Chapter 20 19

So disinherited how would ye bless Me now your curse! Ah, why should all mankind For one mans fault thus guiltless be condemned, If guiltless? But from mee what can proceed, But all corrupt, both Mind and Will depravd, [ 825 ] Not to do only, but to will the same With me? how can they then acquired stand In sight of God? Him after all Disputes Forct I absolve: all my evasions vain And reasonings, though through Mazes, lead me still [ 830 ] But to my own conviction: first and last On mee, mee only, as the source and spring Of all corruption, all the blame lights are due;

So might the wrauth. Fond wish! couldt thou support That burden heavier then the Earth to bear [ 835 ] Then all the World much heavier, though divided With that bad Woman? Thus what thou desire, And what thou fearest, alike destroys all hope Of refuge, and concludes thee miserable Beyond all past example and future, [ 840 ] To Satan only like both crime and doom. O Conscience, into what Abyss of fears And horrors hast thou driven me; out of which I find no way, from deep to deeper plunged! Thus Adam to himself lamented loud [ 845 ] Through the still Night, not now, as ere man fell,

Wholsom and cool, and mild, but with black Air Accompanied, with damps and dreadful gloom, Which to his evil Conscience represented All things with double terror: On the ground [ 850 ] Outstretcht he lay, on the cold ground, and oft Cursed his Creation, Death as oft accusd Of tardie execution, since denounct The day of his offense. Why comes not Death, Said hee, with one thrice acceptable stroke [ 855 ] To end me? Shall Truth fail to keep her word, Justice Divine not hasn to be just? But Death comes not at call, Justice Divine Mends not her slowest pace for prayers or cries.

O Woods, O Fountains, Hillocks, Dales and Bowrs, [ 860 ] With other echo late I taught your Shades To answer, and resound farr other Song.