In emulation opposite to heaven.
Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom, Satan except, none higher sat, with grave Aspect he rose, and in his rising seem'd
A pillar of state: deep on his front engraven Deliberation sat and public care;
And princely counsel in his face yet shone, Majestic though in ruin: sage he stood, With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look Drew audience and attention still as night Or summer's noon-tide air, while thus he spake. Thrones and imperial Powers, offspring of heaven, Ethereal Virtues; or these titles now Must we renounce, and changing style be call'd Princes of hell? for so the popular vote Inclines, here to continue, and build up here A growing empire; doubtless; while we dream, 315 And know not that the King of heaven hath doom'd This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt From heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league Banded against his throne, but to remain In strictest bondage, though thus far remov❜d, Under th' inevitable curb, reserv’d His captive multitude: for he, be sure,
In highth or depth, still first and last will reign
302 pillar] Shakesp. Hen. VI. Part ii. act i.
'Brave peers of England, pillars of the State.' Newton. 313 popular vote] 'Vogue. Voice.' Bentl. MS. con.
Sole King, and of his kingdom lose no part By our revolt, but over hell extend
His empire, and with iron scepter rule Us here, as with his golden those in heaven. What sit we then projecting peace and war? War hath determin'd us, and foil'd with loss Irreparable; terms of peace yet none Vouchsaf'd or sought; for what peace will be giv'n To us enslav'd, but custody severe,
And stripes, and arbitrary punishment Inflicted? and what peace can we return, But to our power hostility and hate, Untam'd reluctance, and revenge, though slow, Yet ever plotting how the conqueror least May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice In doing what we most in suffering feel? Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need With dangerous expedition to invade Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault, or siege, Or ambush from the deep. What if we find Some easier enterprize? There is a place, If antient and prophetic fame in heaven Err not, another world, the happy seat Of some new race call'd Man, about this time To be created like to us, though less
In power and excellence, but favour'd more 350 Of him who rules above; so was his will Pronounc'd among the gods, and by an oath That shook heaven's whole circumference, con- Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn [firm'd.
What creatures there inhabit, of what mould, 355 Or substance, how endu'd, and what their power, And where their weakness, how attempted best, By force or subtilty. Though heaven be shut, And heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure
In his own strength, this place may lie expos'd, 360 The utmost border of his kingdom, left
To their defence who hold it: here perhaps Some advantageous act may be achiev'd By sudden 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 sons,
Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse Their frail original, and faded bliss, Faded so soon. Advise if this be worth Attempting, or to sit 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
expos'd] Compare ver. 410, and consult Newton's note.
To mingle and involve, done all to spite The great Creator? but their spite still serves 335 His glory to augment. The bold design Pleas'd highly those infernal states, and joy Sparkl❜d in all their eyes; with full assent They vote whereat his speech he thus renews. Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate, 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 [arms Of those bright confines, whence with neighbouring And opportune excursion we may chance Re-enter heaven: or else in some mild zone Dwell, not unvisited of heaven's fair light, Secure, and at the brightning orient beam Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious air To heal the scar of these corrosive fires Shall breathe her balm. But first whom shall we 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 obscure find out His uncouth way, or spread his airy flight, Upborne with indefatigable wings,
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
406 palpable] The adjective 'obscure' used for a substan
tive, as 409, the vast abrupt.' Newton.
409 arrive] Shakesp. Hen. VI. Part iii. act v.
'those powers that the queen
Hath rais'd in Gallia, have arriv'd our coast.'
The happy isle? what strength, what art can then Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe Through the strict senteries and stations thick Of angels watching round? here he had need All circumspection, and we now no less.
Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send The weight of all, and our last hope, relies. This said, he sat; and expectation held His look suspense, awaiting who appear'd To second, or oppose, or undertake The perilous attempt: but all sat mute, Pondering 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 heaven-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 heaven, empyreal Thrones, With reason hath deep silence and demur Seiz'd us, though undismay'd: long is the way And hard, that out of hell leads up to light;
410 isle] The earth hanging in the sea of air. Cic. de Nat. Deor. ii. 66.
'Magnam quandam insulam, quam nos orbem terræ vocamus.' Newton.
432 long] Dante Inf. c. xxxiv. 95, describes the ascent from
'La via e lunga, e 'l cammino è malvagio.'
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