Adain's abode; those lofty shades, his bower. PARADISE LOST. BOOK IV. 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 lengta confirms himself in evil; journeys on to Paradise, whose outward prospert and situation are 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 an a sunbeam warns Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Paradise, that some evil Spirit had escaped the deep, and passed at noen by his sphere in the shape of a good Angel down to Paradise, discovered after by his furious gestures on 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 night-watch to walk the round of Paradise, appoints two strong Angels to Adain'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 Pa. radise O FOR that warning voice, which he who saw Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell 5 10 Yet, not rejoicing in his speed, though bold 15 20 Of what he was, what is, and what must be 25 Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue. Sometimes towards Eden, which now in his view Lay pleasant, his grieved look he fixed sad; 30 Sometimes towards Heaven, and the full-blazing sun, O thou, that, with surpassing glory crown'd, Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars 35 40 Till pride and worse ambition threw me down 45 I 'sdain'd subjection, and thought one step higher 50 Would set me highest, and in a moment quit Then happy; no unbounded hope had raised As great might have aspired, and me, though mean, 55 60 65 : But Heaven's free love dealt equally to all? Hadst thou the same free will and power to stand? Thou hadst whom hast thou then or what to accuse, Be then his love accursed, since love or hate, To me alike, it deals eternal woe. 70 Nay, cursed be thou; since against his thy will Chose freely what it now so justly rues. Me miserable! which way shall I fly Infinite wrath and infinite despair? Which way I fly is Hell; myself am Hell; While they adore me on the throne of Hell. With diadem and sceptre high advanced, In misery Such joy ambition finds. But say I could repent, and could obtain, By act of grace, my former state; how soon 90 Would height recal high thoughts, how soon unsay 95 100 105 Where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep: 110 By thee, and more than half perhaps will reign; As Man, ere long, and this new world shall know. Thus while he spake, each passion dimm'd his face Thrice changed with pale, ire, envy, and despair; 115 Which marr'd his borrow'd visage, and betray'd Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld. For heavenly minds from such distempers foul Each perturbation smooth'd with outward calm, 120 That practised falsehood under saintly show, Yet not enough had practised to deceive Uriel once warn'd; whose eye pursued him down 125 The way he went, and on the Assyrian mount |