The sharpest sighted Spirit 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 The great Work-Master, leads to no excess 695 700 But what created mind can comprehend 705 Their number, or the wisdom infinite That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? I saw when at his word the formless mass, This world's material mould, came to a heap: 710 715 Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move; 720 Look downward on that globe, whose hither side With light from hence, though but reflected, shines; 725 Night would invade; but there the neighb'ring moon Still ending, still renewing, through mid Heav'n, With borrow'd light her countenance triform As to superior Spirits is wont in Heaven, 730 735 END OF THE THIRD BOOK. ARGUMENT. 3atan 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 sun-beam, warns Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Paradise, 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 hin 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 barın 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. PARADISE LOST. BOOK IV. O FOR that warning voice, which he who saw 5 10 15 His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stir 20 He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell BOOK H.. One step no more than from himself can fly 25 |