Hypocrify, the only' evil that walks Invisible, except to God alone, By his permiffive will, through Heav'n and Earth: 685 Refigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill 690 Fair Angel, thy defire, which tends to know 695 700% 705 That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep? 710 Light fhone, and order from diforder sprung: 715 720 Look downward on that globe, whofe hither fide Timely' interposes, and her monthly round Still ending, ftill renewing, through mid Heaven, 725 730 Adam's abode, thofe lofty fhades his bower. As to fuperior Spi'rits 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 THE ARGUMENT. 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 whose outward profpect and fituation is defcribed, overleaps the bounds, fits in the fhape of a cormorant on the tree of life, as higheft in the garden, to look about him. The garden defcrib'd; Satan's first 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 fome 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 promifes to find him ere morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve difcourfe of going to their rest: their bower deferib'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, left the evil Spirit should be there doing fome 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 Pará |