Who in God's prefence, nearest to his throne, 650 That run through all the Heaven's, or down to th'Earth Bear his swift errands, over moist and dry, O'er fea and land: him Satan thus accofts. Uriel, for thou of those seven spi'rits that stand All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man, Or open admiration him behold, 660 665 670 On whom the great Creator hath bestow'd Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces pour'd; That both in him and all things, as is meet, 675 The univerfal Maker we may praise; Who justly hath driv'n out his rebel foes To ferve him better: wife are all his ways. 680 By his permiffive will, through Heav'n and Earth: Resigns her charge, while Goodness thinks no ill 690 Fair angel, thy defire which tends to know 'The works of God, thereby to glorify The great Work-master, leads to no excefs 695 That reaches blame, but rather merits praise The more it seems excefs, that led thee hither To witness with thine eyes what fome perhaps 700 But what created mind can comprehend Their number, or the wisdom infinite 705 710 That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? Look downward on that globe, whofe hither fide Timely' interpofes, and her monthly round 725 730 That spot to which I point is Paradife, Adam's abode, those lofty shades his bower. Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires. 735 The End of the Third Book, Volume I. P BOOK IV. The Argument. 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 defpair; but at length confirms himself in evil, journeys on to Paradife, whofe outward profpect and fituation is defcribed, 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 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 state by fome 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 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 ftrong angels to Adam's bower, left the evil Spirit fhould be there doing fome 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. O FOR that warning voice, which he who faw |