Eanwhile the heinous and defpiteful act Of Satan done in Paradife, and how
He in the serpent had perverted Eve,
Her husband fhe, to tafte the fatal fruit,
Was known in heav'n; for what can 'fcape the eye Of God all-feeing, or deceive his heart Omnifcient? who in all things wife and just, Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind
Of man, with ftrength entire, and free. will arm'd, Complete to have difcover'd and repuis'd Whatever wiles of foe or feeming friend..
For ftill they knew, and ought to have still remember' The high injunction not to taste that fruit, Whoever tempted; which they not obeying, Incurr'd (what could they lefs?) the penalty,. And manifold in fin, deferv'd to fall.
Up into Heav'n from Paradife in hafte Th' angélick guards afcended, mute and fad For man; for of his ftate by this they knew, Much wond'ring how the fubtle fiend had stol'n Entrance unfeen. Soon as th' unwelcome news From earth arriv'd at heaven gate, displeas'd All were who heard: dim fadness did not spare That time celeftial vifages, yet mix'd With pity, violated not their blifs. About the new arriv'd in multitudes.
Th' ethereal people ran, to hear and know How all befel: they tow'ards the throne fupreme Accountable made hafte, to make appear With righteous plea their utmoft vigilance; And eafily approv'd: when the Most High Eternal Father, from his fecret cloud, Amidst in thunder utter'd thus his voice: Affembled angels, and ye pow'rs return'd From unfuccefsful charge, be not difmay'd, Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth, Which your fincereft care could not prevent, Foretold fo lately what would come to pass,
I told ye then he should prevail and speed
When first this tempter cross'd the gulf from hell.
On his bad errand; man fhould be feduc'd And flatter'd out of all, believing lies Against his Maker: no decree of mine Concurring to neceffitate his fall,
Or touch with lightest moment of impulse His free will, to her own inclining left In even fcale. But fall'n he is; and now What refts, but that the mortal sentence pass
On his tranfgreffion, death denounc'd that day? Which he prefumes already vain and void,. Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd,
By fome immediate ftroke; but foon fhall find Forbearance no acquittance ere day end. Juftice fhall not return as bounty scorn'd.
But whom fend I to judge them? whom but thee. Vicegerent Son? to thee I have transferr'd All judgment, whether in heav'n, or earth, or hell. Easy it may be seen that I intend
L. 53. Forbearance no acquittanee.] These proverbial expreffions are very improper any where in an epick poem, but much more when they are made to proceed from the mouth of God himself. Newton.
Mercy collegue with juftice, fending thee, Man's friend, his mediator, his defign'd Both ranfom and redeemer voluntary, And deftin'd man himself to judge man fall'n. So fpake the Father, and unfolding bright Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son Blaz'd forth unclouded deity: he full Refplendent all his Father manifest Exprefs'd, and thus divinely anfwer'd mild:: Father Eternal, thine is to decree;
Mine both in heaven and earth to do thy will Supreme, that thou in me thy Son belov'd. Mayft ever reft well pleas'd. I go to judge On earth these thy tranfgreffors; but thou know'ft, Whoever judg'd, the worft on me must light, When time fhall be; for fo I undertook. Before thee'; and not repenting, this obtain Of right, that I may mitigate their doom, On me deriv'd: yet I fhall temper fo Juftice with mercy', as may illuftrate moft)
'Them fully fatisfy'd, and thee appease.
Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none
Are to behold the judgment, but the judg'd, Those two; the third beft absent is condemn'd, Convict by flight, and rebel to all law : Conviction to the ferpent none belongs.
Thus faying, from his radiant feat he rose Of high collateral glory': him thrones, and pow'rs, Princedoms, and dominations miniftrant.
Accompanied to heaven-gate, from whence Eden and all the coaft in profpect lay.
L. 60. Mediator.] Fr. Ital. Span. from the Lat. i. e. one that is in the middle between two different perfons; a manager between perfons at variance: an interceffor, a peace-maker. Before fin, Adam had free access to God; but it made him so abominable and odious to the infinite holiness of the Deity, that he could not be acceptable without an advocate and interceffor.
Down he defcended ftrait; the speed of gods
Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes wing'd. Now was the fun in western cadence low
From noon, and gentle airs due at their hour
To fan the earth now wak'd, and usher in
The ev'ning cool; when he, from wrath more cool, 95 Came, the mild judge and interceffor both,
To fentence man. The voice of God they heard Now walking in the garden, by foft winds
Brought to their ears, while day declin'd; they heard, And from his prefence hid themselves among The thickest trees, both man and wife; till God Approaching, thus to Adam call'd aloud:
Where art thou, Adam, wont with joy to meet My coming feen far off? 1 mifs thee here, Not pleas'd, thus entertain'd with folitude, Where obvious duty' erewhile appear'd unfought :. Or come I lefs confpicuous, or what change Absents thee, or what chance detains? Come forth.
He came, and with him Eve, more loath, though first. To' offend; difcount'nanc'd both, and difcompos'd: Love was not in their looks, either to God Or to each other; but apparent guilt, And shame, and perturbation, and despair, Anger, and obftinacy', and hate, and guile. Whence Adam falt'ring long, thus anfwer'd brief: 115. I heard thee in the gard'en, and of thy voice Afraid, being naked, hid myself. To whom The gracious judge without revile reply'd:. My voice thou oft haft heard, and haft not fear'd, But ftill rejoic'd; how is it now become
So dreadful to thee? that thou' art naked, who Hath told thee? haft thou eaten of the tree, Whereof I gave thee charge thou fhouldft not eat?. To whom thus Adam fore befet reply'd:
Q heav'n! in evil ftrait this day I stand
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