And trumpet's sound, throughout the host proclaim

A solemn council forthwith to be held
At Pandæmonium, the high capital
Of Satan and his peers. Their summons
called

From every band and squared regiment
By place or choice the worthiest: they anon
With hundreds and with thousands troop-
ing came
760

Attended. All access was thronged; the gates

And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall

(Though like a covered field, where champions bold

Wont ride in armed, and at the Soldan's chair

Defied the best of Panim chivalry

To mortal combat, or career with lance), Thick swarmed, both on the ground and in the air,

Brushed with the hiss of rustling wings. As bees

In spring-time, when the Sun with Taurus rides,

Pour forth their populous youth about the

The

BOOK II

THE ARGUMENT

consultation begun, Satan debates whether another battle be to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven some advise it, others dissuade. A third proposal is preferred, mentioned before by Satan-to search the truth of that prophecy or tradition in Heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature, equal, or not much inferior, to themselves, about this time to be created. Their doubt who shall be sent on this difficult search: Satan, their chief, undertakes alone the voyage; is honoured and applauded. The council thus ended, the rest betake them several ways and to several imployments, as their inclinations lead them, to entertain the time till Satan return. He passes on his journey to Hell-gates; finds them shut, and who sat there to guard them; by whom at length they are opened, and discover to him the great gulf between Hell and Heaven. With what difficulty he passes through, directed by Chaos, the Power of that place, to the sight of this new World which he sought.

HIGH on a throne of royal state, which far Outshon the wealth of Ormus and of Ind, Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand

Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold,

Satan exalted sat, by merit raised

To that bad eminence; and, from despair
Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires
Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue
Vain war with Heaven; and, by success
untaught,

9

His proud imaginations thus displayed:"Powers and Dominions, Deities of Heaven!

For, since no deep within her gulf can hold Immortal vigour, though oppressed and fallen,

I give not Heaven for lost: from this de

Whether of open war or covert guile, We now debate. Who can advise may speak."

He ceased; and next him Moloch, sceptred king,

Stood up: Spirit

the strongest and the fiercest

That fought in Heaven, now fiercer by despair.

His trust was with the Eternal to be deemed

His utmost ire? which, to the highth enraged,

Will either quite consume us, and reduce
To nothing this essential - happier far
Than miserable to have eternal being!
Or, if our substance be indeed divine,
And cannot cease to be, we are at worst 100
On this side nothing; and by proof we feel
Our power sufficient to disturb his Heaven,
And with perpetual inroads to alarm,
Though inaccessible, his fatal Throne:
Which, if not victory, is yet revenge."
He ended frowning, and his look de-
nounced

Our Supreme Foe in time may much remit

His anger, and perhaps, thus far removed, Not mind us not offending, satisfied With what is punished; whence these raging fires

Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames.

Our purer essence then will overcome Their noxious vapour; or, inured, not feel; Or, changed at length, and to the place conformed

In temper and in nature, will receive Familiar the fierce heat; and, void of pain, This horror will grow mild, this darkness light;

220

Besides what hope the never-ending flight
Of future days may bring, what chance,
what change
Worth waiting

pears

since our present lot ap

Then most conspicuous when great things of small,

Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse, We can create, and in what place soe'er Thrive under evil, and work ease out of

Through labour and indurance. This deep world

Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst

Thick clouds and dark doth Heaven's allruling Sire

Choose to reside, his glory unobscured,
And with the majesty of darkness round
Covers his throne, from whence deep thun-

ders roar,

Mustering their rage, and Heaven resembles Hell!

As He our darkness, cannot we His light Imitate when we please? This desart

soil

270

Wants not her hidden lustre, gems and gold;