And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall (Though like a cover'd field, where champions bold Wont ride in arm'd, and at the Soldan's chair Defy'd the best of Panim chivalry
To mortal combat, or career with lance)
Thick fwarm'd, both on the ground and in the air Brush'd with the hifs of rustling wings. As bees In fpring time, when the fun with Taurus rides, Pour forth their populous youth about the hive 770 In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed plank, The fuburb of their straw-built citadel,
New rubb'd with balm, expatiate and confer Their ftate affairs. So thick the
Swarm'd and were straiten'd; till the signal given, Behold a wonder! they but now who feem'd
In bigness to surpass Earth's giant fons,
Now lefs then smallest dwarfs, in narrow room Throng numberless, like that pygmean race Beyond the Indian mount, or faery elves, Whofe midnight revels by a forest fide Or fountain fome belated peasant fees,
Or dreams he fees, while over-head the Moon
Sits arbitress, and nearer to the earth
Wheels her pale course, they on their mirth and dance
Intent, with jocund music charm his ear;
At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds. Thus incorporeal fpi'rits to smallest forms
Reduc'd their shapes immense, and were at large, Though without number still amidst the hall Of that infernal court. But far within, And in their own dimensions like themselves, The great feraphic lords and cherubim In clofe recefs and fecret conclave fat A thoufand demi-gods on golden feats, Frequent and full. After short silence then And fummons read, the great confult began.
The confultation begun, Satan debates whether another battel be to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven: fome advise it, others diffuade. A third proposal is preferr'd, mention'd before by Satan, to fearch the truth of that prophecy or tradition in Heaveu concerning another world, and another kind of creature equal or not much inferior to themfelves, about this time to be created: their doubt who fhall be fent on this difficult fearch: Satan their chief undertakes alone the voyage, is honor'd and applauded. The council thus ended, the rest betake them feveral ways, and to feveral employ. ments, as their inclinations led them, to entertain the time till Satan return. He paffes on his journey to Hell gates, finds them fhut, and who fat there to guard them, by whom at length they are open'd, and discover to him the great gulf between Hell and Heaven; with what difficulty he paffes through, directed by Chaos, the Power of that place, to the fight of this new world which he fought.
HIGH on a throne of royal state, which far Out hone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind, Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand Show'rs on her kings barbaric pearl and gold, Satan exalted fat, by merit rais'd
To that bad eminence; and from despair Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires Beyond thus high, infatiate to purfue Vain war with Heav'n, and by fuccefs untaught His proud imaginations thus display'd.
Pow'rs and Dominions, Deities of Heav'n, For fince no deep within her gulf can hold
Immortal vigor, though oppress'd and fall'n, I give not Heav'n for loft. From this descent Celestial Virtues rising, will appear
More glorious and more dread than from no fall, And trust themselves to fear no fecond fate. Me though just right, and the fix'd laws of Heav'n Did first create your leader, next free choice, With what besides, in counsel or in fight,
Hath been achiev'd of merit, yet this lofs Thus far at least recover'd, hath much more Establish'd in a safe unenvied throne Yielded with full confent. The happier state In Heav'n, which follows dignity, might draw Envy from each inferior; but who here Will envy whom the highest place exposes· Foremost to stand against the Thund'rer's aim Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share Of endless pain? where there is then no good For which to strive, no ftrife can grow up there From faction; for none fure will clame in Hell Precedence, none, whofe portion is so small Of prefent pain, that with ambitious mind Will covet more. With this advantage then To union, and firm faith, and firm accord, More than can be in Heav'n, we now return To clame our just inheritance of old,
Surer to profper than prosperity
Could have affur'd us; and by what best way,
Whether of open war or covert guile,
We now debate; who can advise, may speak.
He ceas'd, and next him Moloch, scepter'd king, Stood up, the strongest and the fiercest spirit That fought in Heav'n, now fiercer by defpair: 45 His truft was with th' Eternal to be deem'd Equal in strength, and rather than be less Car'd not to be at all; with that care loft Went all his fear of God, or Hell, or worfe He reck'd not, and these words thereafter spake. 50 My fentence is for open war: of wiles,
More unexpert, I boast not: them let thofe Contrive who need, or when they need, not now. For while they fit contriving, shall the reft, Millions that stand in arms, and longing wait The fignal to afcend, fit ling'ring here Heav'n's fugitives, and for their dwelling place Accept this dark opprobrious den of shame, The prison of his tyranny who reigns
By our delay? No, let us rather chufe,
Arm'd with Hell flames and fury, all at once O'er Heav'n's high tow'rs to force refistless way, Turning our tortures into horrid arms
Against the Tort'rer; when to meet the noise Of his Almighty engin he shall hear Infernal thunder, and for lightning fee Black fire and horror fhot with equal rage Among his angels, and his throne itself
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