A Description of Hell

 B ENEATH the silent chambers of the earth,
Where the Suns fruitful beams give metals birth,
Where he the growth of fatal Gold does see,
Gold which above more Influence has than He
Beneath the dens where unfletcht Tempests lye,
And infant Winds their tender Voyces try,
Beneath the mighty Oceans wealthy Caves,
Beneath th'eternal Fountain of all Waves,
Where their vast Court the Mother-waters keep,
And undisturb'd by Moons in silence sleep,
There is a place deep, wondrous deep below,
Which genuine Night and Horrour does o'reflow;
No bound controls th'unwearied space, but Hell
Endless as those dire pains that in it dwell.
Here no dear glimpse of the Suns lovely face,
Strikes through the Solid darkness of the place;
No dawning Morn does her kind reds display;
One slight weak beam would here be thought the Day .
No gentle stars with their fair Gems of Light
Offend the tyr'anous and unquestion'd Night .
Here Lucifer the mighty Captive reigns;
Proud , 'midst his Woes , and Tyrant in his Chains .
One General of a guilded Host of Sprights ,
Like Hesper , leading forth the spangled Nights ,
But down like Lightning , which him struck, he came;
And roar'd at his first plunge into the Flame .
Myriads of Spirits fell wounded round him there;
With dropping Lights thick shone the singed Air .
Since when the dismal Solace of their wo,
Has only been weak Mankind to undo;
Themselves at first against themselves they'excite,
(Their dearest Conquest , and most proud delight)
And if those Mines of secret Trcason fail,
With open force mans Vertue they assail;
Unable to corrupt , seek to destroy ;
And where their Poysons miss, the Sword employ.
Thus sought the Tyrant Fiend young Davids fall;
And 'gainst him arm'd the pow'erful rage of Saul .
Translation: 
Language: 
Rate this poem: 

Reviews

No reviews yet.