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Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, our state
Of splendid vassalage; but rather seek

Our own good from ourselves, and from our own
Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess,
Free, and to none accountable, preferring

Hard liberty before the easy yoke

Of servile pomp.

Our greatness will appear

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Then most conspicuous, when great things of small,
Useful of hurtful, prosp❜rous of adverse

We can create, and in what place soe'er
Thrive under ev'il, and work ease out of pain
Through labor and endurance.

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This deep world Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst

Thick clouds and dark doth Heav'nʼs all-ruling Sire Chuse to reside, his glory unobscur'd,

And with the majesty of darkness round

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Covers his throne; from whence deep thunders roar
Must'ring their rage, and Heav'n resembles Hell?
As he our darkness, cannot we his light
Imitate when we please? This desert soil
Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold;
Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise
Magnificence; and what can Heav'n show more?
Our torments also may in length of time
Become our elements, these piercing fires
As soft as now severe, our temper chang'd
Into their temper; which must needs remove
The sensible of pain. All things invite
To peaceful counsels, and the settled state
Of order, how in safety best we may

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Compose our present evils, with regard

Of what we are and where, dismissing quite
All thoughts of war: ye have what I advise.
He scarce had finish'd, when such murmur fill'd
Th' assembly, as when hollow rocks retain 285
The sound of blust'ring winds, which all night long
Had rous'd the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull
Sea-faring men o'er-watch'd, whose 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 such another field

They dreaded worse than Hell: so much the fear
Of thunder and the sword of Michaël

Wrought still within them; and no less desire 295
To found this nether empire, which might rise
By policy, and long process of time,
In emulation opposite to Heav'n.

Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom,
Satan except, none higher sat, with grave
Aspéct he rose, and in his rising seem'd
A pillar of state; deep on his front ingraven
Deliberation sat and public care;

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And princely counsel in his face yet shone,
Majestic though in ruin: sage he stood
With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear
The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look
Drew audience and attention still as night
Or summer's noon-tide air, while thus he spake.
Thrones and Imperial Pow'rs! offspring of Heav'n !

Ethereal Virtues! or these titles now

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Must we renounce, and changing style be call'd
Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote
Inclines, here to continue', and build up here
A growing empire; doubtless; while we dream,
And know not that the King of Heav'n hath doom'd
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
In strictest bondage, though thus far remov'd
Under th' inevitable curb, reserv'd

His captive multitude: for he, be sure,

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In highth or depth, still first and last will reign Sole King, and of his kingdom lose no part 325 By our revolt, but over Hell extend

His empire, and with iron sceptre rule

Us here, as with his golden those in Heav'n.
What sit we then projecting peace and war?

War hath determin'd us, and foil'd with loss 330
Irreparable; terms of peace yet none

Vouchsaf'd or sought; for what peace will be given To us inslav'd, but custody severe,

And stripes, and arbitrary punishment

Inflicted? and what peace can we return 335
But to our power hostility and hate,

Untam'd reluctance, and revenge though slow,
Yet ever plotting how the Conqu'ror least

May reap
his conquest, and may least rejoice
In doing what we most in suffering feel?

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Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need
With dangerous expedition to invade
Heav'n, whose high walls fear no assault or siege,
Or ambush from the deep. What if we find
Some easier enterprise? There is a place,
(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven
Err not) another world, the happy seat
Of some new race call'd man, about this time
To be created like to us, though less

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In power and excellence, but favor'd more
Of him who rules above; so was his will
Pronounc'd among the gods, and by an oath
That shook Heav'n's whole circumference confirm'd.
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn
What creatures there inhabit, of what mould, 355
Or substance, how endu'd, and what their power,
And where their weakness, how attempted best,
By force or subtlety. Though Heav'n be shut,
And Heav'n's high Arbitrator sit secure

In his own strength, this place may lie expos'd 360
The utmost border of his kingdom; left

To their defence who hold it: here perhaps
Some advantageous act may be achiev'd
By sudden onset, either with Hell fire
To waste his whole creation, or possess
All as our own, and drive as we were driven,

The puny inhabitants, or if not drive,

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Seduce them to our party, that their God
May prove their foe, and with repenting hand
Abolish his own works. This would surpass 370

Common revenge, and interrupt his joy
In our confusion, and our joy upraise
In his disturbance; when his darling sons,

Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse
Their frail original, and faded bliss,
Faded so soon. Advise if this be worth
Attempting, or to sit in darkness here
Hatching vain empires. Thus Beelzebub
Pleaded his devilish counsel, first devis'd

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By Satan, and in part propos'd: for whence, 380
But from the author of all ill, could spring
So deep a malice, to confound the race

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Of Mankind in one root, and earth with Hell
To mingle and involve, done all to spite
The greater Creator? But their spite still serves
His glory to augment. The bold design
Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy
Sparkled in all their eyes; with full assent
They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews.
Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate,
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,
Nearer our ancient seat; perhaps in view

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Of those bright confines, whence with neighb'ring

arms

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

Secure, and at the bright'ning orient beam

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