And through the palpable obfcure find out
His uncouth way, or spread his aerie flight
Upborn with indefatigable wings
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
The happy Ile; what strength, what art can then
Suffice, or what evafion bear him safe
Through the strict Senteries and Stations thick
Of Angels watching round? Here he had need
All circumfpection, and wee now no less
Choice in our fuffrage; for on whom we send,
The weight of all and our last hope relies.
This said, he fat; and expectation held
His look fufpence, awaiting who appeer'd
To fecond, or oppofe, or undertake
The perilous attempt; but all fat mute,
Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; & each
In others count'nance red his own dismay
Astonisht: none among the choice and prime
Ofthofe Heav'n-warring Champions could be found
So hardie as to proffer or accept
Alone the dreadful voyage; till at last
Satan, whom now tranfcendent glory rais'd
Above his fellows, with Monarchal pride
Conscious of highest worth, unmov'd thus fpake.
O Progeny of Heav'n, Empyreal Thrones, 430
With reason hath deep filence and demurr
Seis'd us, though undismaid: 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 egress.
These past, 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.
If thence he scape into what ever world,
Or unknown Region, what remains him less
Then unknown dangers and as hard escape.
But I fhould ill become this Throne, O Peers,
And this Imperial Sov'ranty, adorn'd
With splendor, arm'd with power, if aught propos'd
And judg'd of public moment, in the shape
Of difficulty or danger could deterre
Me from attempting. Wherefore do I affume 450
These Royalties, and not refuse to Reign,
Refusing to accept as great a fhare
Of hazard as of honour, due alike
To him who Reigns, and fo much to him due
Of hazard more, as he above the rest
High honourd fits? Go therefore mighty powers,
Terror of Heav'n, though fall'n; intend at home,
While here shall be our home, what best may ease
The present misery, and render Hell
More tollerable; if there be cure or charm
To refpite or deceive, or flack the pain
Of this ill Manfion: intermit no watch
Against a wakeful Foe, while I abroad
Through all the coafts of dark destruction feek
Deliverance for us all: this enterprize
None shall partake with me. Thus faying rose
The Monarch, and prevented all reply,
Prudent, leaft from his refolution rais'd
Others among the chief might offer now
(Certain to be refus'd) what erft they feard; 470 And fo refus'd might in opinion stand
His rivals, winning cheap the high repute
Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they
Dreaded not more th' adventure then his voice
Forbidding; and at once with him they rose;
Thir rifing all at once was as the found
Of Thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend
With awful reverence prone; and as a God
Extoll him equal to the highest in Heav'n :
Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd,
That for the general fafety he despis'd
His own for neither do the Spirits damn'd
Loose all thir vertue; leaft bad men fhould boast
Thir fpecious deeds on earth, which glory excites,
Or close ambition varnisht o're with zeal.
Thus they thir doubtful consultations dark
Ended rejoycing in thir matchless Chief:
As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds
Ascending, while the North wind fleeps, o'respread
Heav'ns chearful face, the lowring Element
Scowls ore the dark'nd lantskip Snow, or fhowre;
If chance the radiant Sun with farewell sweet
Extend his ev'ning beam, the fields revive,
The birds thir notes renew, and bleating herds
Attest thir joy, that hill and valley rings.
O fhame to men! Devil with Devil damn'd
Firm concord holds, men onely disagree
Of Creatures rational, though under hope
Of heavenly Grace; and God proclaiming peace,
Yet live in hatred, enmitie, and ftrife
Among themselves, and levie cruel warres,
Wafting the Earth, each other to destroy:
As if (which might induce us to accord)
Man had not hellish foes anow befides,
That day and night for his destruction waite.
The Stygian Councel thus diffolv'd; and forth
In order came the grand infernal Peers,
Midst came thir mighty Paramount, and feemd
Alone th' Antagonist of Heav'n, nor less
Then Hells dread Emperour with pomp Supream,
And God-like imitated State; him round
A Globe of fierie Seraphim inclos'd
With bright imblazonrie, and horrent Arms.
Then of thir Seffion ended they bid cry
With Trumpets regal found the great refult:
Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim
Put to thir mouths the founding Alchymie
By Haralds voice explain'd: the hollow Abyss
Heard farr and wide, and all the host of Hell 519
With deafning shout, return'd them loud acclaim.
Thence more at ease thir minds and fomwhat rais'd
By false presumptuous hope, the ranged powers
Disband, and wandring, each his several way
Pursues, as inclination or fad choice
Leads him perplext, where he may likeliest find
Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain
The irksome hours, till his great Chief return.
Part on the Plain, or in the Air fublime
Upon the wing, or in swift race contend,
As at th' Olympian Games or Pythian fields; 530
Part curb thir fierie Steeds, or fhun the Goal
With rapid wheels, or fronted Brigads form.
As when to warn proud Cities warr appears.
Wag'd in the troubl'd Skie, and Armies rufh
To Battel in the Clouds, before each Van
Prie forth the Aerie Knights, and couch thir spears
Till thickest Legions close; with feats of Arms
From either end of Heav'n the welkin burns.
Others with vast Typhaan rage more fell
Rend up both Rocks and Hills, and ride the Air
In whirlwind; Hell fcarce holds the wilde uproar.
As when Alcides from Oealia Crown'd
With conqueft, felt th' envenom'd robe, and tore
Through pain up by the roots Theffalian Pines,
And Lichas from the top of Oeta threw
Into th' Euboic Sea. Others more milde,
Retreated in a filent valley, fing
With notes Angelical to many a Harp
Thir own Heroic deeds and hapless fall
By doom of Battel; and complain that Fate
Free Vertue should enthrall to Force or Chance.
Thir fong was partial, but the harmony
(What could it lefs when Spirits immortal fing?)
Sufpended Hell, and took with ravishment
The thronging audience. In difcourfe more sweet
(For Eloquence the Soul, Song charms the Senfe,)
Others apart fat on a Hill retir'd,
In thoughts more elevate, and reafon'd high
Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate,
Fixt Fate, free will, foreknowledge abfolute, 560
And found no end, in wandring mazes loft.
Of good and evil much they argu'd then,
Of happiness and final misery,
Paffion and Apathie, and glory and shame,
Vain wisdom all, and false Philosophie :
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