Eden Lost

From the moment the apple's flesh touched the lips of Eve, the destiny of Man would never be the same again. Though her corrupter, the fallen angel Satan, suffered even now along his vile brethren in Hell, his evil deed was done. Hope, it seemed, was memory as lost as the Paradise in which it once dwelled...

Adam and Eve in agony
Fresco by Masaccio

As the rift between the Earth and Hell remained open, Sin and Death, the offspring of Satan, seized their chance. Soaring into the as yet still ethereal plains of Earth, Sin spread fear, doubt, envy, anger, sloth, hate, want, pride to ravage the World. Death brings down upon the land the scythe of time, undiscriminating, unbiased and even, bestowing his withering sentence upon all living things. Meanwhile, high above on the highest throne, the Almighty was made aware of this blasphemy. But it was the lot of man, his curse for his breaking the oath of God, to inhabit a lesser World now, until the day cometh when all will be purified. When that day arrives both Sin and Death will be hurled headlong to the dark pit from whence they came. "Then heav'n and earth renewed shall be made pure, to sanctity that shall receive no stain: till then the curse pronounced on both sides precedes". The host gathered sang in jubiliation, wonder at the ways of the Lord, and joyful at the promised time when the blight will be lifted and all will be free. At once the Creator set about making the new world. At his command, the blazing Sun moved, so that the Earth might feel heat and cold, from the south resplendent Summer, from the north Winter scarcely tolerable. To the Moon the Lord set in her place. To the winds he turned next, their way to blast the sea, the air and shore to the symphony of thunder.

Far below in Eden, the first man beheld the coming plight with despair. "O miserable of happy! Is this the end of this new glorious world, and me so late the glory of glory?" The curse of death weighed heavily upon his mind, as his thoughts turned to his descendants. "Who of all ages to succeed, but feeling the evil on him brought by me, will curse my head, I'll fare our ancestor impure, for this we may thank Adam". With anger he railed against the Almighty, anger at his fall for another's sin. Woe that he had been made at all, he declared:


                             " 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? "
                                    - ADAM BEWAILS HIS CREATION

Adam and Eve expelled from the Garden
Engraving by John Baptist Medina

The loss of Paradise was his sentence, but to this grave retribution the Most High added endless woes. Adam considered, wondering at the ways of God. It was then that Eve, matriarch of man and companion to Adam from whose rib she once sprung, came to him. "God made thee of choice his own, and of his own to serve him; thy reward was of his grace; thy punishment then justly is at his will", she spake.  Willingly to her fate does Eve submit, filled with guilt and devouring remorse is she. Both broken hearted and dejected, lament that it is better to end all and return to the Earth from whence they came, for what left now but a life a shade of before? But Eve held one last hope:


   " Yet one doubt pursues me still,
      lest all I cannot die,
      Les that pure breath of life, the spirit of man,
      Which God inspired, cannot together perish,
      With this corporeal clod... "
                                                                       - EVE'S HOPE


How can the Almighty sentence his creation to torment without end? Adam sank deeper still:


                              " Me now your curse! Ah, why should all mankind
                                For one man's fault thus guiltless be condemned,
                                If 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? "
                                        - THE DESTINY OF MAN?


Both ponder as to why the scythe of Death has not already struck them, but Death comes not yet. Divine justice it was which slowed her pace, as today, ordered to pronounce her foul sentence without haste. To Adam's restless state Eve sent soothing words which calmed his soul. She remembered suddenly the curse of God. The Almighty spake of a time when the progeny of the first Man and Woman will exact justice upon the Serpent, and righteous retribution will be done by their own seed. Her lowly and newfound humble words touched the anger of Adam, and some small measure of peace returned to him, not known since Eden. No longer could he find it in his heart to look upon Eve with furious eyes. He had eaten of the accursed orb so as to remain with Eve. In this some hope remained. "Eve, thy contempt of life and pleasure seems to argue in thee something more sublime and excellent...". Firm in his resolve, his will restored, Adam declares it is their duty to rid the world of the corruption which their sin brought to the fore. Terrible may be the path along the road to redemption, and long may it be, but at the end of the road redemption remained still. Hope remained. Woman had been cursed to suffer terrible pain in childbirth, but is not such agony soon recompensed by the result? With sweat, toil and grit must man now earn his bread."What harm?", Adam thought, "idleness had been worse". With terrible remorse the first man and woman accepted their fate, hoping upon hope that one day, after their sufferings and prayers, the heart of the Almighty might be moved to pity, and Paradise regained.

The Messiah intercedes
Painting by William Blake

Their repentance, and prayers of humility winged their way to Heaven more swiftly than the loudest acclamation, dampened by no gale until the throne of the Almighty they reached. But it was not God himself who was moved so at hearing their pleas, but his Son the Messiah. Turning to the Father, he spoke with heartfelt words of the pity he felt for the first man and woman. So the intercession of the Messiah was begun, and the destiny of the World set in motion. Hearing the words of Adam and Eve, he spake them anew, and with enchanting charisma, and the will of the Lord began to move. Allow me to stand for him and interpret for him, the Son said. It was then that he made his startling revelation which turned many an angelic head in Heaven:


                    " 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
                      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 "
                               - THE MESSIAH INTERCEDES FOR MAN


Upon deaf ears the Great Redeemer's words fell not. With calm serenity the Father relented, "All thy request for man, accepted Son". However, no longer may man dwell in the place called Eden, a Garden too pure for man corrupted now with Satan's malevolent touch. Hope remains, in the words of the Lord:


                   " 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 heav'n and earth renewed... "
                              - WHY MEN DIE


But now came the time for man to enter his new abode, to leave his lost Paradise, but forever no more. With a deafening blast the heralds of Heaven rallied the angelic host to the throne of the Almighty, there to await the will of the Divine...



United Kingdom

Penguin Classics
Paradise Lost (Penguin Classics)
(The raw poem in original verse with the commentary at the back)

Oxford World's Classics
Paradise Lost (Oxford World's Classics)
(The raw poem with a commentary on the same page)

United States

Penguin Classics

Paradise Lost (Penguin Classics)

(The raw poem in original verse with the commentary at the back)

Oxford World's Classics

Paradise Lost (Oxford World's Classics)
The raw poem with a commentary on the same page)

The Triumph of the Morning Star

Seeing it now as nothing more or less than the greatest trial of their kinship, Eve embraced the distressed Adam, as he took the accursed fruit from her palm (for the previous episode in this story, please click here). As the first man and woman embraced, so was man’s Paradise Lost forever, or so it seemed. Triumph his at last, Satan released his grip on the Serpent, making good his escape from Eden, for well did he know the retribution that would soon be vented upon the once serene Garden.

Adam and Eve hide from the Lord
Engraving by Gustave Doré

As the flesh of the forbidden fruit was pierced by Adam’s teeth, a second time Earth groaned and Nature wailed. Storm clouds gathered over Eden, as the azure Sky turned a putrid black. Rain fell from once cloudless skies, tears wept by Nature at the original sin. The taste of the fruits flesh did intoxicate them both, and both felt ‘divinity within them breeding wings’. Knowledge of good and evil did it bring, but so too the temptation of evil, as the first man and the first woman first set lascivious eyes upon the other, and so corrupted forever the purity of their bond. So was sealed the guilt of original sin. When, not long later, both rose from their slumber, shorn of strength and bare of virtue, they were aware now of their nakedness. Anguish shook their mutual bond, as Adam despaired of their fall. ‘O Eve, in evil hour thou didst give ear to that false worm… How shall I behold the face henceforth of God or angel, erst with joy and rapture so oft beheld?’ In their great shame, the first man and woman took dignity of a fig tree which grew in Eden yonder, taking great boughs of leaves to gird their unclad waists. Emotions fresh now flooded both; anger, hate, mistrust, suspicion, discord, all fallout of Satan’s dark craft. Adam turned on his bride, chastising her for not remaining by his side. ‘Hadst thou been there, or here th’ attempt, thou couldst not have discerned fraud in the Serpent, speaking as he spake’, pleaded Eve, seduced as she had been by Satan’s honeyed words. In that moment did Adam, who chose willingly death together over immortal bliss alone, realise the folly of them both. For both had been warned by the Archangel Raphael that the Enemy lurked within the Garden, an Enemy which found them now. For many dark hours did both sit in terrified silence, dreading the judgement that was surely to come.

As fear polluted the earthly Paradise, word arrived in unearthly Paradise of Man’s transgression, for what can escape the eye of the Almighty, and what deceive the Omniscient? Satan’s ploy had run unhindered by the Most High, for to all things had he granted free will, even his first and greatest Creation, Lucifer, as he was once known. Great consternation there was in Heaven, for the angels loyal still sat distraught, for how could the Fiend have penetrated the Garden? With a crash of glorious thunder the voice of the Lord rang true, ‘Be not dismayed, nor troubled at these tidings from the Earth, which your sincerest care could not prevent’. He had not interfered, but Man had fallen still, and now judgement must be done. To his radiant Son the Lord turned, ‘Man’s friend, his Mediator, his designed both ransom and redeemer’. The Son blazed forth in ethereal glory, resplendent in the magnificence of Heaven, as he decreed that the transgressors would be judged, but one day would come their redemption with his own fall. From his mighty throne did he rise, and flash down to Earth, such purity to a now unclean land.

The voice of the Lord sounded in Eden, and Adam was afraid. In shame deplorable did Adam and Eve seek to conceal themselves from his coming within the trees. ‘Where art thou Adam, wont with joy to meet my coming seen far off?’ spoke the voice of the Lord. Terror flooding his body, the first man found no place to hide. His voice trembling, the first man replied, ‘I heard thee in the Garden, and of thy voice afraid, being naked, hid myself’. ‘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?’ Throwing his head high, Adam cried, ‘O Heav’n! In evil strait this day I stand before my judge…’. He confessed it all, his crime and that of Eve, both their calamitous sin. ‘Was she thy God, that her thou didst obey?’ replied the voice of the Lord. To Eve he turned, ‘Say woman, what is this thou hast done?’ Hanging her head, the first woman told her tale, of her temptation by the Serpent, and her crime. When the Lord heard this he turned at once to the Serpent, though it was but an instrument of the Fallen Angel:


           “ Because thou hast done this, thou art accursed
             Above all cattle, each beast of the field;
             Upon thy belly grovelling thou shalt go,
             And dust shalt eat all the days of thy life.
             Between thee and the woman I will pout Enmity, and between thine and her seed;
             Her seed shall bruise thy head, and thou bruise his heel ”
                       - THE JUDGEMENT OF THE SERPENT


So ever after, all serpents crawled along the ground, and were the foe of Man. To Eve now the Lord turned, and 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 ”
                                       - THE JUDGEMENT OF EVE

So ever after, woman was cursed to give birth only through extreme pain, and to be subservient to men. Now to Adam the Lord did turn with curse new:


                         “ 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 was taken; know thy birth,
                            For dust thou art, and shalt to dust return… ”
                                      - THE JUDGEMENT OF ADAM


So ever after, man was cursed to need food to survive, and be able to obtain only through the sweat of his brow, labouring in the fields, cursed in the knowledge that one day he too would lie in the dust. Justice passed, the Son returned to the Most High, though pity great did he feel for the first man and woman, clothing them before he left.

Sin and Death
Engraving by Gustave Doré

Far below the earthly sphere sat Sin and Death before the Gates of Hell. Change in the air did they sense, a weakening of their bonds. The Gates flew open wide ‘belching outrageous flame far into Chaos, since the Fiend passed through’. Sin, mother to Death, turned to her son, and declared ‘Methinks I feel new strength within me rise, wings growing and dominion giv’n me large’. Sensing the triumph of the Morning Star, they rejoiced, hailing the Dark Prince as their Saviour new. Bound in the infernal keep no longer, Earth now was their kingdom, and man their servants. A strange attraction overcame them both, attraction to this new realm. Turning his cold nose to the stars, Death caught scent of life afar, passion firing anew. Ecstasy was theirs, and in their joy they raised a deplorable bridge, forever binding the world of men with the world of Hell, spanning the chasm of Chaos once crossed by the Fallen Angel.

A blinding light, a shout of triumph, both heralds of Satan’s return, coming now resplendent as a burning angel of Heaven. Jubilation was his, and greater still, when he saw the mighty bridge now yonder, craft of his children. Hell, his daughter proud, exclaimed with joy her foreknowledge of his triumphs, for Hell could bind them no longer. The Great Liberator they hailed now. Their great defeat had been avenged. Satan smiled upon his kin, proclaiming Eden theirs forever to rule, bidding them go forth and grant their Dominion to the race of Men. Bidding them make all haste, the Morning Star sped on down into the depths, unguarded as they were, for all the Infernal host had gained word of their leader’s victory.

To Pandaemonium the fiery city did he soar, summoning High Council amongst his brethren, one third of the angelic host of Heaven of old, blackened by the soot of Hell. Blazing with regal glory, all that was left of his once Heavenly brilliance, he marched forth, and deafening was his acclaim. ‘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’. Proud of his craft, Satan told his story:


                             “ The new created world, which fame in Heav’n
                                Long had foretold, a fabric 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 increase
                               Your wonder, with an apple; he thereat
                               Offended, worth your laughter, hath giv’n up
                               Both his beloved man and all his world,
                               To Sin and Death a prey, and so to us… ”
                                      - THE TRIUMPH OF SATAN

The Fallen Angels Metamorphise
Engraving by Gustave Doré

A while the Fallen One stood, expecting a rousing shout and highest applause. But Satan heard not cries of glee, but ‘a dismal, universal hiss’, as though of scorn. Not long did he have to wonder at this noise, for he presently felt a shocking sensation. His flesh suddenly drawn tight to his form, his arms clung to his ribs and his legs intertwined each other, he powerless to resist the force which contorted him savagely now. His metamorphoses complete, the Fallen Angel fell to the ground, now a monstrous serpent. Punished now in the shape by which he sinned, Satan would have spoke, perhaps cried out anguish and rage, but his forked tongue flickered and only a hiss emerged, one among the many, for all the fallen angels were now as snakes. ‘Dreadful was the din’, as hideous contortions broke out hither and thither, the shape of all manner of nightmarish creatures did they take. In their midst, the bane of Man was nigh on rent asunder as his form was twisted into a monstrous dragon, mightier than any wyrm that trod the Earth, but undampened was his resolve, nor his power over the others. The rebel angels looked amongst each other, expecting to see their dread leader bedecked in glory, fresh from triumph, but saw in horror and sorrow only vile serpents all around. Spear and shield fell to the ground, useless now for bodies with no hands.

Then in their midst sprung up a grove, not unlike the Forbidden Tree of Eden, instrument of Man’s demise. Suddenly the power of the Lord waxed strong again, and his retribution terrible. Each one among them felt a ‘scalding thirst and hunger fierce’, as fruit burst forth from the seductive boughs of the Tree. Desperate from their pangs, they fell upon it, each and all, and sunk their razor teeth into the fruit. But here fell God’s curse anew, as the fruit turned to bitter ashes in their mouths. Each among them spat in frustrated agony. Thus was the fallen host ‘plagued and worn with famine, long and ceaseless hiss’, until the time came they assumed their former shapes. Once a year, on the anniversary of the temptation of the first man and woman, the spirits of the Pit undergo this transformation, ‘to dash their pride, and joy for man seduced’…
   


United Kingdom

Paradise Lost:
Paradise Lost (Penguin Classics)
(A sweeping epic poem telling the story of mankind's fall and Satan's rebellion against God)

United States

Paradise Lost:
Paradise Lost (Penguin Classics)
(A sweeping epic poem telling the story of mankind's fall and Satan's rebellion against God)

The Rise of the Morning Star

We return today to the story of Paradise Lost, and the story of how Satan, once the brightest of the Archangels of Heaven, foiled in open rebellion against God, turned to other means to topple the Highest Throne (for the previous episode of this saga, please click here). Recalling an ancient prophecy they once heard as loyal Seraphim in Heaven, the Fallen Angels resolved to seek out and corrupt God's new creation - Man. With no other brave enough to walk the path of the abyss, and break out from the confines of Hell, Satan himself volunteers to carry out this dark deed, to tumultuous applause.

Satan confronts Sin and Death

Engraving by Gustave Doré

Leaving the gathered Fallen Angels to explore the dank depths of their infernal new prison, Satan takes flight through the endless reaches of Hell. Passing over the fire, mountains and sorrowful dales which are to one day be home to the cruellest of men and most savage of beasts, proud Satan soars to the summit of his new domain, bent on vengeance against the Most High. Reaching the boundaries of the Accursed Pit, the Morning Star finds his way blocked by thrice threefold gates, three of brass, three of iron and three of adamantine, all wreathed in fire. Before the gateway, however, stood two figures. On one side stood what seemed a woman to the waist, yet ending in a serpent's coils, with demonic hounds snapping at from her chest. The other was a shape, yet also shapeless, a shadow black as the Night, yet bearing a crown upon its head. The dark creature and Satan approached one another, as Hell itself trembled with each stride. Satan warns the being to back down, that nothing will stand in his way, that nothing can stand before the Spirits of Heaven. The dark creature, dauntless, replied:

                         " Art thou that traitor angel, art thou He who first broke

                           peace in Heav'n and faith, till then unbroken? "

                                                 - DEATH CONFRONTS SATAN

Roused to indignation by the grisly creature's challenge, Satan raised his spear, driven to battle rage. So too did the ghastly being, both terrible spirits poised to strike. Just then, the creature's companion called out in anguish, chastising Satan for daring to strike his own son. Bemused, Satan demands she explain her charge, for he has no son. Saddened, the monstrous lady reveals herself to be his daughter too, that at the moment of Satan's rebellion against God, she was born, fully armed, from his head. Alarmed at her sight, the loyal angels of Heaven gave her the name Sin, born a living incarnation of Satan's pride. As the glorious plains of Heaven turned to war, she writhed in the pangs of childbirth, and a son was born of her and Satan's dark deeds, the grim shadow he now confronts. For he is Death himself, a name Hell fears to speak. Sin's existence is one of endless pain, as fearsome demons claw their way from her womb, the Furies, spirits which will one day pursue and torture the minds of murderers. Softened by her words, Satan demands passage out of Hell, pledging to regain Paradise once more, and honour her in the lush fields of Heaven. She relents, and brandishes the keys to the nine doors. Death, all powerful, who senses what is to come, smiled wide, as his ravenous hunger yearns for the souls of men.

Omniscient Chaos

Engraving by Gustave Doré

Passing through the mouth of Hell, Satan passes into the realm of Chaos, a world between worlds. Above an endless ocean endless anarchy plays out. Here in the days when the cosmos are beginning to come into existence, the elements strive for mastery amid confused screams. Undaunted, the Morning Star soars through the dark desert realm to the thrones of the spirits of Chaos, lord of this world, Night, his consort, Rumour and Chance, Tumult and Discord all bawling with a thousand mouths. Turning to Chaos, Satan boldly states his purpose, vowing passage through this realm, which borders on the Heavenly cosmos. Satan's reputation is already legend even here, Chaos replies in confused speech, all here know of the defiant stand against God. It was through this dimension that the Fallen Angels fell when cast from the gates of Heaven. Go forth, Chaos bids the Fallen One, for "Havoc and spoil and ruin are my gain". Relentless, Satan takes flight, rising through the warring elements, the ancestors of Nature, the endless abyss far below. Feeling old energy in his wings, Satan reaches the boundaries of the Heavenly realm, where Chaos begins to weaken and order prevails. Satan, triumphant, has broken free of Hell.

Far beyond, upon the Highest throne, the Lord in his radiant glory sees the Fallen Archangel borne on wings toward this world, and points him out to the Son who sits at his right side. Omnipotent, God sees Satan's dark designs, foretelling with sorrow the coming perversion of man. But the Lord is irresolute, he has granted by the laws of Heaven free will to man, and none shall be denied his grace. For Satan fell of his own malice, but men will fall from Satan's seduction. What grace is there in praise from slavish obedience, compared with the prayers of free mortals? The Son turns to the Father in admiration of his grace, yet troubled. Must the Adversary be allowed to corrupt mankind unhindered? Must he take the human race entirely down to Hell? Never shall man be lost, the Lord replies, never shall repentance be in vain. For within all men the spirit of the Lord will be bound, and those who heed it will find Paradise, and all who scorn it will find no mercy. Satan has brought Death to the cosmos, and only upon Death will man be redeemed. The Heavenly host stood silent, but moved by pity, the Son offers himself in their place:

                   " 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... "

                              - THE SON OFFERS HIMSELF IN PLACE OF MAN

Death will never hold him for long, he declares, as Heaven will triumph over Death in the end, and at the end of times, graves will open, the dead shall be summoned forth, and man will be judged by Him, and the multitude of the redeemed shall march unto Heaven. Not a spirit in Heaven stood unmoved with admiration at these words, as even the Lord looked fondly upon his Son. The full power of Heaven will be in Him, and the Lord, God commands, until the day comes when the King of Heaven needs his royal sceptre no more. Heaven was given over to joy as the angelic host began to sing in exultation.

Satan looks down upon the Garden of Eden

Engraving by Gustave Doré

Far below, the sounds of joy fell deaf on the mind of Satan, gliding through the ethereal plain. Seeing vast orbs hang in the cosmos, Satan soars through the outer reaches of the Universe, searching for the World of Men. Powering beyond the realm of Limbo, and past the stairs to Heaven, Satan passes the stars, eventually coming to rest upon the brilliant glare of the orb men would one day call the Sun. Gazing upon the newly born Universe, Satan spots a glorious angel in the distance, a spirit whose pure back was turned. Conceiving a daring plan, Satan cast aside his dread visage, assuming the persona of a bright angel of Heaven, something of his former light. Drawing before the angel, Satan recognises the spirit as Uriel, one of the Seven Archangels of Heaven, and once his comrade in the days before his rebellion. Uriel greeted the stranger, unawares of his dark nature. Satan greeted Uriel, and spoke of reverence for God's grace, and his desire to honour his new creation, praising the hosts of Heaven. Bowing, he asked of the whereabouts of the World of Men, so that he might pay homage to the blessed race. Deceived, Uriel welcomed the Cherub before him, inviting him to rejoice with him, beckoning at the World in the distance, where even now Adam strode in the Garden. Eyes glinting with malice, Satan bowed low to Uriel, and sped forth with all speed to the world before him, leaving the archangel unaware of the grave danger he had unknowingly unleashed. Coming to rest upon Mount Niphates, Satan looked down in triumph upon the Garden of Eden, ready to unleash an eternity of agony upon the first Man...

United Kingdom

Penguin Classics:

Paradise Lost (Penguin Classics)

(Paradise Lost is written in English, so text choice is personal preference)

Oxford World's Classics:

Paradise Lost (Oxford World's Classics)

(Paradise Lost is written in English, so text choice is personal preference)

United States

Penguin Classics:

Paradise Lost (Penguin Classics)

(Paradise Lost is written in English, so text choice is personal preference)

Oxford World's Classics:

Paradise Lost (Oxford World's Classics)

(Paradise Lost is written in English, so text choice is personal preferece)