An olive leaf he brings; pacific sign. From him, and all his anger to forget. 860 865 870 875 But say, what mean those colour'd streaks in Heav'n Distended as the brow of God appeased, 880 Or serve they as a flow'ry verge to bind The fluid skirts of that same watery cloud, Lest it again dissolve and shower the earth? To whom th' Arch-Angel: Dext'rously thou aim'st; So willingly doth God remit his ire, 885 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, 890 That he relents, not to blot out mankind, And makes a covenant never to destroy The earth again by flood, nor let the sea 869. It may be observed that the olive is made frequent mention of in Scripture, and appears to have had a sort of sacred character among most of the ancient nations. Might it not acquire this by its having been thus appointed by God as a sign of peace between him and his creatures! 806. Three listed colours, the three principal ones are here alluded to. His triple-colour'd bow, whereon to look, And call to mind his covenant. Day and night, Shall hold their course, till fire purge all things new BOOK XII. 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. 5 As one who in his journey bates at noon, 10 15 1. This book was united to the former in the first edition, and on its being separated the first five lines were added to form its commencement. 11. Addison regrets that the poet did not continue the vision instead of reverting to the narrative form-Milton, however, apDears to me to have been right in the plan he has pursued. It would, in the first place, have been unnatural to keep Adam longer in a state of ecstasy or trance; and next and principally, the action of the poem would have been entirely stopped too long, had the vision continued. By bringing the angel forward as speaking and conversing with Adam, the plot, though not really for warded, has the appearance of going on With some regard to what is just and right 20 Of proud ambitious heart; who not content 25 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) 30 With war and hostile snare such as refuse Subjection to his empire tyrannous : A mighty hunter thence he shall be styled He with a crew, whom like ambition joins 35 Marching from Eden tow'rds the west, shall find 40 45 A city' and tow'r, whose top may reach to Heav'n; 50 22. The silver age is here meant, as the time of man's innocence was the golden.-The iron age is next mentioned. 24. Nimrod is said to have been the first man who assumed the power and character of a monarch. Gen. x. 9. 36. The name of Nimrod is usually derived from a Hebrew word that signifies to rebel. 40. Gen. xi. 2, &c. Quite out their native language, and instead 55 As mock'd they storm. Great laughter was in Heav'n; And looking down, to see the hubbub strange, 60 And hear the din; thus was the building left Above his brethren, to himself assuming Himself and his rash army, where thin air To whom thus Michael: Justly thou abhorr❜st 65 70 75 80 Since thy original lapse, true liberty Is lost, which always with right reason dwells Twinn'd, and from her hath no dividual being 85 Immediately inordinate desires And upstart passions catch the government From reason, and to servitude reduce Man till then free. Therefore, since he permits 90 Within himself unworthy powers to reign Over free reason, God in judgment just 59. Dr. Bentley reads is in this and in line 61. But the angel might regard the event as past, as in his relation he looked from a station which could command the whole extended course of time. 62. Babel signifies confusion in Hebrew. Gen. xi. 9. Subjects him from without to violent lords; His outward freedom. Tyranny must be, 95 100 105 110 115 (Canst thou believe?) should be so stupid grown, While yet the patriarch lived, who scaped the flood, As to forsake the living God, and fall To worship their own work in wood and stone To call by vision from his father's house, 121 His kindred, and false Gods, into a land Which he will shew him, and from him will raise 125 All nations shall be blest. He straight obeys, Not knowing to what land, yet firm believes. 101. Cham; the father of Canaan is here meant. Gen. ix. 22. 25. 110. The narrative is, from this point, confined to the history of the chosen race, the seed of Abraham. 115. Josh. xxiv. 2. 117. Terah, Abraham's father was born 222 years after the flood, and Noah was living till the 350th year after it, so that idolatry had gained ground some years before his death. 120. Gen. xii. 1-3. 126. Heb. xl. 8. 128. This is not, it should be observed, a reverting to the former vision, as some commentators seem to suppose, but a mode of |