Wider by farr then that of after-times
Over Mount Sion, and, though that were large,
Over the Promis'd Land to God fo dear,
By which, to visit oft those happy Tribes,
On high behests his Angels to and fro
Pafs'd frequent, and his eye with choice regard
From Paneas the fount of Jordans flood
To Beerfaba, where the Holy Land
Borders on Ægypt and the Arabian shoare;
So wide the op❜ning feemd, where bounds were set To darkness, such as bound the Ocean wave. 540 Satan from hence now on the lower stair
That scal'd by steps of Gold to Heav'n Gate
Looks down with wonder at the fudden view
Of all this World at once. As when a Scout
Through dark and defart wayes with peril gone
All night; at last by break of chearful dawne
Obtains the brow of fome high-climbing Hill,
Which to his eye discovers unaware
The goodly prospect of fome forein land
First-feen, or fome renownd Metropolis
550 With gliftering Spires and Pinnacles adornd,
Which now the Rifing Sun guilds with his beams.
Such wonder feis'd, though after Heaven feen,
The Spirit maligne, but much more envy feis'd
At fight of all this World beheld fo faire.
Round he furveys, and well might, where he stood
So high above the circling Canopie
Of Nights extended fhade; from Eastern Point
Of Libra to the fleecie Starr that bears
Andromeda farr off Atlantick Seas
560 Beyond th' Horizon; then from Pole to Pole
He views in bredth, and without longer pause
Down right into the Worlds first Region throws
His flight precipitant, and windes with ease
Through the marble Air his oblique way
Amongst innumerable Starrs, that fhon
Stars diftant, but nigh hand feemd other Worlds,
Or other Worlds they feemd, or happy Iles,
Like thofe Hefperian Gardens fam'd of old,
Fortunate Fields, and Groves and flourie Vales,
Thrice happy Iles, but who dwelt happy there
He stayd not to enquire: above them all
The golden Sun in fplendor likest Heaven
Allur'd his eye: Thither his course he bends
Through the calm Firmament; but up or downe
By center, or eccentric, hard to tell,
Or Longitude, where the great Luminarie
Alooff the vulgar Constellations thick,
That from his Lordly eye keep distance due,
Dispenses Light from farr; they as they move
Thir Sarry dance in numbers that compute (Lamp 580
Days, months, and years, towards his all-chearing
Turn swift their various motions, or are turnd
By his Magnetic beam, that gently warms
The Univers, and to each inward part
With gentle penetration, though unseen,
Shoots invifible vertue even to the deep:
So wondrously was fet his Station bright.
There lands the Fiend, a spot like which perhaps
Aftronomer in the Sun's lucent Orbe
Through his glaz'd Optic Tube yet never faw.
The place he found beyond expreffion bright,
Compar'd with aught on Earth, Medal or Stone;
Not all parts like, but all alike informd
Which radiant light, as glowing Iron with fire;
If mettal, part feemd Gold, part Silver cleer;
If ftone, Carbuncle moft or Chryfolite,
Rubie or Topaz, to the Twelve that shon
In Aarons Breft-plate, and a stone befides.
Imagind rather oft then elsewhere seen,
610 That ftone, or like to that which here below
Philofophers in vain fo long have fought,
In vain, though by thir powerful Art they binde
Volatil Hermes, and call up unbound
In various shapes old Proteus from the Sea,
Draind through a Limbec to his Native forme.
What wonder then if fields and regions here
Breathe forth Elixir pure, and Rivers run
Potable Gold, when with one vertuous touch
Th' Arch-chimic Sun fo farr from us remote
620 Produces with Terreftrial Humor mixt
Here in the dark fo many precious things
Of colour glorious and effect fo rare?
Here matter new to gaze the Devil met
Undazl'd, farr and wide his eye commands,
For fight no obstacle found here, nor shade,
But all Sun-fhine, as when his Beams at Noon
Culminate from th' Æquator, as they now
Shot upward ftill direct, whence no way round
Shadow from body opaque can fall, and the Aire,
630 No where fo cleer, fharp'nd his visual ray
To objects distant farr, whereby he foon
Saw within kenn a glorious Angel stand,
The fame whom John faw alfo in the Sun :
His back was turnd, but not his brightness hid;
Of beaming funnie Raies, a golden tiar
Circl'd his Head, nor lefs his Locks behind
Illuftrious on his Shoulders fledge with wings
Lay waving round; on fom great charge imploy'd
Hee feemd, or fixt in cogitation deep.
Glad was the Spirit impure; as now in hope
To find who might direct his wandring flight
To Paradise the happie feat of Man,
His journies end and our beginning woe.
But first he cafts to change his proper shape,
Which else might work him danger or delay:
And now a stripling Cherube he appeers,
Not of the prime, yet fuch as in his face
Youth fmil'd Celestial, and to every Limb
Sutable grace diffus'd, fo well he feignd;
Under a Coronet his flowing haire
In curles on either cheek plaid, wings he wore
Of many a colourd plume sprinkl'd with Gold,
His habit fit for speed fuccinct, and held
Before his decent steps a Silver wand.
He drew not nigh unheard, the Angel bright,
Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turnd,
Admonisht by his eare, and strait was known
Th' Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the feav'n
Who in Gods prefence, neerest to his Throne
Stand ready at command, and are his Eyes
That run through all the Heav'ns, or down to th’
Bear his swift errands over moist and dry,
O're Sea and Land: him Satan thus accoftes.
Uriel, for thou of those seav'n Spirits that stand
In fight of Gods high Throne, gloriously bright,
The first art wont his great authentic will
L
Interpreter through highest Heav'n to bring,
Where all his Sons thy Embaffie attend;
And here art likelieft by supream decree
670 Like honour to obtain, and as his Eye
To vifit oft this new Creation round;
Unfpeakable defire to fee, and know
All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man,
His chief delight and favour, him for whom
All these his works fo wondrous he ordaind,
Hath brought me from the Quires of Cherubim
Alone thus wandring. Brightest Seraph tell
In which of all these shining Orbes hath Man
His fixed feat, or fixed feat hath none,
680 But all these shining Orbes his choice to dwell;
That I may find him, and with fecret
Or
open admiration him behold
On whom the great Creator hath bestowd
Worlds, and on whom hath all these
graces powrd;
That both in him and all things, as is meet,
The Universal Maker we may praise;
Who justly hath drivn out his Rebell Foes
To deepest Hell, and to repair that loss
Created this new happie Race of Men
690 To ferve him better: wife are all his wayes.
So fpake the false diffembler unperceivd;
For neither Man nor Angel can difcern.
Hypocrifie, the only evil that walks
Invifible, except to God alone,
By his permiffive will, through Heav'n and Earth:
And oft though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps
At wifdoms Gate, and to fimplicitie
Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill
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