Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, fhall curfe
Their frail original, and faded bliss,
Faded fo foon. Advife if this be worth
Attempting, or to fit in darkness here
Hatching vain empires. Thus Beelzebub
Pleaded his devilish counsel, firft devis'd
By Satan, and in part propos'd: for whence,
But from the author of all ill, could fpring
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 defign
Pleas'd highly those infernal States, and joy
Sparkled in all their eyes; with full affent
They vote: whereat his fpeech he thus renews.
Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate, 390
Synod of Gods, and like to what ye are,
Great things refolv'd, which from the loweft deep
Will once more lift us up, in fpite of fate,
Nearer our ancient feat; perhaps in view
Of those bright confines, whence with neighb'ring arms opportune excursion we may chance
Re-enter Heav'n; or else in some mild zone
Dwell not unvifited of Heav'n's fair light
Secure, and at the brightning orient beam
Purge off this gloom; the foft delicious air,
To heal the fcar of these corrofive fires,
Shall breathe her balm. But firft whom shall we fend In fearch of this new world? whom fhall we find Sufficient? who fhall tempt with wand'ring feet
The dark unbottom'd infinite abyss,
And through the palpable obfcure find out
His uncouth way, or fpread his aery flight
Upborne with indefatigable wings
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
The happy ile? what strength, what art can then
Suffice, or what evafion bear him fafe
Through the strict fenteries and stations thick
Of Angels watching round? Here he had need
All circumfpection, and we now no less
Choice in our fuffrage; for on whom we fend, 415
The weight of all and our last hope relies.
This faid, he fat; and expectation held
His look fufpenfe, awaiting who appear'd
To fecond, or oppose, or undertake
The perilous attempt: but all fat mute,
Pond'ring the danger with deep thoughts; and each
66. calls the earth quafi magnam quandam infulam, quam nos orbem terræ vocamus. Ere he arrive the happy ile; fo the word arrive is used by our author in the Preface to the Judgment of Martin Bucer, p. 276. Edit. 1738. "And "he, if our things here below "arrive him where he is &c:" and again in his Treatife of civil power
In others count'nance read his own difinay
Astonish'd: none among the choice and prime
Of those Heav'n-warring champions could be found
So hardy as to proffer or accept
Alone the dreadful voyage; till at last
Satan, whom now tranfcendent glory rais'd
Above his fellows, with monarchal pride
Confcious of highest worth, unmov'd thus fpake.
O Progeny of Heav'n, empyreal Thrones,
With reason hath deep filence and demur
Seis'd us, though undismay'd: long is the way
And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light;
Our prifon ftrong; this huge convex of fire,
Outrageous to devour, immures us round
Ninefold, and gates of burning adamant
Barr'd over us prohibit all egrefs.
These pass'd, if any país, the void profound
Of uneffential Night receives him next
Wide gaping, and with utter lofs 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 fhould ill become this throne, O Peers,
And this imperial fovranty, adorn'd
With fplendor, arm'd with pow'r, if ought propos'd,
And judg'd of public moment, in the shape
Of difficulty or danger could deter
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