Season 4 Podcast 51 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk XI, Pt XL, “The Intersession, Pt IV”

Season 4 Podcast 51 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk XI, Pt XL, “The Intersession, Pt IV” In the prologue to Book XI, Milton writes.The Son of God presents to his Father the prayers of our first parents now repenting, and intercedes for them: God accepts them, but declares that they must no longer abide in Paradise; sends Michael with a band of Cherubim to dispossess them; but first to reveal to Adam future things: Michael's coming down. Adam shows to Eve certain ominous signs; he discerns Michael's approach; goes out to meet him: the Angel denounces their departure. Eve's Lamentation. Adam pleads but submits: the Angel leads him up to a high hill; sets before him a vision what shall happen till the Flood.Michael tells Adam that mankind was made in God’s image, but because man chose to serve the appetites of the natural man and used their bodies to serve evil they lost that godlike image. They violated the laws of nature, therefore becoming subject to disease.Their Makers Image, answered Michael, thenForsook them, when themselves they vilifiedTo serve ungoverned appetite, and tookHis Image whom they served, a brutish vice,Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve.Therefore so abject is their punishment,Disfiguring not Gods likeness, but their own,Or if his likeness, by themselves defac’tWhile they pervert pure Natures healthful rulesTo loathsome sickness, worthily, since theyGods Image did not reverence in themselves.Adam agrees with Michael, saying God is just, but asks if there is another way out besides pain and misery to accompany death.I yield it just, said Adam, and submit.But is there yet no other way, besidesThese painful passages, how we may comeTo Death, and mix with our connatural dust?Michael warns Adam against gluttony and tells him to use temperance in what he eats and drinks. That way they will have a longer life and easier death. Still they must grow old and suffer the natural effects of ageThere is, said Michael, if thou well observeThe rule of not too much, by temperance taughtIn what thou eatst and drinkst, seeking from thenceDue nourishment, not gluttonous delight,Till many years over thy head return:So maist thou live, till like ripe Fruit thou dropInto thy Mothers lap, or be with easeGathered, not harshly pluckt, for death mature:This is old age; but then thou must outliveThy youth, thy strength, thy beauty, which will changeTo withered weak & gray; thy Senses thenObtuse, all taste of pleasure must forgoe,To what thou hast, and for the Aire of youthHopeful and cheerful, in thy blood will reignA melancholy damp of cold and dryTo weigh thy spirits down, and last consumeThe Balm of Life..Adam replies that he will not run from death, but he would study how the fairest and easiest way to meet the inevitable.Henceforth I flee not Death, nor would prolongLife much, bent rather how I may be quitFairest and easiest of this cumbrous charge,Which I must keep till my appointed dayOf rendering up.  Michael tells Adam that the best thing to do is to live well. Nor love thy Life, nor hate; but what thou livstLive well, how long or short permit to Heav’n:Then Michael cautions Adam to be prepared because he is going to show him the future. Adam sees a huge plain filled with tents and cattle. He heard beautiful music. He watched as they created tools from molten metal. He saw people who were just, who worshiped God and studied the words of God. They sought freedom and peace.