Page:The Complete Poetical Works of John Milton.djvu/148

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��PARADISE LOST

��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

Heaven. But wherefore let we then our faithful

friends,

The associates and co-partners of our loss, Lie thus astonished on the oblivious pool, And call them not to share with us their

part

In this unhappy mansion, or once more With rallied arms to try what may be yet Regained in Heaven, or what more lost in

Hell ? " 270

So Satan spake; and him Beelzebub Thus answered: " Leader of those armies

bright Which, but the Omnipotent, none could

have foiled ! If once they hear that voice, their liveliest

pledge Of hope in fears and dangers heard so

oft

In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge Of battle, when it raged, in all assaults Their surest signal they will soon resume New courage and revive, though now they

lie Grovelling and prostrate on yon lake of

fire, 280

As we ere while, astounded and amazed; No wonder, fallen such a pernicious highth! " He scarce had ceased when the superior

Fiend

Was moving toward the shore; his ponder- ous shield,

Ethereal temper, massy, large, and round, Behind him cast. The broad circumfer- ence Hung on his shoulders like the moon, whose

orb

Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views At evening, from the top of Fesole, Or in Valdarno, to descry new lands, 290 Rivers, or mountains, in her spotty globe. His spear to equal which the tallest pine Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast Of some great Ammiral, were but a wand He walked with, to support uneasy steps Over the burning marie, not like those steps On Heaven's azure; and the torrid clime Smote on him sore besides, vaulted with fire. Nathless he so endured, till on the beach Of that inflamed sea he stood, and called

��His legions Angel Forms, who lay en- tranced 301 Thick as autumnal leaves that strow the

brooks

In Vallombrosa, where the Etrurian shades High over-arched imbower; or scattered

sedge

Afloat, when with fierce winds Orion armed Hath vexed the Red-Sea coast, whose waves

o'erthrew

Busiris and his Memphian chivalry, While with perfidious hatred they pursued The sojourners of Goshen, who beheld From the safe shore their floating car- cases 3 10 And broken chariot-wheels. So thick be-

strown, Abject and lost, lay these, covering the

flood,

Under amazement of their hideous change. He called so loud that all the hollow deep Of Hell resounded: "Princes, Potentates, Warriors, the Flower of Heaven once

yours; now lost,

If such astonishment as this can seize Eternal Spirits ! Or have ye chosen this

place

After the toil of battle to repose 319

Your wearied virtue, for the ease you find To slumber here, as in the vales of Heaven? Or in this abject posture have ye sworn To adore the Conqueror, who now beholds Cherub and Seraph rowling in the flood With scattered arms and ensigns, till anon His swift pursuers from Heaven-gates dis- cern The advantage, and, descending, tread us

down

Thus drooping, or with linked thunderbolts Transfix us to the bottom of this gulf ? Awake, arise, or be for ever fallen ! " 330 They heard, and were abashed, and up

they sprung

Upon the wing, as when men wont to watch, On duty sleeping found by whom they

dread, Rouse and bestir themselves ere well

awake.

Nor did they not perceive the evil plight In which they were, or the fierce pains not

feel; Yet to their General's voice they soon

obeyed

Innumerable. As when the potent rod Of Amram's son, in Egypt's evil day,

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