And after him thus Mammon spoke

229

      

   “Either to disenthrone the King of Heav’n

230

      

We war, if war be best, or to regain

231

      

Our own right lost. Him to unthrone we then

232

      

May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield

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’n’s bound, unless Heav’n’s Lord supreme

237

      

We overpower? Suppose He should relent

238

      

And publish1995 grace to all, on promise made

239

      

Of new subjection?1996 With what eyes could we

240

      

Stand in His presence humble, and receive

241

      

Strict laws imposed, to celebrate His throne

242

      

With warbled hymns, and to His Godhead sing

243

      

Forced hallelujahs, while He lordly sits

244

      

Our envied sov’reign, and His altar breathes

245

      

Ambrosial odors and ambrosial flowers

246

      

Our servile offerings? This must be our task

247

      

In Heav’n, this our delight. How wearisome

248

      

Eternity so spent in worship paid

249

      

To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue

250

      

By force impossible, by leave obtained

251

      

Unacceptable, though in Heav’n, our state

252

      

Of splendid vassalage, but rather seek

253

      

Our own good from ourselves, and from our own

254

      

Live to1997 ourselves, though in this vast recess

255

      

Free and to none accountable, preferring

256

      

Hard liberty before the easy yoke

257

      

Of servile pomp. Our greatness will appear

258

      

Then most conspicuous when great things of 1998 small,

259

      

Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse, 1999

260

      

We can create, and in what place soe’er

261

      

Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain

262

      

Through labor and endurance. This deep world

263

      

Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst

264

      

Thick clouds and dark doth Heav’n’s all-ruling Sire

265

      

Choose to reside, His glory unobscured

266

      

And with the majesty of darkness round

267

      

Covers His throne, from whence deep thunders roar,

268

      

Must’ring2000 their rage, and Heav’n resembles Hell!

269

      

As He our darkness, cannot we His light

270

      

Imitate when we please? This desert soil

271

      

Wants2001 not her hidden luster, gems and gold,

272

      

Nor want 2002 we skill or art from whence to raise

273

      

Magnificence. And what can Heav’n show more?

274

      

Our torments also may, in length of time,

275

      

Become our elements,2003 these piercing fires

276

      

As soft as now severe, our temper changed

277

      

Into their temper, which must needs remove

278

      

The sensible2004 of pain. All things invite

279

      

To peaceful counsels, and the settled state

280

      

Of order, how in safety best we may

281

      

Compose2005 our present evils, with regard

282

      

Of what we are and where, dismissing quite

283

      

All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advise.

284

      

   He scarce had finished, when such murmur filled

285

      

Th’ assembly as when hollow rocks retain

286

      

The sound of blust’ring winds, which all night long

287

      

Had roused the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull

288

      

Seafaring men o’erwatched,2006 whose barque2007 by chance,

289

      

Or pinnace, 2008 anchors in a craggy bay

290

      

After the tempest. Such applause was heard

291

      

As Mammon ended, and his sentence2009 pleased,

292

      

Advising peace, for such another field 2010

293

      

They dreaded worse than Hell, so much the fear

294

      

Of thunder and the sword of Michael

295

      

Wrought2011 still within them, and no less desire

296

      

To found2012 this nether 2013 empire, which might rise,

297

      

By policy2014 and long process2015 of time,

298

      

In emulation2016 opposite2017 to Heav’n.

299

      

Which when Beelzebub perceived—than whom,

300

      

Satan except, none higher sat—with grave

301

      

Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemed

302

      

A pillar of state. Deep on his front2018 engrav’n

303

      

Deliberation sat, and public care,

304

      

And princely counsel in his face yet shone,

305

      

Majestic, though in ruin. Sage he stood

306

      

With Atlantean2019 shoulders, fit to bear

307

      

The weight of mightiest monarchies. His look

308

      

Drew audience2020 and attention still as night

309

      

Or summer’s noontide air, while thus he spoke:

310

      

   “Thrones and Imperial Powers, offspring of Heav’n,

311

      

Ethereal Virtues! Or these titles now

312

      

Must we renounce and, changing style, be called

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 doomed2021

317

      

This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat

318

      

Beyond His potent arm, to live exempt

319

      

From Heav’n’s high jurisdiction, in new league

320

      

Banded against His throne, but to remain

321

      

In strictest bondage, though thus far removed,

322

      

Under th’ inevitable2022 curb,2023 reserved2024

323

      

His captive multitude. For He, to be sure,

324

      

In height or depth, still first and last will reign

325

      

Sole king, and of His Kingdom lose no part

326

      

By our revolt, but over Hell extend

327

      

His empire, and with iron scepter rule

328

      

Us here, as with His golden2025 those in Heav’n.

329

      

What sit we then projecting peace and war?

330

      

War hath determined 2026 us and foiled2027 with loss

331

      

Irreparable; terms of peace yet none

332

      

Vouchsafed 2028 or sought. For what peace will be giv’n

333

      

To us enslaved, but custody severe,

334

      

And stripes2029 and arbitrary punishment

335

      

Inflicted? And what peace can we return,2030

336

      

But, to our power, hostility and hate,

337

      

Untamed reluctance, 2031 and revenge, though slow,

338

      

Yet ever plotting how the conqueror least

339

      

May reap2032 His conquest, and may least rejoice

340

      

In doing what we most in suffering feel?

341

      

Nor will occasion2033 want,2034 nor shall we need

342

      

With dangerous expedition2035 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 enterprise?2036 There is a place

346

      

(If ancient and prophetic fame2037 in Heav’n

347

      

Err not)—another world, the happy seat

348

      

Of some new race, called man, about this time

349

      

To be created like to us, though less

350

      

In power and excellence, but favored more

351

      

Of Him who rules above. So was His will

352

      

Pronounced among the gods, and by an oath

353

      

That shook Heav’n’s whole circumference2038 confirmed.

354

      

Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn

355

      

What creatures there inhabit, of what mould 2039

356

      

Or substance, how endued,2040 and what their power

357

      

And where their weakness: how attempted best,

358

      

By force or subtlety. Though Heav’n be shut,

359

      

And Heav’n’s high arbitrator2041 sit secure

360

      

In His own strength, this place2042 may lie exposed,

361

      

The utmost border of His Kingdom, left

362

      

To their defence who hold it. Here, perhaps,

363

      

Some advantageous act may be achieved

364

      

By sudden onset2043 —either with Hell-fire

365

      

To waste2044 His whole creation, or possess

366

      

All as our own, and drive, 2045 as we were driven,

367

      

The puny2046 habitants, or if not drive,

368

      

Seduce them to our party, that their God

369

      

May prove their 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

      

Hurled headlong to partake with us, shall curse

375

      

Their frail original,2047 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 devised

380

      

By Satan, and in part proposed, for whence

381

      

But from the author of all ill could spring

382

      

So deep a malice, to confound2048 the race

383

      

Of mankind in one root,2049 and earth with Hell

384

      

To mingle and involve, done all to spite

385

      

The great Creator? But their spite still serves

386

      

His glory to augment. The bold design

387

      

Pleased highly those infernal States,2050 and joy

388

      

Sparkled in all their eyes. With full assent

389

      

They vote, whereat his speech he thus renews:

390

      

   “Well have ye judged, well ended long debate,

391

      

Synod2051 of gods, and, like to what ye are,

392

      

Great things resolved, which from the lowest deep

393

      

Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate,

394

      

Nearer our ancient seat—perhaps in view

395

      

Of those bright confines, whence, with neighboring arms,

396

      

And opportune2052 excursion, we may chance

397

      

Re-enter Heav’n, or else in some mild zone

398

      

Dwell not unvisited of Heav’n’s fair light

399

      

Secure, 2053 and at the bright’ning orient2054 beam

400

      

Purge off this gloom. The soft delicious air,

401

      

To heal the scar of these corrosive fires,

402

      

Shall breathe her balm. But first, whom shall we send

403

      

In search of this new world? whom shall we find

404

      

Sufficient? who shall tempt 2055 with wand’ring feet

405

      

The dark, unbottomed, infinite abyss,

406

      

And through the palpable2056 obscure2057 find out

407

      

His uncouth2058 way, or spread his airy flight,

408

      

Upborne with indefatigable wings

409

      

Over the vast abrupt,2059 ere he arrive

410

      

The happy isle?2060 What strength, what art, can then

411

      

Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe,

412

      

Through the strict senteries2061 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, 2062 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 suspense, 2063 awaiting who appeared

419

      

To second, or oppose, or undertake

420

      

The perilous attempt. But all sat mute,

421

      

Pondering the danger with deep thoughts, and each

422

      

In other’s count’nance read his own dismay,

423

      

Astonished.2064 None among the choice2065 and prime2066

424

      

Of those Heav’n-warring champions could be found

425

      

So hardy2067 as to proffer or accept,

426

      

Alone, the dreadful voyage, till at last

427

      

Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised

428

      

Above his fellows, with monarchal pride

429

      

Conscious of highest worth, unmoved2068 thus spoke:

430

      

   “O progeny2069 of Heaven! Empyreal2070 Thrones!

431

      

With reason hath deep silence and demur2071

432

      

Seized us, though undismayed. Long is the way

433

      

And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light.

434

      

Our prison strong, this huge convex2072 of fire,

435

      

Outrageous2073 to devour, immures2074 us round

436

      

Ninefold, and gates of burning adamant,2075

437

      

Barred2076 over us, prohibit all egress.2077

438

      

These passed, if any pass, the void2078 profound2079

439

      

Of unessential2080 Night receives him next,

440

      

Wide-gaping, and with utter loss of being

441

      

Threatens him, plunged in that abortive2081 gulf. 2082

442

      

If thence he scape, into whatever world

443

      

Or unknown region, what remains him less

444

      

Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape?

445

      

But I should ill become this throne, O peers,

446

      

And this imperial sov’reignty, adorned

447

      

With splendor, armed with power, if aught proposed

448

      

And judged of public moment2083 in the shape

449

      

Of difficulty or danger, could deter

450

      

Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume

451

      

These royalties,2084 and not refuse to reign,

452

      

Refusing to accept as great a share

453

      

Of hazard as of honor, due alike

454

      

To him who reigns, and so much to him due

455

      

Of hazard more as he above the rest

456

      

High honored sits? Go therefore, mighty Powers,

457

      

Terror of Heav’n, though fall’n. Intend2085 at home,

458

      

While here shall be our home, what best may ease

459

      

The present misery, and render Hell

460

      

More tolerable, 2086 if there be cure2087 or charm2088

461

      

To respite, 2089 or deceive, or slack2090 the pain

462

      

Of this ill2091 mansion.2092 Intermit2093 no watch

463

      

Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad

464

      

Through all the coasts2094 of dark destruction seek

465

      

Deliverance for us all. This enterprise

466

      

None shall partake2095 with me.” Thus saying, rose

467

      

The monarch, and prevented all reply,

468

      

Prudent, lest from2096 his resolution raised,2097

469

      

Others among the chief might offer now,

470

      

Certain to be refused, what erst they feared,

471

      

And so refused, might in opinion2098 stand

472

      

His rivals, winning cheap the high repute

473

      

Which he through hazard huge must earn.