In strictest bondage, though thus far removed,

Under the inevitable curb, reserved
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
By our revolt, but over Hell extend
His empire, and with iron sceptre rule
Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven.
What sit we then projecting peace and war?
War hath determined us and foiled with
loss
330

Irreparable; terms of peace yet none Voutsafed or sought; for what peace will be given

To us enslaved, but custody severe,
And stripes and arbitrary punishment
Inflicted? and what peace can we return,
But, to our power, hostility and hate,
Untamed reluctance, and revenge, though

slow,

By force or subtlety. Though Heaven be shut,

And Heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure
In his own strength, this place may lie
exposed,
360
The utmost border of his kingdom, left
To their defence who hold it: here, perhaps,
Some advantageous act may be achieved
By sudden onset either with Hell-fire
To waste his whole creation, or possess
All as our own, and drive, as we are 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 sur

Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe Through the strict senteries and stations thick

Of Angels watching round? Here he had need

All circumspection: and we now no less Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send

The weight of all, and our last hope, relies."
This said, he sat; and expectation held
His look suspense, awaiting who appeared
To second, or oppose, or undertake
The perilous attempt. But all sat mute, 420
Pondering the danger with deep thoughts;

and each

In other's countenance read his own dismay,

Astonished. None among the choice and prime

All taste of living wight, as once it fled
The lip of Tantalus. Thus roving on
In confused march forlorn, the adventrous
bands,

With shuddering horror pale, and eyes aghast,

Viewed first their lamentable lot, and found

No rest. Through many a dark and dreary vale

They passed, and many a region dolorous,
O'er many a frozen, many a fiery Alp, 620
Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and
shades of death

A universe of death, which God by curse
Created evil, for evil only good;

Where all life dies, death lives, and Na-
ture breeds,
Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious
things,

Abominable, inutterable, and worse

Than fables yet have feigned or fear conceived,

Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimæras dire. Meanwhile the Adversary of God and Man,

Satan, with thoughts inflamed of highest design, 630

Puts on swift wings, and toward the gates of Hell

Explores his solitary flight: sometimes He scours the right hand coast, sometimes the left;

Now shaves with level wing the Deep, then