“I yield it just,” said Adam, " and submit. But is there yet no other way, besides These painful passages, how we may come To death, and mix with our connatural dust ?"
"There is," said Michael, "if thou well observe 530 The rule of Not too much, by temperance taught
In what thou eat'st and drink'st, seeking from thence Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight,
Till many years over thy head return.
So may'st thou live, till, like ripe fruit, thou drop Into thy mother's lap, or be with ease
Gathered, not harshly plucked, for death mature.
This is old age; but then thou must outlive
Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty, which will change To withered, weak, and grey; thy senses then, Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forgo
To what thou hast; and, for the air of youth, Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reign A melancholy damp of cold and dry,
To weigh thy spirits down, and last consume The balm of life." To whom our Ancestor :- "Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong Life much-bent rather how I may be quit, Fairest and easiest, of this cumbrous charge, Which I must keep till my appointed day Of rendering up, and patiently attend My dissolution." Michael replied:-
"Nor love thy life, nor hate; but what thou liv'st Live well; how long or short permit to Heaven. And now prepare thee for another sight."
He looked, and saw a spacious plain, whereon Were tents of various hue: by some were herds Of cattle grazing others whence the sound Of instruments that made melodious chime Was heard, of harp and organ, and who moved Their stops and chords was seen: his volant touch Instinct through all proportions low and high Fled and pursued transverse the resonant fugue. In other part stood one who, at the forge
Labouring, two massy clods of iron and brass Had melted (whether found where casual fire Had wasted woods, on mountain or in vale, Down to the veins of earth, thence gliding hot To some cave's mouth, or whether washed by stream From underground); the liquid ore he drained 570 Into fit moulds prepared; from which he formed First his own tools, then what might else be wrought Fusil or graven in metal. After these,
But on the hither side, a different sort
From the high neighbouring hills, which was their seat,
Down to the plain descended: by their guise Just men they seemed, and all their study bent To worship God aright, and know his works Not hid; nor those things last which might preserve Freedom and peace to men. They on the plain 580 Long had not walked when from the tents behold A bevy of fair women, richly gay
In gems and wanton dress! to the harp they sung Soft amorous ditties, and in dance came on.
The men, though grave, eyed them, and let their eyes Rove without rein, till, in the amorous net
Fast caught, they liked, and each his liking chose. And now of love they treat, till the evening-star, Love's harbinger, appeared; then, all in heat, They light the nuptial torch, and bid invoke Hymen, then first to marriage rites invoked: With feast and music all the tents resound. Such happy interview, and fair event
Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, flowers, And charming symphonies, attached the heart Of Adam, soon inclined to admit delight, The bent of Nature; which he thus expressed :- "True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blest, Much better seems this vision, and more hope Of peaceful days portends, than those two past: Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse; Here Nature seems fulfilled in all her ends."
To whom thus Michael:-"Judge not what is best By pleasure, though to Nature seeming meet, Created, as thou art, to nobler end,
Holy and pure, conformity divine.
Those tents thou saw'st so pleasant were the tents Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his race Who slew his brother: studious they appear Of arts that polish life, inventors rare; Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spirit Taught them; but they his gifts acknowledged none. Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget;
For that fair female troop thou saw'st, that seemed Of goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay, Yet empty of all good wherein consists Woman's domestic honour and chief praise; Bred only and completed to the taste
Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance,
To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye;— 620 To these that sober race of men, whose lives
Religious titled them the Sons of God, Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame, Ignobly, to the trains and to the smiles Of these fair atheists, and now swim in joy (Erelong to swim at large) and laugh; for which The world erelong a world of tears must weep."
To whom thus Adam, of short joy bereft :- "O pity and shame, that they who to live well Entered so fair should turn aside to tread Paths indirect, or in the midway faint! But still I see the tenor of Man's woe
Holds on the same, from Woman to begin."
"From Man's effeminate slackness it begins," Said the Angel," who should better hold his place By wisdom, and superior gifts received. But now prepare thee for another scene."
He looked, and saw wide territory spread Before him-towns, and rural works between, Cities of men with lofty gates and towers, Concourse in arms, fierce faces threatening war,
Giants of mighty bone and bold emprise.
Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed, Single or in array of battle ranged
Both horse and foot, nor idly mustering stood. One way a band select from forage drives A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine, From a fat meadow-ground, or fleecy flock, Ewes and their bleating lambs, over the plain, Their booty; scarce with life the shepherds fly, But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray: With cruel tournament the squadrons join; Where cattle pastured late, now scattered lies With carcasses and arms the ensanguined field Deserted. Others to a city strong
Lay siege, encamped, by battery, scale, and mine, Assaulting; others from the wall defend
With dart and javelin, stones and sulphurous fire; On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds. In other part the sceptred haralds call
To council in the city-gates: anon
Grey-headed men and grave, with warriors mixed, Assemble, and harangues are heard; but soon In factious opposition, till at last
Of middle age one rising, eminent
In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong, Of justice, of religion, truth, and peace,
And judgment from above: him old and young Exploded, and had seized with violent hands,
Had not a cloud descending snatched him thence, 670 Unseen amid the throng. So violence
Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law,
Through all the plain, and refuge none was found.
Adam was all in tears, and to his guide
Lamenting turned full sad:—“Oh, what are these? Death's ministers, not men! who thus deal death Inhumanly to men, and multiply
Ten thousandfold the sin of him who slew
His brother; for of whom such massacre
Make they but of their brethren, men of men? 680
But who was that just man, whom had not Heaven Rescued, had in his righteousness been lost?"
To whom thus Michael :-"These are the product Of those ill-mated marriages thou saw'st,
Where good with bad were matched; who of themselves
Abhor to join, and, by imprudence mixed, Produce prodigious births of body or mind. Such were these Giants, men of high renown; For in those days might only shall be admired, And valour and heroic virtue called. To overcome in battle, and subdue Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite Manslaughter, shall be held the highest pitch Of human glory, and, for glory done,
Of triumph to be styled great conquerors, Patrons of mankind, gods, and sons of gods- Destroyers rightlier called, and plagues of men. Thus fame shall be achieved, renown on earth, And what most merits fame in silence hid.
But he, the seventh from thee, whom thou beheld'st The only righteous in a world perverse, And therefore hated, therefore so beset With foes, for daring single to be just,
And utter odious truth, that God would come
To judge them with his Saints--him the Most High, Rapt in a balmy cloud, with winged steeds, Did, as thou saw'st, receive, to walk with God High in salvation and the climes of bliss, Exempt from death, to show thee what reward Awaits the good, the rest what punishment; Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold."
He looked, and saw the face of things quite changed. The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar;
All now was turned to jollity and game, To luxury and riot, feast and dance, Marrying or prostituting, as befell, Rape or adultery, where passing fair
Allured them; thence from cups to civil broils.
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