(26) Then God sent the Deluge [or Flood] upon the whole World, and drowned all Flesh, except Noah, who cleaved to the Word of God; he and his Sons and their Wives were preserved; and so the World was tried, whether it would be afraid of the horrible Judgment, and cleave to the Word, but it was all in vain. Then God chose to himself the Generation of Shem, (which cleaved to the Word,) that so he might erect a Light and Office of Preaching, that the World might learn from them. But all availed nothing; the Stars ruled Men according to their Source [or Quality,] in mere Covetousness, Unchastity, and Pride; which was indeed so very great, that they purposed to build a Tower, whose Top should reach to Heaven. Such blind People they were as to the Kingdom of God.

(89) But if any say, that God does [abhor or] loath the great Tyranny and Oppression, when they domineer and take away the Sweat of the Poor and Needy, and consume it in Pride and Stateliness, that Cain cannot endure; if the terrible Example of the Flood [or Deluge] did not stand there, then [Tyranny] would be accounted Holiness; but thy Kingdom, O Cain! is set up in Babel, and thy Beast rules in Sodom and Gomorrah; there is a Fire from the Lord of Heaven in it; it is Time to go with Lot out of Sodom, Sin is awakened in Cain.

(4) And on account of it (God) brought the waters of the flood8 upon all the land of Eden ; for there he was set as a sign aiRpTlial lie strontdtestify . against all the children of men, thathe should recount all the deeds of the generations until the day of con- demnation.

(54) Therefore, O Man, consider what thou sowest here, that thou shalt reap; take an Example in Cain. Or dost thou suppose, that it is an invented Fable, [which I here write?] Do but ask thy own Mind, that will convince thee, except thou art too much captivated by the Devil. Behold the horrible Punishments from the Anger of God, since the Beginning of the World; the Flood [or Deluge] was a Punishment for the Unchastity, [or Uncleanness,] whereby God would drown the Matrix of the burning Lust of Lechery; and therefore he punished the World with Water; for the Water is the Matrix of all Things.

(10) And the Lord sent a_jniglity» <Ra^- whyii-again&t-4he-towfiX and overthrew it upon the ^A ' earth, and behold it was between Asshur and Babylon in the laad-of Shinar, and they called its name " Over- 1688 am throw." *

(28) Then God (out of the Fierceness of the first Principle) burnt Sodom and Gomorrah, those five Kingdoms, with Fire, for then God promised the chosen Generation, that if they would walk before him, he would bless them as the Stars of Heaven, and make them so great [that they should not be numbered,] and yet there were still among them evil Birds hatched. And then God brought them into a strange Land, and prospered them, to try whether they would acknowledge his Goodness, and depend on him, but they were yet worse.

(5) And if from smoke a fire may be inferred, Such an oblivion clearly demonstrates Some error in thy will elsewhere intent. Truly from this time forward shall my words Be naked, so far as it is befitting To lay them open unto thy rude gaze." And more coruscant and with slower steps The sun was holding the meridian circle, Which, with the point of view, shifts here and there When halted (as he cometh to a halt, Who goes before a squadron as its escort, If something new he find upon his way) The ladies seven at a dark shadow's edge, Such as, beneath green leaves and branches black, The Alp upon its frigid border wears. In front of them the Tigris and Euphrates Methought I saw forth issue from one fountain, And slowly part, like friends, from one another. "O light, O glory of the human race! What stream is this which here unfolds itself From out one source, and from itself withdraws?"