Th' ethereal people ran, to hear and know Accountable, made haste to make appear 30 Assembled angels, and ye powers return'd From unsuccessful charge, be not dismay'd, Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth, Which your sincerest care could not prevent; Foretold so lately what would come to pass, When first this tempter cross'd the gulf from hell. I told ye then he should prevail and speed On his bad errand; man should be seduc'd And flatter'd out of all, believing lies Against his Maker; no decree of mine Concurring to necessitate his fall, Or touch with lightest moment of impulse His free will, to her own inclining left In even scale. But fallen he is; and now 35 40 45 What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass 50 Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd, By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find Forbearance no acquittance ere day end. Justice shall not return as bounty scorn'd. But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee 55 Vicegerent Son; to thee I have transferr'd All judgment, whether in heaven, or earth, or hell. Easy it may be seen that I intend Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee 60 Both ransom and redeemer voluntary, So spake the Father, and, unfolding bright Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son Blaz'd forth unclouded Deity; he full Resplendent all his Father manifest Express'd, and thus divinely answer'd mild. 65 Father eternal, thine is to decree ; Mine both in heaven and earth to do thy will Supreme, that thou in me thy Son belov'd May'st ever rest well pleas'd. I go to judge On earth these thy transgressors; but thou know'st, Whoever judg'd, the worst on me must light, When time shall be, for so I undertook Before thee, and not repenting this obtain 70 75 Of right, that I may mitigate their doom On me deriv'd; yet I shall temper so Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none Are to behold the judgment, but the judg'd, 81 Convict by flight, and rebel to all law; Conviction to the serpent none belongs. 58 may] The second edition, and others, give, Easy it might be seen.' Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose Accompany'd to heaven-gate, from whence 85 Down he descended straight; the speed of gods 90 Where art thou Adam, wont with joy to meet 100 105 86 collateral] Shakesp. All's Well that Ends Well, act i. scene i. Must I be comforted, not in his sphere.' Steevens. Per nemus ingeminans, Adam! Adam! quæ loca, quæ te Or come I less conspicuous ? or what change Absents thee, or what chance detains? Come forth. He came, and with him Eve, more loth, though first 111 To offend, discountenanc'd both, and discompos'd. 116 120 My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not fear'd, O heaven! in evil strait this day I stand 116 I heard] So in Grotii Adamus Exsul, p. 67. Metuende rector! per nemus sacrum sonos' 125 130 Tremuique totus.' By my complaint; but strict necessity Devolv'd: though should I hold my peace, yet thou Wouldst easily detect what I conceal. 136 This woman, whom thou mad'st to be my help, So fit, so acceptable, so divine, That from her hand I could suspect no ill, 140 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 reply'd. Was she thy God, that her thou didst obey Before his voice? or was she made thy guide, Superior, or but equal, that to her 145 Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place She was indeed, and lovely to attract 150 137 This woman] Consortem dederas thalami ; per te dotale venenum Hoc ego concepi. Nam quæ mihi lege jugali Blanditiis teneris nostris amplexibus hærens, Ferales epulas, inimicaque fercula suasit.' A. Rams. P. S. i. p. 37. |