550 555 "Which I must keep till my appointed day "Of rendering up, and patiently attend 66 My dissolution." Michael replied: "Nor love thy life, nor hate; but, what thou liv'st, "Live well; how long, or short, permit to Heaven: "And now prepare thee for another sight." He look'd, and saw a spacious plain, whereon Into fit moulds prepar'd; from which he form'd But on the hither side, a different sort 575 From the high neighbouring hills, which was their seat, Down to the plain descended; by their guise Just men they seem'd, and all their study bent In gems and wanton dress; to the harp they sung 385 The men, though grave, eyed them; and let their eyes Rove without rein; till, in the amorous net Fast caught, they lik'd; and each his liking chose: And now of love they treat, till the evening star, Love's harbinger, appear'd; then, all in heat, 590 They light the nuptial torch, and bid invoke 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 lost, songs, garlands, flowers, 595 And charming symphonies, attach'd the heart Of Adam, soon inclin'd to admit delight, 600 605 610 The bent of nature; which he thus express'd: To whom thus Michael: "Judge not what is best "By pleasure, though to nature seeming meet; "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 615 "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, 620 "To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye- "Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame, U 625 "Ignobly-to the trains and to the smiles "O pity and shame, that they, who to live well 630 "Enter'd so fair, should turn aside to tread "Paths indirect, or in the midway faint! "From man's effeminate slackness it begins," 635 Said the angel; "who should better hold his place "By wisdom, and superior gifts receiv'd. "But now prepare thee for another scene." He look'd, and saw wide territory spread Before him-towns, and rural works between640 Cities of men with lofty gates and towers— Concourse in arms-fierce faces threat'ning war— Giants of mighty bone, and bold emprise : Part wield their arms-part curb the foaming steed- 645 Both horse and foot; nor idly must'ring stood: A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine, Lay siege, encamp'd-by batt'ry, scale, and mine, With dart and javelin, stones, and sulph'rous fire: Gray-headed men and grave, with warriors mix'd, 665 Of middle age one rising, eminent In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong, And judgment from above: him old and young Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law, Through all the plain; and refuge none was found. 675 Lamenting turn'd full sad: "Death's ministers, not men! who thus deal death Inhumanly to men, and multiply "Ten thousandfold the sin of him who slew "His brother; for of whom such massacre 680 "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?" 685 690 695 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. "To overcome in battle, and subdue "Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite 66 Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch 66 "Thus fame shall be achiev'd, renown on earth; "And what most merits fame in silence hid. 700" But he-the seventh from thee-whom thou beheld'st 705 "The only righteous in a world perverse, "And utter odious truth that God would come "To judge them with his saints-him the Most High, 66 Rapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds, "Did, as thou saw'st, receive, to walk with God 66 Exempt from death-to show thee what reward 710"Awaits the good, the rest what punishment; "Which now direct thine eyes, and soon behold." He look'd, and saw the face of things quite chang'd: Allur'd them; thence from cups to civil broils. But all in vain! Which when he saw, he ceas'd Then, from the mountain hewing timber tall, 730 Measur'd by cubit, length, and breadth, and height; For man and beast: when lo, a wonder strange! 735 Came sevens, and pairs; and enter'd in as taught |