As one who in his journey baits at noon,

Though bent on speed, so here the' Arch Angel paus'd Betwixt the world destroy'd and world restor❜d,

If Adam aught perhaps might interpose;

Then with transition sweet new speech résumes.

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 :

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,
Laboring 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-offerings 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

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

Subjection to his empire tyrannous :

A mighty hunter thence he shall be stil'd

Before the Lord, as in despight of Heaven,
Or from Heaven claming second sovranty;
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 towards 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 tower, whose top may reach to Heaven;
And get themselves a name, lest far dispers'd

In foreign lands their memory be lost,
Regardless whether good or evil fame.
But God, who oft descends to visit men
Unseen, and through their habitations walks
To mark their doings, them beholding soon,
Comes down to see their city, ere the tower
Obstruct Heaven-towers, and in derision sets
Upon their tongues a various spirit to rase
Quite out their native language, and instead
To sow a jangling noise of words unknown:
Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud

Among the builders; each to other calls

Not understood, till hoarse, and all in rage,

As mock'd they storm; great laughter was in Heaven,
And looking down, to see the hubbub strange,
And hear the din: thus was the building left
Ridiculous, and the work Confusion nam'd.
Whereto thus Adam fatherly displeas'd.
O execrable son, so to aspire
Above his brethren, to himself assuming
Authority usurp❜d, from God not given:
He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl,
Dominion absolute; that right we hold
By his donation; but man over men
He made not lord; such title to himself
Reserving, human left from human free.
But this usurper his encroachment proud
Stays not on man; to God his tower intends
Siege and defiance: Wretched man! what food
Will he convey up thither to sustain
Himself and his rash army, where thin air
Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross,
And famish him of breath, if not of bread ?

To whom thus Michael. Justly thou abhorr'st
That son, who on the quiet state of men