Light fhone, and order from disorder sprung:
Swift to their several quarters hasted then

The cumbrous elements, earth, flood, air, fire;
And this ethereal quinteffence of Heaven
Flew upward, fpirited with various forms,
That roll'd orbicular, and turn'd to stars
Numberless, as thou feeft, and how they move;
Each had his place appointed, each his course;
The reft in circuit walls this universe.

715

720

Look downward on that globe, whose hither fide
With light from hence, though but reflected, shines ;
That place is Earth the feat of Man, that light
His day, which elfe as th' other hemisphere
Night would invade; but there the neighb'ring moon
(So call that opposite fair star) her aid

Timely' interpofes, and her monthly round

Still ending, ftill renewing, through mid Heaven,
With borrow'd light her countenance triform
Hence fills and empties to inlighten th' Earth,
And in her pale dominion checks the night.
That spot to which I point is Paradise,

Adam's abode, thofe lofty fhades his bower.

725

730

Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires. 735
Thus faid, he turn'd; and Satan bowing low,

As to fuperior Spi'rits is wont in Heaven,
Where honor due and reverence none neglects,

Took leave, and tow'ard the coaft of earth beneath,
Down from th' ecliptic, fped with hop'd fuccefs, 740
Throws his steep flight in many an aery wheel,

Nor stay'd, till on Niphates' top he lights.

THE END OF THE THIRD BOOK.

VOL. I.

H

THE

THE

FOURTH BOOK

OF

PARADISE LOST.

THE ARGUMENT.

Satan now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the place where he must now attempt the bold enterprife which he undertook alone against God and Man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many paffions, fear, envy, and defpair; but at length confirms himself in evil, journeys on to Paradife whofe outward profpect and fituation is described, overleaps the bounds, fits in the shape of a cormorant on the tree of life, as higheft in the garden, to look about him. The garden defcrib'd; Satan's firft fight of Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent form and happy ftate, but with refolution to work their fall; overhears their discourse, thence gathers that the tree of knowledge was forbidden them to eat of, under penalty of death; and thereon intends to found his temptation by feducing them to tranfgrefs: then leaves them a while, to know further of their ftate by fome other means. Mean while Uriel defcending on a funbeam warns Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Paradise, that some evil Spirit had escap'd the deep, and pafs'd at noon by his fphere in the fhape of a good Angel down to Paradife, difcovered after by his furious geftures in the mount. Gabriel promifes to find him ere 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 ftrong Angels to Adam's bower, left 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, though unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom queftion'd, he fcornfully answers, prepares refiftance, but hinder'd by a fign from Heaven, flies out of Para

PARADISE

LOS T.

BOOK

IV.

For that warning voice, which he who saw
Th' Apocalyps heard cry in Heav'n aloud,
Then when the Dragon, put to second rout,
Came furious down to be reveng'd on men,
Woe to th' inhabitants on earth! that now,
While time was, our firft parents had been warn'd
The coming of their secret foe, and scap'd,'
Haply fo fcap'd his mortal fnare: for now
Satan, now first inflam'd with rage, came down,
The tempter ere th' accuser of man-kind,
To wreck on innocent frail man his lofs
Of that first battel, and his flight to Hell:
Yet not rejoicing in his speed, though bold
Far off and fearless, nor with caufe to boast,
Begins his dire attempt, which nigh the birth
Now rolling boils in his tumultuous breast,
And like a devilish engin back recoils
Upon himself; horror and doubt distractTM
His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom ftir
The Hell within him; for within him Hell
He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell
One step no more than from himself can fly

5:

10.

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