Stand in his prefence humble, and receive
Strict Laws impos'd, to celebrate his Throne
With warbled Hymns, and to his Godhead fing
Forc'd Halleluiah's; while he Lord!y fits
Our envi'd Sov'reign, and his Altar breathes
Ambrofial Odours and Ambrofial Flowers,
Our fervile offerings. This must be our Task
In Heav'n, this our delight; how wearifome
Eternity so spent in worship paid
To whom we hate. Let us not then purfue
By force impoffible, by leave obtain'd
Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, our state
Of fplendid vaffalage, but rather seek
Our own good from our felves, and from our own
Live to our felves, though in this vaft recefs,
Free, and to none accountable, preferring
Hard liberty before the eafie yoke
Of fervile Pomp. Our great nefs will appear
Then moft confpicuous, when great things of finall,
Useful of hurtful, profperous of adverse
We can create, and in what place fo e'er
Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain
Through labour and indurance. This deep world
Of darknefs do we dread? How oft amidst
Thick cloud and dark doth Heav'ns all-ruling Sire
Chufe to refide, his Glory unobfcur'd,
And with the Majefty of darkness round
Covers his Throne; from whence deep thunders roar Muft'ring their rage, and Heav'n resembles Hell: As he our darknefs, cannot we his Light
Imitate when we please? This defart soil
Wants not her hidden luftre, Gems and Gold;
Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raife
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 muft needs remove
The fenfible of pain. All things invite
To peaceful Counfels, and the fettl'd State
Of order, how in safety best we may
Compose our present evils, with regard
Of what we are and were, difmiffing quite
All thoughts of war: ye have what I advife.
He scarce had finifht, when fuch murmur fill'd
Th’Assembly, as when hollow Rocks retain
The found of bluftring winds, which all night long
Had rouz'd the Sea, now with hoarfe cadence lull
Sea-faring men o'rewatch'd, whofe Bark by chance
Or Pinace anchors in a craggy Bay
After the Tempeft: Such applause was heard 290 As Mammon ended, and his Sentence pleas'd, Advifing peace: For fuch another Field
They dreaded worfe than Hell: So much the fear
Of Thunder and the Sword of Michael
Wrought ftill within them; and no lefs defire 295
To found this nether Empire, which might rife
By policy, and long procefs of time,
In emulation oppofite to Heav'n.
Which when Belzebub perceiv'd, than whom,
Satan except, none higher fat, with grave
Afpect he rofe, and in his rifing feem'd
A Pillar of State; deep on his Front engraven
Deliberation fat and public Care;
And Princely counfel in his face yet fhone,
Majeftic though in ruin: fage he food
With Atlantean fhoulders fit to bear
The weight of mighty Monarchies; his look
Drew audience and attention ftill as Night
Or Summers Noon-tide air, while thus he fpake.
Thrones and Imperial Powers, off-spring of heav'n
Ethereal Vertues; or thefe Titles now
Muft we renounce, and changing ftile 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'ns high Jurifdiction, 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 sure,
In heighth or depth, ftill firft and laft will Reign
Sole King, and of his Kingdom lose no part
By our revolt, but over Hell extend
His Empire, and with Iron Scepter rule
Us here, as with his Golden thofe in Heav'n
What fit we then projecting Peace and War?
arhath determin'd us, and foil'd with lofs parable; terms of peace yet none
chfaf'd or fought; for what Peace will be giv'n us enflav'd, but cuftody fevere,
ftripes, and arbitrary punishment
icted? and what peace can we return? to our power hoftility and hate, am'd reluctance, and revenge though flow, ever plotting how the Conqueror leaft y reap his conqueft, and may leaft rejoice doing what we most in fuffering feel? I will occafion want, nor fhall we need th dangerous expedition to invade av'n, whofe high walls fear no Affault or Siege, : ambush from the Deep. What if we find me easier enterprize? There is a place f ancient and prophetic fame in Heav'n tr not) another World, the happy feat f fome new Race call'd Man, about this time o be created like to us, though less
1 power and excellence, but favour'd more of him who rules above; fo was his will ronounc'd among the Gods, and by an Oath, That shook Heav'ns whole circumference, confirm'd. Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn What creatures there inhabit, of what mould, 355 Or fubftance, how eudu'd, and what their Power, And where their weaknefs, how attempted beft, By force or fubtlety: Though Heav'n be shut, And Heav'ns high Arbitrator fit fecure
In his own ftrength, this place may lye expos'd <
The utmoft border of his Kingdom, left
To their defence who hold it: here perhaps
Some advantagious act may be atchiev'd
By fudden onfet, either with Hell fire
To waft his whole Creation, or poffefs
All as our own, and drive as we were driven,
The punie 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 Sons
Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curfe
Their frail Original, and faded blifs,
Faded fo foon. Advife if this be worth
Attempting, or to fit in darkness here
Hatching vain Empires. Thus Beelzebub
Pleaded his devilish Counfel, first devis'd
By Satan, and in part propos'd: for whence, 380
But from the Author of all ill could fpring
So deep a malice to confound the race
Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell
To mingle and involve, done all to spite
The great Creatour? But their fpite ftill ferves 385
His glory to augment. The bold defign
Pleas'd highly thofe infernal States, and joy
Sparkl'd in all their eyes; with full affent
They vote where at his fpeech he thus renews.
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