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��PARADISE LOST

��Where good with bad were matched; who

of themselves

Abhor to join, and, by imprudence mixed, Produce prodigious births of body or mind. Such were these Giants, men of high re- nown;

For in those days might only shall be ad- mired,

And valour and heroic virtue called. 690 To overcome in battle, and subdue Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite Manslaughter, shall be held the highest

pitch

Of human glory, and, for glory done, Of triumph to be styled great conquerors, Patrons of mankind, gods, and sons of

gods Destroyers rightlier called, and Plagues of

men. Thus fame shall be achieved, renown on

earth,

And what most merits fame in silence hid. But he, the seventh from thee, whom thou beheld'st 700

The only righteous in a world perverse, And therefore hated, therefore so beset With foes, for daring single to be just, And utter odious truth, that God would

come To judge them with his Saints him the

Most High,

Rapt in a balmy cloud, with winged steeds, Did, as thou saw'st, receive, to walk with

God

High in salvation and the climes of bliss, Exempt from death, to show thee what re- ward

Awaits the good, the rest what punish- ment; 710 Which now direct thine eyes and soon be- hold." He looked, and saw the face of things

quite changed. The brazen throat of war had ceased to

roar;

All now was turned to jollity and game, 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

broils.

At length a reverend Sire among them came, 719

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 judgments 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 cubit, length, and breadth,

and highth, 730

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 rose, and, with

black wings Wide - hovering, all the clouds together

drove From under heaven; the hills to their

supply 74 o

Vapour, and exhalation dusk and moist, Sent up amain; and now the thickened

sky Like a dark ceiling stood: down rushed the

rain

Impetuous, and continued till the earth No more was seen. The floating Vessel

swum

Uplifted, and secure with beaked prow Rode tilting o'er the waves; all dwellings

else Flood overwhelmed, and them with all

their pomp

Deep under water rowled ; sea covered sea, Sea without shore: and in their palaces, 750 Where luxury late reigned, sea-monsters

whelped And stabled: of mankind, so numerous

late, All left in one small bottom swum im-

barked.

How didst thou grieve then, Adam, to be- hold

The end of all thy offspring, end so sad, Depopulation ! Thee another flood,

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