In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong, And judgment from above. Him old and young 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: 0 what are these? 675 Death's ministers, not men, who thus deal death Inhumanly to men, and multiply Ten thousand fold the sin of him who slew His brother! for of whom such massacre 680 Make they but of their brethren, men of men! 681 To whom thus Michael: These are the product Such were these giants, men of high renown; To overcome in battle and subdue 000 695 Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite 701 668. Gen. vi. 4. It is supposed by some interpreters that the giants were so called from their tyranny and power rather thar their extraordinary bulk. The common idea, however, seems the more correct, as it is supported by an immense mass of tradi tionary evidence. 700. Jude 14. 705 And utter odious truth, that God would come 710 To luxury and riot, feast and dance, Marrying or prostituting, as befel, Rape or adultery, where passing fair 715 Allured them; thence from cups to civil broils. In prison under judgments imminent: But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceased Then from the mountain, hewing timber tall, 720 725 Measured by cubit, length, and breadth, and highth, For man and beast; when lo, a wonder strange! 723. 2 Pet. ii. 5. Josephus is Milton's authority for what is said respecting Noah's conduct when he found his preaching vain; or it might be taken, possibly, from our Saviour's directions to the disciples to flee from the cities which refused to hear them. 735. Gen. vii. 2, &c. da 738. Ovid, Met. i. The comparison which has been instituted between the descriptions which the two poets have given of the deluge is highly interesting, and the classical reader will sufficient pleasure in making it for himself to reward the little labour it requires. Wide hov'ring, all the clouds together drove 740 No more was seen. The floating vessel swum 745 750 Rode tilting o'er the waves: all dwellings else Of tears and sorrow' a flood, thee also drown'd, Lived ignorant of future, so had borne 755 760 765 Enough to bear! those now, that were dispensed At once, by my foreknowledge gaining birth Abortive, to torment me ere their being, With thought that they must be! Let no man seek Henceforth to be foretold what shall befal 771 Him or his children: evil he may be sure, Which neither his foreknowing can prevent, 775 war on earth, 780 All would have then gone well peace would have crown'd With length of happy days the race of man; 785 T whom thus Michael: Those whom last thou In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they [saw'st First seen in acts of prowess eminent And great exploits, but of true virtue void; 790 Who, having spilt 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, and sloth, 795 The conquer'd also, and enslaved by war, 800 Shall leave them to enjoy for th' earth shall bear More than enough, that temperance may be try'd: So all shall turn degenerate, all depraved, 806 Justice and temperance, truth and faith forgot; 810 The paths of righteousness, how much more safe, And full of peace, denouncing wrath to come 815 On their impenitence; and shall return 820 825 830 And shelter'd round, but all the cataracts By men who there frequent, or therein dwell. 836 He look'd, 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 stopt His sluices, as the Heav'n his windows shut. 849 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. Forth with from out the ark a raven flies, 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 sound time returning, in his bill 824. Gen. vii. 11. 855 829. Paradise, it is supposed, was destroyed by the deluge. 831. Horned, that is, curved as rivers sometimes are when opposed in their current.-Euphrates, which flowed through Eden, is called in Scripture the great river; it emptied itself into the Persian Gulf. 835. Orcs, a kind of sea monster. 80. Hull, floating like a hulk, without sails or rudder. 842. North-wind, the Scripture does not mention any particular 948. Gen. viii. 2, &c. wind. |