= ! And their fingers and toes, many with the lofs of thefe | thefe men were both by others counted happy; efcaped. There were also fome that loft their and they also themfelves, through excess of preeyes, and many that presently upon their reco- fent joy, conceived a kind of light hope never to very were taken with fuch an oblivion of all things die of any other ficknefs hereafter. Besides the whatsoever, as they neither knew themfelves nor prefent affliction, the reception of the country their acquaintance. For this was a kind of fick- people and of their fubftance into the city, opnefs which far furmounted all expreffion of words, preffed both them, and much more the people and both exceeded human nature in the cruelty themselves that fo came in: for, having no houses, wherewith it handled each one, and appeared alfo but dwelling at that time of the year in ftifling otherwife to be none of those diseases that are bred booths, the mortality was now without all form; among us, and that cfpecially by this; for all, and dying men lay tumbling one upon another in both birds and beafts, that use to feed on human the streets, and men half dead about every conduit flesh, though many men lay abroad unburied, ei- through defire of water. The temples alfo where ther came not at them, or tafting, perifhed. An they dwelt in tents were all full of the dead that argument whereof, as touching the birds, was the died within them; for, oppreffed with the viomanifeft defect of fuch fowl, which were not then lence of the calatnity, and not knowing what to feen, either about the carcafes, or any where elfe; do, men grew careless, both of holy and profane but by the dogs, because they are familiar with things alike. And the laws which they formerly men, this effect was feen much clearer. So that used touching funerals were all now broken, evethis disease (to pass over many strange particulars ry one burying where he could find room. of the accidents that fome had differently from many for want of things neceffary, after so many others) was in general fuch as I have fhewn; and deaths before, were forced to become impudent in for other ufual fickneffes at that time, no man the funerals of their friends: for when one had was troubled with any. Now they died, fome made a funeral pile, another getting before himx for want of attendance, and fome again with all would throw on his dead, and give it fire: and the care and phyfic that could be used. Nor was when one was in burning, another would come, there any, to fay, certain medicine, that applied and, having caft thereon him whom he carried, must have helped them; for if it did good to one, go his way again. And the great licentiousness, it did harm to another; nor any difference of bo- which alfo in other kinds was used in the city, bedy for ftrength or weakness that was able to refift gan at firft from this disease: for that which a it; but carried all away, what phyfic foever was man before would diffemble, and not acknowledge administered. But the greatest mifery of all was, to be done for voluptuousness, he durft now do the defection of mind, in such as found themselves freely, feeing before his eyes fuch quick revolubeginning to be fick (for they grew presently tion, of the rich dying, and men worth nothing defperate, and gave themselves over without mak-inheriting their cftates; infomuch as they justified ing any refiftance); as also their dying thus like theep, infected by mutual vifitation: for if men forbore to visit them for fear, then they died forlorn, whereby many families became empty, forward in any action of honour, to take any, because want of fuch as should take care of them. If they forbore not, then they died themselves, and principally the honestest men: for out of fhame they would not fpare themselves, but went in unto their friends, especially after it was come to that país, that even their domestics, wearied with the lamentations of them that died, and overcome with the greatness of the calamity, were no longer moved therewith. But thofe that were recovered, had much compaffion both on them that died, and on them that lay fick, as having both known the mifery themselves, and now no more fubject to the like danger; for this disease never took a maan the second time, fo as to be mortal. And a fpeedy fruition of their goods, even for their pleasure, as men that thought they held their lives but by the day. As for pains, no man was for they thought it uncertain whether they should die or not before they atchieved it. But what any man knew to be delightful, and to be profitable to pleasure, that was made both profitable and honourable. Neither the fear of the gods, nor laws of men, awed any man. Not the former, because they concluded it was alike to worship or not worship, from seeing that alike they all perished: nor the latter, because no man expected that his life would last till he received punishment of his crimes by judgment. But they thought there was now over their heads fome far greater judgment decreed against them; before which fell, they thought to enjoy fome little part of their lives. THE PLAGUE OF ATHENS. I. UNHAPPY man! And with fure flownef. do our bodies take; ter die? II. Nor is this all: we do not only breed Within ourselves the fatal feed Of change, and of decrease in every part, Head, belly, ftomach, and root of life, the heart; Not only have our autumn, when we muft Of our own nature turn to duft, When leaves and fruit must fall; But are expos'd to mighty tempests too, Which do at once what they would flowly do, Which throw down fruit and tree of life withal. From ruin we in vain Our bodies by repair maintain, iv. Thofe Afric deferts ftraight were double deferts And blam'd the plague for what they would them-, felves have done. Nor flaid the cruel evil there, Nor could be long confin'd unto one air; The wildernefs which they themselves do make. They a new booty and fresh forage find And as it pafs'd, was heard to figh and groan, Nor could but by a general ruin be appeas'd, From whence before her fruitfulness she took. > Thofe very lands from whence the has her Nile; Egypt now fear'd another Hebrew God, Another angel's hand, a fecond Aaron's rod. V. Then on it goes, and through the facred land But God did place an angel there And turn into another road the putrid air. Not ftaid, as the great conqueror did, And all that facrifice unto the fun: In every limb a dreadful pain they felt, Tortur'd with fecret coals they melt; The Porfians call'd their fun in vain, Their god increas'd the pain. They look'd up to their god no more, But curfe the beams they worshipped before, And hate the very fire which once they did adore. VI. Glutted with the ruin of the caft, She took her wings, and down to Athens pafs'd; Thou in thy ravenous claws took's both away. And now the Afian plague did more Than all the Afian force could do before. Without the wall the Spartan army fate, The Spartan army came too late : For now there was no farther work for fate, They faw the city open lay, They faw the rampires empty ftand, The fleets, the walls, the forts unmann'd. No need of cruelty or flaughters now, The plague had finish'd what they came to do; They might now unrefifted enter there, Did they not the very air More than the Athenians fear. The air itself to them was wall and bulwarks too. VII. Unhappy Athens! it is true thou wert As foul and body us: But yet thou only thence art made Thofe mighty numbers that within thee Do only ferve to make a fatter feaft for death. It loves no wilderness, No fcatter'd villages, But mighty populous palaces, The throng, the tumult, and the town. What frange unheard-of conqueror is this, Which by the forces that refiit it doth increase! When other conquerors are Obliged to make a flower war, Nay fometimes for themselves inay fear,' And must proceed with watchful care, When thicker troops of enemies appear; This ftronger fill, and more fuccessful grows, Down fooner all before it throws, If greater multitudes of men do it oppose. The tyrant first the haven did fubdue; Left they new fuccour thence receive. Without a guide did fet its feet, When first in walls I did thee clefe, Difperfed in fome field or hill, 4 IX. Minerva started when the heard the noife, And dar'd not nearer fly, Nor midst so many deaths to trust her very deity. With pitying look fhe faw at every gate Death and deftruction wait: She wrung her hands, and call'd on Jove, She brought her olive and her shield, Herfelf of an immortal race, Was angry that her Gorgon's head Could not ftrike her as well as others dead. She fat and wept a while, and then away the fled. x. Now death began her fword to whet, Not all the Cyclops sweat, No weapons large enough, but all the age And hop'd the air would it affuage, The air no more was vital now, The lungs, which us'd to fan the heart, The chiefeft fign of life, was turn'd the cause of death. XI. Upon the head first the disease, As a bold conqueror, doth seize, The tongue did flow all o'er With clotted filth and gore; As doth a lion's when fome innocent prey With tyrannous and dreadful pain; Doft take from men the very power to complain. XII. Then down it went into the breast, There all the feats and fhops of life poffefs'd. Such noifome fmells from thence did come, As if the ftomach were a tomb; No food would there abide, The heart did wonder what ufurping fame, On its more natural heat intrude; Straight call'd its fpirits up, but found too well, It was too late now to rebel. The tainted blood its course began, That which before was nature's nobleft art, Was most deftru&tful now, The poifon and the smart, The belly felt at laft its share, And all the fubtile labyrinths there Of winding bowels did new monsters bear. Here feven days it rul'd and sway'd, And often kill'd, because it death fo long delay'd. But if through strength and heat of age The body overcame its rage, The plague departed as the devil doth, When driven by prayers away he goeth. If prayers and heaven do him controul, And if he cannot have the foul, Himself out of the roof or window throws, And will not all his labour lofe, But takes away with him part of the house: So here the vanquish'd evil took from them Who conquer'd it, fome part, fame limb. Some loft the ufe of hands and eyes, Some arms, fome legs, fome thighs; S me all their lives before forgot, Their minds were but one darker blot; Thole various pictures in the head, And all the numerous shapes were fled; And now the ranfack'd memory Languifh'd in naked poverty, Had loft its mighty treasury; They pafs'd the Lethe lake, although they did act XIV. Whatever leffer maladies men had, They all gave place and vanished; And at this mighty conqueror fhrunk their head. Gout, cholic, and confumption, And all the milder generation, By which mankind is by degrees undone, Quickly were rooted out and gone; Men faw themfelves freed from the pain, Rejoic'd, but all, alas, in vain : 'Twas an unhappy remedy, Which cur'd them that they might both work and fooner die. XV. Phyficians now could nought prevail, They the first spoils to the proud victor fill; Nor would the plague their knowledge trait, But fear'd their skill, and therefore few them first: The ftreams did wonder that, fo foon As they were from their native mountains gone, Again they drew, again they drank : And, drunk with water, in their drinking fat: That urn which now to quench their thirst they use, Shortly their afhes fhall enclofe: Others into the chryftal brook With faint and wondering eyes did look, Saw what a ghaftly fhape themselves had took, Away they would have fled, but them their legs forfook. Some fnatch the waters up, Their hands, their mouths the cup: Straight all was to a ferment grown, Did move, and flame, and burn, and straight to afhes broke. XVII. So ftrong the heat, so strong the torments were, All fexes and all ages do invade, The laws of modesty and nature made: That nakednefs once more, Which perfect health and innocence caus'd before. Their wandering and affrighted minds poffefs'd; Unusual shapes and images, Dark pictures and resemblances Of things to come, and of the world below, O'er their distemper'd fancies go: Sometimes they curfe, fometimes they pray unto The gods above, the gods beneath; Sometimes they cruelties and fury breathe, Not fleep, but waking now was fifter unto death. XVIII. Scatter'd in fields the bodies lay, [away. The earth call'd to the fowls to take their flesh In va the call'd, they come not nigh, Nor would their food with their own ruin buy: But at full meals they hunger, pine, and die. Along came mighty droves, And now avoid the dead men more They were destroy'd by their own prey. Did to the woods and mountains hafte : XIX. Mountains of bones and carcafes, 'The infant fuck'd as yet, and fmil'd, Here others, poifon'd by the fcent Themselves now dead the air pollute the more, Their bodies kill all that come near, And even after death they all are murderers here. XX. The friend doth hear the friend's laft cries, Speaks his fon heir with an infectious breath; In the fame hour the fon doth take |