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
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 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
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.
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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