Ambrofial odours and ambrosial flowers, Our fervile offerings. This must be our task In heav'n, this our delight; how wearisom Eternity so spent in worship paid
To whom we hate. Let us not then pursue By force impoffible, by leave obtain'd Unacceptable, tho' in heav'n, our state Of splendid vaffalage, but rather feek 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 eafy yoke
Of fervile pomp. Our greatnefs will appear Then most confpicuous, when great things of small, Useful of hurtful, profperous of adverse
We can create, and in what place foe'er Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain Through labour and indurance. This deep world Of darkness do we dread? how oft amidst Thick clouds and dark doth heav'ns all-ruling fire, Chufe to refide, his glory unobscur'd,
And with the majesty of darkness round
Covers his throne; from whence deep thunders roar Muft'ring their rage, and heav'n resembles hell? As he our darkness, cannot we his light Imitate when we please? this desart foil
Wants not her hidden luftre, gemms and gold;: Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raife Magnificence; and what can heav'n fhew more? Our torments also may in length of time Become our elements, these piercing fires.
As foft as now fevere, our temper chang'd Into their temper; which must needs remove The fenfible of pain. All things invite To peaceful counfels, and the settled ftate Of order, how in safety best we may Compose our present evils, with regard Of what we are and
where, difmiffing quite All thoughts of war: ye have what I advise.
He scarce had finifh't, when fuch murmur fill'd The affembly, as when hollow rocks retain The found of bluftering winds, which all night long Had rous'd the fea, now with hoarse cadence lull Sea-faring men o'rewatcht, whose bark by chance Or pinnance anchors in a craiggy bay
After the tempeft : fuch applause was heard As Mammon ended, and his fentence pleas'd, Advising peace: for fuch another field
They dreaded worfe than hell: fo much the fear Of thunder and the fword of Michael Wrought ftill within them; and no lefs defire To found this nether empire, which might rife By policy, and long process of time,
In emulation opposite to heav'n.
Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom, Satan except, none higher fat, with grave Aspect he rofe, and in his rifing feem'd
A pillar of ftate; deep on his front engraven Deliberation fat and publick care;
And princely counsel in his face yet shone, Majestick though in ruin: fage he stood
With Atlantean fhoulders fit to bear
*Firft edition, all the reft, were.
The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look Drew audience and attention, still as night Or fummer's noon-tide air, while thus he spake. Thrones and imperial powers, off-spring of heav'n, Ethereal virtues; or these titles now
Muft we renounce, and changing stile be call'd Princes of hell? for fo the popular vote Inclines, here to continue, and build up here
A growing empire; doubtless; while we dream, And know not that the king of heav'n hath doom'd This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt From heav'n's high jurisdiction, in new league Banded against his throne, but to remain In ftricteft bondage, though thus far remov'd, Under th'inevitable curb, referv'd
His captive multitude: for he, be sure,
In highth or depth, still first and last will reign Sole king, and of his kingdom lofe no part By our revolt, but over hell extend
His empire, and with iron fceptre rule Us here, as with his golden thofe in heaven. What fit we then projecting peace and war? War hath determin'd us, and foil'd with lofs Irreparable; terms of peace yet none
Voutfaf't or fought; for what peace will be giv'n To us enflav'd, but cuftody fevere,
And stripes, and arbitrary punishment Inflicted? and what peace can we return,
But to our power hoftility and hate,
Untam'd reluctance, and revenge though flow,
Yet ever plotting how the conqueror least May reap his conqueft, and may least rejoice In doing what we most in suffering feel? Nor will occafion want, nor shall we need With dangerous expedition to invade Heav'n, whofe high walls fear no affault or fiege, Or ambush from the deep. What if we find Some easier enterprife? there is a place (If antient and prophetic fame in heav'n Err not) another world, the happy feat Of fome new race call'd Man, about this time To be created like to us, though. less
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'n's whole 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 their power, And where their weakness, how attempted best, By force or futtlety: though heav'n be shut, And heav'n's high arbitrator sit secure
In his own strength, this place may lye expos'd The utmost border of his kingdom, left To their defence who hold it: here perhaps Some advantageous act may be atchiev'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 their God
May prove their foe, and with repenting hand Abolish his own works. This would furpass Common revenge, and interrupt his joy In our confufion, and our joy up-raise In his disturbance; when his darling fons Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curfe Their frail original, and faded blifs,
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 Creator? but their spite still ferves His glory to augment. The bold defign Pleas'd highly those infernal states, and joy Sparkl'd in all their 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 spite of fate, Nearer our ancient feat; perhaps in view
Of those bright confines, whence with neighbouring arms And opportune excurfion we may chance Re-enter heav'n; or else in fome wild zone Dwell not unvifited of heav'n's fair light Secure, and at the brightning orient beam
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