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,155
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 decreed,
Reserved, and destined to eternal woe; 161
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

Worth waiting,-since our present lot ap

pears

For happy though but ill, for ill not worst,
If we procure not to ourselves more woe.
Thus Belial, with words clothed in rea-
son's garb,
Counselled ignoble ease and peaceful sloth,
Not peace; and after him thus Mammon

spake:

226

We can create, and in what place soe'er 260 Thrive under evil, and work ease out of

pain

Covers his throne, from whence deep thunders roar,

Mustering their rage, and Heaven 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;

271 Nor want we skill or art from whence to raise

Magnificence; and what can Heaven show more?

Our torments also may, in length of time, Become our elements, these piercing fires As soft as now severe, our temper changed Into their temper; which must needs re

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 Heaven.
Which when Beelzebub perceived-than
whom,

Satan except, none higher sat-with grave
Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemed 301
A pillar of state. Deep on his front en-
graven

Deliberation sat and public care;
And princely counsel in his face yet shone,
Majestic, though in ruin. Sage he stood,
With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear 306
The weight of mightiest monarchies; his
look

Drew audience and attention still as night Or summer's noontide air, while thus he spake:

"Thrones and Imperial Powers, Offspring of Heaven,

310

Ethereal Virtues! or these titles now Must we renounce, and, changing style, be called

Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote Inclines-here to continue, and build up here

A growing empire; doubtless! while we dream,

315 And know not that the King of Heaven hath doomed

This place our dungeon-not our safe retreat

Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt From Heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league

Banded against his throne, but to remain

In strictest bondage, though thus far removed,

321

Irreparable; terms of peace yet none Vouchsafed or sought; for what peace will be given

To us enslaved, but custody severe,
And stripes, and arbitrary punishment
Inflicted? and what peace can we return,
But, to our power, hostility and hate, 336
Untamed reluctance, and revenge, though
slow,

Yet ever plotting how the Conqueror least May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice

In doing what we most in suffering feel? 340 Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need With dangerous expedition to invade Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or siege,

Or ambush from the Deep. What if we

Or substance, how endued, and what their power,

And where their weakness: how attempted best,

By force or subtlety. Though Heaven be shut,

And Heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure In his own strength, this place may lie exposed, 360

The utmost border of his kingdom, left
To their defence who hold it; here, perhaps,
Some advantageous act may be achieved
By sudden onset-either with Hell-fire
To waste his whole creation, or possess 365
All as our own, and drive, as we were
driven,

1 made an end of.