Invulnerable, impenetrably arm'd :

Such high advantages their innocence

Gave them above their foes, not to have finn'd,
Not to have difobey'd; in fight they flood

Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain'd

By wound, though from their place by violence mov'd.
Now Night her course began, and over heav'n
Inducing darkness, grateful truce impos'd,
And filence on the odious dinn of war :
Under her cloudie covert both retir'd,
Victor and vanquish't: on the foughten field
Michael and his angels prevalent

Encamping, plac'd in guard their watches round,
Cherubic waving fires: on the other part
Satan with his rebellious difappeer'd,

Far in the dark diflodg'd, and void of reft,
His potentates to councel call'd by night ;
And in the midst thus undifmai'd began.

O now in danger tri'd, now known in armes
Not to be overpower'd, 'companions dear,
Found worthy not of liberty alone,

Too mean pretenfe, but what we more affect,
Honour, dominion, glorie, and renown,
Who have fuftain'd one day in doubtful fight
(And if one day, why not eternal days?)
What heaven's lord had powerfulleft to fend
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
Omniscient thought. True is, lefs firmly arm'd,

Some disadvantage we endur'd and pain,

Till now not known, but known as foon contemn'd,
Since now we find this our empyreal form,
Incapable of mortal injurie

Imperishable, and though pierc'd with wound,
Soon closing, and by native vigour heal'd.
Of evil then fo fmall as easie think
The remedie; perhaps more valid arms,
Weapons more violent, when next we meet,
May serve to better us, and worse our foes,
Or equal what between us made the odds,
In nature none: if other hidden caufe
Left them fuperiour, while we can preserve
Unhurt our minds, and understanding sound,
Due fearch and confultation will disclose.

He fat; and in th'affembly next upstood
Nifroc, of principalities the prime ;
As one he stood escap't from cruel fight,
Sore toil'd, his riv'n arms to havoc hewn,
And cloudie in aspect thus answering 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, impassive; from which evil
Ruin muft needs enfue; for what avails

Valour or strength, though matchlefs, quell'd with pain
Which all fubdues, and makes remifs the hands
Of mightieft. Senfe of pleasure we may well
Spare out of life perhaps, and not repine,
But live content, which is the calmeft life:

But pain is perfect miferie, the worst

Of evils, and exceffive, overturns

All patience. He who therefore can invent
With what more forcible we may offend
Our yet unwounded enemies, or arm
Ourselves with like defence, to me deserves
No lefs then for deliverance what we owe.
Whereto with look compos'd Satan repli'd.
Not uninvented that, which thou aright
Believ'ft fo main to our success, I bring;
Which of us who beholds the bright surface
Of this ethereous mould whereon we stand,
This continent of spacious heav'n, adorn'd
With plant, fruit, flour ambrofial, gemms and gold,
Whofe eye fo fuperficially furveyes

These things, as not to mind from whence they grow
Deep under ground, materials dark and crude,
Of spiritous and fierie fpume, till toucht

With heav'n's ray, and temper'd they shoot forth
So beauteous, op'ning to the ambient light.
These in their dark nativitie the deep

Shall yield us pregnant with infernal flame,
Which into hollow engines long and round

Thick ramm'd, at th'other bore with touch of fire
Dilated and infuriate fhall fend forth

From far with thundring noise among our foes
Such implements of mischief as shall dash
To pieces, and orewhelm whatever stands
Adverse, that they shall fear we have disarmed
The Thunderer of his only dreaded bolt.
Nor long shall be our labour, yet ere dawne,

Effect shall end our wish. Mean while revive ;
Abandon fear; to strength and counsel join'd
Think nothing hard, much less to be despair'd.
He ended, and his words their drooping chere
Enlightn'd, and their languisht hope reviv'd.
Th'invention all admir'd, and each, how he
To be th'inventer mifs'd, so easie it seem'd
Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought
Impoffible: yet haply of thy race

In future days, if malice should abound,
Some one intent on mischief, or infpir'd
With dev'lish machination might devise
Like inftrument to plague the fons of men
For fin, on war and mutual flaughter bent.
Forthwith from councel to the work they flew,
None arguing ftood, innumerable hands
Were ready, in a moment up they turn'd
Wide the celestial foile, and faw beneath
Th'originals of nature in their crude
Conception fulphurous and nitrous foame
They found, they mingl'd, and with futtle art,
Concocted and adufted they reduc'd

To blackest grain, and into store convey'd :
Part hidd'n 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 ere day-spring, under confcious night
Secret they finifh'd, and in order fet,
With filent circumfpection unefpi'd.

Now when fair morn orient in heav'n appeer'd
Up rose the victor angels and to arms

The matin trumpet fung: in arms they stood
Of golden panoplie, refulgent hoft,

Soon banded; others from the dawning hills
Look'd round, and scouts each coaft light-arm'd fcour,
Each quarter, to defcrie the distant foe,
Where lodg'd, or whither fled, or if for fight,
In motion or in alt him foon they met
Under fpread enfignes moving nigh, in slow
But firm battalion; back with fspeedieft fail.
Zophiel, of cherubim the fwiftest wing,
Came flying, and in mid air aloud thus cried.

Arme, warriours, arm for fight, the foe at hand, Whom fled we thought, will fave us long purfuit, This day, fear not his flight; for thick a cloud He comes, and fettl'd in his face I fee Sad resolution and secure let each

His adamantine coat gird well, and each

Fit well his helme, gripe faft his orbed shield,
Born even or high, for this day will pour down, ≤
If I conjecture aught; no drizling show'r,
But rattling storm of arrows barb'd with fire.
So warn'd he them aware themselves, and foon
In order, quit of all impediment;

Inftant without disturb they took allarm,

And onward move embattell'd; when behold:
Not diftant far with heavie pace the foe
Approaching grofs and huge; in hollow cube.
Training his devilish enginrie, impal'd -^-
On every fide with fhaddowing squadrons deep,