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Banded against his Throne, but to remaine

       In strictest bondage, though thus far remov’d,

       Under th’ inevitable curb, reserv’d

       His captive multitude: For he, be sure,

       In highth or depth, still first and last will Reign

       Sole King, and of his Kingdom loose no part

       By our revolt, but over Hell extend

       His Empire, and with Iron Scepter rule

       Us here, as with his Golden those in Heav’n.

       What sit we then projecting Peace and Warr?

       Warr hath determin’d us, and foild with loss

       Irreparable; tearms of peace yet none

       Voutsaf’t or sought; for what peace will be giv’n

       To us enslav’d, but custody severe,

       And stripes, and arbitrary punishment

       Inflicted? and what peace can we return,

       But to our power hostility and hate,

       Untam’d reluctance, and revenge though slow,

       Yet ever plotting how the Conquerour least

       May reap his conquest, and may least rejoyce

       In doing what we most in suffering feel?

       Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need

       With dangerous expedition to invade

       Heav’n, whose high walls fear no assault or Siege,

       Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find

       Some easier enterprize? There is a place

       (If ancient and prophetic fame in Heav’n

       Err not) another World, the happy seat

       Of som new Race call’d Man, about this time To be created like to us, though less In power and excellence, but favour’d more Of him who rules above; so was his will Pronounc’d among the Gods, and by an Oath, That shook Heav’ns whol circumference, confirm’d. Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn What creatures there inhabit, of what mould, Or substance, how endu’d, and what thir Power, And where thir weakness, how attempted best, By force or suttlety: Though Heav’n be shut, And Heav’ns high Arbitrator sit secure In his own strength, this place may lye expos’d The utmost border of his Kingdom, left To their defence who hold it: here perhaps Som advantagious act may be achiev’d By sudden onset, either with Hell fire To waste his whole Creation, or possess All as our own, and drive as we were driven, The punie habitants, or if not drive, Seduce them to our Party, that thir God May prove thir foe, and with repenting hand Abolish his own works. This would surpass Common revenge, and interrupt his joy In our Confusion, and our Joy upraise In his disturbance; when his darling Sons Hurl’d headlong to partake with us, shall curse Thir frail Originals, and faded bliss, Faded so soon. Advise if this be worth Attempting, or to sit in darkness here Hatching vain Empires. Thus Beelzebub Pleaded his devilish Counsel, first devis’d By Satan, and in part propos’d: for whence, But from the Author of all ill could Spring 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 Creatour? But thir spite still serves His glory to augment. The bold design Pleas’d highly those infernal States, and joy Sparkl’d in all thir eyes; with full assent 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 resolv’d; which from the lowest deep

       Will once more lift us up, in spight of Fate,

       Neerer our ancient Seat; perhaps in view

       Of those bright confines, whence with neighbouring Arms

       And opportune excursion we may chance

       Re-enter Heav’n; or else in some milde Zone

       Dwell not unvisited of Heav’ns fair Light

       Secure, and at the brightning Orient beam

       Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious Air,

       To heal the scarr of these corrosive Fires

       Shall breath her balme. But first whom shall we send

       In search of this new world, whom shall we find

       Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandring feet

       The dark unbottom’d infinite Abyss

       And through the palpable obscure find out

       His uncouth way, or spread his aerie flight

       Upborn with indefatigable wings

       Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive

       The happy Ile; what strength, what art can then

       Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe

       Through the strict Senteries and Stations thick

       Of Angels watching round? Here he had need

       All circumspection, and we now no less

       Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send,

       The weight of all and our last hope relies.

      This said, he sat; and expectation held

       His look suspence, awaiting who appeer’d

       To second, or oppose, or undertake

       The perilous attempt: but all sat mute,

       Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; & each

       In others count’nance red his own dismay

       Astonisht: none among the choice and prime

       Of those Heav’n-warring Champions could be found

       So hardie as to proffer or accept

       Alone the dreadful voyage; till at last

       Satan, whom now transcendent glory rais’d Above his fellows, with Monarchal pride Conscious of highest worth, unmov’d thus spake.

      O Progeny of Heav’n, Empyreal Thrones,

       With reason hath deep silence and demurr

       Seis’d us, though undismaid: long is the way

       And hard, that out of Hell leads up to Light;

       Our prison strong, this huge convex of Fire,

       Outrageous to devour, immures us round

       Ninefold, and gates of burning Adamant

       Barr’d over us prohibit all egress.

       These past, if any pass, the void profound

       Of unessential Night receives him next

       Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being

       Threatens him, plung’d in that abortive gulf.

       If thence he scape into what ever world,

       Or unknown Region, what remains him less

       Then unknown dangers and as hard escape.

       But I should ill become this Throne, O Peers,

       And this Imperial Sov’ranty, adorn’d

       With 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

      

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