Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/355

Rh Sufficient penalty, why hast thou added The sense of endless woes? inexplicable Thy justice seems. Yet, to say truth, too late I thus contest; then should have been refused Those terms whatever, when they were proposed. Thou didst accept them: wilt thou enjoy the good, Then cavil the condition? And, though God Made thee without thy leave, what if thy son Prove disobedient, and reproved 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. God made thee of choice his own, and of his own To serve him; thy reward was of his grace, Thy punishment then justly is at his will. Be it so, for I submit; his doom is fair, That dust I am, and shall to dust return. O welcome hour whenever! Why delays His hand to execute what his decree Fixed on this day? Why do I overlive? Why am I mocked with death, and lengthened out To deathless pain? How gladly would I meet Mortality, my sentence, and be earth Insensible! how glad would lay me down As in my mother's lap! There I should rest, And sleep secure; his dreadful voice no more Would thunder in my ears; no fear of worse