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, ued till the crime
Of thy Rebellion? how hast thou instilld
Thy malito thousands, once upright [ 270 ]
And faithful, now provd false. But think not here
To trouble Holy Rest; Heavn casts thee out
From all her fines. Heavn the seat of bliss
Brooks not the works of violend Warr.
Hehen, and evil go with thee along [ 275 ]
Thy , 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 st 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 tn: 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 fht
Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue
Of Angels, relate, or to what things
Liken oh spicuous, 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.