayest cover: Well may then thy Lord, appeased, +Redeem thee quite from Death's rapacious claim; +But longer in this Paradise to dwell +Permits not: to remove thee I am come, +And send thee from the garden forth to till +The ground whence thou wast taken, fitter soil. +He added not; for Adam at the news +Heart-struck with chilling gripe of sorrow stood, +That all his senses bound; Eve, who unseen +Yet all had heard, with audible lament +Discovered soon the place of her retire. +O unexpected stroke, worse than of Death! +Must I thus leave thee$ Paradise? thus leave +Thee, native soil! these happy walks and shades, +Fit haunt of Gods? where I had hope to spend, +Quiet though sad, the respite of that day +That must be mortal to us both. O flowers, +That never will in other climate grow, +My early visitation, and my last + ;t even, which I bred up with tender hand +From the first opening bud, and gave ye names! +Who now shall rear ye to the sun, or rank +Your tribes, and water from the ambrosial fount? +Thee lastly, nuptial bower! by me adorned +With what to sight or smell was sweet! from thee +How shall I part, and whither wander down +Into a lower world; to this obscure +And wild? how shall we breathe in other air +Less pure, accustomed to immortal fruits? +Whom thus the Angel interrupted mild. +Lament not, Eve, but patiently resign +What justly thou hast lost, nor set thy heart, +Thus over-fond, on that which is not thine: +Thy going is not lonely; with thee goes +Thy husband; whom to follow thou art bound; +Where he abides, think there thy native soil. +Adam, by this from the cold sudden damp +Recovering, and his scattered spirits returned, +To Michael thus his humble words addressed. +Celestial, whether among the Thrones, or named +Of them the highest; for such of shape may seem +Prince above princes! gently hast thou told +Thy message, which might else in telling wound, +And in performing end us; what besides +Of sorrow, and dejection, and despair, +Our frailty can sustain, thy tidings bring, +Departure from this happy place, our sweet +Recess, and only consolation left +Familiar to our eyes! all places else +Inhospitable appear, and desolate; +Nor knowing us, nor known: And, if by prayer +Incessant I could hope to change the will +Of Him who all things can, I would not cease +To weary him with my assiduous cries: +But prayer against his absolute decree +No more avails than breath against the wind, +Blown stifling back on him that breathes it forth: +Therefore to his great bidding I submit. +This most afflicts me, that, departing hence, +As from his face I shall be hid, deprived +His blessed countenance: Here I could frequent +With worship place by place where he vouchsafed +Presence Divine; and to my sons relate, +'On this mount he appeared; under this tree +'Stood visible; among these pines his voice +'I heard; here with him at this fountain talked: +So many grateful altars I would rear +Of grassy turf, and pile up every stone +Of lustre from the brook, in memory, +Or monument to ages; and theron +Offer sweet-smelling gums, and fruits, and flowers: +In yonder nether world where shall I seek +His bright appearances, or foot-step trace? +For though I fled him angry, yet recalled +To life prolonged and promised race, I now +Gladly behold though but his utmost skirts +Of glory; and far off his steps adore. +To whom thus Michael with regard benign. +Adam, thou knowest Heaven his, and all the Earth; +Not this rock only; his Omnipresence fills +Land, sea, and air, and every kind that lives, +Fomented by his virtual power and warmed: +All the earth he gave thee to possess and rule, +No despicable gift; surmise not then +His presence to these narrow bounds confined +Of Paradise, or Eden: this had been +Perhaps thy capital seat, from whence had spread +All generations; and had hither come +From all the ends of the earth, to celebrate +And reverence thee, their great progenitor. +But this pre-eminence thou hast lost, brought down +To dwell on even ground now with thy sons: +Yet doubt not but in valley, and in plain, +God is, as here; and will be found alike +Present; and of his presence many a sign +Still following thee, still compassing thee round +With goodness and paternal love, his face +Express, and of his steps the track divine. +Which that thou mayest believe, and be confirmed +Ere thou from hence depart; know, I am sent +To show thee what shall come in future days +To thee, and to thy offspring: good with bad +Expect to hear; supernal grace contending +With sinfulness of men; thereby to learn +True patience, and to temper joy with fear +And pious sorrow; equally inured +By moderation either state to bear, +Prosperous or adverse: so shalt thou lead +Safest thy life, and best prepared endure +Thy mortal passage when it comes.--Ascend +This hill; let Eve (for I have drenched her eyes) +Here sleep below; while thou to foresight wakest; +As once thou sleptst, while she to life was formed. +To whom thus Adam gratefully replied. +Ascend, I follow thee, safe Guide, the path +Thou leadest me; and to the hand of Heaven submit, +However chastening; to the evil turn +My obvious breast; arming to overcome +By suffering, and earn rest from labour won, +If so I may attain. -- So both ascend +In the visions of God. It was a hill, +Of Paradise the highest; from whose top +The hemisphere of earth, in clearest ken, +Stretched out to the amplest reach of prospect lay. +Not higher that hill, nor wider looking round, +Whereon, for different cause, the Tempter set +Our second Adam, in the wilderness; +To show him all Earth's kingdoms, and their glory. +His eye might there command wherever stood +City of old or modern fame, the seat +Of mightiest empire, from the destined walls +Of Cambalu, seat of Cathaian Can, +And Samarchand by Oxus, Temir's throne, +To Paquin of Sinaean kings; and thence +To Agra and Lahor of great Mogul, +Down to the golden Chersonese; or where +The Persian in Ecbatan sat, or since +In Hispahan; or where the Russian Ksar +In Mosco; or the Sultan in Bizance, +Turchestan-born; nor could his eye not ken +The empire of Negus to his utmost port +Ercoco, and the less maritim kings +Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind, +And Sofala, thought Ophir, to the realm +Of Congo, and Angola farthest south; +Or thence from Niger flood to Atlas mount +The kingdoms of Almansor, Fez and Sus, +Morocco, and Algiers, and Tremisen; +On Europe thence, and where Rome was to sway +The world: in spirit perhaps he also saw +Rich Mexico, the seat of Montezume, +And Cusco in Peru, the richer seat +Of Atabalipa; and yet unspoiled +Guiana, whose great city Geryon's sons +Call El Dorado. But to nobler sights +Michael from Adam's eyes the film removed, +Which that false fruit that promised clearer sight +Had bred; then purged with euphrasy and rue +The visual nerve, for he had much to see; +And from the well of life three drops instilled. +So deep the power of these ingredients pierced, +Even to the inmost seat of mental sight, +That Adam, now enforced to close his eyes, +Sunk down, and all his spirits became entranced; +But him the gentle Angel by the hand +Soon raised, and his attention thus recalled. +Adam, now ope thine eyes; and first behold +The effects, which thy original crime hath wrought +In some to spring from thee; who never touched +The excepted tree; nor with the snake conspired; +Nor sinned thy sin; yet from that sin derive +Corruption, to bring forth more violent deeds. +His eyes he opened, and beheld a field, +Part arable and tilth, whereon were sheaves +New reaped; the other part sheep-walks and folds; +I' the midst an altar as the land-mark stood, +Rustick, of grassy sord; thither anon +A sweaty reaper from his tillage brought +First fruits, the green ear, and the yellow sheaf, +Unculled, as came to hand; a shepherd next, +More meek, came with the firstlings of his flock, +Choicest and best; then, sacrificing, laid +The inwards and their fat, with incense strowed, +On the cleft wood, and all due rights performed: +His offering soon propitious fire from Heaven +Consumed with nimble glance, and grateful steam; +The other's not, for his was not sincere; +Whereat he inly raged, and, as they talked, +Smote him into the midriff with a stone +That beat out life; he fell;and, deadly pale, +Groaned out his soul with gushing blood effused. +Much at that sight was Adam in his heart +Dismayed, and thus in haste to the Angel cried. +O Teacher, some great mischief hath befallen +To that meek man, who well had sacrificed; +Is piety thus and pure devotion paid? +To whom Michael thus, he also moved, replied. +These two are brethren, Adam, and to come +Out of thy loins; the unjust the just hath slain, +For envy that his brother's offering found +From Heaven acceptance; but the bloody fact +Will be avenged; and the other's faith, approved, +Lose no reward; though here thou see him die, +Rolling in dust and gore. To which our sire. +Alas! both for the deed, and for the cause! +But have I now seen Death? Is this the way +I must return to native dust? O sight +Of terrour, foul and ugly to behold, +Horrid to think, how horrible to feel! +To whom thus Michael. Death thou hast seen +In his first shape on Man; but many shapes +Of Death, and many are the ways that lead +To his grim cave, all dismal; yet to sense +More terrible at the entrance, than within. +Some, as thou sawest, by violent stroke shall die; +By fire, flood, famine, by intemperance more +In meats and drinks, which on the earth shall bring +Diseases dire, of which a monstrous crew +Before thee shall appear; that thou mayest know +What misery the inabstinence of Eve +Shall bring on Men. Immediately a place +Before his eyes appeared, sad, noisome, dark; +A lazar-house it seemed; wherein were laid +Numbers of all diseased; all maladies +Of ghastly spasm, or racking torture, qualms +Of heart-sick agony, all feverous kinds, +Convulsions, epilepsies, fierce catarrhs, +Intestine stone and ulcer, colick-pangs, +Demoniack phrenzy, moaping melancholy, +And moon-struck madness, pining atrophy, +Marasmus, and wide-wasting pestilence, +Dropsies, and asthmas, and joint-racking rheums. +Dire was the tossing, deep the groans; Despair +Tended the sick busiest from couch to couch; +And over them triumphant Death his dart +Shook, but delayed to strike, though oft invoked +With vows, as their chief good, and final hope. +Sight so deform what heart of rock could long +Dry-eyed behold? Adam could not, but wept, +Though not of woman born; compassion quelled +His best of man, and gave him up to tears +A space, till firmer thoughts restrained excess; +And, scarce recovering words, his plaint renewed. +O miserable mankind, to what fall +Degraded, to what wretched state reserved! +Better end here unborn. Why is life given +To be thus wrested from us? rather, why +Obtruded on us thus? who, if we knew +What we receive, would either no accept +Life offered, or soon beg to lay it down; +Glad to be so dismissed in peace. Can thus +The image of God in Man, created once +So goodly and erect, though faulty since, +To such unsightly sufferings be debased +Under inhuman pains? Why should not Man, +Retaining still divine similitude +In part, from such deformities be free, +And, for his Maker's image sake, exempt? +Their Maker's image, answered Michael, then +Forsook them, when themselves they vilified +To serve ungoverned Appetite; and took +His image whom they served, a brutish vice, +Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve. +Therefore so abject is their punishment, +Disfiguring not God's likeness, but their own; +Or if his likeness, by themselves defaced; +While they pervert pure Nature's healthful rules +To loathsome sickness; worthily, since they +God's image did not reverence in themselves. +I yield it just, said Adam, and submit. +But is there yet no other way, besides +These painful passages, how we may come +To death, and mix with our connatural dust? +There is, said Michael, if thou well observe +The rule of Not too much; by temperance taught, +In what thou eatest and drinkest; seeking from thence +Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight, +Till many years over thy head return: +So mayest thou live; till, like ripe fruit, thou drop +Into thy mother's lap; or be with ease +Gathered, nor harshly plucked; for death mature: +This is Old Age; but then, thou must outlive +Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty; which will change +To withered, weak, and gray; thy senses then, +Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forego, +To what thou hast; and, for the air of youth, +Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reign +A melancholy damp of cold and dry +To weigh thy spirits down, and last consume +The balm of life. To whom our ancestor. +Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong +Life much; bent rather, how I may be quit, +Fairest and easiest, of this cumbrous charge; +Which I must keep till my appointed day +Of rendering up, and patiently attend +My dissolution. Michael replied. +Nor love thy life, nor hate; but what thou livest +Live well; how long, or short, permit to Heaven: +And now prepare thee for another sight. +He looked, and saw a spacious plain, whereon +Were tents of various hue; by some, were herds +Of cattle grazing; others, whence the sound +Of instruments, that made melodious chime, +Was heard, of harp and organ; and, who moved +Their stops and chords, was seen; his volant touch, +Instinct through all proportions, low and high, +Fled and pursued transverse the resonant fugue. +In other part stood one who, at the forge +Labouring, two massy clods of iron and brass +Had melted, (whether found where casual fire +Had wasted woods on mountain or in vale, +Down to the veins of earth; thence gliding hot +To some cave's mouth; or whether washed by stream +From underground;) the liquid ore he drained +Into fit moulds prepared; from which he formed +First his own tools; then, what might else be wrought +Fusil or graven in metal. After these, +But on the hither side, a different sort +From the high neighbouring hills, which was their seat, +Down to the plain descended; by their guise +Just men they seemed, and all their study bent +To worship God aright, and know his works +Not hid; nor those things last, which might preserve +Freedom and peace to Men; they on the plain +Long had not walked, when from the tents, behold! +A bevy of fair women, richly gay +In gems and wanton dress; to the harp they sung +Soft amorous ditties, and in dance came on: +The men, though grave, eyed them; and let their eyes +Rove without rein; till, in the amorous net +Fast caught, they liked; and each his liking chose; +And now of love they treat, till the evening-star, +Love's harbinger, appeared; then, all in heat +They light the nuptial torch, and bid invoke +Hymen, then first to marriage rites invoked: +With feast and musick all the tents resound. +Such happy interview, and fair event +Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, flowers, +And charming symphonies, attached the heart +Of Adam, soon inclined to admit delight, +The bent of nature; which he thus expressed. +True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blest; +Much better seems this vision, and more hope +Of peaceful days portends, than those two past; +Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse; +Here Nature seems fulfilled in all her ends. +To whom thus Michael. Judge not what is best +By pleasure, though to nature seeming meet; +Created, as thou art, to nobler end +Holy and pure, conformity divine. +Those tents thou sawest so pleasant, were the tents +Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his race +Who slew his brother; studious they appear +Of arts that polish life, inventers rare; +Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spirit +Taught them; but they his gifts acknowledged none. +Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget; +For that fair female troop thou sawest, that seemed +Of Goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay, +Yet empty of all good wherein consists +Woman's domestick honour and chief praise; +Bred only and completed to the taste +Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance, +To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye: +To these that sober race of men, whose lives +Religious titled them the sons of God, +Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame +Ignobly, to the trains and to the smiles +Of these fair atheists; and now swim in joy, +Erelong to swim at large; and laugh, for which +The world erelong a world of tears must weep. +To whom thus Adam, of short joy bereft. +O pity and shame, that they, who to live well +Entered so fair, should turn aside to tread +Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint! +But still I see the tenour of Man's woe +Holds on the same, from Woman to begin. +From Man's effeminate slackness it begins, +Said the Angel, who should better hold his place +By wisdom, and superiour gifts received. +But now prepare thee for another scene. +He looked, and saw wide territory spread +Before him, towns, and rural works between; +Cities of men with lofty gates and towers, +Concourse in arms, fierce faces threatening war, +Giants of mighty bone and bold emprise; +Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed, +Single or in array of battle ranged +Both horse and foot, nor idly mustering stood; +One way a band select from forage drives +A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine, +From a fat meadow ground; or fleecy flock, +Ewes and their bleating lambs over the plain, +Their booty; scarce with life the shepherds fly, +But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray; +With cruel tournament the squadrons join; +Where cattle pastured late, now scattered lies +With carcasses and arms the ensanguined field, +Deserted: Others to a city strong +Lay siege, encamped; by battery, scale, and mine, +Assaulting; others from the wall defend +With dart and javelin, stones, and sulphurous fire; +On each hand slaughter, and gigantick deeds. +In other part the sceptered heralds call +To council, in the city-gates; anon +Gray-headed men and grave, with warriours mixed, +Assemble, and harangues are heard; but soon, +In factious opposition; till at last, +Of middle age one rising, eminent +In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong, +Of justice, or religion, truth, and peace, +And judgement from above: him old and young +Exploded, and had seized with violent hands, +Had not a cloud descending snatched him thence +Unseen amid the throng: so violence +Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law, +Through all the plain, and refuge none was found. +Adam was all in tears, and to his guide +Lamenting turned full sad; O!what are these, +Death's ministers, not men? who thus deal death +Inhumanly to men, and multiply +Ten thousandfold the sin of him who slew +His brother: for of whom such massacre +Make they, but of their brethren; men of men +But who was that just man, whom had not Heaven +Rescued, had in his righteousness been lost? +To whom thus Michael. These are the product +Of those ill-mated marriages thou sawest; +Where good with bad were matched, who of themselves +Abhor to join; and, by imprudence mixed, +Produce prodigious births of body or mind. +Such were these giants, men of high renown; +For in those days might only shall be admired, +And valour and heroick virtue called; +To overcome in battle, and subdue +Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite +Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch +Of human glory; and for glory done +Of triumph, to be styled great conquerours +Patrons of mankind, Gods, and sons of Gods; +Destroyers rightlier called, and plagues of men. +Thus fame shall be achieved, renown on earth; +And what most merits fame, in silence hid. +But he, the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldst +The only righteous in a world preverse, +And therefore hated, therefore so beset +With foes, for daring single to be just, +And utter odious truth, that God would come +To judge them with his Saints; him the Most High +Rapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds +Did, as thou sawest, receive, to walk with God +High in salvation and the climes of bliss, +Exempt from death; to show thee what reward +Awaits the good; the rest what punishment; +Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold. +He looked, and saw the face of things quite changed; +The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar; +All now was turned to jollity and game, +To luxury and riot, feast and dance; +Marrying or prostituting, as befel, +Rape or adultery, where passing fair +Allured them; thence from cups to civil broils. +At length a reverend sire among them came, +And of their doings great dislike declared, +And testified against their ways; he oft +Frequented their assemblies, whereso met, +Triumphs or festivals; and to them preached +Conversion and repentance, as to souls +In prison, under judgements imminent: +But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceased +Contending, and removed his tents far off; +Then, from the mountain hewing timber tall, +Began to build a vessel of huge bulk; +Measured by cubit, length, and breadth, and highth; +Smeared round with pitch; and in the side a door +Contrived; and of provisions laid in large, +For man and beast: when lo, a wonder strange! +Of every beast, and bird, and insect small, +Came sevens, and pairs; and entered in as taught +Their order: last the sire and his three sons, +With their four wives; and God made fast the door. +Mean while the south-wind rose, and, with black wings +Wide-hovering, all the clouds together drove +From under Heaven; the hills to their supply +Vapour, and exhalation dusk and moist, +Sent up amain; and now the thickened sky +Like a dark cieling stood; down rushed the rain +Impetuous; and continued, till the earth +No more was seen: the floating vessel swum +Uplifted, and secure with beaked prow +Rode tilting o'er the waves; all dwellings else +Flood overwhelmed, and them with all their pomp +Deep under water rolled; sea covered sea, +Sea without shore; and in their palaces, +Where luxury late reigned, sea-monsters whelped +And stabled; of mankind, so numerous late, +All left, in one small bottom swum imbarked. +How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold +The end of all thy offspring, end so sad, +Depopulation! Thee another flood, +Of tears and sorrow a flood, thee also drowned, +And sunk thee as thy sons; till, gently reared +By the Angel, on thy feet thou stoodest at last, +Though comfortless; as when a father mourns +His children, all in view destroyed at once; +And scarce to the Angel utter'dst thus thy plaint. +O visions ill foreseen! Better had I +Lived ignorant of future! so had borne +My part of evil only, each day's lot +Enough to bear; those now, that were dispensed +The burden of many ages, on me light +At once, by my foreknowledge gaining birth +Abortive, to torment me ere their being, +With thought that they must be. Let no man seek +Henceforth to be foretold, what shall befall +Him or his children; evil he may be sure, +Which neither his foreknowing can prevent; +And he the future evil shall no less +In apprehension than in substance feel, +Grievous to bear: but that care now is past, +Man is not whom to warn: those few escaped +Famine and anguish will at last consume, +Wandering that watery desart: I had hope, +When violence was ceased, and war on earth, +All would have then gone well; peace would have crowned +With length of happy days the race of Man; +But I was far deceived; for now I see +Peace to corrupt no less than war to waste. +How comes it thus? unfold, celestial Guide, +And whether here the race of Man will end. +To whom thus Michael. Those, whom last thou sawest +In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they +First seen in acts of prowess eminent +And great exploits, but of true virtue void; +Who, having spilt much blood, and done much wast +Subduing nations, and achieved thereby +Fame in the world, high titles, and rich prey; +Shall change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth, +Surfeit, and lust; till wantonness and pride +Raise out of friendship hostile deeds in peace. +The conquered also, and enslaved by war, +Shall, with their freedom lost, all virtue lose +And fear of God; from whom their piety feigned +In sharp contest of battle found no aid +Against invaders; therefore, cooled in zeal, +Thenceforth shall practice how to live secure, +Worldly or dissolute, on what their lords +Shall leave them to enjoy; for the earth shall bear +More than enough, that temperance may be tried: +So all shall turn degenerate, all depraved; +Justice and temperance, truth and faith, forgot; +One man except, the only son of light +In a dark age, against example good, +Against allurement, custom, and a world +Offended: fearless of reproach and scorn, +The grand-child, with twelve sons encreased, departs +From Canaan, to a land hereafter called +Egypt, divided by the river Nile; +See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths +Into the sea: To sojourn in that land +He comes, invited by a younger son +In time of dearth; a son, whose worthy deeds +Raise him to be the second in that realm +Of Pharaoh: There he dies, and leaves his race +Growing into a nation, and now grown +Suspected to a sequent king, who seeks +To stop their overgrowth, as inmate guests +Or violence, he of their wicked ways +Shall them admonish; and before them set +The paths of righteousness, how much more safe +And full of peace; denouncing wrath to come +On their impenitence; and shall return +Of them derided, but of God observed +The one just man alive; by his command +Shall build a wonderous ark, as thou beheldst, +To save himself, and houshold, from amidst +A world devote to universal wrack. +No sooner he, with them of man and beast +Select for life, shall in the ark be lodged, +And sheltered round; but all the cataracts +Of Heaven set open on the Earth shall pour +Rain, day and night; all fountains of the deep, +Broke up, shall heave the ocean to usurp +Beyond all bounds; till inundation rise +Above the highest hills: Then shall this mount +Of Paradise by might of waves be moved +Out of his place, pushed by the horned flood, +With all his verdure spoiled, and trees adrift, +Down the great river to the opening gulf, +And there take root an island salt and bare, +The haunt of seals, and orcs, and sea-mews' clang: +To teach thee that God attributes to place +No sanctity, if none be thither brought +By men who there frequent, or therein dwell. +And now, what further shall ensue, behold. +He looked, and saw the ark hull on the flood, +Which now abated; for the clouds were fled, +Driven by a keen north-wind, that, blowing dry, +Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decayed; +And the clear sun on his wide watery glass +Gazed hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew, +As after thirst; which made their flowing shrink +From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole +With soft foot towards the deep; who now had stopt +His sluces, as the Heaven his windows shut. +The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground, +Fast on the top of some high mountain fixed. +And now the tops of hills, as rocks, appear; +With clamour thence the rapid currents drive, +Towards the retreating sea, their furious tide. +Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies, +And after him, the surer messenger, +A dove sent forth once and again to spy +Green tree or ground, whereon his foot may light: +The second time returning, in his bill +An olive-leaf he brings, pacifick sign: +Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark +The ancient sire descends, with all his train; +Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout, +Grateful to Heaven, over his head beholds +A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow +Conspicuous with three lifted colours gay, +Betokening peace from God, and covenant new. +Whereat the heart of Adam, erst so sad, +Greatly rejoiced; and thus his joy broke forth. +O thou, who future things canst represent +As present, heavenly Instructer! I revive +At this last sight; assured that Man shall live, +With all the creatures, and their seed preserve. +Far less I now lament for one whole world +Of wicked sons destroyed, than I rejoice +For one man found so perfect, and so just, +That God vouchsafes to raise another world +From him, and all his anger to forget. +But say, what mean those coloured streaks in Heaven +Distended, as the brow of God appeased? +Or serve they, as a flowery verge, to bind +The fluid skirts of that same watery cloud, +Lest it again dissolve, and shower the earth? +To whom the Arch-Angel. Dextrously thou aimest; +So willingly doth God remit his ire, +Though late repenting him of Man depraved; +Grieved at his heart, when looking down he saw +The whole earth filled with violence, and all flesh +Corrupting each their way; yet, those removed, +Such grace shall one just man find in his sight, +That he relents, not to blot out mankind; +And makes a covenant never to destroy +The earth again by flood; nor let the sea +Surpass his bounds; nor rain to drown the world, +With man therein or beast; but, when he brings +Over the earth a cloud, will therein set +His triple-coloured bow, whereon to look, +And call to mind his covenant: Day and night, +Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost, +Shall hold their course; till fire purge all things new, +Both Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell. + + + +Book XII + + +As one who in his journey bates at noon, +Though bent on speed; so here the Arch-Angel paused +Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored, +If Adam aught perhaps might interpose; +Then, with transition sweet, new speech resumes. +Thus thou hast seen one world begin, and end; +And Man, as from a second stock, proceed. +Much thou hast yet to see; but I perceive +Thy mortal sight to fail; objects divine +Must needs impair and weary human sense: +Henceforth what is to come I will relate; +Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. +This second source of Men, while yet but few, +And while the dread of judgement past remains +Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity, +With some regard to what is just and right +Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace; +Labouring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop, +Corn, wine, and oil; and, from the herd or flock, +Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid, +With large wine-offerings poured, and sacred feast, +Shall spend their days in joy unblamed; and dwell +Long time in peace, by families and tribes, +Under paternal rule: till one shall rise +Of proud ambitious heart; who, not content +With fair equality, fraternal state, +Will arrogate dominion undeserved +Over his brethren, and quite dispossess +Concord and law of nature from the earth; +Hunting (and men not beasts shall be his game) +With war, and hostile snare, such as refuse +Subjection to his empire tyrannous: +A mighty hunter thence he shall be styled +Before the Lord; as in despite of Heaven, +Or from Heaven, claiming second sovranty; +And from rebellion shall derive his name, +Though of rebellion others he accuse. +He with a crew, whom like ambition joins +With him or under him to tyrannize, +Marching from Eden towards the west, shall find +The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge +Boils out from under ground, the mouth of Hell: +Of brick, and of that stuff, they cast to build +A city and tower, whose top may reach to Heaven; +And get themselves a name; lest, far dispersed +In foreign lands, their memory be lost; +Regardless whether good or evil fame. +But God, who oft descends to visit men +Unseen, and through their habitations walks +To mark their doings, them beholding soon, +Comes down to see their city, ere the tower +Obstruct Heaven-towers, and in derision sets +Upon their tongues a various spirit, to rase +Quite out their native language; and, instead, +To sow a jangling noise of words unknown: +Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud, +Among the builders; each to other calls +Not understood; till hoarse, and all in rage, +As mocked they storm: great laughter was in Heaven, +And looking down, to see the hubbub strange, +And hear the din: Thus was the building left +Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named. +Whereto thus Adam, fatherly displeased. +O execrable son! so to aspire +Above his brethren; to himself assuming +Authority usurped, from God not given: +He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl, +Dominion absolute; that right we hold +By his donation; but man over men +He made not lord; such title to himself +Reserving, human left from human free. +But this usurper his encroachment proud +Stays not on Man; to God his tower intends +Siege and defiance: Wretched man!what food +Will he convey up thither, to sustain +Himself and his rash army; where thin air +Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross, +And famish him of breath, if not of bread? +To whom thus Michael. Justly thou abhorrest +That son, who on the quiet state of men +Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue +Rational liberty; yet know withal, +Since thy original lapse, true liberty +Is lost, which always with right reason dwells +Twinned, and from her hath no dividual being: +Reason in man obscured, or not obeyed, +Immediately inordinate desires, +And upstart passions, catch the government +From reason; and to servitude reduce +Man, till then free. Therefore, since he permits +Within himself unworthy powers to reign +Over free reason, God, in judgement just, +Subjects him from without to violent lords; +Who oft as undeservedly enthrall +His outward freedom: Tyranny must be; +Though to the tyrant thereby no excuse. +Yet sometimes nations will decline so low +From virtue, which is reason, that no wrong, +But justice, and some fatal curse annexed, +Deprives them of their outward liberty; +Their inward lost: Witness the irreverent son +Of him who built the ark; who, for the shame +Done to his father, heard this heavy curse, +Servant of servants, on his vicious race. +Thus will this latter, as the former world, +Still tend from bad to worse; till God at last, +Wearied with their iniquities, withdraw +His presence from among them, and avert +His holy eyes; resolving from thenceforth +To leave them to their own polluted ways; +And one peculiar nation to select +From all the rest, of whom to be invoked, +A nation from one faithful man to spring: +Him on this side Euphrates yet residing, +Bred up in idol-worship: O, that men +(Canst thou believe?) should be so stupid grown, +While yet the patriarch lived, who 'scaped the flood, +As to forsake the living God, and fall +To worship their own work in wood and stone +For Gods! Yet him God the Most High vouchsafes +To call by vision, from his father's house, +His kindred, and false Gods, into a land +Which he will show him; and from him will raise +A mighty nation; and upon him shower +His benediction so, that in his seed +All nations shall be blest: he straight obeys; +Not knowing to what land, yet firm believes: +I see him, but thou canst not, with what faith +He leaves his Gods, his friends, and native soil, +Ur of Chaldaea, passing now the ford +To Haran; after him a cumbrous train +Of herds and flocks, and numerous servitude; +Not wandering poor, but trusting all his wealth +With God, who called him, in a land unknown. +Canaan he now attains; I see his tents +Pitched about Sechem, and the neighbouring plain +Of Moreh; there by promise he receives +Gift to his progeny of all that land, +From Hameth northward to the Desart south; +(Things by their names I call, though yet unnamed;) +From Hermon east to the great western Sea; +Mount Hermon, yonder sea; each place behold +In prospect, as I point them; on the shore +Mount Carmel; here, the double-founted stream, +Jordan, true limit eastward; but his sons +Shall dwell to Senir, that long ridge of hills. +This ponder, that all nations of the earth +Shall in his seed be blessed: By that seed +Is meant thy great Deliverer, who shall bruise +The Serpent's head; whereof to thee anon +Plainlier shall be revealed. This patriarch blest, +Whom faithful Abraham due time shall call, +A son, and of his son a grand-child, leaves; +Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown: +The grandchild, with twelve sons increased, departs +From Canaan to a land hereafter called +Egypt, divided by the river Nile +See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths +Into the sea. To sojourn in that land +He comes, invited by a younger son +In time of dearth, a son whose worthy deeds +Raise him to be the second in that realm +Of Pharaoh. There he dies, and leaves his race +Growing into a nation, and now grown +Suspected to a sequent king, who seeks +To stop their overgrowth, as inmate guests +Too numerous; whence of guests he makes them slaves +Inhospitably, and kills their infant males: +Till by two brethren (these two brethren call +Moses and Aaron) sent from God to claim +His people from enthralment, they return, +With glory and spoil, back to their promised land. +But first, the lawless tyrant, who denies +To know their God, or message to regard, +Must be compelled by signs and judgements dire; +To blood unshed the rivers must be turned; +Frogs, lice, and flies, must all his palace fill +With loathed intrusion, and fill all the land; +His cattle must of rot and murren die; +Botches and blains must all his flesh emboss, +And all his people; thunder mixed with hail, +Hail mixed with fire, must rend the Egyptians sky, +And wheel on the earth, devouring where it rolls; +What it devours not, herb, or fruit, or grain, +A darksome cloud of locusts swarming down +Must eat, and on the ground leave nothing green; +Darkness must overshadow all his bounds, +Palpable darkness, and blot out three days; +Last, with one midnight stroke, all the first-born +Of Egypt must lie dead. Thus with ten wounds +The river-dragon tamed at length submits +To let his sojourners depart, and oft +Humbles his stubborn heart; but still, as ice +More hardened after thaw; till, in his rage +Pursuing whom he late dismissed, the sea +Swallows him with his host; but them lets pass, +As on dry land, between two crystal walls; +Awed by the rod of Moses so to stand +Divided, till his rescued gain their shore: +Such wondrous power God to his saint will lend, +Though present in his Angel; who shall go +Before them in a cloud, and pillar of fire; +By day a cloud, by night a pillar of fire; +To guide them in their journey, and remove +Behind them, while the obdurate king pursues: +All night he will pursue; but his approach +Darkness defends between till morning watch; +Then through the fiery pillar, and the cloud, +God looking forth will trouble all his host, +And craze their chariot-wheels: when by command +Moses once more his potent rod extends +Over the sea; the sea his rod obeys; +On their embattled ranks the waves return, +And overwhelm their war: The race elect +Safe toward Canaan from the shore advance +Through the wild Desart, not the readiest way; +Lest, entering on the Canaanite alarmed, +War terrify them inexpert, and fear +Return them back to Egypt, choosing rather +Inglorious life with servitude; for life +To noble and ignoble is more sweet +Untrained in arms, where rashness leads not on. +This also shall they gain by their delay +In the wide wilderness; there they shall found +Their government, and their great senate choose +Through the twelve tribes, to rule by laws ordained: +God from the mount of Sinai, whose gray top +Shall tremble, he descending, will himself +In thunder, lightning, and loud trumpets' sound, +Ordain them laws; part, such as appertain +To civil justice; part, religious rites +Of sacrifice; informing them, by types +And shadows, of that destined Seed to bruise +The Serpent, by what means he shall achieve +Mankind's deliverance. But the voice of God +To mortal ear is dreadful: They beseech +That Moses might report to them his will, +And terrour cease; he grants what they besought, +Instructed that to God is no access +Without Mediator, whose high office now +Moses in figure bears; to introduce +One greater, of whose day he shall foretel, +And all the Prophets in their age the times +Of great Messiah shall sing. Thus, laws and rites +Established, such delight hath God in Men +Obedient to his will, that he vouchsafes +Among them to set up his tabernacle; +The Holy One with mortal Men to dwell: +By his prescript a sanctuary is framed +Of cedar, overlaid with gold; therein +An ark, and in the ark his testimony, +The records of his covenant; over these +A mercy-seat of gold, between the wings +Of two bright Cherubim; before him burn +Seven lamps as in a zodiack representing +The heavenly fires; over the tent a cloud +Shall rest by day, a fiery gleam by night; +Save when they journey, and at length they come, +Conducted by his Angel, to the land +Promised to Abraham and his seed:--The rest +Were long to tell; how many battles fought +How many kings destroyed; and kingdoms won; +Or how the sun shall in mid Heaven stand still +A day entire, and night's due course adjourn, +Man's voice commanding, 'Sun, in Gibeon stand, +'And thou moon in the vale of Aialon, +'Till Israel overcome! so call the third +From Abraham, son of Isaac; and from him +His whole descent, who thus shall Canaan win. +Here Adam interposed. O sent from Heaven, +Enlightener of my darkness, gracious things +Thou hast revealed; those chiefly, which concern +Just Abraham and his seed: now first I find +Mine eyes true-opening, and my heart much eased; +Erewhile perplexed with thoughts, what would become +Of me and all mankind: But now I see +His day, in whom all nations shall be blest; +Favour unmerited by me, who sought +Forbidden knowledge by forbidden means. +This yet I apprehend not, why to those +Among whom God will deign to dwell on earth +So many and so various laws are given; +So many laws argue so many sins +Among them; how can God with such reside? +To whom thus Michael. Doubt not but that sin +Will reign among them, as of thee begot; +And therefore was law given them, to evince +Their natural pravity, by stirring up +Sin against law to fight: that when they see +Law can discover sin, but not remove, +Save by those shadowy expiations weak, +The blood of bulls and goats, they may conclude +Some blood more precious must be paid for Man; +Just for unjust; that, in such righteousness +To them by faith imputed, they may find +Justification towards God, and peace +Of conscience; which the law by ceremonies +Cannot appease; nor Man the mortal part +Perform; and, not performing, cannot live. +So law appears imperfect; and but given +With purpose to resign them, in full time, +Up to a better covenant; disciplined +From shadowy types to truth; from flesh to spirit; +From imposition of strict laws to free +Acceptance of large grace; from servile fear +To filial; works of law to works of faith. +And therefore shall not Moses, though of God +Highly beloved, being but the minister +Of law, his people into Canaan lead; +But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call, +His name and office bearing, who shall quell +The adversary-Serpent, and bring back +Through the world's wilderness long-wandered Man +Safe to eternal Paradise of rest. +Mean while they, in their earthly Canaan placed, +Long time shall dwell and prosper, but when sins +National interrupt their publick peace, +Provoking God to raise them enemies; +From whom as oft he saves them penitent +By Judges first, then under Kings; of whom +The second, both for piety renowned +And puissant deeds, a promise shall receive +Irrevocable, that his regal throne +For ever shall endure; the like shall sing +All Prophecy, that of the royal stock +Of David (so I name this king) shall rise +A Son, the Woman's seed to thee foretold, +Foretold to Abraham, as in whom shall trust +All nations; and to kings foretold, of kings +The last; for of his reign shall be no end. +But first, a long succession must ensue; +And his next son, for wealth and wisdom famed, +The clouded ark of God, till then in tents +Wandering, shall in a glorious temple enshrine. +Such follow him, as shall be registered +Part good, part bad; of bad the longer scroll; +Whose foul idolatries, and other faults +Heaped to the popular sum, will so incense +God, as to leave them, and expose their land, +Their city, his temple, and his holy ark, +With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey +To that proud city, whose high walls thou sawest +Left in confusion; Babylon thence called. +There in captivity he lets them dwell +The space of seventy years; then brings them back, +Remembering mercy, and his covenant sworn +To David, stablished as the days of Heaven. +Returned from Babylon by leave of kings +Their lords, whom God disposed, the house of God +They first re-edify; and for a while +In mean estate live moderate; till, grown +In wealth and multitude, factious they grow; +But first among the priests dissention springs, +Men who attend the altar, and should most +Endeavour peace: their strife pollution brings +Upon the temple itself: at last they seise +The scepter, and regard not David's sons; +Then lose it to a stranger, that the true +Anointed King Messiah might be born +Barred of his right; yet at his birth a star, +Unseen before in Heaven, proclaims him come; +And guides the eastern sages, who inquire +His place, to offer incense, myrrh, and gold: +His place of birth a solemn Angel tells +To simple shepherds, keeping watch by night; +They gladly thither haste, and by a quire +Of squadroned Angels hear his carol sung. +A virgin is his mother, but his sire +The power of the Most High: He shall ascend +The throne hereditary, and bound his reign +With Earth's wide bounds, his glory with the Heavens. +He ceased, discerning Adam with such joy +Surcharged, as had like grief been dewed in tears, +Without the vent of words; which these he breathed. +O prophet of glad tidings, finisher +Of utmost hope! now clear I understand +What oft my steadiest thoughts have searched in vain; +Why our great Expectation should be called +The seed of Woman: Virgin Mother, hail, +High in the love of Heaven; yet from my loins +Thou shalt proceed, and from thy womb the Son +Of God Most High: so God with Man unites! +Needs must the Serpent now his capital bruise +Expect with mortal pain: Say where and when +Their fight, what stroke shall bruise the victor's heel. +To whom thus Michael. Dream not of their fight, +As of a duel, or the local wounds +Of head or heel: Not therefore joins the Son +Manhood to Godhead, with more strength to foil +Thy enemy; nor so is overcome +Satan, whose fall from Heaven, a deadlier bruise, +Disabled, not to give thee thy death's wound: +Which he, who comes thy Saviour, shall recure, +Not by destroying Satan, but his works +In thee, and in thy seed: Nor can this be, +But by fulfilling that which thou didst want, +Obedience to the law of God, imposed +On penalty of death, and suffering death; +The penalty to thy transgression due, +And due to theirs which out of thine will grow: +So only can high Justice rest appaid. +The law of God exact he shall fulfil +Both by obedience and by love, though love +Alone fulfil the law; thy punishment +He shall endure, by coming in the flesh +To a reproachful life, and cursed death; +Proclaiming life to all who shall believe +In his redemption; and that his obedience, +Imputed, becomes theirs by faith; his merits +To save them, not their own, though legal, works. +For this he shall live hated, be blasphemed, +Seised on by force, judged, and to death condemned +A shameful and accursed, nailed to the cross +By his own nation; slain for bringing life: +But to the cross he nails thy enemies, +The law that is against thee, and the sins +Of all mankind, with him there crucified, +Never to hurt them more who rightly trust +In this his satisfaction; so he dies, +But soon revives; Death over him no power +Shall long usurp; ere the third dawning light +Return, the stars of morn shall see him rise +Out of his grave, fresh as the dawning light, +Thy ransom paid, which Man from death redeems, +His death for Man, as many as offered life +Neglect not, and the benefit embrace +By faith not void of works: This God-like act +Annuls thy doom, the death thou shouldest have died, +In sin for ever lost from life; this act +Shall bruise the head of Satan, crush his strength, +Defeating Sin and Death, his two main arms; +And fix far deeper in his head their stings +Than temporal death shall bruise the victor's heel, +Or theirs whom he redeems; a death, like sleep, +A gentle wafting to immortal life. +Nor after resurrection shall he stay +Longer on earth, than certain times to appear +To his disciples, men who in his life +Still followed him; to them shall leave in charge +To teach all nations what of him they learned +And his salvation; them who shall believe +Baptizing in the profluent stream, the sign +Of washing them from guilt of sin to life +Pure, and in mind prepared, if so befall, +For death, like that which the Redeemer died. +All nations they shall teach; for, from that day, +Not only to the sons of Abraham's loins +Salvation shall be preached, but to the sons +Of Abraham's faith wherever through the world; +So in his seed all nations shall be blest. +Then to the Heaven of Heavens he shall ascend +With victory, triumphing through the air +Over his foes and thine; there shall surprise +The Serpent, prince of air, and drag in chains +Through all his realm, and there confounded leave; +Then enter into glory, and resume +His seat at God's right hand, exalted high +Above all names in Heaven; and thence shall come, +When this world's dissolution shall be ripe, +With glory and power to judge both quick and dead; +To judge the unfaithful dead, but to reward +His faithful, and receive them into bliss, +Whether in Heaven or Earth; for then the Earth +Shall all be Paradise, far happier place +Than this of Eden, and far happier days. +So spake the Arch-Angel Michael; then paused, +As at the world's great period; and our sire, +Replete with joy and wonder, thus replied. +O Goodness infinite, Goodness immense! +That all this good of evil shall produce, +And evil turn to good; more wonderful +Than that which by creation first brought forth +Light out of darkness! Full of doubt I stand, +Whether I should repent me now of sin +By me done, and occasioned; or rejoice +Much more, that much more good thereof shall spring; +To God more glory, more good-will to Men +From God, and over wrath grace shall abound. +But say, if our Deliverer up to Heaven +Must re-ascend, what will betide the few +His faithful, left among the unfaithful herd, +The enemies of truth? Who then shall guide +His people, who defend? Will they not deal +Worse with his followers than with him they dealt? +Be sure they will, said the Angel; but from Heaven +He to his own a Comforter will send, +The promise of the Father, who shall dwell +His Spirit within them; and the law of faith, +Working through love, upon their hearts shall write, +To guide them in all truth; and also arm +With spiritual armour, able to resist +Satan's assaults, and quench his fiery darts; +What man can do against them, not afraid, +Though to the death; against such cruelties +With inward consolations recompensed, +And oft supported so as shall amaze +Their proudest persecutors: For the Spirit, +Poured first on his Apostles, whom he sends +To evangelize the nations, then on all +Baptized, shall them with wonderous gifts endue +To speak all tongues, and do all miracles, +As did their Lord before them. Thus they win +Great numbers of each nation to receive +With joy the tidings brought from Heaven: At length +Their ministry performed, and race well run, +Their doctrine and their story written left, +They die; but in their room, as they forewarn, +Wolves shall succeed for teachers, grievous wolves, +Who all the sacred mysteries of Heaven +To their own vile advantages shall turn +Of lucre and ambition; and the truth +With superstitions and traditions taint, +Left only in those written records pure, +Though not but by the Spirit understood. +Then shall they seek to avail themselves of names, +Places, and titles, and with these to join +Secular power; though feigning still to act +By spiritual, to themselves appropriating +The Spirit of God, promised alike and given +To all believers; and, from that pretence, +Spiritual laws by carnal power shall force +On every conscience; laws which none shall find +Left them inrolled, or what the Spirit within +Shall on the heart engrave. What will they then +But force the Spirit of Grace itself, and bind +His consort Liberty? what, but unbuild +His living temples, built by faith to stand, +Their own faith, not another's? for, on earth, +Who against faith and conscience can be heard +Infallible? yet many will presume: +Whence heavy persecution shall arise +On all, who in the worship persevere +Of spirit and truth; the rest, far greater part, +Will deem in outward rites and specious forms +Religion satisfied; Truth shall retire +Bestuck with slanderous darts, and works of faith +Rarely be found: So shall the world go on, +To good malignant, to bad men benign; +Under her own weight groaning; till the day +Appear of respiration to the just, +And vengeance to the wicked, at return +Of him so lately promised to thy aid, +The Woman's Seed; obscurely then foretold, +Now ampler known thy Saviour and thy Lord; +Last, in the clouds, from Heaven to be revealed +In glory of the Father, to dissolve +Satan with his perverted world; then raise +From the conflagrant mass, purged and refined, +New Heavens, new Earth, ages of endless date, +Founded in righteousness, and peace, and love; +To bring forth fruits, joy and eternal bliss. +He ended; and thus Adam last replied. +How soon hath thy prediction, Seer blest, +Measured this transient world, the race of time, +Till time stand fixed! Beyond is all abyss, +Eternity, whose end no eye can reach. +Greatly-instructed I shall hence depart; +Greatly in peace of thought; and have my fill +Of knowledge, what this vessel can contain; +Beyond which was my folly to aspire. +Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best, +And love with fear the only God; to walk +As in his presence; ever to observe +His providence; and on him sole depend, +Merciful over all his works, with good +Still overcoming evil, and by small +Accomplishing great things, by things deemed weak +Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise +By simply meek: that suffering for truth's sake +Is fortitude to highest victory, +And, to the faithful, death the gate of life; +Taught this by his example, whom I now +Acknowledge my Redeemer ever blest. +To whom thus also the Angel last replied. +This having learned, thou hast attained the sum +Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars +Thou knewest by name, and all the ethereal powers, +All secrets of the deep, all Nature's works, +Or works of God in Heaven, air, earth, or sea, +And all the riches of this world enjoyedst, +And all the rule, one empire; only add +Deeds to thy knowledge answerable; add faith, +Add virtue, patience, temperance; add love, +By name to come called charity, the soul +Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loth +To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess +A Paradise within thee, happier far.-- +Let us descend now therefore from this top +Of speculation; for the hour precise +Exacts our parting hence; and see!the guards, +By me encamped on yonder hill, expect +Their motion; at whose front a flaming sword, +In signal of remove, waves fiercely round: +We may no longer stay: go, waken Eve; +Her also I with gentle dreams have calmed +Portending good, and all her spirits composed +To meek submission: thou, at season fit, +Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard; +Chiefly what may concern her faith to know, +The great deliverance by her seed to come +(For by the Woman's seed) on all mankind: +That ye may live, which will be many days, +Both in one faith unanimous, though sad, +With cause, for evils past; yet much more cheered +With meditation on the happy end. +He ended, and they both descend the hill; +Descended, Adam to the bower, where Eve +Lay sleeping, ran before; but found her waked; +And thus with words not sad she him received. +Whence thou returnest, and whither wentest, I know; +For God is also in sleep; and dreams advise, +Which he hath sent propitious, some great good +Presaging, since with sorrow and heart's distress +Wearied I fell asleep: But now lead on; +In me is no delay; with thee to go, +Is to stay here; without thee here to stay, +Is to go hence unwilling; thou to me +Art all things under $Heaven, all places thou, +Who for my wilful crime art banished hence. +This further consolation yet secure +I carry hence; though all by me is lost, +Such favour I unworthy am vouchsafed, +By me the Promised Seed shall all restore. +So spake our mother Eve; and Adam heard +Well pleased, but answered not: For now, too nigh +The Arch-Angel stood; and, from the other hill +To their fixed station, all in bright array +The Cherubim descended; on the ground +Gliding meteorous, as evening-mist +Risen from a river o'er the marish glides, +And gathers ground fast at the labourer's heel +Homeward returning. High in front advanced, +The brandished sword of God before them blazed, +Fierce as a comet; which with torrid heat, +And vapour as the Libyan air adust, +Began to parch that temperate clime; whereat +In either hand the hastening Angel caught +Our lingering parents, and to the eastern gate +Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast +To the subjected plain; then disappeared. +They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld +Of Paradise, so late their happy seat, +Waved over by that flaming brand; the gate +With dreadful faces thronged, and fiery arms: +Some natural tears they dropt, but wiped them soon; +The world was all before them, where to choose +Their place of rest, and Providence their guide: +They, hand in hand, with wandering steps and slow, +Through Eden took their solitary way. + +[The End] diff --git a/tests/test_framing_format.nim b/tests/test_framing_format.nim index a533e49..ad46279 100644 --- a/tests/test_framing_format.nim +++ b/tests/test_framing_format.nim @@ -10,8 +10,10 @@ template check_uncompress(source, target: string) = framing_format_uncompress(inStream, outStream) - var okResult = readFile(uncompDir & target) - if outStream.getOutput(string) != okResult: + let expected = readFile(uncompDir & target) + let actual = outStream.getOutput(string) + + if actual != expected: check false else: check true