Either to difinthrone the king of Heav'n' We war, if war be beft, or to regain Our own right loft. Him to unthrone we then May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the ftrife: The former vain to hope argues as vain The latter: for what place can be for us 235 Within Heav'n's bound, unless Heav'n's Lord ·· fupreme
We overpower? fuppofe he should relent 27 And publish grace to all, on promise made Of new subjection: with what eyes could we Stand in his presence bumble, and receive 240 Strict laws impos'd, te celebrate his throne With warbled hymns, and to his Godhead fing Forc'd hallelujahs; while he lordly fits Our envy'd Sov'reign, and his altar breathes Ambrofial odors, and ambrofial flowers, 245 Our fervile offerings? This must be our task In Heav'n, this our delight; how wearifome Eternity to spent in worship paid
To whom we hate! let us not then pursue By force impoffible, by leave obtain❜d 250 Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, our state
Of splendid vassalage; but rather seek Our own good from ourselves, and from our
Live to ourselves, though in this vaft recess, Free, and to none accountable, preferring 255
Hard liberty before the easy yoke
Of fervile pomp, Our greatness will appear Then moft confpicuous, when great things of fmall,
Useful of hurtful, profperous of adverse We can create, and in what place fo e'er 260 Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain, Through labor and indurance. This deep world Of darkness do we dread? how oft amidst Thick clouds and, dark doth Heav'n's all-ruling
Choose to refide, his glory unobfcur'd
And with the majesty of darkness round Covers his throne; from whence deep thunders roar
Muft'ring their rage, and Heav'n resembles
As he our darkness, cannot we his light Imitate when we please? this defert foil Wants not her hidden luftre, genis and gold:, Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise Magnificence; and what can Heav'n fhew more?
Our torments alfo may in length of time Become our elements; these piercing fires 275 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 fertled state
Of order, how in fafety beft me may Compose our prefent evils, with regard Of what we are and where, difmiffing quite All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advife. He fearce had finifhd, when fuch murmur
Th' affembly, as when hollow rocks retain The found of bluftring wind's, which all night long
Had rous'd the sea, now with hoarse cadense
Sea-fearing men o'erwatchd, whofe bark by chance
Or pinnace anchors in a craggy bay
After the tempeft: such applause was heard 290 As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleas'd Advising peace; for fuch another field
They dreaded worse than Hell: fo much the fear Of thunder, and the fword of Michaël Wrought still within them; and no lefs defire 295 To found this nether Empire, which might rise By policy, and long process of time, In emulation oppofite to Heaven.
Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom, Satan except, none higher fat, with grave 300 Afpect he rofe, and in his rifing seem'd A pillar of state; deep on his front engraven Deliberation fat, and public care;
And princely counsel in his face yet shone,
Majestic though in ruin? fagé he stood, 305 With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear
The weight of mightieft monarchies; his look Drew audience and attention still as night Or fummer's noon-tide air, while thus he fpake. Thrones, and Imperial Pow'rs, Offspring of Heav'n,
Ethereal Virtues; or these titles now
Muft we renounce, and changing style, be call'd Princes of Hell? for fo the popular vote Inclines, here to continue, and build up here A growing empire: doubtlefs; while we dream;
315 And know not that the king of Heav'n hath
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 320 In strictest bondage, though thus far remov'd Under th'inevitable curb, referv'd
His captive multitude: For he, be fure, In height or depth, still first and laft will reign Sole King, and of his kingdom lofe no part 325 By our revolt; but over Hell extend His empire, and with iron fcepter rule Us here, as with his golden thofe in Heav'n What fit we then projecting peace and war? War hath determin'd us, and foil'd with lofs 330.
Irreparable; terms of peace yet none
Vouchfaf'd or fought: for what peace will be giv'n
To us enflav'd, but cuftody fevere, And stripes, and arbitrary punishment Inflicted? and what peace can we return? 335 But, to our power, hoftility, and hate, Untam'd reluctance, and revenge, though flow, Yet ever plotting how the conqueror leaft May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice In doing what we most in fuffering feel? 340 Nor will occafion want, nor fhall we need With dangerous expedition to invade
Heav'n, whose high walls fear no alfault or fiege,
Or ambush from the deep. What if we find Some easier enterprize? there is a place, If ancient and prophetic fame in Heav'n Err not, another world, the happy feat of fome new race call'd Man, about this time To be created like to us, though lefs
In pow'r and excellence, but favor'd more Of him who rules above: fo was his will Pronounc'd among the Gods, and by an oath, That fhook Heav'n's whole circumference, confirm'd.
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn What creatures there inhabit, of what mold, 355 Or fubftance, how endu'd, and what their pow'r
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