15 Above the Aönian mount, while it pursues And justify the ways of God to men. 1 20 25 35 330 Say first, for Heaven hides nothing from thy view, Nor the deep tract of Hell; say first, what cause Moved our grand Parents, in that happy state, Favour'd of Heaven so highly, to fall off From their Creator, and transgress his will For one restraint, lords of the world besides ? Who first seduced them to that foul revolt? The infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile, Stirr'd up with envy and revenge, deceived The mother of mankind, what time his pride Had cast hin ert from Heaven, with all his host Of rebel Angels: by whose aid, aspiring To set himself in glory above his peers, 35 He trusted to have equal'd the Most High, 40 If he opposed; and, with ambitious aim 45 Nine times the space that measures day and night 50 To mortal men, he with his horrid crew Lay vanquish'd, rolling in the fiery gulf, Confounded, though immortal: But his doom Torments him: round he throws his baleful eyes, A dungeon horrible on all sides round As one great furnace flamed; yet from those flames Served only to discover sights of woe, With ever burning sulphur unconsumed : And thence in Heaven call'd Satan, with bold words If thou be he; but O, how fallen! how changed From him, who, in the happy realms of light, Clothed with transcendent brightness, didst outshine Myriads though bright! If he whom mutual league, United thoughts and counsels, equal hope And hazard in the glorious enterprise, Join'd with me once, now misery hath join'd 55 55 60 65 70 75 133 80 85 90 In equal ruin! Into what pit thou seest, From what height fallen; so much the stronger proved He with his thunder and till then who knew The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those, Can else inflict, do I repent or change, 95 100 Though changed in outward lustre, that fix'd mind, In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? And study of revenge, immortal hate, 106 1110 Doubted his empire; that were low indeed, That were an ignominy, and shame beneath 115 This downfal: since, by fate, the strength of Gods And this empyreal substance cannot fail; Since through experience of this great event In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, We may with more successful hope resolve 120 Who now triumphs, and, in the excess of joy So spake the apostate Angel, though in pain, O Prince, O Chief of many throned Powers, 125 That led the embattled Seraphim to war 130 Fearless endanger'd Heaven's perpetual king, And put to proof his high supremacy, Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate; That with sad overthrow, and foul defeat, 135 Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty host A's far as Gods and heavenly essences : Can perish for the mind and spirit remains Though all our glory extinct, and happy state 140 But what if he our Conqueror (whom I now Of force believe Almighty, since no less Than such could have o'erpower'd such force as ours) Have left us this our spirit and strength entire 146 Strongly to suffer and support our pains, 150 What can it then avail, though yet we feel To undergo eternal punishment? 155 Whereto with speedy words the Archfiend replied. Fallen cherub! to be weak is miserable, Doing or suffering: but of this be sure, But ever to do ill our sole delight, 160 As being the contrary to his high will Whom we resist. If then his providence And out of good still to find means of evil; 165 Shall grieve him, if I fail not, and disturb His ministers of vengeance and pursuit 170 Back to the gates of Heaven: the sulphurous hail, 175 Scest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild, 180 Save what the glimmering of these livid flames From off the tossing of these fiery waves; There rest, if any rest can harbour there; 185 And, reassembling our afflicted Powers, Consult how we may henceforth most offend What reinforcement we may gain from hope; 190 If not, what resolution from despair. Thus Satan talking to his nearest mate 195 200 |