Thither full fraught with mischievous revenge, Accurst, and in a cursed hour he hies.
After all the heroic language and deeds preceding, Milton then reminds us that all Satan is after is mischievous revenge. His actions aren't heroic because he's not doing them for heroic reasons.
from them I go This uncouth errand sole, and one for all Myself expose, with lonely steps to tread Th' unfounded deep, and through the void immense To search with wandring quest a place foretold
The epic hero on his sole quest to save his people...There are countless examples of this in mythology and epic poetry.
Thus Beelzebub Pleaded his devilish Counsel, first devis'd By Satan, and in part propos'd:
Satan started the plan and fed it to Beelzebub, who then put it forth to the masses. It's a classic Machiavellian scheme, and allows Satan to be the hero/champion who volunteers for the job.
Let us not then pursue By force impossible, by leave obtain'd [ 250 ] Unacceptable, though in Heav'n, our state Of splendid vassalage, but rather seek Our own good from our selves, and from our own Live to our selves, though in this vast recess, Free, and to none accountable, preferring [ 255 ] Hard liberty before the easie yoke Of servile Pomp.
Mammon echos Satan's words in book 1, arguably the most famous line in the entire poem, "Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav'n" (line 263).
Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear, Our Supream Foe in time may much remit [ 210 ] His anger, and perhaps thus farr remov'd Not mind us not offending, satisfi'd With what is punish't
Someday God may not be as angry with them - Belial is arguing that they should take a chance at someday being forgiven.
And that must end us, that must be our cure, [ 145 ] To be no more; sad cure
Milton told us that this is precisely what Moloc wanted in lines 45-50.
His trust was with th' Eternal to be deem'd Equal in strength, and rather then be less Care'd not to be at all
Moloc thought he was God's equal in strength, but now that he had been proven wrong just wanted to cease to be.
scurff
So as not either to provoke, or dreadNew warr, provok't; our better part remains [ 645 ]To work in close design, by fraud or guileWhat force effected not
They're going to rebel still, but in a way that won't make God retaliate
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?
What if God merely left them alive to serve as his slaves for all eternity?
Empyreal
Belonging to heaven. Also used in the Divine Comedy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empyrean