The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems (38 page)

456

High honored sits? Go therefore, mighty Powers,

457

Terror of Heav’n, though fall’n. Intend
²⁰⁸⁵
at home,

458

While here shall be our home, what best may ease

459

The present misery, and render Hell

460

More tolerable,
²⁰⁸⁶
if there be cure
²⁰⁸⁷
or charm
²⁰⁸⁸

461

To respite,
²⁰⁸⁹
or deceive, or slack
²⁰⁹⁰
the pain

462

Of this ill
²⁰⁹¹
mansion.
²⁰⁹²
Intermit
²⁰⁹³
no watch

463

Against a wakeful foe, while I abroad

464

Through all the coasts
²⁰⁹⁴
of dark destruction seek

465

Deliverance for us all. This enterprise

466

None shall partake
²⁰⁹⁵
with me.” Thus saying, rose

467

The monarch, and prevented all reply,

468

Prudent, lest from
²⁰⁹⁶
his resolution raised,
²⁰⁹⁷

469

Others among the chief might offer now,

470

Certain to be refused, what erst they feared,

471

And so refused, might in opinion
²⁰⁹⁸
stand

472

His rivals, winning cheap the high repute

473

Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they

474

Dreaded not more th’ adventure than his voice

475

Forbidding, and at once with him they rose.

476

Their rising all at once was as the sound

477

Of thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend

478

With awful
²⁰⁹⁹
reverence prone, and as a god

479

Extol him equal to the Highest in Heav’n.

480

Nor failed they to express how much they praised

481

That for the general safety he despised

482

His own, for neither do the Spirits damned

483

Lose all their virtue, lest bad men should boast

484

Their specious
²¹⁰⁰
deeds on earth, which glory excites,
²¹⁰¹

485

Or close
²¹⁰²
ambition varnished o’er with zeal.

486

Thus they their doubtful consultations dark
²¹⁰³

487

Ended, rejoicing in their matchless chief—

488

As when from mountain-tops the dusky clouds

489

Ascending, while the north wind sleeps, o’erspread

490

Heav’n’s cheerful face, the louring
²¹⁰⁴
element
²¹⁰⁵

491

Scowls o’er the darkened landscape, snow or shower.

492

If chance the radiant sun, with farewell sweet,

493

Extend
²¹⁰⁶
his evening beam, the fields revive,

494

The birds their notes renew, and bleating herds

495

Attest
²¹⁰⁷
their joy, that hill and valley rings.

496

O shame to men! Devil with devil damned

497

Firm
²¹⁰⁸
concord
²¹⁰⁹
holds. Men only
²¹¹⁰
disagree

498

Of creatures rational, though under
²¹¹¹
hope

499

Of Heav’nly grace. And God proclaiming peace,

500

Yet live in hatred, enmity, and strife

501

Among themselves, and levy
²¹¹²
cruel wars,

502

Wasting the earth, each other to destroy,

503

As if (which might induce us to accord
²¹¹³
)

504

Man had not hellish foes enow
²¹¹⁴
besides,

505

That day and night for his destruction wait!

506

   
The Stygian
²¹¹⁵
council thus dissolved, and forth

507

In order came the grand infernal peers.

508

Midst came their mighty Paramount,
²¹¹⁶
and seemed

509

Alone th’ antagonist of Heav’n, nor less

510

Than Hell’s dread emperor, with pomp supreme,

511

And godlike imitated state. Him round

512

A globe
²¹¹⁷
of fiery Seraphim enclosed

513

With bright emblazonry,
²¹¹⁸
and horrent
²¹¹⁹
arms.

514

Then of their session ended they bid cry,
²¹²⁰

515

With trumpet’s regal
²¹²¹
sound, the great result.

516

Toward the four winds four speedy Cherubim

517

Put to their mouths the sounding
²¹²²
alchemy,
²¹²³

518

By herald’s voice explained. The hollow abyss

519

Heard far and wide, and all the host of Hell

520

With deaf ’ning shout returned
²¹²⁴
them loud acclaim.

521

Thence more at ease their minds, and somewhat raised

522

By false presumptuous hope, the rangèd
²¹²⁵
Powers

523

Disband and, wand’ring, each his several way

524

Pursues, as inclination or sad choice

525

Leads him, perplexed,
²¹²⁶
where he may likeliest find

526

Truce to his restless thoughts, and entertain