Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/396

390 To luxury and riot, feast and dance, Marrying or prostituting, as befell, Rape or adultery, where passing fair Allured them; thence from cups to civil brolls. At length a reverend sire among them came And of their doings great dislike declared, And testified against their ways: he oft Frequented their assemblies, whereso met, Triumphs or festivals, and to them preached Conversion and repentance, as to souls In prison, under judgements imminent; But all in vain. Which when he saw, he ceased Contending, and removed his tents far off. Then, from the mountain hewing timber tall, Began to build a vessel of huge bulk, Measured by cubic, length, and breadth, and highth, Smeared round with pitch, and in the side a door Contrived, and of provisions laid in large For man and beast: when lo, a wonder strange! Of every beast, and bird, and insect small Came sevens and pairs, and entered in, as taught Their order; last the sire, and his three sons, With their four wives; and God made fast the door. Meanwhile the south-wind arose, and, with black wings Wide-hovering, all the clouds together drove From under heaven; the hills, to their supply, Vapor and exhalation, dusk and moist,