PARADISE LOST. BOOK X. 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 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 wondrous 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 highway 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 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 foretells 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. MEN Satan done in Paradise, and how [EANWHILE the heinous and despiteful act He, in the Serpent, had perverted Eve, 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 For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered, ΙΟ The high injunction not to taste that fruit, About the new-arrived, in multitudes, The Ethereal people ran, to hear and know Or touch with lightest moment of impulse His free will, to her own inclining left In even scale. But fallen he is; and now What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass On his transgression, Death denounced that day? 50 By some immediate stroke, but soon shall find But whom send I to judge them? whom but thee, All judgment, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell. Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee, 60 Man's friend, his Mediator, his designed Expressed, and thus divinely answered mild: Mine both in Heaven and Earth to do thy will May'st ever rest well pleased. I go to judge On Earth these thy transgressors; but thou know'st, Whoever judged, the worst on me must light, Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none Those two; the third best absent is condemned, Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose Of high collateral glory. Him Thrones and Powers, 70 80 Down he descended straight; the speed of Gods 90 Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes winged. Now was the Sun in western cadence low From noon, and gentle airs due at their hour The evening cool, when he, from wrath more cool, To sentence Man. The voice of God they heard Now walking in the Garden, by soft winds Brought to their ears, while day declined; they heard, "Where art thou, Adam, wont with joy to meet 100 Or come I less conspicuous, or what change And shame, and perturbation, and despair, Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief: 66 My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not feared, But still rejoiced; how is it now become IIC 120 So dreadful to thee? That thou art naked who Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat?" To whom thus Adam, sore beset, replied: 66 "O Heaven! in evil strait this day I stand Whose failing, while her faith to me remains, I should conceal, and not expose to blame By my complaint. But strict necessity Lest on my head both sin and punishment, Devolved; though, should I hold my peace, yet thou Wouldst easily detect what I conceal. This Woman, whom thou mad'st to be my help, And gav'st me as thy perfect gift, so good, So fit, so acceptable, so divine, That from her hand I could suspect no ill, -- Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place She was indeed, and lovely, to attract 130 140 150 Were such as under government well seemed - 66 So having said, he thus to Eve in few: -- Say, Woman, what is this which thou hast done?" Which when the Lord God heard, without delay To judgment he proceeded on the accused Concerned not Man (since he no further knew), 160 170 Above all cattle, each beast of the field; And dust shalt eat all the days of thy life. Between thee and the Woman I will put Enmity, and between thine and her seed; 180 Her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel." When Jesus, son of Mary, second Eve, Saw Satan fall like lightning down from Heaven, 190 And to the Woman thus his sentence turned:"Thy sorrow I will greatly multiply By thy conception; children thou shalt bring On Adam last thus judgment he pronounced: Thine shall submit; he over thee shall rule." "Because thou hast hearkened to the voice of thy wife, And eaten of the tree concerning which I charged thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat thereof, 200 |