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Eternity, whose end no eye can reach.
Greatly instructed, I shall hence depart,
Greatly in peace of thought, & have my fill
Of knowledge, what this vessel can contain ;
Beyond which was my folly to aspire.
Henceforth I learn, that to obey is best,
And love with fear the only God, to walk
As in his presence, ever to observe
His providence, and on him sole depend,
Merciful over all his works, with good
Still overcoming evil, and by small,

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Accomplishing great things, by things deem'd weak,

Subverting worldly strong, and worldly wise

By simply meek; that suffering for truth's sake
Is fortitude, to highest victory,
And to the faithful death the gate of life:
Taught this by his example, whom I now
Acknowledge my Redeemer, ever bless'd."

To whom thus also the Angel last replied:
"This having learn'd, thou hast attain'd the sum
Of wisdom; hope no higher, though all the stars
Thou knew'st by name, & all the ethereal powers,
All secrets of the deep, all nature's works,
Or works of God in Heaven, air, earth, or sea,
And all the riches of this world enjoy'd'st,
And all the rule, one empire; only add
Deeds, to thy knowledge answerable, add faith,
Add virtue, patience, temperance, add love,
By name to come call'd charity, the soul
Of all the rest: then wilt thou not be loath
To leave this Paradise, but shalt possess
A Paradise within thee, happier far.
Let us descend now therefore, from this top
Of speculation, for the hour precise
Exacts our parting hence; & see, the guards,
By me encamp'd on yonder hill, expect
Their motion, at whose front a flaming sword,
In signal of remove, waves fiercely round;
We may no longer stay. Go, waken Eve;
Her also I, with gentle dreams, have calm'd,
Portending good, & all her spirits composed
To meek submission: thou, at season fit,
Let her with thee partake what thou hast heard ;
Chiefly what my concern her faith to know,
The great deliverance by her seed to come,
For by the woman's seed, on all mankind;
That ye may live, which will be many days,
Both in one faith unanimous, though sad,

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With cause, for evils pass'd, yet much more cheer'd
With meditation on the happy end."

He ended; and they both descend the hill :
Descended, Adam, to the bower where Eve
Lay sleeping, ran before; but found her waked :
And thus with words not sad, she him received.

"Whence thou return'st, & whither went'st I know;
For God is also in sleep, and dreams advise,
Which he hath sent propitious, some great good
Presaging, since with sorrow & heart's distress
Wearied I fell asleep. But now lead on,
In me is no delay; with thee to go,
Is to stay here; without thee, here to stay,
Is to go hence unwilling; thou to me
Art all things under Heaven, all places thou,
Who, for my wilful crime, art banish'd hence,
This further consolation, yet secure,
I carry hence; though all by me is lost,
Such favour I unworthy, am vouchsafed,
By me, the promised Seed shall all restore."

So spake our mother Eve; and Adam heard
Well pleased, but answer'd not; for now too high
The Arch-angel stood; and from the other hill
To their fix'd station, all in bright array
The Cherubim descended; on the ground
Gliding meteorous, as evening mist,
Risen from a river, o'er the marish glides,
And gathers ground fast at the labourer's heel,
Homeward returning. High in front advanced,
The brandish'd sword of God before them blazed
Fierce, as a comet; which with torrid heat,
And vapour, as the Libyan air adust
Began to parch that temperate clime: whereat,
In either hand, the hastening Angel caught
Our lingering parents, and to the eastern gate
Led them direct, and down the cliff as fast,
To the subjected plain; then disappear'd.
They, looking back, all the eastern side beheld
Of Paradise, so late their happy seat,
Waved over by that flaming brand; the gate
With dreadful faces throng'd, and fiery arms:
Some natural tears they dropp'd, but wiped them soon.
The world was all before them, where to choose
Their place of rest, and Providence their guide :
They, hand in hand, with wandering steps & slow.
Through Eden took their solitary way.

THE END OF PARADISE LOST.

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PARADISE REGAINED.

BOOK. I.

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