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May serve to better us, and worse our foes,

Or equal what between us made the odds,

In nature none. If other hidden cause

Left them superior, while we can preserve

Unhurt our minds, and understanding sound,

Due search and consultation will disclose.

He sat; and in the assembly next upstood

Nisroch, of principalities the prime.

As one he stood escaped from cruel fight,

Sore toiled, his riven arms to havoc hewn,

And, cloudy in aspect, thus answering spake:

Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free Enjoyment of our rights as Gods; yet hard For Gods, and too unequal work we find, Against unequal arms, to fight in pain, Against unpained, impassive; from which evil Ruin must needs ensue. For what avails Valour or strength, though matchless, quelled with pain Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well Spare out of life, perhaps, and not repine, But live content, which is the calmest life; But pain is perfect misery, the worst Of evils, and, excessive, overturns All patience. He who, therefore, can invent With what more forcible we may offend Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves No less than for deliverance what we owe.

Whereto, with look composed, Satan replied:

Not uninvented that, which thou aright

Believest so main to our success, I bring.

Which of us who beholds the bright surface

Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand,

This continent of spacious heaven, adorned

With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems, and gold;