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Our limbs benumb'd, ere this diurnal star

Leave cold the night, how we his gather'd beams 1700 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 1704
Tine the slant lightning, whose thwart flame, driv'n 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,
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,
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign
Of sorrow' 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 sorrow' unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.

END OF THE TENTH BOOK.

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PARADISE LOST.

BOOK XI.

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 shews 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 be fore him in vision what shall happen till the flood.

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK XI.

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 prayer

Inspir'd, and wing'd for Heaven with speedier flight
Than loudest oratory: yet their port
Not of mean suitors, nor important less

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Seem'd their petition, than when th' ancient pair

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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

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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

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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 them live
Before thee reconcil'd, at least his days

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Number'd, though sad, till death, his doom, (which I 40
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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