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
The sound of blust'ring winds, which all night long Had rous'd the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull Seafaring men o'erwatch'd, whose bark by chance, Or pinnace, anchors in a craggy bay
After the tempest: such applause was heard 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 Michael
Wrought still within them; and no less desire To found this nether empire, which might rise By policy, and long process of time,
In emulation opposite to heaven.
Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom, Satan except, none higher sat, with grave Aspect he rose, and in his rising seem'd A pillar of state; deep on his front engraven, 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 heaven, 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
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 height 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 heav'n. What sit we then projecting, peace and war? War hath determin'd us, and foil'd with loss Irreparable; terms of peace yet none
Vouchsaf'd or sought; for what peace will be given To us ensiav'd, but custody severe,
And stripes, and arbitrary punishment Inflicted? and what peace can we return, But, to our pow'r 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 suff'rance 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 enterprize? 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 pow'r and excellence, but favour'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 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, The utmost border of his kingdom, left To their defence who hold it: here perhaps Some advantageous act may be atchiev'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 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 surpass 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 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 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 arms And opportune exertions, 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
Purge off this gloom: the soft delicious air, To heal the scar of these corrosive fires,
Shall breathe her balm. But first whom shall we send In search of this new world; whom shall we find Sufficient? who shall tempt with wand'ring feet The dark unbottom'd infinite abyss,
And through the palpable obscure find out His uncouth way, or spread his airy flight Upborne with indefatigable wings
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
The happy isle? What strength, what art can then 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 suspence, awaiting who appear'd To second, or oppose, or undertake The perilous attempt: but all sat mute, Pond'ring the danger with deep thought; and each In others count'nance read his own dismay, Astonish'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, Conscious of highest worth, unmov'd thus spake: O progeny of heav'n, empyreal thrones, With reason hath deep silence and demur Seiz'd us, though undismay'd? long is the way And hard that out of hell leads up to light: Our prison strong; this huge convex of fire, Outrageous to devour, immures us round Ninefold; and gates of burning adamant Barr'd over us prohibit all egress.
These pass'd, if any pass, the void profound Of unessential night receives him next Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being Threatens him, plung'd in that abortive gulf; If thence he 'scape into whatever world, Or unknown region, what remains him less Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape? But I should ill become this throne, O peers, And this imperial sov'reignty, adorn'd
With splendour, arm'd with pow'r, 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 assume These royalties, and not refuse to reign, Refusing to accept as great a share
Of hazard, as of honour, due alike
To him who reigns, and so much to him due Of hazard more, as he above the rest
High honour'd sits? Go therefore, mighty pow'rs, Terror of heav'n, though fall'n; intend at home, While here shall be our home, what best may ease The present misery, and render hell
More tolerable; if there be cure or charm To respite, or deceive, or slack the pain Of this ill mansion: intermit no watch Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek Deliv'rance for us all: this enterprise
None shall partake with me. Thus saying rose The monarch, and prevented all reply; Prudent, lest from his resolution rais'd, Others among the chiefs might offer now (Certain to be refus'd) what erst they fear'd;' And so refus'd, might in opinion stand His rivals; winning cheap the high repute Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they Dreaded not more th' adventure, than his voice Forbidding; and at once with him they rose: Their rising all at once was as the sound
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