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Tine the flant lightning; whose thwar flame

driv'n down, 1075

Kindles the gummy bark of Fir, and Pine,

And fends a comfortable heat from far,
Which might fupply the Sun.

Such fire to use,
And what may else be remedy or cure
To evils, which our own misdeeds have

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He will inftruct us praying, and of grace
Befeeching him. So as we need not fear
To pals commodioufly, this life, fuftain'd
By him with many comforts; till we end
In duft, 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

1090 Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite, in fign

Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek?
Undoubtedly he will relent and turn
From his difpleasure: in whose look ferene,
When angry moft he seem'd and most se-

vere,

1095 What else but favor, grace, and mercy fhone?

So fpake our father penitent: nor Eve Felt lefs remorse. They forthwith to the place

Repairing where he judg'd them, proftrate fell Before him reverent; and both confefs'd 1100 Humbly their faults; and pardon begg'd, with

tears

Wat'ring the ground; and with their fighs the air

Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite; in fign Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.

The End of the Tenth Book.

BOOK

BOOK XI.

Thus they in lowliest plight repentant stood

Praying; for from the mercy-feat above, Prevenient grace defcending, had remov'd The ftony from their hearts, and made new

flesh

Regenerate grow instead; that fighs now breath'd

Unutterable, with the spirit of pray'r

5

Infpir'd: and wing'd for Heav'n with speedier flight

Than loudeft oratory. Yet their port

Not of mean fuitors; nor important lefs

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In fables old, lefs ancient yet than thefe,
Deucalion and chafte Pyrrha, to restore.

10

The race of mankind drown'd, before the

Shrine

Of Themis ftood devout. To Heav'n their,

pray're

D

Flew up,

nor miss'd the way, by envious winds

15

Blown vagabond, or frustrate: in they pass'd Dimensionless 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

Prefenting, thus to intercede began.

20

See, Father, what firft 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 Priest before thee bring: 25 Fruits of more pleasing favor 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, e're fall'n From innocence. Now therefore bend thine

ear

30 To fupplication; hear his fighs though mute! Unthilful with what words to pray, Interpret for him; me, his advocate

let me

And propitiation; all his works on me,
Good or aot good ingraft: My merit those 35
Shall perfect; and for these my death shall

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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

To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse,

40

To better life fhall 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 whom the Father, without cloud, fe-

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All thy request for man, accepted Son,
Obtain; all thy request was my decree.
But longer in that Paradife to dwell,
The law I gave to nature him forbids.
Those pure immortal elements, that know 50
No grofs, no unharmonious mixture foul,
Eject him tainted now; and purge him off
As a diftemper, grofs to air as grofs,
And mortal food, as may difpofe him beft
For dillolution wrought by fin, that firft
Distemper'd all things; and of incorrupt
Corrupted, I at first with two fair gifts
Created him endow'd, with happiness
And immortality: that fondly loft,

55

This other ferv'd but to eternize woe,
Till I provided Death: fo Death becomes
His final remedy: and after life,
Try'd in fharp tribulation, and refin'd

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