第19章 18

Before mine eyes in opposition sits Grim Death my Son and foe, who sets them on, And me his Parent would full soon devour [ 805 ] For want of other prey, but that he knows His end with mine involvd; and knows that I Should prove a bitter Morsel, and his bane, Whenever that shall be; so Fate pronouncd.

But thou O Father, I forewarn thee, shun [ 810 ] His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope To be invulnerable in those bright Arms, Though temperd heavnly, for that mortal dint, Save he who reigns above, none can resist. She finishd, and the suttle Fiend his lore [ 815 ] Soon learnd, now milder, and thus answerd smooth.

Dear Daughter, since thou claimst me for thy Sire, And my fair Son here showst me, the dear pledge Of dalliance had with thee in Heavn, and joys Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change [ 820 ] Befalln us unforeseen, unthought of, know I come no enemie, but to set free From out this dark and dismal house of pain,

Both him and thee, and all the heavnly Host Of Spirits that in our just pretenses armd [ 825 ] Fell with us from on high: from them I go This uncouth errand sole, and one for all Myself expose, with lonely steps to tread Th unfounded deep, and through the void immense To search with wandring quest a place foretold [ 830 ]

Should be, and, by concurring signs, ere now Created vast and round, a place of bliss In the Purlieues of Heavn, and therein plact A race of upstart Creatures, to supply Perhaps our vacant room, though more removd, [ 835 ] Least Heavn surchargd with potent multitude Might hap to move new broiles: Be this or aught

Then this more secret now designd, I haste To know, and this once known, shall soon return, And bring ye to the place where Thou and Death [ 840 ] Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseen Wing silently the buxom Air, imbalmd With odours; there ye shall be fed and filld Immeasurably, all things shall be your prey.

He ceasd, for both seemd highly pleasd, and Death [ 845 ] Grinnd horrible a gastly smile, to hear His famine should be filld, and blest his mawe Destind to that good hour: no less rejoycd His mother bad, and thus bespake her Sire.