Next Chemos, th' obícene dread of Moab's fons,
From Aroar to Nebo, and the wild
Of fouthmoft Abarim; in Hefebon
And Horonaim, Seon's realm, beyond
The flowery dale of Sibma clad with vines,
And Elelé to the Afphaltic pool.

Peor his other name, when he entic'd

Ifrael in Sittim on their march from Nile

To do him wanton'rites, which coft them woe.

475

For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn
His odious offerings, and adore the Gods
Whom he had vanquifh'd. After these appear'd
A crew who under names of old renown,

410 Ofiris, Ifis, Orus, and their train,

415

Yet thence his luitful orgies he enlarg'd
Ev'n to that hill of fcandal, by the grove
Of Moloch homicide, luft hard by hate;
Till good Jofiah drove them thence to Hell.
With thefe came they, who from the bord'ring flood
Of old Euphrates to the brook that parts 420
Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names
Of Baalim and Afhtaroth, thofe male,
Thefe feminine. For Spirits when they please!
Can either fex affume, or both; fo foft
And uncompounded is their effence pure,
Not ty'd or manacled with joint or limb,
Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones,
Like cumbrous fiefh; but in what fhape they choofe
Dilated or condens'd, bright or obscure,
Can execute their aery purposes,
And works of love or enmity fulfil

For thofe the race of Ifrael oft forfook

Their living ftrength, and unfrequented left
His righteous altar, bowing lowly down

425

430

To beftial Gods; for which their beads as low 435
Bow'd down in battel, funk before the spear
Of defpicable foes. With thefe in troop
Came Aftoreth, whom the Phoenicians call'd
Aftarte, queen of Heav'n, with crefcent porns;
To whole bright image nightly by the moon
Sidonian virgins paid their vows and fongs,
In Sion alfo not unfung, where stood

480

485

495

500

505

With monftrous fhapes and forceries abus'd
Fanatic Egypt and her priefts, to feek
Their wand'ring Gods difguis'd in brutish forms
Rather than human. Nor did Ifrael 'scape
Th' infection, when their borrow'd gold compos'd
The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king
Doubled that fin in Bethel and in Dan,
Likening his Maker to the grazed,x,
Jehovah, who in one night when he pass'd
From Egypt marching, equal'd with one stroke
Both her first-born and all her bleating Gods.
Belial came laft, than whom a Spi'rit more lewd 490.
Fell not from Heaven, or more grofs to love
Vice for itfelf: to him no temple stood
Or altar fmok'd; yet who more oft than he
In temples and at altars, when the priest
Turns atheift, as did Eli's fons, who fill'd
With luft and violence the houfe of God?
In courts and palaces he also reigns
And in luxurious cities, where the noise
Of ri'ot afcends above their loftieft towers,
And injury and outrage: and when night
Darkens the streets, then wander forth the fons
Of Belial, flown with infolence and wine.
Witnefs the streets of Sodom, and that night.
In Gibeah, when the hofpitable door
Expos'd a matron to avoid worse rape.
Thefe were the prime in order and in might;
The reft were long to tell, though far renown'd:
Th' Ionian Gods, of Javan's iffue held
Gods, yet confefs'd later than Heav'n and Earth,
Their boafted parents; Titan Heav'n's first-born, sìo
With his enormous brood, and birthright feis'd
By younger Saturn; he from mightier Jove
His own and Rhea's fon like measure found;
So Jove ufurping reign'd: these first in Crete
And Ida known, thence on the fnowy top
Of cold Olympus rul'd the middle air,
Their highest Heav'n; or on the Delphian cliff,
Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds
Of Doric land; or who with Saturn old
Fled over Adria to th' Hefperian fields,
And o'er the Celtic roam'd the utmost iles.
All these and more came flocking; but with looks
455 Down caft and damp, yet fuch wherein appear'd
Obfcure fome glimpfe of joy, to' have found their chief
Not in defpair, to have found themfelves not loft 525
In lofs itfelf; which on his count'nance caft
Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride
Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore
Semblance of worth not substance, gently rais'd
Their fainting courage, and difpell'd their fears. 530
Then ftraight commands that at the warlike found
Of trumpets loud and clarions be uprearid
His mighty standard: that proud honor slam'd
Azazel as his right, a Cherub tall;

440

Her temple on th' offenfive mountain, built

By that uxorious king, whofe heart though large,
Beguil'd by fair idolatreffes, fell

445

To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind,
Whofe annual wound in Lebanon allur'd

450

460

The Syrian damfels to lament his fate
In amorous ditties all a fummer's day,"
While fmooth Adonis from his native rock
Ran purple to the fea, fuppos'd with blood
Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the love-tale
Infected Sion's daughters with like heat,
Whofe wanton paffions in the facred porch
Ezekiel faw, when by the vifion led
His eye furvey'd the dark idolatries
Of alienated Judah. Next came one
Who mourn'd in earnest, when the captive ark
Maim'd his brute image, head and hands lopt off
In his own temple, on the grunfel edge,
Where he fell fat, and fhain'd his worshippers:
Dagon his name, fea monfter, upward man
And downward fifh: yet had his temple high
Rear'd in Azotus, dreaded through the coast
Of Palestine, in Gáth and Afcalon,
And Accaron and Gaza's frontier bounds.
Him follow'd Rimmon, whofe delightful feat
Was fair Damafcus on the fertile banks
Of Abbana and Pharphar, lucid streams.
He alfo' against the houfe of God was bold:
A leper once he loft, and gain'd a king,
Ahaz his fottifh conqu'ror, whom he drew
God's altar to difparage and difplace

465

470

545

555

62

Of Heav'n, and from eternal fplendors flung 613
For his revolt, yet faithful how they stood,
Their glory wither'd: as when Heaven's fire
Hath fcath'd the foreft baks, or mountain pines,
With finged top their stately growth though bare
Stands on the blafted heath. He now prepar❜d 615
To fpeak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend
From wing to wing, and half inclose him round
550 With all his peers: attention held him mute.
Thrice he affay'd, and thrice in fpite of fcorn
Tears, fuch as Angels weep, burft forth: at last 620
Words interwove with fighs found out their way.
O Myriads of immortal Spi'rits, O Powers
Matchlefs, but with th' Almighty, and that strife
Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire,
As this place teftifies, and this dire change
Hateful to utter: but what pow'r of mind
Forefeeing or prefaging, from the depth
Of knowledge paft or prefent, could have fear'd,
How fuch united force of Gods, how fuch
As stood like thefe, could ever know repulfe? 630
For who can yet believe, though after loss,
That all these puiffant legions, whose exile
Hath emptied Heav'n, fhall fail to re-afcend
Self-rais'd, and repoffefs their native feat?
For me be witnefs all the hoft of Heaven,
If counfels different, or danger fhunn'd'
By me, have loft our hopes. But he who reigns
Monarch in Heav'n, till then as one fecure
Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute,
Confent or custom, and his regal state

570

A fhout, that tore Hell's concave, and beyond
Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night.
All in a moment through the gloom were seen
Ten thousand banners rife into the air
With orient colours waving: with them rofe
A foreft huge of fpears; and thronging helms
Appear'd, and ferried, fhields in thick array
Of depth immeafurable: anon they move
In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood
Of flutes and foft recorder; fuch as rais'd
To highth of nobleft temper heroes old
Arming to battel, and instead of rage
Deliberate valour, breath'd, firm and unmov'd
With dread of death to flight or foul retreat;
Nor wanting pow'r to mitigate and swage
With folemn touches troubled thoughts, and chafe
Anguish and doubt and fear and forrow' and pain
From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they
Breathing united force with fixed thought
Mov'd on in filence to foft pipes, that charm'd
Their painful feps o'er the burnt foil; and now
Advanc'd in view they stand, a horrid front
Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guife
Of warriors old with order'd spear and fhield, 565
Awaiting what command their mighty chief
Had to impofe: He through the armed files
Darts his experienc'd eye, and foon traverse
The whole battalion views, their order due,
Their vifages and stature as of Gods:
Their number laft he fums. And now his heart
Diftends with pride, and hard'ning in his strength
Glories: for never fince created man
Met fuch imbodied force, as nam'd with these
Could merit more than that small infantry
Warr'd-on by cranes; though all the giant brood
Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were join'd
That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each fide
Mix'd with auxiliar Gods; and what refounds
In fable or romance of Uther's fon
Begirt with British and Armoric knights;
And all who fince, baptiz'd or infidel,
Joufted in Afpramont or Montalban,
Damafco, or Marocco, or Trebifond,
Or whom Biferta fent from Afric fhore,
When Charlemain with all his peerage fell
By Fontarabbia. Thus far these beyond
Compare of mortal prowess, yet obferv'd
Their dread commander: he above the reft
In fhape and gefture proudly eminent
Stood like a tow'r; his form had yet not loft
All her original brightness, not appear'd
Less than Arch-Angel ruin'd, and th' excess
Of glory' obfcur'd; as when the fun new risen
Looks through the horizontal misty air
Shorn of his beams, or from behind the moon
In dim eclipfe difaftrous twilight fheds
On half the nations, and with fear of change,
Perplexes monarchs. Darken'd fo, yet fhone
Above them all th' Arch-Angel: but his face 600
Deep fears of thunder had intrench'd, and care
Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows
Of dauntless courage, and confiderate pride
Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but caft
Signs of remorfe and paffion to behold
The fellows of his crime, the followers rather
(Får other once beheld in blifs) condemn'd
For ever now to have their lot in pain,

Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc'd

575

580

635

Put forth at full, but ftill his ftrength conceal'd,
Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall
Henceforth his might we know, and know our own
So as not either to provoke, or dread

New war, provok'd; our better part remains 641
To work in close defign, by fraud or guile,
What force effected not: that he no less
At length from us may find, who overcomes
By force, hath overcome but half his foe.
Space may produce new worlds; whereof fo rife 65
There went a fame in Heav'n that he ere long
Intended to create, and therein plant

585 A generation, whom his choice regard
Should favor equal to the fons of Heaven:
Thither, if but to pry, fhall be perhaps
Our firft eruption, thither or elsewhere:
For this infernal pit fhall never hold
Celestial Spi'rits in bondage, nor th' abyís
Long under darknefs cover. But these thoughts
Full counsel must mature: Peace is despair'd
For who can think submission? War then, War
Open or understood must be refolv'd.

590

595

605

660

66

He fpake: and to confirm his words, out-fiew
Millions of flaming fwords, drawn from the thigh
Of mighty Cherubim; the fudden blaze
Far round illumin'd Hell: highly they rag'd
Against the High'eft, and fierce with grafped arms
Clafh'd on their founding fhields the din of war,
Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heav'n.

There ftood a hill not far, whofe grifly top 678
Belch'd fire and rolling fmoke; the rest entire
Shone with a gloffy fcurf, undoubted fign
That in his womb was hid metallic ore,

The work of fulphur. Thither wing'd with speed
A numerous brigad haften'd: as when bands 675
Of pioneers with fpade and pickax arm'd
Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field,

For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew
Open'd into the hill a fpacious wound,
And digg'd out ribs of gold. Let none admire 690
That riches grow in Hell; that foil may best
Deferve the precious bane. And here fet thofe
Who boaft in mortal things, and wond'ring tell
Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings,
Learn how their greatest monuments of fame, 695
And ftrength, and art, are easily out-döne
By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour
What in an age they with inceffant toil
And hands innumerable scarce perform.
high on the plain in many cells prepar'd,
That underneath had veins of liquid fire
S'd from the lake, a fecond multitude

740

745

Men call'd him Mulciber; and how he fell
From Heav'n, they fabled, thrown by angry Jove
Sheer o'er the cryftal battlements; from inorn
To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve,
A fummer's day; and with the setting fun
Dropt from the zenith like a falling star,
On Lemnos th' 'gean ile: thus they relate,
Erring; for he with this rebellious rout
Fell long before; nor aught avail'd him now
T'have built in Heav'n high tow'rs; nor did he 'fcape
By all his engins, but was headlong fent
With his induftrious crew to build in Hell.

Mean while the winged heralds by command
Of sovran pow'r, with awful ceremony

750

755

7765

And trumpet's found, throughout the hoft proclame
A folemn council forthwith to be held
At Pandemonium, the high capital
Of Satan and his peer's: their fummons call'd
From every band and fquared regiment
By place or choice the worthieft; they anon
With hundreds and with thoufands trooping camer1760
Attended: all accefs was throng'd, the gates
700 And porches wide, but chief the fpacious hall
(Though like a cover'd field, where champions bold
Wont ride in arm'd, and at the Soldan's chair
Defy'd the best of Panim chivalry
To mortal combat, or career with lance)
Thick fwarm'd, both on the ground and in the air
Brufh'd with the hifs of rufling winds. As bees
In fpring time, when the fun with Taurus rides,
Pour forth their populous youth about the hive 779
In clufters; they among frefh dews and flowers
Fly to and fro, or on the fmoothed plank,
The fuburb of their straw-built citadel,
New rubb'd with balm, expatiate and confer
Their ftate affairs. So thick the aery croud 775
Swarm'd and were straiten'd; till, the figual given,
Behold a wonder! they but now who feem'd
In bigness to furpafs earth's giant fons,

With wondrous art founded the maffy ore,
Severing each kind, and feumm'd the bullion drofs:
Athird as foon had form'd within the ground 705
Avarious mould, and from the boiling cells
By ftrange conveyance fill'd each hollow nook,
As in an organ from one blast of wind
To may a row of pipes the found-board breathes.
Anon out of the earth a fabric huge
Rofe like an exhalation, with the found
Culcet fymphonies and voices fweet,

ke a temple, where pilafters round

Were fet, and Doric pillars overlaid

710

With golden architrave; nor did they want

715

Cornice or freeze, with boffy fculptures graven;

The roof was fretted gold. Not Babylon,

Belus or Serapis their Gods, or feat

The kings, when Egypt with Affyria ftrove
Ja wealth and luxury. Th' afcending pile

720

725

730

od fix'd her ftately highth, and ftraight the doors
Opening their brazen folds difcover wide
Within, her ample spaces, o'er the {mooth
And level pavement: from the arched roof
Pendent by fubtle magic many a row
Cftarry lamps and blazing creffets fed
With Naphtha and Afphaltus yielded light
A from a ky. The hafty multitude
Admuring enter'd, and the work fome praise,
And forme the architect; his hand was known
la Heav'n by many a tow'red structure high,
Where fepter'd Angels held their refidence,
And fat as princes, whom the fupreme King 735
Enited to fuch pow'r, and gaye to rule,
Fach in his hierarchy, the orders bright.
Nor was his name unheard or unador'd
La acent Greece, and in Aufonian land

780

786

Now lefs than finalleft dwarfs, in narrow room
Throng numberlefs, like that pygmean race
Beyond the Indian mount, or faery elves,
Whose midnight revels by a foreft fide
Or fountain fome belated peasant fees,
Or dreams he sees, while over-head the moon
Sits arbitrefs, and nearer to the earth
Wheels her pale course, they on their mirth and dance
Intent, with jocund mufic charm his ear;
At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds.
Thus incorporeal Spirits to smallest forms
Reduc'd their shapes immenfe, and were at large 790
Though without number still amidst the hall
Of that infernal court. But far within,
And in their own dimensions like themselves,
The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim
In close recefs and fecret conclave fat
A thousand Demi-gods on golden feats,
Frequent and full. After thort filence then
And fummons read, the great confult begán.

THE END OF THE FIRST BOOK,

1798

PARADISE LOS T.

BOOK II.

THE

ARGUMENT.

is

The confultation begun, Satan debates whether another battel be to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven: Some advise it, others diffuade: A third propofal is preferred, mention'd before by Satan, to search the truth of that prophecy or tradition in Heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature equal or not much inferior to themselves, about this time to be created: Their doubt who shall be fent on this difficult search: Satan their chief undertakes alone the voyage, honor'd and applauded. The council thus ended, the reft betake them feveral ways, and to feveral employments, as their inclinations lead them, to entertain the time till Satan return. He paffes on his journey to Hell gates, finds them fhut, and who fate there to guard them, by whom at length they are open'd, and discover to him the great gulph between Hell and Heaven; with what difficulty he paffes through. directed by Chaos, the Power of that place, to the fight of this new world which he fought.

IGH on a throne of royal state, which far,
Outfhone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind,
Or where the gorgeous eaft with richest hand
Show'rs on her kings barbaric pearl and gold,
Satan exalted fat, by merit rais'd

To that bad eminence; and from despair
Thus high uplifted beyond hope, afpires
Beyond thus high, infatiate to purfue

Vain war with Heav'n, and by fuccefs untaught
His proud imaginations thus difplay'd.

5

10

Pow'rs and Dominions, Deities of Heaven,
For fince no deep within her gulph can hold
Immortal vigor, though opprefs'd and fall'n,
I give not Heav'n for loft. From this descent
Celestial virtues rifing, will appear
More glorious and more dread than from no fall,
And trust themselves to fear no fecond fate.
Me though just right, and the fix'd laws of Heav'n
Did firft create your leader, next free choice,
With what befides, in council or in fight,
Hath been atchiev'd of merit, yet this lofs
Thus far at least recover'd, hath much more
Establish'd in a fafe unenvied throne,
Yielded with full confent. The happier state
In Heav'n, which follows dignity, might draw 25

20

Envy from each inferior; but who here
Will envy whom the highest place expofes
Foremost to stand against the Thundʼrer's aim
Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share
Of endless pain? where there is then no good
For which to ftrive, no ftrife can grow up there
From faction; for none fure will clame in Hell
Precedence, none, whose portion is fo frall
Of prefent pain, that with ambitious mind
Will covet more. With this advantage then
To union, and firm faith, and firm accord,
More than can be in Heav'n, we now return
To clame our just inheritance of old,
Surer to profper than profperity
Could have affur'd us; and by what best way, 40
Whether of open war or covert guile,
We now debate; who can advife, may speak.

35

He ceas'd, and next him Moloch, fcepter'd king.
Stood up, the strongest and the fierceft Spirit
That fought in Heav'n, now fiercer by despair : 45
His truft was with th' Eternal to be deem'd
Equal in ftrength, and rather than be lefs
Car'd not to be at all; with that care loft
Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worfe
He reck'd'not, and these words thereafter spake 5
My fentence is for open war: of wiles,
More unexpert, I boaft not: them let those
Contrive who need, or when they need, not now.

For while they fit contriving, shall the reft
Millions that ftand in arins, and longing wait
The fignal to afcend, fit ling'ring here
Heav'n's fugitives, and for their dwelling-place
Accept this dark opprobrious den of fhame,
The prifon of his tyranny who reigns
By our delay? no, let us rather choose,
Arm'd with Hell flames and fury, all at once
O'er Heav'n's high tow'rs to force refiftless way,
Turning our tortures into horrid arms
Against the torturer; when to meet the noife
Of his almighty engin he shall hear
Infernal thunder, and for lightning fee

Black fire and horror fhot with equal rage

55

60 And utter diffolution, as the scope
Of all his aim, after fomne dire revenge.
First, what revenge? the tow'rs of Heaven are fill'd
With arm'd watch, that render all access 130
Impregnable; oft on the bord'ring deep
Incamp their legions, or with obfcure wing
Scout far and wide into the realm of night,
Scorning furprise. Or could we break our way
By force, and at our heels all Hell should rife 135
With blackest infurrection, to confound

65

Among his Angels, and his throne itself

Mix'd with Tartarean fulphur, and strange fire,

His own invented torments. But perhaps

70

The way feems difficult and fteep to fcale

With upright wing against a higher foe.

Let fuch bethink them, if the fleepy drench

Heav'n's pureft light, yet our great enemy
All incorruptible would on his throne
Sit unpolluted, and th' ethereal mould
Incapable of ftain would foon expel
Her mifchief, and purge off the baser fire
75 Victorious. Thus repuls'd, our final hope
Is flat defpair: we must exafperate

Of that forgetful lake benumn not still,
That in our proper motion we afcend
Up to our native feat; defcent and fall
To us is adverfe. Who but felt of late,
When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear
Infulting, and purfu'd us through the deep,
With what compulfion and laborious flight
We funk thus low? Th' afcent is eafy then;
Th' event is fear'd; fhould we again provoke
Our stronger, fome worfe way his wrath may find
To our deftruction; if there be in Hell
Fear to be worfe deftroy'd: what can be worfe 85
Than to dwell here, driv'n out from blifs, condemn'd
In this abhorred deep to utter woe;
Where pain of unextinguishable fire
Muft exercife us without hope of end
The vaffals of his anger, when the scourge
Inexorably, and the torturing hour,

90

95

100

Calls us to penance? More deftroy'd than thus
We should be quite abolish'd and expire.,
What fear we then? what doubt we to incense
His utmoft ire? which to the highth enrag'd,
Will either quite confume us, and reduce
To nothing this effential, happier far
Than miferable to have eternal being:
Or if our fubftance be indeed divine,
And cannot ceafe to be, we are at worst
On this fide nothing; and by proof we feel
Our pow'r fufficient to difturb his Heaven,
And with perpetual inroads to alarm,
Though inacceffible, his fatal throne:
Which, if not victory, is yet revenge.
He ended frowning, and his look denounc'd
Defp rate revenge, and battel dangerous
To lefs than Gods. On th' other fide up rofe
Belial, in act more graceful and humane;
A fairer perfon loft not Heav'n; he feem'd

For dignity compos'd and high exploit:

105

But all was falfe and hollow; though his tongue
Dropt Manna, and could make the worse appear

The better reafon, to perplex and dath

Th' almighty victor to spend all his rage,

140

And that must end us, that must be our cure, 145
To be no more; fad cure! for who would lofe,
Though full of pain, this intellectual being,
Thofe thoughts that wander through eternity,
To perish rather, fwallow'd up and loft
In the wide womb of uncreated night,

Devoid of sense and motion? and who knows,

Let this be good, whether our angry foe
Can give it, or will ever? how he can,
Is doubtful; that he never will, is fure.
Will he, fo wife, let loose at once his ire,
Belike through impotence, or unaware,
To give his enemies their wish, and end
Them in his anger, whom his anger faves
To punish endless? Wherefore cease we then?
Say they who counsel war, we are decreed,
Referv'd, and deftin'd to eternal woe;

Whatever doing, what can we fuffer more,

150

155

160

What can we fuffer worse? Is this then worst,
Thus fitting, thus confulting, thus in arms?
What when we fled amain, pursued and struck 165
With Heav'n's afflicting thunder, and besought
The deep to shelter us? this Hell then feem'd
A refuge from thofe wounds: or when we lay
Chain'd on the burning lake? that fure was worse.
What if the breath that kindled those grim fires,
Awak'd should blow them into fev'nfold rage,
And plunge us in the flames? or from above
Should intermitted vengeance arm again
His red right hand to plague us? what if all
Her ftores were open'd, and this firmament
Of Heil fhould fpout her cataracts of fire,
Impendent horrors, threatning hideous fall
One day upon our heads; while we perhaps
Defigning or exhorting glorious war,
Caught in a fiery tempeft fhall be hurl'd
Each on his rock transfix'd, the sport and prey

Matureft counfels: for his thoughts were low; 115 Of racking whirlwinds, or for ever funk

To vice induftrious, but to nobler deeds
Timorous and flothful: yet he pleas'd the ear,
And with perfuafive accent thus began.
Ifhould be much for open war, O Peers,
As not behind in hate; if what was urg'd
VOL. II.

175

180

185