The latter: for what place can be for us 235
Within heav'n's bound, unless heav'n's Lord fupreme
We overpow'r ? Suppose he should relent,
And publish grace to all, on promise made
Of new fubjection, with what eyes could we
Stand in his presence humble, and receive 240
Strict laws impos'd, to celebrate his throne
With warbled hymns, and to his Godhead sing
Forc'd hallelujah's; while he lordly fits
Our envy'd Sov'reign, and his altar breathes
Ambrosial odours and ambrofial flow'rs,

245
Our servile off'rings? This must be our talk
In heav'n, this our delight; how wearisome
Eternity fo fpent in worship paid
To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue,
By force impoflible, by leave obtain'd,

230 Unacceptable, though in heav'n, our ftate Of Splendid vaffalage; but rather seek Our own good from ourselves, and from our own Live to ourselves, though in this valt recess, Free, and to none accountable, preferring 255 Hard liberty before the easy yoke Of fervile pomp. Our greatness will appear Then molt conspicuous, when great things of small, Useful of hurtful, profp?rous of adverse We can create ; and in what place foe'er 260 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 Chuse to refide, his glory unobscar'd,

265 And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his throne; from whence deep thunders roar Must'ring their rage, and heav'n resembles hell? As he our darkness, cannot we his light

Imitate

Imitate when we please? This defert foil 270
Wants not her hidden luftre, gems and gold :
Nor want we ikill or art, from whence to raise
Magnificence; and what can heav'n fhow more?
Our torments also may in length of time
Become our elements, thefe piercing fires 275
As soft as now severe, our temper chang'd
Into their temper ; which must needs remove
The sensible of pain. All things invite
To peaceful counsels, and the settled ftate
Of order, how in safety beft we may

280
Compose our present evils, with regard
Of what we are, and where; dismiling quite
All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advise.

He scarce had finish'd, when such murmur fill'd Thiaffembly, as when hollow rocks retain 285 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 290 As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleas'd, Advising peace: for such another field They dreaded worse than hell: fo inuch the fear Of thunder and the sword of Michaël Wrought fill within them; and do lefs deGre 295 To found this nether empire, which might rise, By policy, and long process of time, In emulation opposite to heaven, Which when Beëlzebub perceiv'd, than whom, Satan except, none higher Tat, with grave 300 Aspé&t he rose, and in his rising seem'd A pillar of state; deep on his front ingraven Deliberation fat, and public care; And princely counsel in his face yet shone,

Majestic

>

Majestic though in ruin: fage he stood

305
With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear
The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look
Drew audience and attention fill as night,
Or summer's noon-tide air, while thus he fpake.

Thrones and imperial powers, offspring of heaven,
Ethereal virtues; or these titles now

311
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 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 320
In Arietest bondage, though thus far semov'd,
Under th inevitable curb, referr'd
His captive multitude : for he, be sure,
In heighth or depth, ftill firft and daft will reign
Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part 3.25
By our révolt; but over hell extend
His empire, and with iron fceptre rule
Us here, as with his golden those in heaven.
What fit we then proje&ting peace

and war?
War hath determin'd us, and foild with lofs 330
Irreparable ; terms of peace yet none
Vouchfaf d or fought ; for what peace will be given
To us inflav'd, but cuftody Tevere,
And stripes, and arbitrary punishment
Inflicted ? and what peaee can we return, 335.
But, to our power, hostility and hate;
Untam'd reluctance, and revenge, though flow,
Yet ever plotting how the Conqu’ror leaft
May reap his-conquest, and may least rejoice

In doing, what we mult in suffering feel? 340
Nor will occafion want, nor shall we need
With dang’rous expedition to invade
Heav'n, whose high walls fear no affault or liege,
Or ambulh from the deep. What if we find
Some ea fier enterprise ? There is a place,

345
(If ancient and prophetic fame in heaven
Err not,) another world, the happy feat
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, confirm'd.
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn
What creatures there inhabit, of what mould 355
Or substance, how endu'd, and what their power,
And where their weakness, how attempted beft,
By force or subtlety. Though heav'n be fhut,
And heaven's high Arbitrator fit 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 advantageons act may be achiev'd
By sudden onset, either with hell-fire
To waste his whole creation; or poffefs 365
All as our own, and drive, as we were driven,
The pony habitants; or, if not drive,
Seduce them to our party, that their God
May prove their foe, and with repenting band
Abolish his own works. This would furpafs 370
Common revenge, and interrupt his joy
In our confusion, and our joy upraise
In his disturbance; when bis darling fout,
Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall corfe

Their frail original, and faded bliss,

375 Faded so foon. Advise if this be worth Attempting, or to fit in darkness here Hatching vain empires. Thus Beëlzebub Pleaded his devilish counsel, first devis'd By Satan, and in part propos'd: for whence,

380 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 To mingle and involve, done all to spite The great Creator? But their spite still serves 385 His glory to augment. The bold design Pleas'd highly those infernal states, and joy Sparkled in all their eyes; with full assent They vote : whereat his speech he thus renews.

Well hare 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 spite of fate, Nearer our ancient feat; perhaps in view [arms Of thofe bright confines, whence, with neighb'ring And opportune excursion, we may chance 396 Re-enter heav'n; 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 foft delicious air,

400 To heal the fear of those corrosive fires, Shall breathe her balm. But firit whom shall we fend In search of this new world? whom shall we find Sufficient? Who shall tempt with wand'ring feet The dark unbottom'd infinite abyss,

405 And through the palpable obfcure find out His uncouth way, or spread his aery flight Upborn with indefatigable wings Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive

The