BOOK TWELFTH
��241
��And therefore shall not Moses, though of
God
Highly beloved, being but the minister Of Law, his people into Canaan lead; But Joshua, whom the Gentiles Jesus call, His name and office bearing who shall quell 311
The adversary Serpent, and bring back Through the world's wilderness long-wan- dered Man
Safe to eternal Paradise of rest. Meanwhile they, in their earthly Canaan
placed, Long time shall dwell and prosper, but
when sins
National interrupt their public peace, Provoking God to raise them enemies From whom as oft he saves them penitent, By Judges first, then under Kings; of whom 320
The second, both for piety renowned And puissant deeds, a promise shall re- ceive
Irrevocable, that his regal throne For ever shall endure. The like shall sing All Prophecy that of the royal stock Of David (so I name this king) shall rise A son, the Woman's Seed to thee fore- told, Foretold to Abraham as in whom shall
trust
All nations, and to kings foretold of kings The last, for of his reign shall be no end. But first a long succession must ensue; 331 And his next son, for wealth and wisdom
famed,
The clouded Ark of God, till then in tents Wandering, shall in a glorious Temple en- shrine.
Such follow him as shall be registered Part good, part bad; of bad the longer
scroll:
Whose foul idolatries and other faults, Heaped to the popular sum, will so incense God, as to leave them, and expose their
land,
Their city, his Temple, and his holy Ark, With all his sacred things, a scorn and prey 34'
To that proud city whose high walls thou
saw'st
Left in confusion, Babylon thence called. There in captivity he lets them dwell The space of seventy years; then brings them back,
��Remembering mercy, and his covenant
sworn
To David, stablished as the days of Hea- ven.
Returned from Babylon by leave of kings, Their lords, whom God disposed, the house
of God
They first re-edify, and for a while 350
In mean estate live moderate, till, grown In wealth and multitude, factious they
grow. But first among the priests dissension
springs
Men who attend the altar, and should most Endeavour peace: their strife pollution
brings
Upon the Temple itself; at last they seize The sceptre, and regard not David's sons; Then lose it to a stranger, that the true Anointed King Messiah might be born Barred of his right. Yet at his birth a
Star, 360
Unseen before in heaven, proclaims him
come,
And guides the eastern sages, who inquire His place, to offer incense, myrrh, and
gold:
His place of birth a solemn Angel tells To simple shepherds, keeping watch by
night;
They gladly thither haste, and by a quire Of squadroned Angels hear his carol sung. A Virgin is his mother, but his sire The Power of the Most High. He shall
ascend
The throne hereditary, and bound his reign With Earth's wide bounds, his glory with
the Heavens." 371
He ceased, discerning Adam with such
joy Surcharged as had, like grief, been dewed
in tears, Without the vent of words; which these he
breathed :
" O prophet of glad tidings, finisher Of utmost hope ! now clear I understand What oft my steadiest thoughts have
searched in vain Why our great Expectation should be
called
The Seed of Woman. Virgin Mother, hail ! High in the love of Heaven, yet from my
loins 380
Thou shalt proceed, and from thy womb
the Son
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