第18章 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.