Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turned, Admonished by his ear; and straight was known Who, in God's presence, nearest to his throne, Stand ready at command, and are his eyes 650 That run through all the Heavens, or down to the Earth O'er sea and land: him Satan thus accosts: “Uriel! for thou of those seven spirits that stand "All these his wondrous works, but chiefly man, "Or open admiration, him behold, "On whom the great Creator hath bestowed 66 Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces poured; "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!" For neither man nor angel can discern Invisible, except to God alone, By his permissive will, through Heaven and Earth: 660 670 680 And oft, though Wisdom wake, Suspicion sleeps Resigns her charge, while Goodness things no ill In his uprightness, answer thus returned: "Fair angel! thy desire, which tends to know "The works of God, thereby to glorify "The great Work-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 Heaven; "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? 66 I saw when, at his word, the formless mass, "This world's material mould, came to a heap: 66 Light shone, and order from disorder sprung. "Swift to their several quarters hasted then "The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire; 66 ' And this ethereal quintessence of Heaven "Flew upward, spirited with various forms, "That rolled orbicular, and turned to stars 66 'Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move; "Look downward on that globe, whose hither side 690 700 710 720 66 66 66 Night would invade; but there the neighbouring Moon, (So call that opposite fair star,) her aid Timely interposes; and her monthly round "Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heaven, Adam's abode; those lofty shades his bower: "Thy way thou canst not miss,-me mine requires." 730 740 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 the 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 on a sunbeam, 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 afterwards 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 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 Haply so scaped his mortal snare! for now "O thou, that, with surpassing glory crowned, 10 20 30 40 |