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Which now abated: for the clouds were fled,
Driv'n by a keen north-wind, that blowing dry
Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decay'd;
And the clear fun on his wide watry glass
Gaz'd hot, and of the fresh wave largely
drew,

845 As after thirft: which made their flowing fhrink From standing lake to tripping ebb, tha: stole With foft foot tow'rds the deep, who 'now had stopt

His fluices, as the Heav'n his windows shut. The Ark no more now flotes, but feems on

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ground

850

Faft on the top of some high mountain fix'd.
And now the tops of hills as rocks appear:
With clamor thence rapid currents`drive,

Tow'rds the retreating sea their furious tide.
Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies,
And after him, the furer messenger,

855

A dove fent forth once and again to spy
Green tree or ground, whereon his food may

light;

860

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 865

Confpicuous with three lifted colors gay,
Betokening peace from God, and cov'nant new.
Whereat the heart of Adam, erft fo fad,
Greatly rejoyc'd, and thus his joy broke forth.
O`thon, who future things canft represent 870
A prefent, heav'nly inftructor! I revive
At this laft fight, aflur'd, that man fhall live
With all the creatures, and their feed preferve.
Far lefs I now lament for one whole world
Of wicked fons deftroy'd, that I rejoice - 875
For one man found fo perfect and so just,
That God vouchsafes to raise another world
From him, and all his anger to forget.

But fay, what mean thofe color'd streaks in heav'n

Diftended as the brow of God appeas'd: 880
Or ferve they as a flow'ry verge to bind
The fluid fkirts of that fame watry cloud,
Left it again diffolve and fhow'r the earth?
To whom th' Arch-Angel. Dextroufly thou
aimft;

885

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 flefh

Corrupting each their way: yet, those remov'd, Such grace fhall one juft man find in his fight, 890

That he relents, not to blot out mankind,
And makes a convenant, never to destroy
The earth again by flood; nor let the fea
Surpals his bounds; nor rain to drown the
world,

With man therein or beast: but when he

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Over the earth a cloud, will therein set
His triple-color'd bow, whereon to look,
All call to mind his covenant: day and night,
Seed-time and harveft, heat and hoary froft
Shall hold their courfe; till fire purge all

things new,

Both Heav'n and Earth, wherein the juft fhall dwell.

The End of the Eleventh Books

BOOK XII.

As one, who in his journey bates at noon, Tho' bent on fpeed: fo here th' Arch-Angel paus'd,

Betwixt the world destroy'd and worl'd reftor'd,

If Adam ought perhaps might interpose:
Then with transition sweet new speech refu-

mes.

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Thus thou haft feen one world begin and

end,

And man as from a fecond 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. 10
Henceforth what is to come I will relate,
Thou therefore give due audience, and attend.
This fecond source of men, while yet but

few,

And while the dread of judgment past remains

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Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity,
With fome regard to what is juft and right
Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace;
Lab'ring the foil, and reaping plenteous crop,
Corn, wine and oil; and from the herd, or

flock,

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Oft facrificing bullock, lamb, or kid,
With large wine-offerings pour'd, and sacred

feast,

Shall spend their days in joy unblam'd and dwell

Long time in peace by families and tribes
Under paternal rule; till one shall rife

Of proud ambitious heart; who not con

tent

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With fair equality, fraternal state;

Will arrogate dominion undeferv'd

Over his brethren, and quite difpoffefs Concord and law of nature from the earth; Hunting, and men, not beafts, fhall be his

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With war and hoftile fnare such as refuse
Subjection to his empire tyrannous.
A mighty hunter thence he shall be styl'd
Before the Lord; as in despite of Heav'n,
Of from Heav'n claiming second fov'reignty: 35
And from rebellion fhall derive his name;
Though of rebellion others he accufe.

He with a crew, whom like ambition joins

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