455

Of hazard more, as he above the rest
High honored sits? Go therefore, mighty
Powers,

Terror of Heaven, though fallen; intend at home,

While here shall be our home, what best may ease

The present misery, and render Hell
More tolerable; if there be cure or charm
To respite, or deceive, or slack the pain 461
Of this ill mansion; intermit no watch
Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad
Through all the coasts of dark destruction
seek

Deliverance for us all. This enterprise 465 None shall partake with me." Thus saying, rose

The Monarch, and prevented all reply; Prudent, lest, from his resolution raised.1 Others among the chief might offer now, Certain to be refused, what erst they feared,

470

Scowls o'er the darkened landskip snow or shower,

If chance the radiant sun with farewell sweet

Extend his evening beam, the fields revive, The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds

494

Then of their session ended they bid cry
With trumpet's regal sound the great
result:
Toward the four winds four speedy
Cherubim

2 bristling.

515

Thy king and lord? Back to thy punishment,

False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings, Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue 701 Thy lingering, or with one stroke of this dart

Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before."

So spake the grisly Terror, and in shape, So speaking and so threatening, grew tenfold

705 More dreadful and deform. On the other side,

Incensed with indignation, Satan stood Unterrified, and like a comet burned, That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge In the arctic sky, and from his horrid hair

710

At first, and called me Sin, and for a sign
Portentous held me; but, familiar grown,
I pleased, and with attractive graces won
The most averse; thee chiefly, who full oft
Thyself in me thy perfect image viewing
Becam'st enamored; and such joy thou
took'st
765

With me in secret, that my womb conceived

A growing burden. Meanwhile war arose, And fields were fought in Heaven; wherein remained

(For what could else?) to our Almighty Foe

Clear victory; to our part loss and rout 770 Through all the Empyrean. Down they fell,

Driven headlong from the pitch of Heaven, down

Into this deep; and in the general fall
I also: at which time this powerful key
Into my hands was given, with charge to
keep

775