Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/55

Rh To waste his whole creation, or possess All as our own, and drive, as we were driven, The puny habitants; or, if not drive, Seduce them to our party, that their God May prove their foe, and with repenting hand Abolish his own works. This would surpass Common revenge, and interrupt his joy In our confusion, and our joy up-raise In his disturbance; when his darling sons, Hurled headlong to partake with us, shall curse Their frail original and faded bliss, Faded so soon. Advise, if this be worth Attempting, or to sit in darkness here Hatching vain empires."—Thus Beëlzebub Pleaded his devilish counsel, first devised By Satan, and in part proposed; for whence, But from the author of all ill, could spring So deep a malice, to confound the race Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell To mingle and involve, done all to spite The great Creator? but their spite still serves His glory to augment. The bold design Pleased highly those infernal States, and joy Sparkled in all their eyes. With full assent They vote; whereat his speech he thus renews:
 * "Well have ye judged, well ended long debate,

Synod of Gods! and, like to what ye are,