32 PARADISE LOST. BOOK II. Our ftronger, fame worfe way his wrath may find To our dettrudion : if there be in hell Fear to be worfe deftroy'd : what can be worfe 85 Than to dwell here, driv'n out from blifs, condemn'd In this abhorred deep to utter woe ; Where pain of inextinguifhable fire Mutt exercife us without hope of end, The vaffals of his anger, when the fcourge 90 Inexorable and the torturing hour Calls us to penance ? more deftroy'd than thus, We fliould be quite abolifhed and expire. What fear we then ? what doubt we to incenfe His utmoft ire ? which to the height enrag'd, 95 Will either quite confurne us, and reduce To nothing this elfential ; happier far, Than miferable to have eternal being. Or if our fubilance be indeed divine, And cannot ceafe to be, we are at worft Ice On this fide nothing ; and by proof we feel Our power futficient to difturb his heav'n, And with perpetual inroads to alarm, Though inacceffible, his fatal throne : Which, if not victory, is yet revenge. 105 He ended frowning, and his look denounc'd Defperate revenge, and battel dangerous To lets than Gods. On th' other fide up rote Belial, in at more graceful and humane. A fairer perfon loft not heav'n ; he feem'd 1.to For dignity compos'd and high exploit : But all was Palle and hollow ; though his tongue Dropt Manna, and could make the worfe appear The better reafon, to perplex and dafh Matureft counfels, for his thoughts were low : n5 To vice indutirious, but to nobler deeds Tim'rous
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