If thence he scape,into whatever world,
Or unknown region, what remains him less Than unknown dangers, and as hard escape?
But I should ill become this throne, O Peers, 445
And this imperial fovranty, adorn'd
With splendor, arm'd with pow'r, if ought propos'd
And judg'd of public moment, in the shape
Of difficulty or danger could deter
Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume These royalties, and not refuse to reign; Refusing to accept as great a share
Of hazard, as of honor; due alike
To him who reigns; and so much to him due Of hazard more, as he above the rest
High honor'd fits? Go, therefore, mighty Powers, Terror of Heav'n, though fall'n; intend at home, While here shall be our home, what best may ease The present misery, and render Hell
More tolerable; if there be cure, or charm, To refpit, or deceive, or flack the pain
Of this ill mansion: intermit no watch Against a wakeful foe; while I abroad,
Through all the coasts of dark destruction, seek Deliverance for us all: this enterprise
None fhall partake with me. Thus faying rofe The Monarch, and prevented all reply;
Prudent, left, from his refolution rais'd,
the chief might offer now,
(Certain to be refus'd) what erst they fear'd; And fo refus'd,might in opinion ftand
His rivals; winning cheap the high repute Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they Dreaded not more th'adventure, than his voice Forbidding; and,at once, with him they rose; Their rifing all at once was as the found
Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend With awful reverence, prone; and as a God Extol him,equal to the Hig heft in Heaven:
Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd, 480 That for the general safety he despis'd
His own: for neither do the Spirits damn’d Lose all their virtue; left bad men fhould boast Their specious deeds on earth, which glory Or close ambition, varnish'd o'er with zeal. Thus they their doubtful confultations dark Ended;rejoicing in their matchless chief: As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds Afcending, while the north-wind fleeps, o'er-fpread Heav'n's chearful face, the louring element 490 Scowls o'er the darken'd landskip fnow, or shower; If chance the radiant fun,with farewel sweet, Extend his evening beam, the fields revive,
The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds Atteft their joy, that hill and valley rings:
O fhame to men! Devil with Devil damn'd
Firm concord holds, men only disagree
Of creatures rational; though under hope
Of heav'nly grace, and God proclaming peace, Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife
Among themselves, and levy cruel wars,
Wafting the earth, each other to destroy: As if (which might induce us to accord) Man had not hellish foes enow besides, That day and night for his deftruction wait. The Stygian council thus diffolv'd; and forth In order came the grand infernal peers:
Midst came their mighty paramount; and seem'd Alone th' antagonist of Heav'n, nor less
Than Hell's dread emperor,with pomp supreme, 510 And God-like imitated flate; him round
A globe of fiery Seraphim inclos'd
With bright imblazonry, and horrent arms. Then, of their feffion ended they bid cry, With trumpets regal found, the great result: Towards the four winds, four fpeedy Cherubim Put to their mouths the founding alchemy, By heralds voice explain'd; the hollow abyss Heard far and wide; and all the hoft of Hell, With deafning fhout,return'd them loud acclame. 520 Thence more at ease their minds, and fomewhat rais'd By false presumptuous hope, the ranged Powers Disband, and wand'ring, each his feveral way
Purfues, as inclination or fad choice
Leads him perplex'd; where he
Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain The irksome hours, till his great chief return. Part on the plain, or in the air fublime, Upon the wing, or in fwift race contend; As at th'Olympian games or Pythian fields; Part curb their fiery ftecds, or fhun the goal With rapid wheels, or fronted brigads form. As when, to warn proud cities, war appears Wag'd in the troubled sky, and armies rush To battel in the clouds, before each van Prick forth the aery knights, and couch their spears, Till thickest legions clofe; with feats of arms From either end of Heav'n the welkin burns. Others with vaft, Typhocan rage, more fell,
Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air 540 In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wild uproar. As when Alcides, from Oechalia crown'd With conqueft, felt th'envenom'd robe, and tore, Through pain,up by the roots Theffalian pines, And Lichas from the top of Oeta threw
Into th' Euboic fea. Others more mild, Retreated in a filent valley, fing,
(What could it lefs when Spirits immortal fing?)
Sufpended Hell, and took with ravishment
The thronging audience. In discourse more fweet, 555 (For eloquence the foul, fong charms the fenfe,) Others apart fat on a hill retir'd,
In thoughts more elevate; and reason'd high Of providence, foreknowledge, will, and fate, Fix'd fate, free will, foreknowledge abfolute, And found no end, in wand'ring mazes loft. Of good and evil much they argued then, Of happiness and final misery, Paffion and apathy, and glory' and shame, Vain wisdom all, and false philosophy: Yet with a pleasing forcery could charm Pain,for a while,or anguish; and excite Fallacious hope, or arm th' obdured breast With stubborn patience, as with triple steel. Another part,in fquadrons and grofs bands, On bold adventure to discover wide
That dismal world, if any clime perhaps
Might yield them easier habitation, bend
Four ways their flying march, along the banks Of four infernal rivers, that difgorge
Into the burning lake their baleful ftreams; Abhorred Styx, the flood of deadly hate; Sad Acheron of forrow, black and deep;
Cocytus, nam'd of lamentation loud
Heard on the rueful ftream; fierce Phlegethon, 580 Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage.
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