Through labour and endurance. This deep world Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst
Thick cloud and dark doth Heav'n's all-ruling Sire Choose to reside, his glory unobscur'd, 265 And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his throne: from whence deep thunders roar Must'ring their rage, and Heav'n resembles Hell? As he our darkness, cannot we his light Imitate when we please? This desert soil Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold; Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise Magnificence; and what can Heav'n shew more? Our torments also may in length of time Become our elements; these piercing fires As soft as now severe, our temper chang'd Into their temper; which must needs remove The sensible of pain. All things invite To peaceful counsels, and the settled state Of order, how in safety best we may Compose our present evils, with regard Of what we are and where, dismissing quite All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advise."
He scarce had finish'd when such murmur fill'd. Th' assembly, as when hollow rocks retain 285 The sound of blust'ring winds, which all night long Had rous'd the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull Seafaring men o'erwatch'd, whose bark by chance, Or pinnace, anchors in a craggy bay
After the tempest: Such applause was heard As Mammon ended; and his sentence pleas'd, Advising peace: for such another field
They dreaded worse than Hell: so much the fear Of thunder and the sword of Michaël
Wrought still within them; and no less desire 295 To found this nether empire, which might rise By policy, and long procéss of time,'
In emulation opposite to Heaven.
Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom, Satan except, none higher sat, with grave
Aspéct he rose, and in his rising seem'd
A pillar of state; deep on his front engraven, Deliberation sat and public care;
And princely counsel in his face yet shone Majestic, though in ruin: sage he stood, With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear
The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look Drew audience and attention, still as night Or summer's noontide air, while thus he spake. . "Thrones and Imperial Pow'rs, Offspring of Heaven, Etherial Virtues! or these titles now
Must we renounce, and, changing stile, be call'd Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote Inclines, here to continue', and build up here A growing empire; doubtless; 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 strictest bondage, though thus far remov'd, Under th' inevitable curb, reserv'd
His captive multitude: for he, be sure,
In height or depth, still first and last will reign Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part
His empire, and with iron sceptre rule
By our revolt; but over Hell extend
Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven. What sit we then projecting peace and war?
War hath determin'd us, and foil'd with loss Irreparable; terms of peace yet none
Vouchsaf'd or sought; for what peace will be given
To us, enslav'd; but custody severe, And stripes, and arbitrary punishment, Inflicted? and what peace can we return, But to our pow'r hostility and hate,
Untam'd reluctance, and revenge, though slow, Yet ever plotting how the Conqu❜ror least May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice
In doing what we most in suffering feel?
Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need, With dang'rous expedition to invade Heav'n, whose high walls fear no assault or siege,
Or ambush from the deep. What if we find, Some easier enterprise? There is a place, (If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven Err not) another world, the happy seat Of some 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; so 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 mould Or substance, how endued, and what their pow'r, And where their weakness, how attempted best, By force or subtlety. Though Heav'n be shut, And Heav'n's high Arbitrator sit secure
In his own strength, this place may lie expos'd, 360 The utmost border of his kingdom, left
To their defence who hold it: here perhaps
Some advantageous act may be achiev'd
By sudden onset, either with Hell fire To waste his whole creation, or possess
All as our own, and drive, as we were driven, 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 surpass Common revenge, and interrupt his joy
In our confusion, and our joy upraise
In his disturbance; when his darling sons,
Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse
Their frail original, and faded bliss,
Faded so soon. Advise if this be worth Attempting, or to sit in darkness here Hatching vain empires." Thus Beelzebub
Pleaded his devilish counsel, first devis'd
By Satan, and in part propos'd: for 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 spite
The great Creator? But their spite still serves 385 His glory to augment. The bold design
Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy Sparkled in all their eyes; with full assent They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews. "Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate, Synod of Gods, and like to what ye are, 391 Great things resolv'd, which from the lowest deep Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate, Nearer our ancient seat; perhaps in view Of those bright confines, whence with neighb'ring arms And opportune excursion we may chance Re-enter Heav'n; or else in some mild zone Dwell, not unvisited of Heav'n's fair light, Secure, and at the bright'ning orient beam Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious air To heal the scar of these corrosive fires, Shall breathe her balm. But, first, whom shall we send In search of this new world? whom shall we find Sufficient? who shall tempt with wand'ring feet The dark unbottom'd infinite abyss,
And through the palpable obscure find out His uncouth way, or spread his airy flight, Upborne with indefatigable wings,
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
The happy isle? what strength, what art, can then Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe
Through the strict senteries and stations thick
Of Angels watching round? Here he had need All circumspection, and we now no less.
Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send 415 The weight of all, and our last hope, relies."
This said, he sat; and expectation held
His look suspense, awaiting who appear'd
To second, or oppose, or undertake,
The perilous attempt: but all sat mute,
Pond'ring the danger with deep thoughts; and each In others' count'nance read his own dismay, Astonish'd: none among the choice and prime
Of those Ileav'n-warring champions could be found So hardy as to proffer or accept
Alone the dreadful voyage; till at last
Satan, whom now transcendent glory rais'd Above his fellows, with monarchal pride
Conscious of highest worth, unmov'd, thus spake. "O Progeny of Heav'n, empyreal Thrones! With reason hath deep silence and demur Seiz'd us, though undismay'd: long is the way, And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light; Our prison strong; this huge convex of fire, Outrageous to devour, immures us round Ninefold, and gates of burning adamant, Barr'd over us, prohibit all egress.
These pass'd, if any pass, the void profound Of unessential Night receives him next, Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being Threatens him, plung'd in that abortive gulf. If thence he 'scape into whatever world, Or unknown region, what remains him less Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape? But I should ill become this throne, O Peers, 445 And this imperial sov'reignty, adorn'd
With splendor, arm'd with pow'r, if ought propos'd And judg'd of public moment, in the shape
Of difficulty or danger, could deter
Me from attempting. Wherefore do' I assume 450 These royalties, and not refuse to reign,
Refusing to accept as great a share
Of hazard as of honour, due alike
To him who reigns, and so much to him due Of hazard more, as he above the rest
High honour'd sits? Go, therefore, mighty Powers,
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