That fpot to which I point is Paradise, Adam's abode, those lofty fhades his bower; Where honour due and rev'rence none neglects, END OF THE THIRD BOOK. PARADISE LOST. воок IV. THE ARGUMENT. Satan now in profpect of Eden, and nigh the place where be muft now attempt the bold enterprife which he undertook alone against God and man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many paffions, fear, envy and despair; but at length confirms himself in evil, journeys on to Paradife, whofe outward prospect and fituation is defcribed, overleaps the bounds, fits in the shape of a cormorant on the tree of life, as higheft in the garden, to look about bim. The garden defcribed; Satan's firft fight of Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent form and happy State; but with refolution to work their fall; overhears their difcourfe, thence gathers that the tree of knowledge was forbidden them to eat of, under penalty of death; and thereon intends to found his temptation, by feducing them to tranfgrefs: then leaves them a while, to know further of their fate by fome other means. Mean while Uriel defcending on a fun beam, warns Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Paradife, that fome evil spirit had efcaped the deep, and passed at noon by his fphere in the fhape of a good angel down to paradife, difcovered after by his furious geftures in the mount. Gabriel promifes to find him ere morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve difcourfe of going to their reft: their bower defcribed; their evening worship. Gabriel drawing forth his bands of night-watch to walk the rgund of Paradife, appoints two strong angels to Adam's bower, left the evil spirit fhould be there doing harm to Adam or Eve fleeping; there they find him at the ear of Eve tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwil ling, to Gabriel; by whom queftioned, he fcornfully anfwers: prepares refiftance, but hindered by a fign from heaven, flies out of Paradife. 5 10 For that warning voice, which he who faw Th' Apocalyps heard cry in heav'n aloud, Then when the Dragon, put to fecond rout, Came furious down to be reveng'd on men, Woe to th' inhabitants on earth! that now, While time was, our fir parents had been warn'd The coming of their fecret foe, and 'fcap'd, Haply fo 'cap'd his mortal fnare: for now Satan, now first inflam'd with rage, came down, The tempter ere th' accufer of mankind, To wreak on innocent frail man his lofs Of that first battle, and his flight to hell : Yet not rejoicing in his fpeed, though bold, Far off, and fearless, nor with caufe to boast. Begins his dire attempt; which nigh the birth Now rolling boils in his tumult'ous breaft; And like a devilifh engine back recoils Upon himself: horror and doubt distract His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir The hell within him; for within him hell He brings, and round about him, not from hell One step, no more than from himself, can fly By change of place: now confcience wakes despair, That flumber'd; wakes the bitter memory Of what he was, what is, and what must be Worfe; of worfe deeds worfe fufferings muft enfue. Sometimes tow'ards Eden, which now in his view Lay pleafant, his griev'd look he fixes fad; Sometimes toward heav'n and the full blazing fun, Which now fat high in his meridian tower: Then much revolving, thus in fighs began. O thou that, with furpafling glory crown'd, Look'it from thy fole dominion like the god Of this new world; at whofe fight all the ftars. Hide their diminish'd heads; to thee I call, But with no friendly voice, and add thy name, O fun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams, 15 20 25 30 35 That bring to my remembrance from that state 45 Till pride, and worse ambition, threw me down, 40 55 бо Then happy; no unbounded hope had rais'd Or from without, to all temptations arm'd. 65 Hadft thou the fame free will and pow'r to ftand? Thou hadft. Whom haft thou then, or what t' accufe, But heav'n's free love, dealt equally all? Be then his love accurs'd, fince love or hate, To me alike, it deals eternal woe. Nay, curs'd be thou; fince against his thy will 70 75 O then at last relent: is there no place Would height recal high thoughts, how foon unfay 95 100 105 Where wounds of deadly hate have pierc'd fo deep: For heav'nly minds from fuch distempers foul |