New rubb'd with balm, expatiate and confer Their state affairs. So thick the aery croud 775 Swarm'd and were straiten'd; till, the fignal giv❜n, Behold a wonder! they but now who feem'd Now lefs than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room Or dreams he fees, while over-head the moon Intent, with jocund mufic charm his ear; large, 790 Though without number still amidst the hall Of that infernal court. But far within, And in their own dimenfions like themselves, The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim, In close recess and secret conclave fat; A thousand Demi-gods on golden feats, Frequent and full: after fhort filence then And fummons read, the great consult began. The End of Firft Book. 795 BOOK BOOK II. High on a throne of royal state, which far Oultfhone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind,' To that bad eminence; and from despair 5 Vain war with Heav'n, and by fuccefs untaught His proud imaginations thus difplay'd. 10 Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heav'n! For fince no deep within her gulph can hold Immortal vigor, though opprefs'd and fall'n, I give not Heav'n for loft. From this descent Celestial virtues rifing, will appear More glorious and more dread than from no fall, 15 And trust themselves to fear no fecond fate. Me though just right, and the fix'd laws of Heav'n Did first create your leader, next free choice, With what besides, in council or in fight, 20 C Hath been achiev'd of merit, yet this lofs Thus far at least recover'd, hath much more Establish'd in a fafe unenvied throne, Yielded with full confent. The happier state In Heav'n, which follows, dignity, might Envy from each inferior; but who here 30 For which to ftrive, no ftrife can grow up there Could have allur'd us; and by what best way, 40 Stood up, the strongest and the fierceft fpirit That fought in Heav'n, now fiercer by 3145 > despair: His trust was with th' Eternal to be deem'd Equal in ftrength, and rather than be lefs Car'd not to be at all; with that care loft Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worse, He reck'd not; and these words thereafter My fentence is for open war: of wiles, More unexpert, I boaft not: them let those Contrive who need, or when they need, not now: For while they fit contriving, fhall the reft, Millions that stand in arms, and longing wait 55 The fignal to afcend, fit ling'ring here Heav'n's fugitives, and for their dwelling-place Accept this dark opprobrious den of flame, The prifon of his tyranny who reigns 65 By our delay? No! let us rather choose, 60 75 1 Let fuch bethink them, if the fleepy drench To our deftruction: if there be in Hell Fear to be worse destroy'd: what can be Than to dwell here, driv'n out from blifs, condemn'd In this abhorred deep to utter woe; Calls us to penance? More destroy'd than thus |