Retaining till divine fimilitude In part, from fuch deformities-be free, then 515 Forlook them, when themselves they vi lify'd To serve ungovern'd appetite: and took His image whom they ferv'd, and brutish vice, Inductive mainly to the fin of Eve: Therefore fo abject is their punifhment, 520 Disfiguring not God's likenefs, but their own: Or if his likeness, by themselves defac'd, While they pervert pure nature's healthful rules To loathfome ficknefs; worthily, fince they God's image did not reverence in them felves. 1 yield it juft, faid Adam, and fubmit! 525 But is there yet no other way, befides duft? There is, faid Michael, if thou well ob ferve 530 The rule not of too much; by temperance taught In what thou eat'st and drink'ft; seeking from thence Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight, So mayft thou live; till like ripe fruit thou Into thy mother's lap: or be with ease mature. This is old age: but then, thou must outlive Thy youth, thy ftrength, thy beauty; which will change To wither'd, weak, and gray: thy fenfes Obtufe, all taste of pleasure must forgo, A melancholy damp of cold and dry, To weigh thy fpirits down; and last con fume The balm of life. To whom our ancestor: 545 Henceforth I fly not death, nor wouldprolong Life much: bent rather, how I may be quit Fairest and easiest of this cumbrous charge, › Which I must keep till my appointed day 550 Of rendring up, patiently attend My diffolution! Michaël reply'd. Nor love thy life, nor hate: but what thou liv'ft Live well; how long, or fhort, permit to And now prepare thee for another fight. 555 reon Were tents of various hue: by fome, were Of cattle grazing: others, whence the found mov'd 560 Their stops and chords was seen: his volant touch Instinct through all proportions, low and high, Fled and perfu'd transverse the resonant fugue. brals 565 Had melted, whether found where cafual fire Had wafted woods on monntain or in vale, Down to the veins of earth, thence gliding hot To some cav'es mouth, or whether wash'd by stream From underground, the liquid ore he drain'd 570 Into fit molds prepar'd, from which he form'd First his own tools, then, what might ese be wrought Fufil or grav'n in metal. After these, But on the hither fide, a different fort From the high neighb'ring hills, which was their feat, 575 Down to the plain defcended: by their guife Juft men they feem'd, and know his works Not hid; nor those things laft, which might preferve Freedom and peace to men: they on the plain 580 Long had not walk'd, when from the tents behold A bevy of fair woman, richly gay In gems and wanton drefs; tho th' harp they fung Soft amorous ditties, and in dance came on! The men, tho' grave, ey'd them, and let their Rove without rein, till in the amorous net Faft caught, they lik'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 in Hymen, then firft to marriage rites invok'd: And charming fymphonies, attach'd the Of Adam, foon inclin'd t' admit delight, 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 feeming meet, Created, as thou art, to nobler end 605 Holy and pure, conformity divine! tents 610 Of wickednefs, wherein fhall dwell his race, Who flew his brother: ftudious they appear Of arts that polifh life, inventors rare; Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spirit Taught them; but they his gifts acknowledg'd none,, |