Page:Paradise Lost (1667).djvu/54

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Book 2.
Paradiſe loſt.
Th’ event is fear’d; ſhould we again provoke Our ſtronger, ſome worſe way his wrath may find To our deſtruction: if there be in Hell Fear to be worſe deſtroy’d: what can be worſe Than to dwell here, driv’n out from bliſs, condemnſd 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 Scourge 90Inexorably, and the torturing houre Calls us to Penance? More destroſ’d than thus We ſhould be quite aboliſht and expire. What fear we then? what doubt we to incenſe His utmoſt ire? which to the highth enrag’d, Will either quite conſume us, and reduce To nothing this eſſential, happier farr Than miſerable to have eternal being: Or if our ſubſtance be indeed Divine, And cannot ceaſe to be, we are at worſt 100On this ſide nothing; and by proof we feel Our power ſufficient to diſturb his Heav’n, And with perpetual inroads to Allarme, Though inacceſſible, his fatal Throne: Which if not Victory is yet Revenge.  He ended frowning, and his look denounc’d Deſperate revenge, and Battel dangerous To leſs than Gods. On th’ other ſide up roſe Belial, in act more graceful and humane; A fairer perſon loſt not Heav’n; he ſeemed 110For dignity compos’d and high exploit: But all was falſe and hollow; though his Tongue Dropt Manna, and could make the worſe appear

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