This world's material mould, came to a heap: Confufion heard his voice, and wild uproar 710 The cumb'rous elements, earth, flood, air, fire; 715 Look downward on that globe, whofe hither fide, As to fuperior fpi'rits is wont in heav'n, 730 Where honour due and rev'rence none neglects, END of the THIRD BOOK. ARGU Satan now in profpect of Eden, and nigh the place where he must now attempt the bold enterprife which he undertook alone against God and man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many paffions, fear, envy and defpair; but at length confirms himself in evil, journeys on to Paradife, whofe outward profpect and fituation is defcribed overleaps the bounds, fits in the shape of a cormorant on the tree of life, as highest in the garden, to look about him. The garden defcribed; Satan's first fight of Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent form and happy state; but with refolution to work their fall; overhears their difcourfe, thence gathers that the tree of knowledge was forbidden them to eat ef, 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. Meanwhile Uriel defcending on a fun-beam, warns Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Pardife, that some evil spirit had escaped a the deep, and paffed at noon by bis fphere in the shape of a good angel down to Paradife, difcovered after by his furious geftures on the mount. Gabriel promifes to find him ere morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve difcourfe of going to their reft: their bower deferibed; their evening worship. Gabriel drawing forth his bands of night-watch to walk the round of Paradife, appoints two strong angels to ¿ldam's bower, left the evil spirit should be there doing fome harm to Adam or Eve fleeping; there they find him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom queftioned, he fcornfully anfwers; prepares refiftance, but hindered. by a fign from heaven, flies out of Paradife. PARADISE PARADISE LOS T. BOOK IV. 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, Woe to th' inhabitants on earth! that now, While time was, our first parents had been warn'd The coming of their fecret foe, and 'fcap'd, Haply fo 'feap'd his mortal fnare: for now Satan, now firft inflam'd with rage, came down The tempter ere th' accufer of mankind, To wreak on innocent frail man his lofs Of that first battle, and his flight to hell: Yet not rejoicing in his speed, though bold, Far off and fearlefs, nor with caufe to boaft, Begins his dire attempt, which nigh the birth Now rolling boils in his tumultuous breast, And like a dev'lifh engine back recoils Upon himself; horror and doubt diftra&t His troubled 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 himfelf, can fly By change of place: now confcience wakes defpair That flumber'd, wakes the bitter memory Qf what he was, what is, and what must be 5 10 15 20% 25% Werfe; Worfe; of worfe deeds worfe fufferings must ensue. ́ 30 35 40 O thou that with furpaffing glory crown'd, Look'ft from thy fole dominion like the God Of this new world; at whofe fight all the stars Hide their diminish'd 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 fate I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere; Till pride and worse ambition threw me down, Warring in heav'n against heav'n's matchlefs 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 lefs, than to afford him praise, The eafieft recompenfe, and pay him thanks, How due! yet all his good prov'd ill in me, And wrought but malice; lifted up fo high 45 I 'fdeind fubjection, and thought one ftep higher 50 55 Then happy; no unbounded hope had rais'd 60 As 65 As great might have afpir'd, and me though mean Nay curs'd be thou; fince against his thy will 70 75 80 85 While they adore me on the throne of hell, In mifery: fuch joy ambition finds. But fay I could repent, and could obtain By act of grace my former flate; how foon 94 Would height recall high thoughts, how foon unfay What feign'd fubmiffion fwore? eafe would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and void. For |