Him after loe, irresolute
Of thoughts revolvd, 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 suspiark,
As from his wit and native suttletie
Proceeding, whi other Beasts observd
Doubt might beget of Diabolic powr [ 95 ]
Active within beyond the sense of brute.
Thus he resolvd, but first from inward griefe
His bursting passion into plaints thus pourd:
O Earth, how like to Heavn, if not preferrd
More justly, Seat worthier of Gods, as built [ 100 ]
With sed thoughts, ref what was old!
For what God after better worse would build?
Terrestrial Heavn, danct round by other Heavns
That shine, yet bear thir bright officious Lamps,
Light above Light, for thee alone, as seems, [ 105 ]
In thee tring all thir precious beams
Of sacred influence: As God in Heavn
Is ter, yet extends to all, so thou
tring receavst from all those Orbs; in thee,
Not in themselves, all thir knowue 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 interge [ 115 ]
Of Hill, and Vallie, Rivers, Woods and Plaines,
Now Land, now Sea, and Shores with Forrest d,
Rocks, Dens, and Caves; but I in none of these
Find place e; and the more I see
Pleasures about me, so much more I feel [ 120 ]
Torment within me, as from the hateful siege
Of traries; all good to me bees
Bane, and in Heavn much worse would be my state.
But her here seek I, no nor in Heavn
To dwell, unless by maistring Heavns Supreame; [ 125 ]
Nor hope to be my self less miserable
By what I seek, but others to make such
As I, though thereby worse to me redound:
For onely iroying I find ease
To my relehoughts; and him destroyd, [ 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 destru wide may range:
To mee shall be the glorie sole among [ 135 ]
The infernal Powers, in one day to have marrd
What he Almightie styld, six Nights and Days
tinud making, and who knows how long
Before had bin triving, though perhaps
Not lohen since I in one Night freed [ 140 ]
From servitude inglorious welnigh half
Th Angeliame, and thinner left the throng
Of his adorers: hee to be avengd,
And to repaire his hus impaird,
Whether such vertue spent of old now faild [ 145 ]
More Ao Create, if they at least
Are his Created, or to spite us more,
Determind to advao our room
A Creature formd of Earth, and him endow,
Exalted from so base inal, [ 150 ]
With Heavnly spoils, our spoils: What he decreed
He effected; Man he made, and for him built
Magnifit this World, ah his seat,
Him Lord pronouncd, and, O indignitie!