Paradise Lost: Book 2 [Full Audiobook]

book 2 of Paradise Lost 2nd edition this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Thomas Copeland Paradise Lost book 2 by John Milton the argument the consultation begun Satan debates whether another battle be to be hazarded for the recovery of heaven some advise it others dissuade the third proposal is preferred mentioned before by Satan to search the truth of that prophecy or tradition in heaven concerning another world and another kind of preacher equal or much inferior to themselves about this time to be created the doubt who shall be sent on this difficult search Satan their chief undertakes alone the voyage is honored and applauded the counsel thus ended the rest we take them several ways and to several employments as their inclinations lead them to entertain the time till Satan return he passes on his journey to hell gates finds them shut and who sat there to guard them by whom at length they are opened and discovered to him the great gulf between hell and heaven with what difficulty he passes through directed by chaos the power of that place to the site of this new world which he saw note who shall be sent was who should be sent in 1669 high on a throne of royal state which far arch on the wealth of all mas' and deveined of where the gorgeous east with richest hand showers on her king's barbaric pearl and gold satan exalted sat by merit raised to that bad eminence and from despair thus high uplifted beyond hope aspired beyond thus high in satiate to pursue vain war with heaven and by success untaught his proud imaginations thus displayed powers and dominions deities of heaven for since no deep within her gulf can hold Mortal vigor though oppressed and fall I give not heaven for lost from this descent celestial virtues rising will appear more glorious and more dread than from no fall and trust themselves to fear no second fate me though just right tender fixed laws of heaven did first create your leader next free choice with what besides in Council or in fight have been achieved of merit yet this loss thus far least recovered hath much more established in a safe on envied throne yielded with full consent the happier state in heaven which follows dignity might draw envy from each inferior but who here will envy from the highest place exposes for most to stand against the thunders aim your bulwark and condemns to greatest share of endless pain where there is then no good for which to strive no strife can grow up there from faction or none sure will claim in hell precedence none whose portion is so small of present pain that with ambitious mind will covet more with this advantage then to Union and firm faith and firm Accord more than can be in heaven we now return to claim our just inheritance of old surer to prosper then prosperity could have assured us and by what best way whether of open war or cover guile we now debate who can advise may speak he ceased and next him Moloch sceptered King stood up the strongest and the fiercest spirit that fought in heaven now fiercer by despair his trust was with the ternal to be deemed equal in strength and rather than be less cared not to be at all with that care lost went all his fear of God or hell or worse he wrecked not and these words thereafter spake my sentences for open war of whiles more unexposed not them let those contrived who need but when they need not now for while they sit contriving each other rest millions that stand in arms and longing wait the signal to ascend sit lingering here heavens fugitives and for their dwelling place except this dark opprobrious den of shame the prison of his tyranny who reigns by our delay no let us rather choose armed with health flames and fury all at once or heavens high powers to force resist this way turning our torturers into horrid arms against the torturer when to meet the noise of his almighty engine he shall hear infernal thunder and for lightning see black fire and horror shocked with equal rage among his angels and his throne itself mixed with titorian sulfur and strange fire his own invented formats but perhaps the way seems difficult and steep to scale with up right wing against a higher foe that such pit think them if the sleepy drench of that forgetful lake mean I'm not still that in our proper motion we ascend up to our native seat descent and fall to us whose adverse who but felt of late when the fierce foe hung on our broken rear insulting and pursued us through the deep with what compulsion and laborious flight we sunk the slow the sin is easy then the event is feared should we again provoke our stronger some worse way his wrath may find to our destruction if there be in Hell fear to be worse destroyed what can worse than to dwell here driven out from bliss condemned in this abhorrent deep to utter world where pain of unextinguishable fire must exercise us without hope of end the vassals of his anger when the scourge inexorably and the torturing our calls us to penance more destroyed than us we should be quite abolished and expired what fear we then what don't we to incense his utmost ire which to the - raged will either quite consume us and reduced to nothing this essential happier far than miserable to have eternal being or if our substance be indeed divine and cannot cease to be we are at worst on this side nothing and by proof we feel our power sufficient to disturb his heaven and with perpetual inroads to alarm though inaccessible his fatal throne which if not victory is yet revenge he ended frowning and his look denounced desperate revenge and battle dangerous to less than God's on the other side of Rose beö enact more graceful and humane a fairer person lost not heaven he seemed for dignity composed and high exploit but all was false and Hollow though his tongue dropped manner and could make the worse appear the better reason to perplex and - maturity counsels for his thoughts were low to Vice industrious but a nobler deeds timorous and slothful yet he pleased the year and with persuasive accent thus began I should be much for open war of beards as not behind in hate if what was urged main reason to persuade immediate war did not dissuade me most and seemed to cast ominous conjecture on the whole success when he who most excel in fact of arms in what he counsels entered what excels mistrustful grounds his courage on despair and utter dissolution as the scope of all his aim after some dire revenge first what revenge the towers of heaven are filled with armored watch that render all excessive regnal after the bordering deep encamped their legions or with obscure winged scout far and wide into the realm of night scorning surprise or could we break our way by force and at our heels all hell should rise with blackest insurrection to confound heavens purest light yet our great enemy all incorruptible would on his throne sit on polluted and ethereal mole incapable of stain would soon expel her mischief and purge off the baser fire victorious thus repulsed our final hope is flat despair we must exasperate almighty victor to spend all his rage and that must end us that must be our cure to be no more sad cure for who lose though full of pain this intellectual beings those thoughts that wander through eternity to perish rather swallowed up and lost in a wide womb of uncreated night devoid of sense and motion and who knows let this be good whether our angry foe can give it or will ever how he can is doubtful but he never will is sure will he so wise let loose at once his ire be like through impotence or unaware to give his enemies their wish and end them in his anger whom his anger saves to punish endless wherefore cease within sedale council war we are decreed reserved and destined to eternal war whatever doing what can we suffer more what can we suffer worse is this then were thus sitting thus consulting thus in arms what when we fled a main pursued and struck with heavens afflicting Thunder and besought the deep to shelter us this hell then seemed a refuge from those wounds or when we lay chained on the burning lake that sure was worse what if the breath that kindled those grim fires awaked should blow them into Sevenfold rage and plunge us in the flames the war from above should intermitted vengeance armed again his red right hand plague us what if all her stores were open in this firmament of hell should spout her cataracts of fire impendent horrors threatening hideous fall one day upon our heads while we perhaps designing or exhorting glorious war caught in a fiery tempest shall be hurled each on his rock transfixed the sport and prey of wrecking were wins or forever sunk under yon boiling ocean wrapped in chains there to converse with everlasting groans unrest petit unpitied unrep reached a jazz of hopeless end this would be worse war therefore open or concealed alike my voice too sways but what can force or guile with him or who deceive his mind whose I've used all things at one view he from Heaven's heights all bees our motions vain sees and derides not more almighty to resist our might then wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles shall we then live thus vile the race of heaven lost trampled thus expelled to suffer here chains and these Commons better these than worse by my advice since fate inevitable subdues us and omnipotent decree the victors will to suffer as to do our strength is evil nor the law unjust that so are Danes this was at first resolved if you were wise against so great fo contending and so doubtful what might fall I laugh when those who had the spear are bold and Ventress if that failed them shrink and fear what if they know must follow to endure exile or ignominy or bonds of pain the sentence of their Conqueror this is now our doom which if we can sustain and bear our supreme foe in time may much remit his anger and perhaps the sparring mood not mine does not offending satisfied with what is punished whence these raging fires will slacken if his breaths turn off their flames our pure essence then will overcome their noxious vapor or a new would not feel or changed at length then to the place conformed in temper and in nature will receive familiar the fierce heat and void of pain this horror will grow mild this darkness light besides what hope the neverending flight to future days may bring what chance would change worth waiting since our present lot appears for happy Toba till for ill not worst if we procure not to ourselves more role thus Belial with words clothed in reasons garb counseled ignoble Eve's and peaceful slow not peace and after him thus Mammon's baked either to dissin throne the king of heaven we war if we'll be best or to regain our own right loss him to one throne we then may hope when everlasting faith shall yield to pickle chance and chaos judge the strife the former vain to hope argues as vain the latter for what place can be for us within heavens bound unless heavens lord supreme we overpower suppose he should relent and publish grace to all on promise made of new subjection with what eyes could we stand in his presence humble and received strict laws imposed to celebrate his throne with warble hymns and to his Godhead sing forced Alleluias while he Lord lease it's our envied sovereign and his altar breathes ambrosia odors and ambrosia flowers our servile offerings this must be our task in heaven this our delight how wearisome eternity so spent in worship paid to whom we hate let us not then pursue by force impossible by leave obtained an axe of table though in heaven our state of splendid vassalage but rather seek our own good from ourselves and from our own live to ourselves though in this vast recess free and are not accountable preferring hard Liberty before the easy yoke of servile palm our greatness will appear then most conspicuous when great things of small useful of hurtful prosperous of adverse we can create and in what place so air thrive under evil and work ease out of pain to labor and endurance this deep world of darkness do we dread how ah the midst thick clouds and dark the heavens all ruling sire choose to reside his glory unobscured and with the majesty of darkness round covers his throne from whence deep thunders roar mustering their rage and heaven resembles hell as he our darkness cannot we his light imitate when we please this desert soil once not her hidden lust gems and gold nor what we skill or art from whence to raise magnificence and what can heaven show more our comments also may in length of time become our eminence these piercing fires as soft as now severe our temper changed into their temper which must needs remove the sensible of pain all things invite to peaceful councils and the settled state of order how in safety best we may compose our present evils with regard of what we are and we're dismissing quite all thoughts of war he have what I advise he scarce had finished when such murmur filled assembly as when hollow rocks retain the sound of blustering winds which all night long had roused the sea now with horse cadence lull seafaring men or watched whose bark by chance or finis anchors in a craggy Bay after The Tempest such applause was heard as Mammon ended and a sentence please devising peace for such another field they dreaded worse than hell so much the fear of thunder and the sword of makyo rut still within them and no less desire to found this nether empire which might rise by policy and long process of time in emulation opposite to heaven which when bales above perceived than whom Satan except none higher sat with grave aspect eros and in his rising seemed a pillar of state deep on his front and graven deliberations at and public care and princely counsel in his face yet Shaun majestic though in ruin sage he stood with a plenty and shoulders fit to bear the weight of mightiest maracas his look drew audience and attention still as night door summers noontide air well thus spake Thrones and imperial powers offspring of heaven ethereal virtues all these titles now must be renounce and changing style be called princes of a hell for so the popular vote inclines here to continue and build up here a growing Empire doubtless while we dream and know not that the king of heaven hath doomed this place our dungeon not our safe retreat beyond his potent arm to live exempt from heavens high jurisdiction in new league banded against his throne but to remain in strictest bondage though thus far removed under the inevitable curb reserved his captive multitude for he be sure in height or depth still first and last will reign sole king and of his kingdom lose no part by our revolt but over he'll extend his empire and with iron scepter rule us here as with his golden those in heaven what's it we then projecting peace at war war have determined us and foil'd with loss irreparable terms of peace yet none vouchsafed or sought for what peace will be given to us and slave but custody severe and stripes and arbitrary punishment inflicted and what peace can we return but to our power hostility and hate untamed reluctance and revenge though slow yet ever plotting how the Conqueror least may reap his conquest and may least rejoice in doing what we most in suffering feel normal occasion want nor shall we need with dangerous expedition to invade evan whose high walls fear no assault or siege or ambush from the deep what if we find some easier Enterprise there is a place of ancient and prophetic Fame in heaven er not another world the happy seat of some new race called mad about this time to be created like to us though less in power and excellence but favored more of him who rules above so was his will pronounced among the gods and by an oak that shook heavens whole circumference confirmed whether let us spend all our thoughts to learn what creatures there inhabit of what mold or substance how in doomed and what their power and where their weakness how attempted best by force or subtlety though heaven be shot and heavens high arbitrator said secure in his own strength this place may lie expose the utmost border of his kingdom left to their defense who hold it here perhaps some advantageous act may be achieved by sudden onset EDA withheld fire to waste his whole creation or possess all as our own and drive as we were driven the puny habitants or if not dry seduced them to our party that their God may prove their fall and with repenting hand abolish his own works this would surpass common revenge and interrupt his joy in our confusion and our joy appraise in his disturbance when his darling sons hurled headlong to partake with us shall curse their frail originals and faded bliss faded so soon my wives have this be worth attempting or to sit in darkness here hatching vain empires thus veils above pleaded his devilish counsel first devised by Satan and in part proposed for whence but from the author of all ill could spring so deep a malice to confound the race of mankind in one root and earth with hell to mingle and involved done all just by the Great Creator but their spite still serves his glory to augment the bold design pleased highly those infernal states and joy sparkled in all their eyes with full ascent they vote we're at his speech he thus renews well have you judged well ended long debates in it of gods and like to what she are great things resolved which from the lowest deep will once more lift us up in spite of fate nearer our ancient seat perhaps in view of those dry confines whence with neighboring arms and opportune excursion we may chance reenter heaven or else in some mild zoned well not unvisited of heavens fair life secure and at the brightening orient beam purged off this gloom the soft delicious air to heal the scar of these corrosive fires shall breathe her balm but first whom shall we send in search of this new world whom shall we find sufficient who shall temp with wandering feet the dark unbuttoned infinite abyss and through the palpable obscure find out his uncouth way or spread his Airy flight are born with indefatigable wings over the vast abrupt air he arrived the happy Isle brought strength but art can then suffice for what evasion bear him safe through the strict sentries and stations thick of angels watching round here he had made all circumspection and we now no less choice in our suffrage for on whom we send the weight of all and our last hope relies this said he sat and expectation held his look suspense awaiting who appeared to second or oppose or undertake the perilous attempt it all said new pondering the danger with deep thoughts and each in other's countenance read his own dismay astonished none among the choice and prime of those heaven warring champions could be found so hardy as to proffer or accept alone the grateful voyage till at last Satan whom now transcendent glory raised above his fellows with monarchical pride conscious of highest worth unmoved thus spake o progeny of heaven Imperial Thrones with reason hath deep silence and demur seized us though undismayed long is the way and hard that out of hell leads up to life a prison strong this huge convicts of fire of rages to devour amuse us round nine fold then gates of burning adamant bard over us Cohiba tall egress these pass if any pass the void profound of an essential night receives him next wide gaping and with utter loss of being threatens him plunged in that abortive gulf the offence escape into whatever world or unknown region what remains him less than unknown dangers and his hard escape but I should ill become this throne appears and this imperial sovereignty adorned with splendour armed with power if aught proposed and judged a public moment in the shape of difficulty or danger could deter me from attempting wherefore do I assume these royalties and not refuse to reign refusing to accept as great a share of hazard as of Honor dual life to him who reigns and so much to him do of hazard more as he above the rest high honored since go there for mighty powers terror of heaven though fall intend at home while here shall be our home what best may ease the present misery and render hell more tolerable if there be cure or charm to respite or deceive or slack the pain of this ill mansion in term it no watch against a wakeful phone while I abroad through all the coasts of dark destruction seek deliverance for us all this enterprise none shall partake with me thus saying Rose the monarch and prevented all reply prudent lest from his resolution raised others among the chief might offer now certain to be refused but Earth's they feared and so refused might in opinion stand his rivals winning cheap the high repute which he who has a huge must earn but they dreaded not more than venture than his voice forbidding and at once with him they rose the rising all at once was as the sound of thunder heard remote towards him they Bend with awful reverence prone and as a god extol him equal to the highest in heaven nor failed day to express how much they praised that for the general safety he despised his own for neither do the spirits damned lose all the virtue blessed bad men should boast the specious deeds on earth which glory excites or close ambition varnished or with the zeal thus they their doubtful consultations dark ended rejoicing in the matchless chief as when from mountain tops the dusky clouds ascending while the Northwind sleeps or spread heavens cheerful face the lowering element skulls of the darkened landscape snow or shower if chance the radiant Sun with farewell sweet extend his evening beam the fields revived the birds the notes renew and bleating herds at test the joy that hill and valley rings Oh shame two men devil with devil damned firm Concord holds men only disagree of creatures rational though under hope of heavenly grace and God proclaiming peace yet live in hatred enmity and strife among themselves and Levy cruel wars wasting the earth each other to destroy as if which might induce us to Accord men had not hellish foes are now besides that day and night for his destruction wait the Stygian Council thus dissolved and forth in order came the grand infernal peers midst came the mighty paramount and seemed a lone antagonist of heaven nor less than hell's dread Emperor with pomp supreme and godlike imitated state him round a globe of fiery Seraphim enclosed with bright and blazonry and horrid arms then of their session ended they bid cry with trumpets Regal sound the great result toward the four winds for speedy cherubim put to their mouths the sounding alchemy by Harold's voice explained the hollow of this heard far and wide and all the hosts of hell with deafening shout returned them loud acclaim then more at ease their minds and somewhat raised by false presumptuous hope the range of powers disband and wandering each his several way pursues as inclination or sad choice leads him perplexed where he may likeliest find truth to his Restless thoughts and entertain the earth some hours till his great chief return part on the plane or in the air sublime upon the wing or in Swift race contend as at the Olympian games or Pythian feels part curved their fiery steeds or shun the goal with rapid wheels or fronted brigands for as when to warn proud cities war years waged in the troubled sky and armies rushed to battle in the clouds before each van pricked forth the Airy nights and couch to Speers till thickest legions clothed with feats of arms from either end of heaven the Welkin burns others with vast typhi enrage more fell rend up both rocks and hills and ride the air in whirlwind held scarce holds the wild uproar as when outside ease from l'oréal er crowned with conquest felt then venom drove and tore through pain up by the roots the salient pines and like us from the top of eateth through into the oboe exceed others more mild retreated in a silent valley sing with notes and Jellicle to many a harp their own heroic deeds and hapless fall by doom of battle and complain that faith 3 virtue should enthrall 2/4 or chance the song was partial but the harmony but could it less when spirits immortal sing suspended hell and took with ravishment the thronging audience in discourse more sweet for eloquence the soul song charms the sins others apart sat on a hill retired in thoughts more elevant and reasoned high of providence for knowledge will and paint fixed fate free will for knowledge absolute and found no end in wandering mazes lost of good and evil much they argued then of happiness and final misery passion and apathy and glory and shame vain wisdom all and false philosophy yep with a pleasing sorcery could charm pain for a while or anguish and excite fallacious holt or arm the bureau dressed with stubborn patience as with triple steal another part in squadrons and grouse bands on bold adventure to discover why'd that dismal world if any clime perhaps might yield them easier habitation then for ways they're flying march along the banks of four infernal rivers that disgorge into the burning lake their baleful streams of horrid Styx the flood of deadly hate sad a crown of sorrow black and deep casitas named of lamentation loud heard on the rueful stream fierce flirtin whose waves of torrent firing flame with rage far off from these a slow and silent stream Lethe the river of oblivion rolls our Walkley Navarrete were of who drinks forth with his former state and being forgets forgets both joy and grief pleasure and pain beyond this blood a frozen continent lies dark and wild beat with perpetual storms of whirlwind and dire hail which on firm land thou's not but gathers heap and ruins seams of ancient pile all else deep snow and ice a gulf profound as that sir bone e'en bog betwixt a Miata and round Cassius old where armies whole have sunk the parching air burns floor and coal performs detect of fire thereby harpy footed Furies hailed at certain revolutions all the Damned are brought and filled by turns the bitter change of fierce extremes extremes by change more fierce from beds of raging fire to starve in ice their soft ethereal warmth and their to pine immovable in fixed and frozen round periods of time thence hurried back to fire they ferry over this Lydian sound both to and fro their sorrow torment and wish and struggle as they asked to reach the tempting stream with one small drop to lose in sweet forgetfulness all pain and woe all in one moment and so near the freak but fate withstands and to oppose the tempt Medusa with gorgonian terror guards the fort and of itself the water flies all taste of living white is once it fled the lip of Tantalus thus roving on in confused march forlorn that Ventress bands with shuddering horror pale and eyes aghast viewed first the lamentable lot and found no rest through many a dark and dreary veil they passed and many a region dollars for many are frozen many a fiery al rocks caves lakes fins bogs dens and shades of death a universe of death but God by curse created evil for evil only good for all life dies death lives and nature breeds perverse all monstrous all prodigious things abominably anatra blend worse than fables yet of feigned of fear conceived Gorgons and hydras and chimeras dire meanwhile the adversary of God and man Satan with thoughts inflamed of highest design puts on swift wings and toward the gates of Hell explores his solitary flight sometimes he scours the righthand coast sometimes the left now shaves with level wing the deep then soars up to the fiery concave towering high as when far off its sea a fleet described hangs in the clouds by equi not to winds close sailing from Mangala for the aisles of turnit and door whence merchants bring their spicy drugs they on the trading flood through the wide Ethiopian to the Cape cry stemming nightly to the poll so seemed far off the flying fiend at last the pier held bounds I reaching to the horrid roof and thrice threefold the gates three folds were brass three iron three of adamantine rock impenetrable impaled with circling fire yet unconsumed before the gates there sat on either side a formidable shape the one seemed woman to the waist and fair but ended foul in many a scaly fold voluminous and vast the serpent armed with mortal sting about her middle round a cry of hellhoundz never-ceasing bark with wide sir barian mouths full loud and wrung a hideous peal yet when they list would creep if aught disturbed the noise into her wounds and kennel there yet they're still barked and howled within unseen far less of horde than these vexed Scylla bathing in the sea that parts Calabria from the horse train a Korean Shore nor uglier follow the night hag when called in secret riding through the air she comes lured with the smell of infant blood to dance with Lapland witches while the labouring moon eclipses at their charms the other shape the shape it might be called that shape had none distinguishable and member joint or limb or substance might be called that shadow seemed for each seemed either black it stood as night fierce as ten Furies terrible as hell and shook a dreadful dart but seemed his head the likeness of a kingly crown had on Satan was now at hand and from his seat the monster moving onward came as fast with orange strides held trembled as he strode undaunted fiend what this might be admired admired not feared God and his son except created thing not valued nor shun and with disdainful of thus first began whence and what art thou EXA crippled shape the dares though grim and terrible advanced i miscreated front tooth wart my way to yonder gates through them i mean to pass that be assured without leave as for thee retire or taste thy folly and learn by proof hell born not to contend with spirits of heaven to whom the goblin full of wrath replied art thou that traitor angel art thou he who first broke peace in heaven and faith till then unbroken and in proud rebellious arms drew after in the third part of heavens suns conjured against the eyes for which both now and they outcasts from God are here condemned to waste eternal days in woe and pain and reckons thou thyself with spirits of heaven hell doomed and briefs defiance here and scorn where I reign King and to enrage the more died King and Lord back to thy punishment false fugitive and to thy speed add wings less with the whip of scorpions I pursued I lingering and with one stroke of his dart strange horror seize thee and pangs on felt before so spake the grisly terror and in shape so speaking and so threatening grew tenfold more dreadful and deformed on the other side incensed with indignation Satan stood under fide and like a comet burned that fires the length of Ophiuchus huge in darting sky and from his horrid hair shakes pestilence and war each at the head leveled his deadly aim the fatal hands no second stroke intend and such a frown each cast another as when two black clouds with Heaven's artillery fraud I'm rattling on over the caspian then stand front front hovering a space till wins the signal blow to join the dark encounter in midair so frowned the mighty competence that hell drew darker at there from so math they stood for never but once more was either like to meet so great fo and now great deeds had been achieved where of all hell had rung had not the sneaky sorceress that sat fast by hell gate and kept the fatal key risen and with hideous outcry rush between Oh father what intends thy hand she cried against thy only son what Furio son possesses thee to bend that mortal dart against thy father's head and knows for whom for him who sits above and laughs the vile @d ordained his Drudge to execute what heir is wrath which he calls justice bids his wrath which one day will destroy he both she spake and at her words the hellish pest for more than these to her Satan returned so strange died out cry and thy word so strange though interposes that my sudden hand prevented spares to tell the yet by deeds what it intends till first I know of the what thing thou are thus double for and why in this infernal veil first met accost me Father and that phantasm calls my son I know thee not nor ever saw till now sight more detestable than him and me to whom the portress of Hellgate replied first thou forgot me then and do I seem now in nine I so foul once deemed so fair in heaven when at the Assembly and in sight of all the Seraphim with the combined in bold conspiracy against heavens King all on a sudden miserable pain surprised he didn't eyes and dizzy swum in darkness by thy head flames thick and fast through four till on the left side opening wide like us to thee in shape and countenance bright then shining heavenly fare a goddess armed out of thy head I sprung amazement seized all hosts of heaven back they recoiled afraid at first and called me sin and for a sign portentous held me but familiar groan I pleased and with attractive graces one the most diverse the chiefly who full oft thyself in me thy perfect image viewing becames enamored and such joy thou talk'st with me in secret that my womb conceived to growing burden meanwhile war arose and fields were fought in heaven wherein remained for what could else to our almighty folk clear victory to our part loss and a route through all the Empyrean down they fell driven headlong from the pitch of heaven down into this deep and in the general fall I also at which time this powerful key into my hand was given with charge to keep these gates forever shut which none can pass without my opening pensive here I sat alone but long I sucked not till my womb pregnant by thee and now excessive grown for digis motion belt and rueful throes at last this odious offspring whom thou seest by known begotten breaking violent way pour through my entrails that with fear and pain distorted all my nether shape thus grew transformed but he my inbred enemy forth issued brandishing his fatal dark made to destroy I fled and cried out hell trembled at the hideous name inside from all the caves and back resounded death I fled but he pursued though more it seems inflamed with lust and rage and Swift too far me overtook his mother all dismayed and in embraces forcible and foul engendering with me of that rape begat these yelling monsters that with ceaseless Christ's around me as thou sawest hourly conceived and hourly born with sorrow infinite to me for when they list into the womb that read them they returned and howl and nor my bowels the repast then bursting forth afresh with conscious terrors Beks me round that rest or intermission none I find before mine eyes in opposition sits grim death my son and foe who sets them on that me his parent would fall soon devour for want of other prey but that he knows his end with mine involved and knows that I should prove a bitter morsel and his bane whenever that shall be so pate pronounced but thou her father for warned me shun his deadly arrow neither vainly hope to be invulnerable in those bright arms though tempered heavenly for that mortal dint say he who reigns about none can resist she finished and the subtle fiend his lore soon learned now milder and thus answer'd smooth dear daughter since thou claims me for thy sire and my fair son here shows me the dear pledge of dalliance had with the in heaven and Joy's then sweet now sad to mention who died of change befall nurse unforeseen unthought-of no I come no enemy but to set free from out this dark and dismal house of pain both here Manthey and all the heavenly hosts of spirit that he now just pretends his arm fell with us from on high from them I go this uncouth errand soul and one for all my self exposed with lonely steps to tread then founded deep and to the void immense to search with wandering quest a place foretold should be and by concurring signs air now created vast and round a place of bliss in the peruse of heaven and therein placed a race of upstart creatures to supply perhaps our vacant room no more remove to less heavens are charged with potent multitude might have to move Newt Royals be this or often this more secret now designed I hate to know and this once known shall soon return and bring he to the place where thou and death shall dwell at ease and up and down unseen wings silently the buxom air embalmed with odors there you shall be fed and filled in measurably all things shall be your prey he ceased for both seemed highly pleased and death grinned horrible a ghastly smile to hear his famine shall be filled and blessed his mob destined to that good hour no less rejoiced his mother bad and the swiss baker sire the key of this infernal pit by do and by command of heavens all-powerful King our key by him forbidden to unlock these adamantine gates against all force death ready stands to interpose his dark fearless to be all matched by living might but what oh I to his commands above who hates me and as hither thrust me down into this gloom of Carters profound to sit in hateful office here confined inhabitant of heaven and heavenly born here in perpetual agony and pain with terrors and with clamors compass round of my known drew that on my bowels feed thou art my father thou my author thou my being gainst me whom should I obey but thee wouldn't follow thou will bring me soon to that new world of light and bliss among the gods who live at ease for I shall reign at thy right hand voluptuous as beseems thy daughter and I darling without him thus saying from her side the fatal key sad instrument of all our woe she took and towards the gate rolling her bestial train forth with the huge portcullis high up drew which but herself not all the Stygian powers could once have moved then in the keyhole turns the intricate wards and every bolt and bar of massy iron or solid rock with ease unfastens on a sudden open fly with impetuous recoil and jarring sound infernal doors and on their hinges great harsh thunder that the lowest bottom shook of Erebus she opened but to shut excelled her power the gates wide open stood that with extended wings of bannered hosts under spread engines marching might pass through with horse and chariots ranked in loose array so wide they stood and like a furnace mouth cast for through downing smoke and ruddy flame before their eyes in sudden view who appear the secrets of the hoary deep a dark illimitable ocean without bound without dimension where length breadth and height and time and place are lost where eldest night and chaos ancestors of nature whole eternal anarchy amidst the noise of endless wars and by confusion stand for hot cold moist and dry four champions fierce strive here for Maestri and to battle bring there Embry and Adams they around the flag of each his faction in there are several plans light armed or heavy sharp smooth swift or slow swarm populist a numbered as the sands of Barca or SAR Venus torrid soil levied to side with warring winds and poised they're lighter wings to whom these most adhere he rules a moment chaos umpire sits and by decision more embroiled the fray by which he reigns next him I arbiter cants governs all into this wild abyss the womb of nature and perhaps a grave of neither see nor shorn or air nor fire but all these and the pregnant causes mixed confused Li and which thus must ever fight unless the Almighty maker them ordained His Dark Materials to create more worlds into this wild abyss the weary fiend stood on the brink of hell and looked a while pondering his voyage for no narrow Frith he had to cross nor was his ear less peeled with noises loud and ruinous to compare great things with small then when Bellona storms with all her battering engines bent to raise some capital city or less than if this frame of heaven were falling and these elements in mutiny had from her axle torn the steadfast earth at last to sail broad vans he spreads for flight and in the surging smoke uplifted spurns the ground thence many a league as in a cloud each air ascending rides audacious but that seat soon failing meets a vast vacuity all unawares fluttering his pen and vain plumb down he drops ten thousand fathoms deep and to this hour down had been falling had not by ill chance the strong rebuff of some tumultuous cloud instinct with fire and nighter hurried him as many miles aloft that fury stayed quenched in a boggy syrtis neither see nor would dryland knife foundered on he fares treading the crude consistence half on foot half flying the hooves him now both or and sail as when a Griffin through the wilderness with we at course or hill or marie dale pursues the arimaspi in' who by stealth had from his wakeful custody purloined the guarded gold so eagerly the fiend or bog or steep to straight rough dense or rare with head hands wings or feet pursues his way and swims or sinks wayde's of creeps or flies at length a universal hubbub wild of stunning sounds and voices or confused borne through the hollow dark assaults his ear with loudest vehemence dither he plies undaunted to meet their whatever power or spirit of the nethermost abyss might in that noise reside of whom to ask which way the nearest coast of darkness lies bordering on light but straight behold the throne of chaos and his dark pavilion spread wide on the wasteful deep with him in throne sets sable vested night eldest of things the consort of his reign and by them stood orcas and ADEs in the dreaded name of demagogue on rumor next and chance and tumult and confusion all embroiled and discord with a thousand various mouths doom Satan turning boldly thus he powers and spirits of this nether most of this chaos and ancient night I come no spy with purpose to explore or to disturb the secrets of your realm but by constraint wandering this darksome desert as my way lies through your spacious empire up to light alone and without guide have lost I seek what radius path leads where your gloomy bounds confine with evan or if some other place from your dominion one the eternal king possesses lately neither to arrive i travel this profound direct my course directed no mean recompense it brings to your behoove if i that region lost all usurpation thence expelled reduce to her original darkness and your sway which is my present journey and once more erect the standard there of ancient night yours with advantage all mine revenge thus satan and him thus the a nicole with faltering speech and vision composed answered I know the stranger who thou are that mighty leading angel who of late made head against heavens King though overthrown I saw and heard for such a numerous hosts led not in silence through the frighted deep with ruin upon ruin broke on route confusion worse confounded and heaven gates poured out by millions of victorious bands pursuing I upon my frontiers here keep residence if all I can will serve that little which is left so to defend encroached on still through our intestine Broyles we cling the sceptre of old night thirst hell your dungeon stretching far and wide beneath now lately heaven and earth another world along my realm linked in a golden chain to that side heaven from whence allegiance Bell if that way be your walk you have not far so much the nearer danger go speed havoc and spoil and ruin are my gain he sees and Satan stayed not to reply but glad that now his see should find a shore with fresh alacrity and force renewed Springs upward like a pyramid of fire into the wild expanse and through the shock of fighting elements on all sides round and Virant winds its way harder beset and more endangered than when Argo passed through Bosporus betwixt the jessalyn rocks or when Ulysses on the LA bridge shun to Charybdis and by the other whirlpools steered so he with difficulty and labor hard moved on with difficulty and labour he but he once passed soon after when man fell strange alteration sin and death a Mane following his tract such was the will of Evan paved after him abroad and beaten way over the dark abyss whose boiling gulf tamely endured a bridge of wondrous length from hell continued reaching that most all of this frail world by which the spirits perverse with easy intercourse passed to and fro to temp o punish mortals except whom God and good angels guard by special grace but now at last the sacred influence of light appears and from the walls of heav'n shoots far into the bosom of dim night a glimmering dawn here nature first begins her hardest verge and chaos to retire as from her out most works a broken foe with cue mode less and with less hostile din that Satan with less toil and now with ease wafts on the calmer wave by dubious light and like a weather-beaten vessel holds gladly the port though shrouds and tackle torn or in the emptier wastes resembling air weighs his spread wings at leisure to behold far-off the material heaven extended wide in circuit undetermined square or round with Opel towers and battlements adorned of living sapphire once his native seat and fast by hanging in a golden chain this pendant world in bigness as a star of smallest magnitude close by the moon neither full fraught with mischievous revenge accursed and in a curse at our he eyes notes line 282 where was were in 1674 line 402 breath is a misprint for breathe fine 483 there is her in 1674 line 527 years is this in 1674 line 542 heylia is or Kalia in 1674 line 631 toward is towards in 1674 the end of the second book recording by Thomas Copeland book 2 of Paradise Lost 2nd edition this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Thomas Copeland Paradise Lost book 2 by John Milton the argument the consultation begun Satan debates whether another battle be to be hazarded for the recovery of heaven some advise it others dissuade the third proposal is preferred mentioned before by Satan to search the truth of that prophecy or tradition in heaven concerning another world and another kind of preacher equal or much inferior to themselves about this time to be created the doubt who shall be sent on this difficult search Satan their chief undertakes alone the voyage is honored and applauded the counsel thus ended the rest who take them several ways and to several employments as their inclinations lead them to entertain the time till Satan returned he passes on his journey to hell gates finds them shut and who sat there to guard them by whom at length they are opened and discovered to him the great gulf between hell and heaven with what difficulty he passes through directed by chaos the power of that place ours to force resist this way turning our torturers into horrid arms against the torturer when to meet the noise of his almighty engine he shall hear infernal thunder and for lightning see black fire and horror shocked with equal rage among his angels and his throne itself mixed with a carrion softer and strange fire his own invented Foreman's birth perhaps the way seems difficult and steep to scale with up right wing against a higher foe that such pit think them if the sleepy drench of that forgetful lake mean I'm not still that in our proper motion we ascend up to our native seat descent and fall to us his adverse who but felt of late when the fierce for on our broken rear insulting and pursued us through the deep with what compulsion and laborious flight we sunk the slow the sin is easy then the event is feared should we again provoke our stronger some worse way his wrath may find to our destruction if there be inhales with what besides in counts or in fight have been achieved of merit yet this loss thus far least recovered hath much more established in a safe on envied throne yielded with full consent the happier state in heaven which follows dignity might draw envy from each interior but who here will envy from the highest place exposes foremost to stand against the thunders aim your bulwark and condemns to greatest share of endless pain where there is there no good for which to strive no strife can grow up there from faction well none sure will claim in hell precedence none whose portion is so small of present pain that with ambitious mind will covet more with this advantage then to Union and firm faith and firm Accord more than can be in heaven we now return to claim our just inheritance of old surer to prosper then prosperity could have assured us and by what best way whether of open war or covered guile we now debate who can arrive the sight of this new world which he saw note who shall be sent was who should be sent in 1669 high on a throne of royal state which far arch on the wealth of all mists and deveined of where the gorgeous east with richest hand showers on her king's barbaric pearl and gold satan exalted sat by merit raised to that bed and and from despair thus I uplifted beyond hope aspires beyond thus high insatiate to pursue vain war with heaven and by success untaught his proud imaginations thus displayed powers and dominions deities of heaven for since no deep within her gulf can hold immortal vigour though oppressed and fall i give not heaven for lost from this descent celestial virtues rising will appear more glorious and more dread than from no fall and trust themselves to fear no second fate me though just right tender fixed laws of heaven did first create your leader next free choice says may speak he ceased and next him Moloch sceptered King stood up the strongest and the fiercest spirit that fought in heaven now fiercer by despair his trust was with the ternal to be deemed equal in strength and rather than be less cared not to be at all with that care lost went all his fear of God or hell or worse he wrecked not and these words thereafter spake my sentences for open war of whiles more unexposed not them let those contrived who need but when they need not now for while they sit contriving shall arrest millions that stand in arms and longing wait the signal to ascend sit lingering here heavens fugitives and for their dwelling place except this dark of previous den of shame the prison of his tyranny who reigns by our delay no let us rather choose armed with health flames and fury all at once or heavens high

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