，
THE ARGUMENT
＊＝
the angel michael continues from the flood to relate what shall succeed； then； in the mention of abraham； es 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 ascention； the state of the church till his second ing。 adam greatly satisfied and reforted by these relations and promises descends the hill with michael； wakens eve； who all this while had slept； but with gentle dreams posd 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 thir stations to guard the place。
．．
Paradise Lost Ⅻ1
。网
as one who in his journey bates at noone；
though bent on speed； so heer the archangel pausd
betwixt the world destroyd and world restord；
if adam aught perhaps might interpose；
then with transition sweet new speech resumes。 ＇ 5 ＇
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 perceave
thy mortal sight to faile； objects divine
must needs impaire and wearie human sense： ＇ 10 ＇
henceforth what is to i will relate；
thou therefore give due audience； and attend。
this second sours of men； while yet but few；
and while the dread of judgement past remains
fresh in thir mindes； fearing the deitie； ＇ 15 ＇
with some regard to what is just and right
shall lead thir lives and multiplie apace；
labouring the soile； and reaping plenteous crop；
corn wine and oyle； and from the herd or flock；
oft sacrificing bullock； lamb； or kid； ＇ 20 ＇
with large wine…offerings pourd； and sacred feast；
shal spend thir dayes in joy unblamd； 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 equalitie； fraternal state；
will arrogate dominion undeservd
over his brethren； and quite dispossess
concord and law of nature from the earth；
hunting （and men not beasts shall be his game） ＇ 30 ＇
with warr and hostile snare such as refuse
subjection to his empire tyrannous：
a mightie hunter thence he shall be styld
before the lord； as in despite of heavn；
or from heavn claming second sovrantie； ＇ 35 ＇
and from rebellion shall derive his name；
though of rebellion others he accuse。
/d/
Paradise Lost Ⅻ2
hee with a crew； whom like ambition joyns
with him or under him to tyrannize；
marching from eden towards the west； shall finde ＇ 40 ＇
the plain； wherein a black bituminous gurge
boiles out from under ground； the mouth of hell；
of brick； and of that stuff they cast to build
a citie and towre； whose top may reach to heavn；
and get themselves a name； least far disperst ＇ 45 ＇
in foraign lands thir memorie be lost；
regardless whether good or evil fame。
but god who oft descends to visit men
unseen； and through thir habitations walks
to mark thir doings； them beholding soon； ＇ 50 ＇
es down to see thir citie； ere the tower
obstruct heavn towrs； and in derision sets
upon thir tongues a various spirit to rase
quite out thir native language； and instead
to sow a jangling noise of words unknown： ＇ 55 ＇
forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud
among the builders； each to other calls
not understood； till hoarse； and all in rage；
as mockt they storm； great laughter was in heavn
and looking down； to see the hubbub strange ＇ 60 ＇
and hear the din； thus was the building left
ridiculous； and the work confusion namd。
whereto thus adam fatherly displeasd。
o execrable son so to aspire
above his brethren； to himself assuming ＇ 65 ＇
authoritie usurpt； from god not givn：
he gave us onely 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 ＇ 70 ＇
reserving； human left from human free。
but this usurper his encroachment proud
stayes not on man； to god his tower intends
siege and defiance： wretched man！ what food
will he convey up thither to sustain ＇ 75 ＇
himself and his rash armie； where thin aire
above the clouds will pine his entrails gross；
and famish him of breath； if not of bread？
．co
Paradise Lost Ⅻ4
。网
canaan he now attains； i see his tents ＇ 135 ＇
pitcht about sechem； and the neighbouring plaine
of moreh； there by promise he receaves
gift to his progenie of all that land；
from hamath northward to the desert south
（things by thir names i call； though yet unnamd） ＇ 140 ＇
from hermon east to the great western sea；
mount hermon； yonder sea； each place behold
in prospect； as i point them； on the shoare
mount carmel； here the double…founted stream
jordan； true limit eastward； but his sons ＇ 145 ＇
shall dwell to senir； that long ridge of hills。
this ponder； that all nations of the earth
shall in his seed be blessed； by that seed
is meant thy great deliverer； who shall bruise
the serpents head； whereof to thee anon ＇ 150 ＇
plainlier shall be reveald。 this patriarch blest；
whom faithful abraham due time shall call；
a son； and of his son a grand…childe leaves；
like him in faith； in wisdom； and renown；
the grandchilde with twelve sons increast； departs ＇ 155 ＇
from canaan； to a land hereafter calld
egypt； divided by the river nile；
see where it flows； disgorging at seaven mouthes
into the sea： to sojourn in that land
he es invited by a yonger son ＇ 160 ＇
in time of dearth； a son whose worthy deeds
raise him to be the second in that realme
of pharao： there he dies； and leaves his race
growing into a nation； and now grown
suspected to a sequent king； who seeks ＇ 165 ＇
to stop thir overgrowth； as inmate guests
too numerous； whence of guests he makes them slaves
inhospitably； and kills thir infant males：
till by two brethren （those two brethren call
moses and aaron） sent from god to claime ＇ 170 ＇
his people from enthralment； they return
with glory and spoile back to thir promisd land。
。d xs
Paradise Lost Ⅻ5
but first the lawless tyrant； who denies
to know thir god； or message to regard；
must be pelld by signes and judgements dire； ＇ 175 ＇
to blood unshed the rivers must be turnd；
frogs； lice and flies must all his palace fill
with loathd intrusion； and fill all the land；
his cattel must of rot and murren die；
botches and blaines must all his flesh imboss； ＇ 180 ＇
and all his people； thunder mixt with haile；
haile mixt with fire must rend th egyptian skie
and wheel on th earth； devouring where it rouls；
what it devours not； herb； or fruit； or graine；
a darksom cloud of locusts swarming down ＇ 185 ＇
must eat； and on the ground leave nothing green：
darkness must overshadow all his bounds；
palpable darkness； and blot out three dayes；
last with one midnight stroke all the first…born
of egypt must lie dead。 thus with ten wounds ＇ 190 ＇
the river…dragon tamd at length submits
to let his sojourners depart； and oft
humbles his stubborn heart； but still as ice
more hardnd after thaw； till in his rage
pursuing whom he late dismissd； the sea ＇ 195 ＇
swallows him with his host； but them lets pass
as on drie land between two christal walls；
awd by the rod of moses so to stand
divided； till his rescud gain thir shoar：
such wondrous power god to his saint will lend； ＇ 200 ＇
though present in his angel； who shall goe
before them in a cloud； and pillar of fire；
by day a cloud； by night a pillar of fire；
to guide them in thir journey； and remove
behinde them； while th obdurat king pursues： ＇ 205 ＇
all night he will pursue； but his approach
darkness defends between till morning watch；
then through the firey pillar and the cloud
god looking forth will trouble all his host
and craze thir chariot wheels： when by mand ＇ 210 ＇
moses once more his potent rod extends
over the sea； the sea his rod obeys；
on thir imbattelld ranks the waves return；
and overwhelm thir warr： the race elect
safe towards canaan from the shoar advance ＇ 215 ＇
through the wilde desert； not the readiest way；
least entring on the canaanite allarmd
warr terrifie them inexpert； and feare
return them back to egypt； choosing rather
inglorious life with servitude； for life ＇ 220 ＇
to noble and ignoble is more sweet
untraind in armes； where rashness leads not on。
％％。
Paradise Lost Ⅻ6
；
this also shall they gain by thir delay
in the wide wilderness； there they shall found
thir government； and thir great senate choose ＇ 225 ＇
through the twelve tribes； to rule by laws ordaind：
god from the mount of sinai； whose gray top
shall tremble； he descending； will himself
in thunder lightning and loud trumpets sound
ordaine them lawes； part such as appertaine ＇ 230 ＇
to civil justice； part religious rites
of sacrifice； informing them； by types
and shadowes； of that destind seed to bruise
the serpent； by what meanes he shall achieve
mankinds