Up rofe the victor Angels, and to arms
The matin trumpet fung: in arms they stood
Of golden panoply, refulgent host,
Soon banded; others from the dawning hills
Look'd round, and scouts each coaft light-armed fcour, Each quarter, to defcry the distant foe,
Where lodg'd, or whither fled, or if for fight,
In motion or in halt: him foon they met Under fpread enfigns moving nigh, in flow But firm battalion; back with speedieft fail Zophiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing, Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cry'd.
Arm, Warriors, arm for fight; the foe at hand, Whom fled we thought, will fave us long pursuit This day; fear not his flight; fo thick a cloud He comes, and fettled in his face I fee
Sad refolution and fecure: let each
His adamantin 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 drizling shower, 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 difturb, they took alarm, And onward move imbattel'd: when behold, Not diftant far, with heavy pace, the foe Approaching grofs and huge, in hollow cube
Training his devilish enginry, impal'd
On every fide with fhadowing fquadrons deep, To hide the fraud. At interview both flood 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 fee who hate us, how we seek Peace and composure, 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 ftand, 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 most they seem'd, Or hollow'd bodies made of oak or fir,
With branches lopt, in wood or mountain fell'd) 575 Brafs, iron, flony mold, 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 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 nicest touch. Immediate in a flame,
But foon obfcur'd with smoke, all Heav'n appear'd,
From thofe deep throated engins belch'd, whose roar Imbowel'd with outrageous noise the air, And all her entrails tore, difgorging foul
Their devilish glut, chain'd thunderbolts, and hail Of iron globes; which on the victor host Level'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 fooner for their arms; unarm'd they might 595 Have easily, as Spirits,evaded swift
By quick contraction or remove; but now Foul diffipation follow'd, and forc'd rout; Nor ferv'd it to relax their ferried files.
What should they do? if on they rufh'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
Of thunder: back defeated to return
They worse abhorr'd. Satan beheld their plight, And to his mates thus, in derifion, call'd.
O Friends, why come not on these victors proud? Ere while they fierce were coming; and when we, To entertain them fair,with open front,
And breast (what could we more?) propounded terms Of compofition, ftrait they chang'd their minds, Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell,
As they would dance; yet for a dance they seem'd Somewhat extravagant and wild, perhaps For joy of offer'd peace: but I fuppose, If our proposals once again were heard, We should compel them to a quick result.
To whom thus Belial, in like gamesome mood, 620 Leader, the terms we fent were terms of weight, Of hard contents, and full of force,urg'd home; Such,as we might perceive, amus'd them all, And stumbled many; who receives them right, Had need,from head to foot,well understand; Not understood, this gift they have besides, They show us when our foes walk not upright.
So they among themselves, in pleasant vein, Stood fcoffing; highten'd in their thoughts beyond All doubt of victory; eternal might
To match with their inventions they prefum'd
So eafy, and of his thunder made a scorn,
And all his host derided, while they stood A while in trouble: but they stood not long; Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose. 636
Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power, Which God hath in his mighty Angels plac'd) Their arms away they threw, and to the hills, (For Earth hath this variety from Heaven, Of pleasure situate in hill and dale)
Light as the lightning glimpse they ran, they flew; From their foundations,loofñing to and fro, They pluck'd the seated hills with all their load, Rocks, waters, woods, and by the fhaggy tops 645 Up-lifting bore them in their hands: Amaze, Be fure, and terror feis'd the rebel hoft, When coming towards them fo dread they faw The bottom of the mountains upward turn'd; Till on those curfed engins triple-row
They faw them whelm'd, and all their confidence Under the weight of mountains buried deep; Themselves invaded next, and on their heads Main promontories flung, which in the air Came shadowing, and oppress'd whole legions arm'd; Their armour help'd their harm, crush'd in and bruis'd Into their substance pent, which wrought them pain Implacable, and many a dolorous groan, Long ftrugling underneath, ere they could wind Out of fuch pris on, though Spirits of pureft light, Pureft at first, now grofs by finning grown.
The reft in imitation to like arms
Betook them, and the neighb'ring hills uptore;
So hills amid the air encounter'd hills,
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