What we receive, would either not accept 505 Life offer'd, or foon beg to lay it down, Glad to be fo difmis'd in peace. Can thus So goodly and erect, though faulty since, Under inhuman pains? Why should not Man, In part, from fuch deformities be free, Their Maker's Image, answer'd Michael, then I yield it juft, faid Adam, and fubmit. But is there yet no other way, befides These painful paffages, how we may come To Death, and mix with our connatural duft? 530 There is, faid Michael, if thou well obferve Till many years over thy head return: So may'st thou live, till like ripe Fruit thou drop 535 Into thy Mother's lap, or be with ease Gather'd, not harfhly pluck'd, for Death mature: Thy youth, thy ftrength, thy beauty, which will change ΤΟ To wither'd, weak and gray; thy Senses then Henceforth I fly not Death, nor would prolong Which I must keep till my appointed day 540 545 550 Of rendring up, and patiently attend Nor love thy Life, nor hate; but what thou liv'ft 555 He look'd and faw a fpacious Plain, whereon Were Tents of various hue; by fome were herds Of Cattle grazing; others, whence the found Of Inftruments that made melodious chime Was heard, of Harp and Organ; and who mov'd 560 Their ftops and chords was feen: his volant touch Inftinct though all Proportions low and high Fled and purfu'd tranfverfe the refonant fugue. In other part ftood one who at the Forge Labouring, two maffie clods of Iron and Brass Had melted (whether found where cafual fire Had wafted Woods on Mountain or in Vale, Down to the Veins of Earth, thence gliding hot To fome Cave's mouth, or whether wash'd by ftream From under ground) the liquid Ore he drein'd Into fit moulds prepar'd; from which he form'd First his own Tools; then, what might else be wrought Fufil or grav'n in metal. After these, 565 570 But But on the Hither fide a different fort From their high neigh'bring Hills, which was their Seat, 576 To worship God aright, and know his works Not hid, nor those things laft which might preferve 580 A Beavy of fair Women, richly gay In Gems and wanton dress; to the harp they fung The Men tho' grave ey'd them, and let their eyes 585 Firft caught, they lik'd, and each his liking chofe ; 590 595 Of love and youth not loft, Songs, Garlands, Flow'rs, True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel bleft, To whom thus Michael. Judge not what is best By pleasure, though to Nature seeming meet, Created, as thou art, to nobler end Holy and pure, conformity divine. Those Tents thou faw'ft so pleasant, were the Tents 600 605 Who Who flew his Brother; ftudious they appear Of Arts that polish Life, Inventers rare, Yet empty of all Good wherein confifts Of luftful appetence, to fing, to dance, To drefs, and troule the tongue, and roll the Eye, weep. To whom thus Adam of fhort joy bereft. 610 615 620 625 630 From Man's effeminate flackness it begins, Said th' Angel, who should better hold his place 635 But now prepare thee for another Scene. Before him, Towns, and Rural works between, Cities of Men with lofty Gates and Tow'rs, 640 Concourse in Arms, fierce Faces threatning war, Giants of mighty Bone, and bold emprise; Part Part weild their Arms, part curb the foaming Steed, Both Horse and Foot, noridely mustering stood; A Herd of Beeves, fair Oxen and fair Kine :645 Lay Siege, encamp'd; by Battery, Scale, and Mine, With Dart and Jav'lin, Stones and fulph'rous Fire; In other part the fcepter'd Heralds call 655 660 Grey-headed Men and grave, with Warriours mix'd, Affemble, and Harangues are heard, but foon In factious opposition, till at laft Of middle Age one rifing, eminent In wife deport, fpake much of Right and Wrong, 665 Had not a Cloud descending snatch'd him thence 670 Unseen amid the Throng; fo Violence Proceeded, and Oppreffion, 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 fad ; O what are these, 675 Death's Minifters, not Men, who thus deal Death Inhumanly to Men, and multiply Ten thousandfold the fin of him who flew His |