How overcome this dire calamity;
What reinforcement we may gain from hope;
If not, what resolution from despair."

Striding through parting flames to a neighboring hill, Satan gazes
around him, contrasting the mournful gloom of this abode with the
refulgent light to which he has been accustomed, and, notwithstanding
the bitter contrast, concluding, "it is better to reign in hell than
serve in heaven," ere he bids Beelzebub call the fallen angels.

His moon-like shield behind him, Beelzebub summons the legions lying
on the asphalt lake, "thick as autumn leaves that strew the brooks of
Vallombroso." Like guilty sentinels caught sleeping, they hastily
arise, and, numerous as the locusts which ravaged Egypt, flutter
around the cope of hell before alighting at their master's feet.
Among them Milton descries various idols, later to be worshipped in
Palestine, Egypt, and Greece. Then, contrasting the downcast
appearance of this host with its brilliancy in heaven, he goes on to
describe how they saluted Satan's banner with "a shout that tore
hell's conclave and beyond frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night."
Next, their standards fluttering in the breeze, they perform their
wonted evolutions, and Satan, seeing so mighty a host still at his
disposal, feels his heart distend with pride.

Although he realizes these spirits have forfeited heaven to follow
him, he experiences merely a passing remorse ere he declares the
strife they waged was not inglorious, and that although once defeated
they may yet repossess their native seat. He suggests that, as they
now know the exact force of their opponent and are satisfied they
cannot overcome him by force, they damage the new world which the