第10章 9
And now thir way to Earth they had descrid, [ 325 ]
To Paradise first tending, when behold
Satan in likeness of an Angel bright
Betwixt the Centaure and the Scorpion stearing
His Zenith, while the Sun in Aries rose:
Disguisd he came, but those his Children dear [ 330 ]
Thir Parent soon discernd, though in disguise.
Hee after Eve seduct, unminded slunk
Into the Wood fast by, and changing shape
To observe the sequel, saw his guileful act
By Eve, though all unweeting, seconded [ 335 ]
Upon her Husband, saw thir shame that sought
Vain covertures; but when he saw descend
The Son of God to judge them terrifid
Hee fled, not hoping to escape, but shun
The present, fearing guiltie what his wrauth [ 340 ]
Might suddenly inflict; that past, returnd
By Night, and listening where the hapless Paire
Sate in thir sad discourse, and various plaint,
Thence gatherd his own doom, which understood
Not instant, but of future time. With joy [ 345 ]
And tidings fraught, to Hell he now returnd,
And at the brink of Chaos, neer the foot
Of this new wondrous Pontifice, unhopt
Met who to meet him came, his Ofspring dear.
Great joy was at thir meeting, and at sight [ 350 ]
Of that stupendious Bridge his joy encreasd.
Long hee admiring stood, till Sin, his faire
Inchanting Daughter, thus the silence broke.
O Parent, these are thy magnific deeds,
Thy Trophies, which thou viewst as not thine own, [ 355 ]
Thou art thir Author and prime Architect:
For I no sooner in my Heart divind,
My Heart, which by a secret harmonie
Still moves with thine, joind in connexion sweet,
That thou on Earth hadst prosperd, which thy looks [ 360 ]
Now also evidence, but straight I felt
Though distant from thee Worlds between, yet felt
That I must after thee with this thy Son;
Such fatal consequence unites us three:
Hell could no longer hold us in her bounds, [ 365 ]
Nor this unvoyageable Gulf obscure
Detain from following thy illustrious track.