Live to ourselves, though in this vaft recefs,
Free, and to none accountable; preferring
Hard liberty before the eafy yoke
of fervile pomp. Our greatnefs will appear
Then molt confpicuous, when great things of finall,
Ufeful of hurtful, profperous of adverfe
We can create; and in what place foe'er
Thrive under evil, and work cafe out of pain,
Through labour, and indurance.
This deep world Of darkness do we dread? how oft amidst
Thick clouds and dark, doth heav'n's all-ruling Sire Chufe to refide, his glory unobfcur'd?
And with the majesty of darkness round
Covers his throne; from whence deep thunders roar
Muft'ring their
rage, and heav'n resembles hell?
As he our darkness, cannot we his light
Imitate when we pleafe? This defert foil
Wants not her hidden luftre, gems and gold :
Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise
Magnificence; and what can heav'n fhew more?
Our torments alfo may in length of time
Become our elements; thefe piercing fires
As foft as now fevere, our temper chang'd
Into their temper; which must needs remove
The fenfible of pain. All things invite
To peaceful counfels, and the fettled ftate
Of order, how in fafety best we may
Compose our prefent evils, with regard
Of what we are, and where; difmiffing quite
All thoughts of war.
HE fcarce had finifh'd, when fuch murmur fill'd Th' affembly, as when hollow rocks retain The found of bluft'ring winds, which all night long Had rouz'd the fea, now with hoarfe cadence lull
Sea-faring men o'erwatch'd, whofe bark by chance,
Or pinnace, anchors in a craggy bay
After the tempeft: fuch applaufe was heard
As MAMMON ended, and his fentence pleas'd,
Advifing peace. For, fuch another field
They dreaded worfe than hell: fo much the fear
Of thunder, and the fword of MICHAEL,
Wrought still within them: and no less defire
To found this nether empire, which might rise,
By policy, and long process of time,
In emulation oppofite to heav'n.
Which when BEELZEBUB perceiv'd (than whom, SATAN except, none higher fat) with grave
Afpect he rofe, and in his rifing feem'd
A pillar of ftate: deep on his front engraven,
Deliberation fat, and public care;
And princely counfel in his face yet fhone,
Majeltic though in ruin! fage he flood,
With ATLANTEAN fhoulders, fit to bear
The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look
Drew audience, and attention ftill as night,
Or fummer's noon-tide air; while thus he fpake.
THRONES, and imperial Pow'rs, offspring of heav'n, Ethereal Virtues! or thefe titles now
Muft we renounce, and changing style, be call'd
Princes of Hell? For, fo the popular vote
Inclines, here to continue, and build up here
A growing empire: doubtlefs! while we dream, 315
And know not that the King of heav'n hath doom'd
This place our dungeon; not our safe retreat
Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt
From heav'n's high jurisdiction, in new league.
Banded against his throne: but to remain
In ftrictest bondage, though thus far remov'd,
Under th' inevitable curb, referv'd
His captive multitude: for he, be fure,
In height, or depth, ftill first and last will reign
Sole King, and of his kingdom lofe no part
By our revolt; but over hell extend
His empire, and with iron fceptre rule
Us here, as with his golden those in heav'n.
What fit we then projecting peace and war?
War hath determin'd us, and foil'd with lofs
Irreparable; terms of peace yet none
Vouthfaf'd or fought; for what peace will be giv'n
To us enflav'd, but cuftody fevere,
And ftripes, and arbitrary punishment
Inflicted? and what peace can we return!
But, to our pow'r, hoftility, and hate,
Untam'd reluctance, and revenge; though flow,
Yet ever plotting how the conqueror least
May reap his conqueft; and may leaft rejoice
In doing, what we most in suffering feel?
Nor will occafion want, nor thall we need
With dangerous expedition, to invade
Heav'n, whofe high walls fear no affault or fiege,
Or ambush from the Deep: what if we find
Some easier enterprize? There is a place,
(If antient and prophetic fame in heav'n
Err not) another world, the happy feat
Of fome new race call'd MAN; about this time
To be created like to us, though less
In pow'r and excellence, but favour'd more
Of him who rules above: fo was his will
Pronounc'd among the Gods, and by an oath,
That shook heav'n's whole circumference, confirm'd.
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn
What creatures there inhabit, of what mold, 355
Or fubftance, how endu'd, and what their pow'r,"
And where their weaknefs, how attempted best,
By force, or fubtilty. Though heav'n be fhut,
And heav'n's high arbitrator fit fecure
In his own ftrength, this place may lie expos'd,
The utmost border of his kingdom, left,
To their defence who hold it: here perhaps
Some advantageous act may be atchiev'd
By fudden onfet, either with hell fire
To wafte his whole creation; or poffefs
All as our own, and drive, as we are driv'n,
The puny habitants; or if not drive,
Seduce them to our party, that their GOD
May prove their foe, and with repenting hand
Abolish his own works. This would furpafs
Common revenge, and interrupt his joy
In our confufion, and our joy upraife
In his difturbance; when his darling fons,
Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curfe
Their frail original, and faded bliss:
Faded fo foon! Advife if this be worth
Attempting, or to fit in darkness here.
Hatching vain empires.
Pleaded his devilish counfel, first devis'd
By SATAN, and in part propos'd: from whence, 380
But from the author of all ill, could spring,
So deep a malice, to confound the race.
Of mankind in one root, and earth with hell
To mingle and involve, done all to fpite
The great Creator? But their spite still ferves
His glory to augment. The bold defign
Pleas'd highly thofe infernal States, and joy
Sparkled in all their eyes; with full affent
They vote: whereat his fpeech he thus renews.
WELL have ye judg'd, well ended long debate, 390 Synod
Synod of Gods! and, like to what ye are,
Great things refolv'd: which from the lowest deep
Will once more lift us up, in fpite of Fate,
Nearer our ancient feat: perhaps in view
Of thofe bright confines, whence with neighbouring
And opportune excurfion, we may chance
Re-enter heav'n or elfe, in fome wild Zone
Dwell not unvifited of heav'n's fair light,.
Secure, and at the bright'ning orient beam
Purge off this gloom : the foft delicious air,
To heal the fear of these corrofive fires,
Shall breathe her balm. But firft whom shall we fend
In fearch of this new world; whom fhall we find
Sufficient? Who fhall tempt with wand'ring feet
The dark, unbottom'd, infinite Abyss,
And through the palpable obfcure find out
His uncouth way; or fpread his aery flight,
Up-born with indefatigable wings
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
The happy ile? What ftrength, what art can then
Suffice, or what evasion bear him fafe
Through the Itrict fenteries, and tations thick,
Of angels watching round? Here he had need
All circumfpection; and we now no lefs
Choice in our fuffrage: for, on whom we fend, 415
The weight of all, and our last hope, relies.
THIS faid, he fat; and expectation held
His look fufpenfe, awaiting who appear'd··
To fecond or oppofe, or undertake
The perilous attempt: but all fat mute,
Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each
In others count'nance read his own difmay,
Astonish'd! None, among the choice and prime
Of those heav'n-warring champions, could be found
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