He scarce had finish'd, when such murmur fill'd
The' assembly, as when hollow rocks retain The sound of blustering 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 As Mammon ended; and his sentence pleased, Advising peace: for such another field They dreaded worse than Hell: so much the fear Of thunder and the sword of Michaël Wrought still within them; and no less desire To found this nether empire, which might rise By policy, and long procéss of time, In emulation opposite to Heaven. Which when Beëlzebub perceived, than whom Satan except, none higher sat, with grave Aspéct he rose, and in his rising seem'd A pillar' of state: deep on his front engraven Deliberation sat, and public care ; And princely counsel in his face yet shone, Majestic, though in ruin: sage he stood With Atlantéan 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 Etherial Virtues! or these titles now [Heaven! 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, And know not that the King of Heaven hath doom'd This place our dungeon; not our safe retreat
![[blocks in formation]](https://books.google.ba/books/content?id=drUDAAAAQAAJ&output=html_text&pg=PA137&img=1&zoom=3&hl=en&q=pass%27d&cds=1&sig=ACfU3U2-5Fe-bDwo14elVpCTBsXH-snyVQ&edge=0&edge=stretch&ci=100,1488,540,25)
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 removed Under the' inevitable curb, reserved His captive multitude. For he, be sure, In highth or depth, still first and last will reign Sole king, and of his kingdom lose no part By our revolt; but over Hell extend His empire, and with iron sceptre rule Us here, as with his golden those in Heaven. What sit we then projecting peace and war? War hath determined us, and foil'd with loss Irreparable: terms of peace yet none Vouchsafed or sought; for what peace will be given To us enslaved, but custody severe, And stripes, and arbitrary punishment Inflicted? and what peace can we return, But to our power hostility and hate, Untamed 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 enterprise? There is a place, (If ancient 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 power and excellence, but favor'd more Of Him who rules above; so was his will
Pronounced among the Gods, and by an oath, That shook Heaven's whole circumference, con
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn What creatures there inhabit, of what mold Or substance, how endued, and what their power, And where their weakness; how attempted best, By force or subtlety. Though Heaven be shut, And Heaven's high Arbitrator sit secure In his own strength, this place may lie exposed, The utmost border of his kingdom, left To their defence who hold it. Here perhaps Some advantageous act may be achieved 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 Beëlzebub Pleaded his devilish counsel, first devised By Satan, and in part proposed: 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 To mingle and involve, done all to spite
The great Creator? But their spite still serves His glory to augment. The bold design Pleased highly those infernal States, and joy Sparkled in all their eyes; with full assent They vote: whereat his speech he thus renews.
"Well have ye judged, well ended long debate, Synod of Gods, and, like to what ye are, Great things resolved, which, from the lowest deep, Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate, Nearer our ancient seat; perhaps in view Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbour
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 brightening orient beam Purge off this gloom: the soft delicious air, To heal the scar of these corrosive fires, [send Shall breathe her balm. But first whom shall we In search of this new world? whom shall we find
Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering feet The dark unbottom'd infinite abyss, And through the palpable obscure find out His uncouth way, or spread his aery flight Upborne with indefatigable wings Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive 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 other's countenance read his own dismay, Astonish'd: none among the choice and prime Of those Heaven-warring champions could be So hardy, as to proffer or accept, Alone, the dreadful voyage; till at last Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised Above his fellows, with monarchal pride, Conscious of highest worth, unmoved thus spake:
"O Progeny of Heaven! empyreal Thrones! With reason hath deep silence and demur Seized us, though undismay'd: long is the way And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light; Our prison strong; this huge convex of fire, Outrageous to devour, immures us round Ninefold; and gates of burning adamant, Barred 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, plunged 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, And this imperial sovranty adorn'd [posed With splendor, arm'd with power, if aught proAnd judged of public moment, in the shape Of difficulty or danger, could deter
Me from attempting. Wherefore do' I assume These royalties, and not refuse to reign,
« PreviousContinue » |