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PARADISE LOST.

BOOK X.

The Argument.

MAN's tranfgreffion known, the guardian angels forfake Paradife, and return up to heaven to approve their vigilance, and are approved, God declar ing that the entrance of Satan could not be by them prevented. He fends his son to judge the tranfgreffors, who defcends, and gives fentence accordingly; then in pity clothes them both, and re-afcends. Sin and Death, fitting till then at the gates of hell, by wondrous fympathy feeling the fuccefs of Satan in this new world, and the fin by man there committed, refove to fit no longer confin'd in hell, but to follow Satan their fire up to the place of Man: to make the way eafier, 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 fuccefs, returning to Hell; their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemonium, in full affembly relates with boafting his fuccefs against Man; instead of applaufe, is entertained with a general hifs by all his audience, transform'd with himfelf alfo fuddenly into ferpents, according to his doom given in Paradife; then deluded with a fhew of the forbidden tree fpringing up before them, they greedily reaching to take of the fruit, chew duft and bitter afhes. The proceedings of sin and Death; God foretel's the final victory of his Son over them, and the renewing of all things; but, for the prefent, commands his angels to make feveral alterations in the Heavens and Elements. Adam, more and more perceiving his fallen condition, heavily bewails, rejects the condolement of Eve; the perfifts, and at length appeafes him: then, to evade the curfe likely to fall on their offspring, propofes to Adam violent ways, which he approves not, but conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late promife made them, that her feed fhould be revenged on the ferpent, and exhorts her with him to feek peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and fupplication.

Mor Satan done in Paradife, and how

EAN while the heinous and defpiteful act

He and the ferpent had perverted Eve,

Her husband fhe, to taste the fatal fruit,

Was known in heav'n; for what can scape the eye 5
Of God all-feeing, or deceive his heart

Omniscient? who, in all things wife and just,
Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind

Of man, with strength entire, and free-will arm'd
Complete to have discover'd and repuls'd
Whatever wiles of foe or feering friend.

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For ftill they knew, and ought t' have still remember'd
The high injunction not to tafte that fruit,
Whoever tempted: which they not obeying,
Incurr'd (what could they lefs?) the penalty,
And manifold in fin, deferv'd to fall.
Up into Heav'n from Paradife in hafte
Th angelic guards afcended, mute and fad

For man; for of his fate by this they knew,
Much wond'ring how the fubtle fiend had itol'n
Entrance unfeen. Soon as th' unwelcome news
From earth arriv'd at heav'n gate, difpleas'd
All were who heard; dim fadness did not spare
That time celeftial vifages, yet, mix'd
With pity, violated not their blifs.
About the new-ai riv'd, in multitudes
Th' etherial people ran, to hear and know
How all befel they tow'rds the throne fupreme
Accountable made hafte to make appear
With righteous plea their utmost vigilance,
And easily approv'd; when the Moft High
Eternal Father, from his fecret cloud,
Amidt, in thunder utter'd thus his voice:

Affembled angels, and ye pow'rs return'd
From unfuccefsful charge, be not dismay'd,
Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth,
Which your fincereft care could not prevent,
Foretold fo lately what would come to pass,
When first this tempter crofs'd the gulf from hell.
I told ye then he fhould prevail, and (peed
On his bad errand; man fhould be feduc'd,
And flatter'd out of all, believing lies
Against his Maker; no decree of mine
Concurring to neceffitate 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 refts, but that the mortal fentence pafs
On his tranfgreffion, death denounc`d that day ?
Which he prefumes, already vain and void,
Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd

By fome immediate stroke; but soon shall find
Forbearance no acquittance ere day end.
Justice fhall not return as bounty scorn'd.

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But whom fend 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,
Ealy it may be seen that I intend

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