The utmost border of his kingdom, left To their defence who hold it: here perhaps By sudden onset, either with Hell fire To waste his whole creation, or possess All as our own, and drive, as we were driven, 365 May prove their foe, and with repenting hand Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse Of mankind in one root, and Earth. with Hell 385 390 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, Of those bright confines, whence with neighb'ring arms 395 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, Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious air, 400 To heal the scar of these corrosive fires, Shall breathe her balm. But, first, whom shall we send In search of this new world? whom shall we find Sufficient? who shall tempt with wand'ring feet The dark unbottom'd infinite abyss, 405 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 410 Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe Through the strict senteries and stations thick Of Angels watching round? Here he had need 415 The weight of all, and our last hope, relics." This said, he sat ; and expectation held His look suspence, awaiting who appear'd Of those Heav'n-warring champions could be found 425 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!/ 430 With reason hath deep silence and demur Seiz'd us, though undismay'd: long is the way, Outrageous to devour, immures us round 435 Ninefold, and gates of burning adamant, These pass'd, if any pass, the void profound Of unessential Night receives him next, Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being quali Threatens him, plunged in that abortive gulf. 440 445 And this imperial sov'reignty, adorn'd With splendor, arm'd with pow'r, if ought propos'd To him who reigns, and so much to him due 455 High honour'd sits? Go, therefore, mighty Powers, While here shall be our home, what best may ease More tolerable; if there be cure or charm 400 To respite, or deceive, or slack the pain, Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad, Through all the coasts of dark destruction, seek 465 None shall partake with me." Thus saying, rose ستان Prudent, lest, from his resolution rais'd, His rivals, winning cheap the high repute But they Their rising all at once was as the sound Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend, Extol him equal to the High'est in Heaven. 475 Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd 480 His own for neither do the Spirits damn'd Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast 485 Of heavenly grace; and, God proclaiming peace, The Stygian council thus dissolv'd, and forth Alone the antagonist of Heav'n, nor less Than Hell's dread emperor, with pomp supreme, And God-like imitated state; him round A globe of fiery Seraphim enclos'd 516 With bright emblazonry, and horrent arms. With trumpets' regal sound, the great result. 515 Tow'ards the four winds four speedy Cherubim Put to their mouths the sounding alchemy, mata By heralds' 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. 520 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 Leads him, perplex'd where he may likeliest find Prick forth the airy knights, and couch their spears Others, with vast Typhoean rage, more fell, Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air avahe 2540 I In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wild uproar. As when Alcides, from Oechalia crown'd With conquest, felt th' envenom'd robe, and tore 545 |