He comes, and fettled in his face I fee

540

Sad refolution, and fecure. Let each

His adamantine coat gird well, and each

Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield,
Born ev'n, or high; for, this day will pour down,
If I conjecture ought, no drizling show'r,

But ratling ftorm of arrows barb'd with fire.

545

So warn'd he them, aware themselves; and foon In order, quit of all impediment,

Instant, without disturb, they took alarm;

555

And onward move embattell'd: when behold! 550
Not diftant far with heavy pace the foe
Approaching grofs, and huge; in hollow cube
Training his devilish enginry, im-pal'd
On ev'ry fide with fhadowing squadrons deep,
To hide the fraud. At interview both ftood
A-while; but fuddenly at head appear'd
Satan; and thus was heard commanding loud. ·
Van-guard! to right, and left, the Front unfold;
That all may fee, who hate us, how we feek
Peace, and compofure; and with open breast 560
Stand ready to receive them, if they like
Our overture, and turn not back perverse.
But, that I doubt: however witness heav'n!
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

565

570

Divided, and to either Flank retir'd :
Which to our eyes difcover'd (new, and strange!)
A triple mounted row of pillars, laid

On wheels (for like to pillars moft they seem'd,
Or hollow'd bodies made of oak, or fir,
With branches lop'd, in wood or mountain fell’d)
Brass, iron, ftony mold; had not their mouths 576
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 tip'd with fire; while we fufpenfe, 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 those deep-throated engins belch'd, whose roar
Embowel'd with outragious noise the air,
And all her entrails tore; difgorging foul
Their devilish glut, chain'd thunder-bolts, and hail
Of iron globes, which on the victor hoft
Levell'd, with fuch impetuous fury smote,
That whom they hit, none on their feet might stand,
Though ftanding elfe as rocks; but down they fell
By thousands, Angel on Arch-Angel rowl'd;
The fooner for their arms; (unarm'd they might
Have eafily, as fpirits, evaded swift

590

596

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 rush'd, repulfe
Repeated, and indecent overthrow
Doubled, would render them yet more defpis'd,
And to their foes a laughter, for in view,
Stood rank'd of Seraphim another row,
In pofture to difplode their fecond Tire
Of thunder: back defeated to return
They worse abhorr'd. Satan beheld their plight,
And to his mates thus in derifion call'd.

605

O friends! why come not on these victors proud? E'er while they fierce were coming, and when we To entertain them fair with open front, 613 And breaft, (what could we more?) propounded terms Of compofition, ftrait they chang'd their minds, Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell,

614

As they would dance: yet for a dance they seem'd
Somewhat extravagant, and wild: perhaps
For joy of offer'd peace: but I suppose,
If our proposals once again were heard,
We should compel them to a quick refult.

619

To whom thus Belial, in like gamesome mood: 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 underftand; 625 Not understood, this gift they have befides, They fhew us when our foes walk not upright. So they among themselves in pleasant vein Stood fcoffing, heighten'd in their thoughts beyond

630

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 hoft derided, while they stood
A-while in trouble: but, they stood not long;
Rage prompted them at length, and found them arms
Against fuch hellish mischief fit t' oppose.
Forthwith (behold the excellence, the pow'r
Which God hath in his mighty Angels plac'd!)
Their arms away they threw, and to the hills
(For earth hath this variety from heav'n,
Of pleasure situate in hill, and dale)

636

640

Light as the light'ning glimpse they ran, they flew,
From their foundations loos'ning to and fro,

650

They pluck'd the feated hills, with all their load,
Rocks, waters, woods, and by the shaggy tops 645
Up-lifting bore them in their hands. Amaze,
Be fure, and terror, feiz'd the rebel hoft,
When coming towards them, fo dread they faw
The bottom of the mountains upward turn'd;
'Till on thofe curfed engins' triple-row
They saw them whelm'd, and all their confidence
Under the weight of mountains bury'd deep:
Themselves invaded next, and on their heads
Main promontories flung, which in the air
Came fhadowing, and oppreft whole legions arm'd:
Their armor help'd their harm,crufh'd in, and bruis'd
Into their fubftance pent, which wrought them pain
Implacable, and many a dolorous groan;
Long ftrugling underneath, e'er they could wind

654

665

Out of fuch prifon, though spirits of pureft light:
(Pureft at first, now grofs by finning grown) 661
The reft, in imitation, to like arms
Betook them, and the neighb'ring hills up tore:
So, hills a-mid the air en-counter'd hills,
Hurl'd to, and fro, with jaculation dire;
That under ground they fought in dismal fhade;
Infernal noife! war feem'd a civil game
To this uproar; horrid confufion heap'd
Upon confufion rofe. And now all heav'n
Had gone to wreck, with ruin over-spread,
Had not th' Almighty Father, where He fits
Shrin'd in His fanctuary of heav'n fecure,
Confulting on the fum of things, fore-feen
This tumult, and permitted all, advis'd:
That His great purpose He might so fulfil,
To honor His Anointed Son, aveng'd

670

675

All pow'r on Him transferr'd: whence to His Son, (Th' Affeffor of His Throne) He thus began. Effulgence of My Glory, Son belov'd!

Son! in Whofe face invisible is beheld

Vifibly, what by Deity I am;

And in Whofe hand what by decree I do,
Second Omnipotence! two days are past,

680

(Two days, as We compute the days of heav'n) 685
Since Michael, and his Pow'rs, went forth to tame
Thefe difobedient: fore hath been their fight,
As likelieft was, when two fuch foes met arm'd:
For to themselves I left them; and Thou know'ft,