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The penalty pronounc'd, doubt not but God
Harh wifelier arm'd his vengeful ire than fo
To be foreftall'd; much more I fear left Death
So fnatch'd will not exempt us from the pain"
We are by doom to pay; rather fuch acts
Of contumacy will provoke the higheft casa monni
To make Death in us live: Then let us feek
Some fafer refolution, which methinks

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I have in view, calling to mind with heed
Part of our Sentence, that thy Seed shall bruife
The Serpent's head; piteous amends, unless
Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand Foe
Satan, who in the Serpent hath contriv'd
Against us this deceit : to crufh his head
Would be revenge indeed; which will be loft
By Death brought on our felves, or Childless days
Refolv'd as thou propofeft; fo our Foe
Shall fcape his punishment ordain'd, and we
Inftead fhall double ours upon our heads.
No more be mention'd then of violence
Against our selves, and wilful barrenness
That cuts us off from hope, and favours only
Rancour and pride, impatience and despite,
Reluctance against God and his juft yoke
Laid on our Necks. Remember with what mildTM
And gracious temper he both heard and judg'd
Without wrath or reviling; we expected
Immediate diffolution, which we thought
Was meant by Death that day; when lo, to Thee
Pains only in Child-bearing were foretold,
And bringing forth, foon recompenc'd with joy,
Fruit of thy Womb: On Me the Curfe aflope
Glanc'd on the Ground, with Labour I muft earn
My bread; what harm? Idleness had been worse,

My labour will fuftain me; and left Cold

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Or Heat should injure us, his timely care

Hath

Hath unbefought provided, and his hands
Cloath'd us unworthy, pitying while he judg'd.
How much more, if we pray him, will his ear
Be open, and his heart to pity incline,

And teach us further by what means to fhun
Th' inclement Seafons, Rain, Ice, Hail and Snow,
Which now the Sky with various Face begins
To fhew us in this Mountain, while the Winds
Blow moist and keen, fhattering the graceful locks
Of these fair spreading Trees; which bids us feek
Some better shroud, fome better warmth to cherish
Our Limbs benum'd, e're this diurnal Star
Leave cold the Night, how we his gather'd beams
Reflected may with matter sere foment,

Or by collifion of two bodies grind

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The Air attrite to Fire, as late the Clouds

Which might supply the Sun: fuch Fire to use,

And what may else be remedy or cure

To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought,
He will inftruct us praying, and of Grace
Befeeching him, so as we need not fear
To pass commodiously this life, sustain’d
By him with many comforts, till we end
In Duft, our final reft and native home.
What better can we do, than to the place
Repairing where he judg'd us, proftrate fall
Before him reverent, and there confefs
Humbly our faults, and pardon beg, with tears
Watering the ground, and with our fighs the Air
Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite, in fign
Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.
Undoubtedly he will relent and turn

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From his displeasure; in whose look fèrene,

When

When angry moft he seem'd and most severe,
What else but favour, grace, and mercy fhon?

So Spake our Father penitent, nor Eve,
Felt lefs remorfe: they forthwith to the place
Repairing where he judg'd them proftrate fell
Before him reverent, and both confefs'd

Humbly their faults, and pardon beg'd, with tears
Watering the ground, and with their sighs the Air
Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite, in fign
Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.

The End of the Tenth Book

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Para

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK XI.

The ARGUMENT.

The Son of God presents to his Father the prayers of our firft Parents now repenting, and intercedes for them: God accepts them, but declares that they must no longer abide in Paradife; fends Michael with a Band of Cherubim to difpoffefs them; but first to reveal to Adam future things. Michael's coming down. Adam fhews to Eve certain ominous figns; be decerns 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, fets before him in a vision what shall bappen till the Flood.

THUS