"And hazard in the glorious enterprise, "Joined with me once, now misery hath joined "In equal ruin; into what pit thou seest, 90 "From what height fallen: so much the stronger proved "He with his thunder; and till then who knew "The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those, "Nor what the potent Victor in his rage "Can else inflict, do I repent, or change,— "Though changed in outward lustre,—that fixed mind "And high disdain from sense of injured merit, "That with the Mightiest raised me to contend, "And to the fierce contention brought along "Innumerable force of spirits armed, "That durst dislike his reign; and, me preferring, "His utmost power with adverse power opposed "In dubious battle on the plains of Heaven, 100 "And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? "All is not lost; the unconquerable will, "And study of revenge, immortal hate, "This downfall! since, by fate, the strength of gods 66 Since, through experience of this great event, "In arms not worse, in foresight much advanced, So spake the apostate angel, though in pain, "O Prince! O chief of many throned Powers! 120 "That led the embattled Seraphim to war "Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate: "That with sad overthrow and foul defeat 130 140 "Though all our glory extinct, and happy state "Here swallowed up in endless misery. "But what if he our Conqueror, (whom I now "Of force believe almighty, since no less "Than such could have o'erpowered such force as ours) "Have left us this our spirit and strength entire, 66 Strongly to suffer and support our pains? "That we may so suffice his vengeful ire; "Or do him mightier service, as his thralls 'By right of war, whate'er his business be, "Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire, "Or do his errands in the gloomy deep? "What can it then avail, though yet we feel "Strength undiminished, or eternal being, "To undergo eternal punishment?" Whereto with speedy words the Arch-fiend replied: "Fallen Cherub! to be weak is miserable, "Doing or suffering: but of this be sure, "To do aught good never will be our task, "As being the contrary to his high will, 150 160 66 But see! the angry Victor hath recalled "Of Heaven received us falling; and the thunder, Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now "To bellow through the vast and boundless deep. "Let us not slip the occasion, whether scorn, "Or satiate fury, yield it from our foe. "Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild, "The seat of desolation, void of light, "Save what the glimmering of these livid flamcs "Casts pale and dreadful? Thither let us tend "From off the tossing of these fiery waves; "There rest, if any rest can harbour there; "And, reassembling our afflicted powers, "Consult how we may henceforth most offend "Our enemy; our own loss how repair; "How overcome this dire calamity; "What reinforcement we may gain from hope; "If not, what resolution from despair." Thus Satan, talking to his nearest mate, By ancient Tarsus held; or that sea-beast Invests the sea, and wishèd morn delays. 170 180 190 200 |