Book 1: Lines 242-270
Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime,
Said then the lost Arch-Angel, this the seat
That we must change for Heav'n,
this mournful gloom
For that celestial light? Be it so, since he [ 245 ]
Who now is Sovran can dispose and bid
What shall be
right: fardest from him is
best
Whom reason hath equald, force hath made supream
Above his equals. Farewel happy Fields
Where Joy for ever dwells:
Hail horrours, hail [ 250 ]
Infernal world, and thou
profoundest Hell
Receive thy new Possessor: One who brings
A mind not
to be chang'd by Place or Time.
The mind is its own place,
and in it self
Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n. [ 255 ]
What matter where, if I be still the same,
And what I should be, all but
less then he
Whom Thunder hath made greater? Here at least
We
shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built
Here for his envy, will
not drive us hence: [ 260 ]
Here we
may reign secure, and in my choyce
To reign is worth ambition though in Hell:
Better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heav'n.
But wherefore let we then our faithful
friends,
Th' associates and
copartners of our loss [ 265 ]
Lye thus astonisht on th' oblivious Pool,
And call them not to share with
us their part
In this unhappy Mansion, or once more
With rallied Arms
to try what may be yet
Regaind in Heav'n, or what more lost in Hell? [ 270 ]
Some of my favorite poetic lines. With the context of the previous lines, it's even better. Slowing down to read the epic poem in sections proves to be worth it thus far.
ReplyDeleteSo many great phrases. "The mind is its own place," I wonder who was the first people to think that? I couldn't find anything. Not sure how this idea relates to Decrates, who Milton probably knew of. Milton seemed to oppose Descartes, but I don't know he felt about dualism. Wow, I just wasted a lot of time googling and scanning articles. It looks like stoics may have had similar ideas which makes sense because it's about creating a mindset.
How pulling himself up really rallied Satan! His depression and self pity is over, time to take Heaven or be more lost in Hell. Going down in a blaze of glory.
I wonder how the other Angels feel about being ruled in Hell??? He speaks of freedom as something they have, "We shall be free." God won't drive them anymore he adds. So are they all reigning or just Satan? Why are they so eager to serve Satan? Or maybe they don't have a choice now.
Interestingly Satan mentions their faithful friends. The angels that didn't fall. They are still friends. Maybe they can win them over even. That's how they can regain Heaven. The suspense builds really well here and early just what is expected from an epic poem.