Page images
PDF
EPUB

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

1160

1171

1180

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.

Paradise Lost.

BOOK X.

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.

[ocr errors]

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

19

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.

30

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.

40

50

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

60

70

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.

79

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,

« PreviousContinue »