That with reiterated crimes he might
Heap on himself damnation, while he fought
Evil to others; and enrag'd might fee
How all his malice ferv'd but to bring forth
Infinite goodnefs, grace and mercy thewn
On man by him feduc'd; but on himself
Treble confufion, wrath and vengeance pour'd. 220
Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool
His mighty ftature; on each hand the flames
Driv'n backward flope their pointing fpires, and rowl'd
In billows, leave i'th' midft a horrid vale.
Then with expanded wings he fteers his flight 225
Aloft, incumbent on the dusky air,
That felt unusual weight; till on dry land
He lights, if it were land that ever burn'd
With folid, as the lake with liquid fire;
And fuch appear'd in hue, as when the force
Of fubterranean wind transports a hill
Torn from PELORUS, or the shatter'd fide
Of thund'ring ETNA, whofe combustible
And fuel'd entrails thence conceiving fire,
Sublim'd with mineral fury, aid the winds,
And leave a finged bottom all involv'd
With french and fmoke; fuch refting found the fole
Of unblefs'd feet. Him follow'd his next mate,
Both glorying to have 'feap'd the STYGIAN flood,
As Gods, and by their own recover'd strength, 240
Not by the fuffrance of fupernal pow'r.
Is this the region, this the fail, the clime,
Said then the loft Arch-Angel, this the feat
That we must change for heav'n? this mournful gloom
For that cœleftial light? be it fo, fince he
Who now is fov'rain can difpofe and bid
What shall be right: fartheft from him is beft,
Whom reafon equall'd, force hath made fupreme
Above his equals. Farewell happy fields,
Where joy for ever dwells! hail horrors! hail
Infernal world and thou profoundest hell
Receive thy new poffeffor! one who brings
A mind not to be chang'd by place or time.
The mind is its own place, and in it felf
Can make a heav'n of hell, a hell of heav'n.
What matter where, if I be still the fame,
And what I fhould be, all but less than he
Whom thunder hath made greater? here at least
We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built
Here for his envy; will not drive us hence:
Here we may reign fecure; and in my choice
To reign is worth ambition, tho' in hell:
Better to reign in hell, than ferve in heav'n.
But wherefore let we then our faithful friends,
Th'affociates and copartners of our lofs,
Lye thus aftonifh'd on th' oblivious pool,
And call them not to fhare with us their part
In this unhappy manfion, or once more
With rallied arms to try what may be yet
Regain'd in heav'n, or what more loft in hell? 270
So SATAN fpake, and him BEELZEBUB Thus anfwer'd: Leader of thofe armies bright, Which but th' Omnipotent none could have toil'd, If once they hear that voice, their livelieft pledge Of hope in fears and dangers, heard fo oft. In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge Of battel when it rag'd, in all affaults Their fureft fignal, they will foon refume New courage and revive, tho' now they lye Grov❜ling and proftrate on yon lake of fire, As we erewhile, astounded and amaz'd, No wonder, fall'n fuch a pernicious height.
He fcarce had ceas'd when the fuperior fiend Was moving tow'rd the shore; his pond'rous shieldEthereal temper, maffie, large and round, Behind him caft; the broad circumference
Hung on his fhoulders like the Moon, whose orb Thro' optic glafs the TUSCAN artist views At ev'ning from the top of FESOLE, Or in VALDARNO, to defcry new lands, Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe. His fpear (to equal which the tallest pine Hewn on NORWEGIAN hills, to be the mast Of fome great Ammiral, were but a wand) He walk'd with to fupport uneafie fteps Over the burning marle (not like those steps On heaven's azure!) and the torrid clime Smote on him fore befides, vaulted with fire. . Nathlefs he fo endur'd, 'till on the beach Of that inflamed fea, he food and call'd His legions, Angel forms, who lay entrans'd, Thick as autumnal leaves that ftrow the brooks In VALLOMBROSA, where th' ETRURIAN shades High over-arch'd embow'r; or scatter'd fedge Afloat, when with fierce winds ORION arm'd 305 Hath vex'd the Red-Sea coaft, whose waves o'erthrew BUSIRIS and his MEMPHIAN chivalry, While with perfidious hatred they perfu'd The fojourners of GOSHEN, who beheld From the fafe fhoar their floating carcafes And broken chariot wheels: fo thick beftrown, Abject and loft lay thefe, covering the flood, Under amazement of their hideous change. He call'd fo loud, that all the hollow deep Of hell refounded: Princes, Potentates,
Warriors, the flow'r of heav'n, once yours, now lost,
If fuch aftonishment as this can feize
Eternal fpirits; or have ye chos'n this place
After the toil of battel to repofe
Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find
To flumber here, as in the vales of heaven?
Or in this abject pofture have ye fworn
T'adore the conqueror? who now beholds
Cherub and Seraph rowling in the flood,
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