Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now To bellow through the vast and boundless deep.
Let us not slip th' occasion, whether scorn, Or satiate fury yield it from our foe. Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild, The seat of Desolation, void of light, Save what the glimmering of these livid flames Casts pale and dreadful? Thither let us tend From off the tossing of these fiery waves, There rest, if any rest can harbour there, And re-assembling our afflicted powers, Consult how we may henceforth most offend Our enemy, our own loss how repair, How overcome this dire calamity, What reinforcement we may gain from hope. Thus Satan talking to his nearest mate With head up-lift above the wave, and eyes that sparkling blaz'd, his other parts besides Prone on the flood, extended long and large, Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge As whom the fables name of monstrous size, Titanian, or Earth-born, that warr'd on Jove, Briareos or Typhon, whom the den
By ancient Tarsus held, or that sea-beast Leviathan, which God of all his works Created bugest that swim th' ocean stream: Him haply stumb'ring on the Norway foam: The pilot of some small night-founder'd skiff Deeming some island, oft, as seamen tell, With fixed anchor in his scaly rind Moors by his side under the lee, while night Invests the sea, and wished morn delays : So stretch'd out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay
Chain'd on the burning lake, nor ever thence Hadris'n or heav'd his head, but that the will And high permission of all ruling Heaven Left him at large to his own dark designs, That with reiterated crimes he might Heap on himself damnation, while he sought Evil to others, and enrag'd might see How all his malice serv'd but to bring forth Infinite goodness, grace and mercy shown On Man by him suduc'd, but on himself Treble confusion, wrath and vengeance pour'd. Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool His mighty stature; on each hand the flames Driv'n backward slope their pointing spires, and roll'd
In billows, leave i' th' midst a horrid vale. Then with expanded wings be steers his flight Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air That felt unusual weight, till on dry land He lights, if it were land that ever burn'd With solid, as the lake with liquid fire; And such appear'd in hue, as when the force Of subterranean wind transports a hill Torn from Pelorus, or the shatter'd side
Of thund'ring Etna, whose combustible And fuel'd entrails thence conceiving fire, Sublim'd with mineral fury, aid the winds, Aud leave a singed bottom all involv'd With stench and smoke: such resting found the sole
Of unblest feet. Him follow'd his next mate, Both glorying to have 'scap'd the Stygian flood As Gods, and by their own recover'd strength, Not hy the sufferance of supernal Power.
Is this the region, this the soil, the clime, Said then the lost Arch-Angel, this the seat That we must change for Heav'n, this mournful gloom
For that celestial light? Be it so, since he Who now is Sov'rain can dispose and bid What shall be right: farthest from him is best, Whom reason hath equall'd, force hath made
Above bis equa. Farewell happy fields, Where joy for ever dwells: Hail horrors, hail Infernal world, and thou profoundest Hell Receive thy new possessor; one who brings A mind not to be chang'd by place or time. The mind is its own place, and in itself Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n. What matter where, if I be still the same, And what I should be, all but less than he Whom thunder hath made greater? Here at least
We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence : Here we may reign secure, and in my choice To reign is worth ambition though in hell: Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven. But wherefore let we then our faithful friends, Th' associates and copartners of our loss, Lie thus astonish'd on th' oblivious pool, And call them not to share with us their part In this unhappy mansion, or once more With rallied arms to try what may be yet Regain'd in heav'n, or what more lost in hell! So Satan spake, and him Beelzebub Thus answer'd. Leader of those armies bright Which but th' Omnipotent none could have foil'd,
If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge
Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge Of battle when it rag'd, in all assaults Their surest signal, they will soon resume New courage and revive, though now they lie Groveling and prostrate on yon lake of fire, As we ere while, astounded and amaz'd, No wonder, fall'n such a pernicious height. He scarce had ceas'd when the superior Fiend [shield, Was moving tow'ard the shore; his poud'rous
Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, Behind him cast; the broad circumference Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb
Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views At evening from the top of Fesolé, Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, Rivers or mountains on her spotty globe. His spear, to equal which the tallest pine Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast Of some great ammiral, were but a wand, He walk'd with to support uneasy steps Over the burning marle, not like those steps On heaven's azure, and the torrid clime Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire: Nathless he so endur'd, till on the beach Of that inflamed sea he stood, and call'd His legions, Angel forms, who lay entranc'd Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the brooks
In Vallombrosa, where th' Etrurian shades High over-arch'd imbow'r; or scatter'd sedge Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion arm'd Hath vex'd the Red-Sea coast, whose waves o'erthrew
Busiris and his Memphian chivalry, While with perfidious hatred they pursued The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld From the safe shore their floating carcases And broken chariot-wheels: so thick bestrown Abject and lost lay these, covering the flood, Under amazement of their hideous change. He call'd so loud, that all the hollow deep Of hell resouuded. Princes, Potentates, Warriors, the flow'r of heav'n, once yours, now lost,
If such astonishment as this can seize Eternal Spirits; or have ye chos'n this place After the toil of battle to repose Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find To slumber here, as in the vales of heaven? Or in this abject posture have ye sworn To adore the conqueror? who now beholds Cherub and Seraph rolling in the flood With scatter'd arms and ensigns, till anon His swift pursuers from heav'n gates discern Th' advantage, and descending tread us down Thus drooping, or with linked thunderbolts Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf. Awake, arise, or be for ever fall'n.
Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day, Wav'd round the coast, ap call'd a pitchy cloud
Of locusts, warping on the eastern wind, That o'er the realm of impious Pharaoh hung Like night, and darken'd all the land of Nile: So numberless were those bad angels seen Hovering on wing under the cope of hell 'Twixt upper, nether, and surrounding fires; Till, as a signal giv'n, th' up-lifted spear Of their great Sultan waving to direct Their course, in even balance down they light On the firm brimstone, and fill all the plain; A multitude, like which the populous north Pour'd never from her frozen loins, to pass Rhene or the Danaw, when her barbarous sons Came like a deluge on the south, and spread Beneath Gibraltar to the Lybian sa ds. Forthwith from every squadron and each band The heads and leaders thither haste where stood [forins Their great commander; godlike shapes and Excelling human, princely diguities, Aud pow'rs that erst in heaven sat on thrones; Though of their names in heav'nly records
Be no memorial, blotted out and ras'd By their rebellion from the books of life. Nor had they yet among the sons of Eve Got them new names, till wand'ring o'er the [man, Through God's high sufferance for the trial of By falsities and lies the greatest part Of mankind they corrupted to forsake God their creator, and the invisible Glory of him that made them to transform Oft to the image of a brute, adorn'd With gay religions full of pomp and gold And devils to adore for deities:
Then were they known to men by various
And various idols through the heathen world. Say, Muse, their names then known, who first, who last,
Rous'd from the slumber, on that fiery couch, At their great emp'ror's call, as next in worth Came singly where he stood on the bare strand, While the promiscuous crowd stood yet aloof. The chief were those who from the pit of hell Roaming to seek their prey on earth, durst fix
They heard, and were abash'd, and up they Their seats long after next the seat of God,
Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch On duty, sleeping found by whom they dread, Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake. Nor did they not perceive the evil plight In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; Yet to their general's voice they soon obey'd Innumerable. As when the potent rod
Their altars by his altar, gods ador'd Among the nations round, and durst abide Jehovah thund'ring out of Sion, throu'd Between the Cherubim ; yea, often plac'd Within his sanctuary itself their shrines, Abominations; and with cursed things His holy rites and solemn feasts profan'd, And with their darkness durst affront his light.
First Moloch, horrid king, besmear'd with blood
Of human sacrifice, and parents' tears, Though for the noise of drums and timbrils loud [through fire Their children's cries unheard, that pass'd To his grim idol. Him the Ammonite Worship'd in Rabba and her watry plain, In Argob and in Basan, to the stream Of utmost Aruon. Nor content with such Audacious neighoushood, the wisest heart Of Solomon he led by fraud to build His temple right against the temple of God On that opprobrious bill, and made his grove The pleasant valley of Himmon, Tophet thence
And black Gehenna call'd, the type of hell. Next Chemos, the obscene dread of Moab's
From Aroar to Nebo, and the wild Of southmost Abarim; in Hesebon And Horonaim, Seon's realin, beyond The flowr'y dale of Sibma, clad with vines, And Eleäle to the Asphaltic pool. Peor his other name, when he entic'd Israel in Sittim on their march from Nile To do him wanton rites, which cost them woe. Yet thence his lustful orgies he enlarg'd Ev'n to that hill of scandal, by the grove Of Moloch homicide; lust hard by hate; Till good Josiah drove them thence to hell With these came they, who form the bord'ring
Of old Euphrates to the brook that parts Egypt from Syrian ground, had general names Of Baalim and Ashtaroth, those male, These feminine. For spirits, when they please
Can either sex assume, or both; so soft And uncompounded in their essence pure, Not ty'd or manacled with joint or limb, Nor founded on the brittle strength of bones, Like cumb'rous flesh; but in what shape they choose,
Dilated or condens'd, bright or obscure, Can execute their airy purposes, And works of love or enmity fulfil. For those the race of Israel oft forsook Their living strength, and unfrequented left His righteous altar, bowing lowly down To bestial gods; for which their heads as low Bow'd down in battle, sunk before the spear Of despicable foes. With these in troop Came Ashtoreth; whom the Phoenicians call'd Astarte, Queen of Heav'n, with crescent horns; To whose bright image nightly by the moon Sidonian virgins paid their vows and songs; In Sion also not unsung, where stood
Her temple on th' offensive mountain, built
By that uxorious king, whose heart, though large,
Beguil'd by fair idolatresses, fell
To idols foul. Thammuz came next behind, Whose annual wound in Lebanon allur'd The Syriau damsels to lament his fate In amorous ditties all a summer's day; While smooth Adonis from his native rock Ran purple to the sea, suppos'd with blood Of Thammuz yearly wounded: the love-tale- Infected Sion's daughters with like heat, Whose wanton passions in the sacred porch Ezekiel saw, when by the vision led His eye survey'd the dark idolatries Of alienated Judah. Next came one Who mourn'd in earnest, when the captive ark Maim'd his brute image, head and hands lops
In his own temple, on the grounsel edge, Where he fell flat, and sham'd his worshippers Dagon his name, sea monster, upward man And downward fish: yet had his temple high Rear'd in Azotus, dreaded through the coast Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon, And Accarou and Gaza's frontier bounds. Him followed Rimmon, whose delightful seat Was fair Damascus, on the fertile banks Of Abbana and Pharphar, Incid streams. He also against the house of God was bold: A leper once he lost, and gain'd a king, Abaz his sottish conqu’ror, whom he drew God's altar to disparage and displace For one of Syrian mode, whereon to burn His odious offerings, and adore the gods Whom he had vanquish'd. After these ap- pear'd
A crew, who under names of old renown, Osiris, Isis, Orus, and their train, With monstrous shapes and sorceries abus` Fanatic Egypt and her priests, to seek Their wand'ring gods disguis'd in brutish forms
Rather than human. Nor did Israel 'scape Th' infection, when their borrow'd gold com- pos'd
The calf in Oreb; and the rebel king Doubled that sin in Bethel and in Dan, Likening his Maker to the grazed ox, Jehovah, who in one night when he pass'd From Egypt marching, equall'd with one stroke Both her first-born and all her bleating gods. Belial came last, than whom a spirit more
Fell not from Heav'n, or more gross to love Vice for itself: to him no temple stood Or altar smok'd; yet who more oft than be In temples and at altars, when the priest Turns Athiest, as did Eli's sons, who fill'd With lust and violence the house of God?
Of Belial, flown with insolence and wine. Witness the streets of Sodom, and that night In Gibeah, when the hospitable door Expos'd a matron to avoid worse rape. These were the prime in order and in might; The rest were long to tell, though far re- nown'd,
Th' Ionian gods, of Javan's issue held Gods, yet confess'd later than heaven and earth, [boru, Their boasted parents: Titan heav'n's first With his enormous brood, and birth-right|| seiz'd
By younger Saturn; he from mightier Jove His own and Rhea's son like measure found; So Jove usurping reign'd: these first in Crete And Ida known, thence on the snowy top Of cold Olympus rul'd the middle air, Their highest heav'n; or on the Delphian cliff,
Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds Of Doric land; or who with Saturn old Fled over Adria to th' Hesperion fields, And o'er the Celtic roam'd the utmost isles. All these and more came flocking; but with looks [pear'd
Down-cast and damp, yet such wherein ap- Obscure some glimpse of joy, to have found their chief [lost
Not in despair, to have found themselves not Ju loss itself; which on his count'nance cast Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore Semblance of worth, not substance, gently raised
Their fainting courage, and dispell'd their fears. [sound Then strait commands, that at the warlike Of trumpets loud and clarions be uprear'd His mighty standard: that proud honour claim'd
Azazel as bis right, a cherub tall;
Who forthwith from the glittering staff un- furl'd
Th' imperial ensign, which full high advanc'd Shone like a meteor streaming to the wind, With gems and golden lustre rich imblaz'd, Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds: At which the universal host up sent A shout that tore hell's concave, and beyond Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night. All in a moment through the gloom were seen
Ten thousand banners rise into the air With orient colours waving; with them rose A forest huge of spears; and thronging helms Appear'd, and serried shields in thick array Of depth immeasurable: anon they move In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood Of flutes and soft recorder; such as rais'd To heights of noblest temper heroes old Arming to battle; and instead of rage Deliberate valour breath'd, firm and nnmov'd With dread of death to flight or foul retreat; Nor wanting pow'r to mitigate and swage With solemu touches troubled thoughts, and chase [pain, Anguish and doubt, and fear and sorrow, and From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they, Breathing united force, with fixed thought Mov'd on in silence to soft pipes, that charm'd Their painful steps o'er the burnt soil; and
Advanc'd in view, they stand, a horrid front Of dreadful length and dazzling arms, in guise Of warriors old with order'd spear and shield, A waiting what command their mighty Chief Had to impose; he through the armed files Darts his experienc'd eye, and soon traverse The whole battalion views their order due, Their visages and stature as of gods, Their number last he sums. And now his heart [strength Distends with pride, and hardning in his Glories: for never since created man Met such embodied force, as nam'd with these Could merit more than that small infantry Warr'd on by cranes; though all the giant brood
Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were join'd That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each side Mix'd with auxiliar gods; and what resounds In fable or romance of Uther's son, Begiet with British and Armoric knights; And all who since, baptiz'd or infidel, Jousted in Aspramont or Montalban, Damasco, or Marocco, or Trebisond, Or whom Biserta sent from Afric shore, When Charlemain, with all his peerage, fel By Fontarabia. Thus far these beyond Compare of mortal prowess, yet observ'd Their dread Commander: he above the rest, In shape and gesture proudly eminent, Stood like a tower; his form had yet not lost All her original brightness, nor appear'd Less than Archangel ruin'd, and th' excess Of glory obscur'd; as when the sun new-risen Looks through the horizontal misty air Shorn of his beams, from behind the moon In dim eclipse disastrous twilight sheds On half the nations, and with fear of change | Perplexes monarchs. Darken'd so, yet shone
Above them all th' Archangel: but his face Deep scars of thunder had intrench'd, and Care
Sat on his faded cheek, but under-brows Of dauntless courage, and considerate pride Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast Signs of remorse and passion to behold The fellows of his crime, the followers rather (Far other once beheld in bliss) condemn'd For ever now to have their lot in pain, Millions of spirits for his fault amere'd Of heav'n, and from eternal splendours flung For his revolt, yet faithful how they stood, Their glory wither'd as when heaven's fire Hath scath'd the forest oaks, or mountain pines, [bare, With singed top, their stately growth, though || Stand on the blasted heath. He now prepar'd To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend
From wing to wing, aud half enclose him round With all his peers: attention held them mute. Thrice he assay'd, and thrice in spite of scorn, Tears, such as angels weep, burst forth at last [way.
Words, interwove with sighs, found out their O myriads of immortal Spirits! O Powers Matchless! but with th' Almighty, and that strife
Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field, Or cast a rampart. Mamanon led them on, Mammon, the least erected spirit that fell From heav'n, for ev'n in heav'n his looks and thoughts
A numerous brigade hastened: as when bands Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire,Of pioneers, with spade and pick-axe arm'd, As this place testifies, and this dire change Hateful to utter; but what pow'r of mind Foreseeing or presaging, from the depth Of knowledge past or present, could have fear'd, How such united force of gods, how such As stood like these, could ever know repulse? For who can yet believe, though after loss, That all these puissant legions, whose exile Hath emptied heav'u, shall fail to re-ascend, Self-rais'd, and re possess their native seat? For me be witness, all the host of heav'n, If counsels different, or danger shunn'd By me, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns Monarch in heav'n, till then as one secure Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute, Consent or custom, and his regal state Put forth at full; but still his strength conceal'd, fall.
Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our Henceforth his night we know, and know our Own,
So as not either to provoke, or dread New war, provok'd; our better part remains To work in close design, by fraud or guile, What force effected not; that he no less At length from us may find, who overcomes By force, hath overcome but half his foe. Space may produce new worlds; whereof so rife There went a fame in heav'n, that he ere long
Were always downward bent, admiring more The riches of heav'n's pavement, trodden gold, Thau ought divine or holy else enjoy'd In visions beatific: by him first Meu also, and by his suggestion taught, Ransack'd the centre, and with impious hands Rifled the bowels of their mother earth For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew Open'd into the hill a spacious wound, And digg'd out ribs of gold. Let none admire That riches grow in hell; that soil may best Deserve the precious bane. And here let those Who boast in mortal things, and wond'ring
Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings, Learn how their greatest monuments of fame, And strength, and art, are easily out-done By spirits reprobate, and in an hour What in an age they with incessant toil, And hands innumerable, scarce perform. High on the plain in many cells prepar'd, That underneath had veins of liquid fire Sluic'd from the lake, a second multitude With wondrous art founded the massy ore,
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