He comes, and fettled in his face I fee
Sad refolution, and fecure. Let each
His adamantine coat gird well, and each
Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield, Born ev'n, or high; for, this day will pour down, If I conjecture ought, no drizling show'r,
But ratling ftorm of arrows barb'd with fire.
So warn'd he them, aware themselves; and foon In order, quit of all impediment,
Instant, without disturb, they took alarm;
And onward move embattell'd: when behold! 550 Not diftant far with heavy pace the foe Approaching grofs, and huge; in hollow cube Training his devilish enginry, im-pal'd On ev'ry fide with fhadowing squadrons deep, To hide the fraud. At interview both ftood A-while; but fuddenly at head appear'd Satan; and thus was heard commanding loud. · Van-guard! to right, and left, the Front unfold; That all may fee, who hate us, how we feek Peace, and compofure; and with open breast 560 Stand ready to receive them, if they like Our overture, and turn not back perverse. But, that I doubt: however witness heav'n! 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 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 difcover'd (new, and strange!) A triple mounted row of pillars, laid
On wheels (for like to pillars moft they seem'd, Or hollow'd bodies made of oak, or fir, With branches lop'd, in wood or mountain fell’d) Brass, iron, ftony mold; had not their mouths 576 With hideous orifice gap'd on us wide, Portending hollow truce: at each behind A Seraph stood, and in his hand a reed Stood waving tip'd with fire; while we fufpenfe, 580 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 nicest touch. Immediate in a flame, (But foon obfcur'd with smoke) all heav'n appear'd, From those deep-throated engins belch'd, whose roar Embowel'd with outragious noise the air, And all her entrails tore; difgorging foul Their devilish glut, chain'd thunder-bolts, and hail Of iron globes, which on the victor hoft Levell'd, with fuch impetuous fury smote, That whom they hit, none on their feet might stand, Though ftanding elfe as rocks; but down they fell By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rowl'd; The fooner for their arms; (unarm'd they might Have eafily, as fpirits, 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 rush'd, repulfe Repeated, and indecent overthrow Doubled, would render them yet more defpis'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? E'er while they fierce were coming, and when we To entertain them fair with open front, 613 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 Somewhat extravagant, and wild: perhaps For joy of offer'd peace: but I suppose, If our proposals once again were heard, We should compel them to a quick refult.
To whom thus Belial, in like gamesome mood: 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; 625 Not understood, this gift they have befides, They fhew 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 scorn, 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 Against fuch hellish mischief fit t' oppose. Forthwith (behold the excellence, the pow'r Which God hath in his mighty Angels plac'd!) Their arms away they threw, and to the hills (For earth hath this variety from heav'n, Of pleasure situate 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 shaggy 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 engins' triple-row They saw them whelm'd, and all their confidence Under the weight of mountains bury'd deep: Themselves invaded next, and on their heads Main promontories flung, which in the air Came fhadowing, and oppreft whole legions arm'd: Their armor 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 ftrugling underneath, e'er they could wind
Out of fuch prifon, though spirits of pureft light: (Pureft at first, now grofs by finning grown) 661 The reft, in imitation, to like arms Betook them, and the neighb'ring hills up tore: So, hills a-mid the air en-counter'd hills, Hurl'd to, and fro, with jaculation dire; That under ground they fought in dismal fhade; Infernal noife! war feem'd a civil game To this uproar; horrid confufion heap'd Upon confufion rofe. And now all heav'n Had gone to wreck, with ruin over-spread, Had not th' Almighty Father, where He fits Shrin'd in His fanctuary of heav'n fecure, Confulting on the fum of things, fore-feen This tumult, and permitted all, advis'd: That His great purpose He might so fulfil, To honor His Anointed Son, aveng'd
All pow'r 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 invisible 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 heav'n) 685 Since Michael, and his Pow'rs, went forth to tame Thefe difobedient: fore hath been their fight, As likelieft was, when two fuch foes met arm'd: For to themselves I left them; and Thou know'ft,
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