LITMIR.BIZ

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Memorial, where the might of Gabriel fought, And with fierce Ensignes pierc’d the deep array Of Moloc furious King, who him defi’d, And at his Chariot wheeles to drag him bound Threatn’d, nor from the Holie One of Heav’n Refrein’d his tongue blasphemous; but anon Down clov’n to the waste, with shatterd Armes And uncouth paine fled bellowing. On each wing Uriel and Raphael his vaunting foe, Though huge, and in a Rock of Diamond Armd, Vanquish’d Adramelec, and Asmadai, Two potent Thrones, that to be less then Gods Disdain’d, but meaner thoughts learnd in thir flight, Mangl’d with gastly wounds through Plate and Maile. Nor stood unmindful Abdiel to annoy The Atheist crew, but with redoubl’d blow Ariel and Arioc, and the violence Of Ramiel scorcht and blasted overthrew. I might relate of thousands, and thir names Eternize here on Earth; but those elect Angels contented with thir fame in Heav’n Seek not the praise of men: the other sort In might though wondrous and in Acts of Warr, Nor of Renown less eager, yet by doome Canceld from Heav’n and sacred memorie, Nameless in dark oblivion let them dwell. For strength from Truth divided and from Just, Illaudable, naught merits but dispraise And ignominie, yet to glorie aspires Vain glorious, and through infamie seeks fame: Therfore Eternal silence be thir doome.

      And now thir mightiest quelld, the battel swerv’d,

       With many an inrode gor’d; deformed rout

       Enter’d, and foul disorder; all the ground

       With shiverd armour strow’n, and on a heap

       Chariot and Charioter lay overturnd

       And fierie foaming Steeds; what stood, recoyld

       Orewearied, through the faint Satanic Host

       Defensive scarse, or with pale fear surpris’d,

       Then first with fear surpris’d and sense of paine

       Fled ignominious, to such evil brought

       By sinne of disobedience, till that hour

       Not liable to fear or flight or paine.

       Far otherwise th’ inviolable Saints

       In Cubic Phalanx firm advanc’t entire,

       Invulnerable, impenitrably arm’d:

       Such high advantages thir innocence

       Gave them above thir foes, not to have sinnd,

       Not to have disobei’d; in fight they stood

       Unwearied, unobnoxious to be pain’d

       By wound, though from thir place by violence mov’d.

      Now Night her course began, and over Heav’n

       Inducing darkness, grateful truce impos’d,

       And silence on the odious dinn of Warr:

       Under her Cloudie covert both retir’d,

       Victor and Vanquisht: on the foughten field

       Michael and his Angels prevalent Encamping, plac’d in Guard thir Watches round, Cherubic waving fires: on th’ other part Satan with his rebellious disappeerd, Far in the dark dislodg’d, and void of rest, His Potentates to Councel call’d by night; And in the midst thus undismai’d began.

      O now in danger tri’d, now known in Armes

       Not to be overpowerd, Companions deare,

       Found worthy not of Libertie alone,

       Too mean pretense, but what we more affect,

       Honour, Dominion, Glorie, and renowne,

       Who have sustaind one day in doubtful fight,

       (And if one day, why not Eternal dayes?)

       What Heavens Lord had powerfullest to send

       Against us from about his Throne, and judg’d

       Sufficient to subdue us to his will,

       But proves not so: then fallible, it seems,

       Of future we may deem him, though till now

       Omniscient thought. True is, less firmly arm’d,

       Some disadvantage we endur’d and paine,

       Till now not known, but known as soon contemnd,

       Since now we find this our Empyreal forme

       Incapable of mortal injurie

       Imperishable, and though peirc’d with wound,

       Soon closing, and by native vigour heal’d.

       Of evil then so small as easie think

       The remedie; perhaps more valid Armes,

       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 cause

       Left them Superiour, while we can preserve

       Unhurt our mindes, and understanding sound,

       Due search and consultation will disclose.

      He sat; and in th’ assembly next upstood

       Nisroc, of Principalities the prime; As one he stood escap’t from cruel fight, Sore toild, his riv’n Armes 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 armes to fight in paine, Against unpaind, impassive; from which evil Ruin must needs ensue; for what availes Valour or strength, though matchless, quelld with pain Which all subdues, and makes remiss 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 perfet miserie, the worst Of evils, and excessive, overturnes All patience. He who therefore can invent With what more forcible we may offend Our yet unwounded Enemies, or arme Our selves with like defence, to mee deserves No less then for deliverance what we owe.

      Whereto with look compos’d Satan repli’d. Not uninvented that, which thou aright Beleivst so 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, adornd With Plant, Fruit, Flour Ambrosial, Gemms & Gold, Whose Eye so superficially surveyes These things, as not to mind from whence they grow Deep under ground, materials dark and crude, Of spiritous and fierie spume, till toucht With Heav’ns ray, and temperd they shoot forth So beauteous, op’ning to the ambient light. These in thir dark Nativitie the Deep Shall yeild us, pregnant with infernal flame, Which into hallow Engins long and round Thick-rammd, at th’ other bore with touch of fire Dilated and infuriate shall send 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 disarmd 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 joind Think nothing hard, much less to be despaird. He ended, and his words thir drooping chere Enlightn’d, and thir languisht hope reviv’d. Th’ invention all admir’d, and each, how hee To be th’ inventer miss’d, so easie it seemd Once found, which yet unfound most would have thought Impossible: yet haply of thy Race In future dayes, 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 warr and mutual slaughter bent. Forthwith from Councel to the work they flew, None arguing stood, innumerable hands Were ready, in a moment up they turnd Wide the Celestial soile, and saw beneath Th’ originals 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 grain, 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

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