richer Seat of ATABALIPA; (f) and GUIANA, (g) Cc 3 ful Art and Labour; tho' they had not an Iron Tool, but grinded them upon others, and covered them with Plates of folid Gold and Silver. It was divided into Hanan Cufco, i. e. the Higher Cufco; and Harin Cufco, i. e. the Lower Cufco; and fo vaftly rich, that Francis Pizardus, who fack'd it, got fuch incredible Treasures, that the 5th Part, which fell to the King of Spain, came to 400,000 Florins; for all the Gold and Silver of Peru was carried thither; but fince then it is very much impaired in every Respect. It was ruined by an Earthquake, A. D. 1650. (e) Peru or Perou; Amer. i. e. a Fisherman or Seaman; because the Spaniards asked one of the Natives the Name of the Country, who answered Perou, which fignifies fo much in their Language. All the South of America, from the Streights of Magellan to the Ifthmus of Darien or Panama, about 4000 Miles in Length, and 17,000 in Compass, is called Peru; which is a large Peninsula, like Africa. Here, a particular Kingdom of it, the best of them all, and vaftly rich in Gold, Silver, and Diamonds. This is bounded on the North with Terra Firma, on the Eaft with the Country of the Amazons, and Rio de la Plata; on the South with Chili, and on the Weft with the South Sea; 1400 Miles in Length, and a not bout 400 in Breadth. It was dilcovered by Columbus, A. D. 1496. By Alaufa, by Velpucius; and conquered by Francis Pizarro, A. D. 1525. But fince that Time it is very much decay'd and ruinous. (f) Atabalipa, or Atabaliba ; Amer. The laft and one of the most magnificent and peaceable Emperors of Peru. Francis Pifarrus, with 150 Foot and a few Horfe, conquered him with 25,000 Men, and many Millions of miferable People; but after the Prince had given him a Houfe full of refined Gold and Silver, valued at 15 Millions, to fave his Life, the cruel Villain ftrangled him, contrary to his Faith and Promife, A. D. 1533. The Seat of the Peruvian Emperors had been at Cusco for 400 Years; therefore all these immenfe Riches were amaffed therein; fo that the Royal Palace, the Temple of the Sun, the Walls and Houles were covered with Gold and Silver; their Pots and other Utenfils were of the fame Metal; which Milton takes Notice of here. (g) Guiana, Gujana, or Guaiana; Amer. A large Country of South America, under the Line, well watered, and the moft fruitful and beautiful Place in the World; they have an everlafting Spring; and count a Man dies young, if he does not not yet plunder'd and enflav'd; whofe great City the Sons of GERYON (b) call EL DORADO (i). But MICHAEL live above 100 Years. It is called fo from the River Wia or Wiana; and by our Sailors the North Cape; because it is the moft remarkable Land on the North Coaft of Peru. It is bounded on the North and Eaft with the Atlantic Ocean, on the South with the River of the Amazons, and on the Weft with the River Oroonaka: It is about 400 Miles in Length, and 150 in Breadth. The Inhabitants are ftill Cannibals, Lat. i. e. Men-Eaters, like Dogs, and very favage Pagans. It was difcovered A. D. 1541, by the Spaniards. When Milton wrote this, the Country had not been robbed and enflaved by them, as others of Mexico and Peru had been; but now it is inhabi ted by the English, French,. Dutch, and other Europeans. The River Amazone is certainly the greatest, rieheft, and most fertile River upon the Face of the Earth; (if we may except Rio de la Plata, which is navigable for the greatest Ships, above 200 Leagues, and fixty Leagues wide at the Mouth.) It is about 1276, fome fay 1800 Spanish Leagues, i. e. about 5408 English Miles in Length. It runs from the Welt of Peru, to the Eaftern Ocean, 84 Leagues broad at the Mouth, and is replenish'd with 1000 other Rivers thro' its Courfe, washing many rich Countries. The old Name of it was Pajan quiris, i. e. The great River; and Hobio, i, e. The fair River: But the Europeans called it and the Country fo, at their firft discovering of it; because they saw many warlike Women upon the Banks of it, oppofing their Landing and Conqueft, refembling the antient Amazons B. IX. N. 1110. See a Survey of it, performed at the Order of the King of Spain, by M. Chrift. d'Acugna, tranflated into English, 1699. (b) Geryon ; Gr. i, e. a Brawler. A King of Catalonia in Spain, who founded Granada, a City of Catalonia, and called it by his own Name. The Poets fay he had three Bodies, i. e. he was a gigantick Tyrant, and King of three Kingdoms, viz. Majorca, Minarca, and Ebufa; though he was rather a King of Epirus, as the learned Bochart proves; but Hercules flew him for his Cruelty. By Geryon's Sons Milton means the Spani ards. (i) El Dorado, or Elderado, The golden City from Eldora dor, i. e. a Gilder; Sp. from the Lat. Aurum, Gold; as Babylon is called the Golden City, because of the vast Treasure there in, fa. 14. 4. Manoa or Manhoa, the capital and Royal City of Guiana: The greatest of South America, and perhaps on Earth; for Diego Ordas, one of Cortez's Companions, enter'd it at Noon and travell'd 'till Night, before he came to the King's Palace; and there he faw fo much Gold in Coin, Plate, MICHAEL for nobler Sights remov'd the Film from the Eyes of ADAM, which that falfe Fruit had occafion'd, that had promis'd to give them clearer Sight; then the Angel purged the vifual Nerve with Eyebright and Rue, (for he had much to fee) and dropt three Drops of Water into his Eyes from the Well of Life. So great Power thefe Ingredients had over ADAM, that they pierc'd even to the utmoft Seat of his Mind; and he, not being longer able to refrain from clofing his Eyes, funk down, and all his Spirits became entranc'd; but the Angel foon rais'd him up gently by the Hand, and thus recall'd his Attention: ADAM! now open thy Eyes; and firft behold the Effects, which thy Original Sin hath wrought on fome, who are to fpring from thee; who never touch'd the forbidden Fruit, nor confpir'd with the Serpent; nor committed Sin; yet from that Crime of thine deriv'd Corruption, to bring forth more violent Deeds. ADAM open'd his Eyes, and beheld a Field, Part arable, and that had been till'd, whereon there lay Sheaves of Corn newly reap'd; the other Part of the Field was Sheep-Walks and Sheep-Folds, and in the Midft there ftood a plain Altar of green Turf, which was as a Land-mark between: Thither, after a while, a fweaty Reaper brought from his Tillage firft Fruits; the green Ear, and the yellow Sheaf, unchofen, as they came to Hand: Next came a Shepherd, with, meeker Looks, bringing the Firstlings (k) of his CC 4 Flock, Armour, and other Utenfils, that the Spaniards called it by this new Name: It stands upon the West Shore of the great Lake of Parima. The Spaniards fay, the Peruvians built it, when they fled from their Cruelty and Tyranny. Others, it is a Chimera, and the Philofopher's Stone of the Spaniards; for many have attempted to find it, but in vain. (k) Firflings; Sax. O. E. from First: The Young of Cattle, which were first brought forth. Here the first Fruits of Flock, the choiceft and the beft; then facrificing, laid the Entrails and the Fat of the Lambs, ftrew'd with Incense, upon Wood that he had hewn, and perform'd all due Rites: His Offering was foon confumed by Fire from Heaven; but the Offering of the former not, for his was not fincere: Whereat he inwardly raged, and as they talk'd, he rose up against him and flew him; ftriking him into the Midriff with a Stone: He fell down, and growing deadly pale, he groan'd out his Soul with an Effufion of gufhing Blood. ADAM, much difmay'd in his Heart at the Sight, in Hafte cry'd out to the Angel: O TEACHER! fome great Mischief hath happen'd to that meek Man, who had facrific'd with a pure Heart: Is Piety and true Devotion rewarded after this Manner? To whom MICHAEL anfwer'd thus: (he being himself also mov'd) Thefe, ADAM, are two Brethren, and are to defcend immediately from thee: The unjuft hath for Envy flain the juft, because his Brother's Offering found Acceptance from Heaven, and his not; but the bloody Deed will be aveng'd, though here thou haft feen him die, rowling in Duft and Blood. To which our firft Father made Anfwer: Alas! both for the Deed, and that which is the Caufe of it! But, is this that I have now feen DEATH? Is this the Way that I must return again to my native Duft? O Sight every Thing the Earth and the Flocks yielded, which were offered to God, as a Sacrifice of Thankfulness. This Cuftom was handed down among all Nations by Tradition. It was made a Law in Ifrael, 2000 Years after this, that none might eat young Lambs, Corn, Bread, or any Fruits, 'till they brought an Offering to God first, Levit. 23. 14. And fuch Laws were made long after that, among the Greeks, Latins, and other Nations. O Sight of Terror! foul and ugly only to fee, horrid to think of; then alas, how horrible muft it be to feel? To whom MICHAEL reply'd: Thou haft feen DEATH in his first Shape, exerting his Power over MAN: But there are many Ways of Dying, and entring into that dark State: All of them are very difmal; and yet to the Senfes are more terrible at the Entrance, than they are within. Some (as thou haft juft now feen) fhall die by the Stroke of Violence; and fome by Fire, Flood, or Famine; but more by Intemperance in Meats and Drinks, which fhall bring dire Diseases upon the Earth: Of which there fhall appear a monftrous Crew before thee; that thou may'st know what Mifery the Eating of the forbidden Fruit fhall bring on MEN. IMMEDIATELY there appear'd a Place before his Eyes, fad, noifome, and dark; it feem'd a LazarHoufe, wherein were laid Numbers of People, fick of all Manner of Difeafes: All Maladies of ghaftly CRAMPS and DISTORTIONS, FAINT SICKNESS, AGONY AT HEART; all Kinds of FEVERS, CONVULSIONS, FALLING-SICKNESS, CATARRHS, THE STONE, ULCERS, CHOLIC-PANGS, RAVING-MADNESS MOAPING-MELANCHOLY, LUNACY, PINING-CONSUMPTION, HECTICKS, PESTILENCE, DROPSIES, and ASTHMAS, and RHEUMATISMS. It was very dreadful, to fee the Sick toffing and throwing themfelves about! and to hear their deep Groans! every Bed or Couch having one on it, defpairing of Life; and DEATH feem'd to be ready at Hand to tri-umph over them; but yet delay'd his Stroke, though fo often call'd upon as their chiefest Good, and last and only Hope. Who, unless his Heart were as hard as Stone, could behold with dry Eyes a Sight fo full of Sorrow and Deformity? ADAM was not able, but wept, though he was not born of WOMAN: Com paffion |