Subdues us, and Omnipotent Decree
The Victors will. To fuffer, as to doe,
Our strength is equal, nor the Law unjust
That fo ordains: this was at first refolv'd,
If we were wife, against so great a foe
Contending, and fo doubtful what might fall.
I laugh, when those who at the Spear are bold
And vent'rous, if that fail them, fhrink and fear
What yet they know muft follow, to endure
Exile, or ignominy, or bonds, or pain,
The sentence of their Conquerour: This is now
Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear,
Our Supream Foe in time may much remit
His anger, and perhaps thus farr remov'd
Not mind us not offending, fatisfi'd
With what is punish't; whence these raging fires
Will flack'n, if his breath ftir not their flames.
Our purer effence then will overcome
Their noxious vapour, or enur'd not feel,
Or chang'd at length, and to the place conformd.
In temper and in nature, will receive
Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain;
This horror will grow milde, this darkness light,
Befides what hope the never-ending flight
Of future days may bring, what chance, what change
Worth waiting, fince our prefent lot appeers
For happy though but ill, for ill not worst,
If we procure not to our selves more woe.
Thus Belial with words cloath'd in reasons garb
Counsel'd ignoble ease, and peaceful floath,
Not peace and after him thus Mammon spake
Either to disinthrone the King of Heav'n
We warr, if warr 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
Within Heav'ns bound, unless Heav'ns Lord fupream
We overpower? Suppofe he should relent
And publish Grace to all, on promise made
Of new Subjection; with what eyes could we
Stand in his presence humble, and receive
Strict Laws impos'd, to celebrate his Throne
With warbl'd Hymns, and to his Godhead fing
Forc't Halleluiahs; while he Lordly fits
Our envied Sovran, and his Altar breathes
Ambrofial Odours and Ambrofial Flowers,
Our fervile offerings. This must be our task
In Heav'n, this our delight; how wearisom
Eternity so spent in worship paid
To whom we hate. Let us not then pursue
By force impoffible, by leave obtain❜d
Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, our state
Of splendid vaffalage, but rather feek
Our own good from our felves, and from our own
Live to our felves, though in this vaft recefs,
Free, and to none accountable, preferring
Hard liberty before the eafie yoke
Of fervile Pomp. Our greatness will appear
Then most confpicuous, when great things of small,
Useful of hurtful, profperous of adverfe
We can create, and in what place fo e're
Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain
Through labour and endurance. This deep world
Of darkness do we dread? how oft amidst
Thick clouds and dark doth Heav'ns all-ruling Sire
Choose to refide, his Glory unobscur'd,
And with the Majesty of darkness round
Covers his Throne; from whence deep thunders roar
Muft'ring their rage, and Heav'n resembles Hell?
As he our Darkness, cannot we his Light
Imitate when we please? This Defart foile 270
Wants not her hidden luftre, Gemms and Gold;
Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise
Magnificence; and what can Heav'n fhew more?
Our torments also 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 fettl'd State
Of order, how in safety best we may
Compofe our prefent evils, with regard
Of what we are and were, difmiffing quite
All thoughts of Warr: ye have what I advise.
He scarce had finifht, when fuch murmur fill'd
Th' Affembly, as when hollow Rocks retain
The found of bluftring winds, which all night long
Had rous'd the Sea, now with hoarfe cadence lull
Sea-faring men orewatcht, whofe Bark by chance
Or Pinnace anchors in a craggy Bay
After the Tempest: Such applause was heard 290 As Mammon ended, and his Sentence pleas'd, Advising peace for fuch another Field
They dreaded worse then Hell: fo much the fear
Of Thunder and the Sword of Michael
Wrought ftill within them; and no lefs defire
To found this nether Empire, which might rife
By pollicy, and long process of time,
In emulation opposite to Heav'n.
Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, then whom,
Satan except, none higher fat, with grave
Afpect he rofe, and in his rifing feem'd
A Pillar of State; deep on his Front engraven
Deliberation fat and publick care;
And Princely counsel in his face yet shon,
Majestick though in ruin: fage he stood
With Atlantean fhoulders fit to bear
The weight of mightiest Monarchies; his look
Drew audience and attention ftill as Night
Or Summers Noon-tide air, while thus he spake.
Thrones and imperial Powers, off-fpring of
Ethereal Vertues; or thefe Titles now [heav'n,
Must we renounce, and changing stile 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,
And know not that the King of Heav'n hath doom'd
This place our dungeon, not our fafe retreat
Beyond his Potent arm, to live exempt
From Heav'ns high jurisdiction, in new League
Banded against his Throne, but to remaine
In ftrictest bondage, though thus far remov'd,
Under th' inevitable curb, referv'd
His captive multitude: For he, be sure,
In highth or depth, ftill first and last will Reign Sole King, and of his Kingdom loose no part
By our revolt, but over Hell extend
His Empire, and with Iron Scepter rule
Us here, as with his Golden those in Heav'n. What fit we then projecting Peace and Warr? Warr hath determin'd us, and foild with lofs 330 Irreparable; tearms of peace yet none
Voutfaf't 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,
But to our power hoftility and hate,
Untam'd reluctance, and revenge though flow,
Yet ever plotting how the Conquerour least
May reap his conquest, and may least rejoyce
In doing what we most in suffering feel?
Nor will occafion want, nor fhall we need
With dangerous expedition to invade
Heav'n, whofe high walls fear no affault or Siege,
Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find
Some eafier enterprize? There is a place
(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heav'n
Err not) another World, the happy seat
Of fom new Race call'd Man, about this time
To be created like to us, though lefs
In power and excellence, but favour'd more
Of him who rules above; fo was his will
Pronounc'd among the Gods, and by an Oath,
That shook Heav'ns whol circumference, confirm'd.
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn
What creatures there inhabit, of what mould,
Or fubftance, how endu'd, and what their Power,
And where their weakness, how attempted beft,
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