lét Well pleas'd: on me let Death wreak all his rage: Though now to Death I yield, and am his due 245 For ever with corruption there to dwell; My vanquisher, fpoil'd of his vaunted spoil; 250 Death his death's wound fhail then receive, and stoop Inglorious, of his mortal fting difarm'd. 255 I through the ample air, in triumph high His words here ended, but his meek afpect Glad to be offer'd, he attends the will Of his great Father. Admiration feiz'd 260 265 270 All heav'n, what this might mean, and whither tend Wond'ring; but foon th' Almighty thus reply'd. 275 O thou in heav'n and earth the only peace Found out for mankind under wrath! O thou My foul complacence! well thou know'ft how dear To me are all my works; nor man the least, Though laft created; that for him 1 fpare Thee from my bofom and right hand, to fave, By lofing thee a while, the whole race loft. Thou therefore, whom thou only canft redeem, 280 Their nature alfo to thy nature join: And be thyself man among men on earth, 4 By wondrous birth: be thou in Adam's room As from a fecond root, fhall be reftor'd As many as are restor'd, without thee none. His brethren, ranfom'd with his own dear life. So heav'nly love fhall outdo hellish hate, Giving to death, and dying to redeem, In thofe who, when they may, accept not grace. Nor fhalt thou, by defcending to affume Man's nature, leffen or degrade thine own. 285 290 295 300 Because thou haft, though thron'd in highest blifs, 395 Equal to God and equally enjoying God-like fruition, quitted all, to fave A world from utter lofs, and haft been found By merit more than birthright Son of God, 310 With thee thy manhood alfo to this throne; 315 Both Gop and man, Sox both of GoD and man, Anointed univerfal KING; all power I give thee; reign for ever, and affume Thy merits; under thee, as head fupreme, 321 Thrones, princedoms, pow'rs, dominions, I reduce : 325 When thou attended glorioufly from heav'n See golden days, fruitful of golden deeds, 330 336 340 No fooner had th' Almighty ceas'd, but all The multitude of Angels, with a fhout 345 Loud as from numbers without number, sweet As from bleis'd voices, uttering joy, heav'n rung With jubile, and loud hofannas fill'd Th' eternal regions. Lowly reverent, Tow'ards either throne thy bow, and to the ground With folemn adoration down they caft 351 Their crowns, inwove with amarant and gold; In Paradife, fast by the tree of life, Began to bloom; but foon for man's offence 355 To heav'n remov'd, where first it grew, there grows, And flow'rs aloft fhading the fount of life, And where the river of blifs through midst of heav'n Rolls o'er Elyfian flow'rs her amber stream: With these that never fade, the fp'rits elect 360 Bind their refplendent locks, inwreath'd with beams; Now in loofe garlands thick thrown off, the bright Pavement, that like a fea of jafper shone, Impurpled with celeftial rofes fmil'd. 366 Then crown'd again, their golden harps they took; Thee, Father, first they fung omnipotent, Amidft the glorious brightnefs where thou fitt'ft The full blaze of thy beams, and through a cloud Yet dazzle heav'n, that brightest Seraphim 379 375 380 Approach not, but with both wings veil their eyes. In whofe confpicuous count'nance, without cloud 385 Thy Father's dreadful thunder didst not spare, Back from pursuit thy pow'rs with loud acclaim Not fo on man: him through their malice fall'n, 400 A violent crofs wind from either coast Blows them tranfverfe, ten thoufand leagues awry Cowls, hoods, and habits, with their wearers, toit, 491 495 500 Of dawning light turn'd thitherward in hafte His travell'd fteps; far diftant he defcries, Up to the wall of heav'n, a structure high; At top whereof, but far more rich, appear'd The work as of a kingly palace gate, 505 With frontispiece of diamond and gold Embellifh'd thick with fparkling orient gems The portal fhone, inimitable on earth By model, or by fhading pencil drawn. The stairs were fuch as whereon Jacob faw 510 Dreaming by night under the open íky, And waking cry'd, This is the gate of heav'n. 515 Viewlefs; and underneath a bright fea flow'd Who after came from earth, failing arriv'd 520 Rapt in a chariot drawn by fiery steeds. The ftairs were then let down, whether to dare Th' fiend by eafy afcent, or aggravate His fad exclufion from the doors of blifs: 525 Direct againft which open'd from beneath, |