Sea without fhore; and in their palaces
Where luxury late reign'd, sea-monsters whelp'd
And ftabled; of mankind, so numerous late,
All left, in one fmall bottom fwum imbark'd.
How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold
The end of all thy ofspring, end fo sad,
Depopulation? thee another flood,
Of tears and forrow a flood thee also drown'd,
And funk thee as thy fons; till gently rear'd
By th'Angel, on thy feet thou flood'ft at last,
Though comfortless, as when a father mourns 76
His children, all in view destroy'd at once;
And scarce to th'Angel utter'dft thus thy plaint.
O vifions ill foreseen! better had I
Liv'd ignorant of future, so had borne
My part of evil only, each day's lot
Enough to bear; those now, that were dispens'd
The burd'n of many ages, on me light
At once, by my foreknowledge gaining birth
Abortive, to torment me ere their being,
With thought that they muft be. Let no man seek77
Henceforth to be foretold what shall befall.
Him or his children; evil he may be fure,
Which neither his foreknowing can prevent,
And he the future evil fhall no lefs
In apprehension than in substance feel
Grievous to bear: but that care now is past,
Man is not whom to warn: those few escap'd
Famin and anguish will at last confume,
Wand'ring that watry defert: I had hope,
When violence was ceas'd, and war on earth, 780
All would have then gone well, peace would have
With length of happy days the race of man; (crown'd
But I was far deceiv'd; for now I fee
Peace to corrupt no less than war to waste.
How comes it thus? unfold, celeftial Guide,
And whether here the race of man will end.
To whom thus Michael. Those whom laft thou faw'ft
In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they
First seen in acts of prowefs eminent,
And great exploits, but of true virtue void;
Who having spilt much blood, and done much waste, Subduing nations, and achiev'd thereby
Fame in the world, high titles, and rich prey,
Shall change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth,
Surfeit, and luft, till wantonnefs and pride
Raife out of friendship hoftile deeds in peace.
The conquer'd also, and inflav'd by war
Shall with their freedom loft,all virtue lofe
And fear of God, from whom their piety feign'd
In sharp contest of battel found no aid
Against invaders; therefore cool'd in zeal,
Thenceforth fhall practice how to live secure,
Worldly or diffolute, on what their lords
Shall leave them to enjoy; for th' earth shall bear More than enough, that temp'rance may be try'd: 805
So all shall turn degenerate, all deprav'd,
Justice and temp'rance, truth and faith forgot;
One man except, the only fon of light
In a dark age, against example good,
Against allurement, custom, and a world
Offended; fearless of reproach and scorn,
Or violence, he of their wicked ways
Shall them admonifh, and before them fet
The paths of righteousness, how much more safe, And full of peace, denouncing wrath to come
On their impenitence; and fhall return
Of them derided, but of God obferv'd,
The one just man alive; by his command
Shall build a wondrous ark, as thou beheldst,
To fave himself and houfhold, from amidst
A world devote to univerfal wrack.
No fooner he, with them of man and beast
Select for life shall in the ark be lodg'd,
And shelter'd round, but all the cataracts
Of Heav'n fet open on the earth shall pour
Rain day and night; all fountains of the deep
Broke up, shall heave the ocean to ufurp
Beyond all bounds, till inundation rife
Above the highest hills: then shall this mount
Of Paradife, by might of waves,be mov'd
Out of his place, push'd by the horned flood,
With all his verdure spoil'd, and trees adrift,
Down the great river to the opening gulf,
And there take root,an iland falt and bare,
The haunt of feals, and orcs, and fea-mews clang:
To teach thee, that God attributes to place
No fanctity, if none be thither brought
By men, who there frequent, or therein dwell.
And now what further fhall enfue, behold.
He look'd, and faw the ark hull on the flood, 840 Which now abated; for the clouds were fled, Driv'n by a keen north-wind, that, blowing dry, Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decay'd; And the clear fun on his wide watry glass Gaz'd hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew, 845 As after thirst, which made their flowing shrink From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole With foft foot towards the deep, who now had fstopt His fluces, as the Heav'n his windows fhut. The ark no more now flotes, but seems on ground 850 Faft on the top of fome high mountain fix'd. And now the tops of hills as rocks appear; With clamor thence the rapid currents drive Towards the retreating sea their furious tide. Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies, And after him, the furer messenger,
A dove fent 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 fign:
Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark
The ancient fire descends with all his train;
Then, with uplifted hands, and eyes devout,
Grateful to Heav'n, over his head beholds
A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow
Confpicuous, with three lifted colors gay,
Betokening peace from God, and covenant new.
Whereat the heart of Adam,erst so sad,
Greatly rejoic'd, and thus his joy broke forth.
O thou who future things canft represent
As present, heav'nly Instructor, I revive
At this laft fight, affur'd that man shall live,
With all the creatures, and their feed preserve.
Far lefs I now lament for one whole world
Of wicked fons destroy'd, than I rejoice
For one man found fo perfect and so just,
That God vouchfafes to raise another world
From him, and all his anger to forget.
But say, what mean those color'd streaks in Heaven,
Distended,as the brow of God appeas'd,
Or ferve they as a flow'ry verge to bind
The fluid fkirts of that fame watry cloud,
To whom th' Arch-Angel. Dextrously thou aim'st;
Left it again diffolve and show'r the earth?
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,
|