Some advantagious act may be atchiev'd
By fudden onfet, either with hell fire
To wafte his whole creation, or possessitol, 368
All as our own, and drive, as we are driven, bert
The puny habitans; or if not drive,

M

Seduce them to our party, that their God
May prove their foe, and with repenting hande
Abolish his own works. This would furpass 370

Common revenge, and interrupt his joy
In our confufion, and our joy upraise
In his disturbance; when his darling fons,
Hurld headlong to partake with us, shall curse

Their frail original, and faded blifs, n
Faded so soon. Advise if this be worth
Attempting, or to fit 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 fpring
So deep a malice to confound the race.
Of mankind in one root, and earth with hell
To mingle and involve, done all to spite
The great Creator? but their spite still ferves
His glory to augment. The bold design...
Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy
Sparkl'd in all their eyes; with full affent
They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews.

375

38

385

394

Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate 390 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 spight of fate, Nearer out ancient seat; perhaps in view Of those bright confines, whence with neighbouring And opportune excursion, we may chance Re-enter Heav'n: or else in some mild Zone Dwell not unvisited of Heav'n's fair light Secure, and at the brightning orient beam Purge off this gloom: the foft delicious air,

(arms,

To heal the scar of these corrofive 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 wandring feet

The dark unbottom'd infinite abyfs,
And through the palbable obscure find out
His uncouth way, or spread his aery flight.

Upborn with indefatigable wings

Over the vaft abrupt, e'er he arrive

405

The happy ifle? What strength, what art can then 410
Suffice, or what evafion bear him fafe

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 fuffrage: for on whom we fend, 415
The weight of all and our last hope relies.

This faid, he fat; and expectation held His look fuspense, awaiting who appear'd To second, or oppose, or undertaken The perilous attempt: But all fat mute, Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each

1

1.420

In others count'nance read his own dismay

Aftonifh'd: none, among the choice and prime
Of those heav'n-warring champions, could be found

So hardy, as to proffer or accepto down
Alone the dreadful voyage: till at lashow
Satan, whom now transcendent glory rais'd
Above his fellows, with monarchal pridev
Conscious of highest worth, unmov'd thus spake.

1

427

1

439

O Progeny of Heav'n, empyreal Thrones!

With reason hath deep filence and demur
Seiz'd us, though undifmay'd: long is the way
And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light.
Our prifon strong, this huge convex of fire,
Outragious to devour, immures us round
Ninefold: and gates of burning adamant
Barr'd over us prohibit all egrefs

These pass'd, if any pass, the void profound

435

3d

to mode

alqilas mibol mib 440

le madi

Of unessential 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 whatever world, no asxalqi
Or unknown region, what remains him less
go અડી શું?
Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape
zid
But I should ill become this throne, O Peers,
Heeroli 4450
And this imperial sov'reign'ty, adorn'd
With splendor, arm'd with pow'r, if ought 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 honor, due alike

To him who reigns, and fo much to him due

Of hazard more, as he above the reft

W

450

455

460

High honor'd fits? Go therefore mighty Pow'rs,
Terror of Heav'n, though fall'n; intend at home,
While here fhall be our home, what best may ease
The prefent misery, and render Heil
More tolerable; if there be cure or charm
To respite or deceive, or flack the pain
Of this ill manfion. Intermit no watch
Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad
Through all the coast of dark destruction seek
Deliverance for us all: this enterprize
None shall partake with me.
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 to 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 than his voice

Thus saying rose

Forbidding; and at once with him they rose:

Their rifing all at once was as the found

465

470

475

Of

Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend

485

• With awful reverence prone; and as a Godeli
Extol him equal to the highest in Heay'nseotu
Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd, 480
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 confultations dark
Ended, rejoicing in their matchless Chief:
As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds
Afcending, while the north-wind sleeps, o'er-spread
Heav'n's chearful face, the lowring element
Scowls o'er the darken'd landscape snow or showers
If chance the radiant fun with farewel weet niin W
Extend his ev'ning beam, the fields revivevel bra
The birds their notes renew, and bleating berdsins
Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings yet 495
O fhame to men! Devil with Devil damn'da
Firm concord holds; men only disagree
Of creatures rational, though under hope
Of heav'nly 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 diffolv'd, and forth
In order came the grand infernal Peers:
"Midft came their mighty Paramount, and seem'd
Alone th' antagonist of heav'n, nor less
Than Hell's dread Emperor, with pomp fupreme,
And God-like imitated state: him round
A globe of fiery Seraphim inclos'd
With bright imblazonry, and herrent arms.
Then of their feffion ended they bid cry

A

505

510

/

515

With trumpets regal found the great refult:
Tow'rds the four winds four speedy Cherubim
Put to their mouths the founding alchemy
By heralds voice explain'd: the hollow Abyss
Heard far and wide, and all the host of Hell
With deaf'ning shout return'd them loud acclaim. 520
Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat rais'd

By false presumptuous hope, the ranged Powers
Disband, and wand'ring, each his several way
Pursues, as inclination or fad choice

Leads him perplex'd, where he may likeliest find 525
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:
Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal
With rapid wheels, or fronted brigads form.
As when, to warn proud cities, war appears
Wag'd in the troubl'd sky, and armies rush
To battel in the clouds, before each van

53

535

Prick forth the aery Knights, and couch their spears
Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms
From either end of heav'n the welkin burns.
Others, with vast Typhoean rage, more fell
Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air
In whirlwind: Hell scarce hold the wild uproar.
As when Alcides, from Oechalia crown'd
With conquest, felt th' invenom'd robe, and tore
Through pain up by the roots Theffalian pines,

540

And Lichas from the top of Oeta threw
Into th' Euboic fea. Others more mild,
Retreated in a filent valley, fing
With notes angelical to many a harp
Their own heroic deeds and hapless fall
By doom of battel; and complain that fate
Free virtue should inthrall to force or chance.

345

550

Their fong was partial, but the harmony,

What