Choose to reside, his glory unobscur'd, And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his throne; from whence deep thunders roar, Must'ring their rage, and Heav'n resembles Hell? As he our darkness, cannot we his light Imitate when we please? This desart soil Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold; Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise Magnificence; and what can Heav'n shew more? Our torments also may in length of time Become our elements; these piercing fires As soft as now severe; our temper chang'd Into their temper; which must needs remove The sensible of pain. All things invite To peaceful councils, and the settled state Of order, how in safety best we may Compose our present evils, with regard 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 Sea-faring 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 Heav'n. 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 ingraven 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 Ethereal virtues; or these titles now [Heav'n, Must we renounce, and changing stile, be call'd Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote Inclines, here to continue, and build up here 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, tho' 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 or 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 enslav'd, but custody severe, And stripes, and arbitrary punishment Inflicted? and what peace can we return But to our power 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 suffering 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 enterprise? There is a place (If ancient and prophetic fame in Heav'n 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 power 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 achiev'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 And opportune excursion, 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 brightening orient beam Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious air, To heal the scar of these corrosive fires, [send Shall breathe her balm. But first, whom shall we 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 looks suspense, awaiting who appear'd To second, or oppose, or undertake The perilous attempt: but all sat mute, Pond'ring the danger with deep thoughts; and each In other's 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 splendor, arm'd with power, if aught 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 powers, Terror of Heav'n, tho' 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 Deliverance 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 chief 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
Of thunder heard remote. Tow'rds him they bend With awful reverence prone; and as a God Extol him equal to the High'st in Heav'n:
Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd, That for the general safety he despis'd
His own: for neither do the spirits damn'd Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites, Or close ambition varnish'd o'er with zeal. Thus they their doubtful consultations dark Ended, rejoicing in their matchless chief: As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o'erspread Heav'n's cheerful face, the louring element Scowls o'er the darken'd landskip snow, or shower; If chance the radiant sun with farewel sweet Extend his ev'ning beam, the fields revive, The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings. O shame to men, devil with devil damn'd Firm concord holds, men only disagree Of creatures rational, tho' under hope
Of heav'nly grace: and God proclaiming peace, Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife Among themselves, and levy cruel wars, Wasting the earth, each other, to destroy: As if (which might induce us to accord) Man had not hellish foes enow besides, That day and night for his destruction wait.
The Stygian council thus dissolv'd; and forth In order came the grand infernal peers: Midst came their mighty paramount, and seem'd Alone the antagonist of Heav'n, nor less Than Hell's dread emperor with pomp supreme, And godlike imitated state; him round
A globe of fiery seraphim inclos'd
With bright imblazonry, and horrent arms. Then of their session ended they bid cry With trumpets' regal sound the great result: Tow'rds the four winds four speedy cherubim Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy By herald's voice explain'd; the hollow abyss Heard far and wide, and all the host of Hell With deaf'ning shout return'd them loud acclaim. Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat rais'd
By false presumptuous hope, the ranged powers Disband, and wand'ring, each his several way Pursues, as inclination or sad choice
Leads him, perplex'd where he may likeliest find Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain The irksome hours, till his great chief return. Part on the plain, or in the air sublime, Upon the wing, or in swift race contend, As at th' Olympian games or Pythian fields. Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal With rapid wheels, or fronted brigades form, As when to warn proud cities war appears Wag'd in the troubled sky, and armies rush To battle in the clouds, before each van
Prick forth the airy knights, and couch their spears Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms From either end of Heav'n the welkin burns. Others, with vast Typhoean rage more fell, Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wild uproar, As when Alcides, from Oechalia crown'd With conquest, felt th' envenom'd robe, and tore Through pain up by the roots Thessalian pines, And Lichas from the the top of Oeta threw Into th' Euboic sea. Others more mild, Retreated in a silent valley, sing With notes angelical to many a harp, Their own heroic deeds, and hapless fall By doom of battle; and complain that fate Free virtue should inthrall to force or chance. . Their song was partial, but the harmony (What could it less when spirits immortal sing?) Suspended Hell, and took with ravishment The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet (For eloquence the soul, song charms the sense) Others apart sat on a hill retired,
In thoughts more elevate, and reason'd high Of providence, foreknowledge, will, and fate, Fix'd fate, free-will, foreknowledge absolute, And found no end, in wand'ring mazes lost. Of good and evil much they argu'd then, Of happiness and final misery,
Passion and apathy, and glory and shame, Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy: Yet with a pleasing sorcery could charm Pain for a while, or anguish, and excite Fallacious hope, or arm th' obdured breast With stubborn patience as with triple steel. Another part, in squadrons and gross bands On bold adventure to discover wide That dismal world, if any clime perhaps Might yield them easier habitation, bend
Four ways their flying march along the banks Of four infernal rivers, that disgorge Into the burning lake their baleful streams; Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate; Sad Acheron, of sorrow, black and deep; Cocytus, nam'd of lamentation loud, Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegethon, Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. Far off from these a slow and silent stream, Lethe, the river of oblivion, rolls
Her wat❜ry labyrinth, whereof who drinks Forthwith his former state and being forgets, Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain. Beyond this flood a frozen continent Lies dark and wild, beat with perpetual storms Of whirlwind and dire hail, which on firm land Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin seems Of ancient pile; or else deep snow and ice, A gulf profound as that Serbonian bog Betwixt Damiata and Mount Casius old, Where armies whole have sunk: the parching air Burns frore, and cold performs th' effect of fire. Thither, by harpy-footed furies haled,
At certain revolutions, all the damn'd Are brought, and feel by turns the bitter change Of fierce extremes, by change more fierce, From beds of raging fire to starve in ice Their soft ethereal warmth, and there to pine Immoveable, infix'd, and frozen round, Periods of time, thence hurried back to fire. They ferry over this Lethean sound Both to and fro, their sorrow to augment, And wish and struggle as they pass, to reach The tempting stream, with one small drop to lose In sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe, All in one moment, and so near the brink; But fate withstands, and to oppose th' attempt Medusa with Gorgonian terror, guards The ford, and of itself the water flies All taste of living wight, as once it fled The lip of Tantalus. Thus roving on In confus'd march forlorn, th' advent'rous bands, With shudd'ring horror pale, and eyes aghast, View'd first their lamentable lot, and found No rest: through many a dark and dreary vale They pass'd, and many a region dolorous, O'er many a frozen, many a fiery Alp,
Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and shades of A universe of death, which God by curse [death, Created evil, for evil only good,
Where all life dies, death lives, and nature breeds, Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things, Abominable, unutterable, and worse
Than fables yet have feign'd, or fear conceiv'd, Gorgons, and Hydras, and Chimeras dire.
Meanwhile the adversary of God and man, Satan, with thoughts inflam'd of high'st design, Puts on swift wings, and towards 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 soars Up to the fiery concave towering high.
As when far off at sea a fleet descry'd Hangs in the clouds, by equinoctial winds Close sailing from Bengala, or the isles
Of Ternate and Tidore, whence merchants bring Their spicy drugs: they on the trading flood Through the wide Ethiopian to the Cape Ply stemming nightly tow'rd the pole. So seem'd Far off the flying fiend: at last appear Hell bounds high reaching to the horrid roof, And thrice three-fold the gates; three folds were Three iron, three of adamantine rock, Impenetrable, impal'd with circling fire, Yet unconsum'd. Before the gates there sat On either side a formidable shape; The one seem'd woman to the waist, and fair, But ended foul in many a scaly fold Voluminous and vast, a serpent arm'd With mortal sting: about her middle round A cry of hell-hounds never ceasing bark'd With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung A hideous peal; yet, when they list, would creep, If aught disturb'd their noise, into her womb, And kennel there, yet there still bark'd and howl'd Within, unseen. Far less abhorr'd than these Vex'd Scylla bathing in the sea that parts Calabria from the hoarse Trinacrian shore: Nor uglier follow the night-hag, when call'd In secret, riding through the air she comes, Lur'd with the smell of infant blood, to dance With Lapland witches, while the lab'ring moon Eclipses at their charms. The other shape, If shape it might be call'd that shape had none Distinguishable in member, joint, or limb, Or substance might be call'd that shadow seem'd, For each seem'd either; black it stood as night, Fierce as ten furies, terrible as Hell,
And shook a dreadful dart: what seem'd his head, The likeness of a kingly crown had on. Satan was now at hand, and from his seat The monster moving, onward came as fast With horrid strides: Hell trembled as he strode. Th' undaunted fiend what this might be admir'd; Admir'd, not fear'd; God and his Son except Created thing naught valued he or shunn'd; And with disdainful look thus first began:
Whence and what art thou, execrable shape, That dar'st, though grim and terrible, advance Thy miscreated front athwart my way To yonder gates? through them I mean to pass, That be assur'd, without leave ask'd of thee: Retire, or taste thy folly, and learn by proof, Hell-born, not to contend with spirits of Heav'n. To whom the goblin full of wrath reply'd: Art thou that traitor angel, art thou he Who first broke peace in Heav'n and faith, till then Unbroken, and in proud rebellious arms Drew after him the third part of Heaven's sons Conjur'd against the High'st, for which both thou And they, outcast from God, are here condemn'd To waste eternal days in woe and pain?
And reckons't thou thyself with spirits of Heav'n, Hell-doom'd, and breath'st defiance here, and scorn,
Where I reign king, and to enrage thee more, Thy king and lord? Back to thy punishment, False fugitive, and to thy speed add wings, Lest with a whip of scorpions I pursue
Thy ling'ring, or with one stroke of this dart Strange horror seize thee, and pangs unfelt before. So spake the grisly Terror, and in shape, So speaking and so threat'ning, grew ten-fold More dreadful and deform: on th' other side, Incens'd with indignation, Satan stood Unterrify'd, and like a comet burn'd, That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge In the Arctic sky, and from his horrid hair Shakes pestilence and war. Each at the head Level'd his deadly aim; their fatal hands No second stroke intend, and such a frown Each cast at th' other, as when two black clouds, With Heav'n's artillery fraught, come rattling on Over the Caspian, then stand front to front Hov'ring a space, till winds the signal blow To join their dark encounter in mid air: So frown'd the mighty combatants, that Hell Grew darker at their frown, so match'd they stood; For never but once more was either like To meet so great a foe: and now great deeds Had been achiev'd, whereof all Hell had rung, Had not the snaky sorceress that sat Fast by Hell-gate, and kept the fatal key, Ris'n, and with hideous outcry rush'd between. O father, what intends thy hand, she cry'd, Against thy only son? What fury, O son! Possesses thee to bend that mortal dart Against thy father's head? and know'st for whom; For him who sits above and laughs the while At thee ordain'd his drudge, to execute Whate'er his wrath, which he calls justice, bids; His wrath, which one day will destroy ye both. She spake, and at her words the hellish pest Forbore. Then these to her Satan return'd. So strange the outcry, and thy words so strange Thou interposest, that my sudden hand Prevented, spares to tell thee yet by deeds What it intends; till first I know of thee, What thing thou art, thus double-form'd, and why In this infernal vale, first met, thou call'st Me father, and that phantasm call'st my son ; I know thee not, nor ever saw till now Sight more detestable than him and thee.
T' whom thus the portress of Hell-gate replied: Hast thou forgot me then, and do I seem Now in thine eye so foul? once deem'd so fair In Heav'n, when at th' assembly, and in sight Of all the seraphim with thee combin'd In bold conspiracy against Heav'n's King, All on a sudden miserable pain
Surpris'd thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzy swum In darkness, while thy head flames thick and fast Threw forth, till on the left side opening wide, Likest to thee in shape and count'nance bright, Then shining heav'nly fair, a goddess arm'd Out of thy head I sprung: amazement seiz'd All th' host of Heav'n; back they recoil'd afraid
At first, and call'd me Sin, and for a sign Portentous held me; but familiar grown, I pleas'd, and with attractive graces won The most averse, thee chiefly, who full oft Thyself in me thy perfect image viewing, Becam'st enamour'd, and such joy thou took'st With me in secret, that my womb conceiv'd A growing burden. Meanwhile war arose, And fields were fought in Heav'n; wherein re- (For what could else?) to our almighty Foe [main'd Clear victory, to our part loss and rout Through all the empyrean, down they fell, Driv'n headlong from the pitch of Heav'n down Into this deep, and in the general fall I also; at which time this powerful key Into my hand was given, with charge to keep These gates for ever shut, which none can pass Without my op'ning. Pensive here I sat Alone, but long I sat not, till my womb, Pregnant by thee, and now excessive grown, Prodigious motion felt, and rueful throes. At last this odious offspring whom thou seest, Thine own begotten, breaking violent way, Tore through my entrails, that with fear and pain Distorted, all my nether shape thus grew Transform'd: but he my inbred enemy Forth issued, brandishing his fatal dart Made to destroy: I fled, and cry'd out Death; Hell trembled at the hideous name, and sigh'd From all her caves, and back resounded Death. I fled, but he pursued (though more, it seems, Inflam'd with lust than rage) and swifter far, Me overtook, his mother, all dismay'd, And in embraces forcible and foul Ingendering with me, of that rape begot These yelling monsters, that with ceaseless cry Surround me, as thou saw'st, hourly conceiv'd And hourly born, with sorrow infinite To me; for when they list, into the womb
That bred them, they return and howl, and gnaw My bowels, their repast; then bursting forth Afresh, with conscious terrors vex me round, That rest or intermission none I find. Before mine eyes in opposition sits
Grim Death, my son and foe, who sets them on, And me his parent would full soon devour For want of other prey, but that he knows His end with mine involv'd; and knows that I Should prove a bitter morsel, and his bane, Whenever that shall be; so Fate pronounc'd. But thou, O father, I forewarn thee, shun His deadly arrow; neither vainly hope To be invulnerable in those bright arms, Though temper'd heav'nly, for that mortal dint, Save he who reigns above, none can resist. She finish'd; and the subtle fiend his lore Soon learn'd, now milder; and thus answer'd smooth:
Dear daughter, since thou claim'st me for thy sire, And my fair son here shew'st me, the dear pledge Of dalliance had with thee in Heav'n, and joys Then sweet,now sad to mention,through dire change
Befall'n us unforeseen, unthought of; know I come no enemy, but to set free From out this dark and dismal house of pain, Both him and thee, and all the heav'nly host Of spirits that in our just pretences arm'd, Fell with us from on high: from them I go This uncouth errand sole, and one for all Myself expose, with lonely steps to tread Th' unfounded deep, and through the void immense To search with wand'ring quest a place foretold Should be, and, by concurring signs, ere now Created vast and round, a place of bliss In the purlieus of Heav'n, and therein plac'd A race of upstart creatures, to supply Perhaps our vacant room, though more remov'd, Lest Heav'n, surcharg'd with potent multitude, Might hap to move new broils: be this or aught Than this more secret now design'd, I haste To know, and this once known, shall soon return, And bring ye to the place where thou and Death Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unseen Wing silently the buxom air, embalm'd With odours; there ye shall be fed and fill'd Immeasurably; all things shall be your prey.
He ceas'd; for both seem'd highly pleas'd, and Grinn'd horrible a ghastly smile, to hear [Death His famine should be fill'd, and blest his maw, Destin'd to that good hour: no less rejoic'd His mother bad, and thus bespake her sire: The key of this infernal pit by due, And by command of Heav'ns all-powerful King, I keep, by him forbidden to unlock These adamantine gates: against all force Death ready stands to interpose his dart, Fearless to be o'ermatch'd by living might. But what owe I to his commands above, Who hates me, and hath hither thrust me down Into this gloom of Tartarus profound,
To sit in hateful office here confin'd, Inhabitant of Heav'n, and heav'nly born, Here in perpetual agony and pain,
With terrors and with clamours compass'd round Of mine own brood, that on my bowels feed? Thou art my father, thou my author; thou My being gav'st me; whom should I obey But thee, whom follow? thou wilt bring me soon To that new world of light and bliss, among The Gods who live at ease, where I shall reign At thy right hand voluptuous, as beseems Thy daughter and thy darling, without end. Thus saying, from her side the fatal key, Sad instrument of all our woe, she took ; And tow'rds the gate rolling her bestial train, Forthwith the huge portcullis high up drew, Which but herself not all the Stygian powers Could once have mov'd; then in the key-hole turns Th' intricate wards, and every bolt and bar Of massy iron or solid rock, with ease Unfastens on a sudden open fly,
With impetuous recoil and jarring sound, Th' infernal doors, and on their hinges grate Harsh thunder, that the lowest bottom shook
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