THE ARGUMENT. Satan now in prospect of Eden, and nigh the place where he muft now attempt the bold enterprise which he undertook alone against God and Man, falls into many doubts with himself, and many paffions, fear, envy, and defpair; but at length confirms himself in evil, journeys on to Paradife whofe outward profpect and fituation is defcribed, overleaps the bounds, fits in the fhape of a cormorant on the tree of life, as highest in the garden, to look about him. The garden describ'd; Satan's first fight of Adam and Eve; his wonder at their excellent form and happy ftate, but with refolution to work their fall; overhears their difcourfe, thence gathers that the tree of knowledge was forbidden them to eat of, under penalty of death; and thereon intends to found his temptation by feducing them to tranfgrefs: then leaves them a while, to know further of their state by fome other means. Mean while Uriel defcending on a funbeam warns Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Paradife, that fome evil Spirit had efcap'd the deep, and pafs'd at noon by his fphere in the fhape of a good Angel down to Paradife, discovered after by his furious geftures in the mount. Gabriel promises to find him ere morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve dif courfe of going to their reft: their bower defcrib'd; their evening worship. Gabriel drawing forth his bands of night-watch to walk the round of Paradife, appoints two strong Angels to Adam's bower, left the evil Spirit fhould be there doing fome harm to Adam or Eve fleeping; there they find him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, to Gabriel; by whom queftion'd, he fcornfully answers, prepares refiftance, but hinder'd by a fign from Heaven, fies out of Paradise. |