Chapter 3 2

To whom the Father, without Cloud, serene. [45] All thy request for Man, accepted Son, Obtain, all thy request was my Decree: But longer in that Paradise to dwell, The Law I gave to Nature him forbids: Those pure immortal Elements that know [ 50 ] No gross, no harmful mixture foule, Eject him tainted now, and purge him off As a distemper, gross to aire as gross, And mortal food, as may dispose him best For dissolution wrought by Sin, that first [ 55 ] Distempered all things, and of corruption Corrupted. I at first with two fair gifts Created him endowed, with Happiness

And Immortalitie: that fondly lost, This other servd but to eternize woe; [ 60 ] Till I provided Death; so Death becomes His final remedy, and after Life Trid in sharp tribulation, and refind By Faith and faithful works, to second Life, Wakt in the renovation of the just, [ 65 ] Resignes him up with Heavn and Earth renewed. But let us call to Synod all the Blest Through Heavns wide bounds; from them I will not hide My judgments, how with Mankind I proceed, As how with peccant Angels late they saw; [ 70 ] And in thir state, though firm, stood more confirmed. He ended, and the Son gave signal high

To the bright Minister that watchd, hee blew His Trumpet, heard in Oreb since perhaps When God descended, and perhaps once more [ 75 ] To sound at general Doom. Th Angelic blast Filled all the Regions: from thir blissful Bowrs Of Amarantin Shade, Fountain or Spring, By the waters of Life, where ere they sate In fellowships of joy: the Sons of Light [ 80 ] Hasted, resorting to the Summons high, And took thir Seats; till from his Throne supream Th Almighty thus pronounced his sovran Will.