The suburb of their straw-built citadel,

New rubb'd with balm, expatiate and confer
Their state affairs. So thick the aery croud
Swarm'd and were ftraiten'd; till, the fignal given,
Behold a wonder! they but now who seem'd
In bigness to surpass earth's giant sons,
Now lefs than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room
Throng numberless, like that pygmean race
Beyond the Indian mount, or faery elves,
Whofe midnight revels by a forest fide
Or fountain fome belated peasant sees,
Or dreams he fees, while over-

er-head the moon

Sits arbitrefs, and nearer to the earth

Wheels her pale course, they on their mirth and dance
Intent, with jocund music charm his ear;

At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds.
Thus incorporeal Spi'rits to smallest forms
Reduc'd their fhapes immenfe, and were at large,
Though without number still amidst the hall
Of that infernal court. But far within,
And in their own dimenfions like themselves,
The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim
In close recefs and fecret conclave fat
A thousand Demi-gods on golden feats,
Frequent and full. After fhort filence then
And fummons read, the great confult began.

796

THE END OF THE FIRST BOOK,

The confultation begun, Satan debates whether another battel be to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven: Some advise it, others diffuade: A third propofal is preferr'd, mention'd before by Satan, to fearch the truth of that prophecy or tradition in Heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature equal or not much inferior to themfelves, 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 reft betake them feveral ways, and to feveral 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 fate there to guard them, by whom at length they are open'd, and difcover 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.

PARADISE LOST.

воок

II.

IGH on a throne of royal state, which far

H'

Out hone the wealth of Ormus and of Ind,
Or where the gorgeous east with richest hand
Show'rs on her kings barbaric pearl and gold,
Satan exalted fat, by merit rais'd

To that bad eminence; and from despair
Thus high uplifted beyond hope, afpires
Beyond thus high, infatiate to purfue

Vain war with Heav'n, and by fuccefs untaught
His proud imaginations thus display'd.

Pow'rs and Dominions, Deities of Heaven,
For fince no deep within her gulf can hold
Immortal vigor, though opprefs'd and fall'n,
I give not Heav'n for loft. From this descent
Celestial virtues rifing, will appear

More glorious and more dread than from no fall,.
And trust themselves to fear no fecond fate.
Me though just right, and the fix'd laws of Heaven
Did first create your leader, next free choice,
With what befides, in counfel or in fight,
Hath been achiev'd of merit, yet this lofs
Thus far at least recover'd, hath much more
Establish'd in a fafe unenvied throne,

D 2

5

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Yielded