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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,

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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;

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But

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 :

::

hear.

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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,

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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,

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That whom they hit, none on their feet might ftand,

Though

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.

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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

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;

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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;

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Themfelves

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,

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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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