BOOK X. THE ARGUMENT Man's trangression known, the guardian angels forsake Paradise, and return up to heaven to approve their vigilance, and are approved; God declaring that the entrance of Satan could not be by them prevented. He sends his Son to judge the transgressors; who descends and gives sentence accordingly; then in pity clothes them both, and reascends. Sin and Death, sitting till then at the gates of hell, by wondrous sympathy feeling the success of Satan in this new world, and the sin by man there committed, resolve to sit no longer confined in hell, but to follow Satan their sire up to the place of man: to make the way easier from hell to this world to and fro, they pave a broad highway or bridge over Chaos, according to the track that Satan first made; then preparing for earth, they meet him, proud of his success, returning to hell; their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemonium; in full assembly relates with boasting his success against man; instead of applause is entertained with a general hiss by all his audience, transformed with himself also suddenly into serpents, according to his doom given in Paradise; then, deluded with a show of the forbidden tree springing up before them, they, greedily reaching to take of the fruit, chew dust and bitter ashes. The proceedings of Sin and Death; God foretells the final victory of his Son over them, and the renewing of all things; but, for the present, commands his angels to make several alterations in the heavens and elements. Adam, more and more perceiving his fallen condition, heavily bewails, rejects the condolement of Eve; she persists, and at length appeases him; then to evade the curse likely to fall on their offspring, proposes to Adam violent ways, which he approves not; but conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late promise made them, that her seed should be revenged on the serpent; and exhorts her with him to seek peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and supplication. MEANWHILE the heinous and despiteful act Of Satan done in Paradise; and how He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve, Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit, Was known in Heaven; for what can 'scape the eye Omniscient? who in all things wise and just, Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. For still they knew, and ought to have still remember'd, Up into Heaven, from Paradise, in haste With pity, violated not their bliss. About the new arriv'd, in multitudes The ethereal people ran, to hear and know Assembled Angels, and ye Powers return'd And flatter'd out of all, believing lies Or touch with lightest moment of impulse By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find But whom send I to judge them? Whom but thee, All judgement, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell. Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee, And destin'd Man himself, to judge Man fallen. Express'd, and thus divinely answer'd mild. Father Eternal, thine is to decree; Mine, both in Heaven and Earth, to do thy will Of right, that I may mitigate their doom Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none Conviction to the serpent none belongs. Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose, Of high collateral glory: Him Thrones, and Powers, Princedoms, and Dominations ministrant, Accompanied to Heaven-gate; from whence Eden, and all the coast, in prospect lay. Down he descended straight: the speed of gods From noon, and gentle airs, due at their hour, To fan the earth now wak'd, and usher in The evening cool; when he, from wrath more cool, Where art thou, Adam, wont with joy to meet He came, and with him Eve, more loth, though first To offend; discountenanc'd both, and discompos'd: My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not fear'd, But still rejoic'd; how is it now become So dreadful to thee? That thou art naked, who My other self, the partner of my life; Whose failing, while her faith to me remains, Devolv'd: though, should I hold my peace, yet thou Wouldst easily detect what I conceal. This Woman, whom thou mad'st to be my help, That from her hand I could suspect no ill, |