250

By force impoffible, by leave obtain'd

Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, our state
Of fplendid vaffalage; but rather feek

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

255

Of fervile pomp. Our greatness will appear
Then most confpicuous, when great things of small,
Useful of hurtful, profp'rous of adverse

We can create, and in what place fo e'er
Thrive under ev'il, and work ease out of pain

Through labor and indurance. This deep world
Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst

260

Thick clouds and dark doth Heav'n's all-ruling Sire Choose to refide, his glory unobfcur'd,

265

And

How oft amidft

Thick clouds and dark &c.] Imitated from Pfal. XVIII. 11, 13. He made darkness his fecret place; his pavilion round about him were dark waters, and thick clouds of the skies The Lord alfo thundred in the Heavens, and the Highest gave voice, bailftones and coals of fire. And from Pfal. XCVII. 2. Clouds and darkness are round about him, &c.

Q 2

his

274. Our

And with the majesty of darkness round
Covers his throne; from whence deep thunders roar
Muft'ring their rage, and Heav'n resembles Hell?
As he our darkness, cannot we his light

Imitate when we please? This defert foil
Wants not her hidden luftre, gems and gold;
Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise
Magnificence; and what can Heav'n fhow more?
Our torments alfo may in length of time
Become our elements, these piercing fires

274. Our torments also may in

length of time

Become our elements, &c.] Enforcing the fame argument that Belial had urged before, ver. 217; and indeed Mammon's whole fpeech is to the fame purpose as Belial's; the argument is improved and carried farther, only with fuch difference as is fuitable to their different characters.

278. The fenfible of pain. ] The

fenfe of pain. To fenfibile, the adjective used for a fubftantive.

-Peace is defpair'd,

270

275

As

For who can think fubmiffion?
War then, War

Open or understood must be re-
folv'd.

Which was approv'd and confirm'd
by the whole hoft of Angels. And
council he propofes for the subject
accordingly at the opening of the
of their confideration, which way
they would make choice of, II. 41.

Whether of open war or covert
guile,
We now debate:

Moloch fpeaks to the purpose, and
declares for open war, ver. 51.

My fentence is for open war: of wiles,

More unexpert, I boast not, &c. But Belial argues alike against war open or conceal'd, ver. 187.

War

As foft as now fevere, our temper chang'd
Into their temper; which muft needs remove
The fenfible of pain. All things invite
To peaceful counfels, and the fettled ftate
Of order, how in fafety best we may
Compofe our prefent evils, with regard

280

Of what we are and where, difmiffing quite
All thoughts of war: ye have what I advise.
He scarce had finifh'd, when fuch murmur fill'd
Th'affembly, as when hollow rocks retain

285 The

where, the fenfe is, with regard to our prefent condition and the place where we are; which latter feems much better.

285.- as when hollow racks re

tain &c.] Virgil compares the affent given by the affembly of the Gods to Juno's fpeech, En. X. 96. to the rifing wind, which

our author affimilates to its decreafing murmurs,

The found of bluft'ring winds, which all night long
Had rous'd the fea, now with hoarfe cadence lull
Sea-faring men o'erwatch'd, whose bark by chance
Or pinnace anchors in a craggy bay

After the tempeft: Such applaufe was heard

As Mammon ended, and his fentence pleas'd,
Advising peace: for fuch another field

290

They dreaded worse than Hell: fo much the fear
Of thunder and the fword of Michaël

Wrought still within them; and no less defire

To found this nether empire, which might rife
By policy, and long procéfs of time,

perly compared by Virgil to the rifing wind: but the defign of Mammon's fpeech is to quiet and compofe the infernal affembly, and the effect of this therefore is as properly compared by Milton to the wind falling after a tempeft. Claudian has a fimile of the fame kind in his defcription of the infernal council. In Rufinum, I. 70.

ceu murmurat alti Impacata quies pelagi, cum flamine fracto

Durat adhuc fævitque tumor, du

biumque per æftum Lafia recedentis fluitant veftigia venti.

And in other particulars our author feems to have drawn his council of

295

In

Devils with an eye to Claudian's council of furies; and the reader may compare Alecto's fpeech with Moloch's, and Megara's with Belial's or rather with Beelzebub's.

294. the fword of Michaël] The words Michael, Raphael, &c. are fometimes pronounced as of two fyllables, and fometimes they are made to confift of three. When they are to be pronounced as of three fyllables, we fhall take care to distinguish them in printing thus, Michaël, Raphaël.

302. A pillar of ftate;] Pillar is to be pronounced contractedly as of one fyllable, or two fhort ones; and again in Book XII. 202, 203. The metaphor is plain and eafy enough to be understood; and thus

James,

In emulation oppofit to Heaven.

Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom,
Satan except, none higher fat, with grave

Afpéct he rofe, and in his rifing feem'd

300

A pillar of ftaté; deep on his front ingraven
Deliberation fat and public care;

And princely counfel in his face yet fhone,
Majestic though in ruin: fage he ftood

With Atlantean fhoulders fit to bear

The weight of mightiest monarchics; his look
Drew audience and attention ftill as night
Or fummer's noon-tide air, while thus he fpake.

395

Thrones

The whole picture from ver. 299. to the end of the paragraph is admirable! Richardfon.

309. Or fummer's noon tide air,] Noon-tide is the fame as noon-time, when in hot countries there is hardly a breath of wind ftirring, and men and beafts, by reafon of the intenfe heat, retire to fhade and reft. This is the cuftom of Italy particularly, where our author liv'd fome time.

309.

while thus he spoke. ] Beelzebub, who is reckon'd the fecond in dignity that fell, and is, in the first book, the fecond that awakens out of the trance, and confers with Satan upon the fituation of their affairs, maintains his rank in the book now before us..

Q4

There