Chapter 3 2

O had his powerful Destiny ordained Me some inferior Angel, I had stood Then happy; no unbounded hope had raid [ 60 ] Ambition. Yet why not? som other Power As great might have aspird, and me though mean Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great Fell not, but stand unshakn, from within Or from without, to all temptations armd. [65] Hadst thou the same free Will and Power to stand? Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse, But Heavns free Love deal equally to all? Be then his Love accurst, since love or hate, To me alike, it deals eternal woe. [ 70 ] Nay cursd be thou; since against his thy will

Chose freely what it now so justly rues. Me miserable! which way shall I flie Infinite wrauth, and infinite despair? Which way I fly is Hell; my self am Hell; [ 75 ] And in the lowest deep a lower deep Still threatening to devour me opens wide, To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heavn. O then at last relent: is there no place Left for Repentance, none for Pardon left? [80] None left but by submission; and that word Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seduced With other promises and other vaults Then to submit, boasting I could subdue [ 85 ]

Th Omnipotent. Ay me, they little know How dearly I abide that boast so vaine, Under what torments inwardly I groane: While they adore me on the Throne of Hell, With Diadem and Scepter high advanced [ 90 ] The lower still I fall, only Supream In miserie; such joy Ambition finds. But say I could repent and could obtain By Act of Grace my former state; Would high recall high thoughts, how soon unsay [ 95 ] What feigned submission swore: ease would recant Vows made in pain, as violent and void. For never can true reconciliation grow Where wounds of deadly hate have peircd so deep:

Which would but lead me to a worse relapse [ 100 ] And heavier fall: so should I purchase deare Short intermission bought with double smart.