第7章 6

Say Heavnly Powers, where shall we find such love, Which of ye will be mortal to redeem Mans mortal crime, and just th unjust to save, [ 215 ] Dwels in all Heaven charitie so deare? He askd, but all the Heavnly Quire stood mute, And silence was in Heavn: on mans behalf Patron or Intercessor none appeerd,

Much less that durst upon his own head draw [ 220 ] The deadly forfeiture, and ransom set. And now without redemption all mankind Must have bin lost, adjudgd to Death and Hell By doom severe, had not the Son of God, In whom the fulness dwells of love divine, [ 225 ] His dearest mediation thus renewd.

Father, thy word is past, man shall find grace; And shall grace not find means, that finds her way, The speediest of thy winged messengers, To visit all thy creatures, and to all [ 230 ] Comes unprevented, unimplord, unsought, Happie for man, so coming; he her aide Can never seek, once dead in sins and lost;

Attonement for himself or offering meet, Indebted and undon, hath none to bring: [ 235 ] Behold mee then, mee for him, life for life I offer, on mee let thine anger fall; Account mee man; I for his sake will leave Thy bosom, and this glorie next to thee Freely put off, and for him lastly dye [ 240 ]

Well pleasd, on me let Death wreck all his rage; Under his gloomie power I shall not long Lie vanquisht; thou hast givn me to possess Life in my self for ever, by thee I live, Though now to Death I yield, and am his due [ 245 ] All that of me can die, yet that debt paid, Thou wilt not leave me in the loathsom grave

His prey, nor suffer my unspotted Soule For ever with corruption there to dwell; But I shall rise Victorious, and subdue [ 250 ] My Vanquisher, spoild of his vanted spoile; Death his deaths wound shall then receive, and stoop Inglorious, of his mortal sting disarmd.