"Of Heav'n receiv'd us falling; and the thunder, 175" Wing'd with red lightning and impetuous rage, 66 Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now "To bellow through the vast and boundless deep: "Let us not slip th' occasion, whether scorn, "Or satiate fury, yield it from our foe. 180 "Seest thou yon dreary plain, forlorn and wild, "The seat of desolation, void of light, "Save what the glimm'ring of these livid flames "Casts pale and dreadful? Thither let us tend "From off the tossing of these fiery waves; 185 "There rest, if any rest can harbour there; "And, reassembling our afflicted pow'rs, "Consult how we may henceforth most offend “Our enemy—our own loss how repair"How overcome this dire calamity 190"What re-enforcement we may gain from hope"If not-what resolution from despair." Thus Satan, talking to his nearest mate, 200 By ancient Tarsus held; or that sea-beast Moors by his side under the lee, while night So stretch'd out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay, 210 Chain'd on the burning lake: nor ever thence Had ris'n, or heav'd his head, but that the will And high permission of all-ruling Heav'n Left him at large to his own dark designs; That with reiterated crimes he might 215 Heap on himself damnation, while he sought Evil to others; and, enrag'd, might see How all his malice serv'd but to bring forth Infinite goodness, grace, and mercy, shown On man by him seduc'd; but on himself 220 Treble confusion, wrath, and vengeance, pour'd. Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool His mighty stature: on each hand the flames, Driv'n backward, slope their pointing spires, and, roll'd In billows, leave in the midst a horrid vale: 225 Then with expanded wings he steers his flight 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 solid, as the lake with liquid fire; With stench and smoke. Such resting found the sole Both glorying to have 'scap'd the Stygian flood, 240 As Gods, and by their own recover'd strength, Not by the suff'rance of supernal pow'r. "Is this the region, this the soil, the clime," Said then the lost archangel,-" this the seat "That we must change for Heav'n ?-this mournful gloom, 245"For that celestial light? Be it so, since He, "Who now is Sov'reign, can dispose, and bid "What shall be right! Farthest from him is best, 250 260 "Above his equals. Farewell, happy fields, 255"Can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven. Thus answer'd: "Leader of those armies bright, "Which but the Omnipotent none could have foil'd! "If once they hear that voice,—their liveliest pledge 275" Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft "In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge "Of battle when it rag'd, in all assaults "Their surest signal,-they will soon resume "New courage and revive; though now they lie 280"Grov'ling and prostrate on yon lake of fire, "As we erewhile, astounded and amaz'd: "No wonder, fall'n such a pernicious height!" He scarce had ceas'd, when the superior fiend Was moving tow'rd the shore: his pond'rous shield, 285 Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, Behind him cast: the broad circumference Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose orb Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe. His legions, angel forms, who lay entranc'd Hath vex'd the Red-sea coast, whose waves o'erthrew While with perfidious hatred they pursu'd 320 "Princes, Potentates, "Warriors! the flow'r of heav'n, once yours; now lost, "If such astonishment as this can seize "Eternal spirits! Or have ye chos'n this place "After the toil of battle to repose "Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find "To slumber here, as in the vales of Heaven? 325 330 "To adore the Conqueror? who now beholds Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf. They heard, and were abash'd, and up they sprung In which they were, or the fierce pains not feel; Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day, 340 Wav'd round the coast, up call'd a pitchy cloud Their course, in even balance down they light Forthwith from ev'ry squadron, and each band, 360 And Pow'rs that erst in heaven sat on thrones! |