Satan now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the place where he must now attempt the bold enterprize which he undertook alone against God and Man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many passions, fear, envy, and despair; but at length confirms himself in evil, journeys on to Paradise, whose outward prospect and situation is described, overleaps the bounds, sits in the shape of a cormorant on the Tree of Life, as highest in the garden, to look about him. The garden described; Satan's first sight Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent form and happy state, but with resolution to work their fall; overbears 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 seducing them to transgress; then leaves them a while, to know further of their state by some other means. Mean while Uriel, descending on a sun-beam, warns Gabriel, who bad in charge the gate of Paradise, that some evil Spirit had escaped the deep, and passed at noon by bis sphere in the shape of a good Angel down to Paradise, discovered after by his furious gestures in the Mount. Gabriel promises to find him ere morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve discourse of going to their rest: their bower described; their evening worship. Gabriel drawing forth his bands of night-watch to walk the round of Paradise, appoints two strong Angels to Adam's bower, lest the evil Spirit should be there doing some harm to Adam or Eve sleeping; there they find him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring bim, though unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom questioned, he scornfully answers, prepares resistance, but hindered by a sign from Heaven, flies out of Paradise. PARADISE LOST. BOOK THE FOURTH. FOR that warning voice, which he who saw Th'Apocalypse heard cry in Heav'n aloud, Then when the Dragon, put to second rout, Came furious down to be reveng'd on men, "Woe to th' inhabitants on earth!" that now,5 While time was, our first parents had been warn'd The coming of their secret foe, and 'scap'd, Haply so 'scap'd his mortal snare: for now Satan, now first inflam'd with rage, came down, The tempter ere th' accuser of mankind, To wreck on innocent frail man his loss Of that first battle, and his flight to Hell: Yet not rejoicing in his speed, though bold Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast, Begins his dire attempt, which nigh the birth 15 Now rolling, boils in his tumultuous breast, And, like a dev❜lish engine, back recoils Upon himself: horror and doubt distract ΙΟ His troubl❜d thoughts, and from the bottom stir The Hell within him; for within him Hell 20 He brings, and round about him; nor from Hell One step no more than from himself can fly Bychange of place: now Conscience wakes Despair That slumber'd, wakes the bitter memory Of what he was, what is, and what must be 25 Worse; of worse deeds worse suff'rings must ensue. Sometimes tow'rds Eden, which now in his view Lay pleasant, his griev'd look he fixes sad; Sometimes tow'rds Heav'nand the full-blazing Sun, Which now sat high in his meridian tow'r: 30 Then much revolving, thus in sighs began: O thou that with surpassing glory crown'd, Ah wherefore! he deserv'd no such return The easiest recompense, and pay him thanks, at once 55 Then happy; no unbounded hope had rais'd 60 'cuse, But Heav'n's free love dealt equally to all? 70 Nay, curs'd be thou; since against his thy will 75 |