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 pre vented. 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 won. drous sympathy feeling the suecess 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 high-way or bridge over Chaos, according to the track that Satan first made; then, pre paring 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 sudden. ly 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 foretels 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 ser pent, and exhorts her with bim to seek peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and supplication. PARADISE LOST. BOOK X. MEANWHILE the heinous and despiteful act Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just, Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind Complete to have discover'd and repuls'd 10 Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. For still they knew, and ought to have still remem ber'd, The high injunction, not to taste that fruit, 15 Up into Heav'n from Paradise in haste The angelic guards ascended, mute and sad 25 That time celestial visages, yet, mix'd L 30 Eternal Father, from his secret cloud, 35 40 45 50 "Assembled angels, and ye pow'rs return'd "Father eternal, thine is to decree; 60 65 70 |