Why stand we longer shivering under fears,

1005

That show no end but death, and have the power, Of many ways to die the shortest choosing, Destruction with destruction to destroy?

She ended here, or vehement despair

Broke off the rest; so much of death her thoughts Had entertain'd, as dy'd her cheeks with pale. But Adam, with such counsel nothing sway'd, 1010 To better hopes his more attentive mind Labouring had rais'd, and thus to Eve reply'd.

1020

Eve, thy contempt of life and pleasure seems To argue in thee something more sublime And excellent than what thy mind contemns; 1015 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 overlov'd. Or if thou covet death, as utmost end Of misery, so thinking to evade The penalty pronounc'd, doubt not but God Hath wiselier arm'd his vengeful ire than so To be forestall'd: much more I fear lest death So snatch'd will not exempt us from the pain 1025 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

1009 pale] Virg. Æn. iv. 499.

'Hæc effata silet; pallor simul occupat ora.' Jortin. Compare Æn. iv. 644. Lucan, vii. 130. Hume.

Some safer resolution, which methinks

1030

1035

1040

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
Be meant, whom I conjecture, our grand foe
Satan, who in the serpent hath contriv'd
Against us this deceit. To crush his head
Would be revenge indeed; which will be lost
By death brought on our selves, or childless days
Resolv'd, as thou proposest; so our foe
Shall scape his punishment ordain'd, and we
Instead shall double ours upon our heads.
No more be mention'd then of violence
Against our selves, and wilful barrenness,
That cuts us off from hope, and savours only
Rancour 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 wrath or reviling; we expected
Immediate dissolution, which we thought
Was meant by death that day, when, lo! to thee
Pains only in child-bearing were foretold,
And bringing forth; soon recompens❜d with joy,
Fruit of thy womb: on me the curse aslope
Glanc'd on the ground; with labour I must earn
My bread; what harm? idleness had been worse;
My labour will sustain me; and lest cold
Or heat should injure us, his timely care
Hath unbesought provided, and his hands.

1045

1051

1056

Cloth'd us unworthy, pitying while he judg'd.
How much more, if we pray him, will his ear 1060
Be open, and his heart to pity incline,

And teach us further by what means to shun
Th' inclement seasons, rain, ice, hail, and snow,
Which now the sky with various face begins
To show us in this mountain, while the winds 1065
Blow moist and keen, shattering the graceful locks
Of these fair spreading trees, which bids us seek
Some better shroud, some better warmth to cherish
Our limbs benumb'd, ere this diurnal star
Leave cold the night, how we his gather'd 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 push'd with winds rude in their shock
Tine the slant lightning, whose thwart flame driv'n
Kindles the gummy bark of fir or pine,

And sends a comfortable heat from far,
Which might supply the sun.

[down

Such fire to use,

And what may else be remedy or cure

To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought, He will instruct us praying, and of grace

1071 foment] Virg. Æn. i. 175.

'Suscepitque ignem foliis, atque arida circum
Nutrimenta dedit, rapuitque in fomite flammam.'

Hume.

1081

1078 fire] 'Be tired with holy fire.' Quarles' Emblems,

p. 293.

1076 or pine] Fenton and Bentley read' and pine.'

1090

Beseeching him, so as we need not fear
To pass commodiously this life, sustain'd
By him with many comforts, till we end
In dust, our final rest and native home.
What better can we do, than, to the place
Repairing where he judg'd us, prostrate fall
Before him reverent, and there confess
Humbly our faults, and pardon beg, with tears
Watering the ground, and with our sighs the air
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign
Of sorrow unfeign'd and humiliation meek?
Undoubtedly he will relent and turn

From his displeasure, in whose look serene,
When angry most he seem'd and most severe, 1095
What else but favour, grace,

and mercy

shone?

1100

So spake our father penitent, nor Eve Felt less remorse: they forthwith, to the place Repairing where he judg'd them, prostrate fell Before him reverent, and both confess'd Humbly their faults, and pardon begg'd, with tears Watering the ground, and with their sighs the air Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign Of sorrow unfeign'd and humiliation meek.

1091 Frequenting] Tempesting. Bentl. MS. so in line 1103.

223

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 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
Praying, for from the mercy-seat above
Prevenient grace descending had remov'd

The stony from their hearts, and made new flesh
Regenerate grow instead, that sighs now breath'd
Unutterable, which the spirit of prayer

Inspir'd, and wing'd for heaven with speedier flight
Than loudest oratory: yet their port

Not of mean suitors, nor important less
Seem'd their petition, than when th' ancient pair 10
In fables old, less ancient yet than these,

11 In fables old] Fables told this. Bentl. MS.