Chapter 2 1

THus they in the lowest plight repentant stood Praying, for from the Mercie-seat above Prevent Grace descending had removed The stone from thir hearts, & made new flesh Regenerate grow instead, that sighs now breathed [ 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 drowned, before the Shrine

Of Themis stood devout. To Heavn thir prayers Flew up, nor missd the way, by envious windes [ 15 ] Blown vagabond or frustrated: 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 spring 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, hear 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 receive The smell of peace toward Mankinde, let him live Before thee reconciled, at least his days

Number, 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 redeemed may dwell in joy and bliss, Made one with me as I with thee am one.