710 More dreadful and deform. On the other side, To join their dark encounter in mid air: So frown'd the mighty combatants that Hell For never but once more was either like Grew darker at their frown: so match'd they stood; To meet so great a foe: And now great deeds O Father! what intends thy hand, she cried, She spake, and at her words the hellish Pest Forbore; then these to her Satan return'd: So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange Prevented, spares to tell thee yet by deeds 721 725 731 735 740 What thing thou art, thus double-form'd; and why, I know thee not, nor ever saw till now Sight more detestable than him and thee. To whom thus the Portress of Hell-gate replied Hast thou forgot me then, and do I seem 745 Now in thine eye so foul? once deem'd so fair In Heaven, when at the assembly, and in sight 750 Of all the Seraphim with thee combined Surprised thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzy swam All the host of Heaven; back they recoil'd afraid A growing burden. Meanwhile war arose, 760 765 And fields were fought in Heaven; Wherein remain'd (For what could else?) to our Almighty Foe Clear victory; to our part loss and rout, 770 Through all the empyréan; down they fell Driven headlong from the pitch of Heaven, down I also; at which time, this powerful key Into my hand was given, with charge to keep 775 These gates for ever shut, which none can pass Without my opening. Pensive here I sat Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown, 780 At last this odious offspring whom thou seest, Thine own begotten, breaking violent way Tore through my entrails, that, with fear and pain 785 790 These yelling monsters that with ceaseless cry 795 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 800 That rest or intermission none I find. Before mine eyes in opposition sits Grim Death, my son and foe; who sets them on, And me his parent would full soon devour 805 For want of other prey, but that he knows His end with mine involved; and knows that I 810 815 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 Heaven, and joys 821 Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change From out this dark and dismal house of pain The unfounded deep, and through the void immense In the purlieus of Heaven, and therein placed Perhaps our vacant room; though more removed, 835 To know; and, this once known, shall soon return, And bring ye to the place where Thou and Death 840 Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseen Wing silently the buxom air, embalm'd With odours; there ye shall be fed and fill'd He ceased, for both seem'd highly pleased; and Death Grinn'd horrible a ghastly smile, to hear 846 His famine should be fill'd; and bless'd his maw Destined to that good hour: No less rejoiced His mother bad, and thus bespoke her sire. The key of this infernal pit by due, 850 And by command of Heaven'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 might 855 Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down Into this gloom of Tartarus profound, To sit in hateful office here confined, 860 With terrors and with clamours compass'd round 865 870 875 Of massy iron or solid rock with ease Unfastens On a sudden open fly : With impetuous recoil and jaring sound 880 The infernal doors, and on their hinges grate Harsh thunder, that the lowest bottom shook Of Erebus. She open'd, but to shut Excell'd her power; the gates wide open stood, That with extended wings a banner'd host, 885 Under spread ensigns, marching, might pass through With horse and chariots rank'd in loose array. So wide they stood, and like a furnace mouth Cast forth redounding smoke and ruddy flame. 890 Without dimension; where length, breadth, and height, And time, and place are lost; where eldest Night And Chaos, ancestors of Nature, hold 895 |