Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/334

Till thou return unto the ground; for thou
Out of the ground was taken, know thy birth,
For dust thou art, and shalt to dust return."
So judged he Man, both Judge and Savior sent,
And the instant stroke of death, denounced that day,
Removed far off; then, pitying how they stood211
Before him naked to the air, that now
Must suffer change, disdained not to begin
Thenceforth the form of servant to assume;
As when he washed his servants' feet, so now,
As father of his family, he clad
Their nakedness with skins of beasts, or slain,
Or as the snake with youthful coat repaid;
And thought not much to clothe his enemies.
Nor he their outward only with the skins220
Of beasts, but inward nakedness, much more
Opprobrious, with his robe of righteousness
Arraying, covered from his Father's sight.
To him with swift ascent he up returned,
Into his blissful bosom reassumed
In glory, as of old; to him appeased
All, though all-knowing, what had passed with Man
Recounted, mixing intercession sweet.
Meanwhile, ere thus was sinned and judge on Earth,
Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death230