THE ARGUMENT. The consultation begun, Satan debates whether another battle be 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: finds 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. IGH on a throne of royal state, which far To that bad eminence: and, from despair Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires Vain war with Heaven; and, by success untaught, "Powers and dominions, deities of heaven! More glorious and more dread than from no fall, Me, though just right, and the fix'd laws of heaven, Surer to prosper than prosperity Could have assured us; and by what best way, |