Go, Michael, chief of angels fair,
My flaming warriors take,
Drive out in haste the sinful pair,
Who sinn'd so bold of late."
Who quick obey'd the summons high,
And down to Eden sped;
For quick indeed can angels fly
Through ether fields outspread :
And his sad task as soon began,
With consolation mix'd,
That tho' he died might live again
In his own second fix'd.

"Ye must depart with speed," said he;
"And earn thy food with toil;
But in that cov'nant made with thee,
Shalt find true bliss unsoil'd.
Then round the tree of life he plac❜d"
In guard, cherubic fires,

High flaming round and all ways faced
In constant waving spires:

Then once again the cov'nant nam'd
Their grief to mitigate;

Then seiz'd them by the hand and aim'd
Direct to th' eastern gate,

And led them down loath to the plain,
A prospect wild, unclear'd;
Yet lingering on urg'd them amain,
Then sudden disappear'd.

They looking back in tears beheld

Eden o'erwav'd with flame :

With hearts with grief and anguish swell'd, Oft look'd, and sigh'd again.