Paradise Regain'd (Book 4) - John Milton
/Paradise Regain'd (Book 4) - John Milton/
Christ’s Triumphant Stand Against Temptation
Original (Line 1): Perplex’d and troubl’d at his bad success
English (Line 1): Perplexed and troubled by his failure
Original (Line 2): The Tempter stood nor had what to reply,
English (Line 2): The Tempter stood there, lacking a response,
Original (Line 3): Discover’d in his fraud, thrown from his hope,
English (Line 3): Exposed in his deceit, his ambitions cast down,
Original (Line 4): So oft, and the persuasive Rhetoric
English (Line 4): So frequently had his persuasive words
Original (Line 5): That sleek’t his tongue, and won so much on Eve,
English (Line 5): Softened his speech, once winning so greatly over Eve,
Original (Line 6): So little here, nay lost; but Eve was Eve,
English (Line 6): Yet achieved so little now—no success at all; but Eve was Eve,
Original (Line 7): This far his over-match, who self deceiv’d
English (Line 7): This new opponent confounded him, and he deceived himself,
Original (Line 8): And rash, before-hand had no better weigh’d
English (Line 8): Rashly unprepared, failing to gauge his adversary’s strength,
Original (Line 9): The strength he was to cope with, or his own:
English (Line 9): Nor fully understanding either his foe’s might or his own:
Original (Line 10): But as a man who had been matchless held
English (Line 10): Like a man once deemed unmatched in cunning, now subdued.
Excerpt from the opening of Book 4. Full text is in the public domain.
In Book 4 of John Milton’s “Paradise Regain’d,” the final stage of Christ’s battle against Satan’s temptations reaches its climax. Having tested Christ with promises of food, glory, and political dominance, Satan finds himself confounded when all his cunning arguments fail to sway the Son of God.
Milton opens this segment by showing Satan’s growing frustration. Accustomed to victory through guile—he once deceived Eve with relative ease—he now faces a steadfast adversary who sees through every ploy. This shift underscores the central premise of “Paradise Regain’d”: while humanity’s first fall happened in Eden’s comfort, redemption is won through Christ’s firmness in the most desolate of circumstances. By contrasting Adam’s susceptibility with Christ’s unwavering obedience, Milton illustrates how true spiritual triumph requires both divine grace and moral resolve.
At the heart of Book 4 is the notion that real power does not arise from ambition or worldly accolades. Christ’s refusal to yield reveals a deeper, more profound strength: the willingness to abide by divine will rather than indulge ego or fear. In essence, Milton recasts the notion of heroism—rather than glorious conquests or displays of might, it is the quiet fortitude of faith that conquers evil.
As Satan’s last temptations crumble, the poem points forward to the dawning realization that the paradise once lost to Adam’s disobedience can be spiritually reclaimed. Through Christ’s example, the possibility of redemption and grace becomes tangible—proof that humanity can transcend its frailties through unshakable devotion and trust in God.
Book 4 thus concludes “Paradise Regain’d” on a victorious yet contemplative note, bridging the gap between Eden’s tragedy and the New Testament’s promise of salvation. Milton leaves readers with a resonant truth: the path to restoring paradise lies in genuine submission to divine authority, which trumps any form of temporal power or fleeting temptation.
Key points
1. Christ’s unbreakable faith counters the deceit that once overcame humanity.
2. Moral and spiritual strength trump fleeting promises of power and acclaim.
3. True heroism lies in steadfast obedience to a higher will.
4. By resisting Satan’s final schemes, Christ opens the way for humanity’s redemption.
