Can execute their airy purposes,
And works of love or enmity fulfil.
For those the race of Ifrael oft forfook
Their living ftrength, and unfrequented left
His righteous altar, bowing lowly down

To betial Gods; for which their heads as low
Ba'd down in battle, funk before the spear
Of defpicable foes. With thefe in troop
Came Afhtoreth, whom the Phoenicians call'd
Adarte, Queen of Heav'n, with crefcent horns;
To whofe bright image nightly by the moon
Sidonian virgins paid their vows and fongs;
In Sion alfo not unfung, where ftood

Her temple on th' offenfive mountain, built

By that uxorious king, whofe heart, though large,
Egui'd by fair idolatrefles, fell

To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind,
Whofe annual wound in Lebanon allur'd
The Syrian damfels to lament his fate
la amorous ditties all a fummer's day;
While fmooth Adonis from his native rock
Pan purple to the fea, fuppos'd with blood
Of Tammuz yearly wounded; the love-tale
Infected Sion's daughters with like heat,
Whofe wanton paffions in the facred porch
Ezekiel faw, when by the vifion led
His eye furvey'd the dark idolatries
Of alienated Judah. Next came one

Who mourned in earnest, when the captive ark
Maim'd his brute image, head and hands lopt off
In his own temple, on the grunfel edge,
Where he fell flat, and fham'd his worthippers:
Dagon his name, fea-monfter, upward man
And downward fish: yet had his temple high
Rear'd in Azotus, dreaded through the coaft
Of Palestine, in Gath and Afcalon,
And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds.
Him follow'd Rimmon, whofe deligtful feat
Was fair Damafcus, on the fertile banks
Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams.
He also against the houfe of God was bold:
Akper once he loft, and gain'd a king,
Abaz his fottish conqu'ror, whom he drew
God's altar to difparage and difplace
For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn
His odious offerings, and adore the Gods
Whom he had vanquifh'd. After these appear'd
A crew, who, under names of old renown,
Ofris, liis, Orus and their train,
With monit'rous fhapes and forceries abus'd
Fanatic Egypt and her priests, to feek
Their wand'ring gods difguis'd in brutish forms
Rather than human. Nor did Ifrael 'fcape
Th' infection, when their borrow'd gold compos'd
The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king
Doubled that fin in Bethel and in Dan,
Likening his Maker to the grazed ox,
Jehovah, who in one night when he pafs'd
From Egypt marching, equall'd with one stroke
Both her first-born and all her bleating gods.
Belial came laft, than whom a fp'rit more lewd
Feil not from heaven, or more grofs to love
Vice for itself: to him no temple stood
Or altar imok'd; yet who more oft than he
In temples and at altars, when the priest

Turns Atheist, as did Eli's fons, who fill'd
With luft and violence the houfe of God?
In courts and palaces he alfo reigns,
And in luxurious cities, where the noise
Of riot afcends above their loftieft towers,
And injury and outrage: and when Night
Darkens the freets, then wander forth the fons
Of Belial, flown with infolence and vine.
Witnefs the streets of Sodom, and that night
In Gibeah, when the hofpitable door
Expos'd a matron to avoid worse rape.
Thefe were the prime in order and in might;
The reft were long to tell, though far renown'd,
Th' Ionian gods of Javan's iffue held
Gods, yet confeffed later than Heav'n and Earth,
Their boasted parents: Titan, Heav'n's first-born,
With his enormous brood, and birthright seiz'd
By younger Saturn; he from mightier Jove
His own and Rhea's fon like meafure found;
So Jove ufurping reign'd: thefe firft in Crete
And Ida known, thence on the inowy top
Of cold Olympus rul'd the middle air,
Their higheft heaven; or on the Delphian cliff,
Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds
Of Doric land; or who with Saturn old
Fled over Adria to th' Hefperian fields,
And o'er the Celtic roam'd the utmost ifles.

All thefe and more came flocking; but with looks Downcaft and dampt, yet fuch wherein appear'd Obfcure fome glimpse of joy, to 'ave found their chief

Not in defpair, to 'ave found themselves not loft
In lofs itfelf; which on his countenance caft
Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride
Soon recollecting, with high words that bore
Semblance of worth, not fubftance, gently rais'd
Their fainting courage, and difpell'd their fears.
Then ftrait commands, that at the warlike found
Of trumpets loud and clarions be uprear'd
His mighty standard; that proud honour claim'd
Azazel as his right, a cherub tall;
Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurl'd
Th' imperial enfign, which full high advanc'd
Shone like a meteor ftreaming to the wind,
With gems and golden luftre rich emblaz'd,
Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while
Sonorous metal blowing martial founds:
At which the univerfal hoft up fent
A fhout that tore Hell's concave, and beyond
Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night.
All in a moment through the gloom were feen
Ten thousand banners rife into the air
With orient colours waving: with them rofe
A foreft huge of fpears; and thronging helms
Appear'd, and ferried fhields in thick array
Of depth immeafurable: anon they move
In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood
Of flutes and foft recorders; fuch as rais'd
To height of nobleft temper heroes old
Arming to battle; and inftead of rage
Deliberate valour breath'd, firm and unmov'd
With dread of death to flight or foul retreat;
Nor wanting pow'r to mitigate and fwage
With folemn touches troubled thoughts, and chafe
Anguish and doubt, and fear, and forrow, and pain,

From mortal or immortal winds. Thus they,
Breathing united force, with fixed thought
Mov'd on in filence to foft pipes that charm'd
Their painful fteps o'er the burnt foil; and now
Advanc'd in view, they stand, a horrid front
Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise
Of warriors old with order'd fpear and fhield,
Awaiting whit command their mighty chief
Had to impofe; he through the armed files
Darts his experienc'd eye, and foon traverse
The whole battalion, views their order due,
Their vifages and ftature, as of gods;

Their number last he fums. And now his heart
Diftends with pride, and hard'ning in his ftrength
Glories: for never fince created man

Met fuch embodied force, as nam'd with these Could merit more than that fmall infantry Warr'd on by cranes; though all the giant brood Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were join'd That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each fide Mix'd with auxiliar Gods; and what refounds In fable or romance of Uther's fon, Begirt with British and Armoric knights; And all who fince, baptiz'd or infidel, Joufted in Afpramont or Montalban, Danafco, or Marocco, or Trebifond, Or whom Biferta fent from Afric's fhore, When Charlemain, with all his peerage, fell By Fontarabia. Thus far thefe beyond Compare of mortal prowefs, yet obferv'd Their dread Commander: he above the reft In fhape and gefture proudly eminent, Stood like a tower; his form had not yet loft All her original brightnefs, nor appear'd Lefs than Arch-angel ruin'd, and th' excefs Of glory obfcur'd; as when the fun new rifen Looks through the horizontal mifty air Shorn of his beams, or from behind the moon In dim eclipfe difaftrous twilight fheds On half the nations, and with fear of change Perplexes monarchs. Darken'd fo, yet fhone Above them all th' Arch-angel; but his face Deep fears of thunder had entrenched, and Care Sat on his faded check, but under-brows Of dauntless courage, and confiderate pride Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but caft Signs of remorfe and paflion to behold The fellows of his crime, the followers rather (Far other once beheld in blifs) condemn'd For ever now to have their lot in pain, Millions of fpirits for his fault amerc'd Of Heav'n, and from eternal fplendors flung For his revolt, yet faithful, how they stood, 'Their glory wither'd: as when Heaven's fire Hath feath'd the foreft oaks, or mountain piues, With finged top their stately growth, though bare, Stands on the blafted heath. He now prepar'd To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend From wing to wing, and half inclofe him round With all his peers: attention held them mute. 'Thrice he effay'd, and thrice in fpite of fcorn, Tears fuch as angels weep, burst forth : at last Words, interwove with fighs, found out their way. O myriads of immortal Sp'rits! O Powers Matchlefs! but with th' Almighty, and that ftrife

Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire,
As this place teftifies, and this dire change,
Hateful to utter but what pow'r of mind
Forefeeing or prefaging, from the depth
Of knowledge paft or prefent, could have fear'd,
How fuch united force of gods, how fuch
As flood like these, could ever know repulfe?
For who can yet believe, though after lofs,
That all thefe puiffant legions, whofe exile
Hoth emptied Heav'n, fhall fail to re-afcend,
Self-raifed, and repoffeffes their native feat?
For me be witnefs, all the host of heaven,
If counfels different, or danger fhunn'd
By me, have loft our hopes. But he who reigns
Monarch in Heav'n, till then as one fecure
Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute
Confent or custom, and his regal state
Put forth at full; but ftill his ftrength conceal'd,
Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall.
Henceforth his might we know, and know our own,
So as not either to provoke, or dread
New war, provok'd; our better part remains
To work in clofe defign, by fraud or guile,
What force effected not; that he no lefs
At length from us may find, who overcomes
By force, hath overcome but half his foe.
Space may produce new worlds; whereof fo rife
There went a fame in Heav'n, that he e'er long
Intended to create, and therein plant
A generation, whom his choice regard
Should favour equal to the fons of Heav'n:
Thither, if but to pry, fhall be perhaps
Our firft eruption, thither or elsewhere:
For this infernal pit thall never hold
Celestial fp'rits in bondage, nor th' abyfs
Long under darkness cover. But thefe thoughts
Full counfel muft mature: peace is despair'd,
For who can think fubmiffion? War then, war,
Open or underfood, muft be refolv'd.

He fpake and to confirm his words, out-flew
Millions of flaming fwords, drawn from the thighs
Of mighty cherubim; the fudden blaze
Far round illumin'd Hell: highly they rag'd
Against the Higheft, and fierce with grafped arms
Clafh'd on their founding fhields the din of war
Hurling defiance tow'rd the vault of heav'n.

There stood a hill not far, whofe grifly top
Belch'd fire and rolling fmoke; the reft entire
Shone with a glofly fcurf, undoubted fign
That in his womb was hid metallic ore,
The work of fulphur. Thither wing'd with speed
A numerous brigade haften'd: as when bands
Of pioneers, with spade and pick-axe arm'd,
Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field,
Or caft a rampart. Manimon led them on,
Mammon, the leaft erected fp'rit that fell
From Heav'n, for ev'n in Heav'n his looks and
thoughts

Were always downward bent, admiring more
The riches of Heav'n's pavement, trodden gold,
Than ought divine, or holy elfe enjoy'd
In vifion beatific: by him first
M en alfo, and by his fuggeftion taught,
Ranfack'd the centre, and with impious hands
Rifled the bowels of their mother Earth

For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew
Open'd into the hill a fpacious wound,

And digg'd out ribs of gold. Let none admire
That riches grow in Hell; that foil may best
Delarve the precious bane. And here let those
Who beaft in mortal things, and wond'ring tell
Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings,
Learn how their greatest monuments of fame,
And itrength, and art, are easily out-done
By fpirits reprobate, and in an hour
What in an age they with inceffant toil,
And hands innumerable, scarce perform.
Nigh on the plain in many cells prepar'd,
That underneath had veins of liquid fire
Shic'd from the lake, a fecond multitude
With wondrous art founded the massy ore,
Sev'ring each kind, and scumm'd the bullion drofs;
A third as foon had form'd within the ground
A various mould, and from the boiling cells,
By ftrange conveyance, fill'd each hollow nook,
As in an organ from one blaft of wind

To many a row of pipes the found-board breathes.
Anon, out of the earth a fabric huge
Rofe like an exhalation, with the found
Of dulcet fymphonies and voices sweet,
Built like a temple, where pilafters round
Were fet, and Doric pillars overlaid
With golden architrave; nor did there want
Cornice or frieze, with boffy fculptures graven;
The roof was fretted gold. Not Babylon,
Nor great Alcairo fuch magnificence
Equall'd in all their glories, to infhrine
Belus or Serapis their gods, or feat

Their kings, when Egypt with Affyria strove
In wealth and luxury. Th' afcending pile
Stood fix'd her stately height, and ftrait the doors
Opening their brazen folds, discover wide
Within her ample spaces o'er the smooth
And level pavement: from the arched roof
Pendent by fubtile magic, many a row
Of ftarry lamps and blazing creffets, fed
With Naptha and Asphaltus, yielded light
As from a fky. The hafty multitude
Admiring enter'd, and the work fome praife,
And fome the Architect: his hand was known
In Heav'n by many a towered structure high,
Where fcepter'd angels held their refidence,
And fat as princes, whom the fupreme king,
Exalted to fuch power, and gave to rule,
Each in his hierarchy, the orders bright.
Nor was his name unheard or unador'd
In ancient Greece; and in Ausonian land
Men call'd him Mulciber; and how he fell
From heav'n they fabled, thrown by angry Jove
Sheer o'er the crystal battlements: from morn
To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve,
A fummer's day; and with the setting fun

Dropt from the zenith, like a falling ftar,
On Lemnos th' Ægean ifle: thus they relate,
Erring; for he with this rebellious rout
Fell long before; nor ought avail'd him now
T' have built in Heav'n high tow'rs; nor did he
'fcape

By all his engines, but was headlong fent,
With his induftrious crew, to build in Hell.

Mean while the winged heralds by command
Of fov'reign pow'r, with awful ceremony
And trumpet's found, throughout the hoft proclaim
A folemn council forthwith to be held
At Pandemonium, the high capital

Of Satan and his peers: their fummons call'd
From every band and fquared regiment
By place or choice the worthieft; they anon
With hundreds and with thousands trooping came
Attended: all accefs was throng'd, the gates,
And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall
(Though like a cover'd field, where champions
bold

Wont ride in arm'd, and at the Soldan's chair
Defy'd the best of Panim chivalry

To mortal combat, or career with lance)
Thick fwarm'd, both on the ground and in the air
Brush'd with the hifs of ruftling wings. As bees
In fpring-time, when the fun with Taurus rides,
Pour forth their populous youth about the hive
In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers
Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed plank,
The fuburb of their straw-built citadel,
New rubb'd with balm, expatiate and confer
Their ftate affairs. So thick the airy crowd
Swarm'd and were ftraiten'd; till, the fignal given,
Behold a wonder! they but now who feem'd
In bigness to furpass earth's giant fons,
Now less than fmalleft dwarfs, in narrow room
Throng numberlefs, like that Pygmean race
Beyond the Indian mount, or fairy elves,
Whofe midnight revels by a forest side
Or fountain fome belated peasant fees,

[dance

Or dreams he fees, while over-head the moon
Sits arbitrefs, and nearer to the earth
Wheels her pale courfe; they on their mirth and
Intent with jocund mufic charm his ear;
At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds.
Thus incorporeal fp'rits to smallest forms
Reduc'd their fhapes immenfe, and were at large,
Though without number still amidst the hall
Of that infernal court. But far within,
And in their own dimenfions like themselves,
The great feraphic lords and cherubim
In close recefs and fecret conclave, fat
A thousand demi-gods on golden feats,
Frequent and full. After short filence then,
And fummons read, the great confult began.

HIGH on a throne of royal ftate, which far
Outfhone the wealth of Ormos and of Ind,
Or where the gorgeous eaft with richest hand
Show'rs on her kings barbaric pearl and gold,
Satan exalted fat, by merit rais'd

To that bad eminence; and from despair
Thus high uplifted beyond hope, afpires
Beyond thus high, infatiate to pursue

Vain war with heav'n, and, by fuccefs untaught,
His proud imaginations thus difplay'd,

Pow'rs and dominions, deities of Heav'n,
For fince no deep within her gulph can hold
Immortal vigour, though opprefs'd and fall'n
I give not heav'n for loft. From this defcent
Celestial virtues rifing, will appear

More glorious and more dread than from no fall,
And trust themselves to fear no fecond fate.
Me though just right, and the fix'd laws of Heav'n
Did firft create your leader, next free choice,
With what befides, in counfel or in fight,
Hath been achiev'd of merit, yet this lofs,
Thus far at least recover'd, hath much more
Establish'd in a fafe and unenvied throne,
Yielded with full confent. The happier state
In heav'n, which follows dignity, might draw
Envy from each inferior; but who here
Will envy whom the highest place expofes
Foremost to stand against the thund'rer's aim,
Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share

Of endless pain? where there is then no good
For which to ftrive, no ftrife can grow up there
From faction; for none fure will claim in Hell
Precedence; none whofe portion is so small
Of prefent pain, that with ambitious mind
Will covet more. With this advantage then
To union, and firm faith, and firm accord,
More than can be in Heaven, we now return
To claim our juft inheritance of old,
Surer to profper than profperity
Could have affur'd us; and by what best way,
Whether of open war or covert guile,
We now debate; who can advife may speak.

He ceaf'd; and next him Moloch, fcepter'd king,
Stood up, the strongest and the fierceft fpirit
That fought in heaven, now fiercer by defpair:
His truft was with th' Eternal to be deem'd
Equal in strength, 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 worfe
He reck'd not, and these words thereafter spake.
My fentence is for open war: of wiles,
More unexpert, I boast not: them let thofe
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
The fignal to afcend, fit ling'ring here
Heav'ns fugitives, and for their dwelling place
Accept this dark oppobrious den of shame,

The prifon of his tyranny who reigns
By our delay? No, let us rather choose,
Arm'd with hell flames and fury, all at once
O'er heav'n's high tow'rs to force refistless way,
Turning our tortures into horrid arms
Again the tort'rer; when to meet the noise
Of his almighty engine he shall hear
lafernal thunder, and for lightning fee
Black fire and horror fhot with equal rage
Among his angels, and his throne itself
Mix'd with Tartarean fulphur, and strange fire,
His own invented torments. But, perhaps,
The way feems difficult and fteep to fcale
With upright wing against a higher foe.
Let fuch bethink them, if the fleepy drench
Of that forgetful lake benumb not still,
That in our proper motion we afcend
Up to our native feat: defcent and fall
To us is adverfe. Who but felt of late,
When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear,
Inftiting, and purfued us through the deep,
With what compulfion and laborious flight
We funk thus low? Th' afcent is easy then;
Th' event is fear'd; fhould we again provoke
Our ftronger, fome worfe way his wrath may find
To our destruction; if there be in hell
Fear to be worfe deftroy'd: what can be worfe
Than to dwell here, driv'n out from blifs, con-
In this abhorred deep to utter woe;
Where pain of unextinguishable fire
Muft exercife us, without hope of end,
The vaffals of his anger, when the scourge
Inexorably, and the torturing hour
Calls us to penance? More deftroy'd than thus,
We should be quite abolish'd, and expire.
What fear we then? what doubt we to incenfe
His utmost ire? which, to the height enrag'd,
Will either quite confume us, and reduce
To nothing this effential, happier far
Than miferable to have eternal being:
Or if our fubftance be indeed divine,
And cannot ceafe to be, we are at worst
On this fide nothing; and by proof we fell,
Our pow'r fufficient to disturb his heav'n,
And with perpetual inroads to alarm,
Though innaceffible, his fatal throne:
Which, if not victory, is yet revenge.

[demn'd

He ended frowning, and his look denounc'd Defp'rate revenge, and battle dangerous To lefs than gods, On th' other fide up rofe Belial, in act more graceful and humane; A fairer perfon loft not heav'n; he seem'd For dignity compof'd, and high exploit: But all was falfe and hollow; though his tongue Dropt manna, and could make the worse appear The better reafon, to perplex and dafh Mattreft counfels: for his thoughts were low, To vice induftrious, but to nobler deeds Timorous and Rothful: yet he pleaf'd the ear, And with perfuafive accent thus began :

I should be much for open war, Ö Peers, As not behind in hate; if what was urg'd Main reafon to perfuade immediate war, Did not diffuade me moft, and feem to caft Ominous conjecture on the whole fuccefs:

When he who most excels in fact of arms, In what he counfels, and in what excels, Mistrustful, grounds his courage on defpair, And utter diffolution, as the fcope

Of all his aim, after fome dire revenge.

First, what revenge? the towers of heav'n are fill'a
With armed watch, that render all accefs
Impregnable; oft on the bord'ring deep
Encamp their legions, or with obfcure wing
Scout far and wide into the realm of night,
Scorning furprise. Or could we break our way
By force, and at our heels all hell fhould rife
With blackeft infurrection, to confound
Heav'n's pureft light, yet our great enemy,
All incorruptible, would on his throne
Sit unpolluted, and th' ethereal mould,
Incapable of ftain, would foon expel
Her mischief, and purge off the bafer fire,
Victorious. Thus repulf'd, our final hope
Is flat defpair: we must exafperate

Th' almighty victor to spend all his rage,
And that must end us; that must be our cure,
To be no more; fad cure! for who would lofe
Though full of pain, this intellectual being,
Thofe thoughts that wander through eternity,
To perish rather, fwallow'd up and loft
In the wide womb of uncreated night,
Devoid of fenfe and motion? and who knows,
Let this be good, whether our angry foe
Can give it, or will ever? how he can,
Is doubtful; that he never will, is fure.
Will he, fo wife, let loofe at once his ire,
Belike through impotence, or unaware,
To give his enemies their wish, and end
Them in his anger, whom his anger faves
To punish endlefs? Wherefore cease we then?
Say they who counfel war, we are decreed,
Referv'd, and destin'd to eternal woe;
Whatever doing, what can we fuffer more,
What can we fuffer worfe? Is this then worst,
Thus fitting, thus confulting, thus in arms?
What, when we fled amain, and purfu'd and struck
With heav'n's afflicting thunder, and befought
The deep to fhelter us? this hell then feem'd
A refuge from thofe wounds: or when we lay
Chain'd on the burning lake? that fure was worfe,
What, if the breath that kindled those grim fires,
Awak'd, fhould blow them into feven-fold rage,
And plunge us in the flames? or from above,
Should intermitted vengeance arm again
His red right hand to plague us? what, if all
Her ftores were open'd, and this firmament,
Of hell should spout her cataracts of fire,
Impendent horrors, threat'ning hideous fall
One day upon our heads; while we, perhaps,
Deligning or exhorting glorious war,
Caught in a fiery tempeft, fhall be hurl'd
Each on his rock transfix'd, the fport and prey
Of wracking whirlwinds, or for ever funk
Under yon boiling occan, wrapt in chains;
There to converfe with everlasting groans,
Unrefpited, unpitied, unrepriev'd,
Ages of hopeless end? this would be worse.
War, therefore, open or conceal'd, alike
My voice diffuades; for what can force or guile
B