Inftant without disturb they took alarm,
And onward move imbattled: when behold
Not distant far with heavy pace the foe
Approaching grofs and huge, in hollow cube
Training his devilifh enginery, impal'd
On every fide with fhadowing squadrons deep,
To hide the fraud. At interview both ftood
A while; but suddenly at head appear'd
Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud.
Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold;
That all may fee who hate us, how we feek
Peace and compofure, and with open breaft
Stand ready to receive them, if they like
Our overture, and turn not back perverse :
But that I doubt; however, witness heaven,
Heaven witness thou anon, while we' difcharge
Freely our part; ye who appointed stand,
Do as you have in charge, and briefly touchi
What we propound, and loud that all may hear.
So fcoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce
Had ended; when to right and left the front
Divided, and to either flank retir'd:
Which to our eyes difcover'd, new and ftrange,
A triple mounted row of pillars laid

On wheels (for like to pillars moft they feem'd,
Or hollow'd bodies made of oak or fir,

550

559

560

565

570

With branches lopt, in wood or mountain fell'd) 575
Brafs, iron, ftony mould, had not their mouths
With hideous orifice gap'd on us wide,
Portending hollow truce: at each behind

A Seraph ftood, and in his hand a reed

Stood waving tipt with fire; while we fufpenfe, 580
Collected ftood within our thoughts amus'd :

Not long ;
Put forth, and to a narrow vent apply'd

for fudden all at once their reeds

With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame,

But foon obfcur'd with fmoke, all heaven appear'd, From thefe deep-throated engines belch'd, whose roar Imbowel'd with outrageous noise the air,

590

And all her intrails tore, difgorging foul
Their devilish glut, chain'd thunderbolts, and hail
Of iron globes; which on the victor host
Level'd, with fuch impetuous fury smote,
That whom they hit, none on their feet might ftand,
Though ftanding elfe as rocks, but down they fell
By thousands, angel on archangel roll'd;
The fooner for their arms; unarm'd they might 595
Have eafily, as fpi'rits, evaded swift

By quick contraction or remove; but now
Foul diffipation follow'd, and forc'd rout;

Nor ferv'd it to relax their ferried files.

What should they do? if on they ruth'd, repulfe 600 Repeated, and indecent overthrow

Doubled, would render them yet more defpis'd,

And to their foes a laughter; for in view
Stood rank'd of Seraphim another row,
In pofture to difplode their fecond tire
Of thunder: back defeated to return

They worse abhorr'd. Satan beheld their plight,
And to his mates thus in derifion call'd.

O friends, why come not on thefe victors proud? Ere while they fierce were coming; and when we, To entertain them fair with open front

605

611

And breaft, (what could we more?), propounded terms Of compofition, ftrait they chang'd their minds, Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell,

616

As they would dance; yet for a dance they feem'd
Somewhat extravagant and wild, perhaps
For joy of offer'd peace: but I suppose,
If our propofals once again were heard,

We should compel them to a quick refult.

To whom thus Belial, in like gamefome mood: 620
Leader, the terms we fent were terms of weight,
Of hard contents, and full of force urg'd home,
Such as we might perceive amus'd them all,
And stumbled many who receives them right,
Had need from head to foot well understand;
Not understood, this gift they have befides,

They fhow us when our foes walk not upright.
So they among themselves in pleasant vein

625

Stood fcoffing, heighten'd in their thoughts beyond All doubt of victory; eternal might

To match with their inventions they prefum'd

So eafy', and of his thunder made a scorn,
And all his hoft derided, while they ftood.

630

A while in trouble: but they ftood not long;

Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms Against fuch hellish mischief fit to' oppose.

636

Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power,

Which God hath in his mighty angels plac'd);

Their arms away they threw, and to the hills (For earth hath this variety from heaven

640

Of pleasure fituate in hill and dale)

645

Light as the light'ning glimpse they ran, they flew;
From their foundations loos'ning to and fro,
They pluck'd the feated hills, with all their load,
Rocks, waters,, woods, and by the fhaggy tops
Up-lifting bore them in their hands. Amaze,
Be fure, and terrour, feiz'd the rebel-hoft,
When coming towards them fo dread they faw
The bottom of the mountains upward turn'd;
Till on thofe curfed engines triple-row

They faw them whelm'd, and all their confidence
Under the weight of mountains buried deep;
Themfelves invaded next, and on their heads

650

654

Main promontories flung, which in the air
Came fhadowing, and opprefs'd whole legions arm'd;
Their armour help their harm, crush'd in and bruis'd
Into their fubftance pent, which wrought them pain.
Implacable, and many a dolorous groan,
Long ftruggling underneath, ere they could wind
Out of fuch pris'on, though fpi'rits of pureft light,
Purest at first, now grofs by finning grown.

661

The reft, in imitation, to like arms

Betook them, and the neighb'ring hills uptore:
So hills amid the air encounter'd hills

665

Hurl'd to and fro with jaculation dire,

That under ground they fought in difmal fhade;
Infernal noife; war feem'd a civil game
To this uproar; horrid confufion heap'd
Upon confufion rofe. And now all heaven
Had gone to wrack, with ruin overfpread;
Had not th' almighty Father, where he fits
Shrin'd in his fanctuary of heaven fecure,
Confulting on the fum of things, foreseen.
This tumult, and permitted all, advis'd:
That his great purpose he might fo fulfil,
To honour his Anointed Son aveng'd
Upon his enemies, and to declare

All power on him transferr'd: whence to his Son,
Th' affeffor of his throne, he thus began.

Effulgence of my glory, Son belov❜d,

Son in whofe face invifible is beheld

Vifibly, what by deity I am,

And in whofe hand what by decree I do,
Second Omnipotence, two days are past,

675

680

Two days, as we compute the days of heaven, 685
Since Michael and his powers went forth to tame
These disobedient: fore hath been their fight,
As likelieft was, when two fuch foes met arm'd;

For to themselves I left them; and thou know'st,

Equal in their creation they were form'd,

690

Save what fin hath impair'd; which yet hath wrought

Infenfibly, for I fufpend their doom;

Whence in perpetual fight they needs must last
Endlefs, and no folution will be found:

War wearied hath perform'd what war can do, 695
And to disorder'd rage let loose the reins,

700

With mountains as with weapons arm'd; which makes
Wild work in heaven, and dange'rous to the main.
Two days are therefore paft, the third is thine;
For thee I have ordain'd it, and thus far
Have fuffer'd, that the glory may be thine
Of ending this great war, fince none but thou
Can end it. Into thee fuch virtue' and grace
Immenfe I have transfus'd, that all may know
In heav'n and hell thy power above compare;
And this perverfe commotion govern'd thus,
To manifeft thee worthieft to be Heir

705

Of all things, to be Heir, and to be King
By facred unction, thy deferved right.

Go then, thou Mightieft, in thy Father's might, 710 Afcend my chariot, guide the rapid wheels

That shake heaven's bafis, bring forth all my war,

My bow and thunder, my almighty arms
Gird on, and fword upon thy puiffant thigh;

Pursue these fons of darkness, drive them out
From all heaven's bounds into the utter deep:
There let them learn, as likes them, to defpife
God, and Meffiah his anointed King.

He said, and on his Son with rays direct
Shone full; he all his Father full exprefs'd
Ineffably into his face receiv'd;
And thus the Filial Godhead anfw'ring spake.
O Father, O Supreme of heavenly Thrones,

715

720