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 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 brightening orient beam Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious air, To heal the scar of those corrosive fires, Shall breathe her balm. In search or 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 airy 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 found So hardy, as to proffer or accept,
Alone, the dreadful voyage; till at last Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised
Above his fellows, with monarchial 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; 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, 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 sovereignty, adorn'd
With splendour, arm'd with-power, if ought proposed And 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, 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 fallen! intend at home, While here shall be our home, what best may ease The present misery, and render hell
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." Thus saying rose The monarch, and prevented all reply; Prudent, lest, from his resolution raised,
Others among the chief might offer now (Certain to be refused) what erst they fear'd; And, so refused, might in opinion stand His rivals; winning cheap the high repute, Which be through hazard huge must earn. But they Dreaded not more the adventure, than bis voice Forbidding; for 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 praised, That for the general safety he despised
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 Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o'erspread Heaven's cheerful face, the louring element Scowls o'er the darken'd landscape snow, or shower; If chance the radiant sun with farewell sweet Extend his evening beam, the fields revive, The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds Attest their joy, that hill and valleys ring. O shame to men! devil with devil damn'd Firm concord holds, men only disagree Of creatures rational, though under hope Of heavenly grace; and, God proclaiming peace. Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife, Among themselves, and levy cruel wars, Wasting the earth, each other to destroy: As if (which might induce us to accord). Man had not hellish foes enow besides, That, day and night, for his destruction wait..
The Stygian council thus dissolved; and forth. In order came the grand infernal peers:
Midst came their mighty paramount, and seem'd. Alone th' antagonist of heaven, nor. less.
Than hell's dread emperor, with pomp supreme, And god-like imitated state: him round A globe of fiery seraphim enclosed
With bright imblazonry, and horrent arms. Then of their session ended they bid cry With trumpets' regal sound the great result: Towards the four winds four speedy cherubim Put to their mouths the sounding alebymy By heralds' voice explain'd: the hollow abyss Heard far and wide, and all the host of hell With deafening shout return'd them loud acclaim. Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat raised
By false presumptuous hope, the ranged powers Disband, and, wandering, each his several way Pursues, as inclination or sad choice
Leads him, perplex'd where he may likeliest find Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain The irksome hours, till his great chief return. Part on the plain, or in the air sublime, Upon the wing, or in swift race contend, As at the Olympian games or Pythian fields; Part curb their fiery steeds, or shun the goal With rapid wheels, or fronted brigades form. As when, to warn proud cities war appears Waged in the troubled sky, and armies rush To battle in the clouds, before each van Prick forth the airy knights, and couch their spears, Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms From either end of heaven the welkin burns. Others, with vast Typhoean rage more fell, Rend up both rocks and hills, and ride the air In whirlwind; hell scarce holds the wild uproar. As when Alcides, from Echalia crown'd
With conquest, felt the envenom'd robe, and tore Through pain up by the roots Thessalian pines, And Lichas from the top of Eta threw
Into the Euboic sea. Others more mild, Retreated in a silent valley, sing
With notes angelical to many a harp Their own heroic deeds and hapless fall
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 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 brightening orient beam Purge off this gloom the soft delicious air, To heal the scar of those corrosive fires, Shall breathe her balm. In search or 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 airy 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 found So hardy, as to proffer or accept,
Alone, the dreadful voyage; till at last Satan, whom now transcendent glory raised
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