My voice diffuades; for what can force or guile With him, or who deceive his mind, whole eye Views all things at one view? he from Heav'n's highth All these our motions vain fees and derides; Not more almighty to refift our might Than wife to fruftrate all our plots and wiles. Shall we then live thus vile, the race of Heaven Thus trampled, thus expeil'd to fuffer here Chains and thefe torments? better thefe than worfe By my advice; fipce fate inevitable Subdues us, and omnipotent decree, The victor's will. To fuffer, as to do, Our strength is equal, nor the law unjust That fo ordains: this was at firft refolv'd, If we were wife, against fo great a foe Contending, and fo doubtful what might fall. I laugh, when those who at the spear are bold And ventrous, if that fail them, fhrink and fear 205 What yet they know must follow, to indure Exile, or ignominy', or bonds, or pain, The fentence of their conqu'ror: this is now Our doom; which if we can fuftain and bear, Our fupreme foe in time may much remit His anger, and perhaps thus far remov'd Not mind us not offending, fatisfy'd
Hard liberty before the easy yoke
Of fervile pomp. Our greatnefs will appear Then moft confpicuous, when great things of (mall Ufeful of hurtful, profp'rous of adverfe We can create, and in what place foe'er Thrive under ev'il, and work ease out of pain Through labor and indurance. This deep world Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidit Thick clouds and dark doth Heav'n's all-ruling Si Choose to refide, his glory unobfcur'd, And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his throne; from whence deep thunders ro too Muft'ring their rage, and Heav'n resembles Hell As he our darkness, cannot we his light Imitate when we please? This defert foil Wants not her hidden luftre, gems and gold; Nor want we fkill or art, from whence to raife Magnificence; and what can Heav'n fhow more Our torments alfo may in length of time Become our elements, these piercing fires As foft as now fevere, our temper chang'd Into their temper; which must needs remove The fenfible of pain. All things invite To peaceful counfels, and the fettled ftate Of order, how in fafety best we may Compofe our prefent evils, with regard Of what we are and where, difmiffing quite All thoughts of war.-Ye have what I advife.
With what is punifh'd; whence thefe raging fires, Will flacken, if his breath stir not their flames. Our purer effence then will overcome Their noxious vapor, or inur'd not feel,
Or chang'd at length, and to the place conform'd In temper and in nature, will receive Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain; This horror will grow mild, this dark nefs light: Befides what hope the never ending flight Of future days may bring, what chance, what change Worth waiting, fince our prefent lot appears For happy though but ill, for ill not worst, If we procure not to ourselves more woe.
He scarce had finish'd, when fuch murmur Th' affembly, as when hollow rocks retain The found of bluft'ring winds, which all night lon Had rous'd the fea, now with hoarfe cadence lull Sea-faring men o'er-watch'd, whofe bark by chan Or pinnace anchors in a craggy bay
After the tempeft: Such applaufe was heard As Mammon ended, and his fentence pleas'd, Advifing peace: for fuch another field They dreaded worfe than Hell: fo much the fea Of thunder and the fword of Michaël Wrought ftill within them; and no lefs defire 29 To found this nether empire, which might rise By policy, and long procéfs of time,
In emulation oppofite to Heaven.
Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom, Satan except, none higher fat, with grave Afpéct he rofe, and in his rifing feem'd A pillar of ftate; deep on his front ingraven Deliberation fat and public care; And princely counsel in his face yet fhone, Majeftic though in ruin: fage he stood With Atlantéan shoulders fit to bear
Thus Belial with words cloth'd in reason's garb Counsel'd ignoble eafe, and peaceful floth, Not peace and after him thus Mammon fpake. Either to difinthrone the king of Heaven We war, if war be best, or to regain Our own right loft: him to unthrone we then May hope, when everlasting Fate fhall yield To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the ftrife: The former vain to hope argues as vaini The latter: for what place can be for us WithinHeav'n's bound,unless Heav'n'sLord fupreme We overpow'r? Suppose he should relent, And publifh grace to all, on promife made Of new fubjection; with what eyes could we Stand in his prefence humble, and receive Strict laws impos'd, to celebrate his throne With warbled hymns, and to his Godhead fing Forc'd Hallelujahs; while he lordly fits Our envied fovran, and bis altar breathes Ambrofial odors and ambrosial flowers, Our fervile offerings? This nuft be our task In Heav'n, this our delight; how wearifome Eternity fo spent in worship paid
Muft we renounce, and changing stile be called Princes of Hell? for fo the popular vote Inclines, here to continge', and build up here A growing empire; doubtlefs; while we dream And know not that the king of Heav'n hath doom' 250 This place our dungeon, not our fafe retreat, Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt
To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue By force impoffible, by leave obtain❜d Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, our state Of fplendid vaffalage; but rather feek Our own good from ourselves, and from our own Live to ourselves, though in this vase recefs, Free, and to none accountable, preferring
From Heav'n's high jurisdiction, in new league Banded against his throne, but to remain 320 In ftricteft bondage, though thus far remov'd Under th' inevitable curb, 'reserv'd ·
His captive multitude: for he, be fure, In highth or depth, still first and last will reign Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part
By our revolt, but over Hell extend His empire, and with iron fcepter rule
s here, as with his golden those in Heaven. What fit we then projecting peace and war? Var hath determin'd us, and foil'd with lofs reparable; terms of peace yet none oachfar'd or fought; for what peace will be given ous inflay'd, but cuftody fevere, adftripes, and arbitrary punishment
ted? and what peace can we return,
at to our pow'r hoftility and hate, san'd reluctance, and revenge though flow, it ever plotting how the conqu'ror leaft ay reap his conqueft, and may leaft rejoice doing what we most in suffering feel? x will occafion want, nor fhall we need Sedang rous expedition to invade
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
an whofe high walls fear no affault or fiege,.. Tambah from the deep. What if we find
the cafier enterprise? There is a place,
Ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven far) another world, the happy feat
me new race call'd Man, about this time be created like to us, though less
w'r and excellence, but favour'd more who rules above; fo was his will unc'd among the Gods, and by an oath, fbook Heav'n's whole circumference, con- firm'd.
ther let us bend all our thoughts, to learn atcreatures there inhabit, of what mold, 355 bftance, how indued, and what their power, where their weakness, how attempted best, ce or fubtelty. Though Heav'n be shut, Heaven's high arbitrator fit fecure down ftrength, this place may lie expos'd, 360 border of his kingdom, left
her defence who hold it: here perhaps advantageous act may be achiev'd
en onset, either with Hell fire
vate his whole creation, or poffefs
Brar own, and drive, as we were driven,
pany habitants, or if not drive,
e them to our party, that their God
bafturbance; when his darling fo 15,
The happy isle? what strength, what art can then Suffice, or what evafion bear him fife
Through the strict fenteries and stations thick Of Angels watching round? Here he had need All circumfpection, and we now no less Choice in our fuffrage; for on whom we fend, 415 The weight of all and our last hope relies.
This faid, he fat; and expectation held His look fufpenfe, awaiting who appear'd To fecond, or oppofe, or undertake Pond'ring the danger with deep thoughts; and The perilous attempt: but all fat mute,
In others count'nance read his own dismay Aftonish'd: none among the choice and prime Of thofe 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 Confcious of highest worth, unmov'd thus fpake.
O Progeny of Heav'n, empyreal Thrones, 430 With reafon hath deep filence and demur Seis'd us, though undifmay'd: long is the way And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light;" Our prifon ftrong; this huge convex of fire, Outrageous to devour, immures us round Ninefold, and gates of burning adamant Barr'd over us prohibit all egrefs.
prove their foe, and with repenting hand his own works. This would furpafs on revenge, and interrupt his joy coafution, and our joy upraise
It headlong to partake with us, fhall curfe
faloriginal, and faded bliss,
foon. Advife if this be worth
ng, or to fit in darkness here ng vain empires. Thus Beelzebub his devilish counsel, first devis'd , and in part propos'd: for whence, the author of all ill, could fpring malice to confound the race mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell gle and involve, done all to fpite
great Creator? But their spite still serves 385 dary to augment. The bold defign
highly thofe infernal States, and joy Med in all their eyes; with full affent Pote: whereat his fpeech he thus renews.
But I should ill become this throne, O Peers, 445 And this imperial fovranty, adorn'd
With fplendor, arm'd with power, if ought pro- pos'd
And judg'd of public moment, in the shape Of difficulty or danger could deter
Me from attempting. Wherefore do' I affume 450 Thefe royalties, and not refufe to reign, Refufing to accept as great a fhare
Of hazard as of honor, due alike
To him who reigns, and so much to him due Of hazard more, as he above the reft
High honor'd fits? Go therefore, mighty Powers, Terror of Heav'n, though fall'n; intend at home, While here shall be our home, what best may ease The prefent mifery, and render Hell More tolerable; if there be cure or charm To refpite, or deceive, or flack the pain Of this ill mansion: intermit no watch
Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad Through all the coafts of dark deftruction feek Deliverance for us all: this enterprise None fhall partake with me. Thus faying rofe The Monarch, and prevented all reply, Prudent, left from his refolution rais'd Others among the chief might offer now (Certain to be refus'd) what erft they fear'd; And fo refus'd might in opinion stand His rivals, winning cheap the high repute Which he through hazard huge muft earn. they
Heard far and wide, and all the host of Hell With deafning fhout return'd them loud acclame. Thence more at ease their minds, and fomewhat rais'd
By falfe prefumptuous hope, the ranged Powers Difband, and, wand'ring, each his feveral way Purfues, as inclination or fad choice
Leads him perplex'd, where he may likelieft fint Truce to his reftiefs thoughts, and entertain The irksome hours, till his great chief return. Part on the plain, or in the air fublime, Upon the wing, or in swift race contend, As at th' Olympian games or Pythian felds; Part curb their fiery fteeds, or thun the goal With rapid wheels, or fronted brigads form." As when to warn proud cities war appears Wag'd in the troubled fky, and armies ruth 470 To battel in the clouds, before each van
Prick forth the aery knights, and couch their spea Till thickeft legions clofe; with feats of arms But From either end of Heav'n the welkin burns. Others with vaft Typhoan 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 conqueft, felt th' envenom'd robe, and to Through pain up by the roots Theffalian pines, And Lichas from the top of Oeta threw Into th' Euboic fea. Others more mild, Retreated in a filent valley, fing With notes angelical to many a harp Their own heroic deeds and hapless fall By doom of battel; and complain' that fate Free virtue fhould enthrall to force or chance. Their fong was partial, but the harmony (What could it lefs when Spirits immortal fing! Sufpended Hell, and took with ravishment The thronging audience. In difcourfe more (For eloquence the foul, fong charms the fente Others apart fat on a hill retir'd,
Dreaded not more th' adventure than his voice Forbidding; and at once with liim they rofe; Their rifing all at once was as the found Of thunder heard remote. Tow'ards him they bend With awful reverence prone; and as a God Extol him equal to the High'eft in Heav'n: Nor fail'd they to exprefs how much they prais'd, That for the general fafety he despis'd His own for neither do the Spirits damn'd Lofe all their virtue; left bad men should boast Their fpecious deeds on earth, which glory' excites, Or close ambition varnish'd o'er with zeal. Thus they their doubtful confultations dark Ended rejoicing in their matchless chief: As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds Afcending, while the north-wind fleeps, o'er spread
Heav'n's chearful face, the louring element Scowls o'er the darken'd landskip fnow, or fhower; If chance the radiant fun with farewel fweet Extend his evening beam, the fields revive, The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds Atteft their joy, that hill and valley rings. O fhame to men! Devil with Devil damn'd
Firm concord holds, men only disagree Of creatures rational, though under hope Of heav'nly grace: and God proclaiming peace, Yet live in hatred, enmity, and ftrife Among themselves, and levy cruel wars, Wafting the earth, each other to destroy: As if (which might induce us to accord) Man had not hellish foes enow befides, That day and night for his destruction wait.
The Stygian counsel thus diffolv'd; and forth In order came the grand infernal peers: Midst came their mighty paramount, and feem'd Alone th' antagonist of Heav'n, nor less Than Hell's dread emperor with pomp fupreme, And God-like imitated state; him round A globe of fiery Seraphim inclos'd With bright imblazonry, and horrent arms. Then of their feffion ended they bid cry With trumpets regal found the great refult: Towards the four winds four fpeedy Cherubim Put to their mouths the founding alchemy By heralds voice explain'd; the hollow' abyss
In thoughts more elevate, and reafon'd high Of providence, foreknowledge, will, and fate, Fix'd fate, free will, foreknowledge abfolute, And found no end, în wand'ring mazes loft. Of good and evil much they argued then, Of happiness and final mifery,
Paffion and apathy, and glory' and mame, Vain wifdom all, and falfe philosophy :
Yet with a pleafing forcery could charm Pain for a while or anguifh, and excite Fallacious hope, or arm th' obdur'd breast With stubborn patience as with triple steel. Another part in fquadrons and grofs bands, On bold adventure to difcover wide That difmal world, if any clime perhaps Might yield them eafier habitation, bend Four ways their flying march, along the banks Of four infernal rivers, that difgorge Into the burning lake their baleful ftreams; Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate; Sad Acheron of forrow, black and deep; Cocytus, nam'd of lamentation loud
Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegethon 3 Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. Far off from thefe a flow and filent ftream,
Lethe the river of oblivion rolls
Her watry labyrinth, whereof who drinks, Forthwith his former ftate and being forgets, $
Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain. Beyond this flood a frezen 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 feems Of ancient pile; or else deep fnow and ice, A gulph profound as that Serbonian bog Betwixt Damiata and Mount Cafius old, Where armies whole have funk: the parching air Burns frore, and cold performs th' effect of fire. 595 Thither by harpy-footed furies hal'd' At certain revolutions all the damn'd
Are brought; and feel by turns the bitter change Of fierce extremes, extremes by change more fierce, From beds of raging fire to starve in ice 600 Their foft ethereal warmth, and there to pine Immoveable, infix'd, and frozen round, Periods of time, thence hurried back to fire. They ferry over this Lethéan found
Voluminous and vaft, a ferpent arm'd
With mortal fting: about her middle round A cry of Hell hounds never ceafing bark'd
With wide Cerberean mouths full loud, and rung A hideous peal; yet, when they lift, would creep, If ought disturb'd their noise, into her womb, And kennel there, yet there ftill bark'd and howl'd, Within unseen. Far lefs abhorr'd than these Vex'd Scylla bathing in the fea that parts Calabria from the hoarfe Trinacrian thore: Nor uglier follow the night-hag, when, call'd In fecret riding through the air fhe comes, Lur'd with the fmell of infant blood, to dance With Lapland witches, while the lab'ring moon 665. Eclipfes at their charms. The other shape, If shape it might be call'd that shape had none Diftinguishable in member, joint, or limb,
Or fubftance might be call'd that shadow feem'd, For each feem'd either; black it stood as night, 670- Fierce as ten Furies, terrible as Hell,
And thook a dreadful dart; what feem'd his head The likeness of a kingly crown had on: Satan was now at hand, and from his feat The monster moving onward came as fast 610 With horrid ftrides, Hell trembled as he ftrode. Th' undaunted Fiend what this might be admir'd, Admir'd, not fear'd; God and his Son except, Created thing nought valued he nor fhunn'd; And with difdainful look thus first began.
In confus'd march forlorn, th' adventrous bands 6.15 With fhudd'ring horror pale, and eyes aghaft, View'd firft their lamentable lot, and found No reft; through many a dark and dreary vale They pafs'd, and many a region dolorous, O'er many a frozen, many a fiery Alp,
Whence and what art thou, execrable shape, That dar'ft, though grim and terrible, advance Thy mifcreated front athwart my way
To yonder gates? through them I mean to pass, That be affur'd, without leave afk'd of thee: Retire, or taste thy folly', and learn by proof,
Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and fhades Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of Heaven.
A univerfe of death, which God by curfe
Created ev'il, for evil only good,
Where all life dies, death lives, and nature breeds, Perverse, all monftrous, all prodigious things, 625 Abominable, inutterable, and worfe Than fables yet have feign'd, or fear conceiv'd, Gorgons, and Hydra's, and Chimera's dire. Mean while the Adverfary of God and Man, Satan with thoughts inflam'd of high'eft defign, 630 Puts on fwift wings, and towards the gates of Hell Explores his folitary flight; fometimes
He fcours the right hand coaft, fometimes the left, Now fhaves with level wing the deep, then foars Up to the fiery concave towring high.
As when far off at fea a feet defcry'd
Hangs in the clouds, by equinoctial winds
Clofe failing from Bengala, or the iles.
Of Ternate and Tidore, whence merchants bring Their fpicy drugs: they on the trading flood Through the wide Ethiopian to the Cape Ply ftemming nightly toward the pole. So feem'd Far off the flying Fiend at laft apppear Hell bounds high reaching to the horrid roof, And thrice three-fold the gates; three folds were
Three iron, three of adamantin rock, Impenetrable, impal'd with circling fire, Yet unconfum'd. Before the gates there fat On either fide a formidable shape;
To whom the goblin full of wrath reply'd. Art thou that traiter 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 Heav'n's fons Conjúr'd against the High'eft, for which both thou And they, outcaft from God, are here condemn'd To wafte eternal days in woe and pain? 695 And reckon it thou thyfelf with Spirits of Heaven, Hell-doom'd, and breath'ft defiance here and feern Where I reign king, and, to enrage thee more, Thy king and lord? Back to thy punishment, Falfe fugitive, and to thy fpeed add wings, Left with a whip of fcorpions I pursue Thy lingring, or with one ftroke of this dart Strange horror feife thee', and pangs unfelt before. So fpake the grifly terror, and in shape, So fpeaking and fo threatning, grew ten-fold More dreadful and deform: on th' other fide Incens'd with indignation Satan flood Unterrify'd, and like a comet burn'd,
That fires the length of Ophiuchus huge
In th' arctic fky and from his horrid hair Shakes peftilence and war. Each at the head
Level'd his deadly aim; their fatal hands
No second stroke intend, and such a frown Each caft at th' other, as when two black clouds, With Heav'n's artillery fraught, come rattling on Over the Cafpian, then ftand front to front Hovering a space, till winds the signal blow
The one feem'd woman to the wafte, and fair, 650 To join their dark encounter in mid air:
But ended foul in many a fcaly fold
So frown'd the mighty combatants, that Hell
Grew darker at their frown, fo match'd they stood;
For never but once more was either like
To meet fo great a foe: and now great deeds Had been achiev'd, whereof all Hell had rung, Had not the fnaky forceress that fat Fast by Hell gate, and kept the fatal key, Ris'n, and with hideous outcry ruth'd between. Father, what intends thy hand, the cry'd, Against thy only Son? What fury', O Son, Poffeffes thee to bend that mortal dart Against thy Father's head? and know'ft for whom; 730
For him who fits above and laughs the while At thee ordain'd his drudge, to execute Whate'er his wrath, which he calls juftice, bids ; His wrath, which one day will destroy ye both. She fpake, and at her words the hellish pest 735 Forbore; then these to her Satan return'd.
So strange thy outcry, and thy words so strange Thou interpofeft, that my fudden hand Prevented fpares to tell thee yet by deeds What it intends; till first I know of thee, What thing thou art, thus double-farm'd, In this infernal vale firft met thou call'ft Me Father, and that phantafm call it my Son; I know thee not, nor ever faw till now Sight more deteftable than him and thee.
T'whom thus the portrefs of Hell gate reply'd. Haft thou forgotten me then, and do I feem Now in thine eye fo foul? once deem'd so fair In Heav'n, when at the affembly, and in fight Of all the Seraphim with thee combin'd In bold confpiracy against Heav'n's king, All on a fudden miferable pain
Surpris'd thee, dim thine eyes, and dizzy fwum In darkness, while thy head flames thick and faft Threw forth, till on the left fide opening wide, 755 Likeft to thee in shape and count'nance bright, Then shining heav'nly fair, a Goddess arm'd Out of thy head I fprung: amazement feis'd All th' hoft of Heav'n; back they recoil'd afraid At first, and call'd me fin, and for a fign Portentous held me; but familiar grown, I pleas'd, and with attractive graces won The most adverse, thee chiefly, who full oft Thyfelf in me thy perfect image viewing Becam'ft enamour'd, and fuch joy thou took'ft 765 With me in fecret, that my womb conceiv'd A growing burden. Mean while war arose, And fields were fought in Heav'n; wherein remain'd
(For what could elfe?) to our almighty foe Clear victory, to our part lofs and rout Through all the empyrean: down they fell Driv'n headlong from the pitch of Heaven, down Into this deep, and in the general fall I alfo; at which time this pow'rful key Into my hand was giv'n, with charge to keep Thefe gates for ever fhut, which none can pafs Without my opening. Penfive here I fat Alone, but long I fat not, till my womb Pregnant by thee and now exceffive grown, Prodigious motion felt and rueful throes.
At laft 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 iffued, brandishing his fatal dart Made to destroy: I fled, and cry'd out Death; Hell trembled at the hideous name, and figh'd From all her caves, and back refounded Death. I fled, but he pursued, (though more, it seems, 790 Inflam'd with luft than rage) and swifter far, Me overtook his mother all difmay'd,
And in embraces forcible and foul Ingendring with me, of that rape begot Surround me, as thou faw'ft, hourly conceiv'd Thefe yelling monsters, that with ceafelefs cry 795 And hourly born, with forrow infinite Tome; for when they lift, into the womb That bred them they return, and howl and gnaw My bowels, their repaft; then bursting forth 800 Afresh with conscious terrors vex me round, That reft or intermiffion none I find.' Before mine eyes in oppofition fits Grim Death my fon and foe, who sets them on, And me his parent would full foon devour 805 For want of other prey, but that he knows His end with mine involv'd; and knows that I Should prove a bitter morfel, and his bane, Whenever that shall be; fo fate pronounc'd. But thou, O Father, I forewarn thee, fhun 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 refist.
She finish'd, and the subtle Fiend his lore 815 Soon learn'd, now milder, and thus anfwer'd smooth.
Dear Daughter, since thou clam'st me for thy fire, And my fair fon here show'ft me, the dear pledge Of dalliance had with thee in Heav'n, and joys Then fweet, now fad to mention, through dire change 820
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 Spi'rits, that in our juft pretences arm'd Fell with us from on high: from them I go This uncouth errand fole, and one for all Myfelf expofe, with lonely steps to tread Th' unfounded deep, and through the void im- menfe
To fearch with wand'ring queft a place foretold 830 Should be, and, by concurring figns, ere now Created vaft and round, a place of blifs
In the porlieus of Heav'n, and therein plac'd A race of upftart creatures, to fupply Perhaps our vacant room, though more remov❜d, Left Heav'n furcharg'd with potent multitude Might hap to move new broils: Be this or ought Than this more fecret now defign'd, I haste To know, and this once known, fhall foon return, And bring ye to the place where Thou and Death Shall dwell at ease, and up and down unfeen Wing filently the buxom air, imbalm'd With odors; there ye fhall be fed and fill'd Immeasurably, all things shall be your prey.
He ceas'd, for both feem'd highly pleas'd, and
Grinn'd horrible a ghaftly fmile, to hear His famin fhould be fill'd, and bleft his maw Deftin'd to that good hour: no less rejoic'd
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