Magnificence; and what can Heaven show more? Our torments also may, in length of time, Become our elements; these piercing fires As soft as now severe, our temper changed Into their temper; which must needs remove The sensible of pain. All things invite To peaceful counsels, and the settled state 280 Of order; how in safety best we may Compose our present evils, with regard Of what we are, and where; dismissing quite All thoughts of war :-ye have what I advise."
He scarce had finish'd, when such murmur fill'd
The assembly, as when hollow rocks retain
The sound of blustering winds, which all night long
Had roused the sea; now with hoarse cadence lull
Sea-faring men, o'er-watch'd, whose bark, by chance,
Or pinnace, anchors in a craggy bay
After the tempest. Such applause was heard
As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleased,
Advising peace: for such another field
They dreaded worse than Hell: so much the fear
Of thunder, and the sword of Michael,
Wrought still within them; and no less desire
To found this nether empire, which might rise
By policy, and ong process of time,
In emulation opposite to Heaven.
Which when Beelzebub perceived; than whom,
Satan except, none higher sat, with grave
Aspect he rose; and in his rising seem'd
A pillar of state. Deep on his front, engraven
Deliberation sat, and public care;
And princely counsel in his face yet shone,
Majestic though in ruin: sage he stood,
With Atlantean shoulders, fit to bear
The weight of mightiest monarchies. His look
Drew audience and attention, still as night,
Or summer's noon-tide air, while thus he spake :-
"Thrones and Imperial Powers! Offspring of
Ethereal Virtues! or, these titles now [Heaven!
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,
And know not, that the King of Heaven hath doom'd
This place our dungeon; not our safe retreat,
Beyond his potent arm; to live exempt
From Heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league,
Banded against his throne; but to remain In strictest bondage, though thus far removed, Under the inevitable curb, reserved His captive multitude. For he, be sure, In highth or depth, still first and last will Sole King, and of his kingdom lose no part By our revolt; but over Hell extend His empire, and with iron sceptre rule Us here, as with his golden, those in Heaven. What sit we then projecting peace and war? 330 War hath determined us, and foil'd with loss Irreparable: terms of peace yet none Vouchsafed or sought. For what peace will be given To us enslaved, but custody severe, And stripes, and arbitrary punishment Inflicted? and what peace can we return? But to our power hostility and hate, Untamed reluctance, and revenge, though slow; Yet ever plotting, how the conqueror least May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice 340 In doing, what we most in suffering feel. Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need, With dangerous expedition, to invade Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault, or siege, Or ambush, from the deep. What if we find Some easier enterprise? There is a place; If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven Err not; another world, the happy seat Of some new race call'd man, about this time To be created, like to us, though less 350 In power and excellence, but favor'd more Of Him who rules above. So was his will Pronounced 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 Or substance; how endued, and what their power, And where their weakness; how attempted best, By force or subtlety. Though Heaven be shut, And Heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure In his own strength; this place may lie exposed The utmost border of his kingdom, left To their defence who hold it. Here, perhaps, Some advantageous act may be achieved, By sudden onset; either with Hell-fire, To waste his whole creation, or possess 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
370 Abolish his own works. This would surpass
Common revenge; and interrupt his joy,
In our confusion, and our joy upraise,
In his disturbance; when his darling sons,
Hurl'd headlong, to partake with us, shall curse
Their frail original, and faded bliss,
Faded so soon. Advise, if this be worth
Attempting; or to sit in darkness here,
Hatching vain empires." Thus Beelzebub
Pleaded his devilish counsel, first devised
380 By Satan, and in part proposed. For whence,
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
His glory to augment. The bold design
Pleased highly those infernal States, and joy
Sparkled in all their eyes; with full assent
They vote whereat his speech he thus renews:
"Well have ye judged, well ended long debate,
Synod of Gods; and, like to what ye are,
Great things resolved: which, from the lowest deep,
Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate,
Nearer our ancient seat; perhaps in view [arms,
Of those bright confines, whence, with neighb'ring
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 bright'ning orient beam
400 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
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 airy 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 raised
Above his fellows, with monarchal pride,
Conscious of highest worth, unmoved, thus spake.
"O progeny of Heaven! empyreal thrones!
With reason hath deep silence and demur
Seized 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,
Barred 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, plunged 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, sovereignty, adorn'd [posed,
With splendor, arm'd with power, if aught pro-
And judged 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 honor'd sits? Go, therefore, mighty powers!
Terror of Heaven, though fall'n! 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 raised,
Others among the chief might offer now,
Certain to be refused, what erst they fear'd;
And, so refused, might in opinion stand
His rivals; winning cheap the high repute,
Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they
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 praised,
That, for the general safety, he despised
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 landscape, 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 ring.
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 dissolved; and forth
In order came the grand infernal peers.
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