Chapter 19 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 involved; and knows that I
Should prove a bitter Morsel, and his bane,
Whenever that shall be; so Fate pronounced.
But thou O Father, I forewarn thee, shun [ 810 ]
His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope
To be invulnerable in those bright Arms,
Though tempered heavnly, for that mortal dint,
Save him who reigns above, none can resist.
She finished, and the suttle Fiend his lore [ 815 ]
Soon learn, now milder, and thus answer smooth.
Dear Daughter, since thou claimst me for thy Sire,
And my fair Son here shows 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 enemy, 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 removed, [ 835 ]
Least Heavn surchargd with potent multiplicity
Might hap to move new broiles: Be this or aught
Then this more secret now designed, I have
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 filled
Immeasurably, all things shall be your prey.
He ceasd, for both seemed highly pleasant, and Death [ 845 ]
Grinnd horrible a gastly smile, to hear
His famine should be filld, and blest his mawe
Destined to that good hour: no less rejoicing cd
His mother bad, and thus bespake her Sire.