Warr therefore, open or conceald, alike

My voice disswades; for what can force or guile

With him, or who deceive his mind, whose eye

Views all things at one view? he from heavns highth [ 190 ]

All these our motions vain, sees and derides;

Not more Almighty to resist our might

Then wise to frustrate all our plots and wiles.

Shall we then live thus vile, the race of Heavn

Thus trampld, thus expelld to suffer here [ 195 ]

Chains and these Torments? better these then worse

By my advice; since fate inevitable

Subdues us, and Omnipotent Decree

The Victors will. To suffer, as to doe,

Our strength is equal, nor the Law unjust [ 200 ]

That so ordains: this was at first resolvd,

If we were wise, against so great a foe

Contending, and so doubtful what might fall.

I laugh, when those who at the Spear are bold

And ventrous, if that fail them, shrink and fear [ 205 ]

What yet they know must follow, to endure

Exile, or ignominy, or bonds, or pain,

The sentence of thir Conquerour: This is now

Our doom; which if we can sustain and bear,

Our Supream Foe in time may much remit [ 210 ]

His anger, and perhaps thus farr removd

Not mind us not offending, satisfid

With what is punisht; whence these raging fires

Will slackn, if his breath stir not thir flames.

Our purer essence then will overcome [ 215 ]

Thir noxious vapour, or enurd not feel,

Or changd at length, and to the place conformd

In temper and in nature, will receive

Familiar the fierce heat, and void of pain;

This horror will grow milde, this darkness light, [ 220 ]

Besides what hope the never-ending flight

Of future dayes may bring, what chance, what change

Worth waiting, since our present lot appeers

For happy though but ill, for ill not worst,

If we procure not to our selves more woe. [ 225 ]