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 a while, to know further of their state by some other means. Meanwhile Uriel, descending on a sun-beam, 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 night-watch 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. O FOR that warning voice, which he who saw Woe to th' inhabitants on earth! that now, 5 The tempter ere th' accuser of mankind, He brings, and round about him; nor from Hell By change of place: now Conscience wakes Despair 25 30 35 40 45 The easiest recompense, and pay him thanks, And wrought but malice; lifted up so high, I sdeign'd subjection, and thought one step higher 50 55 Me some inferior Angel, I had stood Then happy; no unbounded hope had raised 60 Ambition. Yet, why not? some other Pow'r, As great might have aspired, and me, though mean, Drawn to his part; but other Pow'rs as great Fell not, but stand unshaken, from within Or from without, to all temptations arm'd. 65 Hadst thou the same free will and pow'r to stand? Thou hadst. Whom hast thou then or what t' accuse, But Heav'n's free love dealt equally to all? 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 Infinite wrath, and infinite despair? Still threat'ning to devour me opens wide, 75 80 With other promises and other vaunts 85 90 Would highth recall high thoughts, how soon unsay Where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep: 100 105 Farewell remorse: all good to me is lost: Evil,be thou my good; by thee at least 110 Divided empire with Heav'n's King I hold, 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; 115 For heav'nly minds from such distempers foul Each perturbation smooth'd with outward calm, 120 Artificer of fraud; and was the first That practised falsehood under saintly show, Uriel once warn'd; whose eye pursued him down 125 The way he went, and on th'Assyrian mount Spirit of happy sort; his gestures fierce He mark'd and mad demeanour, then alone, As he supposed, all unobserved, unseen. 130 Now nearer, crowns with her inclosure green, 135 As with a rural mound, the champaign head Cedar, and pine, and fir, and branching palm; Of stateliest view. Yet higher than their tops 140 145 On which the Sun more glad impress'd his beams 150 Than in fair ev'ning cloud, or humid bow, When God hath show'r'd the earth: so lovely seem'd That landskip: and of pure now purer air Meets his approach, and to the heart inspires Vernal delight and joy, able to drive 155 All sadness but despair: now gentle gales, |