Chapter 12 11
If your joynt power prevails, th affairs of Hell
No detriment need fear, go and be strong.
So saying he dismissed them, they with speed [ 410 ]
Thir course through thickest Constellations held
Spreading thir bane; the blasted Starrs look wan,
And Planets, Planet-strook, real Eclipses
Then suffered. Th other way Satan went down
The Causey to Hell Gate; on either side [ 415 ]
Disparted Chaos over built claimd,
And with rebounding surge the barrs assaild,
That scorned his indignation: through the Gate,
Wide open and unguarded, Satan passd,
And all about found desolate; for those [ 420 ]
Appointed to sit there, had left thir charge,
Flown to the upper World; the rest were all
Farr to the inland retreat, about the walls
Of Pandamonium, Citie and proud seate
Of Lucifer, so by allusion calld, [ 425 ]
Of that bright Starr to Satan paragond.
There kept thir Watch the Legions, while the Grand
In Council sate, sollicitous what chance
Might intercept thir Emperor sent, so hee
Departing gave command, and they observed. [ 430 ]
As when the Tartar from his Russian Foe
By Astracan over the Snowie Plains
Retires, or Bactrian Sophi from the hornes
Of Turkish Crescent, leaves all waste beyond
The Realm of Aladule, in his retreat [ 435 ]
To Tauris or Casbeen. So these the late
Heavn-banisht Host, left desert utmost Hell
Many a dark League, reduct in careful Watch
Round thir Metropolis, and now expecting
Each hour thir great adventurer from the search [ 440 ]
Of Forrein Worlds: he through the midst unmarkt,
In shew Plebeian Angel militant
Of lowest order, past; and from the dore
Of that Plutonian Hall, invisible
Ascended his high Throne, which under state [ 445 ]
Of richest texture spred, at th upper end
Was plact in regal lustre. Down a while
He sate, and round about him saw unseen:
At last as from a Cloud his fulgent head
And shape Starr bright appeerd, or brighter, clad [ 450 ]
With what permissive glory since his fall
Was left him, or false glitter: All amazed
At that so sudden blaze the Stygian throng
Bent thir aspect, and whom they wished beheld,
Thir mighty Chief return: loud was th acclaim: [ 455 ]
Forth rushed in haste the great consulting Peers,
Raisd from thir dark Divan, and with like joy
Congratulant approachd him, who with hand
Silence, and with these words attention won.