Grew darker at their frown, so match'd they stood: To meet so great a foe: and now great deeds 720 725 730 735 So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange Thou interposest, that my sudden hand Prevented, spares to tell thee yet by deeds What it intends, till first I know of thee, 740 What thing thou art, thus double-form'd, and why In this infernal vale first met thou call'st Me Father, and that phantasm call'st my Son; I know thee not, nor ever saw till now 745 T'whom thus the portress of Hell gate reply'd: Hast thou forgot me then, and do I seem In Heav'n, when at th' assembly, and in sight 750 Surprised thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzy swum 755 Then shining heav'nly fair, a Goddess arm'd Out of thy head I sprung; amazement seized All th' host of Heav'n; back they recoil'd, afraid 760 765 A growing burthen. Meanwhile war arose, And fields were fought in Heav'n; wherein remain'd (For what could else?) to our Almighty Foe Clear victory; to our part loss and rout 770 Through all the empyrean. Down they fell, Driv'n headlong from the pitch of Heav'n, down 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 sat 780 At last this odious offspring whom thou seest 785 790 Ingend'ring with me, of that rape begot These yelling monsters, that with ceaseless cry Before mine eyes in opposition sits Grim Death, my son and foe, who sets them on, 795 800 805 810 Though temper'd heav'nly, for that mortal dint, Save He who reigns above, none can resist. She finish'd, and the subtle Fiend his lore 815 Soon learn'd, now milder, and thus answer'd smooth. Dear Daughter, since thou claim'st me for thy sire, Of dalliance had with thee in Heav'n, and joys Then sweet, now sad to mention, through 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 825 Th' unfounded deep, and through the void immense 830 Should be, and, by concurring signs, ere now Perhaps our vacant room, though more removed, 835 To know, and this once known, shall soon return, 840 He ceased, for both seem'd highly pleased; and Death 845 Grinn'd horrible a ghastly smile, to hear His famine should be fill'd, and blest his maw 850 And by command of Heav'n's all-pow'rful 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 But what owe I to his commands above Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down Into this gloom of Tartarus profound, To sit in hateful office here confined, Inhabitant of Heav'n, and heav'nly born, 860 Here in perpetual agony and pain, With terrors and with clamours compass'd round Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed? Thou art my father, thou my author, thou 865 But thee, whom follow? thou wilt bring me soon The Gods who live at ease, where I shall reign Thus saying, from her side the fatal key, 870 875 Could once have moved; then in the key-hole turns Th' intricate wards, and ev'ry bolt and bar With impetuous recoil and jarring sound Unfastens. On a sudden open fly Th' infernal doors, and on their hinges grate 880 Excell'd her pow'r: 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. Before their eyes in sudden view appear 890 The secrets of the hoary deep, a dark Illimitable ocean, without bound, Without dimension, where length, breadth, and highth, And time, and place, are lost; where eldest Night 895 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 battle bring Their embryon atoms; they around the flag 900 Of each his faction, in their sev'ral clans, Light-arm'd or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift, or slow |