So disied how would ye bless
Me now your curse! Ah, why should all mankind
For one mans fault thus guiltless be nd,
If guiltless? But from mee what proceed,
But all corrupt, both Mind and Will depravd, [ 825 ]
Not to do onely, but to will the same
With me? how they then acquitted 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 vi: first and last
On mee, mee onely, as the sourse and spring
Of all corruption, all the blame lights due;
So might the wrauth. Fond wish! couldst 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 desirst,
And what thou fearst, alike destroyes all hope
e, and cludes thee miserable
Beyond all past example and future, [ 840 ]
To Satan only like both crime and doom.
O sce, into what Abyss of fears
And horrors hast thou drivn me; out of which
I find no way, from deep to deeper plungd!
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
Apanied, with damps and dreadful gloom,
Which to his evil sce represented
All things with double terror: On the ground [ 850 ]
Outstretcht he lay, on the cold ground, and oft
Cursd his Creatioh as oft accusd
Of tardie execution, since denounct
The day of his offence. Why es not Death,
Said hee, with ohrice acceptable stroke [ 855 ]
To end me? Shall Truth fail to keep her word,
Justice Divi hastn to be just?
But Death es 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.