ing worship. Gabriel drawing forth his bands of nightwatch to walk the round of Paradife, appoints two strong angels to Adam's bower, leaft the evil fpirit should be there doing some harm to Adam or Eve sleeping; there they find him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom questioned, he scornfully answers, prepares resistance, but hindered by a fign from heaven, flies out of Paradife,

THE ARGUMENT OF THE FIFTH BOOK.

M

ORNING approach't, Eve relates to Adam her troublesome dream; he likes it not, yet comfarts her; they come forth to their day labours: their morning hymn at the Door of their bower. God to render man inexcufable fends Raphael to admonish him of his obedience, of his free estate, of his enemy near at hand; who he is, and why his enemy, and whatever else may avail Adam to know. Raphael comes down to Paradife, his appearance defcrib'd, his coming difcern'd by Adam afar off fitting at the door of his bower; he goes out to meet him, brings him to his lodge, entertains him with the choiceft fruits of Paradife got together by Eve; their discourse at table: Raphael performs his message, minds Adam of his state and of his enemy; relates at Adam's request who that enemy is, and how he came to be fo, beginning from his first revolt in heaven, and the occafion thereof; how he drew his legions after him to the parts of the north, and there incited them to rebel with him, per

fwading all but only Abdiel a feraph, who in argument diffwades and opposes him, then forfakes him.

THE ARGUMENT OF THE SIXTH BOOK.

R

APHAEL Continues to relate how Michael and Gabriel were fent forth to battel against Satan and his angels. The first fight defcrib'd: Satan and his powers retire under night: he calls a council, invents devilish engines, which in the second day's fight put Michael and his angels to fome disorder; but they at length pulling up mountains overwhelm'd both the force and machines of Satan: yet the tumult not fo ending, God on the third day fends Meffiah his fon, for whom he had referv'd the glory of that victory : he in the power of his father coming to the place, and causing all his legions to ftand still on either fide, with his chariot' and thunder driving into the midst of his enemies, purfues them unable to resist towards the wall of heaven; which opening, they leap down with horrour and confufion into the place of punishment prepar'd for them in the deep: Meffiah returns with triumph to his father.

THE ARGUMENT OF THE SEAVENTH BOOK.

R

APHAEL at the request of Adam relates how and wherefore this world was first created; that God after the expelling of Satan and his angels out of hea- · ven, declared his pleasure to create another world and other creatures to dwell therein; fends his fon with glory and attendance of angels to perform the work of creation in fix days: the angels celebrate with hymns

the performance thereof, and his reafcenfion into hea

ven,

THE ARGUMENT OF THE EIGHT BOOK.

A'

DAM inquires concerning celeftial motions, is doubfully answer'd, and exhorted to search rather things more worthy of knowledge: Adam affents, and still defirous to detain Raphael, relates to him what he remember'd fince his own creation, his placing in Paradise, his talk with God concerning solitude and fit fociety, his first meeting and nuptials with Eve, his discourse with the angel thereupon; who after admonitions repeated departs.

THE ARGUMENT OF THE NINTH BOOK.

SATAN

ATAN having compast the earth, with meditated guile returns as a mist by night into Paradise, enters into the serpent sleeping. Adam and Eve in the morning go forth to their labours, which Eve proposes to divide in feveral places, each labouring apart : Adam confents not, alledging the danger, left that enemy, of whom they were forewarn'd, should attempt her found alone: Eve loath to be thought not circumspect or firm enough, urges her going apart, the rather defirous to make trial of her strength; Adam at last yields: the ferpent finds her alone; his subtle approach, first gazing, then speaking, with much flattery extolling Eve above all other creatures. Eve wondring to hear the ferpent speak, afks how he attain'd to human fpeech and fuch understanding not till now; the ferpent anfwers, that by tafting of a certain tree in the garden

he attain'd both to speech and reason, till then void of both Eve requires him to bring her to that tree, and finds it to be the tree of knowledge forbidden: the ferpent now grown bolder, with many wiles and arguments induces her at length to eat; fhe pleas'd with the taste deliberates a while whether to impart thereof to Adam or not, at laft brings him of the fruit, relates what perfwaded her to eat thereof: Adam at first amaz'd, but perceiving her loft, refolves through vehe mence of love to perish with her; and extenuating the trespass, eats alfo of the fruit: the effects thereof them both; they feek to cover their nakedness; then fall to variance and accufation of one another.

THE ARGUMENT OF THE TENTH BOOK.

MA

AN's tranfgreffion known, the guardian angels forfake Paradife, and return up to heaven to approve their vigilance, and are approv'd, God declaring that the entrance of Satan could not be by them prevented. He fends his Son to judge the tranfgreffors, who defcends and gives fentence accordingly; then in pity cloaths them both, and reafcends. 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 fin by man there committed, refolv'd 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 highway or bridge over Chaos, according to the track that Satan firft made; then preparing for earth, they meet him proud of his success returning to hell; their mu

tual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandaemonium, in full affembly relates with boasting his fuccess against man; instead of applause is entertain'd with a general hifs by all his audience, transform'd with himself also fuddenly into ferpents, according to his doom given in Paradise; then deluded with a fhew of the forbidden tree fpringing 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 prefent 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 ways 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 serpent, and exhorts her with him to seek peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and fupplication.

THE ARGUMENT OF THE ELEVENTH BOOK.

HE Son of God presents to his Father the prayers

repentina,

for them: God accepts them, but declares that they muft no longer abide in Paradife; 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