Or open admiration him behold, On whom the great Creator hath bestowed The universal Maker we may praise; Who justly hath driven out his rebel foes 680 By his permissive will, through Heaven and Earth. Resigns her charge, while Goodness thinks no ill, In his uprightness, answer thus returned: "Fair Angel, thy desire, which tends to know The works of God, thereby to glorify The great Work-master, leads to po excess 690 To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps, 700 Their number, or the wisdom infinite 710 That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? Look downward on that globe, whose hither side moon So call that opposite fair star- her aid Timely interposes, and, her monthly round Still ending, still renewing, through mid-heaven, With borrowed light her countenance triform Hence fills and empties, to enlighten the Earth, And in her pale dominion checks the night. That spot to which I point is Paradise, Adam's abode, those lofty shades his bower. Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires." Thus said, he turned; and Satan bowing low, As to superior Spirits is wont in Heaven, Where honour due and reverence none neglects, 730 Took leave, and toward the coast of Earth beneath, Down from the ecliptic, sped with hoped success, 740 Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel, Nor stayed, till on Niphates' top he lights. PARADISE LOST. BOOK IV. THE ARGUMENT. SATAN now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the place where he must now attempt the bold enterprise which he undertook alone against God and Man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many passions, fear, 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 awhile, 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. H for that warning voice, which he who saw Came furious down to be revenged on men, Woe to the inhabitants on earth! that now, For now 10 Satan, now first inflamed with rage, came down, 20 30 |