Disſdain forbids me, and my dread of ſhame
Among the ſpirits beneath, whom I ſeduc'd
With other promiſes and other vaunts
Then to ſubmit, boaſting I could ſubdue
Th' Omnipotent. Ay me, they little know
How dearly I abide that boaſt ſo vaine,
Under what torments inwardly I groane;
While they adore me on the Throne of Hell,
80With Diadem and Scepter high advanc'd
The lower ſtill I fall, onely Supream
In miſerie; ſuch joy Ambition findes.
But ſay I could repent and could obtaine
By Act of Grace my former ſtate; how ſoon
Would highth recal high thoughts, how ſoon unſay
What feign d ſubmiſſion ſwore: eaſe would recant
Vows made in pain, as violent and void.
For never can true reconcilement grow deep:
Where wounds of deadly hate have peirc'd ſo I
90Which would but lead me to a worſe relapſe,
And heavier fall: ſo ſhould I purchaſe deare
Short intermiſſion bought with double ſmart.
This knows my puniſher; therefore as farr
From granting hee, as I from begging peace:
All hope excluded thus, behold in ſtead
Of us out-caſt, exil'd, his new delight,
Mankind created, and for him this World.
So farwel Hope, and with Hope farwel Fear,
Farwel Remorſe: all Good to me is loſt;
100Evil be thou my Good; by thee at leaſt
Divided Empire with Heav'ns King I hold
By thee, and more then half perhaps will reigne;
As Man ere long, and this new World ſhall know.
Page:Paradise Lost (1667).djvu/112
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Book 4.
Paradiſe loſt.
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