B. X.

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PARADISE LOST.

BOOK X,

Eanwhile the heinous and defpiteful act
Of Satan done in Paradife, and how

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He in the serpent had perverted Eve,

Her husband fhe, to tafte the fatal fruit,

Was known in heav'n; for what can 'fcape the eye
Of God all-feeing, or deceive his heart
Omnifcient? who in all things wife and just,
Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind

Of man, with ftrength entire, and free. will arm'd,
Complete to have difcover'd and repuis'd
Whatever wiles of foe or feeming friend..

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For ftill they knew, and ought to have still remember'
The high injunction not to taste that fruit,
Whoever tempted; which they not obeying,
Incurr'd (what could they lefs?) the penalty,.
And manifold in fin, deferv'd to fall.

Up into Heav'n from Paradife in hafte
Th' angélick guards afcended, mute and fad
For man; for of his ftate by this they knew,
Much wond'ring how the fubtle fiend had stol'n
Entrance unfeen. Soon as th' unwelcome news
From earth arriv'd at heaven gate, displeas'd
All were who heard: dim fadness did not spare
That time celeftial vifages, yet mix'd
With pity, violated not their blifs.
About the new arriv'd in multitudes.

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Th' ethereal people ran, to hear and know
How all befel: they tow'ards the throne fupreme
Accountable made hafte, to make appear
With righteous plea their utmoft vigilance;
And eafily approv'd: when the Most High
Eternal Father, from his fecret cloud,
Amidst in thunder utter'd thus his voice:
Affembled angels, and ye pow'rs return'd
From unfuccefsful charge, be not difmay'd,
Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth,
Which your fincereft care could not prevent,
Foretold fo lately what would come to pass,

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I told ye then he should prevail and speed

When first this tempter cross'd the gulf from hell.

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On his bad errand; man fhould be feduc'd
And flatter'd out of all, believing lies
Against his Maker: no decree of mine
Concurring to neceffitate his fall,

Or touch with lightest moment of impulse
His free will, to her own inclining left
In even fcale. But fall'n he is; and now
What refts, but that the mortal sentence pass

On his tranfgreffion, death denounc'd that day?
Which he prefumes already vain and void,.
Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd,

By fome immediate ftroke; but foon fhall find
Forbearance no acquittance ere day end.
Juftice fhall not return as bounty scorn'd.

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But whom fend I to judge them? whom but thee.
Vicegerent Son? to thee I have transferr'd
All judgment, whether in heav'n, or earth, or hell.
Easy it may be seen that I intend

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L. 53. Forbearance no acquittanee.] These proverbial expreffions are very improper any where in an epick poem, but much more when they are made to proceed from the mouth of God himself. Newton.

Mercy collegue with juftice, fending thee,
Man's friend, his mediator, his defign'd
Both ranfom and redeemer voluntary,
And deftin'd man himself to judge man fall'n.
So fpake the Father, and unfolding bright
Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son
Blaz'd forth unclouded deity: he full
Refplendent all his Father manifest
Exprefs'd, and thus divinely anfwer'd mild::
Father Eternal, thine is to decree;

Mine both in heaven and earth to do thy will
Supreme, that thou in me thy Son belov'd.
Mayft ever reft well pleas'd. I go to judge
On earth these thy tranfgreffors; but thou know'ft,
Whoever judg'd, the worft on me must light,
When time fhall be; for fo I undertook.
Before thee'; and not repenting, this obtain
Of right, that I may mitigate their doom,
On me deriv'd: yet I fhall temper fo
Juftice with mercy', as may illuftrate moft)

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'Them fully fatisfy'd, and thee appease.

Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none

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Are to behold the judgment, but the judg'd,
Those two; the third beft absent is condemn'd,
Convict by flight, and rebel to all law :
Conviction to the ferpent none belongs.

Thus faying, from his radiant feat he rose
Of high collateral glory': him thrones, and pow'rs,
Princedoms, and dominations miniftrant.

Accompanied to heaven-gate, from whence
Eden and all the coaft in profpect lay.

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L. 60. Mediator.] Fr. Ital. Span. from the Lat. i. e. one that is in the middle between two different perfons; a manager between perfons at variance: an interceffor, a peace-maker. Before fin, Adam had free access to God; but it made him so abominable and odious to the infinite holiness of the Deity, that he could not be acceptable without an advocate and interceffor.

Down he defcended ftrait; the speed of gods

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Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes wing'd. Now was the fun in western cadence low

From noon, and gentle airs due at their hour

To fan the earth now wak'd, and usher in

The ev'ning cool; when he, from wrath more cool, 95
Came, the mild judge and interceffor both,

To fentence man. The voice of God they heard
Now walking in the garden, by foft winds

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Brought to their ears, while day declin'd; they heard,
And from his prefence hid themselves among
The thickest trees, both man and wife; till God
Approaching, thus to Adam call'd aloud:

Where art thou, Adam, wont with joy to meet
My coming feen far off? 1 mifs thee here,
Not pleas'd, thus entertain'd with folitude,
Where obvious duty' erewhile appear'd unfought :.
Or come I lefs confpicuous, or what change
Absents thee, or what chance detains? Come forth.

He came, and with him Eve, more loath, though first.
To' offend; difcount'nanc'd both, and difcompos'd:
Love was not in their looks, either to God
Or to each other; but apparent guilt,
And shame, and perturbation, and despair,
Anger, and obftinacy', and hate, and guile.
Whence Adam falt'ring long, thus anfwer'd brief: 115.
I heard thee in the gard'en, and of thy voice
Afraid, being naked, hid myself. To whom
The gracious judge without revile reply'd:.
My voice thou oft haft heard, and haft not fear'd,
But ftill rejoic'd; how is it now become

So dreadful to thee? that thou' art naked, who
Hath told thee? haft thou eaten of the tree,
Whereof I
gave thee charge thou fhouldft not eat?.
To whom thus Adam fore befet reply'd:

Q heav'n! in evil ftrait this day I stand

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