By death brought on ourselves, or childless days Resolved, as thou proposest; so our foe Shall scape his punishment ordain'd, and we Instead shall double ours upon our heads. No more be mention'd then of violence Against ourselves; and wilful barrenness, That cuts off trom hope; and savours only Rancour and pride, impatience and despite, Reluctance against God and his just yoke Laid on our necks. Remember with what mild And gracious temper he both heard, and judged, Without wrath or reviling; we expected Immediate dissolution, which we thought
Was meant by death that day: when lo! to thee Pains only in childbearing were foretold, And bringing forth; soon recompensed with joy, Fruit of thy womb on me the curse aslope Glanced on the ground; with labour I must earn My bread; what harm? Idleness had been worse My labour will sustain me; and, lest cold
Or heat should injure us, his timely care Hath, unbesought, provided; and his hands Clothed us unworthy, pitying while he judged; 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 shun The inclement seasons, ran, ice, hail, and snow! Which now the sky, with various face, begins To show us in this mountain; while the winds Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks Of these fair spreading trees; which bids us seek
Some better shroud, some better warmth to cher
Our limbs benumbed, ere this diurnal star Leave cold the night, how we his gather'd beams Reflected may with matter sere foment; Or, by collision of two bodies, grind
The air attrite to fire; as late the clouds Justling, or push'd with winds, rude in their shock, Tine the slant lightning; whose thwart flame. driven down,
Kindles the gummy bark of fir or 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 misdeeds have wrought He will instruct us praying, and of grace Beseeching him; so as we need not fear To pass commodiously this life, sustain'd By him with many comforts, till we end In dust, our final rest and native home. What better can we do than, to the place Repairing where he judged us, prostrate fall Before him reverent; and there confess Humbly our faults, and pardon beg; with tears Watering the ground, and with our sighs the air Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign 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, What else but favour, grace, and mercy shone ? So spake our father penitent; nor Eve
Felt less remorse: they, forthwith to the place Repairing where he judged them, prostrate fell Before him reverent; and both confessed Humbly their faults, and pardon begg'd: with tears Watering the ground, and with their sighs the air Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign Of sorrow unfeign'd and humiliation meek.
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 dispossess them: but first to reveal to Adam future things: Michael's coming down Adam shows to Eve certain omnious signs; he discerns Michael's approach; goes out to meet him; the angel denounces their departure. Eve's lamentation Adam pleads, but submits: The angel leads him up to a high hill; sets before him in vision what shall happen till the flood.
THUS they, in lowliest plight, repentant stood Praying; for from the mercy-seat above Prevenient grace descending had removed
The stony from their hearts, and made new filesh Regenerate grow instead; that sighs now breathed Unutterable; which the spirit of prayer
Inspired, and wing'd for heaven with speedier flight
Than loudest oratory: yet their port
Not of mean suitors; nor important less
Seem'd their petition, than when the ancient pair In fables old, less ancient yet than these, Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha, to restore The race of mankind drown'd, before the shrine Of Themis stood devout. To heaven their prayers Flew up, nor miss'd the way, by envious winds Blown vagabond or frustrate: in they pass'd Dimensionless through heavenly doors; then clad
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