The fecrets of your realm; but by constraint
Wand'ring this darkfome defart, as my way
Lies through your fpacious empire up to light,
Alone, and without guile, half loft, I feek
What readiest path leads where your gloomy bounds
Confine with heav'n: or if fome other place
From your dominion won, th' ethereal King
Poffeffes lately, thither to arrive

I travel this Profound: direct my
courfe ;
Directed, no mean recompenfe it brings
To your behoof: if I that region loft,
All ufurpation thence expell'd, reduce
To her original darkness, and your sway,

975

980

(Which is my present journey) and once more Erect the ftandard there of ANTIENT NIGHT; Yours be th' advantage all, mine the revenge!

985

Thus SATAN; and him thus the anarch old,
With faultring fpeech, and visage incompos'd,
Answer'd. I know thee, itranger, who thou art,
That mighty leading Angel, who of late
Made head against heav'n's King, tho' overthrown.
I faw, and heard; for fuch a num'rous hoft
Fled not in filence thro' the frighted Deep,
With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout,

Confufion worfe confounded; and heav'n-gates

Pour'd out by millions her victorious bands

Pursuing. I upon my frontiers here
Keep refidence; if all I can will serve,
That little which is left fo to defend,
Encroach'd on still through our inteftine broils,
Weak'ning the fceptre of old NIGHT: firft hell,
Your dungeon, ftretching far and wide beneath:
Now lately heav'n and earth, another world
Hung o'er my realm, link'd in a golden chain,
To that fide heav'n from whence your legions fell.
If that way be your walk, you have not far;
So much the nearer danger: go, and speed!
Havock, and fpoil, and ruin are my gain,

990

995

1000

1005

He ceas'd, and SATAN ftaid not to reply,
But glad that now his fea fhould find a shore,
With fresh alacrity, and force renew'd,
Springs upwards, like a pyramid of fire,
Into the wild expanfe; and through the shock
Of fighting elements, on all fides round
Environ'd, wins his way: harder befet,
And more endanger'd, than when ARGO pafs'd
Through BOSPHORUS, betwixt the juftling rocks:
Or when ULYSSES on the Larboard fhun'd
CHARYBDIS, and by th' other whirlpool steer'd.
So he with difficulty and labor hard
Mov'd on: with difficulty and labor he;
But he once paft, foon after, when man fell,
Strange alteration! SIN and DEATH amain
Following his track (fuch was the will of heav'n')
Pav'd after him a broad and beaten way
Over the dark abyfs, whofe boiling gulf
Tamely endur'd a bridge of wondrous length,
From hell continu'd, reaching th' utmost orb

1010

1015

1021

10,26

Of this frail world; by which the fpirits perverfe 1030 With eafy intercourfe pafs to and fro

To tempt or punish mortals, except whom

GOD and good Angels guard by fpecial grace.

But now at laft the facred influence

Of light appears, and from the walls of heav'n
Shoots far into the bofom of dim night
A glimmering dawn: here Nature firft begins
Her fartheft verge, and CHAOS to retire,
As from her outmoft works a broken foe,
With tumult lefs and with lefs hoftile din;
That SATAN with lefs toil, and now with ease,
Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light,
And like a weather-beaten veffel holds
Gladly the port, though fhrouds and tackle torn :
Or in the emptier wafte, refembling air,
Weighs his ipread wings, at leifure to behold
Far off th' empyreal heav'n, extended wide
Ia circuit, undetermin'd fquare or round:

1036

1040'

1045

With opal tow'rs, and battlements adorn'd
Of living Saphir, (once his native feat!)
And faft by, hanging in a golden chain,
This pendent world, in bignefs as a star

1050

Of fmalleft magnitude, clofe by the moon.

Thither full fraught with mischievous revenge,
Accurs'd, and in a curfed hour he hies.

1055

The end of the Jecond Book.

THE

GOD fitting on his throne fees Satan flying towards this world, then newly created; fhews him to the SON who fat at his right hand; foretells the fuccefs of Satan in perverting mankind: clears his own justice and wisdom from all imputation, having created Man free, and able enough to have withStood his tempter; yet declares his purpose of grace towards him, in regard he fell not of his own malice, as did Satan, but by him feduced. The Son of GOD renders praises to his FATHER, for the manifeflation of his gracious purposes towards Man: but GOD again declares, that grace cannot be extended towards Man without the fatisfaction of divine juftice; Man hath offended the majesty of GOD by afpiring to. Godhead, and therefore with all his progeny devoted to death muft die, unless fome one can be found fufficient to answer for his offence, and undergo bis punishment. The Son of GOD freely offers himself a ransom for Man; the FATHER accepts bim, ordains his incarnation, pronounces his exaltation above all names in heaven and earth; commands all the Angels to adore him; they obey, and hymning to their harps in full