Hail, horrors! hail, infernal world! and thou, profoundest Hell, receive thy new possessor
one who brings a mind not to be changed by place or time.
The mind is its own place, and in itself
can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.
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: Here we may reigh secure;
and, in my choice, to reign is worth ambition,
though in Hell: better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.
one who brings a mind not to be changed by place or time.
The mind is its own place, and in itself
can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven.
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: Here we may reigh secure;
and, in my choice, to reign is worth ambition,
though in Hell: better to reign in Hell than serve in Heaven.