Night would invade, but there the neighbouring (So call that opposite fair Starr) her aide [Moon Timely interposes, and her monthly round

Still ending, still renewing through mid Heav'n, With borrowd 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 Paradife,

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Adams abode, thofe loftie fhades his Bowre.
Thy way thou canst not mifs, me mine requires.
Thus faid, he turnd, and Satan bowing low,
As to fuperior Spirits is wont in Heav'n,
Where honour due and reverence none neglects,
Took leave, and toward the coaft of Earth beneath,
Down from th' Ecliptic, fped with hop'd fuccefs,
Throws his steep flight in many an Aerie wheele,
Nor staid, till on Niphates top he lights.

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The End of the Third Book.

Paradife Loft.

BOOK IV.

FOR that warning voice, which he who faw

Th' Apocalyps, heard cry in Heaven aloud,

10

Then when the Dragon, put to fecond rout,
Came furious down to be reveng'd on men,
Wo to the inhabitants on Earth! that now,
While time was, our first Parents had bin warnd
The coming of thir secret foe, and scap'd
Haply fo fcap'd his mortal snare; for now
Satan, now first inflam'd with rage, came down,
The Tempter ere th' Accufer of man-kind,
To wreck on innocent frail man his lofs
Of that first Battel, and his flight to Hell:
Yet not rejoycing in his speed, though bold,
Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast,
Begins his dire attempt, which nigh the birth
Now rowling, boiles in his tumultuous breft,
And like a devillish Engine back recoiles
Upon himself; horror and doubt distract
His troubl'd thoughts, and from the bottom stirr
The Hell within him, for within him Hell
He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell

20

One ftep no more then from himself can fly
By change of place: Now confcience wakes despair
That flumberd, wakes the bitter memorie

Of what he was, what is, and what must be
Worfe; of worfe deeds worse fufferings must enfue.
Sometimes towards Eden which now in his view
Lay pleafant, his grievd look he fixes fad,
Sometimes towards Heav'n and the full-blazing Sun,
Which now fat high in his Meridian Towre: 30
Then much revolving, thus in fighs began.

39

O thou that with furpaffing Glory crownd, Look'ft from thy fole Dominion like the God Of this new World; at whofe fight all the Starrs Hide thir diminisht heads; to thee I call, But with no friendly voice, and add thy name O Sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams That bring to my remembrance from what state I fell, how glorious once above thy Spheare; Till Pride and worse Ambition threw me down Warring in Heav'n against Heav'ns matchless King: Ah wherefore! he defervd no fuch return From me, whom he created what I was In that bright eminence, and with his good Upbraided none; nor was his fervice hard. What could be lefs then to afford him praise, The easiest recompence, and and pay him thanks, How due! yet all his good prov'd ill in me, And wrought but malice; lifted up fo high

I fdeind fubjection, and thought one step higher Would fet me highest, and in a moment quit 51 The debt immenfe of endless gratitude,

So burthenfome, ftill paying, ftill to ow;

Forgetful what from him I ftill receivd,
And understood not that a grateful mind
By owing owes not, but still pays, at once
Indebted and dischargd; what burden then?
O had his powerful Destiny ordaind
Me fome inferiour Angel, I had stood

Then happie; no unbounded hope had rais'd 60
Ambition. Yet why not? fom other Power
As great might have aspir'd, and me though mean
Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great
Fell not, but ftand unfhak'n, from within
Or from without, to all temptations arm'd.
Hadft thou the fame free Will and Power to ftand?
Thou hadft: whom haft thou then or what to accufe,
But Heav'ns free Love dealt equally to all?
Be then his Love accurft, fince love or hate,
To me alike, it deals eternal woe.

70

Nay curs'd be thou; fince against his thy will
Chose freely what it now so justly rues.
Me miferable! which way fhall I flie
Infinite wrauth, and infinite defpaire?
Which way I flie is Hell; my felf am Hell;
And in the lowest deep a lower deep
Still threatning to devour me opens wide,
To which the Hell I fuffer feems a Heav'n.
O then at last relent: is there no place
Left for Repentance, none for Pardon left?
None left but by fubmiffion; and that word
Difdain forbids me, and my dread of shame
Among the Spirits beneath, whom I feduc'd
With other promises and other vaunts
Then to fubmit, boasting I could subdue

80

Th' Omnipotent. Ay me, they little know
How dearly I abide that boast so vaine,
Under what torments inwardly I groane :
While they adore me on the Throne of Hell,
With Diadem and Scepter high advanc't
The lower still I fall, onely fupream
In miferie; fuch joy Ambition findes.
But fay I could repent and could obtaine

90

By Act of Grace my former state; how soon
Would highth recal high thoughts, how foon unfay
What feign'd fubmiffion swore: ease would recant
Vows made in pain, as violent and void.

For never can true reconcilement grow
Where wounds of deadly hate have peirc'd fo deep :
Which would but lead me to a worse relapse,
And heavier fall: fo fhould I purchase deare
Short intermiffion bought with double fmart.
This knows my punisher; therefore as farr
From granting hee, as I from begging peace:
All hope excluded thus, behold in stead
Of us out-caft, exil'd, his new delight,
Mankind created, and for him this World.
So farwel Hope, and with Hope farwel Fear,
Farwel Remorfe: all Good to me is loft;
Evil be thou my Good; by thee at least
Divided Empire with Heav'ns King I hold
By thee, and more then half perhaps will reigne;
As Man ere long, and this new World shall know.

Thus while he spake, each paffion dimm'd his face Thrice chang'd with pale, ire, envie and despair, Which marrd his borrow'd vifage, and betraid Him counterfet, if any eye beheld.