30 Pour forth their populous youth about the hive 770 775 Now less than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room 780 Beyond the Indian mount; or fairy elves, Whose midnight revels, by a forest-side Or fountain, some belated peasant sees, Or dreams he sees, while over head the moon 785 Wheels her pale course; they, on their mirth and [dance 791 Reduced their shapes immense, and were at large, 795 777. We here see the use of the lines on the nature of spirits, which prepare the reader for the wonders afterward related. 785. Arbitress, witness, or spectatress. Allusion is here mada to the superstitious belief in the power of witches over the moon 797. Frequent. like the Latin frequens, meaning full. BOOK II. THE ARGUMENT. The consultation begun, Satan debates whether another batt.e De to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven: some advise it, others dissuade: a third proposal is preferred, mentioned before by Satan, to search the truth of that prophecy or tradition in Heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature, equal or not much inferior to themselves, about this time to be created their doubt who shall be sent on this difficult search: Satan their chief undertakes alone the voyage, is honoured and applauded. The council thus ended, the rest betake them several ways, and to several employments, as their inclinations lead them, to entertain the time till Satan return. He passes on his journey to Hell-gates, fines them shut, and who sat there to guard them, by whom at length they are opened, and discover to him the great gulf between Hell and Heaven; with what difficulty he passes through, directed by Chaos, the power of that place, to the sight of this new world which he sought. HIGH on a throne of royal state, which far 5 To that bad eminence; and from despair Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue Vain war with Heaven; and, by success untaught, His proud imaginations thus display'd: 10 Pow'rs and Dominions, Deities of Heaven, For since no deep within her gulf can hold 15 More glorious and more dread than from no fall, 20 2. Ormus is an island in the Persian Gulf, and, together with India, produces many of the treasures enumerated in this passage. 11. St. Paul divides the anges, into thrones, dominions, principalities, &c.-See Col. i. 16. Yielded with full consent. The happier state 25 30 35 Could have assured us; and by what best way, 40 We now debate: who can advise, may speak. 45 He ceased and next him Moloch, scepter'd king, Stood up, the strongest and the fiercest Sp'rit That fought in Heav'n, now fiercer by despair. His trust was with th' Eternal to be deem'd Equal in strength; and rather than be less, Cared not to be at all. With that care lost Went all his fear of God, or Hell, or worse, He reck'd not; and these words thereafter spake: 50 My sentence is for open war of wiles More unexpert I boast not them let those Contrive who need, or when they need, not now. For while they sit contriving, shall the rest, 55 Heav'n's fugitives, and for their dwelling-place By our delay? No, let us rather choose, 60 Arm'd with Hell-flames and fury, all at once O'er Heav'n's high tow'rs to force resistless way, Against the torturer; when to meet the noise 65 Black fire and horror shot with equal rage 70 75 When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear 80 Fear to be worse destroy'd. What can be worse 85 Where pain of unextinguishable fire The vassals of his anger, when the scourge 90 Calls us to penance? More destroy'd than thus, What fear we then? what doubt we to incense 95 100 89. Exercised, this word is here used in the sense of the Latin exerceo, that is, to vex or trouble. 91. Inexorably-in some editions, inexorable. 92. By calling to penance, Milton seems to intimate, that the sufferings of the condemned spirits are not always equally severe. 104. Fatal, that is, upheld by fate. Which, if not victory, is yet revenge. He ended frowning, and his look denounced But all was false and hollow, though his tongue 105 110 Maturest counsels: for his thoughts were low; 115 I should be much for open war, O Peers! Of all his aim, after some dire revenge. 120 125 First, what revenge? The tow'rs of Heav'n are fill'd With armed watch, that render all access Impregnable; oft on the bord'ring deep 130 Encamp their legions, or with obscure wing Scorning surprise. Or could we break our way 135 140 109. Belial's speech is in admirable conformity with the description given of his character in the first book. It is throughout that of a luxurious and base spirit, and is in fine contrast to that of Moloch. 124. Fact of arms from the Italian fatto d'arme, a battle. |