THus they in lowliest plight repentant stood

Praying, for from the Mercie-seat above

Prevenient Grace descending had removd

The stonie from thir hearts, & made new flesh

Regenerate grow instead, that sighs now breathd [ 5 ]

Unutterable, which the Spirit of prayer

Inspird, and wingd for Heavn with speedier flight

Then loudest Oratorie: yet thir port

Not of mean suiters, nor important less

Seemd thir Petition, then when th ancient Pair [ 10 ]

In Fables old, less ancient yet then these,

Deucalion and chaste Pyrrha to restore

The Race of Mankind drownd, before the Shrine

Of Themis stood devout. To Heavn thir prayers

Flew up, nor missd the way, by envious windes [ 15 ]

Blown vagabond or frustrate: in they passd

Dimentionless through Heavnly dores; then clad

With incense, where the Golden Altar fumd,

By thir great Intercessor, came in sight

Before the Fathers Throne: Them the glad Son [ 20 ]

Presenting, thus to intercede began.

See Father, what first fruits on Earth are sprung

From thy implanted Grace in Man, these Sighs

And Prayers, which in this Golden Censer, mixt

With Incense, I thy Priest before thee bring, [ 25 ]

Fruits of more pleasing savour from thy seed

Sown with contrition in his heart, then those

Which his own hand manuring all the Trees

Of Paradise could have product, ere falln

From innocence. Now therefore bend thine eare [ 30 ]

To supplication, heare his sighs though mute;

Unskilful with what words to pray, let mee

Interpret for him, mee his Advocate

And propitiation, all his works on mee

Good or not good ingraft, my Merit those [ 35 ]

Shall perfet, and for these my Death shall pay.

Accept me, and in mee from these receave

The smell of peace toward Mankinde, let him live

Before thee reconcild, at least his days

Numberd, though sad, till Death, his doom (which I [ 40 ]

To mitigate thus plead, not to reverse)

To better life shall yeeld him, where with mee

All my redeemd may dwell in joy and bliss,

Made one with me as I with thee am one.