Our first eruption, thither or elsewhere: For who can think fubmiffion? war then, war Open or understood must be resolv'd. He fpake and to confirm his words out flew Millions of flamming fwords, drawn from the thighs. Of mighty Cherubim: the fudden blaze 665 Far round illumin'd Hell; highly they rag'd 'Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms Clash'd on their founding fhields the din of war, Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heav'n. There ftood a hill not far, whole grifly Belch'd fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire speed A numerous brigad haften'd: as when bands Of pioneers, with fpade and pickax arm'd, 675 Fore run the royal camp, to trench a field, Or caft a rainpart. Mammon led them on, Mammon, the leaft erected spirit that fell From Heav'n; for ev'n in Heav'n his looks and thoughts Where always downward bent; more 680 admiring The riches of Heav'n's pavement, trodden gold, Than ought divine or holy elfe, enjoy'd Men alfo, and by his fuggeftion taught, 685 Ranfack'd the center, and with impious hands Rifled the bowels of their mother earth, For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew Open'd into the hill a fpacious wound, And dig'd out ribs of gold. Let none ad f That riches grow in Hell; that soil may best Deferve the precious bane. And here let those Who boast in mortal things, and wond'ring tell Of Babel, and the works of Memphian kings, Learn how their greatest monuments of 695 And strength and art fame, are easily out- done By spirits reprobate, and in an hour What in an age they with incessant toil Nigh on the plain in many cells prepar'd, 700 That underneath had veins of liquid fire drofs;N A third as foon had form'd within the ground. 705 A various mould; and from the boiling cells 710 Anon out of the earth a fabric huge graven; ' 720 The roof was fretted gold. Not Babylon, Opening their brazen folds, dicover wide み Within, her ample spaces, o'er the smooth 725 Sheer o'er the chrystal battlements; from morn By all his engines, but was headlong fent 750 Meanwhile the winged heralds by command Of lov'reign pow'r, with awful ceremony And trumpets found, troughout the hoft pro claime A folemn council forthwith to be held 755 Of Satan and his Peers: their fummons call'd came bold Wont ride in arm'd, and at the Soldans chair Defy'd the best of Panim chivalry 765 To mortal combat, or career with lance, Thick fwarm'd, both on the ground and in the air Brush'd with the hifs of rufling winds. As bees In fpring time, when the fun with Taurus rides, Pour forth their populous youth about the hive 770 In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers Fly to and fro, or on the smoothed plank, The fuburb of their ftraw-built citadel, |