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65

By faith and faithful works, to second life,
Wak'd in the renovation of the juft,
Reigns him up with heav'n and earth re-
new'd.

But let Us call to fynod all the Bleft,

Thro' Heav'n's wide bounds: from them I will not hide

My judgments, how with mankind I proceed;

As how with peccant Angels late they faw, 70 And in their state, tho' firm, stood more confirm❜d.

He ended, and the Son gave fignal high To the bright minifter that watch'd: he blew His trumpet, heard in Orep fince perhaps When God defcended; and perhaps once

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Of amarantin fhade, fountain or fpring,
By the waters of life, where'er they fat
In fellowships of joy, the fons of light
Hafted, reforting to the fummons high,
And took their feats: till from his throne fu-

preme

გი

Th' Almighty thus pronounc'd his fov'reing,

will.

O Sons! like one of Us man is become,

To know both good and evil, fince his tafte 85
Of that defended fruit: but let him boast
His knowledge of good loft, and evil got:
Happier! had it fuffic'd him, to have known
Good by itself; and evil not at all.

He forrows now, repents and prays con

trite!

90
My motions in him: longer than they move,
His heart I know how variable and vain
Self-left. Left therefore his now bolder hand
Reach alfo of the Tree of Life, and eat,
And live for ever, dream at least to live 95
For ever, to remove him I decree,

And fend him from the garden forth, to till
The ground, whence he was taken; fitter foil.
Michael, this my beheft have thou in charge!
Take to thee from among the Cherubim
Thy choice of flaming warriors; left the Fiend,
Or in behalf of man, or to invade

100

Vacant poffeffion, fome new trouble raife, Hafte thee! and from the Paradise of God Without remorfe drive out the finful pair; 105 From hallow'd ground th' unholy; and de

nounce

To them and to their progeny from thence Perpetual banifhment. Yet left they faint, At the fad sentence rigorously urg'd,

For I behold them foften'd, and with tears 110

Bewailing their excels, all terror hide.
If patiently thy bidding they obey,
Difmifs them not difconfolate; reveal-
To Adam, what shall come in future days,
As I fhall thee inlighten: intermix
115
My convenant in the woman's feed renew'd:
So fend them forth, tho' forrowing, yet in.

peace.

And on the eaft-fide of the garden place,.
Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbs,
Cherubic watch; and of a sword the flame 120
Wide-waming, all approach far off to fright,
And guard all paffage to the Tree of Life:
Left Paradife a receptacle prove

To fpirits foul, and all my trees their prey;
With whofe ftol'n fruit man once more to

delude.

125

He ceas'd; and th' archangelic Pow'r pre

par'd

For fwift defcent: with him the cohort bright Of wathful Cherubim: four faces each

Had, like a double Janus; all their shape Spangled with eyes, more numerous than

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Of Argus, and more wakeful than to drouse, Charm'd with Arcadian pipe, the paft'ral reed

Of Hermes, or his opiate rod. Mean while To refalute the world with facred light

Leucothea wak'd; and with fresh dews in

balm'd

135

The earth; when Adam, and first matron

Eve,

Had ended now their orifons; and found Strength added from above; new hope to fpring

Out of despair; joy, but with fear yet link'd: Which thus to Eve his welcome words

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Eve, easily may faith admit, that all The good, which we enjoy, from Heav'n de

fcends:

But that from us ought should ascend to Heav'n

So prevalent as to concern the mind

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Of God high-bleft, or to incline his will, 145
Hard to belief may feem: yet this will pray'r
Or one fhort figh of human breath, up-born
Ev'n to the feat of God. For fince I fought
By pray'r th' offended Deity t' appease,
Kneel'd, and before him humbl'd all my
heart,

150

Methought I faw him placable and mild,
Bending his ear: perfuafion in me grew,
That I was heard with favor; peace return'd
Home to my breaft; and to my memory
His promife, that thy feed fhall bruise our

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Which, then not minded in difmay, yet now Allures me, that the bitterness of Death

Is paft, and we shall live.

thee!

Whence hail to

Eve rightly call'd, mother of all mankind,
Mother of all things living, fince by thee 160
Man is to live; and all things live for man!
To whom thus Eve, with fad demeanour
meek:

Ill worthy I fuch title should belong

To me tranfgreffor, who, for thee ordain'd
A help, became thy fnare: to me réproach 165
Rather belongs, diftruft, and all dispraise.
But infinite in pardon was my Judge,
That I, who firft brought death on all,
grac'd

am

170

The fource of life: next favourable thou,
Who higly thus t' intitle me vouchsaf'st:
Far other name deferving! But the field
To labor calls us now with sweat impos'd,
Though after sleepless night: for fee! the morn,
All unconcern'd with our unreft, begins
Her roly progress smiling; let us forth; 175
I never from thy fide henceforth to stray,
Where'er our days work lies; though now
enjoin'd

Laborious, till day droop; while here we dwell,

What can be toilsom in these pleasant walks?

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