By force or fubtlety. Though Heav'n be shut,
And Heav'n's high arbitrator fit secure
In his own ftrength, this place may lie expos'd, 360
The utmost border of his kingdom, left
To their defense who hold it: here perhaps
Some advantageous act may be achiev'd
By fudden onset, either with Hell fire
To waste his whole creation, or possess
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
In our confusion, 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 bliss,
Faded fo foon. Advife 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 serves
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 speech he thus renews.
Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate, 390 Synod of Gods, and, like to what ye are, Great things resolv'd, which from the lowest deep Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate, Nearer our ancient seat; perhaps in view
Of those bright confines, whence,with neighb'ring arms,
And opportune excursion,we may chance.
Re-enter Heav'n; or else in fome mild zone
Dwell,not unvifited of Heav'n's fair light,
Secure, and at the brightning orient beam
Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious air,
To heal the fcar of these corrofive fires,
Shall breathe her balm. But first whom shall we fend
In search 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,
Upborne with indefatigable wings,
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
The happy ile? what strength, what art can then 410
Suffice; or what evasion bear him safe
Through the strict senteries, and stations thick
Of Angels watching round? Here he had need
Though Haavia be shut,
tor is lecture
lace may lie expos'd, 360
ne kungdom left
here perhaps
al mor be achiev'd
Lee emner vill Hell fire
204 crazdia or pollefs
As we were driven,
foxc drive.
game that their God
tur ie unde så repenting hand,
This would furpass 370
age and merupt his joy
Az uz jow upraile
when his darling fons,
ke with us, fhall curfe
And inded blifs,
this be worth
darknefs here
ps. Thus Beelzebub delik soenak; first devis'd
- part propos'd: for whence, 380 ne katke of all ill, could spring maken to confound the race
#ce root, and Earth with Hell
langu mnd mvolve? done all to spite
The great Cent; But their spite still serves 385
His glory to augment. The bold design
Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy
Sparkled in all their eyes; with full afsent
They vote: whereat his speech 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 neighb'ring arms,
And opportune excurfion,we may chance.
Re-enter Heav'n; or else in some mild zone
Dwell,not unvifited of Heav'n's fair light,
Secure, and at the brightning orient beam
Purge off this gloom; the foft delicious air,
To heal the fcar of these corrofive fires,
Shall breathe her balm. But first whom shall we fend
In fearch of this new world? whom fhall we find
Sufficient? who shall tempt,with wand'ring feet,
The dark,unbottom'd,infinite abyss,
And through the palpable obscure find out
His uncouth way; or spread his aery flight,
Upborne with indefatigable wings,
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
The happy ile? what strength, what art can then 410
Suffice; or what evasion bear him fafe
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 send,
The weight of all, and our last hope relies.
This faid, he fat; and expectation held
His look suspense, awaiting who appear'd
To fecond, or oppose, or undertake
The perilous attempt: but all sat mute,
Pond'ring 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 transcendent 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 reason hath deep filence and demur
Seis'd us, though undismay'd: long is the way
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 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.
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