A thousand Demi-gods on golden seats, 800-802 Frequent and full. After short silence then, 798 END OF THE FIRST BOOK. THE ARGUMENT. 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 ofcreature,equal, or not much inferiour 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 employments as their inclinations lead them, to entertain the time till Satan returns. He passes on his journey to hell gates, finds them shut, and who sat there to guard them; by whom they are at length opened and discover to him the great gulph 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. PARADISE LOST. BOOK II. 1-15 HIGH on a throne of royal state, which far To that bad eminence: and, from despair Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heaven! 15-42 More glorious and more dread than from no fall, And trust themselves to fear no second fate. Me though just right, and the fix'd laws of Heaven, Yielded with full consent. The happier state Could have assur'd us; and, by what best way, We now debate: who can advise, may speak. He ceas'd; and next him Moloch, scepter'd king, |