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
277 | | Into their temper, which must needs remove |
278 | | The sensible |
279 | | To peaceful counsels, and the settled state |
280 | | Of order, how in safety best we may |
281 | | Compose |
282 | | Of what we are and where, dismissing quite |
283 | | All thoughts of war. Ye have what I advise. |
284 | | |
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 | | |
289 | | Or pinnace, |
290 | | After the tempest. Such applause was heard |
291 | | As Mammon ended, and his sentence |
292 | | Advising peace, for such another field |
293 | | They dreaded worse than Hell, so much the fear |
294 | | Of thunder and the sword of Michael |
295 | | Wrought |
296 | | |
297 | | |
298 | | |
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 |
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 |
307 | | The weight of mightiest monarchies. His look |
308 | | Drew audience |
309 | | Or summer’s noontide air, while thus he spoke: |
310 | | |
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 |
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 | | |
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 |
329 | | What sit we then projecting peace and war? |
330 | | |
331 | | Irreparable; terms of peace yet none |
332 | | Vouchsafed |
333 | | To us enslaved, but custody severe, |
334 | | And stripes |
335 | | Inflicted? And what peace can we return, |
336 | | But, to our power, hostility and hate, |
337 | | Untamed reluctance, |
338 | | Yet ever plotting how the conqueror least |
339 | | May reap |
340 | | In doing what we most in suffering feel? |
341 | | |
342 | | With dangerous expedition |
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? |
346 | | (If ancient and prophetic fame |
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 |
354 | | Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn |
355 | | What creatures there inhabit, of what mould |
356 | | Or substance, how endued, |
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 |
360 | | In His own strength, this place |
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 |
365 | | To waste |