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 MR 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. 10 IS For ftill they knew, and ought to have ftill remember'd With pity, violated not their blifs. About the new-arriv'd, in multitudes Th'ethereal People ran, to hear and know 25 How all befel: they towards the Throne Supream Accountable made hafte to make appear With righteous plea, their utmost vigilance, Affembl'd Angels, and ye Powers return'd By fome immediate ftroak; but foon shall find Juftice shall not return as bounty fcorn'd. 30 35. 45 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 |