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Long after, now unpeopl'd, and untrod;
All this dark Globe the Fiend found as he paſs'd,
And long he wanderd, till at laſt a gleame
500Of dawning light turnd thither-ward in haſte
His travell'd ſteps; farr diſtant hee deſcries
Aſcending by degrees magnificent
Up to the wall of Heaven a Structure high,
At top whereof, but farr more rich appeerd
The work as of a Kingly Palace Gate,
With Frontiſpice of Diamond and Gold
Imbelliſht, thick with ſparkling orient Gemmmes
The Portal ſhon, inimitable on Earth
By Model, or by ſhading Pencil drawn.
510The Stairs were ſuch as whereon Jacob ſaw
Angels aſcending and deſcending, bands
Of Guardians bright, when he from Eſau fled
To Padan-Aram, in the field of Luz,
Dreaming by night under the open Skie,
And waking cri'd, This is the Gate of Heav’n.
Each Stair myſteriouſly was meant, nor ſtood
There alwaies, but drawn up to Heav’n ſomtimes
Viewleſs, and underneath a bright Sea flow’d
Of Jaſper, or of liquid Pearle, whereon
520Who after came from Earth, fayling arriv'd,
Wafted by Angels, or flew o're the Lake
Rapt in a Chariot drawn by fiery Steeds.
The Stairs were then let down, whether to dare
The Fiend by easy aſcent, or aggravate
His ſad excluſion from the dores of Bliſs.
Direct againſt which op'nd from beneath,
Just o're the bliſsful ſeat of Paradiſe,
A paſſage down to th' Earth, a paſſage wide,