O Prince, O Chief of many Droned Powers, That led the embattled Seraphim to War Under thy conduct, and in dreadful deeds Fearless, endangered Heavens perpetual King; And put to proof his sigh Supremacy, Whether upheld by strength, or Chance, or Fate, Too well I see and rue the dire event, That with sad overthrow and foul defeat Hath lost us Heaven, and all this mighty Host In horrible destruction laid thus low, As far as Gods and Heavenly Essences Can perish: for the mind and spirit remains Invincible, and vigour soon returns, Though all our Glory extinct, and happy state Here swallowed up in endless misery. But what if he our Conqueror, (whom I now Of force believe Almighty, since no less Then such could have overpowerd such force as ours) Have left us this our spirit and strength entire Strongly to suffer and support our pains, That we may so suffice his vengeful ire, Or do him mightier service as his thralls By right of War, what ever his business be Here in the heart of Hell to work in Fire, Or do his Errands in the gloomy Deep; What can it then avail though yet we feel Strength undiminished, or eternal being To undergo eternal punishment? Leader of those Armies bright, Which but the Omnipotent none could have foiled, If once they hear that voice, their liveliest pledge Of hope in fears and dangers, heard so oft In worst extremes, and on the perilous edge Of battle when it raged, in all assaults Their surest signal, they will soon resume New courage and revive, though now they lye Grovelling and prostrate on yon Lake of Fire, As we meanwhile, astounded and amazed, No wonder, fallen such a pernicious height. Thrones and Imperial Powers, off-spring of heaven Ethereal Virtues; or these Titles now Must we renounce, and changing stile be called Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote Inclines, here to continue, and build up here A growing Empire; doubtless; while we dream, And know not that the King of Heaven hath doomed This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat Beyond his Potent arm, to live exempt From Heavens high jurisdiction, in new League Banded against his Throne, but to remain In strictest bondage, though thus far removed, Under the inevitable curb, reserved His captive multitude: For he, be sure In height or depth, still first and last will Reign Sole King, and of his Kingdom loose no part By our revolt, but over Hell extend His Empire, and with Iron Sceptre rule Us here, as with his Golden those in Heaven. What sit we then projecting peace and War? War hath determined us, and foiled with loss Irreparable; terms of peace yet none Vouchsafed or sought; for what peace will be given To us enslaved, but custody severe, And stripes, and arbitrary punishment Inflicted? and what peace can we return, But to our power hostility and hate, Untamed reluctance, and revenge though slow, Yet ever plotting how the Conqueror least May reap his conquest, and may least rejoice In doing what we most in suffering feel? Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need With dangerous expedition to invade Heaven, whose high walls fear no assault or Siege, Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find Some easier enterprise? There is a place (if ancient and prophetic fame in Heaven Err not) another World, the happy seat Of some new Race called Man, about this time To be created like to us, though less In power and excellence, but favoured more Of him who rules above; so was his will Pronounced among the Gods, and by an Oath, That shook Heavens whole circumference, confirmed. Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn What creatures there inhabit, of what mould, Or substance, how endued, and what their Power, And where their weakness, how attempted best, By force or subtlety: Though Heaven be shut, And Heavens high Arbitrator sit secure In his own strength, this place may lye exposed The utmost border of his Kingdom, left To their defence who hold it: here perhaps Some advantageous act may be achieved By sudden onset, either with Hell fire To waste his whole Creation, or possess All as our own, and drive as we were driven, The puny habitants, or if not drive, Seduce them to our Party, that their God May prove their foe, and with repenting hand Abolish his own works. This would surpass Common revenge, and interrupt his joy In our Confusion, and our joy upraise In his disturbance; when his darling Sons Hurled headlong to partake with us, shall curse Their frail Original, and faded bliss, Faded so soon. Advise if this be worth Attempting, or to sit in darkness here Hatching vain Empires. Well have ye judged, well ended long debate, Synod of Gods, and like to what ye are, Great things resolved; which from the lowest deep Will once more lift us up, in spite of Fate, Nearer our ancient Seat; perhaps in view Of those bright confines, whence with neighbouring Arms And opportune excursion we may chance Re-enter Heaven; or else in some mild Zone Dwell not unvisited of Heavens fair Light Secure, and at the brightening Orient beam Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious Air, To heal the scarr of these corrosive Fires Shall breathe her balm. But first whom shall we send In search of this new world, whom shall we find Sufficient? who shall tempt with wandering feet The dark unbottomed infinite Abyss And through the palpable obscure find out His uncouth way, or spread his aerie flight Up-born with indefatigable wings Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive The happy Isle; what strength, what art can then Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe Through the strict Sentries and Stations thick Of Angels watching round? Here he had need All circumspection, and wee now no less Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send, The weight of all and our last hope relies.