9

And now thir way to Earth they had descrid, [ 325 ]

To Paradise first tending, when behold

Satan in likeness of an Angel bright

Betwixt the Centaure and the Scorpion stearing

His Zenith, while the Sun in Aries rose:

Disguisd he came, but those his Children dear [ 330 ]

Thir Parent soon discernd, though in disguise.

Hee after Eve seduct, unminded slunk

Into the Wood fast by, and changing shape

To observe the sequel, saw his guileful act

By Eve, though all unweeting, seconded [ 335 ]

Upon her Husband, saw thir shame that sought

Vain covertures; but when he saw descend

The Son of God to judge them terrifid

Hee fled, not hoping to escape, but shun

The present, fearing guiltie what his wrauth [ 340 ]

Might suddenly inflict; that past, returnd

By Night, and listening where the hapless Paire

Sate in thir sad discourse, and various plaint,

Thence gatherd his own doom, which understood

Not instant, but of future time. With joy [ 345 ]

And tidings fraught, to Hell he now returnd,

And at the brink of Chaos, neer the foot

Of this new wondrous Pontifice, unhopt

Met who to meet him came, his Ofspring dear.

Great joy was at thir meeting, and at sight [ 350 ]

Of that stupendious Bridge his joy encreasd.

Long hee admiring stood, till Sin, his faire

Inchanting Daughter, thus the silence broke.

O Parent, these are thy magnific deeds,

Thy Trophies, which thou viewst as not thine own, [ 355 ]

Thou art thir Author and prime Architect:

For I no sooner in my Heart divind,

My Heart, which by a secret harmonie

Still moves with thine, joind in connexion sweet,

That thou on Earth hadst prosperd, which thy looks [ 360 ]

Now also evidence, but straight I felt

Though distant from thee Worlds between, yet felt

That I must after thee with this thy Son;

Such fatal consequence unites us three:

Hell could no longer hold us in her bounds, [ 365 ]

Nor this unvoyageable Gulf obscure

Detain from following thy illustrious track.