Read The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems Online
Authors: John Milton,Burton Raffel
Tags: #Fiction, #General, #Literary Collections, #Poetry, #Classics, #English; Irish; Scottish; Welsh, #English poetry
883
Lest it again dissolve and show’r the earth?”
884
To whom the Arch-Angel:
“Dextrously
6194
thou aim’st.
885
So willingly doth God remit
6195
His ire,
886
887
Grieved at His heart, when looking down He saw
888
The whole earth filled with violence, and all flesh
889
Corrupting each their way. Yet, those removed,
890
Such grace shall one just man find in His sight,
891
892
And makes a covenant never to destroy
893
The earth again by flood, nor let the sea
894
Surpass his bounds, nor rain to drown the world,
895
With man therein or beast. But when He brings
896
Over the earth a cloud, will therein set
897
His triple-colored bow, whereon to look,
898
And call to mind His cov’nant. Day and night,
899
Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary
6202
frost,
900
Shall hold their course, till fire purge all things new,
901
Both Heav’n and earth, wherein the just shall dwell.”
The End of the Eleventh Book
BOOK XII
THE ARGUMENT
The Angel Michael continues from the Flood, to relate what shall succeed; then, in the mention of Abraham, 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 Ascension; the state of the Church till his Second Coming.
Adam, greatly satisfied and recomforted by these relations and promises, descends the hill with Michael; 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.
1 | | |
2 | | Though bent |
3 | | Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored, |
4 | | If Adam aught perhaps might interpose. |
5 | | Then with transition sweet, |
6 | | |
7 | | And man, as from a second stock, proceed. |
8 | | Much thou hast yet to see, but I perceive |
9 | | Thy mortal sight to fail; objects divine |
10 | | Must needs impair |
11 | | Henceforth what is to come I will relate. |
12 | | Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. |
13 | | |
14 | | And while the dread of judgment past remains |
15 | | Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity, |
16 | | With some |
17 | | Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace, |
18 | | Laboring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop, |
19 | | Corn, wine, and oil, and from the herd or flock |
20 | | Oft sacrificing bullock, |
21 | | With large wine-offerings poured, and sacred feast, |
22 | | Shall spend their days in joy unblamed, |
23 | | Long time in peace, by families and tribes, |
24 | | Under paternal rule. Till one |
25 | | Of proud ambitious heart, who not content |
26 | | With fair equality, fraternal state, |
27 | | Will arrogate dominion undeserved |
28 | | Over his brethren, and quite dispossess |
29 | | Concord |
30 | | Hunting (and men not beasts shall be his game) |
31 | | With war, and hostile snare, such as refuse |
32 | | Subjection to his empire tyrannous. |
33 | | A mighty hunter thence he shall be styled |
34 | | Before the Lord, as in despite |
35 | | Or from Heav’n claiming second sov’reignty, |
36 | | And from rebellion shall derive his name, |
37 | | Though of rebellion others he accuse. |
38 | | |
39 | | With him or under him to tyrannize, |
40 | | Marching from Eden towards the west, shall find |
41 | | |
42 | | Boils out from under ground, the mouth of Hell. |
43 | | Of brick, and of that stuff, they cast |
44 | | A city and tow’r, |
45 | | And get themselves a name, lest far dispersed |
46 | | In foreign lands, their memory be lost, |
47 | | Regardless whether good or evil fame. |
48 | | But God, who oft descends to visit men |
49 | | Unseen, and through their habitations walks |
50 | | To mark their doings, them beholding soon, |
51 | | Comes down to see their city, ere the tower |
52 | | Obstruct Heav’n-tow’rs, and in derision sets |
53 | | |
54 | | Quite out their native language and, instead, |
55 | | |
56 | | Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud |
57 | | Among the builders; each to other calls |
58 | | Not understood; till hoarse, and all in rage, |
59 | | As mocked they storm. |
60 | | And looking down, to see the hubbub strange |
61 | | And hear the din. Thus was the building |
62 | | Ridiculous, and the work Confusion |
63 | | Whereto thus Adam, fatherly displeased: |
64 | | |
65 | | Above his brethren, to himself assuming |
66 | | Authority usurped, from God not giv’n. |
67 | | He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl, |
68 | | Dominion absolute; that right we hold |
69 | | By His donation. |
70 | | He made not lord, such title to Himself |
71 | | Reserving, human left from human free. |
72 | | But this usurper his encroachment |
73 | | Stays |
74 | | Siege |
75 | | Will he convey up thither, to sustain |
76 | | Himself and his rash army, where thin air |
77 | | Above the clouds will pine |
78 | | And famish |
79 | | To whom thus Michael: “Justly thou abhorr’st |
80 | | That son, who on the quiet state of men |
81 | | Such trouble brought, affecting |
82 | | Rational liberty. Yet know withal, |
83 | | Since thy original lapse true liberty |
84 | | Is lost, which always with right reason dwells |
85 | | Twinned, and from her hath no dividual being. |
86 | | Reason in man obscured, or not obeyed, |
87 | | Immediately inordinate desires, |
88 | | |
89 | | From reason, and to servitude reduce |
90 | | Man, till then free. Therefore, since he permits |
91 | | Within himself unworthy powers to reign |