In temper and in nature, will receive
Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain;
This horror will grow mild, this darkness light; 220 Besides what hope the never-ending flight
Of future days may bring; what chance, what change Worth waiting; fince our prefent lot appears, For happy though but ill, for ill not worst, If we procure not to ourselves more woe.
Thus Belial,with words cloth'd in reafon's garb, Counsel'd ignoble ease, and peaceful floth, Not peace: and after him thus Mammon spake. Either to disinthrone the king of Heaven We war, if war be best, or to regain
Our own right loft: him to unthrone we then May hope, when everlasting Fate fhall yield To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the ftrife: The former vain to hope, argues as vain
The latter: for what place can be for us
Within Heav'n's bound, unless Heav'n's Lord fupreme We overpow'r? Suppofe he should relent, And publish grace to all, on promise made Of new fubjection; with what eyes could we Stand in his presence humble, and receive Strict laws impos'd to celebrate his throne With warbled hymns, and to his Godhead fing Forc'd Halleluiah's; while he lordly fits Our envied fovran; and his altar breathes Ambrosial odors, and ambrofial flowers,
Our servile offerings? This must be our task In Heav'n, this our delight; how wearisome Eternity so spent in worship paid To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue, By force impoffible, by leave obtain'd Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, our state Of fplendid 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 greatness will appear Then most conspicuous, when great things of small, Useful of hurtful, profpe rous of adverse,
We can create; and in what place fo e'er Thrive under ev il, and work ease out of pain
Through labor and indurance. This deep world Of darknefs do we dread? How oft amidst Thick clouds and dark doth Heav'n's all-ruling fire Choose 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 refembles Hell? As he our darkness, cannot we his light
Imitate when we please? This desert soil Wants not her hidden luftre, gems and gold; Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise Magnificence; and what can Heav'n fhow more?
Our torments, also, may, in length of time, Become our elements, these piercing fires As soft as now severe, our temper chang'd Into their temper; which must needs remove The sensible of pain. All things invite To peaceful counfels, and the fettled 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 finish'd, when fuch murmur fill'd Th' assembly, as when hollow rocks retain 285 The found of bluft'ring winds, which all night long Had rous'd the sea, now, with hoarse cadence,lull Sea-faring men o'erwatch'd, whose bark, by chance, Or pinnace, anchors ïn a craggy bay
After the tempeft: Such applause was heard As Mammon ended; and his fentence pleas'd, Advising peace: for fuch another field They dreaded worse than Hell: fo much the fear Of thunder and the fword of Michaël Wrought ftill within them; and no less defire To found this nether empire; which might rife By policy, and long process of time,
In emulation opposit to Heaven.
Which when Beëlzebub perceiv'd, than whom, Satan except, none higher fat, with grave Aspect he rose, and in his rising seem'd
A pillar of flate; deep on his front ingraven Deliberation fat,and public care;
And princely counfel in his face yet shone, Majestic though in ruin: fage he stood, With Atlantean fhoulders, fit to bear
The weight of mightieft monarchies;• his look Drew audience and attention ftill as night Or fummer's noon-tide air, while thus he spake. Thrones and Imperial Pow'rs, Ofspring of Heaven, Ethereal Virtues; or these titles now
Must we renounce; and changing ftile, be call'd Princes of Hell? for fo the popular vote Inclines, here to continue, and build up here
A growing empire; doubtlefs; while we dream, 315 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, ftill first and last will reign Sole king; and of his kingdom lose no part
By our revolt; but over Hell extend
His empire, and with iron fcepter rule
Us here, as with his golden those 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
Vouchfaf'd or fought; for what peace will be given
To us inflav'd, but cuftody fevere,
And stripes, and arbitrary punishment Inflicted? and what peace can we return, But,to our pow'r, hoftility and hate,
Untam'd reluctance, and revenge, though flow, Yet ever plotting how the conqu’ror least May reap his conqueft; and may leaft rejoice In doing,what we most in suffering feel? Nor will occafion want; nor fhall we need With dange rous expedition to invade Heav'n, whofe high walls fear no affault, or fiege, Or ambush from the deep. What, if we find
Some easier enterprise? There is a place, (If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven Err not) another world, the happy feat Of some new race, call'd Man, about this time To be created like to us, though less
In pow'r and excellence, but favor'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 mold Or fubftance, how indued, and what their power, And where their weakness; how attempted beft,
« PreviousContinue » |