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THE

TENTH воок

OF

PARADISE LOST.

Man'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 clothes them both, and reafcends. Sin and Death fitting till then at the gates of Hell, by wondrous fympathy feeling the fuccefs of Satan in this new world, and the fin by Man there committed, refolve to fit no longer confin'd in Hell, but to follow Satan their fire up to the place of Man: To make the way eafier from Hell to this world to and fro, they pave a broad high-way or bridge over Chaos, according to the track that Satan first made; then preparing for Earth, they meet him proud of his fuccefs returning to Hell; their mutual gratulation. Satan arrives at Pandemonium, in full affembly relates with boafting his fuccefs againft Man; instead of applaufe is entertained with a general hifs by all his audience, transform'd with himself alfo fuddenly into ferpents, according to his doom given in Paradife; then deluded with a fhew of the forbidden tree fpringing up before them, they greedily reaching to take of the fruit, chew duft and bitter aflies. The proceedings of Sin and Death; God foretels 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 bewails, rejects the condolement of Eve; the perfifts, and at length appeafes him then to evade the curfe likely to fall on their offspring, propofes to Adam violent ways, which he approves not, but conceiving better hope, puts her in mind of the late promife made them, that her feed fhould be reveng'd on the Serpent, and exhorts her with him to feek peace of the offended Deity, by repentance and fupplication.

:

PARADISE LOST.

Μ'

BOOK X.

EAN while the hainous and despiteful act

Of Satan done in Paradise, and how

He in the serpent had perverted Eve,

Her husband fhe, to taste the fatal fruit,

Was known in Heav'n; for what can 'fcape the eye 5
Of God all-feeing, or deceive his heart
Omnifcient? who in all things wife and juft,
Hinder'd not Satan to attempt the mind

Of Man, with ftrength entire, and frec-will arm'd,
Complete to have discover'd and repuls'd

Whatever wiles of foe or feeming friend.

ΙΟ

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For ftill they knew, and ought to have still remember'd
The high injunction not to taste that fruit,
Whoever tempted; which they not obeying,
Incurr'd (what could they lefs ?) the penalty,
And manifold in fin, deferv'd to fall.
Up into Heav'n from Paradife in hafte
Th' angelic guards afcended, mute and fad
For Man, for of his state by this they knew,
Much wond'ring how the fubtle Fiend had ftol'n
Entrance unfeen. Soon as th' unwelcome news
From Earth arriv'd at Heaven gate, difpleas'd

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All

All were who heard; dim sadness did not spare

That time celeftial vifages, yet mix'd

With pity, violated not their blifs.
About the new-arriv'd, in multitudes

Th' ethereal people ran, to hear and know

How all befel: they tow'ards the throne fupreme
Accountable made hafte to make appear

With righteous plea their utmost vigilance,
And easily approv'd; when the most high
Eternal Father, from his fecret cloud,
Amidst in thunder utter'd thus his voice.

Affembled Angels, and ye Pow'rs return'd
From unfuccefsful charge, be not dismay'd,
Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth,
Which your fincereft care could not prevent,
Foretold fo lately what would come to pass,
When firft this tempter crofs'd the gulf from Hell.

I told you then he should prevail and speed
On his bad errand, Man fhould be feduc'd
And flatter'd out of all, believing lies
Against his Maker; no decree of mine
Concurring to neceffitate his fall,

Or touch with lightest moment of impulse
His free will, to her own inclining left

In even fcale. But fall'n he is, and now
What refts, but that the mortal fentence pafs

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On his tranfgreffion, death denounc'd that day?
Which he prefumes already vain and void,

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Because not yet inflicted, as he fear'd,

By fome immediate ftroke; but foon shall find

Forbearance

Forbearance no acquittance ere day end.

Juftice fhall not return as bounty fcorn'd.

But whom fend I to judge them? whom but thee
Vicegerent Son? to thee I have transferr'd

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All judgment, whether in Heav'n, or Earth, or Hell.
Easy it
may be feen that I intend

Mercy collegue with juftice, fending thee
Man's friend, his mediator, his design'd
Both ransome and redeemer voluntary,

And deftin'd Man himself to judge Man fall'n.
So fpake the Father, and unfolding bright
Tow'ard the right hand his glory, on the Son
Blaz'd forth unclouded Deity; he full
Refplendent all his Father manifest

Exprefs'd, and thus divinely answer'd mild.
Father eternal, thine is to decree,

Mine both in Heav'n and Earth to do thy will
Supreme, that thou in me thy Son belov'd
May'st ever rest well pleas'd. I go to judge
On earth these thy tranfgreffors, but thou know'ft,
Whoever judg'd, the worft on me must light,
When time shall be, for fo I undertook
Before thee'; and not repenting, this obtain
Of right, that I may mitigate their doom
On me deriv'd, yet I fhall temper fo
Justice with mercy', as may illustrate most
Them fully fatisfy'd, and thee appease.

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Attendance none fhall need, nor train, where none 80 Are to behold the judgment, but the judg'd,

Those two; the third best absent is condemn'd,

Convict

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