，
THE ARGUMENT
～
the consultation begun； satan debates whether another battel be to be hazarded for the recovery of heaven： some advise it； others dissuade： a third proposal is preferd； mentiond before by satan； to search the truth of that prophesie or tradition in heaven concerning another world； and another kind of creature equal or not much inferiour to themselves； about this time to be created： thir doubt who shall be sent on this difficult search： satan thir chief undertakes alone the voyage； is honourd and applauded。 the councel thus ended； the rest betake them several wayes and to several imployments； as thir inclinations lead them； to entertain the time till satan return。 he passes on his journey to hell gates； finds them shut； and who sat there to guard them； by whom at length they are opnd； and discover to him the great gulf between hell and heaven； with what difficulty he passes through； directed by chaos； the power of that place； to the sight of this new world which he sought。
m。
Paradise Lost Ⅱ1
。
high on a throne of royal state； which far
outshon the wealth of ormus and of ind；
or where the gorgeous east with richest hand
showrs on her kings barbaric pearl and gold；
satan exalted sat； by merit raisd ＇ 5 ＇
to that bad eminence； and from despair
thus high uplifted beyond hope； aspires
beyond thus high； insatiate to pursue
vain warr with heavn； and by success untaught
his proud imaginations thus displaid。 ＇ 10 ＇
powers and dominions； deities of heavn；
for since no deep within her gulf can hold
immortal vigor； though opprest and falln；
i give not heavn for lost。 from this descent
celestial vertues rising； will appear ＇ 15 ＇
more glorious and more dread then from no fall；
and trust themselves to fear no second fate：
mee though just right； and the fixt laws of heavn
did first create your leader； next free choice；
with what besides； in counsel or in fight； ＇ 20 ＇
hath bin achievd of merit； yet this loss
thus farr at least recoverd； hath much more
establisht in a safe unenvied throne
yielded with full consent。 the happier state
in heavn； which follows dignity； might draw ＇ 25 ＇
envy from each inferior； but who here
will envy whom the highest place exposes
formost to stand against the thunderers aim
your bulwark； and condemns to greatest share
of endless pain？ where there is then no good ＇ 30 ＇
for which to strive； no strife can grow up there
from faction； for none sure will claim in hell
precedence； none； whose portion is so small
of present pain； that with ambitious mind
will covet more。 with this advantage then ＇ 35 ＇
to union； and firm faith； and firm accord；
more then can be in heavn； we now return
to claim our just inheritance of old；
surer to prosper then prosperity
could have assurd us； and by what best way； ＇ 40 ＇
。。
Paradise Lost Ⅱ2
小x说s网
whether of open warr or covert guile；
we now debate； who can advise； may speak。
he ceasd； and next him moloc； scepterd king
stood up； the strongest and the fiercest spirit
that fought in heavn； now fiercer by despair： ＇ 45 ＇
his trust was with th eternal to be deemd
equal in strength； and rather then be less
cared not to be at all； with that care lost
went all his fear： of god； or hell； or worse
he reckd not； and these words thereafter spake。 ＇ 50 ＇
my sentence is for open warr： of wiles；
more unexpert； i boast not： them let those
contrive who need； or when they need； not now。
for while they sit contriving； shall the rest；
millions that stand in arms； and longing wait ＇ 55 ＇
the signal to ascend； sit lingring here
heavns fugitives； and for thir dwelling place
accept this dark opprobrious den of shame；
the prison of his tyranny who reigns
by our delay？ no； let us rather choose ＇ 60 ＇
armd with hell flames and fury all at once
ore heavns high towrs to force resistless way；
turning our tortures into horrid arms
against the torturer； when to meet the noise
of his almighty engin he shall hear ＇ 65 ＇
infernal thunder； and for lightning see
black fire and horror shot with equal rage
among his angels； and his throne it self
mixt with tartarean sulphur； and strange fire；
his own invented torments。 but perhaps ＇ 70 ＇
the way seems difficult and steep to scale
with upright wing against a higher foe。
let such bethink them； if the sleepy drench
of that forgetful lake benumm not still；
that in our proper motion we ascend ＇ 75 ＇
up to our native seat： descent and fall
to us is adverse。 who but felt of late
when the fierce foe hung on our brokn rear
insulting； and pursud us through the deep；
with what pulsion and laborious flight ＇ 80 ＇
we sunk thus low？ th ascent is easie then；
th event is feard； should we again provoke
our stronger； some worse way his wrath may find
to our destruction： if there be in hell
fear to be worse destroyd： what can be worse ＇ 85 ＇
then to dwell here； drivn out from bliss； condemnd
in this abhorred deep to utter woe；
。。
Paradise Lost Ⅱ3
，小，说，网
where pain of unextinguishable fire
must exercise us without hope of end
the vassals of his anger； when the scourge ＇ 90 ＇
inexorably； and the torturing hour
calls us to penance？ more destroyd then thus
we should be quite abolisht and expire。
what fear we then？ what doubt we to incense
his utmost ire？ which to the highth enragd； ＇ 95 ＇
will either quite consume us； and reduce
to nothing this essential； happier farr
then miserable to have eternal being：
or if our substance be indeed divine；
and cannot cease to be； we are at worst ＇ 100 ＇
on this side nothing； and by proof we feel
our power sufficient to disturb his heavn；
and with perpetual inrodes to allarme；
though inaccessible； his fatal throne：
which if not victory is yet revenge。 ＇ 105 ＇
he ended frowning； and his look denouncd
desperate revenge； and battel dangerous
to less then gods。 on th other side up rose
belial； in act more graceful and humane；
a fairer person lost not heavn； he seemd ＇ 110 ＇
for dignity posd and high exploit：
but all was false and hollow； though his tongue
dropt manna； and could make the worse appear
the better reason； to perplex and dash
maturest counsels： for his thoughts were low； ＇ 115 ＇
to vice industrious； but to nobler deeds
timorous and slothful： yet he pleasd the ear；
and with perswasive accent thus began。
i should be much for open warr； o peers；
as not behind in hate； if what was urgd ＇ 120 ＇
main reason to persuade immediate warr；
did not disswade me most； and seem to cast
ominous conjecture on the whole success：
when he who most excels in fact of arms；
in what he counsels and in what excels ＇ 125 ＇
mistrustful； grounds his courage on despair
and utter dissolution； as the scope
of all his aim； after some dire revenge。
first； what revenge？ the towrs of heavn are filld
with armed watch； that render all access ＇ 130 ＇
impregnable； oft on the bordering deep
encamp thir legions； or with obscure wing
scout farr and wide into the realm of night；
．．
Paradise Lost Ⅱ4
。
scorning surprize。 or could we break our way
by force； and at our heels all hell should rise ＇ 135 ＇
with blackest insurrection； to confound
heavns purest light； yet our great enemy
all incorruptible would on his throne
sit unpolluted； and th ethereal mould
incapable of stain would soon expel ＇ 140 ＇
her mischief； and purge off the baser fire
victorious。 thus repulsd； our final hope
is flat despair； we must exasperate
th almighty victor to spend all his rage；
and that must end us； that must be our cure； ＇ 145 ＇
to be no more； sad cure； for who would loose；
though full of pain； this intellectual being；
those thoughts that wander through eternity；
to perish rather； swallowd up and lost
in the wide womb of uncreated night； ＇ 150 ＇
devoid of sense and motion？ and who knows；
let this be good； whether our angry foe
can give it； or will ever？ how he can
is doubtful； that he never will is sure。
will he； so wise； let loose at once his ire； ＇ 155 ＇
belike through impotence； or unaware；
to give his enemies thir wish； and end
them in his anger； whom his anger saves
to punish endless？ wherefore cease we then？
say they who counsel warr； we are decreed； ＇ 160 ＇
reservd and destind to eternal woe；
whatever doing； what can we suffer more；
what can we suffer worse？ is this then worst；
thus sitting； thus consulting； thus in arms？
what when we fled amain； pursud and strook ＇ 165 ＇
with heavns afflicting thunder； and besought
the deep to shelter us？ this hell then seemd
a refuge from those wounds： or when we lay
chaind on the burning lake？ that sure was worse。
what if the breath that kindld those grim fires ＇ 170 ＇
awakd should blow them into sevenfold rage
and plunge us in the flames？ or from above
should intermitted vengeance arm again
his red right hand to plague us？ what if all
her stores were opend； and this firmament ＇