Let none henceforth seek needless cause to approve 1140 To whom, soon moved with touch of blame, thus Eve: "What words have passed thy lips, Adam, severe ! Imput'st thou that to my default, or will 1150 Of wandering, as thou call'st it, which who knows Going into such danger as thou saidst? Who might have lived and joyed immortal bliss, And am I now upbraided as the cause Of thy transgressing? Not enough severe, 1160 It seems, in thy restraint: what could I more? 1170 I warned thee, I admonished thee, foretold The danger, and the lurking enemy That lay in wait; beyond this had been force, What seemed in thee so perfect, that I thought The fruitless hours, but neither self-condemning, 1180 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 his success against man; instead of applause is treated 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 fruits, 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 Her husband she, to taste the fatal fruit, Was known in Heaven; for what can 'scape the eye Omniscient? who, in all things wise and just, Of man, with strength entire, and free will armed, Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend. ΙΟ For still they knew, and ought to have still remembered, About the new-arrived, in multitudes The ethereal people ran, to hear and know 20 30 Nor troubled at these tidings from the earth, Or touch with lightest moment of impulse In even scale. But fallen he is, and now By some immediate stroke; but soon shall find All judgment, whether in Heaven, or Earth, or Hell. Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee, And destined man himself to judge man fallen." Expressed, and thus divinely answered mild: 40 50 60 |