Under spread enfigns moving nigh, in flow But firm battalion; back with speediest fail Zophiel, of Cherubim the swiftest 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 pursuit 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 shield, 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 themfelves, and foon
In order, quit of all impediment;
Instant 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 stood 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 see who hate us, how we seek Peace and composure, 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 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 strange, A triple mounted row of pillars laid
On wheels (for like to pillars most 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 fufpenfe Collected flood 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 fmoke, all Heav'n appear'd, From thofe 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 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 Arch-Angel roll'd;
The fooner for their arms; unarm'd they might 595 Have easily as Spi'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 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 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 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 strange vagaries fell,
As they would dance; yet for a dance they seem'd 615 Somewhat extravagant and wild, perhaps
For joy of offer'd peace: but I fuppose, If our propofals once again were heard, We should compel them to a quick result.
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, VOL. I.
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 show us when our foes walk not upright.
So they among themselves in pleasant vein Stood fcoffing, highten'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 fcorn,
And all his hoft derided, while they stood A while in trouble: but they stood not long;
Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms 635 Against fuch hellish mischief fit to' oppofe. 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 Of pleasure fituate in hill and dale) Light as the lightning glimpse they ran, they flew ; From their foundations loofning to and fro They pluck'd the feated hills with all their load, Rocks, waters, woods, and by the shaggy tops Up-lifting bore them in their hands: Amaze, Be fure, and terror feis'd the rebel hoft, When coming towards them fo dread they faw ́ The bottom of the mountains upward turn'd; Till on those curfed engins triple-row They faw them whelm'd, and all their confidence Under the weight of mountains buried deep;
Themselves invaded next, and on their heads Main promontories flung, which in the air
Came fhadowing, and opprefs'd whole legions arm'd; Their armour help'd their harm, crush'd in and bruis'd Into their fubftance pent, which wrought them pain Implacable, and many a dolorous groan,
Long ftrugling underneath, ere they could wind Out of fuch pris'n, though Spi'rits of pureft light, 660 Pureft at first, now grofs by finning grown.
The reft in imitation to like arms
Betook them, and the neighb'ring hills uptore;
So hills amid the air encounter'd hills
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 overspread; Had not th' almighty Father, where he fits Shrin'd in his fanctuary of Heav'n fecure, Confulting on the fum of things, foreseen This tumult, and permitted all, advis'd: That his great purpose he might fo fulfil, To honor his anointed Son aveng'd
Upon his enemies, and to declare
All pow'r on him transferr'd: whence to his Son Th' affeffor of his throne he thus began.
Effulgence of my glory, Son befov'd, Son in whofe face invifible is beheld
Vifibly, what by deity I am,
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