Thou hadst: whom hast thou then or what to accuse,

Th Omnipotent. Ay me, they little know

While they adore me on the Throne of Hell,

Nay cursd be thou; since against his thy will

Infinite wrauth, and infinite despaire?

Which way I flie is Hell; my self am Hell; [ 75 ]

Me some inferiour Angel, I had stood

But say I could r九*九*藏*书*网epent and could obtaine

Then happie; no unbounded hope had raisd [ 60 ]

O had his powerful Destiny ordaind

By Act of Grace my former state; how soon

O then at last relent: is there no place

Left for Repentance, none for Pardon left? [ 80 ]

To me alike, it deals eternal woe. [ 70 ]

And heavier fall: so should I purchase deare

Under what torments inwardly I groane:

Drawn to his part; but other Powers as great

How dearly I abide that boast so vaine,

The lower still I fall, onely Supream

Where wounds of deadly hate have peircd so deep:

Hadst thou the same free Will and Power to stand?

Would higth recall high thoughts, h99lib•netow soon unsay [ 95 ]

Be then his Love accurst, since love or hate,

Me miserable! which way shall I flie

For never can true reconcilement grow

Chose freely what it now so justly rues.

Which would but lead me to a worse relapse [ 100 ]

Ambition. Yet why not? som other Power

With Diadem and Sceptre high advancd [ 90 ]

Short in九九藏书网termission bought with double smart.

As great might have aspird, and me though mean

But Heavns free Love dealt equally to all?

None left but by submission; and that word

Still threatning to devour me opens wide,

To which the Hell I suffer seems a Heavn.

With other promises and other vaunts

In miserie; such joy Ambition findes.

Or f藏书网rom without, to all temptations armd. [ 65 ]

Vows made in pain, as violent and void.

Among the Spirits beneath, whom I seducd

Fell not, but stand unshakn, from within

What feignd submission swore: ease would recant

And in the lowest deep a lower deep

Then to submit, boasting I could subdue [ 85 ]

Disdain forbids me, and my dread of shame