:

His triple-colour'd bow, whereon to look,
And call to mind his cov'nant. Day and night,
Seed-time and harvest, heat and hoary frost

Shall hold their course, till fire purge all things

new,

900

Both Heav'nand Earth, wherein the just shall dwell.

END OF THE ELEVENTH BOOK.

THE

TWELFTH BOOK

OF

PARADISE LOST.

:

fas

te

2:

PARADISE LOST.

BOOK THE TWELFTH.

A

S one who in his journey bates at noon,
Though bent on speed, so here th' Arch-
Angel paus'd

4

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
Must needs impair and weary human sense: 10
Henceforth what is to come I will relate,
Thou therefore give due audience, and attend.
This second source of men, while yet but few,
And while the dread of judgment past remains
Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity,
With some regard to what is just and right
Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace,

15

20

Lab'ring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop,
Corn, wine, and oil; and from the herd or flock,
Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid,
With large wine-off rings pour'd, and sacred feast,
Shall spend their days in joy unblam'd, and dwell
Long time in peace, by families and tribes,
Under paternal rule, till one shall rise,

Of proud ambitious heart; who, not content 25

With fair equality, fraternal state,

Will arrogate dominion undeserv'd
Over his brethren, and quite dispossess
Concord and law of nature from the earth,

Hunting (and men not beasts shall be his game)
With war and hostile snare such as refuse

31

36

Subjection to his empire tyrannous :
A mighty hunter thence he shall be styl'd
Before the Lord, as in despite of Heav'n,
Or from Heav'n claiming second sov'reignty;
And from rebellion shall derive his name,
Though of rebellion others he accuse.
He with a crew, whom like ambition joins
With him or under him to tyrannize,
Marching from Eden tow'rds the west, shall find
The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge
Boils out from under ground, the mouth of Hell :
Of brick, and of that stuff they cast to build
A city'and tow'r, whose top may reach to Heav'n;
And get themselves a name, lest far dispers'd 45
In foreign lands, their memory be lost,
Regardless whether good or evil fame.