To noon he fell, from noon to dewy.eve,
A summer's day; and with the setting sun
Dropt from the zenith like a falling star,
On Lemnos th' Ægean ile : thus they relate,
Erring; for he with this rebellious rout
Fell long before; nor ought avail'd him now
T'have built in Heav'n high tow'rs; nor did he 'scape
By all his engins, but was headlong sent
With his industrious crew to build in Hell.

Mean whilc the winged heralds by command
Of fovran pow'r, with awful ceremony
And trumpet's found, throughout the hoft proclame
A solemn council forthwith to be held
At Pandemonium, the high capital
Of Satan and his peers: their summons callid
From
every

band and squared regiment By place or choice the worthieft; they anon With hundreds and with thousands trooping came Attended : all access was throng'd, the gates And porches wide, but chief the spacious hall (Though like a cover'd field, where champions bold" Wont ride in arm’d, and at the Soldan's chair Defy'd the best of Panim chivalry To mortal combat, or career with lance) Thick swarm’d, both on the ground and in the air Brush'd with the hiss of rusling winds. As bees In spring time, when the fun with Taurus rides, Pour forth thieir populous youth about the hive In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers Fly to and fro, or on the imocthed plank;

The

The suburb of their straw-built citadel,
New rubb'd with balm, expatiate and confer
Their state affairs. So thick the aery croud
Swarm’d and were straiten’d; till, the signal given,
Behold a wonder! they but now who seem'd
In bigness to surpass earth's giant fons,
Now less than smallest dwarfs, in narrow room
Throng numberless, like that pygmean race
Beyond the Indian mount, or faery elves,
Whofe midnight revels by a forest fide
Or fountain fome belated peasant sees,
Or dreams he sees, while over-head the moon
Sits arbitress, and nearer to the earth
Wheels her pale course, they on their mirth and dance
Intent, with jocund music charm his ear;
At once wich joy and fear his heart rebounds.
Thus incorporeal Spi'rits to smallest forms
Reduc'd their shapes immense, and were at large,
Though without number still amidst the hall
Of that infernal court. But far within,
And in their own dimensions like themselves,
The great Seraphic Lords and Cherubim
In close recess and secret conclave fat
A thousand Demi-gods on golden seats,
Frequent and full. After short filence then
And summons read, the great consult began.

7.90)

THE END OF THE FIRST BOOK.

THE ARGUMENT.

The consultation begun, Satan debates whether another battel be to be hazarded for the recovery of Heaven: Some advise it, others dissuade: A third proposal is preferr’d, mention'd before by Satan, to Learch the truth of that prophecy or tradition in Heaven concerning another world, and another kind of creature equal or not much inferior to themselves, about this time to be created : Their doubt who shall be sent on this difficult search: Satan their chief undertakes alone the voyage, is honor'd and applauded. T council thus ended, the rest betake them several ways, and to several employments, as their inclinations lead them, to entertain the time till Satan return. He passes on his journey to Hell gates, finds them shut, and who late there to guard them, by whom at length they are open'd, and discover to him the great gulf between Hell and Heaven; with what difficulty he passes through, directed by Chaos, the Power of that place, to the fight of this new world which he fought.