volunteers to go in quest of their judge, imploring him to visit upon
her alone the penalty of sin. Her readiness to sacrifice herself
touches Adam, who replies that, since they are one, they must share
what awaits them. When Eve intimates that, since they are doomed, it
will be well never to bear any children, Adam reminds her it is only
through repentance they can appease their judge, and bids her not
scorn life or its pleasures.

_Book XI._ Having reached this state of humility and repentance, our
first parents are viewed compassionately by the Redeemer, who,
gathering up their prayers, presents them to the Father as the
first-fruits which have sprung from his mercy.

"See, Father, what first-fruits on earth are sprung
From thy implanted grace in man; these sighs
And prayers, which in this golden censer, mixed
With incense, I thy priest before thee bring,
Fruits of more pleasing savor, from thy seed
Sown with contrition in his heart, than those
Which his own hand, manuring all the trees
Of Paradise, could have produced, ere fallen
From innocence."

In reply to the touching pleas of this advocate, the heavenly Father
promises the culprits shall be forgiven, provided their repentance is
sincere, but insists that meantime they be ejected from Paradise.
Michael and the cherubs chosen for this office are instructed to mount
guard day and night, lest the fiend return to Paradise, or the human
pair re-enter and partake of the tree of life and thus escape the
penalty of death. But, before driving out our first parents, Michael