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 shows 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 before him in vision what shall happen till the flood. THUS they, in lowliest plight, repentant stood, The stony from their hearts, and made new flesh Inspired, and winged for Heaven with speedier flight Not of mean suitors; nor important less Seemed their petition, than when the ancient pair 10 20 Presenting, thus to intercede began: 66 See, Father, what first-fruits on Earth are sprung "From thy implanted grace in Man! these sighs "And prayers, which, in this golden censer, mixed "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 produced, ere fallen "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 him live "Before thee reconciled,—at least his days Numbered, 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 66 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 66 66 Distempered all things, and of incorrupt Corrupted. I, at first, with two fair gifts "Created him endowed-with happiness "And immortality: that fondly lost, "This other served but to eternize woe; 50 60 "Till I provided death: so death becomes "His final remedy; and, after life "Tried in sharp tribulation, and refined "By faith and faithful works, to second life, "Waked in the renovation of the just, "Resigns him up with Heaven and Earth renewed. "But let us call to synod all the blest "Through Heaven's wide bounds: from them I will not hide "And in their state, though firm, stood more confirmed." In fellowships of joy, the sons of light And took their seats: till, from his throne supreme, 70 80 90 "Self-left. Lest therefore his now bolder hand "For ever, to remove him I decree, "And send him from the garden forth, to till 100 "Thy choice of flaming warriors, lest the fiend, "Or in behalf of man, or to invade "Vacant possession, some new trouble raise : "Without remorse, drive out the sinful pair: 66 Perpetual banishment. "At the sad sentence rigorously urged, "(For I behold them softened, and with tears 66 Bewailing their excess,) all terror hide. 66 My covenant in the Woman's seed renewed; "So send them forth, though sorrowing, yet in peace: "And, on the east side of the garden, place, "Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbs, "Cherubic watch; and of a sword the flame 66 Wide-waving; all approach far off to fright, "And guard all passage to the tree of life; "Lest Paradise a receptacle prove "To spirits foul, and all my trees their prey; "With whose stolen fruit Man once more to delude." "Eve! easily may faith admit, that all "The good which we enjoy from Heaven descends; "Of God high-blest, or to incline his will, 66 66 66 By prayer the offended Deity to appease, 'Kneeled, and before him humbled all my heart, Methought I saw him placable and mild, "Bending his ear; persuasion in me grew "That I was heard with favour; peace returned "His promise, that thy seed shall bruise our foe; "Is past, and we shall live. Whence hail to thee, "That I, who first brought death on all, am graced "The source of life; next favourable thou, "To labour calls us, now with sweat imposed, Though after sleepless night; for see! the Morn, "All unconcerned with our unrest, begins "Her rosy progress smiling: let us forth; "I never from thy side henceforth to stray, "Where'er our day's work lies, though now enjoined "Laborious till day droop: while here we dwell, "What can be toilsome in these pleasant walks? Here let us live, though in fallen state, content." 150 160 170 180 |