Obtain; all thy requeft was my decree.
But longer in that Paradife to dwell,
The law I gave to nature him forbids.
Thofe pure immortal elements, that know
No grofs, no unharmonious mixture foul,
Eject him, tainted now; and purge him off,
(As a diftemper) grofs, to air as grofs,
And mortal food, as may difpofe him beft
For diffolution wrought by fin, that first
Distemper'd all things; and of incorrupt,
Corrupted. I, at firit, with two fair gifts
Created him endow'd, with happiness,
And immortality: that, fondly loft,
This other, ferv'd but to eternife woe,
Till I provided Death: fo Death becomes
His final remedy: and after life
Try'd in fharp tribulation, and refin'd
By faith, and faithful works, to fecond life, (Wak'd in the renovation of the juft)
Refigns him up, with heav'n and earth renew'd.
But let US call to fynod all the Bleft,
Thro' Heav'n's wide bounds: from them I will not
My judgments, how with mankind I proceed;
As how with peccant Angels late they faw,
And in their ftate, tho' firm, ftood more confirm'd.
He ended, and the Son gave fignal high
To the bright Minifter that watc'hd: he blew
His trumpet (heard in OREB fince, perhaps,
When God defcended; &, perhaps, once more 75
To found at general doom.) Th' Angelic blaft
Fill'd all the regions: from their blissful bow'rs
Of amarantin hade, fountain or spring,
By the waters of life, where-e'er they fat
In fellowships of joy, the fons of light
Hafted, reforting to the fummons high,
And took their feats: till from his Throne fupreme
Th' Almighty thus pronounc'd his fov'reign Will.
O Sons! like one of Us man is become
To know both good and evil, fince his tafte
Of that defended fruit: but let him boaft
His knowledge of good loft, and evil got:
Happier! had it fuffic'd him to have known
Good by it felf, and evil not at all.
He forrows now, repents, and prays contrite;
My motions in him: longer than they move,
His heart I know how variable, and vain,
Self-left. Left therefore his now bolder hand
Reach alfo of the Tree of Life, and eat,
And live for ever, (dream at least to live
For ever) to remove him I decree,
And fend him from the garden forth, to till
The ground whence he was taken; fitter foil.
MICHAEL, this my beheft have thou in charge! Take to thee from among the Cherubim
Thy choice of flaming warriors; left the Fiend,
(Or in behalf of man, or to invade
Vacant poffeffion,) fome new trouble raise.
Hafte thee! and from the Paradife of GoD
Without remorfe drive out the finful pair;
From hallow'd ground th' unholy and denounce
To them, and to their progeny, from thence
Perpetual banishment. Yet left they faint,
At the fad fentence rigorously urg'd,
(For I behold them foften'd, and with tears
Bewailing their excefs) all terror hide.
If patiently thy bidding they obey,
Difmifs them not difconfolate; reveal
TO ADAM what fhall come in future days,
As I fhall thee inlighten: intermix
My cov'nant in the woman's feed renew'd:
So fend them forth, tho' forrowing, yet in peace.
And on the east-fide of the garden place,
(Where entrance up from EDEN eafieft climbs )
Cherubic watch; and of a fword the flame
Wide-waving, all approach far off to fright,
And guard all paffage to the Tree of Life:
Left Paradife a receptacle prove
To fpirits foul, and all my trees their prey;
With whofe ftol'n fruit man once more to delude. 125
He ceas'd; and th' Arch-Angelic Pow'r prepar'd For swift descent: with him the cohort bright Of watchful Cherubim: four faces each Had, like a double JANUS; all their shape Spangled with eyes, more numerous than thofe 130 Of ARGUS, and more wakeful than to drouze, Charm'd with ARCADIAN pipe, the paft'ral reed Of HERMES, or his opiate rod. Mean-while, To re-falute the world with facred light 134 LEUCOTHEA wak'd; and with fresh dews imbalm'd The earth; when ADAM, and first matron Evɛ, Had ended now their orifons; and found Strength added from above; new hope to spring Out of defpair; joy, but with fear yet link'd: Which thus to Ev his welcome words renew'd. 140
EVE, eafily may faith admit, that all The good which we enjoy, from Heav'n defcends: But, that from us ought fhould afcend to Heav'n, So prevalent, as to concern the mind Of GoD high-bleft, or to incline his Will, Hard to belief may feem: yet, this will pray'r, Or one fhort figh of human breath, up-born Ev'n to the feat of GoD. For fince I fought By pray'r th' offended Deity t'appeafe; Kneel'd, and before him humbl'd all my heart, 150 Methought I faw him placable, and mild, Bending his ear: perfuafion in me grew That I was heard with favor; peace return'd Home to my breaft; and to my memory His promife, that "thy feed fhall bruise our foe:"155 Which, then not minded in difmay, yet now
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