Chapter 16 15
He drew not night unheard, the Angel bright, [ 645 ]
Ere he drew night, his radiant visage turn,
Admonisht by his ear, and strait was known
Th Arch-Angel Uriel, one of the seavn
Who in Gods presence, needest 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 Embassy 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 favor, 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 bestowed
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 just hath drivn out his Rebell Foes
To deepest Hell, and to repair that loss
Created this new happy Race of Men
To serve him better: wise are all his ways. [ 680 ]
So spake the false dissembler unperceived;
For neither Man nor Angel can discern
Hypocrisie, the only 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 return.