One man except, the only son of light Shall them admonish, and before them set The paths of righteousness, how much more safe 815 Of them derided, but of God observ'd 820 A world devote to universal wrack. No sooner he with them of man and beast. Select for life shall in the ark be lodg'd, And shelter'd round, but all the cataracts 817 observ'd] Observations honoured. C. J. 831 horned] See Browne's Britan. Past. ii. p. 190. Hor. Od. iv. 14. 25. 'Sic tauriformis volvitur Aufidus.' and Virg. Geo. iv. 371. Æn. viii. 77. 825 830 810 Down the great river to the op'ning gulf, And there take root, an island salt and bare, 834 The haunt of seals, and orcs, and sea-mews' clang; 840 He look'd, and saw the ark hull on the flood, Which now abated, for the clouds were fled, Driv'n by a keen north-wind, that blowing dry Wrinkled the face of deluge, as decay'd ; And the clear sun on his wide watery glass Gaz'd hot, and of the fresh wave largely drew, As after thirst, which made their flowing shrink From standing lake to tripping ebb, that stole With soft foot towards the deep, who now had stopp'd 845 835 haunt] Virg. Æn. V. 128. 'Apricis statio gratissima mergis. Hom. Hymn. Apoll. 77. Πουλύποδες δ ̓ ἐν ἐμοὶ θαλάμας φῶκαι τε μελαιναι, 835 clang] Hom. Il. iii. 3. Stat. Theb. v. 15, xii. 515. -Grues Aquilone fugatæ Cum videre Pharon; tunc æthera latius implent Tunc hilari clangore sonant.' 840 hull] v. Donne's Poems, p. 316. xxxi. A great ship overset, or without saile hulling.' Queen Elizabeth's Tear, by C. Lever, 1607, 4to. F. 2. 'Hulling upon the river where she lay.' Sandy's 847 tripping] Drayton applies this word to the flow of rivers: Polyolb. Song xiii. The Avon trips along.' xv. "The Isis from her source comes tripping with delight; and xxvi. Darwin from her fount comes tripping down towards Trent.' Todd. 848 soft foot] See Drakenborch's Note on Sil. Italicus, vi. 140. p. His sluices, as the heaven his windows shut. Green tree or ground whereon his foot may light; Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark O thou, who future things canst represent 852 855 860 865 870 Of wicked sons destroy'd, than I rejoice 875 298. Lucret. v. 274. Liquido pede,' with Wakefield's Note, and Jer. Taylor's Sermon on Lady Carbery, fol. p. 169. 852 tops] Backs. vii. 206. Bentl. MS. For one man found so perfect and so just, But say, what mean those colour'd streaks in heaven, Or serve they as a flowery verge to bind 880 To whom th' archangel. Dextrously thou aim'st; So willingly doth God remit his ire, Though late repenting him of man deprav'd, 885 Griev'd at his heart, when looking down he saw 880 brow] Fenton proposed to read The bow of God.' 886 late] Fenton placed a comma after 'late,' but Bentley removed it, and gave the line agreeably to Milton's own editions. PARADISE LOST. 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. As one who in his journey bates at noon, Though bent on speed, so here th' archangel paus'd Betwixt the world destroy'd and world restor❜d, If Adam aught perhaps might interpose; Then with transition sweet, new speech resumes. Thus thou hast seen one world begin and end; And man as from a second stock proceed. Much thou hast yet to see, but I perceive Thy mortal sight to fail: objects divine 1 As one] When the last book was divided into two, in the second edition, these first five lines were added: |