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
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 mov'd
Their stops and chords was seen; his volant touch
Instinct, through all proportions low and high
Fled and pursu'd 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 washt by stream
From underground;) the liquid ore he drain'd
Into fit moulds prepar'd: from which he form'd,
First his own tools; then, what might else be wrought
Fusil or grav'n in metal. After these,
But on the hither side, a different sort

560

565

570

From the high neighbouring hills, which was their seat,

575

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 walkt, when from the tents behold
A bevy of fair women, richly gay

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
Love's harbinger appear'd; then all in heat
They light the nuptial torch, and bid invoke
Hymen, then first to marriage rites invok't:
With feast and music all the tents resound.

590

Such happy interview and fair event

Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, flow'rs,
And charming symphonies, attach'd the heart

595

Of Adam, soon inclin'd to admit delight,
The bent of Nature; which he thus express'd.
'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 fulfill'd in all her ends.'

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,
Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spirit
Taught them, but they his gifts acknowledg'd none.
Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget;

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
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 titl'd 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,

625

(Ere long to swim at large) and laugh; for which
The world ere long 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
Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint!
But still I see the tenor of Man's woe

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,
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 pastur'd late, now scatter'd lies
With carcases and arms, th' ensanguin'd field
Deserted. Others to a city strong

650

655

Lay siege, encampt; by battery, scale, and mine,
Assaulting; others from the wall defend

With dart and jav'lin, stones and sulphurous fire;
On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds.
In other part the scepter'd heralds call
To council in the city gates: anon

Gray-headed men and grave, with warriors mixt,
Assemble, and harangues are heard; but soon

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
Rescu'd, had in his righteousness been lost?'

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
Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch
Of human glory, and for glory done

Of triumph, to be styl❜d great conquerors,
Patrons of mankind, gods, and sons of gods;
Destroyers rightlier call'd, and plagues of men.
Thus fame shall be achiev'd, 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,

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
Rapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds

705

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.'

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.
At length a reverend sire among them came,
And of their doings great dislike declar'd,
And testifi'd against their ways; he oft
Frequented their assemblies, whereso met,
Triumphs or festivals, and to them preach'd
Conversion and repentance, as to souls

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
Contriv'd; 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
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

735