All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advise. He scarce had finish'd, when such murmur fill'd Th' assembly, as when hollow rocks retain 285 The sound of blust'ring winds, which all night long Had rous'd the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull Seafaring men o'erwatch'd, whose bark by chance Or pinnace anchors in a craggy bay After the tempest. Such applause was heard 290 As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleas'd, Advising peace; for such another field They dreaded worse than Hell: so much the fear Wrought still within them, and no less desire 295 Which when Beelzebub perceiv'd, than whom, 300 A pillar of state: deep on his front engraven, And princely counsel in his face yet shone 305 The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look Heav'n, 310 Ethereal Virtues; or these titles now Must we renounce, and changing stile be call'd Inclines here to continue, and build up here 316 His captive multitude: for he, be sure, 320 In height or depth, still first and last will reign Sole King, and of his kingdom lose no part 325 By our revolt; but over Hell extend His empire, and with iron sceptre rule Us here, as with his golden those in Heav'n. Untam'd reluctance, and revenge though slow, May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice In doing what we most in suff'ring feel? 340 Heav'n, whose high walls fear no assault or siege, In pow'r and excellence, but favour'd more 350 Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn What creatures there inhabit, of what mould 355 Or substance, how endu'd, and what their pow'r, And where their weakness; how attempted best, By force or subtlety. Though Heav'n be shut, And Heav'n's high Arbitrator sit secure In his own strength, this place may lie expos'd, The utmost border of this kingdom, left 361 To their defence who hold it. Here perhaps Some advantageous act may be atchiev'd By sudden onset, either with Hell fire To waste his whole creation, or possess 365 All as our own, and drive, as we were driv'n, The puny habitants; or if not drive, Seduce them to our party, that their God May prove their Foe, and with repenting hand In his disturbance; when his darling sons, 371 Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse Their frail original and faded bliss, Faded so soon. Advise if this be worth Attempting, or to sit in darkness here 375 Hatching vain empires. Thus Beelzebub Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell b'ring arms And opportune excursion, we may chance enter Heav'n; or else in some mild zone 395 Dwell not unvisited of Heav'n's fair light Shall breathe her balm. But first, whom shall we send In search of this new world? whom shall we find And through the palpable obscure find out Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive 405 411 The happy isle? What strength, what art can then 420 The perilous attempt: but all sat mute, Pond'ring the danger with deep thoughts; and each In other's count'nance read his own dismay Astonish'd. None among the choice and prime Of those Heav'n-warring champions could be found |