， THE ARGUMENT ～ the consultation begun； satan debates whether another battel be to be hazarded for the recovery of heaven： some advise it； others dissuade： a third proposal is preferd； mentiond before by satan； to search the truth of that prophesie or tradition in heaven concerning another world； and another kind of creature equal or not much inferiour to themselves； about this time to be created： thir doubt who shall be sent on this difficult search： satan thir chief undertakes alone the voyage； is honourd and applauded。 the councel thus ended； the rest betake them several wayes and to several imployments； as thir inclinations lead them； to entertain the time till satan return。 he passes on his journey to hell gates； finds them shut； and who sat there to guard them； by whom at length they are opnd； and discover to him the great gulf between hell and heaven； with what difficulty he passes through； directed by chaos； the power of that place； to the sight of this new world which he sought。 m。 Paradise Lost Ⅱ1 。 high on a throne of royal state； which far outshon the wealth of ormus and of ind； or where the gorgeous east with richest hand showrs on her kings barbaric pearl and gold； satan exalted sat； by merit raisd ＇ 5 ＇ to that bad eminence； and from despair thus high uplifted beyond hope； aspires beyond thus high； insatiate to pursue vain warr with heavn； and by success untaught his proud imaginations thus displaid。 ＇ 10 ＇ powers and dominions； deities of heavn； for since no deep within her gulf can hold immortal vigor； though opprest and falln； i give not heavn for lost。 from this descent celestial vertues rising； will appear ＇ 15 ＇ more glorious and more dread then from no fall； and trust themselves to fear no second fate： mee though just right； and the fixt laws of heavn did first create your leader； next free choice； with what besides； in counsel or in fight； ＇ 20 ＇ hath bin achievd of merit； yet this loss thus farr at least recoverd； hath much more establisht in a safe unenvied throne yielded with full consent。 the happier state in heavn； which follows dignity； might draw ＇ 25 ＇ envy from each inferior； but who here will envy whom the highest place exposes formost to stand against the thunderers aim your bulwark； and condemns to greatest share of endless pain？ where there is then no good ＇ 30 ＇ for which to strive； no strife can grow up there from faction； for none sure will claim in hell precedence； none； whose portion is so small of present pain； that with ambitious mind will covet more。 with this advantage then ＇ 35 ＇ to union； and firm faith； and firm accord； more then can be in heavn； we now return to claim our just inheritance of old； surer to prosper then prosperity could have assurd us； and by what best way； ＇ 40 ＇ 。。 Paradise Lost Ⅱ2 小x说s网 whether of open warr or covert guile； we now debate； who can advise； may speak。 he ceasd； and next him moloc； scepterd king stood up； the strongest and the fiercest spirit that fought in heavn； now fiercer by despair： ＇ 45 ＇ his trust was with th eternal to be deemd equal in strength； and rather then be less cared not to be at all； with that care lost went all his fear： of god； or hell； or worse he reckd not； and these words thereafter spake。 ＇ 50 ＇ my sentence is for open warr： of wiles； more unexpert； i boast not： them let those contrive who need； or when they need； not now。 for while they sit contriving； shall the rest； millions that stand in arms； and longing wait ＇ 55 ＇ the signal to ascend； sit lingring here heavns fugitives； and for thir dwelling place accept this dark opprobrious den of shame； the prison of his tyranny who reigns by our delay？ no； let us rather choose ＇ 60 ＇ armd with hell flames and fury all at once ore heavns high towrs to force resistless way； turning our tortures into horrid arms against the torturer； when to meet the noise of his almighty engin he shall hear ＇ 65 ＇ infernal thunder； and for lightning see black fire and horror shot with equal rage among his angels； and his throne it self mixt with tartarean sulphur； and strange fire； his own invented torments。 but perhaps ＇ 70 ＇ the way seems difficult and steep to scale with upright wing against a higher foe。 let such bethink them； if the sleepy drench of that forgetful lake benumm not still； that in our proper motion we ascend ＇ 75 ＇ up to our native seat： descent and fall to us is adverse。 who but felt of late when the fierce foe hung on our brokn rear insulting； and pursud us through the deep； with what pulsion and laborious flight ＇ 80 ＇ we sunk thus low？ th ascent is easie then； th event is feard； should we again provoke our stronger； some worse way his wrath may find to our destruction： if there be in hell fear to be worse destroyd： what can be worse ＇ 85 ＇ then to dwell here； drivn out from bliss； condemnd in this abhorred deep to utter woe； 。。 Paradise Lost Ⅱ3 ，小，说，网 where pain of unextinguishable fire must exercise us without hope of end the vassals of his anger； when the scourge ＇ 90 ＇ inexorably； and the torturing hour calls us to penance？ more destroyd then thus we should be quite abolisht and expire。 what fear we then？ what doubt we to incense his utmost ire？ which to the highth enragd； ＇ 95 ＇ will either quite consume us； and reduce to nothing this essential； happier farr then miserable to have eternal being： or if our substance be indeed divine； and cannot cease to be； we are at worst ＇ 100 ＇ on this side nothing； and by proof we feel our power sufficient to disturb his heavn； and with perpetual inrodes to allarme； though inaccessible； his fatal throne： which if not victory is yet revenge。 ＇ 105 ＇ he ended frowning； and his look denouncd desperate revenge； and battel dangerous to less then gods。 on th other side up rose belial； in act more graceful and humane； a fairer person lost not heavn； he see