THE

TENTH BOOK

O F

PARADISE LOST.

Man's tranfgreffion known, the guardian Angels forfake Paradife, and return up to Heaven to approve their vigilance, and are approv'd, God declaring that the entrance of Satan could not be by them prevented. He fends his Son to judge the tranfgreffors, who defcends and gives fentence accordingly; then in pity clothes them both, and reascends. Sin and Death fitting till then at the gates of Hell, by wondrous fympathy feeling the fuccefs of Satan in this new world, and the fin by . Man there committed, refolve to fit no longer confin' din Hell, but to follow Satan their fire up to the place of Man: To make the way eafier from Hell to this world to and fro, they pave a broadhigh-way or bridge over Chaos, according to the track that Satan first made; then preparing for Earth, they meet him proud of his fuccefs returning to Hell; their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemonium, in full assembly relates with boafting his fuccefs against Man; instead of applaufe is entertained with a general hifs by all his audience, transform'd with himself alfo fuddenly into ferpents, according to his doom given in Paradife; then deluded with a fhow of the forbidden tree Springing up before them, they greedily reaching to take of the fruit, chew duft and bitter afhes. The proceedings of Sin and Death; God foretels the final victory of his Son over them, and the renewing of all things; but for the prefent commands his Angels to make feveral alterations in the Heavens and elements. Adam more and more perceiving his fall'n condition heavily bewails, rejects the condolement of Eve; fhe perfifts, and at length appeafes him: then to evade the curfe likely to fall on their ofspring, propofes to Adam violent ways, which he approves not, but conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late promife made them, that her feed should be reveng'd on the Serpent, and exhorts her with him to seek peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and fupplication.

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK X.

ΜΕ

EAN while the hainous and despiteful act
Of Satan done in Paradise, and how

He in the ferpent, had perverted Eve,

Her husband fhe, to tafte the fatal fruit,

Was known in Heav'n; for what can 'scape the eye 5
Of God all-feeing, or deceive his heart

Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just,
Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind

Of Man, with strength entire, and free will arm'd,
Complete to have discover'd,and repuls'd,

Whatever wiles of foe, or feeming friend.

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For ftill they knew, and ought to have still remember'd
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 Paradise in haste
Th' angelic guards ascended, mute and fad
For Man; for of his state. by this they knew,
Much wond'ring how the subtle Fiend had ftol'n 20
Entrance unseen. Soon as th' unwelcome news

From

From Earth arriv'd at Heaven gate, difpleas'd
All were who heard; dim sadness did not spare
That time celeftial visages, yet mix'd

With pity, violated not their bliss.
About the new-arriv'd, in multitudes

Th'ethereal people ran, to hear and know
How all befel: they towards the throne supreme,
Accountable, made hafte, to make appear,
With righteous plea, their utmost vigilance,
And easily approv'd; when the most high
Eternal Father, from his secret cloud,
Amidst in thunder, utter'd thus his voice.

Affembled Angels, and ye Pow'rs return'd
From unsuccessful charge, be not dismay'd,
Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth,
Which your fincerest care could not prevent,
Foretold fo lately what would come to pass,
When first this tempter cross'd the gulf from Hell.
I told ye then he fhould prevail and speed

On his bad errand; Man should be seduc'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 scale. But fall'n he is; and now
What refts, but that the mortal sentence pass
On his tranfgreffion, death denounc'd that day?

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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.
Justice shall not return, as bounty, scorn'd.

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But whom fend I to judge them? whom but thee 55 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

Mercy collegue with justice, sending thee,
Man's friend, his mediator, his design'd
Both ransome and redeemer voluntary,
And destin❜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

Express'd, and thus divinely answer'd mild.

Father eternal, thine is to decree,

Mine,both in Heav'n 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'st,
Whoever judg'd, the worst on me must-light,
When time shall 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 shall temper so
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Justice