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50I ſdeind ſubjection, and thought one ſtep higher
Would ſet me higheſt, and in a moment quit
The debt immenſe of endleſs gratitude,
So burthenſome, ſtill paying, ſtill to ow;
Forgetful what from him I ſtill receivd,
And underſtood not that a grateful mind
By owing owes not, but ſtill pays, at once
Indebted and diſchargd; what burden then?
O had his powerful Deſtiny ordaind
Me ſome inferiour Angel, I had ſtood
60Then happie; no unbounded hope had rais'd
Ambition. Yet why not? ſom other Power
As great might have aſpir'd, and me though mean
Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great
Fell not, but ſtand unſhak'n, from within
Or from without, to all temptations arm'd.
Hadſt thou the ſame free Will and Power to ſtand?
Thou hadſt : whom haſt thou then or what to accuſe,
But Heav'ns free Love dealt equally to all?
Be then his Love accurſt, ſince love or hate,
70To me alike, it deals eternal woe.
Nay curs'd be thou; ſince againſt his thy will
Choſe freely what it now ſo juſtly rues.
Me miſerable! which way ſhall I flie
Infinite wrauth, and infinite deſpaire?
Which way I flie is Hell; my ſelf am Hell;
And in the loweſt deep a lower deep
Still threatning to devour me opens wide,
To which the Hell I ſuffer ſeems a Heav'n.
O then at laſt relent: is there no place
80Left for Repentance, none for Pardon left?
None left but by ſubmiſſion; and that word