and thou, archangel, thou!
Surely celestial mercy lurks below 680
That pure severe serenity of brow:
Let them not meet this sea without a shore,
Save in our ark, or let me be no more!

_Noah_.
Peace, child of passion, peace!
If not within thy heart, yet with thy tongue
Do God no wrong!
Live as he wills it--die, when he ordains,
A righteous death, unlike the seed of Cain's.
Cease, or be sorrowful in silence; cease
To weary Heaven's ear with thy selfish plaint. 690
Wouldst thou have God commit a sin for thee?
Such would it be
To alter his intent
For a mere mortal sorrow. Be a man!
And bear what Adam's race must bear, and can.

_Japh._
Aye, father! but when they are gone,
And we are all alone,
Floating upon the azure desert, and
The depth beneath us hides our own dear land,
And dearer, silent friends and brethren, all 700
Buried in its immeasurable breast,
Who, who, our tears, our shrieks, shall then command?
Can we in Desolation's peace have rest?
Oh God! be thou a God, and spare
Yet while 'tis time!
Renew not Adam's fall:
Mankind were then but twain,
But they are numerous now as are the waves
And the tremendous rain,
Whose drops shall be less thick than would their graves, 710
Were graves permitted to the seed of Cain.

_Noah_. Silence, vain boy! each word of thine's a crime.
Angel! forgive this stripling's fond despair.

_Raph._ Seraphs! these mortals speak in passion: Ye!
Who are, or should be, passionless and pure,
May now return with me.

_Sam._ It may not be:
We have chosen, and will endure.

_Raph._ Say'st thou?

_Aza._ He hath said it, and I say, Amen!

_Raph._
Again!
Then from this hour, 720
Shorn as ye are of all celestial power,
And aliens from your God,
Farewell!

_Japh._ Alas! where shall they dwell?
Hark, hark! Deep sounds, and deeper still,
Are howling from the mountain's bosom:
There's not a breath of wind upon the hill,
Yet quivers every