By death brought on our felves, or childless days
Refolv'd, as thou propofeft; fo our Foe
Shall fcape his punishment ordain'd, and wee
Inftead fhall double ours upon our heads.
No more be mention'd then of violence
Against our felves, and wilful barrennefs
That cuts us off from hope, and favours onely
Rancor and pride, impatience and despite,
Reluctance against God and his just yoke

Laid on our Necks. Remember with what mild
And gracious temper he both heard and judg'd
Without wrauth or reviling; wee expected
Immediate diffolution, which we thought
Was meant by Death that day, when lo, to thee
Pains onely in Child-bearing were foretold,
And bringing forth, foon recompenc't with joy,
Fruit of thy Womb: On mee the Curse aflope
Glanc'd on the ground, with labour I must earne
My bread; what harm? Idleness had bin worse
My labour will sustain me; and least Cold
Or Heat should injure us, his timely care
Hath unbefaught provided, and his hands
Cloath'd us unworthie, pitying while he judg'd;
How much more, if we pray him, will his ear
Be open, and his heart to pitie incline,
And teach us further by what means to shun
Th' inclement Seasons, Rain, Ice, Hail and Snow,
Which now the Skie with various Face begins
To fhew us in this Mountain, while the Winds
Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks
Of these fair spreading Trees; which bids us feek

1040

1050

1060

Som better shroud, fom better warmth to cherish
Our Limbs benumm'd, ere this diurnal Starr
1070 Leave cold the Night, how we his gather'd beams
Reflected, may with matter fere foment,
Or by collifion of two bodies grinde

The Air attrite to Fire, as late the Clouds
Juftling or pusht with Winds rude in thir shock
Tine the flant Lightning, whofe thwart flame driv'n
Kindles the gummie bark of Firr or Pine, (down
And fends a comfortable heat from farr,

Which might fupply the Sun : fuch Fire to use,
And what may elfe be remedie or cure

1080 To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought,
Hee will inftruct us praying, and of Grace
Befeeching him, fo as we need not fear
To pafs commodioufly this life, fuftain'd
By him with many comforts, till we end
In duft, our final rest and native home.
What better can we do, then to the place
Repairing where he judg'd us, proftrate fall
Before him reverent, and there confefs

Humbly our faults, and pardon beg, with tears
1090 VVatering the ground, and with our fighs the Air
Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite, in fign
Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.
Undoubtedly he will relent and turn

From his difpleasure ; in whose look ferene,
VVhen angry moft he seem'd and most severe,
VVhat else but favor, grace, and mercie shon?

So fpake our Father penitent, nor Eve
Felt lefs remorse: they forthwith to the place

Re

Repairing where he judg'd them proftrate fell
Before him reverent, and both confefs'd
Humbly thir faults, and pardon beg'd, with tears
VVatering the ground, and with thir fighs the Air
Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite, in fign
Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.

1100

The End of the Ninth Book.

002 PARA

The ftonie from thir hearts, and made new flesh
Regenerat grow instead, that fighs now breath'd
Unutterable, which the Spirit of prayer

Infpir'd, and wing'd for Heav'n with speedier flight
Then loudeft Oratorie: yet thir port

Not of mean fuiters, nor important lefs

10 Seem'd thir Petition, then when th' ancient Pair In Fables old, lefs ancient yet then thefe, Deucalion and chafte Pyrrha to restore

The Race of Mankind drownd, before the Shrine
Of Themis ftood devout. To Heav'n thir prayers

Flew

Flew up, nor mifsd the way, by envious windes
Blow'n vagabond or fruftrate: in they pafsd
Dimentionless through Heav'nly dores; then clad
With incenfe, where the Golden Altar fum'd,
By thir great Interceffor, came in fight

Before the Fathers Throne: Them the glad Son
Prefenting, thus to intercede began.

20

See Father, what first fruits on Earth are sprung
From thy implanted Grace in Man, thefe Sighs
And Prayers, which in this Golden Cenfer, mixt
With Incense, I thy Priest before thee bring,
Fruits of more pleasing favour from thy feed
Sow'n with contrition in his heart, then those
Which his own hand manuring all the Trees
Of Paradife could have produc't, ere fall'n
From innocence. Now therefore bend thine eare 30
To fupplication, he are his fighs though mute;
Unskilful with what words to pray, let mee,
Interpret for him, mee his Advocate

And propitiation, all his works on mee
Good or not good ingraft, my Merit those
Shall perfet, and for these my Death shall pay.
Accept me, and in mee from these receave
The smell of peace toward Mankinde, let him live
Before thee reconcil'd, at least his days

Numberd,though fad,till Death, his doom(which I 40

To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse)

To better life shall yeeld him, where with mee

All my redeemd may dwell in joy and bliss,
Made one with me as I with thee am one.

To whom the Father, without Cloud,ferene.

All thy request for Man, accepted Son,

Obtain,