The life and writings of Henry Fuseli Volume I Part 11

MILTON GALLERY,

AS IT WAS OPENED THE 20TH OF MAY, 1799.

PARADISE LOST.

PICTURE I.--A SKETCH.

SATAN risen from the Flood, BEELZEBUB rising.

Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool His mighty stature; on each hand the flames Driv'n backward slope their pointing spires, and roll'd In billows, leave i' th' midst a horrid vale.

----Him follow'd his next mate, Both glorying to have 'scap'd the Stygian flood As G.o.ds---- Book I. v. 221, 238.

In the possession of Sir Thomas Lawrence.

PICTURE II.

SATAN calling up his Legions.

----On the beach Of that enflamed sea he stood, and call'd His legions, Angel forms, who lay entranc'd Thick as autumnal leaves, that strow the brooks In Vallombrosa.---- He call'd so loud, that all the hollow deep Of h.e.l.l resounded.---- Awake, arise, or be for ever fall'n.

They heard, and were abash'd, and up they sprung---- Book I. v. 299, 314, 330.

In the possession of His Grace the Duke of Wellington.

PICTURE III.--A SKETCH.

SATAN haranguing his Host.

He spake: and to confirm his words, out flew Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs Of mighty Cherubim.---- Book I. v. 663.

PICTURE IV.

Figures from a simile in allusion to the contracted form of the Spirits a.s.sembled in the new-raised Hall of PANDaeMONIUM, ill.u.s.trated by a simile from

----Fairy elves, Whose midnight revels by a forest side Or fountain some belated peasant sees, Or dreams he sees, while over head the moon Sits arbitress, and nearer to the earth Wheels her pale course, they on their mirth and dance Intent, with jocund music charm his ear; At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds.

Book I. v. 781.

PICTURE V.

SATAN encount'ring DEATH, SIN interposing.

----And now great deeds Had been achiev'd, whereof all h.e.l.l had rung, Had not the snaky Sorceress that sat Fast by h.e.l.l gate, and kept the fatal key, Ris'n, and with hideous outcry rush'd between.

----She finish'd, and the subtle Fiend his lore Soon learn'd, now milder.---- Book II. v. 722, 815.

In the possession of Sir Thomas Lawrence.

PICTURE VI.

The Birth of SIN.

All on a sudden miserable pain Surpris'd thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzy swam In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast Threw forth, till on the left side opening wide, Likest to thee in shape and count'nance bright, Then s.h.i.+ning heav'nly fair, a G.o.ddess arm'd Out of thy head I sprung.---- Book II. v. 752.

In the possession of Samuel Cartwright, Esq.

PICTURE VII.

SIN pursued by DEATH.

----I fled, and cry'd out Death; I fled, but he pursued---- ----And swifter far Me overtook.---- Book II. v. 787.

In the possession of John Knowles, Esq.

PICTURE VIII.

LAPLAND ORGIES, the h.e.l.l-hounds round SIN compared to those that

----follow the night-hag, when call'd In secret, riding through the air she comes, Lur'd with the smell of infant blood, to dance With Lapland witches, while the lab'ring moon Eclipses at their charms.---- Book II. v. 662.

In the possession of John Knowles, Esq.

PICTURE IX.

SATAN'S ascent from h.e.l.l.

----At last his sail-broad vans He spreads for flight, and in the surging smoke Uplifted spurns the ground.---- Book II. v. 927.

In the possession of Sir Thomas Lawrence.

PICTURE X.

A GRYPHON pursuing an ARIMASPIAN. A comparison of SATAN'S exertions to force his way through the realm of CHAOS.

As when a Gryphon through the wilderness With winged course, o'er hill or moory dale, Pursues the Arimaspian, who by stealth Had from his wakeful custody purloin'd The guarded gold: so eagerly the Fiend---- Book II. v. 943.

In the possession of John Knowles, Esq.

PICTURE XI.