In cubic phalanx firm advanc'd entire, 400 Gave them above their foes, not to have sinn'd, Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain'd By wouud, tho' from their place by violence mov'd. 405 "Now night her course began, and over Heaven Inducing darkness, grateful truce impos'd, And silence on the odious din of war: Under her cloudy covert both retir'd, Victor and vanquish'd. On the foughten field 410 Incamping, plac'd in guard their watches round, Satan with his rebellious disappear'd, Far in the dark dislodg'd; and, void of rest, His potentates to council call'd by night; ""O now in danger try'd, now known in arms Too mean pretence, but, what we more affect, But proves not so: then fallible, it seems, 420 425 430 Some disadvantage we endur'd and pain, Till now not known, but known, as soon contemn'd; Since now we find this our empyreal form Incapable of mortal injury, Imperishable, and, though pierc'd with wound, 435 Soon closing, and by native vigour heal'd. "He sat; and in th' assembly next upstood Nisroch, of Principalities the prime ; As one he stood escap'd from cruel fight, 440 415 Sore toil'd, his riven arms to havock hewn, down zar un And cloudy in aspéct thus answ'ring spake. 450 Against unpain'd, impassive; from which evil 455 Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails Valour or strength, tho' matchless, quell'd with pain Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well 'Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine, 460 But live content, which is the calmest life : But pain is perfect misery, the worst 465 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 470 H Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand, With plant, fruit, flow'r ambrosial, gems, and gold; 475 Whose eye so superficially surveys These things, as not to mind from whence they grow Of spiritous and fiery spume, till touch'd With Heaven's ray, and temper'd, they shoot forth 480 So beauteous, opening to the ambient light? Shall yield us pregnant with infernal flame; From far, with thund'ring noise, among our foes 485 490 495 Once found, which yet unfound, most would have thought 501 In future days, if malice should abound, Some one, intent on mischief, or inspir'd 505 Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath 510 Th' originals of nature in their crude Conception; sulphurous and nitrous foam They found, they mingled, and with subtle art, To blackest grain, and into store convey'd : 515 Part hidden veins digg'd up (nor hath this earth. 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 Heaven appear'd, Up rose the victor Angels, and to arms 525 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 scour, Where lodg'd, or whither fled, or if for fight, 535 "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 540 His adamantine coat gird well, and each Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield, 545 "So warn'd he them, aware themselves, and soon In order, quit of all impediment; Instant without disturb they took alarm, And onward move embattled: when behold Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold; Had ended, when to right and left the front 579 Which to our eyes discover'd, new and strange, On wheels (for like to pillars most they seem'd, Or hollow'd bodies made of oak or fir, Fo With branches lopt, in wood or mountain fell'd) 575 Stood waving tipt with fire; while we suspense |