Like honor to obtain; and as his eye,
To vifit oft this new creation round:
Unspeakable defire to fee, and know
All these His wondrous works, but chiefly man,
His chief delight, and favor; him, for whom
All these His works fo wondrous He ordain'd, 665
Hath brought me from the choirs of Cherubim
Alone thus wandring: brightest Seraph! tell
In which of all these shining orbs hath man
His fixed feat, or fixed feat hath none,
But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell:
That I may find him, and with fecret gaze,
Or open admiration, him behold
675
On whom the great Creator hath bestow'd
Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces pour'd:
That both in him, and all things, as is meet,
The univerfal Maker we may praise;
Who juftly hath driv'n out his rebel foes
To deepest hell; and, to repair their loss,
Created this new happy race of men,
To ferve Him better: wife are all His ways!
So fpake the falfe diffembler unperceiv'd ;
For neither man, nor Angel, can difcern
Hypocrify (the only evil that walks
Invifible, except to God alone,
684
By His permiffive will, through heav'n and earth:
And oft though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps
At wisdom's gate, and to fimplicity
Refigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill
Where no ill feems) which now for once beguil'd
Uriel, though regent of the fun, and held
The sharpeft-fighted spirit of all in heav'n :
Who to the fraudulent impoftor foul,
In his uprightness answer thus return'd.
705
Fair Angel! thy defire, which tends to know The works of God, thereby to glorify 695 The great work-mafter, 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 some perhaps, -700 Contented with report, hear only in heav'n: For wonderful indeed are all His works! Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all Had in remembrance always with delight. But, what created mind can comprehend Their number, or the wisdom infinite That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? I faw when at His word the formless mass, This world's material mold, came to a heap: Confufion heard His voice, and wild uproar Stood rul'd, ftood vaft infinitude confin'd: Till at His fecond bidding darkness fled, Light fhon, and order from disorder sprung. Swift to their feveral quarters hafted then The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire, 715 And the ethereal quinteffence of heav'n Flew upward, spirited with various forms, That rowl'd orbicular, and turn'd to stars, Numberlefs, as thou seeft, and how they move;
730
Each had his place appointed, each his course; 720
The reft in circuit walls this universe.
Look downward on that globe whose hither fide
With light from hence, tho' but reflected, shines:
That place is earth, the feat of man; that light
His day, which elfe, as th' other hemifphere, 725
Night would invade; but there the neighb'ring moon
(So call that opposite fair star) her aid
Timely interpofes, and her monthly round
Still ending, ftill renewing through mid heav'n,
With borrow'd light her countenance triform
Hence fills, and empties, to enlighten th' earth,
And in her pale dominion checks the night.
That spot to which I point is paradise,
Adam's abode, thofe lofty fhades his bow'r ;
Thy way thou can'ft not miss, me mine requires. 735
Thus faid, he turn'd; and Satan bowing low
(As to fuperior spirits is wont in heav'n,
Where honor due, and reverence, none neglects)
Took leave, and tow'rd the coast of earth beneath
Down from th' ecliptic, fped with hop'd success,
Throws his fteep flight in many an aery wheel;
Nor ftaid, till on Niphates' top he lights.
The end of the third Book.
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