730 To forrow abandon'd, but worse felt within, And in a troubled fea of paffion toft, Thus to difburden fought with fad complaint. O miferable of happy! is this the end 720 Of this new glorious world, and me fo late The glory of that glory, who now become Accurs'd of bleffed? Hide me from the face Of God, whom to behold was then my height Of happiness! yet well, if here would end 725 The mifery; I deferv'd it, and would bear My own defervings; but this will not ferve! All that I eat, or drink, or shall beget, Is propagated curfe. O voice once heard Delightfully, Increafe and multiply; Now death to hear! For what can I increase, Or multiply, but curfes on my head? Who of all ages to fucceed, but feeling The evil on him brought by me, will curfe My head? Il fare our ancestor impure! For this we may thank Adam! but his thanks Shall be the execration: fo befides Mine own that bide upon me, all from me Shall with a fierce reflux on me redound: On me as on their natural centre light Heavy, though in their place. O fleeting joys Of Paradife, dear bought with lafting woes! Did I request thee, Maker, from my clay, To mold me man? Did I folicit thee From darkness to promote me, or here place 745 735 740 In In this delicious garden? As my will 750 Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold Yet, to lay truth, too I thus contest: then fhould have been refus'd pos'd: Thou didst accept them; wilt thou enjoy the good, Then cavil the conditions? And though God' Prove difobedient, and reprov'd, retort, Wouldst thou admit for his contempt of thee 765 God made thee of choice his own, and of his own To ferve him; thy reward was of his grace, 1 Be it fo! for I fubmit: his doom is fair, That duft I am, and shall to duft return: 770 His hand to execute, what his decree Why am I mock'd with death, and lengthen'd Mortality my fentence, and be earth To me and to my offspring would torment me Perfues me ftill, left all I cannot die; And fin? The body properly hath neither. 790 All of me then fhall die; let this appeale For though the Lord of all be infinite, Is his wrath alfo? Be it! Man is not fo, 795 But mortal doom'd. How can he exercise Wrath without end on man whom death must end? Can he make deathlefs death? That were to make Strange contradiction, which to God himself Impoffible is held; as argument 800 Of weakness, not of pow'r. Will he draw out, In punifh'd man, to fatisfy his rigor, 810 Comes thund'ring back with dreadful revo lution On my defenseless head; both Death and I 815 To wafte it all myfelf, and leave ye none! 820 For one man's fault thus guiltlefs be condemn'd, ' If guiltlefs? But from me what can proceed, But all corrupt both mind and will de prav'd. No to do only, but to will the fame 825. With me? How can they then acquitted stand Forc'd I abfolve: all my evasions vain But to my own conviction: first and laft And what thou fear'ft, alike deftroys all hope Of refuge; and concludes thee miserable, 840 |