6

Because thou hast hearknd to the voice of thy Wife,

And eaten of the Tree concerning which

I chargd thee, saying: Thou shalt not eate thereof, [ 200 ]

Cursd is the ground for thy sake, thou in sorrow

Shalt eate thereof all the days of thy Life;

Thorns also and Thistles it shall bring thee forth

Unbid, and thou shalt eate th Herb of th Field,

In the sweat of thy Face shalt thou eat Bread, [ 205 ]

Till thou return unto the ground, for thou

Out of the ground wast taken, know thy Birth,

For dust thou art, and shalt to dust returne.

So judgd he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent,

And th instant stroke of Death denounct that day [ 210 ]

Removd farr off; then pittying how they stood

Before him naked to the aire, that now

Must suffer change, disdaind not to begin

Thenceforth the form of servant to assume,

As when he washd his servants feet so now [ 215 ]

As Father of his Familie he clad

Thir nakedness with Skins of Beasts, or slain,

Or as the Snake with youthful Coate repaid;

And thought not much to cloath his Enemies:

Nor hee thir outward onely with the Skins [ 220 ]

Of Beasts, but inward nakedness, much more

Opprobrious, with his Robe of righteousness,

Araying coverd from his Fathers sight.

To him with swift ascent he up returnd,

Into his blissful bosom reassumd [ 225 ]

In glory as of old, to him appeasd

All, though all-knowing, what had past with Man

Recounted, mixing intercession sweet.

Meanwhile ere thus was sind and judgd on Earth,

Within the Gates of Hell sate Sin and Death, [ 230 ]

In counterview within the Gates, that now

Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame

Farr into Chaos, since the Fiend passd through,

Sin opening, who thus now to Death began.