Paradise Lost.

BOOK X.

The ARGUMENT. Mun's tranfgrellion known, the Guardian

Angels forsake Paradise, 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 Transgresors, who descends and gives Sentence accordingly; then in pity cleaths them both, and reafcends. Sin and Death fitting till then at the Gates of Hell, by wundrous Sympathy feeling the success of Satan in this new World, and the sin by Man there committed, resolve to fit no longer confin'd in Hell, but to follow Satan their Sire up to the place of Man: Tomiske the way eafer 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 pro

paring for Earth, they meet him proud of his success returning to Hell ; their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives ut Pandemonium, in full of assembly relates with boasting his success against Man; instead of applause is entertain'd with a general hiss by all his audience, transform’d with himself also suddenly into Serpents, according to his doon giv'n in Perudife; then deluded with a jbew of the forbidden Tree springing up before them, they greedily reaching to take of the Fruit, chew dift and bitter albes. Tle proceedings of Sin and Death ; God foretels the final Victory of his Son over them, and the renewing of all things; but for the present commands his Angels to make several alterations in the Heavens and Elements. Adam more and more perceiving his falln conditiin heavily' bewails, rejects the condolement of Eve; jhe persists and at length appeajes him: then tu evade the Curse likely to fall on their Offspring, proposes to Adam violent ways which he approves not, but conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late Promise maile then, that her Seed jould be reveng'd on the Serpent, and exhorts her with hing to seek Peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and supplication,

Mf Satan done in Paradise, and how

EAN while the hainous and despiteful act

He in the Serpent, had perverted Eve,
Her Husband fe, to taste the fatal fruit,
Was known in Heav'n; for what can scape the Eye s
Of God All-seeing, or deceive his Heart
Omniscient, who in all things wise and just,
Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind
Of Man, with frength entire, and free will arm'd,
Compleat to have discover'd and repuls’d
Whatever wiles of Foe or seeming Friend.
For still they knew,and ought to have still remember'd
The high Injun&tion not to taste that Fruit,
Whoever tempted; which they not obeying,
Incurr’d, what could they less, the Penalty, IS
And manifold in sin, deserv'd to fall.
Up into Heav'n from Paradise in laste
Th’Angelic Guards afcended, nute and fad
For Man, for of his state by this they knew,
Much wundring how the little Fiend had stoln 20
Entrance unseen. Soon as th’unwelcome news
From Earth arriv'd at Heaven Gate, displeas'd
All were who heard, dim sadness did not spare
That time Celestial visages, yet mixt
With pity, violated not their bliss.
About the new-arrivd, in multitudes
Th’ethereal People ran, to hear and know
How all befel: they towards the Throne Supream
Accountable made hafte to make appear

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With righteous plea, their utmost vigilance,
And easily approv'd; when the most High
Eternal Father from his secret Cloud,
Amidst in Thunder utter'd thus his voice.

Assembld Angels, and ye Powers return'd
From unsuccessful charge, be not dismay'd,

35. Nor trouble at these tidings from the Earth, Which your sincerest care could not prevent, Foretold so lately what would come to pass, When first this Tempter cross’d the Gulf from Hell, I told ye then he should prevail and speed On this bad Errand, Man should be seduc'd And flatter'd out of all, believing lies Against his Maker; no Decree of mine Concurring to necesitate his Fall, Or touch with lightest moment of impulse His free Will, to her own inclining left In even scale. But fall’n he is, and now What rests but that the mortal Sentence pass On his transgression Death denounc'd that day, Which he presumes already vain and void, Because not yet inflicted, as he fear’d, By some immediate stroak; but soon thall find Forbearance no acquittance e'er day end. Justice thall not return as bounty scorn'd. But whom send I to judge them? whom hut thee ss Vicegerent Son, to thee I have transferr'd All Judgement whether in Heav'n, or Earth, or Hell. Easie it might be seen that I intend Mercy collegue with Justice sending thee

Man's

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