Pale, their beauty marred,
the fallen angels, miserable wretches, wandered through that
loathsome pit, because of the presumptuous deeds which formerly
they wrought.
II
(ll. 75-80) Then once more spake the leader of the fiends; he was
chastened anew, and racked with pangs of torment. Black with
fire and poison, he began to speak; no pleasant joy was this as
he poured forth his words in pain:
(ll. 81-92) "I was once a holv angel, dear unto God in heaven,
and knew great joy before the face of the Lord God, likewise this
multitude. But I resolved in my heart to overthrow the Lord of
glory, the Son of God, and have myself the power to rule the
world, and all this wretched host which I have led unto a home in
hell. Bethink ye of the token and the curse, that I was
banished, deep below the earth, in the bottomless abyss. I have
led you all from out your native home unto a house of bondage.
(ll. 92-105) "Here is no glory of the blessed, neither wine-halls
of the proud, nor worldly joys nor angel throngs, nor may we have
possession of high heaven. This loathsome dwelling burns with
fire. I am God's foe. Dragons dwell ever at the gates of hell,
inflamed and furious; they may not help us! This woeful house is
filled with torment. In this deep darkness there is yet no place
to shelter us, that we may hide therein.
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