In genis and wanton dress; to th' harp they sung !
Soft amorous ditcies, and in dance came on,
The men, tho' grave, ey'd them, and let their eyes
Rove without rein, till in the amorous net

586
Fast caught, they lik'd, and each his liking chose :
And now of love they treat, till th' èvening-itar,
Love's harbinger, appear'd ; then all in heat
They light the nuptial torch, and bid invoke 590
Hymen, then first to marriage rites invok'd:
With feast and music all the tents resound,
Such happy interview and fair event
Of love and youth not loft, fongs, garlands, flowers,
And charming fymphonies, attach'd the heart

595 Of Adam, foon inclin'd t'admic delight, The bent of nature'; which he thus expressid. True opener of mine eyes, prime angel bless'd,

Much better seems this vifion, and more hope Of peaceful days portends; than those two palt; 600 Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse ;. Here nature seems 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 andi pure, conformity divine. Those tents thou faw'lt fo pleasant were the tents: Of wickedness, wherein shall.dwell his race Who slew his brother ; ftudious they appear Of arts that polish life, inventors rare,

610 Unmindful of their Maker, though his Spi'rit Taught them, but they his gifts acknowledg'd none. Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget; For that fair female troop thou faw'it, that seem'd Of goddesses, fo blithe, lo fmooth, fo gay, Yet empty of all good, wherein confifts Woman's domeitic honour and chief praise;

Bred

605

6151

Bred only and completed to the taste
Of luftful appetence, to sing to dance,
To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye. 620
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 fmiles
Of these fair Atheists, and now swim in joy,

625 Erelong to swim at large; and laugh, for which The world erelong a world of tears must weep.

To whom thus Adam, of short jny bereft. O pity' and shame, that they who to live well Enter'd fo fair, should turn afide to tread 630 Paths indirect, or in the midway faint ! But ftill I see the tenor of man's woe Holds on the same, from woman to begin.

From man's effeminate flackness it begins, Said th' angel, who fhould better hold his place 635 By wisdom, and fuperior 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, 640 Concourse in arms, fierce faces threat'ning war, Giants of mighty bone and bold emprise : Part wield their arms, part curb the foaining Reed, Single or in array of battle rang'd Both horse and foot, nor idly must'ring food; 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, Ewrs and their bleating lambs, over the plain, Their booty; tcarce with life the shepherds fly, 650 But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray ; With cruel tournament the Squadrons join;

Where 665

Where cattle pastur'd late, now scatter'd lies
With carcases and arms th’ in fanguin'd field
Deserted : others to a city strong

655
Lay fiege, incamp'd; by batt'ry, scale, and mine,
Allaulting; others from the wall defend
With dart and jav'lin, Itones and fulph'rous fire ;
On each hand flaughter and gigantic deeds.
In other parts the scepter'd heralds call 660
To council in the city-gates: anon
Gray-headed men and grave, with warriors mix'd,
Assemble, and harangues are heard; but foon
In factious opposition, till at last
Of middle age one rifing, eminent
In wise deport, fpake much of right and wrong,
Of justice, of religion, truth and peace,
And judgment from above: him old and young,
Exploded, and had feiz'd with violent hands,
Had not a cloud descending fnatch'd him thence 670
Unseen amid the throng: fo- violence
Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law
Thro' 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, 675
Death's minifters, not men, who thus deal death
Inhumanly to men, and multiply
Ten thoufandfold the fin of him who flew
His brother; for of whom fuch mafsacre
Make they but of their brethren, men of men ? 680
But who was that just man, whom had not hear's
Rescu'd, had in his righteousness been loft ?

To whom thus Michael. These are the produd
Of those ill-mated marriages thou saw'it?
Where good with bad were diatch'd, who of themfelves
Abhor to join ; and, by imprudence mix’d, .

685 Produce prodigious births of body' or mind.

Such

:

Such were these giants, mes of high renown;
For in those days might only shall be admir'd,
And valour and heroic virtue call'd;

690
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 styl'd great conquerors, 695
Patrons of mankind, gods, and fons 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 filence hid.
But he, the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldit
The only righteous in a world perverse,

701
And therefore hated, therefore fo 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 706
Did, as thou faw'it, receive, to walk with God
High in falvation, and the climes of bliss,
Exempt from death; to show thee what reward
Awaits the good, the rest what punishment;

710 Which now direct thine eyes, and soon behold.

He look’d, and saw the face of things quite chang'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,

715
Marrying or prostituting, as befel,
Rape or adultery, where pafling fair
Allur'd them; thence from cups to civil broils.
At length a reverend fire

among

them came,
And of their doings great dislike declar'd, 720
And testify'd against their ways; he oft
Frequented their assemblies, where so met,

Triumplis

Triumphs or festivals, and to them preach'd
Conversion and repentance, as to fouls
In prison under judgments imminent :

725
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;

729 Measur'd by cubit, length, and breadth, and heightb; Sinear'd round with pitch; and in the side a door Contriv'd; and of provisions laid in large For man and bealt; when lo, a wonder itrange! Of every bcast, and bird, and infect small Came fev'ns, and pairs, and enter'd in, as taaght 735 Their order : last the fire, and his three sons, With their four wives; and God made fast the door. Mean while the south-wind rose, and with black wings Wide hovering, all the clouds together drove From under heaven; the hills to their supply 740 Vapour, and exhalation dusk and moist, Sent up amain; and now the chicken'd sky Like a dark cieling stood ; down ruth'd the rain Impetuous, and continu'd till the earth No more was seen : the floating vessel (wum 745 Uplifted, and secure with beaked prow Rode tilting o'er the waves; all dwellings else Flood overwhelin'd, and then with all their pomp Deep under water rollid ; fea cover'd fea, Sea without shore; and in their palaces 750 Where luxury late reign'd, fea-monsters whelp'd And stabled; of mankind, so numerous late, All left in one small bottom swum iinbark'd. How didst thou grieve then, Adams, to behold The end of all thy offspring, end so fad, 755 Depopulation ! thee another flood, Of tears and forrow' a flood, thee also drown'd,

And