19

The conquerd also, and enslavd by Warr

Shall with thir freedom lost all vertu loose

And fear of God, from whom thir pietie feignd

In sharp contest of Battel found no aide [ 800 ]

Against invaders; therefore coold in zeale

Thenceforth shall practice how to live secure,

Worldlie or dissolute, on what thir Lords

Shall leave them to enjoy; for th Earth shall bear

More then anough, that temperance may be trid: [ 805 ]

So all shall turn degenerate, all depravd,

Justice and Temperance, Truth and Faith forgot;

One Man except, the onely Son of light

In a dark Age, against example good,

Against allurement, custom, and a World [ 810 ]

Offended; fearless of reproach and scorn,

Or violence, hee of wicked wayes

Shall them admonish, and before them set

The paths of righteousness, how much more safe,

And full of peace, denouncing wrauth to come [ 815 ]

On thir impenitence; and shall returne

Of them derided, but of God observd

The one just Man alive; by his command

Shall build a wondrous Ark, as thou beheldst,

To save himself and houshold from amidst [ 820 ]

A World devote to universal rack.

No sooner hee with them of Man and Beast

Select for life shall in the Ark be lodgd,

And shelterd round, but all the Cataracts

Of Heavn set open on the Earth shall powre [ 825 ]

Raine day and night, all fountains of the Deep

Broke up, shall heave the Ocean to usurp

Beyond all bounds, till inundation rise

Above the highest Hills: then shall this Mount

Of Paradise by might of Waves be moovd [ 830 ]

Out of his place, pushd by the horned floud,

With all his verdure spoild, and Trees adrift

Down the great River to the opning Gulf,

And there take root an Iland salt and bare,

The haunt of Seales and Orcs, and Sea-mews clang. [ 835 ]

To teach thee that God attributes to place

No sanctitie, if none be thither brought

By Men who there frequent, or therein dwell.

And now what further shall ensue, behold.