The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (133 page)

1

   
As one who in his journey bates
⁶²⁰³
at noon,

2

Though bent
⁶²⁰⁴
on speed, so here the Arch-Angel paused

3

Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored,

4

If Adam aught perhaps might interpose.
⁶²⁰⁵

5

Then with transition sweet,
⁶²⁰⁶
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
⁶²⁰⁷
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
⁶²⁰⁸
of men, while yet but few,

14

And while the dread of judgment past remains

15

Fresh in their minds, fearing the Deity,

16

With some
⁶²⁰⁹
regard to what is just and right

17

Shall lead their lives, and multiply apace,
⁶²¹⁰

18

Laboring the soil, and reaping plenteous crop,

19

Corn, wine, and oil, and from the herd or flock

20

Oft sacrificing bullock,
⁶²¹¹
lamb, or kid,

21

With large wine-offerings poured, and sacred feast,

22

Shall spend their days in joy unblamed,
⁶²¹²
and dwell

23

Long time in peace, by families and tribes,

24

Under paternal rule. Till one
⁶²¹³
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
⁶²¹⁴

29

Concord
⁶²¹⁵
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
⁶²¹⁶
of Heav’n,

35

Or from Heav’n claiming second sov’reignty,

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,
⁶²¹⁷
wherein a black bituminous
⁶²¹⁸
gurge
⁶²¹⁹

42

Boils out from under ground, the mouth of Hell.

43

Of brick, and of that stuff, they cast
⁶²²⁰
to build

44

A city and tow’r,
⁶²²¹
whose top may reach to Heav’n,

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 Heav’n-tow’rs, and in derision sets

53

Upon their tongues a various
⁶²²²
spirit, to raze
⁶²²³

54

Quite out their native language and, instead,

55

To sow
⁶²²⁴
a jangling
⁶²²⁵
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.
⁶²²⁶
Great laughter was in Heav’n

60

And looking down, to see the hubbub strange

61

And hear the din. Thus was the building
⁶²²⁷
left

62

Ridiculous, and the work Confusion
⁶²²⁸
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 giv’n.

67

He gave us only over beast, fish, fowl,

68

Dominion absolute; that right we hold

69

By His donation.
⁶²²⁹
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
⁶²³⁰
proud

73

Stays
⁶²³¹
not on man! To God his tower intends

74

Siege
⁶²³²
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
⁶²³³
his entrails gross,

78

And famish
⁶²³⁴
him of breath, if not of bread?”

79

To whom thus Michael:

“Justly thou abhorr’st

80

That son, who on the quiet state of men

81

Such trouble brought, affecting
⁶²³⁵
to subdue

82

Rational liberty. Yet know withal,
⁶²³⁶

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
⁶²³⁷
the government
⁶²³⁸

89

From reason, and to servitude reduce

90

Man, till then free. Therefore, since he permits

91

Within himself unworthy powers to reign