Although he realizes these spirits have forfeited heaven to follow him, he experiences merely a passing remorse ere he declares the strife they waged was not inglorious, and that although once defeated they may yet repossess their native seat.  He suggests that, as they now know the exact force of their opponent and are satisfied they cannot overcome him by force, they damage the new world which the Almighty has recently created, for submission is unthinkable weakness.

To make their new quarters habitable, the fallen angels, under Mammon’s direction, mine gold from the neighboring hills and mould, it into bricks, wherewith they erect Pandemonium, “the high capitol of Satan and his peers.”  This hall, constructed with speed and ease, is brightly illuminated by means of naphtha, and, after Satan and his staff have entered, the other fallen angels crowd beneath its roof in the shape of pygmies, and “the great consult” begins.

Book II. On a throne of dazzling splendor sits Satan, surrounded by his peers.  Addressing his followers, he declares that, having forfeited the highest position, he has lost more than they, and that, since he suffers the greatest pain, none will envy him his preeminence.  When he bids them suggest what they shall do, Moloch votes in favor of war, stirring up his companions with a belligerent speech.  Belial, who is versed in making “the worse appear the better reason,” urges guile instead of warfare, for they have tested the power of the Almighty and know he can easily outwit their plans.  In his turn, Mammon favors neither force nor guile, but suggests that, since riches abound in this region, they content themselves with piling up treasures.

All having been heard, the fallen angels decide, since it is impossible again to face Michael’s dreaded sword, they will adopt Beelzebub’s suggestion and try and find out whether they cannot settle more comfortably in the recently created world.  This decided, Satan inquires who will undertake to reconnoitre, and, as no one volunteers, declares that the mission of greatest difficulty and danger rightly belongs to him, bidding the fallen angels meanwhile keep watch lest further ill befall them.  This decision is so enthusiastically applauded that ever since an overwhelming tumult has been termed “Pandemonium,” like Satan’s hall.

The “consult” ended, the angels resume their wonted size and scatter through hell, some exploring its recesses, where they discover huge rivers, regions of fire and ice, and hideous monsters, while others beguile their time by arguing of “foreknowledge, will, fate,” and discussing questions of philosophy, or join in antiphonal songs.