Chapter 2 1
O For that warning voice, which he who saw
Th Apocalyps, heard cry in Heaven aloud,
Then when the Dragon, put to second routine,
Came furious down to be revenged on men,
Wo to the inhabitants on Earth! that now, [ 5 ]
While time was, our first-Parents had bin warnd
The coming of thir secret foe, and scapd
Haply so scapd his mortal snare; for now
Satan, now first inflamed with rage, came down,
The Tempter ere th Accuser of man-kind, [ 10 ]
To wreck on innocent frail man his loss
Of that first Battel, and his flight to Hell:
Yet not rejoycing in his speed, though bold,
Far off and fearless, nor with cause to boast,
Begins his dire attempt, which night the birth [ 15 ]
Now rowling, boils in his tumultuous brest,
And like a devilish Engine back recoils
Upon himself; horror and doubt distract
His troubled thoughts, and from the bottom stirrr
The Hell within him, for within him Hell [ 20 ]
He brings, and round about him, nor from Hell
One step no more then from himself can fly
By change of place: Now conscience wakes despair
That slumberd, wakes the bitter memory
Of what he was, what is, and what must be [ 25 ]
Worse; of worse deeds worse sufferings must ensue.
Sometimes towards Eden which now in his view
Lay pleasant, his grievd look he fixes sad,
Sometimes towards Heavn and the full-blazing Sun,
Which now sat high in his Meridian Tower: [ 30 ]
Then much revolving, thus in sighs began.
O thou that with surpassing Glory crown,
Lookst from thy sole Dominion like the God
Of this new World; at whose sight all the Starrs
Hide thir diminished heads; to thee I call, [ 35 ]
But with no friendly voice, and add thy name
O Sun, to tell thee how I hate thy beams
That brings to my remembrance from what state
I fell, how glorious once above thy Spheare;
Till Pride and worse Ambition threw me down [ 40 ]
Warring in Heavn against Heavns matchless King:
Ah wherefore! he deserved no such return
From me, whom he created what I was
In that bright eminence, and with his good
Upbraided none; nor was his service hard. [ 45 ]
What could be less then to afford him praise,
The easiest recompence, and pay him thanks,
How due! yet all his good provd ill in me,
And wrought but malice; lifted up so high
I sdeind subjection, and thought one step higher [ 50 ]
Would set me highest, and in a moment quit
The debt enormous of endless gratitude,
So burthensome, still paying, still to ow;
Forgetful what from him I still receive,
And understood not that a grateful mind [ 55 ]
By owing owes not, but still pays, at once
Indebted and discharged; what burden then?