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All judgment, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell.

Easy it may be seen that I intend

Easy colleague with justice, sending Thee,

Mercy colleague with justice, sending Thee,

Man's Friend, his Mediator, his designed

Man's Friend, his Mediator, his designed

Both Ransom and Redeemer voluntary,

Both Ransom and Redeemer voluntary,

And, destined Man himself, to judge man fallen.

So spake the Father; and, unfolding bright

Toward the right hand his glory, on the Son

Blazed forth unclouded deity: He full

Resplendent all his Father manifest

Expressed, and thus divinely answered mild:

Father Eternal, thine is to decree; Mine, both in heaven and earth, to do thy will Supreme; that thou in me, thy Son beloved, Mayest ever rest well pleased. I go to judge On earth these thy transgressors; but thou know'st, Whoever judged, the worst on me must light, When time shall be; for so I undertook Before Thee; and, not repenting, this obtain Of right, that I may mitigate their doom On me derived; yet I shall temper so Justice with mercy, as may illustrate most Them fully satisfied, and thee appease. Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none Are to behold the judgment, but the judged, Those two: the third, best absent, is condemned, Convict by flight, and rebel to all law: Conviction to the serpent none belongs.

Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose

Of high collateral glory. Him, Thrones and Powers,

Princedoms, and Dominations ministrant,

Accompanied to Heaven-gate; from whence

Eden, and all the coast, in prospect lay.

Down he descended straight; the speed of Gods

Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes winged.

Now was the sun in western cadence low

From noon and gentle airs, due at their hour,

To fan the earth, now waked, and usher in

The evening cool; when He, from wrath more cool,

Came, the mild judge and intercessor both,

To sentence Man. The voice of God they heard

Now walking in the garden, by soft winds

Brought to their ears, while day declined. They heard,

And from His presence hid themselves among

The thickest trees, both man and wife; till God,

Approaching, thus to Adam called aloud:

PARADISE LOST.

Where art thou, Adam, wont with joy to meet

My coming, seen far off? I miss thee here,

Not pleased, thus entertained with solitude,

Where obvious duty erewhile appeared unsought:

Or come I less conspicuous, or what change

Absents thee, or what chance detains? Come forth!

He came, and with him, Eve, more loath, though first

To offend; discountenanced both, and discomposed;

Love was not in their looks, either to God,

Or to each other; but apparent guilt,

And shame, and perturbation, and despair;

Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile.

Whence Adam, faltering long, thus answered brief:

I heard thee in the garden, and of thy voice Afraid, being naked, hid myself. To whom The gracious judge, without revile, replied:

My voice thou oft hast heard, and hast not feared,

But still rejoiced; how is it now become

So dreadful to thee? That thou art naked, who

Hath told thee? Hast thou eaten of the tree

Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat?

To whom thus Adam, sore beset, replied:

O Heaven! in evil strait this day I stand

Before my judge; either to undergo

Myself the total crime, or to accuse

My other self, the partner of my life;