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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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