In his own strength, this place may lie expos'd, 360
The utmost border of His kingdom, left
To their defence who hold it: here perhaps
Some advantagious act may be atchiev'd
By fudden onfet, either with hell fire
To wafte His whole creation; or poffefs
All as our own, and drive (as we were driv'n)
The puny 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 370
Common revenge, and interrupt his joy
In our confufion, and our joy upraise
In His disturbance; when His darling fons,
Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, fhall curfe
Their frail original, and faded blifs:
Faded fo foon! Advise if this be worth
Attempting, or to fit in darknefs here
Hatching vain empires. Thus Beelzebub
Pleaded his devilish counsel, first devis'd
By Satan, and in part propos'd: for whence, 380 But from the author of all ill, could fpring
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 385
His glory to augment. The bold defign
Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy
Sparkled in all their eyes; with full affent
They vote: whereat his fpeech he thus renews.
Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate, 390' 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
And opportune excursion, we may chance [arms,
Re-enter heav'n: or elfe, in fome mild Zone
Dwell not unvifited of heav'n's fair light,
Secure, and at the bright'ning orient beam
Purge off this gloom: the foft delicious air,
To heal the fear of these corrofive fires,
Shall breathe her balm.-- But firft whom shall we fend
In fearch of this new world; whom shall we find
Sufficient? Who shall tempt with wand'ring feet
The dark, unbottom'd, infinite Abyss,
And through the palpable obfcure find out
His uncouth way; or spread his aery flight,
Up-born with indefatigable wings
Over the vast abrupt, e'er he arrive
The happy ifle? What strength, what art can then Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe
Through the ftrict fenteries, and stations thick
Of angels watching round? Here he had need
All circumfpection; and we now no less
Choice in our fuffrage: for, on whom we fend, 415
The weight of all, and our laft hope, relies.
This faid, he fat; and expectation held
His look fufpenfe, awaiting who appear'd
To fecond or oppofe, or undertake
The perilous attempt: but all fat mute,
Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; -and each
In others count'nance read his own dismay,
Astonish'd! None, among the choice and prime
Of those heav'n-warring champions, could be found
So hardy, as to proffer, or accept
Alone, the dreadful voyage: till at last
Satan, whom now tranfcendent glory rais'd
Above his fellows, with monarchal pride
(Conscious of highest worth) unmov'd thus spake.
O Progeny of heav'n, empyreal Thrones!
With reafon hath deep filence, and demur,
Seiz'd us, though undismay'd: long is the way
And hard, that out of hell leads up to light:
Our prifon strong; this huge convex of fire,
Outragious to devour, immures us round
Ninefold and gates of burning adamant
Barr'd over us, prohibit all egrefs.
These pass'd (if any pass) the void profound
Of uneffential night receives him next
Wide gaping! and with utter lofs of Being
Threatens him, plung'd in that abortive gulf.
If thence he fcape into whatever world,
Or unknown region, what remains him lefs
Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape?
But I fhould ill become this throne, O Peers!
And this imperial fov'reignty, adorn'd
With fplendor, arm'd with pow'r, if ought propos'd And judg'd of public moment, in the shape
Of difficulty, or danger, could deter
Me from attempting. Wherefore do I affume
Thefe Royalties, and not refuse to reign,
Refusing to accept as great a share
Of hazard, as of honor, due alike
To him who reigns, and so much to him due
Of hazard more, as he above the rest
455 High-honor'd fits? Go therefore, mighty Pow'rs! Terror of heav'n, though fall'n! intend at home, (While here shall be our home) what best may ease The prefent mifery, and render hell More tolerable; if there be cure, or charm, To refpite, or deceive, or flack the pain Of this ill manfion. Intermit no watch Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad, Through all the coafts of dark destruction, seek Deliverance for us all: this enterprize
None shall partake with me. ---Thus faying rofe
The Monarch, and prevented all reply:
Prudent, left, from his refolution rais'd,
Others among the chief might offer now
(Certain to be refus'd) what erft they fear'd; 470
And fo refus'd, might in opinion stand
His rivals; winning cheap the high repute,
Which he through hazard huge muft earn. But they
Dreaded not more th' adventure, than his voice
Forbidding; and at once with him they rofe: 475
Their rifing all at once was as the found
Of thunder heard remote. Tow'rds him they bend
With awful reverence prone; and as a God
Extol him equal to the highest in heav'n :
Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd, That for the general safety he despis'd
His own: (for neither do the spirits damn'd
Lofe all their virtue; left bad men should boast
Their fpecious deeds on earth, which glory excites;
Or close ambition varnish'd o'er with zeal.)
Thus they their doubtful confultations dark
Ended, rejoicing in their matchlefs Chief:
As when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds
Afcending, while the north-wind fleeps, o'er-spread
Heav'n's chearful face, the low'ring element
Scowls o'er the darken'd landschape snow, or show'r:
If chance the radiant fun with farewel fweet
Extend his ev'ning beam, the fields revive,
The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds
Atteft their joy, that hill and valley rings.
O fhame to men! Devil with Devil damn'd
Firm concord holds, men only disagree
Of creatures rational, though under hope
Of heav'nly grace: and, God proclaiming peace,
Yet live in hatred, enmity and strife
Among themselves, and levy cruel wars,
Wafting the earth, each other to destroy:
As if (which might induce us to accord)
Man had not hellish foes enow befides,
That, day and night, for his destruction wait. 505
The Stygian council thus diffolv'd; and forth
In order came the grand infernal Peers:
'Midft came their mighty Paramount, and feem'd Alone th' antagonist of heav'n, nor less
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