PARADISE LOST. BOOK X. THE ARGUMENT. Man's transgression known, the guardian Angels forsake Paradise, and return up to Heaven to approve their vigilance, and are approved; God declaring that the entrance of Satan could not be by them prevented. He sends his Son to judge the transgressors; who descends, and gives sentence accordingly; then, in pity, clothes them both, and reascends. Sin and Death, sitting till then at the gates of Hell, by wondrous sympathy feeling the success of Satan in this new World, and the sin by Man there committed, resolve to sit no longer confined in Hell, but to follow Satan, their sire, up to the place of Man: to make the way easier from Hell to this World to and fro, they pave a broad highway or bridge over Chaos, according to the track that Satan first made; then, preparing for Earth, they meet him, proud of his success, returning to Hell; their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemonium; in full assembly relates, with boasting, his success against Man; instead of applause is entertained with a general hiss by all his audience, transformed, with himself also, suddenly into Serpents, according to his doom given in Paradise; then, deluded with a show of the Forbidden Tree springing up before them, they, greedily reaching to take of the fruit, chew dust and bitter ashes. The proceedings of Sin and Death: God foretells the final victory of his Son over them, and the renewing of all things; but, for the present, commands his Angels to make several alterations in the Heavens and Elements. Adam, more and more perceiving his fallen condition, heavily bewails, rejects the condolement of Eve; she persists, and at length appeases him: then, to evade the curse likely to fall on their offspring, proposes to Adam violent ways; which he approves not, but, conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late promise made them, that her seed should be revenged on the Serpent, and exhorts her, with him, to seek peace of the offended Deity by repentance and supplication. [EANWHILE the heinous and despiteful act ΜΕ Of Satan done in Paradise, and how He, in the Serpent, had perverted Eve, Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit, Was known in Heaven; for what can scape the eye Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just, Hindered not Satan to attempt the mind Of Man, with strength entire and free will armed Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered, IO The high injunction not to taste that fruit, About the new-arrived, in multitudes, The Ethereal people ran, to hear and know Or touch with lightest moment of impulse 20 30 40 In even scale. But fallen he is; and now What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass On his transgression, Death denounced that day? 50 By some immediate stroke, but soon shall find But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee, All judgment, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell. Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee, 60 Man's friend, his Mediator, his designed Expressed, and thus divinely answered mild: 'Father Eternal, thine is to decree; Mine both in Heaven and Earth to do thy will On Earth these thy transgressors; but thou know'st, Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose Of high collateral glory. Him Thrones and Powers, Down he descended straight; the speed of Gods Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes winged. From noon, and gentle airs due at their hour The evening cool, when he, from wrath more cool, To sentence Man. The voice of God they heard Now walking in the Garden, by soft winds Brought to their ears, while day declined; they heard, "Where art thou, Adam, wont with joy to meet Or come I less conspicuous, or what change Come forth!" He came, and with him Eve, more loth, though first Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief:- "My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not feared, But still rejoiced; how is it now become So dreadful to thee? That thou art naked who Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat?" IIC 120 Whose failing, while her faith to me remains, I should conceal, and not expose to blame 130 By my complaint. But strict necessity Devolved; though, should I hold my peace, yet thou Wouldst easily detect what I conceal. This Woman, whom thou mad'st to be my help, And gav'st me as thy perfect gift, so good, So fit, so acceptable, so divine, That from her hand I could suspect no ill, And what she did, whatever in itself, Her doing seemed to justify the deed She gave me of the tree, and I did eat." To whom the Sovran Presence thus replied: "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 140 Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place 150 She was indeed, and lovely, to attract Were such as under government well seemed "Say, Woman, what is this which thou hast done?" "The Serpent me beguiled, and I did eat.” Which when the Lord God heard, without delay To judgment he proceeded on the accused Concerned not Man (since he no further knew), Though in mysterious terms, judged as then best; 160 170 And on the Serpent thus his curse let fall: — "Because thou hast done this, thou art accursed Above all cattle, each beast of the field; Upon thy belly grovelling thou shalt go, And dust shalt eat all the days of thy life. Between thee and the Woman I will put Enmity, and between thine and her seed; 180 Her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel." When Jesus, son of Mary, second Eve, Saw Satan fall like lightning down from Heaven, : On Adam last thus judgment he pronounced: "Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, 190 200 |