Boox II. PARADISE LOST. Tim'rous and flothful : yet he pleas'd the ear, And with pertuafive accent thus began, I fhould be much for open war, 0 Peers, As not behind in hate, if what was urg'd 120 Main redfon to perfuade itninecliate war, Did not diffuade me mot}, and Teem to caft Ominous conjecture on the whole foccefs ; When he who mott excels in fad of arms, In what he counfeis, and in what excels, 125 Miftruftful, grounds his courage on defpair, And utter difFolution, as the fcope Of all his aim, after fame dire revenge. Firff, what revenge ? the tow'rs of heav'n are fill'd With armed watch, that render all accefs 130 Impregnable ; oft on the bordering Deep Encamp their legions, or with oblcure wing Scout far and wide into the realm of night, Scorning furprize. Or could we break our way By force, and at our heels all hell thould rife 135 With blackelt infurrettion, to confound Heav'n's pureft light ; yet our great enemy All incorruptible would on his throne Sit unpolluted ; and th' ethereal mold Incapable of thin, would loon expel 144 Her mifchief, and purge off the baler fire Victorious. Thus repuls'il, our final hope Is flat defpair: we mutt exafperate Th' Almighty Victor to fpend all his rage, And that mutt end us, that mutt be our cure 145 To be no more: fad cure! for who would tole, Though full of pain, this intelleCtual being, Thote thoughts that wander through eternity, To perith rather, fwallow'd up and loft In the wide womb of uncreated night, iso Devoid 33
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