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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.

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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,

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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.

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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,

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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

30

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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

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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

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From Heav'n's high jurisdiction, in new league
Banded against his throne, but to remain
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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

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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

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Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive

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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

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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,

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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,

each

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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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

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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

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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

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Voluminous and vaft, a ferpent arm'd

With mortal fting: about her middle round A cry of Hell hounds never ceafing bark'd

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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,

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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,

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Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and fhades Hell-born, not to contend with Spirits of Heaven.

of death,

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.

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As when far off at fea a feet defcry'd

Hangs in the clouds, by equinoctial winds

Clofe failing from Bengala, or the iles.

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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

brafs,

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;

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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

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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

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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;
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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.

740 and why

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.

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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

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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

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(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.

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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

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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.

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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

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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

Death

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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