Season 4 Podcast 41 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk XI, Pt XXXVII, “Michael’s Visit, Pt II”

Season 4 Podcast 41 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk XI, Pt XXXVII, “Michael’s Visit, Pt II” In the prologue to Book XI, Milton writes.The Son of God presents to his Father the prayers of our first parents now repenting, and intercedes for them: God accepts them, but declares that they must no longer abide in Paradise; sends Michael with a band of Cherubim to dispossess them; but first to reveal to Adam future things: Michael's coming down. Adam shows to Eve certain ominous signs; he discerns Michael's approach; goes out to meet him: the Angel denounces their departure. Eve's Lamentation. Adam pleads but submits: the Angel leads him up to a high hill; sets before him a vision what shall happen till the Flood.Eve is contrite and takes the blame of their fall upon herself. She acknowledges Christ, now their judge, as being infinite in pardon. She resigns herself to daily toil with sweat imposed. She approaches the new day optimistically and smiling and promises never to leave Adam’s side again. Even though they will be required to toil from morning till night, it will still be pleasant. She urges Adam to be content in their fallen state.To whom thus Eve with sad demeanor meek.Ill worthy I such title should belongTo me transgressor, who for thee ordainedA help, became thy snare; to me reproachRather belongs, distrust and all dispraise:But infinite in pardon was my Judge,That I who first brought Death on all, am grac’tThe source of life; next favorable thou,Who highly thus to entitle me voutsaf’t,Far other name deserving. But the FieldTo labor calls us now with sweat imposed,Though after sleepless Night; for see the Morn,All unconcerned with our unrest, beginsHer rosy progress smiling; let us forth,I never from thy side henceforth to stray,Wherere our days work lies, though now enjoinedLaborious, till day droop; while here we dwell,What can be toilsome in these pleasant Walks?Here let us live, though in fallen state, content.But now that they are in a fallen world, nature is harsh, and even the animals have turned predator and prey. They watch helpless as beast chases the terrified deer.So spake, so wished much-humbled Eve, but FateSubscribed not; Nature first gave Signs, imprestOn Bird, Beast, Aire, Aire suddenly eclipsedAfter short blush of Morn; nigh in her sightThe Bird of Jove, stoopt from his aerie tour,Two Birds of gayest plume before him drove:Down from a Hill the Beast that reigns in Woods,First Hunter then, pursued a gentle brace,Goodliest of all the Forrest, Hart and Hinde;Direct to th’ Eastern Gate was bent their flight.Adam observed, and with his Eye the chasePursuing, not unmoved to Eve thus spake.Adam laments as even greater changes await them. It is because death is now introduced into the world. Adam, seeing death in nature, now considers their fate, that they too will turn to dust and be no more. O Eve, some further change awaits us nigh,Which Heav’n by these mute signs in Nature shewsForerunners of his purpose, or to warnUs haply too secure of our dischargeFrom penalty, because from death releastSome days; how long, and what till then our life,Who knows, or more then this, that we are dust,And thither must return and be no more.Why else this double object in our sightOf flight pursued in th’ Air and ore the groundOne way the self-same hour? why in the EastDarkness ere Dayes mid-course, and Morning lightMore orient in yon Western Cloud that drawsO’re the blew Firmament a radiant white,And slow descends, with something heavenly fraught.