He views in breadth; and without longer paufe Down right into the world's first region throws His flight precipitant, and winds with ease Through the pure marble air his oblique way, Amongst innumerable ftars, that shon
Stars distant, but nigh hand feem'd other worlds Or other worlds they feem'd, or happy ifles, Like thofe Hefperian gardens fam❜d of old, Fortunate fields, and groves, and flow'ry vales; Thrice happy ifles! But who dwelt happy there He stay'd not to inquire. Above them all- The golded fun, in fplendor likeft heav'n, Allur'd his eye: thither his courfe he bends Through the calm firmament: but, up or down, By centre or eccentric, hard to tell; Or lougitude, where the great luminary Aloft the vulgar conftellations thick, That from his lordly eye keep diftance due Dispenses light from far; they as they move Their ftarry dance in numbers that compute Days, months and years, tow'rds his all-chearing Lamp
Turn fwift their various motions, or are turn'd By his magnetic beam, that gently warms The univerfe, and to each inward part With gentle penetration, though unfeen, Shoots invifible virtue even to the Deep; So wondrously was fet his ftation bright! There lands the fiend, a spot like which perhaps Aftronomer in the fun's fucent orb
Through his glaz'd optie tube yet never faw. The place he found beyond expreffion bright, Compar'd with ought on earth, metal, or ftone : Not all parts like, but all alike inform'd With radiant light, as glowing iron with fire z If metal, part feem'd gold, part filver clear : If ftone, carbuncle most, or chryfolite, Ruby, or topaz ; or the twelve that shon In Aaron's breaft-plate: and a stone befides (Imagin'd rather oft than elsewhere seen ) That stone, or like to that, which here below Philofophers in vain fo long have fought, In vain, though by their pow'rful art they bind Volatil Hermes, and call up unbound
In various shapes old Proteus from the fea, Drain'd through a limbec to his naked form. What wonder then if fields, and regions, here Breathe forth elixir pure, and rivers run Potable gold, when with one virtuous touch Th' arch chimie fun, fo far from us remote, Produces, with terrestrial humor mix'd, Here in the dark fo many precious things Of color glorious, and effect so rare? Here matter new to gaze the devil met Undazled ; far and wide his eye commands; For figh no obftacle found here, or shade, But all fun-shine; as when his heams at noon Culminate from th' Æquator; as they now Shot upward ftill direct, whence no way round Shadow from body opaque can fall, and th' air ¿
(No where fo clear, ) sharpen'd his visual ray To objects diftant far, whereby he foon Saw within ken a glorious Angel stand, The fame whom John faw alfo in the fun : His back was turn'd, but not his brightness hid: Of beaming funny rays a golden tiar
Circled his head, nor lefs his locks behind Illuftrious on his shoulders, fledge with wings, Lay waving round: on fome great charge employ'd He fecm'd, or fixt in cogitation deep.
Glad was the fpirit impure, as now in hope To find who might direct his wand'ring flight To Paradife, the happy feat of man, His journey's end, and our beginning woe. But firft he cafts to change his proper shape, Which elfe might work him danger, or delay: And now a stripling Cherub he appears, Not of the prime, yet fuch as in his face Youth fmil'd cœleftial, and to ev'ry limb Suitable grace diffus'd, fo well he feign'd.. Under a coronet, his flowing hair
In curls on either cheek play'd; wings he wore Of many a color'd plume, fprinkled with gold; His habit fit for speed fuccinct, and held Before his decent fteps a filver wand.
He drew not nigh unheard, the Angel bright, E'er he drew nigh, his radiant visage turn'd, Admonish'd by his ear; and ftrait was known Th' Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the fev'n
Who in God's prefence, nearest to His throne,
Stand ready at command, and are His eyes That run thro' all the heav'ns, or down to th' earth Bear his fwift errands, over moift and dry, O'er fea and land: him Sitan thus accofts.
Uriel! for thou of those fev'n spirits that ftand In fight of God's high throne, gloriously bright, The first art wont His great authentic will Interpreter through highest heav'n to bring, Where all His fons thy embaffie attend: And here art likelieft by fupreme decree Like honor to obtain; and as his eye, To vifit oft this new creation round : Unfpeakable defire to fee, and know
All thefe His wondrous works, but chiefly man, His chief delight, and favor; him, for whom All these His works fo wondrous He ordain'd, Hath brought me from the choirs of Cherubim. Alone thus wandring: brightest Seraph! tell In which of all these shining orbs hath man His fixed feat, or fixed feat hath none, But all thefe shining orbs his choice to dwell: That I may find him, and with fecret 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, The univerfal Maker we may praise ;
Who juftly hath driv'n out his rebel foes To deepest hell; and, to repair their lofs, Created this new happy race of men,
To ferve Him better: wife are all His ways!
So fpake the falfe diffembler unperceiv'd; For neither man, nor Angel, can difcern Hypocrify (the only evil that walks Invisible, except to God alone,
By His permiffive will, through heav'n and earch : And oft thoug wifdom wake, fufpicion heeps At wifdom's gate, and to fimplicity
Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill Where no ill feems) which now for once beguil'd Uriel, though regent of the fun, and held The sharpeft-fighted fpirit of all in heav'n : 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 The great work-mafter, leads to no excefs That reaches blame, but rather merits praise The more it feems excefs, that led thee hither From thy empyreal manfion thus alone, To witnefs with thine eyes what fome perhaps, Contented with report, hear only in heav'n : 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 mafs, This world's material mold, came to a heap f
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