Yet they a beauteous offspring fhall beget: For that fair female troop, thou saw'st, that feem'd

Of Goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay, 615,
Yet empty of all good, wherein confifts
Woman's domestic honor and chief praise,
Bred only and completed to the taste
Of luftful appetite; to fing, to dance,

To drefs, aud troll the tongue, and roll the

To thofe, that fober race of men, whose lives

Religious titled them the fons of God,

Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame
Ignobly! to the trains and to the miles
Of these fair atheifts; and now fwim in joy, 625
Erelong to fwim at large, and laugh: for
which

The world ere long a world of tears must weep!

To whom thus Adam of fhort joy bereft. O pity and shame! that they, who to live. 'well,

Enter'd fo fair, fhould turn afide to tread 630
Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint!
But ftill I see the tenor of man's woe
Hold on the fame, from woman to begin.

From man's effeminate flackness it begins; Said th' Angel, who fhould better hold his place

By wisdom and fuperior gifts receiv'd.
But now prepare thee for another scene.
He look'd, and faw wide territory spread
Before him, towns and rural works between:
Cities of men with lofty gates and tow'rs; 640
Concourfe in arms, fierce faces threathning

war;

Giants of mighty bone, and bold emprise! Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming fteed:

Single or in array of battle rang'd

Both horfe and food; nor idly muft'ring

One way a hand 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 shepherd

But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray.
With cruel tournament the fquadrons join!
Where cattle paftur'd late, now scatter'd lies
With carcaffes, and arms th' infanguin'd field,
Deferted. Others, to a city strong

655

Lay, fiege, incamp'd; by batt'ry, fcale, and mine

Affaulting others from the wall défend

With dart and jav'lin, ftones and fulph'rous fire:

On each hand flaughter and gigantic deed.
In other part the fceptred Heralds call

To council in the city gates: anon

660

Grey-headed men and grave, with warriors mix'd,

Affemble, and harangues are heard: but foon In factious opposition: till at last

Of middle age dne rifing, eminent

665

In wife deport, fpake much of right and

wrong,

Of justice, of religion, truth and peace,
And judgment from above. Him old and

Proceeded, and oppreffion, and sword-law Through all the plain, and refuge none was found.

Adam was all in tears, and to his guide

Inhumanly to men, and multiply

Ten thousand fold the fin of him, who flew

His brother: for of whom fuch massacre

Make they but of their brethren; men of

men?

680

But who was that juft man, whom had not Heav'n

Rescued, had in his righteoufsnefs been loft? To whom thus Michael. These are the product

Of thofe ill-match'd marriages thou faw'ft; Where good with bad were match'd; who of themselves 685

Abhorr to joint and by imprudence mix'd..
Produce prodigious births of body or mind.
Such were these giant; men of high renown!
For in those days might only shall be admir'd,
And valor and heroic virtue call'd:
To overcome in battel, and fubdue
Nations, and bring home fpoils with infinite
Man-flaughter, fhall be held the highest pitch
Of human glory; and for glory done

690

Of triumph, to be ftyl'd great conquerors, 695
Patrons of mankind, Gods, and fons of Gods,
Destroyers rightlier call'd, and plagues of men.
Thus fame fhall be atchiev'd, renown on earth;
And what moft merits fame in filence hid.
But he, the feventh from thee, whom thou
beheldst,

The only righteous in a world perverse,
And therefore hated, therefore fo befet
'With foes, for daring fingle to be juft,

1

700

And

And utter odious truth, that God would come To judge them with Sains: him the Most High

705

Rapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds,
Did, as thou faw'ft, receive; to walk with
God

High in salvation, and the climes of bliss, Exempt from death; to fhew thee, what re ward

Awaits the good; the reft, what punifh

ment:

710

Which now direct thine eyes, and foon be

hold.

He look'd, and law the face of things quite

chang'd:

715

The brazen throat of war had ceas'd to roar;
All now turn'd to jollity,
and game,
To luxury and riot, feast and dance;
Marrying or proftituting, as befel,
Rape or adultery, where paffing fair
Allur'd them: thence from cups,

broils.

to civil

At length. a reverend fire among them came, And of their doings great dislike declar'd, 720 And teftify'd against their ways: he oft Frequented their affemblies, wherefo met, Triumphs or festivals, and to them preach'd Converfion and repentance: as to fouls

In prifon under judgments imminent:

F

725