That this may be, turning to man he said By death corporeal, and his frail companion Thus from mortality, With loss reciprocal, the soul is taken : The soul in its departure, Leaving at length its transient dear abode e; Of bringing forth with dire excess of pain. I reckon'd once in my infernal kingdoms, To thee I turn, Arsiccio, tell me now What means that mystery The cursing of the earth! Arsiccio. And to the blame of man I too return; Can it be true this cursing of the earth? What does the mys'try mean? Means it indeed the earth? Foolish is he, who thinks so! what offence Has she committed? no twas not the earth Was curs'd, but only man, who is of earth; But to proclaim to man, That as a sinner, heav'n is shut against him. That God no longer makes account of man. This clothing Adam with the lifeless skins That as with dying beast The body, soul, and spirit, also die, So death shall also prove The dread destroying ravager of men By the dread fruits effect. Lucifer. Ondoso thou who art profest a diver, Canst thou pervade the depth Of these confus'd decrees? inform me now What means the mystery Of Cherubim with fiery falchions Forbidding entrance to the gates of Eden! Ondoso. No mystery, great king! But the destruction of the human race, They mean indeed the death And their fierce blades of fire So that when struck by death Within the dark Avernus Become a prisoner, lost to light, and heav'n. At those exalted gates No armed cherubim was plac'd to guard; And in an even balance; For now the world's inhabitants shall be The birds, the fish, the beasts: Of the Tartarean gulph Man, and his numerous race; We only on gay wine shall soar to heav'n, On this supreme condition, That heav'n's great Lord shall pardon ask of thee Repenting of his error, and that both Shall rule the realm of heav'n, Both Lucifer, and God. Lucifer. Tarpalce, say what thinkest thou of man! Tarpalce. Tis not my sentiment, man can be sav'd; In short this man has sinn'd; And he who draws from man his flesh, and life, He shall be called a sinner; And he who is a sinner shall be damn'd; And since it is denied, That these the seats of heav'n, that once were ours, Neglected shall be left, and void of glory, Well may we re-ascend, with brave condition, It otherways would still be void of splendor, What to achieve, that may embellish heav'n. Lucifer. Alas! 'tis fit that I From a deep silence now Loose this chill'd tongue, chill'd, tho' it seems to burn With cruel deadly rage! My heart is bursting only at the thought Of what I must relate: Now with great efforts vanquishing myself, Let that be heard, which anguish bids me utter! The fear, he felt, to shew himself, when naked To see himself bespotted With sin's deformity. VOL. III. His flight with rapid step towards the woods, The harsh and ample leaf And as upon the fig; Among its harshest leaves, a dulcet fruit So sweet, and dear of heav'n, that he had lost : Affords a certain hope, That man may have of Gods returning grace; That he at length in heav'n Shall know a blooming spring of highest glory : To weep, tho' sinning, his repented sin. That it was not the serpent, |