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Gladly the port, though fhrouds and tackle torn:
Or in the emptier walte, refembling air,
Weighs his fpread wings, at leafure to behold
Far off th' empyreal Heav'n, extended wide
In circuit, undetermin'd fquare or round:
With opal tow'rs, and battlemens adorn'd
Of living faphir, once his native feat:
And faft by hanging in a golden chain
This pendent world, in bignefs as a star
Of fmalleft magnitude, clofe by the moon.
Thither full fraught with mifchievous revenge,
Accurft, and in a curfed hour he hies.

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1055

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK III.

THE ARGUMENT.

GOD fitting on his throne fees Satan flying towards this world, then newly created; fhews him to the SoN who fat at bis right hand; foretells the fucces of Satan in perverting mankind: clears his own justice and wif dom from all imputation, having created Man free, and able enough to have withstood his tempter; yet declares his purpose of grace towards him, in regard he fell not of his own malice, as did Satan, but by him feduc'd. The Son of GOD renders praises to his FATHER for the manifeftation of his gracious purpose towards Man; but God again declares, that grace cannot be extended towards Man without the fatisfaction of divine justice; Man hath offended the majesty of GoD

by afpiring to Godhead, and therefore with all his progeny devoted to death muft die, unless fome one can be found fufficient to answer for his offence, and undergo his punishment. The Son of GOD freely offers himfelf a ransom for Man; the FATHER accepts him, ordains his incarnation, pronounces his exaltation above all names in heaven and earth; commands all the Angels to adore him; they obey, and hymning to their harps in full quire, celebrate the FATHER and the SON. Mean while Satan alights upon the bare convex of this world's outermoft orb; where wandring he firft finds a place, fince call'd the Limbo of Vanity; what per fons and things fly up thither; thence comes to the gate of Heaven, defcrib'd afcending by ftairs, and the waters above the firmament that flow about it: his paffage thence to the orb of the Sun: he finds there Uriel the regent of that orb; but first changes himself into the shape of a meaner Angel; and pretending a zealous defire to behold the new creation, and Man whom God hath plac'd here, inquires of him the place of bis habitation, and is directed; alights firft on mount Niphates.

H

AIL holy light, offspring of Heav'n
firstborn!

Or of th' Eternal coeternal beam!
May I express thee unblam'd finçe God

is light,

And never but in unapproached light
Dwelt from eternity; dwelt then in thee,
Bright effluence of bright effence increate!
Or hear'ft thou rather pure ethereal stream,
Whofe fountain who fhall tell? before the Sun,
Before the heav'ns thou wert, and at the voice
Of Gop, as with a mantle didst invest
The rifing world of waters dark and deep,
Won from the void and formless infinite.
Thee I re- vifit now with bolder wing,
Efcap'd the STYGIAN pool, tho' long detain'd