Part hidden veins digg'd up (nor hath this earth Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone,
Whereof to found their engines and their balls Of missive ruin; part incentive reed
Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire. 520 So all ere day-spring, under conscious night, Secret they finish'd, and in order set,
With silent circumspection unespy'd.
Now when fair morn orient in Heav'n appear'd,
Up rose the victor Angels, and to arms
The matin-trumpet sung. In arms they stood Of golden panoply, refulgent host,
Soon banded. Others from the dawning hills Look'd round, and scouts each coast light-armed
Each quarter to descry the distant foe, Where lodg'd, or whither fled, or if for fight, In motion or in halt. Him soon they met Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow But firm battalion. Back with speediest sail Zophiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing, 535 Came fly'ng, and in mid-air aloud thus cry'd: Arm, Warriors, arm for fight; the foe at hand, Whom fled we thought, will save us long pursuit This day. Fear not his flight; so thick a cloud He comes, and settled in his face I see
Sad resolution and secure. Let each
His adamantine 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 aught, no drizzling show'r, 545 But rattling storm of arrows barb'd with fire.
So warn'd he them, aware themselves, and soon In order, quit of all impediment;
Instant without disturb they took alarm, And onward mov'd embattl'd; when behold, Not distant far with heavy pace the foe 551 Approaching gross and huge, in hollow cube Training his devilish engin'ry, impal'd
On ev'ry side with shadowing squadrons deep, To hide the fraud. At interview both stood 555 A while; but suddenly at head appear'd Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud: Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold, That all may see who hate us, how we seek Peace and composure, 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 Heaven, Heav'n witness thou anon, while we discharge Freely our part; ye who appointed stand, 565 Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch What we propound, and loud that all may hear.
So scoffing 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) Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths
With hideous orifice gap'd on us wide,
Portending hollow truce.
A seraph stood, and in his hand a reed
Stood waving, tipt with fire: while we suspense Collected stood within our thoughts amus'd, Not long, for sudden all at once their reeds Put forth, and to a narrow vent apply'd With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame, But soon obscur'd with smoke, all Heav'n appear'd, From those deep-throated engines belch'd, whose
Imbowel'd with outrageous noise the air, And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul Their dev'lish glut, chain'd thunderbolts and hail Of iron globes; which on the victor host Levell'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 sooner for their arms; unarm'd they might Have easily as Sp'rits evaded swift
By quick contraction or remove; but now
Foul dissipation follow'd and forc'd rout;
Nor serv'd it to relax their serry'd files.
What should they do? If on they rush'd, repulse 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 derision 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
Of composition, straight 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 suppose, If our proposals once again were heard, We should compel them to a quick result. To whom thus Belial, in like gamesome mood: Leader, the terms we sent 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 scoffing, heighten'd in their thoughts beyond All doubt of victory; eternal might
To match with their inventions they presum'd So easy,' 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 635
Against such hellish mischief fit to' 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)
Light as the lightning glimpse they ran, they flew. From their foundations loos'ning to and fro, They pluck'd the seated hills with all their load, Rocks, waters, woods, and, by the shaggy tops Uplifting, bore them in their hands. Amaze, 646 Be sure, and terror seiz'd the rebel host, When coming towards them so dread they saw The bottom of the mountains upward turn'd; Till on those cursed engines 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 shadowing, and oppress'd whole legions
Their armour help'd their harm, crush'd in and
Into their substance pent, which wrought them
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