After the tempest. Such applause was heard
As Mammon ended, and his sentence pleased,
Advising peace; for such another field

They dreaded worse than Hell: so much the fear
Of thunder and the sword of Michaël

290

Wrought still within them; and no less desire

295

To found this nether empire, which might rise
By policy and long process of time,
In emulation opposite to Heav'n:

Which when Beelzebub perceived, than whom,
Satan except, none higher sat, with grave
Aspéct he rose, and in his rising seem'd
A pillar of state: deep on his front engraven
Deliberation sat and public care;

And princely counsel in his face yet shone,
Majestic though in ruin: sage he stood,
With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear

300

305

294. Michael: A holy angel, who, in the Book of Daniel, chap. x. 3-21, is represented as having charge of the Jewish nation; and, in the book of Jude, verse 9, as contending with Satan about the body of Moses. His name is introduced also in Rev. xii. 7-9.

296. Nether: Lower.

299. Beelzebub: This evil spirit, who is reckoned the second in dignity that fell, and is, in the First Book, the second that awakes out of the trance, and confers with Satan upon the situation of their affairs, maintains his rank in the Book now before us. There is a wonderful majesty exhibited in his rising up to speak. He acts as a kind of moderator between the two opposite parties, and proposes a third undertaking, which the whole assembly approves. The motion he makes to detach one of their body in search of a new world, is grounded uopn a project devised by Satan, and cursorily proposed by him, in the First Book, 650–660.

It is on this project that Beelzebub grounds his proposal

"What, if we find," &o.

Book II. 344-353.

It may be observed how just it was, not to omit in the First Book, the project upon which the whole poem turns; as, also, that the prince of the fallen angels was the only proper person to give it birth, and that the next to him in dignity was the fittest to second and support it.

306. Atlantean: An allusion to King Atlas, who, according to ancient mythology, was changed into a mountain on the northern coast of Africa, which, from its great height, was represented as supporting the atmosphere.

The weight of mightiest monarchies; his look
Drew audience and attention still as night

Or summer's noon-tide air, while thus he spake :

Thrones and Imperial Powers, Offspring of Heav'n Ethereal Virtues; or these titles now

310

Must we renounce, and changing style be call'd

Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote

Inclines here to continue, and build up here

A growing empire; doubtless, while we dream,

315

And know not that the King of Heav'n hath doom'd

This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat

Beyond his potent arm, to live exempt

From Heav'n's high jurisdiction, in new league

Banded against his throne, but to remain

320

In strictest bondage, though thus far removed,
Under th' 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 lose no part
By our revolt; but over Hell extend
His empire, and with iron sceptre rule
Us here, as with his golden those in Heav'n.
What sit we then projecting peace and war?
War hath determined us, and foil'd with loss
Irreparable: terms of peace yet none

325

330

Vouchsafed or sought: for what peace will be giv'n

336. But to: But according to. The word but in this line, and in line 333, is used with a poetic freedom, somewhat as the word except is employed in line 678.

In doing what we most in suff'ring feel?

340

Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need

With dang'rous expedition to invade

Heav'n, whose high walls fear no assault or siege,

Or ambush from the deep. What if we find

Some easier enterprise? There is a place,

345

(If ancient and prophetic fame in Heav'n

Err not) another world, the happy seat

Of some new race call'd Man, about this time

To be created like to us, though less

In pow'r and excellence, but favour'd more

350

Of Him who rules above; so was his will

Pronounced among the Gods, and by an oath,

That shook Heav'n's whole circumference, confirm❜d.
Thither let us bend all our thoughts, to learn
What creatures there inhabit, of what mould
Or substance, how endued, and what their pow'r,
And where their weakness; how attempted best,
By force or subtlety. Though Heav'n be shut,
And Heav'n's high Arbitrator sit secure
In his own strength, this place may lie exposed.
The utmost border of his kingdom, left
To their defence who hold it. Here perhaps

355

360

346. Fame in Heaven: There is something wonderfully beautiful, and very apt to affect the reader's imagination, in this ancient prophecy, or report in Heaven, concerning the creation of man. Nothing could better show the dignity of the species, than this tradition respecting them before their existence. They are represented to have been the talk of Heaven before they were created.-A.

352. Heb. vi. 17. An allusion, also, to Jupiter's oath. Virg. Æn. ix. 104, Hom. Iliad, i. 528.

360. It has been objected that there is a contradiction between this part of Beelzebub's speech and what he says afterwards, speaking of the same thing; but, in reply, it may be observed, that his design is different in these different speeches. In the former, where he is encouraging the assembly to undertake an expedition against this world, he says things to lessen the difficulty and danger; but in the latter, when they are seeking a proper person to perform it, he says things to magnify the danger, in order to make them more cautious in their choice.-N.

Some advantageous act may be achieved
By sudden onset, either with Hell fire

To waste his whole creation, or possess

365

All as our own, and drive, as we were driv'n,

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

370

In our confusion, and our joy upraise

In his disturbance; when his darling sons,

Hurl'd headlong to partake with us, shall curse

Their frail original and faded bliss,

375

Faded so soon. Advise if this be worth
Attempting, or to sit in darkness here
Hatching vain empires. Thus Beelzebub
Pleaded his dev'lish counsel, first devised
By Satan, and in part proposed: for whence,
But from the author of all ill, could spring
So deep a malice, to confound the race

380

Of mankind in one root, and Earth with Hell
To mingle and involve, done all to spite
The great Creator? But their spite still serves

385

His glory to augment. The bold design
Pleased highly those infernal States, and joy
Sparkled in all their eyes. With full assent
They vote; whereat his speech he thus renews:
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

390

Of those bright confines, whence with neighb'ring arms 395

367. Puny: Newly-created; derived from the French expression, puis né,

born since. The idea of feebleness is involved.

382. Confound: Overthrow, destroy.

393. Fate: The decree of God.

And opportune excursion, we may chance
Re-enter Heav'n; or else in some mild zone
Dwell not unvisited of Heav'n's fair light
Secure, and at the bright'ning orient beam
Purge off this gloom: the soft delicious air,

400

To heal the scar of these corrosive fires,

Shall breathe her balm. But first, whom shall we send

In search of this new world? whom shall we find

The happy isle? What strength, what art, can then

410

Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe

Through the strict senteries and stations thick

Of Angels watching round? Here he had need
All circumspection, and we now no less
Choice in our suffrage; for on whom we send,
The weight of all and our last hope relies.

415

This said, he sat; and expectation held His look suspense, awaiting who appear'd To second or oppose, or undertake

The perilous attempt: but all sate mute

420

Pond'ring the danger with deep thoughts; and each
In other's count'nance read his own dismay

404. 'Tempt: Try.

405. Obscure: Obscurity, an adjective being used for a substantive.

409. Arrive: Arrive at.

410. Isle: The earth is so called because surrounded by an atmospheric ea; or, perhaps, because swimming in space.

412. Had need: Would need, as in the phrase "You had better go." The meaning is, "You would better go"-" It would be better for you to go." 414. All: The greatest.

415. Choice: Judgment or care in choosing.

417. Expectation is here personified. His looks suspense means, His countenance in a fixed, serious position. Compare Virg. Æn. ii. 1.