"With what is punish'd; whence these raging fires 215 "Our purer essence then will overcome Their noxious vapour; or, inur'd, not feel; "Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain; 220 "This horror will grow mild, this darkness light; "Besides what hope the never-ending flight 225 230 235 "Of future days may bring, what chance-what change Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason's garb, : "Our own right lost: him to unthrone we then "The latter for what place can be for us "Within heaven's bound, unless heaven's Lord supreme "We overpower? Suppose he should relent, "And publish grace to all, on promise made "Of new subjection; with what eyes could we 240 "Stand in his presence humble, and receive "Strict laws impos'd, to celebrate his throne "With warbled hymns, and to his Godhead sing "Forc'd hallelujahs? while he lordly sits "Our envied Sovereign, and his altar breathes 245 "Ambrosial odours, and ambrosial flowers, "Our servile offerings! This must be our task "To whom we hate! Let us not then 250 "By force impossible, by leave obtain'd D pursue, 66 Unacceptable, though in heaven, our state "Of splendid vassalage; but rather seek "Our own good from ourselves, and from our own "Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess, 255"Free, and to none accountable; preferring "Hard liberty before the easy yoke 260 "Of servile pomp. Our greatness will appear "We can create; and in what place soe'er "Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain, Through labour and endurance. This deep world "Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst "Thick clouds and dark doth heaven's all-ruling sire 265"Choose to reside, (his glory unobscur'd,) "And with the majesty of darkness round "Covers his throne; from whence deep thunders roar "Must'ring their rage, and heaven resembles hell? "As he our darkness, cannot we his light 270"Imitate when we please? This desert soil "Wants not her hidden lustre, gems, and gold; "Nor want we skill, or art, from whence to raise "Magnificence; and what can heaven show more? "Our torments also may, in length of time, 275 "Become our elements; these piercing fires "As soft, as now severe; our temper changed, "Into their temper; which must needs remove "The sensible of pain. All things invite "To peaceful counsels, and the settled state 280 "Of order, how in safety best we may "Compose our present evils, with regard "Of what we are, and where, dismissing quite "All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advise." He scarce had finish'd, when such murmur fill'd 285 The assembly, as when hollow rocks retain The sound of blustering winds, which all night long Or pinnace anchors in a craggy bay, 290 After the tempest: such applause was heard They dreaded worse than hell: so much the fear 295 Wrought still within them; and no less desire In emulation opposite to heaven. Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom, And princely counsel in his face yet shone, 305 Majestic, though in ruin: sage he stood, With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear 310 The weight of mightiest monarchies his look "Must we renounce, and, changing style, be call'd 315 "A growing empire; doubtless, while we dream, "From heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league 320 "Banded against his throne; but to remain "In strictest bondage, though thus far remov'd, "Under the inevitable curb, reserv'd "His captive multitude: for he, be sure, "In height or depth, still first and last will reign, 325" Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part 330 335 "His empire, and with iron sceptre rule "Us here, as with his golden, those in heaven. "Vouchsaf'd, or sought; for what peace will be giv'n "And stripes, and arbitrary punishment "Untam'd reluctance, and revenge; though slow, "Yet ever plotting how the conqueror least "May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice 340"In doing what we most in suffering feel? "Nor will occasion want; nor shall we need, "With dangerous expedition, to invade "Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault, or siege, "Or ambush from the deep. What if we find "Some easier enterprise? There is a place, "(If ancient and prophetic fame in heaven 345 "Err not,) another world, the happy seat 350"In power and excellence, but favour'd more 355 "What creatures there inhabit,-of what mould, By force or subtlety. Though heaven be shut, "And heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure 360 "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 "By sudden onset; either with hell fire 365 370 "To waste his whole creation, or possess "All as our own, and drive, as we were driven, "Seduce them to our party, that their God 66 May prove their foe, and with repenting hand "In his disturbance; when his darling sons, "Faded so soon! Advise, if this be worth 380 By Satan, and in part propos'd: for whence, 390 “Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate, "Great things resolv'd; which from the lowest deep 395"Of those bright confines, whence, with neighb'ring arms "And opportune excursion, we may chance "Re-enter heaven; or else in some mild zone "Dwell, not unvisited of heaven's fair light, "Secure; and at the bright'ning orient beam 400 66 Purge off this gloom: the soft delicious air, "To heal the scar of these corrosive fires, "Shall breathe her balm. But first, whom shall we send |