4

Long after known in Palestine, and namd [ 80 ]

Beelzebub. To whom th Arch-Enemy,

And thence in Heavn calld Satan, with bold words

Breaking the horrid silence thus began.

If thou beest he; But O how falln! how changd

From him, who in the happy Realms of Light [ 85 ]

Clothd with transcendent brightness didst out-shine

Myriads though bright: If he Whom mutual league,

United thoughts and counsels, equal hope

And hazard in the Glorious Enterprize,

Joynd with me once, now misery hath joynd [ 90 ]

In equal ruin: into what Pit thou seest

From what highth falln, so much the stronger provd

He with his Thunder: and till then who knew

The force of those dire Arms? yet not for those,

Nor what the Potent Victor in his rage [ 95 ]

Can else inflict, do I repent or change,

Though changd in outward lustre; that fixt mind

And high disdain, from sence of injurd merit,

That with the mightiest raisd me to contend,

And to the fierce contention brought along [ 100 ]

Innumerable force of Spirits armd

That durst dislike his reign, and me preferring,

His utmost power with adverse power opposd

In dubious Battel on the Plains of Heavn,

And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? [ 105 ]

All is not lost; the unconquerable Will,

And study of revenge, immortal hate,

And courage never to submit or yield:

And what is else not to be overcome?

That Glory never shall his wrath or might [ 110 ]

Extort from me. To bow and sue for grace

With suppliant knee, and deifie his power,

Who from the terrour of this Arm so late

Doubted his Empire, that were low indeed,

That were an ignominy and shame beneath [ 115 ]

This downfall; since by Fate the strength of Gods

And this Empyreal substance cannot fail,