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 and pure, conformity divine.
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 acknowledg'd none. Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget; For that fair female troop thou saw'st, that seem'd 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 appetance; to sing, to dance, To dress, & troll the tongue, & roll the eye. 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 smiles Of these fair atheists, and now swim in joy, Ere long to swim at large; and laugh, for which The world ere long a world of tears must weep." To whom thus Adam, of short joy bereft. "O pity & shame, that they, who to live well Enter'd so fair should turn aside to tread Paths indirect, or in the midway faint! But still I see the tenor of man's wo
Hold on the same, from woman to begin."
"From man's effeminate slackness it begins,"
Said the Angel," who should better hold his place,
By wisdom, and superior gifts received.
But now prepare thee for another scene."
He look'd, and saw wide territory spread Before him, towns, and rural works between, Cities of men, with lofty gates and towers, Concourse in arms, fierce faces threatening war, Giants of mighty bone, and bold emprise; Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed, Single, or in array of battle ranged, Both horse and foot: nor idly mustering stood: 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
Ewes & their bleating lambs, over the plain, Their booty; scarce with life the shepherds fly, But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray; With cruel tournament the squadrons join ; Where cattle pastured late, now scatter'd lies With carcases, & arms, the ensanguined field Deserted. Others to a city strong Lay siege, encamped; by battery, scale, & mine, Assaulting; others from the wall defend With dart, & javelin, stones, & sulphurous fire; On each hand slaughter, and gigantic deeds. In other part, the scepter'd heralds call To council in the city gates: anon Gray-headed men & grave, with warriors mix'd, Assemble, and harangues are heard; but soon In factious opposition, till at last, Of middle age, one rising, eminent
In wise deport, spake much of right & wrong, Of justice, of religion, truth, and peace, And judgment from above: him old and young Exploded, and had seized with violent hands, Had not a cloud descending, snatched him thence, Unseen amid the throng: so violence Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law, Through all the plain, & refuge none was found. Adam was all in tears, and, to his guide Lamenting, turn'd full sad: "O what are these, Death's ministers, not men, who thus deal death Inhumanly to men, and multiply
Ten thousand-fold, the sin of him who slew His brother; for of whom such massacre Make they, but of their brethren, men of men? But who was that just man, whom, had not Heaven Rescued, had in his righteousness been lost?"
To whom thus Michael. "These are the product Of those ill-mated marriages thou saw'st;
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 those days might only shall be admired, And valour and heroic virtue call'd; To overcome in battle, and subdue Nations, and bring home spoils, with infinite Manslaughter, shall be held the highest pitch Of human glory, and for glory done Of triumph, to be styled great conquerors,
Patrons of mankind, gods, and sons of gods, Destroyers rightlier call'd, and plagues of men. Thus fame shall be achieved, renown on earth; And what most merits fame in silence hid.
But he, the seventh from thee, whom thou beheld'st
The only righteous in a world perverse, And therefore hated, therefore so beset
With foes, for daring single to be just,
And utter odious truth, that God would come
To judge them with his saints: him the Most High, Wrapt in a balmy cloud, with winged steeds Did, as thou saw'st, receive, to walk with God, High in salvation, and the climes of bliss, Exempt from death; to show thee what reward Awaits the good; the rest, what punishment; Which now direct thine eyes, and soon behold."
He look'd, & saw the face of things quite chang'd.
The brazen throat of war had ceas'd to roar;
And all was turn'd to jollity and game, To luxury and riot, feast and dance,
Marrying, or prostituting, as befel,
Rape or adultery, where passing fair
Allured them; thence from cups to civil broils. At length a reverend sire among them came, And of their doings great dislike declared, And testified against their ways; he oft Frequented their assemblies, whereso met, Triumphs or festivals, and to them preach'd Conversion and repentance, as to souls In prison, under judgments imminent: But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceas'd Contending, and removed his tents far off. Then from the mountain hewing timber tall, Began to build a vessel of huge bulk, Measured by cubit, length, & breath, and highth, Smear'd round with pitch, & in the side a door Contrived; and of provisions laid in large. For man & beast: when, lo, a wonder strange! Of every beast and bird, and insect small, Came sevens, & pairs, & enter'd in, as taught Their order; last the sire, and his three sons, With their four wives; & God made fast the door. Meanwhile the south wind rose, with black wings Wide hovering, all the clouds together drove, From under Heaven; the hills, to their supply, Vapour and exhalation dusk and moist Sent up amain; and now the sicken'd sky
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