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CHAPTER V.

Eliza.-Dear Mamma, how quickly the week has passed away! It has been a very happy one; and now my aunt and pretty amusing cousin are gone, we have still pleasure in store; for I am nearly sure you intend to relate part of Paradise Lost this afternoon. I heard you refuse an invitation to meet a party.

Mamma.-No party is so agreeable to me, my love, as the company of my own children, when they behave well. I purpose continuing the story, if you all wish it; but I am fearful of being tedious to Emily and William. In order to avoid that, I have omitted many beautiful passages.

Eliza. I think Emily and William are really interested with it, because they talk so much about the different characters; and Emily was so afraid of your going out, or writing letters, that she begged me to run and secure you while she got our work-boxes and every thing we should want, and William is helping her :-Here they are.

Emily.—Ah, I see we are to have our entertainment. Pray, William, put my things on

this side of the table, by Mamma, and then we shall all be very comfortable.

Mamma. We left Satan wandering through the garden, hoping to meet with some blessed spirit who would give him further information. In the mean time Gabriel, chief of the angel guards, sat at the gate of Paradise.

Thither came Uriel, gliding through the even
On a sun-beam, swift as a shooting star.

He said a spirit who seemed good, and zealous to know more of the Almighty's works, came to his sphere at noon; but that on arriving at Eden, looks alien from heaven could be discerned. Uriel added:

Mine eye pursued him still, but under shade
Lost sight of him; one of the banish'd crew,
I fear, hath ventur'd from the deep, to raise
New troubles; him thy care must be to find.

The winged warrior answered, None ever passed through that gate but such as came well known from heaven; and that no creature from thence had come since the meridian hour.

But if within the circuit of these walks,

In whatsoever shape he lurk, of whom

Thou tell'st, by to-morrow dawning I shall know.

Now came still evening on, and twilight grey
Had in her sober livery all things clad :
Silence accompanied, for beast and bird:
They to their grassy couch, these to their nests
Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale ;
She all night long her am'rous descant sung:
Silence was pleas'd. Now glow'd the firmament
With living sapphires: Hesperus * that led
The starry host, rode brightest, till the moon
Rising in clouded majesty, at length
Apparent queen, unveil'd her peerless light,
And o'er the dark her silver mantle threw.

At the accustomed hour the cherubim, in warlike parade, issued forth to their nightwatches,

When Gabriel to his next in power thus spake :-
Uzziel, half these draw off, and coast the south
With strictest watch; these other wheel the north,

Two strong and subtle spirits he call'd

That near him stood, and gave them thus in charge:-
Ithuriel and Zephon, with winged speed

Search through this garden; leave unsearch'd no nook,
But chiefly where these two fair creatures lodge;
Now laid perhaps asleep, secure of harm.

He gave them orders to find an infernal spirit who was no doubt come on some bad errand. They were to seize and bring him to Gabriel. They went forthwith to the

* Hesperus, the evening star.

bower of Adam and Eve, where they found Satan in the form of a toad at the ear of Eve, endeavouring to raise discontented thoughts, or improper wishes. While intent upon his wicked employment, Ithuriel lightly touched him with his spear, which no falsehood can endure Up he instantly starts in his own likeness discovered and surprised. Those two bright angels stepped back, half amazed so suddenly to behold the prince of the fallen angels. They inquired which of the rebel spirits he was, and why he sat there in wait like an enemy. Satan answered with scorn and haughtiness; but awe from above had quelled his heart, and he was obliged to accompany Ithuriel and Zephon to their chief. The conversation between Gabriel and Satan is too long to be repeated to you. They were about to fight, when the Almighty exhibited to their view a pair of scales, and made them understand that in case of a battle Satan would be conquered.

The fiend look'd up and knew

His mounted scale aloft ; nor more, but fled
Murmuring, and with him fled the shades of night,

Now morn her rosy steps in th' Eastern clime
Advancing, sow'd the earth with orient pearl,
When Adam wak'd.

He wondered to find Eve still sleeping, her hair disordered, and her cheek glowing as through unquiet rest. He gently waked her, on which she related a dream of offence and trouble she had never before known. She dreamed, a voice which she thought was Adam's, called her to walk forth in the night; for it was in vain, if none regarded, for the night-warbling bird to tune his sweet voice, and for the moon, with pleasing shadowy light, to set off the face of things. The voice said she was nature's desire, and that heaven waked with all his eyes to see her. Eve imagined that in looking for Adam she came suddenly to the tree of knowledge, which appeared fairer than it did by day. Near this tree stood an angel; he ate of the fruit which seemed to make him very joyful, and presented some to Eve, assuring her if she did eat, she would no longer be confined to earth, for it would be in her power ever afterwards to fly in the air, or to ascend to heaven and live like the gods. She thought the spirit held the fruit he had plucked to her mouth, and that the pleasant savoury smell so quickened her appetite, she could not help tasting it. Forthwith up to the clouds she flew with her companion, and beheld far