Above the Aönian mount, while it pursues I may assert Eternal Providence, And justify the ways of God to men. 18 25 30 Say first, for Heaven, hides nothing from thy view, Nor the deep tract of Hell; say first, what cause Moved our grand Parents, in that happy state, Favour'd of Heaven so highly, to fall off From their Creator, and transgress his will For one restraint, lords of the world besides? Who first seduced them to that foul revolt? The infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile, Stirr'd up with envy and revenge, deceived The mother of mankind, what time his pride 35 Had cast him out from Heaven, with all his host He trusted to have equal'd the Most High, 40 If he opposed; and, with ambiticus aim To bottomless perdition; there to dwell in adamantine chains and penal fire, Who durst defy the Omnipotent to arms. 45 Nine tmes the space that measures day and night (54 Confounded, though immortal! But his doom Torments him round he throws his baleful eyes, Mix'd with obdurate pride and steadfast hate The dismal situation waste and wild. A dungeon horrible on all sides round As one great furnace flamed yet from those flames 65 60 Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace 63 That comes to all but torture without end With ever burning sulphur unconsumed For those rebellious here their prison ordain'd Beelzebub To whom the Archenemy, And thence in Heaven call'd Satan, with hold words Breaking the horrid silence, thus began. 70 75 If thou be he; but O, how fallen! how changed From him, who, in the happy realms of light, Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine Myriads though bright If he whom mutual league, United thoughts and counsels, equal hope And hazard in the glorious enterprise, Join'd with me one, now misery hath join'd 80 86 In equal tuin Into what pit thou seest, From what height fallen; so much the stronger proved He with his thunder and till then who knew The Nrce of those dire arms? Yet not for those, what the potent victor in his rage Can else inflict, do I repent or change, Though changed in outward lustre, that fix'd mird, That durst dislike his reign, and, me preferring, 100 His utmost power with adverse power opposed In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, And shook his throne. What though the field be lost : All is not lost the unconquerable will, 10€ And study of revenge, immortal hate, 110 That were an ignominy, and shame beneath 115 This downfal: since, by fate, the strength of Gods And this empyreal substance cannot fail; Since through experience of this great event In aims not worse, in foresight much advanced, We may with more successful none resolve 120 Το wage, by force or gule, cte nal war So spake the apostate Angel, though in pain, 125 That led the embattled Seraphim to war 134 Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate That with sad overthrow, and foul defeat, 135 Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host : Can perish for the mind and spirit remains 140 Though all our glory extinct, and happy state But what if he our Conqueror (whom I now Of force believe Almighty, since no less Than such could have o'erpower'd such force as ours) Have left us this our spirit and strength entire 146 Strongly to suffer and support our pains, That we may so suffice his vengeful ire, Or do him mightier service as his thralls By right of war, whate'er his business be, 150 Or do his errands in the gloomy deep; What can it then avail, though yet we feel To undergo eternal punishment? Fallen cherub! to be weak is miserable, Whereto with speedy words the Archfiend replied Doing or suffering: but of this be sure, To do aught good never will be our task, 156 As being the contrary to his high will 168 Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb His ministers of vengeance and pursuit Back to to the gates of Heaven; the sulphurous hail, M The fiery surge, that from the precipice 179 Of Heaven received us falling; and the thunder, Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild, 180 Save what the glimmering of these livid flames There rest, if any rest can harbour there, 185 Consult how we may henceforth most offend How overcome this dire calamity; What reinforcement we may gain from hope, what resolution from despair. 190 If not, Thus Satan talking to his nearest mate Created hugest that swim the ocean stream: |