Then, both ourselves and seed at once to free She ended here, or vehement despair Broke off the rest; so much of death her thoughts Labouring had raised, and thus to Eve replied: 66 1020 Eve, thy contempt of life and pleasure seems To argue in thee something more sublime And excellent than what thy mind contemns; But self-destruction therefore sought refutes That excellence thought in thee, and implies Not thy contempt, but anguish and regret For loss of life and pleasure overloved. Or if thou covet death, as utmost end Of misery, so thinking to evade The penalty pronounced, doubt not but God Hath wiselier armed his vengeful ire than so To be forestalled; much more I fear lest death, So snatched, will not exempt us from the pain We are by doom to pay; rather such acts Of contumacy will provoke the Highest To make death in us live. Then let us seek Some safer resolution, which methinks I have in view, calling to mind with heed Part of our sentence, that thy seed shall bruise The Serpent's head: piteous amends! unless 1030 1040 Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand foe, My bread; what harm? 1051 With labour I must earn My labour will sustain me; and, lest cold And teach us further by what means to shun Of these fair spreading trees; which bids us seek Some better shroud, some better warmth, to cherish Our limbs benumbed, ere this diurnal star Leave cold the night; how we his gathered beams Reflected may with matter sere foment, Or by collision of two bodies grind The air attrite to fire; as late the clouds, 1071 Justling, or pushed with winds, rude in their shock, Tine the slant lightning, whose thwart flame driven down Kindles the gummy bark of fir or pine, To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought, 1081 Humbly our faults, and pardon beg, with tears Before him reverent, and both confessed 1100 Humbly, their faults and pardon begged, with tears PARADISE LOST. BOOK XI. THE 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 before him in vision what shall happen till the Flood." HUS they in lowliest plight repentant stood, Praying; for from the mercy-seat above Prevenient grace descending had removed The stony from their hearts, and made new flesh Regenerate grow instead, that sighs now breathed Unutterable, which the Spirit of prayer Inspired, and winged for Heaven with speedier flight Than loudest oratory. Yet their port Not of mean suitors, nor important less Seemed their petition, than when the ancient pair, |