them prevented. He fends his fon to judge the tranfgreffors, who defcends and gives sentence accordingly; then in pity cloaths them both,and reascends. sin and Death fitting till then at the gates of hell, by wondrous fympathie feeling the fuccefs of satan in this new world,and the sin by man there committed, refolve to fit no longer confin'd in hell, but to follow satan their fire 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 Pandaemonium, in full assembly relates with boasting his success against man ; instead of applause is entertain’d with a general biss by all his audience, transform'd with himself also suddenly into ferpents, according to his doom given in Paradise; then deluded with a fhew 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 fon 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 bewailes, rejects the condolement of Eve; she perfifts and at length appeases him : then to evade the curfe likely to fall on their ofspring, proposes to Adam violent wayes which he approves not, but conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late promise made them, that her feed should be reveng'd on the ferpent, and exhorts her with him to feck peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and supplication.

THE ARGUMENT OF THE ELEVENTH BOOK.

TH

HE fon of God presents to his father the prayers of our first parents now repenting, and intercedes for them: God accepts them, but declares that they must no longer abide in Paradise; fends Michael with a band of cherubim to dispossess them; but first to reveal to Adam future things: Michael's coming down. Adam fhews to Eve certain ominous figns; he difcerns Michael's approach, goes out to meet him: the angel denounces their departure. Eve's lamentation. Adam pleads, but submits: the angel leads him up to a high hill, sets before him in vision what shall happen till the flood.

THE ARGUMENT OF THE TWELTH BOOK.

Treewhat fall fucceed, then, in the mention

HE angel Michael continues from the flood to

of Abraham, comes by degrees to explain, who that feed of the woman shall be, which was promised Adam and Eve in the fall; his incarnation, death, refurrection, and afcenfion; the state of the church till his fecond coming. Adam greatly satisfied and recomforted by these relations and promises descends the hill with Michael; wakens Eve, who all this while had flept, but with gentle dreams compos'd to quietness of mind and submission. Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradife; the fiery fword waving behind them, and the cherubim taking their stations to guard the place.

BOOK I.

OF man's firft difobedience, and the fruit

of that forbidden tree, whose mortal tafte Brought death into the world, and all our woe, with lofs of Eden, till one greater man Reftore us, and regain the blissful feat, sing heav'nly muse, that on the secret top of oreb, or of sinai, didst inspire

That shepherd, who first taught the chofen feed, In the beginning how the heav'ns and earth Rofe out of chaos: or if sion hill

Delight thee more, and siloa's brook that flow'd Faft by the oracle of God; I thence

invoke thy aid to my adventrous fong That with no middle flight intends to foar Above th' Aonian mount, while it purfues Things unattempted yet in profe or rhime. And chiefly thou o spirit, that doft prefer Before all temples th' upright heart and pure, inftruct me, for thou know'ft; thou from the first waft present, and with mighty wings outspread Dove-like fatft brooding on the vast abyss And mad'ft it pregnant: what in me is dark, illumine, what is low raise and support; That to the highth of this great argument I may affert eternal providence,

And justify the ways of God to men.

SAY first, for heav'n hides nothing from thy view Nor the deep tract of hell, say first what cause Mov'd our grand parents in that happy state, Favour'd of heav'n fo highly, to fall off

Α

From their creator, and transgress his will For one restraint, lords of the world befides? who first feduc'd them to that foul revolt? Th' infernal ferpent; he it was whofe guile stird up with envy and revenge, deceiv'd The mother of mankind, what time his pride Had caft him out from heav'n, with all his hoft of rebel angels, by whose aid aspiring To fet himself in glory above his peers, He trusted to have equal'd the most high, if he oppos'd; and with ambitious aim Against the throne and monarchy of God Rais'd impious war in heav'n and battle proud with vain attempt. Him the almighty power Hurl'd headlong flaming from th' ethereal skie with hideous ruine and combustion down To bottomless perdition, there to dwell In adamantine chains and penal fire, who durft defie th' Omnipotent to arms. Nine times the space that measures day and night To mortal men, he with his horrid crew

Lay vanquisht, rowling in the fiery gulph
confounded though immortal: but his doom
Reserv'd him to more wrath; for now the thought
Both of loft happiness and lasting pain

Torments him; round he throws his baleful eyes
That witness'd huge affliction and dismay,
Mixt with obdurate pride and stedfast hate:
At once as far as angels kenn he views
The difmal fituation waste and wilde,

A dungeon horrible, on all fides round

As one great furnace flam'd, yet from those flames No light, but rather darkness visible

serv'd only to discover fights of woe,