| By faith and faithful works, to second life,

Wak'd in the renovation of the just, 65 Religns him up with heav'n and earth re

new'd. But let Us call to synod all the Blest, Thro’ Heav'n's wide bounds : from them I

will not hide My judgments, how with mankind I

pro

ceed; As how with peccant Angels late they saw, 70 And in their state, tho' firm, stood more

confirm’d. He ended, and the Son gave signal high To the bright minister that watch’d: he blew His trumpet, heard in Orep since perhaps When God descended; and perhaps once

75 To found at general doom.

Th’ Angelic

blast Fill'd all the regions: from their blissful

bow'rs Of amarantin shade, fountain or spring, By the waters of life, where'er they lat In fellowships of joy, the sons of light 80 Halted, resorting to the summons high, And took their seats : till from his throne fu

preme Th’Almighty thus pronounc'd his fov’reing,

will.

more

O Sons! like one of Us man is become, To know both good and evil, since his taste 85 Of that defended fruit: but let him boast His knowledge of good loft, and evil got: Happier! had it suffic'd him, to have known Good by itself; and evil not at all. He sorrows now, repents and prays con

trite!

go My motions in him: longer than they move, His heart I know how variable and vain Self-left. Lest therefore his now bolder hand Reach also of the Tree of Life, and eat, And live for ever, dream at least to live 95 For ever, to remove him I decree, And send him from the garden forth, to till The ground, whence he was taken; filter soil.

Michael, this my behest have thou in.charge! Take to thee from among the Cherubim 100 Thy choice of flaming warriors; left the Fiend, Or in behalf of man, or to invade Vacant possession, some new trouble raise, Haste thee! and from the Paradise of God Withont remorse drive out the linful pair; 105 From hallow'd ground th' unholy; and de

nounce

To them and to their progeny from thence
Perpetual banishment. Yet left they faint,
At the sad fentence rigorously urg'd,
For I behold them foften'd, and with tears 110

!

Bewailing their excess, all terror hide.
If patiently thy bidding they obey,
Dismiss them not disconfolate; reveal.
To Adam, what shall come in future days,
As I shall thee inlighten: intermix

115 My convenant in the woman's feed renew'd: So send them forth, tho' sorrowing, yet in

peace. And on the east-lide of the garden place, Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbs, Cherubic watch; and of a sword the flame 120 Wide-waming, all approach far off to fright, And guard all passage to the Tree of Life : Lest Paradise a receptacle prove To fpirits foul, and all my trees their prey ; With whose, stol'n fruit man, once more to

delude,

125 He ceas'd; and th' archangelic Pow'r pre

par'd For swift descent: with him the cohort bright ; OE wathful Cherubim: four faces each Had, like a double Janus; all their shape Spangled with eyes, more numerous than

those

130 Of Argus, and more wakeful than to drouse, Charm'd with Arcadian pipe, the pastral

reed Of Hermes, or his opiate rod. Mean while To resalute the world with sacred light

Leucothea wak’d; and with fresh dews in

balm'd

135 The earth; when Adam, and first matron

Eve,
Had ended now their orisons; and found
Strength added from above; new hope to

spring
Qut of despair; joy, but with fear yet link'd:
Which thus to Eve his welcome words

renew'd.

140 Eve, easily may faith admit, that all The good, which we enjoy, from Heav'n de.

scends :
But that from us ought should ascend to

Heav'n
So prevalent, as to concern the mind
Of God high-bleft, or to incline his will, 145
Hard to belief may seem : yet this will pray’r
Or one short figh of human breath, up-born
Ev'n to the seat of God. For since I fought
By pray’r th' offended Deity t appeale,
Kneelid, and, before him humbld all my

heart,

150
Methought I saw him placable and mild,
Bending his ear: persuasion in me grew,
That I was heard with favor; peace return'd
Home to my breast; and to my memory
His promise, that thy feed shall bruise our

foo:

155

1

1

Which, then not minded in dismay, yet now Allures me, that the bitterness of Death 'Is, past, and we shall live. Whence hail to

thee! Eve rightly call'd, mother of all mankind, Mother of all things living, fince by thee 160 Man is to live; and all things live for man! To whom thus Eve, with lad demeanour

meek: Ill worthy I fuch title should belong To me transgrellor, who, for thee ordain'd A help, became thy snare: to me réproach 165 Rather belongs, distrust, and all dispraise. But infinite in pardon' was my Judge, That I, who first brought death on all, am

grac'd The source of life: next favourable thou, Who higly thus tintitle, me vouchlaf'st: 170) Far other name deserving! But the field To labor calls us now with sweat impos'd, Though after sleepless night: for see! the morn, All unconcern’d with our unrest, begins Her roly progress (miling; let us forth ; 175 I never from thy lide henceforth to stray, Where'er our days work lier; though now

enjoin'd Laborious, till day droop; wkile here we

dwell, What can be toilfom in these pleasant walks ?