Choicest and best ; then, sacrificing, laid

The image of God in Màn, created once The inwards and their fat, with incense strow'd, So goodly and erect, though faulty since, On the cleft wood, and all due rites perform'd : To such unsightly sufferings be debas'd His offering soon propitious fire from Heaven Under inhuman pains ? Why should not Man, Consum'd with nimble glance, and grateful steam; Retaining still divine similitude The other's not, for his was not sincere;

In part, from such deformities be free, Whereat he only rag'd, and, as they talk’d, And, for his Maker's image sake, exempt ? Smote him into the midriff with a stone

“ Their Maker's image,” answer'd Michael, That beat out life! he fell; and, deadly pale,

then Gran'd out his soul with gushing blood effus'd. Forsook them, when themselves they vilified Much at that sight was Adam in his heart

To serve ungovern'd Appetite ; and took Dismay'd, and thus in haste to the angel cried. His image whom they serv'd, a brutish vice,

“O teacher, some great mischief hath befall'n Inductive mainly to the sin of Eve. To that meek man, who well had sacrific'd; Therefore so abject is their punishment, Is piety thus and pure devotion paid ?"

Disfiguring not God's likeness, but their own; To whom Michael thus, he also movid, replied. Or if his likeness, by themselves defac'd; * These two are brethren, Adam, and to come While they pervert pure Nature's healthful rules Out of thy loins; the unjust the just hath slain, To lothesome sickness ; worthily, since they For envy that his brother's offering found

God's image did not reverence in themselves.” From Heaven acceptance; but the bloody fact “I yield it just,” said Adam, “and submit. Will be aveng'd; and the other's faith, approv'd, But is there yet no other way, besides Lose no reward; though here thou see him die, These painful passages, how we may come Rolling in dust and gore.” To which our sire, To death, and mix with our connatural dust ?"

* Alas! both for the deed, and for the cause! • There is," said Michael, “ if thou well observe But have I now seen Death? Is this the way The rule of Not too much ; by temperance taught, I must return to native dust ? O sight

In what thou eat'st and drink'st; seeking from Of terror, foul and ugly to behold,

thence Horrid to think, how horrible to feel!"

Due nourishment, not gluttonous delight, To whom thus Michael. “Death thou hast seen Till many years over thy head return : In his first shape on Man; but many shapes So may'st thou live; till like ripe fruit, thou drop Of Death, and many are the ways that lead Into thy mother's lap; or be with ease To his grim cave, all dismal; yet to sense

Gather'd, not harshly pluck’d; for death mature : More terrible at the entrance, than within. This is Old Age; but then, thou must outlive Some, as thou saw'st, by violent stroke shall die ; Thy youth, thy strength, thy beauty; which will By fire, flood, famine, by intemperance more

change In meats and drinks, which on the Earth shall bring To wither'd, weak, and grey; thy senses then, Diseases dire, of which a monstrous crew

Obtuse, all taste of pleasure must forego, Before thee shall appear; that thou may'st know To what thou hast; and, for the air of youth, What misery the inabstinence of Eve

Hopeful and cheerful in thy blood will reign
Shall bring on men.” Immediately a place A melancholy damp of cold and dry
Before his eyes appear’d, sad, noisome, dark; To weigh thy spirits down, and last consume
A lazar-house it seem'd; wherein were laid The balm of life." To whom our ancestor.
Numbers of all diseas'd : all maladies

“ Henceforth I fly not death, nor would prolong of ghastly spasm, or racking torture, qualms Life much; bent rather, how I may be quit, Of heart-sick agony, all feverous kinds,

Fairest and easiest of this cumbrous charge; Convulsions, epilepsies, fierce catarrhs,

Which I must keep till my appointed day Intestine stone and ulcer, colic-pangs,

Of rendering up, and patiently attend Demoniac phrensy, moping melancholy,

My dissolution.” Michael replied. And moon-struck madness, pining atrophy,

“Nor love thy life, nor hate ; but what thou liv'st, Marasmus, and wide-wasting pestilence,

Live well; how long, or short, permit to Heaven: Dropsies, and asthmas, and joint-racking rheums. And now prepare thee for another sight." Dire was the tossing, deep the groans; Despair He look'd, and saw a spacious plain, whereon Tended the sick busiest from couch to couch; Were tents of various hue ; by some, were herds And over them triumphant Death his dart Of cattle grazing ; others, whence the sound Shook, but delay'd to strike, though oft invok'd Of instruments, that made melodious chime, With vows, as their chief good, and final hope. Was heard, of harp and organ; and, who mov'd Sight so deform what heart of rock could long Their stops and chords, was seen ; his volant touch, Dryey'd behold? Adam could not, but wept, Instinct through all proportions, low and high, Though not of woman born; compassion quellid Fled and pursued transverse the resonant fugue. His best of man, and gave him up to tears In other part stood one who, at the forge A space, till firmer thoughts restrain'd excess ; Laboring, two massy clods of iron and brass And, scarce recovering words, his plaint renew'd. Had melted, (whether found where casual fire “O miserable mankind, to what fall

Had wasted woods on mountain or in vale, Degraded, to what wretched state resery'd! Down to the veins of Earth; thence gliding hot Better end here unborn. Why is life given To some cave's mouth ; or whether wash'd by stream To be thus wrested from us? rather, why

From under-ground ;) the liquid ore he drain'd Obtruded on us thus? who, if we knew

Into fit moulds prepar'd; from which he form'd What we receive, would either not accept First his own tools; then, what might else be Life offer'd, or soon beg to lay it down;

wrought Glad to be so dismiss'd in peace. Can thus

Fusil or graven in metal. After these,

K

But on the hither side, a different sort

Giants of mighty bone, and bold emprise ; From the high neighboring hills, which was their Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed, seat,

Single or in array of battle rang'd Down to the plain descended; by their guise Both horse and foot, nor idly mustering stood. Just men they seem'd, and all their study bent One way a band select from forage drives To worship God aright, and know his works A herd of beeves, fair oxen and fair kine, Not hid; nor those things last, which might preserve From a fat meadow ground; or fleecy flock, Freedom and peace to men: they on the plain Ewes and their bleating lambs over the plain, Long had not walk d, when from the tents, behold! Their booty; scarce with life the shepherds fly, A bevy of fair women, richly gay

But call in aid, which makes a bloody fray ; In gems and wanton dress; to the harp they sung With cruel tournament the squadrons join ; Soft amorous ditties, and in dance came on; Where cattle pastur'd late, now scatter'd lies The men, though grave, ey'd them; and let their With carcasses and arms the ensanguin'd field, eyes

Deserted : others to a city strong Rove without rein ; till, in the amorous net Lay siege, encamp'd; by battery, scale, and mine, Fast caught, they lik’d; and each his liking chose; Assaulting; others from the wall defend And now of love they treat, till the evening star, With dart and javelin, stones, and sulphurous fire; Love's harbinger, appear'd; then, all in heat On each hand slaughter, and gigantic deeds. They light the nuptial torch, and bid invoke In other part the scepter'd heralds call Hymen, then first to marriage rites invokd : To council, in the city-gates : anon With feast and music all the tents resound Grey-headed men and grave, with warriors mir’d, Such happy interview, and fair event

Assemble, and harangues are heard ; but soon, Of love and youth not lost, songs, garlands, flowers, In factious opposition ; till at last, And charming symphonies, attach'd the heart Of middle age one rising, eminent Of Adam, soon inclin'd to admit delight,

In wise deport, spake much of right and wrong, The bent of nature; which he thus express'd. Of justice, of religion, truth, and peace,

“True opener of mine eyes, prime angel blest; And judgment from above: him old and young Much better seems this vision, and more hope Exploded, and had seiz'd with violent hands; Of peaceful days portends, than those two past; Had not a cloud descending snatch'd him thence Those were of hate and death, or pain much worse; Unseen amid the throng: so violence Here Nature seems fulfill'd in all her ends." Proceeded, and oppression, and sword-law,

To whom thus Michael. “ Judge not what is best Through all the plain, and refuge none was found. By pleasure, though to nature seeming meet; Adam was all in tears, and to his guide Created, as thou art, to nobler end

Lamenting turn'd full sad : "0! what are these, Holy and pure, conformity divine.

Death's ministers, not men? who thus deal death Those tents thou saw'st so pleasant, were the tents Inhumanly to men, and multiply Of wickedness, wherein shall dwell his race Ten thousand-fold the sin of him who slew Who slew his brother: studious they appear

His brother: for of whom such massacre Of arts that polish life, inventors rare;

Make they, but of their brethren; men of men ? Unmindful of their Maker, though his spirit But who was that just man, whom had not Heaven Taught them; but they his gifts acknowledg'd none. Rescued, had in his righteousness been lost ?" Yet they a beauteous offspring shall beget;

To whom thus Michael. “These are the product For that fair female troop thou saw'st, that seem'd of those ill-mated marriages thou sawist; [selves Of goddesses, so blithe, so smooth, so gay, Where good with bad were match'd, who of them Yet empty of all good wherein consists

A bhor to join; and, by imprudence mix’d, Woman's domestic honor and chief praise ; Produce prodigious births of body or mind. Bred only and completed to the taste

Such were these giants, men of high renown; Of lustful appetence, to sing, to dance,

For in those days might only shall be admir'd, To dress, and troll the tongue, and roll the eye. And valor and heroic virtue callid; To these that sober race of men, whose lives To overcome in battle, and subdue Religious titled them the sons of God,

Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite Shall yield up all their virtue, all their fame Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch Ignobly, to the trains and to the smiles

Of human glory; and for glory done of these fair Atheists; and now swim in joy, of triumph, to be styl’d great conquerors, Ere long to swim at large; and laugh, for which Patrons of mankind, gods and sons of gods; The world ere long a world of tears must weep." Destroyers rightlier callid, and plagues of men.

To whom thus Adam, of short joy bereft. Thus fame shall be achiev'd, renown on Earth; “ O pity and shame, that they, who to live well And what most merits fame, in silence hid. Enter'd so fair, should turn aside to tread

But he, the seventh from thee, whom thou beheld'st Paths indirect, or in the mid way faint!

The only righteous in a world perverse, But still I see the tenor of man's woe

And therefore hated, therefore so beset Holds on the same, from woman to begin."

With foes, for daring single to be just, * From man's effeminate slackness it begins," And utter odious truth, that God would come Said the angel, “who should better hold his place To judge them with his saints: him the Most High By wisdom, and superior gifts receiv'd.

Rapt in a balmy cloud with winged steeds But now prepare thee for another scene.”

Did, as thou saw'st, receive, to walk with God He looks, and saw wide territory spread High in salvation and the climes of bliss, Before him, towns, and rural works between; Exempt from death; to show thee what reward Cities of men with losty gates and towers,

Awaits the good : the rest what punishment; Concourse in arms, fierce faces threatening war, Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold."

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He look’d, and saw the face of things quite When violence was ceas'd, and war on Earth, chang’d;

All would have then gone well; peace would have The brazen throat of war had ceas'd to roar:

crown'd All now was turn'd to jollity and game,

With length of happy days the race of Man ; To luxury and riot, feast and dance ;

But I was far deceived; for now I see Marrying or prostituting, as befell,

Peace to corrupt no less than war to waste. Rape or adultery, where passing fair

How comes it thus? unfold, celestial guide, Allur'd them; thence from cups to civil broils. And whether here the race of Man will end." At length a reverend sire among them came,

To whom thus Michael. “Those, whom last thou And of their doings great dislike declar'd,

saw'st And testified against their ways; he oft

In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they Frequented their assemblies, whereso met, First seen in acts of prowess eminent Triumphs or festivals; and to them proach'd And great exploits, but of true virtue void ; Conversion and repentance, as to souls

Who, having spilt much blood, and done much waste, In prison, under judgments imminent:

Subduing nations, and achiev'd thereby But all in vain : which when he saw, he ceas'd Fame in the world, high titles, and rich prey ; Contending, and remov'd his tents far off':

Shall change their course to pleasure, ease, and sloth, Then, from the mountain hewing timber tall, Surfeit, and lust; till wantonness and pride Began to build a vessel of huge bulk ;

Raise out of friendship hostile deeds in peace. Measur'd by cubit, length, and breadth, and height; The conquer'd also, and enslav'd by war, Smear'd round with pitch ; and in the side a door Shall, with their freedom lost, all virtue lose Contriv'd; and of provisions laid in large,

And fear of God; from whom their piety feign'd For man and beast; when lo, a wonder strange! In sharp contést of battle found no aid Of every beast, and bird, and insect small, Against invaders; therefore, cool'd in zeal, Came sevens and pairs; and enter'd in as taught Thenceforth shall practise how to live secure, Their order: last the site and his three sons, Worldly or dissolute, on what their lords With their four wives; and God made fast the door. Shall leave them to enjoy ; for the Earth shall bear Meanwhile the south-wind rose, and, with black More than enough, that temperance may be tried : wings

So all shall turn degenerate, all deprav'd;
Wide-hovering, all the clouds together drove Justice and temperance, truth and faith, forgot;
From under Heaven; the hills to their supply One man except, the only son of light
Vapor, and exhalation duskeand moist,

In a dark age, against example good,
Sent up amain ; and now the thicken'd sky Against allurement, custom, and a world
Like a dark ceiling stood ; down rush'd the rain Offended : fearless of reproach and scorn,
Impetuous ; and continued, till the Earth

Or violence, he of their wicked ways
No more was seen: the floating vessel swum Shall them admonish; and before m set
l'plifted, and secure with beaked prow

The paths of righteousness, how much more safe Rode tilting o'er the waves; all dwellings else And full of peace; denouncing wrath to come Flood overwhelm'd, and them with all their pomp On their impenitence; and shall return Deep under water rollid; sea cover'd sea,

Of them derided, but of God observ'd Sea without shore ; and in their palaces,

The one just man alive; by his command Where luxury late reign’d, sea-monsters whelp'd Shall build a wondrous ark, as thou beheld'st, And stabled; of mankind, so numerous late, To save himself, and household, from amidst All left, in one small bottom swum embark’d. A world devote to universal wrack. How didst thou grieve, then, Adam, to behold No sooner he, with them of man and beast The end of all thy offspring, end so sad,

Select for life, shall in the ark be lodg’d, Depopulation! Thee another flood,

And shelter'd round; but all the cataracts Of tears and sorrow a flood, thee also drown'd, Of Heaven set open on the Earth shall pour And sunk thee as thy sons; till, gently rear'd Rain, day and night; all fountains of the deep, By the angel, on thy feet thou stood’st at last ; Broke up, shall heave the ocean to usurp Though comfortless ; as when a father mours Beyond all bounds; till inundation rise His children, all in view destroy'd at once; Above the highest hills: then shall this mount And scarce to the angel utter'dst thus thy plaint. Of Paradise by might of waves be mov'd **) visions ill foreseen! better had I

Out of his place, push'd by the horned food, Lrd ignorant of future! so had borne

With all his verdure spoil'd, and trees adrift, My part of evil only, each day's lot

Down the great river to the opening gulf, Enough to bear; those now, that were dispens'd And there take root an island salt and bare, The burden of many ages, on me light

The haunt of seals, and orcs, and sea-mews' clang:
At once, by my foreknowledge gaining birth To teach thee that God attributes to place
Abortive, to torment me ere their being,

No sanctity, if none be thither brought
With thought that they must be. Let no man seek By men who there frequent, or therein dwell.
Henceforth to be foretold, what shall befall

And now, what further shall ensue, behold."
Him or his children; evil he may be sure,

He look'd, and saw the ark hull on the flood, Which neither his foreknowing can prevent; Which now abated; for the clouds were fled, And he the future evil shall no less

Driven by a keen north-wind, that, blowing dry, In apprehension than in substance feel,

Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decay'd; Grievous to bear: but that care now is past, And the clear Sun on his wide watery glass Man is not whom to warn: those few escap'd Gaz'd hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew, Famine and anguish will at last consume,

As after thirst; which made their flowing shrink Wandering that watery desert: I had hope From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole

With soft foot towards the deep; who now had stopt promises, descends the hill with Michael ; waHis sluices, as the Heaven his windows shut.

kens Eve, who all this while had slept, but with The ark no more now floats, but seems on ground, gentle dreams composed to quietness of mind and Fast on the top of some high mountain fix’d.

submission. Michael in either hand leads them And now the tops of hills, as rocks, appear;

out of Paradise, the fiery sword waving behind With clamor thence the rapid currents drive,

them, and the Cherubim taking their stations to Towards the retreating sea, their furious tide. guard the place. Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies, And after him, the surer messenger,

As one who in his journey bates at noon, A dove sent forth once and again to spy

Though bent on speed; so here the archangel Green tree or ground, whereon his foot may light:

paus'd The second time returning, in his bill

Betwixt the world destroy'd and world restorid, An olive-leaf he brings, pacific sign:

If Adam aught perhaps might interpose ; Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark Then, with transition sweet, new speech resumes. The ancient sire descends, with all his train: “ Thus thou hast seen one world begin, and end; Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout, And Man, as from a second stock, proceed. Grateful to Heaven, over his head beholds Much thou hast yet to see ; but I perceive A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow

Thy mortal sight to fail : objects divine Conspicuous with three listed colors gay,

Must needs impair and weary human sense : Betokening peace from God, and covenant new. Henceforth what is to come I will relate ; Whereat the heart of Adam, erst so sad,

Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. Greatly rejoic'd ; and thus his joy broke forth. This second source of men, while yet but few,

“O thou, who future things canst represent And while the dread of judgment past remains As present, heavenly instructor! I revive Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity, At this last sight; assur'd that Man shall live, With some regard to what iş just and right With all the creatures, and their seed preserve. Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace; Far less I now lament for one whole world Laboring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop, Of wicked sons destroy'd, than I rejoice

Corn, wine, and oil; and, from the herd or flock, For one man found so perfect, and so just,

I

Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid, That God vouchsafes to raise another world With large wine-offerings pour’d, and sacred feast, From him, and all his anger to forget.

Shall spend their days in joy unblam'd ; and dwell But say, what mean those color'd streaks in Heaven Long time in peace, by families and tribes, Distended, as the brow of God appeas'd ?

Under paternal rule: till one shall rise
Or serve they, as a flowery verge, to bind

Of proud ambitious heart; who, not content
The fluid skirts of that same watery cloud, With fair equality, fraternal state,
Lest it again dissolve, and shower the Earth ?" Will arrogate dominion undeserv'd -

To whom the archangel. “Dextrously thou aim'st; Over his brethren, and quite dispossess
So willingly doth God remit his ire,

Concord and law of nature from the Earth; Though late repenting him of Man deprav'd; Hunting (and men not beasts shall be his game) Griev'd at his heart, when looking down he saw With war, and hostile snare, such as refuse The whole Earth fill'd with violence, and all flesh Subjection to his empire tyrannous : Corrupting each their way; yet, those removid, A mighty hunter thence he shall be styl'd Such grace shall one just man find in his sight, Before the Lord; as in despite of Heaven, That he relents, not to blot out mankind;

Or from Heaven, claiming second sovranty ;
And makes a covenant never to destroy

And from rebellion shall derive his name,
The Earth again by flood; nor let the sea Though of rebellion others he accuse.
Surpass his bounds; nor rain to drown the world, He with a crew, whom like ambition joins
With man therein or beast; but, when he brings With him or under him to tyrannize,
Over the Earth a cloud, will therein set

Marching from Eden towards the west, shall find His triple-color'd bow, whereon to look,

The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge
And call to mind his covenant: day and night, Boils out from under-ground, the mouth of Hell :
Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost, Of brick, and of that stuff, they cast to build
Shall hold their course; till fire purge all things new, A city and tower, whose top may reach to Heaven;
Both Heaven and Earth, wherein the just shall And get themselves a name ; lest, far dispers’d
dwell."

In foreign lands, their memory be lost;
Regardless whether good or evil fame.

But God, who oft descends to visit men
BOOK XII.

Unseen, and through their habitations walks
To mark their doings, them beholding soon,

Comes down to see their city, ere the tower
THE ARGUMENT.

Obstruct Heaven-towers; and in derision sets

Upon their tongues a various spirit, to rase The angel Michael continues, from the flood, to re-Quite out their native language ; and, instead,

late what shall succeed; then, in the mention of To sow a jangling noise of words unknown: Abraham, comes by degrees to explain, who that Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud, seed of the woman shall be, which was promised Among the builders; each to other calls Adam and Eve in the Fall; his incarnation, death, Not understood; till hoarse, and all in rage, resurrection, and ascension; the state of the As mock'd they storm: great laughter was church till his second coming. Adam, greatly

Heaven, satisfied and recomforted by these relations and And looking down, to see the hubbub strange,

:

a

And hear the din: thus was the building left To Haran; after him a cumbrous train
Ridiculous, and the work Confusion namn'd.” Of herds and flocks, and numerous sérvitude ;

Whereto thus Adam, fatherly displeas'd. Not wandering poor, but trusting all his wealth
O execrable son! so to aspire

With God, who call'd him, in a land unknown. Above his brethren; to himself assuming

Canaan he now attains; I see his tents Authority usurp'd, from God not given :

Pitch'd about Sechem, and the neighboring plain He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl,

Of Moreh: there by promise he receives Dominion absolute; that right we hold

Gift to his progeny of all that land, By his donation; but man over men

From Ilamath northward to the desert south ; He made not lord ; such title to himself

(Things by their names I call, though yet unnam'd ;) Reserving, human left from human free.

From Hermon east to the great western sea; But this usurper his encroachment proud

Mount Hermon, yonder sea; each place behold Stays not on man; to God his tower intends

In prospect, as I point them; on the shore Siege and defiance: wretched man! what food Mount Carmel; here, the double-founted stream, Will he convey up thither, to sustain

Jordan, true limit eastward; but his sons Himself and his rash army; where thin air Shall dwell to Senir, that long ridge of hills. Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross, This ponder, that all nations of the Earth And famish him of breath, if not of bread ?" Shall in his seed be blessed : by that seed

To whom thus Michael. “ Justly thou abhorr’st is meant thy great Deliverer, who shall bruise That son, who on the quiet state of men

The serpent's head; whereof to thee anon Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue Plainlier shall be reveal'd. This patriarch blest, Rational liberty; yet know withal,

Whom faithful Abraham due time shall call, Since thy original lapse, true liberty

A son, and of his son a grand-child, leaves ; Is lost, which always with right reason dwells Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown: Twinn'd, and from her hath no dividual being : The grand-child, with twelve sons increas'd, departs Reason in man obscur'd, or not obey'd,

From Canaan, to a land hereafter callid Immediately inordinate desires,

Egypt, divided by the river Nile; And upstart passions, catch the government See where it flows, disgorging at seven mouths From reason ; and to servitude reduce

Into the sea : to sojourn in that land Man, till then free. Therefore, since he permits He comes, invited by a younger son Within himself unworthy powers to reign In time of dearth; a son, whose worthy deeds Over free reason, God, in judgment just, Raise him to be the second in that realm Subjects him from without to violent lords ; Of Pharaoh : there he dies, and leaves his race Who oft as undeservedly enthral

Growing into a nation; and, now grown, His outward freedom: tyranny must be ;

Suspected to a sequent king, who seeks Though to the tyrant thereby no excuse.

To stop their overgrowth, as inmate guests (slaves Yet sometimes nations will decline so low

Too numerous; whence of guests he makes them From virtue, which is reason, that no wrong, Inhospitably, and kills their infant males : But justice, and some fatal curse annex'd,

Till hy two brethren, (these two brethren call Deprives them of their outward liberty;

Moses and Aaron,) sent from God to claim Their inward lost: witness the irreverent son His people from enthralment, they return Of him who built the ark; who, for the shame With glory, and spoil, back to their promis'd land. Done to his father, heard this heavy curse, But first, the lawless tyrant, who denies Serrant of servants, on his vicious race.

To know their God, or message to regard, Thus will this latter, as the former world,

Must be compellid by signs and judgments dire ; Still tend from bad to worse ; till God at last, To blood unshed the rivers must be turn'd; Wearied with their iniquities, withdraw

Frogs, lice, and flies, must all his palace fill
His presence from among them, and avert With loth'd intrusion, and fill all the land;
His holy eyes; resolving from thenceforth

His cattle must of rot and murrain die;
To leave them to their own polluted ways; Botches and blains must all his flesh emboss,
And one peculiar nation to select

And all his people ; thunder mix'd with hail,
From all the rest, of whom to be invok'd, Hail mix'd with fire, must rend the Egyptian sky,
A nation from one faithful man to spring:

And wheel on the Earth, devouring where it rolls; Him on this side Euphrates yet residing,

What it devours not, herb, or fruit, or grain, Bred up in idol-worship: 0, that men

A darksome cloud of locusts swarming down Canst thou believe?) should be so stupid grown, Must eat, and on the ground leave nothing green; While yet the patriarch liv’d, who 'scap'd the flood, Darkness must overshadow all his bounds, As to forsake the living God, and fall

Palpable darkness, and blot out three days; To worship their own work in wood and stone Last, with one midnight-stroke, all the first-born For gods! Yet him God the Most High vouchsafes Of Egypt must lie dead. Thus with ten wounds To call by vision, from his father's house,

The river-dragon tam'd at length submits
His kindred, and false gods, into a land

To let his sojourners depart, and oft
Which he will show him; and from him will raise Humbles his stubborn heart; but still, as ice
A mighty nation; and upon him shower

More harden'd after thaw; till, in his rage
His benediction so, that in his seed

Pursuing whom he late dismiss'd, the sea All nations shall be blest: he straight obeys ; Swallows him with his host ; but them lets pass, Not knowing to what land, yet firm believes : As on dry land, between two crystal walls ; I see him, but thou canst not, with what faith Aw'd by the rod of Moses so to stand He leaves his gods, his friends, and native soil, Divided, till his rescued gain their shore : Ur of Chaldæa, passing now the ford

Such wondrous power God to his saint will lend,

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