Hee with a crew, whom like Ambition joyns
With him or under him to tyrannize,
Marg 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;
Ahemselves a name, least far disperst [ 45 ]
In fn Lands thir memorie be lost,
Regardless whether good or evil fame.
But God who oft desds to visit men
Unseen, and through thir habitations walks
To mark thir doings, them beholding soon, [ 50 ]
es down to see thir Citie, ere the Tower
Obstruct Heavn Towrs, and in derisios
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 uood, till hoarse, and all in rage,
As mockt they streat laughter was in Heavn
And looking down, to see the hubbub strange [ 60 ]
Ahe din; thus was the buildi
Ridiculous, and the work fusion 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, huma from human free.
But this Usurper his enent proud
Stayes not on Man; to God his Tower intends
Siege and defiance: Wretched man! what food
Will he vey 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?