A Journey to Hell or, a Visit Paid to the Devil. A Poem [by Edward Ward] |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. | CANTO III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
 | A Journey to Hell |  |
CANTO III.
Thus put on Shore upon the dismal Strand,
Where fiery Attoms sparkled from the Sand;
Sighing my Comrades stood, and made their moan,
Like Seamen Shipwreck'd on a Coast unknown,
Whilst I unforc'd had little cause to mourn,
But was commission'd safely to return.
Time prun'd his Wings, and hasten'd on with speed,
The dreadful Moment that the Gods decreed,
The drooping Wretches should their entrance make,
At Hell's wide Porch that guards the burning Lake.
Compell'd by the extrinsick power of Fate,
The trembling Souls gave notice at the Gate,
Dreading those Torments which the Ills they'd done
Deserv'd, and was not in their power to shun.
Cerberus growl'd, his Three-tone Snarl we heard,
The Chain he rattled, and the Gate unbar'd.
To Pluto's Court we thus admitted were,
Dusky his Mansions, sultry hot the Air:
The Door shut after's with a frightful Clap;
From those sad Confines could be no escape:
Fetters and Links did at a distance clink;
Sad Howls we heard, and nothing smelt but Stink;
Nauseous as are the Fumes of smoth'ring Straw,
Great heat we felt, and gloomy Fires we saw,
Glowing like burning Piles of Turf or Peat,
Whilst groaning Souls lay basking in the Heat.
Where fiery Attoms sparkled from the Sand;
Sighing my Comrades stood, and made their moan,
Like Seamen Shipwreck'd on a Coast unknown,
Whilst I unforc'd had little cause to mourn,
But was commission'd safely to return.
Time prun'd his Wings, and hasten'd on with speed,
The dreadful Moment that the Gods decreed,
The drooping Wretches should their entrance make,
At Hell's wide Porch that guards the burning Lake.
Compell'd by the extrinsick power of Fate,
The trembling Souls gave notice at the Gate,
13
Deserv'd, and was not in their power to shun.
Cerberus growl'd, his Three-tone Snarl we heard,
The Chain he rattled, and the Gate unbar'd.
To Pluto's Court we thus admitted were,
Dusky his Mansions, sultry hot the Air:
The Door shut after's with a frightful Clap;
From those sad Confines could be no escape:
Fetters and Links did at a distance clink;
Sad Howls we heard, and nothing smelt but Stink;
Nauseous as are the Fumes of smoth'ring Straw,
Great heat we felt, and gloomy Fires we saw,
Glowing like burning Piles of Turf or Peat,
Whilst groaning Souls lay basking in the Heat.
My sad Companions were receiv'd by throngs
Of envious Spirits, arm'd with fiery Prongs,
Who clap'd their pointed Wings, and with a Yell,
Gave 'em a dreadful Welcome into Hell,
And led 'em Captive to a loathsome Cell;
Whilst I some Rays of Innocence diffus'd,
Unquestion'd pass'd, by all the Guards excus'd:
As he that visits Bridewell, with intent
To Goodness learn from others Punishment,
Does fearless thro' the Prison confines rove,
Whilst guilty Slaves are to Correction drove.
Vast streams of melted Minerals ran down,
'Twixt glowing Banks of Adamantine Stone,
Roaring like Cataracts on ev'ry side,
Flowing with violence, like an eager Tide:
Where Souls unpity'd are condemn'd to dwell,
Whilst Heav'ns without controul, or Hell is Hell.
They Plow'd the Fiery Surges to get free,
But sunk again, like Monsters in the Sea,
Or as the Poor on Earth, bore down by Destiny.
Near these were punish'd in Ignifluous Vaults,
The greatest Spirits for the biggest Faults:
Where I with pity and amazement view'd,
Princes of old, once stil'd so Great and Good,
Held so Immaculate, so all Divine,
That Gods could scarce with greater Glories shine;
High in the State, Victorious in the Field,
Abroad had Conquer'd, and at Home had Kill'd;
Wise in their Conduct, and approv'd their Cause,
Mighty in Pow'r, and equal in Applause:
Flatter'd on Earth by Poets and by Priests,
Yet doom'd at last to be Infernal Guests:
How much, thought I, do we mistake above,
Who esteem Pow'r a mark of Heaven's Love:
When thus I saw their grand Fatigues on Earth,
Their Noble Spirits and Illustrious Birth,
Their glorious Blood-shed in the wreaking Field,
For Crowns, or to enlarge Dominion spill'd.
Resistless Arms, and Arbitrary sway,
That forces ravish'd Countries to Obey.
Their dangerous Battels which they once might boast,
Crown'd with Success, by no Ill-fortune crost,
Were punish'd here as Princely Ills, too great
For common sinful Slaves to perpetrate.
Of envious Spirits, arm'd with fiery Prongs,
Who clap'd their pointed Wings, and with a Yell,
Gave 'em a dreadful Welcome into Hell,
And led 'em Captive to a loathsome Cell;
Whilst I some Rays of Innocence diffus'd,
Unquestion'd pass'd, by all the Guards excus'd:
As he that visits Bridewell, with intent
To Goodness learn from others Punishment,
Does fearless thro' the Prison confines rove,
Whilst guilty Slaves are to Correction drove.
Vast streams of melted Minerals ran down,
'Twixt glowing Banks of Adamantine Stone,
Roaring like Cataracts on ev'ry side,
Flowing with violence, like an eager Tide:
14
Whilst Heav'ns without controul, or Hell is Hell.
They Plow'd the Fiery Surges to get free,
But sunk again, like Monsters in the Sea,
Or as the Poor on Earth, bore down by Destiny.
Near these were punish'd in Ignifluous Vaults,
The greatest Spirits for the biggest Faults:
Where I with pity and amazement view'd,
Princes of old, once stil'd so Great and Good,
Held so Immaculate, so all Divine,
That Gods could scarce with greater Glories shine;
High in the State, Victorious in the Field,
Abroad had Conquer'd, and at Home had Kill'd;
Wise in their Conduct, and approv'd their Cause,
Mighty in Pow'r, and equal in Applause:
Flatter'd on Earth by Poets and by Priests,
Yet doom'd at last to be Infernal Guests:
How much, thought I, do we mistake above,
Who esteem Pow'r a mark of Heaven's Love:
When thus I saw their grand Fatigues on Earth,
Their Noble Spirits and Illustrious Birth,
Their glorious Blood-shed in the wreaking Field,
For Crowns, or to enlarge Dominion spill'd.
Resistless Arms, and Arbitrary sway,
That forces ravish'd Countries to Obey.
Their dangerous Battels which they once might boast,
Crown'd with Success, by no Ill-fortune crost,
Were punish'd here as Princely Ills, too great
For common sinful Slaves to perpetrate.
15
Some Crimson Hero's painted o'er with Blood,
Storming amidst their sweating Torments stood,
Rail'd against Kingdoms they had basely won,
And raving, curs'd each sanguine Ill they'd done,
Accusing of Severity their Fate,
Made 'em renounce all Goodness to be Great.
Thus Tyrants, who so lordly once appear'd,
Rush'd on at all, nor God nor Devil fear'd,
In these dark Regions are decreed to know,
Tho' once they Rul'd above, they must Obey below,
And change that Splendor which deceiv'd the Crowd,
For guilty Consciences that cry'd aloud:
So the proud Combatants before they fell,
Look'd bright in Heav'n, but now look black in Hell.
Others thro' moody Pride contemn'd their Chains,
And bore with sullen hardiness their Pains;
Slighted their Suff'rings, patient stood and mute,
As N*****l P*****n when tortur'd with the Boot;
Whilst some bemoan'd their Doom, their Crimes expos'd,
In Sighs and Tears their sad Despair disclos'd.
Whose cow'rdly Souls bewail'd their wretched state,
And beg'd for Mercy, but alass too late:
Railing at Eve, on her the blame they laid,
Who to such Miseries had her Sons betray'd,
Crying, O wretched Soul, that art Immortal made.
Storming amidst their sweating Torments stood,
Rail'd against Kingdoms they had basely won,
And raving, curs'd each sanguine Ill they'd done,
Accusing of Severity their Fate,
Made 'em renounce all Goodness to be Great.
Thus Tyrants, who so lordly once appear'd,
Rush'd on at all, nor God nor Devil fear'd,
In these dark Regions are decreed to know,
Tho' once they Rul'd above, they must Obey below,
And change that Splendor which deceiv'd the Crowd,
For guilty Consciences that cry'd aloud:
So the proud Combatants before they fell,
Look'd bright in Heav'n, but now look black in Hell.
Others thro' moody Pride contemn'd their Chains,
And bore with sullen hardiness their Pains;
Slighted their Suff'rings, patient stood and mute,
As N*****l P*****n when tortur'd with the Boot;
Whilst some bemoan'd their Doom, their Crimes expos'd,
In Sighs and Tears their sad Despair disclos'd.
Whose cow'rdly Souls bewail'd their wretched state,
And beg'd for Mercy, but alass too late:
Railing at Eve, on her the blame they laid,
Who to such Miseries had her Sons betray'd,
Crying, O wretched Soul, that art Immortal made.
From thence I wander'd thro' a stately Porch,
Where Carbuncles supply'd the Light of Torch;
Flashes of Fire they darted from on high,
Like beams of Light'ning from a stormy Sky.
This Entry to a spacious Cavern led,
Where Azure Lamps with Oil of Sulphur fed,
Hung blinking round the subterranean Hall,
Num'rous as Beauties at a Prince's Ball,
But dim as Tapers at an Emperor's Funeral.
I gaz'd around, and at a distance off,
Saw Pillars of rough Adamant sustain the Roof,
Compos'd of Coral of Igniscent Red,
Like glowing Bars on Vulcan's Anvil laid,
Beset with Gems that made a glorious show,
And Orient Pearl adorn'd the sides below;
With Furies Whips, and Prongs Infernal grac'd,
Which were as Arms in a Guard-Chamber plac'd:
Fearless I walk'd, still further did intrude,
And Pluto's Palace with amazement view'd,
Till to a Bar at th' upper-end I came,
Gilded with Fire, and burnish'd o'er with Flame;
Within whose Bounds was held th' Infernal Court,
Without stood ghastly Prisoners All-a-mort;
Whilst Radamanthus on his Judgment-seat,
Like an old Bridewell-Judge look'd Grave and Great,
Awarding Pains proportion'd to the Sin
Of Souls condemn'd, by Hell's black Guards brought in,
From mighty Jove's High Court of Justice sent,
As Convicts to receive their Punishment.
Fresh enter'd Sinners made the Fiends new Sport,
Who haul'd th' unwilling Wretches into Court,
As Serjeants when their Prey want Coin or Bail,
Lug the poor Prisoner headlong to a Goal.
Where Carbuncles supply'd the Light of Torch;
Flashes of Fire they darted from on high,
Like beams of Light'ning from a stormy Sky.
16
Where Azure Lamps with Oil of Sulphur fed,
Hung blinking round the subterranean Hall,
Num'rous as Beauties at a Prince's Ball,
But dim as Tapers at an Emperor's Funeral.
I gaz'd around, and at a distance off,
Saw Pillars of rough Adamant sustain the Roof,
Compos'd of Coral of Igniscent Red,
Like glowing Bars on Vulcan's Anvil laid,
Beset with Gems that made a glorious show,
And Orient Pearl adorn'd the sides below;
With Furies Whips, and Prongs Infernal grac'd,
Which were as Arms in a Guard-Chamber plac'd:
Fearless I walk'd, still further did intrude,
And Pluto's Palace with amazement view'd,
Till to a Bar at th' upper-end I came,
Gilded with Fire, and burnish'd o'er with Flame;
Within whose Bounds was held th' Infernal Court,
Without stood ghastly Prisoners All-a-mort;
Whilst Radamanthus on his Judgment-seat,
Like an old Bridewell-Judge look'd Grave and Great,
Awarding Pains proportion'd to the Sin
Of Souls condemn'd, by Hell's black Guards brought in,
From mighty Jove's High Court of Justice sent,
As Convicts to receive their Punishment.
Fresh enter'd Sinners made the Fiends new Sport,
Who haul'd th' unwilling Wretches into Court,
As Serjeants when their Prey want Coin or Bail,
Lug the poor Prisoner headlong to a Goal.
| A Journey to Hell | |