The Deluge

The Deluge. John Roberts

And the waters prevailed upon the earth an hundred and fifty days. -- Genesis.VII, 24.

The rain ceas'd.

Again the fleecy clouds with ancient pearl Was soon, and glowing sapphire high the rain, Rock in meridian along; and the waves Subsiding, sank, as if by gentle stealth, Insensible. On Ararat the ark. stopped.

With mind upraised and firm not [hardy?] the Patriarch disembarks; white shore his locks, The pride of reverend age: and while his beard As the fresh snow an Rhodope: his look Was joy, chastis'd by temperance and fear, Fear such as wisdom prompts, as angels feel.

Next with his wife came Shem, whose [illegible] are seed O'er Asia swarm: It has lightly vaults along the verdant plain, First from the ark? Father of distant tribes. Illustrious Ham! for him shall [Again?]

Extend her dreary waste of naked sand; Him sire of light Egyptian priests shall hail Alorus; to his name in Libya's wild Suppos'd Ammonian Jove, shall temples rise Oracullar: from Burca to the Cape. Where Capricorn descends in feverous fire. His line shall spread: for him shall Niges foam, With thund'ring torrent, like another Nile, And with dark billows desolate the land.

In order last, not least in fame, descends Great Japhet; destin'd in Europa's soil To lay the seat of many a mighty throne, Princedom and royalty

All these, the progeny and pride Of Noah disembark'd these faithful found Among degenerate thousands. Next a group Of colours motley and fantastical. Were filed in rank grotesque, and snuft the air. With eager appetite. Bird, reptile beast. Een to the imperial monarch of the wood.

Each his element

Seeks unreluctant: reptiles delve in earth; The gaudy fluttering insect from the sun Kindles the gleam of his tranparent wing The tawny beast explores his sylvan haunt; And birds, exalting, lessen in the sky.

But ah! what vision lights you sable cloud, Reflecting from the sun's magnetic beam Celestial radiance?

See, it bends In bright enchantment beauty-mingled maze. How shall I right address the ? Bow of God, On rather faithful witness in the cloud, Dost thou delighted hear?

Fear not, Death; conentious waves no more With bitter blast shall sweep the gallant sons, Like trembling leaves, away; shy sure appeal Is yon bright curve, shy sure protection, God. He checks the mass of waters; hence rebukes The roaring sea, if haply his found surge High swell impetutous; seals the vast abyss; And locks the fountains of the unfathom'd deep.