Paradise Lost (Book 4) - John Milton
/Paradise Lost (Book 4) - John Milton/
Heavenly Conflict Revealed Within Eden
Original (Line 1): O for that warning voice, which he who saw
English (Line 1): O for that warning voice, which he who saw
Original (Line 2): Th' Apocalyps, heard cry in Heaven aloud,
English (Line 2): Th' Apocalyps, heard cry in Heaven aloud,
Original (Line 3): Then when the Dragon, put to second rout,
English (Line 3): Then when the Dragon, put to second rout,
Original (Line 4): Came furious down to be reveng'd on men,
English (Line 4): Came furious down to be reveng'd on men,
Original (Line 5): Woe to the inhabitants on Earth! that now,
English (Line 5): Woe to the inhabitants on Earth! that now,
Original (Line 6): While time was, our first Parents had been warn'd
English (Line 6): While time was, our first Parents had been warn'd
Original (Line 7): The coming of their secret foe, and scap'd
English (Line 7): The coming of their secret foe, and scap'd
Original (Line 8): Haply so scap'd his mortal snare; for now
English (Line 8): Haply so scap'd his mortal snare; for now
Original (Line 9): Satan, now first inflam'd with rage, came down,
English (Line 9): Satan, now first inflam'd with rage, came down,
Original (Line 10): The Tempter ere th' Accuser of man-kind,
English (Line 10): The Tempter ere th' Accuser of man-kind,
(...excerpted for length...)
[Due to length constraints, this is a brief excerpt. “Paradise Lost” Book 4 in its entirety is in the public domain and can be found in full from various sources.]
In Book 4 of John Milton’s epic poem “Paradise Lost,” the focus shifts from the cosmic battlegrounds of Heaven and Hell to the serene realms of Eden, where Adam and Eve dwell in innocence. Satan, newly banished from Heaven, enters Eden, intent on undermining the Creator’s fresh masterpiece. Filled with envy and resentment, he contemplates the unwavering purity and blissful ignorance of humanity, soon realizing his only way to strike back at God is by corrupting humanity itself.
Amid rich descriptions of Eden’s landscape—depicted with pastoral elegance—Milton underscores the vulnerability of humankind. Though Adam and Eve share a perfect union and unwavering trust in each other, Satan exploits their very openness. Book 4 foreshadows the Fall by illustrating Satan’s stealthy intrusion and internal torments. He wrestles between lingering angelic traits and his darker impulses, eventually yielding to malice.
The poem’s language is monumental, weaving biblical allusions with classical references. Milton’s depiction of free will, moral responsibility, and the fragility of virtue shapes the poem’s thematic core. Book 4 marks a decisive turning point; Eden is infiltrated, perfection stands on the brink, and the battle is no longer waged only in the celestial realm—it has entered the human heart.
Rich in theological and philosophical echoes, “Paradise Lost” Book 4 examines the nature of evil, mankind’s precarious innocence, and the grandeur of divine creation, underscoring the moral tension that pervades the poem.
Key points
• Satan’s jealousy leads him to target human innocence.
• Eden symbolizes uncorrupted harmony and divine order.
• Book 4 explores free will and the vulnerability of virtue.
• Milton’s epic style blends biblical and classical references.
• The conflict transitions from celestial battles to the human realm.
