The fluid skirts of that same wat'ry cloud, Lest it again dissolve and show'r the earth?
To whom th' archangel. Dextrously thou aim'st; 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, Such grace shall one just man find in his sight, That he relents, not to blot out mankind, And makes a covenant never to destroy The earth again by flood, nor let the sea Surpass his bounds, nor rain to drown the world With man therein or beast; but when he brings Over the earth a cloud, will therein set His triple-colour'd bow, whereon to look, And call to mind his cov'nant: day and night, Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost, Shall hold their course, till fire purge all things new. Both heaven and earth, wherein the just shall dwell.
886 late] Fenton placed a comma after 'late,' but Bentley removed it, and gave the line agreeably to Milton's own editions.
THE angel Michael continues from the flood to relate what shall succeed; then, in the mention of Abraham, comes by degrees to explain, who that seed of the woman shall be, which was promised Adam and Eve in the fall; his incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension; the state of the church till his second coming. Adam, greatly satisfied, and recomforted by these relations and promises, descends the hill with Michael; wakens Eve, who all this while had slept, but with gentle dreams composed to quietness of mind and submission. Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradise, the fiery sword waving behind them, and the Cherubim taking their stations to guard the place.
As one who in his journey bates at noon, Though bent on speed, so here th' archangel paus'd Betwixt the world destroy'd and world restor❜d, If Adam aught perhaps might interpose; Then with transition sweet new speech resumes. 5 Thus thou hast seen one world begin and end; And man as from a second stock proceed. Much thou hast yet to see, but I perceive
1 As one] When the last book was divided into two, in the second edition, these first five lines were added.
Thy mortal sight to fail: objects divine Must needs impair and weary human sense: Henceforth what is to come I will relate, Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. This second source of men, while yet but few, And while the dread of judgment past remaihs 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 pour'd, and sacred feast, Shall spend their days in joy unblam'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 state,
Will arrogate dominion undeserv'd Over his brethren, and quite dispossess
Concord and law of nature from the earth; Hunting (and men not beasts shall be his game) 20 With war and hostile snare such as refuse
Subjection to his empire tyrannous.
A mighty hunter thence he shall be styl'd Before the Lord, as in despite of heaven, Or from heav'n claiming second sov'reignty; 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 find The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge Boils out from under ground, the mouth of hell: 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 disperst 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, 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 mock'd they storm; great laughter was in heav'n, And looking down to see the hubbub strange
42 mouth] Type. i. 405. Bentl. MS. In this twelfth book, Bentley says, the editor has seldom mixed his pebbles among the author's diamonds.
42 mouth of hell] Virg. Georg. iv. 467.
'Tænarias etiam fauces, alta ostia Ditis.' 52 Obstruct] Approach the clouds. Bentl. MS. 60 hubbub] v. F. Queen. iii. x. 43.
'And shrieking hubbubs them approaching nere.'
And hear the din: thus was the building left Ridiculous, and the work Confusion nam'd.
Whereto thus Adam fatherly displeas'd. O execrable son! so to aspire Above his brethren, to himself assuming Authority usurp'd, 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 Stays not on man; to God his tower intends Siege and defiance. Wretched man! what food Will he convey up thither to sustain
Himself and his rash army, where thin air Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross, And famish him of breath, if not of bread?
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 Twinn'd, and from her hath no dividual being: 85 Reason in man obscur'd, or not obey'd,
82 Rational] National. Bentl. MS.
88 thy] So in Milton's own edition. In Fenton's, Bentley's, and others, it is 'Since by original lapse.' Newton.
85 Twinn'd] Some editions read 'twin'd.' Newton.
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