Not to have difobey'd; in fight they food
Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain'd
By wound, tho' from their place by violence mov❜d. 405
Now Night her course began, and over Heav'n Inducing darkness, grateful truce impos'd,
And filence on the odious din of War:
Under her Cloudy covert both retir'd,
Victor and Vanquifht: on the foughten field
Michael and his Angels prevalent
Encamping, plac'd in Guard their Watches round,
Cherubic waving fires: on th' other part
Satan, with his rebellious disappear'd
Far in the dark dislodg'd, and void of reft,
His Potentates to Council call'd by night
And in the mid ft thus undismay'd began.
O now in danger try'd, now known in Arms Not to be over-power d, Companions dear, Found worthy not of Liberty alone,
Too mean pretence, but what we more affect,
Honour, Dominion, Glory and Renown,
Who have fuftain'd one day in doubtful fight
(And if one day, why not Eternal days?)
What Heaven's Lord hath powerfulleft to fend
Against us from about his Throne, and judg'd
Sufficient to fubdue us to his will,
But proves not fo: then Fallible it feems
Of future we may deem him, though till now
Omniscient thought. True is, lefs firmly arm'd, 430
Some disadvantage we endur'd and pain,
Till now not known, but known, as foon contemn'd;
Since now we find this our Empyreal form
Incapable of mortal injury
Imperishable, and though pierc'd with wound
Soon clofing, and by native vigour heal'd.
Of evil then so small as eafie think
The remedy; perhaps more valid Arms,
Weapons more violent, when next we meet,
May serve to better us, and worfe our foes,
Or equal what between us made the odds,
In Nature none: if other hidden cause
Left them Superior, while we can preserve
Unhurt our Minds, and understanding found,
Due fearch and confultation will disclose.
He fat; and in th' assembly, next upstood
Nifroc, of Principalities the prime;
As one he stood escap'd from cruel fight,
Sore toil'd, his riven Arms to havoc hewn,
And cloudy in afpe&t thus answering spake.
Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free
Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard
For Gods, and too unequal work we find
Againft unequal arms to fight in pain
Against unpain'd, impaffive; from which evil
Ruin muft needs enfue; for what avails
Valour or strength, tho' matchless, quell'd with pain
Which all fubdues, and makes remifs the hands
Of mightieft. Senfe 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 mifery, the worst
Of evils, and, exceffive, overturns
All patience. He who therefore can invent
With what more forcible we may offend
Our yet unwounded Enemies, or arm
Our felves 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❜ft fo main to our fuccefs, 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
L
With Plant, Fruit, Flour Ambrofial, Gemms and Gold,
Whofe eye so fuperficially furveys
These things, as not to mind from whence they grow
Deep under ground, materials dark and crude,
Of spiritous and fiery fpume, till toucht
With Heavens ray, and temper'd they shoot forth
So beauteous, op'ning to the ambient light.
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, fhall fend forth
From far with thund'ring noise among our foes
Such implements of mischief as shall dash
To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever ftands
Adverfe; that they fhall fear we have difarm'd
The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt.
Nor long fhall be our labour, yet ere dawn,
Effect fhall end our wifh. Mean while revive;
Abandon fear; to strength and counsel join'd
Think nothing hard, much lefs to be defpair'd.
He ended, and his words their drooping chear
Enlighten'd, and their languish'd hope reviv'd.
Th' invention all admir'd, and each, how he
To be th' inventer mifs'd, fo eafie it seem'd
Once found, which yet unfound moft would have thought
Impoffible: yet haply of Thy race
In future days, if Malice fhould abound,
Some one intent of mischief, or inspir'd
With dev'lish machination, might devise
Like inftrument to plague the Sons of men
For fin, on war and mutual flaughter 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 foil, and faw beneath
Th' originals of Nature in their crude
Conception; Sulphurous and Nitrous Foam
They found, they mingled, and with subtle Art
Concocted and adufted 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
Öf miffive ruin; part incentive Reed
Provide pernicious, with one touch to fire.
So all ere day-spring, under confcious Night
Secret they finish'd, and in order set,
With filent circumfpection unefpy'd:
Now when fair Morn Orient in Heaven appear'd
Up rofe the Victor Angels, and to Arms
The matin Trumpet fung: in Arms they stood
Of Golden Panoply, refulgent Hoft,
Soon banded; others from the dawning Hills
Look'd round, and fcouts each Coaft light-armed fcour> Each quarter, to defcry the diftant foe;
Where lodg'd, or whither fled, or if for fight,
In motion or in halt: him foon they met
Under spred Enfignes moving nigh, in slow
But firm Battalion; back with speediest Sail
Zophiel, of Cherubim the swifteft wing,
Came flying, and in mid Air aloud thus cry’d.
Arm, Warriours, Arm for fight: the foe at hand, Whom fied we thought, will fave us long purfuit.
This day, fear not his flight; fo thick a Cloud
He comes, and settled in his face I fee
Sad refolution and fecure : let each
His Adamantine coat gird well, and each
Fit well his Helm, gripe faft his orbed Shield,
Born even or high, for this day will pour down,
If I conjecture aught, no drizling show'r,
But rattling ftorm 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 embattell'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 Squadrons 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 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,
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 discover'd new and strange,
A triple mounted row of Pillars laid
On wheels (for like to Pillars moft they feem'd
Or hollow'd bodies made of Oak or Firr
With branches lopt, in Wood or Mountain fell'd,)
Brafs, Iron, Stony mould, 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 smoak, all Heav'n appear'd,
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