Season 4 Podcast 61 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk XII, Pt XLI, “Expelled From Eden, Pt I”

Season 4 Podcast 61 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk XII, Pt XLI, “Expelled From Eden, Pt I” In the prologue to Book XI, Milton writes.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 Ascention; 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 compos'd 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.The reason the flood came was because the earth was filled with violence. Milton is echoing Genesis 6:12-13. “12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 13 And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.”Notice the phrase, “all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth,” meaning they had broken their covenants and turned away from God’s word. As a consequence, the earth was “filled with violence.” The same conditions that existed in the days of Noah exist today.Adam rejoices that even after the world is destroyed by flood that man will survive because of Noah who was so perfect and just. He is thankful that God will forget his anger. Then he asks Michael, the archangel, about the rainbow?O thou that future things canst representAs present, Heavenly instructor, I reviveAt this last sight, assured that Man shall liveWith all the Creatures, and their seed preserve.Far less I now lament for one whole WorldOf wicked Sons destroyed, then I rejoiceFor one Man found so perfect and so just,That God vouchsafes to raise another WorldFrom him, and all his anger to forget.But say, what mean those colored streaks in Heaven,Distended as the Brow of God appeased,Or serve they as a flourie verge to bindThe fluid skirts of that same watery Cloud,Least it again dissolve and shower the Earth?Michael tells Adam that the rainbow is a covenant between God and Man that he will never again destroy the earth by flood. To whom th’ Archangel. Dexterously thou aim’st;So willingly doth God remit his Ire,Though late repenting him of Man depraved,Grieved at his heart, when looking down he sawThe whole Earth filled with violence, and all fleshCorrupting each their way; yet those removed,Such grace shall one just Man find in his sight,That he relents, not to blot out mankind,And makes a Covenant never to destroyThe Earth again by flood, nor let the SeaSurpass his bounds, nor Rain to drown the WorldWith Man therein or Beast; but when he bringsOver the Earth a Cloud, will therein setHis triple-colored Bow, whereon to lookAnd call to mind his Covenant: Michael does, however, tell Adam that in the end the earth will be destroyed by fire.Day and Night,Seed time and Harvest, Heat and hoary FrostShall hold their course, till fire purge all things new,Both Heav’n and Earth, wherein the just shall dwell.Thus thou hast seen one World begin and end;