Over this main from Hell to that new world, Eafing their passage hence, for intercourse, 260 265 Go whither fate and inclination ftrong Nor fhall I to the work thou enterprifeft 270 So faying, with delight he fnuff'd the smell Of mortal change on earth. As when a flock Of ravenous fowl, though many a league re mote, Against the day of battel, to a field, 275 Where armies lie incamp'd, come flying, lur'd With fcent of living carcaffes, defign'd For death the following day, in bloody fight: So fcented the grim Feature, and upturn'd His noftrils wide into the murky air, Sagacious of his quarry from fso far. 280 Then both from out Hell-gates; into the waste Wide anarchy of Chaos, damp and dark, Flew diverfe, and with pow'r: their pow'r was great. Hovering upon the waters, what they met 285 Solid or flimy, as in raging fea Toft up and down, together crowded drove From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell: 290 As when two polar winds, blowing adverse Over the foaming deep high arch'd: a bridge, Of length prodigious, joining to the wall Immoveable of this now fencelefs world, Forfeit to Death. From hence a pallage broad, Smooth, eafy, inoffenfive, down to Hell. 305 So, if great things to small may be compar'd, Xerxes, the Liberty of Grece to yoke. 2 From Sufa, his Memnonian palace high, waves. Now had they brought the work, by wondrous art Pontifical, a ridge of pendent rock Over the vex'd Abyss, following the track A Of Satan, to the self-fame place, where he 315 Firft lighted from his wing, and landed fafe!! From out of Chaos to the outfide bare Of this round world: with pins of adamant And chains they made all faft; too falt they made, And durable: And now in little space. The confines met of empyréan Heav'n 320 And of this world, and on the left hand hell. Betwixt the Centaur and the Scorpion fteering His zenith, while the Sun in Aries rose: Difguis'd he came; but thofe his childern Their parent foon difcern'd, though in disguife. He, after Eve feduc'd, unminded flunk, Into the wood faft by; and changing shape Vain covertures: but when he faw defcend Not inftant, but of future time, with joy 345 dear. Great joy was at their meeting, and at fight 350 Of that stupendous bridge his joy increas'd. Long he admiring ftood, till Sin, his fair Inchanting daugther, thus the filence broke. O parent! these are thy magnific deeds, Thy trophies, which thou view'ft as not thine 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 That I muft after thee with this thy fon: Nor this unvoyageable gulf obscure, 365 Detain from following thy illuftrious track. Thou haft atchiev'd our liberty, confin'd Within Hell gates till now: Thou us impower'd To fortify thus far, and ever-lay 370 With this portentous bridge the dark Abyss. Thine now is all this world; thy virtue hath won, What thy hands builded not: thy wisdom gain'd With odds, what war hath loft: and fully aveng'd Our foil in Heav'n: here thou shalt Monarch reign, 375 There didft not: there let him still victor fway, As battel hath adjudg'd, from this new world' Retiring, by his own doom alienated: And |