With clamour thence the rapid currents drive, And, after him, the surer messenger, A dove, sent forth once, and again, to spy Green tree or ground, whereon his foot may light: An olive-leaf he brings-pacific sign! Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark "From him, and all his anger to forget. "But say, what mean those coloured streaks in Heaven "Or serve they, as a flowery verge, to bind "Dexterously thou aimst "So willingly doth God remit his ire, 66 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; 860 870 880 89c "And makes a covenant never to destroy "The earth again by flood; nor let the sea 66 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, "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, If Adam aught perhaps might interpose; ΙΟ "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 “Hunting (and men, not beasts, shall be his game) 66 Among the builders; each to other calls, 20 30 40 50 60 "And looking down, to see the hubbub strange, "O execrable son! so to aspire "Above his brethren; to himself assuming By his dominion; but man over men "He made not lord; such title to himself Reserving, human left from human free. 66 "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 "Is lost, which always with right reason dwells "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, 66 Subjects him from without to violent lords; "Who oft as undeservedly enthral "His outward freedom: tyranny must be; 66 Though to the tyrant thereby no excuse. "Yet sometimes nations will decline so low "From virtue, which is reason, that no wrong, 70 80 90 |