Down the great river to the op'ning gulf,

And there take root an iland falt and bare,

The haunt of feals, and orcs, and fea-mews clang: 835
To teach thee that God attributes to place
No fanctity, if none be thither brought
By men who there frequent, or therein dwell.
And now what further fhall enfue, behold.

845

He look'd, and faw the ark hull on the flood, 840
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 fun on his wide watry 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 foft foot tow'ards the deep, who now had stopt
His fluces, as the Heav'n his windows fhut.
The ark no more now flotes, but seems on ground
Fast on the top of fome high mountain fix'd.
And now the tops of hills as rocks appear;
With clamor thence the rapid currents drive
Tow'ards the retreating sea their furious tide.
Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies,
And after him, the furer meffenger,
A dove sent forth once and a in to spy

Green tree or ground whereon his foot may light;
The fecond time returning, in his bill
An olive leaf he brings, pacific fign:
Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark
The ancient fire defcends with all his train;

855

860

Then

Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout,
Grateful to Heav'n, over his head beholds
A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow
Confpicuous with three lifted colors gay,
Betokening peace from God, and covenant new.
Whereat the heart of Adam erft fo fad
Greatly rejoic'd, and thus his joy broke forth.
O thou who future things canft represent
As prefent, heav'nly Inftructor, I revive
At this laft fight, affur'd that man fhall live
With all the creatures, and their seed preserve.
Far lefs I now lament for one whole world
Of wicked fons deftroy'd, than I rejoice
For one man found so perfect and so just,
That God vouchfafes to raise another world
From him, and all his anger to forget.

865

870

875

But fay, what mean thofe color'd ftreaks in Heaven
Diftended as the brow of God appeas'd,

Or ferve they as a flow'ry verge to bind
The fluid fkirts of that fame watry cloud,
Left it again diffolve and fhow'r the earth?

880

To whom th' Arch-Angel. Dextrously thou aim'ft; So willingly doth God remit his ire,

Though late repenting him of man deprav'd,
Griev'd at his heart, who looking down he faw
The whole earth fill'd with violence, and all flesh
Corrupting each their way; yet, those remov'd,
shall one just man find in his fight,
Such grace
That he relents, not to blot out mankind,

885

And makes a covenant never to destroy

The

The earth again by flood, nor let the fea

Surpafs his bounds, nor rain to drown the world

With man therein or beast; but when he brings 895

Over the earth a cloud, will therein fet

His triple-color'd bow, whereon to look,

And call to mind his covenant: day and night,
Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost

Shall hold their courfe, till fire purge all things new,
Both Heav'n and Earth wherein the juft fhall dwell,

THE END OF THE ELEVENTH BOOK.

THE

TWELFTH BOOK

OF

PARADISE LOST.