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 won. drous 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 high-way 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 sudden. ly into serpents, according to his doom given in Paradise; then, deluded with a show of the forbid den 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 him to seek peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and supplication. PARADISE LOST. BOOK X. MEANWHILE the heinous and despitefu! act Was known in Heav'n; for what can 'scape the eye 5 Of man, with strength entire and free will arm'd, 10 For still they knew, and ought to' have still remember'd, The high injunction, not to taste that fruit, With pity, violated not their bliss. About the new-arriv'd, in multitudes Th' ethereal people ran, to hear and know 15 20 25 80 Eternal Father, from his secret cloud, On his bad errand; man should be seduc'd, 35 40 Or touch with lightest moment of impulse 45 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 denounc'd that day? By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find 50 But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee, 55 Vicegerent Son? to thee I have transferr'd All judgment, whether in Heav'n, or Earth, or Hell. Easy it may be seen that I intend Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee 60 Both ransom and redeemer voluntary, And destin'd man himself to judge man fall'n." Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son 65 Resplendent all his Father manifest Express'd, and thus divinely answer'd mild. "Father eternal, thine is to decree; Mine, both in Heav'n and Earth, to do thy will Supreme; that thou in me, thy Son belov'd, 70 |