by John Milton
Sulphureo curru flammivolisque rotis.
Qualiter ille2 feris caput inviolabile Parcis3
Liquit Jördanios turbine raptus agros.
On the Gunpowder Plot1
When recently, at the same time against the King and the British lords, / you attempted, perfidious Fawkes, your unspeakable crime, / am I mistaken, or did you wish to seem in part kind / and to compensate for the heinous deed with wicked piety? / Certainly you would send them to the courts of high heaven [5] / in a sulphurous chariot with flaming wheels; / just as he2 whose head was inviolable by the cruel Parcae,3 / carried off in a whirlwind, disappeared from the plains of the Jordan.
(Nov. 1626 ?)
* * *
1 a Roman Catholic conspiracy by Guy Fawkes and others to blow up James I and the House of Lords on Nov. 5, 1605.
2 Elijah (2 Kings ii. 11).
3 Clotho, Lachesis, and Atropos, the Fates who controlled birth and death.
In eandem
Siccine tentasti cælo donâsse Jäcobum
Quæ septemgemino Bellua monte lates?1
Ni meliora tuum poterit dare munera numen,
Parce precor donis insidiosa tuis.
5
Die quidem sine te consortia serus2 adivit
Astra, nec infemi pulveris usus ope.
Sic potiùs fœdos in cælum pelle cucullos,3
Et quot habet brutos Roma profana Deos,
Namque hac aut aliâ nisi quemque adjuveris arte,
10
Crede mihi, cæli vix bene scandet iter.
On the same
Thus did you strive to vouchsafe James to Heaven, / O Beast, who lurks on the seven hills?1 / Unless your divine majesty can bestow better favors, / spare, I pray, your insidious gifts. / Indeed he has departed ripe in years,2 without your help [5] / and without the employment of infernal powder, to his comrades, the stars. / Thus instead, banish to the sky your detestable cowls3 / and all the brute gods profane Rome possesses; / for unless you aid each one firmly in this or some other way, / believe me, they will hardly mount the path to heaven successfully. [10]
(Nov. 1626 ?)
* * *
1 the Papacy; Rome, built on seven hills, was identified by many Protestants with the whore of Babylon, who sat on a beast with seven heads (hills) and ten horns (Rev. xvii. 3-7).
2 James died on Mar. 27, 1625.
3 priests.
In eandem
Purgatorem animæ derisit Jäcobus ignem,1
Et sine quo superûm non adeunda domus.
Frenduit hoc trinâ monstrum Latiale coronâ2
Movit et horrificùm cornua dena minax.
5
Et nec inultus ait, temnes mea sacra, Britanne,
Supplicium spretâ relligione dabis.
Et si stelligeras unquam penetraveris arces,
Non nisi per flammas triste patebit iter.
O quàm funesto cecinisti proxima vero,
10
Verbaque ponderibus vix caritura suis!
Nam prope Tartareo3 sublime rotatus ab igni
Ibat ad æthereas umbra perusta plagas.
On the same
James derided the Purgatorial fire1 of the soul, / without which there is no approaching of the celestial mansions. / The Latin monster with triple crown2 gnashed its teeth at this / and moved its ten horns with frightful menace / and, it cried, “You shall not scorn my sacred rites with impunity, Englishman; [5] / you shall suffer punishment for your contempt of religion. / And if ever you enter the starry citadels, / the only way open is the sad one through the flames.” / O how close you came to a calamitous truth / and only barely were your words deprived of their consequences, [10] / for he nearly ascended to the eternal regions, / a scorched ghost, whirled on high by the Tartarean3 fire.
(Nov. 1626 ?)
* * *
1 James’ denial of Purgatory is found in A Premonition to All Most Mightie Monarches (Works, [Harvard Univ. Press, 1918], p. 125).
2 the Papacy; the Pope’s tiara is a triple crown. Milton thought both of the beast in Revelation and Daniel’s vision of the beast with great iron teeth and ten horns, which “shall be the fourth kingdom upon earth,… and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces” (Dan. vii. 7, 23).
3 Tartarus was the part of the underworld where punishment for sins was exacted.
In eandem
Quem modò Roma suis devoverat impia diris,1
Et Styge damnarât Tænarioque sinu,2
Hunc vice mutatâ jam tollere gestit ad astra,
Et cupit ad superos evehere usque Deos.
On the same
Whom impious Rome had just marked out for her curses1 / and condemned to the Styx and the Taenarian gulf,2 / him, on the contrary, she now desires to lift to the stars / and wishes to elevate even to the higher Gods.
(Nov. 1626 ?)
* * *
1 In addition to reimposing recusancy fines in Feb. 1605, James had banished all Roman Catholic priests in Feb. 1604.
2 the infernal regions.
In inventorem Bombardæ
Japetionidem1 laudavit cæca vetustas,
Qui tulit ætheream solis ab axe facem;
At mihi major erit, qui lurida creditur arma,
Et trifidum fulmen surripuisse Jovi.2
On the inventor of Gunpowder
Antiquity in blindness praised the son of Iapetus,1 / who brought down celestial fire from the chariot of the sun, / but to me he will be greater who is believed to have stolen / the ghastly weapons and threeforked thunderbolt from Jove.2
(Nov. 1626 ?)
* * *
1 Prometheus.
2 Compare the description of the Son after the War in Heaven in PL VI, 763-64.
In quintum Novembris
Jam pius extremâ veniens Jäcobus ab arcto
Teucrigenas populos,1 latéque patentia regna
Albionum tenuit, jamque inviolabile fœdus
Sceptra Caledoniis conjunxerat Anglica Scotis:
5
Pacificusque novo felix divesque sedebat
In solio, occultique doli securus et hostis:
Cum ferus ignifluo regnans Acheronte tyrannus,2
Eumenidum pater, æthereo vagus exul Olympo,
Forte per immensum terrarum erraverat orbem,
10
Dinumerans sceleris socios, vernasque fideles,
Participes regni post funera mœsta futuros;
Hic tempestates medio ciet aëre diras,
Illic unanimes odium struit inter amicos,
Armat et invictas in mutua viscera gentes;
15
Regnaque olivifera vertit florentia pace,
Et quoscunque videt puræ virtutis amantes,
Hos cupit adjicere imperio, fraudumque magister
Tentat inaccessum sceleri corrumpere pectus,
Insidiasque locat tacitas, cassesque latentes
20
Tendit, ut incautos rapiat, ceu Caspia Tigris
Insequitur trepidam deserta per avia prædam
Nocte sub illuni, et somno nictantibus astris.
Talibus infestat populos Summanus3 et urbes
Cinctus cæruleæ fumanti turbine flammæ.
25
Jamque fluentisonis albentia rupibus arva
Apparent, et terra Deo dilecta marino,
Cui nomen dederat quondam Neptunia proles
Amphitryoniaden qui non dubitavit atrocem
Æquore tranato furiali poscere bello,
30
Ante expugnatæ crudelia sæcula Troiæ.4
At simul hanc opibusque et festâ pace beatam
Aspicit, et pingues donis Cerealibus agros,
Quodque magis doluit, venerantem numina veri
Sancta Dei populum, tandem suspiria rupit
35
Tartareos ignes et luridum olentia sulphur.
Qualia Trinacriâ trux ab Jove clausus in Ætna
Efflat tabifico monstrosus ab ore Tiphœus.
5
Ignescunt oculi, stridetque adamantinus ordo
Dentis, ut armorum fragor, ictaque cuspide cupis.
40
Atque pererrato solum hoc lacrymabile mundo
Inveni, dixit, gens hæc mihi sola rebellis,
Contemtrixque jugi, nostrâque potentior arte.
Illa tamen, mea si quicquam tentamina possunt,
Non feret hoc impune díu, non ibit inulta.
45
Hactenus; et piceis liquido natat aëre pennis;
Quà volat, adversi præcursant agmine venti,
Densantur nubes, et crebra tonitrua fulgent.
Jamque pruinosas velox superaverat alpes,
Et tenet Ausoniæ fines; à parte sinistrâ
50
Nimbifer Appenninus erat, priscique Sabini,
Dextra veneficiis infamis Hetruria, nec non
Te furtiva, Tibris, Thetidi6 videt oscula dantem;
Hinc Mavortigenæ consistit in arce Quirini.7
Reddiderant dubiam jam sera crepuscula lucem,
55
Cum circumgreditur totam Tricoronifer urbem,
Panificosque Deos portat, scapulisque virorum
Evehitur, præeunt summisso poplite reges,
Et mendicantum series longissima fratrum;
Cereaque in manibus gestant funalia cæci,
60
Cimmeriis nati in tenebris, vitamque trahentes.
Templa dein multis subeunt lucentia tædis
(Vesper erat sacer iste Petro) fremitúsque canentum
Sæpe tholos implet vacuos, et inane locorum.
Qualiter exululat Bromius, Bromiique caterva,
65
Orgia cantantes in Echionio Aracyntho,8
Dum tremit attonitus vitreis Asopus in undis,
Et procul ipse cavâ responsat rupe Cithæron.
His igitur tandem solenni more peractis,
Nox9 senis amplexus Erebi taciturna reliquit,
70
Præcipitesque impellit equos stimulante flagello,
Captum oculis Typhlonta, Melanchætemque ferocem,
Atque Acherontæo prognatam patre Siopen
Torpidam, et hirsutis horrentem Phrica capillis.
Interea regum domitor, Phlegetontius hæres,
75
Ingreditur thalamos (neque enim secretus adulter
Producit steriles molli sine pellice noctes);
At vix compositos somnus claudebat ocellos,
Cum niger umbrarum dominus, rectorque silentum,
Prædatorque hominum falsâ sub imagine tectus.
80
Astitit, assumptis micuerunt tempora canis,
Barba sinus promissa tegit, cineracea longo
Syrmate verrit humum vestis, pendetque cucullus
Vertice de raso, et ne quicquam desit ad artes,
Cannabeo lumbos constrinxit fune salaces,
85
Tarda fenestratis figens vestigia calcëis.
Talis, uti fama est, vastâ Franciscus10 eremo
Tetra vagabatur solus per lustra ferarum,
Sylvestrique tulit genti pia verba salutis
Impius, atque lupos domuit, Lybicosque leones.
90
Subdolus at tali Serpens velatus amictu
Solvit in has fallax ora execrantia voces;
Dormis, nate? Etiamne tuos sopor opprimit artus?
Immemor O fidei, pecorumque oblite tuorum,
Dum cathedram, venerande, tuam, diademaque triplex
95
Ridet Hyperboreo gens barbara nata sub axe,
Dumque pharetrati spernunt tua jura Britanni;
Surge, age, surge piger, Latius quem Cæsar adorat,
Cui reserata patet convexi janua cæli,
Turgentes animos, et fastus frange procaces,
100
Sacrilegique sciant, tua quid maledictio possit,
Et quid Apostolicæ possit custodia clavis;
Et memor Hesperiæ disjectam ulciscere classem,
Mersaque Iberorum lato vexilla profundo,
Sanctorumque cruci tot corpora fixa probrosæ,
105
Thermodoontéa nuper regnante puella.11
At tu si tenero mavis torpescere lecto
Crescentesque negas hosti contundere vires,
Tyrrhenum implebit numeroso milite Pontum,
Signaque Aventino12 ponet fulgentia colle:
110
Relliquias veterum franget, flammisque cremabit,
Sacraque calcabit pedibus tua colla profanis,
Cujus gaudebant soleïs dare basia reges.
Nec tamen hunc bellis et aperto Marte lacesses,
Irritus ille labor, tu callidus utere fraude,
115
Quælibet hæreticis disponere retia fas est;
Jamque ad consilium extremis rex magnus ab oris
Patricios vocat, et procerum de stirpe creatos,
Grandævosque patres trabeâ, canisque verendos;
Hos tu membratim poteris conspergere in auras,
120
Atque dare in cineres, nitrati pulveris igne
Ædibus injecto, quà convenere, sub imis.
Prontinus ipse igitur quoscumque habet Anglia fidos
Propositi, factique mone, quisquámne tuorum
Audebit summi non jussa facessere Papæ?
125
Perculsosque metu subito, casúmque stupentes
Invadat vel Gallus atrox, vel sævus Iberus.
Sæcula sic illic tandem Mariana13 redibunt,
Tuque in belligeros iterum dominaberis Anglos.
Et nequid timeas, divos divasque secundas
130
Accipe, quotque tuis celebrantur numina fastis.
Dixit et adscitos ponens malefidus amictus
Fugit ad infandam, regnum illætabile, Lethen.
Jam rosea Eoas pandens Tithonia portas
Vestit inauratas redeunti lumine terras;
135
Mæstaque adhuc nigri deplorans funera nati14
Irrigat ambrosiis montana cacumina guttis;
Cum somnos pepulit stellatæ janitor15 aulæ
Nocturnos visus, et somnia grata revolvens.
Est locus æternâ septus caligine noctis
140
Vasta ruinosi quondam fundamina tecti,
Nunc torvi spelunca Phoni, Prodotæque bilinguis
Effera quos uno peperit Discordia partu.
Hic inter cæmenta jacent præruptaque saxa,
Ossa inhumata virûm, et trajecta cadavera ferro;
145
Hic Dolus intortis semper sedet ater ocellis,
Jurgiaque, et stimulis armata Calumnia fauces,
Et Furor, atque viæ moriendi mille videntur
Et Timor, exanguisque locum circumvolat Horror,
Perpetuosque leves per muta silentia Manes
150
Exululant, tellus et sanguine conscia stagnat.
Ipsi etiam pavidi latitant penetralibus antri
Et Phonos, et Prodotes, nulloque sequente per antrum,
Antrum horrens, scopulosum, atrum feralibus umbris.
Diffugiunt sontes, et retrò lumina vortunt;
155
Hos pugiles Romæ per sæcula longa fideles
Evocat antistes Babylonius,16 atque ita fatur.
Finibus occiduis circumfusum incolit æquor
Gens exosa mihi, prudens natura negavit
Indignam penitùs nostro conjungere mundo;
160
Illuc, sic jubeo, celeri contendite gressu,
Tartareoque leves difflentur pulvere in auras
Et rex et pariter satrapæ, scelerata propago
Et quotquot fidei caluere cupidine veræ
Consilii socios adhibete, operisque ministros.
165
Finierat, rigidi cupidè paruere gemelli.
Interea longo flectens curvamine cælos
Despicit æthereâ dominus qui fulgurat arce,
Vanaque perversæ ridet conamina tu
rbæ,17
Atque sui causam populi volet ipse tueri.
170
Esse ferunt spatium, quà distat ab Aside terra
Fertilis Europe, et spectat Mareotidas undas;
Hic turris posita est Titanidos ardua Famæ18
Ærea, lata, sonans, rutilis vicinior astris
Quàm superimpositum vel Athos vel Pelion Ossæ.19
175
Mille fores aditusque patent, totidemque fenestræ,
Amplaque per tenues translucent atria muros;
Excitat hic varios plebs agglomerata susurros;
Qualiter instrepitant circum mulctralia bombis
Agmina muscarum, aut texto per ovilia junco,
180
Dum Canis20 æstivum cœli petit ardua culmen.
Ipsa quidem summâ sedet ultrix matris in arce,
Auribus innumeris cinctum caput eminet olli,
Queis sonitum exiguum trahit, atque levissima captat
Murmura, ab extremis patuli confinibus orbis.
185
Nec tot, Aristoride21 servator inique juvencæ
Isidos, immiti volvebas lumina vultu,
Lumina non unquam tacito nutantia somno,
Lumina subjectas late spectantia terras.
Istis illa solet loca luce carentia sæpe
190
Perlustrare, etiam radianti impervia soli.
Millenisque loquax auditaque visaque linguis
Cuilibet effundit temeraria, veráque mendax
Nunc minuit, modò confictis sermonibus auget.
Sed tamen a nostro meruisti carmine laudes
195
Fama, bonum quo non aliud veracius ullum,
Nobis digna cani, nec te memorasse pigebit
