Like doubtful hue: but he his wonted pride
Soon recollecting, with high words, that bore
Semblance of worth not fubftance, gently rais'd
Their fainted courage, and difpel'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 honour claim'd
Azazel as his right, a Cherube tall:
Who forthwith from the glittering Staff unfurld
Th' Imperial Enfign, which full high advanc't
Shon like a Meteor ftreaming to the Wind
With Gemms and Golden luftre rich imblaz'd,
Seraphic arms and Trophies: all the while
Sonorous mettal blowing Martial founds:
At which the universal Hoft upfent
A fhout that tore Hells Concave, and beyond
Frighted the Reign of Chaos and old Night.
All in a moment through the gloom were seen
Ten thoufand Banners rife into the Air
With Orient Colours waving: with them rofe
A Forreft huge of Spears: and thronging Helms
Appear'd, and ferried Shields in thick array
Of depth immeafurable: Anon they move
In perfect Phalanx to the Dorian mood
Of Flutes and foft Recorders; fuch as rais'd
To highth of nobleft temper Heros old
Arming to Battel, and in ftead of rage
Deliberate valour breath'd, firm and unmov'd
With dread of death to flight or foul retreat
Nor wanting power to mitigate
With folemn touches, tro
Anguifh and doubt and
From mortal or immortal minds. Thus they
Breathing united force with fixed thought
Mov'd on in filence to foft Pipes that charm'd
Thir painful steps o're the burnt foyle; and now
Advanc't in view they stand, a horrid Front
Of dreadful length and dazling Arms, in guise
Of Warriers old with order'd Spear and Shield,
Awaiting what command thir mighty Chief
Had to impose: He through the armed Files
Darts his experienc't eye, and foon traverse
The whole Battalion views, thir order due,
Thir vifages and ftature as of Gods,
Thir number last he fumms. And now his heart Distends with pride, and hardning in his strength Glories: For never fince created man,
Met fuch imbodied force, as nam'd with these
Could merit more then that small infantry
Warr'd on by Cranes: though all the Giant brood
Of Phlegra with th' Heroic Race were joyn'd
That fought at Theb's and Ilium, on each fide
Mixt with auxiliar Gods; and what refounds
In Fable or Romance of Uthers Son
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
Thus far thefe beyond
vefs, yet obferv'd
he above the reft
idly eminent
Stood like a Towr; his form had yet not loft
All her Original brightness, nor appear'd
Lefs then Arch Angel ruind, and th' excess
Of Glory obfcur'd: As when the Sun new ris'n
Looks through the Horizontal misty Air
Shorn of his Beams, or from behind the Moon
In dim Eclips difaftrous twilight sheds
On half the Nations, and with fear of change
Perplexes Monarchs. Dark'n'd fo,
Dark'n'd fo, yet shon
Above them all th' Arch Angel: but his face 600
Deep fears of Thunder had intrencht, and care
Sat on his faded cheek, but under Browes
Of dauntless courage, and confiderate Pride
Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but caft
Signs of remorfe and paffion to behold
The fellows of his crime, the followers rather
(Far other once beheld in blifs) condemn'd
For ever now to have their lot in pain,
Millions of Spirits for his fault amerc't
Of Heav'n, and from Eternal Splendors flung 610
For his revolt, yet faithfull how they stood,
Thir Glory witherd. As when Heavens Fire
Hath scath'd the Forrest Oaks, or Mountain Pines,
With finged top their stately growth though bare
Stands on the blafted Heath. He now prepar'd
To speak; whereat their doubl'd Ranks they bend
From Wing to Wing, and half enclose him round
With all his Peers: attention held them mute.
Thrice he affayd, and thrice in fpite of fcorn, 619
Tears fuch as Angels weep, burst forth at last
Words interwove with fighs found out their way.
O Myriads of immortal Spirits, O Powers
Matchless, 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 power 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 thefe, could ever know repulfe? 630
For who can yet beleeve, though after loss,
That all these puiffant Legions, whose exile
Hath emptied Heav'n, fhall faile to re-ascend
Self-rais'd, and repossess their native seat.
For me, be witness all the Host of Heav'n,
If counfels different, or danger shun'd
By me, have loft our hopes. But he who reigns
Monarch in Heav'n, till then as one fecure
Sat on his Throne, upheld by old
Confent or custome, 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 warr, provok't; our better part remains
To work in close defign, by fraud or guile
What force effected not: that he no less
At length from us may find, who overcomes
By force, hath overcome but half his foe.
Space may produce new Worlds; whereof fo rife
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 Sons of Heaven :
Thither, if but to prie, fhall be perhaps
Our firft eruption, thither or elsewhere:
For this Infernal Pit shall never hold
Cæleftial Spirits in Bondage, nor th' Abysse
Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts
Full Counsel must mature: Peace is defpaird, 660
For who can think Submiffion? Warr then, Warr
Open or understood must be resolv'd.
He spake and to confirm his words, out-flew
Millions of flaming fwords, drawn from the thighs
Of mighty Cherubim; the fudden blaze
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 stood a Hill not far whofe griefly top 670 Belch'd fire and rowling fmoak; the rest entire Shon with a gloffie fcurff, undoubted fign That in his womb was hid metallic Ore, The work of Sulphur. Thither wing'd with speed A numerous Brigad haften'd. As when bands Of Pioners with Spade and Pickaxe arm'd Forerun the Royal Camp, to trench a Field, Or caft a Rampart. Mammon led them on, Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell
From heav'n, for ev'n in heav'n his looks & thoughts Were always downward bent, admiring more 681 The riches of Heav'ns pavement, trod'n Gold, Then aught divine or holy else enjoy'd
In vifion beatific: by him first
Men also, and by his suggestion taught,
Ranfack'd the Center, and with impious hands
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