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Complete Poetry and Selected Prose of John Milton

Page 36

by John Milton


  300

  Satan except, none higher sat, with grave

  Aspect he rose, and in his rising seem’d

  A Pillar of State; deep on his Front engrav’n

  Deliberation sat and public care;

  And Princely counsel in his face yet shon,

  305

  Majestic though in ruin: sage he stood

  With Atlantean9 shoulders fit to bear

  The weight of mightiest Monarchies; his look

  Drew audience and attention still as Night

  Or Summers Noon-tide air, while thus he spake.

  310

  Thrones and Imperial Powers, off-spring of heav’n,

  Ethereal Vertues; or these Titles now

  Must we renounce, and changing stile be call’d

  Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote

  Inclines, here to continue, and build up here

  315

  A growing Empire; doubtless; while we dream,

  And know not that the King of Heav’n hath doom’d

  This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat

  Beyond his Potent arm, to live exempt

  From Heav’ns high jurisdiction, in new League

  320

  Banded against his Throne, but to remain

  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

  325

  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?

  330

  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

  335

  Inflicted? and what peace can we return,

  But to our power hostility and hate,

  Untam’d reluctance,10 and revenge though slow,

  Yet ever plotting how the Conqueror least

  May reap his conquest, and may least rejoyce

  340

  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

  345

  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

  350

  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 whole circumference, confirm’d.

  Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn

  355

  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

  360

  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

  365

  To waste his whole Creation, or possess

  All as our own, and drive as we were driv’n,

  The punie11 habitants, or if not drive,

  Seduce them to our Party, that thir God

  May prove thir foe, and with repenting hand

  370

  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

  375

  Thir frail Originals,12 and faded bliss,

  Faded so soon. Advise if this be worth

  Attempting, or to sit in darkness here

  Hatching vain Empires.13 Thus Beëlzebub

  Pleaded his devilish Counsel, first devis’d

  380

  By Satan, and in part propos’d:14 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

  385

  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.

  390

  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

  395

  Of those bright confines, whence with neighbouring Arms

  And opportune excursion we may chance

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

  Dwell not unvisited of Heav’ns fair Light

  Secure, and at the brightning Orient beam

  400

  Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious Air,

  To heal the scarr of these corrosive Fires

  Shall breath her balm. But first whom shall we send

  In search of this new world, whom shall we find

  Sufficient? who shall tempt15 with wandring feet

  405

  The dark unbottom’d infinite Abyss

  And through the palpable obscure find out

  His uncouth16 way, or spread his aerie flight

  Upborn with indefatigable wings

  Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive

  410

  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

  415

  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

  420

  The perilous attempt: but all sat mute,

  Pondering the danger with deep thoughts; and each

  In others count’nance read his own dismay

  Astonisht: none among the choice and prime

  Of those Heav’n-warring Champions could be found

  425

  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.

  430

  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,

  435

  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 unessential17 Night receives him next

  440

  Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being

  Threatens him, plung’d in that abortive gulf.

  If thence he scape into whatever world,

  Or unknown Region, what remains him less

  Then unknown dangers and as hard escape.

  445

  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 deterr

  450

  Mee 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

  455

  Of hazard more, as he above the rest

  High honourd sits? Go therfore mighty Powers,

  Terror of Heav’n, though fall’n; intend18 at home,

  While here shall be our home, what best may ease

  The present misery, and render Hell

  460

  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

  465

  Deliverance for us all: this enterprise

  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

  470

  (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

  475

  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:

  480

  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,

  485

  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

  490

  Heav’ns chearful face, the lowring Element

  Scowls ore the dark’n’d lantskip Snow, or showr;

  If chance the radiant Sun with farewell sweet

  Extend his ev’ning beam, the fields revive,

  The birds thir notes renew, and bleating herds

  495

  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 heav’nly Grace: and God proclaiming peace,

  500

  Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife

  Among themselves, and levie cruel warrs,

  Wasting the Earth, each other to destroy:

  As if (which might induce us to accord)

  Man had not hellish foes anow besides,

  505

  That day and night for his destruction wait.

  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

  510

  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

  515

  With Trumpets regal sound the great result:

  Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim19

  Put to thir mouths the sounding Alchymie20

  By Haralds voice explain’d:21 the hollow Abyss

  Heard farr and wide, and all the host of Hell

  520

  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

  525

  Leads him perplext, where he may likeliest find

  Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain

  The irksom hours, till his great Chief return.

  Part on the Plain, or in the Air sublime

  Upon the wing, or in swift race contend,

  530

  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

  535

  To Battel in the Clouds, before each Van

  Prick 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 Typhœan22 rage more fell

  540

  Rend up both Rocks and Hills, and ride the Air

  In whirlwind; Hell scarce holds the wild uproar.

  As when Alcides23 from Oechalia Crown’d

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

  Through pain up by the roots Thessalian Pines,

  545

  And Lichas from the top of Oeta threw

  Into th’ Euboic Sea. Others more mild,

  Retreated in a silent valley, sing

  With notes Angelical to many a Harp

  Thir own Heroic deeds and hapless fall

  550

  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

  555

  The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet

  (For Eloquence the Soul, Song charms the Sense,)

  Others apart sat on a Hill retir’d,

  In thoughts more elevate, and reason’d high

  Of Providence, Foreknowledge, Will and Fate,

  560

  Fixt Fate, free will, foreknowledge absolute,

  And found no end, in wandring mazes lost.

  Of good and evil much they argu’d then,

  Of happiness and final misery,

  Passion and Apathie, and glory and shame,

  565

  Vain wisdom all, and false Philosophic:

  Yet with a pleasing sorcerie could charm

  Pain for a while or anguish, and excite
/>   Fallacious hope, or arm th’ obdured brest

  With stubborn patience as with triple steel.

  570

  Another part in Squadrons and gross24 Bands,

  On bold adventure to discover wide

  That dismal world, if any Clime perhaps

  Might yeild them easier habitation, bend

  Four ways thir flying March, along the Banks

  575

  Of four infernal Rivers that disgorge

  Into the burning Lake thir baleful streams;

  Abhorred Styx the flood of deadly hate,

  Sad Acheron of sorrow, black and deep;

  Cocytus, nam’d of lamentation loud

  580

  Heard on the ruful stream; fierce Phlegeton

  Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage.

  Farr off from these a slow and silent stream,

  Lethe the River of Oblivion rouls

  Her watrie Labyrinth, whereof who drinks,

  585

  Forthwith his former state and being forgets,

  Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain.

  Beyond this flood a frozen Continent

  Lies dark and wild, beat with perpetual storms

  Of Whirlwind and dire Hail, which on firm land

  590

  Thaws not, but gathers heap, and ruin seems

  Of ancient pile; all else deep snow and ice,

  A gulf profound as that Serbonian Bog25

  Betwixt Damiata and mount Casius old,

  Where Armies whole have sunk: the parching Air

  595

  Burns frore, and cold performs th’ effect of Fire.

  Thither by harpy-footed Furies hail’d,

  At certain revolutions all the damn’d

  Are brought: and feel by turns the bitter change

  Of fierce extreams, extreams by change more fierce,

  600

  From Beds of raging Fire to starve26 in Ice

  Thir soft Ethereal warmth, and there to pine

  Immovable, infixt, and frozen round,

  Periods of time, thence hurried back to fire.

  They ferry over this Lethean Sound

 

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