Round he furveys, and well-might, where he stood So high above the circling canopie
Of Night's extended shade; from eastern point Of Libra to the fleecie ftar that bears
Andromeda far off Atlantic feas
Beyond th'horizon; then from pole to pole He views in breadth, and without longer paufe Down right into the world's first region throws His flight precipitant, 'and windes with ease Through the pure marble air his oblique way Amongst innumerable stars, that shone
Stars diftant, but nigh hand seem'd other worlds, Or other worlds they seem'd, or happy isles, Like those Hefperian gardens fam'd of old, Fortunate fields, and groves and flourie vales, Thrice happy ifles, but who dwelt happy there He stay'd not to enquire; above them all The golden fun in fplendor likeft heav'n Allur'd his eye thither his course he bends Through the calm firmament; but up or down By centre, or eccentric, hard to tell, Or longitude, where the great luminarie Aloof the vulgar conftellations thick, That from his lordly eye keep distance due, Difpenfes light from far; they as they move Their ftarry dance in numbers that compute Days, months, and years, towards his all-chearing lanp Turn fwift their various motions, or are turn'd By his magnetic beam, that gently warms The univerfe, and to each inward part With gentle penetration, though unseen,
Shoots invifible virtue even to the deep : So wondrously was set his station bright.
There lands the fiend, a spot like which perhaps Aftronomer in the fun's lucent orb
Through his glaz'd optic tube yet never faw. The place he found beyond expreffion bright, Compar'd with aught on earth, metal or stone; Not all parts like, but all alike inform'd With radiant light, as glowing iron with fire; If metal, part seem'd gold, part filver clear; If ftone carbuncle most or chryfolite,
Rubie, or topaz, to the twelve that shone In Aaron's breaft-plate, and a stone befides Imagin'd rather oft than elsewhere seen, That stone, or like to that which here below Philofophers in vain fo long have fought, In vain, though by their powerful art they bind Volatil Hermes, and call up unbound
In various fhapes old Proteus from the fea, Drain'd through a limbec to his native form. What wonder then if fields and regions here Breathe forth Elixir pure, and rivers run. Potable gold, when with one virtuous touch Th'arch-chimic fun fo far from us remote- Produces with terrestrial humour mixt Here in the dark so many precious things Of colour glorious and effect so rare ? Here matter new to gaze the devil met Undazl'd, far and wide his eye commands, For fight no obftacle found here, nor fhade, But all fun-fhine, as when his beams at noon
Culminate from th'Æquator, as they now Shoot upward ftill diret, whence no way round Shadow from body opaque can fall, and th'air, No where fo clear, fharp'n'd his vifual ray To objects diftant far, whereby he foon Saw within kenn a glorious angel stand, The fame whom John faw alfo in the fun : His back was turn'd, but not his brightness hid; Of beaming funnie raies, a golden tiar
Circl'd his head, nor lefs his locks behind Illuftrious on his fhoulders fledg'd with wings Lay waving round; on fome great charge imploy'd He seem'd, or fixt in cogitation deep.
Glad was the spirit impure, as now in hope To find who might direct his wandring flight To Paradife the happie feat of man,
His journey's end and our beginning woe. But firft he cafts to change his proper shape, Which elfe might work him danger or delay : And now a stripling cherub he appears, Not of the prime, yet fuch as in his face Youth fmil'd celeftial, and to every limb Suitable grace diffus'd, fo well he feign'd; Under a coronet his flowing hair
In curles on either, cheek plaid, wings he wore Of many a colour'd plume sprinkl'd with gold, His habit fit for speed fuccinct, and held Before his decent steps a filver wand. He drew not nigh unheard, the angel bright, Ere he drew nigh, his radiant vifage turn'd, - Admonisht by his ear, and ftrait was known
Th' arch-angel Uriel, one of the feven
Who in God's presence, nearest to his throne Stand ready at command, and are his eyes
That run through all the heav'ns, or down to th'earth Bear his swift errands over moist and dry,
O're fea and land: him Satan thus accofts.
Uriel, for thou of those seven spirits that stand In fight of God's high throne, gloriously bright, The first art wont his great authentic will Interpreter through highest heav'n to bring, Where all his fons thy embaffie attend ; And here art likelieft by supream decree Like honour to obtain, and as his eye To vifit oft this new creation round; Unfpeakable defire to fee, and know
All these his wondrous works, but chiefly man, His chief delight and favour: him for whom All these his works fo wondrous he ordain'd, Hath brought me from the quires of cherubim Alone thus wandring. Brightest seraph tell In which of all these fhining orbs hath man His fix'd feat, or fixed feat hath none, But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell; That I may find him, and with fecret gaze, Or open admiration him behold
On whom the great Creator hath bestow'd Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces pour'd: That both in him and all things, as is meet,
The univerfal Maker we may praife; Who juftly hath driven out his rebel foes To deepest hell, and to repair that lofs
Created this new happie race of men To ferve him better: wife are all his wayes. So fpake the false diffembler unperceiv'd; For neither man nor angel can discern Hypocrifie, the only evil that walks Invifible, except to God alone,
By his permiffive will, through heav'n and earth : And oft though wisdom wake, suspicion fleeps At wisdom's gate, and to fimplicitie
Refigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill Where no ill seems: which now, for once beguil'd Uriel, though regent of the fun, and held The sharpeft-fighted spirit of all in heav'n ; Who to the fraudulent impoftor foule In his uprightness answer thus return'd.. Fair angel, thy defire which tends to know The works of God, thereby to glorifie The great work-maifter, leads to no excefs That reaches blame, but rather merits praise The more it seems excefs, that led thee hither From thy empyreal mansion thus alone, To witness with thine eyes what some perhaps Contented with report hear only in heav'n : For wonderful indeed are all his works, Pleasant to know, and worthiest to be all Had in remembrance alwayes with delight; But what created mind can comprehend Their number, or the wifdom infinite
That brought them forth, but hid their causes deep. I faw when at his word the formless mass, This world's material mould, came to a heap :
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