Chapter 18 17

He lookd, and saw the face of things quite changd; The brazen Throat of Warr had ceiling to roar, All now was turn to jollitie and game, To luxury 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 declare, [ 720 ] And testifid against thir ways; hee oft Frequented thir Assemblies, whereso met, Triumphs or Festivals, and to them preached Conversion and Repentance, as to Souls In prison under Judgments imminent: [ 725 ]

But all in vain: which when he saw, he ceasd Contending, and removed 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 Contrived, 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 entered 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 supply [ 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 continue 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 overwhelmed, and them with all thir pomp Deep under water would; Sea covered Sea, Sea without shoar; and in thir Palaces [ 750 ] Where luxury late reignd, Sea-monsters whelped

And stabld; of Mankind, so numerous late, All left, in one small bottom swum imbarkt.