Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, 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, Free, and to none accountable, preferring
Hard liberty before the easy yoke
Of servile pomp.
Our greatness will appear
Then most conspicuous, when great things of small, Useful of hurtful, prosp❜rous of adverse
We can create, and in what place soe'er Thrive under ev'il, and work ease out of pain Through labor and endurance.
This deep world Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst
Thick clouds and dark doth Heav'nʼs all-ruling Sire Chuse 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 Heav'n resembles Hell? As he our darkness, cannot we his light 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 Heav'n show more? Our torments also may in length of time Become our elements, these piercing fires As soft as now severe, our temper chang'd Into their temper; which must needs remove The sensible of pain. All things invite To peaceful counsels, and the settled state 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 Th' assembly, as when hollow rocks retain 285 The sound of blust'ring winds, which all night long Had rous'd the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull Sea-faring men o'er-watch'd, whose bark by chance Or pinnace anchors in a craggy bay
After the tempest: such applause was heard 290 As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleas'd, Advising peace: for such another field
They dreaded worse than Hell: so much the fear Of thunder and the sword of Michaël
Wrought still within them; and no less desire 295 To found this nether empire, which might rise By policy, and long process of time, In emulation opposite to Heav'n.
Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom, Satan except, none higher sat, with grave Aspéct he rose, and in his rising seem'd A pillar of state; deep on his front ingraven Deliberation sat and public care;
And princely counsel in his face yet shone, Majestic though in ruin: sage he stood With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look Drew audience and attention still as night Or summer's noon-tide air, while thus he spake. Thrones and Imperial Pow'rs! offspring of Heav'n !
Ethereal Virtues! or these titles now
Must we renounce, and changing style be call'd Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote Inclines, here to continue', and build up here A growing empire; doubtless; while we dream, And know not that the King of Heav'n hath doom'd This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt From Heav'n's high jurisdiction, in new league Banded against his throne, but to remain In strictest bondage, though thus far remov'd Under th' inevitable curb, reserv'd
His captive multitude: for he, be sure,
In highth or depth, still first and last will reign Sole King, and of his kingdom lose no part 325 By our revolt, but over Hell extend
His empire, and with iron sceptre rule
Us here, as with his golden those in Heav'n. What sit we then projecting peace and war?
War hath determin'd us, and foil'd with loss 330 Irreparable; terms of peace yet none
Vouchsaf'd or sought; for what peace will be given To us inslav'd, but custody severe,
And stripes, and arbitrary punishment
Inflicted? and what peace can we return 335 But to our power hostility and hate,
Untam'd reluctance, and revenge though slow, Yet ever plotting how the Conqu'ror least
May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice In doing what we most in suffering feel?
Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need With dangerous expedition to invade Heav'n, 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 Err not) another world, the happy seat Of some new race call'd man, about this time To be created like to us, though less
In power and excellence, but favor'd more Of him who rules above; so 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 mould, 355 Or substance, how endu'd, and what their power, And where their weakness, how attempted best, By force or subtlety. Though Heav'n be shut, And Heav'n's high Arbitrator sit secure
In his own strength, this place may lie expos'd 360 The utmost border of his kingdom; left
To their defence who hold it: here perhaps Some advantageous act may be achiev'd By sudden onset, either with Hell fire To waste his whole creation, or possess All as our own, and drive as we were driven,
The puny inhabitants, 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 surpass 370
Common revenge, and interrupt his joy In our confusion, and our joy upraise In his disturbance; when his darling sons,
Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse Their frail original, and faded bliss, Faded so soon. Advise if this be worth Attempting, or to sit in darkness here Hatching vain empires. Thus Beelzebub Pleaded his devilish counsel, first devis'd
By Satan, and in part propos'd: for whence, 380 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 greater Creator? But their spite still serves His glory to augment. The bold design Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy Sparkled in all their eyes; with full assent 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 resolv'd, which from the lowest deep Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate, Nearer our ancient seat; perhaps in view
Of those bright confines, whence with neighb'ring
And opportune excursion we may chance Re-enter Heav'n; or else in some mild zone Dwell not unvisited of Heav'n's fair light
Secure, and at the bright'ning orient beam
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