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
is to reveal to Adam all that awaits his race in the future,
emphasizing the promise that salvation shall come through his seed.
These orders received, the archangel wends his way down to earth,
where, dawn having appeared, Adam and Eve once more issue from their
bower.

Night has brought some comfort, and Adam exclaims that, since the
penalty of death is to be postponed, they must show their penitence by
laboring hard, working henceforth side by side as contentedly as
their fallen state will allow. On the way to the scene of their wonted
labors they notice an eagle pursuing another bird and see wild beasts
hunting one another. Besides these ominous signs Adam, descrying a
bright light travelling rapidly toward them, informs Eve some message
is on its way. He is not mistaken, for Michael soon emerges from this
cloud of light so, while Eve hurries off to prepare for his
entertainment Adam steps forward to receive him.

Clad in celestial panoply, the angel announces he has been sent to
inform Adam that although the penalty of death is indefinitely
postponed, he is no longer to inhabit Paradise, but is to go forth
into the world and till the ground from whence he sprang.
Horror-stricken at these tidings, Adam remains mute, and Eve, hearing
the decree from a distance, wails aloud at the thought of leaving
home. To comfort her, the angel bids her dry her tears and follow her
husband, making her home wherever he abides. Then Adam wonders whether
by incessant prayer and penitence the Almighty could be induced to
alter his decree and let them remain in Paradise, saying he hoped to
point out to his descendants the places where he met and conversed
with his Maker. But Michael rejoining he will find God eve