Man's tranfgreffion known, the guardian Angels forfake Paradife, and return up to Heaven to approve their vigilance, and are approv'd, God declaring that the entrance of Satan could not be by them prevented. He fends his Son to judge the tranfgreffors, who defcends and gives sentence accordingly; then in pity clothes them both, and reascends. Sin and Death fitting till then at the gates of Hell, by wondrous fympathy feeling the fuccefs of Satan in this new world, and the fin by Man there committed, refolve to fit no longer confin'd in Hell, but to follow Satan their fire up to the place of Man: To make the way eafier from Hell to this world to and fro, they pave a broad high-way or bridge over Chaos, according to the track that Satan first made; then preparing for Earth, they meet him proud of his fuccefs returning to Hell; their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemonium, in full affembly relates with boafting his fuccefs against Man; inftead of applause is entertained with a general hifs by all his audience, transform'd with himself alfo fuddenly into ferpents, according to his doom given in Paradife; then deluded with a fhew of the forbidden tree fpringing up before them, they greedily reaching to take of the fruit, chew duft and bitter afles. The proceedings of Sin and Death; God foretels the final victory of his Son over them, and the renewing of all things; but for the prefent commands his Angels to make several alterations in the Heavens and elements. Adam more and more perceiving his fallen condition heavily bewails, rejects the condolement of Eve; the perfifts, and at length appeafes him then to evade the curfe likely to fall on their offspring, propofes to Adam violent ways, which he approves not, but conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late promise made them, that her feed fhould be reveng'd on the Serpent, and exhorts her with him to feek peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and fupplication.

M

LOST.

воок х.

EAN while the hainous and despiteful act

Of Satan done in Paradife, and how

He in the ferpent had perverted Eve,

Her husband fhe, to taste the fatal fruit,

Was known in Heav'n; for what can 'fcape the eye 5
Óf God all-seeing, or deceive his heart
Omnifcient who in all things wife and juft,
Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind

Of Man, with strength entire, and free-will arm'd,
Complete to have discover'd and repuls'd

Whatever wiles of foc or feeming friend.

15

For still they knew, and ought to' have still remember'd
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' angelic guards afcended, mute and fad
For Man, for of his ftate by this they knew,
Much wond'ring how the fubtle Fiend had ftol'n
Entrance unfeen. Soon as th' unwelcome news
From Earth arriv'd at Heaven gate, difpleas'd

20

All

All were who heard; dim sadness did not spare

That time celeftial visages, yet mix'd

With pity, violated not their blifs.

25

About the new-arriv'd, in multitudes

Th' ethereal people ran, to hear and know

How all befel: they tow'ards the throne fupreme
Accountable made hafte to make.appear

30

With righteous plea their utmost 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 fincereft care could not prevent,

your

Foretold fo lately what would come to pass,

35

When first this tempter crofs'd the gulf from Hell.

I told you then he should prevail and speed

40

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 lighteft moment of impulse
His free will, to her own inclining left
In even scale. But fall'n he is, and now
What refts, but that the mortal fentence pafs
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 stroke; but soon shall find

45

5°

Forbearance

Forbearance no acquittance ere day end.

Juftice fhall not return as bounty fcorn'd.

But whom fend I to judge them? whom but thee
Vicegerent Son? to thee I have transferr'd

55

All judgment, whether in Heav'n, or Earth, or Hell.
Eafy it
may be feen that I intend

Mercy collegue with juftice, fending thee
Man's friend, his mediator, his defign'd
Both ransome and redeemer voluntary,

And deftin'd Man himself to judge Man fall'n.
So fpake the Father, and unfolding bright
Tow'ard the right hand his glory, on the Son
Blaz'd forth unclouded Deity; he full
Refplendent all his Father manifeft

66

65

Exprefs'd, and thus divinely answer'd mild.
Father eternal, thine is to decree,

Mine both in Heav'n and Earth to do thy will
Supreme, that thou in me thy Son belov'd
May'ft ever reft well pleas'd. I go to judge
On earth these thy tranfgreffors, but thou know'st,
Whoever judg'd, the worft on me muft light,
When time shall 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 most
Them fully fatisfy'd, and thee appeafe.

76

Attendance none fhall need, nor train, where none 8
Are to behold the judgment, but the judg'd,
Those two; the third best abfent is condemn'd,

75

Convict

Convict by flight, and rebel to all law :
Conviction to the ferpent none belongs.

85

Thus faying, from his radiant feat he rose Of high collateral glory': him Thrones and Powers, Princedoms, and Dominations miniftrant Accompanied to Heaven gate, from whence Eden and all the coaft in prospect lay. Down he defcended ftrait; the speed of Gods

90

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 evening 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

100

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? I miss thee here,
Not pleas'd, thus entertain'd with folitude,
Where obvious duty' ere while appear'd unfought :
Or come I lefs confpicuous, or what change
Abfents thee, or what chance detains? Come forth.

105

He came, and with him Eve, more loath, though first To' offend, discount'nanc'd both, and difcompos'd; 110 Love was not in their looks, either to God Or to each other, but apparent guilt,

And