Hypocrify, the only' evil that walks Invifible, except to God alone, By his permiffive will, through Heav'n and Earth : 685 Refigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill Where no ill feems: Which now for once beguil'd Uriel, though regent of the fun, and held 690 The fharpeft-fighted Spirit of all in Heaven; In his uprightness answer thus return'd. Fair Angel, thy defire, which tends to know 695 700% 705 That brought them forth, but hid their caufes deep? 710 715 720 Light fhone, and order from disorder sprung: Timely' interpofes, and her monthly round Still ending, ftill renewing, through mid Heaven, 725 730 Adam's abode, those lofty shades his bower. As to fuperior Spirits is wont in Heaven, Took leave, and tow'ard the coast of earth beneath, Nor ftay'd, till on Niphates' top he lights. THE END OF THE THIRD BOOK, VOL. I. H THE Satan now in profpect of Eden, and nigh the place where he must now attempt the bold enterprise 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 himself in evil, journeys on to Paradife whofe outward profpect and fituation is defcribed, overleaps the bounds, fits in the fhape of a cormorant on the tree of life, as highest in the garden, to look about him. The garden defcrib'd; Satan's firft fight of Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent form and happy state, but with refolution to work their fall; overhears their discourse, thence gathers that the tree of knowledge was forbidden them to eat of, under penalty of death; and thereon intends to found his temptation by feducing them to tranfgrefs: then leaves them a while, to know further of their ftate by fome other means. Mean while Uriel defcending on a funbeam warns Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Paradife, that some evil Spirit had efcap'd the deep, and pafs'd at noon by his fphere in the fhape of a good Angel down to Paradife, difcovered after by his furious geftures in the mount. Gabriel promises to find him ere morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve difcourfe of going to their reft: their bower defcrib'd; their evening worship. Gabriel drawing forth his bands of night-watch to walk the round of Paradife, appoints two ftrong Angels to Adam's bower, lest the evil Spirit fhould be there doing some harm to Adam or Eve fleeping; there they find him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom queftion'd, he fcornfully anfwers, prepares refiftance, but hinder'd by a fign from Heaven, flies out of Paradife. 1 |