The great seraphic lords and cherubim In closs recess and secret conclave sat After short silence then The End of the First Book, 795 PARADISE LOST. BOOK II. The Argument. The consultation begun, Satan debates whether another battel 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 led 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 dis over to him the great gulf between Heil 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. HIGH on a throne of royal state, which far 5 To that bad eminence; and from despair Immortal vigor, 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. 20 Me though just right, and the fix'd laws of Heav'n Yielded with full consent. The happier state Surer to prosper than prosperity Could have assur'd us; and by what best way, 40 He ceas'd; and next him Moloch, scepter'd king, Stood up, the strongest and the fiercest spirit That fought in Heav'n, now fiercer by despair: 45 His trust was with th' Eternal to be deem'd Equal in strength, and rather than be less Car'd not to be at all; with that care lost Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worse He reck'd not; and these words thereafter spake. 50 My sentence is for open war of wiles, More unexpert, I boast not them let those Contrive who need, or when they need, not now. For while they sit contriving, shall the rest, Millions that stand in arms, and longing wait 55 The signal to ascend, sit ling'ring here Heav'n's fugitives, and for their dwelling place Accept this dark opprobrious den of shame, The prison of his tyranny who reigns 60 By our delay? No, let us rather chuse, Against the Tort'rer; when to meet the noise 65 70 75 80 Let such bethink them, if the sleepy drench Where pain of unextinguishable fire anger, find 90 Calls us to penance? More destroy'd than thus 100 |