Thusthoughtthetyrantinhistraitorousmind，Butdurstnotfollowwhathehaddecreed，Yetiftheinnocentssomemercyfind，Fromcowardice，nottruth，didthatproceed，HisnoblefoesdurstnothiscravenkindExasperatebysuchabloodydeed。
Forifheneed，whatgracecouldthenbegot，Ifthusofpeacehebrokeorloosedtheknot？
LXXXIX
Hisvillainhearthiscursedragerestrained，Tootherthoughtshebenthisfiercedesire，Thesuburbsfirstflatwiththeearthheplained，Andburnttheirbuildingswithdevouringfire，LothwasthewretchtheFrenchmanshouldhavegainedOrhelporease，byfindingaughtentire，Cedron，Bethsaida，andeachwateringelseEmpoisonedhe，bothfountains，springs，andwells。
XC
Sowarywisethischildofdarknesswas；
Thecity’sselfhestronglyfortifies，Threesidesbysiteitwelldefencedhas，That’sonlyweakthattothenorthwardlies；
Withmightybarsoflongenduringbrass，Thesteel-bounddoorsandirongatesheties，And，lastly，legionsarmedwellprovidesOfsubjectsborn，andhiredaidbesides。
SECONDBOOK
THEARGUMENT。
Ismenoconjures，buthischarmsarevain；
AladinewillkilltheChristiansinhisire：
SophroniaandOlindowouldbeslainTosavetherest，theKinggrantstheirdesire；
Clorindahearstheirfactandfortunesplain，Theirpardongetsandkeepsthemfromthefire：
Argantes，whenAletes’speechesareDespised，defiestheDuketomortalwar。
I
Whilethusthetyrantbendshisthoughtstoarms，Ismenogantoforehissightappear，IsmendeadboneslaidincoldgravesthatwarmsAndmakesthemspeak，smell，taste，touch，see，andhear；
Ismenwithterrorofhismightycharms，ThatmakesgreatDisindeepestHelltofear，Thatbindsandloosessoulscondemnedtowoe，Andsendsthedevilsonerrandstoandfro。
II
AChristianonce，Maconhenowadores，Norcouldhequitehiswontedfaithforsake，ButinhiswickedartsbothoftimploresHelpfromtheLord，andaidfromPlutoblack；
He，fromdeepcavesbyAcheron’sdarkshores，Wherecirclesvainandspellsheusedtomake，Toadvisehiskingintheseextremesiscome，AchitophelsocounselledAbsalom。
III
“Myliege，“hesays，“thecampfasthithermoves，Theaxeislaiduntothiscedar’sroot，Butletusworkasvaliantmenbehoves，Forboldestheartsgoodfortunehelpethout；
Yourprincelycareyourkinglywisdomproves，Wellhaveyoulabored，wellforeseenabout；
Ifeachperformhischargeanddutyso，Noughtbuthisgravehereconquershallyourfoe。
IV
“FromsurestcastleofmysecretcellIcome，partakerofyourgoodandill，Whatcounselsage，ormagic’ssacredspellMayprofitus，allthatperformIwill：
ThespritesimpurefromblissthatwhilomfellShalltoyourservicebow，constrainedbyskill；
Buthowwemustbeginthisenterprise，IwillyourHighnessthusinbriefadvise。
V
“WithintheChristian’schurchfromlightofskies，Anhiddenalterstands，faroutofsight，OnwhichtheimageconsecratedliesOfChrist’sdearmother，calledavirginbright，Anhundredlampsayeburnbeforehereyes，Sheinaslenderveiloftinseldight，OneverysidegreatplentydothbeholdOfofferingsbrought，myrrh，frankincenseandgold。
VI
“ThisidolwouldIhaveremovedawayFromthence，andbyyourprincelyhandtransport，InMacon’ssacredtemplesafeitlay，WhichthenIwillenchantinwondroussort，Thatwhiletheimageinthatchurchdothstay，Nostrengthofarmsshallwinthisnoblefort，Ofshakethispuissantwall，suchpassingmightHavespellsandcharms，iftheybesaidaright。“
VII
Advisedthus，thekingimpatientFlewinhisfurytothehouseofGod，Theimagetook，withwordsunreverentAbusedtheprelates，whothatdeedforbode，Swiftwithhisprey，awaythetyrantwent，OfGod’ssharpjusticenaughthefearedtherod，Butinhischapelviletheimagelaid，Onwhichtheenchantercharmsandwitchcraftsaid。
VIII
WhenPhoebusnextunclosedhiswakefuleye，Uprosethesextonofthatplaceprofane，Andmissedtheimage，whereitusedtolie，Eachwherehesoughingrief，infear，invain；
Thentothekinghislosshegandescry，Whosoreenragedkilledhimforhispain；
Andstraightconceivedinhismaliciouswit，SomeChristianbadethisgreatoffencecommit。
IX
Butwhetherthiswereactofmortalhand，OrelsethePrinceofHeaven’seternalpleasure，Thatofhismercywouldthiswretchwithstand，Norletsovileachestholdsuchatreasure，Asyetconjecturehathnotfullyscanned；
Bygodlinessletusthisactionmeasure，AndtruthofpurestfaithwillfitlyproveThatthisraregracecamedownfromHeavenabove。
X
WithbusysearchthetyrantgantoinvadeEachhouse，eachhold，eachtempleandeachtentTothemthefaultorfaultyonebewrayedOrhid，hepromisedgiftsorpunishment，Hisidlecharmsthefalseenchantersaid，Butinthismazestillwanderedandmiswent，ForHeavendecreedtoconcealthesame，Tomakethemiscreantmoretofeelhisshame。
XI
ButwhentheangrykingdiscoverednotWhatguiltyhandthissacrilegehadwrought，HisirefulcourageboiledinvengeancehotAgainsttheChristians，whomhefaultersthought；
Allruth，compassion，mercyheforgot，Astafftobeatthatdoghelonghadsought，“Letthemalldie，“quothhe，“killgreatandsmall，Soshalltheoffenderperishsurewithal。
XII
“Tospillthewinewithpoisonmixedwithspares？
Slaythentherighteouswiththefaultyone，Destroythisfieldthatyieldethnaughtbuttares，Withthornsthisvineyardallisover-gone，Amongthesewretchesisnotone，thatcaresForus，ourlaws，orourreligion；
Up，up，dearsubjects，fireandweapontake，Burn，murder，killthesetraitorsformysake。“
XIII
ThisHerodthuswouldBethlem’sinfantskill，TheChristianssoonthisdirefulnewsreceave，Thetrumpofdeathsoundsintheirhearingshrill，Theirweapon，faith；theirfortress，wasthegrave；
Theyhadnocourage，time，device，orwill，Tofight，tofly，excuse，orpardoncrave，Butstoodpreparedtodie，yethelptheyfind，Whenceleasttheyhope，suchknotscanHeavenunbind。
XIV
Amongthemdwelt，herparents’joyandpleasure，Amaid，whosefruitwasripe，notover-yeared，Herbeautywashernotesteemedtreasure；
Thefieldoflovewithploughofvirtueeared，Herlaborgoodness；godlinessherleisure；
Herhousetheheavenbythisfullmoonayecleared，Forthere，fromlovers’eyeswithdrawn，aloneWithvirginbeamsthisspotlessCynthiashone。
XV
Butwhatavailedherresolutionchaste，Whosesoberestlookswerewhetstonestodesire？
Norloveconsentsthatbeauty’sfieldliewaste，HervisagesetOlindo’sheartonfire，Osubtlelove，athousandwilesthouhast，Byhumblesuit，byservice，orbyhire，Towinamaiden’shold，athingsoondone，Fornatureframedallwomentobewon。
XVI
Sophroniashe，Olindohighttheyouth，Bothoronetown，bothinonefaithweretaught，Shefair，hefullofbashfulnessandtruth，Lovedmuch，hopedlittle，anddesirednought，Hedurstnotspeakbysuittopurchaseruth，Shesawnot，markednot，wistnotwhathesought，Thusloved，thusservedhelong，butnotregarded，Unseen，unmarked，unpitied，unrewarded。
XVII
Tohercamemessageofthemurderment，Whereinherguiltlessfriendsshouldhopelessstarve，Shethatwasnoble，wise，asfairandgent，Casthowshemighttheirharmlesslivespreserve，Zealwasthespringwhenceflowedherhardiment，Frommaidenshameyetwasshelothtoswerve：
Yethadhercourageta’ensosureahold，Thatboldness，shamefaced；shamehadmadeherbold。
XVIII
Andforthshewent，ashopformerchandiseFullofrichstuff，butnoneforsaleexposed，Aveilobscuredthesunshineofhereyes，Therosewithinherselfhersweetnessclosed，Eachornamentaboutherseemlylies，Bycuriouschance，orcarelessart，composed；
Forwhatthemostneglects，mostcuriousprove，SoBeauty’shelpedbyNature，Heaven，andLove。
XIX
Admiredofall，onwentthisnoblemaid，Untilthepresenceofthekingshegained，Norforheswelledwithirewassheafraid，Buthisfiercewrathwithfearlessgracesustained，“Icome，“quothshe，“butbethineangerstayed，Andcauselessrage’gainstfaultlesssoulsrestrained——
Icometoshowthee，andtobringtheeboth，Thewightwhosefacthathmadethyheartsowroth。“
XX
Hermolestboldness，andthatlightningrayWhichhersweetbeautystreamedonhisface，Hadstrucktheprincewithwonderanddismay，Changedhischeer，andclearedhismoodygrace，Thathadhereyesdisposedtheirlookstoplay，Thekinghadsnaredbeeninlove’sstronglace；
Butwaywardbeautydothnotfancymove，Afrownforbids，asmileengenderethlove。
XXI
Itwasamazement，wonderanddelight，Althoughnotlove，thatmovedhiscruelsense；
“Tellon，“quothhe，“unfoldthechancearight，Thypeople’slivesIgrantforrecompense。“
Thenshe，“Beholdthefaulterhereinsight，Thishandcommittedthatsupposedoffence，Itooktheimage，minethatfault，thatfact，Minebethegloryofthatvirtuousact。“
XXII
Thisspotlesslambthusofferedupherblood，TosavetherestofChrist’sselectedfold，Onoblelie！wasevertruthsogood？
Blestbethelipsthatsuchaleasingtold：
Thoughtfulawhileremainedthetyrantwood，Hisnativewrathheganaspacewithhold，Andsaid，“ThatthoudiscoversoonIwill，Whataid？whatcounselhad’stthouinthatill？“
XXIII
“Myloftythoughts，“sheansweredhim，“enviedAnother’shandshouldworkmyhighdesire，Thethirstofglorycannopartnerbide，WithmineownselfIdidaloneconspire。“
“Ontheealone，“thetyrantthenreplied，“Shallfallthevengeanceofmywrathandire。“
“`Tisjustandright，“quothshe，“Iyieldconsent，Minebethehonor，minethepunishment。“
XXIV
Thewretchofnewenragedatthesame，Askedwhereshehidtheimagesoconveyed：
“Nothid，“quothshe，“butquiteconsumedwithflame，Theidolisofthateternalmaid，ForsoatleastIhavepreservedthesame，Withhandsprofanefrombeingeftbetrayed。
MyLord，thethingthusstolendemandnomore，Hereseethethiefthatscornethdeaththerefor。
XXV
“Andyetnotheftwasthis，yourswasthesin，Ibroughtagainwhatyouunjustlytook。“
Thisheard，thetyrantdidforragebeginTowhethisteeth，andbendhisfrowninglook，Nopity，youth；fairness，nogracecouldwin；
Joy，comfort，hope，thevirginallforsook；
Wrathkilledremorse，vengeancestoppedmercy’sbreathLove’sthralltohate，andbeauty’sslavetodeath。
XXVI
Ta’enwasthedamsel，andwithoutremorse，Thekingcondemnedherguiltlesstothefire，Herveilandmantlepluckedtheyoffbyforce，Andboundhertenderarmsintwistedwire：
Dumbwasthesilverdove，whilefromhercorseThesehungrykitespluckedoffherrichattire，Andforsomedealperplexedwashersprite，Herdamasklate，nowchangedtopurestwhite。
XXVII
Thenewsofthismishapspreadfarandnear，Thepeopleran，bothyoungandold，togaze；
Olindoalsoran，andgantofearHisladywassomepartnerinthiscase；
Butwhenhefoundherbound，striptfromhergear，Andviletormentorsreadysawinplace，Hebrokethethrong，andintopresencebrast；
Andthusbespakethekinginrageandhaste：