Præcipites bellorum aufus: tanto ardua cœli Monia fufpectu affurgunt, fecura Profundum Quas paret infidias, vel quid meditemur in armis. Quid fi mole minor nec tantum habitura pericli Se Ratio obtulerit? Jamque alter (fi modò verax Fama vetus cecinit, fi tempora rite revolvo) Alter fe attollit mundus, lætiffima gentis
Terra novæ (cui nomen Homo eft) hoc circiter ævum Formandæ, noftrûm fimilis; fceptrifque fuperbis Si minor, ætherei formâ fi cefferit oris,
At fummo dilecta Patri magis. Hoc Pater olim Edixit Superos inter, fanxitque verendo Ipfe facramento, cœli quo maxima templa Concuffit. Nos huc animos, huc omnia agamus Confilia, ut pateat quod ibi genus, indole quali, Quove luto fictum; quas vires donaque jactet; Atque ubi fint faciles aditus; vi præstet inermes
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 fhall we need With dangerous expedition to invade Heav'n, whose high walls fear no affault or fiege, Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find
Some eafier 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 fhook Heav'n's whole circumference,confirm’d. Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn'
An tentare dolis. Quanquam ingens ætheris Aula Clauditur, & cœli celsâ fuper arce Tyrannus Securus virtute fuâ fedet: At loca forfan
Ista patent; finitur regnorum illa ultima meta Indigeniş tutanda fuis: ibi fortè ruentes Magnum aliquod lætis olim tentabimus ausum Aufpiciis; fibi quæ laudum monumenta creavit Omnipotens, horrendo Erebi vastabimus igne ; Aut noftræ ditionis erunt, pulfique pufillos Pellemus cives patriifque fugabimus oris; Aut hæc caftra fequi fuadebimus, ut Deus iris Acribus ardefcens doleat finxiffe, dolenfque Ipfe fuum confundat opus. Quæ quantaque talis Vindicta, in mediis Hostem ruitura triumphis ! Quæ nobis fpolia inde, Dei ut cariffima proles Nostrorum in partem præceps demiffa dolorum Invalidam ftirpem incufans & gaudia rapta, Tam citò rapta gemet! Potior fententia quæ fit,
What creatures there inhabit, of what mould, Or fubftance, how endu'd, and what their pow'r, And where their weaknefs, how attempted beft, 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 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 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 surpass Common Revenge, and interrupt His joy In our confufion, and our joy upraise
In His difturbance; when His darling Sons, Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, fhall curfe
Confulite, an facinus moliri hoc præstet, an hisce Cunctari in tenebris & inania fingere regna.
Hæc adeo immani Balzebus pectore fudit Ipsî olim Satana concepta atque edita partim Confilia: Unde, mali nifi fonte & origine primâ, Tam dira invidiæ poterat manare libido,
Terram Erebo miscere unâque exfcindere gentem Humanam in radice petens? Tantum-ne Malorum Mens inimica Deo fuafit, cui talibus auctus Crefcit Honos inimicitiis? Sed fratribus audax Confilium arrifit Stygiis & pectora plaufu Extulit; emicuitque oculis flammantibus ardens Lætitia: Affenfu unanimes fremuere; frementes Ille novis acuit dictis, ac talia fatur :
Decretum egregiè, Proceres! Pulcherrima tandem, Sancta Deûm domus, ac veftrâ digniffima famâ Cernitis: hinc imo emerfis exire Profundo
Vel fato nolente datum eft: accedere prifcas
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 Counsel, first advis'd By Satan, and in part propos'd: for whence, 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 Creator? But their spite still ferves His glory to augment. The bold defign Pleas'd highly those 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, 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 spite of Fate, Nearer our ancient Seat; perhaps in view
Continget juxta fedes, arcefque tueri Sidereas; fòrs inde licet propioribus armis Excurfuque levi cœleftia regna reverti. Aut lætis faltem excipiet felicior ora Hofpitiis, quà lux cœli dignabitur alma Vifere, & ingratas vincet caliginis umbras Dulce oriens jubar; atque auræ vis mollis inuftas Eximet igne notas fævifque falubria fundet Balfama vulneribus. Sed cui mandabitur orbis Ignoti luftrare plagas? Quem talibus aptum Mittemus cœptis? Quifnam imperterritus alti Gurgitis immenfas tenebras fundoque carentes Tentabit, latè per denfa Obfcura tremendum Explorans iter: Abruptumve immane volatu Indomito exfuperans fedes attinget amœnas? At quâ vi tandem, quâ tantis arte periclis Sufficiet? Quæ fraus vigilum per cauta Seraphum Agmina, cuftodumque minas impune vagantem
Of those bright confines, whence with neighbouring In search of this new world? whom fhall we find
And opportune excurfion, we may chance Re-enter Heav'n: or else in fome mild 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.
Sufficient? Who fhall tempt with wand'ring feet The dark, unbottom'd, infinite Abyfs, And through the palpable obscure find out His uncouth way; or fpread his aery flight Up-born with indefatigable Wings Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
The happy Ifle? What strength, what art can then But first whom fhall we Suffice, or what evafion bear him safe Through the ftrict Senteries, and Stations thick
Expediet? fimul huc acies, fimul omnia tendat Confilia: Et noftrum eft cautè perpendere, tantæ Publica quem moli vox deftinet: omnis in Illo Spes adeo, & magni ftabit fiducia cœpti.
Dixerat hæc, foliumque capit, fufpenfa parumper Ora tenens, plaufufque morans ; feu difcrepet iftis Fortè alius, seu tanta aliquis fe accingat ad ausa. Sed muti federe omnes difcrimina fecum Volventes iterum atque iterum, vultuque vicissim Alter in alterius proprios videre timores Attoniti. Nec quifquam aderat de flore fuperbo Conjuratorum cœlo fe opponere fratrum, Pectore qui forti folus tentare tremendum Aufus iter. Tandem Satanas, cui regia longè Jam comitum audentes anteivit Gloria cœtus, Imperii quem celfus honos & confcia Virtus Extulit, hæc dicta intrepido dedit arduus ore: Progenies cœli, flammantes ætheris Arces,
Of angels watching round? Here he had need All circumfpection; and we now no less Choice in our fuffrage: for, on whom we fend, The weight of all, and our laft hope, relies. This faid, he fat; and expectation held His look fufpenfe, awaiting who appear'd To fecond or oppose, or undertake The perilous attempt: but all fat mute,
Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each
In others count'nance read his own dismay, Aftonish'd: None, among the choice and prime Of those Heav'n-warring Champions, could be found So hardy, as to proffer, or accept
Alone, the dreadful voyage: till at laft Satan, whom now transcendent glory rais'd Above his fellows, with Monarchal pride (Conscious of higheft worth) unmov'd thus fpake. O Progeny of Heav'n, Empyreal Thrones!
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