Act v. sc. 3.

Following the promptings of the angel, which are continued through the scene, Adam proposes that Lucifer and his companion shall kneel with him in prayer. Thus he escapes the temptation and danger. Lucifer and his demons refuse to pray, and, assuming their proper shape, next assail him by force; but from this peril he is also guarded.

We then behold Eve wandering desolate and desponding, affrighted at all that meets her eyes. Her lamentation has much simple beauty.

"_Eve._ Dar'st thou, O wretched Eve! Lift up thy guilty eyes to meet the sun? Oh! no; they are unworthy--well thou know'st! Once, with unfaltering gaze they could behold His beams, and revel in their golden light; Now thy too daring look His dazzling rays rebuke; Or, if thou gaze upon his face, a veil Of blindness shrouds thy sight. Alas! too truly I dwell in darkness, if my sin has stained With horrid mists the pure and innocent sun! O miserable Eve! If now I turn my feet where fountains gush To taste the limpid current, I behold The crystal wave defiled, or scorching sands Usurp its place. If, famished, I return To pluck the grateful fruit from bending trees, Its taste is bitter to me; or the worm With blasting touch doth revel on its sweetness. If, wearied, I recline among the flowers, Striving to close my eyes, lo! at my side The serpent rears its crest, or hissing glides Among the clustering leaves. If, to escape Faint from the noontide heat, I seek the shade Of some thick wood, I tremble at the thought Of wild beast lurking in the thicket's gloom; And start with dread if but the lightest leaf Stir with the wind."

She also is assailed by a new temptation personified under the name of World. This allegorical personage, arrayed in rich and gorgeous vestments, crowned with gold and gems, endeavors to captivate her imagination by artful flatteries; by visions of splendor and regal power reserved for "the queen of the universe." From a visioned palace comes a troop of nymphs laden with ornaments, with which they offer to adorn their mistress, dancing and singing around her; but Eve, deaf to World's flatteries, resists and flies from him; both she and her consort are too penitent to listen to evil solicitations, and at Adam's rebuke the troop disappears in confusion. Then Lucifer and his devils, armed for man's destruction, rush in to seize their victims. The fierce and final struggle between the powers of heaven and hell, for the dominion of earth, takes place; for the arch-fiend encounters Michael and his angels, sent to rescue the frail beings of clay, who, in terrified astonishment, witness the battle. It would be doing injustice to the poem not to give some extracts from this striking scene.

"_Michael._ Tremble, thou son of wrath, At the fierce lightning of this barbed spear, The smiting hand of him who leads heaven's host. Nor against God, but 'gainst thyself thou wagest War, and in thine offence offend'st thyself. Back to the shades, thou wandering spirit of hell, From this celestial light shut out for ever! Drop thy dark wings beneath the glory which The Father of all light, who formed the suns, Imparts to me! Hence, with the noxious band Of God's accursed foes; nor tarry here, An evil host, with your infernal breath These precincts to pollute, to scatter gloom Through man's pure air of life! No more thy hissing vile, serpent of hell, Shall harass innocence!

_Lucifer._ Loquacious messenger Of heaven's high will, clothed in the vaunted garb Of splendor--failing in the attribute Of daring soul--minion of heaven's indulgence! Angel of softness! who in solemn ease, In seats of sloth, nests of humility, Dost harbor--on thy face and in thy heart The coward stamped--a warrior but in name; Spread, spread thy wings, and seek thy Maker's arms,[192] There shelter, there confide thee! too unequal The strife would be 'twixt fear and bravery: Betwixt the warrior and the unwarlike one, The weak and strong; betwixt a Michael vile And a proud Lucifer. But if thy boldness Aspire to rifle from my mighty hand This frail compound of clay, This animated dust, I here declare Against thee war, bitter and mortal war, Till thou shalt see, by this avenging hand, The wide creation of thy God laid waste!

_Michael._ The doleful victory, Of fierce and desperate spirit, which thou gainedst Against heaven's forces once--against this man, Whom thou confused hast vanquished--conquest poor Already snatched from thee! while in the chains From which thy prey is freed thou art involved-- May teach thee with what justice thou canst claim The palm of honor!"

The haughty monarch of hell then reminds Michael of his first great rebellion against the Most High, and his success in dragging into ruin "the third part of heaven's host," (_terza parte di stelle_.) Vaunting these proofs of his might, he boldly threatens destruction to the throne of God himself: bidding the inhabitants of heaven flee from a place which can no longer afford them a refuge of safety!

"_Michael._ Wherefore delay to check the impious vaunts Of this proud rebel? Written indeed with pen of iron, marked In living characters of blood, upon The page of everlasting misery, Shall be thy glory for this victory! To arms! to arms, then; for the swift destruction Of outcast devils!--and let man rejoice, Heaven smile, hell weep!

_Lucifer._ To the intemperate boast Of lips too bold, but rarely doth the daring Of truth succeed. To arms! and thou with me Sustain the contest. Ye, my other foes Invincible, avoid the impious strife, Effeminate followers of a peaceful chief! ... Alas! he who already hath received From heaven small grace, of ill a plenteous dole, On earth must also prove his strength unequal, Despite the powerful spirit, to the stroke Of power supernal, driving to the abyss Of gloom again! It is well meet, the wretch Vanquished in battle should lose too the light Of this celestial sun! Angels and God! Ye are victorious! Ye at length have conquered! Proud Lucifer and all his vanquished train Have dearly paid the forfeit. They forsake The day; they sink to everlasting night.

_Michael._ Fall from the earth! baffled and wounded fall, Monster of cruel hell, Down to the shades of night, where thou shalt die An everlasting death; Nor hope to spread thy wings again toward heaven, Since impious wishes fire thee desperate, Not penitence. And thou art fallen at length, Proud fiend, despairing in thy downward course, Even as exultingly thou thought'st to soar To height divine: Once more thou know'st to sink Thundering to hell's dark caverns. Thou didst hope, Fool! to bear back with thee thy prisoner, man; Alone thou seek'st thy dungeon vast, profound, Where to its depths pursued, the added flames Of endless wrath thou bearest, to increase Its ever-burning fires!... Thou wouldst have made this fair world with thine ire A desolated waste; where at thy breath Summoning to devastation, clouds and winds, And lightnings tempest-winged, and thunders loud, Vengeful should throng the air, should shake the hills; And make the valleys with their din resound. And lo! in skies from thy foul presence freed, The spheres with louder music weave their dance, And the majestic sun with purer rays Gladdens the azure fields on high. The sea Reclines in tremulous tranquillity, Or joyous pours upon the glistening strand His pearls and corals. Never wearied sport His glossy tribes, and swim the liquid sapphire. Lo! in a green and flowery vesture robed, How shine these valleys in rejoicing light! While the sweet, grateful notes of praise ascend From every soaring habitant of air, That now, a pilgrim in the scented vale, Makes vocal all the woods with melody. Let all, united on this glorious day Of scorn and shame to hell, exulting raise The hymn of joy to heaven; and widely borne By eager winds, the golden trumpets sound To tell in heaven of victory and peace!

_Adam._ O welcome sound that calls me back to joy Whence sad I fled! Ah me! I fear to blot, Tainted by sin, the holy purity Of angels' presence! O thou who wear'st the glorious armor wrought With gems celestial! Archangel bright! Dread warrior, yet most mild! thy golden locks Hiding with helmet of immortal beams! Wielding in thy right hand the conquering spear! Close the rich gold of thy too dazzling wings, And turn a gentle and a pitying look On him who prostrate at thy feet adores!"

The archangel is no longer the avenger; and he raises with pity the repentant sinners.

"_Michael._ Rise both, ye works of God Thus favored; banish from your bosoms dread Of portents unpropitious. If our Master With one hand smite, the other offers you Healing--salvation!"

Adam and Eve, delivered from their foes, are comforted by the heavenly messenger, who assures them of forgiveness on condition of future obedience. With his promise we conclude our extracts.

"_Michael._ Now since in heaven the star of love and peace Shines forth, and in ambitious hell's despite The victor to the vanquished yields the palm, Raise still your humble, grateful looks above: Bend to the soil your knees, and suppliant Praise for his mercy your forgiving Lord. So in reward for penitence and zeal God will your Father be, and heaven your home."