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
184 | | There to converse with everlasting groans |
185 | | Unrespited, |
186 | | Ages of hopeless end? This would be worse |
187 | | War, therefore, open or concealed, alike |
188 | | My voice dissuades. For what can force or guile |
189 | | With Him, or who deceive His mind, whose eye |
190 | | Views all things at one view? He from Heav’n’s height |
191 | | All these our motions vain sees and derides |
192 | | Not more Almighty to resist our might |
193 | | Than wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles |
194 | | Shall we, then, live thus vile—the race of Heav’n |
195 | | Thus trampled, thus expelled, to suffer here |
196 | | Chains and these torments? Better these than worse, |
197 | | By my advice, since fate inevitable |
198 | | Subdues us, and omnipotent decree |
199 | | The victor’s will. To suffer, as to do, |
200 | | Our strength is equal, nor the law unjust |
201 | | That so ordains. This was at first resolved |
202 | | If we were wise, against so great a foe |
203 | | |
204 | | I laugh when those who at the spear are bold |
205 | | And vent’rous, if that fail them, shrink, and fear |
206 | | What yet they know must follow—to endure |
207 | | Exile, or ignominy, |
208 | | The sentence of their conqueror. This is now |
209 | | Our doom, |
210 | | Our Supreme foe in time may much remit |
211 | | His anger, and perhaps, thus far removed, |
212 | | Not mind |
213 | | With what is punished, whence these raging fires |
214 | | Will slacken, if His breath stir not their flames |
215 | | Our purer essence then will overcome |
216 | | |
217 | | Or, changed at length, and to the place conformed |
218 | | In temper and in nature, will receive |
219 | | Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain |
220 | | This horror will grow mild, this darkness light |
221 | | Besides what hope the never-ending flight |
222 | | Of future days may bring, what chance, what change |
223 | | Worth waiting—since our present lot appears |
224 | | For happy though but ill, for ill not worst |
225 | | If we procure not to ourselves more woe |
226 | | Thus Belial, with words clothed in reason’s garb |
227 | | Counselled ignoble ease and peaceful sloth |
228 | | Not peace. And after him thus Mammon spoke |
229 | | |
230 | | We war, if war be best, or to regain |
231 | | Our own right lost. Him to unthrone we then |
232 | | May hope, when everlasting Fate shall yield |
233 | | To fickle Chance, and Chaos judge the strife |
234 | | The former, vain to hope, argues as vain |
235 | | The latter—for what place can be for us |
236 | | Within Heav’n’s bound, unless Heav’n’s Lord supreme |
237 | | We overpower? Suppose He should relent |
238 | | And publish |
239 | | Of new subjection? |
240 | | Stand in His presence humble, and receive |
241 | | Strict laws imposed, to celebrate His throne |
242 | | With warbled hymns, and to His Godhead sing |
243 | | Forced hallelujahs, while He lordly sits |
244 | | Our envied sov’reign, and His altar breathes |
245 | | Ambrosial odors and ambrosial flowers |
246 | | Our servile offerings? This must be our task |
247 | | In Heav’n, this our delight. How wearisome |
248 | | Eternity so spent in worship paid |
249 | | To whom we hate! Let us not then pursue |
250 | | By force impossible, by leave obtained |
251 | | Unacceptable, though in Heav’n, our state |
252 | | Of splendid vassalage, but rather seek |
253 | | Our own good from ourselves, and from our own |
254 | | Live to |
255 | | Free and to none accountable, preferring |
256 | | Hard liberty before the easy yoke |
257 | | Of servile pomp. Our greatness will appear |
258 | | Then most conspicuous when great things of |
259 | | Useful of hurtful, prosperous of adverse, |
260 | | We can create, and in what place soe’er |
261 | | Thrive under evil, and work ease out of pain |
262 | | Through labor and endurance. This deep world |
263 | | Of darkness do we dread? How oft amidst |
264 | | Thick clouds and dark doth Heav’n’s all-ruling Sire |
265 | | Choose to reside, His glory unobscured |
266 | | And with the majesty of darkness round |
267 | | Covers His throne, from whence deep thunders roar, |
268 | | Must’ring |
269 | | As He our darkness, cannot we His light |
270 | | Imitate when we please? This desert soil |
271 | | Wants |
272 | | Nor want |
273 | | Magnificence. And what can Heav’n show more? |
274 | | Our torments also may, in length of time, |
275 | | Become our elements, |
276 | | As soft as now severe, our temper changed |