THE ARGUMENT. 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 transgressours; 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 wonderous 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 suddenly into serpents, according to his doom given in Paradise; then, deluded with a shew 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 Serpent; and exhorts her with him to seek peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and supplication. PARADISE LOST. BOOK X. MEAN while the heinous and despiteful act Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit, Was known in Heaven; for what can 'scape the eye Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just, Hindered not Satan to attempt the mind Of Man, with strength entire and free will armed, Complete to have discovered and repulsed Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered, VOL. II. 8 16 Up into Heaven from Paradise in haste The angelick guards ascended, mute, and sad, The ethereal people ran, to hear and know Assembled Angels, and ye Powers returned 17 25 34 42 Against his Maker; no decree of mine Or touch with lightest moment of impulse In even scale. But fallen he is; and now What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee, All judgement, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell. Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee And destined Man himself to judge Man fallen. Father Eternal, thine is to decree; 43 51 60 68 |