Season 4 Podcast 6 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk X, Pt XXX, “The Fall Pt II”

Season 4 Podcast 6 Milton’s Paradise Lost Bk X, Pt XXX, “The Fall Pt II”  In the prologue to Book X, Milton writes.Then, in pity, clothes them both, and re-ascends. Sin and Death, sitting till then at the gates of hell, by wondrous sympathy feeling the success of Satan in this new world, and the sin by Man there committed, resolve to sit no longer confined in hell, but to follow Satan, their sire, up to the place of man. To make the way easier from hell to this world to and fro, they pave a broad highway or bridge over Chaos, according to the track that Satan first made; then, preparing for earth, they meet him, proud of his success, returning to hell, their mutual granulation. Christ is sent by the Father. He now has the title Judge and Savior. Christ pities Adam and Eve and clothes their nakedness. Milton shows great insight about the fall of man and the Savior’s love. The clothing is both literal and symbolic. He clothes their outer body with skins of animals. He clothes their inner body with “robes of righteousness,” meaning they will be filled with the Holy Spirit.  So judged he Man, both Judge and Savior sent,And th’ instant stroke of Death denounc’t that dayRemoved far off; then pitying how they stoodBefore him naked to the air, that nowMust suffer change, disdained not to beginThenceforth the form of servant to assume,As when he washed his servants feet, so nowAs Father of his Family he cladTheir nakedness with Skins of Beasts, or slain,Or as the Snake with youthful Coat repaid;And thought not much to clothe his Enemies:Nor he their outward only with the SkinsOf Beasts, but inward nakedness, much moreOpprobrious, with his Robe of righteousness,Arraying covered from his Fathers sight.Christ returns to the Father and gives a full account. Meanwhile Sin and Death are waiting inside the Gates of Hell for Satan to return. If you recall, the gates of hell remain wide open for they cannot be shut.To him with swift ascent he up returned,Into his blissful bosom reassumedIn glory as of old, to him appeasedAll, though all-knowing, what had passed with ManRecounted, mixing intercession sweet.Meanwhile ere thus was sin’d and judged on Earth,Within the Gates of Hell sat Sin and Death,In counterview within the Gates, that nowStood open wide, belching outrageous flameFarr into Chaos, since the Fiend passed through,Sin opening, who thus now to Death began.There is a sharp contrast between the gates of heaven and the gates of hell. Just as the Father talks to his beloved Son. Sin talks to her monstrous son Death. Sin has faith in her father Satan and fills renewed strength. She can’t wait to come to earth and devour the offspring of Adam and Eve.O Son, why sit we here each other viewingIdlely, while Satan our great Author thrivesIn other Worlds, and happier Seat providesFor us his offspring dear? It cannot beBut that success attends him; if mishap,Ere this he had returned, with fury drivenBy his Avenger, since no place like thisCan fit his punishment, or their revenge.Methinks I feel new strength within me rise,Wings growing, and Dominion given me largeBeyond this Deep; whatever draws me on,Or sympathy, or some connatural forcePowerful at greatest distance to uniteWith secret amity things of like kindBy secretest conveyance. Sin refers to her son Death as “my shade” and assured him that on earth they shall be inseparable. They are going to build a bridge between earth and hell that follows the same path that Satan took.