And princely counfel in his face yet fhone, Majeftick though in ruin: fage he stood, With ATLANTEAN fhoulders fit to bear The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look Drew audience and attention ftill as night, Or fummer's noon-tide air, while thus he fpake.
Thrones, and Imperial Pow'rs, offspring of Heav'n, Ethereal Virtues! or thefe titles now Muft we renounce, and changing ftyle be call'd Princes of Hell? for fo the popular vote Inclines, here to continue, and build up here A growing empire: doubtlefs! while we dream, 315 And know not that the king of Heav'n hath doom'd This place our dungeon, not our fafe retreat Beyond his potent arm to live exempt
From Heav'n's high jurifdiction, in new league Banded against his throne: but to remain In ftricteft bondage, though thus far remov'd, Under th' inevitable curb, referv'd
His captive multitude: For he, be fure,
In height or depth, ftill firft and last will reign Sole King, and of his kingdom lofe no part By our revolt; but over Hell extend His empire, and with iron fceptre rule Us here, as with his golden thofe in Heav'n .. What fit we then projecting peace and war? War hath determin'd us, and foil'd with lofs Irreparable; terms of peace yet none
Vouchfaf'd or fought: for what peace will be giv'n To us enflav'd, but cuftody fevere, And ftripes, and arbitrary punishment Inflicted? and what peace can we return? But, to our power, hoftility, and hate, Untam'd reluctance, and revenge, though flow, Yet ever plotting how the conqueror leaft May reap his conqueft, and may least rejoice In doing what we moft in fuffering feel? C
Nor will occafion want, nor fhall we need With dangerous expedition to invade Heav'n, whofe high walls fear no affault or fiege, Or ambush from the deep: what if we find Some eafier enterprize? there is a place, (If ancient and prophetic fame in Heav'n Err not) another world, the happy feat Of fome new race call'd MAN, about this time To be created like to us, though less In pow'r and excellence, but favor'd more Of him who rules above: fo was his will Pronounc'd among the Gods, and by an oath, That shook Heav'n's whole circumference, confirm'd. Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn What creatures there inhabit, of what mold, Or fubftance, how endu'd, and what their pow'r, And where their weakness, how attempted beft, By force or fubtlety. Though Heav'n be shut, And Heav'n's high arbitrator fit fecure
In his own ftrength, this place may lye expos'd 360 The utmoft border of his kingdom, left To their defence who hold it: here perhaps Some advantagious act may be atchiev'd By fudden onfet, either with hell fire To wafte his whole creation, or poffefs All as our own, and drive (as we are driv'n) The puny habitants; or if not drive, Seduce them to our party, that their GoD May prove their foe, and with repenting hand Abolish his own works. This would furpass Common revenge, and interrupt his joy In our confufion, and our joy upraise In his difturbance; when his darling fons, Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curfe Their frail original, and faded blifs, Faded fo foon. Advise if this be worth
Attempting, or to fit in darkness here Hatching vain empires.
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