Of thunder and the fword of Michaël

Wrought ftill within them; and no less defire

To found this nether empire, which might rife
By policy, and long process of time,

295

In emulation oppofite to Heaven.

Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom,
Satan except, none higher fat, with grave

300

Afpéct he rofe, and in his rifing feem'd

A pill'ar 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 flood

305

With Atlantéan shoulders 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 spake.

Thrones and Imperial Pow'rs, Offspring of Heav'n, Ethereal Virtues; or these titles now

Must we renounce, and changing stile 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 Heav'n's high jurisdiction, in new league
Banded against his throne, but to remain

320

In strictest bondage, though thus far remov'd
Under th' inevitable curb, referv'd

His captive multitude: for he, be fure,

In

In highth or depth, ftill first and laft will reign
Sole king, and of his kingdom lose 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?

325

War hath determin'd us, and foil'd 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 fevere,

And ftripes, and arbitrary punishment
Inflicted? and what peace can we return,

But to our pow'r hoftility and hate,

Untam'd reluctance, and revenge though flow,
Yet ever plotting how the conqu'ror least

May reap his conqueft, and may leaft rejoice
In doing what we moft in suffering feel?

335

340

Nor will occafion want, nor fhall we need
With dang 'rous expedition to invade

Heav'n, whofe high walls fear no assault or siege,

Or ambush from the deep. What if we find

Some easier enterprife? There is a place, (If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven

345

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 pow'r and excellence, but favour'd moré

350

Of him who rules above; so was his will
Pronounc'd among the Gods, and by an oath,

That shook Heav'n's whole circumference, confirm'd.

Thither

Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn
What creatures there inhabit, of what mold,
Or fubftance, how indued, and what their power,
And where their weakness, how attempted best,
By force or fubtlety. Though Heav'n be shut,
And Heaven's high arbitrator fit fecure

355

In his own ftrength, this place may lie expos'd, 360
The utmost border of his kingdom, left

To their defense 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
habitants, or if not drive,
Seduce them to our party, that their God

puny

May prove their foe, and with repenting hand
Abolish his own works. This would furpafs
Common revenge, and interrupt his joy
In our confufion, and our joy upraife

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370

In his disturbance; when his darling fons,

Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, fhall curfe

Their frail original, and faded blifs,

375

Faded fo foon. Advife if this be worth

Attempting, or to fit in darkness here
Hatching vain empires. Thus Beelzebub
Pleaded his devilish counsel, first devis'd
By Satan, and in part propos'd: 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

380

To

To mingle and involve, done all to spite
The great
Creator? But their spite still serves
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,
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 spite of fate,
Nearer our ancient feat; perhaps in view

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390

Of those bright confines, whence with neighb'ring arms
And opportune excurfion we may chance
Re-enter Heav'n; or elfe in fome mild zone
Dwell not unvifited of Heav'n's fair light
Secure, and at the brightning orient beam
Purge off this gloom; the foft delicious air,
To heal the fear of these corrofive fires,

400

Shall breathe her balm. But firft whom fhall we fend
In fearch of this new world? whom fhall we find
Sufficient? who shall tempt with wand'ring feet
The dark unbottom'd infinite abyss,

And through the palpable obfcure find out
His uncouth way, or spread his aery flight
Upborne with indefatigable wings

Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive

405

The happy ile? what ftrength, what art can then 410

Suffice, or what evafion bear him safe

Through the strict fenteries and stations thick
Of Angels watching round? Here he had need

All circumfpection, and we now no less

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 oppose, or undertake
The perilous attempt: but all fat mutė,

415

420

Pond'ring the danger with deep thoughts; and each In others count'nance read his own dismay

Astonish'd: none among the choice and prime

Of those Heav'n-warring champions could be found So hardy as to proffer or accept

425

Alone the dreadful voyage; till at last

Satan, whom now transcendent glory rais'd

Above his fellows, with monarchal pride

Conscious of highest worth, unmov'd thus fpake.
O Progeny of Heav'n, empyreal Thrones,

430

With reafon hath deep filence and demur
Seis'd us, though undismay'd: long is the way
And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light;
Our prifon strong; 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 scape into whatever world,
Or unknown region, what remains him less
VOL. X.

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440

Than