Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/73

Whenever that shall be; so Fate pronounced.
But thou, O father, I forewarn thee, shun810
His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope
To be invulnerable in those bright arms,
Though tempered heavenly; for that mortal dint.
Save he who reigns above, none can resist."
She finished, and the subtle Fiend his lore
Soon learned, now milder, and thus answered smooth:
"Dear daughter—since thou claimest me for thy sire,
And my fair son here shewest me, the dear pledge
Of Dalliance had with thee in Heaven, and joys
Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change
Befallen us, unforseen, unthought of—know,821
I come no enemy, but to set free
From out this dark and dismal house of pain,
Both him and thee, and all the heavenly host
Of Spirits, that, in our just pretences armed,
Fell with us from on high. From them I go
This uncouth errand, sole, and one for all
Myself expose, with lonely steps to tread
The unfounded Deep, and, through the Void immense
To search with wandering quest a place foretold830