3

Him after long debate, irresolute

Of thoughts revolvd, his final sentence chose

Fit Vessel, fittest Imp of fraud, in whom

To enter, and his dark suggestions hide [ 90 ]

From sharpest sight: for in the wilie Snake,

Whatever sleights none would suspicious mark,

As from his wit and native suttletie

Proceeding, which in other Beasts observd

Doubt might beget of Diabolic powr [ 95 ]

Active within beyond the sense of brute.

Thus he resolvd, but first from inward griefe

His bursting passion into plaints thus pourd:

O Earth, how like to Heavn, if not preferrd

More justly, Seat worthier of Gods, as built [ 100 ]

With second thoughts, reforming what was old!

For what God after better worse would build?

Terrestrial Heavn, danct round by other Heavns

That shine, yet bear thir bright officious Lamps,

Light above Light, for thee alone, as seems, [ 105 ]

In thee concentring all thir precious beams

Of sacred influence: As God in Heavn

Is Center, yet extends to all, so thou

Centring receavst from all those Orbs; in thee,

Not in themselves, all thir known vertue appeers [ 110 ]

Productive in Herb, Plant, and nobler birth

Of Creatures animate with gradual life

Of Growth, Sense, Reason, all summd up in Man.

With what delight could I have walkt thee round,

If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange [ 115 ]

Of Hill, and Vallie, Rivers, Woods and Plaines,

Now Land, now Sea, and Shores with Forrest crownd,

Rocks, Dens, and Caves; but I in none of these

Find place or refuge; and the more I see

Pleasures about me, so much more I feel [ 120 ]

Torment within me, as from the hateful siege

Of contraries; all good to me becomes

Bane, and in Heavn much worse would be my state.

But neither here seek I, no nor in Heavn

To dwell, unless by maistring Heavns Supreame; [ 125 ]

Nor hope to be my self less miserable

By what I seek, but others to make such

As I, though thereby worse to me redound:

For onely in destroying I find ease

To my relentless thoughts; and him destroyd, [ 130 ]

Or won to what may work his utter loss,

For whom all this was made, all this will soon

Follow, as to him linkt in weal or woe,

In wo then: that destruction wide may range:

To mee shall be the glorie sole among [ 135 ]

The infernal Powers, in one day to have marrd

What he Almightie styld, six Nights and Days

Continud making, and who knows how long

Before had bin contriving, though perhaps

Not longer then since I in one Night freed [ 140 ]

From servitude inglorious welnigh half

Th Angelic Name, and thinner left the throng

Of his adorers: hee to be avengd,

And to repaire his numbers thus impaird,

Whether such vertue spent of old now faild [ 145 ]

More Angels to Create, if they at least

Are his Created, or to spite us more,

Determind to advance into our room

A Creature formd of Earth, and him endow,

Exalted from so base original, [ 150 ]

With Heavnly spoils, our spoils: What he decreed

He effected; Man he made, and for him built

Magnificent this World, and Earth his seat,

Him Lord pronouncd, and, O indignitie!