Convict by flight, and rebel to all law: Conviction to the serpent none belongs. Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose Of high collateral glory; Him Thrones, and Powers, Down he descended straight; the speed of Gods 85 90 Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes wing'd. From noon, The evening cool; when he, from wrath more cool, 95 To sentence Man: The voice of God they heard Brought to their ears, while day declined; they heard, 100 Where art thou, Adam wont with joy to meet 105 111 Where obvious duty ere while appear'd unsought: Or come I less conspicuous, or what change Absents thee, or what chance detains ?-Come forth! He came ; and with him Eve, more loath, though first To offend; discountenanced both, and discomposed; Love was not in their looks, either to God, Or to each other; but apparent guilt, And shame, and perturbation, and despair, Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile. Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answer'd brief: I heard thee in the garden, and of thy voice Afraid, being naked, hid myself. To whom The gracious Judge without revile replied: 116 My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not fear'd, But still rejoiced; how is it now become 120 O Heaven! in evil strait this day I stand 125 130 By my complaint: but strict necessity However insupportable, be all Devolved; though should I hold my peace, yet thou Wouldst easily detect what I conceal. 136 This Woman, whom thou madest to be my help, And gavest me as thy perfect gift, so good, So fit, so acceptable, so divine, That from her hand I could suspect nó ill, 140 And what she did, whatever in itself, Her doing seem'd to justify the deed; She gave me of the tree, and I did eat. To whom the Sov'reign Presence thus replied: Was she thy God, that her thou didst obey 16 Before his voice? or was she made thy guide, Superior, or but equal, that to her Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place 150 She was indeed, and lovely, to attract Thy love, not thy subjection; and her gifts 153 So having said, he thus to Eve in few: Say, Woman, what is this which thou hast done? To whom sad Eve, with shame nigh overwhelm'd, Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge Bold or loquacious, thus abash'd replied: Which when the Lord God heard, without delay 160 165 Concern'd not man (since he no further knew,) 170 Though in mysterious terms, judged as then best: Because thou hast done this thou art accursed 175 180 Her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel. So spake this oracle, then verified When Jesus, Son of Mary, second Eve, Saw Satan fall like lightning down from Heaven, 185 Prince of the air, then, rising from his grave, 190 By thy conception; children thou shalt bring 195 On Adam last thus judgment he pronounced: Because thou hast hearken'd to the voice of thy wife, And eaten of the tree, concerning which I charged thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat thereof: 200 205 211 215 So judged he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent; And the instant stroke of death, denounced that day, Removed far off; then, pitying how they stood Before him naked to the air, that now Must suffer change, disdain'd not to begin Thenceforth the form of servant to assume; As when he wash'd his servants' feet; so now As father of his family, he clad Their nakedness with skins of beasts, or slain, Or as the snake with youthful coat repaid; And thought not much to clothe his enemies: Nor he their outward only with the skins Of beasts, but inward nakedness much more Opprobrious, with his robe of righteousness Arraying, cover'd from his Father's sight. To him with swift ascent he up return'd, Into his blissful bosom reassumed In glory, as of old; to him appeased All, though all-knowing, what had pass'd with Man Recounted, mixing intercession sweet. 220 225 Meanwhile, ere thus was sinn'd and judged on Earth, Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death, In counterview within the gates, that now 230 Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame O Son, why sit we here each other viewing 235 240 245 By secretest conveyance. Thou, my shade 250 Over this main from Hell to that new world, Where Satan now prevails: a monument Of merit high to all the infernal host, 260 Nor can I miss the way, so strongly drawn By this new-felt attraction and instinct. Whom thus the meagre shadow answer'd soon: Go, whither Fate and inclination strong 265 Leads thee; I shall not lag behind, nor err The way, thou leading; such a scent I draw Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste The savour of death from all things there that live |