Which I must keep till my appointed day
Of rendering up, and patiently attend
My dissolution. Michaël replied:

Nor love thy life, nor hate; but what thou livest
Live well; how long, or short, permit to Heaven:
And now prepare thee for another sight.

He look'd, 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,

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Was heard, of harp and organ; and, who moved 560
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 cr in vale,
Down to the veins of earth; thence gliding hot
To some cave's mouth; or whether wash'd by stream
From underground;) the liquid ore he drain'd
Into fit moulds prepared; from which he form'd
First his own tools; then, what night else be wrought
Fusil or graven in metal. After these,

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But on the hither side, a different sort

[seat

From the high neighbouring hills, which was their
Down to the plain descended; by their guise
Just men they seem'd, 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
Long had not walk'd, when from the tents, behold!
A bevy of fair women, richly gay,

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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;

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And now of love they treat, till the evening star,
Love's harbinger, appear'd; 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

590

Of love and youth not lost, sʊngs, garlands, flowers, And charming sympnonies, attach'd the heart

Of Adam, soon inclined to admit delight,

The bent of nature; which he thus express'd:

True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel bless'd ; Much better seems this vision, and more hope

595

Of peaceful days portends, than those two pass'd; 600 Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse; Here Nature seems fulfill'd in all her ends.

To whom thus Michaël: Judge not what is best By pleasure, though to nature seeming meet; Created, as thou art, to nobler end

Holy and pure, conformity divine.

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610

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 seem'd

Of Goddesses so blithe, so smooth, so gay,

615

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,

62

Frelong 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

Enter'd so fair, should turn aside to tread

630

Paths indirect, or in the mid way 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 635 By wisdom, and superior gifts received.

But now prepare thee for another scene.

He look'd, 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

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645

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 pleating lambs over the plain,

Their booty; scarce with life the shepherds fly, 650
But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray;
With cruel tournament the squadrons join;
Where cattle pastured late, now scatter'd lies
With carcasses and arms the ensanguined field,
Deserted Others to a city strong

655

Lay siege, encamp'd; 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 heralds call

To council, in the city-gates; anon

Gray-headed men and grave, with warriors mix'd
Assemble, and harangues are heard but soon,

660

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,

665

Had not a cloud descending snatch'd 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 turn'd full sad: O! 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

675

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 Michaël: These are the product

Of those ill mated marriages thou saw'st;

[selves

Where good with bad were match'd, who of themAbhor to join; and, by imprudence mix'd,

686

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 call'd;

690.

To overcome in battle, and subdue

Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite
Man-slaughter, 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 call'd, 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 behieldst
The only righteous in a world perverse,

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701

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
Wrapp'd 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 look'd, and saw the face of things quite changed;

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710

The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar;

All now was turn'd to jollity and game,

To luxury and riot, feast and dance;

715

Marrying or prostituting, as befel,

Rape or adultery, where passing fair

Allured them; thence from cups to civil broils.

720

At length a reverend sire among them came,
And of their doings great dislike declared,
And testified against their ways; he oft
Frequented their assemblies, whereso met,
Triumphs or festivals; and to them preach'd
Conversion and repentance, as to souls
In prison, under judgments imminent :

725

But all in vain which when he saw, he ceased

Contending, and removed his tents far off;

Then, from the mountain hewing timber tall,

Began to build a vessel of huge bulk ;

Measured by cubit, length, and breadth, and height,
Smear'd round with pitch; and in the side a door 731
Contrived; and of provisions laid in large,

For man and beast: when lo, a wonder strange!
Of every beast, and bird, and insect small

Came sevens, and pairs: and enter'd in as taught 735
Their order: last the sire and his three sons,
With their four wives; and God made fast the door.
Meanwhile the south-wind rose, and, with black wings
Wide-hovering, all the clouds together drove