Offended fearless of reproach and scorn, Or violence, he of their wicked ways Shall them admonish; and before them set The paths of righteousness, how much more safe, And full of peace; denouncing wrath to come 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 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 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 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 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 stopt 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: "Dextrously 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."
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, gready satisfieù 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.
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