Complete Poetry and Selected Prose of John Milton

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Complete Poetry and Selected Prose of John Milton Page 66

by John Milton


  390

  To Paquin of Sinæan Kings,32 and thence

  To Agra and Lahor of great Mogul

  Down to the golden Chersonese,33 or where

  The Persian in Ecbatan sate, or since

  In Hispahan, or where the Russian Ksar

  395

  In Mosco, or the Sultan in Bizance,

  Turchestan-born; nor could his eye not ken

  Th’ Empire of Negus to his utmost Port

  Ercoco and the less Maritime Kings

  Mombaza, and Quiloa, and Melind,

  400

  And Sofala thought Ophir, to the Realm

  Of Congo, and Angola fardest South;

  Or thence from Niger Flood to Atlas Mount

  The Kingdoms of Almansor, Fez and Sus,

  Marocco and Algiers, and Tremisen;

  405

  On Europe thence, and where Rome was to sway

  The World: in Spirit perhaps he also saw

  Rich Mexico the seat of Motezume,

  And Cusco in Peru, the richer seat

  Of Atabalipa,34 and yet unspoil’d

  410

  Guiana, whose great Citie Geryons Sons35

  Call El Dorado: but to nobler sights

  Michael from Adams eyes the Film remov’d

  Which that false Fruit that promis’d clearer sight

  Had bred; then purg’d with Euphrasie and Rue36

  415

  The visual Nerve, for he had much to see;

  And from the Well of Life three drops instill’d.

  So deep the power of these Ingredients pierc’d,

  Eevn to the inmost seat of mental sight,

  That Adam now enforc’t to close his eyes,

  420

  Sunk down and all his Spirits became intranst:

  But him the gentle Angel by the hand

  Soon rais’d, and his attention thus recall’d.

  Adam, now ope thine eyes, and first behold

  Th’ effects which thy original crime hath wrought

  425

  In some to spring from thee, who never touch’d

  Th’ excepted Tree, nor with the Snake conspir’d,

  Nor sinn’d thy sin, yet from that sin derive

  Corruption to bring forth more violent deeds.

  His eyes he op’n’d, and beheld a field,

  430

  Part arable and tilth, whereon were Sheaves

  New reapt, the other part sheep-walks and foulds;

  Ith’ midst an Altar as the Land-mark stood

  Rustic, of grassie sord;37 thither anon

  A sweatie Reaper38 from his Tillage brought

  435

  First Fruits, the green Ear, and the yellow Sheaf,

  Uncull’d,39 as came to hand; a Shepherd next

  More meek came with the Firstlings of his Flock

  Choicest and best; then sacrificing, laid

  The Inwards and thir Fat, with Incense strew’d,

  440

  On the cleft Wood, and all due Rites perform’d.

  His Offring soon propitious Fire from Heav’n

  Consum’d with nimble glance, and grateful steam;

  The others not, for his was not sincere;

  Whereat hee inlie rag’d, and as they talk’d,

  445

  Smote him into the Midriff with a stone

  That beat out life; he fell, and deadly pale

  Groand out his Soul with gushing bloud effus’d.

  Much at that sight was Adam in his heart

  Dismai’d, and thus in haste to th’ Angel cri’d.

  450

  O Teacher, some great mischief hath befall’n

  To that meek man, who well had sacrific’d;

  Is Pietie thus and pure Devotion paid?

  T’ whom Michael thus, hee also mov’d, repli’d.

  These two are Brethren, Adam, and to come

  455

  Out of thy loyns; th’ unjust the just hath slain,

  For envie that his Brothers Offering found

  From Heav’n acceptance; but the bloodie Fact

  Will be aveng’d, and th’ others Faith approv’d

  Loose no reward, though here thou see him die,

  460

  Rowling in dust and gore. To which our Sire.

  Alas, both for the deed and for the cause!

  But have I now seen Death? Is this the way

  I must return to native dust? O sight

  Of terrour, foul and ugly to behold,

  465

  Horrid to think, how horrible to feel!

  To whom thus Michael. Death thou hast seen

  In his first shape on man; but many shapes

  Of Death, and many are the wayes that lead

  To his grim Cave, all dismal; yet to sense

  470

  More terrible at th’ entrance then within.

  Some, as thou saw’st, by violent stroke shall die,

  By Fire, Flood, Famin, by Intemperance more

  In Meats and Drinks, which on the Earth shall bring

  Diseases dire, of which a monstrous crew

  475

  Before thee shall appear; that thou mayst know

  What miserie th’ inabstinence of Eve

  Shall bring on men. Immediately a place

  Before his eyes appeard, sad, noysom, dark,

  A Lazar-house it seemd, wherein were laid

  480

  Numbers of all diseas’d, all maladies

  Of gastly Spasm, or racking torture, qualmes

  Of heart-sick Agonie, all feavourous kinds,

  Convulsions, Epilepsies, fierce Catarrhs,

  Intestin Stone and Ulcer, Colic pangs,

  485

  Dæmoniac Phrenzie, moaping Melancholie

  And Moon-struck madness, pining Atrophie,

  Marasmus,40 and wide-wasting Pestilence,

  Dropsies, and Asthmas, and Joint-racking Rheums.

  Dire was the tossing, deep the groans, despair

  490

  Tended the sick busiest from Couch to Couch;

  And over them triumphant Death his Dart

  Shook, but delaid to strike, though oft invok’t

  With vows, as thir chief good, and final hope.

  Sight so deform what heart of Rock could long

  495

  Drie-ey’d behold? Adam could not, but wept,

  Though not of Woman born; compassion quell’d

  His best of Man, and gave him up to tears

  A space, till firmer thoughts restraind excess,

  And scarce recovering words his plaint renew’d.

  500

  O miserable Mankind, to what fall

  Degraded, to what wretched state reserv’d!

  Better end heer unborn. Why is life giv’n

  To be thus wrested from us? rather why

  Obtruded on us thus? who if we knew

  505

  What we receive, would either not accept

  Life offer’d, or soon beg to lay it down,

  Glad to be so dismist in peace. Can thus

  Th’ Image of God in man created once

  So goodly and erect, though faultie since,

  510

  To such unsightly sufferings be debas’t

  Under inhuman pains? Why should not Man,

  Retaining still Divine similitude

  In part, from such deformities be free,

  And for his Makers Image sake exempt?

  515

  Thir Makers Image, answerd Michael, then

  Forsook them, when themselves they villifi’d

  To serve ungovern’d appetite, and took

  His Image41 whom they serv’d, a brutish vice,

  Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve.

  520

  Therefore so abject is thir punishment,

  Disfiguring not Gods likeness, but thir own,

  Or if his likeness, by themselves defac’t

  While they pervert pure Natures healthful rules
/>   To loathsom sickness, worthily, since they

  525

  Gods Image did not reverence in themselves.

  I yeild 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?

  530

  There is, said Michael, if thou well observe

  The rule of not too much, by temperance taught

  In what thou eatst and drinkst, seeking from thence

  Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight,

  Till many years over thy head return:

  535

  So maist thou live, till like ripe Fruit thou drop

  Into thy Mothers lap, or be with ease

  Gatherd, not harshly pluckt, for death mature:

  This is old age; but then thou must outlive

  Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty, which will change

  540

  To witherd weak and gray; thy Senses then

  Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forgoe,

  To what thou hast, and for the Air of youth

  Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reigne

  A melancholly damp of cold and dry42

  545

  To waigh thy spirits down, and last consume

  The Balm of Life. To whom our Ancestor.

  Henceforth I flie not Death, nor would prolong

  Life much, bent rather how I may be quit

  Fairest and easiest of this combrous charge,

  550

  Which I must keep till my appointed day

  Of rendring up, and patiently attend43

  My dissolution. Michael repli’d,

  Nor love thy Life, nor hate; but what thou liv’st

  Live well, how long or short permit to Heav’n:

  555

  And now prepare thee for another sight.

  He look’d and saw a spacious Plain,44 whereon

  Were Tents of various hue; by some were herds

  Of Cattel grazing: others, whence the sound

  Of Instruments that made melodious chime

  560

  Was heard, of Harp and Organ; and who moov’d

  Thir stops and chords was seen: his volant touch

  Instinct45 through all proportions low and high

  Fled and pursu’d transverse the resonant fugue.

  In other part stood one who at the Forge

  565

  Labouring, two massie 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 som Caves mouth, or whether washt by stream

  570

  From underground) the liquid Ore he dreind

  Into fit moulds prepar’d; from which he formd

  First his own Tools; then, what might else be wrought

  Fusil46 or grav’n in mettle. After these,

  But on the hether side a different sort47

  575

  From the high neighbouring Hills, which was thir Seat,

  Down to the Plain descended: by thir guise

  Just men they seemd, and all thir study bent

  To worship God aright, and know his works

  Not hid, nor those things last which might preserve

  580

  Freedom and Peace to men: they on the Plain

  Long had not walkt, when from the Tents behold

  A Beavie of fair Women, richly gay

  In Gems and wanton dress; to th’ Harp they sung

  Soft amorous Ditties, and in dance came on:

  585

  The Men though grave, ey’d them, and let thir 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 th’ Eevning Star48

  Loves Harbinger appeerd; then all in heat

  590

  They light the Nuptial Torch, and bid invoke

  Hymen, then first to marriage Rites invok’t;

  With Feast and Musick all the Tents resound.

  Such happy interview and fair event

  Of love and youth not lost, Songs, Garlands, Flowrs,

  595

  And charming Symphonies attach’d the heart

  Of Adam, soon enclin’d t’ admit delight,

  The bent of Nature; which he thus express’d.

  True opener of mine eyes, prime Angel blest,

  Much better seems this Vision, and more hope

  600

  Of peaceful dayes portends, then those two past;

  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,

  605

  Created, as thou art, to nobler end

  Holie and pure, conformitie divine.

  Those Tents thou sawst so pleasant, were the Tents

  Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his Race

  Who slew his Brother; studious they appear

  610

  Of Arts that polish Life, Inventers rare,

  Unmindful of thir Maker, though his Spirit

  Taught them, but they his gifts acknowledg’d none.

  Yet they a beauteous ofspring shall beget;

  For that fair femal Troop thou sawst, that seemd

  615

  Of Goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay,

  Yet empty of all good wherein consists

  Womans domestic honour and chief praise;

  Bred onely and completed to the taste

  Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance,

  620

  To dress, and troul49 the Tongue, and roul the Eye.

  To these that sober Race of Men, whose lives

  Religious titl’d them the Sons of God,

  Shall yeild up all thir vertue, all thir fame

  Ignobly, to the trains50 and to the smiles

  625

  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 pittie and shame, that they who to live well

  630

  Enterd so fair, should turn aside to tread

  Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint!

  But still I see the tenor of Mans woe

  Holds on the same, from Woman to begin.

  From Mans effeminate slackness it begins,

  635

  Said th’ Angel, who should better hold his place

  By wisdom, and superiour gifts receav’d.

  But now prepare thee for another Scene.

  He look’d and saw wide Territorie spred

  Before him,51 Towns, and rural works between,

  640

  Cities of Men with lofty Gates and Towrs,

  Concours in Arms, fierce Faces threatning Warr,

  Giants of mightie Bone, and bould emprise;

  Part wield thir Arms, part courb the foaming Steed,

  Single or in Array of Battel rang’d

  645

  Both Horse and Foot, nor idlely mustring stood;

  One way a Band select from forage drives

  A herd of Beeves, fair Oxen and fair Kine

  From a fat Meddow ground; or fleecy Flock,

  Ewes and thir bleating Lambs over the Plain,

  650

  Thir Bootie; scarce with Life the Shepherds flye,

  But call in aid, which tacks52 a bloody Fray;

  With cruel Tournament the Squadrons join;

  Where Cattel pastur’d late, now scatterd lies

  With Carcasses and Arms th’ ensanguind Field

  655

  Deserted: Others to a Citie st
rong

  Lay Seige, encampt; by Batterie, Scale, and Mine,

  Assaulting; others from the wall defend

  With Dart and Jav’lin, Stones and sulfurous Fire;

  On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds.

  660

  In other part the scepter’d Haralds call

  To Council in the Citie Gates: anon

  Grey-headed men and grave, with Warriours mixt,

  Assemble, and Harangues are heard, but soon

  In factious opposition, till at last

  665

  Of middle Age one53 rising, eminent

  In wise deport, spake much of Right and Wrong,

  Of Justice, of Religion, Truth and Peace,

  And Judgement from above: him old and young

  Exploded54 and had seiz’d with violent hands,

  670

  Had not a Cloud descending snatch’d him thence

  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

  675

  Lamenting turnd full sad; O what are these,

  Deaths Ministers, not Men, who thus deal Death

  Inhumanly to men, and multiply

  Ten thousandfould the sin of him who slew

  His Brother; for of whom such massacher

  680

  Make they but of thir Brethren, men of men?

  But who was that Just Man, whom had not Heav’n

  Rescu’d, had in his Righteousness bin lost?

  To whom thus Michael. These are the product

  Of those ill-mated Marriages thou saw’st:

  685

  Where good with bad were matcht, who of themselves

  Abhor to joyn; and by imprudence mixt,

  Produce prodigious Births of bodie or mind.

  Such were these Giants, men of high renown;55

  For in those dayes Might onely shall be admir’d,

  690

  And Valour and Heroic Vertu call’d;

  To overcome in Battel, and subdue

  Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite

 

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