Satan now in profpect of Eden, and nigh the place where he must 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 profpect and fituation is defcribed, overleaps the bounds, fits in the shape of a cormorant on the tree of life, as highest in the garden, to look about him. The garden defcrib'd; Satan's first fight of Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent form and happy ftate, 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 flate by fome other means. Mean while Uriel defcending on a fun-beam warns Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Paradife, that Some evil Spirit had efcap'd the deep, and pass'd at noon by his fphere in the Shape 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 defcrib'd; their evening worship. Gabriel drawing forth his bands of night-watch to walk the round of Paradife, appoints two flrong Angels to Adam's bower, left the evil Spirit fhould be there doing fome harm to Adam or Eve Sleeping; there they find him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom question'd, he fcornfully anfwers, prepares refiftance, but hinder'd by a fign from Heaven, flies out of Paradife. PARADISE LOST. BOOK IV. For that warning voice, which he,who saw in Heav'n aloud, Then when the Dragon, put to second rout, 5 IO While time was, our first parents had been warn'd 15 20 One One ftep, no more than from himself,can fly By change of place: now confcience wakes defpair That flumber'd, wakes the bitter memory 25. Of what he was, what is, and what must be 30 35 O thou that, with furpaffing glory crown'd, Look'ft from thy fole dominion,like the God Of this new world; at whofe fight all the stars Hide their diminifh'd 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 sphere; Till pride,and worse ambition,threw me down 40 Warring in Heav'n against Heav'n's matchless king: Ah wherefore! he deferv'd no fuch return From me, whom he created what I was In that bright eminence, and with his good Upbraided none; nor was his service hard. What could be less than to afford him praise, The eafieft recompenfe, and pay him thanks, How due! yet all his good prov'd ill in me, And wrought but malice; lifted up fo high 45 |