When Satan opens the debate at Pandemonium, asking if they were to proceed against God by "open war or covert guile", Moloch speaks with desperate energy:
My sentence is for open war.
He cannot boast of cunning, and it seems shameful to him that millions ready for battle should linger in a tyrant's prison while a few only of the rebel angels "sit contriving". God must not be made secure by their delay. Let them turn their tortures into arms against the Torturer, and bring thunder and lightning, dark flames and Tartarean sulphur against the high towers of Heaven. Some may say that it is difficult for them to rise from the depths, but, as angels, upward motion is natural to them.. Can they not recall how laborious it was for them to descend to Hell, even when such descent was their only escape from fierce pursuit? But if ascent is easy, there are still those who fear the result of a second attack against a stronger foe. Suppose God found worse vengeance against them ? Yet what could be worse than their present torment? "Without hope of end" they must suffer "pain of unextinguishable fire". If their punishment were to be made worse, they would be quite consumed. Let them dare the utmost anger of their opponent. Better be nothing than to dwell in endless misery. If their substance is divine and so indestructible, then the more reason to harass Heaven's kingdom, even if they cannot disturb God's throne.
He ended frowning and his look denounced
Desperate revenge, and battle dangerous
To less than Gods.
