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splendor, arm’d with power, if aught propos’d

      And judg’d of public moment, in the shape

      Of difficulty or danger could deterre

      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 honourd sits? Go therfore mighty powers,

      Terror of Heav’n, though fall’n; intend at home,

      While here shall be our home, what best may ease

      The present misery, and render Hell

      More tollerable; 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, least from his resolution rais’d

      Others among the chief might offer now

      (Certain to be refus’d) what erst they feard;

      And so refus’d might in opinion stand

      His rivals, winning cheap the high repute

      Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they

      Dreaded not more th’ adventure then his voice

      Forbidding; and at once with him they rose;

      Thir rising all at once was as the sound

      Of Thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend

      With awful reverence prone; and as a God

      Extoll him equal to the highest in Heav’n:

      Nor fail’d they to express how much they prais’d,

      That for the general safety he despis’d

      His own: for neither do the Spirits damn’d

      Loose all thir vertue; least bad men should boast

      Thir specious deeds on earth, which glory excites,

      Or close ambition varnisht o’re with zeal.

      Thus they thir doubtful consultations dark

      Ended rejoycing in thir matchless Chief:

      As when from mountain tops the dusky clouds

      Ascending, while the North wind sleeps, o’respread

      Heavn’s chearful face, the lowring Element

      Scowls ore the dark’nd lantskip Snow, or showre;

      If chance the radiant Sun with farewell sweet

      Extend his ev’ning beam, the fields revive,

      The birds thir notes renew, and bleating herds

      Attest thir joy, that hill and valley rings.

      O shame to men! Devil with Devil damn’d

      Firm concord holds, men onely disagree

      Of Creatures rational, though under hope

      Of heavenly Grace; and God proclaiming peace,

      Yet live in hatred, enmitie, and strife

      Among themselves, and levie cruel warres,

      Wasting the Earth, each other to destroy:

      As if (which might induce us to accord)

      Man had not hellish foes anow besides,

      That day and night for his destruction waite.

      The Stygian Councel thus dissolv’d; and forth

      In order came the grand infernal Peers,

      Midst came thir mighty Paramount, and seemd

      Alone th’ Antagonist of Heav’n, nor less

      Then Hells dread Emperour with pomp Supream,

      And God-like imitated State; him round

      A Globe of fierie Seraphim inclos’d

      With bright imblazonrie, and horrent Arms.

      Then of thir Session ended they bid cry

      With Trumpets regal sound the great result:

      Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim

      Put to thir mouths the sounding Alchymie

      By Haralds voice explain’d: the hollow Abyss

      Heard farr and wide, and all the host of Hell

      With deafning shout, return’d them loud acclaim.

      Thence more at ease thir minds and somwhat rais’d

      By false presumptuous hope, the ranged powers

      Disband, and wandring, each his several way

      Pursues, as inclination or sad choice

      Leads him perplext, 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 th’ Olympian Games or Pythian fields;

      Part curb thir fierie Steeds, or shun the Goal

      With rapid wheels, or fronted Brigads form.

      As when to warn proud Cities warr appears

      Wag’d in the troubl’d Skie, and Armies rush

      To Battel in the Clouds, before each Van

      Pric forth the Aerie Knights, and couch thir spears

      Till thickest Legions close; with feats of Arms

      From either end of Heav’n 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 wilde uproar.

      As when Alcides from Oealia Crown’d

      With conquest, felt th’ envenom’d robe, and tore

      Through pain up by the roots Thessalian Pines,

      And Lichas from the top of Oeta threw

      Into th’ Euboic Sea. Others more milde,

      Retreated in a silent valley, sing

      With notes Angelical to many a Harp

      Thir own Heroic deeds and hapless fall

      By doom of Battel; and complain that Fate

      Free Vertue should enthrall to Force or Chance.

      Thir song was partial, but the harmony

      (What could it less when Spirits immortal sing?)

      Suspended Hell, and took with ravishment

      The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet

      (For Eloquence the

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