Paradiſe loſt. Book I.
Both glorying to have ſcap’t the Stygian flood
240As Gods, and by their own recover'd ſtrength.
Not by the ſufferance of ſupernal Power.
Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime,
Said then the loft Arch Angel, this the feat
That we muſt change for Heav'n, this mournful gloom
For that celeſtial light? Be it ſo, ſince hee
Who now is Sovran can diſpoſe and bid
What ſhall be right : fardeſt from him is beſt
Whom reaſon hath equald, force hath made ſupream
Above his equals. Farewel happy Fields
250Where Joy for ever dwells ; Bail horrours, hail
Infernal world, and thou profoundeſt Hell
Receive thy new Poffeſſor : One who brings
A mind not to be chang’d by Place or Time.
The mind is its own place, and in it ſelf
Can make a Heav’n of Hell, a Hell of Heav’n.
What matter where, if I be ſtill the ſame.
And what I ſhould be, all but leſs then hee
Whom Thunder hath made greater? Here at leaſt
We ſhall be free; th’ Almighty hath not built
260Here for his envy, will not drive us hence:
Here we may reign ſecure, and in my choyce
To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, then ſerve in Heav’n
But wherefore let we then our faithful friends,
Th’ aſſociates and copartners of our loſs
Lye thus aſtoniſht on th’ oblivious Pool,
And call them not to ſhare with us their part
In this unhappy Manſion , or once more
With rallied Arms to try what may be yet
270Regaind in Heav’n, or what more loſt in Hell?
240As Gods, and by their own recover'd ſtrength.
Not by the ſufferance of ſupernal Power.
Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime,
Said then the loft Arch Angel, this the feat
That we muſt change for Heav'n, this mournful gloom
For that celeſtial light? Be it ſo, ſince hee
Who now is Sovran can diſpoſe and bid
What ſhall be right : fardeſt from him is beſt
Whom reaſon hath equald, force hath made ſupream
Above his equals. Farewel happy Fields
250Where Joy for ever dwells ; Bail horrours, hail
Infernal world, and thou profoundeſt Hell
Receive thy new Poffeſſor : One who brings
A mind not to be chang’d by Place or Time.
The mind is its own place, and in it ſelf
Can make a Heav’n of Hell, a Hell of Heav’n.
What matter where, if I be ſtill the ſame.
And what I ſhould be, all but leſs then hee
Whom Thunder hath made greater? Here at leaſt
We ſhall be free; th’ Almighty hath not built
260Here for his envy, will not drive us hence:
Here we may reign ſecure, and in my choyce
To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, then ſerve in Heav’n
But wherefore let we then our faithful friends,
Th’ aſſociates and copartners of our loſs
Lye thus aſtoniſht on th’ oblivious Pool,
And call them not to ſhare with us their part
In this unhappy Manſion , or once more
With rallied Arms to try what may be yet
270Regaind in Heav’n, or what more loſt in Hell?
So!
