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He added not; for ADAM at the news Heart-ftruck with chilling gripe of forrow flood, That all his fenfes bound! EVE, who unfeen Yet all had heard, with audible lament Discover'd foon the place of her retire.

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O unexpected ftroke, worfe than of Death! Muft I thus leave thee, Paradife? thus leave Thee, native foil, thefe happy walks and shades, 270 Fit haunt of Gods? where I had hope to spend, Quiet, though fad, the refpit of that day That must be mortal to us both! O flow'rs, That never will in other climate grow; My early vifitation, and my last

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At ev'n, which I bred up with tender hand
From the fift op'ning bud, and gave ye names!
Who now fhall rear ye to the Sun, or rank
Your tribes, and water from th'ambrofial fount?
Thee laftly, nuptial bow'r, by me adorn'd
With what to fight or fmell was fweet! from thee
How shall I part, and whither wander down
Into a lower world; to this obfcure,

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And wild? How fhall we breathe in other air
Lefs pure, accuftom'd to immortal fruits?

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Whom thus the Angel interrupted mild:
Lament not, EVE, but patiently refign
What juftly thou haft loft: nor fet thy heart
Thus over-fond, on that which is not thine.
Thy going is not lonely; with thee goes
Thy husband; him to follow thou art bound:
Where he abides, think there thy native foil.

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ADAM, by this from the cold fudden damp Recov'ring, and his fcatter'd fpirits return'd, TO MICHAEL thu his humble words addrefs'd. 295

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Cœleftial! whether among the Thrones, or nam'd Of them the higheft; for fuch of shape may seem Prince above Princes! Gently haft thou told Thy meffage, which might elfe in telling wound, And in performing end us, what befides Of forrow, and dejection, and despair, Our frailty can fuftain, thy tidings bring, Departure from this happy place (our sweet Recefs, and only confolation left Familiar to our eyes!) all places elfe Inhofpitable appear, and defolate;

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Nor knowing us, nor known. And if by pray'r
Inceffant, I could hope to change the will

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Of him who all things can, I would not ceafe
To weary him with my affiduous cries.
But pray'r againft his abfolute decree
No more avails, than breath against the wind;
Blown ftifling back on him that breaths it forth:
Therefore to his great bidding I submit.
This moft afflicts me, that departing hence,
As from his face I fhall be hid, depriv'd
His bleffed count'nance! Here I could frequent
With worship, place by place, where he vouchfaf'd
Prefence Divine: and to my fons relate;

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On this mount he appear'd; under this tree
Stood vifible; among thefe pines his voice

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I heard; here with him at this fountain talk'd.,,

So many grateful altars I would rear

Of graffy turf; and pile up every stone

Of luftre, from the brook; in memory,

Or monument to ages: and thereon

In yonder nether world where fhall I feek

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Offer fweet-smelling gums, and fruits, and flow'rs.

His bright appearances, or foot-flep trace?
For though I fled him angry, yet recall'd
To life prolong'd, and promis'd race, I now
Gladly behold, though but his utmost skirts
Of glory, and far off his steps adore.

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