Once found, which yet unfound most would have
Impossible: yet haply of thy race
In future days, if malice should abound,
Some one intent on mischief, or inspir'd
With dev'lish machination, might devise
Like instrument, to plague the sons of men
For sin, on war and mutual slaughter bent.
Forthwith from council to the work they flew;
None arguing stood; innumerable hands
Were ready; in a moment up they turn'd
Wide the celestial soil, and saw beneath
Th' originals of nature in their crude
Conception: sulphurous and nitrous foam
They found, they mingled, and with subtle art
Concocted and adusted they reduc'd
To blackest grain, and into store convey'd.
Part hidden veins digg'd up, (nor hath this earth
Entrails unlike,) of mineral and stone,
Whereof to found their engines and their 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 unespy'd.
Now when fair morn orient in heaven appear'd,
Up rose the victor angels, and to arms
520 pernicious] probably to be understood in the sense of the Latin
The matin trumpet sung: in arms they stood
Of golden panoply, refulgent host,
Soon banded; others from the dawning hills
Look'd round, and scouts each coast light-armed scour,
Each quarter, to descry the distant foe,
Where lodged, or whither fled, or if for fight,
In motion or in halt: him soon they met
Under spread ensigns moving nigh, in slow
But firm battalion back with speediest sail
Zophiel, of cherubim the swiftest wing,
Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cry'd.
Arm, warriors, arm for fight, 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 settled in his face I see
Sad resolution and secure : let each
His adamantine coat gird well, and each
Fit well his helm, gripe fast his orbed shield,
Borne ev'n or high; for this day will pour down,
If I conjecture aught, no drizzling show'r,
But rattling storm of arrows barb'd with fire.
So warn'd he them, aware themselves, and soon In order, quit of all impediment;
Instant without disturb they took alarm,
And onward move embattle'd; when behold
526 matin] Tasso Gier. Lib. c. xi. st. 19.
'Quando a cantar la mattutina tromba
Comincia à l' arme.'
'Martem tunica tectum adamantina. Todd.
42 coat] Hor. Od. i. vi. 13.
545 aught] Fenton wishes to read 'right.'
Not distant far with heavy pace the foe
Approaching gross and huge; in hollow cube
Training his devilish enginery, impal'd
On every side with shadowing squadrons deep,
To hide the fraud. At interview both stood
A while; but suddenly at head appear'd
Satan; and thus was heard commanding loud.
Vanguard, to right and left the front unfold;
That all may see, who hate us, how we seek
Peace and composure, and with open breast
Stand ready to receive them, if they like
Our overture, and turn not back perverse;
But that I doubt; however witness heaven,
Heaven witness thou anon, while we discharge
Freely our part: ye 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 discover'd, 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 fir
With branches lop'd, in wood or mountain fell'd,) 575
Brass, iron, stony mould, had not their mouths
With hideous orifice gap'd on us wide,
Portending hollow truce; at each behind
552 cube] Tubes, 483. Bentl. MS.
574 hollow'd bodies] Pallisadoes, 483. Bentl. MS.
A seraph stood, and in his hand a reed
Stood waving tip'd with fire; while we suspense 580 Collected stood within our thoughts amus'd;
Not long, for sudden all at once their reeds
Put forth, and to a narrow vent apply'd
With nicest touch. Immediate in a flame,
But soon obscur'd with smoke, all heaven appear'd,
From those deep-throated engines belch'd, whose roar
Embowel'd with outrageous noise the air,
And all her entrails tore, disgorging foul
Their devilish glut, chain'd thunderbolts and hail
Of iron globes, which on the victor host
Level'd with such impetuous fury smote,
That whom they hit, none on their feet might stand, Though standing else as rocks; but down they fell By thousands, angel on archangel roll❜d,
The sooner for their arms; unarm'd they might 595
Have easily as spirits evaded swift
By quick contraction or remove: but now
Foul dissipation follow'd and forc'd rout :
Nor serv'd it to relax their serried files.
What should they do? if on they rush'd, repulse
Repeated, and indecent overthrow
Doubled, would render them yet more despis'd,
580 Stood waving] This is certainly an error, 'stood' occurs in the line before and after. Bentley would read 'Held;' but wishing to keep as close to the text as I can, I propose 'shone.' Mr. Dyce proposes shook."
586 belch'd] See Beaumont's Psyche, c. xx. st. 103.
'But oft it gap'd and belch'd, whence upwards broke
Black volumes of contagious stink and smoke.'
And to their foes a laughter: for in view
Stood rank'd of seraphim another row,
In posture to displode their second tire
Of thunder: back defeated to return
They worse abhorr'd. Satan beheld their 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 we, To entertain them fair with open front And breast (what could we more?) propounded terms Of composition, straight they chang'd their minds, Flew off, and into strange vagaries fell,
As they would dance: yet for a dance they seem'd
Somewhat extravagant and wild; perhaps
For joy of offer'd 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 gamesome mood. 620
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 stumbled 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 vein
625 understand] This equivocation adopted from Shakespeare's Two G. of Verona, ii. 5.
'My staff understands me,' &c. Johnson. 626 understood] under-stoop. Bentl. MS.
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