"It seems, in thy restraint. What could I more? "That lay in wait; beyond this, had been force; "That error now, which is become my crime, "And thou the accuser? Thus it shall befall "Lets her will rule: restraint she will not brook; The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning; 1170 1180 MAN'S transgression known; the guardian Angels forsake Paradise, and return up to Heaven to approve their vigilance, and are approved; God declaring that the entrance of Satan could not be by them prevented. He sends his Son to judge the transgressors; who descends and gives sentence acccordingly; then in pity clothes them both, and reascends. Sin and Death, sitting till then at the gates of Hell, by wondrous sympathy feeling the success of Satan in this new world, and the sin by Man there committed, resolve to sit no longer confined in Hell, but to follow Satan their sire up to the place of Man: to make the way easier from Hell to this world to and fro, they pave a broad highway or bridge over Chaos, according to the track that Satan had made; then, preparing for Earth, they meet him, proud of his success, returning to Hell; their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemonium; in full assembly relates with boasting his success against Man; instead of applause is entertained with a general hiss by all his audience, transformed with himself also suddenly into serpents according to his doom given in Paradise; then, deluded with a show of the forbidden tree springing up before them, they, greedily reaching to take of the fruit, chew dust and bitter ashes. The proceedings of Sin and Death; God fortells the final victory of his Son over them, and the renewing of all things; but, for the present, commands his Angels to make several alterations in the heavens and elements. Adam, more and more perceiving his fallen condition, heavily bewails; rejects the condolement of Eve; she persists, and at length appeases him: then, to evade the curse likely to fall on their offspring, proposes to Adam violent ways, which he approves not; but, conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late promise made them, that her seed should be revenged on the serpent; and exhorts her with him to seek peace of the offended Deity by repentance and supplication. MEANWHILE the heinous and despiteful act Was known in Heaven; for what can scape the eye Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just, Of Man, with strength entire, and free-will armed, Whatever wiles of foe, or seeming friend. For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered, Whoever tempted; which they not obeying Up into Heaven, from Paradise, in haste About the new arrived, in multitudes "Assembled angels, and ye Powers returned ΙΟ 20 30 "I told ye then he should prevail, and speed "On his bad errand; man shall be seduced, "And flattered out of all, believing lies 66 'Against his Maker; no decree of mine Concurring, to necessitate his fall, 40 "Or touch with lightest moment of impulse "What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass "On his transgression-death denounced that day? 50 "By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find "But whom send I to judge them? Whom but thee, "Vicegerent Son? To thee I have transferred "All judgment, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell. "Easy it may be seen that I intend "Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee, "And destined Man himself, to judge Man fallen." Expressed, and thus divinely answered mild: "Father Eternal! thine is to decree; Mine, both in Heaven and Earth to do thy will "Supreme; that thou in me, thy Son beloved, Mayst ever rest well pleased. I go to judge "On Earth these thy transgressors; but thou knowst, "On me derived: yet I shall temper so 66 Justice with mercy, as may illustrate most "Them fully satisfied, and thee appease. "Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none 60 70 80 Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose Of high collateral glory. Him Thrones, and Powers, Accompanied to Heaven-gate; from whence Down he descended straight; the speed of Gods Eden, and all the coast, in prospect lay. Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes winged. 90 From noon; and gentle airs, due at their hour, "Where art thou, Adam, wont with joy to meet Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief: "My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not feared, "Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat?" To whom thus Adam, sore beset, replied: |