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Marocco, and Algiers, and Tremifen:

On Europe thence, and where Rome was to

fway

405

The world: in fpirit perhaps he also saw
Rich Mexico, the feat of Montezume,
And Cufco in Peru, the richer feat
Of Atabalipa; and yet unfpoil'd
Guiana; whose *) great city Geryon's fons
Call El Dorado. But to nobler fights, 410
Michael from Adam's eyes the film remov'd,
Which that falfe fruit, that promis'd clearer
fight,

Had bred; then purg'd with euphrasy and rue
The vifual nerve, for he had much to fee; 415
And from the 'well of life three drops inftill'd.
So deep the pow'r of thefe ingredients pierc'd,
Ev'n to the inmoft feat of mental fight,
That Adam, now inforc'd to close his eyes,
Sunk down, and all his fpirits became in-
tranc'd:

420

But him the gentle Angel by the hand
Soon rais'd, and his attention thus recall'd.
Adam, now'ope thine eyes, and firft be-

hold

Th' effects, which thy original crime hath

wrought

*) Manoa.

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Nor finn'd thy fin: yet from that fin derive Corruption, to bring forth more violent deeds. His eyes he open'd, ond beheld a field, Part arable and tilth, whereon were fhea

ves

430 New reap'd: the other part, fheep-walks and

folds:

In the midst an altar as the land-mark stood,
Ruftic, of grally fod: thither anon

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A fweaty reaper from his tillage brought
Firft fruits, the green ear, and the yellow

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Uncull'd, as came to hand. A fhepherd next More meek, came with the firstlings of his flock,

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Choiceft and beft: then sacrificing, laid

The inwards and their fat, with incense

ftrow'd,

On the cleft wood, and all due rites per

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His offering foon propitious fire from Heav'n Confum'd with nimble glance, and grateful fteam.

The other's not, for his was not fincere.
Whereat he inly rag'd, and as they talk'd

Smote him into the midriff with a ftone, 445 That beat out life: he fell, and deadly pale Groan'd out his foul with gufhing blood effus'd!

Much at that fight was Adam in his heart Dismay'd, and thus in hafte to th' Angel cry'd. O Teacher! fome great mischief hath be

fali'n

450. To that meek man, who well had facrific'd: Is piety thus, end pure devotion paid?

T' whom Michael thus, he alfo mov'd, re

ply'd:

These two are brethren, Adam, and to come Out of thy loins: th' unjuft the juft hath

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For envy, that his brother's offering found From Heav'n acceptance: but the bloody fact Will be aveng'd; and th' other's faith approv'd,

Lofe no reward, though here thou see him die,

Rolling in dust and gore.

To which our

fire:

460

Alas, both for the deed and for the cause!

But have I now feen Death? is this the way

I must return to native duft? O fight

Of terror, foul and ugly to behold,

Horrid to think, how horrible to feel!

465

To whom thus Michael. Death thou haft seen

In his first shape on man: but many shapes
Of Death, and many are the ways that lead
To his grim cave: all difmal! yet to sense
More terrible at th' entrance than within. 470
Some, as thou faw'ft, by violent stroke shall
die:

By fire, flood, famine: by intemperance.

more

In meats and drinks, which on the earth fhall bring

Diseases dire: of which a monftrous crew Before thee shall appear; that thou may'st

know,

What mifery th' inabstinence of Eve

475

Shall bring on men. Immediately a place Befere his eyes appear'd, fad, noifome, dark, A lazar-house it feem'd; wherein were laid Numbers of all difeas'd: all maladies 480 Of ghaftly fpafm, or racking torture, qualms Of heart-fick agony, all fev'rous kind's, Convulfions, epilepfies, fierce catarrhs, Inteftin ftone, and ulcer, cholic pangs, Daemoniac phrenzy, moaping melancholy, 485 And moon-ftruck madness, pining atrophy,. Marafmus, and wide-wafting peftilence, Droplies, and afthmas, and joint-raching rheums.

Dire was the toffing, deep the groans! Despair

Tended the fick bufieft from couch to couch: 490 And over them triumphant Death his dart Shook; but delay'd to ftrike, though oft invok'd

With vows,

as their chief good, and final

hope,

Sight fo deform what heart of rock could

long

Dry-ey'd behold? Adam could not, but

wept,

495

Though not of woman born;

compallion

quell'd

His beft of man, and gave him up to tears
A fpace; till firmer thoughts restrain'd excess,
And scarce recovering words his plaint re-
new'd.

500

O miferable mankind! to what fall Degraded, to what wretched state referv'd! Better end here unborn! Way is life giv'n To be thus wrefted from us? rather, why Obtruded on us thus? who, if we knew, What we receive, would either not ac

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Life offer'd; or foon beg to lay it down;
Glad to be fo difmifs'd in peace. Can thus
Th' image of God in man, created once
So goodly and erect, though faulty fince
To fuch unfightly fufferings be debas'd,
Under inhuman pains? Why should not man,

510

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