OF THE TWELVE BOOKS xi convex of this world's outermoft orb ; where wand'ring he firft finds a place, fince call'd The Limbo of Vanity ; what perfons and things fly up thither ; thence comes to the gate of Heaven, defcrib'd afcencling by 'lairs, and the waters above the firmament that flow about it : His paffage thence to the orb of the fun ; he finds there Uriel the regent of that orb, but firft changes himfelf into the fhape of a meaner Angel ; and pretending a zealous defire to behold the new creation, and Man whom God had plac'd here, inquires of him the place of his habita. tion, and is direeted; alights hilt on mount Niphates. THE ARGUMENT OF THE FOURTH BOOK. A TAN now in profpeEt of Eden, and nigh the Place where he mini now attempt the bold enterprife which he undertook alone againft God and Man, fails into many doubts with himfelf, and many paflions, ft: r, envy, and defpair ; but at length confirms himfelf in evil, inurneys on to Paradife whofe outward profpe& and lituation is de- ferined, overleaps the bounds, fits in the fhape of a cormorant on the tree of 1,fe, as highelt in the garden, to look about hint The garden defcrib'd ; Satan's firft fight of Adam and Eve ; his wonder at their excellent form and happy Elate, but with refolution to work their fall; overhears their difcourfe, thence gathers that the tree of knowleelge was fornidden 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 hate by Tome other means. Mean while Uriel defeending on a funbeam warns Gabriel, who had in charge the gate of Paradife, that force evil Spirit had eicap'd the deep, and pafs'd at noon by his fphere in the fhape of a good Angel down to Paradife, dif_overed after by his furious geflures in the mount. Gabriel promifes to find him ere morning. Night coming on, Adam and Eve difcourfe of going to their reh : their bower defcrib'd ; their evening worship. Gabriel drawing forth his hands of night-watch to walk the round of Paradife, appoints two ftrong Angels to Adam's bower, left the evil Spirit fhonld be there doing fume harm to Adam or Eve fleeping ; there they rind him at the ear of Eve, tempting her in a dream, and bring him, though unwilling, to Gabriel ; by whom queftion'd, he fcornfully anfwers, prepares refillance, but hinder'd by fign fromHeaven, flies out of Paradife. T
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