GOD fitting on his throne fees Satan flying towards this world, then newly created; fhews him to the SON who fat at his right hand; foretells the fuccefs of Satan in perverting mankind: clears his own justice and wisdom from all imputation, having created Man free, and able enough to have withstood his tempter; yet declares his purpose of grace towards him, in regard he fell not of his own malice, as did Satan, but by him feduc'd. The SON of GOD renders praises to his FATHER for the manifeftation of his gracious purpofe towards Man; but GOD again declares, that grace cannot be extended towards Man without the fatisfaction of divine justice; Man hath offended the majefty of GOD by afpiring to Godhead, and therefore with all his progeny devoted to death muft die, unless fome one can be found fufficient to anfwer for his offence, and undergo his punishment. The SON of GOD freely offers himself a ransom for Man: the FATHER accepts him, ordains his incarnation, pronounces his exaltation above all names in heaven and earth; commands all the Angels to adore him; they obey, and hymning to their harps in full choir, celebrate the FATHER and the SON. Mean-while SATAN alights upon the bare convex of this world's outermost orb: where wand'ring he first finds a place, fince call'd the Limbo of Vanity; what perfons and things fly up thither; thence comes to the gate.of heaven, defcrib'd afcending by ftairs, and the waters above the firmament that flow about it: his paffage thence to the orb of the fun: he finds there Uriel the regent of that orb; but firft changes himself into the shape of a meaner Angel; and pretending a zealous defire to behold the new creation, and Man whom GOD hath plac'd here, inquires of him the place of his habitation, and is directed. alights firft on mount Niphates.

Cooper Sculpt

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK III.

H

AIL, holy light! offspring of heav'n first-born!
Or of th' eternal co-eternal beam!

May I express thee unblam'd? fince GOD is

And never but in unapproached light

(light,

Dwelt from eternity; dwelt then in thee,
Bright effluence of bright effence increate!
Or hear'st thou rather pure ethereal stream,
Whofe fountain who fhall tell? Before the fun,
Before the heav'ns thou wert, and at the voice
Of GOD, as with a mantle, didst invest
The rifing world of waters dark and deep,
Won from the void and formless Infinite.
Thee I re-vifit now with bolder wing,
Efcap'd the STYGIAN pool, tho' long detain'd
In that obfcure fojourn; while, in my flight,
Through utter and through middle darkness born,

F 2

5

10

15

With

"

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With other notes than to th' ORPHEAN lyre,
I fung of CHAOS, and eternal NIGHT;
Taught by the heav'nly Mufe to venture down
The dark defcent, and up to re-afcend,
Tho' hard, and rare! Thee I re-vifit fafe,
And feel thy fov'reign vital lamp: but thou
Re-vifit'ft not these eyes, that rowl in vain
To find thy piercing ray, and find no dawn;
So thick a Drop Serene hath quench'd their orbs, 25
Or dim fuffufion veil'd! Yet not the more
Ceafe I to wander, where the Muses haunt
Clear fpring, or fhady grove, or funny hill,
Smit with the love of facred fong: but chief
Thee SION, and the flow'ry brooks beneath,
That wash thy hallow'd feet, and warbling flow,
Nightly I vifit: nor fometimes forget
Thofe other two equal'd with me in fate,
(So were I equal'd with them in renown!)
Blind THAMYRIS, and blind MEONIDES:
And TIRESIAS, and PHINEUS, prophets old.
Then feed on thoughts, that voluntary move
Harmonious numbers; as the wakeful bird
Sings darkling, and, in fhadiest covert hid,

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Tunes her nocturnal note. Thus with the year 40
Seasons return; but not to me returns

Day, or the sweet approach of ev'n or morn,
Or fight of vernal bloom, or fummer's rose,
Or flocks, or herds, or human face divine:
But cloud inftead, and ever-during dark
Surrounds me! from the chearful ways of men
Cut off; and for the book of knowledge fair,
Prefented with a univerfal blank

Of nature's works, to me expung'd and ras'd,
And wisdom at one entrance quite shut out!
So much the rather thou, cœleftial light!

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