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Retaining till divine fimilitude

In part, from fuch deformities-be free,
And for his Maker's image fake exempt?
Their Maker's image, anfwer'd Michael,

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
These painful paffages, hom we may come
To death, and mix with our connatural

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,
Till many years over thy head return:

So mayft thou live; till like ripe fruit thou

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Into thy mother's lap: or be with ease
Gather'd, not harfhly pluck'd, for death. *

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

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Obtufe, all taste of pleasure must forgo,
To what thou haft; and for the air of youth,
Hopeful, and chearful, in thy blood will
reign

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.

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Nor love thy life, nor hate: but what thou

liv'ft

Live well; how long, or fhort, permit to
Heav'n.

And now prepare thee for another fight. 555
He look'd, and faw a fpacious plain, whe-

reon

Were tents of various hue: by fome, were
herds

Of cattle grazing: others, whence the found
Of inftruments, that made melodious chime,
Was heard, of harp, and organ, and who

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.
In other part stood one, who at the forge
Lab'ring, two mally clods of iron and

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

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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,

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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

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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

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Hymen, then firft to marriage rites invok'd:
With feast and mufic all the tents refound,
Such happy interview, and fair event
Of love and youth not loft, fongs, garlands,
flow'rs.

And charming fymphonies, attach'd the

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Of Adam, foon inclin'd t' admit delight,
The bent of Nature! which he thus exprefs'd.
True opener of mine eyes, prime angel bleft!
Much better feems this vifion, and more hope
Of peaceful days portends, than those two

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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!
Those tents thou faw'ft so pleasant, were the

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,,

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