Faire Angel, thy defire which tends to know
The works of God, thereby to glorifie

The great Work-Maister, leads to no excess
That reaches blame, but rather merits praise
The more it seems excefs, that led thee hither
From thy Empyreal Manfion thus alone,
To witness with thine eyes what fome perhaps
Contented with report heare onely in heav'n: 701
For wonderful indeed are all his works,
Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all
Had in remembrance alwayes with delight;
But what created mind can comprehend
Thir number, or the wifdom infinite

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That brought them forth, but hid thir caufes deep.
I faw when at his Word the formless Mafs,
This worlds material mould, came to a heap:
Confufion heard his voice, and wilde uproar
Stood rul'd, ftood vaft infinitude confin'd;
Till at his fecond bidding darkness fled,
Light shon, and order from diforder sprung:
Swift to thir several Quarters hafted then

The cumbrous Elements, Earth, Flood, Aire, Fire,
And this Ethereal quinteffence of Heav'n
Flew upward, fpirited with various forms,
That rowld orbicular, and turnd to Starrs
Numberless, as thou feeft, and how they move;
Each had his place appointed, each his course,
The rest in circuit walles this Universe.
Look downward on that Globe whofe hither fide
With light from hence, though but reflected, shines;
That place is Earth the feat of Man, that light
His day, which elfe as th' other Hemisphere

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Night would invade, but there the neighbouring (So call that oppofite fair Starr) her aide [Moon Timely interposes, and her monthly round

Still ending, still renewing through mid Heav'n,
With borrowd light her countenance triform
Hence fills and empties to enlighten the Earth,
And in her pale dominion checks the night. 731
That spot to which I point is Paradife,

Adams abode, thofe loftie fhades his Bowre.
Thy way thou canst not mifs, me mine requires.
Thus faid, he turnd, and Satan bowing low,
As to fuperior Spirits is wont in Heav'n,
Where honour due and reverence none neglects,
Took leave, and toward the coast of Earth beneath,
Down from th' Ecliptic, sped with hop'd success,
Throws his steep flight in many an Aerie wheele,
Nor staid, till on Niphates top he lights.

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The End of the Third Book.

Paradise Loft.

BOOK IV.

FOR that warning voice, which he who faw

Th' Apocalyps, heard cry in Heaven aloud,

10

Then when the Dragon, put to second rout,
Came furious down to be reveng'd on men,
Wo to the inhabitants on Earth! that now,
While time was, our first Parents had bin warnd
The coming of thir secret foe, and scap'd
Haply fo fcap'd his mortal fnare; for now
Satan, now first inflam'd with rage, came down,
The Tempter ere th' Accufer of man-kind,
To wreck on innocent frail man his lofs
Of that first Battel, and his flight to Hell:
Yet not rejoycing in his speed, though bold,
Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast,
Begins his dire attempt, which nigh the birth
Now rowling, boiles in his tumultuous breft,
And like a devillish Engine back recoiles
Upon himself; horror and doubt distract
His troubl❜d thoughts, and from the bottom stirr
The Hell within him, for within him Hell
He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell

20

One step no more then from himself can fly

By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair That flumberd, wakes the bitter memorie

Of what he was, what is, and what must be Worfe; of worse deeds worse sufferings must enfue. Sometimes towards Eden which now in his view Lay pleasant, his grievd look he fixes fad, Sometimes towards Heav'n and the full-blazing Sun, Which now fat high in his Meridian Towre : 30 Then much revolving, thus in fighs began.

O thou that with furpaffing Glory crownd, Look'st from thy fole Dominion like the God Of this new World; at whofe fight all the Starrs Hide thir diminifht heads; to thee I call, But with no friendly voice, and add thy name O Sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams That bring to my remembrance from what state I fell, how glorious once above thy Spheare; 39 Till Pride and worfe Ambition threw me down Warring in Heav'n against Heav'ns matchless King: Ah wherefore! he defervd no fuch return

From me, whom he created what I was

In that bright eminence, and with his good
Upbraided none; nor was his fervice hard.
What could be lefs then to afford him praise,
The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks,
How due! yet all his good prov'd ill in me,
And wrought but malice; lifted up so high
I fdeind fubjection, and thought one step higher
Would fet me highest, and in a moment quit 51
The debt immenfe of endless gratitude,

So burthenfome, ftill paying, ftill to ow;

Forgetful what from him I still receivd,
And understood not that a grateful mind
By owing owes not, but ftill pays, at once
Indebted and dischargd; what burden then?
O had his powerful Destiny ordaind

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Me fome inferiour Angel, I had stood
Then happie; no unbounded hope had rais'd
Ambition. Yet why not? fom other Power
As great might have aspir'd, and me though mean
Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great
Fell not, but stand unshak'n, from within
Or from without, to all temptations arm'd.

Hadft thou the fame free Will and Power to ftand?
Thou hadft: whom haft thou then or what to accufe,
But Heav'ns free Love dealt equally to all?
Be then his Love accurft, fince love or hate,
To me alike, it deals eternal woe.

Nay curs'd be thou; fince against his thy will
Chose freely what it now so justly rues.
Me miferable! which way fhall I flie
Infinite wrauth, and infinite despaire?
Which way I flie is Hell; my felf am Hell;
And in the lowest deep a lower deep
Still threatning to devour me opens wide,
To which the Hell I fuffer feems a Heav'n.
O then at last relent: is there no place
Left for Repentance, none for Pardon left?
None left but by fubmiffion; and that word
Difdain forbids me, and my dread of shame
Among the Spirits beneath, whom I feduc'd
With other promises and other vaunts
Then to fubmit, boasting I could fubdue

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