Of sorrow unfeigned and humiliation meek? So spake our father penitent, nor Eve Felt less remorse: they forthwith to the place ? Repairing where he judged them prostrate fell Before him reverent, and both confessed Humbly their faults, and pardon begged, with tears Watering the ground, and with their sighs the air Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign Of sorrow unfeigned and humiliation meek. 1095 1100 BOOK XI. THE ARGUMENT. THE Son of God presents to his Father the prayers of our first parents now repenting, and intercedes for them. God accepts them, but declares that they must no longer abide in Paradise: sends Michael with a band of Cherubim to dispossess them; but first to reveal to Adam future things. Michael's coming down. Adam shows to Eve certain ominous signs; he discerns Michael's approach, goes out to meet him: the Angel denounces their departure. Eve's lamentation. Adam pleads, but submits. The Angel leads him up to a high hill, sets before him in vision what shall happen till the flood. THUS they in lowliest plight repentant stood 5 Inspired, and winged for Heaven with speedier flight Than loudest oratory: yet their port Not of mean suitors, nor important less Seemed their petition, than when the ancient pair 10 In fables old, less ancient yet than these, 330 PARADISE LOST. Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha, to restore [BOOK XI. The race of mankind drowned, before the shrine "See, Father, what first fruits on sprung 15 20 earth are From thy implanted grace in man, these sighs And propitiation; all his works on me, 16. vagabond, to and fro; wandering. -frustrate, frustrated; made vain. 17. Dimensionless, immaterial; not having dimensions like matter. 24. golden altar. "The golden altar which was before the throne." See Revelation viii. 3, 4. 28. manuring. See IV. 628. 25 30 35 33-34. his advocate and propitiation. "And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John ii. 1, 2. 35. those, his good works. 36. these, his works not good. 37. these. See lines 20, 23, 31. The smell of peace toward mankind; let him live To better life shall yield him, where with me To whom the Father, without cloud, serene : 41 45 50 55 60 Tried in sharp tribulation and refined By faith and faithful works, to second life Resigns him up with heaven and earth renewed. 39. his days, through all his days. 42. with me. "I will that they also whom thou hast given me be with me where I am." John xvii. 24. 44. Made one. See John xvii. 21. 47. my decree, what I had before decreed. 65 But let us call to synod all the blest Through Heaven's wide bounds; from them I will not hide My judgments, how with mankind I proceed, As how with peccant angels late they saw, 70 And in their state, though firm, stood more confirmed." He ended, and the Son gave signal high The angelic blast Filled all the regions: from their blissful bowers Of amarantine shade, fountain or spring, By the waters of life, where'er they sat In fellowships of joy, the sons of light And took their seats; till from his throne supreme "O sons, like one of us Man is become He sorrows now, repents, and prays contrite, 70. peccant, sinning. late they saw. See VI. 831-877. 73. minister, servant; chief attendant. See Exodus xxiv. 13. Matthew xx. 26. 74. heard in Oreb. See Exodus xix. 19. Oreb, Horeb or Sinai. - perhaps, perhaps the same. 75. once more. "For the trumpet shall sound." 1 Corinthians xv. 52. 78. amarantine shade. See III. 353-361. 79. the waters of life. "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb." Revelation xxii. 1. 86. defended, forbidden. 91. longer than they move, when they cease to move. |