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.