Paradise Lost

First Fruits, the green Eare, and the yellow Sheaf, 
Uncull'd, as came to hand; a Shepherd next 
More meek came with the Firstlings of his Flock 
Choicest and best; then sacrificing, laid 
The Inwards and thir Fat, with Incense strew'd, 
On the cleft Wood, and all due Rites perform'd. 
His Offring soon propitious Fire from Heav'n 
Consum'd with nimble glance, and grateful steame; 
The others not, for his was not sincere; 
Whereat hee inlie rag'd, and as they talk'd, 
Smote him into the Midriff with a stone 
That beat out life; he fell, and deadly pale 
Groand out his Soul with gushing bloud effus'd. 
Much at that sight was ADAM in his heart 
Dismai'd, and thus in haste to th' Angel cri'd. 
  O Teacher, some great mischief hath befall'n 
To that meek man, who well had sacrific'd; 
Is Pietie thus and pure Devotion paid? 
  T' whom MICHAEL thus, hee also mov'd, repli'd. 
These two are Brethren, ADAM, and to come 
Out of thy loyns; th' unjust the just hath slain, 
For envie that his Brothers Offering found 
From Heav'n acceptance; but the bloodie Fact 
Will be aveng'd, and th' others Faith approv'd 
Loose no reward, though here thou see him die, 
Rowling in dust and gore.  To which our Sire. 
  Alas, both for the deed and for the cause! 
But have I now seen Death?  Is this the way 
I must return to native dust?  O sight 
Of terrour, foul and ugly to behold, 
Horrid to think, how horrible to feel! 
  To whom thus MICHAEL.  Death thou hast seen 
In his first shape on man; but many shapes 
Of Death, and many are the wayes that lead 
To his grim Cave, all dismal; yet to sense 
More terrible at th' entrance then within. 
Some, as thou saw'st, by violent stroke shall die, 
By Fire, Flood, Famin, by Intemperance more 
In Meats and Drinks, which on the Earth shal bring 
Diseases dire, of which a monstrous crew 
Before thee shall appear; that thou mayst know 
What miserie th' inabstinence of EVE 
Shall bring on men.  Immediately a place 
Before his eyes appeard, sad, noysom, dark, 
A Lazar-house it seemd, wherein were laid 
Numbers of all diseas'd, all maladies 
Of gastly Spasm, or racking torture, qualmes 
Of heart-sick Agonie, all feavorous kinds, 
Convulsions, Epilepsies, fierce Catarrhs, 
Intestin Stone and Ulcer, Colic pangs, 
Dropsies, and Asthma's, and Joint-racking Rheums. 
Dire was the tossing, deep the groans, despair 
Tended the sick busiest from Couch to Couch; 
And over them triumphant Death his Dart 
Shook, but delaid to strike, though oft invok't 
With vows, as thir chief good, and final hope. 
Sight so deform what heart of Rock could long 
Drie-ey'd behold?  ADAM could not, but wept, 
Though not of Woman born; compassion quell'd 
His best of Man, and gave him up to tears 
A space, till firmer thoughts restraind excess, 
And scarce recovering words his plaint renew'd. 
  O miserable Mankind, to what fall 
Degraded, to what wretched state reserv'd? 
Better end heer unborn.  Why is life giv'n 
To be thus wrested from us? rather why 
Obtruded on us thus? who if we knew 
What we receive, would either not accept 
Life offer'd, 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 debas't 
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 
Forsook them, when themselves they villifi'd 
To serve ungovern'd appetite, and took 
His Image whom they serv'd, a brutish vice, 
Inductive mainly to the sin of EVE. 
Therefore so abject is thir punishment, 
Disfiguring not Gods likeness, but thir own, 
Or if his likeness, by themselves defac't 
While they pervert pure Natures healthful rules 
To loathsom sickness, worthily, since they 
Gods Image did not reverence in themselves. 
  I yeild it just, said ADAM, and submit. 
But is there yet no other way, besides 
These painful passages, how we may come 
To Death, and mix with our connatural dust? 
  There is, said MICHAEL, if thou well observe 
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 
Into thy Mothers lap, or be with ease 
Gatherd, not harshly pluckt, for death mature: