milton's republic

not naming the monster will not harm its calling
beyond this lonely place the vagaries of thought
the starkest gap there is twixt is and ought
behold it now in appearance like lucifer falling
in paradise lost a sort of pandæmonic stalling
before we see what that revolt had brought
an idea of independence not quite yet caught
and on the floor of hell are infant demons crawling
awaiting their rebukes or their commands
sent forth from what had been the only place
till all at once the world was given being
and now in hell's hot space and dreary sands
each devil takes upon itself a proper fare
and realises it has found the truest seeing