Darkness may be Seen as Smoak is: Nor is it difficult to explain how it may discover Things Vifible. in Picture the Blacker the Ground is, the more Apparent are the Objects reprefented on it if Lighter than that Ground; the Livid Flames, Pale Spectres, Faint, Ghoftlike, Frightful Apparitions, with Stone Eyes as Spencer, or Eyes of Brafs as Dante has given to Caron, or as Banquo's Ghoft in Shakespear, Eyes that have no Speculation, but are staring and fix'd, or Such as are mentioned in the Chap. juft now quoted, ver. 4. fad Vifions appeared unto them with heavy Countenances; fuch Vifages as these, and fuch Figures in all the Attitudes of Woe must be more Confpicuous in Proportion to the Darkness of the Place, fuppofing their Tin&s are Inherent, and not owing to what is Foreign to them as Light is to us. Why may we not suppose there may exift Beings of a Luminous Nature, and therefore Vifible, but which may Not have a Neceffary Power to difpenfe Light? or that Such Power may be Sufpended in Hell? The XVII. Chapter of Wisdom does not fay indeed that Fire pours forth Darkness, but it fays that the Power of giving Light may be Sufpended, or it may have no Such Power. Other Bodies may be of the fame Nature. Add to all this, that Darknefs fills the Imagination with Horror, and fuch Dreadful Ideas as are as really in effect Sights of Woe as any we perceive when Objects of Senfe. They were were Scatter'd under a dark Veil of Forgetfulnefs, being horribly aftonished, and troubled with strange Apparitions Noifes as of Waters falling down founded about them, and fad Vifions appeared unto them-- being scared with Beafts that paffed by and biffing of Serpents they died for Fear-whether a terrible Sound of Stones caft down, or a running that could not be feen, or a roaring Voice of most favage wild Beafts, or a rebounding Echo from the bollow Mountains: thefe Things made them to fwoon for fear, as in the Chapter above-mentioned. From v. 60 to 75 inclufive, is sure the utmost Stretch of the Human Mind in conceiving the Hell of Hells, the Lowest Hell; and fet in the Strongest View by that Artful Contraft with which it concludes, O how unlike the Place from whence they fell! This is the Uttermoft Hell, its Other Regions are defcribed occafionally throughout this First Book. 74 As from the Centre thrice to th' utmost Pole, that is, from the Centre of the Earth thrice to the Extent of the New created World, for 'tis the Pole of the Universe which is here meant, the Utmoft Pole, this will be farther explained hereafter. 78 Welt'ring Rolling, Wallowing, Convolv'd, Twifting, Writhing as in great Pain. 81 Arch 81 Arch-Enemy the Chief, the Principal Enemy. 84 If thou beeft be the Change and Confufion of thefe Enemies of God is most Artfully exprefs'd in the Abruptnefs of the Beginning of this Speech: if thou art He, That Belzebub -he Stops, and falls into a bitter Reflection on their Prefent Condition compared with That in which they Lately were. He attempts again to open hisMind; cannot proceed on what he intends to fay, but returns to thofe Sad Thoughts; ftill Doubting whether 'tis Really his Affociate in the Revolt, as Now in Mifery and Ruin; by that Time he had Expatiated on This (his Heart was opprefs'd with it) he is Affured to Whom he speaks, and goes on to Declare his Proud Unrelenting Mind. Yet not for those, &c. Both are to be confidered as juft Rouzing from the almoft Absence of Being which their Perdition had plunged them into. 94 Yet not for Thofe, nor what the potent Victor in his Rage and high Difdain, Yet not for those dire Arms, nor any Fear of of other Inflictions do I (tho' Chang'd in Ap pearance) Change that Mind, &c. 109 and What is Elfe Not to be Overcome? if This is not to be Unfubdu'd What Is? 110 That Glory never shall his Wrath or Might Extort from Me That Glory refers to the Words juft Before, to Submit or Yield, as appears by those that Follow; and it admirably expreffes the Diftinguishing Character of Satan's Pride: He took Fire at the Mention of Submiffion; and, as foon as he could finish that Boaft of his being not Overcome, he goes on, Like Himself, full of Pride and Scorn. The Senfe of the whole Speech is This. "after Expreffing his Grief and Confufion, "and Reflecting on their Prefent Condition by feveral Pathetick Abruptions, he Declares the "Obftinacy and Force of his Own Mind: He "Afferts and Endeavours to Prove he is Not "Conquer'd; and Difdains to Submit, fince they are not only Naturally Invincible, but "now Improv'd by Experience, and may "Hope to carry on the War Successfully not"withstanding the Prefent Triumph of their "Adverfary. 127 and Him Thus anfwer'd foon, the Speech of Satan appears to have been pro appea C nounc'd nounc'd Slow at the Beginning, and fo it ought to be Read; 'tis Anfwer'd Soon. Satan might Boaft of What he had Done, or Dar'd to Do; "Tother is not in That Humour, nor can One Moment Conceal the Dispair which Rack'd Him Equally with his Affociate who endeavour'd to Conceal His. ibid. bis Bold Compeer. Peer, is Equal or Like; Compeer, is fuch a One Affociated, a Companion, a Mate; and well May Such a Compeer be call'd Bold, who with Him Durft Defy the Omnipotent to Arms. 49. 128 O Prince! O Chief C: in This Speech Belzebub "Owns their Ruin, as far as Such Beings as They Can Fall, Agreeing in That with what Satan had just "before infifted Chiefly upon as an Argument "for Continuing the War; but Objects that "This, inftead of being an Advantage to them, be turn'd to the Increase of their Ruin. may the Comma after Powers, as in all the Editions we have Noted, perplexes the Senfe. 'twas Not Satan, but Thofe Powers that led the Seraphim to War under His Conduct. One of thefe Powers is This Bold Companion who Here under a Compliment he makes to Satan Proudly |