2IO
��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.
�� �
