| |
| .. MEAN 1 while upon the firm opacous Globe | |
| Of this round World, whose first convex divides | |
| The luminous inferior Orbs, enclos’d | |
| From Chaos and th’ inroad of Darkness old, | |
| Satan alighted walks: a Globe farr off | 5 |
| It seem’d, now seems a boundless Continent | |
| Dark, waste, and wild, under the frown of Night | |
| Starless expos’d, and ever-threatning storms | |
| Of Chaos blustring round, inclement skie; | |
| Save on that side which from the wall of Heav’n | 10 |
| Though distant farr som small reflection gaines | |
| Of glimmering air less vext with tempest loud: | |
| Here walk’d the Fiend at large in spacious field. | |
| As when a Vultur on Imaus bred, | |
| Whose snowie ridge the roving Tartar bounds, | 15 |
| 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 | |
| Of Ganges or Hydaspes, Indian streams; | |
| But in his way lights on the barren plaines | 20 |
| Of Sericana, where Chineses drive | |
| With Sails and Wind thir canie Waggons light: | |
| So on this windie Sea of Land, the Fiend | |
| Walk’d up and down alone bent on his prey, | |
| Alone, for other Creature in this place | 25 |
| Living or liveless to be found was none, | |
| None yet, but store hereafter from the earth | |
| Up hither like Aereal vapours flew | |
| Of all things transitorie and vain, when Sin | |
| With vanity had filld the works of men: | 30 |
| Both all things vain, and all who in vain things | |
| Built their fond hopes of Glorie or lasting fame, | |
| Or happiness in this or th’ other life; | |
| All who have thir reward on Earth, the fruits | |
| Of painful Superstition and blind Zeal, | 35 |
| Naught seeking but the praise of men, here find | |
| Fit retribution, emptie as thir deeds; | |
| All th’ unaccomplisht works of Natures hand, | |
| Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixt, | |
| Dissolvd on earth, fleet hither, and in vain, | 40 |
| Till final dissolution, wander here … | |
