John Milton-Paradise Lost / Book XII
Milton, John "Paradise Lost" Book XII |
1 As one who in his journey bates at noon, 2 Though bent on speed; so here the Arch-Angel paused 3 Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored, 4 If Adam aught perhaps might interpose; 5 Then, with transition sweet, new speech resumes. 6 Thus thou hast seen one world begin, and end; 7 And Man, as from a second stock, proceed. 8 Much thou hast yet to see; but I perceive 9 Thy mortal sight to fail; objects divine 10 Must needs impair and weary human sense: 11 Henceforth what is to come I will relate; 12 Thou therefore give due audience, and attend. 13 This second source of Men, while yet but few, 14 And while the dread of judgement past remains 15 Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity 16 With some regard to what is just and right 17 Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace; 18 Labouring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop, 19 Corn, wine, and oil; and, from the herd or flock, 20 Oft sacrificing bullock, lamb, or kid, 21 With large wine-offerings poured, and sacred feast, 22 Shall spend their days in joy unblamed; and dwell 23 Long time in peace, by families and tribes, 24 Under paternal rule: till one shall rise 25 Of proud ambitious heart; who, not content 26 With fair equality, fraternal state, 27 Will arrogate dominion undeserved 28 Over his brethren, and quite dispossess 29 Concord and law of nature from the earth; 30 Hunting (and men not beasts shall be his game) 31 With war, and hostile snare, such as refuse 32 Subjection to his empire tyrannous: 33 A mighty hunter thence he shall be styled 34 Before the Lord; as in despite of Heaven, 35 Or from Heaven, claiming second sovranty; 36 And from rebellion shall derive his name, 37 Though of rebellion others he accuse. 38 He with a crew, whom like ambition joins 39 With him or under him to tyrannize, 40 Marching from Eden towards the west, shall find 41 The plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge 42 Boils out from under ground, the mouth of Hell: 43 Of brick, and of that stuff, they cast to build 44 A city and tower, whose top may reach to Heaven; 45 And get themselves a name; lest, far dispersed 46 In foreign lands, their memory be lost; 47 Regardless whether good or evil fame. 48 But God, who oft descends to visit men 49 Unseen, and through their habitations walks 50 To mark their doings, them beholding soon, 51 Comes down to see their city, ere the tower 52 Obstruct Heaven-towers, and in derision sets 53 Upon their tongues a various spirit, to rase 54 Quite out their native language; and, instead, 55 To sow a jangling noise of words unknown: 56 Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud, 57 Among the builders; each to other calls 58 Not understood; till hoarse, and all in rage, 59 As mocked they storm: great laughter was in Heaven, 60 And looking down, to see the hubbub strange, 61 And hear the din: Thus was the building left 62 Ridiculous, and the work Confusion named. 63 Whereto thus Adam, fatherly displeased. 64 O execrable son! so to aspire 65 Above his brethren; to himself assuming 66 Authority usurped, from God not given: 67 He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl, 68 Dominion absolute; that right we hold 69 By his donation; but man over men 70 He made not lord; such title to himself 71 Reserving, human left from human free. 72 But this usurper his encroachment proud 73 Stays not on Man; to God his tower intends 74 Siege and defiance: Wretched man!what food 75 Will he convey up thither, to sustain 76 Himself and his rash army; where thin air 77 Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross, 78 And famish him of breath, if not of bread? 79 To whom thus Michael. Justly thou abhorrest 80 That son, who on the quiet state of men 81 Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue 82 Rational liberty; yet know withal, 83 Since thy original lapse, true liberty 84 Is lost, which always with right reason dwells 85 Twinned, and from her hath no dividual being: 86 Reason in man obscured, or not obeyed, 87 Immediately inordinate desires, 88 And upstart passions, catch the government 89 From reason; and to servitude reduce 90 Man, till then free. Therefore, since he permits 91 Within himself unworthy powers to reign 92 Over free reason, God, in judgement just, 93 Subjects him from without to violent lords; 94 Who oft as undeservedly enthrall 95 His outward freedom: Tyranny must be; 96 Though to the tyrant thereby no excuse. 97 Yet sometimes nations will decline so low 98 From virtue, which is reason, that no wrong, 99 But justice, and some fatal curse annexed, 100 Deprives them of their outward liberty; 101 Their inward lost: Witness the irreverent son 102 Of him who built the ark; who, for the shame 103 Done to his father, heard this heavy curse, 104 Servant of servants, on his vicious race. 105 Thus will this latter, as the former world, 106 Still tend from bad to worse; till God at last, 107 Wearied with their iniquities, withdraw 108 His presence from among them, and avert 109 His holy eyes; resolving from thenceforth 110 To leave them to their own polluted ways; 111 And one peculiar nation to select 112 From all the rest, of whom to be invoked, 113 A nation from one faithful man to spring: 114 Him on this side Euphrates yet residing, 115 Bred up in idol-worship: O, that men 116 (Canst thou believe?) should be so stupid grown, 117 While yet the patriarch lived, who 'scaped the flood, 118 As to forsake the living God, and fall 119 To worship their own work in wood and stone 120 For Gods! Yet him God the Most High vouchsafes |