I may assert eternal Providence, And justify the ways of God to men. Say first, for heav'n hides nothing from thy view, Nor the deep tract of hell; say first, what cause Mov'd our grand parents in that happy state, Favour'd of heaven so highly, to fall off From their Creator, and transgress his will For one restraint, lords of the world besides? Who first seduc'd them to that foul revolt? Th' infernal serpent; he it was, whose guile, Stirr'd up with envy and revenge, deceiv'd The mother of mankind, what time his pride Had cast him out from heaven, with all his host Of rebel angels, by whose aid aspiring To set himself in glory above his peers, He trusted to have equall'd the Most High, If he oppos'd; and with ambitious aim Against the throne and monarchy of God Rais'd impious war in heaven and battle proud, With vain attempt. Him the almighty Power Hurl'd headlong flaming from th' ethereal sky, With hideous ruin and combustion, down To bottomless perdition, there to dwell In adamantine chains and penal fire, Who durst defy th' Omnipotent to arms. 25 30 335 40 45 Nine times the space that measures day and night 50 33 Who] v. Hom. Il. i. 8. Hume. 48 adamantine] v. Spenser. chains.' See Todd's Note. 'Together link'd in adamantine To mortal men, he with his horrid crew A dungeon horrible, on all sides round 55 As one great furnace, flam'd; yet from those flames No light, but rather darkness visible Serv'd only to discover sights of woe, Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace 60 65 With ever-burning sulphur unconsum'd. 70 For those rebellious; here their prison ordain'd 75 63 darkness visible] v. Senecæ Ep. 57. de Crypt. Neapol. Nihil illis faucibus obscurius; quæ nobis præstant, ut non per tenebras videamus, sed ut ipsas.' Bentl. MS. 66 hope] Compare Jer. Taylor's Contemplations, p. 211, and see Todd's Note, p. 18. There the companions of his fall, o'erwhelm'd And thence in heav'n call'd Satan, with bold words 80 85 If thou beest he-But O how fall'n! how chang'd From him, who in the happy realms of light, Cloath'd with transcendent brightness, didst outshine Myriads, though bright! If he, whom mutual league, United thoughts and counsels, equal hope And hazard in the glorious enterprize, Join'd with me once, now misery hath join'd 90 From what height fall'n, so much the stronger prov'd Can else inflict, do I repent, or change, Though chang'd in outward lustre, that fix'd mind 85 Isaiah, xiv. 12. Virg. Æn. ii. 274. 'Hei mihi! qualis erat! quantum mutatus ab illo!" Newton. 95 100 98 high] Spens. F. Queen. b. i. c. i. s. 19. 'grief, and high disdain.' 1* That durst dislike his reign; and, me preferring, And shook his throne. What though the field be lost? And study of revenge, immortal hate We may with more successful hope resolve To wage by force or guile eternal war, Irreconcileable to our grand foe, So spake th' apostate angel, though in pain, 110 115 120 125 130 Fearless, endanger'd heaven's perpetual King, Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate; That with sad overthrow and foul defeat Can perish for the mind and spirit remains 160 But what if he our conqueror, (whom I now Of force believe almighty, since no less 135 140 Than such could have o'erpower'd such force as ours,) 150 131 perpetual] Consult Newton's note on the word 'perpetual.' 139 mind and spirit] So Satan in the Adamus Exsul of Grotius, p. 32, ed. Lauder. -Abstulit sortem Deus Quam potuit, animis pristinum mansit decus, Et cor, profunda providum sapientia ; Sunt reliqua nobis regna, sunt vires suæ, 140 Invincible] v. Æschyli Prometheus, ver. 1060. |