Which I must keep till my appointed day 550 Of rendring up, and patiently attend My dissolution.' Michael repli'd. 'Nor love thy life, nor hate; but what thou liv'st, Live well; how long or short permit to Heav'n : And now prepare thee for another sight.' 555 He look'd, and saw a spacious plain, whereon 560 565 570 From the high neighbouring hills, which was their seat, 575 Down to the plain descended: by their guise Not hid, nor those things last which might preserve 580 In gems and wanton dress; to the harp they sung Soft amorous ditties, and in dance came on: The men though grave, ey'd them, and let their eyes 585 Rove without rein; till in the amorous net Fast caught, they lik'd, and each his liking chose; And now of love they treat, till th' ev'ning star 590 Such happy interview and fair event Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, flow'rs, 595 Of Adam, soon inclin'd to admit delight, 600 To whom thus Michael. 'Judge not what is best By pleasure, though to Nature seeming meet, Created, as thou art, to nobler end, 605 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, 610 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 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 titl'd them the sons of God, Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame Of these fair atheists, and now swim in joy, 625 (Ere long to swim at large) and laugh; for which 630 Hold on the same, from Woman to begin.' 'From Man's effeminate slackness it begins,' Said th' angel, 'who should better hold his place, 635 By wisdom, and superior gifts receiv'd. 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 towrs, Concourse in arms, fierce faces threatning war, 640 Giants of mighty bone, and bold emprise; Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed, Single or in array of battle rang'd, Both horse and foot, nor idly mustring stood: 645 One way a band select from forage drives A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine, 650 655 Lay siege, encampt; by battery, scale, and mine, With dart and jav'lin, stones and sulphurous fire; Gray-headed men and grave, with warriors mixt, 660 In factious opposition; till at last Of middle age one rising, eminent 665 In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong, Of justice, of religion, truth and peace, 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, 675 Death's ministers, not Men, who thus deal Death Inhumanly to men, and multiply Ten thousand-fold 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 Heav'n 6 To whom thus Michael. These are the product Of those ill-mated marriages thou saw'st; Where good with bad were matcht, who of themselves 685 Abhor to join; and by imprudence mixt, Produce prodigious births of body or mind. Such were these giants, men of high renown; For in those days might only shall be admir'd, And valour and heroic virtue call'd; 690 To overcome in battle, and subdue Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite Of triumph, to be styl❜d great conquerors, 695 700 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 705 Did, as thou saw'st, receive, to walk with God 710 He look'd, and saw the face of things quite chang'd. The brazen throat of war had ceast to roar; And all 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 Allur'd them; thence from cups to civil broils. 720 In prison under judgments imminent : 725 But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceas'd Contending, and remov'd his tents far off. Then from the mountain hewing timber tall, Began to build a vessel of huge bulk, Measur'd by cubit, length, and breadth, and highth, 730 Smear'd round with pitch, and in the side a door For man and beast: when lo a wonder strange! Of every beast and bird, and insect small, 735 |