(For what could elfe?) to our almighty Foe
Clear victory, to our part lofs and rout
Through all the empyréan : down they fell
Driv'n headlong from the pitch of Heav'n, down
Into this deep, and in the general fall
I alfo; at which time this powerful key
Into my hand was giv'n, with charge to keep
These gates for ever fhut, which none can pass
Without my ope'ning. Penfive here I fat
Alone, but long I fat not, till my womb
Pregnant by thee, and now exceffive grown,
Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes.
At last this odious offspring whom thou seest
Thine own begotten, breaking violent way
Tore through my entrails, that with fear and pain:
Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew
Transform'd: but he my inbred enemy
Forth iffued, brandishing his fatal dart
Made to destroy: I fled, and cry'd out Death;
Hell trembled at the hideous name, and figh'd.
From all her caves, and back refounded Death.
I fled, but he pursued, (though more, it seems, 790
Inflam'd with luft than rage) and swifter far,
Me overtook his mother all dismay'd,
And in embraces forcible and foul
Ingendring with me, of that rape begot
Thefe yelling monsters, that with ceaseless cry 795 Surround me, as thou faw'ft, hourly conceiv'd
And hourly born, with forrow infinite
To me; for when they list, into the womb
That bred them they return and howl, and gnaw
My bowels, their repast; then bursting forth
Afresh with confcious terrors vex me round,
That reft or intermiffion none I find.
Before mine eyes in oppofition fits
Grim Death my fon and foe, who fets them on,
And me his parent would full foon devour
For want of other prey, but that he knows
His end with mine involv'd; and knows that I
Should prove a bitter morfel, and his bane,
Whenever that fhall be; fo Fate pronounc'd.
But thou, O Father, I forewarn thee, shun
His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope
To be invulnerable in those bright arms,
Though temper'd heav'nly, for that mortal dint,
Save he who reigns above, none can refist.
She finish'd, and the fubtle Fiend his lore
Soon learn'd, now milder, and thus answer'd smooth.
Dear Daughter, fince thou clam'st me for thy fire,
And my fair son here show'st me, the dear pledge
Of dalliance had with thee in Heav'n, and joys
Then fweet, now fad to mention, through dire change
Befall'n us unforeseen, unthought of; know
I come no enemy, but to fet free
From out this dark and dismal house of pain
Both him and thee, and all the heav'nly hast
Of fpirits that in our just pretences arm'd
Fell with us from on high: from them I go
This uncouth errand fole, and one for all
Myfelf expofe, with lonely steps to tread
Th' unfounded deep, and through the void immenfe To search with wand'ring quest a place foretold 830 Should be, and, by concurring signs, ere now
Created vast and round, a place of blifs
In the purlieus of Heav'n, and therein plac'd
A race of upstart creatures, to fupply
Perhaps our vacant room, though more remov'd, 835
Left Heav'n furcharg'd with potent multitude
Might hap to move new broils: be this or ought
Than this more fecret now design'd, I haste
To know, and this once known, fhall foon return,
And bring ye to the place where thou and Death
Shall dwell at eafe, and up and down unfeen
Wing filently the buxom air, imbalm'd
With odors; there ye shall be fed and fill'd
Immeasurably, all things shall be your prey.
He ceas'd, for both seem'd highly pleas'd, andDeath
Grinn'd horrible a ghastly smile, to hear
His famin fhould be fill'd, and bleft his maw
Destin'd to that good hour: no less rejoic'd
His mother bad, and thus bespake her fire.
The key of this infernal pit by due,
And by command of Heav'n's all-powerful King
I keep, by him forbidden to unlock
These adamantin gates; against all force
Death ready stands to interpose his dart,
Fearless to be o'ermatch'd by living might.
But what owe I to his commands above
Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down
Into this gloom of Tartarus profound,
To fit in hateful office here confin'd,
Inhabitant of Heav'n, and heav'nly-born,
Here in perpetual agony and pain,
With terrors and with clamors compass'd round
Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed?
Thou art my father, thou my author, thou
My being gav'st me; whom should I obey
But thee, whom follow? thou wilt bring me foon
To that new world of light and bliss, among
The gods who live at ease, where I shall reign
At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems
Thy daughter and thy darling, without end.
Thus faying, from her fide the fatal key,
Sad inftrument of all our woe, fhe took;
And towards the gate rolling her bestial train,
Forthwith the huge portcullis high updrew,
Which but herfelf, not all the Stygian powers 875
Could once have mov'd; then in the key-hole turns
Th' intricate wards, and every bolt and bar
Of maffy ir'on or folid rock with ease
Unfaftens: on a fudden open fly
With impetuous recoil and jarring found
Th' infernal doors, and on their hinges grate
Harfh thunder, that the lowest bottom shook
Of Erebus. She open'd, but to shut
Excell'd her pow'r; the gates wide open stood,
That with extended wings a banner'd host
Under spread enfigns marching might pass through
With horfe and chariots rank'd in loose array;
So wide they stood, and like a furnace' mouth
Cast forth redounding smoke and ruddy flame.
Before their eyes in fudden view appear
The fecrets of the hoary deep, a dark
Illimitable ocean, without bound,
Without dimension,wherelength,breadth,and highth,
And time, and place, are loft; where eldest Night
And Chaos, ancestors of Nature, hold
Eternal anarchy, amidst the noise
Of endless wars, and by confusion stand.
For hot, cold, moist, and dry, four champions fierce,
Strive here for mast'ry, and to battel bring
Their embryon atoms; they around the flag
Of each his faction, in their several clans,
Light-arm'd or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift or flow,
Swarm populous, unnumber'd as the fands
Of Barca or Cyrene's torrid foil,
Levied to fide with warring winds, and poise
Their lighter wings. To whom these most adhere,
He rules a moment; Chaos umpire fits,
And by decision more embroils the fray
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