The fame whom John faw alfo in the fun :
His back was turn'd, but not his brightness hid
Of beaming funny rays a golden tiar
Circled his head, nor less his locks behind
Illuftrious on his shoulders fledge with wings
Lay waving round; on some great charge empl
He feem'd, or fix'd in cogitation deep.
Glad was the Spi'rit impure, as now in hope
To find who might direct his wand'ring flight
To Paradise the happy feat of Man,
His journey's end and our beginning woe.
But first he cafts to change his proper shape,
Which elfe might work him danger or delay :
And now a ftripling Cherub he appears,
Not of the prime, yet fuch as in his face
Youth fmil'd celestial, and to every limb
Suitable grace diffus'd, fo well he feign'd:
Under a coronet his flowing hair
In curls on either cheek play'd; wings he wor
Of many a color'd plume sprinkled with gold,
His habit fit for speed fuccinct, and held
Before his decent steps a filver wand.
He drew not nigh unheard; the Angel bright,
Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turn'd,
Admonish'd by his ear, and strait was known
Th' Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the seven
Who in God's presence, nearest to his throne,
Stand ready at command, and are his eyes
That run through all the Heav'ns, or down to t
Bear his swift errands over moist and dry,
O'er fea and land: him Satan thus accosts.
Uriel, for thou of those seven Spi'rits that stand
In fight of God's high throne, gloriously bright, 6·55
The first art wont his great authentic will
Interpreter through highest Heav'n to bring,
Where all his fons thy embassy attend;
And here art likelieft by fupreme decree
Like honor to obtain, and as his eye
To vifit oft this new creation round;
Unfpeakable defire to fee, and know
All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man,
His chief delight and favor, him for whom
All these his works fo wondrous he ordain'd,
Hath brought me from the quires of Cherubim
Alone thus wand'ring. Brightest Seraph, tell
In which of all these shining orbs hath Man
His fixed feat, or fixed feat hath none,
But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell;
That I may find him, and with secret gaze
open admiration him behold,
On whom the great Creator hath beftow'd
Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces pour'd;
That both in him and all things, as is meet,
The universal Maker we may praise;
Who justly hath driv❜n out his rebel foes
To deepest Hell, and to repair that lofs
Created this new happy race of Men
To ferve him better: wife are all his ways.
So fpake the falfe diffembler unperceiv'd;
For neither Man nor Angel can difcern
Hypocrify, the only' evil that walks
Invisible, except to God alone,
By his permiffive will, through Heav'n and Earth
And oft, though wifdom wake, fufpicion fleeps
At wifdom's gate, and to fimplicity
Refigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill
Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguil
Uriel, though regent of the fun, and held
The sharpeft-fighted Spirit of all in Heaven;
Who to the fraudulent impoftor foul
In his uprightness answer thus return'd.
Fair Angel, thy defire, which tends to know
The works of God, thereby to glorify
The great Work-mafter, leads to no excefs
That reaches blame, but rather merits praise
The more it feems excefs, that led thee hither
From thy empyreal mansion thus alone,
To witness, with thine eyes what fome perhaps
Contented with report hear only' in Heaven :
For wonderful indeed are all his works,
Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all
Had in remembrance always with delight;
But what created mind can comprehend
Their number, or the wisdom infinite
That brought them forth, but hid their causes d
I faw when at his word the formless mafs,
This world's material mold, came to a heap:
Confusion heard his voice, and wild uproar.
Stood rul'd, ftood vaft in nitude confin'd;;
Till at his fecond bidding darkness fled,
Light shone, 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, spirited with various forms,
That roll'd orbicular, and turn'd to stars
Numberless, as thou seeft, and how they move;
Each had his place appointed, each his course;
The reft in circuit walls this universe.
Look downward on that globe, whofe 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 oppofite fair star) her aid
Timely' interposes, and her monthly round
Still ending, still 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.
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 coast 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.
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