But have I now seeh? 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! [ 465 ]
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 entrahen within. [ 470 ]
Some, as thou sawst, by violent stroke shall die,
By Fire, Flood, Famin, by Intemperance more
Is and Drinks, whi the Earth shall bring
Diseases dire, of which a monstrous crew
Before thee shall appear; that thou mayst know [ 475 ]
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 diseasd, all maladies [ 480 ]
Of gastly Spasm, or rag torture, qualmes
Of heart-sick Agonie, all feavorous kinds,
vulsions, Epilepsies, fierce Catarrhs,
Iin Stone and Ulcer, Coligs,
Dæmoniac Phrenzie, moaping Melancholie [ 485 ]
And Moon-struck madness, pining Atrophie
Marasmus and wide-wastiilence,
Dropsies, and Asthmas, and Joint-rag Rheums.
Dire was the tossing, deep the groans, despair
Tehe sick busiest from Couch to Couch; [ 490 ]
And over them triumphah his Dart
Shook, but delaid to strike, though oft invokt
With vows, as thir chief good, and final hope.
Sight so deform what heart of Rock could long
Drie-eyd behold? Adam could not, but wept, [ 495 ]
Though not of Woman born; passion quelld
His best of Man, and gave him up to tears
A space, till firmer thoughts restraind excess,
And scarce rec words his plaint renewd.
O miserable Mankind, to what fall [ 500 ]
Degraded, to what wretched state reservd!