第7章 6

Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt, Unnamd in Heavn, now plenteous, as thou seest These Acts of hateful strife, hateful to all, Though heaviest by just measure on thy self [ 265 ] And thy adherents: how hast thou disturbd Heavns blessed peace, and into Nature brought Miserie, uncreated till the crime

Of thy Rebellion? how hast thou instilld Thy malice into thousands, once upright [ 270 ] And faithful, now provd false. But think not here To trouble Holy Rest; Heavn casts thee out From all her Confines. Heavn the seat of bliss Brooks not the works of violence and Warr. Hence then, and evil go with thee along [ 275 ]

Thy ofspring, to the place of evil, Hell, Thou and thy wicked crew; there mingle broiles, Ere this avenging Sword begin thy doome, Or som more sudden vengeance wingd from God Precipitate thee with augmented paine. [ 280 ] So spake the Prince of Angels; to whom thus The Adversarie. Nor think thou with wind

Of airie threats to aw whom yet with deeds Thou canst not. Hast thou turnd the least of these To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise [ 285 ] Unvanquisht, easier to transact with mee That thou shouldst hope, imperious, and with threats To chase me hence? erre not that so shall end

The strife which thou callst evil, but wee style The strife of Glorie: which we mean to win, [ 290 ] Or turn this Heavn it self into the Hell Thou fablest, here however to dwell free, If not to reign: mean while thy utmost force, And join him namd Almighty to thy aid, I flie not, but have sought thee farr and nigh. [ 295 ]

They ended parle, and both addresst for fight Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue Of Angels, can relate, or to what things Liken on Earth conspicuous, that may lift Human imagination to such highth [ 300 ] Of Godlike Power: for likest Gods they seemd, Stood they or movd, in stature, motion, arms

Fit to decide the Empire of great Heavn.