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 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, called Man, about this time To be created like to us, though less
In power and excellence, but favoured more Of him who rules above; so was his will Pronounced among the gods; and by an oath, That shook heaven's whole circumference, confirmed. Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn What creatures there inhabit, of what mould 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, 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 All as our own, and drive, as we were driven, The puny habitants, or, if not drive,
Seduce them to our party, that their God
May prove their foe, and with repenting hand Abolish his own works. This would surpass Common revenge, and interrupt his joy In our confusion, and our joy upraise In his disturbance; when his darling sons, Hurled 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 devised By Satan, and in part proposed; for whence, But from the author of all ill, could spring So deep a malice, to confound the race Of mankind in one root, and earth with hell To mingle and involve, done all to spite The great Creator? But their spite still serves
His glory to augment. The bold design Pleased 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 judged, well ended long debate, Synod of gods, and like to what ye are,
Great things resolved, which from the lowest deep, Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate,
Nearer our ancient seat; perhaps in view
Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbouring arms And opportune excursion, we may chance Re-enter heaven; or else in some mild zone Dwell, not unvisited of heaven's fair light, Secure; and at the brightening orient beam Purge off this gloom: the soft delicious air, To heal the scar of these corrosive fires,
Shall breathe her balm. But first, whom shall we send In search of this new world? whom shall we find Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering feet
The dark, unbottomed, infinite abyss,
And through the palpable obscure find out His uncouth way, or spread his aëry flight Upborne with indefatigable wings,
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
The happy isle? What strength, what art can then Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe
Through the strict sentries and stations thick Of angels watching round? Here he had need All circumspection, and we now no less Choice in our suffrage; for, on whom we send The weight of all and our last hope relies." This said, he sat; and expectation held His look suspense, awaiting who appeared To second, or oppose, or undertake The perilous attempt: but all sat mute, Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each In other's countenance read his own dismay, Astonished; none among the choice and prime Of those heaven-warring champions could be found So hardy, as to proffer or accept,
Alone, the dreadful voyage; till at last
Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised Above his fellows, with monarchal pride,
Conscious of highest worth, unmoved thus spake : "O progeny of heaven, empyreal thrones,
With reason hath deep silence and demur Seized us, though undismayed. Long is the way And hard, that out of hell leads up to light; Our prison strong; this huge convex of fire, Outrageous to devour, immures us round Ninefold; and gates of burning adamant, Barred over us, prohibit all egress.
These passed, if any pass, the void profound Of unessential night receives him next Wide-gaping, and with utter loss of being Threatens him, plunged in that abortive gulf. 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, And this imperial sovereignty, adorned
With splendour, armed with power, if aught proposed And judged 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 honour, due alike
To him who reigns, and so much to him due
Of hazard more, as he above the rest
High honoured sits? Go, therefore, mighty powers, Terror of heaven, though fallen; 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 respite, or deceive, or slack 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 shall partake with me." Thus saying rose The monarch, and prevented all reply; Prudent, lest, from his resolution raised, Others among the chief might offer now (Certain to be refused) what erst they feared;
And, so refused, might in opinion stand
His rivals; winning cheap the high repute,
Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they Dreaded not more the adventure, than his voice
Forbidding; and at once with him they rose :
Their rising all at once was as the sound
Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend With awful reverence prone; and as a god Extol him equal to the Highest in heaven: Nor failed they to express how much they praised, That for the general safety he despised
His own: for neither do the spirits damned Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast Their specious deeds on earth which glory excites, Or close ambition, varnished o'er with zeal. Thus they their doubtful consultations dark Ended, rejoicing in their matchless chief; As when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o'erspread Heaven's cheerful face, the louring element Scowls o'er the darkened landskip snow, or shower; If chance the radiant sun with farewell sweet Extend his evening beam, the fields revive,
The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings.
O shame to men! devil with devil damned Firm concord holds, men only disagree Of creatures rational, though under hope Of heavenly grace; and, God proclaiming peace, Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife, Among themselves, and levy cruel wars, Wasting 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 destruction wait. The Stygian council thus dissolved; and forth In order came the grand infernal peers:
Midst came their mighty paramount, and seemed Alone the antagonist of heaven, nor less Than hell's dread emperor, with pomp supreme, And god-like imitated state: him round A globe of fiery seraphim inclosed
With bright emblazonry, and horrent arms. Then of their session ended they bid cry With trumpets' regal sound the great result: Toward the four winds four speedy cherubim Put to their mouths the sounding alchymy, By herald's voice explained; the hollow abyss Heard far and wide, and all the host of hell With deafening shout returned them loud acclaim.
Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat raised By false presumptuous hope, the ranged powers
Disband, and, wandering, each his several way Pursues, as inclination or sad choice
Leads him, perplexed where he may likeliest find Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain
« PreviousContinue » |