1

HELLESPONT (0), join'd EUROPE (p) to ASIA (q); of whom it was faid, that he fcourged the Waves, because they broke down his Bridge.

4

Now DEATH and SIN had brought the Work (by wonderous Art, fuperior to any we know) to the Outfide of this round World; it was a Ridge of pendent Rock, which they had drawn over the CHAOS, following the Track of SATAN, to the felf-fame Place where he first lighted and landed: They made all fast with Pins and Chains of Adamant; too faft and too durable they made it; and now in little Space the Confines of Heaven and of this World met; and on the Left-Hand Hell interpofed with a long Tract between; three feveral Ways in Sight led to thefe three Places. And now they had difcovered the Opening that led to the Earth, where SATAN had entered; and tending first their Way to PARADISE, they beheld him in the Likeness of a bright Angel, between the CENTAUR (r) and the ScORPION, fteering upwards

from Africa by the Mediterranean Sea on the South, and from Afia by the Archipelago, Hellefpont, Propontis, the Bofpbarus, Euxine Sea, the Maotis, and the great River Volga on the North Eaft.

(9) Afia; Phan. i. e. The Middle: because it (especially Leffer Afia) lies in the Middle of Europe, Afia and Africa. The third Quarter of the World, larger than the other two, and very famous for being the Origi. nal Seat of Man's Creation, Fall and Redemption; for the first and most renowned Tranfactions of Mankind, recorded in Sacred Writ, and all antient Hiftories. It is furrounded with Sea on the North, Eaft and South, and parted from Europe, as is faid above, on the Weft. Afia extends from the North to the

;

South, about 4400 Miles; and from Eaft to Weft, 7500 Miles. Antiently it was divided into the Greater and Leffer Afia; afterwards into five large Empires, viz. I. That of the Czar of Muscovy. 11. Of the great Cham of Tatary. III. Of the Great Mogul. IV. Of the Sophy of Perfia. V. Of the Sultan of the Turks. To those may be added the Empire of China, which was not known to the Antients; but as large as any of those Empires.

(r) Centaur; Lat. from the Gr. i. e. Pricking a Bull. A fabulous Monster, half Man half Horfe. This Fable rofe from a People of Theffaly, who firft broke Horfes to War, and riding upon Horfeback, drove their Cattle before them. Other Men seeing them at a Distance, thought they were but one Crea

ture

wards among innumerable Conftellations, and the Sun rifing in ARIES. He came in a Difguife, but SIN and DEATH foon difcerned their Parent through it. He, after he had feduced EvE, flunk without being taken Notice of into the neighbouring Wood; and changing his Shape, to obferve the Sequel, faw his deceitful Act feconded by Ev E, (though fhe knew nothing of the Mifchief fhe was about) upon her Husband: He faw their Shame, and that they had fought vain Coverings to hide it, but when he faw the Son of GOD coming from Heaven to judge them, terrified at that, he fled; not hoping by that Means to escape, but only to fhun the prefent Punishment; fearing (knowing himfelf to be guilty) what GOD's Wrath might inflict: That paft, he returned by Night, and liftening, where the unhappy Couple fat in their fad Difcourfe and various Complaints thence gathered the Knowledge of his own Doom; which understanding not inftantly to be inflicted, but in future Time, he now returned to Hell full of Joy, and fraught with good Tidings; and at the Brink of CHAOS, near the Foot of this new wonderful Bridge, he met, (not hoping nor expecting) his dear Offspring, who were come to meet him; there was great Joy at their Interview, and it increafed at Sight of that ftupendous Paffage, which they had made. He ftood long in Admiration, 'till SIN, his fair enchanting Daughter, thus broke the Silence :

O FATHER! thefe are thy great Deeds, thefe are thy Trophies! which thou vieweft as if they were not thine own; "thou art their Author and firft Architect;

ture: And fo the poor Americans thought of the Spaniards, when they first invaded them upon Horfes. Here, an Aftron.

T. a

Southern Constellation, confiling of 37 Stars, which is

called Sagittarius, Lat. i. e. An Archer or Bowman. It is fo called, becaufe of its vehement Cold when the Rays of it caft forth the piercing Winds in November.

for

for I no fooner divined in my Heart (which by a fecret Harmony ftill moves with thine, joined in a sweet Connection) that thou hadst profpered on Earth, which thy Looks now alfo bear Witness to, but strait I felt (though the Distance of Worlds was betwixt us) that I must follow thee, with this thy Son; for Fate, and the neceffary Confequence of Things, will for ever unite us three: Hell could no longer hold us, nor this obfcure, unpaffable Gulph detain us from following thy illuftrious Tract. Thou haft atchieved our Liberty at laft, though 'till now we have been confin'd within the Gates of Hell: Thou haft given us Power thus far to fortify the dark Abyss, and to lay over it this wonderous and portentous Bridge. This World is now all thine; thy Virtue has won what thy Hands did not make: Thy Wisdom has gain'd, with Odds, what War had loft, and fully avenged us for the Lofs that we fuftained in Heaven: Here thou fhall reign Monarch; there thou didft not: There let him ftill bear Sway, the Conqueror, as Battle hath adjudged him; retiring from this new World, which is now alienated from him by his own Sentence: And let him henceforth only divide with thee the Monarchy of all Things, parted by the Bounds of Heaven, which is his Dominion, from this orbicular World, which is now thine; or let him try another Battle with thee, now grown more dangerous to his Throne.

To whom the Prince of Darknefs made this glad Anfwer: Fair Daughter! and thou who art at the fame Time my Son and Grandchild! you have given high Proof that ye are of the Race of SATAN, (for I glory in the Name, which declares me the Antagonift of the Almighty King of Heaven) and merit great Praise from me, and all the Infernal Empire; that fo near Heaven have, with this glorious Work and triumphal Arch, met me come triumphal from my glorious Act, and have made this World and Hell

Rr

one

one Realm, (and made it ours) one Continent of easy Thoroughfare. Therefore while I with Eafe defcend through Darknefs, over the Road which ye have made, to my affociate Powers, to acquaint them with what hath happened and to rejoice with them; do you two, this Way, among thefe numerous Orbs, (which are all yours) defcend right down to PAR ADISE: Dwell there, and reign in Happiness, and thence exercife Dominion on the Earth and in the Air, but chiefly upon MA N, who has been declared Lord of all; make him first your Slave and Prisoner, and laftly kill him. I fend ye my Subftitutes, and create ye my Plenipotentiaries on Earth, having matchlefs and full Power iffuing from me: All my Hold of this new Kingdom depends entirely upon your joint Strength; it lying, through my Craft and Management, now expofed to DEATH through SIN. If your united Power does but prevail, the Affairs of Hell need Fear no Detriment; therefore go, and be strong in Evil.

SAYING this, he difmiffed them, and they with Speed held their Courfe through the thickeft of the Conftellations, every where fpreading their Bane : The blasted Stars looked pale, and Planets under evil Influence then fuffered real Eclipfe. SATAN went the other Way, down the Causeway to the Gate of Hell On either Side, CHAOs (over whose Realm SIN and DEATH had built the Bridge) beat with rebounding Surge against its Foundation, which it could not remove. SATAN paffed through the Gate, that was wide open and unguarded, and found the Place deferted; for those who were appointed and used to fit there, had (as has been faid) left their Charge, and flown to the upper World: The reft were all retired farther within, about the Walls of PANDEMONIUM, the City and proud Seat of LUCIFER: (SATAN having been called fo by Allufion, be