A summer's day; and with the setting sun On Lemnos the Ægean isle: thus they relate, Fell long before; nor aught availed him now 744 To have built in Heaven high towers; nor did he 'scape By all his engines, but was headlong sent With his industrious crew to build in Hell. Mean while the winged heralds, by command Of sovran power, with awful ceremony And trumpets' sound, throughout the host proclaim At Pandemonium; the high capital Of Satan and his peers: their summons called band and squared regiment From every By place or choice the worthiest; they anon, To mortal combat, or career with lance,) 752 760 768 In spring time, when the sun with Taurus rides, New rubbed with balm, expatiate and confer Or fountain, some belated peasant sees, 769 777 Or dreams he sees, while over-head the moon Sits arbitress, and nearer to the earth 785 Wheels her pale course; they, on their mirth and dance Intent, with jocund musick charm his ear; At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds. Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms Reduced their shapes immense, and were at large, VOL. I. D 794 In close recess and secret conclave sat; 798 THE ARGUMENT. THE Consultation begun, Satan debates whether another battle be to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven: Some advise it, others dissuade: A third proposal is preferred, mentioned before by Satan, to search the truth of that prophecy or tradition in Heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature equal or not much inferiour to themselves, about this time to be created: Their doubt, who shall be sent on this difficult search; Satan their chief undertakes alone the voyage, is honoured and applauded. The council thus ended, the rest betake them several ways, and to several employments, as their inclinations lead them, to entertain the time till Satan return. He passes on his journey to Hell gates; finds them shut, and who sat there to guard them; by whom at length they are opened, and discover to him the great gulf between Hell and Heaven; with what difficulty he passes through, directed by Chaos, the Power of that place, to the sight of this new world which he sought. |