第4章 3

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 lost, and Evil got, Happier, had sufficd him to have known Good by it self, and Evil not at all. He sorrows now, repents, and prayes contrite, [ 90 ]

My motions in him, longer then they move, His heart I know, how variable and vain Self-left. Least 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, fitter soile. Michael, this my behest have thou in charge, Take to thee from among the Cherubim [ 100 ] Thy choice of flaming Warriours, least the Fiend Or in behalf of Man, or to invade Vacant possession som new trouble raise: Hast thee, and from the Paradise of God

Without remorse drive out the sinful Pair, [ 105 ] From hallowd ground th unholie, and denounce To them and to thir Progenie from thence Perpetual banishment. Yet least they faint At the sad Sentence rigorously urgd, For I behold them softnd and with tears [ 110 ] Bewailing thir excess, all terror hide.

If patiently thy bidding they obey, Dismiss them not disconsolate; reveale To Adam what shall come in future dayes, As I shall thee enlighten, intermix [ 115 ] My Covnant in the womans seed renewd; So send them forth, though sorrowing, yet in peace: And on the East side of the Garden place,

Where entrance up from Eden easiest climbes, Cherubic watch, and of a Sword the flame [ 120 ] Wide waving, all approach farr off to fright, And guard all passage to the Tree of Life: Least Paradise a receptacle prove To Spirits foule, and all my Trees thir prey, With whose stoln Fruit Man once more to delude. [ 125 ]

He ceasd; and th Archangelic Power prepard For swift descent, with him the Cohort bright Of watchful Cherubim; four faces each Had, like a double Janus, all thir shape Spangld with eyes more numerous then those [ 130 ] Of Argus, and more wakeful then to drouze, Charmd with Arcadian Pipe, the Pastoral Reed

Of Hermes, or his opiate Rod. Mean while To resalute the World with sacred Light Leucothea wakd, and with fresh dews imbalmd [ 135 ] The Earth, when Adam and first Matron Eve Had ended now thir Orisons, and found, Strength added from above, new hope to spring Out of despaire, joy, but with fear yet linkt;

Which thus to Eve his welcome words renewd. [ 140 ] Eve, easily may Faith admit, that all The good which we enjoy, from Heavn descends; But that from us ought should ascend to Heavn So prevalent as to concerne the mind Of God high-blest, or to incline his will, [ 145 ] Hard to belief may seem; yet this will Prayer,

Or one short sigh of humane breath, up-borne Evn to the Seat of God. For since I saught By Prayer th offended Deitie to appease, Kneeld and before him humbld all my heart, [ 150 ] Methought I saw him placable and mild, Bending his eare; perswasion in me grew That I was heard with favour; peace returnd

Home to my brest, and to my memorie His promise, that thy Seed shall bruise our Foe; [ 155 ] Which then not minded in dismay, yet now Assures me that the bitterness of death Is past, and we shall live. Whence Haile to thee, Eve rightly calld, Mother of all Mankind, Mother of all things living, since by thee [ 160 ] Man is to live, and all things live for Man. To whom thus Eve with sad demeanour meek.