Nine times the space that measures day and night To mortal men, he with his horrid crew Lay vanquish'd, rolling in the fiery gulf, Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, The dismal situation waste and wild: A dungeon horrible on all sides round, As one great furnace flam'd; yet from those flames No light; but rather darkness visible Serv'd only to discover sights of woe, Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace and a fiery deluge, fed With ever-burning sulphur unconsum'd: One next himself in power, and next in crime, And thence in Heaven call'd Satan, with bold words If thou beest he; but O, how fallen! how chang'd From him, who, in the happy realms of light, Cloth'd with transcendent brightness, didst outshine Myriads though bright! If he whom mutual league, United thoughts and counsels, equal hope And hazard in the glorious enterprize, Join'd with me once, now misery hath join'd In equal ruin! Into what pit thou seest, From what highth fallen; so much the stronger prov'd Nor what the potent Victor in his rage Though chang'd in outward lustre, that fix'd mind, That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? All is not lost; the unconquerable will, And study of revenge, immortal hate, And courage never to submit or yield, That glory never shall his wrath or might Since through experience of this great event Who now triumphs, and, in the excess of joy So spake the apostate Angel, though in pain, O Prince, O Chief of many throned Powers, That led the embattled Seraphim to war Under thy conduct, and, in dreadful deeds Fearless, endanger'd Heaven's perpetual king, And put to proof his high supremacy, Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate; Too well I see and rue the dire event, That with sad overthrow, and foul defeat, Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host |