Boox I. PARADISE LOST. What matter where, if I be flill the fame, And what I fhould be, all but leis than he Whom thunder hath made greater ? here at !tail We (hall be free ; th' Almighty bath not built Here for his envy ; will not drive us hence : 260 Here we may reign fecure ; and in my choice To reign is worth ambition, tho' in hell Better to reign in hell, than ferve in heav'n. B,it wherefore let we then our faithful friends, Th' officiates and copartners of our lois, 2 s- Lye thus aftonifh'd on th' oblivious pool, And call them not to (hare with us their part In this unhappy manfion, or once more With rallied arms to try what may be yet R.egain'd in heav'n, or what more loft in hell ? 270, So Satan fpake, and him Beelzebub Thus anfwer'd : Leader of thole armies bright, Which but th' Omnipotent none could have foil'd, If once they hear that voice, their livelieft pledge Of hope in fears and dangeis, heard fo oft 275 In wort extremes, and on the perilous edge Of battel when it rag'd, in all afLults Their fureft fignal, they will loon refume New courage and revive, tho' now they lye Grov'iing and profirate on yon lake of fire, 280 As we ere while aflounded and amaz'd, No wonder, faln fuch a pernicious height. He fcarce had ceased when the fuperior fiend Was moving tow'cd the fhore ; his pond'rous ibield, Ethereal temper, maffie, large and round, 285 Behind him calf ; the broad circumference Hung on his fhoulders like the Moon, whofe orb Thro' optic glafs the Tufcan artift views At
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