BOOK ELEVENTH
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��Who slew his brother: studious they appear Of arts that polish life, inventors rare; 610 Unmindful of their Maker, though his
Spirit
Taught them; but they his gifts acknow- ledged none.
Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget; For that fair female troop thou saw'st, that
seemed
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 be- reft:
" O pity and shame, that they who to live well 629
Entered so fair should turn aside to tread Paths indirect, or in the midway 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 be- gins," Said the Angel, " who should better hold
his place
By wisdom, and superior gifts received. But now prepare thee for another scene."
He looked, and saw wide territory spread Before him towns, and rural works be- tween,
Cities of men with lofty gates and towers, Concourse in arms, fierce faces threatening war, 641
Giants of mighty bone and bold emprise. Part wield their arms, part curb the foam- ing 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 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 pastured late, now scattered
lies With carcasses and arms the ensanguined
field
Deserted. Others to a city strong Lay siege, encamped, by battery, scale, and
mine,
Assaulting; others from the wall defend With dart and javelin, stones and sulphur- ous fire;
On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds. In other part the sceptred haralds call 660 To council in the city-gates : anon Grey-headed men and grave, with warriors
mixed, 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 and
wrong,
Of justice, of religion, truth, and peace, And judgment from above: him old and
young Erploded, and had seized with violent
hands, Had not a cloud descending snatched 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 turned full sad: " Oh, what
are these ? 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 Make they but of their brethren, men of
men ? 680
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,
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