1: High on a Throne of Royal State, which far 2: Outshon the wealth of ORMUS and of IND, 3: Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand 4: Showrs on her Kings BARBARIC Pearl & Gold, 5: Satan exalted sat, by merit rais'd 6: To that bad eminence; and from despair 7: Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires 8: Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue 9: Vain Warr with Heav'n, and by success untaught 10: His proud imaginations thus displaid.
11: Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heav'n, 12: For since no deep within her gulf can hold 13: Immortal vigor, though opprest and fall'n, 14: I give not Heav'n for lost. From this descent 15: Celestial vertues rising, will appear 16: More glorious and more dread then from no fall, 17: And trust themselves to fear no second fate: 18: Mee though just right, and the fixt Laws of Heav'n 19: Did first create your Leader, next, free choice, 20: With what besides, in Counsel or in Fight, 21: Hath bin achievd of merit, yet this loss 22: Thus farr at least recover'd, hath much more 23: Establisht in a safe unenvied Throne 24: Yeilded with full consent. The happier state 25: In Heav'n, which follows dignity, might draw 26: Envy from each inferior; but who here 27: Will envy whom the highest place exposes 28: Formost to stand against the Thunderers aime 29: Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share 30: Of endless pain? where there is then no good 31: For which to strive, no strife can grow up there 32: From Faction; for none sure will claim in hell 33: Precedence, none, whose portion is so small 34: Of present pain, that with ambitious mind 35: Will covet more. With this advantage then 36: To union, and firm Faith, and firm accord, 37: More then can be in Heav'n, we now return 38: To claim our just inheritance of old, 39: Surer to prosper then prosperity 40: Could have assur'd us; and by what best way, 41: Whether of open Warr or covert guile, 42: We now debate; who can advise, may speak.
43: He ceas'd, and next him MOLOC, Scepter'd King 44: Stood up, the strongest and the fiercest Spirit 45: That fought in Heav'n; now fiercer by despair: 46: His trust was with th' Eternal to be deem'd 47: Equal in strength, and rather then be less 48: Car'd not to be at all; with that care lost 49: Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worse 50: He reckd not, and these words thereafter spake.
51: My sentence is for open Warr: Of Wiles, 52: More unexpert, I boast not: them let those 53: Contrive who need, or when they need, not now. 54: For while they sit contriving, shall the rest, 55: Millions that stand in Arms, and longing wait 56: The Signal to ascend, sit lingring here 57: Heav'ns fugitives, and for thir dwelling place 58: Accept this dark opprobrious Den of shame, 59: The Prison of his Tyranny who Reigns 60: By our delay? no, let us rather choose 61: Arm'd with Hell flames and fury all at once 62: O're Heav'ns high Towrs to force resistless way, 63: Turning our Tortures into horrid Arms 64: Against the Torturer; when to meet the noise 65: Of his Almighty Engin he shall hear 66: Infernal Thunder, and for Lightning see 67: Black fire and horror shot with equal rage 68: Among his Angels; and his Throne it self 69: Mixt with TARTAREAN Sulphur, and strange fire, 70: His own invented Torments. But perhaps 71: The way seems difficult and steep to scale 72: With upright wing against a higher foe. 73: Let such bethink them, if the sleepy drench 74: Of that forgetful Lake benumme not still, 75: That in our proper motion we ascend 76: Up to our native seat: descent and fall 77: To us is adverse. Who but felt of late 78: When the fierce Foe hung on our brok'n Rear 79: Insulting, and pursu'd us through the Deep, 80: With what compulsion and laborious flight 81: We sunk thus low? Th' ascent is easie then; 82: Th' event is fear'd; should we again provoke 83: Our stronger, some worse way his wrath may find 84: To our destruction: if there be in Hell 85: Fear to be worse destroy'd: what can be worse 86: Then to dwell here, driv'n out from bliss, condemn'd 87: In this abhorred deep to utter woe; 88: Where pain of unextinguishable fire 89: Must exercise us without hope of end 90: The Vassals of his anger, when the Scourge 91: Inexorably, and the torturing houre 92: Calls us to Penance? More destroy'd then thus 93: We should be quite abolisht and expire. 94: What fear we then? what doubt we to incense 95: His utmost ire? which to the highth enrag'd, 96: Will either quite consume us, and reduce 97: To nothing this essential, happier farr 98: Then miserable to have eternal being: 99: Or if our substance be indeed Divine, 100: And cannot cease to be, we are at worst 101: On this side nothing; and by proof we feel 102: Our power sufficient to disturb his Heav'n, 103: And with perpetual inrodes to Allarme, 104: Though inaccessible, his fatal Throne: 105: Which if not Victory is yet Revenge.
106: He ended frowning, and his look denounc'd 107: Desperate revenge, and Battel dangerous 108: To less then Gods. On th' other side up rose 109: BELIAL, in act more graceful and humane; 110: A fairer person lost not Heav'n; he seemd 111: For dignity compos'd and high exploit: 112: But all was false and hollow; though his Tongue 113: Dropt Manna, and could make the worse appear 114: The better reason, to perplex and dash 115: Maturest Counsels: for his thoughts were low; 116: To vice industrious, but to Nobler deeds 117: Timorous and slothful: yet he pleas'd the eare, 118: And with perswasive accent thus began.
119: I should be much for open Warr, O Peers, 120: As not behind in hate; if what was urg'd 121: Main reason to perswade immediate Warr, 122: Did not disswade me most, and seem to cast 123: Ominous conjecture on the whole success: 124: When he who most excels in fact of Arms, 125: In what he counsels and in what excels 126: Mistrustful, grounds his courage on despair 127: And utter dissolution, as the scope 128: Of all his aim, after some dire revenge. 129: First, what Revenge? the Towrs of Heav'n are fill'd 130: With Armed watch, that render all access 131: Impregnable; oft on the bordering Deep 132: Encamp thir Legions, or with obscure wing 133: Scout farr and wide into the Realm of night, 134: Scorning surprize. Or could we break our way 135: By force, and at our heels all Hell should rise 136: With blackest Insurrection, to confound 137: Heav'ns purest Light, yet our great Enemie 138: All incorruptible would on his Throne 139: Sit unpolluted, and th' Ethereal mould 140: Incapable of stain would soon expel 141: Her mischief, and purge off the baser fire 142: Victorious. Thus repuls'd, our final hope 143: Is flat despair: we must exasperate 144: Th' Almighty Victor to spend all his rage, 145: And that must end us, that must be our cure, 146: To be no more; sad cure; for who would loose, 147: Though full of pain, this intellectual being, 148: Those thoughts that wander through Eternity, 149: To perish rather, swallowd up and lost 150: In the wide womb of uncreated night, 151: Devoid of sense and motion? and who knows, 152: Let this be good, whether our angry Foe 153: Can give it, or will ever? how he can 154: Is doubtful; that he never will is sure. 155: Will he, so wise, let loose at once his ire, 156: Belike through impotence, or unaware, 157: To give his Enemies thir wish, and end 158: Them in his anger, whom his anger saves 159: To punish endless? wherefore cease we then? 160: Say they who counsel Warr, we are decreed, 161: Reserv'd and destin'd to Eternal woe; 162: Whatever doing, what can we suffer more, 163: What can we suffer worse? is this then worst, 164: Thus sitting, thus consulting, thus in Arms? 165: What when we fled amain, pursu'd and strook 166: With Heav'ns afflicting Thunder, and besought 167: The Deep to shelter us? this Hell then seem'd 168: A refuge from those wounds: or when we lay 169: Chain'd on the burning Lake? that sure was worse. 170: What if the breath that kindl'd those grim fires 171: Awak'd should blow them into sevenfold rage 172: And plunge us in the Flames? or from above 173: Should intermitted vengeance Arme again 174: His red right hand to plague us? what if all 175: Her stores were op'n'd, and this Firmament 176: Of Hell should spout her Cataracts of Fire, 177: Impendent horrors, threatning hideous fall 178: One day upon our heads; while we perhaps 179: Designing or exhorting glorious Warr, 180: Caught in a fierie Tempest shall be hurl'd 181: Each on his rock transfixt, the sport and prey 182: Of racking whirlwinds, or for ever sunk 183: Under yon boyling Ocean, wrapt in Chains; 184: There to converse with everlasting groans, 185: Unrespited, unpitied, unrepreevd, 186: Ages of hopeless end; this would be worse. 187: Warr therefore, open or conceal'd, alike 188: My voice disswades; for what can force or guile 189: With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye 190: Views all things at one view? he from heav'ns highth 191: All these our motions vain, sees and derides; 192: Not more Almighty to resist our might 193: Then wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles. 194: Shall we then live thus vile, the race of Heav'n 195: Thus trampl'd, thus expell'd to suffer here 196: Chains & these Torments? better these then worse 197: By my advice; since fate inevitable 198: Subdues us, and Omnipotent Decree, 199: The Victors will. To suffer, as to doe, 200: Our strength is equal, nor the Law unjust 201: That so ordains: this was at first resolv'd, 202: If we were wise, against so great a foe 203: Contending, and so doubtful what might fall. 204: I laugh, when those who at the Spear are bold 205: And vent'rous, if that fail them, shrink and fear 206: What yet they know must follow, to endure 207: Exile, or ignominy, or bonds, or pain, 208: The sentence of thir Conquerour: This is now 209: Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear, 210: Our Supream Foe in time may much remit 211: His anger, and perhaps thus farr remov'd 212: Not mind us not offending, satisfi'd 213: With what is punish't; whence these raging fires 214: Will slack'n, if his breath stir not thir flames. 215: Our purer essence then will overcome 216: Thir noxious vapour, or enur'd not feel, 217: Or chang'd at length, and to the place conformd 218: In temper and in nature, will receive 219: Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain; 220: This horror will grow milde, this darkness light, 221: Besides what hope the never-ending flight 222: Of future days may bring, what chance, what change 223: Worth waiting, since our present lot appeers 224: For happy though but ill, for ill not worst, 225: If we procure not to our selves more woe.
226: Thus BELIAL with words cloath'd in reasons garb 227: Counsel'd ignoble ease, and peaceful sloath, 228: Not peace: and after him thus MAMMON spake.
229: Either to disinthrone the King of Heav'n 230: We warr, if warr be best, or to regain 231: Our own right lost: him to unthrone we then 232: May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yeild 233: To fickle Chance, and CHAOS judge the strife: 234: The former vain to hope argues as vain 235: The latter: for what place can be for us 236: Within Heav'ns bound, unless Heav'ns Lord supream 237: We overpower? Suppose he should relent 238: And publish Grace to all, on promise made 239: Of new Subjection; with what eyes could we 240: Stand in his presence humble, and receive 241: Strict Laws impos'd, to celebrate his Throne 242: With warbl'd Hymns, and to his Godhead sing 243: Forc't Halleluiah's; while he Lordly sits 244: Our envied Sovran, and his Altar breathes 245: Ambrosial Odours and Ambrosial Flowers, 246: Our servile offerings. This must be our task 247: In Heav'n, this our delight; how wearisom 248: Eternity so spent in worship paid 249: To whom we hate. Let us not then pursue 250: By force impossible, by leave obtain'd 251: Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, our state 252: Of splendid vassalage, but rather seek 253: Our own good from our selves, and from our own 254: Live to our selves, though in this vast recess, 255: Free, and to none accountable, preferring 256: Hard liberty before the easie yoke 257: Of servile Pomp. Our greatness will appear 258: Then most conspicuous, when great things of small, 259: Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse 260: We can create, and in what place so e're 261: Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain 262: Through labour and endurance. This deep world 263: Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst 264: Thick clouds and dark doth Heav'ns all-ruling Sire 265: Choose to reside, his Glory unobscur'd, 266: And with the Majesty of darkness round 267: Covers his Throne; from whence deep thunders roar 268: Must'ring thir rage, and Heav'n resembles Hell? 269: As he our Darkness, cannot we his Light 270: Imitate when we please? This Desart soile 271: Wants not her hidden lustre, Gemms and Gold; 272: Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise 273: Magnificence; and what can Heav'n shew more? 274: Our torments also may in length of time 275: Become our Elements, these piercing Fires 276: As soft as now severe, our temper chang'd 277: Into their temper; which must needs remove 278: The sensible of pain. All things invite 279: To peaceful Counsels, and the settl'd State 280: Of order, how in safety best we may 281: Compose our present evils, with regard 282: Of what we are and where, dismissing quite 283: All thoughts of Warr: ye have what I advise.
284: He scarce had finisht, when such murmur filld 285: Th' Assembly, as when hollow Rocks retain 286: The sound of blustring winds, which all night long 287: Had rous'd the Sea, now with hoarse cadence lull 288: Sea-faring men orewatcht, whose Bark by chance 289: Or Pinnace anchors in a craggy Bay 290: After the Tempest: Such applause was heard 291: As MAMMON ended, and his Sentence pleas'd, 292: Advising peace: for such another Field 293: They dreaded worse then Hell: so much the fear 294: Of Thunder and the Sword of MICHAEL 295: Wrought still within them; and no less desire 296: To found this nether Empire, which might rise 297: By pollicy, and long process of time, 298: In emulation opposite to Heav'n. 299: Which when BEELZEBUB perceiv'd, then whom, 300: SATAN except, none higher sat, with grave 301: Aspect he rose, and in his rising seem'd 302: A Pillar of State; deep on his Front engraven 303: Deliberation sat and publick care; 304: And Princely counsel in his face yet shon, 305: Majestick though in ruin: sage he stood 306: With ATLANTEAN shoulders fit to bear 307: The weight of mightiest Monarchies; his look 308: Drew audience and attention still as Night 309: Or Summers Noon-tide air, while thus he spake.
310: Thrones and imperial Powers, off-spring of heav'n, 311: Ethereal Vertues; or these Titles now 312: Must we renounce, and changing stile be call'd 313: Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote 314: Inclines, here to continue, and build up here 315: A growing Empire; doubtless; while we dream, 316: And know not that the King of Heav'n hath doom'd 317: This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat 318: Beyond his Potent arm, to live exempt 319: From Heav'ns high jurisdiction, in new League 320: Banded against his Throne, but to remaine 321: In strictest bondage, though thus far remov'd, 322: Under th' inevitable curb, reserv'd 323: His captive multitude: For he, be sure, 324: In highth or depth, still first and last will Reign 325: Sole King, and of his Kingdom loose no part 326: By our revolt, but over Hell extend 327: His Empire, and with Iron Scepter rule 328: Us here, as with his Golden those in Heav'n. 329: What sit we then projecting Peace and Warr? 330: Warr hath determin'd us, and foild with loss 331: Irreparable; tearms of peace yet none 332: Voutsaf't or sought; for what peace will be giv'n 333: To us enslav'd, but custody severe, 334: And stripes, and arbitrary punishment 335: Inflicted? and what peace can we return, 336: But to our power hostility and hate, 337: Untam'd reluctance, and revenge though slow, 338: Yet ever plotting how the Conquerour least 339: May reap his conquest, and may least rejoyce 340: In doing what we most in suffering feel? 341: Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need 342: With dangerous expedition to invade 343: Heav'n, whose high walls fear no assault or Siege, 344: Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find 345: Some easier enterprize? There is a place 346: (If ancient and prophetic fame in Heav'n 347: Err not) another World, the happy seat 348: Of som new Race call'd MAN, about this time 349: To be created like to us, though less 350: In power and excellence, but favour'd more 351: Of him who rules above; so was his will 352: Pronounc'd among the Gods, and by an Oath, 353: That shook Heav'ns whol circumference, confirm'd. 354: Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn 355: What creatures there inhabit, of what mould, 356: Or substance, how endu'd, and what thir Power, 357: And where thir weakness, how attempted best, 358: By force or suttlety: Though Heav'n be shut, 359: And Heav'ns high Arbitrator sit secure 360: In his own strength, this place may lye expos'd 361: The utmost border of his Kingdom, left 362: To their defence who hold it: here perhaps 363: Som advantagious act may be achiev'd 364: By sudden onset, either with Hell fire 365: To waste his whole Creation, or possess 366: All as our own, and drive as we were driven, 367: The punie habitants, or if not drive, 368: Seduce them to our Party, that thir God 369: May prove thir foe, and with repenting hand 370: Abolish his own works. This would surpass 371: Common revenge, and interrupt his joy 372: In our Confusion, and our Joy upraise 373: In his disturbance; when his darling Sons 374: Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse 375: Thir frail Originals, and faded bliss, 376: Faded so soon. Advise if this be worth 377: Attempting, or to sit in darkness here 378: Hatching vain Empires. Thus BEELZEBUB 379: Pleaded his devilish Counsel, first devis'd 380: By SATAN, and in part propos'd: for whence, 381: But from the Author of all ill could Spring 382: So deep a malice, to confound the race 383: Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell 384: To mingle and involve, done all to spite 385: The great Creatour? But thir spite still serves 386: His glory to augment. The bold design 387: Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy 388: Sparkl'd in all thir eyes; with full assent 389: They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews.
390: Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate, 391: Synod of Gods, and like to what ye are, 392: Great things resolv'd; which from the lowest deep 393: Will once more lift us up, in spight of Fate, 394: Neerer our ancient Seat; perhaps in view 395: Of those bright confines, whence with neighbouring Arms 396: And opportune excursion we may chance 397: Re-enter Heav'n; or else in some milde Zone 398: Dwell not unvisited of Heav'ns fair Light 399: Secure, and at the brightning Orient beam 400: Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious Air, 401: To heal the scarr of these corrosive Fires 402: Shall breath her balme. But first whom shall we send 403: In search of this new world, whom shall we find 404: Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandring feet 405: The dark unbottom'd infinite Abyss 406: And through the palpable obscure find out 407: His uncouth way, or spread his aerie flight 408: Upborn with indefatigable wings 409: Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive 410: The happy Ile; what strength, what art can then 411: Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe 412: Through the strict Senteries and Stations thick 413: Of Angels watching round? Here he had need 414: All circumspection, and we now no less 415: Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send, 416: The weight of all and our last hope relies.
417: This said, he sat; and expectation held 418: His look suspence, awaiting who appeer'd 419: To second, or oppose, or undertake 420: The perilous attempt: but all sat mute, 421: Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; & each 422: In others count'nance red his own dismay 423: Astonisht: none among the choice and prime 424: Of those Heav'n-warring Champions could be found 425: So hardie as to proffer or accept 426: Alone the dreadful voyage; till at last 427: SATAN, whom now transcendent glory rais'd 428: Above his fellows, with Monarchal pride 429: Conscious of highest worth, unmov'd thus spake.
430: O Progeny of Heav'n, Empyreal Thrones, 431: With reason hath deep silence and demurr 432: Seis'd us, though undismaid: long is the way 433: And hard, that out of Hell leads up to Light; 434: Our prison strong, this huge convex of Fire, 435: Outrageous to devour, immures us round 436: Ninefold, and gates of burning Adamant 437: Barr'd over us prohibit all egress. 438: These past, if any pass, the void profound 439: Of unessential Night receives him next 440: Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being 441: Threatens him, plung'd in that abortive gulf. 442: If thence he scape into what ever world, 443: Or unknown Region, what remains him less 444: Then unknown dangers and as hard escape. 445: But I should ill become this Throne, O Peers, 446: And this Imperial Sov'ranty, adorn'd 447: With splendor, arm'd with power, if aught propos'd 448: And judg'd of public moment, in the shape 449: Of difficulty or danger could deterre 450: Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume 451: These Royalties, and not refuse to Reign, 452: Refusing to accept as great a share 453: Of hazard as of honour, due alike 454: To him who Reigns, and so much to him due 455: Of hazard more, as he above the rest 456: High honourd sits? Go therfore mighty powers, 457: Terror of Heav'n, though fall'n; intend at home, 458: While here shall be our home, what best may ease 459: The present misery, and render Hell 460: More tollerable; if there be cure or charm 461: To respite or deceive, or slack the pain 462: Of this ill Mansion: intermit no watch 463: Against a wakeful Foe, while I abroad 464: Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek 465: Deliverance for us all: this enterprize 466: None shall partake with me. Thus saying rose 467: The Monarch, and prevented all reply, 468: Prudent, least from his resolution rais'd 469: Others among the chief might offer now 470: (Certain to be refus'd) what erst they feard; 471: And so refus'd might in opinion stand 472: His rivals, winning cheap the high repute 473: Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they 474: Dreaded not more th' adventure then his voice 475: Forbidding; and at once with him they rose; 476: Thir rising all at once was as the sound 477: Of Thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend 478: With awful reverence prone; and as a God 479: Extoll him equal to the highest in Heav'n: 480: Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd, 481: That for the general safety he despis'd 482: His own: for neither do the Spirits damn'd 483: Loose all thir vertue; least bad men should boast 484: Thir specious deeds on earth, which glory excites, 485: Or close ambition varnisht o're with zeal. 486: Thus they thir doubtful consultations dark 487: Ended rejoycing in thir matchless Chief: 488: As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds 489: Ascending, while the North wind sleeps, o'respread 490: Heav'ns chearful face, the lowring Element 491: Scowls ore the dark'nd lantskip Snow, or showre; 492: If chance the radiant Sun with farewell sweet 493: Extend his ev'ning beam, the fields revive, 494: The birds thir notes renew, and bleating herds 495: Attest thir joy, that hill and valley rings. 496: O shame to men! Devil with Devil damn'd 497: Firm concord holds, men onely disagree 498: Of Creatures rational, though under hope 499: Of heavenly Grace: and God proclaiming peace, 500: Yet live in hatred, enmitie, and strife 501: Among themselves, and levie cruel warres, 502: Wasting the Earth, each other to destroy: 503: As if (which might induce us to accord) 504: Man had not hellish foes anow besides, 505: That day and night for his destruction waite.
506: The STYGIAN Councel thus dissolv'd; and forth 507: In order came the grand infernal Peers, 508: Midst came thir mighty Paramount, and seemd 509: Alone th' Antagonist of Heav'n, nor less 510: Then Hells dread Emperour with pomp Supream, 511: And God-like imitated State; him round 512: A Globe of fierie Seraphim inclos'd 513: With bright imblazonrie, and horrent Arms. 514: Then of thir Session ended they bid cry 515: With Trumpets regal sound the great result: 516: Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim 517: Put to thir mouths the sounding Alchymie 518: By Haralds voice explain'd: the hollow Abyss 519: Heard farr and wide, and all the host of Hell 520: With deafning shout, return'd them loud acclaim. 521: Thence more at ease thir minds and somwhat rais'd 522: By false presumptuous hope, the ranged powers 523: Disband, and wandring, each his several way 524: Pursues, as inclination or sad choice 525: Leads him perplext, where he may likeliest find 526: Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain 527: The irksome hours, till his great Chief return. 528: Part on the Plain, or in the Air sublime 529: Upon the wing, or in swift race contend, 530: As at th' Olympian Games or PYTHIAN fields; 531: Part curb thir fierie Steeds, or shun the Goal 532: With rapid wheels, or fronted Brigads form. 533: As when to warn proud Cities warr appears 534: Wag'd in the troubl'd Skie, and Armies rush 535: To Battel in the Clouds, before each Van 536: Pric forth the Aerie Knights, and couch thir spears 537: Till thickest Legions close; with feats of Arms 538: From either end of Heav'n the welkin burns. 539: Others with vast TYPHOEAN rage more fell 540: Rend up both Rocks and Hills, and ride the Air 541: In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wilde uproar. 542: As when ALCIDES from OEALIA Crown'd 543: With conquest, felt th' envenom'd robe, and tore 544: Through pain up by the roots THESSALIAN Pines, 545: And LICHAS from the top of OETA threw 546: Into th' EUBOIC Sea. Others more milde, 547: Retreated in a silent valley, sing 548: With notes Angelical to many a Harp 549: Thir own Heroic deeds and hapless fall 550: By doom of Battel; and complain that Fate 551: Free Vertue should enthrall to Force or Chance. 552: Thir song was partial, but the harmony 553: (What could it less when Spirits immortal sing?) 554: Suspended Hell, and took with ravishment 555: The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet 556: (For Eloquence the Soul, Song charms the Sense,) 557: Others apart sat on a Hill retir'd, 558: In thoughts more elevate, and reason'd high 559: Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will, and Fate, 560: Fixt Fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute, 561: And found no end, in wandring mazes lost. 562: Of good and evil much they argu'd then, 563: Of happiness and final misery, 564: Passion and Apathie, and glory and shame, 565: Vain wisdom all, and false Philosophie: 566: Yet with a pleasing sorcerie could charm 567: Pain for a while or anguish, and excite 568: Fallacious hope, or arm th' obdured brest 569: With stubborn patience as with triple steel. 570: Another part in Squadrons and gross Bands, 571: On bold adventure to discover wide 572: That dismal world, if any Clime perhaps 573: Might yeild them easier habitation, bend 574: Four ways thir flying March, along the Banks 575: Of four infernal Rivers that disgorge 576: Into the burning Lake thir baleful streams; 577: Abhorred STYX the flood of deadly hate, 578: Sad ACHERON of sorrow, black and deep; 579: COCYTUS, nam'd of lamentation loud 580: Heard on the ruful stream; fierce PHLEGETON 581: Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. 582: Farr off from these a slow and silent stream, 583: LETHE the River of Oblivion roules 584: Her watrie Labyrinth, whereof who drinks, 585: Forthwith his former state and being forgets, 586: Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain. 587: Beyond this flood a frozen Continent 588: Lies dark and wilde, beat with perpetual storms 589: Of Whirlwind and dire Hail, which on firm land 590: Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin seems 591: Of ancient pile; all else deep snow and ice, 592: A gulf profound as that SERBONIAN Bog 593: Betwixt DAMIATA and mount CASIUS old, 594: Where Armies whole have sunk: the parching Air 595: Burns frore, and cold performs th' effect of Fire. 596: Thither by harpy-footed Furies hail'd, 597: At certain revolutions all the damn'd 598: Are brought: and feel by turns the bitter change 599: Of fierce extreams, extreams by change more fierce, 600: From Beds of raging Fire to starve in Ice 601: Thir soft Ethereal warmth, and there to pine 602: Immovable, infixt, and frozen round, 603: Periods of time, thence hurried back to fire. 604: They ferry over this LETHEAN Sound 605: Both to and fro, thir sorrow to augment, 606: And wish and struggle, as they pass, to reach 607: The tempting stream, with one small drop to loose 608: In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe, 609: All in one moment, and so neer the brink; 610: But fate withstands, and to oppose th' attempt 611: MEDUSA with GORGONIAN terror guards 612: The Ford, and of it self the water flies 613: All taste of living wight, as once it fled 614: The lip of TANTALUS. Thus roving on 615: In confus'd march forlorn, th' adventrous Bands 616: With shuddring horror pale, and eyes agast 617: View'd first thir lamentable lot, and found 618: No rest: through many a dark and drearie Vaile 619: They pass'd, and many a Region dolorous, 620: O're many a Frozen, many a Fierie Alpe, 621: Rocks, Caves, Lakes, Fens, Bogs, Dens, and shades of death, 622: A Universe of death, which God by curse 623: Created evil, for evil only good, 624: Where all life dies, death lives, and nature breeds, 625: Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things, 626: Abominable, inutterable, and worse 627: Then Fables yet have feign'd, or fear conceiv'd, 628: GORGONS and HYDRA'S, and CHIMERA'S dire.
629: Mean while the Adversary of God and Man, 630: SATAN with thoughts inflam'd of highest design, 631: Puts on swift wings, and toward the Gates of Hell 632: Explores his solitary flight; som times 633: He scours the right hand coast, som times the left, 634: Now shaves with level wing the Deep, then soares 635: Up to the fiery concave touring high. 636: As when farr off at Sea a Fleet descri'd 637: Hangs in the Clouds, by AEQUINOCTIAL Winds 638: Close sailing from BENGALA, or the Iles 639: Of TERNATE and TIDORE, whence Merchants bring 640: Thir spicie Drugs: they on the trading Flood 641: Through the wide ETHIOPIAN to the Cape 642: Ply stemming nightly toward the Pole. So seem'd 643: Farr off the flying Fiend: at last appeer 644: Hell bounds high reaching to the horrid Roof, 645: And thrice threefold the Gates; three folds were Brass 646: Three Iron, three of Adamantine Rock, 647: Impenitrable, impal'd with circling fire, 648: Yet unconsum'd. Before the Gates there sat 649: On either side a formidable shape; 650: The one seem'd Woman to the waste, and fair, 651: But ended foul in many a scaly fould 652: Voluminous and vast, a Serpent arm'd 653: With mortal sting: about her middle round 654: A cry of Hell Hounds never ceasing bark'd 655: With wide CERBEREAN mouths full loud, and rung 656: A hideous Peal: yet, when they list, would creep, 657: If aught disturb'd thir noyse, into her woomb, 658: And kennel there, yet there still bark'd and howl'd 659: Within unseen. Farr less abhorrd then these 660: Vex'd SCYLLA bathing in the Sea that parts 661: CALABRIA from the hoarce TRINACRIAN shore: 662: Nor uglier follow the Night-Hag, when call'd 663: In secret, riding through the Air she comes 664: Lur'd with the smell of infant blood, to dance 665: With LAPLAND Witches, while the labouring Moon 666: Eclipses at thir charms. The other shape, 667: If shape it might be call'd that shape had none 668: Distinguishable in member, joynt, or limb, 669: Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd, 670: For each seem'd either; black it stood as Night, 671: Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell, 672: And shook a dreadful Dart; what seem'd his head 673: The likeness of a Kingly Crown had on. 674: SATAN was now at hand, and from his seat 675: The Monster moving onward came as fast, 676: With horrid strides, Hell trembled as he strode. 677: Th' undaunted Fiend what this might be admir'd, 678: Admir'd, not fear'd; God and his Son except, 679: Created thing naught vallu'd he nor shun'd; 680: And with disdainful look thus first began.
681: Whence and what art thou, execrable shape, 682: That dar'st, though grim and terrible, advance 683: Thy miscreated Front athwart my way 684: To yonder Gates? through them I mean to pass, 685: That be assur'd, without leave askt of thee: 686: Retire, or taste thy folly, and learn by proof, 687: Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of Heav'n.
688: To whom the Goblin full of wrauth reply'd, 689: Art thou that Traitor Angel, art thou hee, 690: Who first broke peace in Heav'n and Faith, till then 691: Unbrok'n, and in proud rebellious Arms 692: Drew after him the third part of Heav'ns Sons 693: Conjur'd against the highest, for which both Thou 694: And they outcast from God, are here condemn'd 695: To waste Eternal daies in woe and pain? 696: And reck'n'st thou thy self with Spirits of Heav'n, 697: Hell-doomd, and breath'st defiance here and scorn, 698: Where I reign King, and to enrage thee more, 699: Thy King and Lord? Back to thy punishment, 700: False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings, 701: Least with a whip of Scorpions I pursue 702: Thy lingring, or with one stroke of this Dart 703: Strange horror seise thee, and pangs unfelt before.
704: So spake the grieslie terrour, and in shape, 705: So speaking and so threatning, grew ten fold 706: More dreadful and deform: on th' other side 707: Incenc't with indignation SATAN stood 708: Unterrifi'd, and like a Comet burn'd, 709: That fires the length of OPHIUCUS huge 710: In th' Artick Sky, and from his horrid hair 711: Shakes Pestilence and Warr. Each at the Head 712: Level'd his deadly aime; thir fatall hands 713: No second stroke intend, and such a frown 714: Each cast at th' other, as when two black Clouds 715: With Heav'ns Artillery fraught, come rattling on 716: Over the CASPIAN, then stand front to front 717: Hov'ring a space, till Winds the signal blow 718: To joyn thir dark Encounter in mid air: 719: So frownd the mighty Combatants, that Hell 720: Grew darker at thir frown, so matcht they stood; 721: For never but once more was either like 722: To meet so great a foe: and now great deeds 723: Had been achiev'd, whereof all Hell had rung, 724: Had not the Snakie Sorceress that sat 725: Fast by Hell Gate, and kept the fatal Key, 726: Ris'n, and with hideous outcry rush'd between.
727: O Father, what intends thy hand, she cry'd, 728: Against thy only Son? What fury O Son, 729: Possesses thee to bend that mortal Dart 730: Against thy Fathers head? and know'st for whom; 731: For him who sits above and laughs the while 732: At thee ordain'd his drudge, to execute 733: What e're his wrath, which he calls Justice, bids, 734: His wrath which one day will destroy ye both.
735: She spake, and at her words the hellish Pest 736: Forbore, then these to her SATAN return'd:
737: So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange 738: Thou interposest, that my sudden hand 739: Prevented spares to tell thee yet by deeds 740: What it intends; till first I know of thee, 741: What thing thou art, thus double-form'd, and why 742: In this infernal Vaile first met thou call'st 743: Me Father, and that Fantasm call'st my Son? 744: I know thee not, nor ever saw till now 745: Sight more detestable then him and thee.
746: T' whom thus the Portress of Hell Gate reply'd; 747: Hast thou forgot me then, and do I seem 748: Now in thine eye so foul, once deemd so fair 749: In Heav'n, when at th' Assembly, and in sight 750: Of all the Seraphim with thee combin'd 751: In bold conspiracy against Heav'ns King, 752: All on a sudden miserable pain 753: Surpris'd thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzie swumm 754: In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast 755: Threw forth, till on the left side op'ning wide, 756: Likest to thee in shape and count'nance bright, 757: Then shining heav'nly fair, a Goddess arm'd 758: Out of thy head I sprung: amazement seis'd 759: All th' Host of Heav'n; back they recoild affraid 760: At first, and call'd me SIN, and for a Sign 761: Portentous held me; but familiar grown, 762: I pleas'd, and with attractive graces won 763: The most averse, thee chiefly, who full oft 764: Thy self in me thy perfect image viewing 765: Becam'st enamour'd, and such joy thou took'st 766: With me in secret, that my womb conceiv'd 767: A growing burden. Mean while Warr arose, 768: And fields were fought in Heav'n; wherein remaind 769: (For what could else) to our Almighty Foe 770: Cleer Victory, to our part loss and rout 771: Through all the Empyrean: down they fell 772: Driv'n headlong from the Pitch of Heaven, down 773: Into this Deep, and in the general fall 774: I also; at which time this powerful Key 775: Into my hand was giv'n, with charge to keep 776: These Gates for ever shut, which none can pass 777: Without my op'ning. Pensive here I sat 778: Alone, but long I sat not, till my womb 779: Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown 780: Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes. 781: At last this odious offspring whom thou seest 782: Thine own begotten, breaking violent way 783: Tore through my entrails, that with fear and pain 784: Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew 785: Transform'd: but he my inbred enemie 786: Forth issu'd, brandishing his fatal Dart 787: Made to destroy: I fled, and cry'd out DEATH; 788: Hell trembl'd at the hideous Name, and sigh'd 789: From all her Caves, and back resounded DEATH. 790: I fled, but he pursu'd (though more, it seems, 791: Inflam'd with lust then rage) and swifter far, 792: Me overtook his mother all dismaid, 793: And in embraces forcible and foule 794: Ingendring with me, of that rape begot 795: These yelling Monsters that with ceasless cry 796: Surround me, as thou sawst, hourly conceiv'd 797: And hourly born, with sorrow infinite 798: To me, for when they list into the womb 799: That bred them they return, and howle and gnaw 800: My Bowels, their repast; then bursting forth 801: Afresh with conscious terrours vex me round, 802: That rest or intermission none I find. 803: Before mine eyes in opposition sits 804: Grim DEATH my Son and foe, who sets them on, 805: And me his Parent would full soon devour 806: For want of other prey, but that he knows 807: His end with mine involvd; and knows that I 808: Should prove a bitter Morsel, and his bane, 809: When ever that shall be; so Fate pronounc'd. 810: But thou O Father, I forewarn thee, shun 811: His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope 812: To be invulnerable in those bright Arms, 813: Though temper'd heav'nly, for that mortal dint, 814: Save he who reigns above, none can resist.
815: She finish'd, and the suttle Fiend his lore 816: Soon learnd, now milder, and thus answerd smooth. 817: Dear Daughter, since thou claim'st me for thy Sire, 818: And my fair Son here showst me, the dear pledge 819: Of dalliance had with thee in Heav'n, and joys 820: Then sweet, now sad to mention, through dire change 821: Befalln us unforeseen, unthought of, know 822: I come no enemie, but to set free 823: From out this dark and dismal house of pain, 824: Both him and thee, and all the heav'nly Host 825: Of Spirits that in our just pretenses arm'd 826: Fell with us from on high: from them I go 827: This uncouth errand sole, and one for all 828: My self expose, with lonely steps to tread 829: Th' unfounded deep, & through the void immense 830: To search with wandring quest a place foretold 831: Should be, and, by concurring signs, ere now 832: Created vast and round, a place of bliss 833: In the Pourlieues of Heav'n, and therein plac't 834: A race of upstart Creatures, to supply 835: Perhaps our vacant room, though more remov'd, 836: Least Heav'n surcharg'd with potent multitude 837: Might hap to move new broiles: Be this or aught 838: Then this more secret now design'd, I haste 839: To know, and this once known, shall soon return, 840: And bring ye to the place where Thou and Death 841: Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseen 842: Wing silently the buxom Air, imbalm'd 843: With odours; there ye shall be fed and fill'd 844: Immeasurably, all things shall be your prey. 845: He ceas'd, for both seemd highly pleasd, and Death 846: Grinnd horrible a gastly smile, to hear 847: His famine should be fill'd, and blest his mawe 848: Destin'd to that good hour: no less rejoyc'd 849: His mother bad, and thus bespake her Sire.
850: The key of this infernal Pit by due, 851: And by command of Heav'ns all-powerful King 852: I keep, by him forbidden to unlock 853: These Adamantine Gates; against all force 854: Death ready stands to interpose his dart, 855: Fearless to be o'rematcht by living might. 856: But what ow I to his commands above 857: Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down 858: Into this gloom of TARTARUS profound, 859: To sit in hateful Office here confin'd, 860: Inhabitant of Heav'n, and heav'nlie-born, 861: Here in perpetual agonie and pain, 862: With terrors and with clamors compasst round 863: Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed: 864: Thou art my Father, thou my Author, thou 865: My being gav'st me; whom should I obey 866: But thee, whom follow? thou wilt bring me soon 867: To that new world of light and bliss, among 868: The Gods who live at ease, where I shall Reign 869: At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems 870: Thy daughter and thy darling, without end.
871: Thus saying, from her side the fatal Key, 872: Sad instrument of all our woe, she took; 873: And towards the Gate rouling her bestial train, 874: Forthwith the huge Porcullis high up drew, 875: Which but her self not all the STYGIAN powers 876: Could once have mov'd; then in the key-hole turns 877: Th' intricate wards, and every Bolt and Bar 878: Of massie Iron or sollid Rock with ease 879: Unfast'ns: on a sudden op'n flie 880: With impetuous recoile and jarring sound 881: Th' infernal dores, and on thir hinges great 882: Harsh Thunder, that the lowest bottom shook 883: Of EREBUS. She op'nd, but to shut 884: Excel'd her power; the Gates wide op'n stood, 885: That with extended wings a Bannerd Host 886: Under spread Ensigns marching might pass through 887: With Horse and Chariots rankt in loose array; 888: So wide they stood, and like a Furnace mouth 889: Cast forth redounding smoak and ruddy flame. 890: Before thir eyes in sudden view appear 891: The secrets of the hoarie deep, a dark 892: Illimitable Ocean without bound, 893: Without dimension, where length, breadth, and highth, 894: And time and place are lost; where eldest Night 895: And CHAOS, Ancestors of Nature, hold 896: Eternal ANARCHIE, amidst the noise 897: Of endless warrs and by confusion stand. 898: For hot, cold, moist, and dry, four Champions fierce 899: Strive here for Maistrie, and to Battel bring 900: Thir embryon Atoms; they around the flag 901: Of each his faction, in thir several Clanns, 902: Light-arm'd or heavy, sharp, smooth, swift or slow, 903: Swarm populous, unnumber'd as the Sands 904: Of BARCA or CYRENE'S torrid soil, 905: Levied to side with warring Winds, and poise 906: Thir lighter wings. To whom these most adhere, 907: Hee rules a moment; CHAOS Umpire sits, 908: And by decision more imbroiles the fray 909: By which he Reigns: next him high Arbiter 910: CHANCE governs all. Into this wilde Abyss, 911: The Womb of nature and perhaps her Grave, 912: Of neither Sea, nor Shore, nor Air, nor Fire, 913: But all these in thir pregnant causes mixt 914: Confus'dly, and which thus must ever fight, 915: Unless th' Almighty Maker them ordain 916: His dark materials to create more Worlds, 917: Into this wilde Abyss the warie fiend 918: Stood on the brink of Hell and look'd a while, 919: Pondering his Voyage; for no narrow frith 920: He had to cross. Nor was his eare less peal'd 921: With noises loud and ruinous (to compare 922: Great things with small) then when BELLONA storms, 923: With all her battering Engines bent to rase 924: Som Capital City, or less then if this frame 925: Of Heav'n were falling, and these Elements 926: In mutinie had from her Axle torn 927: The stedfast Earth. At last his Sail-broad Vannes 928: He spreads for flight, and in the surging smoak 929: Uplifted spurns the ground, thence many a League 930: As in a cloudy Chair ascending rides 931: Audacious, but that seat soon failing, meets 932: A vast vacuitie: all unawares 933: Fluttring his pennons vain plumb down he drops 934: Ten thousand fadom deep, and to this hour 935: Down had been falling, had not by ill chance 936: The strong rebuff of som tumultuous cloud 937: Instinct with Fire and Nitre hurried him 938: As many miles aloft: that furie stay'd, 939: Quencht in a Boggie SYRTIS, neither Sea, 940: Nor good dry Land: nigh founderd on he fares, 941: Treading the crude consistence, half on foot, 942: Half flying; behoves him now both Oare and Saile. 943: As when a Gryfon through the Wilderness 944: With winged course ore Hill or moarie Dale, 945: Pursues the ARIMASPIAN, who by stelth 946: Had from his wakeful custody purloind 947: The guarded Gold: So eagerly the fiend 948: Ore bog or steep, through strait, rough, dense, or rare, 949: With head, hands, wings, or feet pursues his way, 950: And swims or sinks, or wades, or creeps, or flyes: 951: At length a universal hubbub wilde 952: Of stunning sounds and voices all confus'd 953: Born through the hollow dark assaults his eare 954: With loudest vehemence: thither he plyes, 955: Undaunted to meet there what ever power 956: Or Spirit of the nethermost Abyss 957: Might in that noise reside, of whom to ask 958: Which way the neerest coast of darkness lyes 959: Bordering on light; when strait behold the Throne 960: Of CHAOS, and his dark Pavilion spread 961: Wide on the wasteful Deep; with him Enthron'd 962: Sat Sable-vested Night, eldest of things, 963: The consort of his Reign; and by them stood 964: ORCUS and ADES, and the dreaded name 965: Of DEMOGORGON; Rumor next and Chance, 966: And Tumult and Confusion all imbroild, 967: And Discord with a thousand various mouths.
968: T' whom SATAN turning boldly, thus. Ye Powers 969: And Spirits of this nethermost Abyss, 970: CHAOS and ANCIENT NIGHT, I come no Spie, 971: With purpose to explore or to disturb 972: The secrets of your Realm, but by constraint 973: Wandring this darksome desart, as my way 974: Lies through your spacious Empire up to light, 975: Alone, and without guide, half lost, I seek 976: What readiest path leads where your gloomie bounds 977: Confine with Heav'n; or if som other place 978: From your Dominion won, th' Ethereal King 979: Possesses lately, thither to arrive 980: I travel this profound, direct my course; 981: Directed, no mean recompence it brings 982: To your behoof, if I that Region lost, 983: All usurpation thence expell'd, reduce 984: To her original darkness and your sway 985: (Which is my present journey) and once more 986: Erect the Standerd there of ANCIENT NIGHT; 987: Yours be th' advantage all, mine the revenge.
988: Thus SATAN; and him thus the Anarch old 989: With faultring speech and visage incompos'd 990: Answer'd. I know thee, stranger, who thou art, 991: That mighty leading Angel, who of late 992: Made head against Heav'ns King, though overthrown. 993: I saw and heard, for such a numerous host 994: Fled not in silence through the frighted deep 995: With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout, 996: Confusion worse confounded; and Heav'n Gates 997: Pourd out by millions her victorious Bands 998: Pursuing. I upon my Frontieres here 999: Keep residence; if all I can will serve, 1000: That little which is left so to defend 1001: Encroacht on still through our intestine broiles 1002: Weakning the Scepter of old Night: first Hell 1003: Your dungeon stretching far and wide beneath; 1004: Now lately Heaven and Earth, another World 1005: Hung ore my Realm, link'd in a golden Chain 1006: To that side Heav'n from whence your Legions fell: 1007: If that way be your walk, you have not farr; 1008: So much the neerer danger; goe and speed; 1009: Havock and spoil and ruin are my gain.
1010: He ceas'd; and SATAN staid not to reply, 1011: But glad that now his Sea should find a shore, 1012: With fresh alacritie and force renew'd 1013: Springs upward like a Pyramid of fire 1014: Into the wilde expanse, and through the shock 1015: Of fighting Elements, on all sides round 1016: Environ'd wins his way; harder beset 1017: And more endanger'd, then when ARGO pass'd 1018: Through BOSPORUS betwixt the justling Rocks: 1019: Or when ULYSSES on the Larbord shunnd 1020: CHARYBDIS, and by th' other whirlpool steard. 1021: So he with difficulty and labour hard 1022: Mov'd on, with difficulty and labour hee; 1023: But hee once past, soon after when man fell, 1024: Strange alteration! Sin and Death amain 1025: Following his track, such was the will of Heav'n, 1026: Pav'd after him a broad and beat'n way 1027: Over the dark Abyss, whose boiling Gulf 1028: Tamely endur'd a Bridge of wondrous length 1029: From Hell continu'd reaching th' utmost Orbe 1030: Of this frail World; by which the Spirits perverse 1031: With easie intercourse pass to and fro 1032: To tempt or punish mortals, except whom 1033: God and good Angels guard by special grace. 1034: But now at last the sacred influence 1035: Of light appears, and from the walls of Heav'n 1036: Shoots farr into the bosom of dim Night 1037: A glimmering dawn; here Nature first begins 1038: Her fardest verge, and CHAOS to retire 1039: As from her outmost works a brok'n foe 1040: With tumult less and with less hostile din, 1041: That SATAN with less toil, and now with ease 1042: Wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light 1043: And like a weather-beaten Vessel holds 1044: Gladly the Port, though Shrouds and Tackle torn; 1045: Or in the emptier waste, resembling Air, 1046: Weighs his spread wings, at leasure to behold 1047: Farr off th' Empyreal Heav'n, extended wide 1048: In circuit, undetermind square or round, 1049: With Opal Towrs and Battlements adorn'd 1050: Of living Saphire, once his native Seat; 1051: And fast by hanging in a golden Chain 1052: This pendant world, in bigness as a Starr 1053: Of smallest Magnitude close by the Moon. 1054: Thither full fraught with mischievous revenge, 1055: Accurst, and in a cursed hour he hies.
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