As when a gryphon through the wilderness With head, hands, wings or feet purfues his way, And swims, or finks, or wades, or creeps, or flies: At length a univerfal hubbub wild 950 Of stunning founds and voices all confus'd, Borne through the hallow dark, affaults his ear With loudeft vehemence: thither he plies, Undaunted to meet there whatever Power 955 Or fpirit of the nethermost abyss Might in that noise refide, of whom to ask Which way the nearest coast of darkness lies Bordering on light; when strait behold the throne 960 Of Chaos, and his dark pavilion spread And Discord with a thousand various mouths. T' whom Satan turning boldly, thus. Powers, And fpirits of this nethermost abyss, Ye Chaos and ancient Night, I come no fpy, 970 With purpose to explore or to disturb The fecrets of your realm, but by constraint -Wand'ring this darksome defart, as my way Lies through your spacious empire up to light,' Alone, and without guide, half loft, I seek 975 What readiest path leads where your gloomy bounds Confine with Heav'n: or if fome other place, I travel this profound, direct my courfe; 980 Erect the standard there of ancient Night; Yours be th' advantage all, mine the revenge. Thus Satan; and him thus the Anarch old, With falt'ring fpeech and vifage incompos'd, Answer'd. I know thee, ftranger, who thou art, That mighty leading Angel, who of late 990 Made head against Heav'n's King, though overthrown. I faw and heard, for fuch a num'rous hoft gates 995 1000 Pour'd out by millions her victorious bands Now lately Heav'n and Earth, another world, chain, 1005 To that fide Heav'n from whence your legions fell: If that way be your walk, you have not far; So much the nearer danger: go and speed! Havoc, and fpoil, and ruin are my gain. He ceas'd; and Satan ftaid not to reply, 1010 But glad that now his sea should find a shore, With fresh alacrity and force renew'd Springs upward like a pyramid of fire Into the wild expanse, and through the shock Of fighting elements, on all fides round 1015 Environ'd, wins his way: harder befet 1020 So he with difficulty and labour hard Following his track, fuch was the will of Pav'd after him a broad and beaten way, 1030 With easy intercourse pass to and fro But now at laft the facred influence Of light appears, and from the walls of Heaven Shoots far into the bofom of dim Night 1035 A glimmering dawn: here Nature first begins Her fartheft verge, and Chaos to retire As from her outmost works à brocken foe With tumult lefs and with lefs hoftile din; 1040 That Satan with lefs toil, and now with ease Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light, And like a weather beaten vessel holds Gladly the port, though fhrouds and tackle torn: Or in the emptier wafte, refembling air, 1045 The End of the Second Book. 1050 |