22 PARADISE LOST: Boom Self-rais'd, and re-poffefs their native feat ? For me be witnefs all the hoa of heav'n, 635 If couple's different, or danger fhun'd By me, have loft our hopes : but he who reigns Monarch in heav'n, 'till then as one fecure Sate on his throne, upheld by old repute, Confent or cuflom, and his regal fhte 640 Put forth at full, but Rill his arength conceard, Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall. Henceforth his might we know, and know our own ; So as not either to provoke, or dread New war, provok'd our better part remains 645 To work in dole deign, by fraud or guile, What force effeded not : that lie no lets At length from us may find, who overcomes By force, bath overcome but half his foe, Space may produce new worlds; whereof fo rife 650 There went a fame in heav'n, that he ere long Intended to create; and therein plant A generation, whom his choice regard Should favour equal to the fons of heav'n : Thither, if but to pry, than be perhaps 655 Our fiat eruption, thither or elfewhere : For this infernal pit (hall never hold Cceleflial fpirits in bondage, nor th' Abyfs Long under darknels cover. But thefe thoughts Full counfel mull mature : peace is defpair'd, 660 For who can think iuhtniffion ? war then, war Open or underftood mutt be refolv'd. He fpake : and to confirm his words out-flew Millions of flaming fwords, drawn from the thighs Of mighty Cherubim : the fudden blaze 665 Far round illumin'd hell ; highly they rag'd Againft the Highea, and fierce with grafped arms
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