Read The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems Online
Authors: John Milton,Burton Raffel
Tags: #Fiction, #General, #Literary Collections, #Poetry, #Classics, #English; Irish; Scottish; Welsh, #English poetry
90 | | Joined with me once, now misery hath joined |
91 | | In equal ruin—into what pit thou seest |
92 | | From what height fall’n, so much the stronger proved |
93 | | He with His thunder. And till then who knew |
94 | | The force of those dire arms? Yet not for those |
95 | | Nor what the potent victor in His rage |
96 | | Can else inflict, do I repent, or change |
97 | | (Though changed in outward luster) that fixed mind |
98 | | And high disdain from sense of injured merit |
99 | | That with the Mightiest raised me to contend |
100 | | And to the fierce contentions |
101 | | Innumerable |
102 | | That durst dislike His reign and, me preferring |
103 | | His utmost power with adverse |
104 | | In dubious |
105 | | And shook His throne. What though the field be lost |
106 | | All is not lost—the unconquerable will |
107 | | And study |
108 | | And courage never to submit or yield |
109 | | And what is else not to be overcome |
110 | | That glory never shall His wrath or might |
111 | | |
112 | | With suppliant |
113 | | |
114 | | Doubted |
115 | | That were an ignominy and shame beneath |
116 | | This downfall, since, by fate, the strength of gods |
117 | | And this empyreal |
118 | | Since, through experience of this great event |
119 | | |
120 | | We may with more successful hope resolve |
121 | | To wage by force or guile eternal war |
122 | | Irreconcilable to our grand foe |
123 | | Who now triumphs, and in th’ excess of joy |
124 | | Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heav’n.” |
125 | | |
126 | | Vaunting |
127 | | And him thus answered, soon, his bold compeer: |
128 | | |
129 | | That led th’ embattled Seraphim |
130 | | Under thy conduct |
131 | | Fearless, endangered Heav’n’s perpetual |
132 | | And put to proof |
133 | | Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate |
134 | | Too well I see and rue |
135 | | That, with sad overthrow and foul defeat |
136 | | Hath lost us Heav’n, and all this mighty host |
137 | | In horrible destruction laid thus low |
138 | | As far as gods and Heav’nly Essences |
139 | | Can perish—for the mind and spirit remains |
140 | | Invincible, |
141 | | Though all our glory extinct, and happy state |
142 | | Here swallowed up in endless misery |
143 | | But what if He our conqueror (whom I now |
144 | | Of force |
145 | | Than such could have o’erpowered such force as ours |
146 | | Have left us this our spirit and strength entire, |
147 | | |
148 | | That we may so suffice |
149 | | Or do Him mightier service as His thralls |
150 | | By right of war, whate’er His business be, |
151 | | Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire |
152 | | Or do His errands in the gloomy deep |
153 | | What can it then avail, though yet we feel |
154 | | Strength undiminished, or eternal being |
155 | | To undergo eternal punishment |
156 | | Whereto with speedy words th’ arch-fiend replied |
157 | | |
158 | | Doing or suffering. But of this be sure |
159 | | To do aught |
160 | | But ever to do ill our sole delight |
161 | | As being the contrary to His high will |
162 | | Whom we resist. If then His providence |
163 | | Out of our evil seek to bring forth good |
164 | | Our labor must be to pervert that end |
165 | | And out of good still |
166 | | Which oft-times may succeed so as, perhaps |
167 | | Shall grieve Him, if I fail not, and disturb |
168 | | |
169 | | |
170 | | His ministers of vengeance and pursuit |
171 | | Back to the gates of Heav’n. The sulphurous hail |
172 | | |
173 | | The fiery surge |
174 | | Of Heav’n received us falling, and the thunder |
175 | | Winged with red lightning and impetuous rage |
176 | | Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now |
177 | | To bellow through the vast and boundless deep |
178 | | Let us not slip |
179 | | Or satiate |