Imatges de pàgina
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Deep scars of thunder had intrench'd; and care
Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows
Of dauntless courage, and considerate pride
Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast
Signs of remorse and passion, 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 Heaven, and from eternal splendours flung
For his revolt; yet faithful how they stood,
Their glory wither'd: as when Heaven's fire
Hath scath'd the forest oaks, or mountain pines,
With singed top their stately growth, though bare,
Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepar'd
To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they bend
From wing to wing, and half enclose him round
With all his peers: Attention held them mute
Thrice he assay'd; and thrice, in spite of scorn,
Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth: at last
Words, interwove with sighs, found out their way.
O Myriads of immortal Spirits! O Powers
Matchless, but with the Almighty! and that strife
Was not inglorious, though the event was dire,
As this place testifies, and this dire change
Hateful to utter: but what power of mind,
Foreseeing or presaging, from the depth

Of knowledge past or present, could have fear'd,
How such united force of gods, how such

As stood like these, could ever know repulse?
For who can yet believe, though after loss,
That all these puissant legions, whose exíle
Hath emptied Heaven, shall fail to re-ascend
Self-rais'd, and re-possess their native seat?
For me, be witness all the host of Heaven,
If counsels different, or dangers shunn'd

By me, have lost our hopes. But he, who reigns
Monarch in Heaven, till then as one secure
Sat on his throne, upheld by old repute,

Consent or custom; and his regal state

Put forth at full, but still his strength 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
To work in close design, 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 so rife
There went a fame in Heaven 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 pry, shall be perhaps
Our first eruption; thither or elsewhere:
For this infernal pit shall never hold,
Celestial Spirits in bondage, nor the abyss

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Deep scars of thunder had intrench'd; and care
Sat on his faded cheek, but under brows
Of dauntless courage, and considerate pride
Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast
Signs of remorse and passion, 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

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Of Heaven, and from eternal splendours flung
For his revolt; yet faithful how they stood,
Their glory wither'd: as when Heaven's fire
Hath scath'd the forest oaks, or mountain pines
With singed top their stately growth, though b
Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepar
To speak; whereat their doubled ranks they
From wing to wing, and half enclose him rou
With all his peers: Attention held them mu
Thrice he assay'd; and thrice, in spite of sc
Tears, such as Angels weep, burst forth: af
Words, interwove with sighs, found out the
O Myriads of immortal Spirits! O Powe
Matchless, but with the Almighty! and th
Was not inglorious, though the event was
As this place testifies, and this dire chang
Hateful to utter: but what power of min
Foreseeing or presaging, from the depth
Of knowledge past or present, could ha
How such united force of gods, how su

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As stood Ike these could ever know repulse"
For who can yer believe, though after ass
That all these sa legions whost exe
Hath emptied Heaven stal fai u r-ascent
Sefraid, and re-possess ther native seat
Erne be witness the host of ficaver
Hazel different, or dangers shum. G
by are lost our hopes. But he who re

Main Heaven, till ther as one secure

tome, upheld by a repute Creator custom; and his rega statt

Prihat fill but still his streng conceal t

Vaped our attempt, and rougin our tal

might we know, and know Dự (WI

her to provoke, or dread

our better part remains

ed by fraud or guile,

t: that he no less

To a bad to overcomes

realf his foe

Wife Fame that be ere lung

Thereof so rife

Long under darkness cover.

But these thoughts

Full counsel must mature: Peace is despair'd;
For who can think submission? War then, War,
Open or understood, must be resolv'd.

He spake and, to confirm his words, out-flew
Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs
Of mighty Cherubim; the sudden blaze
Far round illumin'd Hell: Highly they rag'd
Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms
Clash'd on their sounding shields the din of war,
Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heaven.

There stood a hill not far, whose grisly top
Belch'd fire and rolling smoke; the rest entire
Shone with a glossy scurf; undoubted sign
That in his womb was hid metallick ore,
The work of sulphur. Thither, wing'd with speed,
A numerous brigad hasten'd: as when bands
Of pioneers, with spade and pickax arm'd,
Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field,
Or cast a rampart. Mammon led them on;
Mammon, the least erected Spirit that fell

From Heaven; for e'en in Heaven his looks and thoughts Were always downward bent, admiring more

The riches of Heaven's pavement, trodden gold,

Than aught, divine or holy, else enjoy'd

In vision beatifick: by him first

Men also, and by his suggestion taught,

Ransack'd the centre, and with impious hands

Rifled the bowels of their mother Earth

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