There rest, if any rest can harbour there,And reassembling our afflicted Powers,Consult how we may henceforth most offendOur Enemy, our own loss how repair,How overcome this dire Calamity,
[190]
What reinforcement we may gain from Hope,If not what resolution from despare.Thus Satan talking to his neerest MateWith Head up-lift above the wave, and EyesThat sparkling blaz'd, his other Parts besidesProne on the Flood, extended long and largeLay floating many a rood, in bulk as hugeAs whom the Fables name of monstrous size,Titanian, or Earth-Born, that warr'd on Jove,Briarios or Typhon, whom the Den
[200]
By ancient Tarsus held, or that Sea-beastLeviathan, which God of all his worksCreated hugest that swim th' Ocean stream:Him haply slumbring on the Norway foamThe Pilot of some small night-founder'd Skiff,Deeming some Island, oft, as Sea-men tell,With fixed Anchor in his skaly rindMoors by his side under the Lee, while NightInvests the Sea, and wished Morn delayes:So stretcht out huge in length the Arch-fiend lay
[210]
Chain'd on the burning Lake, nor ever thenceHad ris'n or heav'd his head, but that the willAnd high permission of all-ruling HeavenLeft him at large to his own dark designs,That with reiterated crimes he mightHeap on himself damnation, while he soughtEvil to others, and enrag'd might seeHow all his malice serv'd but to bring forthInfinite goodness, grace and mercy shewnOn Man by him seduc't, but on himself
[220]
Treble confusion, wrath and vengeance pour'd.Forthwith upright he rears from off the PoolHis mighty Stature; on each hand the flamesDrivn backward slope their pointing spires, & rowldIn billows, leave i'th' midst a horrid Vale.Then with expanded wings he stears his flightAloft, incumbent on the dusky AirThat felt unusual weight, till on dry LandHe lights, if it were Land that ever burn'dWith solid, as the Lake with liquid fire;
[230]
And such appear'd in hue, as when the forceOf subterranean wind transports a HillTorn from Pelorus, or the shatter'd sideOf thundring Aetna, whose combustibleAnd fewel'd entrals thence conceiving Fire,Sublim'd with Mineral fury, aid the Winds,And leave a singed bottom all involv'dWith stench and smoak: Such resting found the soleOf unblest feet. Him followed his next Mate,Both glorying to have scap't the Stygian flood
[240]
As Gods, and by their own recover'd strength,Not by the sufferance of supernal Power.Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime,Said then the lost Arch Angel, this the seatThat we must change for Heav'n, this mournful gloomFor that celestial light? Be it so, since heeWho now is Sovran can dispose and bidWhat shall be right: fardest from him is bestWhom reason hath equald, force hath made supreamAbove his equals. Farewel happy Fields