Imatges de pàgina
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And makes a covenant never to destroy
The earth again by flood; nor let the fea
Surpafs His bounds; nor rain to drown the world,
With man therein, or beaft: but, when He brings
Over the earth a cloud, will therein fet
His triple-color'd bow, whercon to look,
And call to mind His covenant: day, and night,
Seed-time, and harveft, heat, and hoary froft,
Shall hold their courfe: 'till fire purge all things

new,

Both heav'n, and earth,wherein the juft shall dwell.

The end of the eleventh Book.

PARADISE LOST:

BOOK XII.

The ARGUMENT.

The Angel Michael continues from the flood to relate what shall fucceed; then, in the mention of Abraham, comes by degrees to explain, Who that feed of the woman shall be, which was promised Adam and Eve in the Fall; His Incarnation, Death, Refurrection, and Afcenfion; the state of the Church 'till His fecond coming. Adam', greatly fatisfied, and recomforted by thefe relations and promifes, defcends the hill with Michael; wakens Eve, who all this while had flept, but with gentle dreams compos'd to quietness of mind, and fubmission

Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradife, the fiery Sword waving behind them, and the Cherubim taking their ftations to guard the place.

A

S one who in his journey bates at noon, Tho' bent on speed: fo,here th' Arch- Angel paus'd, Betwixt the world destroy'd, and world restor’d. If Adam ought perhaps might interpofe : Then, with transition fweet, new fpeech refumes. Thus thou haft feen one world begin, and end ; And man, as from a second stock, proceed. Much thou haft yet to fee; but, I perceive Thy mortal fight to fail: objects divine. Muft needs impair, and weary human fense. Henceforth what is to come I will relate: Thou therefore give due audience, and attend! This fecond fource of men, while yet but few, And while the dread of judgment paft remains Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity, With fome regard to what is just, and right, Shill lead their lives, and multiply apace; Lab'ring the foil, and reaping plenteous crop, Corn, wine, and oil: and from the herd, or flock, Oft facrificing bullock, lamb, or kid,

With large wine-offerings pour'd, and facred feaft, Shall spend their days in joy un blam'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 ftate ;)
Will arrogate dominion undeferv'd,
Over his brethren, and quite dispoffefs
Concord, and law of nature from the earth;
Hunting, (and men, not beafts, shall be his game)
With war, and hoftile fnare, fuch as refufe
Subjection to his empire tyrannous.

A mighty hunter thence he shall be styl’d
Before the Lord; as in defpite of heav'n,
Or from heav'n, claiming fecond fov'reignty
And from rebellion shall derive his name
Though of rebellion others he accufe.
He with a crew, (whom like ambition joins
Wit him, or under him to tyrannize)
Marching from Eden tow'rds the weft, 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 caft to build
A city, and tow'r, whofe top may reach to heav'n;
And get themselves a name : left, far di ́pers'd
In foreign lands, their memory be loft;
Regardless whether good or evil fame!
But, God (Who oft defcends to visit men
Unfeen, and through their habitations walks
To mark their doings) them beholding foon,
Comes down to fee their city, e'er the tow'r
Obftru&t heav'n-tow'rs; and in derision fets
Upon their tongues a various fpirit, so rafe
Quite out their native language: and instead,

To fow a jangling noife of words unknown.
Forthwith a hideous gabble rifes loud,
Among the builders: each to other calls
Not understood; 'till hoarfe, and all in rage,
As mock'd they ftorm: great laughter was in heav'ng
And looking down, to fee the hubbub ftrange,
And hear the din: thus was the building left
Ridiculous; and the work Confufion nam'd.
Whereto thus Adam, fatherly difpleas'd.
O execrable fon fo to afpire

Above his brethren; to himself affuming
Authority ufurp'd, from God not giv'n.
He gave us only over beaft, fish, fowl
Dominion abfolute; that right we hold
By his donation: but, man over men
He made not lord: fuch title to himself
Referving, human left from human free.
But, this ufurper his encroachment proud
Stays not on man: to God his tow'r intends
Siege, and defiance. Wretched man! what food
Will he convey up thither, to fuftain

Himself, and his rash army; where thin air
Above the clouds will pine his entrails grofs:
And famish him of breath, if not of bread?

To whom thus Michael. Juftly thou abhorr'ft
That fon, who on the quiet ftate of men
Such trouble brought, affecting to fubdue
Rational liberty: yet know withal,
Since, by original lapse, true liberty

Is loft, (which alvays with right reafon dwells

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