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 Chineses 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 liveless to be found was none,

None yet, but store hereafter from the earth

Up hither like Aereal vapours flew [ 445 ]

Of all things transitorie and vain, when Sin

With vanity had filld 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 neighbouring Moon, as some have dreamd;

Those argent Fields more likely habitants, [ 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 renownd: [ 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 deemd

A God, leapd fondly into Ætna flames [ 470 ]

Empedocles, and hee who to enjoy

Platos Elysium, leapd 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 strayd 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 disguisd; [ 480 ]

They pass the Planets seven, and pass the fixt,

And that Crystalline Sphear whose ballance weighs

The Trepidation talkt, 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 transverse ten thousand Leagues awry

Into the devious Air; then might ye see

Cowles, Hoods and Habits with thir wearers tost [ 490 ]

And flutterd 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 calld [ 495 ]

The Paradise of Fools, to few unknown

Long after, now unpeopld, and untrod;

All this dark Globe the Fiend found as he passd,

And long he wanderd, till at last a gleame

Of dawning light turnd thither-ward in haste [ 500 ]

His travelld 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.