THE ARGUMENT. The confultation begun, Satan debates whether another battel be to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven: Some advile it, others propofal is preferr'd, mention'd before th Satan, to fearch the truth of that prophecy or tradition in Heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature equal or not much inferior to themfelves, about this time to be created: Their doubt, who fhall be fent on this difficult fearch: Satan their chief undertakes alone the voyage, is honor'd and applauded. The council thus ended, the reft betake them feveral ways, and to feveral einployments, as their inclinations lead them, to entertain the time till Satan return. He paffes on his journey to Hell gates, finds them fhut, and who fate there to guard them, by whom at length they are open'd, and dif cover to him the great gulf between Hell and Heaven; with what difficulty he paffes through, directed by Chaos, the Power of that place, to the fight of this new world, which he fought. 39 PARADISE LOST. H' wd BOOK IL IGH on a throne of royal ftate, which far Outfhone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind, Or where the gorgeous eaft with richest hand Show'rs on her kings barbaric pearl and gold, Satan exalted fat, by merit rais'd To that bad eminence; and from defpair Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires Beyond thus high, infatiate to purfue Vain war with Heav'n, and by fuccefs untaught His proud imaginations thus display'd. Pow'rs and Dominions, Deities of Heaven, I give not Heav'n for loft. From this defcent 5 20 15 More glorious and more dread than from no fall, And trust themselves to fear no fecond fate. Me though just right, and the fix'd laws of Heaven Did first create your leader, next free choice, With what befides, in counfel or in fight, Hath been achiev'd of merit, yet this lofs Thus far at leaft recover'd, hath much more Eftablish'd in a fafe unenvied throne, Yielded with full confent. The happier ftate In Heav'n, which follows dignity, might draw 25 Envy from each inferior; but who here Will envy whom the highest place expofes Foremost to stand against the Thund'rer's aim Your bulwark, and condemns to greateft fhare Surer to profper than profperity 35. 45 Could have affur'd us; and by what beft way, 40 More unexpert, I boaft not: them let thofe 55 65 O'er Heav'n's high tow'rs to, force refiftless way, $70 To us is adverfe. Who but felt of late, Fear to be worfe deftroy'd: what can be worfe 85 Where pain of unextinguishable fire Muft exercife us without hope of end The vaffals of his anger, when the fcourge C 5. до His |