Pafs'd frequent, and his eye with choice regard
From Paneas the fount of Jordans flood
To Beerfaba, where the Holy Land
Borders on Ægypt and the Arabian shoare;
So wide the op'ning feemd, where bounds were set
To darkness, such as bound the Ocean wave.
Satan from hence now on the lower stair
That fcal'd by steps of Gold to Heav'n Gate
Looks down with wonder at the fudden view
Of all this World at once. As when a Scout
Through dark and defart wayes with peril gone
All night; at last by break of chearful dawne
Obtains the brow of some high-climbing Hill,
Which to his eye discovers unaware
The goodly prospect of some forein land
First-seen, or fome renownd Metropolis
With gliftering Spires and Pinnacles adornd, 550
Which now the Rifing Sun guilds with his beams.
Such wonder feis'd, though after Heaven seen,
The Spirit maligne, but much more envy feis'd
At fight of all this World beheld fo faire.
Round he surveys, and well might, where he stood
So high above the circling Canopie
Of Nights extended fhade; from Eastern Point
Of Libra to the fleecie Starr that bears
Andromeda farr off Atlantick Seas
Beyond th' Horizon; then from Pole to Pole 560
He views in bredth, and without longer pause
Down right into the Worlds first Region throws
His flight precipitant, and windes with ease
Through the
marble Air his oblique way
Amongst innumerable Starrs, that shon
Stars distant, but nigh hand seemd other Worlds,
Or other Worlds they feemd, or happy Iles,
Like those Hefperian Gardens fam'd of old,
Fortunate Fields, and Groves and flourie Vales,
Thrice happy Iles, but who dwelt happy there
He stayd not to enquire: above them all
The golden Sun in splendor likest Heaven
Allur'd his eye: Thither his course he bends
Through the calm Firmament; but up or downe
By center, or eccentric, hard to tell,
Or Longitude, where the great Luminarie
Alooff the vulgar Conftellations thick,
That from his Lordly eye keep distance due,
Dispenses Light from farr; they as they move
Thir Sarry dance in numbers that compute [Lamp
Days, months, and years, towards his all-chearing
Turn fwift their various motions, or are turnd
By his Magnetic beam, that gently warms
The Univers, and to each inward part
With gentle penetration, though unseen,
Shoots invifible vertue even to the deep:
So wondrously was fet his Station bright.
There lands the Fiend, a fpot like which perhaps
Aftronomer in the Sun's lucent Orbe
Through his glaz'd Optic Tube yet never faw. 590
The place he found beyond expreffion bright,
Compar'd with aught on Earth, Medal or Stone;
Not all parts like, but all alike informd
With radiant light, as glowing Iron with fire;
If mettal, part seemd Gold, part Silver cleer;
If stone, Carbuncle moft or Chryfolite,
Rubie or Topaz, to the Twelve that shon
In Aarons Brestplate, and a stone befides
Imagind rather oft then elsewhere seen,
That stone, or like to that which here below 600 Philosophers in vain so long have fought,
In vain, though by thir powerful Art they binde Volatil Hermes, and call up unbound
In various shapes old Proteus from the Sea,
Draind through a Limbec to his Native forme.
What wonder then if fields and regions here
Breathe forth Elixir pure, and Rivers run
Potable Gold, when with one vertuous touch
Th' Arch-chimic Sun fo farr from us remote
Produces with Terreftrial Humor mixt
Here in the dark fo many precious things
Of colour glorious and effect fo rare?
Here matter new to gaze the Devil met
Undazl❜d, farr and wide his eye commands,
For fight no obstacle found here, nor shade,
But all Sun-shine, as when his Beams at Noon
Culminate from th' Equator, as they now
Shot upward still direct, whence no way round
Shadow from body opaque can fall, and the Aire,
No where fo cleer, sharp'nd his visual ray
To objects distant farr, whereby he foon
Saw within kenn a glorious Angel stand,
The fame whom John saw also in the Sun:
His back was turnd, but not his brightness hid;
Of beaming funnie Raies, a golden tiar
Circl'd his Head, nor less his Locks behind Illustrious on his Shoulders fledge with wings Lay waving round; on fom great charge imploy'd Hee feemd, or fixt in cogitation deep.
Glad was the Spirit impure; as now in hope 630
To find who might direct his wandring flight
To Paradise the happie feat of Man,
His journies end and our beginning woe.
But first he cafts to change his proper shape,
Which elfe might work him danger or delay:
And now a stripling Cherube he appeers,
Not of the prime, yet such as in his face
Youth fmil'd Celestial, and to every Limb
Sutable grace diffus'd, fo well he feignd;
Under a Coronet his flowing haire
In curles on either cheek plaid, wings he wore
Of many a colourd plume sprinkl'd with Gold,
His habit fit for speed fuccinct, and held
Before his decent steps a Silver wand.
He drew not nigh unheard, the Angel bright,
Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turnd,
Admonisht by his eare, and strait was known
Th' Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the seav'n
Who in Gods prefence, neereft to his Throne
Stand ready at command, and are his Eyes
That run through all the Heav'ns, or down to th' Earth
Bear his swift errands over moist and dry,
O're Sea and Land: him Satan thus accoftes.
Uriel, for thou of those seav'n Spirits that stand In fight of Gods high Throne, gloriously bright, The first are wont his great authentic will Interpreter through highest Heav'n to bring, Where all his Sons thy Embaffie attend; And here art likelieft by supream decree Like honour to obtain, and as his Eye To vifit oft this new Creation round;
Unfpeakable defire to fee, and know
All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man,
His chief delight and favour, him for whom
All these his works fo wondrous he ordaind,
Hath brought me from the Quires of Cherubim
Alone thus wandring. Brightest Seraph tell
In which of all these shining Orbes hath Man
His fixed feat, or fixed feat hath none,
But all these shining Orbes his choice to dwell;
That I may find him, and with secret gaze,
open admiration him behold
On whom the great Creator hath bestowd
Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces powrd;
That both in him and all things, as is meet,
The Univerfal Maker we may praise;
Who justly hath drivn out his Rebell Foes
To deepest Hell, and to repair that loss
Created this new happie Race of Men
To ferve him better: wife are all his wayes. 680
So fpake the falfe diffembler unperceivd;
For neither Man nor Angel can discern
Hypocrifie, the only evil that walks
Invisible, except to God alone,
By his permiffive will, through Heav'n and Earth:
And oft though wisdom wake, fufpicion fleeps
At wisdoms Gate, and to fimplicitie
Refigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill
Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguil'd
Uriel, though Regent of the Sun, and held
The sharpeft fighted Spirit of all in Heav'n;
Who to the fraudulent Impoftor foule
In his uprightness answer thus returnd.
|