Book V

Adam wakes to find Eve disturbed by a troubling dream in which she was tempted by a voice to eat the forbidden fruit; Adam reassures her that dreams are not sinful.

Adam and Eve offer their spontaneous morning prayer praising God's creation—sun, moon, stars, air, water, and every living creature—before attending to their garden labors.

God instructs Raphael to warn Adam of Satan's plan to seduce humanity, so that Adam cannot claim ignorance when he falls.

Raphael descends magnificently from Heaven, arrives at Paradise, is welcomed by Adam, and greets Eve with the angelic salutation—echoing the later greeting to Mary.

Adam and Eve host Raphael at a lavish fruit feast; the angel explains the great chain of being and how matter ascends toward spirit, encouraging Adam to aspire toward God.

Raphael begins his narrative: God summons all angels to worship his newly proclaimed Son; the assembled host rejoices, though not all are truly pleased.

Satan cannot bear the Son's exaltation; in secret at midnight he rouses his legions and withdraws to the north, deceiving his followers about his real motive.

The loyal seraph Abdiel rebukes Satan's blasphemous speech before all the rebel host, then departs alone through Satan's contemptuous ranks back to God's throne.