Bred only and completed to the taste Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance, To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye. 621. To these that sober race of men, &c.] As we read in Gen. vi. 2. The sons of God saw the daughters of men, that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. It is now generally agreed, that this passage is to be understood of the sons of Seth, the worshippers of the true God, making matches with the idolatrous daughters of wicked Cain; and Milton very rightly puts this construction it here, though elsewhere he seems to give into the old exploded conceit of the angels becoming enamoured of the daughters of men. See iii. upon 463. and the note there, and likewise v. 447. and Par. Reg. ii. 178, &c. 627. The world ere long a world of tears must weep.] Dr. Bentley observes that this world and world is a jingle, and that a world of tears is a low expression. He would therefore read a flood of tears: as Milton 620 625 speaks in ver. 757. But if this verse be blameable on this account, yet our poet has used the same way of speaking in ix. 11. That brought into this world a world of woe. I think that the foregoing part of this sentence should be pointed thus, -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. For swimming in joy and swimming at large are opposed to each other, as are likewise laughing and weeping a world of tears. Pearce. As the sense is so much improved by this pointing, we cannot but prefer it to Milton's which was thus: own, 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. Enter'd so fair, should turn aside to tread Holds on the same, from Woman to begin. 630 Said th' Angel, who should better hold his place He look'd, and saw wide territory spread Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed, Both horse and foot, nor idly must'ring stood; 635 640 645 650 638. He look'd and saw wide territory spread &c.] The next vision is of a quite contrary nature, and filled with the horrors of war. Adam at the sight of it melts into tears, and breaks out in that passionate speech, - what are these, Death's ministers, not men &c. Addison. 642. emprise ;] An old word for enterprise. It is used in the Mask. Alas! good vent'rous youth, I love thy courage yet, and bold emprise. 645. -nor idly must'ring stood;] One cannot perceive the pertinence of this without supposing that it hinted at the circumstances of the land-army at that time. Warburton. But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray; Lay siege, incamp'd; by battery, scale and mine, With dart and javelin, stones and sulphurous fire; 651. —which makes a bloody fray;] So it was altered for the better in the second edition; it was tacks a bloody fray in the first edition; which is not so plain and intelligible. 660. In other part the scepter'd heralds call &c.] It may be noted here once for all, that in this visionary part Milton has frequently had his eye upon his master Homer, and several of the images which are represented to Adam are copies of the descriptions on the shield of Achilles, Iliad. xviii. His eyes he open'd, and beheld a field, Part arable and tilth, whereon were sheaves New reap'd, the other part sheepwalks and folds. Is not this Homer's description Εν δ' ετίθει τέμενος βαθυληϊον ενθα δ' Ημων, οξείας δρεπανας εν χερσιν έχον 655 660 Another field rose high with waving grain ; With bended sickles stand the reaper train, Here stretch'd in ranks the levell'd swarths are found, Sheaves heap'd on sheaves, here thicken up the ground. Pope. And ver. 587, &c. Εν δε νόμον ποιησε περικλυτος Αμφιο Εν καλη βήσση μεγαν οιων αργενναίων, ίδε σήκους. Next this, the eye the art of Vulcan leads Deep thro' fair forests, and a length of meads; And stalls, and folds, and scatter'd cotts between, And fleecy flocks that whiten all the scene. The vision of marriages, They light the nuptlal torch, and bid invoke, Hymen, then first to marriage rites invok'd: With feast and music all the tents resound. Is it not a most beautiful and exact copy of Homer? ver. 491, &c. Εν τη μεν ρα γαμοι τ' εσαν ειλαπι και τε Νύμφας δ' ἐκ θαλαμων, δαΐδων ὑπο λαμ πομενάων, To council in the city gates: anon Grey-headed men and grave, with warriors mix'd, Another part (a prospect differing far) Glow'd with refulgent arms, and horrid war. Two mighty hosts a leaguer'd town embrace, &c. As the council in the one In other part the scepter'd heralds call To council in the city gates: anon Grey-headed men and grave, with warriors mix'd, Assemble, and harangues are heard, &c. seems to be of much more importance than that in the other, ver. 503, &c. Κηρυκες δ' αρα λαον ερητεον· οἱ δὲ γε Assemble, and harangues are heard, but soon Of middle age one rising, eminent In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong, Had not a cloud descending snatch'd him thence Alternate, each th' attesting scep tre took, And rising solemn, each his sentence spoke. The description of the shield of Achilles is certainly one of the finest pieces of poetry in the whole Iliad, and our author has plainly shown his admiration and affection for it by borrowing so many scenes and images from it: but I think we may say, that they do not like other copies fall short of the originals, but generally exceed them, and receive this additional beauty, that they are most of them made representations of real histories and matters of fact. 661. To council in the city gates:] For there assemblies were anciently held, and the judges used to sit, Gen. xxxiv. 20. Deut. xvi. 18. xxi. 19. Zech. viii. 16. 665. Of middle age one rising,] 665 670 675 |