Concocted and adufted they reduc'd
To blackeft grain, and into ftore convey'd ;
Part hidden veins digg'd up (nor hath this earth
Intrails unlike) of mineral and ftone,
Whereof to found their engines and their balls
Of miffive ruin; part incentive reed
Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire.
So all ere day-fpring, under confcious night,
Look'd round, and scouts each coaft light-armed fcour, Each quarter, to defcry the distant foe,
Where lodg'd, or whether fled, or if for fight,
In motion or in halt: him foon they met
Under fpread enfigns moving nigh, in flow
But firm battalion; back with speedieft fail
Zophiel, of cherubim the swiftest wing,
Came flying, 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 fecare: let each
His adamantine 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 drizzling fhower,
But rattling form 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 move imbattled: when behold
Not diftant far with heavy pace the foe
Approaching grofs and huge, in hollow cube
Training his devilish engin'ry, 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 see who hate us, how we feek
Peace and compofure, and with open breaft
Stand ready to receive them, if they like
Our overture, and turn not back perverse:
But that I doubt; however, witness heaven,
Heaven witness thou anon, while we discharge
Freely on our part; ye who appointed ftand,
Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch
What we propound, and loud that all may hear.
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 discover'd, new and ftrange,
A triple mounted row of pillars laid
On wheels (for like to pillars most they feem'd,
Or hollow'd bodies made of oak or fir,
With branches lopt, in wood or mountain fell'd) 575
Brafs, iron, ftony mould, had not their mouths
With hideous orifice gap'd on us wide,
Portending hollow truce: at each behind
A feraph stood, and in his hand a reed..
Held waving tipt with fire; while we fufpenfe, 580
Collected food 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 heaven appear'd,
From thefe deep-throated engines belch'd, whofe roar
Imbowel'd with outrageous noife the air,
And all her intrails tore, difgorging foul
Their devilith 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,
Tho' ftanding else as rocks, but down they fell
By thousands, angel on archangel roll'd;
The fooner for their arms; unarm'd they might 595
Have eafily, as fpi'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 defpis'd,
And to their fots 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 caH'd..
O friends, why come not on thefe victors proud? Ere while they fierce were coming; and when we, To entertain them fair with open front
And breast, (what could we more?) propounded terms Of compofition, firait they chang'd their minds, Flew off, and into ftrange vagaries fell,
As they would dance; yet for a dance they feem'd Somewhat extravagant and wild, perhaps
For joy of offer'd peace: but I fuppofe,
If our proposals 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,
Such as we might perceive amus'd them all,
And stumbled many: who receives them right,
Had need from head to foot well underftand;
Not understood, this gift they have befides,
They fhow us when our foes walk not upright.
So they among themselves in pleasant vein
Stood fcoffing, heighten'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 flood
A while in trouble: but they ftood not long;
Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms Against fuch hellish mifchief fit to' oppose. 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 light'ning glimpse they ran, they flew,
From their foundations loos'ning to and fro,
They pluck'd the feated hills, with all their load,
Rocks, waters, woods, and by the fhaggy tops 645
Up-lifting bore them in their hands
Amaze,
Be fure, and terror, feiz'd the rebel-hoft,
When coming towards them fo dread they faw
The bottom of the mountains upward turn'd;
Till on thofe curfed engines triple-row
They faw them whelm'd, and all their confidence
Under the weight of mountains buried deep;
Themfelves 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, crufh'd in and bruis'd
Into their fubftance pent, which wrought them pain
Implacable, and many a dolorous groan,
Long ftruggling underneath, ere they could wind
Out of fuch prifon, tho' fpi'rits of pureft light,
Pureft at firft, 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 dismal shade;
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 heaven fecure,
Confulting on the fum of things, foreseen
This tumult, and permitted all, advis'd :
That his great purpose he might fo fulfil,
To honour his anointed Son aveng'd
Upon his enemies, and to declare
All power on him transferr'd: whence to his Son, Th' affeffor of his throne, he thus began. Effulgence of my glory, Son belov❜d,
Son in whofe face invifible is beheld
Vifibly, what by deity I am,
And in whofe hand what by decree I do,
Second Omnipotence, two days are past,
Two days, as we compute the days of heaven, 685
Since Michael and his powers went forth to tame
These disobedient: fore hath been their fight,
As likelieft was, when two fuch foes met arm'd;
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