Yet ever plotting how the Conquerour least
May reap his conqueft, and may least rejoyce
340 In doing what we moft in fuffering feel?
Nor will occafion want, nor fhall we need
With dangerous expedition to invade
Heav'n, whofe high walls fear no affault or Siege,
Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find
Some easier enterprize? There is a place
(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heav'n
Err not) another World, the happy seat
Of fom new Race call'd Man, about this time
To be created like to us, though less
350 In power 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 shook Heav'ns whol circumference, confirm'd.
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn
What creatures there inhabit, of what mould,
Or fubftance, how endu'd, and what thir Power,
And where thir weakness, how attempted beft,
By force or futtlety: Though Heav'n be shut,
And Heav'ns high Arbitrator sit secure
366 In his own ftrength, this place may lye expos'd
The utmost border of his Kingdom, left
To their defence who hold it: here perhaps
Som advantagious act may be achiev'd
By fudden onfet, either with Hell fire
To waste 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 thir God
May prove thir 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 disturbance; when his darling Sons
Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curfe
Thir frail Originals, and faded bliss,
Faded fo foon. Advise if this be worth
Attempting, or to fit in darkness here
Hatching vain Empires. Thus Beelzebub
Pleaded his devilish Counsel, first devis'd
By Satan, and in part propos'd: for whence,
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 Creatour? But thir spite still serves
His glory to augment. The bold defign
Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy
Sparkl'd in all thir eyes; with full affent
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,
Great things refolv'd; which from the lowest deep
Will once more lift us up, in spight of Fate,
Neerer our ancient Seat; perhaps in view
Of those bright confines, whence with neighbouring
And opportune excurfion we may chance
Re-enter Heav'n; or elfe in fome milde Zone
Dwell not unvifited of Heav'ns fair Light
Secure, and at the brightning Orient beam
Purge off this gloom; the foft delicious Air,
To heal the scarr of these corrofive Fires
Shall breath her balme. But first whom shall we fend
In fearch of this new world, whom shall we find
Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandring feet
The dark unbottom'd infinite Abyss
And through the palpable obfcure find out
His uncouth way, or spread his aerie flight
Upborn with indefatigable wings
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
410 The happy Ile; what strength, what art can then Suffice, or what evafion bear him fafe
Through the ftrict Senteries and Stations thick
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 last hope relies.
This faid, he fat; and expectation held
His look fufpence, awaiting who appeer'd
To fecond, or oppose, or undertake
420 The perilous attempt: but all fat mute,
Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; & each
In others count'nance red his own difmay
Astonisht: none among the choice and prime
Of those Heav'n-warring Champions could be
So hardie 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 highest worth, unmov'd thus fpake.
O Progeny of Heav'n, Empyreal Thrones,
With reafon hath deep filence and demurr
Seis'd us, though undismaid: 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 egrefs.
These past, if any pafs, the void profound
Of uneffential Night receives him next
Wide gaping, and with utter lofs of being
Threatens him, plung'd in that abortive gulf.
If thence he scape into what ever world,
Or unknown Region, what remains him less
Then unknown dangers and as hard escape.
But I fhould ill become this Throne, O Peers,
And this Imperial Sov'ranty, adorn'd
With fplendor, arm'd with power, if aught pro-
And judg'd of public moment, in the shape (pos'd
Of difficulty or danger could deterre
Me from attempting. Wherefore do I affume
These Royalties, and not refuse to Reign,
Refufing to accept as great a share
Of hazard as of honour, due alike
To him who Reigns, and fo much to him due
Of hazard more, as he above the rest
High honourd fits? Go therfore mighty powers,
Terror of Heav'n, though fall'n; intend at home,
While here shall be our home, what best may eafe
The present misery, and render Hell
More tollerable; if there be cure or charm
To refpite or deceive, or flack the pain
Of this ill Manfion: intermit no watch
Against a wakeful Foe, while I abroad
Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek
Deliverance for us all this enterprize
None shall partake with me. Thus saying rose The Monarch, and prevented all reply, Prudent, leaft from his refolution rais'd Others among the chief might offer now 470 (Certain to be refus'd) what erft they feard; And fo refus'd might in opinion stand His rivals, winning cheap the high repute Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they Dreaded not more th' adventure then his voice Forbidding; and at once with him they rose; Thir rifing all at once was as the found
Of Thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend With awful reverence prone; and as a God Extoll him equal to the highest in Heav'n : 480 Nor fail'd they to exprefs how much they prais'd, That for the general fafety he defpis'd
His own for neither do the Spirits damn'd
Loose all thir vertue; leaft bad men fhould boast
Thir fpecious deeds on earth, which glory excites,
Or close ambition varnisht o're with zeal.
Thus they thir doubtful confultations dark
Ended rejoycing in thir matchless Chief:
As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds
Afcending, while the North wind fleeps, o'respread
490 Heav'ns chearful face, the lowring Element
Scowls ore the dark'nd lantskip Snow, or showre;
If chance the radiant Sun with farewell sweet
Extend his ev'ning beam, the fields revive,
The birds thir notes renew, and bleating herds
Atteft thir joy, that hill and valley rings.
O fhame to men! Devil with Devil damn'd
Firm concord holds, men onely disagree
|