15

He drew not nigh unheard, the Angel bright, [ 645 ]

Ere he drew nigh, his radiant visage turnd,

Admonisht by his ear, and strait was known

Th Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the seavn

Who in Gods presence, neerest to his Throne

Stand ready at command, and are his Eyes [ 650 ]

That run through all the Heavns, or down to th Earth

Bear his swift errands over moist and dry,

Ore Sea and Land; him Satan thus accostes;

Uriel, for thou of those seavn Spirits that stand

In sight of Gods high Throne, gloriously bright, [ 655 ]

The first art wont his great authentic will

Interpreter through highest Heavn to bring,

Where all his Sons thy Embassie attend;

And here art likeliest by supream decree

Like honor to obtain, and as his Eye [ 660 ]

To visit oft this new Creation round;

Unspeakable desire to see, and know

All these his wondrous works, but chiefly Man,

His chief delight and favour, him for whom

All these his works so wondrous he ordaind, [ 665 ]

Hath brought me from the Quires of Cherubim

Alone thus wandring. Brightest Seraph tell

In which of all these shining Orbes hath Man

His fixed seat, or fixed seat hath none,

But all these shining Orbes his choice to dwell; [ 670 ]

That I may find him, and with secret gaze,

Or open admiration him behold

On whom the great Creator hath bestowd

Worlds, and on whom hath all these graces powrd;

That both in him and all things, as is meet, [ 675 ]

The Universal Maker we may praise;

Who justly hath drivn out his Rebell Foes

To deepest Hell, and to repair that loss

Created this new happie Race of Men

To serve him better: wise are all his wayes. [ 680 ]

So spake the false dissembler unperceivd;

For neither Man nor Angel can discern

Hypocrisie, the onely evil that walks

Invisible, except to God alone,

By his permissive will, through Heavn and Earth: [ 685 ]

And oft though wisdom wake, suspicion sleeps

At wisdoms Gate, and to simplicitie

Resigns her charge, while goodness thinks no ill

Where no ill seems: Which now for once beguild

Uriel, though Regent of the Sun, and held [ 690 ]

The sharpest sighted Spirit of all in Heavn;

Who to the fraudulent Impostor foule

In his uprightness answer thus returnd.