And whether here the race of man will end.
To whom thus Michael. Those whom last thou saw'st In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they
First seen in acts of prowefs eminent
And great exploits, but of true virtue void;
Who having fpilt much blood, and done much waste Subduing nations, and achiev'd thereby
Fame in the world, high titles, and rich prey,
Shall change their courfe to pleasure, eafe, and floth,
Surfeit, and luft, till wantonness and pride
Raife out of friendship hoftile deeds in peace.
The conquer'd alfo, and inflav'd by war
Shall with their freedom loft all virtue lofe
And fear of God, from whom their piety feign'd
In sharp contest of battle found no aid
Against invaders; therefore cool'd in zeal
Thenceforth fhall practice how to live fecure,
Worldly or diffolute, on what their lords
Shall leave them to enjoy; for th' earth shall bear
More than enough, that temp'rance may be try'd:
So all shall turn degenerate, all deprav'd
Juftice and temp'rance, truth and faith forgot;
One man except, the only fon of light
In a dark age, against example good,
Against allurement, custom, and a world
Offended; fearless of reproach and scorn,
Or violence, he of their wicked ways
Shall them admonish, and before them fet
The paths of righteousness, how much more safe,
And full of peace, denouncing wrath to come
On their impenitence; and fhall return
Of them derided, but of God obferv'd
The one just man alive; by his command
Shall build a wondrous ark, as thou beheldft,
To fave himself and houfhold from amidst
A world devote to univerfal wrack.
No fooner he with them of man and beaft
Select for life fhall in the ark be lodg'd,
And shelter'd round, but all the cataracts
Of Heav'n fet open on the earth fhall pour
Rain day and night; all fountains of the deep
Broke up, fhall heave the ocean to ufurp
Beyond all bounds, till inundation rife
Above the highest hills: then fhall this mount
Of Paradife by might of waves be mov'd
Out of his place, push'd by the horned flood,
With all his verdure fpoil'd, and trees adrift,
Down the great river to the opening gulf,
And there take root an island salt and bare,
The haunt of feals, and orcs, and fea-mews clang:
To teach thee that God attributes to place
No fanctity, if none be thither brought
By men who there frequent, or therein dwell.
And now what further shall enfue, behold.
He look'd and faw the ark hull on the flood, 840 Which now abated; for the clouds were fled, Driv'n by a keen north-wind, that blowing dry Wrinkled the face of déluge, as decay'd;
And the clear fun on his wide watry glafs
Gaz'd hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew, 845
As after thirst, which made their flowing fhrink
From ftanding lake to tripping ebb, that stole
With foft foot towards the deep, who now had stopt
His Auces, as the Heav'n his windows fhut.
The ark no more now flotes, but seems on ground
Faft 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
Tow'ards the retreating fea their furious tide.
Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies,
And after him, the farer meffenger,
A dove fent forth once and again to fpy
Green tree or ground whereon his foot may light;
The second time returning, in his bill
An olive leaf he brings, pacific fign:
Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark
The ancient fire defcends with all his train;
Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout,
Grateful to Heav'n, over his head beholds
A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow
Confpicuous with three lifted colors gay,
Betokening peace from God, and covenant new.
Whereat the heart of Adam erst so fad
Greatly rejoic'd, and thus his joy broke forth.
O thou who future things canft represent
As prefent, heav'nly Inftructor, I revive
At this last fight, affur'd that man shall live
With all the creatures, and their feed preferve.
Far lefs I now lament for one whole world
Of wicked fons destroy'd, than I rejoice
For one man found fo perfect and fo juft,
That God vouchsafes to raise another world
From him, and all his anger to forget.
But fay, what mean those color'd streaks in Heaven
Distended as the brow of God appeas'd,
Or ferve they as a flow'ry verge to bind
The fluid skirts of that fame watry cloud,
Left it again diffolve and shower the earth?
To whom th' Arch-Angel. 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 faw
The whole earth fill'd with violence, and all flesh
Corrupting each their way; yet those remov❜d,
Such grace fhall one just man find in his fight, 890
That he relents, not to blot out mankind,
And makes a covenant never to destroy
The earth again by flood, nor let the fea
Surpafs his bounds, nor rain to drown the world
With man therein or beaft; but when he brings 895
Over the earth a cloud, will therein set
His triple-color'd bow, whereon to look,
And call to mind his covenant: day and night,
Seed-time and harveft, heat and hoary frost
Shall hold their courfe, till fire purge all things new,
Both Heav'n and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell.
The End of the Eleventh Book.
The Angel Michael continues from the flood to relate what shall fucceed; then, in the mention of Abraham, ・comes by degrees to explain, who that Seed of the Woman fball be, which was promised Adam and Eve in the fall; bis incarnation, death, refurrection, and afcenfion; the fate of the church till bis fecond coming. Adam greatly fatisfy'd and recomforted by thefe relations and promifes defcends the bill with Michael; wakens Eve, who all this while bad flept, but with gentle dreams compos'd to quietness of mind and submiffion. Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradife; the fiery fword waving behind them, and the Cherubim taking their ftations to guard the place.
S one who in his journey bates at noon,
A Though bent on speed; fo here the Arch-Anget
Betwixt the world deftroy'd and world reftor'd,
If Adam ought perhaps might interpofe;
Then with transition sweet new speech refumes.
Thus thou haft feen one world begin and end;
And man as from a second stock proceed.
Much thou haft yet to fee, but I perceive
Thy mortal fight to fail; objects divine
Muft needs impair and weary human sense:
Henceforth what is to come I will relate,
Thou therefore give due audience, and attend.
This fecond fource of men, while yet but few,
And while the dread of judgment past remains
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