In gems and wanton drefs; to th' harp they fung Soft amorous ditties, and in dance came on. The men, though grave, ey'd them, and let their eyes Rove without rein, till in the amorous net 586 Faft caught, they like'd, and each his liking chofe: And now of love they treat, till th' ev'ning-ftar, 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 refound. Such happy interview and fair event
Of love and youth not loft, fongs, garlands, flowers, And tharming fymphonies, attach'd the heart Of Adam, foon inclin'd t' admit delight, The bent of nature; which he thus exprefs'd. True opener of mine eyes, prime angel blefs'd, Much better feems this vifion, and more hope- Of peaceful days portends, than those two paft: 600 'Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse; Here nature feems fulfill'd 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 faw'ft so pleasant, were the tents Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his race Who flew his brother; ftudious they appear Of arts that polish life, inventors rare, Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spi'rit Taught them, but they his gifts acknowledge'd none. Yet they a beauteous offspring fhall beget: For that fair female troop thou faw'ft, that feem'd Of goddeffes, fo blithe, so smooth, fo gay, Yet empty of all good, wherein confifts Woman's domestic honour and chief praise;
Bred only and completed to the taste
Of lustful appetence, to fing, to dance,
To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye. 620 To thefe, that fober race of men, whofe lives
Religious titled them the fons of God, Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame Ignobly, to the trains and to the fmiles Of these fair Atheists, and now swim in joy,
Erelong to fwim at large; and laugh, for which The world erelong a world of tears must weep. To whom thus Adam, of fhort joy bereft.
O pity' and fhame, that they who to live well Enter'd fo fair, fhould turn afide to tread Paths indirect, or in the midway faint! But ftill I fee the tenour of man's woe Holds on the fame, from women to begin.
From man's effeminate flackness it begins,
Said th' angel, who fhould better hold his place 635 By wifdom, and fuperiour 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 towers, Concourfe in arms, fierce faces threat'ning war, Giants of mighty bone, and bold emprife:
Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed, Single or in array of battle range'd
Both horfe and foot, nor idly muft'ring stood;
One way a band felect 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; fcarce with life the fhepherds fly, 650 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 carcafes and arms th' infanguin'd field Deferted: others to a city ftrong
Lay fiege, incamp'd; by batt'ry, scale, and mine, Affaulting; others from the wall defend
With dart and jav'lin, ftones and fulph'rous fire; On each hand flaughter and gigantic deeds.. In other part the fcepter'd heralds call To council in the city-gates: anon
Gray-headed men and grave, with warriours mix'd, Affemble, and harangues are heard, but foon In factious oppofition; til at last
Of middle age one rifing, eminent
In wife deport, fpake much of right and wrong, Of juftice, of religion, truth and peace,
And judgement from above: him old and young, Exploded, and had feiz'd with violent hands,
Had not a cloud descending fnatch'd him thence 670 Unfeen amid the throng: fo violence
Proceeded, and oppreffion, and fword-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, Death's minifters, pot men, who thus deal death Inhumanly to men, and multiply
Ten thoufandfold the fin of him who flew
His brother: for of whom fuch maffacre
Make they but of their brethren, men of men? But who was that juft man, whom had not Heaven Refcu'd, had in his righteousness been lost ?
To whom thus Michael. Thefe are the product Of thofe ill-mated marriages thou faw'ft;
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 thofe days might only fhall be' admir'd, And valour and heroic virtue call'd; To overcome in battle, and fubdue Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite Man-flaughter, shall be held the highest pitch Of human glory, and for glory done
Of triumph, to be ftyle'd great conquerours, Patrons of mankind, gods, and fons of gods; Destroyers rightlier call'd, and plagues of men. Thus fame fhall be achiev'd, renown on earth, And what most merits fame in filence hid.. But he, the fev'nth from thee, whom thou beheldft The only righteous in a world perverse,
And therefore hated, therefore so beset With foes, for daring fingle to be just,
And utter odious truth, that God would come
To judge them with his faints: him the Most High Rapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds Did, as thou faw'ft, receive, to walk with God High in falvation, and the climes of blifs, Exempt from death; to fhow thee what reward Awaits the good, the reft what punishment;
Which now direct thine eyes, and foon behold.
He look'd, and faw the face of things quite change'd:
The brazen throat 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 befel,
Rape or adultery, where paffing fair
Allur'd them; thence from cups to civil broils. At length a reverend fire among them came, And of their doings great diflike declar'd, And testify'd againft their ways; he oft Frequented their affemblies, where o met,
Triumphs or feftivals, and to them preach'd Converfion and repentance, as to fouls
In prifon under judgements 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;
Meafur'd by cubit, length, and breadth, and height; Smear'd round with pitch; and in the fide a door Contriv'd; and of provisions laid in large
For man and beat: when lo,, a wonder ftrange! Of every beast, and bird, and infect small
Came fev'ns, and pairs, and enter'd in, as taught 735 Their order: laft the fire, and his three fons, With their four wives; and God made fast the door. Mean while the south-wind rofe, and with black wings Wide hovering, all the clouds together drove From under heaven; the hills to their fupply Vapour, and exhalation dusk and moist, Sent up amain; and now the thicken'd sky Like a dark cieling ftood; down rufh'd the rain Impetuous, and continu'd, till the earth No more was feen: the floating veffel fwum Uplifted, and fecure with beaked prow Rode tilting o'er the waves: all dwellings effe Flood overwhelm'd, and them with all their pomp Deep under water roll'd; fea cover'd sea, Sea without hore; and in their palaces Where luxury late reign'd, fea-monsters whelp'd And ftabled; of mankind, fo numerous late, All left, in one fmall bottom fwum imbark'd. How didft thou grieve then, Adam, to behold The end of all thy offspring, end fo fad, Depopulation? thee another flood,
Of tears and forrow' a flood, thee alfo drown'd,
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