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Refurrection, and Afcention; the ftate of the Church till his fecond Coming. Adam greatly fatisfied and recomforted by these Relations and Promifes defcends the Hill with Michael; wakens Eve, who all this while had flept, but with gentle dreams compos'd to quietnefs of mind and fubmiffion. Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradife, the fiery Sword waving behind them, and the Cherubim taking thir Stations to guard the Place.

PARADISE LOST.

A POEM

IN TWELVE BOOKS.

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F Mans First Difobedience, and the
Fruit

Of that Forbidden Tree, whose
mortal taft

Brought Death into the World, and all our woe, With lofs of Eden, till one greater Man

Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat,

Sing Heav'nly Muse, that on the secret top
Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didft infpire

That Shepherd, who first taught the chofen Seed,
In the Beginning how the Heav'ns and Earth
Rofe out of Chaos: or if Sion Hill

Delight thee more, and Siloa's Brook that flow'd
Faft by the Oracle of God; I thence
Invoke thy aid to my adventrous Song,
That with no middle flight intends to foar
Above th' Aonian Mount, while it pursues
Things unattempted yet in Profe or Rhime.
And chiefly Thou O Spirit, that doft prefer
Before all Temples th' upright heart and pure,

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Inftruct me, for Thou know'ft; Thou from the first
Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread
Dove-like fatft brooding on the vast Abyss
And mad❜ft it pregnant: What in me is dark
Illumine, what is low raise and support;
That to the highth of this great Argument
I may affert Eternal Providence,

And justifie the wayes of God to men.

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Say firft, for Heav'n hides nothing from thy view Nor the deep Tract of Hell, say first what cause Mov'd our Grand Parents in that happy State, Favour'd of Heav'n fo highly, to fall off From their Creator, and tranfgrefs his Will For one restraint, Lords of the World befides? Who first feduc'd them to that fowl revolt? Th' infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile Stird up with Envy and Revenge, deceiv'd The Mother of Mankinde, what time his Pride Had caft him out from Heav'n, with all his Hoft Of Rebel Angels, by whofe aid aspiring To fet himself in Glory above his Peers, He trusted to have equal'd the most High, If he oppos'd; and with ambitious aim Against the Throne and Monarchy of God Rais'd impious War in Heav'n and Battel proud With vain attempt. Him the Almighty Power Hurld headlong flaming from th' Ethereal Skie With hideous ruine and combustion down To bottomless perdition, there to dwell In Adamantine Chains and penal Fire, Who durft defie th' Omnipotent to Arms. Nine times the Space that measures Day and Night

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