Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought Torments him. Round he throws his baleful eyes, Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate. A dungeon horrible, on all sides round, As one great furnace, flamed. Yet from those flames No light, but rather darkness visible Served only to discover sights of woe, Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace For those rebellious; here their prison ordained And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words If thou beest he; but oh, how fallen! how changed From him, who, in the happy realms of light, Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine Myriads, though bright! If he, whom mutual league, United thoughts and counsels, equal hope And hazard in the glorious enterprise, Joined with me once, now misery hath joined In equal ruin; into what pit thou seest From what height fallen, so much the stronger proved He with his thunder. And till then who knew The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those, Can else inflict, do I repent or change, Though changed in outward luster, that fixed mind, That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? That were an ignominy, and shame beneath Since, through experience of this great event, In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, Who now triumphs, and, in the excess of joy So spake the apostate angel, though in pain, Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair; That with sad overthrow and foul defeat, In horrible destruction laid thus low, As far as gods and heavenly essences Can perish for the mind and spirit remain Though all our glory extinct, and happy state But what if He our Conqueror-whom I now Of force believe Almighty-since no less Than such could have o'erpowered such force as ours Have left us this our spirit and strength entire, Strongly to suffer and support our pains, Whereto with speedy words the arch-fiend replied: Doing or suffering: but of this be sure, But ever to do ill our sole delight, As being the contrary to His high will |