Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/279

 BOOK TWELFTH

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��BOOK XII

THE ARGUMENT

The Angel Michael continues, from the Flood, to re- late what shall succeed; then, in the mention of Abra- ham, comes by degrees to explain who that Seed of the Woman shall be which was promised Adam and Eve in the Fall : his incarnation, death, resurrection, and as- cension: the state of the Church till his second com- ing. Adam, greatly satisfied and recomforted by these relations and promises, descends the hill with Mi- chael: wakens Eve, who all this while had slept, but with gentle dreams composed to quietness of mind and submission. Michael in either hand leads them out of Paradise, the fiery Sword waving behind them, and the Cherubim taking their stations to guard the place.

As one who, in his journey, bates at noon, Though bent on speed, so here the Arch- angel paused

Betwixt the world destroyed and world re- stored,

If Adam aught perhaps might interpose; Then, with transition sweet, new speech re- sumes : "Thus thou hast seen one world begin

and end,

And Man as from a second stock proceed. Much thou bast yet to see; but I perceive Thy mortal sight to fail; objects divine 9 Must needs impair and weary human sense. Henceforth what is to come I will relate; Thou, therefore, give due audience, and at- tend. " This second source of men, while yet

but few,

And while the dread of judgment past re- mains

Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity, With some regard to what is just and right Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace, Labouring the soil, and reaping plenteous

crop, Corn, wine, and oil; and, from the herd or

flock

Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid, 20 With large wine-offerings poured, and sa- cred feast, Shall spend their days in joy unblamed,

and dwell

Long time in peace, by families and tribes, Under paternal rule, till one shall rise, Of proud, ambitious heart, who, not content With fair equality, fraternal state, Will arrogate dominion undeserved Over his brethren, and quite dispossess

��Concord and law of Nature from the

Earth

Hunting (and men, not beasts, shall be his game) 30

With war and hostile snare such as refuse Subjection to his empire tyrannous. A mighty Hunter thence he shall be styled Before the Lord, as in despite of Heaven, Or from Heaven claiming second sovranty, And from rebellion shall derive his name, Though of rebellion others he accuse. He, with a crew, whom like ambition joins With him or under him to tyrannize, Marching from Eden towards the west, shall find 40

The Plain, wherein a black bituminous

gurge Boils out from under ground, the mouth of

Hell. Of brick, and of that stuff, they cast to

build A city and tower, whose top may reach to

Heaven;

And get themselves a name, lest, far dis- persed

In foreign lands, their memory be lost Regardless whether good or evil fame. But God, who oft descends to visit men Unseen, and through their habitations walks, To mark their doings, them beholding soon, Comes down to see their city, ere the Tower Obstruct Heaven - towers, and in derision sets 52

Upon their tongues a various spirit, to rase Quite out their native language, and, in- stead,

To sow a jangling noise of words unknown. Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud Among the builders; each to other calls, Not understood till, hoarse and all in

rage, As mocked they storm. Great laughter

was in Heaven,

And looking down to see the hubbub

strange 60

And hear the din. Thus was the building

left

Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named." Whereto thus Adam, fatherly dis- pleased :

" O execrable son, so to aspire Above his brethren, to himself assuming Authority usurped, from God not given ! He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl, Dominion absolute; that right we hold

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