Laid on our Necks. Remember with what mild And gracious temper he both heard and judg'd Without wrauth or reviling; wee expected 1050 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
Som better shroud, fom better warmth to cherish
Our Limbs benumm'd, ere this diurnal Starr
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 supply the Sun: fuch Fire to use,
And what may elfe be remedie or cure
To evils which our own mifdeeds 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 reft 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 confess
Humbly our faults, and pardon beg, with tears
Watering the ground, and with our fighs the Air
Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in fign
Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.
Undoubtedly he will relent and turn
From his displeasure; in whose look ferene,
When angry most he seem'd and most severe,
What else but favor, grace, and mercie shon?
So fpake our Father penitent, nor Eve
Felt lefs remorse: they forthwith to the place
Repairing where he judg'd them proftrate fell
Before him reverent, and both confefs'd
Humbly thir faults, and pardon beg'd, with tears
Watering the ground, and with thir fighs the Air
Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite, in fign
Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.
The End of the Tenth Book.
HUS they in lowliest plight repentant
Praying, for from the Mercie-seat above Prevenient Grace defcending had remov'd 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 loudest Oratorie: yet thir port
Not of mean fuiters, nor important lefs
Seem'd thir Petition, then when th' ancient Pair
In Fables old, lefs ancient yet then these,
Deucalion and chafte Pyrrha to restore
The Race of Mankind drownd, before the Shrine
Of Themis ftood devout. To Heav'n thir prayers
Flew up, nor missd 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
Presenting, thus to intercede began.
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 pleafing 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
To fupplication, heare his fighs though mute; 31
Unfkilful 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 fhall 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
To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse)
To better life shall yeeld him, where with mee
All redeemd may
my
dwell in joy and blifs,
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, all thy request was my Decree : But longer in that Paradise to dwell, The Law I gave to Nature him forbids: Those pure immortal Elements that know No gross, no unharmoneous mixture foule, Eject him tainted now, and purge him off As a distemper, gross to aire as gross, And mortal food, as may difpofe him best
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