Now in thine eye fo foul? once deem'd fo fair In Heav'n, when at th' affembly, and in fight Of all the Seraphim, with thee combin'd In bold confpiracy against Heav'n's King, All on a fudden miferable pain
Surpriz'd thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzy fwum In darkness; while thy head flames thick and faft Threw forth; till on the left fide op'ning wide, 755 Likeft to thee in fhape and count'nance bright Then fhining heav'nly fair, a Goddess arm'd, Out of thy head I fprung: amazement feiz'd All th' hoft of Heav'n; back they recoil'd afraid At first, and call'd me SIN; and for a fign Portentous held me: but familiar grown, I pleas'd, and with attractive graces won The most averfe, thee chiefly, who full oft (Thy felf in me thy perfect image viewing) Becam'ft inamor'd, and fuch joy thou took'ft With me in fecret, that my womb conceiv'd A growing burthen. Mean while war arofe, And fields were fought in Heav'n; wherein remain'd (For what could elfe) to our almighty foe Clear victory; to our part loss and rout, Through all the empyrean: down they fell Driv'n headlong from the pitch of Heaven, down Into this deep; and in the gen'ral fall
I alfo at which time this powerful key
Into my hand was giv'n, with charge to keep 775 These gates for ever fhut, which none can pass Without my op'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 laft this odious offspring whom thou feeft, Thine own begotten, breaking violent way Tore through my intrails, that with fear and pain Distorted, all my nether fhape thus grew Transform'd: but he my inbred enemy
Forth iffu'd, brandishing his fatal dart,
Made to deftroy: I fled, and cry'd out DEATH! Hell trembl'd at the hideous name, and figh'd
From all her caves, and back refounded, DEATH! I fled, but he perfu'd (though more, it feems, 790 Inflam'd with luft than rage) and fwifter far, Me overtook his mother, all difmay'd, And in embraces forcible and foul Ingendring with me, of that rape begot Thefe yelling monfters; that with ceafelefs cry 795 Surround me, as thou fawft, hourly conceiv'd And hourly born, with forrow infinite. To me, for when they lift into the womb That bred them they return, and howl and gnaw My bowels, their repaft; then bursting forth Afresh with confcious terrors vex me round, That rest 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, fhun His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope, To be invuln'rable in thofe 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 anfwer'd fmooth.
Dear daughter, fince thou claim'ft me for thy fire, And my fair fon here fhow'ft me (the dear pledge Of dalliance had with thee in Heav'n, and joys Then fweet, now fad to mention, thro' dire change 820 Befall'n us unforeseen, unthought of) know
I come no enemy, but to fet free
From out this dark and difmal houfe of pain, Both him and thee, and all the heav'nly hoft Of fpirits that (in our just pretenfes arm'd,) 825 Fell with us from on high: from them I go This uncouth errand fole; and one for all My felf expofe, with lonely steps to tread Th' unfounded deep, and through the void immense To fearch with wandring queft a place foretold 830 Should be, and, by concurring figns, ere now Created, vaft and round; a place of bliss In the pourlieus of Heav'n, and therein plac'd A race of upftart 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 defign'd, I hafte 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 841 Wing filently the buxom air, imbalm'd With odors: there ye shall be fed, and fill'd Immeafurably, all things fhall be your prey.
He ceas'd, for both feem'd highly pleas'd, and DEATH Grinn'd horrible a ghaftly fmile, to hear His famine fhould be fill'd, and bleft his maw Deftin'd to that good hour: no less rejoic'd His mother bad, and thus befpake 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 adamantine gates; against all force DEATH ready ftands to interpofe his dart, Fearless to be o'ermatch'd by living wight. But what owe I to his commands above Who hates me, and hath hither thruft me down
« ZurückWeiter » |