Than to dwell here, driven out from bliss, condemned
In this abhorred Deep to utter woe?
Where pain of unextinguishable fire
Must exercise us, without hope of end,
The vassals of his anger, when the scourge90
Inexorably, and the torturing hour
Calls us to penance. More destroyed than thus
We should be quite abolished and expire.
What fear we then? what doubt we do incense
His utmost ire? which, to the highth enraged,
Will either quite consume us, and reduce
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 worst100
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 gods. On the other side up rose
Belial, in act more graceful and humane.
A fairer person lost not Heaven; he seemed110
For dignity composed and high exploit.
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PARADISE LOST.
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