The Lightning travels not so fast,
The Sunbeams not so far;

And now behind him he hath left
The Moon and every Star.

And still erect as on the tomb In impious act he stood, Is he rapt onward. . . onward... still In that fix'd attitude.

But as he from the living world
Approach'd where Spirits dwell,
His bearers there in thinner air
Were dimly visible;

Shapeless, and scarce to be descried In darkness where they flew; But still as they advanced, the more And more distinct they grew:

And when their way fast-speeding they Thro' their own region went,

Then were they in their substance seen, The angelic form, the fiendish mien, Face, look and lineament.

Behold where dawns before them now,
Far off, the boreal ray,

Sole daylight of that frozen zone,
The limit of their way.

In that drear realm of outer night, Like the shadow, or the ghost of light, It moved in the restless skies,

And went and came, like a feeble flame That flickers before it dies.

There the fallen Seraph reign'd supreme
Amid the utter waste;

There on the everlasting ice
His dolorous throne was placed.

Son of the Morning! is it then
For this that thou hast given
Thy seat, pre-eminent among
The hierarchies of Heaven?

As if dominion here could joy
To blasted pride impart ;
Or this cold region slake the fire
Of Hell within the heart!

Thither the Evil Angels bear The youth, and rendering homage there Their service they evince,

And in the name of Abibas

Present him to their Prince :

Just as they seized him when he made
The Sorcerer's mandate known,
In that same act and attitude
They set him before the throne.

The fallen Seraph cast on him
A dark disdainful look;
And from his raised hand scornfully
The proffer'd tablets took.

“Ay, . . love!" he cried. "It serves me well. There was the Trojan boy,..

His love brought forth a ten years' war,
And fired the towers of Troy.

"And when my own Mark Antony
Against young Cæsar strove,

And Rome's whole world was set in arms,
The cause was, . . all for love!

"Some for ambition sell themselves,
By avarice some are driven;
Pride, envy, hatred, best will move
Some souls, and some for only love
Renounce their hopes of Heaven.

"Yes, of all human follies, love,
Methinks, hath served me best;
The Apple had done but little for me
If Eve had not done the rest.

"Well then, young Amorist, whom love
Hath brought unto this pass,

I am willing to perform the word
Of my servant Abibas.

66

Thy Master's daughter shall be thine,
And with her sire's consent;
And not more to thy heart's desire
Than to her own content.

"Yea, more; • • I give thee with the girl, Thine after-days to bless,

Health, wealth, long life, and whatsoe'er The world calls happiness.

"But, mark me! . . on conditions, youth! No paltering here we know !

Dost thou here, solemnly, this hour
Thy hope of Heaven forego?

"Dost thou renounce thy baptism,
And bind thyself to me,
My woeful portion to partake
Through all eternity?

"No lurking purpose shall avail, When youth may fail and courage quail, To cheat me by contrition!

I will have thee written down among
The children of Perdition.

"Remember, I deceive thee not,
Nor have I tempted thee!
Thou comest of thine own accord,
And actest knowingly.

"Dost thou, who now to choose art free,
For ever pledge thyself to me?

As I shall help thee, say!"

...

"I do; so help me, Satan!" said
The wilful castaway.

"A resolute answer," quoth the Fiend;
"And now then, Child of Dust,
In farther proof of that firm heart,
Thou wilt sign a Bond before we part,
For I take thee not on trust!"

Swift as thought a scroll and a reed were brought,
And to Eleëmon's breast,

Just where the heart-stroke plays, the point
Of the reed was gently prest.

It pierced not in, nor touch'd the skin;
But the sense that it caused was such,
As when an electric pellet of light
Comes forcibly out at a touch;

A sense no sooner felt than gone,
But with that short feeling then
A drop of his heart's-blood came forth
And fill'd the fatal pen.

And with that pen accurst, he sign'd
The execrable scroll,

Whereby he to perdition bound
His miserable soul.