degraded； to what wretched state reservd！ ．。 Paradise Lost Ⅺ12 …。网 better end heer unborn。 why is life givn to be thus wrested from us？ rather why obtruded on us thus？ who if we knew what we receive； would either not accept ＇ 505 ＇ life offerd； 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； to such unsightly sufferings be debast ＇ 510 ＇ 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？ thir makers image； answerd michael； then ＇ 515 ＇ forsook them； when themselves they villifid to serve ungovernd appetite； and took his image whom they servd； a brutish vice； inductive mainly to the sin of eve。 therefore so abject is thir punishment； ＇ 520 ＇ disfiguring not gods likeness； but thir own； or if his likeness； by themselves defact while they pervert pure natures healthful rules to loathsom sickness； worthily； since they gods image did not reverence in themselves。 ＇ 525 ＇ i yield it just； said adam； and submit。 but is there yet no other way； besides these painful passages； how we may e to death； and mix with our connatural dust？ there is； said michael； if thou well observe ＇ 530 ＇ 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： so maist thou live； till like ripe fruit thou drop ＇ 535 ＇ 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 to witherd weak and gray； thy senses then ＇ 540 ＇ obtuse； all taste of pleasure must forgoe； to what thou hast； and for the aire of youth hopeful and cheerful； in thy blood will reigne a melancholly damp of cold and dry to weigh thy spirits down； and last consume ＇ 545 ＇ the balme of life。 to whom our ancestor。 。d 。 Paradise Lost Ⅺ13 @小‘说〃网 henceforth i flie not death； nor would prolong life much； bent rather how i may be quit fairest and easiest of this brous charge； which i must keep till my appointed day ＇ 550 ＇ of rendring up； and patiently attend my dissolution。 michael replid； nor love thy life； nor hate； but what thou livst live well； how long or short permit to heavn： and now prepare thee for another sight。 ＇ 555 ＇ he lookd and saw a spacious plaine； whereon were tents of various hue； by some were herds of cattel grazing： others； whence the sound of instruments that made melodious chime was heard； of harp and organ； and who moovd ＇ 560 ＇ thir stops and chords was seen： his volant touch instinct through all proportions low and high fled and pursud transverse the resonant fugue。 in other part stood one who at the forge labouring； two massie clods of iron and brass ＇ 565 ＇ 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 from underground） the liquid ore he dreind ＇ 570 ＇ into fit moulds prepard； from which he formd first his own tooles； then； what might else be wrought fusil or gravn in mettle。 after these； but on the hether side a different sort from the high neighbouring hills； which was thir seat； ＇ 575 ＇ 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 freedom and peace to men： they on the plain ＇ 580 ＇ long had not walkt； when from the tents behold a beavie 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； eyd them； and let thir eyes ＇ 585 ＇ rove without rein； till in the amorous net fast caught； they likd； and each his liking chose； and now of love they treat till theevning star loves harbinger appeerd； then all in heat they light the nuptial torch； and bid invoke ＇ 590 ＇ hymen； then first to marriage rites invokt； with feast and musick all the tents resound。 ．． Paradise Lost Ⅺ14 ！小＄说＾网＆ such happy interview and fair event of love and youth not lost； songs； garlands； flours； and charming symphonies attachd the heart ＇ 595 ＇ of adam； soon enclind to admit delight； the bent of nature； which he thus expressd。 true opener of mine eyes； prime angel blest； much better seems this vision； and more hope of peaceful dayes portends； then those two past； ＇ 600 ＇ those were of hate and death； or pain much worse； here nature seems fulfilld in all her ends。 to whom thus michael。 judg not what is best by pleasure； though to nature seeming meet； created； as thou art； to nobler end ＇ 605 ＇ 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 appere of arts that polish life； inventers rare； ＇ 610 ＇ unmindful of thir maker； though his spirit taught them； but they his gifts acknowledgd none。 yet they a beauteous ofspring shall beget； for that fair femal troop thou sawst； that seemd of goddesses； so blithe； so smooth； so gay； ＇ 615 ＇ yet empty of all good wherein consists womans domestic honour and chief praise； bred onely and pleted to the taste of lustful appetence； to sing； to dance； to dress； and troule the tongue； and roule the eye。 ＇ 620 ＇ to these that sober race of men； whose lives religious titld them the sons of god； shall yield up all thir vertue； all thir fame ignobly； to the traines and to the smiles of these fair atheists； and now swim in joy； ＇ 625 ＇ （erelong to swim at large） and laugh； for which the world erelong a world of tears must weepe。 to whom thus