Paradife Loft.

BOOK X.

EANWHILE the hainous and defpightfull act

Of Satan done in Paradife, and how

Hee in the Serpent had perverted Eve,

Her Husband fhee, to taste the fatal fruit,
Was known in Heav'n; for what can fcape the Eye
Of God All-feeing, or deceave his Heart
Omniscient, who in all things wife and juft,
Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the minde
Of Man, with strength entire, and free Will arm'd,
Complete to have discover'd and repulft
Whatever wiles of Foe or feeming Friend.

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For still they knew, and ought to have still remem-
The high Injunction not to taste that Fruit, [ber'd
Whoever tempted; which they not obeying,
Incurr'd, what could they lefs, the penaltie,
And manifold in fin, deferv'd to fall.
Up into Heav'n from Paradife in hast
Th' Angelic Guards afcended, mute and fad
For Man, for of his state by this they knew,
Much wondring how the futtle Fiend had stoln
Entrance unseen. Soon as th' unwelcome news
From Earth arriv'd at Heaven Gate, difpleas'd

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All were who heard, dim sadness did not spare That time Celestial visages, yet mixt

With pitie, violated not thir bliss.

About the new-arriv'd, in multitudes

Th' ethereal People ran, to hear and know
How all befell: they towards the Throne Supream
Accountable made hafte to make appear
With righteous plea, thir utmost vigilance,
And easily approv'd; when the most High
Eternal Father from his fecret Cloud,
Amidst in Thunder utter'd thus his voice.

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Affembl❜d Angels, and ye Powers return'd
From unsuccessful charge, be not dismaid,
Nor troubl❜d at these tidings from the Earth,
Which your fincerest care could not prevent,
Foretold fo lately what would come to pass,
When first this Tempter crofs'd the Gulf from Hell.
I told ye then he should prevail and speed
On his bad Errand, Man fhould be feduc't
And flatter'd out of all, believing lies
Against his Maker; no Decree of mine
Concurring to neceffitate his Fall,

Or touch with lightest moment of impulse
His free Will, to her own inclining left
In eevn scale. But fall'n he is, and now
What refts, but that the mortal Sentence pass
On his tranfgreffion, Death denounc't that day,
Which he prefumes already vain and void,
Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd,
By fome immediate ftroak; but foon fhall find
Forbearance no acquittance ere day end.
Juftice thall not return as bountie fcorn'd.

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But whom fend I to judge them? whom but thee
Vicegerent Son, to thee I have transferr'd
All Judgement, whether in Heav'n, or Earth, or Hell.
Eafie it may be seen that I intend

Mercie collegue with Justice, fending thee
Mans Friend, his Mediator, his defign'd
Both Ranfom and Redeemer voluntarie,
And deftin'd Man himself to judge Man fall'n.
So fpake the Father, and unfoulding bright
Toward the right hand his Glorie, on the Son
Blaz'd forth unclouded Deitie; he full
Refplendent all his Father manifest

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Exprefs'd, and thus divinely answer'd milde.
Father Eternal, thine is to decree,
Mine both in Heav'n and Earth to do thy will
Supream, that thou in mee thy Son belov'd
Mayft ever reft well pleas'd. I go to judge
On Earth these thy tranfgreffors, but thou knowst,
Whoever judg'd, the worst on mee must light,
When time shall be, for fo I undertook
Before thee; and not repenting, this obtaine
Of right, that I may mitigate thir doom
On me deriv'd, yet I fhall temper fo
Juftice with Mercie, as may illustrate most
Them fully fatisfied, and thee appease.

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Attendance none shall need, nor Train, where none Are to behold the Judgement, but the judg'd, Those two; the third beft abfent is condemn'd, Convict by flight, and Rebel to all Law Conviction to the Serpent none belongs.

Thus faying, from his radiant Seat he rose Of high collateral glorie: him Thrones and Powers,

Princedoms, and Dominations miniftrant
Accompanied to Heaven Gate, from whence
Eden and all the Coaft in profpect lay.

Down he defcended strait; the speed of Gods 90
Time counts not, though with swifteft minutes
Now was the Sun in Western cadence low [wing'd.
From Noon, and gentle Aires due at thir hour
To fan the Earth now wak'd, and usher in
The Eevning coole when he from wrauth more coole
Came the mild Judge and Interceffor both
To fentence Man: the voice of God they heard
Now walking in the Garden, by foft windes
Brought to thir Ears, while day declin'd, they heard,
And from his presence hid themselves among 100
The thickest Trees, both Man and Wife, till God
Approaching, thus to Adam call'd aloud.

Where art thou Adam, wont with joy to meet
My coming feen far off? I miss thee here,
Not pleas'd, thus entertaind with folitude,
Where obvious dutie erewhile appear'd unfaught:
Or come I lefs confpicuous, or what change
Absents thee, or what chance detains? Come forth.
He came, and with him Eve, more loth, though first
To offend, discount'nanc't both, and difcompos'd;
Love was not in thir looks, either to God
Or to each other, but apparent guilt,
And shame, and peturbation, and despaire,
Anger, and obftinacie, and hate, and guile.
Whence Adam faultring long, thus answer'd brief.
I heard thee in the Garden, and of thy voice
Affraid, being naked, hid my self. To whom
The gracious Judge without revile repli'd.

My voice thou oft hast heard, and haft not fear'd, But still rejoyc't, how is it now become

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So dreadful to thee? that thou art naked, who
Hath told thee? haft thou eaten of the Tree
Whereof I
gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat?
To whom thus Adam fore befet repli'd.
O Heav'n! in evil ftrait this day I stand
Before my Judge, either to undergoe
My felf the total Crime, or to accuse
My other self, the partner of my life;
Whose failing, while her Faith to me remaines,
I should conceal, and not expose to blame
By my complaint; but strict neceffitie
Subdues me, and calamitous constraint,
Least on my head both fin and punishment,
However infupportable, be all

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Devolv'd; though should I hold my peace, yet thou
Wouldft eafily detect what I conceale.

This Woman whom thou mad'ft to be my help,
And gav'ft me as thy perfet gift, so good,
So fit, fo acceptable, so Divine,

That from her hand I could fufpect no ill,
And what she did, whatever in it self,
Her doing feem'd to juftifie the deed;
Shee gave me of the Tree, and I did eate.

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To whom the sovran Presence thus repli'd. Was thee thy God, that her thou didst obey Before his voice, or was shee made thy guide, Superior, or but equal, that to her Thou did❜ft refigne thy Manhood, and the Place Wherein God fet thee above her made of thee, And for thee, whose perfection farr excell'd

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