The consultation begun, Satan debates whether another battle be to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven some advise it, others dissuade. A third proposal is preferred, mentioned before by Satan-to search the truth of that prophecy or tradition in Heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature, equal, or not much inferior, to themselves, about this time to be created. Their doubt who shall be sent on this difficult search: Satan, their chief, undertakes alone the voyage; is honoured and applauded. The council thus ended, the rest betake them several ways and to several imployments, as their inclinations lead them, to entertain the time till Satan return. passes on his journey to Hell-gates; finds them shut, and who sat there to guard them; by whom at length they are opened, and discover to him the great gulf between Hell and Heaven. With what difficulty he passes through, directed by Chaos, the Power of that place, to the sight of this new World which he sought.

He

From faction: for none sure will claim in Hell

Precedence; none whose portion is so small Of present pain that with ambitious mind Will covet more! With this advantage,

then,

To union, and firm faith, and firm accord, More than can be in Heaven, we now return

To claim our just inheritance of old,
Surer to prosper than prosperity
Could have assured us; and by what best
way,

40

Whether of open war or covert guile, We now debate. Who can advise may speak."

He ceased; and next him Moloch, sceptred king,

Stood upthe strongest and the fiercest Spirit

That fought in Heaven, now fiercer by despair.

His trust was with the Eternal to be deemed

To be no more.

Sad cure for who would

lose, Though full of pain, this intellectual being, Those thoughts that wander through eternity,

To perish rather, swallowed up and lost

In the wide womb of uncreated Night, 150 Devoid of sense and motion? And who knows,

Let this be good, whether our angry Foe
Can give it, or will ever? How he can
Is doubtful; that he never will is sure.
Will He, so wise, let loose at once his ire,
Belike through impotence or unaware,
To give his enemies their wish, and end
Them in his anger whom his anger saves
To punish endless? Wherefore cease we,
then?'

Say they who counsel war; we are de

creed,

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Reserved, and destined to eternal woe; Whatever doing, what can we suffer more, What can we suffer worse?' Is this, then, worst

Thus sitting, thus consulting, thus in arms? What when we fled amain, pursued and strook

With Heaven's afflicting thunder, and besought