And here art likeliest by supreme decree Like honour to obtain, and as his eye
To visit oft this new creation round; Unspeakable desire to see, and know
All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man, His chief delight and favour, him for whom All these his works so wondrous he ordain'd, Hath brought me from the quires of Cherubim Alone thus wand'ring. Brightest Seraph, tell In which of all these shining orbs hath Man His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none, But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell; That I may find him and with secret gaze,
Or open admiration, him behold,
That both in him and all things, as is meet,
The universal maker we may praise;
Who justly hath driven out his rebel foes To deepest Hell, and to repair that loss Created this new happy race of Men
To serve him better: wise are all his ways."
So spake the false dissembler unperceiv'd;
For neither Man nor Angel can discern Hypocrisy, the only' evil that walks
Invisible, except to God alone,
By his permissive will, through Heav'n and Earth:
And oft, though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps
At wisdom's gate, and to simplicity
Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill Where no ill seems; which now for once beguil'd Uriel, though regent of the sun, and held The sharpest sighted Spi'rit of all in Heav'n; Who to the fraudulent impostor foul,
In his uprightness, answer thus return'd.
"Fair Angel, thy desire which tends to know The works of God, thereby to glorify
The great Wor -Master, leads to no excess That reaches blame, but rather merits praise The more it seems excess, that led thee hither From thy empyreal mansion thus alone, To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps Contented with report hear only' in Heav'n; For wonderful indeed are all his works, Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all Had in remembrance always with delight; But what created mind can comprehend Their number, or the wisdom infinite
That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? I saw when at his word the formless mass, This world's material mould, came to a heap : Confusion heard his voice, and while uproar Stood rul'd, stood vast infinitude confin'd; Till at his second bidding darkness fled, Light shone, and order from disorder sprung: Swift to their several quarters hasted then
The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire; And this ethereal quintessence of Heaven Flew upward, spirited with various forms, That roll'd orbicular, and turn'd to stars Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move; Each had his place appointed, each his course; The rest in circuit walls this universe.
Look downward on that globe, whose hither side
With light from hence, though but reflected, shines; That place is Earth, the seat of Man, that light His day, which else, as th' other hemisphere,
Night would invade; but there the neighb'ring moon (So call that opposite fair star) her aid Timely' interposes, and her monthly round
Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heav'n,
With borrow'd light her countenance triform Hence fills and empties to enlighten th' Earth, And in her pale dominion checks the night,
That spot to which I point is Paradise,
Adam's abode, those lofty shades his bower. Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires.”
Thus said, he turn'd; and Satan bowing low, As to superior Spi'rits is wont in Heaven, Where honour due and reverence none neglects,
Took leave, and tow'ard the coast of earth beneath, Down from th' ecliptic, sped with hop'd success, Throws his steep flight in many an airy wheel, Nor stay'd, till on Niphates' top he lights.
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