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Besides what hope the never-ending flight

Of future days may bring, what chance, what change
Worth waiting, since our present lot appears

For happy though but ill, for ill not worst,
If we procure not to ourselves more woe.

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Thus Belial with words cloth'd in reason's garb Counsel'd ignoble ease, and peaceful sloth, Not peace and after him thus Mammon spake. Either to disinthrone the King of heaven We war, if war be best, or to regain Our own right lost: him to unthrone we then May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the strife: The former vain to hope argues as vain

:

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The latter for what place can be for us
Within heaven's bound, unless heaven's Lord su-
We overpower? suppose he should relent [preme
And publish grace to all, on promise made
Of new subjection; with what eyes could we
Stand in his presence humble, and receive
Strict laws impos'd, to celebrate his throne
With warbled hymns, and to his Godhead sing
Forc'd halleluiahs; while he lordly sits
Our envy'd Sov'reign, and his altar breathes
Ambrosial odours and ambrosial flowers,
Our servile offerings? This must be our task
In heaven, this our delight; how wearisome

224 For happy] Compare Theognis, ver. 509.

Ηνδέ τις εἰρωτᾷ τὸν ἐμὸν βιὸν, ὧδε οἱ εἰπεῖν
Ὡς εὖ μὲν, χαλεπῶς· ὡς γαλεπῶς δὲ, μάλ' εὖ.

245

Eternity so spent in worship paid

To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue
By force impossible, by leave obtain❜d
Unacceptable, though in heaven, our state
Of splendid vassalage, but rather seek

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Our own good from ourselves, and from our own
Live to ourselves, though in this vast recess,
Free, and to none accountable, preferring
Hard liberty before the easy yoke

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Of servile pomp. Our greatness will appear Then most conspicuous, when great things of small, Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse,

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We can create; and in what place so e'er
Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain
Through labour and endurance. This deep world
Of darkness do we dread? how oft amidst
Thick clouds and dark doth heaven's all-ruling Sire
Choose to reside, his glory unobscur'd,
And with the majesty of darkness round
Covers his throne; from whence deep thunders roar
Must'ring their rage, and heaven resembles hell?
As he our darkness, cannot we his light
Imitate when we please? this desart soil
Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold;
Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise

254 Live] See Hor. Ep. i. xviii. 107.

'Ut mihi vivam

Quod superest ævi.' Newton.

270

255 Hard liberty] See Eschyli Prom. Vinct. ver. 974. Todd.

275

Magnificence; and what can heaven shew more?
Our torments also may in length of time
Become our elements, these piercing fires
As soft as now severe, our temper chang'd
Into their temper; which must needs remove
The sensible of pain. All things invite
To peaceful counsels, and the settled state
Of order, how in safety best we may
Compose our present evils, with regard
Of what we are and where, dismissing quite
All thoughts of war.

Ye have what I advise.

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He scarce had finish'd, when such murmur fill'd Th' assembly, as when hollow rocks retain The sound of blust'ring winds, which all night long Had roused the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull Sea-faring men o'er watch'd, whose bark by chance Or pinnace anchors in a craggy bay

After the tempest: such applause was heard 290 As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleas'd, Advising peace: for such another field

They dreaded worse than hell: so much the fear Of thunder and the sword of Michael

Wrought still within them; and no less desire 295 To found this nether empire, which might rise, By policy and long process of time,

287 cadence lull] See Claudiani Rufin. i. 70.

'Ceu murmurat alti

Impacata quies pelagi, cum flamine fracto

Durat adhuc sævitque tumor, dubiumque per æstum
Lassa recedentes fluitant vestigia venti.' Newton.

In emulation opposite to heaven.

Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom,
Satan except, none higher sat, with grave
Aspect he rose, and in his rising seem'd
A pillar of state: deep on his front engraven
Deliberation sat and public care;

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And princely counsel in his face yet shone,
Majestic though in ruin: sage he stood,
With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear
The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look
Drew audience and attention still as night
Or summer's noon-tide air, while thus he spake.
Thrones and imperial Powers, offspring of heaven,
Ethereal Virtues; or these titles now
Must we renounce, and changing style be call'd
Princes of hell? for so the popular vote
Inclines, here to continue, and build up here
A growing empire; doubtless; while we dream, 315
And know not that the King of heaven hath doom'd
This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat
Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt
From heaven's high jurisdiction, in new league
Banded against his throne, but to remain
In strictest bondage, though thus far remov❜d,
Under th' inevitable curb, reserv'd

His captive multitude: for he, be sure,

In highth or depth, still first and last will reign

302 pillar] Shakesp. Hen. VI. Part ii. act i. 'Brave peers of England, pillars of the State. Newton. 313 popular vote] 'Vogue. Voice.' Bentl. MS. con.

320

Sole King, and of his kingdom lose no part
By our revolt, but over hell extend

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His empire, and with iron scepter rule
Us here, as with his golden those in heaven.
What sit we then projecting peace and war?
War hath determin'd us, and foil'd with loss
Irreparable; terms of peace yet none
Vouchsaf'd or sought; for what peace will be giv'n
To us enslav'd, but custody severe,

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And stripes, and arbitrary punishment
Inflicted? and what peace can we return,
But to our power hostility and hate,
Untam'd reluctance, and revenge, though slow,
Yet ever plotting how the conqueror least
May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice
In doing what we most in suffering feel?
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 enterprize? There is a place,
If antient and prophetic fame in heaven
Err not, another world, the happy seat
Of some new race call'd Man, about this time
To be created like to us, though less

In

and excellence, but favour'd more power Of him who rules above; so was his will

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Pronounc'd among the gods, and by an oath
That shook heaven's whole circumference, con-
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn [firm'd.

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