17

O miserable of happie! is this the end [ 720 ]

Of this new glorious World, and mee so late

The Glory of that Glory, who now becom

Accurst of blessed, hide me from the face

Of God, whom to behold was then my highth

Of happiness: yet well, if here would end [ 725 ]

The miserie, I deservd it, and would beare

My own deservings; but this will not serve;

All that I eat or drink, or shall beget,

Is propagated curse. O voice once heard

Delightfully, Encrease and multiply, [ 730 ]

Now death to hear! for what can I encrease

Or multiplie, but curses on my head?

Who of all Ages to succeed, but feeling

The evil on him brought by me, will curse

My Head, Ill fare our Ancestor impure, [ 735 ]

For this we may thank Adam; but his thanks

Shall be the execration; so besides

Mine own that bide upon me, all from mee

Shall with a fierce reflux on mee redound,

On mee as on thir natural center light [ 740 ]

Heavie, though in thir place. O fleeting joyes

Of Paradise, deare bought with lasting woes!

Did I request thee, Maker, from my Clay

To mould me Man, did I sollicite thee

From darkness to promote me, or here place [ 745 ]

In this delicious Garden? as my Will

Concurd not to my being, it were but right

And equal to reduce me to my dust,

Desirous to resigne, and render back

All I receavd, unable to performe [ 750 ]

Thy terms too hard, by which I was to hold

The good I sought not. To the loss of that,

Sufficient penaltie, why hast thou added

The sense of endless woes? inexplicable

Thy Justice seems; yet to say truth, too late, [ 755 ]

I thus contest; then should have been refusd

Those terms whatever, when they were proposd:

Thou didst accept them; wilt thou enjoy the good,

Then cavil the conditions? and though God

Made thee without thy leave, what if thy Son [ 760 ]

Prove disobedient, and reprovd, retort,

Wherefore didst thou beget me? I sought it not

Wouldst thou admit for his contempt of thee

That proud excuse? yet him not thy election,

But Natural necessity begot. [ 765 ]