560 He look'd, 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 mov'd Their stops and chords was seen: his volant touch Instinct through all proportions low and high Fled and pursu'd 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 wash'd by stream From underground ;) the liquid ore he drain'd 565 570 Into fit moulds prepar'd; from which he form'd But on the hither side, a different sort From the high neighbouring hills, which was their seat, 575 Down to the plain descended: by their guise 565 clods] From Lucretius, V. 1240. 'Quod superest, æs, atque aurum, ferrumque repertum est, Et simul argenti pondus, plumbique, potestas. Ignis ubi ingenteis sylvas ardore cremârat Montibus in magnis.' VOL. II. 4 Jortin Freedom and peace to men: they on the plain Long had not walk'd, 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, Fast caught, they lik'd, and each his liking chose : 580 586 590 595 Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, flowers, To whom thus Michael. Judge not what is best By pleasure, though to nature seeming meet, 582 bevy] 'A dancing bevy of fair lights.' Sir G. Sherburne's Poems, p. 37. 586 amorous] So Ariosto Orl. Fur. I. 12. 'Ch' all' amorosa rete il tenea involto.' Bowle. 587 Fast] So in Milton's own ed. In Tonson's early ed., ' First caught,' which Tickell and Fenton followed. Todd. Created, as thou art, to nobler end Holy and pure, conformity divine. 605 610 Those tents, thou saw'st so pleasant, were the tents Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance, 615 To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye. 620 626 laugh] Milton's own pointing of this passage was thus, 'And now swim in joy (Erelong to swim at large) and laugh; for which The world erelong a world of tears must weep.' Newton. 625 630 Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint! From man's effeminate slackness it begins, But now prepare thee for another scene. 640 He look'd, and saw wide territory spread Before him, towns, and rural works between, Cities of men with lofty gates and tow'rs, Concourse in arms, fierce faces threat'ning war, Giants of mighty bone, and bold emprise; Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed, Single, or in array of battle rang'd Both horse and foot, nor idly mustering stood: 645 A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine, Lay siege, encamp'd, by battery, scale, and mine, 642 bold emprise] Spens. F. Qu. ii. iii. 35. 655 'Is far renown'd through many a bold emprise.' Todd. 651 makes] So altered in the second edition. It was 'tacks a bloody fray' in the first. Newton. Assaulting; others from the wall defend With dart and javelin, stones and sulphurous fire; To council in the city gates: anon 660 Gray-headed men and grave, with warriors mix'd, Of middle age one rising, eminent In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong, 665 Had not a cloud descending snatch'd him thence 670 Lamenting turn'd full sad; O! what are these, 675 Inhumanly to men, and multiply Ten thousand-fold the sin of him who slew Make they but of their brethren, men of men? 680 660 heralds] Newton has pointed out several passages in Homer's description of the shield of Achilles, which Milton had in his mind, Iliad xviii. 550, &c. 587, &c. 491, &c. 527, &c. 509, &c. 503, &c. 676 Death's] 'Death's progeny, not mine.' Bentl. MS. |