Satan from hence now on the lower ftair
That fcal'd by steps of Gold to Heav'n Gate
Looks down with wonder at the fudden view
Of all this World at once. As when a Scout
Through dark and defart ways with peril gone
All night; at last by break of chearful dawne 545
Obtains the brow of fome high-climbing Hill,
Which to his eye difcovers unaware
The goodly profpect of fome foreign land
Firft feen, or fome renown'd Metropolis
With gliftering Spires and Pinnacles adorn'd
Which now the rifing Sun gilds with his beams. Such wonder feis'd, though after Heaven feen, The Spirit maligne, but much more envy feis'd
At fight of all this World beheld fo fair.
Round he furveys, and well might, where he stood
So high above the circling Canopie
Of Nights extended fhade; from Eastern Point
Of Libra to the fleecie Star that bears
Andromeda far off Atlantic Seas
Beyond th' Horizon; then from Pole to Pole
He views in breadth, and without longer paufe
Down right into the Worlds firft Region throws
His flight precipitant, and windes with ease
Through the pure marble Air his oblique way
Amongst innumerable Stars, that shon
Stars diftant, but nigh hand feem'd other Worlds
Or other Worlds they feem'd, or happy Ifles,
Like thofe Hefperian Gardens fam'd of old,
Fortunate Fields, and Groves and flowry Valés,
Thrice happy Isles, but who dwelt happy there 570
He ftay'd not to enquire: above them all
The golden Sun in fplendor likest Heav'n
Allur'd his eye: Thither his courfe he bends
Through the calm Firmament; but up or down
By center, or eccentric, hard to tell,
Or Longitude, where the great Luminary
Aloof the vulgar Conftellations thick,
That from his Lordly eye keep diftance due,
Difpenfes light from far; they as they move
Their ftarry Dance in numbers that compute
Days, months and years, towards his all-charming
Turn (wift their various motions, or are turn'd [Lamp
By his Magnetic beam, that gently warms
The Universe, and to each inward part
With gentle penetration, though unseen,
Shoots invifible virtue even to the deep;
So wondrously was fet his Station bright.
There lands the Fiend, a fpot like which perhaps
Aftronomer in the Sun's lucent Orb
Through his glaz'd Optick Tube yet never faw. 590
The place he found beyond expreffion bright,
Compar'd with aught on Earth, Medal or Stone;
Not all parts like, but all alike inform'd
With radiant Light, as glowing Iron with fire;
If metal, part seem'd Gold, part Silver clear; 595
If itone, Carbuncle moft or Chryfolite,
Rubie or Topaz, to the Twelve that shon
In Aaron's Breft-plate, and a stone befides
Imagin'd rather oft than elsewhere seen,
That ftone, or like to that which here below
Philofophers in vain so long have fought,
In vain, though by their powerful Art they binde
Volatil Hermes, and call up unbound
In various shapes old Proteus from the Sea,
Drain'd through a Limbec to his Native form. 605
What wonder then if fields and regions here
Breathe forth Elixir pure, and Rivers run
Potable Gold, when with one virtuous touch
Th' Arch-chimic Sun fo far from us remote
Produces with Terreftrial Humor mixt
Here in the dark so many precious things
Of colour glorious and effect fo rare?
Here matter new to gaze the Devil met
Undazl'd, far and wide his eye commands,
For fight no obftacle found here, nor shade,
But all Sun-fhine, as when his Beams at Noon
Culminate from th'Æquator, as they now
Shot upward ftill direct, whence no way round
Shadow from body opaque can fall, and the Air,
No where fo clear, fharp'nd his vifual ray
To objects distant far, whereby he foon
Saw within kenn a giorious Angel ftand,
The fame whom John faw alfo in the Sun:
His back was turn'd, but not his brightness hid;
Of beaming funnie Raies, a golden tiar
Circl'd his Head, nor lefs his Locks behind
Illuftrious on his Shoulders fledge with wings
Lay waving round; on fome great charge imploy'd
He feem'd, or fixt in cogitation deep.
Glad was the Spirit impure as now in hope
To find who might direct his wandring flight
To Paradise the happy feat of Man,
His journies end and our beginning woe.
But firft he cafts to change his proper shape,
Which else might work him danger or delay : 635
And now a ftripling Cherube he appears,
Not of the prime, yet fuch as in his face
Youth fmil'd Celestial, and to every Limb
Sutable grace diffus'd, fo well he feign'd;
Under a Coronet. his flowing haire
In curles on either cheek plaid, wings he wore
Of many a colour'd plume sprinkl'd with Gold,
His Habit fit for speed.fuccinct, and held
Before his decent steps a Silver wand.
He drew not nigh unheard, the Angel bright, 64$
E'er he drew nigh, his radiant visage turn'd,
Admonisht by his ear, and ftrait was known
Th'Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the feav'n
Who in God's prefence, nearest to his Throne
Stand ready to command, and are his Eyes
That run thro' all the Heav'ns, or down to th' Earth
Bear his swift errands over moift and dry,
O'er Sea and Land: him Satan thus accofts;
Uriel, for thou of thofe feav'n Spirits that fland In fight of God's high Throne, gloriously bri ht, The first art wont his great authentic will Interpreter through highest Heav'n to bring Where all his Sons thy Embaffie attend; And here art likelieft by fupream decree
Like honour to obtain, and as his Eye
To vifit oft this new Creation round;
Unfpeakable defire to fee, and know
All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man,
His chief delight and favour, him for whom
All thefe his works fo wondrous he ordain'd,
Hath brought me from the Quires of Cherubim
Alone thus wandring. Brightest Seraph tell
In which of all these fhining Orbes hath Man
His fixed feat, or fixed feat hath none,
But all these fhining Orbes his choice to dwell; 670
That I may find him, and with fecret gaze,
Or open admiration him behold
On whom the great Creator hath bestow'd
Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces powr'd; That both in him and all things, as is meet, 675 The Univerfal Maker we may praise;
Who juftly hath driv'n out his Rebell Foes
To deepest Hell, and to repair their lofs
Created this new happy Race of Men
To ferve him better: wife are all his wayes.
So fpake the falfe diffembler unperceiv'd ;
For neither Man nor Angel can discern
Hypocrifie, the only evil that walks
Invifible, except to God alone,
By his permiffive will, through Heav'n and Earth: And oft though wifdom wake, fufpicion fleeps 686 At wifdom's Gate, and to fimplicitie
Refigns her charge, while Goodness thinks no ill
Where no ill feems: Which now for once beguil'd
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