The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (36 page)

277

Into their temper, which must needs remove

278

The sensible
²⁰⁰⁴
of pain. All things invite

279

To peaceful counsels, and the settled state

280

Of order, how in safety best we may

281

Compose
²⁰⁰⁵
our present evils, with regard

282

Of what we are and where, dismissing quite

283

All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advise.

284

   
He scarce had finished, when such murmur filled

285

Th’ assembly as when hollow rocks retain

286

The sound of blust’ring winds, which all night long

287

Had roused the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull

288

Seafaring men o’erwatched,
²⁰⁰⁶
whose barque
²⁰⁰⁷
by chance,

289

Or pinnace,
²⁰⁰⁸
anchors in a craggy bay

290

After the tempest. Such applause was heard

291

As Mammon ended, and his sentence
²⁰⁰⁹
pleased,

292

Advising peace, for such another field
²⁰¹⁰

293

They dreaded worse than Hell, so much the fear

294

Of thunder and the sword of Michael

295

Wrought
²⁰¹¹
still within them, and no less desire

296

To found
²⁰¹²
this nether
²⁰¹³
empire, which might rise,

297

By policy
²⁰¹⁴
and long process
²⁰¹⁵
of time,

298

In emulation
²⁰¹⁶
opposite
²⁰¹⁷
to Heav’n.

299

Which when Beelzebub perceived—than whom,

300

Satan except, none higher sat—with grave

301

Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemed

302

A pillar of state. Deep on his front
²⁰¹⁸
engrav’n

303

Deliberation sat, and public care,

304

And princely counsel in his face yet shone,

305

Majestic, though in ruin. Sage he stood

306

With Atlantean
²⁰¹⁹
shoulders, fit to bear

307

The weight of mightiest monarchies. His look

308

Drew audience
²⁰²⁰
and attention still as night

309

Or summer’s noontide air, while thus he spoke:

310

   
“Thrones and Imperial Powers, offspring of Heav’n,

311

Ethereal Virtues! Or these titles now

312

Must we renounce and, changing style, be called

313

Princes of Hell? For so the popular vote

314

Inclines—here to continue, and build up here

315

A growing empire. Doubtless! While we dream,

316

And know not that the King of Heav’n hath doomed
²⁰²¹

317

This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat

318

Beyond His potent arm, to live exempt

319

From Heav’n’s high jurisdiction, in new league

320

Banded against His throne, but to remain

321

In strictest bondage, though thus far removed,

322

Under th’ inevitable
²⁰²²
curb,
²⁰²³
reserved
²⁰²⁴

323

His captive multitude. For He, to be sure,

324

In height or depth, still first and last will reign

325

Sole king, and of His Kingdom lose no part

326

By our revolt, but over Hell extend

327

His empire, and with iron scepter rule

328

Us here, as with His golden
²⁰²⁵
those in Heav’n.

329

What sit we then projecting peace and war?

330

War hath determined
²⁰²⁶
us and foiled
²⁰²⁷
with loss

331

Irreparable; terms of peace yet none

332

Vouchsafed
²⁰²⁸
or sought. For what peace will be giv’n

333

To us enslaved, but custody severe,

334

And stripes
²⁰²⁹
and arbitrary punishment

335

Inflicted? And what peace can we return,
²⁰³⁰

336

But, to our power, hostility and hate,

337

Untamed reluctance,
²⁰³¹
and revenge, though slow,

338

Yet ever plotting how the conqueror least

339

May reap
²⁰³²
His conquest, and may least rejoice

340

In doing what we most in suffering feel?

341

Nor will occasion
²⁰³³
want,
²⁰³⁴
nor shall we need

342

With dangerous expedition
²⁰³⁵
to invade

343

Heav’n, whose high walls fear no assault or siege,

344

Or ambush from the deep. What if we find

345

Some easier enterprise?
²⁰³⁶
There is a place

346

(If ancient and prophetic fame
²⁰³⁷
in Heav’n

347

Err not)—another world, the happy seat

348

Of some new race, called man, about this time

349

To be created like to us, though less

350

In power and excellence, but favored more

351

Of Him who rules above. So was His will

352

Pronounced among the gods, and by an oath

353

That shook Heav’n’s whole circumference
²⁰³⁸
confirmed.

354

Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn

355

What creatures there inhabit, of what mould
²⁰³⁹

356

Or substance, how endued,
²⁰⁴⁰
and what their power

357

And where their weakness: how attempted best,

358

By force or subtlety. Though Heav’n be shut,

359

And Heav’n’s high arbitrator
²⁰⁴¹
sit secure

360

In His own strength, this place
²⁰⁴²
may lie exposed,

361

The utmost border of His Kingdom, left

362

To their defence who hold it. Here, perhaps,

363

Some advantageous act may be achieved

364

By sudden onset
²⁰⁴³
—either with Hell-fire

365

To waste
²⁰⁴⁴
His whole creation, or possess