Satan, with thoughts inflamed of highest design, 630 Puts on swift wings, and towards the gates of Hell Explores his solitary flight: sometimes He scours the right hand coast, sometimes the left; Now shaves with level wing the deep, then soars Up to the fiery concave towering high. As when far off at sea a fleet descried 635 Hangs on the clouds, by equinoctial winds Of Ternate and Tidore, whence merchants bring 640 'Ply stemming nightly toward the pole: so seem'd Far off the flying Fiend. At last appear Hell bounds, high reaching to the horrid roof, And thrice threefold the gates; three folds were brass, Three iron, three of adamantine rock 646 Impenetrable, impaled with circling fire, Yet unconsumed. Before the gates there sat, On either side a formidable shape : The one seem'd woman to the waist, and fair; 650 But ended foul in many a scaly fold Voluminous and vast; a serpent arm'd With mortal sting: About her middle round With wide Cerberian mouths full loud, and rung 655 A hideous peal; yet, when they list, would creep, 660 If aught disturb'd their noise, into her womb, If shape it might be call'd that shape had none Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb ; Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd, And shook a dreadful dart; what seem'd his head Satan was now at hand, and from his seat 675 680 685 691 Whence and what art thou, execrable shape! That darest, though grim and terrible, advance Thy miscreated front athwart my way. To yonder gates? through them I mean to pass, That be assured, without leave ask'd of thee: Retire or taste thy folly; and learn by proof, Hell-born! not to contend with Spirits of heaven. To whom the Goblin full of wrath replied: Art thou that Traitor-Angel, art thou He Who first broke peace in Heaven, and faith, till then Unbroken; and in proud rebellious arms Drew after him the third part of Heaven's sons Conjured against the Highest; for which both thou And they, outcast from God, are here condemn'd To waste eternal days in woe and pain? And reckon'st thou thyself with Spirits of Heaven, Hell-doom'd and breathest defiance here and scorn, Where I reign king; and, to enrage thee more, Thy king and lord? Back to thy punishment, False fugitive! and to thy speed add wings; Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue Thy lingering; or with one stroke of this dart Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before. So spake the grisly Terror, and in shape, So speaking and so threatening, grew tenfold 695 700 705 710 More dreadful and deform. On the other side, Grew darker at their frown: so match'd they stood; 721 To meet so great a foe: And now great deeds Had been achieved, whereof all Hell had rung, 725 O Father! what intends thy hand, she cried, 731 735 Prevented, spares to tell thee yet by deeds 740 What thing thou art, thus double-form'd; and why, I know thee not, nor ever saw till now Sight more detestable than him and thee. 745 To whom thus the Portress of Hell-gate replied: Hast thou forgot me then, and do I seem Now in thine eye so foul? once deem'd so fair In Heaven, when at the assembly, and in sight 750 760 Surprised thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzy swam 770 And fields were fought in Heaven; Wherein remain'd I also; at which time, this powerful key Into my hand was given, with charge to keep 775 780 At last this odious offspring whom thou seest, Thine own begotten, breaking violent way Tore through my entrails, that, with fear and pain 785 790 These yelling monsters that with ceaseless cry 795 To me; for, when they list, into the womb That bred them they return, and howl and gnaw My bowels, their repast; then bursting forth 800 Afresh with conscious terrors vex me round, That rest or intermission none I find. Before mine eyes in opposition sits Grim Death, my son and foe; who sets them on, 805 ་ For want of other prey, but that he knows His end with mine involved; and knows that I 810 815 She finish'd; and the subtle Fiend his lore Soon learn'd, now milder, and thus answer'd smooth Dear Daughter! since thou claim'st me for thy sire And my fair son here show'st me, (the dear pledge Of dalliance had with thee in Heaven, and joys |