Chapter 17 17

Thrice he assayed, and thrice in spight of scorn, Tears such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last [ 620 ] Words interwove with sighs found out thir way. O Myriads of immortal Spirits, O Powers Matchless, but with th Almighty, and that strife Was not inglorious, though th event was dire, As this place testifies, and this dire change [ 625 ] Hateful to utter: but what power of mind Foreseeing or presaging, from the Depth Of knowledge past or present, could have feared, How such united force of Gods, how such As stood like these, could ever know repulse? [ 630 ] For who can yet believe, though after loss,

That all these puissant Legions, whose exile Hath emptied Heavn, shall fail to re-ascend Self-raisd, and repossess thir native seat? For me be witness all the Host of Heavn, [ 635 ] If counsels different, or danger shund By me, have lost our hopes. But he who reigns Monarch in Heavn, till then as one secure Sat on his Throne, upheld by old repute, Consent or custome, and his Regal State [ 640 ] Put forth at full, but still his strength concealed, Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall. Henceforth his might we know, and know our own So as not either to provoke, or dread

New warr, provokt; our better part remains [ 645 ] To work in close design, by fraud or guile What force effected not: that he no less At length from us may find, who overcomes By force, hath overcome but half his foe. Space may produce new Worlds; whereof so rife [ 650 ] There went a fame in Heavn that he ere long Intended to create, and therein plant A generation, whom his choice regards Should favor equal to the Sons of Heaven: Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps Our first eruption, thither or elsewhere: [ 655 ] For this Infernal Pit shall never hold Calestial Spirits in Bondage, north Abyss

Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts Full Counsel must mature: Peace is despair, [ 660 ] For who can think Submission? Warr then, Warr Open or understood must be resolvd.