Might hap to move new broiles

Before the Gates there sat On either side a formidable shape;

The Stygian Counsel thus dissolv'd; and forth In order came the grand infernal Peers:

Thus saying rose The Monarch, and prevented all reply, Prudent, least from his resolution rais'd Others among the chief might offer now (Certain to be refus'd) what erst they fear'd; [ 470 ] And so refus'd might in opinion stand His Rivals, winning cheap the high repute Which he through hazard huge must earn.

palpable obscure

Synod of Gods,

for so the popular vote

Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, then whom, Satan except, none higher sat, with grave [ 300 ] Aspect he rose,

and after him thus Mammon spake.

On th' other side up rose Belial

My sentence is for open Warr

More glorious and more dread then from no fall, And trust themselves to fear no second fate

So thick the aerie crowd [ 775 ]Swarm'd and were straitn'd; till the Signal giv'n.Behold a wonder! they but now who seemdIn bigness to surpass Earths Giant SonsNow less then smallest Dwarfs, in narrow roomThrong numberless, like that Pigmean Race

Expos'd a Matron to avoid worse rape.

drove them thence to Hell

Moloch

Say, Muse, thir Names then known, who first, who last

And justifie the wayes of God to men.

by thir own recover'd strength, [ 240 ]Not by the sufferance of supernal Power.

So stretcht out huge in length the Arch-fiend layChain'd on the burning Lake, nor ever thence [ 210 ]Had ris'n or heav'd his head, but that the willAnd high permission of all-ruling HeavenLeft him at large to his own dark designs,

Who from the terrour of this Arm so lateDoubted his Empire,

If thou beest he; But O how fall'n! how chang'd

As from the Center thrice to th' utmost Pole.

Who durst defie th' Omnipotent to Arms

Th' infernal Serpent; he it was, whose guile Stird up with Envy and Revenge, deceiv'd [ 35 ] The Mother of Mankind,

Thou from the first Wast present, and with mighty wings outspread

That with no middle flight intends to soar Above th' Aonian Mount, while it pursues [ 15 ] Things unattempted yet in Prose or Rhime

Sing Heav'nly Muse

(for Heaven and Earth may be suppos'd as yet not made

That with no middle flight

OF Mans First Disobedience, and the Fruit Of that Forbidden Tree, whose mortal tast Brought Death into the World, and all our woe, With loss of Eden, till one greater Man Restore us, and regain the blissful Seat, [ 5 ] Sing Heav'nly Muse