Ye towers of Julius, London's lasting shame, With many a foul and midnight murder fed, Revere his consort's faith, his father's fame, And spare the meek usurper's holy head. Twined with her blushing foe we spread: Wallows beneath the thorny shade. Now, brothers, bending o'er the accursed loom, Stamp we our vengeance deep, and ratify his doom. III. I. "Edward, lo! to sudden fate (Weave we the woof. The thread is spun.) Half of thy heart we consecrate. (The web is wove. The work is done.) Stay, O, stay! nor thus forlorn Leave me unbless'd, unpitied, here to mourn: In yon bright track, that fires the western skies, 90 95 100 But, O! what solemn scenes on Snowdon's height 105 Descending slow, their glittering skirts unroll! Visions of glory, spare my aching sight! Ye unborn ages, crowd not on my soul! No more our long-lost Arthur we bewail. All hail, ye genuine kings; Britannia's issue, hail! 110 III. 2. "Girt with many a baron bold Sublime their starry fronts they rear; And gorgeous dames, and statesmen old, In bearded majesty appear. In the midst a form divine! 115 Her eye proclaims her of the Briton-line: Her lion-port, her awe-commanding face, What strings symphonious tremble in the air! They breathe a soul to animate thy clay. Fond, impious man, think'st thou yon sanguine cloud, Raised by thy breath, has quench'd the orb of day? To-morrow he repairs the golden flood, And warms the nations with redoubled ray. Enough for me: with joy I see The different doom our fates assign. To triumph, and to die, are mine.” 140 He spoke, and headlong from the mountain's height, Deep in the roaring tide he plunged to endless night. GRAY. PARADISE LOST. BOOK XII. THE ARGUMENT. The Angel Michael continues, from the Flood, to relate what shall succeed; then, in the mention of Abraham, comes 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 ascension; the state of the church till his second coming. Adam, greatly satisfied and recomforted by these relations and promises, descends the hill with Michael; wakens Eve, who all this while had slept, but with gentle dreams composed 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 their stations to guard the place. "THUS thou hast seen one world begin and end; 5 10 15 Under paternal rule: till one shall rise Of proud ambitious heart; who, not content Will arrogate dominion undeserved Concord and law of nature from the earth; 20 Hunting (and men not beasts shall be his game) 25 A mighty hunter thence he shall he styled 30 Marching from Eden towards the west, shall find 35 A city and tower, whose top may reach to heaven; 40 45 50 Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud, Among the builders; each to other calls Not understood; till hoarse, and all in rage, 55 As mock'd they storm: great laughter was in heaven, Above his brethren; to himself assuming 60 65 70 Himself and his rash army; where thin air Above the clouds will pine his entrails gross, And famish him of breath, if not of bread?" To whom thus Michael: "Justly thou abhorr'st That son, who on the quiet state of men 75 Such trouble brought, affecting to subdue Is lost, which always with right reason dwells 80 |