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BOOK X.

Man's transgression known, the guardian angels forsake Paradise, and return up to heaven to approve their vig. ilance, and are approved; God declaring that the entrance of Satan could not be by them prevented. He sends His Son to judge the transgressors; who descends, and gives sentence accordingly; then, in pity, clothes sends his Son to judge the classes and Death, sitting till then at the gates of hell, by wondrous sympathy feeling the success of Satan in this new world, and the sin by man there committed, resolve to sit no longer confined in hell, but to follow Satan, their sire, 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 first made; then, preparing for earth, they meet him, proud of his success, returning to hell; their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemonium; in full assembly relates, with boasting, his success against man; instead of applause is entertained with a general hiss by all his audience, transformed, with himself also, suddenly into serpents, according to his doom given in Paradise; then, deluded with a show 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 Son 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 bewails, rejects the condolement of Eve; she persists, and at length appeases him: then, to evade the curse likely to fall on their offspring, 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 seed should be revenged on the serpent; and exhorts her, with him, to seek peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and supplication,

MEANWHILE the heinous and despiteful act Of Satan done in Paradise; and how He, in the serpent, had perverted Eve, Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit, Was known in heaven-for what can 'scape the eye Of God all-seeing, or deceive His heart Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just, Hindered not Satan to attempt the mind Of man, with strength entire, and free-will armed Complete to have discovered and repulsed Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered, The high injunction, not to taste that fruit, Whoever tempted; which they, not obeying, Incurred—what could they less?—the penalty; And manifold in sin, deserved to fall. Up into heaven from Paradise, in haste, The Angelic guards ascended, mute and sad, For Man; for of his state by this they knew, Much wondering how the subtle Fiend had stolen

Entrance unseen. Soon as the unwelcome news

From earth arrived at heaven-gate, displeased

All were who heard; dim sadness did not spare

That time celestial visages, yet, mixed

With pity, violated not their bliss.

About the new-arrived, in multitudes,

The ethereal people ran, to hear and know

How all befell. They, towards the throne supreme,

Accountable, made haste, to make appear,

With righteous plea, their utmost vigilance,

And easily approved; when the Most High,

Eternal Father, from his secret cloud

Amidst, in thunder uttered thus his voice:

Assembled Angels, and ye Powers returned From unsuccessful charge, be not dismayed, Nor troubled at these tidings from the Earth, Which your sincerest care could not prevent; Foretold so lately what would come to pass, When first this tempter crossed the gulf from hell. I told ye then he should prevail, and speed On his bad errand; man should be seduced, And flattered out of all, believing lies Against his Maker; no decree of mine Concurring to necessitate his fall, Or touch with lightest moment of impulse His free-will, to her own inclining left In even scale. But fallen he is; and now What rests, but that the mortal sentence pass On his transgression, death denounced that day? Which he presumes already vain and void, Because not yet inflicted, as he feared, By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find Forbearance no acquittance, ere day end. Justice shall not return, as bounty, scorned. But whom send I to judge them? Whom but Thee, Vicegerent Son? To thee I have transferred