Tumultuously heaved, hot pains of wrath
Then said he, 'Most unlike this narrow place
To that which once we knew, high in Heaven's realm,
Lord gave me, though therein no more
For the Almighty we hold royalties.
Yet right hath He not done in striking us
Down to the fiery bottom of hot Hell, Banished from Heaven's kingdom with decree That He will set in it the race of Man.
Worst of my sorrows this, that, wrought of earth, Adam shall sit in bliss on my strong throne, Whilst we these pangs endure, this grief in Hell. Woe! Woe! had I the power of my hands, And for a season, for one winter's space, Might be without; then with this host I But iron binds me round; this coil of chains
Rides me; I rule no more; close bonds of Hell Hem me their prisoner. Above, below,
Here is vast fire, and never have I seen
More loathly landscape; never fade the flames
Hot over Hell. Rings clasp me, smooth hard bands
Mar motion, stay my wandering, feet bound,
Hands fastened, and the ways of these Hell-gates Accurst so that I cannot free my limbs;
Great lattice bars, hard iron hammered hot,
Lie round me, wherewith God hath bound me down Fast by the neck.
So know I that He knew
My mind, and that the Lord of Hosts perceived That if between us two by Adam came
Evil towards that royalty of Heaven, I having power of my hands
But now we suffer throes in Hell, gloom, heat, Grim, bottomless; us God Himself hath swept Into these mists of darkness, wherefore sin Can He not lay against us that we planned Evil against Him in the land. Of light He hath shorn us, cast us into utmost pain. May we not then plan vengeance, pay Him back With any hurt, since shorn by Him of light? Now He hath set the bounds of a mid-earth
Where after His own image He hath wrought
Man, by whom He will people once again
Heaven's kingdom with pure souls. Therefore intent Must be our thought that, if we ever may, On Adam and his offspring we may wreak Revenge, and, if we can devise a way,
Pervert His will. I trust no more the light
Which he thinks long to enjoy with angel power. Bliss we obtain no more, nor can attain
To weaken God's strong will; but let us now Turn from the race of Man that heavenly realm Which may no more be ours, contrive that they Forfeit His favor, undo what His Word Ordained then, wroth of mind, He from His grace Will cast them, then shall they too seek this Hell And these grim depths. Then may we for ourselves Have them in this strong durance, sons of men For servants. Of the warfare let us now Begin to take thought. If of old I gave To any thane, while we in that good realm Sat happy and had power of our thrones,
Gifts of a Prince, then at no dearer time Could he reward my gift, if any now
Among my followers would be my friend,
That he might pass forth upward from these bounds, Had power with him that, winged, he might fly, Borne on the clouds, to where stand Adam and Eve Wrought on earth's kingdom, girt with happiness, While we are cast down into this deep dale. Now these are worthier to the Lord, may own The blessing rightly ours in Heaven's realm, This the design apportioned to mankind. Sore is my mind and rue is in my thought That ever henceforth they should possess Heaven. If ever any of you in any way
May turn them from the teaching of God's word They shall be evil to Him, and if they Break His commandment, then will He be wroth Against them, then will be withdrawn from them Their happiness, and punishment prepared, Some grievous share of harm. Think all of this, How to deceive them. In these fetters then I can take rest, if they that kingdom lose. He who shall do this hath prompt recompense Henceforth for ever of what may be won Of gain within these fires. I let him sit Beside myself.'
Then God's antagonist arrayed himself
Swift in rich arms. He had a guileful mind.
The hero set the helmet on his head
And bound it fast, fixed it with clasps. He knew Many a speech deceitful, turned him thence,
Hardy of mind, departed through Hell's doors, Striking the flames in two with a fiend's power; Would secretly deceive with wicked deed Men, the Lord's subjects, that misled, forlorn, To God they became evil. So he fared,
Through his fiend's power, till on earth he found Adam, God's handiwork, with him his wife, The fairest woman.
(The numbers refer to pages. Biblical references are not listed.)
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