Over the foaming Deep high-arch'd; a bridge,
Of length prodigious, joining to the wall
Immoveable of this now-fenceless world,
Forfeit to DEATH. From hence, a paffage broad,
Smooth, eafy, inoffenfive, down to Hell.
So (if great things to fmall may be compar'd)
XERXES, the Liberty of GRECE to yoke,
From SUSA (his MEMNONIAN palace high)
Came to the fea; and over HELLESPONT
Bridging his way, EUROPE with ASIA join'd: 3ra
And fcourg'd with many a ftroke th' indignant waves.
Now had they brought the work, by wondrous art
Pontifical (a ridge of pendent rock
Over the vex'd Abyfs, following the track
Of SATAN) to the felf-fame place where he
Firft lighted from his wing, and landed fate
From out of CHAOS to the outfide bare
Of this round world: with pins of adamant
And chains they made all faft; too fast they made,
And durable: And now, in little space,
The confines met of empyrean heav'n,
And of this world; and on the left hand, hell,
With long reach interpos'd: three fev'ral ways
In fight, to each of thefe three places led.
And now their way to earth they had defery'd, 325
To Paradife firft tending; when, behold!
SATAN, in likeness of an Angel bright,
Betwixt the Centaur and the Scorpion Iteering
His zenith, while the Sun in Aries rofe:
Difguis'd he came; but thofe his children dear
Their parent foon difcern'd, though in difguife.
He, after EvE feduc'd, unminded flunk
Into the wood faft by; and changing shape
T'obferve the fequel, faw his guiletul act
By Ev (though all unweeting) feconded
Upon her husband; faw their fhame, that fought
Vain covertures: but when he faw defcend
The Son of GOD to judge them, terrify'd
He fled; not hoping to escape, but shun
The prefent; fearing guilty what his wrath
Might fuddenly inflict: that paft, return'd
By night, and liftening where the haplefs pair.
Sat in their fad difcourfe, and various plaint,
Thence gather'd his own doom: which understood
Not inftant, but of future time, with joy
And tidings fraught, to Hell he now return'd:
And at the brink of CHAOS, near the foot
Of this new wondrous pontifice, unhop'd
Met, who to meet him came, his off-fpring dear:
Great joy was at their meeting, and at fight
Of that ftupendous bridge, his joy increas'd.
Long he admiring ftood, till SIN, his fair
Inchanting daughter, thus the filence broke.
O parent these are thy magnific deeds; Thy trophies, which thou view't as not thine own; Thou art their author, and prime architect. For I no fooner in my heart divin'd (My heart, which by a fecret harmony
Still moves with thine, join'd in connexion sweet!) That thou on earth hadit profper'd, which thy looks Now alfo evidence, but ftraight I felt
361 (Though diftant from thee worlds between, yet felt) That I muft after thee, with this thy fon:
Such fatal confequence unites us three!
Hell could no longer hold us in her bounds;
Nor this unvoyageable gulf obscure,
Detain from following thy illustrious track.
Thou haft atchiev'd our liberty, confin'd
Within Hell gates till now: Thou us impower'd
To fortifie thus far, and over-lay
With this portentous bridge the dark Abyss.
Thine now is all this world; thy virtue hath won What thy hands builded not: thy wifdom gain'd, With odds what war hath loft: and fully aveng'd Our foil in Heav'n: here thou shalt Monarch reign; 375 There
There didst not: there let him ftill victor fway,
As battel hath adjudg'd, from this new world
Retiring, by his own doom alienated:
And henceforth Monarchy with thee divide
Of all things, parted by th' empyreal bounds, 380
His quadrature, from thy orbicular, world;
Or try thee, now more dang'rous to his throne.
Whom thus the Prince of darkness answer'd glad.
Fair Daughter, and thou Son and Grandchild both!
High proof ye now have giv'n to be the race
Of SATAN (for I glory in the name,
Antagonist of Heav'n's Almighty King)
Amply have merited of me, of all
Th' infernal empire, that, fo near Heav'n's door
Triumphal with triumphal act have met,
390
Mine, with this glorious work; and made one realm
Hell and this world (our realm) one Continent
Of eafy thorough-fare. Therefore while I
Defcend through darkness, on your road with ease,
To my affociate Pow'rs, them to acquaint
With thefe fucceffes, and with them rejoyce;
You two this way, among thefe numerous Orbs
(All yours!) right down to Paradife defcend:
There dwell, and reign in blifs; thence on the earth
Dominion exercife, and in the air,
Chiefly on Man, fole Lord of all declar'd:
Him first make fure your thrall, and laftly kill.
My fubftitutes I fend ye, and create
Plenipotent on earth, of matchless might
Iffuing from me: on your joint vigor now
My hold of this new kingdom all depends;
Through fin to death expos'd by my exploit.
If your joint pow'r prevail, th' affairs of hell
No detriment need fear; go and be strong.
So faying he difmifs'd them; they with speed 410 Their courfe through thickest conftellations held, Spreading
|