"Our supreme foe, in time, may much remit "His anger; and perhaps, thus far removed, "Not mind us not offending, satisfied "With what is punished;1 whence these raging fires "Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames. "Our purer essence then will overcome "Their noxious vapour; or, inure, not feel; "Or changed at length, and to the place conformed "In temper and in nature, will receive "Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain; 210 215 "This horror will grow mild; this darkness, light;2 220 "Besides what hope the never-ending flight "Of future days may bring, what chance, what change Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason's garb, 225 230 "Our own right lost: him to unthrone we then 235 "The latter: for what place can be for us "Within Heaven's bound, unless Heaven's Lord supreme "We overpower? Suppose he should relent, "And publish grace to all, on promise made "Of new subjection; with what eyes could we "Stand in his presence humble, and receive 240 1 With what is punished; a latinism, for "the punishment already inflicted." 2 This darkness light; i.e., this darkness will grow more endurable. 3 Chaos judge the strife-between the Supreme and us—a thing which could never be. The former, vain to hope,-i.e., to unthrone the King of Heaven, argues as vain the latter, i.e., to regain our own lost right. N. "Forced halleluiahs; while he lordly sits "To whom we hate! Let us then not pursue, 245 By force impossible, by leave obtained "Unacceptable, though in Heaven, our state "Of splendid vassalage; but rather seek 250 "Our own good from ourselves, and from our own "Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess, "Free, and to none accountable; preferring "Hard liberty before the easy yoke "Of servile pomp. Our greatness will appear "Then most conspicuous, when great things of small, "Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse, "We can create; and in what place soe'er "Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain, 255 260 Through labour and endurance. This deep world "Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst "Thick clouds and dark2 doth Heaven's all-ruling Sire "Choose to reside, his glory unobscured,3 "And with the majesty of darkness round cr "Covers his throne; from whence deep thunders roar "Imitate when we please? This desert soil 265 270 1 Ambrosial odours,-odours as sweet as that of "ambrosia "—the fabled food of the heathen deities; or of a most fragrant ointment, said to be used by them, and called by the same name. 2 Amidst thick clouds and dark,--compare Ps. xviii. 11-13, and xcvii. 2. 3 His glory unobscured, the construction resembles the Latin ablative absolute, the meaning is "while, or though, his glory is unobscured." 4 Cannot we his light imitate, &c.-compare 2 Cor. xi. 14. "Become our elements;1 these piercing fires, “ Of what we are, and where, dismissing quite 275 280 He scarce had finished, when such murmur filled 285 290 After the tempest: such applause was heard They dreaded worse than Hell: so much the fear Wrought still within them; and no less desire? 295 To found this nether empire, which might rise In emulation opposite to Heaven. 2 The sensible of pain, 3 To peaceful counsels. 1 Our torments also may...become our elements, &c.—the same argument used by Belial, 1. 217, but carried farther by Mammon, suitably to his character. the sense of pain; its sensible impression. The resolution of Satan was taken for “war,” b. i. 1. 660, and the question proposed to the assembly was "open war," or "covert guile," b. ii. L. 41. Moloch speaks to the point, L. 51. But Belial argues alike against open or concealed war, L. 187, in which Mammon concurs, thus changing the question in the course of the debate. 4 Compose.-in the Latin sense of "put an end to." 5 As when hollow rocks retain, &c.-It has been remarked that Virgil, En. x. 96, compares the assent to Juno's speech to the rising wind, as her object was to rouse the assembly she addressed: whereas Milton here uses the falling wind, as Mammon's speech was designed to quiet the infernal assembly. 6 Bark, a small ship. Pinnace, a small undecked vessel worked with oars and sails. And no less desire, [wrought within them.] They were actuated not only by fear, but by desire. Which when Beelzebub perceived, than whom, And princely counsel in his face yet shone, 300 305 The weight of mightiest monarchies: his look Or summer's noon-tide air,2 while thus he spake : "Thrones and Imperial Powers, Offspring of Heaven, 310 "Ethereal Virtues! or these titles now "Must we renounce, and, changing style, be called "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 Heaven hath doomed. "This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat "In strictest bondage, though thus far removed "Under the inevitable curb, reserved "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 325 "By our revolt; but over Hell extend "His empire, and with iron sceptre3 rule "Us here, as, with his golden, those in Heaven. "What! sit we then projecting peace and war? 1 Atlantéan,-vast as those of ATLAS, who was so great an astronomer, that he was fabled to have borne the heavens on his shoulders. 2 Summer's noon-tide air,-A striking illustration of the attention which Beelzebub commanded, as in hot countries the winds are generally calm at noon; while at that hour, the fervent heat drives men and beasts to rest in the shade. 3 Iron sceptre: compare Ps. ii. 9. Golden sceptre: compare Esther v. 2. What: i.e. "For what cause." "why?" after the Latin use of "Quid." 330 "War hath determined us,1 and foiled with loss "Irreparable; terms of peace yet none "Vouchsafed or sought; for what peace will be given "And stripes, and arbitrary punishment "Untamed reluctance, and revenge,-though slow, 335 340 "Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault, or siege, "Or ambush from the deep. What if we find "Some easier enterprise? There is a place,* 345 66 (If ancient and prophetic fame in heaven "Err not,) another world, the happy seat "Of some new race called Man, about this time "To be created like to us, though less "In power and excellence, but favoured more 350 "Of Him who rules above; so was his will "Pronounced among the gods, and by an oath, "That shook Heaven's whole circumference, confirmed. "Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn "What creatures there inhabit; of what mould, "Or substance; how endued, and what their power, "And where their weakness; how attempted best, 355 66 "By force or subtlety. Though Heaven be shut, "And Heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure “In his own strength, this place may lie exposed, 5 360 1 War hath determined us,—The result of our past struggle has necessarily shaped our future course. 2 Terms of peace &c.—as Latin ablative absolute: "while no terms have been offered or asked.” 3 Nor will occasion want;—i.e., “be wanting." ♦ There is a place, (it jame, &c.—Addison remarks the propriety of making Beelzebub, the next in dignity to Satan, second the motion proposed by the Arch-enemy, (i. 650)— the project on which the whole poem turns 5 This place may lie exposed, &c.--Beelzebub, encouraging the assembly |