Hypocrify, the only' evil that walks.

Invisible, except to God alone,

By his permiffive will, through Heav'n and Earth : 685
And oft, though wifdom wake, fufpicion fleeps
At wisdom's gate, and to fimplicity

Refigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill'

Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguil'd
Uriel, though regent of the fun, and held

690

The sharpeft-fighted Spirit of all in Heaven;
Who to the fraudulent impoftor foul

In his uprightness answer thus return'd:

Fair Angel, thy defire, which tends to know The works of God, thereby to glorify

695

The great Work-mafter, leads to no excess

700.

That reaches. blame, but rather merits praise
The more it feems excefs, that led thee hither
From thy empyreal mansion thus alone,
To witness with thine eyes what fome perhaps
Contented with report hear only' in Heaven :-
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 wifdom infinite.
That brought them forth, but hid their caufes deep?
I faw when at his word the formlefs mass,
This world's material mold, came to a heap:
Confufion heard his voice, and wild uproar
Stood rul'd, stood vast infinitude confin'd;
Till at his fecond bidding darknefs fled,

*705

710

Light.

Light shone, and order from disorder sprung:
Swift to their several quarters hasted then
The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire;
And this ethereal quintessence of Heaven
Flew upward, fpirited with various forms,
That roll'd orbicular, and turn'd to stars
Numberless, as thou seeft, and how they move;
Each had his place appointed, each his course;
The reft in circuit walls this universe.

715

720

Look downward on that globe, whose hither fide
With light from hence, though but reflected, shines ;
That place is Earth the feat of Man, that light
His day, which elfe as th' other hemisphere
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 Heaven,
With borrow'd light her countenance triform
Hence fills and empties to inlighten th' Earth,
And in her pale dominion checks the night.
That spot to which I point is Paradise,

725

730

Adam's abode, those lofty fhades his bower.
Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires. 735
Thus faid, he turn'd; and Satan bowing low,

As to fuperior Spi'rits is wont in Heaven,
Where honor due and reverence none neglects,

Took leave, and tow'ard the coast of earth beneath,
Down from th' ecliptic, fped with hop'd fuccefs, 740
Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel,

Nor ftay'd, till on Niphates' top he lights.

VOL. I.

THE END OF THE THIRD BOOK.

THE

FOURTH BOOK

O F

PARADISE LOST.

388224/

THE ARGUMENT.

Satan now in profpect of Eden, and nigh the place where he must now attempt the bold enterprise 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 described, overleaps the bounds, fits in the fhape of a cormorant on the tree of life, as higheft 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 state, but with refolution to work their fall; overhears their discourse, 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 state by some other means. Mean while Uriel defcending on a funbeam warns Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Paradife, that fome evil Spirit had efcap'd the deep, and pafs'd at noon by his fphere in the fhape of a good Angel down to Paradife, discovered 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 ftrong Angels to Adam's bower, left the evil Spirit should be there doing some harm to Adam or Eve fleeping; there they find him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom queftion'd, he fcornfully answers, prepares refiftance, but hinder'd by a fign from Heaven, flies out of Paradife.