Chapter 4 3
Him after long debate, irresolute
Of thoughts revolved, his final sentence chose
Fit Vessel, fittest Imp of fraud, in whom
To enter, and his dark suggestions hide [ 90 ]
From sharpest sight: for in the wilie Snake,
Whatever sleights none would suspicious mark,
As from his wit and native suttletie
Proceeding, which in other Beasts observed
Doubt might beget of Diabolic powr [ 95 ]
Active within beyond the sense of brute.
Thus he resolvd, but first from inward grief
His bursting passion into plaints thus poured:
O Earth, how like to Heavn, if not preferred
More justly, Seat worthier of Gods, as built [ 100 ]
With second thoughts, reforming what was old!
For what God after better worse would build?
Terrestrial Heavn, danct round by other Heavns
That shine, yet bear thir bright official Lamps,
Light above Light, for thee alone, as seems, [ 105 ]
In thee concentring all thir precious beams
Of sacred influence: As God in Heavn
Is Center, yet extends to all, so thou
Centring recavst from all those Orbs; in thee,
Not in themselves, all thir known vertue appeers [ 110 ]
Productive in Herb, Plant, and nobler birth
Of Creatures animate with gradual life
Of Growth, Sense, Reason, all summd up in Man.
With what delight could I have walkt thee round,
If I could joy in aught, sweet interchange [ 115 ]
Of Hill, and Vallie, Rivers, Woods and Plaines,
Now Land, now Sea, and Shores with Forrest crown,
Rocks, Dens, and Caves; but I in none of these
Find place or refuge; and the more I see
Pleasures about me, so much more I feel [ 120 ]
Torment within me, as from the hateful siege
Of contraries; all good to me becomes
Bane, and in Heavn much worse would be my state.
But neither here seek I, no nor in Heavn
To dwell, unless by maistring Heavns Supreme; [ 125 ]
Nor hope to be my self less miserable
By what I seek, but others to make such
As I, though therefore worse to me redound:
For only in destroying I find ease
To my relentless thoughts; and him destroyed, [ 130 ]
Or won to what may work his utter loss,
For whom all this was made, all this will soon
Follow, as to him linkt in weal or woe,
In wo then: that destruction wide may range:
To me shall be the glory sole among [ 135 ]
The inner Powers, in one day to have marrd
What he Almightie styld, six Nights and Days
Continued making, and who knows how long
Before had bin contriving, though perhaps
Not longer then since I in one Night freed [ 140 ]
From servitude inglorious welnigh half
Th Angelic Name, and thinner left the throng
Of his admirers: hee to be avenged,
And to repair his numbers thus damaged,
Whether such vertue spent of old now failed [ 145 ]
More Angels to Create, if they are at least
Are his Created, or to spite us more,
Determine to advance into our room
A Creature formd of Earth, and him endow,
Exalted from so base original, [ 150 ]
With Heavnly spoils, our spoils: What he decreed
He effected; Man he made, and for him built
Magnificent this World, and Earth his seat,
Him Lord pronounced, and, O indignitie!