Let us feek Death: .... or, he not found, fupply With our own hands his office on our felves. Why ftand we longer shivering under fears, That shew no end but death; and have the pow'r Of many ways to die, the shorteft chusing,. Destruction with deftruction to destroy !
She ended here, or vehement despair
Broke off the reft: fo much of death her thoughts. Had entertain'd, as dy'd her cheeks with pale. But Adam, with fuch counfel nothing sway'd, To better hopes his more attentive mind Lab'ring had rais'd; and thus to Eve reply'd Eve! thy contempt of life, and pleasure seems To argue in thee something more fublime, And excellent, than what thy mind contemns. But, felf-deftruction therefore fought, refutes That excellence thought in thee: and implies, Not thy contempt, but anguish, and regret, For lofs of life, and pleasure, over-lov❜d. · Or, if thou covet death, as utmost end› Of mifery; fo thinking to evade
The penalty pronounc'd; doubt not but God Hath wifelier arm'd His vengeful ire, than so To be foreftall'd ; much more I fear, left death 1⁄2 So fnatch'd, will not exempt us from the pain We are by doom to pay. Rather, fuch acts Of contumacy will provoke the Highest, Tho make death in us live! Then, let us feel Some fafer refolution; which methinks
I have in view, calling to mind with heed.
Part of our Sentence, that « thy feed shall bruife The ferpent's head: » Pitheous amends! unless Be meant (whom I conjecture) our grand foe, Satan who, in the ferpent, hath contriv'd Against us this deceit. To crush his head Would be revenge indeed! which will be loft By death brought on our felves; or childless days Refolv'd, as thou proposeft: fo, our foe Shall fcape his punishment ordain'd; and we Inftead shall double ours upon our heads. No more be mention'd then of violence Against our felves; and wilful barrenness, That cuts us off from hope; and favors only Rancor, and pride, impatience, and despite, Reluctance against God, and His just yoke Laid on our necks. Remember with what mild And gracious temper, He both heard, and judg'd, Without wrath, or reviling. We expected Immediate diffolution, which we thought
Was meant by death that day: when lo ! to thee Pains only in child bearing were foretold, And bringing forth, foon recompens'd with joy Fruit of thy womb. On me the curfe aflope Glanc'd on the ground; with labor I must earn My bread what harm? Idlenefs had been worfe My labor will fuftain me. And, left cold, Or heat, should injure us, His timely care Hath, un-befought, provided; and His hands Cloath'd us unworthy; pitying while He judg'd.. How much more, if we pray Him, will His ear
Be open, and his heart to pity incline? And teach us further by what means to shun Th'inclement feasons, rain, ice, hail, and snow; Which now the sky, with various face, begins To shew us in this mountain; while the winds. Blow moift, and keen, shattering the graceful locks Of these fair spreading trees which bids us feek Some better shroud, fome better warmth, to cherish. Our limbs benum'd; e'er this diurnal ftar Leave cold the night, how we his gather'd beams Reflected, may with matter fere foments Or, by collifion of two bodies, grind '1 The air attrite to fire; as late the clouds Juftling, or push'd'with winds, rude in their shock Tine the flant light'ning; whofe thwart flame driw'n down,
Kindles the gummy bark of fir, and pine;
And fends a comfortable heat from far, Which might supply the fun. Such fire to use, And what may elfe be remedy, or cure,
To evils, which our own mif-deeds have wrought; He will inftru&t us praying, and of grace Befeeching Him. So as we need not fear To pass commodiously this life, sustain’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, prostrate falk Before Him reverent; and there confefs Humbly our faults, and pardon begs with tears.
Wat'ring the ground, and with our fighs the air Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite, in fign Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek? Undoubtedly He will relent, and turn
From His difpleasure: in whofe look ferene, When angry moft He feem'd, and most severe, What else, but favor, grace, and mercy, shone ? So fpake our father penitent: nor Eve
Felt lefs remorse. They forthwith to the place Repairing where He judg'd them, prostrate fell Before Him reverent; and both confess'd Humbly their faults ; and pardon bègg'd; with tears Wat'ring the ground; and with their sighs the air Frequenting, fent from hearts contrite; in fign Of forrow unfeign'd, and humiliation meek..
The end of the tenth Book.
The Son of God prefents to His Father the prayers of our first parents now repenting, and intercedes for them: God accepts them, but declares that they muft 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 shews 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 hill; fets before him in vifion what shall happen 'till the Flood Tome II.
« AnteriorContinuar » |