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We should be quite abolished, and expire.

What fear we, then? What doubt we to incense

His utmost ire, which, to the height enraged,

Will either quite consume us, and reduce

To nothing this essential—happier far

Than miserable to have eternal being—

Or, if our substance be indeed divine,

And cannot cease to be, we are at worst

On this side nothing; and by proof we feel

Our power sufficient to disturb his heaven,

And with perpetual inroads to alarm,

Though inaccessible, his fatal throne,

Which, if not victory, is yet revenge.

He ended, frowning, and his look denounced

Desperate revenge, and battle dangerous

To less than gods. On the other side up rose

Belial, in act more graceful and humane;

A fairer person lost not heaven; he seemed

For dignity composed, and high exploit:

But all was false and hollow; though his tongue

Dropt manna, and could make the worse appear

The better reason, to perplex and dash

Maturest counsels: for his thoughts were low:

To vice industrious, but to nobler deeds

Timorous and slothful; yet he pleased the ear,

And with persuasive accent thus began:

I should be much for open war, O peers,

As not behind in hate; if what was urged

Main reason to persuade immediate war,

Did not dissuade me most, and seem to cast

Ominous conjecture on the whole success;

When he, who most excels in fact of arms,

In what he counsels, and in what excels,

Mistrustful grounds his courage on despair

Denounced. - Menaced - proclaimed.