¡¶Paradise Lost ¢ñ¡·


 1

    t Book proposes, first in brief, t, Mans disobedience, and t: touc, or ratan in t; o  of o t Deep. ion past over, ts into t of ting Satan o  in ter (for  not made, certainly not yet accurst) but in a place of utter darkness, fitliest calld Can ruck and astoniser a certain space recovers, as from confusion, calls up  in Order and Dignity lay by an atel, to terries adjoyning. to tan directs s t of regaining  tells tly of a neure to be created, according to an ancient Prop in  Angels ion,  Fato find out trut to determin to a full Councel.  es ttempt. Pandemonium tan rises, suddenly built out of t in Councel.

 2

    OF Mans First Disobedience, and t

    Of t Forbidden tree, ast

    Brougo the orld, and all our woe,<dfn>£è£ô£ô£ð://£÷£÷£÷?99£ì£éb.n£å£ô</dfn>

    itill one greater Man

    Restore us, and regain t, [ 5 ]

    Sing  on t top

    Of Oreb, or of Sinai, didst inspire

    t S taughe chosen Seed,

    In th

    Rose out of Chaos: Or if Sion hill [ 10 ]

    Delig flowd

    Fast by thence

    Invoke to my adventrous Song,

    t  intends to soar

    Above t, w pursues [ 15 ]

    ttempted yet in Prose or Rhime.

    And c, t dost prefer

    Before all temples t  and pure,

    Instruct me, for t; t

    ast present, and y spread [ 20 ]

    Dove-like satst brooding on t Abyss

    And madst it pregnant:  in me is dark

    Illumin, ;

    t to t Argument

    I may assert Eternal Providence, [ 25 ]

    And justifie to men.

    Say first, for hy view

    Nor tract of  w cause

    Movd our Grand Parents in t ate,

    Favourd of o fall off [ 30 ]

    From tor, and transgress his ill

    For one restraint, Lords of the orld besides?

    seducd to t foul revolt?

    t;  was, whose guile

    Stird up h Envy and Revenge, deceivd [ 35 ]

    t time his Pride

    from

    Of Rebel Angels, by whose aid aspiring

    to set himself in Glory above his Peers,

    rusted to  high, [ 40 ]

 3

    If ious aim

    Against throne and Monarchy of God

    Raisd impious ar in tel proud

    ittempt. y Power

    hereal Skie [ 45 ]

    ition down

    to bottomless perdition, to dwell

    In Adamantine Chains and penal Fire,

    defie tent to Arms.

    Nine times t measures Day and Night [ 50 ]

    to mortal men, h his horrid crew

    Lay vanquishe fiery Gulfe

    Confounded tal: But his doom

    Reservd o more

    Bot ing pain [ 55 ]

    torments hrows his baleful eyes

    t nessd ion and dismay

    Mixt e pride and stedfast e:

    At once as far as Angels kenn he views

    tuation e and wilde, [ 60 ]

    A Dungeon horrible, on all sides round

    As one great Furnace flamd, yet from those flames

    No lig rather darkness visible

    Servd onely to discover sights of woe,

    Regions of sorrow, doleful shades, where peace [ 65 ]

    And rest can never dwell, hope never comes

    t comes to all; but torture  end

    Still urges, and a fiery Deluge, fed

    ith ever-burning Sulphur unconsumd:

    Sucernal Justice had prepard [ 70 ]

    For thir Prison ordaind

    In utter darkness, and tion set

    As far removd from God and light of heavn

    As from ter to tmost Pole.

    O hey fell! [ 75 ]

    the companions of his fall, orewhelmd

    itempestuous fire,

    ring by his side

    One next  in crime,

 4

    Long after knoine, and namd [ 80 ]

    Beelzebub. to wh Arch-Enemy,

    And tan, h bold words

    Breaking thus began.

    If t  O how falln! how changd

    From  [ 85 ]

    Clotranscendent brig out-shine

    Myriads t: If ual league,

    United ts and counsels, equal hope

    And erprize,

    Joynd h joynd [ 90 ]

    In equal ruin: into  t

    From w ronger provd

    ill then who knew

    t not for those,

    Nor ent Victor in his rage [ 95 ]

    Can else inflict, do I repent or change,

    tre; t fixt mind

    And ,

    t iest raisd me to contend,

    And to tention brought along [ 100 ]

    Innumerable force of Spirits armd

    t durst dislike his reign, and me preferring,

    most poh adverse power opposd

    In dubious Battel on the Plains of heavn,

    And s t? [ 105 ]

    All is not lost; the unconquerable ill,

    And study of revenge, immortal e,

    And courage never to submit or yield:

    And  to be overcome?

    t Glory never s [ 110 ]

    Extort from me. to bow and sue for grace

    it knee, and deifie his power,

    errour of te

    Doubted  were low indeed,

    t were an ignominy and sh [ 115 ]

    te trength of Gods

    And tance cannot fail,

 5

    Since t event

    In Arms not worse, in foresig,

    e may h more successful hope resolve [ 120 ]

    to ernal arr

    Irreconcileable, to our grand Foe,

    riumph excess of joy

    Sole reigning yranny of heavn.

    So spake tate Angel, though in pain, [ 125 ]

    Vaunting aloud, but rackt h deep despare:

    And hus answerd soon his bold Compeer.

    O Prince, O Chroned Powers,

    t led ttelld Serapo arr

    Under t, and in dreadful deeds [ 130 ]

    Fearless, endangerd ual King;

    And put to proof his high Supremacy,

    rengte,

    too ,

    t  [ 135 ]

    us y

    In ruction laid thus low,

    As far as Gods and heavnly Essences

    Can peris remains

    Invincible, and vigour soon returns, [ 140 ]

    tinct, and ate

    here swallowd up in endless misery.

    But w if he our Conquerour, (whom I now

    Of force believe Almighty, since no less

    then such could hav orepowrd such force as ours) [ 145 ]

    us t and strengtire

    Strongly to suffer and support our pains,

    t we may so suffice his vengeful ire,

    Or do ier service as hralls

    By rig ere his business be [ 150 ]

    of o work in Fire,

    Or do he gloomy Deep;

    can it t we feel

    Strengt, or eternal being

    to undergo eternal punis? [ 155 ]

    o h Arch-fiend replyd.

 6

    Falln Co be weak is miserable

    Doing or Suffering: but of this be sure,

    to do ougask,

    But ever to do ill our sole delight, [ 160 ]

    As being trary to his high will

    . If then his Providence

    Out of our evil seek to bring forth good,

    Our labour must be to pervert t end,

    And out of good still to find means of evil; [ 165 ]

    times may succeed, so as perhaps

    S, and disturb

    counsels from tind aim.

    But see tor h recalld

    ers of vengeance and pursuit [ 170 ]

    Back to tes of he Sulphurous hail

    S after us in storm, oreblown h laid

    t from the Precipice

    Of hunder,

    ingd ning and impetuous rage, [ 175 ]

    Per s, and ceases now

    to bello and boundless Deep.

    Let us not slip ther scorn,

    Or satiate fury yield it from our Foe.

    Seest thou yon dreary Plain, forlorn and wilde, [ 180 ]

    t of desolation, voyd of light,

    Save hese livid flames

    Casts pale and dreadful? t us tend

    From off tossing of these fiery waves,

    t, if any rest can here, [ 185 ]

    And reassembling our afflicted Powers,

    Consult  offend

    Our Enemy, our own loss how repair,

    y,

    reinforcement we may gain from hope, [ 190 ]

    If not ion from despare.

    tan talking to  Mate

    it above the wave, and Eyes

    t sparkling blazd, s besides

    Prone on tended long and large [ 195 ]

    Lay floating many a rood, in bulk as huge

    As wrous size,

 7

    titanian, or Eart warrd on Jove,

    Briareos or typhe Den

    By ancient tarsus  Sea-beast [ 200 ]

    Leviathan, which God of all his works

    Created  t sream:

    he Norway foam

    t of some small night-founderd Skiff,

    Deeming some Island, oft, as Sea-men tell, [ 205 ]

    ith fixed Anchor in his skaly rind

    Moors by

    Invests the Sea, and wished Morn delayes:

    So stretc he Arch-fiend lay

    Chence [ 210 ]

    t the will

    And high permission of all-ruling heaven

    Left  large to his own dark designs,

    t erated crimes

    ion, w [ 215 ]

    Evil to ot see

    to bring forth

    Infinite goodness, grace and mercy shewn

    On Man by , but on himself

    treble confusion, h and vengeance pourd. [ 220 ]

    Fort he Pool

    y Stature; on eache flames

    Drivn backing spires, and rowld

    In billo a horrid Vale.

    tears  [ 225 ]

    Aloft, incumbent on the dusky Air

    t felt unusual weigill on dry Land

    s, if it  ever burnd

    ith liquid fire;

    And suche force [ 230 ]

    Of subterranean ransports a hill

    torn from Pelorus, or tterd side

    Of tna, wible

    And ferals thence conceiving Fire,

    Sublimd he inds, [ 235 ]

 8

    And leave a singed bottom all involvd

    itencing found the sole

    Of unblest feet.

    Mate,

    Boto  tygian flood

    As Gods, and by trength, [ 240 ]

    Not by the sufferance of supernal Power.

    Is the Clime,

    Said t Arc

    t  chis mournful gloom

    For t celestial lig so, since he [ 245 ]

    ho now is Sovran can dispose and bid

    s: fardest from

    h made supream

    Above his equals. Farewel happy Fields

    here Joy for ever dwells: hail horrours, hail [ 250 ]

    Infernal  hell

    Receive thy new Possessor: One who brings

    A mind not to be cime.

    ts o self

    Can make a heavn of hell, a hell of heavn. [ 255 ]

    matter he same,

    And hen he

    er?  least

    e sy  built

    drive us hence: [ 260 ]

    here we may reign secure, and in my choyce

    to reign is ion though in hell:

    Better to reign in hen serve in heavn.

    But hful friends,

    tes and copartners of our loss [ 265 ]

    Lye tonish oblivious Pool,

    And call t to s

    In this unhappy Mansion, or once more

    ito try

    Regaind in  more lost in hell? [ 270 ]

    So Satan spake, and him Beelzebub

    t,

    tent none could have foyld,

    If once t voyce, t pledge

    Of  [ 275 ]

    In  extreams, and on the perilous edge

    Of battel s

    t signal, they will soon resume

    Nehey lye

    Groveling and prostrate on yon Lake of Fire, [ 280 ]

 9

    As we erewounded and amazd,

    No wonder, falln such.

    whe superiour Fiend

    as moving tohe shoar; his ponderous shield

    Etemper, massy, large and round, [ 285 ]

    Be; the broad circumference

    he Moon, whose Orb

    tic Glass tuscan Artist views

    At Evning from top of Fesole,

    Or in Valdarno, to descry new Lands, [ 290 ]

    Rivers or Mountains in ty Globe.

    o equal  Pine

    o be t

    Of some great Ammiral,  a wand,

    o support uneasie steps [ 295 ]

    Over t like teps

    On orrid Clime

    Smote on ed h Fire;

    Natill on the Beach

    Of t inflamed Sea, ood and calld [ 300 ]

    ranst

    tumnal Leaves t strohe Brooks

    In Vallombrosa, wrurian shades

    imboterd sedge

    Afloat, wh fierce inds Orion armd [ 305 ]

    t, whrew

    Busiris and his Memphian Chivalry,

    red they pursud

    the Sojourners of Goshen, who beheld

    From ting Carkases [ 310 ]

    And broken C rown

    Abject and lost lay the Flood,

    Under amazement of thir hideous change.

    all the hollow Deep

    Of entates, [ 315 ]

    arriers, t,

    If suconis as this can sieze

    Eternal spirits; or his place

    After toyl of Battel to repose

    Your ue, for the ease you find [ 320 ]

    to slumber he Vales of heavn?

 10

    Or in t posture have ye sworn

    to adore the Conquerour? who now beholds

    Che Flood

    itterd Arms and Ensigns, till anon [ 325 ]

    pursuers from es discern

    tage, and descending tread us down

    ts

    transfix us to ttom of this Gulfe.

    Awake, arise, or be for ever falln. [ 330 ]

    t, and up they sprung

    Upon t to ch

    On duty, sleeping found by whey dread,

    Rouse and bestir themselves ere well awake.

    Nor did t perceave t [ 335 ]

    In w feel;

    Yet to they soon obeyd

    Innumerable. As  Rod

    Of Amrams Son in Egypts evill day

    avd round t, up calld a pitchy cloud [ 340 ]

    Of Locusts, ern ind,

    t ore the Realm of impious Pharaoh hung

    Like Nighe Land of Nile:

    So numberless hose bad Angels seen

    he Cope of hell [ 345 ]

    t upper, nether, and surrounding Fires;

    till, as a signal givn, ted Spear

    Of t Sultan o direct

    t

    On tone, and fill all the Plain; [ 350 ]

    A multitude, like wh

    Pourd never from o pass

    Rhe Danaw, when her barbarous Sons

    Came like a Deluge on th, and spread

    Beneater to the Lybian sands. [ 355 ]

    Forth from every Squadron and each Band

    t wood

    t Commander; Godlike shapes and forms

    Excelling ies,

    And Po earst in  on thrones; [ 360 ]

    thir Names in heavnly Records now

    Be no memorial blotted out and rasd

    By the Books of Life.

    Nor  among the Sons of Eve

    Got till h, [ 365 ]

    tryal of man,

    By falsities and lyes test part

    Of Mankind ted to forsake

    God tor, and th invisible

    Glory of  made to transform [ 370 ]

    Oft to te, adornd

    ith gay Religions full of Pomp and Gold,

 11

    And Devils to adore for Deities:

    to men by various Names,

    And various Idols then orld. [ 375 ]

    Say, Muse, t, w,

    Rousd from t fiery Couch,

    At t Emperors call, as next in h

    Came singly rand,

    ood yet aloof? [ 380 ]

    t of hell

    Roaming to seek t fix

    ts long after next t of God,

    tars by ar, Gods adord

    Among tions round, and durst abide [ 385 ]

    Je of Sion, thrond

    Beten placd

    ituary it self thir Shrines,

    Abominations; and hings

    es, and solemn Feasts profand, [ 390 ]

    And  affront .

    First Moloch blood

    Of s tears,

    timbrels loud

    t past through fire [ 395 ]

    to e

    ors in Rabba and ry Plain,

    In Argob and in Basan, to tream

    Of utmost Arnon. Nor content h such

    Audacious neig  [ 400 ]

    Of Solomon o build

    emple rig temple of God

    On t opprobrious hill, and made his Grove

    t Vally of op thence

    And black Geype of hell. [ 405 ]

    Next Ch obscene dread of Moabs Sons,

    From Aroar to Nebo, and the wild

    Of Sout Abarim; in hesebon

    And horonaim, Seons Realm, beyond

    th Vines, [ 410 ]

    And Eleale to tick Pool.

    Peor icd

    Israel in Sittim on thir march from Nile

    to do on rites, hem woe.

 12

    Yet tful Orgies he enlargd [ 415 ]

    Even to t he Grove

    Of Moloc e;

    till good Josiao hell.

    ithe bordring flood

    Of old Eupes to t parts [ 420 ]

    Egypt from Syrian ground, had general Names

    Of Baalim and Ashose male,

    ts whey please

    Can eit

    And uncompounded is thir Essence pure, [ 425 ]

    Not tid or manacld  or limb,

    Nor founded on ttle strength of bones,

    Like cumbrous fles in w shey choose

    Dilated or condenst, bright or obscure,

    Can execute thir aerie purposes, [ 430 ]

    And y fulfill.

    For t forsook

    trengted left

    eous Altar, bowing lowly down

    to bestial Gods; for whir heads as low [ 435 ]

    Botel, sunk before the Spear

    Of despicable foes. itroop

    Came Astorethe Phoenicians calld

    Astarte, Queen of  horns;

    to w Image nighe Moon [ 440 ]

    Sidonian Virgins paid thir Vows and Songs,

    In Sion also not unsung, wood

    emple on tain, built

    By t uxorious King, hough large,

    Beguild by fair Idolatresses, fell [ 445 ]

    to Idols foul. t behind,

    hose annual wound in Lebanon allurd

    to lament e

    In amorous dittyes all a Summers day,

    ive Rock [ 450 ]

    Ran purple to th blood

    Of tale

    Infected Sions daug,

    on passions in the sacred Porch

    Ezekiel saw, whe Vision led [ 455 ]

    ries

    Of alienated Juda came one

    , wive Ark

    Maimd e Image,  off

    In emple, on the grunsel edge, [ 460 ]

 13

    , and shamd his orshipers:

    Dagon er, upward Man

    And downward Fis emple high

    Reard in Azotus, dreaded t

    Of Palestine, in Gath and Ascalon [ 465 ]

    And Accaron and Gazas frontier bounds.

    ful Seat

    as fair Damascus, on til Banks

    Of Abbana and Preams.

    the house of God was bold: [ 470 ]

    A Leper once  and gaind a King,

    Atish Conquerour, whom he drew

    Gods Altar to disparage and displace

    For one of Syrian mode, wo burn

    he Gods [ 475 ]

    . After these appeard

    A crew who under Names of old Renown,

    Osiris, Isis, Orus and train

    itrous shapes and sorceries abusd

    Fanatic Egypt and s, to seek [ 480 ]

    tish forms

    Rathen human. Nor did Israel scape

    tion whir borrowd Gold composd

    the Rebel King

    Doubld t sin in Bethel and in Dan, [ 485 ]

    Likning o the Grazed Ox,

    Je when he passd

    From Egypt marcroke

    Bot born and all ing Gods.

    Belial came last, t more lewd [ 490 ]

    Fell not from o love

    Vice for it self: to emple stood

    Or Altar smoakd; yet hen hee

    In temples and at Altars, w

    turns At, as did Elys Sons, who filld [ 495 ]

    it and violence the house of God.

    In Courts and Palaces he also Reigns

    And in luxurious Cities, whe noyse

    Of riot ascends above tiest towrs,

    And injury and outrage: And w [ 500 ]

    Darkens treets, the Sons

    Of Belial, floh insolence and wine.

 14

    itness treets of Sodom, and t night

    In Gibeaable door

    Exposd a Matron to avoid worse rape. [ 505 ]

    t;

    t o tell, though far renownd,

    th Ionian Gods, of Javans Issue held

    Gods, yet confest later th

    ted Parents; titan  born [ 510 ]

    it seisd

    By younger Saturn, ier Jove

    his own and Rheas Son like measure found;

    So Jove usurping reignd: t in Creet

    And Ida knoop [ 515 ]

    Of cold Olympus ruld the middle Air

    t he Delphian Cliff,

    Or in Dodona, and the bounds

    Of Doric Land; or wurn old

    Fled over Adria to th hesperian Fields, [ 520 ]

    And ore tic roamd tmost Isles.

    All t h looks

    Do and damp, yet such wherein appeard

    Obscure some glimps of joy, to hir chief

    Not in despair, to  lost [ 525 ]

    In loss it self;

    Like doubtful  ed pride

    Soon recollecting,  bore

    Semblance of  substance, gently raisd

    ting courage, and dispeld thir fears. [ 530 ]

    trait commands t at the warlike sound

    Of trumpets loud and Clarions be upreard

    y Standard; t proud honour claimd

    Azazel as , a Call:

    tering Staff unfurld [ 535 ]

    t

    Seor streaming to the ind

    itre rich imblazd,

    Seraprophe while

    Sonorous mettal bloial sounds: [ 540 ]

    At

    A s t tore hells Concave, and beyond

    Frig.

 15

    All in a moment the gloom were seen

    ten to the Air [ 545 ]

    it Colours hem rose

    A Forest hronging helms

    Appeard, and serried shick array

    Of depthey move

    In perfect Po the Dorian mood [ 550 ]

    Of Flutes and soft Recorders; such as raisd

    to  of noblest temper heros old

    Arming to Battel, and in stead of rage

    Deliberate valour breathd, firm and unmovd

    ito fligreat, [ 555 ]

    Nor ing poo mitigate and swage

    itoucroubld ts, and chase

    Anguis and fear and sorrow and pain

    From mortal or immortal minds. they

    Breated force  [ 560 ]

    Movd on in silence to soft Pipes t charmd

    teps ore t soyle; and now

    Advanct in vieand, a

    Of dreadful length and dazling Arms, in guise

    Of arriers old h orderd Spear and Shield, [ 565 ]

    Aing y Chief

    o impose: he armed Files

    Darts  eye, and soon traverse

    ttalion viehir order due,

    tature as of Gods, [ 570 ]

    t

    Distends rength

    Glories: For never since created man,

    Met suchese

    Could merit more t small infantry [ 575 ]

    arrd on by Cranes: t brood

    Of Ph heroic Race were joynd

    t foug thebs and Ilium, on each side

    Mixt  resounds

    In Fable or Romance of Uthers Son [ 580 ]

    Begirt iss;

 16

    And all wizd or Infidel

    Jousted in Aspramont or Montalban,

    Damasco, or Marocco, or trebisond,

    Or  from Afric shore [ 585 ]

    h all his Peerage fell

    By Fontarabbia. these beyond

    Compare of mortal pro observd

    t

    In sure proudly eminent [ 590 ]

    Stood like a to lost

    All ness, nor appeard

    Less th excess

    Of Glory obscurd: As whe Sun new risn

    Looks tal misty Air [ 595 ]

    She Moon

    In dim Eclips disastrous t sheds

    On ions, and h fear of change

    Perplexes Monarc shon

    Above t his face [ 600 ]

    Deep scars of trencht, and care

    Sat on  under Browes

    Of dauntless courage, and considerate Pride

    aiting revenge: cruel  cast

    Signs of remorse and passion to behold [ 605 ]

    ther

    (Far other once beheld in bliss) condemnd

    For ever noo  in pain,

    Millions of Spirits for  amerct

    Of ernal Splendors flung [ 610 ]

    For , yet faitood,

    therd. As when heavens Fire

    Oaks, or Mountain Pines,

    itop tately growthough bare

    Stands on ted h. he now prepard [ 615 ]

    to speak; hey bend

    From o wing, and half enclose him round

    ittention e.

 17

    t of scorn,

    tears suc fort last [ 620 ]

    ords inter thir way.

    O Myriads of immortal Spirits, O Powers

    Matc y, and t strife

    as not inglorious, t was dire,

    As testifies, and this dire change [ 625 ]

    eful to utter: but w power of mind

    Foreseeing or presaging, from th

    Of kno or present, could have feard,

    ed force of Gods, how such

    As stood like these, could ever know repulse? [ 630 ]

    For er loss,

    t all t Legions, whose exile

    ied o re-ascend

    Self-raisd, and repossess tive seat?

    For mee be ness all t of heavn, [ 635 ]

    If counsels different, or danger shund

    By me,  our  he who reigns

    Monarcill then as one secure

    Sat on e,

    Consent or custome, and ate [ 640 ]

    Put fort full, but still rength conceald,

    empted our attempt, and  our fall.

    we know, and know our own

    So as not eito provoke, or dread

    Ne; our better part remains [ 645 ]

    to work in close design, by fraud or guile

    force effected not: t he no less

    At length from us may find, who overcomes

    By force,  half his foe.

    Space may produce new orlds; whereof so rife [ 650 ]

    t a fame in  he ere long

    Intended to create, and t

    A generation, whom his choice regard

    So the Sons of heaven:

    t to pry, shall be perhaps

    Our first eruption, ther or elsewhere: [ 655 ]

    For t shall never hold

    C?lestial Spirits in Bondage, nor th Abyss

    Long under darkness cover. But ts

    Full Counsel must mature: Peace is despaird, [ 660 ]

    For when, arr

    Open or understood must be resolvd.

 18

    o confirm -flew

    Millions of flaming shighs

    Of mighe sudden blaze [ 665 ]

    Far round illumind hey ragd

    Against t, and fierce h grasped arms

    Clashe din of war,

    o of heavn.

    tood a  far wop [ 670 ]

    Belc entire

    Sed sign

    t in allic Ore,

    th speed

    A numerous Brigad end. As when Bands [ 675 ]

    Of Pioners h Spade and Pickax armd

    Forerun to trench a Field,

    Or cast a Rampart. Mammon led them on,

    Mammon, t erected Spirit t fell

    From s [ 680 ]

    ere al, admiring more

    t, trodn Gold,

    t divine or holy else enjoyd

    In vision beatific: by

    Men also, and by ion taught, [ 685 ]

    Ransackd ter, and h impious hands

    Rifld th

    For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew

    Opnd into the hill a spacious wound

    And digd out ribs of Gold. Let none admire [ 690 ]

    t ric soyle may best

    Deserve t those

    in mortal tell

    Of Babel, and the works of Memphian Kings

    Learn est Monuments of Fame, [ 695 ]

    And Strengt are easily out-done

    By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour

    in an age t toyle

    And hands innumerable scarce perform.

 19

    o confirm -flew

    Millions of flaming shighs

    Of mighe sudden blaze [ 665 ]

    Far round illumind hey ragd

    Against t, and fierce h grasped arms

    Clashe din of war,

    o of heavn.

    tood a  far wop [ 670 ]

    Belc entire

    Sed sign

    t in allic Ore,

    th speed

    A numerous Brigad end. As when Bands [ 675 ]

    Of Pioners h Spade and Pickax armd

    Forerun to trench a Field,

    Or cast a Rampart. Mammon led them on,

    Mammon, t erected Spirit t fell

    From s [ 680 ]

    ere al, admiring more

    t, trodn Gold,

    t divine or holy else enjoyd

    In vision beatific: by

    Men also, and by ion taught, [ 685 ]

    Ransackd ter, and h impious hands

    Rifld th

    For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew

    Opnd into the hill a spacious wound

    And digd out ribs of Gold. Let none admire [ 690 ]

    t ric soyle may best

    Deserve t those

    in mortal tell

    Of Babel, and the works of Memphian Kings

    Learn est Monuments of Fame, [ 695 ]

    And Strengt are easily out-done

    By Spirits reprobate, and in an hour

    in an age t toyle

    And hands innumerable scarce perform.

 20

    Nighe Plain in many cells prepard, [ 700 ]

    t underneath had veins of liquid fire

    Slucd from titude

    it found out the massie Ore,

    Severing eache Bullion dross:

    A the ground [ 705 ]

    A various mould, and from the boyling cells

    By strange conveyance filld each hollow nook,

    As in an Organ from one blast of wind

    to many a rohs.

    Anon out of th a Fabrick huge [ 710 ]

    Rose like an Exion, he sound

    Of Dulcet Symp,

    Built like a temple, wers round

    ere set, and Doric pillars overlaid

    itrave; nor did t [ 715 ]

    Cornice or Freeze, ures gravn,

    tted Gold. Not Babilon,

    Nor great Alcairo such magnificence

    Equald in all to inshrine

    Belus or Serapis t [ 720 ]

    t rove

    In h ascending pile

    Stood fixt ately rait the dores

    Opning thir brazen foulds discover wide

    ith [ 725 ]

    And level pavement: from the arched roof

    Pendant by suttle Magic many a row

    Of Starry Lamps and blazing Cressets fed

    itus yeilded light

    As from a sky. ty multitude [ 730 ]

    Admiring enterd, and the work some praise

    And some tect: his hand was known

    In oructure high,

    erd Angels hir residence,

    And sat as Princes, whe supreme King [ 735 ]

    Exalted to suco rule,

    Eac.

 21

    Nor was his name unheard or unadord

    In ancient Greece; and in Ausonian land

    Men calld him Mulciber; and how he fell [ 740 ]

    From hrown by angry Jove

    Sal Battlements: from Morn

    to Noon o dewy Eve,

    A Summers day; and ting Sun

    Dropt from tar, [ 745 ]

    On Lemnos te,

    Erring; for

    Fell long before; nor aught availd him now

    to  in owrs; nor did he scape

    By all  was  [ 750 ]

    itrious creo build in hell.

    Mean whe winged haralds by command

    Of Sovran poh awful Ceremony

    And trumpets sound t t proclaim

    A solemn Councel forto be held [ 755 ]

    At Pand?monium, tal

    Of Satan and hir summons calld

    From every Band and squared Regiment

    By place or c; they anon

    itrooping came [ 760 ]

    Attended: all access es

    And Porc che spacious hall

    (though like a coverd field, where Champions bold

    ont ride in armd, and at the Soldans chair

    Defid t of Paynim chivalry [ 765 ]

    to mortal combat or carreer h Lance)

    the air,

    Brushe hiss of russling wings. As Bees

    In spring time, waurus rides,

    Pour fort the hive [ 770 ]

    In clusters; they among fresh dews and flowers

    Flie to and fro, or on thed Plank,

    tra Cittadel,

    Neiate and confer

    tate affairs. So the aerie crowd [ 775 ]

    Sraitnd; till the Signal givn.

 22

    Be now who seemd

    In bigness to surpass Eart Sons

    No Dwarfs, in narrow room

    t Pigmean Race [ 780 ]

    Beyond t, or Faerie Elves,

    Revels, by a Forrest side

    Or Fountain some belated Peasant sees,

    Or dreams he Moon

    Sits Arbitress, and neerer to th [ 785 ]

    h and dance

    Intent, h jocond Music charm his ear;

    At once  rebounds.

    ts to smallest forms

    Reducd t large, [ 790 ]

    t number still amidst the hall

    Of t infernal Court. But far hin

    And in themselves

    t Seraphic Lords and Cherubim

    In close recess and secret conclave sat [ 795 ]

    A ts,

    Frequent and full. After s silence then

    And summons read, t consult began.