BooK PARADISE LOST. 289 Is his wrath alfo ? Be it ! Man is not fo, 795 But mortal doom'd. How can He exercife Wrath without end on man, whom death muft end ? Can He make deathlefs death ? That were to make Strange, contradinion, which to God Himielf Impoffiblc is held; as argument Sot) Of weaknefs, not of pow'r. Will He draw out, For anger's fake, finite to infinite, In punifli'd man, to fatisfy His rigor, Satisfy'd never ? That were to extend His fentence beyond dull, and nature's law: 8os By which all caufes elfe, according (till To the reception of their matter, at ; Not to th' extent of their own fphere. But fay That D,ath be not one fit-eke, as I fuppos'd, Bereaving fenfe : but endlefs mifery Sic From this day onward ; which I feel begun Both in me, and without me, and fo laft To perpetuity-Ah me ! That fear Comes thundring back with dreadful revolution On my defenfelefs head : both Death and I 815 Am found eternal, and incorporate both. Nor I on my part fingle ; in me all Poilerity ftands curl} ! Fair patrimony That I muft leave ye, ions ! 0 were I able To walk it all my fell, and leave ye none! 820 So difinherited, how would ye blefs Me, now your curie ! Ah, why fhould all mankind, For one man's fault, thus guilders be condemn'd, If guiltlefs ? But from me what can proceed, But all corrupt, both mind and will deprav'd, 825 Not to do only, but to will the lame With me ? How can they then acquitted (land In fight of God ? Him after all disputes Fored I abfolve : all my evafions vain And
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