Well have ye judgd, well ended loe, [ 390 ]
Synod of Gods, and like to what ye are,
Great things resolvd; which from the lowest deep
Will once more lift us up, in spight of Fate,
Neerer our a Seat; perhaps in view
Of those bright fines, wheh neighb Arms [ 395 ]
And opportune excursion we may ce
Re-enter Heavn; or else in some milde Zone
Dwell not unvisited of Heavns fair Light
Secure, and at the brightning Orient beam
Purge off this gloom; the soft delicious Air, [ 400 ]
To heal the scarr of these corrosive Fires
Shall breath her balme. But first whom shall we send
In search of this new world, whom shall we find
Suffit? who shall tempt with wandri
The dark unbottomd infinite Abyss [ 405 ]
And through the palpable obscure find out
His uncouth way, or spread his aerie flight
Upborn with iigable wings
Over the vast abrupt, ere he arrive
The happy Ile; what strength, what art then [ 410 ]
Suffice, or what evasion bear him safe
Through the strict Senteries and Stations thick
Of Angels watg round? Here he had need
All circumspe, and we now no less
Choi our suffrage; for on whom we send, [ 415 ]
The weight of all and our last hope relies.
This said, he sat; and expectation held
His look suspence, awaiting eerd
To sed, or oppose, or uake
The perilous attempt; but all sat mute, [ 420 ]
P the danger with deep thoughts; and each
In others tnance read his own dismay
Astonisht: none among the choid prime
Of those Heavn-warring Champions could be found
So hardie as to proffer or accept [ 425 ]
Alohe dreadful voyage; till at last
Satan, whom now transdent glory raisd
Above his fellows, with Monarchal pride
scious of highest worth, unmovd thus spake.
eny of Heavn, Empyreal Thrones, [ 430 ]
With reason hath deep silend demurr
Seisd us, though undismaid: long is the way
And hard, that out of Hell leads up to light;
Our prison strong, this huge vex of Fire,
eous to devour, immures us round [ 435 ]
Ninefold, and gates of burning Adamant
Barrd over us prohibit all egress.