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 counfel, first devis'd
By Satan, and in part propos'd: for wherce,
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 (pite
The great Creator? But their spite still ferves
His glory to augment. The bold defign
l'leas'd highly those infernal States, and joy
Sparkled in all their eyes; with full affent
They vote whereat his speech he thus renews.
Well have ye judg'd, well ended long debate,
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 spite of Fate,
Nearer our ancient feat; perhaps in view
Of those bright confines, whence with neighbouring

arms,

And opportune excurfion, we may chance
Re-enter heav'n : or else, in fome mild Zone
Dwell not unvifited of heav'n's fair light,
Secure, and at the bright'ning orient beam
Purge off this gloom : the foft delicious air,
To heal the fear of these corrofive fires,

Shail breathe her balm... But firft whom shall we fend

In fearch of this new world; whom shall we find
Sufficient? Who shall 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,
Up-born with indefatigable wings

Over the vast abrupt, e'er he arrive

The happy ifle? What strength, what art can then
Suffice, or what evasion bear him fafe
Through the ftri& fenteries, and stations thick
Of angels watching round? Here he had need
All circumfpe&tion; and we now no lefs
Choice in our fuffrage: for, on whom we fend,
The weight of all, and our laft hope, relies.
This faid, he fat; and expectation held
His look fufpenfe, awaiting who appear'd
To fecond or oppofe, or undertake
The perilous attempt: but all fat mute,
Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each
In others count'nance read his own difmay,
Aftonish'd: None, among the choice and prime
Of thofe 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 higheft worth) unmov'd thus fpake.
O Progeny of heav'n, empyreal Thrones!
With reafon hath deep filence, and demur,
Seiz'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,
Outragious to devour, immures us round
Ninefold and gates of burning adamant
Barr'd over us, prohibit all egrefs.
These pass'd (if any pass) 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 fcape into whatever world,
Or unknown region, what remains him lefs
Than unknown dangers, and as heard escape?
But I should ill become this throne, O Peers!
And this imperial fov'reignty, adorn'd
With splendor, arm'd with pow'r, if ought propos'd
And judg'd of public moment, in the shape
Of difficulty, or danger, could deter

Me from attempting. Wherefore do I affume
These Royalties, and not refufe to reign,
Refusing to accept as great a share

Of hazard, as of honor, due alike

To him who reigns, and fo much to him due

Of hazard more, as he above the reft

High-honor'd fits? Go therefore, mighty Pow'rs! Terror of heav'n, though fall'n! intend at home, (While here shall be our home) what best

may

The prefent mifery, and render hell
More tolerable; if there be cure, or charm,
To refpite, or deceive, or flack the pain
Of this ill manfion. Intermit no watch

eafe

Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad,
Through all the coafts of dark destruction, feek
Deliverance for us all: this enterprize
None shall partake with me .... Thus faying rofe
The Monarch, and prevented all reply:
Prudent, left, from his refolution rais'd,
Others among the chief might offer now
(Certain to be refus'd) what erft they fear'd;
And fo refus'd, might in opinion stand
His rivals; winning cheap the high repute,
Which he through hazard huge muft earn. But they
Dreaded not more th' adventure, than his voice
Forbidding; and at once with him they rose :
Their rifing all at once was as the found
Of thunder heard remote. Tow'rds him they bend
With awful reverence prone; and as a God
Extol him equal to the highest in heav'n :
Nor fail'd they so exprefs how much they prais'd
That for the general fafety he defpis'd
His own : ( for neither do the spirits damn'd
Lofe all their virtue ; left bad men should boaft
Their fpecious deeds on earth, wihich glory excites;
Or clofe ambition vanish'd o'er with zeal.)
Thus they their doubtful confultations dark
Ended, rejoicing in their matchlefs Chief:
As when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds
Ascending, while the north-wind fleeps, o'er-spread
Heav'n's chearful face, the low'ring element
Scowls o'er the darken'd landschape fnow,or show'r :
If chance the radiant fun with farewel fweet

Extend

Extend his ev'ning beam, the fields revive,
The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds
Atteft their joy, that hill and valley rings.
O shame to men! Devil with Devil damn'd
Firm concord holds', men only disagree
Of creatures rational, though under hope
Of heav'nly grace: and, God proclaiming peace,
Yet live in hatred, enmity and strife
Among themselves, and levy cruel wars,
Wafting the earth, each other to destroy:
As if (which might induce us to accord)
Man had not hellish foes enow befides,
That, day and nigh, for his destruction wait.

The Stygian council thus diffolv'd; and forth
In order came the grand infernal Peers:
Midst came their mighty Paramount, and seein'd
Alone th' antagonist of heav'n, nor lefs
Than hell's dread Emperor, with pomp fupreme
And God-like imitated ftate. Him round
A globe of fiery Seraphim inclos'd,

With brigh imblazonry, and horrent arms.
Then, of their feffion ended they bid cry
With trumpets regal found the great result :
Tow'rds the four winds four speedy Cherubim
Put to their mouths the founding alchymy,
By herald's voice explain'd: the hollow Abyss
Heard far and wide, and all the hoft of hell
With deaf ning shout return'd them loud acclaim.
Thence more at ease their minds, and fomewhat