1 weat lixeist, bs Supreme decree,
Lite beni to obain, and as his ere 660
144,7". At this new creation round;
(13;pakable desire to see, and know
All thwhis wondrous works, but chietiy Man,
His chief delight and favour; him for whom 664
All these his works so wondrous he ordain'd,
Hath brought me from the choirs of Cherubim
Alone thus wand'ring. Brightest Seraph, tell
In which of all these shining orbs bath Man
His fixed scat, or fixed scat hath none,
But all these shining orbs his choice to dwell,
That I may find him, and with secret gaze 671
Or
open

admiration him behold,
On1 whom the great Creator hath bestow'd
Worlds,andon whom hath all these graces pour’d;
That both in him and all things, as is meet, 675
The Universal Maker we may praise,
Who justly hath driv'n out his rebel foes
To deepest Hell; and to repair that loss
(ivated this new happy race of Men
To kortelim better: wise are all his ways. 680

So pake the hilse Dissembler unperceivid;
örnekler Van nor Angel can discern
!!!!!!!!, the only evil that walls
Nannas (lep o God alene,

684 Prin in

Sing! Will thro' Ha'n and Earth: Ax Wisdon me Sascion siers Willa Bagian dra Simple

her noi

1

Where no ill seems:

which now for once beguild Uriel, though regent of the Sun, and held 690 The sharpest sighted Sp'rit of all in Heav'n; Who to the fraudulent impostor foul In his uprightness, answer thus return’d:

Fair. Angel, thy desire, which tends to know The works of God, thereby to glorify 695 The great Work-Master, leads to no excess That reaches blame, but rather merits praise The more it seems excess, that led thee hither From thy empyreal mansion thus alone, 699 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 always with delight: But what created mind can comprehend 705 Their number, or the wisdom infinite That brought them forth, but hid their causes

deep?

I saw when at his word the formless mass,
This world's material mould, came to a heap:
Confusion heard his voice, and wild Uproar 710
Stood rul'd, stood vast Infinitude confin'd;
Till at his second bidding Darkness fled,
Light shone, and Order from Disorder sprung:
Swift to their sev'ral quarters hasted then
The cumbrous elements, Earth, Flood, Air, Fire;
And this ethereal quintessence of Heav'n 716

VOL. I.

Flew upward, spirited with various forms,
That rollid orbicular, and turn’d to stars
Numberless, as thou seest, and how they move:
Each had his place appointed, each his course;
The rest in circuit walls the universe.

721 Look downward on that globe, whose hither side With light from hence, tho’ but reflected, shines; That place is Earth, the seat of Man; that light His day, which else, as th’other hemisphere, 725 Night would invade; but there the neighb'ring

moon (So call that opposite fair star) her aid Timely' interposes, and her monthly round Still ending, still renewing, thro' mid Heav'n, With borrow'd light her countenance triform 730 Hence fills and empties to enlighten th' Earth, And in her pale dominion checks the night. That spot to which I point is Paradise, Adam's abode, those lofty shades his bow'r. 734 Thy way thou canst not miss, me mine requires.

Thus said, he turn'd; and Satan bowing low, As to superior Sp'rits is wont in Heav'n, Where honour due and rev’rence none neglects, Took leave, and tow’rd the coast of earth beneath, Down from th' ecliptic, sped with hop'd success, Throws his steep flight in many an airy wheel, Nor stay'd, till on Niphates' top he lights. 742

END OF THE THIRD BOOK.