Read The Annotated Milton: Complete English Poems for Free Online Page B

this arm, so late 1450
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Doubted 1451 His empire: that were low indeed
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That were an ignominy and shame beneath
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This downfall, since, by fate, the strength of gods
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And this empyreal 1452 substance, cannot fail
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Since, through experience of this great event
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In arms not worse, in foresight 1453 much advanced, 1454
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We may with more successful hope resolve
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To wage by force or guile eternal war
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Irreconcilable to our grand foe
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Who now triumphs, and in th’ excess of joy
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Sole reigning holds the tyranny of Heav’n.”
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    So spoke th’ apostate Angel, though in pain
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Vaunting 1455 aloud, but racked with deep despair
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And him thus answered, soon, his bold compeer: 1456
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    “O Prince, O chief of many thronèd Powers 1457
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That led th’ embattled Seraphim 1458 to war
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Under thy conduct 1459 and, in dreadful deeds
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Fearless, endangered Heav’n’s perpetual 1460 King
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And put to proof 1461 His high supremacy
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Whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate
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Too well I see and rue 1462 the dire event
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That, with sad overthrow and foul defeat
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Hath lost us Heav’n, and all this mighty host
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In horrible destruction laid thus low
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As far as gods and Heav’nly Essences 1463
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Can perish—for the mind and spirit remains
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Invincible, 1464 and vigor soon returns
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Though all our glory extinct, and happy state
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Here swallowed up in endless misery
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But what if He our conqueror (whom I now
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Of force 1465 believe almighty, since no less
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Than such could have o’erpowered such force as ours
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Have left us this our spirit and strength entire, 1466
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Strongly to suffer 1467 and support 1468 our pains
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That we may so suffice 1469 His vengeful ire
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Or do Him mightier service as His thralls 1470
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By right of war, whate’er His business be,
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Here in the heart of Hell to work in fire
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Or do His errands in the gloomy deep
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What can it then avail, though yet we feel
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Strength undiminished, or eternal being
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To undergo eternal punishment
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Whereto with speedy words th’ arch-fiend replied
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    “Fall’n Cherub, to be weak is miserable
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Doing or suffering. But of this be sure
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To do aught 1471 good never will be our task
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But ever to do ill our sole delight
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As being the contrary to His high will
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Whom we resist. If then His providence
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Out of our evil seek to bring forth good
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Our labor must be to pervert that end
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And out of good still 1472 to find means of evil
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Which oft-times may succeed so as, perhaps
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Shall grieve Him, if I fail not, and disturb 1473
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His inmost counsels 1474 from their destined 1475 aim
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    “But see! the angry victor hath recalled
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His ministers of vengeance and pursuit
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Back to the gates of Heav’n. The sulphurous hail
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Shot after us in storm 1476 o’erblown, hath laid 1477
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The fiery surge 1478 that from the precipice
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Of Heav’n received us falling, and the thunder
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Winged with red lightning and impetuous rage
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Perhaps hath spent his shafts, and ceases now
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To bellow through the vast and