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Paradise lost.
Book 1.
Matchless, but with th' Almighthy, and that strifeWas not inglorious, though th' event was dire,As this place testifies, and this dire changeHateful to utter: but what power of mindForeseeing or presaging, from the DepthOf knowledge past or present, could have fear'd,How such united force of Gods, how suchAs stood like these, could ever know repulse? 630For who can yet beleeve, though after loss,That all these puissant Legions, whose exileHath emptied Heav'n, shall faile to re-ascendSelf-rais'd, and repossess their native seat.For me, be witness all the Host of Heav'n,If counsels different, or danger shun'dBy me, have lost our hopes. But he who reignsMonarch in Heav'n, till then as one secureSat on his Throne, upheld by old repute,Consent or custome, and his Regal State 640Put forth at full, but still his strength conceal'd,Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall.Henceforth his might we know, and know our ownSo as not either to provoke, or dreadNew warr, provok't; our better part remainsTo work in close design, by fraud or guile,What force effected not: that he no lessAt length from us may find, who overcomesBy force, hath overcome but half his foe.Space may produce new Worlds; whereof so rife 650There went a fame in Heav'n that he ere longIntended to create, and therein plantA generation, whom his choice regardShould favour equal to the Sons of Heaven:
Thither,
