Imatges de pàgina
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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)

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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

aery croud

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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,

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Or dreams he fees, while over-head the Moon

Sits arbitress, and nearer to the earth

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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

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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.

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BOOK II.

Che Argument.

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

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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,

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Surer to profper than prosperity

Could have affur'd us; and by what best way,

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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,

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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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