1 1

From diamond quarries hewn, and rocks of gold; How provident he is; how far from thought The palace of great Lucifer, (so call

To make us less, bent rather to exalt That structure in the dialect of men

Our happy state, under one head more near Interpreted,) which not long after, he,

United. But to grant it thee unjust, Affecting all equality with God,

That equal over equals monarch reign: In imitation of that mount whereon

Thyself, though great and glorious, dost thou Messiah was declar'd in sight of Heaven, Or all angelic nature join'd in one, The Mountain of the Congregation callid; Equal to bim begotten son? by whom, For thither he assembled all his train,

As by his word, the Mighty Father made Pretending, so commanded, to consult

All things, even thee; and all the spirits of H About the great reception of their king,

By him created in their bright degrees, Thither to come, and with calumnious art Crown'd them with glory, and to their glory Of counterfeited truth thus held their ears : Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, p « • Thrones, dominations, princedoms, virtues, Essential powers; nor by his reign obscur'd, powers;

But more illustrious made ; since he the head If these magnific titles yet remain

One of our number thus reduc'd becomes; Not merely titular, since by decree

His laws our laws; all honor to him done Another now hath to himself engross'd

Returns our own. Cease then this impious r All power, and us eclips'd under the name And tempt not these; but hasten to appease Of King anointed, for whom all this haste The incensed Father, and the incensed Son, Of midnight-march, and hurried meeting here, While pardon may be found in time besought This only io consult how we may best,

“ So spake the fervent angel; but his zeal With what may be devis'd of honors new, None seconded, as out of season judg'd, Receive him coming to receive from us

Or singular and rash : whereat rejoic'd Knee-tribute yet unpaid, prostration vile! The apostate, and, more haughty, thus replied Too much to one! but double how endur'd, • That we were form’d then, say'st thou? an To one, and to his image now proclaim'd ?

work But what if better counsels might erect

or secondary hands, by task transferr'd Our minds, and teach us to cast off this yoke ? From Father to his Son? strange point and ne Will ye submit your necks, and choose to bend Doctrine which we would know whence ler The supple knee? Ye will not, if I trust

who saw To know ye right, or if ye know yourselves When this creation was ? rememberist thou Natives and sons of Heaven possess'd before Thy making, while the Maker gave thee beir By none; and if not equal all, yet free,

We know no time when we were not as now Equally free; for orders and degrees

Know none before us, self-begot, self-rais'd Jar not with liberty, but well consist.

| By our own quickening power, when fatal co Who can in reason then, or right, assume

Had circled his full orb, the birth mature Monarchy over such as live by right

Of this our native Heaven, ethereal sons. His equals, if in power and splendor less, Our puissance is our own: our own right han In freedom equal? or can introduce

Shall teach us highest deeds, by proof to try Law and edíct on us, who without law

Who is our equal: then thou shalt behold En not? much less for this to be our lord, Whether by supplication we intend And look for adoration, to the abuse

Address, and to begirt the almigbty throne Of those imperial titles, which assert

Beseeching or besieging. This report, Our being ordain'd to govern, not to serve.' These tidings carry to the anointed King;

“ Thus far his bold discourse without control And fly, ere evil intercept thy flight.' Had audience: when among the seraphim

“ He said ; and, as the sound of waters dee Abdiel, than whom none with more zeal ador'd Hoarse murmur echo'd to his words applause The Deity, and divine commands obey'd,

Through the infinite host : nor less for that Stood up, and in a flame of zeal severe

The flaming seraph fearless, though alone The current of his fury thus oppos'd.

Encompass d round with foes, thus answer'd "O argument blasphemous, false and proud! “O alienate from God, O spirit accurs d, Words which no ear ever to hear in Heaven

Forsaken of all good! I see thy fall Expected, least of all from thee, ingrate,

Determin'd, and thy hapless crew involvid In place thyself so high above thy peers. In this perfidious fraud, contagion spread Canst thou with impious obloquy condemn Both of thy crime and punishment; hencefor The just decree of God, pronounc'd and sworn, No more be troubled how to quit the yoke That to his only Son, by right endued

Of God's Messiah ; those indulgent laws With regal sceptre, every soul in Heaven Will not be now vouchsaf'd; other decrees Shall bend the knee, and in that honor due Against thee are gone forth without recall : Confess him rightful king? unjust, thou say'st, That golden sceptre, which thou didst reject Flatly unjust, to bind with laws the free,

Is now an iron rod to bruise and break And equal over equals to let reign,

Thy disobedience. Well thou didst advise, One over all with unsucceeded power.

Yet not for thy advice or threats I fiy Shalt thou give law to God? shalt thou dispute These wicked tents devoted, lest the wraih With him the points of liberty, who made (Heaven Impendent, raging into sudden flame, Thee what thou art, and form'd the powers of Distinguish not: for soon expect to feel Such as he pleas'd, and circumscrib'd their being ? His thunder on thy head, devouring fire. Yet, by experience taught, we know how good, Then who created thee lamenting learn, And of our good and of our dignity

When who can uncreate thee thou shalt kno MILTON.

64

So spake the seraph Abdiel, faithful found The better fight, who single hast maintain'd Among the faithless, faithful only he;

Against revolted multiludes the cause Among innumerable false, unmoy'd,

Of truth, in word mightier than they in arms; Unshaken, unseduc'd, unterrified,

And for the testimony of truth hast borne
His loyalty he kept, his love, his zeal;

Universal reproach, far worse to bear
Nor number, nor example, with him wrought Than violence ; for this was all thy care
To swerve from truth, or change his constant mind, To stand approv'd in sight of God, though worlds
Though single. From amidst them forth he pass’d, Judg’d thee perverse: the easier conquest now
Long way through hostile scorn, which he sustain' Remains thee, aided by this host of friends,
Superior, nor of violence feared aught;

Back on thy soes more glorious to return,
And, with retorted scorn, his back he turn'd Than scorn'd thou didst depart; and to subdue
On those proud towers to swift destruction doom'd." By force, who reason for their law refuse,

Right reason for their law, and for their king

Messiah, who by right of merit reigns.
BOOK VI.

Go, Michael, of celestial armies prince,
THE ARGUMENT.

And thou, in military prowess next,
Raphael continues to relate how Michael and Invincible ; lead forth my armed saints,

Gabriël, lead forth to battle these my sons Gabriel were sent forth to battle against Satan By thousands and by millions, rang’d for fight, and his angels. The first fight described :

Satan and his powers retire under night: he calls a Rebellious: them with fire and hostile arms

Equal in number to that godless crew
council; invents devilish engines, which, in the Fearless assault; and, to the brow of Heaven
second day's fight, put Michael and his angels to Pursuing, drive them out from God and bliss,
some disorder; but they at length, pulling up Into their place of punishment, the gulf
mountains, overwhelmed both the force and Of Tartarus, which ready opens wide
machines of Satan : yet, the tumult not so ending. His fiery Chaos to receive their fali.'
God, on the third day, sends MESSIAH his Son,
for whom he had reserved the glory of that vic- To darken all the hill, and smoke to roll

“So spake the Sovran Voice, and clouds began
tory: he, in the power of his Father, coming to In dusky wreaths, reluctant flanies, the sign
the place, and causing all his legions to stand or wraih awak'd; nor with less dread the loud
still on either side, with his chariot and thunder

Ethereal trumpet from on high 'gan blow:
driving into the midst of his enemies, pursues

At which command the powers militant
them, unable to resist, towards the wall of

That stood for Heaven, in mighty quadrate join'd
Heaven; which opening, they leap down, with
horror and confusion, into the place of punish- in silence their bright legions, to the sound

Of union irresistible, mov'd on
ment prepared for them in the deep: Messiah Or instrumental harmony, that breath'd
returns with triumph to his Father.

Heroic ardor to adventurous deeds
"All night the dreadless angel, unpursued, Under their godlike leaders, in the cause
Through Heaven's wide champain held his way; Of God and his Messiah. On they move,
till Morn,

Indissolubly firın ; nor obvious hill,
Wak'd by the circling Hours, with rosy hand Nor straitening vale, nor wood, nor stream, divides
Unbarr'd the gates of Light. There is a cave Their perfect ranks : for high above the ground
Within the mount of God, fast by his throne, Their march was, and the passive air upbore
Where Light and Darkness in perpetual round Their nimble tread; as when the toial kind
Lodge and dislodge by turns, which makes through Of birds, in orderly array on wing,
Heaven

Came summoned over Eden to receive
Grateful vicissitude, like day and night;

Their names of thee; so over many a tract
Light issues forth, and at the other door

Of Heaven they march'd, and many a province wide
Obsequious Darkness enters, till her hour

Tenfold the length of this terrene: at last,
To veil the Heaven, though darkness there might Far in the horizon to the north appear'd
well

From skirt to skirt a fiery region, stretch'd
seem twilight here : and now went forth the Morn, In battailous aspect, and nearer view
Such as in highest Heaven, array'd in gold Bristled with upright beams innumerable
Empyreal; from before her vanish'd Night, Of rigid spears, and helmets throng'd, and shields
Shot through with orient beams; when all the plain, Various, with boastful argument portray'd,
Cover'd with thick embattled squadrons bright, The banded powers of Satan hasting on
Chariots, and flaming arms, and fiery steeds, With furious expedition ; for they ween'd
Reflecting blaze on blaze, first met his view : That self-same day, by fight, or by surprise,
War he perceiv’d, war in procinct; and found To win the mount of God, and on his throne
Already known what he for news had thought To set the Envier of his slate, the proud
To have reported : gladly then he mix'd Aspirer; but their thoughts prov'd fond and vain
Among those friendly powers, who him receiv'd In the midway: though strange to us it seem'd
With joy and acclamations loud, that one, At first, that angel should with angel war,
That of so many myriads fall’n yet one,

And in fierce hosting meet, who wont to meet
Return'd not lost. On to the sacred hill

So oft in festivals of joy and love
They led him high applauded, and present Unanimous, as sons of one great Sire,
Before the seat supreme; from whence a voice, Hymning the Eternal Father: but the shout
From midst a golden cloud, thus mild was heard. Of battle now began, and rushing sound
“« Servant of God, well done; well hast thou Of onset ended soon each milder thought.
fought

Iligh in the midst exalted as a God,

6

44

The apostate in his sun-bright chariot sat, Such hast thou arm'd, the minstrelsy of Heav Idol of majesty divine, inclos'd

Servility with freedom to contend, With flaming cherubim, and golden shields; As both their deeds compar'd this day shall p Then lighted from his gorgeous throne, for now “ To whom in brief thus Abdiel stern repli 'Twixt host and host but narrow space was left, A postate! still thou errist, nor end wilt find A dreadful interval, and front to front

Of erring, from the path of truth remote : Presented stood in terrible array

Unjustly thou deprav'st it with the name Of hideous length: before the cloudy van, Of servitude, to serve whom God ordains, On the rough edge of battle ere it join'd,

Or nature: God and nature bid the same, Satan, with vast and haughty strides advanc'd, When he who rules is worthiest, and excels Came towering, arm'd in adamant and gold; Them whom he governs. This is servitude, Abdiel that sight endur'd not, where he stood To serve the unwise, or him who hath rebell's Among the mightiest, bent on highest deeds, Against his worthier, as thine now serve thee, And thus his own undaunted heart explores. Thyself not free, but to thyself enthrallid; “O Heaven! that such resemblance of the Yet lewdly dar’st our minist'ring upbraid. Highest

Reign thou in Hell, thy kingdom; let me serve Should yet remain, where faith and reälty [might In Heaven God ever blest, and his divine Remain not: wherefore should not strength and Behests obey, worthiest to be obey'd; There fail where virtue fails, or weakest prove Yet chains in Hell, not realms, expect: mennyWhere boldest, though to sight unconquerable ? From me return'd, as erst thou saidst, from flig His puissance, trusting in the Almighty's aid, This greeting on thy impious crest receive.' I mean to try, whose reason I have tried

“So saying, a noble stroke he lifted high, Unsound and false : nor is it aught but just, Which hung not, but so swift with tempest fel That he, who in debate of truth hath won, On the proud crest of Satan, that no sight, Should win in arms, in both disputes alike Nor motion of swift thought, less could his shie Victor; though brutish that contést and foul, Such ruin intercept: ten paces huge When reason hath to deal with force, yet so He back recoil'd; the tenth on bended knee Most reason is that reason overcome.'

His massy spear upstaid ; as if on Earth “So pondering, and from his armed peers Winds under ground, or waters forcing way Forth-stepping opposite, half-way he met Sidelong had push'd a mountain from his seat, His daring foe, at this prevention more

Half sunk with all his pines. Amazement sei Incens'd and thus securely him defied. [reach'd The rebel thrones, but greater rage, to see [slu

• Proud, art thou met ? thy hope was to have Thus foil'd their mightiest; ours joy fillid, The height of thy aspiring unoppos'd,

Presage of victory, and fierce desire The throne of God unguarded, and his side of battle: whereat Michaël bid sound Abandon'd, at the terror of thy power

The archangel trumpet; through the vast of Hen Or potent tongue: fool! not to think how vain It sounded, and the faithful armies rung Against the Omnipotent to rise in arms;

Hosanna to the Highest : nor stood at gaze Why out of smallest things could, without end, The adverse legions, nor less hideous join'd Have rais'd incessant armies to defeat

The horrid shock. Now storming fury rose, Thy folly; or with solitary hand

And clamor, such as heard in Heaven till now Reaching beyond all limit, at one blow,

Was never; arms on armor clashing bray'd Unaided, could have finish'd thee, and whelm'd Horrible discord, and the madding wheels Thy legions under darkness: but thou seest Of brazen chariots rag'd; dire was the noise All are not of thy train; there be, who faith Of conflict; over-head the dismal hiss Prefer, and piety to God, though then

Of fiery darts in flaming volleys flew, To thee not visible, when I alone

And flying vaulted either host with fire.
Seem'd in thy world erroneous to dissent

So under fiery cope together rush'd
From all: my sect thou seest; now learn too late Both battles main, with ruinous assault
How few sometimes may know, when thousands And inextinguishable rage. All Heaven
err.'

Resounded; and had Earth been then, all Earth " Whom the grand foe, with scornful eye askance, Had to her centre shook. What wonder? wher Thus answered. "Ill for thee, but in wish'd hour Millions of fierce encountering angels fought of my revenge, first sought for, thou return'st On either side, the least of whom could wield From flight, seditious angel! to receive

These elements, and arm him with the force Thy merited reward, the first assay

Of all their regions : how much more of power Of this right hand provok'd since first that tongue, Army against army numberless to raise Inspir'd with contradiction, durst oppose

Dreadful combustion warring, and disturb, A third part of the gods, in synod met

Though not destroy, their happy native seat; Their deities to assert; who, while they feel Had not the Eternal King Omnipotent, Vigor divine within them, can allow

From his strong hold of Heaven, high over-ruld Omnipotence to none. But well thou com'st And limited their might; though number'd such Before thy fellows, ambitious to win

As each divided legion might have seem'd From me some plume, that thy success may show A numerous host; in strength each armed hand Destruction to the rest : this pause between, A legion ; led in fight, yet leader seem'd (Unanswer'd lest thou boast,) to let thee know, Each warrior single as in chief, expert At first I thought that liberty and Heaven

When to advance, or stand, or turn the sway To heavenly souls had been all one; but now Of battle, open when, and when to close I see that most through sloth had rather serve, 'The ridges of grim war: no thought of flight. Minist'ring spirits, train'd up in feast and song! None of retreat, no unbecoming deed 10

G

Tbat argued fear; each on himself relied, Where erst was thickest fight, the angelic throng,
As only in his arm the moment lay

And left large field, unsafe within the wind
Of victory : deeds of eternal fame

Of such commotion ; such as, to set forth
Were done, but infinite ; for wide was spread Great things by small, if, Nature's concord broke,
That war, and various, sometimes on firm ground Among the constellations war were sprung,
A standing fight, then, soaring on main wing, Two planets, rushing from aspéct malign
Tormented all the air; all air seem'd then Of fiercest opposition, in mid sky
Conflicting fire. Long time in even scale Should combat, and their jarring spheres confound.
The battle hung; till Satan, who that day Together both with next to Almighty arm
Prodigious power had shown, and met in arms Uplifted imminent, one stroke they aim'd
No equal, ranging through the dire attack That might determine, and not need repeat,
Of fighting seraphim confus'd, at length

As not of power at once; nor odds appear'd
Saw where the sword of Michael smote, and sell’a In might or swift prevention : but the sword
Squadrons at once; with huge two-handed sway Of Michael from the armory of God
Brandish'd aloft, the horrid edge came down Was given him temper'd so, that neither keen
Wide-wasting ; such destruction to withstand Nor solid might resist that edge: it met
He hasted, and oppos'd the rocky orb

The sword of Satan, with steep force to smite
Of tenfold adamant, his ample shield,

Descending, and in half cut sheer; nor staid, A vast circumference. At his approach

But with swift wheel reverse, deep entering, shard The great archangel from his warlike toil

All his right side: then Satan first knew pain,
Surceas'd, and glad, as hoping here to end

And writh'd him to and fro convolv'd; so sore
Intestine war in Heaven, the arch-foe subdued The griding sword with discontinuous wound
Or captive dragg'd in chains, with hostile frown Pass'd through him: but the ethereal substance closd,
And visage all inflam'd first thus began.

Not long divisible; and from the gash
“* Author of evil, unknown till thy revolt, A stream of nectarous humor issuing flow'd
Unnam'd in Heaven, now plenteous, as thou seest Sanguine, such as celestial spirits may bleed,
These acts of hateful strife, hateful to all,

And all his armor stain'd, erewhile so bright.
Though heaviest by just measure on thyself

Forth with on all sides to his aid was run
And thy adherents : how hast thou disturb'd By angels many and strong, who interpos'd
Heaven's blessed peace, and into nature brought Defence, while others bore him on their shields
Misery, uncreated till the crime

Back to his chariot, where it stood retir'd
Of thy rebellion! how hast thou instilla From off the files of war: there they him laid
Thy malice into thousands, once upright Gnashing for anguish, and despite, and shame,
And faithful, now proved false ! But think not here To find himself not matchless, and his pride
To trouble holy rest; Heaven casts thee out Humbled by such rebuke, so far beneath
From all her confines. Heaven, the seat of bliss, His confidence to equal God in power.
Brooks not the works of violence and war. Yet soon he heal'd; for spirits that live throughout
Hence then, and evil go with thee along, Vital in every part, not as frail man
Thy offspring, to the place of evil, Hell;

In entrails, heart or head, liver or reins,
Thou and thy wicked crew! there mingle broils, Cannot but by annihilating die;
Ere this avenging sword begin thy doom, Nor in their liquid texture mortal wound
Or some more sudden vengeance, wing'd from God, Receive, no more than can the fluid air:
Precipitate thee with augmented pain.'

All heart they live, all head, all eye, all ear,
"So spake the prince of angels; to whom thus All intellect, all sense; and, as they please,
The adversary. "Nor think thou with wind They limb themselves, and color, shape, or size
Of aery threats to awe whom yet with deeds Assume, as likes them best, condense or rare.
Thou canst not. Hast thou turn'd the least of these Meanwhile in other parts like deeds deserv'd
To flight, or if to fall, but that they rise

Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought,
Unvanquish'd, easier to transact with me (threats And with fierce ensigns pierc'd the deep array
That thou should'st hope, imperious, and with Of Moloch, furious king; who him defied,
To chase me hence? err not, that so shall end And at his chariot wheels to drag him bound
The strife which thou call'st evil, but we style Threaten'd, nor from the Holy One of Heaven
The strife of glory; which we mean to win, Refrain'd his tongue blasphemous ; but anon
Or turn this Heaven itself into the Hell

Down cloven to the waist, with shatter'd arms
Thou fablest; here however to dwell free, And uncouth pain fled bellowing. On each wing
If not to reign: meanwhile thy utmost force, Uriel and Raphaël, his vaunting foe,
And join him nam'd Almighty to thy aid, Though huge, and in a rock of diamond armid,
I fly not, but have sought thee far and nigh. Vanquish'd Adramelech, and Asmadai,

“They ended parley, and both address’d for fight Two potent thrones, that to be less than gods Unspeakable; for who, though with the tongue Disdain'd, but meaner thoughts learn'd in their Of angels, can relate, or to what things

flight, Liken on Earth conspicuous, that may lift Mangled with ghastly wounds through plate and Human imagination to such height

Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy
Of godlike power? for likest gods they seem'd, The atheist crew, but with redoubled blow
Stood they or mov'd, in stature, motion, arms, Ariel, and Arioch, and the violence
Fit to decide the empire of great Heaven.

of Ramiel scorch'd and blasted, overthrew.
Now wav'd their fiery swords, and in the air I might relate of thousands, and their names
Made horrid circles: two broad suns their shields Eternize here on Earth ; but those elect
Blaz'd opposite, while expectation stood

Angels, contented with their fame in Heaven, In horror : from each hand with speed retir'd, Seek not the praise of men: the other sort,

[mail.

In might though wond'rous and in acts of war, Nisroch, of principalities the prime ;
Nor of renown less eager, yet by doom

As one he stood escap'd from cruel fight, Cancell'd from Heaven and sacred memory, Sore toil'd, his riven arms to havoc hewn, Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. And cloudy in aspéct thus answering spake. For strength from truth divided, and from just, " • Deliverer from new lords, leader to free Ilaudable, nought merits but dispraise

Enjoyment of our right as gods; yet hard And ignominy; yet to glory aspires

For gods, and too unequal work we find, Vain-glorious, and through infamy seeks fame, Against unequal arms to fight in pain, Therefore eternal silence be their doom. (swerv’d, Against unpain'd, impassive; from which evil

“ And now, their wightiest quell’d, the battle Ruin must needs ensue; for what avails (pain With many an inroad gor'd; deformed rout Valor or strength, though matchless, quell'd with Enter'd, and foul disorder; all the ground Which all subdues, and makes remiss the hands With shiver'd armor strown, and on a heap Of mightiest ? Sense of pleasure we may well Chariot and charioteer lay overturn'd,

Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine,
And fiery-foaming steeds; what stood, recoil'd But live content, which is the calmest life :
O'er-wearied, through the faint Satanic host But pain is perfect misery, the worst
Defensive scarce, or with pale fear surpris'd, Of evils, and, excessive, overturns
Then first with fear surpris'd, and sense of pain, All patience. He, who therefore can invent
Fled ignominious, to such evil brought

With what more forcible we may offend
By sin of disobedience ; till that hour

Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm Not liable to fear, or flight, or pain.

Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves Far otherwise the inviolable saints,

No less than for deliverance what we owe.' In cubic phalanx firm, advanc'd entire,

“Whereto with look compos'd Satan replied. Invulnerable, impenetrably arm'd ;

• Not uninvented that, which thou aright Such high advantages their innocence

Believ'st so main to our success, I bring. Gave them above their foes; not to have sinn'd, Which of us who beholds the bright surfáce Not to have disobey'd ; in fight they stood Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand, Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain'd [mov'd. This continent of spacious Heaven, adorn'd By wound, though from their place by violence With plant, fruit, flower ambrosial, gems, and gold ,

“Now Night her course began, and, over Heaven Whose eye so superficially surveys Inducing darkness, grateful truce impos'd, These things, as not to mind from whence they grow And silence on the odious din of war:

Deep under ground, materials dark and crude, Under her cloudy covert both retird,

Of spiritous and fiery spume, till, touch'd Victor and vanquish'd : on the foughten field With Heaven's ray, and temper’d, they shoot forth Michaël and his angels prevalent

So beauteous, opening to the ambient light? Encamping, plac'd in guard their watches round, These in their dark nativity the deep Cherubic waving fires : on the other part, Shall yield us, pregnant with infernal flame; Satan with his rebellious disappear’d,

Which into hollow engines, long and round, Far in the dark dislodg'd; and, void of rest, Thick ramm'd, at the other bore with touch of fire His potentates to council call’d by night;

Dilated and infuriate, shall send forth And in the midst thus undismay'd began. From far, with thundering noise, among our foes

“O now in danger tried, now known in arms Such implements of mischief, as shall dash Not to be overpower'd, companions dear, To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever stands Found worthy not of liberty alone,

Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarm'd Too mean pretence! but what we more affect, The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt. Honor, dominion, glory, and renown;

Nor long shall be our labor; yet ere dawn Who have sustain'd one day in doubtful fight Effect shall end our wish. Meanwhile revive; (And if one day, why not eternal days ?)

Abandon fear; to strength and counsel join'd What Heaven's Lord had powerfullest to send Think nothing hard, much less to be despair'd.' Against us from about his throne, and judg’d “He ended, and his words their drooping cheer Sufficient to subdue us to his will,

Enlighten'd, and their languish'd hope reviv'd.
But proves not so: then fallible, it seems, The invention all admir'd, and each, how he
Of future we may deem him, though till now To be the inventor miss'd ; so easy it seem'd
Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly arm’d, Once found, which yet unfound most would have
Some disadvantage we endur'd and pain,

thought
Till now not known, but, known, as soon contemn'd; Impossible: yet, haply, of thy race
Since now we find this our empyreal form In future days, if malice should abound,
Incapable of mortal injury,

Some one intent on mischief, or inspir'd
Imperishable, and though pierc'd with wound, With devilish machination, might devise
Soon closing, and by native vigor heal'd.

Like instrument to plague the sons of men Of evil then so small, as easy think

For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent. The remedy ; perhaps more valid arms,

Forthwith from council to the work they flew; Weapons more violent, when next we meet, None arguing stood; innumerable hands May serve to better us, and worse our foes, Were ready ; in a moment up they turn'd Or equal what between us made the odds, Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath In nature none: if other hidden cause

The originals of nature in their crude Left them superior, while we can preserve Conception; sulphurous and nitrous foam l'nhurt our minds, and understanding sound, They found, they mingled, and, with subtle art, Due search and consultation will disclose.' Concocted and adusted they reduc'd

" He sat ; and in the assembly next upstood To blackest grain, and into store convey'd :