- Title: Eve's Dream- Satan Aroused
- Author: John Martin
- Date: 1824-26
- Medium: Mezzotint
- Condition: Excellent
- Inches: 10 3/4 x 7 1/2 [Image]
- Centimeters: 27.31 x 19.05 [Image]
- Product ID: 4268
From The Paradise Lost of John Milton (pub. 1846), Book 4, Line 813
After disguising himself as a young angel in order to enter the Garden, Satan seeks out Adam and Eve. Finding them both asleep, he adopts the form of a toad and begins to speak to Eve in her sleep, inspiring strange dreams and laying the foundation for his later temptation. However, a band of angels alerted to the danger by the Archangel Uriel accost the Archfiend, and cause Satan to revert to his true form with a touch of their celestial weapons.
So saying, on he led his radiant Files,
Daz'ling the Moon; these to the Bower direct
In search of whom they sought: him there they found
Squat like a Toad, close at the eare of Eve;
Assaying by his Devilish art to reach
The Organs of her Fancie, and with them forge
Illusions as he list, Phantasms and Dreams,
Or if, inspiring venom, he might taint
Th' animal spirits that from pure blood arise
Like gentle breaths from Rivers pure, thence raise
At least distemperd, discontented thoughts,
Vaine hopes, vaine aimes, inordinate desires
Blown up with high conceits ingendring pride.
Him thus intent Ithuriel with his Spear
Touch'd lightly; for no falshood can endure
Touch of Celestial temper, but returns
Of force to its own likeness: up he starts
Discoverd and surpriz'd. As when a spark
Lights on a heap of nitrous Powder, laid
Fit for the Tun som Magazin to store
Against a rumord Warr, the Smuttie graine
With sudden blaze diffus'd, inflames the Aire:
So started up in his own shape the Fiend.
Back stept those two fair Angels half amaz'd
So sudden to behold the grieslie King..." (Paradise Lost IV.797-821)