Honor, dominion, glory, and renown;
Who have fuftain'd one day in doubtful fight
(And if one day, why not eternal days?)

What Heaven's Lord had pow'rfulleft to fend 425
Against us from about his throne, and judg'd
Sufficient to fubdue us to his will,

But proves not fo: then fallible, it seems,
Of future we may deem him, though till now
Omnifcient thought. True is, lefs firmly arm'd,
Some difadvantage we indur'd and pain,
Till now not known, but known as foon contemn'd;
Since now we find this our empyreal form
Incapable of mortal injury,

431

Imperishable, and though pierc'd with wound, 435
Soon clofing, and by native vigor heal'd.
Of evil then fo fmall, as eafy think
The remedy; perhaps more valid arms,
Weapons more violent, when next we meet,

May ferve to better us, and worfe our foes, 440
Or equal what between us made the odds,
In nature none: if other hidden caufe
Left them fuperior, while we can preserve
Unhurt our minds and underftanding found,
Due fearch and confultation will difclofe.

445

450

He fat; and in th' affembly next upstood Nifroch, of Principalities the prime; As one he ftood efcap'd from crucl fight, Sore toil'd, his riven arms to havoc hewn, And cloudy in afpéct thus anfw'ring spake. Deliverer from new Lords, leader to free Enjoyment of our right as Gods; yet hard For Gods, and too unequal work we find, Against unequal arms to fight in pain, Against unpain'd, impaffive; from which evil 455 Ruin muft needs enfue; for what avails

Valor or strength, though matchless, quell'd with pain

Which all fubdues, and makes remifs the hands
Of mightiest? Sense of pleasure we may well
Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine,
But live content, which is the calmest life:
But pain is perfect mifery, the worst
Of evils, and exceffive, overturns

486

Thick-ramm'd, at th' other bore with touch of fire
Dilated and infuriate, fhall fend forth
From far with thund'ring noise among our foes
Such implements of mifchief, as fhall dafh
To pieces, and o'erwhelm whatever ftands
Adverfe, that they fhall fear we have difarm'd 490
The Thund'rer of his only dreaded bolt.
Nor long fhall be our labor; yet ere dawn,
Effect fhall end our with. Mean while revive;
Abandon fear; to strength and counfel join'd
Think nothing hard, much lefs to be defpair'd. 495
He ended, and his words their drooping chear
Inlighten'd, and their languifh'd hope reviv'd.
Th' invention all admir'd, and each, how he
To be th' inventor mifs'd; fo caly' it feem'd
Once found, which yet unfound most would have
thought

Impoffible: yet haply of thy race

500

505

In future days, if malice fhould abound,
Some one intent on mifchief, or infpir'd
With devilish machination, might devife
Like inftrument to plague the fons of men
For fin, on war and mutual flaughter bent.
Forthwith from council to the work they flew :
None arguing ftood; innumerable hands
Were ready; in a moment up they turn'd
Wide the celeftial foil, and faw beneath
Th' originals of nature in their crude
Conception; fulphurous and nitrous foam
They found, they mingled, and with fubtle art,
Concocted and adufted they reduc'd

510

To blackeft grain, and into ftore convey'd: 515
Part hidden veins digg'd up (nor hath this earth'
Entrails unlike) of mineral and stone,
Whereof to found their engins and their balls
Of miffive ruin; part incentive reed
Provide, pernicious with one touch to fire.
So all cre day-fpring, under confcious night,
Secret they finifh'd, and in order fet,
With filent circumfpection unefpy'd.

520

525

460

The matin trumpet fang: in arms they flood Of golden noply, refulgent hoft,

Now when fair mora orient in Heav'n appear'd, Up rofe the victor Angels, and to arms

465

All patience. He who therefore can invent
With what more forcible we may offend
Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm
Ourfelves with like defenfe, to nie deferves
No lefs than for deliverance what we owe.
Whereto with look compos'd Satan reply'd.
Not uninvented that, which thou aright
Believ'ft fo main to our fuccefs, I bring.
Which of us who beholds the bright furfáce
Of this ethereous mold whereon we stand,
This continent of fpacious Heav'n, adorn'd
With plant, fruit, flow'r ambrofial, gems and gold;
Whofe eye fo fuperficially furveys
476

470

Thefe things, as not to mind from whence they grow

Deep under ground, materials dark and crude,
Of fpiritous and fiery fpume, till touch'd
With Heaven's ray, and temper'd they shoot forth
So beauteous, opening to the ambient light? 481
These in their dark nativity the deep
Shall yield us pregnant with infernal flame;
Which isto hollow engins long and round

Soon banded; others from the dawning hills Look'd round, and fcouts each coaft light-arm'd

flour,

530

Each quarter, to defery the diftant foe,
Where lodg'd, or whither fied, or if for fight,
In motion or in halt: him foon they met
Under fpread enfigus moving nigh, in flow
But firm battalion; back with fpcedieft fail
Zophiel, of Cherubim the swifteft wing, 535
Cane fly'ing, and in mid air aloud thus cry'd.

540

Arm, Warriors, arm for fight; the foe at hand, Whom fled we thought, will fave us long purfuit This day; fear not his flight; fo thick a cloud He comes, and fettled in his face I fee Sad refolution and fecure: let each His adamantin coat gird well, and each Fit well his helm, gripe faft his orbed shield, Borne ev'n or high; for this day will pour down, if I conjecture ought, no drizling shower, But rattling form of arrows barb'd with fire. So warn'd he them aware themselves; and foon

545

565

In order, quit of all impediment,
Inftant without disturb they took alarm,
And onward mov'd imbattel'd: when behold 550
Not diftant far with heavy pace the foe
Approaching grofs and huge, in hollow cube
Training his devilish enginry, impal'd
On every fide with fhadowing fquadrons deep,
To hide the fraud. At interview both food 555
A while; but fuddenly at head appear'd
Satan, and thus was heard commanding loud.
Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold;
That all may fee who hate us, how we feek
Peace and compofure, 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 difcharge
Freely our part; ye who appointed ftand,
Do as you have in charge, and briefly touch
What we propound, and loud that all may hear.
So fcoffing 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 difcover'd, new and flrange,
A triple mounted row of pillars laid
On wheels (for like to pillars moft they seem'd,
Or hollow'd bodies made of oak or fir,
With branches lopt, in wood or mountain fell'd)
Brafs, iron, ftony mold, had not their mouths
With hideous orifice gap'd on us wide,
Portending hollow truce: at each behind
A Seraph ftood, and in his hand a reed
Stood waving tipt with fire; while we fufpenfe 580
Collected flood within our thoughts amus'd,
Not long, for fudden all at once their reeds
Put forth, and to a narrow vent apply'd

570

Of composition, strait they chang’d their minds,
Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell.

As they would dance; yet for a dance they seemsd
Somewhat extravagant and wild, perhaps 616
For joy of offer'd peace: but I suppose,
If our propofals once again were heard,
We fhould compel them to a quick refult.

To whom thus Belial in like gamefome mood.
Leader, the terms we fent were terms of weight,
Of hard contents, and full of force urg'd home,
Such as we might perceive amus'd them all,
And ftumbled many; who receives them right,
Had need from head to foot well understand; 625
Not understood, this gift they have befides,
They fhew us when our foes walk not upright.

So they among themselves in pleasant vein Stood fcoffing, highten'd in their thoughts beyond All doubt of victory; eternal might 630 To match with their inventions they prefum'd So eafy', and of his thunder made a scorn, And all his hoft derided, while they stood A while in trouble: but they stood not long; Rage prompted them at length, and found them

arms

635

640

Against fuch hellish mischief fit to' oppose.
Forthwith (behold the excellence, the power,
Which God hath in his mighty Angels plac'd)
Their arms away they threw, and to the hills
(For Earth hath this variety from Heaven
Of pleasure fituate in hill and dale)
Light as the lightning glimpse they ran, they flew;
From their foundations loofning to and fro
They pluck'd the feated hills with all their load,
Rocks, waters, woods, and by the fhaggy tops
Up-lifting bore them in their hands: Amaze,
Be fure, and terror feis'd the rebel host,
When coming towards them fo dread they faw
The bottom of the mountains upward turn'd;
Till on those curfed engins triple-row
They faw them whelm'd, and all their confidence
Under the weight of mountains buried deep;
Themselves invaded next, and on their heads

659

Into their fubftance pent, which wrought them pain
Implacable, and many a dolorous groan,
Long ftrugling underneath, ere they could wind
Out of fuch pris'n, though Spi'rits of purest light,
Pureft at firft, now grofs by finning grown. 661
The rest in imitation to like arms
Betook them, and the neighb'ring hills uptore;
So hills amid the air encounter'd hills
Hurl'd to and fro with jaculation dire,
That under ground they fought in difmal shade;
Infernal noife; war feem'd a civil game
To this uproar; horrid confufion heap'd
Upon confufion rofe: and now all Heaven
Had gone to wrack, with ruin overspread; 670
Had not th' almighty Father, where he fits

665

War wearied hath perform'd what war can do, 695 And to diforder'd rage let loofe the reins,

With mountains as with weapons arm'd, which makes

700

Wild work in Heav'n, and dange'rous to the main.
Two days are therefore paft; the third is thine;
For thee I have ordain'd it, and thus far
Have fuffer'd, that the glory may be thine
Of ending this great war, fince none but Thou
Can end it. Into thee fuch virtue' and grace
Immenfe I have transfus'd, that all may know
In Heav'n and Hell thy pow'r above compare ; 705
And this perverfe commotion govern'd thus,
To manifeft thee worthieft to be Heir
Of all things, to be Heir and to be King
By facred unction, thy deserved right.

Go then thou Mightieft in thy Father's might, 710
Afcend my chariot, guide the rapid wheels
That shake Heav'n's bafis, bring forth all my war,
My bow and thunder, my almighty arms
Gird on, and fword upon thy puiffant thigh;
Purfue these fons of darkness, drive them out 715
from all Heav'n's bounds into the utter deep :
There let them learn, as likes them, to despise
God and Meffiah his anointed king.

He faid, and on his Son with rays direct
Shone full; he all his Father full exprefs'd
Ineffably into his face receiv'd;

And thus the filial Godhead anfw'ring fpake.

720

O Father, O Supreme of heav'nly Thrones, First, Highest, Holicft, Best, thou always seek’st To glorify thy Son, I always thee,

725

As is most juft; this I my glory' account,
My exaltation, and my whole delight,
That thou in me well pleas'd, declar'ft thy will
Fulfill'd, which to fulfil is all my blifs.
Scepter and pow'r, thy giving, I affume,
And gladlier fhall refign, when in the end
Thou shalt be all in all, and I in thee
For ever, and in me all whom thou lov'st:
But whom thou hat'st, I hate, and can put on

730

735

Thy terrors, as I put thy mildness on,
Image of thee in all things; and shall foon,
Arm'd with thy might, rid Heav'n of these rebell'd,
To their prepar'd ill manfion driven down,
To chains of darkness, and th' undying worm,
That from thy juft obedience could revolt, 740
Whom to obey is happiness entire.

Then fhall thy Saints unmix'd, and from th' impure
Far feparate, circling thy holy mount
Unfeigned Halleluiahs to thee fing,

Hymns of high praife, and I among them chief. 745
So faid, he o'er his fcepter bowing, refe
From the right hand of glory where he fat;
And the third facred morn began to fhine,
Dawning through Heav'n: forth rufh'd with
whirlwind found

The chariot of paternal Deity,

750

Flashing thick flames, wheel within wheel undrawn, Itfelf inftinct with Spirit, but convoy'd

756

By four Cherubic fhapes; four faces each
Had wondrous; as with ftars their bodies all
And wings were fet with eyes, with eyes the wheels
Of beril, and carreering fires between;
Over their heads a cryftal firmament,
Whereon a faphir throne, inlaid with pure
Amber, and colors of the fhow'ry arch.
He in celeftial panoply all arm'd

760

765

Of radiant Urim, work divinely wrought,
Afcended; at his right hand victory
Sat eagle-wing'd; hefide him hung his bow
And quiver with three-bolted thunder ftor'd,
And from about him fierce effufión roll'd
Of smoke and bickering flame and sparkles dire:
Attended with ten thousand thousand Saints,
He onward came; far off his coming fhone;
And twenty thousand (1 their number heard)
Chariots of God: half on each hand were feen:
He on the wings of Cherub rode fublime
On the crystallin sky, in faphir thron'd,
Illuftrious far and wide, but by his own
First feen; them unexpected joy furpris'd,
When the great enfign of Melliah blaz'd
Aloft by Angels borne, his fign in Heaven;
Under whole conduct Michael foon reduc'd
His army, circumfus'd on either wing,
Under their Head imbodied all in one.

771

775

780

Before him pow'r divine his way prepar'd;
At his command th' uprooted hills retir'd
Each to his place; they heard his voice, and went
Obfequious; Heav'n his wonted face renew'd,
And with fresh flow'rets hill and valley fmil'd.
This faw his hapless foes, but flood obdur'd, 785
And to rebellious fight rallied their powers
Infenfate, hope conceiving from despair.
In heav'nly Spirits could fuch perverfenefs dwell?
But to convince the proud what figns avail,
Or wonders move th' obdurate to relent?
They harden'd more by what might moft reclame,
Grieving to fee his glory, at the fight

790

Weening to profper, and at length prevail 795
Against God and Meffiah, or to fall
In univerfal ruin laft; and now
To final battel drew, disdaining flight,

Or faint retreat; when the great Son of God To all his hoft on either hand thus fpake. 800

805

810

815

820

825

Stand fill in bright array, ye Saints, here ftand Ye Angels arm'd, this day from battel reft; Faithful hath been your warfare, and of God Accepted, fearle fs in his righteous caufe, And as ye have receiv'd, fo have ye done Invincibly; but of this curfed crow The punishment to other hand belongs; Vengeance is his, or whofe he fole appoints: Number to this day's work is not ordain'd Nor multitude: ftand only and behold Ged's indignation on thefe Godlefs pour'd By me; not you but me they have defpis'd, Yet envied; against me is all their rage, Because the Father, t' whom in Heav'n fupreme Kingdom and pow'r and glory appertains, Hath honor'd me according to his will. Therefore to me their doon he hath affign'd; That they may have their wifh, to try with me In battel which the ftronger proves, they all, Or I alone against them, fince by firength 'They meafure all, of other excellence Not emulous, nor care who them excels; Nor other ftrife with them do I vouchsafe. So fpake the Son, and into terror chang'd His count'nance tog fevere to be beheld, And full of wrath bent on his enemies. At once the Four spread out their starry wings With dreadful fhade contiguous, and the orbs Of his fierce chariot roll'd, as with the found Of torrent floods, or of a numerous hoft. He on his impious foes right onward drove, Gloomy as night; under his burning wheels The fedfaft empyréan fhook throughout, All but the throne itfelf of God. Among them he arriv'd, in his right hand Grafping ten thoufand thunders, which he fent Before him, fuch as in their fouls infix'd Plagues; they aftonih'd all refiftance loft, All courage; down their idle weapons dropt; O'er fhields and helms and helmed heads he rode Of Thrones and mighty Seraphim proftráte, 841 That with'd the mountains now might be again Thrown on them as a fhelter from his ire. Nor leis on either fide tempeftuous fell His arrows, from the four-fold vifag'd Four Difinct with eyes, and from the living wheels Diftinct alike with multitude of eyes; One Spirit in them rul'd, and every eye Glar'd lightning, and fhot forth pernicious fire Among th' accur'd, that wither'd all their ftrength, And of their worted vigor left them drain'd, 851 Exhaufted, fpiritlefs, aflicted, fall'n.

Full foon

830

835

845

Yet half his ftrength he put not forth, but check'd
I is thunder in mid voly; for he meant
Not to deftroy, but root them out of Heaven: 855
The overthrown he rais'd, and as a herd
Of goats or timorcus flock together throng'd

Drove them before him thunder-ftruck, With terrors and with furies to the bound And crystal wall of Heaven, which openin Roll'd inward, and a fpacious gap difclos'd Into the wafteful deep; the monftrous fig Struck them with horror backward, but far Urg'd them behind; headlong them threw

Down from the verge of Heav'n; eternal Burnt after them to the bottomlefs pit.

Hell heard th' unfufferable noife, Hell
Heav'n ruining from Heaven, and would ha
Affrighted; but strict Fate had cast too des
Her dark foundations, and too fast had bou
Nine days they fell; confounded Chaos roa
And felt tenfold confufion in their fall
Through his wild anarchy, fo huge a rout
Incumber'd him with ruin: Hell at laft
Yawning receiv'd them whole, and on them
Hell their fit habitation fraught with fire
Unquenchable, the house of woe and pain
Difburden'd Heav'n rejoic'd, and foon repai
Her mural breach, returning whence it roll
Sole victor from th' expulfion of his foes
Meffiah his triumphal chariot turn'd:
To meet him all his faints, who filent ftood
Eye-witneffes of his almighty acts,
With jubilee advanc'd; and as they went,
Shaded with branching palm, each order bri
Sung triumph, and him fung victorious King
Son, Heir, and Lord, to him dominion give
Worthieft to reign: he celebrated rode
Triumphant through mid Heav'n, into the
And temple of his mighty Father thron'd
On high; who into glory him receiv'd,
Where now he fits at the right hand of bliß
Thus meafuring things in Heav'n by thing
Earth,

At thy requeft, and that thou may'ft beware
By what is paft, to thee I have reveal'd
What might have elfe to human race been hid
The difcord which befel, and war in Heaven
Among th' Angelic Pow'rs, and the deep fail
Of thofe too high afpiring, who rebell'd
With Satan; he who envics now thy ftate,
Who now is plotting how he may feduce
Thee ao from obedience, that with him
Bereav'd of happiness thou may'st partake
His punishment, eternal mifery;
Which would be all his folace and revenge,
As a despite done against the moft High,
Thee once to gain companion of his woe.
But liften not to his temptations, warn
Thy weaker; let it profit thee to' have heard
By terrible example the reward
Of disobedience; firm they might have stood
Yet fell; remember, and fear to tranfgrefs.

THE END OF THE SIXTH BOOK.

aven.

SCEND from Heav'n, Urania, by that

name

5

htly thou art call'd, whose voice divine ving, above th' Olympian hill I foar, :the flight of Pegaféan wing. neaning, not the name I call: for thou f the Mufes nine, nor on the top d Olympus dwell'ft, but heav'nly bora, e the hills appear'd, or.fountain flow'd, with eternal Wildon didft converse, om thy fifter, and with her didit play efence of th' almighty Father, pleas'd thy celeftial fong. Up led by thee the Heav'n of Heav'ns I have prefum'd, arthly gueft, and drawn empyreal air, temp'ring; with like fafety guided down 15 n me to my native element:

From this flying fteed unrein'd, (as once
Tophon, though from a lower clime)
mounted, on th' Aleian field I fail
neous there to wander and forlorn.
yet remains unfung, but narrower bound

in the visible diurnal sphere;

ΙΟ

20

ding on earth, not rapt above the pole, fafe I fing with mortal voice, unchang'd carfe or mute, though fall'n on evil days, 25 vil days though fall'n, and evil tongues; rknefs, and with dangers compafs'd round, folitude; yet not alone, while thou ft my fumbers nightly,

or when morn

les the eaft: ftill govern thou my fong, 30 ia, and fit audience find, though few. drive far off the barbarous diffonance

VOL. II.

Of Bacchus and his revelers, the race

Of that wild rout that tore the Thracian bard
In Rhodope, where woods and rocks had ears 35
To tapture, till the favage clamor drown'd
Both harp and voice; nor could the Mufe defend
Her fen. So fail not thou, who thee implores :
For thou art heav'nly, the an empty dream.

Say Goddess, what ensued when Raphaël,
The affable Arch-Angel, had forewarn'd
Adam by dire example to beware
Apoftafy, by what befel in Heaven
To thofe apoftates, left the like befal

In Paradife to Adam or his race,

Charg'd not to touch the interdicted tree,

40

45

If they tranfgrefs, and flight that fole command, So eafily obey'd amid the choice

Of all taftes elfe to picafe their appetite,

Though wand'ring. He with his conforted Eve 50 The story heard attentive, and was fill'd

With admiration and deep mufe, to hear

Of things fo high and strange, things to their