Book 1.
Paradiſe loſt.
Thither, if but to prie, ſhall be perhaps
Our firſt eruption, thither or elſewhere:
For this Infernal Pit ſhall never hold
Cæleſtial Spirits in Bondage, nor th' Abyſſe
Long under darkneſs cover. But theſe thoughts
Full Counſel must mature: Peace is deſpaird, 660
For who can think Submiſſion? Warr then, Warr
Open or underſtood muſt be reſolv'd.
He ſpake: and, to confirm his words, out-flew
Millions of flaming ſwords, drawn from the thighs
Of mighty Cherubim; the 'udden blaze
Far round illumin'd hell: highly they rag'd
Againſt the Higheſt, and fierce with graſped arm's
Claſh'd on their ſounding ſhields the din of war,
Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heav'n.
There ſtood a Hill not far whoſe grieſly top 670
Belch'd fire and rolling ſmoak; the reſt entire
Shon with a gloſſie ſcurff, undoubted ſign
That in his womb was hid metallic Ore,
The work of Sulphur. Thither wing'd with ſpeed
A numerous Brigad haſten'd As when bands
Of Pioners with Spade and Pickaxe 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 680
Were always downward bent, admiring more
The riches of Heav'ns pavement, trod'n Gold,
Than aught divine or holy elſe enjoy'd
In viſion beatific: by him firſt
Men alſo, and by his ſuggeſtion taught,
Ranſack'd the Center, and with impious hands
Our firſt eruption, thither or elſewhere:
For this Infernal Pit ſhall never hold
Cæleſtial Spirits in Bondage, nor th' Abyſſe
Long under darkneſs cover. But theſe thoughts
Full Counſel must mature: Peace is deſpaird, 660
For who can think Submiſſion? Warr then, Warr
Open or underſtood muſt be reſolv'd.
He ſpake: and, to confirm his words, out-flew
Millions of flaming ſwords, drawn from the thighs
Of mighty Cherubim; the 'udden blaze
Far round illumin'd hell: highly they rag'd
Againſt the Higheſt, and fierce with graſped arm's
Claſh'd on their ſounding ſhields the din of war,
Hurling defiance toward the vault of Heav'n.
There ſtood a Hill not far whoſe grieſly top 670
Belch'd fire and rolling ſmoak; the reſt entire
Shon with a gloſſie ſcurff, undoubted ſign
That in his womb was hid metallic Ore,
The work of Sulphur. Thither wing'd with ſpeed
A numerous Brigad haſten'd As when bands
Of Pioners with Spade and Pickaxe 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 680
Were always downward bent, admiring more
The riches of Heav'ns pavement, trod'n Gold,
Than aught divine or holy elſe enjoy'd
In viſion beatific: by him firſt
Men alſo, and by his ſuggeſtion taught,
Ranſack'd the Center, and with impious hands
Rifl'd
