So having said, he thus to Eve in few: Say, Woman, what is this which thou hast done? 160 To whom sad Eve, with shame nigh overwhelm'd, Confessing soon, yet not before her Judge Bold or loquacious, thus abash'd replied: The Serpent me beguiled, and I did eat. Which when the Lord God heard, without delay To judgment he proceeded on the accused 165 The guilt on him who made him instrument Of mischief, and polluted from the end As vitiated in nature: More to know Concern'd not man (since he no further knew,) 170 Nor alter'd his offence; yet God at last To Satan first in sin his doom applied, Though in mysterious terms, judged as then best: Because thou hast done this thou art accursed 175 Above all cattle, each beast of the field; Upon thy belly grovelling thou shalt go, 180 Her seed shall bruise thy head, thou bruise his heel. So spake this oracle, then verified When Jesus, Son of Mary, second Eve, Saw Satan fall like lightning down from Heaven, Prince of the air, then, rising from his grave, 185 Spoil'd Principalities and Powers, triumph'd 199 By thy conception; children thou shalt bring 195 On Adam last thus judgment he pronounced: Because thou hast hearken'd to the voice of thy wife, And eaten of the tree, concerning which I charged thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat thereof: 200 205 So judged he Man, both Judge and Saviour sent ; And the instant stroke of death, denounced that day, Removed far off; then, pitying how they stood Before him naked to the air, that now 211 Must suffer change, disdain'd not to begin As when he wash'd his servants' feet; so now 215 Their nakedness with skins of beasts, or slain, 220 225 In glory, as of old; to him appeased All, though all-knowing, what had pass'd with Man Meanwhile, ere thus was sinn'd and judged on Earth, Within the gates of Hell sat Sin and Death, In counterview within the gates, that now 230 Stood open wide, belching outrageous flame O Son, why sit we here each other viewing 235 240 245 By secretest conveyance. Thou, my shade 250 Over this main from Hell to that new world, Where Satan now prevails: a monument Of merit high to all the infernal host, 260 Whom thus the meagre shadow answer'd soon: Go, whitner Fate and inclination strong 265 Leads thee; I shall not lag behind, nor err The way, thou leading; such a scent I draw Of carnage, prey innumerable, and taste The savour of death from all things there that live Nor shall I to the work thou enterprisest So saying, with delight he snuff'd the smell 270 275 Where armies lie encamp'd, come flying, lured With scent of living carcasses design'd For death, the following day, in bloody fight: So scented the grim Feature, and upturn'd 280 Sagacious of his quarry from so far. Them both from out Hell gates, into the waste Wide anarchy of Chaos, damp and dark, Flew diverse; and with power (their power was great) Hovering upon the waters, what they met 285 Solid or slimy, as in raging sea Toss'd up and down, together crowded drove, As when two polar winds, blowing adverse Upon the Cronian sea, together drive 290 From each side shoaling towards the mouth of Hell: 295 Mountains of ice, that stop the imagined way 305 From Susa, his Memnonian palace high, Came to the sea; and, over Hellespont Bridging his way, Europe with Asia join'd, 310 And scourged with many a stroke the indignant waves y Now had they brought the work by wondrous art Over the vex'd abyss, following the track Of Satan to the selfsame 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 325 330 By Eve, though all unweeting, seconded 335 Upon her husband; saw their shame that sought Vain covertures; but when he saw descend The Son of God to judge them, terrified 340 345 |