the Tree of knowledge was forbia den them to eat of, under penalty death, and thereon intends to found hi Temptation, by feducing them to tran grefs: then leaves them a while, to know further of their state by some other Mean while Uriel defcending means. on a Sun-beam warns Gabriel, who had in charge the Gate of Paradife, that Some evil spirit had efcap'd the Deep, and paft at Noon by his Sphere in the shape of a good Angel down to Paradife, dijcovered afterwards by his furious geftures in the Mount. Gabriel promises to find bim e'er morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve difcourfe of going to their reft: their Bower defcrib'd; their Evening worship. Gabriel drawing forth his Bands of Night-watch to walk the round of Paradife, appoints two strong Angels to guard Adam's Bower, leaft the evil spirit fhould be there doing fome harm to Adam or Eve fleeping; there they find him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, the' unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom queftion'd, he fcornfully answers, prepares refiftance, but binder'd by a Sign from Heaven, flies out of Paradife. For that warning voice, which he who faw 10 Then when the Dragon, put to fecond rout, He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell it One ftep no more than from himself can fly IS 20 25 By change of place: Now confcience wakes despair F Which now fat high in his Meridian Towre: 39 35 O thou that with furpaffing Glory crown'd, Look'it from thy fole Dominion like the God Of this new World; at whofe fight all the Stars Hide their diminisht heads; to thee I call, But with no friendly voice, and add thy name O Sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams That bring to my remembrance from what ftate I fell, how glorious once above thy Spheare; Till Fride and worfe Ambition threw me down 40 Warring in Heav'n against Heav'ns matchlefs King: Ah wherefore! he deferv'd no fuch return From me, whom he created what I was In that bright eminence, and with his good Upbraided none; nor was his fservice hard. What could be lefs than to afford him praife, The cafieft recompence, and pay him thanks, How due! yet all his good prov'd ill in me, And wrought but malice; lifted up so high 1 'fdeind subjection, and thought one step higher so Would fet me highest, and in a moment quit The debt immenfe of endless gratitude, So burthenfome ftill paying, ftill to owe; Forgetful what from him I still receiv'd, And understood not that a grateful mind By owing owes not, but ftill pays, at once Indebted and discharg'd; what burden then? O had his powerful Destiny ordain'd' Me fome inferiour Angel, I had stood 60 Then happy; no unbounded hope had rais'd Be then his Love accurft, fince love or hate, Nay curs'd be thou; since against his thy will 65 70 75 80 85 With Diadem and Scepter high advanc'd But fay I could repent and could obtaine 100 By A&t of Grace my former ftate; how foon 105 110 Thus while he fpake, each paffion dimm'd his face Thrice chang'd with pale, ire, envie and defpaire, Which marr'd his borrow'd visage, and betray'd 116 Him counterfeit, if any eye beheld. For heav'nly mindes from fuch distempers foule |