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
"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 vouchsafes to raise another world

"From him, and all his anger to forget.

"But say, what mean those coloured streaks in Heaven
"Distended, as the brow of God appeased?

"Or serve they, as a flowery verge, to bind
"The fluid skirts of that same watery cloud,
"Lest it again dissolve, and shower the earth?"
To whom the Archangel :

"Dexterously thou aimst

"So willingly doth God remit his ire,

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Though late repenting him of man depraved; "Grieved at his heart, when looking down he saw "The whole earth filled with violence, and all flesh

Corrupting each their way; yet, those removed, "Such grace shall one just man find in his sight, "That he relents, not to blot out mankind;

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"And makes a covenant never to destroy

"The earth again by flood; nor let the sea

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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-coloured bow, whereon to look,
"And call to mind his covenant: day and night,
"Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost,

"Shall hold their course; till fire purge all things new, 900 "Both Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell."

Twelfth Book.

THE ARGUMENT.

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 baits at noon,

Though bent on speed; so here the Archangel paused,
Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored,

If Adam aught perhaps might interpose;
Then, with transition sweet, new speech resumes:
"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
"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 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

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"Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid,

"With large wine-offerings poured and sacred feast, "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 game)
"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 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 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,
"Comes down to see their city, ere the tower
"Obstruct Heaven-towers; and in derision sets
66 Upon their tongues a various spirit, to raze
"Quite out their native language; and, instead,
"To sow a jangling noise of words unknown :
"Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud,

66 Among the builders; each to other calls,
"Not understood; till hoarse, and all in rage,
"As mocked they storm: great laughter was in Heaven,

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"And looking down, to see the hubbub strange,
"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 dominion; but man over men "He made not lord; such title to himself Reserving, human left from human free.

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"But this usurper his encroachment proud

66 Stays not on man; to God his tower intends

66 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
"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 permits "Within himself unworthy powers to reign

"Over free reason, God, in judgment just,

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Subjects him from without to violent lords; "Who oft as undeservedly enthral

"His outward freedom: tyranny must be;

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Though to the tyrant thereby no excuse.

"Yet sometimes nations will decline so low

"From virtue, which is reason, that no wrong,

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