And oft, though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill Fair Angel, thy desire, which tends to know That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? Light shone, and order from disorder sprung; Look downward on that globe, whose hither side Timely interposes, and her monthly round Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heaven, Down from the ecliptick, sped with hop'd success, Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel; Nor staid, till on Niphates' top he lights. 742 END OF THE THIRD BOOK, Satan now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the place where he must now attempt the bold enterprize which he undertook alone against God and Man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many passions feur, envy, and despair; but at length confirms himself in evil, journeys on to Paradise, whose outward prospect and situation is described, overleaps the bounds, sits in the shape of a cormorant on the tree of life, as highest in the garden, to look about him. The garden described; Satan's first sight of Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent form and happy state; but with resolution to work their fall: overhears their discourse, thence gathers that the tree of knowledge was forbidden them to eat of, under penalty of death, and thereon intends to found his temptation, by seducing them to transgress, then leaves them a while to know further of their state by some other means. Meanwhile Uriel descending on a sunbeam warns Gabriel,who had in charge the gate of Paradise, that some evil spirit had escaped the deep, and passed at noon by his sphere in the shape of a good Angel down to Paradise, discovered after by his furious gestures in the mount. Gabriel promises to find him ere morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve discourse of going to their rest: Their bower described; their evening worship. Gabriel, drawing forth his bands of nightwatch to walk the round of Paradise, appoints two strong Angels to Adam's bower, lest the evil Spirit should be there doing some harm to Adam or Eve sleeping; there they find him at the Ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom questioned, he scornfully answers: prepares resistance; but, hindered by a sign from Heaven, flies out of Paradise. |