Bear his swift errands over moist and dry, "Uriel, for thou of those sev'n Spi'rits that stand All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man, 660 665 But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell; 670 That I may find him, and with secret gaze, Or open admiration, him behold, 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, 675 680 Invisible, except to God alone, 684 By his permissive will, through Heav'n and Earth: And oft, though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps 690 The sharpest sighted Spi'rit of all in Heav'n; In his uprightness, answer thus return'd. "Fair Angel, thy desire which tends to know The works of God, thereby to glorify 695 The great Work-Master, leads to no excess That reaches blame, but rather merits praise The more it seems excess, that led thee hither 705 To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps 700 710 715 The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire; Look downward on that globe, whose hither side Timely' interposes, and her monthly round 725 With borrow'd light her countenance triform 730 734 Where honour due and reverence none neglects, 739 ARGUMENT. Satan, now in prospect 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 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 of Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent form and happy state, but with resolution 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 seducing them to transgress: then leaves them a while, to know further of their state by some other means. Meanwhile Uriel, descending on a sunbeam, warns Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Pa radise, that some evil Spirit had escaped the deep, and passed at noon by his 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 him, though unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom questioned, he scornfully answers, prepares resistance, but hindered by a sign from Heaven, flies out of Paradise. |