GABRIEL _and_ ITHURIEL _descend, carried on bright clouds, and flying cross each other, then light on the ground._ _Gab._ Ithuriel, since we two commissioned are From heaven the guardians of this new made pair, Each mind his charge; for, see, the night draws on, And rising mists pursue the setting sun. _Ithu._ Blest is our lot to serve; our task we know: To watch, lest any, from the abyss below Broke loose, disturb their sleep with dreams; or worse, Assault their beings with superior force. [URIEL _flies down from the Sun._ _Uriel._ Gabriel, if now the watch be set, prepare, With strictest guard, to shew thy utmost care. This morning came a spirit, fair he seemed, Whom, by his face, I some young cherub deemed; Of man he much inquired, and where his place, With shews of zeal to praise his Maker's grace; But I, with watchful eyes, observed his flight, And saw him on yon steepy mount alight; There, as he thought, unseen, he laid aside His borrowed mask, and re-assumed his pride: I marked his looks, averse to heaven and good; Dusky he grew, and long revolving stood On some deep, dark design; thence shot with haste, And o'er the mounds of Paradise he past: By his proud port, he seemed the Prince of Hell; And here he lurks in shades 'till night: Search well Each grove and thicket, pry in every shape, Lest, hid in some, the arch hypocrite escape. _Gab._ If any spirit come to invade, or scout From hell, what earthy fence can keep him out? But rest secure of this, he shall be found, And taken, or proscribed this happy ground. _Ithu._ Thou to the east, I westward walk the round, And meet we in the midst. _Uriel._ Heaven your design Succeed; your charge requires you, and me mine. [URIEL _flies forward out of sight; the two Angels exeunt severally._ _A Night-piece of a pleasant Bower:_ ADAM _and_ EVE _asleep in it._ _Enter_ LUCIFER. _Lucif._ So, now they lie secure in love, and steep Their sated senses in full draughts of sleep. By what sure means can I their bliss invade? By violence? No, for they are immortal made. Their reason sleeps, but mimic fancy wakes, Supplies her part, and wild ideas takes, From words and things, ill sorted and misjoined; The anarchy of thought, and chaos of the mind: Hence dreams, confused and various, may arise; These will I set before the woman's eyes; The weaker she, and made my easier prey; Vain shows and pomp the softer sex betray. [LUCIFER _sits down by_ EVE, _and seems to whisper in her ear._ _A Vision, where a tree rises loaden with fruit; four Spirits rise with it, and draw a canopy out of the tree; other Spirits dance about the tree in deformed shapes; after the dance an Angel enters, with a Woman, habited like_ EVE.