The Faith they owe; when earnestly they seek Such proof, conclude, they then begin to faile.
To whom foon mov'd with touch of blame thus What words have past thy Lips, Adam fevere, [Eve. Imput'ft thou that to my default, or will
Of wandering, as thou call'ft it, which who knows But might as ill have happ'nd thou being by, Or to thy felf perhaps : hadft thou bin there, Or here th' attempt, thou couldst not have discernd Fraud in the Serpent, fpeaking as he fpake; 1150 No ground of enmitie between us known, Why hee should mean me ill, or feek to harme. Was I to have never parted from thy fide? As good have grown there still a liveless Rib. Being as I am, why didft not thou the Head Command me abfolutely not to go, Going into fuch danger as thou saidst? Too facil then thou didst not much gainfay, Nay, didst permit, approve, and fair dismiss. Hadft thou bin firm and fixt in thy diffent, Neither had I transgress'd, nor thou with mee. To whom then firft incenft Adam repli'd. Is this the Love, is this the recompence Of mine to thee, ingrateful Eve, expreft Immutable when thou wert loft, not I, Who might have liv'd and joyd immortal bliss, Yet willingly chose rather Death with thee: And am I now upbraided, as the cause Of thy tranfgreffing? not enough severe,
It seems, in thy restraint: what could I more? I warn'd thee, I admonish'd thee, foretold The danger, and the lurking Enemie
That lay in wait; beyond this had bin force, And force upon free Will hath here no place. But confidence then bore thee on, secure Either to meet no danger, or to finde Matter of glorious trial; and perhaps I alfo err'd in overmuch admiring What seemd in thee fo perfet, that I thought No evil durft attempt thee, but I rue That errour now, which is become my crime, And thou th' accufer. Thus it shall befall Him who to worth in Women overtrusting Lets her Will rule; reftraint fhe will not brook, And left to her self, if evil thence enfue, Shee first his weak indulgence will accufe. Thus they in mutual accusation spent The fruitless hours, but neither felf-condemning, And of thir vain conteft appeer'd no end.
The End of the Ninth Book.
EANWHILE the hainous and defpightfull act
Of Satan done in Paradise, and how
Hee in the Serpent had perverted Eve,
Her Husband fhee, to taste the fatall fruit, Was known in Heav'n; for what can scape the Eye Of God All-seeing, or deceave his Heart Omniscient, who in all things wise and just, Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the minde Of Man, with strength entire, and free Will arm'd, Complete to have discover'd and repulst Whatever wiles of Foe or feeming Friend.
For ftill they knew, and ought to have still remem- The high Injunction not to taste that Fruit, [ber'd Whoever tempted; which they not obeying, Incurr'd, what could they lefs, the penaltie, And manifold in fin, deferv'd to fall. Up into Heav'n from Paradise in hast Th' Angelic Guards afcended, mute and fad For Man, for of his state by this they knew, Much wondring how the futtle Fiend had stoln Entrance unfeen. Soon as th' unwelcome news From Earth arriv'd at Heaven Gate, difpleas'd
All were who heard, dim sadness did not spare That time Celestial visages, yet mixt
With pitie, violated not thir bliss.
About the new-arriv'd, in multitudes
Th' ethereal People ran, to hear and know How all befell: they towards the Throne Supream Accountable made hafte to make appear With righteous plea, thir utmost vigilance, And easily approv'd; when the most High Eternal Father from his fecret Cloud, Amidft in Thunder utter'd thus his voice.
Affembl❜d Angels, and ye Powers return'd From unsuccessful charge, be not dismaid, Nor troubl❜d at these tidings from the Earth, Which your fincereft care could not prevent, Foretold fo lately what would come to pass, When first this Tempter crofs'd the Gulf from Hell. I told ye then he should prevail and speed On his bad Errand, Man fhould be feduc't And flatter'd out of all, believing lies Against his Maker; no Decree of mine Concurring to neceffitate his Fall,
Or touch with lightest moment of impulse His free Will, to her own inclining left In eevn scale. But fall'n he is, and now What refts, but that the mortal Sentence pass On his tranfgreffion, Death denounc't that day, Which he prefumes already vain and void, Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd, By fome immediate ftroak; but foon fhall find Forbearance no acquittance ere day end. Justice shall not return as bountie fcorn'd.
But whom fend I to judge them? whom but thee Vicegerent Son, to thee I have transferr'd All Judgement, whether in Heav'n, or Earth, or Hell. Eafie it may be seen that I intend
Mercie collegue with Juftice, fending thee Mans Friend, his Mediator, his defign'd Both Ranfom and Redeemer voluntarie, And deftin'd Man himself to judge Man fall'n. So fpake the Father, and unfoulding bright Toward the right hand his Glorie, on the Son Blaz'd forth unclouded Deitie; he full Refplendent all his Father manifeft
Exprefs'd, and thus divinely answer'd milde. Father Eternal, thine is to decree, Mine both in Heav'n and Earth to do thy will Supream, that thou in mee thy Son belov'd Mayst ever rest well pleas'd. I go to judge On Earth these thy tranfgreffors, but thou knowst, Whoever judg'd, the worst on mee must light, When time fhall be, for fo I undertook Before thee; and not repenting, this obtaine Of right, that I may mitigate thir doom On me deriv'd, yet I fhall temper fo Justice with Mercie, as may illustrate most Them fully satisfied, and thee appease.
Attendance none shall need, nor Train, where none Are to behold the Judgement, but the judg'd, Those two; the third beft abfent is condemn'd, Convict by flight, and Rebel to all Law Conviction to the Serpent none belongs.
Thus faying, from his radiant Seat he rose Of high collateral glorie: him Thrones and Powers,
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