Nor the deep tract of Hell-say first, what cause The mother of mankind, what time his pride He trusted to have equalled the Most High, 3390 35 40 45 Nine times the space that measures day and night 50 32. For one restraint. Because of one restraint, following to fall off and transgress. 32. Besides, in all other respects. 34. "Now the serpent was more subtle than any beast of the field." Gen. iii. 1. 36. What time, at that time when. In the following lines Milton gives in a few words, what he subsequently relates in two books, v. 577-907, vi. 39. His peers, those who were rightfully his equals. 50. Nine times. "Nine days they fell," vi. 871, and nine days more they lay confounded. Milton here takes up the action where he means to leave it later, "Hell at last Yawning, received them whole, and on them closed." vi. 874, 875. To mortal men, he with his horrid crew Lay vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf, Confounded, though immortal. But his doom 55 Torments him. Round he throws his baleful eyes, That witnessed huge affliction and dismay, Mixed with obdurate pride, and steadfast hate. At once, as far as angels ken, he views The dismal situation waste and wild : 60 A dungeon horrible on all sides round As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames Served only to discover sights of woe, Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace 65 And rest can never dwell; hope never comes, That comes to all; but torture without end With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed. 70 For those rebellious, here their prison ordained 51. Horrid crew. This is a case where we must rid our minds of the present meanings of words and try to get at them more as they were in Milton's mind. For horrid, cf. i. 83, 392; ii. 63, 676. 53. Doom, judgment; sentence. 56. Baleful, full of pain. 59. Angels ken. As far as the knowledge of angels extends. 63. Darkness visible. One of Milton's imaginative phrases which have become famous. 64. Discover, uncover, render visible. 68. Urges, presses on. The word was used intransitively in Milton's day. 70. Had prepared. Before Lucifer's transgression we may suppose that Hell had not existed. In Raphael's story (v. 577) it seems as though the universe consisted of Heaven and Chaos only. 72. Utter, probably used by Milton in the meaning absolute and outer, of which last utter is a doublet. As far removed from God and light of Heaven, And thence in Heaven called Satan,-with bold words Breaking the horrid silence, thus began: "If thou beest he,-but O, how fallen! how changed From him, who, in the happy realms of light, Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine Myriads though bright !-if he, whom mutual league, United thoughts and counsels, equal hope 75 80 85 And hazard in the glorious enterprise, Joined with me once, now misery hath joined 90 In equal ruin; into what pit, thou seest, From what highth fallen! so much the stronger proved The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those, Can else inflict, do I repent or change, 95 74. As from the center, etc. Usually taken to mean that the distance from Heaven to Hell was half as far again as across the universe. If this were in Milton's mind he must have had another idea when he wrote, ii. 1052. 78. Weltering, rolling about. 81. Beelzebub. Called in Matt. xii. 24 "the prince of the devils." The first part of the name is the same as Baal, cf. i. 422. 82. Satan. "So call him now; his former name Is heard no more in heaven." v. 659. In Hebrew the name means adversary or opposer; in which character Satan appears throughout the poem. 84. How changed. Satan was also changed. See i. 97 and Introd., pp. xxix.-xxxiii. 94. Dire, dreadful. Though changed in outward lustre, that fixed mind, 100 That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, His utmost power with adverse power opposed In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? All is not lost; the unconquerable will, 106 And study of revenge, immortal hate, 110 115 Satan had rebelled against 102. That durst dislike his reign. what he chose to consider the tyranny of God. He speaks here as though his companions had also rebelled of their own accord; but in Book v. Milton points out that he himself had aroused their discontent. 104. In dubious battle. These battles are described in Book vi. The battles of immortal beings have not the interest given by the chance of death, nor can strife against Omnipotence ever be doubtful. In spite of this, however, the rebellious angels had gained a temporary advantage by their invention of cannon and gunpowder. 470-634. vi. 109. The line is a little obscure. It seems to mean, what else is there in not being overcome, except will, revenge, hate, courage? 111. Sue, beg. 114. Doubted his empire, doubted whether it were still his. We may, with more successful hope, resolve Who now triumphs, and in the excess of joy So spake the apostate Angel, though in pain, 66 "O Prince! O chief of many throned Powers! 120 125 130 Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate; 135 Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host Can perish for the mind and spirit remains 140 Though all our glory extinct, and happy state 121. To wage, etc. In ii. 1-506 Satan and the chiefs of the fallen angels consult how best to accomplish their end. 125. Apostate. An apostate is one who abandons his religious allegiance. 127. Compeer here means merely companion. 128. Throned powers. Thrones and Powers were titles in the Heavenly Hierarchy. See Introd., p. xxxiii. 129. Seraphim. The word is here used loosely to mean angels. The Seraphim were really the angels of the highest rank. 130. Conduct, guidance. 133. Whether upheld. An un-English construction which we owe to Milton's familiarity with Greek. 138. This is a difficulty which Milton finds it hard to surmount. Cf. note on 104 supra. |