At wisdom's gate, and to fimplicity
Refigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill
Where no ill feems) which now for once beguil'd
URIEL, though regent of the Sun, and held 690
The fharpeft-fighted fpirit of all in Heav'n:
Who to the fraudulent impoftor foul,
In his uprightness answer thus return'd.
Fair Angel, thy defire which tends to know
The works of GoD, thereby to glorify
The great work-mafter, leads to no excefs
That reaches blame, but rather merits praife
The more it seems excefs, that led thee hither
From thy empyreal manfion thus alone.
To witnefs with thine eyes what fome perhaps 700
Contented with report hear only in Heav'n:
For wonderful indeed are all his works,
Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all
Had in remembrance always with delight,
But what created mind can comprehend
Their number, or the wifdom infinite
That brought them forth, but hid their caufes deep?
I faw when at his word the formlefs mass,
This world's material mould, came to a heap:
Confufion heard his voice, and wild uproar
Stood rul'd, ftood vaft infinitude confin'd:
Till at his fecond bidding darkness fled,
Light fhone, and order from diforder fprung.
Swift to their feveral quarters hafted then
The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire, 715
And the ethereal quinteffence of heav'n.
Flew upward, fpirited with various forms,
That rowl'd orbicular, and turn'd to ftars,
Numberless, as thou feeft, and how they move;
Each had his place appointed, each his courfe, 720
The reft in circuit walls this univerfe.
Look downward on that globe whofe hither fide
With light from hence, tho' but reflected, fhines:
That place is earth, the feat of man, that light
His day, which elfe as th' other hemisphere
Night would invade; but there the neighb'ring moon
(So call that oppofite fair ftar) her aid
Timely interpofes, and her monthly round
Still ending, ftill renewing through mid heav'n,
With borrow'd light her countenance triform
Hence fills, and empties, to enlighten th' earth
And in her pale dominion checks the night.
That spot to which I point is Paradife,
ADAM's abode, thofe lofty fhades his bow'r;
Thy way thou canst not mifs, me mine requires. 735
Thus faid, he turn'd, and SATAN bowing low (As to fuperior fpirits is wont in Heav'n, Where honor due and reverence none neglects) Took leave, and tow'rd the coaft of Earth beneath. Down from th' Ecliptic, fped with hop'd fuccefs, 740 Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel, Nor ftaid, till on NIPHATES top he lights.
ARGUMENT.
Satan now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the place where. he must now attempt the bold enterprize which he undertook alone against GoD and Man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many paffions, fear, envy, and defpair: but at length confirms bimfelf in evil, journeys on to Paradife, whose outward prospect and
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