Frequented their assemblies, whereso met,

  Triumphs or festivals, and to them preached

  Conversion and repentance, as to souls

  725 In prison under judgements imminent:

  But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceased

  Contending, and removed his tents far off;

  Then from the mountain hewing timber tall,

  Began to build a vessel of huge bulk,

  730 Measured by cubit, length, and breadth, and heighth,

  Smeared round with pitch, and in the side a door

  Contrived, and of provisions laid in large

  For man and beast: when lo a wonder strange!

  Of every beast, and bird, and insect small

  735 Came sevens, and pairs, and entered in, as taught

  Their order: last the sire, and his three sons

  With their four wives; and God made fast the door.

  Meanwhile the south wind rose, and with black wings

  Wide hovering, all the clouds together drove

  740 From under heav’n; the hills to their supply

  Vapour, and exhalation dusk and moist,

  Sent up amain; and now the thickened sky

  Like a dark ceiling stood; down rushed the rain

  Impetuous, and continued till the earth

  745 No more was seen; the floating vessel swum

  Uplifted; and secure with beakèd prow

  Rode tilting o’er the waves, all dwellings else

  Flood overwhelmed, and them with all their pomp

  Deep under water rolled; sea covered sea,

  750 Sea without shore; and in their palaces

  Where luxury late reigned, sea-monsters whelped

  And stabled; of mankind, so numerous late,

  All left, in one small bottom swum embarked.

  How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold

  755 The end of all thy offspring, end so sad,

  Depopulation; thee another flood,

  Of tears and sorrow a flood thee also drowned,

  And sunk thee as thy sons; till gently reared

  By th’ angel, on thy feet thou stood’st at last,

  760 Though comfortless, as when a father mourns

  His children, all in view destroyed at once;

  And scarce to th’ angel utter’dst thus thy plaint.

  O visions ill foreseen! better had I

  Lived ignorant of future, so had borne

  765 My part of evil only, each day’s lot

  Enough to bear; those now, that were dispensed

  The burd’n of many ages, on me light

  At once, by my foreknowledge gaining birth

  Abortive, to torment me ere their being,

  770 With thought that they must be. Let no man seek

  Henceforth to be foretold what shall befall

  Him or his children, evil he may be sure,

  Which neither his foreknowing can prevent,

  And he the future evil shall no less

  775 In apprehension than in substance feel

  Grievous to bear: but that care now is past,

  Man is not whom to warn: those few escaped

  Famine and anguish will at last consume

  Wand’ring that wat’ry desert: I had hope

  780 When violence was ceased, and war on earth,

  All would have then gone well, peace would have crowned

  With length of happy days the race of man;

  But I was far deceived; for now I see

  Peace to corrupt no less than war to waste.

  785 How comes it thus? unfold, celestial guide,

  And whether here the race of man will end.

  To whom thus Michael. Those whom last thou saw’st

  In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they

  First seen in acts of prowess eminent

  790 And great explóits, but of true virtue void;

  Who having spilt much blood, and done much waste

  Subduing nations, and achieved thereby

  Fame in the world, high titles, and rich prey,

  Shall change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth,

  795 Surfeit, and lust, till wantonness and pride

  Raise out of friendship hostile deeds in peace.

  The conquered also, and enslaved by war

  Shall with their freedom lost all virtue lose

  And fear of God, from whom their piety feigned

  800 In sharp contést of battle found no aid

  Against invaders; therefore cooled in zeal

  Thenceforth shall practise how to live secure,

  Worldly or dissolute, on what their lords

  Shall leave them to enjoy; for th’ earth shall bear

  805 More than enough, that temperance may be tried:

  So all shall turn degenerate, all depraved,

  Justice and temperance, truth and faith forgot;

  One man except, the only son of light

  In a dark age, against example good,

  810 Against allurement, custom, and a world

  Offended; fearless of reproach and scorn,

  Or violence, he of their wicked ways

  Shall them admonish, and before them set

  The paths of righteousness, how much more safe,

  815 And full of peace, denouncing wrath to come

  On their impenitence; and shall return

  Of them derided, but of God observed

  The one just man alive; by his command

  Shall build a wondrous ark, as thou beheld’st,

  820 To save himself and household from amidst

  A world devote to universal wrack.

  No sooner he with them of man and beast

  Select for life shall in the ark be lodged,

  And sheltered round, but all the cataracts

  825 Of heav’n set open on the earth shall pour

  Rain day and night, all fountains of the deep

  Broke up, shall heave the ocean to usurp

  Beyond all bounds, till inundation rise

  Above the highest hills: then shall this mount

  830 Of Paradise by might of waves be moved

  Out of his place, pushed by the hornèd flood,

  With all his verdure spoiled, and trees adrift

  Down the great river to the op’ning gulf,

  And there take root an island salt and bare,

  835 The haunt of seals and ores, and sea-mews’ clang.

  To teach thee that God áttribútes to place

  No sanctity, if none be thither brought

  By men who there frequent, or therein dwell.

  And now what further shall ensue, behold.

  840 He looked, and saw the ark hull on the flood,

  Which now abated, for the clouds were fled,

  Driv’n by a keen north wind, that blowing dry

  Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decayed;

  And the clear sun on his wide wat’ry glass

  845 Gazed hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew,

  As after thirst, which made their flowing shrink

  From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole

  With soft foot towards the deep, who now had stopped

  His sluices, as the heav’n his windows shut.

  850 The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground

  Fast on the top of some high mountain fixed.

  And now the tops of hills as rocks appear;

  With clamour thence the rapid currents drive

  Towards the retreating sea their furious tide.

  855 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

  860 An olive leaf he brings, pacific sign:

  Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark

  The ancient sire descends with all his train;

  The
n with uplifted hands, and eyes devout,

  Grateful to Heav’n, over his head beholds

  865 A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow

  Conspicuous with three listed colours gay,

  Betok’ning peace from God, and cov’nant new.

  Whereat the heart of Adam erst so sad

  Greatly rejoiced, and thus his joy broke forth.

  870 O thou who future things canst represent

  As present, Heav’nly instructor, I revive

  At this last sight, assured that man shall live

  With all the creatures, and their seed preserve.

  Far less I now lament for one whole world

  875 Of wicked sons destroyed, 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 coloured streaks in heav’n,

  880 Distended as the brow of God appeased,

  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 th’ Archangel. Dextrously thou aim’st;

  885 So willingly doth God remit his ire,

  Though late repenting him of man depraved,

  Grieved at his heart, when looking down he saw

  The whole earth filled with violence, and all flesh

  Corrupting each their way; yet those removed,

  890 Such grace shall one just man find in his sight,

  That he relents, not to blot out 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

  895 With man therein or beast; but when he brings

  Over the earth a cloud, will therein set

  His triple–coloured bow, whereon to look

  And call to mind his cov’nant: day and night,

  Seed time and harvest, heat and hoary frost

  900 Shall hold their course, till fire purge all things new,

  Both heav’n and earth, wherein the just shall dwell.

  BOOK XII

  The Argument

  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,

  5 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.

  10 Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradise, the fiery

  sword waving behind them, and the Cherubim taking their

  stations to guard the place.

  As one who in his journey baits at noon,

  Though bent on speed, so here the Archangel paused

  Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored,

  If Adam aught perhaps might interpose;

  5 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

  10 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 judgement past remains

  15 Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity,

  With some regard to what is just and right

  Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace,

  Labouring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop,

  Corn wine and oil; and from the herd or flock,

  20 Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid,

  With large wine-offerings poured, and sacred feast,

  Shall spend their days in joy unblamed, and dwell

  Long time in peace by families and tribes

  Under paternal rule; till one shall rise

  25 Of proud ambitious heart, who not content

  With fair equality, fraternal state,

  Will arrogate dominion undeserved

  Over his brethren, and quite dispossess

  Concord and law of Nature from the earth,

  30 Hunting (and men not beasts shall be his game)

  With war and hostile snare such as refuse

  Subjection to his empire tyrannous:

  A mighty hunter thence he shall be styled

  Before the Lord, as in despite of Heav’n,

  35 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,

  40 Marching from Eden towards the west, shall find

  The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge

  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 Heav’n;

  45 And get themselves a name, lest far dispersed

  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

  50 To mark their doings, them 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 raze

  Quite out their native language, and instead

  55 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 mocked they storm; great laughter was in Heav’n

  60 And looking down, to see the hubbub strange

  And hear the din; thus was the building left

  Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named.

  Whereto thus Adam fatherly displeased.

  O execrable son so to aspire

  65 Above his brethren, to himself assuming

  Authority usurped, from God not giv’n:

  He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl

  Dominion absolute; that right we hold

  By his donation; but man over men

  70 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 tower intends

  Siege and defiance: wretched man! what food

  75 Will he convey up thither to sustain

  Himself and his rash army, where thin air

  Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross,

  And famish him of breath, if not of bread?

  To whom thus Michael. Justly thou abhorr’st

  80 That son, who on the quiet state of men

  Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue

  Rational liberty; yet know withal,

  Since thy original lapse, true liberty

  Is lost, which always with right reason dwells

  85 Twinned, and from her hath no dividual being:

  Reason in man obscured, or not obeyed,

  Immediately inordinate desires

  And upstart passions catch the government

  From reason, and to servitude reduce

&n
bsp; 90 Man till then free. Therefore since he permits

  Within himself unworthy powers to reign

  Over free reason, God in judgement just

  Subjects him from without to violent lords;

  Who oft as undeservedly enthrall

  95 His outward freedom: tyranny must be,

  Though to the tyrant thereby no excuse,

  Yet sometimes nations will decline so low

  From virtue, which is reason, that no wrong,

  But justice, and some fatal curse annexed

  100 Deprives them of their outward liberty,

  Their inward lost: witness th’ irreverent son

  Of him who built the ark, who for the shame

  Done to his father, heard this heavy curse,

  Servant of servants, on his vicious race.

  105 Thus will this latter, as the former world,

  Still tend from bad to worse, till God at last

  Wearied with their iniquities, withdraw

  His presence from among them, and avert

  His holy eyes; resolving from thenceforth

  110 To leave them to their own polluted ways;

  And one peculiar nation to select

  From all the rest, of whom to be invoked,

  A nation from one faithful man to spring:

  Him on this side Euphrates yet residing,

  115 Bred up in idol-worship; O that men

  (Canst thou believe?) should be so stupid grown,

  While yet the patriarch lived, who ‘scaped the Flood,

  As to forsake the living God, and fall

  To worship their own work in wood and stone

  120 For gods! Yet him God the Most High vouchsafes

  To call by vision from his father’s house,

  His kindred and false gods, into a land

  Which he will show him, and from him will raise

  A mighty nation, and upon him show’r

  125 His benediction so, that in his seed

  All nations shall be blest; he straight obeys,

  Not knowing to what land, yet firm believes:

  I see him, but thou canst not, with what faith

  He leaves his gods, his friends, and native soil

  130 Ur of Chaldea, passing now the ford

  To Haran, after him a cumbrous train

  Of herds and flocks, and numerous servitude;

  Not wand’ring poor, but trusting all his wealth

  With God, who called him, in a land unknown.

  135 Canaan he now attains, I see his tents

  Pitched about Sechem, and the neighbouring plain

  Of Moreh; there by promise he receives

  Gift to his progeny of all that land;

  From Hamath northward to the desert south

  140 (Things by their names I call, though yet unnamed)

  From Hermon east to the great western sea,

  Mount Hermon, yonder sea, each place behold