Being still in quest of the ever fleeing Blatant Beast, Calidore
conducts Pastorella to the castle of Belgard, whose master and
mistress are passing sad because they lost their only child in
infancy. Wondering how such a loss could have befallen them, Calidore
learns that knight and lady, being secretly married, entrusted their
child to a handmaiden, ordering her to provide for its safety in some
way, as it was impossible they should acknowledge its existence then.
The maid, having ascertained that the babe bore on her breast a
certain birth-mark, basely abandoned her in the forest, where she was
found and adopted by Melibee.

It is during Pastorella's sojourn in this castle that the lady
discovers on her breast the birth-mark, which proves she is her
long-lost daughter. While Pastorella is thus happy in the company of
her parents, Calidore overtakes the Blatant Beast, and leads it safely
muzzled through admiring throngs to Gloriana's feet. But, strange to
relate, this able queen does not keep the monster securely chained,
for it soon breaks bonds, and the poet closes with the statement that
it is again ranging through the country, this time tearing poems to
pieces!




PARADISE LOST


Book I. After intimating he intends "no middle flight," but proposes
to "justify the ways of God to man," Milton states the fall was due to
the serpent, who, in revenge for being cast out of heaven with his