Lucie's Lament (Paradise Lost)

[Verse 1] Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime? This the seat That we must change for Heav'n, this mournful gloom For that celestial light? Be it so, since he Who now is Sovran can dispose and bid What shall be right: fardest from him is best [Chorus] Whom reason hath equald, force hath made supreme Above his equals. Farewel happy Fields Where Joy forever dwells: Hail horrors, hail Infernal world, and thou profoundest Hell Receive thy new Possessor: One who brings A mind not to be chang'd by Place or Time. [Verse 2] The mind is its own place, and in itself Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n. What matter where, if I be still the same, And what I should be, all but less than he Whom Thunder hath made greater? Here at least We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: [Chorus] Here we may reign secure, and in my choice To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n. But wherefore let we then our faithful friends, Th' associates and copartners of our loss Lie thus astonisht on th' oblivious Pool, [Bridge] And call them not to share with us their part In this unhappy Mansion, or once more With rallied Arms to try what may be yet Regaind in Heav'n, or what more lost in Hell? [Outro] Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime? This the seat That we must change for Heav'n, this mournful gloom For that celestial light? [Instrumental] [Verse 2] The mind is its own place, and in itself Can make a Heav'n of Hell, a Hell of Heav'n. What matter where, if I be still the same, And what I should be, all but less than he Whom Thunder hath made greater? Here at least We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us hence: [Chorus] Here we may reign secure, and in my choice To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n. But wherefore let we then our faithful friends, Th' associates and copartners of our loss Lie thus astonisht on th' oblivious Pool, [Bridge] And call them not to share with us their part In this unhappy Mansion, or once more With rallied Arms to try what may be yet Regaind in Heav'n, or what more lost in Hell? [Outro] Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime? This the seat That we must change for Heav'n, this mournful gloom For that celestial light? And what I should be, all but less than he [Chorus] Whom Thunder hath made greater? Here at least We shall be free; th' Almighty hath not built Here for his envy, will not drive us he Here we may reign secure, and in my choice To reign is worth ambition though in Hell: Better to reign in Hell, than serve in Heav'n. But wherefore let we then our faithful friends, Th' associates and copartners of our loss Lie thus astonisht on th' oblivious Pool, [Bridge] And call them not to share with us their part In this unhappy Mansion, or once more With rallied Arms to try what may be yet Regaind in Heav'n, or what more lost in Hell? [Outro] Is this the Region, this the Soil, the Clime? This the seat That we must change for Heav'n, this mournful gloom For that celestial light? This the seat That we must change for Heav'n, this mournful gloom For that celestial light? [Violin instrumental] [End] [End]