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And manifold in fin, deferv'd to fall.
Up into Heav'n from Paradise in haste
Th' Angelic Guards afcended, mute and fad
for of his state by this they knew:
Much wond'ring, how the fubtle fiend had

For man;

ftol'n

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Entrance unseen. Soon as th' unwelcome

news

From earth arriv'd at Heaven gate, difpleas'd
All were, who heard: dim sadness did not spare
That time celestial visages; yet mix'd.

With pity, violated not their blifs.
About the new-arriv'd, in multitudes

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Th' ethereal people ran, to hear and know How all befel: they towards the Throne su

preme

Accountable made hafte to make appear

With righteous plea their utmost vigilance; 30
And easily approv'd: when the Moft High
Eternal Father, from his fecret cloud
Amidft, in thunder utter'd thus his voice.

Affembled Angels, and ye Pow'rs return'd From unsuccessful charge! be not dismay'd, 35 Nor troubl'd at thefe tidings from the earth, Which your fincereft care could not prevent, Foretold fo lately, what would come to pafs, When first this tempter crofs'd the gulf from

Hell.

I told you then he should prevail, and speed 40

On his bad errand; Man should be feduc'd, `
And flatter'd out of all, believing lies

Againft his Maker: no decree of mine
Concurring to neceffitate his fall,

Or touch with lightest moment of impulfe: 45 His free will, to her own inclining left.

In even scale. But fall'n he is,

and now

What rests, but that the mortal Sentence pafs On his tranfgreffion, death denounc'd that day; the

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Which he prefumes already vain and void, 50 Because not inflicted, as he fear'd,

By fome immediate ftroke: aut foon fhall find Forbearance no acquittance e're day end. Justice shall not return, as bounty, fcorn'd. But whom fend I to judge them? whom, but

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Vicegerent Son? To thee I have transferr'd All jugdment, whether in Heav'n, or Earth, or Hell,

Eafy it may be seen, that I intend

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Mercy collegue with justice sending thee,
Man's friend, his mediator, his defign'd
Both ranfom and redeemer voluntary;
And deftin'd man himself, to judge man fall'n.
So fpake the Father, and unfolding bright
Tow'rd the right hand his Glory, on the Son
Blaz'd forth unclouded Deity: He full
Refplendent all his Father manifest

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Exprefs'd, and thus divinely answer'd mild.

Father Eternal! Thine is to decree;

Mine both in Heav'n and Earth, to do thy will
Supreme; that thou in me thy Son belov'd 70
Mayft ever reft well pleas'd. I go to judge
On earth these thy tranfgreffors; but thou
know'It,

Whoever judg'd, the worst on me. muft light,
When time fhall be; for fo I undertook
Before thee; and not repenting, this obtain 75
Of right, that I may mitigate their doom
On me deriv'd: yet I fhall temper fo
Juftice with Mercy, as may illustrate moft
Them fully fatisfy'd, and thee appease,
Attendance none fhall need, nor train, where

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Are to behold the judgment, but the judg'd, Those two: the third beft abfent is condemn'd; Convict by flight, and rebel to all law; Conviction to the ferpent none belongs.

Thus faying, from his radiant feat he

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Of high collateral glory: Him Thrones, and
Pow'rs,

Princedoms, and Dominations miniftrant,
Accompanied to Heaven gate: from whence
Eden, and all the coaft in profpect lay...
Down he defcended straight: the Speed of
Gods

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Time counds not, tho' with swifteft minutesst

wing'd,

Now was the Sun in western cadence low From noon; and gentle airs, due at their hour,

To fan the earth now wak'd, and usher in The ev❜ning cool; when he, from wrath more

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Came, the mild Judge, and Interceffor both, To fentence man: the voice of God they heard, Now walking in the garden, by foft winds Brought to their ears while day declin'd: they

heard,

And from his prefence hid themselves,

among

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The thickest trees, both man and wife: till

God

Approaching, thus to Adam call'd aloud. Where art thou Adam, wont with joy to

meet

My coming feen far off? I miss thee here,
Not pleas'd; thus entertain'd with folitude, 105
Where obvious duty e're-while appear'd un-
fought:

Or come I lefs confpicious? Or what change Absents thee? Or what change detains? Come forth :

He came, and with him Eve, more loth,

tho' firft

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Love was not in their looks, either to God
Or to each other; but apparent guilt,
And shame, and perturbation, and despair,
Anger, and obstinacy, and hate, and guile:
Whence Adam, fault'ring long, thus answer'd
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I heard thee in the garden, and of thy voice
Afraid, being naked, hid myself. — To whom
The gracious Judge without revile reply'd.,

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brief:

My voice thou oft haft heard, and haft not fear'd,

But ftill rejoic'd: how is it now become

So dreadful to thee?

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That thou art naked,

who

Had told thee? Haft thou eaten of the tree,

Whereof I gave thee charge, thou should not eat? !

To whom thus Adam fore befet reply'd,

O Heav'n! in evil ftrait this day I stand
Before my Judge, either to undergo

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Myself the total crime, or to accuse
My other felf, the partner of my life:
Whofe failing, while her faith to me remains,
I should conceal, and not expose to blame 130
By my complaint. But strict neceffity

Subdues me, and calamitous constraint!
Left on my head both fin and punishment,

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