the Tree of knowledge was forbidden them to eat of, under penalty of death; and thereon intends to found his Temptation, by feducing them to tranfgrefs: then leaves them a while, to know further of their fate by fome other means. Mean while Uriel defcending on a Sun-beam warns Gabriel, who had in charge the Gate of Paradife, that Some evil spirit had efcap'd the Deep, and paft at Noon by his Sphere in the shape · of a good Angel down to Paradife, difcovered afterwards by his furious geftures in the Mount. Gabriel promises to find him e'er morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve difcourfe of going to their reft: their Bower defcrib'd; their Evening worship. Gabriel drawing forth his Bands of Night-watch to walk the round of Paradife, appoints two strong Angels to guard Adam's Bower, leaft the evil spirit fhould be there doing fome harm to Adam or Eve fleeping; there they find him at the car of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, tho' unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom quetion'd, be fcornfully answers, prepares refiftance, but binder'd by a Sign from Heaven, flies out of Paradife.

10

For that warning voice, which he who faw Th'Apocalyps, heard cry in Heav'n aloud, Then when the Dragon, put to fecond rout, Came furious down to be reveng'd on men, Wo to the inhabitants on Earth! that now, While time was, our firft-Parents had been warn'd The coming of their fecret foe, and scap'd Haply so scap'd his mortal snare; for now Satan, now first inflam'd with rage, came down, The Tempter e'er th' Accufer of mankind, To wreck on innocent frail man his lofs Of that firft Battel, and his flight to Hell: Yet not rejoycing in his speed, though bold, Far off and fearlefs, nor with caufe to boast, Begins his dire artempt, which nigh the birth Now rowling, boiles in his tumultuous breft, And like a devillifh Engine back recoiles Upon himself; horror and doubt distract His troubl'd thoughts; and from the bottom ftir The Hell within him, for within him Hell He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell One ftep no more than from himself can fly By change of place: Now confcience wakes defpair That flumber'd, wakes the bitter memorie

IS

20

25

Of what he was, what is, and what must be
Worfe; of worfe deeds worfe fufferings must enfue.
Sometimes towards Eden which now in his view
Lay pleasant, his griev'd look he fixes fad,
Sometimes towards Heav'n and the full blazing Sune
F

Which now fat high in his Meridian Towre:
Then much revolving,. thus in fighs began.

30

35

45

O thou that with furpaffing Glory crown'd, Look'ft from thy sole Dominion like the God Of this new World; at whofe fight all the Stars Hide their diminisht heads; to thee I call, But with no friendly voice, and add thy name O Sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams That bring to my remembrance from what ftate I fell, how glorious once above thy Spheare; Till Pride and worse Ambition threw me down 40 Warring in Heav'n againft Heav'ns matchless King: Ah wherefore! he deferv'd no fuch return From me, whom he created what I was In that bright eminence, and with his good Upbraided none; nor was his fervice hard. What could be less than to afford him praise, The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks, How due! yet all his good prov'd ill in me, And wrought but malice; lifted up so high I 'fdeind subjection, and thought one step higher so Would fet me highest, and in a moment quit The debt immense of endless gratitude, So burthenfome ftill paying, ftill to owe; Forgetful what from him I ftill receiv'd, And understood not that a grateful mind By owing owes not, but still pays, at once Indebted and discharg'd; what burden then! O had his powerful Destiny ordain'd' Me fome inferiour Angel, I had stood

60

Then happy; no unbounded hope had rais’d
Ambition. Yet why not? fome other Power
As great might have aspir'd, and me though mean
Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great
Fell not, but ftand unshak'n, from within
Or from without, to all temptations arm'd.
Hadft thou the fame free Will and Power to ftand?
Thou hadft: whom haft thou then or what to accuse,
But Heav'ns free Love dealt equally to all?

65

Be then his Love accurft, fince love or hate,
To me alike, it deals eternal woc,

70

Nay curs'd be thou; fince against his thy will
Chose freely what it now fo juftly rues.
Me miferable! which way fhall I flie
Infinite wrauth, and infinite despair?

Which way I flie is Hell; my felf am Hell;
And in the lowest deep a lower deep
Still threatning to devour me opens wide,
To which the Hell I fuffer feems, a Heav'n,
O then at laft relent: is there no place
Left for Repentance, none for Pardon left?
None left but by fubmiffion; and that word
Difdain forbids me, and my dread of shame
Among the fpirits beneath, whom I feduc'd
With other promises and other vaunts
Than to fubmit, boafting I could fubdue
Th' Omnipotent. Ay me, they little know
How dearly I abide that boast fo vaine,
Under what torments inwardly I groane;
While they adore me on the Throne of Hell.

75

30

With Diadem and Scepter high advanc'd

The lower ftill I fall, only Supream

In mifery; fuch joy Ambition finds.

But fay I could repent and could obtaine

୨୦

100

By Act of Grace my former ftate; how foon
Would heighth recal high thoughts, how foon unfay
What feign'd fubmiffion fwore: ease would recant 96
Vows made in pain, as violent and void.
For never can true reconcilement grow
Where wounds of deadly hate have pierc'd fo deep,
which would but lead me to a worse relapse
And heavier fall; fo fhould I purchase dear
Short interimiffion bought with double fmart.
This knows my punisher; therefore as far
From granting he, as I from begging peace :
All hope excluded thus, behold in stead
Of us out-caft, exil'd, his new delight,
Mankind created, and for him this World.
So farewel Hope, and with Hope farewel Fear,
Farewel Remorfe: all Good to me is loft:
Evil be thou my Good; by thee at least
Divided Empire with Heav'ns King I hold
By thee, and more than half perhaps will reigne;
As Man e'er long, and this new World fhall know.

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110

Thus while he fpake, each paffion dimm'd his face Thrice chang'd with pale, ire, envie and defpaire, Which marr'd his borrow'd visage, and betray'd 116 Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld.

For heav'nly mindes from fuch diftempers foule
Are ever clear. Whereof he foon aware,