all-ruling HeavenLeft him at large to his own dark designs,

Thither let us tendFrom off the tossing of these fiery waves,There rest, if any rest can harbour there, [ 185 ]And reassembling our afflicted Powers,Consult how we may henceforth most offendOur Enemy, our own loss how repair,How overcome this dire Calamity,What reinforcement we may gain from Hope, [ 190 ]If not what resolution from despare.

from the PrecipiceOf Heav'n receiv'd us falling, and the Thunder,Wing'd with red Lightning and impetuous rage, [ 175 ]

do ought good never will be our task,But ever to do ill our sole delight, [ 160 ]As being the contrary to his high willWhom we resist. If then his ProvidenceOut of our evil seek to bring forth good,Our labour must be to pervert that end,And out of good still to find means of evil;

to be weak is miserable

But what if he our Conquerour, (whom I nowOf force believe Almighty, since no lessThen such could hav orepow'rd such force as ours) [ 145 ]Have left us this our spirit and strength intireStrongly to suffer and support our pains,That we may so suffice his vengeful ire,Or do him mightier service as his thrallsBy right of Warr, what e're his business be [ 150 ]Here in the heart of Hell to work in Fire,Or do his Errands in the gloomy Deep;What can it then avail though yet we feelStrength undiminisht, or eternal beingTo undergo eternal punishment? [ 155 ]

And courage never to submit or yield:

Beelzebub. To whom th' Arch-Enemy,And thence in Heav'n call'd Satan,

A Dungeon horrible, on all sides roundAs one great Furnace flam'd, yet from those flamesNo light, but rather darkness visibleServ'd onely to discover sights of woe,Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace [ 65 ]And rest can never dwell, hope never comesThat comes to all; but torture without endStill urges, and a fiery Deluge, fedWith ever-burning Sulphur unconsum'd:

Hurld headlong flaming from th' Ethereal Skie [ 45 ] With hideous ruine and combustion down To bottomless perdition, there to dwell In Adamantine Chains and penal Fire,

Against the Throne and Monarchy of God

To set himself in Glory above his Peers,