Ye cedars, with innumerable boughs 1090 Some tree, whose broad smooth leaves, together sewed, Those middle parts, that this new comer, Shame, 1100 So counselled he, and both together went With feathered cincture, naked else and wild, IIII Thus fenced, and, as they thought, their shame in part Covered, but not at rest or ease of mind, 1120 They sat them down to weep. Nor only tears Rained at their eyes, but high winds worse within Mistrust, suspicion, discord-and shook sore "Would thou hadst hearkened to my words, and With me, as I besought thee, when that strange I know not whence possessed thee! We had then Remained still happy-not, as now, despoiled Of all our good, shamed, naked, miserable! Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve To whom, soon moved with touch of blame, thus 1130 1141 "What words have passed thy lips, Adam severe ? 1150 Going into such danger, as thou saidst? What could I more? I warned thee, I admonished thee, foretold The danger, and the lurking enemy That lay in wait; beyond this had been force, Either to meet no danger, or to find I also erred in overmuch admiring What seemed in thee so perfect that I thought Him who, to worth in women overtrusting, Lets her will rule: restraint she will not brook; She first his weak indulgence will accuse.". Thus they in mutual accusation spent THE END OF THE NINTH BOOK 1160 1170 1180 PARADISE LOST BOOK X THE ARGUMENT Man's transgression known, the Guardian Angels forsake Paradise, and return up to Heaven to approve their vigilance, 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 them both, and reascends. Sin 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 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 Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. eye ΙΟ For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered, 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, 20 30 |