Of this ethereous mold whereon we stand,
This continent of fpacious Heav'n, adorn'd
With plant, fruit, flow'r ambrofial, gems and gold; Whofe eye fo fuperficially furveys
These things, as not to mind from whence they grow Deep under ground, materials dark and crude, Of spiritous and fiery fpume, till touch'd
With Heaven's ray, and temper'd they fhoot forth 480 So beauteous, opening to the ambient light? These in their dark nativity the deep Shall yield us pregnant with infernal flame; Which into hollow engins long and round Thick-ramm'd, at th' other bore with touch of fire Dilated and infuriate, shall fend forth From far with thund'ring noise among our foes Such implements of mischief, as shall dash To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever stands Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarm'd The Thund'rer of his only dreaded bolt. Nor long fhall be our labor; yet ere dawn, Effect shall end our wifh. Mean while revive; Abandon fear; to ftrength and counsel join'd Think nothing hard, much less to be despair'd. 495 He ended, and his words their drooping chear Inlighten'd, and their languish'd hope reviv'd. Th' invention all admir'd, and each, how he To be th' inventor mifs'd; fo eafy' it seem'd
Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought Impoffible yet haply of thy race
In future days, if malice should abound,
Some one intent on mischief, or infpir'd With devilish machination, might devise Like instrument to plague the fons of men For fin, on war and mutual flaughter bent. Forthwith from council to the work they flew : None arguing ftood; innumerable hands Were ready; in a moment up they turn'd Wide the celestial foil, and faw beneath Th' originals of nature in their crude Conception; fulphurous and nitrous foam They found, they mingled, and with subtle art, Concocted and adufted they reduc'd
To blackest grain, and into store convey❜d: Part hidden veins digg'd up (nor hath this earth Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone, Whereof to found their engins and their balls Of miffive ruin; part incentive reed
Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire.
So all ere day-fpring, under conscious night,
Soon banded; others from the dawning hills
Each quarter, to defcry the distant foe,
Look'd round, and scouts each coaft light-armed feour,
Where lodg'd, or whither fled, or if for fight, In motion or in halt: him soon they met.
Under fpread enfigns moving nigh, in flow But firm battalion; back with fpeedieft fail Zophiel, of Cherubim the fwifteft wing, Came fly'ing, and in mid air aloud thus cry'd.
Arm, Warriors, arm for fight; the foe at hand, Whom fled we thought, will fave us long purfuit This day; fear not his flight; fo thick a cloud He comes, and fettled in his face I fee Sad refolution and fecure: let each His adamantin coat gird well, and each Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed fhield, Borne ev'n or high; for this day will pour down, If I conjecture ought, no drizling fhower,
But rattling ftorm of arrows barb'd with fire.
So warn'd he them aware themselves; and foon In order, quit of all impediment,
Inftant without disturb they took alarm,
And onward mov'd imbattel'd: when behold Not distant far with heavy pace the foe Approaching grofs and huge, in hollow cube Training his devilish enginry, impal'd On every fide with fhadowing fquadrons deep, To hide the Fraud. At interview both flood A while; but fuddenly 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 seek Peace and compofure, and with open breast Stand ready to receive them, if they like Our overture, and turn not back perverse;
But that I doubt; however witness Heaven, Heav'n witness thou anon, while we discharge Freely our part; ye who appointed stand, Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch What we propound, and loud that all may hear. So fcoffing in ambiguous words, he fcarce 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 seem'd, Or hollow'd bodies made of oak or fir,
With branches lopt, in wood or mountain fell'd) 575 Brafs, iron, ftony mold, 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 fuspense 580 Collected stood within our thoughts amus'd,
Not long, for fudden all at once their reeds Put forth, and to a narrow vent apply'd With niceft touch. Immediate in a flame, But foon obfcur'd with smoke, all Heav'n appear'd, From those deep-throated engins belch'd, whofe roar Imbowel'd with outrageous noise the air, And all her entrails tore, difgorging foul Their devilish glut, chain'd thunderbolts and hail Of iron globes; which on the victor hoft Level'd, with fuch impetuous fury fmote, That whom they hit, none on their feet might stand,
Though ftanding else as rocks, but down they fell By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel roll'd;
The fooner for their arms; unarm'd they might 595 Have eafily as Spi'rits evaded fwift
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 rufh'd, repulfe 600 Repeated; and indecent overthrow
Doubled, would render them yet more despis'd,
And to their foes a laughter; for in view Stood rank'd of Seraphim another row, In pofture to displode their second 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 these victors proud? Erewhile they fierce were coming; and when we, 610 To entertain them fair with open front
And breaft (what could we more?) propounded terms Of compofition, ftrait they chang'd their minds, Flew off, and into ftrange vagaries fell,
As they would dance; yet for a dance they feem'd 615 Somewhat extravagant and wild, perhaps
For joy of offer'd peace: but I fuppofe,
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,
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