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By FONTARABBIA. Thus far these beyond
Compare of mortal prowess, yet observ'd
Their dread commander: he, above the rest
In shape and gesture proudly eminent,
Stood like a tow'r: his form had yet not loft
All her original brightness, nor appear'd
Less than Arch-Angel ruin'd, and th'excess
Of glory obscur'd: as when the Sun new-ris'n
Looks thro' the horizontal misty air,
Shorn off his beams; or from behind the moon,
In dim eclipse, difastrous twilight sheds
On half the nations, and with fear of change
Perplexes Monarchs; darken'd so, yet shone
Above them all th' Arch-Angel: but his face
Deep scars of thunder had intrench'd, and care
Sate on his faded cheek, but under brows
Of dauntless courage, and confid'rate pride
Waiting revenge: cruel his eye, but cast
Signs of remorse and paffion to behold
The fellows of his crime, the followers rather,
(Far other once beheld in blifs) condemn'd
For ever now to have their lot in pain;
Millions of spirits for his fault amerc'd
Of heav'n, and from eternal splendors flung
For his revolt, yet faithful now they stood,
Their glory wither'd: as when heaven's fire
Hath feath'd the forest oaks, or mountain pines,
With finged top their stately growth tho' bare

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Stands on the blasted heath. He now prepar'd 615 To speak, whereat their doubled ranks they bend From wing to wing, and half inclose him round With all his Peers: attention held them mute: Thrice he affay'd, and thrice in spight of scorn, Tears, fuch as Angels weep, burst forth; at last 620 Words interwove with fighs found out their way.

O myriads of immortal spirits! O Pow'rs Matebless, but with the Almighty! and that strife

Was

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Was not inglorious, tho' th' event was dire,
As this place teftifies, and this dire change,
Hateful to utter: but what pow'r of mind,
Foreseeing or presaging, from the depth
Of knowledge past or present, could have fear'd,
How such united force of Gods, how such
As ftood like these, could ever know repulse? 630
For who can yet believe, tho' after lofs,
That all these puissant legions, whose exile
Hath emptied Heav'n, shall fail to re afcend
Self-rais'd, and re-possess their native feat?
For me be witness all the host of heav'n,
If counsels different, or danger shun'd
By me, have lost our hopes: but he who reigns
Monarch in Heav'n, 'till then as one secure
Sate on his throne, upheld by old repute,
Consent or custom, and his regal state
Put forth at full, but still his strength conceal'd,
Which tempted our attempt, and wrought our fall.
Henceforth his might we know, and know our own;
So as not either to provoke, or dread
New war, provok'd; our better part remains
To work in close design, by fraud or guile,
What force effected not that he no less
At length from us may find, who overcomes
By force, hath overcome but half his foe.
Space may produce new worlds; whereof fo rife 650
There went a fame in Heav'n, that he ere long
Intended to create; and therein plant
A generation, whom his choice regard
Should favour equal to the fons of Heav'n:
Thither, if but to pry, shall be perhaps
Our first eruption, thither or elsewhere:
For this infernal pit shall never hold
Cæleftial spirits in bondage, nor th'abyss
Long under darkness cover. But these thoughts
Full counsel must mature: peace is defpair'd,
For who can think fubmiffion? war then, war
Open or understood must be refolv'd.

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He spake: and to confirm his words out-flew
Millions of flaming swords, drawn from the thighs
Of mighty Cherubim: the sudden blaze
Far round illumin'd Hell; highly they rag'd
Against the Highest, and fierce with grasped arms
Clash'd on their founding shields the din of war,
Hurling defiance toward the vault of heav'n.

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There stood a hill not far, whose grifly top 670 Belch'd fire and rowling smoke; the rest entire Shone with a glossy scurf, undoubted fign That in his womb was hid metallic ore, The work of fulphur; thither wing'd with speed A numerous brigad hasten'd: as when bands Of pioneers, with spade and pickax arm'd, Forerun the royal camp, to trench a field, Or cast a rampart: MAMMON led them on, MAMMON, the least erected spirit that fell From Heav'n; for ev'n in Heav'n his looks & thoughts Were always downward bent; admiring more 681 The riches of Heav'n's pavement, trodden gold, Than ought divine or holy else, enjoy'd In vision beatific: by him first

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Men also, and by his suggestion taught,
Ranfack'd the centre, and with impious hands
Rifled the bowels of their mother earth
For treasures better hid. Soon had his crew
Open'd into the hill a spacious wound,
And dig'd out ribs of gold. (Let none admire 690
That riches grow in Hell; that foil may best
Deserve the precious bane.) And here let those
Who boast in mortal things, and wond'ring tell
Of BABEL, and the works of MEMPHIAN Kings,
Learn how their greatest monuments of fame, 695
And strength and art are easily out - done
By spirits reprobate, and in an hour
What in an age they with inceffant toil,
And hands innumerable, scarce perform.

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