Page:Paradise lost by Milton, John.djvu/41

Satan exalted sat, by merit raised
To that bad eminence; and, from despair
Thus high uplifted beyond hope, aspires
Beyond thus high, insatiate to pursue
Vain war with Heaven, and, by success untaught,
He proud imaginations thus displayed.10
"Powers and Dominions, deities of Heaven—
For since no Deep within her gulf can hold
Immortal vigour, though oppressed and fallen,
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, and the fixed laws of Heaven,
Did first create your leader, next free choice,
With what besides, in counsel or in fight,20
Hath been achieved of merit, yet this loss
Thus far at least recovered hath much more
Established in a safe unenvied throne,
Yielded with full consent. The happier state
In Heaven, which follows dignity, might draw
Envy from each inferior; but who here
Will envy whom the highest place exposes
Foremost to stand against the Thunderer's aim
Your bulwark, and condemns to greatest share
Of endless pain? Where there is then no good30
For which to strive, no strife can grow up there