Their highest Heav'n; or on the Delphian cliff
Or in Dodona, and through all the bounds
Of Doric land; or who with Saturn old
Fled over Adria to th' Hefperian fields,
And o'er the Celtic roam'd the utmost isfles.
All these and more came flocking: but with looks
Down caft and damp, yet fuch wherein appear'd
Obscure fome glimpse of joy, to' have found their chief
Not in defpair, to' have found themselves not lost 525
In lofs itself; which on his count'nance caft
Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride
Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore
Semblance of worth not fubftance, gently rais'd
Their fainting courage, and dispell'd their fears. 530
Then ftrait commands that at the warlike found
Of trumpets loud and clarions, be uprear'd
His mighty standard: that proud honor claim'd
Azazel as his right, a cherub tall;
Who forthwith from the glittering staff unfurl'd 535
Th' imperial enfign, which full high advanc'd
Shone like a meteor ftreaming to the wind,
With gems and golden luftre rich imblaz❜d,
Seraphic arms and trophies; all the while
Sonorous metal blowing martial sounds:
At which the univerfal hoft up fent
A fhout, that tore Hell's concave, and beyond
Frighted the reign of Chaos and old Night.
All in a moment through the gloom were feen
Ten thousand banners rife into the air
With orient colours waving: with them rofe
A foreft huge of fpears; and thronging helms
Appear'd, and ferried fhields in thick array
Of depth immeasurable: anon they move
In perfect phalanx to the Dorian mood
Of flutes and foft recorders; fuch as rais'd
To highth of noblest temper heroes old
Arming to battle, and instead of rage
Deliberate valor breath'd, firm and unmov'd
With dread of death to flight or foul retreat;
Nor wanting pow'r to mitigate and swage
With folemn touches troubled thoughts, and chafe
Anguish and doubt and fear and forrow' and pain
From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they
Breathing united force with fixed thought
560
Mov'd on in filence to foft pipes, that charm'd
Their painful steps o'er the burnt foil; and now
Advanc'd in view they ftand, a horrid front
Of dreadful length and dazling arms, in guise
Of warriors old with order'd fpear and fhield, 565
Awaiting what command their mighty chief
Had to impofe: He through the armed files
Darts his experienc'd eye, and foon traverse
The whole battalion views, their order due,
Their visages and ftature as of Gods,
Their number laft he fums. And now his heart
Diftends with pride, and hard'ning in his strength
Glories for never fince created man,
Met fuch imbodied force, as nam'd with these
Could merit more than that small infantry 575
Warr'd on by cranes; though all the giant brood
Of Phlegra with th' heroic race were join'd
That fought at Thebes and Ilium, on each fide
Mix'd with auxiliar Gods; and what refounds
In fable or romance of Uther's fon
Begirt with British and Armoric knights;
And all who fince, baptiz'd or infidel,
Joufted in Afpramont or Montalban,
Damafco, or Marocco, or Trebifond,
Or whom Biferta fent from Afric fhore,
When Charlemain with all his peerage fell
By Fontarabbia. Thus far these beyond
Compare of mortal prowess, yet obferv'd
Their dread commander: he above the reft
In fhape and gesture proudly eminent
Stood like a tow'r; his form had yet not loft
All her original brightness, nor appear'd
Lefs than Arch-Angel ruin'd, and th'excefs
Of glory' obfcur'd; as when the fun new rifen
Looks through the horizontal misty air
Shorn of his beams, or from behind the moon
In dim eclipse difaftrous twilight freds
On half the nations, and with fear of change
Perplexes monarchs. Darken'd fo, yet fhone
Above them all th' Arch-Angel: but his face
Deep Scars of thunder had intrench'd, and care
Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows
Of dauntless courage, and confiderate pride-
Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast
Signs of remorfe and paffion to behold
The fellows of his crime, the followers rather-
(Far other once beheld in bliss) condemn'd
For ever now to have their lot in pain,
Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc'd
Of Heav'n, and from eternal fplendors flung 610
For his revolt, yet faithful how they stood,
Their glory wither'd as when Heaven's fire
Hath fcath'd the foreft oaks, or mountain pines,
With finged top their stately growth though bare
Stands on the blafted heath. He now prepar'd 615
To fpeak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend
From wing to wing, and half inclose him round
With all his peers: attention held them mute.
Thrice he affay'd, and thrice in fpite of fcorn
Tears, fuch as Angels weep, burst forth at last 620
Words interwove with fighs found out their way.
O Myriads of immortal Spi'rits, O Powers
Matchlefs, but with th' Almighty, and that strife
Was not inglorious, though th' event was dire,
As this place teftifies, and this dire change
Hateful to utter: but what pow'r of mind,
Foreseeing or prefaging, from the depth
Of knowledge paft or prefent, could have fear'd,
How fuch united force of Gods, how fuch
As stood like these, could ever know repulse?
For who can yet believe, though after loss,
That all these puifiant legions, whofe exile
Hath emptied Heav'n, fhall fail to re-afcend
Self-rais'd, and repoffefs their native feat?
For me be witness all the host of Heaven,
If counfels different, or danger fhunn'd
By me, have loft our hopes. But he who reigns
Monarch in Heav'n, till then as once fecure
Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute,
Confent or cuftom, and his regal state
Put forth at full, but ftill his ftrength conceal'd,
Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall.
Henceforth his might we know, and know our own,
So as not either to provoke, or dread
New war, provok'd; our better part remains 645
To work in close defign, by fraud or guile,
What force effected not: that he no lefs
At length from us may find, who overcomes
By force, hath overcome but half his foe.
Space may produce new worlds; whereof fo rife 650
There went a fame in Heav'n that he ere long
Intended to create, and therein plant
A generation, whom, his choice regard
Should favour equal to the fons of Heaven:
Thither, if but to pry, fhall be perhaps
Our firft eruption, thither or elsewhere:
For this infernal pit shall never hold
Celestial Spi'rits in bondage, nor th' abyfs
Long under darkness cover. But thefe thoughts
Full counsel must mature: Peace is defpair'd, 660
For who can think fubmiffion? War then, War
Open or understood must be refolv'd.
He fpake: and to confirm his words, out-flew
Millions of flaming fwords, drawn from the thighs
Of mighty Cherubim; the fudden blaze 665
Far round illumin'd Hell: highly they rag'd
Against the High'eft, and fierce with grafped arms
Clash'd on their founding fhields the din of war,
Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heaven.
There ftood a hill not far, whofe grifly top Belch'd fire and rolling fmoke; the reft entire Shone with a gloffy fcurf, undoubted fign That in his womb was hid metallic ore, The work of fulphur. Thither wing'd with fpeed A numerous brigad haften'd: as when bands Of pioneers with ípade and pickax arm'd Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field, Or caft a rampart. Mammon led them on, Mammon, the leaft erected Spirit that fell From Heav'n, for e'en in Heav'n his looks and thoughts Were always downward bent, admiring more The riches of Heav'n's pavement, trodden gold, Than ought divine or holy elfe enjoy'd
In vifion beatific: by him firft
Men alfo, and by his fuggestion taught,
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,
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