525 " 515 “ To blackest grain, and into store convey'd : “ Part, hidden veins digg'd up (nor hath this earth “Of missive ruin: part incentive reed “So all, ere day-spring, under conscious night “Now when fair morn orient in heaven appear'd, “ Look'd round, and scouts each coast light-armed scour530 “ Each quarter, to descry the distant foe “ Where lodg’d, or whither fied, or if for fight, “But firm battalion. Back with speediest sail “Arm, warriors-arm for fight! the foe at hand, “ • Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit " . This day: fear not his flight; so thick a cloud 540 “. He comes, and settled in his face I see "Sad resolution, and secure. Let each “Borne even, or high; for this day will pour down, 545 “If I conjecture aught, no drizzling shower, •• But rattling storm of arrows barb’d with fire.' “So warn'd he them, aware themselves; and soon “ In order, quit of all impediment, “ Instant without disturb they took alarm, Not distant far with heavy pace the foe 555 Training his devilish engin'ry, impal’d “ • Vanguard! to right and left the front unfold; “That all may see who hate us, how we seek 560 “ Peace and composure: and, with open breast, « Our overture, and turn not back perverse ; “ Heaven witness thou anon, while we discharge 565 Freely our part! Ye, who appointed stand, “Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch “So scoffing in ambiguous words, he scarce “Had ended; when to right and left the front 570 “ Divided, and to either flank retir'd: “ Which to our eyes discover'd, new and strange, “ Or hollow'd bodies made of oak, or fir, “ Brass, iron, stony mould; had not their mouths “A Seraph stood, and in his hand a reed “ Collected stood within our thoughts amus'd; “ With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame, 585 “But soon obscur'd with smoke, all heaven appear'd, “From those deep-throated engines belch’d, whose roar “ Their devilish glut-chain'd thunderbolts and hail 590 “ Of iron globes, which, on the victor host Levell’d, with such impetuous fury smote, “ That, whom they hit, none on their feet might stand, Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell “ By thousands-angel on archangel roll’d595 “ The sooner for their arms: unarm'd, they might “Have easily, as spirits, evaded swift By quick contraction, or remove; but now “Foul dissipation follow'd, and forc'd rout; “ Nor serv'd it to relax their serried files. “Repeated, and indecent overthrow “ Stood rank'd of Seraphim another row, 605 “ In posture to displode their second tire “Of thunder: back defeated to return “O friends! why come not on these victors proud ? 610 “Erewhile they fierce were coming; and when we, "• To entertain them fair with open front “And breast, (what could we more?) propounded terms “Of composition, straight they chang’d their minds, " • Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell, 615 “As they would dance; yet for a dance they seem'd “Somewhat extravagant and wild; perhaps “ To whom thus Belial, in like gamesome mood: "" And stumbled many: who receives them right, 625 “Had need from head to foot well understand; “Not understood, this gift they have besides “So they amongst themselves in pleasant vein a 6 620 635 “Stood scoffing, heightend in their thoughts beyond 630 “ All doubt of victory: eternal Might “ To match with their inventions they presum'd Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms “ Their arms away they threw, and to the hills 640" (For earth hath this variety from heaven “Of pleasure, situate in hill and dale,) They pluck'd the seated hills, with all their load645 “Rocks, waters, woods; and, by the shaggy tops “ Uplifting, bore them in their hands. Amaze, “ The bottom of the mountains upward turn'd ; 650 “ Till on those cursed engines' triple row “ They saw them whelm'd, and all their confidence “ Main promontories flung, which in the air 655 “ Came shadowing, and oppress'd whole legions arm'd : “ Their armour help'd their harm, crush'd in and bruis'd “ Into their substance pent, which wrought them pain Implacable, and many a dolorous groan, “Long struggling underneath, ere they could wind 660 “Out of such prison, though spirits of purest light- “ So hills amid the air encounter'd hills, 665 “Hurl'd to and fro with jaculation dire; “ That underground they fought in dismal shade: 66 680 “ Infernal noise! war seem'd a civil game “ Upon confusion rose. And now all heaven 670 “ Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspread, “ Had not the Almighty Father, where he sits “ This tumult, and permitted all, advis’d; 675 “ That his great purpose he might so fulfil, " To honour his anointed Son, aveng'd Upon his enemies, and to declare “. Effulgence of my glory, Son belov'd ! Visibly what by Deity I am, "Second omnipotence! two days are past, 685 “(Two days, as we compute the days of heaven,) " For to themselves I left them: and thou know'st 690 “Equal in their creation they were form'd, “« Save what sin hath impair'd; which yet hath wrought Insensibly, for I suspend their doom : 6. Endless, and no solution will be found. “" And to disorder'd rage let loose the reins, “ • Two days are therefore past, the third is thine: 700 " For thee I have ordain'd it: and thus far «• Have suffer'd, that the glory may be thine |