Of Heav'n, and from eternal fplendors flung 610
For his revolt, yet faithful how they stood,
Their glory wither'd: as when Heaven's fire
Hath fcath'd the forest oaks, or mountain pines,
With finged top their stately growth though bare
Stands on the blafted heath. He now prepar'd 615
To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend
From wing to wing, and half inclose him round
550 With all his peers: attention held him mute.
Thrice he affay'd, and thrice in spite of fcorn
Tears, fuch as Angels weep, burst forth: at last 620
Words interwove with fighs found out their way.
O Myriads of immortal Spi'rits, O Powers
Matchlefs, but with th' Almighty, and that strife
Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire,
As this place teftifies, and this dire change
Hateful to utter: but what pow'r of mind
Foreseeing or prefaging, from the depth
Of knowledge paft or prefent, could have fear'd,
How fuch united force of Gods, how such
As flood like these, could ever know repulse? 610-
For who can yet believe, though after lofs,
That all these puiffant legions, whose exile
Hath emptied Heav'n, fhall fail to re-afcend
Self-rais'd, and repoffefs their native feat?
For me be witnefs all the host of Heaven,
If counfels different, or danger fhunn'd
By me, have loft our hopes. But he who reigns
Monarch in Heav'n, till then as one fecure
Sat on his throne, upheld by oid repute,
Confent or custom, and his regal state
Put forth at full, but still his ftrength conceal'd,
Which tempted our attempt, and wrought qur fall.
Henceforth his might we know, and know our own,
So as not either to provoke, or dread
A fhout, that tore Hell's concave, and beyond
Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night.
All in a moment through the gloom were feen
Ten thousand banners rife into the air
With orient colours waving: with them rofe
A foreft huge of fpears; and thronging helms
Appear'd, and ferried fhields in thick array
Of depth immeasurable: anon they move
In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood
Of flutes and foft recorder; fuch as rais'd
To highth of nobleft temper heroes old
Arming to battel, and instead of rage
Deliberate valour breath'd, firm and unmov'd
With dread of death to flight or foul retreat;
Nor wanting pow'r to mitigate and swage
With folemn touches troubled thoughts, and chafe
Anguish and doubt and fear and forrow' and pain
From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they
Breathing united force with fixed thought
Mov'd on in filence to foft pipes, that charm'd
Their painful steps o'er the burnt foil; and now
Advanc'd in view they ftand, a horrid front
Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guife
Of warriors old with order'd spear and fhield, 565
Awaiting what command their mighty chief
Had to impofe: He through the armed files
Darts his experienc'd eye, and foon traverse
The whole battalion views, their order due,
Their vifages and ftature as of Gods:
Their number last he fums. And now his heart
Diftends with pride, and hard'ning in his ftrength
Glories: for never fince created man
Met fuch imbodied force, as nam'd with these
Could merit more than that finall infantry
Warr'd-on by cranes; though all the giant brood
Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were join'd
That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each fide
Mix'd with auxiliar Gods; and what resounds
In fable or romance of Uther's fon
Begirt with British and Armoric knights;
And all who fince, baptiz'd or infidel,
Joufted in Afpramont or Montalban,
Damafco, or Marocco, or Trebifond,
Or whom Biferta fent from Afric shore,
When Charlemain with all his peerage fell
By Fontarabbia. Thus far thefe beyond
Compare of mortal prowess, yet obferv'd
Their dread commander: he above the rest
In fhape and gefture proudly eminent
Stood like a tow'r; his form had yet not loft
All her original brightness, not appear'd
Lefs than Arch-Angel ruin'd, and th' excess
Of glory' obfcur'd; as when the fun new rifen
Looks through the horizontal misty air
Shorn of his beams, or from behind the moon
In dim eclipse disastrous twilight sheds
On half the nations, and with fear of change
Perplexes monarchs. Darken'd fo, yet fhone
Above them all th' Arch-Angel; but his face
Deep fears of thunder had intrench'd, and care
Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows
Of dauntless courage, and confiderate pride
Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast
Signs of remorse and paffion to behold
The fellows of his crime, the followers rather
(Far other once beheld in blifs) condemn'd
For ever now to have their lot in pain,
Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc'd
New war, provok'd; our better part remains 645
To work in close defign, by fraud or guile,
What force effected not: that he no less
At length from us may find, who overcomes
By force, hath overcome but half his foe.
Space may produce new worlds; whereof so rife 650
There went a fame in Heav'n that he ere long
Intended to create, and therein plant
585 A generation, whom his choice regard
Should fayor equal to the fons of Heaven:
Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps
Our firft eruption, thither or elsewhere:
For this infernal pit fhall never hold
Celestial Spirits in bondage, nor th'abyss
Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts
Full counsel must mature: Peace is despair'd
For who can think fubmiffion? War then, War
Open or understood must be refolv'd.
He fpake: and to confirm his words, out-flew
Millions of flaming fwords, drawn from the thighs
Of mighty Cherubim; the fudden blaze
Far round illumin'd Hell: highly they rag'd
Against the High'eft, and fierce with grafped arms
Clafh'd on their founding fhields the din of war,
Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heav'n.
There stood a hill not far, whofe grifly top 670
Belch'd fire and rolling smoke; the reft entire
Shone with a gloffy fcurf, undoubted fign
That in his womb was hid metallic ore,
The work of fulphur. Thither wing'd with speed
A numerous brigad haften'd: as when bands 675
Of pioneers with spade and pickax arm'd
Forerun the royal camp, to trenoh a field,
Or caft a rampart. Mammon led them on,
Mammon, the least erected Spi'rit that fell
From Heav'n, for e'en in Heav'n his looks and thoughts
Were always downward bent, admiring more
The riches of Heav'n's pavement, trodden gold,
Than ought divine or holy elfe enjoy'd
In vifion beatific: by him firit
Men alfo, and by his fuggeftion taught,
Ranfack'd the center, and with impious hands
Rifled the bowels of their mother earth
For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew
Open'd into the hill a fpacious wound,
And digg'd out ribs of gold. Let none admire
That riches grow in Hell; that foil may best
Deferve the precious bane. And here let thofe
Who boast in mortal things, and wond'ring tell
Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings,
Learn how their greatest monuments of fame, 695
And strength, and art, are eafily out-done
By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour
What in an age they with inceffant toil
And hands innumerable fcarce perform.
Nigh on the plain in many cells prepar'd,
That underneath had veins of liquid fire
Slucid from the lake, a fecond multitude
With wond'rous art founded the massy ore,
Severing each kind, and feumm'd the bullion drofs:
A third as foon had form'd within the ground 705
A various mould, and from the boiling cells
By strange conveyance fill'd each hollow nook,
As in an organ from one blaft of wind
Men call'd him Mulciber; and how he fell
From Heav'n, they fabled, thrown by angry Jove
Sheer o'er the crystal battlements; from moru
To. noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve,
A fummer's day; and with the fetting fun
Dropt from the zenith like a falling star,
On Lemnos th' Æ'gean ile: thus they relate,
Erring; for he with this rebellious rout
Fell long before; nor aught avail'd him now
T'have built in Heav'n high tow'rs; nor did he 'scape
By all his engins, but was headlong fent
With his industrious crew to build in Hell.
Mean while the winged heralds by command
Of fovran pow'r, with awful ceremony
And trumpet's found, throughout the hoft proclame
A folemn council-forthwith to be held
At Pandemonium, the high capital
Of Satan and his peers: their fummons call'd
From every band and squared regiment
By place or choice the worthiest; they anon
With hundreds and with thousands trooping came 760
Attended: all access was throng`d, the gates
700 And porches wide, but chief the fpacious hall
(Though like a cover'd field, where champions bold
Wont ride in arm'd, and at the Soldan's chair
Defy'd the best of Panim chivalry
To mortal combat, or career with lance)
Thick fwarm'd, both on the ground and in the air
Brush'd with the hifs of rufling winds. As bees
In fpring time, when the fun with Taurus rides,
Pour forth their populous youth about the hive 770
In clufters; they among fresh dews and flowers
Fly to and fro, or on the finoothed plank,
The fuburb of their straw-built citadel,
New rubb'd with balm, expatiate and confer
Their ftate affairs. So thick the aery croud
Swarm'd and were ftraiten'd; till, the fignal given,
Behold a wonder! they but now who feem'd
In bigness to furpass earth's giant fons,
To many a row of pipes the found-board breathes.
Anon out of the earth a fabric huge
Rofe like an exhalation, with the found
Of dulcet fymphonies and voices fweet,
Built like a temple, where pilafters round
Were fet, and Doric pillars overlaid
With golden architrave; nor did they want
Cornice or freeze, with boffy fculptures graven;
Belus or Serapis their Gods, or feat
Now lefs than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room
Throng numberless, like that pygmean race
Beyond the Indian mount, or faery elves,
Whofe midnight revels by a forest tide,
Or fountain fome belated peasant fees,
Or dreams he fees, while over-head the moon
Sits arbitrefs, and nearer to the earth
Wheels her pale course, they on their mirth and dance
725 Intent, with jocund mufic charm his ear;
Their kings, when Egypt with Affyria strove
In wealth and luxury. Th' afcending pile
Stood fix'd her ftately highth, and straight the doors
Opening their brazen folds difcover wide
Within, her ample spaces, o'er the smooth
And level pavement: from the arched roof
Pendent by fubtle magic many a row
Of starry lamps and blazing creffets fed
With Naphtha and Afphaltus yielded light
As from a fky. The hasty multitude
Admiring enter'd, and the work some praise,
And fome the architect; his hand was known
In Heav'n by many a tow'red structure high,
Where fcepter'd Angels held their refidence,
And fat as princes, whom the fupreme King
Exalted to fuch pow'r, and gave to rule,
Each in his hierarchy, the orders bright.
Nor was his name unheard or unador'd
Ja ancient Greece; and in Aufonian land
At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds.
Thus incorporeal Spi'rits to fmallest forms
Reduc'd their shapes immenfe, and were at large 790
Though without number still amidft the hall
Of that infernal court. But far within,
And in their own dimenfions like themselves,
The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim
In close recefs and fecret conclave fat
A thoufand Demi-gods on golden feats,
Frequent and full. After short filence then
And fummons read, the great confult began.
THE END OF THE FIRST BOOX,
The confultation begun, Satan debates whether another battel be to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven: Some advise it, others diffuade: A third propofal is preferred, mention'd before by Satan, to fearch the truth of that prophecy or tradition in Heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature equal or not much inferior to themfelves, about this time to be created: Their doubt who shall be fent on this difficult fearch: Satan their chief undertakes alone the voyage, is honor'd and applauded. The council thus ended, the reft betake them several ways, and to feveral employments, as their inclinations lead them, to entertain the time till Satan return. He paffes on his journey to Hell gates, finds them fhut, and who fate there to guard them, by whom at length they are open'd, and discover to him the great gulph between Hell and Heaven; with what difficulty he paffes through, directed by Chaos, the Power of that place, to the fight of this new world which he fought.
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[IGH on a throne of royal ftate, which far,
Outfhone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind,
Or where the gorgeous eaft with richest hand
Show'rs on her kings barbaric pearl and gold,
Satan exalted fat, by merit rais'd
To that bad eminence; and from despair
Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires
Beyond thus high, infatiate to purfue
Vain war with Heav'n, and by fuccefs untaught
His proud imaginations thus difplay'd.
Pow'rs and Dominions, Deities of Heaven,
For fince no deep within her gulph cart hold
Immortal vigor, though opprefs'd and fall'n,
I give not Heav'n for loft. From this defcent
Celestial virtues rifing, will appear
More glorious and more dread than from no fall,
And trust themselves to fear no fecond fate.
Me though juft right, and the fix'd laws of Heav'n
Did first create your leader, next free choice,
With what befides, in council or in fight,
Hath been atchiev'd of merit, yet this lofs
Thus far at least recover'd, hath much more
Establish'd in a fafe unenvied throne,
Yielded with full confent. The happier state
In Heav'n, which follows dignity, might draw 25
Envy from each inferior; but who here
Will envy whom the highest place expofes
Foremost to stand against the Thund'rer's aim
Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest fhare
Of endless pain? where there is then no good 30
For which to ftrive, no ftrife can grow up there
From faction; for none fure will clame in Hell
Precedence, none, whose portion is fo fmall
Of prefent pain, that with ambitious mind
Will covet more. With this advantage then
To union, and firm faith, and firm accord,
More than can be in Heav'n, we now return
To clame our juft inheritance of old,
Surer to profper than prosperity
Could have affur'd us; and by what best way, 40
Whether of open war or covert guile,
We now debate; who can advife, may speak.
He ceas'd, and next him Moloch, fcepter'd king,
Stood up, the strongest and the fierceft Spirit
That fought in Heav'n, now fiercer by defpair : 45
His truft was with th' Eternal to be deem'd
Equal in ftrength, and rather than be lefs
Car'd not to be at all; with that care loft
Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worfe
He reck'd not, and these words thereafter fpake. 50
My fentence is for open war: of wiles,
More unexpert, I boaft not: them let thofe
Contrive who need, or when they need, not now.
For while they fit contriving, fhall the reft
Millions that stand in arms, and longing wait
The fignal to afcend, fit ling'ring here
Heav'n's fugitives, and for their dwelling-place
Accept this dark opprobrious den of fhame,
The prifon of his tyranny who reigns
By our delay? no, let us rather choose,
Arm'd with Hell flames and fury, all at once
O'er Heav'n's high tow'rs to force refiftless way,
Turning our tortures into horrid arms
Against the torturer; when to meet the noise
Of his almighty engin he fhall hear
Infernal thunder, and for lightning fee
Black fire and horror fhot with equal rage
Among his Angels, and his throne itself
Of all his aim, after fome dire revenge.
First, what revenge? the tow'rs of Heaven are fill'd
With arm'd watch, that render all access
Impregnable; oft on the bord'ring deep
Incamp their legions, or with obfcure wing
Scout far and wide into the realm of night,
Scorning furprife. Or could we break our way
By force, and at our heels all Hell fhould rife 135
With blackeft infurrection, to confound
Heav'n's pureft light, yet our great enemy
All incorruptible would on his throne
Sit unpolluted, and th' ethereal mould
Incapable of stain would foon expel
Her mifchief, and purge off the baser fire
75 Victorious. Thus repuls'd, our final hope
Is flat despair: we must exasperate
Mix'd with Tartarean fulphur, and strange fire,
His own invented torments. But perhaps
The way feems difficult and steep to scale
With upright wing against a higher for.
Let fuch bethink them, if the fleepy drench
Of that forgetful lake benumn not ftill,
That in our proper motion we afcend
Up to our native feat; defcent and fall
To us is adverfe. Who but felt of late,
When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear
Infulting, and purfu'd us through the deep,
With what compulfion and laborious flight
We funk thus low? Th' afcent is easy then;
Th' event is fear'd; fhould we again provoke
Our ftronger, fome worfe way his wrath may find
To our deftruction; if there be in Hell
Fear to be worse deftroy'd: what can be worfe 85
Than to dwell here, driv'n out from blifs, condemn'd
In this abhorred deep to utter woe;
Where pain of unextinguishable fire
Muft exercife us without hope of end
The vaffals of his anger, when the scourge
Inexorably, and the torturing hour,
Calls us to penance? More destroy'd than thus
We fhould be quite abolish'd and expire.
What fear we then? what doubt we to incenfe
His utmost ire? which to the highth enrag'd,
Will either quite confume us, and reduce
To nothing this effential, happier far
Than miferable to have eternal being:
Or if our fubftance be indeed divine,
And cannot ceafe to be, we are at worst
On this fide nothing; and by proof we feel
Our pow'r fufficient to disturb his Heaven,
And with perpetual inroads to alarm,
Though inacceffible, his fatal throne:
Which, if not victory, is yet revenge.
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Th' almighty victor to spend all his rage,
And that must end us, that must be our cure, 145
To be no more; fad cure! for who would lose,
Though full of pain, this intellectual being,
Thofe thoughts that wander through eternity,
To perifh rather, fwallow'd up and loft
In the wide womb of uncreated night,
Devoid of fenfe 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 fure.
Will he, fo wife, let loofe at once his ire,
Belike through impotence, or unaware,
To give his enemies their wish, and end
Them in his anger, whom his anger faves
To punith endlefs? Wherefore cease we then?
Say they who counsel war, we are decreed,
Referv'd, and deftin'd to eternal woe;
Whatever doing, what can we fuffer more,
What can we fuffer worfe? Is this then worft,
Thus fitting, thus confulting, thus in arms?
What when we fled amain, pursued and struck 165
With Heav'n's afflicting thunder, and befought
100 The deep to fhelter us? this Hell then feem'd
A refuge from thofe wounds: or when we lay
Chain'd on the burning lake? that fure was worse.
What if the breath that kindled those grim fires,
Awak'd fhould blow them into fev❜nfold rage,
And plunge us in the flames? or from above
Should intermitted vengeance arm again
His red right hand to plague us? what if all
Her ftores were open'd, and this firmament
Of Hell fhould spout her cataracts of fire,
Impendent horrors, threatning hideous fall
One day upon our heads; while we perhaps
Defigning or exhorting glorious war,
Caught in a fiery tempeft fhall be hurl'd
Each on his rock transfix'd, the sport and prey
Of racking whirlwinds, or for ever funk
Under yon boiling ocean, wrapt in chains;
There to converfe with everlasting groans,
Unrefpit'd, unpitied, repriev'd,
Ages of hopelefs end? this would be worse.
120 War therefore, open or conceal'd, alike
2 [C]
He ended frowning, and his look denounc'd
Defp'rate revenge, and battel dangerous
To lefs than Gods. On th' other fide up rose
Belial, in act more graceful and humane;
A fairer perfon loft not Heav'n; he seem'd
For dignity compos'd and high exploit:
But all was falfe and hollow; though his tongue
Dropt Manna, and could make the worse appear
The better reafon, to perplex and dash
Matureft counfels: for his thoughts were low; 115
To vice induftrious, but to nobler deeds
Timorous and flothful: yet he pleas'd the ear,
And with perfuafive accent thus began.
I should be much for open war, O Peers,
As not behind in hate; if what was urg'd
VOL. II.
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My voice diffuades; for what can force or guile
With him, or who deceive his mind, whofe eye
Views all things at one view? he from Heav'n's highth
All these our motions vain fees and derides;
Not more almighty to refift our might
Than wife to fruftrate all our plots and wiles.
Shall we then live thus vile, the race of Heaven
Thus trampled, thus expell'd to fuffer here
Chains and these torments? better thefe than worfe
By my advice; fince fate inevitable
Subdues us, and omnipotent decree,
The victor's will. To fuffer, as to do,
Our strength is equal, nor the law unjust
That fo ordains: this was at firft refolv'd,
If we were wife, against so great a foe
Contending, and fo doubtful what might fall.
I laugh, when those who at the fpear are bold
And ventrous, if that fail them, fhrink and fear 205
What yet they know must follow, to indure
Exile, or ignominy', or bonds, or pain,
The fentence of their conqu'ror: this is now
Our doom; which if we can fustain and bear,
Our fupreme foe in time may much remit
His anger, and perhaps thus far remov'd
Not mind us not offending, fatisfy'd
Hard liberty before the eafy yoke
Of fervile pomp. Our greatnefs will appear
Then moft confpicuous, when great things of fmall,
Useful of hurtful, profp'rous of adverse
We can create, and in what place foe'er
Thrive under ev'il, and work ease out of pain
Through labor and indurance. This deep world
Of darkness do we dread? How oframidit
Thick clouds and dark doth Heav'n's all-ruling Sire
Choose to refide, his glory unobscur'd, 265
And with the majesty of darkness round
Covers his throne; from whence deep thunders roar
200 Muft'ring their rage, and Heav'n refembles Hell?
As he our darkness, cannot we his light
Imitate when we please? This defert foil
Wants not her hidden luftre, gems and gold;
Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise
Magnificence; and what can Heav'n fhow more?
Our torments alfo may in length of time
Become our elements, these piercing fires
As foft as now fevere, our temper chang'd
Into their temper; which muft needs remove
The fenfible of pain. All things invite
To peaceful counfels, and the fettled ftate
Of order, how in safety best we may
Compose our prefent evils, with regard
Of what we are and where, difmiffing quite
All thoughts of war.-Ye have what I advife.
He scarce had finish'd, when fuch murmur fill'd
Th' affembly, as when hollow rocks retain
The found of bluft'ring winds, which all night long
Had rous'd the fea, now with hoarfe cadence lull
Sea-faring men o'er-watch'd, whofe bark by chance
Or pinnace anchors in a craggy bay
After the tempeft: Such applause was heard 290
As Mammon ended, and his fentence pleas'd,
Advifing peace: for fuch another field
They dreaded worse than Hell: fo much the fear
Of thunder and the fword of Michaël
Wrought still within them; and no lefs defire 295
To found this nether empire, which might rife
By policy, and long process of time,
With what is punish'd; whence thefe raging fires,
Will flacken, if his breath ftir not their flames.
Our purer effence then will overcome
Their noxious vapor, or inur'd not feel,
Or chang'd at length, and to the place conform'd
In temper and in nature, will receive
Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain;
This horror will grow mild, this darkness light:
Befides what hope the never ending flight
Of future days may bring, what chance, what change
Worth waiting, fince our prefent lot appears
For happy though but ill, for ill not worst,
If we procure not to ourselves more woe.
In emulation oppofite to Heaven.
Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom,
Satan except, none higher fat, with grave
Afpéct he rofe, and in his rifing feem'd
Thus Belial with words cloth'd in reafon's garb
Counsel'd ignoble eafe, and peaceful floth,
Not peace and after him thus Mammon spake.
Either to difinthrone the king of Heaven
We war, if war be beft, or to regain
Our own right loft: him to unthrone we then
May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield
To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the ftrife:
The former vain to hope argues as vain
The latter: for what place can be for us
Within Heav'n'sbound,unless Heav'n'sLord
We overpow'r? Suppofe he should relent,
And publish grace to all, on promise made
Of new fubjection; with what eyes could we
Stand in his prefence humble, and receive
Strict laws impos'd, to celebrate his throne
With warbled hymns, and to his Godhead fing
Forc'd Hallelujahs; while he lordly fits
Our envied fovran, and his altar breathes
Ambrofial odors and ambrofial flowers,
Our fervile offerings? This must be our task
In Heav'n, this our delight; how wearifome
Eternity fo fpent in worship paid
A pill'ar of ftate; deep on his front ingraven
Deliberation fat and public care;
And princely counfel in his face yet fhone,
Majestic though in ruin: fage he stood
With Atlantéan fhoulders fit to bear
Ethereal Virtues; or these titles now
Muft we renounce, and changing tile be called
Princes of Hell? for fo the popular vote
Inclines, here to continue', and build up here
A growing empire; doubtlefs; while we dream,
And know not that the king of Heav'n hath doom'd
250 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 ftricteft bondage, though thus far remov'd
255 Under th' inevitable curb, reserv'd
To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue
By force impoffible, by leave obtain❜d
Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, our state
Of fplendid vaffalage; but rather feek
Our own good from ourselves,, and from our own
Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess,
Free, and to none accountable, preferring
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