360

Afsume, as likes them best, condense or rare.

Mean while in other parts like deeds deserv'd Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, 355 And with fierce ensigns pierc'd the deep array Of Moloch furious king; who him defyd, And at his chariot wheels to drag him bound Threatend, nor from the Holy One of Heaven Refrain’d his tongue blasphemous; but anon Down cloven to the waste, with flatter'd arms And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing Uriel and Raphaël his vaunting foe, Though huge, and in a rock of diamond arm’d, Vanquish'd Adramelech, and Asmadai,

365 Two potent thrones, that to be less than Gods Disdain'd, but meaner thoughts learn’d in their flight, Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail. Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow

370 Ariel and Arioch, and the violence Of Ramiel scorch'd and blasted overthrew. I might relate of thousands, and their names Eternize here on earth; but those elect 'Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven, 375 Seek not the praise of men: the other fort, In might though wondrous and in acts of war, Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom Cancel'd. from Heav'n and sacred memory, Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. 380 For strength from truth divided and from just, Illaudable, nought merits but dispraise

And

And ignominy, yet to glory aspires
Vain-glorious, and through infamy secks fame:
Therefore eternal silence be their doom.

385
And now their mightiest quell’d, the battel swery'd,
With many an inroad gor’d; deformed rout
Enter'd, and foul disorder; all the ground
With shiver'd armour strown, and on a heap
Chariot and charioteer lay overturn'd,

390 And fiery foaming steeds; what stood, recoil'd O’er-wearied, through the faint Satanic host Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surpriz’d, Then first with fear surpriz’d and sense of pain, Fled ignominious, to such evil brought

395 By fin of disobedience, till that hour Not liable to fear or flight or pain. Far otherwise th’inviolable Saints In cubic phalanx firm advanc'd entire, Invulnerable, impenetrably arm'd;

400 Such high advantages their innocence Gave them above their foes; not to have sinn'd, Not to have disobey'd ; in fight they stood Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain'd By wound, though from their place by violence movid.

Now night her course began, and over Heaven Inducing darkness, grateful truce impos'd, And filence on the odious din of war; Under her claudy covert both retir'd, Victor and vanquish'd; on the foughten field 410 Michaël and his Angels prevalent Incamping, plac'd in guard their watches round,

Cherubic

Cherubic waving fires : on th’ other part
Satan with his rebellious disappear’d,
Far in the dark dislodg'd: and void of rest, 415
His potentates to council call’d by night;
And in the midst thus undismay'd began.

O now in danger try'd, now known in arms
Not to be overpow'rd, Companions dear,
Found worthy not of liberty alone,

420 Too mean pretence, but what we more affect, Honor, dominion, glory and renown; Who have sustain'd one day in doubtful fight (And if one day, why not eternal days ?) What Hcaven's Lord had pow'rfullest to send 425 Against us from about his throne, and judg'd Sufficient to subdue us to his will, But proves not fo: then fallible, it seems, Of future we may deem him, though till now Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly arm’d, 439 Some disadvantage we indur'd and pain, Till now not known, but known as soon contemn'd; Since now we find this our empyreal form Incapable of mortal injury, Imperishable, and though pierc'd with wound,

435 Soon closing, and by native vigor heal'd. Of evil then so small as casy think The remedy; perhaps more valid arms, Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us, and worse our foes, 440 Or equal what between us made the odds, In nature none; if other hidden cause

Left

Left them superior, while we can preserve
Unhurt our minds and understanding found,
Due search and consultation will disclose.

445
He fat; and in th' assembly next upstood
Nifroch, of Principalities the prime;
As one he stood escap'd from cruel fight,
Sore toil'd, his riven arms to havoc hewn,
And cloudy in aspect thus answ'ring fpake. 450
Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free
Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard
For Gods, and too unequal work we find,
Against unequal arms to fight in pain,
Against unpain'd, impaffive; from which evil

455 Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails Valor or strength, though matchless, quell'd with pain Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, But live content, which is the calmest life : But pain is perfect misery, the worst Of evils, and excessive, overturns All patience. He who therefore can invent With what more forcible we may offend 465 Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm Ourselves with like-defense, to me deserves No less than for deliverance what we owe.

Whereto with look compos’d Satan reply'd. Not uninvented that, which thou aright

470 Beliey'st so main to our success, I bring. Which of us who beholds the bright surface

Of

460

Of this ethereous mold whereon we stand,
This continent of spacious Heav'n, adorn'd
With plant, fruit, flow'r ambrosial, gems and gold ;
Whose eye fo fuperficially surveys
These things, as not to mind from whence they grow
Deep under ground, materials dark and crude,
Of fpiritous and fiery spume, till touch'd
With Heaven's ray, and temper’d they shoot 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 send 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

490
The Thund'rer of his only dreaded bolt.
Nor long shall be our labor; yet ere dawn,
Effect thall end our wish. Mean while revive;
Abandon fear; to strength 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 miss'd; so easy' it seem'd Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought Impossible: yet haply of thy race In future days, if malice should abound,

Some