Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before. So spake the grisly terror, and in shape, So speaking and so threat’ning, grew tenfold 705 More dreadful and deform: on th’ other side Jocens'd with indignation Satan stood Unterrify'd, and like a comet burn'd, That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge In th' arctic sky, and from his horrid hair 710 Shakes pestilence and war. Fach at the head Level'd his deadly aim : their fatal hands No second stroke intend, and such a frown Each cast at th' other, as when two black clouds, With Heav'n's artillery fraught, come rattling on 715 Over the Caspian, then stand front to front Hovering a space, till winds the signal blow To join their dark encounter in mid-air : So frown'd the mighty combatants, that Hell Grew darker at their frown, so match'd they stood; For never but once more was either like 721 To mcet so great a foc : ard now great deeds Had been achiev'd, whereof all Hell had rung, Had not the snaky sorceress that sat Fast by Hell gate, and kept the fatal key, 725 Ris'n, and with hideous outcry rush'd between. O FATHER, what intends thy hand, she cry'd, Against thy only Son? What fury', 0 Son, Possesses thee to bend that mortal dart Against thy Father's head? and know'st for whom ; For him who sits above and laughs the while At thee ordain'd his drudge, to execute 731 Whate'er his wrath, which he calls justice, bids; She spake, and at her words the hellish pest 735 Forbore: then these to her, Satan return'd. So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange 740 745 T' whom thus the portress of Hell gate reply'd. Hast thou forgot me then, and do I seem Now in thine eyes so foul ? Once deem'd so fair In Heav'n when at th' assembly, and in sight Of all the Seraphim with thce combin'd 750 In bold conspiracy against Heav'n's king, All on a sudden miserable pain Surpris’d thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzy swum In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast Threw forth, till on the left side opening wide, Likest to thee in shape and count'nance bright, Then shining heav'nly fair, a Goddess arm’d Out of thy head I sprung : amazement seiz'd All th' host of Heav'n; back they recoil'd afraid At first, and call’d me Sin, and for a sign 760 Portentous held me; but familiar grown, I pleas'd, and with attractive graces won 755 The most averse, thee chiefly, who full oft 770 780 At last this odious offspring whom thou scest 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 785 Forth issued, brandishing his fatal dart Made to destroy : I fled, and cry'd out Death; Hell crembled at the hideous name, and sigh'd From all her caves, and back resounded Death. I fted, but he pursued, (though more, it seems, 790 Inflam'd with lust than rage) and swifter far, Me overtook his mother all dismay'd, my inbred enemy And in embraces forcible and foul 810 She finish'd, and the subtle Fiend his lore Soon learn'd, now milder, and thus answer'd smooth. Dear Daughter, since thou claim’st me for thy sire, And my fair son here show'st me, the dear pledge Of dalliance had with thee in Heav'n, and joys Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change Befall’n us unforeseen, unthought of; know 821 I come no enemy, but to set free 815 825 From out this dark and dismal house of pain 835 He ceas'd, for both seem'd highly pleas'd, and Death Grinn'd horrible a ghastly 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 sire. The key of this infernal pit by due, 850 And by command of Heav'n's all-powerful king I keep, by him forbidden to unlock 846 |