Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/400

394 A world devote to universal wrack. No sooner he, with them of man and beast Select for life, shall in the ark be lodged, And sheltered round, but all the cataracts Of heaven set open on the earth shall pour Rain day and night; all fountains of the deep, Broke up, shall heave the ocean to usurp Beyond all bounds, till inundation rise Above the highest hills. Then shall this mount Of Paradise by might of waves be moved Out of his place, pushed by the horned flood, With all his verdure spoiled, and trees adrift, Down the Great River to the opening Gulf, And there take root an island salt and bare, The haunt of seals, and ores, and seamews' clang; To teach thee that God attributes to place No sanctity, if none be thither brought By men who there frequent, or therein dwell. And now what further shall ensue behold."
 * He looked, and saw the ark hull on the flood,

Which now abated; for the clouds were fled, Driven by a keen north-wind, that blowing dry Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decayed; And the clear sun on his wide watery glass Gazed hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew, As after thirst, which made their flowing shrink From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole