Appear of refpiration to the juft,
And vengeance to the wicked, at return
Of him fo lately promis'd to thy aid
The Woman's feed, obfcurely then foretold,
Now amplier known thy Saviour and thy Lord,
Laft in the Clouds from Heav'n to be reveal'd 545
In glory of the Father, to diffolve
Satan with his perverted World, then raise
From the conflagrant mass, purg'd and refin'd,
New Heav'ns, new Earth, Ages of endless date
Founded in righteousness and peace and love
To bring forth fruits, Joy and eternal Blifs.
He ended; and thus Adam laft reply'd.
How foon hath thy prediction, Seer bleft,
Meafur'd this tranfient World, the Race of time,
Till time ftand fixt: beyond is all Abyss,
Eternity, whose end no eye can reach.
Greatly inftructed' I shall hence depart,
Greatly in peace of thought, and have my fill
Of knowledge, what this Veffel can contain;
Beyond which was my folly to afpire.
Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best,
And love with fear the only God, to walk
As in his prefence, ever to obferve
His providence, and on him fole depend.
Merciful over all his works, with good
Still overcoming evil, and by fmall
Accomplishing great things, by things deem'd weak
Subverting worldly ftrong, and worldly wife
By fimply meek; that fuffering for Truths fake
Is fortitude to highest victory,
And to the faithful Death the Gate of Life;
Taught this by his example whom I now
Acknowledge my Redeemer ever bleft.
To whom thus also th' Angel last reply'd:
This having learnt, thou haft attain'd the fum 575
Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the Stars
Thou knewft by name, and all th' ethereal Powers,
All fecrets of the deep, all Natures works,
Or works of God in Heav'n, Aire, Earth, or Sea,
And all the riches of this World enjoy'dft,
And all the rule, one Empire; only add
Deeds to thy knowledge answerable, add Faith;
Add Virtue, Patience, Temperance, add Love,
By name to come call'd Charity, the foul
Of all the reft: then wilt thou not be loath
To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess.
A paradife within thee, happier far.
Let us defcend now therefore from this top
Of fpeculation; for the hour precife
Exacts our parting hence; and see the Guards, 590
By me encampt on yonder Hill, expect
Their motion, at whofe Front a flaming Sword,
In fignal of remove, waves fiercely round;
We may no longer ftay: go, waken Eve ;
Her alfo I with gentle Dreams have calm'd
Portending good, and all her fpirits compos'd
To meek fubmiffion: thou at season fit.
Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard,
Chiefly what may concern her Faith to know,
The great deliverance by her Seed to come (For by the Woman's Seed) on all Mankind. That ye may live, which will be many days, Both in one Faith unanimous though fad, With caufe for evils paft, yet much more cheer'd With meditation on the happy end. 605
He ended, and they both defcend the Hill;
Defcended, Adam to the Bowre where Eve
Lay fleeping ran before, but found her wak't;
And thus with words not fad the him receiv'd.
Whence thou return'ft, and whither went ft, I know;
For God is alfo in fleep, and Dreams advise,
611
Which he hath fent propitious, fome great good
Prefaging, fince with forrow and heart's diftrefs
Wearied 1 fell asleep; but now lead on;
In me is no delay; with thee to go,
Is to stay here; without thee here to stay,
Is to go hence unwillingly; thou to me
Art all things under Heav'n, all places thou,
Who for my woful crime art banish'd hence.
This further confolation yet fecure
I carry hence; though all by me is loft,
Such favour I unworthy am vouchsaft,
By me the Promis'd Seed shall all restore.
So fpake our Mother Eve, and Adam heard
Well pleas'd, but anfwer'd not; for now too nigh 625
Th'Archangel ftood, and from the other Hili
To their fixt Station, all in bright array
The Cherubim defcended; on the ground
Gliding meteoreous, as Ev'ning Mist
Ris'n from a River o'er the marish glides,
And gathers ground faft at the Labourers heel
Homeward returning. High in front advanc'd
The brandish'd Sword of God before them blaz'd
Fierce as a Comet; which with torrid heat,
And vapours as the Libyan Air aduft,
Began to parch that temperate Clime; whereat
In either hand the haft'ning Angel caught
Our lingring Parents, and to th' Eaftern Gate
Led them direct, and down the Cliff as faft
To the fubjected Plain; then disappear'd.
They looking back, all th'Eastern fide beheld
Of Paradife, fo late their happy feat,
Wav'd over by that flaming Brand, the Gate
With dreadful Faces throng'd and fiery Arnis: 644
Some natural tears they drop'd, but wip'd them soon ;
The World was all before them, where to chufe
Their place of reft, and Providence their guide:
They hand in hand with wandring steps and flow,
Through Eden took their folitary way.
Page Line
Aron and Mofes, their Mifp. 362. 1.170
fion to Egypt
Abdiel (a Seraph) oppofas -
Satan promating to}
Reply to bis Anfwer
His Fidelity, &c. Celebrated
Retreat from Satan's Party
Soliloquy on View of him" at their'
Speech to him thereon
Reply to his Answer
Encounters him in the Battel
Vanquishes Ariel, Arioc and
niiel, (allen Angels )
Abel and Cain, their Story related
Abraham's and the Patriarchs
p. 159. 1. 803
p. 162. 1.877
1. 896
-----
p. 166. 1. I
•p. 169. 1. 114
P. 171. 1. 171
P. 172. 1. 189
All Nations his Sons by Faith
Acheron, a River of Hell
Adam and Eve defcribed Generally
P. 121. 1.738
P. 140. 1. 211
P. 143. 1.303
P. 238. 1. SIO
Vide Innocence.
P.124. 1. 720
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