BOOK I. PARADISE LOST. To wage by force or guile eternal war, Irreconcileable to our grand foe ; Who now triumphs, and in th' excels of joy Sole reigning holds the tyranny of heav'n. So tpak, the apottate Angel, though in pain ; 125 Vaunting aloud, but rack'd with deep del-pair : And him thus anfwer'd loon his hold compeer. 0 Prince, 0 Chief of many throned Powers, That led th' imbattel'd Seraphim to war Under thy conduit, and in dreadful deeds Fearlefs, endanger'd heav'n's perpetual King, And put to proof his high fupremacy ; Whether upheld by ftrength, or chance, or fate, Too well I fee and rue the dire event, That with fad overthrow and foul defeat Hath loft us heav'n, and all this mighty holt In horrible dettrudion laid thus low, As far as Gods and heav'nly effences Can perith : For the mind and fpirit remains Invincible, and vigor loon returns, Though all our glory extind, and happy Rate Here lwallow'd up in endlefs mifery. But what if he our conqu'ror (whom I now Of force believe Almighty, fence no lets Than such could have o'er power'd fuch force as Haye left us this our tpirit and strength entire, Strongly to fuffer and fupport our pains ? That we may to fuffice his vengeful ire, Or do him mightier fervice, as his thralls By right of war, whate'er his butinefs be, Here the heart of hell to wot k in fire, Or do his errands in the gloomy Deep: What can it then avail, though yet we feel 135 140 [14-5 ours) 150 Strength
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