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And teach us further by what means to fhun
Th' inclement feasons, rain, ice, hail and fnow?
Which now the sky with various face begins
To show us in this mountain, while the winds 106;
Blow moist and keen, fhattering the graceful locks
Of these fair spreading trees; which bids us feck
Some better shroud, fome better warmth to cherish
Our limbs benumm'd, ere this diurnal star
Leave cold the night, how we his gather'd beams
Reflected, may with matter fere foment,

Or by collifion of two bodies grind

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1071

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Sufcepitque ignem foliis, atque a da circum

Nutrimenta dedit, rapuitque in f mite flammam. Hum. I find the word fere used likewile

So finks the day far in the ocean Spenfer in his Shepherd's Calendr

bed:

Ecl. II.

The air attrite to fire, as late the clouds

Juftling or push'd with winds rude in their fhock Tine the slant lightning, whofe thwart flame driv'n

down

Kindles the gummy bark of fir or pine,

And fends a comfortable heat from far,

Which might supply the fun: such fire to use,
And what may elfe be remedy or cure

1075

To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought,
He will inftruct us praying, and of grace
Befeeching him, fo as we need not fear

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oak,

1081

Το

Primitus: inde omnis flammarum diditur ardor.

Multa videmus enim cœleftibus incita flammis

Fulgere, quom cœli donavit plaga vapores, &c.

Whole body is fere, whofe branches Now for the rife of fire: Swift thun

broke.

And by our author in his Lycidas,

with ivy never fere.

1072. Or by collifion of two bodies
grind
The air attrite to fire, as late the

clouds &c.] Our poet had Lucretius here in mind, and plainly alludes to his account of the origin of fire, V. 1091.

der thrown

From broken fulphurous clouds first
brought it down;

For many things take fire, when
lightning flies,
And fulphurous vapors fill the lower
skies; &c Creech.

1075. Tine the flant lightning,] To tine is deriv'd from the Saxon tynan to light, to kindle; from whence alfo we have the word

Fulmen detulit in terras mortalibus tinder. ignem

U 3

1098.- and

THE

ELEVENTH BOOK.

OF

PARADISE LOS T.

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 Paradife; fends Michael with a band of Cherubim to difpoffels them; but firft to reveal to Adam future things: Michael's coming down. Adam shows to Eve certain ominous figns; he difcerns Michael's approach, goes out to meet him: the Angel denounces their departure. Eve's Lamentation. Adam pleads, but fubmits: The Angel leads him up to a high hill, fets before him in vifion what fhall happen till the flood.

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