第4章 3

Attendance none shall need, nor Train, where none [ 80 ] Are to behold the Judgement, but the judgd, Those two; the third best absent is condemnd, Convict by flight, and Rebel to all Law Conviction to the Serpent none belongs. Thus saying, from his radiant Seat he rose [ 85 ] Of high collateral glorie: him Thrones and Powers,

Princedoms, and Dominations ministrant Accompanied to Heaven Gate, from whence Eden and all the Coast in prospect lay. Down he descended strait; the speed of Gods [ 90 ] Time counts not, though with swiftest minutes wingd. Now was the Sun in Western cadence low From Noon, and gentle Aires due at thir hour

To fan the Earth now wakd, and usher in The Eevning coole, when he from wrauth more coole [ 95 ] Came the mild Judge and Intercessor both To sentence Man: the voice of God they heard Now walking in the Garden, by soft windes Brought to thir Ears, while day declind, they heard, And from his presence hid themselves among [ 100 ]

The thickest Trees, both Man and Wife, till God Approaching, thus to Adam calld aloud. Where art thou Adam, wont with joy to meet My coming seen far off? I miss thee here, Not pleasd, thus entertaind with solitude, [ 105 ] Where obvious dutie erewhile appeard unsaught: Or come I less conspicuous, or what change

Absents thee, or what chance detains? Come forth. He came, and with him Eve, more loth, though first To offend, discountnanct both, and discomposd; [ 110 ] Love was not in thir looks, either to God Or to each other, but apparent guilt, And shame, and perturbation, and despaire, Anger, and obstinacie, and hate, and guile.

Whence Adam faultring long, thus answerd brief. [ 115 ] I heard thee in the Garden, and of thy voice Affraid, being naked, hid my self. To whom The gracious Judge without revile replid.