What creatures there inhabit, of what mould, Or substance, how endu'd, and what their power, And where their weakness, how attempted best, By force or subtilty. Though heaven be shut, And heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure
In his own strength, this place may lie expos'd, 360 The utmost border of his kingdom, left
To their defence who hold it: here perhaps Some advantageous act may be achiev'd 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,
Hurl'd 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 devis'd By Satan, and in part propos'd; 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
expos'd] Compare ver. 410, and consult Newton's note.
To mingle and involve, done all to spite The great Creator? but their spite still serves 395 His glory to augment. The bold design Pleas'd highly those infernal states, and joy Sparkl'd in all their eyes; with full assent They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews. Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate, Synod of gods, and, like to what ye are, Great things resolv'd; which from the lowest deep Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate, Nearer our ancient seat; perhaps in view [arms Of those bright confines, whence with neighbouring 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 brightning 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 In search of this new world? whom shall we find Sufficient? who shall tempt with wand'ring feet The dark unbottom'd infinite abyss,
And through the palpable obscure find out His uncouth way, or spread his airy flight, Upborne with indefatigable wings,
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
406 palpable] The adjective 'obscure' used for a substan
tive, as 409, the vast abrupt.' Newton.
409 arrive] Shakesp. Hen. VI. Part iii. act v.
'those powers that the queen
Hath rais'd in Gallia, have arriv'd our coast.'
The happy isle? what strength, what art can then Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe Through the strict senteries 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 appear'd To second, or oppose, or undertake The perilous attempt: but all sat mute, Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each In others' count'nance read his own dismay Astonish'd; 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 rais'd Above his fellows, with monarchal pride, Conscious of highest worth, unmov'd thus spake. O Progeny of heaven, empyreal Thrones, With reason hath deep silence and demur Seiz'd us, though undismay'd: long is the way And hard, that out of hell leads up to light;
410 isle] The earth hanging in the sea of air. Cic. de Nat. Deor. ii. 66.
'Magnam quandam insulam, quam nos orbem terræ vocamus.' Newton.
482 long] Dante Inf. c. xxxiv. 95, describes the ascent from
'La via e lunga, e 'l cammino è malvagio.'
Our prison strong; this huge convex of fire, Outrageous to devour, immures us round Ninefold, and gates of burning adamant Barr'd over us prohibit all egress.
These pass'd, if any pass, the void profound Of unessential night receives him next Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being Threatens him, plung'd 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, 445 And this imperial sov'reignty, adorn'd
With splendour, arm'd with power, if aught propos'd And judg'd of public moment, in the shape Of difficulty or danger, could deter
Me from attempting. Wherefore do I assume 450 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 honour'd sits? Go, therefore, mighty Powers, Terror of heaven, though fall'n, intend at home, While here shall be our home, what best may ease The present misery, and render hell
486 Ninefold] Et novies Styx interfusa coercet.'
457 intend] Intende animum.' See Steevens' note on Shakesp. Timon of Athens, act ii. scene ii.
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 enterprize
None shall partake with me. The monarch, and prevented all reply; Prudent, lest from his resolution rais'd Others among the chief might offer now, Certain to be refus'd, what erst they fear'd; And so refus'd might in opinion stand His rivals, winning cheap the high repute, Which he through hazard huge must earn.
they Dreaded not more th' 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 fail'd they to express how much they prais'd, 480 That for the general safety he despis'd
His own; for neither do the spirits damn'd Lose all their virtue, lest bad men should boast Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites, Or close ambition varnish'd o'er with zeal. Thus they their doubtful consultations dark Ended, rejoicing in their matchless chief: As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds
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