In highth or depth, still first and last will reign
Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part
By our revolt, but over Hell extend
His empire, and with iron scepter rule
Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven.
What fit we then projecting peace and war ?
War hath determin'd us, and foil'd with lofs
Irreparable; terms of peace yet none
Vouchfaf'd or fought; for what peace will be given
To us inflav'd, but cuftody fevere,
And ftripes, and arbitrary punishment
Inflicted? and what peace can we return,
But to our pow'r hoftility and hate,
Untam'd reluctance, and revenge though flow,
Yet ever plotting how the conqu'ror least
May reap his conqueft, and may leaft rejoice
In doing what we most in fuffering feel?
Nor will occafion want, nor fhall we need
With dang'rous expedition to invade
Heav'n, whose high walls fear no affault or fiege,
Or ambush from the deep. What if we find
Some eafier enterprife? There is a place,
(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven
Err not) another world, the happy feat
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; fo 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 mold,
Or fubftance, how indued, and what their power,
And where their weakness, how attempted best,
By force or fubtlety. Though Heav'n be shut,
And Heaven's high arbitrator fit fecure
In his own ftrength, this place may lie expos'd,
The utmost border of his kingdom, left
To their defense who hold it: here perhaps
Some advantageous act may be achiev'd
By fudden onfet, either with Hell fire
To wafte his whole creation, or poffefs
All as our own, and drive, as we were driven,
The puny habitants, 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 furpass
Common revenge, and interrupt his joy
In our confufion, and our joy upraise
In his difturbance; when his darling fons,
Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, fhall curfe
Their frail original, and faded blifs,
Faded fo foon. Advife if this be worth
Attempting, or to fit 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 defign
Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy
Sparkled in all their eyes; with full affent
They vote: 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 refolv'd, which from the lowest deep,
Will once more lift us up, in fpite of fate,
Nearer our ancient feat; perhaps in view
Of those bright confines, whence with neighb'ring arms
And opportune excurfion we may chance
Re-enter Heav'n; or else in fome mild zone
Dwell not unvifited of Heav'n's fair light
Secure, and at the brightning orient beam
Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious air,
To heal the fear of these corrofive fires,
Shall breathe her balm. But first whom fhall we fend
In fearch of this new world? whom fhall we find
Sufficient? who shall tempt with wand'ring feet
The dark unbottom'd infinite abyss,
And through the palpable obfcure find out
His uncouth way, or spread his aery flight
Upborne with indefatigable wings
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
The happy ile? what ftrength, what art can then 419
Suffice, or what evafion bear him safe
Through the ftri&t fenteries nd stations thick
Of Angels watching round? Here he had need
All circumfpection, and we now no less
Choice in our fuffrage; for on whom we fend,
The weight of all and our last hope relies..
This faid, he fat; and expectation held
His look fufpenfe, awaiting who appear'd
To fecond, or oppofe, or undertake
The perilous attempt: but all fat mute,
Pond'ring the danger with deep thoughts; and cach In others count'nance read his own dismay
Aftonish'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 monarchal pride
Confcious of higheft worth, unmov'd thus spake.
Progeny of Heav'n, empyreal Thrones,
With reafon hath deep filence and demur
Seis'd us, though undifmay'd: long is the way
And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light;
Our prifon ftrong; this huge convex of fire,
Outrageous to devour, immures us round
Ninefold, and gates of burning adamant
Barr'd over us prohibit all egrefs.
Thefe pafs'd, if any pafs, the void profound
Of uneffential Night receives him next
Wide gaping, and with utter lofs of being
Threatens him, plung'd in that abortive gulf.
If thence he scape into whatever world,
Or unknown region, what remains him lefs
VOL. I.
Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape?
But I fhould ill become this throne, O Peers,
And this imperial fovranty, adorn'd
With fplendor, arm'd with power, if ought propos'd
And judg'd of public moment, in the shape
Of difficulty or danger could deter
Me from attempting. Wherefore do' I affume
These royalties, and not refuse to reign,
Refusing to accept as great a share
Of hazard as of honor, due alike
To him who reigns, and fo much to him due
Of hazard more, as he above the rest
High honor'd fits? Go therefore, mighty Powers,
Terror of Heav'n, though fall'n; intend at home,
While here shall be our home, what best may eafe
The prefent mifery, and render Hell
More tolerable; if there be cure or charm
To refpite, or deceive, or flack the pain
Of this ill manfion: intermit no watch
Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad
Through all the coafts of dark destruction feek
Deliverance for us all: this enterprise
None shall partake with me. Thus faying rofe
The Monarch, and prevented all reply,
Prudent, left from his refolution rais'd
Others among the chief might offer now
(Certain to be refuş'd) what erft they fear'd;
And fo refus'd might in opinion stand
His rivals, winning cheap the high repute
Which he through hazard huge must earn.
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