Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge As whom the fables name of monstrous size, Titanian, or Earth-born, that warr'd on Jove, Briareos, or Typhon, whom the den
By ancient Tarsus held, or that sea-beast Leviathan, which God of all his works Created hugest that swim th' ocean stream: Him haply slumb'ring on the Norway foam The pilot of some small night-founder'd skiff Deeming some island, oft, as seamen tell, With fixed anchor in his scaly rind Moors by his side under the lee, while night Invests the sea, and wished morn delays: So stretch'd out huge in length the Arch-Fiend lay Chain'd on the burning lake, nor ever thence 210 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
Heap on himself damnation, while he sought 215 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 Treble confusion, wrath, and vengeance pour'd. Forthwith upright he rears from off the pool 221 His mighty stature; on each hand the flames. Driv'n backward slope their pointing spires, and roll'd
In billows, leave i' th' midst a horrid vale.
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; And such appear'd in hue, as when the force 230 Of subterranean wind transports a hill. Torn from Pelorus, or the shatter'd side. Of thund'ring Etna, whose combustible And fuel'd entrails thence conceiving fire, Sublim'd with min'ral fury, aid the winds, 235 And leave a singed bottom all involv'd
With stench and smoke: such resting found the sole Of unblest feet. Him follow'd his next mate, Both glorying to have 'scap'd the Stygian flood As Gods, and by their own recover'd strength, Not by the suffrance of Supernal Pow'r.
Is this the region, this the soil, the clime, Said then the lost Arch-Angel, this the seat That we must change for Heav'n, this mournful gloom
For that celestial light? Be it so, since he 245 Who now is Sov'reign can dispose and bid What shall be right: farthest from him is best, Whom reas'n hath equall'd, force hath made
Above his equals. Farewell happy fields,
Where joy for ever dwells: Hail horrors, hail 250 Infernal world, and thou profoundest Hell Receive thy new possessor; one who brings
A mind not to be chang'd by place or time. The mind is its own place, and in itself
Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n. 255 What matter where, if I be still the same, And what I should 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: 260 Here we may reign secure, and in my choice To reign is worth ambition, though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n. But wherefore let we then our faithful friends, Th' associates and copartners of our loss,
Lie thus astonish'd on th'oblivious pool,
And call them not to share with us their part In this unhappy mansion, or once more With rally'd arms to try what may be yet Regain'd in Heav'n, or what more lost in Hell? So Satan spake; and him Beelzebub Thus answer'd: Leader of those armies bright, Which but th' Omnipotent none could have foil'd, If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft 275 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 Grov'ling and prostrate on yon lake of fire, 280 As we ere while, astounded and amaz'd, No wonder, fall'n such a pernicious height.
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