Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret,
For lofs of life, and pleasure, over-lov'd.
Or, if thou covet death, as utmost end
Of mifery; fo thinking to evade
The penalty pronounc'd; doubt not but GoD
Hath wifelier arm'd His vengeful ire, than fo
To be forestall'd much more I fear, left death,
So fnatch'd, will not exempt us from the pain
We are by doom to pay. Rather fuch acts
Of contumacy will provoke the Higheft,
To make death in us live! then let us feek
Some fafer refolution; which methinks
I have in view, calling to mind with heed
Part of our fentence, that "thy feed fhall bruife
"the ferpent's head:" Piteous amends! unless
Be meant (whom I conjecture) our grand foe,
SATAN who, in the ferpent, hath contriv'd
Againft us this deceit. To crufh his head
Would be revenge indeed! which will be loft
By death brought on ourselves; or childless days
Refolv'd, as thou propofeft: fo our foe
Shall 'fcape his punishment ordain'd; and we
Inftead fhall double ours upon our heads.
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 against GOD, and His juft yoke
Laid on our necks. Remember with what mild
And gracious temper he both heard, and judg'd,
Without wrath, or reviling. We expected
Immediate diffolution, which we thought
Was meant by death that day: when lo! to thee
Pains only in child-bearing were foretold,
And bringing forth; foon recompens❜d with joy,
Fruit of thy womb. On me the curfe aflope
Glanc'd on the ground; with labour I must earn
My bread: what harm? Idleness had been worse :
My labour will fuftain me. And left cold,
Or heat, fhould injure us, His timely care
Hath, unbefought, provided; and His hands
Cloathed us unworthy; pitying while He judg'd.
How much more, if we pray Him, will His ear
Be open, and His heart to pity incline?
And teach us further by what means to fhun
Th' inclement seasons, rain, ice, hail, and fnow;
Which now the sky, with various face, begins
To fhew us in this mountain; while the winds
Blow moist and keen, fhattering the graceful locks
Of these fair spreading trees: which bids us feek
Some better shroud, fome better warmth, to cherish
Our limbs benumb'd; ere this diurnal ftar
Leave cold the night, how we his gather'd beams
Reflected, may with matter fere foment;
Or, by collifion of two bodies, grind
The air attrite to fire; as late the clouds
Juftling, or push'd with winds, rude in their fhock
Tine the flant lightning; whofe thwart flame driv'n
Kindles the gummy bark of fir, and pine;
And fends a comfortable heat from far,
Which might fupply the fun. Such fire to use,
And what may elfe be remedy, or cure
To evils, which our own mif-deeds have wrought;
He will inftruct us praying, and of grace
Befeeching Him. So as we need not fear
To país commodiously this life, fuftain'd
By Him with many comforts; 'till we end
In duft, our final reft, and native home!
What better can we do, than to the place
Repairing where he judg'd us, proftrate fall
Before Him reverent; and there confefs
Humbly our faults, and pardon beg; with tears
Wat'ring the ground, and with our fighs the air
Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite, in fign
Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek?
Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn
From His difpleafure; in whofe look ferene,
When angry moft He feem'd, and moft fevere,
What elfe but favour, grace, and mercy, fhone?
The Son of GOD prefents to His FATHER the prayers of our firft parents now repenting, and intercedes for them: GOD accepts them, but declares that they must no longer abide in Paradife: fends Michael with a band of Cherubim to dif poffefs them; but first to reveal to Adam future things: Michael's coming down. Adam fhews to Eve certain ominous figns: he difcerns 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 bill; fets before him in vifion what shall happen 'till the Flood.
HUS they, in lowlieft plight! repentant
Praying for, from the mercy-feat above,
Prevenient grace defcending, had remov'd
The ftony from their hearts, and made
new flesh
Regenerate grow inftead; that fighs now breath'd
Unutterable; which the fpirit of pray'r
Infpir'd, and wing'd for heav'n with speedier flight
Than lòudeft oratory. Yet their port
Not of mean fuitors; nor important lefs
Seem'd their petition, than when th' antient pair
In fables old (lefs antient yet than thefe)
DEUCALION, and chafte PYRRHA, to restore
The race of mankind drown'd, before the fhrine
Of THEMIS ftood devout. To heav'n their pray'rs
Flew up, nor mifs'd the way, by envious winds
Blown vagabond, or fruftrate: in they pass'd
Dimenfionless thro' heav'nly doors; then clad
With incenfe, where the golden altar fum'd,
By their Great Interceffor, 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 cenfer, mix'd
With incenfe, I Thy Prieft before Thee bring:
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 Paradife could have produc'd, ere fall'n
From innocence. Now therefore, bend Thine ear
To fupplication; hear his fighs, though mute!
Unfkilful 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 thofe
Shall perfect; and for thefe, My death fhall pay.
Accept Me; and, in Me, from thefe receive
The smell of peace tow'rd mankind! let him live
Before Thee reconcil'd (at leaft his days
Number'd) tho' fad; till death (his doom, which I 40
To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse).
To better life fhall yield him; where with Me
All My Redeem'd may dwell, injoy, and bliss;
Made one with Me, as I with Thee am One.
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