of Nature in thir crude Conception Sulphurous and Nitrous Foame They found they mingl'd and with suttle Art Concocted and adusted they reduc'd To blackest graâ—… and into store conveyd Part hidd'n veins diggd up nor hath this Earth Entrails unlike of Mineral and Stone Whereof to found thir Engins and thir Balls Of missive ruin part incentive reed Provide pernicious with one touch to fire So all ere day spring under conscious Night Secret they finish'd and in order set With silent circumspection unespi'd Now when fair Morn Orient in Heav'n appeerd Up rose the Victor Angels and to Arms The matin Trumpet Sung in Arms they stood Of Golden Panoplie refulgent Host Soon banded others from the dawning Hills Lookd round and Scouts each Coast light-armed scoure Each quarter to descrie the distant foe Where lodg'd or whither fled or if for fight In motion or in alt him soon they met Under spred Enfignes moving nigh in slow But firm Battalion back with speediest Sail Zophiel of Cherubim the swiftest wing Came flying and in mid Aire aloud thus cri'd Arme Warriours Arme for â—…ght 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 settl'd in his face I see Sad resolution and secure let each His Adamantine coat gird well and each Fit well his Helme gripe fast his orbed Shield Born eevn or high for this day will pour down If I conjecture aught no drizling showr But ratling storm of Arrows barbd with fire So warnd he them aware themselves and sooâ—… In order quit of all impediment Instant without disturb they took Allarm And onward move Embattelld when behold Not distant far with heavie pace the Foe Approaching gross and huge in hollow Cube Training his devilish Enginrie impal'd On every side with shaddowing Squadrons Deep To hide the fraud At interview both stood A while but suddenly at head appeerd Satan And thus was heard Commanding loud Vangard to Right and Left the Front unfould That all may see who hate us how we seek Peace and composure and with open brest Stand readie 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 yee who appointed stand 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 discoverd 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 Firr With branches lopt in Wood or Mountain fell'd Brass Iron Stonie mould had not thir mouthes With hideous orifice gap't on us wide Portending hollow truce at each behind 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 thir Reeds Put forth and to a narrow vent appli'd With nicest touch Immediate in a flame But soon obscur'd with smoak all Heav'n appeerd From those deep-throated Engins belcht whose roar Emboweld with outragious noise the Air And all her entrails tore disgorging foule Thir devillish glut chaind Thunderbolts and Hail Of Iron Globes which on the Victor Host Level'd with such impetuous furie smote That whom they hit none on thir feet might stand Though standing else as Rocks but down they fell By thousands Angel on Arch-Angel rowl'd The sooner for thir Arms unarm'd they might Have easily as Spirits evaded swift By quick contraction or remove but now Foule dissipation follow'd and forc't rout Nor serv'd it to relax thir serried files What should they do if on they rusht repulse Repeated and indecent overthrow Doubl'd would render them yet more despis'd And to thir foes a laughter for in view Stood rankt of Seraphim another row In posture to displode thir second tire Of Thunder back defeated to return They worse abhorr'd Satan beheld thir 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 wee To entertain them fair with open Front And Brest what could we more propounded terms Of composition strait they chang'd thir minds Flew off and into strange vagaries fell As they would dance yet for a dance they seemd Somwhat extravagant and wilde perhaps For joy of offerd 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 gamesom 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 stumbl'd many who receives them right Had need from head to foot well understand Not understood this gift they have besides They shew us when our foes walk not upright So they among themselves in pleasant veine Stood scoffing highthn'd in thir thoughts beyond All doubt of Victorie eternal might To match with thir inventions they presum'd So easie 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 found them arms Against such hellish mischief fit to oppose Forthwith behold the excellence the power Which God hath in his mighty Angels plac'd Thir 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 glimps they ran they flew From thir foundations loosning to and fro They pluokt the seated Hills with all thir load Rocks Waters Woods and by the shaggie tops Up lifting bore them in thir hands Amaze Be sure and terrour seis'd the rebel Host When coming towards them so dread they saw The bottom of the Mountains upward turn'd Till on those cursed Engins triple-row They saw them whelmd and all thir confidence Under the weight of Mountains buried deep Themselves invaded next and on thir heads Main Promontories flung which in the Air Came shadowing and opprest whole Legions arm'd Thir armor help'd thir harm crush't in and brus'd Into thir substance pent which wrought them pain Implacable and many a dolorous groan Long strugling underneath ere they could wind Out of such prison though Spirits of purest light Purest at first now gross by sinning grown The rest in imitation to like Armes Betook them and the neighbouring Hills uptore So Hills amid the Air encounterd Hills Hurl'd to and fro with jaculation dire That under ground they fought in dismal shade Infernal noise Warr seem'd a civil Game To this uproar horrid confusion heapt Upon confusion rose and now all Heav'n Had gone to wrack with ruin overspred Had not th' Almightie Father where he sits Shrin'd in his Sanctuarie of Heav'n secure
darkness by the Hemisphere Divided Light the Day and Darkness Night He nam'd Thus was the first Day Eev'n and Morn Nor past uncelebrated nor unsung By the Celestial Quires when Orient Light Exhaling first from Darkness they beheld Birth-day of Heav'n and Earth with joy and shout The hollow Universal Orb they fill'd And touch't thir Golden Harps hymning prais'd God and his works Creatour him they sung Both when first Eevning was and when first Morn Again God said let ther be Firmament Amid the Waters and let it divide The Waters from the Waters and God made The Firmament expanse of liquid pure Transparent Elemental Air diffus'd In circuit to the uttermost convex Of this great Round partition firm and sure The Waters underneath from those above Dividing for as Earth so hee the World Built on circumfluous Waters calme in wide Crystallin Ocean and the loud misrule Of Chaos farr remov'd least fierce extreames Contiguous might distemper the whole frame And Heav'n he nam'd the Firmament So Eev'n And Morning Chorus sung the second Day The Earth was form'd but in the Womb as yet Of Waters Embryon immature involv'd Appeer'd not over all the face of Earth Main Ocean flow'd not idle but with warme Prolific humour soft'ning all her Globe Fermented the great Mother to conceave Satiate with genial moisture when God said Be gather'd now ye Waters under Heav'n Into one place and let dry Land appeer Immediately the Mountains huge appeer Emergent and thir broad bare backs upheave Into the Clouds thir tops ascend the Skie So high as heav'd the tumid Hills so low Down sunk a hollow bottom broad and deep Capacious bed of Waters thither they Hasted with glad precipitance uprowld As drops on dust conglobing from the drie Part rise in crystal Wall or ridge direct For haste such 〈◊〉 the great command impress'd On the swift slouds as Armies at the call Of Trumpet for of Armies thou hast heard Troop to thir Standard so the watrie throng Wave rowling after Wave where way they found If steep with torrent rapture if through Plaine Soft ebbing nor withstood them Rock or Hill But they or under ground or circuit wide With Serpent errour wandring found thir way And on the waâ—…hie Oose deep Channels wore Easie e're God had bid the ground be drie All but within those banks where Rivers now Stream and perpetual draw thir humid traine The dry Land Earth and the great receptacle Of congregated Waters he call'd Seas And saw that it was good and said Let th' Earth Put forth the verdant Grass Herb yeilding Seed And Fruit Tree yeilding Fruit after her kind Whose Seed is in her self upon the Earth He scarce had said when the bare Earth till then Desert and bare unsightly unadorn'd Brought forth the tender Grass whose verdure clad Her Universal Face with pleasant green Then Herbs of every leaf that sudden flour'd Op'ning thir various colours and made gay Her bosom smelling sweet and these scarce blown Forth flourish't thick the clustring Vine forth crept The smelling Gourd up stood the cornie Reed Embattell'd in her field add the humble Shrub And Bush with frizl'd hair implicit last Rose as in Dance the stately Trees and spred Thir branches hung with copious Fruit or gemm'd Thir Blossoms with high Woods the Hills were crownd With tufts the vallies each fountain side With borders long the Rivers That Earth now Seemd like to Heav'n a seat where Gods might dwell Or wander with delight and love to haunt Her sacred shades though God had yet not rain'd Upon the Earth and man to till the ground None was but from the Earth a dewie Mist Went up and waterd all the ground and each Plant of the field which e're it was in the Earth God made and every Herb before it grew On the green stemm God saw that it was good So Eev'n and Morn recorded the Third Day Again th' Almightie spake Let there be Lights High in th' expanse of Heaven to divide The Day from Night and let them be for Signes For Seasons and for Dayes and circling Years And let them be for Lights as I ordaine Thir Office in the Firmament of Heav'n To give Light on the Earth and it was so And God made two great Lights great for thir use To Man the greater to have rule by Day The less by Night alterne and made the Starrs And set them in the Firmament of Heav'n To illuminate the Earth and rule the Day In thir vicissitude and rule the Night And Light from Darkness to divide God saw Surveying his great Work that it was good For of Celestial Bodies first the Sun A mightie Spheare he fram'd unlight som first Though of Ethereal Mould then form'd the Moon Globose and everie magnitude of Starrs And sowd with Starrs the Heav'n thick as a field Of Light by farr the greater part he took Transplanted from her cloudie Shrine and plac'd â—…n the Suns Orb made porous to receive And drink the liquid Light firm to retaine Her gather'd beams great Palace now of Light Hither as to thir Fountain other Starrs Repairing in thir gold'n Urns draw Light And hence the Morning Planet guilds his horns By tincture or reflection they augment Thir small peculiar though from human sight So farr remote with diminution seen First in his East the glorious Lamp was seen Regent of Day and all th' Horizon round Invested with bright Rayes jocond to 〈◊〉 His Longitude through Heav'ns high rode the gray Dawn and the Pleiades before him danc'd Shedding sweet influence less bright the Moon But opposite in leveld West was set His mirror with full face borrowing her Light From him for other light she needed none In that aspect and still that distance keepes Till night then in the East her turn she shines Revolvd on Heav'ns great Axle and her Reign With thousand lesser Lights dividual holds With thousand thousand Starres that then appeer'd Spangling the Hemisphere then first adornd With thir bright Luminaries that Set and Rose Glad Eevning glad Morn crownd the fourth day And God said let the Waters generate Reptil with Spawn abundant living Soule And let Fowle flie above the Earth with wings Displayd on the op'n Firmament of Heav'n And God created the great Whales and each Soul living each that crept which plenteously The waters generated by thir kindes And every Bird of wing after his kinde And saw that it was good and bless'd them saying Be fruitful multiply and in the Seas And Lakes and running Streams the waters fill And let the Fowle be multiply'd on the Earth Forth with the Sounds and Seas each Creek Bay With Frie innumerable swarme and Shoales Of Fish that with thir Finns and shining Scales Glide under the green Wave in Sculles that oft Bank the mid Sea part single or with mate Graze the Sea weed thir pasture through Groves Of Coral stray or sporting with quick glance Show to the Sun thir wav'd coats dropt with Gold Or
in thir Pearlie shells at ease attend Moist nutriment or under Rocks thir food In jointed Armour watch on smooth the Seale And bended Dolphins play part huge of bulk Wallowing unweildie enormous in thir Gate Tempest the Ocean there Leviathan Hugest of living Creatures on the Deep Strâ—…tcht like a Promontorie sleeps or swimmes And seems a moving Land and at his Gilles Draws in and at his Trunck spouts out a Sea Mean while the tepid Caves and Fens and shoares Thir Brood as numerous hatch from the Egg that soon Buâ—…sting with kindly rupture forth disclos'd Thir callow young but featherd soon and fledge They summ'd thir Penns and soaring th' air sublime With clang despis'd the ground under a cloud In prospect there the Eagle and the Stork On Cliffs and Cedar tops thir Eyries build Part loosly wing the Region part more wise In common rang'd in figure wedge thir way Intelligent of seasons and set forth Thir Aierie Caravan high over Sea's Flying and over Lands with mutual wing Easing thir flight so â—…tears the prudent Crane Her annual Voiage born on Windes the Aire Floats as they pass fann'd with unnumber'd plumes From Branch to Branch the smaller Birds with song Solac'd the Woods and spred thir painted wings Till Ev'n nor then the solemn Nightingal Ceas'd warbling but all night tun'd her soft layes Others on Silver Lakes and Rivers Bath'd Thir downie Brest the Swan with Arched neck Between her white wings mantling proudly Rowes Her state with Oarie feet yet oft they quit The Dank and rising on stiff Pennons towre The mid Aereal Skie Others on ground Walk'd firm the erested Cock whose clarion sounds The silent hours and th' other whose gay Traine Adorns him colour'd with the Florid hue Of Rainbows and Starrie Eyes The Waters thus With Fish replenisht and the Aire with Fowle Ev'ning and Morn solemniz'd the Fiâ—…t day The Sixt and of Creation last arose With Eevning Harps and 〈◊〉 when God said Let th' Earth bring forth Fowle living in her kinde Cattel and Creeping things and Beast of the Earth Each in their kinde The Earth obey'd and strait Op'ning her fertil Woomb teem'd at a Birth Innumerous living Creatures perfet formes Limb'd and full 〈◊〉 out of the ground up rose As from his Laire the wilde Beast where he wonns In Forrest wilde in Thicket Brake or Den Among the Trees in Pairs they rose they walk'd The Cattel in the Fields and Meddowes green Those rare and solitarie these in flocks Pasturing at once and in broad Herds upsprung The grassie Clods now Calv'd now half appeer'd The Tawnie Lion pawing to get free His hinder parts then springs as broke from Bonds And Rampant shakes his Brinded main the Ounce The Libbard and the Tyger as the Moale Rising the crumbl'd Earth above them threw In Hillocks the swift Stag from under ground Bore up his branching head scarfe from his mould Behemoth biggest born of Earth upheav'd His vastness Fleec't the Flocks and bleating rose As Plants ambiguous between Sea and Land The River Horse and scalie Crocodile At once came forth whatever creeps the ground Insect or Worme those wav'd thir limber fans For wings and smallest Lineaments exact In all the Liveries dect of Summers pride With spots of Gold and Purple azure and green These as a line thir long dimension drew Streaking the ground with sinuous trace not all Minims of Nature some of Serpent kinde Wondrous in length and corpulence involv'd Thir Snakie foulds and added wings First crept The Parsimonious Emmet provident Of future in small room large heart enclos'd Pattern of just equalitie perhaps Hereafter join'd in her popular Tribes Of Commonaltie swarming next appeer'd The Femal Bee that feeds her Husband Drone Deliciously and builds her waxen Cells With Honey stor'd the rest are numberless Aâ—…d thou thir Natures know'st and gav'st them Names Needlest to thee repeaed nor unknown The Serpent suttl'st Beast of all the field Of huge extent somtimes with brazen Eyes And hairie Main terrific though to thee Not noxious but obedient at thy call Now Heav'n in all her Glorie shon and rowld Her motions as the great first-Movers haâ—…d First wheeld thir course Earth in her rich attire Consummate lovly smil'd Aire Water Earth By Fowl Fish Beast was flown was swum was walkt Frequent and of the Sixt day yet remain'd There wanted yet the Master work the end Of all yet don a Creature who not prone And Brute as other Creatures but endu'd With Sanctitie of Reason might erect His Stature and upright with Front serene Govern the rest self-knowing and from thence Magnanimous to correspond with Heav'n But grateful to acknowledge whence his good Descends thither with heart and voice and eyes Directed in Devotion to adore And worship God Supream who made him chief Of all his works therefore the Omnipotent Eternal Father For where is not hee Present thus to his Son audibly spake Let us make now Man in our image Man In our similitude and let them rule Over the Fish and Fowle of Sea and Aire Beast of the Field and over all the Earth And every creeping thing that creeps the ground This said he 〈◊〉 thee Adam thee O Man Dust of the ground and in thy nostrils breath'd The breath of Life in his own Image hee Created thee in the Image of God Express and thou becam'st a living Soul Male he created thee but thy consort Femal for Race then bless'd Mankinde and said Be fruitful multiplie and fill the Earth Subdue it and throughout Dominion hold Over Fish of the Sea and Fowle of the Aire And every living thing that moves on the Earth Wherever thus created for no place Is yet distinct by name thence as thou know'st He brought thee into this delicious Grove This Garden planted with the Trees of God Delectable both to behold and taste And freely all thir pleasant fruit for food Gave thee all sorts are here that all th' Earth yeelds Varietie without end but of the Tree Which tasted works knowledge of Good and Evil Thou mai'st not in the day thou eat'st thou di'st Death is the penaltie impos'd beware And govern well thy appetiâ—…e least sin Surprise thee and her black attendant Death Here finish'd hee and all that he had made View'd and behold all was entirely good So Ev'n and Morn accomplish'd the Sixt day Yet not till the Creator from his work Desisting though unwearied up returnd Up to the Heav'n of Heav'ns his high abode Thence to behold this new created World Th' addition of his Empire how it shew'd In prospect from his Throne how good how faire Answering his great Idea Up he rode Followd with acclamation and the sound Symphonious of ten thousand Harpes that tun'd Angelic harmonies the Earth the Aire Resounded thou remember'st for thou heardst The Heav'ns and all the Constellations rung The Planets in thir stations list'ning stood While the bright Pomp ascended jubilant Open ye everlasting Gates they sung Open ye Heav'ns your living dores
of Heav'n The Mountain of the Congregation call'd For thither he assembl'd all his Train Pretending so commanded to consult About the great reception of thir King Thither to come and with calumnious Art Of counterfeted truth thus held thir ears Thrones Dominations Princedomes Vertues Powers If these magnific Titles yet remain Not meerly titular since by Decree Another now hath to himself ingross't All Power and us eclipst under the name Of King anointed for whom all this haste Of midnight march and hurried meeting here This onely to consult how we may best With what may be devis'd of honours new Receive him coming to receive from us Knee-tribute yet unpaid prostration vile Too much to one but double how endur'd To one and to his image now proclaim'd But what if better counsels might erect Our minds and teach us to cast off this Yoke Will ye submit your necks and chuse to bend The supple knee ye will not if I trust To know ye right or if ye know your selves Natives and Sons of Heav'n possest before By none and if not equal all yet free Equally free for Orders and Degrees Jarr not with liberty but well consist Who can in reason then or right assume Monarchie over such as live by right His equals if in power and splendor less In freedome equal or can introduce Law and Edict on us who without law Erre not much less for this to be our Lord And look for adoration to th' abuse Of those Imperial Titles which aâ—…ert Our being ordain'd to govern not to serve Thus farr his bold discourse without controule Had audience when among the Seraphim Abâ—…iel then whom none with more zeale ador'd The Deitie and divine commands obei'd Stood up and in a flame of zeale severe The current of his fury thus oppos'd O argument blasphemous â—…alse and proud Words which no eare ever to hear in Heav'n Expected least of all from thee ingrate In place thy self so high above thy Peeres Canst thou with impious obloquie condemne The just Decree of God pronounc't and sworn That to his only Son by right endu'd With Regal Scepter every Soule in Heav'n Shall bend the knee and in that honour due Confess him rightful King unjust thou saist Flatly unjust to binde with Laws the free And equal over equals to let Reigne One over all with unsucceeded power Shalt thou give Law to God shalt thou dispute With him the points of libertie who made Thee what thou art formd the Pow'rs of Heav'n Such as he pleasd and circumscrib'd thir being Yet by experience taught we know how good And of our good and of our dignitie How provident he is how farr from thought To make us less bent rather to exalt Our happie state under one Head more neer United But to grant it thee unjust That equal over equals Monarch Reigne Thy self though great glorious dost thou count Or all Angelic Nature joind in one Equal to him begotten Son by whom As by his Word the mighty Father made All things ev'n thee and all the Spirits of Heav'n By him created in thir bright degrees Crownd them with Glory to thir Glory nam'd Thrones Dominations Princedoms Vertues Powers Essential Powers nor by his Reign obscur'd But more illustrious made since he the Head One of our number thus reduc't becomes His Laws our Laws all honour to him done Returns our own Cease then this impious rage And tempt not these but hast'n to appease Th' incensed Father and th' incensed Son While Pardon may be found in time besought So spake the fervent Angel but his zeale None seconded as out of season judg'd Or singular and rash whereat rejoic'd Th' Apostat and more haughty thus repli'd That we were formd then saist thou the work Of secondarie hands by task transferd From Father to his Son strange point and new Doctrin which we would know whence learnt who saw When this creation was rememberst thou Thy making while the Maker gave thee being We know no time when we were not as now Know none before us self-begot self-rais'd By our own quick'ning power when fatal course Had circl'd his full Orbe the birth mature Of this our native Heav'n Ethereal Sons Our puissance is our own our own right hand Shall teach us highest deeds by proof to try Who is our equal then thou â—…alt behold Whether by supplication we intend Address and to begirt th' Almighty Throne Beseeching or besieging This report These tidings carrie to th' anointed King And fly ere evil intercept thy flight He said and as the sound of waters deep Hoarce murmur echo'd to his words applause Through the infinite Host nor less for that The flaming Seraph fearless though alone Encompass'd round with foes thus answerd bold O alienate from God O spirit accurst Forsak'n of all good I see thy fall Determind and thy hapless crew involv'd In this perfidious fraud contagion spred Both ofthy crime and punishment henceforth No more be troubl'd how to quit the yoke Of Gods Messiah those indulgent Laws Will not be now 〈◊〉 other Decrees Against thee are gon forth without recall That Golden Scepter which thou didst reject Is now an Iron Rod to bruise and breake Thy disobedience Well thou didst advise Yet not for thy advise or threats I fly These wicked Tents devoted least the wrauth Impendent raging into sudden flame Distinguish not for soon expect to feel His Thunder on thy head devouring fire Then who created thee lamenting learne When who can uncreate thee thou shalt know So spake the Seraph Abdiel faithful found Among the faithless faithful only hee Among 〈◊〉 false unmov'd Unshak'n unseduc'd unterrifi'd His Loyaltie he kept his Love his Zeale Nor number nor example with him wrought To 〈◊〉 from truth or change his constant mind Though single From amidst them forth he passd Long way through hostile scorn which he susteind Superior nor of violence fear'd aught And with retorted scorn his back he turn'd On those proud Towrs to swift destruction doom'd The End of the Fifth Book PARADISE LOST BOOK VI. ALL night the dreadless Angel unpursu'd Through Heav'ns wide Champain held his way till Morn Wak't by the circling Hours with rosie hand Unbarr'd the gates of Light There is a Cave Within the Mount of God fast by his Throne Where light and darkness in perpetual round Lodge and dislodge by turns which makes through Heav'n Grateful vicissitude like Day and Night Light issues forth and at the other dore Obsequious darkness enters till her houre To veile the Heav'n though darkness there might well Seem twilight here and now went forth the Morn Such as in highest Heav'n arrayd in Gold Empyreal from before her vanisht Night Shot through with orient Beams when all the Plain Coverd with thick embatteld Squadrons bright Chariots and flaming Armes and fierie Steeds Reflecting blaze on blaze first met his view Warr he perceav'd warr in procinct and found Already known what he for news had thought To have
let mee serve In Heav'n God ever blessed and his Divine Behests obey worthiest to be obey'd Yet Chains in Hell not Realms expect mean while From mee returnd as erst thou saidst from flight This greeting on thy impious Crest receive So saying a noble stroke he lifted high Which hung not but so swift with tempest fell On the proud Crest of Satan that no sight Nor motion of swift thought less could his Shield Such ruin intercept ten paces huge He back recoild the tenth on bended knee His massie Spear upstaid as if on Earth Winds under ground or waters forcing way Sidelong had push't a Mountain from his seat Half sunk with all his Pines Amazement seis'd The Rebel Thrones but greater rage to see Thus foil'd thir mightiest ours joy filld and shout Presage of Victorie and fierce desire Of Battel whereat Michael bid sound Th'Arch-angel trumpet through the vast of Heav'n It sounded and the faithful Armies rung Hosanna to the Highest nor stood at gaze The adverse Legions nor less hideous joyn'd The horrid shock now storming furie rose And clamour such as heard in Heav'n till now Was never Arms on Armour clashing bray'd Horrible discord and the madding Wheeles Of brazen Chariots rag'd dire was the noise Of conflict over head the dismal hiss Of fiery Darts in flaming volies flew And flying vaulted either Host with fire Sounder fierie Cope together rush'd Both Battels maine with ruinous assault And inextinguishable rage all Heav'n Resounded and had Earth bin then all Eaâ—…h Had to her Center shook What wonder when Millions of fierce encountring Angels fought On either side the least of whom could weild These Elements and arm him with the force Of all thir Regions how much more of Power Armie against Armie numberless to raise Dreadful combustion warring and disturb Though not destroy thir happie Native seat Had not th' Eternal King Omnipotent From his strong hold of Heav'n high over rul'd And limited thir might though numberd such As each divided Legion might have seemd A numerous Host in strength each arâ—…ed hand A Legion led in fight yâ—…t Leader seemd Each Warriour single as in Chief expert When to advance or stand or turn the sway Of Battel open when and when to close The ridges of grim Warr no thought of flight None of retreat no unbecoming deed That argu'd fear each on himself reli'd As onely in his arm the moment lay Of victorie deeds of eternal fame Were don but infinite for wide was spred That Warr and various somtimes on firm ground A standing fight then soaring on main wing Tormented all the Air all Air seemd then Conflicting Fire long time in eeven scale The Battel hung till Satan who that day Prodigious power had shewn and met in Armes No equal raunging through the dire attack Of fighting Seraphim confus'd at length Saw where the Sword of Michael smote and fell'd Squadrons at once with huge two-handed sway Brandisht aloft the horrid edge came down Wide wasting such destruction to withstand He hasted and oppos'd the rockie Orb Of tenfold Adamant his ample Shield A vast circumference At his approach The great Arch-Angel from his warlike toile Surcâ—…'d and glad as hoping here to end Intestine War in Heav'n the arch foe subdu'd Or Captive drag'd in Chains with hostile frown And visage all enflam'd first thus began Author of evil unknown till thy revolt Unnam'd in Heav'n now plenteous as thou seest These Acts of hateful strife hateful to all Though heaviest by just measure on thy self And thy adherents how hast thou disturb'd Heav'ns blessed peace and into Nature brought Miserie uncreated till the crime Of thy Rebellion how hâ—…t thou instill'd Thy malice into thousands once upright And faithful now prov'd false But think not here To trouble Holy Rest Heav'n casts thee out From all her Confines Heav'n the seat of bliss Brooks not the works of violence and Warr. Hence then and evil go with thee along Thy ofspring to the place of evil Hell Thou and thy wicked crew there mingle broiles Ere this avenging Sword begin thy doome Or som more sudden vengeance wing'd from God Precipitate thee with augmented paine So spake the Prince of Angels to whom thus The Adversarie Nor think thou with wind Of airie threats to aw whom yet with deeds Thou canst not Hast thou turnd the least of these To flight or if to fall but that they rise Unvanquisht easier to transact with mee That thou shouldst hope imperious with threats To chase me hence erre not that so shall end The strife which thou call'st evil but wee style The strife of Glorie which we mean to win Or turn this Heav'n it self into the Hell Tâ—…ou fablest here however to dwell free If not to reign mean while thy utmost force And join him nam'd Almightie to thy aid I flie not but have sought thee farr and nigh They ended parle and both addrest for fight Unspeakable for who though with the tongue Of Angels can relate or to what things Liken on Earth conspicuous that may lift Human imagination to such highth Of Godlike Power for likest Gods they seemd Stood they or mov'd in stature motion arms Fit to decide the Empire of great Heav'n Now wav'd thir fierie Swords and in the Aire Made horrid Circles two broad Suns thir Shields Blaz'd opposite while expectation stood In horror from each hand with speed retir'd Where erst was thickest fight th' Angelic throng And left large field unsafe within the wind Of such commotion such as to set forth Great things by small If Natures concord broke Among the Constellations warr were spruâ—… Two Planets rushing from asâ—…ect maligne Of fiercest opposition in mid Skie Should combat and thir jarring Sphears confound Together both with next to Almightie Arme Uplifted imminent one stroke they aim'd That might determine and not need repeaâ—…e As not of power at once nor odds appeerd In might or swift prevention but the sword Of Michael from the Armorie of God Was giv'n him temperd so that neither keen Nor solid might resist that edge it met The sword of Satan with steep force to smite Descending and in halfcut sheere nor staid But with swift wheele reverse deep entring shar'd All his right side then Satan first knew pain And writh'd him to and fro convolv'd so sore The griding sword with discontinuous wound Pass'd through him but th' Ethereal substance clos'd Not long divisible and from the gash A stream of Nectarous humor issuing flow'd Sanguin such as Celestial Spirits may bleed And all his Armour staind ere while so bright Forthwith on all sides to his aide was run By Angels many and strong who interpos'd Defence while others bore him on thir Shields Back to his Chariot where it stood retir'd From off the â—…les of waâ—… there they him laid Gnashing for anguish and despite and shame To find himâ—… noâ—… matchless and his pride Humbl'd by such rebuke so farr beneath His confidence to equal God in power Yet
subdue Nations and bring home spoils with infinite Man-slaughter shall be held the highest pitch Of human Glorie and for Glorie done Of triumph to be styl'd great Conquerours Patrons of Mankind Gods and Sons of Gods Destroyers rightlier call'd and Plagues of men Thus Fame shall be achiev'd renown on Earth And what most merits fame in silence hid But hee the seventh from thee whom thou beheldst The onely righteous in a World perverse And therefore hated therefore so beset With Foes for daring single to be just And utter odious Truth that God would come To judge them with his Saints Him the most High Rapt in a balmie Cloud with winged Steeds Did as thou sawst receave to walk with God High in Salvation and the Climes of bliss Exempt from Death to shew thee what reward Awaits the good the rest what punishment Which now direct thine eyes and soon behold He look'd saw the sace of things quite chang'd The brazen Throat of Warr had ceast to roar All now was turn'd to jollitie and game To luxurie and riot feast and dance Marrying or prostituting as befell Rape or Adulterie where passing faire Allurd them thence from Cups to civil Broiles At length a Reverend Sire among them came And of thir doings great dislike declar'd And testifi'd against thir wayes hee oft Frequented thir Assemblies whereso met Triumphs or Festivals and to them preachd Conversion and Repentance as to Souls In prison under Judgements imminent But all in vain which when he saw he ceas'd Contending and remov'd his Tents farr off Then from the Mountain hewing Timber tall Began to build a Vessel of huge bulk Measur'd by Cubit length breadth and highth Smeard round with Pitch and in the side a dore Contriv'd and of provisions laid in large For Man and Beast when loe a wonder strange Of everie Beast and Bird and Insect small Came seavens and pairs and enterd in as taught Thir order last the Sire and his three Sons With thir four Wives and God made fast the dore Meanwhile the Southwind rose with black wings Wide hovering all the Clouds together drove From under Heav'n the Hills to their supplie Vapour and Exhalation dusk and moist Sent up amain and now the thick'nd Skie Like a dark Ceeling stood down rush'd the Rain Impetuous and continu'd till the Earth No more was seen the floating Vessel swum Uplifted and secure with beaked prow Rode tilting o're the Waves all dwellings else Flood overwhelmd and them with all thir pomp Deep under water rould Sea cover'd Sea Sea without shoar and in thir Palaces Where luxurie late reign'd Sea-monsters whelp'd And stabl'd of Mankind so numerous late All left in one small bottom swum imbark't How didst thou grieve then Adam to behold The end of all thy Ofspring end so sad Depopulation thee another Floud Of tears and sorrow a Floud thee also drown'd And sunk thee as thy Sons till gently reard By th' Angel on thy feet thou stoodst at last Though comfortless as when a Father mourns His Childern all in view destroyd at once And scarce to th' Angel utterdst thus thy plaint O Visions ill foreseen better had I Liv'd ignorant of future so had borne My part of evil onely each dayes lot Anough to bear those now that were dispenst The burd'n of many Ages on me light At once by my foreknowledge gaining Birth Abortive to torment me ere thir being With thought that they must be Let no man seek Henceforth to be foretold what shall befall Him or his Childern evil he may be sure Which neither his foreknowing can prevent And hee the future evil shall no less In apprehension then in substance feel Grievous to bear but that care now is past Man is not whom to warne those few escap't Famin and anguish will at last consume Wandring that watrie Desert I had hope When violence was ceas't and Warr on Earth All would have then gon well peace would have crownd With length of happy days the race of man But I was farr deceav'd for now I see Peace to corrupt no less then Warr to waste How comes it thus unfould Celestial Guide And whether here the Race of man will end To whom thus Michael Those whom last thou sawst In triumph and luxurious wealth are they First seen in acts of prowess eminent And great exploits but of true vertu void Who having spilt much blood and don much waste Subduing Nations and achievd thereby Fame in the World high titles and rich prey Shall change thir course to pleasure ease and sloth Surfet and lust till wantonness and pride Raise out of friendship hostil deeds in Peace The conquerd also and enslav'd by Warr Shall with thir freedom lost all vertu loose And feare of God from whom thir pietie feign'd In sharp contest of Battel found no aide Against invaders therefore coold in zeale Thenceforth shall practice how to live secure Worldlie or dissolute on what thir Lords Shall leave them to enjoy for th' Earth shall bear More then anough that temperance may be tri'd So all shall turn degenerate all deprav'd Justice and Temperance Truth and Faith forgot One Man except the onely Son of light In a dark Age against example good Against allurement custom and a World Offended fearless of reproach and scorn Or violence hee of thir wicked wayes Shall them admonish and before them set The paths of righteousness how much more safe And full of peace denouncing wrauth to come On thir impenitence and shall returne Of them derided but of God observd The one just Man alive by his command Shall build a wondrous Ark as thou beheldst To save himself and houshold from amidst A World devote to universal rack No sooner hee with them of Man and Beast Select for life shall in the Ark be lodg'd And shelterd round but all the Cataracts Of Heav'n set open on the Earth shall powre Raine day and night all fountaines of the Deep Broke up shall heave the Ocean to usurp Beyond all bounds till inundation rise Above the highest Hills then shall this Mount Of Paradise by might of Waves be moovd Out of his place pushd by the horned floud With all his verdure spoil'd and Trees adrift Down the great River to the op'ning Gulf And there take root an Iland salt and bare The haunt of Seales and Orcs and Sea-mews clang To teach thee that God attributes to place No sanctitie if none be thither brought By Men who there frequent or therein dwell And now what further shall ensue behold He lookd and saw the Ark hull on the floud Which now abated for the Clouds were fled Drivn by a keen North-winde that blowing drie Wrinkl'd the face of Deluge as decai'd And the cleer Sun on his wide watrie Glass Gaz'd hot and of the fresh Wave largely drew As after thirst which made thir flowing shrink From standing lake to tripping ebbe that stole With soft foot towards the deep who now had stopt â—…is is Sluces