According to The Poems of Milton, the theme of a preference for being the ruler in a miserable place than to serve in a heavenly one appears in many works of literature:

     Homerís Odyssey, XI 488:ìbetter a living swain than king of the deadî

     Plutarchís Life of Julius Caeser, XI 2: ìI would rather be first here [in a miserable barbarian village] than second in Rome.î

     Phineas Fletcherís Purple Island VII 10:  ìIn heaven they scorned to serve, no now in hell they reign.î

     Compare Satanís speech to Paradise Lost VI 183-4: Abdiel would rather serve in Heaven because Hell is a prison.

Meghan Haughey

Megsabelle@hotmail.com