324 PARADISE LOST. BooK XI. All left, in one frnall bottom fwum imbark'd. How didft thou grieve then, Adam, to behold The end of all thy off-fpring, end fo fad, 755 Depopulation ! Thee another flood, Of tears and farrow a flood, thee alfo drown'd ; And funk thee as thy Ions : till gently rear'd By th' Angel, on thy feet thou floodit at laft, Tho' comfortlefs; as when a father mourns 760 His children, all in view deftroy'd at once : And fearce to Angel utterldfic thus thy plaint. 0 vifions ill forefeen ! Better had I Liv'd ignorant of future, fo had born My part of evil only, each day's lot 765 Enough to bear; thofe now, that were difpens'd The burden of many ages, on me light At once by my foreknowledge ; gaining birth Abortive, to torment me e'er their Being, With thought that they muff be. Let no man Peek 770 Henceforth to be foretold, what than b4a1 Him or his children : evil he may be lure : Which neither his foreknowing can prevent ; And he the future evil &ail no lefs In apprehenfion, than in fubflance, feel ; 775 Grievous to bear ! But that care now is pall, Man is nct whom to wain : thole few etcap'd, Famine, and ariguifh, will at left confume, Wandring that wat'ry Defert. 1 had hope When violence was ceas'd, and war on earth, 780 All would have then gone well ; peace would have With length of happy days the race of man [crown'd But I was far deceiv'd ! For now I fee Peace to corrupt no lefs, than war to wafle. How comes it thus ? Unfold, cocleflial guide ! 785 And Nether here the race of man will end. To
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