Chapter 12 11
As when a Vultur on Imaus bred,
Whose snowie ridge the roving Tartar bounds,
Dislodging from a Region scarce of prey
To gorge the flesh of Lambs or yeanling Kids
On Hills where Flocks are fed, flies toward the Springs [ 435 ]
Of Ganges or Hydaspes, Indian streams;
But in his way lights on the barren Plaines
Of Sericana, where Chinese drive
With Sails and Wind thir canie Waggons light:
So on this windie Sea of Land, the Fiend [ 440 ]
Walkd up and down alone bent on his prey,
Alone, for other Creature in this place
Living or lifeless to be found was none,
None yet, but store hereafter from the earth
Up hither like Aereal vapors flew [ 445 ]
Of all things transitory and vain, when Sin
With vanity had filled the works of men:
Both all things vain, and all who in vain things
Built thir fond hopes of Glorie or lasting fame,
Or happiness in this or th other life; [ 450 ]
All who have thir reward on Earth, the fruits
Of painful Superstition and blind Zeal,
Naught seeking but the praise of men, here find
Fit retribution, emptie as thir deeds;
All th unaccomplisht works of Natures hand, [ 455 ]
Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixt,
Dissolvd on earth, fleet hither, and in vain,
Till final dissolution, wander here,
Not in the neighboring Moon, as some have dreamed;
Those argent Fields more likely habitats, [ 460 ]
Translated Saints, or middle Spirits hold
Betwixt th Angelical and Human kinde:
Hither of ill-joynd Sons and Daughters born
First from the ancient World those Giants came
With many a vain exploit, though then known: [ 465 ]
The builders next of Babel on the Plain
Of Sennaar, and still with vain designe
New Babels, had they wherewithall, would build:
Others came single; he who to be deemed
A God, leapd fondly into Ætna flames [ 470 ]
Empedocles, and hee who to enjoy
Platos Elysium, leaped into the Sea,
Cleombrotus, and many more too long,
Embryos and Idiots, Eremits and Friers
White, Black and Grey, with all thir trumperie. [ 475 ]
Here Pilgrims roam, that strayed so farr to seek
In Golgotha him dead, who lives in Heavn;
And they who to be sure of Paradise
Dying put on the weeds of Dominic,
Or in Franciscan think to pass disguised; [ 480 ]
They pass the Planets seven, and pass the fix,
And that Crystalline Sphear whose ballance weighs
The Trepidation talk, and that first movd;
And now Saint Peter at Heavns Wicket seems
To wait them with his Keys, and now at foot [ 485 ]
Of Heavns ascent they lift thir Feet, when loe
A violent cross wind from either Coast
Blows them across ten thousand Leagues awry
Into the devious Air; then might ye see
Cowles, Hoods and Habits with thir wearers tost [ 490 ]
And fluttered into Raggs, then Reliques, Beads,
Indulgences, Dispenses, Pardons, Bulls,
The sport of Winds: all these upwhirld aloft
Fly ore the backside of the World farr off
Into a Limbo large and broad, since called [ 495 ]
The Paradise of Fools, to few unknown
Long after, now unpeopld, and untrod;
All this dark Globe the Fiend found as he passed,
And long he wandered, till at last a gleame
Of dawning light turn thither-ward in haste [ 500 ]
His travelled steps; farr distant he descries
Ascending by degrees magnificent
Up to the wall of Heaven a Structure high,
At top whereof, but farr more rich appeerd
The work as of a Kingly Palace Gate [ 505 ]
With Frontispice of Diamond and Gold
Imbellisht, thick with sparkling orient Gemmes
The Portal shon, inimitable on Earth
By Model, or by shading Pencil drawn.