Now in thine eye fo foul? once deem'd fo fair
In Heav'n, when at th' assembly, and in fight
Of all the Seraphim, with thee combin'd
In bold confpiracy against Heav'n's King,
All on a sudden miferable pain
Surpriz'd thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzy swum
In darkness; while thy head flames thick and faft
Threw forth; till on the left side op'ning wide, 755
Likest to thee in shape and count'nance bright
Then thining heav'nly fair, a Goddess arm'd,
Out of thy head I sprung: amazement seiz'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 averse, thee chiefly, who full oft
(Thy self 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 also: at which time this powerful key
Into my hand was giv'n, with charge to keep 775
These gates for ever shut, which none can pass
Without my op'ning. Pensive here I fat
Alone, but long I fat not, till my womb
Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown,
Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes:
At last this odious offspring whom thou seest,
Thine own begotten, breaking violent way
Tore through my intrails, that with fear and pain
Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew
Transform'd: but he my inbred enemy
Forth issu'd, brandishing his fatal dart,
Made to destroy: I fled, and cry'd out DEATH!
Hell trembl'd at the hideous name, and figh'd
From all her caves, and back resounded, DEATH!
I fled, but he persu'd (though more, it seems, 790
Inflam'd with lust 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
These yelling monsters; that with ceaseless cry 795
Surround me, as thou sawst, 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 repast; then bursting forth
Afresh with conscious terrors vex me round,
That rest or intermiffion none I find.
Before mine eyes in opposition fits
Grim DEATH my fon and foe; who sets 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 morsel, and his bane,
Whenever that shall be; fo Fate pronounc'd.
But thou O father! I forewarn thee, shun
His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope
To be invuln'rable in those bright arms,
Though temper'd heav'nly; for that mortal dint,
Save he who reigns above, none can refift!
She finish'd, and the fubtle Fiend his lore Soon learn'd, now milder, and thus answer'd smooth.
Dear daughter, fince thou claim'st me for thy fire, And my fair fon here show'ft me (the dear pledge Of dalliance had with thee in Heav'n, and joys Then sweet, now fad to mention, thro' dire change 820 Befall'n us unforeseen, unthought of) know
I come no enemy, but to set free
From out this dark and dismal house of pain,
Both him and thee, and all the heav'nly hoft
Of fpirits that (in our just pretenses arm'd,) 825
Fell with us from on high: from them I go
This uncouth errand sole; and one for all
My felf expose, with lonely steps to tread
Th' unfounded deep, and through the void immenfe
To fearch with wandring quest a place foretold 830
Should be, and, by concurring signs, ere now
Created, vast and round; a place of bliss
In the pourlieus of Heav'n, and therein plac'd
A race of upstart creatures, to fupply
Perhaps our vacant room; though more remov'd, 835
Lest 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 hafte
To know, and this once known, shall foon return,
And bring ye to the place where thou and DEATH
Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseen
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, and DEATH
Grinn'd horrible a ghaftly smile, to hear
His famine should be fill'd, and blest 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 adamantine gates; against all force
DEATH ready stands to interpose 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 thrust me down
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