11
If your joynt power prevailes, th affaires of Hell
No detriment need feare, goe and be strong.
So saying he dismissd them, they with speed [ 410 ]
Thir course through thickest Constellations held
Spreading thir bane; the blasted Starrs lookt wan,
And Planets, Planet-strook, real Eclips
Then sufferd. Th other way Satan went down
The Causey to Hell Gate; on either side [ 415 ]
Disparted Chaos over built exclaimd,
And with rebounding surge the barrs assaild,
That scornd his indignation: through the Gate,
Wide open and unguarded, Satan passd,
And all about found desolate; for those [ 420 ]
Appointed to sit there, had left thir charge,
Flown to the upper World; the rest were all
Farr to the inland retird, about the walls
Of Pandæmonium, Citie and proud seate
Of Lucifer, so by allusion calld, [ 425 ]
Of that bright Starr to Satan paragond.
There kept thir Watch the Legions, while the Grand
In Council sate, sollicitous what chance
Might intercept thir Emperour sent, so hee
Departing gave command, and they observd. [ 430 ]
As when the Tartar from his Russian Foe
By Astracan over the Snowie Plaines
Retires, or Bactrian Sophi from the hornes
Of Turkish Crescent, leaves all waste beyond
The Realm of Aladule, in his retreate [ 435 ]
To Tauris or Casbeen. So these the late
Heavn-banisht Host, left desert utmost Hell
Many a dark League, reduct in careful Watch
Round thir Metropolis, and now expecting
Each hour thir great adventurer from the search [ 440 ]
Of Forrein Worlds: he through the midst unmarkt,
In shew Plebeian Angel militant
Of lowest order, past; and from the dore
Of that Plutonian Hall, invisible
Ascended his high Throne, which under state [ 445 ]
Of richest texture spred, at th upper end
Was plact in regal lustre. Down a while
He sate, and round about him saw unseen:
At last as from a Cloud his fulgent head
And shape Starr bright appeerd, or brighter, clad [ 450 ]
With what permissive glory since his fall
Was left him, or false glitter: All amazd
At that so sudden blaze the Stygian throng
Bent thir aspect, and whom they wishd beheld,
Thir mighty Chief returnd: loud was th acclaime: [ 455 ]
Forth rushd in haste the great consulting Peers,
Raisd from thir dark Divan, and with like joy
Congratulant approachd him, who with hand
Silence, and with these words attention won.