Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/44

38 Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemned In this abhorred Deep to utter woe? Where pain of unextinguishable fire Must exercise us, without hope of end, The vassals of his anger, when the scourge Inexorably, and the torturing hour Calls us to penance. More destroyed than thus We should be quite abolished and expire. What fear we then? what doubt we do incense His utmost ire? which, to the highth enraged, Will either quite consume us, and reduce To nothing this essential—happier far Than miserable to have eternal being!— Or, if our substance be indeed divine, And cannot cease to be, we are at worst On this side nothing; and by proof we feel Our power sufficient to disturb his Heaven, And with perpetual inroads to alarm, Though inaccessible, his fatal throne; Which, if not victory, is yet revenge."
 * He ended frowning, and his look denounced

Desperate revenge, and battle dangerous To less than gods. On the other side up rose Belial, in act more graceful and humane. A fairer person lost not Heaven; he seemed For dignity composed and high exploit.