Paradise Lost + Paradise Regained (2 Unabridged Classics + Original Illustrations by Gustave Doré). Джон Мильтон

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СКАЧАТЬ Sire

      Choose to reside, his Glory unobscur’d,

      And with the Majesty of darkness round

      Covers his Throne; from whence deep thunders roar

      Must’ring thir rage, and Heav’n resembles Hell?

      As he our Darkness, cannot we his Light

      Imitate when we please? This Desart soile

      Wants not her hidden lustre, Gemms and Gold;

      Nor want we skill or art, from whence to raise

      Magnificence; and what can Heav’n shew more?

      Our torments also may in length of time

      Become our Elements, these piercing Fires

      As soft as now severe, our temper chang’d

      Into their temper; which must needs remove

      The sensible of pain. All things invite

      To peaceful Counsels, and the settl’d State

      Of order, how in safety best we may

      Compose our present evils, with regard

      Of what we are and where, dismissing quite

      All thoughts of Warr; ye have what advise.

      He scarce had finisht, when such murmur filld

      Th’ Assembly, as when hollow Rocks retain

      The sound of blustring winds, which all night long

      Had rous’d the Sea, now with hoarse cadence lull

      Sea-faring men orewatcht, whose Bark by chance

      Or Pinnace anchors in a craggy Bay

      After the Tempest: Such applause was heard

      As Mammon ended, and his Sentence pleas’d,

      Advising peace: for such another Field

      They dreaded worse then Hell: so much the fear

      Of Thunder and the Sword of Michael

      Wrought still within them; and no less desire

      To found this nether Empire, which might rise

      By policy, and long process of time,

      In emulation opposite to Heav’n.

      Which when Beelzebub perceiv’d, then whom,

      Satan except, none higher sat, with grave

      Aspect he rose, and in his rising seem’d

      A Pillar of State; deep on his Front engraven

      Deliberation sat and publick care;

      And Princely counsel in his face yet shon,

      Majestick though in ruin: sage he stood

      With Atlantean shoulders fit to bear

      The weight of mightiest Monarchies; his look

      Drew audience and attention still as Night

      Or Summers Noon-tide air, while thus he spake.

      Thrones and imperial Powers, off-spring of heav’n,

      Ethereal Vertues; or these Titles now

      Must we renounce, and changing stile be call’d

      Princes of Hell? for so the popular vote

      Inclines, here to continue, and build up here

      A growing Empire; doubtless; while we dream,

      And know not that the King of Heav’n hath doom’d

      This place our dungeon, not our safe retreat

      Beyond his Potent arm, to live exempt

      From Heav’ns high jurisdiction, in new League

      Banded against his Throne, but to remaine

      In strictest bondage, though thus far remov’d,

      Under th’ inevitable curb, reserv’d

      His captive multitude: For he, be sure,

      In highth or depth, still first and last will Reign

      Sole King, and of his Kingdom loose no part

      By our revolt, but over Hell extend

      His Empire, and with Iron Scepter rule

      Us here, as with his Golden those in Heav’n.

      What sit we then projecting Peace and Warr?

      Warr hath determin’d us, and foild with loss

      Irreparable; tearms of peace yet none

      Voutsaf’t or sought; for what peace will be giv’n

      To us enslav’d, but custody severe,

      And stripes, and arbitrary punishment

      Inflicted? and what peace can we return,

      But to our power hostility and hate,

      Untam’d reluctance, and revenge though slow,

      Yet ever plotting how the Conquerour least

      May reap his conquest, and may least rejoyce

      In doing what we most in suffering feel?

      Nor will occasion want, nor shall we need

      With dangerous expedition to invade

      Heav’n, whose high walls fear no assault or Siege,

      Or ambush from the Deep. What if we find

      Some easier enterprize? There is a place

      (If ancient and prophetic fame in Heav’n

      Err not) another World, the happy seat

      Of som new Race call’d Man, about this time

      To be created like to us, though less

      In power and excellence, but favour’d more

      Of him who rules above; so was his СКАЧАТЬ