Like a dark ceiling stood ; down rush'd the rain
Impetuous, and continued, till the earth
No more was seen: the floating vessel swum

745
Uplifted, and secure, with beaked prow
Rode tilting o'er the waves; all dwellings else
Flood overwhelm'd, & then, with all their pomp,
Deep under water rolld; sea covered sea,
Sea without shore; and in their palaces,

750 Where luxury late reign'd, sea monsters whelp’d, And stabled : of mankind, so numerous late, All left, in one small bottom swum embark'd. How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold The end of all thy offspring, end so sad,

755 Depopulation ? thee, another food 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 stoodst at last, Though comfortless; as when a father mourns

760 His children, all in view destroy'd at once ; And scarce to the Angel utter'dst thus thy plaint.

“O visions ill foreseen! better had I Lived ignorant of future, so had borne My part of evil only, each day's lot

765 Enough to bear; those now, that were dispensed The burden of many ages, on me light At once, by my foreknowledge gaining birth Abortive, to torment me, ere their being, With thought that they must be. Let no man seek 770 Henceforth, to be foretold, what shall befal Him, or his children ; evil, he may be sure, Which neither his foreknowing can prevent; And he the future evils shall, no less In apprehension than in substance, feel

775 Grievous to bear : but that care now is pass’d, Man is not whom to warn : those few, escaped Famine and anguish will at last consume, Wandering that watery desert. I had hope, When violence was ceased, and war on earth,

780 All would have then gone well, peace would have crown’d, 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. How comes it thus ? unfold, celestial guide ;

785 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

795

800

805

810

And great exploits, but of true virtue void ;
Who,

having spill?d 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, & 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 depraved,
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 derided; but of God observed
The one just man alive, by his command,
Shall build a wondrous ark, as thou beheldst,
To save himself and household, from amidst
A world devote to universal wreck.
No sooner he, with them, of man and beast
Select for life, shall in the ark be lodged,
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 moved,
Out of his place, pushed by the horned food,
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 seamews' clang:
To teach thee, that God attributes to place

816

820

825

830

835

No sanctity, if none be thither brought
By men who there frequent, or therein dwell.
And now what further shall ensue, behold.”
He look' and saw the ark-hull on the flood,

840
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,
Gazed 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 soft foot towards the deep; who now had stopp'd His sluices, as the Heaven his windows shut. The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground,

850 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. Forthwith from out the ark a raven fies;

855 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;

860 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 his head beholds A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow

865
Conspicuous, with three listed colours gay,
Betokening peace from God, & covenant new.
Whereat the heart of Adam, erst so sad,
Greatly rejoiced; and thus his joy broke forth.

“O'thou, who future things canst represent
As present, heavenly 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
Of wicked sons destroyed, than I rejoice

875
For one man found so perfect, and so just,
That God vouchsafes to raise another world
From him, & all his anger to forget.
But say, what mean those colour'd streaks in Heaven,
Distended as the brow of God appeas'd?

880 Or serve they, as a flowery verge, to bind The Auid skirts of that same watery cloud, Lest it again dissolve, and shower the earth ?"

870

THE ARGUMENT,

The Angel Michael continues, from the flood, to relate wliat shallsuc.

ceed; then in the mention of Abrahain, comes by degrees to explain who that Seed of the Woman shall be which was promised Adam and Eve in the call. His incirnation, derth, resurrection, and ascension; the state of the church till his second coining. Adam, greatly satisfied and re-comforted by these relations and promises, descends the hill with Michael : wakens Eve, who all this while had slept, but with gentle dreams composed to quiet. ness of mind and submission. Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradise, the fiery srord waving behind them, and the Che. rubim taking their stations to guard the place.