Better end heer unborn. Why is life givn
To be thus wrested from us? rather why
Obtruded on us thus? who if we knew
What we receive, would either not accept [ 505 ]
Life offerd, or sooo lay it down,
Glad to be so dismist in peace. thus
Th Image of God in maed once
So goodly a, though faultie since,
To susightly sufferings be debast [ 510 ]
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 [ 515 ]
Forsook them, when themselves they villifid
To serve ungovernd appetite, and took
His Image whom they servd, a brutish vice,
Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve.
Therefore so abject is thir punishment, [ 520 ]
Disfiguring not Gods likeness, but thir own,
Or if his likeness, by themselves defact
While they pervert pure Natures healthful rules
To loathsom siess, worthily, sihey
Gods Image did not reveren themselves. [ 525 ]
I yield it just, said Adam, and submit.
But is there yet no other way, besides
These painful passages, how we may e
To Death, and mix with our atural dust?
There is, said Michael, if thou well observe [ 530 ]
The rule of not too much, by temperaaught
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 [ 535 ]
Into thy Mothers lap, or be with ease
Gatherd, not harshly pluckt, for death mature:
This is old age; but then thou must outlive
Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty, which will ge
To witherd weak and gray; thy Sehen [ 540 ]
Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must foe,
To what thou hast, and for the Aire of youth
Hopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reigne
A melancholly damp of cold and dry
To weigh thy spirits down, and last e [ 545 ]
The Balme of Life. To whom our Aor.