When Satan is wounded,
the ethereal substance closed,
Not long divisible; and from the gash
A stream of nectarous humour issuing flowed
Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed.
the ethereal substance closed,
Not long divisible; and from the gash
A stream of nectarous humour issuing flowed
Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed.
John Donne
2) discusses the nature of the body
assumed by Angels when they appear to men, seeing that naturally they
are incorporeal. There being four elements, this body must consist of
one of these, but 'Angeli non assumunt corpora de terra vel aqua: quia
non subito disparerent. Neque iterum de igne: quia comburerent ea
quae contingerent. Neque iterum ex aere: quia aer infigurabilis est
et incolorabilis'. To this Aquinas replies, 'Quod licet aer in sua
raritate manens non retineat figuram neque colorem: quando tamen
condensatur, et figurari et colorari potest: sicut patet in nubibus.
Et sic Angeli assumunt corpora ex aere, condensando ipsum virtute
divina, quantum necesse est ad corporis assumendi formationem. '
Tasso, familiar like Donne with Catholic doctrine, thus clothes his
angels:
Cosi parlogli, e Gabriel s' accinse
Veloce ad eseguir l' imposte cose.
_La sua forma invisibil d'aria cinse,
Ed al senso mortal la sottopose_:
Umane membra, aspetto uman si finse,
Ma di celeste maesta il compose.
Tra giovane e fanciullo eta confine
Prese, ed orno di raggi il biondo crine.
_Gerus. Lib. _ I. 13.
Fairfax translates the relevant lines:
In form of airy members fair imbared,
His spirits pure were subject to our sight.
Milton's language is vague and inconsistent, but his angels are
indubitably corporeal.
When Satan is wounded,
the ethereal substance closed,
Not long divisible; and from the gash
A stream of nectarous humour issuing flowed
Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed.
. . . . . . . . . .
Yet soon he healed; for Spirits that live throughout
Vital in every part, (not as frail man
In entrails, heart or head, liver or reins,)
Cannot but by annihilating die;
Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound
Receive, _no more than can the fluid air_.
All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear,
All intellect, all sense; _and as they please,
They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size
Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare_.
The lines italicized indicate that Milton is familiar with the
doctrine of the schools, and is giving it a turn of his own. Milton's
angels, apparently, do not _assume_ a body of air but, remaining in
their own ethereal substance, assume what form and colour they choose.
Raphael, thus having passed through the air like a bird,
to his proper shape returns
A Seraph winged, &c.
assumed by Angels when they appear to men, seeing that naturally they
are incorporeal. There being four elements, this body must consist of
one of these, but 'Angeli non assumunt corpora de terra vel aqua: quia
non subito disparerent. Neque iterum de igne: quia comburerent ea
quae contingerent. Neque iterum ex aere: quia aer infigurabilis est
et incolorabilis'. To this Aquinas replies, 'Quod licet aer in sua
raritate manens non retineat figuram neque colorem: quando tamen
condensatur, et figurari et colorari potest: sicut patet in nubibus.
Et sic Angeli assumunt corpora ex aere, condensando ipsum virtute
divina, quantum necesse est ad corporis assumendi formationem. '
Tasso, familiar like Donne with Catholic doctrine, thus clothes his
angels:
Cosi parlogli, e Gabriel s' accinse
Veloce ad eseguir l' imposte cose.
_La sua forma invisibil d'aria cinse,
Ed al senso mortal la sottopose_:
Umane membra, aspetto uman si finse,
Ma di celeste maesta il compose.
Tra giovane e fanciullo eta confine
Prese, ed orno di raggi il biondo crine.
_Gerus. Lib. _ I. 13.
Fairfax translates the relevant lines:
In form of airy members fair imbared,
His spirits pure were subject to our sight.
Milton's language is vague and inconsistent, but his angels are
indubitably corporeal.
When Satan is wounded,
the ethereal substance closed,
Not long divisible; and from the gash
A stream of nectarous humour issuing flowed
Sanguine, such as celestial Spirits may bleed.
. . . . . . . . . .
Yet soon he healed; for Spirits that live throughout
Vital in every part, (not as frail man
In entrails, heart or head, liver or reins,)
Cannot but by annihilating die;
Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound
Receive, _no more than can the fluid air_.
All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear,
All intellect, all sense; _and as they please,
They limb themselves, and colour, shape, or size
Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare_.
The lines italicized indicate that Milton is familiar with the
doctrine of the schools, and is giving it a turn of his own. Milton's
angels, apparently, do not _assume_ a body of air but, remaining in
their own ethereal substance, assume what form and colour they choose.
Raphael, thus having passed through the air like a bird,
to his proper shape returns
A Seraph winged, &c.
