560

He look'd, 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 mov'd Their stops and chords was seen: his volant touch Instinct through all proportions low and high Fled and pursu'd 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 wash'd by stream From underground ;) the liquid ore he drain'd

Into fit moulds prepar'd; from which he form'd

565

570

First his own tools; then, what might else be wrought Fusil or grav'n in metal. After these,

But on the hither side, a different sort

From the high neighbouring hills, which was their

seat,

575

Down to the plain descended: by their guise
Just men they seem'd, and all their study bent
To worship God aright, and know his works
Not hid, nor those things last, which might preserve

565 clods] From Lucretius, V. 1240.

'Quod superest, æs, atque aurum, ferrumque repertum est,

Et simul argenti pondus, plumbique, potestas.

Ignis ubi ingenteis sylvas ardore cremârat

Montibus in magnis.'

VOL. II.

4

Jortin.

Freedom and peace to men: they on the plain
Long had not walk'd, 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, tho' grave, ey'd 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 ev'ning star,
Love's harbinger, appear'd; then all in heat
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

580

586

590

595

Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, flowers,
And charming symphonies attach'd the heart
Of Adam, soon inclin'd to admit delight,
The bent of nature; which he thus express'd.
True opener of mine eyes, prime angel bless'd,
Much better seems this vision, and more hope
Of peaceful days portends, than those two past; 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,

582 bevy] A dancing bevy of fair lights.' Sir G. Sherburne's Poems, p. 37.

586 amorous] So Ariosto Orl. Fur. I. 12.

'Ch' all' amorosa rete il tenea involto.' Bowle.

587 Fast] So in Milton's own ed. In Tonson's early ed., First caught,' which Tickell and Fenton followed. Todd.

Created, as thou art, to nobler end

Holy and pure, conformity divine.

605

610

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;

615

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 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 smiles
Of these fair atheists; and now swim in joy,
Erelong to swim at large; and laugh, for which
The world erelong a world of tears must weep.
To whom thus Adam of short joy bereft.
O pity and shame, that they, who to live well
Enter'd so fair, should turn aside to tread

626 laugh] Milton's own pointing of this passage was thus, 'And now swim in joy

(Erelong to swim at large) and laugh; for which

The world erelong a world of tears must weep.' Newton,

625

630

Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint!
But still I see the tenor of man's woe
Holds on the same, from woman to begin.

From man's effeminate slackness it begins,
Said th' angel, who should better hold his place €35
By wisdom and superior gifts receiv'd.

But now prepare thee for another scene.

640

He look'd, and saw wide territory spread
Before him, towns, and rural works between,
Cities of men with lofty gates and tow'rs,
Concourse in arms, fierce faces threat'ning war,
Giants of mighty bone, and bold emprise;
Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed,
Single, or in array of battle rang'd

Both horse and foot, nor idly mustering stood:
One way a band select from forage drives

645

A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine,
From a fat meadow ground; or fleecy flock,
Ewes and their bleating lambs, over the plain,
Their booty; scarce with life the shepherds fly, 650
But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray.
With cruel tournament the squadrons join ;
Where cattle pastur'd late, now scatter'd lies
With carcasses and arms th' ensanguin'd field,
Deserted. Others to a city strong

Lay siege, encamp'd, by battery, scale, and mine,

642 bold emprise] Spens. F. Qu. ii. iii. 35.

655

'Is far renown'd through many a bold emprise. Todd. 651 makes] So altered in the second edition. It was 'tacks a bloody fray' in the first. Newton.

Assaulting; others from the wall defend

With dart and javelin, stones and sulphurous fire;
On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds.
In other part the sceptre'd heralds call

To council in the city gates: anon

660

Gray-headed men and grave, with warriors mix'd,
Assemble, and harangues are heard; but soon
In factious opposition; till at last

Of middle age one rising, eminent

665

In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong,
Of justice, of religion, truth and peace,
And judgment from above: him old and young
Exploded, and had seiz'd with violent hands,
Had not a cloud descending snatch'd him thence 670
Unseen amid the throng: so violence
Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law,
Through all the plain, and refuge none was found.
Adam was all in tears, and to his guide

Lamenting turn'd full sad; O! what are these, 675
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? 680
But who was that just man, whom had not heav'n
Rescu'd, had in his righteousness been lost?

660 heralds] Newton has pointed out several passages in Homer's description of the shield of Achilles, which Milton had in his mind, Iliad xviii. 550, &c. 587, &c. 491, &c. 527, &c. 509, &c. 503, &c. 676 Death's] Death's progeny, not mine.' Bentl. MS.