Their order: last the sire, and his three sons With their four wives: and God made fast the door. Sent up amain. And now the thicken'd sky 745 No more was seen the floating vessel swum Rode tilting o'er the waves: all dwellings else Where luxury late reign'd, sea-monsters whelp'd Of tears and sorrow a flood-thee also drown'd, 765 770 And scarce to th' angel utter'd'st thus thy plaint: "Liv'd ignorant of future! so had borne 66 66 My part of evil only-each day's lot Enough to bear: those now, that were dispens'd "At once, by my foreknowledge gaining birth "With thought that they must be. Let no man seek "Him or his children-evil he may be sure, "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 escap'd "Famine and anguish will at last consume, "Wandering that watery desert. I had hope, 780 "When violence was ceas'd and war on earth, "All would have then gone well-peace would have crown'd "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 790 "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, 795"Surfeit, and lust; till wantonness and pride "Raise out of friendship hostile deeds in peace. "The conquer'd also, and enslav'd by war, 800 "In sharp contést of battle found no aid 805 "Against invaders; therefore, cool'd in zeal, "Shall leave them to enjoy; for the earth shall bear "(Justice and temp'rance, truth and faith, forgot,) "In a dark age-against example good 66 810 'Against allurement, custom, and a world 815 820 825 "Offended: fearless of reproach and scorn, "Shall them admonish; and before them set "Of them derided, but of God observ'd "No sooner he, with them of man and beast 66 Beyond all bounds; till inundation rise "Above the highest hills: then shall this mount 830"Of Paradise, by might of waves, be mov'd "Out of his place, push'd by the horned flood, "And there take root-an island salt and bare, 835"The haunt of seals, and orcs, and sea-mews' clang; "To teach thee that God attributes to place "No sanctity, if none be thither brought 66 By men who there frequent, or therein dwell. "And now what further shall ensue, behold." 840 He look'd, 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 decay'd; And the clear sun on his wide wat'ry glass 845 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 stopp'd His sluices, as the heaven his windows shut. Fast on the top of some high mountain fix'd. A dove, sent forth once, and again, to spy 860 An olive-leaf he brings-pacific sign! 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 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 rejoic'd; and thus his joy broke forth: "O thou, who future things canst represent "As present, heavenly instructor! I revive "At this last sight, assur'd that man shall live, "With all the creatures, and their seed preserve. "Far less I now lament for one whole world "Of wicked sons destroy'd, 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. 870 875 880 "But say, what mean those colour'd streaks in heaven, "Or serve they, as a flowery verge, to bind 885 "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, 890"Such grace shall one just man find in his sight, "That he relents, not to blot out mankind; "And makes a cov'nant, 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, 900 "Shall hold their course; till fire purge all things new, "Both heaven and earth, wherein the just shall dwell." |