Lib. X.

Paradife Loft.

BOOK X.

The ARGUMENT. 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 cloaths them both, and reafcends. Sin and Death fitting till then at the Gates of Hell, by wondrous Sympathy 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 Sire 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 pre

paring for Earth, they meet him proud of his fuccefs returning to Hell;^ their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemonium, in full of affembly relates with boafting his fuccefs against Man; inftead of applaufe is entertain d with a general bifs by all his audience, transform'd with himself alfo fuddenly into Serpents, according to his doom giv'n in Paradife; then deluded with a Jhew of the forbidden Tree Springing up before them, they greedily reaching to take of the Fruit, chew duft and bitter afbes. 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 feveral alterations in the Heavens and Elements. Adam more and more perceiving his fall'n condition heavily bewails, rejects the condolement of Eve; fhe perfifts and at length appeafes him: then to evade the Curfe 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 Promife made them, that her Seed fhould be reveng'd on the Serpent, and exhorts her with him to feek Peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and fupplication.

EAN while the hainous and despiteful act

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Of Satan done in Paradife, and how

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 s Of 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 firength entire, and free will arm'd,

Compleat to have discover'd and repuls'd

Whatever wiles of Foe or feeming Friend.

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IS

For ftill they knew, and ought to have ftill 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 Paradise in hafte
Th'Angelic Guards afcended, mute and fad
For Man, for of his ftate by this they knew,
Much wondring how the futtle Fiend had ftoln 20
Entrance unfeen. Soon as th'unwelcome news
From Earth arriv'd at Heaven Gate, difpleas'd
All were who heard, dim fadness did not spare
That time Celestial vifages, yet mixt

With pity, violated not their blifs.

About the new-arriv'd, in multitudes

Th'ethereal People ran, to hear and know

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How all befel: they towards the Throne Supream Accountable made hafte to make appear

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

Affembl'd Angels, and ye Powers return'd
From unsuccessful charge, be not difmay'd,
Nor troubl'd at these tidings from the Earth,
Which your fincereft care could not prevent,
Foretold fo lately what would come to pass,
When first this Tempter crofs'd the Gulf from Hell.
I told ye then he should prevail and speed
On this 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 impulfe
His free Will, to her own inclining left
In even scale. But fall'n he is, and now
What refts but that the mortal Sentence 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 ftroak; but foon shall find
Forbearance no acquittance e'er day end.

Juftice shall not return as bounty fcorn'd.

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35.

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

All Judgement whether in Heav'n, or Earth, or Hell. Eafie it might be feen that I intend

Mercy collegue with Juftice fending thee

Man's