The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (133 page)

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

BOOK: The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems
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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

      

Though late
6196
repenting
6197
Him of man
6198
depraved,
6199

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

      

That He relents,
6200
not to blot
6201
out mankind,

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

      

   
As one who in his journey bates
6203
at noon,

2

      

Though bent
6204
on speed, so here the Arch-Angel paused

3

      

Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored,

4

      

If Adam aught perhaps might interpose.
6205

5

      

Then with transition sweet,
6206
new speech resumes:

6

      

   
“Thus thou hast seen one world begin, and end,

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
6207
and weary human sense.

11

      

Henceforth what is to come I will relate.

12

      

Thou therefore give due audience, and attend.

13

      

   
“This second source
6208
of men, while yet but few,

14

      

And while the dread of judgment past remains

15

      

Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity,

16

      

With some
6209
regard to what is just and right

17

      

Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace,
6210

18

      

Laboring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop,

19

      

Corn, wine, and oil, and from the herd or flock

20

      

Oft sacrificing bullock,
6211
lamb, or kid,

21

      

With large wine-offerings poured, and sacred feast,

22

      

Shall spend their days in joy unblamed,
6212
and dwell

23

      

Long time in peace, by families and tribes,

24

      

Under paternal rule. Till one
6213
shall rise

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
6214

29

      

Concord
6215
and law of nature from the earth,

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
6216
of Heav’n,

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

      

   
“He with a crew, whom like ambition joins

39

      

With him or under him to tyrannize,

40

      

Marching from Eden towards the west, shall find

41

      

The plain,
6217
wherein a black bituminous
6218
gurge
6219

42

      

Boils out from under ground, the mouth of Hell.

43

      

Of brick, and of that stuff, they cast
6220
to build

44

      

A city and tow’r,
6221
whose top may reach to Heav’n,

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

      

Upon their tongues a various
6222
spirit, to raze
6223

54

      

Quite out their native language and, instead,

55

      

To sow
6224
a jangling
6225
noise of words unknown.

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.
6226
Great laughter was in Heav’n

60

      

And looking down, to see the hubbub strange

61

      

And hear the din. Thus was the building
6227
left

62

      

Ridiculous, and the work Confusion
6228
named.”

63

      

Whereto thus Adam, fatherly displeased:

64

      

   
“O execrable son! so to aspire

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.
6229
But man over men

70

      

He made not lord, such title to Himself

71

      

Reserving, human left from human free.

72

      

But this usurper his encroachment
6230
proud

73

      

Stays
6231
not on man! To God his tower intends

74

      

Siege
6232
and defiance. Wretched man! What food

75

      

Will he convey up thither, to sustain

76

      

Himself and his rash army, where thin air

77

      

Above the clouds will pine
6233
his entrails gross,

78

      

And famish
6234
him of breath, if not of bread?”

79

      

To whom thus Michael:

“Justly thou abhorr’st

80

      

That son, who on the quiet state of men

81

      

Such trouble brought, affecting
6235
to subdue

82

      

Rational liberty. Yet know withal,
6236

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

      

And upstart passions, catch
6237
the government
6238

89

      

From reason, and to servitude reduce

90

      

Man, till then free. Therefore, since he permits

91

      

Within himself unworthy powers to reign

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