Page:Paradise Lost (1667).djvu/53

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Paradiſe loſt.
Book 2.
He reckd not, and theſe words thereafter ſpake. 50My ſentence is for open Warr: Of Wiles, More unexpert, I boaſt not: them let thoſe Contrive who need, or when they need, not now. For while they ſit contriving, ſhall the reſt, Millions that ſtand in Arms, and longing wait The Signal to aſcend, ſit lingring here Heav’ns fugitives, and for thir dwelling place Accept this dark opprobrious Den of ſhame, The Priſon of his Tyranny who Reigns By our delay? no, let us rather chooſe 60Arm’d with Hell flames and fury all at once O’re Heav’ns high Towrs to force reſiſtleſs way, Turning our Tortures into horrid Arms Againſt the Torturer; when to meet the noiſe Of his Almighty Engin he ſhall hear Infernal Thunder, and, for Lightning ſee Black fire and horror ſhot with equal rage Among his Angels; and his Throne it ſelf Mixed with Tartarcan Sulphur, and ſtrange fire, His own invented Torments. But perhaps 70The way ſeems difficult and ſteep to ſcale With upright wing againſt a higher foe. Let ſuch bethink them, if the ſleepy drench Of that forgetful Lake benumme not ſtill, That in our proper motion we aſcend Up to our native ſeat: deſcent and fall To us is adverſe. Who but felt of late When the fierce Foe hung on our brok’n Rear Inſulting, and purſu’d us through the Deep, With what compulſion and laborious flight 80We ſunk thus low? Th’ aſcent is eaſie then;

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