"Retaining still divine similitude

"In part, from such deformities be free,
"And, for his Maker's image sake, exempt?"

"Their Maker's image," answered Michael, "then
"Forsook them, when themselves they vilified
"To serve ungoverned appetite, and took
"His image whom they served-a brutish vice,
"Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve.
"Therefore so abject is their punishment,
"Disfiguring not God's likeness, but their own;
Or, if his likeness, by themselves defaced,

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520

"While they pervert pure Nature's healthful rules "To loathsome sickness; worthily, since they "God's image did not reverence in themselves." "I yield it just," said Adam, "and submit. "But is there yet no other way, besides "These painful passages, how we may come "To death, and mix with our connatural dust?" "There is," said Michael, "if thou well observe "The rule of 'Not too much;' by temperance taught, "In what thou eat'st and drink'st; seeking from thence "Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight,

"Till many years over thy head return:

"So mayst thou live, till, like ripe fruit, thou drop "Into thy mother's lap; or be with ease

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Gathered, not harshly plucked, for death mature.

"This is old age; but then, thou must outlive

530

540

"Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty, which will change
"To withered, weak, and gray; thy senses, then
"Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forego,
"To what thou hast; and, for the air of youth,
"Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reign
“A melancholy damp of cold and dry,

"To weigh thy spirits down, and last consume
"The balm of life." To whom our ancestor :
"Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong
"Life much; bent rather, how I may be quit,
"Fairest and easiest, of this cumbrous charge;

"Which I must keep till my appointed day

"Of rendering up, and patiently attend

"Nor love thy life, nor hate; but what thou livest "Live well; how long, or short, permit to Heaven: "And now prepare thee for another sight."

550

He looked, and saw a spacious plain, whereon Were tents of various hue: by some, were herds Of cattle grazing; others, whence the sound Of instruments, that made melodious chime, Was heard, of harp and organ; and who moved Their stops and chords was seen; his volant touch Instinct through all proportions, low and high, Fled, and pursued transverse the resonant fugue. In other part stood one who, at the forge Labouring, two massy clods of iron and brass Had melted, (whether found where casual fire Had wasted woods on mountain, or in vale, Down to the veins of earth; thence gliding hot To some cave's mouth; or whether washed by stream From under ground ;) the liquid ore he drained Into fit moulds prepared; from which he formed First his own tools; then, what might else be wrought Fusil, or graven in metal. After these,

But on the hither side, a different sort

560

570

From the high neighbouring hills, which was their seat,
Down to the plain descended; by their guise

Just men they seemed, and all their study bent
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
Rove without rein; till, in the amorous net
Fast caught, they liked; and each his liking chose:

eyes

580

7

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 blest!
"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.

500

"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,

600

610

"To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye"To these that sober race of men, whose lives

620

Religious titled them the sons of God,

“Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame,

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Ignobly-to the trains and to the smiles