Made vifible, th' Almighty FATHER fhines,
Whom elfe no creature can behold: on thee
Imprefs'd, th' effulgence of his glory abides;
Transfus'd on thee his ample SPIRIT refts.
He Heav'n of Heav'ns, and all the pow'rs therein,
By thee created; and by thee threw down
391
Th' afpiring Dominations. Thou that day
Thy FATHER's dreadful thunder didit not fpare;
Nor ftop thy flaming chariot wheels, that hook
Heav'n's everlafting frame, while o'er the necks 395
Thou drov't of warring Angels disarraid.
Back from perfuit thy Pow'rs with loud acclaim
Thee only extoll'd, Son of thy FATHER'S might,
To execute fierce vengeance on his foes.
Not fo on man: him thro' their malice fall'n,
FATHER of mercy and grace! thou didst not doom
So ftrictly; but much more to pity incline.
No fooner did thy dear and only Son,
Perceive thee purpos'd not to doom frail man
So ftrictly, but much more to pity inclin'd,
He to appease thy wrath, and end the ftrife
Of mercy and juftice in thy face difcern'd,
Regardless of the blifs wherein he fat
Second to thee, offer'd himself to die
For man's offence. O unexampled love!
Love no where to be found lefs than Divine!
Hail Son of GOD, Saviour of men! thy name
Shall be the copious matter of my fong
Henceforth, and never fhall my harp thy praise
Forget, nor from thy FATHER's praise disjoin. 415
Thus they in Heav'n, above the starry fphear,
Their happy hours in joy and hymning spent.
Mean while upon the firm opacous globe
Of this round world, whofe first convex divides
The luminous inferior orbs, inclos'd
From CHAOS, and th' inroad of darknefs old,
SATAN alighted walks. A globe far off
It feem'd, now feems a boundless continent
Dark, wafte, and wild, under the frown of night
Starlefs expos'd, and ever-threat'ning ftorms
Of CHAOS bluftring round, inclement sky!
Save on that fide which from the wall of Heav'n
(Tho' diftant far) fome fmall reflection gains
Of glimmering air, lefs vex'd with tempeft loud.
Here walk'd the Fiend at large in fpacious field. 430
As when a Vultur on IMAUS bred,
(Whofe fnowy ridge the roving TARTAR bounds) Dislodging from a region fcarce of prey
To gorge the flesh of lambs, or yeanling kids, 434
Oh hills where flocks are fed, flies tow'rd the fprings
OF GANGES OF HYDASPES, (INDIAN ftreams)
But in his way lights on the barren plains
Of SERICANA, where CHINESES drive
With fails and wind their cany waggons light:
So on this windy fea of land, the Fiend
Walk'd up and down alone, bent on his prey;
Alone, for other creature in this place
Living or livelefs to be found was none;
None yet, but ftore hereafter from the earth
Up hither like aereal vapors flew,
Of all things tranfitory and vain, when fin
With vanity had fill'd the works of men:
Both all things vain, and all who in vain things
Built their fond hopes of glory or lafting fame,
Or happiness in this or th' other life:
All who have their reward on earth, the fruits
Of painful fuperftition, and blind zeal,
Nought feeking but the praife of men, here find
Fit retribution, empty as their deeds:
All th' unaccomplish'd works of Nature's hand, 455.
Abortive, monftrous, or unkindly mix'd,
Diffolv'd on earth, fleet hither, and in vain,
Till final diffolution, wander here:
Not in the neighb'ring moon, as fome have dream'd; (Thofe argent fields more likely habitants, 460
Tranflated faints, or middle fpirits hold
Betwixt th' angelical and human kind)
Hither, of ill-join'd fons and daughters born,
First from the ancient world those giants came,
With many a vain exploit, tho' then renown'd: 465
The builders next of BABEL on the plain
Of SENNAAR, and ftill with vain defign
New BABELS, had they wherewithal, would build:
Others came fingle; he who to be deem'd
A God, leap'd fondly into ETNA flames,
EMPEDOCLES: and he who to enjoy
PLATO'S ELYSIUM, leap'd into the Sea,
CLEOMBROTUs: and many more too long,
Embryoes and idiots, Eremits, and Friars
White, Back, and Grey, with all their trumpery: 475
Here Pilgrims roam, that ftray'd fo far to feek
In GOLGOTHA him dead, who lives in Heav'n:
And they who to be fure of Paradise,
Dying put on the weeds of DOMINIC,
Or in FRANCISCAN think to pafs difguis'd; 480
They pass the Planets feven, and pass the fix'd,
And that chryftalline fphere whofe ballance weighs
The trepidation talk'd,, and that first-mov'd:
And now Saint PETER at Heav'n's wicket feems
To wait them with his keys, and now at foot 48
Of Heav'n's afcent they lift their feet, when lo!
A violent cross-wind from either coaft
Blows them transverfe, ten thousand leagues awry
Into the devious air: then might ye fee
Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers toft 490
And flutter'd into rags; then reliques, beads,
Indulgences, Difpenfes, Pardons, Bulls,
The fport of winds. All these upwhirl'd aloft
Fly o'er the backfide of the world far off,
Into a Limbo large and broad, fince call'd
The PARADISE of FOOLS, to few unknown
Long after now unpeopl'd, and untrod.
All this dark globe the Fiend found as he pafs'd,
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