Chapter 12 11

But have I now seen Death? Is this the way I must return to native dust? O sight Of terror, 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 ways that lead To his grim Cave, all dismal; yet to sense More terrible at th entrance then within. [ 470 ] Some, as thou sawst, by violent stroke shall die, By Fire, Flood, Famin, by Intemperance more In Meats and Drinks, which on 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 appeared, sad, noysom, dark, A Lazar-house it seemsd, wherein were laid Numbers of all diseases, all maladies [ 480 ] Of gastly Spasm, or racking torture, qualmes Of heart-sick Agonie, all feavorous kinds, Convulsions, Epilepsies, fierce Catarrhs, Intestin Stone and Ulcer, Colic pangs, Damoniac Phrenzie, moaping Melancholie [ 485 ] And Moon-struck madness, pinning Atrophie Marasmus and wide-wasting Pestilence, Dropsies, and Asthmas, and Joint-racking Rheums. Dire was the tossing, deep the groans, despair

Tended the sick busiest from Couch to Couch; [ 490 ] And over them triumphant Death 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; compassion quelled His best of Man, and gave him up to tears A space, till firmer thoughts restrain excess, And scarce recovering words his plaint renewed. O miserable Mankind, to what fall [ 500 ] Degraded, to what wretched state reservd!