As when he wash'd his servants' feet, so now Their nakedness with skins of beasts, or slain, In glory as of old: to him appeas'd All, though all knowing, what had pass'd with Man Recounted, mixing intercession sweet. 215 220 225 230 MEANWHILE ere thus was sinn'd and judg'd on Earth, Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death, In counterview within the gates, that now Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame Far into Chaos, since the Fiend pass'd through, Sin opening, who thus now to Death began. O SON, why sit we here each other viewing Idly, while Satan our great author thrives 235 240 Beyond this deep; whatever draws me on, For Death from Sin no pow'r can separate. Advent' rous work, yet to thy pow'r and mine Over this main from Hell to that new world WHOм thus the meagre Shadow answer'd soon. The savour of Death from all things there that live: Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest Be wanting, but afford thee equal aid. So saying, with delight he snuff'd the smell Of mortal change on earth. As when a flock Of ravenous fowl, though many a league remote, Against the day of battle, to a field, For death, the following day, in bloody fight: 275 His nostril wide into the murky air, 280 Sagacious of his quarry from so far. Then both from out Hell-gates into the waste Wide anarchy of Chaos damp and dark Flew diverse, and with pow'r (their pow'r was great) Hovering upon the waters, what they met 285 Solid or slimy, as in raging sea Tost up and down, together crowded drove From each side shoaling, tow'ards the mouth of Hell : As when two polar winds, blowing adverse Upon the Cronian sea, together drive 290 Mountains of ice, that stop th' imagin'd way Forfeit to Death; from hence a passage broad, сс 293 301 Smooth, easy, inoffensive down to Hell. So, if great things to small may be compar'd, 305 From Susa his Memnonian palace high Came to the sea, and over Hellespont Bridging his way, Europe with Asia join'd, 310 And scourg'd with many a stroke th' indignant waves. Now had they brought the work by wondrous art Pontifical, a ridge of pendent rock, Over the vex'd abyss, following the track Of Satan to the self-same place where he 315 First lighted from his wing, and landed safe Of this round world; with pins of adamant And chains they made all fast, too fast they made 320 The confines met of empyréan Heaven And of this World, and on the left hand Hell With long reach interpos'd; three several ways And now their way to Earth they had descry'd, 325 Betwixt the Centaur and the Scorpion steering 330 By Eve, though all unweeting, seconded Upon her husband, saw their shame that sought Vain covertures; but when he saw descend He fled, not hoping to escape, but shun 335 349 Thence gather'd his own doom, which understood 345 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 offspring dear. Great joy was at their meeting, and at sight 350 Of that stupendous bridge his joy increas'd. O PARENT, these are thy magnific deeds, For I no sooner in my heart divin'd, My heart, which by a secret harmony Still moves with thine, join'd in connexion sweet, 356 That thou on earth hadst prosper'd, which thy looks 361 Though distant from thee, worlds between, yet felt That I must after thee with this thy son, Such fatal consequence unites us three: |