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 height 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 sceptre rule Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven. What sit we then projecting peace and war? War hath determined us, and foiled with loss Irreparable; * * *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 called Man, about this time To be created like to us, though less In power and excellence, but favoured more
Of Him who rules above; so was his will
Pronounced among the gods, and by an oath
That shook Heaven's whole circumference confirmed. 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 puny3 inhabitants; 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 surpass Common revenge, and interrupt his joy In our confusion, and our joy upraise
1 See above, line 88.
2 See Iliad, lib. i. 530.
3 "Puny," in its original sense,
meant, "born afterwards or since;' puis (depuis) né; Fr.
In his disturbance; when his darling1 sons,
Hurled 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 By Satan, and in part proposed:
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
Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbouring arms 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 brightening orient beam
Purge off this gloom: But first, whom shall we send In search of this new world? whom shall we find Sufficient? who shall tempt2 with wandering feet The dark, unbottomed, infinite abyss,
And through the palpable obscure3 find out
His uncouth way, or spread his airy flight
Upborne with indefatigable wings
Over the vast abrupt 3, ere he arrive1
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 appeared
1 Darling, a diminutive of " dear." 2 Attempt.
3 66 Palpable obscure. . . . vast abrupt." Græcisms; see line 257.
4 Arrive; literally, "to come to the shore."
To second, or oppose, or undertake
The perilous attempt: but all sat mute,
Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each 380 In other's countenance read his own dismay, Astonished: 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, empyreal1 Thrones! With reason hath deep silence and demur Seized us, though undismayed: 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 passed, 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 sovranty, adorned
With splendour, armed with power, if aught proposed
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 honoured sits? Go, therefore, mighty Powers, 415
1 "Empyreal," from "Empyrean," the highest heaven; the word was applied by philosophers to the fiery
element supposed to exist above the ethereal.
Terror of Heaven, though fallen! intend1 at home, While here shall be our home, what best may ease The present misery, and render Hell
More tolerable; 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 erst2 they feared; And, so refused, might in opinion stand His rivals; winning cheap the high repute Which he through hazard huge must earn. 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 failed they to express how much they praised That for the general safety he despised
His own for neither do the Spirits damned
Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast
Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites,
Or close ambition, varnished 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 darkened 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 rings. O shame to men! Devil with devil damned Firm concord holds; men only disagree Of creatures rational, though under hope Of heavenly grace: and, God proclaiming peace,
2 "Up to the present time."
Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife, Among themselves, and levy cruel wars, Wasting the earth, each other to destroy1: 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: Midst came their mighty Paramount, and seemed Alone the Antagonist of Heaven, nor less Than Hell's dread Emperor, with pomp supreme, And god-like imitated state: him round A globe of fiery Seraphim enclosed With bright emblazonry, and horrent 2 arms. Then of their session ended they bid cry With trumpets' regal sound the great result: Towards the four winds four speedy Cherubim Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy3, By herald's voice explained; the hollow abyss Heard far and wide, and all the host of Hell With deafening shout returned them loud acclaim. Thence, more at ease their minds, and somewhat raised By false presumptuous hope, the rangèd Powers Disband; and, wandering, each his several way Pursues, as inclination or sad choice
Leads him perplexed, where he may likeliest find Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain The irksome hours, till his great Chief return. Part on the plain, or in the air sublime, Upon the wing, or in swift race contend, As at the Olympian games or Pythian fields1; Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal With rapid wheels, or fronted brigads form. As when, to warn proud cities, war appears Waged in the troubled sky, and armies rush To battle in the clouds, before each van Prick forth the aery knights, and couch their spears Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms
1 An allusion to the civil war between Charles I. and the parliament. 2 Rough, bristling.
Alchemy, used for trumpets, by the figure metonymy, when a thing is expressed by circumstances con
nected with it; as here the metal for the instrument.
4 Celebrated Grecian games; the Olympian held at Olympia, in Elis; the Pythian, near the temple of Apollo at Delphi, in Phocis.
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