Sparkled 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
Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbouring arms 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 brightening 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 send
In search of this new world? whom shall we find Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering 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 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 other's countenance 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; 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 pass'd, if any pass, the void profound Of unessential Night receives him next Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being Threatens him, plung'd in that abortive gulf. If thence he 'scape into whatever world Or unknown region, what remains him less Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape? But I should ill become this throne, O Peers, And this imperial sovranty, adorn'd
With splendour, arm'd with power, if aught propos'd And judg'd of public moment, in the shape
Of difficulty or danger, could deter
Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume
These royalties, and not refuse to reign, Refusing to accept as great a share
Of hazard as of honour, due alike
To him who reigns, and so much to him due,
Of hazard more, as he above the rest
High honour'd sits? Go, therefore, mighty Powers, Terrour of Heaven, though fallen! intend at home, While here shall be our home, what best may ease The present misery, and render Hell
More tolerable: if there be cure or charm To respite, or deceive, or slack the pain Of this ill mansion; intermit no watch Against a wakeful Foe, while I abroad Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek Deliverance for us all: This enterprise
None shall partake with me. Thus saying, rose The Monarch, and prevented all reply; Prudent, lest, from his resolution rais'd, Others among the chief might offer now (Certain to be refus'd) what erst they fear'd; And, so refus'd, might in opinion stand His rivals; winning cheap the high repute, Which he through hazard huge must earn. Dreaded not more the adventure, than his voice Forbidding; and at once with him they rose: Their rising all at once was as the sound
Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend With awful reverence prone; and as a god Extol him equal to the Highest in Heaven: Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd That for the general safety he despis'd
His own; For neither do the Spirits damn'd Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites, Or close ambition, varnish'd o'er with zeal. Thus they their doubtful consultations dark Ended, rejoicing in their matchless Chief: As when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o'erspread
Heaven's cheerful face, the louring element Scowls o'er the darken'd landskip snow, or shower; If chance the radiant sun with farewell sweet Extend his evening beam, the fields revive, The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings. O shame to men! Devil with devil damn'd Firm concord holds; men only disagree Of creatures rational, though under hope Of heavenly grace: and, God proclaiming peace, Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife, Among themselves, and levy cruel wars, Wasting the earth, each other to destroy; As if (which might induce us to accord) Man had not hellish foes enow besides, That day and night, for his destruction wait.
The Stygian council thus dissolv'd; and forth In order came the grand infernal Peers: Midst came their mighty Paramount, and seem'd Alone the Antagonist of Heaven, nor less Than Hell's dread Emperour, with pomp supreme, And God-like imitated state him round A globe of fiery Seraphim enclosed, With bright emblazonry, and horrent arms. Then of their session ended they bid cry With trumpets' regal sound the great result: Towards the four winds four speedy Cherubim Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy,' By herald's voice explain'd; the hollow abyss Heard far and wide, and all the host of Hell With deafening shout return'd them loud acclaim. Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat rais'd By false presumptuous hope, the ranged Powers
''Alchemy' means here any mixed metal.
Disband; and wandering, each his several way Pursues, as inclination or sad choice
Leads him perplex'd, 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 sublime, Upon the wing, or in swift race contend, As at the Olympian games, or Pythian fields: Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal With rapid wheels, or fronted brigads form. As when, to warn proud cities, war appears Waged in the troubled sky, and armies rush To battle in the clouds, before each van Prick forth the aery knights, and couch their Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms From either end of Heaven the welkin burns. Others, with vast Typhoan rage more fell, Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air In whirlwind: Hell scarce holds the wild uproar. As when Alcides,1 from Oechalia 2 crown'd
With conquest, felt the envenom'd robe, and tore Through pain up by the roots Thessalian pines, And Lichas from the top of Oeta threw Into the Euboic sea. Others more mild, Retreated in a silent valley, sing With notes angelical to many a harp Their own heroick deeds and hapless fall By doom of battle; and complain that fate Free virtue should enthrall to force or chance. Their song was partial; but the harmony (What could it less, when Spirits immortal sing?) Suspended Hell, and took with ravishment The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet, Alcides: Hercules.- Oechalia:' a mount in Thessaly.
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