2

Hee with a crew, whom like Ambition joyns

With him or under him to tyrannize,

Marching from Eden towards the West, shall finde [ 40 ]

The Plain, wherein a black bituminous gurge

Boiles out from under ground, the mouth of Hell;

Of Brick, and of that stuff they cast to build

A Citie and Towre, whose top may reach to Heavn;

And get themselves a name, least far disperst [ 45 ]

In foraign Lands thir memorie be lost,

Regardless whether good or evil fame.

But God who oft descends to visit men

Unseen, and through thir habitations walks

To mark thir doings, them beholding soon, [ 50 ]

Comes down to see thir Citie, ere the Tower

Obstruct Heavn Towrs, and in derision sets

Upon thir Tongues a various Spirit to rase

Quite out thir Native Language, and instead

To sow a jangling noise of words unknown: [ 55 ]

Forthwith a hideous gabble rises loud

Among the Builders; each to other calls

Not understood, till hoarse, and all in rage,

As mockt they storm; great laughter was in Heavn

And looking down, to see the hubbub strange [ 60 ]

And hear the din; thus was the building left

Ridiculous, and the work Confusion namd.

Whereto thus Adam fatherly displeasd.

O execrable Son so to aspire

Above his Brethren, to himself assuming [ 65 ]

Authoritie usurpt, from God not givn:

He gave us onely over Beast, Fish, Fowl

Dominion absolute; that right we hold

By his donation; but Man over men

He made not Lord; such title to himself [ 70 ]

Reserving, human left from human free.

But this Usurper his encroachment proud

Stayes not on Man; to God his Tower intends

Siege and defiance: Wretched man! what food

Will he convey up thither to sustain [ 75 ]

Himself and his rash Armie, where thin Aire

Above the Clouds will pine his entrails gross,

And famish him of Breath, if not of Bread?