Paradise Regained | Page 3

him his beloved Son.?That heard the Adversary, who, roving still?About the world, at that assembly famed?Would not be last, and, with the voice divine?Nigh thunder-struck, the exalted man to whom?Such high attest was given a while surveyed?With wonder; then, with envy fraught and rage,?Flies to his place, nor rests, but in mid air?To council summons all his mighty Peers, 40 Within thick clouds and dark tenfold involved,?A gloomy consistory; and them amidst,?With looks aghast and sad, he thus bespake:--?"O ancient Powers of Air and this wide World?(For much more willingly I mention Air,?This our old conquest, than remember Hell,?Our hated habitation), well ye know?How many ages, as the years of men,?This Universe we have possessed, and ruled?In manner at our will the affairs of Earth, 50 Since Adam and his facile consort Eve?Lost Paradise, deceived by me, though since?With dread attending when that fatal wound?Shall be inflicted by the seed of Eve?Upon my head. Long the decrees of Heaven?Delay, for longest time to Him is short;?And now, too soon for us, the circling hours?This dreaded time have compassed, wherein we?Must bide the stroke of that long-threatened wound?(At least, if so we can, and by the head 60 Broken be not intended all our power?To be infringed, our freedom and our being?In this fair empire won of Earth and Air)--?For this ill news I bring: The Woman's Seed,?Destined to this, is late of woman born.?His birth to our just fear gave no small cause;?But his growth now to youth's full flower, displaying?All virtue, grace and wisdom to achieve?Things highest, greatest, multiplies my fear.?Before him a great Prophet, to proclaim 70 His coming, is sent harbinger, who all?Invites, and in the consecrated stream?Pretends to wash off sin, and fit them so?Purified to receive him pure, or rather?To do him honour as their King. All come,?And he himself among them was baptized--?Not thence to be more pure, but to receive?The testimony of Heaven, that who he is?Thenceforth the nations may not doubt. I saw?The Prophet do him reverence; on him, rising 80 Out of the water, Heaven above the clouds?Unfold her crystal doors; thence on his head?A perfet Dove descend (whate'er it meant);?And out of Heaven the sovraign voice I heard,?'This is my Son beloved,--in him am pleased.'?His mother, than, is mortal, but his Sire?He who obtains the monarchy of Heaven;?And what will He not do to advance his Son??His first-begot we know, and sore have felt,?When his fierce thunder drove us to the Deep; 90 Who this is we must learn, for Man he seems?In all his lineaments, though in his face?The glimpses of his Father's glory shine.?Ye see our danger on the utmost edge?Of hazard, which admits no long debate,?But must with something sudden be opposed?(Not force, but well-couched fraud, well-woven snares),?Ere in the head of nations he appear,?Their king, their leader, and supreme on Earth.?I, when no other durst, sole undertook 100 The dismal expedition to find out?And ruin Adam, and the exploit performed?Successfully: a calmer voyage now?Will waft me; and the way found prosperous once?Induces best to hope of like success."?He ended, and his words impression left?Of much amazement to the infernal crew,?Distracted and surprised with deep dismay?At these sad tidings. But no time was then?For long indulgence to their fears or grief: 110 Unanimous they all commit the care?And management of this man enterprise?To him, their great Dictator, whose attempt?At first against mankind so well had thrived?In Adam's overthrow, and led their march?From Hell's deep-vaulted den to dwell in light,?Regents, and potentates, and kings, yea gods,?Of many a pleasant realm and province wide.?So to the coast of Jordan he directs?His easy steps, girded with snaky wiles, 120 Where he might likeliest find this new-declared,?This man of men, attested Son of God,?Temptation and all guile on him to try--?So to subvert whom he suspected raised?To end his reign on Earth so long enjoyed:?But, contrary, unweeting he fulfilled?The purposed counsel, pre-ordained and fixed,?Of the Most High, who, in full frequence bright?Of Angels, thus to Gabriel smiling spake:--?"Gabriel, this day, by proof, thou shalt behold, 130 Thou and all Angels conversant on Earth?With Man or men's affairs, how I begin?To verify that solemn message late,?On which I sent thee to the Virgin pure?In Galilee, that she should bear a son,?Great in renown, and called the Son of God.?Then told'st her, doubting how these things could be?To her a virgin, that on her should come?The Holy Ghost, and the power of the Highest?O'ershadow her. This Man, born and now upgrown, 140 To shew him worthy of his birth divine?And high prediction, henceforth I expose?To Satan; let him tempt, and now assay?His utmost subtlety, because he boasts?And vaunts of his great cunning to the throng?Of his Apostasy. He might have learnt?Less overweening, since he failed in Job,?Whose constant perseverance overcame?Whate'er his cruel malice