then raise
From the conflagrant mass, purged and refined,
New heavens, new earth, ages of endless date
Founded in righteousness and peace and love,
To bring forth fruits, joy, and eternal bliss."

These instructions finished, the angel bids Adam not seek to know any
more, enjoining upon him to add deeds to knowledge, to cultivate
patience, temperance, and love, promising, if he obeys, that Paradise
will reign in his heart. Then pointing out that the guards placed
around Eden are waving their flashing swords and that it is time to
awaken Eve, he bids Adam gradually impart to her all that he has
learned through angelic revelations. When they rejoin Eve, she
explains how God sent her a dream which has soothed her heart and
filled it with hope, making her realize that, although she has sinned
and is unworthy, through her seed all shall be blessed.

Then the angel takes Adam and Eve by the hand and leads them out by
the eastern gate into the world. Gazing backward, our first parents
catch their last glimpse of Paradise and behold at the gate the angel
with a flaming sword. Thus, hand in hand, dropping natural tears, they
pass out into the world to select their place of rest, having
Providence only for their guide.

PARADISE REGAINED

Having sung of Paradise Lost, Milton proposes as theme for a new epic
"Paradise Regained." In it he purports to sing of "deeds heroic
although in secret done" and to describe how Christ was led into the
wilderness to be tempted by Satan.

_Book I._ While baptizing in the Jordan, John suddenly beheld Christ
approaching, and, although he at first demurred, yielded at last to
his request to baptize him too. While the Baptist was doing this, a
heavenly voice proclaimed Christ Son of God. This was heard not only
by John and his disciples, but also by the adversary, who, ever since
the fall, had been roaming around the world, and who for years past
has been closely watching the promised Redeemer in hopes of defeating
his ends.

Suddenly realizing that the conflict between them is about to begin,
Satan hastens back to Hades to take counsel with his crew. When all
are assembled, he reminds them how long they have ruled the earth,
adding that the time has come when their power may be wrested from
them and the curse spoken in Eden fulfilled. He fears Jesus is the
promised Messiah, owing to his miraculous birth, to the testimony of
the precursor, and to the heavenly voice when he