Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, But live content, which is the calmest life: But pain is perfect misery, the worst Of evils, and excessive, overturns
All patience. He who therefore can invent With what more forcible we may offend Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves No less than for deliverance what we owe. Whereto with look compos'd Satan reply'd. Not uninvented that, which thou aright Believ'st so main to our success, I bring. Which of us who beholds the bright surface Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand, This continent of spacious Heav'n, adorn'd With plant, fruit, flow'r ambrosial, gems and gold Whose eye so superficially surveys
These things, as not to mind from whence they grow Deep under ground, materials dark and crude, Of spirituous and fiery spume, till touch'd With Heaven's ray, and temper'd they shoot forth So beauteous, opening to the ambient light i These in their dark nativity the deep
Shall yield us pregnant with infernal flame; Which into hollow engines long and round
Thick ramm'd, at th' other bore with touch of fire Dilated and infuriate, shall send forth
From far with thund'ring noise among our foes
Such implements of mischief, as shall dash To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever stands Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarm'd 490 The Thund'rer of his only dreaded bolt. Nor long shall be our labour; yet ere dawn, Effect shall end our wish. Mean while revive; Abandon fear; to strength and counsel join'd Think nothing hard, much less to be despair'd.
He ended, and his words their drooping cheer Enlighten'd, and their languish'd hope reviv'd. Th' invention all admir'd, and each, how he To be th' inventor miss'd; so easy' it seem'd Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought
Impossible: yet haply of thy race
In future days, if maliçe should abound, Some one intent on mischief, or inspir'd With devilish machination, might devise Like instrument to plague the sons of men For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent. Forthwith from council to the work they flew; None arguing stood; innumerable hands Were ready; in a moment up they turn'd Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath Th' originals of nature in their crude, Conception; sulphurous and nitrous foam They found, they mingled, and with subtle art, Concocted and adusted they reduc'd
To blackest grain, and into store convey'd:
Part hidden veins digg'd up (nor hath this earth
Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone,
Whereof to found their engines and their balls Of missive ruin; part incentive reed
Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire.
So all ere day-spring, under conscious night, Secret they finish'd and in order, set, With silent circumspection unespy'd.
Now when fair morn orient in Heav'n appear'd, Up rose the victor Angels, and to arms The matin trumpet sung: in arms they stood Of golden panoply, refulgent host,
Soon banded; others from the dawning hills Look'd round, and scouts each coast light-armed
Each quarter, to descry the distant foe
Where lodg'd, or whither fled, or if for fight, In motion or in halt: him soon they met Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow But firm battalion; back with speediest sail 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 save us long pursuit This day; fear not his flight; so thick a cloud He comes, and settled in his face I see Sad resolution and secure: 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 shower,
But rattling storm of arrows barb'd with fire. So warn'd be them aware themselves, and soon- In order, quit of all impediment;
Instant without disturb they took alarm, And onward move embattl'd: when behold Not distant far with heavy pace the foe Approaching gross and huge, in hollow cube Training his devilish enginry, impal'd
On every side with shadowing squadrons deep, To hide the fraud. At interview both stood A while; but suddenly 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 hear. So scoffing 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 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)
Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths 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 tipt with fire; while we suspense 580 Collected stood within our thoughts amus'd,
Not long, for sudden all at once their reeds Put forth, and to a narrow vent apply'd With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame, But soon obscur'd with smoke, all Heav'n appear'd, From those deep-throated engines belch'd, whose roar Imbowel'd with outrageous noise the air, And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul Their devilish glut, chain'd thunderbolts and hail Of iron globes; which on the victor host Levell'd, with such impetuous fury smote, That whom they hit, none on their feet might stand, Though standing else as rocks, but down they fell By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel roll'd; The sooner for their arms; unarm'd' they might Have easily as Spi'rits evaded swift
By quick contraction or remove; but now Foul dissipation follow'd and forc'd rout;
Nor serv'd it to relax their serried files.
What should they do? If on they rush'd, repulse 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 posture to displode their second tire
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