Side 59 af 239

Likest to thee in shape and countenance bright, Then shining heavenly fair, a goddess armed, Out of thy head I sprung. Amazement seized All the host of heaven; back they recoiled afraid At first, and called me Sin, and for a sign Portentous held me; but, familiar grown, I pleased, and with attractive graces won The most averse, thee chiefly, who full oft Thyself in me thy perfect image viewing, Became enamoured, and such joy thou took'st With me in secret, that my womb conceived A growing burden. Meanwhile war arose, And fields were fought in heaven; wherein remained-For what could else?—to our Almighty Foe Clear victory; to our part loss and rout, Through all the Empyrean. Down they fell, Driven headlong from the pitch of heaven, down Into this deep; and in the general fall, I also; at which time, this powerful key Into my hand was given, with charge to keep These gates for ever shut, which none can pass Without my opening. Pensive here I sat Alone; but long I sat not, till my womb, Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown, Prodigious motion felt, and rueful throes. At last this odious offspring whom thou seest, Thine own begotten, breaking violent way, Tore through my entrails, that, with fear and pain Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew Transformed. But he my inbred enemy Forth issued, brandishing his fatal dart, Made to destroy. I fled, and cried out Death! Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sighed Far from her caves, and back resounded, Death! I fled; but he pursued—though more, it seems, Inflamed with lust than rage—and, swifter far,