What better can we do, than to the place
Repairing where he judg'd us, prostrate fall
Before him reverent, and there confess

Humbly our faults, and pardon beg, with tears
Watering the ground, and with our fighs the air 109
Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite, in fign
Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek?
Undoubtedly he will relent and turn

From his displeasure; in whose look serene,
When angry most he seem'd and most severe, 109
What else but favor, grace, and mercy shone?

110

So spake 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 tea Watering the ground, and with their fighs the air Frequenting, sent from hearts contrite, in sign Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek.

The end of the Tenth Book.

THE

ELEVENTH BOOK

OF

PARADISE LOST.

THE ARGUMENT.

The Son of God prefents to his Father the prayers of our

parents now repenting, and intercedes for them: God cepts them, but declares that they must no longer abide Paradife; fends Michael with a band of Cherubim to poffefs them; but first to reveal to Adam future things: chael's coming down. Adam fhows to Eve certain omin figns; he difcerns Michael's approach, goes out to meet the Angel denounces their departure. Eve's Lamentat Adam pleads, but fubmits: The Angel leads him up high hill, fets before him in vifion what shall happen the flood.

PARADISE LOST.

T

BOOK XI.

HUS they, in lowlieft plight,repentant stood
Praying; for, from the mercy-seat above,

Prevenient grace descending, had remov'd
The ftony from their hearts, and made new flesh
Regenerate grow instead; that sighs now breath'd 5
Unutterable, which the Spirit of

prayer

Inspir'd, and wing'd for Heav'n with speedier flight Than loudeft oratory: yet their port

Not of mean fuiters, nor important less

Seem'd their petition, than when th' ancient pair 10 In fables old, lefs ancient yet than these,

Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha, to restore

The race of mankind drown'd, before the shrine
Of Themis flood 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, through 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.

Z z

20

See,

See, Father, what first fruits on earth are spru From thy implanted grace in Man, these sighs And pray'rs, which in this golden cenfer, mix'd With incenfe, I,thy priest, before thee bring; Fruits of more pleasing favor 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 ea To fupplication, hear his fighs though 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 those Shall perfect, and for these death fhall pay.

my

Accept me, and in me from these receive

The smell of peace toward mankind; let him li Before thee reconcil'd, at least his days

Number'd, though sad; till death, his doom, (which
To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse)

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 whom the Father, without cloud, ferene.
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: