The latter: for what place can be for us Within heav'n's bound, unless heav'n's Lord fupreme We overpow'r? Suppofe he fhould relent, And publish grace to all, on promife made Of new fubjection; with what eyes could we Stand in his prefence humble, and receive Strict laws impos'd, to celebrate his throne With warbled hymns, and to his Godhead fing Forc'd hallelujah's; while he lordly fits Our envy'd Sov'reign, and his altar breathes Ambrofial odours and ambrofial flow'rs, Our fervile off'rings? This must be our task In heav'n, this our delight; how wearifome Eternity fo fpent in worfhip paid
To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue, By force impoffible, by leave obtain❜d, Unacceptable, though in heav'n, our ftate: Of fplendid vaffalage; but rather feek-
Our own good from ourselves, and from our own Live to ourselves, though in this vaft recefs, Free, and to none accountable, preferring Hard liberty before the eafy yoke
Of fervile pomp. Our greatnefs will appear Then most confpicuous, when great things of small, Useful of hurtful, prefpirous of adverse We can create; and in what place foe'er Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain,
Thro' labour and endurance. This deep world Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst Thick clouds and dark doth heav'n's all-ruling Sire Chufe to refide, his glory unobfcur'd,
And with the majesty of darkness round
Covers his throne; from whence deep thunders roar Muft'ring their rage, and heav'n refembles hell? As he our darkness, cannot we his light
Imitate when we pleafe? This defert foil Wants not her hidden luftre, gems and gold: Nor want we fkill or art, from whence to raise Magnificence; and what can heav'n fhow more? Our torments alfo may in length of time Become our elements; thefe piercing fires As foft as now fevere, our temper chang'd Into their temper; which muft needs remove The fenfible of pain. All things invite To peaceful counfels, and the fettled ftate Of order, how in fafety beft we may Compose our prefent evils, with regard
Of what we are, and where; difmiffing quite
Ye have what I advise.
He fearce had finish'd, when fuch murmur fill'd Th' affembly, as when hollow rocks retain
The found of bluft'ring winds, which all night long Had rous'd the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull Seafaring men o'erwatch'd, whofe bark by chance, Or pinnace, anchors in a craggy bay
After the tempeft: fuch applause was heard As Mammon ended, and his fentence pleas'd,
Advifing peace: for fuch another field
They dreaded worse than hell: fo much the fear Of thunder and the fword of Michaël
Wrought fill within them; and no lefs defire 295 To found this nether empire, which might rise, By policy, and long process of time,
In emulation oppofite to heaven.
Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom, Satan except, none higher Tat, with grave Afpéct he rofe, and in his rifing feem'd A pillar of ftate; deep on his front ingraven Deliberation fat, and public care;
And princely counsel in his face yet shone,
Majestic though in ruin: fage he stood With Atlantean fhoulders fit to bear The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look Drew audience and attention still as night, Or fummer's noon-tide air, while thus he fpake. Thrones and imperial powers, offspring of heaven, Ethereal virtues; or these titles now 31P Muft we renounce, and, changing ftyle, be call'd Princes of hell? for fo 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 heav'n hath doom'd This place our dungeon; not our fafe retreat Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt
From Heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league Banded against his throne; but to remain In Arictest bondage, though thus far remov'd, Under th' inevitable curb, referv'd
His captive multitude: for he, be fute,
In heighth or depth, still firft and daft will reign Sale king, and of his kingdom lofe no part By our revolt; but over hell extend His empire, and with iron fceptre rule Us here, as with his golden those in heaven. What fit we then projecting peace and war? War hath determin'd us, and foil'd with lofs Irreparable; terms of peace yet none
Vouchfaf'd or fought; for what peace will be given. To us inflav'd, but cuftody fevere, And ftripes, and arbitrary punishment Inflicted? and what peace can we return, But, to our power, hoftility and hate; Untam'd reluctance, and revenge, though flow, Yet ever plotting how the Conqu'ror least May reap his conqueft, and may least rejoice
In doing, what we must in fuffering feel?
Nor will occafion want, nor fhall we need
With dang'rous expedition to invade
Heav'n, whofe high walls fear no affault or fiege,
Or ambush from the deep. What if we find Some easier enterprife? There is a place, (If ancient and prophetic fame in heaven
Err not,) another world, the happy feat
Of fome new race call'd Man, about this time To be created like to us, though less
In power and excellence, but favour'd more
Of him who rules above; fo was his will Pronounc'd among the gods, and by an oath, That fhook heaven's whole circumference, confirm'd. Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn What creatures there inhabit, of what mould 355 Or fubftance, how endu'd, and what their power, And where their weakness, how attempted beft, By force or fubtlety. Though heav'n be fhut,. And heaven's high Arbitrator fit fecure
In his own ftrength, 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 fudden onfet, either with hell-fire To wafte his whole creation; or poffefs
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 furpafs Common revenge, and interrupt his joy In our confusion, and our joy upraise In his disturbance; when his darling fous, Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, fhall curfe
Their frail original, and faded bliss,
Faded fo foon. Advise if this be worth Attempting, or to fit in darkness here Hatching vain empires. Thus Beelzebub Pleaded his devilish counfel, 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 serves 385 His glory to augment. The bold defign Pleas'd highly those infernal ftates, and joy Sparkled in all their eyes; with full affent They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews. Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate, 390 Synod of gods, and, like to what ye are,
Great things refolv'd, which from the lowest deep Will once more lift us up, in fpite of fate,
Nearer our ancient feat; perhaps in view
Of thofe bright confines, whence, with neighb'ring
And opportune excurfion, we may chance Re-enter heav'n; or elfe in fome mild zone
Dwell not unvifited of heaven's fair light Secure, and at the bright'ning orient beam Purge off this gloom; the foft delicious air, To heal the fear of thofe corrofive fires, Shall breathe her balm. But first whom shall we fend In fearch of this new world? whom fhall we find
Sufficient? Who fhall tempt with wand'ring feet
The dark unbottom'd infinite abyfs,
And through the palpable obfcure find out
His uncouth way, or fpread his aery flight Upborn with indefatigable wings
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
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