V

And this ethereal quintessence of Heav'n Flew upward, fpirited with various forms, That roll'd orbicular, and turn'd to stars, Numberless, as thou seeft, and how they

With light from hence, tho' but reflected,

fhines:

That place is Earth, the feat of man, that

light

His day, which elfe as th' other hemifphere 725 Night would invade; but there the neighb'ring moon,

So call that oppofite fair ftar, her aid
Timely interpofes, and her monthly round
Still ending, still renewing, through mid
' Heav'n

With borrow'd light her countenance triform

730

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, thofe lofty fhades his bower. Thy way thou canst not mifs, me mine re

1

Thus faid, he turn'd; and Satan bowing low,

As to fuperior spirits wont in Heav'n,
Where honor due and reverence none ne-

glects,

Nor stay'd, till on Niphates top he lights.

The End of the Third Book.

O for that warning voice, which he who saw Th' Apocalyps heard cry in Heav'n aloud, Then when the Dragon, put to fecond rout, Came furious down to be reveng'd on men, Woe to th' inhabitans on earth! that now 5 While time was, our first parents had been warn'd

The coming of their secret foe, and scap'd, Haply fo fcap'd his mortal fnare; for now Satan, now first inflam'd with rage, came down,

10

The tempter e're th' accufer of mankind,
To wreck on innocent frail man his lofs
Of that first battel, and his flight to Hell:
Yet not rejoicing in his speed though bold,
Far off and fearlefs, nor with caufe to boast,
Begins his dire attempt, which nigh the
birth

Now rolling boils in his tumultuous breaft,
And like a devilish engine back recoils
Upon himself; horror and doubt distract

15

His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom ftir

The Hell within him; for within him hell 20 He brings, and round about him, nor from hell

One step no more than from himself can fly By change of place: now confcience wakes despair

That flumber'd, wakes the bitter memory
Of what he was, what is, and what must

be

£5 Worfe; of worse deeds worse sufferings must

enfue.

Sometimes tow'rds Eden, which now in his view

Lay pleasant, his griev'd look he fixes fad; Sometimes tow'rds Heav'n and the full blazing fun,

Which now fat high in his meridian tow'r: 30 Then much revolving, thus in fighs began.

O thou that with furpalling glory crown'd, Look'ft from thy fole dominion like the God Of this new world, at whofe fight all the stars Hide their diminifhed heads; to thee I call 35 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 ftate

I fell, how glorious once above thy sphere;

に

Ah wherefore! he deferv'd no such return
From me, whom he created what I was
In that bright eminence, and with his good
Upbraided none; nor was his service hard. 45
What could be less than to afford him praise,
The eafieft recompenfe, and pay him thanks;
How due! yet all his good prov'd ill in me,
And wrought but malice; lifted up fo high
I 'fdein'd fubjection, and thought one step
higher

50

Would set me highest, and in a moment quit
The debt immense of endless gratitude,
So burdenfome ftill paying, ftill to owe,
Forgetful what from him I ftill receiv'd,
And understood not that a grateful mind
By owing owes not, but still pays, at once
Indebted and discharg'd: what hurden then?
O had his pow'rful deftiny ordain'd
Me fome inferior Angel! I had ftood.

55

Then happy; no unbounded hope had rais'd 60 Ambition. Yet why not?. fome other Power As great might have afpir'd, and me though

mean

Drawn to his part; but other Pow'rs as great Fell not, but ftand unfhaken, from within

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