In doing, what we moft in fuffering feel?
Nor will occafion want, nor fhall we need
With dangerous expedition to invade
Heav'n, whose high walls fear no affault or fiege,
Or ambush from the deep. What if we find
Some eafier 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 lefs
In power and excellence, but favour'd more
Of him who rules above; fo was his will
Pronounce'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
Or fubftance, how endu'd, and what their power,
And where their weaknefs, how attempted beft,.
By force or fubtlety. Though heav'n be shut,
And heaven's high Arbitrator fit fecure
In his own strength, this place may lie expos'd, 360.
The utmoft border of his kingdom, left
To their defence who hold it: Here perhaps.
Some advantageous act may be achiev’d
By fudden onset, 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 furpass
Common revenge, and interrupt his joy
In our confufion, and our joy upraise
In his disturbance; when his darling fons,
Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, fhall curfe
Their frail original, and faded blifs,
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 states, 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 those 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 thefe corrofive fires,
Shall breathe her balm. But first whom shall we send
In fearch of this new world? whom shall we find
Sufficient? Who fhall tempt with wand'ring feet
The dark unbottom'd infinite abyss,
And through the palpable obfcure find out
His uncouth way, or fpread his airy flight
Upborne with indefatigable wings
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
The happy ifle? What ftrength, what art can then 410
Suffice, or what evafion bear him fafe
Through the ftrict fenteries and stations thick
Of angels watching round? Here he had need
All circumfpection, and we now no lefs
Choice in our fuffrage; for on whom we fend,
The weight of all and our laft hope relies.
This faid, he fat; and expectation held
His look fufpenfe, awaiting who appear'd
To fecond, or oppofe, or undertake
The perilous attempt: but all fat mute,
Pond'ring the danger with deep thoughts; and each
In others count'nance read his own dismay,
Aftonish'd. None among the choice and prime
Of those heav'n-warring champions could be found
So hardy, as to profer, or accept
Alone the dreadful voyage; till at laft
Satan, whem now tranfcendent glory rais'd
Above his fellows, with monarchal pride,
Conscious of highest worth, unmov'd thus fpake.
O progeny of heav'n, empyreal thrones,
With reafon 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 ftrong; this huge convex of fire,
Outrageous to devour, immures us round
Ninefold; and gates of burning adamant
Barr'd over us, prohibit all egrefs.
These pafs'd, if any pafs, the void profound
Of uneffential night receives him next
Wide gaping, and with utter lofs of being
Threatens him, plung'd in that abortive gulf.
If thence he fcape into whatever world,
Or unknown region, what remains him less
Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape?
But I fhould ill become this throne, O peers,
And this imperial fov'reignty, adorn'd
With splendour, arm'd with power, if ought prepos'd And judg'd of public moment, in the fhape
Of difficulty or danger, could deter
Me from attempting. Wherefore do' I affume
These royalties, and not refufe to reign,
Refufing to accept as great a fhare
Of hazard as of honour, due alike
To him who reigns, and fo much to him due
Of hazard more, as he above the reft
High honour'd fits? Go therefore, mighty powers,
Terrour of heav'n, though fall'n; intend at home,
While here shall be our home, what beft may ease
The prefent mifery, and render hell
More tolerable; if there be cure, or charm,
To refpite, or deceive, or flack the pain
Of this ill manfion: intermit no watch
Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad
Through all the coafts of dark deftruction feek
Deliv'rance for us all: this enterprise
None shall partake with me. Thus faying rofe
The monarch, and prevented all reply;
Prudent, left, from his refolution rais'd,
Others among the chief might offer now
(Certain to be refus'd) what erft they fear'd;
And fo refus'd, might in opinion ftand
His rival; winning cheap the high repute,
Which he through hazard huge muft earn. But they Dreaded not more th' adventure, than his voice
Forbidding; and at once with him they rofe:
Their rifing all at once was as the found
Of thunder heard remote. Tow'ards him they bend
With awful reverence prone; and as a god
Extol him equal to the High'eft in heav'n :
Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd,
That for the general fafety he despis'd
His own: for neither do the spirits damn'd
Lose all their virtue; least bad men fhould boast
Their fpecious deeds on earth, which glory' excites,
Or clofe ambition varnish'd o'er with zeal.
Thus they their doubtful confultations dark
Ended, rejoicing in their matchlefs chief:
As when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds
Afcending, while the north-wind fleeps, o'erfpread
Heav'n's cheerful face, the louring element
Scowls o'er the darken'd landscape fnow, or fhower;
If chance the radiant fun, with farewell sweet
Extend this evening-beam, the fields revive,
The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds
Atteft their joy, that hill and valley rings.
O fhame to men! devil with devil damn'd
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,
Wafting the earth, each other to destroy :
As if (which might induce us to accord)
Man had not hellifh foes enow befides,
That, day and night, for his destruction wait.
The Stygian council thus diffolv'd; and forth
In order came the grand infernal peers :
'Midst came their mighty paramount, and seem'd Alone th' antagonist of heaven, nor lefs
Than hell's dread emperor, with pomp fupreme, 510 And God-like imitated state; him round
A globe of fiery Seraphim inclos'd,
With bright imblazonry, and horrent arms.
Then of their feffion ended they bid cry
|