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 beft,
By force or fubtlety. Though Heav'n be fhut,
And Heaven's high arbitrator fit fecure
In his own ftrength, this place may lie expos'd,
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 waste 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 surpass
Common revenge, and interrupt his joy
In our confufion, and our joy upraife
In his disturbance; when his darling fons,
Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curfe
Their frail original, and faded bliss,
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
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
Of those bright confines, whence with neighb'ring arms
And opportune excurfion we may chance
Re-enter Heav'n; or else in some 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,
Shall breathe her balm.
But firft whom fhall we fend
In fearch of this new world? whom shall 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 fpread his aéry 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 circumspection, and we now no less
Choice in our fuffrage; for on whom we send,
The weight of all and our last 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 sat mute,
Pond'ring the danger with deep thoughts; and cach 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
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..
Progeny of Heav'n, empyreal Thrones,
With reafon hath deep filence and demur
Seis'd us, though undifmay'd: long is the way
And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light;
Our prifön 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 loss of being
Threatens him, plung'd in that abortive gulf.
If thence he fcape into whatever world,
Or unknown region, what remains him less
VOL. I.
Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape?
But I fhould ill become this throne, O Peers,
And this imperial foyranty, 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
These royalties, and not refuse to reign,
Refusing to accept as great a share
Of hazard as of honor, due alike
To him who reigns, and so much to him due
Of hazard more, as he above the rest
High honor'd fits? Go therefore, mighty Powers,
Terror of Heav'n, though fall'n; intend at home,
While here fhall be our home, what best may eafe
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 destruction feek
Deliverance for us all: this enterprise
None shall 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 erst 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.
Dreaded not more th' adventure than his voice
Forbidding; and at once with him they rose;
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 Hig'heft in Heav'n:
Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd, 480
That for the general safety he despis'd
His own for neither do the Spirits damn'd
Lofe all their virtue; left bad men should boast
Their fpecious deeds on earth, which glory' excites,
Or close 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'er-fpread
Heav'n's chearful face, the louring element
Scowls o'er the darken'd landfkip fnow, or fhower;
If chance the radiant fun with farewel fweet
Extend his 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
As if (which might induce us to accord)
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