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,
Whehat shall be; so Fate pronouncd.
But thou O Father, I forewarn thee, shun [ 810 ]
His deadly arrow; her vainly hope
To be invulnerable in those bright Arms,
Though temperd heavnly, for that mortal dint,
Save he whns above, none resist.
She finishd, and the suttle Fiend his lore [ 815 ]
Soon learnd, now milder, and thus answerd smooth.
Dear Daughter, sihou claimst me for thy Sire,
And my fair Son here showst me, the dear pledge
Of dalliance had with thee in Heavn, and joys
The, now sad to mention, through dire ge [ 820 ]
Befalln us unforeseen, unthought of, know
I e 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 curring 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 vat room, though more removd, [ 835 ]
Least Heavn surchargd with potent multitude
Might hap to move new broiles: Be this ht
Then this more secret now designd, I haste
To know, and this onown, shall soourn,
And brio the place where Thou ah [ 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, ah [ 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.