English poems Author:John Milton Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: Towards the retreating sea their furious tide. Forthwith from out the ark a raven flies; 855 And after him, the surer messenger, A dove sent forth once ... more »and again to spy Green tree or ground whereon his foot may light; The second time returning, in his bill An olive leaf he brings, pacific sign: 860 Anon dry ground appears, and from his ark The ancient sire descends with all his train; Then with uplifted hands, and eyes devout, Grateful to Heav'n, over his head beholds A dewy cloud, and in the cloud a bow 865 Conspicuous with three listed colours gay, Betok'ning peace from God, and cov'nant new. Whereat the heart of Adam erst so sad Greatly rejoic'd; and thus his joy broke forth. 'O thou who future things canst represent 870 As present, Heav'nly instructor, I revive At this last sight, assur'd that Man shall live With all the creatures, and their seed preserve. Far less I now lament for one whole world Of wicked sons destroy'd, than I rejoice 875 For one man found so perfet and so just, That God voutsafes to raise another world From him, and all his anger to forget. But say, what mean those colour'd streaks in heav'n, Distended as the brow of God appeas'd? 880 Or serve they as a flow'ry verge to bind The fluid skirts of that same watry cloud, Lest it again dissolve and show'r the earth?' To whom th' archangel. ' Dextrously thou aim'st; So willingly doth God remit his ire; 885 Though late repenting him of Man deprav'd, Griev'd at his heart, when looking down he saw The whole earth fill'd with violence, and all flesh Corrupting each their way; yet those remov'd Such grace shall one just man find in his sight, 890 That he relents, not to blot out mankind, And makes a covenant never to destroy The earth again ...« less