Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame, 340 To find himself not matchless, and his pride Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath His confidence to equal God in power. Yet soon he heal'd; for spi'rits that live throughout Vital in every part, not as frail man
In entrails, heart or head, liver or reins, Cannot but by annihilating die;
Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound Receive, no more than can the fluid air:
All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear, 350 All intellect, all sense; and as they please, They limb themselves, and color, shape, or size Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare.
Meanwhile in other parts like deeds deserv'd Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, And with fierce ensigns pierc'd the deep array Of Moloch furious king; who him defy'd, And at his chariot-wheels to drag him bound Threaten'd, nor from the Holy One of Heav'n Refrain'd his tongue blasphemous; but anon 360 Down cloven to the waist, with shatter'd arms And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing Uriel and Raphaël his vaunting foe,
Though huge, and in a rock of diamond arm'd, Vanquish'd Adramelech and Asmadai,
Two potent thrones, that to be less than Gods Disdain'd, but meaner thoughts learn'd in their flight, Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and mail. Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy
The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow Ariel and Arioch, and the violence
Of Ramiel scorch'd and blasted overthrew. I might relate of thousands, and their names Eternize here on earth; but those elect Angels, contented with their fame in Heav'n, Seek not the praise of men: the other sort, In might though wondrous and in acts of war, Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom Cancell'd from Heav'n and sacred memory, Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. 380 For strength from truth divided and from just, Illaudable, nought merits but dispraise And ignominy, yet to glory aspires
Vain glorious, and through infamy seeks fame; Therefore eternal silence be their doom.
And now their mightiest quell'd, the battle swerv'd, With many an inroad gor'd; deformed Rout Enter'd, and foul Disorder; all the ground With shiver'd amor strown, and on a heap Chariot and charioteer lay overturn'd, And fiery foaming steeds; what stood, recoil'd O'er-wearied, through the faint Satanic host Defensive scarce, or with pale Fear surpris'd, Then first with fear surpris'd and sense of pain Fled ignominious, to such evil brought By sin of disobedience, till that hour Not liable to fear or flight or pain. Far otherwise th' inviolable Saints In cubic phalanx firm advanc'd entire,
Invulnerable, impenetrably arm'd;
Such high advantages their innocence
Gave them above their foes; not to have sinn'd, Not to have disobey'd; in fight they stood Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain'd
[mov'd. By wound, though from their place by violence Now Night her course began, and over Heav'n Inducing darkness, graceful 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 Michaël and his Angels prevalent
Incamping, 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 rest, His potentates to council call'd by night; And in the midst thus undismay'd began: O now in danger try'd, now known in arms Not to be overpower'd, companions dear, Found worthy not of liberty alone,
Too mean pretence, but what we more affect, Honor, dominion, glory, and renown ; Who have sustain❜d one day in doubtful fight (And if one day, why nor eternal days?) What Heaven's Lord hath powerfullest to send Against us from about his throne, and judg'd Sufficient to subdue us to his will,
But proves not so: then fallible, it seems,
Of future we may deem him, though till now
Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly arm'd, 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, Soon closing, and by native vigor heal'd. Of evil then so small as easy think
The remedy; perhaps more valid arms, Weapons more violent, when next we meet, May serve to better us, and worse our foes, 440 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 sound, Due search and consultation will disclose. He sat; and in th' assembly next upstood Nisroch, 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 aspéct thus answ'ring spake: 450 Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard For Gods, and too unequal work we find, Against unequal arms to fight in pain, Against unpain'd, impassive; from which evil Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails
[pain Valor or strength, though matchless, quell'd with 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? 481 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
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