Fast on the top of some high mountain fix'd. 851 And now the tops of hills as rocks appear; With clamour thence the rapid currents drive. Tow'ards the retreating sea their furious tide. Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies, And after him, the surer messenger, A dove sent forth once and again to spy Green tree or ground whereon his foot may light; The second time returning, in his bill An olive leaf he brings, pacific sign: Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark The ancient sire descends with all his train: Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout, Grateful to Heaven, over head beholds A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow Conspicuous with three listed colours gay Be okening peace from God, and cov'nant new. Whereat the heart of Adam erst so sad Greatly rejoic'd, and thus his joy broke forth. O thou who future things canst represent As present, heav'nly Instructor, I revive At this last sight, assur'd that man shall live With all the creatures, and their seed preserve. Far less I now lament for one whole world Of wicked sons destroy'd, than I rejoice For one man found so perfect, and so just, That God vouchsafes to raise another world From him, and all his anger to forget.
But say, what mean those colour'd streaks in Heav'n Distended as the brow of God appeas'd
Or serve they as a flow'ry verge to bind The fluid skirts of that same wat'ry cloud, Lest it again dissolve and show'r the earth? To whom the Arch-Angel. Dext'rously thou aim'st;
So willingly doth God remit his ire,
Though late repenting him of man deprav'd, Griev'd at his heart, when looking down he saw The whole earth fill'd with violence, and all flesh Corrupting each their way; yet those remov'd, Such grace shall one just man find in his sight, 890 That he relents, not to blot cut mankind, And makes a covenant never to destroy The earth again by flood, nor let the sea Surpass his bounds, nor rain to drown the world With man therein or beast; but when he brings Over the earth a cloud, will therein set His triple colour'd bow, whereon to look, And call to mind his cov'nant: day and night, Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost Shall hold their course, till fire purge all things new, Both Heav'n and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell,
THE END OF THE ELEVENTH BOOK.
The Angel Michael continues from the flood to relate what shall succeed; then, in the mention of Abraham, comes by degrees to explain, who that Seed of the Woman shall be, which was promised Adam and Eve in the fall; his incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension; the state of the church till his second coming. Adam greatly satisfied and recomforted by these relations and promises descends the hill with Michael; wakens Eve, who all this while had slept, but with gentle dreams composed to quietness of mind and submission. Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradise, the fiery sword waving behind them, and the Chorubim taking their station to guard the place.
As one who in his journey bates at noon,
Though bent on speed; so here the Arch-Angel paus'd
Betwixt the world destroy'd and world restor'd, If Adam ought perhaps might interpose; Then with transition sweet new speech resumes. Thus thou hast seen one world begin and end; And man as from a second stock proceed. Much thou hast yet to see, but I perceive Thy mortal sight to fail; objects divine · Must needs impair and weary human sense: Henceforth what is to come I will relate, Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. This second source of men, while yet but few,. And while the dread of judgment past remains
Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity, With some regard to what is just and right Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace, Lab'ring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop, Corn, wine and oil; and from the herd or flock, Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid, With large wine-offerings pour'd, and sacred feast, Shall spend their days in joy unblam'd, and dwell 'Long time in peace by families and tribes Under paternal rule: till one shall rise Of proud ambitious heart, who not content With fair equality, fraternal state, Will arrogate dominion undeserv’d Over his brethren, and quite dispossess Concord and law of nature from the earth,
Hunting (and men not beasts shall be his game) 30 With war and hostile snare such as refuse Subjection to his empire tyrannous :
A mighty hunter thence he shall be styl'd Before the Lord, as in despite of Heaven, Or from Heav'n claiming second sov'reignty; And from rebellion shall derive his name, Though of rebellion others he accuse. He with a crew, whom like ambition joins With him or under him to tyrannize, Marching from Eden tow'ards the west, shall find, The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge 41 Boils out from under ground, the mouth of Hell: Of brick, and of that stuff they cast to build A city' and tow'r, whose top may reach to Heaven;
And get themselves a name, lest far dispers'd In foreign lands their memory be lost, Regardless whether good or evil fame.
But God who oft descends to visit men Unseen, and through their habitations walks To mark their doings, thein beholding soon, Comes down to see their city, ere the tower Obstruct Heav'n-tow'rs, and in derision sets Upon their tongues a various spirit to rase Quite out their native language, and instead To sow a jangling noise of words unknown: Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud Among the builders; each to other calls
Not understood, till hoarse, and all in rage,
As mock'd they storm; great laughter was in
And looking down, to sce the hubbub ştrange And hear the din; thus was the building left Ridiculous, and the work Confusion nam'd.
Whereto thus Adam fatherly displeas'd. O execrable son so to aspire
Above his brethren, to himself assuming Authority usurp'd, from God not given: He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl, Dominion absolute; that right we hold By his donation; but man over men He made not lord: such title to himself Reserving, human left from human free. But this usurper his encroachment proud Stays not on man; to God his tow'r intends
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