Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/274

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��PARADISE LOST

��Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forgo 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 con- sume

The balm of life." To whom our Ances- tor: " 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 551 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 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 560

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 underground); the liquid ore he

drained S7 o

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

��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 580

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 eyes

Rove without rein, till, in the amorous net

Fast caught, they liked, and each his liking chose.

And now of love they treat, till the even- ing-star,

Love's harbinger, appeared; then, all in heat,

They light the nuptial torch, and bid in- voke 590

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 ex- pressed:

" True opener of mine eyes, prime An- gel blest,

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 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.

Those tents thou saw'st so pleasant were the tents

Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his race

�� �