IO20

Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret,
For loss of life, and pleasure, over-lov’d.
Or, if thou covet death, as utmost end
Of misery; so thinking to evade
The penalty pronounc'd; doubt not but God
Hath wiselier arm'd His vengeful ire, than so
To be forestallid : much more I fear, lest death,
So snatch'd, will not exempt us from the pain 1025
We are by doom to pay. Rather such acts
Of contumacy will provoke the Highest,
To make death in us live! then let us seek
Some safer resolution ; which methinks
I have in view, calling to mind with heed

1036 Part 8f our fentence, that “thy feed shall bruise “ the serpent's head:” Piteous amends! unless Be meant (whom I conjecture) our grand foe, SATAN: who, in the serpent, hath contriv'd Against us this deceit. To crush his head

1035 Would be revenge indeed! which will be lost By death brought on ourselves ; or childless days Resolv'd, as thou proposeft : fo our foe Shall 'scape his punishment ordain'd ; and we Instead shall double ours upon our heads.

1040 No more be mention'd then of violence Against ourselves; and wilful barrenness, That cuts us off from hope ; and favours only Rancour and pride, impatience and despite, Reluctance againit God, and His just yoke 1045 Laid on our necks. Remember with what mild And gracious temper he both heard, and judg’d, Without wrath, or reviling. We expected Immediate dissolution, which we thought Was meant by death that day: when lo! to thee

105 Pains only in child-bearing were foretold, And bringing forth; foon recompens'd with joy, Fruit of thy womb. On me the curse allope Glanc'd on the ground ; with labour I must earn My bread: what harm? Idleness had been worse : My labour will sustain me. And leit cold,

1056 Or heat, should injure us, His timely care

Hath,

Hath, unbesought, provided ; and His hands
Cloathed us unworthy i pitying while He judg’d.
How much more, if we pray Him, will His ear
Be open, and His heart to pity incline ?

1061
And teach us further by what means to shun
Th'inclement seasons, rain, ice, hail, and snow ;
Which now the sky, with various face, begins
To fhew us in this mountain; while the winds 1065
Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks
Of these fair spreading trees : which bids us seek
Some better shroud, some better warmth, to cherish
Our limbs benumb'd; ere this diurnal ftar
Leave cold the nighi, how we his gather'd beams
Reflected, may with matter sere foment;

1071 Or, by collision of two bodies, grind The air attrite to fire ; as late the clouds Juftling, or push'd with winds, rude in their shock Tine the flant lightning; whose thwart flame driv'n down,

1075 Kindles the gummy bark of fir, and pine ; And sends a comfortable heat from far, Which might supply the sun. Such fire to use, And what may else be remedy, or cure To evils, which our own mif-deeds have wrought ; He will instruct us praying, and of grace

1081 Beseeching Him. So as we need not fear

To pass commodiously this life, fuftain'd By Him with many comforts ; 'till we end In dust, our final rest, and native home!

1085
What better can we do, than to the place
Repairing where he judg'd us, proftrate fall
Before Him reverent; and there confess
Humbly our faults, and pardon beg; with tears
Wat'ring the ground, and with our fighs the air 1c90
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in fign
Of sorrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek?
Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn
From His displeasure ; in whose look serene,
When angry most He seem'd, and most severe, 1095
What else but favour, grace,

and
mercy,
fhone ?

So

THE

EL EVENTH BOOK

OF

PARADISE LOST.

The ARGUMENT.

The Son of God presents to His Father the prayers of our

first parents now repenting, and intercedes for them : God accepts them, but declares that they must no longer abide in Paradise : sends Michael with a band of Cherubim to difpollefs tbem ; but firft to reveal to Adam future things : Michael's coming down. Adam fhews to. Eve certain ominous signs : be discerns Michael's approach ; goes out to meet him: the Angel denounces their departure. Eve's La;mentation. Adam pleads, but fubmits : the Angel leads him up to a high hill; fets bejore him in vision what shall happen 'till the Flod.

HUS they, in lowliest plight! repentant Grup

stood
T

Praying; for, from the mercy-seat above,
Prevenient grace descending, had remov'd
The stony from their hearts, and made

new flesh
Regenerate grow instead ; that fighs now breath'd

5 Unutterable; which the spirit of pray'r

21

Inspir'd, and wing'd for heav'n with speedier flight
Than lòudest oratory. Yet their port
Not of mean suitors ; nor important less
Seem'd their petition, than when th' antient pair 10
In fables old (less antient yet than these)
DEUCALION, and chafte Pyrrha, to restore
The race of mankind drown'd, before the shrine
Of Themis stood devout. To heav'n their pray'rs
Flew up, nor miss’d the way, by envious winds 15
Blown vagabond, or frustrate : in they passid
Dimensionless thro' heav'nly doors ; then clad
With incense, where the golden altar fum'd,
By their Great Intercessor, came in fight
Before the Father's throne : them the glad Son
Presenting, thus to intercede began.

See, Father! what first-fruits on earth are sprung
From Thy implanted grace in man! these fighs,
And pray’rs, which in this golden censer, mix'd
With incense, I Thy Priest before Thee bring : 25
Fruits of more pleasing favour, from Thy feed
Sown with contrition in his heart, than those
Which (his own hand manuring) all the trees ,
Of Paradise could have produc'd, ere fallin
From innocence. Now therefore, bend Thine ear
To supplication ; hear his fighs, though mute! 31
Unskilful with what words to pray, let Me
Interpret for him: Me, his advocate
And propitiation; all his works on Me,
Good, or not good, ingraft: My merit those

35 Shall perfect; and for these, My death shall pay. Accept Me ; and, in Me, from these receive The smell of peace tow'rd mankind ! let him live Before Thee reconcil'd (at least his days Number'd) tho' sad ; till death (his doom, which I 40 To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse) To better life shall yield him ; where with Me All My Redeem'd may dwell, in joy, and bliss ; Made one with Me, as I with Thee am One.

To