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, Such fire to use, He will inftruct us praying, and of grace air 1090 Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite, in fign Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek? 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 In fables old, lefs ancient yet than thefe, 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, 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 thy request for man, accepted Son, 55 This other ferv'd but to eternize woe, 60 |