In other part the fcepter'd Heralds call
To Council in the City Gates: anon
Grey-headed men and grave, with Warriors mix'd,
Affemble, and Harangues are heard, but foon
In factious opposition, till at laft
Of middle Age one rifing, eminent
In wife deport, fpake much of Right and wrong,
Of Justice, of Religion, Truth and Peace,
And Judgement from above: him old and young
Exploded and had feiz'd with violent hands,
Had not a Cloud defcending fnatch'd him thence 670
Unseen amid the throng; fo violence
Proceeded, and Oppreffion, and Sword-Law
Through all the Plain, and refuge none was found.
Adam was all in tears, and to his guide
Lamenting turn'd full fad; O what are thefe, 675
Death's Minifters, not Men, who thus deal Death-
Inhumanly to men, and multiply
Ten thousandfold the fin of him who flew
His Brother: for of whom fuch maffacre
Make they but of their Brethren, men of men? 680 But who was that Juft Man, whom had not Heav'n Rescu'd, had in his Righteousness been lost?
To whom thus Michael. These are the product Of thofe ill mated marriages thou faw'ft: Where good with bad were match'd, who of themselves Abhor to joyn: and by imprudence mix'd, Produce prodigious Birth of Body or Mind. Such were these Giants, men of high renown; For in thofe days Might only fhall be admir'd,
And Valour and Heroic Virtue call'd;
To overcome in Battel, and subdue
Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite
Man-flaughter, fhall be held the highest pitch
Of human Glory, and for Glory done
Of triumph, to be flyl'd great Conquerors,
Patrons of Mankind, Gods, and Sons of Gods,
Destroyers rightlier call'd and Plagues of men.
Thus Fame shall be atchiev'd, renown on Earth,
And what moft merits fame in filence hid.
But he the feventh from thee, whom thou beheldft
The only righteous in a World perverse,
And therefore hated, therefore so befet
With Foes for daring single to be just,
And utter odious Truth, that God would come
To judge them with his saints: Him the most High
Rapt in a balmy Cloud with winged Steeds 706
Did, as thou fawft, receive, to walk with God
High in Salvation and the Climes of blifs,
Exempt from Death; to fhew thee what reward
Awaits the good, the rest what punishment? 710
Which now direct thine eyes and foon behold.
He look'd,and faw the face of things quite chang'd,
The brazen Throat of War had ceas'd to roar,
All now was turn'd to jollity and game,
To luxury and riot, feast and dance,
Marrying or proftituting, as befel
Rape or Adultery, where paffing fair
Allur'd them; thence from Cups to civil Broils.
At length a Reverend Sire among them came,
And of their doings great diflike declar'd,
And teftify'd against their ways; he oft
Frequented their Assemblies, whereso met,
Triumphs or Festivals, and to them preach'd
Converfion and Repentance, as to Souls
In Prifon under Judgements imminent:
But all in vain: which when he faw, he ceas'd
Contending, and remov'd his Tents far off;
Then from the Mountain hewing Timber tall,
Began to build a Vessel of huge bulk,
Measur'd by Cubit, length, and breadth, and heighth,
Smear'd round with Pitch, and in the fide a door
Contriv'd, and of provisions laid in large
For Man and Beast: when lo a wonder strange!
Of every Beaft, and Bird, and Infect small
Came fevens, and pairs, and enter'd in, as taught
Their order: laft the Sire, and his three Sons
With their four Wives; and God made faft the door.
Mean while the Southwind rofe, and with black wings
Wide hovering, all the Clouds together drove
From under Heav'n; the Hills to their supply 740
Vapour, and Exhalation dusk and moift,
Sent up amain; and now the thicken'd Sky
Like a dark Ceiling ftood; down rush'd the Rain Impetuous, and continu'd till the Earth
No more was feen; the floating Veffel fwum 745 Uplifted; and fecure with beaked prow
Rode tilting o'er the Waves, all dwellings elfe
Flood overwhelm'd, and them with all their pomp
Deep under water roll'd; Sea cover'd Sea;
Sea without fhoar; and in their Palaces
Where luxury late reign'd, Sea-monsters whelp'd
And ftabl'd; of Mankind, fo numerous late,
All left, in one fmall bottom swum imbark'd.
How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to behold
The end of all thy Off-fpring, end fo fad,
Depopulation; thee another Flood,
Of tears and forrow a Flood thee alfo drown'd,
And funk thee as thy Sons; till gently rear'd
By th' Angel, on thy feet thou ftoodft at last,
Tho' comfortless, as when a Father mourns
His Children, all in view destroy'd at once;
And scarce to th' Angel utter'dft thus thy plaint,
O Visions ill forefeen! better had I
Liv'd ignorant of future, fo had born
My part of evil only, each days lot
Enough to bear; those now, that were dispenst
The burd'n of many Ages, on me light
At once, by my foreknowledge gaining Birth
Abortive, to torment me e'er their being,
With thought that they must be. Let no man seek
Henceforth to be foretold what fhall befal
Him or his Children, evil he may be fure,
Which neither his foreknowing can prevent,
And he the future evil fhall no lefs
In apprehenfion than in fubftance feel
Grievous to bear: but that care now is paft,
Man is not whom to warn: thofe few escap'd
Famin and anguish will at laft confume
Wandring that watry Defert: I had hope
When violence was ceas'd, and War on Earth, 780 All would have then gone well, peace would have With length of happy days the race of man; [crown'd But I was far deceiv'd; for now I fee
Peace to corrupt no less than War to wafte:
How comes it thus? unfould, Celestial Guide, 785
And whether here the Race of man will end.
To whom thus Michael. Those whom laft thou fawst
In Triumph and luxurious wealth, are they
First seen in acts of prowess eminent
And great exploits, but of true virtue void;
Who having spilt much blood, and done much waste Subduing Nations, and atchiev'd thereby
Fame in the World, high titles, and rich prey,
Shall change their course to pleasure, ease, and floth,
Surfeit, and luft, till wantonness and pride
Raife out of friendship hostile deeds in Peace.
The conquer'd also, and enflav'd by. War
Shall with their freedom loft all virtue lofe
And fear of God, from whom their piety feign'd
In sharp conteft of Battel found no aid
Against invaders; therefore cool'd in zeal
Thenceforth fhall practife 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 temperance may be try'd:
So all fhall turn degenerate, all deprav'd,
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