Seafaring men o'erwatch'd, whose bark by chance,
Or pinnace, anchors in a craggy bay

After the tempest: Such applause was heard
As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleased,
Advising peace: for such another field

290

They dreaded worse than Heli: so much the fear
Of thunder and the sword of Michael

Wrought still within them; and no less desire

295

To found this nether empire, which might rise
By policy, and long process of time,

In emulation opposite to Heaven.

Which when Beelzebub perceived, than whom
Satan except none higher sat, with grave
Aspéct he rose, and in his rising seem'd

300

A pillar of state; deep on his front engraven
Deliberation sat, and public care;

And princely counsel in his face yet shone,
Majestic though in ruin: sage he stood

305

With Atlantean shoulders fit to bare

The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look

Drew audience and attention still as night

Or summer's noontide air, while thus he spake.

Thrones and Imperial Powers, Offspring of Heaven, Ethereal Virtues! or these titles now

Must we renounce, and, changing style, be call'd
Princes of Hell! for so the popular vote

Inclines, here to continue, and build up here

311

A growing empire; doubtless! while we dream, 315 And know not that the King of Heaven hath doom'd This place our dungeon; not our safe retreat

His captive multitude: For he, be sure

In height or depth, still first and last will reign
Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part

325

By our revolt; but over Hell extend

His empire, and with iron sceptre rule

Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven.
What sit we then projecting peace and war?

War hath determined us, and foil'd with loss
Irreparable; terms of peace yet none

330

To us enslaved, but custody severe,

Vouchsafed or sought; for what peace will be given

And stripes, and arbitrary punishment

Inflicted? and what peace can we return,

335

But to our power hostility and hate,

Untamed reluctance, and revenge though slow
Yet ever plotting how the conqueror least

May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice

In doing what we most in suffering feel?
Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need

340

With dangerous expedition to invade

Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault nor siege,

Or ambush from the deep. What if we find

Some easier enterprise? There is a place

345

(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven

Err not,) another world, the happy seat

Of some new race call'd Man, about this time
To be created like to us, though less

In power and excellence, but favour'd more

350

Of Him who rules above; so was his will
Pronounced among the Gods, and by an oath,

355

That shook Heaven's whole circumference, confirm'd.
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn
What creatures there inhabit, of what mould,
Or substance, how endued, and what their power,
And where their weakness, how attempted best,
By force or subtlety. Though Heaven be shut,
And Heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure

In his own strength, this place may lie exposed, 360

The utmost border of his kingdom, left

To their defence who hold it: Here perhaps

Some advantageous act may be achieved

By sudden onset; either with Hell fire

To waste his whole creation, or possess

365

All as our own, and drive, as we were driven,
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 surpass
Common revenge, and interrupt his joy

370

In our confusion, and our joy upraise

In his disturbance; when his darling sons,

Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse

Their frail original, and faded bliss,

375

Faded so soon. Advise, if this be worth

Attempting, or to sit in darkness here
Hatching vain empires. Thus Beelzebub
Pleaded his devilish counsel, first devised

By Satan, and in part proposed: For whence,
But from the author of all ill, could spring
So deep a malice, to confound the race

380

Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell

To mingle and involve, done all to spite

The great Creator? But their spite still serves

385

His glory to augment. The bold design
Pleased highly those infernal States, and joy

Sparkled in all their eyes; with full assent

They vote whereat his speech he thus renews.

Well have ye judged, well ended long debate, 390 Synod of Gods! and, like to what ye are,

Great things resolved, which, from the lowest deep, Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate,

Nearer our ancient seat; perhaps in view

[arms

Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbouring
And opportune excursion, we may chance
Reenter Heaven; or else in some mild zone
Dwell, not unvisited of Heaven's fair light,

396

Secure; and at the brightening orient beam
Purge off this gloom: the soft delicious air,
To heal the scar of these corrosive fires,

400

Shall breathe her balm. But first whom shall we send
In search of this new world? whom shall we find
Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering feet
The dark unbottom'd infinite abyss,

And through the palpable obscure find out
II:s uncouth way, or spread his aery flight
Upborne with indefatigable wings

405

Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive

The happy isle? What strength, what art can then Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe

411

Through the strict senteries and stations thick

Of Angels watching round? Here he had need
All circumspection; and we now no less
Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send,

415

The weight of all, and our last hope, relies.
This said he sat; and expectation held
His look suspense, awaiting who appear'd
To second, or oppose, or undertake
The perilous attempt: but all sat mute,

420

Pondering the danger with deep thought; and each

In other's countenance read his own dismay,

Astonish'd: None among the choice and prime

Of those heaven-warring champions could be found So hardy as to proffer or accept,

425

Alone, the dreadful voyage; till at last

Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised

Above his fellows, with monarchal pride,

Conscious of highest, worth, unmoved thus spake.

O Progeny of Heaven, empyreal Thrones!

430

With reason hath deep silence and demur
Seized us, though undismay'd: Long is the ways
And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light;
Our prison strong; this huge convex of fire,
Outrageous to devour, immures us round
Ninefold; and gates of burning adamant,
Barr'd over us, prohibit all egress.
These pass'd, if any pass, the void profound
Of unessential Night receives him next

435

440

Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being
Threatens him, plunged in that abortive gulf.
If thence ne scape into whatever world,
Or unknown region, what remains him less
Than unknown dangers and as hard escape?
But I should ill become this throne, O Peers,
And this imperial sov'reignty, adorn'd
With splendour, arm'd with power, if aught proposed
And judged of public moment, in the shape

Of difficulty or danger could deter

Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume
These royalties, and not refuse to reign,
Refusing to accept as great a share

Of hazard as of honour, due alike

To him who reigns, and so much to him due
Of hazard more, as he above the rest

445

450

455

High honour'd sits? Go, therefore, mighty Powers, Terror of Heaven, though fallen! intend at home, While here shall be our home, what best may ease The present misery, and render Hell

More tolerable; if there be cure or charm

460

To respite, or deceive, or slack the pain

Of this ill mansion: intermit no watch

Against a wakeful Foe, while I abroad

Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek
Deliverance for us all: This enterprise

465

None shall partake with me. Thus saying rose
The Monarch, and prevented all reply;

Prudent, lest, from his resolution raised,
Others among the chief might offer now
(Certain to be refused) what erst they fear'd;
And, so refused, might in opinion stand
His rivals; winning cheap the high repute
Which he through hazard huge must earn.
Dreaded not more the adventure than his voice
Forbidding, and at once with him they rose:
Their rising all at once was as the sound

470

But they

475

Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend