Thus incorporeal Spirits to fmallest forms

Reduc'd their shapes immenfe, and were at large, 79*
Though without number still amidst the hall
Of that infernal court. But far within,
And in their own dimensions like themselves,

great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim

The great

In close recefs and fecret conclave fat
A thoufand Demi-gods on golden feats,
Frequent and full. After fhort filence then
And fummons read, the great confult began.

Carmina vel cœlo poffunt deducere lunam. Virg. Ecl. VIII. 69. 790. Reduc'd their fhapes immenfe, and were at large, &c.] Tho' numberless they had fo contracted their dimenfions, as to have room enough to be Au large (French) A largo (Italian) and be yet in the hall. So XI. 626.

Ere long to fwim at large.

Richardfon.

795. In clofe recefs and fecret conelave fat] It is not impro

795

bable that the poet might allude here to what is ftrictly and properly call'd the conclave; for it is certain that he had not a much better opinion of the one than of the other of thefe affemblies.

have in Latin frequens fenatus, 797. Frequent and full.] So we full houfe. And he makes ufe of the fame expreffion in English profe, "The afïembly was full and fre «quent according to fummons." See his Hiftory of England in the reiga of Edward the Confeffor.

The end of the First Book.

THE

SECOND BOOK

PARADISE LOS T.

THE ARGUMENT.

The confultation begun, Satan debates whether another battel be to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven: fome advise it, others diffuade: A third propofal is preferr'd, mention'd before by Satan, to search the truth of that prophecy or tradition in Heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature equal or not much inferior to themselves, about this time to be created: Their doubt who fhall be fent on this difficult fearch: Satan their chief undertakes alone the voyage, is honor'd and applauded. The council thus ended, the rest betake them several ways, and to several employments, as their inclinations lead them, to entertain the time till Satan return. He paffes on his journey to Hell gates, finds them fhut, and who fat there to guard them, by whom at length they are open'd, and discover to him the great gulf between Hell and Heaven; with what difficulty he paffes through, directed by Chaos, the Power of that place, to the fight of this new world which he fought.