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And teach us further by what means to fhun
Th' inclement feafons, rain, ice, hail, and fnow?
Which now the fky 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 better warmth to cherish
Our limbs benumb'd, ere this diurnal ftar

Leave cold the night, how we his gather'd beams
Reflected, may with matter fere foment,
Or by collifion of two bodies grind

The air attrite to fire, as late the clouds

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Juftling or pufh'd with winds, rude in their fhock Tine the flant light'ning, whofe thwart flame driv'n Kindles the gummy bark of fir or pine,

And fends a comfortable heat from far,

Which might fupply the fun: fuch fire to use,
And what may elfe be remedy or cure

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To evils which our own misdeeds have wrought, 1080
He will instruct us praying, and of grace
Befeeching him, fo as we need not fear
To país commodioufly this life, fuftain'd
By him with many comforts, till we end
In duft, our final reft and native home.
What better can we do, than to the place
Repairing where he judg'd us, proftrate fall
Before him reverent, and there confefs

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Humbly our faults, and pardon beg, with tears
Watering the ground, and with our fighs the air
Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite, in fign 1098
Of forrow' unfeign'd, and humiliation meek?
Undoubtedly he will relent. and turn

From his displeasure; in whofe look ferene,
When angry most he seem'd, and most severe, 1095
What elte but favour, grace, and mercy fhone?

So

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So fpake our father penitent, nor Eve Felt lefs remorfe: they forthwith to the place Repairing where he judg'd them, proftrate fell Before him reverent, and both confefs'd Humbly their faults, and pardon begg'd, with tears Watering the ground, and with their fighs the air Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite, in fign. Of forrow' unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.

END of the TENTH BOOK.

ARGU

ARGUMENT of Book XI.

The Son of God presents to his Father the prayers of our first parents now repenting, and intercedes for them: God accepts them, but declares that they must no longer abide in Paradife; fends Michael with a band of cherubim to difpoffefs them; but first to reveal to Adam future things: Michael's coming down. Adam shows to Eve certain ominous figns; he difcerns Michael's approach, goes out to meet him; the angel denounces their departure. Eve's lamentation. Adam pleads, but fubmits: the angel leads him up to a high bill, and fets before him in vifion what shall hagren till the flood.

PARADISE

PARADISE LOST,

BOOK

XI.

TH

HUS they in lowliest plight repentant stood Praying; for from the mercy-feat above Prevenient grace defcending had remov'd The ftony from their hearts, and made new flesh Regenerate grow inftead, that fighs now breath'd Unutterable, which the fpi'rit of prayer Infpir'd, and wing'd for heav'n with speedier flight Than loudeft oratory: yet their port

Not of mean fuitors, nor important less

5

Seem'd their petition, than when th' ancient pair 10
In fables old, less ancient yet than thefe,
Deucalion and chafte Pyrrha, to restore

The race of mankind drown'd, before the fhrine
Of Themis ftood devout. To heav'n their prayers
Flew up, nor mifs'd the way, by envious winds 15
Blown vagabond or fruftrate: in they pass'd
Dimenfionlefs thro' heav'nly doors; then clad
With incenfe, where the golden altar fum'd,
By their great Interceffor, came in fight
Before the Father's throne: them the glad Son
Prefenting, thus to intercede began.

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See, Father, what firft fruits on earth are fprung

From

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From thy implanted grace in man, these fighs
And pray'rs, which in this golden cenfer, mix'd
With incenfe, I thy Prieft before thee bring;
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 Paradife could have produc'd, ere fall'n
From innocence. Now therefore bend thine ear 30
To fupplication; hear his fighs tho' mute;
Unfkilful 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 thofe

Shall perfect, and for thefe my death fhall pay.
Accept me, and in me from these receive

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The finell of peace tow'ard mankind; let him live
Before thee reconcil'd, at leaft his days
Number'd, tho' fad, till death, his doom (which I
To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse

To better life fhall 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.

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To whom the Father, without cloud, ferene. 45

All thy request for man, accepted Son,

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 dispose him best
For diffolution wrought by Sin, that first
Distemper'd all things, and of incorrupt
Corrupted. I at first with two fair gifts

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