To worship God aright, and know His works Not hid; nor those things last which might preserve Freedom and peace to men. They on the plain Long had not walked, 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, though grave, eyed them, and let their eyes Rove without rein, till, in the amorous net
Fast caught, they liked, and each his liking chose. And now of love they treat, till the evening star, Love's harbinger, appeared; then, all in heat, They light the nuptial torch, and bid invoke Hymen, then first to marriage rites invoked: With feast and music all the tents resound. Such happy interview, and fair event
Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, flowers, And charming symphonies, attached the heart Of Adam, soon inclined to admit delight, The bent of nature; which he thus expressed :— "True opener of mine eyes, prime angel blessed, Much better seems this vision, and more hope Of peaceful days portends, than those two past : Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse; Here nature seems fulfilled in all her ends."
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 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 acknowledged none. Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget; For that fair female troop thou saw'st, that seemed
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,
To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye;
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 Entered so fair, should turn aside to tread Paths indirect, or in the midway 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 the angel, "who should better hold his place By wisdom, and superior gifts received. But now prepare thee for another scene."
He looked, and saw wide territory spread Before him-towns, and rural works between, Cities of men with lofty gates and towers,
Concourse in arms, fierce faces threatening war, Giants of mighty bone and bold emprise.
Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed, Single or in array of battle ranged
Both horse and foot, nor idly mustering stood. 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, But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray:
With cruel tournament the squadrons join ; Where cattle pastured late, now scattered lies With carcasses and arms the ensanguined field Deserted. Others to a city strong
Lay siege, encamped, by battery, scale, and mine, 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 sceptred heralds call To council in the city gates: anon
Gray-headed men and grave, with warriors mixed, 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 seized with violent hands,
Had not a cloud descending snatched him thence, 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 turned full sad :-"Oh, what are these? Death's ministers, not men! who thus deal death Inhumanly to men, and multiply
Ten thousandfold the sin of him who slew
His brother; for of whom such massacre
Make they but of their brethren, men of men?
But who was that just man, whom had not Heaven Rescued, had in his righteousness been lost?"
To whom thus Michael :-"These are the product Of those ill-mated marriages thou saw'st,
Where good with bad were matched; who of themselves Abhor to join, and, by imprudence mixed,
Produce prodigious births of body or mind. Such were these giants, men of high renown;
For in those days might only shall be admired And valour and heroic virtue called.
To overcome in battle, 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 styled great conquerors, Patrons of mankind, gods, and sons of gods— Destroyers rightlier called, and plagues of men. Thus fame shall be achieved, 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, Rapt 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 looked, and saw the face of things quite changed. The brazen throat of war had ceased to roar;
All now was turned to jollity and game,
To luxury and riot, feast and dance, Marrying or prostituting, as befell, Rape or adultery, where passing fair Allured them; thence from cups to civil broils At length a reverend sire among them came, And of their doings great dislike declared, And testified against their ways. He oft Frequented their assemblies, whereso met, Triumphs or festivals, and to them preached Conversion and repentance, as to souls In prison, under judgments imminent;
But all in vain. Which when he saw, he ceased Contending, and removed his tents far off; Then, from the mountain hewing timber tall, Began to build a vessel of huge bulk,
Measured by cubit, length, and breadth, and height, Smeared round with pitch, and in the side a door Contrived, 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 entered 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 wings Wide-hovering, all the clouds together drove From under heaven; the hills to their supply Vapour, and exhalation dusk and moist, Sent up amain; and now the thickened sky
Like a dark ceiling stood down rushed the rain Impetuous, and continued 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 overwhelmed, and them with all their pomp Deep under water rolled; sea covered sea, Sea without shore: and in their palaces, Where luxury late reigned, sea-monsters whelped And stabled of mankind, so numerous late, All left in one small bottom swum embarked. How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold The end of all thy offspring, end so sad, Depopulation! Thee another flood,
Of tears and sorrow a flood thee also drowned, And sunk thee as thy sons; till, gently reared By the angel, on thy feet thou stood'st at last, Though comfortless, as when a father mourns His children, all in view destroyed at once, And scarce to the angel utter'dst thus thy plaint :—
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