Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change I come no enemy, but to set free From out this dark and dismal house of pain 821 825 The unfounded deep, and through the void immense In the purlieus of Heaven, and therein placed Perhaps our vacant room; though more removed, 835 To know; and, this once known, shall soon return, Wing silently the buxom air, embalm'd With odours; there ye shall be fed and fill'd He ceased, for both seem'd highly pleased; and Death Grinn'd horrible a ghastly smile, to hear 846 His famine should be fill'd; and bless'd his maw Destined to that good hour: No less rejoiced His mother bad, and thus bespake her sire : 850 And by command of Heaven's all-powerful King, I keep; by him forbidden to unlock These adamantine gates; against all force Death ready stands to interpose his dart, 855 Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down Into this gloom of Tartarus profound, To sit in hateful office here confined, With terrors and with clamours compass'd round 860 865 870 Which but herself, not all the Stygian Powers 875 Could once have moved; then in the keyhole turns The intricate wards, and every bolt and bar Excell'd her power; the gates wide open stood, That with extended wings a banner'd host, 885 Under spread ensigns, marching, might pass through With horse and chariots rank'd in loose array: So wide they stood, and like a furnace mouth Cast forth redounding smoke and ruddy flame. 890 Without dimension; where length, breadth, and height, 895 Eternal anarchy, amidst the noise Of endless wars, and by confusion stand. 900 For hot, cold, moist, and dry, four champions fierce, Levied to side with warring winds, and poise Their lighter wings. To whom these most adhere, He rules a moment: Chaos umpire sits, And by decision more embroils the fray, By which he reigns: 905 910 915 Next him, high arbiter, Chance governs all. Into this wild abyss, The womb of Nature and perhaps her grave, Of neither sea, nor shore, nor air, nor fire, But all these in their pregnant causes mix'd Confusedly, and which thus must ever fight, Unless the Almighty Maker them ordain His dark materials to create more worlds; Into this wild abyss the wary Fiend Stood on the brink of Hell, and look'd awhile, Pondering his voyage; for no narrow frith He had to cross. Nor was his ear less peal'd With noises loud and ruinous (to compare Great things with small) than when Bellona storms, With all her battering engines bent to rase Some capital city; or less than if this frame Of Heaven were falling, and these elements In mutiny had from her axle torn 920 925 The steadfast earth. At last his sail-broad vans Audacious; but, that seat soon failing, meets A vast vacuity: all unawares Fluttering his pennons vain, plumb down he drops 930 Ten thousand fathom deep; and to this hour 935 940 945 O'er bog, or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare, Of stunning sounds and voices all confused, 955 Might in that noise reside, of whom to ask Which way the nearest coast of darkness lies Bordering on light; when straight behold the throne Of Chaos, and his dark pavilion spread 960 Wide on the wasteful deep; with him enthroned The consort of his reign; and by them stood 965 And Tumult and Confusion all embroil'd, To whom Satan turning boldly, thus: Ye Powers And Spirits of this nethermost abyss, Chaos and ancient Night! I come no spy, 970 With purpose to explore or to disturb The secrets of your realm: but, by constraint Alone, and without guide, half lost, I seek 975 What readiest path leads where your gloomy bounds Confine with Heaven; or if some other place, From your dominion won, the ethereal King 980 985 I travel this profound; direct my course; Made head against Heaven's King, though overthrown Fled not in silence through the frighted deep, With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, Confusion worse confounded; and Heaven gates 995 Pour'd out by millions her victorious bands 1000 1005 Encroach'd on still through your intestine broils |