Paradise Lost

Before him, Towns, and rural works between, 
Cities of Men with lofty Gates and Towrs, 
Concours in Arms, fierce Faces threatning Warr, 
Giants of mightie Bone, and bould emprise; 
Part wield thir Arms, part courb the foaming Steed, 
Single or in Array of Battel rang'd 
Both Horse and Foot, nor idely mustring stood; 
One way a Band select from forage drives 
A herd of Beeves, faire Oxen and faire Kine 
From a fat Meddow ground; or fleecy Flock, 
Ewes and thir bleating Lambs over the Plaine, 
Thir Bootie; scarce with Life the Shepherds flye, 
But call in aide, which tacks a bloody Fray; 
With cruel Tournament the Squadrons joine; 
Where Cattel pastur'd late, now scatterd lies 
With Carcasses and Arms th' ensanguind Field 
Deserted: Others to a Citie strong 
Lay Siege, encampt; by Batterie, Scale, and Mine, 
Assaulting; others from the Wall defend 
With Dart and Jav'lin, Stones and sulfurous Fire; 
On each hand slaughter and gigantic deeds. 
In other part the scepter'd Haralds call 
To Council in the Citie Gates: anon 
Grey-headed men and grave, with Warriours mixt, 
Assemble, and Harangues are heard, but soon 
In factious opposition, till at last 
Of middle Age one rising, eminent 
In wise deport, spake much of Right and Wrong, 
Of Justice, of Religion, Truth and Peace, 
And Judgement from above: him old and young 
Exploded, and had seiz'd with violent hands, 
Had not a Cloud descending snatch'd him thence 
Unseen amid the throng: so violence 
Proceeded, and Oppression, and Sword-Law 
Through all the Plain, and refuge none was found. 
ADAM was all in tears, and to his guide 
Lamenting turnd full sad; O what are these, 
Deaths Ministers, not Men, who thus deal Death 
Inhumanly to men, and multiply 
Ten thousand fould the sin of him who slew 
His Brother; for of whom such massacher 
Make they but of thir Brethren, men of men? 
But who was that Just Man, whom had not Heav'n 
Rescu'd, had in his Righteousness bin lost? 
  To whom thus MICHAEL; These are the product 
Of those ill-mated Marriages thou saw'st; 
Where good with bad were matcht, who of themselves 
Abhor to joyn; and by imprudence mixt, 
Produce prodigious Births of bodie or mind. 
Such were these Giants, men of high renown; 
For in those dayes Might onely shall be admir'd, 
And Valour and Heroic Vertu call'd; 
To overcome in Battel, and subdue 
Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite 
Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch 
Of human Glorie, and for Glorie done 
Of triumph, to be styl'd great Conquerours, 
Patrons of Mankind, Gods, and Sons of Gods, 
Destroyers rightlier call'd and Plagues of men. 
Thus Fame shall be achiev'd, renown on Earth, 
And what most merits fame in silence hid. 
But hee the seventh from thee, whom thou beheldst 
The onely 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 balmie Cloud with winged Steeds 
Did, as thou sawst, receave, to walk with God 
High in Salvation and the Climes of bliss, 
Exempt from Death; to shew thee what reward 
Awaits the good, the rest what punishment; 
Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold. 
  He look'd, & saw the face of things quite chang'd; 
The brazen Throat of Warr had ceast to roar, 
All now was turn'd to jollitie and game, 
To luxurie and riot, feast and dance, 
Marrying or prostituting, as befell, 
Rape or Adulterie, where passing faire 
Allurd them; thence from Cups to civil Broiles. 
At length a Reverend Sire among them came, 
And of thir doings great dislike declar'd, 
And testifi'd against thir wayes; hee oft 
Frequented thir Assemblies, whereso met, 
Triumphs or Festivals, and to them preachd 
Conversion and Repentance, as to Souls 
In prison under Judgements imminent: 
But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceas'd 
Contending, and remov'd his Tents farr off; 
Then from the Mountain hewing Timber tall, 
Began to build a Vessel of huge bulk, 
Measur'd by Cubit, length, & breadth, and highth, 
Smeard round with Pitch, and in the side a dore 
Contriv'd, and of provisions laid in large 
For Man and Beast: when loe a wonder strange! 
Of everie Beast, and Bird, and Insect small 
Came seavens, and pairs, and enterd in, as taught 
Thir order; last the Sire, and his three Sons 
With thir four Wives, and God made fast the dore. 
Meanwhile the Southwind rose, & with black wings