To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav'n
Satan is making the best of his situation, even when he knows that it is rather out of his control. He wants to create an illusion of how he is able to control his own life and be the ruler of his own world away from God.
Of subterranean wind transports a HillTorn from Pelorus, or the shatter'd sideOf thundring Ætna, whose combustibleAnd fewel'd entrals thence conceiving Fire,Sublim'd with Mineral fury, aid the Winds, [ 235 ]And leave a singed bottom all involv'dWith stench and smoak: Such resting found the soleOf unblest feet. Him followed his next Mate,Both glorying to have scap't the Stygian floodAs Gods, and by thir own recover'd strength, [ 240 ]Not by the sufferance of supernal Power.
While not taking direct images and ideas from Dante, Milton clearly wants to make know the connection between the god-demons within Inferno, and how Milton himself is using images of Hell-as-Hades.
high permission of all-ruling HeavenLeft him at large to his own dark designs
Omni-whatever God has the intention of Satan getting up to antics, since it eventually leads to one purpose. Satan really thinks he's bad, but he's aligning the world in such a way to further necessary events.
Our labour must be to pervert that end,And out of good still to find means of evil
This indicates that Satan knows more than just thinking he is doing good, when in actuality it is evil. He plainly knows that there is an intended place for evil and that it is meant to disrupt God any way that he can think. This is some cartoon villain hi-jinx, honestly.
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
God has defeated them, and they are still within his service and realm, taking on the role of evil beings to serve a purpose in Hell. They are still trapped within the interworkings of God's Plan.
To whom th' Arch-Enemy,And thence in Heav'n call'd Satan
There is a name change (Lucifer to Satan), but is there any evidence in how the word "seraph" can mean both angel and snake? And how important might The Book of Job be to this narrative, as God claims to have been the originator of many monsters and evils to test Job.
torture without end
Satan's torture? Or torture of all the rebel angels?
But his doom Reserv'd him to more wrath
God sending Lucifer to Hell made worse the anger and resentment he had, leading to the events meant to be strikes at God.
Favour'd of Heav'n so highly, to fall off [ 30 ] From thir Creator, and transgress his Will
The narrator refers to Adam and Eve as the favourites of God, and questions how it could be that they would turn so much on Him when all they know is God's love.
That Shepherd
Referring to Moses and his assent to receive the Ten Commandments from God. This is post-Adam and Eve, making a possible indication of the ignorance of Adam and Eve.