at is low, raise and support; eight of this great argument eternal Providence,

he ways of God to men.

for Heaven hides nothing from thy view,
tract of Hell), say first what cause
rand parents in that happy state,
Heaven so highly, to fall off
Creator and transgress his will
-aint, lords of the world besides ?
Juced them to that foul revolt?
serpent; he it was, whose guile,
ith envy and revenge, deceived
of mankind, what time his pride
m out from Heaven, with all his host
els, by whose aid, aspiring

elf in glory above his peers,
to have equalled the Most High,
ed; and with ambitious aim
throne and monarchy of God
ous war in Heaven and battle proud,
ttempt. Him the almighty Power
along flaming from the ethereal sky,
us ruin and combustion, down
ess perdition, there to dwell

Fine chains and penal fire,

defy the Omnipotent to arms.

t, subject. maintain by proof. Show to be just. Ithe world besides. -28, and Gen. ii. 16,

ne, when. uals.

See line 34.

Lay vanquished, rolling in the fiery gulf,

Confounded though immortal. But his doom
Reserved him to more wrath; for now the thought
Both of lost happiness and lasting pain

Torments him. Round he throws his baleful eyes,
That witnessed huge affliction and dismay,
Mixed with obdurate pride and steadfast hate.
At once, as far as angels ken, he views
The dismal situation waste and wild:

A dungeon horrible on all sides round

As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames
No light, but rather darkness visible
Served only to discover sights of woe,

Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace
And rest can never dwell, hope never comes
That comes to all; but torture without end
Still urges, and a fiery deluge, fed
With ever-burning sulphur unconsumed.
Such place eternal justice had prepared
For those rebellious; here their prison ordained
In utter darkness, and their portion set
As far removed from God and light of Heaven
As from the centre thrice to the utmost pole.
O how unlike the place from whence they fell!
There, the companions of his fall, o'erwhelmed
With floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire,
He soon discerns; and, weltering by his side,
One next himself in power and next in crime,
Long after known in Palestine, and named
Beelzebub: To whom the arch-enemy

57. witnessed perhaps means
in this place, testified; expressed.
59. ken, know by seeing.
62. As, like.

64. discover, lay open; show. 68. urges, besets; oppresses. 72. utter, outer. "Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness." Matt. xxv. 30.

75

80

74. the centre, the centre of the World, as described in Book VII., lines 224-231.

80. Palestine. Baälzebub or Beelzebub was the god of Ekron, a city of the Philistines, in Palestine.

beest he but O how fallen! how ged

ho in the happy realms of light,

85

transcendent brightness, didst outshine ugh bright!—if he, whom mutual league, ghts and counsels, equal hope

in the glorious enterprise,

me once, now misery hath joined

n- into what pit thou seest

90

height fallen, so much the stronger proved thunder and till then who knew

those dire arms? Yet not for those, e potent victor in his rage

lict, do I repent or change

95

anged in outward lustre) that fixed mind isdain from sense of injured merit, he Mightiest raised me to contend, fierce contention brought along

e force of spirits armed,

dislike his reign, and, me preferring, power with adverse power opposed, battle on the plains of Heaven,

100

his throne. What though the field be lost?

Ost; the unconquerable will,

of revenge, immortal hate,

ge never to submit or yield,
s else not to be overcome;
never shall his wrath or might

106

110

102. me preferring, making me first or leader, or choosing me rather.

110. That glory, the glory of my submission.

Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace
With suppliant knee, and deify his power,
Who from the terror of this arm so late
Doubted his empire; that were low indeed!
That were an ignominy and shame beneath
This downfall; since by fate the strength of gods
And this empyreal substance cannot fail;
Since, through experience of this great event,
In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced,
We may with more successful hope resolve
To wage by force or guile, eternal war,
Irreconcilable to our grand foe,

Who now triumphs, and in the excess of joy
Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heaven."

So spake the apostate angel, though in pain, Vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair; And him thus answered soon his bold compeer:

"O prince, O chief of many thronèd Powers,
That led the embattled Seraphim to war
Under thy conduct, and, in dreadful deeds
Fearless, endangered Heaven's perpetual King,
And put to proof his high supremacy,
Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate;
Too well I see and rue the dire event,
That with sad overthrow and foul defeat
Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host
In horrible destruction laid thus low,
As far as gods and heavenly essences

117. empyreal substance, angelic nature.

124. tyranny. The original meaning of this word is absolute rule. The poet here seems to join with it the idea which it commonly conveys to us. - of,

Dver.

115

120

125

130

135

129. embattled, ranged in order of battle.

130. conduct, leadership. 138. heavenly essences. See empyreal substance, above.

for the mind and spirit remains nd vigor soon returns,

our glory extinct, and happy state ved up in endless misery.

be our conqueror (whom I now

eve almighty, since no less

140

ould have o'erpowered such force as ours) this our spirit and strength entire,

Suffer and support our pains;

y so suffice his vengeful ire, mightier service, as his thralls war, whate'er his business be, heart of Hell to work in fire, rands in the gloomy deep.

t then avail, though yet we feel diminished, or eternal being

eternal punishment?"

146

150

155