More tolerable; if there be cure or charm Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek None shall partake with me.' Thus saying, rose 460 465 470 But they 475 Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend With awful reverence prone; and as a god Extol him equal to the Highest in Heaven: Nor fail'd they to express how much they prais'd 480 That for the general safety he despis'd His own for neither do the spirits damn'd Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast Their specious deeds on earth, which glory excites, Or close ambition varnish'd o'er with zeal. 485 Thus they their doubtful consultations dark Ended, rejoicing in their matchless chief. As when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o'erspread 490 Scowls o'er the darken'd landskip snow or shower; 495 O shame to men! devil with devil damn'd Firm concord holds: men only disagree Of creatures rational, though under hope Of heavenly grace; and, God proclaiming peace 500 Among themselves, and levy cruel wars, Wasting the earth, each other to destroy As if (which might induce us to accord) 505 The Stygian council thus dissolv'd; and forth In order came the grand infernal peers: Midst came their mighty Paramount, and seem'd Than Hell's dread Emperor, with pomp supreme, 510 Him round A globe of fiery Seraphim enclos'd, With bright imblazonry, and horrent arms. 515 Heard far and wide, and all the host of Hell With deafening shout returned them loud acclaim. 520 Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat rais'd By false presumptuous hope, the ranged powers Disband, and wandering each his several way Leads him perplex'd, where he may likeliest find 525 Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain 530 535 Prick forth the aery knights, and couch their spears, Till thickest legions close; with feats of arms From either end of Heaven the welkin burns. Others, with vast Typhoean rage, more fell 540 In whirlwind: Hell scarce holds the wild uproar. As when Alcides, from Echalia crown'd With conquest, felt the envenom'd robe, and tore 545 Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse 375 380 385 390 Synod of gods! and, like to what ye are, Great things resolv'd, which from the lowest deep Will once more lift us up, in spite of fate, Nearer our ancient seat; perhaps in view But first, whom shall we send In search of this new world? whom shall we find Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering feet 396 Of those bright confines, whence, with neighbouring arms 400 The dark, unbottom'd, infinite abyss, 405 And through the palpable obscure find out His uncouth way, or spread his aery flight, Upborne with indefatigable wings, Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive The happy isle? What strength, what art, can then 413 Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe Through the strict senteries and stations thick Of angels watching round? Here he had need 41 at Serbonian bog mount Casius old, have sunk: the parching air 590 performs the effect of fire. 595 by turns the bitter change tremes by change more fierce, 600 605 with one small drop to lose 610 Tran Bat And With And Of Me from Thes Refe Of ham To h Of han High Terror rn, the adventurous bands, 615 620 bogs, dens, and shades of death; hich God by curse ch lives, and nature breeds all prodigious things, 625 630 Into the Euboic sea. Others more mild, Retreated in a silent valley, sing With notes angelical to many a harp Their own heroic deeds, and hapless fall 550 The thronging audience. In discourse more sweet (For eloquence the soul, song charms the sense), Others apart sat on a hill retir'd, 555 In thoughts more elevate, and reason'd high 560 565 570 575 Into the burning lake their baleful streams; Heard on the rueful stream; fierce Phlegeton, 580 Whose waves of torrent fire inflame with rage. Her watery labyrinth; whereof who drinks Lies dark and wild, beat with perpetual storms 585 |