Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint!
But still I see the tenor of man's woe
Holds 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 tow'rs, Concourse in arms, fierce faces threat'ning war, 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 must'ring 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, 650
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 carcasses and arms th' ensanguin'd field,
Deserted. Others to a city strong
Lay siege, encamp'd, by battery, scale, and mine,
642 bold emprise] Spens. F. Qu. ii. iii. 35.
'Is far renown'd through many a bold emprise. Todd. 651 makes] So altered in the second edition. It was 'tacks a bloody fray' in the first. Newton.
Assaulting; others from the wall defend
With dart and javelin, 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 mix'd,
Assemble, and harangues are heard; but soon
In factious opposition; till at last
Of middle age one rising, eminent
In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong,
Of justice, of religion, truth and peace,
And judgment from above: him old and young
Exploded, and had seiz'd with violent hands,
Had not a cloud descending snatch'd him thence 670
Unseen amid the throng: so violence
Proceeded, and oppression, 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 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?
660 heralds] Newton has pointed out several passages in Homer's description of the shield of Achilles, which Milton had in his mind, Iliad xviii. 550, &c. 587, &c. 491, &c. 527, &c. 509, &c. 503, &c. 676 Death's] 'Death's progeny, not mine.' Bentl. MS.
To whom thus Michael. These are the product
Of those ill mated marriages thou saw'st;
Where good with bad were match'd, who of themselves
Abhor to join; and by imprudence mix'd
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:
To overcome in battel, and subdue
Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite
Manslaughter, 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,
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
694 done] This is considered a very difficult passage. Bentley changed 'done' into 'won,' and ' of triumph,' into 'or triumph.' I understand it thus: 'To overcome in battle, and bring home spoils, shall be held the highest pitch of glory; and for the glory obtained, it shall be highest pitch of triumph to be styled conquerors,' &c. but the distinction between 'glory' and 'triumph' does not seem sufficiently strong, and 'to do glory' is a harsh expression.
Wrapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds
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:
He look'd, and saw the face of things quite chang'd,
The brazen threat of war had ceas'd to roar;
All now was turn'd to jollity and game,
To luxury and riot, feast and dance,
Marrying or prostituting as befell,
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 testify'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
In prison under judgments imminent :
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,
711 Which] The syntax is remarkable, 'which' governed not by the verb next following, but by the last in the sentence.
'Which, now direct thine eyes, and soon behold.' Newton. 719 sire] See Brathwait's Honest Ghost, p. 128. reverend sire.'
723 Triumphs] Revels, 713, 780, 788. Bentl. MS.
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
Wide hovering, all the clouds together drove
From under heav'n; the hills to their supply
Vapour, and exhalation dusk and moist,
Sent up amain: and now the thicken'd sky
Like a dark ceiling stood; down rush'd the rain
Impetuous, and continu'd till the earth
No more was seen; the floating vessel swum
Uplifted, and secure with beaked prow
Rode tilting o'er the waves; all dwellings else
Flood overwhelm'd, and them with all their pomp
Deep under water roll'd; sea cover'd sea,
Sea without shore, and in their palaces,
Where luxury late reign'd, sea monsters whelp'd
And stabled; of mankind, so numerous late,
743 ceiling] Drummond in his Shadow of Judgment.
'The cieling of the crystal round above.' Todd.
752 stabled] See Lisle's Du Bartas, p. 169, Nor stablest once thy
team,' and Casimiri Sarb. Carm. Lib. iv. c. xxvii,
'Quies, modo liberi,
Festo choreas agmine plausimus,
Delphines insultant plateis,
Et vacuas spaciosa cete,
Ludunt per aulas, ac thalamos pigræ
Pressere phocæ.'
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