A Treasure Trove of Demons

With my recent indulgence in comfort reading, I felt like more of a challenge yesterday evening and fancied an epic poem in blank verse, which, let's face it, can be about as challenging as it gets when reading fiction. I decided there would be no half measures and picked Milton's Paradise Lost, one of those books I have had on my 'really should read this' list for many years and which I expected to be a bit of a dull slog. However, it has turned out to be a disappointment on the challenge front because - please believe me - it's a belter!

I had a vague notion of what it was about (the fall of man which I haven't got to yet) but the part I read yesterday from Book One, describing the fall from Heaven of Lucifer and his armies after the battle with God, was amazing. At a couple of points I could not help noticing Milton's artistry; he uses the basic iambic pentameter to such diverse and wonderful effect that, rather than falling into a repetitive pattern, the lines flow so smoothly you hardly notice the structure. And this really works, illustrated by the fact that most of the time I rushed through the reading as if it were a novel.

Because, this is a story! Lucifer, or Satan as he is now known, wakes up a bit sore and sorry in Hell and realises that he has lost the battle against God. So he picks himself up from the sea of flames where he had been wallowing, has a chat with his mate Beelzebub about the situation and, deciding that it is 'better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven', makes for the nearest bit of land to rally the troops to the battle cry - anything but good, evil for ever!

'Fall'n Cherub, to be weak is miserable
Doing or Suffering: but of this be sure-
To do aught good never will be our task,
But ever to do ill our sole delight,
As being the contrary to his high will
Whom we resist. If then his providence
Out of our evil seek to bring forth good,
Our labour must be to pervert that end,
And out of good still to find means of evil; '

This poem is a demon-fancier's dream, and I find anything about demons fascinating. Names and descriptions are given of Satan's lieutenants and how they are worshipped by men; the character and descriptions of Satan himself are magnificent with his huge wings and shield slung across his back. William Blake said that Milton was 'of the devil's party without knowing it', he is such an attractive and impressive character. I understand perfectly why Blake illustrated Paradise Lost; the descriptions of the demons are such that I see them and want to draw them too. Unfortunately my level of drawing has not progressed much beyond stick figures, so they will have to live in my head.

Now I can hardly wait to continue with the poem and see how Satan seduces man. And I thought this would be dull!