LITMIR.BIZ

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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 Ensignes moving nigh, in slow But firm Battalion; back with speediest Sail Zephiel, of Cherubim the swiftest wing, Came flying, and in mid Aire aloud thus cri’d.

      Arme, Warriours, Arme 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 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 soon

       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 pluckt the seated Hills with all thir load,

       Rocks, Waters, Woods, and by the shaggie tops

       Up lifting bore them in thir hands: Amaze,

      

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