Our limbs benumb'd, ere this diurnal star Leave cold the night, how we his gather'd beams Reflected may with matter sere foment; Or, by collision of two bodies, grind The air attrite to fire; as late the clouds
Justling or push'd with winds, rude in their shock, Tine the slant lightning, whose thwart flame, driv'a down,
Kindles the gummy bark of fir or pine,
And sends a comfortable heat from far,
Which might supply the sun: such fire to use, And what may else be remedy or cure
To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought, 1080 He will instruct us praying, and of grace Beseeching him, so as we need not fear To pass commodiously this life, sustain'd By him with many comforts, till we end In dust, our final rest and native home. What better can we do, than, to the place Repairing where he judg'd us, prostrate fall Before him reverent, and there confess
Humbly our faults, and pardon beg, with tears Watering the ground, and with our sighs the air 1096 Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign Of sorr❜ow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek? Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn From his displeasure; in whose look serene, When angry most he seem'd and most severe, What else but favour, grace, and mercy shone!" So spake our father penitent, nor Eve Felt less remorse: they, forthwith to the place Repairing where he judg'd them, prostrate fell Before him reverent, and both confess'd
Humbly their faults, and pardon begg'd, with tears Watering the ground, and with their sighs the air Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign Of sorr❜ow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.
THE END OF THE TENTH BOOK,
The Son of God presents to his Father the prayers of our first parents now repen ting, 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 Praying; for from the mercy-seat above Prevenient grace descending had remov'd The stony from their hearts, and made new flesh Regenerate grow instead, that sighs now breath'd Unutterable, which the spirit of pray'r
Inspir'd, and wing'd for Heav'n with speedier flight Than loudest oratory: yet their port
Not of mean suitors, nor important less
Seem'd their petition, than when th' ancient pair 10 In fables old, less ancient yet than these, Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha, to restore
The race of mankind drown'd, before the shrine Of Themis stood devout. To Heav'n their prayers Flew up, nor miss'd the way, by envious winds Blown vagabond or frustrate: in they pass'd Dimensionless through heav'nly doors; then, clad With incense, where the golden altar fum'd, By their great intercessor, came in sight Before the Father's throne: them the glad Son Presenting, thus to intercede began.
"See, Father, what first fruits on earth are sprung From thy implanted grace in man, these sighs And pray'rs, which in this golden censer, mix'd
With incense, I thy priest before thee bring; Fruits of more pleasing savour, from thy seed Sown with contrition in his heart, than those Which, his own hand manuring, all the trees Of Paradise could have produc'd, ere fall'n From innocence. Now therefore bend thine ear To supplication; hear his sighs though mute; Unskilful with what words to pray, let me Interpret for him, me, his advocate
And propitiation; all his works on me,
Good or not good, ingraft; my merit those
Shall perfect, and for these my death shall pay. Accept me, and, in me, from these receive
The smell of peace toward mankind; let him live Before thee reconcil'd, at least his days
Number'd, though sad, till death, his doom (which I To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse),
To better life shall 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, serene.
"All thy request for man, accepted Son, Obtain; all thy request was my decree: But longer in that Paradise to dwell, The law I gave to nature him forbids: Those pure immortal elements, that know No gross, no unharmonious mixture foul, Eject him, tainted now, and purge him off As a distemper, gross, to air as gross, And mortal food, as may dispose him best For dissolution wrought by sin, that first 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 lost, This other serv'd but to eternize woe; Till I provided death: so death becomes His final remedy, and, after life Try'd in sharp tribulation, and refin'd
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