Heh 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 anht. [ 555 ]
He lookd and saacious Plaine, whereon
Were Tents of various hue; by some were herds
Of Cattel grazing: others, whehe sound
Of Instruments that made melodious chime
Was heard, of Harp and an; 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 Fe
Lab, 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 ravn ile. After these,
But oher side a different sort
From the high neighb Hills, which was thir Seat, [ 575 ]
Down to the Plain desded: by thir guise
Just men they seemd, and all thir study bent
To worship Ght, and know his works
Not hid, nor those things last which might preserve
Freedom and Peaen: 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, ahir eyes [ 585 ]
Rove without rein, till in the amorous
Fast caught, they likd, and each his liking chose;
And now of love they treat till thEevning Star
Loves Harbinger appeerd; then all i
They light the Nuptial Torch, and bid invoke [ 590 ]
Hymen, then first te Rites invokt;
With Feast and Musick all the Tents resound.