PARADISE LOST. BOOK IV. The ARGUMENT. Satan, now in profpect of Eden, and nigh the place where he must now attempt the bold enterprize which he undertook alone againft 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 the highest in the garden, to look about him. The garden defcribed; 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 dif courfe; 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 awhile to know further of their state by Some other means. Mean-while Uriel defcending on a fun-beam warns Gabriel (who had in charge the gate of Paradife) that fome evil fpirit had escaped the Deep, and paft at noon by his fphere in the shape of a good Angel down to Paradife, difcovered afterwards by his furious geftures in the mount: Gabriel promifes to find him out e'er morning. Night comes on, Adam and Eve discourse of going to their reft: their bower defcribed; 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 fpirit should 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, tho' unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom queftion'd, he fcornfully anfwers, prepares refiftance, but, binder'd by a fign from heav'n, flies out of Paradife. O 5 FOR that warning voice, which he who saw Th' Apocalyps heard cry in heav'n aloud, Then when the Dragon, put to second rout, Came furious down to be reveng'd on men, Wo to th' inhabitants on earth! that now While time was, our first parents had been warn'd The coming of their fecret foe, and fcap'd Haply fo fcap'd, his mortal fnare: for now Satan, now first inflam'd with rage, came down, (The tempter, e'er th' accufer, of mankind,) To wreak on innocent frail man his lofs Of that firft battel, and his flight to hell. Yet not rejoycing in his speed, though bold, Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast, Begins his dire attempt; which nigh the birth Now rowling, boils in his tumultuous breast, And like a devilish engine back recoils Upon himself: horror and doubt distract His troubled thoughts; and from the bottom stir The hell within him, (for within him hell He brings, and round about him, nor from hell One ftep, no more than from himself, can fly By change of place:) now confcience wakes despair, That flumber'd; wakes the bitter memory 15 20 Of what he was, what is, and what must be, 25 Worfe! of worse deeds worse fufferings must enfue. Sometimes tow'rds Eden, which now in his view Lay pleasant, his griev'd look he fixes fad: Sometimes tow'rds heav'n, and the full blazing fun, F Which now fat high in his meridian tow'r : 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 diminish'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 ftate 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 fervice hard. What could be less! than to afford him praise, (The easiest recompense,) and pay him thanks : How due! yet all his good prov'd ill in me, And wrought but malice: lifted up so high I 'fdein'd fubjection, and thought one step higher 50 Would fet me highest; and in a moment quit The debt immenfe of endless gratitude; So burthenfome, ftill paying, ftill to owe; Forgetful what from Him I ftill receiv'd: And understood not that a grateful mind By owing owes not, but still pays, at once Indebted, and discharg'd: what burden then? O had His pow'rful destiny ordain'd Me fome inferior Angel! I had stood 45 55 60 Then happy; no unbounded hope had rais'd 65 Be then His love accurft, fince love, or hate To me alike, it deals eternal woe: 70 Nay, curst be thou! fince against His thy will Me miferable! which way fhall I fly How dearly I abide that boast so vain; 75 8€ 85 |