Eternal Father, from his secret cloud, 40 When first this Tempter cross'd the gulf from Hell. 50 Or touch with lightest moment of impulse Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee Both ransom and redeemer voluntary, 60 And destin'd Man himself to judge men fall'n. So spake the Father, and unfolding bright To'ward the right hand his glory, on the Son Blaz'd forth unclouded deity; he full Resplendent all his Father manifest Express'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 70 May'st ever rest well pleas'd. I go to judge On Earth these thy transgressors, but thou know'st, Whoever judg'd, the worst on me must light, When time shall be, for so I undertook Before thee'; and not repenting, this obtain Of right, that I may mitigate their doom On me deriv'd, yet I shall temper so Justice with mercy', as may illustrate most Them fully satisfy'd, and thee appease. 79 Attendance none shall need, nor train, where none Are to behold the judgment, but the judg'd, Those two; the third best absent is condemn'd, Convict by flight, and rebel to all law: Conviction to the serpent none belongs. Thus saying, from his radiant seat he rose Of high collateral glory': him thrones and powers, Princedoms, and dominations ministrant Accompanied to Heav'n gate, from whence Eden and all the coast in prospect lay. Down he descended straight; the speed of gods 90 Time counts not, thoughwith swiftest minuteswing'd, Now was the sun in western cadence low From noon, and gentle airs due at their hour The ev❜ning cool, when he from wrath more cool To sentence Man : ́the voice of God they heard, To' offend, discountenanc'd both, and discompos'd; And shame, and perturbation, and despair, 120 So dreadful to thee? that thou' art naked, who Hath told thee? hast thou eaten of the tree, Whereof I gave thee charge thou shouldst not eat? O Heav'n! in evil strait this day I stand life; Myself the total crime, or to accuse 130 Devolv'd; though should I hold my peace, yet thou Wouldst easily detect what I conceal. This Woman, whom thou mad'st to be my help, And gav'st me as thy perfect gift, so good, So fit, so acceptable, so divine, That from her hand I could suspect no ill, And what she did, whatever in itself, To whom the Sovran Presence thus reply'd: 140 Thou didst resign thy manhood, and the place Wherein God set thee' above her, made of thee, And for thee, whose perfection far excell'd 150 Hers in all real dignity? Adorn'd She was indeed, and lovely to attract 160 To whom sad Eve with shame nigh overwhelm'd, Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge Bold or loquacious, thus abash'd replied: The serpent me beguil'd, and I did eat. . Which when the Lord God heard, without delay To judgment he proceeded on th' accus'd Serpent though brute, unable to transfer The guilt on him who made him instrument Of mischief, and polluted from the end Of his creation; justly then accurs'd, As vitiated in nature: more to know Concern'd not man (since he no further knew) 170 Nor alter'd his offence; yet God at last To Satan first in sin his doom apply'd, Though in mysterious terms, judg'd as then best: And on the serpent thus his curse let fall: Because thou hast done this, thou art accurs'd Above all cattle, each beast of the field; Upon thy belly groveling thou shalt go, And dust shalt eat all the days of thy life. Between thee and the woman I will put Enmity, and between thine and her seed; Her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel. 180 |