But have I now seen Death? 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 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 appeard, sad, noysom, dark,

A Lazar-house it seemd, wherein were laid

Numbers of all diseasd, 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,

Dæmoniac Phrenzie, moaping Melancholie [ 485 ]

And Moon-struck madness, pining 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 quelld

His best of Man, and gave him up to tears

A space, till firmer thoughts restraind excess,

And scarce recovering words his plaint renewd.

O miserable Mankind, to what fall [ 500 ]

Degraded, to what wretched state reservd!