And stripes, and arbitrary punishment
Inflicted? and what peace can we return,
But to our pow'r hostility and hate,

Untam'd reluctance, and revenge though siow,
Yet ever plotting how the Conqu'ror least
May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice
In doing what we most in suff'ring feel?
Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need
With dang'rous expedition to invade

Heav'n, whose high walls fear no assault or seige,
Or ambush from the deep. What if we find
Some easier enterprise? There is a place,
(If ancient and prophetic fame in heav'n
Err not) another world, the happy seat
Of some new race call'd Man, about this time
To be created like to us, though less

In pow'r and excellence, but favour'd more
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 let us bend all our thoughts, to learn
What creatures there inhabit, of what mould,
Or substance; how indu'd, and what their pow'r,
And where their weakness, how attempted best,
By force or subtlety. Though heav'n be shut,
And heav'n's high Arbitrator sit secure
In his own strength, this place may lie expos'd;
The utmost border of his kingdom, left,
To their defence who hold it here perhaps
Some advantageous act may be achiev'd
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 puny 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

:

In his disturbance; when his darling sons,
Hurl'd 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 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
To mingle and involve, done all to spite
The great Creator? But their spite still serves
His glory to augment. The bold design
Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy
Sparkled in all their eyes; with full assent
They rote; 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 resolv'd, whicn 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 neighb'ring arms
And opportune excursion we may chance
Re-enter heav'n; or else in some mild zone
Dwell not unvisited of heav'n's fair light
Secure, and at the bright'ning orient beam
Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious air,
To heal the scar of these corrosive fires,

Shall breath her balm. But first whom shall we sene
In search 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 obscure find out
His uncouth way, to spread his airy flight
Upborne with indefatigable wings

Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive

The happy isle? what strength, wnat ait can then Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe

Through the strict sentries 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 appear'd
To second, or oppose, or undertake

The perilous attempt; but all sat mute,
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

Alone the dreadful voyage; till at last,

Satan, whom now transcendent glory rais'd
Above his fellows, with monarchial pride,
Conscious of highest worth, unmov'd, thus spake
O progeny of heav'n, empyreal thrones,
With reason hath deep silence and demur
Seiz'd us, though undismay'd: 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, the gates of burning adamant
Barr'd over to prohibit all egress.

These pass'd, if any pass, the void profound
Of unessential Night receives him next
Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being
Threatens him; plung'd 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 sov'reignty adorn'd

With splendour, arm'd with pow'r if ought propos'd
And judg'd of public moment, it. 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 hazara more, as he above the rest

High honour'd sits? Go therefore, mighty pow'rs,
Terror of heav'n, though fall'n; intend at home,
While here shall be our home, what best may ease
The present misery, and render hell

More tolerable; if there be cure or charın
To respite or deceive, or slack the pain
Of this ill mansion: 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 rais'd,
Others among the chief might offer now
(Certain to be refus d) what erst they fear'd,
And so refus'd might in opinion stand
His rivals, winning cheap the high repute
Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they
Dreaded not more th' 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 heav'n:
Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd,
That for the general safety he despis'd

His own for neither do the spirits damn'd
Lose all their virtue, lest bad men should boast
Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites,
Or close ambition varnish'd 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

Heav'n's cheerful face, the louring element
Scowls o'er the darken'd 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 damn'd
Firm concord holds, men only disagree
Of creatures rational, though under hope
Of heav'nly grace: and God proclaiming peace.
Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife
Among themselves, and levy cruel wars,
Wasting the earth, each other to destroy:
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 seem'd
Alone th' antagonist of heav'n, nor less

Than hell's dread emperor, with pomp supreme,
And godlike imitated state; him round
A globe of fiery Seraphim enclos'd

With bright emblazonry, and horrent arms.
Then of their session ended, they bid cry
With trumpet's regal sound, the great result:
Towards the four winds four speedy Cherubim
Put to their mouths the sounding alchymy
By heralds' voice explain'd; the hollow abyss
Heard far and wide, and all the host of hell
With deaf'ning shout return'd them loud acclaim.
Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat rais'd
By false presumptuous hope, the ranged Powers
Disband, and wand'ring, each his several way
Pursues, as inclination or sad choice

Leads him perplex'd, where he may likeliest find
Truce to his restiess thoughts, and entertain
The irksome hours, till his great chief return.
Part on the plain, or in the air sublime,