These past, if any pass, the void profound
Of uial Night receives him
Wide gaping, and with utter loss of being [ 440 ]
Threatens him, plungd in that abortive gulf.
If thence he scape into whatever world,
Or unknion, what remains him less
Then unknown dangers and as hard escape.
But I should ill bee this Throne, O Peers, [ 445 ]
And this Imperial Sovranty, adornd
With splendor, armd with power, if aught proposd
And judgd of publient, in the shape
Of difficulty or danger could deterr
Mee from attempting. Wherefore do I assume [ 450 ]
These Royalties, and not refuse tn,
Refusing to accept as great a share
Of hazard as of honour, due alike
To him whns, and so mu due
Of hazard more, as he above the rest [ 455 ]
High honourd sits? Go therefore mighty Powers,
Terror of Heavn, though falln; intend at home,
While here shall be our home, what best may ease
The present misery, and render Hell
More tollerable; if there be cure or charm [ 460 ]
To respite or deceive, or slack the pain
Of this ill Mansion: i no watch
Against a wakeful Foe, while I abroad
Through all the Coasts of dark destru seek
Deliverance for us all: this enterprize [ 465 ]
None shall partake with me. Thus saying rose
The Monarch, and prevented all reply,
Prudent, least from his resolution raisd
Others among the chief might offer now
(Certain to be refusd) what erst they feard; [ 470 ]
And so refusd might in opinion stand
His Rivals, winning cheap the high repute
Which he through hazard huge must earn. But they
Dreaded not more th advehen his voice
Forbidding; and at oh him they rose; [ 475 ]
Thir rising all at once was as the sound
Of Thunder heard remote. Towards him they bend
With awful reverence prone; and as a God
Extoll him equal to the highest in Heavn:
Nor faild they to express how much they praisd, [ 480 ]
That for the general safety he despisd
His own: for her do the Spirits damnd
Loose all thir vertue; least bad men should boast
Thir specious deeds oh, which glory excites,
Or bition varnisht ore with zeal. [ 485 ]