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Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget; For that fair female troop thou sawest, 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 appetance, to sing, to dance, To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye: 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, Ere long to swim at large; and laugh, for which The world ere long a world of tears must weep

To whom thus Adam, of short joy bereft: O pity and shame, that they, who to live well 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 begins, 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 between, Cities of men with lofty gates and towers, Concourse in arms, fierce faces threatening war, Giants of mighty bone and bold emprise.1 Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming 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,

Bold emprise, -- Courageous deeds.

BOOK XI.-648-680] From a fat meadow-ground; or fleecy flock, Ewes and their bleating lambs over the plain, Their booty; scarce with life the shepherds fly,

But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray. With cruel tournament the squadrons join; Where cattle pastured late, now scattered lies

PARADISE LOST.

With carcases 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 sulphurous fire; On each hand slaughter, and gigantic deeds.

In other part the sceptred heralds call To council, in the city gates. Anon

Gray-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 Exploded, and had seized with violent hands,

Had not a cloud descending snatched 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

Lamenting, turned full sad: O what are these? 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?

^\\ Exploded. - Denounced, hissed. The poet's account of Enoch is taken in part from the Apocryphal Book of och cited in the Paris of these, saying. Behold, the Enoch cited in the Epistle of Jude—" Enoch also, the seventh from Adam. prophesied of these, saying. Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousand of his saints." (Jude 14.) "And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him." (Gen. v. 24.)