As he our darkness, ot we his Light
Imitate when we please? This Desart soile [ 270 ]
Wants not her hidden lustre, Gemms and Gold;
Nor want we skill or Art, from wheo raise
Magnifice; and what Heavn shew more?
Our torments also may ih of time
Bee our Elements, these pierg Fires [ 275 ]
As soft as now severe, our temper gd
Into their temper; which must needs remove
The sensible of pain. All things invite
To peaceful sels, and the settld State
Of order, how in safety best we may [ 280 ]
pose our present evils, with regard
Of what we are and were, dismissing quite
All thoughts of warr: ye have what I advise.
He scarce had finisht, when such murmur filld
Th Assembly, as when hollow Rocks retain [ 285 ]
The sound of blustring winds, which all night long
Had rousd the Sea, now with hoarse ce lull
Sea-faring mecht, whose Bark by ce
Or Pinnachors in a craggy Bay
After the Tempest: Such applause was heard [ 290 ]
As Mammon ended, and his Sentence pleasd,
Advising peace: for suother Field
They dreaded worse then Hell: so much the fear
Of Thunder and the Sword of Michael
Wrought still within them; and no less desire [ 295 ]
To found this her Empire, which might rise
By pollicy, and long process of time,
In emulation opposite to Heavn.
Which when Beelzebub perceivd, then whom,
Satan except, none higher sat, with grave [ 300 ]
Aspect he rose, and in his rising seemd
A Pillar of State; deep on his Front engraven
Deliberation sat and public care;
And Princely sel in his face yet shon,
Majestic though in ruin: sage he stood [ 305 ]
With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear
The weight of mightiest Monarchies; his look
Drew audiend attention still as Night
Or Summers Noon-tide air, while thus he spake.