Exalted to such pow'r, and gave to rule, Fell long before; nor aught availed him now To have built in heaven high towers; nor did he 'scape 750 By all his engines, but was headlong sent With his industrious crew to build in hell. Meanwhile, the winged heralds, by command Of sov'reign power, with awful ceremony And trumpets' sound, throughout the host proclaim 755 A solemn council, forthwith to be held At Pandemonium, the high capital Of Satan and his peers: their summons call'd, By place or choice the worthiest; they anon, To mortal combat, or career with lance,) New rubb'd with balm, expatiate, and confer 775 Their state affairs: so thick the aery crowd Swarm'd, and were straiten'd; till, the signal giv'n, Or dreams he sees; while over head the moon 785 Sits arbitress, and nearer to the earth Wheels her pale course; they, on their mirth and dance Intent, with jocund music charm his ear: At once with joy, and fear, his heart rebounds. 790 Reduc'd their shapes immense, and were at large, THE ARGUMENT. The consultation begun, Satan debates whether another battle be to be hazarded for the recovery of heaven: some advise it, others dissuade : a third proposal is preferred, mentioned 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 sent on this difficult search: Satan their chief undertakes alone the voyage; is honoured and applauded. The council thus ended, the rest betake them several ways, and to several employments, as their inclinations lead them, to entertain the time till Satan return. He passes on his journey to hell-gates: finds them shut, and who sat there to guard them; by whom at length they are opened, and discover to him the great gulf between hell and heaven; with what difficulty he passes through, directed by Chaos, the Power of that place, to the sight of this new world which he sought. PARADISE LOST. BOOK II. HIGH on a throne of royal state, which far To that bad eminence: and, from despair Vain war with Heav'n; and, by success untaught, 10 His proud imaginations thus display'd. "Pow'rs and Dominions, Deities of heav'n! "For, since no deep within her gulf can hold "Immortal vigour, though oppress'd and fall'n, "I give not heav'n for lost. From this descent 15" Celestial virtues rising will appear "More glorious and more dread than from no fall, "And trust themselves to fear no second fate. "Me, though just right, and the fix'd laws of heav'n, "Did first create your Leader; next, free choice; 20 "With what besides, in council or in fight, "Hath been achiev'd of merit; yet this loss, |