Each at the head

In th'Artic sky, and from his horrid hair
Shakes pestilence and war.
Levell'd his deadly aim; their fatal hands
No second stroke intend, and fuch a frown
Each cast at th'other, as when two black clouds
With heav'n's artill'ry fraught, came rattling on
Over the Caspian, then stand front to front
Hov'ring 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 matcht they stood;
For never but once more was either like
To meet so great a foe: and now great deeds
Had been atchiev'd, whereof all hell had rung,
Had not the snaky forceress that fat
Fast by hell-gate, and kept the fatal key,
Ris'n, and with hideous outcry rush'd between.
O Father, what intends thy hand, the cry'd,

Against thy only fon? what fury, O fon,
Poffefses thee to bend that mortal dart

L

Against thy father's head? and know'st for whom ;
For him who fits above and laughs the while
At thee ordain'd his drudge, to execute
Whate're his wrath, which he calls justice, bids,
His wrath which one day will destroy ye both.

She spake, and at her words the hellish peft
Forebore, then these to her Satan return'd:
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,

What thing thou art, thus double-form'd, and why
In this infernal vale first met thou call'ft
Me father, and that fantasm, call'st my fon?
I know thee not, nor ever faw till now
Sight more deteftable than him and thee.
T'whom thus the portress of hell-gate reply'd;
Hast thou forgot me then? and do I feem
Now in thine eye so foul? once deem'd so 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 fwumm
In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast
Threw forth, till on the left fide 'op'ning 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 the host 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.
Thyself in me thy perfect image viewing
Becam'st enamour'd, and such joy thou took'ft
With me in secret, that my womb conceiv'd
A growing burden. 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 heav'n, down
Into this deep, and in the general fall
I also; at which time this powerful key
Into my hand was giv'n, with charge to keep
These gates for ever shut, which none can pass
Without my op'ning. Pensive here I fat
Alone, but long I sat 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 entrails, that with fear and pain
Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew
Transform'd: but he my inbred enemie
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 fied, but he pursu'd (though more, it seems,
Inflam'd with lust than rage) and swifter far,
Me overtook his mother all dismaid,
And in embraces forcible and foul
Ingendring with me, of that rape begot
These yelling monsters that with ceaseless cry
Surround me, as thou saw'st, hourly conceiv'd
And hourly born, with forrow infinite
To me, for when they list into the womb
That bred them they return, and howle and gnaw
My bowels, their repast; then bursting forth
Afresh with confcious terrors vex me round,
That rest or intermiffion none I find.

Before mine eyes in oppofition 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,
When ever that shall be; so fate pronounc'd.
But thou O father, I forewarn thee, shun
His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope
To be invulnerable 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 suttle fiend his lore Soon learn'd, now milder, and thus answer'd smooth. Dear daughter, fince 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 fad to mention, through dire change Befall'n' us unforeseen, unthought of, know I come no enemie, but to set free From out this dark and dismal house of pain, Both him and thee, and all the heav'nly hoft Of spirits that in our just pretences arm'd Fell with us from on high: from them I go This uncouth errand sole, and one for all Myself expose, with lonely steps to tread Th'unfounded deep, and through the void immenfe To search with wandring quest a place foretold Should be, and, by concurring signs, ere now Created vast and round, a place of bliss In the pourlieues of heav'n, and therein plac't

!

A race of upstart creatures, to supply
Perhaps our vacant room, though more remov'd,
Left heav'n furcharg'd with potent multitude
Might hap to move new broils: be this or aught
Than this more secret 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 odours; 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 gastly smile, to hear
His famine should be fill'd, and blest his maw
Destin'd to that good hour: no less rejoyc'd
His mother bad, and thus bespake her Sire.

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 orematcht by living * might.
But what owe I to his commands above
Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down
Into this gloom of Tartarus profound,
To fit in hateful office here confin'd,
Inhabitant of heay'n, and heav'nly-born,
Here in perpetual agonie and pain,

With terrors and with clamours compast round

*

1ft. and 2d. Edit. wight 3d, and 4th. Edit.