And shelter'd 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 Out of his place, push'd by the horned flood, With all his verdure spoil'd, 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 seamews' 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 look'd, and saw the ark hull on the flood, 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, 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.
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. 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 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.
But say, what mean those colour'd 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 aim'st; So willingly doth God remit his ire,
Though late repenting him of Man depraved; Grieved at his heart, when looking down he saw The whole earth fill'd 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; 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 covenant: 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.
DRAWN BY RICHARD WESTALL R.A. ENGRAVED BY F.ENGLEHEART: PUBLISHED BY JOHN SHARPE. PICCADILLY.
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