To set himself in glory 'bove his peers, 40 45 55 Nine times the space that measures day and night 50 60 As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace 65 And rest can never dwell: hope never comes, With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed: In utter darkness, and their portion set 70 44. This whole description of the fall of the angels and of the infernal abyss is conceived in the noblest style of poetry; the flaming, rushing fall of the apostate angels, and the dark but fiery prison which received them, are perhaps the most sublime pictures which the human imagination ever produced. 74. It is a curious observation, that Homer places Hell as far beneath the earth as Heaven is above it; Virgil makes it twice as distant, and Milton here thrice as far. O how unlike the place from whence they fell! 75 80 And thence in Heav'n call'd Satan, with bold words Breaking the horrid silence thus began: 85 If thou beest he; but O how fallen! how changed Join'd with me once, now misery hath join'd 90 From what height fall'n, so much the stronger proved The force of those dire arms? yet not for those Though changed in outward lustre, that fix'd mind That durst dislike his reign, and me preferring, 95 100 His utmost pow'r with adverse pow'r opposed And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? 81. Beelzebub, or the Lord of Flies, was worshipped at Ekron, 2 Kings, i. 2. see also Matt. xii. 24. 82. Satan in Hebrew means an enemy. 84. The first speech of Satan is very noble, and the abrupt manner of its coinmencement is powerfully striking. Initations have been pointed out in this passage, of Isaiah xiv. Virgil, Æn. ii. 274. and Homer, Odyss. vi. 110. Others have also been remarked of Eschylus, Tasso, &c. but they seem to me to have been roincidences rather than imitations. Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, So spake th' apostate Angel, though in pain, O Prince, O Chief of many throned powers 1 115 120 125 130 Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate; 135 Hath lost us heav'n, and all this mighty host In horrible destruction laid thus low, As far as Gods and heav'nly essences Can perish for the mind and spirit remains Of force believe almighty, since no less 140 Than such could have o'erpower'd such force as ours) Have left us this our spirit and strength entire 146 Strongly to suffer and support our pains, That we may so suffice his vengeful ire, 116. Satan expresses by the word fate, his high and proud belief in the original and underived existence as well as immortality of the angels. Here is an admirable attention to the minutest circumstances which might develope the character of the fallen spirit evident throughout the speech, and the reader's attention cannot be too strongly directed to its examination. Or do him mightier service as his thralls 150 Or do his errands in the gloomy deep; 155 Whereto with speedy words th' Arch-Fiend reply'd: Fall'n Cherub, to be weak is miserable Doing or suffering: but of this be sure, To do aught good never will be our task, Back to the gates of Heav'n; the sulph'rous hail 160 165 172 Of Heav'n received us falling; and the thunder, Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild, 180 185 170. Dr. Bentley has pointed out a contradiction between this passage and one in the sixth book. It is here said that the good angels pursued the fallen ones down to hell; in the other place, it is asserted, that the Messiah alone expelled them from heaven. The variation has been accounted for by the account being given by different relators-The one by the discomfited Satan, the other by the angel Raphael. And reassembling our afflicted powers, Consult how we may henceforth most offend What reinforcement we may gain from hope 190 Thus Satan talking to his nearest mate By ancient Tarsus held, or that sea-beast 195 200 205 Moors by his side under the lee, while night Invests the sea, and wished morn delays: So stretch'd out huge in length the Arch-Fiend lay Chain'd on the burning lake, nor ever thence 210 Had ris'n or heaved his head, but that the will And high permission of all-ruling Heav'n Heap on himself damnation, while he sought 215 196. Virgil describes the bulk of one of the giants in the same manner. En. vi. 596. 199. Typhon or Typhoeus was one of the rebel giants, and Imprisoned by Jupiter under Mount Etna, or, as others say, in a cave near Tarsus, a city in Cilicia. 201. It has been questioned whether Milton supposed the Leviathan to be a whale or a crocodile.-It is most probable his ima gination made him content with the description of this animal given in Job, and that his critical industry was not at all engaged in settling the question. 204. Bentley has given a curious instance of his utter want of poetical feeling in proposing to change this epithet nightfoundered into nigh-foundered. 209. This verse, by its laboured length, well expresses the idea of Satan & immense bulk. |