In highth or depth, still first and last will reign
Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part
By our revolt, but over Hell extend
His empire, and with iron scepter rule
Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven.
What fit we then projecting peace and war?
War hath determin'd us, and foil'd with lofs
Irreparable; terms of peace yet none
Vouchfaf'd or fought; for what peace will be given
To us inslav'd, but custody severe,
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 fuffering feel?
Nor will occafion want, nor fhall we need
With dangerous expedition to invade
Heav'n, whofe high walls fear no affault or fiege,
Or ambush from the deep. What if we find
Some easier 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 pow'r and excellence, but favour'd more
Of him who rules above; fo was his will
Pronounc'd among the Gods, and by an oath,
That shook Heav'n's whole circumference, confirm'd.
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn
What creatures there inhabit, of what mold,
Or fubstance, 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 secure
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 oǹfet, 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 furpafs
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. Advife 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: för 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 ferves
His glory to augment. The bold defign
Pleas'd highly thofe infernal States, and joy
Sparkled in all their eyes; with full affent
They vote: whereat his specch 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 fpite of fate,
Nearer our ancient feat; perhaps in view
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 thefe corrofive fires,
Shall breathe her balm. But firft whom shall 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
The happy ile? what strength, 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 last hope relics.
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 cach In others count'nance read his own difmay Aftonish'd: none among the choice and prime
Of thofe Heav'n-warring champions could be found So hardy as to proffer or accept
Alone the dreadful voyage; till at last
Satan, whom now tranfcendent glory rais'd
Above his fellows, with monarchal pride
Confcious of highest worth, unmov'd thus fpake.
O Progeny of Heav'n, empyreal Thrones,
With reafon hath deep filence and demur
Scis'd us, though undifinay'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.
Thefe 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 lefs
VOL. I.
Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape?
But I fhould ill become this throne, O Peers,
And this imperial fovranty, adorn'd
With fplendor, arm'd with power, if ought propos'd And judg'd of public moment, in the shape
Of difficulty or danger could deter
Me from attempting. Wherefore do' I affume -450 Thefe royalties, and not refuse to reign,
Refufing to accept as great a share
Of hazard as of honor, due alike
To him who reigns, and fo much to him due
Of hazard more, as he above the reft
High honor'd fits? Go therefore, mighty Powers,
Terror 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
Deliverance for us all: this enterprise
None fhall partake with me.
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 stand
His rivals, winning cheap the high repute
Which he through hazard huge muft earn.
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