In overwhelming unison With just Jehovah's wrath? Japh. Can rage and justice join in the same path? Noah. Blasphemer! dar'st thou murmur even now? Raph. Patriarch, be still a father! smooth thy brow: Thy son, despite his folly, shall not sink; He knows not what he says, yet shall not drink With sobs the salt foam of the swelling waters; But be, when Passion passeth, good as thou, Nor perish like Heaven's children with Man's daughters. Aho. The Tempest cometh; Heaven and Earth unite For the annihilation of all life. Unequal is the strife Between our strength and the Eternal Might! To some untroubled star, Where thou and Anah shall partake our lot: And if thou dost not weep for thy lost earth, Our forfeit heaven shall also be forgot. Anah. Oh! my dear father's tents, my place of birth! And mountains, land, and woods, when ye are not, Who shall dry up my tears? Aza. Thy Spirit-lord. Fear not, though we are shut from heaven, Yet much is ours, whence we can not be driven. Raph. Rebel! thy words are wicked, as thy deeds Shall henceforth be but weak: the flaming sword, Which chased the first-born out of Paradise, Still flasbes in the angelic hands. Aga. It cannot slay us: threaten dust with death, Raph. The moment cometh to approve thy strength; And learn at length VOL VI. Are bowling from the mountain's bosom: Even when the waters waxed too fierce to brave. He riseth, but his better light is gone; seed of Seth! with him who made race, for which we are betray'd! ace! 'tis no hour for curses, but for pray❜r! How vain to war with what thy God commands: Thy former force was in thy faith. Enter Mortals, flying for refuge. Chorus of Mortals. The heavens and earth are mingling-God! oh God! What have we done? Yet spare! Hark! even the forest beasts howl forth their pray'r! The dragon crawls from out his den, To herd in terror innocent with men; And the birds scream their agony through air. Raph. Farewell, thou earth! ye wretched sons of clay, I cannot, must not aid you. "Tis decreed! [Eait RAPHAEL. Japh. Some clouds sweep on as vultures for their prey, While others, fix'd as rocks, await the word At which their wrathful vials shall be pour'd. No azure more shall robe the firmament, Nor spangled stars be glorious: Death hath risen: Hath wound itself around the dying air. Aza. Come, Anah! quit this chaos-founded prison, To which the elements again repair, To turn it into what it was: beneath The shelter of these wings thou shalt be safe, A brighter world than this, where thou shalt breathe These darken'd clouds are not the only skies. [AZAZIEL and SAMTASA fly off, and disappear with ANAH and AHOLIBAMAH. Japh. They are gone! They have disappear'd amidst Of the forsaken world; and never more, Whether they live, or die with all earth's life, Now near its last, can aught restore Anah unto these eyes. Chorus of Mortals. Oh son of Noah! mercy on thy kind! What, wilt thou leave us all-all-all behind? While safe amidst the elemental strife, Thou sitt'st within thy guarded ark? [the roar A mother (offering her infant to JAPHET.) Oh let this child embark! I brought him forth in wo, But thought it joy To see him to my bosom clinging so. Why was he born? What hath he done My unwean'd son To move Jehovah's wrath or scorn? What is there in this milk of mine, that Death Should stir all heaven and earth up to destroy My boy, And roll the waters o'er his placid breath? Save him, thou seed of Seth! Or cursed be-with him who made Thee and thy race, for which we are betray'd! Japh. Peace! 'tis no hour for curses, but for pray'r! Chorus of Mortals. For prayer! And where Shall prayer ascend, When the swoln clouds unto the mountains bend And burst, |