Here matter new to gaze the Devil met
Undazled; far and wide his eye commands,
For fight no obstacle found here, nor shade, 615
But all fun-shine, as when his beams at noon
Culminate from th' Æquator, as they now
Shot upward still direct, whence no way round
Shadow from body opaque can fall, and th'air,
No where so clear, sharpen'd his visual ray
To objects distant far, whereby he soon
Saw within ken a glorious Angel stand,
The fame whom JOHN saw also in the Sun :
His back was turn'd, but not his brightness hid;
Of beaming funny rays a golden tiar
Circl'd his head, nor less his locks behind
Illuftrious on his shoulders, fledge with wings,
Lay waving round: on some great charge employ'd
He feem'd, or fixt in cogitation, deep.
Glad was the spirit 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 first he cafts to change his proper shape,
Which else might work him danger or delay: 635
And now a stripling Cherub he appears,
Not of the prime, yet fuch as in his face
Youth smil'd cæleftial, 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, sprinkled with gold:
His habit fit for speed succinct, and held
Before his decent steps a filver wand.
He drew not nigh unheard, the Angel bright, 645
E'er he drew nigh, his radiant visage turn'd,
Admonish'd by his ear; and straight was known
Th' Arch-Angel URIEL, one of the fev'n
Who in GODS 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 swift errands over moist and dry,
Q'er fea and land: him SATAN thus accosts.
URIEL, for thou of those sey'n spirits that stand In fight of God's high throne, gloriously bright, 655 The first art wont his great authentic will Interpreter through highest Heav'n to bring, Where all his sons thy embassie attend: And here art likeliest by supreme decree Like honor to obtain; and as his eye, To visit oft this new creation round:
Unspeakable defire to fee, and know
All these his wondrous works, but chiefly man,
His chief delight and favor, him for whom
All these his works so wondrous he ordain'd,
Hath brought me from the quires of Cherubim
Alone thus wandring; brightest Seraph, tell
In which of all these shining orbs hath man
His fired feat, or fixed feat hath none,
But all these 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 Universal Maker we may praise;
Who justly hath driven out his rebel foes
To deepest Hell, and to repair that loss
Created this new happy race of men
To ferve him better: wife are all his ways!
So spake the false dissembler 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 earth: 685
And oft though wisdom wake, fufpicion fleeps
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