Paradise Lost

Wide hovering, all the Clouds together drove 
From under Heav'n; the Hills to their supplie 
Vapour, and Exhalation dusk and moist, 
Sent up amain; and now the thick'nd Skie 
Like a dark Ceeling stood; down rush'd the Rain 
Impetuous, and continu'd till the Earth 
No more was seen; the floating Vessel swum 
Uplifted; and secure with beaked prow 
Rode tilting o're the Waves, all dwellings else 
Flood overwhelmd, and them with all thir pomp 
Deep under water rould; Sea cover'd Sea, 
Sea without shoar; and in thir Palaces 
Where luxurie late reign'd, Sea-monsters whelp'd 
And stabl'd; of Mankind, so numerous late, 
All left, in one small bottom swum imbark't. 
How didst thou grieve then, ADAM, to behold 
The end of all thy Ofspring, end so sad, 
Depopulation; thee another Floud, 
Of tears and sorrow a Floud thee also drown'd, 
And sunk thee as thy Sons; till gently reard 
By th' Angel, on thy feet thou stoodst at last, 
Though comfortless, as when a Father mourns 
His Childern, all in view destroyd at once; 
And scarce to th' Angel utterdst thus thy plaint. 
  O Visions ill foreseen! better had I 
Liv'd ignorant of future, so had borne 
My part of evil onely, each dayes lot 
Anough to bear; those now, that were dispenst 
The burd'n of many Ages, on me light 
At once, by my foreknowledge gaining Birth 
Abortive, to torment me ere thir being, 
With thought that they must be.  Let no man seek 
Henceforth to be foretold what shall befall 
Him or his Childern, evil he may be sure, 
Which neither his foreknowing can prevent, 
And hee the future evil shall no less 
In apprehension then in substance feel 
Grievous to bear: but that care now is past, 
Man is not whom to warne: those few escap't 
Famin and anguish will at last consume 
Wandring that watrie Desert: I had hope 
When violence was ceas't, and Warr on Earth, 
All would have then gon well, peace would have crownd 
With length of happy days the race of man; 
But I was farr deceav'd; for now I see 
Peace to corrupt no less then Warr to waste. 
How comes it thus? unfould, Celestial Guide, 
And whether here the Race of man will end. 
To whom thus MICHAEL.  Those whom last thou sawst 
In triumph and luxurious wealth, are they 
First seen in acts of prowess eminent 
And great exploits, but of true vertu void; 
Who having spilt much blood, and don much waste 
Subduing Nations, and achievd thereby 
Fame in the World, high titles, and rich prey, 
Shall change thir course to pleasure, ease, and sloth, 
Surfet, and lust, till wantonness and pride 
Raise out of friendship hostil deeds in Peace. 
The conquerd also, and enslav'd by Warr 
Shall with thir freedom lost all vertu loose 
And feare of God, from whom thir pietie feign'd 
In sharp contest of Battel found no aide 
Against invaders; therefore coold in zeale 
Thenceforth shall practice how to live secure, 
Worldlie or dissolute, on what thir Lords 
Shall leave them to enjoy; for th' Earth shall bear 
More then anough, that temperance may be tri'd: 
So all shall turn degenerate, all deprav'd, 
Justice and Temperance, Truth and Faith forgot; 
One Man except, the onely Son of light 
In a dark Age, against example good, 
Against allurement, custom, and a World 
Offended; fearless of reproach and scorn, 
Or violence, hee of thir wicked wayes 
Shall them admonish, and before them set 
The paths of righteousness, how much more safe, 
And full of peace, denouncing wrauth to come 
On thir impenitence; and shall returne 
Of them derided, but of God observd 
The one just Man alive; by his command 
Shall build a wondrous Ark, as thou beheldst, 
To save himself and houshold from amidst 
A World devote to universal rack. 
No sooner hee with them of Man and Beast 
Select for life shall in the Ark be lodg'd, 
And shelterd round, but all the Cataracts 
Of Heav'n set open on the Earth shall powre 
Raine day and night, all fountaines of the Deep 
Broke up, shall heave the Ocean to usurp 
Beyond all bounds, till inundation rise 
Above the highest Hills: then shall this Mount 
Of Paradise by might of Waves be moovd 
Out of his place, pushd by the horned floud, 
With all his verdure spoil'd, and Trees adrift 
Down the great River to the op'ning Gulf, 
And there take root an Iland salt and bare, 
The haunt of Seales and Orcs, and Sea-mews clang. 
To teach thee that God attributes to place 
No sanctitie, if none be thither brought 
By Men who there frequent, or therein dwell.