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Book 2.
Paradiſe Loſt.
Mee though juſt right, and the fixt Laws of Heav’n
Did firſt create your Leader, next, free choice,
With what beſides, in Counſel or in Fight, 20
Hath bin achievd of merit, yet this loſs
Thus farr at leaſt recover’d, hath much more
Eſtabliſht in a ſafe unenvied Throne
Yeilded with full conſent. The happier ſtate
In Heav’n, which follows dignity, might draw
Envy from each inferior; but who here
Will envy whom the higheſt place expoſes
Foremoſt to ſtand against the Thunderers aime
Your bulwark, and condemns to greateſt ſhare
Of endleſs pain? where there is then no good 30
For which to ſtrive, no ſtrife can grow up there
From Faction: for none ſure will claim in hell
Precedence, none, whoſe portion is ſo ſmall
Of preſent pain, that with ambitious mind
Will covet more. With this advantage then
To union, and firm Faith, and firm accord,
More than can be in Heavn, we now return
To claim our juſt inheritance of old,
Surer to proſper than proſperity
Could have aſſur’d us; and by what beſt way, 40
Whether of open Warr or covert guile,
We now debate; who can adviſe may ſpeak.
He ceas’d, and next him Moloc, Scepter’d King
Stood up, the ſtrongeſt and the fierceſt Spirit
That fought in Heav’n; now fiercer by deſpair:
His truſt was with th’ Eternal to be deem’d
Equal in ſtrength, and rather than be leſs
Car’d not to be at all; with that care loſt
Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worſe,
Did firſt create your Leader, next, free choice,
With what beſides, in Counſel or in Fight, 20
Hath bin achievd of merit, yet this loſs
Thus farr at leaſt recover’d, hath much more
Eſtabliſht in a ſafe unenvied Throne
Yeilded with full conſent. The happier ſtate
In Heav’n, which follows dignity, might draw
Envy from each inferior; but who here
Will envy whom the higheſt place expoſes
Foremoſt to ſtand against the Thunderers aime
Your bulwark, and condemns to greateſt ſhare
Of endleſs pain? where there is then no good 30
For which to ſtrive, no ſtrife can grow up there
From Faction: for none ſure will claim in hell
Precedence, none, whoſe portion is ſo ſmall
Of preſent pain, that with ambitious mind
Will covet more. With this advantage then
To union, and firm Faith, and firm accord,
More than can be in Heavn, we now return
To claim our juſt inheritance of old,
Surer to proſper than proſperity
Could have aſſur’d us; and by what beſt way, 40
Whether of open Warr or covert guile,
We now debate; who can adviſe may ſpeak.
He ceas’d, and next him Moloc, Scepter’d King
Stood up, the ſtrongeſt and the fierceſt Spirit
That fought in Heav’n; now fiercer by deſpair:
His truſt was with th’ Eternal to be deem’d
Equal in ſtrength, and rather than be leſs
Car’d not to be at all; with that care loſt
Went all his fear: of God, or Hell, or worſe,
He
