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 heaven
But he that hides a dark soul and foul thoughts benighted walks under the mid-day sun; Himself is his own dungeon.
More safe I sing with mortal voice, unchanged / To hoarse or mute though fall'n on evil days, / On evil days though fall'n, and evil tongues; / In darkness, and with dangers compassed round, / And solitude.
Yet beauty, though injurious, hath strange power, After offense returning, to regain Love once possess'd
Still govern thou my song, / Urania, and fit audience find, though few.
All is best, though we oft doubt, / What the unsearchable dispose.
To reign is worth ambition though in hell: Better to reign in hell, than serve in heav'n
Virtue could see to do what Virtue would / By her own radiant light, though sun and moon / Were in the flat sea sunk.