The error now, which is become my crime,
And thou th' accuser. Thus it shall befall
Him who to worth in woman overtrusting
Lets her will rule; restraint she will not brook,
And left to herself, if evil thence ensue,
She first his weak indulgence will accuse.
Thus they in mutual accusation spent
The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning.
And of their vain contest appear'd no end.

BOOK X.

THE ARGUNES Z

se

Mar's transgression known, the guardian sane's forsake poradís Bearer to approre ver aglama, ali ate apptored, Gud declar of Satan ovld we be by them prevented. He sends his Son gresor; who descenda, and gives softens accordingly; then in beth, and resets, bill ad Deuth, Misting till they at the wondrous sympathy feeling the excess of Satan in this new weelá an-d man there committed, resoins to wit no longer confnei in Lell, their aire up to the place of man: to make the way erster from tell to this and fro, they pare à brood highway, or bridge, over Chaos, cocording to the that Satan first male; then, preparing for earth, they met him, proud of success, returning to hell; their mutual gratulation. Satin arrives at Pandemoniun in full assembly relates with boasting Lis viccess against man instead of appla is entertalled with a general Liss by all his audience, transformed, with himself also, suddenly into serpents, according to his doom given in Paradise; then, de'n'ed 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.

MEANWHILE the heinous and despiteful act

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 heav'n; for what can scape the eye

Of GoD all-seeing, or deceive His heart

Omniscient, who, in all things wise and just,

Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind

Of man, with strength entire, and freewill arm'd,
Complete to have discover'd and repulsed

Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend!

For still they knew, and ought to have still remember'd
The high injunction not to taste that fruit,
Whoever tempted; which they not obeying
Incurr'd, what could they less? the penalty,
And, manifold in sin, deserved to fall.

Up into heav'n from paradise in haste
Th' angelic guards ascended, mute and sad

For man; for of his state by this they knew,
Much wondering how the subtle fiend had stol'n
Entrance unseen. Soon as th' unwelcome news
From earth arrived at heaven gate, displeased
All were who heard; dim sadness did not spare
That time celestial visages, yet mix'd

With pity, violated not their bliss.
About the new-arrived in multitudes
Th' ethereal people ran, to hear and know
How all befell: they towards the throne supreme
Accountable made haste to make appear
With righteous plea their utmost vigilance,
And easily approved; when the most high
Eternal Father from his secret cloud
Amidst in thunder utter'd thus his voice.

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 seduced
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 fall'n he is, and now
What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass
On his transgression, death denounced that day,
Which he presumes already vain and void,
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
Vicegerent Son; to thee I have transferr'd1

1 St. John v. 22.

A judgment, whether in bear's, or earth, or bell
Easy is may be seen than I inai

Merry coleague with justice, sefing thee
Max's friend, bis Malator, is design'd
Both Ransom and Redeemer voluntary,
And destined Man himself to judge man falln
So spake the Father, and, unfolding bright
Toward the right hand His glory, on the Son
Blazed forth undicoded Deity; He fall
Resplendent all His Father manifest
Express'd, and thus divinely answer'd mid
Father eternal, thine is to decree,

Mine both in heav'n and earth to do thy will
Supreme, that thou in me thy Son beloved
May'st ever rest well pleased. I go to judge
On earth these thy transgressors, but thou know'st,
Whoever judged, the worst on me must light,
When time shall be; for so I undertook
Before thee, and not repenting this obtain
Of right, that I may mitigate their doom
On me derived; yet I shall temper so
Justice with mercy, as may illustrate most
Them fully satisfied, and thee appease.

Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none
Are to behold the judgment, but the judged,
Those two; the third best absent is condemn'd,

Convict by flight, and rebel to all law,
Conviction to the serpent none belongs.

Thus saying, from His radiant seat He rose
Of high collateral glory: Him thrones and powers,
Princedoms and dominations ministrant

Accompanied to heaven gate, from whence
Eden and all the coast in prospect lay.

Down He descended straight; the speed of gods
Time counts not, tho' with swiftest minutes wing'd.
Now was the sun in western cadence low 2

From noon, and gentle airs due at their hour
To fan the earth now waked, and usher in

The ev'ning cool, when He from wrath more cool
Came, the mild Judge and Intercessor both,
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,
And from His presence hid themselves among
The thickest trees, both man and wife, till GOD
Approaching thus to Adam call'd aloud.

Where art thou Adam,' wont with joy to meet
My coming seen far off? I miss thee here;
Not pleased, thus entertain'd with solitude,
Where obvious duty erewhile appear'd unsought:
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 To offend, discountenanced both, and discomposed. Love was not in their looks, either to GOD Or to each other, but apparent guilt, And shame, and perturbation, and despair, Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile. Whence Adam, falt'ring long, thus answer'd brief. I heard thee in the garden, and of thy voice Afraid, being naked, hid myself. To whom The gracious Judge without revile replied.

My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not fear'd, But still rejoiced; how is it now become

So dreadful to thee? that thou art naked, who
Hath told thee? hast thou eaten of the tree

Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat ?
To whom thus Adam sore beset replied.

O heav'n! in evil strait this day I stand
Before my Judge, either to undergo
Myself the total crime, or to accuse
My other self, the partner of my life;
Whose failing, while her faith to me remains,
I should conceal, and not expose to blame
By my complaint; but strict necessity
Subdues me, and calamitous constraint,

1 Gen. iii, 9 and following verses.