much to him due Of hazard more, as he above the rest High honoured sits? Go therefore, mighty Powers, Terror of Heaven, though fallen; intend at home, While here shall be our home, what best may ease The present misery, and render Hell More tolerable; if there be cure or charm To respite, or deceive, or slack the pain Of this ill mansion; intermit no watch Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad Through all the coasts of dark destruction seek Deliverance for us all: this enterprise None shall partake with me.” Thus saying, rose The Monarch, and prevented all reply; Prudent, lest, from his resolution raised, Others among the chief might offer now (Certain to be refused) what erst they feared, And, so refused, might in opinion stand His rivals, winning cheap the high repute Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they Dreaded not more the adventure than his voice Forbidding; and at once with him they rose; Their rising all at once was as the sound Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend With awful reverence prone; and as a god Extol him equal to the Highest in Heaven. Nor failed they to express how much they praised That for the general safety he despised His own; for neither do the Spirits damned Lose all their virtue; lest bad men should boast Their specious deeds on Earth, which glory excites, Or close ambition varnished o’er with zeal.
Thus they their doubtful consultations dark Ended, rejoicing in their matchless Chief: As when from mountaintops the dusky clouds Ascending, while the North-wind sleeps, o’erspread Heaven’s cheerful face, the louring element Scowls o’er the darkened landskip snow or shower; If chance the radiant sun with farewell sweet Extend his evening beam, the fields revive, The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds Attest their joy, that hill and valley rings. O shame to men! Devil with devil damned Firm concord holds, men only disagree Of creatures rational, though under hope Of heavenly grace; and, God proclaiming peace, Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife Among themselves, and levy cruel wars, Wasting the Earth, each other to destroy: As if (which might induce us to accord) Man had not hellish foes enow besides, That day and night for his destruction wait!