Asap
the passage below is the first of satan's speeches. it takes place immediately after he and his rebellious angels are cast out of heaven and he finds himself sitting in hell beside beelzebub, his number two.

from book i (lines 72-156)

in utter darkness, and their portion set

as far removed from god and light of heaven

as from the center thrice to the utmost pole.

oh how unlike the place from whence they fell!

there the companions of his fall, overwhelmed

with floods and whirlwinds of tempestuous fire,

he soon discerns, and weltering by his side

one next himself in power, and next in crime,

long after known in palestine, and named

beelzebub. to whom the arch-enemy,

and thence in heaven called satan, with bold words

breaking the horrid silence thus began.

if thou beest he; but oh how fallen! how changed

from him, who in the happy realms of light

clothed with transcendent brightness didst outshine

myriads though bright: if he whom mutual league,

united thoughts and counsels, equal hope

and hazard in the glorious enterprise,

joined with me once, now misery hath joined

in equal ruin: into what pit thou seest

from what heighth fallen, so much the stronger proved

he with his thunder: and till then who knew

the force of those dire arms? yet not for those,

nor what the potent victor in his rage

can else inflict, do i repent or change,

though changed in outward luster; that fixed mind

and high disdain, from sense of injured merit,

that with the mightiest raised me to contend,

and to the fierce contention brought along

innumerable force of spirits armed

that durst dislike his reign, and me preferring,

his utmost power with adverse power opposed

in dubious battle on the plains of heaven,

and shook his throne. what though the field be lost?

all is not lost; the unconquerable will,

and study of revenge, immortal hate,

and courage never to submit or yield:

and what is else not to be overcome?

that glory never shall his wrath or might

extort from me. to bow and sue for grace

with suppliant knee, and deify his power,

who from the terror of this arm so late

doubted his empire, that were low indeed,

that were an ignominy and shame beneath

this downfall; since by fate the strength of gods

and this empyreal substance cannot fail,

since through experience of this great event

in arms not worse, in foresight much advanced,

we may with more successful hope resolve

to wage by force or guile eternal war

irreconcilable, to our grand foe,

who now triumphs, and in the excess of joy

sole reigning holds the tyranny of heaven.

so spake the apostate angel, though in pain,

vaunting aloud, but racked with deep despair:

and him thus answered soon his bold compeer.

oh prince, oh chief of many throned powers,

that led the embattled seraphim to war

under thy conduct, and in dreadful deeds

fearless, endangered heaven’s perpetual king;

and put to proof his high supremacy,

whether upheld by strength, or chance, or fate,

too well i see and rue the dire event,

that with sad overthrow and foul defeat

hath lost us heaven, and all this mighty host

in horrible destruction laid thus low,

as far as gods and heavenly essences

can perish: for the mind and spirit remains

invincible, and vigor soon returns,

though all our glory extinct, and happy state

here swallowed up in endless misery.

but what if he our conqueror, (whom i now

of force believe almighty, since no less

then such could have overpowered such force as ours)

have left us this our spirit and strength entire

strongly to suffer and support our pains,

that we may so suffice his vengeful ire,

or do him mightier service as his thralls

by right of war, what e're his business be

here in the heart of hell to work in fire,

or do his errands in the gloomy deep;

what can it then avail though yet we feel

strength undiminished, or eternal being

to undergo eternal punishment?

whereto with speedy words the arch-fiend replied.

respond to the following questions in your original post.

• what is your impression of satan?

• what is there to admire about him?

• what are his flaws?

• where is satan's logic questionable?

• why does satan think god won the war in heaven?

• what does satan think is worse than hell?

• what does satan think of his chances of fighting god now?