Can thus

Obtruded on us thus? who, if we knew
What we receive, would either not accept
Life offer'd, or soon beg to lay it down,
Glad to be so dismiss'd in peace.
Th' image of God in man, created once
So goodly and erect, though faulty since,
To such unsightly sufferings be debas'd
Under inhuman pains? Why should not man,
Retaining still divine similitude

In part, from such deformities be free,

And for his Maker's image sake exempt?

505

510

Their Maker's image, answer'd Michael, then 515
Forsook them, when them selves they vilify'd
To serve ungovern'd appetite, and took

His image whom they serv'd, a brutish vice,
Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve.
Therefore so abject is their punishment,
Disfiguring not God's likeness, but their own,
Or if his likeness, by them selves defac'd,
While they pervert pure nature's healthful rules
To loathsome sickness, worthily, since they
God's image did not reverence in them selves.

I yield it just, said Adam, and submit.
But is there yet no other way, besides
These painful passages, how we may come
To death, and mix with our connatural dust?
There is, said Michael, if thou well observe
The rule of not too much, by temperance taught

520

525

530

In what thou eat'st and drink'st, seeking from thence Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight,

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 harshly pluck'd, for death mature.
This is old age; but then thou must outlive

Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty, which will change

To wither'd, weak, and gray: thy senses then 540
Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forego

To what thou hast; and for the air of youth
Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reign
A melancholy damp of cold and dry
To weigh thy spirits down, and last consume
The balm of life. To whom our ancestor.
Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong
Life much, bent rather how I may be quit
Fairest and easiest of this cumbrous charge,
Which I must keep till my appointed day
Of rend'ring up, and patiently attend
My dissolution. Michael reply'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.

545

550

555

537 mature] v. Cic. de Senectute. xix. 'Et quasi poma ex arboribus, cruda si sint, vi avelluntur: si matura, et cocta, decidunt.' Newton. 551 attend] In the first edition;

'Which I must keep till my appointed day

Of rendering up. Michael to him replied.' Newton.

553 hate] Martial, lib. x.

'Summum nec metuas diem, nec optes.' Newton. 554 permit] Permitte Divis. Hor. Od. i. ix. 9. Newton.

560

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 wash'd by stream From underground ;) the liquid ore he drain'd

Into fit moulds prepar'd; from which he form'd

565

570

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

From the high neighbouring hills, which was their

seat,

Down to the plain descended: by their guise

575

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

565 clods] From Lucretius, V. 1240.

'Quod superest, æs, atque aurum, ferrumque repertum est,

Et simul argenti pondus, plumbique, potestas.

Ignis ubi ingenteis sylvas ardore cremârat

Montibus in magnis.'

VOL. II.

4

Jortin.

Freedom and peace to men: they on the plain
Long had not walk'd, when from the tents behold
A bevy of fair women, richly gay

In gems and wanton dress; to the harp they sung
Soft amorous ditties, and in dance came on:
The men, tho' grave, ey'd them, and let their eyes
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 the 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'd;
With feast and music all the tents resound.
Such happy interview and fair event

580

586

590

595

Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, flow'rs,
And charming symphonies attach'd the heart
Of Adam, soon inclin'd to admit delight,
The bent of nature; which he thus express'd.
True opener of mine eyes, prime angel bless'd,
Much better seems this vision, and more hope
Of peaceful days portends, than those two past; 600
Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse,
Here nature seems fulfill'd in all her ends.

To whom thus Michael. Judge not what is best By pleasure, though to nature seeming meet,

582 bevy] A dancing bevy of fair lights.' Sir G. Sherburne's Poems, p. 37.

586 amorous] So Ariosto Orl. Fur. I. 12.

'Ch' all' amorosa rete il tenea involto.' Bowle.

587 Fast] So in Milton's own ed. In Tonson's early ed., 'First caught,' which Tickell and Fenton followed. Todd.

Created, as thou art, to nobler end

Holy and pure, conformity divine.

605

610

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;
For that fair female troop thou saw'st, that seem'd
Of goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay,
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,

615

To dress, and troul the tongue, and roll the eye. 620 To these that sober race of men, whose lives

Religious titled 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,
Erelong to swim at large; and laugh, for which
The world erelong 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

626 laugh] Milton's own pointing of this passage was thus, 'And now swim in joy

(Erelong to swim at large) and laugh; for which

The world erelong a world of tears must weep.' Newton.

625

630