Attended: all access was throng'd; the gates To mortal combat, or career with lance) Thick swarm'd both on the ground, and in the air Wheels her pale course; they, on their mirth and dance Intent, with jocund music charm his ear; At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds. Thus incorporeal spirits to smallest forms Reduc'd their shapes immense, and were at large, THE ARGUMENT. THE Consultation begun, Satan debates whether another battle be to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven: Some advise it, others dissuade: A 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 creature, equal, or not inuch inferior to themselves, about this time to be created: Their doubt who shall be sent on this difficult search; Satan, their chief, undertakes alone the voyage, is honoured and applauded. The council thus ended, the rest betake 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 discover to him the great gulf between Hell and Heaven; with what dif ficulty he passes through, directed by Chaos, the Power of that place to the sight of the new world which he sought. PARADISE LOST. BOOK II. HIGH on a throne of royal state, which tar To that bad eminence; and from despair Pow'rs and Dominions, Deities of heav'n, More glorious and more dread than from no fail |