For who can yet believe, though after loss,

That all these puissant legions, whose exile Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to reascend,

Self-raised, and repossess their native seat?

For me, be witness all the host of Heaven, If counsels different, or danger shunned 636 By me, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns

Monarch in Heaven, till then as one secure Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute, Consent or custom, and his regal state 640 Put forth at full, but still his strength concealed;

Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall.

Henceforth his might we know, and know

top Belched fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire

Shone with a glossy scurf, undoubted sign That in his womb was hid metallic ore, The work of sulphur. Thither, winged

with speed,

A numerous brigad hastened: as when bands

675

That riches grow in Hell; that soil may best

Deserve the precious bane. And here let those

Who boast in mortal things, and wondering tell

Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings,

Learn how their greatest monuments of fame, 695

And strength and art, are easily outdone
By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour
What in an age they, with incessant toil
And hands innumerable, scarce perform.
Nigh on the plain, in many cells prepared,
That underneath had veins of liquid fire 701
Sluiced from the lake, a second multitude
With wondrous art founded2 the massy

To have built in Heaven high towers; nor did he scape

By all his engines,5 but was headlong

sent

750

With his industrious crew to build in Hell. Meanwhile, the wingèd heralds, by command

Of sovran power, with awful ceremony And trumpet's sound, throughout the host proclaim

A solemn council forthwith to be held 755

5 contrivances.

The 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 honored and applauded. The council thus ended, the rest betake them several ways and to several employments, 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.

Or where the gorgeous East with richest hand

More than can be in Heaven, we now return

Surer to prosper than prosperity

Could have assured us; and by what best way,

40

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, the strongest and the fiercest Spirit

That fought in Heaven, now fiercer by despair.

45 His trust was with the Eternal to be deemed

Equal in strength, and rather than be less Cared not to be at all; with that care lost

Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worse, He recked not, and these words thereafter spake:

50

"My sentence2 is for open war. Of wiles, More unexpert, I boast not: them let those Contrive who need, or when they need;