Chapter 8 7
I through the sample Air in Triumph high
Shall lead Hell Captive maugre Hell, and show [ 255 ]
The powers of darkness bound. Thou at the sight
Pleasd, out of Heaven shalt look down and smile,
While by thee raid I ruin all my Foes,
Death last, and with his Carcass glut the Grave:
Then with the multiple of my redeemed [ 260 ]
Shall enter Heaven long absent, and return,
Father, to see thy face, where in no cloud
Of anger shall remain, but peace assurd,
And reconcilement; wrauth shall be no more
Thenceforth, but in thy presence Joy entire. [ 265 ]
His words here ended, but his meek aspect
Silent yet spake, and breathed immortal love
To mortal men, above which only shon
Filial obedience: as a sacrifice
Glad to be offered, he attends the will [ 270 ]
Of his great Father. Admiration seisd
All Heavn, what this might mean, and whither tend
Wondring; but soon th Almighty thus replied:
O thou in Heavn and Earth the only peace
Found out for mankind under wrauth, O thou [ 275 ]
My sole complacence! well thou knowt how dear,
To me are all my works, nor Man the least
Though last created, that for him I spare
Thee from my bosom and right hand, to save,
By loosing thee a while, the whole Race lost. [ 280 ]
Thou therefore whom thou only canst redeem,
Thir Nature also to thy Nature joyn;
And be thy self Man among men on Earth,
Made flesh, when time shall be, of Virgin seed,
By wondrous birth: Be thou in Adams room [ 285 ]
The Head of all humanity, though Adams Son.
As in him perish all men, so in thee
As from a second root shall be restord,
As many as are restord, without thee none.
His crime makes guilt all his Sons, thy merit [ 290 ]
Imputed shall absorb them who renounce
Thir own both righteous and unrighteous deeds,
And live in thee transplanted, and from thee
Receive new life. So Man, as is most just,
Shall satisfy for Man, be judged and die, [ 295 ]
And dying rise, and rising with him raise
His Brethren, ransomd with his own dear life.