100 PARADISE LOST. BOOK IV. Not fpirits, yet to heav'nly fpirits bright Little inferior ; whom my thoughts purfue With wonder, and could love, fo lively fhines In them divine refemblance, and fuch grace The hand that form'd 'em on their thape bath pour'd. Ah gentle pair, ye little think how nigh 366 Your change approaches, when all thete delights Will vanith, and deliver ye to woe, More woe, the more your tafte is now of joy : Happy, but for fo happy ill fecur'd 370 Long to continue ; and this high feat your heav'n Ill fenc'd for heav'n, to keep out fueh a foe As now is enter'd : yet no purpos'd foe To you whom I could pity thus forlorn, Though I unpitied. League with you I Peek, 373 And mutual amity fo ftrait, fo clofe, That I with you mutt dwell, or you with me Henceforth : my dwelling haply may not pleafe, Like this fair Paraeiife, your fenfe ; yet fuch Accept your Maker's work ; he gave it me, 38o Which I as freely give : hell (hail unfold, To entertain you two, her wideft gates, And f.nd forth all her Kings : there will be room, Not like thefe narrow limits, to receive Your numerous offspring : if no better place, 385 Thank him who puts me loth to this revenge On you who wrong me nor, for him who wrong'd. And fhould I at your hartnlefs innocence Melt, (as 1 do) yet publick reafon juft, tionor and empire with revenge enlarg'd, 393 conqu'ring' this new world, compels me now To do, 'what elle (though damn'd) 1 fh(Aild abhor. So fpake the fiend, and with neceffity, 'he tyrant's plea, excus'd his devilith deeds. hen frLirp his lofty fland on that high tree, 395 Down
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