The ARGUMENT of Book XI. 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 fhows to Eve certain ominous figns; he difcerns Michael's approach, goes out to meet him: the angel denounces their departure. Eve's lamentation. Adam pleads, but fubmits: the angel leads him up to a high hill; fets before him in vifion what shall happen till the flood. PARADISE LOST. BOOK XI. HUS they in lowlieft plight repentant stood The ftony from their hearts, and made new flesh Infpir'd, and wing'd for heav'n with speedier flight Not of mean fuitors, nor important less To heav'n their pray'rs 5 ΙΟ L'. 2. Mercy feat.] It was a covering of pure folid gold, made exactly to fit the dimensions of the ark, to which the two cherubims of gold were fixed, and spread their wings over it; placed in the tabernacle, and in Solomon's temple, under the two cherubims. was two cubits and an half in length, and a cubit and an half in breadth. See Exod. xxv. 17, 18, 21. It L. 12. Deucalion.] Lat. Gr. i. e. calling upon God. An ancient king of Theffaly, the fon of Prometheus, contemporary with Cecrops king of Athens, about A. M. 2437, in whofe reign a great inundation happened in Greece. He with his wife only were faved in a little boat upon mount Parnaffus, till the waters abated. Ibid. Pyrrha.] Lat. Gr. i. e. fire; because of her fingular piety, zeal for the gods, and chastity. She was the wife of Deucalion. Thefe names were very fuitable to the character given to Noah and his wife. L. 14. Themis.] Lat. Gr. i. e. just, or right; because she taught men to petition the gods for thofe things that were right and fit: or Heb. from Tham, or Thummim, i. c. perfect, upright. "A goddess, Flew up, nor miss'd the way, by envious winds See, Father, what firft-fruits on earth are fprung 15 20 25 30 And propitiation; all his works on me, Good or not good, ingraft; my merit those 35 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 Number'd, though fad, till death, his doom, (which I 40 To whom the Father, without cloud, ferene: 45 All thy request for man, accepted Son, that had an oracle upon mount Parnaffus; thither those two addreffed themselves for counfel, how the loft race of mankind might be restored. |