Convict by flight, and rebel to all law. Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose Of high collateral glory; Him Thrones, and Powers, Down he descended straight; the speed of Gods 88 90 Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes wing i Now was the sun in western cadence low From noon, and gentle airs, due at their hour, To fan the earth now waked, and usher in The evening cool; when he, from wrath more cool, 95 To sentence Man: The voice of God they heard Brought to their ears, while day declined; they heard, 100 Where art thou, Adam wont with joy to meet 105 Absents thee, or what chance detains ?-Come forth! Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answer'd brief: 118 My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not fear'd, still rejoiced; how is it now become S dreadful to thee! That thou art naked, who told thee? Hast thou eaten of the tree Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat? To whom thus Adam sore beset replied: O Heaven! in evil strait this day I stand By my complaint: but strict necessity 120 125 130 However insupportable, be all Devolved; though should I hold my peace, yet thou Wouldst easily detect what I conceal. 136 This Woman, whom thou madest to be my help, And gavest me as thy perfect gift, so good, So fit, so acceptable, so divine, That from her hand I could suspect no ul, 140 And what she did, whatever in itself, Her doing seem'd to justify the deed; She gave me of the tree, and I did eat. To whom the Sov'reign Presence thus replied Was she thy God, that her thou didst obey 146 Before his voice? or was she made thy guide, Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place 156 Thy love, not thy subjection; and her gifts So having said, he thus to Eve in few: Say, Woman, what is this which thou hast done? 160 To whom sad Eve, with shame nigh overwhelm'd, Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge Bold or loquacious, thus abash'd replied The Serpent me beguiled, and I did eat.. Which when the Lord God heard, without delay To judgment he proceeded on the accused Serpent, though brute; unable to transfer The guilt on him who made him instrument Of mischief, and polluted from the end Of his creation; justly then accursed, As vitiated in nature: More to know 16 Concern'd not man (since he no further knew,) 170 Nor alter'd his offence; yet God at last To Satan first in sin his doom applied, Though in mysterious terms, judged as then best: Because thou hast done this thou art accursed 175 16C Her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel. So spake this oracle, then verified When Jesus, Son of Mary, second Eve, Saw Satan fall like lightning down from Heaven, 185 Prince of the air, then, rising from his grave, 190 By thy conception; children thou shalt bring 195 On Adam last thus judgment he pronounced: Because thou hast hearken'd to the voice of thy wife And eaten of the tree, concerning which I charged thec, saying, Thou shalt not cat thereof: 200 205 So judged he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent; And the instant stroke of death, denounced that day, Removed far off; then, pitying how they stood Before him naked to the air, that now 211 Must suffer change, disdain'd not to begin As when he wash'd his servants' feet; so now 215 Their nakedness with skins of beasts, or slain, In glory, as of old; to him appeased All, though all-knowing, what had pass'd with Man Recounted, mixing intercession sweet. 230 Meanwhile, ere thus was sinn'd and judged on Earth, Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death, In counterview whin the gates, that now Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame O Son, why sit we here each other viewing 235 241 245 Over this main from Hell to that new world, Where Satan now prevails: a monument Of merit high to all the infernal host, 260 Whom thus the meagre shadow answer'd soon. Go, whitner Fate and inclination strong 265 Leads thee; I shall not lag behind, nor err The way, thou leading; such a scent I draw Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste The savour of death from all things there that live |