17

He lookd, and saw the face of things quite changd;

The brazen Throat of Warr had ceast to roar,

All now was turnd to jollitie and game,

To luxurie and riot, feast and dance, [ 715 ]

Marrying or prostituting, as befell,

Rape or Adulterie, where passing faire

Allurd them; thence from Cups to civil Broiles.

At length a Reverend Sire among them came,

And of thir doings great dislike declard, [ 720 ]

And testifid against thir wayes; hee oft

Frequented thir Assemblies, whereso met,

Triumphs or Festivals, and to them preachd

Conversion and Repentance, as to Souls

In prison under Judgments imminent: [ 725 ]

But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceasd

Contending, and removd his Tents farr off;

Then from the Mountain hewing Timber tall,

Began to build a Vessel of huge bulk,

Measurd by Cubit, length, and breadth, and highth, [ 730 ]

Smeard round with Pitch, and in the side a dore

Contrivd, and of provisions laid in large

For Man and Beast: when loe a wonder strange!

Of every Beast, and Bird, and Insect small

Came seavens, and pairs, and enterd in, as taught [ 735 ]

Thir order; last the Sire, and his three Sons

With thir four Wives; and God made fast the dore.

Meanwhile the Southwind rose, and with black wings

Wide hovering, all the Clouds together drove

From under Heavn; the Hills to their supplie [ 740 ]

Vapour, and Exhalation dusk and moist,

Sent up amain; and now the thicknd Skie

Like a dark Ceeling stood; down rushd the Rain

Impetuous, and continud till the Earth

No more was seen; the floating Vessel swum [ 745 ]

Uplifted; and secure with beaked prow

Rode tilting ore the Waves, all dwellings else

Flood overwhelmd, and them with all thir pomp

Deep under water rould; Sea coverd Sea,

Sea without shoar; and in thir Palaces [ 750 ]

Where luxurie late reignd, Sea-monsters whelpd

And stabld; of Mankind, so numerous late,

All left, in one small bottom swum imbarkt.