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 honored 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.

Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand

gold,

Satan exalted sat, by merit raised

5

To that bad eminence; and, from despair Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue Vain war with Heaven; and, by success1 untaught,

His proud imaginations thus displayed:"Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heaven!

II

Surer to prosper than prosperity

Could have assured us; and by what best way,

40

Whether of open war or covert guile, We now debate. Who can advise may speak."

He ceased; and next him Moloch, scep

tred king,

O'er Heaven's high towers to force resistless way,

Turning our tortures into horrid arms Against the Torturer; when, to meet the noise

65

Of his almighty engine, he shall hear Infernal thunder, and for lightning see Black fire and horror shot with equal rage Among his Angels, and his throne itself Mixed with Tartarean sulphur and strange fire, 69

His own invented torments. But perhaps
The way seems difficult and steep to scale
With upright wing against a higher foe?
2 judgment.

Will either quite consume us, and reduce
To nothing this essential'-happier far
Than miserable to have eternal being!-
Or, if our substance be indeed divine,
And cannot cease to be, we are at worst 100
On this side nothing; and by proof we feel
Our power sufficient to disturb his Heaven,
And with perpetual inroads to alarm,
Though inaccessible, his fatal throne:
Which, if not victory, is yet revenge." 105
He ended frowning, and his look de-
nounced2

Desperate revenge, and battle dangerous
To less than gods. On the other side up

To be no more. Sad cure! for who would lose,

Though full of pain, this intellectual being, Those thoughts that wander through eternity,

To perish rather, swallowed up and lost In the wide womb of uncreated Night, 150

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 sure.
Will He, so wise, let loose at once his ire,155
Belike through impotence, or unaware,
To give his enemies their wish, and end
Them in his anger, whom his anger saves
To punish endless? 'Wherefore cease we
then?'

Say they who counsel war; 'we are decreed,
Reserved, and destined to eternal woe; 161
Whatever doing, what can we suffer more,
What can we suffer worse?' Is this then