The The paths of righteousness, how much more safe one man And full of peace, denouncing wrath to come righteous 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 beheld'st, To save himself and household from amidst 820 A world devote to universal wrack.
No sooner he, with them of man and beast Select for life, shall in the ark be lodged And sheltered 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 830 Out of his place, pushed by the horned flood, With all his verdure spoiled, 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-mews' 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 looked, 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 decayed; And the clear sun on his wide watery glass Gazed hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew,
As after thirst; which made their flowing shrink The From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole flood With soft foot towards the deep, who now had
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 fixed. 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 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 second time returning, in his bill 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 Heaven, over his head beholds A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow Conspicuous with three listed colours gay, Betokening peace from God, and 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 870 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 For one man found so perfect, and so just, That God voutsafes to raise another world
Nimrod, Thou, therefore, give due audience, and attend. the 'This second source of men, while yet but mighty
And while the dread of judgement past remains Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity, With some regard to what is just and right Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace, Labouring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop, Corn, wine, and oil; and, from the herd or flock Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid, With large wine-offerings poured, and sacred
Shall spend their days in joy unblamed, 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 state,
Will arrogate dominion undeserved
Over his brethren, and quite dispossess
Concord and law of Nature from the Earth- Hunting (and men, not beasts, shall be his
With war and hostile snare such as refuse Subjection to his empire tyrannous. A mighty hunter thence he shall be styled Before the Lord, as in despite of Heaven, Or from Heaven claiming second sovranty, And from rebellion shall derive his name, Though of rebellion others he accuse. He, with a crew, whom like ambition joins With him or under him to tyrannize, Marching from Eden towards the west, shall
The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge
Boils out from under ground, the mouth of Hell. Tower Of brick, and of that stuff, they cast to build
A city and tower, whose top may reach to Heaven;
And get themselves a name, lest, far dispersed In foreign lands, their memory be lost- Regardless whether good or evil fame. But God, who oft descends to visit men Unseen, and through their habitations walks, To mark their doings, them beholding soon, 50 Comes down to see their city, ere the tower Obstruct Heaven-towers, and in derision sets Upon their tongues a various spirit, to rase Quite out their native language, and, instead, To sow a jangling noise of words unknown. Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud Among the builders; each to other calls, Not understood-till, hoarse and all in rage, As mocked they storm. Great laughter was in Heaven,
And looking down to see the hubbub strange 60 And hear the din. Thus was the building left Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named.' Whereto thus Adam, fatherly displeased :- • O execrable son, so to aspire
Above his brethren, to himself assuming Authority usurped, from God not given! He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl, Dominion absolute; that right we hold By his donation: but man over men He made not lord-such title to himself Reserving, human left from human free. But this usurper his encroachment proud
True Stays not on Man; to God his tower intends liberty Siege and defiance. Wretched man! what food dwells Will he convey up thither, to sustain with right Himself and his rash army, where thin air Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross, And famish him of breath, if not of breaû?' To whom thus Michael:- Justly thou abhorr❜st
That son, who on the quiet state of men Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue Rational liberty; yet know withal, Since thy original lapse, true liberty
Is lost, which always with right reason dwells Twinned, and from her hath no dividual being. Reason in Man obscured, or not obeyed,
Immediately inordinate desires
And upstart passions catch the government From Reason, and to servitude reduce
Man, till then free. Therefore, since he per<
mits Within himself unworthy powers to reign Over free reason, God, in judgement just, Subjects him from without to violent lords, Who oft as undeservedly enthral His outward freedom. Tyranny must be, Though to the tyrant thereby no excuse. Yet sometimes nations will decline so low From virtue, which is reason, that no wrong, But justice and some fatal curse annexed, Deprives them of their outward liberty, Their inward lost: witness the irreverent son Of him who built the ark, who, for the shame Done to his father, heard this heavy curse, Servant of servants, on his vicious race.
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