And teach us further by what means to fhun
Th'inclement seasons, rain, ice, hail, and fnow?
Which now the sky with various face begins
To show us in this mountain, while the winds 1065
Blow moist and keen, fhattering the graceful locks
Of these fair spreading trees; which bids us feek
Some better throud, fome etter warmth to cherish
Our limbs benumb'd, ere this diurnal Itar
Leave cold the night, how we his gather'd beams
Reflected, may with matter fere foment, 1071
Or by collision of two bodies grind
The air attrite to fire, as late the clouds
Justling or push'd with winds, rude in their shock
Tine the fant lightning, whose thwart Aame driv'n
Kindles the gummy bark of fir or pine, [down
And sends a comfortable heat from far,

1077
Which might supply the fun: such fire to use,
And what may else be reinedy or cure
To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought, 1080
He will instruct us praying, and of grace
Befeeching him, so as we need not fear
To pass commodiously this life, sustain'd
By him with many comforts, till we end
In dust, our final rest and native home. 1085
What better can we do, than 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, fent from hearts contrite, in sign 109!
Of forrow'upfeign’d, and humiliation meek?
Undoubtedly he will relent, and turn
From his diipleasure; in whose look serene,
When angry most he seem'd, and most severe, 1095
What else but favour, grace, and mercy Thone?

So

So fpake our father penitent, nor Eve Felt less remorse: they forthwith to the place Repairing where he judg'd them, prostrate fell Before him reverent, and both confess'd 1100 Humbly their faults, and pardon begg'd, with tears Watering the ground, and with their fighs the air Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in fign Of forrow' unfeiga'd, and humiliation meek.

ARGUMENT of Book XI.

The Son of God presents to his Father the prayers of

our for parents noru repenting, and intercedes for them : God accepts them, but declares that they must no longer abide in Paradise ; fends Michael with a band of cherubini to difpo less theni; but first to reveal. to Adam future things : Michael's coming down. Adam Mhows to Eve certain ominous signs; he discerns Michael's approach, goes out to meet him; the angel denounces their departure. Eve's lamentation. Adam pleads, but submits: the angel leads him up to a high bilt, and fets before him in visian what /hall hapa till the flood.

PARADISE

PARADISE LOST.

Β Ο Ο Κ

XI.

HUS they in lowliest plight repentant stood

Praying; for from the mercy-feat above
Prevenient grace descending had remov'd
The stony from their hearts, and made new flesh
Regenerate grow instead, that fighs now breath'd 5
Unutterable, which the fpi'rit of prayer
Inspir'a, and wing's for heav'n with speedier flight
Than loudest oratory : yet their port
Not of mean suitors, nor important less
Seem'd their petition, than when th' ancient pair 10
In fables old, less ancient yet than these,
Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha, to restore
The race of mankind drown'd, before the shrine
Of Themis stood devout. To heav'n their prayers
Flew up, nor miss’d the way, by envious winds 15
Blown vagabond or frustrate : in they pass'd
Dimensionless thro' heav'nly doors; then clad
With incense, where the golden altar fum'd,
By their great Interceffor, came in fight
Before the Father's throne: them the glad Son
Presenting, thus to intercede began.
See, Father, what firft fruits on earth are sprung

From

From thy implanted grace in man, these fighs
And pray'rs, which in this golden censer, mix'd
With incenfe, I thy Priest before thee bring; 25
Fruits of more pleafing favour from thy feed
Sown with contrition in his heart, than those
Which his own hand manuring all the trees
Of Paradise could have produc'd, ere fallin
From innocence. Now therefore bend thine ear 30
To fupplication; hear his fighs tho' mute;
Unskilful with what words to pray, let me
Interpret for him, me his advocate
And propitiation; all his works on me,
Good or not good, ingraft; my merit those 35
Shall perfe&, and for these my death fhall pay.
Accept me, and in me from these receive
The finell of peace toward mankind; let him live
Before thee reconcil'd, at least his days
Number'd, tho' fad, till death, his doom (which I
To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse

41
To better life shall yield him, where with me
All my redeem'd may dwell in joy and bliss,
Made one with me, as I with thee am one.

To whon the Father, without cloud, serene. 45 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

purc immortal elements, that know No gross, no unharmonious mixture foui, Eject him tainted now, and purge him off As a distemper, gross to air as gross, And mortal food, as may dispose him beft For difolution wrought by Sin, that first 55 Dislemper'd all things, and of incorrupt Corrupted. I at first with two fair gifts

Created