Unseen amid the throng: so violence
Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law,
Through all the plain, and refuge none was found. Adam was all in tears, and to his guide
Lamenting turn'd full sad: "O! what are these, Death's ministers, not men? who thus deal death Inhumanly to men, and multiply
Ten thousandfold the sin of him who slew His brother: for of whom such massacre
Make they, but of their brethren; men of men? But who was that just man, whom, had not Heaven
Rescued, had in his righteousness been lost?"
To whom thus Michael: " These are the pro Of those ill-mated marriages thou saw'st; [duct Where good with bad were match'd, who of themselves
Abhor to join; and, by imprudence mix'd, Produce prodigious births of body or mind. Such were these giants, men of high renown; For in those days might only shall be admir'd, And valour and heroic virtue call'd;
To overcome in battle, and subdue
Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch Of human glory; and for glory done
Of triumph, to be styl'd great conquerors, Patrons of mankind, gods, and sons of gods; Destroyers rightlier call'd, and plagues of men. Thus fame shall be achiev'd, renown on earth; And what most merits fame, in silence hid. But he, the seventh from thee, whom thou be The only righteous in a world perverse, And therefore hated, therefore so beset With foes, for dating single to be just, And utter odious truth, that God would come To judge them with his saints: him the Mos
Rapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds
Did, as thou saw'st, receive, to walk with God High in salvation and the climes of bliss, Exempt from death; to show thee what reward Awaits the good; the rest what punishment; Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold." He look'd, and saw the face of things quite chang'd;
The brazen throat of war had ceas'd to roar ; All now was turn'd to jollity and game. To luxury and riot, feast and dance; Marrying or prostituting, as befell, Rape or adultery, where passing fair Allur'd them; thence from cups to civil broils. At length a reverend sire among them came, And of their doings great dislike declar'd, And testified against their ways; he oft Frequented their assemblies, whereso met,. Triumphs or festivals; and to them preach'd Conversion and repentance, as to souls In prison, under judgments imminent ; But all in vain which when he saw, he ceas'd Contending, and remov'd his tents far off; Then, from the mountain hewing timber tall, Began to build a vessel of huge bulk: [highth Measur'd by cubit, length, and breadth, and Smear'd round with pitch; and in the side a door Contriv'd; and of provisions laid in large For man and beast when lo, a wonder strange! Of every beast. and bird, and insect small, Came sevens and pairs; and enter'd in as taught Their order: last the sire and his three sons, With their four wives; and God made fast the door. [wings Meanwhile the south-wind rose, and with back Wide-hovering, ah the clouds together urove From under heaven: the hills to their supply Vapour, and exhalation cusk and moist, Sent up amain. And now the thicken'd sky Like a dark ceiling stood; down rush'd the ram
Impetuous; and continued, till the earth No more was seen the floating vessel swum Uplifted, and secure with beaked prow
Rode tilting o'er the waves; all dwellings else Flood overwhelm'd, and them with all their pomp Deep under water roli'd; sea cover'd sea, Sea without shore; and in their palaces, Where luxury late reign'd, sea-monsters whelp'd And stabled; of mankind, so numerous late, All left, in one small bottom swum imbark'd. How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold The end of all thy offspring, end so sa:1, Depopulation! Thee another flood,
Of tears and sorrow a flood, thee also drown'd, And sunk thee as thy sons; till, gently rear'd By the angel, on thy feet thou stood'st at last, Though comfortless; as when a father mourns His children, all in view destroy'd at once; And scarce to the angel uttered'st thus thy plaint: "O visions 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' The burden of many ages, on me light
At once, by my foreknowledge gaining birth Abortive, to torment me ere their being, [seek With thought that they must be. Let no man 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 In apprehension than in substance feel, Grievous to bear: but that care now is past, Man is not whom to wain: those few escap'd Famine and anguish will at last consume, Wandering that watery desert; I had hope, When violence was ceas'd, and war on earth, All would have then gone well; peace would have
With length of happy days the race of man; But I was far deceiv'd; for now I see
Peace to corrupt no less than war to waste. How comes it thus ? unfold, celestial guide, And whether here the race of man. will end." To whom thus Michael: "Those, whom las thou saw'st
In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they First seen in acts of prowess eminent
And great exploits, but of true virtue void: Who, having spilt much blood, and done mu Subduing nations, and achiev'd thereby [waste, Fame in the world, high titles, and rich prey : Shall change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth,
Surfeit and lust; till wantonness and pride Raise out of friendship hostile deeds in peace. The conquer'd also, and enslav'd by war, Shall, with their freedom lost, all virtue lose And fear of God; from whom their piety feign'd In sharp contest of battle found no aid Against invaders; therefore, cool'd in zeal, Thenceforth shall practise how to live secure, Worldly or dissolute, on what their lords
Shall leave them to enjoy; for the earth shall bear
More than enough, that temperance may be tried: So all shall turn degenerate, all deprav'd; Justice and temperance, truth and faith, forgot; One man except, the only son 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 admonish; and before them set The paths of righteousness, how much more safe And full of peace; denouncing wrath to come On their impenitence; and shall return
Of them ided, but of Ged observ'a
The one just man alive; by his command Shall build a wondrous ark, as thou beheld s', 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 lodg'd, And shelter'd round; but all the cataracts Of heaven 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 Of Paradise 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 island salt and bare, The haunt of seals, and orcs, and sea-news clang ;
To teach thee that God attributes to place No sanctity, if none be thither brought By men who there frequent, or therein dwell. And now what further shall ensue, behold."
He look'd, and saw the ark hull on the flood, Which now abated; for the clouds were fled, Driven by a keen north-wind, that, blowing dry Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decay'd; And the clear sun on his wide watery glass Gaz'd 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 stopt
His sluices, as the heaven his windows shut. The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground, Fast on the top of some high mountain fix'd. And now the tops of hills, as rocks, appear; With clamour thence the rapid currents drive, Towards the retreating sea, their furious tide.
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