第4章

Thusthoughtthetyrantinhistraitorousmind，Butdurstnotfollowwhathehaddecreed，Yetiftheinnocentssomemercyfind，Fromcowardice，nottruth，didthatproceed，HisnoblefoesdurstnothiscravenkindExasperatebysuchabloodydeed。

Forifheneed，whatgracecouldthenbegot，Ifthusofpeacehebrokeorloosedtheknot？

LXXXIX

Hisvillainhearthiscursedragerestrained，Tootherthoughtshebenthisfiercedesire，Thesuburbsfirstflatwiththeearthheplained，Andburnttheirbuildingswithdevouringfire，LothwasthewretchtheFrenchmanshouldhavegainedOrhelporease，byfindingaughtentire，Cedron，Bethsaida，andeachwateringelseEmpoisonedhe，bothfountains，springs，andwells。

XC

Sowarywisethischildofdarknesswas；

Thecity’sselfhestronglyfortifies，Threesidesbysiteitwelldefencedhas，That’sonlyweakthattothenorthwardlies；

Withmightybarsoflongenduringbrass，Thesteel-bounddoorsandirongatesheties，And，lastly，legionsarmedwellprovidesOfsubjectsborn，andhiredaidbesides。

SECONDBOOK

THEARGUMENT。

Ismenoconjures，buthischarmsarevain；

AladinewillkilltheChristiansinhisire：

SophroniaandOlindowouldbeslainTosavetherest，theKinggrantstheirdesire；

Clorindahearstheirfactandfortunesplain，Theirpardongetsandkeepsthemfromthefire：

Argantes，whenAletes’speechesareDespised，defiestheDuketomortalwar。

I

Whilethusthetyrantbendshisthoughtstoarms，Ismenogantoforehissightappear，IsmendeadboneslaidincoldgravesthatwarmsAndmakesthemspeak，smell，taste，touch，see，andhear；

Ismenwithterrorofhismightycharms，ThatmakesgreatDisindeepestHelltofear，Thatbindsandloosessoulscondemnedtowoe，Andsendsthedevilsonerrandstoandfro。

II

AChristianonce，Maconhenowadores，Norcouldhequitehiswontedfaithforsake，ButinhiswickedartsbothoftimploresHelpfromtheLord，andaidfromPlutoblack；

He，fromdeepcavesbyAcheron’sdarkshores，Wherecirclesvainandspellsheusedtomake，Toadvisehiskingintheseextremesiscome，AchitophelsocounselledAbsalom。

III

“Myliege，“hesays，“thecampfasthithermoves，Theaxeislaiduntothiscedar’sroot，Butletusworkasvaliantmenbehoves，Forboldestheartsgoodfortunehelpethout；

Yourprincelycareyourkinglywisdomproves，Wellhaveyoulabored，wellforeseenabout；

Ifeachperformhischargeanddutyso，Noughtbuthisgravehereconquershallyourfoe。

IV

“FromsurestcastleofmysecretcellIcome，partakerofyourgoodandill，Whatcounselsage，ormagic’ssacredspellMayprofitus，allthatperformIwill：

ThespritesimpurefromblissthatwhilomfellShalltoyourservicebow，constrainedbyskill；

Buthowwemustbeginthisenterprise，IwillyourHighnessthusinbriefadvise。

V

“WithintheChristian’schurchfromlightofskies，Anhiddenalterstands，faroutofsight，OnwhichtheimageconsecratedliesOfChrist’sdearmother，calledavirginbright，Anhundredlampsayeburnbeforehereyes，Sheinaslenderveiloftinseldight，OneverysidegreatplentydothbeholdOfofferingsbrought，myrrh，frankincenseandgold。

VI

“ThisidolwouldIhaveremovedawayFromthence，andbyyourprincelyhandtransport，InMacon’ssacredtemplesafeitlay，WhichthenIwillenchantinwondroussort，Thatwhiletheimageinthatchurchdothstay，Nostrengthofarmsshallwinthisnoblefort，Ofshakethispuissantwall，suchpassingmightHavespellsandcharms，iftheybesaidaright。“

VII

Advisedthus，thekingimpatientFlewinhisfurytothehouseofGod，Theimagetook，withwordsunreverentAbusedtheprelates，whothatdeedforbode，Swiftwithhisprey，awaythetyrantwent，OfGod’ssharpjusticenaughthefearedtherod，Butinhischapelviletheimagelaid，Onwhichtheenchantercharmsandwitchcraftsaid。

VIII

WhenPhoebusnextunclosedhiswakefuleye，Uprosethesextonofthatplaceprofane，Andmissedtheimage，whereitusedtolie，Eachwherehesoughingrief，infear，invain；

Thentothekinghislosshegandescry，Whosoreenragedkilledhimforhispain；

Andstraightconceivedinhismaliciouswit，SomeChristianbadethisgreatoffencecommit。

IX

Butwhetherthiswereactofmortalhand，OrelsethePrinceofHeaven’seternalpleasure，Thatofhismercywouldthiswretchwithstand，Norletsovileachestholdsuchatreasure，Asyetconjecturehathnotfullyscanned；

Bygodlinessletusthisactionmeasure，AndtruthofpurestfaithwillfitlyproveThatthisraregracecamedownfromHeavenabove。

X

WithbusysearchthetyrantgantoinvadeEachhouse，eachhold，eachtempleandeachtentTothemthefaultorfaultyonebewrayedOrhid，hepromisedgiftsorpunishment，Hisidlecharmsthefalseenchantersaid，Butinthismazestillwanderedandmiswent，ForHeavendecreedtoconcealthesame，Tomakethemiscreantmoretofeelhisshame。

XI

ButwhentheangrykingdiscoverednotWhatguiltyhandthissacrilegehadwrought，HisirefulcourageboiledinvengeancehotAgainsttheChristians，whomhefaultersthought；

Allruth，compassion，mercyheforgot，Astafftobeatthatdoghelonghadsought，“Letthemalldie，“quothhe，“killgreatandsmall，Soshalltheoffenderperishsurewithal。

XII

“Tospillthewinewithpoisonmixedwithspares？

Slaythentherighteouswiththefaultyone，Destroythisfieldthatyieldethnaughtbuttares，Withthornsthisvineyardallisover-gone，Amongthesewretchesisnotone，thatcaresForus，ourlaws，orourreligion；

Up，up，dearsubjects，fireandweapontake，Burn，murder，killthesetraitorsformysake。“

XIII

ThisHerodthuswouldBethlem’sinfantskill，TheChristianssoonthisdirefulnewsreceave，Thetrumpofdeathsoundsintheirhearingshrill，Theirweapon，faith；theirfortress，wasthegrave；

Theyhadnocourage，time，device，orwill，Tofight，tofly，excuse，orpardoncrave，Butstoodpreparedtodie，yethelptheyfind，Whenceleasttheyhope，suchknotscanHeavenunbind。

XIV

Amongthemdwelt，herparents’joyandpleasure，Amaid，whosefruitwasripe，notover-yeared，Herbeautywashernotesteemedtreasure；

Thefieldoflovewithploughofvirtueeared，Herlaborgoodness；godlinessherleisure；

Herhousetheheavenbythisfullmoonayecleared，Forthere，fromlovers’eyeswithdrawn，aloneWithvirginbeamsthisspotlessCynthiashone。

XV

Butwhatavailedherresolutionchaste，Whosesoberestlookswerewhetstonestodesire？

Norloveconsentsthatbeauty’sfieldliewaste，HervisagesetOlindo’sheartonfire，Osubtlelove，athousandwilesthouhast，Byhumblesuit，byservice，orbyhire，Towinamaiden’shold，athingsoondone，Fornatureframedallwomentobewon。

XVI

Sophroniashe，Olindohighttheyouth，Bothoronetown，bothinonefaithweretaught，Shefair，hefullofbashfulnessandtruth，Lovedmuch，hopedlittle，anddesirednought，Hedurstnotspeakbysuittopurchaseruth，Shesawnot，markednot，wistnotwhathesought，Thusloved，thusservedhelong，butnotregarded，Unseen，unmarked，unpitied，unrewarded。

XVII

Tohercamemessageofthemurderment，Whereinherguiltlessfriendsshouldhopelessstarve，Shethatwasnoble，wise，asfairandgent，Casthowshemighttheirharmlesslivespreserve，Zealwasthespringwhenceflowedherhardiment，Frommaidenshameyetwasshelothtoswerve：

Yethadhercourageta’ensosureahold，Thatboldness，shamefaced；shamehadmadeherbold。

XVIII

Andforthshewent，ashopformerchandiseFullofrichstuff，butnoneforsaleexposed，Aveilobscuredthesunshineofhereyes，Therosewithinherselfhersweetnessclosed，Eachornamentaboutherseemlylies，Bycuriouschance，orcarelessart，composed；

Forwhatthemostneglects，mostcuriousprove，SoBeauty’shelpedbyNature，Heaven，andLove。

XIX

Admiredofall，onwentthisnoblemaid，Untilthepresenceofthekingshegained，Norforheswelledwithirewassheafraid，Buthisfiercewrathwithfearlessgracesustained，“Icome，“quothshe，“butbethineangerstayed，Andcauselessrage’gainstfaultlesssoulsrestrained——

Icometoshowthee，andtobringtheeboth，Thewightwhosefacthathmadethyheartsowroth。“

XX

Hermolestboldness，andthatlightningrayWhichhersweetbeautystreamedonhisface，Hadstrucktheprincewithwonderanddismay，Changedhischeer，andclearedhismoodygrace，Thathadhereyesdisposedtheirlookstoplay，Thekinghadsnaredbeeninlove’sstronglace；

Butwaywardbeautydothnotfancymove，Afrownforbids，asmileengenderethlove。

XXI

Itwasamazement，wonderanddelight，Althoughnotlove，thatmovedhiscruelsense；

“Tellon，“quothhe，“unfoldthechancearight，Thypeople’slivesIgrantforrecompense。“

Thenshe，“Beholdthefaulterhereinsight，Thishandcommittedthatsupposedoffence，Itooktheimage，minethatfault，thatfact，Minebethegloryofthatvirtuousact。“

XXII

Thisspotlesslambthusofferedupherblood，TosavetherestofChrist’sselectedfold，Onoblelie！wasevertruthsogood？

Blestbethelipsthatsuchaleasingtold：

Thoughtfulawhileremainedthetyrantwood，Hisnativewrathheganaspacewithhold，Andsaid，“ThatthoudiscoversoonIwill，Whataid？whatcounselhad’stthouinthatill？“

XXIII

“Myloftythoughts，“sheansweredhim，“enviedAnother’shandshouldworkmyhighdesire，Thethirstofglorycannopartnerbide，WithmineownselfIdidaloneconspire。“

“Ontheealone，“thetyrantthenreplied，“Shallfallthevengeanceofmywrathandire。“

“`Tisjustandright，“quothshe，“Iyieldconsent，Minebethehonor，minethepunishment。“

XXIV

Thewretchofnewenragedatthesame，Askedwhereshehidtheimagesoconveyed：

“Nothid，“quothshe，“butquiteconsumedwithflame，Theidolisofthateternalmaid，ForsoatleastIhavepreservedthesame，Withhandsprofanefrombeingeftbetrayed。

MyLord，thethingthusstolendemandnomore，Hereseethethiefthatscornethdeaththerefor。

XXV

“Andyetnotheftwasthis，yourswasthesin，Ibroughtagainwhatyouunjustlytook。“

Thisheard，thetyrantdidforragebeginTowhethisteeth，andbendhisfrowninglook，Nopity，youth；fairness，nogracecouldwin；

Joy，comfort，hope，thevirginallforsook；

Wrathkilledremorse，vengeancestoppedmercy’sbreathLove’sthralltohate，andbeauty’sslavetodeath。

XXVI

Ta’enwasthedamsel，andwithoutremorse，Thekingcondemnedherguiltlesstothefire，Herveilandmantlepluckedtheyoffbyforce，Andboundhertenderarmsintwistedwire：

Dumbwasthesilverdove，whilefromhercorseThesehungrykitespluckedoffherrichattire，Andforsomedealperplexedwashersprite，Herdamasklate，nowchangedtopurestwhite。

XXVII

Thenewsofthismishapspreadfarandnear，Thepeopleran，bothyoungandold，togaze；

Olindoalsoran，andgantofearHisladywassomepartnerinthiscase；

Butwhenhefoundherbound，striptfromhergear，Andviletormentorsreadysawinplace，Hebrokethethrong，andintopresencebrast；

Andthusbespakethekinginrageandhaste：