Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/252

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��PARADISE LOST

��MEANWHILE the hainous 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 eye

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

Complete to have discovered and repulsed Whatever wiles of foe or seeming friend, n For still they knew, and ought to have still

remembered,

The high injunction not to taste that Fruit, Whoever tempted; which they not obeying Incurred (what could they less ?) the

penalty,

And, manifold in sin, deserved to fall. Up into Heaven from Paradise in haste The Angelic Guards ascended, mute and

sad

For Man; for of his state by this they knew,

Much wondering how the subtle Fiend had

stolen 20

Entrance unseen. Soon as the unwelcome

news

From Earth arrived at Heaven-gate, dis- pleased All were who heard; dim sadness did not

spare

That time celestial visages, yet, mixed 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,

Accountable, made haste, to make appear, With righteous plea, their utmost vigilance, And easily approved ; when the Most High, Eternal Father, from his secret Cloud 32 Amidst, in thunder uttered thus his voice : " Assembled Angels, and ye Powers re- turned

From unsuccessful charge, be not dismayed Nor troubled at these tidings from the

Earth,

Which your sincerest care could not pre- vent,

Foretold so lately what would come to pass,

When first this Tempter crossed the gulf

from Hell.

��I told ye then he should prevail, and speed On his bad errand Man should be se- duced,

And flattered out of all, believing lies Against his Maker; no decree of mine, Concurring to necessitate his fall, Or touch with lightest moment of impulse His free will, to her own inclining left In even scale. But fallen he is; and now What rests, but that the mortal sentence

pass On his transgression, Death denounced

that day ?

Which he presumes already vain and void, Because not yet inflicted, as he feared, 51 By some immediate stroke, but soon shall

find

Forbearance no acquittance ere day end. Justice shall not return, as bounty, scorned. But whom send I to judge them ? whom

but thee,

Vicegerent Son ? To thee I have trans- ferred All judgment, whether in Heaven, or Earth,

or Hell.

Easy it may be seen that I intend Mercy colleague with justice, sending thee, Man's Friend, his Mediator, his designed 60 Both Ransom and Redeemer voluntary, And destined Man himself to judge Man

fallen." So spake the Father; and, unfolding

bright Toward the right hand his glory, on the

Son

Blazed forth unclouded deity. He full Resplendent all his Father manifest Expressed, and thus divinely answered

mild:

" Father Eternal, thine is to decree ; Mine both in Heaven and Earth to do thy

will 69

Supreme, that thou in me, thy Son beloved, May'st ever rest well pleased. I go to

judge On Earth these thy transgressors ; but thou

know'st, Whoever judged, 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 derived. Yet I shall temper so Justice with mercy as may illustrate most Them fully satisfied, and thee appease.

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