Spreading their bane: the blafted ftars look'd wan,
And Planets, planet-ftruck, real Eclipfe

1

420

425

Then fuffer'd. Th'other way, SATAN went down
The caufey to Hell gate: on either fide,
Difparted CHAOS over-built exclaim'd,
And with rebounding furge the bars affail'd,
That fcorn'd his indignation. Through the gate,
Wide-open and unguarded, SATAN pafs'd,
And all about found defolate: for thofe
Appointed to fit there, had left their charge,
Flown to the upper world: the reft were all
Far to th' in-land retir'd, about the walls
Of PANDEMONIUM, city and proud feat
Of LUCIFER (fo by allufion call'd,
Of that bright ftar to SATAN paragon'd)
There kept their watch the legions, while the Grand
In council fat, follicitous what chance
Might intercept their Emperor fent: fo he
Departing gave command, and they obferv'd. 430
As when the TARTAR from his RUSSIAN foe,
By ASTRACAN, over the fnowy plains,
Retires or BACTRIAN Sophy from the horns
Of TURKISH Crefcent, leaves all wafte beyond
The realm of ALADULE, in his retreat
To TAURUS, or CASBEEN: fo thefe (the late
Heav'n-banifh'd hoft) left defert utmost Hell
Many a dark league, reduc'd in careful watch
Round their Metropolis; and now expecting
Each hour their great adventurer from the fearch 440
Of foreign worlds: he through the midst unmark'd,
In fhew plebeian Angel militant

Of loweft order, paft; and from the door
Of that PLUTONIAN hall, invisible
Afcended his high throne; which under fiate
Of richeft texture fpread, at th' upper end
Was plac'd in regal luftre. Down a-while
He fat, and round about him faw unfeen.
At last, as from a cloud, his fulgent head,

435

445

And

451

And fhape ftar-bright, appear'd, (or brighter, clad
With what permiffive glory fince his fall
Was left him, or falfe glitter:) all amaz'd
At that fo fudden blaze, the STYGIAN throng
Bent their afpect, and whom they wifh'd beheld,
Their mighty Chief return'd: loud was th' acclaim!
Forth rush'd in hafte the great confulting Peers, 456
Rais'd from their dark DIVAN, and with like joy
Congratulant approach'd him; who with hand
Silence, and with thefe words attention, won.

461

Thrones, Dominations, Princedoms, Virtues, Pow'rs! For in poffeffion fuch, not only of right, I call ye and declare ye now; return'd Successful beyond hope, to lead ye forth. Triumphant out of this infernal pit Abominable, accurs'd, the house of woe, And dungeon of our tyrant! now poffefs,

465

As Lords, a fpacious world, t'our native Heav'n

Little inferior, by my adventure hard

With peril great atchiev'd. Long were to tell

What I have done, what fuffer'd, with what pain 470
Voyag'd th' unreal, vaft, unbounded Deep
Of horrible confufion! over which

475

By SIN and DEATH a broad way now is pav'd,
To expedite your glorious march: but I
Toil'd out my uncouth paffage, forc'd to ride
Th' untractable Abyfs, plung'd in the womb
Of unoriginal NIGHT, and CHAOS Wild:
That, jealous of their fecrets, fiercely oppos'd
My journey frange, with clamorous uproar
Protefting fate fupreme: thence, how I found 480
The new created world, which fame in Heav'n
Long had foretold; a fabric wonderful!

Of abfolute perfection: therein Man,

Plac'd in a Paradife, by our exile

Made happy him by fraud I have feduc'd
From his Creator; and, the more t'increase

485

Your

490

Your wonder, with an apple: He thereat
Offended, worth your laughter, hath giv'n up
Both his beloved Man, and all his world,
To SIN and DEATH a prey, and fo to us,
Without our hazard, labor, or alarm;
To range in, and to dwell, and over man
To rule, as over all he should have rul'd.
True is, me.alfo he hath judg'd (or rather
Me not, but the brute ferpent, in whofe fhape 495
Man I deceiv'd) that which to me belongs,
Is enmity, which he will put between
Me and mankind; I am to bruife his heel;
His feed, when is not fet, fhall bruife my head.
A world who would not purchase with a bruise, 500
Or much more grievous pain? Ye have th' account
Of my peformance: What remains, ye Gods,
But up and enter now into full blifs?

So having faid, a while he ftood, expecting
Their univerfal fhout, and high applaufe
To fill his ear; when contrary, he hears.
On all fides, from innumerable tongues,
A difinal univerfal hifs, the found

Of public fcorn: he wonder'd, but not long
Had leifure, wond'ring at himfelf now more:
His vifage drawn he felt to fharp and spare;
His arms clung to his ribs; his legs entwining
Each other, till fupplanted down he fell;
A monftrous ferpent on his belly prone,
Reluctant; but in vain! a greater pow'r
Now rul'd him, punish'd in the shape he finn'd,
According to his doom. He would have fpoke;
But hifs for hifs return'd with forked tongue,
To forked tongue; for now were all transform'd
Alike, to ferpents all, as acceffories
To his bold Riot: dreadful was the din
Of hiffing through the hall, thick fwarming now
With complicated monfters head and tail;

505

510.

515

520

Scorpion,